Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
Genre: YA
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: October 18, 2007


Summary: Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind.


Book Review:
Thirteen Reasons Why is a pretty serious book. The whole idea is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. One girl, Hannah, commits suicide due to the actions of people in her life. They might not have realized it, but their actions effected her life more than they expected.


Even though this book is all about suicide and quite depressing stuff, I liked it. Thirteen Reasons Why was a breath of fresh air for me. I should probably start reading more books that aren't fantasy. Anyways, when I was reading this book I swear it felt real. The writing was really well done and the whole story seems like it really is something that happened. The whole story had a really serious tone to it. And it really focuses on some stuff that should be talked about more. Like suicide and how your actions can effect people in ways that you would never expect.  


Okay so I should probably be talking more about the actual book, right. Oh well, I tend to get sidetracked easily. Anyways I really liked the whole concept. It was well executed as well. I really liked the characters as well. Even though Hannah was dead and all that, I thought that her character was well done. It was kinda cool how she was able to get her message across even after she took her own life. I guess cool isn't the right word, but I can't think of any other words right now. Overall a really good book, that I'm pretty sure most people will enjoy. 


Rating: A

The Iron Witch

The Iron Witch
by Karen Mahoney
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: January 20, 2011


Summary: Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Book Review:

I love it when a book really brings you right into the middle of the story. To make me feel connected with it. There are few books that do this well. I also love it when a book has believable characters. The ending was satisfying in a way, but it also makes me want to know more at the same time. The Iron Witch had one of my favorite endings.

I loved Donna. She had her faults, but that just made her more believable. I don't know why, but I enjoy reading about characters who have faults opposed to those who are "perfect". Anyways I thought that as a character she really brought me into the story. She is the type to be able to kick your butt. But at the same time she is fiercely loyal, a good friend, and is a little naive or innocent in some ways. Over the course of the book I came to admire Donna and relate to her. Donna is different from everyone else. Even those who are part of her world. Throughout the book she becomes more and more confident in being her self, with the help of Xan that is. 

There are so many different books that have love triangles, so I think that it is hard to write a love triangle that stands out from the rest. This one does. First of all there is Navin. He is the best friend. Yeah most love triangles have the best friend for life in them, but I felt that this one was kinda different. Anyways, Navin is an amazing character in that not only is he Donna's best friend for years, but he keeps her grounded. He is the one that makes her feel normal, which is pretty important to Donna. Then there is Xan. In most love triangles the this guy would be perfect. They would come in and sweep the main character off their feet. This is totally not so in The Iron Witch. Xan, just like Navin and Donna, has his faults. Yeah he is cute and all that, but there is actual depth to him. I hope that the author will reveal more about his character because in this book he is kind of a mysterious character. 

In the end I thought that The Iron Witch was a pretty good book. Though I liked it, I have to say I have read better. Not that this isn't worth reading. It definitely is. I just liked other books a little bit more. Also it was a little short. I felt that the story its self was a little rushed because of this. Either way I will be looking forward to the next book.


Rating: B 

I Totally Splurged!

I'M SOO HAPPY IT'S FRIDAY!

Okay, so today after school I headed straight for the bookstore.  Since I haven't been there in awhile I found that I was really behind in getting the newest books. Or books that I have been trying to get around to reading. These are the books:

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher

Genre: YA

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: October 18, 2007

Summary: Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how 

brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind.

I Am Number Four

by Pittacus Lore

Genre: YA,

Publisher: Harper Collins 

Publication Date: August 3, 2010

Summary: Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real. 

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

City of Glass

by Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Margret K. McElderry

Publication Date: March 24, 2009

Summary: To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. 

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Timesbestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

The Iron Witch

by Karen Mahoney

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Flux

Publication Date: January 20, 2011

Summary: Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

You guys can definitely expect the reviews for these books to be coming soon.