Hold Still - Nina LaCour - 2009

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Published: 2009 - Dutton

Age Group: Young Adult

Date Read: October 20, 2011

4.5 out of 5 Stars: Overall, really liked it

Reason for Reading: This was picked up on a giant book run last winter. I don't think I've ever bought so many books at once. I liked how it sounded, and I loved the design of the book.

On GoodReads: "Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend's suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn't die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid's descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid - and Caitlin herself."

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. It was very emotional, as you would expect from a book about a girl recovering from her best friend's suicide, and it felt very true to life. I don't know what it is about emotional realistic fiction, but it gets me every time. I am so drawn to stories about people who need to get past a major conflict or major loss. I like books where you can see the characters grow from start to finish.

Nina LaCour's writing was wonderful. She did a great job of getting me inside Caitlin's head and making me feel like I was experiencing the pain and loneliness that she felt. I really just enjoyed this book all around, even the journal entries of Ingrid's that were included.

Recommended To: If you liked Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott or Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Quote From The Book: "I sort through the letters and pull out what I need for the beginning. They snap easily into place. And even though I thought I would need every letter, I finish the first sentence and realize that it’s all I have left to say.

I MISS YOU."

Books Read This Year: 87 of 100

Currently Reading: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson - 2011

The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson

Published: 2011 - Putnam Juvenile

Age Group: Young Adult

Date Read: October 27, 2011

5 out of 5 Stars: Loved it

Reason for Reading: I have been a fan of Maureen Johnson since I read The Bermudez Triangle a few years ago, and then proceeded to read every book she's written. I highly recommend Devilish as a fun read.

On GoodReads: "The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities."

My Thoughts: I wasn't quite sure I was going to like this book as much as Johnson's other books, mostly because I tend to dislike books with ghosts. However, this book also has Jack the Ripper, and I really like serial killer, creepy books. So this worked out really well for me. This book was super creepy, in the best way possible, and I could not stop reading. I just wanted to find out how it was going to all go down.

Johnson's writing is intelligent and funny, and her characters always remind me of real people. Rory was such a fun protagonist, this Southern girl transplanted to a London boarding school. She was was witty and smart and Johnson had me laughing out loud one minute and then gripping the book with anticipation the next. There is nothing like a good boarding school setting for a thriller, and this was done fantastically.

Maureen Johnson just announced the second title in the series will be The Madness Underneath.

Recommended To: Fans of the supernatural genre, Maureen Johnson fans, those in the mood for a good, creepy Halloween read.

Quote From The Book: "I was terrified for a few minutes that they would all be like this, but reassured myself that it probably took a certain type to become head girl. I decided to deflect her attitude by giving a long, Southern answer. I come from people who know how to draw things out. Annoy a Southerner, and we will drain away the moments of your life with our slow, detailed replies until you are nothing but a husk of your former self and that much closer to death." (page 23-24)

Books Read This Year: 87 of 100

Currently Reading: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

Waiting on Wednesday (3) - Wintertown

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday is a post where you can let people know what upcoming books you're anticipating!

This week I am waiting on:

WinterTown by Stephen Emond

December 5, 2011 - Little, Brown

"Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off."

Why I Want it:

It's been described as "Garden State" meets "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist." Need I say more?

Last week's Waiting on Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Perfect Books for Halloween Reading

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a different Top Ten topic to join in on. This week's topic is: Books that are perfect for reading around Halloween. This topic was a bit difficult for me, since I didn't start reading fantasy or horror until recently.

Top Ten Books Perfect for Halloween (in no particular order):

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Being Dead by Vivian Vande Velde

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

The Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris

Waiting on Wednesday (2) - Crossed - Condie

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday is a post where you can let people know what upcoming books you're anticipating!

This week I am waiting on:

Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

November 1, 2011 - Dutton

"In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever."

