Book Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners
Author: Libba Bray
Publisher: Brown Books
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Rating: 2/5

Cover Impressions: Not quite sure on this one.  It certainly didn't attract me upon the release.  I only put this one on my list after reading several rave reviews.  I like the purple background of the city, but the image in front doesn't quite seem to fit with it.

The Gist: On the heels of an incident involving a wealthy playboy and a little too much honesty, Evie O'Neill has been sent to New York to live with her uncle and aid him in the running of his museum.  When a murderer starts depositing bodies around the city bearing mysterious markings, The Museum of Creepy Crawlies is thrust into the limelight and Evie embarks on a dangerous investigation that will bring her further into the occult, and into danger, than she ever thought possible.

Review: 
The Diviners is set in the 1920s.  The setting plays such a strong role that it begins to behave as another character - a character that hogs spotlight and spouts and endless stream of dialogue.  In the beginning, it is a charming and useful means of orientation.  However, as the novel continues, and the slang and explanations or 20s customs begin slow the plot, it becomes incredibly tedious.  As I got further and further into the book (and begin to note the sheer girth of the novel) I began to question whether 90% of it was necessary. 

In addition to the wordiness of the author there was an issue with the size of the cast.  Evie is a fun character, as were her friends, Mabel and Theta.  I think I would have much preferred if the novel has simply followed them through this mystery.  Instead, however, it jumps through countless characters and scenes in what soon becomes a dizzying game of "where the heck are we now?"  I kept waiting for the characters to find one another and form new superhero group who takes on demons and ghosts but SPOILER ALERT they never do!

The mystery was solid and the deaths were scary to read.  These scenes were among the most enjoyable for me (at least in a cringeworthy way).  I was a little disappointed when the big baddie didn't turn out to have manifested or possessed a real person, but I could easily have gotten over that if there has been a few more answered questions.  The Diviners ends, the bad guy is gone (ish), but there are many plot lines left hanging.  I am as yet unsure whether or not I will return for the next in this series.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 15 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing, Sex
Violence: Gunplay, Murder, Dismemberment
Inappropriate Language: Whore, Bitch
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking, Marijuana Use
Other Issues: Abortion, Suicide, Spousal Abuse

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt Company
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Rating: 3/5

Cover Impressions: The cover is beautiful.  I love the colors and the interplay of the ribbons with the antlers. 

The Gist: Alina Starkov is an orphan training as a mapmaker in the King's Army.  When she and her best friend are attacked by a monstrous beast, Alina discovers a power that she never knew she had.  The land's strongest Grisha, the Darkling, takes claim of her and begins training her to banish the darkness of The Fold and save the land.  However, everyone seems to have their own wishes for Alina's power and she must decide carefully where to place her trust. 

Review: 
Admittedly, I have never been a big fantasy fan.  Shadow and Bone is one of those books that kept popping up on my radar but I never gave in to reading it until my Christmas vacation (lots of time at home/v.little to do).  It took me a while to fall into the world of Ravka, as it usually does with fantasy novels, but I soon found the world building to be rich and beautiful.  This is a land of contrasts, great beauty with great darkness, strong magic with overwhelming poverty.  In telling the story through the eyes of an orphan, we are able to see both sides of the country.

I had some difficulty connecting with Alina.  I found her to be weak and whiny.  I was annoyed by her obsession with beauty and her incessant need to be rescued.  The whole "transformation" from sick and spindly orphan to strong and gorgeous Grisha was clichèd and reinforced the stereotype that only attractive people can be heroines.  I could get past the fact that her super special power remained hidden for most of her life and even the fact that she was suddenly the most super special Grisha alive.  But she couldn't be satisfied with being this special?  She still had to whine about not being pretty enough?  Dude, you can command light and you are whining about your complexion?

The other characters were a bit one dimensional.  There was the "I won't notice you until you are super special and gorgeous" love interest.  The "I'm dark and mysterious and can see the power under your ugliness" love interest.  The "I'm totally gorgeous but totally humble at the same time" BFF.  The "I'm only mean because I can see your potential" trainer and the "I'm also totally gorgeous and a jealous bitch" rival.  Neither of the love interests felt quite genuine or passionate to me and the friends didn't play any important role - though I hope they get some fleshing out in the next book.

