The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison: Review

The Princess and the Hound

By: Mette Ivie Harrison

Description:
He is a prince, heir to a kingdom threatened on all sides, possessor of the animal magic, which is forbidden by death in the land he'll rule.

She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from true human friendship but inseparable from her hound.

Though they think they have little in common, each possesses a secret that must be hidden at all costs. Proud, stubborn, bound to marry for the good of their kingdoms, this prince and princess will steal your heart, but will they fall in love?

Review: This book really surprised me in how much I enjoyed it. It was told from the male perspective, which was not only refreshing, but very well done. Prince George's mother dies when he is still quite young, and his father never seems to learn how to connect with him.  Having animal magic is frowned on, and while George does his best to ignore his abilities, they are still a huge part of who he is. In the beginning of the book, most of George's development is learning how to cope with his powers and try to live a life that will set him up for his future as a king.

I loved George's relationship with Beatrice. It's difficult to describe without giving a lot away, but basically, George wasn't expecting what he found in Beatrice. This causes him to do some reflection on who he is, and what he wants out of life.

Anyway, the characters were fantastic, and I loved the story. I highly recommend it to those that love fantasy.

Rating:

I gave the book 5 stars

Book A-Likes:

I can't think of a good book to compare it to, but the writing was similar to that of Robin McKinley, Jessica Day George, and Gail Carson Levine.

Profanity: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Sexuality: None

Violence: Very Mild

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare: Review

City of Bones

By: Cassandra Clare

Description: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Review: I didn't know this going into the book, but apparently the author is quite famous in the Harry Potter fandom world. I really didn't have any idea what the book was about when I started. Frankly, I just liked the cover.

This book was pretty much a combination of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I could pick out elements from all the different books/series, and use them to predict what was going to happen next.  In some ways, that was good, in others, it was a little corny.

The characters were mostly good, none really stood out to me as being fantastic.  Except perhaps Luke. I really liked his character and learning more about him as the book progressed.  I also really liked the integration of vampires, werewolves, faeries, and demons. The vampires were not sparkly, and the wolves were not full of teen angst. The underground world was fascinating, similar to Harry Potter's world.

Overall, the book was fun. It wasn't brilliantly original or anything, but it had some good points. It was good enough for me to continue the series.

Rating:

I gave the book 3.5 stars, and rounded up to 4.

Book A-Likes:

Harry Potter, Star Wars (even though that isn't a book), Recommended for those who like Urban Fantasy.

Profanity: Mild

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild. There is mention of drugs and clubs with alcohol.

Sexuality: Mild

Violence: Moderate. I mean, they are vampire/werewolf/demon killers. There has to be some killing.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike: Review

Wings

By: Aprilynne Pike

Description: Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Review: I was so close to loving this book. There were just a few things that have prevented me from really getting into it like I wanted to.

My favorite character in this book was David, easily. He seems to genuinely be interested in Laurel's well being. When her dad gets sick, he volunteers time at their bookstore and other things that show that he really cares.

The Faerie lore was another aspect I really enjoyed.  The author did a great job of taking an idea and really running with it. Also, the villains were pretty good. I only wish they had been featured more. I'd really like to know more about their history and hope that they play a bigger role in the sequel.

This book is a good middle-reader fantasy. It was a little slow as far as actual action goes, and some of the events in the book were a little trite. But, I would very highly recommend this book for a pre-teen girl that you don't want to give a book about abusive vampire relationships. There isn't any of that in this book. And, I liked it enough to be pretty excited about the sequel coming out next year.

Rating:

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Book A-Like:

Twilight, If you like paranormal romance you'll like this book.

Profanity: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None. She doesn't even eat meat.

Sexuality: None

Violence: Mild. There is one fight scene.

Buying Books

I re-discovered my local library this summer.  It has increased my number of books read, and decreased my amount of money spent in bookstores.

Since I started checking books out, I've realized that my buying habits of books have changed significantly. It causes me severe heartburn to buy a book that I haven't read. The only time I do this is when there is a waiting list of 30 or more at the library. (Hunger Games comes to mind). Or, if it's the next book in a series that I know I like. (Catching Fire, Harry Potter, pretty much anything by Shannon Hale).

For me, it's almost like trying on clothes before buying them and taking them out of the store.

But, I'm dying to know what you think? What motivates you to purchase a book you haven't read before? Do you utilize your local library?

The Hunt for the Dark Infinity by James Dashner: Review

The Hunt for the Dark Infinity

(The Thirteenth Reality Part 2)

By: James Dashner

 Description: It's been a quiet summer for Tick, Paul, and Sofia, but the latest message from Master George changes everything. The Realities are in danger and from something more terrible than Mistress Jane and the mutated Chi karda of the Thirteenth Reality. People from all Realities are unexplainably going insane. Worse, some Realities are fragmenting, disintegrating into nothingness. Master George has learned that Mr. Chu from the Fourth Reality is working on a mysterious new weapon called Dark Infinity. But no one has any idea how to stop the weapon or even if it can be stopped. To make matters worse, Tick and his friends have been kidnapped, forced to wink from Reality to Reality, solving impossible riddles in order to survive the deadly traps surrounding them. Mistress Jane and Tick find themselves in a race to reach the weapon first but who will destroy it and who will become its master?

