So Many Books, So Little Time: 2011 Young Adult Challenge

Showing posts with label 2011 Young Adult Challenge. Show all posts

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge-- Completed!

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.

2. There are four levels:
--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
--The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
--The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
--The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.
3. Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2011 and goes until December 31, 2011.

* I will be participating in the Mega size YA Reading Challenge

Book Review- How to Save a Life

I just finished reading How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems.

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about the many roads that can lead us home.

This was such a sad, yet heartwarming story. I don't always care for books told from 2 points of view, but I really liked how this was done.

Mandy broke my heart. I felt so bad for her. To grow up with a mom like she did and be told things she was told--how horrible. And to have her mom's boyfriend behave the way he did! She was so naive and innocent about so many things. I just wanted to hug her.

And then I felt so bad for Jill. Reading this story about how the main character lost her dad was a little hard since one of my close friends just lost her mom suddenly this week. But I really liked Jill too. And I wanted her to get a little bit of closure and be happy.

I felt like there was going to be some huge sad twist that would be piss me off, but (hopefully I'm not giving too much away), but there wasn't. Only a little twist but a happy one. If all of Sara Zarr's books are like this, I can't wait to read more!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: Z
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 122
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 98
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 98
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 22

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Book Review- Sorta Like a Rock Star

Last night I finished reading Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick.

From Goodreads:

Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom's boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (aka Thrice B) have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). Still, Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. But when a fatal tragedy threatens Amber's optimism--and her way of life, can Amber continue to be the rock star of hope? With an oddball cast of characters, and a heartwarming, inspiring story, this novel unveils a beautifully beaten-up world of laughs, loyalty, and hard-earned hope.

So, I was struggling with my feelings of this book and the rating for this book. It was between what I felt like is SHOULD be versus how I REALLY felt about the book. I finally went with my real feelings. It's not going to be popular, but so be it.

Yes, this book has so many important themes: homelessness, death, alcoholism, autism, diseases, poverty, bullying, outcasts, veterans, senior citizen, religion... So I felt like I should have liked it. But I just couldn't get over the writing. Every other line had "word" after it or "sucka" or "true? true." Kinda gangster-like. Which the character wasn't at all. And it just bugged me so much.

Yes, the book was about hope. And parts of it were heartbreaking towards the end. But it was all just too much, too over the top.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: Q
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 119
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 97
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 97
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 21

*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by the publisher for a honest review.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Book Review- On the Fringe

Early this morning I finished reading On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she's still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn't helping.

Neither is thinking she sees Daniel's face in murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination.

As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them have to decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever.

Beautifully told, On the Fringe intertwines fresh ideas about devotion, revenge, and the consequences that come with life and death.

On the Fringe is a ghost story and a mystery with a romance tied in. I always wanted an older brother who had hot friends I could crush on. But I had a younger brother whose friends just annoyed me. Oh well! Claire was lucky to have that kind of crush. But I felt so bad for her when Daniel died..just when something was about to happen! And the idea of having just a couple of minutes every night with a loved one is so bittersweet!

It was interesting to find out why Daniel died and why there was a ghost that was haunting Claire. I definitely didn't see those coming. There was definitely lots of action, especially at the end that had me not wanting to put the book down! Luckily it was a quick read and I found my answers pretty fast!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 118
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 96
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 30
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 96

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Book Review- Incarnate

This afternoon I finished reading Incarnate by Jodi Meadows for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

NEWSOUL

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

This book dealt with reincarnation which was such an interesting topic. The idea that each person had been around for thousands of year with a new body but same personality and habits was a new one for me. And it had me intrigued.

I felt so bad for Ana. Her "mother" was so completely horrible to her and doesn't really deserve the name of mother. But I was so glad when she found Sam (although I do have to admit at times that I wasn't sure if there would so evil plan to him.) The dragons and slyths were also intersting bits of the story.

I don't really have much to say about the book. I enjoyed it. But I don't really have much to comment on! *shrug*

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

Incarnate will be released on January 31, 2011.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 117
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 95
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 95

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Book Review- The International Kissing Club

I finished reading The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams for a Teen Book Scene Review.

From Goodreads:

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

Even though this book made a snarky reference to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book series, I found that the premise was kind of the same (minus the kissing part in the Sisterhood books). But I liked that series, so I was hoping to like this one too. Plus the girls used aliases of Disney Princesses, and anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Disney and the Princesses, so I just HAD to like this book. And I did!

