Please Ignore Vera Dietz: Number One for a Reason

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King is number one this year on my best books list. It may be the best book I've ever read, and it is most certainly in the top ten best books I’ve ever read. Here’s why:

But, first, let’s make a few changes to the title of this post:

 

There. Much better. I would “officially” change the title, but “Number One for Reasons” just doesn’t has the same ring as “Number One for a Reason.” Anyway, here is a list of eight or so reasons for why you should read Please Ignore Vera Dietz:

Its Title:  As humans, we naturally do things that we are not supposed to do. Just like the urge to open a box that says “Do Not Open,” it is next-to-impossible to avoid a book with a title Please Ignore Vera Dietz.

Its Author: A.S. King is a literary mastermind. Vera is only her second book, yet it’s been racking up accolades like crazy. Creative and witty, King tells stories that deserve to be told again and again.

Its Story: Please Ignore Vera Dietz is the story of—you guessed it—teenage Vera and her struggle to find answers. The novel begins with the funeral for Charlie, Vera’s neighbor. Vera and Charlie were once best friends, even sortakindamaybe more than friends, until he brutally betrayed her. Now that he’s dead Vera doesn’t know what to think. She hates him and loves him at the same time. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn their story and see what went wrong. Eventually, Vera embarks on a mission to clear Charlie’s name, which was tainted by rumors. Trekking the long, twisted path, she crosses many obstacles. She discovers, she reconciles, she forgives. 

Is it okay to hate a dead kid? Even if you loved him once? Even if he was my best friend? Is it okay to hate him for being dead?

– from Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Its Characters: What I love about the characters from Vera is that they’re so round and complex. They’re like real humans, which is the highest compliment to an author, in my opinion. Vera is likeable for both her innocence and mistakes and for her loudness and quietness. Charlie, through flashbacks and “reincarnated” objects/ghosts, is lost and confident—loveable and despised. Even Vera’s dad is perfectly composed. He’s not perfect, but he’s still a great role model.

a pagoda

Its Eccentricities: The majority of the chapters of Vera are narrated by Vera herself. But on occasion a few other characters take over the book’s point-of-view. Charlie, frequently seen as a sliced pickle by Vera, gives little side notes from the “Dead Kid.” Vera’s dad has occasional chapters—in the form of flow charts. But, wait! Don’t worry! It’s the good kind of flow charts. The ones were you’re faced with a question, and branched off the side of the question are the answer options yes or no. And then you continue down the page until you reach a conclusion. And lastly a pagoda—yes, I mean an “Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves” (thanks, Wikipedia!)—doles out sound advice to the reader. “A pagoda?” you may ask. Yes. A pagoda. No, I won’t tell you why there’s a pagoda! READ THE BOOK! 

Also, Vera works at Pagoda Pizza, so you learn all the pizza delivery lingo and inner-workings.  

a flow chart similar to those in the book

Its POWER: A.S. King has a way with words. With A.S. King’s powers channeling through each page, I—just like Vera—simultaneously loved and hated Charlie. You can tell that each word is hand-crafted and hand-chosen to create a wide array of emotions and imagery.

Its Awards: That’s right, Vera’s a Printz Honor novel and has collected numerous starred reviews from the big-name reviewing companies. Rightfully so, too.

It’s About Everything and Nothing: Does that make any sense? Maybe I’m not explaining it correctly, but—to me—Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a beautiful, fragile, and wonderful book about something not too out of the ordinary. 

OK, there are eight reasons to read Please Ignore Vera Dietz. If you’re not convinced to read this book yet, I do not know what will convince you. This official trailer might, though:

And, A.S. King, if you’re reading this, please know that you’re a magnificent author and deserve all the acclaim that you are given.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

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Michael Vey, The Prisoner of Cell 25: Positively Electrifying

Recommended to me by Amazon (my new bookseller since the tragic death of Borders), Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, by Richard Paul Evans, is the latest book to receive the coveted title of “the next new Harry Potter”. Despite that being a cliché saying in the bookselling universe, I couldn’t resist what could possibly be the next multibillion dollar franchise.

Michael Vey has always been a little different. He’s a little short by fourteen-year-old standards, has Tourette’s syndrome, which forces him to blink and twitch excessively, and. . .oh, yeah, has electrical superpowers. Living with his mother in a small apartment in Idaho, Michael finally finds a way to blend into the high school crowd. He’s figuratively invisible. Ostin, his only friend and straight A+ nerd, is the only person outside of Michael’s family that knows of his powers. One day, after being constantly tortured by older classmates who never receive consequences for their wrongdoings, Michael takes a stand. And does something dangerous. He uses his powers to, lightly, shock three bullies that are about to beat him.

Michael’s mom, an understanding, hard-working, caring person, refuses to let Michael to use his powers of electricity. The last few times that Michael used his powers, all times where he was in a situation of being seriously hurt, Michael and his mom packed their bags and moved to another unknown town in another unknown state. But Michael begs his mother to not make them move. He insists that only the three bullies were there to see what happened, and that they would be too scared of being called “crazy” to rat him out. Except, someone else did see Michael use his power of electricity through touch. A girl, named Taylor.

