Book Review: He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: June 2011
Pages: 368
Source: e-copy of ARC provided by GalleyGrab
For: Review
Series: He's So/She's So, Book 2

Ally's life has certainly gotten a lot more complicated.  After the disaster at Shannen's party where she realized her friends really don't want her, she retreats into a different life.  In order to avoid her almost-boyfriend, Jake, she will do almost anything - including possibly spending the summer on Long Island where all of her former friends will be.  Can things get any more complicated?  Of course they can.

Things I Liked:
I'm kind of hooked on the twisty, soap opera-y life that is displayed here.  The rich, the poor, the envy, the malice, the hate and the hurt - all so engrossing.  It's so horrifying that it's interesting.  I really don't much like Ally in this book.  She acts like a jerk almost through the whole thing, treating her friends and family like dirt and then wondering why they're angry.  The book almost seems like a manual for how to be selfish.  Still, it's like I can't look away from these teens who struggle to figure out themselves while making tons of awful mistakes.  It's definitely got that real feel to it!

Things I Didn't Like:
I really was annoyed with how stupid the characters acted sometimes.  Yes, it is very likely realistic, but it still bugs.  I got very tired of Jake swearing every other word.  Seriously, I get it, he swears, but do I have to keep getting hit in the face with it?  I'm not sure I can handle another book of this, but of course this one ends on a ridiculous cliff-hanger revelation.  We'll see.

Read-alikes:
Read the first book, She's So Dead to Us first
Populazzi by Elise Allen
The Real Real by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$%
a lot with numerous f-words

mrg-factor: XX
plenty of page time, though not a lot of descriptive material

v-factor: none
but I thought I'd mention lots of underage alcohol consumption here

Overall rating: ***

Not exactly something I'd "recommend," but somehow it's addicting, like bad reality TV.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Top Ten Tuesday: More Please

 

It's time for another Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week, the prompt is what authors you want more from.  Essentially, if it's not asking too much, could you please squeeze out another book for me?

Markus Zusak
Seems like I've been waiting forever for something more.  Mind you, I haven't read all of his books, so I need to get that done, but I think there is (finally) another book coming, Bridge of Clay.  Crossing my fingers!

Jane Austen
Really, I don't think six complete novels are enough from one of my all-time favorites.  I see no problem with a zombie Jane, since she's already got the Bennett sisters reincarnated to combat them. Plus, I need at least one more heroine to love (and hero to drool over).

Elizabeth Gaskell
What, you let a little something like death prevent you from finishing Wives and Daughters? I'd like another great story, if you don't mind (and if it's not too selfish, something BBC could do a fabulous miniseries for, ok?)

Harper Lee
Admittedly, it would probably be difficult to live up to your first (and only) book at this point, but we could sure use another Atticus.

Megan Whalen Turner
So even if we "just" had one not too long ago, with her usual half-decade between each book, I just don't think my patience will last quite long enough.  And is there more for my favorite thief?

J.R.R. Tolkien
True, LOTR will always be your masterpiece, but I think it would be lovely to have another spanking good adventure of epic proportions from you.  Or maybe just the lost stories of Aragorn?

Nancy Farmer
Seems like it's been a while since we've seen something new and specifically, I'd like a House of the Scorpion sequel, if you please.

Margaret Mitchell
This woman left us with the ULTIMATE cliffhanger and no sequel has done it justice. A little post-mortem writing seems in order, I think.

Moira Young
Having been blown away by your first book, I'm ready for more! Could we speed things along a bit?

Shannon Hale
What, having twins is an excuse? And, ok, she has two books coming this year, one this month, but still! I need them NOW!

Who do you need just a little more from?

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Book Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: June 2011
Pages: 304
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Heist Society, Book 2

Kat's reputation, since the last major break-in she planned, has preceded her everywhere.  But, when she's asked to steal the Cleopatra Emerald - steal it and return it to its rightful owners - she's just a little bit nervous.  Not only is it hard to get a public glimpse of the emerald, it is also cursed.  Can she and her crew manage to get their hands on this slippery jewel or will the game finally be up for Kat?

Things I Liked:
Ally Carter has the ability to make a smart, fun, action-movie-like plot into a fantastic book.  I loved reading this, figuring out what Kat would do next and how she would pull off another fabulous heist.  I especially loved that Kat was doing all of this while trying to figure herself out.  She's vulnerable and she makes mistakes, and she's not sure who she is, but she knows what she's good at too.  I just had such a good time reading it that I can't wait for more thieving action.

Things I Didn't Like:
I did have some of the heist figured out (though, I was really thinking "she should have done this" and then learned...she did).  But none of that spoiled it for me.  Especially because Carter made me doubt what I thought before the end and managed to keep the intrigue and suspense all the way through.  Great story!

Read-alikes:
Start with Heist Society by Ally Carter
A bit like the Curse Workers series by Holly Black

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 
if there are, they are few and far between

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
some action, nothing graphic

Overall rating: **** 

Why are books about thievery and mafia-ish societies so appealing to this law-abiding girl?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: April 2007
Pages: 560
Source: Library
For: Book Group

Nell was abandoned on a ship to Australia when she was only a little girl.  Found by the dockmaster with only some clothes and a book of fairy tales, she remains ignorant of her past until he tells her on her twenty-first birthday.  This launches Nell on a quest to find out about her real parents, a journey that lasts through decades and into her granddaughter's life after Nell's death.  Will they ever know the truth of their past?

Things I Liked:
This was one of those books that intrigues you with family mysteries.  I was really interested in the family history and the processes Nell and Cassandra took to find out about their family.  I must admit, though, that I was more interested in reading the first hand stories of Eliza and Rose than in Nell or Cassandra.  The historical details and the crazy family secrets drew me in more than the other stories.  I also really enjoyed the fairy tale aspect - several stories weaving in and out.  I thought the Frances Hodgson Burnett detail was fun too, what with a bit of secret garden going on.  A complex and interesting story from beginning to end.  I liked this detail:

He was a scribble of a man.  Frail and fine and stooped from a knot in the center of his knobbled back.  Beige slacks with grease spots clung to the marbles of his knees, twiglike ankles rose stoically from oversized shoes, and tufts of white floss sprouted from various fertile spots on an otherwise smooth scalp.  He looked like a character from a children's story.  A fairy story.  p 101

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit that about 1/3 of the way in, I had already figured Nell's history out.  Perhaps not to the precise details, but I knew a few of the key facts.  That made it slightly less interesting for me, not to mention I wanted to smack Nell and Cassandra for being so blind.  I did not like how much the story jumped around, what with flashbacks right in the middle of backstories during current stories.  I don't mind duel history viewpoints, but when they jump so much, I find it distracting.  There were only a few places in the book that made me want to stop reading because of it, though.  A good story, but not one of my favorites.

Read-alikes:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman
A little The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett tie-in too

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
scattered here and there, nothing too strong

mrg-factor: X
a bit of implied stuff, not much on page

v-factor: -> 
just a little bit

Overall rating: *** 

Do you find yourself liking fewer adult books if you usually read YA or does it still have a draw for you?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

(Still) Wrapping up 2011: Stats and Challenges

You know, if I were more on top of things, I'd have done all this stuff before today.  Alas, I'm not. 

I really love to analyze the stats from my reading during the year, so here are a bunch of numbers (and a few more graphs) that show a bit more about what I read.

Total number of books read: 150 
(my favorites of the year are listed here)

Fiction: 142, 95%
Non-fiction: 8, 5% (ouch, I really need to up this number)

Age Range:
Middle Grade (or younger): 56
Young Adult: 78
Adult: 16

Sorta Genres:
Historical Fiction (ish): 19
Mystery (vague, I know): 2
Realistic Fiction: 20
Sci-Fi (ish): 2
Paranormal: 22
Horror (ish): 1
Magical Realism (in my opinion): 5
Fairy Tale Retelling (straight up, anyway): 3
Steampunk: 1
Fantasy (ish): 44
Dystopian: 20
Graphic Novels or Illustrated: 11
(Of course these "genres" won't add up to 150, since some cross over and some don't fit and so on.)

Authors:
Male: 38
Female: 114 
(Also not adding up because there are one book with a male and female author, three books with two female authors, one book with two male authors, and one book with three male authors.) 

Most Read: Catherine Fisher (4 books, the Relic Master series)

Most Read Runners-Up in a ten-way tie with 2 books each:
Richard Peck, Christopher Paolini, Lois Lowry, Kieran Scott, Jonathan Maberry, Cinda Williams Chima, Mary Pearson, Stephanie Perkins, Sophie Jordan, and Ursula Vernon

Source:
Books read for review: 69, 46%
Books from the library: 73, 49%
Books from my collection not for review: 7, 5%
Books borrowed: 1, <1%

Format:
Audiobooks: 14 
E-Books: 18
Print: 118

Other:
Published in 2011 (US): 72, 48%
Debut Authors in 2011: 23, 15%
Debut Authors in 2012: 1, <1%
Rereads: 10, 7%
Did Not Finish: 6, 4% (out of 156)
Books part of a series: 80, 53%

And while I'm wrapping up, here are the challenges I signed up for in 2011.  I just wanted to say: I finished them all!  The only one I nearly didn't was the historical fiction challenge, which definitely challenged me to pick more HF books.
 
Debut Author Challenge, hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren:
completed with 22 debuts (see the list here).
 
Middle Grade Book Challenge hosted by Cindy's Love of Books:
completed with 45 books (see the list here).
 
YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss:
completed with 11 books (see the list here).
 
2011 E-Book Challenge hosted by The Ladybug Reads:
completed with 18 books (see the list here).
 
100+ Reading Challenge, hosted by Home Girl's Book Blog:
completed with 150 books (see the list here).
 
I was also "participating" in two perpetual challenges, which I didn't do so well with.  The Local Author Challenge, hosted by Suey at It's All About Books, I read at least 2 by authors from my new locale, Arizona:
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann and Slayers by C.J. Hill
And I think I got about 5 or 6 Utah authors too! (Ok, this year it will only be Arizona authors that count.)
 
For the Printz Project, I only managed to read one Printz book, the winner for the year, Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.  I've gotta work on that a little better this year!

Whew!  Now maybe I can get some reviews posted.  Congrats if you made it this far!  What stats do you love to keep? 

 

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Classic Double Challenge: January

The Classic Double Challenge has officially started! Though it is the first month and I don't expect many of us (including myself) to get the reading done for the challenge right away, I'm including a linky for any reviews or other discussions you have about the books you're reading that you may want to link to. Also, feel free to comment if you don't have a blog or goodreads account or other forum for discussing your book pairs. At the end of the month, I'll choose a winner from those participating in the challenge and send them some kind of bookish prize yet to be determined (bookmarks, swag, a book or two, etc). If you do happen to link up or discuss in the comments, I'll give you an extra entry for the monthly prize. I'm so excited to have so many participants (you can check out their posts/comments on the Classic Double Challenge sign-up page). Also, check out the (growing) list of possibilities for the Classic Double Challenge.  And if you haven't signed up and want to, you are welcome to join in any time this year!

Discussion question: What classic book do you wish there was a contemporary retelling (or more retellings) for and why?

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Everneath ARC Winner!

Just wanted to let you all know, I did pick a winner for the Everneath by Brodi Ashton ARC and it is...
 

Cheyenne T.

 
I've contacted Cheyenne and I'll be sending the book out ASAP, so she can get it read right away.  Thanks to everyone for entering and I hope you all get a chance to read the book when it comes out later this month.  It's worth it!
 

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2012: The Books I Read

Since I decided not to join one of those big number challenges this year, I realized I still needed to have a post where I could keep track of what I read in 2012.  Since I started my new job, I've had a lot less time to read, but I'm hoping to read 100 books, since I think I can still manage that :)

Read in 2012

1. Legend by Marie Lu
2. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (reread)
3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
4. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
5. The Inquisitor's Apprentice by Chris Moriarty
6. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
7. The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright
8. The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
9. Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac
10. Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
11. Variant by Robison Wells
12. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (reread)
13. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley, adapted by Yuri Rasovsky
14. Ivy and the Meanstalk by Dawn Lairamore
15. Frost by Marianna Baer
16. Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien
17. The Death Cure by James Dashner
18. A Million Suns by Beth Revis
19. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
20. The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
21. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
22. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
23. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
24. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
25. Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
26. New Girl by Paige Harbison
27. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
28. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
29. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
30. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
31. Room by Emma Donoghue
32. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
33. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (reread)
34. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
35. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
36. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
37. Fever by Lauren DeStefano
38. The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee
39. The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
40. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (reread)
41. Tempest by Julie Cross
42. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
43. Dreamland by Alyson Noel
44. Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
45. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
46. Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin
47. Partials by Dan Wells
48. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
49. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer 
50. Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull 
51. Die For Me by Amy Plum
52. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
53. Revived by Cat Patrick
54. Under the Jolly Roger by L.A. Meyer
55. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
56. Northanger Alibi by Jenni James
57. The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
58. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (reread)
59. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
60. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
61. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
62. Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman
63. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
64. Earthseed by Pamela Sargent
65. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
66. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (reread)
67. Starters by Lissa Price 
68. Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood
69. Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielsen
70. Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin
71. In the Belly of the Bloodhound by L.A. Meyer 
72. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
73. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
74. Dune by Frank Herbert
75. After the Snow by S.D. Crockett
76. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
77. Magyk by Angie Sage 
78. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
79. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
80. Persuasion by Jane Austen (reread)
81. Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
82. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
83. False Memory by Dan Krokos
84. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
85. UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
86. Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgis 
87. Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore
88. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood 
89. Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier 
90. Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott
91. Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce
92. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
93. Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
94. Feedback by Robison Wells
95. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce 
96. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
97. Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
98. Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce
99. Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel 
100. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore 
101. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann 
102. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
103. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
104. Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
105. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
106. The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker
107. What Came From the Stars by Gary Schmidt
108. Beta by Rachel Cohn
109. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
110. The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima (reread)
111. The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan 
112. Son by Lois Lowry
113. Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
114. In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
115. The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima (reread)
116. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
117. The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima (reread)
118. The Candy Shop War, Book 2: The Arcade Catastrophe by Brandon Mull
119. Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier 
120. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
121. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (reread)
122. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
123. The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima 
124. Rebel Heart by Moira Young 
125. Catherine by April Lindner
126. Miles to Go for Freedom by Linda Barnett Osborne
127. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
128. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
129. In Quiet Desperation by Fred and Marilyn Matis and Ty Mansfield
130. Fifty Cents & A Dream: Young Booker T. Washington, by Jabari Asim, illustrated by Brian Collier

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Happy Cybils New Year!

Just dropping you a note to let you know the Cybils finalists were announced today! Yeah! What a fabulous bunch of books they are too. I'm judging on the Middle Grade Fantasy/Sci-fi panel again this year and I've read three of the seven finalists, which means I get to discover four more delightful books! Be sure to check out all the finalists in the other categories, since there are loads of great books to be found.
Hope you are all enjoying a great start to 2012!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Publication date: September 2011
ISBN:9780062015051
Source: Library

Jack and Hazel have been best friends ever since Hazel can remember. But when Jack one day disappears, Hazel is sure he has been taken by the white queen and sets off to rescue him. She is sure that when he didn't want to be her friend anymore that it was the queen's influence over him. And she will go to whatever lengths and wherever she must to save him. But what if he doesn't want to be saved?

Things I Liked:
I just loved the fairy-tale-ness of it, but more than that, the realistic view of fairy tales.  It was a balance between the things that can happen in fairy tales and just how uncomfortable or horrifying those things would be in real life.  It was such a sweet and also bitter story about growing up, losing friends, dealing with change, and all those things that can happen to disappoint us when we are 11 (or older).  A beautiful story, filled with beautiful characters and setting.  I really hope this one gets a Newbery honor at least.

Things I Didn't Like:
I admit the first part of the book did not interest me.  I was looking forward to the fairy tale and it seemed like a realistic fiction book initially.  I don't hate those kinds of books, but it wasn't what I expected.  I really loved it eventually and can see how the first part ties into the second, despite its near lack of fairy tale or magical detail.

Read-alikes:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
(it also had a bunch more literary allusions throughout that made me happy, including HP, The Golden Compass and other delights)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
some frightening details, but not very

Overall rating: **** 

What are your picks for the Newbery?

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Book Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 2010
ISBN:9780061935084
Source: Library

Jacinda has been groomed for leadership in her draki pride, ever since she became the first fire breather in centuries.  But when breaking the rules puts her in contact with a sympathetic hunter and on the bad side of pride leadership, her mother takes Jacinda and her twin sister and secretly runs from the pride.  Will they be able to blend in with regular people and will Maidens be able to keep her inner draki alive?

Things I Liked:
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.  I remember reading several scathing reviews when it came out and I completely agree with much that was said. However, maybe it was my lowered standards, but I managed to enjoy it.  I really loved the family relationships.  I thought it was important for Jacinda to grow up and understand what her family has done for her over the years.  There was a nice conflict between Jacinda and her sister that kept me interested in the story.  Also, the plot picked up about halfway through enough to keep me reading.

Things I Didn't Like:
The writing was not really to my taste, feeling a little too choppy sometimes.  And the beginning was very slow and felt like every other paranormal romance out there.  The ending was a little far-fetched also.  It definitely has its flaws, but I'm planning to pick up the next one anyway.  

Read-alikes:
It reads a lot like many of the star-crossed paranormal romances out

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
A very few mild ones

mrg-factor: X
some sensual stuff, innuendo mainly

v-factor: ->
a little bit, but not much

Overall rating: ***

Any fans of this series want to tell me why you like it?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Favorite Reads from 2011

So, there have been a host, a flock, a crowd of best lists and favorites lists, and all kinds of year end lists.  I'm just throwing in my two cents.  Since I've read (or will have read) more than 150 books this year, having around 25 favorites isn't too many, right?  Eh, I'm going to talk about them all anyway! :)  I'm not even trying for categories or books released this year or anything.  Here they are in no particular order or even a semblance of order:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
A fantasy gem in my comfort genre of choice.  Reading it felt like coming home to my old favorite fantasy books.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
A dystopian adventure that swept me up and swallowed me whole. Impossible to put down from beginning to end.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
This is an oldie but a goodie; one I wish I'd had when I was twelve.


After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
What I like to call bitter sweet hilarity.  Proof that there is life after cancer, and it can be fun!

Plain Kate by Erin Bow
The ultimate "under the radar" good book - I loved it, but no one else seems to know about it!

Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
I'm such a sucker for quirky families and this MG read had a whopper of an oddball family.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
A smart, thoughtful, unique, stand-alone dystopian (even if there is a companion book coming out).

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
A fave author does it again, and how! With writing so rich, you could be tasting the goulash in Prague.

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
I don't know how Schmidt does it, but he creates the most semi-tragic, but somehow comic stories! I simply love Doug.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
A sweet, smart, witty retelling. Brought new life to a tale that's been told many times.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
A book that reminds you just how easy your life is, and how to be optimistic in the face of tragedy.

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
One of my favorite fantasy series. I thought this was the last one, so I was happy to learn it wasn't!

The Giver by Lois Lowry
There is a reason this comes to mind when you think classic dystopian. Always worth a reread!

Crossed by Ally Condie
Proof (to me) that a slow-moving sequel can be just as good as the first one.

The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
Contains one of the most hilarious characters in all of juvenile fiction. And my favorite djinn ever.

These is My Words by Nancy Turner
I do read adult books and apparently they are good too! :)

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
A book that opened my eyes and urged me to think differently of those with physical disabilities - works for kids and adults alike.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Still just as powerful and heart-wrenching as that first time.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Hello historical fiction, I'd almost forgotten how charming you can be.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
A heart-pounding, read-it-in-one-sitting, must-be-devoured-in-big-gulps dystopian adventure.

White Cat and Red Glove by Holly Black
Love this wickedly smart series with con men for characters and surprising twisty plots.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
A story with writing beautiful enough to overshadow the crazy plot.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Another book to remind me that adult books can captivate me still.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Been waiting a long time for this one and I wasn't disappointed at the depth and beauty of the tale.  (Bonus: I have a giveaway for this book going on right now.)

Icefall by Michael J. Kirby (review to come)
A bitter cold story filled with warm-hearted characters and intriguing suspense. 

What are your favorite reads of the year?

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Book Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Random House
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780385737647
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Andi feels like her life is falling apart, ever since the accident when her brother was killed.  Her mother is lost in grief, her grades are slipping, and she feels responsible for his death.  When her father shows up and takes her to Paris for Christmas vacation, she is so angry she doesn't know what to do.  All she knows is that she needs to get back, even if it means finishing her school project on a French composer.  But when she finds a diary from a young girl caught up in the French Revolution, she might get more from this trip than she expected.

Things I Liked:
This book was a really interesting way to learn about the French Revolution.  At first, I did not have any interest in reading about Andi and the things that were going on in her life.  But, when her story began to intersect with Alexandra's, I think it got more interesting.  I liked the realistic look both at the situation Andi was in and the French Revolution and what went on then.  By the time we got to the end, I was so involved in both of their stories that I couldn't put it down.  A beautifully written and perfect mix of contemporary and historical fiction.  Some favorites:

How could we compete against time and space and God and truth?  Mom with her paintings of birds' eggs and coffee cups, me and Truman with our stupid, crappy kid stuff.  It was laughable.  My father didn't give a rat's about the bands I liked or Truman's latest cartoon crush. Why would he?  He had better options.  I mean, who would you hang with if you could - Johnny Ramone, Magneto, or God? p 28 of ARC

He's wearing boots, a kilt, and a long-sleeve T.  No coat, even thought it's December.  Beautiful people don't need coats.  They've got their auras to keep them warm. p 34 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
It was not very comfortable reading about Andi's suicidal tendencies and the way her depression seemed to take over her whole life.  Yes, this is a very realistic the situation, but it's hard to read and sometimes I wondered if there was even going to be something hopeful or redemptive at the end.  It was kind of a toss up on that, but it did have some good points.  Also, I think it will be a much bigger success for those who are big music fans - most of the mentions of musicians and composers were obscure to me and I just couldn't get into that aspect.  But, for music-lovers, that will make this book even more intriguing.  I can definitely recommend it to fans of Donnelly and music fans or historical fiction fans.

Read-alikes:
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
scattered throughout, a few f-words

mrg-factor: XX
not really graphic, but present and often

v-factor: ->->
not exactly violent, but she does consider suicide a LOT

Overall rating: ****

Do you like books with two storylines - a past and present?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9781595143785
Source: ARC sent by publisher

When April, May, and June, three sisters navigating high school together, start experiencing special powers, they think they've hit the jackpot.  April who can see the future, May who can disappear, and June who can read minds, are pretty sure using their powers to deal with high school drama is about the best thing.  But, when April sees something horrible coming, they begin to wonder if the powers are there for a different purpose.

Things I Liked:
I had some seriously mixed feelings on this one.  First, I really liked the sisters.  I thought they were individual, smart, and had realistic interactions.  Their relationships were complicated and each one held things back as well as shared things, just like real sisters do.  I especially loved how their personalities shone through the pages and seemed to fit with their abilities.  May was always fun to read about, being the middle child with a snarky attitude.  I was also kind of intrigued by the idea of their powers sort of running in the family.  But, not much of anything was mentioned about this and I wish there was more.

Things I Didn't Like:
I wasn't entirely sure what kept this from being a good book for me, but I think it was the weird combination of contemporary issues and sort of random paranormal elements.  They end up not really doing anything with their powers and I thought perhaps there was a reason for them.  It felt almost like the author thought the contemporary side of the story wasn't interesting enough and so she threw in some paranormal stuff (though, obviously, that's just my opinion).  Also, the huge build-up with all the foreshadowing and visions didn't fit with the not-very-exciting ending.  I thought it kind of fizzled out. Still, might be fun for someone wanting a sisterly book with a touch of paranormal.

Read-alikes:
Maybe a bit like Clarity by Kim Harrington

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@# 
regularly throughout, at least one f-bomb

mrg-factor: X
mostly just talk

v-factor: ->
a very little bit of action

Overall rating: ***

Are you ever unsure just why a book doesn't work for you?

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Top Ten Books I Hope Are Under My Tree

I'm participating in another delightful  Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week, as is obvious from the title, is a Top Ten of what I want for Christmas.  Which I didn't think would be all that difficult.  But honestly, I found myself realizing just how many books I already have and how I don't actually need more (right now anyway)!!!  I'm sure if I thought about it some more, I'd come up with other books I'd like, but really I have so many, I am quite happy with what I have!
 

It's no secret that I really need to read this one. And own it. 


A fantasy that I simply adored. While I'm not enamored of the cover, I think this would make a fine addition to my collection. 


I could really use this to complete my collection of the Queen's Thief series. Really.


One of my favorite retellings of all time. And I still don't have it!


This is one of the most inspirational true stories I've ever read. So, I need to read it again (and again).


Chaos Walking is a crazy good series and I already have the first one. Thus, I need the next two!


A very well-written fairy-tale-ish book that deserves more attention! And a spot on my shelf :)


A fantastic dystopian read (though I'm still not sure of this new cover) that I think may already be under my tree!


I have the first two (signed!) so I think this would nicely round out my collection.

What are you hoping will make it under your tree this year?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage