Pluto's Ghost

Pages: 256
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Mystery
Rating: 4/5


Summary (from Goodreads.com)

"Murderer. It's one kick in the belly of a word isn't it? Has a taste, too. It tastes like barbed wire and has wild hyena eyes. Murderer. Murder-her. Did he? Did I? That's when I remember what I want to forget."
Jake Upshore has loved Skye Derucci since before he can remember. Volatile, complex and frustrated (he's got a label disorder from all the labels he's been given) at the best of times, Jake's on a desperate quest to find Skye before she aborts the baby he believes is his. As he hurtles headlong toward certain tragedy, Jake relives the fatal choices he's made and the powerful forces that have led him to this to end. A gripping thriller and a heart-wrenching love story, Pluto's Ghost is a raw and powerful novel about anger, escape, and redemptive love.


My Thoughts

I really liked this book even though I wasn't sure of it at first. It's slow paced at the beginning and then picks up a bit more, so don't quite reading! You won't be disappointed in the end! The writing was definitely something to marvel over, it was funny and touching.
I just want to hug Jake (main character). He's so sweet and thoughtful, despite his anger issues.
It was amazing to read and be able to see that Jake was serious when he meant he would do anything for the girl he loves, Skye, anything! It's not a sappy love story, it's not fairy-tale like, so don't expect that. It's a mature read, and Jake's story will stay with you for a long time.

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Pages: 322
Genre: Real-life, Romance
Rating: 3/5

Summary

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.
But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you want to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.
Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

My Thoughts

For those that would enjoy this, I think you would be in age range of 13-17. It wasn’t a challenging read for me. I did enjoy it, but just not as much as I would have hoped for. When I first began the book and then got halfway through I felt a little mislead because she was having issues with Mike and then you barely ever hear about him again...instead the story starts to focus on a different guy...  won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Natalie, the main character, is NOT stupid. She’s actually smart, she knows how to get a situation under control and she can handle high-levels of stress quite well. I respect her for her integrity and her ability to be nice and caring to others. I respect her for trying to do the right thing, and giving others second chances. I think I’d friend her on Facebook...if she was a real person.

The story spoke volumes about sex and other pressures for a teenager. But it also expressed how we’re all looking for ourselves and who we want to be. I can guarantee the ending is not disappointing at all, it’s simply satisfying and I felt that I’d learned something valuable. That’s how books should leave you.

Overall, it was good. I would definitely recommend it, because it’s certainly worth the read. However, I think it could have been amazing with a few tweaks and characters with a bit more depth, I didn’t feel like I got to know everyone enough.

Thunder From The Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow

(ATTENTION: I’d just like to say that this is NOT a sad story!)

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Adventure
Rating: 3
Pages: 238

Summary

(Note: I copied the summary form the back of the book.)

It’s 1929 and thirteen-year-old Tom Campbell has always wanted a real family with a real house and a dog of his very own. Since he was three years old, the only home he has ever known has been the Mission orphanage.
When he is sent to live and work with fisherman Enoch and his wife, Tom finally sees his dream within reach. And when he rescues a Newfoundland dog in the middle of a terrifying squall, Tom feels as if both he and the dog, which he names Thunder, have found a place to call home at last.
But when Enoch’s wife becomes pregnant and it looks like Thunder’s owner might be found, Tom’s wonderful new world is turned upside down. Will the Murrays still want Tom? And will Tom be forced to give up his beloved Thunder?


Why Read It?

If you love dog stories, coming of age, stories and happy endings, you’ll fall in love with the characters of this children’s novel. It’s really meant for all ages!

My Thoughts

First, I have to say that this story made me want to run to my dog, Oscar, and squeeze him to death. I’m sure if you have a dog, you’ll want to do the same thing and if you don’t have a dog then you’re gonna want one.
What I loved about Thunder from the Sea was its not suspenseful, but it kept me guessing. Its easy level of reading made it so I could read it in a day, which I always love being able to read something all at once. Another thing I lvoed about it was, it had a happy ending!
I didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this novel, so just because I rated a three, which means I wouldn’t read it again, doesn’t mean it’s not worth reading at all. It really was a great heart-warming story! I recommend this for boys and girls of all ages.