Book Nymph

North of Beautiful

2011-06-10T10:51:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blonde, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her small, stifling town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid out plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Review:

For me, this book opened up an entire new world on a few different levels. I have known people with port stains but have never given much thought to what they might be feeling and this book definitely puts that into perspective. Throughout the book, Terra's insecurities are highlighted, not only in dealing with the general public but also her overbearing, egotistical, and just downright cruel father. I found myself wishing her father was real, someone who could feel my touch just so his face would be able to connect with my fist.

Justina Chen Headly not on encompasses the insecurities of a teenage girl living a difficult life, but also the lives of those around her. Yes, Terra was the main character, by all means, but in the end I found I knew just as much about her as I did her mother, her two obscure brothers, and the batty artists at the local studio. And to me, that is a real accomplishment for an author as many often forget just how important the back stories and feelings of secondary characters are to the development of the book as well as the primary character. Ms. Headly not only wrote about these people but painted a picture so vivid that it became hard to decipher in my mind if they were all just apart of a book and not people actually living in this world.

Prior to reading this book I had no idea what in the world geocaching was. Chances are some of you don't even know what it is. But I became intrigued by it and what it had done for not only Terra but her relationship with Jacob and later, her mother. What was this mysterious 'treasure hunt' that only required GPS coordinates, and is it really something I could do? Not only did I find that it does exist but I found myself quickly becoming involved with this new community, something I am grateful to Justina Chen Headly for.

Overall the book was extremely well written and Ms. Headly created something I think I will forever have on my shelf, considering it to be an ongoing favorite. The story she created, the world she managed to paint for me, is something I love revisiting whenever I can. If you haven't already picked up this book, I highly recommend you do so at your next visit to your bookstore. It is easily found with its beautiful, soft cover; it is also my recommendation that, if you are a true book lover who just loves to hold them in your hands and see the vibrant colors of the hardback beneath the sleeves as I do, then pick up the hardback.

Breathing

2009-06-29T15:09:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town working at the library and lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she’s convinced he’s the one—her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama’s strict rules, and stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he’s called away to help his family—and seems uncertain about returning—Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own, both literally and figuratively.

Review:

I have been excited about reading this book since I first started talking to Cheryl last summer. And when I got a copy in the mail I was so bummed that I would have to put it off because of school. But boy, was it worth the wait! Just by looking at the cover I knew I would enjoy it as it just captures the mood of the book: it captures the summer in the south.

Even though this was your typical Young Adult book, it was still able to stand alone because of the little extra things in the plot. Things like Savannah's asthma, her mothers strong personality, and even just the environment. All of it makes me wish this story exhisted in real life and I could see it play out in places other than my mind. While reading it I could feel the hot days and her difficulty to breath. You know it is more than just a regular book when an author is able to accomplish that.

Through this book the author has given me a treat: one that I will revisit time and time again. This is a must have for summer reading. On your next trip be sure to pick this one up.

20 Boy Summer

2009-06-29T14:55:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ....Zanzibar....Bay.... is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Review:

I loved this book. It is one that just brings the feelings out of you and makes you want to cry, laugh out loud, and giggle like a little girl all throughout. As I sit here and try to think of something I did not like, I find it impossible. I loved the cover, the plot, the characters, everything in the bindings.

When the book starts, you think, "oh, how sweet" but then the worse happens and through the characters and you, the reader, onto an emotional roller coaster. There are even those time when you just want to scream at the characters to not do something or to get their heads out of the clouds.

The author did a fantastic job creating this story. It is one I really got into and enjoyed so much. I will most definitely be picking this one up again and I can only hope you will be doing the same. This is not one to be passed up.

Starfinder

2009-06-29T14:32:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:

Too much busyness hampers this disjointed YA fantasy adventure from Marco (The Sword of Angels). After young teens Moth and Fiona flee domineering adults in the vaguely steampunkish mountaintop city of Calio, they cross the fog-covered Reach into a land of magical beings. Most notable are the Skylords, glamorous creatures who look like angels but act like Nazis. Years before, a conscience-stricken female Skylord stole the titular device so her race couldn't abuse its powers. Now Moth has it but doesn't understand how to use it. When Fiona's grandfather, governor of Calio, appears over the Reach in a warship dirigible, and the Skylords attack with the help of various flying monsters, Moth and Fiona's tale is almost smothered.

Review:

Even though I have previously given another John Marco book not such a good review I agreed to review another one. This time a Young Adult Novel that is the beginning of a series called the Skylords Series. Once again, I was set off a bit by the cover. It is just too adult looking to be a Young Adult book.

The plot too a little getting into but once it started I kept up pretty well. A few things here and there got me confused but then, later on, made more sense. I loved the characters in this book and could relate to them. The fantasy aspect was a definite plus and, as I was reading, I could make connections to different things that had happened in our history.

Overall, this book was good and one I might be able to read again. John Marco did a good job on this Young Adult fantasy piece and has definitely peaked my interest. Next time you are in the store pick up a copy and see if it is something you might be interested in. Who knows, you might just find a new series to follow.

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters

2009-06-29T14:30:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes.

Review:

This book pretty much put every girls insecurities down on paper. Even though Jory's problems are about her nose and all of her focus is about fixing that problem, every teenage girl can relate to this book. Not only that, but it is quite amusing the predicaments Jory manages to get herself into.

The characters are welled defined and I was not left hanging by any means. It was easy to follow but at the same time very enjoyable. The plot allowed me to sit there and think how this is someone's life...it just seemed so real to me. Even though I was a bit annoyed how some things turned out for her I just chalked it up to life experiences.

All in all I thought this was a good read and one I could definitely pick up again. Sydney Salter did a fantastic job creating this story and make it like I was talking to a best friends who was going through all of this. It was funny and entertaining yet, at other points, serious. This book was a complete package and one you should pick up on your next trip to the bookstore.

Shadowed Summer

2009-04-05T17:30:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Summer in Ondine, Louisiana, is always predictable: hot and boring.

Not this one.

This summer, Iris is forteen. This summer, she doesn't have to make up spooky stories for excitement. Because a real one falls into her lap. Years ago, before she was born, a teenage named Elijah disappeared. All that remains of him are whispers. Until this summer. A ghost begins to haunt Iris, and she's convinced it's the ghost of Elijah.

What really happened? And why, of all people, has he chosen Iris.

Review:

This book was a quick, easy read and a good one at that. I wouldn't go as far as saying it blew me out of my shoes it was so good, but it was something that kept my interest during one of the long bus rides in Ireland.

The main character, Iris, was probably one of the best things about the book. She can't quite do things on her own and is always with her best friend Collette. A typical young teenager who hasn't seen much outside of her town, she goes looking for things to do and one of them is calling upon the spirits in the local cemetary. I can't really get on her for that one, I have done it! But it is how she grows throughout the book that I really think keeps you interested. She goes from a follower to a leader.

Though I wouldn't rate the book in my top favorites, I do rate it in the top 30. Saundra Mitchell did a great job creating small town life and the secrets many of them hold. Go pick this one up, especially if you are a younger teenager; you will enjoy it.

You Are So Undead To Me

2009-04-05T16:58:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:

Megan Berry's social life is so dead. Literally.

Fifteen-year-old Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she's part-time shrink to a bunch of dead people with a whole lot of issues.

All Megan wants is to be normal--and go to homecoming, of course. Unfortunately, it's a little hard when your dates keep getting interrupted by a bunch of slobbering Undead.

Things are about to get even worse for Megan. Someone in school is using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into flesh-eating Zombies, and it's looking like homecoming will turn out to be a very different kind of party--the bloody kind.

Megan must stop the Zombie apocalypse descending on Carol, Arkansas. Her life--and more importantly, homecoming--depends on it.

Review:

At first, once I finished the book, I wasn't sure what to think. As a matter of fact I am still having trouble putting my thoughts about it into words. I know I loved it, I did not want to put it down and I can not wait for the next installment. Megan, a typical teeanager, just wants to be normal, popular, liked by a boy...oh, and not someone zombie's come to when they are restless.

I think what I loved most about this book is that Stacey Jay took a normal teenage day in the beginning and morphed it into the beginning of the rest of Megan's life. Not only that, but it was such a smooth transition. Everything that needed explaining in this book was explained and I wasn't left wondering in the end about how this or that happened, just what comes next. It was a thrilling read with expected and unexpected twists and turns they left you wanting more.

In a way this book reminded me of Meg Cabot's Mediator Series, another all time favorite. Real life clashes with the unreal but leaves you questioning whether it could actually happen. This is another one you should pick up and keep up with when the next few come out. Stacey Jay did a fantastic job by keeping me wanting more and I am sure she will do the same for you.

Prada and Prejudice

2009-04-05T16:18:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily’s family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily’s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex’s heart, before her time in the past is up?

Review:

That's right, you guess it, another book set in the era of Jane Austen. Just when you thought the whole Jane Austen craze had simmered down there comes along another book that has now become another favorite of mine. I am telling you, you can't go wrong when you give me a YA book with a historical setting, romance, and mystery all woven into it.

As far as the book goes, it definately capture my mind as soon as I began to read it. Did not want to put it down, let alone have the story end. Callie, the main character, is right after my own heart. Clumsy, awkward, talks before she thinks, and many other qualities that just kept me laughing and blushing! (In real life it doesn't take much to get me blushing but, when reading, it is a good sign that I am into a book when it evokes that kind of emotion.) Not only did Callie add so much to the story, but so did the other characters like Alex and Emily. Their story was underway long before Callie showed up, she just became another actor in their strict aristocrat lives.

Overall I think this one is worth picking up. Even if you don't enjoy books with historical settings, you will enjoy this one, I promise. Mandy Hubbard did a fantastic job creating Austen-era England, something that must of taken immense research on her part. Not only that, but she has creating chracters that you just fall in love with, whether or not you really want to. So go pick it up on your next trip to your local bookstore, it is being released June 11.

In Your Room

2009-04-05T15:34:00.005-04:00

Synopsis:

Molly and Charlie have fallen head over heels in love—even though they’ve never met Molly is a fashion-conscious city girl in L.A. Charlie is an earthy, mountain-biking dude from Boulder, Colorado. Each of them has big plans with their respective friends for the summer—until they discover that their parents decided to swap houses!

Luckily there’s no amount of homesickness that a bit of snooping can’t cure. Charlie and Molly begin crawling under beds and poking around in closets to find out a little more about each other—and they like what they find.

Can Charlie and Molly’s long-distance romance survive jealousy, misunderstandings—and the thousand miles between them?

Review:

I was excited to read this book. I hadn't heard much about it and I had just stumbled across the author's page one day, but I knew it was definitely my type of book. The summer romance, though not your typical one, is sweet, fun, and lighthearted with a few twists and turns. The idea that families switch homes for a summer was mind boggling to me but then the two teenagers from the family fall for each other, just too perfect!

I think you have all gotten by now I am a sucker for romance, and this book was no exception to that. Though this one wasn't typical in any way, which just drew me in even more. The characters, mainly Charlie and Molly, were so different yet so alike I just had to giggle aloud at some of the things that happened, were said, or were thought.

The book followed the typical layout, all is good and then it goes downhill for a bit and then ends with the butterflies all over again. But it worked for this book and made it an easy read that just left you with a smile. Jordanna Fraiberg did an excellent job weaving these two stories into one and I can not wait to read more from her.

Around the World in 80 Dates

2009-04-05T15:18:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

Travel writer Sydney Alexander is ready for one particular journey to end: her frustrating search for a Mr. Right. As a Christian twenty something navigating the weird world of dating, she's encountered more than her share of frogs. From men who can't keep a jo to self-centered professionals, her lackluster dates leave Sydney wondering where the good guys are hiding.

But things are looking way up. Just after landing her dream job, she meets an eligible round of bachelors, including a dashing European, a promising blind date, and a charming coffee-shop wordsmith. Now Sydney will discover just how far she's willing to compromise to land her dream guy.

Review:

When I first got the book I was very excited to read it. I hadn't read many reviews on it so I have no preconceived notions about it. The book started out well, I was able to follow the jumps between characters. I also enjoyed the main character, Sydney, very much. Her choice in men, most of the time, not so much.

Even though I did enjoy the plot and the characters I felt as though it got to a point that the book went a little bit too far when it came to being a parallel narrative. It became confusing, as there wasn't any indication who was telling the story until you got a few lines in and could figure it out on your own. Most times, when reading a parallel narrative, the viewpoints are broken up in chapters. However, in 80 Dates, it could flip a couple times within a chapter.

Aside from the broken parallel narrative, I thought the plot was interesting and definitely captured my mind. I didn't expect her to end up with who she did in the end, but, then again, that is the point isn't it? I do suggest picking this book up, though it may take a few sittings to get through to keep stories straight and how everything matches.

Must Love Black

2009-02-08T18:42:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:
NANNY FOR 10-YR-OLD TWINS.
MAINE COAST.
OWN ROOM & GENEROUS SALARY.
MUST LOVE BLACK.

Must love black? Sounds like a coffee-loving, seclusion-seeking goth girl's dream job. Philippa isn't fazed by the fog-enshrouded mansion on a cliff, the weirdest twins on the planet, or even the rumors about ghosts, because when she meets the estate's hot gardener, Philippa's pretty sure she's found her dream boy, too. Too bad Geoff's already taken by a girl whose wardrobe is head-to-toe pink. Still, Philippa can't get Geoff out of her head. What will it take to lure him to the dark side?

Review:
I was excited to read this book when I bought it. But once I started reading it, I was a bit let down. I loved the main character, Philippa, as she was spunky and didn't really take crap from anyone. It was the plot I am a bit on edge about....I was left with too many holes.

Why did the children love black so much? Why did their father's partner control everything? What is it with the noises and the ghosts? Was their mother still there watching over them? What happened between her father, her stepmother, and her?

These are the kind of questions I am left with. I don't know if there is going to be another installment of this book, but something tells me their isn't. Either way, it wasn't so bad that I would say never to pick it up...no...

But overall I was just left disappointed by what I got. Phillipa was well defined, but the rest was lacking...I didn't feel connected to any of the other characters, not even the twins. I would recommend picking up this book and reading it...as my opinion isn't the only one that matters. Who knows, this might be one of the best books one of you reads...I guess I have just read to many to be able to say that.

The Rule of Won

2009-02-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

Meet Caleb Dunne, slacker extraordinaire. Caleb prefers to slide through life with the minimal amount of effort, so he isn’t too jazzed when his overachieving girlfriend, Vicky, convinces him to join a new school club based on a controversial book, The Rule of Won. Slackers don’t join school clubs, do they? As The Rule gains popularity, though, the club members start to gain power within the school. From dark posts on the club’s online message board to all-out threats in the hallways, it becomes apparent that the group is getting out of control. For slacker Caleb, though, the only thing worse than doing something is not doing something.

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I started to read it and I just couldn't put it down. I have to admit, I wasn't all that excited about reading it...I didn't like the cover at all. But this is the prime of example about how you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. When I actually cracked it open I was met by a fabulous stringing of words...the story just flowed so well; I wasn't left with an holes in the plot.

I loved each character, as they were all different and each had a different story to their life. Finding books to read in the YA genre that is from a guys point of view can be hard but this is definitely one that is worth the searching. Caleb, the main character, is just the typical teenager...a slacker extraordinaire. But at the same time, he isn't. He genuinely cares about the people he meets in his life, at least in the glimpse of it we get. By the end of the book you are wanting to know more about is life and you just want to know how things turn out for him in the long run.

Overall, I would say this is a great book. Yea, I didn't like the cover all too much, but what is in between the cover is a superb story. One that I sure couldn't put down and one I am sure many other won't be able to either. Stefan Petrucha did a fantastic job creating the highschool and each character...the cult was just a little something extra that put the book over the edge. He has a way with words that just wants you to continue reading and take in everything her says...funny since that is kind of what happened to those who read the Rule of Won.

Girl vs Bear

2009-02-07T12:54:00.001-05:00

Synopsis:
These provocative short stories follow a series of teenage heroines coming of age in the 1980's—a decade full of big hair, make-out parties, material girls, and radical surfers. The young women here grapple with the mysteries of young love, sex, death, and parents. With humor and generosity, Kerr investigates what it means to be an adolescent girl as her protagonists face down bad reputations, drunken perverts, fistfights and, of course, killer bears.

Review:
I am not one for reading books like this but for some odd reason I caught onto this one; I was very excited when I got it in the post, and even more when iI finally got to read it. Each story within the covers is unique, yet, at the same time, gives a different perspective on a teenagers life. What caught my mind most was that the stories were based in the '80's. I may have been born in '88 but I sure don't remember anything from the 80's, let alone the 90's.

At first I was confused by the title, but, then I finished the book and I understood; at least, I think I do. The girl is the teenager and the bear is the life and the many obstacles the person must overcome. Each story had a different plot to it, but they all had one common thing....each teenager had met some sort of obstacle and they had to work through it. Sometime the outcome was good for all parties involved and sometimes not. My favorite story was the mother daughter one titled, 'How to Recover Lost Luggage from Mexico'. I connected with that story the most, as it reminds me of my relationship with my mum.

Ii would highly suggest reading this collect of short stories. They will capture your mind the way a short story should. I can guarantee you these are nothing like the ones you had to read for classes....or because you were told to. At the turn of the final page you will be flipping back through re-reading your favorite one and wanting to pass this along.

Wake

2009-02-07T12:53:00.001-05:00

Synopsis:
Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the one. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Review:
I bought this book over break and may I just say it was worth the money and the wait. There has been a lot of hype about it and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. There were twists and turns within the words that were unexpected but that fit so well into the story. There wasn't a character that didn't have any depth.

Wake took wishing of powers to a whole different level. It put a different perspective on what it means to have a gift...but one you can't control. As a teenager, Janie is just confused by everything around her and then, one top of that, she can see into people's minds...their dreams. At first I thought, how cool, but as the book progressed, I really got to see how hard it was. I lived her embarrassment, her disappointment, and her anger with each page turn.

Overall, I thought this was a spectacular read and I just know I am going to have to read the next one. Lisa McMann did a great job forming each character and the plot and has a way with words that I only dream of having. So on your next trip to the bookstore, I suggest you pick this one up. It is a quick read, but definitely one that you will want to read again and again.

Kissing Snowflakes

2009-01-28T19:20:00.005-05:00

Synopsis:

Hot cocoa. Crackling fire. Cozy sweaters. . .

Winter break is supposed to be all about romance, but Samantha is stuck spending hers in a Vermont inn with her dad, brother, and impossible perfect new stepmom. Sam is determined to stay indoors and sulk . . . until she meets Drew. A blond, beautiful skier, Drew shows Sam how to conquer the slopes -- and how to kiss. But is Drew really the boy who can melt Sam's heart, or is there someone else at the lodge she should be kissing.

Review:
I picked this book up because it was something out of the ordinary...I can look on my shelf and none of my books take place in a winter setting. Wait, scratch that...one does. And I love the winter...the snow...it is so magical. So I had high expectations for this book. And while, at first, I thought it was the typical teenage romance complete with all of the 'oh.my.gods!' moments and the all italic 'my life is over' drama, it turned out to be a pretty good book. While I must say it was a bit predictable (you could sense the idiot boy from a mile away) and it was kind of the typical teenage story I did think it had a good plot and the characters did have depth to them.

Throughout the entire book I was grinning...it took me back to being a teenager and what I was like when I was Sam's age. I found myself putting myself into her shoes and blushing at al of those awkward moments and fuming at those horrible ones. I could feel her pain as she...well I will leave that for you guys.

Overall it was a good book. I would definitely recommend this as a cozy up on a snow day book. It is a fast and easy read and is one you could read over again and still blush at the reminder of your teenage awkward moments. Kudos to the author, Abby Sher, for creating a fantastic read and making be go outside today and 'kiss' the snowflakes (I really did and it was great!).

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

2009-01-25T15:21:00.003-05:00

Synopsis:
Talk about an out-of-body experience. One moment Courtney Stone is a modern-day L.A. career woman lamenting a lost love; the next she is Jane Mansfield, a well-to-do, willowy (though not particularly buxom, unlike her twentieth-century namesake) lady in nineteenth-century England. What could account for this transplant of time and place? Courtney has no opportunity to ruminate over such matters; she must quickly learn to interact with inhabitants of the brave old world in which she finds herself. There's her mother, determined to marry 30-year-old Jane off to handsome Mr. Edgeworth; her artist father, more inclined to his daughter's free-spirited frame of mind; and faithful servant Miss Barnes, who helps her mistress manage everything from chaperones to corsets. (Thank goodness Jane has read Pride and Prejudice more than a dozen times.) It's not long before Jane finds the lines blurred between her two vastly different selves.

Review:
From the moment I received this book in the mail a little over a month ago, I was excited to read it. I love Jane Austen and I love historical novels so I couldn't think of a more perfect book for myself. And let me just say, this book did not disappoint in any way. From beginning to end I was enthralled with the story and the main character. I wanted to see how she, Courtney, was going to handle the next situation that was thrown her way.

The author did a fantastic job creating a story within a world that is commonly read in a different way (i.e. through the Jane Austen novels). I also loved how she was able to have an appearance of Jane Austen in this book, and left me wanting more of her with the next page turn. All of the characters had a decent amount of depth, especially Courtney who I found pleasantly humorous throughout the book as she was trying to adapt into the every day life of Regency England after living in the twenty first century.

Overall I thought this book was well worth the time it took for me to get to it as my anticipation was not let down in the slightest. The book has left me wanting more and I wholeheartedly recommend you to go out and buy yourself a copy, as it is one you will want to read over and over just as Courtney did with Jane Austen's novels.

A.S. King and the Cover of The Dust of 100 Dogs

2009-01-25T14:53:00.001-05:00

I have been admiring this cover for many months now, anticipating the release of this book. It was simple, yet enticing at the same time. A.S. King is one of the first authors I came into contact with when I first started reviewing and I was even more excited when I found out she lived in PA (haha). What I love most about this cover is not the colors, not the graphics, but the simplicity. This is the perfect example of 'less means more' and it came out beautifully. Now, I must warn you about this cover story, as A.S. King decided she would spruce it up a bit. I am going to put in her foreword as well as her answers...I think you will all enjoy it and even get a few giggles in as well.

Thanks so much for having me, Book Nymph! I’ve read a lot of cover stories, and usually, due to changes or mixed feelings from artists, editors and authors, those stories are pretty exciting. My story – for the cover of The Dust of 100 Dogs – is boring compared, because the cover was perfect from day one. So, I have added sharks to the ends of these answers to keep readers on the edge of their seats, because sharks, on a whole, are really exciting. 1. How did the cover of THE DUST OF 100 DOGS come to be? A very talented artist at my publishing house was having a very good day when he designed this cover. I’m not really sure how he got the idea. In fact, I would love to ask him, because from the moment I saw it, I loved it. (I was swimming beyond the surf before work, when a shark began to circle around me. I knew from my training that I probably wouldn’t make it out alive.) 2. Were you a part of the decisions about the cover of THE DUST OF 100 DOGS? My editor asked me for input. He asked me what covers I liked and suggested I trawl through online images for ideas of what might work for me. I sent him a few cover images that I like. These were more graphic-oriented than photo-oriented. I mentioned that if I was to do the cover myself, I’d probably put a tiny white skull & crossbones in the middle of an all black cover. Lame, right? (Though I knew I’d probably only entice him more with my kicking, I started to swim for shore at record pace. Just when I got close enough to yell for help, I felt the shark rub up against my leg. It was like a million tiny needles had stabbed me at once.) 3. Is the final cover what you had in mind for THE DUST OF 100 DOGS? I had nothing in mind. But there is no other cover I can imagine on this book now. It really is just genius. (I kicked through the pain and suddenly, I was in shallow enough water that I could feel the sand and shells beneath my hands. I pushed myself the final meter, and sat in the beach surf for a moment to catch my breath. I could see the shark swimming out to sea again, his dorsal fin still above the surface.) 4. Is there anything you would want to change about the cover of THE DUST OF 100 DOGS? Nothing. I pretty much owe the design team at Flux a two-mile-high skyscraper or three million buffalo or something. (I limped to the lifeguard station and grabbed my whistle and blew it. When the other guards arrived, they saw the brush on my calf and knew what it meant.) 5. Are you happy with the final product? Yes. I am insanely happy with the final product. (Beach Closed. Shark Attack.)

Getting in Tune

2009-01-18T18:43:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:
Punk is coming ... but it's not here yet. It's the fall of 1976, and 20-year-old guitarist Daniel Travers's life is a mess. His band, the Killjoys, is essentially going nowhere; the pills he's popping are making him crazy; and the voices banging around his head have him convinced that he's a bleedin' quadropheniac. Then the phone rings, a new agent offering a weeklong gig at the exotic Mai Tai Hotel, hundreds of miles away in Puente Harbor, Wash. With an imagined Pete Townshend of the Who whispering encouragement--"It'll be like the Marquee in `64, mate!"--Daniel takes the gig and drags his talented but combative band out onto the road. Told that Jimi Hendrix and Heart started out at the Mai Tai, Daniel sees the gig as his best chance to ditch his problems and continue his search for Townshend's Universal Chord, the magical set of notes that will restore harmony to his life. Yet when the Killjoys hit Puente Harbor, bar-brawling bikers, an enticing groupie with ambitions of her own, and the haunting vision of a punkette left behind all combine to test Daniel's friendships and his belief in the promise of the Universal Chord. Getting in Tune, so full of the low grit of small-club rock 'n' roll and the transcendent spirit that elevates the music, plays like a twisting, ear-banging melody. Step in, can you hear it? The band is tuning up right now....

