Review: The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Title: The Last Little Blue Envelope
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published: April 26, 2011
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.

Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

I'm one of those people who likes closure. I want the things that I watch and read to have endings. They don't have to be happy, but there has to be some sort of closure. It probably won't surprise you that I didn't enjoy the end of 13 Little Blue Envelopes as much as I enjoyed the rest of the book. The end left me begging for more, for closure. I first read it three years ago, I think, and at that time there wasn't going to be a second book. That just about killed me. I am so, so happy Maureen Johnson changed her mind and wrote The Last Little Blue Envelope. It gave me the closure I was looking for and went in a completely natural feeling direction.

You might think that in the years since Johnson wrote 13 Little Blue Envelopes she might have forgot her characters. This is not the case. Everyone was exactly like they were in the first book. I would know because I reread the first one right before reading the second. Ginny was the same Ginny, no matter how much she tried to be different. Keith was still infuriatingly but endearingly Keith-like. No one felt out of character to me, which is quite a feat.

I think the plot when in a great and believable direction for Ginny. I had no trouble believing she could find her way to London for Christmas break when she was abroad an entire Summer. I also thought the relationship twists and turns that occur throughout the book, of which there are many, were entirely believable. I really liked how Johnson gave this book the same sort of feel as the last one, where Ginny's exploring different countries and herself at the same time, yet it was different enough to feel fresh and new. The addition of Oliver was one of the main reasons it was so different. He is an odd character, to say the least. I loved not really knowing how I or Ginny felt about him for a lot of the book. It was less predictable than it could have been.

Maureen Johnson is such a fantastic writer. She has an awesome sense of humor, and even though these books are in third person I connected with Ginny more than I connect with some characters in first person. I was sucked into the book right from the beginning. There were a couple times where I thought it was going too slow, but that never lasted long.

Basically I think The Last Little Blue Envelope is a fantastic and completely necessary sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I would definitely recommend it if you've read 13 Little Blue Envelopes and wanted more.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Source: Traveling ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.


But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

It's hard for me to put into words exactly what I feel about this book. I almost feel like everything that I thought about the book in its entirety is canceled out by the ending. An ending that made me gasp for air, and just lay there thinking about it when I was finished. I'm still thinking about it a day later.

The only problem that I had with this book was the beginning. It was slow. Very slow. I had some trouble getting into it. It starts to pick up speed about a quarter of the way through, and by halfway it's enthralling. I understand why it was slow: we had to be introduced to this whole world that Lauren Oliver created, and get into the head of the girl at the center of the story. I just don't like slow beginnings.

Something that I both liked and disliked about this book is that it's not about the setting. It's not about the society or "fixing it" or a movement. It's about a girl. Lena is that girl. Her whole life the only thing that she's wanted is to be "cured". To be saved from the pain, the disease of love. Then she falls in love and everything changes. For me that was the turning point of the book, as it was fitting to be. That's when Lena feels like she's woken up from the fog that her life has been up to that point.

Lauren Oliver's writing is amazing. I don't think that I've ever read anything quite as beautiful as some of the passages in this book. She has this amazing way of describing things with such detail, but not over describing. I felt what Lena felt, but the feelings didn't take away from the story or the scene.

All of the characters in this book were well fleshed out. I actually think that I connected with Lena's friend Hanna a bit more than I connected with Lena. And Alex is just...oh, why aren't you real?

There is so much more that I want to say about this book but I can't seem to find the right words. Basically it's a book that will stick with you. I loved it and I really hope that you read it. You won't be disappointed!

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 47/50 A
Cover/Title Comments: I love the title. I'm partial to the ARC cover, which I think is beautiful and suits the book perfectly, but this one is growing on me. The girl behind the letters is really cool, and I like the color. I just think that the other cover suits the story more.

Blog Tour: Cover Questions for Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Hey, everyone! Today I have Lisa Cach, author of Wake Unto Me, here to tell us a little bit about what the Wake Unto Me cover went through before it became what it is today! Thanks to Lisa (and her fabulously blogger friendly website) and to the Teen {Book} Scene Blog Tours!