Why I Want It: I enjoyed the first book, Matched, though I felt like it absolutely screamed "first in a series," because it was a lot of background and build up, with not a lot of action and intensity. I am really excited for this second book because I think it will have a bigger payoff and a bit more excitement. I love the premise of the story, and want to see how everything turns out.

Last Week's Waiting on Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Bought For Their Covers or Titles

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a different Top Ten topic to join in on. This week's topic is: Books You Judged By Their Covers or Titles. It was a lot of fun roaming around my apartment and remembering which books I chose for these reasons.

Top Ten Books I Bought For Their Covers or Titles:

Red Riding Hood - Sarah Blakley-Cartwright: The book didn't exactly live up to its cover, which I think is just so charming, but I pretty much expected that, knowing that it was written after the screenplay. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting, though!

Choker - Elizabeth Woods: I love this cover, it looks so elegant and pretty. The story was neither of these things.

Just Like That - Marsha Qualey: This is still one of my very favorite book covers, and I really loved the story as well. The colors are just so soft and it's really such a simple image, it works so well.

Tenderness - Robert Cormier: I read this book in high school and have always loved the simplicity of it. The lack of any image at all is so intriguing to me. I love the story as well.

Stolen - Lucy Christopher: I love how simple this cover and title are. The one copper butterfly and the title on the black background give no hint to how complex the story inside is. I love it!

Moonglass - Jessi Kirby: I am a sucker for the ocean. And for purple. So this cover pretty much grabbed me right away. The story is really sweet as well.

Matched - Ally Condie: The girl in the bubble is such a wonderful image, and I love that it doesn't take up the whole cover. I enjoyed the book, though it wasn't my favorite, but am really excited to see where the second in the series takes us.

Possession - Elana Johnson: The butterfly frozen in the ice cube against the pearly white background completely sucked me in. I haven't read it yet though, so I don't know if it lives up to expectations!

The Everafter - Amy Huntley: I love this image on the cover, and I love that the term Everafter makes me think of far off plays and forever. I haven't read this one yet, but it'll be coming up soon!

Then I Met My Sister - Christine Hurley Deriso: This cover is so beautiful to me. The girl enclosed behind the drawn art, her hair almost turning into the red lines on the paper. It is so lovely. I haven't read this one yet either, but am really excited to!

Notes From The Blender - Cook & Halpin - 2011

Notes From The Blender by Trish Cook & Brendan Halpin

Published: 2011 - EgmontUSA

Age Group: YA

Date Read: October 17, 2011

3.5 out of 5 Stars: Enjoyed the story

Reason for Reading: I picked this book up a few months ago because a librarian I sometimes work with read it and thought it was a good, funny read.

On GoodReads: "Declan loves death metal--particularly from Finland. And video games--violent ones. And internet porn--any kind, really. He goes to school with Neilly Foster and spends most of his classroom time wondering what it might be like to know her, to talk to her, maybe even to graze against her sweater in the hallway. Neilly is an accomplished gymnast, naturally beautiful, and a constant presence at all the best parties (to which Declan is never invited). She's the queen of cool, the princess of poker face, and her rule is uncontested-- or it was until today, when she's dumped by her boyfriend, betrayed by her former BFF Lulu, and then informed she's getting a new brother--of the freaky fellow classmate variety. Declan's dad is marrying Neilly's mom. Soon. Which means they'll be moving in together."

My Thoughts: I really liked the idea of "the blender," the mix of families we sometimes end up with after divorces, remarries, deaths, etc. The two points of view, Declan and Neilly, were very distinct, and the two authors worked really well in this situation. It did take me a little while to warm up to Declan, since the sometimes vulgar and perverted teenage male mind is very foreign to me as a female. But about halfway through the book I found myself really rooting for him. It was really sweet to see how Declan and Neilly navigated their way around their new blended family, and by the end of the story Neilly's mother and Declan's father were my favorite characters in the whole story. I love YA books that include the parents and admit that yes, most teens do have some type of parent present, we don't need to come up with some device to play "hide the parents." Ultimately, I had trouble relating to both characters, though I thought they were well developed, but I think readers who have gone through similar family situations might find a stronger connection than I did and get a bit more out of the story.