Review: I really liked the first book in this series. And, many of the things I loved about book one continued into book two. It's really refreshing to have active parental involvement in a middle reader/YA book. Often, the parents seem totally out of the picture. In this series, the parents are aware of Tick's role in the realities and support him in his mission, even though it is difficult for them. (Frankly, if they knew half the stuff he had to do, they might be less supportive).

Atticus is a great character. I think a lot of kids (especially boys) can relate to his character. He's a good student, struggles with bullies and self-image. I really liked seeing his character evolve more in this book. He is a loyal friend, and does a good job of keeping the peace between his two friends.

The only complaint I have about the book is that sometimes it's a little technical and long winded. By technical, I mean that James Dashner has obviously put in a lot of effort to make a very complex world/reality. Sometimes the jargon (made up) is a little hard to follow. But, it doesn't take away significantly from the story.

Rating:

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book-A-Likes: This book would be great for boys 9-12 that like fantasy. It's similar to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, and other books where a group of kids learn their true identities and attempt to save the world.

Profanity: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Sexuality: None

Violence: Mild. There is a little fighting.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Review

Found

By: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Description: Thirteen-year-old Jonah has always known that he was adopted, and he's never thought it was any big deal. Then he and a new friend, Chip, who's also adoped, begin receiving mysterious letters. The first one says, "You are one of the missing." The second one says, "Beware! They're coming back to get you."

Jonah, Chip, and Jonah's sister, Katherine, are plunged into a mystery that involves the FBI, a vast smuggling operation, an airplane that appeared out of nowhere -- and people who seem to appear and disappear at will. The kids discover they are caught in a battle between two opposing forces that want very different things for Jonah and Chip's lives.

Do Jonah and Chip have any choice in the matter? And what should they choose when both alternatives are horrifying?

Review: Man, can Margaret Peterson Haddix write a YA thriller or what? I have no idea where she comes up with these ideas for stories, but they are phenomenal.

Jonah is a great character. He's very much a teenage boy. His parents have worked very hard to make his adoption a normal thing for him. Chip on the other hand has never been told that he's adopted. Frankly, it seems like his parents are pretty disconnected in a lot of aspects of Chip's life.  I was really interested in the two totally different ways these families handled the adoption situation.

The book was incredibly suspenseful. Haddix does a wonderful job of giving just enough information to be clear, but not enough to guess what is going to happen next. This book, like many of her others, is pretty short. I read this book in about two hours.

I wish I could go more into the details of the story, but any further information would really ruin the story. Basically, I loved this book.

Book-A-Likes: This book is good for readers that enjoy modern-day fiction, and science fiction. Frankly, I can't think of another book similar to it.

Rating:
I gave this book 5 stars.

Profanity: None that I can remember
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Sexuality: None
Violence: Mild. At most, there is a fistfight.

The Customary Twilight Post

Yesterday, I wrote out this big long post about how I feel about paranormal romance, more specifically, Twilight.

I decided that publishing that post just wasn't necessary. Here's all you need to know.

Yes, I read Twilight. I don't understand the phenomenon. Maybe for teenage girls, but I can't figure out why 30 year old mothers and wives are totally obsessed with a 17 year old literary character. Or how they can relate to the dullest, sulkiest female protagonist ever.

No, I will not be seeing New Moon.

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

The Dark Divine

By: Bree Despain

Release Date: December 22, 2009 

Read the First Chapter on Bree Despain's Website

From the Back Cover:

A prodigal son

A dangerous love

A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Review:

I think I'm liking paranormal romance more and more. Really, it can be awesome when it's written well and has other plots besides the romance.  I really liked the main character Grace. She was smart, and exceptionally kind.  That was something I think that was really missing from other paranormal romances that I've read lately. Grace has a drive to help those around her, even when it makes her uncomfortable.  Grace has a good relationship with her family, even though they have their problems.

Daniel was an intriguing character. Some of my favorite parts of the book were taking glimpses into his past and what he has done to overcome his difficulties. Bree does an excellent job of taking a problem like family abuse and giving it an alternate explanation while at the same time not making light of the very real emotional disruption these problems bring into a person's life.

I had only two notable problems with the story. First, I wasn't satisfied with the way things ended with the other love interest in the story. It seemed a little hurried and unfinished. The story may have been better without him in it.

The second problem is purely personal preference for me. I'm not a huge fan of the main characters in paranormal romances being teenagers. I know that that's the target audience for the book, but I guess I just don't feel like high school students generally have the maturity to experience emotions like true love.

If you like paranormal romance at all, you'll love this book. In fact, this would be a great Christmas gift for those on your list that are looking for something to read after Twilight.

Rating:

I gave this book a solid 4.5 stars, and rounded up to 5

Profanity: Pretty much non-existent. I mean, the main character is the daughter of a pastor...

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild. It's mentioned I think once in the story.

Sexuality: Extremely Mild.

Violence: Mild. There are a few murders in the book, and sometimes the descriptions are a little graphic, but nothing alarming.

