The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Review

Book Description:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

My Review:

I feel like I'm the only one about to give a rating below 4 stars but I must be honest:

This was a "bipolar read" for me. The story was gripping but exasperating at the same time. I appreciate the sip of raw/original teen characters but I kept wishing for the point of the story to come already. Why? Because the characters got way too "I'm unlucky but unforgettably gifted" AND irritating with their "impressive" remarks, speeches, etc...

I don't want to spoil the book in any way so lastly, I will admit that I was a little intimidated at times but what really made me want to run from this book was the moral of the story that seemed to grow like a never-ending mosquito bite. Itchy as hell too.

Verdict: give it a try.

Edge of Escape by Debra Chapoton Review

Published : June 28th 2010 by CreateSpace
Paperback, 244 pages

Book Description:

Edge of Escape reveals the fractured heart of Eddie, an emotionally impaired 18-year-old who has spent most of his school years in special education classes. Placed there by an over protective mother who also blames her son for his unintentional part in his father's death, Eddie is kept separated from normal student interactions. Eddie's guilt and his place among the unaccepted serve to keep him invisible to the rest of the students, especially the popular ones. His uncontainable obsession for the popular Rebecca compels him to devise a plan to pull her into his world and win her over. What should have been appropriate advances become, for Rebecca, the terror of stalking and abduction. She wakes up trapped, she escapes, and then she makes a wrong choice and is trapped again. Throughout her ordeal as she escapes again and again, there are flashbacks into both Rebecca's and Eddie's lives and how those lives have been intersecting all through their school years. If she falls for the fragile spirit who stalks her, does love erase evil intent? If she fails to see the innocent infatuation for what it is, will she be responsible for the inevitable tragedy that foreshadows their tangled fate?

Review :

I couldn't help but like this story. It has a good flow and events that reminds me why I love suspense books. Actually, a weakness of mine when I'm reading any story is the uniqueness of the characters.

For example, Eddie was a real fascinating boy. I was enthralled by the way he made me wonder about so many factors of life... As for Rebbecca, the girl acted as I would if I were in her position no doubt and that's actually what did it for me...it got me hating myself a little and loving the story that much more. I was also impressed by how the book came together, which reminds me...I hate Eddie's mother.

In general for me, it's hard not like something so different such as this. I did a lot rubbing of the chin actions throughout...

Basically a good physiological thriller but the only thing I didn't like was the times where I had to force myself to read through some pages. Eventually I figured because it was, to me, overdone too much before it got really good again.

3/5

Masks by Patricia Caviglia Review

Published: July 8th 2010 by iUniverse
Paperback, 128 pages

Masks tells the story of two teenagers struggling to be normal together, despite their dysfunctional families.

Rebecca Jacobs is an unremarkable teenage girl-at least, that is what she wants the world to believe. But her private life is made public when her verbally abusive father embarrasses her at a school dance, and soon gossip and whispers buzz throughout the school.

One of the witnesses to Rebecca's public humiliation is David Miller, the high school bad boy. Unsure about how to help her, he settles for becoming her friend. Rebecca and David grow closer with each passing day, eventually falling in love.

Rebecca's main priority is keeping her relationship with David a secret from her overprotective parents, but there are other problems she must also confront. First, Rebecca's best friend tries to steal David away. Then, Rebecca is forced to face David's violent behavior, which closely resembles her father's temper. Rebecca's worst enemy, though, is herself. In her desperate need to keep her home life separate from her love life, she lies to her parents and to David. When the truth is exposed, she must confront reality-alone. She quickly learns that sometimes secrets are harder to live with than the truth.

This reminded me so much of Junior High, but I have to admit, David is a better memory than I ever had with any of the boys in my tween years...he sweet, determined and sexy. At first I thought he was a walking cliche, I mean the girls claimed he was "so romantic"...I didn't see it that way but as read on I learned his side in the story and grown to really like him. Rebecca, whom David soon falls in love with, is not too aware of the cruel world of JHS. As she begins to realize and have a new take on her surroundings, David supports her with as much control as he can steady.

The book was a breath of fresh air but a few things I disliked about the story was the constant cigarette smoking, ranting teens, and their lives in general that seemed pointless.

But hey, I'm a teen myself and I know that's how we get sometimes at are early teen years. (Excluding the cigarettes...never smoked a day in my life)

Having said that, I wish the vocabulary was more colorful. I still have hope for Patricia Caviglia because I've seen the brilliance in her work...parts of Masks had my eyes glued to the page...

In all, it was okay...I'm curious to see what she comes up with next.

2.5/5