Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Summary:(from book jacket) 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 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 them 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 know 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 one 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 the prey herself.
  Review: I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked the premise of the story and liked the idea of Violet searching for a killer, but it didn't live up to my expectations. First of all, I felt like too much of the book was taken up by the romance aspect of it. It felt like it could have been any teen romance novel at some points. The romance and finding the killer seemed like two totally different story lines instead of fitting together like they should have. I also wasn't sucked into the storyline as much as I would have liked.
  On the other hand, I did really like the characters, especially Violet. She was a strong and determined character and yet was still relatable and fun even despite her ability. Her friends were also really funny. I liked Jay but he kind of bugged me throughout some parts of the book and he seemed kind of annoying. overall, though the characters were all really great.
  Despite, my problems with it I am still interested to see where the sequel takes the characters and how the story will develop ,it could go anywhere.  Anyone who thinks this books sounds interesting should still review it. This is just my opinion and I have heard a lot of good things about it from other readers. I will definitely be getting the sequel when it comes out to see where these characters go next. This book wasn't one of my favorites but it was still pretty enjoyable.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read Beautiful Creatures.
Summary:(from book jacket) A few months ago, I believed nothing would ever change in this town. Now I knew better and only wished it was true. Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life- altering events happen. Sometimes life -ending. Together Ethan and Lena can face anything Gatlin  throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship.And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange  visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South where nothing is as is seems.
Review: This book is awesome. I absolutely love this series. This book, like Beautiful Creatures, was 500 pages long, but I enjoyed every minute of it. There was a lot of suspense and surprising twists that make me really excited to find out what happens next. The plot wasn't really all that fast paced but I never was bored. A lot happened over the course of the book and many surprises are revealed.  I love this series.
Every single character in this series is really great. Getting to know all the old characters better and being introduced to new ones made me want to spend some time in Gatlin with them, at least without all the supernatural stuff. Lena and Ethan are both really great characters. They are both so different from most YA characters. I also really like Amma.
  Anyone looking for an awesome fantasy series should read this. Garcia and Stohl know how to combine a small southern town and a supernatural world and have the result be amazing. I can't wait to find out where the story is going to go next but i know that it will be great.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Summary:(from book jacket). Brooklyn: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She's angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she's about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights' most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break. Paris: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn't want- and couldn't escape. Two girls,two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine's diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There's comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal's antique pages- until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs fo Paris, Alexandrine's words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly terrifyingly present.
Review: This book is really good. I had heard a few things about this book and thought it sounded interesting. I didn't really have any expectations for it but it was so great. When an almost five hundred page historical fiction novel can grab my attention and not be boring or slow then thats when you have something special and this book definitly was. I don't read very much historical fiction but I think now i'm going to read more.
One thing that realy made this book stand out was the difference between the two perspectives. These two characters were living in different centuries and leading totally different lives. However, Donnelly puts these two girls togehter and creates an amazing story. On one hand there is the girl who is depressed at the loss of her brother and flunking high school. On the other, a girl living during the French revolution and doing everything she can to survive. There were also some small simalraties between the charcters that made it even more exciting to read. The plot wasn't all that fast paced but I never thought it was slow. My only problem was that I thought the whole last part of the book was kind of unnecessary and needed a stronger explanation.
  Another thing I really loved were the characters. they were all so unique. Andi, Alex, Vijay, Virgil and some others. All the characters in the book were really great which is not something I usually think. Andi and Alex were both awesome. Vijay and his mom were also really funny. Overall, I think anyone who wants to read and awesome book that tells an amazing story should read this.
 
 

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Matched by Ally Condie

Summary:(from book jacket). In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears in the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow-between perfection and passion.
Review: This book is awesome. I loved the idea of the society and the perfect life it brought but also having to make sacrifices in order to have that life. There were so many things that were really unique about the Society and what it would be like to live there and it made the book really interesting. It kind of reminded me of Hunger Games but at the same time it was so different. There were a lot of things going on and it wasn't only a romantic story, which I liked. I loved all the characters in the book. Cassia is a strong willed and independent character who is determined. Ky is probably my favorite character. He has a little bit of a bad boy vibe even though he's really not. I also really liked Xander though, his determination to help Cassia no matter what made me really like him. He is such a good and loyal friend to Cassia.
  My only problem with it was that the beginning of the book seemed a little slow moving and took me a while to get fully into it. However, once I did get into it I absolutely loved it so it doesn't matter anyway. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a great dystopian book to read.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read Maze Runner.
Summary:(from book jacket). Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to. In the Maze,life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety...until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago. Burned by sun flares and baked by a new brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated- and with it, order- and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for the next victim... and meal. The Gladers are far from done running. Instead of freedom,they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. Thomas can only wonder- does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?
 Review: This book was awesome. The plot was really fast paced and there was a new surprise around every corner. Just when you thought you knew what was going on something changed. Although there is more information on WICKED and the reason behind the trials. This book also raises many new questions as to what is going on. I can't wait for the third and final book in the series where all the questions will hopefully be answered. This series is amazing. I do have some theories on how the series is going to end, but judging on the surprises in the first two books I'm probably way off.
  I really liked the characters in this book. All the characters form Maze Runner are back and I was glad. Newt is awesome ans Minho is hilarious. I also liked the fact that Thomas seemed different in this book. he wasn't as clueless and scared as he was at the beginning of Maze Runner. Don't get me wrong, there were several opportunities to be plenty scared and he is still somewhat clueless as to what is going on, but I think he has more confidence and determination to figure out what is going on. There were a few new characters in this book. the main one worth mentioning is Brenda. I liked her I just hope she doesn't become any more important than she already is.
  Overall, this book was as good if not better than Maze Runner. There were plot twists around every corner. anyone who has read Maze Runner will not be disappointed with this book. if you haven't read this series you definitely should.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read Hush, Hush.
Summary:(from book jacket). Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant,but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever(if that's possible) and what's worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar. Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn't acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude,Nora finds herself drawn to him- despite her lingering feeling that he is hiding something. If that weren't enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything- and everyone- she trusts.
 Review: This book was really good. There were a lot of unexpected plot twists that happened throughout the book. At the same time, it wasn't really an action packed fast paced plot. Patch's distance and Nora's search for the truth about her father's death lead to some interesting surprises. I never felt like the plot was slow to the point of being boring. I did feel like I needed to go back and refresh my memory on some of the angel terminology. I liked this book as much as Hush, Hush. This series is really good and different from most other series., at least that I've read.
 I really like Nora as a character. She is a character that readers can relate to. She's smart and down to earth. She's in love with Patch but it didn't come across as being ridiculous. I think she is my favorite character in the series. Of course, Patch isn't far behind. All of the characters in the series have developed really well and I don't think there were any that turned me off.
  The end of the book was really good but it ended at a slight cliffhanger. I say slight because although the ending was surprising and sudden it's not all that difficult to imagine what's going to happen next. But who knows I could be surprised again. i reccomend this series to anyone who wants to read a good paranromal romance.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Devilish by Maureen Johnson

