tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46460034462712011702024-03-04T20:18:26.320-08:00All Five StarsNo gloss. No fluffy reviews. Just the truth on YA literature. Join me in my search for that novel worthy of all five stars.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-10144663571446212122009-07-01T12:20:00.000-07:002009-07-01T12:35:04.880-07:00Review: 3 Willows<a href="http://www.spokaneschools.org/Garry/Images/Library/3Willows.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 279px;" src="http://www.spokaneschools.org/Garry/Images/Library/3Willows.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>3 Willows</strong> by <em>Ann Brashares</em><br /><br />Total: Three and a half-ish. <br /><br />{Summary From Author's Website}<br /><br />The new book from Ann Brashares, the bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:<br /><br /><strong>Seeds</strong><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><strong>Roots</strong><br /><br />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. . .<br /><strong><br />Leaves</strong><br /><br />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.<br /><br />It is a new summer. And a new sisterhood. Come grow with them. <br /><br />Behind The Grade: <br /><br />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. <br /><br />I was wrong. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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: <em>3 Willows</em> 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the original sisterhood days!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-60230099086557162342009-06-25T16:03:00.000-07:002009-06-25T16:06:25.628-07:00Update: Where Am I?Wow, guys! <br /><br />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! <br /><br />Also: zomg almost 50 followers? :/ I'm so flattered! <br /><br /><br />peace, love, and everything sweet, <br /><br />Gabbi!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-87957718805233463722009-02-05T12:43:00.000-08:002009-02-05T14:54:20.612-08:00Review: Swimming With The Sharks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dVa6xZbWuNCtrlLe62ODGUy-A_EIrVFT6DRnYOVdRnPjvn1goA9CqTpLmEDdDdfbSe9vaSR4BJncbWN6Vnqcd1vksRr5XbkX-G6Id3nlWsOUiNErwJRNBGEaa6zjqamNgGeR8HKIKmDm/s1600-h/book.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dVa6xZbWuNCtrlLe62ODGUy-A_EIrVFT6DRnYOVdRnPjvn1goA9CqTpLmEDdDdfbSe9vaSR4BJncbWN6Vnqcd1vksRr5XbkX-G6Id3nlWsOUiNErwJRNBGEaa6zjqamNgGeR8HKIKmDm/s320/book.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299450041071383570" /></a>Long time, no blog. <br /><br />So here's a shiny new review for you to sink your virtual teeth into. <br /><br /><strong>Swimming with the Sharks </strong>by <em>Debbie Reed Fischer</em><br /><br />Total: Two stars (maybe less, but I'm feeling generous) <br /><br />{Summary from Back Cover}<br /><br /><strong>Remember the pact. Or else.</strong><br /><br />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. <br /><br />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"?<br /><br />Behind The Grade:<br /><br />For one, Peyton is painfully boring. I mean, some of the best books are spawned from characters that are very unlikeable (<em>Catcher in the Rye</em>, and more recently, <em>Prep</em>, to name a few), but at least Holden and Lee aren't so...<em>blah</em>. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />(It's noted that the stupidly-named Von is the apple of our gal, Peyton's eye) <br /><br />"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..." <br /><br />This girl has got her priorities in order. <br /><br />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 <em>cheering</em> aspect is barely mentioned at all. <br /><br />I'm hardly an expect on all things pom-poms, but...don't they go to games or something?<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-63544400845861140822009-01-16T05:10:00.001-08:002009-01-16T05:17:55.776-08:00my blog is being funky...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPqkV4hBYOgKlhnJSqoAn56Sn5sKK0yxiqizvzGlnx9jOEXp2fdhEQHS6VU07uMk_DQseul6Qmjx81eLxy1eF9ORTWs-KlEPVP42dt1-5Xj3fJR77S_xKHQc52clGFQ2I0Ji-H2aaoO9D/s1600-h/heartoutofstone.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPqkV4hBYOgKlhnJSqoAn56Sn5sKK0yxiqizvzGlnx9jOEXp2fdhEQHS6VU07uMk_DQseul6Qmjx81eLxy1eF9ORTWs-KlEPVP42dt1-5Xj3fJR77S_xKHQc52clGFQ2I0Ji-H2aaoO9D/s320/heartoutofstone.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291879940557244978" /></a><br />So, um, just scroll down to find my review of Sara Zarr's "<em>Sweethearts</em>." Or click <a href="http://fivestarreading.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-sweethearts-by-sara-zarr.html">here</a>. 