Book Review: Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

ANOTHER PAN BY DANIEL & DINA NAYERI 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 400 pages 
Publisher: Candlewick (September 14, 2010) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound 

A darkness continues to haunt the Marlowe School, and this time, someone is plotting payback. Wendy Darling, a headstrong junior, and her brother, John, a thirteen-year-old genius with a chip on his shoulder, struggle with being from the poorest family at the posh New York academy, where their father is a professor of ancient civilizations. Wendy’s new boyfriend, socialite golden-boy Connor Wirth, offers a solid step up in popularity, yet ambitious Wendy and John still find themselves longing for something more. When the Book of Gates, a mysterious tome of fabled origins, appears at Marlowe along with Peter, a dashing new resident adviser with a murky past, the Darlings are swept into a captivating world of “Lost Boys,” old-world secrets, and forbidden places. The book opens the door to a hidden labyrinthine underworld where Egyptian myths long thought impossible become frighteningly real. Suddenly, Peter, Wendy, and John find themselves captive in the lair of an age-old darkness, trying to escape the clutches of an ancient and beautiful child-thief who refuses to let go.

Book Opening:

New York (spring)

"All nights come to an end—that is to say, all nights see the break of day. For those of us who are afraid of the dark, or at least not very fond of vampires or impending alarm clocks, thankfully, all nights do end. "- Page 1

Notable Scene: 

 "Wendy expected to fall a long way down some black hole and land hard. So when her feet prematurely hit an ordinary stone step, she lost her footing and stumbled right into her brother, whose mouth was hanging open. He was standing on the step above her, on a patch of stringy green lichen. The first thought that went through Wendy's mind was that they had lost their way back, that they were forever trapped here." – Page 105

"Let Peter play his games just as he had done when he was a child, a wayward, unrepentant child who rejected her plans for his own. Let them all come a little closer. Each time they opened a gate was a brand-new opportunity to infect the world with malice, hatred, and sorrow. Every time someone new entered, another soul could be corrupted forever." – Page 167

First things first. If you are looking for a strict retelling of Peter Pan, then this book is probably not the right one for you. While the authors draw heavily from the characters and makeup of  J.M. Barrie's classic story, they have also woven an entirely new tale with Another Pan.  Readers of the "Another" series will be familiar with the location though- Another Pan takes place at the Marlowe School, the infamous locale from the first book, Another Faust.  Note: While both books are connected, you don't need to have read the first one at all to enjoy Another Pan.

OVERVIEW:  As Another Pan kicks off, we become acquainted with Wendy and John Darling, two teenagers attending Marlowe, the creepiest prep school ever.  Having been familiar with the first book, I have to say that Marlowe has officially evolved  into a living, breathing villain for me. Underneath the seemingly prestigious halls of the academy are hidden passageways with Egyptian tombs, quick sand, and most importantly—a mythic and highly sought after substance that some people (ahem-Peter) will stop at nothing to get. Villeroy, the abominable governess from the first book is back as well—this time as the sickly school nurse who secretly guards the eerie alternate dimension below the basement from unwelcome rich kids.

MY THOUGHTS:  Another Pan is both a character-driven novel and one that's rich in vivid imagery with an imaginative, fast-paced plot. You'll recognize a lot of familiar names—Peter, Wendy, The Lost Boys and Tink (n/k/a Tina) are all on the scene. My favorite character was actually the fiery Tina—I loved how vivacious and head-strong she was.  Though not a central focus of the book, I found her personality the most intriguing. Wendy and John were well-fleshed out and always full of personality, but John did test my patience at times with all his posturing to be "cool". I enjoyed Wendy's character much more—I loved her interactions with Peter and her strong, moral character. As for Peter--wow, what a piece of work! This was a guy who cared about nothing more than maintaining his youth, so much so that I felt like he had forgotten how to really live—how to enjoy the present, how to laugh and how to love. The Nayeri's depicted him as a dangerous, handsome bad boy who lured people to him with his magnetism, but I always thought Wendy was way too good for him.

