Blog Tour Review: Run by Kody Keplinger

Title: Run

Author: Kody Keplinger
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: June 28, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary
Source: Publisher

Pages: 288

Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Bo Dickinson is a girl with a wild reputation, a deadbeat dad, and a mama who's not exactly sober most of the time. Everyone in town knows the Dickinsons are a bad lot, but Bo doesn't care what anyone thinks.
Agnes Atwood has never gone on a date, never even stayed out past ten, and never broken any of her parents' overbearing rules. Rules that are meant to protect their legally blind daughter -- protect her from what, Agnes isn't quite sure.
Despite everything, Bo and Agnes become best friends. And it's the sort of friendship that runs truer and deeper than anything else.
So when Bo shows up in the middle of the night, with police sirens wailing in the distance, desperate to get out of town, Agnes doesn't hesitate to take off with her. But running away and not getting caught will require stealing a car, tracking down Bo's dad, staying ahead of the authorities, and -- worst of all -- confronting some ugly secrets.

I've read almost every book Kody Keplinger has released and I've devoured all of them. I'm happy to say that Run was no different in that aspect. That said, my one suggestion before picking up this book would be to put aside everything you think you know about Kody Keplinger's writing. Run is very different from her previous stories, in the best way possible. It deals with more serious issues including disability, drug use, and family struggles, but it also deals with things like friendship, first love, self discovery. You are bound to relate in some way to these characters and what they're going through. This is a raw story with very real characters.

The way Run is written in alternating points of view makes it easy to piece together the story of Agnes and Bo. You get the whole picture, but in small doses. Agnes' perspective is from the past, while Bo is telling the story in the present. I loved the way the stories came together, but the one thing that didn't work for me was that I had a hard time distinguishing their voices. They were way too similar and I had to keep checking whose perspective I was actually reading. If their voices had been a little easier to differentiate I think the story would have had an even bigger impact.

While the characters may be young at 16 and 17, this story will appeal to people of all ages. The feeling I got while I was reading it was the same feeling I got when I was younger and I read Because of Winn-Dixie. It gave me a nostalgic feeling to that summer in 5th grade. I would recommend this one as a great summer read. It's a quick book to get through, but it's filled with feeling and love. It's an important story that needs to be shared with others and I thank Kody Keplinger for writing it so beautifully. 

About Kody Keplinger:

Kody Keplinger was born and raised in small town western Kentucky, where she began her writing career after penning the New York Times and USA Today bestseller, The DUFF, at age seventeen.The DUFF, now a major motion picture, was chosen as an YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers and a Romantic Times Top Pick. Kody has since written other books for both young adult and middle grade readers. When she isn't writing, Kody is posting about fashion and body positivity on her Instagram, chatting about her favorite TV shows on Twitter, or making videos for her YouTube account. Kody is also the co-founder of Disability in KidLit and a teacher at the Gotham Writers Workshops in NYC.

Kody is active on social media, so feel free to reach out to her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

3 Finished Copies of RUN (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Get It Now: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Story time. I bought The Raven boys when it first came out in 2012. Actually, the story starts way before that. I was fangirling for this book before it was even released. I remember there was a preview that had been featured somewhere, it was like the first 30 pages? Well, I was obsessed! I tweeted and fangirled right there with the rest of the book community months in anticipation of the book. So when the book was actually released I ran off to the store (my aunt had told me she would buy me some books) and ripped it off the shelves and brought it back home with me. You would think the logical thing to do is read it, and to that I say, you are correct. But that's not what I did at all. A year later I attempted my first read of it. It didn't go so well, and then several times after that I attempted to read through it and nothing. This time I was so determined but I didn't go into it with any expectations. I picked it up one day and JUST READ.

Oh my goodness, I'm so glad I was able to get through it this time. I feel like it was the perfect time to read The Raven Boys because I ended up loving it (like I knew I would). I fell in love with the story. It's so strange, it has an almost dreamlike quality to it. The writing is fantastic and it created these images in my head, while I was reading, that took me places. I also didn't expect the story to be so uncomfortably creepy at times. There were moments when I was looking around my room making sure nothing else was lingering in the dark. I'm going to give this book huge props for being the first in an EXTREMELY long time to actually surprise me. I was shocked at this particular scene. There was no way for me to have guessed what happened and that's really a first in years. I was so shocked that I ran to Twitter and asked around to talk to someone that had already read The Raven Boys. I just needed to discuss the craziness with someone and that someone happened to be Sashana from @SheFierce1 on twitter.

