Yotsuba&! Volume 10 by Kiyohiko Azuma

I adore the Yotsuba&! series and always look forward to a new volume.

Summary: The story follows young Yotsuba, a little girl who goes on all sorts of wacky yet everyday adventures. In this volume she makes pancakes, goes to the electronics store, learns about lying, and meets up with an old robot friend.

Reality Check: The art is cute and funny, as is the story and the characters. It's a bit off-the-wall at times, but it's so much fun reading about Yotsuba's exploits. She is an odd child to see the world through, but that makes the story enjoyable.

Conclusion: Give all the volumes a try. You don't necessarily have to read them in order, but it helps you understand who she's met and how the relationships have progressed.

 out of 4 Paws Up

Genre: All Ages Child Fiction

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Book 2 in the Hex Hall Series. Book 1 (Hex Hall) was a pretty good read, so I was more than willing to give Book 2 a try.

Summary: Sophie Mercer travels to England with her father, the head of the Prodigium Council, with every intention of going through the Removal of her demon powers. But when her new housemates turn out to be demons as well, she becomes entangled in a dark plan to raise demons as soldiers in the coming war. And as she begins to come into her own and unravel the secrets of her "friends," and herself, Sophie learns that trust shouldn't always be placed with the obvious.

Reality Check: As with the first book, this is a nice, easy read that isn't anything too special but for the most part I enjoyed my time with it. There were a few scenes that made me set it down - surprisingly, the big flashy ones - but I picked it back up and continued right to the end.

The book does end on a weird "hope when the world is ending" moment that felt a little forced, but it was only the last page or so.

Pet Peeve: There is a black cat on the cover. Again. And was there a cat in the book? NO. Cover Designer: YOU LET ME DOWN AGAIN. Once more and I complain to the publisher. False cover advertising is a crime against readers everywhere!

Conclusion: I definitely recommend the series, and will be picking up (what I assume will be the last) Book 3.

 out of 4 Paws Up

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Eat-Man Volume 1 by Akihito Yoshitomi

Found this on the shelf at the library and was intrigued. I usually don’t go near "classic" manga, but I thought it might be worth a try.

Summary: Bolt Clank is an Explorer able to ingest a weapon or object and subsequently transform the flesh of his arm into it. With the help of many beautiful women he goes in search of rare items – for a price, of course. With the exception of a two-parter, each chapter is a stand-alone story.

Reality Check: This is a very original and fun story that I quite enjoyed. As a classic old manga, the art is classic old-school in my opinion – simple yet detailed – but not rough on the eyes.

Conclusion: I definitely recommend it as a light, fun read, and would love to get my hands on more volumes someday.

out of 4 Paws Up

Genre: Young Adult Adventure

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

I absolutely adored Stephanie’s debut novel Anna and the French Kiss. Such a light, clean romance in these times of dark and dreary subjects. I awaited Lola with great excitement, and after many tries and fails to get my hands on an ARC it was released and I got it from the library. I did ponder purchasing it, but now I’m glad I didn’t.

Summary: Lola, a high school girl who never wears the same crazy outfit twice, adores her rock star boyfriend Max, a “man” of 22 years. But when her first crush Cricket – who broke her heart – and his family move back in next door, Lola finds that she – and her old crush – have more feelings for each other than they should.

Reality Check: My expectations for Lola were great, which may have been part of the reason I was so disappointed. Lola is the complete opposite of Anna, the MC from Stephanie’s first book, which wouldn’t mean much but it’s because they are complete opposites that it felt forced. Like Stephanie made her as “Anna’s opposite” instead of a unique, individual character. The whole story was like that, actually – setting, situation, family, relationships. It felt like Stephanie was so afraid to have similarities with Anna that she was meticulous that every detail be completely different.

And then there was Anna and St. Clair as secondary characters in the story. Sure we loved them and wanted them to make an appearance, but it was like Stephanie was “giving the reader what they wanted,” which isn’t always what’s best for us. Anna and St. Clair’s story was over – we didn’t need a running epilogue of them cutting into Lola’s story. Especially when all we’re being told is they’re blissfully happy. Bor-ring.

