The Snowball Effect

The Snowball Effect

Holly Nicole Hoxter

Harperteen

$16.99

March 23 2010

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20

Plot 18/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 98% A

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to know about the people in her family just by letting you know how they died. Her reckless stepfather drove his motorcycle off the highway and caused the biggest traffic jam in years. Her long-suffering grandmother lived through cancer and a heart attack before finally succumbing to a stroke. And Lainey's mother—well, Lainey's mother hanged herself in the basement just days after Lainey's high school graduation.

Now Lainey's five-year-old brother is an orphan and her estranged older sister is moving back home to be his guardian. Meanwhile, Lainey's boyfriend is thinking about having a family of their own, and her best friends are always asking the wrong sorts of questions and giving advice Lainey doesn't want to hear. As she tries to pull away from everything familiar, Lainey meets an intriguing new guy who, through a series of Slurpees, burgers, and snowballs, helps her to make peace with a parent she never understood.

My Thoughts:

Before I started this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. You constantly hear “oh its (so and so’s) first book so I don’t expect much” but I am starting to disagree. I have recently seen some new authors who are kicking the asses of some “developed” authors. Maybe it’s the fact that they aren’t going off on tangents like some of these “developed” authors do. I don’t care to read series with 12 books… Anyways now that you have some background of how I feel I want to say, I LOVED THIS!

The plot was very different and stood on its own. The only lack was towards the front. This book took me longer to read but it had nothing to do with it being a bad book. I was honestly savoring it. The characters speak directly to you, you feel as if they are your friends.

I would recommend this book to all teen girls. Heck, lets make this required school reading!

Last side note: anyone else reminded of the stacking cup craze by the cover?

Quotes:

Here is a quote I liked while reading the book:

“Love wasn’t a buffet. I couldn’t have everything that looked good.”

Just One Wish

Title: Just One Wish
Author: Janette Rallison
Publisher: Putnam
Price: $15.99 USD
Release: March 2009
FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review with no compensation.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 18/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 93% A

Sexual content: 0/20
Violence: 0/20
Drugs: 0/20
Underage drinking: 0/20
Swearing: 2/20
Total rating: 10+ in cleanness but 13+ in connections

Summary: (Amazon)
This screwball comedy-cum-heartfelt drama is by turns far-fetched, enjoyable, and touching. Seventeen-year-old Annika's little brother, Jeremy, is about to undergo surgery for cancer. The teen promises him that she has a genie that will bring his favorite TV character, Teen Robin Hood, to meet him. In what seems like too much of a sitcom plot, Annika drives several hours, invades the show's set, and persuades its star to come home with her. He's on a tight schedule. Paparazzi attack them. His car breaks down. Steve and Annika fall in love, adding a sweet, but uncertain, romance to the mix. She also learns that he has a family situation of his own to resolve. Questions about the meaning of life and whether there is a caring God give the book heft but don't always jibe with its lighter aspects.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely novel. It was funny yet had some real tough issues. It handled terminal illness in a tactful and honest manner. It’s a hard issue to tackle, let alone honestly but Janette did just that!

I was totally in love with Steve and wanted him as my boyfriend bad. He was so well laid out within the pages that he seemed real. Annika was also very well developed. Jeremy was adorable and I just wanted to hold him.

As for the ending I hated it. Yes it was fully ended but I was bawling upon closing the book so that’s why I hated it. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fantastic ending, just not what I had been rooting for. A real tear jerker there.