Reading Challenge: May 2019

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (a book set on a college or university campus) - What a lovely peek into the lives of people (like me) who enjoy creating content for our favorite books and movies!

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott (a book with "love" in the title) - It was . . . good? I honestly didn't feel much when I read it and it didn't make much of an impression on me.

The Secret War by Matt Myklusch (a book about someone with a superpower) - My review can be read here.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (a debut novel) - This book took a while to read, but it left me satisfied. An intensely crafted world, real characters and a good ending.

Also read, but not for the challenge:

T. Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review: The End of Infinity

"The End of Infinity" by Matt Myklusch

Third and final installment in the Jack Blank Adventures. Contains spoilers.

People cannot become whatever they want. You, for example, may hope and pray and wish to become a carrot, but I'm sorry, that just ain't happening. Someone who suffers from hand tremors can never become a brain surgeon. These are facts of life; this is reality. But, I think the main idea behind saying "people can be whatever they want" is that we shouldn't limit ourselves. It may be impossible for just anyone to become a carrot, or a brain surgeon, or the President of the United States, but that doesn't mean dreams shouldn't be dreamt. A title like The End of Infinity may sound weird and oxymoronic, but it actually has a lot to do with this idea of fighting to become something other than what the world or destiny tells us we should be.

After the events of The Secret War, Jack has been a captive of the Rustov for a year. He has only vague memories of what happened, and he's pretty sure from what he does remember that he doesn't want to remember any more. The infection is slowly but surely taking over his body---there are physical signs now. And when he returns to the Imagine Nation with news of an impending invasion, panic breaks out in the different boroughs. It would appear that Jack---and the world---has already lost the war with the Robo-Zombies.

The Rustov are good at panic; it's their most-used gameplan. Throw in a bit of panic, and their enemies will tear themselves apart! Their horrifying appearance, the subterfuge and sneaking, the lying words, all these are meant to plant seeds that will lead to the downfall of their next victim. Letting Jack be rescued and taken to the Imagine Nation was their way to inducing the right conditions for invasion. Now that all secrets have been done away with---everyone now knows about Jack's future and the Mecha virus---his reappearance is just the final proof that he is a Rustov spy, ready at any moment to make the final transformation into the greatest threat our world has ever faced. Through fear and panic, the Imagine Nation has already lost the war with the Rustov.

Jack himself has been conditioned. At St. Barnaby's, he was told he would have to be a toilet brush cleaner; now, he can only be Revile. He's been taught for so long about destiny, about fate, about how he cannot change what and who he is, that he is starting to believe it. Through Khalix's confident whispers and the weight of the future, Jack has already lost the war with the Rustov prince. All of this is what makes the Rustov so dangerous.

There is so much to admire in these books. The danger of fear and panic, the consequences of keeping secrets from loved ones, fate and destiny, the nature of family, belonging, and friendship, the difference between being wise and being smart. This last book really ties up a lot of the questions that were raised in the series. A lot of crazy events and plot twists happen (the revelation of Jack's parents was really a shocker, and yet still made sense). There are heart-twisting moments, betrayals, and true love ;) At the same time, it has its flaws. The writing is still stilted, and sometimes I groaned at how trope-y and cliched the characters were, but it still worked. We started out at St. Barnaby's Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost, and came to the End of Infinity.

"It's crazy. I haven't felt this way in so long. Not ever, really."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Like I'm free. Right now I don't know what to do with myself. I finally got past the future, and for the first time in forever, I don't know what happens next." (pg. 398)

http://www.jackblank.com/

Book Review: The Secret War

"The Secret War" by Matt Myklusch

After the shocking revelations in the last book, Jack Blank braces himself as an upcoming Rustov attack is revealed and a highly trusted individual threatens to give away Jack's deepest, darkest secrets . . . for a price, of course.

I didn't like this one quite as much as the other two. Jack made a lot of desperate, questionable decisions. I guess the author made me like him in the first book, made me angry at him in this one, and then got me to love him in the last one. Jack does not stay the same throughout the books; he grows and learns too, as do the other characters. Allegra has learned to control her powers, and Skerren (*gasp*) cracks a few straight-faced jokes, mostly at Jack's expense.

I, personally, am mad at Stendeval. I didn't understand why he advised Jack to keep his secrets entirely to himself, since this is what got Jack into so much trouble throughout the book. I think he should have told at least Allegra. Also, Stendeval just seemed to "wise old mentor" trope-y in this book.

I liked the introduction of Trea and Zhi. They added a nice little dimension to the story, and now Jack has a "science pal" he can geek out with. The mystery of Jack's "prototype" was cool as well, even if it was just a little obvious.

This book also contains what I believe to be the first clues as to who Jack's parents are. The author has a different opinion, but I guess it's one of those things which can be seen either way. 

Book Review: The Accidental Hero

"The Accidental Hero" by Matt Myklusch

Jack Blank lives in a dreary orphanage, thinking he is going to grow up and become a toilet brush cleaner. The administrators have done their best to squash the hearts and souls out of every child there, but they do not know that Jack has a secret stash of comic books hidden in the library, lively books which feed his imagination and make him yearn for the hero's life.

Of course, when Jack comes in with the story of a Robo-Zombie attacking him and destroying the orphanage's power generator, his imagination only discredits this tale. But someone believes him, and comes to take Jack away from his stifling life, revealing that he belongs in the wonderful world that comic books only at. In the Imagine Nation, with its superheroes and villains, aliens, fantastic technology, and access to a marvelous universe, all of Jack's dreams could come true . . . if it weren't for the dark shadows that lurk in the recesses of the city . . . and in Jack's own future. For Jack soon discovers that he has an amazing ability - one that could make him the savior of the Imagine Nation and the world beyond, or the biggest threat they've ever faced.

Ahem. Excuse that dramatic summary, but I felt like I should try and cast this book in a good light. That last line was stolen, by the way, from the actual official book summary.

I really enjoyed this book. The first time I tried reading it, I was really put off by how this was obviously Matt Myklusch's first book--the writing clearly intimated this--so I found myself skipping to the end and being incredibly intrigued by the ending I found there. This second read-through gave me a greater appreciation for it, because while this book has its flaws, it is still awesome.

This book was written for twelve-year-old boys, and that much is obvious (I mean, "the Imagine Nation"? Heh, yeah). I really enjoyed the plot, characters, and the morals that could be squeezed out of it.

The plot I'll speak on only briefly, since that was the first thing that first interested me and I don't want to give much away. There are several mysteries floating around in this book: one Robo-Zombie wants Jack dead, but the rest want to capture him? Who are Jack's parents, and who left him in New Jersey? Why does Jack's arrival in the Imagine Nation coincide with more and more sightings of the Robo-Zombies? Who is the real Great Collaborator? The plot really kept me hooked throughout the book.

The characters: There is quite the cast of characters to be found in this book. Jack Blank, the protagonist, a twelve-year-old who will not shut up, even why I was sure talking was just going to get him in more trouble. Jazen Knight and Blue, the android and police officer who stand by Jack's side when no one else will. Allegra, a timid alien from a race of people renowned for their fearlessness and bravery. Skerren, who has his own reasons for hating Jack. Stendeval, the 500-year-old super who knows more than he's telling. Jonas Smart, the smartest man in the world (and the first to let everyone know that). Horvath, Virtua, Speedrazor, Mr. Calhoun . . . the list goes on. I am really interested to see where these characters go in the next book.

There are so many good thoughts in this book, about superheroes, villains, and the nature of destiny. The main idea, I believe, is about how everyone controls their own destiny. This theme runs throughout the book, from Mr. Calhoun's standardized tests to Stendeval's insistence that the future is not set in stone. Jack, after figuring that Stendeval probably knows who his parents are, hounds him for information, while the superhero keeps on telling to be patient. A section from the book goes like so:

"I already know who I am," Jack said. "I don't need you to tell me that anymore."

"I see," Stendeval said, nodding. "However, I don't recall ever saying I was going to tell you who you were. I believe I told you to have patience," he said. "I seem to remember saying that one day you would tell me the answer to that question." (pg. 457)

Stendeval knew that Jack had to make his own future.

IDK, guys, I'm just having a lot of Jack Blank feelz right now. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested, especially if you have younger children.

Jack Blank website: http://www.jackblank.com/