The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith-4 Stars

This was a book that made me happy. It reduced me to a teenager again, a giddy teenager even. It reminded me of why I love to read contemporary YA even though I don't often get around to reading it (because the fantasy and sci-fi books distract me a little too well at times, but I love all the genres equally!). The plot was a little predictable (except for the big twist with Oliver's reason for coming home. Did not see that coming) but that in no way distracted from how much I enjoyed this book. It was light, quick reading but it still had depth that kept it from being pure fluff. I loved the interaction between Hadley and Oliver, especially their ease with one another that was juxtaposed with their uncertainly about the attraction they flirt and the flirtation that followed. I also loved Oliver's sense of humour, but I especially empathized with Hadley's conflicted feelings towards her father. I read this book in about two days because I was just so eager to reach the happy ending I knew was coming. A thoroughly enjoyable book for anyone looking for a sweet and mostly uncomplicated love story.

Follow the White Rabbit by Kellie Sheridan-3 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Patchwork Press for allowing me to check out an advanced copy.
This was a fun and entertaining romp and good introduction to this series. There was some intrigue and mystery, the characters were well-introduced, and my appetite was whet for whatever comes next. I liked how the prologue set up what was going to happen without blatantly telling the reader. I definitely wanted to know more about each of the characters introduced (especially why is Gwen so reluctant to pursue things with Marc? Is Marc always that cheery or was it just because he met a new and interesting girl? What was the backstory with the former white queen and is Henrik planning something behind the scenes that he doesn't want Rose to know about? So many questions!)
All in all this was a fun, quick read that left me wanting more of Wonderland and its inhabitants.

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

5 Stars
Okay…I have a lot of thoughts and (emotions) about the end of this series. But they’re very hard to put into words…and even harder to do without giving away massive spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet. So I’ll try to just give a general impression and save the spoilers for the very end (where they will be dutifully tagged so only read them at your own peril!).
First, this is basically how I felt after a certain dramatic climax:

Originally posted by gambinogirls

Like really, I had to actually stop at the end of a chapter and just cry it out for a solid minute or so. There was certainly heartbreak (actually quite a bit of it) but I felt like I mended back together reasonably well by the end. I know there are plenty of fans who weren’t crazy about certain things that happened, but, I don’t know, I guess I expected that to happen, especially during the last third of the book. I thought Leigh handled things well and gave me an ending I could like even as it surprised me (because there were certainly a great many instances of “whaaa…just happened?!” while I was reading). Certain characters cemented themselves as my favourites (you know who you are, you rascals you) while other characters improved from previous books. I thought Alina did very well, especially in the beginning, with all of the saintly stuff (she definitely paid close attention to Nikolai on how to put on a show for the populace). I still have burning questions, which I hope might be answered or at least hinted at in her new series The Dregs (but the release is so far away!!!). Guess I’ll just have to wait semi-patiently until then…and maybe reread this series in the meantime. :)

