What Bri Reads

Review: Rosebush by Michele Jaffa

2011-10-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Title: Rosebush

Author: Michele Jaffe

Publication date: December 7, 2010

Summary:

Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey Shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit-and-run. Everyone believe it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real, but the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends and admirers come to visit, more memories come to the surface not just from a party, but from deeper in the past. With nearly all her friends a suspect, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way she's forced to examine her life and change it.

Review:
Although I didn't care too much for the main characters, most of who were the popular, rich, snobby type, I still found myself hooked into reading this book. It starts with a scene from the end and then goes back to the night of the party so we can watch the story unfold. This is one of those books that will keep you on your toes, just as eager as Jane to figure out who's after her and whether or not the strange phone calls and messages she gets are real or just delusions.

Without giving too much away, I'll say that the ending was a real surprise. The person who ended up being the killer didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, especially because I could think of at least two other people who seemed like they had better, more solid reasons. I mean, I don't like predictable books where I can tell who the culprit is right from the start, but I also like things to make sense, and this ending was slightly confusing in my opinion, but definitely a shocker. It was also slightly annoying how Jane would jump from guy to guy so quickly, especially when she had a boyfriend. Okay, some of them did sound pretty cute, but come on. As her mom says at the end, "That's the third boy she's kissed this week!"

However, putting all of the little annoyances I had with this book aside, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a thrilling novel with many questions to be answered. Even if you're tired of reading about stuck-up popular teenagers like I am, it still makes for an exciting read that you'll have trouble putting down.

Characters: 7/10

Plot: 8/10

Originality: 8/10

Writing: 8/10

Overall grade: B

Received from Book Divas for review.

Giveaway winner!

2011-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my 150 followers giveaway! The winner that was selected by Random.org is:

Gabrielle Carolina from The Mod Podge Bookshelf!

Congratulations, I will be sending you an email shortly.

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publication date: September 27th, 2011

Summary:

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

Review:

With all the hype surrounding this novel, I was afraid that I'd be going into it with my expectations set too high, but I was definitely not disappointed. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them. This novel is absolutely beautiful and has just about everything you could want in a good book. Mystery, suspense, romance, sarcasm, wit... I could go on and on. There's the intriguing mystery that starts with Mara waking up in a hospital bed, unable to remember why she's there or what happened to her friends that night, which then slowly unravels in bits and pieces throughout the book. There's the budding romance between Mara and Noah, filled with so much chemistry and tension that you just want to explode. Noah is completely swoon-worthy. I really disliked him at first, but grew to love him by the end. Reading about all of Mara's experiences with her PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, and confusing actions was a pleasant surprise for me as well. It definitely filled my appetite for all things psychological.

This novel was amazingly well-written, consumed every bit of my attention, and then kept lingering in my mind while I was doing other things. The ending is a huge cliffhanger, which I wasn't expecting, but then again the whole novel was so unpredictable that I should have learned not to expect anything! I absolutely can not wait for the next book and will heavily recommend this one to anyone looking for a captivating read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Of course, it wasn't perfect, but it was pretty darn close and is a novel I will definitely be reading again.

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Originality: 9/10

Writing: 10/10

Overall grade: A+

Review: Hush by Eishes Chayil

2011-09-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

Title: Hush

Author: Eishes Chayil

Publication date: September 14, 2010

Summary:

Inside the closed community of Borough Park, where Brooklyn's Chassidim live, the rules of life – everything from how to dress to whom to marry – are very clear, determined to the last detail by an ancient script written thousands of years before. Then young Gittel witnesses an unspeakable act of violence against her best friend, Devory, an act that goes against everything she's been taught as a Jew. For the first time in her life, there are no guidelines to tell her what to do, so she remains silent. But even inaction has consequences, and sometimes they are deadly...

Now a teenager, Gittel is racked with guilt over the choices she made and those that were forced upon her by the community she once trusted. She must question everything about herself – her own innocence, her memories of the past, and the beliefs of her sect – to find peace for Devory and for herself.

Review:

Honestly, I almost put this book down after the first 15 or 20 pages because it just didn't interest me. Most of chapter two was spent talking about a hat, and filled with sentences that made me feel like I was reading in a foreign language, which left me disinterested and confused. But I made it over that speed bump and continued reading, and I am so, so glad I continued reading. This is easily one of the best books I've read this year.

Part one of the book alternates between Gittel telling the story as a 9-year-old and as a 17-year old, which I felt worked wonderfully as it let the reader get the background story on her childhood but also let us see the kinds of things she struggled with presently. Part two of the book tells about Gittel's life as she gets married and lives with her husband.

Not only did Gittel's story deal with heavy issues such as her best friend's suicide, the unspeakable violence that she witnessed, and her grief for many years to come, but it also took the reader deep into the inner workings of a culture that I knew almost nothing about before reading this book. It was fascinating just to see how children are raised in a community that has such a completely different way of life than most are accustomed to.

While the heavier issues took precedence, there were also many happy moments as it tells the story of Gittel growing up from a mere 9-year-old to graduating high school and getting married. I felt like the author managed to give the book a great balance of heavy subject matter versus everyday life, serious versus enjoyable, and it was all-around a well-written story. Overall, Hush is a powerful, unique book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

Characters: 8/10

Plot: 9/10

Originality: 9/10

Writing: 7/10

Overall grade: A

Review: Cold Hands, Warm Heart

2011-09-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Title: Cold Hands, Warm Heart

Author: Jill Wolfson

Publication date: March 31, 2009

Summary:

Two people, two faces, two noses, four eyes, four ears, eight limbs, two livers, four kidneys, 10 liters of blood, 1,300 muscles, 120,000 miles of blood vessels, 200,000 hairs on two heads. Two people, two hearts. But only one of them working.

Dani was born with her heart on the wrong side of her body. In her fifteen years of life, she's had more doctors' appointments, X-rays, tests, and eaten more green hospital Jell-O than she cares to think about. Fourteen-year-old Amanda is a competitive gymnast, her body a small package of sleek muscles, in perfect health. The two girls don't know each other, don't go to the same school, don't have any friends in common. But their lives are about to collide.

Review:

I have very mixed feelings about this book. It had an interesting subject matter that let me learn a bit more about transplants and organ donation, and got me thinking more about the matter of organ donation, but I felt it lacked in many areas. The story is told by alternating between characters, so we get to see both Dani's side of the story - the girl receiving the heart - and Amanda's family's side of the story. It alternates between first and second person, and then includes many side stories such as the viewpoint from the guy who delivers the organs between hospitals, which made it really hard to follow, in my opinion, especially because it's a relatively short book. While it was an interesting story, it almost felt like the author tried to tackle too many things at once, because not only does it deal with the transplant, but also a romance, Amanda's death, and the grieving of her family. So the reader gets a glimpse of each of these events, which may have been more successful in a longer book, but I felt that as it was, it lacked depth in many areas.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as a quick read on an interesting subject, but felt it was missing a lot. If it sounds interesting to you, I'd recommend picking up a copy through your library, as it was a nice story to read once but probably not something I'd want to go out and buy.

Characters: 7/10

Plot: 7/10

Originality: 7/10

Writing: 6/10

Overall grade: C

Received from Book Divas for review

150 Followers Giveaway!

2011-09-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has liked my blog enough to follow it, whether it was recently or a year or two ago when I first started. I actually hit 150 followers a while ago, but just recently decided to hold a giveaway in celebration of that, so here it is! One winner will receive a copy of Hold Still by Nina LaCour.

I really enjoyed this book when I read it (review here) so I decided it would be a great book to give away.

*If I hit 175 followers while the giveaway is still running, I will add another book for another winner, and I will add a third book and third winner if I hit 200.*

Open to:

USA only (or international if you have an address in the US to ship to!)

To enter:

Leave a comment with your name and email address.

You MUST be a GFC follower. After all, this is a giveaway in celebration of my followers!

+1 for becoming a follower

+2 if you were a follower before this post

+2 Post about this contest somewhere (blog sidebar, blog post, Twitter, etc.) and leave a link in your comment

Deadline:

Last day to enter is September 30th, 2011

In My Mailbox (25)

2011-09-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Between the Borders closing sales, trading, and an awesome girl selling her books on Craigslist, I have received a TON of books over the past two weeks. Honestly I'm afraid I'm going to start needing another shelf soon... But they are all very awesome books, and I am so excited for when I have the time to sit down and plow through them. We'll start with the books I bought during multiple visits to the three local Borders stores in the last couple of weeks:

I'm really not sure why my picture is sideways as it's not saved like that on my computer, but alright.

Jennifer Echols - Love Story

Lili St. Crow - Betrayals

Lili St. Crow - Jealousy

Lili St. Crow - Defiance

Julia Karr - XVI

Mary E. Pearson - The Miles Between

Alyson Noel - Saving Zoe

Wendy Mass - A Mango Shaped Space

Mary E. Pearson - The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Amanda Valentino & Melissa Kantor - The Amanda Project

Melissa de la Cruz - Revelations

Melissa de la Cruz - Misguided Angel

Daisy Whitney - The Mockingbirds

Alexandra Bullen - Wishful Thinking

Meg Cabot - Jinx

Fruits Basket volumes 5, 8, and 14

Strawberry Panic volume 1

Neko Ramen volumes 1, 2, and 4

Then the books I bought from Craigslist ($4 each, SCORE!!) and one I received in a trade:

Robin Wasserman - Crashed

Robin Wasserman - Wired

Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Angel

Alexandra Adornetto - Halo

Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl - Beautiful Darkness

Becca Fitzpatrick - Crescendo

Lauren Kate - Passion

John Green - An Abundance of Katherines

So many amazing books that I am looking forward to reading. I almost can't even believe that I ended up with this many! But obviously, the last couple of weeks have excited me... a LOT.

What books did you receive this week?

Review: Something, Maybe

2011-09-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

Title: Something, Maybe

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Publication date: March 24th, 2009

Summary:

Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's girlfriends and is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of staying under the radar...and that's just how she likes it.

Of course, that doesn't help her get noticed by her crush. Hannah's sure that gorgeous, sensitive Josh is her soul mate. But trying to get him to notice her; wondering why she suddenly can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn; and dealing with her parents makes Hannah feel like she's going crazy. Yet she's determined to make things work out the way she wants--only what she wants may not be what she needs.

Review:

I suppose the best thing to say to describe my feelings on this book is that I have very mixed feelings about it. I love all of the other Elizabeth Scott books I have read, and this one was no disappointment. It was nicely written and full of things that kept me entertained, such as Hannah's mother who works as a webcam girl, her father who remains absent in her life except for when he needs to promote his show, and Hannah's job at a call center for BurgerTown.

But many of the outcomes in this book were predictable, and I found myself very annoyed with Hannah a lot of the time. That's not to say she isn't a likeable character - I enjoyed reading about her quite a bit. But I grew very frustrated when she would talk about how she had no friends and was seen as invisible and a nobody, when it appeared to me that she really wasn't doing that badly. She had her best friend, Teagan, who she spent a lot of time with, and she was able to chat and joke effortlessly with Finn and Josh at her job at the call center. To me, that does not count as not having friends or being seen as a nobody, as all three of these people seemed to enjoy her company quite a bit. She also put zero effort into her appearance, and that annoyed me a bit as well.

However, all that being said, I thought that the book had many small redeeming qualities that when put together made for a worthwhile read. It's definitely worth reading at least once, in my opinion, as even with the predictable and annoying parts it was very well-written and quirky enough to be memorable.

Characters: 8/10

Plot: 7/10

Originality: 8/10

Writing: 8/10

Overall grade: B

Labor Day Weekend Read-A-Thon Update

2011-09-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

Day two of the Labor Day Weekend Read-A-Thon, and I've put a slight dent in my TBR pile, but not as much as I'd hoped. I started feeling a bit better and a bit less sick, so I got up to catch up on some homework earlier today. While I'm glad that that's now out of the way, unfortunately it means I haven't had as much time for reading today as I thought I would.

I did manage to finish reading Smashed last night and have started Vamped. I'm about halfway through it, and will hopefully have it finished by tonight. 1.5 books down, 3.5 more to reach my goal! I highly doubt that's going to happen, but I will give it my best shot.

What books have you been reading lately?

Labor Day Weekend Read-A-Thon!

2011-09-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

I've decided at the very last minute to participate in the Labor Day Weekend Read-A-Thon, hosted by Katie at Katie's Book Blog. It runs from I originally had other plans for the weekend, but I'm fighting a cold that started this past week as well as some sort of stomach bug that just came up today, so I'll be spending a lot of time in bed and likely a lot of time reading.

My goal for this read-a-thon is to read five books. I'd like to read:

and one other book from my TBR shelf that I haven't yet determined.

I started Smashed this morning and am about 3/4 of the way through it, so hopefully I can finish that and move onto the next book tonight. If I'm gonna be stuck in bed feeling like crap, I figure I might as well make the best of it. Bring on the books!

Review: Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

2011-09-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Title: Fallout

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publication date: September 14, 2010

Summary:

Hunter, Autumn, and Summer—three of Kristina Snow's five children—live in different homes, with different guardians and different last names. They share only a predisposition for addiction and a host of troubled feelings toward the mother who barely knows them, a mother who has been riding with the monster, crank, for twenty years.

