Leaving Paradise By Simone Elkeles

My Review Rating 7/10



GOODREADS DESCRIPTION

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other

MY REVIEW

I really enjoy reading Simone Elkeles books, although a YA writer she is one who can bridge the gap between YA and adults very nicely.

Two very different people are joined together by the most common yet dreadful experience. Both live in the town of Paradise, but for them it is nothing like the name.

Caleb Becker has just been released from having hit a girl whilst driving drunk and maiming her. Caleb now has to return to the small town of Paradise to rebuild his life. But for Caleb, returning to Paradise isn't so easy. His mother is trying to act like nothing has happened, his sister hardly talks to anyone and looks like a vampire chick, and his dad is never there.

Maggie Armstrong was that innocent person that Caleb hit, and she's been living in her own prison, the hospital.The worst news comes to her is that Caleb has been released early and now school is starting she will have to face him every day. Trying to get back her life, Maggie has been trying her best to walk right again. But during those times, the people who Maggie thought were her friends began to grow apart from her.

I really liked both Maggie and Caleb, they were both very real characters and the developing romance between them was very well written and believable. I love the way Simone Elkeles switches the point of view between them so we really get both sides of the story. I also felt that the relationships between Maggie & Caleb and their respective families were very well written - the accident and it's aftermath had a major impact on family life for everyone involved.

I'm really looking forward to the next novel, having left off the way it did makes me eager to know what happens with Caleb and Maggie.

If you are a fan of Perfect Chemistry I'm sure you'll enjoy Leaving Paradise and I would definitely recommend it.

Spirit Bound - Vampire Academy Book 5 - By Richelle Mead

My Review Rating 9/10

Phew!! Well I finished this book in less than 2 days...as usuual with books in this series they are very hard to put down, and are extremely addictive.

What can I say about Spirit Bound?

It's going to be so difficult to write this review, because I can't talk about anything really without spoiling it. If you've read up to the last book, Blood Promise, you'll have questions. Well, most, if not all, of those get answered in one way or another. However, more questions arise; things happen in Spirit Bound that you wouldn't believe, and things are just so much more dangerous for Rose, in ways you wouldn't even consider.

Alot does happen in this book, but Spirit Bound wasn't as action packed as some of the other books in the series. This doesn't make the book bad at all, it just has a slightly different focus. Richelle's writing is just amazing! I love it! I am truly captivated by this series.

If I had my way, there would have been more Christian, more Adrian, and more Dimitri. Bad or good, I do love them both for different reasons.

This book is absolutely incredible! Was it my favourite of the series? No,that was probably Blood Promise, but then It's difficult to pick my favourite, it's all one story to me. But I absolutely loved it! I really can't wait to read Last Scarifice, the sixth and final book in the Vampire Academy series, which will be released 7th December 2010 - yet, I can wait, I don't want this series to end!

http://www.richellemead.com/

Other Books in this series you might enjoy

Perfect Chemistry - By Simone Elkeles

My Review Rating 8/10


I have only recently started reading YA, and reading books like this makes me wonder why it has taken me so long.

Perfect Chemistry is set in Chicago in a small town ruled by a fierce social divide. The Northside of Fairfield is home to the wealthy and admired, whereas the Southside is where gangs and danger lurk at every corner. Northsider Brittany Ellis is everything a girl wants to be. She is rich, popular, captain of the pom squad, beautiful with an ideal set of friends and a picture perfect boyfriend and family. At least that's what Brittany wants everyone to think, you see, Brittany's life isn't perfect and everyday is a struggle to maintain control of that persona.

Southsider Alejandro Fuentes is one of the baddest bad boy's around town. He has a knack for creating fear and trouble everywhere he goes, usually it isn't his fault. Alex isn't affected either way since no one expects him to graduate High School, even if he secretly wants to. Alex is a fully fledged member of the Latino Blood gang that dictates Southside Fairfield. His sole focus is protecting his mother and brothers from the gang that rules his life, whilst maintaining his gang banger image. The irony baffles Alex tool.

On their first day as seniors at school, hot-headed-zero-tolerance-for-trouble teacher Mrs Peterson pairs Brittany and Alex together as chemistry partners for the rest of the year. Providing a new meaning to the term `opposites attract'.

The novel is written in a joint perspective, switching from Alex's and Brittany's perspective every chapter. This aids in understanding the characters for who they are inside and not what they are perceived to be by the rest of Fairfield. By getting access into both Brittany and Alex's head we understand the motives behind their actions, as well as who they really are inside and who they want to be.

Simone Elkeles explores the harsh realities of characters both South and North of Fairfield. She tackles issues like disabilities, drugs, sex, violence, loyalty and familial relationships whilst maintaining the lightheaded and sarcastic humour that she is renowned for.

It was a really enjoyable read.

Read it!!