I am a reader, I feel like I always have been. I am constantly surrounded by books in both my personal and professional worlds.
I have read excessively since the second grade. I have attempted, again and again, to keep a list of the books I've read and how I felt about them but so far have been unsuccessful. This is an attempt to keep track of the books I'm reading, and my thoughts about them. My goal is to publish at least one review a week (no promises though). Wish me luck!
I think this was the least heavy book I have read so far this year, both in content and in weight (only 144 pages).
Annabelle lives in New York City with her mother Angelina and her Bubbe. Her father, Jack, lives in Australia with his wife, Penny, and her two children, Lucy and Angus. Jack and Penny also have a daughter, Beatrice. Confused yet? Throw in Angelina's boyfriend Harvey and his son Wheaties, as well as Penny's ex Patrick and his son Ben. Now are you confused? Try being Annabelle.
The Steps by Rachel Cohn is the funny story of Annabelle's visit to Australia to meet the new half of her family. She has little interest in meeting her new step-siblings and is infurriated to find out that they are calling Jack, Dad. Even she doesn't do that! Readers can go into this book somewhat knowing what to expect. Annabelle is very angsty and doesn't like change. Over the course of the book she begins to realize that she has a lot to learn about what really makes a family. It isn't a revolutionary book or one that touches on topics never before seen in the young adult world either. But it's the kind of book you can pick up and read anytime, anyplace, and sometimes you just need a book that will make you laugh.
I think I sometimes jump on the bandwagon for popular books a little late and this was no exception. Boy, was I missing out. I had little desire to read The Hunger Gamesby Suzanne Collins until I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie last week. Waiting was a mistake. This book is AMAZING! From the very beginning I was on the edge of my seat and could barely put the book down (there are not many books that I stay up late and wake up early to read). It is magnificent!
If you are in the very small percentage of book nerds that hasn't read The Hunger Games let me clue you in. Katniss lives in a world very different from our own. To remind the citizens of what used to be North America of the mistakes made in the nation's history, each of the 12 districts must give up one young woman and one young man to compete in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death where one will live and twenty-three will die. When Katniss' sister is selected as tribute for District 12, Katniss selflessly volunteers to take her place. She then enters a world even stranger than the one she left, a world where people horribly change their appearance to appear beautiful, feast on wonderful foods everyday, and take pleasure in the deaths of children.
I have read many reviews referring to Katniss as the anti-Bella. There is no better description for our heroine. She is a wonderful role model for girls- powerful, brave, and self sufficient only a few words that I feel accurately describe her. This book has action, romance, fantasy and can appeal to all readers, both male and female. If you haven't read this yet, trust me, you are missing out! Get a copy, read, and enjoy!
“Leah Hoffman-Ross just moved to New York and she wants her new friends to think she's a typical thirteen-year-old. But Leah has a secret: She doesn't have a father; she has a donor. Before Leah was born, her mother went to Lyon's Reproductive Services and picked Donor 730. Now Leah has a stepfather and a little brother, and her mom thinks that they should be all the family Leah needs.
“Despite her attempts to fit in and be normal, Leah can't help but feel like something is missing. When she finds a link to the Lyon's Sibling Registry, Leah has to see if she has any half siblings. And when she discovers that one of the other kids from Donor 730 is a girl her age, Leah will do anything to meet her- even if she has to hide it from everybody else.
“Debut author Courtney Sheinmel puts a contemporary spin on a timeless question in this heartfelt novel about what makes a family.”
Upon reading this, I made the assumption that this book was solely the story of Leah's journey to find out more about her half siblings and possibly search for the father she has never known. Instead, it focuses on her new friendships upon moving, her relationship with her brother Charlie and somewhat on her mother's writing career. We get to see her friend Avery's family struggle with her older brother's college decision and acceptance in addition to following Leah through her journey of finding her half siblings. When I first started writing this review, I felt that the book wandered a bit too much and didn't focus enough on what was promised in the description However, as I'm sitting here analyzing it a bit more I'm thinking about the last line “Courtney Sheinmel puts a contemporary spin on a timeless question in this heartfelt novel about what makes a family.” Throughout the course of the book, we are introduced to Leah's relationship with her mother, stepfather, and half-brother. We also follow her as she makes new friends in New York. And lastly, we find out whether or not she finds any half-siblings.
Sheinmel makes it very clear that it is sharing the same blood and genes do not necessary make you a family. Family can be your closest friends or your neighbors, as well as those you are related to. Sheinmel's book illustrates that well. Leah's family extends beyond those she is immediately related to and those she has grown up around. Upon writing this review, I like this book even more than when I finished it. I recommend it to readers around 10 or so and up (but I would suggest parents be available as their children read this, since some of the subject matter will likely spark questions from their young reader).
In addition I also recommend another of Sheinmel's books, Positively, a book about a girl named Emmy who is HIV positive and has to move in with her father and step-mother after her mother passes away from the same disease.
Overall I was very happy that I picked up this book and will likely read more books by this author.
