And Another Book Read.....

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2010-07-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Lennie Walker has forever been the sidekick to her older sister Bailey’s racehorse-self. One day though, fate allows for a nasty twist in Lennie’s seemingly complacent life when Bailey dies. Lennie then falls into a world filled with grief. She feels like no one can understand her and cannot fathom how to go on with her life without her sister there to guide her.

She then finds one person who she can find solace in – her sisters boyfriend Toby. The thing is her relationship with Toby quickly develops into something more, things she’s not used to. Then there is Joe Fontaine. The new boy in town from Paris, who has a musical gift and the good looks to have all the girls swooning, including Lennie.

As time reels forward, Lennie realizes that its time to step up and be the racehorse and to take control of her life. She has so much to learn about herself and how to feel, after everything seems to have been taken away, all while seeing that grief can never leave, but can be healed with love.

This book is beautiful in every sense of the word. It all starts before the first page is even turned, with the magnificent cover that gives you just a glimpse into the heart of this stunning novel. From the very first paragraph you can feel the magnificence of the writing that is present throughout the entirety of the novel and are thrust into the grief that Lennie Walker feels. The beauty of the book does not end there, but continues throughout the story as you see Lennie discover her true being and see her heart stiched back together through the power of love in all forms, her clarinet and the people in her life. The characters also radiate this beauty, allowing the reader to see and share their innermost feelings. And the ending does not disappoint, as it provided one of the most realistic and wonderful endings I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

So - a little elaboration to back up my gushing of the book, starting with the characters. Lennie, well sometimes I wanted to shake some sense into the girl, wanting her to realize that she could live without Bailey, no matter how hard it may seem. At other times I wanted her to know how proud I was of her for accepting love into her heart and learning to stand up for herself. Then there is Joe Fontaine – who I’m pretty sure could have any girl drooling just at the thought of what Paris beholds! This boy is absolutely the best literary crush to have. He’s caring and isn’t afraid to show his love, all while being a stupendous (or, using a favorite word of the characters in the novel: unfreakingbelievable!) musician. Honestly, the characters are what made the book. Their incredible ability to show their true beings allowed the reader to feel all their emotions, allowing for many tears and smiles along the journey.

Overall, this book was spellbinding. It grabbed me from the beginning and threw me into a world where there was no escaping the grief that so many people in this world feel. It made me wonder how incredible difficult it would be to loose my sister – who means the world to me, much like Bailey did to Lennie - and how I would react. This thinking lead to more thinking, which then made me realize that no mater what situations you have encountered thus far in your life, there is some way to relate to this book, making it easy for any person to tear through this book. This was an absolutely stunning debut, that made me laugh, sob and think more than any other book I’ve read, making it a novel I will not soon forget. I very much look forward to reading more of Jandy Nelson’s romantic, sad, sexy, and magical stories.

Now what are you waiting for! Go grab a copy from anywhere you can and experience the magic for yourself.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

2010-07-13T11:30:00.002-04:00

In two different Chicago suburbs, that really aren’t that far from each other, there resides two very different boys with the same name – Will Grayson. Although they are not that far apart they have never met, until a twist of fate brings them together.

One Will Grayson seems to always be in the shadow, both literally and figuratively, of his massive gay best friend Tiny Cooper – an offensive lineman and musical theater enthusiast. When he loses his circle of friends, after standing up for Tiny, he rarely knows what to do with himself and starts spending more time with Tiny and his friend Jane – whom he finds himself oddly attracted to, although he cannot act on his feelings due to the “rules” he has set for himself on how to get through life without to much attention.

The other Will Grayson is also in a social funk – although his is a bit more permanent. The only friend he has at school is a girl named Maura, although he doesn’t really even like her all that much and just likes to talk with her about his depression. He does though have a strong friend in Isaac, a boy he met online that he might just be in love with.

When things don’t go according to plan though, both boys seem to breakdown and have a heartfelt revolution towards their interactions and feelings for others, all while aiding in the production of the best high school musical of all times.

When you put two powerhouse authors together you expect a boom, a big one at that. Now putting John Green and David Levithan together, that’s more like expecting an earthquake. As for the reality occurred, there was definitely a boom, and some tremor of that quake, but it wasn’t as earth shattering as I had expected.

First off, I’ll talk about John Greene’s Will Grayson – the one with Tiny Cooper as the best friend. To me, he was the best. He was snarky and funny, and emotional at the right times. Most of all he was believable and I just came to really enjoy his part of the story. John Green was also the fabulous inventor of Tiny Cooper – who I think is one of the best characters to have ever been created. He was funny and sincere and truly the “life of the party.”

As for David Levithan’s Will Grayson, he was definitely a darker character. I feel he whined a lot and pitied himself a little too much. Now with that being said, I did feel bad for him – I mean the kid had to go through some situations that no one should ever have to experience and learned to sympathizes for him. I did enjoy his budding relationship with his mom; it really clued the reader into his personality, as well as him popping out of his social outcast hole.

In regards to the writing – it was great, absolutely all of it. While the characters had two distinct voices, unique to their respective author, you couldn’t tell that it was written by two different people. Everything meshed and just felt right.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into the story, but it soon enough got rolling. It also made me appreciate the importance of maintaining friendships and to sometimes let loose, as you could be missing out on a lot if you don’t. I would love to read another book co-written by these two fabulous authors, as I know it will be a lot of fun.

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart

2010-07-09T18:20:00.002-04:00

Ruby Oliver is back from Christmas vacation and well in all honesty, life hasn’t gotten any less confusing for her at Tate Prep. You see, she hasn’t had a boyfriend now in 37 weeks and the future is looking bleak as well, her panic attacks are getting worse, and her friend Nora has told her to stay away from the one boy she likes. Not only does she have to deal with all this drama, but Jackson, her old boyfriend, has all of sudden become very friendly, Nora’s brother Gideon is coming on to her, and rumors are flying around the school about Ruby again.

Ruby is just not sure how she is going to survive her second semester of Junior year. There’s bake sales, smelly feet, pygmey goats, and her constant struggle with her mental health to take into account, but hey she’s survived before so who says she can’t do it again!

I only read the first book in the series, THE BOYFRIEND LIST, but had no problem jumping into another of Ruby’s many escapades. Ruby filled the reader in on any information they may have missed by not reading the other books to make this a great book.

I thought that the whole story was side-splitting hilarious and was so full of crazy adventures that I couldn’t help but wish I could get caught up with it all myself. All the boy drama within the book was so real. It reaked havoc on friendships and drove everyone crazy, just like in real life. What made it even more authentic was the personality of they guys – it was so typical! While the boys had that typical personality, they were not super well developed. Ruby on the other hand was developed and relatable, but not always real.

Anyways, I really liked the book. The writing made the book easy to read and I loved how each chapter started out with a journal entry – it really set the mood. It was fun and light and I can’t wait to hear more about her adventures. This is a great book that I really enjoyed and had me laughing until the very last page.

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

2010-07-06T20:48:00.000-04:00

Tola Riley is well, unique to say the least. With her green hair, nose ring, and intense love of art it is no wonder that she is so misunderstood by her high school peers. There is one person though who just gets her, Mr. Mymer, her art teacher. While some people might not understand this relationship, Tola is fine with it, as she is so used to being misunderstood. When her relationship with Mr. Mymer gets blown out of proportion though, Tola finds herself in the middle of a scandal. Even though she tries to tell everyone the truth, no one will believe her and she continues through the year as an even bigger misfit. On top of this, Tola consistently deals with multiple family problems, friend problems, and of course the day-to-day issues of being a teenager.

I have to say that the author, Laura Ruby, has the teenage personality down to a tee. Tola was very real and I had no problem envisioning her as a real person. Laura Ruby did a really good job making the reader feel connected to the characters playing on the reader’s heart strings and making them truly connect with Tola. While I felt that Tola was decently developed, none of the other supporting characters were developed at all. Yes there were a few minutes that they almost felt real, but then they seemed to fall right back into the pages.

The author also created a very interesting plot. It took a different perspective on the whole student-teacher affair, which seems to be a theme that has become very popular in YA books. I also really enjoyed how the plot looked at how one event in a family can affect each member differently. Overall the plot was very realistic and I could easily picture this same situation happening in many high schools.

I liked this book. The writing was decent, but didn’t blow me away and the characters weren’t as well developed as they could have been, but the reality of the book made up for these weaker points. The ending was absolutely fabulous, probably the best part of the book and had me in fits of laughter. I look forward to checking out Laura Ruby’s other books and I highly suggest you check this book out when you are looking for some very real teen fiction.

Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart

2010-07-02T11:21:00.000-04:00

Katie’s house is just too big now that her mom has passed away and her genius dad is distant and more focused on the paintings that he restores. She’s also separated herself from many of her friends and has found herself very lonely.

The summer before her senior year of high school she decides that she needs a job. Katie soon finds herself working in the gardens of the local mystery woman, Miss Martine. Along with two handsome and goofy brothers, a chic librarian she becomes enthralled with the mystery behind Miss Martine and is determined to solve it.

There are secrets everywhere Katie turns. Behind locked doors, within old newspaper clippings, with the old man who works in the garden, and within old paintings. Beneath everything though, at the core of this mystery, is a love story. A love story within the mystery and one of Katie’s own. As Katie discovers more and more about Miss Martine, Katie also finds out more and more about herself and comes to turn with many of the ghosts in her life.

I have to start off by saying that Beth Kephart is one of my all-time favorite authors. That being said I always have high expectations when I sit down to read her books and this one was no exception. I loved how the author was able to subtly weave several different tiny stories into the general plot and had me so enchanted that it was impossible for me to close the book.

I loved how unique the plot was. It was a mystery, but was different than anything I had ever experienced. Like any mystery though it had all those heart pounding suspense moments and moments of despair. The characters came in an enhanced the story to no end. Katie was a great character who was extremely relatable and at time her curiosity created a sense of spontaneity that brought a smile to my face. The relationships that were created were very real and I just could not wait for them to unfold. All the characters were well developed and they were all so different that there was a great sense of diversity within the story.

Now this would not be a true Kephart novel if it did not have superior writing. Every sentence was truly brilliant and I loved the lyrical feel that was presented. All the grief and emotion within the story was so true, yet it was not overdone. She also created such an unexpected and amazing ending that perfectly suited the story that made me love her even more!

This was one of the best books of the year and was a spectacular prose that doesn’t easily leave the reader’s mind. I encourage you all to go and grab a copy and read it quickly, but not too quickly so that you don’t have time to savor every perfect word.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

2010-06-29T19:37:00.000-04:00

Lia and Alice Milthorpe are sixteen-year-old twins whose father has just passed away, leaving them and their brother Henry orphaned. The two girls though couldn’t be more different. Lia is quite a bit more social and kinder, while Alice keeps to herself and is very mysterious. What the two girls don’t realize though, is that they do have something in common. They are both part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other.

Just days after her father’s death Lia finds an odd mark start to appear on her wrist. Keeping her new discovery from everyone, including her beloved James and Alice, she sets off to find the meaning of it. She quickly comes to learn about the prophecy and her role in it. She hopes with her new knowledge she will be able to come to understand the mystery behind her parent’s deaths, the lengths her sister will go to destroy her, and the havoc that the downfall of the prophecy could bring.

Michelle Zink has created a stunning debut novel with PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS that I thoroughly enjoyed. She had great characterization and a spell-binding plot that literally glued the book to my hands!

One highlight of the book for me was the setting. I loved the magic that surrounded Birchwood (the Milthorpe estate) and the town, as it really added to the mystery of the story. At many times I was reminded of Libba Bray’s Gema Doyle series, but this book is definitely its own story.

As for the plot, it was absolutely riveting. With the different worlds and the secrecy of the prophecy, I was completely transported into Lia’s life. The battle between the sisters was interesting and a concept that doesn’t seem to be too prominent in YA fiction. It added a whole new element of secrecy to the book, leaving the reader anxious and hesitant as to what was going to happen next.

I also loved the characterization. It was so easy to see the difference between the two characters and I never felt like they blended together. The writing was also fabulous, drawing me in at all times.

Overall, I thought this was a great debut and a fantastic start to a series. I cannot wait to read more about these sisters and learn more about their fates. Definitely pick this book up if you’re looking for a stupendously haunting novel that won’t disappoint!

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

2010-06-28T17:02:00.000-04:00

Destiny Faraday has made it her duty to keep a distance from anyone and everyone at school, as the reality is her parents will move her soon enough. She’s been at Hedgebrook Academy now for almost two years and everything has fallen into a routine, careful that it doesn’t include much time to really get to know people.

With one turn of the calendar page though, Destiny’s careful routine is thrown to shambles. First her Aunt Eddie can’t come to visit her and secondly she runs into a very mysterious stranger, a stranger who just happens to leave his car running in the school parking lot. Looking for just a day out Destiny hopes in said car, along with three classmates, and embarks on an unauthorized road trip to a location only Destiny knows the true meaning of. All have hopes to make this day a fair day – a day where the good guys win and everything is just so right.

This book was, hands down, one of the most original stories I have ever read. There were so many twists and turns that it kept me on my toes and wanting more with every period. I loved the unique characters and their complexity along with the breathtaking writing that truly transported me to the car along with the students.

Destiny’s character absolutely blew me away. She was so alive and heartbroken that I couldn’t help but connect with her. I enjoyed seeing her layers peel back as the story continued and loved the mystery of getting to know her. All the other characters were well developed and I desperately wanted them all to be my friends, so that I could participate in their crazy adventures. It was also really neat to see the relationships that the characters formed unravel.

As I mentioned before the writing was spectacular. Everything was so real, the wind, the trees, and the emotion. It was definitely one of the few books that really took over my imagination and transported me into their car. The ending was also superb. It was unexpected and left me wanting so much more, but tied everything that had occurred in the book together.

I highly recommend this book to any reader looking for a very powerful, real and emotional read. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time and will give any reader chills. It really showed the true power of friendship and the magic of chance.

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts by Jill Wolfson

2010-04-03T10:51:00.000-04:00

Dani has had fifteen years of surgeries, x-rays, docotor’s appointments, and her favorite hospital class jello, all because she was born with her heart on the wrong side of her chest. She is more than ready to live the life of a normal teenager, but it will never happen until she has a new heart, but getting one isn’t easy at all.

Amanda has been a gymnast for almost her whole fourteen years. She’s one of the best with her sleek muscular very healthy body. On the biggest day of her career though, in a very common routine, something goes horribly wrong without any notice.

Dani and Amanda have nothing in common, don’t go to the same school, and have no idea who each other are, but their lives are about to completely collide. On a journey through life and death, friendship and hardship, the reader learns about the pains of life and death.

This book is really one of a kind. It deals with heart transplants. It shows the life of a kid who needs a heart and the life of a family who provides that heart. It was a good read, but lacked a lot.

The plot was interesting as I mentioned before, but very repetitive. It was interesting to see two different sides to the story – the family and the recipient. The characters were okay. There were so many that it was hard to keep up with them all at times. Dani was a lot of fun though. Despite her set backs she was spunky and funny and really cared about life. It was also fun to see her relationship with Milo, a boy in need of a new liver, develop. The ending tied together nicely and was very satisfying.

Overall I liked this book and learned a lot. It really opened my eyes to the reality and difficulty of organ donation. There was a lot of emotion even though the writing was little bland. I think it would be interesting to read other books by Jill Wolfson as she definitely peaked my interest with this book.

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

2010-03-28T18:54:00.002-04:00

Alice finds her escape in writing songs and her love for her boyfriend and then distancing herself from her father and pregnant stepmother. If only her mother hadn’t died, maybe she would be happier, but who knows, she just wishes she was still with her. As time passes Alice becomes more and more distant from her family she becomes more and more unhappy.

After a family Christmas trip though, things in Alice’s life change dramatically. On the way home Alice and her step-mother Victoria along with her new baby sister get stuck in the worst snow storm of the century. The three girls are forced to survive through brutal weather, with little food and little warmth. Along their adventure of survival though Alice has to confront many issues she hasn’t faced for years and discovers more about herself then she ever thought possible.

Alice isn’t sure if she will make it out of the storm alive, but she has discovered one thing: it sucks being alone, but she’s not sure if she really is after all.

Lisa Schroeder is definitely a talented author. She caputres my attention right away with her lyrical prose and transports me into her story. What is really special about her is that she tackles really difficult subjects, such as cancer and death, and takes them to a personal level that everyone can relate to, even if they haven’t experienced it before.

The plot itself wasn’t all that exceptional. It was predictable and didn’t really spark my attention. It was emotional and heartfelt though. The characters were really special though. Alice was very well developed and I felt like I really got into her mind and felt the same emotions she was feeling. Alice also made the mother come alive in her own way to. The few images we got of her were fantastic and even though she wasn’t present all that much, she felt so important. The other characters though were more flat, although as the end approached the step-mother became much more real.

Overall I liked this book. The writing was lyrical and the emotion was deep. It was a fast read and it wasn’t as great as her debut, but it was still solid. I look forward to reading more from Mrs. Schroeder!

The Girl with the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron

2010-03-17T21:34:00.000-04:00

Sukie Jamieson is obsessed with her looks and herself. At every opportunity she gets she looks at herself in a spoon, or takes a “selfie” with her cell phone, all to make sure she looks the best. When her mother gives her a gorgeous antique mirror that used to belong to her grandmother, Sukie is ecstatic. She is so ecstatic that she forgets to adhere to her mother’s warning: “the mirror will be your best friend, but also your worst enemy.”

As Sukie’s year progresses she learns that the mirror shows not only who you are up close, but also who you are on the inside. With these revelations she sets off into the best and worst moments of her life, dealing with everything from family problems, to friendship problems, but most of all, who she really is as a person.

To be honest I was not a fan of this book for the first half. I felt Sukie was really whiny and fake, caring to much about herself and not enough about those around her. Everything was really disconnected and confusing, but as soon as I hit the halfway mark the story got so much better. Sukie started to become aware of her surroundings and really turned into a real person. She even got my sympathy as she dealt with situations that anyone would find tough.

While the second half was definitely the better half, the ending really sealed the deal for me that this was actually a good book. There was tons of emotion and it was great to see things fall into place. The crazy characters became a little less crazy and you really got to see the amount Sukie had grown throughout the story. Throughout the book the writing was choppy, but you quickly got used to it. One thing I definitely have to give kudos to the author for his for her characterization of Sukie’s mom. Her mom was such a mean person that by the end of the book I really had an extreme dislike for her. For me, the fact that the author was able to make me feel this infuriated with a character is really neat as it means she made her real. In the end, this was a good story of friendship, loneliness and finding the true beauty in yourself that is sometimes very hard to find.

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

2010-03-15T00:15:00.003-04:00

Annika Truman is always being reminded of the power of positive thinking. After all her little brother, Jeremy has cancer and her parents are sure that if they all think the best will happen, than it will. The thing is though, Jeremy is starting to give up on the positive thinking when he heads in to his next big surgery and Annika will go as far as Hollywood (without her parents permission) to bring him the hope that he needs.

When Annika convinces Jeremy to make a wish with a magic genie, he wishes for something completely unexpected – for his favorite televesion star to come and visit him in person. With this new curveball, Annika’s plan is momentarily discombobbled, but she is determined as ever to see it through.

With her best friend in tow, Annika sets off to Hollywood to track down said start and will not stop at anything until she at least gets the chance to talk to him. She knows it won’t be easy and she only has a couple days, but nothing will stand in her way.

This was a cute and fluffy read all the way. While it held my attention, I wasn’t all that immersed in the book and easily finished it in a couple of hours. One thing though that really caught my attention was the humor. There were many times where I found myself laughing out loud and the incredible actions of Annika in order to get the attention of the hunky star, Steve and her failed attempts at stalking him!

