Someone Like Samantha: A Book Lover's Blog

Waiting on Wednesday (4) - Bitterblue

2011-11-09T10:52:00.005-05:00

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:

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

May 1, 2012 - Dial

Not a lot has been released about the story of Bitterblue, but from GoodReads: "Bitterblue is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. This third book will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book."

And from Cashore's website: "Bitterblue is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling (not six, as I'd written previously). As you may have gathered, the protagonist is Bitterblue. Yes, Katsa, Po and others from Graceling do appear in the book. Bitterblue will be released on May 1, 2021 in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It will be released in a few other countries/languages as well; I'll supply that information when I have it."

Why I Want It:

I loved both Graceling and Fire, both were so much fun to read and really got me started on reading more YA Fantasy novels. Bitterblue's part of the story in Graceling was really well done and ever since there was talk of a Bitterblue novel a few years ago, I have been waiting to find out when it comes out. I'm so excited that there's a date for it now, and can't wait to read it!

Last week's Waiting on Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Read That Were Outside of My Comfort Zone

2011-11-08T21:46:00.002-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Each Tuesday there is a different Top Ten topic to join in on, and you can see past and future topics on their features page. This week's topic is: Books I Read That Were Outside of My Comfort Zone.

For me, this list is more about genres and styles instead of topics. I used to be pretty predictable in the books I would read; a lot of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Elizabeth Scott, a lot of books about coming into your own as a teen. I didn't read fantasy, non-fiction, adult fiction, etc. Going back over my GoodReads lists for this post was a lot of fun, because I could remember being wary about some of these books when I picked them up to read.

Top Ten Books I Read That Were Outside of My Comfort Zone:

The Uglies Series (Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras) by Scott Westerfeld

This was my first dystopia (not counting The Giver in 6th grade) and I had no idea what to expect from it. It wasn't my "type" of book, I didn't like sci-fi or fantasy, but man, this book got me hooked on terrible futures.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

This book was recommended to me by a Children's Lit professor, so I picked it up and read the summary. It just didn't sound like something I would like. I know little of comic books and was wary of protagonists that were so into something I had no idea about. I did end up liking the book, but not the sequel.

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Foreign Horror. I used to be a big chicken, sleep with a night light during high school type of person. Scary movies actually scared me. So horror fiction, especially foreign vampire fiction, sounded a bit too creepy for me. But it was really good!

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Like I said, I didn't used to read non-fiction. This was one of the first in a string of biographies & memoirs I read a few years ago. I read a whole bunch right in a row, but haven't gotten back into the genre for a while.

In the Woods by Tana French

This is the first real Mystery I read. My mom always reads mysteries, and I'd never been interested in them. I saw this book at the train station, loved the cover, and it sounded interesting. I still don't read a lot of mysteries, but I always read Tana French's books now!

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Volume 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

I'm not a historical fiction person. I was never a history lover in school. I've always really liked books that could happen now. But I heard so many good things about this book and this author, and I am so glad that I looked past my usual issues and picked it up.

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

A book in verse. I had to try so hard at points in this book to push myself to keep going. Not because it was bad, it was actually a really wonderful story, but because my brain just wasn't used to reading a story told in verse. I am still not a big fan of the style, but I won't completely shut them out.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I read some fantasy books as a young child, like Patricia C Wrede's Dragon books. But throughout middle school, high school, and college, I just did not read fantasy. I didn't like books that I couldn't believe actually happened, or that I couldn't imagine happening to me. I think I had an imagination problem for a while. This book was also recommended to me by the same Children's Lit professor, who said she also had trouble getting into fantasy books. I figured if someone with my same views on fantasy liked it, then I should give it a try. It was an instant favorite, and now I love reading fantasy YA.

Stitches by David Small

My first graphic novel. It was difficult at first to navigate the story without words and on many pages, without dialog. Once I found my rhythm, I really enjoyed this book and have read a few more graphic novels since.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

This is sort of a silly reason for being hesitant of a book, but I really never read books with male protagonists. I just felt I couldn't relate to them. I love Laurie Halse Anderson though, so I gave it a try, and realized how silly I was to ignore a whole bunch of books just because they had boys in them.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Had Strong Emotions About

2011-11-01T12:34:00.011-04:00

Top Ten Books I Had Strong Emotions About:

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Emotion: Anger -- So much build up and then... nothing.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Emotion: Sadness & Anger -- The poor tree just gives and gives to the neediest boy alive, but the boy never gives anything back!

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern

Emotion: Disappointment -- One of the only books I put down and didn't finish.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Emotion: Anger -- Henry and Clare made me so angry... I don't usually hate characters, but I hate Henry.

Bleed by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Emotion: Confusion -- This book was all over the place with small chapters on different characters, but there was no ending to any of the stories, usually I am a big Stolarz fan!

Stitches by David Small

Emotion: Wonder -- This was one of the first graphic novels I read, and the images were so powerful, I was just in awe of this book.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Emotion: Lots of tears -- This book (and its sequel) made me cry so hard, and I hadn't expected it.

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Emotion: Wonder & Joy -- This book is just amazing, I am so excited for the sequel to come out (next week!).

A Time for Dancing by Davida Wills Hurwin

Emotion: Sadness & something I can't quite name -- The power of friendship in this novel just astounds me and fills me with all sorts of emotions.

Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon

Emotion: Creeped out -- This book freaked me out, I had chills at times.

Hold Still - Nina LaCour - 2009

2011-10-30T21:24:00.006-04:00

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

2011-10-28T11:51:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-26T21:33:00.004-04:00

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

2011-10-25T10:25:00.009-04:00

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

2011-10-19T20:29:00.005-04:00

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

2011-10-18T11:37:00.015-04:00

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

2011-10-17T21:03:00.004-04:00

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)

2011-10-16T18:33:00.009-04:00

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

2011-10-16T17:31:00.004-04:00

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

2011-10-14T15:59:00.006-04:00

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

2011-10-14T12:55:00.005-04:00

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

2011-10-13T15:56:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-12T09:53:00.008-04:00

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?

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

2011-10-11T11:05:00.004-04:00

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

2011-10-09T19:55:00.007-04:00

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?

2011-10-08T00:34:00.006-04:00

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

The Silver Kiss - Annette Curtis Klause - 1990

2011-10-07T15:21:00.003-04:00

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Published: 1990 - Random House

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: October 7, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: Really enjoyed it

Reason for Reading: Assigned during last semester's YA Lit course, but never got very far into it. Decided to start over when I had more time.

On GoodReads: "Zoe is wary when, in the dead of night, the beautiful yet frightening Simon comes to her house. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe's brooding thoughts of her dying mother. Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years before. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to help free him from this lifeless chase and its insufferable loneliness?"

My Thoughts: This is everything I would want in a vampire novel. This story doesn't sugarcoat being a vampire, it shows the bad parts -- the loneliness, the darkness. Zoe was a beautifully written character, sad and confused at her mother's impending death from cancer, and I could see why she and Simon were drawn to each other. Simon, the 300 year old (19 year old) vampire, was what I imagine someone trapped in a life without life would be like. He had not asked to become a monster, and he held on dearly to his memories of life "before." The relationship between the two characters was sweet and protective, and I really liked that they both knew the best thing for everyone was what Simon wanted, to cease being. This was really well written and touching. Also, the references to the 90s were amusing, but didn't take away from the story.

Recommended To: Vampire lovers who want to read about real vampires -- the ones that need human blood, can't be in the sun, and aren't ideal boyfriends.

Quote From The Book: "A lifetime was a lifetime, regardless of its years."

Books Read This Year: 80 of 100

Nightspell - Leah Cypress - 2011

2011-10-07T14:54:00.004-04:00

Nightspell (Mistwood #2) by Leah Cypress

Published: 2011 - HarperCollins

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: October 3, 2011

3 out of 5 Stars: I liked it, but...

Reason for Reading: I really loved Cypress's first novel, Mistwood, and I was excited for her second book, especially since it is a companion novel to the first (though they are both stand-alones).

On GoodReads: "A stand-alone companion novel to the much-acclaimed MISTWOOD. When Darri rides into Ghostland, a country where the living walk with the dead, she has only one goal: to rescue her younger sister Callie, who was sent to Ghostland as a hostage four years ago. But Callie has changed in those four years, and now has secrets of her own. In her quest to save her sister from herself, Darri will be forced to outmaneuver a handsome ghost prince, an ancient sorcerer, and a manipulative tribal warrior (who happens to be her brother). When Darri discovers the source of the spell that has kept the dead in Ghostland chained to this earth, she faces a decision that will force her to reexamine beliefs she has never before questioned - and lead her into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens the very balance of power between the living and the dead."

My Thoughts: I really liked the plot of this fantasy story. I also really liked the three main characters, siblings Darri, Varis, and Callie. I thought those three really made the story work. I also enjoyed Prince Kestin, because I just can't resist a good dead prince. I thought the history behind Ghsotland and the spell was really interesting and rather different, too. The problems I had with the story were that it felt rushed, and I couldn't really put my finger on why. Like, the story was well thought out, but maybe the inner workings were pushed too much. I'm still not sure, but it just didn't feel very polished, especially compared to Mistwood. I still really enjoyed it though, and I am looking forward to more stories from Leah Cypress.

Recommended To: Lovers of YA fantasy, those who read & enjoyed Mistwood, and Kristin Cashore's books Graceling and Fire.

Books Read This Year: 79 of 100

You Against Me - Jenny Downham - 2011

2011-10-05T13:18:00.005-04:00

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Published: 2011 (US) - David Fickling

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: September 26, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: I liked it

Reason for Reading: I loved Downham's previous book, Before I Die, so I was really excited to see she had another book out.

On GoodReads: "If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another."

My Thoughts: Because I loved Before I Die so much, I was really anticipating this book. It was very different from her other book, but I did really like reading it. I was pulled in by the conflict between love for your family and love for another (an outsider). Reading about Mikey and Ellie as they try to navigate these ideas and boundaries was really interesting. I have to say, I really liked Ellie. I thought she was written so convincingly, and I could feel the struggle she felt about her brother and what he may or may not have done. Mikey was such a sweet brother, I don't know how realistic he was, but it was sweet to read about how he took care of his sisters. From about halfway through the book I knew the ending wasn't going to wrap everything up all nice and tight, but I was disappointed to be correct. I wish there had been a resolution with the trial. From my personal journal: "It felt like one of those books I'd love, but that also annoyed the crap out of me."

Books Read This Year: 78

Twisted - Sara Shepard - 2011

2011-10-05T12:51:00.005-04:00

Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard

Published: 2011 - HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: September 23, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: This series is such a guilty pleasure for me

Reason for Reading: I was intrigued at how Shepard would continue the series, since book 8 had been noted as the last of the PLL series.

On GoodReads: "It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The Pretty Little Liars have more secrets than ever - twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild.

Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship.

Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore … eventually."

My Thoughts: I was a bit annoyed when I head that the series would be continuing, since my copy of book 8 claims it's the last one, but upon seeing that the 9th book was out, I felt I had to keep going with the series. I am really glad I did. I love these 4 girls, they are so unique and sometimes so vapid, but also very innocent. They all feel so very human. The story is really twisted, there's a new A in town, and I really have no idea who it is, or why they are out to get the girls. I really do just enjoy reading these books, they go by quickly but are so charming and so exciting.

