"Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world."
Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons?
A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.
Review:
I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I've first heard about it. I love the fact that it's a take on the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and how through that Jackie intertwines different issues facing teens today. So, when Hunger finally ended up in my hands, I have to admit I was quite excited to read it. Thankfully, Hunger provided to a well-written, intriguing, and fast-paced read about how one eating disorder can cause one girl's whole life to go spinning out of control.
Hunger is the tale of Lisabeth Lewis. Lisabeth has a problem...she's anorexic and her family, friends,and boyfriend are starting to catch on to this scary secret, and she just can't let that happen. It would ruin everything and she would loose the control she has over her body if she had to give her anorexic ways up. Just as she's worrying about this, a horseman shows up to her front door giving her the a black steed, a steed that will lead her on the journey of her life, one that will show her how hunger affects the world in unimaginable ways . But will this make Lisabeth change her own ways? Only time will tell in this extremely imaginative tale of one girl's fight to take control of her life.
Lisabeth was a character whose story I was invested in throughout, even though there were times when I wanted to shake her on her shoulder for her silly ways, ways that were hurting the ones who loved her the most and most importantly herself. Her struggle with anorexia was very believable, in my opinion, and I can only hope that teens who have face similar problems to Lisa's or have friends that do will have the courage to speak out after reading this. I also liked the character of Death. He was quite the interesting of characters and I'm really looking forward to reading more about him in future additions of the Horseman of the Apocalypse series.
Furthermore, I found the premise and plot to be great! As mentioned above, I love how Ms. Kessler takes series issues and puts a paranormal spin to them because not only is it a unique spin but the execution is fantastic!
The only problem I really had with this book was how I felt that some of the characters and relationships weren't as fleshed out as they could have been, but besides that nothing else really bothered me.
In all, Hunger is fantastic paranormal addition to teen-lit. I can't wait to see what Jackie has in store for us next!
Grade: B+
Hunger is now out!
Source: Unsolicited review copy provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
~~~
I also have an extra ARC of Hunger to give away to one lucky reader. Here are the rules:
~ Must be 13 or older.
~ This contest is open internationally.
~ Fill out the following form to be entered.
~ This contest will end December 17th!
With the local vampire coven decimated, Julia and Nicholas try to begin a somewhat normal life together. Bound by secrecy from a shape shifter determined to see Julia’s world-saving prediction come to fruition, Julia isn’t allowed to tell Nicholas the leader survived, ransacking her happiness with guilt. When Alora returns, bent on revenge, the reunion forces Nicholas and Julia to choose what they are willing to live and die for.
Review:
After reading The Emerald Talisman, I've been eagerly awaiting The Sapphire Talisman, the sequel, because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next to Julia and Nicholas. Thankfully, when I finally did get the chance to read The Sapphire Talisman, it turned out to be everything I was expecting and even more. It was seriously even better than its prequel, something that doesn't usually happen that often in series.
The Sapphire Talisman continues shortly after The Emerald Talisman left off. Julia and Nicholas' secret relationship is better than ever and everything has mostly returned back to normal. Though, soon enough, everything turns upside down once again when Alora makes yet another grand appearance. This time she's meaner than ever, and promises to wreck not only Julia and Nicholas' relationship, but the characters themselves. Will they fight back and win? Will secrets be reveled? Only time will tell in this spectacular follow-up to The Emerald Talisman.
Character develepment! It was present in nearly every character and relationship in this book, and that was something that I was not only grateful for but also one of my favorite parts of the book, because I loved finding out more about Nicholas and his mysterious past, as well as Alora's coven and Julia's family. I also liked the new "hat" Julia wore in this book because not only was she fearless and brave but she stood on her own quite nicely, instead of hanging on Nicholas's every word. Plus I loved the tension between her and Nicholas and a surprise guest. It always kept me on the edge of my chair curious to see what would occur next.
Anohter part of this novel I enjoyed was the plot. For one, it was even more action packed and develeped than in in The Emerald Tailsman, and for two, it forever left me on the tips of my toes with all the twist and turns it mangaged to pack in between the charactes and their relationships.
Brenda's writing was also even better in this book. As mentioed before she did a fablous job with develepment. Plus her transitions and pace were both great!
In all, The Sapphire Talisman is defitnely one of the best sequels I've read in a long time, and I can't wait to see what Brenda has in store for all of her readers next!
*This post was brought to you by The Teen {Book} Scene. To see all tour stops (as well as contest posts and other tours!) head on over to its offical page.*
Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones (I've read some of Tim's previous books and really enjoyed them, so I'm really looking forward to reading this one! Thanks Candlewick!)
