DPL Teen Reading Raves

Dear Bully book review

2012-01-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones
4/5 stars
Teen Reviewer: Lauren Batchelder
With seventy heartfelt and empathetic stories about bullying, this wonderful book reaches out to victims everywhere. Many prominent authors such as R.L. Stein and Lauren Oliver open up and share their stories about bullying- as observers on the sidelines, victims and as bullies themselves. Every story is deeply personal and it makes every single person who has ever been bullied realize that they are not alone. Bullying is an issue everywhere. This book talks about a subject that is painful to many people, and even though some parts are really hard to read, it is a wonderful book. I highly recommend this to anyone who is a bully, has been bullied, or watched someone be bullied. It will change your view on the subject forever. Dear Bully, is rare. I have never read a book that has had so much power and emotion. I loved it and I know that if you read it, you will be captivated by it too.

Kinsey and Karla Book Review Part I--Envy by Gregg Olsen

2012-01-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

Envy by Gregg Olsen

Review by Karla Accorto

3 Stars

This month, Kinsey and I selected Envy by Gregg Olsen. It is a fictional story inspired by a true crime. Envy begins with the death of Katelyn Berkley, a fifteen year old girl. It appears to be an accident, or possibly even suicide. However, twin sisters Hayley and Taylor Ryan- old friends of Katelyn- believe differently; they think it was murder. The two girls work to figure out what really happened to Katelyn, aided by the supernatural gifts that they were born with. They try desperately to put together the pieces, leading them to the very surprising conclusion.

At first glance, Envy seemed like a typical murder mystery or thriller. Once I actually started reading, though, I discovered it was much better classified in the paranormal/supernatural genre. I was somewhat disappointed with the book. When I find a book that really interests me, I can read it easily in a day or two. Envy took me several weeks to get through. The beginning 100+ pages were a struggle for me to get past. After about page 120-125, though, I flew through it in a day. It could be due to the fact that this genre does not typically interest me, but looking at it objectively, I also believe that the beginning plot moved slowly. It was definitely an interesting story line, but just hard to get into at the start. I was also disappointed with the author’s portrayal of the three main characters: Hayley, Taylor, and Katelyn. I had a very hard time distinguishing Hayley from Taylor throughout most of the book and I really wished that I was able to experience Katelyn some more. Hayley and Taylor appeared to be such complex characters that I really wanted to learn more about what makes them different, instead of just the same.The author, Gregg Olsen did an excellent job creating many of the supporting characters, though, which was definitely a plus. These included Katelyn’s family, Taylor and Hayley’s family, and Katelyn’s best friend, Starla and her family. The setting of the story was great, too, in a sleepy, historical small town. I found that part to be really relatable and well-crafted. The mechanics of Mr. Olsen’s writing were spectacular, as well. His sentences flowed nicely and his vocabulary was superb. There was nothing left to be desired there. The last few sentences of some of the chapters reminded me a lot of Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars, mainly due to the foreshadowing and intrigue. I loved PLL so that really made me excited for Envy. Envy had a pretty tidy ending, which I also liked, but also left it open enough for a sequel, due out this fall. I also liked that it was written in a third person narrative. Normally, I cannot stand reading a book written in third person, but for Envy it just seemed so fitting. It allowed the reader to see every little thing that was happening and how it was connected to Katelyn, as opposed to just what Hayley and Taylor had uncovered.

This was an interesting selection for Kinsey and me because our opinions seem to differ on it. She read it first and encouraged me to finish it, saying that it would be worth it. She agrees that the beginning was slow, but believes it picks up at around page 50, whereas I believe it doesn’t until around 100. She really enjoyed the book and I feel that I neither liked nor disliked it- right in the middle. All I can say is that next month, Kinsey, I’m picking the book! J To hear the rest of her opinion, you’ll have to read her review. As for me, I give Envy three out of five stars.

Teen Book Review: The Auslander

2012-01-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

Review: The Auslander
by Paul Dowswell
Review by Angeliek Devine

Summary: When Peter's parents are killed, he is sent to an orphanage in Warsaw. Then German soldiers take him away to be measured and assessed. They decide that Peter is racially valuable. He is Volksdeutscher: of German blood. With his blond hair, blue eyes, and "acceptably proportioned head," he looks just like the boy on the Hitler-Jugend poster. Someone important will want to adopt Peter. They do. Professor Kaltenbach is very pleased to welcome such a fine Aryan specimen to his household. People will be envious. But Peter is not quite the specimen they think. He is forming his own ideas about what he is seeing, what he is told. Peter doesn't want to be a Nazi, and so he is going to take a very dangerous risk. The most dangerous risk he could possibly choose to take in Berlin in 1942.

Review: After reading Paul Dowswell's novel The Ausländer I must say that I am quite impressed, and was entirely immersed into the story by the first chapter. The horrors of WWII were impeccably depicted throughout the reading. I especially liked the concept of viewing the war from the perspective of the Germans' side and through the eyes of a teenager. Right off the bat Dowswell brings tragedies into Peter's life, setting the dim scene for the majority of the reading. This novel is not for the softhearted out there, it truly shows the cruelty of war, and the lives of those during this time period. It was interesting to imagine being a civilian in Berlin, Germany during the 1940's, always having to follow orders without a single complaint, and not being sure who you can trust, even within your own family. The book follows Peter through his days at school, perceiving the difficulties for children growing up in a Nazi society, having the pressures forced upon them by their peers as well as the law enforcements to be the perfect citizen, as well as being fully immersed in a world wide war.

As the story progresses, the brutality only grows more and more grim, hooking you in to want to read more. Not only was this book enthralling on an entertainment aspect, but it also gives the reader a good amount of historical background as well as incorporating the German language, connecting the reader more to the story.

During some chapters of the book I did feel that a lot of pages towards the middle seemed more like filler, in my opinion. Overall, however, The Ausländer is a captivating novel and does a beautiful job of combining the horrors of war, difficulties of fitting in, and the trouble of growing up all in one intense read.

If you enjoy reading historical fiction novels centered around WWII, I would most defiantly recommend this book to you.

I give this book an overall rating of 4 out of 5.

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

2012-01-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Title: Title: Boy Toy
Author: Barry Lyga
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 416

First Line: -- (Don't have the book on me, sorry!)

Summary: Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is.

Five years ago, Josh’s life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town—seems like the world—thinks they understand. But they don’t—they can’t. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there’s Rachel, the girl he thought he’d lost years ago. She’s back, and she’s determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not.Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won’t stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there’s Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh’s past. It’s time for Josh to face the truth about what happened.

If only he knew what the truth was . . .

Source: Amazon

Review: Like The Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Boy Toy handles some tough stuff. Lyga is a master at writing topics that are difficult in a way that is realistic, but still sensitive. The way the story is woven keeps the reader interested and, even when the reader knows what's going to happen, they still don't quite believe it. Lyga's style is easy to read and gives the reader plenty of time to think about what has been written. His characters are well-rounded and the story is atypical for the specific genre. This was an excellent book, though I would not recommend it to younger teen readers, as there are some graphic scenes and plenty of obscenities. For people who are unable to handle child molestation or inappropriate relations, this book is not for you.

Worst part: Something about Josh and Rachel's relationship didn't feel right.

Best part: Weaving in a scene from TAoFBaGG was really cool.

Grade: A+

Other Books by This Author: The Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising, Hero-Type, Wolverine: Worst Day Ever, Archvillain: The Series, Mangaman

Author's Website: Barry Lyga

Teen Book Review: Flesh and Blood So Cheap

2012-01-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

FLESH & BLOOD SO CHEAP
by Albert Marrin
Nonfiction
Reviewed by Will Hunt

Synopsis:

This book , Flesh & Blood So Cheap By Albert Marrin describes the great fire of the Triangle Waist Company which made shirts in New York City, on March 25, 1911, the events that led up to it and the measures put in place after its devastation. The fire destroyed the top 3 floors of the Asch Building. The fire broke out on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floor of the building. One hundred and forty six people died, and only six of the men were identified. The rest were either women or labeled as unidentified. There were many problems that made the fire much worse than it could have been: All the debris on the floor of scraps of cloth, paper pattern pieces, bolts of fabric, oil placed on top of cloth, an elevator that could only fit TWO people at a time, crowded stairways filled with panicking people, people trying to escape, ladders that were to short to reach the factory floors, very few safety measures for fires or anything else that might happen, and worst of all doors that were locked that should have never been locked just to discourage people that come in late and just to keep out union organizers.

Many safety measures were taken: the growth of workers unions, better working conditions for immigrants,(since most of the workers in the factories were immigrants), child labor laws were written, the development of healthier working conditions, and a lot more Government involvement in developing regulations for businesses(although i'm not sure certain that many of these were good developments). Today most businesses are healthier and safer and they receive a decent wage well at least in the United States.

Opinion:
My opinion of this book is that it was a very informative book and that it took a lot of gumption to get through it but it was very well written and gave very vital information and was extremely interesting. There were some bad points though because of course the Socialist Party grew from this. The factory owners received very little punishment for causing all this pain and suffering . The unions helped to give rise to gangsters which caused more strikes. Because of increased costs because of labor unions, businesses moved their factories to developing nations where labor was cheaper but those factories became sweatshops much like the Triangle Waist Company had been in the early 1900's.

Many people believed that the Triangle Waist Company Fire was the worst man made disaster that had occurred in America until the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

My rating: 4/5

Anna and the French Kiss

2011-12-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 372

First Line: "Here is everything I know about France: Madeline and Amelie and Moulin Rouge.

Summary: Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris -- until she meets Etienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Etienne has it all. . .including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: A fun read. Nothing too heavy, but not entirely brainless, either. Anna became somewhat unlikable at a point, but it was necessary, in hindsight, to show character growth. The plot was not entirely predictable, although there were a lot of plot parallels that became overwhelming after a while. There is not a lot to say about the novel; overall, it's well-written, and the product of a NaNoWriMo. I also understand Stephanie Perkins is a nerdfighter (for more information regarding nerdfighters, check out YouTube, search "nerdfighter" or "vlogbrothers").

For another review of AatFK, watch this video.

Worst part: Part of the resolution came too easily. This is regarding Meredith.

Best part: The plot was fairly original, as far as the world of main-character-is-new-at-a-boarding-school goes.

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Author's Website: Stephanie Perkins

Sneak Peek of New Arrivals

2011-10-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

We have a nice selection of new books! Come on in and see the shiny new acquisitions.

Sneak Peek:

Pearl by Jo Knowles

Synopsis:

Bean (née Pearl) and Henry, misfits and best friends, have the strangest mothers in town. Henry’s mom Sally never leaves the house. Bean’s mom Lexie, if she is home, is likely nursing a hangover or venting to her friend Claire about Bean’s beloved grandfather Gus, the third member of their sunny household.

Gus’s death unleashes a host of family secrets that brings them all together. And they threaten to change everything—including Bean’s relationship with Henry, her first friend, and who also might turn out to be her first love.

Come on in and check it out :)

Teen Read Week

2011-10-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

This week, we will be celebrating Teen Read Week with three different projects.

1) Our program will be a book trailer class on Wednesday, 10/19/2011 at 7:00pm. We will be creating book trailers of our favorite books using animoto.com. What is a book trailer? Check out a book trailer of one of our newest and most popular acquisitions to get an idea!

To register for this class, click here, scroll down to Book Trailer Class and click register at the bottom of the description.

2) We are also doing a Bookface Photo Challenge!

What is a bookface? When a person obscures or augments any part of their body with a book cover causing an illusion.

1) Find a book that will work for you!
2) Take a Picture
3) Email the picture to Erin at erinr@derrypl.org
4) Vote for winners on our facebook page--- DPL Teen Space

Entries are accepted October 16-22nd

Winner will receive an Author-Signed Tantalize: Kieren's Story Postcard set and $10 iTunes Gift Card!

3) Our "pick up" project will be a Book Cover Re-Design Challenge, located in the teen area. Feel free to drop in and use the paper and art supplies to re-design your favorite book cover! The best re-design will be posted in the teen section. Come on over and create.

Have a great Teen Read Week!

Facebook and Bookface!

2011-10-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

We've got a great line up of activities this week and next week, so please feel free to join us for any of the events listed below. Also, please note that we now have a teen page on facebook to make seeing programs, new blogs and announcements that much easier. We are DPL Teen Space!

Stop by for our upcoming programs!

Writing Group: Wednesday, October, 12, 6-8:30. We will come up with our group name, hear some wonderful writing and hang out! Join us UPSTAIRS IN THE YA SECTION for this.

SAT Prep/Essay Made Easy: Saturday, October 15th, 1-3:00pm. Join us to talk about SAT Essay tips and tricks. We will also run through two practice essays before the day is out!

Teen Read Week
October 16-22

Book Trailer Class: Wednesday October 19th, 7:00-8:00pm. What are book trailers? How can we make our own? Join us to make book trailers/movies, like this. Bring a laptop or work with one of our computers. This program does require registration. To register: click here!

We will also be holding a Book Cover Re-Design Challenge in the teen area! Drop by to recreate your favorite book cover on some oversize paper. Winner will be displayed in the teen area.

Lastly, we are doing a Bookface Photography Challenge.

What is a bookface? When a person obscures or augments any part of their body with a book cover causing an illusion.

1) Find a book that will work for you!
2) Take a Picture
3) Email the picture to Erin at erinr@derrypl.org
4) Vote for winners on our facebook page--- DPL Teen Space

Entries are accepted October 16-22nd

Winner will receive an Author-Signed Tantalize: Kieren's Story Postcard set and $10 iTunes Gift Card!

Book Trailer of the Week!

2011-10-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

Need By Carrie Jones

From Publishers Weekly:

It's not hard to see Twilight in the DNA of this novel: Zara's stepfather has died, her mother isn't capable of caring for her, and she has been sent to live with her grandmother in a small remote town in Maine. When her car spins out of control (Calling Stephenie Meyer!), she's rescued by sexy Nick (who turns out to be a werewolf), and something might be cooking with her overachieving classmate Ian. Too bad she's being followed by someone dark and dangerous—a pixie king. This pixie is no harmless sprite: when not mated with a queen for an unspecified amount of time, Zara learns, the pixie kings will demand... young human men, who they kill after using them for their blood-hungry pleasures. Will Zara sacrifice herself to this vampire stand-in or let him destroy everything she loves? Jones (Love {and Other Uses for Duct Tape]) easily wins readers to Zara's side, portraying her as a funny, globally conscious teen who also collect[s} fears like other people collect stamps (obscure phobias serve as chapter titles). Genre fans will enjoy the sizzle between Nick and Zara as well as the paranormal cast. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Sound good? We have it in our collection. Come on over and pick it up!

Flume Awards

2011-10-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Nominate your favorite reads today! No adult contribution allowed! Teens only!

The Flume award is a teen choice award done here in NH! Each year, students get the chance to nominate their favorite titles for The Flume award. This title must be a book that has been published within the last two years. From the massive list that comes in, librarians narrow it down to 13 titles and then teens vote on the winning title! They are currently taking nominations! If you go to the teen section, you will find nomination slips on the board. Feel free to take one and then put your vote in the glass jar on the shelf next to it. I will collect and mail the votes. Teens may nominate their favorite reads until January 13th, 2012.

In April, we will put out a vote to see who the overall winner is, so watch for more in the spring! In the meantime, make sure your favorite book that has been published in the last two years is on the list! Who will you be voting for?

For more information, or to vote online visit: http://www.nashualibrary.org/YALS/Flume.htm

Fun Stuff!

2011-10-03T06:41:00.000-07:00

A few updates to the Derry teen area and programming

Montooth Challenge: We have cataloged the first two books in the Montooth series by Robert Jay and now you have a chance to enter for an intriguing prize. What's the prize, you ask? Let me tell you! If you read books one and two and then send in an entry form with a plot idea for the third novel, and if your idea is accepted, then you will have your name in A BOOK! Drop by the teen section to take the books out and pick up an entry form!

Teen Book Group: We will be holding our first teen book group meeting on November 10th, from 3:30-5:30. Join us to do projects, talk about books, hang with friends. To join us for this group, register on line at www.derrypl.org and click on the calendar on the left or call the reference desk at 603-432-6140. Please register for this round by October 18th!

SAT Prep/Essay Made Easy: We had our first SAT Essay session this past Saturday. If you are taking the SAT in the upcoming months and want to have some time to practice the essay component as well as learn strategies and tips, please join us for the next sessions on October 15th, November 12th and 26th, from 1:00-3:00. Don't miss a free opportunity to get ahead of the curve!

Watch for pick up projects and more games in the teen area coming soon!

Upcoming Programs:

Anime Club: October 11th, 3:30-4:30
Writers Club: October 12th, 6:30-8:00
SAT Prep/Essay Made Easy: Oct. 15th, November 12th and 26th, 1-3:00
Teen Book Club: November 10th, 3:30-5:30( register by October 18th)

Banned Book Trailer

2011-09-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

As you most likely know, this week is banned books week! Please feel free to drop by the library and take a look around the teen section to see what books in this area have been challenged or banned, make an I Read Banned Books, bracelet, necklace or key chain, and read the banned books week proclamation. In addition to this, we will be featuring titles and reviews of banned and challenged books this week on the blog. Today we will take a look at a book trailer of the novel SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Banned Books Week

2011-09-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

This week is Banned Books Week. Watch for banned and challenged books in the teen area marked with Caution and Danger tape. The Caution tape indicates that a book has been challenged and the Danger tape indicates if a book has been banned. Please feel free to take these books out! They can cut the tape off at reference or at circulation. In addition to the book displays, we will also have an ongoing activity this week in the Teen Section. Students are welcome to come in, hang out in the teen area (as always) and create "I READ BANNED BOOKS," bracelets, key chains and necklaces with the beading supplies on hand. We will also be featuring book trailers and reviews on banned or challenged books this week on the blog.

Upcoming Events:
Anime Club: Tues, Sept. 27th, 3:30-4:30pm
Teen Writers Group: Wed, Sept. 28th, 6:30-8:00pm
SAT Prep/Essay: Sat. Oct. 1st, 1-3pm

Drop Ins for these programs are welcome!

Pick Up Project: I READ BANNED BOOKS key chains, bracelets etc.

New Teen Section and Upcoming Events!

2011-09-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce the unveiling of the newly remodeled upstairs along with the beautiful new Teen section. I am so excited to be the Teen librarian in this brand new space. Let me tell you a little bit about it.

The upstairs has a gorgeous Robert Frost theme with lots of poetry and paintings lining the walls. If you look to the back left corner after entering the building you will see a birch tree mural on the wall. That is the teen section. Go that way! We have fiction, new releases, graphic novels and short stories in this section. The teen nonfiction and multimedia are still going to be interfiled with the adult materials. But you will be able to identify them with the handy purple dot that is on the spine.

Another new thing to look for is the activities cupboard. This cupboard has materials for beading, storyboards for creating your own anime, graphic novels or comics, writing materials to write. reviews for this blog, card games and more. You'll also find a featured book, something that has a lot of buzz right now. Feel free to take it home and have a read. I will just replace it with another popular one! There are a few games on the bottom shelf and we will be collecting more as time goes on.

