The Body Finder (The Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder (The Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting 
Hardcover, 327 pages
Published: March 16th 2010 by Harper Collins Children's Books
ISBN: 0061779814 
ISBN13: 9780061779817
url: http://www.thebodyfinder.com
Literary awards: YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011), Chicago Public Library Best of the Best for Teens (2011)

Goodreads Summary

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

My Review

I absolutely loved this book. I regret not instantly reading it months ago when I first bought the epub version during a sale. It incorporated several genres that I enjoy...romance, paranormal, crime, and mystery. The romantic aspect won me over more than anything. What can I say; I’m a sucker for romance. 

Before I get into all the juicy romantic stuff, let me talk about the main thing that drives this series…Violet’s “ability”.  As mentioned in the summary, Violet has the ability to sense the bodies of murdered people. She doesn't seek them out, they call to her. Each body has its own unique sound that resonates which only she can hear.  She refers to it as an echo or an imprint.  It started when she was a little girl, when she uncovered a dead girl while in the woods with her father. For the majority of her childhood she mostly found dead animals, so many that she created her own pet cemetery in her yard. But she doesn't only hear “echoes” of bodies; she also hears echoes of the bodies on the ones who murdered them.  For example, she can’t around her cat after he has hunted because she can hear the echo of his prey on him. It is also difficult for her to be around some police officers and military men because ending a life is a downside to their profession.  Each echo and imprint is as unique as a fingerprint. Her gift is a complete secret and no one completely understands where it came from or why she’s the only one who seems to have it. The only person who knows about it outside of her parents and her police chief uncle is her best friend Jay. 

Ah Jay! What a character. He’s witty, tall, smart, strong, protective, and as of late, very popular with the girls at their high school. He lives with his mom (I believe she’s a single parent because there isn't much mention of his father), but spends almost every free moment with Violet. Platonically of course! Normally, Violet only looked at Jay as her goofy best friend and wouldn't care about his new popularity with the girls. However, something must have changed about Jay over the summer because, like the girls at school, she’s starting to view him differently too. She actually finds herself becoming jealous at all the new attention he’s getting. But she really shouldn't worry at all; he doesn't appear to be very interested in spending time with any other girl but Violet. But of course, they’re best friends; it’s perfectly normal, right? In the land of romantic YA novels, predictably it isn't so simple.

The murder/kidnapping of the young girls is the contemporary portion of the novel. Especially during the chapters when the predator is the narrator. The way he seeks out and lures in his victims is similar to many real-life news stories we unfortunately hear about often. Yet, when I first read the abductions, I found myself asking the same question many ask when they see some horror/thriller movies…why are these people so stupid? Don’t these girls know not to talk to or accept rides from strangers (a point even the predator wonders, even though it’s to his advantage that they don’t)? Their best defense in this novel is that they’re from a small town where the biggest crime is probably jaywalking, which is why the anxiety level of the town immediately went up after Violet discovered the first body. Be that as it may, the scenes the predator describes and the chase scenes are very active, suspenseful, and have you at the edge of your seat. Unfortunately, since the few secondary characters in this book aren't as defined as Jay and Violet, what few clues that are given do not lead you to any concrete guesses as to who the predator is. It is as big a mystery to us as it is them. If you‘re an avid reader of crime, thriller, mystery books as I am, the conclusion may not be a complete surprise to you. If you’re not, then it most definitely will be. I will say this…for someone who says she’s accustomed to woods and trails in her town, Violet sure does trip and fall a lot. 

The relationship between Jay and Violet is the bright side of the novel. The fact that Jay and Violet were friends first adds to their romantic relationship. They already had a comfort level with each other that was boyfriend/girlfriend-like before they decided to go beyond friendship (i.e., holding hands). Even after they officially get together, they still have those casual, playful buddy moments that are funny and adorable. They know each other so well that they know what the other is thinking without one word being uttered. 

Their hooking up was predictable, as most books like this are. As Jay put it, they were going to get together eventually; it was just a matter of time. Everyone saw it…everyone except Violet, that is. We know about Violet’s changing feelings because she tells us, but Jay’s feelings were just as obvious. It was evident that he was willing to do anything for Violet and only had eyes for her. Even as the line of girls interested in him grew, he only wanted to spend time with Violet and seemed to get a bigger rise out of bragging to her about it than from getting the attention to begin with. He’d be polite to his “fan club”, all the while looking over his shoulder to see where Violet was. 

