The Library Lurker

Review: The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

2011-04-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-11T14:00:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-06T12:00:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-31T12:00:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-22T18:07:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-12T12:02:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-07T16:10:00.000-05:00

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

2011-02-10T16:56:00.000-05:00

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

2011-02-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-02-07T14:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-02-03T14:00:00.002-05:00

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

2011-02-01T14:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-31T16:37:00.000-05:00

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

2011-01-31T14:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-20T12:00:00.001-05:00

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-

Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

2010-12-23T14:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Revolution
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Published: October 2010
Source: Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Oh man this book was good. Really, really, really good. Top five of the whole year good. I was reading it every spare second I had, and it takes a lot to make me read that much these days. I don't know how she did it, but from the very beginning I was hooked. I had an instant connection with Andi's voice and wanted to know more about her. I haven't finished a book in so little time in months.

Writing a review about really great books is hard. There's a lot I could say, but none of it really seems to sum up the greatness of this book. At least with mediocre books, or bad books there's something that could say I didn't like, but with this book all that I can say is that I loved everything! The plot, the pacing, the characters, the phenomenal writing, everything.

Sorry for the review being so, well, not review-like, but I can't think of anything to say other than AMAZING GO READ IT NOOOOOW!

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 50/50 A+

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

2010-12-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we share the books that we're eagerly awaiting the release of. This week:

Possession by Elana Johnson

Release Date: June 7th, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

My Thoughts: It sounds like Matched and Uglies had a baby. A beautiful baby. Seriously, I'm really, really loving the cover. The blue? Gorgeous.

What are you waiting on?

Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

2010-12-16T14:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Finnikin of the Rock
Author: Melina Marchetta
Published: February 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An imposter seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock—to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously close to home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all her knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

I love a good fantasy. Something that completely takes you away from your reality and immerses you in the culture of a completely made up place. This was definitely a good fantasy. I was completely immersed in the world of Finnikin, Evanjalin, and all of the other characters. It definitely wasn't predictable either, which I think is common in a lot of fantasy novels.

The writing is definitely the strong suit of this book. It's beautiful, but subtle. Blink and you might miss something poetic, or funny in a totally unexpected way. My only complaint is that a lot of the book is slow. The best way for me to describe it is heavy. It's not light reading at all. In fact, if you're not prepared to really get into it, you'll probably end up closing it in frustration.

It takes a while to get a feel for the characters, to really understand them and see where they might be going. It happened so gradually that once I looked up and just realized that I cared what happened to them. It was beautiful. Marchetta took some characters in a different direction than I'd originally presumed, and I loved it. I loved that I couldn't predict every little or big thing that happened.

As with most fantasy novels, I had a hard time understanding the politics. In fact, it got to a point where I just decided to ignore all but the basic facts. Maybe if there was a sequel I would invest more of my time and my thoughts into it, but for a stand alone I got along fine. The character relationships and developments are what I'm there for anyway.

Basically I really, really liked this book, but didn't quite love it. The writing is spectacular, but at times it was too slow for my liking. The characters were marvelous though, and I wish that I could read more about them.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: This cover screams fantasy, and the bright colors are great.

Waiting on Wednesday (41)

2010-12-15T15:43:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we share the books that we absolutely cannot wait to be released.

This week:

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: April 5th, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments.

Love, blood, betrayal and revenge — the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. Simon Lewis is having some trouble adjusting to his new life as a vampire, especially now that he hardly sees his best friend Clary, who is caught up in training to be a Shadowhunter—and spending time with her new boyfriend Jace. Not to mention that Simon doesn’t quite know how to handle the pressure of not-quite-dating two girls at once. What’s a daylight-loving vampire to do? Simon decides he needs a break and heads out of the city—only to discover that sinister events are following him. Realizing that the war they thought they’d won might not yet be over, Simon has to call on his Shadowhunter friends to save the day — if they can put their own splintering relationships on hold long enough to rise to the challenge.

Do I really have to say anything?

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brian

2010-12-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Birthmarked
Author: Caragh M. O'Brian
Published: March, 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.
Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

I consider myself a lover of dystopian novels. Give me a story set sometime in the future that prominently features a corrupt government that originally just wanted to do good, and I'm hooked, I don't even care about the rest of the plot. So basically, I expected to like this book. I did not, however, expect to love it as much as I did. Yes, it was what I expected as a dystopian, but it was also so much more.

Let's start with Gaia, the main character. She was so relateable and realistic, despite living in a world completely different than ours. She was both strong and weak, confident and unsure, brave and scared; all the things a good main character is. There were a lot of other characters. None of them were constant except Gaia, and yet I had a sense of who each of them was as a person. Gaia's parent's themselves were seldom in the novel, but I really got to know them through flashbacks.

The world building in this book was exceptional. I was given a clear picture of how things were, and how they became that way. I got to understand both life inside and outside the wall and see it from the eyes of a few different people without ever leaving Gaia's point of view. By the end I was just as outraged by what was happening as Gaia. Something that's never really explained fully is how the world went from our world to Gaia's world, but that's not really important in the grand scheme of things.

The book moved really quickly at some parts, and really slowely at others. I enjoyed it when it was fast, not as much when it was slow. I thought that a few parts were dragged out. I appreciated that O'Brian didn't overdescribe things when she was trying to create a sense of urgency, because I tend to skip over the "boring" parts when there's a lot of action.

If you're looking for an exceptional dystopian novel I would definitely recommend this one. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait for the sequel (there is a sequel, right???)!

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 47/50 A
Cover Comments: Fits the story perfectly. The bleakness fits the tone, the tower plays a big role, the girl could easily be Gaia, and the DNA is a nice touch.

Waiting on Wednesday (40)

2010-12-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we share the books that we are eagerly anticipating the release of.

Huntress by Malinda Lo

Release Date: April 5th, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Nature is out of balance in the human world. The sun hasn’t shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. The people’s survival hangs in the balance.

To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin, two seventeen-year-old girls, are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Taninli, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet the two girls’ destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever.

The exciting adventure prequel to Malinda Lo’s highly acclaimed novel Ash is overflowing with lush Chinese influences and details inspired by the I Ching, and is filled with action and romance.

Well, first off it's by the author of Ash, which I loved. It's also set in the same world, which is awesome! And it has a POC cover! It basically sounds amazing, and I wish that April was a lot closer...

What are you waiting on?

Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

2010-12-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Halo
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Published: August 2010
Source: Recieved for review from publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings.

But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

When I first heard of Halo I really wanted to read it. But then I saw a bunch of not so hot reviews of it popping up, and it didn't sound as much like something I would like. But when I was offered a copy for review I said okay anyway. I'm pretty happy with that decision, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I wouldn't say that I loved it, because a lot of my concerns were justified, but I did like it.

Let's start with something that I liked: Bethany. I loved how yeah, she's really an angel, but that doesn't mean that she's not a teenage girl too. She was rebellious and infatuated and reacted to things in ways that most teenage girls would. Her being an angel also made it really interesting to see how she viewed our world. Everything was new to her and I liked reading about her getting acclimated to Earth life.

One of my main concerns was the pacing. It was really, really slow. It's not just a slow starter, either. The entire thing is slow. At first I was really put off, but once I stopped expecting it to pick up speed and accepted that it was going to be slow it was a lot easier to get through. That's when I started to realize that it was interesting in it's own way. I paid a lot more attention to detail, to the way Bethany felt about things and how she reacted to them. It was more subtle than what I was used to.

I thought that the relationship between Bethany and Xavier was a bit too...intense for the time that they'd really known each other. I understand that she's literally an angel and all, but did they have to go from practically strangers to in love like that? I also felt like Bethany was too dependent on Xavier once they got together. There was a point where they had a fight and she completely shuts down and locks herself in her room for days. Um, New Moon, much? Not a healthy way to portray a relationship in my opinion.

Despite my concerns, I really did enjoy this book. If you want a paranormal romance then this book is right up your alley.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 40/50 B-
Cover Comments: Absolutely gorgeous. Made me want to read it immediately!

Blog Tour: Song Playlist for Five Flavors of Dumb and a chance to win!

2010-11-20T12:22:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Today I have the author of Five Flavors of Dumb, Antony John, on the blog to talk about songs that inspired or suit his novel. This is all thanks to the great blog tour site The Teen {Book} Scene. Here's a link to my review of the book if you're interested! Make sure to read to the end of the post if you want to know how you could win a copy of the book or even a signed copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson!

Make up a playlist of a few songs you think suit/inspired Five Flavors of Dumb

Hi Taylor! Thanks for having me on your blog today.
Okay, so I’m going to limit my playlist to 20 songs, ‘cause otherwise this will become the longest blog post in history!

I’ll start with the easy ones (i.e. music that actually features in DUMB):
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
“Seasons in the Sun” – Nirvana
“Star Spangled Banner and Purple Haze” – Jimi Hendrix (live at Woodstock)
“Ionisation” – Edgard Varese (bonus points to anyone who has heard of this one!)

