Shiver, by Maggie Steifvater

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

There's just something about a really good book--the one that has that perfect start that carries through to a perfect ending.
Shiver, by Maggie Steifvater, is not that book.


I house a weakness for books with attractive covers. But I hate when a lovely cover is ruined by black sludgy contents. The first few chapters are brilliantly written (the reason behind my buying the book) and the last chapter is perfectly conclusive, but the middle is sadly lacking. :(

Grace, the main characteress (yes, I made up this word) is obsessed with the wolves that tried to kill her as a child. Actually, she's obsessed with the one grey wolf that saved her from being devoured by his own pack. She stares at them from her swing in the backyard, they stare at her through the trees lining the edge of the wood. But these wolves are more than just wolves--enter the love story. Werewolves.
Fight for survival against the odds (of which there are many) while discovering a new world that Grace always hoped existed. Can she and Sam do it together? Will she have to do it alone?

This normal-person-loves-a-freakish-myth genre needs to come to an end. There are only so many ways to write about a human in love with a vampire, werewolf, angel, demon, zombie, plant, or faerie, but I must give Steifvater some credit--Shiver at least has some writing talent in it. Her words come together like the chime of an old clock. Toss in a cheesy plotline and her talent alone can keep it ticking.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a new teen-book tornado. Contents? Rebellion, selfishness, and sex. Still keeping it at the "appropriate level" (whatever that means), Steifvater indulges in a bit of character-intimacy.
First, I dislike any sort of sex-mention in a novel because of the message it sends to young readers concerning "love" and "standards" (or lack thereof). Also, I didn't even like the main characters that much. Grace's obsession with Sam (her wolf-man) is a bit unfounded and Sam's infatuation with her is borderline creepy.

Swearing also crops up like spring weeds. Not too much, but enough to notice and enough to take the novel several notches down from whatever level of opinion I granted it. I suppose I should just say it:

I like clean novels. And....I like clean movies.

Contrary to popular argument, clean is not weak. Teens are told that if you like anything clean then you're boring. You're lame. You're weak.
You're NOT.
If you've got the nerve to stick to your standards, do it. It takes way more nerve to stand than to lay down and be someone else's carpet. Trust me, I've been a carpet before and it's unpleasant.

From a Christian standpoint, there's not much on the "religion" side, but I can say that this book is not something that will benefit you. It won't turn you closer to God. It won't teach you more about Him. My taste in books may not be perfect, but I still try and steer clear of the books that take me backward. All this to say, I do not recommend Shiver, despite the pleasant wintery name. I've never liked wolves and this book is full of them. If you do read it, please do not venture into the woods to pet wolves. It's not a safe habit.

Violence Level: **

Romance Level: ***

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: ***

Story Depth Level: **

Recommendation: **

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Matched, by Ally Condie

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 14+
Issues of Violence: Some war violence
Intimacy Level: A few kisses
Swearing: none
Recommendation: *** (See end of entry and rating scale)

My first good impression of Ally Condie's, Matched came from the fact the main character, Cassia, has a functioning family: two parents (both who are normal and love her) and one sibling (also normal, or as normal as a younger brother can be). Positive family relationships are so rare in current teen novels that I nearly double-checked the year (2010) and targeted age group. This first favorable impression prequels the consistent cleanness and positivity throughout the novel.

Cassia, born and raised in Mapletree Borough, has reached her 17th birthday. It is time to be Matched. She discards her uniformed outfit for a single night and dons a gorgeous gown in which to present herself to her future mate. He could be anyone and anywhere. When her spouse-to-be is announced (previously and perfectly chosen by the Society), she is given a microcard about his likes and life to watch before they start officially courting. But when she watches the microcard, another boy's face flashes up for a single moment. With that flash enter questions and doubts about life and the Society that inevitably change the entire course of Cassia's previously monitored and programmed life. Which boy is the real one she's supposed to marry? And does that coincide with the one she's chosen to fall in love with?

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The many times I bypassed its cover, I never imagined the contents to be so enjoyable. This book is clean and still fairly interesting (what? That's impossible!). The plot is a bit slow moving, which may turn out difficult for the younger readers, but it remains innocent and adventurous. I was a little bored and the book was a push sometimes, but I'm also more of an action-craving reader. Matched may not be for me, but it's perfectly appropriate and clean for the younger readers. 

