Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

[description from goodreads]

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

Review:
 
Every so often, I read a book that I have mixed feelings for largely because I just can't manage figure it out. Ripple is definitely one of those books. I thought it was supposed to be a supernatural love story, but it didn't really deliver anything special in that department. However, by no means does that mean the book was bad-- far from it.

I really did expect this book to focus more on the mermaid aspect based on the summary, since it so heavily emphasizes the dichotomy between Lexi's human and selkie lives. However, the book doesn't  focus on the mermaid thing. It is definitely present throughout the novel in that Lexi often goes to the lake and meets another mermaid boy, but other than that, there really isn't much of an emphasis on her supernatural side. This did help prevent the novel from being overly involved in cheesy paranormal hoopla, but it also made the selkie parts included seem a bit out-of-place. There were attempts to develop the mythology with references to mermaids past, but the information given was so little that I was left wanting more about that rather than more pages of Lexi's angst.

However, despite the lack of development on what would be assumed to be one of the main focuses, the book didn't suffer as much as it could have. It was a bit of surprise for me, but Lexi spends a lot of time dwelling on Steven's, her past boyfriend, death. Lexi has a rather lyrical writing style to begin with, but when discussing something so sad, it seems to take on a whole new level of meaning and beauty. I also enjoyed the story involving the two love interests, because it even though there are two, it thankfully never feels like a love triangle. They're two separate stories, almost, and though they overlap, each has its own twists and turns and Lexi's feelings are usually clear. This allowed for a whole load of avoidance of repetition, which was often needed in light of Lexi reiterating similar feelings often.

If you're looking for a paranormal romance, Ripple perhaps isn't the right book for you. However, if you like your paranormal to be heavily grounded in the real world, or just want something quick but meaningful to read, I'd say give it a shot.

Book details: Razorbill/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: bought

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

[descriptions from goodreads]

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. 

Review:

I was (and still am) absolutely obsessed with Stephanie Perkins' debut novel, Anna and the French Kiss, when it came out last year. I was unbelievably excited to read this companion novel, but also nervous, because I thought there was no way that it would ever live up to the brilliance that is Anna and the French Kiss. But it did. It so did.

I'll do my best to keep the comparisons to Anna out of this review, because I have a feeling that this book is going to be compared to its companion a lot, which isn't fair, because it definitely stands on its own. It's a bit obvious where it's going to go, even just based on the summary, but do I care? Heck no. The two love interests, Lola and Cricket, are so fantastic that I would read a book comprised of them walking down a sidewalk and still love it like it's my job. I'm sure Lola's quirky personality and penchant for lying will alienate her from some, but I still loved her. Her amusing clothes, her humor, her snark, her loyalty to her friends, and oh so much more all made me love reading her equally fun and amusing narration. I also loved her leading man, Cricket. It's so great to read about how they try to get over their past heartaches and mistakes in order to try to get along with each other. It doesn't hurt that Cricket himself is so lovable on his own; he is delightfully awkward, smart, and just plain adorable. I want to give him a hug.

Lola and Cricket are such a great pair that they could carry this book on their own, but luckily, they don't have to, thanks to the equally fantastic supporting cast. Each of the characters in this book stand out in different ways, which makes it so fun to read. For example, Lola has two gay dads, but her birth mom is also still in and out of the picture as well. This makes for some wonderful family dynamics that add even more angst for Lola to deal with, and I don't know about you, but I definitely like reading about other people's angst. I also loved seeing Lola deal with her boyfriend Max, because even though he is often a moron, he really isn't all bad. It's not easy to hate him, even with the amazing Cricket running around, which makes the romance of this book even more intense. If there was one person I did not like as much, it was Calliope, Cricket's sister, because she had her own past with Lola and yet appeared so little that I had difficulty understanding her personality and her feelings about Lola.

And I cannot resist saying: Anna and the French Kiss fans? You are definitely going to want to read this one, because you will be more than pleasantly surprised by some of Lola's friends.

Whether you loved Anna and the French Kiss or not, you should definitely give Lola and the Boy Next Door a chance. It's funny, sweet, and has one of the best cast of characters. I laughed, I cried (literally, I sobbed throughout the last chapter. I am a weakling.), and I fell in love with Stephanie Perkins' writing all over again. 




Book details: Dutton/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: borrowed from a friend

Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth

[description from goodreads]

Baxter Green isn’t like everyone else. While most people would forget about the little details of everyday life, Baxter never forgets—not pain, not hurt, not embarrassment. In fact, Baxter never forgets anything—not even a string of account numbers, flashed before his eyes by his mother’s criminal boyfriend, Dink, for use in a credit card scam. Years after his testimony has locked Dink away, Baxter and his mother are in a new town, trying to forget the danger Dink brought into their lives. Baxter wants to hide his unique ability, but it becomes increasingly more difficult when he reconnects with Hallie, a girl from his childhood who has lived on in his memory long after she has forgotten him. Can Baxter win Hallie’s heart? Loretta Ellsworth’s newest novel is one readers will never forget.

Review:

Novels about mental oddities are too few and far between in the YA world for my liking, so I was rather excited to give this book a shot. It's as wonderfully unique as I had hoped, though I did still have a few quibbles with it.

But, as usual, let's begin with the positives. The premise of this book is seriously cool, and I was worried that Baxter's inability to forget would quickly become either the only focus or a story line thrown to the wayside once it began moving all other stories forward. Happily, neither of those things happened. It seems obvious to me now, but the memory issue really does present a constant issue. I loved how it permeated itself into all aspects of Baxter's problems, even if the drama it causes is small, because it's just a such a delightfully refreshing topic. It also helps that there were plenty of other predicaments Baxter got himself into, whether they involved the girl he likes, or the environmental cause she believes so fiercely in, or troubles with his mom's ex-boyfriend. While some of these other problems were sorely lacking in development because of really just the lack of time spent on them, they at least provided a constant source of amusement, excitement, or angst.