What wasn't immediately predictable was how electrifying their relationship would be once it finally happened. At first it’s very romantic and sweet and then the temperature between them shot up about 100 degrees two chapters later. And it’s only a nice surprise for us, but for them as well. Fortunately, they still keep their heads about them and are able to reign in the physical activity so that book remains suitable for teens as young as 14. 

I strongly recommend this book and I will definitely be continuing the series. The next book is Desires of the Dead and my copy included and excerpt from it. It promises to be just as good. 

Black Moon (Paige Tailor Series #1) by Jessica McQuay

Black Moon (Paige Tailor Series #1) by Jessica McQuay
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: October 2012 by Cambridge Press
ISBN-10: 1936185741
ISBN-13: 978-1936185740

Goodreads Summary

"Am I losing my mind?"

Paige couldn't help but question her sanity. What other explanation could there be for her hearing a conversation held barely above a whisper in the back of a classroom full of students? What about coming home to find one of those very classmates lying in wait in the darkness of her home, ready to attack her?

Confused, frustrated and feeling every ounce of her social ostracism, Paige confides in the one person she's always been able to count on: her mom. But when her mom reveals a deeply rooted, unbelievable family secret, Paige discovers her world is filled with more than she ever imagined possible. A world where fairytales live alongside nightmares and secrets are the glue that binds them together. Suddenly no one is who they seem and Paige is faced with more questions than answers. Can she survive in a world filled with creatures scarier than anything she could imagine and where deceit runs as thick as blood? Or will the truth send her over the edge?

My Review

I read this book as part of a read and review and I received an ARC copy of the book. The book is a bit slow starting as Paige learns about who (or better yet what) she is, her roots, and her powers. For the most part I enjoyed it. It was nice to join Paige in her journey to learn about herself. Every time Paige thinks she's learned the whole truth, another twist in her family history comes to light. I greatly felt Paige's pain and confusion as her world is turned upside down and the person she trusted the most, her mother, reveals lie after lie (even though they're more lies of omission than anything else).

My feelings towards Paige as a character are kind of bitter sweet. Sometimes I was with her and felt for her, but other times, particularly when she was sarcastic or uncontrollably angry, I just wanted to shake her. She is a strong character, especially towards the end, but her age, immaturity, and social awkwardness shine through quite a bit. She doesn't seem to have any friends at all, not even acquaintances. And she reminds us over and over how she is uncomfortable in social situations and that she isn't the most athletic person. It really makes me wonder how she's gotten this far in life. Not everyone is a socialite, this is very true. However, I've read only a handful novels where the protagonist lacks any companionship. It must be so lonely for Paige to be going through all of these changes and new discoveries without anyone to talk to about it. Well, until she meets Naialah, that is.  

One question I have is how come in these YA novels are children allowed to miss school abruptly and sometimes for long periods, and yet still move on to the next grade? This isn't particular to this one novel; I've seen this in quite a few. In this novel there is at least one consequence to Paige's absence to go to her mother's childhood home, but she was still able to graduate even though I believe she was gone for weeks. I don't think it’s as simple as that in real life. Just saying.

I did have one major problem with this novel and it's a stylistic one. I know some people like a lot of details and I am not totally against it myself (I just speed read through when it gets to be too much). I am a firm believer, however, that there is such a thing as too much detail, especially when it leads to redundancy.

I won't even touch the factor that every little thing that the characters do is described when I feel that at times it could have been expressed in a simpler fashion. For example:

"I grabbed the mouse and double clicked on the internet icon and waited as it loaded onto the screen. I clicked Google and typed in 'Faeries' as the search string."

I feel this is too detailed. It could have been stated much more simply because these are steps that everyone knows. However, this is my personal preference, everyone's style is different. Plus, this was an ARC copy, so maybe this was fixed before publication.

My problem has to do with the instances where Paige expresses her thoughts to us and then says the exact same thing verbatim in the next paragraph. Or at one point where Paige explains to her mother everything that happened one afternoon and we get a whole monologue of information we already know. 

"I told her about trying to make the grass and flowers around me grow and failing and how stupid the whole thing made me feel. The in the middle of my lame attempt at magic, hearing Rachel approach through her thoughts...And how I ran away when I heard the thoughts of the rest of her little entourage, and left her stuck there."

