Some Girls Are By Courtney Summers






Good luck, Regina," Liz says. "You'll need it."

There's something quietly amazing about this moment, where I'm looking at Kara and she's acting like she's me.  



  • Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Griffin,U.S.; 1 edition (4 Jan 2010)  
  • Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary  Source: bought

"I'm struck by how amazing it is and how sad that makes me, because I've never seen that. He's not like that around me. The way his 
mouth quirks and lights up his eyes. He should smile more often. It's so innocent."




But the most beautiful thing about it is, this is nothing compared to the work they've put into destroying me. Nothing. I don't even have to break a sweat. Anna's been so untouched for years that she'll wake up tomorrow and her world will end.


Reading SOME GIRLS ARE was extremely tough for me. Even during the last ten pages or so I was doubting for the first time if I could finish it. Even as I write this review I'm not sure how I really feel. 

I think I'm going to get a little personal here. It's relevant to the story, important, and it seems the only way that I can give you a hint of where I'm coming from.

I had two best friends for over nine years.  Nine, excruciating, fucked up years. One was exactly like Anna; the boss and the other the sidekick being Regina; the bystander. Regina is right. The fear of being alone is very powerful, and it takes a lot to break free. I did eventually. It's something that's well behind me. So you see Regina is right regarding Liz when she says that she will get over what she did to her once she's left school, but she forgot to mention that she might get past it, but she'll never forget. It brought back memories that I have blocked for over three years now. I felt like I was reliving those days all over again, and as much as I hated how it reminded me of the past, I couldn't help but feel intrigued by Regina as much as I couldn't stand her. 

You see Regina has always been a part of the popular crowd, but only though staying on Anna's good side by tagging along and at times doing her dirty work for her. So when she's accused of sleeping with Anna's boyfriend, thanks to Kara, everyone turns against her. All the years that she and Anna have spent placing fear into every individual in the school is coming back to haunt her in the following days. As they say; paybacks a bitch. And for Regina this is just the beginning. Suddenly she finds herself completely isolated and ruthlessly bullied, not only by Anna and her gang but by countless others who have waited for this opportunity for a long time. 

I battled with this book throughout. It seemed unfair to have to see things from Regina's POV because at times I didn't feel like she deserved to tell her story. She didn't deserve for a hint of pity from Michael and Liz. The very two people whose life Anna made hell as she watched on. Two people that she ironically finds herself turning to during this hard time. Regina was cruel, selfish and a straight up bitch. Yet she had this quality about her that made you root for her, that made you want to be there for her. I hurt when she hurt. I grew anxious when I saw something horrible approaching. This girl goes through hell and back and it reminded me how cruel girls and high school can be; how ruthless. But then other times she would leave me conflicted when she acted just as bad as those who hurt her. It made her just like them, so where does the leave the reader? I saw my mate in her and it got to me; that after all these years I had to go through it all over again only through her. But in a freakish way it made me understand those bullies a little better. I might still not be too fond of the the sight of them, but I think I can understand them a little better. Although now I'm past caring.

SOME GIRLS ARE gave me butterflies countless times, made me hold my breathe and resulted in me contemplating in asking my brother to leave the room. As I read along the book became intimate, personal and harder to read. It became hard to read what was happening to her, but I also resented how she never learned or seemed to want to admit to her mistakes - not like she meant it anyway. If she had she wouldn't have reacted the way she did. She would have understood Kara a little better, and I don't know what to make of that. Kara took every opportunity to ruin her and take her place as Anna's best friend after she was isolated, but she had her reasons - good reasons. And although that is no excuse, it's understandable. I grew frustrated with Regina so many times throughout this book. Sure it was nice when she changed a little but why should it take a fall from grace to implement that? Why? Do I feel sorry for her? A little. But that might be down to the fact that I'm disgustingly soft. I don't hate anyone, and never will. I have my own ways in dealing with things but it's girls like Liz - who once trusted our protagonist, who may never fully be able to forgive her. Girls like Kara whose anger will eat them up inside and that's entirely Regina's fault. But Regina is so stubborn that she refuses to see past Kara's actions towards her, look beneath the surface and understand WHY she is doing what she is. Kara wanted something from her, something simple that she deserved, but when you have two stubborn, hurt, and angry girls like these it's hard to say if either are willing to talk or compromise.  

