Children's Book Week: THE FLIM-FLAM FAIRIES by Alan Katz - REVIEW!

Hi guys and gals! 

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. 

Today, we continue the bookish fun with the Fall portion of Children’s Book Week! What IS Children’s Book Week, you may ask? Great question! “...Children's Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country…” and that means it gives readers, bloggers, and all the book industry another great reason to shine the light on titles that will enrapture, delight, spark imagination, and really make you think. They are books aimed at kiddos, but meant for readers of that age and beyond, which is a concept I fully subscribe to! 

So, this week, in addition to my regularly scheduled bloggy programming, I’ll be highlighting some older and some more recent titles in the Children’s genre that I’ve adventured through this year, so that you too may be in the know and perhaps discover your next best read! On your mark, get set, here comes our book of choice… 

The Flim-Flam Fairies 

by 

Alan Katz 

9780762429967 

Running Press 

About the book… 

Say the word “fairies” and it conjures up images of little winged beings made of gossamer and light, exquisitely dressed in shimmering gowns or twirly, little bejeweled skating costumes. Well, you haven’t met The Flim-Flam Fairies. Be prepared for the crazy antics of the Fart Fairy, Snot Fairy, Dirty Underwear Fairy, as well as a few other less-than-enchanting fairies as they persuade their way into and out of children’s lives in attempts to take over the Tooth Fairy’s under-the-pillow enterprise. A silly story that will have the kids howling into their pillows with laughter! 

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This story was CRAZY. 

This story was OBNOXIOUS. 

This story was NAUSEATING, SMELLY, and STRANGE. 

This story was also….A BLAST! 

Think about it. Depending on where you’re from, the term fairies DOES in fact conjure up little sprightly creatures of lore that are either mischievous, or angelic, flying bout their day like it was nobodies business. These fairies? Yeah, not so much because while the imagined deal in light, fluffy, and magical things, they deal in the discarded, unwanted, or underappreciated things. Have a friend that’s lax on their flatulence? The Fart Fairy is your man! Think that kid across the way that digs for green gold is ludicrous? Not when it comes to the Snot Fairy and his trade! Or what about that other friend that tends to leave their less than laundered undergarments out and about when you really wish they’d simply dump them in the wash bin and be done with them? Yeah, there’s a fairy for that too! In fact, there’s one for pretty much any gross, gruesome, or less-than-ordinary endeavor, so before you discount the things that seem out there or strange to you and yours, consider the others that might revel in that oddness like a duck to water, a monkey to a tree, or a dung beetle to 💩 ...well, you get the picture. 

A strange and out there story, it’s true, but filled with imagination, creativity, and laughs to boot both in the telling and the imagery. 

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About the author... 

Stop by the author’s site. 

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Copy for review from my own personal library. For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Running Press, so stop by your local brick and mortar or click on over to your favorite online retailer today. 

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT! 

BLOG TOUR: When You Leave by Monica Ropal

Hi there!

Welcome back to the Friday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're going....

INTO THE WOODS,

INTO THE WOODS;

Skipping merrily into the woods!

There are wolves about

And time is short;

But here we go

INTO THE WOODS!

*-*

Um, sorry about that misguided musical interlude.  I was slightly brainwashed from FINALLY getting to watch INTO THE WOODS last night and let me just say that while I respect the actors/actresses and Disney is normally a sure thing, THIS was anything but.  #epicfail

Anywho...

Despite that being my final verdict on the movie, the only baring it has on today's book post is simply that the characters do indeed go into the woods.  The outcome?  Stolen kisses, shared moments, and a murder most unexpected.  In other words, a sure fire WIN!  Ready to meet and greet my most recent bookish adventure?  Ladies and gents, courtesy of Running Press, join me in welcoming today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

When You Leave

by

Monica Ropal

9780762454556

Running Press Teens

About the book...

Cass has a theory: everyone eventually leaves. Her father walked out, her mother is starting a new family, and she almost lost her best friend to cancer.

When Cass transfers to a preppy new private school, her plan is to stay anonymous by hiding her skater girl veneer beneath plaid skirts and knee socks. But when her cute locker neighbor, Cooper, takes an interest in Cass, keeping a safe distance isn't easy. And once Cass lets her guard down, the unthinkable happens: Cooper is mysteriously murdered.

As the investigation unfolds, Cass's close friend, Gav, is suspected as the killer. Determined to find answers, she must go through her list one by one until somebody cracks. However, will uncovering the truth really give Cass what she is looking for?

