Review: Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Title:  Allegedly

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

Format/Length: ebook, 400 pages

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books, 2017 

My Rating:  ★★★★

Mary B. Addison has been convicted of killing a three month old baby. Mary was only nine years old at the time of the crime and she barely said a word when she was questioned. It was the public outcry over the death of a baby that sealed Mary’s fate. And for the past six years all she’s ever known is silence, secrets, and adults who judged her and didn’t care about her.

But Mary’s finally had enough. She wants out of the horrible group home, with its dirt and squalor and horrible people. Coming clean about what really happened that night six year ago might be Mary's salvation.

But who will listen to her? Who could help her reopen her case? And what about her Momma? How can Mary make people understand what it was like to live with her? 

How can Mary make people see her? Does anyone really know the real Mary? 

These are just some of the important questions you will come across while reading Jackson’s debut, Allegedly. Page after page grips you, urging you to stay with Mary, to not miss a single thing she says or does. This story will keep you with Mary on an emotional, gritty, disturbing ride.

It’s easy to feel frustrated about Mary’s plight. Time and again you could ask yourself; why? How could this happen to her? How did it get this far? Did anyone question the physical evidence? Did no one look at Mary’s mother? 

That’s what makes this novel so gripping. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to keep reading and get answers to my questions. 

Another aspect that was done well was the portrayal of the effects of Mary’s six years of incarceration. It’s clear that her imprisonment has deprived Mary of so much. Aside from freedom she has also been deprived of information, and any and all means of obtaining it. 

This is evident in Mary’s ignorance about so many things. From how computers work, the necessity of having an ID so she can take the SATs, and even not knowing that dozens of books have been written about her and her alleged crime. It all makes sense. It fits the narrative of Mary’s life. 

There is also Mary’s voice. While I wouldn’t call her childish, there is a clear difference between Mary and someone else her age. Again it’s unmistakable in the way Jackson writes Mary that she has gone through so much, and that she has essentially grown up in prison.

As for the rest of the cast of characters, each is vivid and very well done. Jackson did not forget these characters, you can tell she did her research and provided a solid story for each of them. I found these characters to be kind of scary in their distinct differences, particularly the other people living in the group home with Mary. 

I won’t spoil the ending. But I will say that I did like it. I thought it was a good ending, in that it made sense for this story. Allegedly hooks you from the beginning and it won’t let you go until the last page. The writing is smart and the dialogues flow. It deftly tackles issues like truth and mental illness. It also doesn't shy away from examining race and the justice system. 

Even though I don’t love any of the characters and nothing that happens in this book is enjoyable, it is a good read. It’s emotional and sometimes that’s what I look for in a book.

Review: Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

Title:  Genuine Fraud

Author: E. Lockhart

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Format/Length: ebook, 288 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2017

My Rating:  ★★★

Genuine Fraud has been marketed as a thriller. There’s a mystery at the heart of the story. There’s suspense. It will be "edgy and inventive."

Or so they say.

The book begins at the end. At the start the reader learns that Jule is on the run, and might have been evading authorities for quite a while. This moves on to carefully building up to the what and why.

Through that careful build up it became clear that I’ve read this story. I’ve seen these characters before. They even acted and did the same things. Some scenes are only slightly different.

So there goes the mystery. I already know this story. In fact, I loved it once. But who knows I might love it again. After all, this one has troubled women and this writer is known to excel at portraying those. There might also be a different twist at some point.

Sadly, if there was one it was not significant enough to distinguish this book from an old favorite.

Essentially Genuine Fraud is the modern reimagining of a book I read a few years ago.

Unfortunately I didn’t know that starting out and I found myself slowly getting disappointed.

Even with the "homage to a classic" in mind, I wanted so much more out of this book. I wanted to be wowed. I wanted to be impressed. I wanted excitement. I wanted a twist so different and separate from the other that it would make my head spin.

In the end I give this book 3 stars because while the plot was a letdown it is not a complete loss for me. I did finish it. I also appreciate it for the Lockhart’s writing - which I admit is engaging and well paced.

The themes and the questions this book presented were also something I enjoyed.

Such questions about identity. About truth. About relationships; what’s healthy, what’s definitely not. Self presentation, self-esteem, self preservation. Lies, secrets, boundaries, envy, morals.