Review:
It has taken me a long while to get through this book. Finally I just had to sit down and read it through. It took me long not just because of time constrictions in the past month, but because I just really didn't get into it. I found it to be repetitive, stuck in the same rhythm chapter after chapter. It even got to the point of being a bit predictable.

The characters seemed to work together well, to a point, but, then, on the other end, I had to kind of wonder how these men even became band mates in the first place. All of the women who were introduced were just base line characters and didn't really add anything to the plot at all, with the exception of Kitten, who I felt had no depth beyond her superficial surface.

Overall, the book was a little bit on the Blah side. Didn't excite me, but, at the same time, it wasn't the worse I have read. Would I pick it up again? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Yes, as I think every book deserves a chance and there are always fans for a book to be had. Plus, it was a cultural book, a good cultural book...just one I didn't care for.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T15:53:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone has rang in the New Year, no matter where you are. We are officially in 2009!!! One year gone but another one ahead of us and full of more life experiences.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

YAY 2009!!!

Jenny Green's Killer Junior Year

2008-12-21T16:48:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:
Jenny Green is a spoiled teen "princess" and the newest junior at Montreal's Molson Academy. Jenny wants a fresh start in her new school, and she's curious to see what Montreal has to offer, most especially in the boy department. Beautiful, charming, and sharp-witted, Jenny has no trouble getting the boys to fall for her. But when she discovers just how despicable the male gender can be -- with the lying, the cheating, and the utter disrespect -- she decides to make them pay...with their lives.

Review:
At first, I liked this book, I enjoyed the easy reading and such. But, as the book progressed, it seemed to become repetitive...dry. I lost interest by the time I hit the second killing of Jenny Green, as there didn't seem to be much distinction between the two, other than her reasoning and methods. The characters seemed to only be about ankle deep, including the main character, Jenny Green.

I have to admit, I wasn't really amused with the book, as I thought it to be a bit much, and just going in circles. That is not to say it felt like I wanted to put it down; that I forced myself through it. No. But when I completed it, finished reading the final page, I let out a sigh, knowing it is not one I would read again, but glad I got to read it.

Overall, I think this book is just on the level that it isn't a book I would want to buy, but for taking out of the library, it is fine. This is not to say you should not go and read it, please do, as I am only one person, only one review and my voice is not multiplied to stand for more because I am a reviewer. By all means, go read this book, see what you think about the writing, the characters, and the plot. I am sure these two authors would really appreciate it!

Cover Art Interview: Lucienne Diver and and Vamped

2008-12-18T20:36:00.002-05:00

After reading Lucienne Diver's answers to my questions, the synopsis, and staring endlessly at the cover, I can genuinely say I need this book in my possession. I haven't really gotten into the whole vampire craze like those around me (didn't even read Twilight until after I saw the movie..last week) but this book sounds amazing. A fashionista who digs her way out of her grave and becomes a vampire?! Yea, it definitely has peaked my interest. As for the cover, I love the bright red background and how it is such a contrast with the skin color of the girl. The fangs look genuine and makes me want a pair of my own! Even though we don't see anything other than her lower face and hand, I feel like the character is a spunky girl who lives for looking good at every moment.

1. How did the cover of VAMPED come to be?

Flux, my publisher, was fantastic about asking me for suggestions, and I solicited ideas from readers of my blog (http://varkat.livejournal.com). I looked all over Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com at the covers of other young adult authors to get an idea of the style that spoke to me and then sent links to my editor. Ultimately, though, Flux put all the ideas in a big pot and stirred. I think what the whole that they came up with is even better than the sum of its parts!

2. Were you a part of the decisions about the cover of VAMPED?

I was involved in the initial concept discussion, but after that the publisher just ran with it. My agent and I thought up the tagline "Eternity needs an entourage," which now appears on the cover. Aside from that, we had very little to do with it.....

3. Is the final cover what you had in mind for VAMPED?

It's even better than I imagined. I literally gasped when I first saw it (while checking e-mail at an Internet café in New York City). I loved it so much that I paid to print it out in color on the spot and flashed it at the guy behind the counter, who was a bit bemused by the whole thing. I then, of course, showed it to everyone I knew, posted it on the Internet…next I'll have T-shirts done ....

4. Is there anything you would want to change about the cover of VAMPED?

I can't think of a thing. My heroine is a high school fashionista turned creature of the night, so my very first thought was, "Gina wouldn't be caught dead with her nails that short!" But then it occurred to me—she did just dig her way out of the grave. It makes sense her manicure would be a little frayed. It's in the book, actually. She's also completely horrified at discovering she no longer has a reflection and make-up application is going to be a bit problematic for all eternity.

5. Are you happy with the final product?

Absolutely. I think it reflects the book perfectly!

The Debutante

2008-12-15T19:53:00.001-05:00

Synopsis:
Annie McRae has her whole senior year planned out. Early acceptance to Brown University, a field hockey scholarship to pay the bills, and days spent with her best friend Jamie and her boyfriend Jake. It is going to be perfect. Then her parents ruin it all by moving--to Alabama. Now, Annie finds herself in an unfamiliar world where she isn't even sure she speaks the same language. To top it off, she discovers that if she ever wants to escape back to her comfortable Yankee life, she will have to become a debutante. As in white-dress-wearing, perfect-manners-practicing, curtsying girly-girl. Fighting every step of the way, Annie spends the year learning to be a lady. Along the way, she discovers that friends can come from the most unlikely of places and that change is not always a bad thing...

Review:
I went into this book knowing exactly what it was about, well, at least the background of it. I have heard a lot of Debutante Balls from my roommate/best friend (her family is based in the south) and I have also read up on them a bit. So when I saw that the plot line was about a Northerner being thrust into Southern Bell society, well, I knew I had to read it! I was not disappointed either by Kathryn (omg, she shares my name! maybe there is hope for me!) Williams writing. She did a fantastic job with getting me involved with the story and had me wondering what Annie's next move was going to be.

The characters in the book had depth, when they were the ones in the front. For instance, Annie in comparison to Mom; big difference. I felt like some of the characters needed to be a bit more established. Regardless, I still felt the book was good. The plot was very well thought out and simple, but not too simple. Granted, it was your typical teen novel with the drama and heartache, but it still remained original because of the spin of being in the Debutante world.

Overall I liked this book. I am hoping that there would be a sequel, because the way it ended kind of made it feel like there should be. I would definitely recommend this to readers, as it is just a good, nice read (as in not too hard). Kathryn Williams has definitely produced a winner here, and I will be passing this book along to whomever is willing to read it in my circle or friends!

'I Heart Your Blog' Awards

2008-12-14T11:12:00.003-05:00

Rules:

1. Put the logo and rules on your blog.
2. Link the person who nominated you.
3. List your seven favorite blogs.
4. Tell them they’ve been nominated!

I was nominated by Vanessa from What Vanessa Reads!

My Nominations:

Need Your Help

2008-12-10T15:03:00.005-05:00

This year at school, I have once again committed to participate in the Relay For Life of Mansfield University. I have personally heard the words 'You have cancer”. I know that many more people this year that I care about could hear those words as well. Instead of being afraid of that, I have chosen to do something to fight back against this disease and I’m asking for your help.

Will you make a donation to my Relay For Life efforts? To donate online now, click on the link at the bottom of this message.

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we will celebrate, remember, and fight back!

Eliminate it!

Kate

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09PA?px=5579224&pg=personal&fr_id=16709&et=Uz9nNZ686d0YKYSkNl4a9Q..&s_tafId=282023

I Know It's Over

2008-11-30T18:38:00.001-05:00

Synopsis:
PURE. UNPLANNED. PERFECT. Those were Nick’s summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parents’ divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs. All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he’s neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn’t mind in the least. But Nick’s world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then, weeks later, while Nick’s still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she’s pregnant. Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can’t stop caring for, the girl who insists that it’s still over.

Review:
This week has been filled with amazing books, and 'I Know It's Over' is no exception. Rarely do I get to read a YA book from the viewpoint of a young man, but when I do, I am not disappointed. This book discussed many current issues in today's society, including homosexuality, divorce, premarital sex, teenage pregnancy, and abortion. The only difference being, I got to see all of the problems from a young man's point of view.

I really did enjoy this book. It was raw and emotions ran high throughout the entire thing. Sasha, the girl Nick falls for, is a fantastic character that is definitely not hallow, she has depth and is in control of her life, or at least she thought she was. Nick, on the other hand, likes to think he is in control of his life, when, in reality, it is falling apart around him. Keelor, one of Nick's best friends, is a shallow, egotistical boy who is basically the typical teenager. Nathan, Nick's other best friend, has just come out of the closet and has his own set of problems, some of which Nick tries to help him with while trying to figure out his own.

All around, this was a good book. Even though it had a lot of different aspects, it all worked so well together. C.K. Kelly Martin did a fantastic job portraying the different emotions of both sexes when faced with these multiple challenges; she not only showed the completely raw side to teenagers, but also the loving and mature side, one most adults don't think teenagers posses.If you get the chance, pick up this book, you won't regret it.

A Match Made in High School

2008-11-27T21:28:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:

Here's what I learned about marriage this week,
1. you should marry someone who likes the qualities you possess, not someone who thinks those qualities suck.

Fiona Sheehan is forced to marry Todd Harding in a Marriage Education class for high school seniors that nobody wants, but everybody has to complete in order to graduate. Fiona can't stand any of it, not the 'job' she and Todd don't do well, the budget they can't keep, or the couples all around them who are either splitting up, freaking out, or taking this all way too seriously.

Review:
First off, let me just say I love the cover of this book. It completely allows you to draw in your mind what the characters look like, making you use your imagination, something I have deemed very important when it comes to reading. So kudos to Kristin Walker and whoever created this cover, it is perfect.

Now, I really enjoyed this book. I loved that the high school Fee, her friends, and her enemy's attended decided to institutes a marriage course in order for them to graduate. It is not typical at all, but, at the same time, it work. It brought the students closer and Fee came out with new friendships and stronger friendships.

Also, I really, really enjoyed the endless amount of sarcastic humor/bantering between Fee and Todd. It is the humor I possess and I think it was conveyed so well in this book, I couldn't wait to turn the pages to see what they would say or do to each other next! Then there are those little romantic gestures throughout the book between multiple characters. At one point I think Fee might hook up with this one guy....then another....then another. To me, it was like I was back in high school, having multiple crushes again...because I fell in love with almost every guy in this book, with the exception of one (there is always that one guy)!

The ending was superb, a little bit expected, but nonetheless, great. This book captured the thoughts and hearts of teenagers, and shows just how harsh high school can be, yet at the same time, just how wonderful it can be. Kristin Walker has created a fantastic read that will keep you wanting more of Fee and her friends after you have finished. Though it won't be release until May 2009, I think all of you younger adult readers should definitely put this one on your lists, I don't think you will regret it.

Down to the Bone

2008-11-27T11:16:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:

Here's what it means to be a tortillera.

It means you're a girl who loves girls.

Which means you get kicked out of Catholic school faster than Mother Superior Sicko can say "immoral."

Which means your wacko Mami finds out.

Which means you're kicked to the curb with nowhere to go, and the love of your life is shipped off to Puerto Rico to marry a guy.

But this is Miami, and if you have a bighearted best friend and a loyal puppy at your side, and if your broken heart is still full of love, you just might land on your feet.

Review:
When I found this book I was hoping she would be willing to send it to me. It sounded so good that even is she hadn't it would have been moved to the top of my lists. Needless to say, I have not been let down by this book. My original excitement still exist and I am sad to finish it, I wanted the story to keep going. First of all, it is not your typical plot, at least to me. It is about a Cuban girl, Laura, who has kept her two year relationship with her friend, Marlena, completely secret from her family and friends. When she is found to be reading a note turning class her life is handed such a spiral that she stats to second guess herself.

Another aspect I loved about this book is the characters; each and every one had a very unique personality and they all stood out in their own way. But the plot is what really got me. I have read books about gay relationships and have always enjoyed them, so that is not what got me...it was the latino aspect that was thrown into it. It made me see into a world I had no idea about, unless you count an ex-boyfriend as getting to know that culture (lol). Of course I knew people did not accept having homosexuals as part of their families, but this took it to a whole new extreme. This girl was discharged from her school, her family, and her friends for being unnatural, abnormal, however you want to twist it. Then everything that went on with Marlena after all of the drama is just a kick in the butt for her.

The ending was all feel good and such, which I think was befitting of this book. Though you might not have thought it would be after reading through until the very near end. Overall, I loved this book. I have to admit, I don't know whow many of my friends will read this book, as when I said what it was about they just put it down. Which is kind of disappointing but I think when they hear how great I thought it was, they will have a change of heart. This is not just a book about gay relationships and gay culture, this is about family and what defines a family. You live through the up and downs of a teenage girl who should just be enjoying life, not acting beyond her years. This is a fantastic coming of age story that I think, once people get wind of it, will become a very popular.

