oofsharkz73's reviews
80 reviews

The Meanest Doll in the World by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.25

I wasn't able to enjoy The Meanest Doll in the World to the same effect as it's debut The Doll People. Perhaps because the physical copy wasn't available, and I was forced to listen to the audiobook. The narrator did a fantastic job, I just don't have the wherewithal to focus on audiobooks. I hope I'll enjoy the other books as much as the first since I obtained the physical versions. The visuals and having pages to then really help with how endearing these novels are, I've found. 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.

I don't like coming into a story and feeling like I have to learn everything/being so clueless to everything. Off the bat so confusing and irritating to follow. 

Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

"Here in Iraq, the things you see, sometimes you wonder about God," Father Brennan said. He put his cap back on his head and walked toward the next bed. "But there's always baseball."

Patricia McCormick's Purple Heart, in its succience, was still amazing. Thought provoking and harrowing, but a tale that at its core highlights what true loyalty is. 

I Think Our Son Is Gay 01 by Okura
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.

Meh ...not majorly compelling. I gave it my best shot

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO SCARED TO TAKE ANY RISKS DOESN’T MEAN THE REST OF US SHOULD BE.”

Say What You Will is enjoyably simplistic. Much like her children's novel, Frankie and Amelia, Cammie McGovern's YA novel -about a disabled girl and a boy with OCD- is to the point. Something I've found I enjoy about McGovern's writing style is that she doesn't write droning paragraphs, chalk full of detail. She paints a picture, not in any sort of intricate way, just enough to visualize. And I like that. I like that even a YA book is at a middle grade level in comprehensiveness. I'm not sure if it was her intention, but it seems that her books - even while covering more mature topics - are written in a way that those that aren't as intellectually abled, or who simply don't enjoy reading a dense book, could still read with ease. 

“It was in preschool, actually. He was the person who told me there was no such thing as a nap fairy who came in and put stickers on children who were asleep. He said it was the teachers wanting the kids to sleep so they could get a break.”

That’s the whole point. If you want to get better, you don’t make the easy choice; you make the hard one.

Stains were a patchwork of mistakes you couldn’t get rid of. They showed the world your real self, even the parts you didn’t want it to see.

“Our weaknesses aligned pretty well. We filled each other’s gaps.”

Say What You Will is still impressive in its imagery and emotion. Honestly, it's one of the best coming of age novels for those who aren't the textbook highschooler, but still want to feel loved and included. 5 stars all the way!

We'll Never Tell by Wendy Heard

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

"...Suddenly the weight of this city with its sordid history and glimmering limousines and hordes of invisible, trampled people feels heavier than I can possibly bear."

"I hesitate, pen hovering over the scrap of paper. My throat aches, so many unsaid words backed up into the limited space behind my tonsils, years of painful truths and fears left unspoken.
I love you, I scribble at last-because that's all that really matters, isn't it?"

Carrie Underwood's Blown Away played in my mind throughout the reading of this book. And We'll Never Tell by Wendy Heard certainly blew me away. Heard combines two different narratives, letters, and newspaper articles to craft a murder mystery like no other. This novel is fraught with emotion, electrified with intensity. My absolute only complaint was the fact that I thought there would be a connection to Casey's mom - there was a sense of closure around it, but that case wasn't solved like I expected it to be. Still, a stunning read and I cannot wait to delve into more of Heard's works. 

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

2.75

"But I think we both know I'm lying. And the truth is, there isn't any avoiding Mia's ghost. Bryn and I wouldn't even be together if it weren't for her. In that twisted, incestuous way of fate, Mia's a part of our history, and we're among the shards of her legacy."

I wrote in my review of If I Stay, the prelude to Where She Went, that I wasn't sure if the sequel would be worth checking out or not. After reading Where She Went, I'm confident in the fact that Foreman could have left it as a standalone novel. Adam's perspective is just angsty, overdramatic. To compare a breakup to the intensity of losing your entire family is honestly uncouth, in my opinion. It wasn't terrible, it had moments of humor and tried to go down the route of how stardom taints some celebrities. But it could've been better executed or ...not existed at all. 

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

4.75

This sequel is perhaps even better and more necessary than the the debut. 

The Doll People by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I tried, and failed, to read this book several times when I was Kate's age. I had every single last The Babysitter's Club, Little Sisters and wanted to read anything by Ann M. Martin. Unfortunately, anytime I got a quarter or halfway through Doll People, something was uprooted in my life and I never got around to reading it until now. What I mean to say is, this book is so charming that for over a decade I've thought about it and wanted to finally read it fully. I'm glad I did. So endearing, so cute, and definitely will be finding the others in the series so my children can enjoy it the same way I did one day. 

The Tea Dragon Festival by K. O'Neill

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.75

"Just because
something comes
easily to you, does
not mean it has
no value.
You find it
effortless because
you love it, and
that is why it is
your gift."

Endearing & cute. Another great edition of adorable little tea dragons.