Overall, I enjoyed Another Pan—even more so than Another Faust. I did think at times , however, that the book was trying to be too many different types of stories at once —the Egyptian mythology and Peter Pan tale never quite meshed up and this clashing of plot elements definitely made everything a little off kilter for me.  I think the book should've either followed the Peter Pan storyline more consistently or forgone it all together for the Egyptian curse theme. Both were really great in their own way and would've been strong enough to carry an entire book. 

To recap:  Another Pan was an interesting melding of Egyptian curses, quest-based adventure and some pretty exciting sleuthing.  As always, it will be interesting to see what the Nayeri's come up with next! 

1/2 Stars

Cover comment: I'm afraid this cover might actually skew the book slightly younger than it's intended to be. I'm not really crazy about it to be honest. Something simple would've been better. I picture an open bay window with Wendy curled up and gazing out into the starry, night sky .... Also, I think the guy on the cover is trying really hard to rock some classic 90201 hair styles from back in the day - what do you think? :)

 

Daniel Nayeri has held many book-related jobs, including editor, literary agent, and children’s librarian. He is also a professional pastry chef and award-winning stuntman. His sister, Dina Nayeri, is a former teaching fellow in economics who holds both an MBA and a master’s of education from Harvard University. Both were born in Iran and now live in New York City and Amsterdam, respectively.

Official Website 

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

DEAD BEAUTIFUL BY YVONNE WOON 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 464 pages 
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (September 21, 2010) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Renée Winters was still an ordinary girl. She spent her summers at the beach, had the perfect best friend, and had just started dating the cutest guy at school. No one she'd ever known had died. But all that changes when she finds her parents dead in the Redwood Forest, in what appears to be a strange double murder.

After the funeral Renée’s wealthy grandfather sends her to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious boarding school in Maine, where she finds herself studying subjects like Philosophy, Latin, and the “Crude Sciences.”

It’s there that she meets Dante Berlin, a handsome and elusive boy to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they grow closer, unexplainable things begin to happen, but Renée can’t stop herself from falling in love. It’s only when she discovers a dark tragedy in Gottfried’s past that she begins to wonder if the Academy is everything it seems.

Little does she know, Dante is the one hiding a dangerous secret, one that has him fearing for her life.
Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

Book Opening: 

"My parents died on a hot August evening. It was my sixteenth birthday, and my best friend, Annie, and I had snuck out to Santa Rosa for the day to celebrate."

Notable Scene:

"What do you think I am, then?"

That he was brilliant. That he was dangerous, but still made me feel safe. That he was different from everyone else I had ever met. 

"Strangely perfect," I said, before I could stop myself. 

- Page 194

 

DEAD BEAUTIFUL was a book with solid writing, oodles of intrigue and an ominous air of foreboding that contrasted nicely with the eerie world of Gottfried Academy itself. The real strength of this book lay within its world building; it really was so inventive and fascinating. Also, so often supernatural boarding school books are home to teens with magic or paranormal superpowers, but Dead Beautiful surprised me in that it was different from what I expected. Woon's twist on the YA boarding school theme was so unique, thought-provoking and heartbreaking. Though I have to admit that the book did meander at times, I'm definitely glad I gave it a try.

HIGHLIGHTS:  I was immediately drawn into Renee's world. I felt for this girl. Her whole life had just spiraled into a spinning whirl of confusion and strange occurrences and I couldn't help but get sucked into her struggles.  I was immediately drawn into the story by the questionable nature of her parent's murder, and also by her strange, stoic grandfather. I thought it was suspect that right off the bat he insisted for Renee to attend some creepy old boarding school hidden in the backwoods of Maine. Why was he so adamant about her going? I couldn't wait to get to the bottom of that.

And as for Dante Berlin? Well he was quite the mystery.  I couldn't quite figure out why he made Renee feel so strange when he touched her all the time, why he was so cold and why fellow students were dying all around him in similar fashion to that of Renee's parents. Right from the start I got the distinct feeling that both the school and Dante were hiding some pretty powerful secrets that I just had to figure out.

I also want to point out that it was extremely refreshing that Renee didn't have to battle any "mean girls", even though her roommate had the makings and background to be one. For once, we actually were introduced to a secondary character that was rich, popular, pretty and (gasp) a nice person!

