Review: Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Title: Princess Ben
Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Year Published:2008
Type of Book: Young Adult/Fantasy
Pages: 344

From inside cover of book:
"With her parents lost to assassins, Princess Ben ends up under the thumb of the conniving Queen Sophia. Starved and miserable, locked in the castle's highest tower, Ben stumbles upon a mysterious enchanted room. So begins her secret education in the magical arts: mastering an obstinate flying broomstick, furtively emptying the castle pantries, setting her hair on fire... But Ben's private adventures are soon overwhelmed by a mortal threat to her kingdom. Can Ben save the country and herself from foul tyranny?"

I first noticed this book as I was combing the shelves at the local Walden's Bookstore. I was surprised when I saw that it was written by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, who has written a couple other books, including Dairy Queen. Dairy Queen is also young adult, but isn't fantasy, so Princess Ben was totally unexpected coming from Murdock. I must admit, I was skeptical. I wasn't sure what Murdock's writing would be like as a fantasy writer. I was very impressed though. Princess Ben was an absolutely engaging read: fun, attentention grabbing, and satisfying. Also, the cover art was amazing; it was really eye-catching.

Princess Ben had some obvious main themes, but some I wasn't expecting as well. Magic and a fight against "evil" were expected. But there was a surprisingly well written love story as well. It some ways it was a typical coming of age story, but I wasn't bored by it at all. The magic element was fresh and interesting and Ben herself was immensely amusing.

My only negative comment about the book was that it was a bit rushed at times. When it comes to fantasy, I am more of an epic fan, so Princess Ben could have been a bit longer and it would have been great. I really would have liked to see further development of the love interest and a bit more exploration of magic. It was a bit too tidy for me perhaps.

Ratings (out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 8
Memorable: 9
Total: 47/50 (A-)

I would recommend getting this book from the library before deciding to buy it. I really liked it, but I'm not sure I would read it again. Or try to force anyone to read it because I loved it that much.

Revamping blog, etc.

So I've decided that my blog needs to be updated, changed, and, for lack of a better term, given more attention. Sometimes my blog is neglected because my desktop at home is suuuuupper slllloooow. And it drives me nuts. I'd like to be able to say that I like to enjoy things and take my time, but that is totally not me. I make french toast on high. I love to saute things. I have a really hard time driving the speed limit. Even when I set the cruise. So, yeah, that is definitely a deterrent.

But that Sara is gone! Replaced with a new Sara that will set time aside to work on her blog. :)

I'd like to add some new feature-ish things. Like contests. And blogs about upcoming books that I am drooling over. (Not literally I hope). And other things that happen in my life. Because the blog is kind like these Amish brownies I had the other day (dry, really dry). And also I need some followers... other than the super amazing ones I have. Are we not enough? (You may be asking.) And honestly, you are, but don't you want fellow followers? And possibly people to converse with while persuing my blog? I'm going to go out on a limb and answer yes to that question.

So, yeah, its time to get serious.

Review: Along for the Ride

Title: Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Viking
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Young Adult (Love, Divorce, Mixed Families, Relationships, Childhood, Death)
Pages: 383
I received this book from/at: Wal*Mart
My interest in this book is: fav author

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From inside cover: “Riding a bike is only one of the many things Auden’s missed out on. Even before her parents’ divorce, she was cast in the role of little adult, never making waves, focusing on academics to please her demanding mother.
Now she’s spending the summer before college in the tiny beach town of Colby with her father and his new wife and baby. A job in a trendy boutique introduces her to the world of girls, their friendships, conversations, romances. And then there’s Eli, an intriguing longer. A former star on the bike circuit and a fellow insomniac, Eli introduces Auden to the nocturnal world of Colby. Together they embark on a quest: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to put a tragic episode behind him. Combine two lonely people with a charming beach town and an endless supply of long summer nights, and just about anything can happen.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Auden: I really related to her in many ways – like her no-nonsense attitude and the fact that she got things done, without anyone’s help. I can definitely relate to that in ways. But in other ways I am like the girls that she was slowly learning about. Eli: I felt like he wasn’t in the book as much as some of Dessen’s past love interests, but I loved when he was in passages.

When I finished this book I felt: I felt like this book was more mature than some of Dessen’s past books. It may have been that the main characters were older, or maybe it was simply the content. Either way, I liked that about Along for the Ride.

Other books to read by this author: The Truth About Forever, This Lullaby, Just Listen, Lock and Key, Dreamland, Keeping the Moon, That Summer, Someone Like You

I would recommend this book to: fans of Sarah Dessen and Young Adult literature with a romantic plot line

Review: Academy 7

Title: Academy 7
Author: Anne Osterlund
Publisher: Speak
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Young Adult/SciFi (Love, Orphan, Family, Academy)
Pages: 259
I received this book from/at: Barnes and Noble
My interest in this book is: author, plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From back cover: “SECRETS STAND IN THEIR WAY, DANGER LURKS IN THEIR HEARTS Aerin Renning is a scarred fugitive, Dane Madousin a rebellious son of privilege. On the surface, they have nothing in common. But the two most competitive freshmen at Academy 7 share an undiscovered bond. Both harbor a dangerous secret that threatens their own destruction. And while their safety depends upon their staying apart, the two are inexplicably drawn to each other. Even as unknown forces conspire to separate them, their competition turns to friendship, and their friendship to romance. Now not only their lives – but their hearts – are at stake. To survive, the two must unite all their knowledge, skills, and gifts to uncover a secret bigger than either could have imagined. A secret as big as the entire universe…”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Aerin and Dane: I really liked them together; they totally complemented each other.

When I finished this book I felt: This book wasn’t at all what I expected, but I loved it. It had a distinct science fiction vibe. Academy 7 sounded intense and the world of Aerin and Dane was rich and vibrant. My only complaint was that their seemed to be a big buildup – then the ending was kind of anticlimactic. Osterlund’s first book, Aurelia, was the same way. But I still really like them. Both books are totally different, but both amazing.

Other books to read by this author: Aurelia

I would recommend this book to: fans of Osterlund and/or scifi with a romantic plot line

Review: Wild Roses

Title: Wild Roses
Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date published: 2005
Type of book: Young Adult (Divorce, Depression, Love, Musicians, Insanity)
Pages: 296
I received this book from/at: Ishpeming Public Library
My interest in this book is: Plot, Author

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From back cover: “Seventeen-year-old Cassie Morgan lives with a time bomb (a.k.a. her stepfather, Dino Cavalli). To the public, Dino is a world-renowned violin player and composer. To Cassie, he’s an erratic, self-centered bully. And he’s getting worse: He no longer sleeps, and he grows increasingly paranoid. Before, Cassie was angry. Now she is afraid.
Enter Ian Waters: a brilliant young violinist and Dino’s first-ever student. The minute Cassie lays eyes on Ian she knows she’s doomed. Cassie thought she understood that love could bring pain, but this union will have consequences she could not have imagined.
In the end, only one thing becomes clear: In the world of insanity, nothing is sacred…”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Bunny and Chuck: They were so off-the-wall and unique, I wished they were in the book more; Cassie: I liked her running commentary on Dino and her other relatives, she was funny; Cassie’s grandmother: I usually laughed out loud when she made an appearance!

