Unwind by Neal Shusterman

7 Stars

"The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights.  The chilling resolution:  Life in inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen.  Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their children "unwound," whereby all of the children's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end." ~ Taken from book jacket

"In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life -- not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive." ~ Description taken from Neal Shusterman's site, HERE.

I found that I actually really enjoyed this book.   I liked the character development of all of the main characters...it's told from several character's perspectives, so you don't feel like this book is about any one person.  It is a VERY thought provoking and interesting read.  And, also creepy...sort of a futuristic Dr. Moreau...with a twist.

I've only given this 7 stars on account of the creep factor.  The book is written for teens/young adults, but it's got some pretty serious stuff in it.  There are some fairly descriptive chilling moments, and the theme is definitely on the macabre-side, because of the 'unwinding' process and abortion/life issues.  If you're looking for an edge of your seat, sci-fi psychological thriller, this one's for you.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

8 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was funny and fresh and gave what I thought to be a very real interpretation of the turn of the century from a young girl's perspective. Not that I was alive in 1900, but you get what I mean. Calpurnia Tate is a heroine that I think any young girl would admire and Jacqueline Kelly was able to touch on some controversial issues without being too preachy, in my opinion. All in all, a very fine read and I would recommend it to anyone. In fact, I personally feel that this book deserved to be the Newbery Winner instead of an honoree...but I digress.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

7 Stars

"When her great-aunt bequeaths her a trip to a role-playing resort called Austenland, Jane must discover whether playing dress-up in Regency clothes can cure her of her [Mr. Darcy] obsession and help her find real love, once and for all." (Synopsis taken from the Superfast Reader.)

My Review:

This book was HALE-arious!

...

Ok, I couldn't resist. Sorry. Seriously, this book was a refreshing read and very funny. Perhaps only funny to those of us that get Austin-humor (when reading section to my husband; not so funny) I thoroughly enjoyed all the awkward moments and the regency air and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone that has seen or read Austin. It was clean and I loved the quirkiness of the main character.

There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale by Sean Astin

7 Stars (-2 for language)

Ok, maybe it's because Sam was my favorite character in Lord of the Rings but I really enjoyed this book. It's been sitting on my shelf for years and I finally read it. I thoroughly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look not only at the making of the trilogy but of the workings of Hollywood as well (I can safely say that I will never be an actress, thank you very much). However, Astin's humor and his focus on family made this an enjoyable read.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

4 Stars

"On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother's emotions in the slice..." (Taken from RandomHouse.)

So, I keep vacillating on how to rate this book. The story line that follows Rose and her journey through coping with the unusual ability to read people through the food they make is interesting and poignant. And Aimee Bender's writing emphasizes Rose's solitude and internal struggles, making it much more meaningful as she gains each small triumph. HOWEVER, the story takes a huge (not to mention really bizarre) turn with Rose's older brother. (He can turn into a chair. Okay, that's an over-simplification as well as a spoiler, but it's more or less the gist.) I really, really enjoyed most of the book, but I felt like Bender pushes the suspended disbelief way too far, and that was so distracting that it ruined the book for me. Her writing was intriguing, though, so I would consider trying a different book.

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

8 Stars (-2 for mild language and one pretty racy scene)

"When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life--the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family's future resting on her shoulders, her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition--Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself, back and forth, between the worlds she straddles." (Taken from Jean Kwok's web site.)

I found this book fascinating. I think it translates well (no pun intended) to any person emigrating to somewhere new. The cultural difference that Kimberly faces is often met with misunderstanding and even beligerence. But I love Kwok's ability to make a reader unfamiliar with Chinese culture feel companionship and sympathy for the two women's plight as well as inspired by their courage and integrity. There are so many great things about this book, but the content (though not excessive) is still enough of an issue that I couldn't recommend it to everyone. It was definitely a thought-provoking and well-written read.

Harry Potter, 1-4

(okay, so this is books 1-6 but whatevs. Just though we would enjoy some different covers for a change)

10 Stars

Okay, I usually don't give anything 10 stars, but I've been listening to the Harry Potter books as I work around the house and I may be a bit prejudiced. If I were to grade each book individually, I would have different stars though. For example, Book Two would be more like a 7 - it's always been my least favorite. Book Three would get a 9, and so on. But as the whole, the series gets a round 10. I'm excited to listen to the Fifth and Sixth again since I only read them once when they came out and hardly remember anything about them. What do you all think of the Harry Potter books?