The Running Bibliophile

The Photographer by Barbara Steiner is a Young Adult horror novel that was originally published in 1989 and follows a new student named Derrick who joins the school photography club and the student newspaper. Megan, who is already a member of both groups, begins having unsettling and vivid dreams shortly after Derrick arrives. As Derrick starts taking photographs of the prettiest girls in school for the newspaper, Megan realizes that her disturbing dreams are beginning to come true. As events escalate, she becomes convinced that Derrick is somehow connected and feels compelled to prove that he is responsible before more damage is done. On Friday, September 13, 2024, I was in the mood for a short, spooky book and came across The Photographer while researching other books written by Barbara Steiner. It immediately caught my attention, and I decided to give it a try. It definitely delivered the eerie atmosphere I was hoping for and made for a quick and creepy read that fit the season p...

The Girl in the Castle by James Patterson and Emily Raymond is a young adult novel centered on Hannah Doe, a teenage girl who claims she can time travel between present day New York City and the year 1347. After a frightening incident that police believe to be a mental health episode, Hannah is taken to Belman Psych, where doctors diagnose her as schizophrenic. But as Hannah’s story unfolds, the question lingers ... is she truly mentally ill, or is something far more extraordinary happening? Thank you to NetGalley and LittleBrown Books for Young Readers for providing a digital Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Girl in the Castle . I was genuinely excited and grateful to be selected to read and review this book ahead of its publication. The synopsis immediately caught my attention, and the cover art was striking. Going into the novel, I wasn’t entirely sure what direction the authors would take, and I initially expected a young adult fantasy. There was a brief moment of disappointmen...

When I saw that a television movie for V.C. Andrews' book Heaven (Casteel, #1) was going to be shown on the Lifetime Channel, I decided I needed to reread the book before watching the movie as it had been several years since I read it. All I really remembered was that it was one of my least favorite of her series, and I'd have to say it is still one of my least favorite. It's not that it is poorly written because it is actually written really well. The series just wasn't my cup of tea compared to some of the other series. Things I loved about the book were the family dynamics because there are people who have multiple generations living under one roof. So many families are dysfunctional as well, so this book really brought this issue to life. It also showed how people can be really poor and barely eeking out an existence. What I hope people learned from Heaven (Casteel, #1) is that there are people who have it worse than you do and don't be so quick to judge p...

Wish You Were Here: France by Robin O’Neill follows a teen tour group run by Getaway Tours, a company that sends teenagers on week-long, chaperoned trips to destinations around the world. For this particular excursion, Tim and Francine Atkinson serve as the tour guides as they lead five girls and two boys through the south of France. Their journey begins in Carcassonne, located in the Languedoc region, a place steeped in medieval history. While exploring the area, Luci, Jay, Glin, and Logan learn about the legendary Cathar treasure that is rumored to be buried somewhere nearby. Intrigued by the mystery, they set out to uncover the truth behind the legend and discover where the treasure might be hidden. In high school, I stumbled across a new book series by Robin O’Neill called Wish You Were Here, and it immediately captured my attention. The first book in the series, Wish You Were Here: France , was originally published in July 1996. However, the release timing must have bee...

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)  by Veronica Roth explores a world where choices have consequences and loyalty is constantly tested. With the factions in turmoil and war looming over Chicago, Tris, Four, and several others seek temporary refuge with the peaceful Amity faction. But, safety is fleeting. When members of the Erudite and Dauntless factions arrive in search of refugees, whom they view as traitors, Tris and her allies realize they can’t stay hidden for long. Forced to move on, they join forces with the factionless, only to uncover shocking truths that change everything they thought they knew. Insurgent by Veronica Roth took me only six days to read, and while I genuinely loved the sequel, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as its predecessor, Divergent . That didn’t really surprise me, though, because I tend to feel this way about sequels. I had similar reactions to New Moon by Stephenie Meyer and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, where the second book just didn’t quite...