Summary:(from book jacket). Jane Jarvis and Allison Concord, seniors at Saint Teresa's Preparatory School for girls, have always been too quirky to be popular, but at least they'll always have each other,right? Not so much. After a hideously embarrassing disaster, Allison comes to school transformed. Suddenly she has cute hair and clothes, speaks fluent Latin, and won't even look at Jane. With the help of a strangely wise freshman boy Jane discovers the incredible truth:Allison has sold her soul to the devil. Now Jane will have to save Allison  before the bizarrely exclusive Poodle Prom, a party of biblical proportions that just might blow apart the world as Jane knows it.
Review: I liked this book. It was a cute and fun way of telling this story. It wasn't a scary story by any means but I'm not really sure that it was supposed to be. I also thought that some of the plot points were really predictable which kind of takes away from it. The story also took a different turn than I expected it to regarding what actually changed about Allison after she sold her soul. I was expecting it be more of a typical ditch your best friend for the popular kids story but it wasn't and I liked that about it. the story was more focused on Jane trying to save Allison than the changes in their relationship which was refreshing because that story line had kind of been overdone.
  There weren't very many characters that I really liked in this book. All of the characters in this book were pretty predictable and simple. I didn't really fully connect with any of the characters. I did like Jane though, she was a simple narrarator but I really liked getting to know her throughout the story. I also loved the way that Jane is physically described in the book. It made her a little more memorable.
  Anyone who is looking for a simple, fun book to read should pick this up but if your expecting a scary story I suggest you lok somewhere else.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler

Summary:(from book jacket). Fern will never pass for normal again. Fern communicates with her dog, blisters from just moments in the sun, and has correctly predicted the daily weather for more than two years. Even so, she's always seemed to be a normal twelve year old girl... until one day when Fern closes her eyes in class and opens them seconds later on a sandy beach miles away from school. When Fern disappears again, this time to a place far more dangerous, she begins to realize exactly how different she is. With the help of her twin brother Sam, Fern struggles to gain control of her supernatural powers. The arrival of a sinister vampire in town- who seems to have an alarming interest in Fern's powers- causes Fern to question her true identity. Who is she? More importantly, who can she count on? Soon Fern finds herself in the middle of a centuries old battle- one that could endanger everyone she loves. Review: I liked this book. It was an entertaining story and kept me hooked until I was done. It was a unique storyline for this type of story that kept it exciting. Even though, some parts of the plot were a little bit predictable I didn't think it took away from the story. The plot was a little slow in parts but no so much that I was bored. I was excited to find out that there is going to be a sequel. This book is good and although it's not very action packed or intense it was still a good read.
   I really liked the characters in the story. I thought Fern and Sam were both really awesome characters. They both seemed so real and it had me rooting for them throughout the book. Also, because I seem to have a habit of liking the secondary characters the most I also liked Mr. Kimble. I can't really explain why but I did. My only problem with the characters was the fact that they were so young. throughout the book I kept forgetting about the fact that Sam and Fern were twelve. They came across as being older than that and i had to keep reminding myself that they were so young. Of course, this could also be because I am so used to reading about characters in hish school.
   I think anyone who wants to read a entertaining fantasy story give this a try.

Friday, October 22, 2010

How to (Un)cage a Girls by Francesca Lia Block

Summary: (from book jacket) The pain of wanting to fit in. The joy of being consumed by love. The shame of not feeling at home in your body. The strength of learning your beautiful. These are moments that every girl knows...for they are part of growing up, of uncaging yourself, form your childhood, your environment, your view of yourself. Francesca Lia Block follows the journey from girlhood to womanhood in this three part poetry collection that channels girls' innermost feelings and experiences and celebrates women everywhere. It is a call to embrace the girl within, to heal her and set her free.
Review: This book is really great. All the poems in the book really send the message of loving yourself for who you are and seeing beauty in yourself no matter what. I liked that because it doesn't seem to be a theme that is seen to often in ya books. This book is really short(only 119 pages) so I read it in a day. I really enjoyed the entire thing. my only problem was that the way some of the poems were laid out made it kind of hard to understand. There was no punctuation throughout most of it so some of the sentences were kind of hard to separate from each other. I also really would have liked to see this turn into more of a story. This subject is something that is really a problem for a lot of girls and showing a character go through that would be really great. I'm not complaing about this book necessarily but in genaerl it would be a good idea. i would recomend this book to every teenage gril who has a problem with seeing themsleves as beautiful.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Zombies Vs. Unicorns - Multiple Authors