Be sure to check out the bulletin board for upcoming programs. I will be posting information about programs here as well!

Things to watch for in the upcoming week!

September 25th marks the beginning of Banned Books Week! Watch for Banned Books Week displays throughout the library as well as beading supplies to make I READ BANNED BOOKS bracelets, necklaces and key chains. Also, I will be sure to place out lots of banned books, so you can go ahead and start reading these bad boys. Granted, you've probably already read some of these...does The Hunger Games sound familiar?

PROGRAMS!!!

Sept. 27th, Anime Club 3:30-4:30
Sept. 28th, Writers Group 6:30-8:00pm
Oct. 1st, SAT Prep/Essay Made Easy 1:00-3:00
To register for these programs, please go to www.derrypl.org, click on the calendar on the left hand side, find the program and click REGISTER. Drop ins are also welcome!

We'll see you in the stacks!

Isn't It Romantic by Ron Hansen

2011-08-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

No Spoilers.

Title: Isn't It Romantic?
Author: Ron Hansen
Year of Publication: 2004
Genre: Romance
Pages: 198
First Line: "America was Natalie's idea."

Summary: Touring America was Natalie's idea. But she had not planned on being accompanied on a cross-country bus by her playboy fiance, Pierre. Nor had they anticipated being stranded in Seldom, Nebraska, population 395.

But that is exactly what happens to this French couple, and they quickly find themselves being taken in by the obliging citizens of Seldom: Natalie by Mrs. Christiansen, a retired high school teacher who runs a rooming house for women, and Pierre by Owen, a gas station owner and ambitious winemaker in an unlikely part of the world.

And here, also, the separated couple becomes enchanted by the locals. Natalie is soon being wooed by Dick Tupper, a handsome and honest rancher. Pierre falls quickly for Iona, a beautiful, no-nonsense waitress at the local diner.

In this charming entertainment, mistaken identities, botched schemes, and hilarious misunderstandings abound as Parisian sophistication collides with the af

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: None of the characters in this book were likeable. The plot was underdeveloped and there were too many characters to keep track of in such a short piece. I found the situations to be unrealistic for the characters and their personalities. Honestly, I have very little to say about this novel. It was very disappointing and I'm glad it took less than half-a-day to read it.

Worst part: The characters were obnoxious.

Best part: I can't think of a single thing.

Grade: F

Other Books by This Author: Various, which can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Ron-Hansen/e/B000AR9NZG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

21 / 100 books. 21% done!

Indigara by Tanith Lee

2011-07-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

No Spoilers.

Title: Indigara
Author: Tanith Lee
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: Science Fiction, Futuristic Fiction
Pages: 195
First Line: "Otis's Diskript

The problem was that on that day I was supposed to go in for my half-yearly service appointment."

Summary: Welcome to Indigara . . . a strangely familiar, strangely hypnotic world.

Jet and her robot dog, Otis, have been taken with Jet's two sisters -- one of whom has a role in the latest Super-Movie -- to their planet's film capital, Ollywood. Jet and Otis are soon plunged into the mysterious underworld that lurks below the studios and lots. Here lies the beautiful and sinister other-where if Indigara, which has spontaneously generated from the sets, costumes, models, and actual celluloid of fantasy and SF pilot movies that never got made into series. Even while girl and dog try to survive the dangers and terrors below, their Indigaran mirror images have replaced them, and are running amok in the real world above. . . .

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: All-in-all, I found this book to be too vague. I had a hard time understanding what was going on. The idea was interesting, but it was not executed in a way that made me really into the book, which was frustrating, especially given its shortness. I was also frustrated to learn that Indigara is not pronounced the way you might expect, which took me out of the story, especially when the name was mentioned. I liked Otis' character a lot, but something about him seemed missing. Many of the characters were like that -- likable or interesting, but missing something. I would probably not recommend this book, however I know Tanith Lee has written 80 novels (as of 2007) and various other pieces, so it's possible this one was a fluke.

Worst part: The vagueness of the writing.

Best part: Otis.

Grade: C-

Other Books by This Author: Not going to list these, but there is a list found at the beginning of the copy of this book in the edition I read.

20 / 100 books. 20% done!

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

2011-06-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

No Spoilers.

Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns
Author: (Editors) Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy, Anthology
Pages: 415
First Line: "Since the dawn of time one question has dominated all others: Zombies or Unicorns?"
Summary: Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn?

Justine Larbalestier says that zombies are our own walking deaths. Funny, grim, and terrifying, 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?

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: As I've done in the past, I will be reviewing this anthology story by story.

1. The Highest Justice by Garth Nix - Did not keep my attention at all.

2. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Alaya Dawn Johnson - Better than the first story but perhaps a bit more adult in content than necessary.

3. Purity Test by Naomi Novik - Humorous, and a little better than the previous two. Would have been better in novel length.

4. Bougainvillea by Carrie Ryan - Confusing.

5. A Thousand Flowers by Margo Lanagan - The beginning was great but it quickly became confusing and I lost interest.

6. The Children of the Revolution by Maureen Johnson - Probably my favorite in the anthology. This story was clear and interesting.

7. The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn by Diana Peterfreund - I lost interest very quickly on this one.

8. Inoculata by Scott Westerfeld - Confusing, but had some interesting elements. Not up to par with the Uglies series.

9. Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot - Almost as good as Johnson's. Funny and easy to follow.

10. Cold Hands by Cassandra Clare - A step below Cabot's. Different from Clare's usual stuff, but interesting and well planed.

11. The Third Virgin by Kathleen Duey - Intereting, if a bit long.

12. Prom Night by Libba Bray - Bray lost me on this one.

Side note -- the introductions to each story were fun, funny, and interesting.

Worst part: I wasn't a fan of most of the stories. I felt these authors were capable of better.

Best part: Johnson's story.

Grade: C-

Other Books by This Author: None together.

19 / 100 books. 19% done!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2011-06-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 478
First Line: "The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts."
Summary: When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by -- and torn between -- two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keeps everyone in his life at arm's length. . .everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . .and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: Well, this book to me way longer to read than it should have. I don't know if it was because a lack of interest or what, but I read the original three of this series much faster. (For those who don't know, Clare is doing something like Star Wars did, where she released three modern day novels about a world and is now releasing books that are a sort of prequel but aren't super necessary to the plot of the other set and vice versa.) This novel was hard to follow, and I was not particularly drawn to any of the characters (except, maybe slightly, Jem and Will -- but that's to be expected). I did find the mentions of ancestors of characters in the original three novels interesting, but there was nothing significant. I'm not sure if I will bother with the next book in this series. While I did like the original three, I'm finding this one just not up to par.

Worst part: The book dragged on and on and on and on. . . .

Best part: Jem's situation, which is explained towards the end, is really interesting.

Grade: C-

Other Books by This Author: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass

18 / 100 books. 18% done!

Trapped by Michael Northrop

2011-06-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop
Year of Publication: 2011
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 232
First Line: "We were the last seven kids waiting around to get picked up from Tattawa Regional High School."
Summary: Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially with distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision. . . .

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: This book was harder to read emotionally than I expected it to be. I don't know if this is because I lived through the ice storm of '08 and a bunch of other bad snow-related weather, but it was kind of rough in spots. The book does not have a "14 & up" note or anything, but if you are a younger teen, it might be wise to hold of on reading this, especially if you don't handle tough stuff and pressure well. That said, it was mostly well-written and Northrop did a good job of making the reader attached to some characters and less so to others, which makes the ending easier. That said, the very ending, I felt, was inconclusive and did not really resolve the entire plot. This is a sort of near-miss book. I almost really liked it, just not quite. It might be different for others, though, so it may be worth a read for you.

Worst part: Some of the stuff did not really make sense, logistically. It was nothing glaringly obvious, but something did not quite fit, which was frustrating. Plus the inconclusive ending was annoying.

Best part: The idea for this really interested me, being a native New Englander myself. (I don't know that it's super original, given the amount of "apocalyptic" YA fiction right now [Life As We Knew It, The Dead and the Gone, Gone, Lies, Plague, etc.])

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: Gentlemen

17 / 100 books. 17% done!

Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi

2011-06-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Gamer Girl
Author: Mari Mancusi
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 248
First Line: "Grandma's house was a study of crystal and glass and contained 1,153 unicorns."
Summary: Maddy's life: not so rockin'. Her parents split, she's stuck in a new, small town at a school full of Aberzombies and Haters, she has a crush on someone she really shouldn't like, and she's stuck with the nickname Freak Girl. Sometimes it's enough to retreat into her drawing -- her manga is totally important to her -- but when she gets Fields of Fantasy for her birthday, she knows she's found the one place she can be herself. In the game world, Maddy can transform from regular outcast high school student to Allora, a beautiful Elfin princess with magical powers to take down enemies with a snap of her fingers and a wave of her wand.

As Allora, Maddy's virtual life is perfect, and she even finds a little romance. But a real gamer girl understands that real life comes first -- Maddy can't escape from her IRL problems. She has to find ways to kick back at the Haters, rock her manga, and find the new, real-life friends she knows she deserves.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: (Apologies ahead of time for the short review -- my hands are freezing!) Like Mancusi's other novels, I was disappointed and somewhat offended by this book. Mancusi takes a very superficial view of all teenagers -- especially so-called "goths." While the main character claims to be anti-label, etc., she is in fact quite the opposite, calling herself at one point a "goth." She also basically says that having a major crush on Edward Cullen makes you a goth and also a punk rocker. (Sorry, Mancusi, Cullen =\= punk rock. Trust me. Go listen to the Clash or something.) She also does this in other novels I've read. One of the main plots of the story was so predictable, I had it figured out by page 30 or something, so, while I do like to "outsmart" authors, I felt cheated on this one. She didn't even make me chase it a little. That said, it was an interesting idea, but could have been executed much better. Also, it was incredibly annoying to have a character named Chad Murray, as I could not picture anyone but Chad Michael Murray.

Worst part: The superficiality and labeling, etc. was really annoying and, in some ways and cases, offensive (seriously, not all teenagers act like that and I know that my high school did not have some crazy hierarchy with cheerleaders and football studs at the top of the pyramid).

Best part: The idea was pretty interesting. I don't see a lot about MCs who are into manga and, while I'm not, I have friends who are so it's nice to see them represented.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: The Blood Coven Series, Razor Girl, Moongazer, News Blues, Karma Kitty Goes to Comic Con, and Zombiewood Confidential

16 / 100 books. 16% done!

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

2011-06-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Bitter End
Author: Jennifer Brown
Year of Publication: 2011
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 356
First Line: "If I had to describe my best friend, Bethany, in one word, it would be persistent."
Summary: He'd never told me he loved me before.

Nobody had ever told me they loved me before.

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole -- a handsome, funny sports star who adores her -- she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate...someone who truly loves and understands her.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend Zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? As the months pass, though, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, and increasingly violent threats.

As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose -- between her "true love" and herself.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: I am very often interested in books about teenage relationship abuse. I don't know why. Those that I have read on the subject so far have all been well written and this one is not an exception. I loved all the characters in the book and it was all written realistically. I found Bethany and Zack to be especially realistic with how they deal with Alex's situation. I also enjoyed the character of Alex's manager where she works. I don't know that I liked that she didn't have a mother, but this could just be because for the last four books I've reviewed, there was an orphan or half-orphan as the main character, so it feels incredibly cliche at this point. All-in-all I enjoyed this. It was a quick read and worth it.

Worst part: While I loved Zack, he was kind of an idiot.

Best part: I liked that Alex was a writer. I know that some authors avoid writing about writers because some people consider it "desperate" but I think they forget that a lot of their readers are writers and readers like to read about people like them, therefore they like to read about writers.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: Hate List

15 / 100 books. 15% done!

Ivy by Julie Hearn

2011-06-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Ivy
Author: Julie Hearn
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Historical
Pages: 355
First Line: "When she was born her father took one look at her and spat into a corner."
Summary: Ivy is used to being overlooked. The youngest in a family of thieves, scoundrels, and roustabouts, the girl with the flame-colored hair and odd-colored eyes is declared useless by her father from the day she is born. But that's only if you look at her but don't see. Fore Ivy has a quality that makes people take notice. It's more than beauty -- and it draws people toward her.

Which makes her the perfect subject for an aspiring painter named Oscar Aretino Frosdick. Oscar is dtermined to make his mark on the art world, with Ivy as his model and muse. But behind Ivy's angelic looks lurk dark secrets and a troubled past -- a past that has given her an unfortunate addiction to a dangerous drug. And when treachery and jealousy surface in the Eden that is the artist's garden, Ivy must learn to be more than a pretty face if she is to survive.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: I was drawn into this book from the beginning but as it went on, I became less interested. Ivy's character is not very interesting. In fact, there are other characters I'd prefer the book to be centered on because they were more interesting than the main character. This, as you can imagine, as a failing. Despite that, the novel is written with an air of knowledge and it's clear that the research was well done for this historical novel. I appreciated this immensely as it is something I struggle with in my own writing. The dialect was fairly consistent, which helped to keep it from being jarring. The story was interesting but I think parts of the plot were kind of forgotten at different parts of the book and then ignored for the rest. The end was somewhat strange and kind of confusing. I was not really sure where the author got the idea to end it like that, as there was nothing leading up to it suggesting it would end that way and not in a good way.

Worst part: How the second half of the book had less quality than the first.

Best part: The idea was really interesting and I appreciated the note after the novel that explained where the idea came from.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: The Minister's Daughter and Sign of the Raven

14 / 100 books. 14% done!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2011-06-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 471
First Line: "In these dungeons the darkness was complete, but Katsa had a map in her mind."
Summary: In a world where people born with an extreme skill -- called a Grace -- are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace -- or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: I had a hard time with this book, probably mostly because it dealt so much with politics. In addition to that, I did not find the characters especially compelling or unique. The book did pick up about half-way through, but until then I struggled with even wanting to finish it. I was disappointed in the ending and the fates of some characters, though I suppose I should have seen it coming. I know some people who love this book, but I would not recommend it myself.

Worst part: The book dragged, especially in the first half.

Best part: I guess the whole idea was kind of cool but it wasn't executed well.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: None.

13 / 100 books. 13% done!

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

2011-06-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz
Author: A.S. King
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 323
First Line: "Before I died, I hid my secrets in the Master Oak."
Summary: Is it okay to hate a dead kid? Even if I loved him once? Even if he was my best friend? Is it okay to hate him for being dead?

Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone -- the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? does she even want to?

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: I really enjoyed this book. Each character was well-rounded and three-dimensional, the dialogue was realistic. There was not a lot of dialogue, but the non-dialogue parts were written in a way that made it easier for me to read. I found this book was a lot like John Green's books, especially Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns. This book is totally different from King's other novel, The Dust of 100 Dogs which was also excellent. It's difficult to say a lot about it without giving much away, but it is definitely worth the time it took to read it and I highly recommend it.

Worst part: The ending did not explode quite as much as it should have but it was still enjoyable.

Best part: Vera's character was very well done, as was her dad's.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Dust of 100 Dogs

12 / 100 books. 12% done!

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-06-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction/Futuristic Fiction/Science Fiction/Dystopian Fiction
Pages: 366
First Line: "Now that I've found the way to fly, which direction should I go into the night?"
Summary: 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 on 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 to follow -- between perfection and passion.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: Like I've heard suggested before, I will confirm that this novel is a lot like Lois Lowry's The Giver. I found the organization to be kind of strange. I did not feel particularly drawn to any of the characters, but they weren't unlikable, either. To have not read this would not have been a great loss. It is nothing spectacular, it is not horrific, it's just there. Probably worth the read if you like dystopian societies.

Worst part: How random things sometimes seemed.

Best part: The situation concerning death in the Society was interesting.

Grade: B-

Other Books by This Author: Freshman for President, Being Sixteen, Yearbook, First Day, Reunion, and (the sequel to Matched) Crossed

11 / 100 books. 11% done!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

2011-06-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Revolution
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction/Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Pages: 472
First Line: "Those who can, do."
Summary: 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 at 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 of Paris, Alexandrine's words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: While I had tried to read A Northern Light in the past, I found it uninteresting. However, this novel by the same author is much more enjoyable. Funnily enough, (although it may have been intentional because of the subject matter) it is in some ways like A Tale of Two Cities, in the intricate web of plots and how they are connected. Each character is strong and individual, but still realistic. Some things seemed a little melodramatic but it was in a way that was realistic.

Worst part: The fantasy bit. It didn't seem to fit well with the rest of the novel.

Best part: The way the romantic interest was introduced.

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: None, but there is another coming out in 2012 called Live Through This.

10 / 100 books. 10% done!

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

2011-05-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Minor spoilers.

Title: Halo
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 484
First Line: "Our arrival didn't exactly go as planned."
Summary: Three angels -- Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human -- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angels' mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: There wasn't anything terribly special about this novel. I found the main character's voice to be strong and somewhat unique. I was impressed to know that the author, Alexandra Adornetto, is only 18 and was first published when she was 14, according to the author biography at the back of the book. The general plot was fairly predictable. I found it was difficult to connect with any of the characters, Bethany included. Unfortunately, the book ended without tying everything up and even started a new conflict on the last page. This book could have done without a sequel, and I'm not sure I'm interested in reading the sequel.

Worst part: Molly, Bethany's friend, wasn't likable at all.

Best part: The concept was interesting, though I could have been executed better.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: None available in the US as of right now.

9 / 100 books. 9% done!

Freefall by Mindi Scott

2011-05-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Title: Freefall
Author: Mindi Scott
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 315
First Line: "This was Daniel's deal."
Summary: Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend, Isaac, alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time when Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn't wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend's death, Seth is torn between turning his life around. . .or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own and Seth will soon realize he isn't the only one who needs saving. . . .

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: This book was kind of like a light-hearted version of Looking for Alaska by John Green. And it was also like Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl. Scott's style is fairly conversational, and I think, like all books like this one, it was best in first-person and could not have been done well in any other point of view. I found most of the characters to be interesting and well-rounded, although Daniel's character could have been done better. The ending was very much like a movie, which I wasn't a fan of, but at the same time, I understood that there weren't a whole lot of ways to end this book. All in all, not bad, but I don't think it's something I'd rush to read again.

Worst part: Daniel.

Best part: Everything that happened was super realistic and things came naturally.

Grade:

Other Books by This Author: None, but there is another coming out in 2012 called Live Through This.

8 / 100 books. 8% done!

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

2011-05-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Beatle Meets Destiny
Author: Gabrielle Williams
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 336
First Line: "John Lennon was named John Lennon after John Lennon."
Summary: Imagine your name is John Lennon but everyone calls you Beatle.

And then you meet your dream girl, and her name is Destiny McCartney.

But you meet her on Friday the 13th -- and you're very superstitious. Not to mention that you're already dating the perfect girl, who happens to be your twin sister's best friend. . . .

Beatle can't imagine ever leaving his girlfriend, Cilla, who supported him after the stroke that changed his life and left him with a limp. Still, he knows that the only thing worse than staying with the wrong person is missing the chance to be with the right one.

