Welcome to Book City: October 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

Special Report: 'Beneath a Meth Moon'

Welcome to Book City

Date: October 31, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Special Report

Headline

Beneath a Meth Moon

Jacqueline Woodson

A stunning new novel from threetime Newbery Honor–winning
author Jacqueline Woodson.

Laurel Daneau has moved on to a new life, in a new town, but inside she’s still reeling from the loss of her beloved mother and grandmother after Hurricane Katrina washed away their home. Laurel’s new life is going well, with a new best friend, a place on the cheerleading squad and T-Boom, co-captain of the basketball team, for a boyfriend. Yet Laurel is haunted by voices and memories from her past.

When T-Boom introduces Laurel to meth, she immediately falls under its spell, loving the way it erases, even if only briefly, her past. But as she becomes alienated from her friends and family, she becomes a shell of her former self, and longs to be whole again. With help from an artist named Moses and her friend Kaylee, she’s able to begin to rewrite her story and start to move on from her addiction.

Incorporating Laurel’s bittersweet memories of life before and during the hurricane, this is a stunning novel by one of our finest writers. Jacqueline Woodson’s haunting—but ultimately hopeful—story is beautifully told and one readers will not
want to miss.

Personal Ads:

Laurel.

Meth addict looking for either a) her family's trust or b) more meth. A bit ditzy and girly. Can be clingy. Recovering from her addiction.

Opinions:

I don't like this book. I can say that I'm happy that it's about serious topics. I can't say that this serious topic is well done. It seems a bit odd.

I also don't like the way the story is told. It's going back and forth. It's now and then. It is confusing. I don't like how confusing it is. It isn't linear. It's just jumping back and forth. I don't like it. I couldn't figure out how things happened. I was confused the entire time I read the book.

I don't like the main character as well. She's annoying. I get that she's a meth addict. But we have a bit of backstory. And we don't get enough of it. I feel like she's lacking. She doesn't have enough depth to her.

Weather:

Cloudy with a 80% chance of rain

2/5

October 31, 2014: 'Avalon'

Welcome to Book City

Date: October 31, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Avalon

Mindee Arnett

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

Jeth steals a ship with minor problems. He finds an ITA agent on the ship. The agent named Renford asks if Jeth would like to do a deal with him. The deal would give Jeth the Avalon his ship. Jeth declines . Jeth goes back to Hammer Dafoe the guy who keeps the thieves, and Jeth's group, in check. He gets the same job as the one that Renford wanted Jeth to do. Jeth makes a deal with Hammer to get his ship if he comes back successfully because he had to go to an area called the Belgrave area that is similar to the Bermuda Triangle. Jeth and his crew go on the mission. It takes a while, but he finds the ship. And its three survivors. They are Vince and his sister Sierra and the little girl Cora. On the ship, there are random holes. On the Avalon, the same phenomena happens. Lizzie, Sierra, and Jeth go to the other ship and get parts that are needed for the repairs for the Avalon. Sierra and Jeth kiss. Later on, Jeth gets betrayed by Sierra who overhears him saying he'll contact Renford because Hammer was too dangerous. The Avalon is taken. Jeth and his crew end up being taken by Hammer who got to them first. Jeth is given the 'decision' to be a mindless Guard or independent Brethren under Hammer's thumb. He goes on a mission to get the Avalon back. He finds out that Cora is actually his sister. He goes to get Lizzie and Cora but is ambushed by the 'ITA', who turn out to be traitors, and Hammer when he plans to escape. Sierra agrees to help Cora calm down and be a part of the plan Hammer and Renford had. Jeth is taken to be implanted to become one of Hammer's slaves. Lizzie and Sierra break in before anything can happen. Hammer is overpowered, and Dax a tracker jumps in and takes Hammer's implant. Dax puts the implant as his own. Jeth is set free. He looks for Cora and finds her. Jeth shoots Renford, killing him in front of Cora. Cora has a meltdown, creating holes and phasing left and right. She phases the gun Jeth had and his fingers. Cora saves them by phasing them all to the Avalon where they flee. Sierra and Jeth get together as a couple. The crew and their friends fly off to a better tomorrow.

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Jethro Seagrave.

Teenager thief with a love for his family and his ship and his team. A guy who keeps his emotions in check but will do anything to protect the ones he loves. Looking for a lover to cuddle with and kiss constantly. Lost some fingers if that's a turn off. Cold at times and determined. Looks at all the options before making a decision.

Opinions:

I think this book has a good idea. The concept is solid. Metatech. Ships. A band of teenager thieves. It's interesting without being too much. The world building for the concept is quite good. We get the idea of what metatech is. We get the idea of the world. Of the ships. We don't get a detailed analysis, but that isn't needed here. What you get is all you need.

