Book Review

we are the ants of the universe 

             This title is incredible. I tore through this book so fast, the words encircled my heart and mind. Anything that talks about the universe is something I'm interested in, and the narration here was filled with things that my mind really appreciates. The humor is shockingly perfect, with deep thoughts placed perfectly in between. A touching story that leaves you wondering long after it is over on levels more than one.
             Follow the life of Henry Denton, battling grief over the unknown reason for the suicide of his boyfriend and a life filled with other aspects that make waking up every day a chore, rather than a life to love. But now he has a choice. Abducted by aliens, he holds the fate of the world in his hands. The world is set to end on January 29th 2016, but he alone can stop it-if he wants. Discover Henry's growing opinion about the universe and life and the people who surround him. As he both learns and suffers a great deal, he'll have to go inside of himself to ask one question; does he like having choices?

A piece of YA Fiction that will once again have you longing to read it forever.

Book Review

The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The most refreshing book I've read in along time. Especially after a long duration of pre-AP English Literature assignments. This is definitely one of my favorite books. Period. It's so easy and pure. The message is extreme but the simplicity shines through.

Basic premise: What happens to the ordinary people in the world? Not the ones who are supposed to battle the vampires or the zombies (otherwise referred to as the 'Indie Kids'); but the ordinary teenagers who are just trying to go to school or battle their valid but "normal" everyday problems. The book centers on characters who are typically on the sidelines, creating an interesting paradox.

These are not the characters that you wish you could relate to because what they face is pretty much just totally awesome. No, these are the characters that you do relate to. Especially Mike, our protagonist in this story. Mike and his friends will show you that the great feeling that comes from reading about a ghost hunter or a vampire slayer is just as easily found in the ordinary.

An easy read, the laugh out loud narration with thoughtful commentary underneath will leave you longing to read this book over and over again. And furthermore realize the aspects of your own life that make your story worth telling-whether you're an Indie Kid or not.

Book Review

A novel told in lists. Yes, lists as in 1, 2, 3 etc. When I picked up this title I wondered if Todd Hasak-Lowy could pull it off, but pull it off he did. Seriously so well and uniquely told. The life of Darren and his thought process pulls you in and the story unfolds itself in a way that I have never seen before. Darren is a teen with divorced parents, finds a gay dad, a best friend that moved, a brother off in college, and a girl he hopelessly wants but doesn't know if he can have. Enough tragedies to happen in a lifetime, have happened all at once for him. And-told through lists- there is a dark humor and a silver lining in the story that you can't help but love. Watch Darren grow and learn what makes life purposeful in a way that is absolutely worth reading if you can embrace the format.