Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell Set in Omaha, it follows the doomed love story of Eleanor and Park. It reminded me of a modern day Romeo and Juliet if it were 1986. Eleanor is the new kid in town. She is poor and just doesn't fit into her new school. Her home life is tragic to say the least. She lives with her step dad, Richie, who is a tyrant and abusive. Eleanor's mom just sits back and takes it. Park's life is completely the opposite of Eleanor. He has a loving and supportive family but it is not perfect. Park is half Korean in an all-white school and that comes with its own problems. From the moment they meet Eleanor and Park have a connection, even if they don't know it, the readers do.
Cracked by K.M. Walton Victor is tormented and bullied by Bull and the only way out, or at least as far as Victor is concerned, is to take a bottle of sleeping pills. This lands him in a psychiatric hospital. But Bull has his own problems; he lives with an alcoholic mother and a grandfather who uses him as his own personal punching bag. Bull has had enough of his grandfather's abuse and decides to put an end to it and his grandfather. Both Bull and Victor end up at the same hospital where they are forced to work through their issues. I really liked this book. You feel for both characters. Victor you feel for from the start and you begin to realize Bull is a true victim of his surroundings. There is no happy ending but there is hope and that is why I liked this book.
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley This story is about Cullen Witter and Benton Sage. Two separate lives that are on a collision course with each other. Cullen lives in Lily, Arkansas. A small town with not a whole lot to do, that is until someone spots the Lazarus woodpecker, then the entire town goes woodpecker crazy. In the middle of this craziness Cullen's younger brother, Gabriel, goes missing. Cullen is heartbroken. Now for Benton Sage; he is a missionary in Africa whose father is an overbearing and critical man. Benton is searching for a purpose to his life. How do their lives intersect? Well you will just have to read the book. I liked this book; however the connection between Benton and Cullen seemed a little farfetched. It is a story of first love, friendship, loss and hope. If you like John Green you will like this book.
Blindness by Jose' Saramago For some unknown reason a city is plunged into a white blindness. The government not sure what has happened or what to do orders all those stricken to be quarantined in an abandoned mental hospital. Here the strong rule and the weak perish. This is also where humanity breaks down. But all is not lost, there is one person, a doctor, who has not lost her sight and she will lead a small group through the city to safety. This is a disturbing story to say the least but I found the way Saramago described the total collapse of humanity and compassion the most disturbing. This is not an easy book to read and at times the way it is written can be a little confusing but stick with it. It's worth the time.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Kathy, Ruth and Tommy all grew up together in a secluded English boarding school, Hailsham. They were raised by "guardians" who limited their contact with the world outside of Hailsham. The residents of Hailsham were no ordinary students, they were "donors", cloned and used for their spare parts until they have nothing left to give. The story is told by Kathy, now 31 and a "carer". She is reunited with Ruth and Tommy after many years and old feelings and self doubt start to surface.
This is a story about a very controversial subject. It begs the question, "just because we can, should we?" It is also a story of forgiveness.
Shatter Me by Taheren Mafi Juliette Ferrar is 17 and has been alone and jailed for almost a year, 264 days to be exact. Juliette has a gift or curse as she likes to call it, her touch causes pain and eventually death. This is something the government want to control and use for their benefit. On day 264 she is given a cell mate, Adam, who is immune to her touch. Coincidence, I think not, he is working for the government. They want him to get Juliette to come over to their side. But things are never that simple, Adam falls for Juliette and together they try to defeat the "Establishment". This book is the first in a trilogy. Juliette's character starts out a bit whiny but as the story develops so does her character. If you are a fan of dystopian novels with romance thrown in you will not be disappointed.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill Joe Hill is the son of Horror Legend Stephen King and his father has taught him well. This does not mean that he is riding his father's coat tails, oh no, Joe Hill has a voice all his own and let me tell you it is CREEPY! I loved this book. If you are a fan of horror and like to be scared, sit back and enjoy the ride. It will be a long one, 686 pages.
Victoria McQueen has a special bicycle it allows her to cross a bridge into another world and find things that are lost. This is where she grabs the attention of Charles Manx, a 140 year old vampire who likes to steal children's souls. He takes them to "Christmasland' where they are never seen again. Victoria is the only one of Manx's children who got away. She becomes his obsession. He kidnaps her son and Victoria must save him before he becomes one of the lost souls.
Ashfall by Mike Mullen Alex is your typical 15 year old high school student fighting for his independence. His parents are planning a family trip Illinois for the weekend and of course Alex does not want to go. After much debate his mom finally caves and allows Alex to stay home by himself, this will be a decision they will both soon regret. There is a super volcano under Yellowstone National Park and it erupts, taking everything and everyone out that is in its path. Alex makes the decision to travel from his home in Iowa to Illinois to find his family. He is in a race for his life, everything he has known is gone and now it's kill or be killed.
I really liked this book from the first page it sucks you in and you can't help but think, what would I do? Alex's character is strong and believable but he is also flawed and I think that is what makes this book so good.
