In the Age of Love and Chocolate

By Gabrielle Zevin

Series: Book #3 Birthright/Anya Balanchine
ISBN: 9780374380759
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: October 29th 2013
Number of Pages: 304
Source: Local Library

Goodreads Summary: All These Things I’ve Done, the first novel in the Birthright series, introduced us to timeless heroine Anya Balanchine, a plucky sixteen year old with the heart of a girl and the responsibilities of a grown woman. Now eighteen, life has been more bitter than sweet for Anya. She has lost her parents and her grandmother, and has spent the better part of her high school years in trouble with the law. Perhaps hardest of all, her decision to open a nightclub with her old nemesis Charles Delacroix has cost Anya her relationship with Win.

Still, it is Anya’s nature to soldier on. She puts the loss of Win behind her and focuses on her work. Against the odds, the nightclub becomes an enormous success, and Anya feels like she is on her way and that nothing will ever go wrong for her again. But after a terrible misjudgment leaves Anya fighting for her life, she is forced to reckon with her choices and to let people help her for the first time in her life.

My Rating:  

For readers of this series, I believe most will be happy with this conclusion. What I like most about this series (and specifically this last book) is that we really see our characters grow as people. There is a chapter entitled "I AM WEAK; REFLECT ON THE TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE OF PAIN; DETERMINE THAT MY CHARACTER IS BUILT" that really shows how far Anya has come. At the end of this chapter, we have a conversation between Anya and Mr. Delacroix:

"’One year, I came close to going to Teen Crime Scene Summer, a program for budding criminologists in Washington, DC, but I struck a deal with the acting district attorney that landed me at Liberty Children's instead.’

‘I imagine the experience was character-building for you.’

‘Oh, it was. Enormously.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Though I have had no shortage of character-building experiences in my life.’

‘At this point,’ he said, ‘I think we can safely consider your character built.’”

- In the Age of Love and Chocolate, 219

One thing that separates this series from others is the span of time the books cover. We follow Anya for six years. She starts off as a teenager (16 years) in All These Things I've Done and we stay with her until she really is a young adult - 22 years old. I enjoyed this, as I mentioned above - we are able to watch her grow as a person. Your teenager years up until you become an "adult" at 21 - these are your formative years. This was truly a coming-of-age story. (Because of the age of Anya in this book, I have classified this book as New Adult too).

Anya - I've already touched on her a bit with my "coming-of-age" talk. She certainly makes mistakes as a person, but what young person doesn't?? She learns from her mistakes and moves on. All that she has accomplished at such a young age - truly inspiring. She's very mature for her age and enjoyed her voice in this book (including the asides she includes to foreshadow for the reader).

Loved book 2's cover much better than this one:

Maybe they should have come up with a different cover for Because It Is My Blood since it relates more to this book anyway.

Now, I don't want to give anything away, so I'm not going to include spoilers in this review (until the timeline at the bottom). I must sound like a broken record - I just think almost all of the characters in this book have really grown up. Leo and his wife Noriko take over one of the clubs on the other side of the country and succeed. Little sister Natty even grows up (though there is that silly business with Win). Speaking of Win, man does he change. I was quite upset with him at the end of book 2 (Because It Is My Blood) and about the first half of this book. I couldn't get past his selfish ways in breaking Anya's heart and not supporting her. I have come to terms with this - they had to break up and go their separate ways in order to find themselves. Anya hardens herself and became an international successful businesswoman. More on Win to come.

Yuji's story was heartbreaking and Sophia is truly a sociopath. Poor Theo - I really liked him in book 2. Throughout this book I was rooting for him, but towards the end we don't see much of him (understandable given what happens...) but still sad because he is so lovable and I think he became jaded. 

Think Anya made an excellent decision regarding The Family and Mouse. :) 

One character I have come to really like is Mr. Delacroix. He is able to prove that people can change. His friendship/partnership with Anya is portrayed beautifully and even he gets a happy ending! 

Now for the that half a star away from a perfect score......the relationship between Win and Anya. Just couldn't get over the about face Win does. Some people compared their relationship to Romeo & Juliet and being star-crossed lovers. I didn't really buy into that. 

"Bad girl meets good boy. Ambitious father gets in the middle. Girl chooses business over boy. That kind of thing." - In the Age of Love and Chocolate, 157

That quote describes the relationship better.  To not give the ending away, I find that Win and Anya's interactions seemed unnatural and the ending doesn't really do justice to Anya.  She deserves a strong man that is his own person and can meet her as an equal. I personally don't think that guy is Win. 