Then there are the old-timey songs that may have influenced the fictional songs in DUMB:
“Paint it Black” – The Rolling Stones. (Pure, undiluted angst.)
“Twist and Shout” – Beatles. (Peppy, infectious, and it only uses three chords!)
“Unchained Melody” – The Righteous Brothers. (Piper and Ed’s love song.)
“Layla” – Derek and the Dominos (This is how the guitarists wished they sounded.)
These songs seem appropriate given some of the events that happen in DUMB:
“Word Up” – Cameo (check out the cover version by Willis – it rocks!)
“Hot N Cold” – Katy Perry
“Paparazzi” – Lady Gaga
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It” – R.E.M.
“Idioteque” - Radiohead
“We Will Rock You” – Queen

And finally, some songs whose titles are almost like portraits of Dumb’s band members:
Piper (manager): “Out of My Mind” – James Blunt
Josh (lead vocals): “You’re so Vain” – Carly Simon
Ed (drums): “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” – The Police
Tash (lead guitar): “Not Ready to Make Nice” - The Dixie Chicks
Kallie (guitar): “You Know I’m No Good” – Amy Winehouse
Will (bass guitar): “Zombie” - The Cranberries

Oh, and I’ve just noticed that the actual playlist I was listening to as I wrote DUMB has about a hundred songs on it, each of which I’ve listened to at least twenty times. This tells me two things:
1. Without music, I’d probably never have written DUMB at all.
2. It takes a really long time to write a book!

--
Thanks so much Antony! Now, if you want a chance to win a signed copy of The Five Flavors of Dumb, or a signed copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, all you have to do is like Antony's Facebook Page and you're entered! How easy is that?

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

2010-11-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Five Flavors of Dumb
Author: Antony John
Release Date: November 11th
Source: ARC Tour through Blog Tour
Synopsis from Goodreads:
THE CHALLENGE: Piper has one month to get a paying gig for Dumb—the hottest new rock band in school.

THE DEAL: If she does it, she'll become manager of the band and get her share of the profits, which she desperately needs since her parents raided her college fund.

THE CATCH: Managing one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl who is ready to beat her up. And doing it all when she's deaf. With growing self-confidence, an unexpected romance, and a new understanding of her family's decision to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, Piper just may discover her own inner rock star.

Five Flavors of Dumb is the first book that I've read featuring a deaf main character. It was a completely new experience and I think that I both learned a lot and enjoyed myself. Obviously the main character being deaf is a large part of the story, but it's not the whole story. The story itself wasn't quite what I expected, but it was good.

The concept of this book is very original. A deaf girl managing a rock band? Really? Well, yes. I was curious as to how it would work, but work it does. Piper doesn't see being deaf as a disability. Her lip reading is so good that she can get by without much trouble at all, and who needs to hear music when you can feel it? I loved that she was so strong and didn't let herself get her down.

Something that I had a problem with was the inconsistency of the characters. I had a hard time figuring out exactly who they were supposed to be. She was introduced shy, but then she would be outspoken. I understand the natural evolution of a character throughout the course of a book, but sometimes it seemed a little abrupt. Another thing is that there are a lot of characters who are in a scene at once, which I think made it hard to connect to each individual character.

I loved how big a role music played in the book. It made me want to get on YouTube and listen to songs by Jimi Henrix and Nirvana. I also loved Piper's family and how they played such a large role in the book and her life. It doesn't make sense to me when a characters family plays next to no role in the book because they are obviously a large part of their life, so I appreciated that they played a large role in this book.

Basically I really enjoyed this book, there were just a few things that made it difficult for me to connect to the characters. I would definitely recommend it.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: Love this cover! It's so loud and bright. The girl on the front looks really cool and I love that there's a band performing in the backround!

Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

2010-11-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Authors: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Published: October 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

I went into this book with super, super high expectations. As in, I don't think that I've ever expected a book to be as good as I expected this book to be. I mean, why shouldn't I have had high expectations? It's written by two fantastic authors, it's a romance, it's set in New York City, it has alternating narratives, and the cover is cute as can be. So did it live up to my expectations? Not only did it live up to them, it exceeded them. That's because of one thing that I couldn't tell before I read it: the characters are fan-freaking-tastic.

I have to say that this book is exactly what it looks like: a fun, light read with heart. But it's so, so much more than that. It's hilarious, heart-warming, heart-stopping, has some really kick-ass quotes, and manages to make you think. I liked it even more than I liked Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and I loved that book.

The characters are really what makes this book. Dash, who's so intelligent it's almost hard to think of him as an actual teenage boy, and Lily, who's probably one of the most kindhearted people ever, are just the beginning. There's Lily's gay older brother and huge extended family, and Dash's quirky best friend and ex-girlfriend from Spain. They're all dynamic and so real it's ridiculous.

Something else that I loved about this book is that it's set at Christmas time. I love love love Christmas, and Dash and Lily's feelings about it play a large role in establishing them as characters. Being set at Christmas gives the book a very holiday feeling to it, which just makes it seem even more magical. You don't have to love Christmas to love this book though, nor do you have to read it at Christmas (but if you don't you might find yourself longing to hear some carols or eat gingerbread men).

Basically I loved, loved, loved this book. If you have even a vague interest in it you should read it, it's definitely worth it!

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality:10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 50/50 A+
Cover Comments: I love this cover! I think that it captures how big a role New York City at winter plays in it while also being playful. I love the heart snowflakes!

Help get me out of my reading funk!

2010-11-15T17:28:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! So, I've been in kind of a reading/blogging funk lately. I'm working to get out of it, and I'm making some progress with the blogging, but the reading is just killing me. I can't find a book that I stay interested in. I forced myself through Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison, which is so a book that I shouldn't have had to force myself to read, and I'm struggling through Stolen by Lucy Christopher. This is where you come in: choose a book from the following list that you think will get me out of my reading funk and make me actually want to read again! So, here are the choices:

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Thanks so much!

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

2010-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

Title: Bumped

Author: Megan McCafferty

Release Date: April 26th, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

This book sounds so fantastic! So original, and it's by the author of one of my favorite series ever AKA The Jessica Darling books, beginning with Sloppy Firsts. I love this cover too, it's very fitting.

What are you waiting on?

Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

2010-11-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

Title: I Am Number Four
Author: Pittacus Lore
Published: August 2010
Source: Book It Forward ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.

I had some pretty high expectations for this book, but sadly it didn't meet them. Not that it was a bad book, just that it wasn't as good as I would have liked it to be. I loved the story line, but I think that the writing could have used a little more work. I didn't think that John's voice was very convincing either.

Let's start with what I did like: The story line. I haven't read a YA book about aliens before so it was definitely different for me from the very beginning. I really liked learning about the other planets, why they were fighting, why John was on Earth to begin with. I thought that the pacing was pretty good in general, though a bit slow in parts.

I liked most of the characters, Henri was my favorite. I think that John was a bit too formal for a teenage boy, alien or not. That was one of the big things. I couldn't seem to connect with John as someone that could really be out there somewhere. He wasn't real enough, he seemed too much like a narrator and not enough like the person living the events.

I think that this book will translate really well into a movie. It's pretty detailed and heavy on the descriptions, especially when there's a lot of action. It read a lot more like a movie script than a book in some parts, actually.

Basically, I liked it but didn't love it. I'm really looking forward to the movie though!

Characters: 7/10
Writing: 7/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 39/50 C+
Cover Comments: Cool cover, grabs my attention.

In My Mailbox (39)

2010-11-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share the books that we've somehow acquired the previous week.

The Library:

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

That's all I got, but I'm in no way upset by that! This book looks like it rocks!

What's in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

2010-11-03T12:00:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Sweetly

Author: Jackson Pearce

Release Date: August 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS.

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.

Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.

Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

My Thoughts: I LOVED Sisters Red, and I love modernized fairy-tales in general, so I think that I'll LOVE this one too. Plus that cover is just so awesome! I didn't see the face the first time I looked, it's really creepy!

What are you waiting on?

Review: The Duff by Kody Keplinger

2010-11-01T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Duff
Author: Kody Keplinger
Published: September 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Let me just start by saying that I LOVED this book. Loved it, loved it, loved it. It was sassy, sweet, funny, and heart-felt. Everything I love in a book and more. Plus it had a great message about self-esteem and loving yourself.

Bianca was...something else. I've never read a character quite like her before. She was really, really cynical, which I enjoyed, but you could also tell that a lot of it was an act. Her feelings got hurt easily and she questioned herself all the time. Plus all of the not-worthy vibes about herself that I got from her. On the surface she was sassy, but if you look a little deeper and you could see that she was hurting.

Bianca's two best friends were so well developed.That both had separate personalities and stayed pretty true to how they were first portrayed. Wesley was...something else. I don't think that I've read a book where the main love interest was such a player before. It was definitely interesting. It was cool that as Bianca started liking him more, I started liking him more.

I really liked how this book had family issues too. In fact, Bianca's family is the root of all of her issues. Seeing her family work through the issues really gave the book another dimension. The self-esteem issues did as well. I think that every girl who's ever felt like the Duff should read this. Which means that every girl should read this, because at one point or another we all have, which is the whole point of the book.

As I stated at the beginning of this review I loved this book, and I would recommend to any girl, anywhere!

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 47/50 A
Cover Comments: LOVE the cover! It's so bright! And I love how the words that make up the acronym are in the letters.

In My Mailbox (38)

2010-10-31T12:25:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From Book It Forward ARC Tours:

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I've been pretty intrigued by this for a while, so I'm excited to read it!

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

2010-10-27T17:54:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Vixen

Author: Jillian Larken

Release Date: December 14th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.

Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .

From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.

Flappers! 1920s! Drama! Romance! Debut author! Series! A Gorgeous cover! What's not to love?

What are you waiting on?

Virals by Kathy Reichs

2010-10-25T14:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Virals
Author: Kathy Reichs
Release Date: November 2nd 2010
Source: Traveling ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

In some ways Virals was what I expected, in others it wasn't. For instance, I expected there to be mystery, I didn't expect it to take place on two practically deserted islands. I was expecting Tory to have friends, just not the friends that she has (who I absolutely love!). I also expected the Virals part of the book to be bigger than it was. They didn't even have a clue about it until about halfway through the book, and only started to understand it by the end. I'm sure that it will be focused on more in the coming books.

Tory was a really, really awesome MC. She's smart, headstrong, and compassionate. She recently moved in with her dad, who didn't even know of her existance, after her mothers death. They live on a small island off the coast of South Carolina, and she quickly became friends with the three boys who live in her area. Ben, the strong silent type, Hi, the pudgy, awkward, enigma, and Shelton, the tech genius. I love them all! They're so quirky and intelligent. They all care about each other and are true friends. There was only romance in this book if you look for it, and then I would hardly call it romance. More like what could be romance.

I thought that the pacing of this book was a bit slow at parts. Reichs likes to explain things in detail, and though it helps when trying to picture the setting, it tends to slow things down. Towards the end the pacing really picks up, as the entire mystery unfolds. It's quite a mystery indeed. There are so many factors that I had no idea how they all fit together until the end. And I was really shocked at a few parts of the puzzle!

I wish that there had been more of Kit, Tory's dad. He was barely in the book, and I feel like I don't know him at all. For most of the book Tory and her friends run free, and easily escape there parents watchful eyes. I got the sense that they could really do whatever they wanted. It was kind of strange, actually. They had school, but after school they were completely free, and could be out until after dark. I guess that I think it's a bit unrealistic.

Basically, I really enjoyed this book, but I wish that it had been paced a bit faster and that Tory's dad was in it more.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Title/Cover Comments: The title fits well for the series, but not this particular book. The cover is good, I like that the girl is running, and the dogs in the letters.

Blog Tour: Interview with Catherine Ryan Hyde and Giveaway!

2010-10-24T13:29:00.000-04:00

Today on the blog I have an amazing author who I really admire, Catherine Ryan Hyde, here to promote her newest book Jumpstart the World (My review here). Other works include Pay It Forward, which was turned into a movie, and Diary of a Witness, Becoming Chloe, and quite a few more! Thanks to Teen {Book} Scene Blog Tours for this oppurtunity! Oh, there's a giveaway at the end, so be sure to stick around!

1. Hi Catherine, thanks for being here! Could you tell us a bit about your forthcoming novel Jumpstart the World?

Absolutely. Thanks. Jumpstart the World is a Young Adult novel (though I think it’ll very easily cross over to adult readers) on the subject of transgender. My protagonist, Elle, is barely 16. Her mother is in the process of dumping her into her own apartment. In Manhattan. Because Mom has a new boyfriend and New Boyfriend doesn’t want Elle around. Elle cuts off almost all her hair as an act of rage against her mother, which only makes people in her new school think she’s gay. So she ends up hanging out with gay friends, because nobody else invites her in. And she falls in love with her next door neighbor, Frank, even though he’s much older and in a live-in relationship. Her friends think Frank is transgender. She’s sure he’s not. But they turn out to be right. It’s a tough adjustment for Elle. Not because she’s closed-minded, but because she has a shred of doubt about her sexuality and she’s (needlessly) worried about what this might be trying to tell her. The hardest part is that she doesn’t fall back out of love with Frank when she finds out. But, as is so often the case in life, the hardest part turns out to be the best part. In the long run.

2. Did you have to do a lot of research for Jumpstart the World?

Fortunately, no. For many books I do. But I grew up with a transgender sibling. And one of my best friends is a trans man (I dedicated the book to him). Plus I lived in New York City when I was younger. So I had enough of this in my own experience.

3. You currently have fourteen published or soon to be published novels. How long does it take you to write your books?

Actually, 16. But who’s counting? Jumpstart is number 14. Then I have another UK title, Don’t Let Me Go, coming out in the Fall of ’11. And I’m currently writing another book for that market that’s already under contract. So that’s 16 published or sold for publication. I have another YA novel on my editor’s desk as well, but I won’t count it until it’s under contract.

I tend to write very fast. On average I can write even one of my longer novels in 5 or 6 months of very intensive work.

4. Wow, that is fast! You write books for both Adult and Young Adult audiences, do you read more of one or the other?

I definitely read more YA. The last half a dozen books I’ve read are Rage: A Love Story, What They Always Tell Us, By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Tricks, and I Thought You Were Dead. Only that last one is an adult title.

5. What is your favorite part of being a published author?
Hearing from my readers. When someone writes to me and tells me one of my books helped them through a hard time, or made them see the world or their own life in a different way. That’s as good as it gets.

6. Your books deal with a lot of sensitive topics, such as the transgender issue in Jumpstart the World and alcoholism and down syndrome in The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, what do you hope that readers will get out of your books?

I’d like to see them come out just a little more tolerant, more accepting, more understanding. We’re afraid of things we don’t know. So I hope I can help people break down some of that fear through my characters.

7. You started the Pay It Forward Foundation (http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/), are there any other charities that you ardently support?

Yes. I’m the president of LandWatch San Luis Obispo County (http://landwatchsloco.org/), whose mission is protecting the natural world and its resources through grassroots activism, education, enforcement of existing laws, and promotion of sound environmental and land use legislation. I feel very passionate about protecting the environment. I disagree with those who seem to feel it’s ours to destroy.

8. I agree with you Catherine! Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what?

I don’t. I only listen to music while I’m driving. I’m too easily distracted. I can’t even walk and chew gum at the same time. I’m not a multi-tasker.

9. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Just that I have a lot of respect for book bloggers because they read. And because they’re filling the gaping hole left by the slow death of print reviews. I’m not sure what I’d do without you guys.

Thanks so much for answering my questions!

Now for the giveaway! I have one (1) finished copy of Jumpstart the World to giveaway!

About the Book:

Elle is a loner. She doesn’t need people. Which is a good thing, because she’s on her own: she had to move into her own apartment so her mother’s boyfriend won’t have to deal with her.

Then she meets Frank, the guy who lives next door. He’s older and has a girlfriend, but Elle can’t stop thinking about him. Frank isn’t like anyone Elle has ever met. He listens to her. He’s gentle. And Elle is falling for him, hard.

But Frank is different in a way that Elle was never prepared for: he’s transgender. And when Elle learns the truth, her world is turned upside down. Now she’ll have to search inside herself to find not only the true meaning of friendship but her own role in jumpstarting the world.

Tender, honest, and compassionate, Jumpstart the World is a stunning story to make you laugh, cry, and honor the power of love.

Sounds good, right? It is! Here are the rules for the contest:

Ends November 7th
US Only! Sorry!
Must be at least 13 years old to enter.
You DO NOT have to be a follower to enter.
MUST fill out the form below, comments will not count as entries.

Good Luck!

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Review: Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde

2010-10-24T13:28:00.000-04:00

Title; Jumpstart the World
Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Published: October 12th, 2010
Source: Received for review from publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Elle is a loner. She doesn’t need people. Which is a good thing, because she’s on her own: she had to move into her own apartment so her mother’s boyfriend won’t have to deal with her.

Then she meets Frank, the guy who lives next door. He’s older and has a girlfriend, but Elle can’t stop thinking about him. Frank isn’t like anyone Elle has ever met. He listens to her. He’s gentle. And Elle is falling for him, hard.
But Frank is different in a way that Elle was never prepared for: he’s transgender. And when Elle learns the truth, her world is turned upside down. Now she’ll have to search inside herself to find not only the true meaning of friendship but her own role in jumpstarting the world.

Tender, honest, and compassionate, Jumpstart the World is a stunning story to make you laugh, cry, and honor the power of love.

Though it's short, this is a powerful book. It raises some issues that I've not seen in YA literature before, and really made me think: about what makes a gender, about how intolerant the world is, about how we can all do something to jumpstart it just a little bit, to get people moving toward tolerance.

Elle was a strong character. Very tell it like it is. And yet, she really doesn't know herself. She puts on a strong front, but inside she's hurt and confused about her entire situation. Enter Frank, who actually listens to her for a change. He's so kind and gentle, how could she not love him? Her world is rocked when she finds out that he's trans-gender. What does that say about her? She doesn't know and she has to find out.

Something that I wish there was more of in this book would be Elle's relationship with her mother. We start the book at the end of their traditional relationship, where her mother is leaving her on her own. There's some back-story given, and an explanation of her mother's character, but I think that I would have liked to know about their relationship before that point.

I loved how real this book was. Everything wasn't perfect. There were awkward moments, mistakes were made, people were hurt, but nothing completely catastrophic happened as a result. Nothing perfect happened to fix everything either. It was all about the decisions Elle made and how she chose to view and handle things.

I do feel that in trying to make a statement the book got a little less personal than it could have been. I saw Elle's struggle with her feelings, but I really didn't see the feelings. I didn't feel her love for Frank. I think that it was expressed more through other emotions like jealousy and anger than the actual love, which I would have liked more of.

Basically I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to just about anyone, young adult or adult.

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover Comments: The cat plays a pretty big part in the book, and I like the title font and the red. It doesn't really jump out at me though.

In My Mailbox (37)

2010-10-24T11:41:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Won from My Pile of Books:

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

A Golden Web by Barbara Quick

Blue Fire by Janice Hardy

Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky

Anastasia's Secret by Suzanne Dunlap

Thank you SOOOO MUCH! All of these look so, so good!

That's it for me, be sure to leave a link to your mailbox in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

2010-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Release Date: January 11th, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.

She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood.
So she stays.

But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s
ever known?

This book sounds twisted in all the best ways. I really enjoyed her other book, Candor, and this one sounds like it's similar in a way. The cover is really awesome too!

