Review: THE SCATTERED AND THE DEAD (BOOK 0.5), by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and believe me when I say I was beyond excited for the opportunity. The chance to read a book that I'd been anticipating anyway? Count me in.

L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain have done it again—they’ve created a unique world with the strangest unexpected twists. THE SCATTERED AND THE DEAD takes place in the pre-apocalypse, while life as we know it falls apart around the main character. The story is rather soft and action-less, though it’s clear big things are coming in the sequel; this quick read is only getting the audience’s toes wet. As usual, Vargus and McBain have a distinctly original voice that emanates from the pages, sucking the reader in. Though the story itself is impressive, it’s the writing that makes this book stand out. Always engaging and never apologetic, THE SCATTERED AND THE DEAD is not to be missed! I look forward to being the first in line to read the rest of this series.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers who love origin stories of the apocalypse (think: FEAR THE WALKING DEAD)

Review: OUT OF THE POCKET, by Bill Konigsberg

Let me start by saying I enjoyed OUT OF THE POCKET; the plot was intriguing and I'm happy with the message it presents. As usual, Bill Konigsberg does a great job of roping his readers in. However, I was disappointed to find that this book wasn't as good as OPENLY STRAIGHT and THE PORCUPINE OF TRUTH, which I read first. Though I applaud this story and will recommend it to others, the writing wasn't quite as tight as I would have expected.

Stars: 3.5/5
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys sports stories

Review: CUT BOTH WAYS, by Carrie Mesrobian

CUT BOTH WAYS is addictive, emotional, and packed with layers. I had trouble putting this book down! It's easy to relate to the main character, Will, who has a touching and realistic perspective that will make any reader's heart break. Carrie Mesrobian has a way with narration, saying a lot with limited words. I was especially impressed with how she forces the reader to view each situation through the lens of the main character. I also strongly suggest reading the Author's Note at the end, which provides a lovely recap of Ms. Mesrobian's motivations.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for:  Lovers of realistic contemporaries and LGBTQ teen fiction

Review: WRITTEN IN THE STARS, by Aisha Saeed

WRITTEN IN THE STARS is an engaging and intense story set in present-day Florida and Pakistan. The plot was simultaneously heartbreaking and thrilling, which is indicative of Aisha Saeed's creative talent. Though the characters were vastly different from myself, I related to many of them in ways I hadn't expected. I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading, from anger to happiness to hesitation, then back again.

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: Anyone interested in contemporary stories about teenagers straddling two cultures.

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