Mundie Moms

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Book Battle with the TMI & ID series

Have you played Simon & Schuster's book battle between The Mortal Instruments series & The Infernal Devices series yet? Go here to play and I'm warning you, there are some tough choices to make. It's hard when the battle is between two fantastic series. Here's a sample question:

Which character would you want to take to prom? Jace or Will

See, tough choice although I voted for Will, because I do not see Jace going to prom. At all. Maybe he'd surprise me and show up for 30 seconds and than leave. lol Go play the game and let us know what you think.

Book Review: Blood Red Road

Published by Simon & Schuster
Released on June 7th, 2011
Source- ARC/book from publisher to review
4.5 stars- A R.A.D (ridiculous awesome dystopian) Read

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

What a fabulous, unique read and I can honestly say I've not read another dystopian like this before. This is one of those books I was a little hesitant to read, but Moira's writing grabbed my attention and took me for thrilling ride. One of the things that surprised me the most about the book is it's writing style. At first it threw me off, but I quickly became engaged with the story that the writing didn't even bother me. It flowed perfectly with the characters and fit right in with the richly detailed setting. It felt a bit like reading a western dystopian, which may sound strange, but I really enjoyed it.

What I found most intriguing about Blood Red Road's world was the way it felt. It feels like part old western with it's arid, deserted landscape, the way the characters talk, the way of life on the out skirts of civilization, and the only means of transportations is on horse or walking. Then there's other parts of the world with some of it's creatures like Sabba's pet Nero that felt futuristic. I really liked the way Moira was able to bring these different settings together to create something truly unique and perfectly fitting for her book. Than there are her characters and wow, what fabulously developed characters she has.

I like the way in which Moria tells her story through her heroine Sabba. Not since meeting Katniss in The Hunger Games have I met another character who would be her equal in an game of survival. Sabba is a strong, unwavering character who is a survivalist. Set out to find her brother who was kidnapped by a cruel King, Sabba's character grows a lot. I was surprised that for someone who earned the nic-name Angel of Death in the cage fighting she was forced to endure, could go from a cold heartless person into someone who's fearlessness, steely determination and hopefulness turned her into a character who became relatable, and has an inner strength I really admired. There's more an than just one girl who can kick some serious butt in this book, the Free Hawks were all girls I admired and I'm looking forward to getting to know this gang of fearless riders as the series progresses.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Jack and Sabba. These two couldn't make up their minds on how they felt. Their bickering back and forth, stolen glances and no none sense talk to each other made their relationship refreshing. I'm sure that sounds strange to say, but when you meet them you'll know what I'm talking. It's so obvious they both like each other. I should say Jack is more accepting of it than Sabba and I admire his patience with her. I loved the cave scene! No it's not dirty, but it's a moment I wanted to yell "finally". There's much more to their relationship, and I liked the way it developed. It's one of the things that kept me reading the book.

There are a lot of great elements to this debut book that I enjoyed, and I was really surprised with how much I liked it. With it's unforgettable characters, fast flowing plot line, action and an undeniable character chemistry, it was kind of hard not to. I recommend picking this book up, and I'd definitely classify this book as RAD, a ridiculous awesome dystopian. Though Blood Red Road has a satisfying ending, I'm really looking forward to reading more books in the series. I think it's very fitting for readers 14 years and older.

Thoughtful Thursday- YA Books

There seems to be a growing trend with YA books that are depicting reality and with that the stigma that YA books are dark. Last night I sat and listened to the discussion that aired on NPR with Maureen Johnson, whom is a brilliant debater & Meghan Cox Gurdon, who wrote the YA article in the Wall Street Journal that sparked a fury of comments with the #YAsaves on twitter. Before I air my thoughts and ask your opinions on the matter of YA, I want to point that I think it's great YA is being discussed. I agreed with some of the points being made on both sides, and as I listened to their discussions with an open mind, I'm still totally frustrated YA is deemed dark. I do understand why some people feel some YA books are dark, but that's only a small number of YA books, and that comment shouldn't be made for YA books as whole.