Books Read This Year: 77 of 100

Please Ignore Vera Dietz - A.S. King - 2010

2011-10-05T00:30:00.005-04:00

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Published: 2010 - Alfred K. Knopf

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: September 19, 2011

5 out of 5 Stars: Loved it

Reason for Reading: John Green recommended it. It's a Printz Honor book. I had heard nothing but great things. It really felt like a "must read."

On GoodReads: "Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything. So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to? Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising."

My Thoughts: This book was sweet, and sad, and funny. I really liked Vera and Charlie trying to figure out what happened between them and what went wrong. At times, it was really difficult to read when Charlie was pushing Vera away. The chapters from the point of view of the pagoda were placed at just the right times, and were so funny. The whole story had so many funny parts paired up with really sad parts. I think the best part was how truthful the story felt. The best relationship examined in the book is that between Vera and her father. Reading the book, I could really see them transform and become the people the other needed them to be.

Quote from the book: "I mean, I ignore plenty of stuff, like school spirit days and the dirty looks i get from the Detentionheads while I try to slink through the halls unnoticed. But there's something about telling other people what to ignore that just doesn't work for me. Especially things we shouldn't be ignoring.

Hear that girl in your class is being abused by her stepfather and had to go to the clinic? Hear she's bringing her mother's pills to school and selling them to pay for it? Ignore. Ignore. Ignore. Mind your own business. Don't make waves. Fly under the radar. It's just one of those things, Vera.

I'm sorry, but I don't get it. If we're supposed to ignore everything that's wrong in our lives, then I can't see how we'll ever make things right."

Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me - Kristen Chandler - 2010

2011-10-04T23:48:00.005-04:00

Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

Published: 2010 - Viking

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: September 15, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: I really (really!) liked it

Reason for Reading: This was a random Borders pick up. I saw the title and wanted to know if it was about real wolves or werewolves. I was incredibly (and pleasantly) surprised that it was about actual wolves.

On GoodReads: KJ Carson lives an outdoor lover’s dream. The only daughter of a fishing and wildlife guide, KJ can hold her own on the water or in the mountains near her hometown outside Yellowstone National Park. But when she meets the shaggy-haired, intensely appealing Virgil, KJ loses all self-possession. And she’s not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that they’re assigned to work together on a school newspaper article about the famous wolves of Yellowstone. As KJ spends time with Virgil, she also spends more time getting to know a part of her world that she always took for granted . . . and she begins to see herself and her town in a whole new light.

My Thoughts: In my hand-written book journal, the first two sentences I wrote for this story were, "I loved K.J. I felt like K.J." And I really did. I felt that K.J. was so similar in some ways to me when I was her age, and I felt that she was written in such a (wonderful) way that I was reminded of who I was as a teenager, and I was transported into K.J.'s life. The subtle comparisons of wolves and humans were really well done, they weren't obvious, but they made a point. I thought the insight into her relationships with her father, her town, and the wolves were all developed magically. And again, I was just so excited that this was about real wolves. It made me want to go pick up a bunch of books about wolf habits.

Quote from the book: "I would laugh at all my provincial inmates, but I’m too busy lusting. I’m not usually interested in a guy with “take a number” on his forehead, but this guy doesn’t have a forehead — it’s buried in messy blond hair. And he’s not one of the twenty guys I’ve known my entire pubescent life. he smiles like the Fourth of July. What’s a dumb girl to do but get in line with everyone else not in his league? I guess journalism just became my most beloved class.”

Girl in the Arena - Lise Haines - 2009

2011-10-04T12:45:00.007-04:00

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

Published: 2009 - Bloomsbury USA

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: September 13, 2009

Reason for Reading: I picked up this book because I had read a good review of it and thought it sounded interesting.

GoodReads blurb: "Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine."

My Thoughts: I don't know how I feel about this book and this story. I liked a few of the characters, Lyn in particular, and her friend and his family. However, I felt like the description and back of the book give off a false pretense about what the book is. I was expecting a sort of dystopian future where the world reverts back to gladiator fights for entertainment and the settling of arguments. But instead it's basically our present day lives, but with gladiator fighting added in as a sport, kind of like football. The explanation of how this came to be was very strange, and the execution of the story felt unnatural. I don't know if this was supposed to be a sort of social commentary novel about how much sports players get paid but the how many negative effects there can be, if so, I don't think it fulfilled its purpose. Though the actual writing and language was well written, and as I said, I really did like Lyn. I'm not sure if there is a specific group I would recommend this to.

Divergent - Veronica Roth - 2011

2011-10-04T11:54:00.014-04:00

Divergent (Divergent series #1) - Veronica Roth

Published: 2011 - HarperCollins

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: September 10, 2011

4.5 out of 5 Stars: I'm kind of obsessed with this book

Reason for Reading: The description sounded fantastic (see below), and I had a chance to look it over when it first arrived at the library I volunteer at. I couldn't get the thought of it out of my head, so I set my mind on giving it a try.

On GoodReads: Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

My Thoughts: I couldn't get enough of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed following Tris as she waivered on her decision to switch from Abnegation to Dauntless, as she learned what it meant to be Divergent, and as she made friends with some of the other transfers. Four was one of my favorite characters I've read recently, he was intriguing and moody and kind of a bad@ss. Roth's writing sucked me in, and I was surprised at how well done the training and fight scenes were - they felt very genuine. I am very excited for the next book in the series, Insurgent, to come out next year. I honestly can't say enough about this book, it was exhilarating to read.

Quote from the book: "My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every fiber, every bone and every nerve, all awake and buzzing in my body as if charged with electricity. I am pure adrenaline.”

End of Summer pt. 2: Want to go Private? - Littman & Never Have I Ever - Shepard

2011-09-01T21:09:00.005-04:00

Want to Go Private? - Sarah Darer Littman

2011 - Scholastic

Read: August 25, 2011

Review: This book was not easy to read. Not that the language was difficult, or that it was bad, but that the material was really hard at times. This is a story about a girl, Abby, who ends up a victim of an internet predator, goes to meet him, and the aftermath of these events. The writing was actually very simple, in a purposeful way, and this was a book that had a very clear lesson to take away. Many novels have some type of underlying message, but this message was a clear warning to young teens that may be in the same place that Abby was: lonely, vulnerable, and looking for a friend. I would definitely suggest this as reading to current teens.

Never Have I Ever (The Lying Game # 2) - Sara Shepard

2011 - HarperCollins

Read: August 30, 2011

Review: I still have so much fun reading Shepard's books. The plot and characters are very different from the Pretty Little Liars series, but many elements are the same: surprise, shock and awe, fake killers, etc. In the PLL series, there were some parts I was able to guess at, but so far The Lying Game books have me stumped, and I am very excited to keep reading. In great contrast to Want to Go Private?, this book (and series) does not have a strong lesson to learn, that I can see. And I really think that's fine, because it's a fun story and the writing is strong, even when silly.

Currently Reading: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

End of Summer: Love Story - Echols & Forever - Stiefvater

2011-09-01T20:45:00.005-04:00

Love Story - Jennifer Echols

2011 - MTV

Read: August 10, 2011

Review: I have been a HUGE Jennifer Echols fan since I first read Going Too Far, and then my love grew when I read Forget You. However, I wasn't as big of a fan of Love Story as I was anticipating. I liked the characters, and I enjoyed Echols writing, but I didn't like the story. I didn't like how the meat of the story, the really important parts, were told in short stories "written" by the characters. I felt like it was kind of an experimental novel style, and I would have much rather gotten to know the characters more through their interactions, instead of their stories for creative writing class. If you haven't read any of Echols' work before, I would start with this book and then read the other two.

Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls # 3) - Maggie Stiefvater

2011 - Scholastic

Read: August 2011

Review: I really enjoyed the ending to this trilogy. I was skeptical of this novel, because I didn't really like Linger, the second book, very much. I felt like it was just a switch-around of Shiver. I really liked Shiver though, and I wanted to finish out the series. I was very happily surprised with the turn of events in Forever, and I loved that Cole became such an important character. Cole was the only thing that kept me going in Linger, so to see him really come into his own and be as important as Grace or Sam was really nice for me. I like Stiefvater's writing style, I think she does a wonderful job crafting difficult relationships and friendships. I am interested in reading her past books, too. I saw her at a book talk a few months ago, and she was surprisingly funny, a trait I'd love to see carry through more in her writing.

Up Next: Want to go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman, Never Have I Ever (Lying Game # 2) by Sara Shepard

Summer Reading: Mlynowski & Pfeffer

2011-07-20T12:13:00.005-04:00

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) - Sarah Mlynowksi

2011 - Harper Teen

Read: July 11, 2011

Review: This book was so much fun to read. I loved watching April stumble her way around living on her own (secretly) and interacting with her friends. It was a little far-fetched that no one knew April and Vi were on their own, but I think that was on purpose and it just added to the silly-factor of everything that happened. Even though it was very fun, there was also a lot of heart at the core of the novel. April felt like her parents should have both fought more for her to go with one of them, and so because they didn't push her, she pushed away from them. It was sweet seeing how she started learning to care more by taking care of Donut the kitten. I think a wide range of ages and audiences will really enjoy this book.

Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer

2006 - Harcourt

Read: July 18, 2011

Review: I read this book mostly because one of the blurbs on the back described it as being like a car crash. I don't tend to associate that type of comment with something that's good, and I was amazed that a publisher would include it on the back of a book as a "good thing," so I picked it up. It wasn't too bad, though there was just so much BAD happening all the time. Earthquakes, volcanoes, blizzards, flu epidemics, malaria... everything. There seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the book, but there are (at least) two more in the series, so I have no idea how much more terrible stuff can happen to Miranda (and the world). I kind of want to read the following books and find out though, because it is kind of amazing how many awful things can happen in one story.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Currently Reading: Emma by Jane Austen

Catching Up, Part Six: Harrington, Scott, Culbertson

2011-07-01T15:08:00.006-04:00

Finally, we have reached the final installment of "Catching Up," where I review a few books at once to finally get caught up on my blog posts! Today we have Clarity by Kim Harrington, He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott, and Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson. These are three very different YA books, but all three were fun to read and two were by authors I hadn't read before.

Clarity - Kim Harrington

2011 - Scholastic Point

Read: May 30, 2011

Review: As I wrote in my hand-written journal, "I do love a good YA murder mystery. Like All Unquiet Things, but with psychics!" I really liked almost all of this book, it was fun, it kept me guessing and I genuinely liked the characters and their interactions felt fun, genuine, and not forced or contrived. I could have done without the term "psychometry," as in the Touch novels by Stolarz, but that is just me being overly critical. The dialog had me cracking up, particularly the conversations with Clarity, Perry and their mother. I am really excited to look for more of Harrington's books in the future.

He's So Not Worth It - Kieran Scott

2011 - Simon & Schuster

Read: June 11, 2011

Review: This is the sequel to She's So Dead to Us, and was very fun to read, like the first book. I was really intrigued with how Ally would deal with her father being back in town and the relationship with her parents, especially since her mother started getting serious with the doctor. There were some parts of this book, mostly the highly emotional and intense parts, that felt very really and were actually plausible. However, I'm not really sure how necessary the story is. I couldn't really find a main point to the book, and I know there are going to be more books in the series, and I just can't see if there is one main story line or if these are just going to be books about whiny rich kids. While they are fun to read, I don't feel like I get anything out of reading them, at least not yet.