Yes, it was cheesy. And kind juvenile-ish, with the whole premise being about how many boys they could each kiss. But it was also a little deeper and dealt with friendships too. So while its not going to win any awards, it was nice to just sit back and enjoy a book, a kind of guilty pleasure one!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

The International Kissing Club will be released on January 3, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: I (I am counting that the first name starts with since I don't have a single author whose last name starts with I.)
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 116
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 94
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 94
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 20

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Book Review- A Touch Morbid

I just finished reading A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

I want to like this series. I really, really do! Unfortunately, I had the same reaction to this book as I did the first one. It was waay too confusing. Once again, the names of the different groups of people was never explained. I was just supposed to know, or remember, who everyone was. And I was supposed to remember what happened in the last book. There was no refresher at all. And since I read it over a year ago, and more than 100 books, ago, I had no clue. So I was really lost this time.

I had a hard time staying interested in this book. I caught myself nodding off a lot, which almost never happens. And not because the story was boring. But because I just didn't get it.

And that's all I really have to say about the book. I can't give it a low rating because for me to do that, I would have to dislike the book. Which I didn't. I was just confused the whole time. Sigh.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

A Touch Morbid will be released on February 28, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 115
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 93
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 93

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Book Review- Dead to You

I finished reading Dead to You by Lisa McMann for an Around the World ARC Tour on Sunday, but haven't had time to review it yet.

From Goodreads:

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

This book had such an interesting premise. For some reason the idea of a child being kidnapped and then later reintroduced to his family just fascinated me.

And I actually liked Ethan (usually when the main character is male, I don't care for him). I felt so bad for him and wanted him to be able to feel comfortable with his family again. And I really liked Cami. She didn't treat him like he was either a freak nor a hero. Just a regular boy. But my favorite was Gracie. I teach Kindergarten so I could totally imagine her every move and saying. Too cute!

The end though. Man, I just didn't like it. I want to say something about without giving away spoilers, so highlight the text if you want to read it. 'Ethan' not really being 'Ethan' was interesting but I didn't like it. The boy made himself believe he was Ethan so much that he was willing to take a DNA test? I don't buy it! I get that people put tragic things out of their mind without realizing it, but throughout the book he says that he loves Ellen and he remembered going to look at pictures of kidnapped children so I think he'd remember to decided faking being kidnapped. And what happened to the real Ethan? We don't get any of those questions resolved at all. Ok, spoiler done. So the ending dropped the rating down to a 3. But up until then, I enjoyed it!

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Dead to You will be released on February 7, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 114
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 92
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 92
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 19

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Book Review- Dearly Departed

Early this morning I finished reading Dearly Departed by Lia Habel for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

So I don't think I ever really read the summary of this book. I just knew that it was YA, paranormalish, and had a beautiful cover. So I signed up for the tour. I had no idea it was about zombies. If I had known, I'm not sure I would have signed up since I hadn't read one before and it doesn't really catch my attention. But let me tell you, I am so glad that I didn't read the summary first. I really enjoyed my first zombie novel!

The world that the story is set in is very similar to Victorian times, although its set in the future. But fortunately, the author tells us why this is, instead of leaving us confused like other authors do. I was very grateful for this. So I really got into the background of the story and the way there were customs fitting of old times blended with future technology. Pretty neat!

And oh, Bram! He makes me want my own zombie. Such a true gentelman! The zombies were so great! They had such a great sarcastic sense of humor and often times I forgot that they were flesh eaters! And I loved that Nora was so open minded and embraced her new friends (after having to warm up to them of course!)

I liked that so much was explained in this book. Why the zombies were happening. And how. I think it's a good thing this was first zombie book because it really got me into it! And the story definitely leaves you wondering what will be happening next. And I can't wait to pick up the next book!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 113
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 91
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 29
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 90

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Book Review- Under the Never Sky

I finished reading Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

This book took quite a while for the story to get going for me. And because of that, I never really became invested in it. That's not to say that the story wasn't good. I just didn't fall in love with it.

The premise of the story is certainly interesting. Living in a dome with all of your social interactions done in what's like a virtual reality world. Although the idea of a Smarteye kind of creeps me out. I guess it's kind of like a contact lens but it just sounds way too painful. And then there's the Outsiders. Some of whom have special gifts. They all live in different tribes (including one group of cannibals!) Such an interesting world this book was set in.