Yes, some of the more realistic YA books have dark undertones, but to classify YA as a whole for being dark is an ignorant comment to make, at least I feel that way. I feel what the one sided comment of YA is dark fails to mention is that YA offers is a vast assortment of genres from contemporary, paranormal, dystopian, romance, chick lit, historical and more. I'm amazed at the large variety of books and genres teens have to choose from in YA. I wish I had a forth of the books that teens now have when I was a teen. Though I didn't deal with some of the darker things, or as I like to call these books, a reflection of reality, I had friends who did. I wish I had a book like 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher when I was teen when I dwelt with the suicide of a friend of mine. I wish I had a book to read like Cut, to help me be more understanding of a friend who cut themselves. Not that I wasn't, but I couldn't fathom why someone would want to do that to themselves. Having read Rage and Cut, I feel like I have more of an understanding of that. Do these books give me the urge to this? Absolutely not, but it helps me gain a small perspective on why people do that. I didn't have these type of books as a teen, and the reality is these things and more happen all the time in real life and these are the things that some teens deal with every day. Teens deal with far more than we adults did as kids. I mean look at the news. Many of those head line are far worse than what we read in YA books.

I agree that the subject matter in these books isn't for everyone, but I personally feel they need to be available for those teens who need help finding a voice, and need to know they're not the only ones. I personally don't review a lot of these type of YA books, but the ones I have reviewed I felt would have an impact on someone who reads my blog, which why I reviewed it. To say that YA is dark is liking say adult books are romance novels. Believe me, I was one of those who for a while thought, so I'm calling myself out for making an ignorant comment back in the day. With YA book today, there are more teens and tweens who are reading, parents have another outlet to connect with their kids and the teens at heart (adults) find an outlet to escape every day life. To say all YA is dark is saying books like:

Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
The Iron Fey series by Julia Kagawa
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

are all dark. I could seriously go on and on with my list, but I just listed the first few that came to mind. There's a HUGE amount of YA books that are far from dark. What I find comical about the YA is dark comment is the fact that as kids we are taught silly rhythms and fairy tales that are very dark. Ring Around the Rosie, London Bridges and even the Grimm's Brother Fairy Tales are often times deemed darker than your average YA books that depict reality, and dare I say some of my beloved Disney movies I enjoyed as a kid have dark undertones. For me personally, I'm getting tired of YA coming under attack. Here's what I'm hearing with this whole discussion, "It's okay to let our kids be read or watch movies with dark undertones because they may not understand it, but don't let teens read it because now they understand it." Really? I guess I don't see this point. My argument goes back to banned books. Parents are the only ones who should be up in their child's business, including what books they're reading. Not someone who makes a comment that all YA is dark and isn't suitable for all kids.

I'm sorry, I'm seriously saying things I've said before, but as I listened to the discussion last night I became so frustrated that I felt the need to post my thoughts. The last thing that made me mad was the last caller who made the comment that "there isn't anything between Spongebob and Twilight." Really? I've got a whole list of awesome middle grade books I've reviewed on my children's book review site Mundie Kids, which in fact are between the Sponge Bob and Twilight books. There is a HUGE assortment of middle grades that I feel are just an enjoyable to read as some YA books. Much like the YA, there are more MG books now days than what I had. In my middle grade library Stephen King books were found next to The Baby Sitter's Club or Sweet Valley High (okay not literally next to them, but close enough). Believe me, that didn't corrupt me, if anything Stephen King scared the crap out me.

Books are powerful, no matter what side of the discussion you're on. They move us, they inspire us, the make us think, they help us find our voices, they open our minds and they cause us to take action and sometimes the give us the freedom our minds need to escape the daily grind, the daily stresses and the daily things we have to face. They can help us imagine or can be a source of comfort. Often times a book can be a friend. I'm curious, what your thoughts are on this whole issues? What YA books do you wish you had as a teen? Is there one you've read recently that changed your way of thinking or is there one that's saved you? What book has inspired you?

Be sure to go read a great article written and posted by YA author Scott Westerfeld on his blog here.

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