What do you think?
Rate this book
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman
Fifteen year old Courtney wants to be normal like her friends. But there’s something frighteningly different about her—
My grandpa Dahlen was crazy. According to my mom, anyway. I was seven when he had me tattooed, and then tried to drown me in his bathtub to escape the bad men. Whether his obsession with alien visitors drove him over the edge or he just knew things we didn’t, I can’t say.
He used to tell me things, though. Things that normal people would never believe. Secrets about an ancient alien-human bloodline, covert societies, and wormholes to the alien universe.
My grandpa’s dead. But people still say that I have his same silvery-blue eyes. What they don’t know is, I inherited far more from him than just his eyes.
AWARDS:
2017 Independent Press Awards Winner - New Fiction
2017 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite- Science Fiction
2017 Reader Views Awards Finalist - Mystery/Thriller/ Suspense/ Horror
2016 New Apple Annual Book Awards: :Young Adult Science Fiction solo Medalist Winner
2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist in the First Novel category
2016Readers’ Favorite Awards Finalist in Young Adult Fiction
My grandpa Dahlen was crazy. According to my mom, anyway. I was seven when he had me tattooed, and then tried to drown me in his bathtub to escape the bad men. Whether his obsession with alien visitors drove him over the edge or he just knew things we didn’t, I can’t say.
He used to tell me things, though. Things that normal people would never believe. Secrets about an ancient alien-human bloodline, covert societies, and wormholes to the alien universe.
My grandpa’s dead. But people still say that I have his same silvery-blue eyes. What they don’t know is, I inherited far more from him than just his eyes.
AWARDS:
2017 Independent Press Awards Winner - New Fiction
2017 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite- Science Fiction
2017 Reader Views Awards Finalist - Mystery/Thriller/ Suspense/ Horror
2016 New Apple Annual Book Awards: :Young Adult Science Fiction solo Medalist Winner
2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist in the First Novel category
2016Readers’ Favorite Awards Finalist in Young Adult Fiction
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2016
7 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 14, 2016
Okay this book was definitely different.
Courtney had a traumatic experience when she was young and at her grandfather's house. That was years ago and now Courtney is older and her grandfather is dead. She's just a teenager trying to live a normal life. BUT. . . it's not normal when you dream aliens are visiting you and then your not dreaming and they are still there.
Courtney's mom is not nice to her at all and ends up putting her in the nut house for a week. Courtney meets a girl there that looks just like her imaginary friend she had from when she was younger but this girl is real and her name is Agatha. She is there visiting her brother who has the same visions as Courtney. Agatha wants Courtney to contact her when she gets out of there.
Courtney ends up staying with her dad and stepmom or his girlfriend? for the whole summer and everything is all good with the meds she is taking. . . UNTIL. . . it's time to go home!
She starts seeing the aliens and all kinds of weird things again.
Agatha sets Courtney up with a doctor but then she finds out some things about Courtney and tries to get her away from the doctors because they end up being bad.
Soooo, Agatha and Courtney end going all over the place trying to save the world as we know it. Turns out the aliens aren't so bad after all and they have help from them and some other peeps. It's like a whole secret society of sci-fi fun! Well accept for the Drazgorn Worms, they are some evil aliens that escaped into our world and they have to get them back into the worm hole. <---No pun intended!
They supposedly look like giant centipedes and stuff. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I hate that!
There is a lot more to the story than the little bit I have mentioned but I don't want to tell EVERYTHING. But I did enjoy it. I love walking in all kinds of different worlds and this was one of them and young adult at that! :-) Oh and grandpa wasn't crazy like everyone thought he was! Just sayin'
*I received a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Courtney had a traumatic experience when she was young and at her grandfather's house. That was years ago and now Courtney is older and her grandfather is dead. She's just a teenager trying to live a normal life. BUT. . . it's not normal when you dream aliens are visiting you and then your not dreaming and they are still there.
Courtney's mom is not nice to her at all and ends up putting her in the nut house for a week. Courtney meets a girl there that looks just like her imaginary friend she had from when she was younger but this girl is real and her name is Agatha. She is there visiting her brother who has the same visions as Courtney. Agatha wants Courtney to contact her when she gets out of there.
Courtney ends up staying with her dad and stepmom or his girlfriend? for the whole summer and everything is all good with the meds she is taking. . . UNTIL. . . it's time to go home!
She starts seeing the aliens and all kinds of weird things again.
Agatha sets Courtney up with a doctor but then she finds out some things about Courtney and tries to get her away from the doctors because they end up being bad.
Soooo, Agatha and Courtney end going all over the place trying to save the world as we know it. Turns out the aliens aren't so bad after all and they have help from them and some other peeps. It's like a whole secret society of sci-fi fun! Well accept for the Drazgorn Worms, they are some evil aliens that escaped into our world and they have to get them back into the worm hole. <---No pun intended!
They supposedly look like giant centipedes and stuff. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I hate that!
There is a lot more to the story than the little bit I have mentioned but I don't want to tell EVERYTHING. But I did enjoy it. I love walking in all kinds of different worlds and this was one of them and young adult at that! :-) Oh and grandpa wasn't crazy like everyone thought he was! Just sayin'
*I received a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
August 12, 2016
"Courtney Hoffman? Where are you? It was Josh Sale, the guy I sorta liked before
my problems started".
Fifteen year old Courtney has a few problems. Aliens visit her at night in her bedroom.
Her parents are divorced. Her dad has girlfriend.
Courtney lives with her mother and younger sister.
Her mother -( who would never win any "Mother-of-the-Year" awards) is dating a doctor we wouldn't choose to exam our bodies or date our mother.
The mother and 'boyfriend/doctor' basically think Courtney is mentally ill like - and they just want her to 'grow up'!!!
Courtney's grandfather saw aliens too. Courtney's mother wasn't happy about his relationship with aliens either - and she sure doesn't want to hear such crap from her own daughter.
Add Courtney's imaginary friend, Astra, .....and Agatha - an older teen who looks just like Astra, and it's enough for Courtney - herself- to fear she is going crazy.
Courtney's grandfather had her get a tattoo as a 7 year old child. Of course we think it's crazy....but this is science fiction ---so I knew there was going to be a
possible reasonable explanation in Sci Fi land... which their will be.....in a weird-odd strange -trippy 'make-believe' -fun-adventure-ride-way!!!
There is mystery ( about the 'tattoo' and the 'aliens'), there is mystery about Courtney's imaginary friend Astra and her 'look-a-like' friend Agatha. Throw in teenage friends - guy crushes - best friends- school life- parents, sibling, ....dysfunctional relationships...self-growth ....and rock&rollin suspenseful conspiracy theories...and you've got a cornucopia of visions.
This is definitely a young adult science fiction book of sorts....by an author with a creative playful and tender heart.
It's a Sci Fi'....action packed fiction fireball flumping fiesta enjoyment....with emotional heart!
I think my next door neighborhood teen girls will love it. I did!
Brady Stefani, -male author - is really talented. He's got the voice down of a female girl down perfect. There is more depth to this book than
at first look --- including the cover. I'm not sure the cover communicates enough power of all what's going on - yet ...it works in some ways too. As its a cover that girls might feel familiar with.
my problems started".
Fifteen year old Courtney has a few problems. Aliens visit her at night in her bedroom.
Her parents are divorced. Her dad has girlfriend.
Courtney lives with her mother and younger sister.
Her mother -( who would never win any "Mother-of-the-Year" awards) is dating a doctor we wouldn't choose to exam our bodies or date our mother.
The mother and 'boyfriend/doctor' basically think Courtney is mentally ill like - and they just want her to 'grow up'!!!
Courtney's grandfather saw aliens too. Courtney's mother wasn't happy about his relationship with aliens either - and she sure doesn't want to hear such crap from her own daughter.
Add Courtney's imaginary friend, Astra, .....and Agatha - an older teen who looks just like Astra, and it's enough for Courtney - herself- to fear she is going crazy.
