The Brain Lair

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg-Review

2012-03-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by Aneeqah's Not So Real Life
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The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Release Date: February 21,2012
Source: ALA Midwinter [Thank you to the publisher!]

Brie has died, from literal heartbreak. Like, her boyfriend said, "I don't love you." and her heart broke, literally. So now, she must go through the 5 stages of death so she can move on. But things start unraveling with her old life, and Brie can't do anything but watch as things fall apart.

I really liked this book. Brie was so funny, and sarcastic, she was such an amazing protagonist. She was so realistic too, I really felt like I could go and meet her in person [which I would totally love to do, actually]. Throughout her whole journey, she made realistic descioins, although some were frustrating, and at some points, I got kind of mad at her. But overall, I really liked her!

I also liked the whole concept of this book, how you had to pass the 5 stages of grief to move on, and how you had "a little slice of heaven". I feel like it was really well thought out, and everything made sense. Plus, it was so easy to understand, which is a total plus.

Another thing I really liked was the plot. Yes, a few parts were slightly predictable, but there was one twist that I never saw coming at all, which, I absolutely loved. My mouth was literally hanging open! It was that much of a surprise for me. It made sense really, and from there, a lot of other things really clicked for me.

I could truly go on and on talking about this book! But overall, I really loved this book; it was such a cute and moving read. I'm not usually a huge contemp fan, but this is definitely up there in my favorites! You definitely MUST give this book a shot!

2012 Battle of The Kid's Books - Round 1 - Amelia vs Anya

2012-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Each judge has been getting his/her due over at SLJ's Battle of the Books headquarters. Make sure you check them out! Which judge will judge which books? Say that 5 times fast!

Let the Battle Begin!

Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming

The full title of this one is The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. And there-in lies what sets this biography apart from others. Candace Fleming does an amazing job of interspersing Amelia's life (I can call her Amelia, right?) with the story of her last flight. She also uncovers some heretofore unknown facts about Amelia as well as that flight. At least, unknown by me.

Fleming opens by telling us that we don't know Amelia as well as we thought we did. Did we know that she was a marketing machine? That the "facts" we've always just known about Amelia's life are, at best, designed to make her appear a certain way. Fleming also tells us that there is a possibility tht something small, like learning to use a radio, could have changed history as we know it.

The book is filled with pictures and charts, including Amelia's first report card and an ad for some clothes she designed. Amelia even wrote magazine articles and gave lectures.

One of the final passages in the book talk about how George Putnam was afraid "the mystery of her disappearance would overshadow Amelia's legacy." And, unfortunately, his fears were realized, at least for me, until Fleming wrote this book. I conclude with the beauty of the title - Amelia Lost - we lost what she meant to us beyond her flight. Now we can remedy that.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Graphic novel? Love it already. Brosgol's drawings are expressive; even the pages without words are full of emotion. Anya's totally in love with this guy at school but, of course, not the guy whose in love with her. She has this friend Siobhan who alternately helps her out and rags on her. Just like most friends. Anya's so distraught about the way her life is going, er not going, that when she ditches school she's not paying attention to where she's walking and she falls into a hole. And there's a skeleton down there! And the ghost of the skeleton! And when Anya get's rescued, so does the ghost.

At first Anya and ghost Emily are like, BFFs. Emily helps her with her homework and her boy problems. But, you know ghosts, they.are.never.satisfied.

"Are you...are you smoking a ghost cigarette?"

Soon Emily doesn't want to stay dead. Or at least not alone.

The Winner?

What a complex pairing. Graphic novel murder mystery vs nonfiction biography. Both about girls whose names start with A. Amelia Lost brings to the forefront the rest of the story. We have a better idea of who Amelia Earhart was as a person, not just some soul who disappeared. In Anya's Ghost we take a trip back to high school. A time of trying to find out who you are and where you fit in. And avoiding the "wrong sort" of person and not turning down help. Even if it comes from a questionable source.

I enjoyed learning all about Amelia Earhart; how her hair wasn't naturally curly, how she went to live with her grandmother at the age of three to distract Grandma Otis from recent losses, and how George Putnam provided the opportunity for her to be the first woman, an American at that, to complete a flight across the Atlantic. But on second reading, I was a little bored. On the other hand, I was even more intrigued on my second reading of Anya's Ghost. This time I could focus on the drawings and when and how Emily and Anya changed throughout the story. I ended up giving a booktalk for Anya's Ghost on our school's morning news show. 3 copies were checked out before 11:30. The fourth wasn't checked out because I still had it. So you know what this means?

I give the go ahead to:
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard - Photo Contest

2012-02-29T19:06:00.001-05:00

WANDERLOVE places & tumblr launch!

by Kirsten Hubbard

Kirsten Hubbard’s new book, Wanderlove, is set in Central America. But not just in one location -- in over a dozen! Wanderlove settings range from bustling capital cities to dense rainforest to tiny Mayan villages to idyllic Caribbean islands, and each is special in its own way.

Most exist in real life; all are based on real life. We’re very excited to share these amazing places with you in the novel -- and on the brand new Wanderlove-themed Tumblr site.

www.wanderlove.com

The site is all about favorite places: in Wanderlove and beyond, Kirsten’s places and YOUR places. That's right. We want you to participate!