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. <br /><br />With Love, <br /><br />Gabbi! <br /><br />(P.S. Claire and Charlie from <em>Lost</em> say "Hello!")Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-13113932012184154662009-01-13T14:41:00.000-08:002009-01-13T14:45:14.782-08:00Book Trailer: Parties & Potions by Sarah MlynowskiThought 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. <br /><br />Just watch it!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aow7PYc-s7Y&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aow7PYc-s7Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-60905847434982895312009-01-12T13:51:00.000-08:002009-01-16T05:07:00.007-08:00Review: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciKcghZKxgrORIq0kI7ohpa5DHV9xHkbg1ibshh85-fkbRFe8jGeybscGZB8jD4afDUGgHrn5xcQ3og7AZ7-bSvh5zSHd3RQmkpOiNdbWxTyibMoHI6eCpqLNrhDPgjj9pP53KYjq4I0y/s1600-h/sweethearts.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciKcghZKxgrORIq0kI7ohpa5DHV9xHkbg1ibshh85-fkbRFe8jGeybscGZB8jD4afDUGgHrn5xcQ3og7AZ7-bSvh5zSHd3RQmkpOiNdbWxTyibMoHI6eCpqLNrhDPgjj9pP53KYjq4I0y/s320/sweethearts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290786378266505394" /></a>Total: Four point five stars <br /><br />{Summary from Fantastic Fiction}<br /><br />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. <br /><br />When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.<br /><br />Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.<br /><br />Behind the Grade: <br /><br />After all the "beach reads" (loathe this term, but that was the nicest I could come up with) I've been reading, picking up <em>Sweethearts</em> is comparable to taking a plunge into the dark, salty depths and loving every minute of it. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.) <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />ANYWAY. Back to the review. <br /><br />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!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-50716432990368671252009-01-09T13:04:00.001-08:002009-01-11T13:23:06.507-08:00Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQQbhLcn-E21oIXRTxnseczZ4g3O4WcGO_PPAk3p04tAATizbTppELWeZn8C3pQU4liPN7_hA-BwM-ktAwWaLvqdOXqU7dP27QfMzoYmyTrVgXqOXdXalnT88uQIOCanJho-Lxl7hZFKi/s1600-h/city+of+ashes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQQbhLcn-E21oIXRTxnseczZ4g3O4WcGO_PPAk3p04tAATizbTppELWeZn8C3pQU4liPN7_hA-BwM-ktAwWaLvqdOXqU7dP27QfMzoYmyTrVgXqOXdXalnT88uQIOCanJho-Lxl7hZFKi/s320/city+of+ashes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289407769358497554" /></a>Asdfg. <br /><br />Way late. I know. Sorry. I got sidetracked by shiny <a href="url">Poppy</a> books. :D<br /><br />Total: Four Stars <br /><br />{Summary From Jacket Flap}<br /><br />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? <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Behind The Grade: <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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 <em>totally</em> 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... <br /><br />Was it just me or was the plot a lot slower? I remember loving how fast paced <a href="http://fivestarreading.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare.html">City of Bones</a> was. <br /><br />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? <br /><br />Moving on... <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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, <em>City of Glass</em>, which is out March 24th, 2009. <br /><br />(*EPIC FORESHADOWING. AND ALSO A LIE.)Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-65712554344432670202009-01-07T16:34:00.000-08:002009-01-07T16:46:43.598-08:00Review: Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8xktNhllxP5TL8X6YUG2cCagYnc_TQiA-6kbP3o_YquFmzrTBmso-3ZydAniDAiEJSbB0cVcql9zZCZEG9r27IFCzMbkrVt1huXQRt-RYCGLQQ8f9UW_mAnBvQMQbmOpi1A_WKYCYhi8/s1600-h/hollywood+royalty.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8xktNhllxP5TL8X6YUG2cCagYnc_TQiA-6kbP3o_YquFmzrTBmso-3ZydAniDAiEJSbB0cVcql9zZCZEG9r27IFCzMbkrVt1huXQRt-RYCGLQQ8f9UW_mAnBvQMQbmOpi1A_WKYCYhi8/s320/hollywood+royalty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288716757559379874" /></a>Total: Three and a half stars (3.5) <br /><br /><strong>SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH IT.</strong><br /><br />Meet the newest crop of A-Listers: <br /><br />Amelie, the good girl who's struggling to shed her perfect image. <br /><br />Myla and Ash, the perfect duo who seem to be headed for break-up land. <br /><br />Jacob, the resident nerd who's gone from not-to-hot, but still can't break into the a-list. <br /><br />& <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Behind The Grade: <br /><br />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 <em>HR</em> was leaps and bounds <em>better</em> than <em>The A-List</em>. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Even if you (like myself) didn't enjoy Dean's original series, I'd suggest you at least try this one. <br /><br />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?Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-42246549905932311772009-01-06T14:27:00.000-08:002009-01-06T14:39:04.698-08:00Teaser Tuesday(ON AN <em>ACTUAL </em>TUESDAY - AWESOMESAUCE!) <br /><br />~rules & regs~ <br />Grab your current read. <br />Let the book fall open to a random page. <br />Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. <br />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! <br />Please avoid spoilers! <br /><br /><strong>The A-List: Hollywood Royalty</strong> by Zoey Dean<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiManZkhBog21vk31xsEocq6JhZfujqKQu-osoHRiHyJmJIssM4bVbWgIWcH72pVbanpLqHIuR0mvPBMOnqkPPA5RUKDtb6-fGK27FCBaKh-eWrC7qaZg8mU7LwlPve5H8sJa91KG2K_q4U/s1600-h/hollywood+royalty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiManZkhBog21vk31xsEocq6JhZfujqKQu-osoHRiHyJmJIssM4bVbWgIWcH72pVbanpLqHIuR0mvPBMOnqkPPA5RUKDtb6-fGK27FCBaKh-eWrC7qaZg8mU7LwlPve5H8sJa91KG2K_q4U/s320/hollywood+royalty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288313421198256322" /></a><br /><br />"Morning," Myla said, half-opening her green eyes. <br /><br />"Morning, you."<br /><br />- page thirty-nine.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-45577913511240990952009-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:002009-01-05T15:57:30.364-08:00What I'll Be Reading This Week (instead of working on that project*...)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. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYU0xj9p4cmF1Uua_byL8ybhycJMCt272eH6DV-M-J-VPkgOqAb3qfaMS-0tXmYJn9I5BqWpDlIoOLV3lfdDhilM_zacVcs1rrEib3TJaTevDv3jYYeNuZ5jIk02DBoHCrC4Fc42RZ7LXm/s1600-h/sweetheart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYU0xj9p4cmF1Uua_byL8ybhycJMCt272eH6DV-M-J-VPkgOqAb3qfaMS-0tXmYJn9I5BqWpDlIoOLV3lfdDhilM_zacVcs1rrEib3TJaTevDv3jYYeNuZ5jIk02DBoHCrC4Fc42RZ7LXm/s320/sweetheart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287487763363717202" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>Sweethearts</em> by Sara Zarr</strong> <br />{Summary From FantasticFiction} <br /><br />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.<br /><br />When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbipRnMqaHUPvZI0vE3NZS5shAROhefGsKO73veeZw0GnHomKIU8FnPYW6Ha7Rxie3DmkIAxWdugyYo_RZ4bDs9S5yky2-tHvDq1FiqoJNFjWcaERk-i2AFv3HYJ2Jcq21IDUlUMt8FxW/s1600-h/american+wife.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbipRnMqaHUPvZI0vE3NZS5shAROhefGsKO73veeZw0GnHomKIU8FnPYW6Ha7Rxie3DmkIAxWdugyYo_RZ4bDs9S5yky2-tHvDq1FiqoJNFjWcaERk-i2AFv3HYJ2Jcq21IDUlUMt8FxW/s320/american+wife.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287488945389291074" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>American Wife</em> by Curtis Sittenfield</strong> {Summary From Author's Website} <br /><br />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.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj-RNq2YPqQJm5dfXyN37o90KaVpXMZTrvEUkgwaSGYs4Z4IAIodfYbQqDdT172e4B-V1sgGfYYWPJSALrMxw5U6ifc8Xonc_RrfP27cJvAo9s5YsPlFLNryZxejxZ4iltNCrbCco1KqL/s1600-h/City_of_Ashes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj-RNq2YPqQJm5dfXyN37o90KaVpXMZTrvEUkgwaSGYs4Z4IAIodfYbQqDdT172e4B-V1sgGfYYWPJSALrMxw5U6ifc8Xonc_RrfP27cJvAo9s5YsPlFLNryZxejxZ4iltNCrbCco1KqL/s320/City_of_Ashes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287588459501012754" /></a><br /><strong><em>City of Ashes</em></strong> (The Mortal Instruments Book Two) <strong>by Cassandra Clare</strong> {Summary From Jacket Flap} <br /><br />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. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW4lASGJZLl7xunGNQlPlWJhxwV8ze4HJFilnWn0kKePH7nt01FWNy1_jpvNrgjeHfNuuGYsDBPTURJxkzywi6-a9tRVuLEgzA7-BQnXDf3pPqTkMve3Jnzj_ESbLY2Ex8feMleruG_fh/s1600-h/Dirty_Laundry.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW4lASGJZLl7xunGNQlPlWJhxwV8ze4HJFilnWn0kKePH7nt01FWNy1_jpvNrgjeHfNuuGYsDBPTURJxkzywi6-a9tRVuLEgzA7-BQnXDf3pPqTkMve3Jnzj_ESbLY2Ex8feMleruG_fh/s320/Dirty_Laundry.