From Netgalley:
Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison (Just finished this one yesterday- it was really good; I really, really loved the premise. It actually reminded me of Before I Fall, but it was different in many ways as well.)
In all, a small but great week! Though, enough about me, what did you get this week? Anything good? Let me know in the comments! :)
High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to Seventeen wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she's stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood. Happily skewering their foibles in witty observations on her iPhone proves surprisingly educational for Francesca. The group must work together to survive-if they don't insult each other to death first.
This looks like the perfect light read! I love the whole desert island with five clueless celebs aspect. And I love the title even more!
Calla loves summer because summer means Duncan. They’ve been best friends for years, but Calla has never worked up the nerve to tell him how she really feels. This summer, the summer before college, is Calla's last chance.
Violet isn't much of a rule breaker in real life. But this isn't real life, this is summer, and Violet is determined to make the most of it. Besides, a little sneaking out never hurt anyone. And sneaking out with James is 100% worth the risk...even though James is completely off-limits.
Daisy has never been the sister that boys notice, but when sparks fly with Joel at the first bonfire of summer, it seems so easy and right. So why is being his girlfriend so complicated?
This one looks great as well! I've never read anything by Tera before, though I've heard nothing but praise for her previous books so maybe this will be a good place to start at.
Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself.
This looks really, really good as well, and "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard" made me laugh when I read the summary so I'm sold.
Please welcome Lisa Klein to the blog today! She's the other of several books for teens, including the newly released Cate of the Lost Colony. Here are some questions I asked her and her answers.
~~~
In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens, or even adults, should consider picking up Cate of the Lost Colony the next time they see it online or in store?
One, pick it up because of the cover. (You can judge this book by the cover!) Two, haven’t you always wondered what happened to the people of the “lost colony” of Roanoke? Three, it’s a romance with lots of conflict and danger.
Cate of the Lost Colony is told from the viewpoint of Cate, so would you mind sharing a little bit about her? Also, if you could offer her any type of advice, what would you say?
Cate begins by being insecure and inexperienced at the queen’s court, but she has a tendency to be outspoken. She gains confidence, especially after she arrives on Roanoke Island and leadership is sorely needed. Perhaps her most notable trait is curiosity, and this is both her downfall and her salvation. I don’t have any advice to offer her; she manages just fine on her own! I’d want to be more like her, if I ever found myself on a dangerous island.
What inspired you to have Cate of the Lost Colony’s setting be Roanoke Island?
Well, that’s where the colonists landed in 1587, because there was already a fort and a few buildings. Whatever happened there determined if there were any survivors. Even if they were never found, it’s a novelist’s job to speculate.
How did the title Cate of the Lost Colony come to be? Was it always the title or did it come later on in the process?
It came about late in the process, but it seemed so natural. I like alliteration!
What are three things about you that your readers would be surprised to find out about you?
1. I was in the National Spelling Bee when I was 12 and placed fifteenth.
2. I love to eat raw chocolate chip cookie dough.
3. I have two sons (ages 15 and 20) and five “daughters”: Ophelia, Lizzie, Rosanna, Albia, and Cate!
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.
As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.
Review:
Before beginning my official review of Losing Faith, I have to say that I absolutely love the cover of this. It's simply breathtaking and truly captures the feeling of this book, in my opinion. But I digress.
Anyhow, Losing Faith is an beautiful, heartbreaking, and unique debut, one that I'm sure many teens who enjoy a sad but hopeful read will eat up right up.
Losing Faith tells the story of Brie, a girl who's always been the black sheep of family. Because unlike her parents and sister Faith, she's really not that religious. Especially when compared to Faith. Though, one night that seems like just a regular one something tragic occurs. Faith is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Her death is ruled as a suicide, but Brie can't believe or come to terms with the fact that her beloved sister would do such a thing. So, before she knows it, she's on the path to finding out the truth behind Faith's death, but is she really ready to see a side of her sister she never knew occurred, one who belonged to a religious cult and did some sketchy things? Only time will tell in this deeply intriguing novel of religious cults and how a girl's life can change in one quick and sudden moment.
Brie was one of my favorite aspect of Losing Faith, because I just really enjoyed reading about her. I constantly rooted for in the many different aspects of her life varying from her finding "true" friends to the truth behind her sister's death. I especially loved the fact that she never stopped at anything to find out the truth about her sister, and while some might say her actions were silly and impulsive, I thought nothing of the sort. I also enjoyed reading about her friendship with Tessa, yet anther interesting character, and Alis, the quiet but unique boy-next-door so to say.
