Summary: Alyson Noel made waves with her series The Immortals and now has a new series focused on Riley Bloom. The first two books, Radiance and Shimmer are well-written and beautifully paced with a main character who is likable in spite of her flaws, making the entire book relatable and enjoyable.
After an accident kills everyone in her family except for her sister, Ever, Riley Bloom hung around on Earth for a while. But she has finally moved on and crossed the bridge to Here, joining her parents and her dog, Buttercup. Although she still harbors some bitterness about her short life, Riley is anxious to see what the Here (where the time is always Now) holds for her.
When she’s finally given her assignment, she finds that she will be a Soul Catcher, returning to Earth with her mentor, Bodhi, to convince other souls who are clinging to Earth that it is time to cross the bridge into Here and leave their old life behind.
In Radiance, Riley & Bodhi head for an old English castle that has been haunted by a young boy for centuries. He has resisted the efforts of many Soul Catchers to convince him to move on, but Riley is not going to give up easily.
Shimmer follows Riley & Bodhi on a well-earned vacation that turns into a challenge that could trap both Riley & Bodhi, along with the ever-present Buttercup, in the twisted fantasy world of a young girl who was murdered during a slave revolt in the 1700’s. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive those she blames for her death or will Riley end up like the rest of Rebecca’s victims, trapped in her own worst memories for eternity?
I’m looking forward to reading more Riley Bloom books. Despite the main character’s circumstances, the books manage to avoid wallowing in self-pity and instead show a young girl who, despite her untimely end, is continuing to grow and mature in her outlook. Beautiful images and imagery with a beautiful message written in a way that will make the reader root for Riley.
Themes:
Coming-of-Age
Acceptance
Letting Go
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild
Saturday, May 5, 2012
School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
Summary: Four children, each with a crippling phobia:
Garrison is afraid of water. This is made more unfortunate by the fact that he lives in Florida, where everyone goes to the beach or has a pool.
Madeleine is afraid of bugs and spiders. She is constantly surrounded by a cloud of pesticide and stays covered with a layer of mosquito netting.
Lulu is claustrophobic. She won’t even ride in an elevator.
Theodore is afraid of dying – not just of his own death, but of the death of anyone he cares about or even knows. His family has to check in with him regularly to confirm their status as still living.
The four have never met before this summer, but now will be united by the scariest event of their lives; a summer at the School of Fear. It’s an unusual school with unusual methods. Each student will conquer his or her fear in six weeks. And the headmistress of the school, a past-her-prime beauty queen, will use whatever methods are necessary to make sure they all make satisfactory progress.
Throw in a quirky, elderly caretaker, a depressed bulldog, and an attorney with questionable motives and you have a fun, fast-paced book for kids and adults. The humor reminds me of Lemony Snicket; wry and dryly funny with plenty of sarcasm.
School of Fear by Gitty Danashvari is a great read for a dull, rainy day with plot twists that will keep the reader guessing.
Themes:
Courage
Friendship
Age Appropriateness:
10 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild
Garrison is afraid of water. This is made more unfortunate by the fact that he lives in Florida, where everyone goes to the beach or has a pool.
Madeleine is afraid of bugs and spiders. She is constantly surrounded by a cloud of pesticide and stays covered with a layer of mosquito netting.
Lulu is claustrophobic. She won’t even ride in an elevator.
Theodore is afraid of dying – not just of his own death, but of the death of anyone he cares about or even knows. His family has to check in with him regularly to confirm their status as still living.
The four have never met before this summer, but now will be united by the scariest event of their lives; a summer at the School of Fear. It’s an unusual school with unusual methods. Each student will conquer his or her fear in six weeks. And the headmistress of the school, a past-her-prime beauty queen, will use whatever methods are necessary to make sure they all make satisfactory progress.
Throw in a quirky, elderly caretaker, a depressed bulldog, and an attorney with questionable motives and you have a fun, fast-paced book for kids and adults. The humor reminds me of Lemony Snicket; wry and dryly funny with plenty of sarcasm.
School of Fear by Gitty Danashvari is a great read for a dull, rainy day with plot twists that will keep the reader guessing.
