Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Penguin/Dutton
Pub. Date: 11.30.2010
Genre: Dystopian YA
Keywords: Love, Arranged Marriage, Rebellion, Family, Secrets
Pages: 366
Description (from GoodReads):

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

MATCHED has me perplexed. There were elements that definitely didn't click for me, which caused the novel to drag in parts, yet I still find it popping into my head weeks after reading.

Part of me thought that some of my disappointment was due to the hype surrounding Condie's novel, but, after reflection, I don't believe that was the main reason I found it lacking. I think I expected it to be bigger... bigger romance, bigger action, bigger mystery. I wanted it to have an epic quality. For me, it didn't.

BUT, that's not to say it wasn't a wonderful debut. It has a quiet beauty about it... a beauty that seems to have lodged itself in some corner of my subconscious and comes out and reminds me when I least expect it. Part of this is due to the use of Dylan Thomas' poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" and its importance to the novel. 

I've always loved this poem and was excited to see how it was woven into the plot of the novel. Now, every time I think about the poem, especially the line "Rage, rage against the dying of the light," I'm reminded of the detailed world Condie has created. Despite the parts of MATCHED I found disappointing, I was thoroughly intrigued by the world Cassia lives in. Cassia's cultural and historical knowledge base is severely limited by the government, but, to me, most notably in regard to poetry and literature. How can a government possibly choose 100 of everything (poems, novels, etc) and disregard the rest? It makes me shudder to imagine a world like this. Eventually, Cassia begins to realize the truth behind her world's beautiful facade and I'm ready for her to rage against this reality in Condie's second MATCHED novel.

I'm looking forward to CROSSED, slated for release sometime in 2011... Plus, I'm more than a little excited to see how this second cover compares to the gorgeous one on MATCHED!

Review: Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson

Title: Invisible Things
Author: Jenny Davidson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub. Date: 11.23.2010
Genre: Historical YA
Keywords: Physics, Mystery, Family, Relationships, Secrets
Pages: 261
Description (from GoodReads):
Sixteen-year-old Sophie knows there is more to the story of her parents' death. And she's on a mission to find the truth. To aid her in solving the decades-old mystery, Sophie has enlisted her best friend, Mikael, whose friendship has turned into something more. It's soon clear that Sophie's future is very much wrapped up in the details of her family's past, and the key lies with information only one man can provide: her parents' former employer, the elusive billionaire Alfred Nobel.

As the threat of war looms in Europe, dangers to Sophie and her loved ones grow. While her determination to solve the mystery doesn't waver, forces beyond her control conspire to keep her from her purpose. Then, news of her great-aunt Tabitha's death sets off a chain of events that leaves Sophie questioning everything.

The more Sophie learns, the more she realizes that nothing—and no one—in her life is what it seems. And coming to terms with the dark secrets she uncovers means imagining a truth that she never dreamed possible. Full of gorgeous settings, thrilling adventure, and romance, Invisible Things is a novel that dares to ask, what if?


Jenny Davidson's sophmore novel, INVISIBLE THINGS, is one of the most beautifully written novels I've read this year. That, coupled with regular mentions of characters like Niels Bohr and Alfred Nobel, cause the reader to feel as though they're peering not only into the past, but into something terribly important.

Part one of the novel begins in Denmark at the Institute for Theoretical Physics where our main character, Sophie, resides. Sophie is a teen surrounded by brilliant minds and it's clear she may someday join their ranks. She is an orphan with a mysterious past... and she wants answers. The deeper she digs, however, the more complicated things become. Not only is her past more knotted and manipulated than she ever would have assumed, Europe itself is falling to pieces... which presents unwelcome obstacles.

The one aspect of this novel that I wasn't as taken with as I would have liked was the romance. I only point this out because romance is mentioned in the synopsis, which greatly heightens my expectations. Once I reconciled that this aspect wasn't as prominent as I would have liked, I enjoyed the novel much more.

I'll be taking the time to read Davidson's first offering, THE EXPLOSIONIST, and, if you favor atmospheric novels with a rich, historical setting, I highly recommend you pick up INVISIBLE THINGS as well.

