Title: When You Were Here
Author: Daisy Whitney (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publish Date: June 4, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 257
Source: Publisher

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see. Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

Danny is adrift. He just lost his mother, his life is spinning into a world that is darker, harder to emotionally process and, frankly, he's completely overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. When a letter arrives from his mother's treatment facility in Tokyo, it's his chance to step away from it all, process what has happened and maybe, just maybe find out how to cope with his mother's death and how to take the first steps in moving on. But first, he needs to set forth on a journey of self-discovery.

When I look for contemporary fiction to read, I look for something that will actually tug at my heartstrings and make me feel something. There is something to be said for a book that can coax you to the brink of tears, and then ever-so-carefully walk you back off that ledge and help heal you through its pages. I've read some of Daisy Whitney's work before, and I have to say that When You Were Here is a standout among not only her titles, but many books on the shelves today. Intricately weaving the arduous process of grieving with an incredible journey of self-discovery, When You Were Here not only tugs at your heartstrings, but will help you heal and find a sense of peace.

So often in YA books, we're presented with a male narrator whose voice is far less than authentic, disingenuous and, frankly, a mere shade of what we might consider a teenage boy to truly sound and act like. When You Were Here, however, gives us an eighteen-year-old boy in Danny, and we can sense the authenticity of his voice from the start. Rather than simply telling us how he feels in the wake of extraordinary loss, we watch as he expresses his pain through his actions and interactions with others, breathing life into what could have been a very shallow and lifeless story. Throughout the story, we're presented secondary characters such as Kana, who helped care for his mother's apartment during her treatment. I was so worried we'd be offered a cloying and false relationship for instant gratification and momentary comfort, but instead we're offered a powerful character who offers Danny friendship when he needs it most. One of the most powerful elements for me, however, was the introduction of Holland, Danny's ex, and how her storyline was ultimately ingrained within his own. We learn that appearances and pretenses can be deceiving, and there is much more to her story and, because of this, Danny's story, as well. Through it all, When You Were Here breaks us down to our barest emotions, then helps us slowly and gently piece ourselves and our emotions back together with great humility, which is an incredibly powerful thing to do.

I know that I'm writing a dissertation here, but When You Were Here was such a beautifully-crafted book that I could sing its praises all day. With a true and genuine voice and endless heart, this book is pure magic. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction. I do want to advice readers of tasteful sexual situations, so this might be for an upper YA audience.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Insomnia
Author: J.R. Johansson (Twitter)
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: June 8, 2013
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Thriller
Pages: 360
Source: Publisher

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Parker hasn't slept in four years. In that time, he finds that everything around him is becoming more and more unbearable. Instead of sleeping at night, Parker unwillingly slips into the dreams of those with whom he makes eye contact during the day. It's a deadly and painful condition in which he loses all control becoming crushed by the weight of others' lives each night. But when Parker meets Mia and discovers an antidote to this disease that is slowly killing him, he wants...and needs to be around her. Unfortunately, somebody else has their eye on Mia, and suspicions are eventually bound to turn right back around to Parker.

It's always refreshing when a book comes onto the scene with something new to offer, and Insomnia promised to do that exactly. Offering a male main character with a crippling power that, while not altogether new in the realm of YA paranormal, definitely sets itself apart, we're given a new twist on thrilling and mysterious adventures. J.R. Johansson has crafted an edge-of-your-seat, suspense-filled novel filled with twists and turns that are sure to keep you guessing. Insomnia is one of those books that might just keep you awake for days.

There was a lot about Insomnia that I found quite refreshing. In large part, I thought that Parker was a believable and relatable main character. His agony and desperation to sleep was tangible, and you could definitely feel his frustration with his inability to share this condition with anyone else. Because this was so thoroughly explored, his fascination with Mia was entirely plausible, though I'll admit it was still bordering on psychotic. That, in a nutshell, is why I enjoyed the premise of Insomnia. There's a touch of psychosis to this novel, and you need to sift through the layers of stress, damage and trauma to expose who these characters, namely Parker, really are. I will say that I felt Mia was a bit too much of a flat character. Because I felt like I never really got to know her, the hints of romance felt a bit stereotypical and forced to me, which detracted from the overall message of Insomnia. However, the strength of the book is honestly the no-holds-barred take on the creepy elements, and it lets them sing through the pages, leaving you with an intimidating and, at times, daunting mystery from which we must emerge.

