Concerto by Sandra Miller

Rating: 8 out of 10

Pages: 281

First Line: “The dream was always the same.”

Summary: Everything was going for Chrispen. She was fresh out of Julliard and is now the assistant concertmaster at the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under her idol, Alexis Brooks. Then she starts getting creepy messages from a violent stalker. The police can’t seem to help her other than telling her to stay away from Alexis, who was accused, but not proven to be the murderer of his first wife. She must guard herself and her friends from the stalker while solving the mystery behind the murder. The farther she finds herself in this mess the more it seems that these two problems are closely related and that history may be repeating itself. And if it is, then Chrispen is in the same situation as Madeleine, Alexis’ late wife.

Review: To tell you the truth, I was not expecting such a good storyline and characters from this book. I won it online and I had entered the giveaway because the cover looked interesting (yes, I do judge books by their covers, but I’ll discuss that another time). Yet when I received the book, the synopsis on the back cover did not promise much. After finally starting the book, I read it in a few hours I was so engrossed. I had not been prepared for the raw emotion I encountered so quickly in the book.

It had a very good plot with a few twists that added a lot to the mystery. I thought it was well planned out and was intricate enough to remain interesting. The duel conflicts kept me guessing and eliminated many of the lulls you might find in a book with a single struggle.

My trouble with the story was the predictability of the culprit(s) of the crimes. Maybe I have read so many mysteries (especially Nancy Drew novels) that I am extremely perceptive with these sorts of things, but I doubt it. Almost immediately after the background details and introductions I knew who killed Madeleine and who the stalker was. Luckily there were enough other tidbits and unfinished pieces I kept reading to see how everything played out. But when I got to the end of the book I found that I had been exactly right on both accounts.

*SPOILER ALERT* Also, I thought the bit about Madeleine the violin could have been better explained and that it kind of came out of nowhere. I understand that it was Chris’ grandmother’s violin and I liked how that came back up, but why did Dwight have it? Did he see Madeleine’s name on it in the window of a pawn shop? Furthermore why did he buy it? Was he that obsessed with Madeleine to such an extent that he bought a violin for the singular reason that her name was inscribed on it? I would be a bit more satisfied if these questions were somehow answered in the epilogue.

Overall, this novel was a very exciting and partially nerve-racking mystery. I was happily surprised with the development the relationship between Alexis and Chrispen. I appreciated how Ms. Miller described music and how it affected Chrispen. The story was entrancing and it kept me on edge, yet there was enough comic relief that I wasn’t stressed out by the intensity of it all.

Recommended: Yes, especially to those who are interested in music, though you do not need to know your way around classical music if you want to read this.

Similar: Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, Red is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin (my November reading)

http://www.thepicnic-basket.com

Review: In seventh grade, when she meets the new girl, Phoebe considers herself normal--not extraordinary in the least. But as she becomes friends with Mallory and she grows into herself, Phoebe grows to be stronger and and much more than ordinary. When Ryland, Mallory's older brother comes into the picture, Phoebe's friendship with Mallory starts to change and mystical happenings surround this trio. This fantastical novel will keep you interested and will enthrall you in the emotions and conflict of the story.
Rating: 9 on a scale from 1-10
Progress: Done
Similar to this book: Impossible by Nancy Werlin, Wicked Lovely series (Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, and Radiant Shadows) by Melissa Marr

Ten Cents A Dance by Christine Fletcher

A lot of kids have jobs, especially in Chicago in 1941. But Ruby has to support her mother and sister completely on her measly wages from the meat factory. When she has a minor catastrophe at a dance and she happens upon Paulie Suelze. He tells her how she can earn loads of money doing what she loves. She gets the job and soon she's working ever night from ten to two: dancing with lonely men at the dance hall and then going to supper with some of the customers afterward. This is Ruby's dream job, but will she spot the danger and scandal under the glamorous silks and satins of her new profession before its too late?

This tribute to the author's great-aunt has an addictive sense of reality. It includes the traditional story of a girl growing up and the mistakes that go with it. It tells of tradegy and fortune. I would recommend this book to anyone, but it would be most enjoyed by a teenage girl interested in historical events and everyday happenings.

Maximum Ride

Maximum Ride. A teenage girl with 98% human DNA and 2% avian DNA. A girl with wings. And super-human strength. Oh, and don't forget she has weird powers. Plus, there are five other bird kids just like her. Well, maybe not just like her. Because Max is destined to save the world. Let me introduce you to the flock: Max, the leader; Fang, her second in command; Iggy, who's blind; Nudge, Little Miss Chatterbox; the Gasman (don't ask); and Angel who can be a creepy mastermind or, well... down-right angelic. They grew up in dog cages in a place called the School where mad scientists (that's right mad scientists) did experiments on them Ever since they escaped the School they've been hiding away. But suddenly, the mad scientists and their minions, other experiments called Erasers (part-wolf, part-human), came across the flock's safehouse. After that it's a wild goose chase (no pun intended) for the Erasers. Until Angel is captured and taken back to the School.

If you pick up this book out of boredom or randomness... be ready for the ride of your life. It is fast-moving and intense. Perfect for any reader with a wild imagination and sense of adventure. Also, there are four more books in the series to read after you're done with this one and they're all just as good. If I could change one thing about these books it would be the ending of the most recent edition to the series Fang: A Maximum Ride novel. Luckily, Mr. Patterson has hinted that the series is not over (YAY!) and the next book might be called Angel.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

12 districts. 24 tributes. 1 boy. 1 girl. One survivor.

After the Capital has put down all the rebellions, it reminds the 12 surrounding districts of its power with the Hunger Games. Each year it forces the districts to send 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to the Capital. One of the 24 'tributes' will win The Hunger Games by being the last survivor. This not only includes staying alive in the wild, but also escaping unnatural disasters and killing off the other players.
When Katniss Everdeen, a hardy 16 year-old, hears her little sister's name read over the loud speaker as a tribute, her worst nightmare's come true. She immediately steps forward and volunteers to go in her sister's stead.
This imaginative story is an amazing edition to Young Adult fantasy. I believe it sits on that golden shelf with Tamora Perce's Lioness Rampant series, Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments, J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and all the other old classics and new favorites. It's an absolutely gorgeous tale of one girl's struggle between humanity and life. Katniss is one of those characters you can't help, but love and admire and the ideas behind this book are fresh and exciting.
Recommended?YES!!