The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

From Goodreads.com

   Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.

   The Handmaid's Tale has been on my TBR list for years, it's a banned book you know? (Is it bad that I look at banned books as precautionary tales?) I finally picked it up after getting it for a steal from one of my daily emails. For some reason I thought this was an older book. I was very surprised to find it was first published in 1986. The writing is good, but I must say it was a little odd at first. There were no quotation marks to distinguish dialogue. After a chapter or two it was easier to realize what was part of a conversation.

   I especially liked that Offred remembers what life was like before the new laws were in place. She is in the transition phase of this take-over. Most dystopian books (at least those that I've read) are taking place after a corrupt system has been in place for numerous years. It was interesting to see how she felt about not being allowed to read, knowing that future generations of girls wouldn't even know how. Along with how she felt about many other changes. They took her daughter away, she wasn't allowed to love, and was passed from household to household when they became dissatisfied with her for not becoming pregnant.

   Obviously if you like the dystopian genre this book is a must read. This should also be on any list of someone who likes banned books. If you're not interested in these genres this book probably isn't for you. 

Eleanor by Jason Gurley

From Goodreads.com

   1985. The death of Eleanor's twin sister tears her family apart. Her father blames her mother for the accident. When her mother looks at her, she sees only the daughter she lost. Their wounded family crumbles under the weight of their shared grief.

   1993. Eleanor is 14 years old when it happens for the first time... when she walks through an ordinary door at school and finds herself in another world. It happens again and again, but it's only a curiosity until the day at the cliffs. The day when Eleanor dives... and something rips her out of time itself.

And on the other side, someone is waiting for her.

   Eleanor begins with a woman (named Eleanor) sitting and watching the rain fall. She is married to a man named Hob and they have a daughter, Agnes. You can feel Eleanor's depression and Hob's adoration is obvious. The story jumps into the future to a set of twins, Esmeralda and Eleanor, and their mother, Agnes. The book reads like a family tale of depression and loss (which it is) but then we meet Mia and strange things start to happen to Eleanor. She finds herself in odd worlds that seem to have no connection to one another. She comes back to her world missing time, hours, even days, have passed.

   I'm not exactly sure how I discovered this book. I feel like a read a recommendation from Neil Gaiman for it, I don't remember where I saw it though. I'm not in the habit of reading a book simply because someone famous recommends it, but it's Neil Gaiman! I remember immediately looking for it at my local library to read the synopsis only to find that we hadn't yet received it.

   Eleanor is a book that will stick with me for a while. I already see myself picking it back up in a year or so just to experience it again. Science fiction is woven perfectly into contemporary fiction. I loved the balance. I like contemporary fiction but sometimes I get too frustrated with the story line. The fantasy aspect definitely kept my attention. Not to mention the writing itself. Gorgeous.

   I recommend this book if you're a fan of Neil Gaiman, it has a similar feel to it. You by no means have to like Neil Gaiman to enjoy this book though. If you normally stick to contemporary fiction, give this book a chance, the sci-fi element might throw you off, but you may just discover you like it. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

 From Goodreads.com
   According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and has to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.

   I was required to read The Outsiders in seventh grade. For me, already a bookworm, it was no problem. At the time I mostly read R.L. Stine books and this was something completely different. My only problem was trying not to read ahead (which I failed at.) Since seventh grade I have read this countless times. I haven't tired of it and I don't think that I ever will. I have so many post-it notes in my copy it borders on ridiculous. Why?
   I don't know what made me fall so hard when I was 12 years old. Maybe it was Ponyboy's daydreamer thoughts, getting lost in books and sunsets, when the life he had wasn't quite everything he wished it would be. He's different from everyone around him, not quite fitting in.
   As I've gotten older The Outsiders has only sunk deeper into my soul. If you're looking for a love story, there isn't one here, at least not your typical romantic love story. This is a book about the love of family, about friendship.
   I recommend this book to everyone. Seriously, everyone. It may have been required reading for you in school as well, and if it was I urge you to read this again as an adult. If you've never read it, I don't think it's ever too late to fall in love with The Outsiders.

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

From Goodreads.com:
   Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she's bonded to paper, that will be her only magic... forever.
   Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined - animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discover these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.
   An Excisioner - a practitioner of dark, flesh magic - invades the cottage and rips Thane's heart from his chest. To save her teacher's life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane's still-beating heart - and reveal the very soul of the man.

   I received The Paper Magician as a Kindle First book. It's a pretty quick read, in fact I read it so fast that I had to read it again before I began the second book a few months later. I remembered the basic plot and how it ended but I was worried I forgot a small detail that might be important in the second and third books.
   It takes place in the 19th century but the language used isn't old (as long as that won't drive you crazy, keep reading.) Despite this fact, I thought the book was well written without words so modern it would be illogical. (I've gotten hung up on that in a different book.)
   Ceony is a strong female character, who doesn't really follow the rules, this of course leads to trouble and the whole story. This is a captivating book that includes heartbreak, wonder, love, adventure, a battle between dark and light, and magic.
   I don't want to liken this to Harry Potter but I will, if you are an adult who likes Harry Potter give this book a shot. All you really have to like, to love this book and it's sequels, is a touch of the magical.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

From the paperback:
   By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it's safe to go, and who to avoid. Like the crazy guy on the corner.
   But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives, scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own.

I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

   The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late.

   This remarkable novel takes place in the real world but hold a fantastic puzzle at its heart. When You Reach Me is an original, and a brilliant and profound delight.

   I love finding books at yard sales, especially when a book I happen to pick up is as astounding as When You Reach Me. This book is supposed to be for ages 8-12, which might have something to do with why I read it so soon after acquiring it (that 100 book goal on Goodreads.com is looking pretty daunting right about now.) I was surprised to be enamored, even though it did win the Newbery Medal. 

   I enjoyed everything about this book; the writing, the mystery, the talk of time travel, the life lessons, simply everything. I'm trying to think of one thing that wasn't just great, but nothing is coming to mind. It did tell me a lot about A Wrinkle in Time (which I've not yet read (I know!)) but I don't believe it gave too much away. 

   I will be recommending this beautiful book to a couple parents I know, and also a few adults. I believe this is a fantastic story of discovery (I'm also a sucker for anything remotely dealing with time travel.) This would be a seriously good, quick book for those of you who have trouble finding time to read large novels.

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

From Goodreads.com:
   The old wood-carver Geppetto decides to make a wonderful puppet which can dance and turn somersaults, but by chance he chooses an unusual piece of wood. The finished puppet can talk and misbehave like the liveliest child. But Pinocchio is brave and inquisitive as well as naughty. After some hair-raising adventures, he earns his hearts desire.

   A children's classic, Pinocchio is much darker than I would have thought. I could tell it was written in a different time. The morals were not as veiled as some are now, as is made obvious by the above quote, and there are many more as Pinocchio continues his quest to become a real boy. This book is much darker than the story I remembered.
   I vaguely remembered watching the Disney movie when I was younger, but reading this I kept thinking, "boy, I don't remember this happening in the movie." Well I watched the movie again and was surprised it actually followed the book relatively well, minus a key recurring character that was a large part of the book, the Fairy.
   If you like to read classics don't miss out on Pinocchio. If you're looking for a scary bedtime story for your little boy, this would be perfect! Seriously, it would be if you're into that. I kept thinking, "this is a children's book!?" I really enjoyed reading Pinocchio though, and I think you would too.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

From Goodreads.com:
   Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl.
   Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

   This cover art caught my eye a while ago, but the book just wasn't high on my list, until I was at work without my best friend to talk with. I was browsing my Overdrive app looking for audio books I could check out from the library and this is what I came across. I listened to this book in two days. I just didn't want to stop, every car ride became another chapter to hear.
   Cinder is a young adult book, and I think it's a relatively clean one. I've recently read some YA books that have some pretty questionable morals and language in them, this isn't one of them. Other than mild language I think this one was good for the younger YA audience. I did get slightly annoyed with some of the younger dramatics, but I'm sure if I were a teen this would just be perfect.
   I've also listened to book two, Scarlet and it's just as good, but there's more violence. I haven't read/listened to book three yet but The Lunar Chronicles seems to be a very promising series. If you're a fan of the retelling of fairy tales you should like this book. If you like Gregory Maguire or Once Upon a Time these are the next books you should check out.