Hunter is nineteen, angry, getting by in college with a job at a radio station, a girlfriend he loves in the only way he knows how, and the occasional party. He's struggling to understand why his mother left him, when he unexpectedly meets his rapist father, and things get even more complicated. Autumn lives with her single aunt and alcoholic grandfather. When her aunt gets married, and the only family she's ever known crumbles, Autumn's compulsive habits lead her to drink. And the consequences of her decisions suggest that there's more of Kristina in her than she'd like to believe. Summer doesn't know about Hunter, Autumn, or their two youngest brothers, Donald and David. To her, family is only abuse at the hands of her father's girlfriends and a slew of foster parents. Doubt and loneliness overwhelm her, and she, too, teeters on the edge of her mother's notorious legacy. As each searches for real love and true family, they find themselves pulled toward the one person who links them together—Kristina, Bree, mother, addict. But it is in each other, and in themselves, that they find the trust, the courage, the hope to break the cycle.

Told in three voices and punctuated by news articles chronicling the family's story, FALLOUT is the stunning conclusion to the trilogy begun by CRANK and GLASS, and a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person's problem.

Review:

Fallout is the last book in the Crank and Glass trilogy, and picks up 19 years after Glass left off. It tells the stories of Kristina's three oldest children - Hunter, Autumn, and Summer - now in their teens, as they uncover secrets and stories from their past while dealing with their own issues.

Of the three books in this trilogy, I think this one was the most powerful. I could really see pieces of Kristina in each of the three children as they dealt with their own issues, like Hunter who struggles to be faithful to his girlfriend, Autumn who is filled with questions about the family she's never known and who struggles with an alcohol addiction, and Summer who bounces around foster homes while being exposed to abusive situations.

I had many questions in the beginning about what had happened to Kristina and everyone involved in her life, and as I kept reading, the answers were revealed slowly. It was a bit hard for me to follow three alternating viewpoints at first, but then I got used to it and realized that it was a perfect way to write the last book, as it pretty much ties up everything from the previous ones. Just like all of Hopkins' other books, it's written in the form of stunning poetry with different patterns indicating the feelings of the characters and many hidden messages sprinkled throughout. I'm sad to see the series end, but I definitely recommend Fallout to anyone who has enjoyed the first two books in the series, or even those new to Hopkins' writing, because it is a story that you will definitely never forget once you've read it.

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Overall grade: A

Received from Book Divas for review.

In My Mailbox 8/21 - 8/28

2011-08-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

I got some very exciting books this week!

Glass by Ellen Hopkins
Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Battle Dress by Amy Efaw

I bought Glass because after receiving Fallout to review, I realized that I didn't own, nor had I read, Glass. My library didn't have a copy either, so I bought it on Amazon. That makes my Ellen Hopkins collection complete now!

The other three I got when I went to Borders today. That was very bittersweet. I have been wanting to read Invincible Summer and Will Grayson, Will Grayson for a long time now, and I was so happy to be able to get them for less than $5 each, but at the same time it made me so sad to see how many books were gone and it kind of cemented the fact in my mind that Borders is actually closing. I really enjoyed After by Amy Efaw, and I wasn't aware that she had another book out until I saw it in Borders, so I picked it up. That's what I love about bookstores is that I can just go in and wander and see what catches my eye. It's amazing to see so many great books that I have heard about all in one place, and you just can't get that same feeling at the library or online.

What books did you get this week?

Book Blogger Hop 8/26 - 8/29

2011-08-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

I've decided to participate in the Book Blogger Hop this week, hosted by Crazy For Books. You can join in on it here.

This week's question is:

“Non-book-related this week!! Do you have pets?”

Yes, right now we have a dog named Roxy. We used to have other cool pets, like two geckos and an awesome cat, but they all died within the past year so for now it's just the dog.

Review: Saving June

2011-08-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Title: Saving June

Author: Hannah Harrington

Publication date: November 22nd, 2011

Summary:

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

Review:

Saving June was a very emotional account of the roller-coaster ride that ensues after a loved one has committed suicide. I was expecting this book to be on the darker side with a lot of grief and sorrowful moments, and while it did have its fair share of those, it was also a very fun read. I'm always up for reading a good book about a road trip, and this one was no disappointment.

There were definitely some interesting characters in the book that I enjoyed getting to know, such as Harper's crazy Jesus-freak aunt, but most of the story focused around three main characters. First, there's Harper, who I felt completely sympathetic towards. I could clearly feel her pain through the snappy, bitter tone she displayed most of the time, and it made my heart ache to imagine being in her situation, always feeling inferior to June while she was alive and then still being compared to her after her death, knowing that she'll never live up to the expectations of everyone around her. Then there's Laney, Harper's best friend whose parents let her pretty much do as she pleases with little expectations, and Jake, who has had his fair share of problems as well, is completely obsessed with music, and holds a mysterious connection to June that Harper can't quite figure out.

There are so many amazing things in this book: the friendship between Harper and Laney, and relationship that forms between Harper and Jake, the music that narrates the story and provides the soundtrack to their road trip, all of the fun touristy things that take place along the way, and the more serious moments that each character experiences. While "saving" June, Harper also learns a lot about herself along the way. With the help of Jake, Harper goes from trying to build up a wall around everything to block out her emotions, to being able to let them out and feel comfortable with what she feels. Saving June was a very powerful and very well-written book that provided a wonderful mixture of heavier issues and fun experiences, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a moving yet fun read.

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Originality: 9/10

Writing: 9/10

Overall grade: A

Received from Book Divas for review.

Review: Far From the War

2011-08-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

Title: Far From the War

Author: Jeffrey David Payne

Publication date: August 6th, 2011

Summary:

Economic ruin and partisan rancor have pushed America to the brink of a new civil war. Esther is caught in the middle, serving as a page in the United States House of Representatives when rouge politicians and military leaders stage a modern day coup d'etat. When the coup turns violent, she abandons Washington, D.C. for home. She must learn to survive on her own as transportation and financial networks fail, as the war disrupts food and water supplies. The result is a cautionary tale about political extremism and the true cost of war.

Review:

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin with this review. I expected this book to be a good read, perhaps even average, but I quickly found that it was so much more than that. Far From the War tells the story of Esther, a strong female character and her internship at the House of Representatives as part of her goal to become involved in politics one day. As the government, politicians, and military become completely corrupt and everything pretty much shuts down, Esther's experiences show what an absolutely frightening world this would be and how every person is basically left to fend for themselves with little chance of survival.

With his writing, Payne creates a shockingly complex yet very believable state of the world for the characters. I think it definitely fits into the category of books you could read over and over again and notice something new each time, because there's just so much going on. I was slightly on edge while reading because honestly it frightened me a bit how realistic it all sounded, and how it seemed that we could very easily end up in a similar situation. Many parts of the book were somewhat disturbing and graphic as they described the violence and corruption taking place, and I could feel my stomach turn a few times while reading, but these scenes were necessary to get the point across and not overdone or exaggerated, in my opinion. Just a warning for those of you who may have a hard time reading about such things. The whole topic of the novel is somewhat disturbing, not in an overtly grossed out kind of way but more in a way that really gets you thinking about the state of things and just one possibility of where we might end up if things ever took an awful turn for the worse.

The first chapter was a bit mundane, but after that it started picking up, and I was drawn in. I found many aspects of the book refreshingly unique, such as the setting of Esther's internship and the overall turn of events that took place. I experienced a whole multitude of emotions while reading, from excitement and happiness about the relationships she formed along the way, to fear and horror when everything seemed utterly hopeless, and even tears of joy at the end. It is very rare that a book makes me feel such strong emotions as this one did, and even rarer that a book will make me cry.

I'd go as far as to say that Far From the War has earned a spot among my top ten favorite books, because it was just that amazing. I am very eagerly awaiting the second book in the trilogy, but sadly it's not due to be released until next July. So for now, I will just have to strongly recommend this novel, as I know it's one of those that will stay in the back of your mind and keep you thinking long after finishing it. I don't even feel like my review adequately captured all of my feelings about the book, but if it sounds at all interesting, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.

Characters: 10/10

Plot: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Writing: 9/10

Overall grade: A+

Review: Into the Wild Nerd Yonder

2011-08-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

Title: Into the Wild Nerd Yonder

Author: Julie Halpern

Publication Date: September 29th, 2009

Summary:

It’s Jessie’s sophomore year of high school. A self-professed “mathelete,” she isn’t sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and one of them is going after her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother will soon leave for college (and in the meantime has shaved his mohawk and started dating . . . the prom princess!) . . .

Things are changing fast. Jessie needs new friends. And her quest is a hilarious tour through high-school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way—the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes?

If you go into the wild nerd yonder, can you ever come back?

Review:

As somewhat of a nerd myself, I have to say that I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The writing was fun and more of a laid back, conversational style that I felt conveyed Jessie's thoughts and experiences nicely, in a way that I could relate to. I loved the uniqueness of many of the characters (like Jessie making her own skirts - that's pretty cool) and the relationships between them that developed as the book went on. I especially loved the relationship that Jessie had with her brother, Barrett. He was very supportive of her throughout the whole book and it was great to see such a loving relationship. It was pretty neat to look back after I finished the book and see how much Jessie had changed in terms of relationships, acceptance of herself, and who she associated with.

I found myself smiling and laughing at so many things in this book, but particularly in the last three or so chapters. This book had such a great balance of nerdy, funny, and more serious moments, and I really enjoyed seeing how Jessie dealt with the various situations that came up. I also loved the references to other YA books like Elsewhere, which happens to be one of my favorites.

My only complaint with this book is that the ending seemed a bit rushed and wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be. I think that could have easily been fixed by adding another chapter rather than ending things in a way that kind of leaves the reader hanging, but oh well. Overall, it was a fun yet realistic read that I would definitely recommend to anyone who's ever experienced trying to find their place among the various high school groups, and especially to those who can appreciate a little bit of nerdiness.

Characters: 8/10

Plot: 8/10

Originality: 8/10

Writing: 8/10

Overall grade: B

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon!

2011-08-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

I just heard about the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon hosted by Amanda at On A Book Bender and decided to participate! My TBR shelf is overflowing, and this is the last free week I have before school starts up again, so I figured that it would be the perfect time to knock out some of those books. The Read-a-Thon will run from 8/22 to 8/28, and you can find more info on it here.

My goal is to make it through at least five new books and to finish the two I'm currently reading. I know, that's not very many, but since I honestly haven't been doing a ton of reading lately I'd like to pace myself rather than rushing through them. I'd like to finish the two books I'm reading now (Far From the War, Into The Wild Nerd Yonder), the books I mentioned yesterday (Fallout, Saving June), and then whichever ones strike my fancy from my TBR shelf when I've made it through all of the previously mentioned ones. Can't wait to get started on this tomorrow!

Site Update, Returning to Blogging, and Preview....

2011-08-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Not too sure how many of my followers still actually read my blog. I've taken so many hiatuses that I honestly wasn't sure I was ever going to return to doing this again, as school and work and family were taking up so much of my time that adding anything else into the mix just seemed more like torture than enjoyment. But I realized recently how much I miss doing this blog, reviewing and getting to read awesome books, and interacting with everyone I've gotten to know through doing this. It was a really positive thing in my life while I was actively running this for a number of reasons, and I've decided I'd really like to try to get this up and running again.

School will be starting up soon, my first FULL semester of college (16 credits!) and I'm going to try to work at least 10 hours a week on top of that, but I am also going to try as hard as I can to make this blog active again. I took some time today to give the site a pretty big overhaul, and I think the layout and new features like the tabs at the top are pretty awesome. Admittedly, I'm probably a bit behind with that as everyone else seems to have them already, but... At least I'm somewhat on top of things now!

With all that said, here's a preview of some of the reviews you can look forward to in the next few weeks:

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

Far From the War by Jeffrey David Payne

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

I am completely excited to start doing this again and can't wait to start diving in to the pile of books on my shelf waiting to be read. I haven't had much time for leisurely activities like reading lately, so I'm eager to sit down with a good book :)

Review: After by Amy Efaw

2011-07-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

Title: After

Author: Amy Efaw

Publication date: August 11th, 2009

Summary:

Who would leave her own baby in the trash to die?

Certainly not someone like Devon - straight-A student, soccer player with Olympic dreams, more mature than her own mother. But desperation and panic drove her to do what most people can't even imagine. Now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, charged with attempted murder. If she's tried as an adult, she faces life in prison.

Does Devon deserve that punishment? Your answer depends on whether you believe her story - that she didn't even know she was pregnant. Was she buried in a denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly obvious signs of pregnancy? Or were her actions the result of a more devious, premeditated plan?

Review:

I had this book sitting on my bookshelf for a while and I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't have the time to read it until now, and all I can say is WOW. Amazing. The first chapter was a little hard to get through because it literally turned my stomach, but I think it was a great introduction for the story that followed.

I literally could not put this book down. Every free minute I had, I would pick it up and read as much as I could. I felt I could really relate to Devon, who was a straight-A student with very high expectations for herself, not unlike myself. So of course the entire time I was reading, I was wondering how such a person could even think about doing such a thing. By the end, I was able to understand it a little better as I became more acquainted with Devon's past and her thoughts.

