Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Reading level: Young Adult

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Rated 9/10

"Perfect on the outside, but behind the Normal Rockwell facades, each holds its secrets. Dark, untellable. Practically unbelievable." — IDENTICAL

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for US Congress. Everything on the surface seems fine, but underneath run very deep and damaging secrets. What really happened when the girls were 7 years old in that car accident that Daddy caused? And why is Mom never home, always running far away to pursue some new dream? Raeanne goes after painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to dull her pain and anger. Kaeleigh always tries so hard to be the good girl — her father's perfect little flower. But when the girls were 9, Daddy started to turn to his beloved Kaeleigh in ways a father never should and has been sexually abusing her for years. For Raeanne, she needs to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite; for Kaeleigh, she wants to do everything she can to feel something normal, even if it means cutting herself and vomiting after every binge.

How Kaeleigh and Raeanne figure out just what it means to be whole again when their entire world has been torn to shreads is the guts and heart of this powerful, disturbing, and utterly remarkable book.

MY REVIEW
It's a good book but it's also a little disturbing. I had to force myself to read some parts, and it's not because it was bad or boring, it was because some parts were too hard to read for me. There are some really hard things to read in this book, a lot of mature subject matter. There's a twist most will not expect at the end and will be suprised when reading it. Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins. Kaeleigh has been sexually abused by her father since she was a child and finds it hard to say no to anything. The only good things she has going for her life is Ian. Raeanne always has to be high, and loves to be used on her own terms. She loves having sex with many different guys and finds herself attracted to one of her teachers. I'm not gonna get too much into the plot because if I do I can easily give it away. So if you don't mind the sensitve subject matter of drugs, sex, and sexual abuse then I say read this book. It will be one of those books you will think about long after.

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

Author: Laura Wiess

Reading level: Young Adult

Publisher: MTV

Rated 9/10

                                                                                   

They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.

Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.


Today her time has run out.

MY REVIEW
I liked this book but it made me really angry when reading it, knowing this happens in real life everyday. I wanted so bad to punch her mother in the face,yes I know she's just a character in a book but being a mother myself, it just pissed me off so much how she stuck up for the man who did that to her daughter. Fifteen year old Meredith has spent the last three years without her father because he raped her and other kids. Angry that the system has failed her,he was supposed to be in there til after she turned eighteen(nine years), she tries everything in her power she can think of to repel her father from her. Her tactics don't work so her neighbor, a retired police officer gives her some hidden cameras to put around her house to catch him in the act and hopefully put him away for good. Meanwhile she's dealing with her boyfriend(Andy) leaving for a few days. For the last year he's been her rock to keep her strong. They both share the hurt of being taken advantage of by her father and she thinks he might not come back because of her father being back. The book is fast paced and gets straight to point,it takes you into a world most of us would rather not go.

Fade by Lisa McMann

Author: Lisa McMann

Reading level: Young Adult

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Rated 4/10

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They’re just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody’s talking. When Janie taps into a classmate’s violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open – but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie’s in way over her head, and Cabel’s shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability – and it’s bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what’s to come is way darker than she’d feared…

MY REVIEW
This is the second book in the Wake trilogy. I didn't really like this book all too much, it wasn't that it was terrible but to me it was boring in way too many places and seemed forced at times. Now I know a lot of people who read this book are gonna tell me different,but that just the way I feel about it.I've already checked out the third book, so I'll read it and see how it all ends,maybe I might like it more. Janie is in her senior year of high school and working as a nark with her boyfriend Cabel. They are assigned to work a case where they think there is a sexual predator at the school. Soon Janie comes to believe it is Mr. Durbin,her Chem teacher. She gets him to think she's in to him and at a party he throws for his students she learns the shocking truth of what is really happening. And learns how being a dream catcher is going to affect her health and future,for the better and the worse. Now all that being said most people are going to like this book,I suggest you read it and find out for yourself.