Blog Tour/Charity Event and Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

2010-10-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! So, today my review is a little bit more than a review. And not just because it's part of a blog tour set up by The Teen{Book}Scene, but because for every comment left on this post Swati will donate $1 to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, a charity that is against domestic abuse. So please make sure you comment, it's for a good cause!

Title: Split
Author: Swati Avasthi
Published: March 2010
Source: Received for Review from publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.

At least so far.

Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. First-time novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split—how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down.

I loved, loved, loved this book. From page one I connected with Jace, could hear his voice, and felt his pain. I tore through the book because I wanted to know more. More about his past, more about what was happening then, more about what was going to happen. It's been awhile since I've felt like that about about a book.

Like I stated before, Jace was a real character from the beginning. I was compelled to read more about him because his voice was so strong. I felt his struggle to not be like his father, despite how similar they are. I felt the pain in his memories. The rest of the characters were very real as well, just not to the extent that Jace was. I loved the family dynamic between Jace and his brother.

The domestic abuse in this book is absolutely terrible to read about. There were quite a few times where I looked away from the page disgusted by what had happened. Not because it was too graphic, but because it was just too terrible to think about. The really sad thing about it is that the things described in the this book are probably reality for many kids and adults out there.

There's not really anything that I feel I can complain about. I loved it, and will definitely be keeping it for rereading sometime in the future.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 49/50 A+
Cover Comments: Striking cover, I like the keys.
--

There is also an auction for a ton of really cool stuff to benefit the charity, like signed books and critiques from authors. Sound like something you'd be interested in? Then go here!

If you'd like to help raise money by commenting on the other stops on the tour, please go here.

And last but definitely not least, if you would like to buy the book (which I recommend, it's amazing) please go to:

Amazon
Indie Bound
Barnes and Noble
or
The Book Depository

I leave you with buttons:
Button for going to the blog tour schedule:

Button for going to the charity auction site for the event :

Mini Review: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

2010-10-18T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Monsters of Men
Author: Patrick Ness
Published: September 2010
Source: Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"War," says the Mayor. "At last." Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they're so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await? But then a third voice breaks into the battle, one bent on revenge - the electrifying finale to the award-winning "Chaos Walking" trilogy, Monsters of Men is a heart-stopping novel about power, survival, and the devastating realities of war.

Patrick Ness is a genius. This book is genius. I was a little weary at first, because it's been a year since I read the first two and I had forgotten a few things, but I was brought up to speed pretty fast. The first half of the book was a slow build. And I do mean slow. There was some action, yes, but it wasn't as fast paced and "Oh my god what just happened, did that really just happen?" as the second half. I'm telling you, there's a certain point that you get to when you're reading when you realize that you cannot put this book down. Then it's full speed ahead.

I liked the addition of the POV of 1017. It gave a lot of insight into how the Spackle work. The other characters were brilliant as always. The mind tricks in this are...wow. I didn't know what to believe for a lot of it. I think that The Mayor is one of the most brilliantly written characters of all time. He's so complex, and you love to hate him. But is he redeemable? You won't know until you read the book.

Basically I loved this book, and I thought it was a perfect end to this trilogy. The only thing that I didn't like is that there wasn't more at the end. If you haven't read this trilogy I highly recommend it. It's unlike anything I've ever even heard of before. 5 stars!

In My Mailbox (36)

2010-10-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

From the library:

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Wired by Robin Wasserman

For Review:

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Some good books this week, huh? Be sure to let me know what you got!

Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

2010-10-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Release Date: October 19th 2010
Source: Won from contest/For review
Synopsis from Goodreads:
While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

With all of the hype around this book I thought that I might be disappointed. I thought, how much different can another werewolf book be? I thought that I was burned out on paranormal. I was so wrong. I loved this book. It's the most original werewolf book that I have ever read, and it's compulsively readable. I started it at night, went to bed about halfway through, woke up thinking about it. I had to stop about 100 pages from the end to go to a birthday party and that just about killed me. Go read this book!

Calla is a strong character. She is the alpha of her pack, the Nightshades. Her destiny is to mate the alpha of the other pack and create a new pack. She knows this. But when she sees a human boy dying she can't help but save him. Then he shows up at her school the next day and things go way wrong from there. Calla's sense of duty was warring against the rest of her the entire book. She knows what she's supposed to do, what she has to do, but does she want to?

The love triangle in this book was fantastic! I really was never sure who she liked more, who she was going to pick. I still don't. It's actually very frustrating. Both boys are so different, but they both care for Calla. And she cares for both of them. I'm team Shay! But Ren does have his merits...

The supporting characters in the book were great too. The pack members were all so dynamic and individual. I got confused near the beginning because there were so many, but by the end there wasn't a problem. I loved the whole mystery of the Keepers true intentions, and how Calla never knew what to believe.

Basically: I ADORED this book. It's one of my favorites so far this year, and if you enjoy paranormal even a little bit, you'll love this book. Heck, even if you don't like paranormal you'll probably love this book!

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 49/50 A+
Cover/Title Comment: I want to marry this cover. It's so amazing. I love the lilies with the blood on them, and the purple color, and the girls makeup, and everything! The title is great too!

Waiting on Wednesday (37)

2010-10-13T12:00:00.002-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

Where She Went by Gayle Foreman

Release Date: April 19th, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

My first impulse is not to grab her or kiss her or yell at her. I simply want to touch her cheek, still flushed from the night’s performance. I want to cut through the space that separates us, measured in feet—not miles, not continents, not years—and to take a callused finger to her face. I want to touch her to make sure it’s really her, not one of those dreams I had so often after she left when I’d see her so clear as day, be ready to kiss her or take her to me only to wake up with Mia just beyond reach.

But I can’t touch her. This is a privilege that’s been revoked.

It’s been three years since Adam’s love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it . . . and three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future—and each other.

Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

My Thoughts: I loved If I Stay, and though I was apprehensive about this sequel at first I think that it's going to do the first one justice. Even if it doesn't I still can't wait for it to come out! I love the cover, it fits perfectly with the paperback of the first one, and if the synopsis is any indication, fits this story well.

Review: Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt

2010-10-12T16:50:00.000-04:00

Title: Aces Up
Author: Lauren Barholdt
Published: August 2010
Source: Won
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old high school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio, disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant, her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.

When Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way. She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all, the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is suddenly too powerful to ignore.

Soon Shannon's caught up in a web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold?

This fun, sexy, recession-proof story is a bubbly summer read with surprising depth—great for fans of Sarah Mlynowski.

After thoroughly enjoying Barnholdt's Two-Way Street I had high expectations for this book. Sadly, it didn't live up to them. Shannon was a character that I couldn't seem to connect to, and the situation was just too out of this world for me to believe. It did have its moments though, and is good if you're looking for a book that's not too serious.

All of the characters fell a bit flat for me, especially Shannon. I definitely understood her motives for working illegally at the Collosio, and even for gambling there. What I don't understand is how such a smart girl could put herself in the dangerous situations that she did. Being alone in a hotel room with a complete stranger is not smart, it's downright idiotic. The fact that nothing terrible comes of it really doesn't set a good example.

Another thing that I didn't like about the book was how completely unlikely everything was. Shannon was out until the early hours of the morning almost every night without her parents noticing. She was out until long after midnight frequently on school nights, and yet managed to get through her days at school and go to work that night. The only negative thing that happened was that her grade in math slipped to a C. Show me someone who can do that and not completely fail out of school and I'll bow to them.

It definitely wasn't all bad. If you can suspend reality for a while you'll probably enjoy it. It has some cute scenes and a few suspenseful parts. The scenes between Shannon and her sister are cute, and her friend MacKenzie is really funny. I think that I chose the wrong time to read this, because I might have enjoyed more in the summer.

Basically, it wasn't my cup of tea, but it has its moments and if you can suspend reality while you read it you'll probably enjoy it.

Characters: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 39/50 C+
Cover Comments: Really cute cover! The title is also cute, and relevant.

In My Mailbox (35)

2010-10-10T20:38:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Two copies: One for review and one to giveaway!

Thanks to Knopf and Teen Book Scene Blog Tours!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

I'm assuming these are for review since they came directly from the publisher, but I didn't know they were coming...Thanks anyway Simon and Schuster!

Won:

Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt

from Brooke at Brooke's Box of Books! Thanks Brooke!

That's it for me this week! What did you get?

Blog Tour: Freefall Deleted Scene and Contest!

2010-10-08T10:00:00.005-04:00

Hey all! I have a treat for you today! Mindi Scott, author of the fabulous debut Freefall, decided to share a deleted scene from the book with us! It's definitely a scene that I'm sorry didn't make it in and I'm glad that I get a chance to read it! This all thanks to the amazing Teen Book Scene blog tours, so be sure to check them out! If you want to visit the rest of the stops on the tour they are listed here.

From Mindi:

It took a long time for me to settle on a first chapter for the book that would eventually be called Freefall. Months and months and months. But when I finally came up with an opening that I loved, I intended to stick with it forever.

As it turned out, my agent had another idea. He thought that maybe the very first scene in the manuscript wasn’t the best introduction to the narrator, Seth, and that it felt a little “extra first chaptery.” I decided that he was right and ended up cutting it.

And now I’m sharing it with you! Everything below still takes place in the book. The difference is that these events are told in a paragraph of narrative several pages into it instead of being shown as a scene.

I hope you enjoy it!

Please remember that this scene is copyrighted by Mindi Scott and it would be a crime to claim it as yours!

Saturday

September 1st

1:17 p.m.

      Scratchy sheets were twisted around my legs, a lumpy pillow was tucked under my head, and some damned annoying mattress spring was poking into my side. Yeah, I was very definitely at home in the bed where I wake up every day. The screwed up part is I had no clue how I’d gotten there.

