Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

January 26, 2012January 26, 2012 | Tasha

Hazel has known she is terminal since she was diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at age 12. But then a drug that worked on only a small percentage of the population actually worked on her and her tumors shrunk. At age 16, she’s still not healthy: her lungs need to be drained regularly and she has to cart around an oxygen tank. She also doesn’t attend high school, having gotten her GED. Hazel spends her days watching trashy TV and reading books, forced out of the house only to go to a support group for teens with cancer. It’s there that she meets Augustus Waters, a boy whose leg was lost to cancer. The two form a bond almost immediately, but Hazel doesn’t want to get close to anyone who could be hurt by her death. However, Augustus is not the type of person to be ignored easily and Hazel may just have a lot more life to lead than she ever imagined.

Green manages to write a book with characters who have cancer that is not a “cancer book.” It bears absolutely no resemblance to those teary paperbacks filled with maudlin sentimentality. Instead it is a purely John Green book, filled with witty remarks, complex characters, and a vast intelligence. Both Hazel and Augustus are characters who are breathtakingly rendered, whole people, who just happen to come fully to life when together.

Green’s writing is incredible here. His phrasing is beautiful and inventive, creating new imagery as he builds this amazing romance and human story. One of my favorite sentences in the book comes on page 25, “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” Throughout the book, there are profound moments of insight, things that give pause, make you think, and create beauty from the ordinary.

Intensely personal, vibrantly romantic, and wildly successful, this book may just be the best that John Green has written. Get this into the hands of teens and adults, perhaps with a tissue or two. It is simply incredible. Appropriate for ages 15-18.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

January 25, 2012January 25, 2012 | Tasha

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

The second book in the Across the Universe series takes up the story three months after Amy was awoken from her cryosleep. Elder has become Eldest and has taken control of the ship. The population has stopped being drugged by Phydus but that has created new problems of controlling the suddenly unruly population. Amy gets a clue that starts both her and Elder on a quest to figure out the truth behind the ship no longer moving through space. It quickly becomes a race against time as killings start with the ominous phrase “Follow the leader” on each body. The truth may set you free, but getting to it can be deadly.

I was thrilled to get my hands on this second book, because I found the first so fresh and fascinating. The story continues with the same claustrophobic feeling aboard the ship, where readers will think that they know the truth of the situation but will quickly realize that there is much more to the story of their journey into space. I did find the book hard to get into at first because the beginning was slow moving. That is quickly remedied and the pacing of the rest of the book is very successful.

The setting of Godspeed is a compelling one that Revis uses to great effect throughout the story. The ship itself holds many of the secrets, making it a vital part of the tale. The characters are equally complex. Elder and Amy have a relationship that is romantic yet troubled. Combined with the tight setting, the desperation of their quest, and the killings, it makes for a riveting read of mystery, science fiction and romance.

This complex and engaging science fiction novel will be embraced by fans of the series, who will immediately start thinking about what will happen in book three. Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Selena Gomez Stars in a Book Near You

January 25, 2012 | Tasha

Selena Gomez, Disney star of Wizards of Waverly Place and Beezus from Ramona and Beezus, the movie, has optioned the film rights for The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Gomez is taking her career into her own hands, creating a production company.

She is also slated to star in Universal’s Thirteen Reasons Why, based on the book by Jay Asher.

While I worry about a Disney-fication of these books, I am also very intrigued by this trend of riding popular teen fiction to stardom. I suppose we will have to wait and see if a darker, more mature Gomez results.

Review: Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine

January 24, 2012January 24, 2012 | Tasha

Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Yan Nascimbene

Vinson is fascinated when his grandfather arrives from China and practices tai chi in the backyard. When Vinson finds out it’s a martial art, he thinks it might be like kung fu but soon learns it is not. His grandfather begins to teach him the basic movements of tai chi but it is slow and requires a lot of patience. When Vinson is offered a place in the Chinese New Year parade, he’s not sure he wants to even participate. However, when he and his grandfather get to China Town, he discovers that his grandfather has been saying wonderful things about him and that everyone is very pleased to meet him. Even more importantly, the respect everyone shows his gentle, quiet grandfather changes his view of martial arts and the man himself.

This book is perfect for Chinese New Year, since that holiday is celebrated in the story. The growth of the main character is well developed, especially for a picture book. The quiet grace of tai chi is shown throughout the book, including the overall tone of the story itself.

The illustrations also reflect that quiet simplicity with their expanses of watercolor and fine lines. The illustrations are modern-feeling and capture the excitement of the New Year and the movement of martial arts with great energy.

This winning title is a dynamic but also introspective look at the Chinese New Year and tai chi. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by BookDragon.