Summary: (from book jacket). Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? Justine Larbalester says that zombies are our own walking deaths, they cannot be escaped. Unicorns are sparkly and pastel and fart rainbows. Holly Black says that unicorns are healers, arbiters of justice, and occasionally, majestic man-killers. Zombies drool and shed and probably carry diseases. Some of today's finest writers have chosen their side, creating dazzling stories about both creatures. So read on and decide for yourself: Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
Review: I liked this book. The concept behind it was really entertaining and some of my favorite authors wrote stories in it which made me like it even more. This book also introduced to a few new authors and that's always a good thing. The book alternates between zombie and unicorn stories which kept it entertaining. I also liked the commentary before each story by Justine and Holly. Each was trying to advocate for their own team. I'm not going to go into a really detailed review of this book But I have to say my favorite Zombie story was Children of the Revolution by Maureen Johnson and my favorite unicorn story was Purity Test by Naomi Novik. I can also say that after reading this I am on Team Zombie. Anyone who wants in on the debate should defiantly read this book.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary: (from book jacket) Hunter. Autumn. Summer. Different homes. Different guardians. Different last names. Different lives. But there is one person who binds them together. Kristina. Nineteen years after Kristina Snow met the monster- crank- her children are reeling from the consequences of her decisions. Instead of one big, happy family, they are a desperate tangle of scattered lives united by anger, doubt and fear. A predisposition to addiction and a sense of emptiness where a mother's love should be leads all three down the road of their mother's notorious legacy. Sex, drugs alcohol, abuse- there is more of Kristina in her children than they would ever like to believe. But when the thread that ties them together brings them face to face, they'll discover something powerful in each other and in themselves- the trust,the hope, the courage to begin to break the cycle.
Review: This book was really great. It was a great ending to an eye opening look at addiction that this series has become.
 I really liked the fact that this book is told from the perspective of Kristina's three oldest children. Instead of showing the way addiction affects the use ,as she does in Crank and Glass, Hopkins chose to show the ways that addiction affects the people who are close to the user. I thought it was a fitting end to the series and enjoyed viewing the problem from another perspective.
  I also liked the fact that readers get to see where all the characters form Crank and Glass ended up after nineteen years. Hopkins writes brief newspaper articles throughout the book to tell where various characters that don't really have a part in the story have ended up and what they have done with there lives. I liked slowly putting together the pieces of the puzzle and seeing how everyone fits together. I also really liked the way it ended. the ending was slightly open ended and it left me to imagine the ways Kristina's children will continue to fight to break the cycle of addiction.
 This book is a fitting end to this series. I recommend this series  to anyone who wants a to read a story of the ways that meth addiction affects the user and the people closest to them.
 

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison

Summary:(from back of book) Sometimes only love can save you. Leesie thinks she has her whole life planned out:to get into the school of her dreams, write her poems,meet the perfect guy and settle down. Then she meets Michael- a boy whose parents were killed in a diving accident during a terrible storm. Michael is drowning in tragedy. And all Leesie wants is to save him. With each day her heart hurts more, Could it be, perfect Leesie is falling from grace? or is she just falling in love?
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I picked this one up because I had absolutely loved Sing Me to Sleep and thought that I should give it a try. I have to say I'm glad I did. This book alternates points of view between Michael and Leesie. I think that because of that the reader wasn't forced to take sides in the relationship because readers are able to know what each character is thinking and feeling and it made their relationship a lot less one sided.
  I also like the unique way that each character tells their story. All of Michael's chapters begin with an entry in  his dive log and a lot of Leesie's story is told through her poems. I liked the fact that both of these characters had extremely different views on the meaning of love and being in a relationship and yet they were still in love and tried hard to make their relationship last. I thought the ending was good and I'll be interested to see where their relationship can go from there.
  I really enjoyed both characters. I liked Leesie's strength and determination to help Michael in his time of sadness. Michael was also a really great character. I felt bad for him throughout most of the book. He went through a lot of changes during the course of the book and I really liked the ways his character developed.
 My only problem with that the plot kind of dragged and some parts of it were kind of predictable. Overall, though I liked this book and will be interested to see where their relationship goes in the sequel. I reccomend this book to anyone who is looking for a sweet romantic read and i should also mention that you won't be dissapointed in Sing Me to Sleep either.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

Summary:( from book jacket) Lydia, Emily and Cassie have always shared everything- guy problems, skipping school,even significant secret assignments. But when they're given pen pals at rival Brookfield High, they write forth in individual style. it turns out their pen pals are just as distinctive. Sebastian is a sensitive artist with a major soccer obsession. Charlie is a part time car thief and a completely sweet guy. But Matthew... well, he's either a psychopath or a figment of Cassie's imagination, neither of which is a good thing. And what starts out as a simple letter exchange leads to spy missions, false alarms, lock picking, legal drama, parental edicts, mistaken identities, and an all out war between the schools- not to mention Dates with Girls and some really excellent kissing.
Review: This book was interesting. There were certain things that I liked about it and others that I didn't. I liked the fact that the entire book is told through letters and journal entries of the characters. It was a different way of telling a story and I liked that. However, the problem I had with it was I only got to experience their characters through their own writing. for example their were parts of the book where a character would write something like "Hey we should hang out this weekend", and then in the next letter it would be "I had a lot of fun hanging out this weekend". It made me feel like I was missing something and that bothered me.
 I liked a lot of the characters in this book especially Charlie and Seb. But i didn't really feel like I got to know any of the characters on a deeper level. Because the entire book is told in letters the reader is never really inside the characters head entirely and it affected the way I felt about them. other than that thought they were all really funny and entertaining characters.
  My only other problem was that in the first half of the book the plot moves really slowly. There is almost no plot development. The later parts in the book are a lot more exciting and entertaining. Once the plot does pick up this book keeps you reading. So all in all this book was not one of my favorites but still a fairly good read if you can keep reading long enough to get sucked in.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Summary: ( from back of book). Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard- falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all- girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hollowell High...that is, until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend started going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex- best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Micheal Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past whom she herself used to bully. friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Micheal could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.
Review: I had mixed feeling about this book. Throughout the beginning of the book, I couldn't help but feel like it was just overdone high school drama. The book was centered around hatred between girls who used to be friends. I felt like it was a little bit shallow and when I first started reading it and didn't know if i would be able to get into it. But I easily became sucked into the story and only put the book down to eat and sleep until I was done. Towards the end of the book there were moments full of tension and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
  Despite this there were a few things that bothered me about it. First of all, this is one of the few books that I've read where I wasn't really rooting for the main character. Regina feels hurt and betrayed by her friends for what they did to her but she did the same thing to other people. She's just as bad as her friends and that made it hard to sympathize with her. Another problem I had was the fact that, as I said before, the book was entirely hate and revenge. Although most of the book takes place at school Regina hardly ever goes to class and when she was at home her parents were never home. There was nothing to detract from the latest revenge scheme. I also wish there had been a little more background on what had happened to Micheal and Liz. Another thing was I felt like nothing had really been resolved or changed by the end of the book.
  As for the characters the only one I really liked was Michael. He was the only one who came across as being a decent person(and I'm not exaggerating when I say the only one). Although he does have his own issues to deal with.
  So overall, I thought this book was exciting and entertaining but I didn't really like the story behind all the excitement.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Everwild by Neal Shusterman