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287797233834358946" /></a><br /><strong><em>Dirty Laundry</em> by Daniel Ehrenhaft</strong> {Summary From Author's Website} <br /><br /><strong>the school</strong>: <br /><br />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. <br /><br /><strong>the girl</strong>: <br /><br />Carli, a gorgeous pigtailed Hollywood actress going undercover at Winchester to research her role. <br /><br /><strong>the boy</strong>: <br /><br />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. <br /><br /><strong>the problem</strong>: <br /><br />Beautiful, talented senior Darcy Novak, one of the least screwed-up people at Winchester, has disappeared. <br /><br />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? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuYtJRwYZ-EyS3nnshIeGTCTdD7zZ_pHGnZR4Q0n2yIC-tB-DHk18Gcp4NMa_wtbIMh4UULhMiwsx0I-lPCbDCWPya3468H5srgO-4ES0GoH_UUuuZ2R8teAaiv_JzTH9J_2lJ9dsxUu_/s1600-h/midnight+twins.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuYtJRwYZ-EyS3nnshIeGTCTdD7zZ_pHGnZR4Q0n2yIC-tB-DHk18Gcp4NMa_wtbIMh4UULhMiwsx0I-lPCbDCWPya3468H5srgO-4ES0GoH_UUuuZ2R8teAaiv_JzTH9J_2lJ9dsxUu_/s320/midnight+twins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287796952384195714" /></a><strong><em>The Midnight Twins</em> by Jacquelyn Mitchard</strong> {Summary From FantasticFiction} <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBa5Q4sV3eS_hsTR8c4-TjBxhddMJW-0afUUMKkNWGbBoKSWiAoikdc4zluJecscZqmjc1e4xmSV5f1C93M5qw0NFJNYAgNKSNxxq51Cb6O1dDjVeKLfabYxk5At2cT6IjDzZvqZ5QW7w/s1600-h/next+summer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBa5Q4sV3eS_hsTR8c4-TjBxhddMJW-0afUUMKkNWGbBoKSWiAoikdc4zluJecscZqmjc1e4xmSV5f1C93M5qw0NFJNYAgNKSNxxq51Cb6O1dDjVeKLfabYxk5At2cT6IjDzZvqZ5QW7w/s320/next+summer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287961092073940306" /></a><br /><strong><em>Next Summer</em></strong> (Summer Boys, Book Two) <strong>by Hailey Abbott</strong> {Summary From Back Cover} <br /><br /><em>Three girls. Too many boys. One tempting summer.</em><br /><br /><strong>Beth</strong>: 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? <br /><strong><br />Ella</strong>: Bye-bye, bad girl. I'm<em> trying </em>to change my wild ways. But there are so many yummy boys around this summer. How can I resist them?<br /><br /><strong>Kelsi</strong>: 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... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSGd5e8rUfeOTMjrDO8A5Y3dUbOlrq6K1kuXnTqch4u2zMxCmCkaiKpVqGEX79lrFUazeJsfdWhKWKVht9zyLNLbypX-T8eWV6hi09Kl3XNmqddxQfTxrhkz1kWZm45AOt0gwneWHfCXz/s1600-h/swimming+with+the+sharks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSGd5e8rUfeOTMjrDO8A5Y3dUbOlrq6K1kuXnTqch4u2zMxCmCkaiKpVqGEX79lrFUazeJsfdWhKWKVht9zyLNLbypX-T8eWV6hi09Kl3XNmqddxQfTxrhkz1kWZm45AOt0gwneWHfCXz/s320/swimming+with+the+sharks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287960354541165970" /></a><br /><strong><em>Swimming With The Sharks</em></strong> <strong>by Debbie Reed Fischer</strong> {Summary From Back Cover} <br /><br /><strong>Remember the Pact. Or else. </strong><br /><br />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. <br /><br />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"?<br /><br />And lastly... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltI0PQv-EqxwXQyIRGhFTCk4R5CADlRQ3oY9tOSpsWVMpGK1mhk0eo5P5FYd7Dsoueup0Nw1AYmwZKOA7MCxxJaFR6Izm_gONDBF_Y4iTRW8t5Tun5rDfcpi_VWK_nLxBAiw3cN5h9t2t/s1600-h/hollywood+royalty.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltI0PQv-EqxwXQyIRGhFTCk4R5CADlRQ3oY9tOSpsWVMpGK1mhk0eo5P5FYd7Dsoueup0Nw1AYmwZKOA7MCxxJaFR6Izm_gONDBF_Y4iTRW8t5Tun5rDfcpi_VWK_nLxBAiw3cN5h9t2t/s320/hollywood+royalty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287962967439314178" /></a><br /><strong><em>The A-List: Hollywood Royalty</em></strong> <strong>by Zoey Dean</strong> {Summary From Back Cover} <br /><br /><strong>SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH IT. </strong><br /><br />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.<br /><br />*Note To Self: Work on that project! It's due soon, n00b, and you've barely started!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-35150985128290372242009-01-01T18:25:00.000-08:002009-01-01T18:28:50.491-08:00Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEYjJ2uQbDKu50_bA6kpSKY2XyWnClxPSxAHcmsSENO9BW4sAtGG12IR7gAnp3AMKRKnPfA1gs9jQXS-SaJfQTA5GGY1Zk0c6cCF9lQDUJSiKxV_N2af6JfRQTiqg_EhtKQRQBSEzeDs0/s1600-h/city+of+bones.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEYjJ2uQbDKu50_bA6kpSKY2XyWnClxPSxAHcmsSENO9BW4sAtGG12IR7gAnp3AMKRKnPfA1gs9jQXS-SaJfQTA5GGY1Zk0c6cCF9lQDUJSiKxV_N2af6JfRQTiqg_EhtKQRQBSEzeDs0/s320/city+of+bones.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286517695302875570" /></a>So, uh, after reading this <br /><br />"BUY THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS (City of Bones/City of Ashes) SERIES. BUY THEM. BUY THEEEEEEEEM. <br /><br />They are AMAAAAAZING."