Abyss

Epic Books in 2011

2011-01-02T16:04:00.008-05:00

Happy 2011! We're now one year closer to the Apocalypse. If 2011 turns out to be an incredibly dull year, we always have the end-of-the-world to entertain us (for a little while, at least. then it just gets scary :O )

Now things I'm actually looking

forward to are.....

Shiver and Linger were both stunning.... let's hope Forever lives up to them!

One: the cover is jaw dropping

Two: the premise is equally jaw dropping

Three: debut author!

Sequel to If I Stay, one of the most beautiful, moving, and heart breaking books I've ever read.

Sequel to the Body Finder, which was one of the most refreshing paranormal books I've read in a really, really long time

Another gorgeous cover and premise from a debut author!

Third in the series, one of my fav fluffy summer reads!

I have been waiting for this book FOREVER and it's nearly here... another debut author as well!

2011 looks like an epic year for YA books... what are you guys looking forward too?

Bad Blogger Award...

2010-12-20T10:38:00.003-05:00

...goes to me.

I am SO sorry I've been absent for the past two months, but those two months have possibly been the craziest of my life. I increased my course load at school, I started crew and didn't get back home til 7:45 each night, so my blog had to take a backseat.

But I'm baack!

With the holiday break, I'm starting to catch up on my reading and the ARCs that lovely authors and publishers have continued to send me, even though I haven't been very consistent in my posts recently.

These books include:

So. Reviews will becoming for those soon, as well as a review for DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver in January.

Stay tuned!

Most Popular Posts in the Existence of this Blog

2010-10-12T20:53:00.004-04:00

Top 9 of my posts that have received a combo of the most page views, comments, blah blah you get the point. (Why 9 posts, not 10 may you ask? I was just in the mood.)

In not really an exact order:

1. Review of the DUFF by Kody Keplinger

2. Cover Comparison: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

3. Linger Blog Tour Part 2 and 3: Review//Interview

4. Review of Take Me There by Carolee Dean

5. Interview with Gayle Forman

6. Teaser Tuesday: My current WIP, Damaged

7. Review: A Matched Made in High School by Kristin Walker

8. Review: The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

9. In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox (10)

2010-10-10T03:00:00.003-04:00

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

Release Date: February 11th, 2011

(Thanks Harper Teen!)

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

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

What did you get this week?

Review: Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

2010-08-20T19:56:00.004-04:00

Title: Past Midnight
Author: Mara Purnhagen
Release Date: September 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Length: 216
Source: Author (ARC)

Summary:

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear. All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive….

Review:

That summary makes the book sound SO STUPID, and it in no way embodies the MC Charlotte. But don't let the summary stop you form buying a copy of this, because it is a very intriguing read.

Mara Purnhagen has an envy-worthy gift for story telling, as is obvious from Past Midnight, the first title in the series. She created an interesting plot and effortlessly weaved paranormal into a contemporary setting. The science and, dare I say, logic behind the energies in this story almost made me believe in ghosts! (i'm still undecided ;) ).

However.
The mysteries in this book were not complex enough for my taste and I figured them out on my own. But that's probably because this is geared for the younger side of YA, maybe upper middle grade? Also, Charlotte didn't have much of a personality. I kept searching for a character flaw or something that made her unique apart from her parents' occupation, but couldn't find one. I would have like a little more personality infused into her, but I have a feeling that will pop up more in the later books.

If you love a quick, eerie read, Past Midnight is for you. I will be eagerly awaiting the next in the series, One Hundred Candles, which is to be released in March 2011.

1. Characters 17/20
2. Writing 19/20
3. Plot 19/20
4. Accurate YA voice 19/20
5. Cover 10/10
6. Title 7/10 (the title itself was fine, but i'm not sure how it pertains to the story. i think i might have missed that explanation.)

Total: 91 0r B+

Review: Take Me There by Carolee Dean

2010-08-15T19:33:00.005-04:00

Title: Take Me There
Author: Carolee Dean
Release Date: July 2010
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Length: 327
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.
But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

Ok, so I admit I thought this was going to be a fluffy, verging on dull/predictable/ordinary story.

Wrong.

Wrong wrong wrong.

This book was deep, powerful, emotional, and tugged on my heartstrings like so few books have. The narrator, Dylan, had a strong and believable voice, and even though he has made some stupid choices, I couldn't help but find some way to identify with him and his struggles. And who doesn't love a bad boy who writes poetry?

Part mystery, part love story, part self discovery, this book is unlike any other book I've read. It made me appreciate the things my parents sacrifice for me, and what they sacrifice for each other. Carolee wrote with determination and that shone through her characters and her plot.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. It has the power to change you in a way you don't quite understand.

1. Characters 20/20
2. Writing 20/20
3. Plot 21/20
4. Accurate YA voice 20/20
5. Cover 9/10
6. Title 9/10

Overall score: 99 or A

In My Mailbox (9)

2010-08-08T06:00:00.005-04:00

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff

September 1, 2010

(i've already started reading this one and so far i love the prose!)

The absolute value of any number, positive or negative, is its distance from zero: |-1| = 1

Noah, Lily, and Simon have been a trio forever. But as they enter high school, their relationships shift and their world starts to fall apart. Privately, each is dealing with a family crisis—divorce, abuse, and a parent's illness. Yet as they try to escape the pain and reach out for the connections they once counted on, they slip—like soap in a shower. Noah’s got it bad for Lily, but he knows too well Lily sees only Simon. Simon is indifferent, suddenly inscrutable to his friends. All stand alone in their heartache and grief.

In his luminous YA novel, Steve Brezenoff explores the changing value of relationships as the characters realize that the distances between them are far greater than they knew.

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

September 1, 2010

(this was a surprise in my mailbox-- i didn't know it was coming! but i'm super excited for it because i loved Tagged!)

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear. All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive…

Cover Comparison Thursday: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2010-07-29T06:03:00.000-04:00

Cover Comparison Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by me to showcase international covers of a certain book, and share opinions on each.

Thai

French

Italian

Polish

Spanish

Personally, I think all these covers are stunning. Kami and Margaret definitely lucked out. I would pick up each and every one of these off a book shelf, but I think my favorite would have to be the French, partially because it's the most simple, and I LOVE simple, dramatic covers.

