HOUSE OF IVY AND SORROW

Natalie Whipple

Natalie Whipple is an author that I would definitely read again. House of Ivy and Sorrow's characters are well developed, even the minor characters. I was in a slump when I starting reading this YA novel; but once I sat down with the book, I couldn't put it down. Friendship and family are integral to the plot; coming of age, trusting, which friends are more like family, and family secrets keep the plotline moving at a good pace.

Ah, John Green. The leading author of Young Adult books, it seems. Nothing short of a genius, to be honest. His books always give out a particular message. Paper Towns was written by Green to show that we, as people, romanticise others. We either treat them as Gods or dismiss them as animals (As he says). And it is crazy how true this is. Paper Towns is the story of a boy named Quentin who romanticises a girl, she is a Goddess in his eyes, and he's obsessed with her. And it isn't healthy, it isn't healthy to love someone so much.

Many people see Paper Towns as a love story, many people only care about what happens of Margo and Quentin. I have a friend who I gave my copy of PT to and after reading a couple of pages, she came to me and said 'just tell me, do Margo and Quentin get together in the end'. I told her she was missing the point of the story, I told her to carry on reading. Paper Towns is about Q finding himself, it's about him realising that some things matter more than the girl next door and that some relationships like his friendships matter more than his unhealthy love for Margo. Of course, Q will never not have feelings for Margo, but he has learnt his lesson by the end of the book. I do agree with you, John Green, it is a treacherous thing to treat a person as more than a person.

(I received this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I felt this book read more often like a first person story (including dialog) rather than the journal of a 16 year old girl fighting for survival. This story is full of brave adolescents, who do what they can to survive. Sarah is a very brave and nostalgic teenage girl, who spends a lot of time pondering things. I liked the internal debates and view points she expressed on religion, politics, and so forth. However, I wish it had gotten more into the daily life of survival rather than ruminating on her past life and rambling on about what could be. Overall, I felt the writing had a great descriptive quality about it, and got better as it went on (I felt it picked up about halfway through). I enjoyed the story for what it was, and am glad to have read it.

Fangirl
by: Rainbow Rowell

 

 A book by bestselling author of a novel  ’’Eleanora and Park’’. This book tells a story about a young gitl called Cather, an ousider, loner, and most importantly a book lover.

Fangirl follows an 18-year-old introvert at her first year of university. It’s a lovely, emotional and a very relatable story. I love everything about it, the characters are develpoed in a proper way and the plot is well-writen. My favorite part in the novel is her relationship with Levi and the way she cares for her family. Levi is a young man she meets on her first day. Their relationship blooms into such a beautiful flower, and I think I never fell in love with any character like I did with Levi.

I would recommend this book to everyone, it doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl, if you are 14 or 46... This book will make you smile, and cry and it will make you feel butterflies in your stomach.

 

Review by: I.S. / The nerd from the back of the classroom

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I'll probably do a full review once I'm finished with studying. But I'm sick so that just might be the reason of me having some spare time, so I'll see what can I do about that. This book is amazing and I read it 3 times by now and it's totally worth it. 

By the way, my friend and I just published a book on Wattpad so you can go and check that out if you want. It's called "The Sister Chronicles: Book 1" and here is the link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/37388803-the-sister-chronicles-book-1

 

 

Stay cool x The nerd from the back of the classroom

Anna and the French Kiss...I have mentioned that it is currently my favorite book and that I bought it just because of the name.I do not regret buying it.It must be the most amazing book I have ever read.I just have a few negative thoughts here and there.

I don't like the fact that Ellie was not described in the book a lot,she wasn't given any important role,she was just another bump in the road for St.Claire and Anna.I just wish her personality was more known.It feels like throughout the book she only has negative traits and that makes it a bit unreal.

Another thing I didn't like is how Meredith also had feelings for St.Claire,sure she was cool,but she kinda overreacted to the whole Anna and St.Claire kiss.St.Claire has never shown her any signs of liking her as more than a friend and she should've gotten it halway through the book.

Oh!! And Rashmi and Josh should have ended up together,I know they had their problems,but by the end of the book I think I melted when I read how Rashmi expects her relationship with Josh to make it through and it's a shame it came to an end.Now I know that Josh has to be with Isla in book three,and I honestly can't wait to read it,but it still is a shame they had to break up.

Overall,I could relate to Anna,the way she handeled some situations and reacted to others.And I loved how her relationship with St.Claire grew and grew and wasn't at all rushed.I can't wait to read Lola and the boy next door...I'm hoping it's as good as this one.