The boys. Oh, the boys. I'm not sure who I love most, but I would probably say Ronan. He's complicated and special in his own way. There's just something about him that gives off this rude, I-couldn't-care-less attitude, but deep down he's probably the most caring out of all of them. It was also refreshing to see the inner workings of their friendships. They're all so unique and different that it just works. They're so close and several times during the story Blue emphasizes how in sync they are with each other. They understand each other without words, through looks and gestures. 

So I just want to say I GET IT NOW. I understand why everyone loses it over this series (or at least over this first book). I need to read the second one right now. Ronan is on the cover and that's all I need to know at the moment. Nothing else really matters. 

Review: The Nethergrim by Matthew Jobin

Title: The Nethergrim

Author: Matthew Jobin
Publisher: Puffin Books
Publication date: April 08, 2014
Genre(s): Fantasy
Source: Publicist

Pages: 361

Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

The people of Moorvale put their faith in the legend: The knight Tristan and the wizard Vithric, in an epic battle, had defeated the evil Nethergrim.
That faith is shaken when livestock go missing, only to turn up as piles of bones. But it’s when a group of children disappear that they know for sure: The Nethergrim has returned.
Edmund’s brother is one of the missing, and Edmund knows he must do something to save his life. But what? Though a student of magic, he struggles to cast even the simplest spell.
Still, he and his friends swallow their fear and set out to battle an ancient evil whose powers none of them can imagine.

I'm not sure why there aren't more people discussing this book. If you're looking for a middle grade novel reminiscent of Harry Potter, loaded with action, friendship, and fantastic life lessons, The Nethergrim is the one you want to pick up next. I listened to parts of the audiobook along with reading my copy and even the narrator reminded me of the amazing narrator for the Harry Potter books. The accents were on point, each character was easily distinguished and the story flowed perfectly. 


Every single character was a delight to read about, even the villains. The three main characters, Katherine, Edmund, and Tom all bring their own unique touch to the story. Katherine is a boss. She takes the lead when necessary, isn't afraid to tell people when they're being silly, and she always stands up for the people she loves. As for Edmund, he had a lot of growing up to do in a short amount of time and I'm happy to say that you can definitely see the character growth by the end of the novel. All that aside, I think Tom was my favorite. He is just such a sensitive soul and an absolute sweetheart, but he fights for his friends like he was made for it.

The story itself is an interesting one. Basically the past and the present intertwine to provide two pieces of a puzzle. I think I loved the story from the past more than the current one and I am very eager to see if the author delves more into the characters from the legend in the second book. Although there was magic within this world I felt like there could have been more done with it, which from the way it ended, I also think will happen in the sequel. There were some twists that I didn't expect and some that I totally saw coming. I would say even though it's middle grade, adults will enjoy is just as much even if they guess the huge twist like I did. All I have to say now is thank God I won't have to wait at all since the sequel came out May 10th! 

Here is the trailer for the second book:

Don't forget to enter the giveaway I'm hosting over on Twitter!

Review: Starflight by Melissa Landers

Title: Starflight
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication date: February 2nd, 2016
Genre(s): Young adult, Sci-fi
Source: From publisher
Pages: 369
Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

If I could sum this book up in a few words they would be, a BLAST (literally). The story takes place in a world where if you commit a crime, one of your punishments is to get a tattoo of that crime on your knuckles. Solara has committed more than one transgression, which pushes her to look for a better life far away from planet earth. Preferably where she won't be judged and where her skills as a mechanic can be valued. That's where the adventure begins. Up in space things go very wrong (as usual) and she ends up with a ragtag team on a ship that's falling apart, with the last boy she ever wants to see.  