The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen

5 Stars
Thanks to Netgalley.com and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for a review!
Okay, I have no idea why I waited so long to read this one. I’ve had it on my kindle app for weeks and weeks because the cover was so evocative and the plot sounded interesting but I just kept getting distracted by other books which weren’t nearly as good as this one (some of the books I was distracted by were very good, but most of the ones I’ve read haven’t been). I’m kicking myself for taking so long to get around to this. Van Allen has a real way with words, turning what should otherwise be a common turn-of-phrase or even a simple simile or metaphor into pure poetry. Seriously, I got shivers a couple of times while reading because her language was just so beautiful.
These were characters I could like and root for even when they did things I didn’t like (and for the most part the things they were doing that I didn’t like I could still understand why they thought they had to do it, which is just good character development). Aubrey with her crazy blue eyes, her outsider status, and her deeply-rooted belief in the Stitchery and its magic. Bitty with her standoffishness and cynicism against magic that slowly melted away as she let herself just be around her family. Meggie with her crazy quest even in the face of the pain her absence causes and her ever-changing look (I wish this was a movie because her character is a costume designer/hair designer’s dream). And Mariah, who was barely in this book and yet felt like such a big presence, like someone you really wish you could’ve gotten to know. And the Stitchery itself sounds wonderful and magical even in its current rundown state.
I must confess that I had never heard of Tarrytown itself and so was a little surprised to find out that it was so closely associated with Sleepy Hollow and all the mythology surrounding that area. I loved that there was more to their town than just Washington Irving’s story, that there were more urban legends and myths that could be explored. It was fascinating to learn about even though it wasn’t expounded upon that much in the novel itself (it made me want to go visit as well as doing some research into those legends).
I loved all the little descriptions of the knitwear produced or worn throughout the book. It felt so natural given the setting and the occupation of those in the Stichery. For some of the descriptions, I had to wrack my brain to remember what those particular patterns look like but more often than not I had to look it up on the internet to get a clearer picture. Most of all, it made me want to pick up some knitting needles and get to work, but sadly it’s been so long since I learned to knit that I’ve forgotten most of it and would need some refresher courses to help me along (I can still crochet though, so there’s that). It made me want to make something for someone and infuse some good thoughts, prayers, and maybe even a little magic into it (maybe a love spell for Benedict Cumberbatch? Too much?).
I’ve got to say, I wasn’t expecting the romance that unfolded (well, not at first. Once Vic came on the scene I was wishing with every fiber of my being that he and Audrey would end up together) but boy was it a doozy. It felt natural and beautiful and pretty hot even though it wasn’t overtly described (serious kudos to Van Allen for being able to make one kiss a million times steamier than anything in Fifty Shades of Grey or any other romance novel I’ve read. I think I’ll take some notes for my own writing) and yet was as evocative and sensual as any other love scene I’ve ever read (actually most of her scenes were better than most other scenes I’ve read. I think it had something to do with that things were only touched upon and not written out in lurid detail. It’s sorta like how horror movies are so much scarier if you don’t see the monster/ghost/baddie but catch only brief glimpses and the rest is left up to your imagination, but for romance instead). And seriously, I nearly cried at a pivotal point. I was so shocked by almost crying (I didn’t let myself cry because I was at work and that could be weird) even though I’d seen the sadness coming; I just hadn’t expected to be so heart-broken. Again, kudos to Van Allen for writing characters that seemed so real despite all the magic and mystery that I felt my heart break right along with one of them.
[The only qualm I have about the book is that it felt like there was some mystery surrounding Mariah’s death, especially as it happened around the Halperns. I might be wrong (it’s a good chance as my memory is very spotty) but I thought Mrs. Halpern said something about “it needed to be done” as Mariah’s body was wheeled away. That made me think that they’d somehow caused Mariah’s death and that there might be some element of mystery surrounding that that could derail the vote. Also, I was yelling for someone to try and get the Stichery declared an historical monument. I mean seriously, the house has been there since the Revolution. Surely it has some historical value and should be preserved. In the end I understood why it couldn’t be saved (because everything changes and life moves on and it wasn’t the end of the Van Rippers) and liked that the Stitchery sort of fought back against the demolition and that it wasn’t necessarily a happy ending, but instead it was just an ending, good and bad, very true to life.]
I was smiling as I finished the book, and that’s always a good sign for me.
Oh, and Lisa Van Allen, if you happen to read this, I would not be adverse to some kind of sequel revolving around the next generation of the Stitchery. I know it’s not really necessary but it could be fun, especially with Nessa’s pink hair coming in (and I want to know if Vic and Audrey have babies! Because I bet they’d be adorable). :)
And I didn’t even talk about the magic, which I found completely fabulous and unique from other books I’ve read. It wasn’t overblown or crazy or even all that unbelievable. I, like a lot of the characters in the book, found myself drawn in so that I believed in the magic of the Stitchery as well. Even though some bits reminded me slightly of Practical Magic, I think Van Allen handled the magical elements in such a way that they were light and believable (I certainly wish there was someone who could knit me a magical good luck charm).

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

5 Stars
Actually all the freaking stars. This book was phenomenal. I actually want to go back and reread it now...but my TBR list is too ginormous at the moment for that. Maybe...in a few days :)
Read June 6-8, 2013

I was so excited for this book and it really did not disappoint. I loved the new power dynamics, the new areas to learn about and explore (I bet the bone road will look pretty cool on film), the twists and turns in the plot, the drama between Alina, Mal, the Darkling...and Sturmhound. Let's face it: I absolutely lurved Sturmhound! He was an amazing character and I can't wait to see more of him in Ruin and Rising (I want to fast-forward to next year so I can go ahead and read it. Why can't I be the Doctor's companion? I would totally use the TARDIS to snap up all my favourite not-yet-released books and read them early). I laughed, I cried (not as bad as I thought I would but the tears were still there), I shook my fist at certain people being stubborn idiots, I yelled in shock and anger when crazy things went down, and I smiled at Alina's determination at the closing of the book. The only thing that disappointed me about the book...was that it ended. Maybe we could have a short story or two about Sturmhound's adventures before he met Alina and Mal? Some fun privateering stories? More Tamar and Tolya? Pretty please? With sprinkles on top?