Book-a-like: Twilight (cringe), Hush, Hush, Shiver

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire

By: Kristin Cashore

From the back cover: Set in a world of stunningly beautiful, exceptionally dangerous monsters, Fire is one of the most dangerous monsters of all - a human one. Marked out by her vivid red hair, she's more than attractive. Fire is mesmerising. But with this extraordinary beauty comes influence and power. People who are susceptible to her appeal will do anything for her attention, and for her affection. They will turn away from their families, their work, and their duties for her. They will forget their responsibilities to please her... and worse, crush nations, neglect kingdoms and abuse their power. Aware of her power, and afraid of it, Fire lives in a corner of the world away from people, and away from temptation. Until the day comes when she is needed - a day when, for her king, she has to stand against not only his enemies, but also against herself...


Review:
I just now realized that I never did write a review on "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore. I blame the morning sickness. I'll get one up soon. But, it is important to note that "Fire" is definitely not a sequel to "Graceling" and if you read them out of order, it won't really matter.

I loved the characters in "Fire." For me, that was definitely the reason I enjoyed the book as much as I did.  Obviously, I can't even begin to sympathize with Fire's "beauty" challenge. But, I enjoyed the struggle that she had with how to control her power. It seemed very real. It seemed like there were people all around her telling her to use the power to help other people. But, she was the only one who really knew how dangerous she could become.  Just because everyone is telling you something is right, definitely doesn't mean that it is. For me, that was the take-away message.

However, I had a really hard time getting into this book initially. And, after reading the reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads, it appears that I am the only one who felt that way. I'm not sure if I was distracted, or what the deal was, but the first half of the book was a struggle for me to follow the plot. Once Fire had settled in one place, about halfway through the book, I figured out what was going on, and the second half of the book was FANTASTIC.

If you liked Graceling, you'll enjoy this book as well.  Other readers I would recommend this to would be those who like strong female characters, and warriors.

Rating:
I gave the book 3 stars

Profanity: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate. Several of the characters do get drunk. There is also plotting to get characters drunk.
Sexuality: Moderate. Sex is mentioned quite a few times during the story, but is never actually described. Characters will also make sexual advances at Fire, especially while drunk.
Violence: Moderate. People die. And a few scenes in the book mention battles.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner: Review

The Maze Runner

By: James Dashner

Blurb from back:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Review:

This book definitely kept me on my toes. Similar to Jason Borne in The Bourne Identity and other amnesia-plagued characters, you find yourself trying so hard to piece together the little information given to you by the author into a back story for the character.

Post-apocalyptic fiction is some of my favorite to read, because I really enjoy the aspect of human survival. Every book has its own flavor of how people survive when situations aren't ideal. What I liked about The Maze Runner was the many different conflicts that contributed to the story. Thomas is conflicted about his past, he wants to know who he is and where he came from. But, once the truth begins to come out, he is rightly conflicted about wanting to know more. Thomas is also conflicted about the information that he gives to the leaders of the group, and the information he's holding in his thoughts. There are of course environmental conflicts as would be expected with a group of boys governing themselves. This is increased with the addition of a girl to the Glade.

I liked the characters in the books. Even though there were quite a few to keep track of, I felt like they were all easily distinguishable from each other. Each contributed to the story in an important way. I especially felt a connection to Thomas' first roommate Chuck. It gives a little bit of a softer edge to the otherwise hardened life at the Glade.

I only had a couple things I didn't like about the book, and they definitely weren't deal breakers. The first was the made up slang. I also didn't like it in Ender's Game.  I felt like it really clogged up the dialogue sometimes, and regular slang words would do.

Also, I felt like not enough was done with the female character in the story. This can be easily remedied in the sequel; however, and I'm sure she'll make a bigger impact.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I highly recommend this book for boys, especially ones that don't especially like to read. It's a fast-paced, easy read that will leave you thinking about it for days. I gave it four stars.

Rating:

Profanity: Mild, and it's not actual swear words used in every-day English, but made up slang

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Sexuality: Mildly hinted at when the girl first arrives

Violence: Mild. People do die in the book, but it's not overly graphic.

Books similar to this one: Ender's Game, Lord of the Flies

In accordance with FTC guidelines please note that I received a review copy from Delacorte Press for Young Readers. I was not compensated for this review.

Review: Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush

by Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: October 12, 2009

Nora Grey is a strong-willed girl that doesn't have time to date. She cares about school, her mother, and her best friend Vee. When Nora is paired with Patch as a lab partner, she is immediately repulsed by his arrogance and semi-creepiness. Yet, she seems to have an unexplainable attraction to him. Soon, mysterious and terrifying events leave her not knowing who to trust.

I've seen this book on a few blogs, and it has received many rave reviews. But, as I read the synopsis I was eerily reminded of Twilight, which I thought was awful. A girl that likes a potential killer boy against her better judgement... no thanks!

However... this book surprised me. I could see why Nora was actually conflicted. Yes, she made some dumb decisions. Not being totally open with her mom or proper authorities when she was attacked wasn't the smartest idea. Yet, it ends up actually making sense. The fact that she likes Patch but is actually aware of the fact that he's dangerous for her and makes the conscious decision to stay away is refreshing. And guess what? Nora likes school and spends a lot of time reading and has hobbies.

However, I think the thing I liked best in this book was even though romance was pretty much center stage, there is another plot. One that I couldn't quite figure out. You aren't ever really sure whose side you're on or who can be trusted. And, ultimately, Nora and other characters make real sacrifices.