When I finished this book I felt: Cassie: she was extremely easy to relate to, she said a lot of things I could see myself saying

Other books to read by this author: The Nature of Jade, The Queen of Everything, Honey,Baby,Sweetheart, The Fortunes of Indigo Skye

Review: The Reluctant Heiress

Title: The Reluctant Heiress
Author: Eva Ibbotson
Publisher: Speak
Date published: 1982
Type of book: Young Adult/Romance-ish (Opera, Mistaken Identity, Love)
Pages: 325
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com

My interest in this book is: one of my favorite authors, plot
Ideas expressed/message/plot: From back cover: “A STAR-CROSSED ROMANCE Being an heiress in 1920s Austria with nothing but a broken-down castle to your name and nary a penny to your purse could be frustrating for anyone but the Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein. Tessa, however, is thrilled with her situation, as it allows her to concentrate on her love of the arts – and no one in the Viennese opera need know that their delightful and charming under-wardrobe mistress is really a princess. But when the dashing self-made millionaire Guy Farne arrives at the opera in search of suitable entertainment for his high society guests, Tessa realizes that there may be more to life – and love – than just music. And while the attraction between them is undeniable, Guy’s insufferable snob of a fiancée only solidifies Tessa’s determination to keep her true identity a secret. Yet, after a chance meeting with the handsome Englishman, Tessa’s reserve begins to melt, and she starts to wonder if it’s too late for a fairy-tale ending.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Tessa: I thought she didn’t seem as young as Ibbotson said she was, so even though Guy was older, they seemed to be a good fit; Martha Hodge: Guy’s foster mother was an amazing character, much better than Guy’s horrible fiancée!

When I finished this book I felt: It wasn’t my favorite Ibbotson book, but it was pretty good. It seemed to drag on in many parts though, which didn’t seem to be the case with the other books. Her writing is so lyrical, though, that it makes up for the slowness.

Other books to read by this author: A Countess Below the Stairs, A Song For Summer, A Company of Swans, The Morning Gift
I would recommend this book to: Fans of Ibbotson

New Reviews Coming Soon

I have been super-duper busy lately. And my books have been neglected and are glaring at me all the time. Seriously. But I have gotten a couple read and will be posting the reviews soon.

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson
Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
Wild Roses by Deb Caletti

I miss reading though so I am going to try to make time. I really don't know what is keeping me so busy, but everytime I try to read, I fall asleep. That has never happened to me before. I feel OLD. And I'm only a college-student. What is going to happen when I really am old? *Shudder*

Super Exciting Contest!

Presenting Lenore is hosting an amazing contest/giveaway for the books Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, Liar by Justine Larbalestier, and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. It ends June 17th, so enter soon! It's too good to pass up!

Review: Archangel

Title: Archangel
Author: Sharon Shinn
Publisher: ACE
Date Published:1996
Type of Book: Fantasy/Science Fiction (Angels, Slavery, Love, Friendship)
Pages: 390
I received this book from/at: Calumet Public School Library
My interest in the book is: Plot, Author

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From inside cover: "And so it came to pass... Through science, faith and force of will, the Harmonics carved out for themselves a society that they conceived of as perfect. Diverse peoples held together by respect for each other and the prospect of swift punishment if they disobeyed thier laws. Fertile land that embraced a variety of climates and seasons. Angels to guard the mortals and mystics to guard the forbidden knowledge. Jehovah to watch over them all...
Generations later, the armed starship Jehovah still looms over the planet of Samaria, programmed to unleash its arsenal if peace is not sustained. But an age of corruption has come to the land, threatening that peace and placing the Samarians in grave danger. Their only hope lies in the crowning of a new Archangel. The oracles have chosen for this honor the angel named Gabriel, and further decreed that he must first wed a mortal woman named Rachel.
It is his destiny and hers. And Gabriel is certain that she will greet the news of her betrothal with enthusiasm, and a devotion to duty equal to his own.
Rachel, however, has other ideas..."

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Gabriel and Rachel: Sharon Shinn's lead characters are always amazing, even the ones that aren't my favorite (like those from The Thirteenth House). I really like Gabriel and Rachel though, they totally make the book!

When I finished this book I felt: This book is amazing! I wasn't sure what to expect, I just knew that I loved many of Shinn's other books and that many people raved online about this book. I am SO glad I decided to read it. I finished it and immediately wanted to read the next book, Jovah's Angel. Sharon Shinn is one of the best author's I have ever read.

Other books to read by this author: Jovah's Angel, The Alleluia Files, Angelica, Angel-Seeker, The Safe-Kepper's Secret, The Truth-Teller's Tale, The Dream-Maker's Magic, Summers at Castle Auburn, Mystic and Rider, The Thirteenth House, Dark Moon Defender, Reader and Raelynx, Fortune and Fate

I would recommend this book to: Readers who are already fans of Sharon Shinn, fams of epic fantasy/science fiction with religious undertones (and that like a romantic plot line interwoven)

Review: Impossible

Title: Impossible
Author: Nancy Werlin
Publisher: Penguin
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult (Curse, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Marriage, Impossible Tasks, True love)
Pages: 376
I received this book from/at: Spies Public Library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “LUCY HAS ONLY NINE MONTHS IN WHICH TO BREAK AN ANCIENT CURSE. Lucy Scarborough is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child’s birth. How can Lucy succeed when all of her ancestors have tried and failed? But Lucy is the first girl who won’t be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents beside her. And she has Zach, whose strength amazes her more each day. Do they have enough love and resolve to overcome an age-old evil?”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Lucy: very brave, and though these things couldn’t, or at least most likely won’t, happen to me, I could still relate to her; Zach: amazing, amazing, amazing. There is nothing else to be said!

When I finished this book I felt: I really liked this book. I read it really quickly and was surprised when I finished it. It seem like it was only one hundred pages long instead of nearly 400… the story was totally engrossing.