Courtney's grandfather had her get a tattoo as a 7 year old child. Of course we think it's crazy....but this is science fiction ---so I knew there was going to be a
possible reasonable explanation in Sci Fi land... which their will be.....in a weird-odd strange -trippy 'make-believe' -fun-adventure-ride-way!!!
There is mystery ( about the 'tattoo' and the 'aliens'), there is mystery about Courtney's imaginary friend Astra and her 'look-a-like' friend Agatha. Throw in teenage friends - guy crushes - best friends- school life- parents, sibling, ....dysfunctional relationships...self-growth ....and rock&rollin suspenseful conspiracy theories...and you've got a cornucopia of visions.
This is definitely a young adult science fiction book of sorts....by an author with a creative playful and tender heart.
It's a Sci Fi'....action packed fiction fireball flumping fiesta enjoyment....with emotional heart!
I think my next door neighborhood teen girls will love it. I did!
Brady Stefani, -male author - is really talented. He's got the voice down of a female girl down perfect. There is more depth to this book than
at first look --- including the cover. I'm not sure the cover communicates enough power of all what's going on - yet ...it works in some ways too. As its a cover that girls might feel familiar with.
July 4, 2016
Courtney is turning fifteen and her mother is concerned that she hasn't given up her imaginary friends and still questions what happened with her grandfather when she was younger. Her grandfather had been obsessed with aliens and one night tattooed Courtney and tried to drown her.
Now Courtney's mother worries about her being mentally unstable just as her grandfather had been but when Courtney meets Agatha who looks just like the imaginary friend Courtney has been seeing for years Courtney begins to question whether her grandfather had really just been crazy or was there more to this alien theory than she ever who have guessed.
Starting off reading The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman I was a little iffy on whether I'd enjoy this one or not. As the story got more into the sci-fi/alien action involved it really became a fun read though.
I will say what bothered me the most in the beginning and made it a slow starter for one I'd like though was Courtney's mother. I simply had my jaw dropped at some of the way this woman was treating her daughter if she believed she may be having mental issues. Thankfully though she's a minor character in an otherwise enjoyable and fun YA adventure.
Overall, a bit of a slow starter for me but ended up really enjoying this one.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Now Courtney's mother worries about her being mentally unstable just as her grandfather had been but when Courtney meets Agatha who looks just like the imaginary friend Courtney has been seeing for years Courtney begins to question whether her grandfather had really just been crazy or was there more to this alien theory than she ever who have guessed.
Starting off reading The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman I was a little iffy on whether I'd enjoy this one or not. As the story got more into the sci-fi/alien action involved it really became a fun read though.
I will say what bothered me the most in the beginning and made it a slow starter for one I'd like though was Courtney's mother. I simply had my jaw dropped at some of the way this woman was treating her daughter if she believed she may be having mental issues. Thankfully though she's a minor character in an otherwise enjoyable and fun YA adventure.
Overall, a bit of a slow starter for me but ended up really enjoying this one.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 15, 2017
2.5 Stars.
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I first started reading this book. It sounded like either a YA sci-fi thriller or a YA book about a girl with a mental illness. It turned out to not really be either of those. I say that because I felt like Stefani didn't take us the whole way with this story; the characters felt underdeveloped, the story lacked concise direction, the pacing was all wrong and it just felt very muddled throughout. Perhaps it felt muddled because Stefani was trying to add an heir of mystery and have the readers question whether Courtney was indeed mentally ill or she was in fact being visited by aliens. I'm not going to give anything away but I just didn't feel like Stefani fully committed to the option he chose. I feel like this book needed a lot more editing and changing. It didn't feel like a finished product. It had the potential to be a very good book but instead it was flat. It's one of those books where it's entertaining enough while you're reading it but afterwards you're just like "meh".
I didn't think Courtney was a good enough character to carry this book. A bit of immaturity and naïveté is to be expected from a 15 year old but Courtney was too immature and naïve and it was annoying. The rest of the characters did nothing for me, they were too one-dimensional. I also have to mention that Courtney had quite a few complicated relationships but we got absolutely nothing out of them. I wanted so much more in terms of elaborating on her relationship with her parents but instead it was all very vague. It's yet another thing Stefani didn't go for. I feel like Stefani could have taken it up a few notches in terms of everything and that includes the writing. I feel like Stefani didn't show us his writing style, the writing is very utilitarian. It needed more frills, bows, ribbons, something to pump a bit of life into the story.
All in all, the book was a little disappointing. There is apparently a sequel coming but I don't know if I would read it. I wouldn't recommend this but I would maybe read something else by Stefani.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I first started reading this book. It sounded like either a YA sci-fi thriller or a YA book about a girl with a mental illness. It turned out to not really be either of those. I say that because I felt like Stefani didn't take us the whole way with this story; the characters felt underdeveloped, the story lacked concise direction, the pacing was all wrong and it just felt very muddled throughout. Perhaps it felt muddled because Stefani was trying to add an heir of mystery and have the readers question whether Courtney was indeed mentally ill or she was in fact being visited by aliens. I'm not going to give anything away but I just didn't feel like Stefani fully committed to the option he chose. I feel like this book needed a lot more editing and changing. It didn't feel like a finished product. It had the potential to be a very good book but instead it was flat. It's one of those books where it's entertaining enough while you're reading it but afterwards you're just like "meh".
I didn't think Courtney was a good enough character to carry this book. A bit of immaturity and naïveté is to be expected from a 15 year old but Courtney was too immature and naïve and it was annoying. The rest of the characters did nothing for me, they were too one-dimensional. I also have to mention that Courtney had quite a few complicated relationships but we got absolutely nothing out of them. I wanted so much more in terms of elaborating on her relationship with her parents but instead it was all very vague. It's yet another thing Stefani didn't go for. I feel like Stefani could have taken it up a few notches in terms of everything and that includes the writing. I feel like Stefani didn't show us his writing style, the writing is very utilitarian. It needed more frills, bows, ribbons, something to pump a bit of life into the story.
All in all, the book was a little disappointing. There is apparently a sequel coming but I don't know if I would read it. I wouldn't recommend this but I would maybe read something else by Stefani.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
Courtney Hoffman was put through an extremely traumatizing event by her grandfather, a person she loved and trusted dearly... Or so her memory tells it. Since that time, Courtney has began hallucinating alien visitations in her bedroom and even developed a friendship with an "imaginary" girl, named Astra. Fearing for their daughter, her (divorced) parents sought out professional help, and for a while it worked. As her 15th birthday neared, though, her plaguing memories and horrible nightmares return with more urgency and force than before.
Courtney's mother is super brash and insensitive towards her daughter (I didn't like her at all!). Her father is separated from her and his ex wife and never seems to have a moment to spare his daughter. She has one friend, Lauren, that she can never confide anything to, in fear of being ratted on. Mostly everyone in her life thinks she's crazy and believe that she's headed down the same road her grandfather traveled. It isn't until Courtney's sent to a psychward that she befriends Agatha, a person she can actually trust. With Agatha's help, the pair uncover the truth and learn they might actually be the only people that can save both the alien world and theirs from destruction.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is geared towards the middle grade/ YA audience but truthfully I feel all ages can enjoy Brady Stefani's story! I, unfortunately, didn't connect very well with the MC. I thought she was bit too whiney and the fact that she was constantly trying to run from her problems instead of facing them head on bothered me. Thankfully though, she developed more of a back bone towards the end and makes up for it. I really love Agatha's character! I think Agatha and I could actually be friends in real life, haha.
I wish Agatha's brother was included a bit more than he was. I think his character has great potential to add more to this story (maybe in the next installation?).
Brady Stefani's writing is easy to follow and I never lost interest in it. It was refreshing to read a YA sci-fi involving alien creatures; I don't think aliens get enough attention these days! There's humor, adventure, Norwegian death -metal music and alien creatures! What's not to like? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm interested to see what Brady Stefani writes next.
