Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

This May at the White Pine Award Ceremony in Toronto, Ontario, Courtney Summers said she was trying to create a character in Cracked Up To Be that everyone would hate. She succeeded then, and in many ways, she has succeeded again. I hated Regina! But I loved her too.

I love the reality of this book. It is not a book for adults, it is a book purely for teens. Girls that do the most awful things just to fit in exist in nearly every high school, and Summers has given those girls a voice in Regina. But Summers didn't stop there, she gave Regina a soul as well.

Courtney Summers is definitely a YA author to watch. She doesn't shy away from the subjects that are so important to everyday life. And this book is just as strong as her last. (something that doesn't happen all that often).

Now what do you think Some Girls Are? I think it is ... Bitches. :-) Because these girls really are, and we love them for it.

Rough Magic by Caryl Cude Mullin

Based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, Mullin's Rough Magic seeks to expand the story, but fails utterly. The book is interesting in concept, but not in execution - and feels more like 3 books than one.

Story 1: Sycorax (Well before the Bard's play)
The childhood and growing of Sycorax could have been a really good book, but only on it's own! Early on Sycorax discover's her magical abilities, but sees a dark future revealed in flames she has created. Unfortunately the reader never discoveres exactly what Sycorax sees in those flames. With that bit of information, the writer could have continued to show us how her missteps take her to exactly the place she doesn't want to be. Instead we speed through her childhood and life until she ends up on the island.

Story 2: The Tempest
We could have had this story begin with Sycorax being stranded on the island as a witch. It could have ended with Chiara and Caliban going back to the island. The end! A good enough story had the characters been better filled out. **Note** I though Chiara was the most interesting character in the book. This section of the novel is the most thorougly realized. Sure the story still needs filled out a little more. And the characters aren't as well developed as they could be. All of this could have been accomplished had Mullin focused on this part of the story.

Story 3: The Leviathan, et. al (i.e., the confusing part of the book)
Chiara, reborn after her trip through the Leviathan, returns to the island a newly born creature. While away Caliban and the young witch, Calypso (not that Calypson, don't worry) have learned of their shared relation. The island is saved, Chiara breaks Caliban's heart.  All in all, the story from this point forward is forced and over too quickly to be of much interest.

Rouch Magic is just that, Rough! Keep to the Tempest and don't bother with this one.

Shadows of the Redwood by Gillian Summers

Keelie Heartwood, the half elf girl of the Faire Folk Trilogy, is back in a darker fantasy. Gillian Summers, a pseudonym for authors Berta Platas and Michelle Roper, created a rich and palpable world in her first trilogy. This time, Keelie will face a goblin prophecy and a new threat to the trees, elves, and all the magical creatures she loves. Unlike the previous novels, Shadows of the Redwood, features little of the ren-faire life that readers have come to expect. Instead, Shadows features Los Angeles, Shakespeare, and trees with a dark and threatening power. With more hot-elf, Sean, action and growing friendships both inside and outside the elf world, Keelie’s new adventure is one readers won’t want to miss. You might want to read the first trilogy before diving in, however, or this darker turn might be quite so satisfying.