help a girl out?

Remember how a few weeks ago Shay from Nightshade sent me a flower? Well, he sent me another package! In this one, there was a book. A very old book:

The title page (the cover breaks off. Isn't that the most horrific thing you've ever heard? When I took the rubber band off and the cover fell off with it I yelped):


There were three pages bookmarked, and each of these bookmarked pages have a design and secret message on them. I need your help deciphering the secret messages because code-breaking skills have become a bit rusty, as I have not reread A Series of Unfortunate Events in a long time.

If you could help me figure these things out, I would love you forever. You'll need to click on the pictures to zoom in and see what letters are circled. I'll put what I have under each picture so we can ~verify our answers.

All I have for the above is "water" which is so obvious. The rest says "sidey" but that is not a word, last time I checked. Any ideas?

I think I *may* have this one? I know the more rectangular bit says "The Scion." The other one says "crux ancora vitae" which is most definitely not English. Do you think this is a valid answer? Are you a genius and know what this could mean?


I'm pretty sure the left says "Alistair." No freaking clue on the right side.

So, help? If you want to see some examples of other people's clues, you can check out Shay's facebook page.

(sidenote: the marketing for this series is so epic, I can't even)

"You are waiting on" Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. (:

For today's WoW, I am waiting for something to come out so that I can fangirl it to the MAX. I've already read (and loved!) it, so I'm going to tell you why you are waiting for it. (Not why you should be, why you ARE. I demand it.)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

description (from goodreads):

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the ...more Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

---

Five reasons you should read Anna:

1. St. Clair

2. St. Clair

3. St. Clair

4. St. Clair

5. St. Clair

Five reasons that are not all St. Clair:

1. Anna is my friend soulmate. She has a BLOG about CLASSIC MOVIES! Obviously she is cool.

2. St. Clair is...oh my gosh. Like, I can't even describe. HE IS AMAZING, THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

3. This book is SO FUNNY. One example: Anna's dad is basically Nicolas Sparks, but has a different name. He writes ~romance books where someone always gets a serious illness and dies. That isn't the funny part, but the crazy dad definitely is funny.

4. It is the most frustrating book EVER. Reading that description, you probably already have a guess as to how it will turn out, but you have NO IDEA what the journey getting there will be like. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to hit the characters for being so frustrating. Every emotion ran through me and I loved every second of it.

5. This book is set in FRANCE! There are French-y things in it! Macarons! Fancy theatres! Other things that I'm too tired to think of!

Bonus: 6. I gave it 5 stars on goodreads. Long time readers of this blog know that I give like no books five stars. I've only given 6 books 5 stars this year. Anna is one of them.

Anna doesn't come out until December 2, but don't worry, I will be reminding you of the release date MANY TIMES in the coming months.

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur

[description from goodreads]

Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Get admitted to The Ivy, the first book in a provocative new series about the world of the Ivy League.

Review:

Harvard was not on my list of potential colleges to go to before I read this book, but now it's really not. The Ivy is one big party, and that's not always a good thing.

But, let's start with the positive. The Ivy is definitely a blast to read. Callie is always getting herself into trouble, embarrassing herself, and generally causing problems that could easily be avoided. The awkward events in her life make for some hilarious moments, and I liked seeing her try to pull herself out of sticky situations. There is always a scandal in the making, which makes for an exciting and tempting read-- I kept wanting to read more to see what would happen.

But, once I finally had to put the book down to go do something else, I wasn't as satisfied. There is so much drama, so many scandals, that there was no way they could all have time to develop beyond being only shallow and superficial. The most interesting ones are basically only hinted at in an attempt to create a mystery, but they are so easy to guess that it was frustrating not to learn more about them. The characters don't help in this situation either-- there is a lot of potential in them, but at this point, there's really only potential. Each character's role/presence in the book is cliche, whether the character plays the role of nice boy who Callie should like but doesn't, obnoxious but inexplicably charming boy, "why are you with this boy?" boy, and the boy from the past who just won't go away.

Readers who like scandal and drama will most likely enjoy The Ivy, but people who want a little more depth in their books will probably not. I'll probably pick up book two whenever it comes out since I think this series will get better as it goes on, but I will be wary.

Book details: Greenwillow/Hardcover/$16.99

Source: sent by publisher for a Traveling to Teens tour

Crank Giveaway

It's Banned Books Week this week, and I am not organized enough to have planned posts in honor of it for every day this week. However, I feel like I should do something, so I'm giving away my extra copy of Crank by Ellen Hopkins, which is one awesome controversial novel. You can read my review of it here.

Here's the description, from B&N, in case you don't want to read the review:

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, she meets a boy who introduces her to crank. At first she finds it freeing, but soon Kristina's personality disappears inside the drug. What began as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul, and her life.

Details and such are on the form!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (: Descriptions and such from goodreads!

I bought a few books at the Smart Chicks tour stop, but they're all not-first books in a series so I cannot post summaries without spoiling people (and myself.) Here are the ones I bought in list form:

• Challenge by Melissa Marr - I thought the first in this series was only alright, but I think this one will be much better. WE SHALL SEE.
  
• Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr - I've been wanting to read this one for a while and it is FINALLY in my possession.
  
• The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong - This is book 3 in the series and I've only read book one, The Summoning, but I bought this one anyway. I would have bought the second in the series, but they only had the paperback so it wouldn't have matched the rest.
  

I also saw Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters on the shelves at the bookstore and could not resist buying it as well.

