Review: THE PORCUPINE OF TRUTH, by Bill Konigsberg

Bill Konigsberg has done it again--he's drawn me in to a well-structured plot and characters so vivid I can feel them. I had trouble putting down THE PORCUPINE OF TRUTH from the start. I immediately fell in love with Carson and Aisha, and I wanted nothing more than to follow them on their journey, in whatever form it took (and what a journey it was!). As usual, Konigsberg did not hold back on the realism. He left me feeling satiated, even though he didn't wrap up the characters' stories with neat little far-fetched bows. He has a true gift for giving readers what they don't want, but satisfying them in a way they couldn't imagine. I look forward to reading all of this author's future books.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: A must-read for anyone who loves contemporaries mixed with a bit of mystery. Though aimed at a YA audience, this book also contains a lot for adults to enjoy.

Review: THE CHOCOLATE WAR, by Robert Cormier

I can't honestly say that THE CHOCOLATE WAR was impossible to put down from the start; in fact, I thought about giving up on it near the beginning. But my patience was rewarded as the book progressed. The novel certainly has an unexplainable 70s feel to it, far from the type of writing you'll find in new releases. The characters are bold and distinguishable, each motivated by different forces that pull them in various directions. The plot to this story is one that most authors would crash and burn with--but somehow, Robert Cormier manages to make it enticing, exhilarating, and intense. What's more is that the author in no way had to exaggerate the realism to increase the drama. He has a gift for conforming a potentially petty reality into a stark commentary on social structures.

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy classics and social commentaries

Review: LIES MY GIRLFRIEND TOLD ME, by Julie Anne Peters

LIES MY GIRLFRIEND TOLD ME was enjoyable in spurts. There was always something lingering in the background that made me think the story would take a dark turn, but that assumption was only partially fulfilled. Yes, Julie Anne Peters gives her readers a few surprises, and those surprises were great, but I was hoping for more. The climax seemed to emerge around the middle of the story, while the rest mostly fizzled out. That being said, I liked the growth of Alix's character, and I liked the realistic portrayal of how everyone deals with death in their own way.

Stars: 3/5

Recommended for: Those who enjoy light young adult LGBT stories

Review: THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, by Douglas Adams

The first word that comes to mind for THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is: Clever. I'll qualify that with: Super Clever. That being said, though, it didn't keep my interest from start to finish, and I found myself tuning out more than once. It's enjoyable, yes. It's also funny and well planned. However, this just isn't the type of book for me. I'm glad I read it because of the laugh-out-loud moments, the silly plot twists, and the unique setting, but I will not pursue the other books in the series.

Stars: 3/5
Recommended for: lovers of science fiction and humor

Review: THE 19TH WIFE, by David Ebershoff

If I had known THE 19TH WIFE would be so fascinating, I wouldn't have put off starting it for as long as I did. David Ebershoff paints a vivid picture of 19th- and 21st-century polygamy, detailing both its origins and those origins' present-day effects. But this isn't just a fact-finding mission; it's also a well-told narrative that left me on the edge of my seat. The mystery and intrigue behind both main stories (centered around two families in two different generations) kept me flipping the pages with no care for how long the book is. One factor that makes THE 19TH WIFE particularly entertaining is its variety of literary formats, including first-person narratives, letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and even a poem. Do not underestimate the power of David Ebershoff's creativity and storytelling!

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: anyone interested in historical fiction, church history, cults, or LGBT stories--the author covers all of these themes with a seemingly effortless panache.