The speed of time

There is nothing more irritating than settling down to read a new release book and then suddenly remembering that there is a stack of homework as high as Mt Everest accumulating on your usually tidy desk. The other day,I came to the startling realisation that I have not read and reviewed a book in more than six months. Immediately, I logged on to my rusty but much treasured blog and decided to try and continue this hobby of mine throughout my last year of high school. It will be challenging but rewarding. I can't promise that reviews will flow in every week. I will try and post regularly about life, books and other completely random but worth blogging stuff.

Scarlette xoxo

"The Lonely Hearts Club", Elizabeth Eulberg

After her childhood friend and long-time crush Nate cheats on her by sleeping with someone else, Penny vows to never date another boy during her remaining two years at McKinley High. Brought up by Beatle fanatics for parents, she decides to start a club for heart-broken girls fed up with cheating boyfriends, naming it after Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Penny also has other dramas aside from boys. She reconciles with ex-best friend Diane, who dropped their friendship for a boy many years ago. Now that Diane and Ryan, after dating for four years, have just broken up, she comes back to Penny, eager to rebuild their friendship. But Penny’s best friend Tracy, who stepped in after Diane bailed, is reluctant to let her into their group at first, but soon the three become inseparable friends.  

Soon this Lonely Hearts Club grows into a phenomenon at her school. She is leading a feminist movement and her valour is acquiring more respect from the other girls every day. However, it is not smooth sailing. Principal Braddock is concerned that this club has caused gender division among his students. Some like Missy, the snobbish freshman, and Todd, Ryan’s sleazy friend, hate Penny for her club and its principles. But perhaps Penny’s biggest dilemma is her undeniable attraction to Ryan and his open interest in her. After all, going out with Diane’s ex-boyfriend not only threatens her renewed friendship with her but also reeks of hypocrisy considering she leads a group of girls who have temporarily sworn off guys.

Penny is a determined girl who is not afraid to explore her ideas and emotions. Whilst she does make some unwise choices, her best friends are always there to support her. Penny’s loyal girlfriends emphasize the importance of friendship in one’s life. Ryan and Penny’s light banters are adorable and add a touch of romance and glimpse of hope to this light-hearted, yet slightly pessimistic novel about love.

There were a few stereotypes in the novel but many of the characters turned out to by dynamic and complex. Ryan appears to be the biggest cliché at the beginning: a star athlete with excellent grades and gorgeous looks. Diane, his classic girlfriend, was the standard cheerleader/student council president type. But after they separated and chose to be friends instead, both turned out to be completely different, in a positive way. Nate and Todd, on the other hand, are portrayed as total players who use girls and dare to treat Penny badly.

This novel is largely about female empowerment and displaying courage for you own conviction. Eulberg has constructed a humorous YA novel that is highly original in plot and is filled with all the drama and romance that makes a perfect afternoon read.

Rating:

OK GOOD GREAT EXCELLENT

Scarlette xoxo

"Troy High", Shana Norris

It is an all-out high school war between Lacede High and Troy High. But this rivalry is neither typical nor original. The fact that their mascots are the Spartans and Trojans respectively makes this enmity legendary. Just as the Greeks and Trojans once battled it out thousands of years ago, these two schools now fight wars on the football field.

This year the rivalry has intensified dramatically. Over the summer, the board of education redrew the school district lines and some Lacede students are now attending Troy. One of those students just happens to be Elena Argos, the most beautiful girl at Lacede and girlfriend of the Spartan quarterback.

Cassie, a shy outsider and the quiet sister of the two star players of the Troy High football team, narrates this epic tale filled with drama, romance and humour. She is close enough to the action to be part of it, but removed enough to see disaster looming when Elena transfers to Troy and falls head over heels in love with Cassie’s brother Perry.

Elena’s ex-boyfriend Lucas and the other Spartans seek revenge when they learn that Elena has switched allegiances. Before long, the Trojans and Spartans are pulling outrageous pranks on each other in the lead-up to the highly anticipated annual homecoming game between the two schools. This deeply impacts Cassie as her brothers force her to choose between Greg, her best friend and a Spartan, and loyalty to her family and school. Elena seems to be wrecking Cassie’s life. She has not only dumped Greg’s brother for Cassie’s, igniting the war, but has also singled Cassie out to be her new best friend.

Cassie is a well-crafted character who is probably the only person part of this rivalry that shows any common sense. She excessively pines for an end to this stupid war but her stubborn brothers do not get the message and continuously push her to show loyalty to her family and school. They are desperate to maintain their popularity and leave a legacy behind. Everything has also come at an unfortunate time for Cassie. She has other things to deal with, such as kissing Greg the day before school resumed. She is worried by his lack of response and fears that she has ruined their friendship. Cassie takes the reader through a journey of love, revenge, pride and glory. Her loyalty is tested but in the end she stands up for what she believes in and makes things right, reflecting a determined and courageous personality.

