All Hallow’s Eve | Book Review

All Hallow’s Eve

Written by: Vivian Vande Velde

Number of Pages: 240

Average Rating: 3.64 / 5 stars

My Overall Rating: 3.7 / 5 stars

Published September 2006

Read in November 2018

Summary According to Goodreads

A boy is trapped in a possessed car that has stalled in the path of an oncoming train. A girl is dragged into a crypt during a field trip to an eighteenth-century cemetery. A group of friends meet their fate after an unsettling visit with a backwoods psychic. And that’s just the beginning.

Celebrated author Vivian Vande Velde is at her spine-tingling best in this collection of thirteen scary stories, all of which take place on Halloween night. With tales that range from the disturbing to the downright gruesome, this is one collection that teens will want to read with the lights on.. and the doors locked. 

My Thoughts

This is a fun and spooky collection of stories perfect for the Halloween season, so I’m glad I picked it up on Halloween. Although this is classified as a young adult read, I would say it sits low on the spectrum specifically closer to upper middle grade or early teens. The writing has a slight juvenile tone to it, and I didn’t think it took away from the story but instead made it a faster read. 

As with all collections, some stories were stronger than others, so I rated each story individually for those interested.

Come In and Rest a Spell: 4 stars

Marian: 5 stars

Morgan Roehmar’s Boys: 3.5 stars

Only On Hallow’s Eve: 4 stars

Cemetery Field Trip: 3 stars

Best Friends: 4.5 stars

Pretending: 2 stars

I Want to Thank You: 3 stars

When and How: 5 stars

When My Parents Come to Visit: 4 stars

Edward, Lost and Far From Home: 2 stars

My Real Mother: 4 stars

Holding On: 5 stars

Books I Want to Read in November

HAPPY NOVEMBER! 

Can you believe there are only two months left of 2018?! Unfortunately for me the year is ending fast, and I still have 41 books to read in order to reach my Goodreads goal. I recently got a puppy, and her training has put reading on the back burner, but she is getting better and hopefully I can get back into reading and finish the year strong. 

So today I am going to tell you about the 10 books I am hoping to read this month (excluding AYearAThon reads which I will talk about Sunday). Cross your fingers for me!

I am currently reading two books, the first being All Hallows' Eve by Vivian Vande Velde. This is a collection of 13 spooky stories, and I only picked it up yesterday and am nearly finished with it. It was a perfect read to pick up for Halloween, and of the seven stories I've already read, they average at a four star rating. 

I am also reading The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, as I'd received an e-ARC of this prior to its release, but never got around to it. I am currently about 20% through, and am not sure how I feel about it. The troupe of the mysterious boy is overrated for my reading taste, but the idea of people being inhabited by ghost sisters every year to drown teenage boys intrigues me. Hopefully the suspense and thrill picks up in the story soon, because I'm sure at that point I won't be able to put it down!

When I was looking through my bookshelves deciding what I wanted to read this month, I realized that I have so many outstanding ARCs that I need to catch up on my reviews for. In November I am hoping to get through five (six including The Wicked Deep), and picked the ones that I think I'll enjoy the most, but also the ones I think I will read the fastest. 

One that I received from NetGalley is How to Fracture a Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen, one of my favourite authors due to her stories regarding WWII and the Holocaust. How to Fracture a Fairy Tale is a little different from what I'm used to reading from her, in that this is a collection of short stories retelling classic fairy tales in order to fit modern society. I can't wait to get into it!

The other four books that I want to read and review are ones that I picked up while at BEA this past May. I had such high intentions of having them all read and reviewed before they were released, but now that I've accepted it won't happen, I just want to get them done. 


Easy Prey by Catherine Lo is a young adult mystery following three students involved in the release of racy photos of one of their teachers. After the Fire by Will Hill is another dark YA with a contemporary base, as it follows a girls life after she is freed from a cult. Witchborn by Nicholas Bowling is the one I know the least about, but the one that is most out of my comfort zone. All that I know regarding this story is that it is historical fiction set in the 1500s, and has witches. The final review book that I want to read this month is the one that I am most anticipating: People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins. This novel is perfect for some major issues plaguing our society right now; gun violence and white supremacy. Six people are involved in this story and in the end one will die. I can't wait!


