Reading in the Corner

Waiting on Wednesday (52)

2012-02-29T09:18:00.000-06:00

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where book bloggers discuss the books that they are most anxiously waiting for! (And this fabulous button was designed by my dear blogger friend Lindsay at The Violet Hour)

This week I'm waiting on...

Breathe by Sarah Crossan
© 2 October 2012 by Greenwillow

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .

The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

ALINA
has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

QUINN
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

BEA
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Doesn't that sound interesting? I'm hoping that it stands on its own among the many other dystopian-type novels that have inundated the market lately. And check it--love triangle with two girls here??

Add it to your Goodreads shelf!

Also, I figured I would combine this post with W.W.W. Wednesdays...so here is some more info about my reading for this week! To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…Grab the logo...and post your link at Should Be Reading!

School has REALLY slowed down my reading! Between a FT job, a PT job, a middle school library practicum, and a reader's advisory class, I feel like I only get about 1/4 of the time I used to for my own reading. It's really sad!

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

(ARC) YA Book Review: Life is But a Dream by Brian James

2012-02-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 27 March 2012
Publisher: Fiewel & Friends
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Goodreads description:

Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.

My Thoughts...

Books set in psychiatric institutions fascinate me. Their world is completely different from anything that we experience on a regular basis--the doctors, the regimens, the interactions. It also takes a lot of careful consideration to craft a character living in a setting like this. Brian James created a very interesting world here, but for some reason, something didn't 100% click for me with this one.

The main character, Sabrina, is locked up in a psychiatric facility and diagnosed as schizophrenic. She's slowly progressing towards normal when Alex enters her life and turns everything upside down. She rather quickly spirals backwards into her delusions.

Sabrina is really a fascinating character to follow. James really takes you straight into her head and determining the dreams and delusions from reality is next to impossible at times. Seeing the world through Sabrina's eyes shows the reader both the beauty and the terror that can come with such a life. It was really difficult for me, as a reader, to watch her stop taking the medications and for her delusions to beginning returning at full force. I liked her so much as a character that I wanted her to recover and have a shot at a normal life.

Alex...well, as a love interest he was a bit of a disappointment to me at times. I wanted Sabrina to have someone who loved her and her wacky way of thinking, feeling, and seeing things. Alex seemed like that person...at least at first. I don't think that he was ever able to grasp the severity of Sabrina's disease, and I didn't like how he convinced her that taking the medications and following the doctors' orders would take away her creativity and unique visions--i.e. everything that she feels makes her special and loved by him. He redeemed himself quite a bit in the later parts of the story.

I'm not exactly sure what makes this more of a three star than a four star book for me. I definitely enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't the sort of book that I was racing to pick up each whenever I had time to read. The pacing is a bit slow and the world didn't pull me in as much as I was expecting. The most exciting moments come rather late in the story, and while those moments were incredibly well-written, they were simply difficult to GET to because of the slower pacing at the beginning. I wouldn't warn anyone away from this book if they're interested, just be aware that it's not a fast-paced read.

@EntangledPub Cover Reveal: Luminosity by @stephthomasbook

2012-02-27T10:01:00.000-06:00

While I've recently fallen in love with Entangled Publishing's romance novels and novellas, I'm still super excited that they're releasing more YA this year! They do really great work in everything they do (at least I've enjoyed everything I've read). :)

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: November 2012

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I wasimmediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. Atthe age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings.And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’tbeen the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, theDreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret fromeveryone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put usall in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m fallingin love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And Ithink I’ve already helped them win.

Add it to your "To Read" List on Goodreads!
Pre-order the paperback from Amazon

What do you think?

Sound/look like one you'll add to your reading list?

Saturday Shorts (1)

2012-02-25T07:30:00.000-06:00

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
© 25 October 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Perry's not exactly excited when his parents decide that he has to take the foreign exchange student to the prom. She's more than a little strange and hasn't made many attempts to really fit in. However, prom is the least of Perry's concerns as the night progresses. What starts as a short trip into the city becomes a wild adventure of epic proportions as Gobi jets around the city taking out her intended targets. Oh, yeah, she's some kind of assassin.

Au Revoir is a fun, quick-paced read. Perry and Gobi become quite the dynamic-duo in the course of the evening, and if you're anything like me, you'll find yourself enjoying them quite a bit. The writing is fantastic and Schreiber has crafted this short novel perfectly. The chapter titles are college admission questions and they're quite appropriate.

Between Sea & Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

© 25 October 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Esmerine and her sister, Dosinia, have always had a bit of curiously about the world above the sea, but Esmerine would never dream of abandoning her family and her calling as a siren. When Dosinia disappears after talking about human acquaintances, Esmerine takes it upon herself to find out what's become of her. Enlisting the help of her long-ago friend Alander, who belongs to a winged race of people, Esermine journeys on to the land in search of her sister and finds more than she bargained for.

Between the Sea and Sky was a fun, short read that really entrances the imagination. The characters are easy to love (who doesn't love a pair as in love with books as many of us are?) and their journey is rocky. There's no insta-love or love triangles to be found here but a rocky new beginning for long ago friends. The plotline and its message are lovely and will easily entice many a reader.

Friday Fling! Another new romance from @EntangledPub and @clarissayip!

2012-02-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

a During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed. It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll often stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my guilty pleasure). These are books that I think are simply fun, quick reads that are definitely worth checking out!

Gosh, at this rate, Entangled Publishing books are going to take all of my birthday money! If you enjoy romance and you haven't check out their books, I suggest you do it post-haste. :)

Publisher: Ever Afters (Entangled Publishing)
Release Date: 14 February 2012
Get it! (for only $2.99!) Amazon | B&N

Lia McEvers moved back to her hometown of Grant after her ex-fiance broke her heart by cheating on her with her (ex-)best friend. She's looking to get away from the hurt and settle quietly back into her life. Her grandmother's obviously don't know that she's looking for a little solitude when they throw her back into the presence of Max, the man who broke her heart so many years ago, but she's never been able to stop thinking about. Max, after all these years, has stopped thinking about her either...

True Connections is a pleasure ride that explores the much-loved (by me) trope of enemies-turned-lovers and does it marvelously. The connection between Lia and Max is sizzling and immediate. Lia's caution is thrown to the wind in moments, but can she ever really put aside her fears? Max doesn't want to admit that he's in love with her, but he hasn't stopped thinking about her since the day she left five years ago. Their story will pull you in and keep you turning the pages until you've reaching the stunning conclusion.

For those looking for a sexy romance, trust me--look no farther.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Double by Jenny Valentine

2012-02-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 21 February 2012
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel’s identity, gaining the family and friends he’s always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn’t as easy as he hoped—and Chap isn’t the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel’s disappearance, Chap realizes that he’s in much deeper danger than he could have imagined.

After all, you can’t just steal a life and expect to get away with it.

My Thoughts...

An unexpected twist at the end of Double made this book into an intriguing read. While I had trouble getting into the story, I have to credit at least a bit of my reluctance to the fact that I read a very similar storyline recently and that comparison wasn't sitting well with me. That being said, Double is a well-written mystery that I think will keep readers engaged throughout. Some people may see the twist toward the end coming, but I'll freely admit that it quite surprised me (in a very good way).

Chap takes a huge leap when he "admits" that he is indeed Cassiel Roadnight (when in fact he's not). However, even he can't deny the uncanny resemblance between the two boys, and it may be his only shot at having a family--even if only for a little while. Chap's voice is authentic and clearly conveys his ongoing fear of discovery. He quickly picks up on who is most likely to pin him as a fraud and delves immediately into why said person doesn't rat him out.

The mystery is fairly straight-forward and I think that there's barely a question of what happened to the real Cassiel once Chap discusses events with Floyd. The real intrigue and suspense rests on the shoulders of Chap's attempts to hold on to his place in this new family and eventually unraveling who he really is.

Double's mystery and twists will definitely ensnare the right reader like it eventually did for me. The first part's focus on Chap's inner turmoil at deceiving the Roadnights and his memories of Granddad are a bit on the slow side, but the story picks up quickly after the reader meets Floyd and Chap delves into the mystery of Cassiel's disappearance. The right amount of twists and turns in the later half of the book keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat until the end.

Waiting on Wednesday (51)

2012-02-22T08:25:00.002-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
© 18 September 2012 by Harper Teen

NEVER LET ME GO meets HIS DARK MATERIALS in a beautiful, haunting YA debut, the first book in The Hybrid Trilogy.

Eva and Addie live in a world where everyone is born with two souls, but where only the dominant one is allowed to survive childhood. Fifteen years old, and closer even than twins, the girls are keeping Eva, the ‘second soul’, a secret. They know that it’s forbidden to be hybrid, but how could they ever be apart?

When a dramatic event reveals what really happens to hybrids if they are discovered, Eva and Addie face a dangerous fight for survival, neither wanting to be the one left behind…

Doesn't that sounds SO INTERESTING?! The cover is absolutely phenomenal for one thing. Then, that description just blows me away. What an interesting, unique concept. I love when things like this catch my eye.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf!

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

(ARC) YA Book Review: The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Meyers

2012-02-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 14 February 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.

But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

My Thoughts...

The Vanishing Game is a read that I didn't really see coming. Does that make sense? It surprised me at every turn and kept me on my toes. There is a fabulous combination of mystery and action with a light sprinkling of romance and a surprising twist of an ending. The most exciting part of this book was really the puzzle that you were trying to solve. I felt like I never knew what was coming next!

Since then, everywhere I went the pain of losing him went with me. It wore me like a backpack, slapping a rhythm of heart-ache against my soul with each step.
-p2, eARC

The main character, Jocelyn, is devastated by the hole that her brother's death has left in her life. When she receives an anonymous letter/clue from "Jason December," she knows that it must be her brother (Jack), leaving her clues to find him and unravel the mystery of his apparently faked death. Jocelyn is a character that is clearly broken and hurting and her desire to find out what really happened to her brother is so...fierce and clearly displays her strong sense of family loyalty. Noah is also a really interesting character. He's cautious around Jocelyn and about the somewhat crazy notion she has that her brother is still alive. I appreciated that despite his misgivings that he was willing to stick with her, especially when things started getting crazy and dangerous.

The characters and the writing are fabulous in this one, but what really, truly shines is Kate Myers' fabulous storytelling. The mystery is not easy to unravel and you have to play along with Jocelyn and Noah the entire time. On top of a fabulous mystery, Myers has thrown in addicting action and a fair amount of creepiness that will keep readers on their toes the entire time.

When the blurb says that the "answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light," it's spot on. I never saw the end coming. This book was a fabulous read that I hope more and more people pick up.

@EntangledPub Cover Reveal: Inbetween by Tara Fuller

2012-02-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

Since Entangled Publishing is quickly becoming a favorite new publisher of mine, I jumped at the chance to be involved in another of their cover reveals! Without further ado...

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: 7 August 2012 (tentative)

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’slife has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, soEmma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Fallingin love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper whomakes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fatehas put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give himhell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he lovesfrom the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing theonly thing he has left…his soul.

Add it to your "To Read" List on Goodreads!
Pre-order the paperback from Amazon

What do you think?

Sound/look like one you'll add to your reading list?

In My Mailbox (25)

2012-02-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren where we can show some love to all the books that we got in the mail or otherwise!