The plot itself was heartwarming, with Annika’s strong love for her brother and the little bit of romance that evolved was cute albeit predictable. I thought that the Robin Hood theme was something quite original and I enjoyed seeing in a modern light. One thing that really made the book special though was the ending. The author jam-packed all of this emotion within the last pages that was absolutely breath taking and I just wished she had incorporated this more throughout the book, as it would have made the book a lot better. The characters were average, nothing special, but like I said before Annika’s love for her brother was really sweet.

Overall I liked this book and am interested to read more of Ms. Rallison’s work. This book is a great book to curl up with on a rainy day.

Triple Shot Bettys in Love by Jody Gehrman

2010-03-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Geena is starting to completely flip out. Her boyfriend of five months, Ben, wants to get a lot more physical then she’s ready for. Then there is Amber, dear, dear, Amber, who happens to have a crush on Geena’s delectably steamy and hot English teacher, Mr. Sands who also happens to speak to Geena’s soul. Amber knows that she has any chance of stealing the heart of Mr. Sands she is going to need help, a lot of help from Geena that is. Soon Geena finds herself writing MySpace messages to Mr. Sands and making Amber appear as an intellectual, what she doesn’t bet on though is him writing back, but he does. Geena knows that she is doing it for Amber, so it’s not technically cheating on Ben…right?

With all of this drama going on in Geena’s life it’s no wonder she’s about to have a complete melt down. Will she make it through these tough couple of months or will she completely fall apart? And more importantly, will her and Amber find true love?

This was a great sequel to TRIPLE SHOT BETTYS. Jody Gehrman’s writing was fun and light and just kept you reading all throughout the story. The whole subject that is dealt with is quite interesting and serious, but the author handled it with a grace that I found very remarkable and fascinating. She also seemed to have a great handle on the teenage mind and how it works with relationships and such, making very relatable characters. I also wish that Hero was a little more present, but hey it’s okay.

On the note of characters I thought that they were very real and felt like old friends. Amber was a little to whiny and I was disappointed with how Geena handled the relationship with her boyfriend, but other than that the characters were so charming and unique I just couldn’t get enough.

Overall I really liked this story and am hoping there will be more about the Bettys in the future. If you haven’t had a chance to read this super funny and great books I highly suggest you pick up a copy.

Leftovers by Heather Waldorf

2010-03-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

In most cases when a father dies, their daughters would be distraught, but in Sarah Greene’s case relief floods over her. With his death it means that there will be no more chances for her father to abuse her and take pictures. Along with the relief though comes a nagging feeling due to a still hidden shoebox in her father’s old restaurant filled with kiddy porn that she is determined to destroy. When her desperation to find the box hits an all-time high she takes her mother’s car and crashes it – landing her in a whole heap of trouble with the law. Her punishment: doing summer-long community service at Camp Dog Gone, where shelter dogs go for a vacation.

While at “camp,” Sarah befriends a big romping dog named Judy – who is just as troubled as Sarah, - another troubled soul, Sullivan, and several other people who help her turn her life around slowly but surely. As she comes to realize what is important in her life, she breaks out of her shell that the past created and starts to heal – looking towards a brighter future.

This book is unlike many that I have read before. It takes a dark subject – sexual abuse – and turns it into a journey of healing. Using a fun background the author explores the hurt that accompanies abuse and how other people (or animals in this case) help to heal. The plot turned out to be really cute and I loved the setting with all the dogs running around.

The characters were also quite interesting. Sarah was so guarded that at times it was hard to see who she really was, but as the end of the book approached it was neat to see her personality really unfold. I also really like Sullivan. He seemed like such a happy go lucky kind of guy until you found out about his secrets – which made him very realistic. Another aspect that really stood out to me was the characterization of the dogs. Each had their own unique personality that made the reader feel as if they were curled up at their own feet.

Leftovers really has it all – humor, reality, family drama and a little bit of romance to satisfy all readers interests. It was a great book that I really enjoyed and urge you all to go and pick up a copy for yourself.

The Navel of the World by P.J. Hoover

2010-03-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

At the end of summer school last year Benjamin Holt had one outstanding homework assignment – to find his two missing brothers. The thing is, Benjamin has no idea how he is ever going to accomplish this, especially since he won’t be in Lemuria for a long while. What perplexes him even more is the fact that he and his brothers are the three people that keeps the worlds in balance. This news is almost too much for him to bear, especially since he is so young, but it also pushes him farther to find the whereabouts of his brothers.

Over spring break Benjamin gets the opportunity to intern at his father’s law office where he finds a mysterious file with his name on it. The only problem with the file is that he can’t read it as it is in ancient Lemurian, but at least he has some sort of clue. When he finally arrives back in Lumeria he is greeted by his telegen pals, continuing on with their studies, along with learning the art of time travel. With this new power in stow the Emerald Tablet Alliance sets off across the earth in search of the missing brothers.

Goodness these books are good! They are so jam packed with adventure that it is hard not to love them. With the combination of the great plot and characters, along with the flawless writing it was quite difficult to put the book down. The world that was created – Lemuria – was so cool – as in I was it was real. What was even better about Lemuria was it felt real. You could hear the footsteps on the path and bell jingling when the characters walked into a shop.

The characters were also very interesting. Benjamin was so determined to find his brothers that I felt myself cheering for him along his journey – which sounded like a lot of fun! Also the characters just clicked together. It was interesting to see their relationships unfold and again it was very real. The ending was probably the best part of the book. It made my heart race with anticipation, which I never wanted to end. Sadly it did though, leaving lots of room for the next book.

This book is definitely one suitable for anyone looking for adventure and fun. I compared the first book, The Emerald Tablet, to the Percy Jackson series, but after reading this book I dare say that they are better! I cannot wait to read more from PJ Hoover as she is absolutely fantastic, and I urge everyone, young or old, to pick up a copy and see for themselves how cool Lemuria is!

What Would Emma Do by Eileen Cook

2010-03-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

The golden rule of friendship: “Thou Shalt Not Kiss Thy Best Friend’s Boyfriend.” Well Emma seems to have forgotten this one simple rule and the thing is she’s forgotten it before. It doesn’t take time for her best friend to find out and soon the whole small town knows about it too. Now her best friend is furious with her, her relationship with her best guy friend has gotten kind of weird, and in her ultra religious town she is having a hard time figuring out quite what to do (can anyone say WWJD?) and where she can fit in. With this entire ordeal going on, Emma isn’t sure how she’s going to have a good senior year, especially trying to please everyone and hopefully getting the idea of kissing unmentionable people out of her mind. Not to mention that she’s on the verge of a huge social disaster. Maybe its finally time for her to think more “What Would Emma Do?” then “What does everyone want Emma to do?”

Ahh this book had me in fits of laughter. Every little bit of it was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Emma’s character was great and her whole story just clicked for me and as I said before, I found myself liking it a lot. One aspect of the book that I really enjoyed was the letters Emma wrote to God. They were funny and thoughtful and really helped the reader understand Emma in a whole new way. Much of the plot was unexpected and I enjoyed how it was a religious comedy, without being in your face. The characters were well developed, especially Emma. I just could not get enough of her and the situations she got herself in were fantastically funny. I also really enjoyed the author’s style. Her writing was quick and to the point, with enough detail to satisfy the reader, but not too much. Overall I really enjoyed this book and absolutely cannot wait to read more of Eileen Cook!

Fire by Kristin Cashore

2010-03-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Just east of the seven kingdoms we all came to love in Graceling, is a land called the Dells. In the Dells, beautiful creatures named monsters inhibit the valleys, mountains, and everywhere in between. While these creatures resemble normal animals, such as cats, dragonflies, fish, etc. they have brilliantly colored and they have the power to manipulate human’s minds’.

Some of these monsters even come in human form, but now seventeen-year-old Fire is the last one left. Like all monsters she is unfairly gorgeous and attracts all the men, but she also shares the ability to control people’s minds, which can get her in some serious trouble. While many people are drawn towards Fire, many others detest her and frown upon all she does. Thankfully a family takes in her, becoming the only family she really knows.

When political issues begin to rise and powers from the north and south start to conspire against King Nash, him and his brother Brigan have no choice but to call in the help of Fire. Together they learn to put aside their vast differences and try their hardest to dispel the ideas of King Nash being overthrown. Through it all they encounter war, several conspiracies, and worst of all – a small boy with strange two-colored eyes and an unusual ability that Graceling readers will find eerily familiar.

Wow, just wow! This book was just plain phenomenal and honestly it is quite difficult to put in to words how wonderful I thought this was. The characters were so real and I could literally feel the wind in my face and hear the birds overhead. The plot was also extremely interesting and I loved the connections it made to Graceling – although it is not necessary to have read Graceling before hand.

I very much enjoyed Fire’s spitfire attitude and independence – as I believe it is essential for a strong female character to posses these traits. Her attitude quickly grew on me and I found myself cheering for her along her journey and tearing up along side her sorrows. I also loved the few connections that it made to Graceling. They were subtle, yet obvious at the same time and just made me smile. They also made me go “so that’s why this happened.”

With a fast paced, action packed plot, fantastic characters, and seamless writing there is no way you could go wrong picking up Fire. It will take you to the mystical world of the Dells and leave you there even after the last page despite the fact that you'll never want to leave. This has definitely become one of my favorite books and dare I say that it is better than Graceling!

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

2010-03-07T08:00:00.004-05:00

Sam is not crazy about spending the summer as a third wheel, with her best friend Mal and her new boyfriend listening to the sounds of “pookie” and “sweetie.” Looking for a way to get out, Sam finds a job as a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. Never having been to camp before she expects a somewhat idyllic experience, but what she gets is something she would never have guessed in a million years. When Sam gets to camp things start to go downhill fast and she’s not sure if the summer will turn out as great as she was expecting it to. First there is Ashley, the resident queen bee of Whispering Pines, and then there is the absolutely hot and flirtatious counselor Hunter, who is not as innocent as he seems, and then there is Cole, who is just too funny and always teasing Sam, but he’s just a friend, or at least that’s what she wants to think. There are some highlights to her days though, such as: her new cabin friends who brighten her day and then the cute campers that she helps out with. How will Sam’s summer camp experience turn out? No one, not even her, knows. This book was a really fun look at summer camp. By the time I was finished with SLEEPAWAY GIRLS I was ready to pack my bags and head off to camp too! It’s a great book for a car ride or the beach or any other fun summery activity. The plot was fun and real and made you feel those mosquito bites, just like Sam. At times though it was a bit repetitive and dragged on. The characters were interesting. I felt that Sam really needed to stand up for herself, as it got boring when she kept getting stepped on and didn’t do anything. Cole was always there to make the reader laugh and Ashley was your perfect, pure evil villain. Overall I liked this book. The ending was a bit predictable, but the setting of the book was impeccable. This is a great book for all aged young adult readers as they will get lost in the fun of summer camp and all the drama that it brings!

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

2010-03-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Amy’s best friend Julia is gone. She has been now for seventy-five days and Amy is still not sure how to survive. Everyday she wakes up thinking about how it is her fault that Julia is gone and there is nothing she can do to bring her back. When Amy’s shrink suggests that she keep a diary, she guffaws at the idea, but she soon finds herself writing letters to Julia. She writes about the past and the present and discusses all of her feelings throughout her letters. What she realizes though is that the past wasn’t all that perfect nor was Julia, like Amy thought she was. She also finds that there might be some great opportunities in the present as well and who knows what the future will hold? As Amy writes her letters she also starts a healing process and discovers a lot about herself that she never knew about. She also learns how to make friends again and to become her own person, which just happens to be the most important journey of all. Elizabeth Scott is a phenomenal author. I have loved each book she has written, but for me this one just wasn’t as good. Yes, it was an emotional powerhouse, but well that’s about it to be honest. The characters got on my nerves a bit and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was just something lacking. The plot really went into the mind of someone dealing with death, grief and finding new friends, which I found interesting. I do have to commend the author though on creating very real characters. The teens didn’t feel to old or young and I could actually picture them being real, which added to the authenticity of the story. As for the characters, I really think they were the downfall. I understand that Amy was griefstricken, but she honestly got really whiny and on my nerves. About halfway through the book I was ready for her to get over her problems and just be thankful she was alive. The parents were also annoying as they were so distant and uninvolved in their daughter’s life that it was hard to believe they couldn’t see the pain she was in. Overall I liked this book. Ms. Scott’s writing was impeccable, even though the magic it usually has wasn’t present. I did appreciate though the very thorough and realistic look at grief that was portrayed. I definitely cannot wait for more from Elizabeth Scott.

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

2010-03-03T09:29:00.000-05:00

Quinn Parker is about to have the summer of her life. She’s flying out to Austin, Texas to live with her cousin Penny and has a job working for the label of her favorite indie rock band. The only thing that could make this music filled summer any better would be a boy, the perfect boy in fact. The thing is though, there is no such thing as perfect. Her summer fling becomes a huge question and then there’s the cute cowboy next door who just seems to bring the heat to Quinn’s summer. Then there’s the fact that Penny turns out to be a sorority bimbette who is completely opposite of Quinn. Then there’s her job, which is more like a half-job and leaves Quinn with a bit too much free time. Well it might not turn out as the all time best summer, Quinn definitely is in for an eye-opening summer vacation.

Melissa Walker is one of the best authors for teen girls. She gets them and understands how to pique their interest. Lovestruck Summer was no exception to her awesome books streak and I really, really liked it!

The plot was fun and cute. There were a couple twists and turns that really added to the positive vibe the book cast. I loved the focus on music and the setting was a lot of fun. While it was fluffy, it was one of the best chick-lit books I have read in a long time. It satisfied my romantic heart and completely transported me to the sweltering heat of Austin with every page turn. Melissa Walker definitely knows her way around a romance as she made me lust for a summer as supreme as Quinn’s.

For a fluffy romance book I was pleasantly surprised with the characters. I felt all the characters really came to life, all with their own quirks. Even Penny, your classic sorority girl, was 3-D with her spunky dialogue and of course her cross-dressing dog. Quinn was funny and relatable. I loved how the reader got to see her develop friendships. I often found myself wanting to screat at her from being so blind when it came to guys, but hey it was worth it!

On a side note, there were many tiny refrences to the Violet books which made me giggle, a lot. It was just another element that added to the cuteness factor of this book.

Overall this was such a fun read and I encourage you all to pick it up and give it a go.

Why Young Adults should read YA

2010-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

So a couple of weeks ago I got approached by one of my school's newspaper editors to write an article about why teens should read young adult - as they felt many at our school shied away from the genre. I thought I would share it with you all and see what your opinions were on the matter!

At some point in time we have all walked into a bookstore and seen the section completely devoted to teens. Most of us though do not think to take a second glance and keep on walking, as they seem to think they are to young for them, or are too much like their everyday lives. The thing is though, there is a plethora of books in this section to choose from that are enjoyed by all age groups and have so much to offer. Their topics range from high school highs, high-strung adventures, cliquey romances to the many emotional issues that so many teens face. They also act as portals to unknown worlds, just as books have promised to do for years. The characters are so commonplace – they almost feel as if they could be your best friend, or arch nemesis – it is easy to relate to them and find some semblance to your own life.

As someone who is quite familiar with this genre – I have had the pleasure of professionally reviewing over 300 different titles – I feel that I can say that you should all try at least one good YA book. You will see that the authors try extraordinarily hard to make sure that everything from the clothes that the characters wear to their facial expressions, fits in line with our everyday lives. I have also found that YA authors try so hard, that their books come out so much better. It’s like applying to college - you know you will write a better essay for Harvard, Princeton, or Yale, then one of those easy to get into schools. The same thing happens with YA authors – they bust their butts to write a good book for teens, as they know we are a tough bunch to impress, rather than a mediocre book for adults where the audience is much less selective. Because of this fact, YA books end up just being better in regards to writing and storyline.

Now many people have reservations about reading YA books as they are too focused on teens, or you do not want to read about a life you already know about, but here’s the thing – you get to see a new person’s life in a different light. Also, a lot of the time the only reason why YA books are classified as such is because their main character is a teenager. Take Megan McCafferty’s “Jessica Darling” series, which starts out being about a senior in high school and all her calamities and then proceeds to follow her throughout her college years. Within the books there is gossip, juicy scandals, and oh so much more and all of it has been enjoyed by countless teens and adults alike – and the only reason that you would find it in the teen section is because the main character happens to be 17. Look at the Twilight series. I think every person, whether young or old, has probably enjoyed these books and they are classified as YA. As you can see, YA books are not young, they do not represent a genre that we have outgrown – they are simply books about teens, meant to be enjoyed by all, but in particular teens themselves. Just think, you have years and years to enjoy the thousands of adult books that are out there, but only a few to cherish those that have to do with you, right now.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

2010-02-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

We’ve all heard the Greek myth of Persephone. You know, she’s the reason why the season’s change, but what you probably don’t know is that she has a much more interesting story and she is here to share it.

Persephone feels like her mother Demeter, is strangling her. She keeps her locked up in the garden with no one her own age and is honestly getting quite frustrated with it. One day when her mother is out being the center of attention at some festival or another, a strange man appears in garden. In Persephone’s eyes he is the most handsome and mysterious man (as well as the only) man she has ever met and he fascinates her even though she doesn’t even know his name.

When he offers her the dream of a lifetime, to leave the garden and come live with him she jumps at the chance, not really caring what her mother thinks. What she finds out later though is he is Hades and lives in the underworld, but now she really can’t do anything about it. In her mind though it doesn’t matter. She’s with a man she loves and is getting to do what she wants for the first time ever. What she doesn’t realize though is that while she is having a good time in the underworld, back up Earth havock is being wrecked. Will Persephone decide to stay in the underworld or will she return to a world of restraints up on Earth?

Gosh, I was really looking forward to this book and it was good yes, but it wasn’t as great as I thought it would be. I enjoyed the fun new twist on an old myth and definitely liked Persephone’s independent personality.

The characters were very basic and flat and I just really couldn’t connect with them. I did however enjoy how Hades was made to be a “cool” guy and how Persephone viewed him with a positive attitude. I also enjoyed how Persephone felt like a real teen – looking for independence and doing what she felt was right without giving regard to others!

I found the plot to be quite repetitive and slow moving, but as I mentioned before enjoyed the new look that Persephone had. I did however enjoy the ending and it really saved the book in my eyes. The writing wasn’t dazzling, but it did keep me reading so I can’t say that it was that bad.

Overall I liked this book and thought it was a decent debut for the author. If you’re a big fan of Greek mythology than I think you should definitely give this book a try as it really is quite entertaining to read about this new twist in her story.

Don’t Judge a Girl by her Cover by Ally Carter

2010-02-26T10:48:00.000-05:00

Cammie Morgan, our favorite teen spy, is back in action. Its summer time and Cammie is excited to finish it out with a bang when she goes off to visit her roommate Macey in Boston. When you’re a spy though the word “exciting” is synonymous with “dangerous,” and danger is exactly what Cammie and Macey for that matter, get.

When the girls return to school for the start of junior year, Cammie can’t shake what happened to them in Boston and nowhere feels safe anymore, not even her school. She feels like there are secrets everywhere and old flames are popping up every which way Cammie turns. Cammie and her friends are also quite confused with the answerless questions of who was after Macey and Cammie on that fateful day in Boston.

Soon though Cammie and Becks are asked to accompany Macey (as her personal security guards) on her dad’s campaign trail. Together the three of them keep up with their spy training while trying to uncover the answers to many, many secrets and possibly discovering the shocking truth.

This series is one of a kind and just plain great. Cassie is such an independent person and I love the adventure that takes place. Ally Carter is also such a fabulous author that I get lost in her writing every time I pick up one of her books. DON’T JUDGE A GIRL BY HER COVER is no exception to this said awesomeness.

The characters were a lot of fun. Cammie was determined to succeed in her missions, which I had to admit I was very jealous of and completely wanted to partake in, and very resbonsible. I have to admit though, she was a little boy crazy which made me a little annoyed, but hey a teen girl has to have her priorities! Talking about boys, I loved how admist politcs and spies and such Ally Carter incorporated something as common as boy drama, which really made the reader connect with the story. I also loved Bex. She was such a strong character and she could seriously kick some butt!