      All I could remember of the night before was this: Drinking. Playing with the band. Drinking. Falling off the stage. Mikey glaring. Daniel swiping my keys. Jared yelling at me to get my shit together. Drinking.

      And then… what?

      I’d made it home somehow. My shoes, socks, jeans, shirt had come off. I’d crashed in my boxers.

      Yet another night erased from my memory. No big loss there. Forgetting sucked when I happened to miss something good, but I could count on one hand the number of times that had been rumored to have happened.

      I yawned, ran my tongue over my teeth.

      Mouth: stale from beer, sour from puke.

      Head: dizzy, pounding, cloudy.

      It could be worse, right? Things could always be worse.

      I rolled over. Wavy hair as red as a stop sign was spread across the other pillow. The hair belonged to a long-legged girl wearing black panties and a striped T-shirt. My striped T-shirt.

      Jerking straight up, I hit my head on the metal bedrail. “What the hell?”

      As she turned to stare back at me, the pain in my head increased. Of all the chicks in this town, in this country, on this planet, it was my miserable luck that this one would be the first to wind up in my bed.

      She smirked. “Hi, Lover.”

      Things had just gotten worse.

--

About Freefall:

Title: Freefall

Author: Mindi Scott

Synopsis from Goodreads:

How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .

My review should be right below this post if you want to check it out!

Now it's contest time! Do you want a signed finished copy of Freefall all to yourself? You know you do! All you have to do is fill out the form below.

Rules:

Contest Ends October 27th

US Only

You DO NOT have to be a follower to enter!

Review: Freefall by Mindi Scott

2010-10-08T09:59:00.000-04:00

Title: Freefall
Author: Mindi Scott
Published: October 5th, 2010
Source: Received for review from S&S(Thank you!)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .

Have I ever mentioned how much I love books that are from a guys POV? Because I really, really like them. When it feels like all that I'm reading are variations of the same girl it's a welcome change to see things from a guys perspective. Plus, if it's accurate I might gain a little bit of insight while I'm at it!

I think that Mindi Scott did a fantastic job with Freefall. I thought that Seth seemed like a very real character, and as far as I could tell like a real guy. It was pretty easy to be in his head. I'm not saying that his head was a good place to be, just that I didn't feel like a complete outsider while I was in it.

The plot as a whole wasn't really what I was expecting. I think that I was expecting Seth to be more messed up than he was, not that he wasn't messed up. I was also expecting his dead friend Isaac to be an actual character in the book, if only for a chapter or so, but we only knew him through flashbacks. Though it wasn't what I was expecting I really enjoyed the plot and the direction that it went. I also really liked how it was divided by days and times.

My only complaint is that even though I thought that it was pretty easy to be in Seth's head, I never completely connected with him. I mostly connected with him but that extra little push to practically become him while I was reading never happened. Which definitely isn't a huge deal.

Basically I really, really liked this book. If you like contemporary books and guys POV's then you'll love this.

Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 45/50 A-
Cover Comments: I love, love, love this cover. I'm not really all that sure why, just that I do. Something about the broken glass and black backround just really catches my eye.

Review: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

2010-10-06T14:00:00.001-04:00

Title: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Author: Erin McCahan
Source: Received for review from Publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

Though it may seem like it, this book isn't about marriage, or getting married young, or how relationships change with marriage. It's about a girl trying to figure out what's right for her. I really, really liked this book. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, actually. It was a very pleasant surprse.

From the beginning I was drawn in by Bronwen's voice. It was such a distinct voice. She' honest, but doesn't give too much information, she's funny, but also sincere. I loved being in her head. Jared is, well...if he's not your dream guy then there's something wrong with you. In fact, I think that he was almost too perfect to be realistic.

The relationship between Bronwen and Jared was very sincere. I loved reading about them together. I also loved the big role that Bronwen's family played in this book. There wasn't anything obviously wrong with her family, but like any family they had issues. Some issues went pretty far back. Seeing them work through them was kind of uplifting.

Teen marriage is a large part of this book, but as I said before it's not everything. It was interesting to read about though, both because it's not common in YA and because it's not something that I would do. I thought that what Bronwen chose to do and the end were perfect for her. Not for anyone else. And that's really the point, isn't it? You have to do what's right for you.

Basically this book took me by surprise and I loved it! Read it if you're looking for chick-lit with a lot of heart!

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Cover Comments: I love it! I think that it's really cute and very fitting. The title is so great, it makes a ton of sense once you read the book.

Review: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

2010-10-05T14:00:00.001-04:00

Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: January 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

Wow. That's my immediate reaction to this book. The writing is wow, the characters are wow, the horribly realistic things that girls do to each other in this book is wow. From page one I was sucked in and I had to finish it as fast as I could, had to know what happened next, had to know more of what Regina's life was like before. It was compulsive.

Regina Afton is a major bitch. She's not that girl, but her right hand, the one who would do anything for her. That makes her almost as bad. Until she isn't her right hand anymore. In fact, she's Public Enemy #1. Then she starts to feel remorse for the things that she's done to people. How twisted is that? She's basically saying: I did horrible things to you, but I'm not going to feel bad about it until I'm not at the top of the food chain anymore. And yet, the entire time I was on her side. Yeah, I knew that she'd done bad things, things that I definitely don't agree with, but for some reason I didn't care. I wanted things to go well for her. That is the genius of Courtney Summers.

Regina was wonderfully developed, as were all of the other characters. I really got a sense of their personalities, and how unique they were. I really, really hated Anna and Hana. And I really loved Michael. Honestly? That I remember their names without looking them up is a really good sign. It doesn't happen all that often.

I'm not really sure what to say about the plot, because this book is so character driven. The writing though, is superb. There were times when I wanted to put down the book because I just got this terrible feeling about what was happening to Regina even though it's just fiction. Some of it really got to me.

Basically, I absolutely loved this book. If you are a fan of contemporary fiction, this is definitely one that you need to pick up. Excellent.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Cover Comments: It's just kind of "eh" for me. I don't love it but I don't hate it.

In My Mailbox (34)

2010-10-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Only one book this week, and it's for a blog tour:

Split by Swati Avasthi

What I've read so far is really good!

What did you get this week?

Split Blog Tour and Auction Announcement

2010-09-30T12:00:00.001-04:00

Throughout the month of October the book Split by Swati Avasthi is going to be on blog tour, but it's not an ordinary tour: each stop will have an auction to raise money for the Domestic Violence Organization and for every comment received while on the tour Swati will donate $1.

Here's an official blurb:
To honor National Domestic Violence Awareness month, author Swati Avasthi has combined a blog tour for her debut novel, Split, with a charity auction. Over 40 authors, agents and editors have donated manuscript critiques, personalized books, and more to an online auction that anyone –reader, writer, booklover -- can bid on and buy. All proceeds go to the Family Violence Prevention Fund. In addition to the auction, Avasthi is donating $1/comment on her 26-stop, month-long blog tour, coordinated by Kari Olson at Teen Book Scene. If she reaches her goal and cap of $250, she will double the donation. Follow the tour, get stuff you want, and make a difference.

My stop is scheduled for October 19th, so if you're at all interested in helping out this charity please stop by! It's as easy as leaving a comment!

If you want to follow the tour or want more information please visit the Teen Book Scene Tour Details page.

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

2010-09-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Release Date: December 28th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.
Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.
Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

I loved The Dark Divine, and it looks like this one is going to be even more intense than the first! Plus the cover is gorgeous.

What are you waiting on?

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman

2010-09-28T16:57:00.000-04:00

Title: Life, After
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Published: July 2010
Source: Traded
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Everything changes for Dani and her family when a truck loaded with explosives detonates outside the AMIA building in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing her beloved aunt and unborn cousin. Because of the ensuing political upheaval, economic hardship, and emotional toll, Dani's family moves to the U.S. It is a terrifying place--new school, new language, new hardships--and Dani's angry father is turning into a stranger, more so everyday. Just when Dani thinks she is about to lose it, she befriends Jessica, one of the girls who has been cruelly teasing her since she arrived.

It is the most unlikely of friendships. Jessica is wealthy, groomed, spoiled. But Jessica has a past that only Dani can understand. She lost her father in 9/11. It is a friendship that allows them both to heal in unexpected and surprising ways, and changes them and their families forever.

I'm really happy that I decided to trade for this book, I liked it even more than I thought I would! I hadn't read anything else by this author, but if I come across one of her other books I'll definitely check it out!

I must confess that I didn't know anything about the AMIA bombing in Argentina before reading this book. It makes me sad that I didn't since affected many people there the same way that 9/11 did here. I could really feel what Dani was feeling and understand her pain. She was such a real character and I really got to know her by the end of the book.

I thought that the author portrayed moving to a new country perfectly. She didn't make it seem like it was no big deal, but she didn't make it seem too unbearably horrible either. The whole time all that I could think about was what I would be like if I had to move to Spain. I would probably curl up in fetal position screaming "No se! No se!" Dani was really strong to get through it.

I liked most of the supporting characters, but something that I didn't like was that sometimes their relationships with Dani didn't seem fully formed. Or a character would be introduced but then we wouldn't really see them again. It was small stuff, but still noticeable.

Basically I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to people who like contemporary!

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: I really like this cover, it's cute. It doesn't really have much to do with the story though.

Reviews: Where's My Stuff? and The Dictionary of High School B.S.

2010-09-27T11:53:00.000-04:00

Title: Where's My Stuff? The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide
Author: Samantha Moss with Lesley Schwartz
Published: 2010
Source: Received for review from Zest Books

I like to think of myself as a pretty organized person. I can find most of my things without searching the house for them, I keep track of my homework pretty well, and my parents aren't constantly nagging me to clean my room. That doesn't mean that I didn't benefit from reading this book.