Other books to read by this author: The Rules of Survival, Double Helix, Black Mirror, The Killer’s Cousin, Locked Inside

I would recommend this book to: Readers of retellings, this book was modeled around the ballad Scarborough Fair (The Elfin Knight)

Review: Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty

Title: Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty
Author: Judy Gehrman
Publisher: Penguin
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult (Shakespeare, Virginity, First Love, Coffee Shops/Summer Jobs)
Pages: 255
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “WATCH OUT, WORLD. THE BETTYS HAVE ARRIVED. Geena wants to hang out with her best girl pals this summer, but when her cousin Hero and her best friend Amber meet, it’s hate at first sight. The worst part is that all three have to work together at the Triple Shot Betty coffee shack. Geena’s dreams of a girl-bonding summer are driven away completely when a few cute (okay, drop-dead gorgeous) guys come along o woo he Bettys. But all is not what it seems, and in a story of mistaken identities and romantic summer high jinks, Geena and her friends discover that when Bettys unite, they can take on the most powerful force in their world. A HOT GUY.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Geena: she was really funny – and I liked how she could be really laid-back and tomboyish, but at the same time really girly; Hero: she seemed a bit dense at first, but I liked her later on; Amber: I could definitely relate her to real life girls (not everyone is what they seem); Ben: the perfect Byronic hero! Very funny and cute.

When I finished this book I felt: This book was really cute, really funny, and sent a good message. I’m excited to read the next book: Bettys in Love.

Other books to read by this author: Bettys in Love

I would recommend this book to: Any girl – not really a guy book

Review: Sundays at Tiffany's

Title: Sundays at Tiffany’s
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Fiction (Imaginary friends, Love, Family, Body Image)
Pages: 328
I received this book from/at: Les Cheneaux Community Public Library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From inside cover: “AN IMAGINARY FRIEND. Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany’s. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He’s perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can’t stay forever, though. On Jane’s ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she’ll soon forget him.
AN UNEXPECTED LOVE. Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets someone – a handsome, comforting, funny man. He’s perfect. His name is Michael…
AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Jane: she reminds me of me at times. She so easy to relate to; Michael: isn’t he every girl’s dream?

When I finished this book I felt: I really liked aspects of this book. The love story was cute and well executed. It was kind of odd though that in so many ways Michael still saw Jane as an eight-year-old, and he was totally in love with her. Emotionally and physically. Overall, it was a quick, easy read, but satisfying!

Other books to read by this author: there are many – too many to list

I would recommend this book to: Patterson fans/love story fans

Review: The Named

Title: The Named
Author: Marianne Curley
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date published: 2002
Type of book: Young Adult (Time travel, Love, Powers/Gifts)
Pages: 333
I received this book from/at: Peter White Public Library in Marquette MI
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “Ethan is one of the Named, a Guardian of Time bound by duty to fight the Order of Chaos – evildoers who alter the proper course of history. Ethan is also a regular boy in school, who tries to keep up with his homework. When he is assigned a classmate, Isabel, as his apprentice, his two distinct lives begin to blur and the people he used to trust begin to take on new roles – both good and evil.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Arkarian: I wanted to know who he was outside of the bounds of Ethan’s knowledge; Isabel: I liked her, she didn’t need her older brother looking out for her so much; Ethan: an okay character, the secondary ones were more interesting

When I finished this book I felt: This book moved really slowly – there really wasn’t much that popped out or made you unable to put the book down. For that reason, I did find myself putting it down. A lot. I do want to find out what happens with the characters, but I don’t know if I want to know enough to read the next two books.

Other books to read by this author: Old Magic

I would recommend this book to: not really sure – previous fans of Marianne Curley, but otherwise this book didn’t really have a lot of magic for me

Review: The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult (survival, reality tv, love, family, parallel/future world)
Pages: 374
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot, reviews

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN IN THE WILD WITH EVERY ONE OUT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T LIVE TO SEE THE MORNING? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before – and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Katniss: She was the perfect heroine for this book… strong, smart, and compassionate!; Rue: She was an interesting character – brave and smart for her age – I was very sorry to see her go; Peeta: Hmm. What can I say about him? Except that he was amazing! I wanted Katniss to see how much he loved her and I felt so sorry for him when she only saw his feelings as part of the game. He was so different from Katniss, but exactly what she needs.

When I finished this book I felt: I never thought I would like this book, so whenever I saw it, I just passed right by it. Now, I’m really regretting that! This is one of my all-time favorite books and I can’t wait to read the next one. The idea of Panem is terrifying – and I like to imagine that it could never happen – at least not in such extremes as in the book. But there are some definite parallels that can be drawn between the world today and Panem. The love story in this book was perfect. I never really expected to see a love plot in this type of book but it was there and it was one of my favorites. It was so perfect because Peeta is obvious about his love for Katniss, she thinks it’s just part of the Games, and she doesn’t recognize her own return of those feelings. I’m definitely rooting for Katniss and Peeta. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book!

Other books to read by this author: The Underland Chronicles, Catching Fire (Sept. 2009) (next Hunger bk)

I would recommend this book to: Guys and girls with a liking for adventure and a touch of romance (the love story isn’t overwhelming so even my little brother will like it)

Review: Second Helpings

Title: Second Helpings
Author: Megan McCafferty
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Date published: 2003
Type of book: Young Adult (Graduation, Love, Sex, Dating, Writing)
Pages: 368
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From Publisher’s Weekly: “Every day, I wait for that doomsday shoe to drop on my head and crush my spirit," laments New Jersey high schooler Jessica Darling. This hilarious, candid sequel to Sloppy Firsts opens the summer before Jessica's senior year of high school, when the precocious misfit is at a New Jersey academic enrichment camp whose competitive enrollment is belied by its acronym-SPECIAL. There, she meets Prof. Samuel MacDougall, a handsome writing teacher with "three novels, two works of nonfiction and one hot piece of ass to his name," who challenges Jessica to imagine the world outside of her native suburbia. She also runs into her former "crush-to-end-all-crushes" Paul Parlipiano (he's gay, of course), who introduces her to Columbia University-which she decides she must attend. Come September, Jessica works on her college applications, dearly misses her best friend, Hope, who has moved to Tennessee, and spends much of her time trying not to think about bad boy Marcus Flutie, who broke her heart last winter when he confessed that he only asked her out as an experiment. As her senior year progresses, Jessica starts dating Len Levy, her rival for class valedictorian, and becomes the subject of the school's new anonymous gossip rag. The material is typical teen fare, but Jessica is a captivating, intelligent, acidly funny-but always believably adolescent-narrator who is unsparing in her sketches of Pineville High "society" yet touchingly alive to her own vulnerabilities.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Jessica: she was just as sassy as ever – though I didn’t always really like the choices she made, it was important that she made them; Marcus: I was excited that he had a bigger part in Jessica’s life – and that we learned more about him. In Sloppy Firsts Jessica didn’t learn near as much out about him as he did about her; Bridget: I liked the new Bridget - and her new boyfriend!