From the submit page:

wanderlove is about celebrating our favorite places, and experiencing each other's. take a photo, or find a photo (one you’ve taken yourself & have the rights to) of your favorite place. it could be a place you’ve traveled to, long ago or recently; a special spot in your neighborhood, city or town; or even in your house or backyard. be as creative as you want. include a few sentences about why the place is special to you – why you *get* it, why it sticks in your heart. thank you!

You can also submit via email at wanderbooks (at) gmail (dot) com.

Everyone who submits an image and response between now and March 5th (the day she gets back from Central America) will be entered to win one of three signed, annotated and butterfly-doodled hardcovers of Wanderlove. They'll be super-special, even if you've already pre-ordered the book (and I so so so hope you have)! The giveaway will be open to anyone, anywhere in the world.

If you participate, make sure you include your name and email address (don't worry, the latter is confidential and only for use if you win).

(Kirsten will host another HUGE giveaway March 13th, at http://kirstenhubbard.blogspot.com/ and YA Highway -- with prizes including Wanderlove art prints, bookmarks, and bracelets just like Rowan's.)

Kirsten will also be featuring all the destinations in Wanderlove, with photos she took herself over the years. She’ll cross-post her personal Wanderlove posts here as well as Tumblr, so you can follow along on Bria's journey in either spot.

You can also ask her questions about Wanderlove, backpacking, or writing, and she’ll do her best to answer them on the site -- or in video form from Central America, where she’s currently backpacking through Central America!

Follow! Reblog! Join in!

Why not submit a photo of your favorite reading spot?

(provided by publisher)

Getting Over Garrett Delaney

2012-02-29T02:00:00.000-05:00

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
Synopsis:
Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up
her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

My Review:
Starting this book I loved. There was defiantly a connection between Sadie and Garrett. They both love the same things, and could talk and talk all day with each other. But when one gets accepted to a camp, and the other doesn't that's when things went down hill for me. She got a job, and connected with many other people (which was the neat part) But those people wanted to make sure she got over Garrett immediately which was the part I didn't like. She had such a good connection and all of a sudden it was going to be over. Sadie then doesn't answer Garrett and poor Garrett, I can only think what he was thinking. I would have been upset.
It mentions Josh up there. He treats Sadie just like he treats the other girls at work, but everytime he was bought into the picture it was hard not to guess that there wasn't a connection there.
Overall it was a good read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for letting me read this!
Loving to Read One Step at a Time
KRWLucy

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson - Review

2012-02-15T12:46:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by MG Annie

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson
200 pgs.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4/5 stars
Date: 2011, Delacorte Press

Format
Each section of this book was a new doll and a new time that Miss Kanagawa, the friendship doll, came to know by watching. This setup was different for me and I had to get used to it.

Thoughts
From 1928 to present time, Miss Kanagawa helped the dolls in her own way. Mostly the book described people from earlier times. It also explained what friendship dolls were really about. I learned some interesting facts about the time periods in this book.

Although I didn't think this novel was very intriguing in the first and last chapters overall I enjoyed it. I would recommend The Friendship Dolls by Kirby Lawson to girls aged eight to twelve.

Facing the Giants by Eric Wilson - Review

2012-02-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

Never Give Up. Never Back Down. Never Lose Faith.
These were the most important words ever used, and said. Ones that are put into place in the story.
Grant Taylor has had six consecutive losing seasons, as a high school football coach. He believes that nothing else could possibly go wrong. But he's wrong. With failure and fear over powering him, this coach, and husband turns to God for help. Trusting God somehow did the impossible for the Shiloh Christan Eagles, as they soon discover how faith plays out of the football field.

My Review--

What an emotional read, and more importantly an inspirational read! When they had given up strength was here to pick them up. After seeing the movie, I read that there was a book. I immediately went searching for it and read it. I loved the movie, and I must say the book was just as good. The book went into a deeper meaning which I love. I got to figure out certain things, that I didn't get a chance to see in the movie.

In the book we got more of a background on David and Larry, a more behind the scenes look of Coach Duke, a better understanding of Mr. Bridges and his dedication to the football team, a background of Grant and Brooke, and better understanding of the interaction the footballers had with each other... and of course... The Georgia football history. Lets also not forget the Death Crawl... but you have to see or read to figure that out.

If you liked the movie, you would really want to read the book, and if you read the book and didn't see the movie... Then you want to see the movie!!

**Watch out! I think I'll be also reading Fireproof, and Courageous. They are all based on the screen play by Alex and Stephen Kendrick!!

This is the trailor for the movie.

Loving to Read One Step at a Time

KRWLucy

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally-- Review

2012-02-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

My Review
I LOVED this book! It was amazing! The romance, the relationships, it's not often you see all of this in a book! One of my favorite parts of the book, is the relationship Jordan has with her teammates. They get along really well, and you don't always see that much acceptance when it comes to boys and girls playing on the same sports teams. I play golf, and basketball, and I love playing with the opposite gender! They are competitive in many different ways, and they also love to have fun!
Below are some topics I wanted to touch base on:

Girls Playing with Boys: According to statistics there are over 1,200 female high school football players across the country. What are some of the positives and negatives of blurring the lines between female and male sports? Do you support it?

