Advanced Eyelash Fluttering

1. 
Title: Etiquette & Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Genre: Steampunk, or "Historical Fiction" according to my local library
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 7, 2014
Rating: ****
Review: Sophronia, the youngest daughter in the Temminnick family, is in great need of polish and refinement, and a family friend recommends Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, despite being assaulted by a trifle during a bungled dumbwaiter spying incident.  What Mrs. Temminnick doesn't realize is just what her daughter will learn at this finishing school, and in her first session Sophronia finds herself learning quadrilles, fan ettiquette, and how to only poison half of one's dinner guests.  "Finishing" takes on an entirely different context in the school dedicated to teaching "Ladies of Quality" the finer points of Etiquette and Espionage.

This novel, introducing Sophronia Temminnick and Mademoiselle Geraldine's floating school, is good fun and frivolous entertainment.  There are several familiar faces, albeit in very unfamiliar forms, sporting diversion, and conflict overcome by cunning and mechanicals.  This series is not "The Parasol Protectorate," but holds great promise on its own, and makes for a fun start to the year. 

53.
Title: [Affliction]
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Pages: 576
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Preordered
Date Completed: July 4, 2013
Rating: ****

The debates surrounding Laurell K. Hamilton's 20-year-old series have grown far too heated for me to offer much of a review; I just don't care enough to slug it out with other readers. As usual, Hamilton delivers what I've come to expect, while touching on the popular trends in fiction today. The one specific comment I will offer is this: I could barely stomach the moment of "religious vision" in the hospital. I fully intend to continue reading the series for the general enjoyment I find, but if that's the next turn Hamilton will take even I will have to abandon ship. 

54.
Title: [Newes from the Dead]
Author: Mary Hooper
Pages: 272
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: July 5, 2013
Rating: *****

In 1650 Anne Greene is hanged for murder, and "miraculously" revived as she lays on the dissection table.  From this true account, documented in publications from the time, Mary Hooper spins an intriguing narrative, told both from Anne's perspective as she lies trapped in a kind of coma, and the young medical student who becomes the corpse's champion as the first to notice her fluttering eyelids. Though Hooper professes that she has done her research, she first admits that this is a work of fiction, and there is no doubt she takes countless liberties.  Still, the end result is a charming (and occasionally claustrophobic) young adult novel that may well spark an interest in history. 

55.
Title: Gabriella
Author: Celia Kyle
Pages: 79
Genre: Paranormal BBW Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: July 7, 2013
Rating: *

It's not at all worth the purchase price. The women have completely repulsive personalities, and I still don't understand how one includes homophobic remarks in a polyamorous "romance."

48.
Title: Avalon High
Author: Meg Cabot
Pages: 320
Genre: Young Adult
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:  Library Book
Date Completed: June 6, 2012
Rating: **1/2

Avalon High has the subtlety of a barrel of bricks dropped from seven stories, and just in case the reader doesn't pick up on the five inches of gooey sloppy allusions slathered on this narrative, the protagonist explains things explicitly at least twice.  While the premise of the novel is fun in theory, Cabot's execution leaves much to be desired, as she demonstrates just how little faith she has in her reader to even understand the basic premise of her story. 

44. 
Title: [Chime]
Author: Franny Billingsley
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library book
Date Completed: May 17, 2012
Rating: ***1/2

I believe it was Faith who recently read this book, but unfortunately my recent memory is failing me...

Chime tells the story of a young witch who is sacrificing her present happiness for her past sins, while keeping her own neck out of a hangman's noose.  Grieving for her stepmother and caring for her (autistic?) sister, Briony leaves little time for herself, and rejects anything that "ordinary" girls may be interested in.  That is, until a young man comes to live with her father, and changes her perception of her own past.

Wait, that sounds like far more of a horrible love story than this actually is.  In truth, Briony is far too self-centered to even consider a romantic interest for much of the story.  Filled with fairy tales and deceit, Chime is largely fascinating for the point of view, which is that of a young woman who believes she's guilty, and says as much before the crimes are even presented. 