Recommended To: Readers looking for some wit, a new family dynamic, and some great one liners.

Quote From The Book: "You are the coolest person I know, " Neilly said.

"You act like you don't know your own mom, " I said.

"Apparently, I don't!" Neilly said, laughing. "Knocked up, hanging out at tattoo parlors...Mom, do you want me to drop you guys off at the mall so you can hang out by the fountains and go shopping at Hot Topic?"

"Not tonight, sweetie. I have to watch your father marry a dude, remember?" (p. 217)

Books Read This Year: 84 of 100

Currently Reading: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren. It's a way to share books you've received, borrowed, or bought.

Bought:

The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson

Stay With Me - Paul Griffin

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Between - Jessica Warman

Borrowed:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Beautiful Darkness - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

How to Save a Life - Sara Zarr - 2011

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Published: 2011 - Little, Brown

Age Group: YA

Date Read: October 15, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: Really liked it

Reason for Reading: Been a fan of Zarr's previous YA books and was intrigued by the idea of focusing on these two girls' perspectives.

On GoodReads: "Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?
Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about what it means to be a family and the many roads we can take to become one."

My Thoughts: By the end of this story I was completely in love with the characters. I felt a stronger connection to Jill early on, but as the story went and more information about Mandy's past came out, she began to really grow on me. I think the side characters and the interactions they had with the two main girls were really well done. Each character and each scene was written with such purpose, and to watch these two girls, strangers, become family was so awesome. Sara Zarr is such a wonderful writer of people and the situations young adults experience. Her stories are filled with a lot of drama, sweet moments, and some really great humor.

Recommended To: Those who have read Zarr's books in the past and those that are looking for some really good realistic fiction.

Quote From The Book: "I know I shouldn't say this -- I know it as surely as I know the earth is round and beets are evil -- and yet here it comes: "It's not too late to change your mind."

Mom, still staring up at the windows, lets her bag slide off her shoulder and dangle from her elbow. "Thanks, Jill. That's tremendously helpful.""

Books Read This Year: 83 of 100

Currently Reading: Notes From the Blender by Trish Cook

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. It's a fun way to make a quick post about whatever book happens to be near you!

The Rules:

• Pick up a book
• Turn to page 56
• Find a phrase that sticks out
• Post it on your blog
• Add your post url to Freda's Linky
  

My books for today's Friday 56 are Sara Zarr's How to Save a Life and Back When You Were

Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith.

"I keep my eyes on the monitor to avoid Robin's. Nils presses some buttons to print off pictures. Then he takes the sensor away and the baby disappears."

""Joy!" This time it really is Mattia, calling to me from high in the bleachers, even though she knows I hate heights. This kind of thing is her

idea of helping me "conquer my phobias." What a pal."

Follow Friday

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee and Alison at Alison Can Read.

Q. If you could have characters from a particular book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a particular TV series, which would you choose and why?

A. I would have the characters from Divergent (Veronica Roth) meet the characters from the TV show Alias. There would be some insanely awesome fight scenes, a bit of humor, and I think Tris could really get into some Sidney Bristow-style espionage.

Back When You Were Easier to Love - Emily Wing Smith - 2011

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith

Published: 2011 - Dutton

Age Group: YA

Read: October 13, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: I adored this book

Reason for Reading: There are two things I can't get enough of: Post-apocalyptic dystopias and Road Trip novels. This is the latter.

On GoodReads: "What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan - the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah - unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent."

