Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, 549 pages
The His Fair Assassins series by Robin LaFevers has received a lot of talk based solely on its central premise: assassin nuns.  I have to admit, that is what first attracted me to this young adult series.  We meet the heroine Ismae on the day of her wedding to a very cruel man.  Her entrance into the mysterious St. Mortain convent is somewhat of a rescue mission from that rather than a direct choice.   Ismae learns that she is now in service of St. Mortain, the god of death, and her training as a highly skilled assassin begins. 

Part historical fiction, part Quentin Tarantino fantasy, Grave Mercy is an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable read.  Combining court intrigue with other-worldly figures, LaFevers writes a novel that is both fast-paced and thoughtful.  The character of Ismae is likeable without being annoying.  I found myself really cheering for her throughout the book.   The love story/romance elements were well-placed, and I think contributed to Ismae's development without detracting from her strength.  I read this book basically in one sitting (during a long day waiting to be called for jury duty) and have since moved on to the rest of the trilogy.

Fangirl

Fangirl  by Rainbow Rowell, 438 pages

I picked up Fangirl after reading Rowell's award-winning Eleanor and Park.  E&P was a beautiful story that I really enjoyed, so naturally I wanted to see what else Rowell had to offer.

Fangirl is the story of a young woman's transition into college life, her strained relationship with her twin sister, and her first experience in a meaningful romantic relationship.  Cath writes fan-fiction inspired by her favorite fantasy book series.  She's a talented writer and has gained a strong following of readers -- the only problem is that the stories, characters, and settings she writes aren't her own creation.  She can't seem to write her own original fiction, and only finds success building from and manipulating the existing book series.  Cath is challenged by her creative writing professor to share her own story, but she can't seem to find a way to build worlds or characters that are as meaningful to her as those in her fan-fiction.

Fangirl is a breezy, quick read that reminds you what it's like to navigate that awkward time between your teen years and adulthood. 

Don't Even Think About It

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski, 319 pages

A group of New York City high school students develop telepathic powers after a strange flu shot.  The popular girl struggles to keep her secret from her boyfriend, while her best friend explores the feelings of her long-time crush.  Best of all, the quiet anxious wallflower stops worring about what people will think of her (she already knows) and learns to enjoy life!

I enjoyed following this supernatural soap-opera about teens who discover and explore their new telepathic abilities.  But I wish that the book reflected this diverse NYC school.  The three main female characters were white and middle class, just like the three girls on the cover.  I think this limits the appeal of this story.

I Am Malala

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb, 327 pages

This is a very well written story by a very courageous young woman. Malala, who doesn’t remember much about her actual ordeal, speaks about the history of her country and standing up for her rights as a female, specifically, her right to a good education. Although all of this is from her perspective, she seems to have a good grasp of the political unrest in Pakistan and is able to relate a lot of pertinent information in an interesting way. Anyone interested in learning more about this young girl will find this an entertaining read.

The Selection

When picking up a young adult dystopian novel my first thought usually isn't, 'Let's get ready for some serious romance!' But what Kiera Cass does in The Selection is blend two genres of young adult literature seamlessly. As the main character, America Singer finds her way into a competition to become the future queen of Illea, maintains her self-posession and strength while still remaining relatable to the reader. Though fraught with dangers from rebels, glimpses of the hallmark inequality of dThe SeThe Selection by Kiera Cass, 327 pages

When picking up a young adult dystopian novel my first thought usually isn't, 'Let's get ready for some serious romance!' But what Kiera Cass does in The Selection is blend two genres of young adult literature seamlessly. As the main character, America Singer, finds her way into a competition to become the future queen of Illea she maintains her self-possession and strength while still remaining relatable to the reader. Though fraught with dangers from rebels and glimpses of the hallmark inequality of dystopian young adult literature, the romance throughout is compelling. Some parts with over-do the "remain true to yourself" lesson, but the story does continuously engage the reader in both romance and a future fraught with problems. Cass does an excellent job of portraying even minor characters as multidimensional. However, the plot tends to be predictable and sometimes sprouts little plot holes that don't quite add up, which can be attributed by a tendency towards shaky world-building. Despite that the book is definitely worth a quick read, and with the sequels, The Elite already released, and the third, The One, to be release in 2014 there is much more to look forward to!