Kristina

Loved it. I've definitely reread this verse novel several times. It's the kind of book that can keep you seated all day till you reach the last page, and once you reach that last page ... you just want to keep reading.

It goes incredibly in-depth about an average teenage girl named Kristina. But when she visits her dad for the summer, she meets a boy named Adam, who greets her to the monster.

The book is incredibly powerful as you watch the protagonist fall to her knees for the monster, no will power. Being inside the mind of Kristina for the entire book, you watch as her choices become less and less responsible. Readers literally watch how the monster not only effects its abuser, but their friends and family too.

I highly recommend, especially if you're looking for a quick, raw read.

Final thoughts based on notes:

As a quick read, it's a perfect story to kick off spooky season with. If you love the movie then you will definitely love the book just as much. It was a lot of fun seeing how similar the book and movie are, as well as things that were done differently.

Summary:

The daughter of a military mom, Sofia only stays at a school for a couple of months or years at a time before she has to pack her bags again. Sofia has just started at her new high school, and on the first day of school, Sofia is already becoming friends with the popular group and the outcasts. This book is a serious case of “Mean Girls” meets “The Craft,” which is something that many readers have already pointed out.

Sofia befriends Brooklyn, the local weirdo — at least, that's what the popular girls call her. Riley, Alexis and Grace (religious popular girls) get close with Sofia and convince her that Brooklyn is doing black magic. They tell Sofia that Brooklyn is in dire need of their help — and for the sake of her well-being, she needs an exorcism.

From there, the torture and craziness start.

Final Thoughts from my notes:

Though I enjoyed the book, and I'll probably read the sequels I wouldn't say this is my favorite series or book. I'd rather borrow them from the library than buy paperbacks, for sure. I liked the author's writing because it was easy to visualize what was happening — show us, don't tell us. But at the end of the book, I was ready to read something else. The Merciless was a page-turner, but it isn't something I see myself reading religiously — lol.

I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book. Maybe I'd recommend it to someone who is starting to get into reading and is into paranormal horror stories. I wouldn't recommend this book in general though — I didn't think it was that great.

Final Thoughts from my notes:

I'm kinda on the fence about this one, because there were times when the book felt difficult to read. I remember reading it when I was in high school and the story sat with me for years and years, which made me want to pick it up again when I saw it sitting on the shelf at my local Savers. I wandered into the book aisle and looked at what sat on the shelves — hoping to find this book, which was a required reading for my English class at my high school.

I found this book and Hosseini's “Kite Runner,” which I never read but always wanted to after reading this book.

Now during my reread, I still found myself mad at the same characters. I also liked the themes of grief, love, war and the way it affects civilians, the history of Kabul and Afghanistan. A collective grief — there was a scene/lines that really stuck with me, especially this one:

“'I'm sorry,' Laila says, marveling at how every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on.” (p.350)

One of the best books I've read in a minute. I loved the culture, history, mystery and thrill of it all. I couldn't stop turning the pages. To say I loved this book would be an understatement.