YA Book Review: Hate List By Jennifer Brown #WU2011R

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠
genre } fiction | young adult | realistic fiction | teen | drama
release day } 5th October 2010
acquired } 17th April 2010
publisher } Little, Brown Books For Young Readers 
format } paperback
isbn } 9780316041454
pages } 416 pg.
source } bought
age group } pg 13
interest } pg 13 + ages
awards } Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award (2010), The White Ravens (2010), Voya Perfect Ten (2009)
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

Hate List
By Jennifer Brown

Via Goodreads
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

My 2 Cents
Cover. That Hate word is loud by itself. That look on their eyes are full with sharp scrutiny. I like it! It tells you exactly what to expect in this book and yet it make you read, wondering why are they giving that look.

Her Squeaks. Halfway through this book, all I could think was: “The fate of a victim, who turn the bullies into a victim, and yet still the victim.” Yes, halfway through this, I feel Valerie is not getting the fair treatment from either her family nor her schoolmates. Nobody asked her the real story. They just judge and assumed she’s guilty. What’s sadder is her own father seemed to wish she doesn’t exist because of that mass shooting. I also can’t help thinking Nick Levil’s name is one letter exchange to Nick Devil too. I wonder if that was intentional. The characters are just so believable. I feel sorry for Valerie, and somewhere along the line I also felt suspicious of Jessica Campbell intentions. This book reminded me of Columbine and other school shooting events it’s just eerie.

Since it’s so good, why has this been nesting in my To Be Read pile  for so long? I got distracted by work (I think) and it got buried under that ever growing monster. Nevertheless that was the mistake. This ended up to be a good book. I suggest this book to any teens to adults. It probably touch your life too.

☺

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Book Review: Delia’s Heart (Delia #02); By V.C. Andrews

genre } young adult | drama
release day } 20th December 2008
publisher } Pocket
format } e-book
pages } 384 pg.
source } bought
age group } 18 sx
interest } young adult
challenge } -
Buy @ Amazon.com

Delia’s Heart
(Delia #02) By; V.C. Andrews

Via GoodReads TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS...
Atrapada entre dos mundos
Delia Yebarra survived a treacherous desert crossing to protect her friend Ignacio from murder charges. Now, the time has come once again to leave her tiny Mexican hometown: Delia's cousin Edward convinces her to return to his world of wealth and privilege in Palm Springs, and soon Delia, a beautiful and popular senior at an exclusive private school, is living the American dream. But Delia will quickly discover that high society has a very dark underside.
A STRANGER IN BOTH OF THEM...
Extranjera en cualquiera de los dos
Delia's malicious cousin Sophia is sparking horrific rumors with Delia at their center. Racing to do damage control, Delia's mortified aunt Isabela introduces her troublesome niece to the handsome son of a wealthy Mexican American politician. An attraction sparks and a whirlwind romance begins...but Delia's heart won't let her forget her humble roots -- or Ignacio. And when tragedy tears her world apart, will it be too late to save the one she cares about the most?
My 2 Cents
Wow… The emotions I was left with after reading this book was… “wow”. As I was before with the first book, I actually wanted to pick up the 3rd book instead of writing this review down. other than that, I’m learning how to speak Spanish again. Haha

Delia, under Edward care has grow her own claws. With the help of Fani, her new emm.. acquaintance (I can’t bear to call her a friend to Delia), who took notice of Delia, took her under her wing and Delia learns how to snap back at Sophia. She has her own life. Ignacio still living wild in her mind… yet going.. and going.. and going.. as she hangs out more with Adan. Fani introduced Adan to Delia, not really sure what her motives were, but it seems that Delia and Adan gain a wonderful companion for each other, of course making Delia's life a bit tolerable.

Adan likes Delia.. more than like. She enjoys being with him too, but also, she felt guilty. I was actually scream thinking, “Be with him!” But of course, true to VC Andrews style, Delia was of course, felt guilty the whole time, thinking of Ignacio. She’s very much loyal to Ignacio, I gave her that. But in the same time, she was leading (?) Adan on, yet.. falling for him. Le sigh…

Tia Isabella likes to toy with that idea, in fact, she wanted Delia to be with Edward. In a way, she did care for Delia, but in a way she knows how. In some of the pages, I think she wished Delia was her daughter, instead of her annoying Sophia. Sophia sensed it and did whatever she could do, to get rid of Delia. To make sure, Delia “break” something so she could ruin Delia.

Edward and Jesse doing their best, regardless off to a college, mothered her. Protecting her for her Tia Isabella from being cruel to her and a wall from Sophia. 

***SPOILERS!***
*** STOP READING BELOW THIS BIT***




However, when the event of their trip to Mexico, where Delia had a secret rendezvous with Ignacio, where the police finally caught him, thanks to Sophia’s doing, things seems to change. Either they can’t forgive her cause they felt use, or Edward just feel helpless… they actually stopped talking to her.
Woe… Not going to tell you how the book ends. You have to read it on your own.

Okay, I’m going to leave you with this so I can start with the next installment of this series. I hope the next will bring Delia happiness. I do wish for her that, she deserve it after a long time. Delia though, could count her blessings, because with every door closes, there’s always something another that would open and would be good to her.

 

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Book Review: My Sister’s Keeper; By Jodi Picoult

If you have seen the movie, I say read the book. It's the same but not as much as you think it is.

I have known of this book for a while now, but I didn't know what it was all about, but of course, I ended up letting it piled up in my TBR pile for the longest time. I thought it was a chick flick.

Until the movie came....

I have a soft spot in anything that's being regard as a "spare part child". It has become an itch, or a peeve if you may, an issue this book has managed to portray.

I found myself trying to read it through whenever I could. This book comprised of first hand experience from all of the characters involved. The book centered on Anna, the specially engineered child by their parents, to be the sole donor for her older sister Kate, who is suffering from a rare kind of leukemia. One day, Anna just suddenly said she had enough and decided to court to apply for medical emancipation from her parents.

Personally this book is an emotional read for me. I got so absorbed in it, and I found myself feeling sorry for Anna through out the book. Regardless screaming somebody die already because I wanted to finish the book asap too lol.

But honestly… when I read the ending, I threw the book against the wall. I cried. I was emotional. I could NOT accept the ending of this book. It made me loathe the ending of the movie version of this book even more. There has NEVER been a book that could affect me as this one had been.

Oh well… try this out, you might be surprise when you come to love it as I did.

My Sister’s Keeper
By Jodi Picoult
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness. Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
My Sister’s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

First Words.When I was little, the great mystery to me wasn't how babies were made, but why.

Quote. You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.

rate } ♠♠♠♠
genre } fiction | chick lit | drama | bookclub
release day } 1st February 2005
publisher } Washington Square Press
format } Paperback
isbn } 9780743454537
pages } 488 pg.
source } bought
age group } pg 13+
interest } If you like Nicholas Spark, Try this one.
award } ALA Alex Award (2005)
Buy @ Amazon.com | Kindle

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