What's your favorite?

In My Mailbox (8)

2010-07-25T07:00:00.001-04:00

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

(ARC) Release Date: November 2010

One family, two sisters, and a secret that will forever change the way they think of each other.
Julia just graduated as her high school valedictorian, has a full ride to college in the fall and a coveted summer internship clerking for a federal judge. But when her older sister, Sophie, shows up at the graduation determined to reveal some long buried secrets, Julia's carefully constructed plans come to a halt. Instead of the summer she had painstakingly laid out, Julia follows Sophie back to Vermont, where Sophie is opening a bakery—and struggling with some secrets of her own. What follows is a summer of revelations—some heartwarming, some heartbreaking, and all slowly pointing Julia toward a new understanding of both herself and of the sister she never really knew.

(ARC) Release Date: October 2010

The story of a dramatic love triangle, inspired by a historical mystery
Lady Catherine is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens—until her forbidden romance with Sir Walter Ralegh is discovered. In a bitter twist of irony, the jealous queen banishes Cate to Ralegh's colony of Roanoke, in the New World. Ralegh pledges to come for Cate, but as the months stretch out, Cate begins to doubt his promise and his love. Instead it is Manteo, a Croatoan Indian, whom the colonists—and Cate—increasingly turn to. Yet just as Cate's longings for England and Ralegh fade and she discovers a new love in Manteo, Ralegh will finally set sail for the New World.

Seamlessly weaving together fact with fiction, Lisa Klein's newest historical drama is an engrossing tale of adventure and forbidden love—kindled by one of the most famous mysteries in American history: the fate of the settlers at Roanoke, who disappeared without a trace forty years before the Pilgrims would set foot in Plymouth.

(ARC) Release Date: October 2010

**i've already received a copy of this, so maybe a giveaway is in the near future???

A riveting exploration of how love can lead to lies.

On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.

This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most.

(ARC) Release Date: September 2010

A lyrically written, powerful exploration of a girl's struggle within a hidden society.

Inside the closed community of Borough Park, where most Chassidim live, the rules of life are very clear, determined by an ancient script written thousands of years before down to the last detail—and abuse has never been a part of it. But when thirteen-year-old Gittel learns of the abuse her best friend has suffered at the hands of her own family member, the adults in her community try to persuade Gittel, and themselves, that nothing happened. Forced to remain silent, Gittel begins to question everything she was raised to believe.

A richly detailed and nuanced book, one of both humor and depth, understanding and horror, this story explains a complex world that remains an echo of its past, and illuminates the conflict between yesterday's traditions and today's reality.

Release Date: August 2010

** i already have a copy of this as well so I'll probably have a giveaway.

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Review: The Duff by Kody Keplinger

2010-07-23T09:25:00.005-04:00

Dear Kody Keplinger,

The Duff is unlike any other YA book I've ever read.

The snark,

The spunk,

The attitude,

The romance,

The whole package,

Was perfect.

You created a character that other YA authors should be required to study, because you nailed Bianca. You nailed the teenage voice. You nailed this book.

You carved Bianca with a dagger in your right fist, and a heart in the other. She was brutal and tough as nails, but fragile and confused.

You wrote like you had nothing and everything to lose.

You wrote with raw humor. You wrote with raw emotion. You wrote with misunderstanding, and confusion, and infused your work of art with the life and the passion of an adolescent.

Forever a fan,

Bailey

Dear Kody Keplinger,

You are brave.

You tackled issues that adults are to afraid to. Issues that adults are afraid to admit exist in teenage lives.

They will disagree with you.

They will oppose you.

Some will probably not like you.

But then there will be the others.

Like me.

Who will love you.

And your work.

Because you were honest. And that is a quality only true writers possess.

But you probably know this already.

Why?

Because you're Kody Freakin Keplinger.

And you are AWESOME.

Keep writing. I'll keep reading. And I'm sure millions of others will as well.

Forever a fan,

Bailey

1. Characters 21/20
2. Writing 20/20
3. Plot 20/20
4. Accurate YA voice 21/20
5. Cover 9/10
6. Title 10/10

Overall score: 101 or A++

Linger Blog Tour Part 2 and 3: Review//Interview//WINNER

2010-07-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

And the WINNER of the LINGER giveaway is......

MY NAME IS PATRICIA!!

Please email me (blackdiamond508 AT aol DOT com) with your mailing address within the next 48 hours.

Thanks to everyone who participate in my first contest!

Part 2 and 3 of the Maggie Stiefvater's book, Linger, is an interview and review.

Here's the link to my review of Linger: http://bclement412.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-linger-by-maggie-stiefvater.html

And here is my interview with Maggie about Linger:

1. Why did you decide to have 4 alternating narrators in Linger?

Because two just wasn’t hard enough! No, actually, it was because I really wanted to have two characters to play off Sam and Grace and their relationship. In order to really dig into the angst back story, I had to get inside their heads.

2. Who is your favorite character from Linger, and why?

You can’t really pick favorite characters for the same reason you can’t pick favorite children: they’ll come and kill you in the night. But I have to say I really enjoyed writing Cole’s narrative arc. He changes really dramatically and that is fun and challenging for a writer.

3. What element(s) of Linger do you wish could be part of your own life?

The chicken parmesan Grace and Rachel made. Everything else would send me to therapy. Oh, well, I guess I’d like to hear Sam’s music from this book. I have a couple of tunes I’ve written for his songs, but I think they’d sound better if he sang them.

4. Do you ever dream about your characters/stories? If so, do those dreams ever become part of the actual book?

I dream about my characters and stories all the time. Dreams are often the genesis of my short stories and while I usually can’t use them exactly as they happen, they often have kernels of great stuff that I couldn’t think of while awake. I can always tell when I’m really deep into a rough draft because I’ll start dreaming scenes from the book. Yay, subconscious. I think a lot of authors take inspiration from their dreams.

5. When you were writing the Shiver, did you have an idea of what was to come in Linger?

Not at first, but as I dug deeper into Grace’s backstory, little pieces began to fall into place. I’m afraid I’m a rather loosy-goosy plotter -- I come up with final scenes and a few key scenes along the way and then I just go from there.