Taylor confronts Michael and asks him how he shocked the three menaces. When Michael doesn’t supply a response, she makes him a deal. Taylor reveals to Michael that she, too, has powers. She has the abilities to essentially “reboot” someone’s mind. Using electricity, Taylor can make a person disoriented and confused; forget what they were doing.

Constructing an investigation, Taylor, Michael, and sidekick Ostin, the self-proclaimed “Electroclan,” discover that both Taylor and Michael were born within one day of each other at a hospital in Pasadena, California. Searching for birth records on the hospital website, Taylor finds a gap of missing records around the time of their birthdays. After more internet research, Taylor, Ostin, and Michael discover that a new electric imaging machine was introduced around the same time as the births of seventeen children in Pasadena.

Unbeknownst to her, Taylor accidentally alerts an internet spider, a hidden internet scanner, which notifies its home base that someone is looking into the missing birth records. The spider was put into place by an agency in Pasadena, an agency that is searching for the two remaining children of the original seventeen: Michael and Taylor. And when Taylor and Michael’s mom go missing one day, Michael must take the investigation into his own hands, with the help of his best friend, of course.

Ostin and Michael take an undesirable road trip to Pasadena to get to the bottom of what this agency does, why they’re capturing these children, who may or may not be electric, and, most importantly, where they’re keeping Taylor and Michael’s mom.

Creating an unlikely group, Michael, Ostin, and Taylor are all loveable, relatable characters. A flowing, quick, read, Michael Vey is a book to be enjoyed by people of all ages. Its settings are rich with vivid descriptions and quirky expressions and its story is carefully plotted, allowing sequels galore.  While, I’m not sure if it’s the next Harry Potter, Michael Vey is certainly a refreshing, funny, mysterious, clean, new addition to a world of wonderful books.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Eccentric and Exceptional

Eccentric. With a title that sums up the mood of the book itself, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (a pseudonym, presumably) is a treasure chest of witty characters, unique photographs, and a delightful story. Wonderfully composed, Miss Peregrine tells the tale of Jacob and the stories that were told to him by his grandfather.  Jacob’s grandfather was a Jewish WWII survivor that, as a child, escaped from his native country of Poland to an island off the coast of England. Jacob’s grandfather told him tales of a house for children that he stayed at during the war. He told Jacob about children at the house that had special qualities and abilities. A levitating girl, an invisible boy, a girl who could make fire with her hands, and a boy made of bees were among the children that Jacob’s grandfather insisted were real. As a child, Jacob believed the unbelievable stories, but as he got older doubt began to replace his once wondrous beliefs.

Fast-forward to when Jacob is sixteen-years-old. In a freak accident, Jacob is the last to see his grandfather alive. The police describe his grandfather’s death as an animal attack. Jacob wearily believes the police, but there is a strand of recollection in his memory. Right after his grandfather’s death, Jacob saw a creature, a monstrosity, with tentacles hanging outside its mouth. Making connections, Jacob begins to return to his grandfather’s stories, finding coincidences and patterns. Traveling with his father, Jacob visits England to find his grandfather’s old rescue home, hoping to resolve the many secrets that are wrapped around his mind.

An inside photograph

Jacob becomes determined to figure out if his grandfather was telling the truth or if he was simply crazy. Photographs included in the book of the children described by Jacob’s grandfather, inspire the reader’s creativity levels, while encouraging Jacob to dive deeper into a world unknown.

Exceptional. Fast-paced and detailed, Miss Peregrine leaves you hanging on every word. Definitely one of my top books for this year, it is a refreshing, humorous, different summer read. The inside photographs supplement the book perfectly, adding to the genius of the story and often breaking up the rather long chapters (One was bordering on seventy pages!). Jacob’s adventure is one to be heard and one to be remembered. Miss Peregrine’s sequel cannot possibly arrive soon enough to fulfill the desire that came with the cliff-hanger ending of the first book. A quirky rollercoaster ride of a book, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children allows your mind to explode in an array of creativity, wonder, and imagination.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

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STRONG Characters

STRONG, in all caps, characters are leaders that can be viewed as role models and influential people in literature. STRONG characters seek excellence, but not at the expense of others. They strive to be the best they can be, but understand their limitations. They display their generosity and teach others, but also realize when it’s their turn to follow instead of lead. They face their obstacles and succeed, or at least try, to defeat their fears and demons. STRONG characters are often liked, main characters in novels. However, any book character, much like any person, can be STRONG. Listed below are three STRONG female and male characters and what traits, skills, and values they possess.

Three STRONG Female Characters

• Evie, from Paranormalcy: Determined, thoughtful, and witty, Evie always does her job, containing paranormal creatures, in a timely manner. Assertive, but not harmful, she disarms her suspects, but always makes sure that they are properly treated and are set on the right track at the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). A good friend to her mermaid pal, Evie demonstrates a STRONG, powerful aura of stability and gratitude.

• Lanesha, from Ninth Ward: Young and independent, Lanesha must take lead over her elderly guardian, Mama Ya-Ya, her dog, Spot, and her friends, TaShon, Max, and Ginia, as the take cover in the heart of Hurricane Katrina: the poverty-stricken Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Lanesha has the ability to see ghosts, including her deceased mother. Despite be mocked for her ability, Lanesha remains kind, curious, and STRONG during such an uncertain time.

