Jumpstart the World - Catherine Ryan Hyde - Blog Tour Review - Giveaway

Elle is a loner. She doesn't need people. Which is a good thing, because she's on her own: she had to move into her own apartment so her mother's boyfriend wouldn't have to deal with her.

Then she meets Frank, the guy who lives next door. He's older and has a girlfriend, but Elle can't stop thinking about him. Frank isn't like anyone Elle has ever met. He listens to her. He's gentle. And Elle is falling for him, hard. 

But Frank is different in a way that Elle was never prepared for: he's transgender. And when Elle learns the truth, her world is turned upside down. Now she'll have to search inside herself to find not only the true meaning of friendship but her own role in jumpstarting the world. 

Tender, honest, and compassionate, Jumpstart the World is a stunning story to make you laugh, cry, and honor the power of love. 

Title: Jumpstart the World

Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Publication Date: October 12, 2010

Source: Received from publicist courtesy of Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Kari from Teen Book Scene. Many thanks goes to Catherine, Knopf, and Kari for sending me this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This review (and giveaway) is part of the official Jumpstart the World blog tour.

My rating: 4/5

Jumpstart the World starts out with Elle moving into an apartment, away from her mother and her mother's new boyfriend. Alone in a new place, and starting at a new school, Elle feels displaced. She forms a friendship with her new neighbour, Frank, and also learns that she has feelings for him, regardless of his age, or the fact that he is in a committed relationship. When Elle learns that Frank is transgender she is thrown for a loop. She needs to come to terms with her feelings about him, while she is questioning her own identity as well. 

Elle is rash and impulsive. She starts out on the wrong foot at school when she shows up with her hair cut drastically short. Things end up spiraling further down when she realizes that someone has tagged her locker with a demeaning label. She makes some friends at school, but has reservations as she doesn't want others to think that she is a lesbian. She is confused and questioning herself, feeling secure in the knowledge that she likes a man, so she must not be gay. That is, until she finds out about Frank. Elle is quite tolerant of those who are GLBT, but she doesn't know what to make of Frank's revelation because of how she feels about him. She is a strong character though, and is so believable. I could fully understand her thought process, and loved how her feelings were portrayed to the reader. 

Her friends were all exceptional as well, and I loved their inclusion in the story. I especially have a soft spot for her friend, Wilbur. He is such a stoic character, and yet, he is hurting too. He is a steady shoulder for Elle, and is there when she needs him. I loved how their friendship strengthened throughout the story, but overall, I loved his character. He was a rock for her while she was questioning everything around her, and she in turn helped him as well. 

Frank was also exceptional. He's gentle, kind, accepting,  and generous. He was just amazing. When you find out he is transgender, you immediately realize, that regardless of what sex he is, be it male or female, he is still himself. He isn't defined by his sexual orientation, he is defined by who he is as a person. He is one of those characters that you just seem to fall in love with bit by bit as the story progresses. He truly is a great friend  for Elle, and I loved how their friendship fluctuated and diversified with everything that happened. 

One part that I really took to heart while reading Jumpstart the World, was when Elle reveals why she takes pictures. She says, 

"I'm trying to remind the world to be what it knows it should be." pg. 179

It is a profound statement that I find is quite apropos and is a universal message for all of us. 

All in all, this is an excellent portrayal of love, overcoming odds, and finding acceptance. An exceptional and inspiring read with a message for us all. I know I want to jumpstart the world, do you? 

Giveaway

Catherine Ryan Hyde has graciously offered up a hardcover copy of Jumpstart the World to one lucky reader. 

The contest is open to US/Canada only. Sorry to those of you who are international! :( 

Contest ends October 29, 2010. 

Please fill out THIS FORM to enter. Comments are appreciated, but they will not count as entries. Thank you. :) 

Dust City - Robert Paul Weston

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

Can Henry solve the mystery of his family's sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: Dust City

Author: Robert Paul Weston

Genre: Young Adult, Dark Fantasy

Publisher: Puffin

Publication Date: September 30, 2010

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Vimala from Penguin Canada for sending me this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

My rating: 4/5

Dust City tells the story of young Henry Whelp, and what life is like for him, the son of the wolf who murdered Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma. The fairies have left Eden and Dust City, and they have taken their fairy dust and their happily ever afters with them. The drug companies start scrambling for purchase as they mine the residual fairy dust left behind. When someone Henry is close to dies, Henry will make some startling realizations that hint that his father might have been framed all those years ago. 

Dust City is a gritty, urban, and dark fairy tale recreation. I enjoyed how Weston reverted to the original fairy tales, and how he used the darkness within them to relay this possible outcome for what happens after the magic disappears. Many of the characters within Dust City are well known in their respective fairy tales, so it was neat to see them juxtaposed in this new, alternate reality. 

Henry is a wolf, though when reading his voice throughout the book it is easy to forget that he isn't human. Well, until certain things happen, but if I mention any more I'll be giving away some of the book, and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Regardless, Henry seems like he could be a boy, rather than a wolf, but circumstances dictate that he's a wolf, and will always be looked down on as a wolf. He has the unique perspective of realizing his father has been most likely framed, and it is interesting to see how he copes with that realization, as well as the realization that things in Dust City aren't as they seem. 

There are a host of side characters who add a richness to the cast and to the book. I found it amusing to see what roles some of the fairy tale princesses played in this novel, and it was a refreshing twist on the whole fairy tale genre. 

All in all, a fresh, dark look at a promising, and unique world. I wouldn't mind reading more in this vein; especially if Weston is the one writing the re-imaginings. A realistic and raw look at life after the fairies are gone. I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and fantasy in general. Sink your teeth into Dust City. 

Scar Tissue - Marcus Sakey

Marcus Sakey has been called "the new reigning prince of crime fiction," (Chicago Tribune) and “exactly the electric jolt American crime fiction needs” (Dennis Lehane). Now from the bestselling author of THE BLADE ITSELF and GOOD PEOPLE comes an anthology of seven short stories: * “The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away” (nominated for Thriller and Macavity awards) * “The Days When You Were Anything Else” * “No One” * “Gravity and Need” * “As Breathing” * “Cobalt” * “The Time Before the Last”. These stories of men and women pushed to—and beyond—the ragged edge demonstrate why National Public Radio declared Sakey writes “crime drama for the 21st century.”

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: Scar Tissue: Seven Stories about Love and Wounds

Author: Marcus Sakey

Genre: Adult Fiction, Crime Thriller, Short Stories

Publisher: Marcus Sakey, Smashwords

Publication Date: July 14, 2010

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Dana from Kaye Publicity for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 5/5

An author has a whole book, or at least a few chapters, in which he or she needs to capture his or her audience. When an author has written a short story, he or she only has a few pages in which to capture their audience. Every sentence, and word must count. I find it is the mark of a phenomenal and talented author if he or she can capture the reader and leave them wanting more. 

Marcus Sakey is such an author. 

He writes with grit, determination, and vivid prose. This anthology captures the horrors of war, the love of a father, the bitterness of death, the loss of love, and the comical atmosphere surrounding a certain Y2K party. 

Each story gives you a sneak peek, a taste if you will, of Sakey's writing style. Within a few short sentences characters are created, worlds expand, and emotions evolve. We are given a taste of what Sakey's novels are like, with the urban, gritty feeling portrayed throughout these short stories. Sakey is at the top of his game, and I know that I for one, will be reading the rest of his books. 

Those who enjoy crime thrillers are sure to enjoy this selection and will hunger for more. For those who aren't a fan of short stories, I urge you to try this anthology as it brings together different elements for a satisfying and remarkable taste of Sakey's writing style.

Giveaway

Marcus Sakey has graciously offered up a free short story from this anthology to those who want to read it. It is available through Smashwords here. You will need to enter a coupon code at the time of checkout. The coupon code is YB98Q. I hope you enjoy the short story as much as I did. Thank you, Marcus, for allowing me to host this giveaway for you!