AMAZON   |   B&N   |   INDIEBOUND

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This is definitely not your typical YA story.  Our leading lady is a refreshing release of cold Winter air into the early Spring landscape.  Where she could be your model private school girl, scoring A's and praise from all the other elitists, she DOES the first and throws her finger up at the latter.  Her crew is not from the neighborhood she now resides in and much prefers surfing a half-pipe to catching up on the latest gossip at the local coffeehouse.  Preppy by day (thanks to the uniform) and skater in every hour thereafter, if it wasn't for the great education and reaching her potential, she'd trade it all in for the hallways of her old alma mater.  As it is, she's stuck with the highfalutin crowd and plans to fly under the radar til graduation day.  Funny how plans can all go to s*** when you least expect it.

Enter one locker neighbor by the name of Cooper.  His official introduction to Cass is a kiss, stolen at a moment opportune for the both of them; in her case, it got her out of detention, in his case, it kept Sister from asking why he was rummaging in her desk.  Hello to you too!  Talk about a "meet cute" moment!  After this meeting, the connection seems to have been made despite the obstacles standing in their way and until the moment of their final parting, it doesn't seem to fizzle.  To me, he seemed like an okay guy though doubt is definitely cast on his character at many junctions along the way, but sometimes that's just the way we want to see things, especially when tragedy strikes.  Oh buddy, does it strike here.  It's both unexpected and hair raising, even more so by the fact that you know the killer is among them.

As the story unfolds, I really appreciated the birds eye view we got of everything transpiring.  From relationships to family, every day life to sleuthing, it all felt natural with real results.  Even the danger that persued them as their investigation continued kept you biting your nails.  Looking back those relationships mentioned, I feel obligated to spotlight two additional ones besides the Cooper and Cass connection.  First up, we have Cass and her little brother Henry.  He's a special little guy that relates to the world differently than most (rates on the autism scale) but his insight into things is incredible.  He can reach right to the heart of the matter with a few chosen words dispelled in a round about fashion and be  spot on.  A great little guy indeed...and speaking of great guys, can I say a word about Mattie?  He may not be the most talkative fellow due to circumstances beyond his control but his connection with Cass is amazing.  Just a look, a glance, a gesture communicates so much between these two and though they are both rough and tumble on the outside, they'll melt your heart.  Promise.

So, let me draw this to a conclusion for you.  This is a Young Adult pick for those readers that love your less-than-typical leading lady, kicking butt and taking numbers all in the name of love, for friends and those that could have been more.  There's the usual journey of learning to show others your true self regardless of what they might think.  There's young love despite the fact that's it's hidden in more ways than one and by more PEOPLE than two.  There's jealousy and reputation.  There's rumors heard through the grapevine and the die hard search to cut through all the bull**** in order to get to the TRUTH of the matter not simply for truth's sake but also so the heart can settle.  It's a labyrinth of feelings and emotions strewn across a familiar landscape made disconcerting by the mysteries  running round like kids on a sugar rush.  It all blends together into a story that's much bigger and better than you would ever first guess, and lives up to the buzz that's been building here of late.  Though I had my gut feelings about who did what, the story was never transparent to where the journey to reach the certain end felt unnecessary.  Definitely an author to watch.

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About the author....

Monica Ropal lives in friendly St. Paul, Minnesota with her husband and three children—whom she lovingly refers to as her three-ring circus. In addition to writing and playing ringmaster, Monica also works as a hospice nurse.

SITE   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER

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ARC for review courtesy of Valerie at Running Press.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this tour, this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to celebrate its BOOK BIRTHDAY this coming Tuesday (04/07/15) via Running Press Teens, a member of the Perseus Books Group, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Of course, you can always pre-order it...just to make sure you can call dibs on a copy before they all fly off the shelf.  Just sayin'...  ^_^

Until next time...happy reading!

The Downside of Being Charlie by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when nothing would satisfy you more than chomping down on a nice big serving of...literature.  ^_^  What can I say?  I am to please.

Today we are looking at a Young Adult Fiction title that released last year from an author that knows her subjects well...could have something to do with her former calling in life (she was a high school teacher!) if I had to guess.  It takes a look at life through the eyes of a teenager with all its ups, downs, arounds and throughs and manages to pull back the curtain on some sensitive subjects you wouldn't anticipate at first glance.  Trust me, there is more here than meets the eye even if the cover has us looking directly into our lead character's.  Without further ado, today's book of choice is...