*** I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to booktasters on twitter for introducing me to this author, and a huge thanks to Brady Stefani for not only sending me a copy of his novel in an eBook format but a signed print as well! ***
Courtney's mother is super brash and insensitive towards her daughter (I didn't like her at all!). Her father is separated from her and his ex wife and never seems to have a moment to spare his daughter. She has one friend, Lauren, that she can never confide anything to, in fear of being ratted on. Mostly everyone in her life thinks she's crazy and believe that she's headed down the same road her grandfather traveled. It isn't until Courtney's sent to a psychward that she befriends Agatha, a person she can actually trust. With Agatha's help, the pair uncover the truth and learn they might actually be the only people that can save both the alien world and theirs from destruction.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is geared towards the middle grade/ YA audience but truthfully I feel all ages can enjoy Brady Stefani's story! I, unfortunately, didn't connect very well with the MC. I thought she was bit too whiney and the fact that she was constantly trying to run from her problems instead of facing them head on bothered me. Thankfully though, she developed more of a back bone towards the end and makes up for it. I really love Agatha's character! I think Agatha and I could actually be friends in real life, haha.
I wish Agatha's brother was included a bit more than he was. I think his character has great potential to add more to this story (maybe in the next installation?).
Brady Stefani's writing is easy to follow and I never lost interest in it. It was refreshing to read a YA sci-fi involving alien creatures; I don't think aliens get enough attention these days! There's humor, adventure, Norwegian death -metal music and alien creatures! What's not to like? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm interested to see what Brady Stefani writes next.
*** I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to booktasters on twitter for introducing me to this author, and a huge thanks to Brady Stefani for not only sending me a copy of his novel in an eBook format but a signed print as well! ***
December 20, 2016
Courtney has terrible dreams and she sees aliens. She knows there's a family link. Her grandfather was believed to be crazy as well. Courtney even has a tattoo to prove this. When Courtney's visions are starting to get worse her mother makes sure she's being locked up. Courtney is fifteen years old and she doesn't feel like she's crazy and maybe her grandfather wasn't either. She's young and wants to have normal a life. To achieve that she has to find out what's going on. Is she mentally ill or is she part of something big that most people can't see?
Courtney is a nice girl. She's sweet and a little bit naïve, but she's terribly brave at the same time. When someone she's known her whole life via astral projections offers her help and information she decides to take a chance and finally she gets some answers about her grandfather, the past and what's going on with her. I loved reading about her abilities. Courtney is weak and vulnerable, but she's definitely a fighter too. These contrasts in her character are making her a fascinated multilayered person to read about. I liked that Brady G. Stefani constantly made me wonder if she was crazy or not.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is an incredibly strange book. I loved the way Brady G. Stefani's mind works. He's created an interesting world and I enjoyed reading about it very much. There's a lot of amazing creativity in this story. It's also action-packed and there are plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The story is definitely surprising and I haven't read anything like it. I loved that I had no idea if everything that happened was all Courtney's imagination or not. The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is a fabulous bizarre read.
Courtney is a nice girl. She's sweet and a little bit naïve, but she's terribly brave at the same time. When someone she's known her whole life via astral projections offers her help and information she decides to take a chance and finally she gets some answers about her grandfather, the past and what's going on with her. I loved reading about her abilities. Courtney is weak and vulnerable, but she's definitely a fighter too. These contrasts in her character are making her a fascinated multilayered person to read about. I liked that Brady G. Stefani constantly made me wonder if she was crazy or not.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is an incredibly strange book. I loved the way Brady G. Stefani's mind works. He's created an interesting world and I enjoyed reading about it very much. There's a lot of amazing creativity in this story. It's also action-packed and there are plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The story is definitely surprising and I haven't read anything like it. I loved that I had no idea if everything that happened was all Courtney's imagination or not. The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is a fabulous bizarre read.
June 29, 2016
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman by Bradley G. Stefani is an interesting read for all ages. Yes, it's geared for teens but as an adult, I enjoyed reading it. The main character, a teenage girl, is growing through a difficult time period in her life. She just lost her grandpa whom many deem crazy. Yes, he was a bit crazy but this tale proves he was also a genius as well. A grandpa who gave his granddaughter a tattoo that she knows nothing about...and the talk of aliens. Who believes in aliens...and where's the proof? As Courtney live each day she is taunted with the nightmares. Her mother and mother's boyfriend treat her like a crazed lunatic. A mother who puts her daughter into an asylum, based on the trauma her daughter is going through and because her boyfriend is a Doctor. A Doctor who is more than beats the eye. The mother is clueless and it's up to her daughter to save the world and to prove the Doctor is evil...
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is addictive, well done, and highly suspenseful. I found myself turning the pages faster with every turn. Bradley G. Stefani writes a story that drags readers into the characters drama and sweeps them off their feet into the danger ahead. Absolutely loved reading this tale. Courtney feels alienated from her peers and family and once she lands into the world her grandpa was in, she finds a peace that makes her life normal. Funny, crazy, but well-developed. Overall, I highly recommend this YA novel to all.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is addictive, well done, and highly suspenseful. I found myself turning the pages faster with every turn. Bradley G. Stefani writes a story that drags readers into the characters drama and sweeps them off their feet into the danger ahead. Absolutely loved reading this tale. Courtney feels alienated from her peers and family and once she lands into the world her grandpa was in, she finds a peace that makes her life normal. Funny, crazy, but well-developed. Overall, I highly recommend this YA novel to all.
July 4, 2016
SparkPress and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman, in exchange for an honest review.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman received so many positive recommendations, which heightened my expectations for this book. Unfortunately, I found the premise to be interesting, but the execution lacking. I did not feel any connection to the main character and could not stop my attention from straying while reading. With some polishing and final editing to clean up the awkward phrasing and difficult transitions, The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman might have held my interest more.
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman received so many positive recommendations, which heightened my expectations for this book. Unfortunately, I found the premise to be interesting, but the execution lacking. I did not feel any connection to the main character and could not stop my attention from straying while reading. With some polishing and final editing to clean up the awkward phrasing and difficult transitions, The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman might have held my interest more.
July 10, 2016
“The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Brady Stefani (http://bradystefani.com). This is Mr. Stefani’s first novel.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this Science Fiction Young Adult novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence and some Mature Language. This novel is set in the contemporary US. The primary character is 15 year old Courtney Hoffman.
Hoffman wants to be normal, but she fears that she will end up crazy like her grandfather. She feels that she is steadily going nuts as she continues to ‘see’ aliens in her dreams. Then she meets an older girl, Agatha Kirlich, who is more than a little odd and who has been having dreams about a coming apocalypse.
Hoffman has to sort out what is real and then take action to avoid disaster for her, her friends and her family. The conspiracy theory her mother has warned her to ignore so that she does not end up like her grandfather turns out to be far more real than she had expected.
This was an enjoyable 6+ hour read of 282 pages. As expected for a YA novel, the story was a little on the light side. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this Science Fiction Young Adult novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence and some Mature Language. This novel is set in the contemporary US. The primary character is 15 year old Courtney Hoffman.
Hoffman wants to be normal, but she fears that she will end up crazy like her grandfather. She feels that she is steadily going nuts as she continues to ‘see’ aliens in her dreams. Then she meets an older girl, Agatha Kirlich, who is more than a little odd and who has been having dreams about a coming apocalypse.
Hoffman has to sort out what is real and then take action to avoid disaster for her, her friends and her family. The conspiracy theory her mother has warned her to ignore so that she does not end up like her grandfather turns out to be far more real than she had expected.
This was an enjoyable 6+ hour read of 282 pages. As expected for a YA novel, the story was a little on the light side. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
August 9, 2016
A truly great author can make you believe (or agree to suspend your dis-belief of) anything. Mr. Stefani writes a YA book that would rival any adult bestseller for tension and suspense and he does it with a 15 year old protagonist and aliens. I loved this book for its sympathetic and real characters (young and old) and the far-fetched romp of aliens, wormholes, monks and vikings. I was totally caught up in the exciting finale and could not put down the book until I finished.
This book has mild swearing (but c'mon--the world is about to end!) but otherwise would seem a perfect book for young teens to read about feeling different, finding out who you are, handling difficult parents and being true to your calling in life.