Here's some info on Wake Unto Me (from Lisa's website):

Caitlyn Monahan knows she belongs somewhere else. It’s what her dead mother’s note suggested, and it’s what her recurring nightmares allude to. Desperate to flee these terrifying dreams—and her small town—she accepts a spot at a boarding school in France. Only, when she arrives, her nightmares get worse.

But then there are her amazing dreams, so vivid and so real, with visits from an alluring, mysterious, and gorgeous Italian boy from the 1500s. Caitlyn knows they are soul mates, but how can she be in love with someone who exists only in her dreams?

Then, as her reality and dream world collide, Caitlyn searches for the real reason why she was brought to this school. And what she discovers will change her life forever.

Onto the interview!

1. Hi Lisa, could you please tell us a little about your debut YA book Wake Unto Me?

American girl Caitlyn gets a scholarship to a mysterious, haunted girls’ school in France, and finds herself falling in love with the 16th century boy who visits her dreams.

2. Wake Unto Me has a striking cover, how much input did you have in choosing/designing it?

Not much! I gave my editor lots of information about the story (the design process began before the book was completely written), and sent her some images, but the final result bore little relation to anything I described.

3. Do you feel that the cover represents the story inside well?

Yes, as far as the ‘feel’ of the book goes. And no, as far as accuracy goes. The heroine has black hair, but on the cover her hair is chestnut; on the other hand, I understand why. Black hair wouldn’t work on a black background. And there is another, larger accuracy issue, but if I discussed it I would give away an important spoiler about the plot.

The inaccuracies don’t really matter, though, as I’ve finally come to understand (it’s taken me over ten years as a published author to grasp this point). The goal of the cover art and the back cover description is not accuracy. The goal is to evoke an emotion that sells the book. It’s probably better that the author not have much input on these things, as we’re novelists, not designers or marketers.

4. Is there anything that you would change about the cover?

I did get a chance to make some changes, the biggest being that when the ‘final’ cover was sent to me, the heroine’s hands were on her arms backwards! Also, she was naked, and given that a big deal was made to me about how I must never have the heroine naked with the hero in the story, I thought it was a mistake to portray her that way on the cover. Ahem. (see attachment)

So they reattached her hands to the correct arms, and put a tank top on her. The only change I would make now would be to show a little more of the hero’s face.

5. What's one of your favorite book covers?

There are so many beautiful covers out there, and yet I don’t have a favorite. I only find myself thinking of books I loved to read, whether or not the covers were good! I do like covers that use classic works of art, like Vermeer’s painting on the cover of Girl with a Pearl Earring. But do I like it because the art is so lovely, or because it’s familiar? It’s a fact of human nature that we like best that which we have seen before.

I wish I had a more straightforward answer to the question!

 

I think her answer was just fine, don't you? Thank you so much for answering my questions Lisa!

 

Here's a bit about Lisa:

Lisa Cach is the award-winning author of more than twenty romantic novels and novellas, ranging across sub-genres from Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary, and Chick Lit, to Young Adult. Her novel “Dating Without Novocaine” was named one of Waldenbooks’ “Best Books of 2002,” and she is a two-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America.

Lisa Cach was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where she still lives today. Her professional background includes teaching conversational English in Japan, and several years working the graveyard shift on a mental health crisis line. She has traveled to the foothills of the Himalaya, the jungles of Borneo, the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, and the painted caves of the Perigord Noir, in France. She has sailed the Caribbean as a working crew member of a research schooner, and the Bering Sea as a guest on a small ship.

Her love of travel has lately given way to pursuits closer to home: cooking, gardening, drawing. And, of course, reading. Her favorite book has always been Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”, while the only book to ever give her nightmares was Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles”.

Review and Blog Tour: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Title: Wake Unto Me

Author: Lisa Cach

Published: March 31st, 2011

Source: The Teen {Book} Scene Blog Tours

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Caitlyn Monahan knows she belongs somewhere else. It's what her dead mother's note suggested, and it's what her recurring nightmares allude to. Desperate to flee these terrifying dreams and her small town she accepts a spot at a boarding school in France. Only, when she arrives, her nightmares get worse. But then there are her amazing dreams, so vivid and so real, with visits from an alluring, mysterious, and gorgeous Italian boy from the 1500s. Caitlyn knows they are soul mates, but how can she be in love with someone who exists only in her dreams? Then, as her reality and dream world collide, Caitlyn searches for the real reason why she was brought to this school. And what she discovers will change her life forever.