Character-wise, I found Lola annoying and didn’t take to her. Max made my skin crawl, and Cricket – what a name… – was a wimp. As for the story, it was very bland and melodramatic. Where Anna shone with simplicity and romance, Lola fell flat. It was too simple, and any romance was drowned in carnal passion that made me roll my eyes. There are times to be hands-on, but there are also times to be still. Lola (and her boys) had never heard of the concept of being still, and that made both relationships feel cheap and temporary.

All that said, Stephanie is a very good writer and while I was disappointed by the content I breezed through Lola in three days (quite a feat right now).

Conclusion: Compared to Anna, Lola is a horrible flop of a second book. But by itself, it is a well written, relatively light and (relatively) clean teen romance that should not be overlooked. And I will still give any future Stephanie books the excitement and anticipation they deserve.

out of 4 Paws Up

Rating: PG-13 for suggestive content and situations, and some language

Genre: Young Adult Romance

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

I’ve been following Maureen on Twitter for several months now and thought it was about time I read one of her books. 13 Little Blue Envelopes looked intriguing as a good place to start and I was dying for a travel story, so I decided to give it a try.

Summary: Ginny receives a mysterious package of 13 letters from her deceased Aunt Peg that send her on a great adventure all over the world making new friends, doing some crazy things, inevitably falling in love, and most of all discovering herself.

Reality Check: I wanted to love this book, and I did – for the first third. I was caught up in the excitement of the travel – which feels heavily researched so therefore very realistic – and adventure of it all, and I devoured every word.

And then the character got in the way. Maureen is amazing at story ideas and setting, but her characters leave much to be desired. Ginny was whiny and boring and flat and bland as flour. Where she should have been having an amazing adventure she was simply “doing” and not “experiencing,” going through the motions until halfway through she just gave up caring at all. I never felt like I got to know her – I have no idea what she is like normally. She was just a shell that we followed around to see the sights. Like a travel bus – it sees everything and shows you it all, but what does it care?

And the writing wasn’t quite there. It was third person but felt very first person, which resulted in constant sudden halts where I was yanked out of the story with strong reminders that it wasn’t in fact “I” but “She.” It was not a pleasant journey of a read.

Favorite Place: Harrods. How have I never heard of this place before? When I finally get to London, I know where I’m going.

Conclusion: It was a great premise and an exciting adventure, but there were too many things to continually ruin it for me. I made myself finish it just to finish it, but if it hadn't been a softcover I would’ve given up. I am still contemplating if I want to read the sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope. Sequels usually revolve even more around the character, and that would be a nightmare for me. But it has been over five years – perhaps Maureen has gotten better? Who knows.

out of 4 Paws Up

Genre: Young Adult Adventure

Natsume’s Book of Friends Volume 1 by Yuki Midorikawa

Anything with the word “book” in the title always attracts me, and Japanese spirits (yokai) are one of my fascinations. Nothing like a combination to peak my interest!

Summary: Takashi Natsume can see spirits and demons, a gift passed down from his mysterious grandmother, Reiko. When he accidentally breaks the seal on a powerful spirit, he learns that Reiko kept a book with all the names of the demons and spirits she defeated, binding them to her will. Now the owner of the book, Takashi finds himself hounded and threatened by these otherworldly creatures as they try to get their names back – or take control of the book itself. So Takashi sets out on a journey to return each and every name to its rightful owner.

Reality Check: The art is soft but dark – just the right balance for a tale about yokai. The characters are interesting, and the story enjoyable to follow. Each chapter pretty much stands by itself, with the central characters and plot woven through. I always enjoy manga like this because you can return to read random chapters over and over again without feeling that you need to read all the volumes in order.

Favorite Character: Nyanko-Sensei – in his small form he resides in a lucky cat statue, and in his large form he is a magnificent and beautiful cat/dog creature. He had me at “cat.” ;)

Conclusion: A pretty good read – this was my second time actually, and I enjoyed it as much as the first. I would read more volumes if the library purchased them. Definitely a good read for stormy days, with its melancholy mood.

out of 4 Paws Up

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Will Supervillains Be On the Final? by Naomi Novik

Volume 1 of the Liberty Vocational series, illustrated by Yishan Li. Found this at the library. I’m always willing to give American manga a chance.
 

