Tag: ya

"Everything, Everything" Book Review

Book Review: Everything, Everything

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

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Synopsis:

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

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Review

I had to renew this book twice from the library before I finally got around to reading it. What can I say, YA contemporaries aren’t typically my thing. But after much persuasion from my friend and the fact that the due date was coming up again I figured why not give it a chance. I finished it in a day. Literally started it Sunday morning and finished it by Sunday night. Needless to say I loved it.

Maddy is my heart and soul. She was sweet, funny, and much more forgiving than I am. Seriously she is goals for me. I hope to be able to love people and forgive people the way she does. Although I loved Maddy I fell in love with Olly. He was cute, funny, wears all black, and is just the perfect person for Maddy. Their love story sucked me in hard but what really kept me on the edge of my seat was Maddy’s illness and how it affected her life. I can’t imagine not being able to leave my house, not being able to touch people, not having a “normal” life. What I could understand though was Maddy’s love for books and her little reviews cracked me up as did her definitions.

I loved the drawings in this book as well, which were done by Nicola’s husband, David, which I thought was super cool. Overall I think what I loved most about this book was really just the plot. The romance between Maddy and Olly was perfect but the story that Yoon weaved left me speechless. I was shocked, enraged, and saddened with the last 100 pages of this book. I didn’t know what to feel and had to let my friend know that I was emotional wreck. Truly I did not sign up for all these emotions but I loved every second of it. If I could shove this book into everyone’s hands I would because it’s absolutely marvelous. It also makes me happy that Maddy’s biracial and her nurse, Carla, is from Mexico (diverse characters!). Speaking of Carla she was amazing and I absolutely loved her. I typically don’t care for the “grown-ups” in YA novels but Carla was the best.

In summary, if you’re like me and have put off reading Everything, Everything please rectify this problem immediately and read it. Honestly it’s so great and it’s also a pretty quick read. This is definitely one I need on my shelves.

Stars:

5 stars

Favorite Line:

“In my head I’ve been in love before, but it doesn’t feel like it. Being in love with you is better than the first time. It feels like the first time and the last time and the only time all at once.”

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'Six of Crows' Book Review

Book Review: Six of Crows

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

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Synopsis:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don’t kill each other first.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

I don’t even know how long I’ve had Six of Crows on my bookshelf but it was too long. I could’ve read this book ages ago. I could’ve fallen in love with these characters so long ago. Why did no one force me to read this book? For why? Seriously, Leigh Bardugo has truly outdone herself with this novel and I loved it so much more than the Grisha trilogy.

First of all, the cast of characters in this novel is amazing. Kaz gave me serious heart eyes and I fell for him almost instantly and I don’t know what that says about because to be quite honest Kaz is not a good person. He has some great qualities, don’t get me wrong, but overall he’s not a great person. Still, I’m able to see past his hardened exterior to his nicer interior that he tries to keep buried but unfortunately for him keeps rising to the service.

Besides Kaz, there’s Inej, also known as the Wraith. She’s probably my favorite character, although Kaz is a very close second. Then we have Nina who’s such a badass and I love her. She’s so fierce but also really cares deeply about her people and just wants a better world for them. There’s also Matthias who I had mixed feelings about but grew on me. I absolutely loved Jesper even though he’s got a lot of problems he needs to work through. Finally there’s Wylan who I just wanted to hold close and protect at all costs. He’s too sweet and precious for this world. #KeepWylanSafe2016

More than anything I just loved how diverse this group of characters were. Besides just racially, there’s a character with a physical disability and a character with a mental/learning disability. Characters deal with sex trafficking, PTSD, addiction, and so much more. It’s truly amazing!

Not only were the characters great, this book’s plot was also amazing and fast paced. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next and loved that I was never really quite sure. Kaz schemes surprised even me and the end left me a bit stressed but in the best way. That’s one of the only benefits of waiting to read this book; I literally finished it as I was waiting in line for the Crooked Kingdom signing. Talk about perfect timing.

This book was way better than I thought it would be to be honest. Not that I thought it would be bad I just didn’t love the Grisha trilogy as much as I thought I would so I didn’t want to go into Six of Crows with high expectations. Thankfully Six of Crows is definitely worth all the hype and I’m already making my way through Crooked Kingdom and loving it. Make sure to grab both books as soon as possible. You won’t regret it; trust me.

Stars:

5 stars

Favorite Line:

“She’d laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and gotten drunk on it every night, he would have. It terrified him.”

