Warrior Girl by Matt Lazar and Amanda Thomas

Warrior Girl by Matt Lazar and Amanda Thomas

Publisher: Boston Avenue Media (October 2012)

228 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sun Hi is a young, naive Korean farm girl embarking on her first year at Oxford. Just barely off the train she catches the eye of Miles, attractive and worldly captain of the rowing team, and meets her difficult roommate, Marina. Drawn into coxing for the rowing team by Miles, she meets Adam, a less intense male persona who also becomes drawn to the beautiful, quiet girl. This was a great story about a reserved young girl trying to wade through her first year studies, men, roommate difficulties and vicious academic competition, while dealing with an unfamiliar culture, homesickness and her parents expectations. I liked that the villains in this story were all complicated figures with the depth to show a bit of feeling and not just remain figures lurking in the dark, waiting to pounce with perpetual evilness. Sun Hi was a noble character that was easy to like. The use of World of Warcraft as Sun Hi's coping mechanism and Adam's way of getting a bit closer to her, was very creative, and I liked the homey, safety provided to her by the supportive staff at the garden centre. Great story!

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host Trilogy, Book 1

Publisher: Back Bay Books (April 2010)

625 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $5.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Earth has been methodically colonized by a parasitic alien race, who is able to access its hosts memories and knowledge, while the original person fades away into nothingness . . . in most cases. But, it seems a few determined people refuse to give up to the new soul and remain there, trying to exert their will over their body. Melanie, as a part of the human resistance, is a person who does not just fade away and keeps nagging the occupant, Wanderer, and bombarding her with memories until Wanderer cares about the people she left and wants to return to, Melanie's lover Jared and Melanie's brother Jamie. This was a very interesting story. So many love triangles of so many different kinds, and so many different relationships and associations that are interesting to think about. There is also some exploration of right and wrong and how it can be different depending on where you are coming from, not just a straight-forward, black and white answer. I loved this story! The characters, and the situations they were dealing with, were very complex and definitely kept me riveted! This book is the first in a planned trilogy and I look forward to reading the next installment when it becomes available, as well as seeing the movie version of this story, that is set to come out later this month. Excellent Read!

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

The Host (2013)

Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel

Movie Rating: PG-13

Ellis Angels: The Nurses of Ellis Island Hospital by Carole Lee Limata

Ellis Angels: The Nurses of Ellis Island Hospital by Carole Lee Limata

Publisher: Carole Lee Limata (February 2013)

307 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

This is a historical novel about the nurses of the Ellis Island Hospital during the 1920's, primarily focusing on a new nurse, Miss Angie, and the world she is immersed into once she begins work at the Hospital. Miss Angie's experiences with immigrant patients and other hospital staff serve to illustrate immigration procedure, prominent health concerns and political pressures of the day. This story reminded me a lot of Jennifer Worth's Midwife Trilogy, in it's tone and organization and I believe anyone who enjoyed that, will enjoy this. The descriptions of the life that the nurses lived and the impact they had on so many new immigrants was fascinating! Great Read!