Book Reviews: Drip Drop Tear Drop, Phantom Universe, Unlocked

Good Reads reviews is a series of posts (outside my normal review posts) that will have a couple short, sweet and to the point reviews for books I've recently read that I've had sitting on my bookshelf. These will be a combination of books I've bought or have received for review from the author or publisher.

By: Samantha Young

Published by: Create Space

Released on: May 9th, 2011

Source: book from author to review

4 stars- I really enjoyed it

Purchase from: Amazon| Barnes & Noble

Avery hasn’t had it easy.

When she was ten years old her parents died in a car crash. Now nine years later her Aunt Caroline is the only family member she has left. And Caroline is dying.So when Death comes knocking (quite literally) in the form of the damaged and dangerous, Brennus, Avery makes a deal with the reaper in order to save Caroline.Brennus is an Ankou.One of the many, once mortal men and women, who were given the choice to become an immortal in exchange for ferrying the dead over into their afterlife.Nine years ago Brennus took Avery’s parents and tried to take Avery, but she fought him and won. Amazed by her strength Brennus followed Avery and has watched over her.Now he knows Avery is the one to offer him freedom from his obligation to the dead.And he’ll stop at nothing to have her.YA Paranormal Romance for mature teens+ (some content may not be suitable for younger readers)

This is truly a unique paranormal read that older YA readers will enjoy. Drip Drop Teardrop is quick read that takes readers into a darker world that full of love, sacrifice, sizzling romance and puts a unique spin on the outer world. Similar to Samantha's other books, the two main characters are both enduring, they have an inner strength that draws you to them and leaves you cheering for them in the end.

The story line is simplistic and I really loved the gothic feel to it. The story is about Avery, who's had to grow up fast. She lost her parents in a tragic accident at a young age, and has lived with her aunt every since. Now that her aunt is dying, she's dropped out of NYU to take care of her and will do anything to save her. Brennus has spent over two thousands guiding souls to the other world and now he's come to collect the one that fought him years ago and won, Avery. I loved the romance in the story. It's a story about choices, sacrifice, and redemption. This is truly one of those fabulously written guilty pleasures!

By: Laura Kreitzer

Published by: Obsidian Publishing

Released on: February 15th, 2011

Source: book from author to review

3.5 stars- A Good Read

Purchase from: Amazon| Barnes & Noble

Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she's lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

A unique book that blends together pirate slavery, time travel and introduces readers to an enduring character who's inner strength is both admiring and her saving grace. Summer is a true heroine. The book follows her journey and includes flashbacks from when she was 4 years old and first sold into pirate slavery.

I liked the way Laura handled the jumping around to the past and in the future with Summer as a fifteen year old. The flashbacks allowed me to see what shaped Summer into the character she is and one of the fascinating things about Summer is her inability to not speak, which you learn why during one of her flashbacks. I'll be honest, I had a hard time reading some of her flashbacks with the abuse she endured. They pirates that owned her are ruthless and they're far from the type of pirates you'd picture sailing the ocean with eye patches, parrots and yelling arg! This shaped Summer into the character she is, and she's definitely one of the strongest characters in the book.

Laura's unique world building is vivid, richly detailed and fascinating. Summer herself makes the story truly engaging. She's a survivor and though she can't speak, her unique ability to communicate is something that surprisingly made is easy for me to connect with her. She's a strong character and her story is one that is full of twists, action, love, friendship and trust. This is a story that at times is a bit darker, but it's a unique YA story that fans of Laura's work will enjoy. This is a story I'd recommend to older YA readers.

By: Ryan G Van Cleave

Published by: Bloomsbury Teens

Released on: March 1st, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

3 stars- It's A Good Read

Purchase from: Amazon| Barnes & Noble

Andy is the janitor's son, an outcast, a nobody. Then the rumor starts-that Blake has a gun in his locker. In a moment of misguided hopefulness, Andy steals the keys from his dad and opens up Blake's locker, hoping that finding the gun will change his own status. But the gun isn't there and Andy remains an outcast. When an unlikely friendship develops between the two loners, Blake shares most of his secrets with Andy, including the gun. But there's one secret that worries Andy more than anything-the date circled on Blake's calendar. Does Blake have something planned? Something that Andy can prevent? In a fascinating look at how teens deal with the now constant threat of school violence, debut author Ryan G. Van Cleave provides a unique, emotional perspective on how it feels to be the one who can prevent a tragedy.

This is one of those books that will make you think. It's a short book, but one that's packed with insight into bullying, school violence and social outcasts.

Unlocked introduces readers to Andy, the high school janitor's kid, who makes friends with another outcast, Blake. Written in verse, this story is one that allows readers to see the impact bullying has on other kids. It allowed me to sympathize with the way Andy and Blake were feeling. In the end it's a story that will test a friendship and turn one of them into a hero, and will show readers that sometimes doing the right thing doesn't change how you'll feel or how other view you, even you've just saved hundreds of lives.

This is a book that does a great job on tackling the seriousness of bullying and the costly effects it has on it's victims.