I only have two complaints about this book: one, the treatment that Devon received from some of the people at the hospital and the detention center during her intake process seemed unnecessarily harsh. Perhaps that's how it is in real life, I don't know, but it was hard for me to believe that people would treat her so coldly and harshly after knowing what she just went through. Not that her actions were acceptable, but with the amount of pain and discomfort that she must have been in, both physically and emotionally, I can't believe that workers would treat her so harshly.

My second complaint is that I felt the book ended a bit abruptly. I felt like there was some closure, and in a way, it did make sense, but given the intensity of the rest of the book I felt that the ending was just a little too abrupt. I'm not sure how else it would have been ended, without creating a sequel, though, and I can see how it shows that it seems Devon finally came to terms with everything that happened, so overall I suppose the ending wasn't that bad. Overall, I absolutely loved the book.

While this book is probably not a good choice for the squeamish because of some of the graphic descriptions of Devon's actions, it was one of the most intense and thought-provoking books I have read in a while and I would definitely recommend it.

Characters: 7/10

Plot: 9/10

Originality: 9/10

Writing: 8/10

Overall grade: A

Review: Break by Hannah Moskowitz

2010-09-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

Title: Break

Author: Hannah Moskowitz

Publication date: August 25th, 2009

Summary:

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah's only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders.

When Jonah's self-destructive spiral accelerates and he hits rock bottom, will he find true strength or surrender to his breaking point?

Review:

With a summary like that, how could you not want to pick up this book? It's so unique and controversial, something that I find most books to lack these days. Since Moskowitz is a relatively young writer, I wasn't expecting the writing to be great. But I ended up loving it and can't wait to see what other publications she comes out with in the future.

I finished the entire book in one sitting because it was that good. The characters were real and interesting, and the plot was fascinating. As someone heavily interested in psychology, I was intrigued by everything going on in the book. The reasons for Jonah breaking his bones, the conflicts within the family, the relationship between Jonah and his brother... I was just amazed at how well everything fit together.

What made it even more awesome is that it wasn't censored at all. It was raw, with the f-bomb flying all over the place and gruesome descriptions of the bone breaking process. That might turn some people away from picking up this book, but I can't remember the last time I felt so involved in the lives of characters, almost as if I were reading a journal or being a fly on the wall. It's such a powerful book, and anyone with experiences in self-harm will completely relate to it. The author captured it perfectly, which I don't see happen too often with subjects such as this.

The only complaint I have is the ending. I didn't completely understand the way Jonah's reasons for breaking his bones was explained, so it left me with more questions than anything else. I was expecting some phenomenal ending with lots of oomph, but to me it just kind of died out. Regardless of that, I will still hold on to this book and read it again.

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Writing: 9/10

Overall grade: A

Review: A Field Guide for Heartbreakers

2010-07-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Title: A Field Guide for Heartbreakers

Author: Kristen Tracy

Publication date: June 1st, 2010

Summary:

Best friends Dessy and Veronica arrive in Europe with wildly different plans. Dessy hopes to heal her newly broken heart by diving into the creative writing workshop that brought the girls to Prague. Veronica's plan, meanwhile, is to conquer as many hot-dudes as possible in one month--and help Dessy recycle her heart in the process. Her method:

- Dress like you are the party.
- Explore the terrain. (Moderate stalking is totally allowed.)
- Be adventurous. And that means being prepared to hide in your suitcase.

- Ask questions that make your hot-dude feel smart.
- Gloss early, gloss often, and bring bum. Because a kiss can happen when you least expect it!

At first, Veronica's plan is working so well that Dessy thinks she might be a love genius. But soon it's clear that Operation Maneater has a few holes. Like its failure to anticipate crazy mixed signals--and worse, its mysterious tendency to plague a friendship with secrets and lies.

Well, no one ever said breaking hearts was a simple craft....

Review:

At first, the cover and summary of this book made it seem like one of those fluffy summer novels with little substance, but something told me to give it a try. I did, and I was very pleasantly surprised. This novel ended up having a lot more depth with the plot and characters than I thought it would. There were lots of interesting twists that kept me on my toes, wondering what had happened or what would happen. At times, I thought the contrast between Veronica (extroverted, loud-mouthed, etc) and Dessy (introverted, doormat-like) was too great for them to be such good friends, but by the end I was satisfied. There were many, many times where I found myself laughing out loud at the things that the characters did and said, particularly with Veronica. There were a lot of great little quirks and such that kept this novel interesting (for example, a crazy homicidal girl in their writing workshop.)

The only complaint I have with this book was that the ending felt a bit rushed. As I neared the end and was caught up in all the suspense, I looked at the remaining 10 or so pages and thought, "That's it? There's no way this whole thing can be wrapped up in just ten pages." It was, but I thought it could've been done a bit better. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. I read it every chance I got, and will likely read it again in the near future. It was a perfect mix of a fun summer read with some depth and adventure to it.

Received for review from Disney Publishing.

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 8/10

Originality: 9/10

Writing: 10/10

Overall grade: A

Review: Mackenzie Blue series

2010-06-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

Title: Mackenzie Blue

Author: Tina Wells

Summary:

Book 1:

Meet Mackenzie Blue, aka Zee

She has it all—smarts, talent, humor, and style. . . .

Is it enough to survive middle school?

Countdown to a 7th Grade Meltdown

1. Your BFF moves away.

2. Someone steals your diary and reveals your deepest secrets—to the entire class.

3. You have one chance to become a rock star and one chance to totally blow it. Guess what!? All three happened to me! School's a disaster already. Don't get me wrong—I love Brookdale Academy and I have a fabulous crew of friends. (At least, I think I do.) But, if I'm going to survive, I need all the help I can get!

Book 2 (The Secret Crush):

Mackenzie Blue has a crush!

But how can she get Landon—the cutest boy in school—to notice her? The class's new rock-and-roll musical is her chance.

Reasons why our musical is going to be amazing:

I could be the star!
Landon could be my co-star . . . which means we'll hang out together.
Working on the sets, props, music, script, and costumes will be tons of fun.

There's so much to do, I'd better get started!

Between her crush, the musical, and her friends—not to mention school work—Zee is torn in a thousand different directions. With all the real-life drama going on, will she lose sight of what's really important?

Book 3 (Friends Forever?):

Mackenzie Blue is hitting the trails!

It's time for Brookdale Academy's camping field trip, but Zee has much more to deal with than a lesson about nature. . . .

Pros:
1. My BFF, Ally, is visiting all the way from Paris! Ooh la la!
2. My friends and I are so going to win the environmental scavenger hunt!

Cons:
1. We have to stay in teeny-tiny log cabins. How will we all fit?
2. The legendary (and terrifying) Mountain Man . . .

Review:

Since this series is geared more towards pre-teens, which is an audience I don't usually review for, I'm reviewing the whole series in one post. Even though my main focus is on young adult books, I'll sometimes review books meant for either a bit younger or older audience. This series looked interesting, so I figured, why not?

There were so many things in these books that reminded my of myself in 7th grade. Zee being embarrassed to have her dad drop her off at school, problems making new friends, first crushes, etc. The series was a really fun and positive one. Something I could definitely see myself reading in 6th or 7th grade. I liked how there were bits of her diary entries and IM conversations included, but sometimes the IMs were a bit annoying because I can't stand chat speak. I also enjoyed the aspect of the band, which ended up playing a big part throughout all 3 books. I was a "band geek" in middle school, so I could really relate to a lot of that. It's refreshing to see a book with groups other than the typical jocks, cheerleaders, etc.

Overall, I think this is a great series for a younger audience. It deals with a lot of problems that girls at that age can relate to, and ultimately a positive solution was found for each of the problems. I'd definitely recommend it to tween girls looking for something cute to read.

Characters: 8/10

Plot: 7/10

Originality: 7/10

Writing: 7/10

Overall grade: C

Review: Lifted

2010-06-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Title: Lifted

Author: Wendy Toliver

Publication date: June 8th, 2010

Summary:

Being bad never felt so good.

Poppy Browne never stole anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she's hooked.

Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge--it's never about the merchandise, it's always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, Poppy's clique turns on each other. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie...and how far she'll go to protect herself.

Review:

This book had a great way of showing two important lessons: 1) People aren't always as nice or mean as they might seem to be; and 2) Trying something just once, even if on accident, can lead to a spiraling addiction. I absolutely loved this book. Poppy seemed like someone I would get along with great, minus the shop lifting, of course. It just goes to show how easily someone can be influenced by peer pressure when they're trying to fit in in a new place. Watching Poppy get into shoplifting and then becoming fully addicted to it was interesting and eye-opening. It's amazing how quickly something that seems innocent at first can escalate into a huge problem.

The fact that Poppy attended a Baptist school threw me off at first. Until the shoplifting started, I was wondering how in the world that would be incorporated into a book that seemed so pure otherwise. But everyone at Calvary High seemed to have their own little secrets, which was really interesting and made me think twice about my view of religiously oriented schools. Addiction and peer pressure can influence anyone, no matter how "pure".

I loved a lot of the characters, but my opinions of some of them were changed drastically by the end of the book. At times, it became almost like a mystery trying to figure out who was doing things with good intent and who wasn't. But of course in the end it all fell together, and I was happily satisfied with the ending. There was something about the style of Wendy Toliver's writing that I loved, and I can't wait to read more of it.

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 10/10

Originality: 9/10

Writing: 10/10

Overall grade: A

Cleaning the bookshelves!

2010-06-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's time for my spring cleaning, which means that I'm also trying to lessen the amount of books on my shelves. But I feel bad just donating them, because I want them to go to loving homes. So I figured I'd ask here, would anyone be interested in getting a flat rate box stuffed with books? I'd ask $15 per box, mostly for shipping but a couple bucks to recoup a bit of the money I've spent on these books. I have too many books and not enough time to type up a complete list, but I'd love to stuff as many as I can in a flat rate box and send them to someone looking for new books to read. I have enough books to do a couple of these, I think. Any takers?

Here's a slightly crappy cell phone picture of a few of the books (I'm still going through the rest of them):

Review: Auf Wiedersehen

2010-05-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Title: Auf Wiedersehen
Author: Christa Holder Ocker
Publication date: July 21, 2009

Summary:
Auf Wiedersehen by Christa Holder Ocker tells the story of World War II through the eyes of a young German girl. As she and her family move around from place to place trying to avoid the Russians, they wonder how they will ever survive through the war. Their last hope is to find a way to America.

Review:
As someone studying German, I really loved this book. It was a gripping account of one family struggling through World War II. German phrases and words were incorporated throughout, which I felt really added to the feeling of the book. It could have been a bit longer near the end I thought, but overall it was a great read. I felt as if I was right there with the family while I was reading it, experiencing all their struggles. Anyone interested in World War II or Germany would enjoy this compelling autobiography.

Overall grade: C

Book received from bookdivas.com

Auf Wiedersehen - In pictures!

2010-05-02T08:38:00.001-07:00

The current Random Reading Activity Challenge asks us to post about the book we're currently reading, in pictures. I'm reading Auf Wiedersehen by Christa Holder Ocker, a book about World War II in Germany from the point of a young German girl.

This is Bahnhof Apolda, or the Apolda train station. Christa and her family leave their town in Görlitz to go to Apolda, to escape from the Russians.

An American soldier at the American headquarters there gives her a chocolate bar every day. Then one day, the Americans are gone to round up the SS.

Christa's Mutti writes letters to her old friend in America, in hopes that he can help them out in moving to America.

This is fairly short because I don't want to spoil the book, which is also very short. But it's such an authentic, gripping one. I read it all in one sitting. Review will come soon, but for now, there's a slight bit of it in pictures.

Review: The Straight Road to Kylie

2010-04-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

Title: The Straight Road to Kylie
Author: Nico Medina
Publication date: May 22nd, 2007

Summary:

Life is fabulous for Jonathan Parish. He's seventeen, out and proud, and ready to party through senior year with his posse of best girlfriends. But the year starts off with the wrong kind of bang when Jonathan -- in an inebriated lapse of judgment -- sleeps with a friend of his...a girl friend!

When word gets around that hot-but-previously-unavailable Jonathan might be on the market, the school's It girl approaches him with a proposal: pretend to be her boyfriend, and achieve popularity like he's never known. But popularity isn't what Jonathan wants. And suddenly, going back into the closet becomes Jonathan's only way to get what he's after -- a trip to see Kylie Minogue.

Review:

The only GLBT young adult book left on my shelf that I hadn't yet read, I decided to pick this one up for this month's GLBT April Mini-Challenge. It didn't disappoint one bit! Jonathan seemed like such a great, fun guy. There was never a dull moment because there was always some kind of excitement or trouble going on. I hear lots of girls wishing they had a gay guy as a best friend, and Jonathan was perfect for that role, especially with his best girl friends in the book. I'd love to hang out with him in real life; he seemed like so much fun to be around. This book had an amazingly real feel to it, almost as if I was reading about an account of someone's life. Potential readers be warned though, there's a lot of talk about sex, lots of drinking/partying, and lots of cursing. If that kind of thing bothers you, this is definitely not a good book to pick up. But with all of the drama, hilarity, and awesome characters I got to know, this book was a very enjoyable read, especially if you're into GLBT literature.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 7/10
Overall grade: B

Random Reading Activity Challenge

2010-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

We all love reading challenges, don't we? Well KarinLibrarian is hosting a new one called the Random Reading Activity Challenge. As the name implies, it's random! At any time, she'll post an activity to do that you'll have a certain amount of time to complete. After completing the challenge and posting a link back to your blog on the Mr. Linky, one winner will be chosen from the participants for that challenge. The first prize up for grabs is YOU by Charles Benoit.