 This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read Everlost.
Summary: Everlost, the limbo land of dead children, is at war. Nick the "Chocolate Ogre" wants to help the children of Everlost reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Mary Hightower, self-proclaimed queen of lost children and dangerous fanatic, is determined to keep Everlost's children trapped within it's limbo for all eternity. Traveling in the memory of the Hindenburg, Mary is spreading her propaganda and attracting Afterlights to her cause at frightening speed. Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking the living, until she learns a shocking secret: Those who skinjack are not actually dead.
Review: This is the second book in the Skinjackers Trilogy and so far I love it. This story is full of unique ideas and I enjoyed getting to learn about the world of Everlost and how it works.  There a lot of unique concepts in this story and getting to discover them really added a lot to the story.
I liked the fact that the story alternates point's of view between Nick, Allie and Mary. All three characters are on their own mission in this book. It makes it harder to decide which side to take when readers have come to know and love these characters.  I have to say that Nick is probably my favorite though. I love his detemination and belief that he is helping all the children in Everlost. Plus, I've always been a fan of chocolate. I always liked the way that Mary's character had developed so much over the course of two books. She at first came across as one of the good guys but at the end of this book I was a little afraid of her.
  My only complaint was the fact that by the end of this book it didn't feel like anything had really been accomplished by either side in the war. Of course, both Nick and Mary were affected by what happened it didn't really seem like there was actually a war between them.
Anyway, I really liked this unique and exciting series and can't wait to find out how it ends.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins



This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read previous book in the series.
Summary: (from book jacket) Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans- except Katniss. The success of the rebellion hinges in Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels Mockingjay- no matter what the personal cost.
Review: This book was so awesome. It was an exciting and action packed conclusion to one of my favorite series. This book focuses on the war against the capitol. I loved the fact that it really felt like the characters were in the middle of the war. The characters were amazing as always. This book centers on Katniss's feelings about the war effort,the destruction of her home and the fatcthat hse has become the center of thr rebellion. I was glad that Gale was in it a lot more than the previous books. i really got to know him better in this book.
  I liked the epilogue. It shows what has happened to the charcters since the end of the war. I wish that this didn't have to be the end. I love this series and MockingJay was no exception. I'm also anxious to know what other fans of the series thought.

Friday, August 27, 2010

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher


Summary: (from book jacket) Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker- his classmate and crush- who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself- a truth he never wanted to face.
Review: This book is amazing. It deals with a difficult subject and turns it in to a suspenseful book that will had me hooked until the end. This story is also told in a unique format that makes it all the more interesting.
 I really liked the fact that this is Hannah's story. We get to see inside her head and know what she is thinking and feeling as she slowly makes the decision to end her life. In most books that involve suicide either they weren't successful or another character is dealing with the aftermath so this book is also very unique in that respect. A few times in the story Hannah mentions the giant snowball of events. As I followed her story I knew exactly what she was talking about. As one event leads to the next I really saw what Hannah was going through.
  There were a lot of characters in this story and many of them only made brief appearances. However, every single one of them was so realistic. They were a bunch of high school students not really realizing how much they were playing a role in Hannah's decision. This book really shows how much and effect the smallest of actions can have on a person which many people don't realize. That is why everyone should read this book. it deals with a tough subject in a suspenseful way and all readers will be affected by the message it sends.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Summary: (from book jacket) Carlos Fuentes idolized his older brother,Alex, when he was a member of the Latino Blood. So when Alex chose to get jumped out of the gang for a chance at a future with his gringa girlfriend, Brittany, Carlos felt shocked and betrayed. Even worse, Alex forced Carlos to come back from Mexico to join him on the straight and narrow path. trouble is, Carlos just wants to keep living on the edge. And ties to his Mexican gang aren't easy to break, even hundreds of miles away in Colorado. In Boulder, Carlos has to live with one of Alex's college professors- and hr feels completely out of place. He's even thrown by his strong feelings for the professor's daughter,Kiara, who is nothing  like the girls he's usually drawn to. But Carlos and Kiara soon discover that in matters of the heart, the rules of attraction overpower the social differences that conspire to keep them apart.
 Review: This book is the second book in the Perfect Chemistry series and I really liked it. The romance part of the book wasn't overly done. Carlos is working out his issues and and falling in love simultaneously and I liked the combination of the two. I was afraid it was going to be more similar to Perfect Chemistry but it wasn't.
 The characters in this book were really great. Carlos was edgy, dangerous and cocky but he also had a softer side that was hidden most of the time. I definitely see the family resemblance between the two Fuentes brothers. I also liked Kiara. She was normal she wasn't perfect and didn't pretend to be. She was just an average teenage girl with self confidence issues and it made her really relate able. I liked the fact that there Alex and Brittany were still part of the story. I was glad to see the ways that they had both changed since the last book. The only thing I found a little unrealistic was Kiara's parents. Their attitude toward her and Carlos's relationship was a little more casual than what I would expect from an average family.
 The thing that made this book really great was the message that it sends about learning to trust people and accept them for who they are.That is essentially what this series represents and I felt it really strongly in this book.
 This book is full of romance, friendship and learning to accept yourself and others the way they are. if your look for an exciting new romance check out this series.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read Shiver.
Summary:( from book jacket) 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 wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf 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 it's 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:  This book is really great. I was afraid that it was going to be basically the same plot from shiver but it wasn't. There was a lot of tension and excitement that led up to an exciting climax. The story is told from the alternating points of view of Sam, Grace, Cole and Isabel. I enjoyed the fact that you can really see the different struggles that each of the characters is going through.
  The characters in this story are really great. Grace and Sam's relationship continues to develop as they discover what they would do to stay together. Their relationship is affectionate and sweet and i like them both. Isabel and Cole's friendship is really intense and though I don't think there were really any strong feelings it was fun to watch them begin to trust each other with their secrets. Once again I thought grace's parents were really annoying and even though they were more present in this book it still didn't make them any more likable. I was also annoyed that Olivia didn't make some sort of appearance in this book. Her "disappearance" is mentioned a few times but thats it.
My only major complaint is the way the book ended. I'm seriously only talking about the last page. Everything leading up to that point was amazing and kept me hooked. But the way things were left was a little bit anticlimatic. It seemed like there was no reason for the story to have even been told beyond Shiver.I did love the plot twist that was dropped toward the end that added an extra level of intensity but i wish the story had taken a different turn. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Friday, August 13, 2010