Guest Post: Sarah Ockler (Author of Fixing Delilah!)

I'm thrilled to have one of my all time favorite authors, Sarah Ockler, here at The Hiding Spot! Sarah is the author of TWENTY BOY SUMMER and FIXING DELILAH, both of which are contemporary YA novels.

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Garage Sale of Sarah Ockler's Teen Years

In Fixing Delilah, Delilah spends an entire summer up in Vermont settling up her deceased grandmother's estate. It sounds all quaint and charming, but in reality there was a lot of manual labor and tons of garage sales, not unlike the ones I had to sit through when my I was 13 and my own grandmother died.


Garage sales are good opportunity for getting rid of old stuff, especially the stuff we've held on to for far too many years. One girl's trash is another girl's treasure, right? Right. So take a look at some of the *treasures* that represent my high school experience and see if any of them make you reach for your wallet (or run the other way).


Act now... these bargain basement beauties are priced to move!


1. The love letter that almost ruined my life, $500. I say $500 because you can't really put a price on the evidence of one's eternal mortification (and poor decision-making sills), but $500 comes close. So I was totally in love with this boy in 9th grade, and since I really thought he liked me, too, I decided to speed things along and write him a 4-page letter professing my undying devotion. That's when I learned a hard truth: although this boy was "really flattered" that I offered to be his "soulmate," he didn't like my new haircut. And also, he showed his entire football team my weepy love letter. I still cringe to think of it, so $500, $5, whatever! Just please take this memory off my hands!


2. Dark green B.U.M. hoodie from Chris, slightly worn, $5. What is it about getting a guy's sweatshirt that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? I wasn't even together with Chris, he was just a really good friend. In fact, I was one of the only girls in our group that didn't end up dating him, hence our friendship has remained intact to this day. But he gave me his B.U.M. hoodie and I loved it so much it was like my signature piece for two years in high school! Okay, when I say "slightly worn," I mean, all that's left of it is a little yellow "B" for B.U.M. that was on the front. I cut it out and saved it in my mementos because I'm sentimental like that. :-) But not so sentimental that I won't part with it for some cold hard cash! By the way, here's a shot of me and Chris, circa 1993. Don't ask why I'm half asleep and wearing a clothespin and a little plastic gun on a string around my neck, because that's obviously a story for another day.


3. George Michael poster, $2. George hung at the foot of my bed with his sunglasses, leather jacket, and just the right amount of 5 o'clock shadow in his post-Wham, pre-gay days when he was sexy as hell and I still thought I had a chance. George sang me to sleep every night and he knew all my secrets. And now you can know him -- at least, this poster version of him -- for the low low price of two dollars!


4. Triple Fat Goose down coat, Merry-Go-Round, circa 1992, $20. I literally slept under this coat the first month I had it (not because I had no blankets, but because I wanted to marry the thing). I wore it all winter, I wore it on days when it was too warm for a coat, and I wore it to formal events over my dress and heels. Seriously. I don't know why I thought I was such a badass gangsta that year, living out in the white-bread country part of a snobby suburb, but there you have it. My "TFG," to use the vernacular, was like a giant sleeping bag and covered me from neck to knees, but at least I was warm. And for one little Andrew Jackson, you can be warm, too!


5. The Best of 90s Rap Boxed Set, $10. 10 cassettes featuring such rap classics as Naughty By Nature, Geto Boys, Dr. Dre, Showbiz & AG, and many more! Continuing on that suburban gansta girl tip, I was a troubled rap aficionado stuck in the parallel life of a sweet little sophomore, droppin' beats in my curly-haired head as I let the funk flow through my Sony Walkman. Holla! Since Sony regrettably retired the Walkman last month, you may not be able to find anything to play these things, but they're still collectable and, for the rock bottom price of ten bucks, all yours!