When I finished this book I felt: I think I liked this book more than Sloppy Firsts because I felt like I knew Jess better – she was an old friend instead of an acquaintance. Jessica was closer to my age in this book too and I could relate to her even more than before. Yay!! for Marcus! Definitely one of my favorite guy characters of all time!! I’m excited to read Charmed Thirds next.

Other books to read by this author: see past post

I would recommend this book to: teens and their moms!

Review: Sloppy Firsts

Title: Sloppy Firsts: A Novel
Author: Megan McCafferty
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Date published: 2001
Type of book: Young Adult (high school, dating, loneliness, insomnia, family)
Pages: 304
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From cover: ““My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I don’t see how things could get any worse.”
When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?
A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Jessica: she reminded me of myself in so many ways, except for the fact that she was much, much more entertaining!; Marcus: I loved the parts where he had little comments or interacted with Jess – he seemed to be the only one who really riled her

When I finished this book I felt: I couldn’t wait to start Second Helpings, the next Jessica Darling novel – I really want to see what happens with Marcus and the other characters… this book was addicting!

Other books to read by this author: Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, Perfect Fifths

I would recommend this book to: all teenage girls and their moms – although there is some mature content

Review: Gone

Title: Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date Published:2008
Type of Book:Young Adult (Supernatural/Powers, Good and Evil, No adults)
Pages:558
From:local library
Interest/Reason for reading:plot

Ideas Expressed/Plot:From book jacket: "IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. EVERYONE DISAPPEARS. GONE. Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. And just as suddenly, there are no phones, no interent, no television. No way to figure out what's happened. And no way to get help.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents - unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers - that grow stronger by the day.
It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you will disappear just like everyone else."

Favorite Characters, Quotes/lines: Sam: he was definitely a fav character, usually I don't like reading from a male point-of-view, but Sam was so easy to relate to and so easy to root for!; Astrid: she was funny and even though she was super smart, very down-to-earth and real; all the kids of on the Good side: especially Mary, Albert, Edilio

When I finished reading:I was surprised at how much I liked this book - and how excited I am to read the next one. Usually I don't read books written by men - I mean, I have my favs like David Eddings and some others that write Fantasy, but I generally avoid male writers. Often I find their writing style not to my taste, but Grant is an amazing writer and he get the male and female POVs down perfectly.
This book not only deals with supernatural occurances, but, at the same time, deals with issues that teens deal with in everyday life (bulimia, adoption, single parents, minority, racism, school, work/jobs, siblings). All while dealing with the end of the world as these young people know it. It really is powerful stuff!

Other books by this author: Hunger, the continuation of Gone

I would recommend this book to:Girls and Guys, Supernatural fans, but it really could appeal to anyone with an imagination because it deals with so many other issues as well

Review: Ransom My Heart

Title: Ransom My Heart: A Novel
Author: Princess of Genovia Mia Thermopolis (Meg Cabot)
Publisher: Avon
Date Published: 2009
Type of Book: Romance/Historical Fiction (Mistaken identity, hostages, love, arranged marriage)
Pages:396
I receieved this book from/at: local library
My interest in the book is:author and plot

Ideas expressed/Message/Plot: From back cover: "He's a tall, handsome knight with a secret.
She's an adventurous beauty with more than a few secrets of her own.
Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast. Hugo Fitzstephen, Earl of Stephengate, returning home to England from the Crusades, has money, saddlebags of gold and jewels, and lots of it. What could be simpler than to kidnap him and hold him for ransom? Especially when he's more than willing to allow himself to be caught by such a winsome captor.
Well, for starters, Finnula could make the terrible mistake of falling in love with her hostage, only realize he's been lying about his identity all along...
But then, so has she.
Now their lives - and the lives of everyone they know and love - could be in mortal danger.
Is Finnula Crais in hell? Or in heaven?"

Favorite characters, Quotes/lines: Finn: I really liked her at first, but then she started to get pretty annoying (see later comments)

When I finished this book I felt: At first, I thought it was going to be really good. Then it just started to get really, really ridiculous and disappointing. At the beginning, Finnula is a strong, unique, independent woman. By the end she can't do anything because as soon as Hugo touches her she is so lustful that she can't do anything except have sex with him. Hugo, while finding Finn amusing when she wears pants, hunts, etc, still wants to turn her into the perfect wife, skirts and all. It really was a disappoint because it turned into one of those really stereotypical romance books that is demeaning to women. I was really disappointed in Cabot! However, many romance readers like this sort of behavior by the main characters, so they probably liked the book and went out and bought it, which is good because the proceeds went to Greenpeace. So, in that aspect, I'm proud of Cabot!

Other books to read by this author:The Mediator Series, Princess Diaries Series, 1-800-Where-R-U series, Queen of Babble Series, Heather Wells Mysteries

I would recommend this book to: ???

Review: Love, Cajun Style

Title: Love, Cajun Style
Author: Diane Les Becquets
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date published: 2005
Type of book: YA fiction (first love, marriage, sex, fine arts)
Pages: 296
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “ ‘Why did people say they were ‘falling in love’? Why didn’t they step into love, or slide into it like a baseball player heading for home? Was it the thrill, ike jumping off a high dive, or the fear of not knowing how they might land?’
For Lucy Beauregard, each day in her sleepy southern town looks a lot like the next – days of riding her bicycle and skinny dipping with her friends, delivering flowers to the wonderfully odd folks of her town, and listening to her mama dish out her Loo-zee-anna gospel of wisdom.
Falling in love isn’t something she has planned. In fact, there are a whole lot of things she hasn’t planned, like her two best friends getting their first tastes of love, or the attraction her very-married mama seems to have or another man, or the confusing flurry in her own heart stirred by a handsome – and much older – stranger. And then there’s the arrival of Dewey, a boy unlike anyone she’s ever known. In one sweltering summer, Lucy not only discovers herself but soars into love, Cajun style.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Lucy, Evie, Mary Jordan: they were really funny and reminded me of my closest friends, though we’ve never ridden our bikes naked; Dewey: he was cute and I wished I could hear him play the piano; Tante Pearl: she was a wise, wise lady

When I finished this book I felt: It was really funny, and sometimes outrageous. I thought it was a really great book though – full of wisdom about love. I liked the different types of love and relationships throughout the book: first love, married love, love that is found after loss, love that is found later in life, etc.