Overall I really, really liked this book and thought it was a great addition to the series, it may almost be the best one yet. The writing was fun, but intense at times and the author really knows how to suck you in. I know that I cannot wait for the fourth Gallagher Girl book.

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

2010-02-24T18:12:00.000-05:00

Picking up just days after THE SUMMONING left off, Chloe is back and ready for her next great adventure.

Chloe always thought she was a normal girl, until a couple of weeks ago that is. Now she has been captured once again by the Edison Group, as she is a teen necromancer, that’s right she can raise the dead and she really doesn’t have much control over it. Chloe is now in the race for her life as she has escaped from the Group for a second time and absolutely cannot get caught. Along with her are her three friends, who all happen to be supernatural’s as well. There’s Tori, a whiny witch, Derek, a sarcastic wereworlf, and Simon a flirtatious sorcerer. These four kids have to find help quickly or die trying. If they don’t, the Edison Group will get them once and for all and they would be turned into lab rats, which is the last thing any of these kids want.

I love this series. It is suspenseful and action packed and I couldn’t wait to finish it from the moment I picked it up, it was just so good. If you haven’t read the first book though, I highly suggest you pick it up, because it provides a lot of necessary information.

The characters in the this book were much more developed than in THE SUMMONING. I felt Like I got to know each of the four main people a little bit better and they were actually a lot of fun and wish they had been a bit more 3-D. All four characters really formed a stronger relationship together and it made the book feel less empty. Tori was especially fun, her tantrums made me laugh a lot!

The plot was riveting and fast paced. It literally flew past for me and I couldn’t believe it was over when I closed the back cover. There was so much adventure and many twits and turns that kept my heart racing. I also enjoyed the author’s writing. She did a great job creating a lot of suspense and she quickly developed the story so there was never a dull moment.

Overall I really liked this installment in the Darkest Power trilogy. I absolutely cannot wait for the third book because the ending left the reader hanging once again.

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

2009-12-14T19:10:00.001-05:00

Aphara Connolly is back and being chased by some very dangerous people. What makes it even worse is Aphra has to completely forget about her boyfriend Seth to keep him out of trouble too, but that’s extremely hard for a girl when she’s in Paris – the most romantic city in the world. Aphra quickly comes to realize that she really cannot mess around when her mother’s contact in Paris turns up floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed into his mouth and she sets off to confront the situation head-on. Sneaking away from the protection of her mom, Aphra sets off to find the mastermind behind all of her danger in Italy. What she doesn’t know is that she’s accidentialy uncovered Seth’s location and put him in danger as well. Can Aphra get herself and Seth for that matter, out of this stick situation and get herself out of trouble once and for all?

These books are so much fun. First there is Aphra, who I think is so much fun and hilarious. The adventures that she went on with her mom in this volume of her sister were the best yet and I could absolutely not put the book down. Also Aphra’s relationship between Seth was great, as always. Seth sounds so adorable and great, and to see the two of them in action together was fun and exhilarating. The writing was also good and kept me in a great amount of suspense. Overall I really enjoyed this third installment in the Aphra Connolly trilogy (and how I hope Linda Gerber decides to continue with more) and highly suggest that if you haven’t had a chance to read any of them you pick them right up. And on that note, I don’t think it is necessary to read the books in order, as you kind of get caught up with previous adventures within the first few pages. So what are you waiting for? Grab one of these books today and get set to go on a great and terrifying adventure!

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

2009-12-07T09:46:00.000-05:00

Emerson Watts is back in town and things are not looking up for her. She pretty much figures she has hit rock bottom, as she is a teen brainiac living in a teen supermodel’s body, but alas she is wrong.

This said supermodel just happens to have a missing mother, a brother who has just shown up to look for said mother, a former best friend who is determined to bring down the company that she works for (and who she happens to have a major crush on), and a chart-topping song that has been written about her.

With all these things on her mind, Em is not sure quite what she is going to do, especially when she has to manage her time between school and shooting ads in St. John’s – where nasty creatures called ex-boyfriends seem to be abundant. O what is a girl to do, who seems to have it all? Em is not sure she is up for the adventure of Being Nikki…

I have to say that I was quite anxious for the release of this book, as I loved its proceedor (AIRHEAD). I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next and be enchanted with yet another great story, but you know what? That didn’t happen this time. I mean the story was good and suspenseful and all that jazz, but BEING NIKKI just didn’t have the same spark as AIRHEAD and I felt myself enjoying it much less.

The plot for me was quite suspenseful for much of the story and was an absolute hoot. It was also quite original and really left me wanting more and more as the book started to come to a close. It was quite slow though at the beginning and really didn’t get going until the second half of the book. I also found the plot to be very redundant at time and we would hear Nikki complaining of the same things or doing the same things and there was absolutely no progression for like fifty some odd pages.

As for the characters, they were eh. I really enjoyed Stephen, Nikki’s brother, as he was really interesting and mysterious, but every time the reader was really getting to know him, Nikki would jump back in and starting whining and the book would revolve around her again. As for Nikki/Em besides the whininess, she was a decent character who had quite the sense of humor and became quite relatable as the story progressed.

Overall I liked this book and am still anxious to know how the brilliant Meg Cabot will tie up this thrilling trilogy. If you haven’t given this series of Mrs. Cabot’s a try I highly suggest reading them as you will be quite shocked with all the twists and turns that occur.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

2009-11-10T19:23:00.002-05:00

It has been years since Auden has slept at night. It all started when her parents started fighting, and even though they have moved on and gotten a divorce, Auden is still an insomniac.

The summer before she heads off to college she is give a choice. Spend the summer at home with her professor mother and get a head start on her college reading or go off to the small beach town where her dad, step-mom and new baby sister, Thisbe Caroline, live. Hoping for a chance for a carefree summer and to escape the craziness of her mother, Auden opts for the charming beach town. What she gets though is not what she expects.

Auden is quickly introduced into the world girls and the normal teenage life – something she completely missed out on growing up with her demanding mother. Theirs talk about clothes, make up, boys, and more boys, and Auden isn’t sure if its really what suits her, especially the girls at her job. Then Auden meets Eli, a fellow insomniac and absolutely adorable guy. He soon introduces her to the nocturnal world of the small beach town and their friendship blossoms. Auden soon finds herself having quite the unexpected summer, but it may just be exactly what she needs to cure her insomnia.

Sarah Dessen is amazing, plain and simple. Her books are so lifelike and real that you can relate to them in an instant, her characters are beyond believable, and of course her style is just impeccable. ALONG FOR THE RIDE is definitely one of her best books, in my opinion, and the absolute perfect summer read.

The plot was extremely detailed, which made the story come alive. Every little street corner popped up right in front of the reader’s eyes and all aspects of the story were relatable, whether it be putting up the girly girls, riding a bike or learning how to act around your crush. All these regular activities really made the reader connect with the little beach town and made the book that much more enjoyable. Another aspect that made the book so good was even though the book was very realistic; it still felt like you were being transported to a parallel universe.

Now the characters, I think, are what made the book. Auden was extremely relatable, especially for me, and I couldn’t get over how well Sarah Dessen knows the teenage mind. I considered Auden more of a friend then a character early on in the book and really got to know her throughout the story. I also loved Eli. Dessen always comes up with really cute guy characters, but I think that Eli definitely is the best so far. It was really interesting to see that he had issues too and they added a small side story that kept the reader intrigued. I also loved how even the side characters, such as Thisbe, all had personality. This made the book come even more alive and it made the story hard to forget, as it felt like you were meeting realy people.

Overall this was a fantastic book that I highly recommend; it is easily one of my favorite books of the year. I cannot wait to see what Sarah Dessen has in store for us next, while we’re waiting though I suggest a re-read of all of her books!

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

2009-11-05T07:45:00.000-05:00

After Charlotte Miller’s father passes away she is left with the family mill and she is quickly loosing it due to debt. When the opportunity arises for Charlotte to make and sell golden thread she jumps on it. She feels like it is her chance to give her sister a future, livelihood for the town, and a way to keep her uncle away from stealing the mill. This golden thread also might just offer her a chance at true love and a lot of hope.

All things come with a price though. To get this coveted thread, Charlotte must strike a deal with Jack Spinner. The Miller family doesn’t have a good rep though with deals as they are the reason it is in so much trouble now. Charlotte has now found herself and all the ones she loves in a heap of trouble and is desperate to find a way out. Will she figure out her life in time and save the mill or will Jack Spinner get the best of her?

Oh my goodness was this book good. I literally could not put it down after I got started and was desperate for more with each page turn. Elizabeth C. Bunce definteiy made a stunning step into the world of YA with her debut novel. What I loved the most though about A CURSE DARK AS GOLD was how it was a retelling of Rumplestitsken, one of my favorite fairy tales, but was still completely original.

The characters definitely made the book outstanding. Charlotte was strong yet stubborn and the reader really got to know her as the story progressed. I found myself many a time cheering for her in times of trouble and sympathizing with her in times of sorrow. I also loved her relationship with Randall, it was sweet and strong and just oh so wonderful. Charlotte’s sister Rosie was also a handful. I could tell she was bursting with energy and she was so much fun. Even though she didn’t get a lot of face time, the reader still got to know her, and in my case came to love her. As for Jack, well I thought he was great as well. He was funny and tricky, the perfect bad guy.

The plot, as I mentioned before, was great. It was so unique that even if you know Rumplestilten by heart, you will still be surprised by many events and not really know what’s going to happen. There was so much adventure and romance and so many twists and turns that I was fascinated throughout the whole thing. The writing was also something spectacular. The imagey was so vivid that I could feel the dampness of the winter and the sun in the summer. The author also used a great vocabulary. The words were absolutely beautiful and they just completely floated off of the pages.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and it has definitely become one of my new favorite books. It was so new and wonderful that I strongly recommend it to absolutely everyone, especially those who enjoy fairy-tale retellings. I myself cannot wait for more from Elizabeth C. Bunce as I am convinced it will be just as good.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

2009-11-02T07:44:00.002-05:00

According to Micah Wilkins lying is not an easy business. There is keeping up the different stories you have told everybody and then backing it up, oh and making sure that you don’t get caught is another biggie. Although she claims it is so difficult, Micah has become a fluent liar, to the point of believing her own lies. Her lies get her into quite some trouble though when her boyfriend Zach shows up dead. While she has the reputation of liar, this time she swears that she had no involvement in Zach’s death, but many people find it hard to believe. Will Micah finally learn to tell the truth for once, or will she just create more lies to cover up what really happened?

Throughout the ups and downs of high school and many unexpected twists, Justine Larbalestier creates a fantastic novel that is hard to forgot and even tougher to put down.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I truly enjoyed the entire story and thought the way it was written was extremely intriguing. This was the first time I had read anything by Justine Larbalestier, but I know she writes fantasy novels and such. Therefore I was a bit shocked with the realism this book contained, but then I soon came to find out that Ms. Larbalestier weaved her signature style into the story flawlessly and intensely.

The plotline of the book was incredibly interesting and jaw dropping. There was grief and sorrow as well as many laughs and giggles throughout the entire story. Although there were points where I was pretty sure I had the rest of the story figured out, there was always a twist to what I was thinking. As the book progressed the plot became more and more intricate, but the author still managed to keep things very clear to the reader with no confusion. The ending was absolutely perfect for the book.

As for the characters, I thought they were all really well developed. Even the characters that were only mentioned once or twice were described well and came alive off of the pages. For example, there was this one character, BRANDON, who we only met lets say three times, and you could just tell that he was one of the biggest perverts in the world. To me, this really made me enjoy the story even more because it got me involved in the world that the author created. I also loved the development of Micah. She is definitely not your average young adult girl character. For one she kind of resembles a boy and two she doesn’t really care what other people think. She was a great character though, as many of her lies were comical and she always left this lingering thought in your head as if she was really telling the truth. Throughout the entire story it felt like she was whispering her secrets into your ear.

Another very strong aspect of this book was the point of view the author created. Micah told the entire story and the reader learned all about her family history and the days leading up and preceding Zach’s death. Micah also “talked” to reader, asking if they really believed her and again making the reader feel that they were sitting there on the couch beside Micah listening to her life story. The author also created such a feeling of suspense throughout the whole book that it was near impossible to set the book down even for a minute. She also set the book up really nicely, making a very logical progression of events that made the story that much more intriguing.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was just wonderful! I will definitely be reading more by Justine Larbalestier in the future, as she is a fabulous author. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting and riveting read.

The Hectic Life of a High School Senior

2009-10-30T11:08:00.000-04:00

Hey guys,

First of all I want to apologize to all readers about my absence. Life has been insane these past few months, with applying to 10 different colleges, taking an extremelly large workload, and just life in general. But, three of the ten apps are done and in and all others are going through edits, so I am finally able to return to the lovely blogging community.

The winner of the End of Summer contest will be announced tomorrow, as I have to figure out entries still!

All emails that have been sent within the last month will get answered ASAP and again sorry for so MIA.

I hope you all are enjoying the lovely fall weather and many good books!

Tasha

In My Mailbox (IX)

2009-08-16T09:09:00.001-04:00

Thanks to the Story Siren for the creation of this fun meme and Alea for the inspiration.

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....
Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff

What’s worse than being fat your freshman year?
Being fat your sophomore year. Life used to be so simple for Andrew Zansky–hang with the Model UN guys, avoid gym class, and eat and eat and eat. He’s used to not fitting in: into his family, his sports-crazed school, or his size 48 pants. But not anymore. Andrew just met April, the new girl at school and the instant love of his life! He wants to find a way to win her over, but how? When O. Douglas, the heartthrob quarterback and high-school legend, saves him from getting beaten up by the school bully, Andrew sees his chance to get in with the football squad. Is it possible to reinvent yourself in the middle of high school? Andrew is willing to try. But he’s going to have to make some changes. Fast. Can a funny fat kid be friends with a football superstar? Can he win over the Girl of his Dreams? Can he find a way to get his mom and dad back together? How far should you go to be the person you really want to be? Andrew is about to find out.

I also got a big box from Harper, but I'm not sure what is in it as I am at school and the box is at home!

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King

2009-08-15T07:38:00.000-04:00

Emer Morrisey was one of the most feared pirates in the seventeenth century. She went about scooping eyeballs out of her victims and building up quite a large stack of loot over her years. When she is finally given the chance to be with her one true love and escape the pirate life for good with unfathomable riches, her past catches up with her and she is slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs. What does this curse entail you might ask? Well Ms. Emer will have to live out 100 lives out as a dog before she can return to her human body, the catch being, her memory stays intact.

Emer has now finally returned to a human body, in the form of Saffron, a contemporary American teenager. Getting to live without being bossed around is a huge plus for the Emer-persona who lives inside of Saffron, but she doesn’t expect the dysfunctional family that she finds herself in. Saffron though is unlike many teenagers, as she is incredibly smart and all she cares about it getting down to Jamaica with a shovel.

Well, this book was interesting to say the least. There was quite a bit going on and it definitely took time to adjust to the switch between past and present story telling, but once the reader got into the swing of things (after about 100 pages), it was definitely worth it.

The plot was intriguing and very unique. The whole idea of a pirate living as 100 different types of dogs and then going to live life as human, with all those memories in tact is absolutely crazy and fun and just plain delightful. A. S. King’s writing also had a big impact on how I received the plot. She had all these fun dog facts interspersed throughout the story that were quite intriguing and her sense of detail really made me understand what was going on, as I have to say there were many parts were I just kind of sat there with a dazed look on my face trying to figure out what just happened/was going on. What I did love about this book though was the ending. It was cute and a tad bit unexpected and just all around great.

The characters in THE DUST OF 100 DOGS were average. The Emer persona was witty and could be vulgar at times, but was a decent character. Saffron I found was quite interesting as well. It frustrated me at times that she didn’t respect her parents, but hey she was soon out of that environment and that thought quickly left my mind.

Overall I found that I preferred this book more after I sat down and thought about it, as the story kept running through my brain even after I was finished with it. I think that A. S. King has definitely made a prominent step into the world of YA fiction, creating a modern-esque pirate tale that will thrill many readers.

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

2009-08-10T16:59:00.000-04:00

We are all guilty of having embarrassing parents, or at least have our share of embarrassing moments, but Hannah has each and everyone of us topped. Her dad is Jackson James, founder of a playboy-esque website and show. Her mom, well, she is famous for the Superbowl commercial where the only thing covering her was a pizza box. After a lifetime of receiving the wrong type of attention, Hannah finds that she much prefers walking invisibly through life.

The only thing wrong with being invisible though is that the hottest guy Josh, who Hannah believes is her soul mate can’t see her. Then of course there is Finn, the guy in the neighboring cubby at Hannah’s job. He’s funny, cute, and Hannah just can’t seem to stop thinking about him, but then she can’t just forget about Josh either. Now Hannah must decide what she really wants and what she really needs.

Oh Elizabeth Scott how I love you! I really enjoyed SOMETHING, MAYBE and will never ever think that my parents are that embarrassing again. Scott created very real characters that were very relatable. While we all might not have a porn star for a mom, many know what it feels like not to fit in for various reasons. Hannah was also a very witty character who made you want to cheer for her in all of her triumphs and console her in her failures. Finn was absolutely adorable, as in I want him to sit beside me at work. He also added quite a bit of humor to the book, which had me in fits of laughter.

The plot of the book was very original and quite real. With the mom and dad combination and then the grief that Hannah had with the loss of her step dad, the whole thing just made me laugh and sympathize. I truly felt like I was transported into Hannah’s life and didn’t come back to my own until the very last word of her tale.

I absolutely cannot wait for more from Elizabeth Scott, who is definitely a dynamite author in the YA field. I highly recommend this book and urge you all to pick it up and have some laughs.

The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas

2009-08-06T13:31:00.000-04:00

Antonia Labella is fifteen years old and has yet to be kissed and it is her deepest desire to become the first official living saint. Don’t think she’s serious? Well every month Antonia sends a letter to the Pope with a new saint idea, whether it be the Patron Saint of Figs, or the Patron Saint of First Kisses, she always has a new idea. She also makes sure that she is in all the good graces of all the current saints, she prays to a different one each night and even keeps a saint journal where she keeps all of her prayers.

Then there is the whole kissing business. There is this boy, Andy Rotellini who Antonia has been lusting after since well, forever basically. She truly believes that he will be the one, but she just may be mistaken in that area. While becoming a saint and experiencing her first kiss seem unlikely, it certainly isn’t from lacking of trying on Antonia’s part. On a journey of self-discovery Antonia grows up a bit and learns all there is to first kisses and sainthood.

Well, lets start with the fact that I liked this book. The writing was decent, the plot was original and the characters were pretty good. I loved the Italian authenticity and thoroughly enjoyed the religious views that Antonia brought up and discussed. I also think that this book has quite a broad appeal. It’s a good book for young and older teens and overall is just plain fun.

As for the plot, well it started out really well. For the first fifty pages or so I was continuously laughing and was really enjoying the book, I pretty much figured that this was going to be a great book, but alas I spoke too soon. Soon Antonia became completely infatuated with this jerk guy and completely ignored the nice guy, and then the story just started getting repetitive. Antonia was doing the same things over and over again and it got very frustrating. The plot was definitely the downfall of the book, but the ending and beginning definitely saved it from being a total blow out.

Although the plot was not that great, the characters were fabulous. Antonia was funny and oh so obsessed with becoming a saint. Her saint ideas were absolutely crazy, but I loved each and everyone. She was adorable waiting for her first kiss and I loved the relationship she had with her best friend. My only qualm with her is that she felt considerable older than fifteen, but it was only until the end of the book that I realized this, so it wasn’t that big of an issue. Antonia’s grandmother was also a trip. She was forgetful and senile which pretty much made her absolutely hilarious.

