Rage

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
HMH Children's, 2011
209 pages
YA;
4.5/5 stars

Source: Received a free e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After enjoying Hunger, especially the basic concept of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, I knew I'd want to read the second book which looks at the Rider of War and Missy Miller, outcast and self-injurer. I ended up liking this book even more because I thought that I got to know Missy better. Also because Missy has a cat and a sister, like me.

Missy's beloved cat recently died, her sister seems to hate her, her parents are too busy to notice her, her ex-boyfriend brutally humiliated her, and her escape is either the pain of soccer or the sharpness of a blade against her skin.  But she has been chosen by Death and she has the opportunity to unleash all of her wrath and pain on the world through her new role.  She can leave behind her awful life for something unique.

Structured somewhat like the previous book, Missy also interacts with Death, Famine, and Pestilence (an intriguing character who will be the focus of the next book and who we've seen the least of so far) and forms a bond with her awesome sounding steed.  Missy has her heart broken by the reality of war and its effects on civilians which helps lead to her transformation.  She also has an unusual romance (that's all I'll say about that).

Similar to Hunger, the book concludes with Missy in treatment for her self-cutting and with an optimistic outlook for a healthy future but without promising some unrealistic happily ever after.  That's one of the things I like best about these books.  Kessler looks at some of the deepest, darkest pains experienced by young people and offers hope without sugarcoating it.  Also like Hunger, Kessler will be donating a portion of the profits to a non-profit; in this case, it's To Write Love On Her Arms or TWLOHA.

Read for e-book challenge.

The Lipstick Laws

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
HMH Children's, 2011
237 pages
YA; Contemporary
3/5 stars

Source: Received a free ecopy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the cover of this and psyched to see another book eligible for the DAC.  However the story was less than pleasing to me, mainly because of the main character, April.

April's one friend has moved, leaving her again a pariah and vulnerable to popular Britney and her crew's "friendship."  I really felt April's loneliness and that helped explain how she was willing to compromise what she knew was right for the chance to have people to hang out with.  Soon she is caught up in the world of the popular girls until she breaks a "Lipstick Law" and is kicked out with Britney's continued vengeance against her.

In order to cope, April tries to find other girls who were ostracized and they form the Lipstick Lawbreakers to take revenge on Britney.  I was glad to see April make new friends but they went so far in their anger and I had trouble cheering from them.  I kept wanting to say, "Turn the other cheek, girls!"  April does have a brief epiphany that she is as bad as Britney but I'm not sure she will make any lasting changes.  Her treatment of a boy who she considers a major loser was what drew most of my censure; he seemed nice even if he didn't look the way her shallow mind wanted him to look.

I wonder if this book would be better for someone in high school, dealing with the brutality of cliques instead of someone who is almost a graduate of college (just over a month until graduation!) and who was never picked on (I had my group of friends and needless to say we liked to read a lot).

Read for YA Debut Authors Challenge and Ebook Challenge.