6. Can you share anything at all about the third and final book in the series, Forever?

No. But nice try :)

In My Mailbox (7)

2010-07-18T15:06:00.004-04:00

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

FOR REVIEW (thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending it):

Take Me There by Carolee Dean

July 2010 by Simon and Schuster

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

Linger Blog Tour Part 1: GIVEAWAY!

2010-07-09T08:00:00.007-04:00

Okay, so time-out on that vacation thingy, because I am holding my first GIVEAWAY! Yup, that's right. I was asked by Scholastic to participate in Maggie Stiefvater's blog tour for Linger, and they are giving away ONE copy to a lucky winner.

Rules:

* US only

* Must be over 13

* Must become a blog follower

Extra Points- Max of 28 extra points! (don't forget to leave links or it will not count):

+5 for a blog post

+5 for a tweet

+5 for facebook status

+3 for posting this on your sidebar

+3 for referring someone (mention each others names, and you will both get +3)

+1 for posting each of these links:

Maggie's website:

http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/

SHIVER series site:

http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/shiver/

Maggie Stiefvater’s blog:

http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/

Author Twitter:

http://twitter.com/mstiefvater

Author Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Stiefvater-Really-its-me/412830324465?v=wall

Maggie Stiefvater’s Linger Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l59sMzeA_vQ

Scholastic.com official Shiver page

http://www.scholastic.com/shiver/

The winner will be announced JULY 21

Thank you for participating and helping me promote both my blog and Linger!

*leave points and links in the comments if you want to enter*

for other people hosting giveaways, here's a website that might help: http://www.giveawayscout.com/

From their website:

Giveaway Scout is a giveaway search engine. Our users subscribe to receive updates on the latest giveaways on the web. Add your blog and your giveaways will be exposed to our large network or users.

Cover Comparison Thursday: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak /// plus a brief blogging vacation

2010-07-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

Cover Comparison Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by me to showcase international covers of a certain book, and share opinions on each.

<-- US Version

This cover is both simple and intriguing at the same time. I love the dominoes, and the eerie font. I would definitely pick this book up.

Score: 8/10

UK version 1 -->

This cover is pretty boring. I'm all for simplicity, but not for simple covers looking like they're geared towards 90 year olds

Score: 4/10

<-- UK version 2

In my opinion, this cover isn't really eye-catching. It's a little dull and not the least bit interesting. At least it has more color than the other UK version

Score: 5/10

Japanese version -->

While I'm happy not to see this cover looking as though it belongs on a comic book, I do not like the color scheme. The browns against the orange background remind me of a rotting pumpkin, or dog barf.

Score: 3/10

For me, the US version is an overwhelming favorite. If you participate this week, leave the link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by your blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, for part 2 of this post. I'm going to take a blogging vacation. My summer is getting hectic with babysitting, friends, golf, rowing, vacations, etc, and I'm afraid to say I'm going to have to put the blog in the backseat for a bit. Cover Comparison Thursdays will continue, even if I'm not able to post one of the weeks, and I will still comment on others comparisons.

A note to publishers/authors: I will continue reading and reviewing the ARCs you have sent, and the reviews WILL be posted. It just might take a bit longer than usual.

In My Mailbox (6)

2010-07-04T08:00:00.006-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

September 2010

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I was INSANE excited when I found this in my mailbox this week. Actually, my mom did, as I've been at a Nike golf thingy majingy all week. But it was a fantastic surprise for when I arrived home. I've only just started it, but let me tell you: IT IS CRAZY AWESOME GOODLY AMAZ-A-ZING!

Happy 4th of July!!

***by the way, there are many many many familiar AW names in the acknowledgments***

Cover Comparison Thursday: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2010-07-01T08:00:00.008-04:00

Cover Comparison Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by me to showcase international covers of a certain book, and share opinions on each.

<-- U.S.

I do like this cover, as it really shows the major themes of Percy Jackson's story/adventure. I especially like the lightning bolt and the empire state building in the background, and also how Percy is traveling - and kind of commanding - the water.

Verdict: I would pick up this book (in fact, I already have!!)

Score: 9/10

Japan -->

Yuck. All the Japanese covers I compare are starting to all look the same-- like a comic book. This would not at all stand out among other covers. It's also hard to tell what exactly is on the cover, because it's all gray and black.

Verdict: No thanks, I'll pass without a second thought.

Score: 1/10

<-- British #1

I love the words at the top: "Half boy, half god, all hero," because that pretty much describes the entire book in 6 words. I would buy it based of those words alone, no book description needed! I don't really like the color scheme.. the pukey yellow and the brown reminds me of a rotten banana.

Verdict: I would probably pick this one up, though I'd be hesitant because of the colors.

Score: 6.8/10

Bristish #2 -->

I actually really like this, probably more so than the other British version. I love the simple blue and gold (very regal and god like) but I'm a little iffy on the shoe. It makes it look really young. I know this series is middle grade/crossover YA, but the shoe is just really young, and not a huge part of the story.

Verdict: I think I would pick this up.

Score: 7/10

<-- Sweden

I'm sort of bored just looking at this one. Nothing pops out-- good or bad. I like the lightning, but everything else is just......... *snores* Not impressed.

Verdict: I probably wouldn't even notice this on the shelf.

Score: 5/10

Overall, I like the US version the best (and not because it's the cover I own:)

*If you participated this week, leave your link in the comment sections and I'll be sure to stop by!*

Cover Comparison Thursday: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-06-24T10:59:00.010-04:00

Cover Comparison Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by me to showcase international covers of a certain book, and share our opinions on each.

<-- Catalan Edition

I LOVE the color scheme on this..! The dusty rose is really gorgeous, probably more so in person. It's nearly identical to the light blue US version, which I also love.

VERDICT: OF COURSE! Of course I would pick up this book, don't be silly ;)

SCORE: 10/10

Greek-->

I really like this cover. The design is really similar to the US version, but a little eerier. My only worry is that because there is so much black, it would really blend in to a darker bookshelf.

VERDICT: I would definitely pick up this book. I love this cover.

SCORE: 9/10

ETA: ooh i just noticed the heart shaped leaves!! i'm a big fan of those :)

<-- German

(title means After the Summer)

I love the girl giving her heart to the wolf, as well as the German title, "After the Summer," but not much else. The parchment-y look and the font makes the book look older and more geared towards adults. It's not really a teen-oriented cover.

