Educate Emma: Books: All You Get is Me by Yvonne Prinz

Dust Jacket Description:

"Sixteen-year-old Roar has been yanked from her city life and transformed into a farm girl, albeit a reluctant one. Now she sells organic figs at the farmers' market and develops her photographs in a rickety shed, her hair pulled back with a rubber band meant for asparagus. Caught between a trouble-making sidekick named Storm and a brooding, easy-on-the-eyes L.A boy, not to mention a father on a complicated human rights crusade that challenges the fabric of the farm community, Roar is going to have to tackle it all - even with dirt under her fingernails."














Characters: Roar is a great character. She's intelligent, strong, and she has a compelling past. I got the sense that I could actually meet Roar in real life, rather than just feeling like she was a caricature of YA. I liked the dynamic between her and her father, as well as her relationship with the farm workers and the farm itself. The tensions between her family and the family her father prosecutes were honest. Storm came across as a slight stereotype, but I appreciated how she added more edge to the story. My biggest problem with the novel was that Roar's love interest, Forest, was boring. They have a lovey dovey dynamic, but there's not as much conflict as there potentially could have been. It seemed like a large lost opportunity to me. 4 flowers. 

Writing:  I liked Roar's monologues, even if they did happen to be cyclical and repetitive on occasion. The dialogue is solid and I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Roar's childhood. Ultimately, it's nothing amazing, but it made the story easy to consume. 3 and a half flowers. 

Plot: When I realized that the book had a lawsuit in it, I got excited about the plotting possibilities. I was also really impressed by how Prinz covers the issue of immigration policy within the context of farming culture. I love food science and history, so reading about the farming processes and politics was a highlight for me. The main issue with the plot is that it deflated far too early. Prinz sets up a high stakes, tension filled story, and then she doesn't fully utilize her own rising action. While the resolution of the prosecution seemed highly realistic, it was fairly anti-climatic for me a reader. None of the possible issues between Roar and her love interest, Forest, were fully realized. There could have been so much struggle and strife in this novel, but it didn't work out that way. It left me unsatisfied. If I were to summarize Prinz's problem here, I'd say is that she's a little too true to life. There are no serious standoffs or grandiose climaxes. Closure rarely exists in real life, and I like having it in my novels as a counterpoint to the sucktitude of the present. Unfortunately, I had no chance of escapism here. 3 flowers. 

End: It's a bit dragged out, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy reading more about Roar's life. One thing I didn't like, though, was how Prinz seemed to establish Roar's future earlier in the story, and then decided to take her on a completely different path without any acknowledgement of her former thought process. Also, the end line was odd. 3 and a half flowers. 

Dust Jacket Description: This description makes it sound like Storm is a main element of the story, and that Roar is a diva. 3 flowers. 

Cover: Usually I'm not a fan of people on covers, but the juxtaposition of the girl's aesthetic and her setting is well done. I'm still confused about the title, though. 4 flowers. 

Overall: I know that I sound super critical of All You Get is Me, but I really enjoyed it. Maybe I'm a little too obsessed with farming, but I found Roar's world to be compelling and realistic. Its main issue is its lack of conflict. If you want to learn more about farming and immigration, and you don't mind a story without a lot of tension, you should try this one. 3 and a half flowers. 

Educate Emma: Books: Stravaganza Series, Books 1 - 3 by Mary Hoffman

Amazon Description:

"Set in Talia, a parallel world very similar to 16th-century Italy, the narrative follows Lucien, who in our world is very ill. Given a marbled notebook to use as a diary, the notebook is the unexpected means that transports Lucien to this dangerous new world; a world that thrills to the delight of political intrigue and where a life can be snuffed out with a flash of a merlino blade. The city of Bellezza (Venice in our world) is astonishingly evoked, with a filmic eye to detail, from the sensuousness of silks and velvets, to the thrill and danger of assassination attempts both and foiled and successful. The world of Talia is unforgettably and convincingly real.