6. Kodak Disc instant camera, slightly dented, $5. This baby accompanied me everywhere and captured lots of teen memories, from sleep-away camp to homecoming to the summer I kissed twenty boys... yeah. It was a great little camera, slightly beat up from being alternately dropped in the sand and shoved in my backpack, but excellent at recording evidence. I mean memories. Oh, for those of you who only know the world of digital photography, this one requires actual film. Disc film. Which they probably don't make anymore. Sigh. Hey, what do you want for five dollars?


The final item on our garage sale table showcasing priceless items from my teen years is...


7. Curling iron, $1. Yes! How on earth do you think I rocked those mile-high bangs? The curling iron, my friend, poofing up my poodle-hair and causing major fire hazards since 1985. Free bottle of Aqua Net and teasing comb with purchase! Now as for the eyebrows, I don't know. Obviously I hadn't learned about the benefits of tweezing yet. Just focus on that hair, and hand over your wallet, because...


WAIT! That's not all! Supplies are limited, but we're offering shoppers a one-time bonus deal... take the whole table for the low low price of... fifty cents! Yes! ACT NOW and... where are you going? You're leaving? Already? Come back! This is good stuff over here!

Okay, fine. If my high school trash is not your treasure, I hope you'll at least check out my latest novel for teens, Fixing Delilah. Delilah's garage sale experiences are much more interesting, thanks to Patrick and Emily, but you'll have to read the book to find out why!

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Find out more about Sarah and her novels here!

Review: Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Title: Five Flavors of Dumb
Author: Antony John
Publisher: Dial
Pub. Date: 11.11.2010
Genre: Contemporary YA
Keywords: Music, Friendship, Relationships, Hearing Impairments
Pages: 352
Description (from GoodReads):
THE CHALLENGE: Piper has one month to get a paying gig for Dumb—the hottest new rock band in school.
THE DEAL: If she does it, she'll become manager of the band and get her share of the profits, which she desperately needs since her parents raided her college fund.
THE CATCH: Managing one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl who is ready to beat her up. And doing it all when she's deaf. With growing self-confidence, an unexpected romance, and a new understanding of her family's decision to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, Piper just may discover her own inner rock star.

Antony John's most recent novel follows Piper, a smart, pretty girl, as she attempts to manage the band Dumb, recent Battle of the Bands winner and her only chance to earn enough money to attend the college of her dreams.


Dumb has taken Piper's high school world by storm, but they've got a lot to learn if they expect to go any further than impromptu shows on the school's front lawn. That's where Piper comes in... and she's got quite a job ahead of her. Not only is the band a mess and missing some key ingredients, Piper isn't completely sure of their sound - literally. Piper's hearing impaired, which adds a whole new level of difficulty to her task.

FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB is a story about a girl going to extreme lengths to achieve her dreams. John manages to make Piper both inspirational and relateable - no easy feat. There are often inspiring characters and relateable characters, but it's sometimes difficult to tag both of those descriptions onto one character. Piper reminds readers that dreams really can be reached, even if it doesn't happen quite the way you had planned.

The one aspect of the novel that I found a tad distracting was the maturity of Piper and some of the other characters at points. It's understandable that characters might be a bit more mature and reasonable than real young adults, but there were certain parts of the novel where Piper's actions and thoughts didn't ring true. I still enjoyed her character, she just felt a little less real during these passages.

FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB is a welcome addition to my bookshelf. I've got a weakness for contemporary YA and I'm always happy to find a new title to add to my list of recommended titles!

Guest Post: Kersten Hamilton (Author of Tyger, Tyger)

Guts and Gaps: Creating Male Characters

By Kersten Hamilton

Author of TYGER TYGER

I am a huge fan of the male gender. I have spent a lifetime studying guys – brothers, fathers, friends, a lover, and two sons. Like a field anthropologist, I have lived among them. After much up-close and personal study, I think that in our literary YA culture, we do not always give guys enough credit for what they are: male.

Sometimes, we write them as if they were large women with body hair issues. Or worse, accessories — pretty things with rock-hard abs to hang on the arm of a kick-butt heroine. Or, worse still, creatures who are smarter and stronger than the dumb, weak heroines they have fallen in love with.

