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) I picked up this book with no clue that it had a Christian-based plot. But despite this religious distraction, the story was great!
Imagine waking up one day and being one of the very few people still in existence. This focuses on a small group of individuals who find each other in this exact situation. And no, this isn't one of those 'return of the Christ' or 'judgment day' novels; though it could be seen as similar. The group travels while looking for others in the destitute area. They are haunted and sometimes attacked by eerie gray creatures. They are seeing crazy, disturbing images of their loved ones and redressed recollections of their past. The hallucinations are unpredictable and impossible to differentiate from reality. One by one, each of the members in the group seem to be 'taken' by the creatures. Though one character, Conner, is given a chance to see the truth behind the situation and perhaps escape it.
It's full of suspense and very unpredictable! A good read for anyone who enjoys thrill novels and doesn't mind a bit of the science-fiction feel.
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) This is a different theme from what I usually read. It revolves around a homeless veteran, who, after serving 25 or so years in the British marines, comes back with terminal lung cancer and a worsening alcohol addiction. He has no resource for treatment. His best friend is also a street-dwelling addict. The Vet has made some selfish choices that he attempts to fix before he dies; unfortunately, most of them only end up making the situations worse. E.g. he's been absent for most of his son's life, but the son doesn't want to have anything to do with him now.
There's no real lesson to the story except that maybe if you try to screw someone over, you'll probably also get screwed over. Also, maybe, that there are rarely happy endings.
It's a depressing, disappointing, but seemingly honest and believable story. Though the beginning can be a bit tedious and confusing. The main character doesn't have the clearest perspective to read from since he's usually intoxicated.
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) The main character is a 'lazy', sarcastic girl named Jane. The story follows her throughout her life and examines her interaction with her family and friends.
The worst problems Jane faces, she creates an imaginary enemy to blame them on, named Bubba. She writes letters to Bubba and keeps them in a folder she's shown to no one. Most problems are all typical of her age and have to do with her own actions.
One day, Jane receives a letter in the mail from Bubba. How can an imaginary entity write back? And he wants to meet! Too weird.
Overall, this book explores some of the typical troubles associated with growing up and finding ones' identity. It's cute but a bit young and typical.
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) This story explores the horrendous underground practice of sex trafficking. It brings together two girls from completely different worlds as they find themselves stuck and enslaved to the brutal men running the show.
Hope is a girl from a very wealthy, prominent family. Oksana is from a very poor section of Russia, and her mother is dead. Oksana is tricked into and then trapped in the prostitution trade. During 'business' travels, Hope tries to help Oksana escape, but only manages to get herself kidnapped by the trade men too.
The author avoids getting too much into the details of the horrible activities that go on in trafficking, but she does spread awareness and shed truth about its horrific nature. The narrative itself is a little unrealistic because Hope is eventually able to get back to her family with nothing more than mental trauma and some scratches, but I suppose that's typical of a young adult book.
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) The basic premise of this book is based around a special education teacher and one of her students. The student is a young girl who never responds, even physically, to anything. Tests show she physically can, but won't. The teacher is passionate about her work and never gives up on her, including spending loads of personal time trying to initiate help in the family. She makes small breakthroughs with connecting and initiating rare responses from the child. Soon though, it becomes clear there is some form of abuse occurring in the home. The girl, Venus, is rushed unconscious to a hospital. I won't give away the ending, but it is a great read that is completely realistic in nature and inspiring in its tale.
(
) I picked up this book with no clue that it had a Christian-based plot. But despite this religious distraction, the story was great!
