YA Book Tour- Arizona

Keeping on with the book tour with the next stop being Arizona and A.S. King's Everybody Sees the Ants.

Lucky Linderman's life is not an easy one.  His dad seems unsure how to be a dad since he never knew his because he never came back from the Vietnam war, classified as POW/MIA.  His mother just seems to agree with any of his dad's plans.  Plus, he has been bullied by Nader McMillian since he was seven.

He has had a particularly rough freshmen year of high school, and his dad only seems to be getting more distance. He describes his dad as a turtle because he hides in his "shell" rather than confront problems.  His mother is a squid, because she swims laps to escape problems.  Lucky, himself, escapes in his dreams to the jungles of Vietnam to rescue his grandfather.

After a particularly bad run-in with Nader, Lucky's mother packs their backs and head to her brothers house in Arizona, and leaves his dad to do something about the situation.  Here Lucky learns that he is important and that you are what you make of yourself, not what others make you feel.

The story itself can be a little disjointed at times, jumping between the present, Lucky's dreams, and Lucky's freshmen year of high school.  That being said, overall it is a good story, and relays a good message.

I find Lucky super relatable, because I was a victim of bullying in middle school.  It is hard road to travel, especially when the people around you who are suppose to stop that don't seem to be doing anything about it.  Lucky really grows as a character and by the end he is someone who is not afraid to stand up for himself.

I think is a must read for anyone who has experienced or is experiencing bullying.

Also another resource in the fight to stop bullying: http://www.stopbullying.gov/

Currently Reading:
Jip: His Story
by Katherine Paterson

YA Book Tour- Oklahoma

I know it has been a little longer than usual since my last post.  Finals and moving to Raleigh, NC kept me busy, but I am back now and carrying on with the United States of YA book tour.  Up next on the tour is Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp representing Oklahoma.

Hampton Green is a part of the the Kennisaw Knights defense and he is very good at his position.  He has a rare gift to be able to see the field and know analyze the plays in the blink of the eye.  Off the field, things aren't always as easy for him.  He is crushing on Sara, who, according to best friend Blaine, is not the type a girl a star football player should be dating.  Blaine is a hot shot running back, who has lost some of his step on the field due to a knee injury, but is still cocky as ever off the field.  Hampton's mom has been flitting from guy to guy since his dad walked out on them. As his team quest for the fifth straight perfect season, Hampton learns what kind of man he wants to be.

I am a big fan of football movies, and hard to believe that this is my first football book.  As it goes, it is this was a good start.  The book was an excellent combination of Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues.  The book balanced perfectly the action on the field and the day to day life of Hampton.

Hampton is an incredible player, but, unlike his best friend, he does not let it go to his head.  He still loves the game and has fun playing.  He is humble and he is smarter than most people give him credit for because he is quiet and not quick with his words.  He makes the journey into quite a distinguished young man.

Blaine, Hampton's best friend, is cocky and has a giant chip on his shoulder.  He comes off as tool most of the book.  He expects complete loyalty from his friends, and becomes really upset when they question his actions.  He is lucky to have a friend like Hampton, who can see the deeper problems he is having and willing to help him out.

Sara is a great compliment to Hampton's character. She sees the person behind the player.  She is smart and helps Hampton to become a better person.

Definitely a good book both in characters and in football action.

Currently Reading:
Everybody Sees the Ants
by A.S. King

YA Book Tour- Utah

Getting super close to the end of the YA book tour, and next up is Utah with Brodi Ashton's Everneath.

The underworld is really the Everneath, and it is where the Everliving go to Feed.  The Everliving have discovered the secret to living forever and to keep themselves alive they must Feed off a Forfeit.

Nikki Beckett has just woken from the 100 years of feeding from the Everliving Cole.  Somehow she has survived intact and returns to the life she left behind.  In the world, time passes differently than the Everneath and six months have passed since Nikki left.  She returns to the world of the living to make amends for living and say good-bye properly before the Tunnels take her.  Most importantly to see Jack again, the one thing that kept her going during the Feeding.  Too bad that Cole follows her back and is constantly trying to convince her to return with him just to complicate her life more.

I thought the story was an incredible new look at some of the great stories of mythology including Hades and Persephone and Eurydice and Orpheus.  The author does an excellent job of balancing the present with Nikki's past how it lead to her decision to follow Cole.

I love the progression of Nikki from the broken girl when she returns from the Everneath to the strong young woman trying to fight fate.  Jack is a fantastic character.  He is loyal, and at times you can really feel the heartbreak he suffered when Nikki disappeared.  What girl would not want a Jack like that.  Cole, on the other hand, is very shady.  It is awful to see how he manipulated Nikki to follow him to the Everneath, and he continues try to do so once she returns.  Although, he definitely gets more than he bargains for with Nikki and her strong will and his feelings for her.

Warning, the ending is a dozy, and leaves you wanting to start the next book.  I am very excited to see where the story goes in the next book.

Currently Reading:
Knights of the Hill Country
by Time Tharp

Map Update

With the book I am currently reading, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, I officially am on book 45 out of 50.  I should be done with the United States of YA books by the end of August.  At the end will post the final map, and list my top five books that are not to be missed.  So keep checking back for the last of the tour reviews.

YA Book Tour- Wyoming

Next stop on the United States of YA book tour is the state of Wyoming with Cynthia Hand's Unearthly.

Clara Gardner is an angel-blood.  Her mother is half angel and she and her brother are a quarter angel.  Every angel-blood has a purpose that they are given, and Clara has gotten her purpose.  Her purpose causes her family to leave their life in California and move to Wyoming.  She knows she has to save this boy from a fire, but when and how are still foggy.

As Clara navigates her way around a new school and deals with her new powers, she learns more about angels, both good and bad, and other angel-bloods.  She finds more than she expects in Wyoming, including a little romance.

I have to be honest, I was really worried about this books plot.  The synopsis made it sound awfully close to Lauren Kate's Fallen and Jocelyn Davies' A Beautiful Dark.  Even the cover seems uninspiring.  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, and it was better than I expected.  Ms. Hand takes what could be an overdone concept and makes it new and gives it her own spin.  I like that Clara knows exactly what she is from the beginning and there is not a tedious drag in plot while she figures out what is causing these strange powers.

I like that she places Clara in a new situation where we get to see a little of her vulnerability, and she is not this instantly beautiful and popular girl. Find Clara struggle to be as focused as she can on her purpose to please her mother and to be the normal girl she longs to be makes her seem very human.  She, also, has a serious struggle with her feelings between Christian and Tucker.

Personally, I think that Tucker is a better choice.  I like that he is down to earth and so personable.  Christian, on the other hand, like Wendy says is god that you can admire from afar but never really know.

After the ending, which has a big surprise that I did not see coming, I can't wait to see what happens next.

Currently Reading:
Everneath
by Brodi Ashton