Reconstructing Amelia -- Reviewed by Stephanie Best

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Reviewed by Stephanie Best

Fifteen year old, Amelia, and her mother, Kate, were all each other had. Amelia shared everything with Kate. That is, until the day she was “tapped” by the Magpies, an exclusive club only the select few were admitted into. Reluctantly, Amelia agrees to join, and her life is changed forever. Within weeks, she is found dead. According to the police, she jumped off her school’s roof committing suicide. In her clouded grief, Kate accepts this, until one day getting an anonymous text saying that Amelia didn't jump. Kate begins to realize that perhaps this text isn't just a cruel joke. Through the process Kate find out shocking things about her daughter and the people she knew. But with everyone telling Kate different stories, and continually gaining more questions than answers, will she be able to find out what really happened to Amelia?

I rated Reconstructing Amelia four stars because I thought the story was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to figure out how it was going to end as the story went along. I did not, however, like the fact that the story changed between characters, as well as time periods. More than once I was confused and would have to go back and figure out when it was happening. I do think that multiple views help give dramatic irony for the readers, but I thought sometimes it could add to the confusion. Overall I enjoyed the book. The genre is quite common so I think anyone that enjoys murder mysteries would enjoy this book.

Kiss Me Kill Me -- Reviewed by Stephanie Best

Kiss Me Kill  Me by Lauren Henderson
Reviewed by Stephanie Best     
       
     All teenager Scarlet wanted was two things: breasts and a kiss from her crush Dan McAndrew. She got what she wished for, but at a price. One day while waiting for a ride home after gymnastics practice with her two best friends Luce and Alison, Scarlet was signaled over to the popular group by Nadia, inviting Scarlet to her party that weekend. Betraying her friends, Scarlet agreed. Unknowingly, the action would come back to bite her in the back. At the party, she is falling head over heels with the popular Dan McAndrew, and it seems that he is falling for her as well. They quickly hit it off, and before she knows it, he is kissing her. Lost in the moment, she didn’t realize that he starts chocking. Minutes later, he was dead, and everyone thinks she did it. Now she at a new school, where she hopes she can finally forget what happened only a few months ago. But will her past come back to haunt her? And how did Dan McAndrew really die?    
       
     Kiss Me Kill Me was a pretty good book. I felt like I could relate to her to some extent. She reminded me a lot of myself in middle school, trying desperately to fit in with the popular crowd, resulting in abandoning friends for a period of time. I found her personality to be much like mine. I thought the story was well written and I enjoyed the plot. If other readers have liked Rosebush by Michele Jaffe, then I recommend this book.