Instructions for a Broken Heart - Kim Culbertson

2011 - Sourcebooks

Read: June 25, 2011

Review: The plot of this story was very sweet. Jessa walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her and the next day has to go on a school trip to Italy with him, the other girl, and some of their classmates. To cheer her up, Jessa's best friend sends her off with 20 envelopes (very Maureen Johnson) to help her get over the cheater. I really liked the story line, and a lot of the dialog was really fun, but Jessa was a bit whiny, and she kept making awkward scenes in Italy. Other than that, I liked most of the characters and there would be moments of comedic genius scattered throughout the story. I also really liked when Jessa finally understood that she sees the world differently as an artist/writer, and the description of how she feels more than other people really struck home with me.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

Clarity

He's So Not Worth It

Instructions for a Broken Heart

You can also check all of these books out on http://www.goodreads.com/

Books Read in 2011: 58 (of 100)

Currently Reading: Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Catching Up, Part Five: Scott, Ryan, Kirby

2011-06-27T17:36:00.005-04:00

For part five of six, we have Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, and Moonglass by Jessi Kirby.

Between Here and Forever - Elizabeth Scott

2011 - Simon Pulse

Read: May 26, 2011

Review: Though I enjoyed the story, I couldn't stand the editing problems. There were about five instances of "Tess's" instead of "Tess is," which annoyed me so much and I felt like for such a big name YA author it was just sloppy editing. Much of the story was predictable, but I really loved seeing Abby how she saw herself and then how other people saw her as she met more people or opened up to more people.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan

2009 - Gollanzc

Read: May 29, 2011

Review: This story was basically the zombie apocalypse through a teenagers eyes, which isn't a bad thing, but it was sometimes predictable. I liked how Mary grew as a person over the course of the story and how we learn more and more about her world as she learns it too. I was worried that it was going to be too much like The Village, which would have been really awful, but luckily it didn't go that way. I am excited to read the other books in the series and find out more about the "zombies."

Moonglass - Jessi Kirby

2011 - Simon & Schuster

Read: May 30, 2011

Review: Moonglass was lovely. Though it started slowly, once it picked up and I could figure out where the story was going, I really got into it and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Growing up on the water myself really helped to put myself in Anna's shoes. I really liked how the people and their stories all came together in the end to help Anna understand what happened with her mother. I would love to see what else Kirby comes up with, as this was her debut.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

Between Here and Forever

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Moonglass

Catching Up, Part Four: Dessen, Johnson, Matson

2011-06-25T23:15:00.006-04:00

In part four of Catching Up we have What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen, The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson, and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. I adored all three of these books, they were each filled with fun, humor, adventure and a lot of friendship. Pick any of these up if you are looking for a really good, satisfying read.

What Happened to Goodbye - Sarah Dessen

2o11 - Penguin

Read: May 13, 2011

Review: I really loved McLean as a character. I loved her confusion and identity problems. There wasn't an excess of drama in this story, but there was enough conflict to keep my interest, and I loved all of the fun parts with McLean's new friends. Dessen has been a favorite author of mine for a long time, and I love that she can write such wonderful characters and situations without having to rely on high emotions or melodrama. I think this book could definitely benefit teen readers as they may be trying to figure out who they really are themselves.

The Last Little Blue Envelope - Maureen Johnson

2o11 - Harper Teen

Read: May 21, 2011

Review: Maureen Johnson is just so fun to read. And follow on twitter. I went to an author event that she was doing recently for this book, and she is just as funny and random in person, which really made her written humor feel genuine. Ginny has always been a little iffy for me as a protagonist, and at times in this sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes I felt like she was just letting things happen to her without really sticking up for herself. I really liked Oliver and feel like Johnson wrote him so well, and he kept making me laugh, especially when he could recite the letters by heart. I love this type of story, a lot of fun adventure, exploring new places and people, all while on a mission. I look forward to many more books from Maureen Johnson.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson

2010 - Simon & Schuster

Read: May 25, 2011

Review: I love, love, love road trip books. Now that I have been on a few road trips myself, these types of books bring back such good memories and get me wanting to go another road trip asap. Amy was such a great portrayal of a girl feeling guilty after her father dies. She refuses to talk about it, or anything of emotional substance really, for a very long time, but slowly opens up to Roger as they became friends and journey across the country. Even though it was cheesey, I really liked the addition of their playlists as they went through each state. A lot of the story was predictable, but I didn't mind, because I really was rooting for Amy and Roger and was so pleased with the ending of the book.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

What Happened to Goodbye

The Last Little Blue Envelope

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Catching Up, Part Three: Grace, Brown, McCafferty

2011-06-25T22:32:00.006-04:00

Part three (of six) of my Catching Up seriesFor this installment we have But I Love Him by Amanda Grace, Bitter End by Jennifer Brown, and Bumped by Megan McCafferty. Both But I Love Him and Bitter End deal with abusive relationships.

But I Love Him - Amanda Grace

2011 - Flux

Read: May 8, 2011

Review: I picked up this book for rather silly reasons. I liked the cover and flipped through the book, becoming intrigued by all of the highly emotional language I found just on the first few pages. I've always been a fan of books about intense situations, because I think they are important to have and to do well. Amanda Grace wrote Ann's story of her abusive relationship with Connor extremely well and convincingly. The chapters were written in reverse chronological order, interspersed with "now" chapters, which take place after a particularly brutal incident with Connor. I was sucked into Ann's story and couldn't put it down. The language felt very genuine and I think teen readers would really like the authenticity of this book.

Bitter End - Jennifer Brown

2011 - Little, Brown

Read: May 2011

Review: It was interesting to read But I Love Him, Stay, and Bitter End all in about the same time period, since they are all books dealing with abusive relationships or the aftermath of such relationships. I think I felt that this was the least genuine of the three, though I do really like Brown's writing style and language. I just felt like the other two stories dealt with the issue more seriously and honestly. However, there were some really good parts of this book. I loved the relationship Alex had with her friends and the points where Zack would try and try to stick up for her, even though she couldn't figure things out on her own. It just felt, to me, that Alex was a bit weak as a character at times.

Bumped - Megan McCafferty

2011 - Balzer + Bray

Read: May 11, 2011

Review: I really, really wanted to love this book. I am a big Megan McCafferty fan, and this concept sounded so great. But I was left wanting. I didn't like the characters, any of them. At times I would think a character would be getting on my good side, and then they would say or do or reveal something that would make me dislike them again instantly. And there was just so much religion throughout the story, I didn't think it would bother me, but after so much of it I just felt annoyed. McCafferty is such a good writer, I just couldn't make myself enjoy this story.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

But I Love Him

Bitter End

Bumped

Catching Up, Part Two: Forman, Whedon, Mahoney

2011-06-25T12:29:00.005-04:00

For the next three catch up books I will be reviewing Where She Went by Gayle Forman, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 8 graphic novels by Joss Whedon & company, and The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney.

Where She Went - Gayle Forman

2011 - Dutton

Read: April 9, 2011

Review: I am still so impressed with Forman's writing. Most might see this as a bad thing, but I really enjoy her

skill with making people cry. I really loved If I Stay, and I was wary about the idea of a sequel to it, but it just really worked. I am so happy for Mia and Adam and the love that they have for each other. Forman wrote the story so convincingly, and while it might have been an unnecessary story, it was still great and full of emotion and trouble and strength. I am really looking forward to more of Forman's books, I would like to see what she can do with new characters.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 8 - Joss Whedon & others

2007-2010 - Dark Horse Comics

Read: April 2011

Review: I haven't finished the season yet, but so far I have absolutely enjoyed the comics. I really like the artwork, too. It is so fun to read the comics and put the characters voices from the show to the speech bubbles. I can't wait to finish the rest of the volumes and find out what happens.

The Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney

2011 - Flux

Read: May 3, 2011

Review: I was expecting a lot more action and adventure from this book than I actually got. The description/summary made it sound like the majority of the story would take place after Navin is kidnapped, but that was really just a bit at the end. I was expecting a big battle scene or something, maybe I was spoiled by The Iron Queen, but it just felt like there could have been more to this story. The writing itself wasn't bad, just very slow. I am undecided about reading more if this becomes a series.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

Where She Went

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Iron Witch

Catching Up, Part One: Blakley-Cartwright, Kagawa, Caletti

2011-06-24T22:09:00.007-04:00

This is Part 1 of "Catching Up" - Where I will review three books at a time, covering what I have read from the end of March until today. These reviews will be shorter than usual.

For this installment I will cover The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, Stay by Deb Caletti, and Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright.

The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa

2011 - Harlequin Teen

Read: April 5, 2011

Review: With

every book in the Iron Fey series, I love Prince Ash more and more. I feel like this book in the series really stepped up the action with all of

the fight scenes and battles that took place. Meghan really stepped up and started to learn to use her powers and fight for herself, rather than letting boys fight her battles for her, which had begun to wear on me in the previous books. I am really looking forward to the next book and reading about Ash's quest. Julie Kagawa's writing in this series has been just amazing. I originally hadn't liked the idea of the story, but had heard such great things that I set my judgments aside and picked up the first book... and became completely consumed with the story and characters. I definitely recommend this series to people who love fantasy but also people who love a good romance as well.

Stay - Deb Caletti

2011 - Simon Pulse

Read: April 7, 2011

Review: I have been a big fan of Deb Caletti for years, since I first read Honey, Baby, Sweetheart as a teenager. In Stay, we follow Clara as she moves to the beach with her father to get away from her ex-boyfriend Christian, who has become obsessed to the point of danger with her. Caletti writes relationships so well, not just romantic relationships but just the relationships all people have with each other - fathers and daughters, friends, etc. And her side characters always get me, especially Clara's father and Finn and Finn's siblings (and the seagull!). I really felt like I understood Clara and connected with her as a character, which I think is such an important part of YA lit. The way Caletti strings words together is just amazing.

Red Riding Hood (movie version) - Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

2011 - Poppy

Read: April 7, 2011

Review: This was, surprisingly, not as bad as I had been expecting, especially because it was written after the movie was written. It was a quick read, and not very challenging, but the story flowed and Blakley-Cartwright did a great job of putting a preexisting story into her own words and still making it sound believable. And, I honestly didn't know who the wolf was. However, I was rather annoyed that I had to go online to read the "bonus chapter" in order to find out who the wolf was and how the story ended. I recently watched the movie, and have to say the book was much, much better than the film was, so I really commend Sarah Blakley-Cartwright.

To learn more or purchase these titles:

The Iron Queen

Stay

Red Riding Hood

Keturah and Lord Death - Leavitt - 2006 - YA Lit Week 9

2011-03-29T22:11:00.006-04:00

Title: Keturah and Lord Death

Author: Martine Leavitt

Year: 2006

Publisher: Front Street

Course Theme for the Week: Speculative Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy (03-30-2011)

Date Read: 03-28-2011

Overall: * * * * (4/5)

GoodReads Blurb: "I will tell you . . . a story of magic and love, of daring and death, and one to comfort your heart. It will be the truest story I have ever told. Now listen, and tell me if it is not so."

After following a hart into the woods bordering her town, Keturah is faced with Death. Lost and hungry after following a stately hart through the forest, Keturah encounters Lord Death, who is ready to take her. Like Scheherazade, Keturah spins a story that she leaves unfinished and extracts from Lord Death a promise that if she finds her true love in a day, she can go free. Thus begins Keturah's search for her one true love and the salvation of her beloved town. But Lord Death is falling in love with her, and as the villagers begin to sense her alliance with this horrifying figure, her life twists and turns on itself.

Martine Leavitt offers a spellbinding story, interweaving elements of classic fantasy and high romance. The romance is intense, the writing is startling, and the story is spellbinding--and it is as difficult to turn away from as the tales beautiful Keturah tells to the people of her village, Tide-by-Rood.