The characters were one of my favorite parts of the story. They each bring something different to the team and that's why they work so well together. Another aspect I loved, which happens to go hand in hand with the characters is the romantic relationship in the story. You know it's going to happen. It's not something that takes you by surprise in any way, but it manages to convince you it's the real deal as the story progresses. It's slow building and very much based on trust earned, not Insta love.  

The plot of the story wasn't the most complex, but as I said before, it was enjoyable and filled with adventures. At every turn of the page there was something crazy going on. At the end something I wasn't expecting happens, and that leads to one of the most emotional moments of the story. There were moments when I was laughing, angry, happy, and gushing. There's a little bit for everyone in Starflight and if you're a fan of space pirates? You're in for a treat.  

I'm very much looking forward to the sequel, Starfall which comes out sometime next year. I know when I need something light, but filled with fun characters, that's what I'll be picking up.

Review: Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio and Will Staehle

Title: Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye
Author: Tania del Rio and Will Staehle
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publication date: November 24th, 2015
Genre(s): Middle Grade, Mystery
Source: Quirk Books for Review
Pages: 224
Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Meet Warren the 13th, a cursed 12-year-old Victorian bellhop who’s terribly unlucky . . . yet perpetually optimistic, hard-working, and curious. Orphan Warren’s pride and joy is his family’s hotel, but he’s been miserable ever since his evil Aunt Anaconda took over the management. Anaconda believes a mysterious treasure known as the All-Seeing Eye is hidden somewhere on the grounds, and she’ll do anything to find it. If Warren wants to preserve his family’s legacy, he’ll need to find the treasure first—if the hotel’s many strange and wacky guests don’t beat him to it! This middle-grade adventure features gorgeous two-color illustrations on every page and a lavish two-column Victorian design that will pull young readers into a spooky and delightful mystery.

Every now and then I find myself longing for a good middle grade that will bring me back to my childhood and serve as a quick, fun read. That's exactly what Warren the 13th accomplished. The dark, depressing sort of style is something I would have 100% picked up as a kid. I was all into dark books like A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Bailey School Kids (although that one was a bit on the lighter side) and every ghost story you could ever imagine. So if Warren the 13th had been around for me when I was actually in middle school it would have been one of my favorites. Even now I highly recommend it.

The characters are all quirky and interesting. Not only do you get their descriptions, but the story is also enhanced with drawings of the characters. This way you get to see what everyone looks like and they all have such distinct features. I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book. Here are a few pictures of what you can expect throughout the book: 

The book itself is beautiful and I will definitely have it on display at all times. 

There are so many intricacies to Warren the 13th. If I were to read it again I would probably find new things hidden within the pages of the book and within the illustrations. I feel like the author, Tania Del Rio, and the illustrator, Will Staehle, really thought out every detail of the story and how it would all tie together as a finished product. Look out for hidden codes! 

No matter what you like, there is something for everyone. There are monsters, witches, lazy old men, and some particularly strange humans. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the story and with that super secret code I cracked throughout the book I'm even more excited for book two! Excitement Level: I would do anything to get my hands on book two right now.

I recommend this gem to anyone looking to reminisce on their childhood or looking for the next middle grade adventure story that will capture readers of every age. 

Review: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Title: Hollow City
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publication date: February 24th, 2015
Genre(s): Young adult
Source: Bought
Pages: 416
Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

I finished this book 5 minutes ago and I'm reeling from the cliffhanger, sighing over the prose, running my hands over that gorgeous cover and going through all the photographs all at once.

Very simply put, this book was awesome. A stunning, nail-bitingly kickass sequel to one of my favourite series. Riggs progresses from his debut novel into the sequel with complete finesse. Never once does the plot falter or the pacing sound off. The work he put into this novel shines through each chapter, through each vividly different era or loop. It enhances what the first book introduced. It brings something new to the scene. It makes it's characters more dimensional. I'm literally gushing here guys. That's how great this book was.

Let's break this down, shall we?

Prose. I can't even tell you how many times I've read a paragraph over and over, getting the feel of the prose, savouring it slowly. It was just as gorgeous and hauntingly captivating as Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (MPHPC from now on), if not more. His prose is vivid, detailed, and lyrical without sounding contrived or pretentious. It's very much in sync with Jacob's character and narrative tone. Writing a book requires a combination of good writing, and good storytelling— and Riggs excels at both, hands down. I will mention, though, that his writing style sorts of puts the reader at a distance from the characters. I felt like I was watching the story unfold, not living it, you know?