The plot isn't fast or slow. It has the right pacing. We don't blast through any parts. The action is also good. Enough shooting and pain. (And I'll admit that it's nice having human characters who aren't immune to pain.) The plot isn't just action or science fiction. It's also drama and romance and fantasy. There's family and lovers and friendship. (The last one being less emphasized than the first two.)

My only problem is the characters. And the romance.

The characters are...a bit annoying. Some are a bit whiny even. By that I mean that Jeth's little sister Lizzie is annoying. She's whiny and bratty at times. She can be a whiz at computers. But everything else? Whines. I don't mind Sierra. At least she has purpose. But she's the superwoman of the characters. The 'I'm in ITA even though I'm young' person. I don't mind prodigies. I really don't, but this is too far. We already have a band of prodigies. In a menagerie of friends, I know. We get the 'beautiful, smart, and clever' girl? Overkill.

The romance is also an annoyance. Where do they get together? Why does Sierra trust Jeth? I don't get it. (Though, I say that a lot.) I understand that they have been torture by the same man. But I think this is half sexual desire and half the lure of dating someone who is not a trustworthy person. (Sierra betrays Jeth, remember?)

I also don't think this book needs a sequel. It's perfect in its ending. No more. No less. I don't see how the story will continue...

Weather:

Sunny with a 20% chance of rain

4/5

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

October 29, 2014: 'Not a Drop to Drink'

Welcome to Book City

Date: October 29, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Not a Drop to Drink

Mindy McGinnis

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

Lynn lives with her mother on her land where a pond is. They go by their daily lives until coyotes attack one day. A bad shot results in Mother being killed. Stebbs the neighbor comes to help. He advises Lynn to check out a camp by the stream. She does so, finding Eli, a pregnant Neva, and Lucy. Eli forces Lucy on Lynn, and the older girl takes Lucy home. She helps Lucy heal. Lynn goes back to the camp and finds Neva in labor. Stebbs and Lynn help Neva deliver the still born baby. Eli and Lynn bury the baby moments after its birth. Lynn goes back to daily life with Lucy until Stebbs doesn't appear one day. Lynn and Lucy go to find him. They find him in his cellar where he has a steady stream of water. Lynn goes to Eli and Neva's place. She flirts with Eli there. Stebbs helps build a house for the two by the stream. (The two being Neva and Eli.) Lynn learns that her father is part of the militia. Eli goes by Lynn's place. He stays the night after Stebbs takes Lucy to his place. Time passes, and Neva goes to see Lucy. Men come with Vera Neva and Eli's mother. Lucy gains a bacterial infection. They trade Vera for Neva. Neva kills herself to spare herself from being abused by the men. Lynn and Vera go to get medical supplies Vera stashed. Lynn decides to attack the camp where the men came from. She works with Eli and Stebbs. Eli is the distraction, but he catches on fire. Stebbs kills Eli to put him out of his misery. Lynn kills her dad who happens to be the leader of the camp. Lynn helps free the women the camp kept under lock and key. Lynn buries Eli where she buried Eli. The story ends with the epilogue where Lucy and Lynn are living out happily ever after.

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Lynn.

Teenage girl looking for someone to melt her heart. Strong and tough. Determined to survive. A fighter. Surviving after she accidentally caused her mother's death. A loving person once you get to know her. Slowly and steadily meting her frozen heart. Gaining compassion.

Opinions:

I like the concept of the story. It's interesting. Lynn and Mother live on a pond where people come to try and take their water. Both of them are tough and hardened. It's quite interesting. Water actually is a needed resource in daily life, and the world has some places that are almost void of water. It's something people need to survive. Even if they have water, it isn't always clean water. Which brings up this book's point of cholera. The idea is hard to determine whether or not it will happen. We have global warming...but the ice caps are melting. Wouldn't that be a water surplus? I'm not sure. But this is still an interesting premise.

Though Lynn is a bit too tough, if there is such a thing, I do like her. She's tough in all the right places, and she changes to be more loving and caring. I like characters who change into someone else. Lynn isn't fully her father, a maniac, or her mother, a realist and a bit of a pessimist. She cares for Lucy and Eli. She cares for Stebbs. She grows a heart even though she was raised to have none.

The plot is a bit dull, though. There isn't enough action. We only get action in the last chapter or so when Lynn attacks her father's camp. I think the plot is also a bit...slow. It doesn't seem to carry much action or drama until we reach the introduction of Lucy. And between Mother's death and Lucy coming in, Lynn is just being 'lazy'. (Of course, surviving isn't lazy. I just don't think her daily routine is a need-to-know part of this story.)

The romance... It's instant. It seems like everyone except Lucy is pairing off. (And Lucy even gets a hinted special someone in the epilogue.) Where is the spark? I know I always repeat this, but I don't see it. What do they bond over? Where is the care? The lure? I think that Lynn is physically attracted to Eli, and that's what caused almost everything to come together. The other reason is the fact that Eli is the first guy Lynn's ever seen. Other than thieves or wanderers or Stebbs.

The ending is a problem by itself. It seems rushed. It's jumping from the attack...or happily ever after? I know there's a second book...but why does it say epilogue? Can't it just end with Eli's burial? Or the beginning of a community? The book could even be a series if the author wanted to make a book on how the girls from Lynn's father's camp come together with Lynn and build a community. (Thinking 'Ashfall' here.) It would be interesting if that happened. There might be mutiny and whatnot. I just think the ending could have been better.

Weather:

Cloudy with a 80% chance of rain

2/5

October 26, 2014: 'Love in the Time of Global Warming'

Welcome to Book City

Date: October 26, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Love in the Time of Global Warming

Francesca Lia Block

Her life by the sea in ruins, Pen has lost everything in the Earth Shaker that all but destroyed the city of Los Angeles. She sets out into the wasteland to search for her family, her journey guided by a tattered copy of Homer’s Odyssey. Soon she begins to realize her own abilities and strength as she faces false promises of safety, the cloned giants who feast on humans, and a madman who wishes her dead. On her voyage, Pen learns to tell stories that reflect her strange visions, while she and her fellow survivors navigate the dangers that lie in wait. In her signature style, Francesca Lia Block has created a world that is beautiful in its destruction and as frightening as it is lovely. At the helm is Pen, a strong heroine who holds hope and love in her hands and refuses to be defeated.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

A massive earthquake happens. The main character Penelope 'Pen' survives. She doesn't know what happens to her parents or brother. A group of men come to her house. She meets Merk who tells her that there is a map that will show her where her parents are. She is given a van as well. She flees in the van. She is caught by a Giant named Bull. She stabs the Giant in the eye before grabbing supplies from the store the Giant guarded. She goes to the Lotus Hotel and meets Hex. She stays with Hex for weeks, getting high on lotus juice. Another Giant attacks the hotel. Pen and Hex escape in the van. They find sirens who almost lure Hex in. Pen pulls him back. They go to a mansion and meet Beatrix. She takes Pen and Hex as prisoner. Hex has sex with Beatrix to get free. He takes Pen and another prisoner Ez. They go to a museum to see art on Pen's request. Pen gets caught by a Giant who declares Pen as his bride. She is saved by Ez who uses magical wind powers.

The group finds the map. They head from California to Las Vegas where the map says Pen's parents are. They find Ash. Ash and Ez get together. Hex reveals that he was born a girl named Lex. The four go to Tara's oasis, searching for water. Tara tells them that Pen's mother is in Las Vegas. Tara leaves to find plants and doesn't return. Hex and Pen grow tired. Hex teaches Pen how to fight. Hex also teaches Pen how to pleasure herself. (Remember that Hex was a girl.) The four leave Tara's place. Pen finds her mother in Las Vegas. Pen also meets Kronen. To trade for her mother's freedom, Pen trades her eye for Bull's eye she staved earlier in the story. She is knocked out. She wakes up by Merk's side. Pen finds Tara's bones and takes them to bury them somewhere else. They go to Kronen to find Pen's friends. Pen tells Kronen's tale to Bull's brother. She is released from Kronen, surviving. Merk tells her that he is her father as they go back to Tara's place. Merk takes Pen to her house. Pen finds her brother Venice and her dog Argos. She plants Tara's bones as well as some seeds in the ground. Pen sees sprouts in the ground and sees her friends coming towards her in the distance.

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Penelope.

Girl who might have been a lesbian at one point in her life seeks family and lifelong partner. Is good at reciting things from rote memory. Knows about art and the scientific names of things. Needs friendship and family to survive. Looking for 'perfect' little brother named after a city, crazy, survivalist father, and artist mother. Looking for a hot guy with a backstory and a drug addiction. Changes from 'weak' and 'wimpy' to hero with the power to 'see' stories.

Opinions:

I think that this book has mistaken identity. Romance. Post-apocalyptic. Fiction. Fantasy. We have rushed romance. We have Giants. And earthquakes? Can't this book choose? I don't like it. We get a world that is ruined by waves and earthquakes and fantasy that follows the story line of 'The Odyssey.' This book needs to choose what it is. It can't be so many things.

Another problem is the romance. How do these relationships form? What do they bond over? The apocalypse? I don't see it. Where is the chemistry? This is why I don't like romance in the first book of a series. The romance just pops up.

I also don't like the characters. I know that the author was trying to add in LGBT, but it didn't work. It seemed bumbling and awkward. The characters didn't seem quite queer. Ez and Ash just were together. I'm not sure how well that works. We have a lesbian main character. A transgender. Two gays. It's simply annoying. She's trying to add in diversity. That just doesn't work. You don't pile on LGBT like it's nothing. Not everyone in the world is LGBT.