Like much of the plot, my feelings on the characters are generally positive but with a few standout qualms. I enjoyed Baxter's narration, because despite all his awkward feelings, it's never that strange to read. Sure, he has a bit of an offbeat tone because of his obsession and attention with details, among other reasons, but that doesn't make his point-of-view any less enjoyable. It actually heightens it, I feel, since he has such a unique perspective on what's happening in his life. However, there is one glaring thing about Baxter that baffles me: his love for Hallie. I just did not understand his obsession with her, since he hadn't seen her in so long. I liked how their relationship eventually ended up, but the initial feelings were just so bizarre to me. Luckily, she takes on a personality outside of the memories he has of her kindergarten self, which helped ease my feelings, but I still wish there was more of a reason he was so obsessed.

It could have used a bit more depth in certain areas, but Unforgettable is a wonderfully unique and constantly entertaining tale.


Book details: Walker Children's/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: sent by author for blog tour

Also, in order to celebrate the book's release and blog tour (of which this review is a part), the author is giving away a Nook over at her website. You should check that out.   

You could also check out the book's trailer, which is by far better than a lot I've seen:

Favorite "Dangerous" Books

This week, it's Banned Books Week, dedicated to bringing awareness to books that have either been challenged or banned for sexual, violent, or other "dangerous" content. In honor of that, I thought I'd post about a few of my favorite books that have been banned, or at the very least challenged.

(Click the titles to be taken to a specific article about the ban/challenge in question!) 

1. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler - This book, along with Slaughterhouse-Five, was recently banned and then brought back by a school in Missouri. The banning debacle with this book has been going on for months, but I've never mentioned it despite the fact that I think it's crazy that people would try to hide the awesome that is Sarah Ockler. I just hope the craze brought upon this book has inspired more people to read it, because I can never have enough Ockler fangirl friends.

2. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - If books were like songs, this book would be my "After Hours"; that is to say, it would be my ultimate jam. I never tire of it and it is my go-to book in times of stress, and it baffles me that something that means so much to me could hold so little value to someone else that they try to take it away.

3. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler - What can you even object to in this book? Too much humor or wit or intelligence or just general awesome? Some people, geez.

4. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - I discovered this challenge in my perusal of the internet for banned books so I could have a larger list to choose from for this post, and, having found this (admittedly rather old) article, I couldn't not include it. Just Listen is only the second best Dessen book (This Lullaby is the first; deal with it) and it seems so sad that people would try to deprive the world of Owen and his inspirational devotion to crazy music.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling - I mean, duh.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

[description from goodreads]

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Review:

Maureen Johnson is one of my absolute favorite authors; I'll read anything she writes no matter the premise, and her work has never let me down. The Name of the Star, while it is not my favorite of hers, is certainly no exception to this "Maureen writes awesome books" rule. 

Jack the Ripper is one of my favorite serial killers, assuming "favorite" is the right word to use there, so when I found out it was part of the premise behind this book, I could not have been happier. I was a bit skeptical as how the Ripper murders could be made suspenseful because they could be predicted, but I should not have been worried at all. I enjoyed how well-paced the murders occurred; although some were far apart in terms of the actual date of occurrence, the narration in between killings goes by so quickly and are so full of action that it doesn't feel like much time has passed at all. While the first half of the novel is sadly uneventful as Rory acclimates to English life, the latter half is full of intrigue and mystery of the paranormal variety. While the paranormal aspect I felt was sadly underdeveloped to the point of occasional laughter, it was at the very least a creepy and suspenseful concept that made the book constantly exciting.


It wouldn't be a Maureen Johnson book without some delightfully quirky characters, and even with the tense murderous atmosphere, there is plenty of that fun. Rory may not be as wacky as some of Johnson's other narrators, but her past and reaction to the new English life around her provide from some absolutely hilarious moments. I also loved her new boarding school friends, for whether they were teaching her their fun English ways or simply dealing with their own drama, they provided many wonderful moments of laughter or friendship. I also loved the people Rory meets once the novel becomes a bit darker, but because it's best not to know much about them before reading, we'll just leave it at "they're cool." 


Although I wish it started a bit faster and developed its paranormal side a bit more, The Name of the Star is definitely a promising start to a new series I am sure will have as much or even more action, suspense, humor, and intrigue than book one does. 


The Name of the Star will be released September 29-- this Thursday! 


Book details: Putnam/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: sent by publisher for review

In My Mailbox

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

For review: 
 
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety. 

 The summary of this book seems to be confused about the difference between the fall of an empire and the fall of the entire world, but no matter. This sounds like a different take on the end of the world, and for that I'm excited to read it.

Won:

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

No summary because I really can't remember if the summary gives away from book one, The Adoration of Jenna Fox. However, even though I can't remember the details of book one, I do remember loving it, so I am sure this sequel will be awesome as well.

Things You Should Be Aware Of

1. The first chapter of Lola and the Boy Next Door is available from Stephanie Perkins' Australian publisher. I feel as if I have not been able to proclaim my undying adoration for this book enough (hence this post exists), so I must tell you to go read this chapter and then go pick up the book this week, for it is truly awesome and happy-making.

2. Sometimes I get emails from publicity companies regarding certain events, but the one that has made me jealous most recently? One about the Austin Teen Book Festival, where my number one man David Levithan will be doing a special Q&A!

From the press release they sent:

On Friday, September 30th at 10 pm, Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar will screen “Nick & Nora’s Ultimate Playlist” with a Q&A featuring festival author David Levithan, co-author of the book on which the film was based. BookPeople will be selling signed copies of his books in the lobby. Levithan is a young-adult fiction editor and award-winning author. His first book, Boy Meets Boy, was published in 2003. Other titles include Every You, Every Me and this year’s The Lover's Dictionary. The screening benefits the APLFF.