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Leah Taymore, able to manipulate atoms, is admitted to Liberty Vocational, a private college for budding superheroes to learn their craft. But it seems that no matter what she tries her hand at, disaster is the only result, from turning the lawn to cement or flooding the campus bathrooms. Is something wrong with her powers – or is she being sabotaged? After a project goes wrong and injuries a friend, Leah wonders if she can ever do anything right. She is sidelined by the school, even when a river threatens to flood the area – but there’s nothing like lives at stake to bring out the best in anyone.

Reality Check: It was a light and enjoyable read. The art is simple and pleasant, the story interesting, and the characters are fun to follow. It reminded me of Amy Reeder’s Fool’s Gold (although the stories have nothing in common).

Conclusion: I would recommend it, and if the library gets any more volumes I will definitely read them.

out of 4 Paws Up

Genre: Young Adult Superhero

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

"Oh, bleep. I was going to die."

Paranormalcy, the first book in the series, was original and fun, so I was excited to pick up the second one.

Summary: Evie finally has the normal life she's always wanted. She's attending high school (which houses her very own locker), dating her spectacular boyfriend Lend (although away at college most of the time), and even holding down a part-time job at the [greasy] diner she lives over (with a vampire).

The only problem: normal life is kind of boring.

Enter Raquel, offering a freelance job back with IPCA, the life of excitement and danger without the whole "prisoner" angle (and unfortunately without the unlimited credit).  But it's not all that she remembers as things go wrong left and right, and with the lies to her boyfriend piling up and an annoying yet gifted boy popping in via fairy doors to whisk her away to spectacular places, it's not easy balancing both worlds. And then of course there's her fairy ex-boyfriend Reth, always appearing to remind her of what she is - and what she is supposed to be. As the mystery that is Evie begins to unravel, she must discover what she truly wants. And where she truly belongs.

Reality Check: Very well written, as can always be expected from Kiersten. Evie is a great character...or was, to a point. As much as it pains me to say (and it hurts, it really hurts), I wasn't too impressed with Supernaturally. Evie was just too whiny and "woe is me" for my tastes, and even with her inevitable self-discovery I didn't feel the resolution. Where Paranormalcy shone for its unique take and voice in the paranormal genre, Supernaturally was simply about Evie's desperation to be normal - and when she couldn't be, it broke her.

The actual plot was weak and there wasn't much too it. More like necessary revelations before the finale, not a stand-alone book with its own full story arc. It was basically bits of shocking info thrown in here and there - and they were more strangely random than shocking. The "new love interest" was anything but, and Evie's devotion (read: obsession) with her boyfriend never let up. Overall I had several problem points that almost caused me to put the book down, and it was only my love for Paranormalcy that kept me reading.

Conclusion: After saying all that, I adore Kiersten and it wasn't as bad as I make it sound. I think I was just so dazzled by Paranormalcy that Supernaturally was a letdown. Perhaps Book 3 will be better? I'll read it, but I'm not holding my breath for anything spectacular.

out of 4 Paws Up (only because I adore Kiersten)

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal [Romance]

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

"Felicia Miller was crying in the bathroom. Again."

I wanted to read this ages ago but forgot until I rediscovered it at the library. First book I've finished in a while.

Summary: After yet another spell goes horribly awry, Sophie is sent to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium - witches, faeries, shapeshifters, and the odd creature of the night. There she befriends a vampire, makes three powerful enemies, contracts a futile crush on the school hottie, and has to figure out who is trying to kill off her classmates.

Reality Check: Considering I have been struggling to finish novels lately, I breezed through this one with only a few minor stutters. There is nothing really new or different about the story, characters, or even the powers system, but it's well written and a nice read.

Random Note: Rachel gets away with little to no description of the magic or school classes. While this can make it feel a little malnourished, at the same time I didn't feel particularly cheated. And I think I only noticed because I'm struggling with this problem in my own writing at the moment. Otherwise, I probably would never have noticed.