My Review: This book read very much like a fairy tale. The language was simple, and the characters were rather flat, but it felt like it was on purpose, as this was the style and type of story Leavitt wanted to use. It was a very easy read, and I think would be more appealing for middle-grade readers than high school level.

I liked the message that only when faced with death did Keturah really try to live her life and love her town and friends for who they were. I have to say, I was really rooting for Keturah and John the whole time, and was disappointed that my first instincts were correct about who Keturah would find to be her true love. I'm not sure what kind of message it sends that her true love was Lord Death. I also didn't really like the quick summaries of all of her friends' lives at the end, and I'm unsure of how the beginning worked into the ending. Was it Keturah telling the story? And if so, to whom?

I did like this story, I just had a few minor problems, but I think young adults ages 11-14 could really get a lot out of this story. It's a nice fantasy/fairy tale book, and the quality of writing is very high.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Heck: Superhero (2006), The Dollmage (2002), and many others!

Currently Reading: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum

Books read in 2o11: 32 (of 100)

Beautiful Creatures - Garcia & Stohl - 2009 - YA Lit Week 9

2011-03-29T21:42:00.004-04:00

Title: Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles # 1)

Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Year: 2009

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Course Theme for the Week: Speculative Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy (03-30-2011)

Date Read: 03-26-2011

Overall: * * * 1/2 (3.5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Review: I read this book as one of my two Fantasy books for my YA Lit course. I really only chose it out of convenience, since a friend of mine owned it and I didn't feel like making the trek out to the library or a store to find some of the others on the list. I spent a nice Saturday home lounging on the couch and reading this book. I was surprised with how much I enjoyed the story.

I liked the writing of Garcia & Stohl, it felt very smooth and the language didn't feel like there were two authors. The plot was alright, I'm not a big fan of "supernatural" or "paranormal" things, because I find it really difficult to get past the fact that I don't believe in any of those things, but for the most part I was able to see beyond that in this story. Ethan and Lena made a nice pair, and I felt like I understood why Lena was such a roller coaster mess half the time, it felt very believable.

I did have a few problems with this, though. First, I don't really understand that sudden change when Ethan decided that Lena should be called "L" constantly... L isn't really an initial I think works as a nickname. At all. It just felt forced, and like whoever was typing up the novel got a little lazy. Second, Ethan didn't really make sense as a boy. I mean... he seemed very much like a girl. Maybe Garcia & Stohl just aren't very good at convincingly writing from the male perspective. I don't mean the writing was bad, it just felt like I was reading from a girl's perspective the whole time. Third, I felt like Lena's "caster" family members were very typical. I knew from the first family gathering that one of them would be secretively "dark" and that their relationships would play out as they did.

This book didn't make me want to run out and grab the second in the series, but I did enjoy my Saturday reading it. I have borrowed the second one to read when I have time, though I have been told I might not enjoy it as much as the first. We'll see!

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by these authors: Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles # 2) (2010), Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles # 3) (coming in 2011)

Coming Soon!

2011-03-29T14:16:00.002-04:00

Two reviews coming up soon here.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

Also coming up soon I will be participating in a new blog project, though I will still be posting reviews here as well!

Stolen - Christopher - 2009

2011-03-25T15:40:00.004-04:00

Title: Stolen

Author: Lucy Christopher

Year: 2009

Publisher: Chicken House

Date Read: 03-19-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Plot: * * * * *

Characters: * * * * *

Style: * * * *

My Review: This was a really original story line. The story is written as a letter from Gemma to Ty, her captor. The language felt a bit strange at first, but I think that's because the author is from Wales and has lived in Australia. I really liked reading the story from Gemma's point of view, because I felt confused right along with her.

Both Gemma and Ty were really well developed characters. Gemma's flashbacks to home and to her friends showed both how much she missed home and show she had mixed feelings about the relationships she had with people there. Ty wasn't really raised by either of his parents and feels only a connection with the land and to Gemma, so he tried to bring the two together to live in a perfect little bubble in the outback. I think Ty's problems all stem from his childhood and that he honestly meant well the whole time, but did not understand the correct way to "save" people.

This may be the minority opinion, I'm not really sure, but I kind of wanted Gemma and Ty to live together in the Australian Outback forever. I still can't decide if Gemma had stockholm syndrome or not, because I was falling in love Ty as she sort of was, too. It was obviously awful that he kidnapped and drugged her, because he took away her ability to decide for herself, but I really felt for him and his upbringing (or lack of).

Maybe Lucy Christopher just wrote it so well that as I reader I got stockholm syndrome, I don't know. But the part of Ty that wasn't manipulative was really sweet and caring, and I felt that he just wanted to show Gemma real beauty and to save her from the shallowness of her life before.

I should also add that I do not condone kidnapping, unless it's in a work of fiction, then I'm cool with it.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Flyaway (coming Oct 2011)

Currently Reading: Beautiful Creatures by Garcia & Stohl, and Keturah and Lord Death by Leavitt

Books Read in 2011: 30 (or 100)

Audio Book Challenge: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - 2010

2011-03-24T12:38:00.004-04:00

2011 Audio Book Challenge: Book # 4 (of 6)

Title: Mockingjay (Hunger Games # 3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Year: 2010

Read By: Carolyn McCormick

Publisher: Scholastic

Date Read: 03-23-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

My Review: Mockingjay is very different from the first two Hunger Games books. The first two books involve the actual games and are a bit more fast-paced. Mockingjay takes the games out of the arena and puts Katniss and the other characters into the war that begins to rage between the rebels and the capitol. For this reason there are many periods of recovery for Katniss as she endures numerous injuries and emotional problems due to the war.

I think this book is a really good depiction of a war. It is not a happy book, there is not as much humor as the previous two, and it feels very real. There are wins and losses, friends die, and everyone's strength is tested.

Listening to this book was harder than the first two. It just felt much more sad to be listening to all of the battles and attacks, the deaths, even the rescues made me want to cry because McCormick does a great job adding touches of emotion while reading the story. I've grown quite attached to McCormick since the first book.

To Purchase: Print version: Amazon, B&N. Audio Book version: Amazon, B&N

Currently listening to: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (read by Jim Dale)

I listened to this as part of the 2011 Audio Book Challenge hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner

Books Read in 2011: 29 (of 100)

Stitches - Small - 2009

2011-03-23T22:22:00.003-04:00

Title: Stitches: A Memoir (Graphic Novel)

Author: David Small

Year: 2009

Publisher: Norton

Course Theme for the Week: Biography & Non-Fiction (03-23-2011)

Date Read: 03-22-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: One day David Small awoke from a supposedly harmless operation to discover that he had been transformed into a virtual mute. A vocal cord removed, his throat slashed and stitched together like a bloody boot, the fourteen-year-old boy had not been told that he had cancer and was expected to die.

In Stitches, Small, the award-winning children’s illustrator and author, re-creates this terrifying event in a life story that might have been imagined by Kafka. As the images painfully tumble out, one by one, we gain a ringside seat at a gothic family drama where David—a highly anxious yet supremely talented child—all too often became the unwitting object of his parents’ buried frustration and rage.

Believing that they were trying to do their best, David’s parents did just the reverse. Edward Small, a Detroit physician, who vented his own anger by hitting a punching bag, was convinced that he could cure his young son’s respiratory problems with heavy doses of radiation, possibly causing David’s cancer. Elizabeth, David’s mother, tyrannically stingy and excessively scolding, ran the Small household under a cone of silence where emotions, especially her own, were hidden.

Depicting this coming-of-age story with dazzling, kaleidoscopic images that turn nightmare into fairy tale, Small tells us of his journey from sickly child to cancer patient, to the troubled teen whose risky decision to run away from home at sixteen—with nothing more than the dream of becoming an artist—will resonate as the ultimate survival statement.

A silent movie masquerading as a book, Stitches renders a broken world suddenly seamless and beautiful again.

My Review: Stitches is beautifully illustrated. The images in the story convey so much emotion, and a large number of the pages don't even have any text. I was surprised that the pages without text were my favorite, but I think it is because I was able to linger longer on those pages, trying to figure out their meaning and what part of the story they were telling.

There are a number of images in this story that are actually fairly horrifying. The "little man in the jar," in particular. I think one of my favorite panels of images was the rain scene towards the end. There is rain in the city, on the car, the view out the window, on the lawnmower, and the inside of the kitchen looks dim and lonely. I think David Small does a wonderful job with faces, showing with just a few lines the exact expression you can picture someone making.

David's story is not a happy story, though the ending is full of hope. Seeing the illustrations that match his emotions when he discovered his father had given him cancer through x-rays was, at times, really hard to look at, because I didn't want to believe that could happen and then that they wouldn't even tell him the truth about his surgery.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Imogene's Antlers (1985), Ruby Mae Has Something to Say (1992)

Books read in 2011: 28

Currently Reading: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (2009)

Persepolis - Satrapi - 2003-2004 - YA Lit Week 8

2011-03-22T21:35:00.003-04:00

Title: (The Complete) Persepolis

Author: Marjane Satrapi

Year: English: 2003-2004, French: 2000-2001

Publisher: Pantheon

Course Theme for the Week: Biography and Non-Fiction

Date Read: 03-22-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Here, in one volume, is Marjane Satrapi's best-selling, internationally acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips. "Persepolis" is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna, facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming, both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up. Edgy, searingly observant and candid, often heartbreaking but threaded throughout with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom; "Persepolis" is a stunning work from one of the most highly regarded, singularly talented graphic artists at work today.

My Review: This is my first official introduction to graphic novels, and I must say, I really enjoyed it. I loved that even such simple images could convey the feelings of the dialog and text, and I loved that Satrapi was able to include so much humor in her story.

The book combines the history of Iran with Marjane's own history, making the book not only a memoir but a learning tool for that time period as well. I was surprised by how much I learned not just about Marjane's youth, but about her culture.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Embroideries (2006), Chicken with Plums (2006)

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Cohn & Levithan - 2010

2011-03-19T20:50:00.004-04:00

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Author(s): Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Year: 2010

Publisher: Alfred A Knopf

Date Read: 03-19-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: “I’ve left some clues for you.

If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

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

Plot: * * * * *

Characters: * * * *

Style: * * * * *

My Review: I've had my ups and downs with authors pairing up together, even with this same duo, but Cohn & Levithan did such a great job with this one. I was pulled in from the very beginning, wondering where Dash and Lily's dares would lead them and if they would ever meet.

Lily was so fun, innocent, and kind of weird (in a good way) that I just had to love her. Her relationship and friendship with her brother and her extended family as well was really enjoyable to read. Dash seemed a bit moody and broody, but in a lovable way, and I pictured him as smiling on the inside a lot. Dash's best friend, Boomer, was one of my favorite characters that I've read recently, he was so full of life and excitement just for existing.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is up there with Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist for these two authors. I didn't enjoy Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List quite as much, and it took me a long time to get through, so Dash & Lily really redeemed this pair in my eyes. The writing didn't seem scrambled or too hard to transition between, which sometimes bothers me with multiple points of view and multiple authors. I do love these two authors on their own as well, Cohn's Gingerbread and Levithan's Love is the Higher Law are books I really recommend.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by these authors: As a duo: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006), Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List (2007)

Rachel Cohn: Gingerbread (2004), You Know Where to Find Me (2008)

David Levithan: Boy Meets Boy (2003), Love is the Higher Law (2009), Willy Grayson, Will Grayson (with John Green) (2010)

Currently Reading: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Books Read in 2011: 26

After the Kiss - McVoy - 2010

2011-03-19T20:31:00.005-04:00

Title: After the Kiss

Author: Terra Elan McVoy

Year: 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Date Read: 03-18-2011

Overall: * * * (3/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Becca has been head-over-heels for Alec from the instant they met. He's a brainy jock with a poet's heart—in other words, perfect for her.