Out of respect and admiration for the guys I love, I try to write honest-to-testosterone guys into my books. To be able to do that with integrity, I not only study guys in the field, I study books and movies by guys about guys.

Like Rocky, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Stallone understood exactly how to create a male protagonist with a compelling and honest love relationship. Give them guts and gaps:

Paulie: [talking about Adrian] You like her?
Rocky: Sure, I like her.
Paulie: What's the attraction?
Rocky: I dunno... she fills gaps.
Paulie: What's 'gaps'?
Rocky: I dunno, she's got gaps, I got gaps, together we fill gaps.

In Tyger Tyger there are three very different guys, all with as many guts and gaps as I could manage to write into them:

Mr. Wylltson, gentle, literary man, who loves his wife Aileen, a wild Irish girl. Finn, a scrappy street fighter who has no words to wrap around his feelings for Teagan. And Aiden, who is only five, but is trying very hard to grow into a man.

Each one of them is as absolutely male as I can make them, and therefore completely loveable.

I must admit that the kind of book that I like best has a romance between two strong characters, equally matched but delightfully different from one another.

Characters who have gaps. Who need each other.

Tyger Tyger is that kind of book.

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I loved each and every one of Hamilton's male characters, so it was great to hear her thoughts and feelings behind writing them!

Be sure to check out my review of TYGER TYGER here!

ALSO, to celebrate the novel's release, Kersten is giving away a Kindle e-reader! Check out the details here on the Teen Book Scene site and don't forget to collect the letter R from this post... you'll need it to enter!



Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Title: Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, #1)
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pub. Date: 11.15.2010
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Keywords: Mythology, Goblins, Love, Ireland, Family
Pages: 322
Description (from GoodReads):
Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right.
The goblins are coming.

TYGER TYGER has renewed my love affair with all things Irish. The mythology, the culture, the boys... Kersten Hamilton's first Goblin Wars novel showcases all three.

I loved the mythology incorporated into this novel. One of the reasons I often find YA fantasy lacking, is that the world building leaves something to be desired. When utilizing mythology, the world is already built, yet their are so many different ways to interpret and things to explore. I appreciate a world built from scratch, but, when done right, using a preconceived world and characters can be just as compelling. I think Hamilton did this successfully.

At the novel's start, I wasn't sure I'd connect with Teagan. In fact, I don't really think I connected with some parts of her personality at all - I didn't really enjoy the passages where she is working with animals at her internship - but I did like her character overall. She is relatively level-headed and definitely driven, yet she was willing to believe in this fantastical world of myth and legend. Also encouraging, I actually thought she was a great match for the romantic lead... which is important when I really like the guy!

I can easily identify Finn as my favorite character. He's Irish, he's a hero, he's in love. I can't think of anything that would have made him more appealing.

I can't wait to read Hamilton's next Goblin Wars installment! I wouldn't mind rereading TYGER TYGER and I might even seek out the original stories that inspired Hamilton.

Cover of the Week (4)

Cover of the Week is a weekly feature in which I share my current favorite cover art design.

Matched by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pub. Date: November 30, 2010
Description:
In the novel, a 17-year-old girl, who has waited her entire life to be told by a group known as “the Society” who her soul mate is, has her world upended when she discovers she’s in love with someone other than the group’s pick.

I am totally, completely in love with the cover of MATCHED. I'm really hoping that it isn't changed between now and the end of November when it is finally released! I'm a big fan of dystopian novels and good love stories and the short description of the novel seems to fit both criteria.

Cover of the Week (1)

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Pub. Date: 11/2/10

Check it out on GoodReads, here!

I love Robin McKinley, so I was pumped to see that she has a new novel being released in 2010. And then I saw the cover art. Oh. My. Gosh. It's amazing! I'm definitely buying this book when it comes out, based on the cover art alone! Although, to be honest, I'm not really worried about the novel itself disappointing either!

Cover of the Week is a weekly feature in which a novel will be highlighted based on its cover art. Novels featured may or may not be already released.