The Wiccan Kitten

2008-11-21T13:46:00.002-05:00

Synopsis: Before her landlord's exorcism banishes the innocent apparition haunting her Salem apartment, Freyja Amador must cast a spell to save her ghost cat. Unfortunately, her spell's success can only be guaranteed through sex magick on Halloween night—two days away.

She needs a man. And she believes she has just met the perfect one.

Shane Logan, however, has troubles of his own. Operating under a centuries-old faerie curse, Shane must find a woman who can fall in love with him within three days--and having sex is not an option or he will turn to dust.

Will they both get what they need before time runs out on Halloween?

Review:

I must say, when I was asked to review this book, my initial response was going to be known, solely because it was a PDF and I had just decided to no longer accept those. But I really did enjoy this read. It was quick, a mere 68 pages, and had a great plot to it. It of course isn't a "typical" plot, but one that I think MATURE readers can definitely enjoy. Susanne Saville managed to take a place a love, Salem, two of my favorite things, magic and faeries, and combine them into a fabulous miniature book. I enjoyed the characters, especially the shy Freyja and her ghostly kitten, for whom this small adventure was started. If you are looking for a quick read and are of a mature age, then I suggest this book to you.

Bundle of Books Anyone?

2008-11-18T19:37:00.001-05:00

Terri Clark is having a contest of large proportion over on her blogging areas. She is giving away a BUNDLE of books and a few other little things. So if you are interested...go through the link below!

http://blog. myspace. com/index. cfm?fuseaction=blog. view&friendID=64985862&blogID=450024696&indicate=1

Cover Art Interview with Saundra Mitchell and Shadowed Summer

2008-11-17T21:06:00.003-05:00

I actually happened onto Saundra Mitchell's myspace this afternoon while digging around for some *cough* new friends. ANYWAYS, I immediately saw this cover and fell in love with it. The girl just has this look of frightened wonder and it makes me want to rip open those gates and find out what is going on with her. The coloring of the cover, the blues in the background, the harsh blacks, and the red of her shirt, all jumped out at me, giving me a sense of walking in the shadows on a bright day...which, of course, I connected with the Title (so sue me, I have dumb moments). So with out further puns and such from me, I give you the Cover Story with Saundra Mitchell.

1. How did the cover of SHADOWED SUMMER come to be?

Mostly, it's a mystery to me. But it turns out that the Internet is an amazing place- after I found out who my cover artist was, I popped his name in Google to take a look at his portfolio. Well, not only did I find his portfolio, I found his blog.

Reading through his entries, I found the post he made advertising for a model for my cover art! He included a bit of the art director's instructions, and it was amazing to see how carefully she'd described my character Iris for him- down to an outfit she actually wears in the book!

2. Were you apart of the decisions about the cover of SHADOWED SUMMER?

I wasn't, but it's a funny story. I sold my book almost 2 years ago. During that first summer, my editor and I were sending a lot of e-mail back and forth. In one of them, she said I should get my ideas together for my cover, because I would be assigned a designer soon.

I thought that meant I would be talking to the designer. But she never wrote, she never wrote, and finally in February of *this* year, I started to wonder. Did my editor perhaps mean I should get my thoughts together and send them to *her* to pass on to the designer?

And that's *exactly* what she meant. Because when I wrote to clarify, my cover art was already done. D'oh!

3. Is the final cover what you had in mind for SHADOWED SUMMER?

I never had anything specific in mind for my cover- though I did suggest (way too late, obviously!) considering Loraine Sammy as an artist for it. Somehow, I expected it to be blue, but everything else was open possibility.

4. Is there anything you would want to change about the cover of SHADOWED SUMMER?

I used to think I wanted a more classic typeface like Trajan for my cover, but I have grown to love the typeface they used for my title. It's called Cult, and it's so distinctive. I think it makes my cover really stand out. I use it on everything now- even my business cards!

5. Are you happy with the final product?

I am, definitely. When I got my first look at the art, the face they created for Iris didn't startle me at all- I recognized her. She was familiar to me, and I felt like everybody at my house really got who she
was. That's a good place to be as an author!

--
~ Shadowed Summer ~
Coming February 10, 2009 from Delacorte Press
www.shadowedsummer.com

In a town as small as Ondine,
every secret is a family secret.

The Elite

2008-11-17T20:41:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:
It’s the most exclusive luxury apartment building on New York’s Upper East Side. If you don’t live there—you don’t know how to live…

When Casey McCloy steps into The Bramford, she’s overwhelmed by the sophistication and elegance of it all. Fresh from the Midwest, she’s moved to NYC to live with her grandmother and attend the prestigious Meadowlark Academy. Here all that matters is who you know. The designer to know is Zac Posen. The girl to know is Madison Macallister: popular, pretty, platinum-blond. She’s not just Casey’s new classmate and neighbor; she’s an icon. So Casey aims to get in with Madison and her gorgeous gal-pals from the start. As the reigning queen of coolness, Madison is capable of destroying reputations with one well-timed whisper. Better to be on her good side.

But after a city-haute makeover from her new frenemy Madison, Casey is wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people—including Drew, the boy-about-town who Madison thinks belongs to her and her alone…

Review:
First off, can I just I had been waiting to get my hands on this book for the longest time, I had heard so much hype about it and read so many raving reviews. So when I finally won it through her contest, I believe it was, I was ecstatic. But, as you know, life happens and it took me a while to get to actually reading it. Now that I have though...

I AM DYING FOR THE NEXT BOOK!

The characters in this book are so real, everyone has had a Madison Macallister in their lives, and everyone, one time or another, has wanted to knock some sense into her. Right from the beginning I knew she had a hidden agenda and was a backstabber. And then there is Drew...seriously, what more could a girl ask for than a boy who is into the arts and knows how to treat a little to a spectacular night out. So what if he is rich and has remotely famous parents...he is cute and, yet, still such a guy...in every way (you get to see some parts from his viewpoint, hence the italics). Then there is the popular sidekicks, Sophie and Phoebe...two girls who have problems of their own. Sometimes, it felt like they were the center of the book; I loved getting to know so much about their lives and things happening with them, something that you don't really see when it comes to 'sidekicks'. Finally, we have the forefront character, Casey Anne McCloy, or Casey Anne as her grandmother calls her. She is an awkward girl from the Midwest who is thrown into New York high society and just when she barely has her feet dipped into the big apple, the drama ensues and she is caught in a catty, free for all, fight for the boy type triangle. Madison wants Drew back, Drew wanted Madison at first and so he flirted with Casey, who took interest in him, then Drew realized he didn't want Madison anymore, but still didn't know about Casey, and all the while Casey and Madison are becoming Frenemies. See the common factor here? DREW.

When the book finally comes to a close we are left with a great moment and begging for more. If it was possible for me to have a copy of the next installment now, believe me I would have it in my grasp and I would be sitting in my chair reading it, no interruptions. This book, and coming books, are must haves on everyone's shelves who are fans of YA. If you don't have the money to buy it (I know I didn't), then go to the library and claim it off the shelves...if they don't have it tell them to get it!

What it comes down to is this was a fantastic book. I was excited to read it from the beginning and reading through it I became more and more excited because everything good ever said about this book was true! Jennifer Banash took the New York Elite and created a teen based story around that world...and came out with a fantastic piece of work. I don't know about the rest of you, but her next book is definitely high up on my must have list.

The Unicorn Man

2008-11-13T22:33:00.001-05:00

Synopsis:

An epic poem, an ecstatic prayer, & a beatific psalm authored by an anonymous master. The Unicorn Man is not for children, the faint of heart, &/or faithless. It is a grotesque self portrait of physical love & spiritual longing unraveled in an apocalyptic vision. These are verses of eternal hope written by a man with an acute suicidal condition. A man with an undiagnosable tumor growing in the shape of a horn from the center of his forehead. He hides from the world. This symbolic disfigurement transforms him from human into a fantastical beast. Until the love of a girl changes him back. The Unicorn Man is a highly personal collection of hidden text. Intimacy on a universal scale. A few poems about Love, G-d, & Death. Enjoy!

Review:
I'll say this...it was different from anything I had ever read and, considering I have read too many books to put a number to in my lifetime, that is quite a compliment. I enjoyed reading through this book, as I don't usually read anything in verse, I tend not to like it. But this, I, and my roommate, really enjoyed (she probably more than I, lol). At first I didn't quite know what to make of it, I really got into the stories and couldn't put them down. Then, once I got to verses, I payed more attention.

I don't even really know what to call this book, it still has me a bit confused. I will say this, however, this book is most certainly not for everyone. If Vox Anon hadn't mailed it to me I probably never would have picked it up off of the shelf. As a matter of fact, I know I wouldn't. But I am glad I agreed to have this book sent to me, as long as it took for me to get to it and through it.

Overall, it is a great book, but not for everyone. Most of it is in verse ( I know, some of you are cringing in your seats for me calling it that, but I do ) with some short stories. I would recommend you get it from you local library or something and decided if you want it because I would hate to see some of you pick it up and hate it, because I don't think that is such a nice thing. So for those of you interested...go for it. For those of you not...still take a peak at it...like me...you never know!

Zubis Rises

2008-11-07T19:21:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:

Zubis is among the last of the race of djinn who remain on earth. Cursed by King Solomon three thousand years ago, the genie must fulfill a third wish before he is released from bondage to the House of Saud. Once free, he will unleash the captive djinn of Jinnistan to unseat the hierarchy of humans. Bethany O’Brien, an editor in Washington, D.C., is bound to Zubis by an ancient betrayal. She will have to salvage her existence as the Asima Uruk so that she can destroy Zubis. Those same memories reveal a conspiracy that implicates Bethany and challenges everything she believes. The key to her redemption is recorded within the rituals of three world religions. The Middle East becomes the center of a struggle for the third wish that will strip truth from desire and set world governments on the brink of disaster.

Review:
It took me a while to get into this book. It seemed to drag on a bit in the beginning but, then, all of a sudden, it picked up and was in full swing. It got to the point when I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out what happens. K.F. Zuzula really did create a wonderful book and did a great job combining to worlds, two times, and two cultures.

I feel as though if I say to much about this book, I could give away an aspect that shouldn't be said. But let me just say that this book is such an adventure you will want to read at superhuman speed. There is an aspect of mystery to everything; at some points you can kind of predict what might happen, but then you are handed twists that completely change the outcome. And let me just say, I was not expecting the end at all. AT ALL.

Overall I think this was a good book, not one of my favorites, not one that I will read over and over, but definitely good. For readers who are actually young adult I don't not recommend you picking this one up. For all of you others...I suggest it if you like mystery and adventure!

Cover Art Interview: Cheryl Renee Herbsman and the cover of BREATHING

2008-11-06T22:23:00.002-05:00

Once again, I am going to put in my two cents about the cover of BREATHING, a book by Cheryl Renee Herbsman. I love the cover, because I love how soft it is. The fact that you can't see the faces of the characters makes it seem more real. I am excited to hold this book in my hands, because I think it is going to be a wonderful average girl story. I don't kind around when I say they first thing I notice about a authors myspace/website is whether I can see the covers of their books easily…because I go off the covers – they peak my interest. Cheryl's cover drew me in and instantly I wanted to be there, in that tree. I wanted to be that girl. I hope you all enjoy this cover story, I know I was excited to read it!

1. How did the cover of BREATHING come to be?

My editor (the fabulous Joy Peskin) told me there was a lot of excitement about Breathing in the department. They had some great ideas for the cover, so I was excited to see what they had in mind. The designer, Annette Fiore, was the one who chose the photo. When I received the first draft I couldn't get over how beautiful it was and I loved the way the image captured the feeling of the story.

2. Were you a part of the decisions about the cover of BREATHING?

Once they presented the initial draft to me, I was able to give feedback and make changes. There were a handful of changes I requested and they made almost all of them. For example, the young woman in the photo had a tattoo on her back, which I had them remove, because Savannah's mom would NEVER allow that. Also, the model was extremely thin. Her spine was poking out and her body was quite narrow. I asked them to add a little bulk to her body. I think Savannah is just such a regular kid. And I didn't want to pass on the message that it's average to be severely thin. There's so much in the media that hypes ultra-thin bodies and I didn't want to be a part of that.

The biggest change we made was in the background. There were originally cliffs instead of sand dunes, so it didn't look at all like the Carolina coast. We went back and forth on options for that part of the photo quite a few times. In the end, I sent them some photos of sand dunes with vegetation growing out of them and basically said, "Something like this." And then they got it just right. I am extremely grateful that they were so incredibly responsive to my requests.