Well, this book definitely wasn't what I was expecting! The cover is a bit misleading, making it seem like she's haunted in waking, rather than her dreams. I was surprised by the direction this story took, but not in a bad way at all! There was way more mystery than I thought there would be. It had a lot of historical aspects to it as well, which I enjoyed. It wasn't quite as paranormal as I thought it would be, which is a good thing. I'm starting to get a little burned out on paranormal. Though it's not intentional, the beginning, middle, and end of this book are three distinct, separate parts.

The beginning was a little shaky. The pacing was a bit awkward, and it told, rather than showed, her home life and her past. I didn't get a very good sense of who Caitlyn is in the beginning, and most of the characters were flat. This is probably because most of the characters aren't a very big part of the book after the first couple chapters.

The middle was the most enjoyable part. Cach really got into the groove and the pacing was neither too fast or too slow. The characters are much more dynamic, including Caitlyn. I really got a sense of who Caitlyn, and her new friends at her school in France, were. I thought the dream sequences were perfect, there weren't so many that she was practically never awake, but there weren't so few that we forgot what happened the previous time.

The end got a little..strange for me. The pace really sped up, to a point where it was too fast. A lot of different ideas came together at once, and more than one mystery was wrapped up in a short time. It got a little confusing, and was less believable than the middle. I enjoyed the way it ended, I just felt like it happened too fast.

Overall I thought this book was really enjoyable. I loved the mystery, the romance, and the setting. There were a few issues with the more technical things like pacing, but I really enjoyed the story. If you're a fan of paranormals, and even historical fiction, you'll want to check this book out!

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 40/50 B-

Joint Review: Saving Francesca and The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Title: Saving Francesca
Author: Melina Marchetta
Published: May, 2006
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastians, a boys' school that's pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom.  Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player.  The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling who she really is.  Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.

Title: The Piper's Son

Author: Melina Marchetta

Published: March, 2011

Source: The Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

I read these books back to back, and as there set in the same universe I didn't see the harm in reviewing them at the same time. Melina Marchetta is a truly spectacular author. I am so happy her books are available in the United States because she is now one of my favorites. It all started when I read Jellicoe Road. Now I know that if it's by Melina Marchetta it's bound to be amazing.

Saving Francesca and The Piper's Son both have a quiet grace. Honestly, the stories really aren't very remarkable. The lives of both Francesca and Tom aren't especially extraordinary. They don't have special powers, or an undead love interest, and they both live in the present. The characters are what make these books special. They are so defined, so real, that I feel like I know them. And oh, how I feel for them.

Both Francesca and Tom have had hard things in their lives. Francesca has to deal with her mothers depression, as well as going to a mostly boys school. Tom's uncle died because of a suicide bomber. Both of these things affect more than just Francesca and Tom, they affect their entire families. These books aren't just about the main characters dealing with these things, they're about their families and friends as well.

I'm not a huge fan of third person narrating, as you may know. Somehow Marchetta makes me like it. I feel the same connection with the characters I would if it was in first person, which is quite a feat. Something remarkable is not only can I tolerate third person when reading these books, I actually view it as an advantage. Most of the books I've stopped reading before finishing are told in third person. This is a huge deal.

To say that I enjoyed these books is an understatement. I adored, loved, and devoured these books. Melina Marchetta is now cemented on my list of favorite authors, and I'm definitely going to read everything she ever writes. So, if you have yet to read one of her books I suggest you do, and soon!

Saving Francesca:

Characters: 10/10

Plot: 9/10

Originality: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Ending: 10/10

Overall: 49/50 A+

The Piper's Son:

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 8/10

Originality: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Ending: 10/10

Overall: 47/50 A

Review: The Candidates (Delcoix Academy #1) by Inara Scott

Title: The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1)
Author: Inara Scott
Published: August 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

I'm just going to start by saying that I didn't love this book. I thought it was okay, not great. I'm definitely not saying that me not loving it has everything to do with the book, because some of it has to do with me. I think that I'm outgrowing a few things: mysterious, unexplainable powers, boarding school, and love triangles. All three of those things are featured in this book.