All this information would have been fine, except we just went through the whole thing with her. I feel a simple "I told her everything that happened this afternoon..." would've sufficed. 

Also, many times there are long, speech-like dialogues from characters that sometime either say the same thing several ways or are just too wordy. Sometimes less is more powerful.

I also wonder about the cover. It's nice and all, but I'm not sure if it fits in with the story. Is it a foreshadowing to all the family secrets that are to be revealed?

For those who like action, there is some, but it doesn't come until the last fourth of the book. McQuay does do a good job of making it worth the wait.

For those romantics out there, sorry, there isn't a guy that catches Paige's eye. Actually, it's a  little unclear whether Paige is interested in guys at all. There are hints towards the end, but nothing concrete. I guess Paige is learning about herself all the way around. 

For a first novel, this novel is pretty good. The plot is good, with a lot of buildup and a great climax. Paige is a decent protagonist, but there are instances where she gets a bit annoying. She does gain strength by the end. Stylistically, it was a bit too detailed and wordy for me at times, but if that doesn't bother you, then I definitely recommend it. I would like to read the next book in the series when it comes out because there are still questions that I hope McQuay will answer.

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) by Simone Elkeles

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) by Simone Elkeles
Published April 27th 2010 by Walker Childrens (first published 2010)
Paperback, 326 pages
ISBN: 0802720862 
ISBN13: 9780802720863
url: http://www.perfectchemistrythebook.com/rules-of-attraction.html
Literary awards: Romance Writers of America RITA Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Romance (2011), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2010)

Goodreads Summary 

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn't talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

My Review

This book was just as addictive as Perfect Chemistry. Carlos has the same sarcastic, bad boy personality as Alex did in Perfect Chemistry, which is to be expected since Alex and Carlos are brothers. Like Alex in Perfect Chemistry, Carlos believes that his destiny is set and it doesn't include college or a career. And like Alex, Carlos winds up falling for the most unlikely person.

From the beginning of the novel, Carlos is forced into a situation that is less than ideal for him. After getting into trouble in Mexico and losing his job, he’s sent to Colorado to live with Alex, who’s attending the college. From the time he gets off the plane, Carlos is determined that no matter how many rules Alex tries to enforce or how hard Alex tries to convince him that he could do better than gangs and drugs, he will never be like Alex…at least not the college student Alex who’s in a committed relationship with the rich gringo Brittany. He misses the old Alex, the gang-banger who was tough, dated around, and who listened to no one. This new Alex, Carlos feels, is a sell-out, a want-to-be gringo, who is completely whipped by Brittany. He will never allow that to happen to him.

Underneath his tough exterior, however, there is a softer side to Carlos. For example, his mother and brothers were lead to believe that he was fired from his job in Mexico due to his involvement with a local gang. In reality, he was fired because he stood up to his boss for taking advantage of a 15-year-old female employee. He may be a rebel who doesn't follow rules, but he knows injustice when he sees it. He also has a soft spot when it comes to his mom, who got pregnant and married young, lost her husband in a gang hit when Carlos was 4 and Alex was 6, and who has works multiple jobs in order to support her sons. He gives her a hard time with is rebellious ways, but deep down he wants more than anything to make enough money so she doesn't have to work so hard and to see her smile and laugh like she used to. He loves Alex as well. They may clash a lot in regards to Carlos’ future, but in the end they’re brothers and will always have each other’s back.

Kiara is a quiet, shy girl who loves hiking and cars and who never backs down from a challenge. She comes from an upper class family with a father who is a psychiatry professor at the University and a mother who owns and runs a tea shop. As the novel begins, she was “text dumped” by a guy she dated over the summer and her gay best friend Tucker (b.k.a. “Tuck”) creates the “Rules of Attraction” which lists the great things about Kiara and the things she is looking for in the perfect guy. Being her last year of high school, she has vowed to be more outspoken now that she has gotten her stuttering problem under control. Her vow is tested when she is assigned to be Carlos’ peer guide his first week at Flatiron High School. From the moment he meets her, Carlos is determined to give her such a hard time that she quits before the week is out. Little does he know, he has met his match.