Themes:
Courage
Friendship
Age Appropriateness:
10 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted
Summary: Cody has lived a life that many kids would think is really cool; travelling the world as his dad’s partner in undercover CIA operations. He speaks multiple languages, can defend himself whether armed or unarmed, and knows how to handle himself under pressure. Then everything changes….
The danger surrounding Cody & his dad gets to be too much and Cody is sent to stay with his Aunt Jenny, who he hardly knows, in a small town in Connecticut. Cody may know how to blend in and survive in many situations, but Junior High isn’t one of them. He’s never had a normal friendship with anyone his age, never had a crush on a girl, never had to follow a class schedule. In short, he’s never been prepared to lead a “normal life.”
After some missteps, Cody starts to make friends and even becomes a sort of mentor within his school, his love of and talent for martial arts serving as a tool to help him overcome the "new kid" stigma.
Just as he starts to feel like he is getting the hang of being a suburban teen, he begins to fear that his father’s problems have followed him – he is sure he is being watched. With the help of a disabled vet, Cody has to face this challenge to save the life he has come to enjoy and to protect the people he has come to love.
Alibi Junior High is a 2011-2012 Sunshine State Book. I really wish I had read it sooner. I truly enjoyed it. It was sometimes funny and sometimes tense, striking the balance between the two in a way that made me want to keep reading about Cody even after the story was over.
Themes:
Courage
Responsibility
Family
What is normal?
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
The danger surrounding Cody & his dad gets to be too much and Cody is sent to stay with his Aunt Jenny, who he hardly knows, in a small town in Connecticut. Cody may know how to blend in and survive in many situations, but Junior High isn’t one of them. He’s never had a normal friendship with anyone his age, never had a crush on a girl, never had to follow a class schedule. In short, he’s never been prepared to lead a “normal life.”
After some missteps, Cody starts to make friends and even becomes a sort of mentor within his school, his love of and talent for martial arts serving as a tool to help him overcome the "new kid" stigma.
Just as he starts to feel like he is getting the hang of being a suburban teen, he begins to fear that his father’s problems have followed him – he is sure he is being watched. With the help of a disabled vet, Cody has to face this challenge to save the life he has come to enjoy and to protect the people he has come to love.
Alibi Junior High is a 2011-2012 Sunshine State Book. I really wish I had read it sooner. I truly enjoyed it. It was sometimes funny and sometimes tense, striking the balance between the two in a way that made me want to keep reading about Cody even after the story was over.
Themes:
Courage
Responsibility
Family
What is normal?
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Drought by Pam Bachorz
Dystopian fiction is a big seller right now, and Drought by Pam Bachorz is a worthy addition to the shelves of dystopian fans looking for another read to sate their need. The premise is unlike any other novels I can remember recently, coming closest to Haddix’s Running Out Of Time. Drought, however, adds a level of suspense that kept me turning the pages and wondering how the story would end.
Summary: Ruby has lived all her life as part of the Congregation, gathering Water for Darwin West under the cruel and watchful eyes of his Overseers. Despite the passing of over a century, she and the others still live as if the year was 1812, the year they all came to the wilderness hoping for freedom, only to become slaves.
Ruby’s mother is the Reverend for the Congregation. She has always taught Ruby to be patient and accept her suffering. But Ruby isn’t content to accept the way her life is. She dreams of freedom and happiness. But her dream isn’t possible, because Ruby has a secret; it is her blood which makes Water so special. Without it, her community will die. So Ruby continues to sacrifice and keep her secret.
When a new Overseer, Ford, comes to the community, Ruby is drawn to him. He is different from the others; Ruby can see his kindness. When Ford asks her to run away with him, to leave and live a normal life, Ruby is faced with a terrible choice: reject love and freedom to keep her people alive or condemn them to death for her own chance at happiness.
Themes:
Survival
Courage
Responsibility
Family
Freedom
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Summary: Ruby has lived all her life as part of the Congregation, gathering Water for Darwin West under the cruel and watchful eyes of his Overseers. Despite the passing of over a century, she and the others still live as if the year was 1812, the year they all came to the wilderness hoping for freedom, only to become slaves.