Source: Back/Inside of book

Review: I was kind of surprised at the lack of actual Beatles-related stuff in this book, but at the same time, I guess I'm kind of glad it wasn't really included because it would have been so obvious. (Although if you're looking for a book that has more Beatles stuff, read Pepperland.) Williams' style wasn't anything special. In fact, I found the style itself a little bland and sometimes difficult to pay attention to. That said, it was a quick read that was fun, "brainless," and easy. Not sure I'd recommend it to younger teens because of some references, but it's nothing horrendously graphic or anything. As far as characters go, I felt Destiny was very contradicting. She came across as one way through Beatle's perception, but then when we "saw" her acting, it was totally different. To fix that, I might've done this (or preferred it, rather) in first-person rather than third. In any case, it was pretty good and worth the time I spent reading it.

Worst part: The style.

Best part: The concept. But like I said, I would've liked a little more Beatles stuff.

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: There is another, though I can't find the title. It was not a YA-novel.

7 / 100 books. 7% done!

A New Blog

2011-04-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

In honor of NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month), I have started a blog on which I will collect all of my poetry. There are thirty or so poems that I have written since August up there now. All of them are raw and unedited, so don't expect great quality. Comments and critiques are always appreciated and I will continue to update after NaPoWriMo.

The link is below. Enjoy and happy reading!

http://aprotestagainstdeath.blogspot.com/

Finding Lubchenko by Michael Simmons

2011-04-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of paragraphs, guys. The HTML is being funky. I'll fix it when I can. No Spoilers. Title: Finding Lubchenko Author: Michael Simmons Year of Publication: 2005 Genre: Fiction Pages: 280 First Line: "So this is basically a story about a murder." Summary: "Let me offer a preliminary description of myself. I was a poor kid trapped in the surroundings of great wealth and oppulence." So says Evan Macalister, the slacker anti-hero of Michael Simmon's new novel. Since his tightfisted millionaire father never gives him any money, Evan "liberates" equipment from Dad's business and sells it online. But when a man is murdered at the office and Mr. Macalister is accused of the crime, Evan is faced with a terrible dilemma. he alone can clear his father's name -- but only by revealing his own theft operation. And then he'll be grounded forever. There's just one thing to do: find the real murderer himself. Armed only with a cryptic e-mail from someone named Lubchenko, Evan sets off on a quest that catapults him and his two best frineds into a world of danger and international intrigue. Source: Back of book Review: Another reviewer, Jen Robinson, compared this book to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and I think that's a great analogy. She examines this analgoy a bit more closer (and I recommend reading her review, especially after you read the book, but before is fine, too) and makes it really interesting. In any case, this story is slow-moving in the first half then quickly pick sup the pace and moves too fast for the second half. However, the story is interesting and, especially in the climax, almost overly-complicated. That said, I reccomend this to older teens because of that. Besides this, the voice of Evan is very strong and the book comes off as someone is telling you this story, rather than you are reading it in a book. It makes it personal and interesting for the reader, and it is easy to relate to Evan, even though he's unlike anyone you've ever met. Worth the time it took to read, but nothing absolutely spectacular, despite the clever witicisms and general idea. Worst part: The odd pacing was frustrating. Best part: Characters were pretty well developed for the kind of novel it was. Grade: B Other Books by This Author: The Rise of Lubchenko

6 / 100 books. 6% done!

Lucky T by Kate Brian

2011-03-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

No Spoilers.

Title: Lucky T
Author: Kate Brian
Year of Publication: 2005
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 291
First Line: "On a warm and sunny Saturday morning, Carrie Fitzgerald stepped out of her walk-in closet wearing a lime green miniskirt."
Summary: Some girls have all the luck. So far, Carrie Fitzgerald's sixteen years have been pretty sweet. Straight A's, an adorable boyfriend, a starting position on the varsity basketball team. . .

But Carrie's luck is about to, well, change.

Suddenly, her boyfriend dumps her (to "hang out with his friends"), she and her best friend have a massive blowout, and she gets a D on a biology test. Carrie knows what's wrong -- her mom accidentally donated her lucky T-shirt to Help India. That one adorable, perfect T-shirt was the source of all her good fortune.

So Carrie does what any girl would do: she's going to India. Cross your finger sand hope that Carrie finds adventure, love, and maybe just a little good luck along the way. . . .
Source: Back of book

Review: A bit slow in some places. I previously read Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys which is also by Brian and enjoyed that more than this novel. This is a cute and fun read, but not challenging in any way. I expect this would be the same for any age reading it. The novel was missing something that I can't quite put my finger on that made it just an "okay" book (or even a step below "just okay"). Furthermore, I found the fact that she would go to India to find this shirt incredibly unrealistic. While the summary on the back of the book addresses that with a sort of joke, I found it too implausible for a "realistic" novel which made it less enjoyable as a whole. Despite this, I found her character otherwise (especially her flip-flopping) to be very real and believable.

Worst part: The pace kind of jumped all over. It was weird and jolting.

Best part: I liked everything to do with Doreen.

Grade: C-

Other Books by This Author: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys, The Princess and the Pauper.

5 / 100 books. 5% done!

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

2011-02-19T13:37:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Return to Paradise
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 291
First Line: "Some people are damn lucky."
Summary: Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She was determined to make a new life for herself.

But now Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

Source: Back of book

Review: Although most of Elkeles' books have a basic formula to them, each of them manages to be individual. They are wonderful books and this one was just as good. Her characters are entertaining but also real and easy to relate to. I love her stories and plots and her dialogue is wonderful.

Worst part: This one was not long enough for me. I wanted more.

Best part: The characters.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction, Leaving Paradise, and others.

4 / 100 books. 4% done!

Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowski

2011-02-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Fishbowl
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Year of Publication: 2002
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 360
First Line: "Allison, Jodine and Emma are going to set their apartment on fire."
Summary: Allison can't wait for Jodine and Emma to move in to her apartment -- until she realizes having roommates means living in a fishbowl. You are never alone. When one small, sightly accidental fire leads to one big repair bill, all efforts to avoid each other are finally abandoned: They've got to raise money. . .fast ("Insurance? You mean you have to pay for that?"). This means joining forces. Bonding? Well, at least they're talking to each other!

Amazingly, they agree on a plan: shamelessly exploit their conbined expertise on the male species for hard cash. Tactics: sell tickets to their swanky soirees and How To Pick Up Women seminars. . . . But their grand scheme sweeps away any last shreds of privacy with startling consequences. Now that they're forced to take a long hard look at themselves, Allie, Jodine and Emma's lives -- and budding friendship -- are about to change in ways they never imagined.

Source: Back of book

Review: Just as with Milkrun, Mlynowski captures the 20-something female voice spectacularly, except this time her characters have a little more life and personality to them. Part of what makes this novel so interesting is her ability to show characters through the eyes of other characters. This totally changes your perspective on how you see each of them, and makes for an all-the-more interesting conflict. The story is hilarious and the boys are fantastic. A great book to share with friends!

Worst part: I think some of the characters (Jodine's boy, for example) were somewhat underdeveloped.

Best part: The general cleverness of the book. The last page blew me away, and the title does too, after you've read it.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Milkrun

3 / 100 books. 3% done!

Milkrun by Sarah Mlynowski

2011-02-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Milkrun
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Year of Publication: 2001
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 281
First Line: "Jerk. Jerk, jerk, jerk."
Summary: Of all the ways to find myself Single Again, this has to be the worst. A "Dear Jackie" e-mail from my supposed boyfriend, who claimed to be "finding himself" in Thailand. Instead, he's found someone else. And dumped me.

But I, Jackie Norris, will bounce back! I will become Crazy Dating Girl and prove to Jilting Jeremy that I am over him! One snag: Why do all the guys I meet either have groping hands, lunatic tendencies or a worrying interest in putting up shelves? I need a man who wants to rip my clothes off, feed me pizza, then have stimulating, intelligent conversation.

Single in Boston -- c'mon, there has to be someone!

Source: Back of book

Review: I love Mlynowski's voice. She is great at capturing 20-something city girls and her stories are creative and memorable. I felt she left the end of the story (as in the tying up) a little too late in the book (like, last page late), but in general I like how she ended it. I would love to see a sequel of this one, although I don't expect one.

Worst part: I'm not sure how I felt about the room mate character. She could have been done better.

Best part: Mlynowski's voice!

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: Fishbowl

2 / 100 books. 2% done!

New Blog

2011-02-18T12:03:00.001-08:00

Hello.

I wanted to invite all readers and writers to take a look at my new blog, A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, or, http://worth10k.blogspot.com/. More information can be found on the blog. I encourage you to read through it.

Also, I have read several books but simply have not had the time to review them. They will be up as soon as possible. Some of those books to be looking out for are. . .

The Collected Poetry of Sylvia Plath - Sylvia Plath (ed. Ted Hughes)
Milkrun - Sarah Mlynowski
Fishbowl - Sarah Mlynowski
Return to Paradise - Simone Elkeles

Keep an eye out for new posts soon!

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

2011-01-31T16:40:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: P.S. I Love You
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Year of Publication: 2004
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 470
First Line: "Holly held the blue cotton sweater to her face and the familiar smell immediately struck her, an overwhelming grief knotting her stomach and pulling at her heart."
Summary: Holly and Gerry are the kind of perfectly happy married couple that others envy. Then, at the age of thirty, Gerry is diagnosed with a terrible illness. Months after Gerry's death, Holly receives a package of letters that he's left for her, instructing her to perform a series of unexpected tasks. with the help of the letters -- and her fun, quick-witted girlfriends and a raucously endearing family that smothers, loves, and drives her crazy -- Holly wobbles, weaves, and jokes her way toward a new life, even larger than the one that she's been forced to leave behind.

Source: Back of book

Review: Not quite as romantic as I expected. The characters were fairly colorful, but I felt that they weren't really real. I think the story might have been better if it had been told in first person rather than third, as it was. The concept was interesting, and I understand Ahern wrote the story to deal with the possibility of grief and losing a loved one, but I'm not sure it would help those who are looking to deal with grief.

Worst part: The end was disappointing.

Best part: I like that she did not characterize Gerry a whole lot and let the reader fill in a lot of the blanks for him.

Grade: B-

Other Books by This Author: Love, Rosie; If You Could See Me Now; and There's No Place Like Home

1 / 100 books. 1% done!

Rules of Attracton by Simone Elkeles

2010-12-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simne Elkeles
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: YA
Pages: 324
First Line: "I want to live life on my own terms."
Summary: 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 he feels completely out of place. He's even more 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.

Source: Back of book

Review: I love this series. I understand a third one is going to be coming out and I absolutely plan on reading it. Elkeles is really good at getting into the heads of her characters and does a great job giving each of them personality. This may not be the Great American Novel, but it is really entertaining and generally wonderful to read.

Worst part: The whole Michael thing was kind of odd. It could have been dealt with differently, I think.

Best part: Elkeles is great at creating chemistry between her characters.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Perfect Chemistry, Leaving Paradise, Return to Paradise, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, How to Ruin My Teenage Life, and How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation.

75 / 50 books. 150% done!

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

2010-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Spells
Author: Aprylynne Pike
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 359
First Line: "Laurel stood in front of the cabin,scanning the treeline, her throat constricting in a rush of nerves."
Summary: Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life -- and especially her boyfriend, David -- to return to the faerie world.

But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice -- a choice that could break her heart.

Source: Back of book

Review: I don't think Spells was any better or worse than Wings. It was just a (below-) mediocre book. Pike has a lot of opportunities to really improve this series, but she makes other decisions. I'm not a fan of the whole trolls thing, but they're obviously a big part of the story. The characters in the novel could also be more interesting. Most of them come across as very generic and without personality. In many ways, this series is like Twilight, where the book is certainly not any great literary achievement, but it accomplishes what it sets out to accomplish -- it is entertainment for young teenage girls and nothing more. I'm not sure this book moved along the central plot all that much as far as the series as a whole goes, but parts of it were still fun and if you plan on reading the entire series, you should read this as well.

Worst part: I'm not a fan of David. I dislike most of the characters, but something about David really bothers me.

Best part: Anything that took place in Avalon was cool, except for the whole tree thing.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: Wings and Illusions

74 / 50 books. 148% done!

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

2010-12-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Anastasia's Secret
Author: Susanne Dunlap
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: YA, historical fiction
Pages: 330
First Line: "We are surrounded by guards."
Summary: For Anastasia Romanova, life as the privileged daughter of Russia's last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. Yet even while the rebels debate the family's future with agonizing slowness, and while the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of a love that exists in secret be enough to save Anastasia from a tragic fate?

Source: Back of book

Review: So the Romanovs totally interest me. But it seems all the fiction books I read about them are unimpressive and, in some ways, annoying. This book moved particularly slowly and I considered giving up several times. I found Anastasia to be a somewhat generic (maybe stronger than the average character, but...) character which was irritating. I did like the details which Dunlap included which she claimed, in the author's note, were as exact as she could manage. She also provided a link to a site which is supposed to have a lot of information on the Romanovs. I have yet to check it out. The book definitely could have been better. Very little happened throughout. When things were happening, I felt it was very understated and made it feel like nothing was happening at all. Not sure I would recommend this one.

Worst part: The pace almost killed me.

Best part: The historical and character details included in the book were interesting and well-placed without seeming forced.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: The Musician's Daughter.

73 / 50 books. 146% done!

The Devouring by Simon Holt

2010-12-29T21:34:00.000-08:00

Minor spoilers.

Title: The Devouring
Author: Simon Holt
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA
Pages: 231
First Line: "On Sorry Night, just a few days before Christmas, you have to snuff the lamps, douse the flames in the fireplace, and spend the night in the cold and dark."
Summary: The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.

When dark creeps in and eats the light,
Bury your fears on Sorry Night.
For in the winter's blackest hours
Comes the feasting of the Vours.
No one can see it, the life they stole,
Your body's here but not your soul...

Source: Back of book

Review: The first-half of this book was better than the second-half. I found it interesting that other characters seemed to perceive a relationship between Regina and Aaron, but I did not see it that way at all. I was much more interested in the fantasy side of the book, as opposed to the horror side. I once tried reading The Demonata Lord Loss by Darren Shan and was almost immediately turned off by the gore. This one was similar towards the end, but because of the more fantastical element, I was able to read through the end (and might read the rest of the series, if only for Aaron, who reminds me of myself in several ways). I wasn't really able to relate to Regina's character very well, but I think a lot of her personality is a result of the situation with her mother. There were parts of the story which were not tied up or explained to begin with very well, but I expect they will be in the sequels. Nothing spectacular, but good enough to finish.

Worst part: I was disappointed the only part of the book The Devouring in the book we got to see was in the beginning. I would have liked more "entries" throughout the book.

Best part: The characterization of the Vour in Henry was very well done.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: Soulstice and Fearscape.

72 / 50 books. 144% done!

But Is It Garbage? by Stephen L. Hamelman

2010-12-06T18:55:00.001-08:00

Spoilers. . .but it's nonfiction.

Title: But Is It Garbage?
Author: Stephen L. Hamelman
Year of Publication: 2004
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 272
First Line: "American culture is trash culture."
Summary: Hamelman says that "analysis of rock as trash is needed because it reveals a fundamental yet complex interrelationship between trash, both literal and figurative . . and rock music and culture." Given that premise, one might expect lively discussions of Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, and George Clinton, whose lyrics revel in life's trashy aspects. One would be disappointed, however. Hamelman instead lavishes attention on the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, and their hoary chroniclers, the likes of Dave Marsh and Greil Marcus. Hamelman apparently suffers from the view that most of the most important rock was produced by bands popular in the late 1960s, and he oddly avoids black rock other than Hendrix's. If you can forgive that attitude, that sin of omission, and Hamelman's overwhelming fascination with Lou Reed's Berlin (thank Jah it's not Metal Machine Music), Hamelman's framework for discussing rock's cultural appeal makes for a fairly worthwhile book.

Source: Amazon.com

Review: Written by professor of English at Coastal Carolina University and drummer Steven L. Hamelman, But Is It Garbage?: On Rock and Trash explores the connection between rock ‘n’ roll music, lyrics, and lifestyle, and literal, tangible trash. The piece comes in three parts: Trashed, Wasted, and Saved. Each of these sections explains how lyrics, musical style, musician’s attitudes and lifestyles, and the disposability of the media on which the music is released reflect trash culture, particularly of the United States.

Much of “Trashed,” the largest and opening section in the book, discusses the literally disposable and wasteful natures of the media on which rock ‘n’ roll is and has been recorded. Hamelman cites records (and their tendency to warp, thus becoming useless), cassette tapes (and how often the tape is “eaten” by a player), and CDs (which, while fairly durable compared to the former media listed, are wasteful in packaging). The author includes statistics which illustrate how wasteful the packaging of CDs is, as well as pointing out how the consumerism of America results in rock ‘n’ roll being produced at uneconomical rates and quantities, thus creating even more waste.

In “Trashed,” Hamelman profiles songs as well as artists, as he creates a list of “Top Trash Forty,” listed in chronological order. Some of these songs include Sewer Trout’s “Garbage,” Korn’s “Trash,” and Marilyn Manson’s “Disposable Teens.” Helman admits this list does not include every trash-related song, but offers forty songs with a brief illustration of each song and their context. When speaking of specific artists, much of the author’s focus is on Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground. Hamelman also concentrates largely on the Beatles, spending a length of the text on the members’ opinion on their music – often, unsurprisingly, believing it is “trash.” John Lennon specifically is said to have trashed not only his own work, but also that of Paul McCartney, even in McCartney’s solo work. The quality of the music as well as its tendency to not last in the case of any rock ‘n’ roll artist is, according to Hamelman, essential to the trash culture which surrounds the genre and its many subgenres.

In the second section titled “Wasted,” Hamelman explores the “wasted” lives of rock ‘n’ roll, including Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain. He explains how their talent was wasted as both, among others, died at young ages before, he argues in Hendrix’s case, the peak of success and talent had been reached. Both artists, as well as others who ended similarly, would have gone on to create even more artistically significant works, had they not died so young, thus their talent was wasted. Throughout this section, Hamelman also points out to readers that death is a common theme in the lyrics of rock ‘n’ roll. The theme of death is also related to trash culture as death and decay are often considered to be the same thing and anything that is decaying must be waste, according to mainstream culture.

Finally, in “Saved,” Hamelman discusses the artistic merit of many of the rock ‘n’ roll performers he spoke of in previous sections. One instance he mentions is how one teacher “incorporated” Rage Against the Machine into lessons on The Grapes of Wrath. He compares some rock ‘n’ roll artists to well-known and respected composers and novelists. Much of this section also discusses the similarities of “Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament,” a short story by Willa Cather, and the characteristics of rock ‘n’ roll, thus drawing the conclusion that rock ‘n’ roll is more or less designed for adolescents, as Paul, who exhibits many of the same characteristics, is an adolescent. Hamelman also points out how just as Paul was saved by art – the story was written before the time of rock ‘n’ roll – so were many of the rock ‘n’ roll artists including Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Patti Smith, and Keith Richards.