Overall I liked this book and thought that it was a solid debut for Donna Freitas.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2009-08-04T08:09:00.000-04:00

After the destruction of North America the nation of Panem emerges, in the middle, a shining Capitol with twelve less scintillating nations surrounding it. In order to remind all of the residents of Panem of the brutal war and the power the Capitol holds, the Capitol forces each district to send a boy and a girl, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, each year to the Hunger Games, a fight to the death, survivor style, broadcasted on live TV.

In the devastatingly poor District 12, lives a sixteen-year-old named Katniss Everdeen. She lives alone with her mother and twelve-year old sister Prim, being the sole provider for their family, making sure that they just scrape by. When the day of the reaping comes (the event where names are drawn for the Hunger games) Katniss herself feels that she has a greater chance of being picked, but never would expect Prim to be chosen. When the worst happens though, Katniss immediately volunteers herself to participate in Prim’s place, becoming the girl to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games.

Without even realizing it, Katniss soon becomes one of the top contenders to win the games, as survival is second nature to her. If she is to win though she will have to call upon her keen sense of intelligence and expert survival techniques.

Oh my goodness, this book is jaw droppingly good! Every single sentence left you grasping for more and wanting to turn the page so fast that you have to be careful they don’t rip. Everything about the book worked and fell so easily into place that it was absolutely impossible to put the book down.

The plot itself was extremely unique and was filled with adventure that kept you extremely riveted. Even though Panem was a fictional world it was very easy to see many parallels to our world, which I found extremely interesting. Suzanne Collins also made this imaginary world very lifelike and made the events of the games so real that it felt like I was sitting in my living room watching them on TV along with all the other residents of Panem.

Another aspect that really made the book shine were the characters. Regardless of how big of a role the character played they were well developed. Katniss was an amazing and strong character and had a nurturing side that was completely unexpected, but very welcoming. Peeta, the second main character, was a sweetie. He was funny and genuine and I loved how he added the romance element to the story, which in my opinion made the book that much better.

As for the author’s writing, it was impeccable. She threw you into the arena and made you breathe the same air as Katniss, Peeta and all the other contestants. She created a fascinating world, using fantastic imagery, which made it easy to picture the beauty of the Capitol, all the amazing outfits the contestants wore, and of course the brutality of the arena. She also created one heck of a cliffhanger with the ending of the book, setting up for the next book (CATCHING FIRE) to start right away.

Overall this was one heck of a book. The author combined a ridiculous amount of suspense, a ridiculously cute romance, and so much adventure that this has easily become one of my favorite books. As soon as I had finished it I immediately wanted to read it again and again and again. I strongly recommend it to absolutely everyone and cannot wait for the sequel.

In My Mailbox (VIII)

2009-08-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you thank you to The Story Siren and Alea for their creation/inspiration of this super fun meme.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

The Amazing Summer Blowout Contest!

2009-08-01T09:19:00.000-04:00

So as summer is coming to a close for many of us (I go back to school in a mere 2 weeks!!) I decided to throw a contest. There are lots of books that are coming out this fall to win and a couple that have come out over the past year or so, all of them are very good.

As you can hopefully see, there are 7 delightful books to win and they are:

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman

Ruined by Paula Morris

Intertwined by Gena Showalter (ARC)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby (ARC)

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors (ARC)

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment with the name of a song for me to put on my back-to-school playlist as I am in need of some new music. I like just about everything, so let me know what your favorite song, back-to-school song, summer song, etc. is and be entered to win!

All entries must be received by midnight (EST) on August 31, 2009 to be valid. Also the mailing address to which the books are sent to must be in the U.S.

To gain some extra entries:

Blog, twitter, facebook about the contest (make sure to include the link) = +2 entries

Already a follower = +3 entries (thank you thank you to all of you!)

Become a follower = +2 entries

Good luck to all of you!

Nobody’s Prize by Esther Friesner

2009-07-31T15:59:00.000-04:00

Helen of Sparta returns for yet another adventure. This time she disguises herself as a guy and along with her best friend Milo sets off to join the quest for the Golden Fleece. Aboard the Argo though Helen and Milo quickly run into trouble. Not only do they have to avoid Helen’s brother’s detection, but Helen also has to keep her feelings held back for the adorable guy on board. Then there is the fact that Hercules has fallen in love with Helen’s boy self, Milo’s becoming a tad jealous of Helen’s new crush, and there are many battles to be fought in order to reach the Golden Fleece. As Helen starts to become more of a women it becomes harder and harder to mask her identity. Her journey doesn’t stop with the fleece though as she continues beyond the myth and into a story completely her own.

Well, I have to say I was expecting a lot from this book, but it just did not deliver. The writing made it hard to get into the story and I just could not get into it. Once events picked up though I enjoyed the adventurous nature of the plot and the twist of the classic Golden Fleece myth. I also really enjoyed the continuation of Helen’s journey and the return of some fun characters from the preceding book NOBODY’S PRINCESS. I did find though that at many points there was a lot going on in the book and it all got very confusing.

As for the characters, I felt they were underdeveloped. None of the characters felt real at all, but they did have some personality. Helen was a fun heroine who was always up for an adventure, while Milo was extremely cute and I wish he had been more present in the story.

Overall though it was a likeable book that fully concluded Helen’s story. I loved the author’s originality in her creation of the story and look forward to reading more of her work.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

2009-07-27T16:11:00.000-04:00

Anna and Frankie are spending twenty days in beautiful Zanzibar Bay and while they are there they plan on meeting twenty boys. Frankie is convinced that at least one of these boys will end up being the perfect summer fling for Anna, who according to Frankie has never had any sort of romance in her life. Anna lightheartedly goes along with Frankie’s plan, but she’s been holding back a secret from Frankie for the past year. The thing is Anna had a secret romance with Frankie’s brother Matt, who died a year ago, and promised him days before his death that she wouldn’t tell Frankie and leave it up to him. Will Anna end up finding a summer fling or will she let her grief over Matt’s death keep her single?

Not only is this an amazing summer read, as it has lovely beaches, hot boys, and lots of fun, but it is also emotionally charged and utterly hard to forget. Debut novelist Sarah Ockler has truly created a one of a kind book that I really enjoyed and know many other readers will as well.

First of all I have to commend the author on her writing style. She created very lifelike scenes and the beach town she created was so real that I could almost feel the sand between my toes. Her characterization was also impeccable as she made all characters seem very real, especially Anna. While Anna couldn’t always show her grief, as no one knew about her and Matt’s relationship, the reader knew all about it and truly felt the same feelings as her. Then there was Frankie, o dear Frankie. She truly went through the classic change that occurs in many girls after they experience grief, but the author really made Frankie unique by the fact that she slowly uncovered the “true” Frankie, who was a great character. My only qualm with her was that I really wish we had gotten to hear part of the story from her perspective, as I truly found her extremely interesting.

As for the plot it was really cute, albeit predictable. I enjoyed the different perspective on grief and liked how in a way Anna and Frankie depended on each other to get through Matt’s death. The only thing is I wish there had been a bit more development of the whole relationship between Anna and her summer boy. It was adorable while it lasted and I couldn’t get enough, but it ended abruptly, leaving the reader wanting more. The ending was also perfect for the book. It provided the closer that Anna and Frankie needed, as did the reader.

Overall this was a great book, which I really enjoyed. If the beautiful cover couldn’t lure you into reading this book I hope you will still give it a chance, as it won’t be a book you’ll forget about soon. I absolutely cannot wait for more from Sarah Ockler as she is a truly talented author.

In My Mailbox (VII)

2009-07-26T17:58:00.003-04:00

Thanks to The Story Siren and Alea for the creation and inspiration of this fun meme. I had a slower week this week and also got some repeats (do you sense a contest coming soon??!!), but books are always a good thing, so I am not complaining.

The Navel of the World by PJ Hoover

At the end of summer school, Benjamin was given one task find his missing brothers. Should be easy right? But Benjamin can't locate a trace of them anywhere until he interns at his father's office over spring break. There he finds a mysterious file written in ancient Lemurian with his name on it. Could the answers that Benjamin seeks be in the past?

The Lost Sister by Megan Kelley Hall

Sisters are born, not chosen. . .Maddie Crane is grappling with the disappearance of Cordelia LeClaire, and trying to escape the grasp of The Sisters of Misery--an insidious clique of the school's most powerful girls, whose pranks have set off a chain of horrific events, and who have Maddie in their sights-

Beware the sister betrayed. . .Now in a prestigious boarding school far away from her mysterious hometown of Hawthorne, Massachusetts, Maddie feels free from danger. But when an unmarked envelope arrives at her dorm containing a single ominous tarot card, Maddie realizes with terror that some secrets won't stay buried. Knowing she must return to Hawthorne--a town still scarred by the evil of the Salem witch trials--Maddie prepares to face the fears of her past. . .and the wrath of the sister she wronged.

Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin

Sophie Blue started wearing a black skirt and Midnight Noir lipstick on her last birthday. It was also the day her father disappeared. Or spontaneously combusted. Which is sort of bad timing, since a Popsicle truck with tinted windows has started circling the house.

Kenny Fade is a basketball god. His sneakers cost more than his Jeep. He's the guy all the ladies (and their mommas) want. Bad.

Sophie Blue and Kenny Fade don't have a thing in common. Aside from being reasonably sure they're losing their minds.

Acclaimed author Sean Beaudoin's wildly innovative novel combines uproarious humor with enough plot twists to fill a tube sock. Part thriller, part darkly comic philosophical discussion, and accompanied by a comic book interstitial, Fade to Blue is a whip-smart romp that keeps readers guessing until the last paragraph.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

2009-07-22T11:47:00.000-04:00

Nick and Marta are two of the lucky eighth grade students in Mrs. Starch’s (who just happens to be the most feared teacher in the history of the world!) biology class. Every day they sit in and pass notes back and forth to each other discussing their fear of being called on.

The day after their field trip to the Black Vine Swamp though something mysterious happens. Mrs. Starch doesn’t come back, and she is never absent, and people start to wonder. While there might be a scrawled note and a message on her answering machine that states that she has had to deal with a family emergency, people, especially Nick and Marta, aren’t buying it. They are all convinced that Smoke, the kid in Mrs. Starch’s class that she dislikes the most, has something to do with her disappearance.

In a whirl wind adventure filled with arson, endangered animals, the Iraq war, the Florida wet lands, a money hungry wannabe oil rigger, and panther poop, Nick and Marta set out to find their missing biology teacher.

Carl Hiaasen definitely has a knack for adventure. Every story he creates always some crazy plot that makes you think as well as laugh! In this case Hiaasen poses the problem of destroying the environment for monetary gain and how it affects the ecosystem in a hilarious manner. He also throws in some other great themes to think about: not judging people by their history/the way they look, believing in yourself and never giving up, learning to live with what you’ve got, and working as a team. These themes are so important for younger readers (and sometimes older!) readers to learn and Hiaasen did such a great job incorporating them into the book without blatantly stating them. While this book has more of a middle grade audience, it is great for all ages of readers, although there is a tad bit of language. Overall I think the book was masterfully written and was a worthwhile and entertaining read.

In My Mailbox (VI)

2009-07-19T09:20:00.008-04:00

I know I have not done this is forever, but honestly I forgot! Anyways I am back on track and bringing you the latest books that have entered my mailbox! Thanks to The Story Siren and Alea for the creation/inspiration of the In My Mailbox meme.

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her aunt. And at the snooty prep school, the filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city. There's just one catch: Lisette is a ghost. A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle. As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend - and as she slowly learns to trust Anton Grey-she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Positively by Courtney Sheinmel

Emerson Price cannot remember a time when life was ordinary. She was four-years-old when she and her mom were diagnosed as HIV-positive – infected with the virus that causes AIDS, and eight when her parents divorced. Now she is thirteen and her mother is dead. Emmy moves in with her father and stepmother, but she feels completely alone. Even though everyone has always accepted her, no one – not her father, or stepmother, or even her best friend – understands what it’s like to have to take medicine every single day, to be so afraid of getting sick, and to miss her mom more than she ever thought she would.

When Emmy’s dad and stepmother send her to Camp Positive, a camp for HIV-positive girls, Emmy is certain she is going to hate it. But soon she realizes that she is not so alone after all – and that sometimes letting other people in can make all the difference in the world.

How to Steal a Car by Pete Hautman

Some girls act out by drinking or doing drugs. Some girls act out by sleeping with guys. Some girls act out by starving themselves or cutting themselves. Some girls act out by being a bitch to other girls.

Not Kelleigh. Kelleigh steals cars.

In How to Steal a Car, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman takes teen readers on a thrilling, scary ride through one suburban girl's turbulent life - one car theft at a time.

The Comeback by Marlene Perez

Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie's starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend. Sophie has been quickly dispatched to social Siberia, but not for long--she'll do anything it takes to make a triumphant comeback.

If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

2009-07-17T11:51:00.000-04:00

The Fountain family has faced endless grief within the last couple of years and their future seems quite bleak as well. First the children’s mother died, after refusing treatment for her fatal cancer so that she could give life to their baby brother Tris. Then, just two years later their father dies in a terrible accident leaving the four Fountain children alone and parentless with only their self-involved Aunt Cheryl left to care for them.

Within weeks the two Fountain daughters, Madison and Smithy flee, one going to live with her godparents and the other going to a boarding school hundreds of miles away. This leaves Jack to be the strong one, the one to take care of Tris, because Cheryl really only cares about herself and home makeover shows on TV.

As Tris’ third birthday approaches, Cheryl decides that she is ready for fame and sells the family’s soap-opera story to a reality television producer and Jack knows that his life is about to be thrown upside down once again. The thing is though this event brings the family together again. Along the way they find out some troubling information that makes them think….did the witness of their dad’s death lie?

I believe if you looked up Caroline B. Cooney up in an encyclopedia you find “… author of heart-thudding thrillers.” I could literally not stop reading this book and absolutely gobbled it up. The book as a whole was great, but there were definitely some holes that I wish had been patched up.

First of all, the plot was very original and was the driving force behind the “heart-thudding” feeling you got while reading the book. I loved how the author took a mystery and turned it into a novel about family, friendship, trust, loss, and love. These themes melded perfectly throughout the book and really made the reader take a step back and evaluate their own life in a different light. I did have a couple issues with the plot though. Some of the events, such as Cheryl gaining custody automatically over the children and there being no original investigation into the father’s death, were completely left out. This left a big gap for me as I felt it could have been a crucial part in the story. The storyline was also a bit predictable, but the suspense created by the little details really helped the reader to not focus on what was coming next.

As for characters, this is really where the book lacked. All of the characters were one-dimensional; especially the adults, and I wish they were so much more. The little we did get to learn about the characters though was great. Jack was definitely the hero in the book and by far a favorite, as he sacrificed his social life in order to step up to the plate and care for his younger brother.

Another plus for this book is the author’s writing style. She made the book incredibly realistic and all throughout the story I felt like I was reading an article from the local newspaper instead of a piece of fiction. Also the point of view she wrote the book in was quite interesting. It felt like a mix between third and first person, but all in the present tense, much like in Lisa McMann’s novels. This quirky style took a while to get used to but in the end it definitely added to the book.

Overall this was a good novel that all teen readers will enjoy. It had enough action to satisfy anyone and will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved how the author dealt with the breaking and healing of a family and really showed what love is and its immense powers.

Twenty Boy Summer Winners

2009-07-15T08:39:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for entering my contest to win debut author Sarah Ockler's book TWENTY BOY SUMMER! The winner are as follows:

Kathleen Elizabeth

Heatherzilla

Wrighty

Jade Adrienne

Miss Attitude

I have emailed all the winners who provided email addresses, but a few did not so please shoot me an email at andanotherbookread AT gmail DOT com with your address. Please respond within three days with your addresses, or I will have to choose a new winner.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-07-08T20:50:00.000-04:00

Ever since eighth grade, Lia and Cassie have fed off each other. They are each other’s only source of strength as they vow to compete to be the skinniest friend. Counting every calorie that enters their body, making sure it is never too much and worrying excessively about their outer appearance.

Lia finally wins the competition though when Cassie dies, alone in a hotel room one night. Now Lia faces her war alone, thinking she is still fat at 95 pounds. Trying as hard as she can to avoid returning to a treatment facility, she sews quarters into the pockets of her robe so it appears that she weighs more then she does when her step-mother forces her onto the scale and choosing bruised apples at lunch so she has an excuse not to eat the whole thing.

With Cassie gone though, Lia not only has to worry about her conscious bothering her every time she eats, but also Cassie’s voice. Lia’s just not sure she can handle it anymore and sometimes even refers to cutting herself to help relieve just a little bit of the pain. Lia is left with a decision though, does she truly want to join the living, or stay frozen and eventually melt into nothing.

Laurie Halse Anderson truly has a gift. Her writing is impeccable and she takes some of the most difficult subjects to talk about and throws them in your face, leaving them near impossible to ignore. Within the pages of Lia’s life the reader gets a gut-wrenching and honest look into the life of an anorexic teenager, seeing both the physical and emotional implications of the disease.

The writing throughout the book had a lyrical feel to it which made it near impossible to put down, one sentence always luring you to the next. Laurie Halse Anderson also did a great job expressing emotion through the pages of the book. Sometime I feel that authors try to hard to make the reader’s feel what the characters are feeling, but in WINTERGILRS it was absolutely effortless.

No matter how brutal the subject matter was, I thought this book was amazing. Yes, it’s hard to read and it makes you cry, but it’s so important for people of all ages to realize the full effects of anorexia. The message that the book portrays, that it is okay to go for help and what could happen if you don’t reach out your hand, rings so clearly that I think this would be a better read for those suffering from anorexia then a self-help book.

The honesty, brutality, and love that was felt throughout the story really came together to create one heck of a novel. Recommended for all readers, it may be a hard novel to start, but you surely won’t be disappointed when it is over. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Mrs. Anderson has in store for us next!

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2009-07-07T07:59:00.000-04:00

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, or Bertie as she prefers, lives in the Theatre Illuminate, although not an actress, surrounded by all the characters ever created in every play. Here she finds her home, although she has no parents, where her best friends being four fairies – Moth, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, and Cobweb – and a rowdy pirate, Nate. Then of course there is Ariel, who is just so full of himself, but Bertie seems to just melt every time she sees him. The thing with all these characters, as with all of the characters within the Theatre, is that the Book, which holds the scripts of the plays the characters belong to, binds them to the Theatre.

There has recently been a turn of events though and Bertie is about to lose the family that she has created within the Theatre. Now it is up to here to devise a plan so that the Theatre Manager cannot turn her out on the streets. With the help of her trusty friends she sets off on a quest to save her spot at her beloved Theatre.

This was one heck of a debut novel to say the least. Lisa Mantchev created a beautiful setting in a unique Theatre that I came to love. What makes this book even more enjoyable is it throws you into the theater world in a way that even if you are not familiar with the drama world (and trust me I know nothing) you feel like you have been in this world forever after the first few chapters.

The plot that the author created was both original and thrilling. The adventure that the characters partook in was really fun and highly enjoyable. I really enjoyed Bertie having to try and save herself from being kicked out from the theater and the ideas she created along the way. It added a ton of humor to the book and really made the book that much more interesting. One thing that kind of held the story back from being absolutely wonderful is the first few chapters or so were quite confusing. There was just so much going on and a whole host of characters that was just a little too much to keep up with while trying to get acquainted with the story itself.

The story also the story got confusing again around the end of the book, it seemed that the author was trying to squeeze all this information in, in just a few short chapters. Also a lot of early characters were brought back and it was hard to remember exactly who they were. Despite the bit of predictability, the ending was really good and left off on a great cliff hanger that sets the stage for yet another great adventure in the next act of Bertie’s life.

