Spooky Review: Read at Your Own Risk

Hannah and her friends skipped an author visit at school and instead went to the attic to call forth spirits. Something went horribly wrong and now Hannah is cursed. Horrible things are happening to her. If she doesn't figure out how to break the curse soon, it could kill her.

My Thoughts: This diary story is a mix of text and sketches. Read at Your Own Risk is a creepy story with disturbing moments that readers will love. The end of the book was funny. This is a perfect story to read in October.

Cover Thoughts: Creepy

Source: book sent for review

Hand this one to your readers who love spooky reads.

Graphic Novel Review: Be that Way

Christine is seventeen and is a junior in high school. She starts keeping a diary. It's the mid 90s and she writes about the drama of friendship and romance.

My Thoughts: This is half a diary and half a graphic novel - with lots of texts and lots of pictures. I really enjoyed this book. I got sucked into the drama and had to read to find out what happened. Christine feels less than and makes some changes to feel shiny. She's very open about her hopes and dreams and insecurities. 

 

Blog Tour: Confessions of a High School Disaster

About the Book:

In the tradition of Bridget Jones’s Diary, a lovably flawed high school student chronicles her life as she navigates the highs and lows of family, friendship, school, and love in a diary that sparkles with humor and warmth.

I’m Chloe Snow, and my life is kiiiiind of a disaster.
1. I’m a kissing virgin (so so so embarrassing).
2. My best friend, Hannah, is driving me insane.
3. I think I’m in love with Mac Brody, senior football star, whose girlfriend is so beautiful she doesn’t even need eyeliner.
4. My dad won’t stop asking me if I’m okay
5. Oh, and my mom moved to Mexico to work on her novel. But it’s fine—she’ll be back soon. She said so.

Mom says the only thing sadder than remembering is forgetting, so I’m going to write down everything that happens to me in this diary. That way, even when I’m ninety, I’ll remember how awkward and horrible and exciting it is to be in high school.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book, in the beginning, it reminded me more of the Princess Diaries rather than Bridget Jones's Diary. Chloe certainly did have disastrous times - but she also rose above them - which I liked. I liked the parallel lives between her and her mother. I wasn't crazy about her mother or Mac for that matter. This book is filled with drama, friendship woes, family issues, and a bad romance. But there's also growth, acceptance, and learning about life. I really enjoyed the theater side of the book, it made me want to watch Sound of Music again. I wasn't crazy about most of the choices the character made, but I think that teens will gobble this book up - mostly for all the drama. And it makes sense, freshman year of high school is hard and no one is all that smart. We all make bad choices, it's how we pick ourselves up afterwards that counts. I see Chloe having a much smarter future and it makes me curious about her life as a senior - actually I wouldn't mind this being a four book series and watching her grow through high school and maybe even into college.

Review: Homeroom Diaries

Cuckoo had an emotional breakdown, which landed her in a mental institution for a few days. Now since her mother abandoned her, she's been staying with a neighbor.  School isn't great either - but she does have a fantastic group of friends.

She and her friends are determined to create a better atmosphere in their school with Operation Happiness. Plan after plan fails, but Cuckoo isn't about to give up. She knows that the nations can come together and makes the school more livable - that is until someone take a prank way too far.

Why do people suck so much and can they ever change?

My Thoughts: I wasn't not expecting this book to be so dark and to cover so many topics. I felt horrible and proud of Cuckoo for most of the book. I loved her inner strength and her determination Of course I loved her bookish ways and the recent books that popped up during the book. I liked the blend of the diary format with the drawings. The format is perfect for venting feelings and for Cuckoo to show us how she feels. Bullies - unwanted sexual advances - suicide - mental health - parental abandonment - this book packs quite the punch and makes your root for the Freakshow.

Cover Thoughts: When I looked at the pink - I thought it was going to be a much lighter kind of book
Source: Sent for review