Tess, Terrorist and the Tiara by Terry Baldwin

Goodreads Summary:


Thirteen-year old Tess has never been able to compete with her “perfect” older sister, but now she must—if she wants to inherit her grandmother’s priceless tiara. The two girls have been invited to their grandparent’s lake house for the summer to help take care of Grandma who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The sister who earns the most “helpful points” wins the former beauty queen’s crown.

"It’s not easy for Tess, who seems to always get things wrong despite best intentions. And who is that mysterious stranger who’s just moved next door to their grandparents’ summer cottage?
Does he know that Tess’ grandmother was once the winner of a famous patriotic beauty contest? Or that she keeps her tiara where anyone can steal it? And why doesn’t he have a face?

Pages: 212 (Paperback)
Expected Release: August 10th
Series? No


LONG STORY SHORT:
This book was a lot better than I expected it to be just by reading the synopsis. I was afraid the lesson provided by the book - about tolerance and the danger of prejudice- would be too much, but it turned out a quick, nice read that I would recommend for younger teens - actually even younger MG readers, because to the majority of the teenagers it might be too "childish".

REVIEW:
When I accepted the book for review I did that only because I was really interested in how a story could contain terrorists, a tiara, prejudice, and Alzheimer's syndrome - and not turn a massive amount of lecturing. 

I was surprised, though, how the author was able to not only write a very cute story with an adorable main character but also bind the message into the story. Tess was such a nice girl, standing in the shadow of her older sister and not having a very high opinion of herself. Then again,she's not whiny or anything and she tries to do the right thing. The little accidents that happen to her are really funny and make her a very sympathetic little girl.


Which brings me to an element of this book that I did not like. Throughout the whole story Tess - at least to me - seemed much younger than thirteen. She was quite naive and  didn't know about a lot of things - facts that should be common to a thirteen year-old girl. That didn't hold me from enjoing the story, though. I just imagined her being no older than maybe nine or ten which is no problem because apart from the synopsis her age is never mentioned in the novel.


The plot itself was nothing uber-special. I mean, the events were very unexpected - but also kind of unrealistic so that should keep the balance :)
It did help,though, to deliver the message of the book. Tess made some mistakes and learned from them and I think that's what readers of this book would do, too.


All in all, Tess, Terrorist and the Tiara was a quick read I'd recommend for Middle Grade readers or everyone who is in the mood for a light children's novel with a valuable message.


I want to thank the author of this book and the publisher Middleton Books for offering me a digital review copy of Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara. That, of course, does not influence my view on the book :)

Summer Reading Review: One Moment - Kristina McBride

Goodreads summary:


"This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie's life. Now it's the one she'd do anything to forget." Maggie remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party. She remembers climbing the trail with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can't she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below-dead? 
As Maggie's memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?
The latest novel from the author of "The Tension of Opposites," "One Moment" is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

Pages: 272 (Hardcover)
Release Date: June 26th 1012
Publisher: Egmont USA


LONG STORY SHORT:
This book was a joyful read. It was not outstanding and if it was a bit longer than it actually is I don't know if I had read it till the end. The characters were likable, but even now I feel like I don't really know any of them very well. The story idea itself is not that new or original which is why I missed a unique twist from the author - be it through plot, language, ending, whatever. All in all I would say this book is okay, but not very special.

REVIEW:

I got One Moment from Netgalley and was quite excited to start reading it. I'd seen a few positive remarks and reviews from other people about it and as I usually like mystery novels I felt like this one might be the one for me.

As I can't really decide if this book gets a negative or a positive review (it's kind of in between) I'm going to start with what I liked best about One Moment: the language and dialogue. I think it means a lot if an author has that ability to make a protagonist's thoughts and the dialogue in the whole book - from beginning to end (duh!) - so real you feel like he or she just transports it from reality to the pages. Kristina McBride is such an author and I think she earns applause for that aspect of her book.

Some things, though, made this a rather boring, slow read for me.
The main problem I had with One Moment was how predictable everything was. In a mystery I usually expect a little bit of creepyness, I want to keep guessing what happened or what will happen. I definitely missed the surprise in this book. Whenever Maggie got back a piece of her memory I was like: "Who cares? Wasn't that what you assumed had happened??" To cut it short, if One Moment is a mystery, the mystery is pretty much nonexistent in this novel.

If it is a contemporary novel, I think the character development was not as good as it could have been. It took me ages to remember who is who in this book because everyone was just quickly introduced and I didn't have a clear picture of the personality that person had. Then, in the end of the book I felt like all those pretty flat characters didn't change at all, they didn't learn, they didn't grow. Even the main character, Maggie seemed pretty flat to me.

