Just My Luck

The Bookworm says... Yes! Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern is an uplifting story about having a family member with a disability. The summer before fourth grade, Benny's best friend moves away. He's trying to find a replacement, but it's to no avail. Another thing Benny can't succeed at- bike riding. His older brother, George, who has autism, can ride a bike better than he can. While Benny's dad is trying to help him learn to ride, an accident happens and days later, Mr. Barrows is in the hospital. Benny is trying to follow his mother's advice: be kind to everyone, especially when you are experiencing a hard time. But with his dad in the hospital, possibly because of him, this is easier said than done for Benny.

I really enjoyed Just My Luck! I had previously read Cammie McGovern's Say What You Will, and though the stories have a similar baseline, I don't think that they can be compared to each other. I am very glad I didn't form my opinion of Just My Luck based on Say What You Will, because I do not think I would have liked it as much as I did. Benny is a prime example of what it feels like to be the sibling of a child with a disability, especially being the sibling that knows best how to respond to their quirks. A household struck by chaos has never been depicted so truly- if you are struggling to understand how to prevail in a time of chaos, or if you are trying to understand what it's like to love someone with a disability- READ THIS

"Everyone has bad days. You have to make the good ones."

DISCLAIMER: This review is based off of an uncorrected proof. Tentative on-sale date is February 23, 2016.

The Possibility of Now

The Bookworm says... Yes!!! The Possibility of Now by Kim Culbertson is a perfect, uplifting winter read that changed my perspective on a handful of things. Mara has a full scale meltdown right before starting a calculus exam. Like, ripping up her test into tiny pieces and crying, full-scale. When a video of her meltdown goes viral, Mara needs to clear her head. In order to do that, she goes and stays with her biological father Trick in Tahoe. While she is there and immersed in relaxed ski culture, away from the competitive, private Ranfield High School, Mara begins to realize things about herself. Mara gets a chance to clear her mind, take a break, learn to live in the now, and possibly fall in love on her road to mental recovery.

I love this book. So much. Mara is incredibly resilient, and her journey is incredible. Watching her learn to live in the present made me remember to do the same. It brings to mind the familiar line from the popular rock-opera, Rent, "No day but today". The lessons that Mara learns are the same lessons that Kim Culbertson teaches to every single person that picks up this book, and I commend her for it.

"He's the fire in the woodstove you take totally for granted but, when it goes out, leaves everything cold."

DISCLAIMER: Review is based off of an uncorrected proof. Official release date is January 26th, 2016.

Fans of the Impossible Life

The Bookworm says... Yes!!!!! Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa is an amazing book. Jeremy has been alone since the incident last spring. 

Mira comes into his life when his English teacher, Peter, forces him to start an art club. Mira is the first member. Mira has been practically alone, with just Sebby by her side, since she got out of the hospital last year. Sebby comes to art club with Mira, and Jeremy suddenly feels complete. As Jeremy adapts to the way Mira and Sebby orbit each other, he realizes the challenges they face daily and the lengths they go to to keep them invisible. This is the story of Sebby, Mira, and the boy who loves them both. 

Fans of the Impossible Life is excellent. The characters all have a good side to them- Mira her knack for fashion, Jeremy for art. They all have bad sides as well- Mira her depression, Sebby his shoplifting. What is truly unique about Kate Scelsa's characters is that you can see aspects of their "bad side" in their "good side". They let their troubles shape them, and it really shows. The ending was so perfect I wanted to scream. The last page. Oh my. Simply put, this book is a masterpiece. 

"They rolled up the maps of their bodies until they were two continents of interlocking roads and rivers and dreams, and she thought, This is how I will leave to live again."

DISCLAIMER: review is based on an uncorrected proof. Publication date is September 8, 2014. 

Never Always Sometimes

The Bookworm says… Maybe. Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid is extremely disappointing. Dave and Julia are best friends. Entering their freshman year of high school, they make a list of clichés they would never do- be recognized by a lunch spot, dye their hair extravagant colors, and lots of other typical high school clichés. The most important thing on the list: never date your best friend. With only a few months left of their senior year, Julia and Dave decide to try to do every Never on the list. By doing the Nevers, Dave and Julia break out of their comfort zones and do things they never dreamed of doing. They get into trouble, and they get out of it. Most of all, they learn things about themselves, each other, and their feelings for each other that they wouldn’t know if not for the Nevers.

            I was so disappointed by this book. I was a huge fan of Let’s Get Lost (also by Adi Alsaid), and I had very high hopes for this book. I would go so far as to say that this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2015, and I was greatly let down. The writing was not bad, but it was not remarkable. While the concept is interesting, the way the plot unfolds is lackadaisical.  I got bored with it very fast. There was some notable character development, but some characters could have benefited from a little bit more.

Previously reviewed by Adi Alsaid: Let's Get Lost 

“Human beings are more or less formulas. Pun intended. We are not any one thing that is mathematically provable. We are more or less than we are anything. We are more or less kind, or more or less not. More or less selfish, happy, wise, lonely.”

DISCLAIMER: Review is based off of an unedited proof. Official release date is August 4, 2015.

Another Day

The Bookworm says... Maybe. Another Day by David Levithan is a good book, don't get me wrong. Justin is an average boyfriend to Rhiannon, if that. One day, he seems more than average. He skips school and takes her to the beach and she falls in love with him all over again. The next day, this amazing Justin disappears. The day after that, a stranger confronts her and tells her that they were the person she spent the day with, not Justin. It happens again. And again. She's falling in love with someone who's only constant is their mind; there isn't even a body to rely on.

