Review: Girl at Sea

Title: Girl at Sea
Author:  Maureen Johnson
Published: 2007 by HarperCollins
Version: E-book
Obtained: Library Download

The Girl: Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.

The Mission: Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.

The Crew: Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant.

What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?

As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more cryptic than the sea-her own heart.

First Sentence:
“Lightening flashed over Big Ben, and a bruise-like darkness draped over the dome of St. Paul’s.” (Prologue)

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Maureen Johnson is perfection. While this story did not have as quirky of characters as her Suite Scarlett series, the amazing creativity of Maureen Johnson is still there.

Clio had her summer all planned out. She had a new job and a possible future boyfriend. Instead she gets shipped off to her dad. Since her parent’s divorce, she hasn’t really liked her dad, and she is sick of his impulsivity. So to be stuck on a boat with him and four other random people for weeks does not sound like her dream summer.

This story about a modern day treasure hunt, even though Clio doesn’t know it yet. Clio’s dad is trying to find a precious stone that was sunk in a shipwreck years ago. Clio has to figure out what her dad is trying to do, and finally whether or not she wants to help him. After being let down so often by him, she is hesitant to agree with anything he plans. Slowly, through learning to give him another chance, she realizes that sometimes people make mistakes and they need second chances.

I really appreciated Clio’s growth as a character. In the beginning, she was so bitter, upset, and negative. She thought she knew best about everything, and she did not want anything to do with anyone on the boat. But slowly, she let herself relax and really invest in other people’s lives. By the end of the book, she’s almost a completely different person. She isn’t so obsessed with finding perfection, which will always escape her, and she sees more joy in simple life. She takes advantage of the opportunities presented to her instead of waiting for everything to be perfect.

Literally, Maureen Johnson is amazing and sometimes I can’t handle it. Definitely read this book, because you will never regret it!

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Content Warnings: Some language and kissing

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Review: The Name of the Star

Title: The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published: 2011 by Penguin Group
Version: Hardcover
Obtained: Library

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Soon Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

First Sentence:
(From Prologue) “The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins.”

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Okay. Maureen Johnson is a genius. I am now completely sucked into this series and her Scarlett series. Although, how dare she interrupt Scarlett’s series to start a new one? Except this one is awesome too.

So. Someone is killing people the same way Jack Ripper did and it’s freaking people out (with good reason). Unfortunately, right as this starts, Rory D. moves to her new school in London. This small-town girl is already having to deal with difficult schoolwork, new English customs, and the stress of moving, and suddenly she is also the only person who saw a mysterious man the night of one of the killings. What is going on? Why can only she see them? Hmmmmm?

So I wouldn’t say this book had me freaked out, but it was scary. The Ripper-esque killings were disturbing and the entire atmosphere of the book felt very overcast and foreboding. Basically it was completely different than anything I’ve read by Maureen Johnson so far. And it was great.

I loved Rory’s stories about her Louisiana relatives and that she didn’t really fit in but she made herself make friends. Her roommate, Jazza, and her friend Jerome were great too. I also loved Boo, Stephen, and Callum. Every character Maureen Johnson writes is so fleshed out and captivating, it would be really difficult to hate her books.

I love this book and can’t wait to see where she goes with this series (but don’t forget Scarlett!).

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Content Warnings: Some language and kissing, and the violence is a bit disturbing.

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Review: Scarlett Fever

Title: Scarlett Fever
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published: 2010 by Scholastic
Version: Hardcover
Obtained: Library

Ever since Mrs. Amberson, the former-aspiring-actress-turned-agent, entered Scarlett Martin's life, nothing has been the same.

She's still in charge of the Empire Suite in her family's hotel, but she's now also Mrs. Amberson's assistant, running around town for her star client, Chelsea - a Broadway star Scarlett's age with a knack for making her feel insignificant.

Scarlett's also trying to juggle sophomore year classes, her lab partner who is being just a little TOO nice, and getting over the boy who broke her heart.

In the midst of all this, her parents drop a bombshell that threatens to change her New York life forever...

First Sentence:
"It was four-thirty in the morning, and Scarlett wanted answers."

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Hey, heads up!! This is a review of a book that is NUMBER 2 in a series. Therefore, if you do not want plot pieces from this one to spoil aspects of the first one’s plot, STOP and retrace your steps until you find that time you almost read Suite Scarlett. Read it now, then return to me.