Other books to read by this author: The Stones of Mourning Creek

I would recommend this book to: all girls and their moms… it was a really touching book about love, without being shallow or immature

Review: The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It

Title: The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It
Author: Lisa Shanahan
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Date published: 2006
Type of book: Young Adult (theatre, Australia, weddings, abuse, poverty, Shakespeare)
Pages: 295
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “ ‘In my family, when anyone rides the wave of their emotions, we say they’re chucking a birkett. When the emotion drives out all common sense, we say they’re chucking a big one. The telltale signs are: flaming cheeks, shortness of breath, bulging eyes, and a prolonged illogical outburst.’
Gemma Stone is convinced that it’s always unseemly to chuck a birkett and that it’s actually insane to chuck one in front of a complete stranger. But that’s before she falls for a boy who barely knows she exists, before she auditions for the school play, before she meets the family of freaks her sister Debbie is marrying into, before the unpredictable Raven DeHead takes an interest in her, and before she realizes that at the right time and for the right reason, a birkett can be a beautiful thing.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Gemma: she was distracted by the wrong guy, but she was really funny so it totally made up for it. I loved her sarcasm; Raven: I felt so bad for him – his brother’s definitely left him with a bad reputation; Jackie: she was hilarious – actually the whole family was

When I finished this book I felt: This wasn’t really my favorite book, or even a really memorable book. But it was cute and funny. I really liked the Shakespeare incorporation and modernization.

Other books to read by this author: this is her first novel

I would recommend this book to: fans of theatre, Shakespeare, and funny young adult reads

Review: Graceling

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Harcourt
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult (love, kingdoms, Grace, rescue missions)
Pages: 471
I received this book from/at: local library
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From the inside cover: “His eyes. Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn’t shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn’t seem human…
Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.
Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whateer game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.
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, Kats a 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.”
Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Katsa and Po: I wanted them to be together so so badly it drove me absolutely crazy until they admitted their feelings for one another; Bitterblue: she has such an awesome name and is so strong for such a little kid

When I finished this book I felt: I LOVE this book! I’m so excited for Cashore’s next book, Fire, due out in October. The idea of Graces is really interesting and I can’t wait to see who will be the main characters in the next installment or if the readers will get to follow Katsa and Po again. Or if it will be about Bitterblue (when she’s older). Or all new characters! It all sounds good.

Other books to read by this author: this is her first book

I would recommend this book to: Young Adult and Fantasy fans – Everyone!

Review: Night World 3

Title: Night World Bk 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, and Witchlight
Author: L.J. Smith
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date published: April 2009 (first published 1997,98)
Type of book: Young Adult (Supernatural, Vampires, Witches, Shapeshifters, Soulmates, Apocalypse)
Pages: 732
I received this book from/at: Barnes and Noble
My interest in this book is: plot, author, Night World 3

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From back cover: “Vampires, werewolves, witches, and shapeshifters – they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of Night World.
The apocalypse is drawing near. But four Wild Powers can save the world from the impending doom. Circle Daybreak, an underground with both Night World and human members, is searching for the four who can stop the darkness.
A vampire hunter – who is half vampire – stalks her own kind to protect humans in Huntress.
In Black Dawn, Maggie stumbles upon an old Night World kingdom where the ruling vampire prince is both an enemy and an ally.
And Circle Daybreak hires Keller, a shapeshifting panther, to guard a new Wild Power in Witchlight. But when Keller falls in love with the Wild Power’s soulmate, her love could destroy everything.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Jez and Morgead, Maggie and Delos, Keller and Galen: all of their stories were addicting – each couple is so perfectly suited to one another

When I finished this book I felt: I can’t wait to read the conclusion: Strange Fate. At the same time, I don’t want it to end. L.J. Smith is one of my all time favorite authors. Her stories have the perfect balance of supernatural, romance, and action.

Other books to read by this author: Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, Night World 1 and 2, Strange Fate

I would recommend this book to: young adult readers who like supernatural elements incorporated and a good love story

Confessions of a Book Buying Maniac: The End

So, I have decided to try to spend less money on books... because I am trying desperately to save money for college. Not buying books is the biggest challenge EVER for me.
So I've decided to take the library by storm - only buying books if I can't get them at the library or if they come out in paperback or are in paperback and I absolutely love them.
All in all, this is a pretty good plan I think because I won't be spending money on duds (i.e. Chasing Boys, The Boyfriend Game, etc.).
So yesterday I went to the library and checked out 15 books and put 5 more on hold/order from different libraries.
I feel very proud of myself!

Review: The Boyfriend Game

Title: The Boyfriend Game
Author: Stephie Davis
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Young Adult (soccer, first kiss, first crush)
Pages: 157
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From the back cover: “I rested the ball on my hip and walked back toward the equipment shed. In the dark. Alone. With a boy.” “I would be completely freaking out over varsity soccer tryouts if it weren’t for the new student, Graham, who’s helping me practice. He has the most amazing green eyes, curly brown hair, and perfect legs. Plus, we have lots in common, since all we both care about it soccer! Well, that all he cares about. But my heart beats so fast when we’re on the field together… and I don’t think it’s just from all the running around.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Trisha: her devotion to the game was amazing, even if she was a bit naïve at times; Graham: definitely cute, especially because he was nervous about liking someone

When I finished this book I felt: Well, it was cute. But I probably won’t buy anymore of Davis’ books because I think they might be just a bit too young for me. But I think they would be perfect for readers in junior high or 9th/10th grade.

Other books to read by this author: The Boyfriend Trick, Putting Boys on the Ledge, Studying Boys, Who Needs Boys?, Smart Boys and Fast Girls

I would recommend this book to: Girl readers between junior high and high school lowerclassmen

Review: The Summoning

Title: The Summoning (Darkest Powers bk 1)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult/Supernatural (Witches, Shaman, Werewolves, Necromancers, Mental facilities)
Pages: 400
I received this book from/at: Walden Books
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From the back cover: “She sees dead people – and they see her. Chloe Saunders used to have a pretty normal life. But that changed on the day and she met her first ghost. Locked up in Lyle House, a group home for troubled teens, she finds out there’s more to the home’s teen residents than meets the eye. Will Chloe be able to uncover the dangerous secrets of Lyle House… or will its skeletons come back to haunt her?”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Chloe: I liked her, but sometimes I was disappointed in her (like her judging Derek by his unconventional looks), but she got much, much better towards the end; Derek: I liked that he had surprising depths, definitely one of my favorite characters; Simon: he was definitely the lighter character in the book – he wasn’t as intense as the other characters, like Derek

When I finished this book I felt: At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked it, but then I got further into it and I didn’t want to put it down. It left me wanting to go out right away and get The Awakening, the next book in the series. The characters, all in their young teens (15 and 16) were a bit of a negative for me at first, but they didn’t really act that young most of the time and I liked that. It just would have been better if the author made them 17 and older. I liked the mystery aspect of the book. And it reminded me of one of my absolute favorite shows: Supernatural! Derek and Simon are brothers, just like the main characters Sam and Dean in the show – and the first season was spent looking for their father in both the book and the show.