The last four books that I want to read this month are ones that I own and have been wanting to read since I picked them up but never did. I Stop Somewhere by TE Carter, a dark contemporary surrounding topics like rape culture; Ruby and Olivia by Rachel Hawkins, a middle grade story following two trouble-making girls in a haunted house; Lessons From a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles, another dark young-adult, this one following topics such as abuse and death; and finally, Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor, which sounds fun and mysterious, but also comes recommended to me so I'm interested to see what I think.

This may seem like an ambitious list, but I am determined not to fail my Goodreads challenge, and am hoping not to be too busy with work. 

Happy Reading!

Fresh Ink | Anthology / Book Review

Fresh Ink

Edited by: Lamar Giles
Number of Pages: 208

Average Rating: 3.92 / 5 stars
My Overall Rating: 3.6 / 5 stars

Published: August 2018
Read in October 2018


Summary According to Goodreads

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and colour outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink. 


My Thoughts

This anthology was on my most anticipated releases for the year, and I am happy to say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Some of these stories were inspiring and heartwarming, while others could have used more development to strengthen its plot. 

As with every anthology or story collection that I read, I rated each story individually below and included any thoughts (if I had any).


Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds
4 stars

- Super cute love story about two teens dealing with the fact that one is moving away. I enjoyed reading as they reflected on their relationship and how they came to be.


Meet Cute by Malinda Lo
3 stars

- This wasn’t anything special, and a very similar plot to stories I’ve read before. I would have appreciated more base or background to the characters in order to connect with them.


Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth
4 stars


Be Cool For Once by Aminah Mae Safi
2 stars

- I really didn’t care for this story, in fact I found it kind of pointless. We spend the story listening to a girl describe a crush she has on a boy, but then continues to push him away when he pursues her. The characters were annoying, the plot was flat, and just not my taste overall.


Tags by Walter Dean Myers
5 stars

- This was amazing, I am only saddened by the fact it won’t be expanded due to the passing of Mr.Myers. There were some powering messages in this script regarding issues of racism and prejudice, and the dark consequences our skewed perspectives can have.


Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan
4 stars

- I thought this story was really fun and really cute, and especially appreciated the way it focused on family and how our main character showed so much respect to her grandmother. 


A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older
2 stars


A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake
3 stars


One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz
4 stars

- This story was good, but fell just shy of great. There was such a big lead up to our character speaking out and rising as an influence, but instead fell into the crowd. It was a strong message, but wasn’t as powerful as it could have been.


Paladin / Samurai by Gene Luen Yang
3 stars


Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar
5 stars

- ALL THE STARS


Super Human by Nicola Yoon
5 stars

- This is another short story that I would give more stars to if I could, and is the reason that I am now encouraging my mom to read the entire collection. This story is so important and so relevant to today's issues, that I would love to see it developed into a full-length novel.

Hide and Shriek | Book Review

Hide and Shriek

Written by: Alison Hughes

Number of Pages: 144

Average Rating: 4.0 / 5 stars

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Published: August 28, 2018

Read in September 2018

Summary According to Goodreads

When Emily, Tess, Cam and Dylan decide to ignore the new town curfew during their Friday-night game of hide-and-seek, they get more than they bargained for. Down by the river, they witness a shady deal go down involving some criminal types who recently moved into their neighbourhood.

When the teens are discovered, they are hunted through the dark streets and back alleys. They will have to use all their hide-and-seek skills to save each other. 

Ultimately, Emily, the youngest of the group and the best hider, discovers that sometimes staying hidden is the best way to escape.

My Thoughts

I received an e-arc copy of this book to review from NetGalley in exchange for a review, but that does not influence my opinion. 

I spent the last five weeks in a terrible reading slump, and this was just the story to get me out! It was a quick, fun read that I got through in a single sitting of about 90 minutes. As I’m sure many of you did, I grew up playing hide and seek with the neighbourhood kids, and watching it grow into something so much darker was an amazing concept. Each reader would be able to feel the same anxiety that our characters do, the build-up of being caught, and the constant racing of your heartbeat. 