The plot moved steadily except for a bit of lag in the middle as Alina worked with her power and learned to fight in what transformed in my head to an 80s movie montage set to the sound of "Eye of the Tiger".  The writing was beautiful and the ending was strong enough to make me come back for the second installment Siege and Storm in June.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Female
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Knifeplay, Gunplay, Death of an animal, Deaths by magic/magical creatures
Inappropriate Language: Ass, Bitch
Substance Use/Abuse: Drinking

My Most Anticipated Books of 2013

On the cusp of a new year I am already thinking about all the great books that I am going to get to read in 2013.  It is my sincere hope that (despite being back to work full time and no longer on maternity leave) I can keep up my level of reading and that my student book club will continue to supply me with new books to try.

In order of release date, here are the books that I am most excited for in the coming year.

Prodigy by Marie Lu

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
 

 In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

 The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

 A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett 

 Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli's dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza 

 Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers 

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.

But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.

Dare You To by Katie McGarry 
 

 "I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo 
 

 Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton 

 I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake 
 

 Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray 

 A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when seventeen-year-old Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

Afterglow by Karsten Knight 
 

 No Synopsis Available

Top 10 Books of 2012

Wow.  A whole year in blogging has passed.  I can still remember last New Year, looking at the 101 books I had read in 2011 and longing for some way to connect even more with other readers.  A way to share what I think and help out the other teachers/parents out there who want to make informed decisions on books for their teens.  A short while later, Reading Between Classes was born.  Since then, I have read an additional 115 (ish) books, and written reviews of many of those.  I joined an adult book club (and watched it die) and started a bookclub with my students which continues to make me happier than I ever imagined.  I have become one of those people who will chat you up in a bookstore who will harass you recommend books for the teens in your life and continue to pray that I find some real life YA readers who are a little more Adult and a little less Young.  Thank you to all of you who have visited and read and maybe even commented to let me know that you stopped by.  I have loved this year's journey and can't wait to see what 2013 will bring.

And now, without further ado, my top 10 books of 2012

10:  Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina features a world in which dragons can take human form and racism colors much of the human interaction with them.  Seraphina straddles this dividing line.  She is one of the most well written characters that I have encountered this year against the backdrop of one of the most encompassing worlds I have seen created. 

9: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Oh how I adore twisted fairy tales.  Sarah Cross takes the well known (and not so well known) stories down a dark and dangerous path.  In this world, characters must fight fate and choices can have alarming consequences. 

8: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Saving Francesca was my first foray into the world of Melina Marchetta.  Damn that girl can write some characters.  I wanted to go back to being a teenager, move to Australia and become part of that group. 

7: Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Suicide Notes delves into the world of mental illness.  It features strong, wonderfully flawed characters and a self-deprecating sense of humor that will bring a smile to any readers face.  Unfortunately - too much swearing and sexual content for my classroom library.

6: A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

A Vintage Affair is the only adult novel that made its way on to my list.  It is a wonderful story of loss and love that pulls the reader into the past and examines the history that can be held in a garment.

5: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Are you surprised to see a Maggie Stiefvater book on here?  ME TOO!  After the disaster that was Shiver, I never thought I would read another one of her books.  BUT, Scholastic knew better.  They sent me an ARC of The Raven Boys and I was proven wrong once again.  The world building drew me in and wouldn't let me escape if I wanted to.  Also - just look at that cover - it is even more beautiful in person. 

4: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits features two very realistic teen characters and their relationship.  The cover alone would never have brought me on board - but the rave reviews made me give it a shot.  This novel is about relationships - and not just the obvious one.  It dives into the teen world in a way that is raw and emotional.  The only downside - far too much vulgar language and sexual content for my classroom library.