Ruby’s mother is the Reverend for the Congregation. She has always taught Ruby to be patient and accept her suffering. But Ruby isn’t content to accept the way her life is. She dreams of freedom and happiness. But her dream isn’t possible, because Ruby has a secret; it is her blood which makes Water so special. Without it, her community will die. So Ruby continues to sacrifice and keep her secret.
When a new Overseer, Ford, comes to the community, Ruby is drawn to him. He is different from the others; Ruby can see his kindness. When Ford asks her to run away with him, to leave and live a normal life, Ruby is faced with a terrible choice: reject love and freedom to keep her people alive or condemn them to death for her own chance at happiness.
Themes:
Survival
Courage
Responsibility
Family
Freedom
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Killer Pizza: The Slice by Greg Taylor
Summary: Toby, Annabel & Strobe are back and facing a new kind of danger in Killer Pizza: The Slice. Just when they thought they had the basic of their new monster hunting/pizza making jobs down, they get a different kind of assignment; they have to protect instead of kill!
Calanthe is a gorgeous 14-year old monster who is defecting, and it is up to the teen trio to protect her from her people, who want to use her as a sacrifice for their next holiday. They also have to introduce her to their world: high school. It’s time for a crash course in teen slang, high school survival, and fitting in, all while preparing for a monstrous invasion by Calanthe’s relatives.
Strobe gets a chance to strike out on a mission without his partners this time, working recon with some more senior MCO’s. Toby continues surprising himself and his partners with his courage and cooking skills. Readers get a look at Annabel’s family life as she makes sacrifices to ensure Calanthe’s safety in Hidden Hills.
The final showdown is awesome and full of action – but there are plenty of thrills and surprises throughout the book. If you liked Killer Pizza, then this follow up is sure to satisfy!
Themes:
Friendship
Courage
Responsibility
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate
Calanthe is a gorgeous 14-year old monster who is defecting, and it is up to the teen trio to protect her from her people, who want to use her as a sacrifice for their next holiday. They also have to introduce her to their world: high school. It’s time for a crash course in teen slang, high school survival, and fitting in, all while preparing for a monstrous invasion by Calanthe’s relatives.
Strobe gets a chance to strike out on a mission without his partners this time, working recon with some more senior MCO’s. Toby continues surprising himself and his partners with his courage and cooking skills. Readers get a look at Annabel’s family life as she makes sacrifices to ensure Calanthe’s safety in Hidden Hills.
The final showdown is awesome and full of action – but there are plenty of thrills and surprises throughout the book. If you liked Killer Pizza, then this follow up is sure to satisfy!
Themes:
Friendship
Courage
Responsibility
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Bruiser by Neal Shusterman
Neal Shusterman is one of my favorite YA authors, and I have recommended his books to many of my students, from reluctant readers (who devour his Dark Fusion series) to my gifted readers (for whom his novel Unwind is a mind-bending read). Bruiser has been sitting in my pile of books to be read for a while, & I wish I had read it sooner. Wow! I loved it! I will be adding this to my recommendations for students, from the reluctant readers to those who need a challenge, as it is a great story that any student will become engrossed in, and it has Neal’s trademark twists and unexpected turns which will leave the reader thinking long after they have finished the story.
Summary: Tennyson and Bronte are twins living a comfortable, if not exactly happy, life with their parents, college professors whose marriage is in a dull and quiet stasis caused by unforgiven past wrongs and continuing mistakes. When Bronte starts dating the school outcast, a boy named Brewster (called Bruiser by most), Tennyson is determined to split them up. He is convinced that Bruiser is bad news, and he goes to great lengths to try and scare Bruiser away...until he gets to know both Brewster and himself better.
Bronte has always had a soft spot for the abandoned, orphaned, unloved creatures she comes across. Brewster is no exception. She is determined to get past Brewster’s protective shell and truly get to know the boy hiding beneath that untouchable exterior. Tennyson’s initial bullying and interference only increases her determination. There is more to Brewster than anyone else at school realizes…but she is determined to help him make friends and be accepted.
