Push and Shove: The Ghost Bird Series: #6

By: C L StoneSeries: The Academy Ghost Bird Series #6Pages: 481Genre: YA and ContemporaryRating: 4.5/5Blurb: Sang Sorenson struggles with her growing feelings when the Academy boys take her in and draw her closer into their world. They work together to uncover the true secrets happening at Ashley Waters High School, where Principal Hendricks will stop at nothing to take them all down.Adding to their complications, Nathan’s father shows up, and he’s just as ruthless and violent as ever, beating up on Nathan. Sang offers Nathan refuge in her home, but Marie is fed up with the boys. She wants them out--all of them—and wants them to take Sang with them. Where will Sang go? What will happen to Nathan? And what about Mr. Hendrick’s spies, watching all of them?Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke and North will have to focus to get out of this mess, but with Sang assisting them, they’re struggling to keep control. They all promised not to make a move on Sang unless she initiates, but the tension is driving them all to distraction. With the help of Dr. Green and Mr. Blackbourne, they will have to stay strong and engaged. But A first kiss is imminent, and will cost them all more than they could ever have imagined.My Review:" At first glance, you probably knew you wouldn't want to mess with him. But Silas was all heart. A big Greek one. - Sang "This book was brilliant...apart for the ending. (no that wasn't a spoiler, that was just an honest opinion.) Push And Shove is a book that focuses more on Sang's life with the boys than anything else. Which I have to admit can get pretty explosive when Sang is left alone with one of the boys too long. *Wink Wink*Other than Sang''s personal life with the guys we get a real gimps into the twisted life that is Jade. Her character really did develop by the end and I know I'm a baby but she really did end up scaring me. She is one desperate lady.Rocky and Jay are also back, a drug scandal is also going around the school. And as always rumors are spread about Sang. Hendricks is also becoming more suspicious of the Academy guys.So all is normal in a life with the Academy boys. Will is also back and if any of you have read Thief than you must be wondering what he is doing. But he's cute and it's pretty obvious he likes Sang. I just wanna hug him because he's so cute.However the end I think it almost destroyed me. I am very disappointed in you and you know which one I'm talking about boys, how could you put Sang in that position? Huh? You were even told by your brother not too tell her anything! But noooooo you go tell her anyways. I'm so disappointed.And if you are guessing who I was having a rant out you'll have to read the book! ;)Sang always in trouble is also in trouble in this one with two people. And Mr Griffin, Nathans dad is back but you'll have to read the book to fin out more. (I feel so evil today.)So the main reason why it didn't get that extra half a star was because I felt that the ending might have ruined Sang's relationships with the boys. I hope everything turns out okay in the next book. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE AUTUMN!

This book didn't warrant 5 stars, however it's a perfectly respectable 4 star rating.. {Spoiler alert} -What would have made this book 5 stars:Less repetition between the guys and Sang - one phrase kept popping up nearly every conversation 'You're killing me' - more variety of dialogue please - if you took out the names, you could easily interchange quite a few of the interactions between the boys and Sang - aside for one curated detail here or there per scene, it didn't feel like there was as much `voice' in the guy's interactions as there had been in books previously. An example is Silas become a rather stilted, cardboard character in this book - however, Nathan had a chance to shine. Far better to carefully craft a balanced book where the different guys shine, or to write a spin-off of each guy, rather than have cardboard constructs with names. Same with Kota - he became a distinct background character, whilst Sean became a more rounded character.At the climax, there was a character that acted contrary to how they should. I would have expected it of Rocky, but not of this particular character - thus making the book far less believable and satisfying then had it been Rocky... To be honest, I felt like the book went off the rails at this point and the author had seriously lost the plot. I was very, very disappointed in this moment.The passage of time (as noted by several other readers in previous books) is minimal - it will take nearly 100+ books to get through one year at this rate - and this isn't Sweet Valley HighAmount of 'filler' seems to have increased - lots of little things that could easily have been cut from the book to make it speed along. An example was the club scene. It didn't add anything extra or special to the book, or progress the plot in any real way.A `backstory dump' takes place at the end of the book. To be honest, it was just unnecessary filler. It didn't contribute to the book in any meaningful way, and the whole scene could be comfortably axed, aside from the two boys having conversation - but this could have easily been changed so that Sang could overhear the conversation (and how far better that conversation would have been in terms of dramatic tensions)Sang's naivety. Yes - this comes up again. And again. And again.What made this book great:One scene in particular choked me up, involving a certain pink handheld console - great touch by CL Stone to break through the seemingly impenetrable character and give him real depth, and a `pet the dog' moment that actually MEANT something great in the context of the story. It was for me, the single highest point, and most memorable point in this book, which gave a great emotional jolt.More meaningful interaction with Marie - even as a side character, she came into her own in this book - and you get a real sense of loathing, disgust and betrayal that is not evident in previous books.Great tension and conflict between the boys - you really do get a sense of Sang being `pushed and shoved' between their internal and external suspicions with each other.Sang *finally* gets kissed on the lips - despite several tension-ratcheting close calls.