Review: Don't Touch by Rachel M. Wilson (Tour Stop)

Don't Touch

by Rachel M. Wilson

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: September 2nd 2014

Synopsis:

A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears.

Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good.

Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together... which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin.

It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn't sure she's brave enough to let herself fall.

Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, this debut novel from Rachel M. Wilson is a moving story of a talented girl who's fighting an increasingly severe anxiety disorder, and the friends and family who stand by her.

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Rachel M. Wilson is the author of the contemporary YA, DON'T TOUCH, forthcoming from HarperTeen, Sep. 2, 2014. 

She graduated from Northwestern University and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Rachel grew up in Birmingham, AL, and she currently writes, acts, and teaches in Chicago, IL.

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My Rating

5

My Review

I can't remember the last time a book affected me as much as Don't Touch did. This isn't the kind of read that is enjoyable for a couple of hours but soon afterward forgotten. No, this novel will stay with you long after your eyes hit that final word. It's a stunningly beautiful contemporary. It made me laugh, cry, and catch my breath, and I could likely read it every day and never lose any of those inspired feelings.  

One thing I really loved about Don't Touch was Caddie's point of view. While reading, it's like getting a glimpse inside of her head. We see her deal with her anxiety and try to fight the real feelings that arise because of it. Seeing her deal with this, as well as needing to separate herself from the high emotional requirement of Ophelia - it was unforgettable. This was one of the few times where I was really able to relate and connect to a character. Of course, I might be a tad bit biased when it comes to this novel, as I am a teenage girl who goes to a school (for half the day, at least) to study acting. So, I have the same passion as she does. Nonetheless, the message can be universal. Whether it be acting like in Caddie's - and my own - case or something completely different, it is so incredibly easy to let our fears and anxiety get in the way of our passions, and ultimately, our happiness. I've done it many times, and it's so easy to hate myself for it. But following Caddie's struggle was inspiring - both to myself as an actor and myself as a human being. 

Don't Touch isn't a romance. But when it does have romantic elements, it's absolutely electrifying. I could feel the connection and attraction between them, and it drove me almost as crazy as Cassie. I can only imagine being in that situation, so willing to close the heated distance with a touch, but the choking fear making it impossible... just thinking about it is insanity. But Peter was an excellent character. One of those "I DEFY YOU, STARS!" for making him be fictional kind of guys. Aside from him, however, the friendships involved in the novel were wonderfully crafted. There were ups and downs, but that's just how it is.

As if all of this weren't already enough, there's the fact that a central point of the plot is a production of Hamlet (fellow Shakespeare fans, rejoice). If that's not enough, there's the gorgeous language, wonderful theme...just about everything else one could ask for...

As an actor, one of the most important things is finding a sense of truth. Being "good" or "bad" is meaningless, as long as you are in the moment and honest. It is what makes theatre one of the most breathtaking and real things in existence. That doesn't make it easy to do. Yet, Wilson manages to keep that exact goal throughout the entire novel. Don't Touch is real. Authentic. Like life, it can be funny and it can be gritty, it can be heartwarming and it can be heartbreaking. Sometimes all at once. Like life, it's something truly beautiful.

I highly recommend Don't Touch, regardless of if you think in iambic pentameter or don't really know what an "act" even is. If it can mean even a fraction to you what it meant to me - it's well worth the read. 

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Review: The Girl and the Clockwork Cat by Nikki McCormack (Tour Stop)

The Girl and the Clockwork Cat

by Nikki McCormack 

Release Date: 09/02/14

Entangled Teen

Feisty teenage thief Maeko and her maybe-more-than-friend Chaff have scraped out an existence in Victorian London’s gritty streets, but after a near-disastrous heist leads her to a mysterious clockwork cat and two dead bodies, she’s thrust into a murder mystery that may cost her everything she holds dear.

Her only allies are Chaff, the cat, and Ash, the son of the only murder suspect, who offers her enough money to finally get off the streets if she’ll help him find the real killer.

What starts as a simple search ultimately reveals a conspiracy stretching across the entire city. And as Maeko and Chaff discover feelings for each other neither was prepared to admit, she’s forced to choose whether she’ll stay with him or finally escape the life of a street rat. But with danger closing in around them, the only way any of them will get out of this alive is if all of them work together.

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About the Author
Nikki started writing her first novel at the age of 12, which she still has tucked in a briefcase in her home office, waiting for the right moment. Despite a successful short story publication with Cricket Magazine in 2007, she continued to treat her writing addiction as a hobby until a drop in the economy presented her with an abundance of free time that she used to focus on making it her career.

Nikki lives in the magnificent Pacific Northwest tending to her husband and three cats suffering varying stages of neurosis. She feeds her imagination by sitting on the ocean in her kayak gazing out across the never-ending water or hanging from a rope in a cave, embraced by darkness and the sound of dripping water. She finds peace through practicing iaido or shooting her longbow.

Author Links:

http://nikkimccormack.com/

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My Rating

3.5

My Review

I can honestly say that one of my favorite characters would be a cat named Macak, but here I am. In my defense, the very idea of a clockwork cat is incredibly awesome, and not just because of how fun it is to say. If someone can bring that to reality, I'd love to have one. Plus, you know, actions speak louder than words, and this cat sure had some delightful behavior. But all cats aside, The Girl and the Clockwork Cat is a very enjoyable read. Fans of Steampunk will be able to devour this novel with no trouble at all.

I really did love Macak, but the human characters are pretty cool too. And they say stuff, so that's a bonus. Maeko is a fantastic protagonist, and I adored the fact that she felt to be a major driving point of the plot at times, getting more and more involved with the murders. It was also great to see her relationship with Macak grow, as that's not a kind of relationship often utilized in novels! Not to mention, this is an excellent example of diversity in YA, which makes it all the more wonderful!

The setting of Victorian London creates a great world for the story, while giving quite the tone. Mixed with the murders and beautiful prose, I really enjoyed the read. What can I say? I like my Steampunk how I like my chocolate - smooth and dark - and The Girl and the Clockwork Cat delivers. There's a good pacing that only escalates throughout the read, making it a definite ride from start to finish.

I like a good love V every once in a while, but it's only fun if a have a definite side to root for. I suppose it's not a bad thing that I liked both Chaff and Ash, as both of them are well enough developed characters, but I was a little disappointed that neither of them really won me over.

The Girl and the Clockwork Cat is a wonderful YA Steampunk, especially if you're like me and have an unexplainable "thing" for clockwork in novels. (I like everything about it. Even the way the word sounds. Can I tell you why? Not really.) But even if that isn't for you, McCormack crafted a novel with enough layers and language - it still could be well worth the read.  

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Review: The Glory by Mister JMI

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The first in a new series, The Glory is a fun, funny and exciting character-driven sci-fi adventure that follows Adam Whitlock, a young, brilliant, fiercely determined boy who gives up everything to join the United States Space Force in hopes of becoming captain of the fabled and prestigious warship, The Glory.

On his rise to the top, Whitlock gains a great friend and ally in Nathaniel Oaks, as well as a bitter rival in Omar Baptist. Despite his extraordinary talent and dedication, Adam Whitlock’s path is riddled with opposition from naysayers and nonbelievers.

Meanwhile, Admiral Douglas C. Calhoun is tasked with quelling the rising tensions between mankind and the Kelzmisians, a group of alien races, as their long-standing Cold War is about to turn hot.

Stargaze. Trail Blaze. THE GLORY.

 

 

My Rating

 

3.5

 

 

My Review

 

The Glory is an excellent beginning to a series, and a wonderful work of science fiction. There were a lot of things that I enjoyed about the novel, and had a lot of trouble putting it down. With only a few slow moments, it was an enjoyable ride all the way to the end - which will leave readers eager for the next installment.

 

What I loved the most about The Glory was the characters. It's easy for sci-fi novels to get so lost in the concept that realistic characters can be overlooked. But the characters of The Glory are reason enough to give this novel a chance. The protagonist, Adam Whitlock, stole my heart from the very first time in which he added a name to the rapidly growing list of people he needs to prove wrong (an idea that I may just have to borrow). Despite his talent and drive, Adam's character has a bit of an underdog feel, given everyone who thinks he's crazy. Most of us have dreams that seem just as unlikely, so he's very easy to relate to and impossible not to root for. But, unlike most "underdog" characters, he's got a real firecracker personality. He's hot-headed, passionate, and sure of himself. It's fantastic. 

 

Just as much as it was enjoyable to read about him, it was enjoyable to see his friendship evolve with Nate. There's nothing better than great friendship in literature, and the relationship between Nate and Adam is one of my favorites. In addition, Omar Baptist may not be a good person, but he's a good character. Any antagonist that can make the readers hate them and want to cry for them is a good antagonist in my book. I can't think of a character that wasn't well developed or enjoyable to read about. Throughout the novel, the voice in dialogue was on-par.

 

On the flip side, I would have liked to see a little more world-building in this new era. A lot of information was tossed out in the beginning, which is an interesting style, but a lot to take in at once. Some of the relations between earth and other alien races seemed to be barely brushed over within the actual story, while they are a fairly major part of the concept. There also wasn't too much about the Glory itself once the plot really got kicking - although I can't complain too much, since the plot did get very engaging, despite a few disjointed scenes.

 

That being said, I loved the description and setting of the Academy, and not just because I'm partial to stories that take place in my home-state of Ohio. It's an interesting place, and handled beautifully. While reading, I really felt like I was growing up and moving through the Space Academy with the characters, but not in a way that dragged. It was interesting to see the growth in both characters and plot, and how everyone changed over time.

 

All in all, The Glory has plenty of action, a lot of fun, and unforgettable characters. It's a great read, and I look forward to getting my hands on the second book of the series.