Pacing. I loved the pacing of this book a lot more than MPHPC. In the first book, the action picks up primarily in the second half, but Hollow City starts with a bang, leads the reader through a hell of a roller coaster ride, and ends with an even bigger bang. The characters are always on the move, always getting into some situation or the other and just when you think they can catch a break, Riggs twirls his proverbial moustache and goes LOL NO SORRY.

I loved it.

Character. Another aspect of the book I really loved was character development. As the ten peculiar children set off on their quest to help Miss Peregrine change back, they encounter more peculiar children, stumble into several loops and venture into different eras. Each subplot contributed significantly to their character. It allowed me to understand them more, in a way. They weren't particularly memorable for me in MPHPC, but they definitely distinguished themselves now. Enoch's cynicism, Olive's childishness, Emma's steeliness, Horace's sensitivity, Brownwyn's kindness-- I loved discovering these little aspects to their character as they all took on a more central role in this book. Riggs establishes the concept of team work wonderfully and realistically: the peculiar kids have their differences and are a little bewildered without their leader, but they all work it out by playing their strengths, and that's what really matters at the end.

If Jacob underwent a huge transformation in MPHPC, it was nothing compared to his emotional journey in Hollow City. As he battles his own insecurities about his peculiarity and tries to cope with his feelings for Emma, he comes into his own and gradually becomes more confident, more sure of himself. I do want to admit, though that I still haven't connected with him fully. I can't pinpoint it, but I'm still not on board with him as a main character.

Another not-so-nice aspect of the story? The romance. It's contrived and yuck and pointless. I just can't, I won't ship Emma and Jacob. Their ship is like a little rubber boat that's deflating with each chapter. I just don't see what they see in each other. Chemistry is zilch, nada. And there's the whole aspect where Emma is Jacob's grandfathers ex, that takes icky age difference to another insane level.

However, I’m immensely looking forward to Library of Souls, because Ransom Riggs you don’t end books like that.

Review: Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Title: Symptoms of Being Human

Author: Jeff Garvin

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

Publication date: February 2nd, 2016

Genre(s): Young adult

Source: I received this as an e-ARC from Balzer and Bray on Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to them!

Pages: 352

Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?
Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is . . . Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.
On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender-fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.

This was the first 2016 ARC I decided to pick up and I was hoping that it would be amazing. I forced myself to wait until November and then decided I would finally allow myself to start reading the 2016 books. My hopes were definitely met. I loved this book so, so, so much. It was made up of wonderful characters, beautiful writing, a diverse topic not seen much in YA, and so much more.

One thing I loved right off the bat was the family dynamics. In lots of YA, the parents are only mentioned once or twice, in passing, if at all. In this book, the mom and dad were present and there were lots of scenes with them in it and I really appreciated that. I also loved all of Riley's (the main character) friends. They were so supportive, accepting, and loving of her and it just filled my heart with warmth. Riley is a gender fluid person, meaning some days Riley wakes up and feels like a boy while other days, Riley feels like a boy. Riley described it as having a compass and every morning, the compass was either pointing to male or female for that day. I am not going to lie, before reading this book I did not know much about the term gender fluid. I had heard about it before but never really understood it. After reading this, I now know so much more about it and I am glad that I am not ignorant of that topic anymore. 

Riley posts on a blog to vent about emotions and I thought that was really interesting. I loved reading the blog posts and seeing the comments Riley received and how Riley dealt with the comments, both the negative and positive ones. I thought that was another really interesting aspect of the book. This story is about Riley's journey of coming out as gender fluid and I enjoyed being on this journey. Riley's journey broke my heart into about a million pieces but then put it all back together. I couldn't stop reading it. I was addicted to my Kindle the entire day and I didn't want anyone interrupting me. It was totally addictive but in a good way. This was such an amazing novel and I would recommend it to anyone. 

Review: I See Reality (12 Short Stories)

Title: I See Reality
Author: Various Authors
Publisher: Farrar, Starus and Giroux
Publication date: January 26, 2016
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary
Source: Netgalley
Pages: 304
Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Twelve original stories by top MCPG authors explore real issues for real teens.