- YES! I definitely support this for many reasons! There are many positives to this experience. You get to experience a different level of competition. Boys seem to be more competitive at certain things! Girls think differently then boys. Therefore in a sport the opposite gender might have a more genius idea about a certain play than another. However they our some down falls. Boys can be stronger than girls (SORRY LADIES!), also there is the possibility of not getting equal opportunity since we look at males being more tough.

Breaking through the Ranks: Jordan is symbolic for the many girls/women who choose to fight the status quo. What have some of your own experiences been like?

- This can be hard for any female. In some ways being a female you feel that you're hair has to be done perfect, you're shoes have to be in style, your clothes must all match from head to toe, and that you should be involved in all the girly stuff! I really have to disagree with that. Everyday (except like 5 days of the year) my hair is up in a pony tail. I don't have the time to straighten, or have the energy, and nor do I care! I wear sweats everyday except Fridays. (I try and make an effort to put on jeans, and either my school spirit top, or a nice top) If someone wants to like me in any way they will like me for the way I am, and tough fudges if they don't! It is their loss! I don't feel that I need to change because someone wants me to. I will stay the same and that will never change. You are you, and you should never change, just to get someone to like you. Someone does like you, and I don't think any girl should ever feel different.

Untraditional Romance: Catching Jordan puts a great emphasis on the untraditional relationship and character role Jordan possess in the book. What effects (if any) do these types of relationships have on kids and people today? Is it important for people to be exposed to them?

-I feel people should date who they want. In this case it is not the most "traditional" relationship. Jordan isn't the best looking girl around, yet she is dating one of the hottest boys around. I think that anyone should get to choose their relationship, and you don't have to do what every person says you should do! This exposes people to be the person they really are instead of the stereotypical image we are told to be.

Here is my interview with Miranda Kenneally, the author of Catching Jordan.

Where did the idea for the title Catching Jordan come from?

Who's your favorite character in Catching Jordan and why?

Is this book based on any real life events?

Which character did you have the hardest time writing?

Are you anything like Jordan?

Where did you come up with the relationship with TY, and then with Sam Henry?

Thank-you Miranda for doing this! I appreciate it!
*This review was meant to be done weeks ago! My apologies to Miranda!*
**Please remember that the answers to the questions were my opinions. Other people might have different opinions!*
Loving to Read One Step at a Time

KRWLucy

The Sunday Salon - A Wrinkle in Time Anniversary

2012-02-06T19:34:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, February 11, 2012, marks the 50th Anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time.

At school we are participating in the celebration of A Wrinkle in Time with a display case and a giveaway! We'll be giving away tote bags, t-shirts, and buttons! On the blog, one lucky entry can receive:

1 T-shirt
1 Tote Bag
1 Bookmark
1 Button

Just complete the entry form! All entries must be in by Friday, Februrary 10, 2012 at 11:59pm, EST. Winner will be picked Saturday, February 11, 2012 during the 50th Anniversary Celebration!

The comment section will NOT be used for entries - please do not leave your email address in the comments.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Update: Wrinkle in Time pack awarded to Pragmatic Mom!

Battle of The Kids' Book 2012 - It's HERE!

2012-02-01T20:18:00.002-05:00

Yes! The School Library Journal Battle of the Kids' Book officially kicks off today with the posting of the The LIST! These 16 titles will battle it out for King of the World, er Best Kid's Book of the Year!! This will be my third year participating and I am psyched!

I am challenging myself to read all 16 titles BEFORE the battle begins on March 13th. There will be a pronouncement from some cool kid's book author-turned-judge EVERY DAY except weekends! You gotta be on your toes for this one!! The throw-down is fast and furious and the winner will be crowned on April 2nd. Make sure you bookmark the Battle Page and download The Brackets and visit the site each day. Soon we'll meet the judges but in the meantime, let's get reading!

Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Bootleg by Karen Blumenthal
Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright
Chime by Frannie Billingsley
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Drawing From Memory by Allen Say
Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami
Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

As a proud member of The Nerdy Book Club, I've read 12 of these already!

BUT, I haven't read them in this order!! I'm going to read all of the books in the order listed (same as brackets) so I can do a comparison of each and try to guess the winner before the judges do! I've only got six weeks to get all the books, read them and write about them!! ACK!

The only thing left to decide is buy or borrow???

It's Monday: What Are You Reading? 1/30/12

2012-01-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

Check out Teach Mentor Texts with Jen and Kellee to find more #kidlit bloggers joining in this special meme.

In The Past

These are some reads over the past two weeks.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - This started out strong for me but then it felt draggy. I realy didn't like the parts with Valentine and Domosthenes either. I thought those parts could be left out. I also thought it could have ended after the twist or the trial. The speaker for the dead felt like an unbelievable add-on. Could it just have been because I was listening to this?

