Review: Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen

Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Release Date: June 16, 2009
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Review by: Jenn

It's been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents' divorce-or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she's been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend."

4 stars out of 5 stars

As my first Sarah Dessen novel to have read, I loved this book. I loved the main character, Auden. She seems like the type of person I would love to have around. She is this super smart girl that somehow ended up just trying to please her parents and forgot to do what she wanted to do and was denied a childhood. She knows she missed out on experiences but she doesn't let it deter her in a way that make her an annoying, obnoxious character. And I like that about her. It makes her a likeable and relateable character.

Auden is set for a prestigious college but before that, she has the whole summer ahead of her. She decides to spend her summer with her dad and his new family. Which includes a newborn, Thisby, her stepsister and Heidi, Auden's new stepmother. Heidi is struggling to deal with a new baby and an absent husband. So Auden volunteers to help Heidi with her clothes boutique and I have to admit I giggled at the awkwardness that was Auden with Maggie and the rest of the girls in the boutique. 

Book Trailer for "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

USA Today Books posted an exclusive trailer for "Insurgent" and an interview with the author, Veronica Roth. "Insurgent" is the second book of the "Divergent" series and Oh.My.God. I am so excited for this release.
      Divergent was the first book that I read that was of the dystopian genre. Even before reading The Hunger Games. I ended up devouring the book in a weekend and have been slowing counting down for book #2 release. I finally pre-ordered my copy and now just waiting for May. May 1st can't come soon enough! Thirty-two more days!! Eeep!

Review: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

"An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions. Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP."

Now, I'm not a zombie girl. Yes, I like my supernatural stories, like the Unearthly series, the Fever series, Wicked Lovely series, and the Hex Hall series. But zombies? No thank you. But there was something about Alex and Ellie that just drew me in. Ms.Bick  knew how to capture my attention.
    My first glimpse into the novel was when I was browsing through my Kindle Mobile App and I read the sample. I downloaded it and a few paragraphs in I was nodding and hmm-ing....I was hooked. I was trying to change the page and clicking and clicking when lo and behold, the sample was done. I was outraged. How can it be done?! It was just getting good! After my little outburst and a well duh moment to myself, I rationalized that of course I had to finish the story. I could not just leave Alex behind on her quest to find out what the hell had happened.
    Unfortunately, I was on a no-buying-books punishments because all those others novels I had that I hadn't even opened since I brought them. (Sorry, mom!)  So like any book aficionado would do, I went online to my local library and  reserved my copy.
   I dived right back in and it did not disappoint. I was creep out and I couldn't read certain parts without being grossed out. But I was intrigued by what was happening.

Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this right after the 2012 Academy Awards, after Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were nominated for their roles in the movie by the same title, "The Help". I had the novel on my to-be-read list for while and I admit, what pushed me to finally read the book was because of the awards nominations. And I have to say, I really did enjoyed the book.
Many were probably turned off by the dialect, but it was something I really liked about it. It definitely helped me get into the mindset for Aibileen and Minny, even Skeeter, Hilly and Elizabeth.
I truly enjoyed getting to know a little about each of the characters and found myself rooting for Minny and her crazy employer, Miss Celia. Playing devil's advocate with Skeeter's refusal to print Hilly's case in the newsletter. And tearing up in the background during Aibileen and Mae Mobley's moments together. "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." will forever be one of my favorites lines thanks to Aibileen and Mae Mobley.
Although I'm sad it ended where it did, it ended in a good place for the characters to start over.

View all my reviews