Camille is careful with her words and protective of her heart, especially since Chicago. Then a new boy in her new town catches her off guard with a surprise kiss.

Too bad that new boy is Becca's boyfriend, Alec.

Camille and Becca have never met, but their lives will unravel and intertwine in surprising ways as they deal with what happens after the kiss.

Plot: * * * *

Characters: * * *

Style: * * *

My Review: I have to say it: I am not a big fan of novels written in verse. I just don't get it. I absolutely adore poetry, a lot of poetry in fact, but I do not like a story made up of many different poems. Partly I think it is because the writers still sound like they aren't sure what they are trying to do, because they still have to include some semblance of a novel in their verses.

I really liked the idea of the plot though, and I really liked Becca. She was sweet and at times vulnerable and weak, but she grew over the course of the story and I was really happy that she held onto being a good person, even when there were so many tempting opportunities to confront and hurt Camille.

Alec and Camille were just... meh. Camille and her love of run-on sentences and lack of capitalization bothered me. I get that McVoy was trying to sound like a teenager writing some stream of consciousness... but it didn't sound general, it just sounded bratty and pretentious. Boys like Alec really just don't exist in the world... the jock who writes poetry and has lots of feelings... nope. Sorry, but if this exists, I'd like to meet him.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Pure (2009), The Summer of Firsts and Lasts (coming in 2011)

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat - Jonell - 2007

2011-03-18T16:26:00.003-04:00

Title: Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Author: Lynne Jonell

Year: 2007

Publisher: Henry Holt

Date Read: 3-15-2011

Overall: * * * * *

GoodReads Blurb: Emmy was a good girl.At least she tried very hard to be good. She did her homework without being told. She ate all her vegetables, even the slimy ones. And she never talked back to her nanny, Miss Barmy, although it was almost impossible to keep quiet, some days.

She really was a little too good. Which is why she liked to sit by the Rat. The Rat was not good at all . . .

Plot: * * * * *

Characters: * * * * *

Style: * * * *

My Review: I absolutely adored Emmy. She tried so hard to be good and perfect for so long, but nobody ever seemed to notice or care. So she befriends the class pet rat and her adventure to the truth begins. I really felt sympathy for Emmy because all she wanted was her parents to care for her as they had before moving to the big mansion.

Emmy's friendship with Joe was so heart-warming, and I loved that she didn't understand him at first, until she found out that she wasn't the only one with screwy parents. The Rat and the other rodents, particularly Endearing Mouse, were all so unique and had such distinct personalities that I kept forgetting they were animals.

While this is part fantasy, part scary nanny, part growing up, the many parts come together to make such a nice, complete picture of Emmy and the love she and her parents have for each other. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls (2010), Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry (coming in 2011)

Books read in 2011: 25

Delirium - Oliver - 2011

2011-03-18T16:01:00.003-04:00

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Year: 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date Read: 3-13-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

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

Plot: * * * * *

Characters: * * * * *

Style: * * * *

My Review: I have very few complaints about Delirium. I really, really enjoyed reading it and was very sad when it was time to put it down. I didn't even know it was going to be part of a trilogy, and now I am very excited. I am digging all these new takes on dystopias, it is my new book obsession. Getting rid of love is such a good twist though, it's like Matched, but taking it one step further.

I thought Lena was a great protagonist; she's kind, conflicted, secretly rebellious. Her relationship with her best friend, Hana, because they were so very different but understood each other so well. Alex was a bit typical in his "mysterious outsider" ways, but he was very sweet and I believed in his relationship with Lena completely.

I didn't like the ending. For a book in a series, it was very much a "wide open" type of ending, where you knew something could happen in the future, but there was no urgency for something to happen right then. I think a book in a series should end in more of a cliff-hanger and should leave me absolutely needing the next book. I also didn't like the similarities to the Uglies series, with the outcasts living off the grid in nature somewhere, but I can get over that.

This is a great follow up to Oliver's previous book, Before I Fall, which I thought was amazing and gut-wrenching and really just wonderful.

To Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Also by this author: Before I Fall (2010)

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - Lockhart - 2008

2011-03-18T15:13:00.004-04:00

Title: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Author: E. Lockhart

Year: 2008

Publisher: Hyperion

Date Read: 3-10-2011

Overall: * * * * 1/2 (4.5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:

Debate Club.
Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

Plot: * * * * *

Characters: * * * * * (I loved Frankie!)

Style: * * * *

My Review: I had been wanting to read this book for a long time, so I finally borrowed it from the library I volunteer at. I was laughing out loud at some points. Frankie just cracked me up and I loved the way her mind worked and how she could go from insecure to wonder woman in 3 seconds.

This book really made me wish I had gone to a private high school just for the opportunity to prank people. I feel like more pranking chances exist at private schools. I like to think I would have taken advantage of those chances!

I liked Lockhart's writing more in this book than in some of her other books I have read, though I might go back and read those again and look for more similarities. I like that I have found this group of YA authors (Green, Johnson, Lockhart...) that can really make me laugh.

To Purchase: Amazon

Also by this author: The Boyfriend List (2005), How To Be Bad (with Myracle & Mlynowski) (2009), Fly On the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything (2006)

Currently Reading: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

YA Lit Week Four: What Would Emma Do? - Eileen Cook - 2008

2011-02-16T14:40:00.002-05:00

Read for YA Lit week four.

Course Theme for the Week: Integrity: Making Moral Choices (2-16-2011)

Title: What Would Emma Do?

Author: Eileen Cook

Year: 2008

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Date Read: 2-14-2011 (reread)

Overall: * * * * (4/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Thou Shalt Not Kiss Thy Best Friend’s Boyfriend...again...

There is no greater sin than kissing your best friend’s boyfriend. So when Emma breaks that golden rule, she knows she’s messed up big-time...especially since she lives in the smallest town ever, where everyone knows everything about everyone else...and especially since she maybe kinda wants to do it again. Now her best friend isn’t speaking to her, her best guy friend is making things totally weird, and Emma is running full speed toward certain social disaster. This is so not the way senior year was supposed to go.

Time to pray for a minor miracle. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time for Emma to stop trying to please everyone around her, and figure out what she wants for herself.

My Review: When I first read this book, I did so because the blurb sounded similar to The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott and I was curious if it really was similar. It ended up being very different, and actually very different from a lot of YA books that I've read. I liked that Cook wasn't afraid to include religion in this novel. Even though I am not religious like Emma or the people in her town, it didn't take away from the story and I actually really enjoyed her thoughts about God at the beginning of each chapter.

I really liked that Emma was there to stick up for her friend at the end of the story and that she broke her silence about the truth. Even though Joann hadn't been much of a friend to her lately, Emma knew that speaking up would save Joann from being blamed like Darci intended to. I think it's really important for adolescents to learn that sticking up for friends and being honest will always be the best option out there. The easiest way to learn how to be a good person is to start by being a good friend.

To Purchase: Amazon

Other Books By This Author: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood (2010), The Education of Hailey Kendrick (2011) (my review here), Unpredictable (2008)

Currently Reading: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Books Read in 2011: 21

YA Lit Week Four: Breathless - Jessica Warman - 2009

2011-02-16T14:14:00.004-05:00

Read for week four of YA Lit course.

Course Theme for the Week: Integrity: Making Moral Choices (2-16-2011)

Title: Breathless

Author: Jessica Warman

Year: 2009

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Date Read: 2-14-2011 (reread)

Overall: * * * 1/2 (3.5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: When Katie Kitrell is shipped off to boarding school, it doesn't take her long to become part of the It Crowd. She's smart, she's cute, and she's a swimming prodigy. What her new friends, roommate, and boyfriend don't know is that Katie has kept a secret about her past—that her schizophrenic older brother, Will, is quickly descending deeper into insanity. As her lie constantly threatens to reveal itself, it's all Katie can do to keep her head above water.

My Review: When I think about this book, I am undecided about how much I liked it. I enjoyed reading it, and there were a few characters that I really liked. But the book as a whole didn't really leave its mark on me. I always hope that there will be something about each book that will distinguish it from all other books, so that I can remember each one. What I most remember about Breathless both times I've read it, is Katie's friend Mazzie. At times it felt like small subplots were introduced and then they trailed off without really developing.

I like Katie's confusion about her life and especially her brother. I understood that it would easier for her to pretend he no longer existed than to accept and explain what he was really like. I haven't read many books recently that really go into the problems siblings can have with each other and the love that siblings share, which can be a really interesting topic.

I'm not sure what age group I would recommend this book to. I don't know if younger teens would be able to understand the complexity of Katie's relationships with the people around her, even her layered friendship with Mazzie. I think older teens might enjoy this story, but I might recommend Warman's other book, Where The Truth Lies, before I would recommend Breathless.

To Purchase: Amazon

Other Books By This Author: Where the Truth Lies (201)

Currently Reading: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Books Read in 2011: 21

YA Lit Week Four: Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson - 1999

2011-02-14T13:51:00.004-05:00

Read for week four of Young Adult Lit course

Course Theme for the Week: Integrity: Making Moral Choices

Title: Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Year: 1999

Publisher: Puffin

Date Read: 2-13-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud: "My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs. While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute...

My Review: I think this was the third time I've read Speak. The first time I read this book was in high school, and I was probably a freshman or sophomore. I remember instantly relating to Melinda, not because of the specific problems she faces, but because of how she handles them and how she curls up into herself. I felt like spending a day in her head would be eerily similar to spending a day in my own head.

This isn't exactly and easy book to read. It's harsh and depressing at times, but ultimately Melinda grows stronger by the end of the book and she finally lets the truth come out about her attack. Throughout the book I just wanted to have Melinda yell at somebody about what had happened, but she does know that she has to tell her former friend (Rachel, I think) when she begins to date the boy who hurt her.

In relation to this week's theme in the list course, integrity, I would say that Melinda had strong morals. She knew right from wrong, even though she couldn't admit what had happened to anyone. However, when a former friend gets involved, she knew she had to tell the truth because she didn't want her friend to get hurt the way that she did. It took a lot of strength for Melinda to break her silence, and her friend shunned her for it anyways. Although it works out in the end of the story, it was still hard for Melinda to do the right thing and try to protect someone who had ignored her all year.

I think this is a good book for high school students to read because it is honest and exposes that situations like those that Melinda face do happen to people all the time, and sometimes it is really hard for the victims of such violence to take a stand and let the truth out.

To Purchase: Amazon

Other Books By This Author: Wintergirls (2009), Twisted (2007), Catalyst (2002)

Currently Reading: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Books Read in 2011: 21

Audio Book Challenge Review: Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins - 2009

2011-02-14T13:30:00.004-05:00

2011 Audio Book Challenge: Book # 3 (of 6)

Title: Catching Fire (Hunger Games # 2)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Year: 2009

Read By: Carolyn McCormick

Publisher: Scholastic

Date Read: 2-13-2011

Overall: * * * * (4/5) (based on audio book version)

GoodReads Blurb: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol. Catching Fire maintains the adrenaline rush of Suzanne Collins's series launch.

My Review: I really like the audio book versions of the Hunger Games books now. Though I kept having weird sound problems with this book, not sure if it was the mp3, the ipod, or my headphones. Sometimes it sounded like there was a crazy echo and that Carolyn McCormick was part robot. Weird.