Hello, my lovelies!!! I feel like it's been quite awhile since I did one of these...so I have a LOT to share...but I don't think I'll share quite everything. Just a few somethings...or as much as I have patience to add. ;-)

For Review:

Confession: Me and NetGalley probably need to take a "break." My queue is almost unmanageable and I seem to have a compulsive habit to request books and get overly excited despite my lengthy review queue and extensive school and work obligations. But...for your viewing pleasure, here is the latest list of things that NG has brought my way. :)

Thank you to NetGalley & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt! For some reason I thought this one wasn't on NG anymore and I've been dying to read it. I was super excited when it was still there and they accepted my request!

Thanks to NetGalley & Candlewick! I've been reading more contemporary stuff lately so these really caught my eye!

Thanks to NetGalley & ABRAMS/Amulet! Can I be honest and say that the cover change for this one was what solidified my decision to request it? Shallow as that may seem...

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group! These weren't labeled as Teens & YA or Children's so I almost didn't find them!! I'm so excited that I did...and that I'm auto-approved with Macmillan. ;) <3

Thanks to NetGalley & Marshall Cavendish! I was super excited and surprised to see both of these titles on NG and I requested them right away! I've already finished The Other Life and loved it. Can't wait to get started with The Forgetting Curve, although I may give Momento Nora a quick re-read.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for passing this along! I've been really excited to read it ever since I had the opportunity to participate in the cover reveal.

Bought:

Coupons and birthday gift cards/money galore!!

These ebooks from Entangled Publishing were FABULOUS Valentine's/romance reads. I HIGHLY recommend that you check them out! (AND, they're inexpensive, quick reads! DO IT.)

Table for One (for only $0.99!) Amazon | B&N
On One Condition (for only $2.99!) Amazon | B&N

What's in YOUR mailbox? :)

(ARC) YA Book Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

2012-02-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 21 February 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Pre-Order Yours!

Goodreads description:

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

My Thoughts...

In the rivieting sequel to her 2011 debut, Wither, Lauren DeStefano once again had me mesmerized by her beautiful writing and storytelling. From the beginning of the book, I was absolutely hooked to the continuing story of Rhine and Gabriel and the world outside of Housemaster Vaughn's experiments.

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped from the glamorous yet dangerous world of Housemaster Vaughn and the others living in the mansion. However, they are immediately thrust into a situation that may prove even more dangerous than being under Vaughn's thumb. How will they survive the trials of the real world? And will they ever truly escape Vaughn's clutches?Rhine is the same determined young woman that we knew in Wither. Having escaped the mansion, she is more determined than ever to return to NYC and be reunited with her twin brother. One thing that I love about Rhine is her undying devotion and fierce determination. This is countered by the realistic and heart-wrenching portrayal of her relationship with Gabriel and her lingering memories of Linden. She's torn between the two in what is, in my opinion, a REALISTIC love triangle. Gabriel is her freedom, her CHOICE, embodied in a person--a sweet, caring person. Linden represents her imprisonment, but the truth is that he absolutely loved and trusted her and had no idea what his father was doing and how Rhine came to be with him. I've always been just a little bit "Team Linden" so I understand her struggle to forget the sweet memories that she had shared with him.

Fever introduces us to quite a number of new characters, each of which I thought were really interesting. "Madame" drove me crazy and Lilac made me fall in love with her. Maddie and Silas intrigued me. I don't want to tell you too much because I think you need to discover these characters all on your own, but suffice it to say that the characters were definitely a factor in my love for DeStefano's second novel. And I can't forget Gabriel! Gabriel is obviously along for the wide ride of an adventure with Rhine. There are many points when he is really the one suffering the most. Despite the page time that Gabriel got, I still felt like I didn't know him as well as I should/wanted to.

This book also gives a few more glimpses into the world that Rhine lives in, which I really appreciated. We get a glimpse of the President and his wives and we get a better sense of the society's struggle between pro-science and pro-naturalism and just how fervently each side believe in their battle. I felt like I understood a bit better why things are the way they are, if that makes sense. Some of my reservations from Wither didn't seem to bother me in Fever as I was allowed deeper glimpses into the society.

In some ways, Fever does feel a little bit like a bridge between Wither and book 3, but in the end, this book left me BEGGING for book three (one of the reasons that sometimes it's so hard to read advance copies)! DeStefano definitely knows how to pull her readers in and leave them hanging. If you thought Wither ended on a cliffhanger, Fever's ending will blow your mind. The beautiful writing pulls you into the world and makes you fall in love (and hate) with the characters, makes you cheer and cry and yell, and when it's over your heart is still racing and you NEED more. It's going to be a long wait for book #3, so be sure to have the first two books on hand to read a couple of times before then!

Friday Fling!: New @EntangledPub Books from @DianeAlberts & @Ros_Clarke

2012-02-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed. It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review. These are books that I think are simply fun, quick reads that are definitely worth checking out!

If you've been around the blog much, you'll notice that I had kind of "retired" this feature. I was going to replace it with "Fab {Indie} Friday," but my schedule got so hectic that NEITHER ended up making it onto the blog! However, I've been really enjoying reading some romances for fun lately so I'm *hoping* to revive this little feature (maybe biweekly) with a slight twist that it will feature romance (adult and YA) reading that I do. :-) Also, largely, I wanted a good way to showcase these two books...

(The images should take you to Goodreads--I highly suggest you add both of these!)

Publisher: Ever Afters (Entangled Publishing)
Release Date: 14 February 2012
Get it! (for only $2.99!) Amazon | B&N

Johanna, the reserved, slightly OCD Kindergarten teacher, is shocked when she wakes up on Valentine's Day with a man in her bed...and a gorgeous British man at that. Viscount Damon Hayes is just as shocked to find that Johanna doesn't even know who he is! When Damon finds out that he must marry on short notice and Johanna is up for bidding at a charity date-night auction, the pieces fall in place for a proposal that she never sees coming...and a shot at love that neither expected.

Both of the characters in this one are absolutely fabulous. Johanna is definitely a force to be reckoned with. She's fierce and guarded and loyal. Damon is most definitely a swoon-worthy male lead that I would grab up in a second. The two of them together make a fabulously sexy couple and I could not WAIT for Damon to break through Johanna's barriers. This is a romance novella that you'll start and finish is a single setting because the tension, romance, and absolute sexiness won't let you put the book down!

Publisher: Flirt (Entangled Publishing)

Release Date: 14 February 2012

Get it! (for only $0.99!) Amazon | B&N

Food critic Claudia Thomas finds herself suddenly dateless on Valentine's Day with reservations at an exclusive restaurant (for work, of course). When head chef Ward Nicholls sees that she is dining alone, he decides to seduce her with a tantalizing and seductive menu. But when Claudia's true jounalistic intentions are discovered, Ward feels betrayed and kicks her out. But neither can forget their brief, intense encounter...

I flew through this novella! It's sweet and sexy and pretty much everything I was looking for in a romantic novella. I would have loved to spend more time with these two characters as I felt like I was just getting to know them. Claudia and Ward are both fabulous and sympathetic characters. Each has a bit of baggage that we get the briefest glimpse of. The food plays perfectly into the story and makes you dream of a food encounter such as this. You'll fly through the (far too few) pages of this novel and revel in their sensual encounters.

(ARC) MG Review: The Humming Room by Ellen Potter

2012-02-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 28 February 2012

Publisher: Fiewel & Friends

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret.

My Thoughts...

In this adorable novel, Ellen Potter has updated the magical story of The Secret Garden and made it into a fun story that young readers will thoroughly enjoy. The reader is pulled into a world where it is uncertain what is real and you're constantly wondering if this is going to be magic or reality and in the end maybe it's a little of both.

Space can be a friend or an enemy, so you should always know how much of it your body needs.
-p2, eARC

Roo is a really interesting character. She's closed herself off from the world and then she's taken to an unknown uncle and ends up more isolated than ever in an island mansion. She's tough, though, and finds ways to make herself and home. I really enjoyed her and I'm not even sure that I can define WHY precisely, but she doesn't back down from what she believes and she doesn't let others bully her.

The likeness to The Secret Garden can't be missed with this storyline, but the updating that Ms. Potter has given the story works very well. The writing flows well and I don't think readers will be able to resist the pull of the story that she has so beautifully crafted. Ms. Potter has also succeeded in crafting a setting that has a life of its own. The island and the house almost become characters in their own right--with secrets waiting to be discovered.

The Humming Room will easily appeal to its intended audience of middle grade readers. The writing and story will capture their imaginations without putting undue strain on their reading abilities. I'd recommend this one to some reluctant readers who possible enjoy a little bit of mystery and strong female characters. It's also, clearly, a must-read for fans of The Secret Garden.

Waiting on Wednesday (50)

2012-02-15T07:30:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
© 24 April 2012 by Harlequin Teen

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love

I haven't been into vampire novels as of late (actually, I've been reading a lot of contemporary stuff but that's a whole different story). Anyway, Julie Kagawa made me love faeries so the true test of this book will be to see if she can rekindle by adoration of vampire novels (because I did at one time love them...I read ~30 between November 2008 and March 2009). Her writing was so superb with the Iron Fey...I just hope I don't get my hopes up *too* much and end up disappointed...

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Airel-Arson-Pyxis Blog Tour: Interview with the Authors!

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm super excited today to bring you a fun and fabulous interview with all four of the authors involved in this 3-book tour! Read on to get to know a little more about these folks and their books. Oh yeah! And guess what?! There's a giveaway at the end! :) Read on friends...

Let’s start by introducing our readers to your books briefly! And when I say briefly, I mean 140 characters or less…like a tweet. ;) Go!

Aaron Patterson: Airel finds out her bloodline is made up of Angel DNA. So much for being normal.

Chris White: Amethyst, Yes, Dear, Strongbox, K [phantasmagoria], The Marsburg Diary, Airel, The Great Jammy Adventures. Pen name = C.P. White.

Estevan Vega: Arson can create fire. Emery wears a creepy mask. She also likes rocker tees & converse shoes. 1 summer will change their lives forever.

K.C. Neal: One 16-year-old girl is all that stands between this world and the dark world of her dreams. But no one told her.

You all work with StonehouseInk, so tell me a little about your experiences. What made you decide to go with Stonehouse? What’s been the best part of the experience?

Aaron: I own it, so yeah, I rock! Lol. I like working with other authors and making dreams come true, that is a wonderful feeling.

Chris: The best part of working with SH is that I know the guy who owns it and we’re buds.

Estevan: I have released 4 novels with 4 different publishers. Ha. It’s kind of funny, but with each experience you learn something new. I originally released Arson with Tate Publishing, and I was killing it with signings and stuff, but didn’t feel a great connection with them. I read one of Aaron’s guest posts on J.A. Konrath’s blog, and I was intrigued by his success, and I was all like, “I totally gotta mooch off of some of that.” Ha. Anyway, after a few conversations, I knew I had to make the jump and join the Stonehouse family.

K.C.: I found StoneHouse because of that post on Konrath’s blog, too. Even though Aaron and I live in the same town – how weird is that? Hee hee. Anyway, I had planned to self-publish, but StoneHouse ended up being the ideal situation for me – I get the advantage of Aaron’s experience and connections, while still having a ton of control over all the decisions that affect my book. It’s pretty sweet!

So I’m planning a potluck dinner party with all of your MCs. What kind of food do you think they’ll bring to the party?

Aaron: Airel would buy something at a restaurant and re-package it to look homemade… just because she wants it to be perfect.

Chris: Brownies. Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee. That’s a double negative, but it’s better than a double entendre.

Estevan: Well, Arson likes scrambled eggs with birch beer, so that’ll def be on the menu. Also, can’t go wrong with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Weird combo? Yeah, I know. Just go with it.

K.C.: Corinne would bring petits fours, of course! Maybe a quiche, too.

What’s one indie book (other than your own) that you think everyone should read?

Aaron: Corridor by Robin Parrish…the thing rocks!

Chris: I don’t read fiction. Really. I don’t. I mostly read history and really old dictionaries. I know I’m weird and I’m okay with it.

Estevan: The Road. I don’t know if this is really indie or not, because it was released with a big house. But it had a definite indie feel, and the film adaptation was very indie, so I’m hoping it counts.

K.C.: Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan. Bryan is a very talented writer, and for me this book really stands out among indies. Be warned: it’s horror and it’s graphic. But if you like Stephen King, Jenny Pox will be right up your alley.

What a question you’ve never been asked in an interview but would love to answer? (And answer it, of course!)

Aaron: What is wrong with you? Glad you asked, I am crazy, I create worlds that don’t exist and you love me for it… so who is crazy now? lol

Chris: “Hey, Chris, is it easy to be indie, to write, to edit, to publish, to, y'know, do what you do?” My answer: Absofreegnlutely NOT. But, and this is a big Sherman tank of a but, it is worth it. Why? Because writing has to be about more than money and fame in order to be viable. At least for me. I wouldn’t, for the record, turn money and fame down, mind you. But I wouldn’t be at all satisfied if money and fame were my only reasons for striving to create good stories. There’s so much more to life.

Estevan: What’s your favorite roller coaster? Right now…El Toro. It’s at the Six Flags in New Jersey, and it really freaking rocks. Best. Wooden. Coaster. Eva. Stay fly. Spread the fire!

K.C.: What job do you have in your fantasies? Drummer in a rock band.

The Books!

Buy It! $2.99 on Amazon.com | £2.21 on Amazon UK

Airel is a story about an angel who falls so deeply in love with a woman that he chooses to fall from heaven to be with her. She gives birth to a daughter in Arabia, 1250BC. The girl is pursued ferociously, relentlessly by an enemy in the deepest darkness. In present day Boise, Idaho is just a girl: Airel. She's just your average high school student...who turns out to be anything but average. It's because of who she is, because of her ancestry, because of her lineage. Past and present crash in on each other in the final pages as what has been twisted comes dangerously unraveled.

Buy It! 99c Amazon.com | 86p on Amazon UK

Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off. Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl--who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin--moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster.

Buy It!99c on Amazon.com | 86p on Amazon UK

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path. Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

The wonderful authors who put this tour together have a couple of very special giveaways for you! First up, here on Reading in the Corner, you can enter to win....*drumroll please*...eBook copies of all three books! And since the giveaway is for eBooks, it's open INTERNATIONALLY! YAY! All you have to do is fill out the super simple form with your name and email address and you're in!

Have you entered the Kindle Giveaway yet? No? Well, guess what? Here's your chance! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below. :) [The Kindle Giveaway is part of each tour stop.] Check out the other awesome tour stops HERE.a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Year Blogoversary!

2012-02-11T10:01:00.000-06:00

It's been just over a year since I posted my first review here on Reading in the Corner! (2/11/11) The blog and my style has changed a lot since then! I never even dreamed that I would really, REALLY do this and love it as much as I do. I never imagined that I would actually get a (fabulous) custom blog design. And I definitely didn't think that I'd be able to do it consistently for a whole YEAR. As a previously failed blogger (when talking about general "life" things and another about cooking), I really didn't have high hopes that I would find/maintain the motivation to do this for real. I think that the community itself has probably been the biggest sustaining force for me this time. It's really incredible how many fabulous people that I've met.

Anyway, I decided that I would try to do a couple of small giveaways for this event, even though money things are fairly tight right now. I just love you all so much! :)

NOTE: If the Rafflecopter forms are not showing up, trying using one of the links (such as the Enter to Win) and it *should* pop up. (It did for me.)

First giveaway: I went to a signing in St. Louis with Ally Condie back in November and I bought and had signed a beautiful paperback copy of Matched just for you! The paperback cover really is beautiful. I almost want to keep it for myself but I got the hardcover personalized to match Crossed...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Second giveaway: I have a couple of ARCs sitting around that I would like to give away! I'll give 2 winners a choice of one of these ARCs. (I'll try to get a real picture of them in here later tonight) My ARC of Shatter Me is from before it had a cover (hence the image below), but I promise that the content inside is just as fabulous!

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Waiting on Wednesday (49)

2012-02-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts
© 4 September 2012 by S&S Books for Young Readers

Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael have survived the first wave of the apocalypse that wiped out most of the world's population, and turned many of the rest into murderous Baggers. Now, they're hiding out in an abandoned house in Vancouver with a ragtag group of surviving teens, and trying to figure out their next move.

Aries is trying to lead, but it's hard to be a leader when there are no easy answers, and every move feels wrong. Clementine is desperate to find her brother Heath, but it's impossible to know where he'd be, even if he is still alive. Michael is still haunted by the memories of his actions during his harrowing struggle to survive. And Mason is struggling with something far worse: the fear that he may be a danger to his friends.

As the Baggers begin to create a new world order, Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael will have to trust and rely on each other in order to survive

I really enjoyed Dark Inside...once I got into it with its multiple POVs. By the time that I really got into it and got to know the characters and was fully invested, it felt like it was almost over! I'm really excited to dive back into this apocalyptic world and to see where Roberts takes it. :)

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?
Actually, I can't choose what to read next!! Here are some of the options in my upcoming review queue. What do you think? Help?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

(ARC) MG Review: Cold Cereal by Adam Rex

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 7 February 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Goodreads description:

Cold Cereal Facts
Serving size: 1 chapter | Number of servings: 40
Primary human characters: 3
Scottish Play Doe, aka Scottpossible changeling
Erno Utz genius
Emily Utz supergenius
Magical creatures: at least 3
Mick Leprechaun (or Clurichaun)
Harvey Pooka (rabbit-man)
Biggs, indeterminate origin (hairy, large)
Evil organizations 1
Goodco Cereal Company - Purveyor of breakfast foods aspiring to world domination
Adventure 75%
Diabolical Schemes 40%
Danger 57%
Legend 20%
Magic 68%
Humor 93%
Puzzles 35%
Mystery 49%

Not a significant source of vampires.
May contain nuts.

Daily values based on individual interest. Reader's estimation of value may be higher or lower, depending on your tolerance for this sort of thing

My Thoughts...

Cold Cereal is a fun read! Whisk yourself away to the magical shores of...New Jersey? When Scott moves to Goodsborough with his mom and sister, his only hope is to blend in and go mostly unnoticed, maybe make a friend or two, ignore the uni-cat and rabbit-man that he saw on his way to school, and survive. What he gets instead are two genius friends, sudden knowledge of weird things, and being hunted my Goodco...

Scott, Erno, and Emily are a really fun bunch of characters to follow through the story. Each one has a strong presence in the novel and I honestly loved their friendship. Scott is the "normal" one in the bunch at the beginning, but things get rather strange quickly for him when he really starts seeing "things." Erno and Emily are "twins" (but not really siblings)--both incredibly intelligent and constantly being tested (in the form of "games") by their foster father. Emily is the smarter of the two, consistently winning the "games," but she's also a very sweet sister. Their sibling relationship is sweet and believable--even they have the little sibling arguments here and there.

The story is overall a fun, whimsical adventure. The magic and mayhem that the kids get involved with is entertaining and I think that readers young and old can appreciate the comical situations that the kids endure throughout the story. For kids who love stories of magic and mischief, this is a must read.

SSC - February giveaway!

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

The year is well underway now! I hope you've had a chance to check out one or more of the fantastic sequels that were released in January! I know I only got around to one (Hallowed by Cynthia Hand) and it was fabulous! Don't forget that there's a link-up post where you can share your reviews for the challenge. It is a bi-monthly thing so use the same post for February reviews as you did for the January ones (or go link some posts if you haven't done so yet!)

February Sequel Releases:
*Books you can consider reading for the challenge!

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
A Touch Morbid (A Touch Mortal #2) by Leah Clifford
The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch #2) by Karen Mahoney
The Nightmare Garden (The Iron Codex #2) by Caitlin Kittredge
Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano
A Beautiful Evil (Gods & Monsters #2) by Kelly Keaton
Allegiance (Legacy #2) by Cayla Kluver

First up, the winner of the January SSC giveaway was...

Michelle @ Book Briefs!!

Also, I have the second SSC giveaway coming at you! This month, I'm giving you a choice of a paperback release of the first book in a series (with a 2012 sequel or companion coming out). Maybe you missed this title last year or maybe you borrowed it from the library and never got your own copy. Whatever the case may be, here are the choice's for this month's giveaway!

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(ARC) YA Book Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

2012-02-01T08:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 14 February 2012

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

My Thoughts...

Sometimes a book just knocks you on your butt and leaves you smiling and thinking and dreaming---and Graffiti Moon is THAT book. I went into this book with pretty high expectations. I made the "mistake" of reading a few reviews before I was ready/had the time to read this one, so I did go in expecting awesomeness (and if I'm honest, expecting to be disappointed). But let me tell you--this book hooked me on PAGE ONE. The writing is a beautiful, lyrical, living thing that will blow you away.

I want to run right into Shadow and let the force spill our thoughts so we can pick each otehr up and pass each other back like piles of shiny stones.
-p2, eARC

The story takes place over a single evening and is told from alternating POVs, mainly Lucy and Ed with snippets from Poet (Leo). Leo's short sections struck me as particularly poignant. They're written in beautiful, succinct verse and give you just enough of his inner dialogue to fall a little in love with him. Lucy and Ed are really out main focus in this story and I honestly loved every minute that they spent together. Lucy is on the hunt for this enigma graffiti artist--Shadow--who she is pretty much in love with without ever having met him. Ed IS Shadow, but Lucy doesn't know that--and he's still recovering from falling for her and getting his nose broken on their first (and only) date. From the moment that the two meet up in the cafe, the story blossoms and grows, as does the tension between the two. I don't think that I've wanted a couple to get together SO BAD in a really long time.

I liked that he had hair that was growing without a plan. A smile that came out of nowhere and left the same way. That he was tall enough so I had to look up at him in my dream sequences. I really like his T-shirts. When he asked me out he was wearing this one with a dog walking a man on a leash. And there was always this space around him. The sort of space you'd queue to get into.
-p28, eARC

I could sit here and share quote after quote after quote with you because there were simply so many moments and words and phrases that made me smile. I don't think that I've read anything else in recent history where the writing struck me in such an amazing way. And the thing that was most impressive about it was that the language didn't come across as stilted or odd for a teenager to say--or possibly it was just THESE teenagers. I found myself bookmarking page after page on my Nook so that I could come back to certain passages later.

I like the idea of her bottles. Memories that are nothing but a strange shape floating inside of you, memories that are nothing but empty bottles. And the good stuff, glassed in so it can't float away.
-p123, eARC

If you're in a reading slump or simply just looking for something fabulous to read, you've definitely got to pick this one up. It's the kind of book that I know I'll be pushing on many coworkers and teenage patrons at the library and the kind of book that you want to buy for all of your friends so that they too can understand its awesomeness. I'll be running out to the bookstore on 2/14 to buy this for myself (and then giving it to my husband to give to me for Valentine's Day). Trust me--it's one you'll want to have on your bookshelf.