Through prose and comics alike, these heart-pounding short stories ask hard questions about a range of topics from sexuality and addiction to violence and immigration. Here is the perfect tool for starting tough discussions or simply as an introduction to realistic literary fiction. In turns funny, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking, I See Reality will resonate with today's teens long after the last page has been turned.

Contributing authors include Jay Clark, Kristin Clark, Heather Demetrios, Stephen Emond, Patrick Flores-Scott, Faith Hicks, Trisha Leaver, Kekla Magoon, Marcella Pixley, James Preller, Jason Schmidt, and Jordan Sonnenblick.

Short story anthologies are usually a strange experience, while you may absolutely love some stories, there are always bound to be some you just don't like. I'm going to be honest, this one was more difficult than usual to get through. It started off pretty strong but as it went on the feel of the stories were starting to mix together. Everything had this sort of depressing coat over it. This anthology has nothing light in it (maybe the little graphic in the middle) and you have to be ready to read about some serious topics when you pick it up.

Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios

I feel like this was a very powerful short story. It managed to be extremely impactful in such a short format. This tells the three imaginary conversations a girl, Jessa, has with her verbally and emotionally abusive boyfriend. You find yourself pushing for her to get out of this situation and Heather accomplishes this connection between the reader and Jessa in three short chapters. The story really feels complete by the end. You can tell what happened and how the abusive relationship started and that doesn't happen often in short stories. (4/5 stars) 

The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

This short story features a gay teen. The thing I really loved about it was that Chris doesn't make a big deal about being gay. It's just part of his life and he doesn't feel the need to come out and announce it. He's content with it. But when he does some out not even his closest friends seem to believe him. I liked the focus on  stereotypes and how people need to be more accepting and not just go off of whatever stereotype they believe. (3/5 stars) 

The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond 

This third story is actually the most interesting and the weirdest. First, the narrator (main character) is a cat. Second, it's a mystery where you try to find out who the Creeper is. Third, it had some pretty cool drawings on the pages. It had so much potential to be something great and different, but it fell flat to me. It just ended up being weird. The mystery wasn't all that mysterious and it felt like a deep conversation that went no where. (1.5/5 stars)

Makeshift by Kekla Magoon

This story was about a girl and her mom who have to leave the life they know behind and start over. Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one much either. I'm starting to see a pattern in this collections of short stories, they all feel a bit incomplete. I get that they're short, but so far I feel like I'm missing something. (2/5 stars)

Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt 

This story was most definitely one with the biggest shock factor for me. It's centered around a relationship and a school shooting. I was reading this particular story at night and the descriptions of the shooting were horrifying. I found myself gasping and wanting to cry. Shootings have been in the news a lot lately and this story just put it into a new perspective. There's a part where the author describes the shooter walking down the empty school hall and just occasionally shooting into random classrooms that gave me absolute chills. I had to actually pause and put my kindle down for a minute and reflect on it. This is one of my favorites of the anthology. (5/5 stars)

Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark 

Okay, I was down with this story until the very end. What just happened? We follow a high school senior and his struggles with life and relationships. I love the way it takes you through months of his life and I really enjoyed seeing his character grow and change. That was my favorite part of the story, but then towards the end when I thought the story was going one way it swapped completely. I think I understand but I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. (3.5/5 stars) 

Hush by Marcella Pixley 

This story made me extremely uncomfortable and I think that was the exact purpose of the way it was written. It's about a girl and her mother and the story of why they never leave their house. It was so disturbing to read and to see what led them to be in that situation. It made me sad and angry for what the main girl had to go through. (3/5 stars)

Blackbird by Trisha Leaver 

This was also one of the few that I can say I would read over and over from this anthology. I liked the characters, the story, the writing. It all worked for me in these few pages Trisha had to capture the reader. It's about the aftermath of being the sister of a school shooter. It was serious, it was light, it was what I needed after that string of not so great stories. (4.5/5 stars)