Do not be fooled- this is not a sequel to Every Day, as I was expecting until I read the "Dear Reader". It is a companion. It's essentially the same story, told through Rhiannon's point of view, which is a very interesting insight. Whether you read Every Day yesterday, three years ago, or never read it at all, you can read Another Day. It's a very interesting contrast to A's perspective, and it gives more detail into the parts of the relationship that Rhiannon has the hardest time with: the fact that A's gender changes daily. Because it was the same story, I was still left very unsatisfied upon finishing the book. It didn't really fill me with emotion the same way that Every Day had. Once finishing it, I wasn't left thinking about it for hours. That being said, it is still a lovely book. I would recommend reading Every Day before hand, because I think the beginning of Another Day moved very quickly and could have been confusing without prior knowledge.

"It is hard for unhealthy people to masquerade as healthy ones, especially once they've stopped caring if other people notice."

Previously reviewed: Every Day , Will Grayson, Will Grayson (Co- Written with John Green)

DISCLAIMER: review is based off of an uncorrected proof. On-Sale date is August 2015. 

Cut Both Ways

 

The Bookworm says... Yes! Cut Both Ways by Carrie Mesrobian is a story of the struggles of growing up and struggling with sexuality. Will has his first kiss, but he was extremely drunk and high, so he doesn't remember it very well. But he does remember that it was with his best friend, Angus. Will isn't gay, but that doesn't mean he didn't like it. Will starts avoiding Angus and seeing a younger girl named Brandy. He's relieved that he can be attracted to her, but he doesn't stop hooking up with Angus. He needs to confide in someone, but there's no one for him to talk to. His mom has her new husband Jay and their perfect twin daughters Taylor and Kinney. His dad is up to his eyes in debris, remodeling his house. Will is alone. 

Will struggles with the same identity issues as so many teenagers today. In the novel, he is never once labeled as bisexual. It's because he doesn't know. If Will doesn't know, why should the reader? So he experiments, and experiments, and he sees where he ends up. This book is such a real depiction of many teenagers; I ate it up. It is amazing. 

"And all this will go on... Between me and myself, whoever I turn out to be, years from now."

DISCLAIMER: review is based off of an uncorrected proof. Official release date is September 1, 2015

Everything, Everything

The Bookworm says... Yes! Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon is such a great read. Maddy has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, so she's basically allergic to everything. Because of this, she hasn't left her house in seventeen years. She hasn't even had a reason to desire leaving, until Olly moves in. She feels herself falling for him, and she hasn't even met him yet. If and when they do meet, Maddy knows she will be doomed with a love she can't tend to. 

This was such a great book. Maddy is clever and smart while being sheltered and naive at the same time. The email dialogue between Maddy and Olly is perfect, and gives the reader a more personal sense of relation with each character. 

"Everything's a risk. Not doing anything's a risk. It's up to you."

DISCLAIMER: review is based off of an uncorrected galley. Official release date is Spetember 1st, 2015. 

All We Have Is Now

The Bookworm says... Yes! All We Have Is Now by Lisa Schroeder was a great book. Emerson's world is scheduled to end in 24 hours when the freak asteroid hits North America. The lucky ones got away, moved to different continents. Those like Emerson and Vince, living on the street, are left behind. With their last 24 hours, Emerson and Vince borrow a strangers idea: help people. Grant wishes. Do what you can for others. Their last day doesn't have to be their worst day, it could be the best. 

In this apocalyptic love story, everything works. The characters, the weaving plot structure, and the pages of prose. It works perfectly. Especially the poetry littered throughout the book. An extremely well written novel from Lisa Schroeder. 

"But there's a million stars. Maybe I want to be the one and only moon instead."

DISCLAIMER: review is based on an uncorrected proof. Hardcover on-sale date: July 28, 2015. 

This Raging Light

The Bookworm says... Probably. The Raging Light by Estelle Laure was alright. Lucille's whole life is falling apart. Her dad went off the deep end, her mom walked out, and she's stuck taking care of her younger sister. All of that is more than enough on a seventeen year old girl's plate, but add one more wild card- a boy- and you've practically spelt out the recipe for disaster. But does this boy have to be detrimental to Lu's future? 

This book had a pretty good plot set up, and it was generally enjoyable. The ending was perfect. I loved it so much. The writing, however, was not top notch. Some times it just didn't flow as well as I would have liked, but for the most part it was good. The cover is beautiful, by the way. A quick, cute romance. 

"Explain to me what the point of living is if you aren't willing to fight for the truths in your heart, to risk getting hurt."

DISCLAIMER: review and quotations are based off of an unpublished galley. Cover photo reproduced with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Tentative release is January 2016.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

The Bookworm says... Yes! The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes was pretty good! The Kevinian cult has taken everything from Minnow, and in rebellion, her hands. Now that the Prophet has been murdered and their settlement in the woods burned to the ground, Minnow is locked behind bars. Set in a compromise with an FBI agent, if Minnow can help him find the murderer of the Prophet, he will recommend her for parole. She can have her freedom if she can free herself from the secrets of her past. 

While sometimes gory and horrifying, this book was generally very thought provoking. There's no denying that the plot is twisted and wrong, but it is written in such a way that it doesn't matter. I thought the book had been spoiled for me by a sticky note found inside, but it turned out even whoever read this before me didn't predict the ending correctly. Very well written, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly will have you shivering with anticipation. 

"It is amazing that, though I am small and I gifted and barely educated, even I can appreciate the scale of the universe."

DISCLAIMER: review is based on an uncorrected text. Tentative release is scheduled for June 2015.