VERDICT: I don't think I would pick up this book based on the cover.

SCORE: 4/10

Brazil -->

Again, this cover looks more like an adult novel. I do like it more than the German edition though. The wolf stalking through the forest is a nice touch. The color scheme is sort of bland, not really sure it would stick out on a shelf.

VERDICT: It's debatable whether I would pick this up. Probably depends on my mood.

SCORE: 6/10

So, I definitely like the Catalan edition, as well as the US edition. They're both stunning, like the words and the story inside the cover.

Which is your favorite?

*If you choose to participate in this meme, leave the link to your post in the comments and I'll be sure to comment!

Waiting on Wednesday (3): Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

2010-06-23T18:15:00.004-04:00

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Release Date: August 10th, Candlewick Press

"Hello, David. My name is Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We are now entering minute two of our friendship. According to my Intimacy Clock, a handshake is now appropriate…"

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder," he can’t get enough of luscious red-headed Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal "companion" is about to become her own best friend.
In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uber-connected world.

Basically, this concept sounds both hilarious, genius, and plain old addicting.

Me want. Me want badly. Me haz become caveman. *grunts*

Review: A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

2010-06-20T13:21:00.007-04:00

Title: A Match Made in High School
Author: Kristin Walker
Release Date: February 4, 2010
Publisher: Penguin
Length: 278 pages
Source: Barnes and Noble
Format: Paperback

Summary:

When a mandatory course forces Fiona to "try the knot" with super-jock Todd Harding, she's convinced life couldn't get any worse. Until her crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd's obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that's nothing compared to her best friend's fate -- a year with the very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.

A series of hilarious pranks leaves Fiona wondering: Is there something her "best friend" hasn't told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than an awesome music collection? And most intriguingly, could Todd Harding have a heart beneath his pretty-boy exterior?

Review:

This book was A Match Made in the Teen Section of Barnes and Noble. I fell in love with the very snarky, very clever, very teenager-ish Fiona Sheehan the moment I "met" her. Of all the books I've read in 2010, Fiona has the most personality and the most accurate YA voice. This book made me laugh out loud-- out loud, out loud. It was hi-freakin'-larious, as Fiona would say. I sat on my couch, giggling at the chemistry between the characters, at the pranks performed, at the witty banter, at EVERYTHING it seemed like.

Kristin Walker, you nailed it.

Examples of the awesomeness and rare form of beauty I call PERSONALITY (Fiona's, to be specific) :

Grading:
1. Characters: 20/20
2. Writing: 20/20
3. Plot: 20/20
4. Accurate YA: voice 20/20
5. Cover: 10/10
6. Title: 10/10

Overall Score: 100 or A+

Versatile Blogger Award

2010-06-18T08:55:00.002-04:00

i was lucky enough to receive this lovely award from three even lovelier ladies: -k at the lovely critic's blog and cara at from my head reviews and bri at words and the world!

1) thank and link back to the person who gave you this award

2) share seven things about yourself

3) pass this along to fifteen bloggers... well i'm narrowing it down to five bloggers because there are a certain five blogs i especially want to put in the spotlight.

so without further ado, seven facts about myself:

1. i am really easy to get on a sugar high. donuts are the most dangerous for me-- when i get up at 4am for horse shows i always stop at krispy kreme and chow down on the sugary, flaky, doughy goodness, and within minutes i'm a giggly, hysterical mess.

2. cloudy/rainy days are my favorite kind of days. i can just curl up on the couch with a good book and a cozy blanket and read for hours.

3. i have insomnia. it started with my concussion. i went from being the deepest sleeper in my family (thunderstorms had no impact on my semi-coma) to about three hours of sleep. i have constant exhaustion, but still can't sleep. c'est la vie.

4. when i do sleep, i have the strangest dreams. seriously, they're insane. last night i had one i was pregnant and the hormones caused by the pregnancy caused me to scream at this girl i absolute hate in front of the entire school. by the way i'm 15, which makes the pregnancy even stranger.

5. i am guilty of being a knuckle-cracker. awful, unattractive habit. but it feels good on my joints.

6. my dream car is a small, light blue pick up truck. or a red truck. either/or.

7. at this very moment i am simultaneously watching so you think you can dance from wednesday night. billy just preformed.

i pass this award along to:

1. erinjade @ butters last meal

2. bee @ dreamcatchers lair

3. nomes @ inkcrush

4. rachele alpine @ frecklehead

5. meera @ meeroar

Cover Comparison Thursday: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2010-06-17T01:06:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinions yesterday!

Cover Comparison Thursday is a weekly meme (now!) hosted by me to showcase international covers of a certain book, and share our opinions on each.

Denmark -->

I like all of this, especially the two small hearts. But I do not like the image of Bella on the front... the cartoon picture just makes the book look childish.

VERDICT: It's debatable... I may or not pick it based on the cover. It probably depends on my mood.

SCORE: 6/10

<-- Japan

Not crazy about this cover at all. It looks more like a comic book than an actual novel. I assume the two characters on the cover are Bella and Edward, and if so, they're not accurately portrayed. For one, they have the same skin color on the cover, but seeing as only one is a vamp it doesn't really work. Also Edward is not a blonde. I do like the simple white background though.

VERDICT: Yeah not happening.. I wouldn't buy the book with this cover. Sorry.

SCORE: 2/10

Germany -->

I do like this cover. I love the contrast of the red lips and rosy cheeks to the porcelain skin, and because of these features it's not necessarily Bella. It focuses on beauty, which plays a large role in the Twilight saga. My only complaint is that it wouldn't really stand out amongst brighter covers in the YA section

VERDICT: I would definitely pick up this book. I am a fan, especially of how mature the cover seems.

SCORE: 8.5/10

<-- Thailand

I also love this cover, it's very similar to the German cover in that it revolves around beauty of the figure on front, who almost looks like a marble statue. However, the cover scheme-- the greens, yellows, and red-- don't really make sense to me, but I don't have much of a problem with them.

VERDICT: I would also pick this up because of the cover. It's lovely and elegant, regal almost.