3. Is the final cover what you had in mind for BREATHING?

I think I initially envisioned a couple on the beach. There's a photo of me and my husband as teenagers on the back jacket flap of the book. We're standing on the sand looking at each other. So I think I was imagining something along those lines. But I love the feeling of the two of them up in the tree. It gives the sense that it's the two of them against the world or something.

4. Is there anything you would want to change about the cover of BREATHING?

The only thing I would change is the guy's pants. I can't see Jackson ever wearing pants like that.

5. Are you happy with the final product?

Absolutely completely in love with it. I think it's beautiful and inviting and intriguing and wonderful. And I feel so grateful to have been given such a gorgeous cover!

The Person Behind Book Nymph

2008-10-22T14:53:00.002-04:00

Every once in a while I will get a message praising what I do or who I must be. So I thought it would be appropriate to tell all of you just who is behind Book Nymph and these reviews you read.

If you haven't gather from posts and such, my name is Kate and I am a 20 year old Junior at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania near the border of New York and set into a mountainside. I am a History B.A. major with a Women Studies' minor...and contemplating a Literature minor as well.

I live in the dorms, presently on a sorority floor. I am apart of the Delta Zeta new member class (we aren't allowed to say 'pledges') and will be initiated in a few weeks. Never would have thought myself a sorority girl, but, then again, these girls aren't your typical sorority girls!

I am also apart of FMLA, also known as the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, in which I take an active part. I am not the stereotypical hairy, man-hating feminist...no. I am, to quote Jessica Valenti, writer of Full Frontal Feminism and blogger on Feministing.com, a 'hardcore feminist'. I know what rights I should have, but don't, and feel the need to fight for them. I also work two jobs; the Phone-A-Thon (fundraising for the College) and at the Circulation Desk in the Library.

I am also a member of CAC (Colleges Agaisnt Cancer), but not just as a member, as a survivor. When I was sixteen I was diagnosed and treated for Thyroid Cancer. I have been cancer free for a few years now, even though I still have a few problems with my health (all related). I will probably be a survivor or Breast Cancer in the future, as it is prevalent in my family as well. But I will be a survivor, not a victim.

Now that you pretty much have grasped how busy I am (lol) I might as well hit on the typical stuff. I am the only girl in a family of four; mum, dad, and younger brother. I also have a dog and two cats. Even though my immediate family is on the smaller side, I have a very large extended family. I am Irish and German/Dutch..more so Irish though and very proud of my heritage. I identify as a Pagan, a Celtic Pagan to be more particular, even though I was raised in a Catholic household.

So, as you can see, I am just like the rest of you. I have my bad days and my goods days (though sometimes the bad days might turn into weeks!). You might only see me as a reviewer, but maybe now when you click on my space or the blogger you will know the person behind the writing. Just know you can always message me, as I love meeting new people. I may be busy, but I will almost always respond fairly promptly...unless my mind wanders and I forget for a few days (sorry!).

Thanks everyone for giving me the opportunity to read and review book! It is not just the authors that give me the option of doing this, but also everyone who reads the reviews. I love logging on and seeing a huge jump in numbers...one of the best feelings! So as long as all of you keep reading (authors keep on writing!) I will keep reviewing!

Cover Story: Lesley Livingston and the cover of Wondrous Strange

2008-10-21T21:37:00.003-04:00

Before I get into the little ditty from Lesley Livingston, I just want to say that this cover has to be, easily, one of my favorites. Not only does it have a gorgeous model, but the photography, coloring, and general layout is fantastic. I have been looking forward to this book since I came across Lesley's myspace a month or so ago. What really attracted me to click on her space, was the cover art of WONDROUS STRANGE. I hoe you enjoy reading the story of how this cover came to be, I know I sure did!

1. How did the cover of WONDROUS STRANGE come to be?

If anything, I think it came about because I managed – without actually realizing it – to somehow mightily please the Goddess of Awesome Cover Art (she who is appeased only by the midnight dances of fledgling novelists under full moons, accompanied by chants of 'please-don't-let-my-cover-suck-please-don't-let-my-cover-suck'...)!!

Seriously.

The first I ever saw of my cover for WONDROUS STRANGE was when I opened up an email from my editor at Harper Collins, Laura Arnold (a goddess, herself), and... and... and there it was. There she was. And slowly the dawning realization seeped over me... Boy. That SO does NOT suck...

In fact, it was perfect. It was everything I could possibly want in a cover design for this book. The tone was right, the mood was exact, and the staggeringly beautiful young model they found to represent Kelley, my MC, was. just. perfect. Brilliant.

I have to say, it was the strangest sensation! Because it was absolutely NOTHING like what I had imagined it would be. And it was EXACTLY right. The model was even the same age as Kelley!

I spent the next few minutes on the phone with my (yet another goddess) agent, Jessica Regel, getting giddy about the thing. This was the raw photo, mind you – without the title or anything, and it still had to be touched up and color balanced and all that – but we were both pretty sure right off the mark that we LOVED it! So we called Laura and told her as much, and I was very touched by how thrilled she was that we did!

When I asked Laura about the process behind getting such a gorgeous shot, she told me it went something like this:

My brilliant designer (and – you guessed it – goddess) hired a photographer (also a goddess – obviously!) whose online portfolio she really liked; the photographer held a model casting session and hired the girl (goddess!) you see on the cover; and then about a week later, had an all-day photo shoot.

Because (at that point) I had been signed to a 2-book deal (it's now officially a trilogy! Yay!), they decided to shoot both covers at the same time so they could use the same girl. So they built two entire sets, covered them (and our lovely model!) in glitter (which doesn't really show up in actual shot!), and had a rack of designer dresses ready. Most of the day was spent shooting on a mossy-bank set (book 2) and then at the very end of the day they shot on the mirror-lake set (book 1).

Laura also told me that they were all gathered around the monitor watching the shots come up on the screen and she and my designer, kept looking at each other and saying, "I can't believe how beautiful this is!"

Yeah. I REALLY hit the jackpot, let me tell you!

Now, I know you had asked me if I had any early versions of the cover that we could post to show the progression but, the truth of it is... I don't! What you see is pretty much exactly what was first presented to me. And I'm well aware that such a thing is really somewhat rare!

2. Were you apart of the decisions about the cover of WONDROUS STRANGE?

I was consulted before casting and shooting about what qualities would I really want/ not want to see in whoever they chose as "Kelley", did I picture her auburn hair as more strawberry red or a deeper shade (deeper), things like that. Laura had also asked me to send along any pictures or images or impressions that had inspired me as I wrote (I forwarded a couple of pre-Raphaelite paintings and a few other scattered images that I had drawn on while writing).

That was pretty much it. I would get the odd email update as to what stage things were at. (I chewed my fingernails and refreshed my email almost constantly for weeks...)

And then, when she sent me that first image, Laura asked both me and Jessica for any notes to pass on to the designer (there were very few – mostly just stuff that was going to be dealt with in touchup anyway).

I have no idea what would have happened if I had hated it. I think there would have been a lot of discussion then with my editor. But, thank the Cover Art Goddess, I didn't have to find that out! I hope I never do!!

3. Is the final cover what you had in mind for WONDROUS STRANGE?

I really don't know what I had in mind. I'm a very visual person, normally, but I think I kind of mentally shied away from coming up with a strong idea on my own. I was just so excited to see what the HC team would come up with. They did not disappoint.

4. Is there anything you would want to change about the cover of WONDROUS STRANGE?

Not a single darn thing. My design team GOT my book.

5. Are you happy with the final product?

OH YEAH. Now, I know authors who were not as fortunate as I have been thus far. And I know how hard it has been for them. Lately, there has been some truly breathtaking artwork appearing on bookstore shelves – frequently in the YA section! It's a marvelous trend. But, of course, I've also seen really ugly cover art and I've seen bland cover art. I've seen cover art that bears little-to-no relationship to the story inside. Cover art that depicts people or situations that do not even exist in the novel. It happens all the time.

So I thank my lucky stars – and the people responsible for the cover of WONDROUS STRANGE – every single time I look at it. It's funny, you know... I think every author daydreams about what their very first book cover will look like. It's something that is so often out of your control and yet, in some ways, what goes on the book is almost as important as what goes in it. I hate to say that but we all know that books are so often judged by their covers.

Now, just for a bit of fun, I thought I'd share with you a little ditty that is sometimes bandied about at literary conventions. It's about inappropriate cover-art and it's called...

"There's a Bimbo on the Cover of My Book!"(sung to tune of "She'll be Comin' 'Round the Mountain")

There's a bimbo on the cover of my book...
There's a bimbo on the cover of my book...
She is busty, blonde and sexy,
She is nowhere in the text, she
Is the bimbo on the cover of my booooook!

Cheers, and thanks again for asking!

Lesley Livingston
Author of WONDROUS STRANGE, coming in December 2008 from HarperTEEN

Witch Ember

2008-10-19T12:36:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:
In the days when gods walked the earth and the clay of Man was still wet, a Stone of Power was shattered. From that day forward, all humankind carried a piece. Most have just a little- just the tiniest speck of dust- but some have one of the bigger grains- or even a pebble- and they are the most powerful of sorcerers. In the paranoid, magically-barren lands of the Seven Kingdoms, the street urchin Esmeree is born to carry a stone of unprecedented size and power. As she struggles to survive the unforgiving streets of Cliffs Reach, she endeavors to master the sorcery of her stone and understand its purpose. But time is running out for her for others have discovered her skills and seek to use or destroy her. The Inquisition, the Superbus Tyrannus, the Primate of the Holy Median church. Esmeree must determine her own path, or she will die their slave.

Review:

I really did not enjoy this book. From beginning to end it seemed as though I was forcing myself to continue and finish, which I did. To me, this book was borderline smut, and not the good kind. Yes, the plot seemed like it would have been a good one, but the fact that the story jump around so much got me confused and uninterested. The witch ember aspect of the book was good, but, to me, it seemed as though the prostitution weigh in more. I also did not enjoy all the italicized words that were a different language, but pretty much English. It was a distraction and not needed. There was a glossary at the end of the book...but for a 400+ page book, who is really going to flip to the back and look up that much stuff. Reading is leisure, not school, and that is what it felt like I was reading this for, a class I have to take, not want to take.

Overall, I would have to say this book might be for some people,I am trying really hard to find an aspect of this book I enjoyed, but I just can't. but definitely not me. I am not saying don't go and get the book because of this one bad review, Goddess knows there were plenty of good reviews. I just did not enjoy it and considered it to be just too much.

Wicked Game

2008-09-23T22:48:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Newbie marketing intern Ciara Griffin lands a job at WMMP, a station threatened with being sold to Skyware, a giant communications conglomerate, unless ad revenue picks up. A former con artist with a canny way with people, Ciara soon learns that the DJs are undead and specialists in the musical eras in which they were turned into vampires. One of them, Shane McAllister (turned in 1995), is really hot and dangerously tempting. In order to attract more listeners, Ciara promotes a new marketing strategy and the Sherwood, Md., station becomes 94.3 WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock and Roll, exploiting the fang factor (which no listener takes seriously) for profit. It works, until an ancient vampire cult wants to pull the plug. Also playing in is The Control, an equally ancient paramilitary group created to protect good vampires and kill bad ones.

Review:

I truthfully don't know what to say about his book. Where to start....

I loved it. Every second of every minute that I was reading it. The story line was so original, so thought out yet, at the same time, used something we all know and seem to fear...the blood thirsty walking dead. No, I'm not thinking about zombie's or those ridiculous depictions in the movie...I am talking about the Vampires in Jeri Smith-Ready's book that live among humans. They run a radio station and play amazing music. Jeri Smith-Ready manage to create a different side to these beings. Not the horrible, blood sucking, killing creature, no. But creatures with souls, that could think, and that used to be human. I'll give you the blood thirsty factor, and granted, there were some evil vamps, but the main charters, the one who ran the radio station, I wish I could know them...that they were in my life.

I can't even pick a favorite character. There were those I really disliked, like the leader of the 'cult', Gideon, and Ciara's father but for picking a favorite? Can't do that. So I will just tell you about the ones that are embedded in my mind. Shane, he seems to be the quiet vamp, the one who keeps to himself. He is also the youngest. Then there is Regina, the one who turned Shane. She is a downright bitch, but a lovable one. She helps you if you have earned her respect...my kind of girl. Jim, the hippie from the era of flower children and way too many 'good trips'. He doesn't play as big of a role as some,e of the others, but you do get to see another side to him towards the end of the book. Noah...he is still a bit of a mystery, but he is part of the radio station and I took a liking to his taste in music! Then there is Monroe, who rarely appears but when he does...makes a fantastic and unforgettable impression. He has soul, not just as a being, but as a musician. Last, but not least, David. He is such a sweetheart. He takes Ciara under his wing and is just the all around nice guy, who genuinely cares for everyone and has a hard time letting go of his past. Ciara deserves special mentioning, hence why she isn't including in the 'group'. She is a treat. One minute you love her and everything she is trying to do to help the Station and her new found friends and then the next you want to wallop her for the way she treats Shane and some other people. She has depth. She has passion. Most of all, she has a heart.