I felt that most of the characters in this book were flat. I couldn't get a good feel for a lot of their personalities, and a couple of them switched from friend to foe back to friend so many times that I didn't even know what to think by the end. I think that Dancia being a freshman was something that kept me from fully connecting with her or viewing her romantic feelings as legitimate. Her personality was also hard for me to get a feel for. It seemed a little inconsistant.

The pacing of the book was erratic. At times I would feel like it was dragging, then it would speed up and I would be confused. I also didn't think the setting was described well. I found myself skimming the end because it was just going way to slow, but where I normally would have been skimming setting description I was skimming Dancia's thoughts.

There were things I enjoyed about this book. Dancia's grandmother was the most dynamic character of them all, and she was fun to read about. Dancia not having much money at all was also nice because I don't see a lot of YA where the main character is concerned about money.

As I stated above, some of why I didn't like this book is simply because I've started to outgrow love triangles, boarding school, and mysterious powers. If you love those then you should definitely give this book a chance.

Basically, I liked this book but didn't love it. You should give it a shot if you love paranormal books.

Characters: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 39/50 C+

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: February 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I'm not a faery person. I've tried to like books about fey, really. Wicked Lovely? Meh. Tithe? Bleh. The fey and I just don't seem to get along well. When I first heard about this book I just dismissed it as another fey book that I wouldn't like. Then I kept seeing these reviews that were positively glowing, and I was intrigued. That's why I picked it up when I saw it at my library. I'm so, so happy I did.

The beginning was a little hard to get into. I wasn't a huge fan of Meghan in the beginning, and when the weird stuff starts happening I normally start to not like the book. Somehow that wasn't the case with this book, it was compulsively readable. Even if I didn't really like what was happening I still had to keep reading.

Meghan grew on me, and once I was a good chunk into the book I realized that the impossible had happened. I actually liked a faery book! I think a large part of the credit goes to Puck and Ash. The whole love triangle thing isn't super obvious yet, but there's a subtle tension that makes things so much more interesting. Dark, broody, sexy Ash is my favorite. I like Puck, but his personality would not mesh well with mine.

Something that bothered me is that the book could be kind of wordy. I'm not someone who reads all of the details, I like getting the general idea. I do understand that she had to describe a completely foreign world along with imaginary creatures, but I found myself skimming paragraphs quite a few times. There were also a couple times that I thought the plot was dragging a bit.

Basically I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would! I would recommend it to just about anyone!

Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 44/50 B+

Review: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Prom and Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Published: January 2011
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
 
Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?
 
Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.
 
It should be noted that I read this book less than a week after finished Pride and Prejudice...for the third time. So, yes I was very familiar with the storyline and the characters going into this book. I'm still trying to decide if that's a good thing or not. On one hand, I got all of the references the Pride and Prejudice, but on the other it was really predictable.
 
Eulberg did a great job with keeping the characters in character. Jane was sweet and unassuming, Lizzie was a bit more cynical and smart, Bingley was his usual charming self, and Darcy was, of course, misunderstood. The ways they were modernized and made younger were great. Making Lizzie and Jane best friends instead of sisters worked really well, as did making Lydia Jane's little sister, not Lizzie's.
 
I also loved the way that prom was such a big deal. I'm not talking the usual high school half excited/half whatever, I'm talking a huge deal. It was especially fun since prom is on the forefront of my mind right now. That was the main difference that I found between Pride and Prejudice and this book. As a whole I would say that the book was very predictable, but not in the annoying way. Eulberg found many ways to make it fresh and new for the reader, and I enjoyed the subtle differences.
 
Basically I enjoyed this book immensely. It's great for a fast, light read. I would not recommend it if you're a Pride and Prejudice purist or if you despise predictable. Otherwise, read and enjoy!
 
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B

Review: The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Title: The Cardturner
Author: Louis Sachar
Published: May 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Alton's ageing, blind uncle asks him to attend bridge games with him, he agrees. After all, it's better than a crappy summer job in the local shopping mall, and Alton's mother thinks it might secure their way to a good inheritance sometime in the future. But, like all apparently casual choices in any of Louis Sachar's wonderful books, this choice soon turns out to be a lot more complex than Alton could ever have imagined. As his relationship with his uncle develops, and he meets the very attractive Toni, deeply buried secrets are uncovered and a romance that spans decades is finally brought to a conclusion. Alton's mother is in for a surprise!