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand - I liked this one almost as much as Unearthly. I thought it could have been much shorter - parts with Clara's vision of the cemetery repeated too often. I didn't like Clara or Angela in this one, either. Christian and Tucker were still awesome but Tucker made a choice I didn't think he would based on what we'd learned about his character. I loved the history of the Mom/Dad and finding out about Jefferey, both of which made up for the "shortcomings".

Jane by April Lindner - Read this as part of the Classic Double Challenge. I'll be comparing/contrasting this with Jane Eyre, which I hope to start this week also.

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis - Follow up to Bud, Not Buddy. I wonder if I needed to re-read that one first? Maybe I need to re-read this one.

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henke - Great story about a girl, Martha, coming of age during a family vacation. Very well done. Read for booktalks at school.

Legacy and Ignition by Clifford Riley - Short background stories about the characters in the 39 clues series. They are each only 30-40 pages long, I think. Reading them on Kindle Fire - no page #s.

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan - Book 2 in The Immortal Beloved series. It's nice to read a YA book where the characters are over 100 and so are the love interests. I liked this one a lot but I felt she spent too much time re-hashing the first book.

In the Present
Reading Jane Eyre and listening to Friday Night Knitting Club.

In the Future
I'm finally going to start my Printz challenge! Plus I'll attempt to read the 2012 Newbery winner as well as finish Jane Eyre. I am also blowing through the 7 books in the Rapid Fire series as I wait for the next Cahills vs Vespers book in the 39 Clues series.

Reviewing This Week
I hope to review these two titles this week for my Cybils Sci/Fan challenge.

Ok, I think I've given quite enough information! What are you reading this week?

My ALA Experience!

2012-01-23T17:05:00.000-05:00

ALA was in one word, amazing. Seriously. There were so many people and so many books! Most everybody was super amazing and nice and polite. I met some really nice bloggers in line while I was waiting for Bitterblue. And yes, I got Bitterblue! I'm still excited over that!

Isn't that just a gorgeous cover?! I'm still so excited I got it! I'm going to be re-reading Graceling and Fire before reading this book, but expect a review sometime in the future.

The books that I got:

Yeah, so alot right? My favortite titles that I got were:
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore [DUH!]
Gilt
The Catastrophic History of You and Me
Fracture
Bittersweet
There is No Dog
Illuminate
Partials
Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff
... and basically all the other books I got. I loved everything!

ALA was such an exciting and new experience for me. I loved being in a place where everyone loves books, which is definitely not the case at my school! I also got a chance to meet a few other bloggers, who were super amazing. Plus, I got the opportunity to meet Heather Burch, author of Halflings, who also signed my book. She was wonderful and super kind. I can't wait to start her book!

Overall, my first ALA experience was amazing, and I can't wait until the next time I get to go! =)

The Sunday Salon - Are You My Newbery 2012 - What the Students Think

2012-01-22T16:57:00.002-05:00

We had our final meeting! And the Mock Newbery winners are:

Winner: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Honors: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

The titles we read were:

City of Orphans by Avi
Sidekicks by Jack Ferraiolo
Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer Holm
Icefall by Matthew J Kirby
Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai
Apothecary by Maile Meloy
The Adventures of Sir Gawain The True by Gerald Morris
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Bigger Than a Breadbox by Laurel Snyder
Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by M Wolizter

Somehow, I'd forgotten some of us met over summer! I forgot to include True...Sort of and Between Shades of Gray on the published reading list!

This year's club was fundamentally different than last year's. We didn't have any sixth graders and ended up with half as many students. You can tell that most were older by the titles that won!

Also, due to budget constraints, we didn't get the books until late and didn't have many copies of each. Since many students use the school library as the place they receive books - some dropped out because they couldn't get the books in time.

One thing that was the same; it was requested that we do a "popular" book club. I think I will move my focus next year. Maybe read books that are/were on the Battle of the Kid's Books. As of next month, I'll be moving to a lunch time read for each grade. 3 book clubs per month!! For sixth grade, I'll continue using the above list. For 7th graders - which has one boy - I'm going to use fantasy and for 8th - a mix of contemporary romance, fantasy, and mystery.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows- Review

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Reviewed by: Aneeqah's Not So Real Life
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Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genres: Dystopia, Paranormal
Release Date: January 31, 2012
My Review:

First off, thank you so much to HarperCollins for giving me an ARC of this book!

In this story, we meet Ana. She is a totally new soul. In her world, souls have been reincarnated for thousands of years. But before she was born, a person named Ciana died. Ciana should have been reborn, but she wasn't. Instead, Ana, a totally new soul, was born. In the history of their world, this has never happened before. Obviously, people don't like the idea of this. So when Ana travels to the City of Heart to find some answers, she doesn't expect anyone to be nice to her at all. But Sam is.

The world-building was very intricate in this book. The whole thing with reincarnation was really cool, but there were also lots of different creatures, like dragons, sylphs [which are shadow-like things], centaurs, and a bunch of other things. It was really neat, and well-done, except it was a tad bit creepy that you could be reincarnated to be a boy or girl. And that your parents could become your children when they get reincarnated. It's complicated, and yes, a little disturbing, but it's still pretty easy to grasp the idea of this whole incarnation thing.

