Review: Fire With Fire by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Published August 13th, 2013
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
528 pages (Hardcover)

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Lillia, Kat, and Mary had the perfect plan. Work together in secret to take down the people who wronged them. But things didn’t exactly go the way they’d hoped at the Homecoming Dance.

Not even close.

For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there ever was a pact. But it’s not easy, not when Reeve is still a total jerk and Rennie’s meaner than she ever was before.

And then there’s sweet little Mary…she knows there’s something seriously wrong with her. If she can’t control her anger, she’s sure that someone will get hurt even worse than Reeve was. Mary understands now that it’s not just that Reeve bullied her—it’s that he made her love him.

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, burn for a burn. A broken heart for a broken heart. The girls are up to the task. They’ll make Reeve fall in love with Lillia and then they will crush him. It’s the only way he’ll learn.It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn... (From Goodreads)

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A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence my opinions in any way.

Holy amaze-balls.  This book was SO GOOD!

Fire With Fire continues where Burn For Burn left off (you can see my review here) with the character recovering from the events of homecoming.  While they followed through with their original plan, more revenge plots are brewed and the group continues to take it out on one of the original victims.  

I love how there isn't a love triangle, but rather a crazy mess involving everyone (aka what happens in small communities).  This could suck, but it's woven together so well that I would be upset, followed by intensely hopefully, and then heartbroken.  I enjoyed every second.

Mary, Lillia and Kat are still fantastic characters.  The alternating POV is done very well.  We're also given a little more back-story on each character, and get to see each develop and grow.  The characters are definitely a strong point in this series.  I loved getting some of my questions about Mary answered, only to end up with even more!  Like I said last time, I think everyone will fall for at least one of the girls.

The ending is killer.  Literally.  I sat in bed with my jaw on the floor for the last 30-ish pages and I am not even exaggerating here.  Then I sat in bed dumbfounded.  The ending is THAT GOOD.  The whole book is like this though, drawing you in and refusing to let go.  The storylines are woven so well that every little detail has the potential to mean something much more significant!

Fans of Burn For Burn should pick up Fire With Fire immediately, and any fan of contemporary should get started on this series!  Hell, I would recommend this to anyone at all!

Review: Burn For Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Published September 18th, 2012
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
358 pages (Hardcover)

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BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste. (From Goodreads)

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Burn For Burn is a great read with revenge, drama and just a little bit of mystery thrown in.

The story is told from three different perspectives.  At first I thought that this would be annoying, but the three voices actually worked wonderfully together and were pretty seamless.  The three main characters are all very different, and I loved that!  There is something there for virtually any reader, and most people can likely connect with at least one of our three main girls.  Mary is the quiet, sweet one with a darker past.  Lillia is beautiful, popular and rich, but feels disconnected with this.  Kat used to be popular, but since the death of her mom, has strayed to a less ideal crowd.  There is something in each girl that is so alive and true that they really come to life.  I loved all three, but definitely saw little pieces of me in Mary.

And who doesn't love a little revenge?!  This plot is so good and I like that not everything is what it seems.  Little twists pop up here and there, and then there is that one big question about Mary that left me confused and curious about her!  No spoilers, but I can't wait to see how this works out in Fire With Fire.  The ending is just right, leaving the reader curious about what will happen next in this whole quest for revenge, but not suspenseful enough to make you throw the book through the window (or, in my case, Kobo, which would have been very bad).

I figured I should finally read Burn For Burn in preparation for Fire With Fire next month (August 13th, 2013).  I did not expect to love it as much as I did.  Any fan of YA contemporary/drama/revenge should read this immediately!

TGIF (5): Back To School Reading

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger over at GReads!  She asks a question, and everyone can get involved!

And today's question is...
Back To School Reading: Which books would you like to see in today's high school literature classrooms?

As someone who made it through high school reading very little of what they told me to, I like this question.  The book that comes to mind instantly is The List by Siobhan Vivian, which deals with what is beautiful and what is ugly.  I wish I had read this when I was at that stag of my life.

If they don't enjoy it, students aren't going to read it.  Books like Divergent, The Hunger Games, anything by Cassandra Clare or James Patterson should be staples.  Books that appeal to teenagers can be just as important as Shakespeare or Fitzgerald.  If you want them to read, give them material they can enjoy.  

Now, I ask you guys.  What would you keep in your literature classroom?

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

Published April1st, 2012
Push
332 pages (Hardcover)

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.  (From Goodreads)

 This book should be required reading for all high school students.

I think it may be an age thing, but there are some nasty kids in high school.  I was never popular or pretty, but I was never on the opposite end either.  I kind of floated through my first two years under the radar, until I got involved in student council.  By the time I finished grade 12, I knew a lot of people, but only had a few real friends.  My high school had it's fair share of bullying and drama, but I honestly tried to stay out of it.  I stood up for anyone who needed a helping hand, but tried my best not to get involved.

People need to realize that what you see may not be the whole story.  I particularly liked Bridget's story.  I've struggled with my weight and body image for much of my life, and have had thoughts very similar to her own.  None of my friends from high school likely know that.

But back to The List.  I really enjoyed following a week in the life of each of the characters.  They all struggled with their titles in very different ways, and I enjoyed seeing the progression.

I wanted more from one particular character.  Candace, the ugliest sophomore, had the tag line of "Beauty isn’t just skin-deep, btw."  I was expecting a real ugly personality, but I never got that.  She wasn't nice, but she wasn't awful either.


I really want to know about the characters developed in the future!  How had their lives changed by the time the graduate?  There were so many things left hanging that I really want to know.


Much love, Samantha