The Downside of Being Charlie

by

Jenny Torres Sanchez

About the book...

Charlie is handed a crappy senior year.  Despite losing thirty pounds over the summer, he still gets called “Chunks” Grisner.  What’s worse, he has to share a locker with the biggest Lord of the Rings freak his school has ever seen.  He also can’t figure out whether Charlotte VanderKleaton, the beautiful strawberry lip-glossed new girl, likes him the way he likes her.  Oh, and then there’s his mom.  She’s disappeared—again—and his dad won’t talk about it.
Somewhere between the madness, Charlie can at least find comfort in his one and only talent that just might get him out of this life-sucking place. But will he be able to hold his head above water in the meantime?

To put this one "simply" is to undermine the many currents running just below the surface...but in a phrase, it has great depth.

When I first started my read through of this novel, I thought okay, so it's a story about a formerly heavyset boy, how his life may or may not improve now that he's svelte and his continuing struggle to remain on track.  Yep, all of that IS in there...but there is MUCH more than first perceived by you OR me and that "muchness" is what makes this one of those hidden diamonds in the rough.  Let's dust off a layer or two of mystery to bring its true luster out shall we?

As previously stated, there is MUCH more going on than first meets the eye.  Much of the mentioned MUCH is a disintegration of everything Charlie's come to know...starting at home.  His family life is in shambles though he doesn't fully understand the magnitude of it all just yet.  From his relationship with each of his parents to their communication and interactions with each other (or lack thereof)...the foundation of this home is unstable to say the least.  Could anyone really blame him for having a hard time of things?  I can't...though his initial methods of coping were DEFINITELY questionable.  I was happy, proud even, when he reached out for help instead of furthering the damage done to both his life and his self worth.  He certainly gets brownie points from me for not only seeking out someone that could help but sharing his pain with others through his talent (photography...he's got a knack for capturing things you might not have seen at first).  It wasn't the easy thing to do by any means but cathartic exercises good for the soul often aren't...hats off to you Charlie.  Moving onward through his list of woes...  

His friend count is down to pretty much one, at least in the true friend department, and the value of that friendship will really shine as shtuff begins to hit the fan.  Yes, Ahmed is an unusual friend in that he marches to his own drummer, or rather croons to his own "Rat Pack" (yes...he's a Sammy Davis Jr fan to the max), but a true one nonetheless.  Is he perfect?  No.  Does he try?  Yes...and you know what, that's what REALLY counts.  You can't make someone share all their personal thoughts, ponderings and happenings with you even if they do carry the BFF moniker, but being there and being receptive to them when they decide to open up again, that's where you separate the rare gold (true friends) from the fools haul (many acquaintances).  Ahmed is a true friend, of that you can be certain.  Last but not list on the woe list...school.

Senior year was to be the icing on the otherwise tasteless cake for Charlie.  He'd suffered through being a freshman, taken it in stride as a sophomore and made it through being a junior; this year with his new lease on life was suppose to be a cakewalk.  Unfortunately, even the best laid (even if unexpected) plans can go south and although it seems like yet another trial to be suffered through and something he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy, it works out for the best.  How so?  Well, the "trial" is his forced association with a pariah of the school thanks to shared lockers but in all honesty, I don't think ill of Tanya Bates.  Wanna know my personal thoughts on her?  Oh come on, you know you do.  (^_^)

I think she's severely misunderstand but thinks highly enough of herself not to give a rats rear end what others think.  Does that help her in the friend department?  Decidedly no.  Does it help her survive the DAILY bullying she endures (albeit not totally in silence because she can certainly dish back what she's being served)?  H to the E to the double L, yes....and sometimes in high school that's all you can really hope for.  I was actually sad for this young lady because I can only imagine how much of their antics she's had to put it with through the years but since the story is not focused on her (though that would be an interesting read too I'm sure...perhaps another writing prompt for the author ^_^), we don't really get to learn a lot of her back story.  By book's end, she can add two people to her "not-friends-exactly-but-definitely-worth-investing-some-time-in-getting-to-know" list...though I won't say who or why.  It's a BIG blow up that I actually wish was BIGGER for some (*ahem* Mr. Delancey *-*) but it serves its purpose for kicking things into gear.