 My lovely friend Cassandra Yorgey was nice enough to give me the first three books of this series for Christmas. It is comprised of the books City of Masks, City of Stars and City of Flowers. They're all set partially in modern day England and partially in a parallel version of 16th century Italy. I had a lot of mixed feelings about the series, but I'm very glad that I read it. 

Characters: I'd argue that this is the biggest problem with Stravaganza. This isn't because the characters are dull, unrealistic or idiotic. The main issue is that there are just way too many of them. See, the structure of the series is that there is one new protagonist per book. In most stories, this means that the book becomes a companion novel, with a whole new set of characters and perhaps a few references to past plot lines and personalities. In the case of Stravaganza, each new protagonist has interactions with their own English cast, new Talian characters, and the old characters presented in the previous novel. This became an absolute headache as the story went on. 

I really enjoyed the first story, City of Masks. Lucien's struggle with his cancer makes the dilemma of what to do with Talia all the more interesting. His friend Arianna has a strong personality and adds dimension to the world. I even liked the character of Georgia in City of Stars and how the familial tensions are illustrated. If I didn't have to keep track of all the political alliances, family feuds and interpersonal conflicts, I may have appreciated the series a lot more. 

This issue is most evident for me in the last book that I read, City of Flowers. Rainbow is a very engaging boy, but he doesn't get nearly enough page time for a main character. There's so much time focusing on past characters that we never truly get to know him. What's even worse is that readers are suddenly propelled into the family dynamics of the di Chimici, who are the rivals of the time traveler heroes. This becomes so confusing that I just got used to conflating characters with each other. The structure ultimately becomes too much by the end of the third book. 

Overall, I really did like the realism and individual personalities in the Stravaganza series, but as the novels go on, they're overwhelmed by past story lines. 2 and a half flowers. 

Writing: Hoffman does a good job of crafting accurate dialogue. The most impressive component of the story, though, is how she illustrates the setting. Each city featured in the series is based on an actual Italian city, and Hoffman does a beautiful job of incorporating both the original components and the parallel universe elements. When the characters aren't disorienting, the setting is easy to fall into, and their separate political issues and economic focuses help make the story great. Watching the protagonists of each story start to love their city also helps affirm their individual identities. The writing is definitely the strong point of the books. 4 flowers. 

Plot: The one thing I had to adapt to is that while the time traveling does have rules, it is more on the fantasy side than the sci-fi one. As someone who researched and studied time traveling pretty seriously for two years, I like mine with more science and less impractical sense. Eventually, I got used to it and began to see beyond its logistical errors. The only time that this became a large problem for me when the rules were thrown out the window in City of Flowers. (Can you guess which book was my least favourite?) 

Besides that, the structure of the novels is quite well done. I especially loved all the issues with the Duchess in the first book. Each protagonist seems to have a specific purpose in Talia, and I loved watching these play out. The plots have organic conflicts, solid pacing, and strong world building. My other qualm with the plot portion of the series is that it was hard to really process Rainbow's true purpose once it's presented - mostly due to the crazy amount of characters and story threads going on around him. Also, the brutal fighting that suddenly occurs in City of Flowers feels jarring next to the other books. 3 and a half flowers. 

End: I quite liked how Hoffman resolves the stories and conflicts presented. She does this realistically and in a satisfying manner. I have no real problems in this section. Except, again, City of Flowers was a little bizarre in its resolution of the English side of things. 4 flowers. 

Amazon Description: I wasn't able to find the dust jacket description anywhere for the first book, but this description is informative and devoid of description tropes. The only thing I'm disappointed with is how Arianna isn't mentioned. 4 flowers.

Cover: I know these books got a cover makeover, but I quite like the editions I received. They have a younger YA/upper MG feel that is in keeping with the stories. My only problem is the number of sparkles. 4 and a half flowers. 