But the best part? Well if you haven't read the book, let me just hint that what Dante turned out to be has actually never been done before. Woon's vision for the book was really amazing. It all made sense and was easy to follow too, which was the extra cherry on top.  I really appreciated how she pulled certain elements within the paranormal genre, twisted them around, added in a dollop of Classical mythology and philosophy, then served up a dish that was not only exciting, but most importantly, something entirely her own.

LOWLIGHTS: Soon after Renee immersed herself into her new life at school, the book began to painfully meander about at such a lethargic pace that I found myself zoning out and having to actually re-read the same paragraphs over and over a couple of times. Sadly, all the momentum from the beginning seemed to come to a screeching halt for me.

BOTTOM LINE:  Despite a serious case of book bloat, Dead Beautiful was chocked full of amazing twists and turns that I honestly never saw coming. The last few chapters definitely kicked into high gear for me, but by that point, everything felt so rushed it made me dizzy. I personally would've preferred if the author had taken out some unnecessary chapters in the middle and expanded more on that ending, because it definitely had my full attention.

Dead Beautiful ended with a heartbreaking twist and I suspect many fans of mystery and romance will do the same. I'm hoping that by the time the sequel comes, the minor kinks I've mentioned will have worked themselves out because this is a series is one with a lot of potential. 

 

Yvonne Woon grew up in Massachusetts, where she attended Worcester Academy. She is currently a graduate student at Columbia University, obtaining a Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction. Dead Beautiful is her first book. Official Website

Book Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

FALLING UNDER BY GWEN HAYES

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (March 1, 2011)

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

What I enjoyed:

I loved the dark, creepy world of Under and the trippy sequences when Theia crossed over into Hayden’s world. Some readers have mentioned how dark this book was, but for me that was a selling point- I actually would’ve liked to spend more time in the macabre, twisted world of Under. I was both repulsed and fascinated by it—the architecture, landscape, inhabitants, you name it. I wanted more, more, more! Also, for a paranormal romance, Gwen Hayes definitely shocked me with a few surprises— I thought I had Hayden pegged right from the start and turned out there were twists and turns I never saw coming. In addition, the secondary characters such as Theia’s best friends Donny and Ame were so hilarious and well-constructed, I felt like they took on more personality than the main characters themselves (which is a good and bad thing).  I loved Donny’s brazen hard outer shell that masked the softer girl inside just wanting to find the right guy who would treat her right. And Ame was very interesting with her psychic tendencies and quiet “suffer in silence” obsession with Mike, the clueless boy from school. Together Theia's best friends were a great contrast with one another and with Theia herself—three girls who couldn’t have been more different but linked together through friendship. 

 What didn't work for me:

The pacing of FALLING UNDER seemed at odds with itself—the plot sort of stumbled along too slowly for me in the beginning and then sped up too fast toward the end. But here's my main issue with the book—once again we have another YA storyline where the main protagonist falls in love with the supernatural boy way-y-y-y too quickly. I know that teen girls tend to crush hard (I was a teen once too), but at the same time it gets under my skin to not end—to the point where I am wondering, do I even want to read YA paranormal romance anymore? Now, while in theory I can appreciate the romantic notion of sacrificing one's life for love, I felt mostly horrified at how willing Theia was to just throw her life away (literally and figuratively) for a guy she just met and knew so little about, beyond the fact that he was extremely good looking.  I feel like this is a trend being glorified in Young Adult, and it bothers me. I wanted more from Theia- she was a smart, well-disciplined young woman. To see her so eager to be consumed by Hayden and lose her identity in becoming his love interest, did not sit well with me.

Gwen Hayes did such a good job in painting a portrait of a young woman stifled by her overbearing father, that it was oftentimes hard to relate to Theia.  I think that's why I felt more connected to her best friends—those two girls had more of the mannerisms and speech that I could personally relate to. Theia came off as either very stiff to me, or conversely, very swoony and it was hard for me to catch up with her.  