3: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

In Sage, Jennifer Nielsen has created a character that I wanted to hug, strangle and slap - ALL AT THE SAME TIME.  He is one of the best developed characters that I have encountered this year, with a wonderful wit that made me laugh out loud.  The False Prince stands apart as a book that is appropriate for even younger YA readers while still having a level of intrigue and action that will appeal to older readers. 

2: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

A no brainer here.  I am sure TFIOS is going to be on a lot of lists.  This one has ALL THE FEELS.  I was trepidacious about reading it the first time (Cancer books have not been high on my list since I stopped reading Lurlene McDaniel books as a teenager) and I have never been happier to be wrong.  TFIOS features characters that any reader cannot help but fall in love with.  I have chosen this as the next book for my Jr High Book Club and cannot wait to talk about it in the new year.  In the words of one of my students "If it actually managed to make Ms._______ cry, it has GOT to be good"

1: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

I am not sure how many "End of Year" lists this book may end up on as it was just released on Dec 18th.  I got an ARC and have been raving about it ever since.  I have recommended it to parents in bookstores.  I have given it a special place on my Teacher Recommends bulletin board.  I even went out and snagged a copy for my classroom and one for a very special student.  The characters are wonderfully complex, the plot is exciting and the issues brought forth invite the reader to question our own society.  I am in awe of this book and will be the first one in the stores when the second in this series is released.  (Dec, 2013 - I must go cry now)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

First Lines: December 2012

The first words you read can often set the tone for the entire story.  I thought it would be fun to keep track of the first lines of the books I read each month and share them with you.  Below are the first lines for all the books I read in December. 

 Teeth by Hanna Moskowitz

"At night the ocean is so loud and so close that I lie awake, sure it's going to beat against the house's supports until we all crumble onto the rocks and break into pieces."

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

"Colby had a secret"

Looking for Alaska by John Green

"The week before I left my family and Florida and the rest of my minor life to go to boarding school in Alabama, my mother insisted on throwing me a going-away party."

The Diviners by Libba Bray
"In a town house at a fashionable address on Manhattan's Upper East Side, every lamp blazes."

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

"The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to evesedrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches."

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

"I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid."

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

"Edgar opened one eye to a slit."

Sort of slim pickings this month.  There weren't any first lines that grabbed me but I guess if I had to pick a favorite it would be from Teeth:

"At night the ocean is so loud and so close that I lie awake, sure it's going to beat against the house's supports until we all crumble onto the rocks and break into pieces."

My least favorite is definitely from The Dead and Buried:

"Colby had a secret"

It wasn't the least bit interesting or unique.

Here's hoping 2013 will be filled with great first lines!

ARC Book Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Title: The Dead and Buried
Author: Kim Harrington
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: Jan 1, 2013
Rating:

Cover Impressions: This is the second cover for The Dead and Buried.  The first showed a shadowy figure descending a staircase.  It fit well with the storyline and added an extra creep factor.  This cover, however, is less impressive.  The cover model looks like she is sleeping, not dead, and it doesn't stand out from the other YA books on the shelf.

The Gist: Jade has finally gotten her wish.  She has moved to a new house, in a bigger town and with a better school.  Shortly after moving in, however, Jade starts to feel odd cold sensations throughout the house and her little brother, Colby, describes a glimmering girl that visits him in his room.  Jade discovers that the teen queen of her high school, Kayla, had lived in her house and that she had died there under mysterious circumstances.  When Kayla threatens Jade's brother, Jade must worm her way into the inner circle in order to try and find a killer.

Review:  This is my second foray into the world Kim Harrington.  I read Clarity, which I enjoyed, but not enough for me to rush out and buy the sequel.  I feel much the same about The Dead and Buried.  I was really excited for it when I saw the original cover.  I love ghost stories (see my reviews the Dead Girls Don't Die series) and TDAB fits that bill.  However, there were some aspects where it was lacking.