Homer’s Iliad has been shrewdly retold in Troy High. The main characters all matched up to actual characters from the classic and Norris has made them mirror their ancient counterparts, adding a spark of history and mythology to this entertaining teen read. The pranks that are pulled add a light tone to this otherwise serious battle. They were creative and mostly original. She has brilliantly blended the Iliad storyline into the contemporary setting.

This is a rich novel about a war between two high schools, started over a beautiful girl. It will definitely make readers thankful that Helen of Troy does not attend their high school.

Rating:

OK GOOD GREAT EXCELLENT

Scarlette xoxo

Super Sweet Sixteen

I am super excited... I turn sixteen next week!!!

That means I get to start learning how to drive, my parents will let me go to friends' random (meaning non-birthday) parties and time to find the dress for the formal (it's in early September but there is no harm in starting to prepare for it now). I guess there is more independence at sixteen but with that comes new responsibilities as well. I'm two years away from the legal age...

However, there might be a slight downside to being 16 - I mean, now I have to purchase 'adult' tickets to events and I have to close the door on all those fun and entertaining activities strictly limited to 'children'.

I have read tonnes of YA novels about sixteen year olds and their lives are always far more interesting than mine will ever be. Sometimes, I wish I was a book character for a day and be immersed in drama, action, adventure and romance that all turns out well in the end. That would be an awesome birthday present!

What would your ideal birthday present be?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Scarlette xoxo

"Fairy Bad Day", Amanda Ashby

Emma’s life could not get any worse. Her dream designation of dragon slayer has been stolen by Curtis Green. She has declared this incredibly gorgeous boy her arch nemesis, vowing to hate him for taking her position. The school has instead assigned her to slay fairies, menacing little beasts who appear to love mocking sarcasm and taunting humans.

So Emma plans to convince Principal Kessler to re-assign her. But this plan continuously fails and she ends up being the girl who cried wolf when she is the only one who can see the Giant Killer Fairy. It turns out that this monster is not actually a figment of her imagination but actually a creature that wants to destroy humanity. It is after the Pure One’s blood to re-open the Gate of Linaria and let out all the evil elemental creatures into the world. And Emma is the only one who can stop him.

There is another person who can help her fight this evil. That person just happens to be Curtis, who owns a pair of unique glasses that allow him to see elemental creatures. Emma also has her two best friends Loni, an electronic genius, and Tyler, a guy who spends far too much time betting on his five-legged cockroach, helping her solve the mystery of how to banish this giant fairy, protect the Pure One and save mankind.

The characters were creative and brought the story to life. Emma is more complex than a fairy-slaying girl who is out to avenge a cute boy for stealing her dragon-slaying position, even though readers get that on first impression. She has had to suffer the death of her legendary dragon-slaying mother when she was just eleven and now she has to accept her father’s remarriage to a much younger woman. She appears strong, determined and brave as the novel progresses.

However, Curtis proves to be a slight distraction as they end up being paired together for an assignment. His irresistible lopsided grin always leaves her heart flipping summersaults.

Emma and Loni’s friendship is close. They are constantly supportive of each other. They truly define what it means to be best friends. Loni and Tyler’s endless bickering is sweet and suggests that they could become more than just friends.

The three good fairies who wear rocker t-shirts, drink cappuccinos and try but fail miserably to be badass are especially loveable and add humour to this entertaining novel.

This was a highly amusing book that touched on the supernatural but at the same time managed to capture the typical dramas faced by any average teenage girl. The plot was original and captivating until the very end. It was a beautiful blend of drama, romance, action and mystery.


Rating:

OK GOOD GREAT EXCELLENT

Scarlette xoxo

The Versatile Blogger Award

Thank you to Jessica from Curled Up With Books for this award nomination! Her blog is fabulous and definitely worth checking out.

Now, 7 random facts about me:

1. I once went through a phase in which I was obsessed with horses.
2. I play the drums.
3. I like making food but not eating what I make.
4. I want to do a cultural exchange trip and experience living in a completely different country for half a year. It would broaden my views on the world and test my independence.
5. I love fairytales.
6. I enjoy travelling around the world. The feeling of embarking on a journey is surreal... I love discovering new places!
7. I love acting/drama and have landed a few minor roles in school productions.

And finally, here are the 5 awesome blogs that I nominate for this award:

• Just A YA Girl
• We Heart YA
• The YA Bookshelf
• YA Reviewz
• Bookworm Extraordinaire

Scarlette xoxo

Award Rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 random things about yourself.
3. Nominate 5 blogs that you have recently discovered.
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

More personal?

Hey...

Yay! Mid-year exams have just concluded meaning that I now have more time to read and review more frequently. I can also catch up with the latest new releases. My last few reviews have been on rather simple and straightforward reads. I hope I can explore a wider genre and a read more sophisticated (makes the reader think a bit) YA novels. I am open to any recommendations.

Something else has also come to my attention. So far, I feel that all my book reviews are more informative rather than personal. I would like to know what you think and what you prefer. More detail on the plot (without spoiling it, of course) or more personal thoughts on the book? Perhaps I should change my reviewing style...

Would love to hear your thoughts :)

Many thanks,

Scarlette xoxo