As with Alex and Brittany, Carlos and Kiara are forced together and hate each other at first. Carlos feels that Kiara is not worth his time because she’s white, rich, dresses in baggy clothes and doesn't immediately fall for his charm and good looks. Kiara feels that Carlos is mean with a huge chip on his shoulder and nothing but trouble. They play a couple of pranks on each other in a means to intimidate each other. The more time they spend together, the more they find themselves thinking about each other and slowly becoming attracted to each other. As time goes on, Kiara starts to see the nicer sides of Carlos and the more she learns about him, the more she feels for him. Carlos likes that Kiara seems to handle everything he throws at her and is crafty enough to fight back.

There is some action and violence towards the end of this novel, but not as much as there was in the Perfect Chemistry. Also like Perfect Chemistry, there are some minor sexual situations, so it may not be suitable for anyone under the age of 16.

I recommend anyone who likes romantic, realistic, contemporary fiction. I will definitely be reading the last book in the series, Chain Reaction, which tells the story of the youngest Fuentes brother, Luis.

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

  

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

Paperback, 359 pages

Published: December 23rd 2008 by Walker Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 0802798225 
ISBN13: 9780802798220

url: http://www.perfectchemistrythebook.com/

literary awards: Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance (2010), An ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers for Top Ten (2010), Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee (2011), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2011)

Goodreads Summary

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

My Review

Out of all the YA novels I have read in the past year, this book was the most contemporary. It is most likely because the majority of YA novels I read are apocalyptic, dystopian, paranormal or supernatural. This is the first book in a long time that involved situations and issues that can, and do, occur in our society; issues of turfs, cliques, gangs, popularity, wealth, poverty, and race. This story could easily be a story of teens in your own city or state. It can be compared to many movies such as West Side Story and Pretty in Pink. It is definitely a modern day Romeo and Juliet. 

This book is another alternating POV story, told through the eyes of the “star-crossed lovers” Brittany and Alex. Brittany is the blond, blue-eyed cheerleader from a wealthy family. On the surface Brittany has the perfect life, but what most don’t know is that her life is far from it. Her 20 year old  sister, Shelley, is mentally and physically disabled and in need of constant care; her mother, unable to handle Shelley’s imperfection, is always concerned about appearances, and criticizes Brittany constantly; and her dad works constantly and is totally disconnected from his family when he is home. Alex is the son of Mexican immigrants, whose father was murdered before his eyes when he was young, and is the man of the house for his mother and two younger brothers. He is a member of the Latin Blood gang, is no stranger to trouble, and has a reputation for being dangerous. Alex is also very smart and is only part of the Blood to protect his family. He actually wants to go to college and have a better life and he tries hard to keep his brothers from becoming members of the Blood. 

The alternating POVs help us see both how different Alex and Brittany’s worlds are and how they are very similar. They both put on an act for everyone and do exactly what is expected of them even though what they really want is to be who they are. Alex wants to have a better life that includes college but feels it’s beyond his reach because of where he comes from. Brittany wants more than anything to be herself and make mistakes without having to feel like she’s letting her parents down by doing it. It is only when they are able to reveal these truths to each other that they fall for each other. Alex is relieved to find out that even though Brittany comes from wealth her family has problems too. Brittany is comforted by the fact that Alex puts on as much of show for everyone as she does and that there is more to him than his gang reputation, particularly that he doesn't want to be in the gang and wants more from his life. Brittany also likes how close Alex’s family is and that his mother cares so much for him. 

Their love for each other comes with consequences. Both Alex and Brittany’s family and friends are against their union. On Alex’s side, they feel that he’s  selling out by dating Brittany and that he will never live up to her expectations because he’s Mexican, member of the Blood, and didn't come from money. Brittany’s friends and family, however, feel that she’s disgracing herself by dating someone so beneath her and fear that she will end up in trouble because of his association with the Blood. What neither side realizes is that they love each other because they learned that there is more too them than outside appearances and stereotypes. 

I loved every second reading this book. It included a good amount of heartwarming and romantic scenes, as well as some action. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a realistic, contemporary YA novel. It is very well written and incorporates both cultures, especially the use of simple Spanish words. There are two more books within the series, Rule of Attraction and Chain Reaction, which tell similar stories about Alex’s brothers. I plan to read both in the future and will provide a review of them. 

Cover Reveal: Fire Country by David Estes

This is my first cover reveal on this blog and I hope it will lead to others. It is my honor and privilege to announce a new series from David Estes, author of the Evolution series and the Dwellers series. The first book of the sister series to the Dweller series...

Title: Fire Country (Country Saga #1)

Author: David Estes

Publisher: ShareAread

Release Date: February 1st, 2013

Formats:  E-book

Goodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16160701-fire-country

Cover Artist: Regina Wamba

Fire Country

In a changed world where the sky bleeds red, winter is hotter than hell and full of sandstorms, and summer's even hotter with raging fires that roam the desert-like country, the Heaters manage to survive, barely. 
Due to toxic air, life expectancies are so low the only way the tribe can survive is by forcing women to procreate when they turn sixteen and every three years thereafter. It is their duty as Bearers.
Fifteen-year-old Siena is a Youngling, soon to be a Bearer, when she starts hearing rumors of another tribe of all women, called the Wild Ones. They are known to kidnap Youngling girls before the Call, the ceremony in which Bearers are given a husband with whom to bear children. 
As the desert sands run out on her life's hourglass, Siena must uncover the truth about the Wild Ones while untangling the web of lies and deceit her father has masterfully spun.

About the Author

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010. He´s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table

Early praise for David Estes

“David created a world I was excited to learn about and characters I cared about. I'll remember this story for a very long time!”

Alexandria Nicole ~Goodreads

“Estes delivers a winner with confident writing that truly draws you into the story. “

Think ~ Goodreads

“The author, David Estes, has forged his name into writers to be watched and read.”

Marni ~Goodreads

“David is such a fantastic author and he really knows how to pull at the heartstrings.”

Kay ~K-Books

You can follow David at:

Blog

Author Facebook Page

Twitter

Goodreads

Goodreads fan page

Sounds like another winner for David Estes. This is definitely going on my "to-read" list, I hope it will be on yours as well. Happy reading!!!

Dreams of Joy (Shanghai Girls #2) by Lisa See

  

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See is the sequel to Shanghai Girls, which I wrote about a while ago. It starts from where Shanghai Girls left off so those who have not and intend to read Shanghai Girls should probably not read this post for the whole thing is one big spoiler.

Goodreads Summary

Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime. 

Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives.

My Review

Unlike Shanghai Girls, which is told solely through the eyes of Pearl, Dreams of Joy alternates between the points-of-view of Joy and Pearl. This is a very good contrast as Pearl is older, structured, realistic, and has life knowledge while Joy is young, idealistic, and incredibly naive. As with her "auntie" May, Joy makes spontaneous, possibly disastrous decisions, and Pearl is left to pick up the pieces and set things right.  

In Shanghai Girls, we get a glimpse of the glamorous pre-war China, a high point in China's history. In Dreams of Joy, See shows us China during Mao's Red China and the communist regime. This is possibly the lowest era in China's history as it includes extreme poverty and famine. When Pearl enters this new China, she is shocked at how much things have changed from the Shanghai she grew up in. It isn't as colorful and lively as it once was; there aren't any parties, very few people roam the streets, and everyone lives in fear of being arrested by Mao's government. Joy, on the other-hand, goes to a countryside village with Z.G. and is inspired by the way villagers all work for the greater good of the country. She joins the village and the cause, which worries both Pearl and Z.G.  

See also brings in a bit of the sibling rivalry from Shanghai Girls as Pearl and May send letters to each other. Pearl, being a mourning widow, blames May for her husband, Sam's, suicide. Pearl is also jealous that Z.G., who she's always been in love with, chose May. Protecting May as usual, however, Pearl purposely omits details about Z.G. in her letters. May is upset that with Sam dead and both Joy and Pearl in China, she is left to care for her husband Vern, who has tuberculosis of the bones, a mental disability, and is unable to care for himself. As with most things in May's life, Pearl and Sam have always taken care of Vern while May goes to Hollywood sets or whatever else May wants. For the first time in her life, May is forced to put herself second and act responsibly. In true Pearl and May form, however, neither truly confronts the other directly about their true feelings.

There is one quote from Pearl that very much explains the mother-daughter theme throughout the book. 

...Sometimes it's just so damn hard to be a mother. We have to wait and wait and wait for our children to open their hearts to us. And if that doesn't work, we have to bide our time and look for the moment of weakness when we can sneak back into their lives and they will see us and remember us for the people who love them unconditionally.

