We Both Liked "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier (Updated)

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is a sad story about an all-boy Catholic high school that has a “secret” organization called the Vigils who actually rule the school while the teachers look the other way. Archie is a master con who manipulates not only students, but also the teachers. He is the one who assigns tasks to students he chooses. When Jerry gets mixed up with the Vigils, his “assignment” gets out of hand and he realizes too late the participation in the chocolate sale for the school really wasn’t voluntary after all. Can Jerry really go against the Vigils and survive?

This is a quick YA read that I liked because of all the group dynamics involved. It is not only about bullying, but also about manipulation and being true to oneself. This is a powerful book that shows how devastating peer pressure can be. What started as an innocent prank mushroomed into much, much more! I plan to read more books by this author. The sequel is Beyond the Chocolate War.
(Karen's review, 8/20/15, 5 stars)


The Chocolate War by Robert Comier is about an all-boys Catholic school that sells chocolate bars as a fund raiser.   It is a tradition, but this year one boy refuses to do it!  Will this catch on with the other boys?  What will the consequences be for his refusal?

I lived this book in real life so it brought back lots of memories for me.  The author is spot on with his telling of it.  The characters were brought out very well and I enjoyed it.  It is a quick read that you can do in a day or two at the most.
(Gerard's review 8/10/15, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Snow Like Ashes" by Sara Raasch is Great! (Updated)

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch is her debut fantasy novel about courage, determination and a mission of 8 Winterians to free their captured slaves and rebuild their kingdom. Meira, the main character and one of the surviving remnant, is a 16-yr-old orphan girl who wants to be a soldier and contribute to help Winter. This looks like an in surmountable task especially since Winter has lost its magic conduit. The secrets, betrayal and lies all create a very good story line.

This book sailed along. Once Meira decides to do whatever it takes to help Winter even if it’s not the way she wants, the book took off. I liked the love triangle and the fighting scenes best. For me, it was really hard to pull for Winter because I don’t like Winter. The kingdoms were named for the four seasons and then four other kingdoms were rhythms which I really didn’t understand. The magical part didn’t make much sense to me either, but it did make things interesting. I really liked the ending and think this is a very good debut novel. (Karen's review 8/19/15, 4 stars)


In Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch, a YA fantasy novel, the kingdom of Winter has been conquered.  A few people remain and vow to rebuild their land.  Meira is one of them.  She would do anything to help Winter make a comeback!  This book is very good because there is lots of action which made it fly by.  Meira is a fantastic character who I cheered for all the way!

If you loved the Sarah J. Maas books, which I did, you will love this one too!  It is hard to believe this is the author's first book which she first drafted at age 12!  I LOVED this book and look forward to the next one in this series.  Books don't get any better than this!
(Gerard's review 8/12/15, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware is a Page Turner I LOVED!

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware is about Leonora who is leading a good life.  She is a writer and doing well.  One day she receives an email to come to a "hen" party given for her best friend when she was going to school.  It has been ten years and she really does not want to go, but against her better judgment, she does.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY has this book as one of their top 10 summer reads and PEOPLE MAGAZINE had it as a top read.  They are both right!    The first part of the book sets the scene and you might think it is slow, but when the action starts, this is becomes a real page turner.  I enjoyed all the characters and could not wait to see how it all played out!  I LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday - Three This Week

Gerard's:

But I don't move.  And not just because my head hurts, and my legs hurt, and my muscles feel like wet tissue.

From page 172 of In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware.
  

And that's when I notice something else.

My own footprints are clearly visible in the powder around me, but where his should have been--leading to and from the bench--I see nothing but a thick layer of untouched snow.

From page 12 of Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone.

Karen's: 

"Oh."  I run one hand down the flat side of the blade.  "That's how it works."

 From page  of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. 



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

 Happy Reading!

"Love Saves the Day" by Gwen Cooper

Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper takes place in New York and is about Sarah (a DJ and record shop owner), her cat Prudence, daughter Laura (an attorney) and son-in-law, Josh (free-lance writer).  Laura and Sarah's relationship is strained but after Sarah dies, the cat helps Laura remember good things about her mother and carves out a place in Laura's heart.  Laura discovers how much her mother loved her and that family is more important than money.

This story was slow moving but picked up toward the end.  I liked the narration by the cat best because the reader gains insight into what cats like and don't like, but the story is pretty good too.  My favorite part was when the cat jumped on the table during the Seder dinner at Laura's when she had her in-laws over for the first time.  I loved the cover.  I liked Homer's Odyssey by this author better but this one is okay.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!