P.S. it was super fun seeing Leigh Bardugo and the other Fierce Reads authors at the Irving Public Library yesterday, especially as I learned that she sometimes works through writer's block by speaking dialogue and conversations between her characters aloud. It's good to know I'm not the only writer who does that (of course I'm not published...yet *hopeful, nerdy smile*).

Folly by Marthe Jocelyn

 A really interesting and riveting book. It first intrigued me with its cover, so sparse and beautiful, and even though the plot isn't one I typically go for (historical), I gave it a chance. And I wasn't disappointed. The story, told from several different perspectives and in different times, revolves around Mary Finn, a young girl who is sent away by her stepmother to work in a tavern but who then makes her own way to working as a maid in London, and James Nelligan, an orphan living at the Foundling Hospital in London.

"This leads to that," Mary remarks, quoting her deceased mother, and she describes how she fell in love with a young man and got into a bit of trouble. James, having spent six idyllic years in the country with the Peeveys, now must return to the Foundling Hospital to be educated and made a productive member of society. Along with these characters narrations, we also get the perspective of Oliver Chester, a former foundling and now History Master at the Hospital, and Eliza Pigeon, the other maid in the house where Mary works. These characters' stories interweave in such an intricate way that, while the twist near the end isn't entirely unexpected, readers might be surprised by the turns their lives take over the course of the years. And yes, the main twist was fairly obvious (you might even be able to guess it now), but there is another, smaller twist at the very end which took me very much by surprise, even though a few small hints had been laid down for several chapters.

All in all, this was a brilliant book, especially for anyone interested in the history of Victorian London, but the every day history and not the grand royal kind. It was also remarkable to learn that some of the novel's contents are based in reality (there really was a Foundling Hospital created by Thomas Coram), especially how her own personal history played into the creation of Jocelyn's story.

Module 15-The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Book Info:
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. Candlewick Press, 2003.

Summary:
Virginia Shreves does not fit in with her family. She constantly feels that she was switched at birth with someone else, given that her family are mostly thin and perfect while she's slightly plus-sized and awkward. However, her problems are compounded when her older brother, Byron, is suspended from college after being charged with date raping a girl. Soon Virginia begins to rebel in bigger ways than just sneaking Froggy Welsh the Fourth into her bedroom for commitment-free makeout sessions until she finally finds her own style and her own way of living in the world, rather than trying to avoid it entirely.
My Take: 
Given the title, I had always thought this book was a humor-filled teen comedy. However, there is far more gravity within this book as Virginia deals with her body issues and her family issues. This was a book I could really relate to (I, too, was a chubby teen with family issues, though none quite like Virginia's as most of my family is very similar to me…and more supportive for that matter), and I think a lot of girls could relate to it, even if they don't share the same issues as Virginia does (then again, most girls suffer from body issues of some kind, whether they're skinny or chubby). Still, there was a fair amount of humor to keep me giggling at different issues. This is a book that I feel could be enjoyed by a variety of readers, teen or adult, chubby or thin, pretty or plain. It can speak to a lot of people.

Reviews:
From the Publisher
An overweight teen is sure that she's the weakest link in her high-powered family - until her handsome, athletic, star-student brother has a shocking fall from grace.
Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex. She lives on the Web, snarfs junk food, and follows the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct." Her stuttering best friend has just moved to Walla Walla (of all places). Her new companion, Froggy Welsh the Fourth (real name), has just succeeded in getting his hand up her shirt, and she lives in fear that he'll look underneath. Then there are the other Shreves: Mom, the successful psychologist and exercise fiend; Dad, a top executive who ogles thin women on TV; and older siblings Anaïs and rugby god Byron, both of them slim and brilliant. Delete Virginia, and the Shreves would be a picture-perfect family. Or so she's convinced. And then a shocking phone call changes everything.
With irreverent humor, insight, and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine whose story will speak to every teen who struggles with family expectations - and serve as a welcome reminder that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself. Publishers Weekly
A "chubby" New York City teen faces pressures from her family to get thin, and her brother is suspended from college on charges of date rape. "The heroine's transformation into someone who finds her own style and speaks her own mind is believable-and worthy of applause," according to PW. Ages 14-up. (July) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. Suggestions:
This would be great for a book talk presentation or even good for class discussion (though there might be some resistance by more conservative parents given the date rape and Virginia's belief that chubby girls must be willing to go further). But those issues could also open up a lot of talking points.