I've been a fan of Louis Sachar ever since the good old days of Sideways Stories from Wayside School. I loved Holes with a passion, and liked Small Steps, but it's been so long since I've read anything by him that it took me the better part of a year to pick up this book. I'm pretty disappointed in myself for that, it was really enjoyable.

Let's start with the characters. All of them were very well developed, and very enjoyable to read about. Alton is a great narrator, and he actually knows that he's a narrator! He makes comments like "If I were a better author...", and "A good author would..." I always find it fun when the narrator knows he or she is narrating. It gives the book a different feel. I loved that it was from the point of view of a guy. There really aren't enough books out there from a guys perspective, which is frustrating when you're a girl and you're trying to understand guys in general.

I loved Trapp, Alton's uncle. He took some getting used to, but once I got a feel for him I thought he was hilarious. And the dynamics between Trapp and his bridge partner Gloria were great. I could just tell that they knew each other really well. Toni, the love interest, was interesting. At first it was hard to separate who she was supposed to be from who she really was. Oh, and Alton's parents! They just made me so mad! All they cared about was money!

The pacing of this book is hard to judge, because a lot of the book is used to explain something in relation to bridge. Which I don't understand. At all. Admittedly I didn't try very hard; I skipped over all of the parts that were designated as only about bridge. I thought that Sachar did a pretty good job writing a book around a card game few people play anymore; I was never outright confused as to what was going on and I only got really bored a couple times.

Something that it took me a while to remember is that Sachar has no problem with supernatural things. This book seems completely normal, but there are a few parts that, well, aren't. I'm not going to elaborate because that would give away a couple very important things.

Basically, this book was very enjoyable! I love that it's from a guy's perspective, and it was very easy to read.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+

Me, This Blog, and How Things Are Going to Change

So, as some of you may have noticed I basically dropped off the face of the Earth there for a while. I could go on and on about how BUSY I've been and blah blah blah, but truthfully? I didn't want to blog. I didn't want to read. I didn't even want to read other peoples' blogs. Yeah. And I've figured out the problem. I don't do well with doing something because someone tells me to do it. Which means that when I receive a book to review I don't want to read it. I don't care how much I wanted to when it was just a cover and a blurb on my computer screen. Now that the book is actually in my hands? It goes on my shelf and stays there. So here's what's going to happen.

• I'm going to start reviewing books again, BUT
• I'm going to STOP accepting books for review. ALL books. 
• I might do a meme now and again, but only if I find it necessary.
• There will be no schedule. I post when I post.
• I'm going to read books because I actually want to read them, not because everyone else does.

So that's what my blog is going to be from now until further notice. Exactly what it was in the beginning; a place where I review the books that I read because I want to, not because I have to. I hope you enjoy it :)

Character Interview: Lola from Tell Us We're Home by Marina Budhos

Hi all! Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Lola, a character in the book Tell Us We're Home by Marina Budhos! 

Here's a bit about the book:
Jaya, Maria, and Lola are just like the other eighth-grade girls in the wealthy suburb of Meadowbrook, New Jersey. They want to go to the spring dance, they love spending time with their best friends after school, sharing frappÉs and complaining about the other kids. But there’s one big difference: all three are daughters of maids and nannies. And they go to school with the very same kids whose families their mothers work for. That difference grows even bigger—and more painful—when Jaya’s mother is accused of theft and Jaya’s small, fragile world collapses.
When tensions about immigrants start to erupt, fracturing this perfect, serene suburb, all three girls are tested, as outsiders—and as friends. Each of them must learn to find a place for themselves in a town that barely notices they exist.
Marina Budhos gives us a heartbreaking and eye-opening story of friendship, belonging, and finding the way home.

Read my review.

Hi Lola! I'm so glad that you could join me today! Let's start out with some fun questions, just so we can get to know you a little better.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate!
Cats or dogs?

Dogs!  I don’t trust cats.
Pepsi or Coke?

Pepsi, to be different.
Cake or ice cream?

Ice cream.  It lasts longer.

Pirates or Ninjas?

Ninjas.

 

Okay, now here are some more serious questions:

1. You're from Slovakia, what do you miss about it most?

 All of my cousins and family.  I had a lot of boy cousins and I would boss them around or we’d hang around our town, all day, all night.  I miss not having to explain myself because my family has been there forever.  And I miss our house, which was very nice, because my Dad was working at a big job then and doing pretty well.

 

2. What was the hardest part of moving to America?

 My family having to start all over again, like we were right at the bottom.  I thought learning English would be hard—and it was, at first.  I’d learned it at school in Slovakia and could speak it pretty well when I came, but I remember when we took a taxi from the airport and I couldn’t understand a word the driver said.  And it cost so much!  My parents were freaked. 

 

But really, what was hardest was how tough everything was.  We lived in the Bronx at first in this really small apartment where my parents slept on a couch.  And we had three locks on the door and it was really noisy all the time.  I couldn’t hear myself think.  I couldn’t sleep.  This is America? I thought.  Doesn’t seem so great to me.

 

3. What are some of the biggest differences between the kids in America and the kids in Slovakia?

 American kids take everything for granted.  It’s like they’re the center of the world!  It drives me crazy.  And their parents do so much for them.  We feel the opposite.  We have to do for our parents.  We have to support them and take care of them in old age.

 

 

4. I hear that history is one of your passions, tell us something interesting or unusual that you've learned while studying it.

 As you know, I’m obsessed with revolutions.  I loved reading about how, in the American Revolution, the women refused to buy English products.  Of course there was tea.  But they wouldn’t buy any fabric from England either and made their own stuff.  I thought that was so cool.  I mean, my sister, I can’t imagine her giving up any bit of clothing, for anyone!  But these ladies, they did that, and it helped the revolution.  Really cool.

 

5. You're really good friends with two other girls in your neighborhood, Maria and Jaya, could you tell us how you met?

 Jaya I met outside school one day, when I was mouthing off to Anthony, and Jay sort of stuck around and watched.  I don’t know, I felt something about her that day, like she was someone I could be comfortable with.  I didn’t even know her mother was also a housekeeper.  She just had this air about her so I invited her to come with me to my mom’s job.

 

Maria we both met the day we saw her getting really sick in a park.  She doubled over and was really in bad shape.  Turns out her mom was a housekeeper too and we took her over to the job and took care of her.  Seemed like fate!

 

6. Describe your best friends, Maria and Jaya, in one word apiece.

 Maria: Loyal

Jaya: Deep

 

 

7. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

 I guess that for me, sure, being an immigrant can be kind of hard, especially coming to a new town like we did, and my mom having all kinds of health problems and my dad just a slug on a couch. 

 

But you want to know the hardest thing? Learning to be a good friend.  Man, it was really hard when Maria and Jaya and me were fighting.  I was so sore.  And I had to swallow my pride a lot.  I had to admit I was wrong.  That’s really hard to do.  But I’m so glad I did.  Because they’re what makes this place easier.  Without them, I couldn’t live.  (I know, I’m dramatic, but what can I say)

 

Thank you for answering my questions Lola! And thanks to The Teen {Book} Scene for setting up this tour!

Review: Death Cloud (Sherlock Holmes:The Legend Begins) by Andrew Lane

Title: Death Cloud (Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins)
Author: Andrew Lane
Published: February 1st, 2011
Source: Received for review from publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads:
It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent. 

Let me start this off by saying that I've never read any Sherlock Holmes novels or short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, so I have no idea how this book measures up to those or how accurate it is. All I know is that though I enjoyed it, it's not going on my favorites shelf.

This book had the potential to be everything that I'd ever wanted in a book: historical setting, mystery, smart main character, a little romance. Sadly, it just didn't fit together they way I wanted it to. I enjoyed it for sure, but not as much as I'd hoped to. Sherlock was definitely a great main character (I love it when they're smart) but some of the other characters felt a bit...flat to me. 

The mystery in this book was mysterious indeed. So mysterious that some of it was over my head. I had a hard time understanding the means and the motive once they were revealed, though I guess that I could have not been paying close enough attention. 

The setting was something that I loved, because I love all things historical. And English. So England in 1868 was awesome to read about. I thought that the pacing of the book was pretty good also. The beginning was a little hard to get into, but after that it was steady. 

