Cover Alert: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (June 2010)

Summary:

Scarlett never believed in the Fenris—werewolves drawn to the delectable charms of young girls. That all changed when in one swift attack, a Fenris murdered her grandmother and left Scarlett half-blind and horrifically scarred. Only her younger sister, Rosie, escaped unharmed as Scarlett shielded her from the Fenris’s jaws.

Now eighteen, Scarlett’s life’s mission is to destroy the Fenris and save other girls from her fate—a mission she’s grown to love, despite herself. Armed with red cloaks and hatchets, Scarlett, Rosie, and a young woodsman, Silas, move to the city in search of answers—and vengeance. If they can find a Potential Fenris, tainted by the pack but not yet consumed by it, they can unlock the mystery that transforms them- but better yet, use him as bait.
But unlike Scarlett, Rosie doesn't feel the thrill of the hunt in her blood. Longing for a life away from heavy responsibility and something sweeter than steel determination, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas. More and more often, they find themselves abandoning the search for the Potential, stealing kisses, sharing secrets.
When Scarlett discovers the romance blossoming in her midst, she abandons her sister to the woodsman, certain that her own heart has no room for love, not when it's filled with her mission, her purpose. Still, the bond between Scarlett and Rosie is too deep to truly sever, and when Scarlett discovers a way to bring her sister back to her side for good- even if it means destroying Rosie’s happiness—she is forced to make a decision that will change the course of both their lives.
A modernization of Little Red Riding Hood, SISTERS RED is told in alternating viewpoints of Scarlett and Rosie as the sisters struggle to find the Potential, destroy the Fenris, and unwind their own tangle of romantic complexities and the deeply rooted bond between them. SISTERS RED is approximately 80k words in length, aimed at a mid to upper teenage audience.
 
I cannot even express how excited I am for this book! Not only does the summary sound amazing, the cover is absolutely gorgeous! Read my review for Jackson's first novel, AS YOU WISH, here!

Review: As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Title: As You Wish

Author: Jackson Pearce

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pub. Date: 2009

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Popularity, Self-esteem, Genies, Wishes, Love, Homosexuality, Friendship

Pages: 298

Plot (from book jacket):

"Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent days silently wishing - to have someone love her again, and more importantly, to belong again - until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well... and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life - and her world - forever."

I picked up As You Wish on a day when I just wanted a quick, feel-good read: I definitely made the right choice! Jackson Pearce's debut novel had just the perfect amount of romance and humor for a lazy Sunday afternoon read.

I loved that As You Wish from told from Viola and Jinn's alternate point-of-views. I think that writing the story in this format not only made Jinn and Viola's romance more vivid, but it also made it easier, as a reader, to connect with Jinn. For me, there is often only a true connect with the narrator and the reader only really gets to see one character fall in love, but Pearce enables the reader to fully understand both characters' motivations and watch both characters fall in for one another.

I thought that Viola acted just as one would expect a teenage girl with three wishes to act. Though, to her credit, she did try to make "smart" wishes. When she does make an impulsive and cliche wish, her actions had a truthful ring to them. While her behavior was annoying at some points, I appreciated the fact that Viola wasn't perfect - she struggled to accept herself without defining herself through others.

Genies/Jinn are not usually portrayed the way they are in this novel - it was completely original. I really enjoyed the background on Jinn and their seperate world. I think that this apect of the novel really added added an interesting twist.

Ratings (Out of 10):

Plot: 10

Characters: 10

Writing: 10

Romance: 10

Originality: 10

Total: 50/50 (A)

As You Wish was a wonderful debut from Jackson Pearce and I can't wait read her next novel, Sisters Red (2011)!

Breast Cancer 3-Day

So, I've recently joined a club where I go to school called The Pink Ladies, where we work to raise awareness about breast cancer, do walks, and volunteer.

Then, I found a post by Jackson Pearce about the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which I had never heard of... Jackson has a nifty contest going on over at her site to help raise awareness about the 3-Day, so go over and check it out!

Info from the website:

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is an amazing 60-mile journey that helps mothers, sisters, spouses, and friends get one step closer to a world without breast cancer. Join us for three inspirational days where together we’ll walk so long, so far, and with so much hope, the world will hear our footsteps.

Everyone who participates in the Breast Cancer 3-Day discovers her (or his!) own personal meaning, regardless of their size, age, athletic ability or lack thereof. For some, it’s the overwhelming pride that comes from completing what they thought was impossible. For others, it’s the joy of doing something so big and bold they know they’ve made a difference. And for many, it’s the opportunity to bond with loved ones or forge new friendships that last a lifetime.

If you have a chance to participate, please do! If you can't participate, you can donate to the cause or, if shopping is your thing, you can buy a t-shirt or other 3-day gear!

Friday Finds (3)

Friday Finds is hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading!


The Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones (4/13/2010, Delacorte)
"Maxwell Unger has always loved the night. He used to do brave things like go tramping through the forest with his gran after dark. He loved the stories she told him about the world before the Destruction—about nature, and books, and the silver owls. His favorite story, though, was about the Owl Keeper.
According to Max’s gran, in times of darkness the Owl Keeper would appear to unite owls and sages against the powers of the dark. Gran is gone now, and so are her stories of how the world used to be. Max is no longer brave. The forest is dangerous, the books Gran had saved have been destroyed, and the silver owls are extinct. At least that’s what the High Echelon says. But Max knows better.
Maxwell Unger has a secret. And when a mysterious girl comes to town, he might just have to start being brave again.
The time of the Owl Keeper, Gran would say, is coming soon."

Mistwood by Leah Cypress (2010, HarperTeen)
no cover yet
"Everyone tells Isabel that she is the Shifter – the ancient shape-shifting creature who has protected the kings of Samorna for centuries. They need her to be the Shifter. Prince Rokan risked everything when he rode into her forest to summon her to his side; Dakkin, the handsome magician's apprentice, has devoted his life to studying her legend; and even Princess Clarisse, who fears and hates her, depends on Isabel's powers to further her own plans.
But Isabel doesn't feel like the Shifter. She feels like a lonely human girl, beset by flashes of memory that do more to confuse than to help her. If she is the Shifter, why can't she change her shape? Why doesn't she remember what made her flee the castle so many years ago? As she is drawn deeper into a web of magic and assassination, Isabel will have no choice but to look for answers. But her search will lead her to the one question the Shifter hasn't faced in a thousand years: where does she come from, and what does she really want?"s


In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth (2/2/2010 from Walker Books)
Story of a heart transplant told in alternating chapters between two girls: the heart transplant recipient and the heart transplant donor. When Eagan dies during a figure skating competition, Amelia receives her heart, but when she experiences new personality traits, she questions whether she's received more than just a heart.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (June 2010, Little, Brown)
"Scarlett never believed in the Fenris—werewolves drawn to the delectable charms of young girls. That all changed when in one swift attack, a Fenris murdered her grandmother and left Scarlett half-blind and horrifically scarred. Only her younger sister, Rosie, escaped unharmed as Scarlett shielded her from the Fenris’s jaws.
Now eighteen, Scarlett’s life’s mission is to destroy the Fenris and save other girls from her fate—a mission she’s grown to love, despite herself. Armed with red cloaks and hatchets, Scarlett, Rosie, and a young woodsman, Silas, move to the city in search of answers—and vengeance. If they can find a Potential Fenris, tainted by the pack but not yet consumed by it, they can unlock the mystery that transforms them- but better yet, use him as bait.
But unlike Scarlett, Rosie doesn't feel the thrill of the hunt in her blood. Longing for a life away from heavy responsibility and something sweeter than steel determination, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas. More and more often, they find themselves abandoning the search for the Potential, stealing kisses, sharing secrets.
When Scarlett discovers the romance blossoming in her midst, she abandons her sister to the woodsman, certain that her own heart has no room for love, not when it's filled with her mission, her purpose. Still, the bond between Scarlett and Rosie is too deep to truly sever, and when Scarlett discovers a way to bring her sister back to her side for good- even if it means destroying Rosie’s happiness—she is forced to make a decision that will change the course of both their lives."