<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Anyways. <br /><br />Review time. <br /><br />Total: Somewhere around Four Stars. <br /><br />{Summary from Back Cover} <br /><br /><strong>Their hidden world is about to be revealed... </strong><br /><br />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. <br /><br />(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.) <br /><br />Behind The Grade: <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Continuing on. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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) <em>unreal</em>. <br /><br />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 <em>Harry Potter</em>." (The kisses did come. Eventually. There were two.) <br /><br />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. <br /><br />I quite liked it. Up until the very end. <br /><br />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: <br /><br />Their romantic possibilities were ruined in the most <em>Star Wars</em>-ian of ways. <br /><br />If you're interested in Scott Westerfeld, Stephenie Meyer, Libba Bray or Holly Black's stuff, you'll definitely be salivating over<em> The Mortal Instruments </em>series. <br /><br />Until next time...Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-2521337836750900322008-12-30T12:15:00.000-08:002008-12-30T12:31:32.785-08:00Review: Willow by Julia Hoban (ARC)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDLKOcLWvuqbm13-CWAOtsoaZbQnE2qHy8ly4Y14Vmshub-VekVvpZzJFEhhWHjchuKCLVGCW8f8xtUpaI2YIoyl9qyN7dcmcEtGod2wAeYlfgLc_0TNHVoDVg4zCgf75U7qZYwfS7h9m/s1600-h/willow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDLKOcLWvuqbm13-CWAOtsoaZbQnE2qHy8ly4Y14Vmshub-VekVvpZzJFEhhWHjchuKCLVGCW8f8xtUpaI2YIoyl9qyN7dcmcEtGod2wAeYlfgLc_0TNHVoDVg4zCgf75U7qZYwfS7h9m/s320/willow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285683422295067874" /></a><strong>Total</strong>: All Five Stars (!!!) <br /><br />{From Back Cover} <br /><br /><strong>Seven months ago</strong>, 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><strong><br />Behind The Grade: </strong><br />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. <br /><br />It was mind-blowing. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Second: plot movement. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br /><em>Willow</em> will be availible in hardcover on April 2nd. You better be getting it!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-45568933273564581322008-12-28T11:04:00.000-08:002008-12-29T06:41:55.867-08:00Review: The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6i5RntFVhh6BWvHh3B61y7a914xncBZwdPVtrnScEL_p_kpcNLcHX31j-kfr8iHTBzeRRNLiLc_uiz6rYvPlSYtEoRBHI1fkkKLVY4snm8Ay6jX0f5xF8DuLd49RW28sx1IRCp0bV1II/s1600-h/book+club.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6i5RntFVhh6BWvHh3B61y7a914xncBZwdPVtrnScEL_p_kpcNLcHX31j-kfr8iHTBzeRRNLiLc_uiz6rYvPlSYtEoRBHI1fkkKLVY4snm8Ay6jX0f5xF8DuLd49RW28sx1IRCp0bV1II/s320/book+club.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284919271178159826" /></a><br />This post's subtitle: <br /><br /><em><strong>Why I Can't Review MG Books Anymore! -tear- </strong></em><br /><br />Total: Two stars <br /><br />{Summary From Back Cover} <br /><br /><em>The book club is about to get a makeover...</em><br /><br />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. <br /><br />But what begins as a mom-inspired ritual reading of <em>Little Women</em>, 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? <br /><br />Behind The Grade:<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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 <em>Little Women</em> 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. <br /><br />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?<br /><br />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 <em>one</em> character's perspective so you can grow attached to them? I didn't like any of the four girls here. <br /><br />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.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-71494292088076611162008-12-28T07:42:00.001-08:002008-12-28T11:37:12.167-08:00A Very Booktastic ChristmasSo, I only have about...<em>oh, I don't know</em>... three hundred dollars worth of gift cards for <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/">Chapters </a> (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. <br /><br />One that isn't technically on the list, but that I keep hearing about...<br /><br />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? <br /><br />Answer in comments! <br /><br />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? <br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Noz3DDxz9fY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Noz3DDxz9fY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />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! <br /><br />Hope your holidays were just as booktastic as mine! Many, many reviews await us!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-83697331186737984582008-12-23T14:01:00.000-08:002008-12-28T11:51:24.885-08:00Waiting on, er, Tuesday (Take Two) + A Book TrailerFor my second WoW post, I picked Simone Elkeles' "<em>Perfect Chemistry</em>." 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"?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHiiHJQqEKu1P-xcp6VVo2p9osayT-DoXqMwdeF-Pz9DQXyI_mEkWl4_FYlMaAv6yLYA1A9Eds0noAAtkgg7eBuzwdD7n0xgzK6tXHgmCc1yfncRq1Em8ifmKP_ZdL3KgR5gCNeOxLSz1/s1600-h/perfect+chemistry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHiiHJQqEKu1P-xcp6VVo2p9osayT-DoXqMwdeF-Pz9DQXyI_mEkWl4_FYlMaAv6yLYA1A9Eds0noAAtkgg7eBuzwdD7n0xgzK6tXHgmCc1yfncRq1Em8ifmKP_ZdL3KgR5gCNeOxLSz1/s320/perfect+chemistry.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283110189779058274" /></a><br /><br />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 <a href="http://www.simoneelkeles.net/videos.html">the link</a>. 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. <br /><br />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! <br /><br />'<strong>A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist</strong>. 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, <em>Perfect Chemistry</em> takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.'Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-27795714608301487912008-12-21T05:19:00.000-08:002008-12-21T05:46:09.231-08:00Review: Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KEN3fbwq-tcsdV05xngSaeVRXD9OgQWbgpE0VbRYsi4LyHFoUB-el28bEe_nOIoEYZGLam745RG5XqkWuDxKOZNTCvrIZH_54sZKARJnDedKs0V3pV5zVshQWJWDGw5n6SkKAFB_1DJ1/s1600-h/summer+boys.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KEN3fbwq-tcsdV05xngSaeVRXD9OgQWbgpE0VbRYsi4LyHFoUB-el28bEe_nOIoEYZGLam745RG5XqkWuDxKOZNTCvrIZH_54sZKARJnDedKs0V3pV5zVshQWJWDGw5n6SkKAFB_1DJ1/s320/summer+boys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282238701176108402" /></a>Total: Three stars <br /><br />{From back cover} <br /><br />First boy. First love. First time.*<br /><br /><strong>Ella</strong>: <em>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.</em><br /><br /><strong>Beth</strong>: <em>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?</em><br /><br /><strong>Jamie</strong>: <em>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?</em><br /><br />It's summer. It's hot. It's time to hook up. <br /><br />Behind the Grade: <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Or an American winter or whatever. <br /><br />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? <br /><br />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 <em>really</em> 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. <br /><br />Besides that long, drawn-out complaint:<br /><br />- it was pretty good <br />- the characters had distinct personalities, but Beth was often ignored and could've been developed further <br />- I can't help but loathe self-loathing Jamie <br />- pretty good writing, like usual, but plot and characterization doesn't merit a four<br /><br />I ran out and got the sequel, <em>Next Summer</em>, 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!) <br /><br />* {SPOILER ALERT} Whose first time is it? Jamie's, from last summer? Ella's, <em>avec</em> 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!?Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-32655333900543790292008-12-20T17:45:00.000-08:002008-12-20T18:13:50.424-08:00Review: The Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDSFGSjzv-wXF62B9n3FJmIyONZ8es7bPyjUx08fiRD6uuel-NJyMG_rme1gjbY4Zps8lqFa5xgQad8Wty46FfCsEL6X23ISWDS4w52Uv5b5dL051HwOW6tNkbh-Rlqcf8vO2-EN48OP9/s1600-h/au+pairs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDSFGSjzv-wXF62B9n3FJmIyONZ8es7bPyjUx08fiRD6uuel-NJyMG_rme1gjbY4Zps8lqFa5xgQad8Wty46FfCsEL6X23ISWDS4w52Uv5b5dL051HwOW6tNkbh-Rlqcf8vO2-EN48OP9/s320/au+pairs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282058340770969570" /></a>Total: Two point five <br /><br />{My own craptastic summary} <br /><br />Three girls. Ten thousand dollars. One summer. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Behind the Grade:<br /><br />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 <a href="http://melissa-delacruz.com/index.php/diary/url">her blog</a> is pretty much my life. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />There <em>are</em> a couple life lessons included in here and all the beachy fun certainly warmed up my winter night. <br /><br />The book is a couple years old now so some of the references are dated, just like the <em>Gossip Girl</em> books. I'd recommend picking up <em>Blue Bloods</em>, also by Melissa, instead, or even <em>The Ashleys</em> (also-also by her) for the younger set. <em>Blue Bloods</em> incorporates fantasy elements into the story and the fit between the vampire lore and masked balls is seamless.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-32418090871463398112008-12-18T14:07:00.000-08:002008-12-18T14:16:22.831-08:002009 Teen Choice Book AwardsJust popping by to inform you guys of CBC's (Children's Book Council) Teen Choice Book Awards that are currently going on at <a href="http://www.teenreads.com/features/ccba_nominees_2009.asp">Teenreads.com</a>. <br /><br />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 '<em>Absolute Brightness</em>' to Rachel Cohn's '<em>You Know Where To Find Me</em>.' <br /><br />I've already submitted my picks - have you?Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-14079963741750832552008-12-16T13:58:00.001-08:002008-12-16T14:05:00.665-08:00Teaser TuesdayWhee! I remembered! <br /><br /><strong>Grab your current read. <br />Let the book fall open to a random page. <br />Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.</strong><br /><br />Because I'm a ruler breaker, I had to pick three! Sorry, it wouldn't make any sense with only two lines!<br /><br />"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." <br /><br />- Taken from page 144 of '<em>The Au Pairs</em>' by Melissa de la Cruz. <br /><br />[For more information, check out <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should Be Reading</a>.]Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-26235126871640485962008-12-15T17:09:00.000-08:002008-12-15T17:22:54.209-08:00Review: Chloe Doe by Suzanne Phillips<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM3pSZ6Z8j7fFXKLwAW8li2SZ7LFQLiUzjH9wx6YiNTLjhuIH11NXb1ee_XPaA4S4gFAC-E2BmTMn5xXl-zfhO3K16t5X16fifLuliQTGEwxbHOfSjg1KgkXuunxJjNbYWDeZ04_7ZkIv/s1600-h/chloe+doe.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM3pSZ6Z8j7fFXKLwAW8li2SZ7LFQLiUzjH9wx6YiNTLjhuIH11NXb1ee_XPaA4S4gFAC-E2BmTMn5xXl-zfhO3K16t5X16fifLuliQTGEwxbHOfSjg1KgkXuunxJjNbYWDeZ04_7ZkIv/s320/chloe+doe.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280192263037788850" /></a>Total: Uh... *stumped* Two-ish. <br /><br />{From the back cover}<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Inspiring in her ability to overcome, Chloe Doe is poised to show the power of perseverance and, above all, hope. <br /><br />Behind the Grade: <br /><br />As noted above, I'm positively stumped by this book. Here's why: <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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 <em>Lock & Key</em>)<br /><br />Instead, Chloe gets picked up by an undercover cop and is sent to some glorified juvie hall. <br /><br />Well, then. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />That being said, <em>eh</em>. I was waiting for the chapter/page/line when I would go, "Wow. That was so 'moving.'' (As blurbed by <em>KLIATT</em> 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. <br /><br />Wouldn't recommend this, though the writing is a saving grace.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-74557364442116829682008-12-13T05:52:00.000-08:002008-12-13T05:55:22.835-08:00Apocalypse Now<a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/store/product.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302028384&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442193019">Edward. Cullen. Body. Shimmer.</a><br /><br />Gee, thanks, <a href="http://freneticreader.blogspot.com/">Khy</a>, for <strong>scarring me for life</strong>.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-62037792863432203752008-12-11T17:39:00.000-08:002008-12-11T17:53:15.654-08:00Review: Priviledged by Zoey Dean<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1855IXzhL77drMqBBl8xpaYUHjJdbDxfeDS4fvAQpXfBjR_MQly9jTZH5EDnErtXUjYZ1Gr95AyrJATXZqaTaXn1sZmE6Tje4LIdCUy60gC1Yd0WprN70-7zJYjp7IohLaW8KwMaaHiM/s1600-h/priviledged.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 117px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1855IXzhL77drMqBBl8xpaYUHjJdbDxfeDS4fvAQpXfBjR_MQly9jTZH5EDnErtXUjYZ1Gr95AyrJATXZqaTaXn1sZmE6Tje4LIdCUy60gC1Yd0WprN70-7zJYjp7IohLaW8KwMaaHiM/s320/priviledged.