Review: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Simon & Schuster, 344 Pages
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Grade: YA (15+) Some sexual content

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

---------------Goodreads Summary

Notable Quote
"There sometimes isn't much difference between a knight's quest and a fool's errand."

5 stars / 5

OMG. Is it possible to have a perfect book? Because I'm fairly certain this is it.  Anything and everything you could possibly want out of a novel is in here. Strong protagonist who has lost her way due to a tragedy and embarks, if not reluctantly, on a trip to find herself?  Adorable sidekick boy who cheers her up and becomes her friend while unknowingly seeking his own journey that crosses perfectly with hers?  A fabulous trip across the country with pictures, interesting details, funny insights, and playlists?  IT'S ALL HERE.

I was a little worried moving through the book that it would all seem too cheesy (two strangers forced to road trip together...we can fairly predict where it will go), but it really, truly was not. Everything flowed well and the progression of their friendship and individual growth was excellently paced and very real. The little touches of photos and other scrapbook paraphernalia were fantastic, adding one more element that made this book such a stand-out.

I really think this is the closest a book can get to perfection. Even the tragedy and struggles Amy and her family are going through are crafted so perfectly, where your heart goes out to them and you feel the loss and sadness just emanating from the pages. Somehow a book that had almost none of Amy's family physically on the trip was all about them.

Two things, though.  I was incredibly distracted by the use of "but" in the novel.  Did anyone else think that it seemed to be used improperly? I kept seeing it in paragraphs where the two sentences weren't really contrasting.  (No? Just me? I'm the weird one? Moving on...)

Lastly, I read a hardcover version from the library, I think a first print? Anyway, there was a small typo that made me laugh:

Amy's gangster, yo.

In My Mailbox (3)

Hosted by The Story Siren, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme to showcase the books we acquired this week (via purchase, library, ARC, etc)!

A pretty good haul this week! I'm a bit behind on my last stack because work conflicted with my time, but that's ok - lots to look forward to now!

From the library

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver

Girl vs. Boy - Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Sloppy Firsts - Megan McCafferty

Purchased

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices, Book 1) - Cassandra Clare

Finally picked up the paperback! Perfect timing since Clockwork Prince is finally in transit in my library queue!

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Originally I was going to wait for the paperback, but I got too impatient for the library to get a copy in for me! I wanted to read it now, and then when I was in Barnes & Noble and saw this:

I knew I had to have it. (No hanklerfish, boohoo!)

Did you get any awesome books this week?

TGIF (2) and Follow Friday (1)!

It's been slow around these parts since my job was getting kinda crazy, but I think I've finally got a functional schedule worked out.  Reviews for Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, Close to Famous, and Matched will be coming up this week!

But enough of the housekeeping things, time for the fun! I've been seeing Follow Friday around the blogger net for awhile and thought I'd finally hop in :)

Alison Can Read & Parajunkee's View

Today's question: 

What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

Hmmm...you know, I don't think I've done too crazy things. The normal waiting at midnight, and I sent my mom out at the crack of dawn to get the last Harry Potter book because I was too sick to go myself.  I can't tell you how many times I've just broken down and spent money for a book because I didn't want to wait anymore in the Hold Queue at my local libraries (multiple! I always reserve books from both the County and Public libraries, just so I can get things sooner).

There was also one time I drove literally all over San Diego for a book. It was for the last Percy Jackson book haha (I really needed to know!). The public library by my house said it was there, but when I arrived nobody could find it. So I drove the 5 miles to the county library to inquire, and they told me it was available at a different branch - about 20 miles from me. And I went...only to be told it was actually reserved. It wasn't at a County library, so I looked it up at a Pubic library, and it said one was left at another branch that was about 27 miles South of my current location. And I went, and when I arrived was told it couldn't be found in the stacks and was now marked Missing.

And so, one afternoon and ~120 miles later, I still didn't have the book. I had to wait 5 more weeks for it to come up in my hold queue.

Hosted by Ginger at GReads!

Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?

This is TOUGH, because of the last 10 I've read, I think a good 7 of them have been 4-5 star reads!  It's a toss up between The Scorpio Races, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (review coming soon!).  All of them are just quintessential YA fiction, brilliant and emotional.  The Scorpio Races is so original and heart wrenching.  Statistical Probability really makes you believe in connections and romance (even made this girl who doesn't believe in love at first sight question herself!).  And Amy & Roger is honestly the pinnacle of all things YA: friendship and loss and adventure and a little bit of yourself in just about everyone.