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

Partials by Dan Wells
© 28 February 2012 by HarperTeen

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

© 14 February 2012 by Knopf BFYR

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

Partials sounds awesome, right? I'm so excited to read it (very soon!). I've already read Graffiti Moon (and you can read my review, posted today!). I simply can't wait for (a) my pre-order to come in and (b) EVERYONE to be able to read it. It's absolutely fabulous.

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

Graffiti Moon was FABULOUS and you should all read it.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was adorable and a marvelous quick read.
Case Histories and And Then There Were None are both books that I read for my Reader's Advisory class (mystery assignment) and honestly, I enjoyed them both but I like YA better, lol.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Actually, I can't choose what to read next!! Here are some of the options in my upcoming review queue. What do you think? Help?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

(ARC) YA Book Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

2012-01-30T09:05:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 31 January 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Goodreads description:

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

My Thoughts...

This book started out fairly solid with well-crafted descriptions of lush scenery, inner-turmoil, and the shock of being the "new girl," but rather quickly devolved into something that I found myself both liking and hating at the same time. The writing really pulled me into the story at the beginning and it was really the writing with its quick pacing that truly kept me turning the pages.

I'm generally a stickler for characters--9 out of 10 times that is a make or break issue for me with a book. I'm not saying that I have to "like" the characters, but I have to feel something for them--even if that something is hate and loathing. The characters in New Girl fell flat for me, which contributed greatly to my sense of disappointment with this story. The "new girl" MC (whose name isn't revealed until the end and I won't use so I don't spoil it) is a fairly relateable character and I honestly felt bad for the situation that she was thrown into at Manderly. I felt like her reactions to most situations felt authentic. She wasn't really my problem character. For me, the other characters (basically all of them) fell flat for one reason or another. The two main love interests didn't capture my imagination and I couldn't see liking either one of them. Dana was simply crazy, and while I wanted her craziness and mystery to evolve into a genuine interest in her, it never happened for me. She was simply annoying. And don't get me started on Becca, who I couldn't even really make myself feel sorry for even though she was clearly dealing (or, really, NOT dealing) with intense personal stuff that no one knew about.

I can't put together my thoughts on this novel without at least mentioning the sex and alcohol use. Generally, I'm someone who overlooks this kind of stuff in novels because let's face it--teens DO drink and have sex. My issue with this particular storyline is that it seemed like that was all they really did--it seemed way overdone. And then all the sex scenes fade to black? I know that seems like I'm taking a weird stance but if you're characters are promiscuous--it's part of their personality--then in my mind making every sex/make-out scene completely fade-to-black seems out of character.

The writing is overall not bad. There were moments where POVs switched or time jumped that caught me off guard but overall the story flowed fairly smoothly and held my attention. Also, as someone unfamiliar with Rebecca (which this is a retelling of), I did a little research (read: I read a Wikipedia article) on the original story and in my estimation, Ms. Harbison has put together a successful retelling, moving it into a YA-appropriate setting, maintaining basic plotlines, and creating a new story that could appeal to both readers familiar and unfamiliar with the story. I enjoyed getting both Becca and the new girl's POVs as it added depth to the story that would have been significantly lacking otherwise. In the end, however, this book was simply not as fabulous as a read as I had hoped it would be...

Discussion Post: The eBook Reading Experience

2012-01-28T08:06:00.000-06:00

So, this semester I'm taking a Reader's Advisory class for my Master's program and this week we discussed the eBook "experience." Our readings and discussion focused on the pros/cons of eReaders/eBooks and the "experience" as a whole--what's it like to read with and eReader (or an iPad or Smartphone or on a computer). One research article that we read talked about the distractions often association with e-reading in general (especially on a computer). So...I'm really curious what y'all think! Here's some of the things that we talked about:

PROs:

Instant gratification--Many of us expressed that it's really nice/exciting to pre-order a book that you're excited about and download it at midnight without having to arrange a trip to a store.
Ability to enlarge text--With anyone who has difficulty with the small print used in the majority of books, this is an obvious and fantastic improvement. Older people who can't read the newspaper can have it delivered to an eReader and enlarge the text!
Portability and convenience--Anyone whose traveled with an eReader of any kind knows the awesomeness that can be taking 15+ books on vacation without the added bulk of physical books. Also, who wouldn't love being able to carry around a book for every mood right in their purse?
Price--Once you get past the initial expenditure for your reading device, the books themselves offer a (slightly) less expensive option to the physical book. Sure, sometimes $9.99 seems like a lot to pay for an eBook, but (a) you're still supporting the author and (b) it's still less than that hardcover you were coveting on your last trip to the bookstore.
Remote purchasing--While not many people in my class live as remotely as I do, I offered up that it's nice when you are really in the mood to read something in particular and you're nowhere near a bookstore OR a library to be able to just download the book (whether purchasing or borrowing from a library's ebook collection)

CONs:

Price--While you might save on eBooks (sometimes), the initial price of buying a reading device can be enough to deter or prevent someone from reading electronically.
Nostalgia--We all have it--that memory of first books read and first books owned and first books chewed to bits by cats (maybe just me?). Whatever it is, many bibliophiles have an attachment to the physical nature of holding and reading a "real" book.
Page-flipping & other habits--While it's possible with an eBook, it's much easy to do things like flip ahead or back a few pages to see what's going on, to remind yourself of a character, or to see where things are headed. (Or if you're crazy like me and my professor--to read the last three pages or so)
Sharing--While yes, you can share SOME eBooks with other eBook readers, it's not as easy. The other person must have a way of reading the eBook AND the published must make that book available for sharing. It's much easy to hand someone a book (with your name written in pencil neatly in the front and the dust jacket removed).
Too much like reading on a computer--While many of us who enjoy e-reading, there was a general consensus among the non-electronic readers that it was too plugged in and connected to other things. After you spend all day reading/working at a computer, isn't it nice to pick up a book, move away from all electronics, and curl up on the couch for uninterrupted reading time?

Beyond the pros and cons of eBooks, one of our main topics really was the "experience" (as I noted before). What I mean by this is, can you forgive and forget the reading medium and immerse yourself in the story? It is different with a physical book vs. an ebook? What contributes to your reading pleasure? What's your favorite mode of reading? How has that changed (if at all) in the past few years?

So, talk! What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear what you think--both just to spark some conversation and to share some insights with my fellow students. :)

YA Book Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 24 January 2012
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

My Thoughts...

**Can I just start by saying that many people have called this a dystopian in their reviews and I think that creates an unfair expectation for this novel. In my opinion, this is much more apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novel than it is dystopian and even then that label implies something bigger than this is (at this point in the series anyway). It is about a disease that ravages an island community and is basically abandoned by the government.**

Although this novel had a bit of a slow burn kind of start, it picked up rather quickly and drew me into the world of the main character. Told in an epistolary/diary format, The Way We Fall is the story of Kaelyn, a young girl struggling to find/re-invent herself when disaster strikes the community she lives in. As the disease spreads from victim to victim with little hope for a cure, Kaelyn and the friends she finds along the way much work together to survive and continue to hope for a cure.

The virus has a voice, and it doesn't sound very happy.
-p209, eARC

Since the story is told via Kaelyn's letters/diary entries, hers is the only perspective that we have on the situation, and as a narrator, she's not too bad. She's determined and loyal yet naive and flawed--characteristics that made her all the more realistic to me.Sure, there are points when she felt a little...slow or behind, but I thought that given the situation and her personality it seemed to fit. The relationships that kaelyn developed with Tessa and Gav also never felt forced or unnatural, which I totally liked. I appreciated that it wasn't love at first sight with Kae and Gav and it had to spend a little time simmering. Sometimes these relationships can fall into the trap of "it's the end of the world so who cares and let's go fast" but this one didn't.

Nature doesn't have feelings or morals; it's just a bunch of random chance that sometimes work in the favor of this pack or that herd, and sometimes wipe one out. Some random chance gave this on virus the ability to infect our brains and spread itself by making itcs victims want other people's company. And as far as nature's concerned, whether we win or the virus does, it's all the same.
-p243, eARC

This story really pulled me in but I have to admit that it took a few letters/entries before I was really hooked. It wasn't until the disease really started spreading that the book created a sense of urgency that kept me reading. Once we got to that point however, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down because I felt like I really needed my questions answered. And on that note, the cliffhanger ending was not my favorite. By that point, I felt like I had fully committed to this book and almost deserved a little more resolution. And beyond the cliffhanger, there were a lot of questions that I still had concerning basic interpersonal relationships, such as what happened (in the past) with Leo and Kaelyn?

We're on a cliff, all of us, and surviving isn't about who's the best or the brightest. It's about holding on as long as we can, and trying, and failing, and trying again until we've inched a little closer to getting through this.
-p299, eARC

While I had my own issues with this book, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to lots of different readers. It's got a vibe to it that will appeal to readers who enjoy dystopias and post-apocalyptic stories. It's got a "light" feel to it as well, if that makes sense. It's not overly heavy on the drama or message or what-have-you. While there's some romance and some violence, it's nothing over the top that would stop me from recommending it to a younger crowd. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out if for no other reason than to have some questions answered!

(ARC) YA Book Review: Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick

2012-01-26T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 31 January 2012

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

My Thoughts...

To be honest, when I first saw this book, I completely overlooked it on NetGalley. Then one day I saw it and thought "Holy crap, that's by Ilsa J. Bick! Obviously I have to read it." As I started the book, it swept me up immediately into its tangled web and didn't let go. This is one of those books that you wish you could skip out on work to read instead because it pulls you in and truly doesn't let you go--and then it leasves you gasping for air as you turn the last page as if you were the one drowning...

I'm beating around the bush. I know I am. I don't want to tell this story, Bob, and you know why? Because this is a fairy tale with teeth and claws, and here's what completely sucks: you're going to want black and white, Bob, right and wrong. i'm not sure I can give that to you. That's the problem with the truth. Sometimes the truth is ambiguous, or a really bad cliche.

But this is the truth, Bob: I'm a liar.

I am lucky, a liar, a good girl, a princess, a thief--and a killer.
-p9, eARC

Gah! Nine pages in and Bick hits us with quote. I think this was the moment that I said, "WOW. This is gonna hurt." And really, it did. Every page turn brings you face to face with this thing that you don't want to think about--it's about the blurring of lines, the ambiguity, seeing both sides of a situation (even when you don't want to). It's about realizing that people are just people and people make mistakes. The main character, Jenna, is about as realistic as they come. She's had an intense and difficult life: she was badly burned in a house fire, her father is a disaster, her mother is a drunk, her brother is gone, and she's just gotten out of a psych ward (are you really surprised she ended up there?). As she starts a new school, she just wants to be "normal" but that seems to go out the window on day one. As her parents pull farther and farther away, Jenna seems to be drowning...until Mr. Anderson takes an interest in her well-being.

The truth is, Bob, that no matter how far or fast you go, the past always follows: an inky, faceless thing tacked to your shoes that only the harshest light can kill, and then just for those few moments when there is nothing but hte strongest fire from the brightest sun, breaking over your shoulders, burning that shadow--and your past--to ask.
-p16, eARC

While Jenna is actually narrating her segments into a voice recorder, it reads very much like an epistolary novel with first person narration that often acknowledges the person she's talking to. Ms. Bick takes this format and molds it into the perfect avenue for telling this story. It becomes a perfect blend of present-tense dialogue and retrospective memories that pull you directly into Jenna's head.

The only problem I had with this book (and it was MINOR) was that Jenna goes from having virtually no freedom whatsoever (which seems a likely result of having been locked away in a psych ward) to having virtually no boundaries basically overnight. I realize that it is partially an example of just how much Jenna's parents have removed themselves from reality and her life, but it still felt like too much too fast. From nothing to car, cell phone, and virtual freedom? I'm just not sure about that.