Overall I loved this book. The plot was completely original and I had never read anything like it. Jeri Smith-Ready has created a fantastic piece, one I will never forget and will be passing along to as many people as I can. I recommend it, but only to a mature audience. I say this because there is sex and there is a bit, okay maybe a lot, of blood. To those of you who love that type of thing, then by all means, go and pick it up on your next trip to your local bookstore. You won't regret it. I know I haven't...I think I might even be a little blood thirsty myself.

Oh.My.Gods.

2008-09-21T13:17:00.005-04:00

Synopsis:
Poor Phoebe is dragged off to a Greek island, away from her best friends, only to learn her new stepfather is headmaster at a school for the descendants of the Greek gods. Unless she can keep up her grades and make the track team, she'll lose her scholarship to USC and the chance to return home for college. But how does a girl hold her own against super-kids determined to make her life miserable? And then there's her track nemisis Griffin, too gorgeous for even a Greek god.

Review:
There is only one word to describe this book....AMAZING. I started it and couldn't put it down. Tera Childs did a wonderful job creating a world within ours. All of the characters were ones I fell in love with immediately and when Phoebe hated someone, I knew her reasoning and couldn't help but hating right along with her.

At times I really didn't care for Phoebe but only because of some of the things she agreed to, which to me was sort of like backstabbing. The plot that was weaved in with the gods was so imaginative and just seemed so real, I actually want to believe now that there is a island in Greece that houses the ancestors of gods.

IF you want a really awesome book that you can relate as a teenager or as remembering those years, then I would pick up this book. It has a sense of the 'paranormal' and all of those problems teenagers go through. A little bit of romance and a lot of drama...what more could you ask for? And the twist at the end is just fantastic and leaves you wanting more.

Bewitching Season

2008-09-20T17:57:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:
In 1837 London, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic. At least, most of them didn't.

Shy, studious Persephone Leland would far rather devote herself to her secret magic studies than enter society and look for a suitable husband. But right as the inevitable season for "coming out" is about to begin, Persy and her twin sister discover that their governess in magic has been kidnapped as part of a plot to gain control of the soon-to-be Queen Victoria. Racing through Mayfair ballrooms and royal palaces, the sisters overcome bad millinery, shady royal spinsters, and a mysterious Irish wizard. And along the way, Persy learns that husband hunting isn't such an odious task after all, if you can find the right quarry.

Review:
From the moment I got this book in the post I couldn't wait to open it. It is right up my alley...takes place in the nineteenth century and is based around a form of paranormal. I think Marissa Doyle did a fabulous job incorporating the royal family into this book and I loved that I could tell just how much research she must have done to create this fabulous book. I have to admit, I was a little wary when I found out this book involved a story with England aristocrats...I know it is hard to write such things if you don't know how the system works. But she pulled it off and the ending result was a fantastic book that I know so many people will be able to enjoy.

My favorite thing about the book was not just the historical aspect or the witchcraft, but the romance that was weaved into the story. It was one that made me blush at times and, at others, want to just knock some sense into Persy! Pen and Persy's little brother, Charles, also called Chuckles and a various of other names, was just a joy to read about. He added a whole other level to the book...he was so mischievous and so loving to his sisters! The one thing about the story I noticed, I must admit, it that I seemed to be more involved with the romance and what was going on in the society than with what was happening with their governess, Ally. But I suppose someone else who reads the book will look at a completely different aspect.

Overall, a fabulous book and one all YA readers should add to their shelves. It is wonderfully written and it makes you wish you lived during that era. Marissa Doyle is a gifted author and I, personally, can not wait to see more come from her mind and hands.

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes

2008-09-18T22:35:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:
Jane's parents relocate to the suburbs when she's caught in a bomb attack in Metro City. Bored and lonely in her new town and school, the teen is thrilled when she meets three other girls named Jane, all of them as out of place as she is. They form a secret club, the Plain Janes, and decide to liven up the town with art. Some people like their work, but most are frightened, and the local police call the Plain Janes' work "art attacks."

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. I first became interested in graphics when I read Meg Cabot's Avalon High's and I think the P.L.A.I.N definitely lived up to my expectations. I enjoyed the illustrations and the characters really captured my attention. My favorite part of the book was always when the jokes were revealed; I now have some ideas of things I can do to some people I know!

Even though it was an easy read and a very short read, I still really enjoyed myself. This book was a good way to sit back and relax. It also kind of took me back to my teenage years, not only because of the characters but also because of the illustrations...it was so nice to have the characters presented to me and looking like some of my friends (I am sure a lot of people could relate to this book...though maybe not the whole bomber thing).

Overall, fantastic book! I suggest you pick this up either at your local bookstore or library (I was surprised to see it at my Uni library!) and enjoy the wonderful illustrations and story!

The Eyes Of God

2008-09-17T23:49:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

Accompanied by his lifelong friend Lukien, the Bronze Knight of Liiria, King Akeela rides to a rival city to offer a peaceful end to a long and bloody war. In return, he brings home a bride, unaware of the tangled threads of destiny that unite him, his new wife, and his longtime friend in an age-old triangle of love and betrayal. So begins a sprawling tale of military battles, personal and political intrigue, magic, and star-crossed love set against a land of warring kingdoms and hidden magic.

Review:

I have a few things I want to saw about this book. First off, I loved all of the characters and John Marco did a fabulous job making them come alive and giving them depth. the plot was so enthralling and by the time I got into the book I really didn't want to put it down.

My favorite character was Lukien. I didn't care for much in the beginning as I thought he was a bit egotistical...but then I really fell in love with him. He really did genuinely care for Cassandra and Akeela, regardless of the betrayal. And the magical side to the book was amazing and the world that was created was just astounding and a part of me wanted to live there.

I had two major problems with this book. The first being the cover...I don't like it in any way (I really don't mean to be harsh). It didn't attract me to the book at all and when I first saw it it kind of put me off. Because I hadn't read the book I didn't understand the meaning behind the cover, therefore it had no meaning. I guess maybe I am just used to a different type of cover. My other problem was the amount of time to get into the main story. The first third of the book was mostly leading up to the main plotline and in a 700+ page book that is while. Of course, once it got into it, it was a fantastic book.

Overall the book was good. Would I recommend it? Certainly, but only to certain readers. Those who can maintain a large amount of information and don;t mind spending a week on a book. John Marco is a fabulous right and very descriptive, if you like that type of writing, which I do as it paints a huge picture in your head, they go out and get this book.

Contests

2008-09-15T19:17:00.004-04:00

Over at What Vanessa Reads there is a contest for I Heart You, You Haunt Me.

Keri Mikulski is giving away The Book of Luke, Everyone Worth Knowing, and A Northern Light for her monthly contest.

Words Speak Volumes Reviews is giving away The Elite for their September Contest.

Over at Mrs. Magoo Reads there is a contest to win a copy of She's So Money.

The Story Siren is having another monthly contest and a Queen Geek contest! Check them out!

Harmony Book Reviews is having a contest for September for a signed book!

Be sure you browse around to check out other reviewers and contests going on! You never know...you could be a lucky winner!

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone

2008-09-08T21:34:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:

A raw, edgy, emotional novel about growing up punk and living to tell.

The Clash. Social Distortion. Dead Kennedys. Patti Smith. The Ramones.

Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?

Review:
I loved it. I didn't want to put this book down from the minute I received it in the mail. When I finally did pick it up to read it, I finished it in one day it was that enthralling. What first attracted me to this book was the cover...the brightness surrounding the title with the guitar picks and the mystery and punk vibe from the girl on the cover immediately caught my eye when I first saw the book online.

What I liked most about the book was the plot. It wasn't your usual YA plot with the sappy love interest and the girly thoughts about what to do with all the drama in her life. Yes, there was drama in Emily's life, more than what you average teenager is handed, but she seemed to figure out her own problems in time. I really loved the fact that there was so much feminist inspiration woven into the book. Stephanie Kuehnert also addressed some sensitive issues in this book and I really commend her for doing so because a lot of people will turn away from this book just because of said issues.

When the character of Johnny was introduced I immediately didn't like him, thinking back to Emily's mothers past and underlying reason for leaving Emily and her father. Another aspect of the book that I loved was the fact that there was not one, but two stories within the paperback binding of this book; Emily's and her mothers. Both stories were so similar but yet so different is was easy to keep up with them.

Overall, this was an fantastic book. It has definitely become one of my favorites and I am currently trying to get all of my friends to read it! Stephanie Kuehnert did an excellent job writing this book and getting the reader to live right along with Emily and actually feel her wide variety of emotions. Not only was the plot capturing, but it was fierce. It has feminism, attitude, drama, girls with guitars and drumsticks, amazing friendships, and above all, life lessons.

Lily Dale : Awakening

2008-09-04T15:37:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

Calla thought that her boyfriend breaking up with her in a text message was the worst thing that could ever happen to her. But just two weeks later, her mother died in a freak accident, and life as she knew it was completely over. With her father heading to California for a new job, they decide that Calla should spend a few weeks with the grandmother she barely knows while he gets them set up.

To Calla’s shock, her mother’s hometown of Lily Dale is a town full of psychics—including her grandmother. Suddenly, the fact that her mother never talked about her past takes on more mysterious overtones. The longer she stays in town, the stranger things become, as Calla starts to experience unusual and unsettling events that lead her to wonder whether she has inherited her grandmother’s unique gift. Is it this gift that is making her suspect that her mother’s death was more than an accident, or is it just an overactive imagination? Staying in Lily Dale is the only way to uncover the truth. But will Calla be able to deal with what she learns about her mother's past and her own future?

Review:
I didn't really know what to make of this book. I love books that are based around the supernatural and psychics which is what I though this was going to be. But it was kind of like a prequel to the next book and I felt like I was just left at the end. That being said, I loved the characters, mostly the main character, Calla. She is going through a rough time because of the death of her mother and has dreams regarding her mother almost nightly. It is a little sad, but then her grandmother pops into the story and just makes you giggle.

Lily Dale sounds like a place I would love to live. The way the town is described in the book is fantastic and the people that Calla meets seem so colorful. Though the two guys, Blue and Jacy, seem a little out of place...something was off about them. Evangeline seems like a girl I would love to be friends with, she is just so nice and really does want to be Calla's friend.

I guess I enjoyed the book, the ending left me feeling a bit mad because I felt it was just getting good. I know that is what cliffhangers do...but there really wasn't another peak to the story. I definitely need to pick up the next book, because I can't just stop reading about Calla. So if you do want to pick up this book, which I think you should, be sure to pick up both...you will regret it if you don't.

Before, After, and Somebody In Between

2008-09-01T20:53:00.002-04:00

Synopsis: ...when a single dream isn't enough.

Why is it so wrong to want to be normal? To prove to the world, and to yourself, that you're not just a white-trash nobody?

A fourteen year-old cellist with big dreams and a bigger mouth, Martha knows her talent will one day help her escape the clutches of her alcoholic mom and the chaotic life they share. Then her beloved cello is stolen, and she resorts to drastic measures to replace it--with tragic results. But just when she decides life can't possibly get any suckier, Martha is unexpectedly given a chance to escape her hopeless existence. Thrilled beyond belief, she reinvents herself as the elusive "Gina" and moves in with the Brinkmans, a wealthy, seemingly "perfect" family with a few disturbing secrets of its own.

Review: Jeannine Garsee did a fantastic job with this book, which is completely written in first person. This story was raw and didn't cut corners when it came to being real. It took me quite a while to read it, but it wasn't hard to follow at all. It was like I was there besides Martha, watching everything happen to her, but feeling helpless because I couldn't do anything to help her; stuck just like she had been her entire life. I am not one to pick up books like this one, they always seem a bit too real for me, a little too depressing; but Somebody puts a lot of things into perspective. Each character showed that life wasn't easy; that no matter what walk of life you came from, everyone had problems, everyone ran into roads blocks which needed to be overcome. Overall, I loved this book. It isn't one that is meant for everyone and be warned this book can get to be a bit much. But if you are looking for a book with a wonderful story but is completely real then you should definitely pick this one up.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

2008-08-29T22:26:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:

Blessed—or cursed—with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who's been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he's forced to marry a troll princess.

Review:
When I first began this book, I didn't care for it much. I thought it to be a bit confusing and just slow. But after a few chapters it really picked up and I didn't want to put it down. Not only was this story a weave of an old Nordic Tale, but it was also the authors own creation.

