Review: After by Amy Efaw

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Who would leave her own baby in the trash to die?

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

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

WIth the utmost empathy and precision, author Amy Efaw carefully peels back the layers of Devon's past as she faces a possible future behind bars.  The result is a gripping, page-turned that will challenge your beliefs abotu conscience and conciousness. 

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Yes.

This was a very difficult book to read.  It is centered around the "dumpster baby" phenomenon.  I could never understand the idea of it.  A mother bares a child and then throws it away as if it is some trash they want to get rid of.  This is an account of Devon, a perfect student, athlete and child, who does the unthinkable and is arrested for her crime. 

The novel starts with Devon laying on the couch in pain.  She has already delivered the baby and has taken it to be the trashcans out back.  The police have found the baby and her mother comes in with the sad news. 

This book hooked me from the very beginning.  There were times when I became annoyed at Devon.  However, you quickly realize why it is that Devon chooses to simply not care.  I became emotionally involved with this book and with Devon as I read through the flashbacks and traveled with Devon through her court battle. 

I think this book is geared for the older YA group, and I would not reccomend this book to my junior high school kids as it deals with challenging topics. 

What Bothered Me About the Book? 
The novel is written in third person.  I don't know if this is because Efaw wanted us to feel as detached from The Night as Devon does are if she just would rather write in third person, but I think that if the book was written in first person we could have felt more of a connect to Devon. 

Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Synopsis from the book jacket:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.







PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.






Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.






Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
I'd say it was ... sorta...

I was anxious to read this book because I love the story of Marie-Antoinette and  thought it would be refreshing to read something that is not your typical YA novel. 

Donnelly's idea to create a book like this is ambitious.  She somehow weaves the story of Alexadrine, a french girl who was brought on by Marie-Antoinette to be a friend to Louis-Charles, and Andi, a troubled girl in Brooklyn who doesn't quite know how to get over the death of her brother Truman.  Andi travels to Paris at the demand of her father.  She is to work on her senior thesis paper on a French musician so that she may have a chance at graduating on time.  While there Andi discovers a diary that was writtern more than two centuries ago by Alex.

In the novel, Donnelly weaves the stories together to create a world where the girls are one. It is quite a beautiful and well-written book.  I loved Andi's character. Actually, I loved all of the American characters.  They were written to be flawed teenagers (like all are) instead of the atypical perfect gods or godessess that some authors write into their novels.  Andi is real.  She is depressed, sarcastic, and strong. 

What Bothered Me About This Book?

I think what bothered me most about this book is the lack of character connection to Alex.  I know that through only a diary entry I wouldn't feel a huge connection to Alex, but I never felt like I got her whole picture.  Maybe I just felt more attached to Andi with all of her family drama. 

Also, I am still wondering why this book was published for YA.  Don't get me wrong, it is PG.  However, I don't think any of my students would pick it up and read more than the first 4 pages.  The diary entries are long, and she shifts from one time frame to the next which I think will throw off some. 


I would say this book is written for the older YA group. 

Review: Jane by April Lindner

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.



But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?


An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

 
Was This Book Worth My Time?
 Yes.

My favorite book of all time is Jane Eyre.  So, when I read about this book I knew I had to get my hands on it.  Lindner takes the classic tale of Jane Eyre and spins it into a modern, rock-star version.  I'm not usually a fan of "do-overs", but this book was a fantastic read. I think a say that because Lindner was true to the original story.  It doesn't get better than that. I just kept thinking, "This would be a great book to teach with Jane Eyre."  Not that I plan on tackling Jane Eyre in my junior high class.  However, it is a good cross-over. 

Jane is a strong, independent protagonist.  I loved the idea of showing her using that strength even when she had nothing.  The message it sent was one of "no excuses."  

I do think those girls who pick up this book without reading Jane Eyre will find it mysterious, almsost scary. It is romance, mystery, and strength all roled into one.


 
What Bothered Me About This Book?
Not a thing.

Review: Trackers by Patrick Carman

Synopsis from the book jacket:
In the 21st century landscape of bits and bytes, everyone leaves a digital footprint ... even the most advanced cyber criminals. And that’s where the Trackers come in. Four tech-savvy kids armed with high-tech video cameras and esoteric coding skills, the Trackers can find almost anyone, anywhere. Told through a collage of videos, text, and websites, Trackers #1 follows Adam, Finn, Lewis, and Emily as they become entangled in a high-tech, high-stakes game of cat and mouse with Shantorian, the world’s most dangerous hacker. At least, that’s who they think they’re tracking....







As the four dig deeper into the shadowy world of online crime, they soon learn that things aren’t always as they seem.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Two years ago at our annual book fair, my students came across a book that told a story about a mysterious abandoned mill and a small town with lots of secrets.  Not only was it a "scary" book but the book had stops along the way where readers had to go online to watch video of what the characters had found on their adventure.  Skeleton Creek is still the one book in my library that never actually stays in my library.  Patrick Carman had me at that book.  If you can get my reluctant readers to read to the back cover, you are my hero. 
 
I was anxious to get my hands on this new series by Carman.  Trackers is a mystery book aimed at techies.  Like Skeleton Creek, Trackers also had videos to view.  I like that the story is written as an interview as many reluctant readers are drawn to a novel that doesn't "look" like a novel. 
 
One thing that I thought was ingenius was that Carman attached all of the transcripts of the video segments.  This way, if you weren't able to get to a computer, you could just flip to the appendixes and read the transcripts. 
 
Overall, this book was a hit with me, and I'm sure it will be another one those books I just can't keep on my classroom library shelf.  :) 
 
 
 
What Bothered Me About the Book?
The ending was a bit of a let down.  The whole way through the book I thought these kids had got themselves into a big mess of danger.  However, at the end I realize that it wasn't as much danger as I had been lead to believe.  Also, Carman absolutely leaves you hanging.  As much as I like series, this is the part I despise. :(

Review: The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie - Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer

Synopsis from book jacket:
Marie- Antoinette is given endless instructions before she leaves Austria at the age of fourteen to marry the dauphin of France.  In her new home at the grand palace of Versailles, her every move is scruntinized by the cruel and gossipy members of the French court.  Marie-Antoinette tries to adhere to their stifiling rules of etiquete, but sometimes, this fun-loving young woman can't help by indulge herself with scandalous fashions, taboo recreations, elaborate parties - and even a forbidden romance.

Most damaging to her reputation is that after years of marriage, Marie -Antoinette has not fulfilled the most important requirement to produce an heir to the throne.  Sadness and frustration lead the young queen to become ever more recklessly extravagant in her ways, much to the outrage of the poor and suffering common people of France.

When angry revolutionaries arrive at Versailles to take her and the king to Paris, Marie-Antoinette has no idea what horrors are in store.  The luxurious life she led, and the monarchy she spent her life serving are about to come crashing down.  Though she would be remembered by the revolutionaries as an obscene spendthrift, perhaps Mare-Antoinette had more in common with them than they thought - for she too was a rebel who lived by her own rules.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Yep.

Without my even noticing it, I choose a lot of historical fiction on my last trip to the library.  Like I said in an earlier post, I am not a history buff.  Embarassingly enough, I didn't know much about Marie-Antoinette before reading this book. 

I know a lot now, and I found that has much to do with the way the book is written. It is written strictly in 1st person - an awesome decision on the author's part because it helps to make Marie-Antoinette more real to the reader.

The story flows seamlessly and tells of a girl who really is just trying to do what she must do -obey. I think that, to some extent, the book does help to shift the idea that Marie-Antoinette was shelfish to an idea that she was loyal and maybe even a little misunderstood. 

I did like the book, and I think that for those girls who want to read about "princessess and drama" this would be a book that they would enjoy. 


What Bothered Me About the Book?
Not a thing.

Review: Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan

Synopsis from book jacket:
All you have to know now is that a camera is like your eye.  To foccus, keep on eye clocked while you're looking with the other.  It brings everything closer.  You can hide behind a camera.

It's 1962 and the heat of Jackson, Mississippi, holds more than a potential romance with the wrong kind of boy for fourteen year old Sam.  There's also the hand me down dresses and bobby cock from cousin Tine.  There's a gift from her mother's new friend, Perry - a balck Asahi Pentax camera.  there's their stoic maid, Willa Mae.  There are lunch counter sit-ins and black voter registeration drives that turn violent.

In a world that sees only in black and white, this is the year Sam learns to use her camera for shades of gray.


Was This Book Worth My Time?
Without a doubt. McMullan does an amazing job of giving so many raw emotion and detail that you, as a reader, begin to immerse yourself in the story - you become Sam.  It is not easy after that to ignore what Sam feels as she and her mother are targeted for being supporters of the African American vote. 

I was impressed by the shear amount of history that was intertwined into the book.  It never is protrayed as history because you are living it in this book.  McMullan is a fantastic writer, and this is a book that I would suggest to my students.  It is an easy, but thought-provoking read that does stay with you after you've turned the last page. 

What Bothered Me About the Book?
The only thing that bothered me was the realization of how many people suffered during segregation in the south.  It is always hard to me grasp history concepts, but this book makes you see just how unjust the actions against African Americans and their white friends were.

Review: The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Synopsis from jacket:

The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him to hook up with his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner—whatever that means. Alton’s uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich.



But Alton’s parents aren’t the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp’s good graces. They’re in competition with his longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him.


Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life.


Through Alton’s wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality—and inspires readers to think and think again.





Was this book worth my time?
Sure. 

I loved the way this book was written as if Alton was just telling his story.  It was full of humor and sarcasm.  I also liked the way it ended with the awful, immature parents getting what they deserve (or even a little better than they deserve).  I fell in love with Trapp and was continually reminded of both of my grandfathers.

What bothered me about the book?
 I spent most of the book skipping over the parts where Alton, Trapp, and Toni playing bridge or talked about bridge.  I think if I had given the rules and description a better read I might not have been confused and bored by the game. I wonder if some of my students would "hang on" through those parts or just put it down and choose another books. 

I also found the book to be predicable.

Review: I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Synopsis from book jacket:
Nine aliens and their guardians are hiding on Earth … protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numeric order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four.



John has to keep moving: he’s got to outrun his past; escape his mortal enemies the Mogadorians;and blend into normal student life. But above all he must pray his newly found powers – alien legacies from home Planet Lorien – don’t give him away before he can complete his destiny, unlock his powers and protect his future.


In the beginning we were nine.


We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now …


Three are gone.


We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We’re just trying to survive.


Six are left.


But we are hunted, and the hunters won’t stop until they’ve killed us all.


They caught Number One in Malaysia.


Number Two in England.


And Number Three in Kenya.


I am Number Four.






I know that I am next.





Was This Book Worthy My Time?
Interestingly enough, I first heard of this book on my Facebook page. I logged on the week before Mockingjay was released, and I saw an ad in the corner of my screen that read something like, "Need something to tide you over until Mockinjay comes to bookshelves? Read I Am Number Four." I immediately put my name on the waiting list at the library and waited patiently for it to come to me.






I was apprehensive about the ideas of aliens as I am not usually a science fiction lover. After beginning this book, though, I quickly realized that this book wasn't anything like the stereotypical alien story. It opened my eyes to a world I didn't think I would be interested in. I think the fast-paced storyline and the little bit of teenage drama makes for an excellent combination.



John, the protagonist, is a typical teenage except for the fact that he is really an alien. I loved that the authors didn't spend much time talking about the fact that he was an alien, but I wonder how the fans of real science fiction would feel about it.



I also loved the idea of "Pittacus Lore" being the leader of Lorien and also the author of the book. It gives the book a little mystery. All in all, this book is something fresh and new in that it doesn't have to do with vampires. I am thankful to these authors for giving the YA world another great book for boys Let's face it, there aren't many.



I think that this book will take off over the course of the next year especially with the movie due out in February.





What Bothered Me About This Book?

If the authors do intend on making this a six book series, it doesn't seem like they give enough of a back-story to give the series a takeoff that will be needed to make the series successful. I would've liked to have learned a little bit more about Lorien and John's life before earth. I do think that the idea of giving John's history through his dreams is a good one, but I think these authors will have to take it up a notch if they want the books to get the same fan-base as Harry Potter.



Sidenote: The authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes wrote this book under the collective alias "Pittacus Lore".

Review: Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

Synopsis from book jacket:
2097 is a transformed world. Thirty years earlier, a mysterious plague wiped out 97 percent of the male population, devastating every world system from governments to sports teams, and causing both universal and unimaginable grief. In the face of such massive despair, women were forced to take over control of the planet--and in doing so they eliminated all of Earth's most pressing issues. Poverty, crime, warfare, hunger . . . all gone.
But there's a price to pay for this new "utopia," which fourteen-year-old Kellen is all too familiar with. Every day, he deals with life as part of a tiny minority that is purposefully kept subservient and small in numbers. His career choices and relationship options are severely limited and controlled. He also lives under the threat of scattered recurrences of the plague, which seem to pop up wherever small pockets of men begin to regroup and grow in numbers.


And then one day, his mother's boss, an iconic political figure, shows up at his home. Kellen overhears something he shouldn't--another outbreak seems to be headed for Afterlight, the rural community where his father and a small group of men live separately from the female-dominated society. Along with a few other suspicious events, like the mysterious disappearances of Kellen's progressive teacher and his Aunt Paige, Kellen is starting to wonder whether the plague recurrences are even accidental. No matter what the truth is, Kellen cares only about one thing--he has to save his father.


Was This Book Worth My Time?
Sure.

I think the Epitaph Road is a book for those kids that really like dystopia or post-apocalyptic books.  It poses great questions.  What would the world be like if women were in power? Aren't women sympathetic and caring? Can there be evil lurking in those motherly personalities?

I was interested throughout the book to find out how Dr. Mack, Keelen's mom, and Aunt Paige all played a part in the way the society functions.  Patneaude does present a conflict pretty early on so that did keep me reading; however, I wouldn't say that it had me on the edge of my seat. 

It's an okay book, and I'm glad I picked it up.  Would I buy it for my classroom library? No.

What Bothered Me About the Book?
I learning quickly that mysterious post-apocalyptic novels need to be FULL of action for me, or I will become disengaged quickly.  This was the case with Epitaph Road.  I wasn't really into the book until Keelen and the girls arrived at the lab and began to unravel important information. 

I also felt the book stayed very much on the surface for most of the book, and we never really delve into why these women want to stay on top, or why Kellen's dad decides to leave his son behind.  I feel like if I had been given these sort of answers, I might have been more connected.

Review: Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

Missy and her cousin Claire are best friends who finish each other’s sentences and practically read each other’s minds. It’s an eerie connection—so eerie that Missy has questions she wants to put to her parents. But she’s afraid to ask. So when Missy hears an expert discussing newborn babies on the radio, it makes her wonder about her family.







Missy just can’t let go of those nagging questions, and decides to use a school project about scientific hoaxes to try to uncover the answers. She enlists Claire to help. As part of the project the girls perform a dramatic scene that is captured on video at school. After the video is posted on YouTube, Missy and Claire realize that they’ve opened Pandora’s box and much more than they ever imagined has come out. Not only are their identities called into question, but so is the future of everyone involved.






In this riveting, heartrending story by thriller author Caroline B. Cooney, the truth changes the lives of three families—as the bonds of blood must withstand the strains of long-hidden secrets that are at last revealed.
 
 
Was This Book Worth My Time?
Sadly, no.
 
I was anxious to get my hands on this book as Caroline B. Cooney usually has great mysterious storylines with lots of action. 
 
The premise of the book lead me to believe that this book would be no exception to her other novels.  However, after delving in I realized that, this time, that may not be the case. 
 
I liked that the book held some form of mystery in that I did keep reading to find out what exactly was the connection between the three identical girls, and there were moments when I found myself second guessing my predictions.  At one time, I believed they might have been cloned after learning a little more about the sketching Dr. Russo. 
 
 What Bothered Me About the Book?
The many different points of view all stuck in one chapter were quite confusing to me. A chapter that was supposed to be all about how Claire another had a point of view of her parents.  There wasn't really a clear transistion, and I could see how that might be something that might make readers stay away from the book. 
 
I also had a problem with ending.  Without spoiling the ending for readers, I really thought the whole "mystery" was going to be way more complex, and the end I was a little disappointed to read that it was actually not so mysterious afterall. 
 
I never really was "in the dark" as I read through the book.  There wasn't any "shocking" elements. 
 

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

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 the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.






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





Was This Book Worth My Time?
Not really. 

In defense of the book, the end of the book was great and full of action, danger, and one twist I didn't see coming.  I might be crazy in predicting that the next book in the series might be better as Kate does not need to spend another 200 pages setting up the story. 

What Bothered Me?
Somewhere between pages 50 and 75 I became really bored with the book.  I felt like it was taking to long to get to the real conflict.  Yeah, I knew that Luce and Daniel knew each other from another life, but I wanted to know how they met, and I also wanted to know why Daniel was avoiding her.  There wasn't must action, and absoutley no danger until the battle at the end.  Frankly, I am glad I did not spend any money on this book. 

Review: Trance by Linda Gerber

Synopsis from the book jacket:
It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling. There is time to take only one breath.  The trance begins.  When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things.  Somone she knows is about to die, and .... she is powerless to stop it.

Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

I was really worried that this book was going to be a lot like Num8ers.  However, I was pleasently surprised that this was not the case.  Although this book has some sadness, the romance between Jake and Ashlyn gives this book the uplift it needs to produce a perfect combination of light and dark. Gerber does a fantastic job of incorporating Ashlyn's trances into her everyday life.  As a reader, we realize how burdensome these trances are for her.  I also liked that Gerber had a valid reason for every single charcter she introduced to her readers.  They all held a big position in helping Ashlyn combat her trances. You will be sucked into a trance as you read this book.  It is an engrossing read.  I read this book in one sitting. 



What bothered me?
Nothing. 

Review: The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Eli and his family have lived in the Compound for six years.  The world they knew is gone.  Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe.  Now, they can't get out.  He won't let them.


Was this book worth my time?
This is a fascinating book.  It is disturbingly good.  What I mean by that is the book introduces ideas that are far from ideas that would be presented in our world.  However, the point in bringing up these ideas is to pose the question, how far would we go to survive?

I liked how this novel was both full of action and mystery.  The protagonist, Eli is on a hunt for the REAL reason why they are stuck in an underground "prison." 

I think this book would be loved by those that liked the Hunger Games mainly because of the unsettling story line of both books. 

What bothered me about the book?
Honestly, I felt like there wasn't a true conflict.  Sure, they escaped from a nuclear explosion, but there anything else.  I was needing something more.  I found it about half way through the book.  After that, I was good to go. :)

Review: Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosaline Wiserman

Book description:
Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle School was brutal. Mean girls were all around her. But High School’s going to be Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day who does she run into? None other than Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now he’s back, looking a lot cuter and hanging out with a questionable crew. But Charlie doesn’t understand just how questionable until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.



All Charlie wanted to do was have a drama-free freshman year, but now she must decide whether to turn in her very best friend, who just told her he loves her, or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.


Was this book worth my time?
Yes

This book is so close to the real-life trials and all out fun that high school brings. I found myself remembering the drama, the gossip, the heartbreaks, and the oddities as I read the book. 

Her characters are true to life, and I think you would be hard-pressed to walk into a school that didn't have the kids that were protrayed in the book. 

My favorite part of the book is the fact that Charlie realizes that she can stand on her own.  I was proud of her, and, honestly, a little jealous that she figured it out so quickly and it took me 4 years of high school to figure it out. 

I'm not usually a fan of "girlie" book about crushes and gossip; however, this is a book that got me because of deeper issues addressed.  I really am glad that I took the time to give this book a shot.  You should too.

The conflicts are real; the drama is real. 


What bothered me about this book?
Nothing

Review: One Survivors by Susan Shaw

Book description:
24 DEAD, 2 SURVIVORS



HOW CAN YOU FIX THAT?


TELL ME HOW!
Anger. Sadness. Rage. Grief. Guilt.


Joey Campbell experiences them all, even though he knows what he should really feel is lucky. Lucky to have survived the fire that burned Village Park High School to the ground. Lucky that his best friend, Maureen, also survived, when no one else in his freshman history class managed to make it out alive.


Writing in a journal provides some solace, but Joey knows that redemption lies with the living. If only the living students and parents didn't blame him for the fire...


Startling, relevant, and honest, Joey's story is simply unforgettable.

 
Was this book worth my time?
Somewhat. 
 
This book is only 199 pages and, thus, was a very short read.  It was a book the holds the reader in suspense in that you really aren't sure what happened on the day of the fire until about half way through the book. 
 
I was pleasantly surprised that the book got drastically better in the second half. Ultimately , this book left me full of joy. 
 
 
What bothered me?
The book is written partly as a novel and partly as Joey's journal entries.  Truthfully, the journal entries at the beginning were most ramblings and a little boring to read.  If the book wasn't so short I would've probably stopped reading.  Luckily, I didin't.  I just wish Shaw had connected her readers to Joey sooner. 

Review: Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Book Description:
Restless souls and empty hearts


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

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

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


Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

This book was such an easy, fast read.  I literally couldn't put it down.  I felt like there wasn't a good place to stop.  The story flows so seamlessly.  It never stops.  It never slows down. 

The free verse is wonderful and perfect for the story. I don't believe that I would've felt the grief that the characters were feeling if it was written in prose. 

It's haunting; it's devestating; it's joyful; it's triumphant. 




What bothered me?
NOTHING! Fabulous book especially for girls who claim they hate to read.  ;)

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Description:
The longing.

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


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


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






Was this book worth my time?
Yes, but I don't know if I would have been that interested in this book had I not been in love with Shiver. 

I love the idea of a cure for the cure.  I think it adds suspense and mystery to the novel, and I was surprised when I found myself trying to figure out the "cure" along with Cole. 

I also liked that Stiefvater gave Isabel and Cole chapters in the book.  It helps understand both of their emotions and motivations. 

Stiefvater totally set the stage for the next book of the series, and I am ready to see what is in story for the Mercy Falls wolves. 




What bothered me about the book?
I was disappointed that there was not more romance.  I was looking forward to being drawn in to Stiefvater's way of protraying the passion and love between Sam and Grace.  I didn't feel that like I did in Shiver. 

Review: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Book Description:
In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota - and hopefully live to see another day.  But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life . . .

In this powerful novel, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set in a vivid and raw, uncertain future. 

Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

The world that Bacigalupi created is fantastic. I love that he made a world that futuristic, but still very true to our world today.  Even though New Orleans is flooded, the jazz and zydeco coming for the bars presents a world much like today.  I also loved the distinct line between good and evil that is protrayed in the book.  It was not over the top. 

I think that the book held enough action and suspense to make this a great book for struggling readers.  I also believe that adding a pirate-like aspect to the book adds to the danger that you feel as Nailer tries to save Nita. 

This is an intense and fast read. 

Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Book description:
When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path - just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn't talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos' wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she's too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Was this book worth my time?
AWESOME book. 

You know, it means a lot when I finish reading a book in only one day when I'm teaching.  This book was one of those books.  I started reading the book at about 8:00 last night, and I'm done tonight. 

This was a compelling romance.  It has a Romeo and Juliet/ West Side Story plot that pulled me in from the get go. 

Elkeles' details protraying the complicated inner conflicts of Carlos are vivid and had me cheering for him as well as laughing at his "tough" sense of humor.

I LOVED that both Carlos and Kiara's point of views were well-established in this novel as there is nothing better than having a story flow seamlessly from one to another and feeling, I  mean really feeling, each character's emotions.

This is a fast, easy, and romantic read. 


What bothered me?
Not one single thing. :)

A warning, though, this is not a book that I would put in my middle school library.  It deals with some tough issues. 

Review: Closed for the Season Mary Downing Hahn

Book Description:
Arthur and Logan, set out to solve the mystery of a murder that had taken place some years ago in the old house Logan's family has just moved into. The boys' quest takes them to the highest and lowest levels of society in their small Maryland town, and eventually to a derelict amusement park that is supposedly closed for the season.

 
Was this book worth my time?
Yes!
 
Interestingly enough, I hadn't ever heard of this novel until I came across it at our school's book fair.  Our libraian is fantastic and let me take a copy home to read it and review. 
 
Today, I returned the novel with a note that read, "AWESOME book.  Easy read, scary and funny!"  I wasn't lying.  This book was incrediably intriguing in it's plot line.  Hahn twists her story around central characters that all come together in the end in the most unexpected ways.  The main settings of the novel are "scary" and original. 
 
This novel  is an easy read. This is a great book for middle schoolers who like "scary" books!
 
 
What bothered me?
Nothing! Enjoy this mystery!

Review: Num8ers by Rachel Ward

Synopsis from book jacket:

Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.
Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!

Was the Book Worth My Time?
Not so much. 

I was very close to putting the book down.  However, last  night I skimmed through the 2011 Lonestar book nominations, and Num8ers was on the list.  I finished it hoping that I hadn't gotten to the part in the book that would make this a Lonestar nominee.

The plot is fantastic and compelling. Unfortunately, there were too many negative aspects of my experience reading this novel to compete with a create story line. 


What Bothered Me?
Frankly, I'm surprised I didn't put this book down on Chapter 6.  I am not a fan of books that have little conflict.  I wasn't sure why I was reading.  In fact, the only reason I kept reading was to see if Spider actually died in the end.  Other than that, I skimmed through paragraphs and tried to finish the book quickly.  I wasn't "in" the book.  The bombing isn't set up with a lot of depth and because of that I spent most of the book wondering if the event the book jacket talks about was something entirely different than the London Eye event. 

I think another reason I wasn't into the book was because the book holds much darkness.  Obviously, death is talked about in excess.  Jem also, like any person stuck with this horrible "gift" is depressed and finds solace only in being alone.  Like I said after reading Laurie Halse Anderson's Twisted, I'm just not a big fan of "dark" novels. 

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Synopsis from the book jacket:

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed.  Gale has escaped.  Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist.  There are rebels.  These are the new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it.  District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol.  Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss. 
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem.  To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust.  She must become to rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

Was this Book Worth my Time?
Yes, if only to find out what happens to Katniss and the country of Panem. 

No surprise that I'm going to rave about Suzanne Collins and her triology.  Hunger Games is my all-time favorite book.  In fact, just last week I read an excerpt of the book to each of my classes in hopes that my students would love the book as much as I do.  Not a minute after I finished the reading did the hands shoot up. 

Mockingjay is a wonderful conclusion to the triology. There are many "stories" that end, and, sadly, the fans of the triology will find themselves with no hopes of another book. 

The tone of this book is quite unlike the two previous books.  This book covers the idea of war at the highest and most violent moments.  Katniss is protrayed as a pawn, and this conflict that Collins forms is one that had my blood boiling.  It is impressive that Collins gives her readers such a vivid image of war especially the lack of protection of the innocent. 

Collins did not let me down in her writing.  I said it before, and I'll say it again - her writing makes you cheer when Katniss succeeds, cry when Katniss loses, and breathe in a loud "humph" when Katniss is crossed. 

 I left this book feeling impressed, satisfied, and hopeful. 


What Bothered Me?
Well, I guess I'm "bothered" by the fact that it wasn't as intense as I had hoped.  Unlike Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I never found my heart racing.  This book didn't enter my mind and grasp my thoughts like the previous books. 

I guess sometimes it's hard to top a great book.  This is the case with Mockingjay.  It's a good book, and, in defense of this book, I don't think anything could ever beat Hunger Games.

Review: The Light (Morpheus Road)by D.J. MacHale

Synopsis from jacket:

Marshall Seaver is being haunted.







It begins with mysterious sounds, a fleeting face outside a window, a rogue breeze—all things that can be explained away. That is, until he comes face-to-face with a character who only exists on


the pages of a sketchbook—a character Marshall himself created.




Marshall has no idea why he is being tormented by this forbidding creature, but he is quickly convinced it has something to do with his best friend, Cooper, who has gone missing. Together with Cooper's beautiful but aloof sister, Sydney, Marshall searches for the truth about his friend while ultimately uncovering a nightmare that is bigger and more frightening than he could ever have imagined.




Number one New York Times bestselling author D. J. MacHale launches his eerie new trilogy with a story so packed with chilling suspense, readers will want to sleep with the light on.





Was This Book Worth My Time?

Yep.

I am a mystery fanatic.  Give me a good mystery book anyday, and I'll curl up under the covers and read until the last page is turned.  Based on my ultra-scientific rating system of "if it's worth my time, I'll read without breaking" this book earns a "great" on my scale.  I put this book down only in dire situations (cooking supper, showering, and fixing a nice sized bowl of vanilla yougurt topped with Cap'n Crunch). 

MacHale builds tension in the story at an alarming rate.  Right off the bat, Marshall is left at home alone and starts hearing strange noises.  MacHale does such a good job of painting the picture of Marshall going from room to room that I caught myself holding my breath as he opened a closet or turned on the light in a darkened room. 

His villians "pop" up at the most unexpected times, and Marshall is caught in some dangerous situations that a whole lot more creative than the overused dark alley. 

This book is an easy read with high-level of engagement.  This is pefect for any mystery lover!


What Bothered Me?

I totally hate books that lead up to a great ending and then let me down.  The whole way through the book I'm thinking, "This is great."  Then, I get to end, and I'm left thinking, "What just happened?"  The whole basis of the mystery - the whole reason Cooper went missing - is never explained. Sure, we know who caused Cooper's disappearance and what he wants, but we don't know the story BEHIND what he wants. I guess MacHale did this because he plans to write two more books that follow Marshall and Cooper, but, man, I hate feeling like I didn't get "it." 

Review: Bones of faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Synopsis from jacket:

The war between humanity and Faerie devastated both sides. Or so 15-year-old Liza has been told. Nothing has been seen or heard from Faerie since, and Liza’s world bears the scars of its encounter with magic. Trees move with sinister intention, and the town Liza calls home is surrounded by a forest that threatens to harm all those who wander into it. Then Liza discovers she has the Faerie ability to see—into the past, into the future—and she has no choice but to flee her town. Liza’s quest will take her into Faerie and back again, and what she finds along the way may be the key to healing both worlds.


Janni Lee Simner’s first novel for young adults is a dark fairy-tale twist on apocalyptic fiction—as familiar as a nightmare, yet altogether unique

Was This Book Worth My Time?

Sure.

This book was interesting to me.  The setting is futuristic in that the villagers once had TV, but the war destroyed them.  There are many parts of the book that made me stop and think about what kind of book I was reading because it seems so surreal.  There is no magic in our world, but in this book they make it seem as if there is no one in the world who does NOT possess some sort of magical ability.

This novel was a breath of fresh air after I struggled through Janni Lee Simner's second book Thief Eyes.  This book was written with more action and a lot more depth - somethign I searched to find in Thief Eyes.


This wasn't a "I don't want to put it down" kind of book for me.  It is a book that has elements of scary fairy-tale and post-apocalyptic characteristics. 


What Bothered Me?
I felt like I was never let in on the history of the characters. I was a little put off by this beacuse there were times when I couldn't understand why a character was doing something.  It's hard for me, as a reader, to justify a character's motive without a history. 


More than anything, I'm bothered with the fact that I don't have much to say period.  That speaks for itself.  It's a good book.  Nothing special. 

Review: Ashes by Kathryn Lasky

Synopsis from jacket:



Berlin, 1932: In many ways thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm lives a charmed, carefree life. She loves her parents and her sister, Ulla. She loves her new literature teacher. She loves her family’s summer lake house, next door to Albert Einstein’s. And most of all, Gaby loves books.


But soon she begins losing all these thing, one by one, as Hitler unstoppably climbs to power. People Gaby thought she could trust turn out to be Nazis. Many of her friends are fleeing, or, worse, being taken away. And there’s something troubling about Ulla’s boyfriend that Gaby can’t quite figure out. As always, she turns to her books for comfort – but even those are disappearing.


Newbery Honor winner and master of historical fiction Kathryn Lasky once again brings the past to life with this searing portrait of a nation on the brink of war, and a girl whose life is about to change.



Was This Book Worth My Time?

YES! YES! YES!

I spend a 6 weeks in my classroom teaching a Holocaust unit and was anxious to see if this book portrayed the Holocaust in an interesting way. Let’s face it, when a teacher says we will be studying historical fiction many students sigh. It’s hard to get kids to want to learn about history (kudos to you history teachers that made it interesting).

This book is FANTASTIC. Somehow, Lasky weaves the rise of Hitler’s power into a story about a curious, independent girl, Gaby, and her family’s fight to be independent thinkers.

I learned more about the Holocaust than I have in doing research to present in my lessons. Lasky nonchalantly throws in information in a way that feels easy and simple to understand. I thought about why it was that I felt this way and came to the realization that it was because I was Gaby. It was easy due to the style of Lasky’s writing to become Gaby and live her life. I felt her emotions and lived her fear.

What Bothered Me?

When I get to this part of my blog, I always think really hard about something, anything, that might throw a reader off the novel. If I say that “nothing” bothered me, it’s because I literally could not find one thing that might throw someone off.

When I thought about this book, the only thing that “threw” me was the fact that there were many paragraphs devoted to talk between Gaby’s father and Albert Einstein. As you can imagine, any talk with Einstein would include in-depth discussions about science, and the talks with Gaby’s father were no exception. I am a fan of learning (you would be hard-pressed to find a teacher who wasn’t); however, I am neither a science nor a math lover and ,therefore, spent most of those paragraphs feeling a little bored.

Review: Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson

Synopsis from jacket:

In a time of deadly crisis, Linden alone has the power to save her people.

The faeries of the Oak are in danger of extinction, and their only hope for survival rests in fifteen-year-old Linden. Armed with the last of her people’s magic, she travels bravely into the modern human world. Along the way she makes a reluctant ally – a human boy named Timothy.


Soon Linden and Timothy discover a danger much worse than the Oakenfolk’s loss of magic: a potent evil that threatens to enslave faeries and humans alike. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Tim and Linden must risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it’s too late to save everyone they love.


R.J. Anderson has artfully crafted a world of stunning magic, thrilling adventure, and delicate beauty, where the key to the future is in an unexpected, forbidden friendship.



Was This Book Worth My Time?

Yep.

I was a little worried when I read the synopsis. I thought to myself, “Eh, I’ll give this book a try, but if this is another paranormal romance novel I might throw up.”

Little did I know I was in for a nice surprise. This novel isn’t your typical girl falls in love with a werewolf, pixie, vampire, or any other crazy creature. Instead, this is a novel packed full of love for a community and the fight to save what matters most.

Anderson writes a beautiful and captivating story of a young girl on a quest to keep her faery community safe from an Empress who threatens to overtake their world and demand their allegiance to her. Anderson takes her readers on a journey through England as Linden and, her human friend, Tim try to find the one thing that might keep the Empress at bay.

This novel is mysterious, fast-paced, and full of page turning events.



What Bothered Me?

Not a thing.

Review: Lies by Michael Grant

Synopsis from jacket:

It’s been seven months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.


It happens in one night. A girl who died walks among the living; Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach; and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of boy he fears the most: Drake. But Drake is dead. Sam and Caine defeated him along with the Darkness – or so they thought.


As Perdido Beach burns, battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants, and Same against Drake, who is back from the dead and ready to finish where he and Sam left off. And all the while deadly rumors are raging like the fire itself, spread by the prophetess Orsay and he companion, Nerezza. They say that death is a way to escape the FAYZ. Conditions are worse than ever and kids are desperate to get out. But are the desperate enough to believe that death will set them free?



Was This Book Worth My Time?

Totally. I am a huge fan of Grant’s “Gone” series. I came across Gone browsing Barnes and Noble one day and decided to give it a try (I’m a fan of trying the first books of series in hopes to find good stories that last longer than 300 pages). I love the plot line. I mean isn’t it a compelling thought to be in a world where any person older than 15 disappears? It was for me. I couldn’t put the first book down.

Lies is a book that did not let me down. I was worried that this book, like so many series books, would be dull and repetitive; yet, never once did I feel bored. I thought the best part of this novel was the fact that these kids have multiple conflicts to resolve. Their makeshift council is falling apart, their food supply is nonexistent, and their “hero” doesn’t want to be a hero. There is still fighting between the “freaks” and humans which helps to excel the level of action in the book. Two people we thought were “dead” aren’t really, and Sam and Astrid’s relationship is on rocky ground.

If that wasn’t enough, Grant introduces a whole family we weren’t aware lived in the FAYZ.

This series is great for middle school boys and girls.



What Bothered Me?

Truthfully, if I had read this book pretty closely after reading the other two books in the series nothing would have bothered me. However, because I waited so long after reading Gone and Hunger I felt out of the loop. There were lots of points in the novel where I questioned characters and events.

Despite this, I give Grant kudos for being an author who does not spend chapters reminding his readers of what happened in previous novels. I hate that.

You have to read the first two books before this one. No cheating; it wouldn't be worth it.

Review: Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Serrilyn Kenyon

Synopsis from jacket:
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.
But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Was This Book Worth My Time?

Yes. 

Just the other day I was expressing my sadness that there are not many YA books out there for middle school boys.  As a teacher who strives to find books that girls and boys will enjoy, I was so excited about this book.  I hoped that it would have enough for both my girls and my boys.  My hopes were met!

This book is FULL of action, but the best part? The main character, Nick, is a boy whose family has very little money, and he is picked on for being different than the rich kids at his private school. I LOVE when the bullies come out on the bottom, and this book shows just that.

The second thing I adored about this book was the sarcasm.  If you know me, you know I'm sarcastic by nature.  It's hard for me to "turn off" my sarcasm , and Nick has that same problem.  I found myself laughing out loud at many parts. 

It was refreshing to read a book that involved zombies, werewolves, and demons without all the silly romance.  This is not a paranormal romance; it's a full-on war. 

What Bothered Me?
Nothing.

Review: Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner

Synopsis from jacket:
The latest YA fantasy book from Bones of Faerie author Janni Lee Simner!







After her mother mysteriously disappears, sixteen-year-old Haley convinces her father to take her to Iceland, where her mother was last seen. There, amidst the ancient fissures and crevices of that volcanic island, Haley meets gorgeous Ari, a boy with a dangerous side who appoints himself her protector.






When Haley picks up a silver coin that entangles her in a spell cast by her ancestor Hallgerd, she discovers that Hallgerd's spell and her mother's disappearance are connected to a chain of events that could unleash terrifying powers and consume the world. Haley must find a way to contain the growing fires of the spell—and her growing attraction to Ari.






Janni Lee Simner brings the fierce romance and violent passions of Iceland's medieval sagas into this twenty-first-century novel, with spellbinding results.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Not so much. 

There are very few books where I feel like I have nothing great to say, but I'm afraid this is one.

What Bothered Me?
I thought a lot about why it was that this book didn't "speak" to me.  I finally realized it was because I was not emotionally connected to the characters.  Every reader knows that the books you can't put down are the books where you feel like you are friends with the characters.  These books are the books that pull you in, and when the characters are happy or sad, you are too.  I never felt that way about Haley and , thus, never got into her story. Sadly, with a slow plot and little connection to the characters I felt little love for this book. 

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Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Synopsis from jacket:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre . . . to case it.  For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria . . . to steal the crown jewels.  When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own - scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind.  Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to  bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape.  But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's priceless art collection has been stolen and he wants it returned.  Only a master thief could have pulled off this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list.  Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back.  So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully, just enough talent to pull of the biggest heist in her family's (very crooked) history - and with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Was it Worth My Time?
First, is this not the cutest cover ever?!

I L-O-V-E Ally Carter's books.  I had forgotten how much until I opened Heist Society. Think Ocean's Eleven meets Gossip Girl. We finally get a girl that wants to plan the perfect heist!

Carter is amazing.  She wrote this book as if I knew every part of the plan .... I really did  think I knew it all... but, then, on the day of the heist I realized I had been let in on absoutely NO part of the plan. Carter made me think my friends Kat, Hale, Nick, Gabrielle, Hamish, and Angus had kept me in the loop.  They didn't ... what awful friends!?  So, for abouter 20 pages I found myself saying "ohhh."  Isn't that when you know the book is a winner?! 

This a perfect author for girls who like a whole lot of action, a good bit of mystery, and little bit of romance.  Check out her website here!



What Bothered Me?
Not. One. Thing.

Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Synopsis from jacket:


Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated citied, and unbounded wilderness.  The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.


Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can't remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron.  He's going to escape, even though most inmates don't believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.


Claudia claims to live Outside - her father is Warden of Incarceron and she's doomed to an arranged marriage.  If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return.


But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye.  Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.


Because Incarceron is alive.

Was It Worth My Time?
Totally. 

I am a huge "puzzle" lover.  Give me a good puzzle to solve, and I'm a happy girl.  I love movies that make me think, and, obviously, that same love translates to books as well. 

I wasn't expecting this book to be a puzzle; however, as I dove deeper into the pages of Incarceron, I realized that this book had me thinking ahead.  I was hoping that I could solve the mysteries of the prison, but really I wanted to solve the mystery of Finn.  Later, I realized I also needed to figure out Claudia's past. THEN (as if I wasn't already impressed with the twisty plot line)  Fisher threw out an answer to a mystery I didn't think needed solving.

It was a "wild ride" of a book with so many sub-plots that come together (magically) at the end. 

This is a GREAT book for middle schoolers. Boys and girls will love this book. I will be "booktalking" this novel the first week of school!




What Bothered Me?
Nothing really.

Although, I would warn that the beginning is a little confusing as Fisher jumps right in to her story, and I found myself using context clues to understands some of the terms.

Review: The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Synopsis from jacket:
   Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and she needs for happiness.
   But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.
   Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried.  And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.
   One night beyond the Barrier ....
   One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery ...
   One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.
   Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest and her mother's past.

Was It Worth My Time?
Yes, but only because I LOVED The Forsest of Hands and Teeth. Ryan does an excellent job of weaving both stories together.  She pulls in many different elements into her plot, and as a reader I found myself surprised throughout most of the book. 

I also liked that Ryan gave us a history that we did not know before of the way the world was before the Return.  It left me feeling content with the story of Gabry as well as Mary. 

As with the first book, I was continually amazed at Ryan's poetic, descriptive writing.  There were many parts that I "flagged" to use as examples of great writing. 


What Bothered Me?
I think I was expecting as much action as The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  This novel wasn't much like that.  Sure, there were parts that were action-packed, and there were moments when I was surprised; however, on the whole this book just didn't meet my expectations.  You'll want to read it if you loved Ryan's first novel, but it won't be a book that you read in one sitting.

Review: hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis from jacket:
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 triest 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 immortal and those who have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

Was it Worth My Time?
This whole "fallen angels" thing is new to me, and I gotta say I'm a little intrigued after reading this book.  It is a topic that isn't over-used (eh um, vampires), and Fitzpatrick goes far above any expectations I had of her as a new author. 

The book is amazing.  It would fall just below my top 10 favorites (which is saying a lot if you know me and how much I read).  The book combines suspense, fantasy, and romance and really made me want to keep reading.  I loved Nora as a character.  I especially adored her attraction/hatred for Patch.  She is terrified of him not only because she thinks he's so sexy but also because she's convinced he might be stalking her (and maybe even trying to kill her). 

This book contains many different sub-plots which equals absolutely no boredom on the part of the reader.


What Bothered Me?
At some points in the book I was a little annoyed.  Patch was such a mystery to me that I kept reading, but I knew NOTHING about him until page 288.  I wish I would have known a little more than what the front cover shows as I read the first 3/4 of the book.



Becca Fitzpatrick's sequel to hush, hush will be out October 2010. Check out the cool cover!

Review: Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle

Synopsis from jacket:

In 1837 London, young daughters of viscounts pined for handome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic.


Shy, studious Persephone Leland would far rather devote herself to her secret magic studies than enter society and look for a suitable husband. But just as the inevitable season is about to begin, Persy and her twin sister discover that their governess in magic has been kidnapped as part of plot to gain control of the Princess Victoria.  Racing through Mayfair ballrooms and royal palaces, the sisters overcome bad millinery, shady royal spinsters, and a mysterious Irish wizard. And along the way, Percy learns that husband hunting isn't such an odious task after all, if you can find the right quarry.

Was It Worth My Time?
I am so excited about this series! I came across this title when I was researching young adult books that have won awards.  Bewitching Season was on that list, and I thought I would give it a try.  It is great!

This book combines Harry Potter and the classic "happily-ever-after" plot.  The reader is taken back to the life of seventeen year old girls and their elegant debut as ladies in society.

Persy and her twin sister Pen are required to go to the city to be presented as ladies ready for marriage.   Persy is self-conscious and shy, and she fears she will never find a husband.  She has her eyes on only one man, and Persy believes she is not enough for Lochinvar Seton.  I loved Persy as a character and was happy that Doyle chose her as the main character because I wanted the shy girl to succeed (after all, aren't we all shy girls at some point?). 

The mystery of the disappearance of Ally (the girls' governess) paired with a romance that you hope will grow between Persy and Lochinvar will have you turning pages!



What Bothered Me?
I felt like the "magic" aspect of the novel could have been taken up a notch. There was only one magical duel in the novel, and I would've liked to have read more. 


This is a great book for middle school girls!

Betraying Season is the next book in the series!

I'm taking a sabatacle ...

from YA and reading The Passage by Jason Cronin.  This book is a current New York Times Bestseller, and I have FINALLY gotten my hands on a copy (thank you Half-Price Books in Sugar Land, Texas). 



Click here to read what USA Today had to say about this book.