Basically I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan you'll want to give this one a try. I think that it'll be the biggest hit with younger/middle grade boys outside of the fans. 

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 41/50 B-  

Review: The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Title: The False Princess
Author: Eilis O'Neal
Published: January, 2011
Source: Bought as part of the tour by The Teen {Book} Scene
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.

This book was definitely not what I expected, in a good way. I expected it half be about a haughty princess trying to be normal. It wasn't like that at all. Sinda was always a very grounded character, especially for a princess. I've recently realized how much I really, really like fantasy books, and this is a prime example of why: it's full of romance, and magic, and plot twists. It was truly excellent.

As I mentioned before, Sinda was very grounded. She wasn't haughty and didn't think that she was above anyone, even when she thought she was the princess. It was easy to relate to her.The other characters are well developed as well, especially her best friend Kiernan. All of the characters had depth, which I loved. 


The plot of this book moves along at a steady pace. There were a couple slow spots, but the fast pacing of the end made up for it. I wouldn't call the world this was set in completely original by any means, but O'Neal found plenty of ways to make it her own. 


Basically I loved this book and if you're a fan of fantasy this is for you. And if you're not, that's all the more reason to pick it up, because you'll love it. 


Characters: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 46/50 A-

Review: Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

Title: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

To say I was eagerly anticipating this book would be an understatement. I was practically salivating for it. I adored both Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are and I was expecting to love this one just as much. I'm sad to say that it fell a bit short. I just couldn't connect with Eddie. I didn't understand her motivations. I also got bored during a couple parts. The book was still superb, and I really, really liked it, I just didn't like it as much as I wanted to.

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A

Review: Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught

Title: Big Fat Manifesto
Author: Susan Vaught
Published: December 2007
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jamie is a senior in high school and, like so many of her peers, doing too much. Unlike so many of her friends, she is enormously, irreversibly, sometimes angrily (and occasionally delightedly) overweight. Her most immediate need is a scholarship to college, so she writes an explosive and controversial column every week in the school paper about being fat. Soon, Jamie finds herself fighting for her rights as a very fat girl—and not quietly. As her column raises all kinds of public questions, so too must Jamie find her own private way in the world, with love popping up in an unexpected place, and satisfaction in her size losing ground to real frustration.

Tapping into her own experience with losing weight, her training as a psychotherapist, and the current fascination in the media with teens trying drastic weight-loss measures, Susan Vaught writes searing and hilarious prose that will grip readers while asking the most profound questions about life.

Going into this book I thought that I was going to love it. Sadly, I was wrong. I thought that it was going to be about a big girl not caring about her weight or what other people thought. But it wasn't, it was about a big girl pretending to not care. Instead of a feisty, sassy, funny girl who happens to be big I got a whiny, insecure, funny girl who's whole life is her weight. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the book, because I did. It just wasn't what I expected or craved. 


Characters: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 39/50 C+

Author Interview and Blog Tour: Eilis O'Neal

Thanks so much to The Teen {Book} Scene for allowing me to be a part of this tour!

Here's a bit about Eilis, the author of The False Princess:

I’m a writer of fantasy and the Managing Editor of the literary magazine Nimrod International Journal. I started writing at the age of three (though the story was only four sentences long). My short fantasy has been published in various print and online journals, and you can find links to some of my stories here. I was born, raised in, and currently live in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1. Hi Eilis, it's great to have you here! To get started, tell us a bit about your debut novel, The False Princess.  
The False Princess is a reversal of the classic story of a girl who grows up in obscurity, only to later find out that she's a princess in hiding. In my story, Sinda grows up thinking that she is named Nalia, and that she's the princess of Thorvaldor. After she turns 16, though, she's told that she's actually just a stand-in, a commoner chosen to take the place of the true princess for her protection. Sinda's kicked out of the palace, unsure of who she really is and what to do with herself now that she's no longer the princess. 

2. I've seen stories of normal girls who didn't know that they were princesses, but never of princesses who didn't know they were normal girls. How did you come up with the idea?