As the twins weave themselves more into Brewster’s life, they discover the reason he stays removed from the world and avoids making friends. When Brewster’s whole world falls apart, how far will Bronte and Tennyson go to help their new friend? Is their help only causing Brewster more pain? And what do you do when you realize that you’ve allowed someone else to take on your burdens – do you keep living the easy life or do you step up and take responsibility?
Told from the perspectives of Tennyson, Bronte and Brewster himself, Bruiser kept me riveted. I couldn’t wait to see how it would end, but also dreaded reaching the end because it would be over. This is a book I will definitely be re-reading!
Themes:
Bullying
Friendship
Love
Selflessness
Responsibility
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: mild
Summary: Tennyson and Bronte are twins living a comfortable, if not exactly happy, life with their parents, college professors whose marriage is in a dull and quiet stasis caused by unforgiven past wrongs and continuing mistakes. When Bronte starts dating the school outcast, a boy named Brewster (called Bruiser by most), Tennyson is determined to split them up. He is convinced that Bruiser is bad news, and he goes to great lengths to try and scare Bruiser away...until he gets to know both Brewster and himself better.
Bronte has always had a soft spot for the abandoned, orphaned, unloved creatures she comes across. Brewster is no exception. She is determined to get past Brewster’s protective shell and truly get to know the boy hiding beneath that untouchable exterior. Tennyson’s initial bullying and interference only increases her determination. There is more to Brewster than anyone else at school realizes…but she is determined to help him make friends and be accepted.
As the twins weave themselves more into Brewster’s life, they discover the reason he stays removed from the world and avoids making friends. When Brewster’s whole world falls apart, how far will Bronte and Tennyson go to help their new friend? Is their help only causing Brewster more pain? And what do you do when you realize that you’ve allowed someone else to take on your burdens – do you keep living the easy life or do you step up and take responsibility?
Told from the perspectives of Tennyson, Bronte and Brewster himself, Bruiser kept me riveted. I couldn’t wait to see how it would end, but also dreaded reaching the end because it would be over. This is a book I will definitely be re-reading!
Themes:
Bullying
Friendship
Love
Selflessness
Responsibility
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: mild
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Bitter Melon by Cara Chow
Summary: Growing up is hard enough. Growing up to meet the expectations placed on you by an overbearing mother is almost unbearable. Cara Chow’s Bitter Melon expresses this conflict beautifully with a main character who is both likeable and frustrating, just like any teen girl.
Frances has always worked hard to make her mother proud. She knows how hard her mother works to make sure she can attend a good private school and become a doctor some day. Then they can both lead a better life; the kind of life her mother gave up when she chose to raise her daughter alone in American instead of returning to her homeland of China. But no matter how hard she tries, she always seems to fall short.
At the beginning of her senior year, someone makes a mistake on Frances’ schedule, putting her in speech instead of calculus. Although she knows she should switch, she finds that she is good at public speaking and that it gives her a feeling she hasn’t had before; a confidence in herself. Although she still tried to make her mother proud, she also begins to work more toward her own happiness. But is Frances strong enough to choose her own path, even if it will mean standing up to her mother?
This coming-of-age story mixes in a dose of Asian culture to a universal tale of learning to be your own person.
Themes:
Independence
Success
Family
Growing Up
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild
Frances has always worked hard to make her mother proud. She knows how hard her mother works to make sure she can attend a good private school and become a doctor some day. Then they can both lead a better life; the kind of life her mother gave up when she chose to raise her daughter alone in American instead of returning to her homeland of China. But no matter how hard she tries, she always seems to fall short.
At the beginning of her senior year, someone makes a mistake on Frances’ schedule, putting her in speech instead of calculus. Although she knows she should switch, she finds that she is good at public speaking and that it gives her a feeling she hasn’t had before; a confidence in herself. Although she still tried to make her mother proud, she also begins to work more toward her own happiness. But is Frances strong enough to choose her own path, even if it will mean standing up to her mother?
This coming-of-age story mixes in a dose of Asian culture to a universal tale of learning to be your own person.
