Book Review: Bait by Alex Sanchez

Secrets, pain, struggle, violence, abuse, fear, chaos. Life is full of all of those things, and most of the time we struggle to keep the balance for ourselves. But what happens when someone else makes a move in our lives that throws off our balance with out giving us a choice. Diego fights a dangerous battle in his own mind, and in his life. After being incited by a look across the lunch room by someone he assumed to be gay, he finds himself sitting in a court room being assigned a Probation Officer.

I found this book by chance, again browsing books that I wouldn't normally read. Yet I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. My profession being what it is, working in a group home with kids just like Diego, this book spoke to me. We all have secrets and sometimes they are more painful then we'd like to admit. Mr. Vidas, his PO, acts like a counselor as he tries to guide Diego through his past.

Full of imagery, and technique this book allows the reader to both glimpse a world of pain and help. Counselors have stigmatic appearance in the psychological world, with book lined walls, and a tidy super clean appearance. Mr. Vidas fails to meet this expectation but it helps create a person that believe even Santa would have no problem discussing his issues with. Diego begins on a roller coaster of emotions, and over the following months begins to work through his issues.

I hope to be Mr. Vidas one day, together with his Smiley Face Emotion Chart conquering adolescent suffering one case at a time. For anyone who cares about kids, has kids, and thinks of themselves as someone who could help, this book is for you.

Go Read It!

Movie Review: Scream 4

Psychopathy can be defined as having an overwhelming lack of empathy while masking it with an outwardly normal facade. Scream 4, and the entire series for that matter, excels at portraying characters with this issue. Which is why I love them. Movies are a cathartic experience, we have all had this feeling, that stabbing or killing is okay when we are watching it. Its why movies are what they are, and it why we go to them.

Scream 4 continues in the tradition of its predecessors, by taking a group of people and turning it on itself. You have many suspects that present themselves, but you never know who it is. The person is always just out of reach, justifications for and against each character begin to develop. It is a psychological thriller in every since of the word, and this is why I jive well with it. I like how it keeps me guess, convincing me that I'm close to the answer, and then killing my guess...sometimes literally.

This movie focuses on Sydney returning to her home town of Woodsboro, where the first movie took place, and the setting of the in movie movies. It is a great reminiscing setting for those who have loved the original movie. You get to return to the high school, where they have memorialized the former principal (Henry Winkler) and explore the police department, where Dewey is now Sheriff. As in many series, I was sad at the lack of connection to the past. Past characters, essential to Sydney's life are never mentioned, not really.

Patrick Dempsey...Where'd you go?

The kills are more interesting, the story line unique. Scream is fantastic, and Craven has dedicated himself to the story. Saying something to the effect of..."if I can't top the previous ones with out repeating them then I won't make them."

Wes Craven/Scream fans will appreciate this movie for what is and enjoy the witty genre bashing horror flick that it is.

Go watch it!

Book Review: Sweep

This is a series, about magic and high school. As is a theme in my book reviews, growing up is hard. Throw in to that, any kind of identity confusion and you have a good ole Suck-Fest. Cate Tiernan manipulates are already interesting world, into an even more interesting fantasy trip. I find myself wishing that I was born with the blood of a Witch. It makes me sad that I am not.

Morgan has discovered that she is a Blood Witch, a true witch from a long line of witches with fantastic powers and the ability to craft spells in accordance with nature and the world around them. (Think that I like magic?) She is developing her powers fast and learning what it means to be truly wiccan. Among all of this is the bombshell that she was adopted.

I am only in the Third Book, but I feel it will be a steady appearance on my "To Read" list. There are 15 books and I currently own them all. I am convinced that the story is worthy of your attention because of its personable style. The character is a teenage girl, 16-17. Very unlike her peers from other series (Zoey from House of Night) she is believable! She is taking this in stride, but I think the magical whispers and witch fire she threw at a boy trying to rape her sister, are good sobering confirmations.

Where ever you find yourself in life, you will enjoy this series. If you like Magic then it is a must read for you. Read one, and if you don't get hooked then no harm no fowl right?!

Go Read it!

Book Review: Where's My Wand? by Eric Poole

A self proclaimed autobiography this book is way out of my normal reading world. However pair together the key words of Development, Children, Magic, and Awesome and this is the book that you will find. Eric Poole recreates his childhood as he grew up and faced it in the late 60's and 70's. As a child of the 90's, born in '89, I only got references by association with my parents' reminiscing. Yet it is filled with wit, and humor that makes the book a quick and much enjoyed read.