Hamelman’s study of rock ‘n’ roll and its relation to garbage is a thorough, academic piece. Hamelman avoids using “et cetera,” making his lists as complete as possible and explains the rock ‘n’ roll and garbage conceit as fully as possible. His argument is clear as is his process. Readers will find themselves thinking about the work’s implications and what Hamelman’s arguments mean for the future of rock ‘n’ roll. Readers familiar with today’s music and technology should question what iTunes and similar non-physical music media means for the trash culture, or what covering – and therefore recycling – songs fits into Hamelman’s thesis, in order to make the piece all the more thought-provoking.

Worst part: I felt the argument was a little far-fetched.

Best part: Despite that it was far-fetched, the idea was really original.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: None.

71 / 50 books. 142% done!

My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr

2010-12-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: My Heartbeat
Author: Garret Freymann-Weyr
Year of Publication: 2002
Genre: YA
Pages: 154
First Line: "It's after midnight when I hear James leave."
Summary: Ellen loves Link and James. Her older brother and his best friend are the only company she ever wants. She knows they fight, but she makes it a policy never to take sides. She loves her brother,the math genius and track star. She is totally madly in love with James, his long eyelashes and hidden smiles. "When you grow out of it," James teases her, "you will break my heart."

Then someone at school asks if Link and James might be in love with each other. A simple question. But the answer is far from simple, and its repercussions affect their entire lives.

Source: Back of book

Review: While this book got off to a somewhat slow start, I really loved all of the characters and the plot. Everything was very realistic and I enjoyed the relationships between the characters. Freymann-Weyr's simplistic writing style reflects her characters' age, but she still manages to make profound observances that make readers of all ages think. This book will not bother those squeamish with gay topics -- it is addressed in a way that is not graphic or anything else (at least in terms of same-sex relationships). A simple concept that makes for an interesting and heartfelt story.

Worst part: I felt Link was slightly underdeveloped.

Best part: I loved James. His character was by far the most interesting.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: When I Was Older, The Kings Are Already Here, Stay With Me, After The Moment, Pretty Girls and French Ducks in Venice.

70 / 50 books. 140% done!

What I Wore to Save the World by Maryrose Wood

2010-11-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

Major spoilers for the first two books in the summary.

Title: What I Wore to Save the World
Author: Maryrose Wood
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 276
First Line: "'And so, in the immortal words of Polonius--'"
Summary: Senior year's coming up fast and I still have no clue about college or a career -- the whole rest-of-my-life thing is basically a blank. Maybe it's because I spent this year obsessing about Colin, the hot Irish guy I fell for last summer (that was right around the time I discovered that I'm a half-goddess from the days of Irish lore -- trust me, you had to be there). I even saved Colin from a nasty enchantment, but he doesn't know that. Colin doesn't believe in magic, not even a little.

But now a mysterious message has reunited me with Colin, who turns out to be caught up in the biggest faery-made disaster ever. We're talking the end of reality, and I don't mean reality TV. To save the world, I'm going to have to tell Colin the truth about my half-goddess mojo. But if he doesn't believe in magic, how will he ever believe in me?

Source: Back of book

Review: Better than the second, not as good as the first. I feel like a large part of the plot was missing because the plot-arc did not flow well. I still love Colin and Wood's writing style is unique -- though I don't know if I like it or not. Pick up the first book for something fun to read and then pick up the sequels if you're still interested.

Worst part: Whatever that missing piece was.

Best part: I liked the whole three crowns thing a lot.

Grade: B-

Other Books by This Author: Why I Let My Hair Grow Out and How I Found the Perfect Dress.

69 / 50 books. 138% done!

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

2010-10-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: War for the Oaks
Author: Emma Bull
Year of Publication: 1987
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 332
First Line: "By day, the Nicollet Mall winds through Minneapolis like a paved canal."
Summary: Guitarist Eddi McCandry has just dumped her boyfriend and their band when she finds herself running through the Minneapolis night, pursued by a sinister man and a huge, terrifying dog. As she soon discoers, the two creatures are one and the same: a phouka, a faerie being who has chosen Eddi to be the mortal pawn in the age-old war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.

Eddi isn't interested -- but she doesn't have a choice. For more than her own survival is at stake. To save the city -- and man -- that she loves, Eddi must face off against the Dark Queen of the Unseelie Court in the ultimate duel of music and magic.

Source: Back of book

Review: My all-time favorite book. I really don't have anything to say about it. It's brilliant. It's fantastic. I love it. Read it.

Worst part: The dream sequence doesn't work with the rest of the book, I think.

Best part: All of it. It's my favorite -- I can't choose!

Grade: A+

Other Books by This Author: Finder and Bone Dance.

68 / 50 books. 136% done!

Maggie Stiefvater's FOREVER

2010-10-15T17:15:00.001-07:00

Maggie's new book is coming out soon, and you can preorder it! Yay!

I highly recommend doing so, because her books are fantasmible.

Preorder here: http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie

Harry, a History by Melissa Anelli

2010-10-13T10:22:00.001-07:00

Can you have spoilers for a non-fiction book?

Title: Harry, A History
Author: Melissa Anelli
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 334
First Line: "Within twenty-four hours, everyone would know."
Summary: During the brief span of just one decade, hundreds of millions of perfectly ordinary people made history: they became the only ones who would remember what it was like when the Harry Potter saga was still unfinished. What it was like to seek out friends, families, online forums, fan fiction, and podcasts to get a fix between novels. When the potential death of a character was a hotter bet than the World Series. When the unfolding story of a boy wizard changed the way books are read for all time.

And as webmistress of the Leaky Cauldron, one of the most popular Harry Potter sites on the Internet, Melissa Anelli had a front row seat to it all. Whether it was helping Scholastic stop leaks and track down counterfeiters, hosting live PotterCasts at bookstores across the country, or touring to Edinburgh to interview J.K. Rowling personally, Melissa was at the center of the Harry Potter tornado, and nothing about her life would ever be the same.

The Harry Potter books are a triumph of the imagination that did far more than break sales records for all time. They restored the world's sense of wonder and took on a magical life of their own. Now the series has ended, but the story is not over. With remembrances from J.K. Rowling's editors, agents, publicists, fans, and Rowling herself, Melissa Anelli takes us on a personal journey through every aspect of the Harry Potter phenomenon -- from his very first psell to his lasting impact on the way we live and dream.

Source: Back of book

Review: Almost as emotional as reading Deathly Hallows for the first time. I really loved Anelli's style. It was engaging and interesting. Her insight is fantastic and she lived the dream of many Potter fans -- more-or-less befriending J.K. Rowling. As I was fairly young during the entire Potter phenomenon (I was seven or eight when the first book came out), much of this information is new to me or shown in a new light. I really enjoyed this book and it gave a lot of interesting information about the phenomenon as well as the books and J.K. Rowling. Even the parts concerning Anelli's life were interesting and I looked forward to those bits. Definitely worth checking out, even if you aren't (gasp!) a Potter fan.

Worst part: The arriving at the release day and such was kind of abrupt. But I think it's okay to have it this way, because that's how it felt.

Best part: J.K. Rowling's forward was really touching. I really enjoyed it.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: None, but she runs the Leaky Cauldron.

67 / 50 books. 134% done!

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

2010-10-08T12:32:00.002-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: The Bell Jar
Author: Sylvia Plath
Year of Publication: 1963
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 229
First Line: "It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."
Summary:Esther, an A-student from Boston who has won a guest editorship on a national magazine, finds a bewildering new world at her feet. Her New York life is crowded with possibilities, so that the choice of future is overwhelming, but she can no longer retreat into the safety of her past. Deciding she wants to be a writer above all else, Esther is also struggling with the perennial problems of morality, behaviour and identity. In this compelling autobiographical novel, a milestone in contemporary literature, Sylvia Plath chronicles her teenage years - her disappointments, anger, depression and eventual breakdown and treatment - with stunning wit and devastating honesty.

Source: Here

Review: I liked this a lot more than I expected to. I found it to be a lot like The Catcher in the Rye. The style was very similar, and, the more books I read with this style, the more I enjoy it. It's very conversational and simple, but somehow timeless. Plath wrote realistically, taking much from her own life and inserting it into this novel. It's a spectacular book and if you haven't read it, you should.

Worst part: Some of the characters were tough to keep track of. It was a bit like an Austen novel in that way -- I always have a hard time keeping track of characters in books like this.

Best part: The ending worked really well for this book.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Various selections of poetry.

66 / 50 books. 132% done!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

2010-10-08T12:32:00.001-07:00

Minor spoilers.

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 759
First Line: "The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane."
Summary: We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter.

Source: Back of book

Review: Not my favorite in the series, but I still love it. I don't really know how to review this, I mean, it's Harry freakin' Potter (Very Potter Sequel, anyone?) but, yeah. Read it. But read the others first.

Worst part: The switch from tenttenttenttenttenttent to battle!!!!!!! was kind of abrupt.

Best part: J.K. Rowling is a genius. 'Nuff said.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: The entire Harry Potter series.

65 / 50 books. 130% done!

Changeling by Delia Sherman

2010-10-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Limited/Minor Spoilers.

Title: Changeling
Author: Delia Sherman
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 289
First Line: "'Wake up, Neef. Spring cleaning today. Cobwebs to sweep, mice to relocate, turtles to wake up and polish. And you have to clean your room."
Summary: Neef is a changeling, a human baby stolen by fairies and replaced with one of their own. She lives in "New York Between," a Manhattan that exists invisibly, side by side with our own, home to fairies, demons, mermaids, and other creatures of Folk lore. Neef has always been protected by her fairy godmother, Astris (a very lovely white rat), until she breaks a Fairy Law. Now, unless she can meet the challenge of the Green Lady of Central Park, she'll be sacrificed to the bloodthirsty Wild Hunt. Neef is a native New Yorker, and she's determined to beat the rap -- but New York Between is a maze of magic and magical rules, and time is running out....

Source: Back of book

Review: I found this story to be really enjoyable. Unlike a lot of other modern fantasies I've read, it has a very story-teller feel to it. It has all of the elements of a fairly tale (except romance, which, while I was disappointed when I realized there was none at first, I gradually came to accept and even enjoy it as a fresh change). The writing style is very simple, but the text is appropriate for all ages. One of the nice things it that Neef's age is never quite explained. Her counterpart, it seems, is about twelve, but because of the aging difference, it's difficult to say how old Neef is. That way, if you only like to read about characters your age or older, you can easily imagine Neef to be at least fifteen, maybe even seventeen or eighteen (though I wouldn't say beyond that). The characters in this book were a lot of fun, for the most part. I would definitely love to live in Neef's world. I also found the story to be interesting, aside from the beginning, which was fairly slow. Definitely recommended, particularly for very young adults (11+) who are looking for a way to get into larger "chapter books."

Worst part: The only character I really didn't like was the antagonist (the Green Lady). Usually I really like this character in fiction, but I found she wasn't quite what I was used to. Fairly unrefined and with a heavy New York accent (apparently), which I felt was the total opposite of what she should -- and traditionally is -- be.

Best part: I like that the Changeling was made out to have a mental handicap, which could have been a result of -- or the misunderstanding of -- her being one of the Folk.

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: Through a Brazen Mirror, The Porcelain Dove, and The Fall of the Kings.

64 / 50 books. 128% done!

Also, I miss you all! I hope everyone is doing well and having fun at the library! I'll do my best to stop by when I'm home in December, or at least at the end of the school year in May! Keep reading!

Jane Auten in Scarsdale by Paula Marantz Cohen

2010-09-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Jane Austen in Scarsdale (Or Love, Death, and the SATs)
Author: Paula Marantz Cohen
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: Fiction, romance
Pages: 275
First Line: "'So you want your kid to go to Harvard? Or maybe it's Duke or Stanford? Well, I"m gonna tell you how to do it!'"
Summary: Anne Ehrlich is a dedicated guidance counselor steering her high-school charges through the perils of college admission. Thirteen years ago, when she was graduating from Columbia University, her wealthy family -- especially her dear grandmother Winnie -- persuaded her to give up the love of her life, Ben Cutler, a penniless boy from Queens College. Anne has never married and hasn't seen Ben since -- until his nephew turns up in her high school and starts applying to college.

Now Ben is a successful writer, a world traveler, and a soon-to-be married man, and Winnie's health is beginning to fail. These changes have Anne beginning to wonder. . .Can old love be rekindled, or are past mistakes too painful to forget?

Source: Back of book

Review: If you are looking for something actually related to Jane Austen's pieces, this is not it. While the structure, plot, etc. is very like an Austen novel, there are very few mentions of her/her works. After reading the book, I feel like part of the plot was missing -- perhaps something having to do with more insight to Ben and Anne's past. All-in-all it was not a bad read, just something that wasn't great, or necessarily well-planned out in terms of plot. Characters were pretty well-done and I was very satisfied with how Kirsten was dealt with (you will understand if you read). Again, though, if you are looking for something that has a lot to do with Jane Austen, this is not the book for you.

Worst part: That thing the book was lacking -- I have no idea what it was, but it was definitely lacking something.

Best part: Anne was very real to me. Ben, of course, wasn't. But it was nice to have a very real character rather than a Mary-Sue. She did have her Mary-Sue moments, but generally I feel she was a three-dimensional and realistic character.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: What Alice Knew, Jane Austen in Boca, and Much Ado About Jessie Kaplan.

63 / 50 books. 126% done!

The Curse of the Romanovs by Staton Rabin

2010-08-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: The Curse of the Romanovs
Author: Staton Rabin
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: Fantasy, historical fiction, YA
Pages: 271
First Line: "'Mama! Mama! -- it hurts! Please, God! Mama, come kill me!"
Summary: Alexei Romanov, heir to the Russian throne, is in deadly danger.

It's 1916, the struggling Russian people are tired of war and are blaming their Romanov rulers for it, and some are secretly plotting to murder the young heir and his family. But nobody outside the palace knows that Alexei suffers from a terrible bleeding disease, hemophilia, which threatens to finish him off even before the family's enemies can. The only person able to help Alexei is the evil and powerful religious mystic Rasputin -- and now Rasputin is trying to kill him too! Desperate, Alexei flees through time to New York City in 2010, using a method taught to him by the mad monk himself.

In New York, Alexei meets smart and sassy Varda Rosenberg, and discovers she is a distant cousin. Varda is working on a gene therapy cure for hemophilia, as the disease still runs in the family. When Alexei learns that history shows that his entire family will be assassinated in 1918, he and Varda travel back in time to the Russian Revolution, with Rasputin hot on their heels. Will they be able to rescue Alexei's family before it's too late?

Source: Back of book

Review: First, let me just apologize for the typing quality of my last review. Having just copy/pasted to use the template for this review, I saw there were numerous typos. For this I am sorry. Now, the book about which this review is, was not bad. It seemed to take forever to get going but once it did, I was fairly satisfied and interested. Rabin admits to altering many of the historical facts and dates in numerous pieces after the book (which are interesting, for the most part -- if you read this book, read the pieces after the actual story) which was somewhat disappointing to learn, but she does justify many of the alterations with reasons. The book is "rated" for readers 12 years and older, but if you are a parent of a 12-year-old, I may give the book a read through first, just to be sure the child is emotionally ready for it, particularly the pieces after, but the ending of the book as well as other parts sprinkled throughout. It can be a difficult book to read emotionally if the reader becomes attached to the characters. Recommended for those interested in the Romonovs' history.

Worst part: The grandfather complex was not discussed at all. I really felt it should have been.

Best part: The last few parts were very well written (aside from the very end) and definitely served to increase the emotional bond with the characters.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: Betsy and the Emperor and Black Powder

61 / 50 books. 122% done!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

2010-08-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Minor spoilers, if any.

Title: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Author: Rebecca Skloot
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Nonfiction, biography, science
Pages: 328
First Line: "There is a photo on my wall of a woman I've never met, its left corner torn and patched together with tape."
Summary: Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells -- taken without her knowledge -- became one of hte most important tools in medicine. The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If ou could piel all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they'd weight more than 50 million metric tons -- as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb's effects; helped lead to important advances like in virto fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions

Yet Henrietta Lacks remins irtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the "colored" ward of Johns Hopkis Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with greezers full of HeLa cells, from Henrietta's small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia -- a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo -- to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta's family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty years after hder death, when sicentists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliant shows, the story of hte Lacks family -- past and present -- is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

OVer the decade it took to uncovery this story, Rebecca became enmeshed int he lives of the Lacks family -- especially Henrietta's daughter Deborath, who was devastated to learn about her mother's cells. Deborah was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned herm other? Had they kille dher to harvest her cells? And if her mother was so importnat to medicine, why couldn't her children afford health insurance?

Source: Back of book

Review: My first college assignment for Hollins University. Although it was an interesting read, I found myself easily distracted through the first quarter of the book or so. Afterwards, it was difficult to put down, except during the bits concerning law and scientific history, which interested me less than the story of Henrietta herself and her family. Deborah is a very likable person, and Rebecca's narration of her journy with the Lacks makes you feel as if you were there, too. I'm not sure I learned a whole lot from this book -- at least, I'm sure I won't remember much of the technical things. But it was terribily interesting while reading it. Anyone should read this -- black, white, North, South, East, West, male, female (although I have a feeling a woman might get more out of it than a man), this book is really something everyone should read.

Worst part: Definitely the medical/scientific/law history stuff. That didn't keep my attention at all.

Best part: I was particularly interested in Deborah's life, especially as a teenager and the situation involving Galen. I also really liked Bobbette, Deborah's sister-in-law.

Grade: B++

Other Books by This Author: None, but she has written several articles for various publications.

60 / 50 books. 120% done!
So, just a little note, guys. I'm not officially a part of the TAG any more because I'm officially too old -- I'll still be stopping in when I'm in the neighborhood, although it won't be too often, because I will be going to school in Virginia. However, I will still be posting reviews here as I intend to keep reading! I will be majoring in creative writing at Hollins University (for those of you who don't already know) and then getting a master's degree in library science. In any case, I will continue to review as much as possible, partly because I'll be doing it anyway for my personal blog, and partly because no one else does! (But please do, anyway!) Thank you all for reading, if anyone does.

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

2010-08-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Title: Jekel Loves Hyde
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: YA, Science fiction, romance, fantasy, literary
Pages: 282
First Line: "I buried my father the day after my seventeenth birthday."
Summary: Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents' rules -- especially the one about never opening the mysterious old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered and her college savings disappear, this good girl is tempted to peek inside, because the contents just might be the key to winning a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe his life. As things heat up in the lab, though, Jill's accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and will compel her to risk everything -- even Tristen's love -- just for the thrill of being...bad.

Source: Back of book

Review: I really liked this. Saccharine when it came to the romance, but I didn't feel it was in an obnoxious way. Cute and interesting. Well put-together. Jill was maybe slightly crazy for forgiving Tristen so many times, but both characters were fairly human in everything they did. The story was really original, if not a little drawn out in some ways. I felt too many things happened and the book really should have ended about half-way through, but, of course, with the scenes which had already happened, extended. Definitely worth picking up. You don't have to read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to enjoy, but it might give you slightly more insight.

