REVIEW: November Blues by Sharon M. Draper

November Blues (Book #2 in Jericho Series) by Sharon M. Draper

ISBN: 978-1-4169-0699-5

Published: October 23rd, 2007

JERICHO     Josh Prescott's death in a freak hazing accident left his cousin Jericho consumed with guilt, unable to enjoy the things that gave him pleasure when Josh was alive, even playing his beloved trumpet. Jericho turns to football, where the pain is physical and numbing.

NOVEMBER     For Josh's girlfriend, November, the loss is even more devastating, especially when she learns that Josh left something behind that will change her life forever. How will she deal with the trauma and tragedy? How will she deal with the demands of Josh's parents as well as her own?
     November needs Jericho's support as she deals with her shattered dreams for the furture and faces the greatest challenge of her life. But Jericho faces his own challenges -- on the football field and in his own love life. Will his torment prevent him from being there for November when she needs him most?

-- Back Cover

Now, I'm going to start off with admitting that I have not read the first book, Jericho, in this series. Thus, some of what you may read below may be skewed by this fact.

In all honesty, I did not care for the book. I felt like it was too much of a quick read with little to no depth in the various storylines. That said, I did like the characters and felt that they had been developed and described very well.

I especially connected with Olivia, the overweight and under-appreciated girl that connects well with those that give her a chance. Though she is not a copy of me, there were aspects to her personality and her struggles that I have endured as well, and that made this book a bit more enjoyable for me.

My biggest issue with November Blues was, as I said above, it was a very quick read. The reason being for this was that the plots, and endings to those plots, were not discussed in great detail for the exception of November's sudden surprise and Jericho's big game. And those were well towards the end of the book.

I did, however, love the very end of the book. Not only was it simple and sweet, it was also closure-providing while making me excited for the next book, Just Another Hero, no matter how little I may have liked this one.

The winner of the Coretta Scott King Honor Award for promoting peace, non-violent social change, and brotherhood, November Blues is a book for young teens to read in that it does a good job of showing how certain situations should be handled rather than the ways they normally would be handled. It does still contain typical school bullying and prejudices, but I recommend it for that nonetheless.

Overall, I would rate it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY Open Me by Sunshine O'Donnell

Open Me by Sunshine O'Donnell

ISBN: 978-1-59692-236-5
Published: June 22nd, 2007

-2006 A.D., PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES-
Historical Note

In 1999, a seventeen-year-old girl from suburban Philadelphia was the last person in the United States to be arrested for being paid to cry at funerals. The officers who charged her never knew her real name. In all of the reports available, she is referred to only as Mirabelle, Wailer.

-- Pre-Chapter 1

Imagine living your entire life waking up each morning and being forced to cry. Imagine the worst words anyone has ever said to you and imagine they said them for the soul purpose of teaching you how to cry on command. Imagine that your one and only job as a human being was to cry for people you never knew, never met, never saw.

This is "Mirabelle's" life. She doesn't exist in the normal world. She was born and raised for the sole purpose of crying at funerals. She doesn't exist, but, she's wanted more than anyone and the people that want her are willing to pay top-dollar for her services. These services just happen to be against the law.

And what happens when Mirabelle finally sees how the rest of the world lives? Will she attempt to get out of her profession? Will she make it? Or is she stuck wailing for the deceased the rest of her life?

In Sunsine O'Donnell's debut novel, she creates what could easily be a historical fiction masterpiece if Wailing was real. And who knows? Maybe it is. I read this book cover-to-cover in one night because I just couldn't put it down. It was as if I was watching the entire history of Wailing unfolding before my eyes and I would miss an important development if I looked away for a moment.

Between each chapter lies a key document in the history of Wailing ranging from ancient appeals to goddesses to newspaper articles to senate bills. These snapshots of time such as the quoted one at the top of this review make an already fascinating book even more so.