It's a tricky thing when you are a reviewer – I try to take on books that I think will be a runaway hit for me, but when they end up falling short of the mark, there's nothing more painful and stress-inducing than knowing I have to put my negative thoughts down on paper.  I can't help but wonder—is the problem just with me? Are my reading tastes evolving out of YA? Do I need to switch to adult? I don't know the answers to these questions yet, but I do want to point something out-- despite my own trepidation, I know that FALLING UNDER will appeal to a certain type of reader and many people will connect and appreciate the story. There is definitely a solid audience out there for this type of book—sadly- I think I'm just not one of them anymore. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it if you are interested in the premise.

Bottom Line: FALLING UNDER does have a lot going for it—the murky world of Under was fascinating and the book does have a lot of series potential. I may not be picking up the sequel, but I will support Gwen's writing by checking out her future works.

3/4 stars

 

Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero, their children, and the pets that own them. She writes books for teen readers about love, angst, and saving the world. Her debut novel, FALLING UNDER, will be released in March of 2011 by NAL. Baffled by the fact that not everyone has people talking to each other in their head all the time, Gwen decided maybe she should start writing down what they say. She told her family she wanted to be a writer in 2007, they all nodded, and the adventures began. Official Website

         

Book Review: Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

DARKNESS BECOMES HER BY KELLY KEATON 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 288 pages 
Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Book Opening:

"Under the cafeteria table, my right knee bounced like a jackhammer possessed. Adrenaline snaked through my limbs, urging me to bolt, to hightail it out of Rocquemore House and never look back.

Deep breaths." 

Notable Scene:

"My legs gave out and I dropped to my rear on the dance floor, the gown billowing around me, making me feel very small and very much like the child everyone called me. A child pretending to be a big girl in her frilly ball gown.  A child who didn't know anything about the world she found herself in. A child compared to the old and ancient beings I'd come to know." – Page 204 ARC version

Confession:  Prior to reading Darkness Becomes Her, I assumed this was going to be the start to a new vampire series. Maybe it was the location. After all, Keaton couldn't have picked a more perfect setting for a creepy vampire story. But Darkness Becomes Her turned out to be completely different from anything I had imagined. I admit, initially I was a little disappointed – I had it in my head I was signing up for a certain kind of book and was a little unsettled when it turned out to be something different (though no fault of the author's).  But once the book hooked its claws into me and captured my interest with its unique world building and story line, I enjoyed immersing myself into Ari's strange new world. 

I loved Keaton's vision of "New 2." This was the crumbling, abandoned city of New Orleans, filled with misty old cemeteries, murky swamps and a city bursting with all sorts of bizarre oddities. To most people, New 2 was little more than a "dead zone". It was a place respectable folks naturally shied away from, and as such attracted mostly thieves and miscreants.  This type of gothic location couldn't have been more perfect for me- I ate up everything  about the city and couldn't wait to learn more. In some ways, New 2 was like a main character that I never got tired of reading about!

As for Ari, I loved her too. Imagine being a young girl on your own and deciding to head into a scary place like New 2 with no one watching out for you.  But Ari went anyways because she was tired of not knowing who she really was and what happened in the past to her birth mother. My heart was in my throat when Ari crossed the line into New 2- I loved that the book kicks off quickly with her making the decision, instead of languishing around with Ari wondering what she should do.

 

Though occasionally the writing did seem to meander a little bit for me, I was able to overlook it pretty easily. I was won over by Kelly Keaton's unique plot line and also with Ari herself, a truly unique individual with her strange silvery hair and  mind-blowing abilities. Throw in the dark magic of a once grand city with all sorts of secrets hidden underneath its dilapidated buildings and empty streets, and Darkness Becomes Her was a winner. The book ended on a major cliffhanger, involving one of my favorite characters. So be ready for it- it's a shocker! 

Bottom Line: Suspenseful and intriguing, Darkness Becomes Her opened up a whole new paranormal world for me; one  dripping with Greek mythology, voodoo priests and a rag-tag gang of misfits struggling to survive years  in the once vibrant city of New Orleans.