I still love this story, and I love Peeta more and more as the books go on and as I reread them. I think I've said before that when I first read The Hunger Games (book 1) I really didn't like Peeta. I thought he was cocky and a jerk. Then when I read Catching Fire for the first time, I fell in love with Peeta. Now when I reread them, I don't have that hatred for Peeta in the first book, I guess because now I understand where he is coming from a lot better than when I first read it.

Listening to these books feels a bit more depressing than reading them though, because the full effect of hearing someone describe everything that happens in the arena is just more intense, in my opinion. I am excited to start listening to Mockingjay soon, but I want to make sure I have a few good big chunks of time so it doesn't take me as long as the first two books did.

To Purchase: Print version | Audio Book version

Currently Reading: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, Ten Miles Past Normal (ARC) by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Warning: A large number of book reviews will be posted later today and tomorrow.

I listened to this book as part of the 2011 Audio Book Challenge hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner.

Books Read in 2011: 21

Audio Book Challenge Review: The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - 2008

2011-02-06T21:30:00.004-05:00

2011 Audio Book Challenge: Book # 2 (of 6)

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Year: 2008

Read By: Carolyn McCormick

Publisher: Scholastic

Date Read: 2-4-2011

Overall: * * * * (4/5, based on audio book)

GoodReads Blurb: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Review: I really enjoyed listening to this book. I love The Hunger Games trilogy in print format, and I've been wanting to reread all 3, so I figured I could incorporate that into the audio book challenge I am participating in. At first, I was turned off by the reader's voice, because she sounds a lot older than Katniss, but after a few chapters I was used to it and her voice was actually very soothing.

There were many times that tears came to my eyes while listening to this book, because some of the sad or shocking parts seem even more real when they are read out loud. I wish the reader had given some more emphasis to Katniss's sarcastic inner voice, because I always found Katniss to be very funny, and I felt like McCormick didn't get that tone of voice the way I had wanted it to be.

A downfall of listening to this story was that I would have to stop listening when I parked my car and sometimes that would be in the middle of a suspenseful or action-packed part of the story, which made listening kind of a choppy experience. I am glad that the same woman does the other books in trilogy, because now that I am used to her voice, I really like it and I wouldn't want to have to get used to another voice.

To Purchase: Print version or Audio Book version

Currently Reading: Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

Currently Listening To: Catching Fire (Hunger Games # 2) by Suzanne Collins (read by Carolyn McCormick)

Books Read in 2011: 17

I listened to this audio book as part of the 2011 Audio Book Challenge hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner

YA Lit Week Three: Shift - Jennifer Bradbury - 2008

2011-02-03T23:11:00.004-05:00

Part of YA Lit course, week three.

Course Theme for the Week: Independence: The Journey (2-9-2011)

Title: Shift

Author: Jennifer Bradbury

Year: 2008

Publisher: Atheneum

Date Read: 2-3-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Imagine you and your best friend head off on a cross-country bike trek.

Imagine that you get into a fight — the cheap s.o.b. won't kick in any cash.

Imagine you stop riding together.

Imagine you reach Seattle then come home alone, still p.o-ed.

Imagine the FBI is now at your college dorm.

Imagine finding out that your former best friend never made it home.

And imagine that he had actually been carrying over $20,000 in cash with him.

Imagine your world shifting....

A tour-de-force about biking, friendship, and the depths of loyalty by a debut novelist who has in fact biked cross country.

My Review: I hadn't planned on reading this book for week three of school, but my library didn't have True Confessions of a Heartless Girl when I was checking out books last week. I had mixed feelings when I started reading Shift, but I ended up really enjoying it. Sometimes I find a hard time getting into stories with male protagonists, but I liked that the chapters switched back and forth from Chris and Win's time on the road and present time. Also, I am always surprised at how well female writers can write strong, likable male characters.

I liked the parallels that were made between Chris and Win's journey on their bikes and their journeys within themselves. The further the two got from home, and then from each other, the more they grew into the people they are going to be for the rest of their lives. It felt like their friendship had to break in order for them to become new people and then they could reform their friendship as people they both liked and respected.

I think an important message this books sends is that it is ok to not do what you're "supposed to" in regards to your future. College isn't always the right decision, sometimes some time away is needed, and your own happiness is far more important than anyone else's sometimes. I liked that Chris and Win knew they would be friends forever, and that Win knew Chris wouldn't let him down and would find him in the end. I liked the mystery of it all, that Chris really didn't know where Win was until he thought hard about it and got some clues. The FBI agent was a great addition to the plot too. By the end, you could tell that he no longer wanted to what Coggans wanted, that he felt inside that it was the right thing to do to leave Win alone and let him be.

To Purchase: Amazon

Currently Reading: Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

Currently Listening To: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (read by Carolyn McCormick)

Books Read in 2011: 16

YA Lit Week Three: Hope Was Here - Joan Bauer - 2000

2011-02-02T20:51:00.004-05:00

This book was read for the third week of the YA Lit course.

Course Theme for the Week: Independence: The Journey (2-9-2011)

Title: Hope Was Here

Author: Joan Bauer

Year: 2000 (republished 2005)

Publisher: Speak

Date Read: 2-2-2011

Overall: * * * * (4/5)

Amazon Blurb: One new life, coming right up. Hope's used to thinking on her feet - she hasn't become a terrific waitress by accident. But when she and her aunt move from New York City to a small town in Wisconsin to run the local diner, she isn't sure she'll fit in. Luckily, she doesn't have much time to brood. G.T., the owner, has decided to run for mayor, an no one in town knows what to think. After all, G.T. has leukemia. And his opponent is the unscrupulous current mayor, who will do or say anything to win the election. Hope knows that G.T. is up against the odds=but his visiton of the future is so vivid and good that she can't help but join the campaign. Because, after all, everyone could use a little hope to get through the touch times. Even Hope herself.

My Review: As I was reading this book, I got the feeling I'd read it before, probably when I was a freshman in high school, back when I did nothing to keep track of the books I read. I really enjoyed the story though, it really is filled with hope. Hope, the character, was wonderfully strong and courageous, it felt like I was right there with her, rooting for the truth. The side characters were special too, G.T. and Addie, Braverman, Lou Ellen... they were all so well-written and had such great and individual personalities. I've said it before, but I really enjoy when you can't tell that each character was written by the same person.

I think there were a few important lessons that readers of this book can pick up on. First, somewhat obviously, is hope. That Hope chose the word for her name, and that there had to be so much of it in the lives of the patrons of the Welcome Stairways diner. Second, is that teenagers, and town members of any age, can work together to make a difference in things that matter, as long as they believe in what they're doing. Third, is that there are so many different types of family. Hope was holding out for her real father, when what she found was a very real father who just didn't happen to be here biological father. Addie, her aunt, was very much a mother to her, because her biological mother had no idea how or any desire to be a mother to her.

I think this book is great for middle school ages and up. Advanced elementary school children might enjoy it as well. I think the food analogies and the bits of warmth and humor will really pull in readers of all ages, because it's such a sweet story.

To Purchase: Amazon

Currently Reading: Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

Currently Listening To: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (read by Carolyn McCormick)

Books Read in 2011: 15

YA Lit Week Two: Forever - Judy Blume - 1975

2011-02-01T23:18:00.003-05:00

This book was read for the second week of the YA Lit course.

Course Theme for the Week: History of Young Adults and Young Adult Literature (2-2-2011)

Title: Forever...

Author: Judy Blume

Year: 1975

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Date Read: 2-1-2011

Overall: * * * * *

GoodReads Blurb: Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year's Eve party. They're attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they've decided their love is forever, they make love. It's the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine's parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart..."Forever" is written for an older age group than Judy Blume's other novels for children. It caused a storm of controversy when it was first published because of its explicit sexual content. It was a book ahead of its time - and remains, after thirty years in print, a teenage best-seller. America's No. 1 children's author has written some of the best books of our time about real-life issues - family stress and pressures, what happens when your parents divorce, the problems of growing up and sexual awakening, bereavement - with insight, sensitivity and honesty. The response of readers all around the world continues to make her one of the best-loved writers ever published.

My Review: This book was also a reread for me. I actually read this for the first time about a year ago. I felt like I was the only 20-something girl who hadn't read Forever yet, so I made it my mission last year. Even as I reread it, I was still struck with how honest and open Katherine is. She is so open and blunt and just very real, so very unlike many of the "woe is me, I need a man, help I am clumsy!" type girls who exist literature now.

I still love how the lesson in the book isn't about pregnancy, it isn't about HIV, it isn't about abusive first boyfriends... it's about love, and how it can feel like it will last forever at times and then that same love can change. It is such an important message for people, of any age, to know. When I was a teenager in love it felt like it would never end, that it could last forever and that I wanted it to last forever. But it didn't, and it's very realistic for people to change, and for feelings and relationships to change, even though so many "first loves" feel never-ending.

I do love that those other messages are still included in the story. Sybil experiences a pregnancy and gives the baby up for adoption, Artie experiences psychological problems, and Katherine visits Planned Parenthood to go on the pill and to get information about being safe. This book pretty much covers all the important bases when it comes to young love and young sex.

To Purchase: Amazon

Currently Reading: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris, and Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

Currently Listening To: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (read by Carolyn McCormick)

Books Read in 2011: 14

YA Lit Week Two: Weetzie Bat - Francesca Lia Block - 1989

2011-02-01T14:22:00.003-05:00

This book was read for the second week of the YA Lit course.

Course Theme for the Week: History of Young Adults and Young Adult Literature (2-2-2011)

Title: Weetzie Bat

Author: Francesca Lia Block

Year: 1989

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date Read: 2-1-2011

Overall: * * * * (4/5)

Amazon Blurb: Weetzie Bat lived in a fairy-tale land of glitter, glitz, and coolness. She had a bleachd-blonde flat-top and pink sunglasses, and cruised around town with her best friend Dirk and her Slinkster Dog pooch in a '55 Pontiac named Jerry.

Weetzie loved L.A., with its plastic palm tree wallets and tomahawks, its cheap cheese and bean burritos, and its surfer dudes. But still, something was missing. So Weetzie made three wishes, and they all came true...

My Review: This was a reread for me. Though, the last time I read it I think I was about 14 years old. I really didn't remember much about it. Weetzie is such a lovely character, she just wants love and happiness for herself and her friends. She wants to live in a glittering fairy land with rose petals and sparkles all around. She just wants goodness.

There are actually a lot of deep messages in this story. About children who have rough childhoods, and how they just want love in their loves and to care for someone else. Weetzie's best friend Dirk is gay, and he finds love in Duck. Duck brings up good points about HIV, though it is not directly stated. But it sounds like it when he says that loving someone shouldn't kill them.

This story is just really beautifully written, as are all of Block's stories. This makes me want to reread Echo, which I remember adoring in high school.

I think younger teenagers would love this book. It is so fantastical and magical, that even though Weetzie and her friends could be real people, they just seem to shimmer and live these wonderful lives full of love and happiness. I don't know if teens would find all of the hidden messages in the story, but I think it would be easy to get the messages about love and caring. I would be interested in hearing other peoples' opinions on the story and in hearing teenagers opinions on it.

To Purchase: Amazon

Currently Reading: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Currently Listening To: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (read by Carolyn McCormick)

Books Read in 2011: 14

Review of Forever... by Judy Blume will be posted later tonight

XVI - Julia Karr - 2011

2011-01-30T20:17:00.004-05:00

2011 Debut Author Challenge: Book # 2 (of 12)

Title: XVI

Author: Julia Karr

Year: 2011

Publisher: Speak

Date Read: 1-30-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

Plot: * * * * *

Characters: * * * * *

Style: * * * *

My Review: This book only furthered my love for dystopian novels. Nina is such a fiercely independent character, refusing to give in to the "sex-teen" ways that are constantly pushed upon teenage girls in the society she lives in. She is forced into becoming like a parent to her little sister, Dee, and though she loves Dee, she is also frustrated that this has happened to her family.

There was such a great contrast of characters in this book. Nina's best friend, Sandy, is nothing like Nina and cannot wait to turn 16 and caves to all of the advertisements that tell 16 year old girls how they "should" act. Nina doesn't want her life to belong to anyone else, and though the two disagree on a lot of things, their friendship still feels genuine.

I really enjoyed reading about Nina's base group of friends. Mike and Derek were great supporting roles, and their love and friendship for Nina and Sandy, and, later on, Wei was so evident. Wei was a great role model for Nina, a like-mind for her to find comfort in. Nina's budding relationship with Sal felt strange at first, because it seemed like I could feel Nina's confusion and discomfort with it.

I really liked reading about the way our future could turn out. It's one of my favorite things about dystopias, because sometimes it feels so real and so possible. Hopefully people read these books and are then determined not to let our world end up like this. I really liked that there is still a "Creative" designation, because at least it meant people could use their talents. In Matched it made me sad that people weren't allowed creative thought in any way. The ideas about what sex could mean in the future were strange, and rather disheartening, since 16 year old girls are sort of forced into thinking sex is great and can only improve your life, when in reality the girls could end up in what turns out to be a sex-trafficking scheme run by the government. Fun.

Another thing I liked about this book was the "chase" feeling. I loved that Ed could be anywhere and that there was this constant unsettled feeling and anxiety. This book really kept up the pace and it felt like it went by really fast. I didn't want the last pages to come. I am wondering if it will be a series or a stand alone story. There is some definite series potential.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Currently Listening To: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (read by Carolyn McCormick)

Books Read in 2011: 12

Audio Book Challenge Review: Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher - 2007

2011-01-28T20:28:00.003-05:00

2011 Audio Book Challenge: Book # 1 (of 6)

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

Year: 2007

Audio Book Narrators: Joel Johnstone & Debra Wiseman

Publisher: Razorbill

Date Read: 1-28-201

Overall: * * * * * (this rating is based not only on the book, but the audio version of it)

GoodReads Blurb: Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind.

My Review: This was my first experience with an audio book. I have to say, it made driving by myself so much more enjoyable than usual! It felt like the time spent driving flew by, and then when I parked my car, I didn't want to get out. Even though this was a story I had already read (when it first was published), I loved hearing the words spoken, and with Hannah's tapes in the story, the audio book version came across so well.

The story is very chilling, and confusing, and generally mixed up to begin with, and it is so well written, and the voice actors who gave life to Clay and Hannah did an amazing job. They had fantastic emotions, and they sounded the age of the characters, which really enhanced the story.

I did not think I would enjoy listening to a book this much. When I was a child I did not like being read to, because I wanted to be independent and do it myself. But I really liked this.

To Buy: Print version or Audio Book version

Currently Reading: XVI by Julia Karr

Currently Listening To: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I listened to this book as part of the Audio Book Challenge 2011 hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner

As a reminder to myself, link blogs here

Zombies vs. Unicorns - Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier - 2010

2011-01-27T23:06:00.003-05:00

Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns

Author: Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (editors)

Year: 2010

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Date Read: 1-27-2011

Overall: Since this is an anthology, I cannot rate it as whole, because there were some stories I loved and some I was not a fan of.

GoodReads Blurb: It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths—for good and evil—of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

My Review (aka, Stories I Really Liked): Since this was a compilation of stories, there were some that I really enjoyed, and some that I found hard to get into. Since this is a really fun compilation, I am just going to list a few highlights.

Zombie Stories I Really Enjoyed:

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Alaya Dawn Johnson - What if a zombie fell in love?

Bougainvillea by Carrie Ryan - I liked the seriousness of this one, it was really convincing

The Children of the Revolution by Maureen Johnson - The creepy zombie babies were just awesome, and everyone should follow Maureen on twitter

Unicorn Stories I Really Enjoyed:

Purity Test by Naomi Novik - I'm not really sure why, but this story cracked me up

The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn by Diana Peterfreund - I loved this story, it amused me to no end

Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot - I loved the kick-butt rainbow-farting unicorn!

My Team: Unicorn!

I definitely recommend this anthology. It's just so fun, and there are so many different views on zombies and unicorns. There were quite a few authors I had never heard of, and it was great to get read new writing styles. I know a lot of people are team zombie, but I just love that unicorns can be so bad@$$ and so kind and awesome all at the same time.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading: XVI by Julia Karr

Books Read in 2011: 10

Bleed - Laurie Faria Stolarz - 2006

2011-01-26T21:24:00.003-05:00

Title: Bleed

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Year: 2006

Date Read: 1-26-2011

Overall: * * (2/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Over the course of a single summer day, ten teenagers in Salem, Massachusetts, will discover important truths about themselves and each other.

There is Nicole, whose decision to betray her best friend will shock everyone, most of all herself; Kelly, who meets the convicted felon she has been writing to for years; Maria, whose definition of a true friend is someone who will cut her. Then there is Sadie, a chubby eleven-year-old whose mother forces her to wear a “please don’t feed me” sign stapled to her shirt; while Joy, a fifteen-year-old waitress hoping for true intimacy narrowly escapes a very dark fate. Derik discovers that his usual good looks and charm won’t help him hold onto the girl he wants, while nineteen-year-old drifter, Mearl, is desperately looking for a place to call home. Sean is torn between his loyalty to his girlfriend and the possibility of finding something more with her friend, while Ginger’s single-minded pursuit to bring down her nemesis only proves that they may be more alike than she thought.

Seamlessly woven together, this incredibly powerful and compelling collection of stories chronicles the very real trials of today’s teen experience.

Plot: * * (...Was there one?)

Characters: * * (Undeveloped)

Style: * *

My Review: I really was not a fan of this book. I felt like there might be more than one chapter from each person's perspective. Instead, it was a bunch of short stories, that sort of intertwined, but didn't really. They weren't long enough to have any message or conclusion. Really, each of the character's was just a tidbit crazy, and they all kind of needed a reality check. I think if this book had a little more depth and a little more of a plot line and an end point, it could have been really interesting. I was curious about how each character would end up. Instead, their stories are just left off in the middle. I'm assuming Stolarz wanted to leave her readers with questions, but I really didn't gain a connection to any character with the exception of 11 year old Sadie. I would not recommend this book to others. I will stick with the Touch series though, because those books have good strong characters and plot lines.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading:

For School: Forever by Judy Blume, Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

Other: XVI by Julia Karr

Book Read in 2011: 9

YA Lit Week One: Responses

2011-01-26T13:15:00.002-05:00

I am writing this having just attended my first YA Lit class of the semester. One of our assignments throughout the course will be weekly responses to one or both of the books we choose to read in that particular week. I will be adding these responses to my posts for those books, possibly replacing the "My Review" section with a "My Response" section. Though I would still like to give a brief review on what I did or didn't find appealing about each book. Maybe the Responses should be a separate post, since they may often talk about multiple books and their similarities/differences? I will try to figure this out. For now, here is a summary of what we discussed in class in relation to The Catcher in the Rye and The Outsiders:

Most of the people in my discussion group didn't like The Catcher in the Rye. I was sort of the minority voice sticking up for Holden, trying to explain that he just wanted to talk to someone, and that he was depressed, and that it probably isn't good to assume that that he is just a whiny rich kid, because there are plenty of people in the world feeling as hopeless and sad as Holden did. Also, he makes a lot of good points about how the world could or should be, and that it is pretty darn depressing the world isn't as "good" as he wants it to be.

Most everyone seemed to really like The Outsiders. I was glad to have similar opinions on this book. One person in our group brought up the point that the language doesn't seem very well written, and that it sounds very young, possibly because Hinton was young when she wrote it. However, I think that the whole point of the book is that it sounds young, because it's a high school kid's point of view, and because of where and how Ponyboy grew up, he has that view point and that language.

Other people in the group read The Pigman by Paul Zindell, and seemed to enjoy it. They talked about the similarities between The Pigman and The Outsiders. Since I guess both books show these groups of people that become family, but weren't born that way. That is a major theme in The Outsiders, that needing to belong and to not only care about others, but to have other people care about you.

All in all, I really enjoyed the first class of this course and I am looking forward to next week's class.

To Buy: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Pigman by Paul Zindell

Reading for Next Week's Class: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block, Forever by Judy Blume

Other Reading: XVI by Julia Karr

YA Lit Week One: The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton - 1965

2011-01-24T12:49:00.003-05:00

This is the second book due for the first week of the YA Lit course.

Course Theme for the Week: "Introduction to the Course (1-26-2011)
Title: The Outsiders
Author: S.E. Hinton
Year: 1965
Date Read: 1-23-2011
Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

Amazon Blurb: According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser. This classic, written by S. E. Hinton when she was 16 years old, is as profound today as it was when it was first published in 1967.

My Review: I didn't actually know very much about this story before reading it. I knew a lot of middle schools had this as assigned reading, but mine did not, and I just never got around to reading it prior to this. I wish that I had not waited so long to read it though, because it sucked me right in and I just had to know the rest of Ponyboy's story. At times I was fearful to keep reading, because I didn't want anything bad to happen to him or his brothers, or his friends.
I liked the honesty in Ponyboy's voice, and that he didn't seem angry about his place in the world, but that he seemed to accept things even if those things weren't fair. The differences in each character's personalities were very distinct, especially the differences between kids like Johnny or Ponyboy and kids like Dallas. Ponyboy's world is so completely different from mine that I couldn't put the book down because of how little I could relate to his world and his lifestyle.
I think that people of any age could get a lot out of this book. The ultimate lesson for me was to never let all of the bad things in the world black out all of the good things, like sunsets. When Johnny died, it did something to Ponyboy for a while, until he could see that Johnny wouldn't want him to be like that, to become like Dallas, and so in the end he tried to hold onto those bits of innocence he had left.
At some points, I could really feel some similarities between The Outsiders and The Catcher in the Rye, particularly because Ponyboy's thought process was often, in my opinion, very similar to Holden Caulfield's. There were some observations that Ponyboy made that sounded very much like Holden's (like how people are different in their yearbook pictures, and how repetitive both narrators were). This wasn't a bad thing for me, and I don't think I would have noticed if I hadn't read them within the same week.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading:
For Class -- Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block, Forever by Judy Blume
Other -- Bleed by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Books Read in 2011: 8

YA Lit Week One: The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger - 1951

2011-01-21T17:21:00.002-05:00

This is the first book for week one of my YA Lit course. I will also have a review up for The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton by Tuesday night.

Course Theme for the Week: "Introduction to the Course (1-26-2011)"

Title: The Catcher in the Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

Year: 1951

Date Read: 1-21-2011

Overall: * * * * * (5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Since his debut in 1951 as The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has been synonymous with "cynical adolescent." Holden narrates the story of a couple of days in his sixteen-year-old life, just after he's been expelled from prep school, in a slang that sounds edgy even today and keeps this novel on banned book lists. It begins,

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them."

His constant wry observations about what he encounters, from teachers to phonies (the two of course are not mutually exclusive) capture the essence of the eternal teenage experience of alienation.