SCORE: 9/10

Norway -->

Although I like this cover, I most definitely do not like it for this particular book. The candy hearts are more suited for a chick flick, not a paranormal mystery.

VERDICT: I would buy this book with this cover, as it in no way offends the story, but I do not support it. The mood it presents does not fit Twilight.

SCORE: 7/10

<-- Indonesia

All the hair is a turn off, though I do like how it forms a heart. I'm not sure who the woman is supposed to be... Rosalie, maybe? Perhaps the descriptions of the characters are different for each country, but this woman does seem like she belongs on the cover of Twilight. I also don't like the clash of the yellow of the hair against the red sky. I do like the red sky alone though.

VERDICT: I probably take a look at this book with the certain cover, though I might be a little hesitant, maybe because the woman is naked?? Not a bad cover though.

SCORE: 7/10

The Netherlands -->

LOVE this cover... love the black background against the pale arms, love the symbolism of the apple, love the heart shaped bite.

VERDICT: 100% buying this.

SCORE: 10/10

<-- Russia

Um, I don't know anyone in Twilight that has blue eyes... The person on the front does resemble Bella a lot, apart from the eyes, but it's not very appealing. I also hate the font and color of the title. Barf-ola. The trees in the background are fine.

VERDICT: Hmm... this depends. Probably not going to pick this one up and read the blurb. So I'd probably not buy it in the end.

SCORE: 5/10

I'd love to hear your opinions. My favorite is the Netherlands cover.

Thanks to everyone who participates and comments! If you do participate, click the Mr. Linky and leave your name and blog URL in it. I'll be sure to comment on everyones!

URGENT! I NEED YOUR OPINIONS!

2010-06-16T13:32:00.003-04:00

I've been thinking...

... about starting a weekly meme...

... where we compare international covers of books...

... every Thursday.

I know many people do judge books by their cover, despite the saying. Myself included. *blushes*

I think a weekly comparison to see if we would buy a book based on their various covers would be extremely interesting, and I'd love to host it every Thursday. But I would need your help! I'd teach myself how to use Mr. Linky so everyone can comment on each others posts.

So what do you think? Just comment with your opinion, I'd love love love LOVE to hear it! I really value your ideas.

Review: The Mosts by Melissa Senate

2010-06-14T10:32:00.007-04:00

Title: The Mosts
Author: Melissa Senate
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte/Random House
Length: 225 pages
Source: Random House (publisher)
Format: ARC

Summary:

"Madeline finished freshman year at Freeport Academy just as invisible as when she started. But after a summer in Italy with her sophisticated aunt, she returned as a sophomore with cool clothes, European attitude, and a hot new boyfriend, Thom.

Maddie's part of the in crowd . . . the Mosts. Her best friend, Caro? Most Beautiful. Her other friends, Fergie, Annie, and Selena? Most Stylish, Most Hilarious, and Most Hot, respectively. And Madeline? Most Popular. Her life is great.

While it lasted.

Now Thom's moved to California—so Maddie's no longer the girlfriend of a popular guy. The guy Caro likes only has eyes for Madeline—can you say social suicide? And a group of misfits at school are begging Madeline to help make them over.

Madeline knows there's a fine line between being a Most . . . and being a Not. She doesn't want her status to change . . . but what if she doesn't have a choice?"

Review:

The Mosts is the Most Adorable book of the season! Hands down. It was a cute, breezy, fast summer read, following the events of Madeline after her boyfriend of two years moves away. She's in the popular crowd, until she's roped into helping give misfits a makeover. She, of course, has motivation for doing so: they are paying her $400, which is enough to afford a one-way ticket to California, where her boyfriend, Thom now lives.

One thing that Melissa Senate excelled at was character development. Madeline's attitude change throughout the book was so well thought-out and so well paced. Her reasons for changing were completely legit, and they happened at a realistic pace. Well done.

Unfortunately, the YA voice was not up to par. The characters were in their sophomore year of high school, but acted much younger. Maybe it was in part because Madeline and her four amigos were truly convinced that every girl in California wore bikinis to school, or how Madeline would freak if Thom didn't text her back, or the lack of swearing. Actually, there was no swearing. Which was weird. As much as adults deny it, teenagers have really foul mouths. The characters in this book would say "beyotch" (I'd spell it biotch, but that's not a big deal) instead of "bitch." So, the YA voice was not a true, realistic depiction.

Still, The Mosts was a tender and sweet tale of Madeline's high school drama. I recommend it to anyone in search of a quick, breezy, and delightful summer read.

Grading:

1. Characters: 18/20
2. Writing: 19/20
3. Plot: 20/20
4. Accurate YA: voice 16/20
5. Cover: 10/10
6. Title: 10/10

Overall Score: 93 or B+

In My Mailbox (5)

2010-06-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

Nomansland by Lesley Hauge

June 22, 2010

Sometime in the future, after devastating wars and fires, a lonely, windswept island in the north is populated solely by women. Among these women is a group of teenaged Trackers—expert equestrians and archers—whose job is to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they’ve been told, is men.

When these girls come upon a partially buried home from the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects—high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make-up—found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things, which introduce a world they have never known? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed—at all costs?

Reminiscent of The Giver but with a feminist twist, Nomansland is a powerful, shocking story that will challenge young readers’ perspectives and provoke much discussion over the timely and controversial issues presented.

What did you get this week?

Your Love Is My Drug

2010-06-12T13:22:00.002-04:00

Kesha's (Ke$ha?) hit song (i don't like it but whatever) Your Love is My Drug reminds me of my WIP Damaged. It's been forever since I've written-- school has been hectic and exhausting and stupid-- but as of yesterday I am not longer a freshman, but a sophomore. School is out, and I have all summer to write. So I started up again today.

It's addicting.

The love of my WIP Damaged is my drug.

It's addicting, but really difficult. Much harder than Blue Abyss was to write. Blue Abyss taught me how to write a book, and now I'm applying that knowledge to Damaged but taking it a step further: I want to make Damaged powerful and gut wrenching. And I'm confident that I can do it. I am incorporating so much of my own emotion that it literally hurts for me to write, because it's forcing me to address a lot of things I've tried to forget about, namely pain.

I can't wait to see how this turns out. Like Kesha says, "I just can't get you off my mind." Damaged is with me to stay.