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'Siege and Storm' Book Review

Book Review: Siege and Storm

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Borrow

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Synopsis

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Purchase From:

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Review

*Warning: There will be minimal spoilers about Shadow and Bone in this review. Read at your own risk.*

So I’m still not a big fan of Mal and then Leigh Bardugo had the nerve to give me Sturmhound, another possible love interest for Alina who, again, I liked more than Mal. Thanks Bardugo! No but seriously thank you; Sturmhound is my new fave. He’s cute and snarky, my favorite combination. Also known as the “too clever fox,” Sturmhound brought an extra round of humor to this novel that I felt was sorely needed. We also got some other new characters in this novel including the twins, Tamar and Tolya, who are an awesome addition to the trilogy. Their background is very interesting and they’re both so fierce and bad ass.

I believe my biggest issue with this novel was how quickly the Darkling came back into play. There was no build up or anything, we just kind of dived right back into the Darkling versus Alina saga. As much as I love the Darkling I wanted more from his and Alina’s reunion. It just seemed a little anticlimactic to me. Once I got past that though I definitely liked this book more than Shadow and Bone. I still didn’t love it but it was definitely better, which is a good sign about where this series is heading.

Still, this is definitely a borrow for me. I can’t really see myself reading this book again, no matter how swoonworthy Sturmhound is. Did I mention he’s the best part of this book? Because he is.

Have you read the Grisha trilogy? Let me know your thoughts about it below!

Stars:

3 stars

Favorite Line:

“I want to kiss you. But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.”

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"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Book Review

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

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Synopsis:

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even the Muggles have been affected. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And yet . . . as with all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Harry receives some extraordinary help in Potions from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. And with Dumbledore’s guidance, he seeks out the full, complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort — and thus finds what may be his only vulnerability.

Purchase From:

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Review

It’s Harry Potter Week! Soon it’ll be Harry Potter’s birthday and The Cursed Child will be in my hands and thankfully I think I’ll actually be able to finish the last book just in time. For now that let’s discuss The Half-Blood Prince. I unfortunately I didn’t love it as much as The Order of the Phoenix, which I have now decided really is my favorite book, but The Half-Blood Prince was still really good.

I mostly enjoyed the relationships in this one. The characters are older now, which means they’re actually dating now causing a new set of problems for The Golden Trio. Lavender Brown was somehow more annoying in the book than she was in the movie I think, as was McLaggen. To be honest I’m definitely a Harry/Hermione shipper but I’m happy that Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny are endgame. Therefore it was painful seeing Ron and Hermione at odds. There were so many times I wanted to hit Ron because it was so obvious Hermione liked him and I couldn’t understand how he didn’t see that.

Also, Harry and Ginny were really cute and I agree with everyone that said book Ginny is much better than movie Ginny. I totally agree. Ginny, in the books, is more sassy and her relationship with Harry is more realistic (although I was surprised at how fast Ginny jumped into it but she obviously never got over Harry). The chemistry between Harry and Ginny was almost non-existent in the movie so it was great to really see why people shipped them together in the books. I get it now and I like them too.

What I most disliked about this book was how frustrating it was that no one believed Harry. I get why no one believed his accusations against Malfoy and Snape but it was so annoying when the whole time I knew Harry was right. Still, overall this book was great. There was romance and action and we learned a lot about Voldemort. I’m excited to finally read the last book and see how it all ends (even though I already kind of know).

Stars:

5 stars

Favorite Line:

“Harry looked around; there was Ginny running toward him; she had a hard blazing look in her face as she threw her arms around him. And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her. After several long moments, or it might have been half an hour-or possibly several sunlit days- they broke apart.”

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Author Interview with Anne Heltzel, author of "Charlie, Presumed Dead"

Author Spotlight: Anne Heltzel

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Author Spotlights

It’s been a while since I got to interview an author and I’m super excited about this one. I got to work with Anne a bit when I interned at Abrams Books for Young Readers in the spring and she’s amazing. Check out our interview below and make sure to check out her book, Charlie, Presumed Dead, which is out now!

 Interview with Anne Heltzel, author of "Charlie, Presumed Dead"

How did you first get interested in writing?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t enjoy writing. An obsessive (not just avid!) reader as a kid, writing seemed like an obvious extension of my interests. I filled a new journal each year in school, was gifted blank books for holidays, and added fictional elements to my academic essays to liven things up. For fun, I took fiction writing and journalism classes and competed in writing competitions. I was the type to cry at the end of a book because it was over. A true nerd.