• Liesel, from The Book Thief: Facing a new foster family during a difficult time in the world’s history, WWII, Liesel must adapt to new surroundings and new ways of living. Hiding the majority of the time due to her religion, Judaism, Liesel teaches and occupies herself while living in conditions that would cause many to give up. STRONG till the end, Liesel’s story is one to be heard.

Three STRONG Male Characters

• Marcelo, from Marcelo in the Real World: Born with Asperger’s Syndrome (a form of autism), Marcelo is proud of his abilities. Enjoying taking care of animals and learning the Christian religion, Marcelo is not afraid to speak his mind. But when he’s forced to get a job in the mail room of his father’s law firm, Marcelo must enter a whole new world, where not everybody is kind or easy to understand. Marcelo must be STRONG to be prosperous.

• Doug, from Okay for Now: Between moving to a new house, attending a new school, and living with an abusive father, being STRONG is not easy for Doug. However, finding friends at the local library and solitude in drawing, Doug discovers how happiness and generosity can change people for the better.

• Brewster “Bruiser,” from Bruiser: An outcast, a loner. Teased, bullied. Brewster, better known to his classmates as “Bruiser,” is always silent, the bruises covering his body the only thing expressing that something’s wrong with him. When Brewster falls in love with a girl named Brontë and becomes best friends with her brother, Tennyson, he begins to feel like he is STRONG enough to reveal his dark secrets.

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Great Reads for this Summer

Following April’s Great Reads for this Spring, I have decided to share with you, the readers of The Bookshelf, a few awesome, inspiring, and thrilling books that will help you start your summer off right. 

Below is a list of award-winning and accolade-garnished books. I have read a few of these books, but not all of them. A great part of summer reading is discovering new books, so I thought it seemed fit that I include some books that I have yet to read, but I may read later during the summer. Sound cool? [nod your head] Here they are:

• I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan: I own, but have not yet read, this contemporary novel. This book, which has received nearly all perfect reviews, follows the lives of two brothers, Sam and Riddle, and their days in an unstable household. Living with a sketchy father and always moving from place-to-place, Sam does not completely understand how different his life is than others’, until he meets a kind, church-going girl, named Emily. Ultimately faced with two different paths to choose from, living his old life or embarking on a new chapter, bringing Riddle, his little brother, along. This book is said to be a beautiful story about how one person can make a difference and a change.

• The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch: Oh, where to start with this witty book? The first in a five book series, this book, whose title I will shorten to Secret, is a wonderful, often humorous story about two best friends, Cass and Max-Ernest, and dysfunctional families; quests to discover big mysteries; nefarious villains; evil chefs; antique stores; little, ugly, friendly creatures; and the Terces (backwards: Secret) society. Sprinkled with quirky illustrations, Secret is a funny and engaging read.

• Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs: (Yet another book with a long title.) I desperately want to read this book, but my local bookstore never has it in stock. Sixteen-year-old Jacob grew up hearing tales from his grandfather about a place where kids with special abilities live. Now that his grandfather has passed away, Jacob finds old pictures of children from this home; kids that can float, kids that can see the dead, kids that can read minds. Determined, Jacob finds this home and is surprised at what he finds: the exact children from his grandfather’s photographs. However, not all is well in this home. A terrible monster is lurking around, a monster only Jacob can see. This book comes complete with the actual photographs owned by Jacob’s grandfather.

• Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce: Last week I finished reading this spectacular retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. In this adaption of the original, there are two sisters, Scarlett and Rosie (both shades of red). After a deadly encounter with a Fenris, a werewolf type thingy, Scarlett is left with a missing eye and scars all over her body. Scarlett fought against the Fenris and was able to save her sister but not her grandmother. Seven years following the incident, Scarlett and Rosie are a Fenris-fighting duo, killing the wolves in attempt to save innocent people around the world. However, when Silas, Scarlett’s old fighting partner returns from an extended vacation away from fighting, Rosie finds herself often wanting to do something other than killing the Fenris. She wants to keep hunting, but she does not want it to be her life. But Rosie feels like she would be betraying Scarlett, who saved her life from a Fenris, if she were to stop hunting. A great tale of sisterhood, friendship, guilt, danger, and fulfillment, Sisters Red should be on the top of everyone’s to-read list. 

There it is! Continue reading The Bookshelf during the summer to discover even more great books of all genres!

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The Diary of a Young Girl: A Voice for People of All Types and Ages

“Anne Frank died so others would remember. An extraordinary journey,” wrote Steven Spieldberg in the VIP guestbook at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Holland.

“Anne Frank died…” While the Nazis were gaining control of Germany in the late 1930s/1940s, the Frank family, Jewish, was busily escaping to Holland to hide from the “Führer’s” wrath. On her thirteenth birthday, the youngest member of the Franks, Anne, received a diary. She began writing in her diary when her family was moved into hiding when the Germans began to take control of Holland. The Frank family began to hide in a secret annex behind an office building. After a few days of hiding, another family, the van Daans (the van Pels in real life – Anne changed names in her diary to protect identities) joined Anne and her family. With the much grateful help of a group of workers from the office, the Franks and the Van Daans began to live a guarded and risky life. Anne, a voice for underdogs, the disadvantaged and underappreciated people of all ages, used her diary, with her exemplary thinking and writing skills, to overcome prejudice, face adversity, and develop resilience. Anne had ways of thinking light years beyond her age and time. With words and emotion, Anne has reached millions of people everywhere. Unfortunately, even after so much fight, courage, love, and realization, Anne did not make it. It is unsure how, but Anne and her family were captured and placed in concentration camps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was the only one that made it out alive.