While the plot of the story was quite wonderful, I thought that the characters really made the book. The fairies provided an ever-constant source of entertainment and are always hilarious. Then of course there was Bertie. I definitely loved everything about her. Whether it was her rebelliousness or her sense of humor, I found her to be a very strong heroine. Nate was also a very fun and heroic character and you could tell that Ariel was fishy from the start. The only thing that I felt was lacking was the relationship between Nate and Bertie. At one point it would be going strong and then there would be no mention of it for another fifty pages or so. Lisa Mantchev definitely has a knack for characterization.

Another aspect of the book that I thought was very strong was the writing. The author made the reader feel like as if they were sitting in those plush theater seats watching a show play out on stage. She kept the whole story lively with just enough description to fully understand what was going on, but not enough so that the reader gets bogged down with repetitive information. Overall there was just a magical quality to the author’s writing that just sucked me in from early on in the story and never let me go.

In the end this book was great and I really liked it. I absolutely can’t wait to get more of Bertie’s world and more of Lisa Mantchev’s imagination and writing. Also on a complete side note, if the description is not enough to draw you into the story then the cover definitely will be as it is absolutely stunning!

For some more Theatre Illuminata reviews, interviews and more please check out the following blogs:

The 160 Acre Woods, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, A Patchwork of Books, Abby the Librarian, All About Children’s Books, And Another Book Read, Becky’s Book Reviews, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, The Friendly Book Nook, Homeschool Book Buzz, Homespun Light, Hyperbole, KidzBookBuzz.com, Never Jam Today, Reading is My Superpower, Through a Child’s Eyes

Also for more information on the author visit her blog. If you would like to buy a copy of this fabulous book click here...come on I dare you!

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

2009-06-22T15:53:00.001-04:00

When she was just five years old, Lucinda Chapdelaine’s parents left her home while they attended a ball and never returned. Ever since that fateful day she has been stuck in servitude in her evil Aunt’s jewelry shop.

One fateful day though, Lucinda’s life takes a new turn. First a mysterious woman named Beryl comes in looking for a new setting for her even more mysterious emerald-like stone. Then a perfectly dreamy man comes in looking for the perfect wedding gift that says “forever” for his bride to be. The thing is this man just isn’t just any customer, he happens to be the crown Prince of the kingdom and he seems to find something very familiar in Lucinda’s face.

These two strangers set Lucinda on a journey beyond her wildest dreams. She befriends a thief named Peter, inherits a pet goat named Dog, attends royal balls, deals with the Amaranth Witch, discovers herself, has a few run ins with the law, and even finds the truth to the mystery behind her parent’s death.

A tad reminiscent of Cinderella, but yet still its own fairy tale, THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT is truly a delightful read. It has every aspect needed to create the perfect story. There’s love, adventure, a dashing prince, thieves, a witch, evil relatives, and of course the ever loyal pet goat Dog! I loved how the author pieced together the story, never letting out too much at a time and letting the reader really get a chance to take the whole story in. While at times it was a little bit predictable, the story line was still unique and magical and made you crave more. I loved how Lucinda slowly uncovered her past and seeing it mesh up with her current life. It made the story that much better. Younger teens would get the most out of this novel, but readers of all ages are sure to still feel the magic of the story. Julie Berry surely outdid herself with her debut novel and definitely has a knack for story telling. I am very curious to see what she has in store for us next!

Winner of Death by Denim

2009-06-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

The winner is.....

Ann Diana Dinh

I've sent you an email, so please get back to me within 72 hours, so that I can send you your book.

Thanks to all who entered. Don't forget to enter for the chance to win one of five copies of Twenty Boy Summer!

The Glass Maker’s Daughter by V. Briceland

2009-06-04T09:21:00.003-04:00

Cassaforte is a medieval city full of magic, enchantments, and intrigue. While there is a king that rules the general city, the magic lays within the seven main families of the city, who each contribute a gift. One such family is the Divetri family, makers of the finest glass, whom Risa Divetri belongs to.

Risa is a feisty spirit who is just coming of age to be chosen for one of the two schools in the city where young adults learn to develop their gifts. Risa is prepared to go to school and excel in creating enchanted glass, just like her father, but then the unthinkable happens. When the Gods come down to direct Risa as to where she must go, they leave her unchosen destined to remain at home. While she is devasted, she soon discovers that there might just have been a reason why she must stay at home.

The city’s magic soon starts to unravel and the threat of corruption becomes apparent, Risa is determined to stop it. Discovering more about herself then she could have ever imagined she sets off on an adventure to save the home she loves, as well as finding her own self.

This was definitely a stunning novel! The cast of characters, as well as the plot was both extremely unique and left the reader wanting more. Also on a totally non-content based note, the cover is magnificent and completely eye catching!

First I must start with the storyline, which absolutely made the book. It combined a historical element, albeit it was fictional, that made the setting really interesting and magic, but not in an over-the-top manner. While many of the objects, houses, etc. were enchanted in the city; none of the characters had powers, which made the fantasy angle of the book just mesh with almost a normalcy. Anyways I also loved how Risa had to take a journey to find herself and not just follow the same path that everyone else in her family had to follow in order to find their gift.

Now, onto the characters. While most of the time I really enjoyed Risa’s personality and drive to fulfill her mission, I sometimes found her to be rather whiny and unsatisfied with what she got. As the story progressed though she became more comfortable with herself and started to stand up for herself and her decisions and became a much stronger character. By the end of the book she had a keen sense of adventure which radiated through the pages of the book.

Overall this was an excellent novel that all readers will enjoy, regardless of their taste in genre. As I mentioned before the fantasy aspect isn’t all encompassing and there is plenty of action to satisfy even the most rambunctious of readers. The author is definitely full of talent and I hope for more novels from him with just as exciting a storyline.

Win Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

2009-06-02T10:19:00.004-04:00

Are you all ready for summer? I know I sure am! What better way to celebrate than with an awesome book, namely Sarah Ockelr's debut novel TWENTY BOY SUMMER.

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

- I have five (5) copies to give away, so what are you waiting for...leave a comment for a chance to win

- U.S. Residents only

- Also if you link to my contest I'll give you an extra 2 entries.

- For some added fun, the 75th commenter is an instant winner!

- Contest runs until June 30

For more information visit Sarah's website or Little Brown Teens

Traveling To Teens: Sarah Cross

2009-05-29T07:00:00.003-04:00

This is my first Traveling to Teens tour and I couldn't be more excited to participate as well as share this opportunity with all you readers! I get to share this special day with an amazing author, Ms. Sarah Cross with her new debut novel DULL BOY which hit shelves May 14, 2009.
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Sarah Cross grew up in Ohio. She started writing at the age of 12 has written tales of suburban girl-gang warfare, overly ambitious high fantasy, campy romps through time, pop-culture parody, 'zines, plays, literary fiction, and ultra-derivative comics. Sarah went to college in New York and Japan and she now resides in New York. Dull Boy is her debut novel.
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Avery is desperate to just be dull and normal. Unfortunately though, that will never be the case as he as superpowers. Yes that’s right – superpowers - as in he can lift a car like one lifts a can of pop and of course he can fly! The thing is though Avery has lost all of his friends as he tries to fade into the background, hoping no one will figure our his secret. As he goes through his day-to-day life he always seeks a new way to help people, but then one day he goes too far. In an attempt to stop a robbery he creates a lot of damage and ends up meeting a mysterious lady named Cherchette who can cause a room to be chilling cold and creates ice. When his parents find out about the damage he caused in his attempt for a good deed they opt to send him to reform school, hoping to get him back on the right track.

Avery actually finds his new school to be somewhat cool. Yes, there are a ton more bullies and guys that can’t stand him, but he meets Darla, the girl genius. The two quickly become friends and Darla soon introduces him to Sophie, Catherine and Nick, three other super children. Together the four children embark on adventure after adventure anywhere from saving lost campers to just having fun together.

Of course, as with any great superhero (or in this case superheroes) there comes an evil mastermind. This group of heroes must go on their toughest adventure yet to hopefully destroy this mastermind once and for all.

*Please excuse the brief fangirl moment*

This book was AMAZING. By far the best debut novel I’ve read so far this year. It had all the elements needed to make a book amazing.

Now onto the real review (although the few sentences above completely describe my feelings!). Sarah Cross told a story about a super guy wanting to be dull and turned it into a supercharged adventure, making the reader wish they were not just normal, but super, just like Avery. This book literally has everything - smarts, hilarity, a little bit of romance, tons of action, and of course, phenomenal characters.

The story itself was fun, down to earth, and anything but dull. The author really developed the plot, making sure the main plot was showcased, but also creating a few little side plots that were just as good. There were lots of twists and turns that I never saw coming always urging me to keep on reading. What would have been really cool is if we had gotten to see the story from a couple different perspectives, but hey I’m not complaining, Avery’s voice was great. That’s another thing that was really impressive, the fact that Sarah Cross was able to create a male protagonist and make him sound and feel authentic without overdoing it and making him perverted.

This leads me into the characters, which I believe absolutely made the book. Each and everyone was well developed and had their own quirks. Avery and Catherine were by far my favorite characters. Their personalities jumped off of the page and they were extremely realistic. I instantly felt a connection with both these characters, sympathizing with them at their low points and cheering them on for their high points. I thought it was splendid how well the author was really able to make the characters stand up from the pages and make the story come to life right in front of your eyes. Oh, and then there is the evil mastermind (you must read the book in order to identify this mysterious character) who was just sooo evil that all I wanted to do was strangle them…ahh the reality of it all!

Overall this was such a great book. There was some great dialogue between the characters that made me giggle and I loved how each character came to accept themselves over time. Adventure, superpowers, and even a little bit of romance combine to make a super strength novel by debut novelist Sarah Cross. I absolutely cannot wait for more from Ms. Cross and very much hope that the DULL BOY adventures continue.

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Now on to the interview!

With a name like Sarah Cross you must be some form of secret agent/spy/superhero. So please spill…which are you?

I'm a perfectly normal civilian!! Please ignore those pictures you've seen of me wearing a pink ninja costume. And that subterranean lair I sometimes disappear into? That is just ... um ... I am performing routine maintenance work on a, uh, drain pipe. Yes ...

In DULL BOY Avery has a hard time finding the right “group of friends.” Was this an event you pulled out of your own life, or do you think it is something that all teens struggle with?

Wow, yes, nice job spotting that, LOL. I definitely had a friend-shift in high school. My BFFs went in all different directions, and I went in another--although I do think a lot of teens struggle with that. You're often a different person in 9th grade than you were in middle school, and a lot of those friendships don't carry over. It's natural to drift apart from people; the sucky part is that, yeah, it's pretty obvious you don't belong with your old friends--but who DO you belong with? It's a huge relief when you realize that the things that make you a freak to some people, make you awesome to others.

What started your love for comics and superheroes?

The old 1990s X-Men cartoon (now on DVD!) was what really set me on a superhero-loving path. Was there anything surlier than cartoon Wolverine, who, in a fit of rage, used his claws to slice off the top of Cyclop's car, inadvertently giving him a convertible? Anyone more quotable than cartoon Beast, who ensured I'd be saying "Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry" for years to come? And who didn't love Gambit & Rogue's over the top accents--which went perfectly with their over the top romance?
Once I saw that cartoon, I was hooked. I found my local comic shop and waved goodbye to all my money.

As a debut novelist I’m sure you’ve been surprised by some things in the literary world (maybe not, as I am convinced you have superpowers). What shocked you the most?

I was shocked that hazing exists in the YA literary world. Like, in order to be admitted into the community, you have to endure horrible things, like having a vampire crawl through your window to watch you sleep at night. I was lucky that my assigned vampire was friendly, and knitted me a hat, scarf, and matching poncho to pass the time while I was unconscious. But not every author is so fortunate.

As I am your latest fangirl, I am eager to know what you have in the works? Will Avery and the gang return again?

I hope they will!! I definitely have plans for them. It all depends on reader demand, though, so if you want my publisher to know you want more Dull Boy, tell your friends about it, ask your library to order it, etc. It's totally your reader/blogger superpower. ;)

Who’s your favorite superhero? Why?

My favorite superhero is Batman (surprise, surprise, right?), but let me tell you about my favorite lesser-known superhero: Wildcat.

Wildcat is a boxer turned crimefighter. He doesn't have any special powers, and honestly, I have no idea why he dresses in a cat costume. BUT: He dresses in a shoddily constructed cat costume! It has whiskers! And he once fought a kangaroo. No, really, look:

He's also trained heroes like Batman and Black Canary to fight. Pretty badass for an old dude wearing a whiskered cat mask.

Last, but not least, is there anything else you wish to share/ask/comment about?

No, I think that about covers it! Unless you want to tell me who your favorite superhero is. ;)

Well my favorite superhero would have to be Wonder Woman...don't really know why, but she is!

Thanks so much Sarah for answering my questions and I hope all of you readers enjoyed the interview and review.

Win a Copy of Death by Denim

2009-05-27T12:43:00.001-04:00

Well I think the title says it all! This is a great summer read and a great conclusion (although I would love for there to more) to a super cute trilogy. And if you haven't had the chance to read the preceding books, don't fret as it is really not that necessary to read them in any order.

Contest is open to anyone and everyone regardless of where you live. This is an ARC, but it is SIGNED by the author. Just comment for your chance to win. If you want an extra entry, post about the contest and leave the link. All entries must be received by midnight E.S.T on June 7. Good luck everyone!

In My Mailbox (VI)

2009-05-24T08:44:00.001-04:00

Thanks to the wonderful Story Siren and Alea for their creation/inspiration of this fun meme. All descriptions are from Amazon!

This week was tons of fun for me, so here's what I got!

Prophecy of Sisters by Michelle Zink

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-One good...One evil...Who will prevail?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust. They just know they can't trust each other.

Geektastic edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castelluci
Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside)and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita
When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, she's not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other "pookie." Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn't realize is that it's not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s'mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn't ruin Sam's summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might. At least she has playful Cole, who's always teasing her, but is oh-so-comfortable to hang out with, and the singular gang of girls that become fast friends with Sam-they call themselves the Sleepaway Girls.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson
Being an heiress in 1920s Austria with nothing but a broken-down castle to your name and nary a penny in your purse could be frustrating for anyone but the Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein. “Tessa,” however, is thrilled with her situation, as it allows her to concentrate on her love of the arts—and no one in the Viennese opera company need know that their delightful and charming under-wardrobe mistress is really a princess. But when the dashing self-made millionaire Guy Farne arrives at the opera in search of suitable entertainment for his high society guests, Tessa realizes that there may be more to life—and love—than just music. But while the attraction between them in undeniable, Guy’s insufferable snob of a fiancée only solidifies Tessa’s determination to keep her true identity a secret. Yet, after a chance meeting with the handsome Englishman, Tessa’s reserve begins to melt, and she starts to wonder if it’s not too late for a fairytale ending…

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

Overall a great week. Now I'm curious to know, what did you get in your mailbox?

Pillage by Obert Skye

2009-05-21T11:49:00.001-04:00

Fifteen-year-old Beck Phillips’ favorite activity is causing trouble and his latest scheme is setting off an angry hive of bees through the air ducts in is current school. Maybe this inclination for trouble comes from moving around a lot, a non-existent father, or the fact that his mother is very ill.

When his mom dies Beck is uprooted from his life once again and is sent to live with his wealthy, but estranged uncle out in the mountainous country. On the train ride to Kingsplot Beck meets Kate, who can’t even be bothered to give Beck the time of day, even though he thinks that she is the prettiest thing going. Little do they both know that they are going to see much more of each other, even thought its not at the top of Kate’s priority list.

When Beck arrives at his uncle’s mansion, an air of mystery greets him. While the house has seven floors and hundreds of rooms, Beck along with his uncles and a minimal house staff are the only occupants. What’s even stranger is that Beck’s uncle only comes out of his domed room once in a blue moon.

As time progresses Beck learns dark secrets about his lost family. Secrets that include buried basements, forbidden gardens, an ancient book of unusual family history, and most surprising of all…dragons!

Beck’s life has changed forever and there is no turning back now. Along with some newfound friends Beck is about to embark on his biggest scheme yet.

This was an absolutely great book. It takes you on an adventure that is beyond your wildest dreams. From the very first chapter the author’s humor came out and I found myself laughing along with Beck’s schemes. There was also a great suspense factor. This is one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. I eagerly anticipated each turn of events (of which there were many) and was shocked at many things, especially the ending which gave the term plot twist a whole new meaning. The plot was also very interesting. Incorporating dragons into any modern-day book is always very intriguing and the author had a knack for making everything seem real. And even though the book was set in modern day, it felt like it was set long ago. The whole story seemed to have this vintage fairy tale feel to it, which I just devoured. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to both young and old readers looking for a great read. After reading this book I have definitely fallen in love with the fantasy genre and definitely look forward to more of Obert Skye’s books.

The Other Boy by Hailey Abbott

2009-05-19T12:37:00.000-04:00

Maddy Sinclaire is your typical rich girl. She loves to party the night away, has the perfect gorgeous boyfriend, Brian, and she knows that she’s about to have the summer of her life. Her parents are headed up to their newly purchased vineyard up in Napa and they’re trusting Maddy at home in the city by herself for the entire summer. The first night her parents are gone she throws the ultimate summer party, but then she gets an unexpected visit from her parents. Apparently, they forget a few important documents and had to turn around and crashed the party.

Not trusting Maddy anymore they bring her back with them to Napa to spend the entire summer helping fix up the vineyard. Maddy is devastated that she has to spend the summer away from her friends and Brian and then, on top of that, she is going to be imprisoned in the middle of nowhere!

When she gets to Napa, though, she unexpectedly meets David, the extremely cute son of her dad’s business partner and the boy she’s going to work with all summer. Although she hates to admit it, Maddy starts wondering if Brian is really the right guy for her, or if David, who’s nothing like she is, might just be worth her time.

This was definitely the perfect summer read. Light, fun, and romance-filled -- what girl could resist? While it was your classic clichéd story, I thought it was super-cute and wish that I could be as lucky with guys as Maddy!!! I enjoyed seeing Maddy’s character develop from a rich snob to a down-to-earth girl who could appreciate the beauty of nature.

I’m not going to lie, at first I despised Maddy; she was whiny and stuck-up, but as the book progressed she became very likable and relatable. The book was also very funny. The author created a ton of humorous situations where I found myself laughing out loud. For fans of Hailey Abbott’s previous books, THE OTHER BOY will not disappoint!

In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg

2009-05-13T07:49:00.003-04:00

Fashion forward Molly is looking forward to a summer in the Los Angeles sun and working on her application for an amazing internship for the fall. Then her mom gets remarried and Molly’s life is turned upside down. Not only does she have to adjust to this new man, but she’s also just been informed that she has to spend her summer out in Boulder, Colorado with her parents on their honeymoon. What’s even stranger is her family is participating in a house swap, so now someone she doesn’t even know is going to be living in her house, enjoying the summer sun she was wanting.

Mountain-bike loving, nature boy Charlie is looking forward to a summer of exploring new trails and just having fun. Then his two moms spring the house-swap idea on him. At first he is quite upset, but then looks at it as an opportunity to break up with his girlfriend, that he just doesn’t like that much.

Connecting through emails and instant messenger Charlie and Molly get to know each other. Soon their relationship starts to turn into something much more then friends, but can a relationship work out if the two people have never met each other?

This book was a nice surprise. I thought it was really well written and the plot line was completely original. The author did a great job developing the characters, as well as creating great background stories for all of them. For example, the reader knew all about how life was progressing for both Molly and Charlie during their respective summers and how their lives intertwined. What was also so loveable about this book was the fact that it was the perfect, fast love story. While it was love story, it was completely believable. The characters weren’t perfect and their relationship wasn’t cheesy. Charlie was a believable guy. He was extremely cute and had a sweet sensitive personality, but yet he had some major flaws. Molly was your classic shy girl, but yet she was willing to make an effort and she wasn’t critical of herself. It was also really refreshing to read a book where the love was based on personality rather than looks. While the two had seen pictures of each other, they also got to know each other through many a late night conversations and emails, so they really fell in love with the real person instead of the way someone looks. This is a great debut novel from Jordanna Fraiberg and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from her.

Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber

2009-05-11T07:30:00.001-04:00

Aphra Behn Connolly believes she is just an average teenage girl. The fact is though she leads a life that is anything but normal, actually most people would be pretty jealous of her. Her and her dad own and run a luxury resort on a secluded tropical island and Aphra spends her day eavesdropping on the lives of the rich and famous. There is one down side though to living on the island, Aphra is secluded from all the things that teenagers take for granted – friends and hot guys.

Aphra’s luck may have turned around when Seth Mulo and his parents unexpectedly arrive at the resort, bringing a whole cloud of mystery with them. The alarm bell really sounds though when a girl turns up dead on the beach – with the strings of her bikini tied around her neck – the day after the Mulos arrive. Aphra wonders what the family could possibly be hiding, and she is determined to figure it out. What Aphra doesn’t know is she’s about to involve herself in a dark mystery where there’s a lot more information then appears and there are lots of new faces lurking around every corner.

This book was too cute. It had the perfect mix of mystery and romance to satisfy any girl’s desire for a good read. The story was light and funny, yet still had a serious enough plot that it kept the reader interested and entertained. Aphra was a fun, mischievous character that kept the story lively. The romance between Aphra and Seth was also a breath of fresh air, as it didn’t follow the “normal” boy-meets-girl they flirt then fall in love mold! Linda Gerber definitely has created a one-of-a-kind mystery with Aphra as its leading star and I absolutely can’t wait to read more about her adventures!

In My Mailbox (V)

2009-05-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

This super fun meme was started by The Story Siren with inspiration from Alea.

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker (THANK YOU MELISSA!!!)

Yay, summer in Austin!
Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!
Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.
All your favorite bands
But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.
All ages welcome
So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??
Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight. Don't wait up!

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.
When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body -- with her memories intact.

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

So, what did you get in your mailbox this week?

No Such Thing as the Real World by M. T. Anderson, K. L. Going, Beth Kephart, Chris Lynch, An Na, and Jacqueline Woodson

2009-05-08T07:18:00.003-04:00

This is a collection of stories all about the jump that one takes from being a child into the real world. While the line is thin, each has their own unique story about the crossing and these authors share the stories of six different individuals.

One character deals with the loss of a parent, who was special to the entire community, and how to uphold his business, which so many people relied on.

Another has to write her senior thesis, but it becomes more of a necessity than a requirement when her best friend commits suicide.

There is a graduation speech to be given, just after seeing your crush make-out with your sister. Then there is the monologue of two actors, who would normally never have crossed paths, who seem to be married until one forgets. Finally the stories about growing up wouldn’t be complete without a case of teen parenting.

I am quite new to reading anthologies, but I have to say they are quite fun. You get a brief view into another’s world, and while sometimes you wish there was more, more often then not it’s just the right amount. All the stories in this particular anthology were okay, nothing spectacular, and I felt like they still needed some more work, especially since they were so short.

Beth Kephart’s story was by far the best. While all the stories dealt with a tough issue that really defines one’s coming of age, Kephart made her story so much more believable and real. Her writing was absolutely superb and she dealt with the whole issue of suicide in such a way that didn’t make it seem so horrible. She made the main character relatable in the fact that she took out her sadness in writing and didn’t really want to think about what had happened. I definitely think that Kephart was able to fully capture the essence of a short story and leave a lingering thought in the reader’s brain on how they would react to the situation.

Overall the anthology was decent and I recommend it to all of you looking for a good dose of reality. Appropriate for all teenagers and older readers I think this is a good book to help you see the “real world.”

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

2009-05-07T09:00:00.003-04:00

Savannah lives in small coastal Carolina town with her mom and brother Dog. Her father left her family years ago, and Savannah truly believes he took her ability to really breathe with him, as she has had life-threatening asthma since the day he left. Despite that fact she looks forward to reading tons of romance novels and working at her local library over the coming summer months and of course visiting the beach.

Then Savannah meets Jackson – her true love. He seems to be the only person that gives Savannah her breath back and is just so different from any other boy that she has met. Jackson seems to be perfect, staying by her side at the hospital when she suffers a severe asthma attack, following all of Savannah’s mom’s crazy rules about “courting,” and even sticking up for Savannah when she is put down by the local ruffians.

It seems though that Savannah’s perfect summer is not meant to be, as Jackson is called back home to help his mom and brothers out. Savannah doesn’t know if their relationship will last, and most of all if she will be able to breath without Jackson by her side.

This book was as sweet as a southern accent! The love story was true and there was a reality to the book that made the book come to life. There was humor and heartbreak, along with reality and creativity. With every sentence it felt like the reader was transported from their living room couch to the sandy beaches of the Carolina coast.

The characters that the author created were real and fun as well as relatable.
Savannah’s true accent made me laugh and grin and her personality really shone. At times she got a bit whiny and fake, but overall she was genuine. While I felt that Savannah was three-dimensional and really stepped off the page, none of the other characters, including Jackson really stood out for me. Yes, Jackson was an incredibly sweet boy, but he didn’t seem real or alive.

Another really strong aspect of this book is the struggle that the characters go through. There is both economic hardships as well as emotional and relationship struggles, ranging anywhere from Savannah and Jackson’s relationship to Dog and his best friend’s relationship. This was another fact that helped the reader to relate with the characters.

Finally the plot was really cute, a little clichéd, but cute none-the-less and thoroughly enjoyable. Fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy this sweet Southern novel full of charm and wit by this debut author. I look forward to reading more of Cheryl Renee Herbsman’s future works and I truly believe she has a bright future ahead of her.

On a side note the author is coming to the bookstore right down the street from me at the end of the month, needless to saw I am very excited!!!

Being Nikki/Airhead Giveaway Winners

2009-05-06T17:45:00.000-04:00

The lucky reader who gets both a copy of Airhead and Being Nikki is.....

xdaisyx

The other five winners of a copy of Airhead are:

Shooting Stars Magazine

Wrighty

Nora

Lenore

Just Blinded Book Reviews

I have emailed all of you, so please respond in 72 hours or I will have to pick a new winner.

Thanks to everybody who entered, I hope you all have a chance to get to read these great books!

Love on Cue by Catherine Hapka

2009-05-05T14:12:00.003-04:00

Normally Maggie Tannery is a shy and self-conscious high school girl, but she completely transforms when she is put on stage. When it’s time for auditions for the school’s annual production Maggie is sure to be a shoe in. Better yet, her long time crush Daniel might just be playing the lead along side her, and hopefully not just in the play if Maggie has things her way!

Then the unthinkable happens. A new drama teacher comes into the picture and instead of performing Romeo and Juliet, she’s thinking more along the lines of Cabaret, a musical. Maggie is devastated thinking she has no chance to make even a small role, as she can’t really dance let alone sing. All hope is not lost though as she turns to Nico, one of the school’s most musically talented students, to give her voice lessons. The thing is their voices aren’t the only thing in sync and soon enough Maggie doesn’t know which leading man is right for her.

This is one of those super cute Simon Romantic Comedies that takes absolutely no time to read, but is still quite enjoyable. Yes, the story was very clichéd and yes, there wasn’t much character development, but I couldn’t help but wish that I would be put in Maggie’s position.

While she wasn’t all that developed, I would still say that Maggie was a good character. She was relatable in the fact that she was shy and didn’t have the guts to talk to her crush and she had a hard time choosing which guy was right for her, which are both problems teen girls face.

Catherine Hapka created a sweet little book that is perfect for reading at the beach and is sure to pick you up when you’re feeling a little bit down.

Fade by Lisa McMann

2009-05-01T13:35:00.001-04:00

Just as one case closes for Janie and Cable, another one opens up immediately. Unfortunately for Janie though, her dream catching seems to be taking more and more from her both mentally and physically every time she gets sucked into another’s dream.

Not only does Janie have to deal with all the stress of her last semester of high school, her relationship with Cable which they have to keep a secret, and then of course the latest case which deals with a sexual predator who is most likely a teacher at Janie’s school.

Janie soon gets herself way in over her head when nothing goes as planned and Cable’s behavior is absolutely shocking. Then Janie soon finds out about what lies in store for her in the future, and it’s not a pretty picture. Will Janie survive these last few months of high school? Will her relationship with Cable survive?

Hands down this is a great series and even after the last page it still left me wanting more. FADE picked up right where WAKE left off not even skipping a beat. McMann kept up her impeccable prose throughout the whole story and wove a very intricate plot.

The plot was extremely interesting and kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. There was absolutely nothing that was going to make me put the book down! McMann took a really tough topic and made it extremely interesting and real, making it apparent to teenagers how dangerous certain situations can get.

One thing that I did have an issue with was the ending. Now I’m not going to talk about it, but I felt like the book hit its climax and then kind of rambled off, not leaving a definitive ending. I have to say though that I was really impressed with the last sentence of the book, leaving the series open to so many possibilities, which I am eager to find out about in GONE coming out February 2010.

As I mentioned before Lisa McMann’s writing is impeccable. While her style takes some getting used to, as everything is in the present tense, it is completely worth it because it makes the book unique and spell binding. I also love how you get to know all the character’s thoughts and their actions, but at different times - it truly gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters and really connect with the story.

Overall this was a great second book in a ground-breaking series that I can’t wait to read more of. It was a suspenseful, fast-paced read that all readers will enjoy.

Spring Has Sprung Contest Winners!!!

2009-05-01T07:14:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to.......

Jessica Marie!!

I have sent you an email, so please respond in three days or else I will have to pick a new winner!

Thank you to all who participated as this has been my best contest so far.

Don't forget to enter the Airhead giveaway!

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

2009-04-29T07:52:00.004-04:00

Princess Talia of Euphrasia was given many fairy gifts at birth including beauty, intelligence, and charm, but she was also given a curse. Before her sixteenth birthday she would prick herself on a spindle and fall asleep until her true love kissed her. Naturally her parents don’t want this to happen to their precious daughter and they annihilate all spindles from their tiny country. Alas though, regardless of their precautions Talia still manages to find a spindle on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and falls into a deep sleep.

Three hundred years later, Jack and his friend Travis are on a month long summer tour of Europe and are honestly sick and tired of visiting museum after museum. One morning they get up with the intention of finding a beach, but end up finding Euphrasia, frozen in time. While exploring Jack stumbles upon Talia, beautiful as ever and he can’t help but kiss her. And that’s the mistake he made.

Talia wakes up, as does the kingdom, believing that Jack is her true love, after all he did wake her, and having a hard time coming to terms that three hundred years have passed. Nonetheless she is eager to start her new life with Jack, even though he has no interest in marrying her, as he is still only seventeen. Wanting to explore the world Talia sneaks off with Jack and they return to Jack’s home in Miami, where Talia learns what it is like to be a “normal” teenager in the 21^st century!

This book is too cute! While it is very fluffy, the story is heartwarming and fun, which makes the story very likeable. I loved how Alex Flinn took a normal fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, and transformed it into a modern day love story.

At the beginning the characters were quite underdeveloped and just seemed to be there with no personality and lacking direction. As the story progressed though they became much more real and the story became so much better. Jack had to deal with a lot especially his parents not believing and accepting him. They pushed him to do things just to pad his college application even though he hated doing them and nothing he wanted was good enough for his parents. This is definitely an issue that real teens face and I commend Alex Flinn for working that issue, and how sometimes teens misinterpret it, because it really shows that you really can do what you want to do. In Talia’s case she was very whiny at the beginning, but as she got to know Jack more she became more of a real character and much more appealing to the audience.

Overall this book is a light read that would satisfy a craving for a good fairy tale and of course a little romance. It was fun to see the author connect two different time periods and join two very different families together.

Anila’s Journey by Mary Finn

2009-04-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

When Anila Tandy’s guardians, the Hickeys, decide to leave Calcutta they beg her to accompany them, but she stubbornly refuses to come so that just in case her long gone father returns as he promised many years ago she’ll be there. Miss Hickey then sets her up with everything she’ll need to survive by herself. Most importantly Miss Hickey finds Anila a job as a bird painter on an expedition up the Ganges River. As the days go by and she discovers new birds, she also reflects on her past. How life was like when her mother was still alive and her father still around, or remembering the stories her mother used to tell. Along the journey Anila finds herself and grows up.

Anila’s Journey was a very well written historical fiction. The re-creation of historical India was fascinating and I enjoyed learning more about the older Indian culture. I thought that it was really interesting how Mary Finn alternated the chapters by telling what Anila was experiencing at the present and then stories about Anila’s past and then bringing them together in the end. Anila was an interesting character who really grew up through the story and became her true self. I loved all of the culture references and felt like I learned quite a bit. At times the book got dry and I found that it was hard to keep reading, but then it would get better over time. Overall I liked the book.

Band Geeked Out by Josie Bloss

2009-04-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

Its trumpet goddess Ellie Snow’s senior year of high school and she’s facing the dreaded college decisions. She can’t seem to choose between her mom’s alma matter Worthington, an all-girls school out East with no marching band, or the local state school where her two best friends are going and who has one of the best marching band programs. Not only is marching band a huge considering factor, but also Ellie’s sweet and adorable sophomore boyfriend Connor, whom she really loves.

Ellie’s life is thrown out of sync though when she goes to visit the all-girls school where she is instantly drawn to her tour guide Alex. Her and Alex quickly develop a close friendship and now Ellie is strongly considering Worthington, even if that means changing all of her plans for the future. Her plans especially change when her and Alex’s relationship changes and Ellie starts to wonder if there is more to their friendship than meets the eye.

More confused than ever, Ellie must make the toughest decision of her life: to stay with what she knows or to go out on a limb and try something new. Regardless of her decision though Ellie’s life has changed forever whether she knows it or not and now she just has to learn how to live through it.

Well I can’t say that I was absolutely enamored by this book. I felt like the plot was a little weak and Ellie got a little weird, but there was still a really great cute factor to the book which reminded me a lot of BAND GEEK LOVE, but not as good.

As I mentioned before Ellie got really weird in the book. While I understand that she had to make a lot of hard decisions and was really confused, I really couldn’t connect with her and really disagreed with some of the decisions that she did make. Also her whole relationship status with Connor and Alex was a little off beat as well, which for me was the major issue with the whole book.

As for the plot it was well constructed, but just not as interesting as BAND GEEK LOVE’s and I just couldn’t help comparing the two. Josie Bloss did do an excellent job creating a real world dilemma and trying her best to solve it. While I was conflicted with some decisions that she made, Ellie was certainly smart in making her college decisions, which I think is a great thing to portray in a YA books as so many students find this process confusing. If they see how a literary figure handles the situation then they will hopefully be able to shed some light onto how they might be able to make the best decision for themselves.

Overall I was a bit disappointed, but still enjoyed the book. Josie Bloss is a new and fresh author who I expect will produce some great novels in the future.

In My Mailbox (IV)

2009-04-26T09:34:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox was started by the wonderful Story Siren with inspiration from Alea!

So, this week I got one wonderful book from Steph Su...THANKS!!

Nina was beautiful, artistic, wild . . . and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But one day, without any warning, Nina disappeared.

Two years later, Ellie can't stop thinking about her sister. Although everyone else has given up hope that Nina will return, Elile just knows her sister is out there, somewhere. If only Ellie had a clue where to look.

And then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing tucked into the pages of a book. Determined to find her sister, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she's got a chance -- her hot, adventurous new crush.

Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn't planning on. Like love. Mysteries. Lies. And something far ore shocking -- the truth

Now you know what I got, so tell me what you got!

Also don't forget to enter my contests to win a prize pack of 5 YA books or a copy of Being Nikki and Airhead!

Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

2009-04-23T19:30:00.004-04:00

Anke lives everyday within an abusive home dealing with her father hurting everyone in her family but her. She feels worthless, like a piece of furniture, because she does not get a speck of attention from her father, even if it might be negative. Not being able to tell anyone she just floats on through life.

Then she makes the volleyball team, where you learn to speak up and call “MINE’ for a ball and really speak up for yourself. Her confidence quickly starts building on the court and she is making herself heard. She even starts to develop close relationships with others and even starts sparking the interest of boys.

Although she is becoming less invisible at school, she still continues to be like a dining room chair at home, invisible to the eye of anyone in her family. As the abusiveness gets worse a thought sparks in her brain that maybe if she just used her volleyball voice, she might be heard for once and hopefully put an end to this tragedy.

Over the course of her story, Anke not only grows taller and older, but wiser as well and truly becomes her own person, with a commanding voice.

This book is extremely interesting and very well written. It was written through poems and it caused the story to just float by. I was most impressed with the fact that Thalia Chaltas took a common theme in young adult literature and wrote about in a completely different perspective, the side of watching the abuse and in a way wanting it. The emotion that she was able to encompass through her lyrical prose was chilling and really made you think about both sides of the situation.

The characters in the book I felt were a little underdeveloped. While you really got to know Anke, it felt like she had no variance in her life as she talked about the same things over and over again. It made it a little dull and hard to actually imagine the story. Other then that though the book was well written and interesting.

Overall this was a great debut book that fans of Lisa Schroder’s novels will really enjoy. I look forward to reading future works of Ms. Chaltas’ as they are sure to be promising.

Airhead and Being Nikki Contest!!!!

2009-04-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

As I am sure many of you are aware, the brilliant Meg Cabot started a new series last year about a girl named Emerson Watts. In a couple of weeks the second book, Being Nikki, will be out. I was lucky enough to somehow receive TWO copies, so that leaves one copy for all you blog readers to win!

If that isn't incentive enough, (and for all of you who have not had the pleasure of reading the first book in the series Airhead) I have THREE copies to give away.

So the prizes are as listed:

1st place: An ARC of BEING NIKKI and a final copy of AIRHEAD

2nd/3rd place: A copy of Airhead

All you have to do is leave a comment by May 5th at midnight to be entered. Entries are limited to U.S. residents only. Please include a way for me to contact you.

Also if you post about the contest on your blog, myspace, facebook, etc. let me know and I'll give you an additional 2 entries.

Teen Inc. by Stefan Petrucha

2009-04-21T07:48:00.002-04:00

Jaiden Beale wishes he lived an ordinary life, but when you are the child of a corporation, yes as in a business, it’s a little hard. See when Jaiden was just a few weeks old his parents were killed in an explosion that was caused by a faulty valve made by NECorp, who is the same company that “adopts” him.

Now in middle school, Jaiden just wants to fit in, but that’s a little hard when you have a whole team of people trying to make decisions for you. When he finally finds the perfect girl to date (after many meetings where he gets shown a slideshow of possible girls that don’t appeal to him at all) his plans for a study date get immediately foiled. After enough persuasion though Jaiden is able to convince his guardians to let him use the company house and have the girl over. As soon as she steps in the house though, he wishes he had never pushed so hard. In short the date was a disaster and Jaiden is furious with the corporation.

Now he has to face how to grow up in a nonconventional environment and maybe, just maybe have somewhat of a normal teenage life. And maybe there is a chance for him to make up with the perfect girl and work things out.

Well the book started out really well and I was really excited about the concept, but by the end of the third chapter it started to go down hill. The plot didn’t really move much and the story became so predictable that I didn’t really want to continue. I thought that Jaiden’s character became very whiny and unenjoyable, and he I felt like he kept talking abut the same thing over and over again. While I didn’t like the story, I thought that the author’s writing style was really good. He made the book feel real and provided enough detail to answer my questions, but not too much that it was a bore. Overall I was disappointed with the book, but think it may work out better for a younger audience.

In My Mailbox (III)

2009-04-19T20:08:00.001-04:00

This lovely meme was started by The Story Siren with inspiration from Alea!

So this week was a little slow, but still good!