Other books to read by this author: The Awakening (Darkest Powers bk 2)

I would recommend this book to: Fans of Supernatural Young Adult fiction – guys and girls

Monthly Totals (April 2009)

Books Read: 30

Pages Read: 9,557

Favorite Book(s): Wake and Fade, Jellicoe Road, Audrey, Wait!, I’d Tell You I Love
You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Least Favorite Book(s): Deadly Little Secret, Chasing Boys, So Inn Love

Rereads/Old Faves: The Truth About Forever, Just Listen

Review: The Comeback Season

Title: The Comeback Season
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult (death, love, baseball, mixed families, illness)
Pages: 246
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “The last place Ryan Walsh should be this afternoon is on a train heading to Wrigley Field. She should be in class, enduring yet another miserable day of her first year of high school. But for once, Ryan isn’t thinking about what she should be doing. She’s not worried about her lack of friends, or her suffering math grade, or how it’s been five whole years since the last time she was really and truly happy. Because she’s finally returning to the place that her father loved, where the two of them spent so many afternoons cheering on their team. And on this – the fifth anniversary of his death – it feels like there’s nowhere else in the world she should be.
Ryan is once again filled with hope as she makes her way to the game. Good luck is often hard to come by in place like Wrigley Field, but it’s on this day she meets Nick, the new kid from her school, who seems to love the Cubs nearly as much as she does. But Nick carries with him a secret that makes Ryan wonder if anyone can really escape their past, or believe in the promise of those reassuring words: “Wait till next year.” Is it too much for Ryan to hope that this year, this season, might be her comeback season?”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Ryan: I thought her actions were believable for someone who had lost their father, it was inspiring to see her transformation; Nick: he was an amazing character, such a full character (it makes me tear up jus to write about him)

When I finished this book I felt: It wasn’t at all what I expected, but it was amazing. It was a little bit romantic, a little bit angsty, a little bit heartbreaking, and a lot of awesomeness. It was an amazing breakout novel from Smith and I felt like she ended it on just the right note, but I wish that it could have gone on. And the ending wouldn’t have happened.

Other books to read by this author: This is Smith’s first book.

I would recommend this book to: Young Adult fans, with a passion for baseball and life lessons

Review: The Comeback Season

Review: Need

Title: Need
Author: Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Young Adult Supernatural (Pixies, Phobias, Were/Shifters, Death, Love)
Pages: 306
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “Pain shoots through my head. Fireworks. Explosions. All inside my brain. The world goes dark and I know what’s about to happen. Zara White suspects there’s a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She’s also obsessed with phobias. And it’s true, she hasn’t exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane… but Zara’s pretty sure her mom just can’t deal with her right now.
She couldn’t be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara’s overactive imagination. In fact, he’s still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There’s something not right – not human – in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Nick: he was a dynamic character, I wish we had gotten to know him better; Devyn and Issie: I wish they were have had a bigger part in the novel

When I finished this book I felt: This book was good, and I’ll probably read the next one (if there is one), but it wasn’t something to rave about. Zara was an airhead – and not in a cute way. She kept putting herself in stupid situations; she must have taken after her mother who didn’t seem that bright either. The supernatural elements of this book were good, but it didn’t really seem fully developed. And, while some of the lines were funny, many of them, especially Zara’s, were pretty inane.

Other books to read by this author: this is Jones’ first novel

I would recommend this book to: I’m not really sure – Young Adult/Supernatural fans –but only if they have already read some better books (they should read this one if they’ve already read everything else.)

Review: Deadly Little Secret

Title: Deadly Little Secret
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publisher: Hyperion
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Young Adult (stalker, psychic powers, love)
Pages: 252
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “SOME SECRETS SHOULDN’T BE KEPT… Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia’s life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia’s life becomes far from ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s accidental death, Been is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She’s reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she’s inexplicably drawn to Ben… and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he wants to help – but can he be trusted? She knows he’s hiding something… but he’s not the only with a secret.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Ben: he was really intense and pretty well-adjusted for a guy with his issues

When I finished this book I felt: When I read the plot I thought that I would like this book. It had lots of elements that I usually like: romance, a major change, and a mystery. This book just wasn’t really that good though. Camelia ends up being stalked and her best friends basically just think that she’s imagining it or, if she is right, that the stalker must be Ben. All her best girl friend can talk about is the guys that Camelia should date. And Camelia doesn’t tell anyone (like her parents or the police) that someone is threatening and stalking her. Like the problem will just go away. When the identity of the stalker is discovered after Camelia finally is kidnapped and held hostage, everyone just accepts it calmly… And Ben is now a hot person that Camelia should date. Camelia seems to have just forgotten that she was stalked, tortured, and almost died: she’s just worried about dating Ben. The only character that seemed to have a brain was Ben. I was sorely disappointed by this book – I’m not sure I’ve ever liked a book less. I probably will read Deadly Little Lies when it comes out though, just to see what happens… The book ends kind of abruptly. The bright spots that the book did have were Ben’s powers and Ben and Camelia’s chemistry. I’d like to read about happens with those two aspects of the plot. The reactions to the stalking were just pretty ridiculous.

Other books to read by this author: Blue Is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver Is for Secrets, Red Is for Remembrance, Project 17, Bleed, and Deadly Little Lies (coming soon)

I would recommend this book to: People who like the author’s other books, unless this book is just an unnaturally bad book

Review: FADE

Title: Fade
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Teen fiction (Lucid dreams, sexual abuse, teacher/student relationships, love, undercover)
Pages: 248
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: sequel to Wake

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From inside jacket: “SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END. For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They’re just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.
Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody’s talking. When Janie taps into a classmate’s violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open – but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie’s in way over her head, and Cabe’s shocking behavior has grave consequences for both of them.
Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability – and it’s bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what’s to come is way darker than she’d feared.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Janie: her strength is amazing…She’s an amazing lead character; Cabel: I love his concern for Janie – that kind of love is what every girl wants… he had some amazing parts in the book where his emotion was so strong; Captain: I really like how she is there for Janie

When I finished this book I felt: First off, Janie and Cabe’s relationship is so addicting. They are both such strong and conflicted characters that their relationship explodes… there scenes together are tense or passionate or both. I love them together. I really love McMann’s writing style; it’s short and choppy and totally suits the story. I also like that she takes on really intense subjects without weighing down the story… it’s a perfect balance.

Other books to read by this author: Janie’s story is continued in Gone, but I’m not sure when it comes out.