I’ve always been drawn to stories about girls who thought they were commoners only to find out that they were royalty hidden away. And I read a lot, so I’ve had a long time to have those sorts of stories seep into me. One day, I was just hit with the question of what a story would be like if the opposite were true, what a tale about a princess-turned-commoner would look like. The reversal of the classic princess story seemed like it would involve so many problems and strangenesses for the girl in question that I new I had to write it. 

3. You write short stories as well as novels, how does the writing process differ?

 With a novel, I’ll often have a seed of an idea that floats around inside me for a long time. With short stories, I often have a much quicker reaction time. I’ll get an idea and start writing immediately. Also, I sometimes have to play around with the voice of a novel when I first start writing it (The False Princess started out in third person before I realized that just wasn’t going to work), but I generally know the right voice in a short story right away. 


4. Are there any books or authors that have influenced you as a writer? 
Do you have all day? Because the answer is a huge yes. I should start with Tamora Pierce’s  Song of the Lioness quartet. I read it for the first time when I was twelve, and those were the books that made me realize I wanted to write YA fantasy. I admire Robin McKinley’s way of integrating information about a fantasy world into a story without halting everything to tell you How Magic Works or The History of This Neighboring Country. I also love the thought that goes into the magic system in Diane Duane's Young Wizards series—it's very consistent and makes a lot of sense.  

5. Have you read any good YA books lately that you'd like to recommend? 

Again, a huge yes! I just recently read Erin Bow’s Plain Kate and loved it. It’s a quieter novel, not a lot of flash and bang, which is part of the reason I liked it. Bow creates a great world and really interesting magic system, along with a main character you can’t help but root for. Also, just finished Justine Larbalestier's Liar today. I can't say too much about it, because it's full of twists and turns, but it was awesome and very different.

Thank you for answering my questions Eilis!

Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz
Author: A.S. King
Published: October 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz was different from any book I've ever read. It almost felt like there wasn't really a plot, just a series of events that were sometimes related, sometimes not. Vera's life was revealed slowly through flashbacks, which was interesting. I liked the parts that were from Charlie's point of view, but a lot of times they made me sad. A lot of this book made me sad, actually. There was so much love between Vera and Charlie, and so much potential. The end is ultimately hopeful, but I really didn't want it to end.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A

Tell Us We're Home by Marina Budhos

Title: Tell Us We're Home
Author: Marina Budhos
Published: May 2010
Source: The Teen {Book} Scene Blog Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jaya, Maria, and Lola are just like the other eighth-grade girls in the wealthy suburb of Meadowbrook, New Jersey. They want to go to the spring dance, they love spending time with their best friends after school, sharing frappÉs and complaining about the other kids. But there’s one big difference: all three are daughters of maids and nannies. And they go to school with the very same kids whose families their mothers work for.

That difference grows even bigger—and more painful—when Jaya’s mother is accused of theft and Jaya’s small, fragile world collapses.

When tensions about immigrants start to erupt, fracturing this perfect, serene suburb, all three girls are tested, as outsiders—and as friends. Each of them must learn to find a place for themselves in a town that barely notices they exist.

Marina Budhos gives us a heartbreaking and eye-opening story of friendship, belonging, and finding the way home.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Tell Us We're Home. On one hand, the story sounded great. On the other, I'd seen some not so spectacular reviews. I decided to give it a shot, and I'm glad I did. It was a truly enjoyable and heartfelt book with interesting characters. I wasn't crazy about the third person, though.

Tell Us We're Home is told from the point of view of three girls: Jaya, Maria, and Lola. All immigrants, all with mothers who work for the families of the other kids in their school. Their similarities bring them together as best friends. I thought that all three girls were developed well, with their own personalities and differences. Their stories unfolded nicely, without feeling too much like a segment from their biography's. There were times when I wished for a little more backstory.

As with most third person novels, this book felt a little detached for me. I think that I would have enjoyed it more if it had been in first person. It would have been a bit less confusing as well. Sometimes the characters were a little hard to keep straight. I thought that the writing style was pretty easy to follow, and at times very beautiful.

My biggest problem with the book was the plot. There were quite a few times where I felt like the book really wasn't going anywhere. I really liked just getting to know the characters, but I think some more forward motion would have been more enjoyable.
Basically, I really liked this book. The characters were very intersting to read about and I liked the writing, I just wish that there had been a bit more of a plot.

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 41/50 B-