Whoever is happy will make others happy too.

­– Anne Frank

“…so others would remember.” Upon escaping, Otto Frank returned to the secret annex, hoping to find Anne and Anne’s sister, his daughter, Margot. He was deeply saddened when he discovered an empty hideout, but was in awe when Miep, one of the secret annex’s helpers, gave him Anne’s diary, one of only very few items that survived the Nazis overpower of the annex. After some hesitating, Otto released a revised version of his daughter’s beloved diary. A few years later, The Diary of a Young Girl was published in the United States. After both the New York Times and Eleanor Roosevelt gave the book stellar reviews, the book quickly became required reading in schools across the countries, teaching children about Hitler’s genocide and promoting creative and free thinking.

In 1955, an adaption of the diary was released as, The Diary of Anne Frank, a Tony award-winning Broadway play. Following the play’s monumental success, a movie adaption of the play was shown on movie screens across the country. The Diary of Anne Frank, the movie adaption won three Academy Awards and was nominated for five more, including Best Picture.

Every year, legions of admirers travel to Amsterdam, Holland to visit the Anne Frank House museum. The Anne Frank House is an exact replica of the office building and its secret annex. At the Anne Frank House, you can visit the rooms of every occupant of the annex, and you can see original documents written by Anne, including her honored diary. I cannot wait to visit the Anne Frank House one day; to see for myself what Anne’s life must have been like. However, in the meantime, I, and you, the readers of The Bookshelf, can take an online virtual tour of the entire building – the office, the annex, plus more!

Anne greatly enjoyed writing and always dreamed of being famous. Today, and forever to come, she is famous. People around the world read her story, flock to Amsterdam to live her tale, and write personal messages on a virtual tree to encourage her legend. 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

– Anne Frank

“An extraordinary adventure.” It’s no coincidence that Anne’s story is so successful. From the early stages of a diary to a book to a play to multiple movies, Anne’s voice is always strong and determined. Anne always saw the best in people and wanted to be a good person. Despite faced with difficult circumstances, Anne wrote freely about freedom from prejudgment, desire for companionship, and the need to find herself. Anne was an extraordinary person and, as anyone who has read the book knows, a loveable, often humorous adventure. Anne Frank, her life, her story, is an extraordinary adventure.

Who would ever think that so much went on in the soul of a young girl?

– Anne Frank

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

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Divergent: The Power of One Choice

Divergent is defined by Dictionary.com as, “something that moves, lies, or extends in different directions from a point; something,” or someone, “having no finite limits.” Keep that definition in mind as you continue reading this review of Divergent, by Veronica Roth.

Definitely in my top ten books for this year, Divergent is a powerful first book in what is guaranteed to be a memorable trilogy. In an unnamed year in the future, there exists a very different world. Beatrice, the protagonist of Divergent, lives in a new and different Chicago. This futuristic Chicago is separated into five different factions, or groups, based on a five different virtues – Candor, the honest; Dauntless, the brave; Amity, the peaceful; Abnegation, the selfless; and Erudite, the intelligent. Beatrice is part of the Abnegation faction because that’s the faction her parents chose to live in. Abnegations, often called “Stiffs”, are always thinking of other and are never thinking of themselves. They never wear anything but plain clothes, hardly ever look in mirrors, and serve as the government officials for their city of Chicago. Beatrice is often startled, but intrigued, by the actions of members of other factions. She watches them at her school, which allows all factions to learn together. She stares at the intelligent, know-it-all Erudites, the singing, laughing Amitys, and the discussions and debates amongst the Candors. However, Beatrice is most fascinated by the Dauntless and their form of travel – riding and jumping off of trains. 

All sixteen-year-olds in Beatrice’s Chicago take a test to discover which faction they are best suited for. After taking the test, the sixteen-year-olds decide which faction they would like to join. For the majority of the time, the teenagers choose the same faction as their parents. However, faction-switching does occur, but not without causing much disturbance. Switching factions creates shunning and outrage amongst the teenager’s family and teasing from other factions.

Beatrice has always known that she had been slightly different; it was always difficult for her to be as selfless as the rest of her family. When her testing day arrives, Beatrice faces many surprises. The test, which is actually more like a virtual simulation, provides her with more than one result. Beatrice discovers that she is what is known as a Divergent, someone who is suited for more than one faction. Her test results concluded that she is fit for the Abnegation, the Erudite, and the Dauntless factions. Beatrice’s test supervisor highly suggests that Beatrice not tell anyone of her results because Divergents are considered highly dangerous, and the government often leaves them factionless, homeless and unemployed. Beatrice, scared, but perhaps not entirely shocked, begins to consider which faction she will join; the decision between leaving her family and friends or joining a different faction to be her true self. The big problem is that Beatrice doesn’t know who her true self is. 

Without revealing any spoilers that the author doesn’t want available to anyone who hasn’t read the book, Beatrice finally comes to a decision on which faction she wants to choose. After her brother makes his decision, Beatrice realizes something about herself and finds the strength to choose the faction that appeals to her the most. After joining this faction, Beatrice, who begins to go by the name Tris, starts to live her true identity. Her ultimate identity is not a specific faction, but multiple factions, just like her test concluded. After many tough circumstances, Tris must use many of her skills, which all pertain to many different factions, to survive and make herself known. 

The first in a new trilogy, Divergent captures your mind and steals your soul. It is an engaging story, with breath-taking imagery, about self-identity, discovering both your good and bad qualities, and fighting for yourself. A must-read.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

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Uglies: Glamor or Freedom?

May, Favorite Author Month, is almost over, but that doesn’t mean The Bookshelf doesn’t have enough time for one more post honoring the best of authors! Authors are some of humanity’s finest specimens. Authors take thoughts, actions, dreams, and emotions and put them into a story. They write about what’s around them, what they have suffered, what they have conquered, and what’s ahead of them. Most significantly, authors write about what’s most important to them. A great book can be about any topic and any character because a great book is not determined by those two things. A great book is determined by how much an author is interested in a topic and how much thought and effort they put into that topic. Great authors are ones that put a great deal of research, emotion, and originality into their great books. Scott Westerfeld is one of these authors.

A published author for over ten years, Westerfeld has written for both adult and young adult audiences. Today, his books are mainly targeted towards young adults, but that doesn’t change how he writes his books. I have read seven books and two short stories by Scott Westerfeld, and all of them were about different, but engaging, topics. Scott Westerfeld imagines and creates alternate worlds for his novels, worlds that he has obviously used many years and many words to develop and evolve. 

The new US cover of Uglies

Uglies, first published back in 2005, is the first in a series about a futuristic world where, at the age of sixteen, everyone receives an operation to become a “Pretty.” The title makes this book out to be a seemingly shallow tale, but it’s not. Uglies is a breath-taking, and often horrifying, look at a future Earth. Uglies starts off with Tally Youngblood, the main character for the first three Uglies books, sneaking out of her ugly dorm at night to see her best friend, Peris, who recently became a Pretty. Tally, who’s slated to become a Pretty in five months, is anxious to have her operation and to start living the party-like life of a Pretty. To help make the wait less tortuous, Tally decides to visit Peris, hoping that he will help her become more patient and help her overcome any worries. Unfortunately, reaching Peris is not easy. He is at a party the night that Tally arrives, and Tally must crash the bash to reach him. After a series of disappointing events, including an odd encounter with a now pretty Peris, Tally must escape the party by pulling an alarm and jumping off the building. On her way back over the river to Uglyville, Tally runs into a person. At first, Tally hides, thinking the person is a government official – it’s illegal for an Ugly to be in New Pretty Town – but after closer examination, Tally discovers that the person is not only an official but another Ugly!

Fast forward a few months later, and Tally is getting prepared for her operation, which is only a few days away. The person she saw in New Pretty Town, Shay, is now her new best friend. Tally and Shay share the same birthday, and they are both scheduled to get the operation on the same day, their sixteenth birthday. However, Shay has other plans. Shay wants to escape town and run away into the wild to live with the Smoke – a group of Uglies that have never received the operation. Shay tries to get Tally to come along, but she won’t budge. Tally looks forward to becoming a Pretty; she, unlike Shay, wants to be like everyone else. Shay ends up running away, to the wild, leaving Tally to receive the operation by herself.

Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies

When her sixteenth birthday rolls around, instead of being taken to an operating room, Tally is taken to a government official place called Special Circumstances. Tally, confused and scared, is unsure of what is happening, until an evil doctor, Dr. Cable, comes along and explains it to her. Dr. Cable explains to Tally that Special Circumstances has known about the Smoke for a while, and, now that Shay has run away to them, they want Tally to find the Smoke. If Tally chooses not to find the Smoke and its members, she will forever be an Ugly. Tally, not wanting to be ugly forever, starts on an expedition into the wild. Along the way, Tally discovers much about herself and the area outside of her protective city. Eventually, Tally reaches the Smoke and is shocked at what she finds. When she first arrives, she wants to immediately set off her locator, given to her by Special Circumstances, but finds that she cannot do it. Tally learns of what it means to actually become a Pretty and that it does more than just changes your appearance. It alters your brain! Tally questions if the world that she is living in is any better than the world that occurred before hers, a world that was torn by overpopulation, disease, and war. Tally must make a rash decision between what she has wanted all her life and what she just recently discovered. 

Ultimately leading to a thrilling, cliff-hanger ending, Uglies is a phenomenal look into a world gone wrong. Often called the book that revived the dystopian genre, Uglies is in itself a debate about self-image, freedom, and willpower. Scott Westerfeld has received many accolades and positive reviews, from professionals and fans alike, for Uglies, which later spawned a series. Following Uglies is Pretties, Specials, and Extras. All four books incorporate both wonderful and horrific inventions and innovations of this futuristic world. Westerfeld plants multi-layered questions in the reader’s mind, questions that ultimately may not have a definite answer. His Uglies series, and other books that he has written, question modern society, the past, and the future and how things can be extremely different. 

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

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The Throne of Fire: Hieroglyphic Heroes

Rick Riordan, one of my all-time favorite authors, just recently released The Throne of Fire, the second book in his Egyptian mythology series, The Kane Chronicles. In 2005, Riordan, once an adult mystery author, released his first novel for middle readers and young adults, The Lightning Thief. This Greek mythology adventure mystery novel spawned the widely popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Upon ending Percy Jackson’s story in 2009, Riordan created two new series, another one about Greek mythology and one about Egyptian mythology. Despite taking different directions and adding new characters to his more recent books, Riordan’s books remain the best of the best, garnering many accolades and number one positions on bestseller lists. His previous books have been called “clever”, “adventurous”, and “witty”. The Throne of Fire lives up to the level of greatness that its predecessors created.

A warning to all: Spoilers from The Red Pyramid, the book before The Throne of Fire, are present in this review. Proceed with caution.

The Throne of Fire started off with a bang. Taking place a few weeks after the end of The Red Pyramid, Carter and Sadie, the book’s sibling protagonists, find themselves in the Brooklyn Museum, scouring for a scroll, a piece of The Book of Ra. Ra, the sun god, has been in hibernation for centuries, but Sadie and Carter want to attempt to bring him back to Earth using the powers that they have as Egyptian magicians. The siblings believe that bringing Ra, the original Egyptian god, back will allow them to defeat Apophis, an evil snake spirit that wants to swallow the world. Sounds like Carter and Sadie are saving the world, right? That’s not what some people think.

The majority of the other magicians think that bringing gods into the mix will only worsen the world’s problems. They believe that the gods are manipulative, greedy, and too powerful. It sounds like they’re trying to do what’s best too, right? No. The magicians, especially the powerful ones, are evil, forceful, antagonizing people who try to stop Carter and Sadie from retrieving the remaining two pieces of The Book of Ra, the book that will revive Ra. With the ever-present threat of Apophis and evil magicians looming over them, the sibling duo travels the world in search of the rest of The Book of Ra. Along the way, they encounter a few friendly gods, many menacing gods, water demons, evil ice cream men, and, of course, a giant baboon.

Told from two witty and fascinating point-of-views, The Throne of Fire is spot-on. Just like, The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire is an audio transcript from a cassette given to the author by the main characters. This book is a daring, mysterious, humorous experience. Its magical spells and memorable characters will stay with you long past the final page. You will be dazzled by its rich setting and lyrical descriptions. Rick Riordan is the ultimate author and his novels are the ultimate stories. 

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

Dystopian SmackDown!

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages! Welcome to the Dystopian SmackDown! I’m your host, Jacob Hopkins. Today, we are here to witness a possible change in history. The classic novel The Giver has been the Dystopian SmackDown Champion since its publication date in 1993. But two new novels have recently challenged The Giver for its prestigious title of being the best book about a once seemingly utopian society that is viewed differently after an initiating event caused by a young adult, thus causing the said young adult to rebel and view his world differently (try saying that three times fast). And The Giver isn’t happy about the competition. He has called for a Dystopian SmackDown; eager to prove that he’s the best out there. Let the competition begin!

In one corner, weighing in at 208 pages, is The Giver, by Lois Lowry! (Crowd cheers.) The current champ, The Giver is a short, no nonsense guy. His story is about Jonas, an eleven, going on twelve, year-old. Jonas lives in a Community, a protected area of populated land in an unnamed country, in what is believed to be the future. The Committee of Elders controls everything in the Community. They determine who you will marry, the number of children you will receive, and what job, known as an Assignment you will have. The Committee also makes many other decisions for the members of the Community, decisions that are considered too difficult and too dangerous to be made by the people themselves. Everything is regulated, and everything is the same. The Community believes that limiting and destroying choices and individuality will create for a better, more peaceful world.

At age twelve, Jonas receives his Assignment, one that is rarely given out or spoken of, the Receiver of Memories. For his Assignment, Jonas must report to the current Receiver, known to Jonas as the Giver. Jonas’s job is to “receive” memories of life before the Community, before Sameness, the process of making everything the same and equal. The Giver, a wise, kind, old man, “gives” these memories to Jonas by pressing his hands to Jonas’s back. It is important that at least one person in the Community knows these memories, so that someone can aide and give guidance to the Committee when they are making important decisions for the Community. Soon, Jonas learns about colors and sunshine and hills – things he never knew about before. He also learns about emotions, and he especially wants to know love. But not all the memories of the best are pleasant and friendly. Jonas receives memories about hunger, war, and pain. Jonas is unsure if Sameness helps or hurt. His world as he knew is turned upside down, and Jonas doesn’t know what to think, what to do. This book ultimately leads to a breath-taking conclusion that leaves readers questioning and imagining.

That’s The Giver, folks! And it looks like his score is pretty good – no, not pretty good, his score is perfect. That’s right, The Giver has received 5.0 out of 5 stars! Looks like the other novels have some tough competition! (Crowd goes wild with delight.)

In another corner, stands Delirium, by Lauren Oliver, weighing in at 448 pages. Delirium is a young competitor – he was only published a few months ago, in February – but a fierce one, too.  (Crowd gives a non-enthusiastic applause. Some taunt.) Delirium’s story has many similarities to that of The Giver’s, but it is overall a different, yet still enthralling, tale.

