"By the end, I really felt as though I had grown this connection with Pietr and Jess when, in the beginning, I hadn't liked them either very much; that progression was exciting and refreshing." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Everything about Jessie Gillmansen’s life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, she’s about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accent—he’s a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessie’s small town. It seems change is the one thing Jessie can’t avoid…"
Why I read this: First of all, Shannon Delany's a big reason I survived BEA! I wouldn't have been able to make all the cool events without her reminder tweets! Second, I loved the premise and the cover. This is the first book in quite awhile I've went out and bought the week it came out.
Plot: While it took me about half way through the book to get "hooked," once I was the plot was captivating and fast-paced. This plot was different than any other werewolf novel because of the difference in the wolves, their history, and that the realization of what they really were didn't happen until the last part of the novel. At first this really bothered me because readers know it's a story about werewolves but the heroine doesn't until the end. Now that I've had a couple hours to reflect, I like it and find the difference refreshing. The subplot with Jess's mom and best friend was really interesting and only more captivating with the integration of Pietr. I wish this would have been more developed in the end. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole mafia angle... but it'll definitely keep me reading. I love the twist at the end (last two pages), but I sure had to read it about eight times to make sure I understood what has being said. It will definitely test my students comprehension of the novel as a whole. Also the whole Derek subplot went undeveloped.
Characters: The characters were very intriguing. It got a bit old just knowing bits of the story at a time, especially in regards to the relationship between Sara and Jess; but this only added to the suspension. It was crazy how my view of Pietr developed from the beginning of the novel to the end. By the end, I really felt as though I had grown this connection with Pietr and Jess when, in the beginning, I hadn't liked them either very much; that progression was exciting and refreshing.
Relatability: I found it a bit hard to relate to Jess simply because of her martyr attitude. I thought it was a tad over done.
Cover: I really like it — it's very eye catching. I still don't understand "13 to Life" as the title though, another part of the plot that was unanswered.
Random Thoughts: I really liked the vampire versus werewolf discussions between Jess and Pietr; the irony was perfect. I really disliked the text abbreviations on page 234. It was only one page. One line. But it really bothered me. I had to google it to understand what was being said. BCNU and BFN are acronyms that I don't feel are familiar enough to the YA generation to be put in print. I may quiz my students to see if they could tell me what they were. I could kind of guess BCNU... but BFN — no idea. Google it. See for yourself.
Final Thoughts: An amazing author and a great read that my 9th graders will devour. I can't wait to put this book in my classroom.
Favorite Quote:
"If this were my red pill — blue pill moment, would I choose the comfort of my bed or the journey down Wonderland's rabbit hole" (272).
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 98/100 A
To the FTC, with love: Bought