And there was certainly enough action. So I'm not sure why I felt like it dragged. Maybe it took a while for the characters to develop. I'm not sure. So why I did enjoy it, it just took me a while.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

Under the Never Sky will be released on January 3, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 111
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 90
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 90

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge-- December Update

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Book Review- The Scorpio Races

I finished reading The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater for an Around the World ARC Tour very early this morning.

From Goodreads:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Bah! This book was so hard for me to get into. It did get a little better at the very, very end, but not enough for me to change my overall opinion. And I so liked the Wolves of Mercy Falls series too! I had high hopes for this one, but man! were they dashed!

First, the book was just too gory for me. Yes, I know the premise is of these dangerous water horses. But there was too much senseless killing and blood everywhere.

And while that is a kind of action, I guess, I felt like the book lacked the kind of action that keeps my attention. It just felt so sllooww to me. I didn't really care about what was happening.

Now, that's not to say that I didn't like the characters, because I did. While the plot was horrible to me, the characters were enjoyable. I liked Puck's relentlessness (is that a word?) I liked that she was trying to save her family and wouldn't let anyone keep her down. And I liked Sean. He seemed like a good ole boy with a good heart.

But unfortunately, that wasn't enough to keep me liking the book.

I gave the book a rating of 3/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 110
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 89
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 89

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Book Review- Everneath

I just finished reading Everneath by Brodi Ashton for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

The first thing I did when I finished this book was to go see if there was a sequel. And yay! This is the first book in a trilogy! I want to read the next book NOW!.

I do have to admit though, that it was hard for me to get into the book at first. It was kind of slow and I got confused with the whole Everneath and Everliving and what had happened. But then when everything was discovered about Jack, I was hooked.

Oh Jack. And I have a new crush. Jack. The boy was a best friend but had a reptuation. But has always loved you. Sigh. I loved that he never gave up on Nikki. So sweet! And Cole wasn't too bad either. Yes, he used Nikki but there was some feeling there, even though he is not supposed to feel anything. I wonder what will come of this in the next book.

The ending was a surprise to me. It shouldn't have been, because thinking back, I should have seen it coming. But I didn't. Oh sadness. And I want to know what is going to happen next!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

Everneath will be released on January 24, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 109
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 88
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 88

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Book Review- Cinder

I just finished reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer for an Around the World Book Tour.

From Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I love fairy tales. Always have, always will. And I love Cinderella (hello, my wedding theme this past June was Cinderella's carriage..although the carriage in this story was really a beat up orange car which doesn't exist in this world anymore.) But anyways. Even though this type of book wouldn't normally interest me, I knew I had to read it since it was based off one of my favorite princess stories.

I have to admit. I had to look up was a cyborg was. I had no idea! This book is so out of what I am used to. But it held my interest. I loved looking for ways of how this story matched up to the Cinderella story that I grew up with. We had the evil stepmother and the stepsisters, although only one was evil. You had Cinder working an unglamorous job and pretty much slaving away for the step mother. I'm not really sure who the fairy godmother would be. Maybe the closest would be the android that was a close friend to Cinder. There was the shoe that fell off (with the foot). And of course you had the prince. But aside of that you have an evil Queen from another planet and a horrible disease plaguing Earth.

There was a major surprise at the end. Well, at least I think it was supposed to be a surprise, but I figured it out right from the beginning. But it leaves for a nice cliffhanger. This book is the first in a quartet and I will definitely be picking up the next book!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

Cinder will be released on January 3, 2011.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 108
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 87
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 87

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Book Review-Dear Bully

I just finished reading Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones.

From Goodreads:

You are not alone

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

This book is too hard for me to review, really. Every author's story is true and since the stories are so short (only 2-5 pages really), I can't really review anything.

I can say that this is such a very important book. I think this should be MANDATORY reading for kids. Probably around sixth grade or so. Kids need to know that bullying is not okay and that they're not alone. And the book would show them that things do get better.

Reading all of the stories, I thought back to my childhood. I can only think of one time I was bullied. After a sleepover in fifth, several of the girls started calling me "Cat" and meowing at me. I remember crying in school and my teacher being so nice to me. It only lasted a few months and I am still friends on facebook with the girls. To this day I have no idea what it meant and have no want to really find out. So I'm one of the lucky ones, I think. But there shouldn't be "lucky ones". Everyone should be free from bullying!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:

2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 107
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 86

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free from Reviewer Rewards in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Book Review- The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

I just finished reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Ok, so first things first. I have a new crush. His name is Noah Shaw. Yum! He is just the first of the many characters that I loved in this book (although the only one I have a crush on). I just knew that he was going to turn out to be a jerk (with his past and his yumminess and all). But I was so wrong and so glad that I was wrong! And Mara. I loved her! She was so full of spunk and has such sarcastic thoughts and things to say! And her chemistry with Noah was perfect! I loved how she gave him such a hard time at the beginning and didn't just immediate fall into him. And their banter just made for such a great read! Then you add Jamie into the mix...such a great friend. I just wish his character didn't disappear about halfway through. I enjoyed him. And don't forget Mara's brother's: Daniel and Joseph. I've always wanted an older brother to take care of me like Daniel took care of Mara. And Joseph was such a funny kid--wise beyond his years. So all of the characters made the story that much more enjoyable for me.

I was instantly wrapped up in Mara's world. What was real and what wasn't? And why were the deaths happening? And what happened on that awful night in the asylum? I got so engrossed into the story.

I do have to say that the last quarter or so of the book left me kind of confused. I was left questioning a lot of things and I don't know if I missed somethings but I just didn't get some of it. But that didn't make me enjoy it any less. The ending has a 2 pretty big twists. One I saw coming right before it happened. But the one at the very, very end, I didn't see at all (although I think that maybe I should have). Anyways, the book ended on a HUGE cliffhanger. Which makes me crave the next book right away!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 105
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 85
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 27
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 85

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Book Review- Wherever You Go

I finished reading Wherever You Go by Heather Davis for a Teen Book Scene review.

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?

As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Gois is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I think it might be because of the fact that the perspectives of the story kept jumping around. There is Holly's point of view in the first person. There is Rob's point of view in the second person. And there is Jason's point of view in the third person. Personally, I didn't like reading in second person AT ALL. It was just too off putting. And I think that since there were all of these different viewpoints, that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Holly bugged me somewhat. She seemed so cold and distant. I get that her boyfriend died. But she didn't really seem sad to me, just emotion-less. I never really felt that she loved Rob. And then the scenario with her mother. Argh! I get that in today's economy, teenagers often times have to take care of younger sibling while parents are at work. But she really did seem too much like she was the parent. And when her mom stepped in to actual be a parent, I wanted Holly to give more attitude to her mom to ler her really know how much of a burden was being placed on her.

I liked Jason. He seemed sweet. But also a little distant. I liked that he seemed to care so much for Holly and wanted to make her happy. But I also think it's kind of odd to move in on your deceased best friend's girlfriend only 6 months after he'd passed away. Maybe that's just me.

And then there's Rob. His story was an interesting one. I didn't see it coming. I think a whole story could really be told about the reason behind the crash. And I think that could be an important story. Unfortunately, this story didn't go into it that much.

And finally, there's Aldo, Holly's grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I really enjoyed him. I think he was the most sympathetic character of the whole book. I really felt for him. I felt so sad for him when he was struggling and almost trapped inside his brain. And I loved when he was so engaged while doing things on his "list". Such a sweet old guy.

This story was definitely a character-driven one. I'm not too keen on the whole multiple-perspectives, but if you are, then give this book a try.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Wherever You Go will be released on November 15, 2011.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 80
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 64
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 62
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 14

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Book Review- Between the Sea and Sky

I just finished reading Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore for a Bloomsbury blog tour.

From Goodreads:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

I have always loved mermaid stories. There's just something so magical about a world under the sea. So I was very excited to read this book.

First off, I have to say that I am a little torn about what age this book is for. I mean, its definitely YA. But I can't decide if its for a younger teen or older teen. It's written in a very simplistic tone, so that makes me think its written for the younger teen but then it talks about a drunken man and a little abuse so that makes me think of older teens. I don't know.

Anyways, I liked Esmerine. I liked that was curious but still kept the love for her home. I do NOT get what she saw in Alandare. I know they were friends when they were younger but I feel he was so cold to her when they met up again years later. I know it explained why he was that way, but I still don't get it. If I were her, I would have been so turned off against him. Oh well.

The ending was predictable in one way, but it was sweet and happy. Meaning, I knew the end result but I liked how the characters wrapped it all up!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 104
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 84
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 84

*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by Bloomsbury USA for a honest review.

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