Misfit Review

Author: Jon Skovron
Release Date: August 1, 2011
Pages: 384 (HC)
Publisher: Amulet
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: From the library

Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.

Author Jon Skovron takes on the dark side of human nature with his signature funny, heartfelt prose.

You may or may not remember how much I enjoyed Skovron's '09 debut, Struts & Frets. So when I heard he was venturing into paranormal, I was a bit apprehensive about it, but was still willing to give it a try because I enjoyed Struts & Frets so much. Well, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Misfit puts a whole new spin on demons and even some stories from the bible. While I think it was brave of Skovron to do such a bold thing and sometimes a very cool concept, I thought a lot of it went over my head when it really shouldn't have. I ended up very confused and frustrated by the plot the more Skovron explained it.

Each of the characters were annoying. Jael was your run-of-the-mill stupid protagonist that doesn't listen to anyone and tells guys she barely knows that she's a demon because it feels right. Her dad's consistently cold personality annoyed me to know end; Britt was so self-absorbed it was torturous; and her uncle...well, he was there, I guess. I enjoyed Rob's character, but not his and Jael's relationship. It felt unnatural and...weird.

The best part of the book was the ending (no, not because it ended. I am not a Simon Cowell). Jael finally--for lack of a better term--grew a pair and kicked butt and took names and all that. Skovron's writing was also another part of the book that kept me reading. While not perfect, it was pretty good.

I guess my expectations were too high, because I really thought I'd love this one, but sadly I just didn't.

Plot: Interesting, but slow-moving.

Characters: Rob was okay, but overall...eh.

Writing: Pretty good.

Ending: Predictable but good.

Kind Friendly? There was swearing, multiple mentions of sex, and violence.
Should I read it? If it's more up your alley than it is mine, give it a go I guess. If it's not, then...

Overall:

Struts & Frets Review

Author: Jon Skovron
Release Date: November, 2009

Pages: 304 (Hardcover)

Publisher:Amulet Books

Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Library

Told in a voice that’s honest, urgent, and hilarious, Struts & Frets will resonate not only with teenage musicians but with anyone who ever sat up all night listening to a favorite album, wondering if they’d ever find their place in the world.

Music is in Sammy’s blood. His grandfather was a jazz musician, and Sammy’s indie rock band could be huge one day—if they don’t self-destruct first. Winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands would justify all the band’s compromises and reassure Sammy that his life’s dream could become a reality. But practices are hard to schedule when Sammy’s grandfather is sick and getting worse, his mother is too busy to help either of them, and his best friend may want to be his girlfriend.

When everything in Sammy’s life seems to be headed for major catastrophe, will his music be enough to keep him together?

This isn't my normal type of book, and I hadn't heard much about it. I just randomly saw it at the bookstore, and decided that I needed to read it. Maybe I had some kind of contemporary craving, I don't know. But it must have been just what I needed, because I really enjoyed it.

I know I've mentioned this once or twice (or twenty times...), but I love music. So when my love of music and books combines, it usually agrees with me. I like indie rock, but I don't know that many bands, so Struts & Frets gave me a few to look up, which is always really nice. But band references aren't the only reason I love books about music, it's the passion behind the music. The descriptions of how it makes you feel, think, react. This book was dead-on in that area, for sure.

And while we're talking about things about this book that were dead-on, let us move on to the characters. Each one was full of their own unique life and quirks, and I want to hang out with them forever and ever. Sammy's passion and confusion really resonated with me, as it should with teens everywhere. He really found himself throughout the novel, and not just him. I think just about every side character did as well, at least a little, which I found extremely cool to witness.

Struts & Frets even proved to have a quality that I, personally, find usually difficult to find in contemporary: it was addictive, and hard to put down. In a nutshell, I was pretty darn impressed by this one. Jon Skovron really knows how to make a story come to life, and I'll definitely be reading whatever he puts out next.

Book Report:

Plot: Really well paced and realistic.

Characters: Awesome with a side of awesome.

Writing: Really clever and easy to read.

Ending: Wraps things up nicely.

Kid friendly? Hmmm...well, there's teen drinking as well as sex, swearing, and smoking.

Should I read it? Yeah, I think you should.

Overall: