Book Review: As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender

      Title: As Dead As It Gets
Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Rating: 5/5

Cover Impressions: So much cover love.  Even before reading the book I was a big fan of the creep factor behind each of the Bad Girls Don't Die covers.  After reading, I am happy to note that every detail included in this cover, from the dress to the flowers, is reflective of the story.  The color scheme features the prettiest lavender and makes me want to blow it up and frame it.

The Gist: Alexis and ghosts go way back.  She has successfully thwarted both a possessed doll and a demon seeking poise, perfection and death.  These encounters have left her with the ability to see ghosts through the lens of a camera and stripped her of her best friend, her boyfriend and now the one thing that was keeping her sane; her photography.

Review: I have been waiting for this finale for a very long time.  I had high hopes of growth for Alexis and some truly scary moments for myself. I was not disappointed on either point.

The fact that Alexis only sees ghosts (other than Lydia) in pictures and on film is a really neat twist. Especially being faced with them in magazines and textbooks. It makes me think about how often we look at photographs and video in our everyday lives. For Alexis, this twist seems to take away the one constant in her life – her photography. At this point, she has lost Megan, Carter and now her one refuge. It makes for a bleak start to the novel but I think Alexis needed to be broken down and stripped of her safety blankets so that she could grow into a better person.  

This plot twist also creates some truly terrifying moments.  Imagine shooting pictures in the dark that show a gruesome specter standing right in front of you, but not being able to actually see the creature with your own eyes.  It adds an extra element of terror to the novel's ghostly encounters.  This time around, the ghosts are incredibly intense and terrifically terrifying.  This is not one to read while home alone.  Or perhaps it is the perfect book for that.

Alexis continues to struggle with her character flaws but growth is on the horizon, I promise!  I know some readers are annoyed by characters who take too long to start behaving in a manner that we see fitting, but I believe Alender has portrayed an accurate representation of the effort and emotion that goes into seeing one's flaws and attempting to fix them.  That said, I was very happy when Alexis finally begins to trust other people and, eventually, herself.  And then there is Lydia.  Despite her trying to kill all the member of the Sunshine club in From Bad to Cursed, I always liked Lydia.  I was very happy to see her return and even more happy to see her role advance from background lurker to strong supporting character.  Lydia has a way with snarky remarks and reminds me that even the prickliest of teenagers can be hiding a real strength of character beneath.

Katie Alender manages to create a plot with an exciting blend of low build and high action.  Chilling moments are interspersed with emotional breakdowns and relationship building.  The intricacies of the story are slowly revealed and begin to knit together to create an ending that incredibly satisfying for those of us who have read and loved this series and these characters (even Alexis).  I am sad to see it end, but happy that it did so on a high note.  I cannot wait to see will flow from Mrs. Alender's pen next. 

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Female, though not strictly.
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Death by falling, Attempted murder/suicide
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Abuse: Some underage drinking

Notable Quotables: 

“A cute accountant, piped up the voice in the back of my head.  Shut up, voice.”

“After school one Monday, I decided I deserved a break.  A little fun in my life, for once.  So I set aside the whole afternoon to organize the kitchen junk drawer.”

Book Review: From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender

Title: From Bad to Cursed
Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Rating: 4/5

Cover Impressions: This cover fits really well with the first in the series.  The girl has a seriously intense and chilling stare and begs the reader to ask whether she is emerging from the door or protecting what is within.  While her expression is dark and menacing, her outfit is sweet and child-like, presenting a wonderful contrast.  The scroll work on these covers always adds a delicate detail that adds interest. 

The Gist: Alexis has spent the last few months in blissful normality.  That is, until her sister Kasey is released from the mental hospital and promptly finds a group of friends who are a little too perfect.  Worried that Kasey may be in over her head again, Alexis and her friend, Megan, join the Sunshine Club in order to protect her.  The girls quickly learn that you never get beauty, poise and a launch up the social ladder without sacrifice.

Review: Alender really knows how to write her ghosts.  First the evil doll-obsessed little girl and now a spirit that feeds on the teenage obsession to be pretty and popular.  The novel starts off slowly, as each girl takes small steps towards "self-improvement" but features some truly chilling moments once the girls begin to depend on supernatural influences and to forget how they survived without them (the scene with Emily in the bathroom - HOOO BOY, that freaked me out a little).