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read The Summer I Turned Pretty.
 Summary:(from book jacket) Can Summer be truly Summer without Cousins Beach? It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come. But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it all started- at Cousins Beach.
Review: I liked this book alot more than it's predecessor, The Summer I Turned Pretty. There was more of a story line and plot. In this book all the characters are dealing with Susannah's death and how it has changed the time at Cousins Beach. I felt more like the story was going somewhere and there were actual problems and emotions. It really gave the story a lot more meaning.
Belly still came across as a little bit self absorbed but I liked her a lot better. She has bigger problems than trying to impress a guy and she seemed more real to me. I liked that there a few chapters that were told from Jeremiah's point of view. He is my favorite character and I loved getting inside his head a little. The only character who I absolutely do not like is Belly's friend Taylor. She is bossy and shallow and I almost wanted to throw the book across the room when she was around. There are still a few flashback scenes in this one. not as many though and it made it easier to follow along with what was going on when you're not constantly jumping back and forth.
 My only complaint was the ending. Although there were a few major plot points that were resolved. There was still a lot that was left unsaid and that was annoying. Hopefully, there will be a sequel that will explain things better. Also, the epilogue, if that's what you want to call it was really confusing and felt unneeded.
 If you are looking for a light summer series I would recommend this one.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Summary: ( from book jacket) Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other. But a week before their joint sweet sixteen bash,everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Cam starts acting distant. Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away. When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the reason for Cam's distance. It isn't another girl-it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King. Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their "perfect" love can weather an uncertain future.
 Review  I liked this book. It was a sweet light fantasy read that I didn't put down from start to finish. It was a new and interesting take on fairies that I really enjoyed. I just wish there had been more information about the Otherworld and what goes on there. There is a little bit of information given but not enough for me to really imagine what that world is like.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Morgan and Cam's relationship was really cute and sweet. I liked the fact that they had been friends their entire lives and then started dating. Morgan did come across as a little bit spoiled at the beginning of the book but she is a changed person by the end. I also really liked Pip. He is new to town and doesn't really know how to fit in with the crowd. He is also one of the most unselfish and self sacrificing characters I had ever met. He would do whatever he could to help Morgan solve her problems and that made me really like him. He was a refreshing change from most high school characters.
  One thing I didn't like though was that the story was a little bit anti climatic. The entire climax of the story that all the characters had spent the entire book trying to resolve happened in two or three pages. It was a little bit of a disappointment. Other than that I did enjoy this book and anyone who loves fairy stories will probably enjoy this one too.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

 This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read The Hunger Games.
Summary ( from book jacket) Sparks are igniting. Flames are spreading. And the Capitol wants revenge. Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all,she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.  Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
 Review: This book is amazing. It was so action packed and suspenseful from beginning to end. This book continues Katniss's story after she and Peeta won the games. It book doesn't have a single dull moment and kept me on the edge of my seat until I was done reading. The plot of this story is really amazing. I don't know where Collins came up with some of the more shocking plot twists. You think you know where the story is going to go while your reading it but, really ,you don't.
 The characters in this story are really great. I love Katniss and her family and friends along with a ton of new characters that are introduced in this book. I liked Finnick alot. He was kind of the don't judge a book by it's cover character and I liked him. I also liked Wiress and Beete. They were cool. It seems like I could go on all day there are so many awesome characters in this sereis. Katniss has been through alot in her life and her troubles only seem to grow in this book. She is conflicted with her feelings about Peeta and Gale and is facing a whole new slew of responsibilites now that she has won the games and has somehow become the face for rebellion. She is strong and determined and will give everything she has for what she believes is right. I have to say I hope she ends up with Gale, Petta just bugs me for some reason although I began to like him a little better in this book.
  This book also ends in one of the most suspensful cliffhangers ever. I absolutely can't wait for Mockingjay, the third and final book in the series. Defienetly read this sereis if you haven't already.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Summary (from back of book) Some summers are just destined to be pretty. When each summer begins, Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but her favorite people are there: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember, and more than anything, she hopes this summer will be different. Despite distractions from a new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother Jeremiah, Belly's heart belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything?
Review: I liked this book. I finished it in a day, I like books about summer and this one kept me hooked until the end. I don't even really know why. It wasn't particularly action packed or intense. The whole book was consumed by Belly's boy drama. It got kind of annoying after a while and I was glad that eventually there were other issues that became the focus of attention. There didn't seem to be any real meaning to the story. Hopefully, things will be a little more exciting in the sequel It's Not Summer Without You.
 I didn't really like any of the characters in this book either. Belly was fun and exciting but after a while became mopey and annoying. Conrad's attitude had me against him from the beginning and wish Belly would like Jeremiah instead. He came across as being a lot more fun than his older brother. That was probably another reason I got so annoyed at Belly she's falling for the wrong guy. Cam was Mr. perfect goody two shoes and I didn't really like him either.
You're probably wondering why I mentioned at the beginning of this review that I liked this book. I did though,I liked the way there was a lot of back story about past summers spent at the beach. It really helped me to get to know the characters better. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Belly and the boys. The teasing and goofing off was really fun. Belly is treated like a little sister especially when she was younger. Another thing I liked was the way all the characters really loved the summer house. Even though things are changing they are determined to continue the tradition of going to the beach for the summer.
If you are looking for a light summer read pick this one up. It wasn't my favorite but, I liked it and hopefully I will enjoy the sequel even more.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary: (from book jacket) The cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow- eyed wolf- her wolf- watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. The heat. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace..... until now. The shiver. For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human- and Grace must fight to keep him- even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.
Review: I have mixed feeling about this book. I enjoyed it but there were a few things that kept it from being absolutely amazing. First of all, Grace's parents were really annoying to me. They were hardly even part of the story. having parents who work alot is one thing but Sam managed to stay a secret for several weeks before they met him. I felt like Stiefvater only put them in the story because she had to and then made them dissapear because she didn't really need them. Another thing was the plot moved slowly in some parts. There was to much time of Grace and Sam alone that it got a little dull after a while.
On the other hand, there were a lot of things that I did like about it. I liked the story behind how and why the werewolves change. It brought a unique twist to the story. it was different from a more traditional werewolf story and I liked it. The writing style of the story was really beautiful especially when describing the seasons or the woods. I also liked the fact that the book alternated points of view between Grace and Sam.It was good to get inside the head of both characters.
 The characters in this story were really simple. They both led simple lives that they knew what to expect from until they met each other. I thought Grace and Sam were both really fun characters to get to know and readers will be rooting for them until the end. Overall, I did like this book and can't wait for my copy of Linger to come in the mail. if your looking for a werewolf story to read pick this one up.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Summary: ( from back of book) At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south siders and north siders aren't exactly compatible elements. So when head cheerleader Brittany Ellis and gang member Alex Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, the results are bound to be explosive. But neither teen is prepared for the most surprising chemical reaction of all- love. Can they break through the stereotypes and misconceptions that threaten to keep them apart?
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It had suspense, action, and romance all packed into one. I liked the fact that the book alternates point of view between Alex and Brittany. It made it a lot more enjoyable to see inside both of the main character's heads.
 I liked the fact that though Alex and Brittany lead completely opposite lives they are more alike than it seems. As the story goes I really began to see the difference between the way both character's were viewed by others and the way they really were. Both character's are constantly being judged or stereotyped based on their appearances. This gave them something in common and they began to realize there was more to the other than meets the eye. I loved the romance aspect in this book. Two very different people falling in love created drama and suspense that kept me hooked until the end.
  I loved both Alex and Brittany. They both had to make a discovery about themselves and change the way they were leading their lives. Despite the fact that they both had believed they were doing the right thing. Being together made them realize this about themselves and I definetly enjoyed that aspect of it. They were both such interesting and unique characters. There were a few things that happened in the book that I didn't like but, can't say anything else about it with out spoiling.
 This book was really good and anyone looking for romance with an edge should pick this one up.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Compound by S.A Bodeen

