Okay, lets setup a nice example. It’s Christmas (I know it’s March, but bear with me) and you’re handed a present. Now, after opening boxes of socks this present seems like a miracle. The slick and brilliant packaging is absolutely everything along with its hand painted art covering the box.  At this point, you’re expecting  the key to life or car keys— same thing, so you tear hungrily trough wrapping paper. Lo and behold, staring back at you is a Kidz Bop CD and Skechers gift card with an attached  note: “Enjoy dancing to a censored version of Trap Queen in your Skecher Light-ups! “.You’ve. just. been. played. Ink by Amanda Sun is the book version of this Christmas tragedy.

After family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. She’s whisked away to live with her aunt  in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. Then there’s Tomohiro, who  draws things that  start moving. There’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan.

Now, I’m not claiming to know the anatomy of young adult novels, but there is clearly a formula. A formula built by cliche. First, you have an ordinary heroine, but wait there’s more. She’s actually the special snowflake with life altering powers and is always involved in the supernatural aspect of the plot. What’s an ordinary heroine without the mysterious bad boy, who tells her to stay away because he’s “too dangerous”. Oh, an while where at it ,lets add some pointless friends who the heroine will end up ditching to spend time with danger boy. You thought I was done? ha.ha.ha. Since we’re in Japan lets add another to-hot-for-words guy with Kool-Aid colored hair. Of course, Kool-Aid boy will be eons nicer than danger boy and boom we have the love triangle (ask Maddox if you don’t know what a love triangle is. I think it involves cosine?).

This by far has been one of the most disappointing books to date. The only redeeming quality is that its set in Japan. Sun doesn’t fail to showcase beautiful scenery.  If you only read the pages with description of the setting, it could make a decent travel guide. I wanted novel about Japanese mythology. I mean everyone only does Greek mythology. This was Sun’s chance to one up everyone.

The characters. oh.man. I’m too lazy to reread previous paragraphs to find the main character’s name. Let’s just call her Mary Sue, because that’s all she ever was. And of course, if she gets too close to danger boy his powers will “spiral out of control”! Bite.Me.Please. But unfortunately all the book focused on romance. The supernatural element: being able to bring drawings to life fell completely to poop. No backstory to the drawings or maybe another world inside the drawing? sigh. Whatever.

Don’t.Get. This.Book.

Save.Your.Money. For. Laundry. Or. Your.College. Fund.