The book is divided into three sections: School Stuff, Time and Activities, and Your Room. In School Stuff I learned how to keep my binders more organized, in Time and Activities I learned how to conquer a big job (like cleaning your room when you've neglected it for a couple months) without freaking out, and in Your Room I learned how to make better use of my space.

Basically, even if you think you're organized, I bet you can find something in this book that will make you even more organized and your life easier.

Title: The Dictionary of High School B.S.
Author: Lois Beckwith
Published: 2008
Source: Received for review from Zest Books.

This book does a pretty good job of catering to two audiences. 1) Freshman. I would view this book as an almost invaluable resource if it's your first year of high school. 2) Those in, or who used to be in, high school (AKA everyone but the freshmen). As someone in high school, though I understood what most of the terms meant before I read the book, I really enjoyed reading the definitions. They are humorous but informative at the same time. I was chuckling about a lot of them because they are so, so true.They way they are delivered suggest that the author doesn't take any of the b.s. too seriously and neither should we.

So, if you're either entering high school, dragging yourself through it, or want to look back on it and laugh, then you should give this book a try.

In My Mailbox (33)

2010-09-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (Finished Copy!!!)

Thank you SOOO much MacMillan!

The Dictionary of High School B.S. by Lois Beckwith

Where's My Stuff? by Samantha Moss

Thank you Zest!

That's it for me this week. What did you get?

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

2010-09-23T14:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Girl, Stolen
Author: April Henry
Release Date: September 28th, 2010
Source: Around the World Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

Oh, what a book. I tore through this, I wanted to know what happened! It was really interesting reading through the eyes of a blind girl. We also got inside Griffin's head, which I wasn't expecting. What happened to Cheyenne is terrible, and I hope that it never happens to anyone, but it was oh so fun to read about!

Cheyenne has been blind for three years, ever since an accident that killed her mother. She's used to it now, but misses her sight. Griffin is the son of a stolen parts dealer who will do anything to make his temperamental father happy. So when he steals a car he thinks that it will show his father that he's ready for the big leagues. That is until he realizes that there's a girl in the back. Instead he gives his father someone to hold for ransom, something that he'd never expected. Will his father let her go? Or will he kill her? Why does he care?

I really liked Cheyenne. She was resourceful and smart. She was always thinking of a way out. I felt bad for Griffin. He's a victim of circumstance. He's a good person, but his father doesn't tolerate good: he'll do whatever it takes to get the job done, and a lot of times it's less than legal. I love the way that Cheyenne and Griffin connected throughout the book, it was sweet.

This book moved along at a steady pace and was relatively short. It didn't take long to read, which is good because I could have gone crazy waiting for the end. One problem that I had is that some parts of the book were kind of...boring. Those parts didn't last very long though, and it always picked up fast. I felt a bit disconnected from the characters throughout this book also. It was probably because it was told in third person.

Basically, I really liked this book, I was just slightly disconnected with the characters. If you like suspense then you might want to try this!

Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover/Title Comments: I think that they are both perfect! I love the way the girls hands are covering her eyes, and how her nails are painted.

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

2010-09-22T12:00:00.005-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

By:

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Release Date: October 26th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

If the synopsis doesn't sell you, (which I'm pretty sure is impossible), then the authors are so worth it. Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List are both excellent reads that I would recommend. I love their individual works as well, but something about them together just works. I am so, so looking forward to reading this book!

What are you waiting on?

Mini Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2010-09-21T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Published: August 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I don't even know where to begin with this book, I loved it so much! I'm a huge fan of The Mortal Instruments series, but it's not just that series, it's Clare's writing and the world she's created. I really liked learning about Shadowhunters, demons, and the like in present day New York, but I LOVED learning about it in Victorian England. I was really happy that the characters aren't all like the characters in TMI. Except for Will, but I was happy about that similarity ;) I must say that Cassandra Clare is the queen of unexpected plot twists. There was a time when I was just staring at the page going whaaa...? By the end I understood, though it was unsettling. Oh, she's also the queen of cliffhangers by the way.

Definitely 5 stars for this one!

In My Mailbox (32)

2010-09-19T10:00:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Bella Should Have Dumped Edward Edited by Michelle Pan

Thank you Ulysses Press for the review copy!

Review here.

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Thanks so much Simon and Schuster! I've been wanting to read this for such a long time!

That's it for me this week, but it was a pretty good one! What did you get?

The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson

2010-09-18T13:10:00.000-04:00

Title: The Deathday Letter
Author: Shaun David Hutchinson
Published: June 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The clock is ticking.

Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.

Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never?

When I first heard about this book I didn't pay much attention to it. Yeah, it sounded okay, but I didn't feel a pull to read it. Then I started seeing all of these five star reviews for it and I changed my mind, I HAD to have it. So I bought it. Well, then it sat on my shelf for a few months until I finally picked it up and wondered why I didn't read it sooner.

Ollie has got to be the most real teenage boy character that I've read. I mean, I've read plenty of books with real sounding guy characters. Or so I thought. How should I know, I'm a girl! I'm pretty sure that this one is the most realistic. I mean, I probably will never look at those other books and think, "Wow, that gave me so much insight into a guys mind." This one totally does.

This book is also hilarious. Laugh out loud, I really shouldn't be reading this in public funny. I love books that make me laugh, and boy did this make me laugh! It had some heart too, as is to be expected when dealing with a book where the main character dies at the end. Which is such a weird concept. This is the first book that I've read that outright tells you that the main character is going to die. I'm pretty grateful for that, or I probably would have spent the book wondering what happens so he doesn't die and then being crushed when he does.

The concept of the Deathday letter is really interesting, and also puzzling. The thing is that if Ollie hadn't gotten his Deathday letter, he probably wouldn't have been where he was when he died. Does that mean that the letter caused his death? Or was it inevitable that he would die at that time in some way no matter where he was? It made me think, and there's no way of really knowing the answer.

Basically I really loved this book. It's so original, funny, thought provoking, and sweet. Definitely read it if you have the chance!

Character: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Cover comments: I love it! As Hutchinson recognizes in his acknowledgments, this is a cover that a fourteen year old boy would not be embarrassed to be seen reading. Which is good, because that's the audience that would probably get the most out of the book.

Bella Should Have Dumped Edward: Edited by Michelle Pan

2010-09-16T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Bella Should Have Dumped Edward: Controversial Views and Debates on the Twilight Saga.
Edited by: Michell Pan
Published: May, 2010
Source: Received for review from publisher.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The fourth Twilight book is out, but many controversial issues remain unresolved and open to debate. Now the devoted Twihards at BellaAndEdward.com argue passionately about what really happened and what should have happened.
Who should Bella have ended up with, Jacob or Edward? Should Bella have become a vampire?

Going into this I wasn't really sure what to expect. I used to be a Twilight FANATIC, but then I got over it, and I was a little apprehensive as to whether I would enjoy reading so much about a series that I'm kind of luke-warm about now. I shouldn't have worried, if anything this book brought me back to the first times that I read the books and reminded me why I loved them.

The book is divided into sections, each section is a question with a few responses by fans and then The Final Call made by the editor. I enjoyed this format. If there was a question that I didn't really care to read all of the responses to I could just read The Final Call for a summary. I liked most of the questions, especially the ones that made me think. The question "How would the book be different if Edward were the human and Bella the vampire" actually made my head hurt a little trying to wrap my mind around all of the different scenarios.

Something that I noticed throughout the book is that most of the answers are by the same people. There are some others randomly thrown in, but I saw the same names a lot. I'm not sure if this is because they answered the questions more completely than others, if they worded them better, if they answered every question or what.

I also found it odd that they decided to compile this book when only two of the five movies were out. There were quite a few questions about the movies in here, and I think that it might have made more sense to wait until they were all out. I guess that the demand wouldn't be as high if they did that though.

Basically this was enjoyable. It changed my mind on a few points and validated my opinions on others. And then there are the ones that I just plain don't agree with. Read it if you like or have ever liked The Twilight Saga.

4 Stars!

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

2010-09-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date: December 2nd, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.
I have seen so many glowing reviews of this already that it's impossible for me to not be waiting on it! It looks so cute! And the cover is really cool. I can't wait for it to come out!

What are you waiting on?

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

2010-09-14T16:56:00.000-04:00

Title: The Healer's Apprentice
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Release Date: October 1st, 2010
Source: Received for review from publisher.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Two Hearts. One Hope.Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

It's no secret that I love historical fiction. In fact, it says so right on my sidebar! I also love fairytale retellings. Since this is a combination of the two I was really excited to have the chance to review it. What I didn't know about this book is that it's also considered Christian fiction. I'm not generally a reader of Christian fiction, but for the most part the religious aspect didn't distract from the main storyline.

This book is in third person and alternates mostly between focusing on Lord Hamlin and Rose. Third person isn't generally my favorite, but it worked well with this book. I enjoyed seeing both sides of their relationship. Rose was a great main character, she was very releateable and was very realistic. Lord Hamlin had a large sense of duty, and it was interesting to read the way he was warring with himself.

I really enjoyed the historical details of this book. Melanie obviously did her research, going as far as making the political titles of her characters historically accurate despite the minor confusion it might have caused. Though it is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty it is very loose, and very much its own story. I loved the plot line with Lord Hamlin's brother and the addition of Rose's best friend.