All in all, I felt that Insomnia was a good start to a new series. While the ending felt a bit hurried, in my humble opinion, it was a pretty strong read with a lot to offer its intended audience. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal, mysteries, thrillers and male MCs.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Before You Go
Author: James Preller
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publish Date: July 17, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 199
Source: Publisher

The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he’s named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude’s house is kept dark, and no one talks much—it’s been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her.

Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again.

Jude hasn't had the easiest life. Having lived his entire teenage existence with an overwhelming shadow of grief looming over him due to his sister's death, he needs this summer. He needs a change, and he's ready to finally break free of the darkness that's held him in its clutches since that tragic day. Jude is ready to live, and when he meets Becka, he thinks his life is just about ready to get back to normal. But life has other plans for him, and things are just about to get messy and complicated. Again.

Can you imagine the enormous weight of guilt you might feel if someone died on your watch? That, in a nutshell, is the heart and soul of Before You Go, an angst-filled novel by James Preller. With an entirely original writing style meant to engage the intended young adult crowd, the is quick, fast-paced and is easily read in a single night. Sweeping you into the saga of a teenager whose real-life drama is a thousand times more weighted than that of normal teenage life, we're given a story in which we can only hope for redemption and ultimate peace.

You know, I waited a really long time to actually sit down and write the review for Before You Go because, to be entirely honest, I'm not sure what I actually got out of this novel. The book starts with a crash - literally - sending us spiralling into the story in an extremely dramatic manner. I was excited because in a book this slim, a fast-paced plot is key. I have to say that, at the very least, the pacing was a strength for Before You Go because it never lagged, and it definitely moved at a steady, believable pace. Jude was a pretty true-to-life teen boy, as well. His overwhelming guilt made him a bit hard to access because he was, more often than not, closed off emotionally, and this distanced me as a reader. There were some extremely expressive instances, however, where I caught a glimpse of who he truly was, but they were fleeting, and I found that frustrating. Furthermore, I have to be honest and say that I had most of my issues with the actual plot. We're given a series of relationships and events, but they're mere shadows. I can't say that any singular plot point stands out as the climax, and there was a lack of resolution in the conclusion that made me wonder what happened to the rest of Before You Go. Furthermore, if I might be petty for a brief moment, the over-abundance of odd slang throughout really through me off and really left me feeling very unattached. 

Overall, I hate to say it, but I really expected (and hoped for) more. It wasn't a bad read, and I think that with more detail and emotion, Before You Go could have been solid gold. I give it a 2.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with a male MC.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: January 1, 2011
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade
Pages: 224
Source: Publisher

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall.

But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

It’s an ordinary day of school at Tattawa Regional High School, but then the snow starts. At first, it’s just a light storm, but the nor’easter rolls in quickly, giving Scotty Weems and his friends hope that they’ll get out of school after all. Then the snow picks up even more though, and they’ve stayed behind to work on a go-kart project…but they stayed behind too long. The roads are packed, the plows can’t move, and their little town is starting to shut down. With seven kids in the high school, their teacher gone to get help, and snow piling even higher. The kids are braced to face the night at school, but what happens when one night turns to two, and two turns to three? Can they survive in the biggest storm their town has ever seen?

Let's be honest...I was sold based on the cover and premise, alone, of Trapped. I’m a sucker for survival stories, too, and when they involve snow, kids braving the elements, and a battle to stay alive, I’m fairly certain you can’t go wrong with that. Michael Northrop is the acclaimed author of the novel, Gentlemen, which I’ve yet to read, but I’ve heard rave reviews of it, so I was excited to try his YA novel, Trapped. His tone is exceptionally conversational – almost as though the MC is actually speaking with the reader. It’s easily accessible, and extremely easy to follow.

I have to be honest though…Trapped rather disappointed me. I was expecting more of a thriller with gripping scenes and an epic struggle for survival. What I got instead, was a very young teen narrator that, yes, has an easy-to-read voice, but it was almost too easy, if you know what I mean. It felt dumbed down, to be brutally honest. Yes, I know kids say “like” every other word, but I don’t want to read it every word on every single page. I’m also aware that everyone says crass things every now and again, but describing someone crossing themselves as “spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch” and using terms like “turtling” is not really my cup of tea. The tension did begin to build about halfway through the story, and it finished better than it started, which was a redeeming factor for Trapped.

All in all, I can’t say that Trapped was my new favourite read, though I wish I could say it was. Perhaps it will mesh better with a younger audience than it did for me. I give it a 2.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to a younger YA and MG audience, especially those who enjoy contemporary and realistic fiction. It’s also great for a male audience with a male MC.