1/2 Stars

Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. She likes pre-Raphaelite art, moonlight on snow, and MMORPGs. She lives in NC with her family, one Great Dane, and two incredibly hairy cats. DARKNESS BECOMES HER is her first Young Adult novel. She is published in adult fiction as Kelly Gay.
Official Website

Book Review: Vesper (Deviants, Book 1) by Jeff Sampson

VESPER BY JEFF SAMPSON 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 304 pages 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (January 25, 2011)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Book Opening:

"I was halfway out my bedroom window when my cell rang.

The ringtone was some ancient pop song fro when I was twelve, the sound distorted and screechy. I was precariously balanced with one bare leg out the window and the other wedged against my desk chair. Now was definitely not the best time for a call. "- Page 1

 

Notable Scene:

"I laughed wildly, totally exhilarated. Someone messed with me, I got even—a concept that before today had been totally foreign to me. Totally foreign to simpering daytime me, that is, who reacted to any sort of aggression by ducking her head, apologizing, then hiding in her room until it all blew over.

This was so much more fun. "-Page 44

Part Jekyl and Hyde with a dollop of Heroes mixed in for good measure, VESPER was butt-kicking fun! The chapters in VESPER are preceded with snippets from a tense interview with Emily and some unknown government type after the fact. I loved these transcripts and thought they really set a foreboding, suspenseful undertone to the book.  I pictured Emily in a locked room with a spotlight glaring in her face. I couldn't help but wonder—who was recording her? What was going to happen to draw this much attention to her?  Was she safe where she was now? I just had to know!

Who is Emily Webb? Emily is the narrator of Vesper. She's also a girl full of crazy contradictions. During the day she's the quiet girl who hides her curves under baggy sweatshirts and tries her best not to get noticed. Daytime Emily never stays out late partying or wears much makeup. Her idea of a rockin' Saturday evening is a sci-fi movie fest. But then one night, everything changes. Another side of Emily wants to come out to play. And let me tell you, this Emily is no wallflower. Nighttime Emily talks different, acts different and certainly dresses different. This new girl is bold and brash, with one heck of a wicked streak.  And you know what? I loved her for it.

The only downside to a book like this is that when you don't know what you are dealing with, there is inevitably a let-down when that mystery is finally revealed. After all, part of the fun about a book like VESPER is the build-up of "What is Emily Webb?" When I inevitably did find out what was going on with Emily, it took a little wind out of my sails. I think because I was having so much fun trying to figure out what she could possibly be, that I almost didn't want to know. But there wouldn't be a story if we didn't know eventually right?! I also appreciated the underlying theme of VESPER. To me, there was a really great message about being true to yourself and not letting anyone make you feel like you're not strong enough or good enough to go after what you truly want.  That's something that adults and teens alike can relate to. I look forward to seeing what Jeff Sampson has in store for us next.

1/2 Stars

SIDE NOTE:  My  favorite scene in VESPER was when Nighttime Emily almost got run over by a car and the driver threw a Taco Bell soda in her face. How often in life do people get away with the rotten things they do, and  we think back on it later wishing we had done something about it, but know we'll always be too chicken to ever do so? Well Emily never let anyone walk all over her –EVER. I loved that whole exchange with the driver- it still makes me laugh thinking about it.

COVER COMMENT: I love this cover and it adds to the suspense without giving anything away. What do you think?

Jeff Sampson is a pop-culture fanatic with an abiding love of TV and movies, much like his main character, Emily. Vesper is his first novel for young adults. Jeff lives in Tukwila, Washington. You can visit him online at www.jeffsampsonbooks.com.

Book Review: Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw

ANXIOUS HEARTS BY TUCKER SHAW 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 272 pages 
Publisher: Amulet Books (May 1, 2010) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper.

“Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”

Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.

A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

Book Opening:

"I hate reading.

All those words. It's painful. Give me biology. Gym. A frog to dissect. Some laps to run. Anything but English. All those words.

What have words ever done for anyone anyway?"

Notable Quote:

"Her image appeared before him, hanging in the air just above the bow of his canoe, beckoning him ever forward. "Come, my love. Come." He saw her, curls cascading softly around her shoulders, midnight eyes shining with comfort and love. He imagine her alone, waiting for him, quiet and content, carefully tending to their house, to the goats and cider and garden, scanning the seascape of the bay for her beloved like a sea captain's widow in the years after battle. He would not disappoint her." – Page 197

ANXIOUS HEARTS alternates between two couples whose lives intertwine over hundreds of years.  It's an achingly romantic book, narrated by characters similar to one another but shaped by the era in which they lived and loved. 