How did you come up with the idea for Charlie, Presumed Dead?

The genesis of that idea came from a conversation I had with a friend in my teeny-tiny room when she was visiting me in Paris. She knew a guy who had passed away, and his two girlfriends had discovered one another at his funeral. I’d had some experience with a cheating boyfriend and lots of experience traveling, and it seemed a natural opening scene for a book that would meld those two themes.

Are you working on any other projects right now?

I’m ghostwriting an adult novel right now, but I’m not allowed to talk about it. =)

What is your writing process like?

I often write in my bed, surrounded by snacks. When writing commissioned content, I am usually given a concept or an outline. When writing original content, I like to develop a “one page” pitch before I begin, to show my agent. Then he either shoots it down or says he loves it. If he loves it, I write a few initial scenes. Many of these don’t wind up in the book; it’s just me playing with my characters in different scenarios to get a feel for who I want them to be. When I know my characters very well, I tend to have a beginning and end in mind. Then it’s a matter of connecting the dots. I almost always write out of order.

What’s it like being an editor and an author?

Really, really hard. Exhausting and frustrating. You’re only in this business if you love it; and luckily I do. But editorial work carries over into nights and weekends—and nights and weekends are my only opportunities to write. It’s a very tricky juggling act, and often it requires some tough sacrifices (vacation time, a social life).

Do you enjoy editing or writing more?

It changes every day. I truly love both and can’t pick between them. During my interview for my first editorial job nearly a decade ago, my soon-to-be boss asked, “What do you see yourself doing in five years? Editing or writing?” I answered, “Both!” And I was being very honest. I really enjoy the collaboration and craft of editing, but I need the creative outlet writing offers me.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I don’t have a stable of go-to favorite authors; but here are some books I’ve read lately and enjoyed:

Besides writing and editing, what are your other hobbies?

I always sort of chuckle when I hear that phrase, “free time.” What’s that? Seriously. I usually do let myself have weekend nights off, and I like to spend it with my friends—at dinner parties, movies, plays, concerts, beer gardens….I also travel internationally quite a bit, probably more than average. This is because I often have a free place to stay—I’m fortunate to have lived in both Europe and Asia, and usually have a couch to crash on. If I ever take afternoons off, I love reading in the park with my dog, or just taking him to the dog run. My favorite place to get away from everything is the Catskills—near water, with my dog and some friends. I’m a big fan of simplicity.

What was it like being a mentor for Girls Write Now? How can people get involved?

That was awesome, but I had to stop because it became too time-consuming. You can reach out directly to the organization—both mentors and mentees need to complete an application process. Then aspiring writers (usually in high school) are paired with professional writers, and you meet weekly to work on writing. It can be fun writing or academic writing, whatever the mentee wants. There are also monthly workshops on topics like screenwriting and comedy writing. It’s a really great program and I can’t recommend it enough. My former mentee, Shirleyka, and I still keep in touch. She’s starting college this coming fall and got a full ride, because she’s awesome.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Do the work. That’s my best advice. And do it without an agenda—just for the love of it. There is never a guarantee of publication; but finishing a draft is something to be incredibly proud of. It’s fulfilling—as rewarding (in my opinion) as running a marathon.

Any advice for aspiring editors?

Make connections in the industry! Reach out and be proactive. Forming relationships is a large part of the job, and it’s never too soon to start. Find editors whose work you admire on LinkedIn or on their websites, and shoot them an email. See if they’re available to grab coffee or schedule a brief call. The worst anyone can ever say is “no.”

If you’re an author that would like to be featured on To Borrow or Buy please shoot me an email at toborroworbuy@gmail.com. Thanks!

POLL: YA or Adult Novels?

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

ya or adult

I’m a big fan of both young adult and adult novels. Even so, I often tend to lean towards young adult. Maybe it’s because I am one or maybe it’s because I just truly prefer them. Either way I love both types of novels but I want to know if you have a preference. Vote in the poll below and let me know in the comments why you’re more of a YA fan or a strictly adult novels person.

Results of last week’s poll:

How do you prefer to read?

With 60% of the votes, paperbacks were the winner. Paperbacks or the perfect books because you can fold them over and bend them any which way while still having the comfort of holding an actual book in your hands. It’s a win-win.