The characters were relatable, the suspense was intriguing, and the plot was realistic. The only thing I could suggest to make this story better, is expanding it into a full-length novel! There were some things that I felt were left unanswered at the end, and I would like to get complete closure. 

If you want to read an intense game of hide and seek, pick this up!

Giant Days | Book Review

Giant Days

Written by: Non Pratt

Number of Pages: 288

My Rating: 2.5 / 5 stars

Published: August 21, 2018

Read in August 2018

Summary According to Goodreads

Giant Days follows the hilarious and heartfelt misadventures of three university first-years: Daisy, the innocent home-schooled girl; Susan, the sardonic wit; and Esther, the vivacious drama queen. While the girls seem very different, they become fast friends during their first week of university. 

And it’s a good thing they do, because in the giant adventure that is college, a friend who has your back is key - something Daisy discovers when she gets a little too involved in her extracurricular club, the Yogic Brethren of Zoise. When she starts acting strange and life around campus gets even stranger (missing students, secret handshakes, monogrammed robes everywhere), Esther and Susan decide it’s up to them to investigate the weirdness and save their friend. 

My Thoughts

I received both an e-arc copy of this novel from NetGalley, as well as a physical arc when I attended BEA in New York - but that does not effect my opinion. 

I picked up this novel and was anticipating reading it because I am a fan of Non Pratt - Trouble remains in my top five favourite books that I’ve read this year,  but I’d never heard of the Giant Days graphic novels. 

I was expecting so much more out of this story, as I didn’t find it either enthralling or funny as the synopsis said it would be. My biggest complaint is that the plot felt very scattered and rushed in parts. There is a lot going on in the beginning, a very slow middle, and then a crammed ending that leaves more to be desired. The chapters weren’t divided up in a way that made sense to the progression of the story, and I felt that the plot lacked any sense of excitement or adventure (for my taste). From the beginning it was obvious that Daisy was getting herself involved in a cult-like group, but it was overshadowed by Esther trying to impress a goth-girl and Susan becoming overwhelmed studying medicine. 

This story follows three characters; Daisy, Esther, and Susan, who become best friends since they all share the same university residence. I understand the motive behind this friendship, but the three don’t really have anything in common and it hard for me to picture them all together. Daisy grew up home schooled but was written to be so overly-naive that it became more annoying than endearing, and Susan was blunt and forceful enough to make me roll my eyes a few times. Of the three I would have to say Esther was my favourite, because she went through the most character development, and came out stronger on the other side. Plus she’s just kind of a bad ass. 

Overall, I think you would be more likely to enjoy this novel if you have read the Giant Days graphic novels or at least know their plot. In hindsight I really wish I had gone read at least the first collection of stories before picking this up so that I would better understand the characters and have a better idea of the world that was created.  I will say that this novel made me very nostalgic for my early university years, and I had to give it credit for that. This will not be the last book by Non Pratt that I pick up, but I’ve definitely learned that I prefer her original stories opposed to adaptations. 

Also… can someone who read the comics tell me what happened between Susan and McGraw because I totally missed that. 

#Murdertrending | Book Review

#Murdertrending

Written by: Gretchen McNeil

Number of Pages: 352

My Rating: 1 / 5 stars

Published: August 7, 2018

Read in August 2018

Summary According to Goodreads

Welcome to the near future, where good and honest citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society’s most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0. 

When eighteen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she’s about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn’t commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she’s innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman’s cast of executioners kill them off one by one?

My Thoughts

I received an e-arc copy of this novel to review from NetGalley, but that does not influence my opinion. 

Oh man, did I hate this book. So many times I was tempted to give up and call it a day, but I am not a quitter when it comes to reviewing books. The synopsis of this novel caught my attention immediately when it was announced, and I was so excited to have been approved for the arc, but now I regret having wasted my time. The idea of changing the criminal justice system in this way stuck out to me as something that seems realistic in our future, but the tone and the setting were very much set a decade behind our times. 