The book actually starts with Eric being eight, and his obsession with Bewitched. A personal favorite of mine as well, he began to idolize Endora and her ability to flourish her flowing outfits and cause things to change the way she saw fit. He took this to heart and sets out to create his own magic that he hopes will be enough to smooth out the crazy that he deals with in his family.

This book faces MANY hot topics and gives a varied perspective on them. Religion, Family, Sexuality, Siblings, Friends, Bullies, Popularity...and pretty much any other -ism worthy topic in the past 30 years. He faces these things, Magic in hand, and creates a dependency/relationship with the power that he believes he has.

Being the good ole Baptist family that they are, as Eric ages he joins the Royal Ambassadors for Jesus....which the name alone blew me away. He feels that he has a perspective that many of his peers don't, because of his 'Magic', which he has stopped considering witchy magic, and now sees as the 'miracles of Jesus flowing through him'. He even goes as far as trying to exercise a demon from his friend who he believes is gay...which becomes far more ironic then is funny.

By the time the book draws closer to the end, Eric has lost his relationship with both Magic and God, and fights to reestablish one if not both. The ending is rapid, but fulfilling. Eric tells lots of stories, that leaves you desiring more of an explanation, more of a follow up. Yet with the ending that is presented you are comfortable in knowing that life comes with its ups and downs, and growing up is hard.

Go read it!

Book Review: Unwind by Neil Shusterman

As pay back for making my friend read a book that made her uncomfortable, she asked me to read Neal Shusterman's Unwind. The cover this book shows a question, "What if your parents could unwind you?" I went into this book expecting a completely uncomfortable situation, however it wasn't. Written in present tense its a little nerve racking, but nothing that doesn't go away after you are settled in.

The details are left ambiguous in the beginning of the book and that makes being with the characters so much better, because you are expected to know. You gain clearer details as the book continues, and soon you find yourself in a situation to fear being unwound yourself. The only part of the book I found uncomfortable, is that Shusterman presents 'unwinding' so clearly and easily that I found part of me thinking, "it's not a terrible idea". I quickly checked my thoughts, and let the logical side of myself kick back in....I was reading this at the group home I work in...it was my frame of mind -_- don't judge me.

The characters start off very powerful, Connor a street rat who has already been scheduled and marked as an Unwind, because he is a 'unruly child'. I found myself laughing in spite as he brought his mother flowers, and improved his grades, and started getting himself back on track after finding out that he was to be unwound by snooping. This was a painful blow to his parents...and he knew it. He later reconciles with himself and his parents, and I found myself dragged along with them.

Risa is a Ward of the state and she has very gifted skill for playing the piano, however not gifted enough. In this dystopian society, children are only guaranteed state/federal funding until they are thirteen...Risa has lasted to fifteen. They meet with her and tell her the usual propaganda about unwinding. "Your soul will be more at rest and ease in a divided state."

Lev...has the most unique story...because he is a tithe to god. Religion and Christianity being what they are embrace this new medical method with open arms. Families have taken to a new tradition of giving 1/10 of EVERYTHING, including their offspring. Lev's family had 10 kids through various methods, and their last...their "best"...their tenth was going to be unwound to serve gods will. I have no comments about this. -_-

The book creates a very dystopian society and Shusterman does it very well. It may or may not make you uncomfortable, but is definitely a painfully true book. Where it is not fact nor plausible, it rings true on a deeper level. Where we are all called to rise up against stupid, and fight for justice.

Go Read it! :D

Book Review: Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic Series

Holy Hell, its been a long couple of weeks. School is tying up for the semester and that always means crunch time. While I wasn't doing a ton of reading, I was listening to a series that I consider to be my absolute favorite. Tamora Pierce, who has already been featured on my blog, creates a world in Emelan that captured my heart maybe three years ago. In the Circle of Magic universe, there are currently ten books. And they were ALL out when I found this series. Easy, quick reads, I blazed through the series, and loved every word of it.

Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar...are all brought together by tragic or nearly so circumstances. All of them have been told they don't have magic, and will make nothing of themselves because of their quirky personalities. Well guess what, someone somewhere thinks they have a chance, and gives them their support and they blossom into the most powerful Mages around. Take that world!

Tris, is probably my favorite, being a fellow bibliophile. She is a weather witch, with the major job of controlling herself. I love what these book teach, about the self, and friends. Family is what you make it. Tradition is over rated. Magic is, literally, in everything.

The series starts with quartet of them learning to control themselves and their powers, and then a second quartet where they are on their own adventures, taking on new students. A more recent book sees them coming back together and working on re friending each other while dealing with everything that they had to while separate.

Altogether, Tamora Pierce spins yet another fascinating world, and does it so with amazing skill. Find them...like two minutes ago.