I haven't read or watched Peter Pan, so I can't tell you how much of this retelling stays true to the original or how it even compares, but I can say that I was enchanted by Second Star. The summary mentions a touch of magical realism, but the entire novel felt magical to me, almost dreamy. Relaxed in the way that California summers are. As a California native, I've known a few surfers and I've always wanted to learn how to surf. Combine the heavy focus on surfing with the magical quality of the novel, and I was set. It's the perfect length for a summer read and the perfect pace too. The next time you're at the beach, bring this book along and let yourself fall into its atmosphere.

Whether or not you'd enjoy Second Star probably depends on your reaction to the magical realism elements (and also familiarity with Peter Pan--but again, can't speak to that myself). Some other reviews I've read have mentioned Wendy's decisions, insta-love, and the characters as deterrents. For me, none of these were an issue because they fit into that dreamy scope and the twist on Wendy's inability to handle the grief of losing her brothers. You might want to read an excerpt to decide where you fall on that scale. The romances are both pretty intense. Wendy hasn't known either guy for very long before she starts to fall for them, but considering the setting - beach houses that few people can ever find; houses that miraculously stay clean, not a track of sand in sight - and the heavy emphasis on surfing, on relaxing and understanding that culture and letting go of your worries, neither felt inappropriate to me. I was charmed by Pete's quick acceptance of Wendy, by Jas's attempts at redemption, by the entire character cast and the hidden cove of surfing lifestyle (too bad Kensington doesn't exist :/). This novel is wonderfully indulgent escapism made for the summer.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Sol, the protagonist - Sol is an absolutely wonderful heroine to follow, and I say heroine because even though some of her actions are not quite reasonable, she's good-hearted. She loves passionately. She's sarcastic, fierce. She didn't do well in school, but there's no doubt that she's smart and independent and who the teachers (and everyone else) had clearly underestimated. You know the fiery red-head stereotype? Sol is like that, but transcends that stereotype because of the little details that Fama uses to sketch her character, like in her relationship with Poppu.

2. (+) World-building - Not only do we get an explanation for how the Night/Day divide came about (this reads to me like a dystopian standalone, and where some dystopias don't give you that information, this one does), but we also get little details like social greetings and cues (Smudges are asked to stay quiet; they nod to each other, etc.) and little things that help ground the dystopia, like day/night passes, Hour Guard rotations, and even considerations towards foreign policy issues (you really don't get a lot of explanation in YA dystopians about how other countries besides the US have dealt with the issue). In short, Fama did a good job grounding readers in the world while expanding our understanding of it with certain plot twists.

3. (+) The Romance - What I really liked about the romance in Plus One was how past and present were intertwined, how D'Arcy and Sol became friends before they came anything else. In the present, it's a sort of hate-turned-love story; a lot of mistrust and misunderstandings in the beginning, but they slowly fade as D'Arcy helps Sol with her plan and Sol shows D'Arcy another world, one that makes him question how he's living his entire life. The romance was good at facilitating D'Arcy's character growth (in addition to Sol's) and combined both slow-burn and quick intensity. And honestly, I thought the premise behind the past aspects of Sol and D'Arcy knowing each other was one of the cutest things. Another favorite part? The amount of respect D'Arcy had for Sol and the way the non-clean parts were handled.

4. (+/-) Plot - I think the thing I could not get over while reading this book was the overall plot. That so much of it had focused on a babynapping. Individually when I consider the plot elements, they don't seem too unbelievable (especially given that Sol is an impulsive teenager and what teenager doesn't do at least one stupid thing in her lifetime?), but when I put them all together, maybe it is the novelty that I had a hard time dealing with. But there are lots of plot twists and this book definitely kept my attention with all the tension. It's a rare book that alternates between flashbacks and the present in a way that manages not only to keep the tension high but also furthers world/plot/character/etc. development.

5. (+/-) Premise - I knew what the premise was going into this, and I stick by what I said on the world-building and Fama's details. But, I think this is like my issue with the plot. I don't think I could buy into the explanation given for the world because I didn't get the impression that this divide was especially effective, as it had claimed to be. I understand that's part of the point - and this is a dystopia, there are people fighting against the divide taking that very stance - but it felt like too much of a balance between metaphor for class/race differences and actually fitting the explanation given (for example, in college I had classes at night; are those moved to day now too? how can you physically fit all the educational options into day/night divides? why does (most of) the rest of the world follow the US's model when they don't have the same social systems? do they also censor texts? etc.).