One character I don't think we saw enough of was the best friend - Scarlet and her son Felix. Would have liked more on her struggle being a single mom and trying to make it as an actress to boot. 

As everyone probably knows, chocolate is used as an euphemism for a certain illegal drug in our day and age. I personally think it was ingenious: 

"a bit of chocolate never hurt a soul, and I'll sign my name to that on as many prescriptions as you want...Cacao could be used to treat everything from fatigue to headaches, from anxiety to dull skin." - In the Age of Love and Chocolate, 37

Sound familiar?? I'll let you draw your own conclusions. 

A spoiler timeline of the series:

Book 1:
2082 - 16 years old - Anya meets and dates Win; also serves time at Liberty

Book 2:
2083 - 17 years old - Anya is released from Liberty; she then hides out in Mexico and meets Theo

Book 3:
2084 - Anya turns 18 and opens a cacao nightclub 

2085 - She opens more nightclubs; enters a "relationship" with Theo; he proposes & she refuses

2086 - Anya turns 21; marries Yuji and is widowed when he dies shortly after; almost dies herself at the hands of Sophia

2087 - Anya recuperates and spends a summer in Niskayuna with Win & her sister;  The Dark Room is shut down and she wins in court; attends wedding of Mr. Delacroix  to his ex-wife AWWW!

All the Truth That's in Me

By Julie Berry

ISBN: 9780670786152
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: September 26th 2013
Number of Pages: 274
Source: Local Library
Goodreads Summary: Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

My Rating: 

I only made it to page 47.

The pacing of this story and the writing style were just not for me. The summary Goodreads gives is pretty accurate. With how far I got, it seems the story is told in the present but she is always referring to things that had already happened. You figure out pretty quickly who her abductor is - you just can't figure out why her & her friend were taken, and why only she survived. The book setting seems to be back when the first settlers had come to America. 

A similar type of book content but set in today's world and is better written (IMO) would be PrettyGirl-13 by Liz Coley. 

Additional thoughts:
-I did like this cover; I thought it reflected the character of Judith well.
-On the author's website, it is stated this book is for kids 12 & up - I would not recommend this book for anyone younger than 14 due to subject content and maturity level.

Dead is a Killer Tune

By Marlene Perez

Series: Book #7 Dead Is..
ISBN: 9780547608349
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 4th 2012
Number of Pages: 204
Source: ILL
Goodreads Summary: High school freshman Jessica Walsh is a Virago—a woman warrior who must protect her hometown from danger. And in Nightshade, California, trouble is always lurking. At the town’s Battle of the Bands, Jess’s boyfriend, Dominic, and his band, Side Effects May Vary, are up against Hamlin, a band so popular, their fans follow them everywhere. Soon, the competing musicians are doing risky, illegal, and even fatal things—and claiming that they heard strange music that compelled them to do it. Can Jess and her friends track down the tuneful tyrant before it’s too late?

My Rating:  

Review contains spoilers

I will come out and just say it - this "spin-off" series is just not cutting it for me. Book #8 (Dead is Just a Dream) just came out and I will not be reading it. 

Is it just me or does it seem like these books keep getting shorter and shorter? Book #6 was 240 pages, this book was 204, and Book #8 - 176 pages! I don't think you can really get a good story in that short of time. I also took issue with that fact that the summary on the back cover is misleading! You can read it above in the summary. It refers to Dominic as Jess's boyfriend. Excuse me???! Hate to spoil it for you readers, but they aren't even dating for most of this book! My thoughts on him are already clear and this book just reinforced them. 

Two things I did like: 

1. Jess goes out of her comfort zone and joins a band! Go girl!

2. This book wasn't exactly a "mystery" but there were some red herrings and we aren't positive who the pied piper is - way to challenge us! 

I recommend this book for younger readers that are looking for a fluffy, light read. 

Dead is a Battlefield

By Marlene Perez

Series: Book #6 Dead Is..
ISBN: 9780547607342
Publisher: Graphia
Publication Date: March 6th 2012
Number of Pages: 240
Source: ILL 

Goodreads Summary: Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget about the tragic events surrounding her brother’s graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that’s easier said than done in Nightshade. There’s a new guy at school who seems to be turning the girls into lovesick zombies. And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on a cute but moody lead singer, and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day that lets her know whenever there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns she’s a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have
what it takes to keep Nightshade safe?