The premise is one we have all seen before, teenager moves into new house, weird stuff starts happening, he/she discovers the house is haunted and endeavors to find the killer and set the soul to rest.  There wasn't really any new ground broken in this book.  I was hoping Kayla would possess Jade and try to win back her old life - but no.  I never really felt like Jade was in any danger.  Yes, Kayla possessed her brother, and yes, those moments were a little tense, but I don't think we saw enough of a relationship with him in the beginning to make these moments really hit home for me.  Even throughout the novel, it seemed like Colby was always out of the picture, and when he did appear, he had very little personality. 

The rest of the interactions between Jade and her family seemed a little too unreal.  She never fights with her father and her arguments with her stepmother are pretty tame.  I did enjoy Jade's friendship with Alexa.  She was quirky and it made me happy whenever Jade chose her over the popular kids - putting substance ahead of flash.  I was disappointed when Alexa basically disappeared in the second half of the book.  As soon as Jade begins to develop a relationship with the boys (Donovan and Kane) her interactions with Alexa seem to fall off.  I found both the boys to be rather boring and didn't really see the appeal of either of them.

Had The Dead and Buried ended with some huge twist that I never saw coming, I probably would have enjoyed it a great deal more.  It was a pretty quick read and it was well paced.  Unfortunately, the minute a particular character was introduced, I had a strong feeling that they were the killer and my suspicions were confirmed with one of the least exciting reveal moments that I have ever read. 

Overall, The Dead and Buried was underwhelming.  It is fine as a quick read, but didn't have a whole lot of substance.  

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 12 and up
Gender: Female
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Murder by pushing down stairs
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: None

ARC Book Review: Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz

Title: Teeth
Author: Hannah Moskowitz
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: Jan 1, 2013
Rating: 3/5

Cover Impressions: I really like the cover of this one.  I received an EARC, but I really wish I could see the physical copy.  I am rooting for shiny and textured scales. 

The Gist: Rudy's brother suffers from Cystic Fibrosis.  In an attempt to save his life, the family moves to a remote island that is famed for a special type of fish that can heal and prolong life.  Without the excitement of friends and frivolity, Rudy finds himself longing for a companion - and then he finds Teeth, and begins to discover the dark secrets of the island and its inhabitants.

Review: 
I requested Teeth because I had heard great things about Gone Gone Gone and it has been sitting on my TBR pile for quiet a while.  Those who love Hannah Moskowitz seem to RAVE about her.  However, if Teeth is indicative of her writing style, perhaps I best stay away.
  
I loved the premise for Teeth.  The mysterious island with magic fish that could heal and prolong life in otherwise terminal cases, was fascinating.  I longed to find out what made the fish so special and what secrets were being hidden by the inhabitants of the island.  Unfortunately, much like Rudy, once I began to receive my answers, I wished I had never asked the questions.  The setting was interesting, the morality issue that made up much of the first half of the book was thought- provoking.  Had the novel continued in this frame of mind, I would have been left much more satisified.

To be honest, I am finding it difficult to write about what bothered me, and that is a testament to how much it bothered me.  SPOILERS AHEAD:  Teeth involves numerous incidences of rape.  We see both a woman raped by a fish, and a mermaid/fishboy raped by men - over and over again.  Once this plot point was revealed, I could no longer enjoy the story.  Even now, it leaves a sick taste in my mouth to recall the details. 

Moskowitz is certainly a writer who can evoke strong emotions in the reader.  She is skilled at writing in a way that is raw and heart-wrenching.  I do believe that most readers will recognize the beauty that can be found in this story.  Teeth is well written, and I can recognize the genius in it - I just didn't like it.  I felt like I was watching a car crash - I knew that continuing would result in seeing things that I could never forget but I just could not look away.  In the end, I could not get past the pain.  I ached for Teeth.  I wanted so badly to rescue him and by the last page, I was left feeling sad and empty. 

Due to the nature of the rape in this book, as well as the frequent swearing, I would not recommend it for my teenage students.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: AT LEAST 16 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing, talk of masturbation
Violence: Rape, Physical fighting/abuse, gunplay, murder
Inappropriate Language: LOTS! Fuck, Shit, Slut, Bastard, Bitch, Asshole
Substance Use/Abuse: Smoking