This story follows Lena, short for Magdalena, based off the name Mary Magdalene, a seventeen-year-old that is eagerly awaiting her eighteenth birthday. Lena lives in a society where, at age eighteen, you have a procedure to cure yourself from Amor Deliria Nervosa, which is what they refer to as love. Love is viewed as a disease in the society, and most people, Lena included, cannot wait to rid themselves of love. Before the procedure, you have an Evaluation, done by people known as the Evaluators, to determine who your spouse will be. Citizens of the society are not allowed to make physical contact, surround themselves with people of the opposite gender, or express feelings of love. Lena begins the book as a strong believer in the cure because it is all she knows. She believes that curing herself of love, and all other feelings and actions that come with it, will allow her to move away from her rocky past. Lena’s father died from cancer when Lena was very young. And, after three failed attempts of being cured, Lena’s mother committed suicide when Lena was only six. Before Lena’s mother left the world, she said the three most dangerous words in the society to Lena, “I love you”.

So you can easily see why Lena wants to leave her former life behind and start a new one as a Cured. However, when Lena accidentally meets an Invalid, an uncured person who lives outside the society, named Alex, her thoughts are changed. She sees how much Alex enjoys life, and how he isn’t sick from being uncured. In fact, Alex is happy and healthy. And Lena finds herself doing what she would have never expected, falling in love.

The results are being collected, and – oh! – it looks like Delirium has received 4.75 out of 5 stars! What an unexpected turn of events! The judges like how at the beginning of the novel, Amor Deliria Nervosa is viewed as a disease that kills, but as the book progresses, Lena discovers that, yes, love may kill but it saves, too. How about that?! (Crowd begins to stir – unsure what to think.) I believe it’s time to present the final book in this surprising event!

Our final contender is Matched, by Allie Condie. Weighing 384 pages, Matched is an unexpected novel that is expected to give the The Giver’s title a run for its money! Once again taking place in a society located in a future America, Matched explores the concept of being “matched” with someone who you will be marrying.

Cassia is a confident, obedient young woman, who, just like Lena and Jonas, believes everything is right in her world and that the society knows best. When Cassia attends her Match Banquet, a dinner ceremony where seventeen-year-olds are given their matches, who they will marry at the age of twenty-one, she arrives with her Xander, her best friend, but leaves with her Xander, her Match. Cassia is ecstatic because usually you are not matched with someone from your area and she is – matched to her best friend! Later that night, at home, Cassia goes to insert her microcard, a card that holds information about Xander and dating in the society, into the family Port, an advanced computer/phone, but when it is inserted, someone else’s face comes up, but for only a second, then flickers away to Xander’s face. Cassia is shaken and scared for two main reasons: 1) it isn’t like the society to make mistakes and 2) she recognizes the face she saw on the screen – it is another friend, Ky.

From there on, Cassia keeps seeing Ky everywhere. She’s intrigued by him and wants to know more about him. Not only that, she wonders more and more about why his face was on the Port. And after a series of encounters with Ky, Cassia begins to question whether Xander is her true Match and maybe if her microcard was correct – that Ky is meant to be her Match.

What is this?! The judges have declared that Matched is to be awarded a perfect score – 5.0 out of 5 stars! (Crowd gasps. Cries of outrage.) This means that we have a tie! This is unheard of! This leaves the judges to decide the ultimate Dystopian SmackDown Champ! The judges stand up, ready to reveal the winner.

(Silence, as the drumroll begins.)

The judge says in a deep, booming voice, “The title of Dystopian SmackDown Champion is to be awarded to...Matched!” Oh, my! What an unexpected surprise! A new champion has been born! “We thought Matched used wonderful imagery and poetic language to create a superficial and thought-provoking world,” the judge continues, “We fell in love with this book, as we are sure you will too!” (Crowd begins a round of applause that gradually turns into a great cheer.) It appears the crowd is satisfied with the new champion! And hopefully Matched, just as The Giver, will be the champion for years to come. Look forward to the sequel to Matched, Crossed, coming in November.

It appears that’s all we have for today! Until next time, this has been Dystopian SmackDown!     

Great Reads for this Spring

Ahhh. Spring. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the sun is coming out of hibernation, glowing and spreading its warmth to Earth. What better time to enjoy nature, start fresh, or to dig into a great book? Never.

I’ve read, and heard about, so many great books lately that I feel that I must share them with you, the readers of The Bookshelf. I feel that I have compiled a list of books, new and old, fiction and true, to support you through the great season of spring. Books take you on adventures, provide you with guidance, and, well, are the greatest thing ever invented. Nothing compares to them. That’s right. Nothing. I hope you enjoy the following books as much as do and have a great spring reading and cherishing them.

Books that will make this spring the best one yet:

•       Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: I, unfortunately, have not had the opportunity to read this book yet. However, I have not heard a single negative review of this historical novel. This book, which is already racking up tons of honors and slots on bestseller lists, explores the life of Lithuanians being forced into labor-camps during the Soviets’ rule. These camps, which are very similar to the Nazi concentration camps, prove to be foul, horrible places. But as the reader follows the journey of Lina, a sixteen-year-old    Lithuanian, it is discovered that courage and determination can conquer the odds. This harrowing novel is on the top of my to-read list, and I hope to review it once I am finished.

