The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is the story of many things. It's a story of the Holocaust, friendship, love, acceptance, and hardship all told by Death itself. Leisel has come to stay with the Hubermanns, an older couple looking for an addition to their family. Origianlly Leisel and her brother were to become the Hubermann's foster children, but on their journey to their new home Leisel's brother dies on the train. Distraught over the loss of her brother she is woken every night by horrific nightmares, but Hans Hubermann (aka Papa) is always there to comfort her. Papa even teaches Leisel how to read and write. They soon forge a bond together that becomes so strong that Leisel can't imagine her life without him. Once Leisel learns to read she is addicted to words and soon gets addicted to stealing books. They come from an assorted number of places, including the Mayor's house. Over the years at the Hubermann's house Leisel befriends a Jew, her next door neighbor, and grows into a wonderful person. Will the war tear her beloved family apart?

This is a brilliant book. I can't believe it took me two years to finally get around to reading it. I know my summary was a little short, but if I wrote much more I would be giving away too much of this wonderful story. Markus Zusak is a truly talented author. The words just flowed from one page to the next and the story was amazing. When I think what it would have been like to be in Leisel's position I shudder. I can't believe one not being able to read and two to have to live through such secrecy and fear as she did everyday. The book truly came alive for me which I found amazing. The events that were talked about were so real and made me cry. While I know that Leisel was not a real girl, I know that there most likely was a girl just like Leisel in real life. She probably lived with all the same hardships during the Holocaust that Leisel did. I also loved how the whole story was narrated by Death. It made me look at the situation via a whole new angle. All in all this was an outstanding book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good book. While it may look thick it won't take long to read as the story sucks you in!

A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian

All Ruby plans on doing for her sixteenth birthday is indulge in ice cream cake, take pictures with her new vintage Polaroid camera, and hang out with her three good friends. There's Beth, who's been her loyal best friend for years, Maria who is full of advice on boys, and Katherine, who Ruby is not so sure about. Everything is going great until Ruby's father, who walked out on her and her mom six years ago, shows up with a cheap bouquet of carnations wanting to talk. Ruby doesn't know how to handle the situation and ends up running off to party with her friends. The next day thoughts of her father flood her brain and she starts wondering why he might of come. Over the next couple days Beth tries to lighten Ruby's mood hoping that Ruby won't start to slip like she did when her dad first left. Ruby seems to be okay, especially when she meets Charlie. Charlie is the first guy that's ever really been into her, but she's having some trust issues that relate back to her dad. When Ruby discovers that Beth has been keeping a secret from her she immediately starts to question the honesty of her friend. With Charlie's help Ruby discovers that it's okay to make decisions on her own and she doesn't always need her friends' say in the matter. Will Ruby make things work with Charlie? Will her friendship with Beth be in jeopardy?

I'm not really sure there are words to describe how utterly awesome and jaw dropping this book was. I had heard so many good things about it that I had really high expectations for it. It exceeded every one of these expectation with flying colors! The story was honest and raw and just plain refreshing. Ruby's character was awesome. I truly felt like I could connect with her and I could relate to what she was going through. I've never had a parent leave or anything, but I do understand all of her problems with her friends. When the book was over I was so sad, because I didn't want it to end, it was just that good. I also loved Ruby's fascination with photography. I love how she captured different aspects of her world through Polaroids. That one wacky characteristic got to me and really made me realize how much I love taking pictures and capturing my world in a certain moment. One last thing I really liked was the humor. While it wasn't always "ha ha" funny there was this feeling I got while reading it that made a smile spread across my whole face. All in all this book was unspeakably good and a phenomenal first novel by Siobhan Vivian. I highly recommend you go buy it because you will want to read it over and over again, I know I certainly will!!

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

Julie is just like any other twelve year old girl. She doesn't seem to quite fit in at school, she doesn't get along with her mom, and o, she's Rapunzel's daughter! You know, the Rapunzel with the long golden hair that lives "happily ever after." This makes Julie feel even more of an outcast because of all the secrets she has to keep for her family. The biggest secret being that "The Wild", where all the fairy tale creatures live, is living under her bed. She knows that she always have to be extra careful not to let "The Wild" escape or else once again try to take over the world and recapture the fairy tale creatures who escaped. When someone makes a wish in the wishing well at Julie's Grandma's motel to release "The Wild", Julie's life is turned upside down. Before she even has a chance to do anything her mother and grandma have both been taken up by "The Wild" and Julie is left alone. Julie knows that she must rescue her mother and grandma and head off into "The Wild" accompanied by her brother Puss-in-Boots (yes, he's a cat). As she traipses through "The Wild" she is pulled into multiple stories and even starts to forge her own. While some people think that "The Wild" is all about happily ever afters, Julie is quick to realize that it has alternative motives. Will Julie be able to rescue her Mom and Grandma or will "The Wild" turn her into just another story?