If you liked Twilight, you'll LOVE this book, guaranteed. If you didn't like Twilight, I don't know that I'd recommend it highly, but it may be worth your while.

Overall I gave it 3 stars.

My Absence

I apologize for the length of time between posts. My reading has not slowed down, but my ability to blog has.

I'm pregnant with my first child, and morning sickness has totally knocked me flat. And, for some reason, staring at a computer screen makes it worse. I've also had some pretty serious problems in my family that have caused me to get behind as well.

I'm going to try to start blogging once a week and get caught up on my reviews. Thanks!

Authorpalooza!

I really feel fortunate to live in a state with so many talented authors! On August 11 I went with some friends to Authorpalooza at a local Barnes and Noble. There were over 30 authors there, and it was so much fun!

First, we kind of camped out at Jessica Day George's table. I have recently become totally obsessed with her books. Dragon Slippers was such a pleasant surprise that I seriously read just about everything else I could get my hands on, and raved about it to everyone I know. I have really enjoyed all of her books, and it was a real pleasure to meet her.

Kind of funny story too. I was talking to my friends about how disappointed I was that Shannon Hale's new book, Forest Born was not going to have the same style of beautiful cover that the others have had. Jessica Day George politely called me out that authors have little to no say in what happens to their book covers. Which is true, and I knew it, but I did feel a little sheepish.


Our next stop was to meet the great James Dashner. What a nice guy! I'm expecting an ARC of his newest book, The Maze Runner sometime within the next month, and I'm so excited to read it. I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Reality, which I will get a review up for sometime.... My pull to the book was that the main character's name is Atticus, which I love! Anyway, can't wait to see more good work from him!
Then I got to meet the very lovely Laura Bingham, author of Alvor. I am just starting this book, but I'm so excited to read it! A book club on Goodreads is reading this, and I was having a heck of a time getting a copy since it wasn't in my library. In the end, I got a nice signed copy. Laura Bingham was super nice, and I'm pretty sure her book will be a big hit. (I'm hoping to see Alvor in a hardcover edition, since I just love the feel of hardcover books.)



Last on our trip was Carol Lynch Williams author of The Chosen One. I haven't read this book either, but I've heard so many good things about it from fellow bloggers that I knew I had to get a copy. Carol Lynch Williams also so nice and I could tell a little disappointed I hadn't read the book yet. But, I promise I'm going to get to it very soon!

This was a fantastic event! I really hope that Barnes and Noble will continue to do events like this, because I really love getting out and meeting authors.

Stay tuned for more reviews from these fine authors and many more!

Wonder: My Debut YA Novel Cover

I've seen this done in a couple different blogs today and decided to try my hand at it. Travis at 100 Scope Notes lays down the rules. Here is mine:

 What do you think? Does it have a shot?

Life as We Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer: Review

Life as We Knew It

By: Susan Beth Pfeffer

Miranda is a junior in high school. Her diary includes many of the typical worries of teenagers, friends, school, and getting a driver's license. The upcoming meteor hitting the moon seems hardly worth mentioning. However, when the event happens, causing the moon to be pushed off its axis, it becomes the forefront of her life. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters make everyone immediately go into survival mode.

This was the first audiobook I've ever listened to completely through. It was really harrowing. I'm not really into the diary style of writing, but for some reason this really worked for me. The characters were really great, and memorable. This book made me want to build the biggest 72-hour emergency kit ever. Even though I read this in the middle of July, I seriously felt like I needed a blanket. And, as I was making dinner, I kept thinking about rationing my food. The book definitely got me emotionally involved.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley: Review

The Stolen One

By: Suzanne Crowley

YA Fiction

After her adoptive mother passes away, Katherine Bab takes the chance to go to London to see the queen, taking her sister Anna with her. Kat leaves behind the country, and her chances of marriage to a young pear farmer. Once in London, Kat quickly becomes a part of Queen Elizabeth's inner circle.

This book came out a little less than a week ago. I was fortunate enough to get a review copy from the publisher. I have to say I really enjoyed this book.  I would compare parts of this book to "A Great and Terrible Beauty" by Libba Bray, but only the good parts. Most of the brattyness and cliquish nature of the women was left out.  The character development was really fantastic, and the book really brought to life the time period it was representing.

The only thing I can really say that I didn't like was sometimes the language was a little hard to follow. But, that ended about a quarter of the way through the book and I caught on pretty quick for the rest of it.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

The Fourth of July has long been my favorite holiday. I'm really grateful to live in America, and enjoy all the comforts and security it provides. On this July 4th I'd like to thank all of those in our armed services that have fought throughout history to keep us safe from enemies both foreign and domestic. Here's to another year of independence!

July 2009 Book Club Books

Honestly, I didn't do so hot on my book club books last month. Some of them I have, but most of them I had either already read. But, here's what I've got on the docket for July. I'm also going to continue listening to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and read The Lightning Thief.

