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

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

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: 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

Catching Up, Part Four: Dessen, Johnson, Matson

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Stolen - Christopher - 2009

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)