Another part I enjoyed about this book was the plot and what come along with it. I always find religious cults to be scary but that never stops me from reading as much as I can about them simply because I'm always fascinated about why people would want to belong to such a thing. So, as you can probably image, I found the cult aspect of this great, epically given how real Denise made it and the fact that she constantly introduced twists throughout with it.
Denise Jaden's writing was also a high point. It definitely makes me excited to read more by her in the future, but I didn't always like how some parts of this moved in a really slow pace. Though, besides that I have nothing but love for this novel.
In all, Losing Faith is a great read about loosing it all and puting the pieces of life back together. Denise Jaden is great new addition to YA.
Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader + Thank-you Card (Thanks, Melina! I can't wait to read Nice and Mean.)
From Simon and Schuster's Galley Grab Program:
Angry Young Man by Chris Lynch
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
Deadly by Julie Chibbaro
Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
Haven by Kristi Cook
Choker by Elizabeth Woods (An amazing read! High, highly recommended!)
Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
The Hot List by Hilary Homzie
Odd Girl In by Jo Whittemore
Over the Moon by Jodi Picoult and Jake van Leer
In all, a really great week book-wise. I can't wait to dive into all of these during Thanksgiving break! Though, enough about me, what did you get this week? Anything cool? Let me know in the comments. :)
In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn’t hurt…right?
When Erin Channing’s favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal ball and a set of weird instructions. Granted, Aunt Kiki (aka Aunt Kooky) always lived “outside the box.” But now Erin and her two best friends are convinced that the pink crystal ball holds the key to their future—or at least the key to getting dates…
Consider Your Fate to Be Sealed . . .
• Absolute knowledge is not unlimited; let the planets be your guide to the number.
• There are sixteen ways to die, but four of them you will never see.
• The future belongs to you alone. Other voices will be disappointed.
• One rotation is as far as you can see. Only uncertainty lies beyond.
Review:
Ever since I first heard about this book, I've been dying to read it because I love any book that involves a crystal ball, epically when it's pink. Luckily enough, The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball is one of the sweetest and most entertaining books I've read this year!
Erin Channing’s life has always been boring and normal, which is making it that much harder to write an easy for why she should be picked out everyone to go on her school's AP Art History Trip to Italy. Though, everything changes when her favorite aunt dies living her a pink crystal ball with a cryptic set of directions left for Erin to decipher for herself. At first Erin doesn't think anything of the pink crystal ball since her aunt has always been a bit eccentric to say the least, but when her friends urge her to use it, she does and surprisingly enough, it works! So what is one girl to do when she suddenly has the ability to ask for anything? Will it help her or screw everything up? And what about her old friend Jesse- is there more to him then meets the eye? Well, it seems like Erin is soon to find out!
Erin is a girl much like most teen girls today. She makes mistakes but learns from them. She's a great friend and will be there in an instant if needed. She's funny, sweet, and honest. And as I'm sure you can image, I loved reading about her. Especially when the scenes also included her funny friends Lindsay and Samantha or the swoon-worthy Jesse, who while always seemed like to be a bit stereotypical, still managed to grab my heart by the end.
The plot of this was sweet and fast-paced, and while it never went really deep, it made for a great weekend read, because of it's enchanting plot lines dealing with the pink crystal ball to the mystery around Erin's aunt's death to Erin and Jesse's romance. Besides the fact that this book could be a pit predictable at times, I truly didn't dislike anything about it.
Risa's writing was also decent, and she never failed to make herself sound like a true teen through Erin's voice. It's a given to say, in my opinion, that she'll definitely be given a warm welcome into romance-y/fun teen-lit crowd.
In all, The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball is a sparkly and fun read about the mysteries and surprises that come with a pink crystal ball.
Lauren Brown is the author of The Doggy Divas, a brand new seires for middle-grade and teen readers, and today she's here to answer a few of my questions. I also have on brand-new copy of The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules to give away!
~~~ In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why middle-grade readers (as well as teens!) should consider picking up The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules the next time they see it online or in store?
There are so many reasons but the top three would be:
1 – Characters that everyone can relate to
2 – Drama and dialog that every tween will go through (if they haven’t already)
3 – Fun, fun, fun storylines complete with adorable dogs stealing the show!
The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules is told from the viewpoint of Roxy, so can you tell us a little about her? Also, if you could offer her any advice what would you say?