I liked Ana. She wasn't perfect, not even close to it. She started out insecure, because of all the lies her meany mother told her. But she slowly changed when she realized everything her mother told her was a lie [her mother was a really mean and cruel to her, by the way]. I think her switch from non-trusting to trusting was good, it wasn't too fast or anything. Overall, she was just trying to find out who and what she was supposed to be.

I also liked Sam. He was super sweet and kind, and helped out Ana alot. My only concern was that he was a little too perfect. Just a little. He was always there for Ana, always knew what to say, etc. He didn't really have any bad qualities at all. I really liked that he was sweet, but I also enjoy a flawed character too, but I didn't get that with Sam.

The romance wasn't insta-love, which made me happy! I hate, hate, hate insta-love so much, so I was thrilled when it wasn't the whole love-at-first-sight thing. However, that being said, the romance was just alright for me. I didn't really see a connection between Ana and Sam, except for one thing [which I won't say here, because I think it's a little spoilery]. Maybe I'm just being critical of romance now that I've read Under the Never Sky [because the romance in that book was AMAZING!], but the romance... didn't work. I did appreciate the un-insta-love though.

There was lots of action in this book that really kept me hooked. Lots of unexpected things too, which I loved. There were things that I never say coming and I was like "BAISJFASDVP;OIUA!". I love being taken by surprise, and that happened in this book! And whenever you thought things were getting a little dull, the author always threw something in the book to keep you wanting more. This book had it all, action scenes, running scenes, getting shot-at scenes, slow scenes, and even a big glittering party scene!

The reason this book didn't get a full 5 stars was probably because of Ana. I did say I liked her, but she wasn't unique. For me, she was just your typical girl protagonist. And then the whole creepy thing with incarnation. I just couldn't get over that fact.

Overall, this was a very unique story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a interesting YA story that has it all!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton - Review

2012-01-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Reviewed by: Aneeqah's Not So Real Life
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Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genres: Mythology, Paranormal
Release Date: January 24, 2012
My Review:

First of all, thank you to HarperCollins for giving me an ARC of this book!

In Everneath, we meet a girl named Nikki Bennett. She traveled to this place called The Everneath [shocking, yes, I know!] and this guy named Cole 'Fed' off of her energy. So, 6 months later in human years [100 years in Everneath time] she 'wakes up' and chooses to return to her old life. But she only has 6 months.

Obviously, this book is hard to explain, and I didn't do such a good job... If you're still confused about what this book is about [which, you probably are!] check out the Goodreads summary HERE which does a much better job explaining than I do!

First off, let's talk about that cover! It's beautiful! I love the swirling red dress, which is absolutely gorgeous. Overall, a really great cover.

I really liked the mythology in this book. It got confusing at times, but it wasn't any mythology that I've read before, so it was interesting for me to find out more. I'm a huge mythology fan, so this aspect of the book was great!

I also like how layered this book was. It had a whole other side to it, that applies to real life. Nikki was faced with the choice of staying in the real world, where life is tough, and going back to the underworld with Cole, where life is easy. There's alot of those types of choices that we have to make in our life, you know, the whole easy path, hard path thing? And it also touched on addiction a little too. For Nikki, being with Cole was almost an addiction, something she craved, and she had to fight that. So there's alot of undertones in this book, which is something I really enjoyed.

Nikki's old boyfriend, Jack, is a character I really liked. He was so sweet, and he was always there for Nikki. But, he seemed a little over obsessed, to the point where it seemed creepy. He also seemed like "the perfect guy" we so often see in YA. I wished he would have been a little more unique, although I still liked him.

The main thing I didn't like about this book was that it was pretty predictable. I mean, I guessed what was going to happen at the end, and I guessed a few of the things that were supposed to be totally shocking for us. I love it when I guess something in a book, and it turns out totally wrong, but unfortunately, that doesn't happen.

Also, Nikki was kind of irritating for me. When she returns to school, she's so quiet and she whispers everything. It made me want to slap her and say "SPEAK UP!". And she was so blind at times too. Definitely not one of my favorite main characters.

Overall, however, it was a pretty good read! I enjoyed the story and the mythology a lot, so if you a person who loves mythology, give this book a shot.

It's Monday: What Are You Reading 1/16/12

2012-01-16T11:49:00.004-05:00

Check out Teach Mentor Texts with Jen and Kelley to find more #kidlit bloggers joining in this special meme.

In the Past
Last week was a slow reading week for me. Deliberately. I'm trying to slow down and read less and do more stuff around my house and outside of it. We'll see how it continues!

Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I adore John Green's writing. Have read all 3 of his solo ventures as well as Will Grayson, Will Grayson. His writing is distinctive and intelligent. This book is no exception. This will be a Printz contender for 2013, no doubts.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt - I re-read this to see if it stands up to Newbery Medal and I think it still does. It did get a little annoying towards the end with the constant repetition but overall, it has to win something.

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler - Why do I keep wanting to call this the Complete History of Why We Broke Up? Was it originally called that? Anyway, I think this is actually a Printz contender for 2012. The drawings, the stream of consciousness writing, the story line. It has a chance.

