All Five Stars

Review: 3 Willows

2009-07-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

3 Willows by Ann Brashares

Total: Three and a half-ish.

{Summary From Author's Website}

The new book from Ann Brashares, the bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:

Seeds

Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead.

Roots

Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a bus girl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . .

Leaves

Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products.

It is a new summer. And a new sisterhood. Come grow with them.

Behind The Grade:

As a girl who devoured the Sisterhood series as quickly as they came out, I expected to fall head-over-heels in love with the new girls. Sure, my beloved Bridget, Lena, Carmen and Tibby wouldn't be returning, for this spin-off-y thing, but I thought Brashares' way with words would carry this novel and make me fall in love again.

I was wrong.

Wow, that sounded harsh! It's not that I hated it, because I absolutely did not. Polly, Jo, and Ama, the new Sisterhood, are fleshed-out characters and seem like someone you might see walking down the street. That being said, they don't act like fourteen-year-olds.

The writing is way too poetic and over-thinking for a bunch of eighth-graders. It was really distracting from their typical middle school problems. The best analogy I can draw is this: 3 Willows is seriously bi-polar. At times, it tries to be nothing more than a sweet summer story for young girls and does so beautifully. However, it occasionally seems like Miss Brashares is trying to make this book into an American classic, which it is not.

Also, as the element of magic and the Pants are taken out of the Sisterhood, there isn't much to make this book stand out from others on a shelf. To me, none of the girls stand out the way Bridget, Tibby, Lena and Carmen did.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the original sisterhood days!

Update: Where Am I?

2009-06-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, guys!

It feels like forever since I've been on Blogspot! In actuality, it's only been since March, but it feels like twice that, at least. I really miss you guys and I miss posting reviews even more. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things, expect a review (or two) tomorrow!

Also: zomg almost 50 followers? :/ I'm so flattered!

peace, love, and everything sweet,

Gabbi!

Review: Swimming With The Sharks

2009-02-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

Long time, no blog.

So here's a shiny new review for you to sink your virtual teeth into.

Swimming with the Sharks by Debbie Reed Fischer

Total: Two stars (maybe less, but I'm feeling generous)

{Summary from Back Cover}

Remember the pact. Or else.

Five-foot-eleven. Freckled. Flat as a surfboard. Peyton Grady sees her role on the varsity cheer squad as the only thing keeping her off the social sidelines at wealthy Beachwood Preparatory Academy. It's her umbilical cord to cool - and it's constantly in danger of getting cut.

As a base, it's Peyton's duty to be stepped on - literally - by cheer queen Lexie Court. So when Lexie hatches a fierce hazing campaign against the frumpy new girl, Peyton has no choice but to support her flier. Soon the pranks become sadistically cruel, even criminal. Suddenly, Peyton has more to lose than her new-found Alpha celebrity. Will she gamble her entire future for "the good of the squad"?

Behind The Grade:

For one, Peyton is painfully boring. I mean, some of the best books are spawned from characters that are very unlikeable (Catcher in the Rye, and more recently, Prep, to name a few), but at least Holden and Lee aren't so...blah.

The book is told from her first-person perspective, so a little more characterization would've been ideal. There's a short little passage I MUST share with you.

(It's noted that the stupidly-named Von is the apple of our gal, Peyton's eye)

"We finish and the crowd goes wild, especially Von. I love him even more for that. We do a few more jumps and tumble off to stand right in front of the bleachers. I would give positively anything - my right arm or my virginity or my entire CD collection - to be standing in front of his section..."

This girl has got her priorities in order.

Also, I wish the cheerleading part was featured more prominently. Although it's supposedly a HUGE part of Peyton's life, after the first couple chapters (where a pep rally and practice occur), the actual cheering aspect is barely mentioned at all.

I'm hardly an expect on all things pom-poms, but...don't they go to games or something?

The only really interesting character in the book is the "queen of mean," Lexie. She's never developed more than the nasty cheer captain stereotype and I wish she had been. She had a lot of potential, I thought.

Overall...this book was okay. It's completely predictable and overdone. Poor girl in rich environment? Mean cheerleaders? The writing is cheesy and Peyton doesn't feel like a real person (be that a teenager/friend/daughter/etc.) I wouldn't reccomend this, but it's too boring to be OMG THIS IS TERRIBLE!!111one!

my blog is being funky...

2009-01-16T05:10:00.001-08:00

So, um, just scroll down to find my review of Sara Zarr's "Sweethearts." Or click here. Thank you. And, uh, I guess I should use this time to personally thank the twenty-four people who follow my blog and all those who comment regularly. If you're not following All Five Stars, but would like to, check out my "Followers" sidebar.

With Love,

Gabbi!

(P.S. Claire and Charlie from Lost say "Hello!")

Book Trailer: Parties & Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

2009-01-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd pop by and leave you with this book trailer for the latest book in Sarah Mlynowski's popular "Magic in Manhattan," series about a teenage witch name Rachel who's ten times sassier (can't believe I just used that word. I feel like a sixty-year-old with back pains. At least I didn't use "hip!") and more real than Sabrina ever was.

Just watch it!

Review: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

2009-01-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

Total: Four point five stars

{Summary from Fantastic Fiction}

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.

Behind the Grade:

After all the "beach reads" (loathe this term, but that was the nicest I could come up with) I've been reading, picking up Sweethearts is comparable to taking a plunge into the dark, salty depths and loving every minute of it.

Even though it was in first person, which I'm not all that fond of, Zarr made me love it. Our main character, Jenna is always pretending, hiding her real self. Or is it her "former" self? When Jenna was a child, she was mercilessly teased by her peers, only making one real friend: a boy named Cameron.

Then, something happened. (I would totally tell you, because it was not what I was expecting at all, and, honestly, a little anti-climatic, but the rest of it seems to justify this and, somehow, it makes Jenna a better person.)

I love how Jenna is constantly trying to be the girl people want her to be. I think everyone feels this way, or has felt that way at one point in their lifetime or another. Especially if you're in high school, like Jenna.

Some of the minor characters were expanded upon and none of them relied on stereotypes, which I loved. Don't you just hate it when you read a book about a popular girl who is surrounded by people who fit into neat, little stereotypes? I.e. "Smart Susan," "Kind Kathy," "Sporty Sara" etc. Well, none of Jenna's friends were like that. They all had their own personalities and their relationships with Jenna differed. I always found it strange how some books made it out that someone loved or hated their friends the same way. I've found this to be completely unrealistic. It's naturally that there are some people you are closer too or not as close too. It's human nature.

ANYWAY. Back to the review.

I loved it. It was great. I thought the ending was just perfect, too. I'm sure it's no spoiler to say that Cameron and Jenna don't have a happily ever after. The only thing keeping this from another five-star review is that the pace was just too slow to start. And, really, the whole book kept that pace. Regardless, go read it!

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

2009-01-09T13:04:00.001-08:00

Asdfg.

Way late. I know. Sorry. I got sidetracked by shiny Poppy books. :D

Total: Four Stars

{Summary From Jacket Flap}

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries?

If Clary left the world of Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father.

Behind The Grade:

Um. So, seriously, I shouldn't be doing this now...I have homework and whanot, but this book gave me insomnia last night so I figured it deserved a quick* post.

I wasn't quite so engrossed in this one. (You'll notice by how long the book cover sat on my sidebar.) Clary's Mary Sue-ness is epic-ly worse, but, you know what? It was fun. Her life isn't totally perfect - if it was she would have both Simon and Jace - and so what if she has magic powers and everyone's always in awe of her? I still love the books and Clary hasn't given me a migraine. Yet...

Was it just me or was the plot a lot slower? I remember loving how fast paced City of Bones was.

I usually have a pretty good memory, but, honestly? The only thing I can remember from this is, like, the very end. Can this be accredited to my cold? (I hate Canadian winters!) Or was it just not that memorable?

Moving on...

I do love the supporting cast. Alec and Isabelle, a brother-sister Shadowhunter duo, are too awesome for words. Isabelle is kind of Rosalie-y and Alec is just...I don't know. A realm all to himself.

Overall, the dialogue is often laugh-out-loud funny and the story is just as good as the first book. Hopefully, Clare's whiplash-inducing plot speed will be back in the threequel, City of Glass, which is out March 24th, 2009.

(*EPIC FORESHADOWING. AND ALSO A LIE.)

Review: Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean

2009-01-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Total: Three and a half stars (3.5)

SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH IT.

Meet the newest crop of A-Listers:

Amelie, the good girl who's struggling to shed her perfect image.

Myla and Ash, the perfect duo who seem to be headed for break-up land.

Jacob, the resident nerd who's gone from not-to-hot, but still can't break into the a-list.

&

Jojo, the new kid. Fresh from Sacramento, this outsider's very DNA is a backstage pass to cool: she's just discovered she's the only biological progeny of Brangelina-esque supercouple, BarBar.

Behind The Grade:

Can I just say how much more I loved this than the original series? I usually have a problem, because spin-offs aren't often as good as the originals, but HR was leaps and bounds better than The A-List.

The characters are so much more likable, the writing even seems to be quite a bit better. If there was some more plot movement, I would've given this a four. I can understand why it's so character-heavy though: it is the first in a new series, after all.

Even if you (like myself) didn't enjoy Dean's original series, I'd suggest you at least try this one.

The 'golden couple' Myla and Ash are too cute for words and even boring Amelie and Jojo were starting to grow on me by the end. Ash is definitely my favourite, although I like Jojo's story better. What kid doesn't want to find out that their real parents are the most famous, richest, gorgeous couple in the world?

Teaser Tuesday

2009-01-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

(ON AN ACTUAL TUESDAY - AWESOMESAUCE!)

~rules & regs~
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

The A-List: Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean

"Morning," Myla said, half-opening her green eyes.

"Morning, you."

- page thirty-nine.

What I'll Be Reading This Week (instead of working on that project*...)

2009-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

This blog has been pretty review-heavy as of late, so I thought I might as well spice it up. Here's what I've gotten in the last week. Comment with the title of the book(s) you most want to see reviewed here.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
{Summary From FantasticFiction}

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield {Summary From Author's Website}

On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband’s presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House–and the repercussions of a life lived, as she puts it, “almost in opposition to itself.”

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments Book Two) by Cassandra Clare {Summary From Jacket Flap}

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father.

Dirty Laundry by Daniel Ehrenhaft {Summary From Author's Website}

the school:

The Winchester School of the Arts, nicknamed "The Laundromat" because it's where better schools send their "dirty laundry." Get kicked out of Exeter, Hotchkiss, or Choate? End up at Winchester.

the girl:

Carli, a gorgeous pigtailed Hollywood actress going undercover at Winchester to research her role.

the boy:

Fun (short for Fellini Udall Newport), an embittered senior and graffiti artist who was almost expelled—until his dad (and a lot of money) convinced the headmaster to let him work off his crime as Carli's assistant.

the problem:

Beautiful, talented senior Darcy Novak, one of the least screwed-up people at Winchester, has disappeared.

As Carli and Fun discover each other's hidden talents, there's a villain setting them up. Can they save Darcy—and themselves—or will they wash out?

The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard {Summary From FantasticFiction}

Meredith and Mallory Brynn, are mirror twins born on either side of midnight one New Year's Eve. They have always been inseparable. But after they are nearly killed in a mysterious fire on their thirteenth birthday, the bond that has always joined them unravels. They begin to have visions and dreams that reveal the deep secrets kept by the people around them.

Meredith and Mallory realize they have each been given a gift: Mallory can see deep into the past, Meredith can see the future. But when they discover that one boy is not what they imagined, their lives will be changed forever. If they can survive...

Next Summer (Summer Boys, Book Two) by Hailey Abbott {Summary From Back Cover}

Three girls. Too many boys. One tempting summer.

Beth: I know I love George. And everyone thinks we're perfect together. So why does that sexy new lifeguard keep flirting with me? And why do I like it so much?

Ella: Bye-bye, bad girl. I'm trying to change my wild ways. But there are so many yummy boys around this summer. How can I resist them?

Kelsi: Tim is totally not my type. Besides, after last summer, I need a break from boys. If only I could get him out of my head...

Swimming With The Sharks by Debbie Reed Fischer {Summary From Back Cover}

Remember the Pact. Or else.

Five-foot eleven. Freckled. Flat as a surfboard. Peyton Grady sees her role on the varsity cheer squad as the only thing keeping her off the social sidelines at wealthy Beachwood Preparatory Academy. It's her umbilical cord to cool - and it's constantly in danger of getting cut.

As a base, it's Peyton's duty to be stepped on - literally - by cheer queen Lexie Court. So when Lexie hatches a fierce hazing campaign against the frumpy new girl, Peyton has no choice but to support her flier. Soon the pranks become sadistically cruel, even criminal. Suddenly, Peyton had more to lose than her new-found Alpha celebrity. Will she gamble her entire future for "the good of the squad"?

And lastly...

The A-List: Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean {Summary From Back Cover}

SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH IT.

Meet the new Hollywood Royalty: Amelie, the not-so-innocent starlet; Myla and Ash, the golden couple; Jacob, the geek turned hottie; and Jojo, the outsider who'll do anything to get on the A-List.

*Note To Self: Work on that project! It's due soon, n00b, and you've barely started!

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

2009-01-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

So, uh, after reading this

"BUY THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS (City of Bones/City of Ashes) SERIES. BUY THEM. BUY THEEEEEEEEM.

They are AMAAAAAZING."

I kind of had no choice but to run around the GTA to find these books. There were surprisingly hard to find. I had to go to this old people's mall where I used to sell Girl Guide cookies (it's a real crappy mall in the middle of nowhereland) and found it in the tiniest bookstore ever.

Anyways.

Review time.

Total: Somewhere around Four Stars.

{Summary from Back Cover}

Their hidden world is about to be revealed...

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 tatoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

(Note: That summary has been nicely sliced and diced by me. It's painful long. Walk over to your local bookstore and read the rest if you want to. Or take a bus. Or walk. Or carpool. Save the environment, people.)

Behind The Grade:

I was expecting this to be bad. Really, painfully, terribly, cringe-inducingly bad. On Amazon, most of the reviews of this book ripped it apart. I mean, I don't give out glowing reviews easily, but I know there's a line between reviewing a book and hating on it.

All the reviews noted that Clare got her start on fanfiction sites and that her work took from her experience there and yadda, yadda, yadda. I was staring, bleary-eyed, at my laptop screen going, "Why do I care?" I don't. I don't care where an author got their start. Really. I don't. All I care about is, with all their experience, what kind of lovely, terrifying, horrifying, beautiful story they managed to come up with.

So, I'll start the review saying that you should absolutely disregard all the negative reviews for this book (hell, even disregard the one I'm writing right now) and go read the excerpt on her official site and see what you think.

Continuing on.

Clary is verging on Mary Sue territory. For those of you who don't know, a Mary Sue (or in the case of a guy coughEDWARDCULLENcough - Gary Stu) is a character who is flawless, perfect, always beautiful, talent, and gets her way. Clary is kind of like this. She has guys falling for her, is modest about her looks, etc, etc, etc. So, yeah, that bugged me terribly.

The good points? The description, all the little details about fairies and werewolves and whatnot, was lovely. Spot-on. Sometimes it went off on a tangent, but it was great to peek into this magical world surrounding our own. Urban fantasy is just great in this way. It all seems so real, yet so... (uh, stupid word use here, I know) unreal.

On the cover, in fairly large font, Holly Black blurbs this as being "sexy." It wasn't sexy. When my mom read the cover quote, she was like, "'Sexy'? Are you sure you should be reading this?" And I was like, "There's no sex! Two hundred-plus pages and not even a kiss. It's as dry as Harry Potter." (The kisses did come. Eventually. There were two.)

So, it wasn't sexy. But it was funny (often times, I really did laugh out loud) and dark at times, too, as Miss Black said.

I quite liked it. Up until the very end.