Because if I could just stop the flow of the there or anywhere before that afternoon, the rest couldn't, wouldn't spin out. And then I wouldn't be here, in this emergency room--and neither, Bob, would you.
-p213, eARC

Slight misgiving aside, this book was intense and amazing. Ilsa Bick has blurred the lines between monsters and victims, good and bad. If you're anything like me, you'll turn the final page gasping for breathe and astounded that a book could make you feel so much. There's just something about the raw emotion that Jenna expresses that makes you really think. I also feel like I should mention that this book requires a very open mind--open to possibilities that might upset you a little and motivations that you can't fully understand. I'm not sure that I've really been able to express how I felt about this book in this review...it seems a bit rambling...but regardless, if it catches your attention, definitely give it a shot because Ilsa J. Bick is a PRO.

Cover Reveal! Updated Covers for @ElanaJ's Possession & Surrender

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last year I fell in LOVE with Elana Johnson's debut novel, Possession, as you can see from my review from last summer. Also, you should know that I adored the original cover for Possession--it's SHINY in person and I've been known to pet it, lol. Here's what the original cover for Possession and the originally announced cover for Surrender (which I'm DYING to read):

They're GORGEOUS, right? I love the simplicty and beauty that they convey as well as the sense of capture--important if you've read the story, right?

SO...when Elana announced that she had a secret, I jumped at the opportunity to help reveal it! Because *duh* I loved her book. :) When she told me it was new covers, I said "WHAT?! WHY?! I LOVED the old ones. :(" But, I got this beautifully pleasant surprise in my inbox that I get to share with you!

*drummmmrrrroollll*

*sigh* They're beautiful! I absolutely adore the colored background with the simple item still centered on the page. I think the color enhances the images and the added contrast is wonderful. Also, the new tagline on Possession--how PERFECT is that?! I'm a little iffy on the font, but in the end, I do really like the simplicity and clean lines. I'm glad when they did the redesign that they kept the images. Regardless I'm just excited to be able to have Surrender on my bookshelf this year next to Possession!!

So...what do you think?!

Leave me a comment and let me know!

YA Book Review: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

2012-01-25T07:30:00.001-06:00

Release Date: 3 January 2012

Publisher: Walker & Company
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon |

Goodreads description:

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

My Thoughts...

The International Kissing Club is one of those books that I had to let grow on me a little before I really got into it. As I started reading, I found it hard to really stick with it. When I first started reading this one, I have to admit that I was a little put off by the characters and what struck me as shallow personalities. However, as the book progresses, we get a much better look into the characters' personalities and what this book really is--a journey (or four journeys really) of self-discovery and growing up.

Each main character seems to embody a female high school stereotype. Piper is trendy, flirty, and boy-crazy. Cassidy is athletic and reserved. Izzy is a tree hugger. Mei is the super smart Asian girl. While the stereotypes might make the characters easy to envision, they seemed a little too forced for me at the beginning. What I did like about the characters though is that they do have to grow-up throughout the book. Each girl hits more than a few road-bumps in their travels abroad that make them reconsider what they really think/believe.

While I did love when the girls really started to grow-up, the entire premise of their club (i.e. kissing lots of boys) seemed a little out there and promiscuous for high school girls. Actually, Piper's enthusiasm for the project was a little off-putting at first and I wasn't sure I was going to like her character at all. Thankfully this book moved beyond the shallow premise and into deeper issues of personal growth and first love. I only wish that what I loved seeing in the second half of the book could have happened sooner and that we would have had the opportunity to spend more time with the girls as they continued to grow.

I think that the premise will appeal to lots of high school readers with its blend of humor, romance, and friendship. The bonds of friendship are tested and hold true, giving readers hope that there really are strong friendships that will stand the test of time, distance, bullies, and boys. While the entire book isn't a home run per se, it is definitely worth a read if you find yourself intrigued by the premise (and maybe if you loved The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for its honest narrative on high school friendships).

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
© 7 February 2012 by Putnam Juvenile

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

© 31 January 2012 by Tor Teen

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Great debuts that I can't wait to read! I actually have both of these on hold at the library so here's to hoping that they come in quickly after the release date!!!

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?
Actually, I can't choose what to read next!! Here are some of the options in my upcoming review queue. What do you think? Help?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

YA Book Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

2012-01-24T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 10 January 2012

Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! B&N | Amazon

Goodreads description:

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

My Thoughts...

Robin Bridges has created a beautiful debut that really pulled me in and played with my emotions. The blend of history and magic had me from the very beginning--actually, it had me from the moment that I read the description. I've been craving more historical fiction and the fantasy elements mixed in had me more than a little intrigued. And I was HOOKED. This book was really a thrilling read for me with a blend of action, magic, and romance.

Katerina was a character that I was intrigued by from the beginning. Her skills as a necromancer set her apart from many other YA heroines. I've read lots of books with witches and dragons and shifters and vampires and fey...but a necromancer struck me as something new and different. She's also a strong young woman who wants to be a doctor, something relatively unheard of during this time period and actually banned in Russia, and I liked that she defied stereotypes while still going along with the societal customs that were expected of her.

The cast of characters in this book is also nothing to scoff at. There is a lot going on with a lot of different people, which you might think could be overwhelming. However, Ms. Bridges successfully wove each character into her story and made them memorable enough that I was generally not confused about who was doing what and what was going on. Even in the large cast, she was also able to make certain characters really stand out and draw your attention, like the Crown Prince Danilo, Katerina's cousin, Dariya, and the Grand Duke George.

The Gathering Storm wasn't perfect. I found myself sometimes thrown by the amount of magic going on in the society and the accepted presence of fey and vampires throughout. Also, while I wanted there to be romance between Katerina and George, I found myself a bit taken aback by how it seemed to come out of nowhere (or possibly to come on a little too intensely) when it did happen. Despite these minor setbacks, I'm excited to read more in this series because the setting and characters truly captured my imagination. I'm excited to see where Katerina's journey will take her and what future struggles, both magical and personal, she will endure. Thankfully it looks like the sequel will come out later in 2012!

YA Book Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date:

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Goodreads description:

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Thoughts...

In her debut novel, Unearthly, Cynthia Hand left this reader spellbound and begging for more of her writing and her characters. As many people do, I entered Hallowed with a bit of trepidation--will the sequel live up to its predecessor (because so many don't)? After flying through the pages of Hallowed, I am happy to report that Hallowed does not suffer for a moment from the dreaded middle book syndrome and Ms. Hand's writing and story will continue to enthrall readers.

The first thing that will catch any readers eye is the Clara has morphed into a much more confident person. Gone is the Clara who we felt sorry for most of the time with her clumsy nature and carrot-orange hair. In her place is a much more confident and relaxed Clara whom we can fall in love with. She seems a bit pre-occupied at times with her blossoming romance with fabulous boyfriend Tucker, but I can forgive her that because I happen to LOVE him. :)

The love triangle that we glimpsed in Unearthly becomes a bit more pronounced than it was previously. The tension soars between Tucker and Christian and their attachment to Clara. I tend to flip-flop a lot on love triangles, but I'm here to tell you that I liked Tucker in Unearthly and I LOVED him in Hallowed. There is a lot going on with these two boys and I don't even pretend to know which one is better for Clara in the long run. I did appreciate Christian more in this book so I suppose there's a chance that he'll win me over in book #3...but I think a piece of my reader heart will always belong to Tucker.

If you enjoyed Unearthly, then you can't miss this sequel! Cynthia Hand's writing is spot-on wonderful and her angel story continues to supply a perfect blend of romance, action, and tension (and not just romantic tension--family tension, friendship tension, etc.). While Hallowed is definitely a middle book, it stands on its own as a wonderful novel, avoiding the stagnation of so many middle books. It keeps you engaged in and entranced with the world and characters while piquing your interest in the final installment.

YA Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date:

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from B&N

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble
(currently only $0.99 for Kindle & Nook!!)

Goodreads description:

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side...

My Thoughts...

Honestly, when I started this book, I was fairly certain that I was completely burned out on angle books. That's the only real explanation that I can off for how long it took me to get around to reading this one! However, don't be put off by a previous fascination and disillusionment like I was because Unearthly is the angel book that I would recommend to EVERYONE. It's that good.

Clara is part-angel, which comes as no surprise from the description. However, she's really just a normal teenage girl struggling to fit in. I loved that she was alternately very strong and very vulnerable. For me, she became a very real character very quickly (and if you know me, characters are of hte utmost importance). Clara lended the story a lot of credibility because she was this girl struggling to fit in, find her purpose, make friends, and just LIVE.

The boys are fabulous as well and the love triangle aspect that we've all come to expect (and sometimes enjoy like a guilty pleasure) felt natural and not overdone. I truly liked the relationship that Clara had with both boys because they were each so different--one being her "purpose" and the other being real feelings. (As a note, I am TEAM TUCKER...you know, in case you're curious. But he's mine so back off.) ;)

Unearthly is a very well-written, quick-paced read that provides enough action and romance to suit many fans. Even if you thought you were "burned out" on angle books, I would encourage you to give this one a shot because it was worth every moment (and you'll be dying to read the sequel).

(ARC) YA Book Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 31 January 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

My Thoughts...

In Heart, everyone is an old soul--quite literally. Each of the million souls that have existed since the beginning of memory are continually reincarnated after the death of the physical body--until one year the temple goes dark and a soul is lost forever. Ana is born during that time and the people of Heart believe that she "stole" the place of the old soul. Treated as an outcast, Ana grows up in an unloving home and is cast out into the snow on her eighteenth birthday, where she survives only on the kindness of a stranger...

Ana is a broken character at the beginning of the story. Everything that her mother has taught her in her eighteen years of life has been meant to tear her down and make her feel like a nobody. Despite such awful circumstances, Ana has chosen to propser, teaching herself to read and appreciate music (even though she knows her mother will punish her for those things). When Ana is rescued by Sam, she experiences her frst glimpses of what it might feel like to be accepted by others--to have friends. I loved watching Ana develop and grow. So much of her perspective must change in order for this to happen--she has to experience a true shift in her thinking to appreciate that others might accept her more than her parents did. She's easy to connect and sympathize with from the beginning. Her voice has an authentic quality that makes her likeable from page one.

Sam is an unexpected ray of light and hope in Ana's life. He recues her without realizing who she is but continues to treat her well even after he knows--much to Ana's surprise. Once she stops trying to run away from him, he offers her the friendship that she's always longed for (whether she realized it or not). I liked Sam from the moment that he recued Ana. He is simply fabulous in the way that he doesn't judge her and he forces her to look beyond the things that her mother taught her about herself--strives to convince her that she is not a "nosoul" but a "newsoul."

Ms. Meadows' writing and storytelling simply captivated me. I read this book in the span of one evening--I couldn't put it down. Ana's story really drew me in from page one and I couldn't wait to see where her journey would take her. The story that Incarnate offers readers is beautifully written and refreshingly unique. I loved her take on reincarnation and the implications that it holds for life and love. The story wraps up beautifully without leaving the reader hanging onto a heart-breaking cliffhanger while leaving plenty of room for growth in future installments. I, personally, cannot wait to read more of Ana's story.

Waiting on Wednesday (46)

2012-01-18T09:01:00.001-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
© 24 January 2012 by Balzer + Bray

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick

© 28 January 2012 by Lerner Publishing Group

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

I've actually already read (AND LOVED) Incarnate...I just can't wait to be able to get my hands on my own copy! I'm reading Drowning Instinct right now and I truly just LOVE Ilsa Bick's writing. After reading Ashes, I knew I had to get my hands on more of her work and then this popped up on NetGalley!

