The Name Of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

Let me start by saying technically this is a children's book... now let me follow that up by saying it is so well written, witty, and smart that anyone of any age could (and should) read it.

Obviously, the name of this book is secret, so I won't go into detail. 

What I will say is that I learned more reading this book than I have reading any others in a long time. It's written in a way that is fun and easy to follow. I have to admit, I tend to have a pretty short attention span and not once while reading this book did I get bored. It's written in third person, and at times it really felt like the narrator was speaking directly to me, almost like we were having a conversation face-to-face. It's full of footnotes with bits of information throughout the narrative and sometimes breaks off into a short story, always pertaining to the overall story line. It sounds distracting, but trust me when I say, it's not. It's an educational adventure and a mystery all rolled into one. I highly recommend this book to anyone; male or female, age 11 to age 25 to age 58, it doesn't matter. It's universal and that's hard to find in a novel. 

If you don't believe me, just look at the author's name. Even that is clever.

This is the first book in the series.

The Secret Series:

• Book 1- The Name Of This Book Is Secret
• Book 2- If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
• Book 3- This Book Is Not Good For You
• Book 4- This Isn't What It Looks Like
• Book 5- You Have To Stop This

The Siren by Kiera Cass

I'm a fan of almost any book that is put in my hands. I tend to read books in what I like to call "genre phases". Sometimes it's mysteries for weeks... then it will be historical fiction. Lately I've been on a YA fantasy kick, like many others. I just love these because generally, they are quick, easy reads and they give my mind a break from more grueling tasks. It's like brain candy.

I recently read a book like this by Kiera Cass titled The Siren. I have to admit, I was intrigued by the title. The Odyssey is one of my favorite stories, so when I saw the word siren I knew I had to read this novel.

Without giving away any spoilers, one thing I liked about the book was the love story. I am a hopeless romantic and fall for even the sappiest of love stories every time. Is it a realistic romance? No. But how many YA fantasy novels have realistic relationships? I think that's part of why people enjoy them so much. Cass does a good job of placing you inside the head of Kahlen, the protagonist. The character development is thorough, and as a reader, I began to think and feel like Kahlen.

Here is my one warning: the story moves slowly. It begins slow, picks up pace about half way through for a few chapters, slows down again, and then ends on a high note. With some patience it is worth it.

The relationships between the characters is what really keeps this novel rolling. If you're looking for a non-stop, action-packed book, this isn't the one for you. If you are looking for a book that focuses on the importance of relationships, sacrifices, and love for yourself and others, then I recommend The Siren.

Other books by Kiera Cass:

Series--

The Selection

The Elite

The One (Released May 6, 2014)