I loathed the end. Why was the romance between Clary and gorgeous, cocky, (Inner Fangirl squeals: 'And wonderful!') demon-hunter, Jace, murdered so brutally? Why? I pray to the gods of urban fantasy this is cleared up in the next book. *fingers crossed* If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll drop a (probably spoiler-free) major geek reference for you:

Their romantic possibilities were ruined in the most Star Wars-ian of ways.

If you're interested in Scott Westerfeld, Stephenie Meyer, Libba Bray or Holly Black's stuff, you'll definitely be salivating over The Mortal Instruments series.

Until next time...

Review: Willow by Julia Hoban (ARC)

2008-12-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

Total: All Five Stars (!!!)

{From Back Cover}

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, Willow Randall's parents drank too much wine at dinner and asked her to drive them home. But they never made it - Willow lost control of the car, and both her parents were killed.

Now seventeen, Willow has left behind her old home, friends, and school - numbing the grim reality of her new life by secretly cutting herself. But everything changes when one of Willow's new classmates, a boy as sensitive and thoughtful as she is, discovers Willow's secret and refuses to let her destroy herself.

Behind The Grade:
I'm not one of those bubbly, bright people who likes to start reviews off with phrases like "I was hooked from the first line," and yet, when faced with Julia Hoban's to-be-released YA debut, this is the only thing that comes to mind.

It was mind-blowing.

While, sure, Willow could technically be defined as a cutter, she's so much more than that. Even though the book is told in third person, the spotlight never strays from our unlucky heroine, Willow. Somehow, Hoban manages to give clear insight into Willow's thoughts and everything she thinks - about herself, her parents' death, those around her - is so well backed-up, I found myself nodding along to her justifications. So: characterization? Spot-on.

Second: plot movement.

This is a love story of the top tier. Willow's relationship with Guy is fresh and interesting - never do they stray into boring couple's territory. Partly because Willow isn't looking for anything romantic - in that sense, she's great for girls to look up to. Today, teenagers are surrounded by books and movies telling them they should fall into a fast, dizzying, love-at-fist-sight love, but Willow takes it slow and, in this, acts like a normal girl would.

Rather than be bored by the lack of car crashes or magic spells, it's so easy to get lost in Willow's world, that I found myself trying to go slowly and savour her every thought. For someone who's typically a speed-reader, this was obviously a great thing for me.

Third: wrap-up. The ending was perfect. I wish I could share the ending line, or even the last chapter, because it was so amazing, but I wouldn't want to spoil you.

Willow will be availible in hardcover on April 2nd. You better be getting it!

Review: The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

2008-12-28T11:04:00.000-08:00

This post's subtitle:

Why I Can't Review MG Books Anymore! -tear-

Total: Two stars

{Summary From Back Cover}

The book club is about to get a makeover...

Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma's already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month.

But what begins as a mom-inspired ritual reading of Little Women, soon helps four unlikely friends navigate the drama of middle school. From stolen journals to secret crushes to a fashion-fiasco first dance, the girls are up to their Wellie boots in drama. They can't help but wonder: What would Jo March do?

Behind The Grade:

So, this was the hardest book for me to grade in a long time. I can pinpoint it down to one reason: I'm older than the main characters and I can't seem to relate to them.

This would definitely have been one of my favourite books when I was at their age: in the sixth grade. It's impossible for middle grade readers not to relate to one of the four girls that make up the daughters' end of the book club (as well as pushing out of their stereoytpes): popular Megan, nerdy Emma, tomboyish Cassidy and down-to-earth Jess.

Except...I'm not their age anymore. As someone who eagerly kissed the sixth grade goodbye quite a while ago, I know how ridiculous and wrong some of the aspects of this novel are. I know that middle school in America starts in the sixth grade (in Canada, you start in seventh), so it's realistic that the girls would have their first school dance then, but...a formal? With frilly dresses and slow songs and photo ops? Not how my first dance went, I'll tell you that much.

Also, the girls have quite enviable vocabularies. Even the girls like Megan, Jess and Cassidy, who are portrayed as less academic, use words more likely found in Little Women than out of a sixth-grader's mouth. I could imagine Emma, the studious, dorky one, using dictionary-length words, but the others girls...? Not so much. Also on the (Un)Realism Scale, this book is about as foul-mouthed as a television evangelist. That is to say, not at all. I don't know about you all, but sixth grade was about the time when everyone started discovering the joy of cursing.

I understand this is a children's book, but couldn't Frederick have thrown a bone and at least had, say, Cassidy or one of the boys mutter 'crap' or something?

Furthermore, I loathed the changing-POVs with a passion. This is something I hate in books. If a book is going to be first person, can't it be from just one character's perspective so you can grow attached to them? I didn't like any of the four girls here.

To be clear, I'm not saying this is a bad book - it's not. It's just not very realistic and not enjoyable for someone older than the main characters. Give this as a present for your younger sister or niece - but take a pass on reading it yourself.

A Very Booktastic Christmas

2008-12-28T07:42:00.001-08:00

So, I only have about...oh, I don't know... three hundred dollars worth of gift cards for Chapters (a big chain of bookstores in Canada, like Borders or B&N) to spend on books, so I'm really trying to narrow down my hundred-plus list of Books To Buy.

One that isn't technically on the list, but that I keep hearing about...

Cassandra Clare's 'City of Bones' series. It's also on sale at Chapters, which is never bad... Anyone read it? Is it the best thing that's happened in your young life? A watse of 12-point font?

Answer in comments!

One of the driving forces in my wanting to read this, is this awesome fan-made trailer I found while fooling around on YouTube. Thoughts?

Feel free to leave more info about the series in the comments, as I'm too lazy to Amazon it, and the one description I found doesn't give too much away. Is it first person/third? Does the redhead hook up with the blond? Details, please!

Hope your holidays were just as booktastic as mine! Many, many reviews await us!

Waiting on, er, Tuesday (Take Two) + A Book Trailer

2008-12-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

For my second WoW post, I picked Simone Elkeles' "Perfect Chemistry." And only because the trailer, done like a rap music video, was too cute for words! How can you not love a video that rhymes "hottie" with "potty"?

Since the trailer is hosted by Simone's own website, I can't (figure out how to) embed it here, so I'll just give you the link. You can watch the "Uncut Version," (which isn't all that bad) or the "G-rated version," and there's also a "Making Of" featurette.

I won't be posting for a couple days, which is the reason for this early Waiting on Wednesday post, but I'll leave you with the description for the book. Happy holidays everyone!

'A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.'

Review: Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott

2008-12-21T05:19:00.000-08:00

Total: Three stars

{From back cover}

First boy. First love. First time.*

Ella: Peter was watching me all night - I could feel it. I wish he'd make a move already. Too bad he's my sister's boyfriend.

Beth: Suddenly George is looking really good in his swim trunks. I don't know what I'm thinking - he's my best friend. Do I want more?

Jamie: Last summer, Ethan and I fell for each other - big-time. My feelings for him haven't changed. But why is he pushing me away?

It's summer. It's hot. It's time to hook up.

Behind the Grade:

As the summary would imply, this book is chock full of moral ambiguity and bad decision-making. That being said, it was another cute, fast, and light read - the perfect pick-me-up in the dead of a Canadian winter.

Or an American winter or whatever.

A lot of the problems were easy to relate to - the whole 'summer love or true love' thing, however, got on my nerves. Frankly, I don't see the whole big problem with having a "summer boy" (someone you only date/hook-up/whatever with for just the summer months and subsequently leave when it's time to go back home). Do you?

I mean, these girls are sixteen, seventeen. I'm not saying they should be sexing up any random 'hottie' they meet on the beach, but come on? Who really finds true love as a teenager? And even if you do/did, what are the chances you'll still be together in five, ten, fifteen years? There's nothing wrong with having fun.

Besides that long, drawn-out complaint:

- it was pretty good
- the characters had distinct personalities, but Beth was often ignored and could've been developed further
- I can't help but loathe self-loathing Jamie
- pretty good writing, like usual, but plot and characterization doesn't merit a four

I ran out and got the sequel, Next Summer, as soon as I finished. Hopefully it's better than this - has anyone read this series? I noticed, from the back, that Jamie seems to be gone... (YAY!)

* {SPOILER ALERT} Whose first time is it? Jamie's, from last summer? Ella's, avec Peter, although she does state she had sex prior, could this be some crazy metaphorical virginity? (Like, she lost self-respect or something?) I don't think it's Beth's, HELP!?

Review: The Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz

2008-12-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

Total: Two point five

{My own craptastic summary}

Three girls. Ten thousand dollars. One summer.

Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui - teenage girls who were selected to be 'au pairs' (in a nutshell, summer nannies. Usually accented, hot, and imported from small European countries) for the four wild, privileged, and out-of-control Perry children.

Behind the Grade:

Another 'eh' book. Nothing outstanding, besides Melissa's writing. I love her. Slap her name on anything and I'll buy it - no need to put blurbs, an image, or even a summary. She's great and her blog is pretty much my life.

It's quite flirty and fun. Light. Although some tough issues of class and society are touched upon, there's enough name-dropping to bring everything back down to a superficial level.

There are a couple life lessons included in here and all the beachy fun certainly warmed up my winter night.

The book is a couple years old now so some of the references are dated, just like the Gossip Girl books. I'd recommend picking up Blue Bloods, also by Melissa, instead, or even The Ashleys (also-also by her) for the younger set. Blue Bloods incorporates fantasy elements into the story and the fit between the vampire lore and masked balls is seamless.

2009 Teen Choice Book Awards

2008-12-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

Just popping by to inform you guys of CBC's (Children's Book Council) Teen Choice Book Awards that are currently going on at Teenreads.com.

Between now and January 31 (the day after my birthday!) you can head on over there and vote for five of your favourite titles from a list that includes many of this year's best in YA books - from James Lecesne's 'Absolute Brightness' to Rachel Cohn's 'You Know Where To Find Me.'

I've already submitted my picks - have you?

Teaser Tuesday

2008-12-16T13:58:00.001-08:00

Whee! I remembered!

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

Because I'm a ruler breaker, I had to pick three! Sorry, it wouldn't make any sense with only two lines!

"The party was over. Chauncey Raven and her thirty-person entourage were long gone. The only people left at the club were desperate single people who were still hoping to go home lucky, hard-core alcoholics, and a stray cocktail waitress or two."

- Taken from page 144 of 'The Au Pairs' by Melissa de la Cruz.

[For more information, check out Should Be Reading.]

Review: Chloe Doe by Suzanne Phillips

2008-12-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

Total: Uh... *stumped* Two-ish.

{From the back cover}

The place they send seventeen-year-old Chloe Doe is better than where she was. Better than the streets, or so she's told. The Madeline Parker Institute for Girls is the place that can change her-that is, if she can let go of the past that has nearly destroyed her.

Inspiring in her ability to overcome, Chloe Doe is poised to show the power of perseverance and, above all, hope.

Behind the Grade:

As noted above, I'm positively stumped by this book. Here's why:

For one, I was absolutely unprepared for the plot (or lack thereof) that fell into my lap. I couldn't find many good descriptions online, but I thought it sounded pretty interesting and I'm a suck34 for sympathize-with-me-dear-reader? stories.

I actually thought this book would be about Chloe, an underage prostitute, going to some schmancy fancy private school and living with a rich foster family she hated, etc. (I was thinking more along the lines of Sarah Dessen's Lock & Key)

Instead, Chloe gets picked up by an undercover cop and is sent to some glorified juvie hall.

Well, then.

Some background characters are well expanded-upon, which I thought was good. You get to know Chloe's roommate at Madeline Parker pretty well and through flashbacks you can't help but relate Chloe's older sister, Camille, to your siblings, if you have any.

That being said, eh. I was waiting for the chapter/page/line when I would go, "Wow. That was so 'moving.'' (As blurbed by KLIATT on the back cover) I never did. It was just kind of boring. There was no real plot. It's not very uplifting, though it tries to be at times, but Chloe's first-person is so blah and boring and deadpan, I wasn't even sad.

Wouldn't recommend this, though the writing is a saving grace.

Apocalypse Now

2008-12-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

Edward. Cullen. Body. Shimmer.

Gee, thanks, Khy, for scarring me for life.

Review: Priviledged by Zoey Dean

2008-12-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

Total: Two (and a half) stars

Privileged, formerly titled "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls," but got a tuning-up when the CW picked up the pilot which tells the same story. You following? (In short, it's being targeted as a Palm Beach-set new version of uber-hit Gossip Girl.)

What story is that?

Megan Smith, fresh out of Yale and working at a tabloid rag, is living life at the bottom. Her boyfriend, James' parents loathe her lower-middle-class ways, her sister, Lily is the "toast" of the off-Broadway theatre, and her job stinks. The latter is quickly solved when Megan gets a cool firing from her icy boss.

Of course, her send-off is filled with bizarre compliments - and a new job. Megan will be tutoring the fabulous Baker twins, Sage and Rose. Their article in last month's Vanity Fair was juicy and scandalous - but not exactly signifying the makings of the next freshman class at Duke. You following? The Baker twins will be denied their ample trust fund if they don't get accepted to Duke, where they're legacies.

Enter Megan.

Behind the Grade:

Meh.

Even the back of the book coolly dismisses it as a beach read. I guess that was Ms. Dean was going for? It was okay. The nasty jokes get boring after a while. As predicted, the plot follows a pre-set standard of trashy, adult romance.

Copious abuse of the f-word doesn't match the happy, shiny cover. I was quite confused. It was in the YA section of my bookstore, but Megan attempts to frost her nipples as a "birthday treat" for her boyfriend. I'm no prude, but, there are unsuspecting, Stephenie Meyer-worshipping, plucky little girls walking through those aisles. Could this have not been placed with the other Adult lit?

Actually, I'm not feeling generous today:

It was pretty crappy.

I Love Your Blog, Takes Two & Three (& Four)

2008-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the lovely nominations! They mean so much to me!

Molly of Random 101 and Bookworm of Bookworm Readers have nominated me for this award!

Check out their blogs!

Thanks guys!

EDIT: I've also been nominated by Vanessa @ What Vanessa Reads!

Review: The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

2008-12-07T07:51:00.001-08:00

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez by Alan Lawrence Sitomer

Total: Four stars

Summary from Amazon:

Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States, but her parents are Mexican immigrants who came to California before she was born.

Her father has three Social Security numbers, her mother is pregnant (again), and neither of them speaks English. Sonia's mother spends most of her time in bed, watching soap operas, and letting Sonia clean up after her brothers. Sonia's father works dutifully to support his family, but he knows that his daughter's dreams are bigger than making tamales for family get-togethers.

When Sonia attempts to put school work before her familia, her mother decides that it's time for Sonia to visit her grandmother in Mexico to learn "the ways of the old world." While in Mexico, Sonia spends time with her wise grandmother and her cousin Maria who teach her that while familia is important, the most important thing is to follow your heart.

Sonia returns to the States determined to succeed in school, but the birth of her new twin siblings, inappropriate advances from her drunk uncle ("Drunkle"), and a forbidden relationship with an El Salvadorian boy push school to the back burner. If only Sonia can find the time to cook dinner, secretly meet with her boyfriend, avoid her Drunkle, AND finish her homework, she just might be able to graduate from high school...

Review:

Wow, that book was good. It's probably the most thought-provoking, intelligent book I've read in a long while. For one, even though I can't directly identify with any of Sonia's problems, the way she deals with them are so realistic, it felt like I was reading one of those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure stories.

Also, Sonia is a great character for teens to look up to. She works hard for what she wants, but she knows when to put others before herself. She follows her heart and it leads her well.

I'll admit: it felt like the ending was too perfect for a book full of hardships, but it never felt forced and I was rooting for Sonia all the way. Sometimes Sonia's bitter humour gets tedious, but it contrasts well with her stark situation.

My only wish is that the plot flowed differently. It felt like it took a long time for things to get moving in the beginning and Sonia's trip seems to be over before it's begun - which wouldn't be a bad thing, necessarily, but it seems to be a big part of the summary so I expected it to be longer.

I'd definitely recommend this - to you and your younger sister. Even if the content is kind of gritty, most twelve-year-olds know about sex, drugs, and violence from the name-dropping pages of Gossip Girl anyway, so why not do it with better writing and actual plot?