Goodreads.com: YA Book Club
I Capture the Castle
By: Dodie Smith

Wild Things: YA Grown Up
To Kill a Mockingbird
By: Harper Lee

Kidlit
Elsewhere
By: Gabrielle Zevin

Kidlit
Interworld
By: Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau: Review

The People of Sparks

By: Jeanne DuPrau

YA Fiction

After leaving their dying home of Ember, Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet realize their troubles have just begun.  Nothing is familiar, and the former residents of Ember find themselves unprepared for the world above.

This book picks up right where City of Ember left off. The sequel had the same wonderful imagery as it's predecessor. The story made it very clear that Lina and Doon are still children and don't know about leading a group of people. However, the adults don't do so well either. Tensions rise, and people make bad decisions. In the end, there is a resolution; however, you get the distinct impression that it's not over yet.  You learn a little more about the reasons behind the city of Ember, and the state of the rest of the world. It's a great book about acceptance, survival, and friendships. I didn't love it as much as I loved City of Ember, but it was a great sequel, and I'm looking forward to reading The Prophet of Yonwood.

3/5 stars for this sequel

The Uglies by Scott Westerfield: Review

The Uglies

By: Scott Westerfield

Post Apocolyptic Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Tally Youngblood can't wait for her 16th birthday. She's not anticipating a driver's license, but the chance to become "pretty." Her best friend Peris has already had his surgery, and Tally can't wait to join him in New Pretty Town. A few weeks before her birthday, she meets up with another ugly, Shay, who happens to have the same birthday as Tally. When Shay disappears before her surgery, Tally's own chance to become pretty is in jeopardy.

Well, this book hits at the heart of a common teenage issue: being pretty and the consequences. I liked Tally and Shay and especially the character development that occurs within Tally. She really does grow up. I kind of wished that the reasons why Pretty Town and the surgeries had begun in the first place had been explored a little more. But, it's part of a series, so I imagine they will explain it later. Other things I liked about this book were the lack of sex and vulgarity and the smartness of the characters. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes post-apocolyptic or end of the world type books.

I gave it 3/5 stars. This book was part of It's the End of the World Challenge

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray: Review

A Great and Terrible Beauty
By: Libba Bray
Fantasy, YA Fiction

After witnessing her mother's murder in a vision that turns out to be true, Gemma is enrolled in Spence, a girl's academy. She is snubbed by the popular Felicity and Pippa, and even her dumpy roommate Ann until she blackmails herself and Ann into the clique. Gemma soon discovers she has a power that she's not sure how to control or whether she wants it.

I have to admit that after I finished this book I couldn't quite figure out what it was about. Ultimately, I determined it was about choices. Every character in the book makes a series of choices that have both negative and positive consequences. Okay, so I know all books are about that, and I know I'm not doing a very good job of explaining the point behind this book. Basically, I really liked the conflict that Gemma had within herself on whether or not to use her powers. I think that kind of struggle is very real, and I really like the conclusion she came to in the end. Each character in the book had their own personal struggle that ultimately was resolved. I really liked the way this book ended.

Things I didn't like... I don't really like cliquey, bratty girls. So, sometimes reading about their stupid little fights was annoying at times. And, sometimes I just felt really lost when Gemma had her "visions."

I gave it 3/5 stars.

Awards, Awards!

Over the weekend I was honored with two awards! I'm really grateful to both of these bloggers, and frequent both of their blogs. Thanks again!

 

I was given this award by Natalie at The Book Inn. Many thanks to her!

The Humane Award is in order to honor certain bloggers that I feel are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn’t for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendships through the blog world.

 Now, for the blogs I nominate:

1. Reviewer X
2. Shooting Stars Mag
3. Maw Books Blog (even though I already know she was nominated)
4. J. Kaye's Book Blog (same as above)
5. Angieville
6. I'm Booking It
7. Debbie's World of Books
   
8. Marta's Meanderings
   
9. Haiku Amy
   
10. And my friend Kami. Although she's not a book blogger, she comments on pretty much every post. 

I was nominated for this award by Debbie's World of Books. Many thanks to her. She always has the nicest responses on Twitter. Which is why I gave her the Humane Award as listed above.

Do you like Harry Potter?

How about a Hogwart's Theme Park?  I hadn't heard anything about this, but I've got to say it looks cool. Thanks to Reading Rocks for the heads up on this.

Here are some digital representations of what the amusement park would look like.

 

Hogwarts

 

 

Hogsmeade Village

Be sure to head over to Reading Rocks for their 7 Days of Harry Potter Event. Also go to Universal Studio's website to get official information.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson: Review

Chains

By: Laurie Halse Anderson

Historical Fiction

While America struggles for independence, Isabel wages her own war for freedom. Even though she is promised freedom upon the death of her owner, Isabel and her sister Ruth are given to a cruel New York couple, the Locktons. She is offered an opportunity to spy for the American rebels, but soon realizes her loyalty lies with those who will give her freedom.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, especially on the basis of slavery. However, you can't help but just have your heart go out to this girl. Her mother and father are both dead, and she's left to try to secure freedom for herself and her sister, while a war rages on outside her door. Isabel has a lot of grit and works very hard.  There are other good-hearted redeeming characters in the story that make you feel like maybe someday Isabel will realize her dream of being free. The book is almost like a very real series of unfortunate events.