Roxy is caught between two worlds – she longs to be popular and thinks being part of the popular clique is the best place to be. But she also is a very independent girl that has her own dreams and passions. She wants to be a good friend to queen bee Liz but deep down she knows that Liz isn’t really that trustworthy. So, while starting the Doggy Divas is tough at first for Roxy – it’s finally an opportunity for her to spread her wings and learn what how fulfilling real friendships can be.
As for advice – I absolutely based Roxy on my own middle school aged self because I often did what others wanted me to do rather than follow my own heart. So I would tell her that even though following your own heart isn’t always the easiest choice – it’s definitely the best one in the long run.
One of the aspects I loved the most about Roxy's Rules was the way you not only had scenes from Roxy's viewpoint but from the different dogs in the story as well, so what inspired you to include the dogs' viewpoints as well?
I had a dog who witnessed so many crazy scenes, overheard so many drama fueled conversations and was a part of so many pivotal moments in my life that I used to always say I was so relieved my dog couldn’t talk and reveal all my crazy secrets . . . but that made me wonder what would happen if dogs could talk and voila – that part of the story was born.
In Roxy's Rules Roxy faces major friend drama, which leaves me to wonder if you ever had friend drama like Roxy when you were her age? Also, do you have advice for girls who may be having a similar thing happening to them and their former BFF?
I had TONS of friend drama like Roxy – tons. When I was in the seventh grade, you could say I found myself in the “popular” clique. It was a lot of pressure and I never wanted to upset anyone. It turned out that two of the girls in my group didn’t like each other and would talk badly about each other to me. I got caught in the middle, accidentally repeated some of the things they were saying and I ended up getting thrown out of the group. It was devastating but allowed me to find a new group that wasn’t so catty and a lot more tolerable of different personalities and behavior. My advice to girls today is friendship should be easy, fun and natural. If it feels like hard work or you never know where you stand – your group may not be the right one for you.
Confession Time: Are you a dog person? If so, are you more like Roxy when it comes to dogs or Kim? And do you have any dogs of your own?
I LOVE dogs but I’m definitely more like Roxy than Kim. I had a dog that I adopted a few years ago named Chloe. She was a Chihuahua/terrier mix and was so sweet. She was found on the street with a limp (she pretty much only used three legs) and severe cataracts in her eyes. But we loved each other and took to each other instantly. I carried her around in a little Chanel looking tote bag and she just quietly sat on my lap no matter where we were or what I was doing. Sadly, she got sick as she was old when I adopted her and I had to put her to sleep. But, she was one of the greatest things that ever came into my life and I did write this series with Chloe at the front of my mind.
Some may or may not know this, but you've also worked at CosmoGIRL!, Us Weekly, and MTV and still contribute to Radar Online and CosmoGirl.com to name a few. This has all left me to wonder what made you decide to take the “hat” of an author for Roxy's Rule?
I have been writing for teen and pop culture magazines and web sites since I moved to NYC in 1999 but writing fiction – namely a series like the Doggy Divas – has been my goal since I was a child. I always loved reading and writing and happily was known as the “writer” all throughout school – even when I got to college. I devoured books like Sweet Valley High and The Baby-Sitters Club when I was a tween and when there weren’t new ones out – I would write “bonus” chapters to my existing books. So, this was a long time coming and a major career goal achieved.
Do you have a favorite scene or line in Roxy's Rules? If so, would you mind telling us all about it?
I love the scene where Roxy gets out of her dad’s car on the way to the first day of school – she’s so excited to finally get to the front steps and rule the roost with Liz – and she realizes that something isn’t right leading right up to the readers first encounters with Georgia and Kim (Kim stepping in dog poo and Georgia making a big scene because of it).
What are three things most people would be surprised to know about you?
So, most important question of all: Would you mind sharing a little about what's going to happen Roxy in the next Doggy Divas installment?
The next book in the Doggy Divas series is called Lights, Camera, Kim and is due out in May 2011. I’m really proud of the next installment because I think you get more insight into all the girls and what makes them tick. In it, Kim gets a dose of fame as the spokesperson for a new pet talent agency and her take on being in the spotlight is as quirky and funny as you would expect from her. Liz is back to create even more drama amongst the Doggy Divas, Roxy and Matt’s relationship continues to grow and we learn more about Georgia and what makes her so outspoken!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
You can get all the scoop on me, my career and the Doggy Divas in the following ways:
1. My web site – www.laurenbrown.net
2. Following me on Twitter - @lbauthor
3. Following the Doggy Divas (Roxy, Kim and Georgia) on Twitter - @missdoggydiva
4. “Liking” my Facebook page: Facebook.com/LBAuthor
THANK YOU FOR READING! Book two is in May 2011 and book three is in fall of 2011.