Through all of this she seeks comfort through a boy named Michael. The very boy who has her to blame for being a social outcast. As tough of a time he gives her she is lucky for even that. The thing about Regina is that she's realistic about things. She knows that the teachers will ignore what's happening, that her mother is too stuck in her own world to notice and so she sucks it up and sits with Michael during lunch times who has every reason to hate her. Yet it's this very boy that may be the one to give her old self back; to give her happiness. It's an understatement to say that Michael and Liz were my absolute favourite characters. Out of everything that is wrong and horrible in Regina's life, in that school - they are the two that are grounded, caring and lovable. I wanted to hold on to them and ask them both to hang in there. Like I said; our MC is more lucky to have these two in her life - especially taking into account what she did to them - than she realises.

And so I'm left with a book that blew me away in that; I-think-I'm-in-love kind of way. Gripping, heart-breaking and beautifully told - SOME GIRLS ARE is a definite highlight books-wise of 2011. 

READ IT <3 


I curl into the ground until I can feel it's cold everywhere and I know I have to move. I push myself up on my elbows, my knees, Stand. Stand, Regina. It's easy. Stand.
You do it every day.  


She stops. We stare at each other, but I can't hold her gaze, and I feel her looking at me long after I look away. I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes."Regina," Liz says sharply, like I'm dying right in front of her. I open my eyes and laugh a little at that thought.

Posted by Blueicegal ♥ at 21:27 Comments
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BR - Liesl & Po By Lauren Oliver






Paperback: (ARC) 307 pages  Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton 
Genre: Middle Grade - fantasy Source: Publisher

Rating: 
   






My Thoughts - From the moment you read the authors introduction which explains what inspired her to write this book - you find that the book is more than just another story, another project. It's a very big part of the author - it represents the passing of a best friend - it's personal. As the author mentions. LIESL & PO is the most personal book she has ever written. You flip to the first page with your eyes a little more wide open, aware, and even a little heavy hearted. Yet the world you discover beneath these very pages is delightful and magical. A story that belongs to a young girl called Liesl who lives in an attic locked away by her stepmother. Liesl's father has recently died and she feels more lonely than ever. She spends her days in the attic without complaint, eating what little is given to her by the servants and drawing to pass the time.

A lost boy called Will and a ghost under the name Po and his pet that are in between the living and the dead are the very characters that will change all that. Po's referred to as "IT" and it's interesting to see things from his perspective. I enjoyed how throughout the book he became more human - almost discovered feeling, and from time to time had a vulnerability about him when it came to Liesl. When Liesl, Will and Po come together the three set out to help one another and most importantly help Liesl do what in her hearts of hearts she knows she must. What I loved also was these three characters discovering themselves with each day and growing. Will has noticed the pretty Liesl for weeks if not months as he has stopped by her window nearly everyday, struck by her heart shaped face and this array of loneliness about her that matches his very own - on the way to doing errands for the Alchemist. You then have Po who seems to be changing in his own way the longer he spends time with Liesl. You notice through little clues. Such as; when he becomes irritated when Will is around, or when Liesl is paying him more attention - which I found amusing as well as quite touching. Or perhaps when Liesl questions him being real which often seems to hit a nerve. In a way she brings a little part of him alive a little more everyday through keeping him in touch with reality. I felt sorry for Po at times. His sadness weighed heavy on me. It must be hard for him to know that he can never touch her, express himself the way Will can. Then there is Liesl who finds herself grow warm with compassion for these very two individuals who have stayed by her side and protected her. Seeing the three of them grow closer day by day, look out for each other and trust one another is lovely. I became fond of them and found that they were all precious to me. I wanted to protect them during the not so great days.

I don't read MG but reading this book has opened me up to the possibility of reading more.  Although the premise isn't really anything new or remarkable it's the characters that will win over the hearts of readers  - particularly Liesl. Of course it helps that the author has a way with words. LIESL & PO was fast paced, delightful and completely endearing. Liesl is a character who you can't help but love. Trusting, adorable, caring and naive she is a breathe of fresh air. As the three set off on their journey they will face countless obstacles; particularly people who have other motives. In a dark dreary world that seems to have lost all colour, our protagonist seems to be the only one who shines bright. 
The illustrations only brought the book and characters to life, and were are a much welcomed addition to the book. The ending itself is beautiful, but more so perhaps because of the awareness of what it represents. When I saw a certain part I couldn't help but think of the author and her best friend; I couldn't help but think how hard and sometimes unbearable, as well as bitter - sweet it must have been to write this book; that very part. It was these thoughts which made my eyes well up and realise just how personal this book truly was. It made LIESL & PO all the more wonderful to me.    

