The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Purchased this book as part of my debut author 2011 challenge. I knew the book was about paranormal activity - alchemy, elves, faerie realm. It also focused a great deal on teenage romance and drama, two of my least favorite topics (even as a high school teacher).

The plot and the characters, at times, were predictable. The idea that it would be so easy to share "secrets" you have held for 3 years while not trusting the one adult who has cared for you were a bit unrealistic. The ending was a bit anti-climatic.





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Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Even though I read every word of this book - I can honestly say I am still not sure what happened. So many of the key details are omitted and left to the reader's imagination that I feel part if the story is lost.

The character's change of heart and bullying of his best friend are hard to take.



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Summary from www.amazon.com
Gr 9 Up–Vera Dietz and her troubled neighbor, Charlie, were best friends since childhood until they started to fall for one another junior year and everything broke apart. Evil Jenny Flick decides that she wants Charlie and that Vera is in the way. When Jenny offers Charlie oral sex and he refuses, she broadcasts his secret about his father's domestic abuse to the whole school and blames Vera. In “retaliation,” Charlie reveals the fact that Vera's mother was a stripper before she deserted the family and then starts a perilous relationship with Jenny. In chapters that alternate scenes in the present with “history,” plus various points of view, Vera's story begins at Charlie's funeral where she hides the truth about Jenny's part in his death.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Science fiction is one genre that I tend to avoid. The plot found in these novels always seems "too out there" for me. This book, however, was truly a delight to read. The characters, Elder and Amy, were presented in a way that made them come alive to the reader.

Even though the novel is set on a ship traveling through space to a new Earth that will be colonized - it explores issues that have plagued humans for generations... personal differences, freedom of thought, and how far a ruler should go to rule.

A wonderful novel for eliciting discussions on leadership. I would have loved to have had this book available two years ago when reading and studying WWII. The similarities between Eldest and Hitler would be an interesting compare and contrast for students.





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I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I found this novel at the library and was intrigued from the beginning with the title and the novel did not disappoint. It is the story of John Wayne Cleaver (named after John Wayne the actor, but feels John Wayne Gacy is more appropriate).

John is fascinated with death and serial killers. Every time he has a report to write for school - he chooses a serial killer. His fascination is obsessive! On top of that he is also showing signs of serial killer tendencies - fascination with fire, hurting animals and stalking people. He shares his deepest thought with his psychiatrist and develops rules to monitor his own behavior.

He feels that he is able to handle so many of his own fears due to the fact that he can explore death - in his mother's mortuary.

But then, a serial killer stalks his town...



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Liar by Justine Larbalestier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The story of a pathological liar who attempts to tell the truth and twists what is real until the very end. This novel is written from a first person point of view that alternates between before the death of her "boyfriend", after his death and then bits of family history. The family history parts are interspersed throughout the novel to provide depth and understanding to the character.
At times the plot was a bit predictable, but then the author would throw a twist into the story line that make you want to keep reading.
Enough said... I do not want to give it away!



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