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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
A refreshing novel that blends fantasy and reality seamlessly.
There were a few really good things going for this book. I loved being able to read a book about "the stork". So unique. I thought the main character had a lot of spunk and humor, which was refreshing. The storyline even kept me fairly entertained and it was an easy read.
However, I found much that I didn't care for. My number one irritant was the romance. I like romance, but I'm not the biggest fan of, "This is destiny. We've only known each other for two days but we're so in loooooove!" Ugh. Furthermore, while the main character acted like a teenager, I thought her love interest acted all too much like an adult and was disgustingly perfect.
There were quite a few plot points that bothered me.
Awkward dialogue, an over-the-top plot (although it was interesting), and rolling-my-eyes-into-the-back-of-my-head cheesiness also presented obstacles to my enjoyment of the story.
There were various moral issues addressed throughout this book. I thought the author handled teenage drinking fairly well. The character recognized her stupid decision and regretted her behavior. I thought the affair her dad had was treated too lightly. It especially baffled me that Katla didn't seem affected by it... at all. There was more cursing then I would have liked in this book, but they were mostly "Bible" swear words (no f-bombs) and they were not littered on every page.
I just feel, "okay" about this one. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I might check out the second one from the library someday.
2.5 Stars.
However, I found much that I didn't care for. My number one irritant was the romance. I like romance, but I'm not the biggest fan of, "This is destiny. We've only known each other for two days but we're so in loooooove!" Ugh. Furthermore, while the main character acted like a teenager, I thought her love interest acted all too much like an adult and was disgustingly perfect.
There were quite a few plot points that bothered me.
Spoiler
If the wise storks always pick the most suitable mother for these babies, how are there so many unwanted pregnancies and abortions in the world? Furthermore, how many storks are there? The measly work this society did, wouldn't populate a small town, yet the whole earth. Also, I never got what the "fourth chair" in her dream was about. Katla lied about it being filled and I don't remember learning what was really supposed to go there. Did Fru Hulda realize that Katla made up the mermaid? Was there really supposed to be a Starbucks constructed in the town? The last question isn't especially important but it bothered me.Awkward dialogue, an over-the-top plot (although it was interesting), and rolling-my-eyes-into-the-back-of-my-head cheesiness also presented obstacles to my enjoyment of the story.
There were various moral issues addressed throughout this book. I thought the author handled teenage drinking fairly well. The character recognized her stupid decision and regretted her behavior. I thought the affair her dad had was treated too lightly. It especially baffled me that Katla didn't seem affected by it... at all. There was more cursing then I would have liked in this book, but they were mostly "Bible" swear words (no f-bombs) and they were not littered on every page.
I just feel, "okay" about this one. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I might check out the second one from the library someday.
2.5 Stars.
I'll admit, I would not have picked up this book had it not been recommended to me by a good friend. The main character, Kat, is very, very fashion forward, a theme which I could not at all relate to. However, the plot of the book was fantastic. Three years ago, I would definitely have given this book five stars, but it's no longer exactly what I'm looking for. It's a quick read, if that's what you're looking for, and there's an element of mystery and romance.
One word to describe this book: bizarre.
Sixteen-year-old Katla is a stork. She becomes a part of an ancient society of women who choose the vessels for the souls of babies. To get the women together, all she has to do is...scratch her scalp. As I described the contents of this book to friends, they couldn't help but laugh at me for reading it. However, I found it to be extremely creative and quite intriguing. About halfway through the book, I got over my giggles and started to become more engaged in the story. This is one of those books that people will either love or hate.
Sixteen-year-old Katla is a stork. She becomes a part of an ancient society of women who choose the vessels for the souls of babies. To get the women together, all she has to do is...scratch her scalp. As I described the contents of this book to friends, they couldn't help but laugh at me for reading it. However, I found it to be extremely creative and quite intriguing. About halfway through the book, I got over my giggles and started to become more engaged in the story. This is one of those books that people will either love or hate.
I have had this book fermenting in my currently reading shelf - a week? a week and a half? Maybe even two. It's one of those books that I couldn't really fault for its inability to whet my reading appetite. During those sporadic moments when I was finally able to give it my undivided attention, I found Stork to be just mildly interesting.
To be honest, I was a little reluctant to read this book because the MC seemed like someone I'd avoid reading. I'm not at all interested in fashion so the synopsis put me off a little bit. To my surprise, Katla turned out to be a refreshing character. She's quirky and funny with a voice that was genuine to her character. Having just relocated from sunny California to wintry Minnesota, you could say that she's like a fish out of water; completely out of her elements. I liked how this girl didn't sound like a complete wuss while she whined about how cold it was. I was also prepared to read someone so vain but was glad to find out that she really wasn't.
Her romance with Jack - though destined, didn't feel like it was one of those be-all, end-all type of relationship. It wasn't as far-fetched, so the eye-rolling took a break the entire time I was reading this book.
Forgive me when I say that the fundamental retelling of the legends in the book bored me - and it wasn't anyone's fault but mine. It's just something that I wasn't at all interested in. The majority of the book dealt with this retelling so for the most part, I was just forcing myself to read. I'd bought a hardback copy of this book previously then Candlewick had sent me another copy for review. I never liked giving tepid reviews, because to me, it feels like I never really gave the book a chance. I just wish I enjoyed this a bit more than I did.
To be honest, I was a little reluctant to read this book because the MC seemed like someone I'd avoid reading. I'm not at all interested in fashion so the synopsis put me off a little bit. To my surprise, Katla turned out to be a refreshing character. She's quirky and funny with a voice that was genuine to her character. Having just relocated from sunny California to wintry Minnesota, you could say that she's like a fish out of water; completely out of her elements. I liked how this girl didn't sound like a complete wuss while she whined about how cold it was. I was also prepared to read someone so vain but was glad to find out that she really wasn't.
Her romance with Jack - though destined, didn't feel like it was one of those be-all, end-all type of relationship. It wasn't as far-fetched, so the eye-rolling took a break the entire time I was reading this book.
Forgive me when I say that the fundamental retelling of the legends in the book bored me - and it wasn't anyone's fault but mine. It's just something that I wasn't at all interested in. The majority of the book dealt with this retelling so for the most part, I was just forcing myself to read. I'd bought a hardback copy of this book previously then Candlewick had sent me another copy for review. I never liked giving tepid reviews, because to me, it feels like I never really gave the book a chance. I just wish I enjoyed this a bit more than I did.
This novel follows many of the popular tropes in young adult novels today. A teenager doesn't fit into his/her surroundings and finds out he/she has a special gift or gifts. Said gifts set him/her apart from the rest, but the teenager is weirdly comfortable with the new norm and quickly falls in love. Bad things happen, people are out to get the special teenager and in the end everyone lives somewhat happily after, but wait there's a cliff hanger!
The unique aspect of this book was the use of Norse Mythology. It was the use of this bit of folklore that kept me reading and reading quickly. I do wish the author would have spent a bit more time explaining the mythology since it is not as well known as Greek and Roman mythology.
The unique aspect of this book was the use of Norse Mythology. It was the use of this bit of folklore that kept me reading and reading quickly. I do wish the author would have spent a bit more time explaining the mythology since it is not as well known as Greek and Roman mythology.
If nothing else, the concept is original (...the stork concept, everything else is like every other YA book out there). Katla doesn't feel that she fits in Minnesota (though, really, with all of the Icelandic terms and people thrown about, if I wasn't told it was in Minnesota, I wouldn't have ever guessed), but her mom moved them there after her recent divorce. She's fashion forward, despairs over the rest of the student body, and butts heads with Wade (who she had fooled around with--big mistake) and Jack (clashing opinions make growly boy). Then she discovers that she's a Stork--yeah, like the old tale where storks deliver babies to women.
Katla is amusing. She's confident and sticks up for herself, but she's also a bit of a snob and wants desperately to get away from Minnesota. She pretty much reads as a normal girl--nothing special, but not terrible either, which is always a plus.
Still, her relationship with Jack just sort of puzzles me. One minute they're at each other's throats, the next they're cozzying with each other and... I have no idea. It's pretty much whiplash. No natural progression of a relationship, but rather straight from chilly status to Katla wanting to be with him. It's kind of awful, thinking about it.
The ending was sort of a mess. It was very sudden and the reasons came out of nowhere. I pretty much shrugged and didn't care for it at all. Overall the book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't all that great either. 3 stars.
Katla is amusing. She's confident and sticks up for herself, but she's also a bit of a snob and wants desperately to get away from Minnesota. She pretty much reads as a normal girl--nothing special, but not terrible either, which is always a plus.
Still, her relationship with Jack just sort of puzzles me. One minute they're at each other's throats, the next they're cozzying with each other and... I have no idea. It's pretty much whiplash. No natural progression of a relationship, but rather straight from chilly status to Katla wanting to be with him. It's kind of awful, thinking about it.
Spoiler
I will admit, though, that a love struck, instantly smitten twelve year old Jack is kind of freaking adorable.The ending was sort of a mess. It was very sudden and the reasons came out of nowhere. I pretty much shrugged and didn't care for it at all. Overall the book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't all that great either. 3 stars.
I enjoyed all of the different mythology, but particularly the twists on the Norse mythology. Fun and quirky quick read!
Really good, except for the character of Kat. She was just off putting. Great mystery overall though, good romance too. One thing I will say, the excitement wasn't really there, and it felt kind of blah, like the author was holding back.
While some elements were good, halfway through the book I found myself curious only about the main plot points and nothing else. So I started skipping paragraphs and pages so that I got the main gist of the rest of the book. Since I have the sequel already checked out from the library, I’ll give it a go.