My Review (aka What can this book offer to young adults?): One of the most amazing things about this book is how much I get out of it each time I read it. Holden is just barely hanging on as he wanders through New York. There is such a feeling of hopelessness as he goes from person to person and situation to situation trying desperately to find someone who will not just talk to him, but listen to him. He is so obviously alone and lonely. At the same time, it feels very hopeful to me, because he keeps trying and keeps going for the next person.

Everything in the book sort of contradicts itself, even Holden, constantly. Even the title is sort of wrong, since he learns from his sister Phoebe that the poem goes "If a body see a body..." not "catch a body." When he tells Phoebe he would like to be the person catching kids from going over the edge, it became clear to me that he is also hoping that there's somebody else catching him from going over the edge.

I think for first time readers of this book, it will be hard to pick up on a lot of the symbolism and the layers of the story. The red hunting hat, the questions about the ducks in central park, the difference in the Holden in the story and the Holden telling the story, etc. A second read of this book feels necessary to me. A lot of teenagers might be able to relate to the loneliness and hopelessness that Holden experiences, and that there are only a few things that really make Holden feel anything close to happiness. Life is hard, and it can really suck sometimes, but throughout the whole book, even when it feels like Holden might end up dead in some way, the reader can tell that he is alive, because he is telling the story, which gives this nice underlining of hope, even to those as lonely as Holden.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading: Bleed by Laurie Faria Stolarz and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Books Read This Year: 7

Low Red Moon - Ivy Devlin - 2010

2011-01-20T19:41:00.004-05:00

Title: Low Red Moon

Author: Ivy Devlin

Year: 2010

Date Read: 1-20-2011

Overall: * * 1/2 (2.5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

Plot: * * /*

Characters: * * * *

Style: * * *

My Review: Avery witnessed her parents' murder, though she doesn't, or can't, remember a thing about it. This story follows the week or so following the murder as she tries to piece together the missing bits, and as she meets the new, sort of strange, boy who might know more about that night.

Avery and Ben have a very quick relationship. The whole book is very quick, actually. It is hard to get to know the characters when the time span is so short and we don't get to experience them in a lot of different situations. Avery was a bit bland, she wasn't terrible by any means, but she wasn't particularly special, and though Ben is supposed to be a hottie, I couldn't really picture it.

Her "blood red" piece of hair was a bit weird, and creepy. Especially when it smelled or tasted like blood. Also, the whole "trees can feel and are mourning" thing was a bit forced, and it didn't really fit in with the rest of the story. It could have been explained better.

I wish there had been more about Louis, Ben's uncle, in the story. He seemed like an interesting character with a good story to tell. A lot more background could have been added to make sense of all the characters, actually. What happened with Louis and Renee, what happened with Renee and Avery's parents, and maybe more of an explanation as to what led Ron to do what he did.

I thought it was amusing how Devlin (aka Elizabeth Scott) avoided using the term werewolf at all costs. Characters who were about to say it or even think that word had their words or thoughts immediately cut off by someone else speaking. It's bad when it feels like even the author is ashamed of the creatures in their own book. And, I am not quite sure where the title came from. The moon was mentioned a few times, but no more than any other book. So I am not really sure of its significance. The ending was left a little open, so I am wondering if she will attempt a sequel or not.

I did like a lot of the story, though. It wasn't as predictable as I was expecting it to be, even though some parts were very Twilight-ish. I liked that Avery had some special sort of sight when it came to wolves, and I liked how she needed the forest and needed to see her old house to find out what happened to her parents. Her grief and confusion was really well written.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and Bleed by Lauri Faria Stolarz

Unscheduled Interruption

2011-01-19T00:40:00.003-05:00

Each time that I read The Catcher in the Rye, I discover new aspects and layers of the story and of Holden Caulfield. The first time I read this book I was around 16 years old. I know I reread it about 2 years ago, and I think I reread it sometime before that as well. When I read it that first time, I don't think I noticed all of the intricacies in Holden's character, particularly in his unraveling and in his humor. It's not real everyday humor, and I'm not sure if it's even meant to be funny, but there are some lines in this story that now have me giggling and grabbing my iPhone to take a picture of the text so I can remember it for later... or so I can post those quotes on my blog.

The edition I am reading is from the Modern Library collection and was published in 1951. On page 39, when Holden is in the bathroom with his roommate, while his roommate (Stradlater) is shaving and Holden decides that he just needs to put Stradlater in a half nelson (the wrestling move), I cannot help but laugh at the line, "So I did it. I landed on him like a goddam panther." Then a few pages later, on page 42, Holden explains that Stradlater is a "very sexy bastard." And that "Only very sexy stuff interested him." I think the difference from our time and the time this was written as well as the tone of voice I am giving Holden, just gets me every time. It probably shouldn't, but I just love the way Salinger wrote Holden as a character and the voice he gave him and the many levels to his personality.

Current progress: Somewhere in chapter 6 of The Catcher in the Rye

Assigned Reading Book Reviews

2011-01-18T14:28:00.003-05:00

As a heads up, I will be adding a different style of book review for the books I read for grad school. I may still give them a rating and my usual style of review, but instead of focusing on my likes or dislikes of the books, I will be focusing more on what they offer to the YA population and then might do updates to those posts after we discuss the books in class, adding in other classmates' opinions and theories. I am far more interested in other people's opinions than in my own.

I am not really a big fan of picking apart the books I read, as I would rather enjoy them (or dislike them) for my initial feelings or thoughts towards them. Digging into books feels like putting words into the author's mouth, because unless they have clearly stated it somewhere, there is no way to know their true intentions or if any insight or knowledge we gain from a book was the author's desired intent or if it is just a reflection of ourselves, the readers.

These posts will be scattered throughout my usual book review posts, and I will make note in the post title if it is a book for class.

Reading List for YA Lit Course

2011-01-17T23:57:00.004-05:00

Starting next week, I will be taking the YA Lit course that my Library Science graduate program offers. I sort of forgot about this course when I went on a massive book buying spree on Saturday. This means that I have a lot of reading goals for the rest of the winter and into spring. For my mini book club that my friend and I do, I have a few books to read through this and next month. Also, she and I both have "catch up" books -- books the other has read that we want to have both read so we can discuss them. So there are our new-to-both-of-us books, and new-to-one-of-us books, and a bunch of books that I have to read for class (about 2 a week). For class, we were given a long list of books, with about 6-8 choices per week, so the list I am including is only of the books I have chosen for those weeks, not the complete options list.

Here are some lists of these books:

Catch-Up Books:

Stolen - Lucy Christopher

The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor

The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse # 1) - Charlaine Harris

New Books:

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson (supposed to finish by the end of this month!)

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (our first sci-fi genre book!)

Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe

Low Red Moon - Ivy Devlin (aka Elizabeth Scott) (we both want to know if this is bad or not...)

Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris (our first mystery genre book!)

Books for YA Lit Course (with due dates!):

Jan 26:

The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

*The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

The Pigman - Paul Zindel

Feb 2:

*Weetzie Bat - Francesca Lia Block

*Forever - Judy Blume

Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack - M.E. Kerr

Feb 9:

Hope Was Here - Joan Bauer

True Confessions of a Heartless Girl - Martha Brooks

Feb 16:

*Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson

*What Would Emma Do? - Eileen Cook

*Breathless - Jessica Warman

Feb 23:

Stoner & Spaz - Ron Koertge

Fat Kid Rules the World - K.L. Going

March 2:

*Suite Scarlett - Maureen Johnson

Fighting Ruben Wolf - Marcus Zusak

Derby Girl - Shauna Cross

March 16:

*Love Sick - Jake Coburn

*Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging - Louise Rennison

Boy Meets Boy - David Levithan

March 23:

Hole in My Life - Jack Gantos

Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi

Stiff - Mary Roach

9/11 Report: Graphic Adaptation - Sid Jacobson & Ernie Colon

March 30:

Feed - M.T. Anderson

*The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

*Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia

Fables - Bill Willingham

Keturah and Lord Death - Martine Leavitt

April 6:

*Paper Towns - John Green

Killer's Cousin - Nancy Werline

Silver Kiss - Annette Curtis Klause

April 13:

Sunrise Over Fallujah - Walter Dean Myers

Elephant Run - Roland Smith

April 20:

*Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes - Chris Crutcher

Vegan Virgin Valentine - Carolyn Mackler

April 27:

Your Own, Sylvia - Stephanie Hemphill

Night is Gone, Day is Still Coming - Annette Pina Ochoa

The Starry Rift - Jonathan Strahan

Thicker Than Water - Gordon Snell

The books with * next to them are books I have already read at some time, though I will be rereading them as a refresher. Some of these dates we are required only 2 readings, while a few of these dates we are required to do 4 readings. I included an extra option for a lot of the dates in case I can't get a hold of some of my choices. I'm really hoping this course goes well, since it is on a topic that I (obviously) love, and it is with a professor whom I really enjoy taking classes with.

So... This will be a very ambitious reading time for me.

*face-palm*

Currently Reading: Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier

The Education of Hailey Kendrick - Eileen Cook - 2011

2011-01-17T00:16:00.007-05:00

Title: The Education of Hailey Kendrick

Author: Eileen Cook

Year: 2011

Date Read: 1-16-2011

Overall Rating: * * * 1/2 (3.5/5)

GoodReads Blurb: Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Plot: * * * *

Characters: * * * *

Style: * * *

My Review: I liked this book, but not as much as I liked Cook's previous two novels. (Edit: somehow missed that she wrote another book, Unpredictable, which is now at the top of my "Must Find This Book Now" lis). What Would Emma Do? and Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood really grabbed me and I loved the stories and characters. Hailey Kendrick is caught vandalizing a piece of her school campus, and refuses to give up the person she is with because he has more to lose than she does. The story follows the repercussions of her decision not to tell and how this affects her relationships with just about everyone in her life.

I like Hailey, though she was a little too easy a character to peg, and I really liked Drew, the "townie" she meets on cleanup detail. Their conversations were really well done and I loved their back and forth banter. However, the supporting characters, like her friends/boyfriend Tristan, Joel, and Kelsie seemed so boring to me. There was no spark, no reason that I could see to be drawn to any of them, even when Cook explained why/how Hailey and Kelsie became friends.

I felt like the emotional scenes, particularly the weird chemistry that could have happened between Joel and Hailey, the fight between Hailey and her father, and the scenes between Hailey and Tristan could have been more powerful. They felt lacking. I wanted Hailey to scream at her dad, not just forgive him and talk it out and be "closer than ever" in a day. On its own, I would have liked this book more, because even though it was well-written, it didn't feel as strong as her other two books.

Though I would recommend it just because Drew was such a nice character and even though it was a little predictable and had a very "wrapped up in a bow" ending, it was still nice and had a great message to convey about standing up for yourself and learning who you are.

To Buy: Amazon

Currently Reading: Zombies Vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

2011 Audio Book Challenge

2011-01-14T13:40:00.003-05:00

I was very excited to stumble upon this today. I have been wanting to try out audio books for a while, but I am always hesitant because I have trouble paying attention when listening.

So this is the 2011 Audio Book Challenge set up over at Teresa's Reading Corner. The challenge runs throughout this year (Jan-Dec 2011). You can read more about it and sign up here and here.

There are four levels of the challenge to choose from:

Curious: 3 books

Fascinated: 6 books

Addicted: 12 books

Obsessed: 20 books

I am going to try for the "Fascinated" level, since I don't know how much I will like them, and because I think 6 books is a better challenge number than 3. We'll see!