Want to participate? Then head on over to the Random Reading Activity Challenge blog!

GLBT March Mini Challenge: Review: First Love Sisters #1

2010-03-25T13:43:00.001-07:00

Title: First Love Sisters vol. 1
Author: Mizuo Shinonome
Publication date: December 15th, 2007

Summary:

During a fateful visit to Tsunojo Girls’ School, Chika Matsusato meets the girl of her dreams--cool upperclassman Haruna Kanzaki. Even though they spent only one short day together, Chika will never forget Haruna’s kindness, and has made it her life’s goal to study hard and get accepted into Tsunojo Girls’ School so that they can be together. But will Haruna share Chika’s feelings...?

Review:
While I usually don't review manga on my blog (though I do occasionally read it), this was read for the GLBT March Mini-Challenge. I've read it previously, but reading it again for this challenge reminded me how much I enjoyed it and how sweet it was. Some of the relationships between the other characters were confusing to me; I wasn't sure who was just being friendly and who might've been more involved, as the main characters were. While reading, I was constantly smiling, being reminded of how giddy and happy a first crush/love can make you. This manga was really cute, both the drawings and storyline, and I'm eagerly awaiting volume two to see what happens! Of course it left off with sort of a cliffhanger. But the publishing of volume two and subsequent volumes has apparently been put on hold due to rights issues! This greatly disappoints me, because I'd really like to continue with the series.

Overall grade: B

Review: The Black Sheep

2010-03-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Title: The Black Sheep
Author: Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout
Publication date: May 1st, 2007

Summary:
Fed up with her parents and all their ridiculous rules (they keep a binder full of them), fifteen-year-old Kendra Bishop writes away to The Black Sheep, a reality TV show that offers the chance to swap families with another teen. But when the camera crew shows up at her Manhattan apartment, Kendra starts to have second thoughts.

Too late. Kendra is whisked away to Monterey, California, to live with the Mulligan family in a household that couldn't be more different from her own. Of course, when Kendra falls for Mitch, the Mulligans' seventeen-year-old son, it only complicates things further, especially since Mitch despises the reality TV show and everything it stands for. But given the chance, Kendra might just be able to juggle first love, her new stardom, and a pushy TV producer who will stop at nothing for higher ratings.

Review:
The Black Sheep was a cute, fun book with a fresh writing style. I could really sympathize with Kendra and really enjoyed getting to know her and the members of the Mulligan family (whose names all begin with M). Then of course there was Judy the producer and the camera crew, who were definitely annoying, but entertaining as well. I loved how it was set as a reality show; it's a unique kind of idea that I don't see much in YA books. Seeing Kendra stand up for herself and the cause she believed in and going a separate way from her parents was great, and I was cheering her on every step of the way. There was always something fun and interesting going on in the book. I didn't want to put it down because I was always intrigued to see what would happen next. I'm so happy that I picked up this book, and it's definitely one I will read again in the future.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: A

Wherever Nina Lies winners!

2010-03-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

It's time to announce the winners of the Wherever Nina Lies giveaway! Congratulations to:

Addicted Book Reader
Alexa
neonxxlovee

I'll be sending each of you emails shortly. Thanks to all that entered the giveaway!

Review: Lipstick Apology

2010-03-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

Title: Lipstick Apology
Author: Jennifer Jabaley
Publication date: August 6th, 2009

Summary:
Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…

When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”

Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

Review:

This book was great. It was well rounded with the more serious issue of Emily's parents dying, but also lots of funny moments. The writing was fresh and entertaining, but I expected the book to deal more with the mystery of Emily's mother's message than it actually did. By the end I was satisfied, but it seemed like most of the book was focused on her adjusting to her new life than trying to find out about her mother's message. I would have liked to read more about people like Trent and Anthony, instead of so much about Owen. The romance was kind of predictable as well. Although I really like the message that the book gave, that relationships are about something a lot deeper than just looks and initial feelings.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 6/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: C

Layout change

2010-02-27T08:34:00.001-08:00

Though I really liked my previous layout, I've decided to change it back again. I've received a couple of emails that people weren't able to comment on my posts with the layout, and I don't know why that is. So for now, it's back to the plain old Minima layout. Not the most aesthetically pleasing, but I'm just glad that it's working again! (Well, should be, at least.)

Review: Wherever Nina Lies

2010-02-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

Title: Wherever Nina Lies
Author: Lynn Weingarten
Publication date: February 1st, 2009

Summary:
Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But, one day, Nina disappeared. Two years later, everyone has given up home that Nina will return, but Ellie knows her sister is out there. If only Ellie had a clue where to look. Then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing. Determined to find Nina, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she’s got a chance—her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn’t planning on. Like love. Lies. And the most shocking thing of all: the truth.

Review:
This book was awesome. It managed to be really fun with all of the different characters and things going on, but still kind of serious since Ellie's main goal was looking for Nina. I really admired her determination to keep looking, even though almost everyone else thought she should be over it. The book kind of reminded me of a treasure hunt, in some ways. Full of clues and mysteries that made one thing lead to another, and always kept you guessing. There's also a twist near the end that I wasn't really expecting, and at that point I could NOT put the book down until I was finished. I love the sisterly bond that Nina and Ellie seem to share, as well as all of the other interesting people in Ellie's life. I will definitely read this book again; I think it's quickly become one of my favorites.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A

*Want to have your own copy? Enter my giveaway!*

Giveaway: Wherever Nina Lies

2010-02-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

I have three copies of Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten to give away!

"Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But, one day, Nina disappeared. Two years later, everyone has given up home that Nina will return, but Ellie knows her sister is out there. If only Ellie had a clue where to look. Then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing. Determined to find Nina, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she’s got a chance—her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn’t planning on. Like love. Lies. And the most shocking thing of all: the truth."

Open to:
USA (international readers can enter if you have a friend in the States to ship it to!)

To enter:
Leave a comment below with your email address, and tell me why you want to read this book.

Last day to enter:
March 12th

Trailer Tuesdays

2010-02-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I started in July of last year, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read. I stopped doing this because I got somewhat bored with it, but I've decided to bring it back because I miss doing it.

This week's featured book is Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder, which was just released in January.

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

The cover is so simple, but beautiful. And I think the plot sounds so intriguing! It's written in verse, which I'm usually not a huge fan of (with the exception of Ellen Hopkins), but I really want to give this book a try.

Review: My Soul To Take/My Soul To Save

2010-02-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

This will be kind of a double review of both My Soul To Take and My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent, since I read them back to back and see no point in making two posts.

The plot and concept of these books is something I've not seen in any other book, and I really like that. The idea of "Soul Screamers" is pretty original, and definitely held my interest. In My Soul To Take, I found it a bit hard to get into at first and fit some pieces together. But by the end of the book when I understood the ideas a bit more, I was totally intrigued by them and left wanting more. I did enjoy the first book slightly more than the second, but that's not to say that the second wasn't entertaining. I just liked the feel of MSTT better, getting to know Kaylee's family and all of the mystery that encompassed the whole book. MSTS had a bit of a different feel to it, and was more focused on one goal. Kaylee and Nash's relationship was fun to read about as well, and I can't wait to see what happens with them. Overall, I really like this series and the elements in it, and can't wait to read the third book.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: B

Want to win Linger by Maggie Stiefvater?

2010-02-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

My Soul To Save winners

2010-02-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the winners of the My Soul To Save contest!

Alicia
Denise Madness
Catie S

I've sent each of you an email, please reply within 48 hours or I'll pick another winner.

If you didn't win, don't worry! More contests will be announced soon :)

Review: Shrinking Violet

2010-02-05T16:28:00.001-08:00

Title: Shrinking Violet
Author: Danielle Joseph
Publication date: May 5th, 2009

Summary:
High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out -- doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T -- and to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize -- Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare....

Review:
I loved almost everything about this book. I could definitely relate to Tere's shyness because I'm a lot like her. The title didn't make much sense to me until about halfway through the book, but after reading it I think it's a perfect title. Each character was unique and fun to read about. I especially liked the characters and setting at the radio station. That seems like such a fun job, and being a huge music lover, I really enjoyed getting to read about "Sweet T"'s goal of becoming a DJ and her time spent at the radio station. The relationship between her and Gavin was somewhat predictable, but it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling nonetheless. Everything was so interesting and well written; I would have never guessed that this was the author's first book. It was much better than the expectations I had for it; this is a book I will definitely read again.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: A-

The Lonely Hearts Club winners!

2010-01-28T16:09:00.001-08:00

I've randomly picked the three winners of my The Lonely Hearts Club giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered. It's such a fun book, you won't be disappointed. :) Congrats to the three winners:

Sab H.
Sara
~~Khy~~
Ultimate YA Creator

I've emailed each of you, please reply with your mailing address. Congrats!

My Soul To Save giveaway!

2010-01-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

The second book in the Soul Screamers series, My Soul To Save, comes out this month! I have three copies to give away to three lucky winners.

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies. So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

Open to:
USA only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

To enter:
Leave a comment below.

+1 For posting a linking back to the contest somewhere.

Deadline:
Last day to enter is February 8th.

Review: David Inside Out

2010-01-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

Title: David Inside Out
Author: Lee Bantle
Publication date: May 12th, 2009

Summary:

David Dahlgren, a high-school senior, finds solace in running with the track team; he’s a fast runner, and he enjoys the camaraderie. But team events become a source of tension when he develops a crush on one of his teammates, Sean. Scared to admit his feelings, David does everything he can to suppress them: he dates a girl, keeps his distance from his best friend who has become openly gay, and snaps a rubber band on his wrist every time he has “inappropriate” urges. Before long, Sean expresses the thoughts David has been trying to hide, and everything changes for the better. Or so it seems.

Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. To some extent I enjoyed reading about the characters in this book, but for the most part I felt it was nothing I hadn't read before. It also seemed to make things too casual for my taste (like excessive teenage drinking/sex), so I didn't have a ton of respect for the characters because of the things they were doing so freely. I could sympathize with some of their feelings at times, but at others, not so much. It's an interesting addition to my GLBT book collection, but I can think of a ton of other books on the subject that I enjoyed a lot more thoroughly. I enjoyed this book for what it was, though it didn't meet my expectations.

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
Originality: 5/10
Writing: 6/10
Overall grade: D

Lonely Hearts Club twitter party!

2010-01-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

Join Lonely Hearts Club author Elizabeth Eulberg and Amy of MyFriendAmy for a Twitter party Wednesday, January 20, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. EST!

Be sure to follow Elizabeth @ElizEulberg and Amy @MyFriendAmy before the party!

Join the fun! No one expects you or your tweets to be perfect; we’re just happy you made it to the party!

Anyone who tweets during this hour using #LonelyHeartsClub is entered to win a limited edition Lonely Hearts Club t-shirt!

Watch for questions from @MyFriendAmy and win awesome prizes including an iPod shuffle, $50 iTunes gift card or $25 VISA gift card!

To join the party, you can use our official party tweetgrid or just search #LonelyHeartsClub on Twitter.

Ask Elizabeth questions or chat with other partygoers about how excited you are to read LHC—just use the tag #LonelyHeartsClub in all of your party tweets! (This is added automatically in TweetGrid.)

Please don’t post any spoilers and don’t forget to pay attention to the time zones, the party starts at 8:30pm EST.

Review: The Lonely Hearts Club

2010-01-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

Title: Lonely Hearts Club
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publication date: December 29th, 2009

Summary:
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She’s had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It’s a personal choice…and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny’s not the only girl who’s tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys…or the way their guys don’t really care about them. Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club (named after Sgt. Pepper’s band), and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non-dating ways – which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can’t help but like…

Review:
It didn't take me very long to read through this book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It was cute and funny, and I loved reading about Penny Lane's life. Everything from her Beatles' obsessed parents, to her boy drama and decision to start The Lonely Hearts Club. At the beginning, I thought that too much was introduced at once. There were so many different boys and girls being talked about, and I wasn't quite sure which were the main characters. But as the book went on and some of them were talked about more in-depth than others, I really liked the feeling the novel had. While it is cute and fun, I think there's also a great meaning behind it. A must read for any girl who's ever had her heart broken by a guy.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 7/10
Overall grade: C

The Lonely Hearts Club giveaway!

2010-01-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Three lucky people will win a copy of The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg. It just came out on December 29th; I've heard many things about it from other blogs and I'm sure you have too. In fact, I just started reading my copy today, and I'm loving it so far!

Open to:
People in the US only (international readers can enter if you have a friend with a US mailing address).

To enter:
Leave a comment below!

+1 For every person you get to enter.

Deadline:
Last day to enter is January 27th.

GLBT Mini Challenge #1

2010-01-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

The January mini-challenge for "The Challenge That Dare Not Speak Its Name" is to write about why this challenge/issue is so important to me.