Alexis is still a fairly unlikeable character.  She mistrusts her friends and is reluctant to make any gestures of compassion and friendship towards her sister (she just got out of a mental hospital - invite her to some parties and don't make her eat lunch by herself - it is not that hard!).  At one point she even asks herself when she turned into "The kind of person I claimed to hate" but doesn't appear to change her behavior.  This gets worse as she begins to think and act like a teenage Stepford wife.  Alexis' continued flaws did, however, allow me to see things from Lydia's point of view which may or may not play out in her favor in the final book.

 Though this novel is the middle book in a series, I believe it could stand fairly well on its own.  It does not suffer the same flaws as many middle books - where big secrets are rarely revealed and the plot only serves to prepare for the last novel.  Here we have a real clear ending to one story, and the hint of the beginning of the next which made me want to jump right into As Dead As It Gets.  Which is exactly what I am going to do as soon as the sun goes down!

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Female
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Self harm with curling iron, hand to hand fighting, knifeplay
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Abuse:  None

Notable Quotables:

“Rule one: Don’t be friends with ghosts.” 

“I felt the oddest combination of emotions – happiness and apprehension at the same time.  Like my heart inflated and then ran away and hid under the bed.”

“Look on the bright side, I told myself.  It might not be ghosts.  Maybe it was just drugs.  Or blackmail.”

Sound Off Sunday (3)

Sound Off Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Reading Between Classes.  This is your chance to speak your mind.  Each week will feature a new question or topic on which you can share your thoughts.

This week's Sound Off topic is: Classics

I, Zabet Reading, am a resolution breaker.  The one and only resolution that I made this year was to read one classic novel a month.  "I am an English Teacher" I told myself.  "It is shameful that there are so many classics I haven't read."  I thought "Hey, one a month is nothing, you read tons of books in a month".  I made it through three.  Pride & Prejudice, The House of Seven Gables and Frankenstein.  Not only did I find each book painfully boring, but they also began to turn me from reading in general.  I am a one book at a time kinda girl but instead of reading, I was doing ANYTHING else.  It was taking me over a week to finish each book and, during that time, I wanted to claw my eyes out in frustration.  

Perhaps I am simply not patient enough for classic novels.  I can appreciate a well written turn of phrase, but I require that it be backed up with a story line that holds my interest.  It seems like each time I pick up a classic novel I end up question WHO exactly, decided to make these novels classics.  And, how many poor teenagers out there are claiming themselves to be non-readers because the required reading for their classes is painfully dull and difficult.  

While I am talking about Classics I can't help but talk about a disturbing (and irritating) trend in YA.  That is, the precocious main character who adores classic novels and spouts Shakespeare like a Lit Major.  COME ON! I was a voracious reader as a teen, I grew up to be a Lit major and an English Teacher but even I didn't read and re-read Jane Austen and dream of a handsome, wealthy but stand-offish young man who would learn to love me in spite of my myriad of unforgivable faults.

I will probably still force myself to read a classic once in a while, at the very least so I can seem intellectual and snobbish when the topic arises.  But, I probably won't enjoy them and I am fairly certain that I will not believe it when someone else tells me that they do.  

Next week's Sound Off Sunday topic will be:  Do Not Read Shelves (on Goodreads, LibraryThing etc)

Stacking The Shelves (3)

Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 For me (bought with Mr.Visa):

I actually read Legend shortly after it came out in ebook format.  But, I am trying to build up my classroom library and thought I would pick this up before it was unavailable in hardcover.  I hate mismatched covers or formats and with the amazing cover for Prodigy, I had to make sure I was able to have a matching set.

I also picked up an ebook copy of:

If you haven't already, check out my dream casting for this book.

For the Munchkin:

I love the Amazing Baby board books.  Munchkin received one of them (Baby Boo) in his newborn reading package and I haven't been able to find a single one in any of the bookstores in the city and have resorted to buying online (though I would prefer to actually LOOK at them prior to buying).  He really like the baby faces in Baby Boo and the bright colors in this one, AND he has learned how to turn the pages!

Feature & Follow Friday (5)

Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

This week's question activity is

Dream Cast Your Current Read

Well Peeps, this should be interesting.  My current read is Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson.

Now for casting:

Jenny: 

Toni Collette

Toni pulls off all kinds of lunacy on United States of Tara.  If she can handle a redneck, slut and Martha Stewart wannabe - all in one show, then she MIGHT be able to embody Jenny's personal brand of bat shit crazy.

Victor: 

Jake Gyllenhaal

I have no reasoning here..... I just really like looking at him.... I mean, come on.  LOOK AT HIM!

Hailey: 

Dakota Fanning

Remember THIS Dakota Fanning, when she was all big smiles, baby teeth and (thank god!) no makeup?  That's the Dakota Fanning I want.  Now that she is all grown up she scares me a little.  I mean, I was just as awkward when I was a kid and *I* didn't grow up all Hottastic.  Which devil did she make a deal with that I missed out on?

Jenny's Dad:  

Jack Nicolson

Who wouldn't pay real movie theater money (and not wait for Netflix or *GASP* download illegally) to see Jack's hand up the ass of a recently deceased squirrel as he gleefully embodies the creepiest puppeteer since the dude behind Saw - IN 3D!

Barnaby Jones: 

Frank from Men In Black

 What is better than a dog that stabs you with a chicken, trips you and then acts like he was just innocently being a dog and he has no idea why you are on the ground and bleeding?  One that yells "Die Motherfucker" when he does it, then goes strangely silent and dog-like when your husband walks in prompting you to question your own sanity in thinking that the dog could talk, until he whispers "Next time make it steak or you might find yourself getting a little too friendly with the stairs" when you Husband isn't paying attention. 

That's all from me, I hope you like my casting.  Maybe, if I ask my cats to wish me luck and start calling the number before 14 - 12B MAYBE Jenny herself will come and check it out.  And maybe laugh - I hope *gulp*.

Book Review: Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Title: Bad Girl's Don't Die
Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: April 21, 2009
Rating: 5/5

Cover Impressions: The colors here are beautifully muted and soft.  The scrollwork adds a delicate detail and reflects the lace curtain.  The image of the little girl hiding in lace is just creepy enough to set the tone, without over-doing the "freak out" factor. 

The Gist: Alexis lives in the quintessential Halloween Haunted House.  She has always liked it, until her sister starts acting strangely.  Suddenly the house appears much more sinister and Alexis must enlist the help of those she least expected in order to save her sister and banish the evil that surrounds her.

Review: This is my second time reading Bad Girls Don't Die.  Even so, I could only read it in bed if my husband was there.  Katie Alender does an excellent job of creating that delicious sense of suspense that only truly great scary stories can achieve.  She is also incredibly skilled at writing scenes that begin with the easily explained and end with the truly terrifying.

The story falls on the shoulders of Alexis who is, at best, a deeply flawed character.  She is usually callous and sometimes mean.  She often goes out of her way to spread rumors about those who have hurt her in the past.  This is not the character you root for from the beginning.  This is the character that you realize has a lot of growing up to do and hope that she does.  I have encountered these types of character before, but I am very pleased that in Alexis' case, all of her growing up does not occur within the first book.  She continues this development and I hope by the third book in the series will have become a character I can be proud of.

Alender also does quite a good job of painting realistic relationships, between Alexis and her "arch enemy", her crush and her sister.  The cheerleader is not all villain, there is no insta-love and the sisters do not bond over boys and shopping.  Instead, we see these relationships grow and develop (albeit under extreme circumstances) and Alexis begins to see the value in each, especially the love for her family.

There are far too few truly creepy YA books out there.  We tend to gorge ourselves on this genre in younger years, with Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark, but we seem to lose it as we get older.  Thank you Katie Alender for bringing me back to those childhood moments of sneaking a flashlight into my room and reading beneath the covers. 

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both, though leaning a little more toward the females
Sex: A kiss
Violence: Attempted poisoning, death by gas, fire
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Abuse: None

Noteable Quotables:

"Preps are like cheerleaders, only with less jumping"

"A Kasey-size shadow as way back in the darkest corner of the room, near the long-abandoned tool bench, making clanking noises as it dug through piles of discarded junk.  Werewolf, my brain said.  Zombie!"

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Adorkable by Sarra Manning which is due to be released on May 24th.

 Jeane Smith is seventeen and has turned her self-styled dorkiness into an art form, a lifestyle choice and a profitable website and consultancy business. She writes a style column for a Japanese teen magazine and came number seven in The Guardian's 30 People Under 30 Who Are Changing The World. And yet, in spite of the accolades, hundreds of Internet friendships and a cool boyfriend, she feels inexplicably lonely, a situation made infinitely worse when Michael Lee, the most mass-market, popular and predictably all-rounded boy at school tells Jeane of his suspicion that Jeane's boyfriend is secretly seeing his girlfriend. Michael and Jeane have NOTHING in common - she is cool and individual; he is the golden boy in an Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt. So why can't she stop talking to him?

This book sounds (wait for it) adorable.  I don't normally go for contemporary fiction and I definitely don't go for books where you know the "oh so different" characters are going to end up together.  But Jeane sounds like a really fun character and I love it when teens not only own their nerd/geek/dork - iness, but they make it work for them.  I am hoping for fun and frivolity with a minimum of teen angst.