I had heard so many good things about this book that I was just dying to read it. Also it's the ultimate fairy tale, and I adore fairy tales, so yet another reason it was in my "to read" pile. Wow! Why, o why, did I wait so long to read this book? It was fantastic, no phenomenal, just all around great. I got sucked into Julie's story by the end of the first sentence and couldn't tear myself away from the story. I loved how the author took a bunch of fairy tales and pulled them into the story and made them so exciting. I was so envious of Julie through the whole book that she got to go on this amazing adventure with fairy tale creatures and I didn't. The whole story just felt so real and I just couldn't get enough of it. For anyone who loves fairy tales this is a must read, or if you're just looking for an amazing book to read, run to your library or bookstore and pick up a copy of Into the Wild. You will not be disappointed in the least. Truly there aren't many words to describe this book, but I managed to find a few! Also the sequel, Out of the Wild, hits stores June 19, and you know I will be first in line to go get a copy!!

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Kezi is subject to die as a sacrifice to Admat, her people's god. It doesn't seem that there is anyway out of this unfortunate situation until Kezi meets Olus. Olus is the Akkan god of the winds who has watched Kezi from the fields and has somewhat fallen in love with her. Olus and Kezi immediately hit it off when they finally meet and Olus convinces Kezi to embark with him on a journey back to Akka. Along their journey the duo is faced by many perilous quests, both alone and together, that will test their love for each other and their beliefs. Kezi soon begins to question the validity of Admat and is desperate to fulfill her missions in order for her to stay with Olus. If either of them fails their mission then they will be torn apart and Kezi will make the ultimate sacrifice. If they succeed though, the rewards are endless. Will Kezi and Olus succeed? Will their love survive?

I must first start by saying that I had very high expectations for this book as it is written by the fabulous Gail Carson Levine. Ever meet every one of those expectations and even a few more. It was truly an amazing book. The story was brilliant and I devoured it in one night. I truly felt that I was picked up by one of Olus' powerful winds and transported to Kezi's side. I could vividly picture everything that was going on and couldn't put the book down. Questions swirled through my mind and I was always anxious to hear if Kezi and Olus would be successful. One thing I thought was really interesting was Kezi's doubt in Admat. I don't know why this intrigued me so much, but I found it so intriguing that someone who used to be so faithful could ever have so much doubt in the one person they believed in. Also, don't you love the cover? I think it's awesome. All in all this was a fabulous book and one of Gail Carson Levine's better books. I recommend this book to anyone looking to curl up under the covers with a good fairy tale. It comes out on May 6, so keep your eyes open for it!

The Mystery of Martello Tower by Jennifer Lanthier

Hazel and Ned are in for the summer of their lives. Just days after their return from boarding school their father disappears without a trace. If that wasn't enough to send the kids into a fury they soon find out that two people in particular, Richard C. Plevit and Clive Pritchard, have been harassing their good-friend and babysitter Frankie. When Frankie is asked to go to New York she knows she can't refuse because if she does she will surely lose her job. Hours after Frankie leaves Hazel and Ned walk into their father's study to find it devoid of everything. They instantly know its been burglarized and they lock themselves in Frankie's apartment to brainstorm ways in which all the mysterious events are connected and who's behind them. After a couple of days it becomes evident to Hazel and Ned who is behind all of their trouble. It's none other than the mysterious thugs Richard C. Plevit and Clive Pritchard. In an attempt to escape these nasty thugs Hazel tells Ned about an email she found on her father's computer from a family member. This comes as a shock to Ned as their father has always told them they have no family. Ned, being the genius he is, finds the number to these long lost relatives. Before they know it the siblings are on their way to an isolated, but charming island to meet their long-lost relatives. Here they are greeted by their four cousins and are finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as it seems they have finally been able to get rid of the thugs on their tail. Their moment of relief soon comes to an abrupt end when the kids catch sight of Clive Pritchard. Hazel and Ned clue their cousins in on their situation and all six cousins band together to help solve the mystery. While figuring out this mystery many secrets of Hazel and Ned's past are uncovered, including those that involve their mother's death. Will the siblings be able to figure out why these mysterious people have been following them?

