A Fiction novel intertwined with nonfiction

Left Neglected

By: Lisa Genova

Genre: Adult fiction

Pages: 324

Published: 2011

Read: September

3 out of 5

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did not care for the story or the characters. However, I love reading fictional novels that are based on historical events or that encompass other factual information. I enjoy gaining knowledge while reading a fictional story, plus it makes it easier to retain. This book definitely did that for me for a number of reasons. I was unaware that Lisa Genova has a PhD in neuroscience which added a lot of value to what I learned. I have never heard of Left Neglect and didn’t believe it was a real disability until I read the author’s note at the end. Second, I was enthralled by the strategies they used for Charlie’s ADHD. My stepson has ADHD and it helps to know that we are practicing some of the same methods. I love the “marbles in a cup” idea! Lastly, with having very limited use of my entire right side I have some similar feelings that Sarah does. As I pictured her trying to cope with her absent left side, I continually envisioned my right side, as though it was the left. The strange thing was I DID feel it was actually my left. For example, when Sarah would say “Look left, scan left, go left” I saw her doing the motions on the right side. This happened throughout the entire book until the very end when all of a sudden it hit me that I was envisioning it incorrectly. Whether it was caused by the mirror effect or my own disability being on the right side of my body I don’t know, but it was a strange sensation once I realized my mistake. 

Raw and real emotion

Boys Like You

By: Juliana Stone

Genre: YA realistic fiction

Pages: 304

Published: 2014

Read: September

4 out of 5

Broken girl meets broken boy…Can they save each other? Although a little unbelievable that Monroe and Nathan are dealing with such similar issues at exactly the same time they meet; it COULD happen. Some readers may not notice or care about that convenience; and once the rest of us let it go you will feel the raw and real emotions of the teens.  If I had read this book when in high school, I would have absorbed the book with my tears and made it one of my top ten books. With that being said, I do believe the closer in age the reader is to characters the more attached to the book they will be. It is a quick read that is well deserving of the Teens’ Top Ten nomination.

NOT ENOUGH ADVENTURE

Unhinged

By: A.G. Howards

Genre: YA fantasy

Pages: 387

Published: 2014

Read: September

2 out of 5

The first two books in this trilogy were back-to-back nominees for Teens’ Top Ten. Although at the beginning of Unhinged I was more engrossed than Splintered I quickly lost interest. I struggled to finish the book. The quality of writing was still there and the story wasn’t rushed, but I feel this particular adventure isn’t unique or interesting enough to be a nominee. There were no new characters introduced or any twists on Alice in Wonderland. I am not saying it’s a bad book, some may like it, but I definitely read better books that should have been nominated. My biggest issue with this award is that sequels can be nominated therefore, I’m worried that the final book, Ensnared, will make the list next year.