Summary: (from back of book) Safe or Sorry? Eli and his family have lived in the underground compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy. For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, only his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day. As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to desrtoy their sanctuary- and their sanity- Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside. Eli's father built the compound to keep them safe. But are they safe- or sorry?
Review: I picked up this book because it was reccomended for people who liked The Hunger Games, I read the summary, and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did. This book is really good. throughout the story the plot doesn't move all that quickly, but I was constantly making new discoveries about their life in the compound that kept me reading until the end. I liked the way that Bodeen made living in a place like the compound a realistic idea. The characters dealt with things that would really be a problem for people if anyone had attempted to live like this. Bodeen almost made it seem possible. There were also a few things that brought an added level of suspense to the story. As, the story progresses you really see what sacrifices must be made if Eli and his family are going to survive in the compound.
 Eli is a really self centered at the beginning of the book. As he deals with life in the compound and everything he misses from his old life had becomes less close to the rest of his family over the years. I really came to like him though and thought he really changed toward the end.
  The climax of the story was tense. I continued to be surprised up until the very end. There were alot of things happening at once and it was suspenseful and exciting. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as much if there hadn't been always been that shadow of doubt as to whether they are doing the right thing.
  My only problem was that I wish there had been more information about what happened at the end. I felt like it ended a little bit to soon. Overall, though this book was good and you should really pick this one up if your looking for a suspenseful read.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Summary: (from book jacket) Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It's a mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know- do good things and you will be rewarded. do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what's coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act. But when Mason Brooks, Maddy's boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue wrestling with Miss perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them- except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School- it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That's why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma club- a secret, members only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they're modifying Heather Campbell's acne cream as part of "Operation Butter Face" or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie's and Jade's own slimy exes, they know they're just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They're taking care of one another. Sometimes, though, it isn't wise to meddle with the universe. because it turns out that when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good. even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground.
 Review: I first became interested in reading this book after I watched the trailer for it. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. I felt like the whole story was unrealistic and shallow. The things that Maddy and her friends were planning for they're exes were a little more than harmless pranks and caused some serious trouble. Because of that, I found the story really hard to relate to.
 I thought the characters in this story were annoying. Maddy was so set on being popular and trying to get into the good parties as if that was the only thing that mattered. She was constantly thinking and talking about Heather Campbell and how perfect she was and how much she wanted to be like her. Why couldn't she just be happy with what she had? ( easier said than done I know, but still). Her friends Angie and Jade seemed to be a little more down to earth and I liked them better until towards the end of the book when they were both acting like complete idiots. Another thing was, I was under the impression that these girls knew how Karma worked. Do good things and you will be rewarded, to bad things and you will be punished. So these girls start totally humiliating several students and don't expect for they're luck to turn. To me it seems like they should have seen it coming. There were also a few points in the story that were pretty predictable. I wasn't surprised by what was coming and that also has a tendency to take away from the excitement of a book. So, I didn't like this book but that does mean that you won't. If it sounds like you might enjoy it then you should read it.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