My Rating:  

Since this is book #6 in this series, you might already be familiar with the setting and such. Thing is, this book marks the beginning of a new narrator and supporting characters. No longer do we have the physic Daisy Giordano, who graduated from high school at the end of book #5 (Dead is Not an Option). We now have Jessica, who is the younger sister of Sean (who is dating Samantha, Daisy's best friend from previous books). 

I don't know if Perez is trying to reach out to the younger spectrum of young adult readers because why else would we go from following the tale of sisters in high school and college to some freshmen (who happen to go after older, junior guys)? Because of this, I think that the characters seemed a little too immature for my reading taste. I mean, the way that Dominic treats her (switching between hot & cold) really got on my nerves. Jessica as a character over all didn't seem to have much depth to her. 

The two characters I really liked were Flo and Raven (fellow Viragos along with Andy). Flo is the kind of girl who kicks butt and I like her sense of humor through the t-shirts she wears. Example: I PUT THE FATAL IN EMME FATALE. and PLEASE DON'T FEED THE ZOMBIES. I've always liked her in the previous books and I am glad we get to see more of her. 

Raven also fascinates me. She's a Virago but also a pacifist (interesting combo right?). She doesn't let the relationship issues between Jessica & her brother Dominic define her friendship with Jessica, which I admired. 

One thing that made this book difficult to read was the fact the characters seemed oblivious to the danger that was right in front of them! At least in the other books, there was a sense of mystery and the reader didn't know what was up from the beginning. Saying that, the book is a quick read (it being just shy of 250 pages).

Things that redeemed this book from being two-stars: 

1. ZOMBIES! Though not actual zombies, it still is a plus in my mind to involve zombies :)
2. Though I didn't like Dominic at all, his seer abilities were really cool. Clues given as songs? Awesome! It is a recycled idea - the "haunted" jukebox in Slim's Diner is ringing bells. Still, it is a unique paranormal talent.

That all being said, I did go on to read book #7, Dead is a Killer Tune. My review on that one will be up shortly. *UPDATE* Review is posted and can be found here!

Update: To clarify, the author did say on her website that this book was part of a spin-off series. 

Just One Year

By Gayle Forman

Companion Novel: Just One Day

ISBN: 9780525425926

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: October 10th 2013

Number of Pages: 323

Source: Local Library

Goodreads Summary: Twenty-four hours can change your life . . .Allyson and Willem share one magical day together in Paris, before chance rips them apart. The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents life throws at us. But is one day enough to find your fate? 

My Rating: 

This review contains spoilers

This book is the same story we read about in Just One Day, except this time it is told from Willem's point of view. I guess my disappointment with this book lies within the fact that we don't get more from Willem & Lulu/Allyson at the end. This companion novel and the format of the same story from a different POV reminds me strongly of Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire (you can find my review for that book here). It is different in the fact that it isn't his take on the same events during a time period, but what he went through during that year that they were apart.

I did like the character of Willem. It seems like fate really did a favor for him in giving him only one day with Lulu (I will refer to her as Lulu and not Allyson in this review, as this is who Willem is searching for). This was truly a coming-of-age story as Willem really grows as a person during his year of searching - not only is he searching for Lulu, he searches for himself. He makes choices that help him discover what kind a man he is. Lucky for him, he has the money and means to travel to all these different countries. The things he learns from his experiences are what really makes this a likable story and interesting for the reader. 

I found the relationship between Willem and his mother, Yael (an ex-military Israeli) to be strange. Maybe because I have a great relationship with my parents. It seems to me that his parents neglected him emotionally. There did seem to be good family trips when Bram was still with them. It was just the love between Yael and Bram didn't leave much room to love their son fully. They were wrapped up in each other. We do find out later that Yael hadn't completely abandoned her son, but she never let him know that. She worked through others - Mukesh & Marjolein.

The best part of this book is we know that just as Allyson is spending her time searching for him, Willem never gives up on her:

"...it'll have been more than a year since I met Lulu. Any sane person would say it's too late. It already felt too late that first day, when I woke up in the hospital. But even so, I've kept looking. I'm still looking." - Just One Year, 258

I think this book would appeal to both girls (who read Just One Day and wanted more of Willem) and boys, they get a story told from a boy's POV and they might be able to relate to.

Maybe all young people need to be given the money and ability to just travel the world on a whim and see where fate (or will) takes you.