Once Pearl finds Joy, all she is left to do is bide her time. Joy is stubborn and truly believes in what she's doing and in Mao's cause, and she has no desire to return to America with her mother. As much as Z.G. and Pearl try to make her see things for what they are, she refuses to listen. Joy is convinced that Pearl does not know her and does not know what is best for her. As a matter of fact, Joy's desire to become a village peasant is deeper than just her belief in the People's Republic of China. 

"I want to be a part of creating something bigger than my own problems. I want to make up for all I destroyed--Dad's life, our family. It's my way of atoning."

Although Pearl understands that her daughter is grieving and is blaming herself for Sam's death, she truly believes that this is not the answer. "This," she says, "is too much punishment for anyone."  She's not just talking about punishment for Joy, but punishment for herself and May for their deception throughout Joy's life. 

Time does prove Pearl's words to be true. When Mao first starts his "Great Leap Forward", it sounds great with promises that "China will be a land of abundance and wealth" with agricultural goods and steel and that it will no longer be look down on by other countries. However, when Mao's methods to increase crops prove fatal to the land, the result is the exact opposite of what he had promised. This is the portion of the book that many times is difficult to read. Food becomes increasingly scarce, people begin to starve and die, and citizens who were once out for the greater good of the country begin to only look out for themselves. It is no longer about building the country, but about survival. 

Shanghai is faring better than the countryside, however Mao tries to keeps up illusion of a prosperous village community to the cities of China (and at the same time that of a prosperous China to the rest of the world) with staged ads in order to prevent an uprising. However, Pearl knows something is wrong and knows that it is time to step in and save her daughter. The question is can she do so in time. 

This book is a great continuation to Shanghai Girls. It is a mixture of sadness, hardship, and love. It also has a lot of twists and turns and eye opening moments. I recommend this to anyone who has read Shanghai Girls and is curious to how the story of Pearl, May, and Joy continues. 

Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel

Fated

by Alyson Noël

Amazon Summary

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.

There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

My Review

This is not my first experience with Alyson Noël. I was a fan of her Immortals series…well at least until the fantasy and paranormal got too much for my taste (namely Everlasting, the last book in the series). Because of this and the book description, I decided to give Fated a shot.

It is very rare that I don’t see a book through and unfortunately Fated was one of these occasions. Maybe it was because I was reading another book at the same time that grabbed my interest more. Whatever the reason, I didn't make it past chapter 14.

I think what turned me off the most was Daire. As a character, I could not relate or sympathize with her at all. I found her to be a brat. The way she speaks to people, especially her mother I found unbelievable. I understand that she was going through a lot and that she was angry, but come on. She doesn't talk to her mother like a mother; I can’t even describe the relationship between them because it’s not friendship either. There were times where I wanted to reach in and smack her myself. And considering that she’s the narrator and the central character of the novel, it makes seeing the book through very difficult.

I also felt Daire was self-righteous, vain, and conceited, no matter how much she tried to convince us she wasn't  She spends the first chapter talking about what life was like being the daughter of a movie set crew member, going from set to set, city to city, country to country. She particularly describes what it’s like to be around celebrities; mostly men. She tells us what we already know about heartthrob celebrities: that they feel that they can have any woman they want and never get attached. She also says that she isn't like that and is not easily swayed by their names and good looks and “they’re so unused to that, they usually end up pursuing me.” That’s not far-fetched, but then she turns out to be just as bad as they are because she hooks up with them. I feel that if you think that you’re so above them, then act like it and don’t play into their game. I get that she has no intention of getting attached to anyone and she’s just out to having some fun, but if that’s the case, then don’t portray yourself as better than everyone.

The other reason I could not see this book through are the “visions” Daire has and her “destiny” as a Soul Seeker. I just could not wrap my head around it. I couldn't completely grasp the immortality of Damen and Ever and Shadowland in the Immortals series either, but there were enough things going on along with that to keep my interest. This was not the case for me with Fated. Granted, I probably did not read enough of the book to really learn all I needed to, but I just didn't feel that the amount of information provided up until the point where I completely lost interest was enough for me.  It was too obscure and vague for my taste.

I don’t recommend this book. It’s too vague, obscure, slow-paced. The narrator is a brat whom I don’t feel readers can relate to. I do believe that Ms. Noël is a good writer, but to anyone who wishes to read anything of hers, I strongly suggest the Immortals series, particularly Evermore, over this.