The story is told from a third-person narrative, which makes it less thrilling and more cliche. At the end of most chapters we get sneaks into the reality show aspect, showing tweets from viewers remarking on what had been streamed. Most of the time I skipped reading the comments because I found them unimportant to the development of the story, and I was already becoming so detached from the plot that I just didn’t care. 

Our main character Dee is your typical character in a dystopian - starts off as unimportant and then of course she becomes the centre of everything and all of her friends give up their safety for hers. She was such a boring character to read that didn’t see any gradual development, and instead just seemed to change overnight. For the first while of the novel she was timid and shy, flying under the radar, and the next minute she’s leading her posse ready to start a jail break. There was no transition, so development, and no interest from me. 

One of the first “rules” that Dee is first introduced to is to not trust anyone, because no one is your friend. So what does she do? Befriend and trust four people within her first day in the prison. Nyles is the first of these friends that she encounters, your typical potential love interest with an added bonus: he’s British! Griselda is the typical blonde bitch that everyone thinks is gorgeous, and her co-worker Blair who is the caring sweetheart. And finally, the piece that every successful young-adult novel needs - the dumb jock. Ethan is the typical hot guy, with the diversity of him being a gay character pursuing a relationship with Griselda, and I couldn’t stand having him in the story. He gave me such a headache with his naivety, and movie quotes, and what really pushed me over the edge was one line in particular where during an argument he legitimately says; “come at me bro”. I’m sorry, did I somehow go back to high school in 2009? 

SPOILER ALERT: Can someone explain to me how Dee lives on an island with about 20 convicted murders and never runs into any of them? Or how about eight experienced killers and executioners met their demise by a teenage girl? It was all so convenient in order for our character to survive. And what killers are going to host a runway show with one of their (shirtless, might I add) victims?

This novel was so unrealistic and over exaggerated, and the only reason it was so long was because the author used the same descriptive sentences over and over and over again. Overall, this was a terrible read and I have to (regrettably) say that I won’t be picking up another one of Gretchen McNeil’s works in the future. I was so looking forward to finding a young adult horror/thriller author, but this was beyond juvenile for my taste. I really wanted to enjoy this, but without the proper depth and development, it’s not worth the read. 

Keep Holding On | Book Review

Keep Holding On

Written by: Susane Colasnti

Number of Pages: 224

Average Rating: 3.85 / 5 stars

My Rating: 2.5 / 5 stars

Published: May 31. 2012

Read in July 2018

Summary According to Goodreads

Noelle’s life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn’t know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle’s kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she’s terrified. Surely it’s safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it’s time to stand up for herself - and for the love that keeps her holding on.

My Thoughts

The central theme of this novel is bullying, and the author did an amazing job getting that across. The narration felt so pure and real, however I think I would have related better to it if I had read it a few years ago. 

Unfortunately I wasn’t impressed with our main character Noelle, and preferred some of the side characters more such as her best friend. Noelle was constantly complaining about the limited options of food and clothing that she had at home, but chose to spend her babysitting money on a top from Forever 21. If that had been me and I only had $15, you’d be finding me at the food bank or the grocery store. She makes her mom feel terrible for making her dinners of “mushy spaghetti”, boiled hotdogs, or McDonalds, but doesn’t appreciate the fact that she isn’t actually going hungry. Another issue that I had with Noelle was her attitude. She was constantly reminding the reader how horrible her life was and how no one wanted to be her friend, but when a fellow victim named Ali tried to be her friend, she said that although she thought they’d be good friends, she couldn’t risk being friends with her because it would make her life even more miserable because Ali was a bigger loser than she is. She seemed too ungrateful and overreactive for my taste. 

I really wanted to love this novel and rate it highly because of how impactful it has the potential to be on readers, however it wasn’t strong enough. There wasn’t a huge plot or story line supporting this story, and instead each chapter is written almost as a diary leading up to the end of her junior year in high school. 

My first reaction was to give this novel three stars, but the more I discussed my opinions I had to knock it down by half a star. I think that the strongest reasons that I didn’t hate this novel where the fact that it was such a quick mindless read, and that there were a couple redeemable side characters. Overall, this isn’t a book I would recommend to anyone struggling with financial issues as it could seem privileged, but it is an interesting and uplifting story to read about a girl being bullied.