The segments devoted to the Evangeline and Gabriel of the past made my heart ache and I was choked up more than once over the depths of their loss. The intensity of Gabriel's love for Evangeline initially seemed over-the-top to me, but he quickly won me over.  That passion he truly felt for her jumped off the pages and practically burned my fingertips. Sensing that these two lovers were ill-fated right from the start, their saga became emotional and personal to me.  I loved their story and did not close the book with a dry eye. At the end there was a note describing how a French-speaking Acadian community in Nova Scotia was really removed from their lands and dispersed to different locations during the time period depicted in the book. I wasn't familiar with this bit of history prior to reading ANXIOUS HEARTS, nor was I familiar with Longellow's poem. So learning that their story could've really happened actually endeared this book even more to me.

On the other hand, the modernized pairing of Eva and Gabe was definitely the weakest link  in my opinion. I often felt confused by Gabe. I didn't understand what his issue was with the way he'd just wander off, leaving Eva alone. I'm afraid that Gabe and I just didn't connect and often wondered whether he was really good enough for Eva.  I did love Eva's vitality and strong sense of self, but I kept wondering what it was she saw in him. While I didn't dislike their chapters, it was Gabriel and Evangeline's story from the past that kept me bound to the book with such rapt attention. I devoured it in one evening, knowing I had so many things I should be doing, but not caring one bit.  I just couldn't stop until I knew if Gabriel found Evangeline. 

I would recommend the book to readers who enjoy dual narratives and romantic historical fiction that alternates from the past to the present. I know many reviewers have mentioned that the alternating perspectives were jarring for them. I've always been a fan of multiple points of view and this was no exception.  I think a single narrator would've been too overwhelming, especially with someone like Gabriel. His feelings for Evangeline were so intense that it would've been almost suffocating to live inside his psyche the entire length of the book. 

Tucker Shaw's prose was beautiful; it melted off the page like honey. For hopelessly romantic readers, ANXIOUS HEARTS will be a great novel to curl up and enjoy. It's about what happens when love is pushed to the limit. And I guarantee you won't walk away without wiping away a tear or two.   Tucker Shaw's  lush depictions of nature, coupled with the strength of Gabriel and Evangeline's love, was worth this moving journey of love, loss and redemption.

1/2

Cover Comment: ANXIOUS HEARTS has one of the most romantic and well-suited covers I have ever seen- it really captures the mood of the book with its autumn hues and gold typeset.  I found myself constantly flipping between the front portrait cover of the past Evangeline and the back photo of the modern-day, feisty Eva as well.

Other Books by Tucker Shaw

Tucker Shaw, who has been featured on The Today Show, is the author Everything I Ate and many popular books for teens, including Confessions of a Backup Dancer. He lives in Denver, where he is a food editor for the Denver Post.

Book Review: The Stefan Diaries by L.J. Smith (CREATOR), Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec

THE STEFAN DIARIES ( VOL. 1: ORIGINS) BY L. J. SMITH (CREATOR), KEVIN WILLIAMSON, JULIE PLEC
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (November 2, 2010)
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | Indiebound 

Set during the Civil War, against a backdrop of grand estates, unimaginable riches, and deadly secrets, three teenagers in Mystic Falls, Virginia enter a torrid love triangle that will span eternity.

Brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore are inseparable until they meet Katherine, a stunning, mysterious woman who turns their world upside down. Siblings turned rivals, the Salvatores compete for Katherine's affection, only to discover that her sumptuous silk dresses and glittering gems hide a terrible secret: Katherine is a vampire. And she is intent on turning them into vampires so they can live together-forever.

Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan's Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

"They call it the witching hour, that time in the middle of the night when no humans are awake, when creatures of the night can hear them breathing, smell their blood, watch their dreams unfold."
-Page 1

"I stood transfixed in horror, unable to take a step in any direction. My head pounded my thoughts whirled in a confused tangle. I loved Katherine. Loved her. Right? So why now did this…creature disgust me?" -Page 193

THE STEFAN DIARIES is a book based on the CW television show which is based on the popular series by L.J. Smith. Confused much? I was too. 