Worst part: Jill was slightly inconsistent in her character and personality. Just enough to notice. But I really felt the whole thing about her being under the potion was kind of unnecessary.

Best part: Okay, seriously -- authors need to stop creating such attractive fictional characters. Unless it becomes possible to make me a fictional character as well. (IE -- I loved Tristen.)

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.

59 / 50 books. 118% done!

Also, congratulations to everyone who participated in the Summer Reading Program, as well as those of you who won a gift certificate! Thanks to Friends of the Derry Public Library!

Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford

2010-08-04T08:23:00.001-07:00

Minor spoilers.

Title: Jane Bites Back
Author: Michael Thomas Ford
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 299
First Line: "It was not, of course, exactly what Jane had written to her sister that long-ago Christmas Eve, but the sentiment was the same."

Summary: Two hundred years after her death, Jane Austen is still surrounded by the literature she loves -- but now it's because she's the owner of Flyleaf Books in a sleepy college town in Upstate New York. Every day she watches her novels fly off the shelves -- along with dozens of unauthorized sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations. Jane may be undead, but her books have taken on a life of their own.

To make matters worse, the manuscript she finished just before being turned into a vampire has been rejected by publishers -- 116 times. Jane longs to let the world know who she is, but when a sudden twist of fate thrusts her back into the spotlight, she must hide he real identity -- and fen doff a dark man from her past while juggling two modern suitors. Will the world's most beloved author b able to keep her cool in this comedy of manners, or will she show everyone what a woman with a sharp wit and an even sharper set of fangs can do?

Source: Back of book

Review: Entertaining. Not a literary masterpiece or anything, but told with an enjoyable style. The second half of the book (maybe the last two-thirds, I'm not sure) were definitely better than its counterpart. Fairly original, aside from the fact that it's about vampires -- it was well executed in that respect, I felt. This is the second book I've read that had Byron as a vampire, though. I couldn't find anything about legends of him being a vampire, so I don't know what's up with that trend. I actually found a quote from him (at least it said it was from him) which said he didn't like the idea of vampires or whatever. In any case, a pretty fun read with decent characters. I'm interested to know how close they are to the real people. Worth a read, and will probably pick up the sequel.

Worst part: Jane's attraction to Kelly felt extraneous and irrelevant. I wish it hadn't been included.

Best part: I felt the bookstore really came to life, especially with Lucy. Also, it was easy to forget that a man had written the book.

Grade: B-

Other Books by This Author: Jane Goes Batty, The Road Home, What We Remember, Suicide Notes, Changing Tides, Full Circle, Looking for It, and Last Summer.

58 / 50 books. 116% done!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

2010-08-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Author: Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Classic, fantasy, humor, romance
Pages: 317
First Line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."

Summary: As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen on the quiet English village of Meryton -- and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers -- and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices or the class-conscious landed gentry?

Source: Back of book

Review: Oh, God. So fantastic. Brilliant. I've read the original at least twice, and I've read all of Austen's other novels, except for Northanger Abbey. And I love this book. It was funny, clever, interesting, and insightful as far as the original goes. I feel like I got a lot more out of this than the original. Granted, I was twelve when I read P&P the first time, but this is so good. A lot of people may feel that it is a sort of defiling or something of Austen's original, but it's really great. I loved this. Definitely worth a read, although I think you'll get more out of it and enjoy it more if you've read the original. I honestly hope this is made into a movie. Also, the discussion questions which follow the novel are hilarious and meant for entertainment; so be sure to check that out as well.

I will note that the characters are slightly different, or at the very least severely exaggerated, in this book. The illustrations even add to that. I feel if this was made into a movie, it would be even more difficult to recognize it as P&P solely because of the differences from the original characters, but they're different in a way that makes it fantastic.

Worst part: There were some lulls in the text that seemed zombie-less and I felt a few places could have used a little more zombie action.

Best part: The idea itself is brilliant but the general execution was wonderful as well.

Grade: A+

Other Books by This Author: Quirk Classics published other books such as Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and Android Karenina.

57 / 50 books. 114% done!

I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

2010-07-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It
Author: Adam Selzer
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy, YA, humor
Pages: 177
First Line: "Watching a vampire make out with an idiot is kind of like going to the farmers' market and noticing just how many farmers have lost fingers in on-the-job accidents."

Summary: Eighteen-year-old Algonquin "Alley" Rhodes doesn't need to watch Twilight to know what it's like to be around vampires. Her school is teeming with them -- along with zombies and werewolves, of course. A few years ago, all the post-humans "came out of the coffin," and now they're just a normal part of life. But the movies don't tell the real story. Real vampires are brooding, self-absorbed jerks who run around acting all emo. That's what Alley thinks, anyway.

Then one night Alley goes to the Cage to review a local band, the Sorry Marios, for her school's blog. Alley's known for her sarcastic wit, and she can't wait to rip apart the band's set. But when a special guest singer, Doug, hits the stage, his soft, crooning voice stops her heart. He seems like a real goth, not like the lame wannabes at her high school. And for the first time, pale skin and black clothing are hot to Alley.

When she and Doug start dating, Alley's so swept off her feet she doesn't suspect anything, despite a few odd signs: he never changes his clothes, his head is a funny shape, and he says practically nothing out loud. Finally, her best friends clue her in: Doug isn't just a really sincere goth. He's a zombie.

Alley knows she has to break up with Dough but soon learns that zombies are awfully hard to get rid of. And the school's vampire clique, a group as tightly knit as the Mafia, has its own plans for Alley's future. will Alley survive her little experiment in dating the undead?

Source: Back of book

Review: A truly amusing book. Not fantastic literature or anything, but a quick and fairly rewarding read, poking fun at pop culture's recent fascination with vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. The ending, while I won't give it away, is more what I wish Meyer had done with the Twilight series. Original and very funny, plus easy to read. I understand, from the author's website, that IKAZAILI has been optioned by Disney for a Disney Channel Original Movie. I imagine that its quality would suit the book well, as it's not worth it for the silver screen, but I'd love to see a film production of this.

Worst part: I felt the vampires were really irrelevant, and thrown in there just for kicks.

Best part: The 1930s references. Considering my own obsession with the era, I was pleased.

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: Get Suspended and Influence People, Pirates of the Retail Wasteland, I Put a Spell on you, Andrew North Blows Up the World and The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History.

53 / 50 books. 106% done!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

2010-07-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Vague spoilers -- some spoilers for the entire Twilight saga.

Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 178
First Line: "The newspaper headline glared at me from a little metal vending machine: SEATTLE UNDER SIEGE -- DEATH TOLL RISES AGAIN."

Summary: Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood...life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certanties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

Source: Back of book

Review: In true Meyer fashion, her characters are below average, as is the writing style. Just like her other novels, however, the story itself is original, creative, and interesting. With this novel, she does a better job at forming the universe which readers missed out on in the Twilight saga. Though I haven't compared the end scene with Bree's scene in Eclipse, I'm curious to. I feel some parts in this were added to the conversation which didn't take place in its mother novel, but I could be wrong. I was very interested in Fred's character and somewhat shocked by Riley's. He is not as I imagined him in Eclipse. The added Volturi plot was very interesting as well. It's a quick read and definitely worth it if you've read the rest of the series. You could even, for the most part, read and understand without having read Twilight. This made me wish Meyer did this for other characters, as well, especially Quil and Claire.

Worst part: The characters were flat as always with Meyer.

Best part: The idea of the story. Meyer is a great story teller. Many people won't admit to it, but it's true. She's great at weaving plot lines -- just not great with characters and the actual words.

Grade: B (almost a B+)

Other Books by This Author: The Host, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and (the failure of all enders), Breaking ~~Dawn~~ Fail.

52 / 50 books. 104% done!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-07-05T18:24:00.001-07:00

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 323
First Line: "Felicia Miller was crying in the bathroom. Again."

Summary: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father -- an elusive European warlock -- only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries start to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Source: Back of book

Review: So, really, this book was scattered, and basically everything was stolen from Harry Potter. Sophie managed to be a mix of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as she was the main character and living in an unconventional family situation (Harry), was teased by everyone (Ron), and always went to books for help (Hermione). Aside from that, there was the whole bathroom scene, quite like HPatCoS, plus all the ghosts, one of which reminded me of Moaning Myrtle. I won't say I was disappointed in this, because I hadn't had a lot of faith in it to begin with, but seriously, it was blech. Not really worth the time or effort, in my opinion.

Worst part: None of it seemed to be original.

Best part: There were some characters, such as the faeries and some shapeshifters, that I liked, but they weren't in the book much. I also liked that the school was located on Graymalkin Island. I'm not sure how many people got that Macbeth reference, though.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: No others at the moment, it seems.

51 / 50 books. 102% done!

Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum

2010-07-01T20:29:00.001-07:00

Some spoilers.

Title: Zombie Haiku
Author: Ryan Mecum
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Poetry, sci-fi/fantasy
Pages: 139
First Line: "To whoever might find this, my name is Chris Lynch, and I'm pretty sure I'm dying."

Summary: What you hold in your hands is a document from the early days of the zombie plague. Little is known about the author before his infection -- only that he was a poet. This facsimile of his actual journal recounts the events of humanity's darkest hours, through the intimate poetry of haiku. Inside you'll find increasingly disjointed and terrifying three-line poems (all in the classic 5-7-5 syllable structure), and follow the undead poet on a journey through deserted streets and barricaded doors.

Experience every eye-popping, gut-wrenching, flesh-eating moment of the eventual downfall of the human race from the point of view of a zombie, and gain insight to help you survive -- if you can.

Source: Back of book

Review: Really interesting, to be totally honest. I was surprised at the ability to give so much plot with a series of haiku. I was also particularly impressed with how the plot circled from Chris Lynch to the poet and back to Chris Lynch. Very creative and very quick. Definitely worth the hour or so. Plus, the illustrations are interesting.

Worst part: It was hard to believe a zombie sitting to write this stuff down as it happened. But if you can over look that, it's awesome.

Best part: One particular haiku was just "brains" five times, then seven, then five. That was funny.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Vampire Haiku and I understand Werewolf Haiku will be available in September.

50 / 50 books. 100% done!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

2010-07-01T20:19:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA, sci-fi
Pages: 265
First Line: "I used to be someone."

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma -- so she's been told -- and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She's been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won't anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might fin out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she, really?

Source: Back of book

Review: Not spectacular but not horrendous. The writing style was vaguely annoying, and I hated the poems that were sprinkled around, but it didn't ruin the book. None of the characters were very dynamic but they weren't awfully flat, either. Just a mediocre book in general, I think. The idea was interesting but I think it would have been executed better by another author. Scott Westerfeld comes to mind, specifically because of the Uglies series. Probably not worth the time unless you're really stuck for something to read.

Worst part: The lack of description of technology other than what was directly related to Jenna's story was annoying. It made it difficult to imagine her world. Also, the Dane thing confused me.

Best part: I liked Alyss a lot. She was a cool character.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: The Miles Between, A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams and David v. God

49 / 50 books. 98% done!

Long Night Dance by Betsy James

2010-06-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

Vague/small spoilers.

Title: Long Night Dance
Author: Besty James
Year of Publication: 1989
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 199
First Line: "It was a crazy place to have built a house, on the western cliffs where the wind was incessant, but Ab Drem had gotten the land cheaply in trade."

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Kat is more her father's housekeeper than his daughter. Just like all Upslope women, Kat is required to stay close to the hearth and as far away from Downshore and its savage people as possible. Kat must remain respectable -- and that means covering her read hair, finding a husband to care for, and never singing, swimming, or dancing.

But Kat knows there must be more to life -- she can feel it in her heart. She can hear the call -- the sound of drums beating, drawing her to the forbidden beach. When Kat can no longer resist the call, she discovers what she thinks is a fatally injured seal washed up on the shore. Instead, she has found a Rig, one of a charmed race of mythical seal people. The only way to save this mysterious man is to defy her father and her community and seek aid in Downshore. But does Kat have the strength to stand on her own?

Source: Back of book

Review: Betsy James focused so much, I think, on the way her words sounded that she ignored the rest of the book. Plot was underdeveloped, characters were relatively flat, and the point of the book was totally lost. I have read another book about selkies (the "mythical seal people" or "Rigi" in this book) called Seven Tears into the Sea and it was much better. I may read the sequel to this if I have time, only to see if it's any better. All in all, I was disappointed. Too many things were missing from this book.

Worst part: Betsy was more trying to write pretty phrases than actually get a good story out.

Best part: I liked Nall's name. That's...that's about it.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: Dark Heart and others.

48 / 50 books. 96% done!

Also, congratulations and good job to everyone who participated in the Open Mic Night!

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

2010-06-25T17:07:00.001-07:00

Very vague spoilers.

Title: The Vast Fields of Ordinary
Author: Nick Burd
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA
Pages: 309
First Line: "I spent a good part of my senior prom drawing DH + PS in a giant heart in the last stall of the Cedarville High boy's bathroom."

Summary: It's Dade Hamilton's last summer before college. He has a crappy job at Food World, a "boyfriend" who won't publicly acknowledge his existence (maybe because Pablo also has a girlfriend, one of the most popular girls in school), and parents on the verge of a break-up. Add to all this the case of Jenny Moore, a nine-year-old whose disappearance has gripped his Iowa town, and Dade's main goal is just to survive until he leaves for school.

Then he meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid, a dreamy-eyed misfit with all the wrong friends. Alex breathes new life into the suburban wasteland that Dade can't wait to escape -- but real love, like truth, has consequences, and its power soon sets in motion a tragic chain of events that will change Dade's life forever.

Source: Back of book

Review: The beginning of the book is a bad representation of the rest. The rest of the book is a million times better. I'll be honest -- there's not a whole lot of plot going on, and it's a whole lot of nothing for the most part. But it's pretty interesting. There were some loose ends at the end (one in particular that was annoying, having to do with Alex), but other than that I was pleasantly surprised with this. It wasn't the best book I've ever read by any means, but it was enjoyable.

Worst part: Probably that loose end about Alex.

Best part: I loved the main character, Dade. And the description of kisses was somehow fantastic.

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: None, but he's working on others.

47 / 50 books. 94% done!

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

2010-06-23T17:31:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
Author: Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, anthology
Pages: 403
First Line: --

Summary: With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks,a nd cosplayers.

Source: Back of book

Review: Like I did for The Poison Eaters I will be doing this by individual story.

1. "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci. Not wonderful. I felt there was something missing throughout. And I was kind of confused through a lot of it. But it wasn't awful, either. I probably wouldn't have started off an anthology, as an editor, with one of my own stories, especially when the anthology had better ones to offer, but, whatever.

2. "One of Us" by Tracy Lynn. I don't remember this one. I'll have to flip to the story to refresh myself. (I say that because I think the memorability of a story is important. And I'm doing this only by looking at the table of contents.) OH! OH! This was actually a really good one. Very interesting and pretty funny. Maybe memorability isn't a great judge? No, it is, but, this one was good. Really.

3. "Definitional Chaos" by Scott Westerfeld. I was totally expecting more from Westerfeld. This story was super confusing throughout.

4. "I Never" by Cassandra Clare. Awesome. I loved the idea of this (although it's a total "don't do this at home, kids" story). It was super cute.

5. "The King of Pelinesse" by M.T. Anderson. Uh-oh. I don't remember this one, either. Oh. This one was odd. An interesting idea, but I'm not sure I liked it. Kind of creepy.

6. "The Wrath of Dawn" by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith. Well. No. This was disappointing, also. It wasn't horrendous, but I wasn't impressed.

7. "Quiz Bowl Antichrist" by David Levithan. This story was pretty awesome. Sometimes I really like Levithan, other times I don't. This time I did. Fairly original, very funny.

8. "The Quiet Knight" by Garth Nix. A great idea. I loved the main character. I was annoyed that Nix changed the spelling of one of the character's names towards the end for no reason -- like, it was a typo/editing issue. And it was annoying.

9. "Everyone But You" by Lisa Yee. I vaguely remember this. But not really. Oh, right. This was weird. I felt like it didn't belong in this anthology. Or any anthology, really. I didn't really see the point. I mean, I did, but...I don't know. Not impressed.

10. "Secret Identity" by Kelly Link. Also not remembering. Okay. I just didn't know the title. This was totally creepy. Like, woah, ew. It was an interesting idea, but oh my God, so gross. Far too forgiving of the main character, I think. And some parts didn't really make sense to me.

11. "Freak the Geek" by John Green. I was really looking forward to this one but was disappointed. It's the only thing I've ever seen written by John Green (and I think I've read it all) in a girl's point of view. There was a reference he made that I was all excited about, but other than that, I was not impressed.

12. "The Truth About Dino Girl" by Barry Lyga. I loved this until the end. The end was awful and horrific and I hated it. Seriously. You'd have to read to understand, but it was just really awful. (And not in a "bad writing" kind of way, the character was just. . .oh my God.)

13. "This Is My Audition Monologue" by Sara Zarr. Totally weird. Indulgent. Disappointing.

14. "The Stars at the Finish Line" by Wendy Mass. I. Loved. This. It was super. Interesting idea, good characters, I loved it all.

15. "It's Just a Jump to the Left" by Libba Bray. Another creepy one. And not because of the RHPS references. It was just. . .Cawley was odd, and, just, ugh. Creeps. Anyway, unimpressed again. Characters were annoying.

Overall: The stories that were good were REALLY good. Aside from that, I was disappointed.

Worst part: The creepiness of so many of the characters. Seriously.

Best part: Mass' story. Wonderful.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: Black and Castellucci each has individual novels as well as work they've done with others. I'm too lazy to list it.

46 / 50 books. 92% done!

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

2010-06-21T15:20:00.001-07:00

Vague spoilers.

Title: Wings
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 294
First Line: "Laurel's shoes flipped a cheerful rhythm that defied her dark mood."

Summary: Laurel's life is the very definition of normal. . .until the morning when she wakes up to discover a flower blooming from her back. As it turns out, nothing in Laurel's life is what it seems. Now, with the help of an alluring faerie sentry who holds the key to her true past, Laurel must race to save her human family from the centuries-old faerie enemies who walk among them.

Source: Back of book

Review: Not fantastic. Something about the style annoyed me -- it seemed very fake or something. The story itself wasn't bad. I'm not sure how I felt about the "wings" and what they were made of, but that could be because I've never heard that take before and I've read a crazy amount of faerie stories. This definitely isn't the best faerie book I've read, but not the worst, either. Maybe worth a read? It gets better as it goes on and it makes you, or me, at least, want to read the sequel, but I'm not about to go out and buy it.

Worst part: The first half was weird. Or the first third? I don't know. It didn't work as well as its remaining parts. Those weren't mind-blowing, either, but they were certainly better. And then the whole thing about Laurel's age bothered me. Especially when it came to the situation with David.

Best part: Tamani. The faerie boys are ALWAYS the best part.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: Spells.

45 / 50 books. 90% done!

The Good Neighbors: Book One, Kin by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

2010-06-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: The Good Neighbors: Book One, Kin
Author: Holly Black and Ted Naifeh
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA, fantasy, manga
Pages: 117
First Line: "My name is Rue, like kangaroo or like 'you'll rue the day we met, mwa-ha-ha!'"

Summary: Rue Silver's lief isn't at all what it appears to be. Her mother has disappeared -- and her father is being blamed for a murder. Is he guilty? Or is there another truth beneath it all?

Rue digs deeper into her family's past and makes a startling discovery: Her mother is a faerie, and she has vanished back into the faerie realm because of a broken promise. In order to get her back, Rue must plunge into the depths of her own identity -- and must follow the sinister twists of her own fate.

Source: Back of book

Review: I love the idea for this, but I felt like it was missing something throughout. Usually I'm a big fan of Holly Black, but this book was definitely missing something -- it was as if she was relying too much on pictures to tell the story, which didn't work well at all. The graphics themselves were good in some ways -- the background and passerbys were pretty great. But the main characters weren't so much. They were DRAWN well, but the physical appearances of the characters didn't represent the characters personalities well. Because of my sick obsession with faerie, I will read the sequel, but I'm not expecting much from it. Maybe worth a look, if only for some of the faerie depictions?

Worst part: That missing part of the story. I still don't know what it is.

Best part: The ending was pretty surprising, I thought.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: (All Holly Black) Tithe, Valiant, the Poison Eaters, Ironside, Spiderwick Chronicles, the White Cat: Curse Workers series, and others.

Other Notes: Again, I am only counting graphic novels as 1/2 (half, .5) of a book for my count.

44 / 50 books. 88% done!

Hamlet: The Manga Edition by Adam Sexton and Tintin Pantoja

2010-06-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

Spoilers.

Title: Hamlet: The Manga Edition
Author: Adam Sexton and Tintin Pantoja (and William Shakespeare)
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA, drama, manga
Pages: 185
First Line: "Has this thing appeared again tonight?"

Summary: The sudden death of the king, later revealed to be murder. The queen's all-too-sudden remarriage to the king's brother, the murderer. The grieving, suspicious Prince Hamlet. Supernatural visitations. Deception, manipulation, and soul-searching deliberation. Plots, leaks, and counterplots. Poisoned wine. A rigged sword fight. Revenge.

Source: Back of book

Review: This is the first graphic novel I've ever read. I lovelovelove Hamlet, so I decided to give this a try. (As this is my first graphic novel, I'm not sure how to review it, but I will do my best!) I'll start with the actual graphics. All of the characters seemed age-inappropriate. Gertrude, Claudius, Hamlet, and others seemed far too young. The only one whose age was right, I think, was Polonius. Il oved the depiction of Elsinore, though. It isn't what I prefer for the castle (I like the brighter, more palace-like building in Branagh's version), but by itself, it's pretty awesome. As for the actual dialogue, etc., some of how it was written was spectacularly interesting, if you've read/seen the original play. Certain words were emphasized and stuff like that so it made it a little more accessible to Shakespeare!noobs (not that I'm any expert). I will say that it's fairly difficult to understand if you haven't read/seen the play already and understood it. I have both read and seen it and done a lot of work with it for school, and even I was a bit lost/confused at some parts. That might have just been the graphics, though, which were sometimes so abstract that it was impossible to say, really, what the artist was getting at. A fun read if you've already been exposed (extremely, that is) to Hamlet.

Worst part: Those abstract images drove me insane.

Best part: The fact that it exists?

Grade: C-

Other Books by This Author: (All Adam Sexton) Macbeth, Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet.

Other Notes: 1. This is not a substitute for actually reading/seeing the play! If you are a student and are trying to find a way around actually reading/seeing it, this is not the way to go. Besides, it's so fantastic, it's worth just reading/seeing it anyway (and I highly recommend Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet).

2. I am only counting graphic novels as 1/2 (half, .5) of a book for my count.

43.5 / 50 books. 87% done!

Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

2010-06-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Goth Girl Rising
Author: Barry Lyga
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA
Pages: 388
First Line: "My mother and I both spent a lot of time in hospitals."

Summary: After six months in the Maryland Mental Health Unit, Kyra Sellars, a.k.a. Goth Girl, is going home. Unfortunately, she's about to find out that while she was away, she lost track of more than time.

Things seem normal at first. Roger's his typical pain-in-the-ass, fatherly self. Jecca and Simone and the rest of the goth crowd still do their thing. And Kyra is back in black, feeling good, and ready to make up with the only person who's ever appreciated her for who she really is.

But then she sees him. Fanboy. Transcended from everything he was into someone she barely recognizes.

And the anger and memories come rushing back.

Fanboy. The Spermling. Miss Powell. Roger.

Her mother.

There's so much to do to people when you're angry.

Kyra's about to get very busy.

Source: Back of book

Review: Another fantastic book by Barry Lyga. A great and realistic story with a plot that is more real-life than fiction. I say that because Lyga focuses on a string of problems and every day life, rather than just one large conflict. One large conflict IS in the book, but it sort of lingers in the background as it builds up. I loved this book and I feel reading it again would be like reading an entirely different book. Definitely worth checking out.

Worst part: I'm not sure Lyga does a spectacular job getting the female voice right.

Best part: Aside from the femininity question (or getting the female voice "right") of Lyga's voice, I love KYRA'S voice. I can't quite explain it. It felt like she was actually talking to you. Lyga does a great job with keeping a consistent conversational tone, diction, etc.

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Hero-Type, and Boy Toy.

Other Notes: 1. Some pretty mature themes, but nothing extremely graphic.

2. This is a sequel to The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Despite this, it may be possible to read GGR without reading tAAoFaGG. It wouldn't be easy, and I certainly recommend reading tAAoFaGG if only for the fact that it's awesome by itself, but it is possible.

3. I recently read two graphic novels. Do you guys include those on your lists for 50? I'm considering counting them as .5 each. These are the first graphic novels I've ever read, so . . . Let me know your opinions!

43 / 50 books. 86% done!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

2010-06-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Levithan
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: YA
Pages: 310
First Line: "When I was little, my dad used to tell me, 'Will, you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.'"

Summary: It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With ap ush from friends new and old -- including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire -- Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical.

Source: Back of book

Review: Oh, God. So much love. John Green and David Levithan are AMAZING. I've read novels from both of them before, and this one is really spectacular, just like the others, but this time, their talent is combined. Green's Grayson seems to be much like characters in his other book, but I love that character all the time, so it's okay. Levithan's Grayson is a sweetheart. I love him. Seriously a funny, heartwarming, and philosophical book.

Worst part: While the combined talents are awesome, I felt like Green's characters (ie Will Grayson, Jane, sometimes Tiny) were more real than Levithan's (ie Will Grayson, sometimes Tiny, Gideon, Maura).

Best part: Will Grayson. Both of 'em.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: They have yet to write anything else together.

Other Notes: 1. Language is pretty harsh in this book. As are the themes in general. I wouldn't say a thirteen-year-old should read it. I'm 18 and even felt it was a bit much. Just be aware of that. (We're talking the f-bomb, the c-word, the p-word, it's got everything).

2. This book does center, in part, around gay characters. So if you're not into that, be aware.

42 / 50 books. 84% done!

The Resistance by Gemma Malley

2010-06-10T13:03:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: The Resistance
Author: Gemma Malley
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA, scifi, future
Pages: 323
First Line: "Overhead lighting, bleak and uncompromising, shone down into the small room like a prison guard's searchlight, picking out every speck of dust, every mark on the cheap carpet, every smudged fingerprint on the window sill."

Summary: Peter and Anna have escaped their childhood prison, Grange Hall, but shedding the terror of life as a Surplus doesn't come easily. They may be Legal, but it's a struggle to adjust to "normal" life under the strict Declaration. Impatient to see action as an agent in the growing resistance, Peter feigns reconciliation with his grandfather to infiltrate Pincent Pharma. The company is responsible for Longevity+ -- a drug rumoured to reverse the ageing process. But there is more to the drug than Peter and Anna could have ever imagined. IN order to restore youth to the old, scientists must first harvest it from somewhere...

Source: Back of book

Review: Not bad. I felt like the book didn't really start until about two-thirds in, but it was decent otherwise. A few typos which were annoying. And it's by a British author, so the quotation marks and spelling isn't American which takes a bit of getting used to. The story itself is well thought-out and written. It is the sequel to The Declaration so check that out before you read this one. It's a little annoying that character detail is fairly avoided. The book relies more on dialogue than description, which I usually like, but I think it could have used a bit more description. For example, I could not for the life of me remember how old Peter and Anna were, and I ended up looking it up on the Interwebz after.

Worst part: The fact that it took so long to get started.

Best part: Loved Jude and Sheila. Awesome.

Grade: B-

Other Books by This Author: The Declaration and others.

41 / 50 books. 82% done!

Ophelia by Lisa Klein

2010-05-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Ophelia
Author: Lisa Klein
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: YA
Pages: 328
First Line: "My lady: I pray this letter finds you in a place of safety."

Summary: He is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she is simply Ophelia. If you think you know their story, think again.

In this reimagining of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queen's most trusted lady-in-waiting. Ambitious for knowledge and witty as well as beautiful, Ophelia learns the ways of power in a court where nothing is as it seems. When she catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness, and Ophelia's happiness is shattered. Ultimately she must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life. In desperation, Ophelia devises a treacherous plan to escape from Elsinore forever. . .with one very dangerous secret.

Source: Back of book

Review: Ultimately a disappointment. The beginning was slow, then it got better, then bad again, and then the last four pages or so were fairly enjoyable. I don't know if I like what Klein did with certain characters (I won't be specific for spoilers), and certain plot elements annoyed me. There were parts of the original play that were left out which I thought was kind of annoying -- parts that are really fantastic and should have been included. Other parts were glossed over and not as drawn out as would have been appropriate (the play within a play, for example).

I would say if you haven't read/seen Hamlet already, then you may be slightly confused in reading this book -- you could read it without having read/seen Hamlet, though. I wouldn't recommend it, for the most part.

Worst part: The book was so different from the play that I felt it had nothing to do with the original. I would have liked something more similar to the play. Also, Hamlet does not have black hair, Ms. Klein -- he's definitely blonde.

Best part: Ohh, I don't know. I guess those last four pages. And they weren't even THAT good.

Grade: D+

Other Books by This Author: Lady Macbeth's Daughter. (Which I may read if I have the time, just because of the Shakespeare connection and I always wondered about the Macbeth's kids. I find it hard to believe they didn't have any, especially because of Lady Macbeth's line, "I know how tender 'tis to whatever the babe that whatevers me." (I don't have a copy and I'm too lazy to look it up.))

39 / 50 books. 78% done!

Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired [abridged] by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor

2010-05-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

No spoilers?

Title: Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention Impaired [abridged]
Author: Reed Martin and Austen Tichenor (of the Reduced Shakespeare Company)
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: NonFiction
Pages: 234
First Line: "Why have we written this book? Let us count the ways:. . ."

Summary: From the Reduced Shakespeare Company -- the theater troupe whose side-splitting production The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) was the longest-running comedy in London -- comes an openly hysterical, yet surprisingly informative, guide to everything you always wanted to know about Shakespeare -- but couldn't be bothered to ask.

Believe it or not, Shakespeare's plays were the summer blockbusters of his day -- everyone loved them, from royalty to ragamuffins. The Reduced Shakespeare Company takes Shakespeare off his pedestal and puts the fun back into the work of the greatest playwright the world has ever known -- and teaches you something while they're at it!

Source: Back of book

Review: Hil-ar-i-ous. Seriously, if you want to learn about Shakespeare but can't sit through a "real" biography or whatever, this is the book for you. Make sure you read the footnotes and the annotated bibliography. I will say that some of the humor may go over your head if you know very little about Will. I know there were a few things that were written where I was scratching my head, wondering if the authors were joking or not. Aside from that, it's a great book with a lot of information and laughs.

Worst part: It has spoilers for all the plays. They're easy to avoid, though.

Best part: It was so funny. Seriously.

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: None.

38 / 50 books. 76% done!

Captivate by Carrie Jones

2010-05-20T13:22:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Captivate
Author: Carrie Jones
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 273
First Line: "There are bizarre people who actually like physical education class."

Summary: Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they did -- sort of. The pixies are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it's enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn't have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him. . .until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides that, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what's at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined.

Source: Back of book

Review: Not terrible. I'll probably read the next one. This isn't my favorite faerie series but it's not unenjoyable. Definitely need to read the first of the series, Need. I kind of get the feeling that Jones isn't really cut out for fantasy, especially since I've read her Tips On Having A Gay (ex)Boyfriend. I felt that one was much better. Then again, I was also younger when I read that. Probably worth a read, especially for younger fantasy audiences.

Worst part: It was slightly confusing. I felt lost at some points. And I don't think it was because I haven't read the first one in awhile -- I remember feeling similarly about that book, too.

Best part: Asltey was interesting. A bit different, I felt, than a lot of other male leads out there these days. Not ENTIRELY, but some.

Grade: B-

Other Books by This Author: Need, Tips On Having a Gay (ex)Boyfriend, and others.

36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

2010-05-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Year of Publication: 1818
Genre: Fiction, romance
Pages: 254
First Line: "Sir Walter Ellio, of Kellynch-hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; there his faculties were roused into admiration and respect,by contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs, changed naturally into pity and contempt, as he turned over thealmost endless creations of the last century -- and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own history with an interest which never failed -- this was the page at which the favorite volume always opened: 'Elliot of Kellynch Hall.'"

Summary: Like the earlier works Persuasion is a tale of love and marriage, told with the irony, insight and just evaluation of human conduct which sets her novels apart. But the heroine -- like the author -- is more mature; the tone of the writing is more sombre. Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth have met and separated years before. Their reunion forces a recognition of the false values that drove them apart. The characters who embody those values are the subjects of some of the most withering satire that Jane Austen ever wrote.

Source: Back of book

Review: Definitely enjoyable. I read this one for school and I ended up taking a hiatus from it because the essay test we were doing in class on it was further in the future than I had imagined and I really had started reading it too early to write a decent in-class essay on it, but like all of Austen's novels, it was enjoyable. Most people seem to like P&P best, but I really like Sense and Sensibility more. I think I also like Persuasion more as well. I feel this book's plot translated better to my own life, but I have very little experience in the relationship department, so I can't say this is her ONLY novel that can translate to modern day society more completely than the others. Of course, as Austen's style usually is, it can be verbose and kind of like walking through a marsh at some points, but the novel as a whole is interesting. I found the ending to be more romantic than the other four novels I have read of Austen. Unlike P&P where the union (even before marriage) was fairly vague, this one was more descriptive and more enjoyable. I might even venture to say that I prefer Wentworth to Darcy.

Worst part: I think a problem with a lot of Austen's novels is that because there are so many characters (and often with similar names), it's difficult to keep them all straight. Persuasion owns this flaw as well. While it may have been easier for its original readers who lived in such society and had the time to really pick apart the book, it's not so easy for a modern-day reader who isn't reading intently.

Best part: I liked how alike Anne and I were. As mentioned in the summary, she is considered to be one of Austen's more mature leads. Although I like the more whimsical characters as well (such as in S&S), I felt Anne was refreshing.

Grade: B++

Other Books by This Author: Mansfield Park, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Lady Susan, (unfished) Sanditon and Northanger Abbey

34 / 50 books. 68% done!

The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black

2010-05-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Title: The Poison Eaters and Other Stories
Author: Holly Black
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: Fantasy, short story collection
Pages: 212
First Line: "Matilda was drunk, but then she was always drunk anymore."

Summary: In her debut collection, New York Times best-selling author Holly Black returns to her Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe, Ironside and Valiant) in two darkly exquisite new tales, "Going Ironside" and "The Land of Heart's Desire." In the first story, "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown," a girl is drunk on the street -- but for a reason you'd never guess. Then Black takes readers on a tour of a faerie market, introduces a girl poisonous to the touch,and another who challenges the devil to a competitive eating match.

These twelve stories, two of which are published here for the first time and each of which is illustrated by Theo Black, have been published in anthologies such as 21 Proms, The Faery Reel, and The Restless Dead and have been reprinted in many "Best of" anthologies.

Source: Back of book

Review: Holly Black never fails to entertain me. Rather than review the book as a whole, I'm going to do it by story because it's easier and sometimes, some stories are really worth it while others you should just skip.

"The Coldest Girl in Coldtown" - Not great. I read this in another anthology first and didn't particularly enjoy it. Something about it didn't keep my attention. Worth a skim, though.

"A Reversal of Fortune" - I really liked the idea of this, but something about it was missing. It had something, I think, to do with the characters, but I'm not sure. Definitely worth a read, though.

"The Boy Who Cried Wolf" - Interesting. Original. Take a look at it for a new twist on werewolves.

"The Night Market" - Probably my favorite of the collection. I loved this one and I hope Black decides to expand on it to make a novel or something.

"The Dog King" - The style of this one was totally different from the others and I had a really hard time pushing through it.

"Virgin" - Not bad. Possibly slightly underdeveloped, but interesting. It gave me an idea for a novel about Hamlet and Ophelia.

"In Vodka Veritas" - Loved this. Super original and unpredictable. Another one I'd like to see as a novel.

"The Coat of Stars" - Cute. A very story-teller vibe and style to it. This might be another that would make a good novel.

"Paper Cuts Scissors" - Oh. My. God. This was brilliant. Totally original. Love. If "The Night Market" isn't my favorite, this is.

"Going Ironside" - Doesn't make a lot of sense if you don't remember about its parent story, so to speak. (I think this one is related to Valiant?)

"The Land of Heart's Desire" - I would mark this as my favorite except, I feel it's not really part of the anthology because it expands so much on Tithe and Ironside. Words cannot express how much more I love Roiben now. And Black seriously needs to write another novel about Roiben and Kaye and Cornelius and Luis.

"The Poison Eaters" - I was so wowed by "The Land of Heart's Desire" that this one paled in comparison. I skimmed this one, mostly.

To sum up -- some duds, and something missing in a few, but definitely worth the time to read it, especially if you've read Black's other novels. Plus, it's interesting to see Theo Black's (Holly's husband) illustrations. His online gallery is limited.

Worst part: The missing bits in various stories. My least favorite story was probably "The Dog King," partly because I had no clue what was going on.

Best part: So many of these were so good. And anything more I can get on Roiben, Kaye, etc., makes for a happy me.

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: Tithe, Ironside and Valiant

35 / 50 books. 70% done!

How to Be a Vampire by Amy Gray

2010-05-16T11:43:00.001-07:00

Title: How to Be a Vampire
Author: Amy Gray
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 136
First Line: "Dare to escape the scratched confines of mortality?"

Summary: Here the secrets of the undead are revealed from how to be turned to how to fill eternity once you've been bitten including: Telling your family that you're a child of the night / Dressing like the mysterious creature you are / Dos and don'ts of dating a mortal. Escape mortality. Embrace the darkness. Become a vampire.

Source: Back of book

Review: Well. This is possibly one of the most unhealthy books I've ever read. I get it. Gray wants to buy into the Vampire Craze Stock. We all do. But please, be original about it? This would have been a million times better if it had been, like, a book (in essay format or something) about all the stuff that's out there in fiction concerning Vampires. Instead, it was kind of just. . .pretty to look at. Lots of pictures, lots of blurbs, I felt like I was reading J-14 for Vampires, or something. It was worth a laugh, at least. But not worth the time.