What I loved most about this is the imagination and creativity that must have gone into creating this. Of course I knew what the creatures were, but that is just my own knowledge, but for those who don't, this book is truly magical. I also loved how it kept us guessing. Halfway through I was still trying to figure it all out and I loved that...it wasn't predictable in the least bit. Also, I loved the character of the Lass (I will not give away her true name, the name that is only uttered twice) and how strong and intelligent she was. She rose above her mother's uncaring ways and became her own person and, in the end, became everything her mother wanted for herself.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic book. Even though I didn't care for it in the beginning, I can safely say I will be reading this book again. I fell in love with a completely different world and language with this book, as I hope many more will do.

Don't Die Dragonfly

2008-08-29T08:57:00.003-04:00

Synopsis: After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco. Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

Review:
When I received this book in the mail via my roommates mailbox I was so excited! I couldn't wait to finish the book I was reading to begin on this one. But this book surpassed all expectations I had. Right from the first page I knew I would love it when I read that one of the characters had dreadlocks! Not only that, but I love Sabine, the main character of the story.

The first thing that peaked my interest in the story was Sabine past, and how she was working so hard to cover it up, but at the same time giving subtle hints about what happened. After reading the book, I still don't know what happen but that goes hand in hand with the major cliffhanger at the end (which made me cry out in frustration!). I loved that Sabine didn't stick to just one type of friend throughout the story; she was friends with the goth girl, the respected loner, the cheerleader, and the all American, yet troubled, guy. There was even a mean jock who you definitely grow to hate in this book. Sabine's grandmother, Nona, seemed like the type of older woman I want to be when I become grey (more so than I am now!). I absolutely loved the part when she was painting a cow with pink flowers to make the cow feel better about herself when she stood next to the horse; I never thought of a cow as a canvas until now!

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. For me, it is ranked right next to Meg Cabot's series, The Mediator, another favorite of mine. I thought the characters and the plot worked so well together and there weren't any holes that were not meant to be there. Linda Joy Singleton managed to keep me on my toes the entire book and has me wanting more now that I have been left with the dreaded cliffhanger.

So even if you aren't into the supernatural books or books dealing with supernatural gifts, I suggest you pick this up on your next visit to the bookstore. There are so many more aspects to the books than just the characters psychic abilities. There is mystery, drama, love, heartbreak, and most of all, suspense!

Dirty Work

2008-08-28T20:09:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Hope's mum doesn't get her. In fact, Hope knows that as far as her preoccupied parents are concerned, she's hopeless. She may be spoilt - but money doesn't buy happiness. Oksana doesn't even have a mum. And her dad and brother are miles away, left behind in Russia. She thought Europe would offer a better life - instead, bought and sold into prostitution, she feels dirty and used. Then, Oksana and Hope are thrown together in the most terrifying circumstances imaginable. Their only real chance of escape lies with each other, but how do two teenagers with so little in common find the way...? This is a tense, shocking novel - with a hint of hope.

Review:

This book was a quick read, but definitely well worth it. It gave yo insight to one of the most tragic happenings of our time -- human trafficking. Julia Bell did a terrific job creating a storyline about two girls from two very different backgrounds who, by chance...or maybe even bad luck, end up in the same horrible predicament. I can understand why some would think that a book about human trafficking would be graphic and not suitable for YA, but this book is nothing like that. Yes, it is blunt and, yes, it is a depressing story but it also teaches you about a dark and dirty world separate from the bubble most of us seem to live in.

I had one problem with this book; the ending. It just ended with neither knowing where to begin when asked to tell their stories. It was kind of a let down as I was expecting to here both sides of the story in full being told to someone who would be there for them...I wanted to know the reactions of those who loved them. I thought the book was informative but also thought it had some holes in the story. At times I was trying to figured out what part of Oksana's life was being discussed because it just seemed to jump a bit. Hope just didn't come across as a real girl. She didn't try to get away and she had all the chance sometimes. And I understand that that is sometimes how it works for those who are victims of Human Trafficking, you are just too afraid to run, but I am pretty sure she could have outrun her capture while still at her home. The one thing that caught my eye initially was the cover; it symbolizes the red light districts in my mind and I instantly mad the connect before even reading the title.

Overall, I thought it was a decent read. I think it could be used as a tool in schools for those who are learning about Human Trafficking (for those schools who deam it appropriate to learn about and how to prevent it) and I think people could enjoy it.

The Declaration

2008-08-27T14:29:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

In the year 2140, it is illegal to be young.

Children are all but extinct.

The world is a better place.

Longevity drugs are a fountain of youth. Sign the Declaration, agree not to have children and you too can live forever. Refuse, and you will live as an outcast. For the children born outside the law, it only gets worse – Surplus status.

Not everyone thinks Longevity is a good thing, but you better be clear what side you're on. . . . Surplus Anna is about to find out what happens when you can't decide if you should cheat the law or cheat death.

Review:
This is an outstanding book by all measures. Through this tale we are projected into a future, one of which is still our world, but so very different it is hardly imaginable. Once where there is low energy, no children allowed, and everyone lives forever. Imagine...walking down the street seeing the same people you have seen everyday...knowing they will live forever, knowing you might live forever if you choose to have Longevity injections. Hardly seems like it ould happen right? But it is through Gemma Malley's debut novel that we see how it could be if people discovered how to defeat death...only to became greedy with life.

Anna, the main character who's life we are following, not only through the text, but through her journals as well, seems to be branwashed from the very beginning. But, see, she doesn't see this. She thinks her life was always a mistake, just because her parents broke the law and gave her life. She thinks she is worthless and is told this everyday by multiple Legals (those who are allowed to live and who take Longevity injections). Anna lives in Grange Hall, where Surpluses are housed from the Outside and trained to become maid, butlers and other labor workers for the Legals until they die, as they are not allowed to live forever since they were considered mistakes...scum. We then meet Dewey, who was brought in from the outside and into the hall as an older boy but we find out he is trying to help Anna. You could tell right from the beginning he had a purpose for being in the hall, he was after someone, something. And then, just when you thought his fate, and the fate of Anna, was sealed and there was no hope, the book takes a turn I don't think anyone would be able to predict.

I loved this book. Hands down it has become one of my favorites. The story is so captivating and as unreal as it seems, when you are reading it, you just feel like it could happen. All the 'What if's' that go through your head become possibilities with this book. Gemma Malley has done a brilliant job creating this one of a kind story and I hope you all pick it up and add if to your YA collections.

Love, Cajun Style

2008-08-27T14:12:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Growing up is inevitable but confusing for Lucy, whose 16th summer unfolds with the sweet, languid pace of her small Louisiana town. Her mother might be having an affair, her best friend's boyfriend might be cheating, and somethings up with her favorite aunt's love life. There's romance brewing at the local retirement home, and the sexy new drama teacher doesn't seem to appreciate her baby-sitting skills as much as he seems to want something else–something that feels especially wrong compared to the feeling Lucy gets around blond, piano-playing Dewey. Her professed reticence to growing up seems mildly at odds with her perceptive nature, but overall her coming-of-age rings true. With a cast of distinctive characters, this story is told with humor and warmth and is deliciously full of Cajun metaphors and mouth-watering cooking descriptions–and one particular scene with Tabasco that will provoke squirms and giggling.

Review:

Diane Les Becquets did a wonderful job with this coming of age book. I really enjoyed every aspect and the story line seemed to flow so well. By reading this book you are taking a dip into a compltely different culture, even a little bit more different than typical southern culture. You get to know each character and their personalities, as none seems too small.

I would have to say my favorite part of this book was that it kept moving. It never seemed to dither off in places so that you could tell it was just a 'filler' chapter like some books I read. I did not expect something that happen, such as her mother's 'affair' or the way her teacher began coming onto her. I loved the Tabasco scene, I just sat at the desk giggling (and blushing a bit I might add) at the fact that they had even thought up a scheme like that (although now it has given me ideas for a comeback to a male, haha). Lucy seemed like the typical girl in the beginning having the typical teenage summer in her coastal town. But as the story progresses, you see her grow and transform from a girl into a young woman as her maturity level seems to escalate as she is given more situations she needed to face. I particularly enjoyed that a topic that normally is not discussed was approached in this book...affairs. It seemed like everyone was having one (mind you, they weren't) when in the end, it was just people needing to find themselves. But regardless of that, it showed how an affair in an relationship can affect not just the couple, but also their children, friends, and everyone else around them.

Overall I thought this was a really good book. It is the perfect coming of age tale with a little bit of spice, Cajun spice that is.

Girls Inc.: You're Amazing!

2008-08-24T13:42:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

You've heard it all before: Get good grades. Keep your room clean. Wear the right clothes. Try new extracurricular activities. And why don't you have a boyfriend? All these demands can be mind-boggling! What's a girl to do?

Girls Inc. Presents: You're Amazing! is a guide to help you deal with the amount of pressure you endure to be "perfect."

In this fun and enthusiastic, not-your-mother's book, you'll get advice on not-so-easy topics, including how to:

Deal with stereotypes and cliques
Figure out the best way to balance school and a social life
Navigate the crushes and dating world
Find a place in your family

Packed with guidance from older teens, female role models, and activities from Girls Inc., this fun to read book is truly a guide to being your very best-and happiest-self.

Review:

Normally, I am not one to pick up a book like this one. But, I thought, what the heck! Well, even though I wasn't really into reading this before I even picked up the book, I am glad I did. I enjoyed it! Even though I am not within the age range for the book, which I gathered to be at preteen/teenage level, I still thought it had some fantastic ideas that even I could do. One thing that really stuck out to me is the amount o sources. Claire Mysko covered her basis and made sure to use a lot of sources, be it statistics or people. I like books like this that use sources...credible sources.

There is one problem I had with this book though. Throughout the book their are quotations from younger girls, mostly ages 9 and up. Some of the things the youngers girls were quoted to say just had me raise an eyebrow, as I don't know of any girl that young who speaks like that. Regardless, the quotes put things into perseptive for the reader and lets her know that she is not alone.

Overall, I liked the book. It was well written and put together and I think it has the potential to help many young girls who are having a tough time growing up. Heck, I wish I had had a book like this when I was younger, maybe I would have more confidence! Girls, Inc sounds like a fantastic organitzation and I wish we saw more like them in today's soiety. so if you are a teenage girl who feels like nothing ever goes right...pick up this book! This is what you need. I know I will be passing it along to my 11 year old cousin!

Notes from the Teenage Underground

2008-08-22T17:25:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Gem loves movies, her feminist mom, and Dodgy, her coworker in a video store (at least she thinks she loves Dodgy). When a school trip inspires Gem to make an underground film, her best friends Lo and Mira are quick to join the project, taking on the roles of producer and star. The film is intended to cement the girls' friendship as well as their superiority over their sucker high school peers. But when the fragile balance of their friendship begins to falter, and intentions lead to betrayals big and small, it will take great movies, bad haiku, and a pantheon of great voices—from Dostoyevsky to Thoreau to Andy Warhol—to help Gem find the meaning of love, friendship, and being true to herself.

Review:
This book had humor, drama, and everything in between. I could relate to Gem so well, even though I am no longer a teenager! I thought this book was so well written from cover to cover. One of my favorite characters was Bev, her feminist mum who, at times, seemed more like a girlfriend to Gem than her mother. Gem was fantastically written and I loved how she found herself gradually throughout the book. Her friends though, Mira and Lo, I just wanted to punch them and tell them to shut up (haha)! They were so inconsiderate of others and how their actions would reflect onto others. Dodgy, her 'interest', seemed like the type of guy I would fall for, so I could see why she was so infatuated with him. Overall, the characters in this book worked amazingly well together.

Overall, I loved this book. Simmone Howell did a fantastic job bringing to life Gem and all the emotions she was going through. The teenage angst was captured perfectly. Oh, and might I add that I am in love with the cover of this book. The colors are fantastic and it caught my eye when I first saw it. Pick up this book the next time you are in the bookstore, you will not be dissappointed!

A Mango Shaped Space

2008-08-18T21:07:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:
Mia, 13, has always seen colors in sounds, numbers, and letters, a fact she has kept secret since the day she discovered that other people don't have this ability. Then she discovers that she has a rare condition called synesthesia, which means that the visual cortex in her brain is activated when she hears something. From then on, she leads a kind of double life-she eagerly attends research gatherings with other synesthetes and devours information about the condition, but continues to struggle at school, where her inadvertent pairing of particular colors with numbers and words makes math and French almost impossible to figure out. Her gradual abandonment of her frustrating school life in favor of the compelling world of fellow synesthetes and the unique things only they can experience seems quite logical, although readers may feel like shaking some sense into her. Finally, and rather abruptly, her extreme guilt at her beloved cat Mango's illness brings her back down to earth and she begins to work on some of the relationships she let crumble.
Review:
This was a different book, I must say. But I truely adored the story line and the main character, Mia. I think Wendy Mass did a wonderful job portraying a preteen girl who knows she is different and is trying so hard to hide herself from the people around her. She captured her emotions perfectly. Reading this book gave me a whole different perspective on my sight. I started wondering what I would thing numbers and sounds would look like to me. Not only did the book make me rethink everything thing I thought to be normal, but it allowed me to see into a world I had no idea even exhisted. I had no idea people actually saw sounds and numbers by splashes of colors and such.

When Mia tells her secret, she feels like a freak, something she already felt like actually, but now it is a more profound feeling. I related to Mia on so many levels and I found myself comparing my feelings to hers. Comparing what she was going through, to what I went through. This book gives young adults a different look at life. It allows them to actually think about the world they live in and what it would be like to see sounds and numbers. This book also shows young adult that, while it is not easy, it is possible to overcome your fears, no matter how big or small they may be. It also goes to show that no matter how freakish you may think you are, there is always someone, somewhere, who is just like you and going through the same thing.

Dairy Queen and Off Season

2008-08-18T20:42:00.003-04:00

Synopsis Dairy Queen:

D.J. Schwenk, while not really happy, never complains or questions her life on the family's small dairy farm in Wisconsin. After her father injures himself, the 15-year-old girl must do the farm work almost single-handedly, including milking the cows. She never really noticed the similarities between her life and the lives of the cows. D.J. is a jock, so on top of all her farm chores, she takes on training Brian, the quarterback on a rival school's football team. The summer they spend together changes everything as D.J. discovers that she has lots to say about her life and what she wants out of it.

Synopsis Off Season:

This sequel to Murdock's Dairy Queen catches readers up with narrator D.J. Schwenk as she hits her stride in her junior year of high school. She's playing linebacker for her high school football team, hanging out with Brian (the rival high school's quarterback), earning passing grades, and pulling her weight on her family's struggling dairy farm. But "a whole herd of trouble" is coming her way. First, D.J. and, by extension, Brian become the unwitting subjects of a Peoplemagazine article. Then D.J. suffers a shoulder injury that threatens her sports career, her gay best friend runs away with an older girlfriend, and D.J. notices that Brian isn't too keen on being seen with her in public. These problems are all put into perspective when D.J.'s older brother, Win, suffers a serious spinal-cord injury during a college football game. D.J. stays by his side in the hospital, a task made even tougher by Win's refusal to communicate, and accompanies him to rehab in Minnesota. There's no too-tidy ending here; readers gain a sense of the wait-and-see and grueling nature of physical rehabilitation.

Review:

I absolutely loved these two books by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. I am one of those people who loves finding books that I can reread and never get tired of them...and I can now add two more to my collection. She created a family, an envioronment, that is so real you actually think you are in the fields with D.J. or getting slammed on the football field with all the players.

The first book was a fantastic opener into the mind of D.J. Schwenk, a tomboy who lives in the heart of dairyland and who loves football. I was so entranced by the story, I couldn't but the book down (thankfully, I didn't have too!). I completely understood the frustration D.J. had when it came to her family, and her sort of love interest, Brian Nelson. I just wanted to be there to help her through everything, just to make things easier. The second book was a completely new trip for D.J. when her older brother suffers a spinal cord ijury during a football game. She had to go care for him, leaving behind a number of problems back in dairyland (I know, a weird way to reference it, but that is what I call it. Lol). She had finally become the girlfriend of Brian Nelson, she had made the football team, and her family life was even improving. But when D.J. had to give it all up to go be with her brother (okay, granted, she didn't give up on Brian, things just sort of...went arwy) it shows just how much responsiblility she has and how well she is able to handle it.

These books are a great way to show people how strong they can really be when the times calls for it. D.J. had the heart and the courage to persue her dreams, but she had even more heart and courage when it came to being there for her family. D.J.'s story is so easy to relate to; for both teens and adults and I think Catherine Murdock did a fantastic job bringing to life a not to typical teenager with the normal complicated teenage life.

Contests

2008-08-17T19:11:00.006-04:00

Below is a list of contest multiple other reviewers are holding presently! Follow the links to get more information!

Bookluver is having an international contest through which the winner gets to choose from three (!) books! Click here to find out more!

Keri Mikulski is having a fantastic contest for the month of August in which she is giving away three books! Click here to find out more!

The Story Siren is having her monthly contest and the winner gets to choose from four fantastic books! Click here to find out more!

Liv is having a late birthday contest and she is giving away 3 BOOK PACKS (ahhhhh!). Click here to find out more!

Jennifer Banash, author of The Elite, is having a contest to win her book! Click here to find out more!

Terri Lynn Childs, author of Oh.My.Gods., is having a HUGE Olympic contest giving away so many books it is unbelievable! Click here to find out more!

The Page Flipper has weekly contests over at her site. Click here to find out more!

Bookish Ruth is having a contest to win and autographed copy of Abberations! Click here to find out more!

The Compulsive Reader is giving away multiple copies of The Center of the Universe (Yep, That Would Be Me). Click here to check out more!

These are just a few on the contests going on around the blogs. Be sure to check out all the reviewers and authors on my sidebar and see if you can find some more! Don't forget to give them some love with comments as well!

MYSPACE!!!

2008-08-15T12:37:00.002-04:00

Be sure to add me as a friend over on my myspace as well!

Much Love,
Book Nymph

Violet in Private

2008-08-14T16:05:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Violet Greenfield knows she's supposed to be a super-confident nineteen-year-old because she's done runway shows in New York and internationally. But now that she's finally headed to college, she's afraid she'll turn back into that girl who blended into the walls in high school. Vassar is just two hours away from New York City—her friends in fashion think she's crazy to stop modeling now. And her old friend Roger is there...but things have been weird ever since they kissed. The real question is if she's not going to be "Violet on the Runway" anymore...who is she?

Review:

First off, let me just say I loved the first two installments of the Violet Series, Violet on the Runway and Violet by Design. So it was no surprise to me when I thought the third and final installment lived up to every expectation I had. Melissa Walker managed to wrap up the story and keep me on my toes at the same time. Throughout the first two books I would get frustrated with Violet because of some of the decisions she made in regards to her body and her friendships. Sometimes I just wanted to throw the book at the wall! But this is part of the charm of Violet. You can relate to her and to her choices, whether good or bad.

In Violet in Private, we were introduced to a variety of new characters: Kurt, the flamboyant, over the top, hyperactive boy who becomes quick friends with Violet; Chloe, Roger's girlfriend who also works at Teen Fashionista with Violet; and then there is Oliver, a fellow classmate in Violet's sociology class who has taken a liking to her. Out of these three characters the one who stood out the most ot me was Kurt. This could be because he was the most annoying character...but yet he was so hilarious. Sometimes I just wanted him to shut up and others I was so glad he was Violet's friend. Oliver, on the other hand, was just a sensitive guy who got caught up in a love triangle going on between Chloe, Roger, and Violet. He tried so hard to win Violet over, and, for a while there, it looked as though he might have...but no. He didn't have a chance against Roger. Chloe is just a sweetheart. At first she might seem a bit annoying, but as the book progresses you can see she really does love Roger and wants to be a good friend of Violet's.

Throughout the book Violet was waging war agaisnt the fashion industry and their impossible expectations of models and their bodies. She was avoiding her manager and most of the modeling world, as she was now considered 'plus size' by their standards because of the ten pounds she put on. All the while, she is trying to cope with Roger and his new, lovey dovey relationship with Chloe...which doesn't seem like it was going to work out the way she wanted it to, which was not at all. In the end, Violet managed to find where she wanted to be in her life with real friends, a magazine intership, a job with the Dove Campaign (one of my favorite's I might add), and leading a college life at Vassar.

Melissa Walker has manage to bring this series to a brilliant end, leaving readers with an open ended epilogue, allowing us to draw our own conclusions about some aspects of Violet's life. I think this book, this entire series, can be used as an empowering tool for young girls as it gives the message to never change who you are for what someone else wants you to be.

If you haven't picked up this book yet I highly suggest you do so. And also, how about you swing over to Melissa Walker's Myspace as there is always something going on over there!

Other books by Melissa Walker:

Violet on the Runway
Violet by Design
Lovestruck Summer ('09)

The Day I Killed James

2008-08-12T17:24:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

Theresa is a smart, cynical girl, just turning 18 and graduating high school. She is in the throes of a tumultuous romance with a changeable boy named Randy. Meanwhile James, the young man who lives next door, is madly in love with her and everybody knows it. When Randy decides to take another girl to her best friend’s graduation party, Theresa invites James as a way of making Randy jealous. They reunite halfway through the party and James, who had truly deluded himself into thinking he and Theresa would be a couple, drives his motorcycle off a cliff.

The next few months of Theresa’s life are lived in a kind of self-imposed, tortured exile. She shaves her head, loses thirty pounds, changes her name and “leaves herself,” running off to San Simeon, CA to live a destructive life of cigarettes and alcohol. But when an 11-year-old girl in her trailer park faces similar guilt, Theresa can no longer hide from her past. Together they go off seeking a new home for the girl, absolution from James’s mother, and a chance for both of them to find some kind of peace.

Review:

During the first third of the book, I did not really care to much for Theresa, as I thought she was a bit stuck up and didn't really think of anyone but herself. She was so wrapped up in making her ex-boyfriend jealous that she had no interest for a boy who was doing everything in his power to gain her affection. Then, when she decides to make her ex, Randy, jealous by using James as arm candy at her best friend's, Frieda's, party. Of course her plan backfired and she wound up hurting James, setting the tone for the rest of the book.

The second third of the book I really enjoyed. She took drastic measures by shaving her head, changing her identity, and leaving home. I loved reading about the new life she had managed to build up for herself in San Simone. Theresa was searching for herself in this half and met many lovable characters. Todd, a boy she is obviously quite interested in but refuses to allow herself that pleasure, is a great character even though we only saw him briefly in the book. One of my favorite characters, besides Theresa (yes, by the second half I have come to enjoy her), is Cathy, or as Theresa calls her, The Kid. When we first meet her she is a liar through and through, but with good intentions. She attaches herself to Theresa and starts to slowly try to become her doing things like smoking (which Theresa started after she left her home) and shaving her hair; mind you, this girl is younger, only about 12 or so.

In the third and final part of the book Theresa has returned home, as she ran from her 'new life' and back to her old one, hoping things would be even the slightest bit better. In this part I was hoping to see more of a growth from Theresa, but instead, I saw more from The Kid. Yes, Theresa did discover, by meeting James' mother, that James had been depressed his entire life and his death was not her fault, but that did not help what was in her head much. When she left The Kid with her grandmother and was driving down the coast she happened upon 'The Place'; where James died. I think it was in these last few sentences of the book where I really saw Theresa change...and I knew she would be okay.

Overall, I thought the book was a great book, though at points a little slow. I enjoyed the style of writing and I think the author, Catherine Ryan Hyde, captured the emotion a person would go through when someone they care for commits suicide perfectly. It never really makes sense to a person, and it certainly didn't make sense to Theresa. I think if you haven't read this book you should, as it is a fantastic read.

Boy Meets Boy

2008-08-10T22:37:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he's found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul's not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

Review:

Once I got used to the style of David Levithan's writing, I did enjoy it, very much so. And although I have never heard of a high school being quite like Paul's, I can only imagine how refreshing it would be to live in a place when the majority of the people do not judge you for how you choose to live your life.

I enjoyed a lot of the characters in this book too! Infinite Darlene reminded me of a girl I went to high school with, and even some people that I know now. I really enjoyed her character and I loved that she was able to be the Homecoming Queen and the star Quarterback at the same time! Claudia, Noah's little sister, bothered me a bit because of her 'I am better than everyone' attitude, but that is just how girls that age act. Regardless, she fit into her family perfectly it seems, and I loved how Noah was worried about her emotional well being when their parents were out for the night. Joni seems to be like some girls out there who choose the boy over the friends. I related to Paul's plight when it came to Joni, and I thought he handled it better than most would have. My favorite character, though, was a tie between Noah and Tony. Both of them had very unique and sensitive characters and were very well articulated. I really enjoyed Noah's hobby of 'Painting the Music'. It sets him apart from the other characters and really allows us to see why Paul is falling for him as hard as he is. As for Tony, he just seems very sensitive and quiet, someone who wanted to be himself and wanted to be accepted for being gay. I think it is spectacular he was able to stick up for himself and just live life with his friends.

I had one problem with this book, though. It put forth a major stereotype that circles the gay community; that they are all 'whores' who can't be monogamous. When Paul wound up cheating on Noah, as brief as it was, he was basically solidifying this stereotype. At times, I thought the relationship, that had barely gotten off the ground, would never fully take flight and Paul would end up with Tony. But, as you well know, that is not what happened.

Overall, I loved this book. It took me a chapter or two to get into it, but once I did, I felt like I was in the book, I was apart of the story. When Paul was torn between boys or when Joni wasn't being the nicest of friends, I just wanted to help the other characters in the book so much. David Levithan is an author who has definitely caught my eye and when I can, I will be picking up his other books.

Other books written by David Levithan:

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List
The Realm of Possibility
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Are We There Yet?
Wide Awake
Marly's Ghost