BLOG TOUR --- One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus [Review + Giveaway]

Title: One of Us is Lying
Author(s): Karen M. McManus
Edition: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook 368 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - The Book Depository - iBooks - Audible

Tour Schedule

Week One:

5/29/2017 - YA Books Central - Interview
5/30/2017 - YA Book Madness - Review
5/31/2017 - Novel Novice - Guest Post
6/1/2017 - Literary Meanderings - Review
6/2/2017 - BookHounds YA - Interview

Week Two:

6/5/2017 - Storybook Slayers - Review
6/6/2017 - Book Princess Reviews - Review
6/7/2017 - The Cover Contessa - Interview
6/8/2017 - Book Briefs - Review
6/9/2017 - Pretty Deadly Reviews - Guest Post

Week Three:

6/12/2017 - Eli to the nth - Review (Me!)
6/13/2017 - YA and Wine - Interview
6/14/2017 - Smada's Book Smack - Review
6/15/2017 - The O.W.L. - Guest Post
6/16/2017 - Zach's YA Reviews - Review

The Summary

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.

Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.

Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.

Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.

Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.

And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High s notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

I am not a big fan of mysteries or thrillers, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading One of Us is Lying.  But from page one I was hooked.  

The voices of all the main narrators, Bronwyn (the Brain), Addy (the Beauty), Nate (the Criminal), and Cooper (the Athlete), are a genuine and authentic portrayal of teenagers.  And just as real teenagers are not 100% what people see them to be, none of these characters are the stereotypes readers will expect.  While this book has been compared to The Breakfast Club, I find that a lacking parallel, as there is no "fun" all-day detention party, but a serious police investigation that connects each character to the other.  Honestly, the only similarity is that there are characters who initially embody the high school stereotypes, but far supersede that box.  Even the minor characters feel fully rounded, and add in some way to the plot.  I applaud McManus's ability to craft realistic characters put in a situation that could seem very unbelievable without the grounding in reality.

Speaking of plot, I actually found this to really walk the edge of belief, in a way that shows a nuance of craft which sometimes lacks in other thriller novels (hence why I typically dislike them).  Without giving anything away, the situation these students find themselves in is very precarious, and what McManus does well is keep the readers guessing as to who's actually killed Simon and why.  The way the school officials handle the situation, the way the cops investigate, the way the families corral their wagons, all read as true, making the reader believe this horrible instance really can happen.

There were some instances of romance, but that never detracted from the true point of the book, which is to figure out who killer Simon.  But the small blooming of romance was needed to cut through the heavier subject matter.  One couple in particular, which you'll figure out, was very realistically done and I felt invested in them right away.  Additionally, there were some really great instances of love, both familial and friendly, that also add to the story and gave the characters real support within this serious situation.

The only real critiques I have is about the pacing and representation.  As far as the pacing, the resolution was a little crammed all in at the end.  I felt like the story could've been a little more rounded out at the very end.  But that hardly detracted from my overall enjoyment.  As far as representation, most of the principle cast was white, with the exception of Bronwyn, who is Latinx, which was disappointing.  The setting for the book is San Diego, which is a large, diverse city.  I wish the book reflected more of that diversity within it's characters.

I throughly enjoyed this book, so much that I may just give thrillers/mysteries a second chance.  An engaging, who-dun-it read, you'll want to pop One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus in your beach bag or in your carry-on this summer!

Final Rating

Extras

Check out my Visual Inspiration post:

About the Author

As a kid I used to write books when I was supposed to be playing outside, and not much has changed. I'm a marketing and communications professional who also writes Young Adult contemporary and fantasy fiction in Cambridge, MA.

When not writing or working I love to travel, and along with my nine-year old son I've ridden horses in Colombia and bicycles through Paris. A member of SCBWI, I hold a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Which I have never, ever used professionally.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads |

Giveaway

3 winners will receive a finished copy of One of Us is Lying, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older [Review]

Title: Shadowshaper
Author(s): Daniel José Older
Edition: Audio, 7 hours 21 minutes/6 discs
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: November 1, 2015
Source: Library
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

Summary

Sierra Santiago planned to have an easy summer of making art and hanging out with her friends. But then a corpse crashes the first party of the season. Her stroke-ridden grandfather starts apologizing over and over. And when the murals in her neighborhood begin to weep real tears... Well, something more sinister than the usual Brooklyn ruckus is going on.

With the help of a mysterious fellow artist named Robbie, Sierra discovers shadowshaping, a thrilling magic that infuses ancestral spirits into paintings, music, and stories. But someone is killing the shadowshapers one by one -- and the killer believes Sierra is hiding their greatest secret. Now she must unravel her family's past, take down the killer in the present, and save the future of shadowshaping for herself and generations to come.

Full of a joyful, defiant spirit and writing as luscious as a Brooklyn summer night, Shadowshaper marks the YA debut of a brilliant new storyteller.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

If you have been aching for a great supernatural book with kick-ass Latinx and Black characters, full of family, danger, and love, then look no further because Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older has it all!

The first thing, and maybe this was even more apparent because I was listening to the audiobook, was the voice within this book is amazing.  Each character is distinct, and while maybe not wholly explored, rounded in presentation.  Within the voice comes each character's heritage.  Both Latinx and Black culture is prevalent, with a multitude of different countries represented.  Sierra, Robbie, and their friends all come from different families, customs, and beliefs, and this is reflected in their speech, clothes, and attitude.  I felt like I was in their slice of Brooklyn, one which I've never experienced before.

Older also didn't hesitate to discuss the differences between minorities either.  While it wasn't an especially big part of the book, the prejudices that do exsit between White, Latinx, and Black cultures were mentioned.  While I am in no way an expert on this subject, it made the events of the story more believable because it is set in a real society rather than a perfect one.  Also Sierra's group of friends feels even tighter for overcoming those prejudices and assumptions that color everyone's perception.

So with that, this book would've been just a fantastic contemporary exploring the dynamics and relationships of the neighborhood, and Sierra's crew.  But of course, there was magic to be had, and BOOM it turns into Urban Fantasy!  Shadowshaping is very unique.  It reminds me of a religion, and feels very dogmatic and synced into the machismo that can exist in Latinx culture. By the time Sierra learns about shadowshaping and her place within that heritage, the magic is dying, and it is up to Sierra, a girl never meant to be a shadowshaper, to save it.  

The mix of art and magic is very powerful, not only in the book, but in life.  Most artists, be it writers, painters, or musicians, work from the soul.  Shadowshaping takes that to another level, actually harnessing the souls of one's ancestors into the artwork to make it come alive.  Also the aspect that the medium of the drawing makes the shaping more powerful is too cool (for instance, chalk is easily destroyed, while paint is stronger).  It's beautiful, and a gift I wish was real (cause I'd want to learn PRONTO)!

The pacing is fantastic, the mystery is not easily guessed, and the ending leaves you needing more!  Luckily, there is a sequel coming out this September (Shadowhouse Fall) so you don't have to wait too long (unless of course you read it when it first came out, then you did have to wait a bit)!  Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older is one of my favorite 2017 reads, and one you don't want to miss!

Final Rating

Extras

E-Novella

Amazon     Barnes & Noble

Interview with Daniel José Older

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The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon [Review + Giveaway]

Title: The Sun is Also a Star
Author(s): Nicola Yoon
Edition: Audio, 8 hours 4 minutes/7 discs
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Source: Library
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

Summary

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.


The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

“The thing about falling is you don't have any control on your way down.” 

― Nicola Yoon, The Sun Is Also a Star

I don't know if I am capable of expressing how much I absolutely loved this book.  The protagonists, Natasha and Daniel, were so alive I felt I could touch them.  The backdrop of New York, a gateway for so many people into the United States was perfect.  The family dynamic was realistic and crucial.  Every part of this book, from the first sentence to the last, was necessary and masterfully crafted.

Natasha and Daniel are both part of the immigrant experience that plays such a large role in the culture of the United States.  Daniel's parents immigrated from South Korea in order to give their children the "American Dream".  Daniel is a first generation Korean-American, trying to balance between being American and being Korean.  Natasha too, is struggling to find the balance between her two cultures, but in her case she is an illegal immigrant from Jamaica.  She and her family moved to the U.S. when she was around 8 years old, and it is the only country she really knows.  And, her and Daniel meet on the day that she is going to be deported.

The mix between cultures that Yoon crafts is really large part of the story and gives each character such a strong background.  Most Americans started as immigrants, either personally or within their family history.  We all have other cultural aspects of us that mix together in this country, creating a completely original experience.  This is what you see when you learn Natasha and Daniel's story.

They could not be farther apart in personality: Natasha, the logical scientist and Daniel, the daydream poet.  But as they spend the day together, falling more and more in love, they learn to see some of the world through the other's eyes.  Even the minor characters are well developed, with each person Natasha and Daniel encounter adding something to their story.

Besides the character development, the other very strong aspect to this book that I enjoyed immensely was the writing and structure of the book.  As this story takes place within one day, structure of events is so important!  Yoon did an amazing job of inserting pieces of both characters history, shedding more information without taking away from the current story.  Additionally, the chapters were told from both Natasha and Daniel's perspectives, which gave interesting insight to events happening to both of them.  Finally, important events/items/side characters also receive a chapter giving more depth to their importance to the story.  Just masterfully crafted, the poetic language Yoon scribes is phenomenal.  I mean, that quote above just explains love so well!

The Sun is Also a Star stole my heart, crushed it, then gave it a beautiful, but bittersweet, farewell. If you read ONE book this year, get a copy of this! One of my top books of all time!!!

Want a copy? Check out my giveaway below!

Final Rating

Extras

Book Trailer

Making the Book Cover

Interview with Nicola Yoon

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway runs from February 06, 2017 12:00AM - February 13, 2017 12:00AM

Open to US/INT (as long as Book Depository ships to your country)!  

Must be at least 13 years old to enter.  

ONE winner will win a finished copy of _The Sun is Also a Star_

Winner will be contacted by email to inform them they won.

Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or a new winner will be chosen.  

NO PO BOXES as prizes tend to be lost when sent there.

I claim no responsibility for lost prizes.

Once package arrives to recipient, personal information (i.e. address) is deleted.

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Visual Inspiration - The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Pictures/Art/Photographs all help me see the books I'm reading.  Often, while I'm online, I stumble upon images that remind me of the book.  These visuals add layers to the stories, and can be used to offer hints to the plot.  So I've decided to put out "Visual Inspirations" in order to spark readers' interests in those books that I love.  Please feel free to join in; hopefully you'll get some new books to read in the process!

If you're a believer in science and in fate, then this book is definitely for you! So without further ado, I give you inspiration this week from:

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

I went a little different with this one, and did more of a fancasting!  

In my head I totally see the fierce Amandla Stenburg as Natasha (coincidentally, she WILL star in the film adaptation of Nicola's first book Everything, Everything.  I clearly have awesome taste).  She is independent and stands up for what she believes in, which translates to her acting as well.

Then I found the adorable Yeo Jin Goo who is a popular Korean actor.  So while perhaps not going to be cast in an American produced film depending on his skill in English (which can be taught so let's not discriminate here) based on what I've seen of his acting, he is a very emotional actor and would be perfect for Daniel!

Do you all do this, cast actors into the roles of your favorite characters?  And if so, what are some of your fanon favorites you've casted?  Sometimes I can picture people right away, and other times I have to do a little Googling to find the right actor for the role.  But one thing I definitely try and do is pick an actor that is as close to the physical book description as possible.  I think this is especially important with casting for books that have POC characters.  White washing something when there are so many great POC actors is insulting, and pops me completely out of the story.

This book pulled me immediately.  Told from alternating view points with narrator sections mingled in, the voice of these characters is immediate, fresh and real.  I felt invested from the very first page (or in my case, audio cd), and I didn't want to let these characters go at the end.  I have officially, unabashedly, fallen in love with Nicola Yoon and plan to devour her first book, Everything, Everything, immediately!

If you liked this, keep an eye out for more posts and check out my other Visual Inspirations!

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