I would recommend this book to: Supernatural fans

Review: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Title: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Publisher: FSG
Date published: 2007
Type of book: Teen fiction (amnesia, love, suicide, divorce, mixed families)
Pages: 271
I received this book from/at: Amazon Marketplace
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From inside cover: “If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss.
She wouldn’t have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps.
She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place.
She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d get all his inside jokes, and maybe he wouldn’t be so frustrated with her for forgetting things she can’t possibly remember.
She’d know about her mom’s new family.
She’d know about her dad’s fiancée.
She wouldn’t have to spend her junior year relearning all the French she supposedly already knew.
She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her.
She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back.
But Naomi picked heads.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Naomi: Don’t get me wrong, she was frustrating at times and I even envied her in ways. It may seem like something horrible to lose your memory, but in ways, it was the best thing that could have happened to Naomi; Will: he was really funny and I totally wanted a mix cd from him! It always seems like the person who is right in front of you is the easiest to ignore (poor Will); James: he was really… interesting. I think he showed Naomi how lucky she was to have the life she did and why her amnesia wasn’t necessarily a bad thing

When I finished this book I felt: It wasn’t what I was expecting – it was better. It was surprisingly deep, which wasn’t really the impression I got from the book jacket. I also really liked the references to music in the book…. Some of my favorites were mentioned.

Other books to read by this author: Elsewhere

I would recommend this book to: It is a book that I would recommend to just about anyone, but not really as light reading, even though it is a short book. So I guess it is light, but the content isn’t. ;)

Review: City of Glass (Mortal Instruments bk 3)

Title: City of Glass
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date published: 2009
Type of book: Fantasy/SciFi
Pages: 541
I received this book from/at: Walden Books
My interest in this book is: the final installment of the Mortal Instruments Trilogy

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From the inside cover: “To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunter – never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds in ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all the Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside with their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City – whatever the cost?”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Clary: I felt like she wasn’t really a main focus in this book for some reason, but the parts she was in were good…. She and Jace were addicting; Jace: I really felt for him and his inner struggle – even if part of it wasn’t really true at all (just self-hatred); Simon: he really matured in this book…

When I finished this book I felt: I LOVED LOVED LOVED the ending to this book. So often trilogies and series will end and the reader will be saying “What the heck?” – but Clare really wrapped up the book nicely. That isn’t to say that I didn’t wish there was more. I would have liked to skip ahead a few years and see what was going on with the characters. I did like how Luke and Jocelyn’s love was long-lasting – it hints of good things in the future for Clary and Jace! I’d also like to mention, that for an author that puts out a book a year, Clare is an amazing author. There are authors that have huge gaps between books and can’t write or tell a story nearly as well as Clare. She’s incredible!

Other books to read by this author: The Clockwork Princess will come out in Spring 2010 (I think)

I would recommend this book to: All fantasy/scifi fans… It really was an amazing trilogy!

Review: City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments bk 2)

Title: The City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments bk 2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Fantasy/Scifi
Pages: 453
I received this book from/at: Walden Books
My interest in this book is: plot, second book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From the back cover: “A MURDERER IS LOOSE IN NEW YORK CITY… and the victims are Downworlder children. Clary Fray and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clary’s father, may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then what’s his true motive? To make matters worse, the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, has been stolen, and the mysterious Inquisitor has arrived to investigate, with his eyes vigilantly targeted on Clary’s brother, Jace.
Clary will need to face some terrifying demons and even more terrifying family decisions. No one said that the life of a Shadowhunter would be easy.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Clary: the only thing that bothered me in this book was her dating Simon, but I understand why she did… to me it was like Twilight’s Bella dating Jacob (kind of icky); Simon: funny as usual, but dark as well… I’m glad that he found a way into the new world Clary is a part of…. Otherwise I think he would have had to be left behind; Jace: he is so dark and brooding, I just wanted him and Clary to find a way to be together…; Alec and Magnus: they are entertaining… and I like how they are have so many dimensions for minor characters

When I finished this book I felt: NEED CITY OF GLASS NOW! That’s basically all I could think after I finished City of Ashes. I wanted to know what the Inquisitor meant when she saw Jace’s scar…. What the Faerie Queen meant about the blood in Jace’s veins… What Valentine meant when he said something about his first son… So many unanswered questions! Also I was thinking about how comforting fantasy books are… they have a set formula of good versus evil, good prevailing, and the main heroes coming together in the end. I know everything will work out in these books because everything always works out in these types of books. And I love knowing that and then reading to find out how it will all come together in the end. Also, there are an uncommon number of love triangles in these books.

Other books to read by this author: City of Glass, The Clockwork Princess (2010), The Clockwork Prince (2011)

I would recommend this book to: everyone!

Review: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments bk 1)

Title: The City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments bk 1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date published: 2007
Type of book: Teen fantasy/scifi (romance, vampires, Shadowhunters, demons, werewolves)
Pages: 485
I received this book from/at: Walden Books
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From back cover: “THEIR HIDDEN WORLD IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED… When fifteen-year old Clary Fray heads out to Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder – much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it’s hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary’s mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.
But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundane like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Clary: I liked her prickliness, it seemed to draw in and instead of keep other characters out… like Jace; Simon: he was very funny and very nerdy (two of my very favorite qualities!), I was glad that he was Clary’s best friend (and no more); Jace: he is the type of guy that I always love in books… tough on the outside, but all mush on the inside… and I love that only Clary really sees this side of him. I’m totally rooting for them!

When I finished this book I felt: I finished this book in one day (in between waiting on people at Subway mostly…) then I finished it at home and read City of Ashes right away that night. That’s how good these books are. If I owned City of Glass I would have read that one directly after the first two. There are some books that draw you in and just don’t let you go until you know every twist and every character inside and out and The Mortal Instruments series are those kinds of books. They are addictive. I honestly cannot imagine what I would have done if I finished City of Bones and then had to wait for City of Ashes and Glass to come out… I probably would have gone insane…

Other books to read by this author: City of Ashes, City of Glass, The Infernal Devices (a trilogy to be published that will be a set of prequels to the Mortal Instuments trilogy)

I would recommend this book to: Fantasy/scifi lovers… girls and guys!

Review: The Truth About Forever

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Date published: 2004
Type of book: Young Adult (love, catering, death/grief, truth)
Pages: 374
I received this book from/at: Walden Books
My interest in this book is: author and plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From back cover: “A LONG, HOT SUMMER… That’s what sixteen-year-old Macy Queen has to look forward to. Her boyfriend, Jason, is going away to Brain Camp. She’s stuck with a dull-as-dishwater job at the library. !And all of her free time promises to be spent studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father’s death.
But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother’s open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy ditches her library job and joins up with the Wish gang: bighearted Delia; quiet, introspective Monica; and fun-loving, fashion-conscious Kristy. But best of all, there’s Wes – artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes – and gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way…

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Macy: I can relate to her in ways when it comes to trying to be perfect… and I was totally rooting for her to break free of her mother’s control and her grief…; Wes: All of Dessen’s lead guy characters are AMAZING… Wes is probably my favorite next to Dexter though!; Kristy, Monica, Delia, and Bert

When I finished this book I felt: I love this book… and every time I read it I love it more. This was my third time reading it and every time I notice something new to love about it. I especially like this book though because I am a waitress for a catering company and find a lot of aspects of catering to correspond to situations in the book… which makes them funnier. And I love the idea of a relationship like Macy and Wes’s…

Other books to read by this author: This Lullaby, Dreamland, Keeping the Moon, Just Listen, Someone Like You

I would recommend this book to: Anyone… this book has no age limits… and I think anyone would enjoy it.

Review: Thrill Ride

Title: Thrill Ride
Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date published: 2006
Type of book: Chick Lit (Romance, theme parks, weddings, long-distance relationships)
Pages: 313 pgs
I received this book from/at: Amazon Marketplace
My interest in this book is: plot, author

Ideas expressed/message/plot: When Texas girl Megan Connolly has decided to take a summer job at Thrill Ride, a theme park by Lake Erie, far from her wedding planning family and her boyfriend, she doesn’t expect to meet someone like Parker. Parker is upfront about his attraction to her, but Megan is only interested in being friends… but this proves to be harder said than done. Especially when being with Parker is so easy, especially when he makes her laugh. Especially when her boyfriend doesn’t really seem to care what is going on in her life… and Parker does.

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Megan: She really didn’t have much of a chance against Parker ; Parker: I liked his protectiveness

When I finished this book I felt: It was a cute book… not my favorite by Hawthorne, but definitely worth reading. Theme parks just aren’t really my thing and Megan’s boyfriend was really annoying. I didn’t like how she “loved” him and couldn’t be with anyone else when they’ve only been together for three months.

Other books to read by this author: see past posts

I would recommend this book to: readers who want a fluffy teen romance to read

Review: Snowed In

Title: Snowed In
Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date published: 2008
Type of book: Chick lit (romance, divorce, island life, winter, Michigan)
Pages: 261 pgs
I received this book from/at: Amazon Marketplace
My interest in this book is: plot, author, fluffy romance

Ideas expressed/message/plot: Ashleigh Sneaux and her mother decide to move from Texas to a wintry island in the Great Lakes to start their own Bed and Breakfast. Ashleigh is running from her father’s impending marriage to a new woman, but is finding it a bit hard to warm up to the island, literally and figuratively. She’s missing her best friend back in Texas and feeling some conflict over her no relationships rule. Josh Wynter has somehow found a way to melt her heart; which is a problem because he already has a girlfriend….

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Ashleigh: I liked that she has a real reason to not have a serious relationship, she wasn’t just randomly averse to dating; Josh: I felt bad for him because he really didn’t want to hurt his girlfriend even though he knew that their relationship didn’t have much substance.

When I finished this book I felt: I was really cute and I got kind of into it because it takes place on Mackinaw Island, which isn’t very far from where I live. So I could totally imagine what the island was like and how cold the winters are. I can imagine coming from Texas would be a big shock for Ashleigh.

Other books to read by this author: Thrill Ride, Caribbean Cruising, Love on the Lifts, The Boyfriend Game, Island Girls (and Boys)

I would recommend this book to: anyone looking for a romantic little pick-me-up, nothing deep but lots of fun

Review: Chasing Boys

Title: Chasing Boys
Author: Karen Tayleur
Publisher: Walker
Date published: 2007
Type of book: teen fiction
Pages:244
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: From book jacket: “HER DAD HAS BEEN GONE for more than a year now, and El Marini’s former life of comfort and affluence has been reduced to the following: 1. Trying to fit in at her giant public school, where she’s just one of the masses 2. Ignoring her mother’s requests to befriend a Group of Nice Young People 3. Wasting one hour per week not talking to her shrink, Leonard, about all the things on her mind.
This new life has required the invention of an entirely different El. Now she’s one of those girls who always wear black, doodles in her notebook during class, and would never be caught dead at a school-sponsored event.
The one thing that makes it all bearable is the completely gorgeous Eric Callahan. She’ll do anything to get his attention, even if it means sacrificing part of herself. But as her crush on Erick reaches epic proportions, she meets Dylan – who is both unnerving and annoying for reasons El can’t quite explain.”

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Dylan: he was an interesting character, but he didn’t really play a big a role in the plot line as I thought he should have

When I finished this book I felt: It was a big disappointment…I’m actually won’t recommend it to anyone. My main problem with it is the fact that it didn’t really have a point. It ended without resolving and issues and wasn’t satisfying at all.

Other books to read by this author: She’s written some books for younger readers, this is her first young adult novel.

Confessions of a Book Buying Maniac

Today I went to my local bookstore and browsed. I decided to get:
City of Bones and
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
I've heard lots of good things about this series so I finally picked up the first two because they are in paperback.
Just a side note, the cashiers there totally remarked on how often I buy books there. :s And I don't even buy books there that much. So maybe a I really am a maniac... but I will not apologize! :)

Review: Willow

Title: Willow
Author: Julia Hoban
Publisher: Dial
Date published: April 2009
Type of book: Teen fiction (cutting, grief, first love, orphan)
Pages: 329
I received this book from/at: Amazon.com
My interest in this book is: plot

Ideas expressed/message/plot: “SEVEN MONTHS AGO on a rainy, March night, Willow’s parents drank too much at dinner and asked her to drive them home. But they never made it – Willow lost control of the car, and both of her parents were killed.
Now seventeen, Willow is living with her older brother, who can barely speak to her. She has let behind her old home, friends, and school. But Willow has found a way to survive, to numb the new reality of her life: She is secretly cutting herself.
And then she meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is. When Guy discovers Willow’s secret, he pulls her out of the solitary world she’s created for herself, and into a difficult, intense, and potentially life-changing relationship.

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Willow; Guy: He really cared about her… and he was real – he didn’t stay happy when Willow was being an idiot like some author’s make characters do

When I finished this book I felt: It was a really good story, but I’m not sure I like how Hoban wrote the book. I think I might have liked it better in first person rather than third; I found it kind of distracting. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book.

Other books to read by this author: this is the author’s first book

I would recommend this book to: teen readers… but they should keep in mind that a main theme of the book is cutting… and for people like me (who have weak stomachs) parts of the story might be a bit difficult to read. But there aren’t very many parts like this in the book.