Tag Archives: Young Adult

I: Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwarz #atozchallenge

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The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge  is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted. My theme for 2023 is Book Reviews.

You can read my reviews without worrying about spoilers. My reviews are quite brief and I give away nothing more than you would read on the back cover or on Goodreads.

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IMMORTALITY: A LOVE STORY
BY
DANA SCHWARTZ

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary

This is the second in the Anatomy Duology Series and continues the story of Hazel, the young girl who wanted to be a doctor. When we meet Hazel again, she is treating patients, even though she wasn’t able to study medicine, because she was a girl. She is now alone, and convinced that the events that occurred in the first book, were imagined.

After being caught treating a patient, Hazel is sent to prison, where she almost died, when a message comes that she has been requested to treat the daughter of the King.

Published in 2023
Paperback, 374 pages

My Thoughts

The first book in this series Anatomy, was a 5 star read for me, so I have been impatiently waiting for the sequel. It was worth the wait. Once again, I have given 5 stars. I found the continuing story of Hazel and her quest to become a doctor to be absolutely rivetting. The ending of Anatomy, left the story line unsolved, so this second book, tied up many loose ends.

I found Immortality to be unputdownable and read it with only a few breaks. I’m daring to hop that there is a third book in this series. The way the story ended leaves a tiny window for the story of Hazel to continue, however, I have heard that there will only be two books in this series. One can only hope for more, as I am going to miss Hazel and her world.

Once again, as with Anatomy, the cover of this book is incredibly beautiful.

About the Author

Dana Schwartz was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She attended Brown University where she studied biology and public policy before realizing that she would only be happy if she tried to be a writer. While in college, she created the viral parody twitter account @GuyInYourMFA. Dana worked as a writer for Mental Floss, The Observer, and Entertainment Weekly, with additional bylines for GQ, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, and NewYorker.com. Dana is the host and creator of the hit history podcast Noble Blood. She also writes for television. She lives in Los Angeles. – Goodreads

Key To Star Rating

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book. For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Unputdownable. Would definitely read again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Fantastic read. Not to be missed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Enjoyable read. Would recommend.
⭐️⭐️Wouldn’t read again
⭐️Don’t recommend this book again

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

Images and author information: Goodreads

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life and Tracking Down The Family

© 2023 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

Crazy house Series by James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet #audiobook #youngadult

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Crazy House Series

 SUMMARY

Crazy House  ( Crazy House #1)

Seventeen year old Becca  disappeared from her small hometown. She found herself in maximum security prison and on death row with other kids her age. Until her execution, Becca is told to fit in and say nothing, and above all, ask no questions. But Becca has never been known to follow instructions.

Her sister Cassie was the perfect one, who would have asked no questions. Not Becca! Becca continually holds out hope that Cassie will come looking for her and find her. Until then, she must endure whatever her captors decide is her fate.

Published in May 2017 by Hachette Book Group
Audiobook published August 2018.

SUMMARY

The Fall of Crazy House Part 2 (Crazy House #2)

Becca and Cassie escape from the Crazy House with their lives, but only just. Thanks to the cruelty they endured in the Crazy House, they are now highly trained and tough fighters with a fear of nothing or nobody.

Becca is sent to Assassinate the President of the United cell. Cassie is looking for her, and not far behind. Together the sisters are the key to success but can they find each other and if they do get together, can they join their talents and overthrow the despotic government in order to free the people? 

Published in April 2019 by Little, Brown and Company
Audiobook published April 2019

My Thoughts

I chose The Crazy House as my next audiobook, with no idea that it was a young adult book.  I chose the book quickly and without reading what it was about, as I was about to head off on a walk. It wasn’t until I was two chapters in, that it dawned on me that this book was book written for young adults.

The story is a very fast paced dystopian novel, with great characters. I found myself hooked completely and invested in what would happen to the twins. The adventure story is a roller coaster, especially the second book. There were many times that I had my heart in my mouth and couldn’t listen, just in case I heard something that I didn’t want to hear. Crazy House could be described as a non-stop carnival ride.

At the end of the first book, there was a cliffhanger and nothing at all was solved, making it obvious that there would be part 2. Fortunately, I was able to listen to part 2 immediately. The story wasn’t totally resolved in book 2 which leaves me wondering if there is a third book coming. If not, then I’m slightly annoyed by the ending.

I’m not a huge fan of reading Young Adult or anything with a dystopian theme, but I have to say that I loved both of these books. I have noticed there are many negative reviews online which I don’t agree with. I put that down, to not being a regular reader of YA and not being the target audience.

This audiobook was read by Therese Plummer, who read all the roles. Each person was read in a very different tone, so I had no problem at all recognising who was speaking. This can sometimes be an issue in single reader audiobooks.

 Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the Authors

James Patterson

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today, with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. He has sold over 380 million books worldwide and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers. In addition to writing the thriller novels for which he is best known, among them The President Is Missing with President Bill Clinton, Patterson also writes fiction for young readers of all ages, including the Max Einstein series, produced in partnership with the Albert Einstein Estate. He is also the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on the New York Times adult and children’s bestseller lists. – Goodreads

Gabrielle Charbonnet

Gabrielle Charbonnet lives in Carolina USA. She has written many books prior to Crazy House under her pen name Cate Tiernan. This is not her first collaboration with James Patterson. Gabrielle has written about 75 books in total, under her own name, and  many varied pen names.

 

All books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library, unless otherwise stated.

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

Images and author information: Goodreads and Wikipedia

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life and Tracking Down The Family

© 2020 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

#AtoZChallenge I -I Was Here by Gayle Forman

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#AtoZChallenge 2019 Tenth Anniversary blogging from A to Z challenge letter

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge  is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted.

Summary

This story, set in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington USA, follows eighteen year old Cody in the months following the suicide of her best friend Meg.  Cody is feeling numb and can’t believe that her friend didn’t confide in her that all wasn’t well with her. As she searches for answers as to why she has lost her best friend, she goes on a journey of self discovery. Cody starts to question her relationship with Meg, and what death, love and forgiveness mean to her.

My Thoughts

This traumatic subject matter is handled very realistically and delicately by the author, but at the same time is very emotional to read. As well as suicide, there is a romantic story line which I didn’t enjoy at all. I found most of the writing about the romance and the relationship to be quite predictable and not essential to the story.

I Am Here is classified as Young Adult fiction. I’m in two minds about this. I’m not really sure if the story line is suitable for early teens. But then again, this is a topic which affects so many teenagers in modern times, so perhaps it should be brought more into the open.

Recommendation

“I Was Here was a pitch perfect blend of mystery, tragedy and romance. Gayle Forman has given us an unflinchingly honest portrait of the bravery it takes to live after devastating loss” – Stephen Chbosky, author

“Partly tautly paced mystery, part psychological study of suicide and it’s after effects….An engrossing and provocative look at the devastating finality of suicide, survivors guilt, the complicated nature of responsiblity, and even the role of the internet in life and death decisions” – Kirkus Reviews.

Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Young Adult Fiction

My Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

About The Author

Gayle Forman

 

Award winning author and journalist, Gayle Forman has written several best selling novels for young adults.  She has had written essays and non-fiction work which has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Elle and Time. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughters.

 

 

Published in 2015 by Viking Juvenile. Hardcover – 270 pages

Have you read this book. If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I promise to always reply to comments made in the section below.

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