Overall: These books have their upsides, - easy-to-relate-to conflicts, strong plots, exceptional settings - but they also tend to be incredibly confusing with their characters. I'd recommend reading City of Masks, the first novel, and then leaving them there. 4 flowers for City of Masks. 3 for City of Stars. 2 and a half for City of Flowers. Ultimately, 3 and a half flowers. 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a brilliant meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is the top ten favourite book covers we've seen from books we've read. This list was harder than I expected! I think it's because it had to be books I had actually read, rather than just ones I've seen in passing. These are organized by genre, but not numbered in any particular order.

Contemporary

10. White Oleander by Janet Fitch

I love the raw vulnerability of this cover. There's something about the woman's bare back, and the creepy anonymity due to her hair being in front of her face. I also love the title and authorial font. It's a gorgeous image.

9. If I Stay by Gayle Forman 

I really love the simplicity of this cover. The title font is pretty but not too complicated. The rest of the image is pale and stark enough that the flower really stands out. It perfectly fits the story.

8. How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

The simplicity of this cover is what makes it interesting. It makes the story seem stark and quirky, which is exactly what it is. I'd be proud to have this in my library.

7. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood 

This is such a fabulous children's book, and the cover matches the tone to a T. The illustrations have a prim and historical vibe, but the feral children make the story intriguing. It's brilliant. 

Non-fiction

6. This Book Is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

 I like the old-school vibe of this cover. I also really love how the superhero figure in the middle is female. This kind of design seems unusual from most book covers I've seen, so I'd love to have this in my collection.

Fantasy/Dystopia

5. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

While I think that The Sweet Far Thing cover is the best fit for The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, I believe that the AGATB cover is the best stand alone. My author friend Maggie L. Wood said that when she was a bookseller, all her peers thought this cover was taking YA to a new level. I have to agree with them. It has such a sexy, defiant vibe, and it works well for the story.

 





4. The Diviners by Libba Bray

I love how this cover manages to communicate both the era and the fantasy elements in a way that isn't cheesy. Each design element is relevant to the story inside, and that always makes me happy.

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I love the title font of this, alongside the colour scheme. I remember seeing this plastered on a billboard at BEA and being fascinated by the image. 

2. Bumped by Megan McCafferty

It's amazing how a regular household object can be so eerie. That's why this cover is so great. 

1. Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

This is an exquisite cover. It evokes all the magic of the stage, and also stays loyal to the story. I love Bertie's blue hair, too. 

What are some of your favourite book covers?

Educate Emma: Books: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

 Dust Jacket Description:

"According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser."






Characters: The most notable thing about the personalities in The Outsiders is how realistic they feel. Even when it's difficult to keep track of the characters, or they feel stereotypical and trite, there's a kind of sincerity in the novel that transcends all literary issues. Ponyboy illustrates a family of boys with complex loyalties and a lot of internal difficulties, and that's what makes the book worth reading. His impoverished and poignant world is one that doesn't get enough credit in the current YA scene, and I loved falling into it. 3 and a half flowers.

Writing: Again, the voice feels organic and honest, but the dialogue is sometimes laughable and the themes painfully obvious. In some magic way, this adds to the tone of the story, but it still made me roll my eyes. Ponyboy often talks about the ultimate sameness of the socs and the greasers, and those passages reek of cliches. Luckily, I was able to forgive the blatant execution of these messages to appreciate how they have resonated with generations before, and will inevitably resonate with generations after. 3 flowers.

Plot: The plot felt a bit jerky in parts. While the story does have a clear arc, some of the events at the end seems jarringly out of pace. Still, the general concept is compelling and has a defined outline, so it does have its positives. 3 flowers.

End: Cliche, but still powerful. 4 flowers. 

Dust Jacket Description: No rhetorical questions! Actually informative! Indicative of the writing style! Damn that corny last line. 4 flowers. 

Cover: This actually wasn't the cover of the edition that I read. In fact, mine was far more sixties in feeling. However, this cover has a good serious tone, even if it has people on the cover. I hate when people are on my covers. 4 flowers. 