"...maybe we were both wrong, and both right. It's not either or, not luck or love. Not fate or will. Maybe for double happiness, you need both." - Just One Year, 307

UnSouled

By Neal Shusterman

Series: Book #3 Unwind Dystology
ISBN: 9781442423692
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 15th 2013
Number of Pages: 403
Source: Local Library
Goodreads Summary: Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard, the last safe haven for AWOL Unwinds. But for the first time, they're not just running away from something. This time, they're running toward answers, in the form of a woman Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her, and learn why the shadowy figures behind unwinding are so afraid of her, they may discover the key to bringing down unwinding forever. Cam, the rewound boy, is plotting to take down the organization that created him. Because he knows that if he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human. With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, the paths of Connor, Lev, Cam, and Risa will converge explosively and everyone will be changed.

My Rating:  

This review contains spoilers!

Previous books to be read are: Unwind & UnWholly.

I have mixed emotions concerning this book. Again, I am torn over the rating. I do think the plot has been furthered quite a bit and the character development is coming along. I am just having a hard time dealing with the actions of Starkey.

Again, the story is told from several points of view. If you remember, I couldn't stand The 100 because of that. With Shusterman, I already know the back-stories of the characters, so it does make it less confusing. The problem I have with his style is that he writes in third person, no matter whose "chapter" it is. We aren't really getting that much of an unique perspective this way. I think first person would be much more effective. 

Along those lines, I really liked the POVs from the stock characters, like the gas station attendant. This is one instance in which it furthers the story with a different perspective. 

My absolute favorite parts of this book (and the previous ones) are the real-life news articles from our past and present mixed in with the advertisements of this future world. In particular, take a look at this article - it talks about the "The Scent of Memory" (223) Another one, located here is the full length article, which Shusterman gives us a summary version. This one is concerning "Documented cases of cellular memory being transferred to heart transplant recipients" (139). All these give us clues as to how our world could develop into the one Shusterman has created. 

My favorite quote is right at the beginning of this book,

"Surely this new medical technology will free us rather than enslave us, for it is my firm belief that human compassion outweighs human greed. To that end, I hereby found Proactive Citizenry to be a stalwart watchdog over the ethical use of neurografting. I am confident that abuses will be the exception rather than the rules." - Janson Rheinschild, 1

How wrong Mr. Rheinschild was. This book is just amazing with its' portrayal of corporations and their greed. Why develop this technology for good when only few would use it? Let's use people's fear and wage a war on a helpless population and use them to create what is probably more than a million-dollar enterprise! I speak the truth when I say they use a powerless population - teenagers that no one takes seriously and convicts that everyone already hates. Strip these people of their human rights and the world just looks on.

Now for the characters:

Camus Comprix AKA Cam - such a complex character that I for one, can't help but love! He is living a life of opulence and can have any girl he wants - yet he is a piece of property. He questions his existence. Does he have a human soul if he was created and not born? He is willing to team up with his enemy, Connor, to ultimately bring down the corporation that owns him and to make the girl he loves see him in the light that no one else seems to see.

My favorite line delivered by him, speaking to Connor:

"The fact that I'm physically, intellectually, and creatively better than you is not arrogance or conceit; it's a simple fact...I'm the better man because I was made to be." - Unsouled, 376

I haven't decided if I like Cam better than Connor for Rita. They both have good qualities but then again, I think both are arrogant and their fighting over her is petty.

Connor - quite the opposite of Cam. He's not complex. He's pretty straight-forward. Typical bad boy rebel, out to save the world!

Rita - She's a character I like. She's strong-willed, smart, and confident. I think she is mature and a good-role model for girls. I, however, do NOT like how she was playing both boys towards the end of the book. Don't string them along. Go with your gut girl!

Lev - Oh Lev....He has endured so much and I truly think he made the right decision staying on the reservation. He needed time to reboot, recharge, and find himself again. I'm interested to see what he plans to do in the next book.

Starkey - Starkey is a strange and disturbing character. He wants the fame that Connor has and is willing to do some pretty scary things to achieve it. I don't quite understand why he only "keeps" starks on in his band of cohorts and not all AWOLs. They may want to help too! This prejudice just seems silly to me.

All the minor characters: (there are A LOT of characters to keep track of!)

Argent & Nelson - Strange duo teamed up to bring down Connor. I thought Argent was ingenious (at first) at getting Nelson to take him all the places he wanted to go. Now that he's found out, I wonder when Grace's tracking chip is going to come into play!

Una - Really liked this girl. She reminds me of Rita in a way. Did find her fascination/repulsion to Cam and Wil's hands to be interesting. Not sure how I'd react in that situation but it did seem that her torture (and that IS what that was) of Cam to be extreme.

Grace - LOVE Grace! She's just so cute and gusty. You can't help but feel sorry for the situation she was in and I'm glad Connor came along to "save" her. If anyone can find out what "low-cortical" means, please let me know (I could not find anything on it). Grace doesn't seem impaired at all to me. In fact, the way she process games and strategy is quite astonishing. 

Sonia - She's exactly the type of old lady I like. She's funny & sarcastic and the no-BS kind of person. She is helping AWOLs the best she can and now, she is giving Connor the key to the possible ending of unwinding. The technology described at the end sounds incredible! I can't believe (ok, I kinda do..) someone would want to bury this life-saving technology.

All in all, I really liked this book. Gives a person A LOT to think about...and that's a good thing!

On a girly side note, I am fascinated by the electronic nail builder described and used by Audrey.

"Hair and nails are basically made of the same stuff. This device breaks down the hair, then applies it in fine layers on top of your nails." - Unsouled, 201

Put a piece of your hair in and and then your nail and presto! Healed, beautiful nails! (and all-natural too!)  

Looking forward to the release of book 4, Undivided, in October 2014!

Emerald Green

By Kerstin Gier

Series: Book #3 The Ruby Red Trilogy
ISBN: 9780805092677
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date: October 8th 2013
Number of Pages: 464
Source: Local Library
Goodreads Summary: Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.This stunning conclusion picks up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.

My Rating:  

Warning: Review contains spoilers

The previous books in this series were: Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue.

This last book did not thrill me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it and we did have our questions all answered. It was mainly the way those questions were answered and how the flow of the book went.  We open the book up with a scene from Paul & Lucy and then we go straight into Gwen crying her eyes out over Gideon. Here's a little refresher on his "betrayal" 

"'Nothing is easier to calculate than the reactions of a woman in love. No one is more easily controlled than a woman whose actions are determined by her feelings for a man,' the count went on. 'I explained that to Gideon the very first time we met.' ...The truth hit me like a punch in the solar plexus. Everything Gideon had done, his touch, his gestures, his kisses, his loving words, they were all intended only to manipulate me. So that I'd fall in love with him, like Charlotte before me. So that we could be controlled more easily." - Sapphire Blue, 332

What I don't get is why she didn't let him explain his actions. This becomes resolved later on, when her friend Lesley points out helpfully that many times in the movies, the couple has a misunderstanding that keeps them apart when really it could have been resolved right away if they had just talked & been straightforward with each other. This does turn out to be the case, thank goodness!

For me, my favorite characters that made this book enjoyable to read would be Lesley, Xemerius, Mr. Bernard, and Lucas. Lesley is so smart and she's got spunk! Wish we had seen more of her in the book. Xemerius was hands down the most funniest creature I've read about in a book. I loved how Mr. Bernard helps Gwen out and is so mischievous when it comes to Charlotte, her mother, and Lady Arista. What I want to know - is he a descendant of Lucy & Paul??? We find out in the epilogue that they take on new identities with the last name of Bernard. How cool is that? The butler is probably a great grandchild of Gwen if you really think about it! And good 'ol Lucas is a lovable grandfather, especially how he is portrayed as his younger self.

The confusing parts of this story: The way the time-traveling was sometimes written and explained. As Paul put it,

"Is it just me, or do the rest of you feel as if someone is building a subway system through your brains?" - Emerald Green, 367

My brain really was hurting with all the mentions of "well this already happened yesterday though it actually happened back in 1867 but if we go back today we can solve this problem" OR "What if you already went back and made him immortal? So his plan worked and he is here [he being Count Saint-Germain] in the present but we can solve the past by doing blah blah blah." This gets super confusing at times.

The conclusion and climax of the story came on very suddenly, practically on the last pages of the book, and gave us so much information to process in such a short span. Lots to think about (it has taken me a few days to do so, and now that I have my thoughts some-what organized, I can write this review.)

It is cool if you go back to the previous books, you can see some hints of what is to come (can someone say foreshadowing?). I wasn't really surprised at who the Count ended up being but I was a little shocked (and this is where the confusion and some thinking are required) at how Gideon and Gwen were able to carry out their plan and win against the Count. And they also got around that pesky business of Gwen being the only one who is immortal - now her and Gideon can never grow old together!