I like the parts in the story that collide with 'The Odyssey'. It's quite nice. I enjoyed those parts. They were interesting to see how the two stories compare.

It's interesting that the author had family in this. Of course, the title warned me of the romance. But it's nice that Pen is seeking her family. That does not overshadow Pen's need for Hex. That is just a bit too much.

The author tried to make the characters more real. Transgender. Lesbian. Gay. Queer. I don't think she succeeded. I didn't care too much about the characters. (As I have said before.) A for effort, though. It sort of worked. I felt a bit for them. But this seems like a realistic read at times when it should have been fantasy or something else.

I like that it was a quick read. I could have finished it in one day. I finished it in two. It was good for the author. I wanted to get this book over with.

Weather:

Cloudy with a 80% chance of rain

2/5

October 24, 2014: 'Snow Like Ashes'

Welcome to Book City

Date: October 24, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Snow Like Ashes

Sara Raasch

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

Meira goes on her first mission after 'proving' she can do close combat. She goes to find one half of the conduit for her kingdom Winter. She gets the half after fighting in the sewers with Spring's best general Herod. She gets tracked by Spring. Her fellow Winterians take down all but one of the scouts for Spring. The last scout flees back to Spring. The group of eight flee their camp. Meira and a Winterians general nicknamed Sir go to Cordell a Rhythm kingdom. They are welcomed with open arms. They find out the others are there and are safe.

Cordell and Winter come together in an alliance. Meira finds out it's an alliance of marriage between her and Theron Cordell's prince. Meira refuses to accept this, fighting back by not going to ladyship lessons. She sees her friend Mather the prince of Winter and Theron both shirtless and sweaty. They, Mather and Meira, have an argument. Theron intercepts and duels Mather. Mather almost wins, but the fight ends with Sir stopping it. Meira befriends Theron. She discovers a book on magic and starts reading it, trying to find a way to defeat Spring's king Angra without the whole conduit.

Meira and Theron's wedding is planned. Meira fights back, fleeing to Noam the king of Cordell's study. She discovers a letter to Angra detailing Cordell's betrayal. Spring advances on Cordell even though Noam thought that Spring wouldn't. Meira and her friends fight. Sir is killed in battle, and Meira is taken by Spring. She arrives at Abril the capital of Spring. She works at a Winterians work camp with Nessa and her two older brothers. As time passes, her hope comes and goes until she realizes, with the help of the Jannuari's city master, that she needs to fight back. (Jannuari being Winter's capital.) Meira tears down the wooden stairs at the place where she toils day in and day out. Meira is taken to Angra to be interrogated. She ends up discovering Hannah's sacrifice and that she is Hannah's daughter. And the conduit of Winter. Theron appears, turning himself in to Angra. Theron and Meira are put in Herod's room to be tortured as Autumn and Cordell advance on Spring. Meira kills Herod. She and Theron flee to help their people fight back. Meira takes a detour, freeing Nessa and the prisoners in Abril's work camp. The Winterians fight back. Sir turns out to be alive. Sir helps Meira fight Angra. Mather takes Angra's conduit a staff and breaks it. The king of Spring disappears. But Meira doesn't assume he's dead. Meira frees the rest of her people. Cordell helps Winter with supplies as the Winterians head back to Jannuari to rebuild.

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Meira.

Single girl stuck in a love triangle with her best friend and a prince. Can't choose who to care for more. Looking for magic to help her kingdom. Brings bravery and strength to the table. Changes from orphan girl to queen with magic. Tough and sassy at times. Can be a child. Longs for family and love and warmth.

Opinions:

The good thing that happened this week is that we got a good dose of world building. And action. I like how the world is built. It's not bland. It has history and depth. Secrets and alliances. It's more than it seems. I like how it sticks to the theme of the season. But the Rhythm kingdoms? Where is that from?

I also like idea of helping your people and how you can be you still. Meira goes through emotional problems. She becomes the queen she needs to be. That's a fantastic change. I like it.

Sadly, there is romance but too little to make anything satisfying. I want to root for one couple or the other, but I can't. We don't get any chemistry. We only get a few pages of the intimate interactions between Meira and Theron. There is almost nothing but a one-sided relationship on Meira and Mather's part. Where is the chemistry? What do they bond over?

I also think that the main character has only a few good things. She's bratty at first. A romantic. She's reckless in a way I don't like. I like her change. But she isn't a good character. She's obnoxious at times.

The plot is also all romance in the beginning. It's good that it sheds that skin and becomes more focused on the people not the lovers. That's a good thing, but the beginning was dull. It could have been different.

Weather:

Sunny with a 20% chance of rain

4/5

Sunday, October 26, 2014