Overall: From a literary perspective, The Outsiders really isn't that special. What makes it unique is its rawness and accuracy. I definitely understand why so many people have fallen in love with it over the years. If you can compromise skill for tone, or you have some reluctant readers in your life, this is the book to read. 3 and a half flowers. 

 

Educate Emma: Books: The Punk Ethic by Timothy Decker, with Bonus of The Letter Home

Dust Jacket Description:

"If you want to rock, you come out swinging.

Well, Martin Henry just made a fist.

Challenged by a teacher to actually 'do something,' Martin walks a minefield of idiot friends, an unfathomable Dream Girl high school, and relative pennilessness to prove that he can change the world.

The funny thing about change, it screws up everything.

Whatever..."

I received this novel for review.



Characters: I really loved Martin's character. His voice is a lot grittier than most YA characters who are currently popular. It's also a lot more realistic and compelling for that reason. His issues making a difference were easy to relate to, and Decker manages to make that component of Martin's struggle understandable and non-cheesy. Martin may be a total music snob, but I see a lot of reluctant readers loving his perspective.

Secondary characters have a small amount of page time, but they too make their mark. I'm super impressed by how Decker approached the issue of Holly's relationship with Martin. For such a small book,  Decker successfully illustrates all the problem with Manic Pixie Girl-dom in a unique way. I was initially concerned with Holly's character, but he made Martin's perception change organically. I was pleased. 4 flowers. 

Writing: I said it before and I'll say it again: Martin's voice is rough around the edges. It takes some time to adjust to the frank nature of the prose, as well as how simplistic it feels. Once I adapted, I really appreciated the story for what it is. Decker doesn't make his characters follow the hyper-intellectual standards that permeate YA these days. They feel like a different subculture of individuals, and I liked that. 4 flowers. 

Plot: The book is quite short, so there wasn't a lot of time for it to get stuck in a rut. More than anything, The Punk Ethic feels honest. I can see the climax of the story and its conclusion occurring in real life. There's no cliched components, and it was nice to have that refreshing experience. My only complaint is that there's one strange record store interaction that seems irrelevant to the rest of the story. 4 flowers. 

End: Kind of perfect. 5 flowers. 

Dust Jacket Description: It has a good hook, there's no stupid rhetorical question, and it fits the vibe of the novel. I am SOLD. Finally, a decent description. 5 flowers.

Cover: I really like the vibe of both the cover and the illustrations included in the book. They're somewhat alternative from the current YA scene, but they're not old-fashioned or removed from the story. The author font is the only thing that I didn't like very much. 4 and a half flowers.

Overall: This is not your average YA book, and I mean that in the best sense possible. If you want something brief but engaging, pick up The Punk Ethic. It'll be a palate cleanser. 4 flowers. 

Timothy was nice enough to include his picture book in his package to me, so I figured it would only be fair that I review it in return! 

Dust Jacket Description: 

"A medic is sent to the front lines in the trenches of World War I. There he writes a letter to his young son describing in careful words what he does, the people he meets, and what he sees. Stark and beautiful drawings depict more fully what the letter only hints at." 





The Letter Home is a really lovely piece. I liked the juxtaposition of the pictures to the words, where the pictures are a lot more severe and revealing than the letter itself. The illustrations give a good impression of the era, and the end is rather thoughtful and perfect. I think I know a few kids with a love of history that would want to give this book a try.

Educate Emma: Books: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Dust Jacket Description:

"The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
 
Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities."

Characters: I quite liked Rory. She's capable and amusing, and she has a love of England that I understand. I also appreciated the relationship that Rory has with her roommates - one that she likes and one that she doesn't. Her friendship with Jazza isn't instant, but it becomes cozy, and I enjoyed that realism. I also related to the slow, creeping dislike of Boo. Nothing feels inorganic, even if it is mundane. The characters in Name aren't particularly gripping, but they do work as sufficient vessels for the plot. My only real criticism is that there are two separate casts of secondary characters, and I didn't feel that Johnson integrated them very well. I can only hope that gets better in the sequel. 3 and a half flowers.