I have only a couple complaints. This is a fairytale retelling so it is expected for the book to be predictable, but at times I found it a bit too predictable. There were quite a few times where I correctly guessed the outcome of certain things way before they happened. I also found some parts of it a bit cliche or overdone.

Basically I really enjoyed this novel, especially the historical aspect. I did find it a bit too predictable though. I would recommend it if you like historical, fairy tale retellings, or Christian fiction.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover Comments: I love this cover! The dress, the window, the way the model is standing all work together perfectly.

In My Mailbox (31)

2010-09-12T11:46:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Bought:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (On sale, and it's a favorite)

That's all for me this week, it was kind of slow. What did you get?

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

2010-09-10T16:14:00.000-04:00

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Published: May 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

So, I've had this book for a while. Since it came out, actually. I kept putting it off and putting it off. I really have no idea why I waited so long! It was so good.

I loved the whole concept of the Shift and how mysterious Aura's connection to it is. The Shift basically means that anyone born after a certain date can see ghosts. That means that everyone sixteen and under can see ghosts, and no one over that can even if they were able to before. Isn't that cool? The ghosts can Shade, or be overcome by darkness. They want to avoid doing that because if they do that they are detained.

I'm not too sure how I feel about Aura. There were parts when I really liked her and parts when I didn't understand her. She had some very mixed feelings and sometimes it was hard to keep track of them. There were a few times when I was confused about how she felt about things and what they meant for her outside her head.

When Logan died I was more sad that his awesome sounding band wouldn't get a record deal than that he as a person was dead. That was probably done on purpose, since we don't have much time to get to know him. Zach I liked. A lot. Probably a bit too much for a fictional character.

The supporting characters were kind of touch and go. There were some that were really well developed, some that were partly well developed, and then some where I couldn't even place their name. Not the most important part of the book, but when I couldn't place which brother was which and who this person was without thinking about it I got a little annoyed.

When I read books there's always something that I want to happen, what really happens, and what would plausibly happen. A lot of times in this book what I wanted to happen and what did happen were the same, but what would plausibly happen didn't really add up. Does that make sense? I guess I just felt like some things happened that most likely wouldn't in real life, and that made the story more distant to me.

Basically I really liked it, but I wish that the supporting characters had been a little more fleshed out and that some things were a little less unrealistic. I would definitely recommend it if you love paranormals!

Character: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 45/50 A-
Cover Comments: I've seen it described as a mix between Bleeding Violet and Eclipse. I couldn't agree more! The colors red and purple play a large part in the book, so it makes sense, but it doesn't really stand out much.

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

2010-09-08T12:00:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Release Date: September 30th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

I just think that this sounds so awesome! I'm all for twisted fairytales, and boy does this sound twisted! What are you waiting on?

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

2010-09-07T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Forget You
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: July, 2010
Source: Won in contest
Synopsis from Goodreads:
WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER? There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

I think that I am in love with Jennifer Echols' writing. It is so, so hard to put down her books once you pick one up. I had really high expectations for this book, and it definitely met them! I finished it in record time.

I loved the whole premise of this book. Zoey loses her memory of the night she crashes her car, and doesn't get it back. Nothing big could have happened in those few hours, right? Wrong, Zoey finds her life turned upside down, but she has no idea why. It was kind of frustrating that we didn't know what Zoey didn't know. I felt just as frantic as Zoey was, trying to piece things together.

Zoey annoyed me. She was very blind to a lot of things, especially when they had to do with Brandon. And Doug, she was very blind about Doug also. How I loved Doug. He was so swoon worthy and sweet. I felt bad for him, and I do even more now that I know what did happen that night and how Zoey acted...anyway, no spoilers here!

Basically I loved this book and couldn't put it down, but Zoey did some things that really annoyed me.

Characters: 8/10
Plot:8//10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: I love this cover! It's beautiful, and portrays Zoey and Doug perfectly.

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

2010-09-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters
Author: Natalie Standifor
Published: September, 2010
Source: 1 ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.
Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

I really, really enjoyed this book! It was so refreshing because it's not like anything I've read before! The whole premise was wonderful, and the execution was done well. I probably should have, but I didn't expect the book to be the letters that the girls wrote to their grandmother. I loved it!

The book is broken up into three parts: Norrie's letter, Jane's letter, and Sassy's letter. I enjoyed Norrie's the most, probably because out of the three I'm most like her. And her's was such a love story. Jane's was very comical, Jane herself very cynical and snarky. Sassy's was odd. I'm not really sure what to make of both Sassy and her story.

I loved how each girls voice was very unique, as were their stories. It was easy to forget that the girls were writing to their grandmother, but then they would reference 'you' and apologize for bad language and you'd remember. I guess that the believability factor is low, but I was having way too much fun to care.

I guess that my only complaint is that by the time I got to Sassy's story I was a bit burned out. Reading each girls story is basically reading a different side of the same thing.

Basically I really, really enjoyed this book! Check it out if you're looking for something heartwarming, funny, and different!

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

In My Mailbox (30)

2010-09-05T09:34:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From 1 ARC Tours:

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford (review soon)

For review:

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (SQUEE! It looks sooo amazing!)

Won:

Stolen by Lucy Christopher (from John at Dreaming in Books)

BIG thanks to Melanie and Zondervan for The Healer's Apprentice, and to John and Scholastic for Stolen!

What did you get?

Trailer for Through Her Eyes

2010-09-03T23:18:00.000-04:00

So, I just found this cool mini trailer for a book that I'm really excited to read and thought I would share it with you:

Through Her Eyes _ Book Trailer from Emily Greaser on Vimeo.

More about the book:

Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer.
Release Date: April 5th 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house outside of a tiny, desolate West Texas town. Lonely and upset over the move, Tansy escapes into her photography and the dark, seductive poems she finds hidden in the cellar, both of which lure her into the mind and world of a mysterious, troubled young man who died sixty years earlier.

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

2010-09-02T13:26:00.000-04:00

Title: Two-Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Published: June 2007
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Two-Way Street was exactly what I was in the mood for when I read it: a fast, light romance. It was a perfect end of summer read because it's set at the end of summer, before the main characters college orientation.

One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the alternating POVs. We got Courtney's side, and then we got Jordan's side. I loved both of them. I also really liked how developed each of their best friends were. They had a lot of personality and added a lot of laughs to the book.

The book is divided not just by the POV of Courtney or Justin, but also by Before, During, and After the road trip. I really liked reading a chapter about how they got together, then reading one where they're on the road. That way the story slowly unraveled instead of it being chronological, and which you might think is confusing but it really isn't.

I guess that a complaint is that there wasn't much depth. Which in this case is good because I wasn't looking for much, but when compared to other books isn't a good thing. I also thought that the writing was a bit cliched at parts.

Basically, I really liked it and recommend it if you're looking for something light, without much depth.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover Comments: I love this cover! I think that it conveys the tone of the book really well.

Trailer for Halo by Alexandra Adornetto!

2010-09-01T17:20:00.000-04:00

More about the book:

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Some info about the author:

Alexandra Adornetto was fourteen when she published her first book, The Shadow Thief, in Australia. Alex lives in Melbourne, Australia; Halo marks her U.S. debut.

Doesn't this book look fantastic? It's available now, so if you're interested you should go buy it!

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

2010-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I have a feeling that my choice is going to be a popular one this week!

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

Release Date: December 21st, 2010

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 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. He 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 some questions should be left unanswered.

I loved Cracked Up To Be, so I know that I love the author. Even if I didn't I think that I would be drawn by that synopsis. And the cover, which is beautiful.

What are you waiting on?

Mini Review: The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

2010-08-31T13:31:00.001-04:00

Title: The Exiled Queen
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Release Date: September 28th, 2010
Source: Around The World ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
*This is a SEQUEL! Synopsis contains SPOILERS for book one!*
You can't always run from danger...

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

If you're in the mood for pure fantasy, then you should definitely try these books! They're a lot different than a lot of the fantasies that I've read. I love how the point of view alternates between Han and Raisa, though they're not around each other much. I really enjoyed the setting of Oden's Ford, it was kind of like a boarding school, and I love boarding school books! The characters were definitely my favorite part! They're all very likeable, but not perfect by a long shot.

The drawbacks were that I was confused about the politics many times, and that sometimes there's too much time spent explaining things and my mind would wander. I think that I would have enjoyed it more of some things were cut out and it was about one hundred pages shorter, but I'm not the editor!

Basically: I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to the next one! 4 Stars!

Cover Comments: I really like this cover, it's mysterious. It fits well with the first one also.

You by Charles Benoit

2010-08-30T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: You
Author: Charles Benoit
Release Date: September 1st, 2010
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A note from the author:
It's easy to forget that we spend our early teens afraid. We're afraid of fitting in, standing out, or being ignored. We worry that we'll never get a date, never get into college, and never amount to anything. Just like everyone predicts.

It's also easy to discount these fears. Looking back, it seems impossible that we would have stayed awake all night worrying about what someone else thought of our clothes or that we ever doubted our abilities, our potential. But that's only because we know how the story ends.

I wanted to write a book that started with these fears as givens, bottling them in tight and capping them off with that artificial indifference genetically required of all teens. Kyle Chase is not a bad kid. He's not a good kid, either. He's a typical kid. He's any kid. And, at one point in your life, he was you.

So, based on the ARC cover practically being swallowed by one line praise, and the first three pages inside being filled with paragraphs of praise, I had really, really high expectations for this book. Too bad it didn't meet them. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book by any means, and I really liked it, just not nearly as much as I expected to.

