Showing posts with label Stephanie Oakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephanie Oakes. Show all posts

Quick-fire Book Review: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes



The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly
Author: Stephanie Oakes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: June 9th 2015
Review Source: Dial

  

With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, Julie Berry's All The Truth That's in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.

And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.

Cover:
When I first saw the cover of this book at ALA, I wasn’t sure if this book would be ideal for me. I love pretty covers, and well this one doesn’t really stand out. However, after speaking to a publicist she actually recommended me to read this book. So why not? Right? And I was glad I did!

Action:
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is not really an action novel. It is more of a mystery book - as in why strange things occurred to Minnow. Also, the Kevinian cult.

While reading the book, the story actually reminded me of this NCIS episode. In which a girl was raised to loved a man whom claimed to be chosen from a god to lead her and many to the light. This man actually just took advantages multiple young girls and had babies with them. This just gives you an idea of what the book is about. However, Minnow was a bright young lady and she didn’t go down without a fight. It was indeed a very interesting story to read and it was well-written.

Romance:
There is romance, however, with what Minnow has been through I actually respected her decisions. Sometimes life isn’t as pretty as we hope it would be. We have to make sacrifices and hope for the best.

Something I Loved:
I loved Minnow. She is a strong person. A person that has been through so many tough situations. I really admired her as an individual. Her hope and wanting more from life is something someone in her stage wouldn’t even think about.

Favorite Quote:
“Jude taught me what love was: to be willing to hold on to another person's pain. That's it.”

Pack Your 4th of July Getaway!



Pack your 4th of July getaway bag with these fantastic YA books that came out in June! 

1. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes: the gut-wrenching but ultimately hope-inspiring story about a 17-year-old who lost 12 years of her life – as well as her hands, to a cult.

2. The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove: the type of fantasy that changes your life at any age about Sophia’s adventures in the New World, in which all the continents have been flung into different time periods.

3. Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen: a heartrending novel in verse about Mira, who redefines what family means after she discovers her father with his male lover.

4. Wings by Elizabeth Richards: The pulse-pounding conclusion to the Black City trilogy.

5. A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller: A romantic historical drama about how much Victoria Darling will sacrifice for her dream of becoming an artist when society has different ideas for her.

6. Like it Never Happened by Emily Adrian: Rebecca Rivers’ experience landing the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible challenges stereotypes, sexuality, and destructive rumors.

7. Children of the Earth by Anna Schumacher: The sequel to the adrenaline-packed and steamy End Times, set in Carbon City, Wyoming, where the townspeople believe the End Times have arrived.

8. The Merciless by Danielle Vega: Mean Girls meets The Exorcist in this horror story packed with attitude that proves the last people you want to be locked in a basement with are teen girls.

9. Deadly Design by Debra Dockter: A page-turning thriller about genetically engineered Kyle, who finds his life in danger when his twin brother drops dead at 18.

10. Conversion by Katherine Howe: A chilling read about the girls at St. Joan’s, who seem to be suffering the same epidemic that a group of girls had when their town was Salem Village long ago.

11. A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes: Fantasy and contemporary readers alike will love this blend of two worlds: one in modern-day Toronto and one in Morgan Rhode’s bestselling Gathering Darkness series!

12. Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano: The suspenseful sequel to Nearly Gone, an urban mystery interlaced with secrets, crime labs and serial killers.

13. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson: Laurie Halse Anderson’s award-winning look at family, secrets, and PTSD through the lives of nomadic Hayley Kincaid and her veteran father Andy.

14. The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi: An eye-opening tale of love, honor and betrayal following Fatima and Samiullah, who fight their families, cultures, and the Taliban to stay together in Afghanistan.

15. Inland by Kat Rosenfield: An eerie, psychological dive into the mind of Callie Morgan, who hears something beckoning her into the dark waves of the sea, filling her with doubt, and revealing family secrets.

Blog Tour: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes + Giveaway



Welcome to our stop on The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly tour for Stephanie Oakes. This tour is hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club Tours.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly
Author: Stephanie Oakes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: June 9th 2015
Publisher: Dial

With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, Julie Berry's All The Truth That's in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.

And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.



Stephanie Oakes is a teacher and YA author from Washington State. Her debut novel, THE SACRED LIES OF MINNOW BLY (Dial/Penguin, June 9, 2015), about a girl who escapes from a religious commune only to find herself at the center of a murder investigation, is based on the Grimm fairy tale, "The Handless Maiden."

THE ARSONIST, her second YA mystery through Dial/Penguin, is scheduled for publication in fall 2016.

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