That my friends is just the tip of the iceberg though as Charlie navigates the ups and downs of teenage-dom with a family life that is currently less than ideal...but it's not all bad.  Along with the pain comes a few realizations like he is MUCH better at his chosen craft (photography) than even he imagined, new teachers (aka one Mr. Killinger) are not always here to destroy your day because sometimes they actually care, and while the prettiest girl in school would look great on your arm, if her heart doesn't match or her mind isn't in the same frame as yours, you're probably best finding a new field of vision.

All in all, a realistic portrayal of a young man making his way through life.  It's not pretty, it's far from perfect, but with a little help from his friends, of both the personal and adult variety, and a humongous serving of self confidence mined from the very depths of his soul, things may not turn out so bad after all; in fact, it may even greener on the other side as the saying promises.  A great read for teen boys (AND girls!) and beyond;  for the younger set, it will give them someone their own to really connect with and learn from...for the older souls, it serves as a reminder that there are no true secrets in families and what you do affects the whole lot.

ARC for review courtesy of Seta at Perseus Books.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to visit them online.  To discover more about the author herself, stop by her site and say hello, check out her current thoughts on her blog, like her Facebook page, or follow along on Twitter!  This book was released in 2012 via Running Press and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.  Need help locating a copy or prefer to order online?  Here's a link or two to get you started...Indiebound, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

OH!  One more thing...I was nosing around the author's site and she has ANOTHER book coming soon...this year in fact potentially titled Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia.  The synopsis sounds absolutely appealing to me (*adds to wish list*), how about you?  Just CLICK HERE to take a peek and share your thoughts in the comments!

Until next time...happy reading.

Totes perf read for your inner...FANGIRL by Ken Baker

Hi there!

Welcome back to the Sunday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  Today we are making our home in the realm of Young Adult fiction but looking at the fangirlish side of things.  That’s right.  Grab your old T-shirt of NKOTB, BSB or other boy band (or solo act) sensation, and get your vocal chords primed because we’ve been invited to THE EVENT of the year…and how else will your star crush know you exist?  How else indeed.  Today’s book of choice is…

Fangirl

By

Ken Baker

About the book…

Fourteen-year-old Josie Brant is a straight A-student from Bakersfield, CA, who falls hard for the dreamy pop superstar Peter Maxx. An aspiring song lyricist, she is thrust into the spotlight when her lyrics win a contest sponsored by her celebrity crush. A whirlwind romance via Tweets, IMs, texts and secret phone calls ensues as Josie gets swept up in the chaotic world of a teen heartthrob, but life is not quite as pitch-perfect as the fantasy she’d been dreaming up this whole time.

Okay, I admit it.  I did NOT initially like this book.  Nope.  Bare bones truth.  Don’t get me wrong, Josie was a sweet girl with a #perf #bestie that was totes cool but yeah…you see all that lingo and hashtag-gage going on there?  That’s not even the HALF of what’s in the book.  They are so “teenage girl” that they even have their own language aka abbreviated communication system.  *-*  Maybe it’s the adult in me (then again, maybe not) but it was initially #drivingmeupawall (oh noz! It’s contagious! Just kidding…)…but, as with all books I take on, I pushed through the less-than-ideal aspects in search of that silver lining; thank goodness it wasn’t illusive this time!  In fact, once uncovered, it was so SHINY it blinded me to my previous thoughts (mostly) and left something new in its wake; an appreciation for the story as a whole.

The basics of the book are this….girl crushes on teen pop star, attends concert as self and gets noticed.  Notice is good as both are equally interested even if they have to keep it on the down low.  Distance, time, commitments and public image rear their ugly head to the point of destroying almost everything they’ve created…almost.  Truth trumps falsities in the end (though whose truth and whose lies will remain a secret…hey, I don’t want to spoil it for you, you know?) and people are left to live their lives somewhat happily ever after.  It’s not a fairytale and it’s certainly not about perfect people.  It’s about the difference between the self we present to the public and the self that we truly are.  It’s about the journey we each face to discover the real us whether we are Joe Blow from Kokomo or celebrity stars awaiting our induction into the Hall of Fame.

For me, the story was good, but the characters are what truly soared in my eyes; the variety amongst the cast and the truth in which they were presented.  Take Josie for example, she’s book smart, a talented lyricist and though shy to some degree, confident enough to be herself…most of the time anyway.  I love that she doesn’t dress to impress others but rather herself and that she’s noticed irregardless by her “idol”.  Just goes to show you that it’s not just what’s outside but what we radiate from within that goes into our overall appearance and appeal.  Then there’s Ashley, Josie’s “friend”…a term I use quite loosely actually after what goes down.  Let’s just say I get it, parental units have the final say in friendships but sticking up for them when you know it’s right can go A LONG WAY in helping that decision be steered correctly. 

Keeping with the friend theme, let us not forget Christopher whose story arc was certainly a surprise.  I could’ve sworn I knew where things were headed for him (and someone else) but then, BAM…surprise turn of events.  (Good one, Mr. Baker!)  Next we have D, the next door neighbor supposed “bad influence” and forever ride giver to Josie who…as it turns out, isn’t really quite as badda** as she’s made out to be.  There’s another side to her as there is to most people, and this side even recommends books like Harry Potter (though she did diss my Twilight series…*glares*)!  Gotta give her props for that at least…and for trying to keep Josie on the straight and narrow.  Now we step into the limelight…

Peter Maxx…what to say about you.  You’re a conundrum to some degree because I equal parts want to like you and smack you upside the head.  How you could be so blind to what was happening is crazy with a capital “C” and the extremes to which you fly off the handle make me wish you could slip into a pair of cement shoes if only for a moment.  Then again, side two of you is rather charming and without the swagger of the princely image you uphold; your geekish tendencies are endearing.  So yes, I sum you up as a conundrum…and you should count yourself lucky Josie was the one you were seeking forgiveness from because me, pfft!  Um, no…or at least not nearly as fast as your reprieve from the dog house was granted.

In the end, it’s a story that most girls will have experienced to some degree in their lives with a wish –upon-a-star granted in a most unconventional and unexpected way.  It will have you cheering with the fans, leering with the mobs, and hoping against hope that someone will please come to their senses and knock this boy down a few pegs but it will also remind you that the struggles we face are not merely celebrity or non-celebrity…but HUMAN.  We are all seeking to find the real us and present it front and center.  That kind of truth requires strength both from within and from our circles of support.  Be the “you” you wish to be and help someone else to discover their true self.  It’s the lesson of a lifetime but one well worth the journey.

Review copy courtesy of Suzanne at Running Press.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to check out their official site.  Curious to learn more about the author behind the book?  Well…as it turns out, Mr. Ken Baker is E! Entertainment Television’s Chief News Correspondent. Ken has interviewed and reported on just about every major pop star in the world—all of whom he proudly has on his playlist. He lives (and writes) in Hermosa Beach, California. …and can be reached via his official website, Facebook or Twitter!  This book was released October 2012 via Running Press, an imprint of Perseus Books and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you. (Oh and for those of you wondering about the title of this post...totes = totally, perf = perfect.  ^_^)

Until next time…happy reading!

Why don't you come over here and....Kiss Me Deadly

 

Hi there fellas (and ladies).

Why don't you rustle up a stool and sit for a spell?

Today's bookish post is a doozy and I do mean a doozy with a captial "D".  Why am I talkin this way?  Just seemed appropriate given the title of the post.  What, you no like?

*ahem* *COUGH* *ahem*

Okay, I'm back!  No, it's not one of the new wave of 1920s based books we're focusing on today, although sooner or later we'll get there.  Today's post is featuring a paranormal smorgasbord of goodness kept short and sweet...making the spooktacular find today...LOVE on the PARANORMAL side.  The book of choice....

Kiss Me Deadly:

13 Tales of Paranormal Love

edited by

Trisha Telep

Witches and werewolves,

Unicorns, and ghosts;

These are the things we love the most.
A sprinkling of paranormal,
A dash of romance;
The short stories found here invite more than a glance.
Come find your favorites,
There’s no need to hide;
They’re all right here waiting for you decide.

 

From the cover….”Becca Fitzpatrick, Rachel Vincent, Maggie Stiefvater, and more….” Well, if you’re going to make mention of some of the big names in this collection, you might as well list the rest since they all hold their own in the YA literary genre. Sarah Rees Brennan, Caitlin Kittredge, Karen Mahoney, Daniel Marks, Justine Musk, Diana Peterfreund, Michelle Rowen, Carrie Ryan, Daniel Waters, Michelle Zink…..you’re bound to recognize at least a name or two amongst this group. If you don’t, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do because you sure are missing out on some great reads. What’s that? Whom have I read? Oh, well…all of them….at least if you count these short stories…hey, you didn’t specify that it had to be the original books when you telepathically asked that question.

 

Seriously though…I recognized almost all the names in this collection right off the bat, but my “books read by said authors” quota is standing at a stark TWO…and they were by the same author. Will I be correcting that any time soon? On several of these authors….YES! I mean, if they can get me involved with their stories in this shortened format, I can only imagine the marvel a full-length version of their work would be.

 

Now, whenever you read a collection of stories, there are bound to be those you love and those you less-than-love in the mix. As it would take an even longer post than I normally subject you guys too for me to go through each and every one(though I could and would do it if you asked really really nicely…hehe), I am going to highlight a few that fell into both ends of the spectrum. Let’s start with the less-than-likes…

 

This category is always a tad hard to point fingers at…especially in this case, since I didn’t have any issues with the writing style or underlying messages relayed, merely the actual stories themselves; case in point….Errant by Diana Peterfreund. I appreciated the way the story was introduced, the twists and turns within the plot, and the final outcome; they fit together quite well. It’s the whole “viscous unicorn” concept I have a problem with. Unicorns happened to be one of my favorites growing up. Their beautiful coats, magical presence….the whole nine yards. I loved it all. I even had a stuffed unicorn named Uni (…hey it was short for unicorn, and pretty good for a four year old…) with a pink mane, blue eyes, and a shiny silver horn. So for me, envisioning one stabbing someone through the heart or worse is a stretch I’m simply not ready to take, even now. There are those that swear by this author’s series and honestly, I can see why with the writing gift she’s shown in this short story, but for me, they will have to remain a mystery.

 

Second story to hit this category is Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters. Okay, so perhaps this wasn’t the best story to get acquainted with zombies, after all, I haven’t read a book featuring them as of yet. Once again, it wasn’t the way the story was relayed to the reader so much as the actual content. Perhaps knowing more of the back story on how they so easily accepted (well, most anyway) that people just started not staying dead would have helped, but again the short story format doesn’t really allow for that to happen. Will I tackle another zombie book? Sure….why not. Just can’t say when exactly. Anywho, let’s move on….

 

Time to talk the talk about those stories that hit home and I bet you won’t guess which one I liked the most. No, not that one. No, not that one either. It was….Familiar by Michelle Rowen! This was my first encounter with her work and I must say…me likez! In a matter of pages, she had me involved in her character’s lives and wondering many a thing like just why is the cat not a cat? Why doesn’t the girl want to embrace her magical powers? Why are the cute ones always the snarky ones aiming to get you in trouble? Owen is certainly a man about, I mean a cat about…I mean….oh whatever….about his word, even if he is a bit shady in his dealings with his family. Brenda is a great mix of shyness and untapped courage making her both easy to relate to and likeable all at once. Definitely adding this author to a future read list.

 

Second in this category….oh, that’s a hard one! There were many others that I liked for one reason of another. Let’s see if I can summarize this part....

• First one, good
• Third one, better
• Fourth one, really good
• Fifth one, unusual
• Sixth, rather vindictive
• Seventh, haunting
• Eighth, unusual also but in a good way
• Tenth, very interesting
• Eleventh, different but interesting
• Twelfth, bad consequences

 

Now I know I skipped one or two there but those are the ones I’ve already mentioned in greater detail so no need to drive them into the ground.

 

There is one thing I discovered about my own reading habits when working my way through this book; I much prefer a full-fledged novel to a short story. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book…because I did, truly. It’s just something I recognized in myself while reading. The short story format limits the author to an approximate length for their work and having to focus on the main action scene or sequence in order to deliver a “full” story from start to finish, is plagued by the requirement to leave out a lot of the character and world building aspects. Once I got really into a story, it was time to say goodbye already and try to fit into another character’s frame of mind. It seems I much prefer the time to get to know the characters, their world, and the storyline itself in a more dramatic fashion than short stories allow. Is that a problem? No. Will I avoid short stories in the future? No. They may not be my first choice, but they certainly do well at introducing readers to new-to-them authors. You get a sampling of what they can do and are free to explore their full-length works on your own. Mission accomplished.

 

All in all, a rather enjoyable experience from some of the top names in the Young Adult genre today and reading time well spent. Would I recommend it? Certainly…..like I said it’s a great way to sample their writing before committing to a full-length novel with an author you’ve heard of but never read. Review copy courtesy of Nicole at Running Press. (THANKS!) For more information on this title and their full catalog, check out their website or follow along on Twitter.

 

 

Until next time…happy reading!