6. (+) Themes - I particularly loved how well Plus One incorporated its metaphor for civil liberties (particularly all the people Fama cited in the acknowledgements for Hastings's speech! Loved knowing about the influences there). I loved how she discussed privilege and the class differences and the way all of that tied into the character decisions. And you know how some YA books don't particularly seem YA? Like what the protagonist's arc doesn't feel relevant to a teen? This felt solidly YA as Sol learned to balance between what was most important to her and what was right; as she learned of love, loss, and sacrifice, and more about her own family, her world, and her principles. 

7. (+) Characters - This is a random segment, but I loved how Fama included French into this novel. French is an integral part of Sol's relationship with Poppu and Ciel; and also later with D'Arcy. The US is a nation of immigrants. My family has always spoken Arabic and English, and it's quite shocking to me how so few YA novels incorporate this little detail into familial depictions. (Also nerd me was happy that I still knew some French... and knew just how well Fama had captured the nuances in the language). Anyway, Ciel's depiction from larger-than-life icon to fallen hero to brother again was wonderful and so realistic to real life: when everyone starts to have their own lives and responsibilities and where-did-time-ago? Sol's relationship with her grandfather was also heart-breaking. I loved the contrast between her family and D'Arcy's. The characters reached that place where they had a lot of potential and though I didn't know everything about them, I felt like they were real and their motives tangible.

8. (+) Writing - I want to read more of Fama's work. There's a certain smoothness and flow to her writing... and the descriptions are quite gorgeous, especially when it comes to life truths (“The thing is, when you’re with someone like Poppu - someone who sees straight through your battered facade and loves every bit of you, someone who makes you laugh until you pee your pants, someone who grabs you in a hug exactly when you need it - you don’t crave any kind of approval from strangers. You don’t need to 'matter' in the world, because you already matter to the only person who counts.”)

9. (+) Pacing - I already mentioned how well the intertwining of past and present was done, and that's because Fama keeps her past segments short so that we're focused on the action in the present. (And also ends chapters with quite the cliffhangers).

10. (+) Cover - I still really love this cover, the simplicity of its colors and its beautiful depiction of the romance (although this cover made me think of an issue I had: how is it that people can differentiate between Rays and Smudges to begin with? Besides passes & the phones - at birth, can the entire system be taken down if the Day/Night nursery divides aren't followed?).

As a standalone dystopian adventure (set in Chicago), Plus One distinguishes itself because its plot doesn't go for the stretched out epic trilogy sorts of ramifications but stays localized to one girl and one guy and their families. There are political machinations, moral implications, and some twisty reveals, but in the end, you're not distracted by how one sixteen-year-old manages to be the face of a revolution. It's also a beautifully written, romantic and thought provoking novel, and I hope that it attracts the audience it deserves.

Wow, so I understand why so many authors have blurbed this novel. And it's easy to see why those authors were asked too: I don't remember much of The Perks of Being a Wallflower except for the epistolary writing style, which Love Letters also has. This book has life truths and a lengthy discussion on grief and living, which would appeal to Gayle Forman (and If I Stay) fans. Jay Asher fans will find some discussion on self-destructive habits and coping with terrible events. Haven't read anything by Laurie Halse Anderson or Lauren Myracle, but from what I've heard of their novels, the comparison there makes sense as well. I can also see this appealing to fans of This Song Will Save Your Life because of the self-discovery aspects in both books (and some of the music love).

My favorite part of this novel was how much time Dellaira spent developing all the characters, even Laurel's parents. In a contemporary, often the characters are what make the book (for me at least), and Dellaira treats her characters with care, sketching their wants and needs, both good and bad, and in the case of Laurel's parents, giving us their back stories so we can understand their grief and situation more. All come off very realistic. (I'm focusing on the parents because it's not often that the friend group and the familial group are given equal attention). I also liked how Dellaira used her characters to discuss tough issues, like other difficult familial situations, in addition to grief and self-acceptance.

Another thing I liked about Dellaira's characters was specifically how she used them to discuss grief. For one the portrayal of May was done perfectly: transitioning from that larger than life idol into someone who was hurting and completely fallible in her own right. For the other characters... each member of the family deals differently with his/her grief. Laurel's friendships start off with her fixating on them, and not how she fits within her group. She's afraid of letting them in, and doesn't think they'll ever get to know her or like her if they did. Just as she must let them in in order to heal, she must recognize her own grief in order to understand that of her parents. It's a very wonderful and neat way of joining everything together - all her relationships - into this sad, heart-wrenching discussion of grief. Especially how her very realistic teen romance is depicted. Open up, Laurel. You'll be surprised at what happens.

The book is well-written. You might think that with the letters, it wouldn't flow or might read clunky - not at all. It's smooth. The writing is just right for a teenager writing letters; simple, but beautiful, and sometimes even poetic. Other reviewers have mentioned how Laurel addresses the dead geniuses in her letters, and tells them about their own lives -- this personally didn't bother me because I liked to see what details she chose to mention about their lives. It also seemed to fit well with her own character growth (seeing how the details changed over time, just as her relationships with her friends did), though I thought it bore mentioning, since other readers might not like this aspect. The one thing that I did not like about this book was how late the revelation came. At times I was bored while reading; I wanted everything to be pushed up a little, and more resolution for the end rather than an epilogue. I got teary-eyed around the big revelation (I think the genius of the writing is that it's simple enough that when the melodrama, the large thing looming in Laurel's words, comes into play, it's hard *not* to feel something), so more of that and how Laurel changes, grows stronger after dealing with her grief would have really drawn me in. All that being said, this book comes highly recommended from me.

[rafflecopter giveaway form]

Giving away my ARC at the above link. See review below.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Kestrel, the protagonist - In some ways Kestrel reminds me of Bitterblue. Both are competent enough to defend themselves should they fall into dangerous situations, but their assets do not lie in physical tests of strength. For that reason they can be underestimated, but they are both strong female characters with capable minds and fiery temperaments when their values are threatened. Kestrel, in particular, is a strategist, and the cold edges of her mind derived from her logical perspective are softened by her love for music. She is easy to like not only for her cleverness and the unfairness of her situation (marriage or military) but also for her compassion - she does not relish the attitude adopted by other Valorian conquerors with regard to the Herrani, and as shown in the first chapter, finds herself sick at the auction.

2. (+) Arin, the romantic interest - It's hard not to like Arin, or at least to feel pity for or try to understand his situation. Of course he's angry. Of course he's focused, rebellious, and secretive. As a slave he does not have the luxury of being open, and he refuses to be happy about what's happened; he has years worth of memories of better times and times spent horridly as a slave, separated from anyone and everything he loves. There's more to him than this, but I don't want to accidentally include a spoiler, and suffice it to say that he provides a good match for Kestrel. It's obvious to see the chemistry between him and Kestrel because they also have similar personalities.

3. (+) Romance - Probably one of my favorite aspects is that the romance works in tangent with the character and plot development. It doesn't overwhelm the main plot, and while forbidden romances can sometimes include too much angst, this one never strays into that realm. The characters also don't stop being who they are because of the romance, and that provides the majority of the struggle and tension underlying their interactions. This is probably one of my favorite types of romances too because it's subtle and sneaky and fits entirely with who the characters are and the feel of the novel at large.

4. (+) World-building - The first question you should ask yourself is whether you're okay with not knowing all the details of the world right now. Rutkoski gives just enough details for you to feel immersed in the world for this novel, but it's obvious that things have been left out so they can be explored in future novels (e.g. other peoples like the barbarians, etc.). Here we have subtle hints as to the different customs adopted by the Herrani and Valorians, the differences in how their houses are organized and how they viewed the other culture, and in their religious beliefs and what they valued in daily life. We're exposed to the Valorian arrogance and degrading perspective they take with regard to the Herrani and vice versa, and how the Valorians came to rule the Herrani.

5. (+) Plot - To me the brilliancy of this plot was not because it was unpredictable but because it excels at building your anticipation for the events to come. Every scene seems to be doing more than two things at once - promoting the romance, your understanding of the world and characters, etc. etc. And the tension and conflict are perfectly executed, constantly there for the entire novel.

6. (+/-) Characters - I loved learning more about them - about Cheat, General Trajan, Jess, Ronan, etc. - but at the same time, never felt entirely attached to or invested in anyone beyond Kestrel and Arin. Even still, I loved this book and not feeling attached to the other characters did not prevent me from feeling invested in the novel at large. This book is mainly about Kestrel and Arin and their people, and so the other characters naturally fall into the background.

7. (+) A Little Bit of Everything - Perhaps my favorite part of this book is that it really has a bit of everything for every reader. There are compelling emotional stakes for both main characters and a forbidden, sweet and steamy romance that doesn't derail from the main plot but instead adds an underlayer of tension throughout the novel. There are action scenes appropriate to all the hints of unrest and sure to satisfy Cashore fans who wanted more of that from her novels. The book's set in a pseudo-historical Greco-Roman inspired world, and I don't know about you, but I loved the show Rome and I loved Megan Whalen Turner's Byzantine-Greek inspired series, and I particularly loved how the two were meshed into this fantastical world from Marie Rutkoski. There are a lot of literary allusions that add extra layers that are well worth pondering on or examining in your free time. They give the book an extra layer of depth and dimension that's not necessarily found in every YA novel. (I particularly like the bit about girls either joining the military or becoming married, and how Kestrel's father says "a woman soldier has proved her strength, and so doesn't need protection" (25). It seems to engage with a lot of the discussion on strong female characters and how they do not necessarily need to be "kick-ass" or wield all sorts of weapons.) And this book is masterfully plotted, every scene infused with multiple purposes so that you're never left questioning why it's been included. So basically, readers who are more action-oriented, or character-oriented, or plot-oriented - all of them can find something to love in this novel.

8. (+) The Writing - Gorgeous. I am reminded of a mix between Cashore's more literary style and the style in Cruel Beauty (somewhere between purposeful, practical prose and poetic lilt). I'd say it's more similar to Cashore's writing style, though, and this may be one of the only comparisons to her work that I've found really and truly accurate.

9. (+) The Pacing - More action-oriented readers might find this a tad slow, but I thought that its pacing was perfect for the literary-commercial vibe and allowed for us to get attached to the characters and understand the Herrani/Valorian situation before upping the stakes.

10. (+) The Cover - This is a beautiful cover that's sure to catch the attention of any bookstore browser. It captures part of Kestrel's inner struggle and that dress is, I think, included in the novel. I wish it also hinted at the pseudo-historical fantasy feel though.

This is a surefire win for Kristin Cashore fans. I know that that comparison is used a lot in YA marketing, so I am not using it lightly. I said in my pre-review that it would also appeal to Megan Whalen Turner, Rae Carson, Rachel Hartman, and Melina Marchetta fans. MWT fans because the world reminds me of hers and because the feel of the central romance somewhat reminds of that in her novels. Plus the strong character development and political intrigue. Rae Carson fans because Kestrel and Arin's cleverness and strategy are shown in the way that Elisa's cleverness and ability to rule are shown, and it's clear that both Arin and Kestrel respect each for that, again shown in the way that I've heard happens with the central romance in Carson's trilogy. Hartman fans because there's a similar balance between the romance, political intrigue, and internal character struggle. Marchetta fans because I think her Lumatere Chronicles would make for great comparison to The Winner's Curse and because they have similar literary-commercial vibes to me. Basically I would recommend this novel to all fantasy lovers.

The Winner's Curse is an absolute gem of a pseudo-historical / Greco-Roman inspired fantasy, packed with breathtaking star-crossed romance, strong strategist main characters, and enough political intrigue, action, and tension sure to enthrall its own legion of fans.

Don't believe me? This one has already gotten rave reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly. And here are other reviews:

[5 stars] Lauren at Love Is Not A Triangle - "This book is so good that you definitely want to read it now so that you can discuss it with friends, and then read it again before book two releases."
[4 stars] Mary Christensen - "This book is excellent!"
[3 stars] Pam at Bookalicious - "I definitely want to read book two. I think it's going to be full of action."
[2 stars] Fiona - "I approved of a lot of elements, but I regret to say I didn't enjoy it very much."
[1 star] at the time that I am writing this (1/12/2014), there are no one star reviews.

A beautifully rendered story on social isolation and self-love, This Song Will Save Your Life features a brave protagonist whose love for music and emotional journey are so poignant that you’ll be hooked until the very last page. Highly recommended, especially for music lovers and contemporary fans (of Rainbow Rowell and Gayle Forman). This book nearly made me cry, and I’ve cried maybe two? three? times ever while reading a book.