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Andrea (28 KP) rated The Hunger Games in Books

Aug 18, 2017  
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins | 2014 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.5 (277 Ratings)
Book Rating
Strong yet imperfect protagonist (1 more)
"Beta" style male lead
Doesn't pass the bechdel test (0 more)
Set the bar for YA dystopian
Does anything really NEED to be said that hasn't already been said about this series? We see many individual characters with both positive and negative traits. We see we see a relationship built and tested and questioned. We see "villains" who are also victims of a system. We see many negative aspects of our own world amplified to the point where it becomes blatantly obvious in the hopes that we may be able to change them.

Well done Collins.
  
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Anna Steele (111 KP) rated The Upside of Unrequited in Books

May 22, 2018 (Updated May 22, 2018)  
The Upside of Unrequited
The Upside of Unrequited
Becky Albertalli | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.2 (25 Ratings)
Book Rating
My Moms’ DIY Gay Wedding
Abertalli just keeps fleshing out this web of relationships she has created, starting with her novel Simon Vs. the Homosapian Agenda. In this installment of the not-a-series series, Molly Peskin-Suso is struggling with the possibility of rejection, her relationship with her twin sister, and planning her moms’ wedding in under three months! It was refreshing to see the event that we are leading up to in a realistic YA novel be a gay wedding and not a prom.


Edit: Also I cried, I haven’t done that in a while.
  
The Cruel Prince
The Cruel Prince
Holly Black | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.4 (36 Ratings)
Book Rating
Holly Black is amazing
This book follows the story of Jude a mortal girl who was raised in the world of the fae. Jude is a morally grey character. This makes the story more interesting because her actions are not easy to predict. It was a nice change from the typical YA hero who always does what is right. My one complaint is that the book did start off a little slow, but by the end I couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, and I hope they don't disappoint.
  
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Cumberland (1142 KP) rated Forever in Books

Mar 30, 2019  
Forever
Forever
Judy Blume | 1975 | Young Adult (YA)
6
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Didn't Match Up
This book is about first love, and having a physical relationship for the first time. Normally I enjoy cute love stories, but this was a little flat. The topic and themes were solidly YA, but the writing style is more middle grade. This made the characters come across as younger than what they were. I think if the book had focused more on the emotional aspects of their relationship it would have been better. Unfortunately it was mostly about their sex life. The one up side is that the book did put a lot of emphasis on safe sex.
  
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Cumberland (1142 KP) Mar 31, 2019

I just have recently read it. I try to rate things based off of the intended audience, however I grew up in a house hold that was always very open about sex. That could have made a difference. I just know this isn't a book I would give my 13yo sister if she came to me asking questions.

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Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) Mar 31, 2019

When I grew up, sex was a forbidden topic other than, Wait until you're married." It's no wonder my older sisters got pregnant before marriage. Most of my instruction came from reading my older sister's magazines and my Mom's medical reference book. Thankfully, I was able to avoid teen pregnancy. I bought condoms and kept them in my purse so I could have them on hand when I went out with my boyfriend and I got on the pill when I was 15 or 16. I'm a huge proponent of safe sex. Knowledge is power.

Angels & Alphas (Angelbound Origins #1) (Alpha Girl #1)
Angels & Alphas (Angelbound Origins #1) (Alpha Girl #1)
Aileen Erin, Christina Bauer | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am not a fan of YA, but Angels & Alphas seemed to be one of the better ones. The females were strong without being obnoxious (or mean like some authors think they need to be) and there was no love triangle (rejoice!). The world was fleshed out nicely even though the authors really did not introduce anything new. I appreciate that the novel was set in Purgatory.
Overall, the stories were nothing new and seemed like ones that we have read over and over, However, they were done much better than the majority of novels I have read similar to them.
  
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Dana (24 KP) rated Asylum (Asylum, #1) in Books

Mar 23, 2018  
A(
Asylum (Asylum, #1)
6
6.5 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
I expected this book to be a lot scarier. Especially with all of the creepy pictures. But unfortunately, it fell flat. The parts that were supposed to be suspenseful didn't always work with the rest of the story. There were a lot of instances of the phrases that are in so many YA books. "I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding" or "She wasn't like other girls" kind of things. Those plot points make reading the novel not as fun for me. I am not saying it was a bad book, but it could have been so much better.
  
Fated (Talented Saga book 8)
Fated (Talented Saga book 8)
Sophie Davis | 2018 | Dystopia, Young Adult (YA)
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book wonderfully wrapped up the series.

All of the big mysteries and questions were answered in this book and the series was ended very well. The wonderful authors even had an ask any questions session on their Facebook page for any unanswered questions that were left over.

This book even introduces even more new characters, at first I was a bit hesitant however it became apparent that they were important to the story and the explanation of the Talented.

Overall I have fully enjoyed this series and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal YA books.
  
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B (62 KP) rated Red Queen in Books

Sep 29, 2018  
Red Queen
Red Queen
Victoria Aveyard | 2015 | Young Adult (YA)
9
8.0 (64 Ratings)
Book Rating
I think what I loved most about this book is that I was so torn over my opinion of each character. I wasn't a huge fan of Mare (the protagonist) which made me question her judgement. I've also read enough YA to pick up on some common tropes but this book literally had me guessing up until the last chapter. I can't remember the last time I read a book I was this conflicted on and I love that Aveyard's writing had this effect on me. Now excuse me while I go buy the next one ?