Jump by Elisa Carbone

P.K. isn't doing so well at school and her parents have had enough so there shipping her off to boarding school miles and miles away. But P.K. is going to have the last word. Before they send her off she's going to run away. Not for long. Just long enough for her parents to change their minds. They just don't get her like her friends parents. I mean she showed them a book of teenage rebellion and she was allowed to study for classes at home. Not P.K.'s parents. So she wants to go on an adventure but no one wants to go with her until this boy walks in and he volunteers rights away. She doesn't know anything about him and that's fine by her... for now.

That boy I was talking about? Well his name is Critter and he's just got out of a psych ward. He has these really weird ideas about life. He sees the light of people so he can tell what their moods are.  He has different philosophies about life and his parents just think he is insane. He had to get out of there. His parents never gave him a chance. So he's hitchhiking with P.K. this incredible cute girl that no one wants to go with. Life's a hundred percent adventure. There is no past or future only now. And now he's not going to worry about the cops or being locked up again. But what happens when he starts to really fall for the girl? Will he be able to let her get hurt because of his problems?

LOVED THIS BOOK! So beautiful.... I want more books like this. I love nature books/sport books like this. And I kind of like books about crazy people. But Critter isn't crazy... well it depends on your point of view but he's just weird to me. I really cared for Critter and that... that AUTHOR! RUINED MY LIFE FOR A SECOND! That was messed up... you know what you did. But then there is P.K. and she was like sort of the stable one. She's like you when you're reading about Critter. Lack of a better word she's the sane one. I understand some of what Critter was saying but some of the things just went over my head honestly. Basically live your life to the fullest.

Her parents were killing me! Both of their parents in fact. P.K.'s parents and Critter's needed to listen to their children. Everything could be solved if you just listened. Critter's parents at the end... I realized they didn't really care. There are a couple of loose ends at the end but that's too be expected. In the end this book left me wanting more... more books like this and more stories that are deep in its way like this. It was so rewarding.

Rating: 5 stars

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Amy's tired of her parents acting like they actually care about her and not there ever loving relationship. She's always felt alone in her life. She's had friends before Julia. Friend's that treat her like crap and now it's Caro a.k.a. Corn Syrup who gets the abuse of her former leader Beth who could ruin your life in a second. Amy's so thankful she had Julia but now that she's gone she doesn't know what to do. She still hears her mother's whisper Murderer and knows that is what she is she'll never escape it. Now her life is After Julia. She has to deal with Laurie with her questions and pen clicking. As well as Mel who just talks and talks. Patrick is there too. Her almost... he's always quiet and she wonders what his sadness and anger mean. Love You Hate You Miss You is about choices in our life and whether or not we can forgive ourselves.

This was a pretty good book. Amy got to me when she started to describe their way of life. Alcohol, drugs, and sex. And maybe I don't know the people who do that and maybe Julia was a nice person but seriously I look at the people at my school and can't think beyond what I see. I really need to stop doing that. But the way they talk... so that was that. I felt bad for her. She was lonely because her parents were the opposite of what other books and actual people portray. They love each other a lot. To the point they are making out. Ugh. It's cool that they love each other so much but she was like a burden to them. I'm glad they were trying at least.

I actually liked Patrick and all his weirdness. I'm surprised other girls didn't. Girls like guys that they can "fix". But that wasn't it. He had a tough time and you know he saw life completely different. A way where you can have conversations with him that mattered. It was really weird that they just touched and were going to do it. That can't be realistic. Also the whole sex thing in high school... whatever. But it was a good book. I liked it. It was different then what I expected but again it was still good. I'm happy that I read it.

Rating: 3 stars

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

Charlie is the quiet type of girl who is awesome at singing the blues but can never get up on stage to show it. She was nine when her mom died. Her father has never gotten over it. He went from cool quiet everything under control to just quiet and never around. Whenever she tries to talk to him about something important he looks at his hands and gives her money so she'll go away. She used this so she can get some recording equipment. She works at a music store and sometimes gets singing lessons from one off the owners as well as guitar lessons from the other. The book has songs in the pages so you get sort of the feel of what she is like and what she sounds like even if it's only in your head. She has all this recording equipment but she never sings in front of people. Not even her dad.

Rose is always with her boyfriend Luke and friend Dave. Luke is always getting in trouble and Dave and her always get dragged down with him. Dave more than anyone because his dad has always given him a hard time... Well Rose wants more than anything to get away to the city. She got this scholarship to go to this science school but she never can tell her parents. Her parents who are going nowhere fast. Who gave up in life. She wants so bad to leave even if it means leaving Luke and Dave. She gives Charlie a hard time because all she does is stare at the group. But this "summer" which is during Christmas time??? It's Australia but I still don't understand. Well this summer she's figured out a way to get out of this miserable old town. She's going to make friends with Charlie. She'll be doing her a favor. She's going with her when she leaves.

Charlie is beyond likable. I was always angry at Rose because IF SHE DARED HURT HER! She would be in some real trouble with me. I mean she has like no friends and is just dangerously shy. Her two "ghosts" that follow her are her Grandma and Mom. She talks to them and it's so sad because those are the only two she could ever really talk to and now they're gone. Her father was killing me. NOTICE YOUR CHILD. I would be suffering too though. Seven years and I know I would be like him but seriously if I had a kid I hope I wouldn't act so stupid all the time.

God Rose. Finally I started liking you because you actually saw her. You were very irritating you know. Dave was cool. He was so sweet. I LOVE him. And then he's hurting too and you want to give him and Charlie a big old hug. I absolutely loved this book. It was beautiful. I think it's going to be in my favorites pile. It's that good. Read this book. You will fall in love too.

Rating: 5 stars

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

One word. Sandman. I was hooked when I saw that word. But I'll let you know a little more about it so you can be crazy hooked. Eron DeMarchelle died almost one hundred years ago in a milling accident. He is exactly as he was when he was human. A shy, sweet, dashing gentleman. He is finally able to turn back human to finish his "unfinished business" which he has no idea what it is. The deal was that he would spend a hundred years as a Sleepbringer and then get back to his life. He was able to have one of his charges his "beloved." Julia took her place after she died. He cares for her and would do anything to protect her.

Julia has always had people walking on egg shells when they were around her. At seven she had something happen to her. Something that left three marks on her cheek that she has always been self conscience of so when Griffin albeit not the nicest boyfriend ever accepts her she is happy. But then he dies. She doesn't show anything like he taught her. She doesn't even really know what she feels. And then there's Bret his best friend and he's like Griffin's twin. He starts acting weird as soon as Griffin dies. And so does her dreams.

I read this one slow on account of it was a group read that I suggested may I add. So the drama felt was even more because I had to wait. And I don't know how but the pages I had to read would always end perfectly with a cliffhanger. Duh duh duh! moments. Griffin was such a mystery to me. I had no idea if he cared about Julia or anything really. I still don't know if he cares about her. It was really weird but in a good way.

I HEART Eron. He's the type of guy that holds your door out for you and you just stare at in class dreamily. He basically made the book. I tried to picture him and the way he talked with the way he was described and my brain was all in a jumble. He's supposed to be this handsome Italian born guy who talks ridiculously proper. I just can't fathom it. Bret, Griffin's best friend, was an interesting mix to the plot. He kept me on my toes. Chimire, an Original, also provided me with questions to her character. Mostly who she liked and what was her deal? I seriously liked this book. It was well worth all that waiting.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. How do you know they're not going to get it on?

"Get it...?" I begin but shake my head. -LOLOL!

Don't forget me, he seemed to say. You belong to me.

Rating: 4 stars

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Finally I can say that I read this book. After months of waiting (for some unknown reason) and rereading the others in the trilogy. So here we go. After the shocking ending where Brenda talk's into Thomas's head  you might be wondering what's with that!? So sorry that would be ruining some things. *evil grin* Anyways Thomas is left in an all white room his hatred growing for weeks. What's happened to the others? Thomas is patient and hardly reacts at all when the Rat Man comes in telling him he will see them again and soon he will get his memories back. But part maybe his guilt? doesn't want to get his memories back. He doesn't trust them poking around in his head anyways. He knows what they are capable of. He won't have them controlling them. The Rat Man drops a bomb. Some people are immune some people are not. *Cue crying* - you'll be doing this as early as the first 50 pages. It's just so horrible. Teresa seems to be against him all the way through and he can't seem to forgive her for that and what she did. Now The Death Cure is after all the trials. Now the cure will be revealed with a pretty shocking conclusion to what the cure is.

Ugh. I would sooo like to reveal to you the ones who aren't immune but I won't do it. I'm trying my hardest not to give it away. It creates a wave of pain in my heart... The last book isn't as action packed as the others but it's kind of expected. But I've got to say it wasn't as great. I know I shouldn't judge it negatively just because it doesn't have that much action but... what really got me wasn't that. The end just left me with... ugh inside. It was not very fulfilling. The book wasn't the great conclusion that I thought it would be. It still has its great twists.  but I really lost respect for Thomas. Still you kind of have to read it because it's the end of one of the greatest trilogies out there. And now I finally say farewell Thomas. I'll miss you...

                                     Rating: 4 Stars

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The next installment of The Maze Runner is as great as the last maybe even better.

Thomas and the other Gladers have escaped the Maze. Now they are off to bed but their lives will soon turn into a nightmare... again. They thought this was it. Their rescue. But they wake up to bars covering where the windows were and people who can't really be called people, Cranks, are screaming like Banshees. This is the result of the Flare. People start to slowly lose their minds. The disease that everyone who went through the changing saw and feared.

Thomas screams out in his head for Teresa but she doesn't reply. Left in her place is a boy named Aris who was with a group of girls before and he has the uncanny ability to connect with Thomas's mind. This discovery comes as a shock to the Gladers but what did hey expect? It makes total sense that there is another group out there. And another twist to the plot is what's next to what was Teresa's door. The Betrayer. All of the boy's have something tattooed to the back of their necks. Thomas's is the most disheartening. I won't give it away. You'll never guess it. So now they are given a new mission. A new trial. Cross the Scorch, the most desolate part of the world, filled with Cranks and ungodly weather. I two weeks they must do this. What will happen with Teresa and the other group of Gladers? Will it ever end?

Fantastic sequel. I mean bravo! Thomas's neck and all the others... Teresa's too. Such a great plot twist. I really hated Teresa after this just to warn you. But maybe you unlike me have more compassion towards her. The two new arrivals, Jorge and Brenda, are the best additions possible. I kind of didn't like Jorge's hermano every time he talked. Kind of offended here but I got over it. I love how they are crazy. Brenda was interesting. Can you say love triangle? And then the end! THE END!!!! I love Dashner's endings. So many twists and turns... Aris was cool but he didn't seem to matter. Kind of in the background type of person. Nonetheless he still added something. The Scorch Trials do not disappoint. The Death Cure review coming soon. The end of the trilogy. So sad.

                                       Rating: 5 Stars

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

                                 
This is a book I never wanted to read. That seems to be a pattern... It does start off slow for me when I read it last Summer at least. Most likely more for me because I was reluctant to read it. I mean. A book about a boy running in a maze... not that interesting. But of course it's more than that. It's kind of like The Lord of the Flies or so I'm told it is. There's a group of boys about 50 of them living in a maze with monsters all around they named The Grievers. They are part animal and part machine. Just looking at them will make a shiver go down your spine. These boys have been living two years in what they call The Glade. It's like a perfect square in the middle of the maze where they farm, raise crops, and it's basically there safe haven. There are doors around The Glade to go to the maze. They close when it gets dark. Here comes Thomas. He is experiencing what everyone has. Being boxed in and terrified before being introduced to his new home knowing only one thing about himself. His name. Thomas comes in and after a little while something starts feeling familiar. It's like he's been here before. He wants to become a Runner. It's like there's an imaginary string pulling him to want to be one. A Runner is a person who goes out into the maze trying to find an escape by mapping the whole area. They need to be quick, tough, a decision maker, smart, and of course they must be athletic. They are the best of the best and he wants in.

The next day after he arrives a girl arrives which has never happened before. Not only was she there a month early but she's a girl! The Glade is only filled with boys. She has paper in her hands saying something like it'll all end soon. Now everyone is looking at Thomas wondering what he knows but he can't say that this place feels familiar he'll sure to be in trouble after that. But what gets him is that the girl feels familiar too. He doesn't know what's going on. He just wants to escape. He just wants his memory back like everyone else. He didn't mean to trigger the end.

This book is pure awesomeness. I absolutely love Thomas. He was one of my favorite male main characters in 2011. You just fall in love... *clears throat* Well, he is awesome. Chuck on the other hand annoyed the crap out of me. I don't know how Thomas liked him. He was his only friend in the beginning so I'll let it slide. It might have also been because he resonated home or something... but whatever. He still annoyed me and creeped me out. I loved Newt as well. What with his bum leg it didn't matter. He was still tough and he cared about Thomas. I remember reading this the first time around. The twists that I never saw coming. My mouth hanging open all the time. There is sadness also which is expected. They are a bunch of kids fending for themselves. But let me tell YOU. This trilogy only gets better. I've just read The Scorch Trials being that way. I have yet to read The Death Cure and I can't wait. It'll be a glorious finale. Too bad though. I'll miss Thomas.
                             
                                        Rating: 5 Stars