Here are the lyrics to "Your Love is My Drug." Completely accurate to my feelings about Damaged.

So. Do you have a WIP that could be applied to this song?

New Beautiful Darkness Cover

2010-06-10T12:30:00.000-04:00

Heyyyy my favorite peeps! BREAKING NEWS: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl just announced on their bloggy that they have a new cover for Beautiful Darkness.

What's your opinion on new (left) vs. old (right)?

I'm honestly torn between the two.

I'm horrible at decisions.

I *think* I like the font color on the new one, but the gate and stars on the old one. I'm not sure about my favorite yet, but both are stunning.

Waiting on Wednesday (2): The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

2010-06-09T13:43:00.001-04:00

Release Date: November 2, 2010 by Little, Brown

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

Um I will kneel on a port-o-potty floor and beg/worship/kiss toes/serve wine a grapes to a fat hairy caveman to get this book. And port-o-potties and kissing hairy things makes me want to puuuke.

But I mean really: A secret society? At a boarding school? Based a bit off To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee?

GIMME GIMME.

Teehee.

I'm in love.

Review: Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

2010-06-07T14:45:00.001-04:00

Title: Where the Truth Lies
Author: Jessica Warman
Release Date: October 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Length: 308 pages

Source: Jessica Warman (author)
Format: ARC

Summary (from Goodreads):

Review:

I wish I was lying when I said I have no idea how to grade this book. It had a lot of problems, but for some reason I couldn't put it down.

**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!**

Such a WEAK main character.

*Emily Meckler is a goody two shoes who falls "in love" with the first guy to say that he loves her, gets pregnant in like October, survives the entire school year without anyone, including her parents (her dad is the headmaster of the school) noticing or suspecting she has little teensy human inside of her, goes to New York in the summer to stay with a celebrity and his daughter to have the baby, then loses all the weight within a month.

WHAT? Um, no. No no no no no. It was ridiculous. She was a weak character in the beginning, whining about how her friends call her father "Dad" without second thought, babied her roommates, claimed she was in love with Del, then Ethan.

Blah blah blah.

All the characters were weird. I didn't find anything realistic about them.

But despite me wanting to strangle every single character and just tell them to MOVE ON! and GET A LIFE! and GET OVER YOURSELF!, I ripped through this book. I enjoyed it. I have no idea why.

Maybe it's like a fast food cheeseburger. Yucky, greasy, makes you wanna barf, but you still enjoy them.

I am just confused. Can't ya tell?

Grading:

1. Characters: 15/20

2. Writing: 18/20
3. Plot: 16/20
4. Originality: 16/20
5. Cover 10/10
6. Title: 9/10

Overall Score: 84 or B-

p.s. Sorry for the craptastic photo of the cover, I couldn't find one online. So I took the picture on my couch. Where I'm sitting right now. Cuz I'm too stinkin lazy to get up and model it. Ciao.

Daily Dose (2) - Summer '10 Edition

2010-06-06T19:30:00.000-04:00

Daily Dose is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly to showcase inspiring pictures.

SUMMER '10 EDITION!

In honor of my last five days of school before those magical three months called SUMMER

In My Mailbox (4)

2010-06-06T08:03:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

August 24, 2010

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Cover Comparison: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-06-04T16:16:00.001-04:00

International Cover Comparison: Hunger Games

^US version

^Romania's version

^Sweden's version

^Korea's version

^Greece's version

^Germany's version

^Denmark's version

^Bulgaria's version

^2 UK covers

WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE?

Pretty Little Liars TV Show

2010-06-02T15:29:00.000-04:00

I just found out that Pretty Little Liars, a YA series by Sara Shepard, was picked up to become a TV show on ABC Family.

Wow!

While I have not read the books, they have been on my TBR list for quite some time. Of course, after setting a recording on the TV, I realize that I should have probably read the books a long time ago.

In any event, I'm super excited for this show to start, and hopefully it will motivate me to pick up the actual series to read!

It premiers Tuesday June 8th on ABC Family. That's next week! Can't wait...

Here's a blurb about the TV show:

Rosewood is a perfect little town. So quiet and pristine, you'd never guess it holds so many secrets. Some of the ugliest ones belong to the prettiest girls in town -- Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily, four estranged friends whose darkest secrets are about to unravel.

One year ago, Alison, the Queen Bee of their group, disappeared and the girls swore they'd never tell what really happened that night. They thought their secrets would bond them together, but just the opposite is true. Then again, who's to say what the truth is in Rosewood. It seems everyone in town is lying about something.

Now, as the mystery surrounding Alison's disappearance resurfaces, the girls begin getting messages from "A," saying – and threatening – things only Alison would know. But it couldn't be Alison. Could it? Whoever it is, they seem to know all the girls' secrets, and seem to be watching their every move. The girls are friends again, but will they be there for each other if their dark secrets come to light?

Cover Comparison: Fade by Lisa McMann (Part 2)

2010-05-28T16:09:00.001-04:00

US (image on top) vs. UK (image on the bottom)

Which do you prefer? And why?

Cover Comparison: Wake by Lisa McMann (Part 1)

2010-05-27T13:10:00.000-04:00

COVER COMPARISON: US vs. UK cover

U.S.

U.K.

Which do you prefer?

Daily Dose (1)

2010-05-24T17:10:00.001-04:00

Daily Dose is a weekly meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly to showcase inspiring pictures.

In My Mailbox (3)

2010-05-23T09:20:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren

The Mosts by Melissa Senate

June 8, 2010 by Random House

Maddie's part of the in crowd . . . the Mosts. Her best friend, Caro? Most Beautiful. Her other friends, Fergie, Annie, and Selena? Most Stylish, Most Hilarious, and Most Hot, respectively. And Madeline? Most Popular. Her life is great.

While it lasted.

Now Thom's moved to California—so Maddie's no longer the girlfriend of a popular guy. The guy Caro likes only has eyes for Madeline—can you say social suicide? And a group of misfits at school are begging Madeline to help make them over.

Madeline knows there's a fine line between being a Most . . . and being a Not. She doesn't want her status to change . . . but what if she doesn't have a choice?"