Waiting on Wednesday: Take One

2008-12-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to do this feature, but I can never remember! So, anyways, I've finally remembered something (I also posted at YABC; check it out!) and that something was WoW. For those of you who don't know, WoW is a weekly thing where you name one book you're really looking forward too.

For this week, I chose Julia Hoban's 'Willow.' I've seen it on a couple people's blogs and it looks really great. Also, Julia is one of the nicest people I've gotten to know through the book-blogosphere.

Summary from Amazon:

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy —one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.

Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.

What YA novel are you looking forward to this week?

Stay A Breaking Dawn Virgin

2008-12-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

(And say no to random imprinting and "vamp"-y weddings.)
I'm sure you're all aware of the Twilight fanfare of late. Whether you've read the books, watched the movie, done both or neither, you're probably painfully aware of a little emoteen called Isabella "plzcallmebellakaythnxbai" Swan and a rainy, suitably emo town called Forks, Washington, where vampires exist, werewolves are hot (literally and figuratively) and a girl named Angela Weber may or may not be a witch.

The Twilight saga (four books in total: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, in order) has spawned more merchandise than anyone can count, including apparel, companion novels, and even (the Apocalypse is totally coming - prepare yourself) Edward Cullen action figures. I've seen the movie twice so far and have plans to see it two more times at least.

Why, you ask? And the answer isn't simple in the least. No, it's not because I love the movie to death, the actors, the director (Catherine Hardwick for the record - Thirteen was okay, but I'll never watch Lords of Dogtown of my own accord) and, Lord knows, not the screenplay.

It's because of the guys.

Oh, yes.

I went there.

I'll start with Edward. Oh, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. You drive so many girls crazy. Most of them are a good ten years younger than you. Or, of course, a good twenty years older than you. Except you're really a hundred and eighteen years old, so... Maybe you're the cougar? Maybe you're the one robbing the cradle, Eddie? He's handsome, glorious, sparkling, and the like. But no need to remind you of that. Stephenie's already done that on every page of her wordy, 500-plus-page love children.

Of my personal trifecta of Twilight loves, Edward comes in at a respectable third. I've got to hand it to Mrs. Meyer - she's made stalking the ultimate sign of love and made teenage girls all across the globe wish their boyfriends would suck their blood (or at the very least: watch them while they sleep; is that really too much to ask for?). And yet - I don't honestly like Edward. And you have to like a character before you can fictionally love them, right? He's every romance cliche rolled into one. He's too perfect. And his relationship with Bella is more the stuff of fantasy than any of the vampire lore.

Now, onto the underdog, Jacob Black. Poor guy/werewolf/ugh. Never really had a chance. Just a secondary character that got whipped into the summary for Book Two because ooh! Edward got a flaw (except he ripped said flaw from an overachiever's college app.: too loving)!

I adore Jacob. He's snarky, he's gorgeous, he's hot (literally - Jake's a werewolf and his skin/fur/whatever is burning up) and he is full of awesome quotes of awesomeness. Namely, "I was the natural path your [Bella's] life would've taken." [See also: ECLIPSE TENT SCENE. Sexual frustration, much?] Too true. Frankly, I think Jake's too good for her. Except my little shippy heart broke into a bazillion tiny pieces when I read the horrible parodical thing that is "Breaking Dawn." Perhaps you've heard of it?

(The spoilers I was talkin' bout? Yeah, RIGHT NOW.)

(FOR SERIOUS.)

(SKIP THE ITALICS SECTION IF YOU'RE A BD VIRGIN!)

Jacob imprints on Belldward's (yeah; I just made up that couple's name; you likey?; okay, the semi-colon abuse ends...here;) vampire-human hybrid baby called Renesmee Carlie Cullen.

(Dunzo with the spoilers.)

So. If I'm not Team Edward or (really) Team Jacob, then which 'TwiTeam' AM I on...?

Dramatic build-up.

Dun-dun-dun.

Team Mike Newton.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

2008-11-23T05:31:00.000-08:00

Total: Three stars (One of the best)

Okay. I know. Another vampire book. What can I say? I'm addicted. Even though you're probably still half-deaf from the screaming, flailing fangirls at whatever screening of Twilight you went to, you can probably still read, so here's another Vampire Book Review.

(Summary from back of the book)

Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever.

Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses — or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?

I'm going to start this review off a little differently. With a story. That pretty much sums up what I thought about Smith's debut.

"One day, Gabbi, a jovial teen reviewer, was ambling through the hallways. A pretty little book called Tantalize atop her toppling-over piles of notebooks, binders, and a pencil case. She was on her way to her next class of the day.

"'Hey, is that Twilight* you're reading?' asked one of her classmates innocently.

"'No!' She flipped around the cover of the book properly so her peer could see it.

"Said peer narrowed her eyes. 'That looks a lot like Twilight, doesn't it?' she asked a friend, walking beside her. That friend nodded.

"'Well, it's not!' Gabbi exclaimed. She drew her finger along the title.

"'Tantalize," the classmate pronounced. To her friend, she added, 'Even the title is like Twilight.'

"'So, what's it about?' the girl's friend wanted to know. Gabbi passed the book over to her, mumbling something about 'werewolves' and 'vampires' under her breath.

"Both girls snickered over the book. 'It's about vampires! And werewolves!'"

The End.

To clear things up: I thought this book was pretty good, but it was kind of like a more sensual version of Stephenie Meyer's novel. Vampires, werewolves, confusing lore. A beautiful girl who caught caught in it all. One of her main struggles, is, in fact, deciding between the vampires and the werewolves.

There's a little murder mystery thrown in, but the murderer was obvious to me, even from the very start.

Pick it up if you're not sick of Bella, Edward, and Jacob.

*I'm sure you're aware of The Epic Twilight Movie that came out on Friday. During the week before, everyone - particularly the girls who don't read much - were engrossed in the love story of Bella and Edward. I can't count the amount of times I overhead, "When you can live forever, what do you live for?" said in an ominous voice.

The trashy series we love to hate (or hate to love...)

2008-11-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

As much as I pretend to be a YA literature snob, I'll cop to lounging on the couch and stepping into the oh-so-fashionable shoes of some hot-to-trot fictional socialite. It's fun! Reading without thinking, what a concept! I try to avoid reviewing these books simply because they're pretty much un-reviewable. You can't trash them, because the genre is already called 'trashy.' You can't praise them, because generally the writing comes second to pop culture name dropping.

Here are some of my favourite trashy YA lit series! Hope you enjoy!

1. Gossip Girl by: Cecily von Ziegesar (and ghostwriters)

The best of the best. Must have on any 'so trashy it's amazing' list. Cecily's series started the Upper East Side schoolgirl craze, for sure. The scandals and heartbreak of a troupe of sexy, naughty, elusive teens are told through an anonymous online blog.

Main characters: Blair Waldorf, a classy Audrey Hepburn-wannabe, whose only goal in life is to get into Yale University. Her long-time stoner boyfriend, Nate Archibald, whose affections are divided between Blair and her frenemy, Serena van der Woodsen, Mary Sue to the max.

Warnings: Extensive drug use, drinking, smoking-addictions, bulimia, peer pressure, underage sex, strong language. The word 'virginity' or 'sex' is used on every other page, so if you're not into that scene, stay away.

Extra: has now been turned into a CW TV series with quite a cult following. There's also a prequel in the series, It Had To Be You, as well as two spin-offs, The It Girl (more on that next) and Gossip Girl: The Carlyles, about the next generation of slutty socialites. It also pretty much spawned a million imitating book covers with headless/faceless pretty girls.

Trash bags?: 9/10. The only thing stopping thing from being a perfect ten is the pretentious yet poor character of Dan and his powerful prose. (He's the token wannabe writer in the series.)

2. The It Girl (created by Cecily von Ziegesar) by: various ghostwriters

A spin-off of Gossip Girl, this takes place at an exclusive boarding school in upstate New York called Waverly Academy. After getting kicked out of her single-sex private school in the Upper East Side, Jenny Humphrey (Dan's little sister) goes to a boarding school and tries to reinvent herself. It doesn't really work.

Main characters: Jenny Humphrey, sweet and innocent, Jenny often finds herself falling in love and then having her heart broken. Jenny's roommates, Tinsley Carmichael, Callie Vernon, and Brett Messerschmidt.

Warnings: Pretty much the same as Gossip Girl, but less sex. No bulimia either.

Extra: It should be said that I like The It Girl an awful lot more than GG. In the main series, I didn't really like Jenny's character. She had to much hero-worship for Serena, but she comes into her own when she goes off to boarding school.

Trash bags?: 7/10. Not so trashy as GG, but enough name-dropping and lusting over boys to still be worthy of some Heftys.

3. Upper Class by Hobson Brown, Taylor Materne, and Caroline Says

The prose is elegant, the writing exceptional in this series set at a boarding school called Wellington, and yet, I can't bring myself to buy the rest of the books that are out. It's not as trashy as those mentioned above and everything seems so serious that it just takes a little bit away from my guilty pleasure reading. The cover is enough that it gets grouped in with the aforementioned books, but the content does not match.

Main characters: Laine Hunt, your run-of-the-mill, blue-eyed blonde Wellington girl. Her roommate, Nikki Olivetti, the tattooed, dangerous, bad girl, whose obvious, in-your-face wealth doesn't fit in with her old money classmates. Other books center on different characters, who played more minor roles in the first book.

Warnings: drug, sex, strong language

Extra: One of the best things about the Upper Class books is that they are more classic, more timeless than It Girl or Gossip Girl. The name-dropping is less extensive and makes for a novel you could read ten or five years in the future.

Trash bags: 3/10. Would be even less, but it follows the long-ago perfected formula of Le Trashy Novella.

4. The Clique by: Lisi Harrison

A hybrid of MG and YA, Harrison's well-crafted Clique falls apart after the first couple books. The characters are loosely defined stereotypes and key facts (even simple appearances) are forgotten or changed throughout the course of the story. And yet, I'm hooked. The plot is lesser to, well, (not character development, certainly!) superficial problems and length descriptions of outfits.

Main characters: Massie Block, twelve, is the "uncontested leader" of her elite, single-sex day school. She rules the school with an iron fist and faces haters with a witty comeback. Her life was perfect until "LBR" (loser beyond repair) Claire Lyons and her family moved into the Block guesthouse.

Warnings: None, really. All very G-rated. Some kissing and catfights, though.

Extra: Has been made into a straight-to-DVD movie, The Clique, available now. It was executive produced by Tyra Banks, of Top Model infamy. Has also spawned a short-lived spin-off, The Clique Summer Series, that answers the ultimate fanatic's question as to what each member of the aptly-named 'Pretty Committee' spent her summer doing.

Trash bags?: 7/10. Would be less, but for the lack of plot and copious amounts of hair-flipping.

5. Pretty Little Liars by: Sara Shepard

This is what I like to think of as the best of chic(k) lit for young adults. The characters are flawed, yet it's impossible not to root for them. They go through the same problems we do, except they attend top day Pennsylvania day schools and wear Tiffany charm bracelets.

Main characters: Spencer Hastings, the good girl with some bad habits. Hanna Marin, the popular, lusted-after girl, who's finally nailed the boy of her dreams. Aria Montgomery, the artsy girl, back from Iceland only to have the same old problems resurface. Emily Field, the sporty girl, who's starting to realize that her boyfriend isn't the one for her. Maybe if he were a little more...feminine...

Warnings: Lesbianism (although I'm not sure I'm supposed to put that as a warning. Emily's relationships with other girls are as beautiful and heartbreaking as the awe-inducing Edward and Bella relationship), sex, underage girl/adult male teacher, murder, stalking.

Extra: The best of the best. Perfect for mystery- or true crime-lovers who want to venture into more girlie girl reads.

Trash bags: 2/10. Doesn't really deserve any, but there are still shopping sequences and elite private schools.

What did you think? Anything I missed? Favourites from above?

Top 8 by: Katie Finn

2008-11-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

Total: Two and a half stars (Tolerable)

Katie Finn's debut novel, aptly called Top 8, tells the story of Madison MacDonald, who comes back from a family vacation to find her Friendverse profile hacked. Friendverse is basically the unwanted love child of MySpace and Facebook, incorporated elements of each into some weird mis-matched that somehow worked out okay.

Madison is sort of a floater at high school. She has several really close friends (all, of course, in her Top 8 on Friendverse), Ruth, Schuyler and Lisa, but is friends with everyone including the theatre kids, the computer nerd, the 'It' couple, some of the inner circle, and jocks.

Before break, Madison had it all: cute boyfriend, starring role in the school play, tons of friends.

Now? Not so much. Madison's been hacked and the Fake-Madison said some terrible things, she even broke up with Real-Madison's gorgeous boyfriend!

Review:

Well, this was okay. It was in the same vein as At Face Value , but I liked that one quite a bit more. Frankly, Finn's novel was a bit tiresome.

The ending, aka the Whodunnit?, (by that I mean who hacked Madison's profile) was completely obvious from the context clues. The ending was very clean cut. No ties were left loose and it was too unreal. Life isn't like that!

Worse than that, sometimes it just plainly didn't make any sense. I wasn't sure if some lines/paragraphs were supposed to be off-kilter jokes or if they were just...off-kilter. Some heavy editing, maybe even a change to the ending, would've helped.

That being said, Top 8 was filled with other inconsistency. At times Madison is a beautifully flawed characters, whilst in the next chapter she's a too-perfect Mary Sue type. Sometimes, Madison seems like a real, honest to God, high school student. Other times, her school/home life is just nonsensical and non-fitting for a teenager.

I think that Katie Finn should continue writing, because she obviously has some talent, but buying another book from her will be a hard sell for me.

No one mourns the 'Wicked'

2008-11-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

Fans of Sara Shepard and her Pretty Little Liars series, read on!

Want to read the first seven chapters of the as-yet-unrealesed fifth book, Wicked?

Click here.

Remember: Wicked hits stores November 23rd, just in time for the winter holidays!

What has the world come to?

2008-11-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

While I'm sure most (or at least some) of you have heard of the hot mess that is "reality" TV starlet, Lauren Conrad's impending foray into YA literature, I feel I must comment.

There are tons of articles published online, so if you want more details you can just Google it, but this is what I know: L.C., of Laguna Beach and The Hills fame, has signed with HarperCollins for a three-book series called L.A. Candy. Said series will chronicle the mishaps and rise-to-celebrity of a teen girl who moves to L.A. and gets swept up into reality television infamy.

Okay. Time for me to segue into a mini-rant:

I don't hate this L.C. person. I've watched a couple episode of The Hills and managed not to puke my guts out. For one reason and one reason only: It's hilarious! Come on! Her life is outlandish and ridiculous and shallow! It's also highly addictive and fun! She never seems all the serious in interviews on TV or in magazines, which I like. She's cute and young and why not have a show that's more about showcasing L.A. clubs and new outfits than anything substantial?

She doesn't claim to have some fufilling, academic lifestyle, so why pick on her? It's only for entertainment!

That being said, as much as I 'respect' her for doing so well and churning out the L.C. brand, this novel thing is ridiculous. Besides blogging, how often does Lauren write?

It's like spitting in the face of all the YA authors who've tried so hard to get where they are now.

Thoughts?

Will you be reading her series? Why or why not?

And everyone lived happily ever after...

2008-11-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

Time for the highly anticipated results to "Once Upon A Time," where I gave the opening lines of several books. I'd recommend reading that post before this one, just because I explain this a little more in detail.

Anyways!

1. "Somewhere in the distance I heard a cell phone ringing, and I slipped in unnoticed through the side door."
Answer: The Market by J.M. Steele

2. "Right now it's seven o'clock on a Monday morning, and I'm lying on the floor of my bedroom watching the white plastic ceiling fan go around and around and around."
Answer: Leap Day by Wendy Mass

3. "'Can I please go now?' I'm staring at my mom, willing her to stop talking and acknowledge me."
Answer: Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noel

4. "This story is not mine to tell."
Answer: Hacking Harvard by: Robin Wasserman

5. "'Please tell me that's not going to be part of my birthday dinner this evening.'"
Answer: A Great and Terrible Beauty by: Libba Bray

So, did anyone guess them correctly? Would you like me to continue this feature?