So an excellent romp of an adventure and at the same time a poignant story of a girl finding out who she is and what she can (and must) achieve. Five cosmic stars.
This book has mild swearing (but c'mon--the world is about to end!) but otherwise would seem a perfect book for young teens to read about feeling different, finding out who you are, handling difficult parents and being true to your calling in life.
So an excellent romp of an adventure and at the same time a poignant story of a girl finding out who she is and what she can (and must) achieve. Five cosmic stars.
July 19, 2016
Space Girl
I recently finished reading an excellent book by a very talented author that I have never had the pleasure to read one of their works before. In The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman: A Novel by Brady Stefani you met Courtney Hoffman, who at first glance appears to be your average straight “A” teenager. However, nothing is ordinary about her life, starting with alien visitations in her bedroom, all the way to discovering a genetic brain anomaly which she shares with her Grandpa Dahlen. Their common anomaly has created the ability to communicate with extraterrestrial beings as well as a portal for visitation and travel between universes. You see, Courtney and her grandfather have been chosen by their own ancient blood to aid and protect these aliens beings who have visited for thousands of years. Being a tough teenage girl with attitude, Courtney makes a great main character. She’s scrappy and determined in dealing with body changes, peer pressure, and the always vicious school rumor mill. If all this isn’t enough, Courtney is traumatized by a false implanted memory of her grandfather who really was an eccentric sweet old man who loved her more than his own life and would never harm her. I underestimated the complexity of the plot, and the depth of it characters at first. While reading this spine-tingling tale, I felt like I was seated in a roller coaster slowly climbing higher and higher, knowing that the vertical drop was imminent! That’s what I call an excellent writer and editor who both obviously worked very hard making sure that this fantastic story flowed without interruption. Every time I anticipated a conflict of logic, the author soon addressed it and painted it into believability which significantly enhanced the story for me. This book falls in the “Don’t judge a book by its cover” category. I appreciated the unassuming peaceful book cover, and the illustrations inside this book made me laugh and cry. Never looking at the stars in the sky the same ever again! I highly recommend this plausible, believable, sometimes tense, action packed sweet book to all teenagers nad those who never stop dreaming, whatever universe you inhabit.
I recently finished reading an excellent book by a very talented author that I have never had the pleasure to read one of their works before. In The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman: A Novel by Brady Stefani you met Courtney Hoffman, who at first glance appears to be your average straight “A” teenager. However, nothing is ordinary about her life, starting with alien visitations in her bedroom, all the way to discovering a genetic brain anomaly which she shares with her Grandpa Dahlen. Their common anomaly has created the ability to communicate with extraterrestrial beings as well as a portal for visitation and travel between universes. You see, Courtney and her grandfather have been chosen by their own ancient blood to aid and protect these aliens beings who have visited for thousands of years. Being a tough teenage girl with attitude, Courtney makes a great main character. She’s scrappy and determined in dealing with body changes, peer pressure, and the always vicious school rumor mill. If all this isn’t enough, Courtney is traumatized by a false implanted memory of her grandfather who really was an eccentric sweet old man who loved her more than his own life and would never harm her. I underestimated the complexity of the plot, and the depth of it characters at first. While reading this spine-tingling tale, I felt like I was seated in a roller coaster slowly climbing higher and higher, knowing that the vertical drop was imminent! That’s what I call an excellent writer and editor who both obviously worked very hard making sure that this fantastic story flowed without interruption. Every time I anticipated a conflict of logic, the author soon addressed it and painted it into believability which significantly enhanced the story for me. This book falls in the “Don’t judge a book by its cover” category. I appreciated the unassuming peaceful book cover, and the illustrations inside this book made me laugh and cry. Never looking at the stars in the sky the same ever again! I highly recommend this plausible, believable, sometimes tense, action packed sweet book to all teenagers nad those who never stop dreaming, whatever universe you inhabit.
August 1, 2016
You'll quickly learn all about Courtney Hoffman and what makes her a typical teenage girl, along with what makes her extraordinary! Just like her Grandpa, she has a brain anomaly that is probably the reason for the alien's visiting her in her bedroom, and it's these abilities that make her a one of a kind character.
This is a book you can pick up and instantly become hooked. She is quickly putting the pieces of her life together, including her mysterious tattoo her Grandfather gave her.
I really enjoyed this young adult, alien, sci-fi novel. This book mixes well with typical teenage behavior and issues, combined with the aliens that make this a more unusual then typical, making it easy enough to love even if this isn't your normal go-to genre. It incorporates a little something for everyone, by being evenly balanced in teenage drama, and exciting alien mystery. Though, I think this would be a book I'd recommend more so to a young adult, and not someone who's really into reading sci-fi.
The plot of course is a little outlandish at times, but what do you expect from a "normal" girl who's seeing aliens. I'd even say it's quite thrilling at times. The book doesn't hold a lot of substance, it's a quick read, which I think fits into the young adult genre perfectly. Honestly, you could possibly categorize this book in an even younger age group,
Overall, I'd say it's a great 4/5. I look forward to reading the sequel later on.
This is a book you can pick up and instantly become hooked. She is quickly putting the pieces of her life together, including her mysterious tattoo her Grandfather gave her.
I really enjoyed this young adult, alien, sci-fi novel. This book mixes well with typical teenage behavior and issues, combined with the aliens that make this a more unusual then typical, making it easy enough to love even if this isn't your normal go-to genre. It incorporates a little something for everyone, by being evenly balanced in teenage drama, and exciting alien mystery. Though, I think this would be a book I'd recommend more so to a young adult, and not someone who's really into reading sci-fi.
The plot of course is a little outlandish at times, but what do you expect from a "normal" girl who's seeing aliens. I'd even say it's quite thrilling at times. The book doesn't hold a lot of substance, it's a quick read, which I think fits into the young adult genre perfectly. Honestly, you could possibly categorize this book in an even younger age group,
Overall, I'd say it's a great 4/5. I look forward to reading the sequel later on.
August 27, 2016
Is Courtney crazy? Was her grandfather crazy too? Or do aliens really visit her and talk to her? Her mother thinks she is crazy and her mom's creepy doctor boyfriend has Courtney admitted to a mental hospital. That does not stop Courtney from eventually learning the truth. The aliens are real, the world could end, and only Courtney can save the world. I like this book and think it should appeal equally to girls and boys who enjoy stories about aliens and adventure. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
August 16, 2016
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
A young adult book about aliens - not something I've read in a while. I'm not exactly drawn to novels about aliens anyway, but with a plethora of young adult novels containing vampires, werewolves, fairies, and what have you - the presence of aliens is a change.
The book follows young protagonist, Courtney, who's caught between two worlds - the alien and the human. For her whole life up to the age of fifteen, she's not sure what to think about the aliens that appear in her dreams, the flashbacks of her "crazy" grandfather, and this sense that she's different from others. Is she crazy like her grandfather, like her mother says?
My primary concerns regarding the book are characterization and aspects of the story-telling in general. Regarding the characterization, none of the characters felt very real to me. I couldn't relate well to any of them, including the protagonist. The dialogue was sometimes odd, and the characters were too obviously fictional to me. However, I did notice development in Courtney's character, and that was a pleasant thing to follow as she grew more sure of herself and faced tribulations that appeared in her path.
There are also characters and settings that I didn't feel were explained enough. I gather there is to be a sequel for this, which I wasn't expecting until I reached the last couple chapters. In series, there are opportunities to develop ideas that weren't as solid in previous books, but even so, there were too many questions I had by the end. I don't know enough about who and what the aliens are, nor the newly introduced high-command Knights of Magi characters who come into play near the end. I understand that readers will probably learn more about them in the book to follow, but not knowing enough about them, I didn't understand how they could be trustworthy. As it is, they were just names to me.
As I stated previously, I'm sure things will be better explained in the sequel. I also hope the characterization will become more solid and that there will be more of a realness readers can attribute to who they are. The characters felt a lot like tropes rather than individuals. Hopefully more about the aliens will be revealed as well.