GLBT issues are something that have always been really important to me. I've always been very interested in promoting GLBT rights, not only because it's an interesting topic but also because it affects me (as well as some of my closest friends) personally. The issue of hate/harassment towards people of different sexual orientations is often shrugged off or turned away from. I can recall multiple instances where I've personally been harassed for it, and I have more memories than I can count of seeing others being harassed or bullied because of their sexual orientation. Especially in high school, people loosely use terms like "that's so gay", and call each other "fags" without taking the time to think about who they might be offending. A group of my friends in another town were denied being allowed to start a Gay Straight Alliance at their school, even after following the proper procedure to start a club, because the staff claimed they "didn't need one". I've had friends in this same town skip school because they were so afraid of how they were being treated by their peers.

I chose to participate in this challenge because I strongly support GLBT rights and believe that GLBT literature is important, especially for young adults. We are all people, we all deserve equal rights, and I think that raising awareness is an important step in achieving that.

End of the Holiday Break Reading Challenge

2010-01-04T15:39:00.000-08:00

Last night at midnight marked the end of the Holiday Break Reading Challenge, and I'm somewhat disappointed to say that I only managed to read 4 books from my goal of 10. I had planned to do a ton of reading over the last few days, but unfortunately I got a horrible case of food poisoning starting at 10 PM on New Year's Eve and am STILL recovering. Needless to say, I've been exhausted and spent most of my time sleeping and resting. I still had a ton of fun participating in the challenge though, and hopefully I can do more damage with it next year! Thanks to Karin for hosting such a wonderful challenge.

The most memorable books of 2009

2009-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

I really can't believe it's almost 2010 already. 2009 just flew by so quickly! But hopefully 2010 will bring even more great books.

I've decided to compile a list of some of the best books I've read this past year. I'll pick one or two from each month that were my absolute favorites and post them, along with a link back to the review and a little comment about the book. Not all of them will have been released in 2009, but the majority of them will be. And definitely not all of the best releases this year are on here (for example, I still haven't read Catching Fire because I haven't read The Hunger Games!) But I thought this would be a great way to look back and remember all of the great books I've read and definitely want to read again. So, here we go! March is the first month I started blogging, so we'll start there.

March:
Leftovers by Laura Wiess
- The first Laura Wiess book I had read! It definitely got me hooked on her writing.

April:
Willow by Julia Hoban
- Willow became one of my favorite books, ever. It was just simply amazing. I also donated a copy to the local library in hopes of spreading it around a bit, and every single time I've checked upon the status of it, it's been taken out by someone. This made me so happy.

May:
The Rule of Won by Stephan Petrucha
- I'm not sure how many people actually read this book. It never seemed to get very big. But I loved the idea of it, and it was an interesting book that really made me think.

June:
How To Buy A Love Of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson
- This book was just kind of... strange. Everyone either loved it, or hated it and didn't get past the first couple chapters or so. It definitely wasn't for everyone, but for some reason it's just stuck in my head since I've read it, in a good kind of way.

Identical by Ellen Hopkins
- Another great book I read in June. I love Ellen Hopkins, and this book was just phenomenal. I'm kind of at a loss for words about it.

July:
Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
- This was a bit different from your typical fairy story, and I think that's what made me love it so much. The plot was so interesting and if I remember right, I finished the book in one sitting.

August:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
- Along with Willow, this has also become one of my all time favorite books. It's too great for words, really. I can't wait for the second book to come out!

Candor by Pam Bachorz
- As you've probably noticed, I love books with unique plot lines and books that make you think a bit, or make you see things in a different light. This was one of those books that kind of made me stop and think about the world around me.

September:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Another book that became one of my all time favorites. (That's three so far, jeez!) I loved Patch's character. I loved the whole idea of the book. The cover is absolutely beautiful. But I still haven't read the finished copy to see the changes in the ending.

October:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
- Another thought-provoking book! I love the whole other kind of world that the book took place in. Definitely a lot of interesting concepts in here.

Rage by Julie Anne Peters
- Perhaps I'm a bit biased about this one because I'm a total sucker for anything Julie Anne Peters or GLBT. But I thought the cover was gorgeous, and the book was a much needed story about dating violence in homosexual relationships.

November:
Hold Still by Nina LaCour
- This book was almost kind of haunting, when I think about it. But I really did love it, and it's actually one of the things that got me wanting to learn more about photography. It seemed like such a personal book, and I think that's what made it wonderful.

December:
Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
- I loved this book because I could see so much of myself in the main character. And even when I couldn't, there were so many funny things going on that I couldn't help but love the book. The cover is simple, but I find it effective and cute.

Review: Get Well Soon

2009-12-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

Title: Get Well Soon
Author: Julie Halpern
Publication date: September 1st, 2009

Summary:
Anna Bloom is depressed—so depressed that her parents have committed her to a mental hospital with a bunch of other messed-up teens. Here she meets a roommate with a secret (and a plastic baby), a doctor who focuses way too much on her weight, and a cute, shy boy who just might like her. But wait! Being trapped in a loony bin isn’t supposed to be about making friends, losing weight, and having a crush, is it?

Review:
I loved everything about this book, from the plain but cute cover to the fresh writing style. Getting to know Anna and the other patients through her letters was fun, and it actually made it seem like being in a mental hospital could be kind of fun. I loved each of the characters I got to know, and I especially liked Anna's developing relationship with Justin. I'm also a sufferer of irritable bowel syndrome and panic attacks, so I instantly fell in love with Anna's character simply because I could relate so well to almost everything she said. All of the things that happened were interesting to read about, like all of the seemingly weird rules at the hospital and the different personalities of each person. The voice was so real and fresh, and I just kept wanting to read more and more about her stay. The ending left me a bit sad, but I loved seeing how Anna really evolved throughout the book. There are some things I can't say without giving away spoilers, but I enjoyed this book tremendously.

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A

CSN Bookcase winner!

2009-12-28T19:43:00.001-08:00

First off, I am SO sorry. I got caught up in all the Christmas excitement and totally forgot to announce the winner of the CSN bookcase contest. So without any further delay, the winner is...

RaeReads!

She chose choice number one. Congratulations! I've sent you an email, please reply within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone who entered, and thanks again to Jason at CSN Bookcases for having me host the giveaway.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #8

2009-12-25T20:09:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope that you all had a wonderful day with lots of yummy food and family and presents. Unfortunately I'm failing (a lot) with this reading challenge; I've only managed to finish one book so far, and I'll likely be busy doing other things this upcoming week (like playing with my awesome new camera!) But I'll try my hardest to at least meet my goal halfway before break is over.

I did participate in activity #8 over at the Holiday Break Reading Challenge blog, though I didn't do very well with that either. I scored 5 out of 15. It looks like I need to brush up on my Christmas literature! Go take the quiz yourself; I'm sure you'll do better than I did.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the winner of the CSN bookcase giveaway! You can enter up until Midnight tonight, Pacific time, if you haven't already.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #3

2009-12-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

For Activity #3 of the Holiday Break Reading Challenge, I needed to choose 3-4 books from my bookshelf and create a sentence. My sentence?
Strange Angels Teach Me What Happens Here.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge!

2009-12-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

I love participating in challenges, and have desperately been looking for something fun to do over break, so I'm happy I found this lovely challenge. I'm starting a day late because I just found out about it, but oh well. Between today and January 3rd, I hope to read (at least) ten books. I don't have any specific books chosen yet; lately I've just been grabbing whatever looks good at the moment off of the shelf. After the first of the year I'll definitely get some books for the GLBT challenge in there. Right now I'm reading Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti. Click on the picture and sign up for the challenge, if you haven't already!

Review: What Happens Here

2009-12-19T12:56:00.001-08:00

Title: What Happens Here
Author: Tara Altebrando
Publication date: May 6th, 2008

Summary:
When Chloe's parents decide to take her to Europe the summer before senior year of high school, she's ecstatic...she only wishes her best friend, Lindsay, could come too. Living in Las Vegas, they have long imagined the world through the casinos inspired by great cities and have vowed to travel the globe together someday. Unfortunately, Lindsay's parents won't agree to send her along.
So Chloe goes to Europe and sends postcards to Lindsay every day. But when she comes home, she must cope with shocking news that rips her family -- and Lindsay's -- apart. And as she tries to uncover the truth about what happened, Chloe soon begins to feel that Lindsay's brother, Noah, is the one person alive for whom she'd go to the ends of the earth....

Review:
This is one of those books that barely anyone has heard of, but I think it deserves more exposure. It was so packed with emotions, from euphoria to depression, and I could really feel each of them. As someone who lives in Nevada and therefore knows Vegas quite well, and having also been to many of the places in Europe that were talked about, I felt that this book captured the feelings of each of the places perfectly. I could easily relate to the feelings that the descriptions of each place evoked, and believe that anyone reading the book who isn't familiar with these places would be able to experience the same emotions, just by the style of writing. It was a fun book in the beginning, but also had a deeper kind of meaning in the last half. Definitely one of those books that sticks around in your mind for a while after you've read it. If you're looking for a book that will give you a different mix of feelings in a perhaps not so normal setting, this is a great book for that.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: B

CSN Bookcase Giveaway!

2009-12-14T19:05:00.000-08:00

I've got a wonderful contest/giveaway to share with all of you! I would have loved to have another bookcase, but I just don't have the space at the moment. So I opted for a contest for my readers. One lucky winner will receive their choice of one of three bookcases from CSN Bookcases.

Choice One: Mylex 5 shelf bookcase

Choice Two:
Hanging corner bookshelf

Choice Three:
Winsome expresso storage shelf

Open to:
US and Canada

To enter:
Leave a comment with your email address and choice of bookcase.

Extra entries:
+1 for linking to this contest somewhere

Winner will be announced December 26th.

GLBT Challenge

2009-11-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

I saw this challenge and decided to use it as an effort to try and be more active on this blog again. GLBT is one of my absolute favorite genres to read (especially YA GLBT) and I have a whole shelf of my bookshelf with only GLBT-related books. So I thought this would be the perfect challenge.

Rules/Guidelines:

The basic idea of this challenge is to read books about GLBT topics and/or by GLBT authors.

The challenge runs year-round, and there will be three levels of participation:

Lambda Level: Read 4 books.
Pink Triangle Level: Read 8 books.
Rainbow Level: Read 12 or more books.

You don't need to choose your books right away, and they can change at any time. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.

You can read more about it here. I'm so excited to get started on this. I already have a couple of books in mind that I haven't read yet that would be perfect for this, and am also planning to re-read a few of my favorites. I'll aim for the Pink Triangle Level first and see how things go from there.

Books I've Read For The Challenge So Far:
1. David Inside Out (1/20/10)

Review: Hold Still

2009-11-14T17:57:00.001-08:00

Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina LaCour
Publication date: October 20th, 2009

Summary:
dear caitlin.
there are so many things
that i want so badly to tell you
but i just can't

That night Ingrid told Caitlin, I'll go wherever you go. But by dawn Ingrid, and her promise, were gone, and Caitlin was alone. Ingrid's suicide immobilizes Caitlin, leaving her unsure of her place in a new life she hardly recognizes. A life without the art, the laughter, the music, the joy she shared with her best friend.

But Ingrid left more than a memory behind. Devastating and hopeful, playful and hopeless. In words and drawings, Ingrid documented a painful farewell in her journal - just for Caitlin. Journeying through Ingrid's final days, Caitlin fights back through unspeakable loss to find renewed hope.

Review:
Hold Still is a beautiful novel about a girl struggling with the suicide of her best friend. It was very emotional and powerful and it's one of those books that I know is going to stick in my head for long after I've read it. I especially loved two things about the novel, one being the fact that it's divided into seasons. The seasons seemed to mark different periods in Caitlin's life as she dealt with the depression, and I liked seeing the growth in each one. The other thing I really liked was how Ingrid's drawings and handwritten journal entries were incorporated, making the novel seem more personal. Hold Still was a beautifully written, captivating book that really let me see how it would feel to be in Caitlin's shoes. It's very raw and very real, and a book that I would definitely recommend. I really can't say enough about it.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A

Review: Muchacho

2009-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Title: Muchacho
Author: Louanne Johnson
Publication date: September 8th, 2009

Summary:
Eddie Corazon is angry. He’s also very smart. But he’s working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he’s a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up—when they aren’t in jail. T

Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something in Eddie he doesn’t even see in himself. A heart, and a mind, and something more: a poet. But in Eddie’s world, it’s a thin line between tragedy and glory. And what goes down is entirely in Eddie’s hands.

Gripping, thought-provoking, and hopeful, Muchacho is a rare and inspiring story about one teen’s determination to fight his circumstances and shape his own destiny.

Review:
*I reviewed this book for BookDivas.com, so the review I'm posting here is the exact one I posted there.*

Though it wouldn't have been a book I'd buy, I liked this book and I'm glad I got the chance to read it. It was written almost like a journal entry, or like it was directly to the reader from Eddie. It had a raw kind of writing that made it seem as if I were reading a memoir of someone's rough life instead of a fiction book. I loved the glimpse that I got into Eddie's tough world of struggling and delinquency. This is one of those books that, while you might not necessarily love it, it's worth reading for the experience it puts you through.

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: C

In My Mailbox (11/2 - 11/7)

2009-11-07T15:21:00.000-08:00

This week, I got two great books. One that I've been eagerly awaiting:

Hold Still by Nina Lacour

And another that I already have a copy of:

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Would anyone be interested in a giveaway of Evermore, or do most of you already own it? If I get enough interest, I'll hold a giveaway for it in a few weeks.