The characters are so... raw, is the only word that fits them, I think. You'll either love them or you'll hate them. Except for Aunt Raziel, she's just weird in the quirky sense. If you're anything like me, there are a couple of characters you would love to reach through the book and slap and a couple you just want to hug and hold onto forever, protect them from the world's evil.

The only real criticism I have for Open Me would be that I hated the ending. It was an abrupt plot twist so large that it left me confused until I read it three times over. I felt like so much work went into the entire book, then the end was just pushed out as fast as possible. I didn't care for it at all.

Overall though, the book was AMAZING and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys this genre!

GIVEAWAY OVER
Winner to be announced next week. 

Now, I don't have a brand new copy of Sunshine O'Donnell's book to send off to somebody, but, I want at least one of you guys to have the chance to read this! It is -that- good! So, I'm giving my copy away.

Prize:

ONE paperback copy of Open Me by Sunshine O'Donnell

Enter:

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This contest is open internationally!

Giveaway ends April 13th.

Emma's Table by Philip Galanes

Emma's Table by Philip Galanes

ISBN: 978-0-06-155407-0

Told from the point of view of several different characters who, at the beginning, are seemingly unconnected, "Emma's Table" is definitely attention-capturing. Containing a defensive mother, a social worker by weekday and assistant by weekend, and a Martha Stewart look-a-like business mogul, among other people, the are so many sides to this story that it was hard to keep up at first.

However, once I fell into rhythm with the book, it was easy to see that Philip Galanes, the book's author, had spent a lot of time developing each and every character. Once each person had their turn to speak for a couple of chapters, I easily fell in love with them all.

As we follow Emma Sutton's (60-something year old formally imprisoned go-getter) journey of almost soul recreation, you'll see her go from a woman hardened by life and relationships with her loved ones slowly into a compassionate human being willing to help those that need it.

Her encounters with a man that dares to go against her in an auction for an expensive table, an overweight little girl, and her assistant's girlfriend only help to further draw your attention to the way Sutton's mind works. By the end of the book, the many characters are connected in intricate ways.

In all honesty, it is hard to describe this book in a justifying way. The surprising twists and turns are few, the story flows well, and it contains few boring lulls.

I can't promise that this book is for everyone, but, I do promise that there are many that will truly love it for what it is. All in all, I give it a three out of five.

Pick it up at your local bookstore today!

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

ISBN: 978-1-4013-0996-1

As someone who does not read a lot, finding a book that I cannot put down is a rare occasion to be celebrated. Anisha Lakhani's "Schooled" should be given massive applause, I read it in two nights! This 2008 fictional book is nothing short of a work of art in the eyes of a teenager that's never experienced a lot of the luxuries money can buy outside of what she reads in books.

Schooled tells the story of Anna Taggert, a young woman straight out of Columbia University whose parents are disappointed of her decision to become a teacher. Instead of giving in and choosing a different career, she vows to give up the posh life her family has given her and uses her Ivy League education to land a job at one of Manhattan's best private schools.

The life of a teacher is tough, as evident throughout the entire book. Low wages, minimum respect from outsiders, and even insiders, and ungrateful students will make you wonder how the select few people of the world molding the minds of young kids put up with it all. But, sometimes, the lure of money is strong enough to break even the people most dedicated to their jobs. And the promise of designer clothes, five-star meals, and a doorman apartment makes high-priced tutoring on the side an easy choice.

Ms. Lakhani does a tremendous job of detailing the almost double-life of Anna Taggert. I felt like, if I could just reach through the book, I'd pull out lavish dinners and expensive handbags myself. I must say, I quite envied the hectic and tiring life of Anna Taggert throughout much of the book!

 In the end, I wish I could have read more, that the story had been longer. How did Dr. Blumenfeld take Anna's news? How did Anna Taggert continue her life? Did the students of the next school year enjoy her class once Ms. Taggert discovered the perfect way for her to teach? I wish I knew!

Anisha Lakhani's "Schooled" is a good book for a quick read and for someone looking to indulge in the "other side" for a while.

Pick it up at your local bookstore today!