Posted by Blueicegal ♥ at 21:06 Comments
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BR - Fixing Delilah By Sarah Ockler


And oh my God. Patrick can sing. I don't mean la - la la sing. I mean, sing sing. Goose - bumps, holding - our - breath, lumps - in - our - throat, tears - in - our - eyes, all - we need - is - love kind of sing. He belts it straight out, his voice like milk and honey, and everything rich and warm and good. I want to drink it. To take off my clothes and slip into his music like a hot bubble bath. 

 He didn't care. Being with him was about one thing. And I was fearless with him. Crazed. Alive. And a little bit Oh yeah? Say it. I fucking dare you.


Hardcover: 320 pages  Publishers; Little, Brown Young Readers ( 20 Jan 2011)  Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary  Source: Bought

           Rating;  




   " Thank you," I whisper into the dark space of the closet. 

"I'm not in love with him. I'm in love with the way he erases things."


My Thoughts - Having read TWENTY BOY SUMMER I suppose I expected FIXING DELILAH to be just as good, if not better. Unfortunately it didn't quite meet my expectations. I dug in expecting to be overwhelmed with emotion, to completely adore the main character and to fall in love with this book, and when it became apparent that I was aware of every page I turned I couldn't help but feel disappointed. I expected it to be a fast read, to not be aware of how long it was taking me to read the book. But I wanted to love it so bad that it made me a little sad. I have a fondness for my grief books - I thought this would be one of those. 

Do keep in mind though that the premise is great, and the book itself did have its moments. 

Delilah is on the rebellious side. Her sneaking out at night and hanging with the wrong kind of boy is proof of that. They have a "no strings attached" kind of relationship, well, calling it a relationship would be pulling it a stretch. But Delilah is no naive girl and she likes what they have. Finn is an easy escape from the life back home. If anything, this book tackles rather well how the lack of communication between the parent and the child can affect both. Delilah's mother hardly knows her daughter anymore and is a full on workaholic; due to this she fails to notice her daughters extra curricular activities - not until it too late anyway and her grades have started to slip. 

Upon the news that that her grandmother has passed away, Delilah and her mother must now return to the very place which they left eight years ago to never return. A place which holds secrets and a tragedy that her mother has been keeping from her for too long. There's an array of unfinished business at her mothers home-town and it seems as though Delilah is the only one out of the loop. But being there might just result in our protagonist uncovering more than she bargained for. 

Her mother I was a little iffy about. I didn't like her to be honest. It wasn't so much what she did as fucked up as it was, no, but that she hid it for so long; gave her daughter a lie to live by. What she did was wrong and I don't think any excuse accounts for it because I think we all know that had they not gone back she would have never told her the truth, and knowing that makes me so angry. That you can take away so much from your child when they have every right to know. And do it out of selfishness in my opinion is just unacceptable, but then I would become annoyed with our MC for not trying harder. For backing down every time her mother froze. If she was truly desperate to know the truth as she made it out to be then she should have tried a lot harder instead of complaining. Harsh, I know, but true. 

FIXING DELILAH had so much promise, but the slow pace of the book and the lack of attachment I felt for the characters kind of obliterated that. I found myself enjoying knowing more about the mystery sister, Patrick who was a complete sweetheart, and the actual Diary which had me very curious - I seem to have an affinity to all things sister + death = Diary related. And oh my, those quotes *sighs* There were so many of them that clicked with me, that I bookmarked time and time again. I wanted to stuff them in my pocket, lock them in a box for safe keeping. It's when I look back at those quotes - as you'll see through the ones I've picked for the review - that I wish I could have loved this book more. Yet it was all these things combined which gave this book that one extra star. 

I didn't love it, but I did like it. It was a good enough read, but the fact that I knew it could have been a whole lot better brought it down a notch. I wanted to feel her grief, to connect with her but I just couldn't. However, I can still respect the fact that the family issues were done quite wonderfully and was perhaps one of the highlights about the book. 

FIXING DELILAH is not a book that I would recommend you completely cross off your TBR pile because I have read some lovely gushing reviews on this book - in which case - some might find themselves enjoying it more than others. 

  
Patrick's hand continues to follow the lines of my face as I close my eyes, his fingers running through my hair and onto my shoulders and back again, brushing the soft edges of my ears, eyebrows, my cheeks. Soon, his touch is warm on my neck and collarbone, and when his fingers float across my lips, I open my eyes. He has to kiss me.  He has to kiss me right now or I will die a thousand deaths in a thousand little firecracker explosions under the biggest weeping willow in all of Vermont.

"Oh, so you're untouchable, huh, Delilah? You and your fucked-up relationship with your mother and everyone else in your life? Great. Does getting pissed at me make it better? does it fix ANYTHING?"
"You! Can't! Fix! Me!" 

Posted by Blueicegal ♥ at 22:13 Comments
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