Writing: I wouldn't say this is Johnson's best written piece, but it does a good job of creating suspense. The dialogue is natural and the setting is eerie, even if it's structurally clunky. 4 flowers. 

Plot: I really like how Johnson focused more on the media and communal reaction to the Jack the Ripper killer than Jack the Ripper himself. She proves a point about how the response to a great tragedy can produce more tragedies. She crafts a powerful setting that shows how gruesome events affect humans. In that regard, the plot is very successful.

Due to the misleading cover, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Name's plot. I did like how it shifted unexpectedly, but I still felt like the connection between the beginning and end halves wasn't very strong. I'm expecting this to be less of an issue as the series goes on, but it felt rather stilted. 3 and a half flowers. 

End: Utterly brilliant. I was wondering where the story was going, and it went the perfect place. 5 flowers. 

Dust Jacket Description: It's actually quite good, except for that stupid rhetorical question. I hate the constant rhetorical questions in descriptions. They ruin everything.

Cover: While it is rather pretty, it's completely misleading. I sincerely thought the book was historical fiction, until I started reading it. I wish the cover had better illustrated the contemporary murder mystery components of Name. 

Overall: Suspenseful and thought provoking, The Name of the Star is definitely worth reading. As long as you can deal with structural problems and lackluster characters, you'll enjoy this one. 4 flowers, because I can forgive plot problems for interesting intellectual angles.

Educate Emma: Books: Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson

Dust Jacket Description:

"Spring, 1922 - Tessa is a beautiful, tiny, dark-eyed princess - who's given up her duties to follow her heart, working for nothing backstage at the Viennese opera. No one there knows who she really is, or that a fairytale castle is missing its princess, and Tessa is determined to keep it that way. But secret lives can be complicated. When a wealthy, handsome Englishman discovers this bewitching urchin backstage,Tessa's two lives collide - and in escaping her inheritance, she finds her destiny..." 








Characters: I may have a childhood attachment to Eva Ibbotson, which is why I find delight in her formulaic plots and convenient occurrences. However, her characters are the reason I fell in love with her novels in the first place. Tessa is certainly not a new personality for an Ibbotson novel, but I adore her passion for democracy and art. She's competent and intelligent, as well as fiery. It's hard not to like Tessa. Guy, the other primary character of the book, is also compelling. He has a lot of business savvy, and he tends to be overtly aggressive and protective of those he loves. I appreciated Guy and his sensibilities. My biggest disappointment with the novel is how little we get to see of the actual romantic development between the two characters. I wanted much more interaction between the two. 

As per usual in Ibbotson's work, the side characters stole my heart. All the crazy and fussy characters in Tessa's opera are amusing and lovely. Guy's fiance wasn't original, but I thought she was less villan-ey than some of Ibbotson's other antagonists. Overall, this isn't any new territory, but it satisfied me. 4 flowers. 

Writing: The story opens with Guy's back story, which I found a little unusual. Luckily, it worked quite well. Ibbotson always had a talent for describing Vienna and creating drawn out exposition that makes readers love her world. 5 flowers.

Plot: Again, nothing surprising here. At the beginning of her books, I'm always so confused and curious about how Ibbotson could possibly manage to intertwine the two main characters presented, and she does it flawlessly every time. My only qualm is the lack of scenes between Guy and Tessa.  4 flowers. 

End: A tad too convenient, but what the heck. It's still adorable. 4 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: These descriptions always make it sound like the protagonist's hidden identity is such a big deal, and in Ibbotson's novels, they never really are. Also, there's no mention of Guy's name. 3 flowers. 

Cover: There's a girl on it and it's purple. It's nothing new, but I don't hate it. 3 flowers.

Overall: This is probably my least favourite of the Ibbotsons I've read, mostly due to the lack of romantic development between the two main characters. But it's important to keep in mind that my least favourite Ibbotson is still high up on my "Books That Make Me Happy" list, so I enjoyed the experience. It's well written, engaging and clever. I'm pleased. 4 flowers.