Huck Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I don't always love Twain (I think this is just because I read Puddin'Head Wilson and The Prince and the Pauper too close together and they had the exact same plotline.) However, Huck Finn has a really fun to read POV, and the character is great. So, although I just started reading this, I am enjoying it so far. Although I have no idea how I managed to not read this book until my senior year of high school.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the story and I fell in love with Huck's character from the beginning.

But I can't say I liked the ending. It seems like things just went downhill once Tom came back into the picture, and I felt like Twain was just rambling on with Jim's escape. I mean, it was funny, but it just went on way too long.

So good book, and if you haven't read this then you need to, but I can't say I liked the ending.

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

This book was another Dystopian novel that seemed like a mix of Divergent, Hunger Games, and the Giver, but not quite comparable to any one of these.
It wasn't a bad book, and it's definitely one of those that are easy to read and quick reads and has a story that gets you hooked and keeps you hooked.

However, as soon as I finished the book it was done, and I don't really have any itch to read the second one Crossed, of course, that could also be due to my friend who told me that second wasn't as good and wasn't worth reading.

It's not the best writing either, just a plot and characters that appeal to young adult readers. Not much that will last, but an enjoyable read while it lasts.

Looking For Alaska

 Looking for Alaska by John Green
I love The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, but Looking for Alaska hasn't had the same affect on me yet. It's a good book, and very well written, but I don't much like the characters. This is probably just a personal preference and something unique to me, but it's hard to enjoy a book when I don't like the characters, especially in a romantic book.

I wrote that first paragraph at the beginning before I finished the book, and I have to say that my opinion has changed some. I mean, the book is so sad, and in the second part I could identify with the main character so much more.

It was a good book overall, but still not comparable to The Fault in Our Stars and not one that I think I'll read again.

The Giver

The Giver by Louis Lowry

This one is one of my favorites. It's a Dystopian novel that I read in eighth grade and just reread to my little brother. It's a fantastic book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it.

Maybe I'm just a weirdo who always likes dystopian novels but then claims to not like sci-fi. Obviously I like it at least a little bit, since I liked this and I liked the Hunger Games and I liked Divergent and Insurgent.

But anyway, I love the ending of this book especially, and since I just finished reading it tonight, I am feeling really impatient to start on the second book, Gathering Blue and then start on the last book of the trilogy, The Messenger. I love the way Lowry writes these books and combines the seemingly different plotlines into such a fantastic third book.

So excited to reread these, and I definitely recommend them to anyone and everyone.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

Oh, Joshua Harris. I think this is one of those books that every Christian teenager is supposed to read, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

Okay, I will admit that I had a bad attitude going in, and I was prepared to not like it. But still... it seemed a bit extreme and a bit preachy. Like, "I'm doing everything right and I'm perfect and if you disagree you're wrong."

But he did have some good points, and it's true that today's idea of dating is flawed. So, I guess if you are a Christian teenager you should probably still read at least part of this. It's probably a good book to read. Or if you're struggling with dating you should read it.

But if you are an MK and have grown up in Christian circles and only ever dated one guy and not really even dated him and go to a Christian school with exactly four boys in your class and all younger than you and extremely geeky and not boyfriend material and you probably wouldn't date anyway and are going off to Bible college in a couple of months anyway- then you probably can pass on this book.

Getting Naked Later

Getting Naked Later by Kate Hurley

This is another one of those books for my Bible class.
Despite the often very shocking title (you should have seen my face when my dad came in to show it to me the first time) it's pretty good and not inappropriate. It's a single woman writing about her life and her experience and her thoughts on relationships and singleness.

I liked the book, and liked that it's very different from most of the books we've read about dating and marriage and singleness.

Kate Hurley was really open, and just said how she felt without trying to sound like the "perfect Christian" or the "dating expert". I enjoyed her honestly, and I think she's got a really interesting life.

Oh, and did I mention I met her? She spoke several times at the camp where I worked two summers ago, the camp where I grew up and where my parents met and got married and lived. So it was definitely bonus points reading a book by someone I'd met and knew as a real person with real struggles, not just the guy with the mysterious hat. *cough Joshua Harris cough*

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I don't know if I can even write a blog entry about this book. I'm going to start crying. Every time anyone mentions trophies or video games or eulogies or cancer I think of this book and have to fight back tears.

I really liked the characters and felt drawn to them. Like, even though I can't quite identify with them and my life isn't really anything like theirs, I still could sympathize with them. And I really liked Augustus. The way he talks... and his writing... and the book... so sweet.
But I also loved Isaac and the trophy scene almost made me cry.

And the eulogies at the end- that did make me cry.

Basically, really good book. Written with a very modern feel, easy to follow, easy to identify with, good characters, inevitable ending.

And I cannot wait for the movie to come out.