The Cracked Spine

"Some Girls Are" by Courtney Summers

2010-08-03T12:07:00.004-04:00

Title: "Some Girls Are"
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: 2009
Genre: YA

Synposis: Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

In a word: Brutal

**possible spoilers**

This was hard to read. The pure viciousness of a group of teens brutalizing other teens verbally, emotionally and physically was very disturbing. They were like a pack of rabid animals turning on everyone around them who didn't bow down to them.

Regina used to be one of the 'in girls' who did what Anna (the leader -who must be obeyed) wanted. Regina wasn't nice. She was often cruel but that cruelty was getting to her. She couldn't eat because of the horrible things she had done. It was physically making her sick and sending her to therapy. But Regina could never find the courage to say 'no' to Anna. She continued to be Anna's lapdog - doing her bidding and treating others like they were less than nothing.

Then one party changes everything. Anna's boyfriend- who has been after Regina for years- tries to rape Regina. She fights him off and gets away then confides in Kara. Kara is the wanna-be. She has been in the shadows at the edge of the "in group" for years, taking what crumbs they toss her way. When Regina confides the attempted rape incident to Kara, Kara lies and goes to Anna telling her that Regina slept with her boyfriend. Anna is crushed and out for vengeance.

In a moment Regina is on the outs and Anna has replaced her with Kara- who is glowing with her new status with the "in group". Regina is now not only out of the group, she has also been placed at the top of the hit list. It's open season on Regina. Her locker is vandalized, "whore" is written on it, her books are tossed in the pool and a new website is set up for everyone who hates Regina to gather together and trash talk her.

Regina is lost and finally feeling what it feels like to be on the receiving end of Anna's hit list. She doesn't like it and tries to make things right but Kara has complete control of Anna by feeding her lies. Regina spends her days hiding in closets at school and avoiding everyone. Except Michael, the guy she destroyed when he first moved to town. Regina, at Anna's request, spread rumors about Michael and destroyed any chance he had at making friends in their high school. He was the loner, the outcast without friends who sat alone at lunch near the garbage cans. The only table Regina is able to sit at once she's been shunned. Michael can't stand her and sees right through her to the coward she is. She doesn't like that at all. But she's still thankful to sit with someone, even if they can't stand her.

The entire book is chapter after chapter of teens at their very worst. It was all disturbing, but what was most disturbing was that no one stood up for anyone else to stop it. They all watched it happen and allowed it. To me, that makes them ALL as guilty as those doing the actual abuse. But I am not sure the book conveyed that.

The writing was great, but the story was terribly depressing, brutal and disheartening. I felt bad for all teenagers, not just the 'victims' in this story because even the aggressors were the victims and they didn't even know it. It was a pathetic situation told in a graphic, this-is-it-in-your-face way of what happens when people have the "it's not me" philosophy and turn a blind-eye to injustice and abuse.

This is the scary side of humanity in our society.

**this book contains drug & alcohol abuse by minors, violence, strong language and attempted rape**

"Captivate" by Carrie Jones

2010-08-02T14:43:00.006-04:00

Title: "Captivate"
Author: Carrie Jones
Series: Need series Bk#2
Published: 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: Zara and her friends thought they’d solved the pixie problem. And they did — sort of. The pixies are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king’s needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it’s enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn’t have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him . . . until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.
There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she’s got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they’re practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what’s at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined. . . .

In a word: Captivating!

I am loving this series and think author Carrie Jones is brilliant. The book concept and delivery is superb. The characters are wonderful and completely original to me. These books are page turners that I never want to put down. I can't wait for the next one (Jan. 2011)!

In this second book of the series, Zara, Nick, Devyn and Issie are still battling evil pixies in their home state of Maine. Zara and Nick are continuing their relationship and very much two teens experiencing first love. They adore each other and make a great couple.

They take turns "patrolling" AKA hunting for evil pixies and when they find one, they lock them in the pixie house surrounded by iron and assorted metals to keep them in. Then a new pixie king shows up in town and he insists he isn't like the others. He insists that some pixies can live side by side with humans and not kill them - provided the king has his queen to keep him in control. When a pixie king doesn't have a queen he loses control and not only himself but his own people/pixies go evil and feed off teen males' blood. A pixie king MUST have a queen to help him keep control. And the new pixie king in town, wants Zara to be his queen.

Great story! Full of action, love, some teen sexual tension, humor, a bit of sadness and some real laugh out loud moments. My favorite laugh out loud moment was Zara teasing her werewolf boyfriend about his love of eating dog treats and peeing on fire hydrants!

I had only one issue with the story and that was the end. A tragedy hits the town with multiple deaths that rock the entire town. Even the pixie hunting foursome suffer a huge blow, yet that doesn't stop them from going to a formal dance-huh? They should be attending funerals and crying their eyes out, yet they are picking out dresses for a dance. That didn't work for me on any level and I dearly wish the author had cut that out of the book. I'm guessing she kept it in so the book would have a 'happy ending' but in this case it did not work.

Easy 4 stars out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this series, but you must read "Need" first, to better understand this second book in the series.

***2010 YA Reading Challenge***

"Jekel Loves Hyde" by Beth Fantaskey

2010-07-21T08:03:00.008-04:00

Title: Jekel Loves Hyde
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Published: 2010
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 282

Synopsis: Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents' rules--especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be the key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.
To improve her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill's accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything--even Tristen's love--just for the thrill of being...bad.

In a few words: Engaging & Different

Overall I really enjoyed "Jekel Loves Hyde". It's a dark romance with twists and turns, murder, violence, dreams of murder, innocence, first love and love that concurs hardship and endures time. This book was a surprise. I had wrongly assumed this would be another chemistry teen team falling in love, I was wrong...sort of. This was darker...more violent.

The heroine Jill Jekel's father has been murdered and his reputation is destroyed when his late night actions are revealed. Jill is crushed by the loss of her father but has to be strong because her mother is falling apart and can't cope with life any more.

The hero is Tristen Hyde, the new kid in town with the British accent and violent short temper that makes people stay far away from him if they can help it. Tristen is tormented by violent dreams of killing people and he fears there is a dark beast living inside him - an idea put there by his grandfather long ago. Tristen believes that the Hyde family males are cursed because years ago Doctor Jekel in a crazy experiment created the beast who procreated and began the Hyde family.

When Jill finds out her father spent all their money- including her college money she makes a deal with Tristen to work together on a science experiment to help her win thirty thousand dollars. Tristen doesn't want the money, he wants to be the lab rat to see if what they concoct will cure him and finally kill the evil beast inside of him. If that doesn't work, Tristen is prepared to commit suicide rather that become a killer.

Slowly these two progress in a back and forth relationship of friendship and first love. Trust is hard for these two because they both have fears that must be dealt with and overcome for both of them to move forward.

Wonderful read, full of surprises and bumps in the road to first love and romance.

I really enjoyed "Jekel Loves Hyde" by Beth Fantaskey.

Bella Should Have Dumped Edward...ya think?

2010-07-11T19:22:00.005-04:00

Title: "Bella Should Have Dumped Edward: Controversial Views on the Twilight Series"
Author: Michelle Pan
Published: May 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: What if Bella chose Jacob over Edward? Should Breaking Dawn have ended with an all-out showdown? Was it a mistake for Bella to become a vampire? These questions and more are debated extensively whenever hardcore "Twi-hards" sink their teeth into the series' most controversial questions. Fans who love to debate with jugular-bursting intensity can get their fill of strong opinions in Bella Should Have Dumped Edward. In seeking answers to the vampire series' many dilemmas, Twilight expert Michelle Pan has teamed up with Twilighters from around the world to create a book filled with fan perspectives on the hottest topics surrounding the saga. Readers can enjoy the series again and again as they delve even deeper into its burning questions, including, Should Jacob have become Renesmee’s soul mate?, and, Would Bella have been better off living in Phoenix instead of Forks?

This is a book on my wishlist. I always wished Stephenie Meyer would have done a side by side novel series with Bella picking Jacob. I'd love to see where that story would have gone. Then fans (Team Edward & Team Jacob) could ALL have their happy ending! Two series, two different outcomes but all with the same beloved characters.

"Need" by Carrie Jones

2010-06-13T05:03:00.004-04:00

Title: "Need"
Author: Carrie Jones
Published: 2009
Genre: YA Fiction

Synopsis: Zara White suspects there’s a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She’s also obsessed with phobias. And it’s true, she hasn’t exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane . . . but Zara’s pretty sure her mom just can’t deal with her right now.
She couldn’t be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara’s overactive imagination. In fact, he’s still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There’s something not right—not human—in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.
In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you’d have to fear.

In a few words: Delightfully charming.

Zara is lost since the death of her beloved step-father. She is depressed and withdrawn so much so that her mother is fearful for her and decides to send her to live with her grandmother in Maine for a while in the hopes that Zara will snap out of her sorrow. Zara is angry and resentful with her mother for sending her away from her home, but soon after arriving in Maine she gets her spark back. One of Zara's charming (to me) quirks is she is sort of obsessed with knowing phobia facts. She knows the names of assorted phobias and what they mean. To calm herself when she's feeling a bit of a panic attack thinking about her father's death she will list phobias in her head. Each chapter is dedicated to a phobia that relates to what is in the chapter. I loved this and learned a bunch of phobias I didn't know existed!