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Tween Tuesday: May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

2012-01-17T13:26:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 10 January 2012

Publisher: Random House
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return.
Something's happened.

May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love

My Thoughts...

In her debut novel, Caroline Starr Rose bring to life the struggles of living on the early American prairie--the isolation, the poverty, and the unknown. Life for May B. and her family has never been particularly easy, so when the opportunity for May to earn a little on a neighboring farm is presented, her parents would be crazy to pass it up. So May is sent to live with the Oblingers until Christmas to help the new missus get on her feet. However, things go all wrong when Mrs. Oblinger up and leaves and Mr. Oblinger goes after her...leaving May B. to fend for herself as winter rapidly approaches.

Before Ma ties my ribbon,
I push outside and run.
My feet pound out
I won't go
I won't go
I won't go.
-p6, eARC

May B. is a fierce and resourceful young woman. I really enjoyed watching her develop as a character. She refuses to be ruled by her learning disability--continuing to dream of someday being a teacher despite her struggles with reading. Her determination to learn to read was also just one example of how strong she was. When she's left alone by the Oblingers, she proves incredibly resourceful when it comes to survival, despite her initial elation at not having to answer to anyone else's demands. When she finally leave the cottage in an attempt to get home, the reader senses that she truly feels that she has no choice.

Miss Sanders told us that lines never end,
and numbers go on forever.
Here,
in short-grass country,
I understand infinity.
-p18, eARC

As someone who has always been a bit leery of novels in verse, I have to say that Ms. Rose was immensely successful in telling her story with this method. The novel lends itself to quick reading and an easy-to-imagine story. What really caught my attention is that this would be a fantastic novel to give a young person who struggles with reading. The words create vivid imagery and tell a compelling story without an overabundance of words. The simplicity should appeal to struggling readers without making them feel like they're being given an easy book because they can't read well.

If stories were true,
I'd follow a bread-crumb path
all the way home.

But I have no heart for fairy tales
anymore.
-p90, eARC

May B. is a novel that has the potential to appeal to a vast group of readers. Whether you're looking for something to give to a struggling reader or that young fan of historical fiction, Caroline Starr Rose has created a gem that you'll love to share.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 31 January 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Goodreads description:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

My Thoughts...

Everneath blends elements from the myths of Persephone and Eurydice into an original contemporary story. I think that was my favorite thing about this story--it wasn't a simple retelling of a beautiful love story: it was a new love story all its own that happened to incorporate elements of classic mythology. I loved that the mythology was used to create something new and not simply redone as it has been many times before.

Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.
-p.92, eARC

Nikki, our MC, has made some bad decisions and they've cost her everything. When we first meet her, she is just waking from a century attached to Cole with him feeding off of her. I found her a bit difficult to really connect with at the beginning simply because she was so disoriented herself. Her perspective jumps between the past (before the Feed) and the present, which I think adds at the beginning to a sense of disorientation, confusion, and hopelessness. It was hard to watch Nikki attempt to work through the difficulties of her Return and figure out what she really wanted when she made that choice. She really did grow on me throughout the novel.

Jack, however, was just the most fabulous, swoon-worthy boy just about EVER. He is so loyal and committed and KIND. He doesn't push Nikki about what happened until she seems a bit more stable and together and then he's willing to listen to what she has to say and not push her away immediately. It made me ache to know that she was going to hurt him again. He wasn't your stereotypical brooding bad boy but an honestly nice guy.

I've read enough mixed reviews on this one to know that not everyone is going to love it, but I totally did. The relationship that Nikki and Jack (re-)develop throughout the story is really a beautiful romance (without insta-love because, hello, they were together before). The mythology is at the center of the story, but Ms. Ashton didn't simply take it and try to re-make it--she created something new and beautiful. If you enjoy mythology woven into stories, this is a definite must-read. The characters and the story truly won me over in the end.

In My Mailbox (24)

2012-01-15T07:30:00.000-06:00

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren where we can show some love to all the books that we got in the mail or otherwise!

Hello, my lovelies!!! Welcome back for the first 2012 edition of In My Mailbox (for me)!!

For Review:

Thanks SO MUCH to Harlequin Teen & Netgalley!! :)

Thanks to Anne (PR for this gem) for connecting me with this book!

Bought:

What's in YOUR mailbox? :)

YA Book Review: Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

2012-01-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 2 August 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

My Thoughts...

Epic Fail was a fabulous cute, feel-good novel! Elise Benton is determined to be different from all of the other girls at school when it comes to the very handsome son of two famous movie actors. While everyone else falls at his feet and lets him do whatever he wants, Claire treats him with just a little disdain and a whole lot of caution. Despite his rare smiles and nice moments, she goes off with Webster Grant, who turns out to be more than a little disappointing.

This was a fun, very quick read (that I picked up and finished in the course of an evening). Elise is a strong-willed young woman determined not to fall into the "traps" of the celebrity town that she has just moved to. Derek is a reserved guy wary of any and all attention because most of it comes solely as a result of his parents' celebrity status. Despite their differences and some arguments, they tend to get thrown together frequently she Elise's sister, Juliana, is fairly shy and reserved and begs Elise to join her when hanging out with Chase, her boyfriend.

While you may be wary of reading yet another Jane Austen retelling, Epic Fail is actually a fun book to read. This book relies on its characters and their chemistry to move the plot along and Ms. LaZebnik did a fabulous job with doing just that. While I have to admit that a lot doesn't happen, the author is completely successful and pulling you into the lives of the characters and actually making you care what happens to them. I would definitely recommend this one if you're looking for something that's quick and fun to read.

YA Book Review: Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 27 December 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

Get a copy! B&N | Amazon

Goodreads description:

My wish
is to fall
cranium over Converse
in dizzy, daydream-worthy
love.

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you've lost it?

My Thoughts...

I absolutely fell in LOVE with this book. I was a bit apprehensive going into this one because, honestly, I wasn't 100% sure that I was going to like it and I'm not sure what impulse I was following when I pre-ordered it (honestly? I probably wanted free shipping.). Anyway, now that I've read it, I'm really glad that I did buy this one because I loved the writing and the story and the verse format actually makes it really easy to go back and enjoy favorite moments and verses.

Even if the story was cute and the protagonist completely relateable, the beautiful words in this book would have captured and held my attention all the way from page one to page four hundred and thirty-two. Like I said at the beginning, I was unsure about the verse format but in the end it is my absolute favorite thing about this story. The diary format gives a lot of depth of emotion to Marcie's character and makes it easy to relate to her situation, her feelings, and her confusion.

Marcie was a character who felt entirely real to me and even if (when) her actions were wrong, I understood why she was doing it and I think that many readers will relate to her struggles. She was a very three-dimensional character for me. I felt like I knew her on much more than just a surface level. The poetry reveals a lot about her inner thoughts and feelings and says a lot about her personality.

This was such a quick read that I can't NOT recommend that you read it. The language is beautiful. The characters are perfectly flawed and very real. The story itself could happen to anyone. It's absolutely fabulous--be sure to check it out. :)

YA Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

2012-01-12T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 3 January 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon|B&N

Goodreads description:

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY

My Thoughts...

Wow. This book is truly fabulous. The world of young adult literature has been inundated in the last few years with an overabundance of dystopian novels that attempt to re-imagine the world that we live in somewhere and sometime in the future. Some are more successful in their endeavors, that success hinging (for me) on world-building, characters, and unique ideas. In my opinion, Under the Never Sky was a home-run. Ms. Rossi's beautiful, descriptive writing dropped me right into the world and pulled me along for a fantastic adventure alongside her characters.

Aria, aptly named for her beautiful singing voice, goes on what seems like a harmless adventure with some friends in an attempt to get information about her mother. When things go awry, Aria is saved by a stranger who doesn't belong and then kicked out of Reverie to hide the involvement of the Counsel's son. Abandoned in the "Death Shop," Aria is sure that she is going to die on the outside...until an Outsider comes and saves her...again.

Aria was a fierce character who I loved seeing essentially grow up throughout this novel. She's trust into a world that's strange and terrifying yet enticing. She experiences so many firsts on the Outside, from seeing the Aether for real for the first time to becoming a woman. She comes across as a naive but I think that supports her sheltered upbringing, where her mother's research was hidden from her and she basically lived in virtual Realms without real feelings and experiences.

In contrast, Perry is a character hardened by real-world loss and struggle. His parents are dead, his nephew is dying, and his tribe is starving. Saving Aria's life costs him a lot when his nephew is kidnapped by the Dwellers and Perry is estranged from the tribe as a result. His hardened exterior hides a good heart though, as evidenced from the very beginning when he saves Aria from the fires in Ag 6. He tends to run hot and cold with Aria--a result of the ongoing battle between his head and his heart.

In terms of their relationship, I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the progression from survival allies to friends to more. I thought that it was well done and didn't develop unusually fast. It's also not surprising seeing as how they had to struggle to survive together and battled through so much. That kind of togetherness is bound to create a deep connection, despite (or possibly because of) the odds stacked against them. I felt like their trust in each other had a long way to develop from their first meeting and there wasn't a *BAM* we're in love moment--it was a gradual realization of feelings that just sort of developed.

I know it's early in the year and there are a lot of January releases vying for your attention and love, but I highly recommend that you put Under the Never Sky into your reading queue as soon as possible. Fans of dystopias will fall in love with Rossi's world-building and devour this book. The contrast that she creates between life in the domes and life on the Outside is phenomenal and I still can't get over the imagery that is evoked through the writing in this one. Truly stunning debut novel.

Waiting on Wednesday (45)

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
© 24 January 2012 by Balzer + Bray

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

© 24 January 2012 by Disney-Hyperion

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

January is simply a month of fabulous releases! I am having so much trouble restraining myself from pre-ordering these, but I should read the eARCs that I have first, right? :)

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Tween Tuesday: The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton

2012-01-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 3 January 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

In Artie Kingfisher’s world, wizards named Merlin, fire-breathing dragons, and swords called Excalibur exist only in legends and lore—until the day his video game Otherworld springs to life.

Cryptic clues lead Artie to a strange place called the Invisible Tower, where he discovers that nothing in his life is as it seems. Artie is none other than King Arthur, brought to life in the twenty-first century. Artie has won the battle in the virtual Otherworld—now the key to saving the real Otherworld lies in his hands as well.

Green dragons, hungry wolves, powerful sorcerers—suddenly Artie must battle them all as he wields Excalibur and embarks on a quest worthy of the Knights of the Round Table. With his sister, Kay, by his side, Artie steps into the Otherworld—straight toward his destiny.

My Thoughts...

If you're looking for a light-hearted fantasy adventure, look no further. Nils Johnson-Shelton brings to life a fun story of two contemporary tweens who find themselves pulled into an adventure to save the world the know and the world that they just discovered.

Arthur "Artie" Kingfisher was adopted by his family when he was just a baby. Until recently he's never really questioned where he came from, but after a not-so-chance meeting with Merlin, he's curious. The answers are not what he ever expected to find and actually, they're quite hard to really believe. He's King Arthur? As he and his sister and knight, Kay, embark on a series of adventures to save the worlds, they'll have to face dragons, elves, witches, and any number of magical beings to free Merlin in hopes of saving the world.