Themes:
Independence
Success
Family
Growing Up
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Summary: The recent trend in young adult fiction, paranormal romance, is one that has, in some ways, become a little overdone. So it was with minimal expectations that I picked up Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. Wow, was I ever surprised! Paranormalcy is a gripping multi-layered story and I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series!
Evie has spent most of her life living in and working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, an unusual example of international cooperation that is held together by one thing: the desire to use Evie and her ability to capture and protect paranormal creatures ranging from vampires and werewolves to mermaids (like her best friend). Evie can see through glamours, so no paranormal creature can hide its true nature from her. She sees vampires as the walking corpses they are, for example. And she’s content to live her life this way.
But something is coming after paranormal creatures and they are dying in a way the IPCA cannot explain. And Evie is having strange dreams filled with a prophecy she doesn’t understand. She fears that her abilities may be linked to the deaths, but how could that be? Is she truly the one in the faerie prophecy; the one who bring destruction to all paranormal creatures?
Add to the mix a faerie ex-boyfriend who can’t let go and a mysterious prisoner who is suspected of being part of the plot against the paranormal community and you have a dangerous and confusing love triangle – what is a girl to choose? And can she save the paranormals and have a romance at the same time?
Fun, full of action, and with a hint of romance! If you like Ally Carter mixed with some werewolves and other creatures of the night, you'll like Paranormalcy.
Themes:
Acceptance
Persistence
Courage
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: mild
Nudity/Adult Content: very mild
Violence: moderate
Evie has spent most of her life living in and working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, an unusual example of international cooperation that is held together by one thing: the desire to use Evie and her ability to capture and protect paranormal creatures ranging from vampires and werewolves to mermaids (like her best friend). Evie can see through glamours, so no paranormal creature can hide its true nature from her. She sees vampires as the walking corpses they are, for example. And she’s content to live her life this way.
But something is coming after paranormal creatures and they are dying in a way the IPCA cannot explain. And Evie is having strange dreams filled with a prophecy she doesn’t understand. She fears that her abilities may be linked to the deaths, but how could that be? Is she truly the one in the faerie prophecy; the one who bring destruction to all paranormal creatures?
Add to the mix a faerie ex-boyfriend who can’t let go and a mysterious prisoner who is suspected of being part of the plot against the paranormal community and you have a dangerous and confusing love triangle – what is a girl to choose? And can she save the paranormals and have a romance at the same time?
Fun, full of action, and with a hint of romance! If you like Ally Carter mixed with some werewolves and other creatures of the night, you'll like Paranormalcy.
Themes:
Acceptance
Persistence
Courage
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: mild
Nudity/Adult Content: very mild
Violence: moderate
Friday, December 30, 2011
Payback Time by Carl Deuker
Summary: Payback Time is a sports-centered book that even non-sports fans will enjoy. As with his other books, Carl Deuker has written a novel in which a teenager faces tough choices and comes out on top.
Mitch (short for Michelin Man) True is a reporter for his high school newspaper. Despite not being chosen editor for his senior year, he puts his all into his new assignment – covering sports. As an added bonus, some of his articles even get published in the city newspaper and he gets to have Kimi as his photographer (she would probably never even speak to him otherwise.) When Mitch notices a new player on the team with amazing talent, his curiosity is piqued. When his questions lead to stonewalling, both by the coach and by the player himself, Mitch realizes that he is on to something big. Why is a great player like Angel spending so much time on the bench? Is he an undercover cop looking for drugs on campus? Is he the coach’s secret weapon for winning the state championship? Mitch & Kimi get into much more than they bargained for while trying to solve the mystery.
Mitch is a great character that I could associate with – a teen who is on the fringes in his school; a part but not one that necessarily stands out. His relationship with Kimi and the way it changes within the story is a great way to show how Mitch is taking more control of his life and working hard to be what he wants to be (mainly thin, which is difficult since his mother is a caterer who often brings home desserts for him to try.) The twists within the story kept me turning the pages to see if Mitch would get through the story unscathed and to see how it would all end for Angel.
For sports fans, the descriptions of the action in the football games are well-written, but not so in-depth that a non-sports person (such as myself) felt lost. That is a tough balancing act, but Deuker pulls it off well.