Cassia's character seems a little backward at times. Though she is 17, she acts a bit too young; however, the new culture that Cassia lives in--a futuristic eutopia-type future--may play a large role in Cassia's naivety. Sometimes, in "future" novels, the characters are a little "slower" because the Government/Society/Leadership controls all food, all speech, all activities, etc. You see it in the movie Equilibrium, the book We, and so on. I wonder if, in the future, we really will forget how to think for ourselves. It's hard seeing the correct answer and choices right in front of Cassia's nose, but knowing it will take her three more chapters to see it, but it is also fun going through the process with her as she seeks answers, wisdom, and freedom.

There is no mention of God except for one time when she refers to the officials as "our Gods" because of the way they control everything. It's more of a description than a pushed view of God. Overall, I am thrilled to recommend this book to all ages above 13 and will keep my eye out for the sequel! (Next November! *groan*)

I'm placing it as a neutral recommendation, just because I don't think I'd read it again. It's a little too slow moving for me, though I expect book 2 (Crossed) will pick up the pace.

Violence Level: **

Romance Level: ***

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: ***

Story Depth Level: ***

Recommendation: ***

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

I was prepared to give Graceling, by Kristin Cashore a four-star recommendation. I was impressed through the entire novel with Cashore's clean writing, the character's moral standards, and a refreshing and tight plot...right up until the sex scene.


Katsa is Graced with unnatural strength and used as a hit-man (or is it hit-girl?) to inflict terror upon those defying her Uncle (the king over one of the seven kingdoms). Someone with a "Grace" is defined by two different colored eyes, eyes that the unGraced fear to meet. A Grace is a fearful thing and, most of all, it's unpredictable. Katsa hates killing, maiming, and torturing. When she meets Po, a Graced prince from another kingdom who encourages her to resist being controlled, she takes things into her own hands. But so far, she's already established certain amounts of freedom, like building a Council that helps those who are oppressed or in need. The last step is to defy her uncle and join Po in his quest to uncover the mystery of his grandfather's kidnapping. They uncover more mysteries than they expected, which lead to narrow escapes that only grow more narrow.

I liked Katsa at first. She had spunk, determination, fears, and compassion, but she's determined "never to marry". Her reasons? She doesn't want to be controlled. She doesn't want to be "tied down". She wants to be able to do whatever she pleases. Even when she realizes she is in love with a man, she doesn't want to marry because of these selfish reasons. Her man suggests they just be lovers. This suggestion proves to be the solution to all her problems--the bringer of peace.

I was appalled, to say the least...followed closely by fury. Not just because the characters chose a life of promiscuity (that's as common as a paperback novel in a gas station), but because this choice is condoned by the author. She sends the message, "Hey kids, if you don't want responsibility, go hop in bed with the guy/girl that you think you love."
The scene in the book is written clean--it's not descriptive and, in the world's standards, it keeps the young reader "safe". Sometimes I wonder if vague descriptions cause more damage than the cut-and-dry. It doesn't matter how the scene is written, it's written clear enough that the reader (no matter the age) knows what's going on.
The idea of just having a lover with no responsibility so one can follow his or her own selfish plans is looked upon as better than marriage in this book. Better than commitment. And I hate knowing that this 'view' is being fed into the minds of the young and impressionable. Our teens. My little sister.

The sad part is, everything else about the book was enjoyable. It was relatively clean (apart from the "scene" and a few swear words), adventurous, creative, imaginative, surprising...*thumbs through thesaurus*...you get the picture, but I will never recommend it to anyone simply because of the message it carries and the romantic interactions between the couple.

Sometimes, I just think we expect the kids and teens of this day to grow up too fast. And when they do, they make all the wrong choices because they've been denied all the right lessons.

Violence Level: ***

Romance Level: ****

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: ***

Story Depth Level: ***

Recommendation: *

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Contented Failure

.

Some would say I failed.
I think not.
My goal had been 25 books in 128 days. Why? Because those seemed like good numbers. The end result? 18 books in 128 days. I would love to say that I met my goal. But goals aren't always made to be met. They are made to induce perseverance, diligence, and motivation. I persevered, I was diligent (most of the time), and I definitely felt motivated.
I am content.
I'm going to take a break from any goals and just read when I have the time. Amidst graduate school, a job, writing my own novel(s), being sick, and fighting insanity (I'll never win), I think a book-breather is necessary.

Thank you for bearing with me through the 25/128 challenge. It's been refreshing reading so often. It reminds me of younger days (as if I'm old) when I could stack a pile of books by the couch and read without getting tired, getting distracted, or feeling guilty.

During my busiest time of this past holiday season, I wrote a post called The Big-Toe of Busyness on my writer's blog. I've found it describes, quite well, one of the reasons I stopped at 18 books instead of 25.

I hope that, with the New Year's resolutions, heightened book reading finds its way to your list. It's worth it.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.