Waiting on Wednesday: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine,

meant to spotlight a book we're eagerly waiting for!

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Simon & Schuster, 224 pages

Scheduled US Release: May 8, 2012

Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then Taylor's dad gets devastating news that changes everything. Her parents decide that the family will spend the summer together at their old vacation home in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them are very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

------------------Goodreads Summary

I'm currently reading Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by the same author and it's SO DANG GOOD that I had to look up her other books (had no idea it was her debut novel!).  Saw that this one is going to be released soon, and the plot sounds deliciously summer-filled and heartbreaking all at once. If her first novel can be this good, I can't wait to see what else she's going to come out with!

Review: Fade by Lisa McMann

Fade (Dream Catcher, Book 2) by Lisa McMann
Simon Pulse, 248 Pages
Released February 10, 2009

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....
---------------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

"Endless speculation only leads to dead ends."

This entire series is incredibly fascinating to me. It's so original and something that I would never in a million years think to conceive. When I read Wake (Book 1), I was riveted. It was such a novel idea and seeing Janie work through controlling her ability alongside this newfound relationship with Cabel - a boy with just as much darkness as Janie - was interesting. I remember speeding through it.

Unfortunately, Fade didn't have that same effect. It was still good, and I'm still curious about the entire situation and what will happen in Book 3. I was grateful for the introduction of Miss Stubin to explain a bit more about this ability. I thought the case Janie took on was creepy and perfect for what she could do, and I'm still intrigued (and, admittedly, smitten) with Cabel.

But the entire book seemed kind of...forced. I didn't find the case at Fieldridge High believable - it seemed halted, a bit jumbled, and then resolved so quickly it was almost like it was just another day. Cabel pulling away when it got real was typical and expected. Janie's shutting down when he went away was typical and expected. Yes, it fits with their character types (alone, used to looking out for self, lost after they get their first taste of love/caring), but I had hopes they would be stronger than that.  The scandal and culprits were also predictable to me.

I do still want to see how Janie and Cabel will figure out their life together and if her life will follow the downward spiral of Dream Catchers before her. I'm hoping Fade just succumbed to the curse of Book 2s in a trilogy, that its function is more of the informative bridge to an explosive ending.

3.5 Stars / 5

Top Ten Tuesday! for the YA Skeptics...

Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!  This week's topic is:

Top 10 Books I'd Recommend to Someone Who Doesn't Read _________

(in which I chose general YA)

I get a lot of flack for reading majority YA novels - a debate I'm unwilling to post about just yet - since I'm no longer quite in the typical "Young Adult" category (though I'm 24, that's a pretty young adult to me!).  In no particular order, the following are the books I'd recommend and dare anyone to read and not fall in love!

Dystopian/Sci-fi/Fantasy

1.  The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins

No explanation really necessary. Fantastic.

2. The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare

As I've mentioned before, Cassie Clare can do no wrong. A brilliant series.

(and I eagerly await City of Lost Souls, Book 5!)

3. Across the Universe - Beth Revis

Perhaps one of my favourite books ever.

(My review of A Million Suns, Book 2, here!)

4. The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater

Thrilling, captivating, and completely unique.

(review here!)

5. A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray

Historial fiction that toes the line of supernatural at the same time. Fascinating and original.

I loved the entire Gemma Doyle series, though Book 1 was still the best in my opinion.

Romance/Life

6. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

A bit more "mature" content than a typical YA, it's an adventure and a love story all rolled into one

crazy, exhilarating night.

7. Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

Love love love. No words how much I adore this book.

(review here!)

8. Just Listen - Sarah Dessen

Any Sarah Dessen novel would really do, but Just Listen really tugged at me. There's so much

crammed into it (family, eating disorder, love, music, life struggles, and much more) but it never

ever felt overwhelmed. It's perfect.

9. Paper Towns - John Green

Again, any John Green would do. Paper Towns is my favourite of his.

(my dedication to John Green here!)

Tough Stuff 

because YA doesn't automatically mean vapid and childish

10. If I Stay/Where She Went - Gayle Forman

Heart breaking and soul satisfying. Perhaps the closest any novels could get to perfection.

11. Love is the Higher Law - David Levithan

Though this isn't my favourite David Levithan, it tackled a tough topic of 9/11 respectfully 

and how different people struggled, experienced and dealt with the tragedy.

Middle Grade/YA

fabulous lead-ins from the Middle Grade to Young Adult

12. His Dark Materials

13. The Outsiders

(i know, I cheated with 13 - but I couldn't narrow it down!)