A young adult book about aliens - not something I've read in a while. I'm not exactly drawn to novels about aliens anyway, but with a plethora of young adult novels containing vampires, werewolves, fairies, and what have you - the presence of aliens is a change.
The book follows young protagonist, Courtney, who's caught between two worlds - the alien and the human. For her whole life up to the age of fifteen, she's not sure what to think about the aliens that appear in her dreams, the flashbacks of her "crazy" grandfather, and this sense that she's different from others. Is she crazy like her grandfather, like her mother says?
My primary concerns regarding the book are characterization and aspects of the story-telling in general. Regarding the characterization, none of the characters felt very real to me. I couldn't relate well to any of them, including the protagonist. The dialogue was sometimes odd, and the characters were too obviously fictional to me. However, I did notice development in Courtney's character, and that was a pleasant thing to follow as she grew more sure of herself and faced tribulations that appeared in her path.
There are also characters and settings that I didn't feel were explained enough. I gather there is to be a sequel for this, which I wasn't expecting until I reached the last couple chapters. In series, there are opportunities to develop ideas that weren't as solid in previous books, but even so, there were too many questions I had by the end. I don't know enough about who and what the aliens are, nor the newly introduced high-command Knights of Magi characters who come into play near the end. I understand that readers will probably learn more about them in the book to follow, but not knowing enough about them, I didn't understand how they could be trustworthy. As it is, they were just names to me.
As I stated previously, I'm sure things will be better explained in the sequel. I also hope the characterization will become more solid and that there will be more of a realness readers can attribute to who they are. The characters felt a lot like tropes rather than individuals. Hopefully more about the aliens will be revealed as well.
July 23, 2016
When Courtney was seven years old, her crazy grandpa tried to drown her. He believed in aliens, and had Courtney believing too. It is now eight years later, and she still has recurring nightmares about aliens visiting her. Only, she knows it’s real, and no one believes her. When her mother commits her to the insane hospital for a few days, she meets Agatha, who looks amazingly close to her imaginary friend Astra. Agatha believes that aliens are real too, and works to help Courtney face her fears, and discover the truth about what happened that night so long ago.
This story had a lot going on. Like Courtney, I didn’t know who to trust. It was an interesting plot, but I thought a couple of the characters didn’t fit well. To me, there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to their actions, making it difficult to ascertain their personality. I liked this author’s writing style though. It reminded me of Nancy Drew mysteries, with its teenage characters and theme, and surprising twists. I think this story would make a good series for teens. It actually would be an acceptable read for preteens also. I liked the story myself, and look forward to another chapter for Courtney Hoffman.
This story had a lot going on. Like Courtney, I didn’t know who to trust. It was an interesting plot, but I thought a couple of the characters didn’t fit well. To me, there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to their actions, making it difficult to ascertain their personality. I liked this author’s writing style though. It reminded me of Nancy Drew mysteries, with its teenage characters and theme, and surprising twists. I think this story would make a good series for teens. It actually would be an acceptable read for preteens also. I liked the story myself, and look forward to another chapter for Courtney Hoffman.
June 30, 2016
pooled ink Reviews:
3.5 Stars
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is an electric adventure full of the insane and the impossible. Aliens could not only be real but be close enough to reach out and…then again, Courtney could just be crazy after all. A fun exciting read through and through.
This story is a pure alien story through and through. Filled with hallucinations, parallel universes, nighttime visitations, secret societies, and the potential ending of the world. Courtney Hoffman is the story’s protagonist and her life quickly collides into Agatha, the only person who seems not only to believe her but pushes her to chase the truth.
I’d definitely recommend this book to any total sci-fi/paranormal/alien loving readers. The whole book is kind of crazy, nerdy, and freakish but in a good way. Lots of fun to read indeed.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2016/06/30/the-...
3.5 Stars
The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is an electric adventure full of the insane and the impossible. Aliens could not only be real but be close enough to reach out and…then again, Courtney could just be crazy after all. A fun exciting read through and through.
This story is a pure alien story through and through. Filled with hallucinations, parallel universes, nighttime visitations, secret societies, and the potential ending of the world. Courtney Hoffman is the story’s protagonist and her life quickly collides into Agatha, the only person who seems not only to believe her but pushes her to chase the truth.
I’d definitely recommend this book to any total sci-fi/paranormal/alien loving readers. The whole book is kind of crazy, nerdy, and freakish but in a good way. Lots of fun to read indeed.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2016/06/30/the-...
June 22, 2016
This book has it all: crazy teens (are they really crazy?), aliens, funny lines, and adventure! A great combo for a YA book!!
The adventure in this book reminds me of The Magic Tree House series, except this book is obviously for older teens. Plus it has aliens! And is way more fun to read!
I truly think teens and adults alike will find this book fun to read and see pieces of themselves in the characters, whether they are Courtney, Agatha, Haley, Jorg, or Lauren.
Read this book and save an alien...or a teenager!
I was given a copy of this book from BookSparks for my honest review.
The adventure in this book reminds me of The Magic Tree House series, except this book is obviously for older teens. Plus it has aliens! And is way more fun to read!
I truly think teens and adults alike will find this book fun to read and see pieces of themselves in the characters, whether they are Courtney, Agatha, Haley, Jorg, or Lauren.
Read this book and save an alien...or a teenager!
I was given a copy of this book from BookSparks for my honest review.
July 5, 2016
DNF at 40%. I can't see where the plot is going with this one. Along with absolutely nothing happening the characters are annoying and juvenile. The main character is mean to everyone, including those trying to help her. She has a bad habit of "pulling at her hair", but not as bad as the other girl saying "dude". It doesn't really bother me that I won't know what happened with this.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publish for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publish for the ARC.
July 8, 2016
I don't know how Stefani did it but he nailed Courtney's character right down to her teenage angsty speech. From the battle with parents and siblings to worrying about her social life Courtney comes to life. (Interesting how most of the "bad guys" in this book are adults.) This book has the potential to turn into a fun series and I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun, teen x-files adventure.
May 3, 2017
I think I'm gonna DNF this. I hate to do that to another ARC, but I haven't picked it up in weeks and I wasn't that into it in the first place. I saw a lot of problems and it really wasn't doing anything for me. I'll have to regroup and write a review later.
Full review here.
Full review here.
June 11, 2017
This book had a pretty interesting premise: a young girl has visions of aliens and doesn’t know whether she is crazy or they are real. As the story unfolds, we discover the truth about her and her past. Unfortunately, the writing didn’t quite live up to the premise. The main character is a teenager, so a certain amount of immaturity and angst is to be expected, however, this main character seems more like a caricature of a teenager than a real one. She was all immaturity and angst (some of it justifiable) without any other character trait to her. The same is true of her mother. The mother is often cruel to her daughter without any real backstory to her sheer hatred. There’s a small explanation to it, but it doesn’t really do much to develop the mother as a character or a person.
The narrative didn’t really carry me along as a reader, either. The writing was utilitarian. It served to get the reader from point A to point B but didn't let the reader experience story or the character. It was more tell than show.
I do enjoy reading science fiction and YA books, and this one definitely has an interesting idea. I'm also more a fan of the title now, having finished the story. I think a little more re-writing on the characters and more show than tell would help make this story wonderful.
The narrative didn’t really carry me along as a reader, either. The writing was utilitarian. It served to get the reader from point A to point B but didn't let the reader experience story or the character. It was more tell than show.
I do enjoy reading science fiction and YA books, and this one definitely has an interesting idea. I'm also more a fan of the title now, having finished the story. I think a little more re-writing on the characters and more show than tell would help make this story wonderful.
February 26, 2017
I'm sorry, just no.
I could not for the life of me get into this book. I got maybe halfway through the audio-book and had to stop listening. There was so much I didn't like. Honestly I knew it right from the beginning. When you're thrown into a world it can be fun. This time, it wasn't. There was nothing. No detail offered after the first chapter, no real back story. And it kept on like this throughout the book!
You wont find any fork in the road in this story. Instead you basically feel like you're forced into not one, not two, but several different directions. Fist Courtney is crazy, no Aliens are real, oh and there's some conspiracy about ancient blood lines and God, oh and of course the impending apocalypse that needs to be dealt with. Sooo many different ideas here.
Pick one, heck pick three! Just don't pick 12 topics and try to run with them as you drop all the details out of the book because you're clearly trying to hold too much.
Obviously that's an exaggeration but the point I think is clear.
The characters were also flops. Agatha was the only one who was even remotely interesting. Courtney isn't 15 she's clearly a child. As in very immature. A trait I imagine she got from her mother who seems like she just hates her daughter.
Quite frankly I have no idea what happens at the end and you know what? That's totally fine with me. I feel like such a fuddy duddy for saying that because clearly I'm one of a very select few who did not enjoy this book.
See my full review Here.
I could not for the life of me get into this book. I got maybe halfway through the audio-book and had to stop listening. There was so much I didn't like. Honestly I knew it right from the beginning. When you're thrown into a world it can be fun. This time, it wasn't. There was nothing. No detail offered after the first chapter, no real back story. And it kept on like this throughout the book!
You wont find any fork in the road in this story. Instead you basically feel like you're forced into not one, not two, but several different directions. Fist Courtney is crazy, no Aliens are real, oh and there's some conspiracy about ancient blood lines and God, oh and of course the impending apocalypse that needs to be dealt with. Sooo many different ideas here.
Pick one, heck pick three! Just don't pick 12 topics and try to run with them as you drop all the details out of the book because you're clearly trying to hold too much.
Obviously that's an exaggeration but the point I think is clear.
The characters were also flops. Agatha was the only one who was even remotely interesting. Courtney isn't 15 she's clearly a child. As in very immature. A trait I imagine she got from her mother who seems like she just hates her daughter.
Quite frankly I have no idea what happens at the end and you know what? That's totally fine with me. I feel like such a fuddy duddy for saying that because clearly I'm one of a very select few who did not enjoy this book.
See my full review Here.
April 11, 2017
Review to follow.
February 5, 2017
Title: The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman
Author: Brady Stefani
Publisher: SparkPress, 2016
Genre: YA Science Fiction
**I received a copy of this book free from the author and Booktasters in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA's Tumblr, or my Goodreads page
My Review:
This book was...different than what I was expecting. But that does not mean bad! It just means...different.
But let's get into it...
Courtney Hoffman is a little troubled ever since her grandfather tattooed a symbol on her ribs and then tried to drown her at seven years old. Her grandfather was found dead later, and Courtney has mixed feelings about him. See, Courtney's grandfather believed in aliens. Yup...aliens.
Courtney doesn’t want to believe, but when she starts getting visits in the middle of the night, she knows she’s either crazy…or her grandfather was right.
When Courtney tries to tell her mother, it doesn’t go well. Especially since her mother has been dating Dr. Anderson. He is creepy and seems to think Courtney is mentally ill. Maybe she is? I mean, who sees aliens in their bedroom at night? She can’t sleep, and when she does, it seems like the aliens are trying to tell her something…or maybe hurt her like her grandfather…are they the ones that hurt him?
Luckily for Courtney, someone believes her: a girl she thought was an imaginary friend. Courtney knew her as Astra, but she’s real, and she’s been trying to communicate with Courtney, because maybe Courtney isn’t so crazy after all…
If someone else believes, maybe Courtney is right. But what does that mean in the long run for her.
And what do these aliens want…if they’re real?
Is It Classroom-Appropriate?
Nope. And that’s only because there’s some swearing. Especially use of the F-word. If that wasn’t there, then I would say yes 100%. But you know how parents can get…and I don’t blame them. However, if there wasn’t, I would think this could be a good book for the classroom: you have a young girl, suffering from the loss of her grandfather and some trauma in her childhood, questioning her mental health and getting very little support from her mother.
Unfortunately because of the swearing, I cannot recommend it for the classroom. Maybe for older readers?
Age Range
On this one, I would say 15 and up. 16 and up if you are extremely conservative about swearing. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. I don’t think this should turn off older readers to this book, though. I’m overly cautious when it comes to two areas: sex and swearing, as well as adult themes. So for a mid-teen, I don’t find this offensive. But that’s a personal call I can’t make, as I don’t have children.
End Result:
So this is where it gets a little tricky with me. I love most books. I liked the concepts and I did get glued to the page. But Courtney…oh, Courtney.
Let’s just say that Kestrel from The Winner’s Curse used to be the most annoying character for me. Past tense.
Courtney has stolen the spot from Kestrel.
Throughout the book, Courtney is whiny, always crying, and always doing the one thing you are SCREAMING AT HER NOT TO DO. “Remember, don’t open the gate.” Courtney opens the gate. “Don’t go meet with Dr. Delmar!” Courtney meets with Dr. Delmar. Seriously??? You’re brought to a room in a dirty, abandoned hospital, without your parents or a safety buddy, where someone could rape you and leave you for dead…but it’s ok because he’s a doctor that specializes in aliens?? AND THEN YOU ALMOST GO BACK???
I wanted to slap her. So bad. So many bad choices. I know teens aren’t always making the best decisions, but seriously. C’mon. That was my biggest complaint: Courtney and her mistakes. Courtney and her poor decision-making skills. Courtney and her attempts to tell her mom what her mom obviously won’t believe.
However….
There is a second book coming out apparently. And I’m a sucker for finding out more. I did not like Court of Fives, but when paired with Poisoned Blade, I started to like it more. Maybe this was Courtney’s “growth” period and she won’t be so frustrating. Or maybe she was just being a teenage girl.
I give The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman ★★★☆☆. I could see others liking it, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. But I will probably read the sequel, because I always have to know more. (At least a sequel or follow-up was alluded to).
So whatcha y’all reading lately? I have another review right after this of Holding Up The Universe, so stay tuned…
Author: Brady Stefani
Publisher: SparkPress, 2016
Genre: YA Science Fiction
**I received a copy of this book free from the author and Booktasters in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA's Tumblr, or my Goodreads page
My Review:
This book was...different than what I was expecting. But that does not mean bad! It just means...different.
But let's get into it...
Courtney Hoffman is a little troubled ever since her grandfather tattooed a symbol on her ribs and then tried to drown her at seven years old. Her grandfather was found dead later, and Courtney has mixed feelings about him. See, Courtney's grandfather believed in aliens. Yup...aliens.
Courtney doesn’t want to believe, but when she starts getting visits in the middle of the night, she knows she’s either crazy…or her grandfather was right.
When Courtney tries to tell her mother, it doesn’t go well. Especially since her mother has been dating Dr. Anderson. He is creepy and seems to think Courtney is mentally ill. Maybe she is? I mean, who sees aliens in their bedroom at night? She can’t sleep, and when she does, it seems like the aliens are trying to tell her something…or maybe hurt her like her grandfather…are they the ones that hurt him?
Luckily for Courtney, someone believes her: a girl she thought was an imaginary friend. Courtney knew her as Astra, but she’s real, and she’s been trying to communicate with Courtney, because maybe Courtney isn’t so crazy after all…
If someone else believes, maybe Courtney is right. But what does that mean in the long run for her.
And what do these aliens want…if they’re real?
Is It Classroom-Appropriate?
Nope. And that’s only because there’s some swearing. Especially use of the F-word. If that wasn’t there, then I would say yes 100%. But you know how parents can get…and I don’t blame them. However, if there wasn’t, I would think this could be a good book for the classroom: you have a young girl, suffering from the loss of her grandfather and some trauma in her childhood, questioning her mental health and getting very little support from her mother.
Unfortunately because of the swearing, I cannot recommend it for the classroom. Maybe for older readers?
Age Range
On this one, I would say 15 and up. 16 and up if you are extremely conservative about swearing. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. I don’t think this should turn off older readers to this book, though. I’m overly cautious when it comes to two areas: sex and swearing, as well as adult themes. So for a mid-teen, I don’t find this offensive. But that’s a personal call I can’t make, as I don’t have children.
End Result:
So this is where it gets a little tricky with me. I love most books. I liked the concepts and I did get glued to the page. But Courtney…oh, Courtney.
Let’s just say that Kestrel from The Winner’s Curse used to be the most annoying character for me. Past tense.
Courtney has stolen the spot from Kestrel.
Throughout the book, Courtney is whiny, always crying, and always doing the one thing you are SCREAMING AT HER NOT TO DO. “Remember, don’t open the gate.” Courtney opens the gate. “Don’t go meet with Dr. Delmar!” Courtney meets with Dr. Delmar. Seriously??? You’re brought to a room in a dirty, abandoned hospital, without your parents or a safety buddy, where someone could rape you and leave you for dead…but it’s ok because he’s a doctor that specializes in aliens?? AND THEN YOU ALMOST GO BACK???
I wanted to slap her. So bad. So many bad choices. I know teens aren’t always making the best decisions, but seriously. C’mon. That was my biggest complaint: Courtney and her mistakes. Courtney and her poor decision-making skills. Courtney and her attempts to tell her mom what her mom obviously won’t believe.
However….
There is a second book coming out apparently. And I’m a sucker for finding out more. I did not like Court of Fives, but when paired with Poisoned Blade, I started to like it more. Maybe this was Courtney’s “growth” period and she won’t be so frustrating. Or maybe she was just being a teenage girl.
I give The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman ★★★☆☆. I could see others liking it, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. But I will probably read the sequel, because I always have to know more. (At least a sequel or follow-up was alluded to).
So whatcha y’all reading lately? I have another review right after this of Holding Up The Universe, so stay tuned…
July 19, 2016
(PureTextuality.com)4 stars. I started reading this book and came really close to stopping before I got very far. I thought I had the wrong idea about what the book was about, and really didn’t want to read about a teenager going through mental illness. Not that there’s anything wrong with books about that, but I just wanted to read the book I thought I was getting. I was so wrong. So I am going to say right off the bat, this is a young adult science fiction read, and a pretty good one at that.
Courtney is fifteen and lives with her little sister and divorced mother. She has had a pretty different sort of life as she was taken care of at times by her grandfather when she was little. She adored him back then, until something really bad happened to her and him on the same day. Her grandfather believed in aliens to such an extent that he had her tattooed at age seven, much to her parents dismay. The tattoo didn’t make sense to anyone. Now it’s eight years later and Courtney is being visited at night by aliens in her bedroom. She is understandably petrified and has a mother(from hell)that doesn’t believe her. Her mother’s boyfriend, a doctor, doesn’t believe her either. When Courtney meets Agatha, an older girl that just happens to look like Courtney’s imaginary friend from early childhood, things begin to get even weirder.
This book was strange. There I said it. As in, really strange. For awhile, even after it started to get better, that’s what I kept repeating over and over again in my head. But it ended up being a book I could barely put down. There’s something to be said for different and strange at times! It’s young adult, but I think an adult can find things to like about it, starting with Courtney. She was so tenacious and focused, once she realized the true import of what’s happening, and I should also mention brave, as well, to describe her. She truly grew as a character throughout the book. Faced with the impossible and having all the cards stacked against her, she overcame a lot, especially having such a horrible mother. Agatha was another good character, although I was confused a lot, at different times about her. There’s a couple of things I still don’t understand and were never explained to do with her. The villains of this book were really good ones to root against, so I consider that well done by the author. Also well done was the writing and the premise, so more plus’s for the author as well.
Conspiracy happening? Absolutely, and Courtney and Agatha are caught up right in the middle. I really don’t want to post spoilers, so that’s all I am going to say about the actual story, with one exception. I was with this book most of the way, until closer to the end. I think most of the last part was the truly young adult part of the book. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I just thought the tone of the book changed slightly. A bit over the top. It was very fast paced, especially towards the end, and that’s a good thing, because it will have you turning pages as fast as you can. It’s definitely worth the read, and I highly recommend this to anyone that likes young adult science fiction. If you are a hard core science fiction fan, this may not be one for you though. Good Read!
Courtney is fifteen and lives with her little sister and divorced mother. She has had a pretty different sort of life as she was taken care of at times by her grandfather when she was little. She adored him back then, until something really bad happened to her and him on the same day. Her grandfather believed in aliens to such an extent that he had her tattooed at age seven, much to her parents dismay. The tattoo didn’t make sense to anyone. Now it’s eight years later and Courtney is being visited at night by aliens in her bedroom. She is understandably petrified and has a mother(from hell)that doesn’t believe her. Her mother’s boyfriend, a doctor, doesn’t believe her either. When Courtney meets Agatha, an older girl that just happens to look like Courtney’s imaginary friend from early childhood, things begin to get even weirder.
This book was strange. There I said it. As in, really strange. For awhile, even after it started to get better, that’s what I kept repeating over and over again in my head. But it ended up being a book I could barely put down. There’s something to be said for different and strange at times! It’s young adult, but I think an adult can find things to like about it, starting with Courtney. She was so tenacious and focused, once she realized the true import of what’s happening, and I should also mention brave, as well, to describe her. She truly grew as a character throughout the book. Faced with the impossible and having all the cards stacked against her, she overcame a lot, especially having such a horrible mother. Agatha was another good character, although I was confused a lot, at different times about her. There’s a couple of things I still don’t understand and were never explained to do with her. The villains of this book were really good ones to root against, so I consider that well done by the author. Also well done was the writing and the premise, so more plus’s for the author as well.
Conspiracy happening? Absolutely, and Courtney and Agatha are caught up right in the middle. I really don’t want to post spoilers, so that’s all I am going to say about the actual story, with one exception. I was with this book most of the way, until closer to the end. I think most of the last part was the truly young adult part of the book. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I just thought the tone of the book changed slightly. A bit over the top. It was very fast paced, especially towards the end, and that’s a good thing, because it will have you turning pages as fast as you can. It’s definitely worth the read, and I highly recommend this to anyone that likes young adult science fiction. If you are a hard core science fiction fan, this may not be one for you though. Good Read!
December 11, 2016
SciFi is not a huge genre with me. I often get bored with a story that I find gets bogged down with things that have odd names. The blurb about this book intrigued me. When combined with the cover, I knew I had to read it. Mental health issues draw me in. As for aliens, it totally depends on the story being told. This story involves both those subjects. I believe the author may have a lot of knowledge on both of them. Was it a mental health issue or an alien issue? I have no idea. I do know Courtney believes it is alien but then she is the one who may have the mental health issue. Nothing is really clear yet. I don't even know if I like Courtney all that much. Is that a bad thing? Not in this story. Surprisingly that works for me. What I did like about Courtney is her development. She starts out kind of whiny but grows into finding herself and her strength. I don't believe she is stable in that strength and I am hoping the author follows his path with her personal growth. I like how he presents her growth with times of doubt happening. That is realistic. I also liked how we don't really know if she is aligning with aliens against an enemy group or is delusional. I am, personally speaking, siding with an alien group but I could see this wrapping up as mental health delusions. For me it adds to the mysterious air of this story that makes it so interesting. I did not like her mother so much. I understand it is difficult to parent a teen you believe is mentally disturbed. You don't know if you should force them into reality or if you should go along with the delusions. I do think her mother went to far one way though it was kind of explained at the end. I hope that gets further explored in the next book.
Here is what didn't work for me. One is a personal preference. In a book with so much left in question, I need a balancing bar. I need to know how many books are expected before it wraps up. Is this a trilogy? Or longer? The other part was Courtney has a sister who hints that she knows of the aliens. Agatha has a brother involved too. Yet neither of those stories really developed into anything. I am hopeful they come out more in the next book. As it is, I'm not certain why either of them were really brought in. They just left me hanging. That is where the story lost a star for me.
Final judgement on this is, it is an interesting and addictive read. I really did not want to put it down as the action was intense and moving fast.
I didn't find any issues with language, sex or gore for those who want to know about that.