There’s also the big question of what a person is willing to do to get what they want. How far will someone go to live the life they believe they are supposed to have.

Considering these things and choosing to look at this book as a retelling makes Genuine Fraud more enjoyable, even if not memorable.

Review: For Today I Am A Boy by Kim Fu

Title: For Today I Am A Boy

Author: Kim Fu 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, LGBT, Young Adult 

Format/Length: ebook, 261 pages

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2014, Mariner Books; 2015

My Rating: ★★★★

For Today I Am A Boy is the story of Peter Huang, the third of four children. Peter is the long awaited son of a mild, if distant, mother and an intimidating father. Peter adores his three sisters. But he envies their certain freedom, while also enjoying the happiness he feels when they’re together. Peter knows they understand the thing he is not ready to say out loud.

This is the story of a life of confusion, loneliness, pain, understanding, and acceptance. This is also the story of the debilitating weight of secrets, expectations and pressure, that of family and society. This is story of Peter told in his subtle and powerful voice.

Peter takes the reader through snapshots of his life; from his childhood in a small unglamorous town in Ontario to Montreal. Peter has always known that he did not belong with the body in which he was born. He doesn’t like this body, he admires others’ and secretly dreams of having the same. Even knowing all that, Peter has never said any of this out loud, he has learned to live in secret. He believes he’s alone in this feelings and has never known anyone who felt the same.

Despite this Peter takes comfort that there are some people in his life who somehow understands even half of the truth. From his sisters; Adele, Helen, and Bonnie, to his childhood friend Ollie.

Eventually Peter moves away from his parents to the busier and livelier Montreal. But what should have been an adventure, a path to a happy life, only made Peter more isolated. Although he is far from the control of his parents, he feels the same pressures they have always instilled, and has in fact resigned himself to fulfilling their dreams someday even if the idea alone makes him unhappy. Being away and having very little contact with the few positive connections he did have contributed to this loneliness.

This loneliness and pain is palpable in the first person narration. In Peter’s voice, the reader can feel/see his doubts about himself, his revulsion for that body. Similarly, the small moments of joy and peace he feels when he does something in secret, or hides something under his clothes is clear and made more powerful in this voice.

Things I enjoyed about this book also include Kim Fu’s writing. There is something seemingly effortless about her writing of this story. I was not bored and I did not find any part of this book tedious. I looked forward to page after page. Even the back and forth, snapshot way of presenting the events was enjoyable.

I also liked the characterization of Peter’s sisters. Adele, Helen, and Bonnie were quite different from one another. They were definitely their own person. They were also their own person when it comes to Peter. Though they all understood him, each one had a distinct relationship.

In the end, I wanted more of this book. I would have happily read another fifty pages, or as long as it took to dig deeper into the story. To bring more of Peter to life. To further relationships between Peter and the sisters, between Peter and anyone else. I was disappointed to see that I had reached the end and there was still a lot not touched on, explored.

I wanted to know about Peter and the future. I want to see the rest of the journey. Admittedly, it would a long journey because there’s so much for Peter to work out, but I wanted to see it. I adored Peter. I cheered for any moment of joy and I was sad for him when he was alone.

Honestly, I’ve read more pages of stories with characters I didn’t even like. So of course I’d want more out of book featuring a character I cherish.

That ending was abrupt and lacking.

P.S. The novel's title was taken from the following song. 

For Today I Am A Boy 

By Antony Hegarty 

Performed by Antony and The Johnsons

One day I'll grow up, I'll be a beautiful woman.

One day I'll grow up, I'll be a beautiful girl.

One day I'll grow up, I'll be a beautiful woman.

One day I'll grow up, I'll be a beautiful girl.

But for today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

One day I'll grow up, I'll feel the power in me.

One day I'll grow up, of this I'm sure.

One day I'll grow up, I know whom within me.

One day I'll grow up, feel it full and pure.

But for today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy.

For today I am a child, for today I am a boy

Review: Every Day by David Levithan

this image is from goodreads.com

Summary: Every Day tells the story of A who has lived everyday as a different person. A might be a boy one day, and a girl the next. A is never certain what tomorrow will be like, only that it will not be spent on the same body. For A, the only constant is change.

As the novel begins A is sixteen years old and has never known a different way of living. For the most part, A is sure this daily change is fine. A has long since stopped thinking that there should be something more, some sort of consistency. Until one day A meets Rhiannon.

My Review: 
As a typical Young Adult novel, Every Day portrays a romance that develops almost instantly. Since the story is told from A's perspective, the reader is privy to the intense feelings A has for Rhiannon. A's desire and intention to make Rhiannon understand the depth of these feelings is a constant in these pages. A works hard to convince Rhiannon that their feelings are genuine and that they belong together.

While Every day is a love story, David Levithan does a good job of exploring each day of A's life. A's journey; from body to body, life to life, is detailed. When it comes to each person A inhabits - Levithan explores life, family, friends, routines with some solid distinctions.

Levithan also shows A from time to time delve into the emotional aspects or toll that living an ever changing life can bring. Even though this is only happening at all because of Rhiannon.

Notice that I have not stopped mentioning how much A thinks about Rhiannon. That's because it's what you get when you read it. From the moment A realizes that their interaction with Rhiannon was something special, something A has not experienced often (maybe one other time, A has pointed out), they have not been able to let it go. A just has to see Rhiannon again.

And what do you know, A goes out of their way to do just that. A risks themselves and the inhabited person, deviating from the everyday protocol they have established for themselves.

Pretty typical conflict starter, really.

This novel has been praised for its exploration of gender. Its depiction of a love that might just transcend gender.

Personally I don't see that it explored gender at all. It definitely did not ask the questions other people have thought it did.

Such as: What is gender? What does it mean to be a boy? To be a girl? To be neither? What's it like to fall in love with someone - the person, not the their gender? How do we fall in love?

Sure, this book is unique because it's told from the perspective of a genderless protagonist. One who doesn't have control over where and whose life they will inhabit next. But that's about it.

Is this book about acceptance? About seeing differences? Falling in love despite differences? Maybe. Since the author does portray a variety of lives and people.

Maybe it's more about what makes us who we are?

Truthfully, I gave this book 4 out 5 stars as soon as I finished it. Why? Because I think it is a decent YA novel. It was funny and corny and comfortably familiar in parts. It made me smile, laugh, frustrated, and cry. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I'm glad I picked it up.

But I wouldn't attribute anything deep about this book.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 

Review: Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle

Title: Socialpunk

Author: Monica Leonelle

Genre: Young Adult

Format/Length: ebook, 275 pages

Publisher: Spaulding House

Published Date: Mach 27, 2012

Where did I get my copy: As part of the Socialpunk blog tour, I received a copy from the author.

Learn more about it on Goodreads
Now available on Amazon

Synopsis: (from Goodreads.com) Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win. 

My Review: Last week I posted an excerpt from this book. It was a mysterious prologue and when I read it, I was hooked immediately. I could not wait to immerse myself in this new book.

My overall impression - it's a good read.

  

Leonelle delivered an interesting plot. It's not lacking the element of mystery and it's exciting.

Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Synopsis: At the end of The Maze Runner Thomas and the Gladers close their eyes for their first peaceful night out of the Maze. They think they are in a safer place, hopeful that maybe in the morning, they could find out more about the world, and how they really ended up in the Glade. 

Instead, in the The Scorch Trials, the boys find themselves alone, there are more questions than answers, and Teresa is missing. Then a strange man tells them that they are infected with the Flare and they have to travel a hundred miles to get to the cure. With limited supplies and a deadline, the Gladers have no other choice but to go through the next phase of the Trials, just as WICKED intended.

image from GoodReads.com

My Review: I enjoyed The Scorch Trials more than the first book. This sequel was more interesting, there was more adventure, and more action. The pacing of events was very good. Finally, the characters are no longer just sitting, waiting, or running around in the same large space.

I also liked that Dashner picked up exactly where he left off. No time passed between the last sentence of first book and the first sentence of this book.

The characters got better in this book. At least some of them stood out from the rest. For example, Minho is a good character. He's a leader, he's brave, and has quite the temper. I like him. Newt seems like the sensible type. I kind of wish there was more about him.