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278715566140674226" /></a><br />Total: Two (and a half) stars <br /><br /><em>Privileged</em>, 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 <em>Gossip Girl</em>.) <br /><br />What story is that? <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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 <em>Vanity Fair</em> 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. <br /><br />Enter Megan. <br /><br />Behind the Grade: <br /><br />Meh. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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? <br /><br />Actually, I'm not feeling generous today: <br /><br />It was pretty crappy.Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-10420694759364345742008-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:002008-12-15T17:30:02.310-08:00I Love Your Blog, Takes Two & Three (& Four)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYJL8n6ss1_JapNRdIrG_KRtEXC6R7ocNfCMZ-VbpdckDdm8QzrIs4YPWtK38E__KkHxC9LTyO37ADOd6XYtU1Fk2AZGHa9BWQL6Ch_2paizyabMbxzEJ4HHgbSPAkYX2Kfh8uMzqB17a/s1600-h/iloveyourblogaward.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYJL8n6ss1_JapNRdIrG_KRtEXC6R7ocNfCMZ-VbpdckDdm8QzrIs4YPWtK38E__KkHxC9LTyO37ADOd6XYtU1Fk2AZGHa9BWQL6Ch_2paizyabMbxzEJ4HHgbSPAkYX2Kfh8uMzqB17a/s320/iloveyourblogaward.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278185610516485202" /></a>Thanks for all the lovely nominations! They mean so much to me! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01454376536460568583">Molly</a> of <a href="http://wowthatsrandom101.blogspot.com/">Random 101</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12016900109049413411">Bookworm</a> of <a href="http://bookwormbooklovers.blogspot.com/">Bookworm Readers</a> have nominated me for this award!<br /><br />Check out their blogs! <br /><br />Thanks guys!<br /><br />EDIT: I've also been nominated by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/10271752713978389546url">Vanessa</a> @ <a href="http://whatvanessareads.wordpress.com/">What Vanessa Reads</a>!Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-69344740503774810482008-12-07T07:51:00.001-08:002008-12-21T09:36:38.281-08:00Review: The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbk9YqFvfnz4uiQKtYsCfOJgeEChhOVjyw3T-9LLRFvlXSG2ppP4HtQf0RzP52ptlP1-wzuWFYxPBf-6jafsGTswA9NSrEFe9PlpMZbPokR5JVtm5Qu3oof3CEO7j2HM1bB7Iw4SoPV3R/s1600-h/secret+life.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbk9YqFvfnz4uiQKtYsCfOJgeEChhOVjyw3T-9LLRFvlXSG2ppP4HtQf0RzP52ptlP1-wzuWFYxPBf-6jafsGTswA9NSrEFe9PlpMZbPokR5JVtm5Qu3oof3CEO7j2HM1bB7Iw4SoPV3R/s320/secret+life.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277152200481479554" /></a><em>The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez</em> by Alan Lawrence Sitomer<br /><br />Total: Four stars <br /><br />Summary from Amazon: <br /><br />Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States, but her parents are Mexican immigrants who came to California before she was born. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />When Sonia attempts to put school work before her <em>familia</em>, 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 <em>familia</em> is important, the most important thing is to follow your heart. <br /><br />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... <br /><br />Review: <br /><br />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 <em>any</em> 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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 <em>Gossip Girl</em> anyway, so why not do it with better writing and actual plot?Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646003446271201170.post-57396219863101492522008-12-03T14:03:00.000-08:002008-12-03T14:09:09.890-08:00Waiting on Wednesday: Take OneI'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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcWUvQ9PnlcIdy2QxAyRmfZBWkpNjoq5kNzRdaltAIo_jXWgCB9VaKqSTvgJipmROlWUENNxnofjJwwj1t8mNphwtOAFPJo510M9mO7ErlA2WKiSLSSpeng2V0-Ziuf-GDdH_bmO8xW2i/s1600-h/willow.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcWUvQ9PnlcIdy2QxAyRmfZBWkpNjoq5kNzRdaltAIo_jXWgCB9VaKqSTvgJipmROlWUENNxnofjJwwj1t8mNphwtOAFPJo510M9mO7ErlA2WKiSLSSpeng2V0-Ziuf-GDdH_bmO8xW2i/s320/willow.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275689022763137410" /></a><br /><br />Summary from Amazon: <br /><br /><em>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.<br /><br />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. </em><br /><br /><strong>What YA novel are you looking forward to this week?</strong>Gabbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632824763024999543noreply@blogger.com1