Once again Maureen Johnson flings her amazing talents down upon us. The sequel, just like Suite Scarlett, is beautifully written, fantastically funny, and very relatable.

Scarlett is still neck-deep in crazy. It wasn’t just for the summer, it’s during the school year too. Mrs. Amberson has started a business, and she has Scarlett helping her out by getting to know clients. One, named Chelsea, has a brother named Max, who is in Scarlett’s school and is driving her insane. Spencer is having some problems at his new job, Lola is in a slump, and Marlene is actually being nice. Also, she is trying to get over Eric, and failing. Miserably.

I loved being able to see Scarlett in school. The first book was during the summer, so we never met her school friends, or watched her try to juggle work and school. Scarlett has an amazing ability to handle so much at her throat at still get out ahead. She even manages to keep up with the homework at her advanced high school.

My new favorite character is Max. I love him. In the beginning, I loved his complete horribleness, and near the ending, I loved him more than I loved Scarlett. I loved how he slowly revealed more of himself to her, and we finally saw his awesomeness. If only stupid Eric would just LEAVE, life would be so much better.

I can’t say much else, except that you should definitely read this series as it is simply WONDERFUL. Maureen Johnson has pulled a dirty trick on us by starting another series. Now we’ll have to wait longer for the new installments of each series. (I speak of the Shades of London series, which is REALLY good, review of The Name of the Star coming soon!)

Also, if this is only a trilogy, be warned this is the classic “middle book” which is a bit of a downer and ends with a mild cliff-hanger.

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Content Warning: Kissing, language.

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Review: Suite Scarlett

Title: Suite Scarlett
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published: 2008 by Point
Version: Hardcover
Obtained: Library

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City. Her nineteen-year-old brother, Spencer is an out of work actor facing a family deadline to get his career in order. Eighteen-year-old Lola has the delicate looks of a model, the practical nature of a nurse, and a wealthy society boyfriend. Eleven-year-old Marlene is the family terror with a tragic past.

When the Martins turn fifteen, they are each expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn. 

With Mrs. Amberson calling the shots, Spencer’s career to save, Lola’s love life to navigate around, and Marlene’s prying eyes everywhere, things won’t be easy. Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deception.

The show, as they say, must always go on.

First Sentence:
"On the morning of the tenth of June, Scarlett Martin woke up to the sound of loud impromptu rap penetrating her thin bedroom wall from the direction of the bathroom next door."

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This is my first Maureen Johnson book, and let me say it won’t be the last. I simply adore her writing style. She could write a novel about sea slugs and I would read it. 

As the story goes, Scarlett lives in a family-run hotel in New York city. Her family is getting a bit behind on money, for a reason none of them like to articulate. Then Mrs. Amberson comes and infiltrates Scarlett’s summer. Suddenly she’s making money, helping with her brother’s play and meeting a cute actor.

I quite loved the characters in this novel. From Chip, Lola’s rich boyfriend, to Billy Whitehouse, Mrs. Amberson’s friend, all the people were intricately described. Scarlett herself is a tad boring, but her life is anything but. With Mrs. Amberson having her running around doing everything, having to deal with her family’s issues, and figuring out Eric, the cute actor, Scarlett lives a harried life.

Spencer and Scarlett have this amazing relationship due to spending so much time together when they were younger. They hang out, talk about everything, and share so many inside jokes and looks, it’s hard not to be envious. Until of course, they have a falling-out, which happens a couple times. One extra thing I loved, Spencer’s “skill”. All the fake falling and crazy antics were fun to read.

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Eric.
By the time I’m writing this review, I’ve read Scarlett Fever as well, but I would just like to make it known that I didn’t really like Eric that much in this book. I mean, he was nice, but something was always off with him. I think Scarlett was just desperate for male attention. He just SEEMED too perfect. Which sometimes (not often), perfect is okay, but in this case it just felt false, like he was hiding something.
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Maureen Johnson is the most CREATIVE, AMUSING, AND INTERESTING writer. There are these sparkling moments of “Oh my goodness, that was so randomly creative”. No matter if it’s describing the neighbors, giving Spencer and Scarlett an inside joke, or having Scarlett ad-lib, Maureen has spot-on spontaneity. It is a treat to read her writing, and I have been won over completely.

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Content Warning: I’m pretty sure there is mild language, and definitely kissing.

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