Worst part: Stupid. *headdesk* Just. . .it's far too encouraging of this stuff. And it sounds too serious. . .like, it's immature writing and stuff, but I can totally see twelve-year-olds using this this as, like, a bible.

Best part: It was aesthetically appealing.

Grade: D-

Other Books by This Author: None.

35 / 51 books. 72% done!

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

2010-05-12T11:32:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Wondrous Strange
Author: Lesley Livingston
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 327
First Line: "Puck's tortured words rang in Kelley's ears as she lifted her head, struggling against the darkness that threatened to descend upon her."

Summary: Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow always thought faeries were just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery. He's a changeling -- a mortal taken as an infant and raised among Faerie -- and within short order he's turned Kelley's heart inside out and her life upside down.

For Kelley's beloved Central Park isn't just a park -- it's a gateway between her ordinary city and the Faerie's dangerous, bewitching Otherworld. Now Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her, but to the heritage that awaits her...a destiny both wondrous and strange.

Source: Back of book

Review: Not the best Faerie book I've ever read, but it was certainly enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the Shakespeare references, and I hope that there are more in the sequels (it's supposed to be a trilogy, I understand). I wish there had been more stuff in Faerie shown. . .but I did like the kelpie stuff and the addition of the siren, which is generally unusual. Usually, it's a glastig. The story is fairly unpredictable and the style isn't bad or distracting. Worth a read.

Worst part: I didn't like how Auberon was characterized. I didn't feel it was very in-character as far as Faerie goes.

Best part: Oh, dear. The Shakespeare references. Except there weren't enough!

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: Darklight (the sequel to WS).

33 / 50 books. 66% done!

Beastly by Alex Flinn

2010-05-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

No Spoilers.

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 304
First Line: "Mr. Anderson: Welcome to the first meeting of the Unexpected Changes chat group."

(First line of the actual text: "I could feel everyone looking at me, but I was used to it."

Summary: I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature with fangs, claws, and hair springing from every pore. I am a walking monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. And I'll stay this way forever -- unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, the perfect girl, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly. . .beastly.

Source: Back of book

Review: This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I love that story and I love this book. The book, which will be released as a movie on July 30, 2010 (starring Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, and OMG Neil Patrick Harris -- they couldn't have picked anyone better), was a great story. Not the most well-written book I've ever read, but I found it super enjoyable. Probably was a little old for it (I'm 18); the writing was really easy to understand, so I'd suggest this for 9th graders, I think. But those younger and older, of course, can enjoy it as well. The changes made to the story were really interesting and the book in general was definitely worth it. Give it a read!

Worst part: I really wish the quality/difficulty of the writing was greater. Also, I feel there was something not quite right about Kendra's character. Maybe a bit immature?

Best part: I seriously love Will. He should have gotten a love interest, IMHO.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: Diva, Fade to Black, Nothing to Lose, Breaking Point, Breathing Underwater, and A Kiss in Time

32 / 50 books. 64% done!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

2010-05-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Beautiful Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 563
First Line: "There were only two kinds of people in our town."
Summary: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Source: Back of book

Review: Fail. This book felt like the biggest waste of time. The only thing going for it, I felt, was the fact that it was told from a new point of view (not that the POV was very authentic -- one of the girliest boys I've ever read). In any case, rather than having the story told from the POV of the supernatural being (usually a girl), it went for the girl's boyfriend. BUT WAIT, you say, isn't that what Twilight is? Well, yes, but at least this one has a boy for Bella! HOLD UP, you continue, Lena moves to a new town -- that's what BELLA did! Yeah, also true. Okay, so this is basically Twilight with witches. Except somehow worse. Definitely not worth the time.

Worst part: So. Long. The book was unnecessarily long -- details that were worthless were put in and then important stuff was tiny. And even though it was all over-detailed, I don't know how the book got so big, because it didn't say much of anything.

Best part: I liked the flashbacks. That's about it.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: None. But I expect a sequel.

31 / 50 books. 62% done!

Secret Society by Tom Dolby

2010-04-26T15:19:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Secret Society
Author: Tom Dolby
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA
Pages: 341
First Line: "Even the most seasoned walks through Manhattan's Central Park often miss Cleopatra's Needle."
Summary: An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York's wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about.

They didn't ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything. Even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown, and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they're forced to get on the nape of their necks.

Once they're part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It's all perfect -- until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.

Source: Back of book

Review: The beginning of this book was really good. But I found about one-fourth through was slow-moving and boring. It was almost as if the majority of the book was a filler and the author was just writing to get to the end in order to bait the reader for the sequel. I will say that Tom Dolby's writing style was ambiguous -- if I hadn't known it was a man who wrote it, I would have guessed a woman had. I don't know if that's good or bad but that's that. The book wasn't nearly as interesting as I had expected or hoped.

Worst part: The entire book pretty much felt like it was a set of filler chapters.

Best part: The club scenes were pretty good. Interesting.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: The Sixth Form and The Trouble Boy

Note: It might be interesting to note that the author, Tom Dolby, is a (very attractive) graduate of Yale. I enjoyed flipping to the back cover to enjoy the photograph of him.

30 / 50 books. 60% done!

Trick of the Mind by Judy Waite

2010-04-19T13:44:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Trick of the Mind
Author: Judy Waite
Year of Publication: 2003
Genre: YA
Pages: 263
First Line: "I never dreamed I'd hurt Matt, but everything got so muddled."
Summary: When Erin first sees Matt, she knows he's the one for her. Trouble is, Matt's got his eye on someone else. But Erin is willing to do whatever it takes to make Matt see her as more than a friend, including teaching him some of her precious magic tricks. With all his problems at home, Matt's glad to have a friend like Erin. So what if Erin thinks he's interested? He'll sort that out later.

But when Matt's world begins to crumble, it seems like Erin and her magic might be his last hope. Only, sometimes it's hard to believe in magic. Especially when reality turns really ugly. . .

Source: Back of book

Review: Ergh. *twitch* This book was like reading two different novels (not just because of the dual POV). Half-way through the book, I felt like I had suddenly started reading another novel. It wasn't very well written, totally unfocused, and with unlikable characters. The end was entirely inconclusive (cliff-hanger aside) and the book was generally disappointing. It's disjointed and takes forever to go anywhere, if at all. Definitely not worth the effort of reading it.

Worst part: The book seemed totally pointless, which annoys me to no end.

Best part: I liked the uh. . .pigeon. That's about it.

Grade: D-

Other Books by This Author: Shopoholic and Forbidden.

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

2010-04-13T13:53:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys
Author: Kate Brian
Year of Publication: 2005
Genre: YA
Pages: 266
First Line: "'Megan, we need to talk.'"
Summary: Megan is used to moving from place to place -- it's typical for an army brat. But she drew the line at South Korea. She insisted on staying in the States to finish her last two years of high school. So her parents made arrangements for Megan to live with their friends, the McGowans...and the McGowans' 7 sons.

Turns out, living with 7 boys might as well be a foreign country! The boys are messy. They are cliquey (who knew?). And worst of all, two of the oldest boys are H-O-T. (A problem considering they are supposed to be Megan's "brothers.") Megan is definitely in enemy territory. She needs to win over the boys' hearts without totally crushing her own.

And when Megan starts falling for one of them, sibling rivalry takes ona whole new meaning. . .

Source: Back of book

Review: I found this book was set up and described very much like a movie. The ending scene, for example, is right out of the silver screen. Not a fantastic book, but not horrendous. Somewhat predictable. Likable characters, aside from Megan who was kind of annoying at some points. I felt the book would have been better had it been told in the first person, but it wasn't the end of the world. I'm always looking for mixed family "forbidden" relationships (ie Derek/Casey Life with Derek), but there never seems to be much out there (any recommendations?). So this one wasn't the best book I've ever read but not necessarily a waste of time.

Worst part: Hmm...things with Miller occurred too quickly, I think. I wish the entire book had been across more time, too. Instead, it's only a week or two, which I felt was kind of unrealistic, considering the events.

Best part: Miller. He was awesome. Aside from the whole Yankees thing, of course.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: Private, the Virginity Club and The Princess and the Pauper.

26 / 50 books. 52% done!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2010-04-13T13:52:00.002-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 391
First Line: "Chauncey was with a farmer's daughter on the grassy banks for the Loire River when the storm rolled in, and having let his gelding wander in the meadow, was left to his own two feet to carry him back to the chateau."
Summary: Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.
Source: Back of book

Review: Why, Stephenie Meyer -- I didn't realize you also wrote under the pen name of Becca Fitzpatrick! Seriously, this is just Twilight with angels standing in for vampires. The two meet in a bio class, Patch tells Nora he's dangerous, he sends mixed signals. . .Nora is a moron, you get the picture. Patch is, for the most part, a jerk, but has his saccharine sweet moments, but it's still not original. The writing isn't awful but gets tedious. There will be, according to the back of the book (or the Internet?) a sequel, which I may or may not read. If I do, it's only for further comparison to Meyer. Probably not worth the time if you didn't like Twilight.

Worst part: The total lack of originality. So many things paralleled Meyer's stuff.

Best part: I liked Patch's name. And his Irish friend was pretty awesome. And I guess the whole pool thing was nice, 'cause I like pool.

Grade: D+

Other Books by This Author: None.

27 / 50 books. 54% done!

Fallen by Lauren Kate

2010-04-13T13:52:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 452
First Line: "Around midnight, her eyes at last took shape."
Summary: There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, and the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move.

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce -- he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Source: Back of book

Review: Once again, very Twilight-esque. Not particularly well-written, Lauren Kate's book abandons characters only to pick them up again and remind the reader when it's convenient for the plot. One particularly engaging character was dropped for several chapters before appearing again. Motives were mixed and unclear and the plot was generally hard to follow. I felt like something was missing at the end and was fairly confused. Maybe this is just a way to get people to buy the second book? Because I'm not sure if it's worth it for any other reason.

Worst part: It was totally confusing, especially toward the end.

Best part: Having a regular name for a supernatural character was a breath of fresh air.

Grade: D+

Other Books by This Author: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove.

28 / 50 books. 56% done!

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

2010-04-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

MAJOR SPOILERS IN "WORST PART."

Title: Leaving Paradise
Author: Simone Elkeles
Year of Publication: 2010
Genre: YA
Pages: 303
First Line: "I've been waiting a year for this moment."
Summary: Caleb Becker spent the past year in juvenile detention.

Maggie Armstrong spent the past year in hospitals and physical therapy.

Two teens who were scarred one fateful night are going to have to face their greatest challenge yet -- meeting up with each other again.

Source: Back of book

Review: LOVE. I picked up this book because I had read another of Elkeles' books and loved it. This one was just as good. There was only one thing I disliked about the book (discussed in "worst part"). Other than that, there were only a few predictable plot elements and such. But I highly recommend this book and dearly look forward to reading the sequel, which is due out this summer.

BEGIN SPOILER Worst part: So the worst part was that he didn't really hit her. Leah did. Which I think totally messes up everything. It sort of ruins part of the tension. Even if Maggie doesn't know it, it still ruins it for the reader and makes the relationship less special somehow. END SPOILER

Best part: Hmmm. Caleb.

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: Perfect Chemistry.

25 / 50 books. 50% done!

The Perfect Elizabeth by Libby Schmais

2010-04-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

Title: The Perfect Elizabeth
Author: Libby Schmais
Year of Publication: 2000
Genre: Romance, realistic
Pages: 228
First Line: "A phone is ringing in the distance."
Summary: This modern-day Sense and Sensibility is a witty story about two sisters: Liza, a would-be poet who spends miserable days as a legal secretary; and Bette, a graduate student writing her dissertation on Toast in the English Novel. Bette has taken to eating only what the characters is is writing about would eat: boiled eggs on toast, mincemeat, nice cups of tea...Liza's a bit concerned. She's also worried about the status of her relationship with her actor boyfriend, Gregor. They're not living together, and that's a problem.

Then there's the issue of Liza's career, or the lack thereof. Can dog-walking be considered a vocation? Liza's beginning to think so. Mercifully, Bette is merely a local phone call away.

Source: Back of book

Review: This book was incredibly choppy. The author ended every paragraph with some action or even that was supposed to be super symbollic and telling which was just really annoying. In general, it was pretty bad. I felt like it was going nowhere the whole time. The characters weren't easy to be attached to, and the plot was boring. S&S happens to be my favorite Jane Austen book (so far) and I was super disappointed in this one.

Worst part: The choppiness was just horrendous. There would be three sentences and then a page break, three or four more, a page break, two paragraphs together, a page break. . .ugh.

Best part: I liked Tad. That's about it.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: Living Well with Cancer.

24 / 50 books. 48% done!

Nightlight: A Parody by the Harvard Lampoon

2010-04-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

Minor spoilers.

Title: Nightlight: A Parody
Author: The Harvard Lampoon
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Parody
Pages: 154
First Line: "The hot Phoenix sun glared down on the car windowsill where my bare, pallid arm dangled shamelessly."
Summary: About three things I was absolutely certain.

First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe.

Second, there was a vampire part of him -- which I assumed was wildly out of control -- that wanted me dead.

And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me.

And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon's hilarious send-up.

Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon, looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events -- Edwart leaves his Tater Tots (TM) untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snow ball! -- Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especailly when he seems to find girls so repulsive?

Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalkerlike behavior, and a vampire prom, Nightlight is the uproarious tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places.

Source: Back of book

Review: It takes a lot for a book to make me laugh out loud. This one did it. I really should have tagged some of the best lines, but this was so funny. I was slightly confused with how they did things at the end -- it wasn't QUITE a parody at that point, as the plot had taken a different direction. And they missed some scenes in Twilight that would have been SO perfect for this book, but I'm sure they left it out in the interest of brevity as well as in the interest of being original, as the book has been made fun of so much. It's a super fast book, and definitely worth the few hours.

I highly recommend this, especially if you've already read the Twilight series. I'd be even more interested to read a parody done by the Harvard Lampoon of Breaking ~~Fail~~ Dawn.

Worst part: Some things were missing. They definitely should have played up how much Bella looks like Steph Meyer.

Best part: Some of the lines were just perfect. Belle was characterized perfectly. One line in particular had to do with how interchangeable her friends are -- and it's so true. I remember reading Twilight literally five times, and I still couldn't get the human-friends straight.

Grade: A-

Other Books by This Author: THL has done a ton of stuff.

23 / 50 books. 46% done!

The Dashwood Sister's Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton

2010-04-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: The Dashwood Sister's Secrets of Love
Author: Rosie Rushton
Year of Publication: 2005
Genre: YA, romance,
Pages: 325
First Line: "It wasn't long ago that photographs of the Dashwood sisters' ancestors -- yellow with age, the occasional school picture of Ellie, Abby, and Georgie tucked into the edge of the frame -- hung along the long, winding staircase at Holly House, the Dashwood family's home for generations."
Summary: The Dashwood sisters -- Ellie, Abby, and Georgie -- have always lived an affluent life in their beloved Holly House in Sussex. Then one day, tragedy strikes, and the girls are forced to uproot their lives and move to Norfolk, a windswept county on the east coast of England. The sisters are devastated, but what starts off as the toughest challenge they've ever had to face quickly becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

Practical Ellie has always had her head firmly on her shoulders, until she loses it over a boy named Blake. He's perfect, except for two not-so-tiny problems: he's her horrible stepmother's nephew, and he just happens to have a girlfriend.

For impulsive Abby, moving to such a sleepy village is tantamount to social suicide. To amuse herself, she decides to play matchmaker for a new friend at school, but her scheme backfires when the guy falls for her instead.

Even youngest sister Georgie finds herself in uncharted waters when suddenly boys are more interested in her for more than her love of extreme sports.

Source: Back of book

Review: Awe-some! I had debated on getting this book for AGES. Finally, my mom happened to pick it up and then I debated on actually reading it. The other day, I was bored with what I was reading so I decided to take a break and try this -- I am so glad I did. It's got a different style, the characters are fun (though maybe a little too undeveloped), and the plot is pretty decent. I'm not sure what, exactly, made it so enjoyable, but I really liked this one. I hated the font it was printed it, but what are you gonna do? Definitely recommended, especially if you like a "more mature" chick-lit. It's not super philosophical or anything, but it's less silly than a lot of chick-lit.

Worst part: I had issues with how some characters were undeveloped. It was as if Rushton avoided giving certain characters too many traits so she didn't mix them up or have traits that were in another person, as well.

Best part: I was surprised with how the life-changing event occurred. Honestly, I didn't see it coming. I probably should have, though.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: Friends, Enemies; Poppy, Olivia; Melissa; Sophie; Just Don't Make a Scene, Mum!; How Could You Do This to Me, Mum?; I Think I'll Just Curl Up and Die and Where Do We Go From Here?

22 / 50 books. 44% done!

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

2010-03-29T12:52:00.001-07:00

No spoilers.

Title: Love, Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: YA
Pages: 274
First Line: "Dear Leo, I love beginnings."
Summary: Stargirl has moved and left everything behind: Arizona, Mica High, enchanted desert places -- and Leo.

He's all she can think about, and her life begins to feel like a parade of unhappy anniversaries. Then Stargirl meets her wonderfully bizarre new neighbors: Dootise, the curly-headed five-year-old "human bean"; Betty Lou, who hasn't stepped outside her house for nine years; Charlie, who sits among the tombstones; hot-tempered Alvina with that one glittery nail; and Perry Dellopane, the blue-eyed thief who soon lays his own claim to Stargirl's heart.

In letters to Leo over the course of a year, Stargirl comes to find hope in new places: mockingbirds, donut angels, moon flowers, and the Winter Solstice -- that turning-point day when dark tips to light. But what's life without Leo? Will he -- can he -- answer that one crucial question she asks every morning to the rising sun?

Source: Back of book

Review: Probably about as good as Stargirl, which I loved in a quirky sort of way. I really don't have much to say about this one. You could probably read it without having read the prequel, but I'd suggest reading the first just because it's good. Definitely appropriate for younger readers as well as older -- there is a lesson for everyone in this special novel. I sound totally lame and manufactured, but really, it's special like that. Just read it, 'kay?

Worst part: The ending was a little anti-climactic, but not horribly so.

Best part: The fact that it exists and doesn't totally ruin the first book.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: Stargirl, Milkweed, Knots in My Yo-Yo string and Crash

21 / 50 books. 42% done!

Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi

2010-03-12T09:03:00.001-08:00

Semi-major spoilers indicated in review portion.

Title: Boys That Bite
Author: Mari Mancusi
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 262
First Line: "You know, being bitten by a vampire one week before prom really sucks."
Summary: My mom is so going to kill me if she finds out I'm turning into a vampire.

Okay, so technically she can't because I'm immortal. Well, not yet. See, due to the worst case of mistaken identity with my dark-side-loving twin sister at a Goth hangout called Club Fang, Magnus, a vampire hottie, went for my innocent neck instead of hers. Now, if I don't reverse it in time, Magnus will be my blood mate forever and I'm doomed to be a blood-gulping, pasty, daylight-hating vampire. Believe me, it seriously bites.