~~~
Thanks so much, Lauren! I loved finding out more about you and your book!
Here's also a fun video of Lauren's launch party:
Now for the part you've all been waiting for...the giveaway for a copy of Roxy's Rules.
Here's the summary, in case you don't know what it's about. You can also check out what I had to say about it here.
HAS THE DOG WALKERS' STRIKE LANDED YOU IN THE DOGHOUSE? DOES YOUR POOCH NEED A CRASH COURSE IN MANNERS? IS YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND'S STYLE SO LAST YEAR? The Doggy Divas are here to save the day!
From head of the pack to lone, lone wolf!
Roxy Davis is in the dog house. Big time. After kissing her BFF-s crush over summer break, Roxy finds herself banished to the company of Monroe Middle School misfits Georgia and Kim. And when things can-t get any worse, the town dog walkers go on strike.
Dogs are running wild, giving Roxy the bright idea to recruit her fellow outcasts to start their very own dog walking business. Roxy soon learns that pampering pooches will not only earn her points for cleaning up the neighborhood, but will also teach her a thing or two about friendship.
Here's the rules:
~ Must be 13 or older to enter. If you're not that age and would like to enter, please have your parent enter for you.
~ Limited to readers in the US, though feel free to enter if you're international but have someone in the US who could send it to you.
~ Must fill out form to enter.
~ Contest will end on November 30 at 12:00 PM eastern.
HAS THE DOG WALKERS' STRIKE LANDED YOU IN THE DOGHOUSE? DOES YOUR POOCH NEED A CRASH COURSE IN MANNERS? IS YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND'S STYLE SO LAST YEAR? The Doggy Divas are here to save the day!
From head of the pack to lone, lone wolf!
Roxy Davis is in the dog house. Big time. After kissing her BFF’s crush over summer break, Roxy finds herself banished to the company of Monroe Middle School misfits Georgia and Kim. And when things can’t get any worse, the town dog walkers go on strike.
Dogs are running wild, giving Roxy the bright idea to recruit her fellow outcasts to start their very own dog walking business. Roxy soon learns that pampering pooches will not only earn her points for cleaning up the neighborhood, but will also teach her a thing or two about friendship.
Review:
The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules was a funny, adorable, and quick read perfect for any tween girl or even younger age teen.
Roxy's Rules starts at the beginning of Roxy's seventh grade year. This is year is supposed to perfect, Roxy thinks, because not only will Roxy be ruling the school with her best friend Liz, but she may have just found the perfect boyfriend in charmingly adorable Matt. Though, everything soon changes, when Liz suddenly throws Roxy to the dogs when Liz finds out that Roxy shared a movie-perfect kiss with Matt, the boy who was supposed to be Liz's seventh grade year crush! Ooops! Now Roxy is banished to the land of the misfits where she finds Kim and Georgie, two girls who have also had their bad run-ins with Liz over the years. Though, trying to look on the bright side, Roxy quickly befriends Kim and Georgia and soon starts her own business with them called Doggy Divas. Though, will Liz try to ruin the day? And better yet, what about Matt... he keeps sending Roxy all these mixed signals. Lastly, are Kim and Georgie actually better friends than Liz was all those years? Only time will tell in this cute tale of dog businesses, middle-school rivalries, and crushes gone wrong!
Roxy is the kind of girl all girls are at least once in life...cast away by a supposedly "BFF" only to find out that friend was nothing like what you thought. I thought Lauren did a great job of perfectly captured the feeling of being abandoned by a friend with Roxy's character, and I also enjoyed the fact that she didn't have Roxy really mope over it, instead she moved on. Though, I will say I didn't always like the way Roxy looked down upon Georgie and Kim at times, but other than that I thought she was a great lead character and someone I do think is a decent role model type character for tweens out there. I also loved the secondary characters in this such as Georgie, Roxy's sarcastic and funny co-business owner, and Kim, Roxy's other co-business owner whose love of dogs always amazed me. I have to admit, though, that I wasn't always the biggest fan of Matt, since I hated how he stood by and left Kim rip Roxy to pieces, but I will say he does kind of make-up for everything in the end.
Another thing I enjoyed about Roxy's Rules was the plot. I loved the fact that Lauren included the girls' business and all that misshapes and fun that came with it, as well as the dog's they walked POVs as well. Both were cute additions and my favorite parts of the story. I enjoyed the little morals that came with the book as well.