Themes:
Acceptance
Persistence
Making tough choices
Doing what is right
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: mild
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate
Mitch (short for Michelin Man) True is a reporter for his high school newspaper. Despite not being chosen editor for his senior year, he puts his all into his new assignment – covering sports. As an added bonus, some of his articles even get published in the city newspaper and he gets to have Kimi as his photographer (she would probably never even speak to him otherwise.) When Mitch notices a new player on the team with amazing talent, his curiosity is piqued. When his questions lead to stonewalling, both by the coach and by the player himself, Mitch realizes that he is on to something big. Why is a great player like Angel spending so much time on the bench? Is he an undercover cop looking for drugs on campus? Is he the coach’s secret weapon for winning the state championship? Mitch & Kimi get into much more than they bargained for while trying to solve the mystery.
Mitch is a great character that I could associate with – a teen who is on the fringes in his school; a part but not one that necessarily stands out. His relationship with Kimi and the way it changes within the story is a great way to show how Mitch is taking more control of his life and working hard to be what he wants to be (mainly thin, which is difficult since his mother is a caterer who often brings home desserts for him to try.) The twists within the story kept me turning the pages to see if Mitch would get through the story unscathed and to see how it would all end for Angel.
For sports fans, the descriptions of the action in the football games are well-written, but not so in-depth that a non-sports person (such as myself) felt lost. That is a tough balancing act, but Deuker pulls it off well.
Themes:
Acceptance
Persistence
Making tough choices
Doing what is right
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: mild
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate
Strings Attached by Judy Blundell
Summary: Judy Blundell’s Strings Attached is a great combination of mystery, suspense, and romance set in the early 1950’s during the time when gangsters were big news and McCarthyism was in full swing.
Kit is one of the famous Corrigan triplets, raised by her alcoholic father and her strict, seemingly unfeeling Aunt Delia. After a blow-up with her long-time boyfriend, Billy Benedict, Kit moves to the city to try and fulfill her dream of becoming a Broadway star. Although it isn’t easy, it is helping her keep her mind off of Billy and her brother, Jaime, who both joined the Army. Kit’s fortunes take a turn when Billy’s father, Nate, an attorney with rumored ties to a notorious gangster, sets her up with a good job and a nice apartment to live in. All she has to do is help Nate out by letting him know when she hears from Billy.
But Kit soon finds out that there are more strings attached to Nate’s gifts than she realized. Is Nate really involved in murder? Is her Aunt Delia one of his victims? And how will she face Billy, knowing what she does about his father?
I enjoyed Strings Attached more than Blundell's last novel, What I Saw & How I Lied. The plot was solid and had enough twists to keep me guessing without becoming too confusing or unrealistic. I found myself sympathizing with Kit throughout the novel, and hoping that she would achieve the success she was hoping for without Nate's help. A good read for those who like a little suspense mixed in with their romance.
Themes:
Trust
Love
Independence
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: mild
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Kit is one of the famous Corrigan triplets, raised by her alcoholic father and her strict, seemingly unfeeling Aunt Delia. After a blow-up with her long-time boyfriend, Billy Benedict, Kit moves to the city to try and fulfill her dream of becoming a Broadway star. Although it isn’t easy, it is helping her keep her mind off of Billy and her brother, Jaime, who both joined the Army. Kit’s fortunes take a turn when Billy’s father, Nate, an attorney with rumored ties to a notorious gangster, sets her up with a good job and a nice apartment to live in. All she has to do is help Nate out by letting him know when she hears from Billy.
But Kit soon finds out that there are more strings attached to Nate’s gifts than she realized. Is Nate really involved in murder? Is her Aunt Delia one of his victims? And how will she face Billy, knowing what she does about his father?
I enjoyed Strings Attached more than Blundell's last novel, What I Saw & How I Lied. The plot was solid and had enough twists to keep me guessing without becoming too confusing or unrealistic. I found myself sympathizing with Kit throughout the novel, and hoping that she would achieve the success she was hoping for without Nate's help. A good read for those who like a little suspense mixed in with their romance.
Themes:
Trust
Love
Independence
Age Appropriateness:
13 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: mild
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
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