The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.

Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

5 Trends I Want to Happen

I'm sure most everyone has heard people talk about trends in YA lit and what's popular. Here are five trends/types of books I would like more of:

1. More contemporary! Though I don't think that really counts as a trend but OH WELL. I want more contemporary. Especially funny contemporary.

2. On twitter last week, I was discussing with Julie of Bloggers Heart Books about historical fiction and the dearth of historical that is not set in World War II or the Victorian era. We've also seemed to agree that the next historical trend will probably be the 1920s. But we want other historical stuff! Tudors! Anything!

3. Bring on the sci-fi, I say. There's some YA sci-fi, but in my experience it's mostly dystopian. I want more space ships and aliens. Across the Universe by Beth Revis, which comes out next year, looks quite promising!

4. I would really like to read a film noir-esque YA. Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma is awesome but a bit more middle grade. I think a film noir YA would be EPIC. Or really just an awesome YA mystery-- the ones I've read tend to have outcomes that are really easy to guess.

5. Can "crazy families" count as a trend? I love me some crazy families. Three of my favorite shows/movies involve weird families - Addams Family Values, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Arrested Development.

Smart Chicks Recap!

This Monday I got to attend a stop on the Smart Chicks Kick It tour! It was awesome. At my stop, there were 8 authors: Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely series), Kelly Armstrong (Darkest Powers series), Alyson Noel (Immortals series), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires series), Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods series), Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers series), Mary Pearson (The Adoration of Jenna Fox), and Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures).

Here are more pictures and such from the event (if you click on them they should be bigger):

Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong introducing everyone:


Margie Stohl showing the height difference between her and Kami Garcia:


After the introductions were over, there was a little Q&A. I'm not sure what is secret and what isn't, but here are some things I actually remember from the Q&A and lightning round:

• Most people didn't have any movie news or they had movie news they couldn't share, but Mary Pearson did mention that The Adoration of Jenna Fox will be a movie! I don't know how I missed this news but I am excited. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl also said they will be playing all the characters in the movie version of their book.
  
• Someone obviously had to ask a Twilight related question, and at this event that question was "who is your favorite character?" My favorite answer was Kami Garcia's, who said "Black Sabbath."
• Upon being asked who the hottest actor out right now, I believe 3/9 said Johnny Depp, so he obviously won.
  

All the authors:


After the Q&A we played "Shag, Marry, Cliff" in which you pick three characters from a book series and decide which you will shag, which you will marry, and which you will throw off a cliff. (Disclaimer: for 16 year olds and under, "shag" means "kiss.") The only one I remember is that the two girls who went up and decided on the Darkest Powers series said they would marry Derek. Obviously I need to read the rest of that series.

Lightning round, hosted by Margie Stohl and the giant orb over her head:


After the presentation portion of the event, I waited in line until it was time to get my (many) books signed.

I got to fangirl Rachel Vincent and Melissa Marr, among others, and I found out that there will eventually be a sequel to Angels on Sunset Boulevard by Melissa de la Cruz. I want it nooow.

Author Cynthia Hand (Unearthly) was near me in line and once I figured out who she was (I may or may not have been eavesdropping on various people around me. Note: if you notice me standing near you, do not talk about important things because when I get bored, as I was while I was standing in line, I people-watch/listen. I admit it. I tend to blend in to the background so no one even notices me listening to them. This skill comes in handy at school. I know many things about random people.) I think I may have scared her with my enthusiasm with her gorgeous cover. Look at it! How could I not fangirl it?

Rachel Vincent and I (she's my new favorite, by the way. She was quite humorous during the Q&A):
Kami, Margie, and I:

pictures from Vania of VLC Photo! I figure I could use the pictures 1) because I am in them and 2) because they turned out much better than the ones I took even though Vania took these when I was standing in the most awkward positions ever.

SUPER AWESOME event.

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner

[description from goodreads]

Gianna Z has less than one week to collect, identify, and creatively display 25 leaves for her science project—or else she won’t be able to compete in the upcoming cross-country race. As the deadline for her leaf project draws near, life keeps getting in the way. Some things are within Gee’s control, like her own procrastination, but others aren’t, like Bianca Rinaldi’s attempts at sabotage and Nonna’s declining health. If it weren’t for her best friend Zig, Gee wouldn’t have a chance at finishing. His knowledge of trees and leaves in their rural Vermont town comes in very handy, as does his loyalty to Gee. But when Nonna disappears one afternoon, things like leaves and cross-country meets suddenly seem less important.

Review:

I've had this book on my shelf for a while and wish I had read it sooner! I was charmed by the end of chapter one, because it was basically my life story. Counting down the minutes until the end of class? Being annoyed by the stupid girls? Procrastination? That is me in pretty much every class. The only difference between Gianna and I is that she runs and I do not run. Ever.

I continued to relate to Gianna throughout the whole novel, which I loved. When she was being annoyed by her brother, or worrying about her grandma, or continuing to procrastinate, or making people help her with projects, I kept thinking "this is ME but with exercise!" The other characters were fabulous as well-- even the characters who don't often appear, like Gianna's little brother, or her friend Ellen, sparkled with personality. Love.

The plot of this book was also fabulous. At times there was almost a little too much going on and there wasn't time for some things to develop-- like the whole debacle with the mean girl, for example-- but there was never a dull moment. I also loved the inclusion of some bigger themes and story lines-- the book seems very innocent in the beginning, but some more dramatic elements* are included later on.