 Summary:( From book jacket) There were no surprises in Gatlin County. At least that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave. Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that's haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten south, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves in to the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
 Review: I absolutely loved this book. There have been so many beginnings of new series that I have read lately and many of them were just OK and not all that great( of course there were some that were and I will keep reading the ones that weren't). But, this book was so good. I was a little wary because of the fact that it's over five hundred pages i was afraid it might drag, but it didn't. I really enjoyed every minute of it.
One thing i really liked about it was that the traditional roles in these types of stories was reversed. First off, the entire book was told from Ethan's point of view. Another thing was neither one of them was described as being amazingly beautiful. It made them more relatable. They seemed more like average teens with beyond average problems. the whole thing was actually really refreshing.
  The characters in this story were all really enjoyable. They were all so well written and developed that you really get to know even the more minor characters. There were a lot of characters and they were all so different. I especially loved Lena. She is full of determination and power and fierceness, while also just wanting to be a teenager. She was really a coll character to get to know throughout the story.
  The ending was really amazing. Even in the middle of the climax of the story Garcia and Stohl are still throwing out major lot twists that change the story so much and add that much more intensity and excitement.
Even though, the plot does move kind of slowly in some parts it is never boring. You should pick this up if you are looking for the start to an awesome fantasy series. I can't wait for the sequel Beautiful Darkness  which comes out this October.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Summary:( from back of book) Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, adoring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left- the most important one she'll ever make. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.
Review: This book was really great. It follows Mia as she makes the most important decision she will ever be faced with. It was really sad and yet it was kind of uplifting. I can't really explain why I felt that way but this book gave me a feeling of hope. This story is really enjoyable and will make you think about life a little differently.
I absolutely loved all the characters in this story. Mia was a really smart and brave character. I really enjoyed reading about the difficult choice Mia faces and the journey she takes as she makes her decision. My favorite character in the story was Adam. He was awesome. His determination to help Mia was really cool. He was really different from your average guy in young adult literature these days and I really liked him.
 Another thing I liked about the story was the music aspect. There were alot of music references both real and made up and it added something extra to the story. I love it when a character in a book has a passion for something and in this case it is music.
This book is a really great story full of amazing characters. If it sounds like a good read based on the summary then don't hesitate to pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Summary: (from back of book) There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college and driving cross- country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.
Review: This book was just OK. I expected this story to be a little more of a dramatic love story than the cute, light read that it was. Don't get me wrong there was definitely some drama going on, but it just seemed really unexciting. The idea of going on a road trip with your ex should have been wildly dramatic and maybe even funny. But, it just fell kind of flat. I mean personally I didn't think Jordan's secret was worth all the trouble. It was the premise of the whole story and since the story alternates between Courtney and Jordan's points of view readers know about it way before Courtney does so it even loses the element of surprise. Jordan should have just told Courtney as soon as he found out. I also didn't really understand why he had to break up with her about it.
  The characters in this story were really annoying. Both Jordan and Courtney were really immature throughout the book. There were a few points in this story where they were both being really stupid. They both needed to grow up a little and deal with their problems. I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters in this book and that was really disappointing.
  Despite all of that there were a few things I did like about it. First of all, I liked the fact that parts of the book took place in the past during the time when they were still dating. It was fun to find out more about their relationship and how it progressed. Another thing I liked was the road trip. Road trips in themselves are always entertaining. Even though this one was full of unnecessary drama, it was an element of the story that I liked.
  So, I'll say you should pick this one up if your in for a light read if your looking for something more intense then don't bother.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Summary: (from back of book) When Alexis's little sister, Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on the unlit stove, and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough for the girls to see their breath. Kasey is changing too. Her blue eyes go green, and she uses old fashion language, then forgets chunks of time. Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey's shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister- but what if the green eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was an exciting ghost story that kept me reading until the end. This book wasn't really a very action packed until the last 100 pages or so but I was still enjoyed it. The idea behind this story is not a unique one but it didn't come across as dull or as something I had seen before.
 The characters in this story were really believable. I loved Alexis's say what you think personality and the fact that she is an aspiring photographer who still uses a darkroom. She was a really fun main character and readers will be rooting for her until the end. I had a hard time remembering that Kasey was thirteen. She came across as being so much younger then that. The way she behaved seemed really immature for her age. I also really enjoyed getting to know some of the more minor characters like Carter and Megan. Although, I have to say my favorite was probably Lydia. She was so funny I kind of wish she had a bigger role.
  Another thing I liked was the way that their house was described. The spooky old house element really added alot to the story. There were also a few plot twists that kept me reading although I have to say there was one part in particular that I thought was a little bit predictable. Apart from that there were a few surprising elements that kept me on the edge of my seat.
 My only complaint was that I felt that everything was resolved to quickly and easily. I wish there had been a little more to the climax and ending. If there had been just a little more to it.  Despite that, this book was really good and I recommend it to anyone who likes ghost stories.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Summary: (from book jacket) Micah will freely admit she's a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she'll ever tell you. Over the years she's fooled everyone: her classmates, her teachers, even her parents. And she's always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as easily as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them- and herself- that she's finally come clean.
  Review: I had mixed feelings about this book. There were some things I really liked about it and others that I didn't. The idea behind this story is a really intriguing one. The story where the main character is a known liar is not something seen very often. I liked the fact that it really felt like Micah was telling the story to you. In most books the reader is an invisible observer to the character's life but here Micah was talking to the reader. Another thing I liked was I was never really sure if Micah was telling the truth about what had happened. She is telling alot of the story after it had happened so it was hard to tell if she was lying. It had you guessing up until the end and it kept me entertained.
  One thing I didn't like was the major plot twist that was dropped in the middle of the story. I could tell there was something going on but I was still really surprised when it was revealed. I usually love exciting and unexpected plot twists but, I felt that it went beyond the premise of the story. I thought the summary was a little bit misleading. In all fairness, it still made for a good story it was just a different one than what I was expecting. Maybe a more observant reader would have figured it out beforehand. I also really liked the way it ended. It will keep the reader thinking after they finish reading.
  Overall, I like this book and think that if you are looking for a surprising and interesting book pick this one up.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Paper Towns by John Green

Summary( from book jacket) Quentin Jacobson has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life- dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge- he follows. After their all- nighter ends and a new day breaks. Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But soon Q learns that there are clues- and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.
Review: I love this book. This was actually the first book by Green that I had read and it made me immediately go out and buy his other books. In this book Green takes an important message and puts it into a really entertaining and exciting story. This book is a mix of seriousness and humor that come together to tell an amazing story. This book has so many parts that were really funny. I often go back to read them again when I'm in the mood for a laugh.
  The characters in this story are awesome. They really help make the story what it is. These characters are one of the best things about the book. They are funny and admittedly kind of nerdy and I loved it. Their banter throughout even in the more serious moments help make this book something you won't soon forget. Green is an awesome author and if you haven't read his books you really should. Paper towns is a story about the way we imagine ourselves and those around us. This book is one of my all time favorites. Between prom dates, road trips and midnight adventures this book is for anyone who wants a fun yet serious book that will change the way you think about the people around you. Definitely pick this one up if you can.