Zara befriends Issie, Devyn, Nick and Ian but some of these friends are not what they seem. While making new friends, finding her place in a new (very cold, snowy and icy) state and new school Zara is also dealing with a creepy stalker she sees everywhere. She saw him in Charleston when her father died, she saw him at the airport on her way to Maine and now she is seeing him all around Maine, including out the school window. The really strange thing about this stalker is that he seems to be leaving gold dust around yet no foot prints of where he stands.

Zara's friends Issie and Devyn have seen the creepy stalker too and they are determined to help Zara figure out what is going on. Soon Nick joins the trio as they hunt for answers and try to keep Zara safe. Nick's got a few surprises for Zara including the fact that he's never kissed a girl before. But if Zara thinks that's the most surprising thing about Nick, she's in for a much bigger surprise.

I don't want to give anything away so I am not going to say any more about the plot and subplots in this story. I think this was a great read, lots of fun, some romance, interesting supernatural beings and beauitful cold snowy Maine setting (I love Maine -that is part of what drew me to this book).

Easy 4.5 stars out of 5.

***2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge***

"Twisted" by Laurie Halse Anderson

2010-06-11T05:40:00.012-04:00

Title: "Twisted"
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Published: 2007
Genre: YA
Pages: 250

Synopsis: Acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson's newest novel offers a clever take on the teen experience of surviving high school, popularity, crushes, responsibilities, and much much more.

High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it—he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy...and his secret crush. This sets off a string of events that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.

In a word: Phenomenal

I loved the main character Tyler Miller right from page one. He was charming, laugh out loud funny and oh so completely teenage boy!

Seventeen year old Tyler had been the kid picked on, beaten up, lunch money stolen, head stuffed in a toilet and mocked nearly his entire school existence. Then six months earlier, he pulls a prank by spray painting the school wall that lands him with a 'bad boy' reputation. His summer of working for a landscaping business beefs up his body with huge muscles and suddenly he's getting a very different response from people. The most popular girl in school Bethany (the girl who stars in most of his sexual fantasies) takes notice and Tyler is on cloud nine.

The problem is, Tyler still doesn't fit in with the rich, popular kids. He's still the same guy he always was, only now he's well muscled and sexy because of his dangerous look and reputation. Bethany's brother Chip hates Tyler and has been Tyler's biggest enemy for years. When Bethany shows an interest in Tyler, Chip is determined not to see them together and sets out to make Tyler's life more of a living hell than he has since middle school.

Tyler is having the best and worst time of his life for a while, then it all goes bad one night at a party when Bethany gets drunk and they have a fight. That night changes everything and Tyler finds himself once more under the watchful eye of the police and the hate filled eyes of his classmates. Tyler's bad boy reputation is landing him in serious trouble and if he doesn't clean up his act and get it together he might destroy his future.

The story not only revolves around Tyler and classmates, but also Tyler's dysfunctional family, Tyler's relationship with his father, Tyler's kid sister going to high school and beginning to date- dating Tyler's best friend! There is a lot going on, but it all works together to make for a fantastic, page turning YA book that I HIGHLY recommend.

The book comes with a huge stamped warning before the title page: "NOTE: THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN". The book is full of a teen boy's body responses to girls and how he (like most boys) handles his sexual desires. Basically Tyler, like most guys his age is constantly battling his hormones and fantasies.

Excerpt [page 37]:
"Bethany sucked some frosting off her finger and moaned.
The moan woke up my trouser snake (Down, boy! Down, I say!) so I wandered up to the kitchen to get some forks and paper towels and room to breathe. When the snake crawled back under a rock, I went downstairs."

Excerpt [page 61- chapter 22]:
Hannah wasn't the only seminude girl in school. It was like they had voted for a "clothing optional" day. They weren't completely naked, but they were showing so much skin that you did not have to use your imagination. All over school, guys were walking into walls and open lockers, losing concentration mid-sentence, and having to stop at fountains to drink gallons of water while waiting for their boners to calm down.
As I stumbled from the front door to homeroom, I decided that these were the most poetic words in the English language: camisole, strapless, halter, low-rise, thong, belly shirt, peek-a-boo cut out, and spandex.
It was awesome.
Except that the girls kept getting pissed. An almost naked hottie would strut down the hall, butt swaying side to side, top of her underwear peeking out of her shorts, hair flowing down her back, jewelry in her belly button, boobs spilling out of her top, big smile, and what would happen? Every guy she'd walk by would say something crude. Or whistle. Or pant or moan or follow her. And she'd get pissed.
Well,duh.
Before the first bell of the day rang, most guys were semiconscious with lust and most girls were ready to slap someone.
Mornings like that could almost make you love school.

Great book for mature teens. This was great fun to read while watching Tyler struggle, grow up and over come his problems as he stumbled along. He was completely charming and likable as were his best friend "Yoda" (Star Wars nerd) and Tyler's younger sister Hannah.

Easy 5 star rating out of 5 stars.

***2010 YA Reading Challenge***

"Fade to Black" by Alex Flinn

2010-06-10T06:41:00.005-04:00

Title: Fade to Black
Author: Alex Flinn
Published: 2005
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 184

Synopsis: Three perspectives — one truth

The victim: After his windshield was shattered with a baseball bat, HIV-positive Alex Crusan ducked under the steering wheel. But he knows what he saw. Now he must decide what he wants to tell.

The witness: Daria Bickell never lies. So if she told the police she saw Clinton Cole do it, she must have. But did she really?

The suspect: Clinton was seen in the vicinity of the crime that morning. And sure, he has problems with Alex. But he'd never do something like this. Would he?

In a word: Touching

I enjoyed getting to know all three very different characters. Alex the HIV positive teen who is the victim of a hate crime and struggling with life as an HIV pos teen. He is an outcast at school and just wants to feel 'normal' again. His story really touched me.

The "suspect" is Clinton a teen boy who is ignorant of what it means to be HIV positive. He's selfish, mean and lost in a lot of ways. He grows, he learns and by the end comes out a little better for it. He's not reformed completely, but you can see hope in him. I liked that. I also felt a bit sorry for this bully. He adores his father, yet his father is a terrible influence and parent. It's really not surprising that Clinton is what he is because of his father- though Clinton is certainly old enough to be held solely responsible for his own actions and words.

The "witness" has the smallest part in this book. She's a mentally retarded girl who thinks the world of Alex because Alex is one of the few kids in school to show her any kindness at all. She struggles with her disability, pleasing her mother and being the kid at school with no friends because of her disability.

Each chapter in the story is told from these three main characters POV -which I liked. I was able to get into each of their heads, get to know them and understand them. I was able to see their strengths and weaknesses. I found something to like in all of them and a profound sadness for all three of them for different reasons.

This was a very good story and quick read.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Book to watch for!!

2010-06-05T22:29:00.005-04:00

Coming September 2010...

Title: "Crave"
Authors: Melinda Metz and Laura Burns
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Synopsis: Shay has had a rare blood disorder since she was born. In fact, her mother married one of Shay’s doctors, Martin, who left his world-renowned leukemia research to try and figure out exactly what the disorder is and how to cure it. When she turns seventeen, Martin begins to give her new blood transfusions that make her feel the strongest she has ever felt. But she also has odd visions where she sees through the eyes of a vampire. At first, she thinks she must be imagining the visions, but when she begins to see Martin’s office in them, she knows she has to check it out. That’s when she finds Gabriel, a sexy, teenaged vampire, imprisoned in Martin’s office. The connection she has built with Gabriel compels her to set him free. But when he kidnaps her in an attempt at revenge on Martin, their lives become deeply intertwined. She doesn’t know the half of it.

Doesn't this sound like a great book? I can't wait for its releasae!

"Hail Caesar" by Thu-Huong Ha

2010-05-28T07:44:00.013-04:00

Title: Hail Caesar
Author: Thu-Huong Ha
Published: 2007
Genre: YA Fiction

Synopsis: Caesar thinks he can't be touched by anything or anyone. Boys idolize him. Girls lust after him. And he has power over them, because he doesn't care about any of them . . . until the new girl comes along, and turns Caesar's world upside down.
A funny, honest, in-your-face portrait of a guy who has to learn to stop being a legend in his own mind.

Overall thoughts: Enjoyable Read

The story is about John AKA "Caesar" who in his own mind (and in the mind of most of his high school) has reached near god-like status. He can have any girl he wants whenever he wants- and he does. Sex is a hobby to Caesar, he makes lists of which girls he's going "to do" next depending on his moods. His best buddies think he's amazing. Girls are pawing him and kissing him every chance they get. Caesar takes it all in arrogant stride as it's his due to be high school royalty.

That is until Eva moves to town. Eva has seen many "Caesar" types in her life, so when she meets John she is hardly impressed and doesn't throw herself at his feet. John is perplexed by that and highly irritated about it. He can't get Eva out of his mind and begins to think she's The Girl. The one who will change his life forever and show him the real meaning of life. But is that too much pressure to put on Eva? Does John AKA Caesar even want to change? Is John falling in love with the one girl who doesn't worship him?

This book was a fun read. Caesar was completely obnoxious most of the time, but when his superior attitude begins to crack I began to like John and cheer for him to open his eyes and grow up to face the real world that was coming outside of high school.

I highly recommend this book for the 16 year old and up crowd.

**The book contains strong language, sex, drug & alcohol use by minors.

***2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge***

"New Blood" by Peter McPhee

2010-05-24T07:11:00.006-04:00

Title: New Blood
Author: Peter McPhee
Published: 2007
Genre: YA Fiction based on a true story
Pages: 167

Synposis: After a gang of thugs beat him up, Callum's parents have had enough of Glasgow's (Scotland) tough streets. His family moves to Canada to make a fresh start, joining Callum's older brother and his wife in Winnipeg. But Winnipeg has its share of bullies, too. Still healing from his injuries, Callum also has deep inner scars that will make his new high school, in this country, even more of a battleground.
Inspired by a true story, New Blood is a gripping yet moving account of violence, recovery and hope.

I enjoyed this story because I liked and felt compassion, worry, sorrow and hope for it's main character Callum. He has gone through so much and not just survived, but survived without hating humanity. He was open to believing people can and do change- even bullies. He discovered that some bullies can have good intentions even if their delivery is all wrong, something he hadn't considered before arriving in Canada.

Callum is a hero in that he can't stand to let someone else, anyone else be bullied or hurt. He is not a "mind your own business-don't get involved" type of guy. He sees someone getting hurt, he jumps right in to help even if he knows he might end up getting severely hurt or even hated by the person he's attempting to help.

This is a realistic book, that does and doesn't have a happy ending. It's happy because Callum survives, grows and learns to move on. It's not happy because so many people disappoint him and even betray him. The violence doesn't really go away, its in our society, but Callum learns to walk away and make a better life for himself while he heals from his horrific wounds.

Read for:

***2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge***

"Beastly" by Alex Flinn

2010-05-19T07:14:00.007-04:00

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Published: 2007
Genre: YA

Synopsis: I am a beast.
A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

In a word: Delightful

I went to the library yesterday and one of the books I came home with was "Beastly" by Alex Flinn. Ever since I saw the movie trailers for this story I have been wanting to read it - Beauty and the Beast type fairy tales are my very favorites. Yesterday afternoon I sat down and began reading "Beastly" and didn't put it down until I had finished it cover to cover last night- it was that good!

Kyle is the hero who starts off an arrogant, self centered, cruel snob. He takes pleasure is putting people down and rejoicing in his belief that he is superior to everyone around him. He thinks that way because it's how his father raised him after his mother abandoned them. Kyle's father is rich and has connections, but most of all Kyle and his father are beautiful people - flawless on the outside.

One day a witch confronts Kyle and when Kyle proves to be as horrid as the witch believes him to be she curses him. She makes him as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside and gives him only two years to not only truly fall in love with someone but also to have that person love him back - seeing passed his beastly form to the person Kyle is inside.

It's a hard lesson for Kyle, but slowly he begins to see what a truly awful person he was. He's shocked at how much he missed in life when he thought he knew it all and had it all. He had nothing. It was a shallow superficial life until he became the beast.

As the beast he began truly seeing other people, contemplating what their lives might be like - something he never thought about before. As the beast he learned to look beyond the surface of people and he learned how to be a friend and have a friend for the very first time in his life. And most of all, he fell in love and was loved for the first time in his life.

Superb YA story - highly recommend it.

Read for:

***The 2010 YA Reading Challenge***

"I heart you, You haunt me" by Lisa Schroeder

2010-05-18T08:05:00.007-04:00

Title: I heart you, You haunt me
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Published: 2008
Genre: YA verse novel

Synopsis: Girl meets boy.

Girl loses boy.

Girl gets boy back...

...sort of.

"Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she'scrazy, but she knows he's here.
Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds."

In a word: Bittersweet

This is a verse novel and I don't like verse novels, but this one... this one touched me with laughter, tears, triumph, love and the enduring will to overcome and move on after tragedy. Superb YA verse novel.

Ave is a fifteen year old girl suffering from the tragic death of her beloved boyfriend Jackson. She simply adored him and he adored her. She calls Jackson "the star in her world" that made her "world brighter" (page 207).

When Jackson is gone all Ava wants is to have Jackson back...and she gets him back, sort of. He's there, he lets her know he's there in assorted ways. He turns on the radio, he opens and closes cabinet doors, he tosses her clothes around her room and best off all he almost touches her with his cool intense presence that she can feel. Even Ava's mother begins to smell the sent that was distinctly Jacksons.

Ava at first is thrilled to have Jackson back, he's a comfort to her as much as the thought of a 'ghost' disturbs her. She has to keep it a secret or everyone will think she's crazy. As it is everyone walks on eggshells around her because she is so depressed and devastated by the loss of Jackson that no one can reach her in her deep despair.

What Ava needs is to let go, but she doesn't know how to let go of Jackson and Jackson won't leave Ava until he's sure she is OK and ready to move on.

I really loved this book, even when I was crying reading it. If you like a bittersweet first love story and don't mind a verse novel, this is a must read.

4 stars out of 5 stars.

I read this book for the...
**2010 YA Reading Challenge**

Tuesday Book Trailers...

2010-05-04T07:50:00.013-04:00

I've got book trailers and just some new release book announcements today.

Title: "Epitaph Road"
Author: David Patneaude
Published: 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: 2097 is a transformed world. Thirty years earlier, a mysterious plague wiped out 97 percent of the male population, devastating every world system from governments to sports teams, and causing both universal and unimaginable grief. In the face of such massive despair, women were forced to take over control of the planet—and in doing so they eliminated all of Earth's most pressing issues. Poverty, crime, warfare, hunger . . . all gone.

But there's a price to pay for this new "utopia," which fourteen-year-old Kellen is all too familiar with. Every day, he deals with life as part of a tiny minority that is purposefully kept subservient and small in numbers. His career choices and relationship options are severely limited and controlled. He also lives under the threat of scattered recurrences of the plague, which seem to pop up wherever small pockets of men begin to regroup and grow in numbers.

And then one day, his mother's boss, an iconic political figure, shows up at his home. Kellen overhears something he shouldn't—another outbreak seems to be headed for Afterlight, the rural community where his father and a small group of men live separately from the female-dominated society. Along with a few other suspicious events, like the mysterious disappearances of Kellen's progressive teacher and his Aunt Paige, Kellen is starting to wonder whether the plague recurrences are even accidental. No matter what the truth is, Kellen cares only about one thing—he has to save his father.

And then this one...

Title: Death is Just a Rumor
Author: Marlene Perez
Published: 2010
Genre: YA paranormal

Synopsis: As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain?
And Daisy’s got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef’s secrets aren’t only in her ingredients. . . .
The fourth installment in this favorite series is full of surprises and scares!

And... (no book trailer for this one unfortunately)

Title: Little Blog on the Prairie

Author: Cathleen Davitt Bell
Published: 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: Gen's family is more comfortable spending time apart than together. Then Gen's mom signs them up for Camp Frontier—a vacation that promises the "thrill" of living like 1890s pioneers.

Forced to give up all of her modern possessions, Gen nevertheless manages to email her friends back home about life at "Little Hell on the Prairie," as she's renamed the camp. It turns out frontier life isn't without its good points—like the cute boy who lives in the next clearing. And when her friends turn her emails into a blog, Gen is happily surprised by the fanbase that springs up.

But just when it seems Gen and family might pull through the summer, disaster strikes as a TV crew descends on the camp, intent on discovering the girl behind the nationwide blogging sensation—and perhaps ruining the best vacation Gen has ever had.

"Rules of Attraction" by Simone Elkeles

2010-05-03T08:13:00.011-04:00

Title: "Rules of Attraction"

Author: Simone Elkeles
Series: A Perfect Chemistry Novel Bk#2
Published: 2010
Genre: YA romance
Pages: 324

Synopsis: Carlos Fuentes doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him in Boulder, Colorado. He wants to keep living on the edge, and carve his own path?just like Alex did. Unfortunately, his ties to a Mexican gang aren't easy to break, and he soon finds himself being set up by a drug lord.
When Alex arranges for Carlos to live with his former professor and his family to keep him from being sent to jail, Carlos feels completely out of place. He's even more thrown by his strong feelings for the professor's daughter, Kiara, who is nothing like the girls he's usually drawn to. But Carlos and Kiara soon discover that in matters of the heart, the rules of attraction overpower the social differences that conspire to keep them apart.
As the danger grows for Carlos, he's shocked to discover that it's this seemingly All-American family who can save him. But is he willing to endanger their safety for a chance at the kind of life he's never even dreamed possible?

