Books Jonelle Made Me Read 8 - STARGAZER

Series Introduction

In this occasional series, I will be discussing books that a teenage girl (now a fourteen-year-old), Jonelle, instructed me to read. And when I say "instructed me to read," of course I mean "commanded me to read." For those of you who don't know her, she is a highly intelligent, sweet, precocious and fairly bossy young lady.

A large part of the reason why I read this book, and the other works that will be discussed in this blog series, is that I want to understand how teenagers think. These posts will not be a review of the book per se as much as an exploration of my random thoughts on the book.

How did I get myself into this?

*

In a earlier post, I wrote that Jonelle had recommended a number of books to me. Eight, now nine, books. Though I did not blog about each of these works, I did read each of them.

I thought it would be interesting to show, via this "shelfie," what books Jonelle recommended I read. I believe I only ever asked Jonelle to choose a different title once.

Not bad.

***

Then, in the corner of the trunk, I saw a scurry of movement. My eyes caught a glimpse of a tiny dark tail: a mouse, burrowing for cover.

Before thinking about it, almost without even knowing I was doing it, I snatched the mouse up and bit in.

It only squeaked once. If it twitched, I didn't know. All I knew was the blood was filling my mouth—real blood, living blood, blossoming outward against my tongue. It was like biting into juicy grapes on a blazing summer day, except hot, sweeter and even better than that. The mouse's last heartbeats fluttered against my lips as I took two sips, three, and then I was done.

I pulled the mouse away, looked down at its dead body, and gagged.

Gross, oh, gross! I spat a couple of times, trying to get any fur or mites or mouse cooties off my lips. The little mouse's corpse I hurled into the corner, where it fell limply. Even as I wiped my mouth repeatedly with my sleeve, I couldn't forget the aftertaste of blood—

—and it still tasted great.

***

Books Jonelle Made Me Read

Stargazer (Evernight, Book 2) by Claudia Gray.

*

The second work in the series (4- or 5-part series, depending on how you look at it), Stargazer was published in 2009 by HarperCollins Publishers. Picking up where Evernight left off, it continues the story of the extremely star-crossed youths in love, Bianca and Lucas—young vampire to be and young vampire hunter.

*

In this second novel, the story is moved forward by focusing a lot of ink on Bianca's gradual transformation into a full-fledged vampire. As revealed in the opening quote, Bianca really likes drinking fresh, hot blood despite, in this case, being utterly disgusted by the source.

Coupled with this, Bianca struggles with her love for Lucas. She is torn between this love and loyalty to her parents and her vampire people. Following a short separation and some upheaval, Bianca and Lucas pledge themselves to each other. They believe that their feelings for each other can overcome any obstacle; even the meaningless conflicts that the adults in the tale are so caught up in.

*

Mrs. Bethany continued, her voice for once free of coldness or disdain. "The day came when the first human being killed another—with foreknowledge, intent, and the understanding of what it is to take another human's life. When that blow was struck, the bonds between the natural and supernatural world were shattered. Even though that first victim's life ended, his existence did not. The supernatural part of the first murdered man split into two—body and spirit. Vampires are the undead body. Wraiths are the undead spirit. Our powers are unlike each other's. Our consciousnesses are different. And we have been divided from them and from humanity ever since."

This novel's major conflict introduces a new and ominous monster-type, ghostly wraiths (at least it wasn't werewolves, so far anyway), and a new character, Charity, the sister of Balthazar. The wraiths haunt Evernight Academy and stalk Bianca due to a bargain her parents made years before with the wraiths.

Discovering that she is the root of the vampire/wraith conflict and being the one to pay for her parents misdeeds toward the wraiths, flares Bianca's anger toward parents and everything that they represent for her. This, along with her parents strong opposition to her relationship with Lucas, drives a wedge between Bianca and her parents beyond teenaged petulance.

These actions called to mind something I wrote in my blog post concerning Evernight (Book 1): "At its root, Evernight is a variation on the Romeo-and-Juliet theme or young star-crossed lovers. Throw in an Underworld-movie-franchise vibe and, viola! Evernight." I stand by this assessment for Stargazer as well.

*

Near the end of the book, a major Black Cross force assaults Evernight Academy. After fleeing the burning Academy, Bianca and Lucas are picked up by Black Cross troops. Alone for the first time in her life and feeling cornered with no way out, Bianca agrees to join the Black Cross.

There is no way this is going to end well.

*

While there were not as many dramatic plot twists as in Book 1, there were enough surprises to keep the reader guessing and anxious to turn the page! I firmly believe Stargazer is a worthy continuation to the tale of Bianca and Lucas. I have every confidence that the next volume, Hourglass, will be as worthwhile.

As Jonelle has recently started high school (which, by the way "Oh My God!"), the demands upon her time have increased dramatically. I am hopeful that, in time, she will continue to recommend books for me to read; as well as comment on them herself.