I said above that One Moment was predictable. It was, I guess, because the story was missing some kind of unique element. Michele Jaffe's Rosebush - for example - had a great message and strong characters and a very surprising twist at the end. The Deadly Cool Series is completely unrealistic, but a hilarious feel - good novel that I could reread over and over again. One Moment was the story of a girl who lost her boyfriend. Period. All in all, I wished there was more to the story.

I want to thank EgmontUSA for giving me the chance to read the e-galley for One Moment. This review states my honest opinion on the book.

Summer Reading: Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry

Goodreads summary:

A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time. When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.
Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.


LONG  STORY SHORT:

This book was not for me. I do understand that some people actually really liked it but I found it dull, cheesy and totally unoriginal. The first half was just straight up boring, the turning point exactly what I expected and the ending unnecessarily dramatic and - again - predictable.

REVIEW:

I wanted to have Blue Sky Days for a while because the synopsis really appealed to me and then I was so happy when I got it for a really good price on Amazon. Also, I've read a pretty good review about it that encouraged me even more.

This is the first review that I'm writing that I'm afraid will probably turn into a rant. I was so disappointed with the book. Not only with the plot but with most characters, as well. I did finish it but I found it boring and even annoying which is why I'm trying to cut this review short.

PLOT:
Nothing unexpected happened. The author informs the reader about a thousand times of the evil that the protagonist's mother is and gives several examples for that. Then we can see how as soon as the main character moves in with her aunt and her life turns perfect in a sec. She makes friends, gets along with her aunt. You won't believe it but even the people she meets on the sidewalk are  so much nicer than those in her hometown! Her new room and clothes and food and the weather - everything is great now that she left behind her mean mom!

Characters:
One word: Flat. Okay, maybe I'll give you a little more than that. They were also perfect. Her boyfriend was EVERYTHING you could wish for in a boyfriend, her aunt was understanding, carefree, happy, a great friend and adult and the total opposite of mean mom. Then there's her boyfriend's dad who also is perfect and the friends she makes (whom we almost never see in the first half of the book because they seem to be working 24/7 - literally!) and they have a perfect relationship, as well. Did I forget someone? Oh. Yes. Perfect dad.

THE ENDING:
So, so cheesy. And totally expected. I would turn around and tell my mom (who was sitting next to me, listening to my complaints) what I think would happen and it totally did - every single time! And it was so cheesy - I couldn't even believe it!

WHAT I DID LIKE, THOUGH: The title. It fit the story perfectly!

HOWEVER:
This is only my opinion. The opinion of a ranty, sarcastic highschool-girl without any life experience. I thought this book was a waste of time and money - that doesn't mean you're going to think this, too. Maybe this is exactly the type of book some people with different taste love. I'm even sure there are (people like that, I mean), because Blue Sky Days has gotten pretty good ratings on Goodreads (3.75 at the moment) and because there are some very positive reviews for it, like here.




I'm afraid this book won't get a Smartie from me.

Summer Reading - Summer Of No Regrets

So, three weeks ago - when I got the idea to provide a review of a summer read every week for you guys - it seemed very original to me. Well...after seeing all those summer reviews, giveaways, challenges whatsoever I understand that several people see themselves affected by summer and summer vacation. Anyway, Summer Reading will be a weekly feature I plan to do every Monday of June, July and August to put everyone (including myself) in a summer-y mood! Enjoy :)


The day Brigitta accidentally flings herself into the lap of a guy she's never met, her friend Natalie is convinced he's Trent Yves, egotistical heartthrob-in-hiding. When the boy, who calls himself Luke, is nearly eaten by a cougar, Brigitta finds herself saving his life, being swept into his spectacular embrace and wondering if she wants Natalie's fantasy to be true.

As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can't be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents' death, her father's sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, she isn't sure of anything. What is the truth? More importantly, can she accept it?




LONG STORY SHORT:
What you see is what you get? So not with this book. The cheesy cover? The I-feel-like-I've-already-read-this-book summary on the back? The title? I was so sure I'd know exactly what this book would be about and then pretty soon-ish noticed that it was nothing what I expected. The good thing about that was of course the originality the book provided with every aspect. Be it characters, storyline, storyworld, the ending. On the other hand a light funny summer read with a bit of heartbreaking and a bigger portion of cheesyness was not only what I expected but also what I wanted. And I found myself putting the book down quite often and wishing for something else, something less thoughtful to sooze my sunburned mind...

REVIEW:

I mentioned on the blog that I bought this book because I read a guest post by Katherine Grace Bond, the author, during a blog tour on the topic of finding yourself that I really enjoyed. I found it so inspiring and helpful! After that I checked the summary for this book and thought I'd spoil myself with a sweet, but not flat summer read a la Sarah Dessen. Yeah. It didn't completely work out.

I had a love - hate relationship with this one. What I loved most about the book was its originality, the fact that you got a very deep story, a very different setting. The summary on the back turned out to be only one of the few subplots that lead through this novel. Yeah, there is a guy and a girl, but there's also the girl's family and their problems and the girl's problems with another guy and the difficulties she has with her best friend and her troubled relationship with her dad and so on and so forth. You get the point. There was a lot happening in this book. Not that it was very fast paced. It was just that different from most contemporaries this one didn't just show one aspect of the girl's life but it felt like you experienced every little emotion, fight, struggle, doubt she felt, too.

It is really difficult for me to express what I mean by originality. I think it was partly the setting but I don't want to give you guys any spoilers, so I won't go into greater detail now. Also, how Brigitta always thought about religion and spirit was something I didn't expect from a novel like this. Then there was the whole plot around Luke and the question if he really is or isn't what he pretends to be. Let's just say that there were many elements in this story that I really didn't think would be in it.

What I didn't enjoy was - the originality I didn't expect. I found the whole story background rather confusing and as I was looking for something much lighter I wasn't really in the mood to get behind things as much. It sounds totally ridiculous, I know, but there was just too much depth in the story for me. Too much detail, too many plots - and most of all - too many difficult issues to cloud my mind. This book honestly made me think too much.

Don't get me wrong, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone out there. Good writing, original plot and characters and - or but - the author really makes you think. It is not all that funny. It is romantic. But it is also serious -and sad- at times. You should keep that in mind while you're reading it.

RATING: 2 out of 3 stars

Review # 10 Dark Storm by Sarah Singleton

When life stabs you in the back and you feel like you're drowning in sadness - isn't it a life saver to have someone hold you above the waterline? Then again - too bad if that someone is not really alive anymore, either...


Goodreads synopsis:

Ellie is staying with her maternal grandparents for the summer, while her recently bereaved dad takes off on holiday with his new girlfriend. Upset by his apparent callousness, missing her mother, and jealous for her dad's attention, she begins to spiral into depression. Her grandparents suggest she joins a local theatre group, to meet people her own age and get away from the dark thoughts that threaten to engulf her. But then she gets roped into a seance at the theatre, and is the only one who actually sees a real ghost. Now a spirit is contacting her from beyond the grave - and as the dead boy's story unfolds, Ellie finds herself falling in love with him. But if she solves his mystery and helps release his soul, will he be lost to her forever?


What drew me to this book was mainly the cover, but also the synopsis. I liked the mix of contemporary with a slight bit of paranormal and was interested in where the story might go. My journey with this book was very different from ordinary, but not exactly in a good way. After having read the first 30 pages I was so amazed by it that I was tempted to run and tell everyone I know about it and make them read it. I read further, discovered something and experienced the main part of the novel to be pretty disappointing.

First, though, I want to talk about why I loved the book in the beginning. The author had this great talent of jumping right into the story without overwhelming the reader. Really, I started this book five minutes before I had to get out of the bus and by the time I threw it into my backpack to get up, I was already completely into the story and couldn't wait to continue reading. This fast pacedness leads the reader through the whole book, so on the one hand this is a huge plus.

On the other hand, this plus became smaller for me with every page. What made me dread this book after a while was mainly the absolutely stiff dialogue. Usually, I don't even pay much attention to dialogue and I don't think I've ever mentioned it in any of my reviews, but I found the way the characters talked to each other just straight up annoying. I felt like they started a conversation, told each other the story of their lives although they had known the other person for  no longer than two minutes and then they were like "bye" and Ellie literally ran anywhere. She was running to so many places, never stayed anywhere for long and when she did, the author turned to summarising everything that happened so as if she just wanted to get it over with.

Another thing that really annoyed me was how simple everything the author wanted to happen just happened. Ellie got to know people in this book, they became friends and that was the end of it. They had barely ever talked, but Ellie told everyone immediately how she felt about the loss of her mother. Somehow, though she doesn't seem to be able to talk about that - or anything other than food - with her grandparents.
Same with the love interest, Harry the ghost. Ellie falling in love with him is a fact not a process. You turn the page and from one moment to the other she just goes on and on how she can't live without him. By the way, the fact that he is a ghost does not seem to be a problem at all. She's not turned off by it or scared or finds it weird or anything. She just goes with it.

The only thing I continued liking a LOT was the general plot of the novel. Just how everything happened and how Ellie developed throughout the novel was totally reasonable and there were some things in the story I just didn't expect at all.

To put it in a nutshell, I was turned off by this book pretty fast and almost considered not finishing it. I'm afraid I can't even say I'd recommend it to anyone. Except maybe, if someone doesn't care much about language and storytelling but only about the plot, because as I said before that was what I liked very much. Overall, a disappointing read for me.

RATING: 1 out of 3 Smarties