Review: Birth Marked by Caragh M. O'Brien

2010-05-22T14:50:00.000-04:00

Title: Birth Marked
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Length: 362 pages
Format: ARC

Summary (from Goodreads):

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

Review:

I had a lot of trouble with this book in the beginning. I was so bored the first 50 pages. Painfully bored, and I wasn't a fan of the writing either. Technically, nothing was wrong with the writing, but it felt so... thick, for lack of a better word. I felt like I had to trudge through it since it did not flow well for me.

But then.

The story took off for me. The writing improved, the story got going, I fell in love with Gaia, with Capt. Grey, the story line-- everything. I was intrigued by the world, similar yet so different from our own, and how smart the book was. It involved genetic codes, DNA, all this scientific stuff that I hate in real life, but somehow O'Brien made it work for me. Made it interesting and compelling for me. I was flipping through the pages, unable to read fast enough, unable to figure out or guess how the story would end.

Gaia was an extremely strong female character, something that is not common in today's teen market. If she wanted to accomplish something-- like save her parents, deliver a 9 month baby whose mother had just been executed-- she went out and did it. She did not let any one, not even the government manipulate her own beliefs. Gaia had a backbone. She was a hero, not only to the characters in the book, but to me as well.

And I think there might be a sequel, judging by how open the ending of the story was. Any one know??

Grading:

1. Characters: 20/20
2. Writing 18/20
3. Plot 20/20
4. Originality 20/20
5. Cover 9/10
6. Title 10/10

Overall score: 97 or A

Waiting on Wednesday (1): The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

2010-05-19T22:08:00.001-04:00

Release date: September 7th 2010 by Little Brown/Poppy

(from Goodreads:)

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I seriously can.not.wait. for this! It sounds FABULOUS and did I mention that Kody Keplinger is a teenager? Woo hoo!

Blog Button

2010-05-19T18:27:00.000-04:00

Soooo I finally figured out how to make a blog button. I would love love love it if someone used the code below to post it on the sidebar of their blog (and I'd post your button on my blog) but it's not necessary!

" />" />"/>

Teaser Tuesday: 431 Days With a Concussion

2010-05-18T14:54:00.000-04:00

Long time no Teaser Tuesday! This is a poem I wrote for English class on May 5th. Enjoy!

"431 Days With a Concussion"

*SNIP*

In My Mailbox (2)

2010-05-16T19:54:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

I'm a bit behind with my IMM, so this post is going to be from what I've received the past few weeks/since my last IMM.

ARCS for Review:

(cover not final)

Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

(sorry couldn't find a picture of a cover for this one, but here is the authors website: http://jessicawarman.com/)

Store-Bought

Other:

Swag for the Body Finder (autographed)

Swag for the The Tension of Opposites

So what did you get this week?

Trailer for Linger

2010-05-15T09:37:00.000-04:00

Superfantabulous trailer for Linger, done by Maggie Stiefvater herself:

Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

2010-05-07T17:50:00.000-04:00

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Length: 329 pages
Format: ARC

Summary:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Review:

One of my favorite books of the year. Hands down. The mystery was enough to make my stomach curl, the romance enough to make my heart flutter, the characters realistic enough to make me believe they were real, the pacing so perfect that I never was bored for one second. Unbelievable debut on Kimberly Derting's part. Unfreakinbelievable.

Probably my favorite aspect was the occasional chapter from the perspective of the murderer. The thoughts in the murderers head were seriously blood curling and had that spot-on creep factor. Plus, I never knew who the killer was. I bounced back between Violet's uncle, Jay, Grady, the cops, etc. It was crazy and spectacular to read an unpredictable book for once.

And usually hate third person person I feel distant from the characters. Not with The Body Finder. I feel like I know Violet like I know my best friend, even though it was in third person.

Additionallllllyyyyyy the characters were not whiny when it came to hormones. The author was spot on when it came to mastering teenage emotions. Wowzers. That is rare.

Kimberly Derting YOU ROCK.

Grade: A+

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-05-01T10:38:00.000-04:00

Title: Linger (sequel to Shiver)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: July 20, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Length: 358pages
Format: ARC

Summary:

The Longing.

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.

The Loss.

Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wold while denying the ties of being human.

The Linger.

For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces--wolf and human-- with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?

Review:

Linger was like reading butter. The writing was silky smooth, fatty, and addicting. A guilty pleasure. But eating too much butter at once gives you a stomach ache, so I read this in pieces at a time, because the writing was so thick and beautiful that I would have become obese with jealousy and awe if I read it in one sitting.

Linger is told in the four alternating viewpoints of Sam, Grace, Isabel, and Cole. I did have a few issues with this, as Sam, Grace, and Isabel's voices so closely mirrored each other I had to keep flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to remind myself who was speaking. Cole's voice, however, was distinct and by far the most interesting and complex character. He opted to become a wolf in an attempt to forget about the complications, pain, and regret in his human life. This created an unbelievable tension between Sam and Cole, a tension that makes your stomach twist with apprehension.

The beginning of the book did linger for me a bit (no pun intended), as it took the time to set the stage for the events to come in the latter pages. I admit, I probably would have put it down if 1. The writing hadn't been so magnificent. 2. I hadn't been so compelled to figure out Cole and 3. The mystery of Grace's illness wasn't so gut-wrenching. You may be in for a surprise for this one, because I definitely was. I also have to admit this: If I had put the book down after the first 30 pages, I would have made a huge mistake. This book is worth reading again and again and again.

And you should be prepared to possibly shed a tear at the end.

Grade: A-

Trailer for the Tension of Opposites

2010-04-28T16:22:00.000-04:00

The official trailer for Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride is now live! The book is released May 25, 2010, which is less than a month away, so mark your calendars!

ETA: Ew I just realized my blog isn't big enough to fit the video... here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxLpU3agGk0

Review: Home Sweet Drama (Canterwood Crest series #8) by Jessica Burkhart

2010-04-05T18:15:00.001-04:00

Title: Home Sweet Drama (Canterwood Crest Series #8)

Author: Jessica Burkhart

Release Date: April 6, 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (Aladdin)

Length: 240 pages

Format: ARC

Summary:

If the girls have learned anything, it's that only the strong survive at Canterwood Crest Academy. Just ask Jasmine.... Oh, whoops. You can't — she's back at Wellington Prep. Well, then, ask Heather Fox. After all, she's the lone Queen Bee left standing.

But Sasha Silver has more than proven that she's worthy competition on — and off — the arena. Is there a new queen in the making?

Review:

I am a horseback rider myself, and to find a series focusing in on the lives of other teenage riders, I was pretty excited. Since I first picked up the initial Canterwood Crest novel, Take the Reins, this series has been my comfort series despite targeting a younger crowd.

In Home Sweet Drama, the eighth installment, I was relieved to find that it was more focused on the main character’s, Sasha’s, riding since the last few books have leaned more towards her social life/drama. The increase of riding made me more interested in Sasha, and how she would handle it without being distracted. In previous books she had a hard time concentrating on her horse, Charm, because her thoughts would drift to her social life and comparing herself to other riders. But in this one, however, she gave Charm the attention he needed and therefore we have watched her mature as a rider throughout the series.

But while the amount of riding increased, the emphasis on her social life decreased, which was a major part of fueling the storyline. In comparison to other books, Home Sweet Drama was more predictable and low key. The amount of major events diminished, and while I appreciated the boost in Sasha’s riding life, I would have enjoyed some more twists and turns in her social life.

Grade: B

Interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz

2010-04-04T15:55:00.000-04:00

Summary:

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...

Until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades, an okay relationship with her parents, and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when a mysterious boy named Ben starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she's inexplicably drawn to Ben.and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help-but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

Interview:

Q: What inspired you to write the Touch series?

A: I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003),White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as inProject 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

Q: What was your query process like?

A: I approached editors and agents at the same time, trying to target those who worked with writers like me (namely, writers who wrote in the young adult supernatural genre). It took me a long time to sell my first novel. I have a folder filled with rejection letters. My favorite one is from an editor who said: “While this is an interesting project, I do not feel it is strong enough to compete in today’s competitive young adult market.” That same young adult novel, BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES, has sold over 200,000 copies, has been translated into numerous different languages, and has appeared on many different award lists. When I speak to young people and aspiring writers, I always tell them this story, that if I had stopped persevering, after I received my first – or my 40^th rejection letter – I may never have been able to enjoy the success of my series.

Q: Are any of your characters based off people you know?

A: No, though sometimes I’ll steal a character quirk from people I’ve known. For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that.

Q: Cameila has a love for pottery—do you have a love for it as well? Does it help you relax like it does Camelia? If not, how do you relax?

A: Yes, I love pottery, and have been doing it since I was a kid. My mom worked in a ceramics studio and I often went to work with her, helping out whenever I could. I also relax by walking, napping, cooking, yoga, and watching lots of reality TV.

Q: When writing, do you use an outline or just wing it?

A: I use an outline.

Q: What are you working on right now?

A: I’m currently working on the edits of DEADLY LITTLE GAME, the third book in the TOUCH SERIES. I’m also editing DO YOU SEE, the third book in THE AMANDA PROJECT.

Q: Is there anything you can tell us about the next installment of the Touch Series?

A: The title DEADLY LITTLE GAMES holds very true – there is a literal game going on. Things between Camelia and Ben continue to get complicated, and Adam’s presence doesn’t help things. We’ll also get to see more of Camelia’s aunt.

Q: Did you always know that you wanted to write young adult novels? More specifically, paranormal?

A: Yes, though I loved telling stories as a young person, I wasn’t a big reader. As soon as I got slightly bored, I’d put the book down. I tended to gravitate toward books that kept me turning pages. Those books turned out to be of the mystery/suspense/paranormal genre. I knew I wanted to write books that appealed to me at that age.

Q: Did you test other genres before settling on teens as your audience?

A: I started with screenplay, because I love to see my books as scenes. I then went on to write young adult novels. My second novel, BLEED, (though 4^th published), was originally written for adults before I sold it in the young adult market.

Review: The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

2010-03-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

Title: The Tension of Opposites

Author: Kristina McBride

Release Date: May 25th, 2010

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Length: 288 pages

Format: ARC

Summary:

Up / Down
Hot / Cold
Free / Noelle

It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?

And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

Review:

First off, let me say that I hold high expectations for a book. I’m picky, so to actually pick a book up, I expect to love it. Most don’t live up to these somewhat ridiculous high standards.

Not only did the Tension of Opposites live up to those expectations, but exceeded them.

Kristina McBride made it seem seamless the way she wriggled herself into the mind of a girl, Tessa, whose best friend Noelle was kidnapped and then returned two years later. She describes Tessa’s fear of strangers that has budded since the kidnapping as though it were her own, which contributed to the impressive creep factor.

It was refreshing to have Tessa ease into a relationship, not instantly fall in love with the love interest because he’s attractive. The best way to describe this is in Tessa’s own words:

“I tried to keep from noticing how beautiful he was because thoughts like those can make you vulnerable, leave you open for attack. Having a squared jaw, smooth skin, and full lips certainly didn’t make him safe.”

My one complaint was Noelle, Tessa’s best friend and the girl who had been kidnapped. I don’t think her fear after the incident was captured as well as Tessa’s. I know she was trying to be portrayed as tough, strong, and guarded but some of her actions threw me off. Like after she escaped and returned to her family, she would sneak out in the middle of the night. By herself. Her explanation for this was because everyone in her house was suffocating her, which was true, but I can’t see her having the bravery to sneak out after all she went through for two years.

That really was my only problem with this book. The rest was beautifully written, and for the most part, the characters were 100% believable. Opposites played an important part in the plot, and Kristina McBride managed to balance the opposites of dark and light. There was enough darkness to make me want to run to bed and have my parents check my closet for monsters, but enough light to give me hope for victims of a traumatizing event.

Grade: A-

In My Mailbox (1)

2010-02-27T19:07:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

ARCs for review:

Title: The Tension of Opposites

Author: Kristina McBride

Release Date: May 25th, 2010

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Length: 288 pages

Title: Tagged

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Release Date: March 1st, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin

Length: 208 pages

Store Bought:

Title: An Abundance of Katherines

Author: John Green

Release Date: September 21st, 2006

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Length: 227 pages

Title: Gone (Third and final installment of the Wake Trilogy)

Author: Lisa McMann

Release Date: February 9th, 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Length: 224 pages

What did you guys get this week?