Brown's writing was decent and definitely read like the typical middle-grade book, so I'm sure that age group will simply love it!
In all, The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules is the perfect read for any tween girl you know out or maybe even you if you're a dog lover or a fan of adorable, quick reads. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Ms. Brown has in store for us in the next installment.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney (Unsolicited review copy. Not sure if I'll read this one or not because I haven't read any of the other books in the series.)
The Samantha Granger Experiment: FUSED by Kari Lee Townsend (Look like a great tween read! Thanks, Kay!)
Hollywood Ending by Lucie Simone (Look good as well. Thanks Lucie/Simon and Fig!)
Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.
Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.
Edward Scissorhands meets The Catcher in the Rye in this wildly imaginative and frighteningly beautiful horror novel about an unusual boy and his search for a place to belong.
Review:
The Replacement is yet another one of those books I've been looking forward to reading for a long time, and when the chance came for me to finally read it, I was nothing short of excited. Sadly enough, while The Replacement is certainly one of the most creative books I've read this year and extremely well written at that, I have mixed feelings about it for a few different reasons. Though, before we get to that, let me tell you a little about it.
The Replacement tells the story of Mackie Doyle. Even though, Mackie and everyone hates to admit it, he is a bit different from the average human for a few different reasons. For one, whenever he's around metal products he gets ill, and for two, he's a replacement, switched with a human baby- the real Mackie Doyle- sixteen year prior. All of his life, Mackie's been told to stay under the radar, to not draw attention to himself, because if he causes the wrong kind of stir, he may end up dead as a doornail. That all changes the day Tate comes into the picture. Tate is fierce and sarcastic but extremely lost because of the fact her baby sister went missing. Mackie has a feeling of where Tate's sister is, but is he willing to go back to were he came from to find her? Only time and more pages will tell in this imaginative and well-spun tale of how far one boy will go to save the day.
The premise of this is awesome...imaginative, creative, it had me hooked ever since I first heard about it. Though, while the execution was good, it wasn't nearly as fantastic and nail-biting as I expected. I mean, I did love the idea of replacements and the world and people under Gentry for reasons listed above (imaginative, creative, etc.) and I especially loved learning more about them, but at times I felt Brenna never dug dip enough into their world to give the reader a truly clear picture of everything. Specifically, I never really got what the creatures under ground where supposed to be...angels, demons, zombie like people...it just was never really that clear. And while this may seem like a little thing, it bugged me at times.
Moving on, I liked the characters. Mackie was interesting and fearless, one of my favorites in the story to be honest. I especially loved how Brenna used his "suppernatural" side as a way to have him learn that even if you may feel like the biggest outsider ever, you're really not if you look deeper into your life. I also liked his friendship with Roswell and relationship with Tate, but I personally would have loved (LOVED!) more development into each. With Tate and Mackie, in particular, because I sometimes felt like the romantic side of their relationship came out of no where.
And last but not least, Brenna Youvanoff's writing. I really enjoyed it. I thought she did a great job establishing the characters and plot even with the slight flaws it had. I also enjoyed how her writing made some scenes of this even better.
In all, while The Replacement and me clashed about a few different things, I still do suggest it to paranormal lovers out there, as well as people looking for a book with an enticing premise. Lastly, I will definitely be reading more by Yovanoff even though I didn't absolutely love this novel.
Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that’s not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia’s mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just … happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to people, believing this way she can suppress her powers and keep them hidden.
When recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy offer her a full scholarship, Dancia fears her days of living under the radar may be over. But Delcroix is a school for diplomats’ kids and child geniuses — why are they treating Dancia like she’s special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome. And then there’s her mysterious new friend Jack, who can’t stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at Delcroix, and he wants Dancia to help him figure out what…But neither Jack or Dancia could have imagined what’s really going on behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.
Review:
I love books that take place at boarding schools (Private, anyone?) so when I first heard about the Delcroix Academy series I knew I had to read it! Thankfully, Delcroix Academy: The Candidates proved to be a fun, fast paced addition to boarding school YA. And to make things even better, it had a touch of paranormal as well!
