Every day.

David Levithan. 

Read in November. 

I enjoyed reading every day. A book about one person who wakes up in a different body every day. A is not a boy or a girl. A is both and neither. The first chapter is a boy's body. A falls in love with his girlfriend, Rhiannon. Then come the challenges. 

How do you have a relationship with someone who doesn't know you are you?

How do they get used to loving someone who never looks the same?

Could it mess up the life of the person who's body A's in for the day?

There's also the challenge of Rhiannon being a straight girl - since A can have a girl's or boy's body for the day. It's hard for A to understand because A just sees people as people. Which is beautiful, but physical attraction is important, too. I think it's fine that Rhiannon felt a little awkward holding hands romantically with a girl. Wouldn't a homosexual feel awkward if someone of the opposite sex tried to hold hands romantically with them, because that's not what they're attracted to? The day A was a fat boy was awkward, also. Neither of them was attracted to that body, but A was more understanding about it. I loved that, besides those two points, physical appearance didn't play a large role in how A viewed people. Personality and how they treated others prevailed. I enjoyed the perspective and acceptance from A about people and the lives they lead. 

I could have done without the "6 additional chapters". They didn't fit into the story. It should have ended when it ended, it didn't need more. I liked the end, and I thought it was really caring of A. 

I recommend every day. It was thought provoking and a great story. 

http://www.amazon.com/Every-Day-David-Levithan/dp/0307931897#

The Postmistress.

By Sarah Blake. Read in November. 

Set during the beginning of World War 2, The Postmistress tells the stories of three young women. 

Iris - looking for love and keeping order, this postmaster always does her job with pride. However, at the beginning of the story, we are told maybe she didn't do what she was supposed to do. Just one time. 

Emma - a shy woman who feels so insignificant, except to her husband. 

Frankie - a reporter in the midst of all the bombing, searching for something and finding too much. 

These three women are brought to life in a mix of fact and fiction. Sarah does a fantastic thing, making me feel so much in a single paragraph. Over and over. Life and death, how fast one changes to the other, and the impact it leaves on others. 

I love how real, how honest, this novel is. How sometimes I just cried and cried over the tragedy that's important to remember. I love how the battlefield wasn't the main focus, but the lives it affected. 

I recommend The Postmistress to everyone. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0425238695/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_3FMBub00B1304

Modelland

Tyra Banks. Fiction

Read in October. 

Tookie knows she won't be selected to attend Modelland - with ther too big forehead. Her whole family knows it will be her sister. But on The Day Of Discovery, Tookie is chosen along with three other less than perfect girls. 

Every girl, teen, and woman should read this book. Tyra is so imaginative. She has created a fantastic world that's so mysterious, but you want to go there. Maybe not the Diabolical Divide, but I'd definitely like to check out Modelland. 

Tookie's parents are terrible. I can't even describe my disdain toward them. Using their children instead of loving them. 

The memory room was really cool. I love how Tookie and her friends used it to get closer to each other. 

It's hard to not give anything away, but there's a twist at the end that just rocks!

Bravo is so sweet. I love the love story between Bravo and Tookie. It's innocent and awesome. Not too much, which I'm thankful for with the main characters being fifteen years old. 

The body image issues these girls face are real and hit so close to home. I hurt when they hurt, but I also felt really great about myself when I finished reading. 

I insist every female reads Modelland! I bet you'll love it. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/038574059X?pc_redir=1413200732&robot_redir=1

FOUR

Veronica Roth. 

Read in September. 

FOUR is divided into FOUR stories. 

The Transfer gives is a lot of background on Tobias' relationship with his father and faction. We find out he's ignored within his faction, and are shown an encounter with a factionless man who "knew" Evelyn. His father is a butt munch. He treats Tobias like an inconvenience and a regret. No child deserves to feel that way. (Child abuse really gets me steamed, especially since having children. I look at my two little boys, and I'm so grateful for them. I can't imagine the hate some people have toward kids.) Tobias faces the choice of a life he knows and is predictable, or a faction totally mysterious to him. "You're the one who has to live with your choice." I love when he chooses Dauntless, and when he questions himself about making a place for himself there, then deciding he has to because that's what he chose. 

The Initiate takes us through Four's training.  Thanks to Amar, one of my favorite characters, Four doesn't have to worry about being associated with his father or former faction. We see how much he doesn't like to hurt people, how he'd rather work on making himself a better person without beating others down. We see him finally make friends and have people care about him. We watch him show others he won't be treated as incapable. We also get more of Eric. Brutal Eric, who is determined to intimidate everyone. Eric, who is the reason Amar "dies"! I can't stand Eric. 

In The Son, we see how Four makes his place in Dauntless, his reaction to finding out his mother is alive, and his realization that a dangerous conspiracy is going on. 

The Traitor takes us forward two years, when Tris transfers to Dauntless. I really enjoyed reading how they fell in love through his point of view. I enjoyed reading everything from his point of view. If you loved the Divergent Trilogy, you'll love FOUR. I do, and I definitely recommend all of them!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0062345214?pc_redir=1413365541&robot_redir=1#