First 20 of 2012

The first 20 books I read in 2012:

Of these first 20 books, the stand-outs are:

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E Smith

The Catastrophic History of You & Me - Jess Rothenberg

Possession - Elana Johnson

Waiting on Wednesday (2) - Crossed - Condie

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

This week I am waiting on:

Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

November 1, 2011 - Dutton

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

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

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

Last Week's Waiting on Wednesday

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

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

Top Ten Books I Bought For Their Covers or Titles:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notes From The Blender - Cook & Halpin - 2011

Notes From The Blender by Trish Cook & Brendan Halpin

Published: 2011 - EgmontUSA

Age Group: YA

Date Read: October 17, 2011

3.5 out of 5 Stars: Enjoyed the story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Books Read This Year: 84 of 100

Currently Reading: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

In My Mailbox (1)

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

Bought:

The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson

Stay With Me - Paul Griffin

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Between - Jessica Warman

Borrowed:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Beautiful Darkness - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

How to Save a Life - Sara Zarr - 2011

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Published: 2011 - Little, Brown

Age Group: YA

Date Read: October 15, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: Really liked it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Books Read This Year: 83 of 100

Currently Reading: Notes From the Blender by Trish Cook

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

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith

Published: 2011 - Dutton

Age Group: YA

Read: October 13, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars: I adored this book

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

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

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

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

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

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

Books Read This Year: 82 of 100

Currently Reading: How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr

Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins - 2011

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Published: 2011 - Dutton

Age Group: Young Adult

Read: October 8, 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quote From The Book: "What just happened?"

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

Books Read This Year: 81 of 100

Currently Reading: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

What's On My Bookshelves?

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

Currently Reading:

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

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

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

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

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

Next On My List:

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E Pearson

Eager to ReRead:

Mistwood by Leah Cypress

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Silver Kiss - Annette Curtis Klause - 1990

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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