Guest Review: Lost Girls by Ann Kelley

Today I've got the lovely Mckenzie back to review Lost Girls for us.  She declared to her mother, the equally-lovely Michele at A Belle's Tales, that this book was "her absolute favorite read of the year".  I love this girl and I love that this book elicited such a strong reaction from her.  But I'll let her review speak for itself...

Title:  Lost Girls
Author:  Ann Kelley
Series:  stand-alone
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  July 10, 2012
Source:  ARC
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

No parents. No rules. No way home.

Fourteen-year-old Bonnie MacDonald couldn't be more excited for a camping trip on an island off the coast of Thailand with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets-the daughters of the men and women stationed there during the Vietnam War. But when a strong current deposits the girls on what their boatman calls the "forbidden island," things take a turn for the worse: A powerful storm comes to destroy their campsite, the smallest of the junior cadets is found dead, and their boatman never returns. What once seemed like a vacation in paradise has become a battle against the elements.

Peppered with short, frantic entries from Bonnie's journal, Lost Girls is a page-turning, heart-pounding adventure story about a group of teen girls fighting for their lives.

Thank you so much, Ms. Jen, for having me at The Starry-Eyed Revue today, and an even bigger thank-you for sending me this fabulous ARC!

Lost Girls by Ann Kelley was a heart-pounding book that I was able to eagerly read within two days. Ms. Kelley wrote this story perfectly, which is difficult to do with an action or adventure story. She made the events of the story believable and didn’t go overboard with injuries or death. Lost Girls was an amazing book that I’ll be revisiting for sure!

The beauty of the book, in my opinion, is that it was set in May of 1974. I love a book set in the 70’s - or anything 70’s, really. This book was a total hit with me!

I was shocked - and intrigued - by the fact that the author didn’t wait a hot second before killing off a little girl in a gruesome way (vivid details were not given). I knew when that happened that, by reading this book, I was in for quite a ride. And boy did Ms. Kelley take me on one! She fills the pages of her book with entries from the main character Bonnie MacDonald’s journal. Bonnie is a fourteen-year-old girl currently living in Thailand with her mother - her father is a soldier, so they are stationed there for the time being. When Bonnie and her Amelia Earhart Cadet group go off for three days to survive on an island in the middle of the sea, things turn bad in the blink of an eye. Horrible storms and winds, a dangerous ocean in which no one can sail (yet another reason to lose hope of ever being saved), and a forest filled with wild boars, tigers, snakes, and more. Can Bonnie pull together a plan and get everyone off the island alive?

 The elements seem to be against Bonnie and her peers as they try to stay alive in the wilderness of a supposedly forbidden island. I found that it was easy to get lost in the story and feel as if I were one of the girls myself. This book was very emotional for me in some parts: when Bonnie met the monk, when Layla Campbell realized she needed to step up her game… when a beloved character died. 

--- Bonnie MacDonald - Bonnie was one of my favorite characters in this book because, though she was fourteen, she kept her focus and was able to keep everyone alive for weeks, with help from her friends, but hardly any from their leader.

--- Layla Campbell - Mrs. Campbell was an interesting character. Her bad definitely outweighed her good in some points. When things got bad, she turned to alcohol and drugs, and, unfortunately, encouraged two of the girls to join her, which, sadly, they did without hesitation. She even kept whiskey for herself when it could have saved another girl’s life. But when she almost drowned, she knew she had to change. Layla knew she was there for a reason, and stepped it up towards the end to become the leader she was supposed to be all along.

--- Jas - Jas was such a wonderful character. Also one of my favorites. She knew so much and it was her knowledge, education, and survival skills that helped the group stay alive, too. She was always telling people things about animals and plants they found on the island. I admired that greatly.

--- Hope - My favorite character, Hope, was the one I felt the worst for. Her father was unspeakably cruel to her. Hope was easy to love. She had a hard life, though, and it showed in her stutter and lack of courage and confidence in herself. I loved Hope's fight to overcome her stutter, her will to gain the other girls' respect, and her struggle to obtain bravery and confidence. Really someone to look up to.

I could go on all day long about Lost Girls, but I don’t want to give too much away. Lost Girls was an amazing book by a very talented author. I would absolutely love to see it made into a movie - I already know who I would want to play some of the characters. I will definitely be reading more of Ann Kelley’s work, as she sure knows how to pull a reader in! 

Lost Girls was a very intense book, and some scenes might upset younger readers, especially when the little girl dies in the very beginning. I was able to relate more to this story because the characters were older and more mature than some of the middle-grade books I’ve recently read. Also, there is a bit of mild language in this book. These features make the book more YA than middle-grade, which is why I recommend it to readers thirteen/fourteen and up. I believe this story would appeal to any reader of or over that age because it contains something for everybody.

Ms. Jen generously sent Lost Girls to me along with two other ARCs! I loved them all, but, I must say, Lost Girls was my favorite of the bunch. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ms. Jen!! You’re too sweet! <3

Rating:  -- but Mckenzie says, "I'd give it a billion if I could."  ♥ her!!!

_________________________

Mckenzie, will you write all my reviews for me?  Pretty please?!?  :D

In all seriousness, I love having a real teen review books aimed at that age group.  And I love that this particular teen has enjoyed every one she's read at my request.  This girl is already quite the little reader...do I see a book blog in her future?  She is already dream-casting novels, after all.  :0)

Thank you, Mckenzie, for taking the time to read and review these books for us.  You are such a sweetheart!  I can't wait to see what you read next!

Be sure to check out Mckenzie's other reviews here on the blog:  A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle and The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith.

And be sure to check back next week, as I'll be giving away an ARC of Lost Girls in the Vacation Reads Giveaway Hop!

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Labels: guest reviews, hachette, katertot, middle-grade, reviews

Guest Review: A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

Today, I'm welcoming back the lovely Mckenzie Kate to review another middle-grade title for us.  I love hearing what actual teens think about the books that are targeted toward their age group, and Mckenzie never disappoints.  So, without further ado, here is her engaging review of Roddy Doyle's A Greyhound of a Girl:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:  A Greyhound of a Girl
Author:  Roddy Doyle
Series:  n/a
Publisher:  Amulet Books
Publication Date:  May 1, 2012
Source:  ARC

Mary O’Hara is a sharp and cheeky 12-year-old Dublin schoolgirl who is bravely facing the fact that her beloved Granny is dying. But Granny can’t let go of life, and when a mysterious young woman turns up in Mary’s street with a message for her Granny, Mary gets pulled into an unlikely adventure. The woman is the ghost of Granny’s own mother, who has come to help her daughter say good-bye to her loved ones and guide her safely out of this world. She needs the help of Mary and her mother, Scarlett, who embark on a road trip to the past. Four generations of women travel on a midnight car journey. One of them is dead, one of them is dying, one of them is driving, and one of them is just starting out.

Mary O’Hara is a twelve-year-old girl living in Dublin, Ireland. Unfortunately, things haven't been going very well for Mary lately. Not only has her best friend just moved away, but her grandmother, Emer, is extremely sick and has been admitted to the hospital. To add to that, a strange woman keeps appearing in Mary’s neighborhood. Mary assumes she is a new neighbor, but finds out later that that is not true at all. The woman, Tansey, short for Anastasia, is a ghost. A ghost of Mary’s grandmother’s mother. She’d heard of Tansey plenty of times in stories, but, of course, had never met her in person. Now, Tansey is asking Mary and her mother (who, oddly enough, are not all that shocked about a ghost in front of them) to help her reach Emer again so she can talk to her. Mary and her mother agree to help Tansey and take her to the hospital to see her daughter, and that’s where the adventure begins.

This book was so fun and interesting to read. And set in Ireland? Even better! A lot of Irish references and words throughout the story had me laughing out loud, along with several other parts, but then, there were parts that had me on the verge of tears, as well. I’ve never read any books by Roddy Doyle before, and, though A Greyhound of a Girl may be my first, it definitely won’t be my last! The writing style was unique and captivating, and I was hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, exciting read. Also, the cover and pages are beautiful, and that is always a plus!

Now, for my favorite characters!

~ Scarlett: Scarlett, Mary’s mother, was so hilarious and eccentric that I couldn’t help but love her. Though my mother is not eccentric by any means, she is also hilarious and always in good spirits, and Scarlett reminded me of her. She was always shouting things and ending sentences with !!!s, as Mary said.

~ Tansey: Tansey’s story, though sad, was enjoyable to read about. I loved reading about her and what happened, how she died, and how she was able to stay on earth as a ghost. Tansey and Emer had a beautiful mother/daughter relationship, and I could really relate to that, as well.

~ Dommo and Killer (Dominic and Kevin): Though these two boys (Mary’s older brothers) did not appear in the story often, it was interesting, to say the least, when they did. They were usually very funny, and a lot of parts involving these two had me cracking up. Like this (also an example of Mary’s hilarious, overly-excited mother):

… the boys charged into the kitchen, in a race to the fridge that Killer was winning.
The boys stopped when they saw Tansey.
“We’re talking about death, boys!” said Scarlett.
“Cool,” said Dommo.

This was an amazing story, and, after reading in the back of the book where some of Roddy Doyle’s books have become movies, I hope this is made into a film, also. I have a feeling it will - such a wonderful book deserves to be on the big screen! I hope to read more of Roddy Doyle’s fabulous work… and soon!

Thank you so much, Ms. Jen, for sending me this book for review!

Rating: 

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Thank YOU, Miss Katertot, for taking the time to read and review another book for us!  I know this one, in particular, was a little emotional for you, but I really appreciate your thoughtful, insightful review.  If you do pick up any more of Roddy Doyle's works, please do share your thoughts with us!

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Labels: amulet, guest reviews, katertot, middle-grade, reviews

Guest Review: The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

If you've been following the blog for any length of time, you might know that I have the bestest book soul-mate (BBS) ever, one Michele from A Belle's Tales.  You might also be aware that I went to ALA Midwinter in January and came away with quite a few awesome books.  Problem is, I now have TOO many awesome books to read and review before their release dates. 

Since I picked up a quite a few middle-grade titles, I decided to enlist the help of said BBS's little protégé, the one and only Mckenzie. Mckenzie just recently celebrated her 13th birthday and is at the perfect age to read some of the hottest MG titles releasing this year. She's also a reader, just like her mother, and was ecstatic to not only read these ARCs for me, but also review them here on the blog.

And, so, without further ado, here is Mckenzie's review of The Storm Makers:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Storm Makers
Author:  Jennifer E. Smith
Series:  n/a
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  April 3, 2012
Source:  ARC

Enter the world of The Storm Makers, where there's magic behind every forecast.

What starts as an ordinary summer turns exciting and perilous for twins Ruby and Simon when strange occurrences begin happening on their farm -- sudden gusts of wind, rainstorms, and even tornado warnings -- that seem eerily timed to Simon's emotions.

Then a stranger arrives and tells the twins that Simon is a Storm Maker -- part of a clandestine group of people entrusted with controlling and taming the weather -- and that he is in great danger. Soon Simon and Ruby must race against the clock as they try to master Simon's powers in time to stop a rogue Storm Maker's treacherous -- and potentially deadly -- plans.

In this thrilling new adventure, loyalties can shift as quickly as the wind . . . and the ordinary can turn extraordinary in the blink of an eye.

 

Ruby and Simon McDuff are two very ordinary twins… or so they think. Once they receive a visit from a strange man named Otis, they aren’t so sure any more. Otis explains the reason for the turn of events in the weather lately. Like freak snowstorms all over the US, and even hot, scorching droughts in Wisconsin. Much to Simon's shock, Otis informs him he is a Storm Maker. Storm Makers don’t necessarily make weather, in spite of their name, but control it to protect the people of the earth. It’s hard to understand at first why Simon can’t seem to make as much as a snowflake or a gust of wind. Things aren’t working out quite right, and they’re all starting to doubt whether he’s really a Storm Maker after all.

Then, a new character comes into the picture… a very mysterious and somewhat shady Rupert London, who Ruby distrusts immediately. And for good reason. A Storm Maker gone bad, London has decided to get even with the people of the world for all they’ve done to ruin the environment, such as oil spills, car fumes, etc. He has decided to destroy parts of the earth (killing people while doing so) by working to create tornadoes, hailstorms, and even avalanches. Ruby, Simon, Otis, and Daisy (another Storm Maker) have to work together to stop London from completely ruining everything Storm Makers stand for: controlling the elements to help people in danger - such as slowing down a hurricane, or holding off a forest fire. But London has other plans in mind…

An interesting, absorbing story with a wonderful twist at the end (gotta love those), The Storm Makers is a perfect story for anyone who loves reading about weather and exciting events that are very realistic. Jennifer E. Smith has sucked me in like a tornado with her excellent writing skills. Even though this is a kids’ book, the story is full of beautiful writing for all ages. Just out of the blue, like a flash of lightning (see what I did there?), a superb quote such as this would catch my eye:

“There are days when time splits down the middle, and before and after no longer bear any resemblance to each other.”

I must name a few of my favorite characters:

~ Ruby: I adored Ruby, because she was a very bookish girl (who wouldn’t love a girl like that?) and a very smart person. She was always giving scientific facts and explaining things to people. Ruby was definitely a lead character that I had no trouble liking.

~ Otis: Otis was by far my favorite character in the book. He was so sweet, and I just loved him! He’s the kind of guy who you just like instantly. He was always looking out for Ruby and Simon, and he always had the right thing to say.

~ Daisy: As a mechanic on the side, and a Storm Maker full time, Daisy was a quirky and interesting character to read about. She was a lot like Otis in the way that she was a wise and good person, but her back-story was heart-breaking. I love Daisy because she reminds me of my mom. No, no, my mom is definitely not a mechanic… (hahaha) but both my mom and Daisy have useful insight whenever there’s a problem. They also are both good people and fun to be around (and no, she did not pay me to say that).

I want to mention the occasional illustrations throughout the book - I loved them! Ms. Smith has written a wonderfully exciting book. It’s hard for me to believe this was her first kid’s book, and I hope she writes many more!

A huge thank-you to Jeannette at the Starry-Eyed Revue for sending me this ARC! You rock, Ms. Jen! Thank you bunches!

Rating: 

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No, I bet Michele didn't have to pay you to say that, Mckenzie!  In fact, I know I've gone to her more than once for her wonderful words of wisdom, and well, she's obviously good people...she raised one fine daughter, and I think that says a lot about her.  :D
 
I've got The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight sitting on my shelves as we speak, and after this wonderful review of Jennifer E. Smith's The Storm Makers, I think I'll have to make time to read both very soon.
 
Thank you soooo much for your lovely review, Mckenzie!  I can't wait to see what you're reading next!
 

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Labels: guest reviews, katertot, middle-grade, reviews