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelley Martin

Finn has always felt out of place, but suddenly her world is unraveling. It started with The Party. And Adam Porter. And the night in September that changed everything. The only person who knows about that night is Audrey—Finn’s best friend, her witness to everything, and the one person Finn trusts implicitly. So when Finn’s childhood friend Jersy moves back to town—reckless, beautiful Jersy, all lips and eyes and hair so soft you’d want to dip your fingers into it if you weren’t careful—Finn gives her blessing for Audrey to date him. How could she possibly say no to Audrey? With Audrey gone for the summer, though, Finn finds herself spending more and more time with Jersy, and for the first time in her life, something feels right. But Finn can’t be the girl who does this to her best friend . . . can she?

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell (Thanks to Yan!)

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson

To Carley Wells, words are the enemy: the countless SAT lists from her tutor, the “fifty-seven pounds overweight” assessment from her personal trainer, and most of all, the “confidential” Getting To Know You assignment from her insane English teacher (whose literary terminology lessons include “Backstory is Afterbirth” and “Setting is Nobody’s Slut”). When he tells her parents that she’s answered “What is your favorite book?” with “Never met one I liked,” they become determined to fix what he calls her “intellectual impoverishment.” They will commission a book to be written for Carley that she’ll have to love—one that will impress her teacher and the whole town of Fox Glen with their family’s devotion to the arts. They will be patrons—the Medicis of Long Island. They will buy their daughter The Love Of Reading. Impossible though it is for Carley to imagine ever loving words, she is in love with a young bibliophile who cares about them more than anything. Anything, that is, but a good bottle of scotch. Hunter Cay, Carley’s best friend and Fox Glen’s resident golden boy, is becoming a stranger to her as he drowns himself in F. Scott Fitzgerald, booze, and Vicodin. When the Wellses move writer Bree McEnroy—author of a failed meta-novel about Odysseus’s voyages through the Internet—into their mansion to write Carley’s book, Carley’s sole interest in the project is its potential to distract Hunter from drinking and give them something to share. Instead, as Hunter’s behavior becomes erratic and dangerous, she finds herself drawn into the fictional world Bree has created and begins to understand for the first time the power of stories—those we read, those we want to believe in, and most of all, those we tell ourselves about ourselves. Stories powerful enough to destroy a person. Or save her.

That was my week, now I'm curious to see what you got!

The Devil’s Breath by David Gilman

2009-04-16T10:08:00.004-04:00

Max Gordon is on the run.

He was almost killed by an assassin, his dad has been kidnapped, and he only has one clue as to where he is. Still he is determined to find him no matter what kind of danger faces him. With the one clue he is given he figures out that his father is in the deserts of Namibia exploring a company that is about to hurt thousands of people. Those people know that Max’s dad has found evidence against them and thinks that Max has knowledge of this evidence as well. While he is on the mission to find his father, regardless of the evidence, the company is determined to kill Max.

With the help of !Koga, a local bushmen, who has a very keen sense of the wild, Kallie van Reenen, a local girl who has a great knowledge of planes and the sky, and his best mate back in England. All three of these people form Max’s support system as he embarks on the most grueling adventure imaginable, all in search of his father, of whom he knows nothing of his whereabouts. Will Max be able to beat the odds and survive or will his captors get the better of him?

This is an action packed book that any reader will find hard to put down. With every page turn you don’t know what’s coming next and you’re on the edge of your seat. Throughout the book you hear the story from different perspectives, whether it be the main story from Max, the antagonist’s point of view, and even sometimes the story is heard from Max’s two friends who are helping him with his search to find his father. I thought that the use of alternating perspectives was interesting, but at times it got confusing because some of the characters sounded the same.

While the author did a great job building up the book with lots of suspense and such I found parts of the book to be very predictable and not that interesting. Other parts of the book though definitely made up for this and I found myself intrigued.

At times the book got a bit violent, which I don’t think was necessary, but may have been appreciated more by the male readership. Despite this fact I think the book would be a good read for all teens and it was a good start to a potentially thrilling series.

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

2009-04-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

Bianca knows that her second year at Evernight Academy will be much more difficult then her first, and that is saying something. Not only does she have to make it through the year without Lucas, her vampire-slaying boyfriend, but her inner vampire is starting to surface. She finds she is becoming stronger and craves blood more and more frequently and her parents say it is only a matter of time before she makes the full conversion, but Bianca’s not sure if that’s the life path she wants to take.

She does try and make the best out of being at Evernight by searching around for clues to why Mrs. Bethany, the headmaster, admits only certain humans into the school. This way she can give Lucas this information, in order that he can report it to his supervisor and be able to spend just a little bit more time with Bianca.

As the year goes on, Bianca’s life becomes even more complicated. Hordes of information is being kept from her at the same time that she is keeping just as many secrets from the rest of the world. One such secret is her continuing relationship with Lucas. The only way she can really get out into the outside world is if she pretends to be having a relationship with Balthazar, but she feels like this in a way is being disloyal to Lucas. With a major Black Cross mission underway and a mysterious wraith following Bianca, her year doesn’t get much better, but could it get any worse?

In general I find there is a rule that sequels are generally not better then their preceder, but then again there are always exceptions to that rule, especially in the case of Stargazer! While I loved Evernight, Stargazer proved to be an even more intriguing read and moved along at a much quicker pace, picking up right where it left off. With that said it is best if you have read Evernight so that you fully understand the context of the story.

Bianca’s character was definitely more developed in this book as she started to really question if she truly wanted to be a vampire or there was other possible options for her. This really allowed the reader to get to know her better and for her to become more real and three-dimensional. One thing I didn’t like so much though that she was the only character that was fully developed. To me the other characters didn’t have as much life to them and the reader could have gotten to know them better.

The plot was also much better in this book. It didn’t take anytime for me to become re-interested in Bianca’s story and I felt like I hadn’t missed out on anything. There was always so much going on that I was constantly on the edge of my seat eager to find out what was going to happen next and how each event fit into the plot puzzle! Some of the developments that occurred in the story were definitely jaw droppers and I was absolutely stunned, and I have to say I loved evey minute of it!

Claudia Gray really outdid herself with Stargazer. Her writing was fantastic and she created a novel full of daring, romantic, and shocking moments, all of which left the reader wanting more. She especially did a great job with the ending, even though it was a little odd, which left off with a major cliffhanger! I cannot wait for more books in the series and just future books from Ms. Gray in the future.

Spring Has Sprung Contest

2009-04-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

I have a question for all of my blog readers:

Do you enjoy.....?

a) Reading new books outside in the beautiful spring weather

b) Entering contest...and hopefully winning them

c) All of the above

Well if you chose either a, b, or c, then I certainly have the contest for you! As a way to celebrate the arrival of spring (well at least the weather aspect of it!) I have a nice of pile books that have been released in 2009 to give away.

Also Known As Harper by Ann Haywood Leal (ARC)

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry (ARC)

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Chasing Boys by Karen Tayleur

Need by Carrie Jones

The contest is open for US and Canadian residents only.

It ends on April 30, 2009 at midnight.

To enter just leave a comment with your favorite aspect of spring and a way for me to contact you.

Also if you blog/post on facebook, myspace, etc. about my contest just let me know (in a separate comment please) and I'll give you an additional two entries.

Finally if you are a follower or a subscriber (regardless of new or old) let me know (agian in a seperate comment) and you'll get another entry.

In My Mailbox (II)

2009-04-12T13:04:00.001-04:00

Thanks to the wonderful Story Siren who created this fun meme with inspiration from Alea. All summaries are from Amazon.

I had an extremly exciting week and cannot wait to start the books that I got.

As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face?

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Thanks to Sharon for this one!

Ever since her mother passed away, Katie's been alone in her too-big house with her genius dad, who restores old paintings for a living. Katie takes a summer job at a garden estate where, with the help of two brothers and a glamorous librarian, she soon becomes embroiled in decoding a mystery. There are secrets and shadows at the heart of Nothing But Ghosts, symbols hidden in a time-darkened painting, and surprises behind a locked bedroom door. But most of all, this is a love story-- the story of a girl who learns about love while also learning to live with her own ghosts

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone—but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her—but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

He smiles. "Hello."

It's a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes.

I know I should leave, but I don't want to. I want to keep my senses like this forever. I'm all eye, all ear, all skin.

Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself.

In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is.

Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse. I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . . I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind. I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.
I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen. Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner! Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak! Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.
Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

Now the only problem I have is deciding what to read next! Any suggestions?

Audrey, Wait! By Robin Benway

2009-04-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

Audrey was just sick of the drama when she walked away from her boyfriend Evan and ended their relationship. She chose to ignore his mutter of “Audrey, wait” as she walked away. That was her first and biggest mistake.

Just hours after they broke up Evan and his band, the Do-Gooders, are performing their latest song…”Audrey,Wait!” and doesn’t it just turn out that it’s a fabulous song and there is a producer at the show. While everyone else obviously loves the song, Audrey hates it and just wants to crawl into a hole after hearing it. Little does she know that the song will quickly climb up the Billboard charts and send Audrey off into unwanted fame.

All Audrey wants to do is be normal again. She wants to be able to go to concerts and enjoy the music, hang out with her friends, and hopefully go on a date with her super cute co-worker James. But with the paparazzi hounding her day in and day out, she finds that she can’t do anything. Will Audrey’s life ever get back to normal or will she forever live in this life of unwanted fame?

Man was this book good! From the very first page I knew that this book was in its own special class, unlike any other book I’ve read in quite some time. The story is fun and original and the characters are masterfully created.

Throughout the entire story, Audrey’s voice was completely authentic and drew me into the story. The fact that she narrated the story in a teenage dialect was so much fun and really made the story come to life. She really had a sense of personality and you couldn’t help but laugh at all her crazy tactics to escape the public light and just get some alone time with James. Now some authors do really well developing the main character, but Robin Benway did a great job developing all her characters. They all had their own unique personalities and quirks and I came to love them all. Each and every character added to the story in a way that most characters do not, as they all stood off the pages in their own way in order to weave the story together.

The story itself was also very refreshing. The plot was original and didn’t find remnants of other stories mixed in with Audrey’s. As mentioned before the story really came alive and I felt like I was right there sitting in the office with Audrey or rocking out to the bands that she so often discusses. Many a time I found the story to fly by and keep me drawn in until the very end. Overall I was very impressed and absolutely cannot wait for more from Ms. Benway.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

2009-04-08T09:00:00.003-04:00

Mia is the odd one out in her family. Like Mia both of her parents are involved in the music world - the punk scene - while Mia finds her niche in the classical world. The first time she touched a cello in third grade music class she knew that she had found her passion. She quickly excelled and now, a senior in high school, has a specialized professor and surpasses most college students that she accompanies. She even hopes to go to Julliard in the fall, even if it means leaving her awesome boyfriend Adam behind.

Early on a February morning though life for Mia changes drastically. What was supposed to be snow day fun suddenly turned into the biggest nightmare that Mia has ever faced and it all happened in an instant. Now Mia has to make the biggest choice of her life, to hold on or let go.

I have to start off by saying; I’m going to try as hard as possible not to gush about this book, as it is truly great. I sat down and read it all at once, never taking my eyes off the page and just entranced by Mia’s story, not wanting it to end. After I was done, my jaw literally fell open in awe of the greatness!

Let me start with the writing style. Gayle Forman managed to create this lyrical tone in the book that made the story dance through the reader’s mind and implant itself in their heart. The words flowed off the page, just like they were notes coming off a cello. She created deep emotion in a short time and created a story that hits close to home, regardless of who you are or the experiences you have had.

The story itself was absolutely breathtaking. To have to go through what Mia does is heart wrenching. The decisions she has to make and the things she has to see are so vivid, that you feel like you are right there in her position. I also love how music, in all its shapes and forms, are an essential part of the book; it’s a great finishing touch to the book.

Now we come to the characters, my absolute favorite part! Mia herself was fascinating. She had so much to offer to the reader by sharing her story and she expressed her emotions freely. The words truly did come off the page in her voice and she became real. Not only was Mia great, but the supporting characters were fabulous as well. They were all so real and you could feel the love in their voices and the hurt that they felt. I especially loved the grandfather, who was quiet almost the whole time until one moment when he said one of the most memorable quotes in the entire story. For me this just added to the amazingness.

I am still in awe of this book and urge you all to run and grab a copy as soon as possible, so that you might experience the magic of this story for yourself. It is horribly real and extremely emotional, but it leaves you with so much. I absolutely cannot wait to read more of Gayle Forman’s future works, as she is truly a rising star.

Ivy by Julie Hearn

2009-04-06T14:11:00.001-04:00

Ivy’s life isn’t exactly picturesque. At a very young age she is orphaned and forced to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins who really can’t afford to support another child. Once old enough, she is sent to school, but doesn’t even last the whole day. When running from school her beautiful red hair makes Carroty Kate, a thief who literally steals the clothes off of people’s back, catch sight of her and snatch her up.

Forced into becoming a con artist, Ivy is brought into a clan of thieves where every night she is given laudanum in order to suppress the terrible nightmares she faces each night. Years later she escapes, fleeing back to her aunt and uncles house. Everyday she works in order to provide for her still struggling family, well also fighting her addiction to laudanum.

Then one day a young painter, who instantly decides that he must have her as a muse, glimpses her. Ivy and family reluctantly agree, as the money is good, and it could have it’s benefits. Ivy soon realizes though that modeling isn’t what she imagined as she deals with a jealous mother, a familiar band of thieves, a persistent addiction, and a way to controlling cousin.

This is a great historical novel. There is so much to learn from this brilliantly written story, that it was hard to see it end. Not only are there historical facts, but also some life lessons that still apply in modern times.

Ivy was by far one of the more interesting characters that I’ve ever read about. She has many quirks and led a terrible life. It was great to see a fully developed character whose personality, however weird it may be, shone throughout the story. I really liked how Ivy was so mature for most of the story, but still had a child like aspect to her when the reader found out how much of a passion she had for animals. She was so excited by the fact at getting to work with dogs at one point in the story that it almost seemed like she had transformed herself into a girl who hadn’t had any hardship.

I also really liked how Ivy learned that modeling really wasn’t the best thing. Even though the story is set in Victorian England, Ivy still faces the problem of dealing with jealousy and not being good enough, which is something I’m sure many people in this day and age can relate to as well. She also shows people how much trouble an addiction can cause, and also how hard it is to break it.

Overall Julie Hearn did a great job recreating a very real Victorian England. Fans of historical fiction will absolutely devour this book. I am very much looking forward to reading more of Julie Hearn’s and will definitely recommend this book to many.

In My Mailbox (I)

2009-04-05T13:10:00.000-04:00

So I finally decided to join the bandwagon and participate in the fun meme that The Story Siren created with inspiration from Alea.

While my weeks aren't always filled with books I did get a few this week, all of which I am super excited about.

Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts. Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel. But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts. How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular. But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. Between her mother, her aunt, and her grandmother, Quinn hears nothing but cautionary tales. She tries to be an optimist -- after all, she's the dependable one, the girl who never makes foolish choices. But when she is abruptly and unceremoniously dumped, Quinn starts to think maybe there really are no good men.It doesn't help that she's gingerly handling a renewed relationship with her formerly absent father. He's a little bit of a lot of things: charming, selfish, eccentric, lazy...but he's her dad, and Quinn's just happy to have him around again. Until she realizes how horribly he's treated the many women in his life, how he's stolen more than just their hearts. Determined to, for once, take action in her life, Quinn joins forces with the half sister she's never met and the little sister she'll do anything to protect. Together, they set out to right her father's wrongs...and in doing so, begin to uncover what they're really looking for: the truth.

Tabitha and her four best friends all wear Purity Rings, symbols of the virginity-until-marriage pledge they made as tweens. Now the girls are fifteen, and their rings have come to symbolize not only their purity, but also the friendships and identities they've built based on their shared faith. Simmering tensions rise to the surface and the group is split apart when one of Tab's friends admits that she and her long-term boyfriend have broken the pledge. In the midst of the confrontations, betrayals, confessions, and revenge that follow, each girl is forced to reexamine her friendships, her faith, and what exactly it means to be pure.

All in all I had a good week and can't wait for next! Now I'm curious to know what did you get in your mailbox?

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

2009-04-02T08:00:00.002-04:00

Ruby thinks she’ll be fine when her mother walks out on her, especially since it’s only a few months until she turns 18 anyway. Her plans to fend for herself and live in the small yellow house are foiled though when the dryer breaks down and the landlord find a clothesline in the middle of the kitchen.

Life as she knew it changes that day, when it is decided that custody of Ruby goes to Cora, her sister who left Ruby and her mother when Ruby was eight. Not only is it a shock to see Cora, but to also have to move into Cora’s upper class lifestyle. Unlike the small yellow house that Ruby was living in, Cora and her husband Jamie live in a prestigious gated neighborhood and have a lifestyle that is completely foreign to everything Ruby knows.

Not really trusting this new life, Ruby plots an escape her first night at Cora and Jamie’s. Her plans are once again foiled when she tries to hop over the fence by the rambunctious barking of Roscoe, Jamie’s dog. The barking prompts not only Jamie to come and look over by the fence, but also a “Hello” from the other side of the fence. The voice belongs to Nate, a very cute guy who just happens to be Ruby’s age. Needless to say Ruby’s escape doesn’t happen and she is forced to continue life with Cora and Jamie.

Despite the new lifestyle, new school, and new problems, Ruby’s life starts to look up. With Nate’s infectious optimistic attitude and the truth about her and Cora’s relationship, Ruby starts to uncover the true person she is and the person she wants to be.

First of all I have to ask myself why I let this book sit on my shelf for so long! Sarah Dessen has truly done it again and created one heck of a book. I loved the whole premise of the book, where Ruby really had to discover her true self in an environment that was so foreign to her.

The character development was absolutely brilliant. I came to know Ruby better and better as each page turned, and by the end of the book I felt like she was a great friend of mine. Not only was Ruby fully developed, all the supporting characters were as well. Whether it was Nate, Cora, Jamie, or even Gervais, the annoying kid who was part of Ruby’s carpool, each character had a story that was shared. It was also really neat how elements and characters from other Dessen books popped up throughout the story!

Overall I completely loved this book and it has definitely become one of my favorite books. Ruby’s sarcastic attitude, the emotion built into the story, and just the effect the book had on the reader, makes this book easily one of the best I’ve read this year.

Parties and Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

2009-03-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Rachel’s ready to start off her sophomore year of high school with a bang! Now that she’s gotten her powers, and learned to semi control them, there’s nothing holding her back from having the best year ever. Except there is one little hindrance, she has to keep her witch life and her “normal” life separated and the task is proving to be a lot harder then she thought.

First there is her Samsorta, which is pretty much a debutante ball for witches. Miri (her sister) and she have to take classes and learn that there are tons more teen witches out there. Rachel soon meets up with Adam, whose cute, funny, and a witch, but there’s also Raf- adorable, sweet, and doesn’t know Rachel’s secret.

Then there is Wendalin - Miri’s new witch friend who just started high school and doesn’t understand why she can’t let everyone know that she’s a witch. Rachel kind of takes her under her wing and tries to change her into a more “normal” teenager.

And finally she has to deal with the fact that her dad still doesn’t know that her and Miri are witches, and she’s terrified to tell him.

Even though she’s a witch and it takes nothing to hop on over to Paris or to change the color of her shirt, Rachel still has many issues that can’t be solved with the snap of her fingers.

This whole series is seriously cute! The books always pick up right where the last left off with nothing missing. That said though, the story can definitely hold its own and it would be just as enjoyable read if no other book in the series had been read. Rachel kind of retells her past adventures throughout the story in a way that sparks your memory if it has been a while since you read the previous books, or will catch you up if you haven’t read any of the other books.

One of the best parts of the book for me was the creativity of the plot. In all the types of fantasy realistic books I’ve read, I’ve never come across anything with a plot even remotely similar to this series and I feel that in Parties and Potions, Sarah Mlynowski’s creativity is exemplified more then it ever has been before. Having a witch debutante ball and popping to Arizona to attend Samsorta classes at a witch community center! I felt like the book was something out of my wildest dreams! It was truly a blast to read this book.