Artie and Kay were really fun characters to get to know. I really liked that they had a great family dynamic with their father, Kynder, and with each other. Their personalities were also quite complimentary--when Artie was nervous, Kay was strong and vice versa. As Artie learned more about who he was and Excalibur showed him new things, he came into his own (whereas at the beginning, Kay was clearly the dominant one). Kynder was a great father figure, but Merlin, Artie supposed wizard and loyal servant, was actually quite difficult to trust throughout. I couldn't help but find him a tad annoying and untrustworthy throughout.

Overall, I felt like this was a good fantasy adventure for young readers, probably between ages 9-10. While I personally didn't enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed some other MG fantasy novels, I felt like it had good pacing and a fun, adventurous storyline that will offer young fantasy readers something to enjoy. Slightly older MG readers may find that the dialogue and storyline is a tad simplistic and the non-ending is a bit unsatisfying. I walked away feeling like the cliffhanger ending was unnecessary and they never resolved the one thing that they really set out on the quest to do--save the world.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

2012-01-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 1 March 2012

Publisher: Amulet Books (Abrams Imprint)
Format: ARC
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Goodreads description:

Up until senior year, Greg has maintained total social invisibility. He only has one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time—when not playing video games and avoiding Earl’s terrifying brothers— making movies, their own versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics. Greg would be the first one to tell you his movies are f*@$ing terrible, but he and Earl don’t make them for other people. Until Rachel.Rachel has leukemia, and Greg’s mom gets the genius idea that Greg should befriend her. Against his better judgment and despite his extreme awkwardness, he does. When Rachel decides to stop treatment, Greg and Earl make her a movie, and Greg must abandon invisibility and make a stand. It’s a hilarious, outrageous, and truthful look at death and high school by a prodigiously talented debut author..

My Thoughts...

So here's the thing that I'll tell you up front: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is unlike pretty much every other book I've read that deals with death and teenagers. It doesn't have the cry your eyes out storyline that will leave you broken for hours after you finish (you know, it doesn't read like a Lurlene McDaniel book where they fall in love and someone dies). It avoids the obvious in both its narrative and general storyline and all around seems to dodge all the obvious tropes that generally come with a story like this. And you know what? I LOVED IT. The honesty and humor with which this story is told will have you laughing from page one.

You may have already figured out that tit's about a girl who had cancer. So there's a chance you're think, 'Awesome! This is going to be a wise and insightful story about love and death and growing up. It is probably going to make me cry literally the entire time. I am so fired up right now.' If that is an accurate representation of your thoughts, you should probably try to smush this book into a garbage disposal and then run away. Because here's the thing: I learned absolutely nothing from Rachel's leukemia. In fact, I probably became stupider about life because of the whole thing.
-p2-3, ARC

Greg Gaines is a pretty typical teenager. Entering his senior year of high school he's achieved his ultimate goal: not to be hated or really noticed by any one clique of student at Benson High. Granted, he's sacrificed any real shot at friendship through the choice, but he feels like he's made it. Of course, his mom throws all his plans for skating through unnoticed when she tells him that his former Hebrew school classmate, Rachel, has been diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, and she expects Greg to spend time with her. Out the window goes Greg's anonymous status!

By now Earl is almost a member of my family: the chain-smoking vertically challenged son my parents never had.
-p64, ARC

Greg is a character who I think is easy to relate to. His sarcasm and humor were right up my alley and his attitude seemed very authentic. He doesn't sugar-coat things that he thinks and does just to make it into a good story and you'll laugh a heck of a lot more than you'll cry (and yes, eventually Greg does cry, but I don't think it's going to move you to tears as well). Earl is a great side character who clearly has a lot more depth than the reader ever really gets to experience and it's clear that Greg, too, doesn't really know Earl all that well.

It's like when a kitten tries to bite something to death. That kitten clearly has the cold-blooded murderous instinct of a predator, but at the same time, it's this cute little kitten, and all you want is to stuff it in a shoebox and shoot a video of it for gradnmas to watch on YouTube.
-p6, ARC

If for nothing else, read this for the laugh out loud moments throughout. You'll constantly come across passages that you want to write down or share with others (just ask my husband). The writing style is conversational with a very authentic male narrator. Certain scenes throughout are written in a "screenplay" style that I wasn't sure I was going to like at first as it made some of the scenes seem disjointed. By the end, those scenes didn't stick out nearly as much to me, but I'm still not sure that they were really the best (or my favorite) way of handling it. Overall, this is a more light-hearted look and death than you'll probably find anywhere else. I read that the movie rights were sold to this book back in March, and while I'm not 100% sure how the humor and inner sarcasm will come through on screen, I'd probably be in line to see this one.

In My Mailbox (23)

2012-01-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren where we can show some love to all the books that we got in the mail or otherwise!

Hello, my lovelies!!! Welcome back for the first 2012 edition of In My Mailbox (for me)!!

For Review:

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams (Thanks to NetGalley & Bloomsbury!)

Partials by Dan Wells (Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins!)

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown (Thanks to NetGalley & Random House!)

Gifts:

All the most recent from Beverly Lewis, my fav. Christian author who promotes my secret love of the Amish, from my fabulous mother-in-law. :)

Also, I got fabulous B&N gift cards for Christmas. :) (which, as you'll see below, I've already started spending.) ;)

Won:

ARC won via Twitter giveaway from Heidi at The Readiacs! :)

Bought:

So, yay for pre- and post-Christmas book shopping sprees aided by gift cards! Some are real books and some are eBooks. :) (And not all are mentioned, lol)

(PS~Do you SEE the contemps? Do yoU?! lol)

What's in YOUR mailbox? :)

YA Book Review: I Am J by Chris Beam

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 1 March 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Format: ARC
Source: Library Staff ARCs

Goodreads description:

J always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was; a boy mistakenly born as a girl. Yet as he grew up, his body began to betray him; eventually J stopped praying to wake up a "real boy" and started covering up his body, keeping himself invisible - from his family, from his friends...from the world. But after being deserted by the best friend he thought would always be by his side, J decides that he's done hiding - it's time to be who he really is. And this time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost.

My Thoughts...

I Am J is a fabulous look at a much overlooked segment of our youth population. When I was reading it, I felt this overwhelming need to protect J and other students like him. Maybe that's just my personal views on the subject, but I do think that this book stands as a look into a world that is often closed off to those of us on the outside who can't necessarily completely understand what these young people are going through.

So, J, our main character. I found him a little on the rough side and difficult at times to connect with, especially in the beginning. He's a very isolated, gruff young person who is really struggling to find where he "fits" in his world. He lacks a solid support system of any kind, which I think can be at least partially attributed to the fact that he hasn't spoken to ANYONE about the way he truly feels. He gets angry when his mother or father call him Jenifer and he gets even more angry when people think he's a lesbian. I completely understand his anger, but I also really wished he would/could tell someone what he was feeling. When he runs away and finds a support system almost by accident, I felt that his whole world really started to open up.

J's friend, Melissa, really upset me at various points. She struck me as rather self-centered and her cutting and her attitude weren't exactly a positive force in J's life. I also got really upset when she basically lured him into a "trap" for his mom after he ran away. She clearly has no idea what's really going on in J's life and I felt like she really didn't care enough to attempt to find out. J's parents made me really angry as well. They don't seem to take a strong interest in J's life beyond going to school and getting good grades. I would think they would notice his attitude and take an interest. The kicker, however, is when J tells his mom and the actions that she takes afterward. It was almost unforgiveable in my book what she did. I get that as a parent this would be a really difficult thing to deal with, but I also just wanted her to show an ounce of compassion.

I Am J is really a fabulous look at what it's like to be transgendered in a world where that word is still sort of off limits. It's not something that parents want to think about when they have kids, but it's important to realize just how much of an impact a caring individual can have on the life of one teen in this situation. Chris Beam's authentic story is one that I hope makes its way onto many library shelves and into the hands of many teens who need to hear stories just like this one. Paired with Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, these two books give readers a look at transgendered life from both sides and give valuable insight for questioning kids and teens and those of us on the outside.

YA Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-05T08:26:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 3 January 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan)
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Thoughts...

This book is absolutely phenomenal. I never in a million years would have guessed that Ms. Meyer is a debut author. Her storytelling capability is superb as is her writing. The world and characters she has created will jump off the page and straight into your imagination. Honestly, with Cinder as my first complete read of 2012, the rest of the books I read this year have a LOT to live up to, whether they come from debut or seasoned authors.

Cinder isn't you usual heroine. She's a tough chick who works as a mechanic for a living and what's more--she's not ENTIRELY human anymore, not since a surgery when she was young reengineered her as a cyborg. Despite her make-up being 36.28% machine, Cinder has all the real emotions and feelings of a normal teenage girls...she just also happens to be able to disconnect her foot. Without giving too much away, there's a lot of surprises in store for Cinder along the way.

What I REALLY loved about this story is that it is a wholly unique and beautifully done retelling of the much loved Cinderella fairy tale. When I read a retelling of such a well-known and well-loved story, I hope that the author can find a way to make it completely new without butchering the story I already love--and Ms. Meyer has accomplished just that. I loved the futuristic world with its science fiction technology yet the somewhat classic feel/moments that relate the story back to it's East Asian roots.

I don't think that I can recommend this book highly enough. I flew through the pages and I am sure that you will too! The characters are relateable even though they're so different from you and me and Ms. Meyer really makes the world come alive. You'll seriously feel like you are walking through the streets of New Beijing with Cinder and standing on the landing pad with Prince Kai when the Lunar queen arrives. The ending will leave you breathlessly waiting for the next chapter of the Lunar chronicles, which we will sadly have to wait until 2013 to read!

Waiting on Wednesday (44)

2012-01-04T07:30:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return.
Something's happened.

May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

Tempest by Julie Cross

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

There are SO MANY January releases that look absolutely fabulous that I've been having a tough time choosing which ones to feature! Don't these look great? Historical fiction in verse for the first one and time travel for the second! :)

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?

YA Book Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

2012-01-03T07:30:00.001-06:00

Release Date: 18 October 2011

Publisher: Del Rey (Random House)
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead.

My Thoughts...

Dearly, Departed is a prime example of why I don't like to give up on books if I have trouble getting into them at first. And I did have trouble getting into Dearly, Beloved. I was trying to read it in bits and pieces while reading other books and it just wasn't working. So, as 2011 drew to a close, I knew that this book needed to be a priority. I started over, set aside a few hours, and dove in. Let me tell you--I LOVED this book. It has a perfect mix of action and adventure with the detail and world-building of a well-written steampunk novel with an incredibly sweet love story thrown in.

Nora Dearly has a fairly normal life, despite being orphaned at age fifteen and having to deal with an over-bearing, social climber of an aunt as her guardian. Thankfully she has her best friend Pam to get her through. When she's approached by a blind man on the street one evening who attempts to take her and claims to be a friend of her deceased father, well, that is definitely a moment that Nora will never forget as what ensues is a story of kidnapping, adventure, war, love, ...and zombies.

Nora is a really fabulous MC to get to know. She has a very kick butt attitude and she's not afraid to put herself out there and make things happen. She's fiercely loyal to her best friend, despite their social difference. After she's kidnapped, I appreciated her fear and caution--signs of an authentic character who can't easily accept the things going on around her--as well as her boldness and honesty. I've been a tough sell on good characters lately, but Nora is definitely at the top of my list as an enjoyable, authentic heroine.

Nora wasn't the only character that I loved in this book either. Bram is absolutely wonderful. Chas, Tom, and Ren are a fantastic cast of side characters with well-defined personalities and roles. Dr. Dearly himself is sharp as a tack. Wolfe is the ultimate villan. Overall, this was a whole cast of characters that I found myself attached to. I honestly cared about what happened to each and every one of them.

The writing in this book is phenomenal. You will be pulled into this foreign world and you'll honestly feel at home. Ms. Habel's writing is beautifully descriptive without being completely overbearing. She gives the reader a perfect sense of this futuristic "New Victorian" world and its oddities without ever making it feel like an info dump. She had me mesmerized. Like I said, the beginning may have been a tad slow for me as you're getting to know the world and the characters, but when it takes off, it will take you on quite the wild ride. Be prepared for action and adventure, zombies, and a romance that swept me off my feet. I'll be anxiously waiting for book #2, Dearly, Beloved.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Rock On by Denise Vega

2012-01-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 5 March 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Format: ARC
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Get a copy!
Goodreads description:

Ori Taylor is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the Band To Be Named Later, a garage band he started with his friends. After years of being known as the mini version of his sports-star brother, Del, Ori is looking forward to stepping out of his older brother's shadow, learning to perform in public, and rocking the Battle of the Bands contest. Oh, and maybe finally working up the nerve to talk to a girl in person instead of just over e-mail. But when Del suddenly returns from college, he expects Ori to step back into his role of little brother, just when Ori is starting to come into his own.

With his confidence wavering, will Ori be able to overcome his stage fright and lead the band to rock glory? Will the Band To Be Named Later ever get a real name? Will their best performances remain in the garage?

My Thoughts...
Stepping into the world of high school friendships, romance, and sibling drama that Denise Vega has created is like walking into a world that you're already familiar with. The characters are very realistic and easy to relate to--they could just be another group of kids at your high school--and the story has something for everyone. Whether your in it for the romance or the rivalry, you won't walk away disappointed.

Ori always looked up to his brother going up, but after being put on academic probation and returning home from college, Del has been a different person and Ori doesn't want to live in his shadow any more--especially not when it comes to Jane. Ori is a very typical high school boy with lots of talent and big dreams I enjoyed him as the narrator quite a bit and I think he would be a difficult character NOT to like.

Del, his brother, was interesting to try to figure out. From the beginning it's obvious that Ori used to practically worship him and something has clearly changed. I felt like the mystery behind his actions made me curious about him. At the same time, there were definitely moments when I simply couldn't stand the guy. By the end, however, he did some redeeming things that made me glad I didn't give up on him entirely.
Ori's group of friends were also fun to read about and I loved the little insights that we got throughout into their characters. While they weren't as developed as some side characters are, I didn't feel like they were throwaway characters at all. Each character has a role to play in Ori's story and there would have been holes had they not been present. Alli was probably my favorite side character. I loved that she was the girl next door who'd been friends with the MC forever but she wasn't the love interest. It took away that predictable angle. The actual love interest was cute and sweet...and made me want to strangle her a little at points. I did like the unique angle of their new bassist being a girl and a little different but what makes her different seemed like a detail just thrown in there for the sake of having it there.

Rock On is a fun YA contemporary read that comes off as a very realistic story without seeming forced. Even the parts of the story that are told via blog entries and comments don't seem out of place in the story and while I initially thought I would find them annoying, I ended up liking them--they didn't interrupt the flow the way I thought they would. I think that this is another great YA entry with a realistic male narrator and a fun storyline. I guess the only thing that strikes me after reading this is that I don't find it to be an overly memorable read. The story is fun and the characters are enjoyable, but the novel as a whole didn't leave that big of an impression on me.

Harper Imprint - January Reading Challenge

2012-01-01T01:00:00.000-06:00

Chelsy @ Starry Sky Books is once again hosting the Harper Imprint Challenge this month! Sounds like a great way to start the year, right? I participated back in July 2011 and managed to knock 6 HarperCollins books off of my TBR list (but only got 5 of the reviews posted in July).

I'm signed up for the "Medium" level once again of 5-8 books. On my original sign-up post you can see a list of the Harper books that I either own or have galleys of through NetGalley. The final list had 22 books on it so I have no doubt enough choices to take on reading at least 5 or 6 of them this month. One of my blogging goals for 2012 is to read a lot more of the books that I WANT to read...old, new, whatever. :)

I'll keep a tally of the books that I get read and reviewed here.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Epic Fail by Claire La Zebnik
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Do you have a bunch of HaperCollins books on your TBR list/pile? Consider joining in the challenge HERE!

2012 Reading Challenges - Tracking Post

2012-01-01T00:30:00.000-06:00

This is the post that I will update with my challenge progress throughout the year for the three year-long challenges that I'm participating in.

Sensational Seconds YA Reading Challenge - hosted by ME!

1. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

10.

11.

12.

13.

The Debut Author YA/MG Reading Challenge - hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren.

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

3. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

4. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

5. May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

6. The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton

7. The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

8. The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

9. Digit by Annabel Monaghan

10.

11.

12.

The Sophomore Reading Challenge - hosted by Shayn, Chick Loves Lit

1. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

10.

1.Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
2. Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

3. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

4. Between Sea & Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

5. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

10.

11.

12.

January/February 2012 SSC - Link Up Your Reviews!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Welcome to the first month of 2012 and thus the first month of the 2012 Sensational Seconds YA Reading Challenge! Remember the goal is to read anywhere from 1-4 or 13+ YA/MG sequels that are being released in 2012. You can check out the rules and sign up HERE.

Link up any reviews below for 2012 sequels that you read in January and February! Remember that you must read the book sometime on or after January 1 and it must be published in 2012 for it to qualify for the SSC this year. ARCs to be published later in 2012 totally count! :)

To see what sequels are out for January and February 2012, check out this link!

Don't forget to check out the first giveaway for the SSC! It's my ARC of A Million Suns by Beth Revis! (Or a paperback copy of AtU, if you haven't read it):) Check back for more posts and (wallet allowing) giveaways! :)

Goodbye, 2011!

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-06:00

So, it's the time of the year when so many people are posting and talking about the "best of" from 2011, so I couldn't help but want to post some of my favorites reads from the past year. However, how do you REALLY sit down and choose what was the best? I mean, I read a lot more this year than I have in a long time and it's hard...like, SERIOUSLY hard. How am I supposed to choose?!?! So, for this New Year's Eve post I thought I would give it a try anyway...

Jessi's Top 10 of 2011

(in no particular order; published in 2011)

Favorite Reads of 2011
(that WEREN'T published in 2011)

Favorite Covers of 2011

(in no particular order)

Most Anticipated Sequels of 2012
(not including the few that I've already read!)

Books I WISH I Had Read

(And plan to read ASAP in 2012 because I OWN them...)

So, there you have it. These are just a few of my "favs" from 2011. Seriously, I could sit here and find different categories for each and every one of the books that I loved this past year, but you honestly don't want to read a post that long, right? :)

Happy New Year!!

YA Book Review: On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

2011-12-30T07:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 27 December 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Source: Published via Netgalley

Goodreads description:

The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher.

Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she's the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey's secret crush—starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.

And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

My Thoughts...

In the final stretch of 2011, HarlequinTeen has brought readers a new angel story that provides enough unique twists to make it stand apart from its many predecessors of the year. Wrought with emotion and intrigue, Jordan Dane has brought new life to the angel tale through a dark examination of life and death. While I overall enjoyed this book, I will say that it didn't necessarily blow me away. There were a few things that didn't really mesh for me and it wasn't the type of book where I found myself truly caring about and immersed in the characters and their world.

When her mother died in a car accident 5 years ago, Abby was left with the guilt and pain of surviving that same crash. It changed her relationship with her father and those around her. What she didn't realize at the time is that there were even bigger ramifications to her survival. Abby finds out the hard way that Death never forgets a soul that he was meant to collect.

Abby isn't the type of MC that I'm typically drawn to, which made some of the story hard to get through. She's a bit standoffish with her father, acquaintances and even her best friend, Tanner. She struck me as a bit self-absorbed at times, and while some of that can be forgiven through her traumatic past, I would think that she would be willing at this point to let others into her life just a little. Also, her ~~crush on~~ obsession with Nate Holden simply struck me as...odd. I couldn't quite understand her fascination with this boy that she didn't know AT ALL. I get that it's common to crush on the cute popular boy a little. Heck, I did it too. Abby just takes her crush to a whole new level that I really just didn't "get." Thankfully, Abby does develop a lot throughout this novel and make some good decisions--i.e. she grows up a bit. I felt like by the end she was starting to see the good things that she did in fact have in her life that she had been missing/ignoring.

Tanner is awesome. The end. He was easily my favorite character in this book. He's a great friend and so dedicated to Abby. I just wanted to scream at her for basically not noticing him. Seriously, so much boyfriend potential there. And to top it off, he's got a fabulous sense of humor and the brains to go with it. He really "got" Abby and he was always there for her.

While this was a good read, it was a GREAT read, at least not for me. It lacked the character connection that I look for in a great novel. Abby wasn't a character that made me excited to dive back into the story. There were also a few oddities with this novel that I'm not sure how I felt about them, the the main thing was the changing point of view. I understood having some from Abby and some from Tanner and even a little from Nate...but all of the sudden we were getting Bob Holden and snippets from Jackie Holden and it felt like too much. The sections jumped back and forth in small bursts and it interrupted the flow a little for me. So, while I enjoyed this novel and would easily recommend it to fans of paranormal reads and "angel books," it wasn't my favorite this year. The writing is really good, but the characters and pacing didn't work for me.

YA Book Review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

2011-12-29T07:30:00.000-06:00

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My Thoughts...

This was one of the first books that I bought for my NookColor when I got it for Christmas in 2010 and I have NO IDEA why I waited so long to read it! I enjoyed every minute of this book. Aprilynne's writing is superb and so much fun to read.

Laurel, who has been home-schooled her whole life, starts high school at the local public school when her parents decide to move to a new town. While she's a bit socially awkward at first, a few people do their best to befriend her, including David who seems smitten with her from the very beginning. Laurel slowly begins to adjust to life among the masses and even eventually warms up to her new friends. Everything is going swimmingly until one morning she wakes up to find a bump on her back. Her mother assures her that it is simply probably her first zit and it will go away soon. However, instead of getting smaller and disappearing, the bump grows larger and larger until one morning Laurel wakes to find a beautiful flower essentially blooming out of her back.

That's all I will stay about the story itself for now because there is so much to discover about the story that Aprilynne has crafted. The characters themselves are quite endearing and I enjoyed learning about the various facets of the lives of both the humans and the faeries. Present, of course, is the love triangle that we are so used to read about these days, but this one didn't rub me the wrong way like some can. It was cute and each boy was well-done. I think it will definitely be interesting to follow the trio through future books.

I loved that she wrote such a fresh, unique story about faeries. This was a really quick read as well and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone! It's a great read especially for young girls (10-12) because it doesn't have a lot of the darker elements that are fairly common. It's a light read that I think many readers, even your more reluctant ones, will fly through.

Waiting on Wednesday (43)

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

This week I'm waiting on...

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
by Jennifer E. Smith

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

The Nightshade trilogy is actually one that I've followed via audiobook and I can't WAIT to get my hands on the audio for the final installment from the library! I've had it on hold for ages. The Statistica Probability of Love at First Sight is one that I'm DYING to read. It sounds SO cute! Plus I keep seeing all sorts of really fabulous reviews for it that simply make me even more excited to read it! :)

SLOW WEEK! The holiday really messed with my reading time, lol! :)

What are you currently reading?

(Currently listening to...)

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are YOU waiting on this week?