I had greatly anticipated the release of this book ever since I completely fell for 'Perfect Chemistry' last year. That book took the place of my ALL TIME favorite YA and my very favorite book of 2009 - it was that good! This book takes places a few years later and is the story of Alex's younger brother Carlos. A seventeen year old with a bad attitude.

Carlos pushes people away with his actions and sarcasm because he feels everyone in his life ends up leaving him sooner or later. He refuses to get close to anyone and makes it his mission to be rude and abrasive. But Carlos is out of luck because his big brother Alex, Alex's girl friend Brittany and Carlos' new school imposed 'peer guide' Kiara along with her entire family are not going to let Carlos push them away.

Carlos has no hopes or dreams for his future. He sees himself going no where but back to the gang life, prison or dead. When Carlos is framed with drugs in his locker he wants revenge. Instead he finds a supportive family, group therapy that shows him the tools he needs to change and most surprising of all he finds him self head over heals in love with his peer guide Kiara. A girl who doesn't take his abuse and gives him back as much aggravation and frustration as he gives her.

While I enjoyed 'Rules of Attraction' it was good- but it was no "Perfect Chemistry" on any level. It was very, very toned down. The romance was OK, but not burning up the pages with first love. The action was nearly none existent, which is a far, far cry from the gang violence of the first book. And there was no wonder or suspense of not knowing what was going to happen next like the first book. This one was a sweet but predicable YA romance that had lots of potential for more, but for me fell a bit flat for me. I wish it had a few more chapters in it with more suspense between Carlos and the gangs.

Good book, but not as great as the first in the series.

***2010 YA Reading Challenge***

"Teen Cyberbullying Investigated" by Judge Tom Jacobs

2010-04-05T09:53:00.010-04:00

Title: Teen Cyberbullying Investigated
Author: Judge Tom Jacobs
Published: 2010 by Free Spirit Publishing
Genre: YA nonfiction
Pages: 173 +terms glossary & sources

Synopsis:

How do teens know when they might be “one click away from the clink”? In Teen Cyberbullying Investigated, Judge Tom Jacobs presents a powerful collection of landmark court cases involving teens and charges of cyberbullying, which includes: sending insulting or threatening emails, text, or instant messages directly to someone; spreading hateful comments about someone through emails, blogs, or chat rooms; stealing passwords and sending out threatening messages using a false identity; and building a Web site to target specific people. Each chapter features the seminal case and resulting decision, asks readers whether they agree with the decision, and urges them to think about how the decision affects their lives. Chapters also include related cases, important facts and statistics, and suggestions for further reading. With an ever-increasing number of serious cases of cyberbullying and school violence, this book is needed more urgently than ever.

One word for this book: WOW!

I learned a great deal reading this book, not only as a parent with kids but as a person in the age of the Internet and all things online. This book is a MUST READ for parents and teens alike. It's a wealth of information in all branches of the Internet and bullying. Things from federal and states laws, how schools can help education kids, cases of bullying and Internet abuse and much more.

The book not only mentions the laws and court cases in which bullying has morphed into a criminal court case, it also gives case names and numbers if you want to learn more. If you don't understand a term, just flip to the end of the book for a glossary of terms. Also located at the end of the book is a list of sources used additional web resources like: http://askthejudge.info/, or www.upfrontmagazine.com - all great resources for education ourselves and especially teens.

This is one of those books that has so much good information in it I have a hard time deciding what to mention in a single blog post! I'm going to share one court case because it brings up something that happens on FACEBOOK (a very popular Internet community) and because it's a recent and ongoing pending case.

-Denise E. Finkel v. Facebook & Others (New York 2009)
Denise Finkel became the target of cyberbullying while she was a junior at Oceanside High School in New York. Four students created a chat group on Facebook called "90 Cents Short of a Dollar" describing Denise as a "woman of dubious morals and dubious sexual character". She was portrayed as an IV drug user who participated in bestiality and who has contracted AIDS.
In March 2009, Denise sued her classmates, their parents, and Facebook for $3 million. She claimed that she was subjected to public hatred, ridicule, and disgrace. Because of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, Facebook is protected from liability as a service provider for content posted by others. Facebook was dismissed from the lawsuit in September 2009. The lawsuit remains pending against the others at the time of this book's publication."
-(page 75 quote)-

What do you think? Does she have a good case? I don't like the service providers like Facebook getting off so easily. Where's the accountability? Not even a slap on the wrist? That rubs me wrong. Perhaps if more of these victims stories were exposed in the media to let people know what is occurring daily on sites like Facebook it would help... I don't have the answers and I don't currently use Facebook personally, but if I did perhaps I'd spread this story to other members and let everyone know and become aware of what is happening on that site and others like it.

If not Facebook, then maybe tweet the story on Twitter so that people can learn more about it. People upset over such bullying CAN make a difference. We can change, but first we need to know its happening, then we need to be educated on the issue.

Here's a little trivia mentioned on page 77:

Have you Googled yourself lately??

-"Teachers in England have been advised to google their names and check social networking sites for offensive material about them. In April 2009, the Education Ministry explained that this is part of their attempt to address cyberbullying and the "shocking level of violence" aimed at schools. Fifteen percent of England's teachers report being the victim of cyberbullying."

Here's a fact mentioned on page 20:

-"Following the suicide of 13-year old Megan Meier in 2006 (see chapter 16, pages 157-169), the city of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, passed a measure outlawing online harassment. Violation of the law is a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and 90 days in jail."

That hardly seems like enough in my opinion, but I see it as a step in the right direction. Bullying in all it's forms needs to be stopped. In recent news we've seen numerous suicides from victims of bullying. It needs to stop and this book is a source of information on how to stop it with educating children and adults in just what cyberbullying is and how states and even countries are dealing with it.

Phenomenal educational tool on cyberbullying. A must read for parents, teens and teachers. I'd recommend it be mandatory reading for middle school and high school students across our nation.

Movie Trailer: "Beastly"

2010-03-29T16:00:00.002-04:00

For fans of "Beauty and the Beast" this looks like a good one!

Eclipse Movie clips- behind the scenes

2010-03-15T10:25:00.001-04:00

"Teens Take it to Court" by Judge Tom Jacobs

2010-03-12T07:45:00.007-05:00

Title: Teens Take it to Court
Author: Judge Tom Jacobs
Published: 2006
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 197

Synopsis: Because 15-old Gerry Gault fought for his rights, every teenager in the United States. has specific rights when arrested and charged with a crime. Because 14-old Deborah Weisman challenged her school's policy regarding prayer at graduation ceremonies, teens know they can take a stand on issues that matter to them. This fascinating book describes precedent-setting cases that reveal the power of social action and prove that teens can change the law. Judge Jacobs familiarizes young readers with our legal system, dispels myths and mysteries, and shows that the law is by and for the people-including teens. Formerly titled Teens on Trial, revised and updated with new cases, citations, laws, and discussion questions.

This book is extremely fascinating and FULL of facts. The book is basically divided up into issues. A few issues are: "Can you get an abortion without a parent's consent?" or "Can you be forced to say prayers in school?" or "Can your parents discipline you however they see fit?" and many more. Each issue is examined from all angles and then court cases relating to the issue are listed. The case is laid out and then you are asked to judge it. How would you rule? Why would you come to that ruling?

Some of the cases mentioned where shocking to me. One of the cases that sticks in my mind is about an emotionally abusive public school teacher who totally humiliates and degrades a little 12 year old girl.

Here's a excerpt from that case:

*What if your teacher is emotionally abusive? Is this a violation of your civil rights?

-Twelve year old Stephanie Abeyta, a New Mexico student, wrote a note to fifth-grader Dominic saying, "You're cute...I like you." Stephanie's teacher found the note and read it to the class. He then asked the class if they thought Stephanie was a prostitute. Over the next three months, Stephanie's teacher and classmates continued to taunt her, until Stephanie changed schools. She and her parents filed a federal lawsuit against the teacher and the school district, alleging psychological abuse. Because Stephanie and her parents claimed that the teacher's actions violated her civil rights- the chargers were sexual abuse and harassment, and psychological abuse- they brought their case to a federal court rather than starting out in state court. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that, although Stephanie's teacher emotionally abused her, his actions didn't amount to torture or severe psychological abuse. The court condemned the teacher's behavior but left the matter to be pursed in state court-not federal.

Case: Abeyta v. Chama Valley Independent School District (1996)

This book is FILLED with cases like this and the issues that kids faced and decided to bring to court. The outcomes are all different, but each issue, case and surrounding facts are fascinating. My teenager often has her nose stuck in this book and is sharing what she's discovered with others.

Besides being a truly fascinating read, this book is a great tool for teens to learn their rights and understand that they have a voice in our nation and that their rights are just as important as the rights of adults.

My thanks to Free Spirit Publishing for sending me this book to review. My family and I have all enjoyed reading this book and learning new things.

Eclipse Movie Trailer!!!

2010-03-11T09:23:00.002-05:00

Eclipse was my favorite book in the whole Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and the for me the most anticipated movie of them all. I really can't wait to see this one, I just hope they do a good job bring the book to life on the screen.

Tuesday's Book Trailer: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

2010-03-09T09:42:00.011-05:00

My all time favorite YA book and over all favorite book read of 2009 was "Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles. I have also read and greatly enjoyed "Leaving Paradise".

Since finishing these two books last summer, I have been (like many other fans) counting down the days until the next book in these series is released.

Soon (April 2010) "Rules of Attraction" will be here (never soon enough for fans!). Until then, there is a new book trailer to keep us on pins and needles.

Synopsis: "When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did.
Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.
With new characters to fall in love with and the same hot romance found in Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles has crafted another sure-fire hit for teens."

Gotta Keep Reading...

2010-03-06T08:28:00.002-05:00

Found this on Novel Novice this morning and wanted to share it here.

Character

2010-03-03T10:47:00.002-05:00

This poster hangs in all the schools in my children's school district. It's in the hallways, classrooms and offices. I thought I'd share it here...

"Cracked Up To Be" by Courtney Summers

2010-02-27T11:00:00.008-05:00

Title: Cracked Up To Be

Author: Courtney Summers
Published: 2009
Genre: YA
Pages: 214

Synopsis: "A debut YA novel from a talented young author, this is the story of Parker Fadley—a girl too smart for her own good who, after one tragic night, decides to reject the popular life in exchange for one of solitude."

This was a page turner for me. Parker Fadley captured my interest from the first page. She's the epitome of the wounded heroine and her own worst enemy. After one night of bad judgement and typical teen over indulgence Parker embraces the guilt she feels and wears it like a horsehair shirt to prolong her suffering in her self imposed life sentence. She sets out to be nasty and mean, hurting everyone around her so that they reject her. She wants to be ignored and invisible because she doesn't feel worthy of having a life or any happiness. She effectively removes herself from the old life and marches headlong into destruction one day at a time.

Then new kid Jake moves to town and even though her barbs sting, she can't seem to push Jake away. He's intrigued by her and has set his mind to figuring her out and understanding the mystery of what makes Parker Fadley tick. Parker does her worst, but still Jake is there. They she begins to actually like Jake and that won't do at all because it messes with her self destruct plans and she can't have that, even if she finds she likes Jake.

Slowly the story unravels about what happened that night so long ago and the read can better understand Parker and her motives. It's heartbreaking what this teen does to herself and the suffering and guilt she carries. Parker won my heart even at her meanest because I understood where it was coming from - a place of devastating pain and hopelessness - utter despair.

This isn't a romance book, though it has some romance in it. It's really a story of one teens struggle to cope with her pain and the effects it has on all those around her.

4/5 stars

YA Book Trailers...

2010-02-25T06:44:00.003-05:00

"100 Things Guys Need to Know" by Bill Zimmerman

2010-02-23T13:06:00.011-05:00

Title: 100 Things Guys Need To Know
Author: Bill Zimmerman
Published: 2005
Genre: YA
Pages: 117

Synopsis: "Boys need and want advice on all kinds of issues, for all kinds of questions and concerns. To them, it seems that most self-help books are written for girls. Everything about this book is for and about guys. Graphic-novel-style illustrations engage even reluctant readers. Quotes from real boys, results from a nationwide survey, stories, and facts keep them interested. Prompts invite boys to think about each topic and what it means to them from family life to fitting in, showing emotions, bullies, school, peer pressure, failure, anger, and more."

I found this book enlightening, full of heartfelt and sometimes amusing comments by young men. Most of the book is fitting for either guys or girls and deals simply with teaching facts on how to grow up the best you can. It's full of tips about peer pressure, school, feelings and so on. If a young man can learn and retain half of the growing skills this book offers he'd be doing very well.
I wanted to share a particular chapter that had me laughing out loud because it's so right on for the preteen age of how boys view girls. Some are getting to the dating stage, while others are still just hanging out with friends who are girls. Here are some comments from boys out of the book (page 92).

"My girlfriend still thinks we are going out, even though we broke up a long time ago." - Dave, 11 years old

I actually laughed out loud at this one not because of poor Dave's dismay at his ex-girlfriends behavior, but at the ex-girlfriend! I have an adult friend who in her 20's was still denying her boyfriend broke up with her - perhaps that's just a "girl thing" that some Queen of Denial's never out grow. So buck up Dave! It's not you, it's her!

"I don't know how to talk to girls, I freeze up and don't know what to say."- Evan, 12 years old

Oh Evan, that happens to girls too, but believe me, if you can't say anything to them, a smile goes a long way in making a girl's day brighter.

"Sometimes guys feel pressure to act all cool and macho in front of the girls. I think it's dumb." - Brandon, 11 years old

Brandon I totally agree with you. I just wonder if a young man can really help that or not. Sometimes I think the surging hormones of this time in adolescence takes over and makes us all fools at some point or another.

Another part of the book that jumped out at me, was the boys comments about teachers being harder on them then the girls. One of the facts shared in this chapter is that boys are three times more likely to suffer from ADHD and because of that their inability to sit still for long periods of time will often get them bad or unwanted attention from teachers in school. Very true. I remember it from when I was in school and I see it now with children in school with my kids. Even the children who are diagnosed with ADHD it takes time to find the right medications and doses before you see the children respond and calm down enough to sit still and focus in school. All too often a teacher will run out of patience and the end result is the child- often a boy- feeling the target of a 'mean teacher'.

Here are some comments in the book (page 71) from boys about teachers and school.

"A teacher once told me that boys have a history of being bad and girls don't. I don't think that is fair because some of us guys aren't bad and teachers just assume we are." -Jeff, 13

"It seems like everything is a distraction for me at school. Sports, girls and music. I can barely focus." - Trevor, 11

"I get discipline slips a lot." - Royce, 12

My heart goes out to these kids. It's not easy in the best of situations and when you add something like ADHD it's just magnified.

The book goes on to offer "Check These Out" sources to help boys deal with whatever issue they are facing. There are online sources, books and basic tips for help growing up. The "Take Action" areas of the book offer suggestions on what a boy can do in any given situation to make things easier and learn a skill to deal with a situation if it reoccurs again. I think this book would be a great gift from a parent to a son in the preteen years to help them prepare for what's coming. I think the book is also a great reminder for parents about just what it's like for a young person entering these years...the changes to their bodies, their emotions, feelings, thoughts, peer pressure, school and more. The book can be a helpful tool for child and parent alike in my opinion.

Another great growing up resource from "Free Spirit Publishing".

**This book was given to me by Free Spirit Publishing to read and review**

"When a Friend Dies" by Marilyn E. Gootman

2010-02-16T10:50:00.019-05:00

Title: "When a Friend Dies: A book for teens about grieving & healing"
Author: Marilyn E. Gootman, Ed.D
Published: 2005
Genre: YA - nonfiction

Synopsis: The death of a friend is a wrenching event for anyone at any age. Teenagers especially need help coping with this painful loss. This sensitive book answers questions grieving teens often have, like “How should I be acting?” “Is it wrong to go to parties and have fun?” and “What if I can’t handle my grief on my own?”

Foreword by Michael Stipe (singer/songwriter, R.E.M.): "The advice is gentle, non-preachy, and compassionate; the author has seen her own children suffer from the death of a friend, and she knows what teens go through. The revised edition includes new quotes from teens, new resources, and new insights into losing a friend through violence. Also recommended for parents and teachers of teens who have experienced a painful loss.."

Before I get into the review of this book I am going to share something personal. I haven't been a teenager in a long time, but some things you never forget. Like the death of a friend. Between the age of 13 and 18 death claimed five of my friends.

The first friend "F" died an accidental death when he was playing hockey on a pond and the ice broke. He and two others went into the icy water, his younger brother and best friend came out alive. "F" did not. He was found hours later. I just couldn't believe it. "F" was so full of life and fun. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. I was shocked by the void he left behind.

A few months later "M" who had been battling cancer since he was 7 years old lost his fight, he too was only 13 years old. The death of "M" was different but no less painful. We knew "M" was losing his battle, we thought we were prepared. We weren't. The ripple effect from his death rocked our school and community for years. I still see his brother around every few years or so. When I look in his eyes I can't help but see a bit of "M" in his little brother - they shared the same bright crystal clear blue eyes.

Then my freshmen year of high school came and with it a new girl from another town, I'll call her "K". "K" didn't have an easy life. Divorced parents and lots of moving around. She was a 'bum magnet' for abusive boyfriends. One morning "K" didn't come to school. By the end of the day a special school assembly was called and we all found out that "K" had been beaten to death by her boyfriend the night before. My friend had been brutally murdered by the boy she loved.

The summer between sophomore and junior year I lost a friend to suicide. She didn't want to live anymore and had been terribly depressed for months. Friends, the school and her parents tried to help, but "P" just couldn't seem to pull herself out of her depression and no one then or now ever found out why she was so depressed or what had happened to bring it on so quickly. "P" was a diabetic and needed medication and food on a very strict schedule. One day "P" took a walk into the woods with her dog then sat down to die. She wasn't found till days later. She had written a suicide note telling everyone how much she loved them, that she was sorry, but she couldn't live anymore. That was the end of "P". Some of us were so angry with her. We kept saying 'Why?'. There didn't seem to be any reason for her to want to die and just take her life like that. She left us without answers and I know I wasn't the only one who was angry about that.

Just after senior year began I lost one more friend to suicide. "A" was the most wounded, hurt and lost person I've ever known in my life. He flinched if you moved too quickly near him then would turn beet red with embarrassment if you noticed. "A" had a special place in my heart - not romantic. He was like a wounded animal that I wanted to take home and heal, but I couldn't.

His father was an abusive alcoholic and "A" had the scars and bruises to prove it. But "A" was too proud to admit to the school or authorities who was hitting on him and the fact that "A" was often in fights at school gave the authorities the impression the bruises were from fights with other boys and not abuse by his father. When questioned he denied it all and said everything was fine. It wasn't. His mother had left him long ago - left him with a man she knew was abusive. "A" could never forgive her for that. It always surprised me a bit at how angry he was with his mother, but his abusive father he had no emotion for at all. He seemed almost numb to him.

In the early fall of our senior year, "A" took a shot gun and blew his head off. His best friend found him on the floor of his bedroom after school. Even though "A" was a senior, he was so small and thin that I can never forget thinking during his funeral how small his casket was and how wrong it was that he was in it while his abuser was still living. The death of "A" hit me a bit harder than the others because I had just driven "A" home the night before. He never wanted to go home right after school - he'd stay out as late as he could to avoid his father. I don't know what happened after I dropped him off that night but I always felt so much guilt that it was me who took him to that house of horrors. It was me who handed him over to his father for the last time and "A" couldn't take it any longer. He killed himself rather than go on.

Logically I know I wasn't responsible, but I felt guilt any way. I felt I could have or should have said or done something and "A" would still be here. It's been years, but I don't think a month goes by that I don't think of "A". He was 17 years old - so close to being a legal adult and being able to get out of there, but he couldn't see that. He'd reached his limit.

I know that there are unfortunately many others out there who know exactly what I am talking about when I share those thoughts and feelings of losing friends. The book "When a Friend Dies" touched me deeply in that it brought me right back to being a teen and those deaths. I remembered my feelings and the sort of numb silence broken only by whispers of those around you who watch you to see how you are coping and want to help but don't know how.

This book CAN help. It's right on the mark with its advice and tips for dealing with death. It doesn't tell you that you'll get over it - you won't. But it tells you that you CAN get THROUGH it and with time sort out your feelings and get a grasp on the pain, bewilderment and shock of losing a friend. I wish I had been given this book when I was a teen - it would have helped tremendously.

I would like to advise any teens reading this review to get this book. Parents buy it for your teen. I'd love to see schools hand this out as mandatory reading material because it can be such a helpful tool for teens.

I am really blown away by the effect reading this book had on me. And I am very thankful that Free Spirit Publishing contacted me about reviewing some of their books. This one is a shelf keeper that my own children will be reading and I hope sharing with their friends.

Vampire Diaries & Supernatural

2010-02-10T14:02:00.006-05:00

What's Coming...

2010-02-08T08:11:00.007-05:00

Compliments of "Free Spirit Publishing" I have recieved several books for review. These books are nonfiction and most deal with how to help teens cope with life. Others are just interesting fact books associated with teens.

When the box from Free Spirit Publishing arrived at my house, my daughters both dived into the box and each pulled out a book to browse through. I told them they couldn't read them until I was finished first *lots of groaning at this point*.

Here are the books I will be reading and reviewing in the next week/s.

"When a Friend Dies" (a book for teens about grieving and healing) by Marilyn E. Cootman, Ed.D

"When Nothing Matters Anymore" (a survival guide for depressed teens) by Bev Cobain, R.N.,C

"Teen Cyberbullying Investigated: Where do your rights end and consequences begin?" by Judge Tom Jacobs

"Teens Take It To Court: Young People who challenged the Law-and changed your life" by Judge Tom Jacobs

"They Broke the Law- You be the Judge: True cases of teen crime" by Judge Tom Jacobs

"100 Things Guys Need to Know" by Bill Zimmerman

Thank you Free Spirit Publishing!

Tuesday's Book Trailers

2010-02-02T07:01:00.009-05:00

Before I get to today's Tuesday Book Trailers I should say "Happy Groundhogs Day" and I would, if I understood it.

Why yank an animal out of the ground (or its pet carrier) to hold it up to see if it sees its own shadow or not??

There are some crazy customs, traditions and superstitions out there, but this one that has wiggled its way into a national holiday here in the USA is just bizarre in my opinion.

OK, I just had to say that. Now on to the book trailers!

February Book Releases...

2010-01-31T18:12:00.012-05:00

These are some new releases for February that have made it to my "Must Read" list. Tell me what you think of them? Sound good or not your cup of tea?

Title: The River
Author: Mary Jane Beaufrand
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publish date: Feb. 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: "Veronica Severance feels cut off from the world. Forced to move from the city to rural Oregon with her parents, she is haunted by loneliness and by the chilling sounds of the Santiam, the river that runs through her backyard.
Through the fog of isolation, Ronnie finds herself becoming close with Karen, a young girl who she babysits. But when she discovers Karen's body on the banks of the Santiam, the victim of a supposed accident, Ronnie feels compelled to uncover the truth.
As she becomes increasingly obsessed with solving Karen's death, Ronnie is led deeper and deeper into the woods surrounding the river and to the dark secret hidden within its midst.
The River is a darkly atmospheric story of murder, isolation, obsession and dark secrets that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page."

*-*-*-*

Title: Lockdown
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publish date: Feb. 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: "When I first got to Progress, it freaked me out to be locked in a room and unable to get out. But after a while, when you got to thinking about it, you knew nobody could get in, either.
It seems as if the only progress that's going on at Progress juvenile facility is moving from juvy jail to real jail. Reese wants out early, but is he supposed to just sit back and let his friend Toon get jumped? Then Reese gets a second chance when he's picked for the work program at a senior citizens' home. He doesn't mean to keep messing up, but it's not so easy, at Progress or in life. One of the residents, Mr. Hooft, gives him a particularly hard time. If he can convince Mr. Hooft that he's a decent person, not a criminal, maybe he'll be able to convince himself."

*-*-*-*

Title: Rikers High
Author: Paul Volponi
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publish date: Feb. 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: "Martin was sitting on the front stoop of his apartment building minding his own business when he was arrested for something he didn't even mean to do. Five months later, he's still locked up on Rikers Island, in a New York City jail. Just when it seems things couldn't get much worse, Martin is caught between two warring prisoners, and his face is slashed. Now he'll be forever marked with a prison scar. One good thing comes from the attack: Martin is transferred to a different part of Rikers where inmates are required to attend high school. If Martin opens up to a teacher who really seems to care, perhaps he'll learn a lesson more valuable than any taught in class."

What do you think? Do any of these books appeal to you?

Currently Reading: "Marked"

2010-01-31T17:59:00.005-05:00

I am currently reading "Marked" by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. So far I've got very mixed feelings on this book. I'm going to hold back on sharing them until I am finished reading it though as my opinions often change from beginning to end of books.

Synopsis: "Enter the dark, magical world of The House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change--and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends."

So what are you currently reading??

Tuesday's Trailers!

2010-01-26T07:09:00.031-05:00

Here are some new YA book trailers that caught my attention this week. I know some people don't like book trailers, but I do.

I've only seen one YA book trailer that was in my opinion horrible and I am EVER so thankful I did not see the trailer before I read the book or I am SURE I never would have bought the book and that would have been a terrible shame - because the book ended up being my ALL TIME favorite YA book.

The book was "Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles - but please don't judge the book by its horrid book trailer. The book is phenomenal.

Today I've compiled a few book trailers that have gotten me interested in reading the books. If you've read any of them please let me know what you think of them or leave me a link to your book review, I'd love to read it!

First one up today is a Gay YA novel...

That's it for this weeks book trailers.

More 2010 YA Book Trailers

2010-01-22T18:10:00.009-05:00

This next one sounds very much like the YA version of Charlaine Harris' "Harper Connelly Series" about an adult woman who locates dead missing bodies for people.

January New Releases

2010-01-14T22:20:00.041-05:00

Release Date: Jan. 19, 2010

Title: "Heartless"
Author: Sara Shepard
Series: Pretty Little Liars Series #7
Genre: YA

Synopsis: "In picturesque Rosewood, Pennsylvania, neighbors gossip over picket fences, and gleaming SUVs sit in every crushed-granite driveway. But recently, friendly smiles have been replaced with suspicious glares and accusatory whispers—and it's all because Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer just can't keep their mouths shut. . . .

First they claimed they found a dead body in the woods behind Spencer's house, only to have it vanish without a trace. Then when the same woods went up in flames, they swore they saw someone who's supposed to be dead rise from the ashes. And even after all that, the pretty little liars are still playing with fire.

Hanna's trading in her Dior trench for a straitjacket. Aria's trying to contact the dead. Emily's dumped her boyfriend and is skipping town . . . again. And Spencer thinks someone in her family has gotten away with murder.

The friends insist they're telling the truth about what they saw, but all of Rosewood thinks they're simply out for attention—and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after the girls, will anyone believe them . . . or will they be the next to disappear?"

Release Date: Jan. 21, 2010

Title: "Undead Much?"
Author: Stacey Jay
Series: Megan Berry, Bk#2
Genre: YA

Synopsis:
Q: How many guys does it take to make your boyfriend wild with jealousy?
A: Only one, if he's UNDEAD.

Megan Berry had a perfectly average new-sundress-and-boy-obsessed life--until her power to settle the Undead returned. Oh, and then her best friend tried to kill her--and ruin homecoming--with a bunch of black magically raised zombies. At least she got a spot on the pom squad and a smokin' boyfriend (Ethan). But now Megan is in deep fertilizer all over again.

Why? Well, let's see...

· Feral new super-strong zombies? Check.

· Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening half time as they know it? Check.

· An Undead psychic hottie (Cliff) who's predicting a zombie apocalypse--and doing his best to tempt Megan away from Ethan? Yum. I mean, Check.

· Earth-shattering secrets that could land Megan in Settler prison for life? Um, IT WASN'T ME!!!

Everyone thinks Megan's at fault for the new uber-zombie uprising. Looks like she'll need the help of both Cliff and Ethan if she's going to prove her innocence before it's too late...

Date: Jan. 26, 2010

Title: "I Kiss A Zombie, and I Liked It"
Author: Adam Selzer
Genre: YA

Synposis: "Algonquin “Ali” Rhodes, the high school newspaper’s music critic, meets an intriguing singer, Doug, while reviewing a gig. He’s a weird-looking guy—goth, but he seems sincere about it, like maybe he was into it back before it was cool. She introduces herself after the set, asking if he lives in Cornersville, and he replies, in his slow, quiet murmur, “Well, I don’t really live there, exactly. . . .”

When Ali and Doug start dating, Ali is falling so hard she doesn’t notice a few odd signs: he never changes clothes, his head is a funny shape, and he says practically nothing out loud. Finally Marie, the school paper’s fashion editor, points out the obvious: Doug isn’t just a really sincere goth. He’s a zombie. Horrified that her feelings could have allowed her to overlook such a flaw, Ali breaks up with Doug, but learns that zombies are awfully hard to get rid of—at the same time she learns that vampires, a group as tightly-knit as the mafia, don’t think much of music critics who make fun of vampires in reviews. . . ."

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2010

Title: "Incarceron"
Author: Catherine Fisher
Series: Incarceron Bk#1
Genre: YA

Synopsis: "Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.
And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know."

New Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

2010-01-14T21:53:00.010-05:00

Book title: "My Soul to Reap"
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

Synopsis: When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers--monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell--she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between Seraphim and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of fighting the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her--an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting extracurriculars, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to destroy Ellie's soul forever, ending her rebirth cycle. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives--including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

To follow the author Courtney Allison Moulton on her blog, click HERE.

Must buy book...

2010-01-14T21:29:00.006-05:00

This book has made my "Must Buy" list. It just sounds so good!

Title: Chasing Brooklyn
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Genre: YA

Synopsis: Restless souls and empty hearts

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

"Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-01-13T05:47:00.017-05:00

Title: "Shiver"
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Published: 2009
Genre: YA Paranormal
Pages: 390

Synopsis: "For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever."

I have a great deal of mixed feelings on "Shiver". I liked that the book went back and forth between Grace and Sam telling the story, so that you got a better feel of what each was going through, thinking and experiencing. What I did not like was the pervading feeling of complete and utter hopelessness for the first 50 chapters of the book. I am one of those people who really, REALLY does NOT like Shakespeare because of the doom and gloom that often dominates his work and for the first 50 chapters of "Shiver" all I could think of was how much it reminded me of reading Shakespeare's depressing stories that show the worst in human behavior as the story spirals down getting darker and darker with each page. Like watching a car wreck and knowing it's a tragedy unfolding before your eyes that will leave a devastating trail of destruction and death behind.

Shiver gave me those same feelings. I never felt a spark of hope for Sam or Grace except for one chapter at the very end. And I hated how it ended because we were left not knowing what happened to Sam while we got to see all that Jack experienced. I wanted Grace to be there for Sam during that time and I wanted to feel that spark of hope and end the story on a happier note. Instead I felt gypped and bitter at having been left out of the climax of the story for Sam.

Grace's parents were as cold and unfeeling as the weather that robbed Sam of his humanity. And Grace's "friends" left much to be desired. The book was devoid of light or happiness. If the only thing Grace had was looking into a wolf's eyes...well she was one of the sorriest heroines I've ever read with no real life at all. Just living for glimpses of a wolf in the woods?? I felt pity for her and Sam, her friends and her parents. Pity.

The only one I felt happy for was the mean nasty She-wolf Shelby because she was the only one who was truly happy in the book. She enjoyed her life and was very happy being what she was. She had hope and a plan for her future - it didn't work out as she planned, but still she felt hope, happiness and triumph in the story, something no other characters felt or had. I felt her hope and happiness. Everyone else was miserable and hating their life in some way. Personally, I think it's sad when the only feeling of happiness I get from reading a book is from the villian in the story.

I've read nothing but wonderful reviews for this book, so I know I am certainly in the minority on not being impressed with it. All I needed for it to work was to feel any sort of hope or brightness in the book - I needed something to cling to when things looked bad, but I never really got that. I was depressed for the characters who were hopeless and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. The story had potential and was interesting in the very different twist on how/why people turn into werewolves and the fact that after time the remain wolves - all new twists to me. But without hope...just depressing reading.

The book did make me cry (Grace in the library alone recalling her time there with Sam), and it did make me smile (poor Isabel's dog), but over all I was just depressed reading the whole thing.

It just didn't work for me because I felt no hope during the story. I've got to have hope in the darkness - good triumphing over bad. I need to feel it even if I can't see it in the story. I never felt, saw or believed it so the book failed for me.

2/5 stars - 2 for the potential and for going from Sam to Grace's viewpoints - I really like that in my YA books. I truly wish I had better things to say as I was really looking forward to this book.

Currently reading...

2010-01-11T18:26:00.001-05:00

I am currently reading "Shiver"...slow start, but it's getting better now.

The Monday Post...

2010-01-04T18:11:00.005-05:00

I know it's late for me to be posting my Monday post, but today has been just crazy all day and tomorrow looks like a repeat only worse with my schedule, so it was now or never for this post!

This week I am going to begin reading "Shiver" by Maggie Shiefvater. I've heard nothing but good things said about this book, so I am really looking forward to sitting down and digging in! Hopefully, I will have a review up before Friday.

What YA are you currently reading or what's hit your TBB list recently?

I saw this video trailer for a book that is released this week and is on my To-be-bought list...check out "Chasing Brooklyn" by Lisa Schroeder...

Oh and I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Years!

"His Eyes" by Renee Carter

2010-01-01T20:40:00.009-05:00

Title: "His Eyes"

Author: Renee Carter

Published: August 2009

Pages: 190

Synopsis: "Amy Turner's about to graduate from high school and all she wants is a job. Actually, all she wants is to find a way to pay for college. Amy certainly isn't looking for love when she answers an ad to baby-sit a boy-she just needs the cash. But the job has a catch: The boy is blind...and he's her age. Tristan Edmund may be hot, but he doesn't want Amy's help. Or so he thinks. After being blinded in a horse show-jumping competition, Tristan spends his days in the dark, refusing to accept his disability. Much to his annoyance, Amy bursts into his life and drags him into the light. But just as the two begin to see something in each other, Tristan's beautiful ex-girlfriend shows up. Will the temptation be too much, or will Tristan choose the girl who really sees him?"

*some spoilers*

This book started off well, then began to bother me and by the end I was spending more time rolling my eyes than actually enjoying anything I was reading. The plot had great potential, as did the characters in the beginning, but they failed to develop, instead they dwindled then crashed and burned.

The book starts with Amy taking a job to 'babysit' an eighteen year old boy who was recently blinded in a horse jumping accident. When Amy takes the job, she then has to go find and coax Tristan out of a closet. I thought this was completely stupid, until later when I understood the appeal the closet held for him. I won't give that away.

Tristan wants nothing to do with anyone helping him. Apparently he has sent away everyone hire by his filthy rich mother...doctors, therapists, nurses etc. until his mother figures he might need someone his own age. Tristan is supposed to be in a deep depression and hard to reach but the book didn't SHOW me that, instead it TOLD me that. I hate that. I think this book would have been much better with about three more chapters in the beginning to SLOWLY bring Tristan around. Instead he has a complete turn around in 24 hours!!

He goes from refusing to leave the house for months to jumping in the car the first time Amy says lets go for ride! This action did not fit with what the author was telling me and it bugged me. I expected Amy to have to actually work at reaching Tristan and bringing him out of his depression and shell, but Amy had it easy. She just mentions something and Tristan jumps to command and goes along.

Then my biggest problem with the books comes...how Tristan is treated not only by his peers but also by older adults. First Amy 'tests' him to see if he's really blind or not - DUH!! As if someone could fake it for several months pulling the wool over assorted doctors eyes. This made Amy go into the "too stupid to live" category. This test has Tristan tripping and falling on the floor in front of his entire school class and he's made a laughingstock. Way to go Amy!

But it doesn't stop there...oh no. Amy's best friend and her boyfriend add to Tristan's humiliation by waving arms in front of his face and spitting paper straw wrappers at him to see if he flinches- again to test if the poor guy is blind or not. But not to be left out, Amy's FAMILY gets in on the testing and her 30yr old brother waves hands in Tristan's face, then the family feeds the guy flowers for dinner without telling!! I was so angry at the rude, compassionless and pure meanness of these people that quite frankly I hated them and wished Tristan was back in his closet. Who acts like this?? I know people can be mean...but this was awful in my opinion and I felt so bad for Tristan. He deserved better than Amy and would have been better off without her - which sort of defeats the whole plot of the book. Yet another issue with the story.

Then in walks ex-girlfriend Lexus who is a model and has been away for months and who has no idea Tristan is blind. This girl was written so ridiculously that I don't think a twelve year old would buy what she was selling. There is no one who acts, talks or IS the way this character was made out to be. And the dialogue between Amy and Lexus and Tristan (some sort of twisted triangle) was easily the stupidest I have ever read in YA.

This book started off with all sorts of potential, but turned out annoying, cruel and something that left a bad taste in my mouth.

I give it 1 star out of 5 stars. A big disappointment.

January Reading List

2009-12-29T16:31:00.004-05:00

These are some of the books I am reading for January...

"His Eyes" by Renee Carter

"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

"Marked" by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

"Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater

I'll be back after the new year with some reviews! Have a great New Years everyone!

Be back after Christmas...

2009-12-22T08:42:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!! I'll be back after Christmas to share what YA books I got for Christmas and what I am reading. Be safe and enjoy the holidays- whatever holiday you happen to celebrate in December!

2009 Book Reads

2009-12-18T08:14:00.006-05:00

I didn't read many YA books in 2009 and plan to read MUCH MUCH more in 2010. But I did keep track of the few I did read.

-"Forever" by Judy Blume **Re-Read**

-"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer **Re-Read**

-"Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles **BEST READ OF THE YEAR** (and probably my favorite YA of all time - dying to get my hands on "Rules of Attraction")

-"City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare **FAVORITE YA SERIES OF THE YEAR**

-"Leaving Paradise" by Simone Elkeles (can't wait for the follow up on this one)

-"City of Ashes" by Cassandra Clare

-"City of Glass" by Cassandra Clare

-"Speak" by Laura Halse Anderson

-"New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer **Re-Read**

-"Sticky Fingers" by Niki Burnham

-"Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer **Re-Read**

-"Vampire Diaries" by LJ Smith **DNF** (tried several times but just could NOT finish reading this book- didn't like it at all)

What I Want Wednesday

2009-12-16T06:57:00.017-05:00

It's "What I Want Wednesday" here at The Cracked Spine. Each Wednesday I plan on featuring several books that have hit my To Be Bought (TBB) list in the last week. Since creating this predominately YA book blog, I have been spending a great deal of time in the YA sections of Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon along with several wonderful book blog and web sites. I've found dozens of books that sound really good and have added them to my TBB list and today I am going to share a few of them.

First up is a paranormal series that I have featured in my right side bar. This series has caught my eye for nearly a year now and I have no idea why I haven't purchased them yet. This month the first 4 book box set went on my TBB list and if I don't get the boxed set for Christmas, I will get it with the gift certificates I get for Christmas.
"The House of Night" series by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Synopsis: "The House of Night is a thrilling, New York Times bestselling book series that follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird as she is “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the “Change” into an actual vampyre. She has to leave her family in Broken Arrow, OK, and move into the House of Night, a boarding school for other fledgling vampyres like her.
It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. Although Zoey has awesome new powers, it’s hard to fit in when everyone knows you’re “special.” As Zoey tries to make new friends and maybe find a hot boyfriend (or two), she comes up against all kinds of evil, from the perfect-looking, super-popular girl with not-so-faultless plans, to the mysterious deaths happening at the House of Night and all over Tulsa. Things at the House of Night are not always what they seem. Can Zoey find the courage deep within herself to find the truth and embrace her destiny?"

Next up is what sounds like a sweet contemporary romance. The book is called "His Eyes" by Renee Carter and I have a Youtube video to go with it. I found this particular book over on "Black and Blue Ink" a great YA blog that I enjoy visiting.

Synopsis: "Turner's about to graduate from high school and all she wants is a job. Actually, all she wants is to find a way to pay for college. Amy certainly isn't looking for love when she answers an ad to baby-sit a boy-she just needs the cash. But the job has a catch: The boy is blind...and he's her age.
Tristan Edmund may be hot, but he doesn't want Amy's help. Or so he thinks. After being blinded in a horse show-jumping competition, Tristan spends his days in the dark, refusing to accept his disability. Much to his annoyance, Amy bursts into his life and drags him into the light. But just as the two begin to see something in each other, Tristan's beautiful ex-girlfriend shows up. Will the temptation be too much, or will Tristan choose the girl who really sees him?"

That wraps up my first "What I Want Wednesday" on The Cracked Spine. I'd love to hear what books you want. Tell me what was added to your TBB list this week! :o)

My Current Read...

2009-12-14T09:35:00.011-05:00

I am currently reading "The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod- Eighth Grade Bites" by Heather Brewer.

Synopsis: "Vlad has to keep his vampire urges under control while dealing with the pressures of middle school.
Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod really hates junior high. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and his enlarged fangs. When a substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. But then he faces a much bigger problem: He's being hunted by a vampire killer."

Here's a quick interview with author Heather Brewer about her Vladimir Tod series.

I've got the first 3 books in the series (8th, 9th & 10th grade) that I plan to read, but I may not read them in order, as I have other YA books I want to get to soon.

Release this Week: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

2009-12-13T02:03:00.003-05:00

Witch and Wizard
by James Patterson
Genre: YA
Pages: 314

Blurb: "The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?"

Release date: December 14, 2009

Pre-Order from Barnes & Noble HERE.

Speak by Laura Halse Anderson

2009-12-12T23:32:00.011-05:00

"Speak"

By Laura Halse Anderson
Genre: YA
Pages: 224

Back blurb: "Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country."

I had seen the movie "Speak" a few years ago and really liked it, so when my teenager came home with the book "Speak" as part of her school reading assignment I found the time to read her copy of the book before she had to return it.

I was not disappointed. As the blurb says, Melinda has become the outsider at her school and is being shunned by her friends for calling the police during a party and getting them in trouble. But that is not Melinda's biggest problem, her biggest problem is the one that is eating her up inside and the one that she refuses to speak about.

Something terrible happened at that party, but Melinda has clammed up and doesn't know how to deal with it. She wants to tell someone but the words won't come out. Her friends have abandoned her and parents can't seem to reach her. Melinda's struggle is gripping and heartbreaking. Her triumph over her pain and suffering will bring a smile to your heart. This girl is a survivor.

I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham

2009-12-11T20:34:00.001-05:00

Sticky Fingers
By Niki Burnham
Genre: YA
Pages: 247

Back Blurb: "Bulletproof, that's how Jenna Kassarian sees herself. It's all about control: As long as she works hard, nothing can hurt her. So Jenna constantly pushes — for perfect grades, the ideal boyfriend, the best, best friend. The only problem is, she doesn't know if she can stop. If she relaxes even for a second, she's afraid she'll lose control completely. Then Jenna decides it's now or never. She goes to a party and has one drink. But one drink is all it takes for her perfect facade to shatter. Suddenly she realizes straight A's can't protect you in the real world."

Jenna is a good teen who looks at the bigger picture and doesn't let her hormones rule her. She focuses, works hard, gets great grades and is driven to be the best she can be. Jenna has what appears to be the perfect boyfriend - smart and driven like she is to do good. He's a sports jock, good looking and loves Jenna. But she's not just blessed with a great guy, she's also got a great bff whom Jenna believes is amazing because she's; caring, loyal, honest, trustworthy etc.

But Jenna's not a very good judge of character...at least that is what her bff Courtney keeps telling her. And her 'perfect' boyfriend Scott wants sex and he's bringing on the pressure to go all the way. He thinks they are at that point in their relationship to take it to the next step and Jenna thinks they probably are too...BUT... Jenna is holding back. Something is telling her its not the right time, place or...could it be not the right person for her?? She has to figure that all out. At the same time something is up with her bff Courtney. Courtney just isn't acting like her old self, but she won't tell Jenna what is going on. Is Courtney really who Jenna thinks she is? Could Jenna really be a bad judge of character? Who can she really trust?

I don't want to go into any more detail for fear of spoiling the story. I liked the book, when I sat down and read it, I finished it like like 3 hours - very fast YA read (247 pages with an excellent Author's Note at the end), but a good one. Something I think many teen girls would benefit from reading.

I score this one 3 stars out of 5 stars.