The Candidates tells the tale of Dancia Lewis, a girl hiding a deep, dark secret, one that if it exposed could change her whole life. You see, if she sees someone who's going to be injured or killed, she can just stop everything. And because this power has only left chaos in the past, she decides that in order to protect everyone, it's best to blend into the background. That is until she get accepted into Delcroix Academy, the ritziest private school around. And as it turns out, Delcroix is like nothing Dancia has ever experienced before. She's making friends, has caught the eyes of two of the cutest boys on campus, and has even joined a sports team, but even she can't suppress the feeling that there's something odd about Delcroix and its students, especially when her friend Jack discovers some pretty deep secrets. But is Dancia willing to get everything up and more importantly is Jack telling the truth? Only time will tell in this great addition to paranormal YA.
Dancia was a character I liked from the instant I "meet" her in the first chapter. And while I wanted to shake her on the shoulders sometimes for being distant, I understood why she was that way. And making this better, I especially liked how over the novel she began to grow into a better person, one who was social and never backed down from a the task at hand. I also enjoyed reading about her friendship with Hennie and Esther. They were always funny together and reminded me of my friends and me during our freshman year of high school. And as always, I really enjoyed the romantic triangle Inara placed in this, because it constantly had me curious about who Dancia would end up with and if I would truly be happy with the guy she picked.
The plot of this was also a high point of the novel because it constantly brought drama and suspense and twist and turns to the book. The one aspect I enjoyed the most was the setting because it always brought a mysterious feeling to the book.
Scott's writing was decent as well. I thought she did a great job at creating the plot and characters. Though, I didn't always enjoy how the book would stall every once in a while.
In all, Delcroix Academy: The Candidates is a great beginning to a series I'm sure I'll enjoy even more as time goes on and more additions come out, and most importantly, I'm really, really looking forward to reading the Delcroix Academy: The Watchers, which comes out next year!
Though I’ve been writing for so long it seems like I should be into December by now, October Girls is the first series I’ve ever written.
In an earlier blog tour stop, I talked about how I originally came up with the secret family pen name, because I thought people who liked my young-adult paranormal series might not try the books if they thought I as a “horror writer.” I can assure you, I’m not very horrible, and I quickly decided that I was just fine being L.C. Glazebrook and Scott Nicholson rolled into one. The books will keep the Glazebrook name, at least for a while, but having a series adds a whole new set of challenges.
But also a lot of opportunities for fun. The important thing to me is that I love the two main characters, teen witch Crystal and her dead best friend Bone. Crystal is your typical high school drop-out, overcoming the depression that set in when Bone was killed by a UPS van at age 16. Now she’s trying to get her GED and go to community college and deal with her boyfriend Pettigrew, who is a little too serious too fast.
Well, except there’s that part where she has to guard the portal to the afterlife.
Cover #2
And Bone is a loyal friend, but she kind of wants to catch up on all things she missed back in the land of the living—like losing her virginity. And she’s got a couple of secrets that even Bone doesn’t know about, and there are sinister forces in Darkmeet that are manipulating Bone to get to Crystal—so that all hell can break loose.
You know, real life.
In just one book, there are already enough complications to write a dozen books easily. Does Pettigrew really love Crystal or is it one of Momma’s magic spells? What does Bone do about the sixth-grade dead boy who’s crushing on her? How does Crystal abandon Momma to a life in the trailer park, turning her back on generations of family tradition? And why the heck does the Judge love chocolate so much?
Cover #3
Some of these things I know the answer to, such as why Bone feels slightly guilty around Crystal, but also a little jealous. Others, like the chocolate and where Roscoe the possum familiar comes in, are yet to be decided. Maybe you can help me out…
Which of these covers do you like best for Book #2, “Dead & Unfriended,” due out early next year?
By commenting, you will be entered for a Kindle DX and a Kindle 3 giveaway. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more giveaways. Thanks, and I hope you let the October Girls into your life.
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Further Info About the Tour/Scott/etc.:
Current 99-cent specials are As I Die Lying and Disintegration. For every book of mine that hits the Top 100 during the tour, I will throw in an extra Kindle 3 giveaway. Tell your friends. Amaze your neighbors. Shock your therapist.
To be eligible for the Kindle DX or Kindle 3, simply post a comment below with contact info. Feel free to debate and discuss the topic, but you will only be entered once per blog. I’m also giving away a Kindle 3 through the tour newsletter and a Pandora’s Box of free e-books to a follower of “hauntedcomputer” on Twitter. Thanks for playing. Complete details can be found here.
Two parties, six alternating points of view, and three letters that says it all--WTF!
Review:
This book caught my eye a long time ago when I first saw the eye-catching cover and title, so when it somehow ended up in my mailbox, I was so excited to read it.
How was it, you may ask? Well, just like the cover suggested, it left with you with a wtf feeling, though a good one at that, because this book is crazy, funny, and fabulous, even though I will admit it was a bit underdeveloped in places.
wtf is told from the viewpoint of six characters (Jimmy, Cam, Bryon, Waits, Reina, and MC) and each managed to have their own distinctive personality ranging from "The Jock" to "The Druggie" to "The Loser" and so on. Which made this one aspect I liked, because with a book that has many POVs, you have to worry if some will be interchangeable, but that was hardly the case with this. I also loved all the drama the characters managed to get into with this book from car crashes to running from the cops everything that can possible go wrong was present at some point. The characters also made this to be one read that you could easily finish in one sitting because of the fact that that it constantly left you curious about what was going to happen next.
Further more, the plot of this was also a lot of fun. It wasn't all that serious or life-changing but it provided solid entertainment, which is just what you need some days. I thought Peter did a great job of switching from character to character, because I never felt like I missed anything too big. But I did think he could have possibly fleshed some parts out more like the characters and some plot lines.
Oh, and I have to add, I loved the epilogue for this book! It was really unique!
In all, wtf is a funny and fabulous book perfect for one rainy or snowy afternoon. I can't wait to see what Lerangis has in store for us next.
She knows what it's like to die. Now Death wants her back. Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.
That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.
Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.
What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.
But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.
And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her:
The Underworld.
Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors ever, so it's a given that I would be looking forward to her newest book Abandon. Making things even better, the cover is amazingly pretty and the summary makes it sound like it will be fascinating!
When Ty witnesses a stabbing, his own life is in danger from the criminals he’s named, and he and his mum have to go into police protection. Ty has a new name, a new look and a cool new image – life as Joe is good, especially when he gets talent spotted as a potential athletics star, special training from an attractive local celebrity and a lot of female attention. But his mum can’t cope with her new life, and the gangsters will stop at nothing to flush them from hiding. Joe’s cracking under extreme pressure, and then he meets a girl with dark secrets of her own. This wonderfully gripping and intelligent novel depicts Ty/Joe's confused sense of identity in a moving and funny story that teenage boys and girls will identify with - a remarkable debut from a great new writing talent.
Review:
Ever since this book started to make waves in the bloging world, I've been looking forward to reading it, and when the chance finally came for me to do so I was so excited. And luckily enough, When I Was Joe turned out to be everything I heard it was. Because When I Was Joe was one of the most exciting, thrilling, and unique books I've read in long time.
When I Was Joe is told from the viewpoint of Ty, a boy who's forced to lie about everything after he witness the stabbing of a young boy much like himself. Now him and his mum are in the witness protection program and given brand new identifies, as well as a new city to live in. Ty's new identify is Joe, a boy very different from his former self. Since while Ty was a dweeb and always a bit babyish, Joe is cool, a leader, and fierce- the eye-candy of all the girls and the guy all the boys want to be. Though, with Ty's new image come problems, like Ashley, a popular girl who isn't nearly as sweet as she looks, Carl, the school's bully who's after Ty, and Claire, the only girl who really gets Ty...too bad she's off limits. And this isn't even adding in the fact that one of London's most infamous drug families is after him with only one goal in mind: to leave Ty dead and unable to testify against them. If anything Ty's year will be anything but a breeze or uneventful!
Ty was an interesting main character, one who always had me on the edge of my toes with his way of looking at things, as well as the mysterious tone his character got when talking about the stabbing and what lead up to it. Another thing that I always found fascinating about him was the way he managed to grow up through this novel and gain a new way of looking at things, one that made him seem ages ahead of his real age but still naive and innocent at times. I especially liked his friendship with Claire. Claire was a very sweet girl and one who always managed to bring the good out in Ty, which left their scenes together to always be some of my favorites.
Another aspect I enjoyed about this book was the action-packed plot. It constantly mangaged to throw little surprises and twists at me that constantly had me rethinking my former predictions and making new ones. And the ending? It has made me so very excited about the sequel.
Lastly, David's writing was yet another good addition to the book. I always felt that she did a decent job of fleshing out her characters, as well as the plot lines. Though, I wasn't really found of the way she managed to make some parts dreadfully slow. But other then that, I think she did a great job with this book
In all, When I Was Joe is the perfect thriller read for teens out there, especially reluctant readers who are looking for a book to keep them on their toes. I simply can't wait to see what Ms. David comes up with next.
Hi! My name is Lauren. I'm a recent college graduate (chemistry major, surprisingly enough!), and will be starting graduate school in the fall. I've been blogging about books for the past nine years (with about a four year gap in between)! Click here to email me.
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