Review: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Publisher: Razorbill (October 18th, 2007)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 304 pages

Buy: Amazon 

Rating: 4 of 5 

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Review: This story is about Hannah, a teenager that has recently committed suicide. However, she left something behind for those she felt had something to do with her making that decision. Each person receives the box of tapes and has to play them all the way through in order to find out what happened, and who's next. The book starts with Clay first finding the box of tapes at his doorstep. We follow Clay as he discovers Hannah's past and what ultimately made her feel she needed to end her own life.

This is a book that is impossible to put down. I was actually shocked at how interesting the story was and how everything was tied together. It was mainly all a domino effect. Clay is a sweetheart from the beginning and you can't help but wonder where he fits into the story along the way. Hannah is a little confusing and frustrating but I guess that is part of the point. It was one of the most suspenseful books I have read in a while. I wanted to see where, or who, everything ended with.

Although at the end I was a little disapointed in the overall message of the book, it was still a great, quick read that appeals to guys and girls. The voice changes from Hannah to Clay throughout the story which gives for a much needed breather in between the sections and helps explain certain parts.

Characters: Clay is a good guy overall. He genuinely misses Hannah and struggles to understand why Hannah made this decision. Hannah was a little hard to love. She placed blame in a lot of places I didn't feel should have been important.

Cover: This cover is okay, nothing special. I like the way the titles look but I'm not crazy about the picture.

I have wanted to read this book for a while and I am not at all disapointed. It's easy to see how suicide changes not only the lives of the person or immediate family members, but others who were touched by the person along the way. 

For more information on Jay Asher or any of his book:
Jay Asher  /  Myspace  /  Goodreads 

Buy from:
Amazon  /  The Book Depository  /  Barnes & Noble

Book Trailer:

*If you purchase from Amazon or The Book Depository through the links provided a small percentage of the sales will go to me. Any money from this is used for shipping costs during giveaways.

Bookaholic!

Hello everyone,

I am very new to blogging and I'm already having a great time working on this one. This blog will focus on new book releases, my personal reviews, my favorite authors, and more. I have links to sites of some authors and books already posted. I hope to grow the site into a place where authors can give additional information to potential readers out there. Feel free to leave comments, questions, or suggestions. If any authors want me to review their book I would be honored.

Review: Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Viking Juvenile (May 14th, 2009)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Buy: Amazon  

Rating 4 of 5

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

Review: I've had a few of Susane Colasanti's books on my list for a while but this was the first one I picked up. The main character Marisa has a lot of the typical high school issues to deal with. She is crushing on the "perfect guy" Derek, but then her old friend Nash comes along and makes her change her outlook on guys. She is dealing with old anxiety issues, and her life being turned upside down from her parents separation. She learns that maybe things don't turn out as expected, and maybe that is for the best.

This book could be very easy for a teenager to relate too. The issues are not far from reality and it shows how a young girl finds out more about herself. This makes it more than just a love story. I truly enjoyed this book. I thought it was a little slow at first but the middle and ending was great! It didn't take me long to get through this book because I wanted to see how everything turned out for Marisa. 

Characters: Marisa is young and still finding out who she really is. She is dealing with a lot of stress during a difficult time in her own development. It takes her a while to see what has been right in front of her all along. It's easy to see this character change throughout the book. She shows a lot of growth and maturation. Nash is adorable! He's smart and geeky and who doesn't love that? He also has a mysterious side hiding away. I really loved his character.

Cover: Very cute cover and it is highly relevant to the story. That is exactly how I pictured Nash and Marisa throughout the book.

This is a terrific summer read. I plan on reading more Susane Calasanti books in the future. 

For more information on Susane Calasanti or any of her books:
Susane Colasanti  /  Twitter  /  Myspace  /  Goodreads  /   Facebook

Buy from:
Amazon  /  The Book Depository  /  Barnes & Noble

Review: Willow by Julia Hoban

Willow by Julia Hoban

Publisher: Dial (April 2nd, 2009)

Hardcover: 336 pages
Reading Level: Young Adult

Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 of 5

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy—one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.
Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.

Review: I was a little reluctant to pick up this book. It's not my typical story but the cover grabbed my attention and I wanted to give it a try. First, I will say that I could not put the book down! It brought me in from the first page. Willow was an amazing character who had her life turned upside down after a terrible accident that claimed the lives of her parents. She suffered through the tremendous amount of guilt and life changes following that, and the move into her brothers house. The communication between her and her brother is lacking and misunderstandings occur between them because of it. She suffers alone in the agonizing isolation and guilt she brings onto herself. In her eyes, she deserves to be alone.Then she meets Guy and learns what it's like to have someone care for her well-being. She realizes the behavior of cutting herself is hurting more than herself, and it might be time to stop.

Willows character showed true courage and strength in this book, regardless of what it may seem from the outside. When Guy shows up she is unsure what to think but finds herself being drawn to him. Guy is sweet, sensitive, and caring in ways she had never experienced. Their story brings the reader on a ride of ups and downs, and many twists along the way. We get to know them at a deeper level and the story seems very believable. There are no flowers and butterflies at the end but in this case, that's how it should be.

Characters: Julia has a way of describing her characters that is very raw but at the same time easy to follow and like. I was worried about this being based around a character who was so depressed she may be difficult to truly get to know. That was not the case. Willow is very dynamic and it's easy to see the other side of her trying to shine through. Guy is so caring he brings extra light to the story. 

Cover: I love the cover. The slashes are there but you see the beautiful girl underneath...very much like in the book. 

I would recommend this book for everyone. It may be difficult for younger teens because of the subject matter but it's also very educational in dealing with individuals who may be experiencing this destructive behavior. 



For more information on Julia Hoban or her book:
Penguin  /  Amazon  /  LibraryThing  /  Goodreads

Buy from:
Amazon  /  The Book Depository  /  Barnes & Noble

*If you purchase from Amazon or The Book Depository through the links provided a small percentage of the sales will go to me. Any money from this is used for shipping costs during giveaways.