What amazing books came in your mailboxes this week? I've kind of been out of the loop for a few weeks, and I'm trying to really get back into blogging more. I'd love to see what books you all have been getting recently.

Winner of 100 followers comment contest!

2009-11-01T15:50:00.001-08:00

It's time to announce the winner of my comment contest for reaching 100 followers, for a copy of Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott! Thanks to everybody for entering :) And the winner is entry #36....

Arielle from B.A.M. Book Reviews!

Congrats Arielle! Send me an email to claim your prize :)

If I don't hear from her within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen. Thanks again to everyone who entered and posted about my contest!

Want to trade books?

2009-10-31T12:40:00.001-07:00

I'm in the process of doing a thorough cleaning of my bookshelf, so I thought I'd post a list of books I'm willing to trade/sell here. :) I'd prefer trades, and it doesn't have to be even because my main goal is to get rid of these books and make sure they have loving homes. So if you've got a book I really want, I'm probably willing to trade 2 or 3 books for it. Comment here or send an email if you're interested in any of these, along with what you have available, and we'll see what we can work out. I'll edit this post as I do more cleaning.

Paperbacks:
A Time For Dancing by Davida Wills Hurwin
Love Lessons by David Belbin
The Best Little Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron
Learning to Swim by Ann Turner
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger
Chill by Deborah Reber

Hardbacks:
Trash by Sharon Darrow (signed)

ARCs:
Adios to All the Drama by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (signed)

Blog Tour Review: Give Up The Ghost

2009-10-30T16:31:00.001-07:00

Title: Give Up The Ghost
Author: Megan Crewe
Publication date: September 15th, 2009

Summary:
Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

Review:
I think this is my new favorite ghost story. It's hard for me to believe that this is Megan Crewe's first novel. It was a well balanced mix of fun and some not so fun moments, and at the end I was left with that feeling of wanting to go back and read the whole book again. Everything was completely believable, and this is a great ghost story for someone who maybe wants to get into them but doesn't want anything scary. There was absolutely nothing scary about it. I personally enjoyed getting to know the ghosts that Cass talked to. The only people we really get to know are Cass and Tim, but I still loved all of the supporting characters as well. Give Up The Ghost is both charming and serious, and I think it's one of those books that everyone should give a chance even if it doesn't sound like something you'd really be into. You may be pleasantly surprised just as I was.

Reviewed as part of One ARC Tours.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: B

Review: Rage: A Love Story

2009-10-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

Title: Rage: A Love Story
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Publication date: September 8th, 2009

Summary: Johanna is steadfast, patient, reliable; the go-to girl, the one everyone can count on. But always being there for others can’t give Johanna everything she needs— it can’t give her Reeve Hartt.

Reeve is fierce, beautiful, wounded, elusive; a flame that draws Johanna’s fluttering moth. Johanna is determined to get her, against all advice, and to help her, against all reason. But love isn’t always reasonable, right?

In the precarious place where attraction and need collide, a teenager experiences the dark side of a first love, and struggles to find her way into a new light.

Review:
My review may be a bit biased because of my love of everything by Julie Anne Peters (and I also think the cover is gorgeous), but I found this book to be amazing and unique. Not just because it features a lesbian relationship, but also because of the realistic and somewhat scary glimpse it gives us of dating abuse. Nothing was sugar-coated, and it was intense to read. I could easily sympathize with Johanna and all of the situations that she had to deal with. The ending didn't quite wrap it up as well as I would have liked, but it was still satisfying. The writing was simple and nothing spectacular, but the story itself more than made up for that. I was actually a bit scared by the time I finished reading, just because of the intensity of it, but I will definitely read it again. It's a great book that shows how dangerous dating violence can really be, and that it doesn't only happen in heterosexual relationships.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 7/10
Overall grade: B

In My Mailbox (10/12 - 10/17)

2009-10-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

This week in my mailbox, I received a couple of very exciting books:

-Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
-Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters

I am SO excited for these two books! As you probably know, I've already read/reviewed the ARC of Hush, Hush, but I can't wait to read it again and find out how the ending's been changed.

And when I opened another package and found Rage, I was squee-ing and jumping up and down for a good five or ten minutes. Julie Anne Peters has always been one of my favorite authors because of the topics she writes her books on, and even before I started blogging and finding out about more upcoming books, I was eagerly anticipating the release of Rage. I finally have my hands on a shiny copy with its gorgeous cover, and I can't wait to start reading it. In fact, I think I'll start right now.

What was in YOUR mailbox this week?

Review: The Maze Runner

2009-10-17T15:59:00.001-07:00

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publication date: October 6th, 2009

Summary:
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Review:
This book kept me wanting more and more the entire time I was reading it. From the first page, I was intrigued by the strange place that Thomas was brought to. Everything was described so clearly, it was like I was right there in the middle of it. The Glade was so intricately designed and left me with many questions, most of which were answered as I kept reading. It was a bit hard to get into at first, because I had so many unanswered questions about what was happening and the slang that they were using, but I quickly got a feel for the place and the slang. The characters were all unique and each played an important role by the end, thought at first it was somewhat overwhelming trying to remember who was who.

I felt that it ended almost too abruptly, because I had a million questions at the end that I didn't feel were answered very clearly. But I look forward to reading the second book, and The Maze Runner is definitely a book that I will be keeping on my shelf to read again.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A

In My Mailbox (10/5 - 10/10)

2009-10-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is my first In My Mailbox post in quite some time. Because I haven't been as active on the blog lately, I've stopped receiving books as well. But this week was very exciting, as of a few minutes ago when the FedEx truck pulled up. What did the FedEx man bring, you ask?

CATCHING FIRE! Plus awesome t-shirt and pin. *does happy dance* Now I just need to get The Hunger Games, because I haven't even read it yet.

Award!

2009-10-10T11:00:00.001-07:00

I recently received an award over at Strange & Random Happenstance. Woohoo! Thank you :) It's the Heartfelt Award!
"Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, or sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about...feeling warm inside."

Cookies? Tea?? This is making me hungry! Plus the fact that I'm sick.. Well, I may just have to go get some tea and relax. Doesn't sound like such a bad idea, and would be a perfect thing to do after receiving this award. :)

Anyways, here are the rules that go along with the award:
1) Put the logo on your blog/post.
2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.
3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4) Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog.
5) Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Nominees!:
Kate at Read This Book!
Vania at Reverie Book Reviews
Liyana at LiyanaLand!
Khy at Frenetic Reader
Briana at The Book Pixie

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-10-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for a book that came out earlier this year, A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell. But I haven't read it yet, and this trailer really makes me think I should pick up a copy. Plus I love the cover.

I'm sure some of you have reviewed this book. Link me to it, I'd love to see your reviews. :)

100 Followers contest

2009-10-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here it is, finally! The first of October, and the launch of my contest for reaching 100 followers.
This contest is going to be a bit different than contests I've had before. I've seen comment contests on other blogs and have always been intrigued by them, so I thought I'd run one myself. But to prevent spam, there are a few rules. Here's how it's going to work:

- Winner of the contest will be announced on November 1st and receive a hardback copy of Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott. For every 200 comments I receive, another book will be added and another winner chosen. This post will be edited with updates.

- Each comment you make between now and October 31st will count as an entry.

- Comments may be made on any post (other than past contests), but only one comment per post will count.

- Only comments that add to the post/discussion will be counted. If it's only a few words, such as "Great post!", then I reserve the right to determine which comments count as entries.

- You get 2 extra points for each time you post about this contest elsewhere (blog, twitter, etc). Make sure to leave a link on this post each time you do this to earn your entries.

- This contest is open worldwide.

Thanks to all of you for being followers and/or reading my blog! My posts have been few and far between lately, because I'm putting more energy and effort into my schoolwork than my blog. Though I'm hoping this will give me incentive to try and read/post more often :)

Winners of Ruined giveaway!

2009-09-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

Today is the 27th, and that means it's time to announce the 5 lucky winners of my Ruined giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered and helped spread the word - this was definitely the best turnout I've had for a contest yet. :)
Congrats to the winners:
Katie
Paradox
Addicted Book Reader
Bianca
Froggy

I'll be sending out emails shortly to the winners. You have 48 hours to reply before I pick a new winner. Congratulations!

If you didn't win, there's still my 100 followers contest that will be coming up around the first of the month - so watch out for that. :)

Review: DupliKate

2009-09-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Title: DupliKate
Author: Cherry Cheva
Publication date: September 29th, 2009

Summary:
Getting into Yale has been her dream for years—and being generally overworked and totally under-rested is the price of admission. But when she opens her eyes the next day, she comes face-to-face with, well, her face—which is attached to her body, which is standing across the room. Wait, what?

Meet Kate's computer-generated twin. Kate doesn't know why she's here or how to put her back where she belongs, but she's real. And she's the last thing Kate has time to deal with right now. Unless . . .

Could having a double be the answer to Kate's prayers? After all, two Kates can do more work than one. Or will keeping her twin a secret turn her dream future into a living nightmare?

Review:
I honestly wasn't very excited for this book at first. The cover made me think that it was going to be about some stuck up girl (I'm not really sure why, because I don't think that when I look at the cover anymore..). But when I got the opportunity to read DupliKate, it showed me that you can't always judge a book by its cover. Instead, it was about a girl who I felt I could totally relate to - someone who works her absolute hardest to get what she wants.

When Rina, Kate's "twin", comes out from the computer, it's almost completely believable. For a moment, my reaction was something like "Seriously? You've got to be kidding me", but the more I read about Rina, the less I questioned the situation and the more I wanted to know what would happen next. DupliKate was a light but very entertaining read, and something that I would definitely read again. I often found myself wondering what I would do in Kate's situation, because the characters were so real and the situation seemed so believable. If you want to read something light and fun, but with elements of seriousness, try this.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: C

Reminder and new contest

2009-09-21T20:38:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd post a quick post with updates, as I haven't really been around as much lately. There will be no Trailer Tuesdays this week, because I am swamped with tests in school and have minimal time for blog posts.

My Ruined giveaway ends in 5 days, so there's still time to enter (or link to it somewhere for more entries) if you haven't done so already!

Secondly, and more exciting, is the fact that sometime in the past couple of days I've hit the benchmark of 100 followers! When I started my blog, I never dreamed that I'd even reach 50 followers. I did promise to hold another contest when I reached 100 followers, but as you've probably noticed, things around the blog have been a bit slow lately. School is a bit busier this year, and my blog is taking a backseat to studying and various other things. So the contest for 100 followers will be posted within the first few days of October, after I've had time to organize everything. I want to thank all of you for following me, and those of you who leave me comments. It's because of you that I am motivated to keep doing this, even when things get super busy.

Review: Unclaimed Heart

2009-09-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Unclaimed Heart
Author: Kim Wilkins
Publication date: July 9th, 2009

Summary:
The rules for a young English woman in 1799 are simple: Do what you're told; stay out of the way; and don't, under any circumstances, ask questions.
But Constance Blackchurch is insatiable, headstrong, and complex; and the quest to find her missing mother is too much to resist? As is Alexandre Sans-Nom, the pearl diver who steals her heart, uproots all of her social expectations, and can either ruin or save the family she loves.

Review:
I've never really thought of myself as a historical fiction fan, so I picked up this book a bit reluctantly. But I enjoyed it so much that I'm willing to give other historical fiction books a try as well.
Neither the cover nor the title of the book really interested me, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. From the first page, I was drawn to the main character and wanted to know more about her. It started off with a scene that I'm sure we can all relate to - ditching something we're supposed to be doing in favor of doing something we WANT to do. Constance was definitely a relatable character. Her relationship with her father was interesting to read about, as were the feelings she had for Alexandre. The details of all the aspects of running a ship were well presented, but not over done. I think that's what made me like this book so much - the fact that the historical part wasn't terribly overwhelming, but rather something that nicely complemented the story.
Overall, it only took me a couple of hours to read through it, but those few hours were well spent. If you're reluctant about historical fiction, give this one a try and it might just change your mind.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: B

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-09-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia. It comes out on December 1st, 2009.

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.

I've heard great things about this book, and can't wait to get my hands on a copy even though the release date isn't for another few months. The cover is so simple, yet amazing.

Review: Adios To All The Drama

2009-09-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Title: Adios To All The Drama
Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publication date: January 1st, 2009

Summary:
Mariana Ruiz thought she left her summer fling in Puerto Rico, that is until she finds Alex sitting across from her at the breakfast table. Living two doors down from her visiting old flame isn't easy, especially given the unresolved sparks still lingering for her locker buddy Bobby - and they don't exactly go unnoticed. Her best friends are little help as Madison deals with her IM-only 'boyfriend' and Emily sinks into secret mode after her parents' recent breakup. The only relationship that seems to be working is her estranged aunt Teresa who's tying the knot on New Years with Mariana and her cousin Lilly as bridesmaids. But the last wedding detail left unplanned is who will Mariana kiss at midnight? Strained friendships, stolen kisses, and secret loves create plenty of surprises to unfold before the New Year's bells start ringing.

Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting enough, and some of the characters I really cared about (unfortunately most of them were the minor characters). I really liked the ending because it captured how I felt things should be throughout the whole book. It was entertaining, and a light read.

But on the other hand, most of the characters I couldn't care less about. Especially the main character's boyfriend. Which made it hard for me to read, because obviously a big part of the book was the narrator talking about her "relationship" with him. I didn't really start to care about the main character a whole lot, until about 60 pages before the book was over. Then I couldn't put it down. But that makes for a total of maybe 70-80 captivating pages out of roughly 330 (of my ARC copy. The actual book has less pages, I believe.)

***Two things I felt I should mention that may have an effect on my review - take these into consideration when reading:***
1) The copy I read was an ARC copy. Perhaps things are a bit different in the finished version that might change my opinion.
2) I haven't read either of the two books that come before this one. I get the feeling that if I knew more on the background of a lot of the characters, I might be more sympathetic towards them.

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall rating: C-

Review: Hush, Hush

2009-09-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication date: October 13, 2009

Summary:
Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless. Her first mistake was falling for Patch. Patch has a past that could be called anything but harmless. The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora. After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her. She can feel his eyes on her even when he is nowhere around. She feels him nearby even when she is alone in her bedroom. And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her. Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?

Review:
All I can say is, wow. Hush, Hush will not disappoint you. Unless, of course, you don't like reading unique, suspenseful books. I couldn't put it down, and finished it in only a few hours.

The theme of forbidden love has been done a million times before, but Becca Fitzpatrick makes it new and exciting. Patch is mysterious and dangerous; you'll love him one minute and hate him the next. He's an independent guy with a hidden past, and you won't really be able to figure him out until the end. Nora's best friend Vee really got on my nerves sometimes, but she was definitely an important part of the book and I liked her more by the end.

Each chapter brings twists and turns that you'll never see coming, that add complexity to the story. Every time something new was revealed, I was second-guessing myself even though I thought I had it all figured out just a minute before. Don't even think about picking up this book if you've got other important things to do, because they will be shrugged off in favor of finishing Hush, Hush. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book, and when I finished it I immediately wanted to read it all over again. Amazing debut novel - I can't wait to see what else Becca Fitzpatrick comes up with.

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A+

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. It comes out on October 13th, 2009.

Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless. Her first mistake was falling for Patch. Patch has a past that could be called anything but harmless. The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora. After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her. She can feel his eyes on her even when he is nowhere around. She feels him nearby even when she is alone in her bedroom. And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her. Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?

I do already have the ARC (which I absolutely LOVED) and my review will be up tomorrow. I think this trailer is completely awesome though, and wanted to share it in case and of you haven't seen it.

Giveaway: Ruined by Paula Morris

2009-09-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Summary:

When Rebecca Brown goes to New Orleans to stay with her voodoo-obsessed aunt, she finds the beautiful city haunted by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Rebecca is also startled to discover a haunting of a different kind: near a graveyard one night, amid the Spanish moss and beneath the moonlight, she meets a ghost girl named Lisette, who has been dead for 150 years. Lisette helps Rebecca unearth an ancient mystery in her aunt’s house, along with some troubling historical truths. Meanwhile, Rebecca must juggle adjusting to her snooty new prep school, developing a serious crush on a handsome boy, and dealing with an elite group of popular girls who may be linked to the ghostly mystery themselves.

Want to win a copy? Well here's your chance! I'm giving away 5 copies of Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris. Watch this video of Paula Morris talking about the book, and then sign up to win!

To enter:
Leave a comment with your name and email address. Comments without both of these will be disqualified.

Extra entries:
+1 Post about this contest on your sidebar, and leave a link
+1 Tweet about this contest. Make sure to include @whatbrireads
+1 For becoming a follower
+2 If you're already a follower (thanks!)
+2 For commenting on my review (something more substantial than "Great review", please)

Open to:
US only - no P.O. Boxes

Deadline:
Last day to enter is September 26th. Winners will be announced on September 27th.

Q&A with author Paula Morris

2009-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today I have a Q&A post with Paula Morris, author of Ruined: A Ghost Story. It was sent to me by the publisher, and it's somewhat of a precursor to an upcoming contest I'll be holding for Ruined. So enjoy the interview, and watch for the contest! (If you comment on the interview before the contest is posted, you'll earn an extra entry into the contest!)

What inspired you to write Ruined?
I’ve been living in New Orleans for five years. Lots of people come to visit, so I get to play tour guide on a regular basis. I’ve also taught some classes on the history of Mardi Gras, and on the city’s literary past. New Orleans is such a unique city, with such a rich and complex history. The more I found out about it, the more I wanted to write about it myself.

After Hurricane Katrina, when the city felt turned upside down, I went to see a tarot card reader in a French Quarter voodoo shop. He told me that the storm and the flood had fractured time, and displaced hundreds of ghosts. He said he kept seeing ghosts everywhere. I hadn’t really thought about the ghosts of the city, but after that conversation, pieces of the story started taking shape in my mind.

You capture New Orleans beautifully in the book. What are your favorite spots in New Orleans? Is there particular local lore or history that appeals to you?
I drive through the Garden District — and past Lafayette Cemetery — a lot, especially when I’m taking visitors on a literary tour. It has tremendous physical beauty and character. But there are interesting stories on every corner in New Orleans. I also like taking people through Tremé, around the Bywater, and into Holy Cross in the Lower Ninth Ward. There are two stunning “Steamboat houses” right by the Mississippi river levee there.

What kind of research did you have to do for Ruined? How did you manage to describe the Mardi Gras floats so accurately? Have you ever been on such a float yourself?
I did a ton of research for the novel — reading books, talking to people, taking a cemetery tour — though obviously a lot is made up. For example, the Mardi Gras krewe called Septimus is imaginary, and any local can tell you that no krewe would be permitted to end their parades back in the Garden District!

Carnival season is a great time of year in New Orleans, and I’ve been to dozens and dozens of parades, watching various krewes ride. I know a number of people who belong to different krewes, both in the city and the suburbs, and they’ve told me lots of stories. I’ve never been on a float — just on the receiving end of beads.

Ruined is coming out around the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Can you talk a little bit about the effects the Hurricane had on the city, and how they influenced Ruined?
The storm, and the flood that followed, had a profound and ongoing impact on the city. Our population is much smaller than it used to be. Many neighborhoods were washed away, and have yet to recover. Some of the older parts of the city, like the French Quarter and the Garden District, lie on high ground, close to the river levee, so they had no flood damage. Tourists visiting the city and just spending their time in those neighborhoods would have no idea of the extent of the devastation — eighty percent of the city was underwater. I was conscious, writing Ruined, that it was set largely in an unflooded neighborhood. But the psychic scars of the flood — and the city’s evacuation, ruin, and slow recovery — exist everywhere, as Rebecca, the protagonist, finds out.

You’ve also written books for adults. Can you tell us how your experience writing for teens differs from writing for adults?
I got some very good advice from my teenage niece when I was working on the book. She told me it needed a lot of mystery and a little romance. I hope I managed both.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get your start as an author?
When I was a child, I wrote stories all the time, but as an adult real life took over — in the form of work, and travel, and building a new life in various places. (I’ve lived in eight different cities, in three different countries.) Writing is a vocation, I think, but you don’t always discover it right away. When I was living in New York, about ten years ago, I started going to creative writing night-classes at the West Side YMCA, and began writing stories again. My first adult novel, Queen of Beauty, was written while I was pursuing a creative writing degree in Wellington, New Zealand; I wrote a lot of my second novel, Hibiscus Coast, while studying at the famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop. I have to say, I think keeping going is harder than starting, in some ways.

What are some of your favorite books/favorite authors?
So many! For short stories: William Trevor, Alice Munro, Deborah Eisenberg. For novels: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Ian McEwan, Lloyd Jones (a New Zealand writer). Favorite authors from childhood: Eleanor Estes, Edward Eager, and Helen Clare. I’m also an expert — read: bore — on the Chalet School series by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, and the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’ve been to all the Little House sites — in seven different states!

Review: Ruined

2009-09-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

Title: Ruined: A Ghost Story
Author: Paula Morris
Publication date: August 1st, 2009

Summary: Rebecca Brown couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to live while her dad is away on business. She's staying in a creepy house with her aunt Claudia, who reads tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda.
Then one night, among the oak trees in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to show Rebecca the nooks and crannies of New Orleans. There's just one catch.
Lisette is a ghost.
A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle.
As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend - and as she begins to trust Anton Grey - she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?

Review:
What started off as a lighter story about a girl being sent to New Orleans while her father is in China, evolved into a thrilling page-turner at the end. Paula Morris uses vivid imagery so that I could clearly see everything in my head. At first, I was a bit confused/disinterested because it seemed like too many things were going on at once (Anton, Lisette, the parades, the cemetery, her father going to China, etc.). It was slow at quite a few points. But about 2/3 of the way through the book it all begins to come together, and then I couldn't put it down. There was also a lot of culture and history about New Orleans and the old-line families interspersed throughout the book, which I felt added depth and made the story more interesting. It's a great ghost story with a lot of history behind it.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: B

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-09-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tabby Freeman and Lora Froggett go to the same school, but they live in totally opposite worlds. Tabby is rich, pretty, and the most popular girl in her class. But behind closed doors, her 'perfect' life is rapidly coming apart at the seams.

On the other side, Lora is smart, timid, and the constant target of bullies. While struggling to survive the piranha-infested halls of her school, she becomes increasingly nervous that somebody might discover the unbearable truth about what's been happening to her family.

Despite their differences, Tabby and Lora have something in common - they're both harboring dark secrets and a lot of pain. Although they've never been friends, a series of strange events causes their lives to crash together in ways neither could have ever imagined.

What will happen when the dust finally settles and all their secrets are forced out into the light?

This sounds SO good! And I think the cover is wonderful and fits perfectly. Will definitely be getting this when it comes out.

In My Mailbox (8/24 - 8/29)

2009-08-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I got some very exciting books this week! Unfortunately they've just been sitting on my bed all week while I've had to deal with the first week of school and tons of homework (I don't EVER remember having this much homework the first week of school!) But now that it's the weekend, I'm getting in as much reading time as I can.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

**********

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless. Her first mistake was falling for Patch. Patch has a past that could be called anything but harmless. The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora. After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her. She can feel his eyes on her even when he is nowhere around. She feels him nearby even when she is alone in her bedroom. And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her. Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?

**********

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
Rebecca Brown couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to live while her dad is away on business. She's staying in a creepy house with her aunt Claudia, who reads tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda.
Then one night, among the oak trees in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to show Rebecca the nooks and crannies of New Orleans. There's just one catch.
Lisette is a ghost.
A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle.
As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend - and as she begins to trust Anton Grey - she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?

Movie Review: Sleepy Hollow

2009-08-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

This is my fourth and final movie review as part of the Gothic Film Club, hosted by Write For A Reader and sponsored by Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters. It's been quite fun, and has given me a reason to watch movies that I haven't seen before. I'll definitely participate in any similar events in the future.

This week, I watched Sleepy Hollow, which is obviously based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod Crane is sent from New York City to Sleepy Hollow, to investigate a series of murders in which the victims have been beheaded by a Headless Horseman. He doesn't believe what the locals tell him, and sets off on his own investigation - until he meets the horseman for himself.

For me, this movie got off to a slow start. For the most part I found it somewhat entertaining, and able to hold my attention well enough with interesting parts here and there. But near the end was when I really started to get into it; when the plot twist was revealed and a lot of the action started. I think that Johnny Depp did a good job playing Ichabod Crane, but I didn't feel like I really got to know any of the other characters that well. Maybe that's why I felt the movie was lacking something, but couldn't quite place my finger on it. Overall, it was interesting enough, but probably something I'd only re-watch on a rainy day with nothing else to do.

Overall rating: 3/5

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-08-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for Hold Still by Nina Lacour. It comes out on October 20th.

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

Blog Tour Review: This Is What I Want To Tell You

2009-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Title: This Is What I Want To Tell You
Author: Heather Duffy Stone
Publication date: March 1st, 2009

Summary:
Nadio and his twin sister, Noelle, always had a unique bond. And somehow, Keeley Shipley fit perfectly into their world. But when Keeley spends the summer in England, she comes home changed, haunted by a dark memory. As she and Nadio fall in love, they try to hide it from Noelle, who's jealously guarding a secret of her own. Slowly, a life-long friendship begins to crack under the crushing weight of past trauma, guarded secrets, jealousy, obsession... and an unexpected love that could destroy them.

Review:
This was a great debut novel, and even just a great novel. It started off kind of slow, but as secrets began to either form or be revealed, I was drawn in. Both Nadio and Noelle tell their stories from their own viewpoints; which I think was exactly how it needed to be told. The writing is simple and almost poetic, and does a great job of telling the story, but the lack of quotation marks was somewhat frustrating. I felt sympathy and strong connections toward each of the characters, and enjoyed seeing them evolve throughout the book. This Is What I Want To Tell You is a powerful book about falling in love and having secrets.

Reviewed as part of Traveling to Teens.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 6/10
Overall grade: C

Review: Slept Away

2009-08-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Slept Away
Author: Julie Kraut
Publication date: May 26th, 2009

Summary: Laney Parker is a city girl through and through. For her, summertime means stepping out of her itchy gray school uniform and into a season of tanning at rooftop swimming pools, brunching at sidewalk cafes, and—as soon as the parents leave for the Hamptons—partying at her classmates’ apartments.