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before

2008-11-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

Total: I'm thinking about giving these up. I've heard from quite a few blogs that they think rating systems are shallow. Frankly, I disagree. The OCD in me loves organization and all a numbered rating does is give a clean cut response. What do you think? Lose the "x stars"?

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before by: David Yoo

Say what you want about this book, and I've read several scathing reviews, but I've definitely never heard this one before. It starts off as a fluffy, geek-boy-meets-popular-girl and subsequently, they fall in love story. Albert meets gorgeous Mia whilst working at the Bern Inn over the summer. Of course, the story doesn't end there. When Albert goes back to school in September, he struggles with the identity he's cemented and the identity Mia has.

Oh, and there's the little issue of Mia's ex-boyfriend developing cancer.

Throughout all this, Yoo's quirky voice remains true to the outsider teenager. Occasionally, the nineties references got a little tiresome, it almost felt like it was targeted to an adult audience but the ratable high school scenarios brought it back down to Earth.

Besides that, I found little faults in Stop Me.

It was interesting to hear about Albert's unique way of dealing with Mia's ex-boyfriend's illness. Rather than become comforting or distant or start abusing drugs, Albert remains exactly the same. Tongue-in-cheek comments and all.

I'd recommend this to someone who's tired of the typical cancer stories.

Living Dead Girl by: Elizabeth Scott

2008-10-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

Total: ???

I'm sure the above line confused the heck out of all of you, so I'll try and explain myself - and this book - as best as I can.

I read Living Dead Girl so quickly the pages blurred into one. Last night I watched Bones and Criminal Minds (apt shows for the dark subject matter of the book) and read the new book I received in the mail *thanks, Vanessa & Elizabeth!* during commercial breaks. So, all in all, it probably took me a little over half an hour.

Despite the faults (and this book, like any, has its faults), I was immediately overwhelmed by the story of a fifteen-year-old girl named Alice, who lives with her kidnapper-turned-abuser and has pushed her once-normal life into the furthest crevices of her mind. She survives by eating little yogurt cups and watching other people sort out their problems on talk shows and on soap operas.

I started sniffling and whimpering before I'd even reached page twenty. This is a bone-chilling account of sexual - and emotional - abuse and definitely not for the faint of heart. It's depressing, but rewarding. I have a feeling I'll be thinking about Elizabeth Scott's latest venture long after today.

The one major 'fault' as I mentioned earlier, is the ending, plain and simple. Although hope is omnipresent, hovering in the background, for most of the story, the ending was too darn happy for me. I mean, no, I'm no cruel sadist who wanted Alice to die on her hands and knees.

The ending was just...like it had been ripped out of some happy-go-lucky children's story - well, a children's story with guns and special pills and pedophiles. Maybe this is all the nonsensical ramblings of a crime-show-addicted teenager, but,

DOES ANYONE ELSE AGREE AND/OR SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?

Trailer Tuesday*

2008-10-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

I found a really cool cool trailer for you guys. One that coincides with the release of Melissa de la Cruz's 'Revelations' book. Hopefully I'll have a review for that up soon! I know my reviews have been few (very few) and far (quite far) between, but I'll try and get a review for David Yoo's 'Stop Me...' up soon, too.

*This title in no way means I plan to have a trailer up every Tuesday! I'm not that ambitious, I was just trying to give a catchy title!

Once Upon A Time...

2008-10-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

The days when every great book began with "Once upon a time," seem to have come to a close. To me, an opener can make or break a book. I try to go further than the first line and the deciding factor on whether or not to buy a book is if I want to keep reading past the first page before I've even left the bookstore.

Today, I decided to share with you five opening line. These are not favourites or least favourites of mine. I simply plucked novels randomly off my many shelves. For the sake of a little game, I won't post the titles/author names. Have a guess in the comments. If you guys like this, I'll post a follow-up with the answers and another set.

1. "Somewhere in the distance I heard a cell phone ringing, and I slipped in unnoticed through the side door."

2. "Right now it's seven o'clock on a Monday morning, and I'm lying on the floor of my bedroom watching the white plastic ceiling fan go around and around and around."

3. "'Can I please go now?' I'm staring at my mom, willing her to stop talking and acknowledge me."

4. "This story is not mine to tell."

5. "'Please tell me that's not going to be part of my birthday dinner this evening.'"

Which ones do you like or dislike? Do you know what books they belong in?

At Face Value by: Emily Franklin

2008-10-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Total: Three stars.

Cute, light, fun, witty. These are some words I would use to describe At Face Value, which finds Cyrie Bergerac, 17, falling in love with someone she shouldn't.

A modern take on the Cyrano de Bergerac tale, At Face Value reads like a movie marathon of high school-set romantic comedies.

Cyrie, a senior at Weston High, is a near-perfect student: she gets outstanding grades, is a lead reporter for the Weston Word, is best friends with the popular and beautiful Leyla and has a good relationship with her parents. However, her appearance is less than flawless.

Namely, her nose. And it's size.

Although entirely predictable - from Chapter One, even, it's easy to figure out the ending - Franklin's novel is saccharine sweet and a good weekend read. It's not exactly the next modern classic, but the prose is often elegant and the wording is lovely.

Acceptance and inner beauty are two major themes within this book, along with true love and the meaning of friendship. None of these issues are really expanded upon further than expected and the ending ties everything together far two cleanly. Not a must-read, but definitely a should-read.

I'll leave you with a quote from the novel:

It's just I can't help it. Sometimes the words rush out, like water breaking free of a dam.

Bounce by: Natasha Friend

2008-10-18T07:45:00.001-07:00

Total: Four stars

To put things into perspective quickly, I liked Bounce about as much as I liked Perfect.

Natasha Friend's latest novel centers around an almost-thirteen-year-old girl, Evyn. Life as she knows it has been turned upside down. Her eclectic father, whom she calls Birdie, announces he’ll be marrying knockout Eleni at Evyn’s thirteenth birthday dinner. He says this like it’s a good thing. Evyn is shocked by this announcement - who would want to marry her weirdo dad? Only Eleni isn’t your typical second wife. She’s a mother of six.

Like it’s predecessors, Bounce is a slim novel, but in no way is it short on life lessons. Occasionally, Evyn’s personality seemed to flit between mature and immature, which, in theory, should be a negative point. It’s not. This is what middle school is like. One day you’re as high as a kite - the next, you’re...not.

Although Bounce is fairly predictable and the flow of the story is more forced than in Lush or Perfect, it’s still worth a read and definitely something I’d recommend.

Drumroll, please...

2008-10-18T05:09:00.000-07:00

The winner of my inaugural contest for The Celebutantes: On The Avenue by Antonio Pagliarulo is...

Tempestt!!!

Congratulations and thanks you everyone who participated! Hopefully, I'll be doing another contest soonish (maybe next month?), so keep your eyes peeled.

Interrupting your regular scheduled posting to ask...

2008-10-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

At the end of each term/semester/whatever you want to call it, I have to do a book report. It should be on a more intelligent type book, rather than, let's say, Jet Set or Gossip Girl: All I Want Is Everything. Maybe it's a book I've already reviewed, one you have, or simply a book that you love.

PLEASE HELP ME!

Criteria

- should be intelligently written, raises important questions
- if it's a book I haven't reviewed, please don't suggest hardcovers! As much as I would love it, I can't really get Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games right now. *pout*
- about 200-400 pages, if possible
- that's all, comment/e-mail me with your suggestion

Thanks so much!

ONE MORE THING: Criminal Minds is on at eight tonight for Canadians. You watching? Or if you live in the US of A, will you be watching tomorrow?

Jenny Green's Killer Junior Year by: Amy Belason and Jacob Osborn

2008-10-11T15:31:00.001-07:00

Hell hath no fury like a JAP scorned...

Total: Ugh. I can't even rate this it was so heartbreakingly terrible. You want me to? Well, hey, since you asked so nicely. 0.5, maybe?

When I selected this book from Chapters, I had a good feeling. I'd read a couple great five-star reviews for it on Amazon, some other bloggers liked it, it's set in Canada - specifically la belle provence, Quebec. Why not? Also, it was about a teenage girl who becomes a revenge-driven serial killer. The possibilities for an awesometastic review were endless.

I imagined myself slaving away at this very computer, brow glistening with sweat, while typing up an essay-style, four-or-five star review. I would draw comparisons to the teenage generation's morbid fascination with crime and how TV shows like Dexter, CSI, Criminal Minds and the like were bringing murder to the masses and making it commonplace - sometimes even boring.

Then I started reading this book and just about barfed.

For one, all the characters fit nicely into stereotypes. Plot points are easily predicted. It reads like a mis-match of books and shows I've already read or watched.

Two: Jenny's justifications for murder were positively shallow. I never thought someone could make murder seem so vapid.

Number three: It's set in Montreal, a notably bilingual city. Occasionally, Jenny (in her downright annoying "like," "totally," and "killer," voice) complains about all the French. IN MONTREAL EVERYTHING IS WRITTEN IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH. Hello? Second of all, why doesn't anyone else speak French? And why do they speak "French" French? People in Montreal and Quebec City speak Quebecer French!*

Lastly, she says "C'est cool," a lot. It's cool? Really? Wouldn't you just say "Cool"? God, Jenny is annoying.

The only thing that was decent was the ending. Spare yourself the migraine and just skip to the Epilogue.

*Basically just French slang. Not like formal, taught-in-an-American-classroom French.

Lazy Sunday...Happy (earlyish) Thanksgiving, Canucks!

2008-10-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Whilst stuffing your face with turkey and homemade cranberry sauce, why not enjoy this vague yet completely intriguing book trailer?

Can I just say that I would die to get my hands on an ARC of this book? If not, at least I'll get it in time for my birthday.

Perfect by: Natasha Friend

2008-10-11T07:39:00.001-07:00

Total: Four stars.

This was quite good. It wasn't quite as "OHEMGEE! WOW!" as Friend's secon novel, Lush, if only because she seems to stick to a formula.

My biggest gripe with Ms. Natasha is the same as my only gripe with legendary YA author, Sarah Dessen. They pick a formula and stick to it. With Dessen, all her books involve outsider girls falling in love with a unique-often-misunderstood boy. This usually happens during a summer the girl believes will be terrible. With Friend, the books are the same in that they tackle difficult issues (eating disorders, divorce, alcoholism), mothers who ignore problems, and thirteen-year-old girls whose voices are interchangeable.

Seriously. Some pages of Perfect, told in the POV of bulimic Isabelle Lee, could be torn straight out of Lush, told by daughter-of-an-alcoholic, Samantha Gwynn. Their voices are interchangeable, the characters are fairly boring, and not very memorable. I was struggling to recall the names of these girls.

That being said Perfect is still a great read. It's short in length, but not "light," "breezy," or "a beach read," in any way, shape, or form. Readers will be intrigued by Isabelle's story and all the different problems she has. Isabelle is just like any other preteen girl - she's entirely relatable. The humour is wry, subtle, but still present.

Personally, I preferred Lush over Perfect, but they are both well-written, intelligent, raw, and honest.

My Stupidity Equals Your Gain

2008-10-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

I feel seven kinds of stupid. I was getting all hyped up to read the third instalment of The Celebutantes series by Antonio Pagliarulo. It's my not-so-secret-anymore guilty pleasure. Anyways, stupid me - turned out I bought the first book. Problem? I already own it.

Here is where you come in. Please, please, please take this book off my hands. I feel compelled to put it on my bookshelf but it only reminds me of my stupidity (*facepalm*).

Contest rules:

1) Comment to be included.
2) Either give your e-mail or link to a place where I can contact you.
3) You get an extra entry for a blog mention (but you must give me a link to this).
4) You must live in Canada or the US. Sorry international readers! Frankly, I just don't have that kind of money for shippping. :( Wish I did, though.

The contest for The Celebutantes: On The Avenue will be finished Tuesday, so you have the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend to entry. Good luck!

I Love Your Blog

2008-10-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

My first nomination! Flattery gets you everywhere! Thanks to Gabrielle (God, doesn't that sound like I nominated myself?)@ Innovative Teen for the nomination.

I'm supposed to nominate my seven favourite blogs, so, here goes everything...

WAIT! Rules, first.

1. Put the logo *look up!* and rules on your blog.
2. Link the person who nominated you.
3. List your seven favourite blogs.
4. Tell them they've been nominated!

Nominating tiiiiime:

Frenetic Reader because she can review art books without sounding pretentious and has some unique opinions that I can't help but agree with.

Pop Culture Junkie: the perfect mix of television, pretty book covers, and honest reviews.

Hope's Bookshelf, 'cause she picks out-of-the ordinary books and makes me want to read them!

Reviewer X. An ardent John Green fan with a side of snark. What's not to like?

And Another Book Read. Has interviewed some of the best authors around and done it well.

Book Review Maniac - it's nice to have a guy's opinion in a debate full of girls. Also, a guy who likes Twilight...?

ANNNND, LAST BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT LEAST (what's with the capslock abuse?)

MTV Books - it's worth it for Stephanie Kuehnert's political rants alone!

Revelation (Private) by: Kate Brian

2008-10-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

Total: Four stars

(Minor spoilers for earlier books in the series)

(Summary from Amazon)

The biggest mystery of all...and Reed is dying to learn the truth.

Two months after Cheyenne Martin was found dead in her Billings House dorm room, exclusive Easton Academy is rocked by another stunning revelation: Cheyenne was murdered. No one knows who the killer is, but everyone agrees that Reed Brennan, who took over Cheyenne's role as Billings's president, gained the most from her death. Once the most powerful girl on campus, Reed is now powerless to stop her classmates' accusing whispers. Rumours begin to swirl that she killed Cheyenne.

And just like that, Reed is kicked out of Billings.

She's lost everything -- her friends, her home, her boyfriend -- and Reed knows the only way to get it all back is to figure out who really murdered Cheyenne. And she has to do it fast because the killer is still out there. The more Reed investigates, the more she uncovers. And as any Billings Girl knows...secrets can be deadly

After eight books in the bestselling Private series, Kate Brian is still going strong. Reed is still as relatable as she was in the first book and it's interesting to see her back on the outside looking in again.

I should note that, in no way, shape or form, does Revelation work as a stand-alone. It's simply too difficult to keep track of Reed's many problems if you haven't, at least, read the last couple books.

Many of Billings' secrets and revealed and the ending is one you won't want to miss. Even if it gets tedious at times, the final chapters are worth holding out for.

Haters by: Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

2008-10-05T07:41:00.001-07:00

Total: Three stars.

Taken from the back of the book:

"From the first day at her new Southern California high school, Pasquala Rumalda Quintana de Archuleta ("Paski") learns that popular students may be diverse in ethnicity but are alike in their cruelty. While Paski tries to concentrate on mountain biking and not thinking too much about ultra-hot Chris Cabrera, she is troubled by the beautiful and wicked Jessic Nguyen. Jessica is the queen of the haters and she's got her eye on Paski."

That was what you call a terrible summary. I can see why it was written, though. Trying to pull in readers of the Gossip Girl and A-List series, looking for a light read. Of course, Summary Writer Person completely forgot to mention that Paski is perfect at everything she does and has some bizarre psychic abilities.

After moving from the seemingly detached from modern society New Mexican town of Taos, Paski's crazy cartoonist father hits the road for sunny SoCal, where Paski is enrolled in a snooty girl-filled public school. Her "visions," help guide her, as does a spooky amulet given by her grandmother, and often lead her into trouble.

Haters is like a misunderstood, troubled middle schooler. The kind who hears over and over again that it "has so much potential," if only it "applied" itself more. A couple flaws added to Paski's character would be nice. Also, I wouldn't mind a little more about the "visions," stuff or someone who didn't immediately accept this and say "Oh, wow, cool!" or something of that effect. One more thing: sometimes problems take longer than a random out-of-the-blue phone call of which this is the general topic:

"Oh, gosh, Paski. I have been so mean, haven't I? I'm sorry. Just now I realized how horrible I was treating you and it's only because I'm so jealous because you're beautiful, smart, talented and so kind! Please forgive me and then meet me at the mall to shop?"

"Okay. Apology accepted."

It doesn't tread any new territory, but rather resorts to stereotypes and predictable plot turns. However, Paski's often-judgement but occasionally raw and real voice is worth a read if you're really bored.

Filed Under: No Comment (Well, a few actually)

2008-10-03T13:55:00.001-07:00

Alisa Valdes-Rodriquez's YA novel, Haters, is "in development for a series at The N"??

Should be interesting, to say the least.

Haters is taking me a really long time to read. A REALLY REALLY REALLY long time. It's about as long as Twilight (the first book) but...

No! Must save comments for review!

In the meantime, check out Alisa and her oh-so-opinionated blog.

She talks mostly about Sarah Palin. And by "mostly," I mean all the fricking time. Seriously. If there weren't little images of her books on the sidebar, I would think she was simply a political blogger.

Also, she thinks Twilight is racist... Hmmmm...

This is where I stutter and ramble aimlessly like Palin at a Couric interview!

Ummm... The Cleverly Untitled Post

2008-09-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today I

-bought way too many books
-was ogled by a somewhat famous sci-fi author
-stepped on a discarded Dairy Queen cup
-helped many, many, many old people (they seem to swarm around me...no comment.)
-met a child Holocaust survivor - very nice man
-got a tattoo- nah. Just wanted to check that you were still listening!

All of these things and more happened at Toronto's annual Word on the Street festival. In case you don't know what that is, it's an outdoor book sale-type thing that usually takes place on a rainy weekend in the T-dot. This year, however, it was thankfully dry...but also Paul Newman-free*. Poor guy. I'll miss those blue eyes!

A whole bunch of different publishers/authors set up circus-like tents and hawk their wares. Sometimes you get free buttons. Occasionally you get stopped on the sidewalk by dashing men in cell phone costumes. Usually you pay ridiculous heaps of cash for ill-fitting sweatshirts with pointless logos/catchphrases and Reader's Digest subscriptions.

Sigh. Maybe I helped the economy's state of terror today.

Maybe I just wasted all my money.

Oy vey.

Here's The Complete(ly long) List Of Books Purchased Today

1. Would You by: Marthe Jocelyn
2. Free Ride: John McCain and The Media by: David Brock & Paul Waldman
3. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by: Mitch Albom
4. The Girls by: Lori Lansens
5. The Celebutantes: To the Penthouse by: Antonio Pagliarulo
6. Jenny Green's Killer Junior Year by: Amy Belason & Jacob Osborn
7. Perfect by: Natasha Friend
8. Getting the Girl: A Guide to Private Investigation, Surveillance and Cookery by: Susan Juby
9. Night Runner by: Max Turner

*Not that Paul Newman is Canadian or anything. 'Cause he's not. I just wanted to fit that in somewhere. :( RIP

Never Play Leapfrog With A Unicorn by: F.W. Bosworth

2008-09-26T18:17:00.000-07:00

Total: Three (and 1/2) stars.

Special thanks to Frank for this book!

"When I was born, my dad was short and black." This is how the book begins. If I'm not at least 'intrigued' when I finish the first page of a book, it's usually a bad review for me. With NPLwaU (God, that's a mouthful) I was split right down the centre. Although I must say, the beginning definitely gave me a "chuckle" or two. ;)

Bosworth spins an elaborate tale of the kind of childhood the Cleavers wouldn't understand. While 'Unicorn' could be read as a straight up-and-down memoir, I would err on the side of humour based-on-a-true-story fiction.

Some jokes are laugh-out-loud funny while others will take readers a few moments to set in. I was slightly confused at first - what was the comedy, and what the drama?

Although not YA in particular, kids (like me) who grew up in a conventional if not idyllic home with benefit from learning about the sunnier - or, um, dirt-covered - side of life.

Told in with tongue firmly in cheek humour, F.W. Bosworth's book (originally published on a fiction website) segues into a new century of the literature experience.

Lush by: Natasha Friend

2008-09-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

After the bomb that was Who's Your Daddy?, all the reviews I'm writing seem to be super-peppy, cheerleader-esque ones. I guess this is karma. Just so you know - be prepared for some gushing.

Total: Five Stars.

A long time ago, when I started this blog, I told myself that when I found a book worthy of "All Five Stars," it would be my final review. Obviously, this isn't the case. I can't stop now - I'm addicted! I sat staring at an open Word document for a long while, trying to give reason to a "Four," or even "Four and a half," star review. Needless to say, I found none.

Lush is everything you could ask for a middle grade and something more. Even more so than all the lovely details of how a thirteen-year-old whose world is falling apart would think or act, there are many questions that go unanswered and loose strings are left while others are tied up.

The heroine of Friend's second novel is Samantha, "Just Sam." She's an eighth grader with a troupe of loyal - if unpopular - friends: Vanessa, Angie, and Tracey. I liked how all the characters had little quirks that made them memorable and turned them into distinct characters of their own right - regardless of their relationship with Sam.

Sam's father is an alcoholic. He has been for some time. Much of the book is spent ignoring problems (like any real family would do) and trying to behave normally. Sam's mother is also addicted - to Yoga. This is her way of dealing with problems, even if Sam hates the "sport."

To try and find her own way to deal with her familial problems, Sam writes a letter to a girl she doesn't know - someone she has only seen from afar. But is the mysterious letter writer really who she claims to be...?

Short answer: no. It's fairly obvious Sam isn't writing to who she thinks she is, but my guess was totally wrong. There are several shockers in the book - none of which I was expecting.

This actually made me tear up a little. The last book I cried while reading was Deathly Hallows - and not because it was sad! The tender moments between Sam and her mom, Sam and her brother, Luke, and even Sam and her dad are enough to melt the ice surrounding my heart!

I can't wait to get Friend's other novels, Perfect and Bounce.

TTYL by: Lauren Myracle

2008-09-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

I've tried to start this review about half a dozen times. I wish there was a more eloquent way to put it, but I can't find one. So I'm just going to say... I loved this book!

Total: Four stars.

It was truly a fun, fast, and (looking for another 'f' word here, but coming up empty-handed...) real. Told all in IM conversations is the story of three teenagers, Zoe, Maddie, and Angela. It starts on their first day of school and goes from there, throughout the many fights, parties, road trips and dramas of fifteen-year-olds.

Sure, it sometimes gets tiring to read, but it never sways off the road of reality. All three girls have distant voices. Maddie's the firecracker. Zoe's the perfect one. Angela's the drama queen. Even though - from my above descriptions - they seem to fall into stereotypes, it's the relationships between the three girls that are constantly evolving (and devolving) that shape them into honest-to-God people. I felt like I could've been reading saved IM convos with some of my friends.

A recurring theme in the book is drawing the line between funny and hurtful. Especially in regards to Maddie. She has trouble keeping friends outside of Zoe and Angela, partly due to not knowing what makes a comment okay. This causes lots of trouble for her in the latter half of the book.

I would recommend this to someone with a short attention span. The short 'chapters' are perfect for reading at the bus stop or between classes.

Who's Your Daddy? by: Lynda Sandoval

2008-09-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

Okay. I know I usually start off with how many stars I'd give a book, but I'll save that for the very end.

There isn't much good to say about Sandoval's debut novel, but I'll try not to make this review incredibly catty. Who's Your Daddy? is actually the unofficial name of a clique of three high school-age girls: Lila, Meryl and Caressa. All of them have "unique" fathers. Meryl's is the vice-principal. Lila's is a police officer. Caressa's is an old jazz star.

The concept of the book is that none of them can find a date. Well. I'm immediately put off by this premise. High school is not all about boys. YA books generally press the "boyfriend and best friend is all you need" dynamic, but WYD pushes it to the extreme. For girls who are continually described as bright, happy and pretty, they all seem so depressed that they've been dubbed untouchable.

Moreover, this novel is told in alternating first-person POVs of the three girls. They are all exactly alike. It's impossible to tell apart, except for the helpful headers (i.e. Chapter Four, Meryl) at the beginning of each new chapter.

I, personally, thought the voices were completely unoriginal, contrived and un-teenager-ish. They use phrases like "triple whammy," a lot. Also, Lynda Sandoval has some bizarre obsession with CAPTIALIZING WORDS LIKE THIS. IN EVERY CHAPTER. IN EVERY GIRL’S POV.

One thing I really had a problem with (out of a long, long list) is the way these girls talk over Instant Messaging. There is no distinction between girls. All my friends IM differently. Some use all lowercase letters, some constant text talk. None of them type like this:

“My freakin’ dad told me I couldn’t come to your house on homecoming night, Caressa, that’s why.”

Lovely grammar. Really. Realistic...?

I understand that writing your first novel is no small peanuts. I don’t think I could ever write a novel. It’s a difficult task and I have the utmost respect for people who complete this. However, I think that Who’s Your Daddy? could use a plot vamp-up and some characterization before I’d ever re-read it. For example, Lila’s mother died when she was a little girl. The best part in this entire book comes early on when Lila reminisces about her mom. It was bittersweet and kind of wonderful really. If only the rest of the novel was, as well.

Total: One star.

Keeping The Moon by: Sarah Dessen

2008-09-20T05:23:00.001-07:00

Total: Four and a half stars.

Truly, the only thing keeping this from earning a five-star review is that it is so reminiscent of Dessen’s other works. ‘Girl who doesn’t fit in finds love’ and usually during a balmy summer.

That’s not to say that Keeping The Moon doesn’t deserve to have shrines built for it in the rooms of young adult girls across the world. Because it does.

Fifteen-year-old Nicole “Colie” Sparks can’t seem to get away from the constant torture the popular girls put her through. First it was because she was fat, now it’s because she’s been branded a “Hole In One,” (read: a slut.)

Colie’s mom, fitness guru Kiki, has shipped her off to live with quirky-cool Aunt Mira in Colby, North Carolina for the summer. During that summer, Colie meets a host of eclectic small town people (waitresses Morgan and Isabel, Mira’s teenage prodigy Norman) and discovers herself along the way.

Sometimes predictable, but mostly not, Keeping The Moon stands out in a sea of trashy, meaningless Cliques and It Girls. Although this wasn’t my favourite Sarah Dessen (This Lullaby, for sure), it sure is a contender. Every girl can find themselves in Colie. Whether an art geek or homecoming queen, we’ve all had a struggle with our identity one time or another.

I would definitely recommend this to preteens or girls in their early teens. While the story rings true for older teens/young adults as well, it’s a great story to read during middle school or the first years of high school when teens are typically struggling to be accepted by peers, parents and themselves.

The Forbidden Daughter & The Dowry Bride

2008-09-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of my first author interview with Shobhan Bantwal, I decided to post the trailers of her two books. Hope you like! (I should have our interview posted by tomorrow evening.)

My Inagural Interview: With Shobhan Bantwal

2008-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hey all. For my first interview, I got the chance to ask the lovely author, Shobhan Bantwal, some questions.

Without further ado...

1. When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

When my husband and I became empty nesters a few years ago and later when he accepted a consulting job that kept him out of town on weekdays, I took up creative writing to occupy my lonely evenings. I started writing small social interest articles for a number of Indian-American publications as a hobby. Then I changed gears to short stories, and when I won three awards, I decided to write full-length novels. Therefore my writing career was a “Menopausal Epiphany,” that started at the age of 50 and it has gradually turned into a second career (besides my full-time occupation as a public service employee).

2. Do your novels take directly/indirectly from personal experience?

My stories are entirely fictitious and do not come from personal experience. However, what does come is the cultural detail of small-town India in all its colors, flavors, and textures. Some of the characters’ qualities also come from my personal life. Stern fathers, soft-hearted mothers, idealistic young men who are willing to sacrifice a lot for the women they love, and women who are strong and stubborn on the inside and appear compliant on the outside are based on people I know.

3. What was the road to the publication of The Dowry Bride and The Forbidden Daughter like?

The road to publication is full of pitfalls for most writers, except for a handful of lucky ones who get discovered with minimal effort. I am no exception to the other plodders. Honing my writing to bring it to a level good enough to make it marketable was a lot of hard work. It was also a rough path to finding an agent, and then a publisher. I find that marketing the books is the hardest part of being a published author.

4. What is your favourite part about writing? Your least favourite?

Creating the characters and scenes is the most enjoyable part of writing for me. I can clearly see both in my mind. My least favorite is the plotting. I am not a disciplined writer, so I don’t have an outline when I start on a story, but just a tiny seed of an idea. Therefore my stories wander away in all sorts of directions and I have to pull in the loose ends constantly to prevent myself from getting lost and make sure I stay on track. But at times that, too, can be a pleasant creative experience.

4. Is there a fictional character - past or present, in one of your books or someone else’s - that you strongly relate to?

I am such a hopeless romantic that I relate to a lot of female characters in women’s fiction, especially romance. Without relating to one’s characters it is impossible to create true-to-life characters. To that end, I relate strongly to every one of my protagonists. I put myself in their shoes in every scene, so I feel every one of their emotions.

5. Are you technologically savvy? Do you think technology has altered the literary experience?

Although I use a computer regularly for my writing and my full-time job, my technical skills are on the poor side. But I believe technology has revolutionized the literary experience by making it easy for anyone to write. To add to that, POD publishers have made it simpler for writers to self-publish their books and sell them via Internet. Online booksellers have further changed the way books are marketed. No wonder there has been an explosion of new writers on the literary scene in recent years, and more new ones keep coming each year.

6. Is culture important to your everyday life?
Culture is what makes each one of us unique in so many ways. Although I have lived all my adult life in the U.S., my Indian culture is still very much a part of me. The food I cook and eat, my taste in clothes and entertainment, my accent, my outlook on life -- they all color my personality and my lifestyle.

7. How do you think young people would benefit from reading your books

My books are unique in that there is a social topic that is the central theme in each of the two books that have been published so far. In The Dowry Bride, the issue is India’s notorious and abusive dowry system around which the story is woven. In The Forbidden Daughter, gender-based abortion, which is practiced in some instances in India, is what drives the plot. I feel such hot-button issues can become interesting if they are interwoven with romance, intrigue, humor, and emotion.

Young people can learn a lot about Indian culture and its richness while becoming aware of certain social problems that plague women in that culture. Many of my readers have thanked me for opening their eyes to certain elements of Asian cultures and harsh women’s issues they had never been aware of. In that context I believe my books are eye-openers for readers of any age.

--

Again, thanks so much to Shobhan for graciously answering my questions!

TBR (to be read)

2008-09-13T16:28:00.000-07:00

I feel like the huge, almost-toppling-over stack of hardcovers and paperbacks is a weight on my chest. It really pains me to see all these books, unread, never-been-opened. I feel like I should read faster. Typically, it takes me a day or two to read a book in such a way that I can pay attention to details.

Instead of doing a “Shopping Spree,” feature, I’ve decided to make a comprehensive list of all the books I’ll get around to devouring eventually.

1. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by: James Patterson (For a review of the first novel, go here, and for the second, here.)

2. Lush by: Natasha Friend (I’ve always wanted to read her books, they’ve gotten such great reviews, and when this one went on sale, I eagerly scooped it up.)

3. TTYL by: Lauren Myracle (I, stupidly, thought this book would be easy to find. I’ve read Lauren’s other books; loved her collaboration on How to be Bad. It took me forever to find this, though!)

4. Tenderness by: Robert Cormier

5. Sucks to be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe) by: Kimberly Pauley (Reviewer turned author? How could I not?)

6. Haters by: Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

7. Who’s Your Daddy? by: Lynda Sandoval (This has been on my Want-To-Get list for ages. V. v. v. v. hard to find.)

8. The X-Files: I Want to Believe by: Max Allen Collins (I loved his work for the Criminal Minds novelizations, plus The X-Files is an old obsession of mine. I’m pondering dressing up as Scully for Halloween: Manic Panic red hair, alien baby and all.)

9. Now You See Her by: Jacquelyn Mitchard (She. Is. Amazing. Truly. I heard some negative feedback for this, so I thought I’d pick it up and see for myself.)

10. Boy Heaven by: Laura Kasischke

11. Dead Connection by: Charlie Price

12. Looking For Alaska by: John Green (No explanation needed. Nerdfighters is my oxygen.)

Jet Set by: Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman

2008-09-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Total: Two stars.

Frankly, the only thing that keeps this review decent and expletive-free is the fact that Carrie and Jill have such detailed writing that I feel like I really am standing in front of Van Pelt Academy in Switzerland.

This story is told in the boring, whiny first-person of Lucy Peterson. God, did I ever want to slap some sense into this so-called “brainiac” and “tennis prodigy.” As someone who plays tennis fairly well, this novel was a disgrace to the sport. It only talks about her games and practices shortly, while anyone who’s every picked up a racquet knows tennis is all about hard work. Every time Lucy serves - ace!

Yeah, right.

Furthermore, the authors are swimming in well-treaded territory: poor, but kind girl attends posh academy. Interesting, unique concept there! Not only have many authors done this before (Claire in The Clique, Jenny in Gossip Girl, Reed from Private etcetera, etcetera), but Carrie and Jill’s YA debut, “Bittersweet Sixteen,” is almost exactly the same! I have yet to read “Summer Intern,” but I assume it’s alike.

Despite the stellar writing, nothing can pull this story through. The plot has already been perfected by many an author before. Nothing new about this. The main theme is “revenge,” and it gets tedious keeping track of who’s friends and who’s not.

A predictable but happy ending is just what middle-grade readers are looking for. I wouldn’t dare recommend this to anyone a day over fourteen, because it’s very immature and scandal-free.

Again, Kate Brian’s ‘Private’ makes for a much better choice, as does the Social Climber series.

Maximum Ride: School’s Out - Forever by: James Patterson

2008-09-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

Total: Three and a half stars

Even better than it’s predecessor, The Angel Experiment, School’s Out - Forever dives deeper into the humourous and romantic aspect of life on the run. This instalment of James Patterson’s bestselling fantasy series sees the flock attending private school, meeting and greeting with the President and a fresh set of physiological problems for the flock’s winged leader, Max.

A high point of the book is the constant theme of morality. It takes the current world issues about cloning and commercialization to a whole new extreme level. The flock - a group of teens and kids who are half-birds, half-humans - was created by a group of evil scientists they refer to as whitecoats. As per usual, the flock is on the run - but who are they running from?

I liked this quite a bit more than the first novel. It seems to develop a back story to the romance between (MINOR ANGEL EXPERIMENT SPOILERS) Fang and Max a little bit more. Some other couplings are thrown in the melting pot, too. Readers will love hearing Max’s sarcastic voice back for another narration and will laugh out loud when reading about their mishaps at a private school in Virginia.

This book is written in the same blink-and-you’ll-miss-it style as the last one. The chapters are short. Really short. In fact - although I was aware this was Patterson’s well-developed style via the Alex Cross series for adults - they can sometimes be daunting to read.

All in all, School’s Out does not disappoint and may even pull new readers not yet under bossy Max’s spell - or strong n’ silent hottie Fang’s - into the whirlpool that is Maximum Ride.

All Q, No A by: Lauren Mechling and Laura Moser

2008-09-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Total: Two and a half stars.

Mimi Schulman is navigating the murky territories of Baldwin as a not-super-rich girl. Sounds tough, but it's not really. Her life seems pretty charmed at first blush: she's broken into the inner circle at school, her father is a completely pushover, she writes a column for the school newspaper The Bugle, etc, etc, etc.

The follow up story to Mechling and Moser's "The Rise and Fall of a 10th-Grade Social Climber" was highly disappointing. Several other reviews I'd read for it on Amazon described "All Q, No A: More Tales of a 10th-Grade Social Climber" as being a mystery set within the scandalous walls of prestigious Baldwin School.

I guess those reviews were wrong. Much of the book is confusing. Long paragraphs in Mimi's witty, sarcastic first-person should be enjoyable to read, but are usually only a pain. This book relies heavily on characterization - that part, at least, is good - but the plot (as it often is with sequels) was pointedly absent.

For a large part of the book, Mimi whines about her crush not paying any attention to her. Despite brief mentions in the first book, the cliché "sensitive artist type" was almost never seen. Now, Max Roth, aka Mimi's crush, plays a somewhat larger role, albeit a boring one.

Every so-called plot twist could be expected by any reader well-versed in the "poor girl goes to rich-kid school" genre. The only thing that sets All Q, No A apart is the fact that the supporting characters are full of quirks that keep the book going. If you're looking for an out of the ordinary YA that still qualifies as a beach read, I'd go for Kate Brian's Private series instead.

A Book Trailer To Get You Through The Weekend

2008-09-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

I was just fumbling and stumbling through book blogs and author's blogs, when I happened upon this striking book trailer. As you may know, I'm a huge fan of them and I also have an interest with reading teen pregnancy stories (particularly unique ones.)

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by: James Patterson

2008-09-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

Total: Three stars.

Max is not your average fourteen-year-old. She has wings and the government doesn’t acknowledge her existence. Along with five other wings-having misfits (loner boy Fang, blind Iggy, talkative Nudge, The Gasman - whose name explains everything - and sweet, mind reader Angel), she is part of The Flock.

The Flock who will stop at nothing to receive answers about their parents, their real families.

When Angel is kidnapped, Max and the gang have to willingly go back to the one place they thought they would never return to - School. No, not regular school with pencils and teachers and recess. They school where they were experimented on.

This is a relatively quick read, helped along by short and snappy chapters - typical of James Patterson, though Maximum Ride’s chapters are shorter than I expected. It has everything that reluctant readers could want: non-stop action, (some) character development, government conspiracy plots, several settings. It’s quite low on descriptions of appearances - especially of The Flock - but I would count that as a “plus” point. It’s refreshing to simply imagine how they look.

By the end, I had zero answers to the questions asked towards the beginning of the book and only got more questions. It’s perfectly set up for a sequel or two or three.

The driving force keeping The Angel Experiment away from four or five stars is the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it romance element. (SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT) With Fang and Max, near the ending. They share a kiss that I would never have foreseen had I not Wikipedia’d the series before buying this book. There are no indicators beforehand and while I like them together and apart - it just seemed so rushed. Especially for James Patterson.

That being said, I’m going back to the bookstore today (hopefully) to purchase the rest of the series. MAX RIDE FANS: How many books are there in the series? Three, right? I’m a tad confused.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by: Daria Snadowsky

2008-08-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Senior year for Dominique Baylor should be all about getting into the premed program at Stanford. It should not be all about a boy named Wes with amazing blue eyes. But it is. Along the way, Dom learns a lot about friendship, love, sex, loss, mistakes and - naturally - medicine.

Total: Four stars.

Hailed as this generation’s Forever…, Daria Snadowsky’s debut novel won’t let down readers looking for a new twist on the ‘first love’ classic - a smart, level-headed girl experiencing romance.

Over all, I thought this was a very… (I’m searching for an interesting adjective, but I can’t come up with one!) smart book. It’s interesting to read about love and sex in the frank point of view of a teenage girl who tries to use her head but is usually driven by her big heart.

My favourite part of this novel, hands down, was the main character, Dominique. Her voice is so relatable and it’s great to see a positive role model who’s not a complete prude. The background characters are fairly well-developed - I could’ve used a tad more on the stereotypical “slutty best friend,” Amy - who defies stereotypes enough to be interesting.

Although the twist at the end is easy to predict, it will still come as a surprise to some readers, if only because it’s so easy to get lost in Dominique’s world.

I’d recommend this, but I should note that it yields similar warnings as Judy Blume’s standout Forever… and other such books.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend is availible in paperback September 23rd, 2008.

Shopping Spree (For Books, Naturally)

2008-08-29T15:13:00.001-07:00

What I got on my latest trip to the bookstore. Hopefully, I'll have these titles up on LibraryThing sometime soon!

(All the descriptions are from the back covers, and therefore, do not belong to me.)

1. Keeping The Moon by: Sarah Dessen

2. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by: James Patterson

3. Lush by: Natasha Friend

Have you guys read any of these? I'm a huge fan of both Sarah Dessen but I haven't read her earlier works (for the record, This Lullaby is definitely her best) and I love Patterson's Alex Cross series, but I haven't read any of his teen lit. As for Lush, it's supposedly amazing.

Teaser Tuesday (On a Thursday)

2008-08-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

I recently discovered this great blog on Wordpress and thought it would be fun to share with you. I'm currently reading Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky and here is a short description of what Teaser Tuesday entails...

-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

From Daria Snadowsky's 'Anatomy of a Boyfriend'...

1. Wincing at the hokey pick-up line, I mumble, "Hey," without bothering to see who the guy is.

2. Amy says Wes's timidity is probably a direct result of his never being able to get settled in any one place, and she suggests I take the lead and start inserting provocative lines like, "Can you hold on, Wes? I have to take my panties out of the dryer."

Breaking Dawn by: Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-28T05:36:00.001-07:00

Total: Two and a half stars.

(This review is spoiler-free!)

It would be the understatement of the century to say that the latest instalment of Meyer’s mega-popular teen vampire series, Twilight, is the perfect ending. It’s not.

I’ll admit that I didn’t come into Breaking Dawn one hundred percent spoiler- or review-free. I’d read tons of reviews for this book, some of them ardently liking or loving it, but most of them despising it.

That being said, this book was not awful.

The fourth and final novel finds Bella Swan with the same old problems as before - marriage, sex (although the word itself is used only once or twice), friendship and vampirism.

If the term "jumped the shark" was applied to books, it would fit BD perfectly. Stephenie Meyer took a great thing with a giant fanbase and threw all her previous works out the window. It was almost like this book was a parody - I'm kind of expecting an update on her blog to say "Whoops. Forgot to tell you guys - Breaking Dawn was just a prank! The real book is coming out next year!" or something.

Low on characterization, heavy on descriptions. If I hear the words "glorious," "angelic," or "godlike" one more time, someone's gonna pay. For a book that is supposed to be teaching the teenage generation good morals, it sure is shallow.

Bella, especially. She seems to care far too much about appearances one paragraph, while degrading her own looks and personality the next.

The background characters are given their chance to shine (i.e. Alice, Rosalie, Seth, Leah...) but none of them are further expanded upon.

All in all?

This was a big letdown, and, if this is any indicator as to what's to come, I won't be purchasing Midnight Sun or any other Twilight-related novel.

Shopping Spree (albeit a small one)

2008-08-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

What I got during my shopping trip with the Vampire Diaries haters.

1. Breaking Dawn by: Stephenie Meyer
2. Sucks to be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) by: Kimberly Pauley
3. All Q, No A: More Tales of a 10th-Grade Social Climber by: Lauren Mechling and Laura Moser.

Ambition by: Kate Brian

2008-08-22T06:43:00.001-07:00

Total: Three stars.

Just when Reed Brennan seems to have finally settled into her position as the president of the exclusive girls’ dorm, Billings, on the soil of the even more exclusive private boarding school, Easton Academy, a few wrong decisions send her reeling and wishing she could go back in time.

The seventh novel in the ‘Private’ series opens with the spoiled Billings Girls afraid of losing their one true home. That’s right - their dorm.

This instalment in the popular mystery/drama/romance series won’t let down any of the die-hard fans or even those who’ve only picked up a couple of the books. It definitely doesn’t work as a stand-alone because Reed spends much of the novel fretting and pouting about past relationships - most notably her ex-boyfriend, Josh Hollis.

It's worth mentioning that out of the blue Reed is getting hit on and asked out in every chapter. At first it's kind of funny, but her inner dialogue only seems to point out their flaws and lust after other guys. I was reminded of Bella in Twilight and all her would-be suitors. It was near impossible for me to feel any sympathy for the girl when she actually thought this about another guy while on a date with someone who was described (by her, no less) as a "gorgeous Italian maybe-prince":

Why haven't you called? What the hell happened that night? Why did you get back together with Noelle? When? And why do you have to be So. Effing. Hot?

Everyone who would like to read this book - which is written in an interesting first-person that is welcomingly bare when it comes to label name-dropping - should at least pick up the preceding story, Legacy, beforehand. It's heavier on character development and explains Reed’s actions and thoughts better.

Bad Book-Buying Behaviour?

2008-08-22T06:17:00.000-07:00

On my latest trip to the local bookstore, after a quick stop by the magazine section to gape at Keira Knightley’s awful hair on the September cover of Vogue, I made my way over to the relatively (and unfairly) small YA section.

I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to get - I usually do - but my plans seemed to be put on pause when a couple of YA-haters were snickering and voicing their opinions all too loudly. (Particularly in regards to the covers of L.J. Smith's The Vampire Diaries and the content of Erin Haft's Pool Boys.)

Maybe I'm just aging myself here, but I think that acting this way in an all-too-public bookstore is horrible. It made me not want to shop around them and it can't have been any good for business.

Have you had similar experiences?

The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by: Jessica Anya Blau

2008-08-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Total: Four and a half stars.

(I'm just going to use the trailer instead of the back cover description, m'kay?)

First off, I’d just really like to say that this was not what I was expecting at all. From the back, title and cover design, I sort of assumed it was a Sisterhood of the Travelling-esque tale of friendship. I was wrong.

Although not told in a first person perspective, I still felt like it was really possible to feel Jamie’s raw emotion through the author’s writing. It has an interesting setting for a YA; a well-to-do neighbourhood in California, circa the mid-seventies.

Jamie lives in a gorgeous mansion-like, Spanish-style home with her hippie parents, Allen and Betty, and her sister, Renee, who completely rejects the lifestyle in which they live. Religion is a major theme within the book, and some religious prejudices - as well as racial ones - are presented, but in such a way that it makes the characters just seem naïve.

I wish the background characters were developed a little more. It was harder to relate to Renee, even though her beliefs about the hippie life were relatively well-founded, because she seems to float around without doing much. She doesn’t get many plot points and I wish the author had focused on her a little bit more, rather than making her come off so preachy and whiny.

My only other gripe is that the blurbs on the back of the novel and on Jessica Blau’s website made it seem like this book was “hilarious,” “funny,” and “humour[ous.]” It wasn’t. It was undeniably a story about disappointments, growing up, heartbreak, frustration and sadness - albeit a supremely good one.

Other than that, this novel was completely amazing. Especially for a debut, when it’s common for YA authors to try and stick a whole bunch of ideas in at once. Jessica Blau kept a nice, even pace going - although it drags at some parts - that was perfectly in tune with how a teenager (during any decade) would deal with things.

The relationships between Jamie and Renee, Jamie and her so-called “friends”, Jamie and her parents and Jamie and her older boyfriend, Flip were just spot-on. This is a story that rings true even today and I would recommend it to anyone.

WHEEE! Or: Thanks so much, Melissa DLC!

2008-08-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

I got my sampler in the mail today.

Have you got yours?

In case you didn't, keeping checking out her blog for Blue Bloods info - which she updates fairly regularly and is chock full of name-dropping and baby antics - (click...here...) OR...

I'll post the back description. It's not much...but everything about Blue Bloods is wonderful and Melissa seems so great and her writing style is so unique and lovely and... I'll stop this now as I appear to be gushing. But it's true.

"The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed Blue Bloods series.

Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question - is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When the ancient prison of a powerful demon is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janerio, however, the Blue Bloods need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high, the battle is bloody, and through it all Schuyler wrestles between duty and passion, love and freedom.

Melissa de la Cruz returns with even more glitz, glamour and vampire lore in this third installment of the series that critics are calling 'fanged and fabulous.'"

Look for more Blue Bloods-themed posts to come!

Severed Ties by: Kevin Krohn

2008-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Severed Ties is the story of a typical college girl, Nyne Harper. On the surface, her problems seem superficial: dating, constantly arguing with her father, wanting more freedom. The kinds of things any other teenager goes through. But when you peel back the layers, a whole slew of unconventional issues appear.

Nyne is also a revenge-seeking killer. Every so often her father - a character who can only be described as "colourful" - orders a hit on another member of the Stanfield family, who were responsible for killing Nyne's mother so many years ago.

Despite some minor grammatical errors scattered throughout, Krohn's obvious penchant for storytelling manages to triumph. Although I'm not very familiar with the mystery/adventure genre (particularly without YA), the twists that come in the end came as a total shock. The last chapters are where the book really shines* and they make up for the middle being a little slow.

I'm definitely checking out the next installment in this nonstop thrill ride of a series.

Total: Three and a half stars.

*I made the mistake of using the oven while reading this and completely forgot about it! Don't worry! There were no firemen involved - just some burnt pizza.

Have You Joined The Sisterhood?

2008-08-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Truth be told, Ann Brashares' enchanting series, Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, was the first YA I ever fell in love with. It's impossible not to really, what with the fully three dimensional characters and aspects of magic sprinkled in. (Okay, though that whole Kostos-Lena thing was dragged out a little too long, but I'm willing to overlook it.)

And now, Miss Brashares is starting all over with her new series, 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows. Says Brashares' editor to Publishers Weekly, "These three girls are going off to high school and their big fear is how things will change. They’re already seeing some of the middle-school connections and friendships start to shift. It doesn’t come as easy for them—there are no magic pants in this sisterhood.”

No magic pants? I'm already a little put off, but the cover art is just gorgeous...

Another thing, Ann's editors says there are "little moments" thrown in the book for all the die-hard Sisters. Keep on the look out.

And to tide you over until January 13, '09, here's the trailer for the sequel movie starring Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Amber Tamblyn.

Shock Point by: April Henry

2008-08-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

From the very first page of April Henry's physiological thriller, "Shock Point", I was completely hooked.

Within seconds, readers are swept into Cassie Streng's world. Although it's left unclear if this takes place in the near future or the present day, this compelling tale of prescription drugs, insane stepfathers and coming of age is brutally interesting because it feels so real. Like it could just as soon happen to you or I.

Upon coming home from school on a seemingly ordinary day, Cassie is shoved into a mysterious van. Kidnapped. Things get stranger when she realizes her own mother is watching. And not even trying to help.

After a series of failed escape attempts, Cassie is dropped off at "Peaceful Cove," (where it's anything but peaceful) like a bag of particularly rowdy garbage. Through alternating flashback chapters, we learn about Cassie's stepfather Rick using experimental drugs on teenagers - drugs that end up killing them.

While, sure, Henry's novel was impressive and a page-turner, (This one took me only a few hours to finish, but don't let the small size fool you.) there came a point when I was just like, "Oh, Cassie, please escape from this awful boot camp so you can be interesting again." Cassie was a well-developed and rounded character, but I only wish the same could be said for the background characters, especially Cassie's parents.

Rick is the straight black and white bad guy. Cassie's mom seems to be the victim, and yet she allowed her husband to ship Cassie off to what's essentially a jail! I think there's a story there.

Total: Three stars.

Why?

Even Cassie's "Streng"th can't save a book that should be finished many pages earlier.

Some Updates and Other Such Very Important Matters

2008-08-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

I've recently started Kevin Krohn's "Severed Ties, Volume One" and I have a huge pile of books that is starting to form a tumour on my chest, but I will try to zip through a couple of them and get a few reviews done by the end of the week.

Recently, read: this morning, I removed my Breaking Dawn counter. Suprisingly enough, I have managed to toe around the outlandish "Twilight Series!" and "Bella's Reading List" set-ups at local bookstores. I liked her series. Sure, it was predictable. It was also a fun look at romance and it brought millions upon millions of teenagers together without every involving alcohol, sex or the like as with Gossip Girl or it's Californian twin, The A List.

As I've been lounging around by the pool and going shopping this week, I haven't been reading so much. Forgive me! I will try very hard to get back in the game

Another Book Trailer

2008-07-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here's another book trailer, this time for Class of 2K8 member Brooke Taylor's inagural novel, Undone. Enjoy!

(Sorry for the absence of reviews, I haven't read any YA lately!)

ZOMG: Every Twilight Fangirl's Wet Dream

2008-07-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Do you live in Canada or the US?
Are you obsessed with Stephenie Meyer's now world-famous Twilight series?
Would you like to win the ENTIRE series?

Click here, my dear.

Shopping Spree (For Books, Naturally!)

2008-07-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

Another installment of everyone's favourite segment... I got a whole bunch of YA books last night and decided to post them here. Everywhere I go it is just marketing, marketing, marketing for Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn. Is anyone going to one of those midnight masquerade parties? I went to something like that for the last Harry Potter book (and I'm not proud to admit that), I probably wouldn't go again.

1.Ambition (A Private Novel) by: Kate Brian
2.Boy Heaven by: Laura Kasichke
3.Criminal Minds: Killer Profile by: Max Allan Collins
4.Looking for Alaska by: John Green
5.Now You See Her by: Jacquelyn Mitchard
6.The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by: Jessica Anya Blau

TV vs. Books? (Re: Books Into Movies)

2008-07-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

While I've always been way more into reading than with TV, there are some shows I absolutely adore. Several of these I've picked up the mass-market paperback of and been less than impressed. For all CW drama fans, The O.C. was made into a novel series, fairly decent writing, good for the die-hards who love those little extra scenes. Also, Gilmore Girls has been made into novels, too, I'm pretty sure from Rory's POV, though I've never read them, just flipped through them whilst shopping.

As any original (before the TV show!) Gossip Girl fans know, there was a highly popular book series prior to the days when Blake Lively and Penn Badgley are being hailed as the next teen supercouple.

CSI, all its offspring, and several other crime shows (Criminal Minds and possibly Bones, though I can't be sure about that last one) have already been made into book series, written by TV-into-books superstar, Max Allen Collins.

Is there a TV show you think would be perfect as a book?

My top picks would probably be Lost and Numb3rs. I choose not to count The Numbers Behind Numb3rs or the hundreds of Lost guides, because they simply offer insight and no actual plotlines or extra info.

Peeps by: Scott Westerfeld

2008-07-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

Floating among a sea of overtly steamy, "vamped-up" (pun FULLY intended) vampire novels, both for YA and Adult, Peeps is informative, memorable, and above all: unique.

Cal Thompson arrives in New York City fresh-faced, wide-eyed and virginal. He doesn't stay that way for long. After meeting sexy, perfect, gorgeous Morgan (whose last name he can't remember, possibly due to a dozen or so fruity drinks), his virginity is long gone and so is, well, his human life.

Re-born as a "parasite-positive," commonly abbreviated to "peep," Cal's eyes are opened up to a whole new world where he's super-strong, with a cat's eyesight and a dog's nose. Seems pretty cool, right? Well, that's not all.

He also has to take a vow of celibacy which for an abnormally horny teenage boy (another side effect of being a peep) and track down all the girls he has kissed, who he's infected with the peep disease.

Surprisingly, I didn't like this as much as I expected to. While I fully expect to here from others who've read this saying I must be on something, I just didn't like it half as much as I did his other series, Uglies.

One major reason is this: Peeps is told in Cal's first-person point-of-view. Almost half of YA novels are written this way (the rest being third-person) and yet, Westerfeld's voice seemed highly unrealistic as a teenage at some points. It was either "yeah, cool, whatever" or, comparatively, going on about things no teenager could talk about with bursting into laughs. One phrase that stood out was "pigeon's breast," which Cal's inner voice uses without commenting on.

Also, every other chapter gave a mini-biology lesson on different types of parasites. I found this to be pointless. It only muddled up the plot, for the sake of the reader understanding a few references scattered throughout. In addition, these alternate chapters made this novel impossible to read while eating.

Total: Three stars.

I would've given Peeps even less but Westerfeld's an amazing writer and, I will admit, the premise for this novel was quite quirky and unique.

Shopping Spree (For Books, Naturally)

2008-07-02T05:27:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been trying to make the leap from YA to adult (although I still love my YA!) and while I was running errands, I found some well-priced books that I decided to get.

1. Bones to Ashes by: Kathy Reichs (I love the TV show, Bones, but apparently I started in the middle of the series rather than with the first one!)
2. Perfect Match by: Jodi Picoult
3. Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by: Elissa Wall and Lisa Pulitzer
4. How to be Single: A Novel by: Liz Tuccillo

You Remind Me (Of Me)

2008-06-30T07:05:00.001-07:00

Have you ever opened up a book, and, less than halfway through gone: Ohmigod. That's exactly what I would do! I get that feeling a lot and apparently so does Page Numbered.

Check out my list.

Ten Characters Who Are Just Like Me
(In no particular order)

1. Brett from The It Girl
2. Birdie from Peaches
3. Bliss from Blue Bloods
4. Spencer from Pretty Little Liars
5. Lex from Hacking Harvard
6. Martha from Prep
7. Molly from Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn
8. Harper from Bass Ackwards and Belly Up
9. Macy from The Truth About Forever
10. Taylor from Private

What about you?

(Remember to link back to Page Numbered if you post a list like this one on your blog!)

And to all the Canadians out there, happy Canada Day!

Peaches by: Jodi Lynn Anderson

2008-06-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

In Anderson's stunning start to the celebrated and bestselling Peaches series, we meet three teenage girls: Birdie Darlington, Leeda Cawley-Smith and Murphy McGowen. Through a series of coincidences, all three girls wind up at the Darlington Peach Orchard one magical summer.

Twists that most readers can easily predict keep this book a conventional, not controversial summer read that will keep teenage girls going. It's also a great pick for the coldest part of winter when the lush descriptions of juicy peaches, swimming and summer love can melt the ice outside and the coldest heart.

What I Loved About This Book
How relate-able the main characters were. Birdie is probably the most like me in the sense that she is not adventurous or flirty or daring or anything like that, but she is also the most hopeful, people-person of the group.
Leeda is the outsider at the orchard, if only because she's such an insider everywhere else. I can't really relate to having a huge house, but I think her relationship with her mom (a total perfectionist and more like Leeda than she'd like to admit) is very close to reality.
As for Murphy. I love how she always speaks her mind and she is definitely reminiscent of those schoolgirls who steal all the attention without bothering to notice. Of the three, though, she's probably the most unlike any teenager I've ever met (or, um, you know, been)

What I Didn't Love About This Book:
How none of the characters beyond Birdie, Murphy and Leeda were explored. Especially with characters like Murphy's mom, Jodee, who fits neatly into the mold of "small town slut," there was much room for character growth and explanation that never quite occurred. I was always waiting, tearing through page after page, for that one thing that would make me understand how another character (such as Horatio Balmeade, country club owner, or Leeda's mom) acted. This ah-ha! moment never came.

All in all, Anderson's Peaches is a good choice for fans of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series, (as the blurb on the cover from that series' creator should tell you) and is good for anyone tired of authors who seem to know nothing of modern day teenagerdom.

Total: Three stars.

Shopping Spree (For Books, Naturally)

2008-06-22T04:22:00.001-07:00

Time for another installment of "Shopping Spree!"

1. (A pre-signed copy of!) Wake by: Lisa McCann
2. Peaches by: Jodi Lynn Anderson
3. Peeps by: Scott Westerfeld*
4. Dead Connection by: Charlie Price
5. Gossip Girl, The Carlyles by: Cecily von Ziegesar('s ghost writer)

*I adored his Uglies trilogy. Didn't read Extras, though. Was it any good?

Did you buy any good books recently? Do you want to?

Books Into Movies

2008-06-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

As of late, it seems the baseball cap-wearing writers of La La Land are losing their creativity and falling back into simply adapting novels for the silver screen. I'm definately not a big fan of this, no matter how well the actors are, how amazing the script is and how generally wonderful the film is.

Would you like to know why?

Reading is all about imagination. The words the author uses, the descriptions given, can translate into so many different things (and I don't simply mean English to French, etc.) and have so many meanings. I understand that the rights to make your novel into a movie is a big deal for authors, but then again, once you've published something, that "thing" is not Just Yours anymore. You've shared it with the world. It's ours now.

For every person who wants their favourite book to be made into a film starring this week's teen icon, there's a hundred who don't.

Some (In)Famous Examples:
(Click to enlargen; I know the text is kind of hard to read)

What do you think? Am I out of my mind? Is there a book you wish was a movie? One you wish wasn't?

The Wedding Planner's Daughter by: Coleen Murtagh Paratore

2008-06-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Part champagne-fizzy fairy tale and part account of the trials & tribulations of middle school, Paratore gives tween readers a new girl to look up to (step aside Miley Cyrus and your now-faded copy of Vanity Fair). Namely, Willafred Havisham.

With the catchy title of a Jennifer Aniston rom-com and a cast of quirky (if occasionally stilted) characters, The Wedding Planner's Daughter is perfect for the nine-to-twelve set. I'd be stretching it if I said thirteen, because Willa's antics would certainly bore the Gossip Girl set to tears.

The story is this: Every year on her birthday, Willa has wished for a father. Not "her" father. "A" father. Willa's career-oriented, cyncical mother, Stella, (who just-so happens to double as a wedding planner and strict inforcer of The Rules) has been single since the tragically dramatic death of Willa's father.

Faced with yet another new town (this time the rich folk's playground: Cape Cod), Willa is determined to find a suitable husband for Stella and the perfect boyfriend-and-best-friend combo for herself.

Rating: Three. Despite the lovable, relatable character and the abudance of literary refrences no twelve-year-old could get, Paratore's heroine Willa only earns her story a three. This short novel made me want more (I love the 'after' of Happily Ever Afters) but the plot of The Wedding Planner's Daughter's sequel, The Cupid Chronicles, seems much more contrived and predictable than it's surprisingly likeable first novel.

Here's a message to all the first-time authors out there. Sometime's it's just best to drop the story after number one.

And one more thing: it's okay to leave a few ends loose. Even twelve-year-olds understand this.

How Does One Review a Memoir?

2008-06-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

Almost seconds after finishing Cheryl Diamond's new memoir, aptly titled Model: A Memoir (which I briefly mentioned in my last post), I found myself slumped on my polka-dotted, faded bed wondering how, on God's green Earth, was I supposed to review - which is in essence, judging - someone else's life?

Maybe if I was a travel-weary sixtysomething who had truly experienced life for themselves, I could provide a review for this. But I'm not. I'll try my best, but, to be frank, it is impossible to review someone's life. Whew. Here goes...

Cheryl Diamond finds herself fourteen, beautiful and alone in New York City. She spends her days at Platinum Models, where (thank God!) the nicest people in the biz seem to work. Things are looking up for her. Buh-bye days of being a nobody, travelling from place to place but still not knowing where "home" is. Hello to the wonderful (and cutthroat) world of NYC modelling.

And then 9/11 happens.

Life has thrown Cheryl a curveball but the beautiful teenager keeps her witty, realistic and humourous view on life and manages to tackle the modelling world again. This time with a new agency, Prima.

Total: Three stars.

First off, a loverly grammatical error right smack dab on the first page almost made me stop reading. It wasn't terrible. I'm a total geek in the sense that my toes curl when I see grammatical mistakes. With the Gossip Girl, The Clique and It Girl novels, a turn a cheek. All the aforementioned series come from respected, bestelling authors. Who cares if they capitalize something that shouldn't be? And yet...on the first page??? Of a memoir??? Of a first-time writer? Oy vey.

Next up: Besides Cheryl herself, there are no constant characters in this book. Although she confronts this head-on about halfway through the book, I still wished for the cliche best friend type.

Lastly, I lovedlovedloved Cheryl's point of view. She is completely funny and even though the pictures printed halfway through the book are pointless, the way she describes the modelling biz's quirky characters and the bitchy, smoking-addicting models had me belly-laughing. Cheryl doesn't take any BS and is the most honest character (or rather, person) I've read about in a YA book for a long, long while.

Would YOU consider publishing a memoir of your life? I've never been the journal-keeping girl (mainly because my life - up until late - has not been very exciting) and I think I would squirm endlessly if I knew someone was reading my private thoughts.

Questions After Reading:

-Has anyone read any other good, modelling-related YA? Besides Violet on the Runway that is.

-Is Cheryl a well-known model? Besides her personal site, I haven't been able to find anything of her modelling heyday. Weird, I know.

-Cheryl never mentions a love interest in this book. Uncommon for YA literature (be it fiction or non-fiction.)

Shopping Spree (For Books, Naturally)

2008-06-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

On my last trip to the local bookstore (after getting my iPod stolen and promtly given back), I came up trumps. This is what I got:

1. Model: A Memoir by: Cheryl Diamond
2. Tempted (An It Girl Novel) by: Cecily von Ziegesar
3. Criminal Minds: Jump Cut by: Max Allan Collins
4. A Nicer Way to Die by: Sam Mills
5. Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by: Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler
6. Angelmonster by: Veronica Bennett

Have you bought anything recently?? And/or read any of the above books?

How Nerd-rrific Are You??

2008-06-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

You Are 52% Nerdy

You may be a bit surprised with this score, but you're more of a closet nerd than an actual nerd.

Stop denying your inner nerd! You're truly dorkier than you think.

How Nerdy Are You?

Apparently, I'm less nerdy than I thought (and people tell me) but more nerdy than Claudia Gray (author of Evernight, which I've yet to read.

-Would you rather have a review for Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods or April Henry's Shock Point??

HOW NERDY ARE YOU???

Blue Bloods by: Melissa de la Cruz

2008-06-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

Private school sucks.

And for the elite inner circle of Blue Bloods at Duchesne School, they mean that literally.

Schuyler Van Alen has always been on the fringe. On the fringe of wealth — she lives in a once-great penthouse with her ice queen of a grandmother, Cordelia, loyal bloodhound Beauty and maid, Hattie. On the fringe of popularity — Schuyler's blue-black hair, porcelain skin, pert nose and blue eyes attract attention, but not as Chic magazine thinks it should.

And then there are the undeniably fabulous Force twins - Mimi and Jack, who rule the school side-by-side with iron, Gucci-clad fists.

It isn't until Schuyler's blue marks start appearing that she realizes she's just like Mimi and Jack. A Blue Blood. A vampire. A blood-sucker. A monster.

Total: Three and 3/4.

Vampire romances are getting seriously overrated. Seriously. I picked this up long before I laid eyes on Twilight and, if it's even possible, I'm more hooked on de la Cruz's naughty tale of sexy city vamps than of Meyer's quirky interpretation of small-town "vegetarians." Melissa de la Cruz paints an interesting tale — when paired with her unique talent for describing clothes, places and characters — of a young girl searching for herself. Also, the fact that she definitely knows her way around New York City only adds to the fun that is Blue Bloods.

Then, Why have you given it only a three and 3/4, Gabbi? Because, as I look back at this blog post, I realize that I have only talked about Schuyler pretty much and neglected the other main characters that make up this book. I love Mimi's world, too, with all its seduction and deceit. I just wish that, besides Schuyler (whose name I recently learned — stupid me — is pronounced sky-ler), they were more three dimensional.

As I took in their tales of love and fitting in, I found myself rooting for Schuyler and booing at Mimi and Bliss (Llewyn; probably spelled that last name wrong; forgive me, Melissa!) and Jack and pretty much everyone else.

I can't help wondering... If this book had been written in Sky's first-person rather than a whole load of people's third-person, would I be more attached to the characters??

Do You Donate?

2008-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Recently, and by that I mean yesterday, I set aside a whole load of books. And by "load" I mean 10 or 11. Which is crazy for me. And by that I mean I'm a complete book pack rat.

= Hey! It's...me??!?!

I know it's hard to let go of books, especially shiny hardcovers that I know I spent over twenty bucks on. And yet, I feel amazing about my self once I give some away. Also, in clearing some space from my bookshelf, I've made room for more new books! And who doesn't love new books?

So, I hope everyone who takes the time to read this post (and I know that's not very many people, to be honest!) will take the time to scan their book stacks for a book or two (or three or four, etc.) to give to someone who needs them more than us.

Thanks!

-All Five Stars reviewer,
Gabbi

Read My Lips, A Book Trailer

2008-06-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a trailer that's being passed around the book blogs. Haven't read it yet, though it sounds pretty interesting/original. Has anyone out there read it? Any recommendations for me?

What Happened to Cass McBride? by: Gail Giles

2008-06-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

Cass McBride is worse than Massie or Blair could ever be. Living in the constant shadow of her highly-succesful and yet socially-inept father, Cass is the picture of high-school perfection. She'll do - and does - anything to be as popular as humanly possible. Until she's kidnapped and buried alive, of course.

Brought on by Kyle, her kidnapper's brother's suicide, Cass has to talk her way out of a situation that - unlike most of her controlled life - has a slim-to-none possibility of ending up how she'd like.

Told in the changing POVS (third-person of the police officers, Cass', Kyle's), this book is un-put-downable. Cass kept me up all night. Amazing.

Total: Four stars; Yet again, I really disliked Cass.

If you liked this, check out:
Sean Olin's Killing Britney.

You Are SO Not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah! by: Fiona Rosenbloom

2008-05-31T05:17:00.001-07:00

You Are SO Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a sweet novel that any girl, Jewish, Christian, or otherwise, can enjoy. Our story starts three weeks prior to Stacy Adelaide Freidman's bar mitzvah. Stacy's story is a typical one with several interesting twists to the new classic that keep readers interested.

Stacy lives with her "maybe single" mother after her plastic surgeon father moved out and her younger, genius-smart brother, Arthur. She spends her days hoping: to get in with the "It" clique, The Chicas, become wildly popular, marry Andy Goldfarb wannabe hip-hopper (for lack of a better word; it was either that or "gangster") and, naturally, have an amazing bat mitzvah.

Needless to say, nothing works out as she planned. Adventures in online dating, broken friendships and tween-designer name-dropping (Miss Sixty! Bebe! BCBG!) make this tale of self-discovery a keeper.

As I said in my post about

Twisted Sisters I mentioned that the main character was unlikeable.

The same goes for the main character's friend, Kelly, and even Stacy sometimes.

Although Stacy's interest in only what was good for herself was a major plot point, I hope that in the sequel

We Are SO Crashing Your Bar Mitzvah! she'll grow to become a three-dimensional, likeable character.

The Many Faces of Francesca Spinelli: Judging A Book By Its Cover

2008-05-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

Before I go on to the actual review of Aussie author Melina Marchetta's Saving Fancesca can I have a moment to discuss WHY THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT COVERS OF THIS BOOK?

(Paperback)From Amazon.com:
To me this one looks very fun and light and very much a beach read, which Marchetta's book wasn't AT ALL. If I saw this book in a store, I think I would be more compelled to pick it up than the copy I own. Doesn't it look like she's involved in some kind of love triangle, though? Or a book about a hapless prep school girl desperate for a first kiss?

(Hard Cover/Library Binding) From Amazon.ca: Although I think this cover relates most to the book (main character is partly shy, because she is hiding from plain view, she's sorta-kinda smiling, showing she wants to be a more outgoing person), but I much prefer the pink-toned cover to the beige one, which seems kind of bland. This looks like a serious-type book, possibly dealing with parental/friendship/love issues.

From Echo News: This cover is the most like the copy I'm reading, but mine is the girl's face in a several boxes, Brady Bunch-style. During the early chapters I found it hard to believe this girl was Frankie, simply because she is so happy and bouncy and smiley. I found myself wondering if maybe this was Frankie's mom?

One morning, Francesca's outgoing, independant mother Mia doesn't get up from bed. This situation shouldn't be alarming; but it is. Mia is the type of mother who plays loud seventies' songs for her two children, Francesca, 17, and Luca, 10, to wake up to. She drops her kids off at St. Sebastian's a prep school that only just started letting girls attend and picks them up after the many activities she encourages them to get involved with.

Francesca is having a difficult time adjusting to a school where fart jokes and bad breath reign supreme. She wishes she was at Pius School, with the cliqueish girlfriends she knew at her previous school. Only thirty girls attend Sebastian and they're a notable minority. Frankie's only "friend" options are band-geek Justine, school slut Siobahn and opinionated Tara. If Francesca wants to obtain even a smidgen of popularity, she knows these are the wrong girls to befriend, and yet, she does.

This book would've become boring quickly were it not for the cast of quirky characters (especially the school teachers) and Francesca's object of affection, Will. I rooted for Frankie's mom's recovery all through the book and I also hoped Frankie would end up with Will. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that it's very realistic, something refreshing in YA literature.

Total: Three stars (Only because it took me a good 7-10 chapters to get into it.)

Twisted Sisters by: Stephanie Hale

2008-05-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

-Warning: Contains mild spoilers for Revenge of the Homecoming Queen-Just when Aspen Brooks thought her problems were over, her college life becomes "a big fat Greek mess!"

When Aspen winds up on scholarship at State University, because of her mom's addiction to shopping, she starts to realize being the top dog at Comfort High means nothing to the thousands of students at State... Or the sororities. Harry Malone's (the Comfort detective who got her the scholarship)niece, Mitzi, also attends State and she has an in with the exclusive Zeta sorority. Except Mitzi disappeared and it's plain to see the Zeta girls have secrets beneath their monogrammed tracksuits.
Aspen makes it her mission to break into Zeta and solve the case, all while swatting off a desperate admirer and keeping Rand by her side.

The only thing that propelled my into the "H" section of my local bookstore was the amazing chemistry between Rand and Aspen in the last book. Despite their cuteness, I couldn't help...not liking Aspen. She's very drama queen-y 24/7, narcissistic, and always seems to have her own agenda for helping people, no matter how many times she insists she's doing it to help her friends.

Also I figured out the book's ending (which ties everything up quite nicely) way before I should have. Either way, I always enjoy reading Aspen's crazy adventures and Twisted Sisters didn't dissapoint. Keep your eyes peeled for Spring Breakup coming late 2008/early 2009!

Total: Four stars

How To Be Bad by: E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle

2008-05-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

The much-anticipated YA book of three well-known authors, E. Lockhart
(The Boyfriend List, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks), Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks)and Lauren Myracle (TTYL, Eleven) is finally here!

To be frank, I'm usually not very fond of roadtrip novels, (mainly because I end up bored out of my skull or I really, really want to go on vacation) but I think I'll make an exception for How To Be Bad. Another book told in the alternating POVS (Like yesterday's review of Certain Girls!) of three Floridian teenagers: Jesse, Vicks and Mel, this story is equal parts lough-out-loud hilarious and tears-flowing sad.

Jesse, the religious, good girl of the group, just found out her Mama has cancer. The very same Mama who entered a wet T-shirt contest and whom Jesse called a whore. It's her idea to take Mama's car (without asking, natch!) on a little spin to go see her best friend, Vicks' boyfriend Brady at the U of Miami.

Mel's pockets may be flowing with cash and the pockets may be Chloe designer, but that doesn't make her life any better. After just moving down south from Montreal, she's contsantly stuck in between her older sister and younger brother. This trip is exactly what she needs. But will Mel's part be bigger than just providing the money?

Vicks is the loudmouth of the group, but you can tell more is bubbling underneath the surface. She's the youngest (and only girl) in a family of six, where money is tight. Problems with her sweethearted boyfriend Brady arise and Vicks' hard exterior cracks throughout the novel.

Total: Four and a half. Extra points for featuring a Canadian character, but occasionally the plot drags.

If you loved this book check out: Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler.

The Two Jennifers (Part Deux)

2008-05-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

Bailey Morgan and her circle of best friends, Annabelle, Delia and Zo, think that some temporary tattoos will be the perfect accessories to go with their new dresses for the upcoming school dance. Sounds great, right? Wrong.

Bailey and the girls end up getting unusual, Wonder Woman-type superpowers from the tattoos. Of course, Bailey's power is the best (I won't spoil it by telling you there powers!) and she, somehow..., has this amazing destiny where she saves the world from sudden doom of a mysterious villian. Semi-realistic dialogue inhances this but the ridiculously impossible plot takes points away. Take a cue from Scott Westerfield, Jen: subtle and believable is a thousand times freakier than dramatic plot twists will ever be! Honourable try though!

Total: Three

The Two Jennifers

2008-05-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Despite my being Catholic, I was not turned off at all by the sprinklings of Hebrew terms, passages from the Torah and talk-talk-talk of a bat mitzvah. In Jennifer Weiner's Certain Girls, issues of growing up, love, marriage and morals are tackled with wit, a good eye for detail and the changing POVs of Candace Shapiro and her thirteen-year-old daughter, Joy.

While grocery shopping, two hardcover eye-catching novels (both NYT Bestsellers) and I found myself debating whether to buy Stephenie Meyer's The Host or the aforementioned Certain Girls. Naturally, I would have picked both, but I'm a little tight on cash so I randomlly picked up CG, trying to make the jump from YA to Adult a clean, fun, girlie one.

Although this was a sequel to Weiner's Good In Bed, I didn't read the first one and I think the reading is pleasurable with or without reading the first book. Cannie Shapiro is the average American woman: a mother, plus-size and married. Of course, she's not completely normal. Back when Joy was just a baby she wrote a barely-concealed story of her life, Big Girls Don't Cry and now that very book is coming up to bite her in the ass when Joy reads it. In it, Cannie (called "Allie") gets pregnant with a daughter she really, really, really doesn't want.

The books alternates between Cannie's worrying about her daughter and her daughter, Joy, worrying about her mother's past. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only thing keeping this from a five-star review is the Canadian-bashing which appears so early on in the book (chapter three! three!). I understand she was just trying to show her characters' opinions, but I'd rather save that for when I'm absolutely sure I love the book. Twists kept it fresh and interesting though, so I'll have to give Certain Girls...

Total: Four and a half

Watch out for The Two Jennifers (Cont.) with Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Tattoo! Over and out.

Lust by: Robin Wasserman

2008-05-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Published in late 2005, Wasserman's YA series Seven Deadly Sins is nothing new on the market, but definately something to look out for. I'll admit it: I've breezed by the glossy titles (Lust; Envy; Pride; Wrath; Sloth; Gluttony; and Greed) with zingy one-liners and pretty faces looking tortured on the cover many a time. I'm not sure why, on my last jaunt to the bookstore, I decided to pick it up. Maybe because I've read her CHASING YESTERDAY series and stand-alone HACKING HARVARD and fell in love with them both.

Anyway, on to the review.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: Alpha girl Harper is used to getting what she wants, and that means Adam, Beth's all-American boytoy.

Bland, boring Beth, who Kane, the charming playah, secretly wants too.

Miranda thinks Kane is out of her league, but she wants him all the same. And then there's the new girl.

Kaia. Who only wants trouble--and he's definitely on his way.

FROM ME: Harper is the most popular girl in school, with the coolest friends, glossiest hair and best designer knockoffs.

But her teenage life is not without wanting. But it's not "what," it's "who," and his name is Adam.

Only Adam's dating pretty young thing, Beth, who's having some late-night meetings with a certain hot French teacher...

Kane shares a bond with Harper. He wants to break up the Alpha couple, too. And maybe he'll get something out of it too: Beth, that is.

She's new in town. She has the hottest body, best clothes and has been kicked out of every East Coast boarding school. Now Kaia's stuck in Grace. Bo-ring. Except Grace seems to be crawling with guys ripped from A&F ad campaign. Kaia wants one in particular. A man. The French teacher, Mr. Powell.

And lastly, Miranda. She loves Kane. The player. So she talks about him with Harper and obsesses over her weight. And yeah. That's pretty much it for the not-quite-as-pretty redhead.

Comments. SDS has so much potential to be the newest teen lit series. Only certain things and characters pull it away from the Times' Bestseller List. Namely Miranda. At the end of the novel, I remembered NOTHING about her besides her little crush on Kane. Nothing. Also, Grace is a pretty lame town (which makes up for it in lust and longing, natch), where hookups take place in dingy motels rather than the Ritz-Carlton a la Gossip Girl and fun Friday nights involve 50-year-old coyboys and nachos rather than champagne flutes with senators.

Total: Four