If You're Gone by Brittany Goodwin

If You're Gone

By: Brittany Goodwin

Published: June 2016

Published By: Edge of 22 Publishing

Format Read: eBook

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Mystery

Rating: 3.5/5

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I was sent a copy of If You’re Gone by Brittany Goodwin by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lillian White never would have imagined that she would fall in love with the school bad boy, but a chance encounter with neighbour Brad Lee would change everything. After 6 months of bliss, Brad finally tells Lillian that he loves her on the night of his high school graduation. The next morning she awakes to a frantic message from Brad’s mother saying that he has gone missing without a trace.

Brittany Goodwin’s If You’re Gone is a short story that shines the light on missing youth. Instead of focusing on the details of the investigation into Brad’s disappearance, it follows the hardships Lillian, their friends and families faced. This character driven plot sets this story apart from other mysteries that I have read in the past, which tend to be plot driven.

Although naive characters like Lillian aren’t my favourite, I found that I was able to relate to her love for Brad and their relationship was similar to my own. While her family and friends dealt with her grief in different ways, I was able to understand why she was feeling the way she did and how it affected her. The author did a good job of fitting all the details into such a short story. It was quite an emotional read for me and I flew through the pages.

For those who are interested in learning how Lillian fared in the years after If You’re Gone, they are encouraged to visit Brittany Goodwin’s website where she has posted a hidden chapter.

I would recommend this short story to fans of young adult contemporary fiction. 

Visit Brittany Goodwin's website at the link: http://www.brittanygoodwin.com 

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) by Rick Riordan

The Battle of the Labyrinth

(Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4)

By: Rick Riordan

Published: May 2008

Published By: Listening Library

Format Read: Audio Book

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Young Adult

Rating: 3/5

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In this 4^th installment of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, our hero sets out on another quest. This time he joins friends Annabeth, Grover and half-brother Tyson, as they enter the labyrinth in an effort to stop the rise of the evil Kronos and his army.

I admit that I had a hard time getting into book 4. The thought of our hero’s travelling through a labyrinth initially had me intrigued. However as I listened along, I got somewhat overwhelmed by the vast difference in each room they came across. I also had a hard time picturing the monsters they battled on their journey.

Thankfully closer to the end of this audio book, I began to enjoy the story more. The pace really picked up and there was quite a bit of action. I really appreciated how the author included the God Pan to give his readers a lesson in the importance of preserving our environment.

Although this wasn’t my favourite book in the Percy Jackson series, I would still recommend it to fans of middle grade fantasy. 

Previous Books in the Percy Jackson Series:

1. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympian's, #1) 
2. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympian's. #2)
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympian's. #3) 

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Highly Illogical Behavior

By: John Corey Whaley

Published: May 2016

Published By: Dial Books

Format Read: Hardcover 

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary 

Rating: 5/5

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16 year-old Solomon Reed hasn’t left his house in the three years since his very public breakdown in his middle school’s water fountain. The secluded routine he created for himself allows him to keep his panic attacks at a minimum and he is content. That was until Lisa Praytor and Clark Robbins suddenly appeared in his life.  Unfortunately and unbeknownst to Solomon, Lisa’s intentions are more-so for her own benefit. The aspiring psychologist sees the “crazy fountain kid” as an opportunity to earn a full scholarship to one of the top colleges in the country. Lisa is determined to “fix” Solomon, no matter how immoral the approach may be.

Recently I have seen several Book Tuber’s mention John Corey Whaley’s Highly Illogical Behavior, but it wasn’t until I came across a copy at my local library that I paid much attention to it. I admit I picked it up on a whim, mostly due to the fact that it looked like a quick read. Little did I know that it would turn out to be one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

Knowing of the serious mental illness subject matter this book touches on, I expected the tone of the writing to be somber. However I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is much more light hearted than that and oftentimes comical.

“Solomon lived in the only world that would have him. And even though it was quiet and mundane and sometimes lonely, it never got out of control.” Pg 1. 

As someone who has dealt with my fair share of mental illness myself, I found Solomon to be so relatable. Although his situation was far more severe than mine, I was still able to understand how he felt not being able to leave the house. The approach the author took with this character was interesting in that, Solomon was content with his situation. In his mind he had everything he needed, right there in his own home. It was his safe haven.

“This is how it always started. Everything would be fine and then a sudden sinking feeling would come over him like his chest was going to cave in. He could feel his heart bumping up against his rib cage, wanting out, quickening with every beat and then radiating down his arms and up to his temples..” Pg. 28

Another aspect of Solomon’s situation I was able to empathize with was the guilt he often felt. He felt guilty that there were many other people in this world who suffered more than he did. Personally I felt such a strong connection to this character. John Corey Whaley’s descriptions of panic attacks were spot on.

 Lisa on the other hand, was an interesting character, but her ulterior motives were most definitely immoral. Thank goodness for the inclusion of her boyfriend Clark, who was another wonderful character and I enjoyed watching his friendship with Solomon grow.

I don’t think that I have ever read another book where I have noted so many different passages, that I relate to. I found myself re-reading parts over and over again. It was a great reading experience and one that wasn’t triggering in the least. Instead I took Solomon’s story as a pick me-up, one that I intend to revisit whenever I am in need.

I would recommend John Corey Whaley’s Highly Illogical Behavior to fans of young adult fiction that are looking for a novel that is both comical and reflective. 

Wishing You Were Here by Catherine Chant

Wishing You Were Here
By: Catherine Chant

Published: December, 2012

Published By: Catherine Chant

Format Read: Kindle for PC

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance 

Rating: 4/5 

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I was sent a copy of Wishing You Were Here by Catherine Chant from the author in exchange for an honest review.

17 year-old Callie is rummaging through her Grandmother’s attic one day when she comes across a record of a 1950’s Elvis Pressley style musician by the name of Joey Tempo. As a music lover, she is surprised to have never heard of him before and is eager to learn more about the handsome man on the record cover. While listening to his songs, Callie is saddened to learn that Joey was killed in a plane crash shortly after his career took off in 1957. There was something about his songs that draw her in and captivate her like nothing ever had before. Then all of a sudden, like she had been hypnotized Callie is sent back in time to right before Joey was to step onto the plane that would seal his fate. She feels she must save the star thus ensuring further success in his career.

My kind of time travel:

The concept of time travel is something that intrigues me, but I admit that I am quite picky with the books I read that focuses on this idea. I am not a big fan of science fiction or fantasy, so technical time travel having to do with time machines and the like don’t really appeal to me. However I do like it when it involves a more fate based storyline, like Wishing You Were Here has. As a music lover myself, the idea of an Elvis Pressley style character also really caught my attention.

50’s charm:

Set in a small American town of Shelby Falls, Chant paints a picture of a typical 1950’s era setting. Complete with the small-town support, drugstore diners and ice cream shops. Think Grease. While others may find these descriptions cliché, I loved them all.

Make it or break it:

Although a cute romance, Wishing You Were Here examines the power the record industry holds over their artists. They can make or break a career with the snap of their fingers. This still rings true today, just as much as it did during the time period that this book was set in.

Oh Callie!

Callie was definitely a 2000’s girl with the ideals to match. This didn’t exactly bode well for a young woman trying to pass off as someone coming of age in the late 1950’s. There were times when I wanted to shake her for stepping outside the character she was trying to keep up. I found her attitude to boarder on disrespectful, like an angst-ridden teen. She was also quite meddlesome with Joey’s career, although I know she only wanted what was best for him.

How about that plot twist?

I admit that earlier on in this book, I found some passages to be repetitive making me roll my eyes. However I really enjoyed this story and was able to set aside the unrealistic more often than not. I enjoyed reading along as all was revealed and honestly didn’t see the plot twist coming near the end.

Further reading and recommendations:

I look forward to reading the follow-up novella, as well as the sequel to this series soon. Wishing You Were Here is a fun contemporary romance-style read with a time travel twist. I would recommend it to fans of that genre and think that it would make for an enjoyable beach read. 

The Girls They Left Behind by Bernice Thurman Hunter

Title: The Girls They Left Behind
Author: Bernice Thurman Hunter
Published: March 2005
Published By: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Canadian Fiction
Date Read: May 13, 2016
Rating: 4/5

In the summer of 1943, seventeen year old Beryl (or Natalie as she would prefer to be called) began to write in a diary she named Dolores. A regular event has been seeing off local boys with a hug, kiss and promise to write at Union Station as they head off to war. However none of these departures could compare to saying goodbye to her cousin and best friend Carmen. Natalie describes life in war-time Toronto, attending dances with servicemen, seeing newsreels about invasions and reading lists with the names of those who would not return. She would join the war effort working first at The John Ingalls Company making machine guns, then for De Havilland making Mosquitoes.

I was first introduced to Bernice Thurman Hunter’s books in elementary school with her trilogy about a young girl growing up in Toronto during the Great Depression. “Booky” instantly became one of my favourite books. However it wasn’t until recently that I came across The Girls They Left Behind after all these years. While I do plan to purchase a copy for my own at some point, I couldn’t wait to read it especially after I saw it on the shelf at my local library.

In The Girls They Left Behind, Natalie is feeling left behind as the boys she grew up with are sent away to war. The author wrote this story with her own memories from that time period in mind. Fortunately young women of the past several generations haven’t had to deal with losses of the magnitude from Thurman Hunter’s generation. Though I felt that she wrote the character of Natalie with traits that girls of today could still relate to.

The most enjoyable part of this book for me was the cultural and setting references from that time. Including the fashion, responsibilities, family dynamics and more specifically the locations around the city. It gave a quick glimpse of life in Canada during the turbulent years of war. The diary and letter style format made for a fast and enjoyable read.

Unfortunately Bernice Thurman Hunter was in the middle of writing Natalie’s story when she passed away in 2002. Her daughter Heather Anne Hunter would complete writing it in her honor and I believe she would be proud of how it all came together.

The Girls They Left Behind is young adult fiction, but I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in historical fiction focusing on the home front during wartime. 

The Queen (The Selection 0.4) by Kiera Cass

Title: The Queen (The Selection 0.4)
Author: Kiera Cass
Published: December 2014
Published By: HarperTeen Impulse
Format Read: eBook, Kobo
Genre: Novella, YA Lit, Dystopian
Date Read: March 3, 2016
Rating: 4/5

In Kiera Cass’s novella The Queen, readers are taken back to a time before America was chosen to be part of The Selection and even before Prince Maxon was born. Back to The Selection that would marry Prince Clarkson to a poor young “4” from Honduragua. This is Queen Amberly’s story. 

Last year I read the first book in The Selection series, with an online book club. It was something I was curious about but didn’t think I would enjoy. Much to my surprise I loved it! A couple of weeks ago I went out on bought the boxset. However The Queen novella came to the top of my To Be Read pile before the second book did and once again I dove into this strange world.

At only 72 pages long, this novella gave us an idea of Queen Amberly’s background and how she came to win the attention of Prince Clarkson and eventually the crown. Keeping in mind that I don’t know much about the coming books in the series, I came to really like her character and her determination to rise above her caste. We also learn more about Clarkson’s parents the former King and Queen. 

Although this story takes place before the rest of the series, I think it would be best enjoyed by those who are already fans of The Selection. The reason for this is that due to its short page count, it doesn’t go into a lot of detail about the world or the caste systems. I think that this would be confusing to a reader who hasn’t at least read the first book.