I did love the narration. A lot. I've never read an entire book in second person, and I was surprised by how easily I got used to it. Kyle was pretty cool as the main character. He had some snarky humor that I enjoyed. His fatal flaw is anger issues, big time. Besides Zach, the antagonist (though it's not evident at first), and Kyle, most of the other characters fell pretty flat. I had a hard time picturing most of them.

I think that part of the reason that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would is because, despite what the author says, Kyle isn't me. In fact, slacker Kyle basically slams straight A honor roll kids, like me. There were a few times that Kyle did think things about his teachers and the school that I know I've thought before. I have to hand it to Charles Benoit, he really got the teenager mindset right.

Basically, I really enjoyed this book, and devoured it trying to get to the end. Which is, well, you'll see.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: I love this cover, the shattered red glass is very striking and makes a point on the black backround.

In My Mailbox (29)

2010-08-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

From We Love YA! ARC Tours:

Rich and Mad by William Nicholson

From Around the World ARC Tours:

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

From BookSparks PR:

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Bought:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

So that's what was in my mailbox this week! What was in yours? Link in the comments!

DNF: Rich and Mad by William Nicholson

2010-08-28T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Rich and Mad
Author: William Nicholson
Release Date: September 14th 2010
Synopsis from Goodreads:
This is a compelling and beautifully written novel about first love, first sex, and everything in between. Maddy Fisher has decided to fall in love. And not just any sort of love: can't-eat can't-sleep crazy in love. Rich Ross is after the same thing. He's set his sights high, and he's going to make it happen. The problem is, in life's messy whirlwind of friends and lies and sex, the real thing can be hard to fine. But there's always a first time for everything...

I really, really wanted to like this book. I signed up for it through an ARC tour because I THOUGHT that I was going to like this book. I probably would have if it was in first person. Sadly, it's in third person and I had trouble connecting to it. It's also very British. Something that I've noticed about myself is that I have a hard time with British books. It goes way back to trying to get into Georgia Nicholson and failing. No offense to British people, I think that's just how I am. Anyway, there is definitely an audience for this book, I've seen some great reviews, but that audience does not include me!

Rating: DNF

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

2010-08-27T14:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Cracked Up to Be
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 2008
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

If I could describe this book in one word it would have to be strong. Strong characters, strong emotions, strong writing. This is one of those books that doesn't let you go, even if it's driving you crazy and you just want to put it down for a second. You can't. You have to keep going, to get one step closer to figuring out what happened to Parker that night a year ago.

Parker is one of the most unique characters I've ever come across. She's downright bitchy, not just in what she says to other people, but also in what she thinks about other people. This is not common. I loved it! Her snarky attitude was so much fun to read about, and I laughed at a lot of things she said/thought, even though it was mean. I did get annoyed with her sometimes, mostly for doing something self destructive, though she had her reasons.

My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Parker and Jake. Jake is just a nice guy, and Parker, well, is not so nice. Their interactions were always fun to read about, and the way their relationship developed was done really well. I loved the way that the night of the party was slowly revealed using flashbacks. I never got the whole story until the end, and it made want to keep reading. I guarantee it's not what you think.

I don't think that there's anything specific that I can say that I didn't like about this book. It was that good.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 49/50 A+
Cover Comments: Pretty fitting, but not attention grabbing. I think it makes the book look too nice.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2010-08-26T14:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Nevermore
Author: Kelly Creagh
Release Date: August 31st
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

This was quite a book. It's a long book, and starts out a bit slow, but once you really get into it it's impossible to put down. Edgar Allen Poe and his poems play a large role in this book, but you don't need to know anything about him before you read, it's all explained throughout. I'd read a few of Poe's poems before this, but I found him much more interesting now. The mystery surrounding his death is especially fascinating.

I really liked how long this book was because it let you get to know the characters, primarily Isobel. Isobel is one of those cheerleaders. You know the ones, the mean girl, dating the football star, airheaded, self absorbed type. Except she's not. I was very surprised by Isobel throughout this entire book and got to really like her. Varen is...well, at first glance a creepy goth guy. But he's so much more, and he and Isobel go together more than you would think. The romance in this book isn't flashy but very subtle, which makes it all the more intriguing.

This plot is very, very original. I've never read anything even close to resembling it. At all. It was so, so great to read about something that I've never read about. The whole book is very mysterious and sometimes even frustrating. It's not until the end that we really understand everything. And the ending is something else, I have no idea what I would do if there wasn't going to be a sequel.

One thing that I didn't like is that the end gets confusing, and even though the pacing is urgent a lot of time is spent on descriptions. All that I wanted was to keep going, to know what happens next, but I was hampered by all of the descriptions. I also felt that some things weren't explained as well as I would have liked. They may be explored more in the sequel though.

Basically I loved this book! It was very original, very addicting, and very romantic. Thank goodness there's a sequel, because after that ending I'm begging for it!

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 47/50 A
Cover Comments: I love it! The couple on the cover fit the descriptions of Varen and Isobel perfectly, and I love the way that she's looking at him and he's looking toward us. The words going across is perfect also, and the title is extremely fitting.

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

2010-08-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dell

Release Date: March 22nd, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation--and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much. It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal?

Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment. Frances O’Roark Dowell’s fierce humor and keen eye make her YA debut literary and wise. In the spirit of John Green and E. Lockhart, Dowell’s relatable, quirky characters and clever, fluid writing prove that growing up gets complicated…and normal is WAY overrated.

Doesn't it just sound so hilarious? And cute? If it really is anything like John Green or E. Lockhart books, then I'm sure to enjoy it!

What are you waiting on?

Winner of my Required Reading Giveaway!

2010-08-25T10:48:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! First I want to say thank you to everyone who entered my Required Reading Giveaway. There were 91 entrants with almost 400 entries! That's way more than I expected! Anyway, the winner is:

Ekta Patel!

I have emailed you and you have 48 hours to respond!

Thanks to everyone again!

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

2010-08-24T14:00:00.001-04:00

Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns
Edited by: Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
Authors: Libba Bray, Meg Cabot, Cassandra Clare, Kathleen Duey, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Maureen Johnson, Margo Lanagan, Garth Nix, Naomi Novic, Diana Peterfreund, Carrie Ryan, Scott Westerfeld,
Release Date: September 21st, 2010
Synopsis from Goodreads:
It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

Well, I think that it goes without saying that I've never read anything quite like this! It was highly entertaining. I thought that the little notes from the editors before each story, explaining their thoughts and giving a little backstory, were a nice touch. And funny. As it usually goes with anthologies, there were stories that I loved (Libba Bray's Prom Night) and ones that I didn't (Margo Lanagan's A Thousand Flowers).

The stories ranged from dark to funny, to darkly funny. Starting each story was like opening a present. I think that some of them are going to stick with me for a while. There are a couple rather disturbing ones in there. And the ones that I found most disturbing were unicorn stories. Surprising, I know. One of my favorites was Meg Cabot's Princess Prettypants, a unicorn story. It was really funny, and lightened the mood. I was surprised by how much I loved Carrie Ryan's zombie story, as I wasn't a fan of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

I think that I enjoyed more zombie stories than unicorn stories. But that's probably because more authors that I like are team zombie. Now, I've tried, I really have, but I simply cannot figure out which team I'm on! Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Maybe I should try for Team Zombie Unicorn? I'd read a book about those! Wouldn't you?

Basically, if you like any of these authors, this book is worth a shot. Since I don't see how I could use my regular rating system in this situation, I'm just going to use stars: 4 stars!

Cover Comments: This is possibly the most awesome cover EVER. The inside is great too!

Just a few randoms

2010-08-24T13:21:00.000-04:00

#1 Today is the last day to enter my Required Reading Giveaway! It ends tonight at 11:59 EST! I'm giving away ARCs of Nightshade and Infinite Days!

#2 As you surely are aware, today is the release day of the highly anticipated Mockingjay, which I pre-ordered from Borders. Well, it hasn't even shipped yet, and at this rate I won't get it until Saturday. BUT my awesome friend was planning on buying it, but she can't read it because her mom won't let her until she reads her required reading for school ( I know! Moms...). This means that she can give it to me! Today! So I can read it before Saturday! AHHHH! I told her she was made of awesome ;)

That's all!

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire: Reread

2010-08-23T14:00:00.002-04:00

*Warning: This post contains mild spoilers for these books, if you haven't read them yet then I recommend you don't read this*

So, I reread both of these over the weekend. Wow. I can't believe how much of Catching Fire I forgot! It was a lot. I basically remembered all of The Hunger Games though, since this is my third time rereading it, not my second.

There are so many emotions in these books that I forgot about. Katniss's conflicted feeling, her desperation, her strength. I forgot other things too, how much happens before the games actually start in both of them, how big a part Cinna plays, what happens to Peeta at the end of Catching Fire.

I also forgot how superb the writing is. I was hanging on to every word. Suzanne Collins has the thing where she makes you never want to stop reading. She gives you enough information to keep you from dying, but not enough that you're satisfied. And those cliffhangers, the ones at the end of chapters and the end of the books, are so killer! If you're planning on stopping at the end of a chapter, you might as well forget it because it's definitely not happening!

I was previously Team Peeta, but no I'm Team Katniss. There is definitely not enough information on her feelings to choose a clear winner, and I trust Suzanne Collins to do it right!

I'm so, so excited for Mockingjay to come out tomorrow! TOMORROW! Although I probably won't get it until around Friday because I pre-ordered it. I'm a little apprehensive though. Who knows what could happen? All that I have to say is, Peeta better not die!

Ignore That

2010-08-22T22:26:00.002-04:00

If you see a post about The Hunger Games and Catching Fire from me, it wasn't supposed to go up until tomorrow (Monday) so ignore it, you can read it when I really post it! Thanks!