Although it wasn't the kind of book that I usually read, it was worthwhile. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

Sneak Preview: Wicked Will by Bailey Macdonald

I read a post on Shooting Stars Mag done by the wonderful Lauren yesterday. She posted a promo for a book called, "Wicked Will" by Bailey Macdonald. I have to say that I was totally intrigued by the way the post was written, and the premise of the book.

Get this, it's young Shakespeare solving a murder mystery. I think that sounds awesome. At the end of her post she had a contest for the first three people to find the hidden Shakespeare quotes and the play they came from. The winners received a signed copy of the book. So, I of course entered. And I got this email this morning.

You got two out of three!  "The world's a theater" is not from Shakespeare, but from Thomas Heywood's An Apology for Actors.  I'll send you an autographed copy anywyay.
Bailey

I'm super excited for this book to come in the mail so I can check it out. Please head over to Shooting Stars Mag and read the promo. And then watch for my review!

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow: Review

Little Brother

By: Cory Doctorow

YA Fiction

Marcus, or w1n5t0n as he's known on the internet, is only 17 years old, but a master hacker. He's infiltrated his school's surveillance system and knows how to manipulate it. When a terrorists attack the Bay Bridge, the Department of Homeland Security increases it's surveillance on the entire city, and takes Marcus captive. After he is released, he takes on destroying DHS as a personal mission.

I have to say that this book was one of the biggest disappointments I've had in a long time. I loved about half the story. The means Marcus uses to hack the system are absolutely genius and innovative. Also, the methods used by DHS and the police are eerily realistic. It's very apparent that this book was well-researched and thought out. Sometimes the technical descriptions were a little heavy, but I thought they were useful to explaining the story.

Here's what I didn't like. I felt like there was just too much sex and references to sex in this book. If that's something you're comfortable with, that's fine, but it seemed just to overwhelm the story at times. I felt like it was a little too mature for a YA audience. I don't mind romance in a book, but there were passages that were just too graphic.

I gave the book 3 out of 5 stars. Were the sex stuff left out, I would have given it 4 out of 5.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli: Review

Zel

By: Dona Jo Napoli

Fantasy, YA Fiction

Zel lives with her mother high in the mountains, and all they need is each other. On Zel's birthday, her mother brings her into town where Zel meets a young prince. Zel's mother notices the attraction and decides to take drastic measures to keep her as her own.

The entire book was written in present tense. For some reason I really don't like that style of writing, and it seems like it can be a little hard to follow. Also, the story switched viewpoints, which is something I also don't prefer in a story. I liked the premise of the story, and thought that it was an interesting retelling. I really liked the development of the mother's character and reading about her thoughts and rationalizations for what she was doing. However, I didn't like Zel's character or the Prince's. A word of warning, there is a sex scene in this book, which kind of surprised me in a YA book. I really did feel like it was unnecessary.

Overall, I gave the book 2 out of 5 stars. If you can get past the writing style in the book, you may enjoy it.

Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge

Google Alert Mini-Challenge

This mini-challenge is pretty simple. Using one of the tasks from the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog, we will be creating Google Alerts. I use Google Alerts frequently in my job to keep up on trends in the industry. I have to admit that I don't use them in blogging, but I definitely will be starting some! Head on over to ProBlogger and read the instructions on setting up a useful Google Alert.

When you are finished, post a comment in the comments section to win some fabulous prizes! Make sure you've been over to Maw Books Blog to sign up for the Bloggiesta! Ole!

Bloggiesta Wrap Up

I had a productive weekend of blog maintaince. Taking the weekend was totally worth it. I feel like my site reflects a lot more of who I am and has a much cleaner look. Here's the run down of the weekend.

Friday:

• Designed background
• Designed Header
• Attempted to upload header
• Added Tweeple, cleaned up google reader
• Planned future posts
• Brainstormed meme and award ideas

Total Hours: 6


Today:

• Uploaded new site design including header and background. I think it looks fabulous!
• Fixed all sidebars and links
  
• Created and uploaded new Favicon
• Created a gravatar account
• Did a web grader analysis. Then, implemented changes
• Helped out with technical stuff on Twitter
• Read through comments and started responding through email.
• Updated Goodreads
• Made comments on social networking sites.
  

Goals: Will be updated 6/21 am

• 10/10 New Subscribers (Thanks everyone! I've got 35 total. Not bad for one month of blogging)
• 20/15 New Comments (This isn't counting the mini-challenge, btw)
• 1/10 Backup Posts

Total Time: 10 hours

Mini Challenges Completed:

Rebecca at The Book Lady's Blog: Cleaning up Google Reader
Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Reading?: Creating Favicons and Gravatars
Michelle at Galley Smith: Correctly Using Anchor Text
Ruth at Bookish Ruth: Grading Your Website

Comments Left: Probably about 10. I will do follow-up comments later, promise

Tweets Sent: Hundreds. I'll have to count another time, lol.

TOTAL Hours: 16

My favorite part of the Bloggiesta was getting that formatting change done. Now, I've got to do some updating on my other book challenges, and most importantly, get some reading done!

Bloggiesta: Day 2

My total hours yesterday were 6. I spent most of that time offline working on the new banner and background you now see. I also outlined ideas for new posts and reviews. I also updated my spreadsheet of books.

Today:

• Uploaded new site design including header and background. I think it looks fabulous!
• Fixed all sidebars and links
  
• Created and uploaded new Favicon
• Created a gravatar account
• Did a web grader analysis. Then, implemented changes
• Helped out with technical stuff on Twitter

Still to do:

• Read through new comments and respond
• Write review for "Zel"
• Finalize award or weekly meme

Goals

• 5/10 New Subscribers (add me on your RSS reader!)
• 9/15 New Comments (This isn't counting the mini-challenge, btw)
• 0/10 Backup Posts

Total Time: 12 hours

Bloggiesta Starting Line

This my official starting line Bloggiesta post. However, I have to get to work... like right now... so it's going to have to wait.


Okay, I'm off work. Here's the breakdown of today:

20 minutes spent cleaning up google reader. Made folders for different topics, got rid of old feeds, and added some new ones!

20 minutes spent adding google alerts for my blog. In the back of my mind I had thought of doing this before but never did.

Currently: Thinking of a weekly meme or award to call my own.

Next: Make a fabulous favicon!

Reviews: What's Important?

I'm not a teacher, librarian, writer, editor or in any way a professional in the literary realm. My expertise is in knowing what I like.  I really try to write my reviews in a manner similar to the way I would explain or recommend a book to a friend.  Over the past few weeks I've thought a lot about why I review the way I do, and also why I review the books that I review. As a new blogger, I'm still very much developing my "voice," so I'd like some input from others on how they feel about these particular topics.

First, I have found it more useful in my reading of others' blogs to find books that are easily available in libraries or on most booksellers' shelves.  A book review, in my mind, does no good when it's not readily available. Amazon doesn't count. I don't buy books online that I haven't read, or that aren't part of a series that I know well. When I'm at a bookstore I open up the book and read a few pages to get an idea of the story. You can't do that with online books. The point being, I may miss a few books here and there, but if a book isn't accessible to my readers, what good does it do you?

Second, I'm not well versed in specific literary devices. This is something that I think I need to work a little more on. I don't know literary cycles, character development patterns or anything similar. I've found this to be a roadblock sometimes when writing a review because I'll read a book that I like, but I can't pinpoint why I like it. If I don't like a book, I'll generally know the exact reasons. But, it's harder for me to put into words the magic feeling when you just love a book.

And lastly, I'd really like to know what is important to a reader of a book review blog. Do you want a lot of plot and a little opinion? Or no plot and lots of opinion? Do you like knowing what books are similar? What is the most important thing you want to know about a book before deciding to pick it up?

Your comments are very much appreciated.

Dragon of the Lost Sea by Laurence Yep: Review

Dragon of the Lost Sea

By: Laurence Yep

Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

The banished dragon princess and a young boy set out in search of the stone that will return the sea to it's proper place so the dragons can again live there. Along the way they run into many obstacles that force them to work as a team.

I hate to say it, but this book was a snoozer. The basic idea of the story was the same, tired story. Boy with no family or connections meets dragon, dragon has a problem, doesn't want boy to come, begrudgingly allows boy to come, dragon gets into trouble, boy saves dragon, they become friends.

I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. Don't bother. Unless you have a kid that's obsessed with dragons and won't read anything else.

KidLit.com

Kidlit.com is a fantastic resource for writers and reviewers alike. I was totally blown away by the information she had on her site.  She has a contest going to win one of three books:

"Along for the Ride" personalized and signed by Sarah Dessen

"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

ARC of "Shiver"

Definitely check her out!

Zombies and Books that Make it Difficult to Sleep

So, as you can see in my sidebar, one of the books I'm currently reading is "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Actually, I'm not reading it, but listening to it as an audio book. And, so far it's really hilarious, and I'm really enjoying it.

However, I think I may have made a gross error in the time I allotted to read the book. I had decided to listen to an hour a night before bed. Last night I got about 30 minutes into the reading before I fell asleep. This resulted in nightmares all night long about the undead. I have pretty frequent nightmares, but I was surprised that this book gave me nightmares when the whole time I thought the book was really funny. My nightmares were so bad that in my half-awake, half-asleep state, I tried to flee from my bed and the zombies that were occupying it. This caused my husband to have to pin me to the bed until I fell back asleep. Needless to say, neither of us got any sleep, and now I'm incredibly tired. I don't think I'll be listening to the book before bed anymore.

So, have any of you had similar experiences falling asleep while reading?

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George: Review

Dragon Slippers

Jessica Day George

Fantasy; Young Adult Fiction

Creel definitely doesn't need to be rescued. Her aunt, desperate for money, decides that Creel's marriage to a rich Lord or Prince will be the best way to secure the family's future. She forces Creel to be "captured" by a dragon. In exchange for her release and preventing anyone from coming to the dragon's cave, Creel receives a beautiful pair of slippers. After befriending another dragon who rescues her along the way, Creel seeks employment near the castle as a seamstress. Soon, she learns the secret behind the mysterious slippers.

I was pretty sure that I wasn't going to have time to read this book before it was due to the library. I've read so many dragon books that I was pretty sure what this one was going to be like. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Some things were very similar to other stories with dragons, but much of the story was refreshingly original. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I may have shed a tear or two at the end. One of the things I liked best about this book was that the love story/interest was pretty much non-existant. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I will definitely be checking out the other two.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you liked the "Dealing With Dragons" series by Patricia Wrede, you'll love this book.

The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones: Review

The Lives of Christopher Chant

By: Diana Wynne Jones

Fantasy, YA Fiction

Christopher's mother and father are talented in the ways of magic. However, Christopher has very little contact with them and knows little about them. He learns of his ability to travel to other worlds while he dreams and brings back gifts. Soon, others begin to realize the extent of Christopher's powers and use them for their own gain.

This book is the second in a series. I was told that the stories didn't overlap much and it would be easy to follow the story. Well, that was not the case. I was geniunely lost and confused for the first 100 pages. This book may have been good if I had read the first book, but I really don't have much interest now in going back. I felt like the characters were well written, and the story itself was good, but the setting and backstory made it seem like I was just supposed to know all these things about the magical world. The story picked up at the end of the book, and I ended up kind of enjoying it by the end.

I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. Read the first book first.

A Little Preview

For the Bloggiesta this weekend hosted by Natasha at Maw Book Blog, I've decided to revamp my blog. It's going to have a new look, based on this graphic.

 

What do you think? Pretty cute, huh?

Before Midnight: A Retelling of Cinderella by Cameron Dokey: Review

 

Before Midnight: A Retelling of Cinderella

By: Cameron Dokey

Fairy Tale Retelling; Young Adult Fiction

La Cendrillon is the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Her mother dies soon after the premature birth, before her father can return home. When he does return home, he brings with him an infant boy, Raoul. The father then leaves, and forbids either Cendrillon or Raoul from leaving the house.

This book was pretty similar to other retellings of this story. The two main differences were that the father was alive in this book, and the stepmother wasn't a mean person. I wasn't a huge fan of the way this was retold. It seemed like all that was ever talked about was love. The characters eligible fell in love at first sight with their partners in extremely cliche ways. And, the climax really wasn't a climax at all. More like a resolution to a simple misunderstanding.

Anyway, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. (For the record, I have reserved the 1 star rating for a special class of book. Want to know what it is? Ask me about it sometime)

My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier: Review

 

 My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier

By: Lynda Durrant

Historical; YA Fiction

Jennie Hodgers first started dressing like a boy to herd sheep in her hometown in Ireland. Later, she immigrated to the US with her brother, and found there were more opportunities for a young man than for a young woman. She takes on the identity of Albert Cashier and joins in the Union Army.

This book was really facinating. It's not the kind of story I really like, but it definitely left an impression on me. I think the thing that got me the most was that this woman pretended and pulled off being a man for nearly her entire life.  She definitely has true grit. She endured the hardship of war, and had to learn to never trust a single soul completely. Not only that, but she had to deny one of the most fundamental aspects of any human being, her gender.

If you like historical fiction, this one is definitely worth reading. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

City of Ember Winner

So, using my highly sophisticated method of making an excel spreadsheet with all the entries, and using random.org, I have selected a winner of "City of Ember."

The winner is......

Kami

I will be getting in touch with Kami and arranging shipping. Stay tuned in the next week or so, because I think I may be getting an advanced review copy of a book to giveaway. Thanks so much to everyone for entering. That was a lot of fun!
 

Bloggiesta!

I spend hours on my blog every night. I know it may not look like it, but I am constantly tweeking links, pictures, blogs, lists, and everything in between. It's all part of starting up a new blog, I guess. I'm also participating in the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog at ProBlogger. It's a fantastic program. So, Maw Book Blog is hosting a 24-hour book blog maintainance event, which coinsides perfectly with all the work I was planning to do on my 31 Days to Building a Better Blog.  Thanks Natasha!

Edited to Add: This is open to anyone with a blog, no matter the topic!
Edited *again* to add: I have been so dutifully informed that it is next weekend, not this weekend. Either way, I'll be participating.

Tasks:

• Create new blog template
• Create Favicon
• Fix all links, and sidebars
• Add another sidebar
• Create backup posts
• Brainstorm ideas for challenges and giveaways
• Develop a pitch for publishers when requesting ARC's
• Finish the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog 

Goals:

• Increase subscribers by 10
• 15 new comments
• 10 back up posts
• More user-friendly blog 
  

24 hours left for "City of Ember" Giveaway

Just wanted to remind my readers that the contest to win a copy of "City of Ember" ends tomorrow at 10:30 MST. Details and sign up here.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Review

 The Graveyard Book

By: Neil Gaiman

Young Adult Fiction

 Nobody Owens didn't grow up like most children. He's the only living person that has a permanent residence at the graveyard. Being raised by ghosts and his guardian, Silas Reynolds, "Bod" learns about the graveyard and the ancient practices of the ghosts while also uncovering his past.

Okay, so maybe I was a little slow on the uptake on this one. I didn't realize until after I'd finished the book that this is basically the "Jungle Book" retold with a graveyard instead of the jungle. After I knew that fact, the whole book really clicked for me and I really liked it. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline while I was reading it, but I didn't really get the point of it until after. However, the illustrations in the book were fantastic, and this book is perfect for the reader that likes their stories to be just a little bit dark and quirky.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Read More Reviews:

Becky's Book Blog
The Book Nut
Natasha @Maw Books Blog
Ready When You Are