Pet Peeve: There is a cat on the cover. A black cat. I RECALL NO CAT IN THE BOOK, black or otherwise. Whoever put that cat on the cover and got my hopes up should perish, preferably at the paws of Cat Kirk. If there is one thing I really like about witches, it's the whole "cat familiar" thing. Cover Designer: YOU LET ME DOWN.

Conclusion: A nice, easy read. Already have the second book, Demon Glass, next on my reading list.

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

 out of 4 Paws Up

Her Majesty's Dog Series by Mick Takeuchi

Decided to re-read one of my favorite series. 11 volumes in all.

Summary: Amane isn't your normal teenage girl - she is a Manatsukai, able to use kotodama and control things with their name. Hyoue is her indentured demon dog guardian, who feeds on her life force in exchange for his services. To get away from her oppressive and secretive people, Amane and Hyoue move from their remote island home to her estranged Uncle's house in the city to attend regular school. But her ability to see spirits puts her in constant danger, and the secrets that her people have been hiding are even darker than she could ever imagine. And can Hyoue ever pursue his forbidden love for his oblivious master?

Reality Check: The art is soft for the face but sharp for the demons - as it should be. It's an interesting story with likeable characters. Lots of action and lots of humor, but it has its serious moments as well.

Favorite Part: The story of how Amane and Hyoue found each other. So bittersweet. *sniffle*

Conclusion: I always have a soft spot for stories with ancient themes - demons and powers all that. And forbidden love - not being able to be together is so much more romantic. I definitely recommend it.

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

 out of 4 Paws Up

Kamisama Kiss: Volume 4 by Julietta Suzuki

One of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors! I read each volume several times after I get it.

Summary: Homeless Nanami unwittingly takes over a deity's position and now lives at a local shrine with fox spirit Tomoe, her protector and love interest. On a friend's advice she takes him on a date, but he wants nothing to do with her affections.  Brokenhearted she goes to the beach, where Tomoe is captured by the ruler of the sea for past grievances! Now Nanami must go back in time to find the water spirit's eye as ransom to rescue her shinshi - or does she?

Reality Check: The art is sweet, the characters amusing and cute (especially the boys), and the story is romantic and fun. Definitely a girl's manga.

Conclusion: If you like sweet stories about average girls and Japanese deities/spirits, this is for you! I highly recommend it!

Genre: Young Adult Shojo Fantasy

 out of 4 Paws Up

Suitcase Seven Giveaway: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Claire Legrand is giving away a copy of Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor in her Suitcase Seven Giveaway! Check it out, and good luck!

http://claire-legrand.com/2011/08/16/the-suitcase-seven-giveaway-part-5-daughter-of-smoke-and-bone-2/

Kobato: Volume 4 by CLAMP

FINALLY got my hands on Volume 4! The latest CLAMP series running in the US. 

Summary: To have her wish fulfilled, Kobato must fill up a special jar to the brim with wounded hearts. But a curious emotion concerning a co-worker is proving an unwanted distraction. And a heavenly messenger delivers a disconcerting message to Ioryogi: Kobato has only two more seasons to fill the jar, or her wish - and Ioryogi's original form - will no longer be attainable! Some familiar faces visit, and some of the mysteries are finally revealed as we begin to discover just who Ioryogi is.

Reality Check: The art is soft and beautiful (except for Ioryogi-san and his friends - they scare me). The story is different, mysterious, and fascinating. And it's impossible not to instantly fall in love with Kobato-chan, the compassionate, innocent soul that she is. As usual, CLAMP shows their mastery of art & storytelling.

Conclusion: A great fantasy series - don't miss out!

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

 out of 4 Paws Up

2 Reasons 2 Love November!

There are two great books coming out this November that I'm dying to get my hands on:

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 11/15/11
(http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/p/books.html)

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

AND...

Legend by Marie Lu 11/29/11
(http://marielu.org/books.html)

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Mark your calendars! These should be great reads.

Only 2 1/2 months to go...