After the unfortunate slaying of the vampire leader, it's up to me, my sister, and Magnus to find the one thing that can solve my problem -- the Holy Grail. No joke. I seriously hope I can get out of this in time because, somehow, I scored the hottest prom date in my school, the mouth-watering Jake Wilder. And I do not want to be a vampire for the prom -- let alone the rest of eternity.

Source: Back of book

Review: This has been on my TBR list for awhile. It started off really badly. I was tempted to put it down but I decided since it had been on the list for so long, I'd soldier through. I don't know if I'm glad that I did, but I don't feel it was a complete waste of time. It definitely improved, especially about half-way through it got much better. The ending was awful, but I was much more pleased with it than, say, Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer. Vampire fiction has become very popular recently because of Meyer and usually the stories follow a "girl-meets-boy-in-some-kind-of-science-class, boy-seems-to-hate-girl, girl-likes-boy-anyway, blah blah blah." At least this one strayed from that and was original in plot. Characters, however, were quite unoriginal, especially in the physical description department. You'll see what I mean if you read it. BEGIN SPOILER -- A QUICK IDEA OF THE PREVIOUS SENTENCE Basically, Mancusi described every single vampire character to look like some well-known person already. Orlando Bloom was mentioned to be like Magnus, Lucifent was described as Haley Joel Osment and another character described as Gandalf the Grey. Come on. Be original. I mean, she didn't even give a REASON. If there had been like some magical thing that made you look like the "celebrity" of your choice when you turned into a vampire, sure, that'd be okay. But there wasn't even an explanation. A case of laziness? You bet. END SPOILER. Other than that, another thing that was really annoying was the narrator's use of netspeak in speaking. She used "OMG," I think "WTF" was used at one point. . . I don't mind things like "TMI" because I feel like that's been around longer than "OMG" and stuff, but that was super annoying. I don't know if I'd recommend it, but there were some parts of the book that were definitely better and stood out. Basically, the beginning of the book was godawful, the middle was better and in some spots, much better, and the end was just as godawful as the beginning.

Worst part: Unoriginality with the characters was a real downer.

Best part: It took place in NH, where I live. It didn't mention anywhere that I would've recognized (if any of it was real) except for some town names and the air port, but I always enjoy reading books about New Hampshire. The author grew up here, but I still don't think the characters are a fair/accurate representation of New Hampshire people.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: Girls That Growl, and Stake That!

20 / 50 books. 40% done!

So Super Starry by Rose Wilkins

2010-03-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: So Super Starry
Author: Rose Wilkins
Year of Publication: 2004
Genre: YA
Pages: 230
First Line: "I've just finished this book called Tammy Gets Kissed."
Summary: At Darlinham House, the chic private school, everyone's parents are super-famous, feng shui is part of the curriculum, all of the girls have names like India, Asia, and Twinkle. The girls there don't just read celebrity magazines, they're in them. Except for Octavia Clairbrook-Cleeve. Sure she's got the posh name, and the semi-celeb parents, but there's nothing that Octavia hates more than the "darlings" and their super-glam ways. Until she meets Alex Withers, the gorgeous son of a famous rock star. Suddenly Octavia's staying out all night, shopping for trendy clothes, and even doing favors for her archenemy! How's a regulargirl to keep her head when she's hanging with the A-list?

Source: Back of book

Review: So. Boring. This book had no plot and the characters were incredibly typical. The writing style was tolerable but, really, it just wasn't worth it. I don't even have anything else to say about it.

Worst part: Is "everything" an option?

Best part: Uh. . .it was fairly quick. So I didn't waste a ton of time on it.

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: So Super Stylish, Wishful Thinking and Unlucky Charm

19 / 50 books. 38% done!

How I Found the Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood

2010-03-06T14:46:00.000-08:00

Spoilers for HIFTPD and WILMHGO.

Title: How I Found the Perfect Dress
Author: Maryrose Wood
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA, fantasy (faerie)
Pages: 231
First Line: "'Tinker Bell pajamas!' My sister Tammy was the happiest girl in the world."
Summary: I had the most unbelievable summer. On a bike tour of Ireland, I fell head over handlebars for the hunky guide, Colin, and -- oh, yeah -- magically discovered that I'm a half-goddess. Then it was back to my painfully normal life -- and my relationship with Colin fizzled to the occasional e-mail -- until he wrote saying he was coming here!

But Colin's arrival is not so magical -- the poor guy's exhausted. It seems that when I found my goddess mojo, a spell was cast on Colin. In his dreams he's forced to dance till dawn with the faeries, who want to boogie for an eternity. If I don't break the enchantment somehow, the prom I've been dreaming of will be Colin's worst nightmare. Look out, faeries, Colin's next dance is with me!

Source: Back of book

Review: Like many sequels, this wasn't as good as the original. Characters aren't in-character, there is a BEGIN SPOILER major mistake In the original, Why I Let My Hair Grow Out, Morgan says her birthday is on June 3 (see page 141 of the book), but HIFTPD reminds the readers, like, every other page that her birthday is March 20 (which is also my cousin's birthday and the first day of spring). I understand it's difficult to keep stuff straight -- I write too, so really, I get it. But a detail as important as this, especially if you're going to mention it a gazillion times in the second book should really be checked. And it would've been perfectly reasonable to have a prom on June 3. So I don't know what that was all about. END SPOILER And I really missed the characters of the first book. The plot wasn't quite as good, but it was okay. Still, the whole Colin this is pretty sweet. The first book seemed more mature to me, as well. While I preferred the first one, I still plan on reading the third book.

Worst part: As the climax wasn't up to par in the first book, HIFTPD was lacking in the climax and end. Plus the change in everyone was annoying. Plus the thing mentioned under the cut.

Best part: Still Colin. *giggles*

Grade: B

Other Books by This Author: Why I Let My Hair Grow Out (the prequel to HIFTPD), and Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love

18 / 50 books. 36% done!

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

2010-03-05T13:16:00.001-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Why I Let My Hair Grow Out
Author: Maryrose Wood
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: YA, fantasy (faerie)
Pages: 218
First Line: "The first thing I did was take scissors to my bangs."
Summary: When my boyfriend dumped me on the last day of school, it was just the icing on a ten-layer my-life-sucks cake. Hacking off all my hair and dying the stubble orange seemed like the next logical step. Okay, I was acting out. But my parents freaked and called the travel agent, and before you could say "Let's fix Morgan," I was being sent on a bike tour of Ireland. As if pedaling my way across an entire country with a bunch of losers in padded shorts is supposed to cheer me up?

So I'm hating the Emerald Isle, hating my tour mates, liking-yet-hating the cute redheaded guy who drives the luggage van -- when a most unusual bike accident tosses me headfirst into some crazy, once-upon-a-time corner of the past. . .I'm talking faeries and wee folk and a hunky warrior dude named Fergus, who knows how to treat a girl who's part goddess. (Hmm, wonder who that might be?) Now, in addition to biking across the country, I have to help undo some evil curses and perform an impossible rescue. Some vacation, right? But in the middle of all this becoming-a-legend stuff, I'm realizing there's some growing up I need to do -- and I don't just mean my hair. . .

Source: Back of book

Review: Okay, so I usually don't have a really easy time finding good faerie books. Some of my favorites are War for the Oaks, Tithe and Lament. This book just joined those. It was, I admit, a little iffy at first, but it definitely improved. I had been wanting to read this for a long time and my mom, ironically enough, got me the sequel, without realizing it was a sequel. Two or so weeks ago, I finally got the first one and read it in a day. I'm now working on the second which isn't quite as good, so far, but not a bad read, either. I definitely suggest this to the faerie fans out there.

Worst part: The climax could have been done better -- I feel like it took up too much of the book, and it's not as faerie-centric as it could be.

Best part: Colin. Oh my God. I need to stop falling in love with fictional characters.

Grade: B+

Other Books by This Author: How I Found the Perfect Dress (the sequel to WILMHGO), and Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love

17 / 50 books. 34% done!

Reading Meters and Other Things

2010-03-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, I don't know if I've already explained this, but I figured I'd do it here, again, for those of you who have been following along.

You may have noticed a little meter at the end of my reviews. This is keeping track of how many books I read this year. My goal is 50, but it looks like I'll get there pretty easily. I might change it and make it 75 or something, depending on when I reach 50.

Here is an example of the meter:

16 / 50 books. 32% done!

If you click on it, it will bring you to this site, where you can make your own and customize the size, color, etc. If you need help with the coding there (I think that's the only way to change this stuff), let me know and I can offer a little bit of assistance. It's easy to figure out the coloring, size, etc. with the HTML coding.

The idea for keeping track of how many books I read was from a LiveJournal community called 50bookchallenge. It's a great place for finding reviews and other book-related things, too.

Now, for a few unrelated topics.

- The Inklings Creative Writing group at the DPL is tonight from 6:30-8. We have a lot of talented teen writers, so make sure you show up so you can hear some good stuff and share some of your own!

- Why am I the only one posting, people? I hope, at least, that some of you actually read this! If you're not, I'm wasting time posting when I could be reading! : P So please be posting, too! Even if it's just what you've been reading lately, a good movie you saw, music, whatever. Even if it's a YouTube recommendation. Which reminds me. . .

- For those of you who are aware of John Green (author of An Abundance of Katharines, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns. . .) he and his brother, Hank, have been doing video communication through YouTube for a few years now and their videos are hilarious. I've watched almost all of them now -- I'm about seven months or so behind because I didn't start until August and then I watched multiple videos whenever I could. Anyway, I highly suggest checking it out because it's often very thought-provoking, and even more often, very funny. I mean, you get to see John eat a blenderized Happy Meal. It doesn't get much better than that. You can find their videos here.

That's all. Carry on. :)

Dawn by Kevin Brooks

2010-03-04T09:21:00.001-08:00

Title: Dawn
Author: Kevin Brooks
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, drama
Pages: 250
First Line: "This is a story about me, that's all."
Summary: Dawn Bundy lives in a cave. In her head. Where she's been hiding for two years.

Hiding behind headphones. From the two hottest girls at school, in their impossibly short skirts and unbearably tight tops, their razor-sharp cheekbones and taut, smooth shoulders close enough to touch.

Not talking to her mother,not about what matters.

Not thinking of her dad, the drug addict, the ex-con, born-again but far gone.

Two years is a long time. Enough for the cave to grow so small that her breath feels like stone in her throat.

Two years is no time at all. Nowhere near enough to forget. To pretend that nothing happened. Deep one perfect morning.

Source: Back of book

Review: Usually, I'm much more impressed with Kevin Brooks. I don't know if it's just that I've gotten older so his books don't seem as intense, or if it's just that I've read more books so I have more to compare it to or if this one just wasn't as good as his usual stuff. It wasn't BAD. I didn't consider stopping reading it. As always, he managed to have a totally different voice in his story. His books are told (always?) in the first-person, and he's really talented at making them all different people, rather than making it sound like it's just the author talking through a new name. The plot was kind of bland and didn't have a lot to it.

Basically, if you're going to read Kevin Brooks (which I HIGHLY suggest), don't start with this one. (Those bolded in the "other books by this author" section are those I most recommend, but they're all good...)

Worst part: The summary is kind of misleading. While it sort of implies that Dawn doesn't talk and is a mute, that's not it at all. That might have been cliched for the plot, but it would have at least made the book more interesting.

Best part: I liked the whole "killing God" thing. While I certainly don't advocate it, it was so interesting and I would have liked to see more of it.

Grade: C-

Other Books by This Author: Black Rabbit Summer (haven't read that one), Being, The Road of the Dead, Candy, Kissing the Rain (started that one, didn't like the character's voice, stopped reading), Lucas (also excellent), Martyn Pig (really good but not as good as Candy and Lucas)

16 / 50 books. 32% done!

Skinned by Robin Wasserman

2010-03-02T15:28:00.001-08:00

No spoilers.

Title: Skinned
Author: Robin Wasserman
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: YA, sci-fi, futuristic
Pages: 361
First Line: "Lia Kahn is dead."
Summary: Lia Kahn was perfect: rich, beautiful, popular--until the accident that nearly killed her. Now she has been downloaded into a new body that only looks human. Lia will never feel pain again, she will never age, and she can't ever truly die. But she is also rejected by her friends, betrayed by her boyfriend, and alienated from her old life.

Forced to the fringes of society, Lia joins others like her. But they are looked at as freaks. They are hated. . .and feared. They are everything but human, and according to most people, this is the ultimate crime--for which they must pay the ultimate price.

Source: Back of book

Review: Skinned was fantastic. I haven't read a futuristic/sci-fi book in awhile and I loved this one. While it is fairly different from the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, it's up there in the same ranks as far as how good it is. The book brings forth some interesting philosophies and questions. The characters were absolutely fantastic and even before I finished the book, I started a fanfic for Auden/Lia. One of the great things about this book was that it wasn't set in a time -- it vaguely referred to the past but even fifty years from now, someone could read this and not think, "Hey, this doesn't matched what happened," which I feel is a problem with books like this, but name a date, such as 1984. This book could be read in the future and still be thought of as a futuristic society novel.

Aside from it being scifi, I felt it was all very realistic, specifically character relationships and subtle actions by the characters which showed how they were feeling without the narrator telling. Wasserman does a great job of keeping it in first-person without making it seem that the other characters don't have lives of their own and that they aren't the star of their own novels.

All-in-all, I greatly look forward to getting my hands on the next book and am even considering buying this one in paperback (is it already out?) in the near future. Definitely worth checking out, even if you're not into sci-fi.

Worst part: I will say there was something a little bit off about Walker -- he wasn't quite like the other characters. However, that may be intentional and we'll find out in the sequels. Also, I would have liked more with Ben and Asa.

Best part: The writing style was fairly different from what I've read in the past -- I'm always interested in reading a fresh, new style.

Grade: A

Other Books by This Author: Hacking Harvard.

15 / 50 books. 30% done!

Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley

2010-02-28T10:06:00.001-08:00

Title: Hot Lunch
Author: Alex Bradley
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: YA
Pages: 276
First Line: "True, there was a moment, right after Ms. Valeri had explained the assignment and announced that everyone should select a writing partner, when I knew I should pay attention and at least try to find a partner who I didn't hate."
Summary: Got lunch? If you don't, you'll have to eat the hot lunch, and that's risky business these days with the new additions int he kitchen: Molly and Cassie are cooking.

Molly is a blue-haired sophomore who can't stand most of her classmates at her hippie-run high school, Sunshine Day. She especially can't stand Cassie, mostly because Cassie is blond and perky and just too normal. When Molly and Cassie are forced to collaborate on a school project, however, their bickering escalates into a FOOD FIGHT in the cafeteria. But because Sunshine Day isn't your average high school, the girls' punishment isn't detention--it's to work in the cafeteria as lunch ladies.

Their only hope of escape is to actually cook good food and earn their way out. But they'll also have to cook up a way to get along in order to get themselves out of the kitchen.

Source: Back of book

Review: This book wasn't great but it wasn't awful. Some parts were pretty good and a certain aspect of the book was fairly unpredictable. Half-way through I realized it might have been a little bit better if Maureen Johnson had written it, but I enjoyed the "hands-on" reading because it included four recipes, one of which I plan on trying out at some point. The plot was pretty original, except for the Molly-Cassie relationship, which was fairly generic. A little bit preachy but not to the point where it was overly annoying. Worth a look if you've got a slow day.

Worst part: Something was missing from the book. I'm not quite sure what, but I felt like that throughout.

Best part: I really liked the Patty Cable situation. It was similar to a lot of other books, but it seemed totally fresh.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: 24 Girls in 7 Days.

Other Notes: - Alex Bradley is the pseudonym for Jeremy Jackson
- His Alex Bradley blog is pretty funny. There are only three posts but you can find it by searching Alex Bradley on Google.
- He looks a little bit like John Green.

14 / 50 books. 28% done!

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner

2010-02-28T10:04:00.002-08:00

Title: Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life & Times
Author: James Finn Garner
Year of Publication: 1994
Genre: Satire, fairy tales
Pages: 79
First Line: (Of the Introduction:) "When they were first written, the stories on which the following tales are based certainly served their purpose--to entrench the patriarchy, to estrange people from their own natural impulses, to demonize "evil" and to "reward" an "objective" "good."
Summary: Once upon a time, in the olden days, heavy-set middle-aged men would congregate in their elitist clubs, sit in over-stuffed leather chairs, smoke air-choking cigars, and pitch story ideas and plots to each other. Problem was, these stories, many of which founds their way into the general social consciousness, reflected the way in which these men lived and saw their world: that is the stories were sexist, discriminatory, unfair, culturally biased, and in general, demeaning to witches, animals, goblins, and fairies everywhere.

Finally, after centuries of these abusive tales, which have been handed down--unknowingly--from one male-biased generation to the next, James Finn Garner has taken it upon himself (that's right, yet another man) to enlighten and liberate these classic bedtime stories and retell them in a way that is much more in keeping with the society in which we live today.

Source: Back of book

Review: I read this while writing an essay about politically correctness, but I had been meaning to read it anyway. It wasn't quite as "smart" as I had expected it to be, but it was pretty funny and absurd in some parts. It only took half-an-hour or forty-five minutes to read so it's worth it if you're waiting at the doctor's office or just want a little laugh.

Worst part: I was disappointed with the lack of a real biting intelligence but that isn't to say it was stupid.

Best part: The concept of this collection is really interesting.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: Politically Correct. . .

13 / 50 books. 26% done!

The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb

2010-02-28T10:04:00.001-08:00

Title: The Fetch
Author: Laura Whitcomb
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: YA, supernatural, historical
Pages: 379
First Line: "Calder was a Fetch, a death escort, and had been since his own death at the age of nineteen."
Summary: Calder is a Fetch, a death escort, the first of his kind to step from Heaven back to Earth. The first to fall in love with a mortal girl.

But when he climbs backwards out of the Death Scene, into the chaos of the Russian Revolution, he tears a wound in the ghost realm, where the spirits begin a revolution of their own.

Source: Back of book

Review: After reading A Certain Slant of Light (which is not a sequel or companion -- just by the same author), I had really been looking forward to reading more of Laura Whitcomb's stuff. When this finally came out, I was really excited to get my hands on it and when I finally did, I was disappointed. While the cover of the book advertises it as a "supernatural romance," it isn't, really. There is very little romance in it. That would have been okay if it hadn't been billed as such. The plot was really disorganized and all over the place, making it hard to remember what, exactly, was happening. While the idea was intriguing, it was not executed well. I'm not sure if I would bother recommending this to someone, unless he was very interested in the Russian Revolution and the Romanovs.

Worst part: Probably just how disappointed I was. I had loved ACSoL and this just was not the same caliber at all.

Best part: There were a few scenes towards the end of the middle that were kind of cute but the rest of the book was lacking in those kinds of scenes!

Grade: D

Other Books by This Author: A Certain Slant of Light.

12 / 50 books. 24% done!