The characters were fairly well developed. There were some times when I got frustrated because Rachel would act the same way in a multitude of different situations. When this happened the book dragged a little, but then it quickly picked up again and was great. I also really enjoyed the author’s writing style. She made it really easy to see through Rachel’s eyes and I felt like I was walking down the hallway with her or zapping off to Paris and standing on top of the Eifel tower.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and think it was a great addition to a fun series. It’s a great book for all that provides a great adventure and some fun magic. I absolutely can’t wait for more from Sarah Mlynowski and urge you all to pick up this book, or at least one of the books in the series!

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

2009-03-29T14:47:00.002-04:00

Perfect Parker Fadley is crumbling. No more are her perfect grades, her role as role as cheer captain, and her relationship with the most popular guy in school. She’s taken up drinking in school, failing all of her classes and pretty much talking to anyone, unless of course it’s to tell someone to leave her alone.

All Parker wants to do is disappear into nothing, but ever since her parents placed her on suicide watch that’s impossible. Now the few friends she has at school are on high alert and the counselor and the rest of the school administration is breathing down her neck in search of the truth.

Then she meets Jake, the new guy who just won’t leave her alone no matter how mean she is to him. From the very first day he arrived at St. Peter’s High she’s tried to tell him that she’s not interested and he shouldn’t be either, yet he’s still managed to fall in love with her. Now Parker’s starting to feel emotions again and life is spinning even more out of control.

Parker’s life wasn’t supposed to turn out like this and people find it harder and harder to understand this new Parker. Nobody will ever guess the truth though about what really happened that night that she changed. The worst part is, it just may have been Parker’s fault.

How to describe this book? Fabulous, dark, wonderful, unthinkable are just a few words that come to mind. I loved every aspect of the book from Parker’s depressed attitude (although there were times when I wanted to tell her to pull it together) to the intense feelings of suspense created by the author as to why Parker acted the way she did.

The author did a stunning job creating emotion in this book. With every pitfall characters experienced your heart felt for them. When they were happy you were elated by the fact that they found something to be happy in. It has honestly been a long time since I’ve read a book with such deep emotion, that I actually feel like I’m one of the characters, feeling the intense emotions and walking the halls with each character.

Overall I was extremely impressed with Courtney Summers’ debut novel and can hardly wait to read her future works. These book reminds me a lot of Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel, SPEAK, and I believe it might equally compare to it! While this a great book, due to the power of some of the topics this book is best suited for older teenagers and above.

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson

2009-03-19T18:26:00.002-04:00

J.J. Liddy has an amazing talent. He can play the fiddle better then pretty much everyone in his quaint Irish village. The thing is though, there just isn’t enough time in the day to practice, go to school, and digest the news that his grandfather is a murderer. What’s even worse though is that there seems to be less and less time as the days go by, and it’s not just J.J. noticing it.

When his mother asks for more time for her birthday, J.J. is determined to get it for her, even though it seems like an impossible task for a fifteen year old. That is until a neighbor offers her help and leads him to Tir na n’Og, a faery land of eternal youth. Here he meets Aengus Og, who agrees to help in his quest for time. The only constraint that J.J. must abide by in order to take some time is to help Aengus Og find out where the time leak is. You see Tir na n’Og, while a place where time stands still, is slowly starting to move again, and it’s not a good thing. Setting out on an adventure to not only find time, but also stop it, J.J. learns much about himself and the faery world of Tir na n’Og.

This book was average. To me, nothing stood out in particular, but there was nothing really bad about the book. The story was interesting, the characters were nice enough, and the book was well written. I think the main problem is the book didn’t really have anything that made it sparkle. The book moved very quickly, even though it was 400+ pages, and it gave you the feeling that you hadn’t gotten that far, when you really had. One thing that I thought was really neat was the author included little pieces of music at the beginning of each chapter, the titles of which gave a brief view into what was going to happen next. Another positive aspect of the book was the magnitude of Irish culture that was mixed into the book. I felt like I got a really accurate picture of Irish life and beliefs while reading this book. The folklore and myths, as well as the everyday activities that the characters participated were really interesting. Reading about them really made me feel like I was actually in Ireland feeling the rain and fresh air for myself. I think people who really like fantasy books, or relunctant readers looking for a good read, would greatly enjoy this book. While it wasn’t my favorite, it still was a good book and has very much proved itself in the fact that it has received prizes such as Whitbread Children’s Book Award and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.

Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill

2009-03-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Bug Smoot has had a rough life. First her mom died when she was a little girl, then she moved in with her grandfather and auntie. Then her auntie died and soon after her Papa C died too, leaving her his most prized possession, a 1958 Cadillac Biarritz. The thing with that car though is Papa C used Bug’s soul as collateral, yes that’s right her soul.

Now five years later Bug is still having to deal with everything her Papa C left behind. She’s dropped out of school, stopped playing basketball (which is what she used to live for), and working as a pizza delivery girl. Life really can’t get much worse until the day her landlord comes looking for the way past overdue rent. On top of having to find the money, Bug finds her car has been egged and absolutely reeks. Inside of her car she finds Beals, a demon that has come to collect her soul.

Being the rough and stubborn girl that she is, Bug refuses to let anything happen to her or the car. Her only problem is getting rid of Beals. In order to do this she has to find some loopholes in the contract, or risk giving herself up. With the help a pretty hot guy (who just happens to like her) and a special attorney, Bug sets out on a non-stop adventure to secure her soul and her Cadillac.

This book would truly have to be one of the best books I’ve read this year, hands down. It is jam packed with enough humor, sarcasm, and adventure to satisfy anyone’s reading needs and it is certainly well written.

Bug’s character was absolutely wonderful. While she isn’t your idyllic character, she’s rude, snarky, and doesn’t have the best grammar, she is completely lovable. Her courage and determination to stand up for herself is respectable, even in a fictional character. A great thing that the author did with Bug’s character is made her into a real person. She talked like a real person, not with perfect sentence structure and words, but just like a teenager would. Beals, the demon was also a great character. He reminded me of one of those evil butlers you see in old movies! I was able to picture him absolutely perfectly as I was reading, and found myself getting really aggravated (in a good way!) with his character when he was doing some of his dastardly deeds.

The plot of the story was also very unique and interesting. The whole idea that you would make a deal with the devil in order to get a car and then use a person’s soul as collateral is absolutely priceless. The story was able to hold my attention all the way to the very last word and I just couldn’t put the book down. I also loved how complex the story was. All the little elements of the book fit together like a puzzle and really came together to create one heck of a book.

I recommend this book to both boys and girls alike, as it is just superb! This is a brilliant debut novel from David Macinnis Gill and I absolutely cannot wait for more from this very promising author. Whenever you get the chance I strongly urge you to run out and get a copy (when it’s released in April 2009) and pick up a copy. You’ll have a good laugh and the story will make you reflect on what you have.

Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast Book Trailer

2009-03-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

While I haven't personally read these books, I've heard they're a hit. The trailer looks really intriguing and I'm actually thinking about picking the series up myself.

Also you can read the first chapter by clicking here .

And you can listen to the second chapter by clicking play here!

“ ”

Finally to pre-order the book click here .

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

2009-03-04T10:50:00.000-05:00

Lucy Scarborough is only seventeen when she finds out that she’s pregnant. While originally shocked, she soon comes to realize that this is what happens to Scarborough girls. Lucy quickly discovers that the women in her family have been cursed for generations by an evil elfin king. When the women become pregnant they then must complete three impossible tasks before their baby is born or else they become crazy once their child is born.

Creating a shirt without a seam or any needlework, finding an acre of land between the salt water and sea strand, and plowing the land with a goat’s horn and sowing it all over with one grain of corn, all seem like impossible tasks, but they are what Lucy must do. Scared out of her mind, Lucy sets her mind to completing all these tasks in just nine short months, even though no other Scarborough girl has been able to do it before. Lucy has something though that no other Scarborough girl has had before, a loving family. Will the help of her foster parents and her best friend Zach be enough to break the curse, or will Lucy turn out just like the rest of the women in her family?

This book was completely breathtaking. The whole idea to base a book off a folk song is completely unique and kept me interested during the whole book. While it took me a few chapters to fully get into the story, once I had settled in I couldn’t put the book down.

Lucy was a completely believable character who faced real everyday problems. She had a level head, but she also dealt with many emotions that were genuine. I also felt that the supporting characters in the story were well developed as well. For example, Miranda, Lucy’s biological mother, didn’t appear much in the story, but every time she did it didn’t feel like we were meeting someone new. She had been talked about and described enough that she was made into an important person, even though she only appeared in the story a few times. Another character that I thought was really well created was Padraig Seeley. Again, he didn’t come up much in the story, but his personality really came through. The sliminess of his persona felt so real, that he immediately set up red alarms, the first time he was introduced. This was a really unique thing that I the author was able to create, and really added to the book.

It was also really neat to read this modern fairy tale. The book had all these modern technologies, but then incorporated this old fairy world, which made the book spellbinding. I loved how Lucy and her family figured out the tasks using modern conveniences, but then also looked at this from the past to help figure out the curse. This truly added to the book as it combined some of the best elements of a general YA book with that of a fantasy, creating this new type of book that I hope to see much more of.

I was very much impressed with Nancy Werlin’s writing style. It was graceful, yet intense, emotion packed, and very real. I am really interested in reading more of her books and can’t wait to see what she has in store for u next!

The Revolution of Sabine by Beth Levine Ain

2009-02-26T15:52:00.000-05:00

It’s 1776 in Paris, France, and while it isn’t America, there is still discussion of the American Revolution. There is especially a lot of talk about Benjamin Franklin, the revolutionary American who is coming to visit Paris. All of the socially elite are planning parties in honor of his visit, and it is crucial that they are all perfect.

Sabine Durand’s mother is no exception. She wants perfection for her latest party where Franklin is the guest of honor. She has even arranged for Sabine to be escorted by one of the most eligible bachelors in all of Paris. The thing is Sabine couldn’t care less. She’s not caught up in the aristocratic lifestyle, and she actually cares about what is going on.

She soon rekindles her friendship with Michel, her nanny’s son, and her mother is not at all pleased. Sabine doesn’t care though as she goes off gallivanting with Michel and even gets the chance to meet Franklin. Sabine gets swept up in the meaning of the Revolution and really comes to form an opinion. Fueled by these new ideas of freedom, Sabine is determined to make a change in her life. She starts to break away from her controlling mother and stand up for herself. Will Sabine succeeded? And is there a possibility of maybe finding real love in this time of change?

This book is one of those historical fiction books where the author just gets it all right. The facts were spot on, her description of the setting was great, and the overall atmosphere that she created was genuine.

Sabine’s character was great. She learned to stand up for herself and discover what really needed to be done in her life in order for her to be successful. She had the right amount of feistiness and seriousness to keep the reader intrigued in her life.

I also thought it was really interesting that the author chose to set the story in the time of the American Revolution, but also in Paris where there wasn’t as much of a change going on. The reader got to see how the Revolution affected the whole world. The setting also made Sabine’s change much more interesting, because she was taking political ideas and applying them to her life, which I found to be absolutely compelling.

Overall I think this is a great book for all ages. It provided a great historical aspect, but yet it wasn’t overloaded with facts that it was boring. Sabine’s journey to discovering herself was very realistic and most teens will be able to relate, even though the story is set in 1776. Beth Ain did a great job and I look forward to reading her future works.

In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash

2009-01-08T23:27:00.002-05:00

Step back into the super privileged world of The Elite. The infamous girls living in one of New York’s classiest apartment building, the Bramford, are back. While they may look absolutely perfect and dazzling, dark secrets are hiding behind their all too perfect appearance.

Casey McCloy is finally starting to fit in. Her hair’s not as unruly as it used to be, she’s learning the ins and outs of a good fashion sense and she’s dating Drew, one of the hottest guys in all of Manhattan. As she becomes the “New York Casey” though she feels like she’s losing herself.

Then there is Madison Macallister, the reigning queen of the Upper East Side, who just so happens to believe that Casey stole Drew from her. Even though Madison and Drew weren’t officially dating, Madison was majorly crushing on him, and still can’t believe that a Midwestern freak like Casey could steal him away from her. Determined to get Drew back, Madison all but wages a silent war on Casey in order to exact her revenge.

Will the queen bee get what she wants or will the new girl find herself all of a sudden a lot more powerful then she ever thought possible?

These books are splendid! In Too Deep picks up right where The Elite left off, not missing a beat. All the gossip and drama that occurs in Gossip Girl is present in these books, except these girls actually have moral standards.

All of the characters in the book were excellently developed. Each had their own unique story and personality. I really love how Jennifer Banash had two supporting characters who each had their own thing going on. They were separate from Madison and Casey and really had their own lives, dealing with their own problems. What’s also really great about the characters is that even though they are spoiled socialites, any girl could easily relate to them. Even Madison, who appears to be untouchable, has many insecurities that are present in your everyday teenage girl.

The pages were definitely drama filled and I found it hard to tear myself away from the book, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. There were many twists and turns that I would never been able to predict and I found many of the plot aspects to be really creative.

Jennifer Banash has definitely created a great sequel to The Elite, and while she answered many questions from the first book, she has created even more in this one. All the better though as it promises a great third book in the series, Simply Irrestible, which hits shelves in Summer 2009. In the mean time though go out and enjoy yourself as you read this deliciously guilty book!

Let's Ring in the New Year!

2009-01-01T17:46:00.003-05:00

Happy 2009 everyone!!

Not only is it a new year, but it is also the one year anniversary of my blog!! I first of all want to thank everyone whose visited, commented, and supported my blog, without you I'm not sure I would still be blogging! Also a big thanks to all those publishers, authors, and Jen Wardrip for sending me some awesome books and such.

Hopefully there will be much more this year as I already have many plans and a few changes in mind and of course many, many more reviews. My main goals for the year are to stay caught up with my blog and get some more author's in to visit. Like I said I have many new ideas and I'm hoping they will all work out.

Now in celebration of my anniversary and the New Year I'm throwing a contest!! I've included a couple of books that I really enjoyed in 2008 and a couple of books to look forward to in 2009. They are:

Peeled by Joan Bauer
Unbelievable by Sara Shepard
In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash
Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill

To enter just comment or email (andanotherbookread AT gmail DOT com) and let me know what you would like to see on my blog this year. Let me know what you think of it and changes you think need to be made.

The rules of the contest are as following:

1. Two entries for letting me know your thoughts about my blog.
2. Three additional entries for advertising about the contest. Whether it be blogging about it, mentioning it on MySpace/Facebook, or any other means you can think of. Just let me know what you do!
3. Any kind of follower whether you are old or new will get an additional two entries.
4. I want to thank all my readers, no matter where they live, so the contest is open internationally!
5. All entries must be submitted by 12 p.m. E.S.T. by Saturday January 10th.

Good luck and thanks in advance for all your tips!

O and the winner of last weeks And Another Simple Question is......Lauren from Shooting Stars!!Please send me your address and I'll get the book in the mail to you ASAP.

The Best of 2008

2008-12-31T14:09:00.001-05:00

This year I think I read more books within the year then I ever have before, and I loved every minute of it! As the year comes to a close though I have to highlight my top fifteen that were published in 2008. I've read over 200 books this year so obviously there are many to chose from and so many more that I did not get a chance to read. Note that these are in no particular order and these choices are just my opinion.

1. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
2. Paper Towns by John Green
3. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
4. Undone by Brooke Taylor
5. House of Dance by Beth Kephart
6. Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher
7. Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab
8. Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
9. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert
10. Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
11. Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
12. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
13. Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway
14. The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti
15. Violet in Private by Melissa Walker

And I just have to mention one of my other favorite books of the year that won't be published until Spring 2009, but I can't help share it with you all and hopefully get a little pre-publication buzz going, SOUL ENCHILADA by David Macinnis Gill.

Best of luck in the New Year and lookout for a great contest and a hopefully fun filled post tomorrow!!!

Girl Week = Reviewer X = AWESOME!!!

2008-12-19T06:31:00.003-05:00

Hey guys quickly head on over to Reviewer X for the last little bit of fun. Steph is hosting an amazing girls week where there are tons of great guest blogs and of course...giveaways!!

Top 8 by Katie Finn

2008-12-18T07:24:00.001-05:00

Madison MacDonald had life all figured out. She has three great best friends, she’s dating one of the hottest guy’s in school, she’s got the lead in the school play, and she’s going to the Galapagos for Spring Break (while she’s not that excited, but hey it’s not the worst thing that could happen). Then the worst does happen, her Friendverse profile is hacked. Not only are her (and many other people’s) worst secrets plastered all over the Internet, but also some very unflattering pictures. Now she no longer has a boyfriend, half of her school hates her, and she’s in some very deep trouble. Thankfully she has some of the best friends a girl can have believe that she was hacked and are all determined to help her figure out who’s behind this nasty prank, and clear Madison’s name once and for all.

To be honest I was very surprised with this book. There was a good storyline, that wasn’t too predictable, the characters were cute, and it was a very cute love story. I also liked how Katie Finn addressed how much emphasis teenagers put on social networking websites by teenagers. In this case, Madison feels her whole life is ruined when her profile is hacked. This is because people rely so much on these websites, and this book shows just how much trouble these sites are.

I liked how some of the story was told through comments on Madison’s profile page; it gave an insight as to what other characters were thinking. While there were times when the book got a little slow and predictable, it quickly picked up again. This would be a great read for reluctant teen readers, as it mixes the type of way the story is told and it’s current with today’s world. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Katie Finn and was quite impressed with her debut novel.

And A Simple Question? Week of December 14-21

2008-12-15T21:11:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the delay, but I've been having major internet problems!!

The winner of The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman is....

Chelsie of Bookluver Reviews!

Congratulations Chelsie. Please send me your address so I can send the book to you.

On to this week's question....

What book (released 2008) depicts the instant stardom of a girl who just wanted to break up with her boyfriend?

Either comment or send me an email at: andanotherbookread AT gmail DOT com.

Prize this week: ARC of Triple Shot Betty's in Love by Jody Gehrman

Rules are same as always, besides that you have to get an additional 3 entries for getting the right answer.

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman

2008-12-11T14:08:00.002-05:00

Geena has the perfect summer planned out. Her, her cousin Hero, and her best friend Amber are going to have some quality girl time working at the Triple Shot Betty coffee drive-thru shack. Things never work out as planned though. Hero and Amber don’t get along, actually that’s an understatement, they hate each other! Geena feels that her summer’s ruined now and is torn between her favorite cousin and her best friend.

As the summer progresses, the girls’ relationship starts to improve slightly. The Betty girls though are faced with a whole new problem, hot guys! Geena is desperately trying to deny the fact that she likes her arch rival (and competition for class valedictorian) Ben, Hero is hopelessly in love with the Italian working on her dad’s vineyard, and then Amber, well she’s just trying to find somebody. The girls run into no end of problems, but it ends up being one heck of a summer.

With a title this cute, I knew before I even cracked the cover that this book was going to be great! I was certainly not disappointed. The story itself was super cute, the writing was superb, and it just left the reader wanting more.

All three main characters were unique in their own way and I felt like I got to know three different girls, instead of one person with a few differences. I especially loved Geena, who stood up for herself no matter what. She was a great narrator, and she had some hilarious things to say. Her sense of humor was by far one of the best character sense of humor’s I’ve ever come across! Hero and Amber were also really funny. I could really imagine them as real people and felt like they were easy to relate to even though we have completely different personalities.

I also really liked the style that the book was written in. It was told in journal entries by Geena, which I thought was really neat. Some books I’ve read try to do this, but just aren’t that successful, but Jody Gehrman was really able to pull it off. The character’s personas really came through and the whole book came completely alive.

In short I completely loved this book and am anxious for more. Jody Gehrman created an unforgettable, absolutely hilarious, and fun filled novel that any girl is sure to absolutely devour. I highly recommend this book to any and all who are looking for a book that will just brighten your day.