Now
Trying to do at least one NetGalley book per month. Those publishers who approve me are so generous! I want to pay them back! I mean I do, I buy the books for school, but I want to review them too.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Another re-read. Or in this case, a re-listen. Loving the audio on this one. It's done by Brilliance Audio so there are several voices reading which adds to the illusion of varying characters. There were several moments I felt like crying in this book that I don't remember doing when I read it years ago. There were also several moments I had to resist going to pick up the hard copy - because I wanted to rush and finish! Will be using this for a book club pick over Spring Break.

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand - I read and enjoyed Unearthly last year so I'd been looking forward to this one. It comes out Jan. 17th but I was lucky enough to pick it up on NetGalley. It will also count for my YA/MG Fantasy challenge.

In the Future
I'm ready to start working on some of my challenges! I'm starting with #nerdprintz, #classic2, and 1 historical fiction read.

That's it for me this week! What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Salon - The Best

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

from What I Wore tumblr

I found this tumblr What I Wore and fell in love with it! I checked out Jessica Quirk's book, What I Wore: Four Seasons, One Closet, Endless Recipes for Personal Style from the library and decided I needed to own it.

See, I just buy stuff. And most of it looks the same. This year, as part of taking better care of myself, I want to look my best too!

The book is divided into sections: Getting Started and then one section for each season. I'm in the Getting Started phase. I took EVERYTHING out of my closet and drawers and went through it! The first round was divide into keep, maybe, toss. I sent 3 garbage bags of clothes to goodwill! Some I'd never even worn and wasn't sure why I bought it! Then I went through the maybes and divided them again - another bag gone. I was down to a big pile of clothes that Quirk directed me to try on. So I did! Each and every piece. It was at turns, exciting, fun, and depressing. I divided these clothes into yes, maybe, repair, no. I put the maybes in a drawer - these were clothes I thought I might be able to fit into later this year. If they were wintry - I put them away. Then I took the clothes and I hung them all in my closet - by color.

I pretty much just owned gray, black, tan and blue clothes! So sad! Now I need to pick a core color - black, charcoal, or brown. I chose gray cause I like it best of the three. Now I need to build a core collection - just like in the library! I need: blazer, cardigan, camisole,trousers, skirt plus white button-up, lbd, dark jeans and tights. Can you believe I don't own a white button-up? Not even an off-white one! How could I not??? So I'll be heading out to pick up some things plus decide on my secondary palette to add some color! Another thing I like about this book are the sketches - these are real clothes Quirk owns! Makes it seem more doable.

from What I Wore tumblr

Although it's weird to barely have enough clothes to fill a closet - I know I wasn't wearing the rest of it anyway! This past week back to school, I've gotten compliments on what I wore! So, I'm really jazzed to work farther into this book! I also hope to start taking pics of what I'm doing but think I will post those over on tumblr!

Are you making any fashion resolutions? Check out BlogHer - Year-Round Fashion Resolutions for tips! Leave a comment and then go Enter to Win a Kindle Fire by sharing other things you are doing to make this year your best yet!

Me@you.com by KE Payne - Review

2012-01-14T04:00:00.000-05:00

RELEASE DATE FOR ME@YOU.COM IS JANUARY 17TH.

Synopsis:
Is it ever impossible to fall in love with someone you've never even met? Immy Summers think so... because it happened to her.

Immy is 18 years old living a normal life, has a very normal family... and a somewhat normal boyfriend, but she quickly starts falling in love with a girl on a message board. Her name is Fickle.

As her relationship grows stronger with Fickle, Immy finds another friend on the board, named Joey. And with another person in the picture things are bound to get complicated.

My Review--

For me this was a hard read, yet any teen could probably relate to this, if they were going through the exact situation. I found the parts where you don't tell your parents, family members, and anyone around you anything, realistic. It is what most teens would do in this situation.

In some ways I saw that Payne might have been trying to ease the fear that some teens may have about any of these situations. However, I did notice that some parts were for the most part... Unrealistic. The fact that her friends would immediately accept it. In reality it would more than likely need it's time. Not in the snap of a finger it would be fine.

As mentioned before I think this would be good for anyone struggling with this kind of confusion, and friends that may have a friend going through this.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for getting to read this book.

Loving to Read one Step at a Time

KRWLucy

Tempest by Julie Cross - Book Trailer

2012-01-12T19:05:00.002-05:00

Tempest: A Novel (Tempest - Trilogy). Cross, Julie. St. Martin's Griffin. 352p. $17.99. 978-0312568894.

If that cover doesn't suck you in - I don't know what will! Oh, maybe this awesome trailer!

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps– it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future. Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Still need more? Check out The First Four Chapters here!!

Ivy and the Meanstalk by Dawn Lairamore - Review

2012-01-12T18:39:00.000-05:00

Ivy and the Meanstalk. Lairamore, Dawn. Holiday House. 227p. 978-0823423927.

Courtney Says:

The book Ivy and the Meanstalk was a delightful new tale woven in with some old classics. Being a 14 year old girl, I rarely find myself picking up books in the children's section of Barnes & Nobles, but for this book it was different, I found the idea intriguing. The thing I liked most was the way the author, Dawn Lairamore, took a different outlook on the old tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. It was a whole new story but with references to a tale everyone knows and loves.

The thing I hate most in a book is when the beginning is slow and it takes forever to get into. But with this book that was not the case. It got into the main part of the story within the first 30 pages. And even better it practically never slowed down. From the beginning to the very end I found that it was always making me want to read the next page.

And let me just put this out there. The ending made me want her to write another book in the series so bad. I found myself asking my sister, Sydney, "There is going to be another book right? Because if there isn't I don't know what I'll do".

Although it was written for the 9-10 year old, I thought it was written just as well, if not better, then lots of the books I find myself reading these days. Personally though I think the rating is just right, because I don't imagine myself recommending this book to a kid my age, but would surely suggest this to my 7 year old sister or anyone around her age.

So in the end I enjoyed reading this book and the one before it, Ivy's Ever After, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone but most likely the younger kids, as in tweens.

Sydney's Says

The book Ivy and the Meanstalk was a great new twist on a classic tale that gets to its point fast. I have read many books, some crawl by and I have to force myself to continue to read them, but with this book though I did not need to.

This book may be written for 9 to 10 year olds but it was written very well or better than some novels I've read. It was intriguingly fast, with many twists and turns. It never slowed down, with some books they start really slow , but then get faster this book it was fast from the start.

This book was different from other fairytales because it was not a story about classic princesses and glass slippers, no this was a story about a rebellious princess, harp, and a golden egg-laying chicken. Some stories have cute little birdies, while this book had a talking goat.

I might not recommend this to nonreaders, but I might too a "super" reader. And I would definitely recommend it to a 3rd or 4th grader.

I enjoyed how this book was different from others, but I definitely think that this book would be a hit for a younger audience.

Thanks to Holiday House and Blue Slip Media for the books!

In My Mailbox (1)

2012-01-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

Hello everybody, this is Aneeqah here! I'm going to be doing a few memes, and hopefully be keeping up with them throughout the year.

Anyways, In My Mailbox [IMM, for short!] is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, where you basically talk about books you've received. So let's get on with it!

For Review [e-copy]:

GoodReads Synopsis:
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

GoodReads Synopsis:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

From Library:

GoodReads Synopsis:
To 17-year-old Leslie, the tattoo is a thing of indescribable beauty, a captivating mark that she must make her own. But this subtle web of eyes and wings brings with it a transformation that no sweet young girl would ever imagine or welcome. Like its predecessor, this stand-alone sequel to Wicked Lovely plunges its youthful heroine into a faery world of almost constant peril. A tantalizing urban fantasy that won't let go.

GoodReads Synopsis:
Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington - Review

2012-01-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Synopsis:
Harper's sister, June took her life one week before High School Graduation. No one can understand why, and it leaves Harper in complete distraught. Her divorced parents decide to split the ashes, and at her mothers house the ashes are in an urn in the house. Harper then steals the urn and makes a cross- country road trip with her best friend Laney, to California.

Then add in the mixture a boy named Jake Tolan. A bad boy, who has a passion for music... and someone who had a connection with June. Jake is keeping a secret, from Harper... One that could turn her life upside down in a heart beat.

My Review--

I have to say I did like this book, however the first part of the book was not nearly exciting for me. I was bored out of my mind, and was dying to stop reading it. But people kept telling me they really liked it, so I persevered and kept reading it and I really liked it.

There are three main characters, but I want you to read for yourself to see who the third is. I mentioned him up there... but I won't say anything.

The main character is Harper. She is a sassy girl who has a mind of her own. She likes to get things her way, and quite frankly she's pretty good at it.

Laney is Harper's best friend who sticks by her when June dies. Laney doesn't have any rules, and doesn't want to listen to any rules. She likes to go out there and have fun!

Things are really well described in this book which I love. I loved the music take. I hadn't realized that Eric Clapton's song, Tears In Heaven was written after his son's death. The amount of knowledge I gained after reading this book is amazing.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin for letting me read this book.

Loving to Read one Step at a Time

KRWLucy

The Sunday Salon - Printz of the Past Challenge

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I came up with my own personal challenge: I was going to read all the American Library Association Michael J. Printz Award and Honor books. That I haven't already read. @LeaKelley mentioned that she wanted to do an #nerdprintz challenge and I told her what I committed to, bada bing bada bam - this post was born!

We were inspired by @MrSchuReads and @Colbysharp who have committed to read all the Newbery Award Winners from 1922 - present!

Since this is personal - I get to make up the rules! And so do you! Just wanna read the award winners? Do it! Just wanna read the honor books? Do it! Want to read from present to past? Do it! Take two years, 3 years, 4 YEARS??? DO IT!

Make this challenge one you can live with! We'll be tweeting about the challenge using the hashtag #nerdprintz and I'll be posting my thoughts as I read each book - wondering why THIS book won and award or honor and can I predict the next winner????

If you are interested in joining - please sign up below!!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi- Review

2012-01-06T00:01:00.003-05:00

Reviewed by: Aneeqah's Not So Real Life
...........................................................................................
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genres: Dystopia/Post Apocalyptic
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
My Review:

In this book, we have two main characters: Aria and Perry. Aria has never been outside the place she lives in, called the Pods. She basically lives in the Realms, virtual places where you can do anything, be anything, and imagine anything. You don't feel pain or anxiety or anything like that. It's an easy, comfortable life. Perry, however, is an Outsider. He lives out in the open, in a tribe. He doesn't know a comfortable life. He must hunt for food, take care of his little nephew, and try to deal with his brother.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins for giving me an ARC of this book!

First off, lets talk about the cover, since I love judging books by their covers. I love this cover! It really does the book justice, plus, it actually makes sense. It's not some random cover, like a random girl in a random dress [there seem to be a lot of those types of covers out there!]. It hints a little bit at what the story will be about. Overall, the cover is gorgeous!

OK, with that out of the way, lets talk about all the reasons I loved this book...:

-The setting. I really loved the world Rossi has created. Everything was generally easy to understand for me, but it wasn't plain and simple either. It was really great, and well-done.

-The writing. I loved, loved, loved the wording Rossi used, especially the ending. That ending was just amazing. Just the last paragraph. I don't even know why I loved it so much, but I just did. I loved how everything was so vague, but you knew what was happening anyways. It's kind of hard to explain, but nonetheless, I loved it. I also liked Rossi's wording throughout the story. She doesn't come out and say everything directly, but almost dances around it. It's something I liked.

-The characters. The characters were simply amazing. The main characters weren't perfect, they had their flaws, but that made them even better. I also loved how they learned for their mistakes. Learned from each other. Characterization happened! We watched the character grow, and frankly, I don't see that in very many books these days. Plus, they weren't brain-dead or stupid. They used their wits, and weren't frustrating at all. And I love how the side-characters also had great personalities. I personally loved Roar. He was a funny type guy that I immediately liked. And even Cinder had his good qualities. Overall, we have a great crew of characters in this book!

-The romance. This was probably the main winner in the story for me. Usually, I'm not a fan of romance in books. Actually, almost 99% of the time, I'm not a big fan of romance in stories. And I especially despise insta-love. Especially insta-love. *shudder* We can talk about my hate for insta-love later, but let it be known that I really, really, don't like insta-love. But this story, for once, didn't have insta-love! A big shock, yes, I know. The romance in this book was slow, sweet, and it developed over the course of the story. It wasn't like:
Girl: "Hi there!"
Boy: "Hey!"
*20 seconds later*
Girl: "I love you!"
Boy: "I love you sooo much!* and all that other mushy stuff I hate. We could see the slight changes of feelings throughout the book. Definitely one of my favorite things about the book!

So why didn't I give this book a full 5 stars? There's two reasons...:

-The Aether. I really don't understand what the Aether actually is. Rossi really didn't give us explanation about it. Is it like a layer of the sky? Or is it the actual sky? It's something that really confuses me, and I think it will play a very big role in the next book, so I think we need to know more about the Aether.

-The last few pages. I know I said I loved the ending above, but that's basically the last paragraph. The last few pages of the book, lots of time flies by. Thing is, we don't know how much time went by, or what happened to the characters during this time. I know at least a few months have gone by, and during this book, that's a fairly long time, since some major events happen before this all this time flies by. So I would really like some extra details on what exactly happened. Hopefully, what happened during this mysterious amount of time will be explained in the next book [which, by the way, I'm absolutely dying to read].

Wow, have you ever heard people say how hard it is to talk about a book you love? I never believed them, but let me tell you, after writing this review, it's really hard to describe exactly why I loved this book so much. My advice though? Go read this book. You won't regret it.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Book Trailer

2012-01-03T19:09:00.000-05:00

Happy book birthday to Cinder by Marissa Meyer! Cinder was released Tuesday, January 3, 2012!

You're Invited!

Twitter Party

January 9, 2012

7pm EST

Trailer

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, 1)

Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time…. Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

Marissa Meyer Tour Schedule - get your book signed!

Cinder Blog Tour Schedule - sign up for all kinds of goodies!

The Sunday Salon - Happy New Year - 2012

2012-01-01T20:43:00.000-05:00

I hope 2011 was good to you. Maybe not every aspect but overall good!

Have you read Neil Gaiman's wish for 2012? If you haven't, please do. His past wishes for us to find someone to love and to receive love from and to spread more kindness and wisdom is only slightly eclipsed for his wish that we make mistakes. Showing that we are taking risks, and living and growing. I second his wish.

In preparing for this awesome year ahead, I want to take a look back at some of my favorite reads of the past year.
January - Split by Swati Avasthi

February - Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt

March - Paranormalcy by Kierstin White

April - Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

May - Dark Water by Laura McNeil

June - Sidekicks by Jack Ferraiolo and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

July - This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

August - The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

September - Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

October - The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

November - Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder

December - Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

Best Book of 2011 - Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby - I cannot begin to explain the tension that Kirby builds up as we try to figure out who the traitor is in this secluded stronghold. Then, when you know, you wonder how they will get away alive! Icefall will move you to tears! The landscape is vivid and Solveig's emotions and thoughts are yours. A Must Read!

I'm an Amazon Associate and all book links will go directly to their site.