Friday, July 9, 2010

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Summary: (from back of book) Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life- boating, swimming and barbecues with his close buddies- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship would only cramp his style. That is until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the attractive redhead seems to have a grudge against him. Still, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor and his persistant efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage ,and family. The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heart wrenching question of all: How far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?
   Review: This book is really great. Nicholas Sparks has written another beautiful love story. Ever since I read The Notebook I always pick up Sparks' books when I can find them and this one was awesome. It has the qualities of alot of Spark's other books : two people with seemingly nothing in common fall in love and then for whatever reason are forced apart. I think this one should be made into a movie next.
  The characters in this story were really enjoyable. I loved the teasing  banter that went on between Travis and Gabby and the story of how they met is hilarious. Though this book is a Spark's classic it had some unique elements to it that aren't in his other books (at least the ones I've read). I'm not going to say anything else about it because I don't want to spoil it. If you want to know more go pick up a copy. If you've liked Spark's other books you won't be disappointed.
  I have to say that this book has some really sad moments. It really had me rooting for the characters and hoping that they would be able to overcome their problems. Travis is a really cool and fun character and I felt really bad for him at some points in the book. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good romantic read.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Summary:(from back of book) My name is Danielle. I'm eighteen. I've been stealing things for as long as I can remember. Dani has been trained as a thief by the best there is- her mother. They never stay in one place long enough for Dani to have real connections, real friends- a real life. But in the town of Heaven, everything changes. Suddenly, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known- or the one she's always wanted.
 Review: I liked this book. I had read a few reviews on it and its written by an author I have enjoyed in the past so I decided to give it a try and it didn't disappoint. Dani is a teenage girl who, deep down, just wants to live the life of one. Dani just wants what so many teens have come to count on in their lives. Like have a house in one place instead of traveling around and a group of friends you can count on. I liked watching Dani change and grow as a person throughout the course of the book. I liked most of the characters in the book with one exception. Dani's mom was really annoying to me. The way she acted came across as irresponsible and annoying. I found myself wanting her to just leave at some points. This didn't take away from the story. I enjoy stories that make me feel strongly for the characters even if it isn't necessarily a good feeling. Other than that I liked the characters in this story.
   The other thing I liked was the information about Dani's past. It really gives a clear understanding of why she and her mom have chosen this lifestyle and where it all started. It made me feel a little bit sympathetic for Dani because she is living a life that was chosen for her.
   My only complaint about this book was the way it ended. The ending was really open and left to much unsaid. An open ending is ok in some cases but this time it didn't work. There were to many things that still needed to be said and it felt really sudden and unexpected. Apart from that I enjoyed this book and would if you are a fan of Elizabeth Scott's other books you should really pick this one up.
   

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Feast of Fools Morganville Vampires Book 4 by Rachel Caine

This review may contain spoilers from the previous books in the series.
  Summary:( from back of book) In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans have learned to live in relative peace. Still, students like Claire Danvers know that after dark, studying can take a back seat to staying alive. But the tenuous good-neighbor policy is really turned on its head with the arrival of Mr. Bishop. Bad to the bone, the ancient old- school vampire cares nothing about harmony. Staying at the top of the food chain is enough. What he wants from the town's living and dead is unthinkably sinister. It's only at a formal ball attended by vampires and their human dates that Claire realizes Bishop's plan- and the elaborately evil trap he's set for the warm blooded souls of Morganville.
  Review: Another exciting adventure in Morganville comes to a close. I enjoyed this book a lot but I am starting to have some issues with the series as a whole. This is the fourth book in the series and looking back at what has happened so far it doesn't really seem to all fit together. The characters will have a new set of problems and conflicts but most of these are pushed aside and hardly discussed so that the characters can focus solely on whatever bad evil vampire is trying to kill them. Believe it or not, that does get kind of old after a while. Regardless of that fact though, I did really enjoy it and can't wait to get my hands on the next one. The only other complaint I have is the fact that yet again someone wants Shane dead. I'm starting to suspect that Caine has continued to do that because of Claire's feelings for him. But seriously time to lay off of Shane for a while.
  Enough of the negative ,time to focus on the things I did like about it. First of all the story line of this book is really interesting. Mr. Bishop's arrival in town really set a whole new chain of events in motion . I am guessing that this book is the one that sets the rest of the series in motion and brings it to a whole new level. But, again I'm only guessing. Another thing I liked is Myrnin's part of the story. I enjoyed reading about him and his discoveries and am excited to see where that will lead.
 So far I have really enjoyed this series and definitely recommend you read it if you haven't already. Despite, the few things I didn't like this is one series that keeps me reading.
  

Monday, June 28, 2010

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


Summary: ( from book jacket) In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live T.V. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the games. But Katniss has been close to dead before- and survival, for her is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Review: I love this book. it was action packed and exciting from beginning to end. Just when you thought you knew what was going on Collins threw another twist at the reader. This book is the beginning of an exciting and unique trilogy. This is a book that stays with you long after you finish reading. It's a really amazing story and everyone should read it.
   Another thing I liked was that the characters are really relatable despite the fact that they are in a very unique situation. When it comes down to it, this is a story of love and friendship and determination. You make it through the bad times so you can enjoy the good. The characters, and the overall story has developed a huge fan base and I know I am far from the only one waiting anxiously for the final book Mockingjay to be released. Collins has done an awesome job creating a world that keeps you on the edge of your seat and rooting for the good guys to win. So definitely pick this up if you are looking for an exciting series full of adventure ( and let's face it who isn't). I'd be surprised if you didn't like it.