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z seems a bit unassuming but it's really totally awesome. Cute, sweet, a little sad, and much deeper than it seems.

*Not sure if that is the right phrasing but we'll go with it. Big issues and whatnot, is what I mean.

Book details: Walker Books for Young Readers/Paperback/$6.99

Source: bought

5 Things You Could Be Doing Right Now

Here are five things you could be doing right now:

1. Entering Lauren Bjorkman's epic contest.

2. Telling me what you thought of the return episode of Glee, which was on last night!

3. Telling me how the movie Easy A was, if you have seen it because I still have not! Ah.

4. Pre-ordering Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins because OMG it is so good.

loooove.

5. Listening to this motivational song:

Shadow Horse by Alison Hart

[description from goodreads]

After assaulting the owner of the horse farm where she works, 13-year-old Jasmine Schuler must face the inside of a courtroom and then juvenile hall. No one believes Jas's charge that the man she attacked had killed her horse. Put into foster care at the Second Chance Farm for abused animals, she remains determined to prove her charge against the wealthy horse owner. The key becomes a horse she rescues.

Review:

When I think of "horse books," I usually imagine a girl randomly finding a horse and bonding with it as she deals with some tragedy. After reading chapter one of this book, which deals with a court, I realized that was not the case. Shadow Horse was much different than I expected but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I loved the mystery in this book-- I totally didn't guess the outcome, but then again I know nothing about horses and horse farms so I didn't have much to base any guesses on. I enjoyed seeing the twists and turns Jasmine faced as she faced the mystery, though it did take a pretty long time for her to figure it out. I especially enjoyed that the book and mystery took place in an unfamiliar-to-me setting, because it was refreshing not to encounter as many mystery cliches.

The book is much more plot-driven, and some of the characters suffered for it. For example, Hugh, the antagonist, was really only "the bad guy" and had no traits beyond that. However, the other characters were well-developed. Jasmine and her maybe-Potential Boy Chase were adorable and because they were so different, their interactions often provided some humorous moments. I also loved seeing Jas adapt to her new setting and situation, as her awkward and nervous feelings were easy to relate to.

The book ends very abruptly, and I have no idea how people waited over 10 years for the sequel, Whirlwind. I read the sequel right after finishing Shadow Horse and enjoyed it even more because Jas got to face the bad guys head on.

Shadow Horse is a cute, unique read that will appeal to even those who aren't rabid horse fans. Probably more suited to the middle grade crowd, but I liked even though I'm past the middle grade age.

Book details: Laurel Leaf Books/Paperback/ $7.99

Source: both this book and the sequel sent for review

The Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow

[description from goodreads]

It’s all about the Attitude.

Parker Bell knows the secret to beauty is pretty simple–wearing the right clothes isn’t as important as how you feel in them. Popularity is like that too. It’s all about attitude. You have to picture who you want to be and then just imagine that’s who you already are.

This year Parker and her three best friends have made their way to the top of the populadder at Wallingford Academy. And they’re ready to use their Aristobrat status to help spread positive vibes throughout the school. But when the girls are assigned to produce the seriously lame school webcast, their popularity plummets! Will this tragedy destroy the girls' status? Or their friendship? Or both?

Review:

Though I am currently a high school junior, I enjoy reading middle grade because my middle school experience was not exactly unconventional, but not like everyone else's. (There weren't even 30 people in my 8th grade class, and we were all stuck with each other all day every day. Not fun.) I also enjoy that sometimes they make me kind of paranoid, because, such as in the case with this book, I wonder "was I like this in middle school? Is this how we seemed to old people? OH GOSH."

When I first began The Aristobrats, I was a little overwhelmed. There were so many slang terms and the girls were so rich and fancy that a few times I thought, "too much, too much!" I also was a bit upset that this book made me feel old, because when I read about the girls' school having all this fancy gadgetry and their own WEBCAST, I thought, "is this really what the kids are doing nowadays? My, how the times have changed." However, once I got a little farther in to the story and began understanding all the slang words, I enjoyed the book much more.

I loved that there really were no mean girls in this book, because one thing The Clique movie taught me is that there are often mean girls in fancy middle schools. I think books the heavily involve friendship are far superior to books that don't, especially when the friendship rings true, such as in the case of The Aristobrats. I could totally see why these girls were friends, even if two of the girls (Kiki and Plum) did not get as much page-time. I loved seeing them support each other, especially since everything around them was changing. This life-changing business was also a nice addition to the novel-- I thought the girls' reactions were realistic and added a bit more drama and excitement to the book.

The Aristobrats may be a little too much to handle at some points, but it's a stinking cute read with some lovely universal themes and situations.

Book details: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky/Paperback/$7.99

Source: sent for review by publisher

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (: Descriptions and such from goodreads!

I received two books this week and they both look awesomesauce.

A gift from Jordyn of Ten Cent Notes, who is cool and has nice handwriting:

serafina67 *urgently requires life* by Susie Day

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1

OMG, shiny new laptop! Shiny new blog! Behold my interestingness!!!

Rules for blog:

This is a proper blog for real friends, so spill everything. Except the Incident, when...ahem...*explodes with embarrassment*

NO SHOUTING IN CAPS LOCK. Except when ranting about mental paraentals and the Stepmother.

Do not post about patchworkboy

*blushes*

*thinks about patchworkboy*

*blushes again*

Do not be boringly emo all the time.