Although the plot is fairly predictable, I enjoyed the book primarily for this point of view, and the exploration of memory. 

45.
Title: [Charlotte Collins]
Author: Jennifer Whiteley Becton
Pages: 256
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Free download
Date Completed: May 19, 2012
Rating: *****

Charlotte Collins is a Jane Austen continuation that is actually worth reading.  I applaud Becton for selecting a perfect subject for her work - secondary characters from the primary source, as opposed to the protagonists of the original - and argue that this choice is what primarily leads to the success of the text.  Unlike continuations that attempt to rewrite Elizabeth Bennet/Darcy, which consistently fail to develop a character that even resembles Austen's original, Becton has selected a character that is only marginally developed in the original, and as such is ripe for re-imagining.  In Charlotte Collins, the reader finds Elizabeth's dear friend burying her fairly repulsive husband after a fortunate accident has lead him to his ultimate reward.  Now a young widow of very small means, Charlotte finds herself continuing to navigate the neighborhood shadowed by Lady Catherine, and welcomes her sister Maria to her household to relieve their parents of the burden of a coming-out.  Of course, no Austenian novel would be complete without reputations being challenged, true characters being revealed, and a near-perfect love match, and Becton satisfies on all accounts. The mark of a contemporary author is so marginal that it is barely noticed, and I thoroughly enjoyed this Charlotte-Collins-romance.   

33.
Title: Dirty Little Secrets
Author: C.J. Omololu
Pages: 224 pages
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Ebook
Acquisition: Recommended by Faith
Date Completed: April 5, 2012
Rating: ****

Compulsive hoarding is a disease I both understand and fear; while I have no desire to keep all of our garbage, for example, I can sympathize with the panic and anxiety that inspires one to keep "x" because it might be needed one day, or the similar fear of forgetting that leads people to collect things like receipts. Thankfully, my own compulsive disorder drives me to streamline and organize as much as possible (I guess you could say I hoard electronically, since I scan all paperwork/children artwork/photos/etc instead of keeping it in hardcopy), but in the absence of that kind of drive people with similar anxieties just tend to ... keep. Unfortunately, it seems in many cases that one's hoarding doesn't just impact the hoarder's life, but it has a detrimental effect on those around them - most tragically their children.

I picked up Dirty Little Secrets because of my own interest in the show "Hoarders," which attempts to help hoarders recognize their anxieties and problems. Omolou's book focuses on the real victim of this kind of household - the child of a hoarder. The protagonist has fought with her mother's hoard for her entire life, and suffers great emotional and psychological problems because of it. I found the narrative to be both compelling and realistic (from my own perspective, mind), and I could feel my own anxiety and OCD rising just reading about her living conditions. And I have to admit - I found the conclusion to be a relief.

22.
Title: [Wither]
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 384 pages
Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: February 21, 2012
Rating: ****

The dystopia of Lauren DeStefano's Wither is at once alien and strikingly familiar. In a world suffering the consequences of human development (including genetic manipulation, for one thing), it is rumored that only the former North American continent has survived natural disasters - and the population is dwindling as new generations die in their 20s. s

In this world young girls are frequently kidnapped as "brides" for the young and wealthy, and are forced to live in polygamous households working to produce future generations in the "hopes" that a cure will be found and society can recover.

Wither is appropriately bleak, and the protagonist is (usually) sympathetic, although I quickly found that the most appealing characters did not include Rhine. While not as energetic as The Hunger Games, Wither is worth a try for fans of dystopian literature.

Nostalgia

9.
Title:The Last Vampire
Author: Christopher Pike
Pages: 195
Genre: YA Vampire
Medium: paperback
Acquisition: New edition (published in 2010, I believe)
Date Completed: January 11, 2012
Rating: ***

When I first found The Silver Kiss in the elementary school library when I was eight it sparked an interest in vampires, but when I first discovered Christopher Pike's The Last Vampire when I was ten, the interest was cast in iron. Alisa Perne - Sita - believes she is the last of an ancient tribe of vampires, the creation of which she accepts partial moral responsibility. When Alisa is contacted by a private detective she realizes that the knowledge of her existence is not the secret she believed it to be, and sets out to find just how much this mysterious person knows.