But this summer Laney’s mother has other plans for Laney. It’s called Camp Timber Trails and rustic doesn’t even begin to describe the un-air-conditioned log cabin nightmare. Laney is way out of her element—the in-crowd is anything but cool, popularity seems to be determined by swimming skills, and the activities seem more like boot camp than summer camp.

Splattered with tie dye fall out, stripped of her cell, and going through Diet Coke withdrawal, Laney is barely hanging on. Being declared the biggest loser of the bunk is one thing, but when she realizes her summer crush is untouchably uncrushable in the real world, she starts to wonder, can camp cool possibly translate to cool cool? Summer camp might just turn this city girl’s world upside down!

Review:
What I expected from this book is pretty much what it was. A light, quick, and fun read about a city girl being shipped off to summer camp by her parents. As someone who's never even been close to a summer camp, it was fun for me to read about all the activities, the mess hall, and the crazy counselors. One thing that made me not able to put this book down was the humor. Laney's sarcastic humor and comments that were made throughout the book had me literally laughing out loud at some points. She was definitely a character I could relate to and empathize with, and that made it even more enjoyable because it almost felt like I was in her shoes while I was reading. The writing was unique and to the point, and created a clear picture in my mind of what was happening. All of these things made for an enjoyable but quick read.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: C

Movie Review: Interview With the Vampire

2009-08-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my third movie review as part of the Gothic Film Club, hosted by Write For A Reader and sponsored by Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters.

This week, I chose to watch and review Interview With the Vampire. Louis shares his story of how he got to be a vampire, and the others that he shared the experience with over hundreds of years.

I'm honestly not quite sure how to review this one. I enjoyed watching it, but in a strange way. It was interesting hearing about the life of a vampire, and unlike any movie I've seen before. As new vampires were either met or brought in to the family, I was drawn in and wanted to learn more about how everything worked. Watching how they sucked the blood of their victims was intriguing, but eerie (if the sight of blood makes you queasy, this is probably not a good movie to watch.) Honestly, the first half of the movie held my attention better than the second half; though the latter still had some entertaining moments. Probably not a movie I'd watch again, but it was worth seeing once.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Review: Candor

2009-08-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

Title: Candor
Author: Pam Bachorz
Publication date: September 22nd, 2009

Summary:
Everything is perfect in the town of Candor, Florida. Teens respect their elders, do their chores, and enjoy homework... because they're controlled by subliminal messages. Only Oscar, the son of the town's founder, knows how to get kids out - for a price. But when Nia moves into town, Oscar is smitten. He can't stand to see her changed. Now he must to decide to help Nia escape Candor and lose her forever, or keep her close and risk exposure...

Review:
I loved the concept of this book, how a whole town is controlled by messages. It started off a bit slow for me, but I think that was needed in order to introduce the town and how everything works. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character at the beginning, but as I read more and other people began to come into the picture, I started to like him more. Even though all of the characters are brainwashed, they still manage to have their own personalities. The whole book is very thought-provoking, and the ending was somewhat of a twist but at the same time fit perfectly. If you're looking for an intense, unpredictable book, Candor is for you.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: A

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-08-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

Big contests in the blogosphere!

2009-08-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

I usually don't make posts about contests (unless they're my own, of course!). Usually you can find them linked in my sidebar. But there are so many BIG contests going on right now, that I thought I'd take some time to point them out in case you haven't already heard about them.

Super End of Summer + Birthday contest
Prizes:
- ARC of Shiver
- ARC of How to Say Good-bye in Robot
- ARC of As You Wish
- ARC of Give Up the Ghost
- ARC of Lipstick Apology
- ARC of Devoured
- ARC of The Sweetheart of Prosper County
- Hardcover copy of Eyes Like Stars
- Hardcover copy of Hannah (Daughters of the Sea)

Mega Palooza contest
Prizes:

- Signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia + Goodies

- Hardback Another Faust

- Hardback Prophecy of the Sisters

- ARC The Dark Divine

- ARC Hush Hush

- ARC Give Up The Ghost

- ARC Ash

- ARC Behind Every Illusion

- ARC Shiver

- ARC Eyes Like Stars

- ARC The Demon's Lexicon

- ARC Betraying Season

- ARC Any Given Doomsday

- Dead Until Dark

- Gossip Girl 1st Book

- The Black Tattoo + poster

- Vampire Academy

- Frost Bite, a Vampire Academy Novel

- Shadow Kiss, a Vampire Academy Novel

- Blood Promise, a Vampire Academy Novel

Huge contest
Prizes:
- Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick ARC
- Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen ARC
- Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters ARC
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater ARC
- Troy High by Shana Norris ARC
- Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott ARC
- Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn ARC
- Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
- Death by Series by Linda Gerber (3 books total)
- a 5 dollar giftcard from Walmart (you can buy yourself half of a book with it, lol)
- 3 Sarah Dessen books ( Just Listen, This Lullaby, Someone Like You)
- Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
- Fire By Kristin Cashmore ARC
- Preorder for Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- AND a book of your choice

Just click on the titles of each of the contests to go to them and enter!

Review: Wish You Were Here

2009-08-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Wish You Were Here
Author: Catherine Clark
Publication date: March 25th, 2008

Summary:
Ariel Flack never thought she'd write a postcard saying "Wish you were here," especially to Dylan, the boy she's had a crush on forever and is finally (sort of) dating. She also didn't know she'd be sending that postcard from the family vacation from hell—a two-week geriatric bus tour with her crazy mom, annoying sister, embarrassing uncle, and frighteningly energetic grandparents. As South Dakota rolls by at five miles an hour, Ariel begins to learn that sometimes life is just too complicated to fit on a postcard. Sometimes your parents let you down (and sometimes they don't). Sometimes you meet an unexpected fellow traveler. And sometimes you just have to go where the road takes you—even if the tour bus won't.

Review:

This was one of the most fun books I've read in a while. Filled with tons of funny and unexpected moments, I couldn't help but laugh and smile throughout the whole book. First Ariel's mother tells her that they're going on a road trip. As if that isn't bad enough, Ariel soon finds out that it's actually a bus trip - filled with her crazy relatives, lots of old people, and even a Chihuahua. The tour is through Leisure Lee Tours, with two crazy tour guides, and no set schedule. If this doesn't create opportunities for interesting things to happen, I don't know what does. The writing was fresh, and the plot was original and not something that I've already read a million times. Each character had a unique personality and their own quirks; which I liked because even though there were quite a few of them, I felt like I got to know every one of them. If you're looking for a quick, fun summer read before the summer's over, I'd highly recommend this one.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: B

In My Mailbox (8/10 - 8/15)

2009-08-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Had a great week this week! Most were purchased from Harmony Book Reviews. Candor was a contest win, and a couple were from Random Buzzers. So many great books, I can't wait to read them. I'm a bit low on time, so this week I'll just post the pictures with the title linking to the Amazon page instead of posting a description.

Girl To The Core by Stacey Goldblatt

3 Willows by Ann Brashares

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Leaving Simplicity by Claire Carmichael

Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

Purge: Rehab Diaries by Nichole Johns

Slob by Ellen Potter

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

Adios To All The Drama by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

Purge by Sarah Littman

Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark

Movie Review: Edward Scissorhands

2009-08-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

Here's my second movie review as part of the Gothic Film Club, hosted by Write For A Reader and sponsored by Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters.

This week, I chose to watch and review Edward Scissorhands. Created by an inventor who died before he could finish him, Edward has scissors for hands. When Peg finds him, she decides to bring him home with her so he can have a family to live with. Everyone in the neighborhood is curious about the new visitor, except for a few who don't think too highly of him. But when Edward meets Peg's daughter, Kim, he begins to fall in love with her.

I'm probably one of the few people who, until now, hadn't seen this movie. I'm glad that I finally got around to it. Edward's character was so innocent; I instantly loved him from the beginning. This movie was well put together, and combined many different themes. Love, humor, curiosity, acceptance, and even a bit of fear and sadness. It was one of those movies that leaves you with an overall warm feeling at the end, but you also can't help but feel a bit sad. Edward Scissorhands definitely holds a place in my heart now, and this is a movie that I will watch over and over again.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Winner of Pure

2009-08-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

It's time to announce the winner to my Pure contest! I think this has been the most successful contest I've had so far, so thanks to all of you who entered. I had 24 people enter, with a total of 79 entries. And the winner of Pure is...

Kelsey!

Kelsey, I've sent you an email. Please reply within 72 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks!

Trailer Tuesdays

2009-08-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for After by Amy Efaw, which is released today!

An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant...

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there’s only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

Review: Psych Major Syndrome

2009-08-10T20:28:00.001-07:00

Title: Psych Major Syndrome
Author: Alicia Thompson
Publication date: August 11th, 2009

Summary:
Patient Name: Leigh Nolan
Age: 18 years

Presenting Concerns: Leigh Nolan has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards than Rorschach blots), despite reporting that she thinks, "Psychology is a load of crap." Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much. Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream? Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive. Preliminary treatment will include Introduction to Psychology, but may require more if she's going to answer these questions and make it through her freshman year.

Diagnosis: Psych Major Syndrome

Review:
This was an interesting book with a few fun and unique things about it, but otherwise it was kind of predictable. Not to say it wasn't good, though. I really liked it; especially how at the beginning of each chapter it would have a definition of a psychology term. As someone who's interested in Psychology, the emphasis on psychology related things was something that made the book more likable for me; though perhaps I'm a bit biased. There were also other events I enjoyed reading about, like Leigh participating in a mentoring program at the middle school and the students that she met. Leigh was a character I felt I could relate to, but the main part of the novel about her relationship with Andrew and Nathan was predictable. I could tell how it would end by the time I was halfway through the book, and that was definitely a drawback. Overall, I did like this book a lot, but a lot of it was easily predictable. In some ways there was a uniqueness to it, but maybe not as much as you'd expect.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: C+

Review: Coffeehouse Angel

2009-08-10T09:32:00.001-07:00

Title: Coffeehouse Angel
Author: Suzanne Selfors
Publication date: July 21st, 2009

Summary: When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be...

Review:
At first, Coffeehouse Angel seemed like a light read about friendship and love. But it was also a bit more than that. Katrina was one of those types of people who's caring and likes to do good for everyone else. She gives Malcolm the coffee and pastries before she even knows him, and she tries to keep her grandmother's coffeehouse in business. But when Malcolm tries to help her and give her what she most desires, she has no idea what she wants. She was a very real character and I could definitely sympathize with her on a lot of things - like trying to figure out her talents, and her feelings about seeing her best friend Vincent with another girl.

All of the other characters were also very well developed, and I got to know and love each of them. The setting of Nordby added a uniqueness to the story, and I could really picture it in my head and see how it fit together with everything else in the book. This is a charming story that starts off as one thing, and evolves into something completely different by the end. If you're looking for a book that will leave you with a good feeling when you're finished, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: A

In My Mailbox (8/3 - 8/8)

2009-08-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I was in Las Vegas doing some shopping for the past few days. I did manage to read a little bit while I was there, so I should have another review up soon. Here's what was in my mailbox this week :) I'm reeeeally excited for Psych Major Syndrome.

Thicker Than Water by Carla Jablonski

Kia is searching for an escape. From her mother's cancer. From her father's apathy. From her own rage. The pressure is building. There's a craving in her veins, a secret urge. She needs a way to let the inside out. But she knows she must resist. She knows she must find another way. When she becomes immersed in an underground scene - goths who live as vampires - Kia thinks she's finally found that way. At the center of everything is the sexy and mysterious Damon. With his otherworldly presence he pulls Kia deep into the night. into a world where the unbelievable can be believed, the unreal made real, until Kia herself can no longer draw the line.

********************

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson

Patient Name: Leigh Nolan

Age: 18 years

Presenting Concerns:
Leigh Nolan has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards than Rorschach blots), despite reporting that she thinks, "Psychology is a load of crap." Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much. Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream? Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, nave. Preliminary treatment will include Introduction to Psychology, but may require more if she's going to answer these questions and make it through her freshman year.

Diagnosis: Psych Major Syndrome

Movie Review: The Talented Mr. Ripley

2009-08-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Usually I only do book reviews. But I'll be reviewing a movie each week for the next four weeks, as part of the Gothic Film Club hosted by Write For A Reader and sponsored by Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters.

This week, I chose to watch and review The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's set in the 1950's, where Tom Ripley, a young man from New York, is sent to Italy by Mr. Greenleaf in order to bring back Dickie Greenleaf, his rich and spoiled son. But when the plan fails and Dickie makes Tom angry, Tom kills him and begins to assume his identity.

I thought the movie started off slow, and it took a while for everything to fall in place so that I could understand it. But once I started to get a clearer idea of what was going on, I was drawn in and couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. It was intriguing to see how crazy a person can get, to kill someone and then assume their identity. Tom Ripley started out as someone you felt sympathy for, but turned out to be a very twisted man. But even after he starts doing psychotic things, you can't help but feel sympathy towards him. I love how it was set mainly in Rome and Venice; I think that added an interesting depth to it. I felt that the last scene somewhat left me hanging, but at the same time was a great way to end it. The movie was complex and requires that you pay attention the whole time in order to follow everything, but it's definitely worth it because in the end you'll be left with a million different thoughts swirling around in your head.

Overall rating: 4/5