"Perfect Chemistry" - By Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. What first stood out to me about this book, I'll have to admit was the cover. I was at Target, browsing the book sections and picked this up.

I loved the beginning chapter. Seeing the behind-the-scenes life of Brittany Ellis, with her nerve-stricken mom tapping a heel and expecting her to play the perfect daughter every second of the day, to Brittany's constant care and attention she has for her handicapped sister.

I had to read on.

The next chapter was about Alex Fuentes, sharing a room with his two little brothers who fight, and a fiery Latino mother who knows how to set them all straight with a cold bucket of water.

What's not to love?

The story is about these two characters. Their very different lives, and how they're brought together from two perfectly different worlds (almost like West Side story) to love and help each other along their paths in life, even when it seems like the whole world is against them.

Now, the story may be cute. But "bad-wise" this story's got it all: violence, language, sex. I'm assuming Elkeles pushed her limit in what's supposed to be a Young Adult book.

VIOLENCE/GORE: Alex is part of a gang, which institutes violence, senseless beatings, even a murder.

LOVE/SEX: Alex has a reputation of never backing down and when his stupid friends push him into a bet to see if he can sleep with Brittany Ellis or not, he takes it. Thus making sex one of the main factors throughout the entire book.

DRUGS/ALCOHOL: Both characters don't mind drinking. Both get drunk. And one gets high. No real temperance in anything.

Definitely do NOT use this book as a guide for your morals. Elkeles doesn't have any message for the reader except "don't be in a gang" and "use protection". . Which both seem to be stupid "no duh"s in my opinion.

This is a series but I don't know if I'll pursue it, cute as the stories may be.

"Mocking jay" - By Suzanne Collins

So I finally finished the Hunger Game series today.

Phew.

That's my word for this book.

Phew.

I have to say, I feel like Collins SQUEEZED as much death and destruction as possible in her last book. At first, I'll admit, it was interesting and every chapter ended with "oh gosh!", "say what?". But mostly "woah, that person just died!! Oh my gosh, THAT person just died?!. . . Oh. Shocker. They died too. . Okay, so who else is going to die? . . Ugh, there goes another one. . Seriously, another?"

The final lap of this book was getting kind of painful, I'm sad to say. I had a few days where I was sure I'd finish it then sighed and told myself I'd finish it tomorrow.

As always, Collins takes you on an adventure, pretty or not, to some place you've never been, and for that, I tip my imaginary hat. I was also pretty pleasantly surprised with the ending, which dulled the pain. So don't give up, read to the end.

VIOLENCE/GORE: It's a Hunger Games book. 'nuf said?

When it comes to a comparison with the other books. .  I don't really know how to compare, actually. But there is torture in this one, malicious, and gruesome thoughts. And graphic scenes.

LOVE/SEX: Before I forget, I forgot to mention something about the other books. There has been a few suggestions of prostitution in the previous ones. And in the second, a fake pregnancy.

In this book, one of the characters speaks out for being forced to sell their body. Nothing descriptively graphic, more conversational.

DRUGS/ALCOHOL: Haymitch is always drunk, or always wants to be. And Katniss speaks of the morphine used to dull her pain almost like sweet nectar and how beautiful it is.

As always, honor where honor is due. Congratulation Collins for making such a successful series. People have fan art, fan fiction, jewlery, tattoos. Heck she must be sitting pretty is my guess. As an aspiring writer, I admire her very unique work.