This book was reviewed through BookTasters. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts and belong to me.
Here is what didn't work for me. One is a personal preference. In a book with so much left in question, I need a balancing bar. I need to know how many books are expected before it wraps up. Is this a trilogy? Or longer? The other part was Courtney has a sister who hints that she knows of the aliens. Agatha has a brother involved too. Yet neither of those stories really developed into anything. I am hopeful they come out more in the next book. As it is, I'm not certain why either of them were really brought in. They just left me hanging. That is where the story lost a star for me.
Final judgement on this is, it is an interesting and addictive read. I really did not want to put it down as the action was intense and moving fast.
I didn't find any issues with language, sex or gore for those who want to know about that.
This book was reviewed through BookTasters. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts and belong to me.
October 25, 2016
“People who are different don’t become heroes in this world, Courtney. They’re locked up for being crazy or they live in their parent’s basements and spend the rest of their lives watching public television and eating microwave dinners without a friend left to talk to.”
I loved this quote because at the time of reading this book, I’ve had quite the bad personal time and the “left without a friend to talk to” line really hit home for me. While I’m not exactly 15 and can’t talk to aliens, having the initials of a famous one and relating to isolating circumstances really hit home for me. I can honestly say I haven’t read any other books with Aliens as the central theme, so I’m happy that Brady’s book was able to introduce me to the world and gave me an utmost pleasurable reading experience.
Being a teenage girl isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world. Add on a grandpa who tried to drown her, a mom who has no faith in her and the fact that she sees aliens in her bedroom and Courtney wins first place in the awkward, lonely, crazy teenage experience department. Can she figure out what makes her so special? Can she finally get her mother to believe her, or is Courtney doomed to spend the rest of her life feeling like a lunatic outsider?
Normally, while not completely nutty looking, I am a very animated reader. This book however, truly brought out that animated side of me, especially the last half of the book. I found myself reacting along with Courtney, as if I was there witnessing the events unfolding right along with her. It was such a great opportunity to be able to step into the realm of the book and get caught up in what it would be like to be in the situation at hand. After thinking on it for a while, I would absolutely say that Courtney’s personality, development and willingness to hop on board with her lineage/gift/duty/desires easily made this my favorite part of the book.
I really appreciate the depth of the emotional concepts found in this book such as being true to yourself/believing in yourself, continuing on in the face of adversity and most of all, taking a chance in life no matter what others think of you. Courtney’s mother played an absolutely vicious yet real role of not only someone who doesn’t believe in aliens, but someone who is truly afraid of people that are different.
While I’m not great at writing reviews, I hope I did at least some justice for Brady’s book. If you love connecting emotionally with characters and feel like taking an absolutely wonderful rollercoaster ride, this would be the book for you.
I loved this quote because at the time of reading this book, I’ve had quite the bad personal time and the “left without a friend to talk to” line really hit home for me. While I’m not exactly 15 and can’t talk to aliens, having the initials of a famous one and relating to isolating circumstances really hit home for me. I can honestly say I haven’t read any other books with Aliens as the central theme, so I’m happy that Brady’s book was able to introduce me to the world and gave me an utmost pleasurable reading experience.
Being a teenage girl isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world. Add on a grandpa who tried to drown her, a mom who has no faith in her and the fact that she sees aliens in her bedroom and Courtney wins first place in the awkward, lonely, crazy teenage experience department. Can she figure out what makes her so special? Can she finally get her mother to believe her, or is Courtney doomed to spend the rest of her life feeling like a lunatic outsider?
Normally, while not completely nutty looking, I am a very animated reader. This book however, truly brought out that animated side of me, especially the last half of the book. I found myself reacting along with Courtney, as if I was there witnessing the events unfolding right along with her. It was such a great opportunity to be able to step into the realm of the book and get caught up in what it would be like to be in the situation at hand. After thinking on it for a while, I would absolutely say that Courtney’s personality, development and willingness to hop on board with her lineage/gift/duty/desires easily made this my favorite part of the book.
I really appreciate the depth of the emotional concepts found in this book such as being true to yourself/believing in yourself, continuing on in the face of adversity and most of all, taking a chance in life no matter what others think of you. Courtney’s mother played an absolutely vicious yet real role of not only someone who doesn’t believe in aliens, but someone who is truly afraid of people that are different.
While I’m not great at writing reviews, I hope I did at least some justice for Brady’s book. If you love connecting emotionally with characters and feel like taking an absolutely wonderful rollercoaster ride, this would be the book for you.
August 3, 2016
Oh Courtney! Are you crazy, or are you an alien? Indeed, that is the book long question as we wait to unravel the mystery of Courtney Hoffman.
Is this genetic, passed down from her Grandfather, that they can somehow chat with aliens? Or, is it as her mother so fears, her child is going to go insane like her Grandfather! Her mother wants her to grow up already. Put away that childhood imaginary friend, who, possibly isn't imaginary. Astra shows up at odd times, and as hard as Courtney has tried to make her go away, it hasn't worked out like she planned. Not at all like she planned.
Issues like, what is up with that tattoo? Why did Grandfather have her do that anyway? I mean, she is a child when this happens, because now she is just fifteen.
This book goes everywhere. Just everywhere and all over, but in good ways. It's Sci-Fi, and adventure, and aliens and mental illness, relationships, and more. It was a wild and crazy ride, and I liked it. This could be a film.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
Is this genetic, passed down from her Grandfather, that they can somehow chat with aliens? Or, is it as her mother so fears, her child is going to go insane like her Grandfather! Her mother wants her to grow up already. Put away that childhood imaginary friend, who, possibly isn't imaginary. Astra shows up at odd times, and as hard as Courtney has tried to make her go away, it hasn't worked out like she planned. Not at all like she planned.
Issues like, what is up with that tattoo? Why did Grandfather have her do that anyway? I mean, she is a child when this happens, because now she is just fifteen.
This book goes everywhere. Just everywhere and all over, but in good ways. It's Sci-Fi, and adventure, and aliens and mental illness, relationships, and more. It was a wild and crazy ride, and I liked it. This could be a film.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
July 4, 2016
ARC for review - Publication date - June 7, 2016
Courtney Hoffman has a long history of traffic in aliens - her grandfather was a believer and gave her a tattoo when she was seven (seven?) to protect her. Now she's having bad dreams and seeing the aliens again - her mother and her mother's new boyfriend think she's mentally ill - what is the truth?
I love young adult, but good YA....and I'm sorry to say that this wasn't, but perhaps my weary adult eyes were too hard on it and it will appeal, in a throwaway "Goosebumps" fashion to younger teens. Throwaway mentions about a fourth wise man (who is a woman) and lines like, "The helmet is back at the hospital with the ghost copy of your body." just didn't do it for me. I found it stilted and unbelievable and didn't care for it.
Courtney Hoffman has a long history of traffic in aliens - her grandfather was a believer and gave her a tattoo when she was seven (seven?) to protect her. Now she's having bad dreams and seeing the aliens again - her mother and her mother's new boyfriend think she's mentally ill - what is the truth?
I love young adult, but good YA....and I'm sorry to say that this wasn't, but perhaps my weary adult eyes were too hard on it and it will appeal, in a throwaway "Goosebumps" fashion to younger teens. Throwaway mentions about a fourth wise man (who is a woman) and lines like, "The helmet is back at the hospital with the ghost copy of your body." just didn't do it for me. I found it stilted and unbelievable and didn't care for it.
July 12, 2016
Ancient secret societies, hidden treasures, apocalypse predictions, and aliens! The overall plot was very well thought out. I really enjoyed reading this.
It was suspenseful, mysterious, intriguing, and a bit crazy (good crazy) at times.
To read my full review on this and other books please visit www.booklovinalicia.blogspot.com
Thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress for allowing me the ecopy in exchange for my honest opinion.
It was suspenseful, mysterious, intriguing, and a bit crazy (good crazy) at times.
To read my full review on this and other books please visit www.booklovinalicia.blogspot.com
Thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress for allowing me the ecopy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews