It Really Didn’t Happen to Nancy

Well hello there,

Today I’m going to be semi-reviewing, semi-bashing a book I recently read called It Happened to Nancy: By an Anonymous Teenager, A True Story from Her Diary. Within the first few pages I knew that the title was a lie. No, it didn’t happen to Nancy. No, this was not by an anonymous teenager. No, this was not a true story from anyone’s diary. No, Beatrice Sparks did not edit this book, she wrote it.

Now, maybe I’m just too cynical, but if I am, so are many other people. Today I visited the Amazon page for It Happened to Nancy, while skimming through the reviews I found that I was not the only one who thinks this book is not what it claims to be. The so-called account of a teenager struggling through AIDS and eventually dying seems to be completely made up. First of all, the tone in which Nancy speaks seems so uncharacteristic of the common teacher. True, this book was published in 1994 and the way teenagers speak has changed a bit since then, but things haven’t changed that much.

Not only is It Happened to Nancy fabricated, but it is said that Go Ask Alice, Sparks’ most popular novel is also a work of fiction. I guess this just goes to show that you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Or in this case, read.

That’s all for now(:

The next book I should be reviewing is Don’t Die, My Love by. Lurlene McDaniel.

Until then stay cool, stay happy, and stay reading.

With love,

Jay

Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie- Cutest Couple Ever? I Think Yes.

Helllllo,

Long time no see. Post? Speak? Review? Anyway, I haven’t updated in a while. And I’ve realized that by telling you when I’m going to update it puts more pressure on me, therefore making it harder for me to follow through. So…I’ll post when I can/remember/feel like it.

Today I’m going to discuss the Jessica Darling series. If you haven’t read them, go! NOW! Just kidding, finish reading this first . First of all, I have yet to finish the series. I’ve read four of the five novels. And also, I finished Fourth Comings in May? June? Either way, it was quite awhile ago. So forgive me if some of my details are a little vague.

Here it is in a nutshell: the series follows Jessica Darling, in Sloppy Firsts she is sixteen. She lives in New Jersey and has a very interesting perspective on life. She goes through much drama, whether it deals with the “Clueless Crew”, faked urinalysis, or her sister Bethany’s annoying husband. Through it all though, there’s Marcus. “Krispy Kreme” Marcus. The one who gives Jessica the weirdest/craziest/wildest/best feelings in the world. The one who’s been a mystery to her since day one. The one who was Hope’s brother Heath’s best friend.

Marcus and Jessica go together perfectly. They both bring out pieces of each other that they may not have realized they had otherwise. Marcus makes Jessica live more wildly. They’re “jus’ darlin’”. [Sloppy Firsts joke.]

In closing. Read the books. They’re absolutely amazing!

Until next time, stay warm, stay happy, and stay reading.

With Love,

Jay

I’m sorry<3

Here’s some simply amazing music to make up for my disappearance.

Picture Perfect

Hey,

I’m not really sure how to introduce this one, so here goes.

Picture Perfect starts out with an unknown woman waking up in a cemetery. She can’t remember her name or anything about herself. She wanders through the cemetery and lies back down. After waking up for the second time she walks to the edge of the graveyard. There she meets Will Flying Horse. She asks if he’s been waiting for her for a long time. He replies no, and tells her that they’ve never met. Will, who’s new to L.A., takes the mysterious woman back to his home. He starts calling her Jane, as in Jane Doe, and takes her to the hospital the next morning. They figure out that Jane’s married, but no one had reported a missing woman yet. After a week Jane remembers that she’s an anthropologist, and a few days later her husband comes forward. The woman soon finds out that her name is Cassie and she is married to Hollywood’s biggest star, Alex Rivers. Unfortunately, their life is not all glitz and glam. When Cassie finds a pregnancy test in a garbage can, all her memories start coming back. She remembers how she met Alex in the Tanzanian desert. But she also remembers the not so magical times. Like when Alex beats her. She recalls her reason for being in the graveyard. She had tried to escape from Alex with her unborn child. Fearing the safety of her baby, she recruits Will’s help to get away from Alex. But will running away help? Or will Alex find Cassie and harm her even more?

I liked this book a lot. As most Jodi Picoult books are, this was a very long novel. But it was also very intricately detailed. One thing, among many others, that I love about Picoult’s novels is how professional they are. By this I mean it seems like she puts so much time into studying what she writes about. One of the settings in this novel is a Native American reservation, and there is so much detail put into the descriptions of the people and places that you’d think Jodi had been lived there all her life.

One thing I didn’t like about this book was how it made me feel somewhat sorry for the abuser. This is more of an opinion, and has nothing to do with the writing style. But as Alex’s past was explained you started to find, not an excuse, for his abusing, but somewhat of an explanation. I felt anger towards Cassie for going back to Alex time and again. But I guess that’s how abusive relationships work.

I’m going to give this book an 8 out of 10. not the best, but still not bad. I’m reading Thirteen Reasons Why by; Jay Asher. The next book I’ll be reviewing is Youth In Revolt by; C.D. Payne.

Until next time, stay warm, stay happy, and keep reading.

With Love,

Jay

Upcoming Reviews:

Youth In Revolt by; C. D. Payne

Girl At Sea by; Maureen Johnson

Lush by; Natasha Friend

A Child Called “It” by; Dave Pelzer

Beautiful Disaster by; Kate Brian

This Lullaby

Hello,

I have found a new favorite Sarah Dessen book! Sorry, Dreamland. This Lullaby was amaaaaazing! I love it! Anyway, here’s the review:

Remy’s mother, Barbara Starr, a romance novelist, has had her fair share of failed romances. And Remy has picked up her mother’s tricks to reel in men. But she also has learned how to let them go at just the right time. The only exception is Dexter. She hasn’t been able to let him go, even though he’s nowhere near her type. So what’s making him stay? And why is Remy so keen on figuring out a way to let him go.

First of all, I have to tell you that I absolutely love Dexter. He is my dream guy. And as everyone knows, boys in books are just better. (Well at least most of the time). Anyway, he was amazing, and his flaws made him even more perfect. Now, onto Remy. I liked her a lot. Although, out of all of Sarah Dessen’s characters, my favorite is Haven from That Summer. I found many similarities between the two. They both felt like people were predictable, which I guess is true. But Remy knew her Mom very well. Not so much her Mom, but her Mom’s relationships.

I’d give this book a 9 out of 10, it was great. Recommended. Also, I’m sorry it took so long to put this up. I would say I’ve been super-duper busy, but that would only be true. The full truth would be that I’ve been super-duper lazy. I’ll try to get more reviews done. The good news is that during this period of super-duper laziness I have done a lot of reading. So much so that it’s going to be very hard for me to catch up on my reviews. But I’ll do my best, the best I can do is try.

That’s all for now. Until next time, don’t procrastinate. I’m reading the novel Beautiful Disaster by; Kate Brian.

With Love,

Jay

Upcoming Reviews:

Picture Perfect by; Jodi Picoult

Youth in Revolt by; C.D. Payne

Girl at Sea by;  Maureen Johnson

Lush by; Natasha Friend

A Child Called “It” by; Dave Pelzer

Sweethearts

Hi again,

You want to know something funny? This book made me cry. Yet, I wouldn’t add it to my favorites list. While Once Was Lost didn’t make me cry and it is on my favorites list. I know, I know, that wasn’t very funny. Just a bit ironic, I guess. Sweethearts was a very good book, although it was a tad depressing.

Jenna Vaughn has her life together. She’s popular, has a cute boyfriend, and is on track to graduate. That is, until Cameron Quick returns. Cameron Quick. The one person who fully understood Jenna. Of course, back then, he knew her as Jennifer. He knew her when she was chubby and had a lisp. They were inseparable. Until that day. Her ninth birthday. The day that changed everything.

This book is a lot less sweet [no pun intended] than the title and cover art imply. It is very sad. I also thought Once Was Lost was depressingly sad, but the God aspect in that novel made it a lot more uplifting. At first I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. I was getting tired of the cliché books about popular, pretty, teenage girls. Maybe that’s the part that never really rested well with me about this book. Of course, unlike characters in other novels, Jenna had to work hard to become who she was, and to get where she was.

I almost immediately found myself falling in love with Cameron. He was so sweet, innocent, and kind. I honestly liked him more than Jenna. She just really irritated me throughout the book. She just seemed so selfish and ungrateful. Okay, I’ll stop ranting now.

I’ll give this book a 7 out of 10. It was all right. Not the greatest, but not the worst. I guess I’d recommend it, but definitely not before Once Was Lost.

The next book I’m going to review is This Lullaby by; Sarah Dessen. Until then, stay well, stay reading, and OMG TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY! Haha, okay, that’s all of my fangirly giddiness.

With Love,

Jay

P.S. And when I said cry, I didn’t really cry. Just a tear or two.

P.P.S. I realize I contradicted myself. In the first paragraph I said that Sweethearts was a very good book. I then state that it was all right. We’re going to go with the latter for now.

Favorites!

Hello folks,

Today, I’m going to discuss my favorite books and authors. Pretty much all the authors on my favorite books list are my favorite authors. So…. yeah. Without further ado, here we go. By the way, these novels are in no particular order. Except the first one, that’s my all-time favorite book and author.

1. Looking For Alaska by; John Green

2. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by; Maureen Johnson

3. Once Was Lost by; Sara Zarr

4. Forever by; Judy Blume

5. This Lullaby by; Sarah Dessen

6. Dreamland by; Sarah Dessen

7. Stealing Heaven by; Elizabeth Scott

8. If You Come Softly by; Jacqueline Woodson

9. Keeping Faith by; Jodi Picoult

10. Lost It by; Kristen Tracy

I’ve read multiple books by each of these authors, except Kristen Tracy. As you can see, some authors appear twice. I’ll do other things like this from time to time. I’m sure I’m forgetting some books, but for now, there’s my top ten.

The next book I’ll be reviewing is Sweethearts by; Sara Zarr. Until then, stay well, stay reading, and don’t forget to watch the Grammys tonight!

With Love,

Jay

Once Was Lost

Oh. My. Gosh! I think I have a new book to add to my favorites list. Once Was Lost was amazing. I repeat, a-m-a-z-ing. Add this to your books to read list. yes, even before Keeping Faith.

Once Was Lost is about Samara. She’s the pastor’s daughter. And she has always been just that, the pastor’s daughter. Everyone expects her and her family to be perfect. Although they are anything but. After her mom gets into a car crash after having too much to drink, she gets put into rehab. Now everything is broken, or in the process of falling apart. In addition to everything else, her father may or may not be having an affair with her twenty-six year old youth group leader. When a member of her community goes missing Sam’s faith is put to the test. How can she believe in God when her world is crumbling around her?

This book is sad in an uplifting way. It makes you feel so bad for Sam. It’s also one of those books that tests your own faith. I love books like that. Keeping Faith is also like that. These books make you ask yourself “How can a perfect, loving God let so much pain and suffering happen in the world?” At the end of these novels the question is never answered. It’s all about faith and what you believe. My World History teacher once said, “Fairness and answers don’t come in our time, they come in God’s time.” Looking For Alaska by; John Green [*my favorite book and author] explores topics like this, as well.

Back on topic, Once Was Lost was wonderful. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Especially fans of religious and faith based books.

The next book I will be reviewing is Sweethearts by; Sara Zarr. Until then, stay well, stay reading, and have a nice day!

With love,
Jay

*The next post will be about my favorite books and authors, stay tuned.

Change of Plans and Other Things

Hello Folks,
So you’re probably wondering why I completely disregarded my list of upcoming books. The plain and simple answer is that the books were due. I get the majority of the books I review from my local library. Most of the time I check out too many books at a time and never get a chance to read them all. I started reading How I Live Now by; Meg Rosoff, but I just couldn’t keep going. Instead of using quotation marks, the author capitalized the first letter of each word a character said. I just couldn’t deal with that. I need to know there’s dialogue on each page, not have to search for it.

Now for Cracked Up To Be by; Courtney Summers. At first I couldn’t get into that novel. But right when I started to, I lost it. Which is a major problem, because it was over due before I lost it. Yikes.

Now, on an unbook related topic. If anyone, anyone at all reads this blog, comments are greatly appreciated. You can request books that you think I should review, and I’ll definitely consider them. Thanks.

Like I said in my last post, the next book I’ll be reviewing is Once Was Lost by; Sara Zarr. Until then, stay well, stay reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

With Love,
Jay

Waiting For You

Two posts in one day! Woooo! I feel proud of myself, even though the other post was long overdue.

I didn’t enjoy Waiting For You [by. Susane Colasanti] as much as the other two books I reviewed. I tend to enjoy deep books, and I guess this one just wasn’t deep enough for me. Don’t get me wrong, this was a pretty good book. It’s just not that good.

Waiting For You is about Marisa, a fifteen-year-old girl with an anxiety disorder. She’s starting her sophomore year in high school, and she wants this year to be different. The year before, when she discovered her anxiety disorder, she was depressed. Everyone at school thought she was a freak. She wants things to be memorable and different this year. She’s tired of waiting for that one guy.

One thing that I didn’t like about this novel was the exaggeration of teen stereotypes. For example, instead of saying “Nash said”. They’d say “Nash goes”. Or “he was like”. I mean, I guess some teens do talk like this. But the overuse of it is what got to me. I did like how I could relate to the main character. I know the feeling of waiting. Always waiting. That was pretty much the basis of this book. On a scale from 1 to 10, I’d give it a 7. Not great, but not that bad either. I think you should read it, but not before the other books I’ve reviewed. It can wait [haha wait for Waiting For You....bad joke].

The next book I will be reviewing is Once Was Lost by; Sara Zarr. Until then, stay well, stay reading, and, once again, have a happy weekend.

With Love,
Jay