Identify the woo-woo mystery-shrouded comment poster. Girl? Boy? Friend? Foe?

Gooey chocolate goodness?

Um...erm...AND SO THERE SHALL BE BLOGGING

:-D

posted by serafina67 @ 6:48PM/ 0comments

---I can see why Jordyn likes this book, because this summary sounds like it was written by her when she is in a very excited mood. I love books with blogs/the internet because blogs are COOL so I cannot wait to begin this one.

For review:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

---I could not resist starting this one and *dies* it is so good so far!! You can tell that I am enthusiastic about this book because I used TWO WHOLE exclamation points in the previous sentence. All I want to do is keep reading but homework is calling my name. >.< Also, ST. CLAIR WHY AREN'T YOU REAL.

bad things

Guys, I have run out of ideas of things to discuss/complain about. I've talked about genres, cliches, and many other things (you can see most of them if you click on the "Khy Has Thoughts on Some Things" tag at the bottom of this post.)

WHAT SHOULD I TALK ABOUT? If you have ideas, you should share them.

If you're reading this in a reader and are too lazy to open a new tab, you can fill this out:


In other news, if you have seen Easy A you should tell me how it is. I want to see it SO BAD.

OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Today is a good day, because yesterday Trish Doller announced the sale of her book. YAAAAAAAAAY!!!

The deal from Publisher's Marketplace: Trish Doller's THE NEW NORMAL, about a young Marine home from Afghanistan, dealing with PTSD and trying to find his place in a life that no longer fits, to Michelle Nagler at Bloomsbury, at auction, in a nice deal, by Kate Schafer Testerman at kt literary (World English).

I've known Trish (on the interwebs) for FOREVER. I have been waiting and waiting for her book to sell ever since her first book sold and then wasn't published. I was SO SAD, SO VERY SAD when that book didn't resell so I am obviously ECSTATIC that Travis has sold! (I call the The New Normal Travis because Travis is the main character and man oh man. TEAM TRAVIS FOREVER. Khy didn't you say the other day you don't understand teams? Yes but in this case I do not mean romantic team picking! I mean "TRAVIS IS THE BEST CHARACTER EVER AND I SUPPORT HIM ALL THE WAY" even though I've only read snippets of him in Trish's teaser Tuesdays and whatnot.)

I am so happy for Trish that I made her a cake:

Do not worry: I am not planning on a career in cake decorating.

Also, doesn't Travis's story sound amazing? And so original? I'm so excited, you don't even know! Now it just needs to come out. I want it SO BAD, GUYS. In the mean time I will eat me cake.

BBAW: Forgotten Treasures

Book Blogger Appreciation Week festivities is when the book blogosphere comes together for a week of merriment and book discussing, among other things.

There are post suggestions for each day this week, and today's post is:

Thursday—Forgotten Treasure

Sure we’ve all read about Freedom and Mockingjay but we likely have a book we wish would get more attention by book bloggers, whether it’s a forgotten classic or under marketed contemporary fiction. This is your chance to tell the community why they should consider reading this book!

Oh, here we go.

Instead of doing one, I am doing a few because I CAN:

1. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken -- this book is SO GOOD, guys. I normally stay away from fantasy but thought this book was great. It has magic and politics and fighting and NORTH. And I also want everyone to buy this book so that there is a better chance for a sequel because I WANT A SEQUEL SO BADLY.

2. The Ruby Oliver series by E. Lockhart, starting with The Boyfriend List - these books are so awesome I can't even handle it. Book Chic let me borrow book 4 in the series recently and ugh I loved it so much. I cried and I laughed and once I finished I wanted to read it again and again and again. I want to be Ruby's BFF so that I can be confused and angsty with someone and so we can go make lists and write letters to goats and watch old movies together.

3. The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson - I haven't read this book in FOREVER but I remember loving it, and I also remember that NO ONE ELSE HAS READ IT. Why is this? READ THIS BOOK, people. So that I at least have others' opinions on it. It is so exciting and original and awesome and there are EXPLOSIONS!

4. Sea by Heidi R. Kling - this book made me cry like...like a person who cries a lot. See, I am reduced to stupidity by this book! I cannot even find the right words! IT IS THAT GOOD.
It is sad and uplifting and beautiful and so many other positive adjectives.

BBAW: Unexpected Treasure

I'm joining in the Book Blogger Appreciation Week festivities a bit late this week, but better late then never! BBAW is when the book blogosphere comes together for a week of merriment and book discussing, among other things.

There are post suggestions for each day this week, and today's post is:

Wednesday—Unexpected Treasure

We invite you to share with us a book or genre you tried due to the influence of another blogger. What made you cave in to try something new and what was the experience like?

I think I've read a bit more fantasy than I normally would have.

Two fantasy books I've read this year that I very much enjoyed are Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken and Mistwood by Leah Cypess. Brightly Woven was mega-fangirled by my buddies Erica of The Book Cellar and Harmony of Harmony Book Reviews, so I picked it up based on their recommendations. It was great! Super fun and magic-y. Also, it has North, so it is automatically awesome. I got Mistwood at Book Expo America, but I can't exactly remember why. I think it may have been because Alicia of Shooting Stars Mag told me it was shiny. Still, I really, really liked it and thought it was unique and fun.

I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I think this was a decent answer!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (or: epiphany!)

Spoilers for the first two books in the series - The Hunger Games and Catching Fire - ahead! None for Mockingjay though. Can't promise the same about any potential comments though!

[description from goodreads]

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead."

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

Review:

Unlike many, many other people, I do not love this series. I don't even particularly like this series. I don't dislike it, but I'm not crazy about it either. I only read Mockingjay so quickly because I wanted to read other people's posts on the book, like the awesome posts by Sarah Ockler and Malinda Lo. I've never understood the hype, and while reading this book I finally know why: I just don't care.

Objectively, I can see why this series is at least good, if not really good. I acknowledge the fact that I was intrigued by what was happening in Mockingjay-- I thought the portrayal of the warfare and media were excellent. I liked seeing how the people were manipulated by both the rebels and the Capitol. I liked that the rebels were not purely good, the Capitol not completely bad, that I was kept on my toes, wondering what they were each planning. I liked seeing the effects of war on all the characters.

Subjectively, I really just don't care. There is nothing about Katniss that has made her stand out in my mind, nothing that makes me like or dislike her. For me, she's just there, telling the story, which I think is a very big problem since she is the narrator. Because I don't care about her, I have a hard time caring about anything else that goes on. When people were dying, I felt nothing. When there were battles and excitement, I could not muster up any enthusiasm. When people were manipulating Katniss, I did not care. I felt nothing when Katniss was "trying" to decide between Peeta and Gale because I feel that the romantic aspect of this series has always fallen extremely short-- but that's not necessarily Collins' fault. I'll quote Malinda Lo on this:

A lot of the “I wish” reviews seem to center on the romance between Katniss and her two potential lovers, Gale and Peeta. I think that makes a lot of sense, because in my opinion, the romance was always secondary to the plot. There was a lot of room for readers to invent, for themselves, the reasons that Katniss loved one or the other. Thus, they went into Mockingjay invested in a narrative that they created themselves, rather than the one that Collins, the author, was most invested in.

That is *exactly* why I don't like the romance in this series. I've never felt it was very important in the grand scheme of things, and I think the fans created a complicated love triangle where I felt there wasn't one. That sort of thing always annoys me.

Also, the ending was...ag. Realistic, I guess, but anticlimactic, for me at least. And between this book and Deathly Hallows, I'm starting to think that epilogues should never exist.

I'm sure that big fans of this series will like Mockingjay, but my thoughts can be summed up in one word: whatever. I think because I don't care about Katniss, I can't care about anything happening to her. The events happening off-screen (off-page?) were much, much more intriguing to me.

Summary of this review: This is really just one of those horrible cases when I can see that a book is good but I don't like or dislike it. For me, this book is just there.

Book details: Scholastic Press/Hardcover/$17.99

Source: bought

A boy sent me a flower!

It wasn't from just any boy! It was from a FICTIONAL boy!

Khy, have you lost your mind?

No! At least, I haven't lost my mind for this reason.

I shall explain:

On Friday, I came home from school and there was a package waiting for me. I opened the package and inside there was a box with a card that said "An Invitation":


Inside the box, there was a flower and some ripped of pages of a book:

Attached to the ribbon was a key. This key was also a USB...thing. I put the USB thing in my computer, very intrigued to see what was on it:


There were two videos on it. The first was titled "Play_Me_First_Khy." I obeyed and this popped up on my screen:

Needless to say, I began paying much closer attention.

I clicked the play button and the boy on the screen said "Hey Khy!" I then flapped my arms and screamed out of shock. I had to pause the video before continuing.

Then, the boy said I get double bonus points for digging classic movies. (Yes, he really said "digging." I laughed.) I was then very confused but glad that this random boy on my computer screen is also a fan of classic movies.

Once he said his name, everything began making sense.

His name is Shay Doran and he is from the book Nightshade by Andrea Cremer! I've already read the book and it was great, but I had a hard time choosing whether I was on Team Shay or Team Ren. I am definitely on Team Shay now, because Ren does not send me presents.

Shay then explained that he is creating this new web series about the creepy mansion he moved in to. I've already watched both episodes on his youtube channel and they are super funsies. I can't wait to see the new episodes because they're acting as a sort of prequel to Nightshade. So awesome!

Here's episode one:




He is also on facebook, so I now have two places to stalk him. I mean...what?

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (: Descriptions and such from goodreads!

I got a few books for review this week and I cannot wait to start them!

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

---I've been anxious to read this book for months and it finally came out this week! I'm so excited to see how it turns out.

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur

Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Get admitted to The Ivy, the first book in a provocative new series about the world of the Ivy League.

---I can't think of more than 5 books I've read that are set in college, so this one definitely sounds intriguing.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

---Poe is pretty awesome, so I can't wait to see how his work is incorporated into this book.

This book also came with a CD, lip ring, eye liner, and lovely note! I can't find my camera or else I'd upload a picture, but Jessica from Chick Lit Teens, who got the same package, posted a few pictures on twitter: 1, 2. It also came in a shiny purple package, which automatically got my attention.

I also got an awesome book-related (but not actually a book) thing this week, but I will post about it tomorrow!

Teams?

How do you define "team"?

Lately, I've noticed the idea of "teams" has become much more popular, probably because of Team Edward and Team Jacob of Twilight.

We also have:

• Team Damon and Team Stefan with Elena (Vampire Diaries but mostly only in the TV show)
  
• Team Gale and Team Peeta with Katniss (Hunger Games)
• Team Jace and Team Simon with Clary (The Mortal Instruments)
  
• Team Adrian and Team Dimitri with Rose (Vampire Academy)
• Team Ash and Team Puck with Meghan (The Iron King)
• Most recently, Team Jem and Team Will with Tessa (Clockwork Angel)
  
• In a few months we will all be deciding between Team Ren and Team Shay with Calla. (Nightshade)

And many more.

In many of the above examples, I don't really feel like a "team" exists so much as a "fan club." To me, "team" means that you are rooting for the person to live happily ever after with the heroine of the series. In my experience, teams are created so you have someone to root for, and if you aren't rooting for someone to be with the main character, what are you rooting for?

I do understand things like "Team Rose" and "Team Tessa" because obviously both of those characters have a goal to reach and bad guys to fight so they can be rooted for. I would understand being on Team Simon, for example, for entirely different reasons that have nothing to do with romance, but most of the time these "teams" are pitted against each other so I always take it to mean that there is romance involved.

I also feel like teams should be for love triangles, and some of the examples I listed don't seem like love triangles to me. I mean, did anyone honestly think that Bella would choose Jacob? Like, I know they were "in love" at one point but I always thought it was obvious that there was no way she would choose Jacob over Edward. Same with Jace, Clary, and Simon* but I feel like discussing that romance would actually be a spoiler (if I have spoiled the Twilight series for you, I do apologize, but I would like to know how you have managed to avoid spoilers for so long.)

In other instances I feel that teams totally make sense because there is an actual love triangle, like in Nightshade.

But it seems like most people use the word "team" just to say that they like a certain character more than another, which leads me to my confusion. Or maybe I'm confused because I don't think certain "love triangles" are actually love triangles and others do? I dunno.

So, I was just wondering if my definition of team is completely off and I am just odd?

*SPOILER (highlight to read): I know those of you who have read the series are thinking "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL INCEST" but I always felt like it was Jace, and even if they were actually related, she wouldn't pick Simon, she'd pick no one.

Grace Giveaway

One of the best (hahaha I make myself laugh) parts of being a junior in a few AP classes is that you lose your mind quite often, even on the weekends.

Personally, this lack of brain causes me to do nothing but:

1. Read.
2. Watch TV/movies.
3. Eat.
4. Browse the internet for happy and pretty things, people, and stories.
5. Or browse the internet for stories about stupid people to make me feel more sane. (I find that Not Always Right is very helpful with this.)
   
6. Procrastinate.
   

I could use some happy stories, and I bet one of you could use my extra ARC of Grace by Elizabeth Scott, which is why I'm giving it away.

Here's the description, from goodreads:

A fable of a terrifying near future by critically acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott.

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

---

I haven't had a chance to read this yet but Elizabeth Scott is one of my very favorite authors so I cannot wait to get to it.

Being a high school junior also makes you very very tired and lazy, so no form entry for this. Here are all the rules and such:

• Leave a comment with your name, email address (so I can contact you if you win) and tell me a story or find me a link to a happy/pretty picture to be entered. You must do all these things!
  
• Open to US mailing addresses only, sorry.
• If you would like an extra entry, link this post to twitter/your blog/etc and leave a link to where you posted in your comment.
• Ends 9/22.
  

Have a nice day.~

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

[description from goodreads]

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Review:

Every so often, you see reviews from concerned parents on Amazon or goodreads saying that a book was much too graphic and sexual to be enjoyable, and teens should not be let near it. The DUFF is that book.

Some may find Bianca's blunt attitude and snark a bit much, but any sarcastic and snarky character gets love from me.* Though I sometimes felt like her development was a bit rushed, especially toward the end, I did like seeing her change from "I hate the world and everyone in it" to being a bit happier. I felt that many of the minor characters were well developed too-- Wesley goes through the same too-quick development near the end, but throughout the rest of the novel, he seemed quite realistic. I enjoyed seeing the secrets of his life and his past being shown, as they definitely helped bring something new to the sometimes repetitive storyline.

I also enjoyed the plot, for the most part. Bianca always manages to get herself into the most awkward situations, yet she describes them in a way that makes them entertaining and easy to relate to. The hookups with Wesley got a bit tiresome to read about after a while, but there was enough going on that it wasn't too distracting. Bianca's friend drama in particular was something that helped keep the book fresh, as it this book contained one of the more realistic friendship relationships I've seen. Plus, Bianca has more than one friend, so that was nice.

I was hoping for a bit more from a few story lines, though, particularly the one involving Crush Boy Toby and Bianca's parents. They were dealt with enough that they were realistic, but there was so much more that could have been done with them. I also felt like the ending happened really, really fast and was full of too many messages.

But what made me fall in love with this book was Bianca's discussion of the word "love" and how quickly people use it. I won't say anything more than that, but seeing her opinion was so refreshing and unlike anything else I've read about that I just sighed in happiness.

The DUFF is definitely not for a younger audience because of its content, but I found it to be extremely realistic, refreshing, and entertaining.

*Except for Jace from The Mortal Instruments but that is another story.

Book details: Poppy/Hardcover/$16.99

Source: BEA

Waiting on Wednesday: Any good?

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. (: Descriptions and such from goodreads!

Both of the books in today's WoW are already out but I reallyreally want to read them and haven't heard *that* much about them. So, if you have read them, you should share your ~opinion.

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.

Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

---

Every time I see this cover I think of the Addams Family and The Royal Tenenbaums, two of my favorite movies/families ever! Crazy families are the best types of families to read about, I think. Plus this book sounds like it has SECRETS. Yay secrets!

---

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life -- getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job -- Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.

At his new school, Craig realizes that he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping -- until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a moving tale about depression, that's definitely a funny story.

---

Most of my interest in this book comes from the fact that the movie version will be released soon and I feel like I need to support YA books that make it to the big screen. (My logic doesn't make much sense, though, because I'm not supporting/seeing the movie because Emma Roberts is in it. I cannot stand her, most likely because I HATED the show Unfabulous when I was younger.) It does sound original though, and I think can relate to the CRAZY FEELINGS brought by school.

Also this book has one of my favorite titles ever.

---

So if you have read these you should share your THOUGHTS. And if you think I would like them.

Contest Winner + PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The winner of the signed paperback of If I Stay by Gayle Forman is Briana Danielle! (Who I believe is Bree's Books, yes?) Congrats! Please email me (khyrinthia@gmail.com) with your mailing address and I will forward it to the publicist mailing out the prize. :D

In other news, today is September 7, which means that Friday Night Lights begins airing on ABC Family (at 6 PM/5 central).

YOU SHOULD WATCH IT. It is the best show ever. I've seen all the episodes but I am definitely going to be watching it every day because I love it THAT MUCH. If you like YA novels, you will like this show. If you like awesome, you will like this show. It is a FACT.

As far as I know they're airing all the episodes in order every day, so you must start watching today (if you have ABC Family, that is). Episode 1 wasn't my favorite because it's very football-y but the show gets even better as it goes on. I looove it.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

looong post ahead

[description from goodreads]

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Review:

This has to be one of the most highly anticipated YA novels of the year, and it does not disappoint. I was a bit worried that I'd be disappointed in Clockwork Angel because I love Cassandra Clare's other series, The Mortal Instruments, and had heard nothing but amazing things about this book. I don't think I liked it as much as everyone else but I did really enjoy it.

This series will no doubt be compared to The Mortal Instruments, and although there are a few similarities, I think this book stands on its own. There are certain characters from TMI that I hate (Jace) but I was a fan of nearly all the characters in this book. I'm automatically inclined to like any character who enjoys reading, so I was a fan of Tessa from the beginning. I loved seeing her transition from not really doing anything to taking action and kicking butt. I do wish, however, that her power was explored a bit more, but I'm guessing it will be given more time in the sequel. I also liked most of the other characters for their fun and unique personalities, though certain characters could have used a bit more development, like Jem.

It takes a while for Clockwork Angel to really get going, but once it does, it's a blast to read. A lot of the beginning of the book is filled with back story, which is understandable because the characters live in a very complex world. The set-up is worth it, though, because the setting is delightfully original and each character had their own fascinating past to explore. Most of the action does not happen until the end, but once I finally got there, it was extremely exciting to read.

Everyone on twitter has been buzzing about whether they are Team Jem or Team Will, so going into this book I was expecting tons of romance and a nice love triangle. But I must say that I don't understand this whole team business. There's a romance subplot, but it's rather small and a bit insignificant compared to the other things going on in this book. I also feel that it wasn't a love triangle at all, as Jem really isn't in the book that much. I don't know if people are picking teams just because they feel obligated to or because everyone else is or what, but I really don't get the romance fascination.

Clockwork Angel is definitely the first in a series-- low on action until the end, big on world-building, but that doesn't stop it from being any less enjoyable. The world is fascinating and the characters likable, and I'm sure the series will get even better as it goes on.

Book details: McElderry/Hardcover/ $19.99

Source: BEA

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. (:

Descriptions and such from goodreads!

This week I bought Paranormalcy by Kiersten White:

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

---I already had the advanced copy of this book for review, but I went to Kiersten's signing last Tuesday and bought a shiny pretty hardcover. Adored this book-- it's so fun.

I also bought a copy of Mockingjay, but I doubt you need me to post the description of that since most people have already read it. I've already been spoiled about who Katniss ends up with and a few people who die, so I'm much less motivated to read this now. It is very difficult to avoid spoilers on Twitter, even when people don't explicitly say anything.

But the most exciting thing I got this week, which I am borrowing from James (Book Chic):

Real Live Boyfriends (#4 in the Ruby Oliver series) by E. Lockhart!

I reread each of the Ruby Oliver books this weekend before reading this, and oh my I enjoyed it so much. I love Roo even though sometimes I want to hit her for being so silly and I also want to hit Jackson and Kim and Cricket (especially Jackson) but SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS SERIES. I already read this book, and it. was. awesome. It messed with my emotions so much. I felt more confused than Ruby did while I reading but I loved it. I think this is the last in this series (? I haven't heard of a fifth) but I really hope it isn't because I'm so not ready to say goodbye to Roo yet. *clings*

How I Write My Reviews

Adele of Persnickety Snark posted a vlog about how she goes about writing her book reviews, and I thought I would do the same thing! But not in vlog form. o.o

So here's a little bit of info about how I write my reviews. I do not recommend my method.

First, I read a book. Obviously. As I read, I tend to start writing the review in my head and try to remember specific things to discuss. I don't write anything down, which is actually a very terrible idea and I need to start doing that because I often forget what I want to say.

I hardly ever write the review of a book right after I read it, which is also a spectacularly bad idea. Again: I forget what I want to say.

There are many reasons as to why it takes me forever to write a review, including:

• I have other stuff to do first, aka I have an ungodly amount of homework. So far this year my schedule has been go to school, come home and take an hour break, then do homework until 11:00, when I go to sleep. This does not even leave time for reading, let alone review writing, so I do most of my reading and blog stuff on the weekend.
• I'm lazy. By the time I'm out of school on Friday, I pretty much only want to go home and sit in front of the TV and do nothing.
  
• There's that whole procrastination issue. The internet is distracting.
  

Because of all these reasons, it takes me a very long time to write a review. Sometimes it's so long that I forget the contents of the book and need to find time to reread it before I review it. Sometimes I never get around to rereading and therefore don't get around to writing a review.

Do not do that. That is a bad idea. That is something I must fix.

When I actually do get around to writing the review and stop being interrupted by the internet, I first post the cover image, goodreads description, and tag the post with the relevant tags (author name, series title if the book is in a series, etc). I don't write my own summaries because my own are VERY VERY bad, as you may have noticed in my review from Tuesday.

And then I sit there and stare at the screen, trying to think of a clever way to open the review. Usually I include a story behind why I liked it, how I relate to it, etc. Then I usually complain a bit, talk about the plot or lack thereof, the characters, and other stuff I find amusing or terrible. And at the end of the review, I try to include a one or two sentence blurb-ish thing that summarizes the review. I also include where I got the book and what format the book is in, how much it costs, and the publisher.

It doesn't really matter where I write them, but usually I write them while sitting on my bed or at my desk. I'm good as long as the book is nearby so that I can make sure I'm getting the characters' names right, because I'm really bad at remembering character names.

Usually my reviews end up kind of long, especially compared to some other bloggers' reviews. I try to edit them down, but even though I reread the post like ten times before I schedule it, I can never manage to get rid of more than one or two sentences. I have a lot of ~feelings to share.

I just have a lot of feelings.

I also usually find myself sharing more negative than positive, which I'm trying to stop doing too. I'm trying that ~find a balance~ thing. It's harder than it looks. I'm better at complaining.

Some things I try to avoid saying in my reviews:

• I abuse the word "interesting" so I am trying to find alternatives and explain what I mean by "interesting."
  
• I don't like the word "you" in my reviews. As in "you will feel sad, happy, hopeful, la la la." I don't know how you will feel. I don't know you well enough to say why you may like something. I prefer to say why *I* liked it and why *I* thought it was good or bad so that you can form your own opinion on why you want to read it.
  

And that is the method of my madness. I need to fix some things.

Normal is so overrated.

Kiersten White is the author of the fabulous new novel Paranormalcy. It's one of the most original paranormal novels I've read this year (perhaps one of the most original I've ever read). It's super fun and you should totally read it (and you should read the following interview).

Here's the goodreads description for you:

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

---

1) I assume you did a little research about types of paranormal creatures for the book. (Am I right? I HOPE SO.) Do you have a favorite creature? Which do you think is the most bizarre?

You ARE right! I did a lot of research on different paranormal/supernatural creatures. My favorite is probably the kelpie/nix/fossegrim family. Some are benevolent, some are malevolent, all are slightly bizarre. Especially the one that hangs out around bodies of water and gives violin lessons to those who ask nicely.

I think the fossegrim will be my new favorite just because of its awesome name.

2) In honor of your #everytimeyoupreorderparanormalcy twitter hashtag (which I suppose may now be #everytimeyouorderparanormalcy), I want to know: when I buy Paranormalcy, what will the happen to a zombie?

When you buy Paranormalcy, zombies will discover a deep and abiding love for brussell sprouts, ushering in a new era of peaceful human/zombie coexistence, not to mention bringing joy to children everywhere whose parents can no longer serve the odious things at dinner.

That sounds so nice! Another reason as to why zombies are better than unicorns.

3) Would you rather be any paranormal creature you want, or have Evie's seeing-through-glamours ability and work at International Paranormal Containment Agency, doing her job? (Assuming you aren't a paranormal creature and can't see through glamours already.) Why?

Oh, gosh, neither. I didn't make a very fun paranormal world! Assuming I wasn't one of the faeries controlled by IPCA, I wouldn't mind being able to travel anywhere in the world I wanted on a whim. But in all honesty I think eternal life would kind of suck. So maybe a werewolf? They seem to be able to have the most normal lives.

< -- Kiersten and I!

4) Your book, blog, and twitter are all hilario! Do you ever write anything not funny on them (doubt it!)? How do you decide what is funny and what isn't? Where do you get all your funny from? SO MANY QUESTIONS!

I'm actually the least funny person alive. I have a comedian bound and gagged in my closet, and only give her food when she tells me funny things I can write. It's a good system, I think. She disagrees.

Seriously though, I do occasionally write on serious topics that are important to me, and it's nice because they stand out since everything else is pretty lighthearted. It's one way to make an impact, I suppose.

5) Lightning round: what are five of your current favorite things (anything! books, movies, songs, whatever) GO!

The color green, chocolate chips, my kids' laughter, my husband's Joker impression, and Snow Patrol.

---

Thanks, Kiersten! I am SO EXCITED your book is out so I can squee about it in detail and in public!

Paranormalcy is out in hardcover now! For more on the book and the fabulous Kiersten you can check out her website, blog, and twitter.

You can also go see her on tour, if she's coming your way! She'll be in Salt Lake City, UT; Tempe, AZ; Naperville, IL; Allen, TX; Austin, TX; and La Mesa, CA in the upcoming weeks! More details on the HarperTeen facebook page.