PEOPLE OF TEXAS! Go forth and attend this for me, and then tell me all about it so I can be jealous of you forevermore. (Same goes for the rest of the festival, since it seems equally awesome.)

3. Speaking of festivals, there are two in Los Angeles next week: one in West Hollywood, and another in Orange County. I don't think I can attend either because of my schoolwork and college applications, but you should all attend. Especially because my pal Chelsea of Coffee and Cliffhangers will be doing interviews with other authors in West Hollywood, because she's cool like that. 

4. This post has quickly turned into nothing but information about events, but I can't help my excitement! I'm overflowing with enthusiasm! Truly, I am, despite the seemingly sarcastic tone of this paragraph.

Today is the start of Banned Books Week, and in honor of that, if you're near Indianapolis or Springfield, MO, you should go see Sarah Ockler. Sarah is the amazing author of Twenty Boy Summer, which has been a part of a banning debacle involving other books you may have heard of, like Speak and Slaughterhouse-Five. (Or, if you are like me and nowhere near Missouri or Indiana, you could read Twenty Boy Summer if you haven't already, because it rocks.)

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff

[description from goodreads]

High school sophomore Adam Zeigler, who lost his father to a sudden accident two years ago, thinks the best way to live life is behind the spotlight. As a member of the theater crew, he believes he's achieved it all when he wins the coveted job of spotlight operator. But that was before a young actress, Summer, appeared in his view. Instantly smitten, Adam is determined to win her over. But to do so, he'll have to defy his best friend and break the golden rule of his school: techies and actors don't mix.

Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Zadoff's latest is a bromance, a love story, and theater story in one. The politics of love and high school collide as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light.

Review: 
  
Having read and adored Zadoff's debut YA novel Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have, I was excited to see if his sophomore effort was as hilarious, heartwarming, or happy-making. Try as it did, I didn't find this novel to be as excellent as his previous, though it still does have plenty of merits of its own.

I am a sucker for books involving theater, and I appreciated that this book discussed a different aspect of the theater that most do. Although the dichotomy between the techies and actors often seemed a bit far-fetched, because, really, there did not ever seem to be as much tension as promised, I did enjoy seeing the mini-feud play out. There are plenty of humorous moments when the two groups interact, or even when solely Adam is trying to reconcile his desire to hang out with an actress and his desire not to have his friends be mad at him. I especially like the tension between Adam and the show's student director, Derek, because even though I was often confused as to what was going on with Derek's sometimes cocky, sometimes seemingly-satirical-attitude, their conflict provided plenty of angst and drama for Adam to deal with.

However, there were so many things in this book that fell flat for me that the positives almost-- almost-- become overshadowed. It seemed as if so much was being attempted that there was no way everything could have worked; for example, there were moments where Adam reflected on the death of his father, but they were really only moments. It wasn't a complete storyline, despite the seemingly big resolution at the end. I also wasn't sure what was going on with the romantic interests in this book. There was Summer, the actress, but sometimes it appeared as if Adam's relationship with Grace, another techie, was supposed to go beyond friendship. Granted, Adam's relationships with both girls moved at a delightfully realistic pace, but I never quite saw where his relationships were supposed to be going since the girls are a bit one-dimensional and never really appear at the same time in his life. And then the friendship aspect of this book? Man, I wish there was more of it. Adam's tech friends seem to play such a big role in his life but they hardly ever appear, which made their influence on him seem to be overinflated.

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies is an undoubtedly fun and deeper-than-it-appears read, but it could have been truly awesome if its many story lines were developed more in depth.

Book details:  EgmontUSA/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: ALA

The best covers in life are...

...drawn:

...full of food:

...symbolic:

...simple but reflective of the inside:

...any combination of the above:

Not like the poster of a Lifetime movie, or excessively emo, or with a couple making out.

Post inspired by yesterday's "What are your all-time favorite book covers?" question over at YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday.

Waiting on Wednesday

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

The List by Siobhan Vivian

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

---

The cover for this book might as well be a poster for an anti-bullying Lifetime movie, but no matter! Siobhan Vivian totally won me over with Not That Kind of Girl; my love for that book will compel me to pick up anything she writes. I know she'll make this book as awesome and smart as Not That Kind of Girl, but whether it will make me cry as much is anyone's guess.

Released April 1, 2012.

Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee

[description from goodreads]

Every tween girl knows what it's like to have a mom who can be a little embarrasing at times. But for Marigold, it goes way beyond embarrassing. Marigold's single mom is a performance artist, meaning she stages dramatic, wacky performances to express her personal beliefs. Things like wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery, or inviting people over in the middle of the night to videotape her sleeping. In fact, Marigold's mom's performances caused such a ruckus in their last town that the two of them, along with Marigold's little sister, have just had to move. Now Marigold's starting a new school, missing her best friend like crazy, and trying to fit in all over again in the shadow of a mom who's famous for all the wrong reasons. As if that's not bad enough, Marigold's mom takes on a new job--teaching drama at Marigold's school! Now all the kids know instantly just how weird her mom is, and Marigold's worried she'll never be able to have a friendship that can survive her mother. 


Review: 

I pretty much only read middle grade fiction when it's offered to me for review, but based off what I've read, I think I could read solely middle grade comfortably for a long while. They are insanely quick reads for me, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them immensely, and Trauma Queen is certainly no exception to that unofficial rule.

Sadly, I never really have much to say about middle grade novels either, but that won't stop me from giving this book the props it so deserves. Marigold's mom may really be ridiculously over the top, but somehow, her craziness doesn't hinder the rest of the novel from being an excellent and realistic portrayal of the awkward tween years. Marigold's anxiety about her mom's general oddities and the effect it has on nearly all aspects of her life (namely, her friends and school) is so pitch perfect and easy to relate to; it sometimes pained me to read about all the troubles that her mom caused, especially considering that, despite all her crazy, her mom really was trying her best. I think that's what made the book the strongest-- underneath everything, Marigold and her mom really were trying to work things out, but both are so stressed or crazy that it was hard and total wackiness ensued.

Speaking of wackiness, this book has plenty of it, but never so much that it seems overly ridiculous. It does take a while for Marigold's mom to begin work at her school and for the most intense stress for Marigold to begin, but even so, the book is full of never ending humorous moments. Even the most normal of characters, like Marigold, have so many quirks and funny habits that it's impossible not to be amused when they are present, especially when they interact in larger groups.

It may take a bit to truly get going, but once it does, Trauma Queen is nonstop fun and laughs with plenty of deeper family issues thrown in to balance it all out.

Book details: Aladdin/Paperback/$6.99

Source: sent by author for review

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

[description from goodreads]

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

Review: 
 
My love for David Levithan and his work truly knows no bounds, so it was with great excitement and no trepidation that I began reading Every You, Every Me. Levithan has never let me down before, so I knew that I would love this one, and I very much did.

I don't even know where to begin with this book because there is so much for me to discuss and obsess over. However, it seems only logical to begin with the premise, because the idea of including photographs to push the narrative forward, not simply as fun little extras, is delightfully unique. I loved seeing how the photographs were integrated into this book, because while there are sadly very few, each was utilized to its maximum potential to increase the intensity of the mystery behind Ariel's situation, Evan's involvement in her absence, the stalker's identity, or a combination of the three. The idea of being stalked is creepy enough on its own, but somehow the photographs make the prospect even more concrete and bizarre, almost as much to me as to Evan. This intensity definitely made me never want to put the book down, for I was always eager to see when Evan would receive a new photograph and if it would lead him closer to the photographer's identity, and, if he did manage to find him or her, what would happen when the stalker was confronted.

I'm always impressed by the skill involved in Levithan's writing, and the narration he provides for Evan is certainly no exception. Evan always manages to sound achingly beautiful despite all the pain he has been through and all the thoughts he crosses out (that are still visible despite their strikes-through) or tries to squash in other ways. Because of his pained narration, it's easy to sympathize with his situation and the loss he feels in Ariel's absence, as well as his confusion and anxiety with the photograph situation. Although it was often depressing to read, I loved seeing him try to deal with the other people in his life along with all his tumultuous emotions. I wish that his peers seemed as realistic as he did, because many of them seem to suffer from a lack of development as a result of Evan essentially using them to figure out what is going on, but even with that, they did all do their jobs in the story well and contribute to the emotional depth of the story.

Every You, Every Me manages to be creepy, beautiful, thrilling, and emotional all at once, and for that reason it's shot up to near the top of my list of favorite Levithan books.

Book details: Knopf/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: bought

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 one thing this week, as you may have been able to gather from my fangirl-y post on Friday:

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

 I already read this one and, oh my gosh, it was awesome. I mean, I think every David Levithan book is amazing but seriously, this one is fantastic. It's creepy, beautiful, intense, and just utterly wonderful. An even more excited review will be up this week but I couldn't resist posting about it today because of how much I love it and its author.

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

[description from goodreads]

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Review:

I'll admit that I don't really pay attention to the blurbs on the covers of books but the one on this book, from Sarah Dessen, intrigued me. The premise sounds very Dessen to me, and seeing her stamp of approval led me to believe that this book would be great as her own books. While I'm sure others will love Moonglass, I did not find it as lovely as I had hoped. 


I think what prevented me from really liking this book is just how much wandering is involved. For most of the book, I never felt like there was any concrete plot. I knew that Anna was trying to deal with the death of her mother, assimilate in to her new school, attempt to date her new Potential Boy, but even with all this going on, the book never felt like it was doing anything; Anna would just go about her days without any consistency. It took so long for the novel to get to a plot, but once it does, the intensity involved almost makes the long wait worth it. 


Luckily, the characters were far better developed than any aspect of the storyline. Granted, there aren't very many of them, but still-- each was fantastic in his or her own way. The complexity involved in Anna and her father's relationship was greatly appreciated, for even when the plot is lackluster, their bond is close enough and full of enough humorous or intense moments to make up for it. I also appreciated the easy-going nature of Anna and her Potential Boy, Tyler, for it was delightfully paced and sweet in every way. Anna herself is a great narrator, full of energy despite all that is going wrong in her life, and a determination to find the truth that is admirable. 


If it was a bit better paced or developed in the plot department I would have liked Moonglass a whole lot more, but still, its great characters and setting were enough to at least make me enjoy it. 


Book details: Simon and Schuster/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: sent by publisher for review

The Best Bookish Feelings

1. Getting a new book by an author you love.

2. Realizing said book is longer than you thought.

3. Admiring the look of said book despite its angsty-as-heck cover.

4. Disregarding everything to read said book.

5. Knowing said book will be as awesome as you think it will.

AKA, I got the new David Levithan book today! YAYAYAY! David is my favorite author ever and each new book of his is the best present. Sorry, but I couldn't resist posting about it. I'm too excited.

BBAW Day 4: Reading and Blogging

My amount of schoolwork this week has prevented me from actively participating in Book Blogger Appreciation Week, but I didn't want the whole week to go by without a mention. So, I thought I'd answer today's blogging topic, for it's never to late to be festive.

Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits? Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging? Choose any one of these topics and share your thoughts today!

 In short: YES. To everything. 

I read way, way more than I ever would have without my blog. I read a lot prior, mainly because I had more time, but once I started my blog my reading took on a life of its own. Especially when I began to receive books from publishers and had a fairly steady supply of them, I read more and faster because of how many things there were to get through.

I feel like I read way more paranormal/supernatural fiction for a while because there really is no escape from it and I wanted to see if books lived up to the hype they received, but I decided to stop reading as much paranormal and I am much happier for it. It got to a point where I felt like I was ignoring the things I wanted to read and only read the would-be supernatural bestsellers that showed up in my mailbox. However, I think that going back to reading and blogging about the things I pick up more of my own free will was a good idea because it's much less stressful and much more enjoyable; for most of the time, blogging affected my reading heavily, but now I think I've finally gotten it under control by choosing stuff more on my own. I like it that way.

Waiting on Wednesday

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

Circus Galacticus by Deva Fagan

Trix can deal with being an orphan charity case at a snotty boarding school. She can hold her own when everyone else tells her not to dream big dreams. She can even fight back against the mysterious stranger in a silver mask who tries to steal the meteorite her parents trusted her to protect. 

But her life is about to change forever. The Circus Galacticus has come to town, bringing acts to amaze, delight, and terrify. And now the dazzling but enigmatic young Ringmaster has offered Trix the chance to be a part of it.

Soon Trix discovers an entire universe full of deadly enemies and potential friends, not to mention space leeches, ancient alien artifacts, and exploding chocolate desserts. And she just might unravel the secrets of her own past—if she can survive long enough.

  ---

Circuses simultaneously freak me out and fascinate me; I hate them but I love them too. Especially the shady ones, as this book seems to promise! Bring on the crazy, please.

Released November 15.

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

[description from goodreads]

A summer of friendship, romance, and songs in major chords. . .

CHARLIE DUSKIN loves music, and she knows she's good at it. But she only sings when she's alone, on the moonlit porch or in the back room at Old Gus's Secondhand Record and CD Store. Charlie's mom and grandmother have both died, and this summer she's visiting her grandpa in the country, surrounded by ghosts and grieving family, and serving burgers to the local kids at the milk bar. She's got her iPod, her guitar, and all her recording equipment, but she wants more: A friend. A dad who notices her. The chance to show Dave Robbie that she's not entirely unspectacular.

ROSE BUTLER lives next door to Charlie's grandfather and spends her days watching cars pass on the freeway and hanging out with her troublemaker boyfriend. She loves Luke but can't wait to leave their small country town. And she's figured out a way: she's won a scholarship to a science school in the city, and now she has to convince her parents to let her go. This is where Charlie comes in. Charlie, who lives in the city, and whom Rose has ignored for years. Charlie, who just might be Rose's ticket out.

Told in alternating voices and filled with music, friendship, and romance, Charlie and Rose's "little wanting song" is about the kind of longing that begins as a heavy ache but ultimately makes us feel hopeful and wonderfully alive. 


Review:

Last week my Twitter homepage seemed to be abuzz with comments about books originally published in Australia, A Little Wanting Song included. I'm not sure where the comments came from, but they were enough to make me pull this book out from the deep recesses of my bookshelves and give it a shot. I'm glad I did, for this is one beautifully written and emotional book, despite the few issues I had with it. 


Speaking of those problems, let's just get them out of the way first so I may begin my fangirlish thoughts. I tend to prefer books with a more solid main story line, and even though it seems as if this book was going to have one, it didn't really. There was plenty of the anticipated "Rose trying to cozy up to Charlie" thing, but I felt like there was more wandering in and out of other story lines than focus on that aspect. Which isn't really a bad thing-- I just prefer my books to have a constantly recurring problem. This problem wasn't even that big a deal because of all the other things going on in this book; both girls have plenty of issues to deal with, and although it sometimes seemed as if the focus on certain problems and point-of-view changed too quickly I loved seeing both of them on their journey to fix everything.


And now for my even more enthusiastic comments: the writing! the characters! omgz! The writing in this book is so poetic and lyrical and makes the book feel even more emotional than it would be with lackluster writing, because both Charlie and Rose definitely have plenty to be emotional about. Their many troubles and feelings on friendship, love, and the seemingly lifeless and passive world they live in are written in such a way that it's impossible not to relate to them and sympathize with their plights. It kind of broke my heart to see both girls hurting each other or other people or getting hurt themselves because it happens so often; it's a constant emotional battle for the both, and therefore for me as well, and I loved every minute of it.


The few qualms I had were more than overshadowed by the lyricism and fantastic characterization A Little Wanting Song has in abundance. My review definitely does not do it justice!


Book details: Knopf/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: gift

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

[description from goodreads]

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Review: 

Because a world without chocolate seems like my version of hell, I was immensely interested to see if this book would horrify me with its cruel, cocoa-free world. Even though it didn't, and even though there were plenty of things I was not a huge fan of, I still found All These Things I've Done to be quite an enjoyable read. 


Although the world in this novel is one in which the apocalypse appears to have come and went, it never really feels that way. I wouldn't say it's a more optimistic take on dystopian fiction, but the world here never seems too awful (besides the chocolate ban). In fact, I never quite understood what was going on in this setting. I didn't know why the chocolate ban or any other rationing systems were set up, since it's noted in the book that chocolate, among other things, is still legal in other countries. I wouldn't have minded this lack of knowledge so much if the smaller villains at play, Anya's mob family and their enemies, were better developed.  I know the mob's one dimensionality occurs partially because Anya isn't really a part of the family business, but plenty of her family appears in this novel, so often that it felt like I should be intimidated or frightened by them, but I never really felt them emit any tension. The book definitely could have used their tension, too; it often feels like the story has no driving conflict and that Anya spends much of her time simply wandering, which makes me so sad since there was a mob around. It doesn't get much more exciting than a mob.


Luckily, some of the other characters in this book were much more believable than Anya's extended family. Her brother, Leo, and sister, Natty, make such delightful additions to the book that I always looked forward to their appearances; every time they were present, it was easy to see the love and care Anya felt for them. Similarly, I loved when Scarlet, Anya's best friend, appeared, because the two made an absolutely hilarious and well-matched pair. Win and Gable, Anya's Potential Boys, fell a little more flat for me because of sporadic their actions can be, but at least both of their relationships with her moved at a realistic pace. And lastly, I quite liked Anya, our heroine. I loved seeing her confront all her problems and get caught up in trouble, because sometimes she ends up in the most frightening and intense of places. Plus, with her smart writing and narration, the action in this novel seems all the better.


It could have used a whole lot more development and speed, but All These Things I've Done, with its great premise and equally impressive cast of characters, promises a wonderful start to a new series.

Book details: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: sent by publisher for review

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 a couple books all the way from Ireland this week, which I found extremely fun.

And By the Way by Denise Deegan

At Strandbrook College, we are Kids Of. Kids of diplomats, media stars, musicians, artists, actors, oh, and wealthy people who aspire to all of that. I'm the kid of a rock star. Means nothing to me. When Mum died, six months ago, I didn't just lose her, I lost my dad -- to work. The only thing he does now is annoy me. He hires people like 'The Stylist' who wears bullets in her belt and makes him look like a hobo. Seriously. But 'The Rockstar' isn't the only person who drives me mad. There's David McFadden, a guy in my class who could have helped but didn't. Now, it's too late. I don't want his help. Because I'm not going to trust anyone, love anyone, rely on anyone. That way I'll never be hurt again. If only I could solve the problem of Rachel, my best friend, who won't let me pull back just like that. Even David McFadden won't stay out of my face. But I'm not going to fall for his blue eyes, his windswept hair or the plaited leather on his wrist. And when he says he wants to help, I'm sure as hell not going to listen...

The school premise of this is delightful so I am sure the book will follow suit. The sequel, which I also received, sounds equally great as well. 

All the Problems I Have

Lately I feel like I've had the same few complaints about every book I read. Some of the problems that come up the most:

1. Lame villains - I like my antagonists to be sympathetic and seem like real people, just like my protagonists, but lately all the ones I've read about are what most people think of silent movie villains as: creepy guys with mustaches, top hats, and a penchant for tying beautiful girls to railroad tracks. AKA: cheesy.

2. Slow beginnings. I don't want to have to wait 100+ pages to get to the main story line. For every book that can pull a lackluster beginning off with the excellent end, I must have read four or five that can't.

3. Lame love interests. I get the feeling that I'm supposed to swoon over nearly all of the love interests I read about, but so many of them have been utterly boring. Most of them haven't been the slightly abusive lately, but instead just so painfully nice and nothing else. I will take the nice ones over the creepers any day, but my goodness they are all written in such an uninteresting manner.

4. Underdeveloped settings. This is mostly an issue in the paranormal/fantasy I still read. I never feel like I get much information about fantasy worlds, which is such a bummer because a lot of them could be simply amazing if there was more information included.

5. Dresses. This one doesn't have much to do with my actual fondness for specific books, but, really, how many more book covers with girls in elaborate dresses am I going to have to see? It's gotten to the point where I don't even think they're pretty anymore because of how many there are.

Book to Screen Funsies

When I procrastinate, I usually end up searching for and discovering movie or book news, but lately I've been news about both of those at the same time.

Thoughts on some of these book-to-screen adaptations:


1. First, The Lying Game, based on the book of the same name by Sara Shepard, premiered semi-recently on ABC Family. I watched episodes one and two but I never managed to remember when the show was on. It was also quite different from the books, so I was not as interested. I've heard it's gotten better-- should I pick it back up?

2. The Secret Circle, based on L.J. Smith's series, premieres next week on the CW. I have had the first two books in the series on my bookshelf for literally three years but have never managed to pick them up, but I'm thinking I may try this weekend since the show looks fun. (Though I must say, the trailer on the CW site looks like a million book trailers I've seen.) I ended up falling too behind on The Vampire Diaries to catch up long ago, but it was awesome while I watched, so I'm thinking this other L.J. Smith adaptation will be too.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and I felt it necessary to share this picture solely for Ezra Miller dressed as Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show:

Oh how I wish I knew where this was originally from.

Although I was pretty ambivalent about the book, I'm interested in seeing this one. I feel like I will either love it or despise it with every fiber of my being, but the awesome cast (Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman [her?], among others) is enough for me.

4. Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph is getting an adaptation from Disney Channel renamed Radio Rebel. I love the book and am glad it will get a bit more attention, although Disney Channel adaptations are a bit frightening, especially since I feel like the movie is going to throw in too many positive happy funtimes. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

[description from goodreads]

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

Review:

When I finally got around to reading this book after years of wanting to, I was rather excited even though I keep the paranormal/supernatural novels to a minimum. Despite my excitement, though, I didn't love this one; I really did want to, and there were plenty of things I liked, but the complete lack of emotional connection made it fall flat for me. 

Luminous has a great premise, and that's what saved the book for me. The concept of the Flow is just so strange, so unique that I couldn't help but be interested in how it worked and what it exactly was. I loved to see all the bizarre abilities people, not just Consuela, had and how they affected the world;  there are all sorts of hidden aspects to people and the Flow and I couldn't help but be interested in what each of these things implicated. However, despite the fantastic premise, I did not always quite understand what the Flow was supposed to be. Maybe I wasn't supposed to, but it felt like there was so much more that there was to share, and I was never satisfied with what I was given.


Similarly, I felt like many of the characters needed development. I don't want to spoil, but sometimes they are there for such a short period of time that I felt no connection or sympathy for them whatsoever. It even takes a while for people to start leaving or become more mysterious, so it would be anticipated that in the time it took to get to the action some sort of emotional connection would be established, but there never was. I never even cared about Consuela; although she's the main character, the book isn't always from her point of view, and because of that, there was much less time for me to get used to her third person perspective. The writing in this book was often beautiful and lyrical, but often I never really cared about what Consuela was saying anyway; sometimes I would start a page and then realize 20 pages later that I hadn't absorbed any of what I had just read, and then I would have to go back and reread, which gets a bit tiresome. 

Luminous is a very wonderfully written and strange tale, but for me it lacked so much emotion that I found it to be just slightly above average. 


Book details: Dutton/Hardcover/$17.99


Source: sent by publisher for review

Waiting on Wednesday

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

Today I'm waiting on: 

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

---

OH MY GOSH NEW COURTNEY SUMMERS BOOK! Courtney Summers is only one of my favorite authors; her books never fail to punch me in the face with awesome. This one definitely seems like a departure from her purely contemporary previous work, but I am sure that it will be great nonetheless because Courtney and zombies are one of the best pairs ever. Also, this book pretty much confirms that Courtney's books have the BEST titles.

Released June 2012.

Top Ten Tuesday: Sequels I Need in My Life

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a totally awesome feature hosted by The Broke and Bookish!

Today's topic is "Top Ten Sequels I'm Dying To Read"; I couldn't resist participating in this one because if there's one thing I'm better at than getting things done, it's talking about things I want to get done.

1. The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson - I freaking loved this book's predecessor, The Pox Party, and don't understand why I haven't picked up this book yet. Thankfully it's already out, unlike some of the other books on this list, so I will have to get it soon.

2. So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev - This is the last book in the Theatre Illuminata series, and even though it will be sad to say goodbye to Bertie and the gang, I'm excited to see where her story ends.

3. The Lost Sister by Megan Kelley Hall - Remember how I loved Sisters of Misery oh so many years (?!) ago? And how I've owned the sequel for nearly as long? I don't know why I have not yet read this one.

4. A Million Suns by Beth Revis - Although the title of this book does not compel me to sing like that of its prequel, Across the Universe, I am still very excited to see how the issues revealed near the end of book one are dealt with in this book.

5. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa - My feelings on Ash in this series can be summed up by the word "blah" (TEAM PUCK!) but more Julie Kagawa is always a fantastic thing.

6. Nightspell by Leah Cypess - This book's companion, Mistwood, remains one of the few fantasy novels I've enjoyed semi-recently, and I'm sure this book will be just as lovely.

7. The Curse of Wendigo by Rick Yancey - The Monstrumologist was a breath of fresh air for me and if this book is half as spooky, it will be great.

8. Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien - Birthmarked was pretty awesome and even though this book seems like it's going in a whole other direction, I think I'll enjoy it.

9. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade - The Ghost and the Goth was one of my most surprisingly delightful reads of 2010, and I can't wait to read this book, especially because I know that I'll be in for a treat.

10. Experienced by Lucy Silag - I was looking through my goodreads shelves to find a tenth book for this list and realized I've never read the conclusion to the Beautiful Americans series. What is up with that? The first two books are great and full of exciting drama. I cannot believe I didn't ever realize to pick this one up! Silly self.

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

[description from goodreads]

Wow. This is it. This is me growing up. On my own, going to Performing Arts College. This is good-bye, Tallulah, you long, gangly thing, and hellooooo, Lullah, star of stage.

Tallulah Casey is ready to find her inner artist. And some new mates. And maybe a boy or two or three.

The ticket to achieving these lofty goals? Enrolling in a summer performing arts program, of course. She's bound for the wilds of Yorkshire Dales—eerily similar to the windswept moors of Wuthering Heights. Tallulah expects new friends, less parental interference, and lots of drama. Acting? Tights? Moors? Check, check, check.

What she doesn't expect is feeling like a tiny bat's barging around in her mouth when she has her first snog.

Bestselling author Louise Rennison returns with her trademark wit, a hilarious new cast, and a brand-new cheeky heroine who is poised to discover plenty of opportunities for (mis)adventure!

Review:

I absolutely adore Louise Rennison's previous series, The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, but since that series ended I've felt there's been a void of hilario and ridiculous novels on my bookshelf. Thus, I was rather excited to see that Georgia's cousin Tallulah would be getting a series of her own, and one set at camp no less! However, because Withering Tights is so similar in tone and writing style and occasionally even plot to Georgia's diaries, I found it difficult not to constantly compare the two and realize that I like Georgia loads better. 

There's no denying that Tallulah has the humor genes that seem to run in her family. She has such a distinct manner of speaking and narrating that there's no denying that her story is hilarious and crazy in the best way possible. She's also a lot more tame than her cousin, Georgia, which makes the story a bit easier to read because her humor comes more naturally and realistically. However, that also makes her a lot less funny. I would always laugh and smile while reading's Georgia's stories, but most of the time, with this book, I just would think something was funny and never actually have a reaction to it. 


Another sometimes-good-sometimes-bad thing about this book were the characters in it. I loved that all of them were in this bizarre and amusing setting, but even with the great backdrop, I could not always even differentiate between the characters. There's so many and they're all so similar that I could never remember who did and didn't do what, especially when it came to the boys. Clearly there's a boy or two in this book that interest Tallulah, and even though they are pretty different, I can't even recall their names. They are definitely no Robbie or Dave the Laugh from Georgia's series-- they aren't even Masimos, and I hate Masimo. All the characters do provide laughs no matter who they are, but I wish I could remember them all.


Withering Tights is a humorous read with a great setting, but compared to it's sister series The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, it pales in comparison. I'm sure it will get better once Tallulah narrates another book or two, but for now, I only just "like" this one. 


Book details: HarperTeen/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: ALA

In My Mailbox

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

Two very different things for review this week:

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

The pitch email I got for this book was great, so I can't wait to see if it lives up to the hype. 


Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth

Baxter Green isn’t like everyone else. While most people would forget about the little details of everyday life, Baxter never forgets—not pain, not hurt, not embarrassment. In fact, Baxter never forgets anything—not even a string of account numbers, flashed before his eyes by his mother’s criminal boyfriend, Dink, for use in a credit card scam. Years after his testimony has locked Dink away, Baxter and his mother are in a new town, trying to forget the danger Dink brought into their lives. Baxter wants to hide his unique ability, but it becomes increasingly more difficult when he reconnects with Hallie, a girl from his childhood who has lived on in his memory long after she has forgotten him. Can Baxter win Hallie’s heart? Loretta Ellsworth’s newest novel is one readers will never forget.

 This premise is fantastic; I think it will make for a delightfully unusual read. 

Things Blogging Has Taught Me

In honor of the end of my first full week of senior year, here are five things blogging has taught me:

1. Words are hard.

 Every time I write a review or even just a post like this, it feels like I always write the same words over and over (example: awesome, amazing, lovely, etc.). It is actually kind of difficult to try to sound different all the time, and often I don't actually achieve that, despite my efforts.

2. I cannot edit things longer than a blog post.

Sometimes people ask me if I want to be an editor, but based on my experiences editing my own work or even other people's, like at school, I would have to say "definitely no." I vastly prefer editing to writing a rough draft, but after a while I can't even differentiate between what I want to say and what I've already written. For that reason, I find things longer than a review to be a pain to edit, though it must be done.

3. Writing is fun. 

Despite numbers one and two on this list, I really do find writing to be fun. I like trying to put what I think in to words even if it frustrates me when I can't.

4. I will never be an author.

When I was 12 I thought I wanted to be an author when I grew up, but now I think my 12 year old self was mental for thinking that. I love reading fiction but I cannot write it to save my life. I don't even enjoy writing it, and I'm not convinced I did when I was 12 either. Even if I did manage to write, revise, and finish a novel, I would never want anyone to read it. I vastly prefer writing nonfiction type things to books and the like.

5. People are cool.

I often hate people (at least at school) for how absolutely stupid they can be, but people around the blogosphere are generally pretty awesome, whether they're writing a book, coming up with a fantastic promotion for a book, or just writing their own reviews. I love seeing all the great things people can do in this community.

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

[description from goodreads]

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

Review: 

I had been wanting to read this book since its original May 2010 release date but never got around to it until recently, which makes me a bit sad. It was by no means a perfect read for me, but it was so refreshing that I couldn't help but very much enjoy it.

I'm sure her blunt and somewhat naive attitude will frustrate some, but hey, it's not Drea's fault she has "a touch of Asperger's." I found her personality and voice to be utterly refreshing-- there was no cutting corners with her. She tells it like it is, but even with her candid nature, she isn't ever annoying. Even though she's honest, she still feels so awkward and out-of-place that it's easy to relate to her.  Her attempts to deal with her new social life, family, and Potential Boy are attempts that narrators in most books make, but because of how straightforwardly yet unsurely she dealt with them, this story did not feel like one I had read before.

There are a few things I wish were handled a bit better, though. There is a lot going on in this book, and, really, most of it is handled fairly well. For example, Justin, Drea's Potential Boy, is one of my favorite love interests as of late because he always wasn't one. The pair have so many ups and downs in their relationship, and yet all those fluctuations fit naturally and make their bond that much stronger. It was a few of the other story lines I was not as big a fan of-- for example, I really wish there was more of Drea's family included. I get that the book was more about her learning to develop a life outside that with her mother, but I feel like they should have played a larger part because of how influential they are. I also wish that the pacing was a bit more consistent; sometimes it feels like there is little happening, even when there is plenty, especially when the beginning is compared to the end. The ending happens so fast, and while it was unexpected and emotional, I wish there was more time for it to make a bigger impact.

I may have found some of the pacing off and a few characters lackluster, but Harmonic Feedback's intensity, originality, and fantastic narrator more than won me over.




Book details: Henry Holt/Hardcover/$16.99


Source: bought

Vixen by Jillian Larkin

[description from goodreads]

Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.

Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .

From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.

Review:
 
The 20s are one of my favorite decades to learn about-- something about the atmosphere always draws my attention. Thus, I was rather excited to read this one, because anything with a 20s feel has got to be good. And this book was! It did not blow my mind and I wouldn't even go as far to say I really liked it, but I did enjoy it despite its flaws.

Since I love the 20s, it seems only fitting that I discuss this book's setting first. While it wasn't the best historical setting I've ever seen, it's still got to be one of the better ones I've read. It definitely has the smoky, dark, slightly dangerous feel that is pretty much a requirement in any 20s setting. The dialogue is also reflective of the 20s setting-- there are plenty of slang words from the era, but it's not hard to follow along. I only wish that the whole "I want to be a flapper" thing didn't sound so cheesy, because sometimes one of the girls would say something like it and I would just roll my eyes. However, that was infrequent and made less of an annoyance by the fact that the drama the girls get themselves into is always exciting. Whether they're going into a speakeasy or a more classy society gathering, there's a guarantee that someone will get into trouble, whether it be with the mob, their parents, or each other. There's a constant supply of drama in this book, and I enjoyed every minute of it, even though, like most things, it could have used more mob.

The thing that prevented me from loving this book, though, were the characters. I appreciated that the point of view rotated between Gloria, Clara, and Lorraine, but because the rotation is so predictable and the girls often have stories that don't overlap with each other, the narration often feels a bit disjointed. The third person perspective doesn't help with this either-- it often feels like the narration is much more concerned with the drama than with the girls themselves, and they never seem to convey their thoughts in the clearest manner. And, because they can't even manage to be developed characters themselves, none of the minor characters are either. The minor characters served their purposes in the novel fine, but a lot of them just seemed to be more about the attitude than anything else, which does make for an amusing read, but I still wish they would have been more believable.

The atmospheric setting and drama make Vixen an undeniably fun read, but with a bit more development, it would have been taken to a whole new level of awesome.


Book details: Ember/Paperback/$8.99


Source: ALA