In a time of hardship
and heartbreak, sometimes, reality just isn't enough. Slipping Reality
is the story of fourteen-year-old Katelyn Emerson, who, when faced with
the glaring reality of her brother's illness, rebels against the truth
by slipping away into the depths of her own imagination. There, she
finds the kind of support and comfort she feels she deserves. There, she
does not have to feel so alone. And yet, as Katelyn's grasp on reality
begins to unravel, so too does the story of a girl who grew up too fast
and fell apart too soon. Emily Beaver's debut novel is a coming of age
story that deals with the trials of young grief, insight, and growth
where it's least expected.
Summary taken from Goodreads
This is going to be a hard review. It feels almost cruel, writing a bad review for this book, knowing that it's semi-autobiographical. But... it just wasn't a good book. It was written by a grieving fourteen year old girl, and it shows.
In the author's note, it says that this book was written as a form of therapy, a way to help the author deal with the death of her brother. I understand that, and have even done a little bit of that myself. But I personally think maybe it should have stayed that way and not been published. The story wasn't plausible, the writing wasn't good, and the pacing was off.
Part of the reason I disliked it so much was everyone in Katelyn's life, besides her imaginary friends, were completely okay with the fact she was pulling away from everyone, including her dying brother. That rang so false to me. Her parents and her best friend would have never let her get away with it, not if they cared about her at all. Not being there when someone you love dies, it's one of the worst feelings there is. Katelyn wouldn't have been able to forgive herself that easily, and her family would have known that and tried to put a stop to it.
We also spent eighty-five percent of this book listening to Katelyn debate whether or not Tristen and Cedric were real. She would say that she didn't care anymore, then go right back to the real-not real questions. It would have been okay, but they just kept saying the same things over and over again. No new information was given. It also really creeped me out that Katelyn was romatically involved with a figment of her imagination. And didn't think it was strange at all. Nope. Completely normal...
And finally, my biggest complaint. Katelyn kept talking about her amazing relationship with her brother Matthew. How her whole life was about him. And she spends the entire book ignoring him. We see him about five times the entire novel. It was sad he was dying, but I had no emotional attachment to him. I had no idea who he was, other than as a boy dying of cancer.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. Especially knowing that parts were taken from the author's real life. But Slipping Reality fell flat in too many ways for me to enjoy it.
“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”
Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job:
she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old
girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse?
Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her
troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to
hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her
to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to
face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way
to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons.
Summary taken from Goodreads
Something in Hunger was missing for me. It's hard to pick my finger on what it was though.
I think it might have just been that I couldn't connect to the story or the characters. Lisabeth was clearly dealing with a very serious disease. I don't know why but I couldn't connect with her at all.
Death was probably my favorite character. He was the only interesting character in my opinion. He was the only thing that kept me reading even though he was barely in it.
I'm going to read Rage at some point, but if it falls short for me again I think that will be it for me.
Sadly this is was only a two star read for me.
An invisible,
uncrossable physical barrier encloses the United States. The Line is the
part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the
inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It's
said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in
Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the
Line.
Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there
after Rachel's dad died in the last war. It's a safe, quiet life. Until
Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from
Away. The voice is asking for help.
Who sent the message? Why is
her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go
in order to do what she thinks is right?
Summary from Goodreads
I've been struggling with this review for awhile now and I've finally figured out why. While I did like The Line, not much really happened. It felt like one long back story. Like we were in one of Rachel's history lessons learning all about the world this was set in and how the Line came to be. It was interesting, but I felt it needed more action. It seemed to me that the author probably could have combined The Line and Away into one book and it would have worked better (though I haven't read Away yet so I don't know for sure).
The Line got me interested enough to read Away but that's it really. Nothing really stuck with me or made me love it. It was just okay.
Only 2.5 stars to this one. I really hope Away carries a bit more kick to it.
Let me know if you felt the same way if you've read this. I'm really curious to see if it was just me...
It's hard finding
beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace
Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy
dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl
Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give
anything to be like Mandarin. When they're united for a project, they
form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent
skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies,
and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin
suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds
plaguing their Badlands town. Because all too soon, Grace discovers
Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even
dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no
friendship can withstand betrayal.
Summary taken from Goodreads
I've never been to the badlands in Wyoming, but after reading this, it sure feels like I have. The setting in this book was rich and gave you more than a clear picture. It was like you could feel the wildwinds blowing on you. It was by far my favorite part.
Hubbard's writing was also beautifully done. She definitely knows how to turn a phrase, that's for sure. I found myself rereading quite a few different passages just because of how well they were written.
But even with the gorgeous, real as life setting and wonderful turns of phrase, I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. I've admired people before, but it doesn't come close to how badly Grace wanted to be exactly like Mandarin. Not even like her really, she just wanted to be Mandarin. And I couldn't even figure out why! Sure Mandarin was beautiful, but she was clearly damaged right from the start. I couldn't relate to the story or the characters.
I will be picking up Wanderlove by Hubbard for sure though. Her writing was enough for me to want to read more by her. Plus the premise of this one sounds more my style.
Sadly, this book only ended up being a two star read for me.