Unfortunately, an adult reading of The Last Vampire did not stand up to an adult reading (although I still intend to reread the entire series, since discovering two new books have been added to the series!). I have two distinct objections to the story: first, Alisa is a master of everything. From driving to the piano to world history to computers to welding, Alisa has mastered it all. It is certainly conceivable that a 5,000-year-old individual would become an expert in much, but the range and depth of her expertise is tedious. Calling for believability in a young adult vampire novel may seem a bit hypocritical, but even fictional vampires should seem like people - even if they are horribly damaged or highly skilled people. As an adult reader, I would like a true flaw, or at least the opportunity for the protagonist to learn something new.

Secondly, the narrative style became irksome very quickly. There is very little sentence variety in the book; the story is narrated in short, clipped sentences, so that it comes across as very weak screenwriting. While I can appreciate the clipped, "factual" relation of Alisa, I would have preferred to some warmth somewhere.

The Last Vampire series has been repackaged to take advantage of the rejuvenated market for teen paranormal romance; what I read as a series of six books has been republished in two volumes: Thirst numbers 1 and 2. And, after what I remember as a very definitive and distinct conclusion to the series, it appears Christopher Pike (or whatever author is now publishing under the name) has added two large novels to the series (The Eternal Dawn and The Shadow of Death).

I'm interested to see if my objections continue for the rest of the series - and likewise just what Pike has managed to do in volumes three and four.

101.
Author: Suzanne Collins
Title: Catching Fire
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Dystopian
Acquisition: sequel
Date: December 29, 2011
Rating: ****

Despite Katniss' relief at the conclusion of The Hunger Games, it is evident to the reader that "it" is not over; the feeling of unrest, the political ramifications of her actions, and the building personal tension scream out for a sequel, which is presented in Catching Fire.

In this second book of the trilogy, the reader is fully (albeit briefly) introduced to the "head" of this horrendous civilization, and as Collins further develops the society outside of the games it becomes clear that not everyone in the Capitol is as repugnant as President Snow, but rather have been indoctrinated into his insanity.

There is little relief for Katniss and her loved ones, as she struggles to again find her path through the mine-field that is her society. While even more predictable than the first, the second is just as compelling, and leads directly in to the concluding novel, Mockingjay.

41.
Author(s): Shannon Hale
Title: Book of a Thousand Days
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 336
Genre: Young Adult
Acquisition: Work Text, 8th Grade
Date Completed: May 7, 2011
Rating: ****

Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days takes the reader into a fantastic Mongolia, where a young mucker girl finds herself bound to a young lady in more ways than one. First agreeing to seven years confinement in a stone tower, and then struggling to find her way (and her lady's) after their escape, Dashti's adventures span years of struggles, hope, and growth. Through her journal the reader learns of Dashti's past and present, and gains a sense of hope for her future. Originally borrowed from a Grimm fairy tale, Book of a Thousand Days presents a fascinating look at a colorful and intriguing culture, while drawing the reader into a narrative that can evoke a wide range of emotions.

38.
Author(s): Audrey Couloumbis
Title: The Misadventures of Maude March
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 290
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Acquisition: Work Text - Yang Academy, 5th-grade
Date Completed: April 22, 2011
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

After the death of their parents, young sisters Sallie and Maude March are raised by their no-nonsense, tough-as-nails Aunt Ruthie, from whom they learn hard work and important life skills, like how to shoot a gun. However, when Sallie is 11 and Maude is 15 Aunt Ruthie is killed by a wild bullet walking away from the general store, and the girls are left alone in the world. Though they are determined to make the best of things, the March sisters soon find themselves in a disagreeable situation, as their temporary guardians attempt to force Maude to marry a much older man. Seeing no other solution, the girls set out in the middle of the night to find their one living relative - their mysterious Uncle Arlen.

A serious of mishaps and mistakes lead to a newspaper trail following the girls, naming Maude a horse thief, bank robber, and murderer, all before they reach their final destination.

Despite the bloodshed, The Misadventures of Maude March is a delightful and up-beat Western novel for young readers. Couloumbis has created two likable and realistic characters that will be easy for readers to relate to, and they provide wonderful examples of determination and strength of character as they work through a series of hardships. Sallie's narrative voice is consistent with her age and situation, without talking down to the intended readership. The Misadventures of Maude March is proving to be a fun way to introduce different genres to my fifth-grade student, and I would certainly recommend it to others.

34.
Author(s): Alex Flinn
Title: [Beastly]
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 300
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 8, 2011
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Yesterday evening I picked up Beastly again, deciding to give it another go.

I bought it after reading a few reviews here, and seeing the movie trailer. However, I put the book down after finishing just part 1 (about 45 pages). There are a number of things that just don't sit well with me. First of all, I am disappointed in the antagonist, and Flinn's refusal to maintain his (or maybe her? not that it matters) main theme: once again the "witch" transforms from a rather physically unremarkable individual to someone the protagonist views as very attractive. Now, my only understanding of the "Beauty and the Beast" story comes from Disney, but Flinn's consistency with the Disneyfied version of the folktale is disappointing. After all, in a story that is supposed to stress internal worth over physical appearances, why does the witch transform into an attractive young woman? Her actions - placing the curse - are what speak to the protagonist, so why must the author make the witch guilty of the same crime (vanity).

My second problem with the book came from the introduction of the chatroom transcripts. Really, Flinn could have done no worse in destroying the suspension of disbelief. Introducing elements from "The Little Mermaid" and "The Frog Prince" does nothing to further the narrative, other than confirm that the protagonist of Beastly is in fact a teenager living in the digital age. The transcripts themselves are obnoxious, and provide no character development that isn't better related through the body of the story.

And with that I put down the novel for several months.

Last night, a small detail has brought my previous judgments back to my memory. In truth, most readers would likely gloss over the information, but because it's so near and dear to my heart I'm rather offended by the lack of attention to detail.

The detail? "Wilde dies in prison" (Flinn 126).

Really, Alex Flinn. Oscar Wilde dies in prison, hhmm? Perhaps if you're being metaphoric, but somehow I doubt it.

...

After my previous griping I decided to simply let things go and finish the book, more out of the hope that Flinn would redeem herself than anything else. What I found in the second half of the novel was a lackluster presentation of the tale superimposed on modern New York City, with absolutely no twists or attempts at originality.

Beastly is exactly what readers would expect it to be. In the second half of the book Adrian becomes a more sympathetic character than Kyle, which makes the reading a bit more enjoyable, but overall I personally found the story to be unsuccessful.

I have a theory that Beastly, like so many Stephen King and Anne Rice stories, will make a far more enjoyable film than a novel.

4.
Author(s): Laurie Halse Anderson
Title: Fever 1793
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 251
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Acquisition: Teaching text, 8th grade language arts
Date Completed: January 7, 2011
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

When I read a novel or text for work I am usually pretty strict with myself in terms of remaining on the same schedule as my students; I like the ideas to be as fresh for me as they are for them, and since I teach five very different classes (with about 90 students) each semester, this can become doubly important. However, with Fever 1793 I simply couldn't stop.

I started out well, and read only the first eight chapters I had assigned to my 8th-grader. However, when I picked up the novel today to prepare next week's work I simply couldn't help myself - I just had to finish.

Fever 1793 is an historical novel narrated by Matilda Cook, a fourteen-year-old girl, as she witnesses and experiences first-hand the disaster that is the 1793 outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia. The plot itself is gripping, and speaks greatly to the reader's emotions while maintaining an eye for historical detail and relevance. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from an 18th-century text that will help young readers put Mattie' life in context, and likewise increases their understanding of what makes her life so extraordinary. Fever 1793 treats everything from social classes, slavery, respectability, gender roles, occupation, education, and politics, to plain human decency and the strength of the individual spirit, and is sure to catch the imagination of a wide range of readers.

90.
Author: Angie Sage
Title: Magyk: Septimus Heap Book One
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 564 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition: Work text, 5th Grade
Date Completed: December 5, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Magyk is a young adult fantasy novel that begins with two births and a death, and ends with the promise of an eventful future. Sage's novel is nothing truly new, but her character development and frequent use of allusions makes the novel interesting for adult readers, and I believe the intended audience would find the story quite charming and enthralling. Although I identified the mystery early on, I was pleased with the development of the story itself. I am currently using the novel for my 5th-grade student, and we have used the text to discuss literary allusions and techniques, as well as the roles and choices of illustrators and typographers. Magyk is a nice meaty hunk of a book for 4th and 5th graders, and would be a lovely way to introduce young readers to genre fiction.

88.
Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: I Shall Wear Midnight
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 355
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: November 21, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Tiffany Aching of the Chalk is no longer wielding iron pans against mythical creature, but she is still driven by the same fire that has always existed in her soul. She is now The Witch, and the Hag of the Hills, and she's damn good at it. Too good at it, at times, as her past actions bring her to the attention of a demonic soul intent on seeking revenge on a memory.

While I have enjoyed all of the Tiffany Aching books, I Shall Wear Midnight is undoubtedly my favorite. Pratchett's wit and keen eye for social criticism and satire are on full display, and the story itself will take readers on a wild and magical ride.

87.
Author: Joseph Bruchac
Title: Code Talker
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 231
Genre: YA, ALA Best Book for Young Readers
Acquisition: Teaching text for 8th grade
Date Completed: November 21, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the early days of World War II the American military is starving for a way to protect transmitted intelligence - an Unbreakable Code. One man, the son of a trader who sells goods to Native Americans, provides the answer the military is looking for, and before long Marines are found on Navajo reservation to find native speakers. As a language with no alphabet, and a language almost impossible to master unless one learns it from birth, the Navajo tongue provides a code that finally defeats Japanese intelligence. Once their worth is proven, the Code Talkers are in high demand, and their importance in WWII cannot be exaggerated.

In Code Talker, Joseph Bruchac tackles a story that is suppressed for the government for over three decades. Having produced a treasured government secret, the Navajos who develop the Unbreakable Code are forbidden to share their important role in the war, and for years remain unrecognized by anyone other than their fellow Marines.

Ned Begay is one such Marine. Having attended missionary schools from a young age, he is an ideal candidate for the role the Marines seek to fill, and once he is sixteen he convinces his family to allow him to lie about his age and join the military. Once shamed by bilagaanaa for his culture, Ned finds that that very culture is what allows him to serve his homeland.

Bruchac's narrative is haunting; Ned's quiet grade highlights both the horrors of war and the horrors of racism in the land he helps to protect without delving into alienating anger. His dignity moves the reader, and allows anyone with a soul and a conscience to relate to Ned, regardless of race or culture.

With no intimate knowledge of the cultural and historical events, I was quickly drawn in to Ned's story, and found myself mesmerized by his voice and moved by his experiences. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

76a.
Author: Garth Nix
Title: Abhorsen
Publication: Paperback, 2003.
Pages: 102 pages out of 512 completed
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition: Intended as a teaching text for 8th grade
Date Completed: never
Rating: 1 star out of 5

It is rare that I abandon a book, but after 102 pages I am putting down Abhorsen for good. It is in no small way my own fault; I did not realize that it is a later novel in a series, and I picked it up because I had heard wonderful things about this volume in particular.

After 102 pages I still had very little idea what was going on, and absolutely no emotional or intellectual attachment to any of the characters. Making it through a handful of pages felt like a chore, and just looking a the cover leaves me feeling annoyed.

My rating of the book is based purely on my present experience, and is in no way indicative of whether or not I feel others should pursue Nix's series. Reading time is too precious to waste on unappealing books, so I will be moving on to other things.

71.
Author: Benedict Carey
Title: The Unknowns: A Mystery
Publication: Hardback, 2009.
Pages: 259 pages
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult
Acquisition: Teaching Text - 5-8 grades
Date Completed: September 10, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Adjacent is a place to hide the unwanted but necessary. The little island is home to a large nuclear plant, the hard-working families that keep the plant running, and the garbage that is generated by the communities around them. The children of Adjacent spend their time running between trailers, hiding is broken down buses, and watching the garbage come in on large barges.

When the narrator begins on the first page, "[p]eople were praying for something twisted to happen last summer. ... We wanted a problem, and a hairy one, just for something to do," the reader really isn't surprised.

The surprise, though, is that they get what they ask for.

People start disappearing from Adjacent; ordinary people that live on the island, and no one seems to care what is happening to them. But when a local math tutor disappears two of her students are determined to find out what is going on, and work their way through a series of mathematical clues they're sure Mrs. Clarke left behind.

The mystery goes far deeper than they ever expected, and Di and Tom gather together an unlikely group of conspirators to help stop the disaster that is looming.

I purchased Carey's book to kick off my 5th and 8th grade language arts classes at a math and science academy. The mathematical theme of the book flows naturally with the narrative, and the reader is able to develop and theorize along with the protagonists. I believe that The Unknowns will be very appealing both for young readers who have an interest in reading, and those who proclaim that math is just plain boring.

68.
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Publication: Kindle Edition
Pages: 384 pages
Genre: young adult, horror, vampires
Acquisition: Suggested by LT user elliepotten
Date Completed: August 23, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a light and frothy young adult novel that follows the current trend of vampire romance. Ellie Potten compared the book to the Disney "Princess Diaries" films, and she calls it spot-on. What I enjoyed most about Fantaskey's take on the popular Cinderella variation is her portrayal of Jessica's emotions; Jessica reads like a typical teenager (albeit in a supernatural position), and her evolution throughout the book seems natural and believable. Lucius is not nearly as interesting as the protagonist. As the love interest, he fulfills all the requirements that readers will expect from the genre. However, I felt his epistolary endeavors to be less than sincere, and I felt that his letters flattened Lucius as a character, rather than developing the character for the audience. His inner monologue is shallow and contrived, and his use of "quotations" is more than a little ridiculous. Still, the book was good fun, and I'd probably seek out Fantaskey in the future.

61.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Title: Odd and the Frost Giants
Publication: Hardback
Pages: 117 pages
Genre: Young adult, mythology, bedtime stories
Acquisition: Purchased for Brooks
Date Completed: August 1, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The little Norse boy named Odd does everything with a smile on his face. Odd smiles when he's scolded, and doesn't lose the smile when he hears of his father's death. Odd smiles when he cripples his right leg and foot, and he smiles when he meets a trio of talking animals claiming to be gods. Odd even smiles when he comes face to face with a Frost Giant, and the giant threatens to crush him.

Odd and the Frost Giants is a delightful mock-epic in which Gaiman writes a crippled young boy into the world of the Norse gods. With little more than his (not so) simple understanding of human/god nature Odd conquers feats that leave the more-powerful themselves crippled, and with quiet perseverance he pursues a life more welcoming than the one in which he lives.

Despite Gaiman's never-ending love affair with comma splices, his young adult novel is quite charming. I would recommend it to young readers and parents alike.

48.
Author: Dan Wells
Title: I am Not a Serial Killer
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 272 pages
Genre: Young Adult Horror
Acquisition: Recommended by drneutron on LibraryThing
Date Completed: June 13, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

John Wayne is a fifteen-year-old boy who lives with his single mother above the mortuary she owns with her twin sister. He's also a sociopath determined to prevent himself from becoming a serial killer, even as he explores his fascination with the phenomena. But when a series of violent murders occur in his previously quiet town, John finds himself drawn to the crimes, and realizes that he is the only one in town with the insight to stop the serial killer in their midst.

I Am Not a Serial Killer is a grisly and captivating narrative, and Wells adopts an interesting perspective to explore the darker side of human desire. I was a little disappointed with one aspect of the novel: I would have found the story more compelling if the narrative stayed focused on realism versus the fantastic. Still, I would recommend I am Not a Serial Killer to adults and teens who enjoy mysteries, the macabre, and perhaps a fascination with the scariest monsters that exist: serial killers.