After doing some research,  it appears that L.J. Smith did not write this book (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong), but I believe she was not the author.  If you look closely, she's listed as a "creator" only.  When I realized that, it changed my opinion of The Stefan Diaries. Up until then, I couldn't help but feel somewhat exasperated that she would completely alter  her original plot just to match the TV show. But now that I know she didn't pen it, I can enjoy The Stefan Diaries for what it is—an entertaining companion piece to my favorite show.

First off, so much has changed.  Stefan and Damon's pre-vampire days and their history with Katherine has been completely altered from what happened originally in L.J. Smith's books.  If you've read them, you know that Katherine's decision to take her ring off in the sun was the catalyst to centuries of bitterness between the Salvatore brothers. That didn't happen in this book. Other little discrepancies include the fact that Katherine's maid was really Gruden in the original (not Emily Bennett) and Giuseppe Salvatore had no idea that Katherine was a vampire.  Even the way Stefan and Damon became vampires was altered in that there was no duel to the death this time around. Basically, The Stefan Diaries throws a ton of stuff out  the window and adheres to the events of the television show almost to the letter. At first, I kept getting out my copy of L.J. Smith's The Awakening and trying to make sense of it all. But then I decided to take the book for what it was (a fun re-imagining of Stefan and Damon's 1864 pre-vampire days). And you know what?  It turned out to be a lot of fun. 

In all honestly, I prefer L.J. Smith's writing regarding my favorite characters, but I do have to admit the plot line of The Stefan Diaries (like that of the show) is so much better. I think L.J. Smith's writing was more intuitive when it comes to the characters though; she really has her pulse on what makes the Salvatore brothers tick and her writing always made me connect with them.  In The Stefan Diaries, it felt like various people were thrown in way too hastily, perhaps just to give us die-hard fans a little thrill. These characters (particularly that of Pearl and Anna) seemed two-dimensional and rather forced to me. That was my biggest qualm with the book- the lack of attention taken to really bringing the characters to life. 

The characterization that threw me the most was Katherine. What I liked:  In L.J. Smith's books, Katherine was so immature and child-like, I always had a hard time picturing her as a woman of marriageable age and understanding what the Salvatore brothers saw in her. The Katherine in this book was different. She was more mature, more sensual – I felt Stefan's pull toward her. I actually liked her better in The Stefan Diaries, for the most part.  What I didn't like: Katherine's complete lack of menace. If the book is going to mirror the show, it needs to stay true to Katherine's personality. This Katherine had a conscience and seemed more of a victim of circumstance than the calculating, opportunistic vampire diva we  have all grown to know and love on the CW.  Katherine is supposed to be a greedy, violent she-devil, who will stop at nothing to get her way. Yet in this book, it seemed like she was relying on Stefan too much to protect her, when her own natural vampire defenses would've been so much more useful.

Damon's characterization, on the other hand, was spot on. Dark, mysterious and more than a little dangerous, his appearances were actually my favorite and what kept my interest going.  I could practically hear the words rolling off his lips and his scenes actually made me get out my copy of Season 1 and play a few key episodes. Stefan, on the other hand, was way too passive and "woe-is-me" for my taste. I hope in the next book, he shows a more hardened and wizened outlook on life.

(Final Note: I am a certified Vampire Diaries-aholic. I look forward all week to Thursday nights on the CW and I've read all the books. I've even been known to poke around online looking for my own Elena replica and Katherine pendant necklace (don't judge!). Now, if you have never read the books or watched the show, but have decided to pick up The Stefan Diaries and dive in cold turkey, your take will no doubt be completely different than mine.  I do think, however, that if you are a fan of the show, chances are you will enjoy the book.  For me, The Stefan Diaries was a light-read—more of a way to relive my favorite CW episodes than anything else. While there weren't many surprises, I enjoyed the time I vested in the book. I'm looking forward to the second installment in The Stefan Diaries, entitled Blood Lust, which releases in January of 2011. )

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

The Stefan Diaries