Untitled by Faith Erin Hicks 

This was strange lol. It's a tiny comic and I'm not going to say anything about it because anything I say would give too much away. But it was okay, it wasn't anything special or interesting. It was just there. A tiny two page comic in the middle of the book. (2/5 stars)

The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick 

The story of a boy who loves a girl, except it's anything but typical. I really liked this story. It's told in the span of four years and I've realized I like stories that take place over time the best. It feels like you get more of the characters, their character growth is more obvious, and you get more story development within such a short story. (4.5/5 stars)

The Mistake by James Preller

It was okay. I don't really have much to say about this one. By this point in the stories even if they're good they're not AMAZING and I'm not at all invested. This one was just okay. (3.5/5 stars)

The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott 

What an impactful story. It seems fitting that the anthology opened with a very powerful story and ended with one as well. As I was reading a letter that is written within this short story I found myself relating to the character. There was so much emotion that I couldn't put the book down. What a way to end this anthology with a bang. This brought it back for me. (5/5 stars)

Review: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication date: January 5, 2016
Genre(s): Young adult, Historical, Time Travel
Source: ARC from Disney Hyperion
Pages: 496
Add to Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

As soon as I heard about Alexandra Bracken's new book I knew I had to get a copy as soon as humanly possible. I was so excited to start it that I put aside all other books when Passenger came in the mail. Let's be real. A time travel story that promised adventure, awesome fashion from different time periods, a creepy bad guy (my favorite kind of bad guy), and a romance that sounded so swoon worthy? What could go wrong? It seems like a lot went wrong in this book for me.

Etta is a musical prodigy that is finally going to have her debut into the musical world like her musical inspirations before her, but is suddenly, and very literally, pushed into the middle of a power struggle between a completely evil man and some other just as evil people. There are very few people she can trust and now has to embark on this journey through time in order to find a powerful object. In comes Nicholas who wants nothing to do with this but is forced into the journey as well, and thank God because I really did like his character.

I seem to have a very strange relationship with Alexandra Bracken's books. Even though The Darkest Minds is one of my all time favorite books and probably my #1 book of 2013 (even though it was the last book I read of 2013 and it had a lot of other amazing competition), it took me a couple tries to finally get hooked into the story. The same thing happened with Passenger, except sadly it never really hooked me. I thought I would fly through the story since Alexandra Bracken writes fantastic characters, and I knew that now from having stuck with The Darkest Minds, but instead I spent 4 days getting past the first 100 pages. I would like to say that once your past that it's a fast ride into the depths of Etta and Nicholas' story, sadly that wasn't the case for me. It took me forever, and by forever I mean almost a month, to finish Passenger. I thought the first 4 days of me reading it was tough? I didn't know what I had coming.

The story itself was interesting and I wanted to know more, but the slow writing killed it for me. The actual dialogue was few and far between and there were more descriptions and inner monologues than anything else. Passenger could have easily been 300 pages instead of almost 500. While I was interested in what was coming, after around page 250 I couldn't bring myself to even look at the book for a while. That was so painful to me to want to love a book so much but at the same time have no desire to read it. There were things going on in the story but at the same time I felt like NOTHING was happening. It was the same thing over and over again; find a passage, go through the passage, find another passage, go through that passage. The promise of a treasure hunt through time was something that I didn't know I needed in my life until I first heard about it, but this didn't deliver. 

What saved the book for me (and I wouldn't call it saving because I still struggled) were the characters. I was fairly attached to them. I'm intrigued as to where the sequel is going to take these characters, but I'm seriously hoping for less descriptions and more action in the sequel. The ending also kind of gives me hope for the second book. I like where the story is going and how it's starting to take shape.

The good thing about 2016 is that it seems to be the year of time travel stories. I'm sure if this falls short for you, as it did for me, one of the million other ones will fulfill our need for an action packed time travel story with a sprinkle of that dramatic romance that time travel stories always seem to bring.

One thing I will say is that I would love to see Passenger turned into a movie. I think it would be perfect as a movie since they could really play on the descriptions and we would get to see how they work with the different centuries. I would personally die to see the costumes. Seeing Nicholas on the big screen wouldn't hurt either. If you're a fan of historical fiction with lots of descriptions maybe Passenger will be the book for you!