•          If I Stay by Gayle Forman: I read this book about a year ago, a month or so before the creation of The Bookshelf. Mia is an aspiring cellist and has hopes of making it into the prestigious Juilliard School, a preforming arts college in NYC. However, after a sudden car accident, Mia’s parents die, and she and her younger brother are taken to the hospital in critical condition. While comatose, Mia narrates the story, ultimately trying to make the decision to live or die. She is able to hear and see everything while she is in the coma and must face the difficult truth that if she were to live, her world would be completely different. This is a strong novel about life-altering decisions and willpower.

•          White Cat by Holly Black: Cassel Sharpe comes from a family of cure workers: people who are able to control the lives of others. Each curse worker is given the ability to control different things in people such as, emotions, luck, dreams, memories, physical pain, et cetera, all with the touch of a bare hand. Cassel, however, is the only one in his family that was not born a curse worker. Though Cassel is viewed as a con man or criminal like curse workers are, he still feels like one because he murdered his best friend. The reader is taken on an adventure of cons, shady pasts, lies, and unclear intentions as we the readers, and Cassel himself, attempt to discover what caused him to kill his best friend. A stellar read – review coming soon.

•           What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell: Another book that explores the art of lying and deception. Taking place after the end of World War II, Evie, an average ‘40s teen, is swept into a web of lies when her stepfather returns from war. Everything seems bright and cheery at first, but when Evie and her family go to Florida for a vacation, a whole other side is revealed to Evie of her once simple life. Many events occur that reveal shocking secrets about her once picture-perfect family. And when tragedy strikes, Evie must decide between what is right and what will ultimately save her family, whom, despite everything, she still cares for. The ending to this novel caught me by surprise as I’m sure the whole book will for you.

•          A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: I am actually currently reading this classic book, perfect for all ages. What begins with the simple life of Meg Murry, quickly sky rockets into a time-traveling, space-defying tale of a genius four-year-old, three mysterious old ladies, and a being called IT. Originally published in 1962, this timeless classic will take you on an adventure and touch your heart.  

Well, there you have it; your ultimate list of what to read this spring – because no spring would be perfect without the presence of books!

I Am Number Four: A Mysterious Thrill Ride

Numerous things caused me to pick up this book, I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, at my local bookstore a week ago: 1) There is a movie adaption, also titled I Am Number Four, of it coming out later this month; 2) This book is written under a pseudonym; 3) The actual author, or rather authors, of this book are, Jobie Hughes and James Frey, the latter of which is the controversial author of a fabricated memoir, A Million Little Pieces; 4) This book is very well designed, with a cool cover and interesting typeface and icons inside; 5) I was intrigued by the title, I Am Number Four, which is actually part of a sentence, Three are dead, I am number four. So, knowing these things, I began reading what was sure to be either a big success or a big flop.

I Am Number Four begin with the death of Number Three, one of nine aliens from the planet Lorien that escaped to Earth ten years ago after their planet was destroyed. The planet Lorien was taken over by the Mogadorians, another race of alien, in search of a life-sustaining planet. Number Four, then known as Daniel Jones, knew of Number Three’s death because of a curse that was put upon him and the eight others before departing Lorien at age four. The Mogadorians are out to destroy what is remaining of the people of Lorien, however, due to the curse, they must kill each Lorien in sequential order, one through nine. Each of the nine Loriens are aware of when their fellow allies die, because a small scar forms around their ankle each time one dies.

Upon feeling the third scar form around his ankle, Number Four, a member of the Garde, an elite form of Loriens that at a certain age will develop many supernatural abilities, and his Cepan, a keeper and protector of the Garde, Henri, flee their current home in Florida. They settle down in middle-of-nowhere Paradise, Ohio and start creating a new life. Henri, who is a fatherly figure to Number Four, helps him create a new identity. Number Four is then enrolled in high school and begins to go by the name John Smith.

For his entire life on Earth, almost his whole life, Number Four, John, is taught to not get to connected or involved with his home, his belongings, his town, and the people that live there. This is standard for procedure for John. He is used to leaving at a moment’s notice without even saying goodbye. He understands that if he actually made a true relationship with the people around him, he would be greatly hurt when he would have to leave. So, John starts his first day of school with hope that he’ll do what he’s supposed to do, then go home. Nothing more.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. After receiving a warm welcome from the friendly Sarah Hart, John is taunted and teased by Mark James, her big, jock, ex-boyfriend. After standing up to Mark, John is befriended by Sam Goode, a fellow outcast and space/extraterrestrial beings nerd. John’s plan for no connections with the people around him had gone down the drain. Not to mention, he got his first power, known as a Legacy, the ability to shine light from his hands. All on his first day in Ohio.

The book progresses, with many plot twists and raging emotions: John and Sarah beginning dating, John and Sam becoming best friends, Henri training John to control and properly use his Legacies, and the ever constant threat of the Mogadorians finding Number Four. Ultimately, this book leads to a breath-taking cliffhanger ending, that will lead readers doubled over, waiting for the sequel, The Power of Six, coming out in August. This was, overall, a great first book. It set the scene for many good, potentially even better, sequels to come. My only complaint was that at times the characters seemed bland and two dimensional. This book could have been excellent if it took more time to better explain the feelings of the characters and how they reacted. But it was, overall, a great read.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars