Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma



Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile , Imprint of Penguin
Age: Young Adult
Source: Local Library



Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.
But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.
With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

     This book left me speechless.  I’m writing this review about two weeks after I finished the book because at first, I didn’t know what to say about it except “WOW.”  I know that I’ve said this about a few books, but Imaginary Girls was completely different from anything I’ve ever read.  It was like a horror movie spread out on paper.  Usually I hate horror movies, but Nova Ren Suma crafted a story too mysterious and intriguing to resist.
     The beginnings of each chapter were also interesting.  Each time a chapter began, it would start with an interesting sentence fragment such as “Ruby never said.”  I really liked the feeling of the book.  It was definitely very unpredictable and I really enjoyed that.  Its unpredictability kept me focused on the book because I really wanted to know what would happen next. 
     I was never really interested in Horror before because I happen to be a “scary cat.”  I really can’t watch a horror movie, etc., but Imaginary Girls was so great that I might actually give Horror a try once again (and that’s a big deal for me)
     I actually didn’t have a favorite character in Imaginary Girls.  I didn’t like Chloe because I thought she was too much of a follower.  She failed to question her sister  no matter what happened.  She just always looked up to her, even when she realized how manipulative Ruby was and no matter what, she never liked being separated from Ruby.  I found Chloe to be clingy and she followed her sister around almost mindlessly.  Ruby’s ex-boyfriend was also very clingy and did whatever she wanted without question.  On to the characterization of Ruby.  I felt Ruby was extremely manipulative.  I actually found her to be very annoying how demanding she was.  It seemed like Ruby’s unsaid motto was “My way or the highway,” and it happens to annoy me when people behave that way.  I couldn’t relate to any of the characters.  I know I didn’t like the characters, but please don’t misunderstand- Imaginary Girls was amazing, I just didn’t really love each character’s qualities.

     Imaginary Girls is a haunting YA debut that is sure to make you speechless.  You need to read it!

Final Grade:
 PS- Check out my new rating system!  The Key will be up very soon!

2 comments:

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