Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

Difficulty level (easiest to hardest) - 2

Emotional level (least to most) - 4

Action (little to a lot) - 4

Beneath a Meth Moon is a mature read, suitable for students in grades 10+. Based on the title, the reader knows immediately what the text centers around - meth. 

This particular novel is not like the other drug books I have read, because it presents itself as a semi-lucid narrative. This means that the book skips between different events in Laurel's life - her "bottom", her mother's demise, first encountering "moon" (meth), and her daily struggles. Each chapter (2-5 pages long) weaves the complex tale of her life - a life hard to understand until the reader begins to understand the author's writing style.

All of that being said, the book itself is an easy read, I managed to finish it in a few hours - and was motivated to do so. I wanted to find out what would ultimately happen to Laurel, and I wanted to find out her back story. I just wish Laurel was more developed as a character, I found that I could not get personally invested in her as a character.

For anyone wanting a quick read about a character with a drug habit and a sad story, with minimal effort, this book fits the bill.

Overall rating (poor to excellent) - 2


Quotes from the novel:

"Something got hard and heavy inside of me, and I knew real deep that my daddy wasn't coming here to get me. Not this time. Not anymore."

"I felt the sadness creeping up quick, put another small taste of moon in my mouth and told T-Boom I had to go, that I'd see him next time."

"Laurel, she said, look at you. Look at yourself! Who did you turn into?!"

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Difficulty level (easiest to hardest) - 6

Emotional level (least to most) - 4

Action (little to a lot) - 6

Divergent, the first in a series by Veronica Roth, is a book very similar to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. Divergent is different for a number of reasons:
1) the protagonist, Beatrice, has not been developed as much as Katniss from HG
2) while the idea of different areas of status is similar between both books, there are no Games, but rather once teens reach a certain age they are tested to be put into different factions (the Divergent equivalent to districts) and ultimately end up choosing their "best suited" faction
3) the action is quicker in Divergent, but the description is lacking

Divergent is based primarily around the story of Beatrice and her experience in being tested for which faction is the best fit for her, and what she chooses to do based on her test. At the choosing ceremony, she makes a choice the reader is able to infer. Of course, there is a plot twist during the ceremony, but doesn't quite affect Beatrice in the novel.

And of course, like every other teen novel, there lies some sexual tension between various characters. Divergent is not the exception to this rule.

It's like The Hunger Games. But at the same time, it's a completely different story altogether. Instead of the Games meeting the needs and requirements of basic living, Divergent has a more hopeful message: choose what you are best suited for - make the wrong choice and become a no-one. This resonates with teens mostly because of the strong urge to belong. Belonging is so important in life (but most importantly in high school) it only makes sense that it would be so central to a young adult novel. And of course, we could read more into it, but I would find it difficult to do so without ruining any of the major plot events.

For anyone who liked and is currently looking for a replacement for The Hunger Games, Divergent is a perfect choice.

Overall rating (poor to excellent) - 7


Quotes from the novel:

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”

“I might be in love with you." He smiles a little. "I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though.”

“You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong."He leans his face close to mine and wraps his fingers around my chin. His hand smells like metal. When was the last time he held a gun, or a knife? My skin tingles at the point of contact, like he's transmitting electricity through his skin.
"My first instinct is to push you until you break, just to see how hard I have to press." he says, his fingers squeezing at the word break. My body tenses at the edge in his voice, so I am coiled as tight as a spring, and I forget to breathe.His dark eyes lifting to mine, he adds, "But I resist it."
"Why..." I swallow hard. "Why is that your first instinct?""Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up. I've seen it. It's fascinating." He releases me but doesn't pull away, his hand grazing my jaw, my neck. "Sometimes I just want to see it again. Want to see you awake.”

"I am selfish. I am brave.”

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Difficulty level (easiest to hardest) - 5

Emotional level (least to most) - 8

Action (little to a lot) - 4

The Fault in Our Stars is an emotional book. At least, it makes you feel. Any girl would feel transformed into the protagonist, and it's difficult to get out of, especially since the length of the book is so short (or at least feels that way at a modest 313 pages).

The title, however, is a bit more difficult to understand.

The story is about a girl named Hazel. Hazel Grace. Hazel Grace Lancaster.

Hazel (or Hazel Grace, according to a boy) is written as a vague protagonist. Yes, we understand that she is mousy in her appearance, attends college at 16 years old, she isn't anything special, her lungs fill with cancerous fluid (did I mention she has cancer? She has that too). 

At the very beginning of the novel, Hazel has an argument with her parents about attending Support Group, a place where teens with capital-c Cancer go to find solace within one another and within themselves. To make them feel better about dying, essentially. At the end of each meeting they pray for all of those who have died - a long, long list. 

In what seems like no time at all, the reader is thrown into Hazel's world of attending cancer meetings, being hooked up to a breathing machine, hauling around an oxygen tank, and living to ultimately die - or at least so she says. Hazel meets Augustus Waters, a boy who shows up during one of the meetings who takes Hazel's breath away. From that point on, everything is about Augustus. As the two characters get attached to one another, the reader becomes attached to Augustus. Like every. other. teen. book.

But at the same time, it's different.

I would say that this book is definitely for the introverts, those people who live through books. Who read to escape. It's an emotional read, most definitely. But what got me was the dialogue between Hazel and Augustus - so open, so honest.

And if you liked The Perks of Being A Wallflower, you'll love this book. Honest.

Overall rating (poor to excellent) - 7.5

Quotes from the novel:

"Okay?""Okay." - Hazel and Augustus

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." - Julius Caesar

"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once." - Hazel

"That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt." - Augustus

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Room by Emma Donoghue

Difficulty level (easiest to hardest) - 5


Emotional level (least to most) - 7

Action (little to a lot) - 5

Room, by Emma Donoghue is a perfect read for a weekend. I wouldn't recommend reading this novel during the week - like I found - because I found that I wanted to read until the very end, and would try to find as much time as possible to read.

The novel told from the perspective of Jack, a 4 year old boy (but his 5th birthday is right at the beginning of the novel) who lives in a room with his mother. They don't go out of Room because they can't. Every night, Jack sleeps in Wardrobe until after 9pm, when Old Nick either comes into Room, or doesn't.

I would say that the novel is easy to read because it is told from Jack's perspective - although it is worth noting that he is very advanced in his vocabulary, sentence structure, and math, for his age. Due to the way this story is told, it is difficult for a reader to not throw themselves into Room with Jack and his mother, play with Snake or Labyrinth, watch Dora, or run on Racetrack. An emotional investment is necessary to get through the novel.

The novel is problematic because all of the characters didn't seem real enough to me. Not much is known about Jack's mom, even though she is central to Jack's life. The first half of the book required an emotional investment, but the second half felt rushed. I think Donoghue intended the second half to be rushed, and it makes sense, but I just didn't like it.

It's worth mentioning that I started reading this novel the week that Amanda Berry and the two other women were saved from a similar situation in Cleveland.

Overall rating (poor to excellent) - 9

Quotes from the novel:

“Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.” ― Ma

“Stories are a different kind of true.” ― Ma

“Goodbye, Room." I wave up at Skylight. "Say goodbye," I tell Ma. "Goodbye, Room." Ma says it but on mute. I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened. Then we go out the door.” ― Jack