Wow! This book was great. I am always up for a good mystery and this book definitely satisfied my appetite. From the moment I cracked the spine of the book I was pulled into the mystery surrounding Hazel and Ned. The author had the right mix of suspense and adventure to make this book great. I also loved how there were a couple different mysteries surrounding the siblings throughout the book. This made the book move really fast and never left the reader bored, which I think is really important. I was always on the edge of my seat intrigued as to what was happening and questioning what could possibly happen next. The characters in the book were so real. I felt like I instantly connected with Hazel and felt her fear, excitement, and sorrow right along with her. I am anxiously anticipating more books by Jennifer Lanthier and finding out if Hazel and Ned make a habit out of sleuthing. Any fan of Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, or just plain mysteries, will love The Mystery of the Martello Tower. Look out for this book on May 13, 2008!

Frenemies by Alexa Young

Avalon and Halley have always been the ultimate best friends. They live right behind each other, they share their beloved puppy Pucci, and this year they even get to co-host a fashion blog for their school's newspaper. At the beginning of eighth grade Avalon decides to throw a huge party in honor of the girls' friendship. Halley's not that keen but, for the sake of her friend, she goes along with it. Things start to go down hill from there. The girls can't seem to agree on anything, be it fashion advice or who to hang out with. Soon the jabs between the girls become lethal and full out war is declared between them. Avalon's even gone as far as to draw up an agreement between them as to who gets custody of Pucci, who gets which friends, and who's in charge of the blog. As the weeks go by the girls develop new friendships and keep on fighting with each other. Even their blog posts start turning into malicious jabs at each other. As to their party Avalon seems to have taken over the whole thing, but Halley still feels that since her name is attached to the invitation she should have some say in what goes on at the party. Will the party be a big bang or bust? Will the girls ever get over their differences and become besties once again?

I'm not sure I quite loved this book. By no means was the book bad for me there just wasn't that extra something that made the book sparkle. Still, there were many parts that I loved about it. For one, I thought the book was hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud many times. The comments that Avalon and Halley made to each other were the best. At times I felt like shouting "burn" and then laughing some more! After contemplating the whole book I think the reason it didn't sparkle for me was that it was geared more toward a younger audience. If I was a little younger I don't think I would have found some of the things that Halley and Avalon fought over so petty. For fans of the Clique books I would definitely recommend Frenemies as I think you would really like it. The book finishes with many questions still left unanswered, but don't fret they will be answered by the time the series finishes (there will be four book total). I am defnintely hooked enough that I look forward to reading the rest of the books as they come out!

The Elite by Jennifer Banash

As soon as Casey McCloy steps into the luxurious Bramford apartment building she knows that she has entered another world. Everything seems so much more elegant and sophisticated then even the nice places in her hometown of Normal, Illinois. Casey has moved to Upper-East Side Manhattan to stay with her grandmother while her feministic mother travels to England to do research for her up and coming book. Before Casey even steps foot in her grandmother's apartment she is greeted by Madison MacAllister, the ultimate It Girl, and her possey. Even though the girls seem intimidating, Casey thinks that maybe, possibly they could be her friends. They even invite her to the park with them after she has settled in. When Casey finally makes it to the park she is thoroughly introduced to Madison's sidekicks, Sophie and Phoebe, who seem to be a lot nicer than Madison. Casey is also introduced to Drew, who just happens to have something going on with the Queen bee herself, but definitely has eyes for Casey! During the last few weeks of summer vacation Casey finds herself hanging out with Madison, Phoebe, and Sofie quite a bit. They even give her some fashion advice for her first day of school outfit. Casey's stoked that she has found some friends, but when Casey starts talking with Drew jealousy overcomes Madison and things aren't as bright for Casey anymore. Madison is determined to get Drew back, and she always gets what she wants. Will Casey's sweet demeanor trump Madison's nasty attitutude?

This book was awesome. I couldn't put it down. Originally I was a little skeptical because the book sounded a lot like the Gossip Girl books which I don't really care for, but I made the completely wrong assumption. While there is drama in this book it doesn't overpower the story, it actually makes the book even more devourable. The characters are extremely real and in most cases likeable. Yes, the girls were rich, but money wasn't the main focal point of the story. Actually, I liked how Casey was able to lead a very interesting life without all the glitz and glamor that money provides. I also liked how two of the supporting characters, Sophie and Phoebe, got their chance to shine too. I haven't read many books where this happens and I really liked how the reader got to take a little break from the main character(s) to see what else was going on in the story. Another great thing about this book is the humor. I found myself laughing out loud a lot and just smiling at what Sophie would say, or how Casey would act. This was a great first novel from Jennifer Banash and I desperately wish that the sequel, In Too Deep, was already on my bookshelf but I guess I'll have to wait until October...! In the meantime, The Elite comes out on June 3 -- I highly suggest that you all pre-order it as it was such a good book.