My Thoughts: I really, really enjoyed this. I thought the story was sweet, though fairly predictable. But I love stories of putting yourself back together after a heart break or some other kind of loss of self. Joy was hilarious at times, I loved her inner monologue and it felt good to watch her heal. Noah was adorable. I mean, he's up there in the top YA-boys. I though Wing Smith's writing was really appealing, and would appeal to a lot of people -- very funny, almost unexpectedly so at times. The Mormon aspects of the book (all the main characters are Mormon) was really interesting to me as someone not of the same faith. I thought it was really well done, it wasn't pushing religion, but showing how it worked in these teens' lives. I think it takes a great writer to include religion in a novel and not force it upon the reader. Well done. Note: Ignore the blurb by Standiford on the back cover.

Recommended To: People who love road trips. Fans of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, fans of The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson. People who want to read a more PG love story, with the humor still intact.

Quote From The Book: "It's Friday night at the Ballad of the Sad Cafe, and the air smells like melodrama and espresso." (p. 187)

Books Read This Year: 82 of 100

Currently Reading: How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr

Waiting on Wednesday - October

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday is a post where you can let people know what upcoming books you're anticipating!

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

October 18, 2011

Little, Brown

Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about what it means to be a family and the many roads we can take to become one.

I have really enjoyed Sara Zarr's other books, and I love what she does with her characters. I'm really looking forward to this.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

October 18, 2o11

Scholastic

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I'm curious to read something from Stiefvater that sounds so different from the Shiver books.

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

October 25, 2011

Harlequin

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

I love this series. I have completely fallen in love with Prince Ash, and am so excited for this to come out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

This is the first time I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Hopefully, I will be participating in more! Each week, The Broke and the Bookish post a new top ten list, and ask other bloggers and readers to join in with their own responses. Here goes.

The Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time:

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen: This book has such a special place in my heart, and I would love to read it for the first time again.

Harry Potter (1-7) by J.K. Rowling: This series is so wonderful, I am still amazed when I reread it, but it would be so cool to feel that first time wonder again.

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers: I was so struck by Summers' first book.

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien: I knew nothing of this book when I read it in April 2010, and it completely sneaked up on me with how amazing it is.

Paper Towns by John Green: If you haven't read this book, you really must. Right now.

A Time for Dancing by Davida Wills Hurwin: I read this book for the first time in high school and have read it so many times since then.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore: This book is fantastic.

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti: Another book I reread all the time, but I would love to feel that first time feeling each time.

Just Like That by Marsha Qualey: Another favorite.

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger: I particularly love the Zooey part, and found it so funny when I read it the first time.

The books on this top ten list are books that I have really loved and were completely stunned by the first time I read them. I would love to read each of these again and recall how it felt to read them the first time around.

Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins - 2011

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Published: 2011 - Dutton

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: October 8, 2011

5 out of 5 Stars: Fell in love with it!

Reason for Reading: I absolutely adored Perkins' previous book, Anna and the French Kiss, so I knew this would be a must-read when it was published.

On GoodReads: "Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door."

My Thoughts: Lola was such a unique and funny protagonist. She was smart though sometimes a little blind to the things around her. She felt very much like a teenage girl, confused, a little selfish, but ultimately good. Cricket was adorable. I wish Cricket had been my next door neighbor! Perkins does such a great job (in both of her novels) at writing realistic, awesome teen romances. I have never been so sucked into love stories as I am when she writes them. She creates such real characters, who have faults and problems, and creates such wonderful things for them. I look forward to many more books from this author.

Recommended To: Any lover of romance, YA or otherwise. Perkins' stories may be about teen characters, but older readers will surely find them entertaining and wonderful.

Quote From The Book: "What just happened?"

"Your father invited the former love of your life in for pie."
"Yeah, that's what I thought."

Books Read This Year: 81 of 100

Currently Reading: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

What's On My Bookshelves?

Just a post to talk about what I'm reading for my next reviews, and what I'm excited to read next.

Currently Reading:

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins -- "Budding

designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door." (from GoodReads)

Blood Red Road by Moira Young -- "Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has

long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization." (from GoodReads)

Next On My List:

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E Pearson

Eager to ReRead:

Mistwood by Leah Cypress

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson