Not on Shelf

Review: The Mockingbirds

2012-03-03T17:08:00.000-05:00

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney.

Summary from Goodreads.

Some schools have honor codes. Others have handbooks. Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds. When Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

Review

This book has been getting a lot of good reviews, so I put it on my TBR shelf and was finally able to get my hands on it this week.

Wow. Totally blown away. The writing is good, but that wasn't what really caught my eye. It was the plot itself, and the characters. Alex's fight rang true on so many levels, especially her self-doubt and fear.

The book opens the morning after the rape, while Alex tries to piece together what happened and her outfit from the night before. Thrown straight into the plot, the reader is taken on a wild ride as Alex learns what really happened that night and comes up with a case to bring to the Mockingbirds even as she learns just who the Mockingbirds really are with some surprising revelations.

The Mockingbirds is a story about hope, rife with symbolism from the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird and the reality of rape in school systems and just how little the school actually does about it. This doesn't mean that all schools turn a blind eye. Many have moved to reduce these occurrences on campus, increase awareness and provide a suitable punishment for offenders (many are suspended from school for a semester, or even expelled).

What I loved most about this book was that it reminds us that there is hope. It takes a great deal of courage and the support of trusted friends and family but it can be done and that is the most important message of all.

Recommended to any reader who knows Alex's plight personally, or through a friend, family member, or is just interested in a good story. This book should be on the shelf of every school and library, made available for any who also need hope.

Received through interlibrary loan.

Review: Cinder

2012-02-25T08:38:00.000-05:00

Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Summary from Goodreads.

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.

Review

A friend of mine has been telling me about this book for over a year, so when it went up for pre-order on B&N I snatched it up. Some would consider this a risk because Cinder is Meyer's first novel, but the premise was fantastic and after all the hype, I just wanted to finally read it.

Wow. Yes, the tale of Cinderella has been done to death and it seems like nothing new can be done to it but Meyer has proved this wrong. Something new and exciting could be done and she's done it. And done it well.

Cinder is a feisty cyborg, immediately capturing the reader's heart with her situation and firm resolve. Unlike the original Cinderella (think Disney), Cinder doesn't just roll over and take the abuse her step-mother and step-sister dish out. If you haven't figured it out by now, I love sassy characters and Cinder has some serious spunk.

Main character aside, the world building in this book is phenomenal and the only thing I dislike about the book is that it ends with a semi-cliffhanger and the next book won't be out for another year, so I have to wait to see what happens next. Frustrating as that is, I've added Cinder to my list of favorite books and will be recommending it to anyone who asks. Or doesn't ask, really.

Marissa Meyer, you've taken something old and made it brand new and I salute you for doing it so well. Write on!

Bought for NOOK from Barnes and Noble.

Review: Mastiff

2012-02-22T19:39:00.001-05:00

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce.

Summary from Goodreads.

Beka and her friends will face their greatest and most important challenge ever when the young heir to the kingdom vanishes. They will be sent out of Corus on a trail that appears and disappears, following a twisting road throughout Tortall. It will be her greatest Hunt—if she can survive the very powerful people who do not want her to succeed in her goal.

Review

Tamora Pierce is an author I have been following since I was in middle school the moment I picked up the book Wild Magic. I fell in love and have not looked back since. Beka Cooper is another heroine in Pierce's universe that I have come to love for her sheer strength and tenacity and her ability to overcome the odds, even if just by the skin of her teeth. If there is one thing you can depend on with Tamora Pierce, it's to have a seriously kick-butt heroine and this is no different.

Mastiff is the third and final book in the Beka Cooper trilogy, bringing her story to a close. I was sad that this was the case, because I love Beka just as much as I love any of Pierce's other characters. However, I felt that this book felt a bit hurried and I didn't find myself enjoying it quite as much as I had hoped. Don't get me wrong, I still loved it, but Beka didn't ring quite as true in Mastiff as she did in Terrier and then in Bloodhound, and the final twist at the end was heart-wrenching and I was sorely disappointed with a character or two (I won't give anything away, but really! I was crushed!). Her powerful narrative from the first two books is mostly absent, although she is a bit numb (sort of) due to the loss of her fiance before the book's start. Still, I wouldn't skip the third installment in this series for anything.

I have a list of authors I automatically buy when I see a new book on the shelf, and Tamora Pierce is one of them. Mastiff is no different, even if I didn't find myself loving the book as much as I had with all of her previous books.

Here's hoping for more about Beka's great-great-great-and-then-some-grandson, George Cooper. Now there is a Rogue I would love to read more about!

Received through interlibrary loan.

Review: STOMP OUT the Bullying!

2012-01-22T18:15:00.003-05:00

STOMP OUT the Bullying written by Angel McGowan and illustrated by Matthew Linn.

Summary from Goodreads.

Mikey lies awake in bed at night because he is worried about what is going to happen in school the next day. Mikey's frustration grows and he almost makes a wrong decision, because he listens to a friend. Finally, Mikey learns that his teacher, Mr. Jones, can do more than teach math.

Review

Teens are fighting back against bullying, and with a book! Cleverly written and with adorable illustrations, this book illustrates an example of bullying in the schools and a way to move past it. Written for a Juvenile audience (elementary and middle grade), it can still be used in high schools just as another example of how to deal with the bullying issue. Speak up!

Both author and illustrator are wonderfully talented. I loved the simple but effective writing style -- with a fantastic rhyme scheme -- and the colored pencil illustrations. Here's hoping we see more from both of these teens in the future!

Here's to a great collaborative effort!

Received from Outskirts Press.

Review: The Order of Odd-Fish

2012-01-11T16:58:00.000-05:00

The Order of Odd-Fish by James Kennedy.

Summary from Goodreads.

JO LAROUCHE HAS lived her 13 years in the California desert with her Aunt Lily, ever since she was dropped on Lily’s doorstep with this note: This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a dangerous baby. At Lily’s annual Christmas costume party, a variety of strange events take place that lead Jo and Lily out of California forever—and into the mysterious, strange, fantastical world of Eldritch City. There, Jo learns the scandalous truth about who she is, and she and Lily join the Order of Odd-Fish, a collection of knights who research useless information. Glamorous cockroach butlers, pointless quests, obsolete weapons, and bizarre festivals fill their days, but two villains are controlling their fate. Jo is inching closer and closer to the day when her destiny is fulfilled, and no one in Eldritch City will ever be the same.

Review

I met James Kennedy two years ago at the Rochester Teen Book Festival and picked up his book because listening to his answers to questions in the panel discussions made me laugh, so I knew his book would too. I've finally had the opportunity to sit down and read it and I was not disappointed.

I don't think I've ever laughed so hard while reading a book. James Kennedy's book is pure, outrageously silly fun and I can only imagine how much fun it would be to read as a teen.

This book is pretty much just one big giggle-fest, although I think the cockroach (who is quite glamorous, nobody wears a decent cravat and/or monocle these days and he pulled both off swimmingly) was the funniest character. If any reader liked Lemony Snicket or anything that was just so full of silliness (but still utterly awesome) it couldn't possibly work but somehow does, then they will want to read this book. And they will love it.

Yes, some descriptions of characters and places are long, but they contain so much life that I found myself reading every word anyway. It probably helped that a few times I had to reread something (especially in the beginning when I was still grasping what could or could not happen in the book) after a "What the...?!" moment, but overall, I had a lot of fun.

Read it!

Bought from Barnes and Noble.

Review: Shatter Me

2012-01-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.

Summary from Goodreads.

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Review

This book was one big WOW. Gorgeous writing style, very poetic, especially in the beginning. Juliette has been in isolation for 264 days, which is a form of torture, folks. If she didn't got a little nutty I would be more than surprised. I would have put the book down. But to have spent her entire life unable to touch another human being? That's just... Wow.

But you believe it. I don't know how Tahereh Mafi does it, but Juliette's story is not only plausible but you also feel compassion for the girl. The reader doesn't find out what exactly is wrong with her until almost halfway through the book, but somehow it still works. Again, I'm mystified that it did, but am just as impressed. Juliette's narrative, consisting of counting seconds, minutes, hours, cracks in the walls, limbs and whatever else she can to kill time is offset by statements that are crossed out, betraying her true feelings.

Adam is an interesting character from the start, even more so as the book progresses. I really don't want to spoil anything, but I couldn't put the book down, and Adam was a big part of the reason why. The biggest reason is that this book is just pure awesome.

Just like a lot of other dystopian fiction, you can almost see this world becoming our reality and that puts an added thrill. If you haven't read this, pick it up and get started! I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel.

Received through interlibrary loan.

Christmas traditions

2011-12-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

Ever since I was little, it's never felt like Christmas without a swearing contest at the tree to decorate it, votes over what kinds of cookies to make, a compromise for just how early it's acceptable to get up Christmas morning, and a Jan Brett book.

We might not get a new book every year, but to me, nothing says Christmas like Jan Brett and it's been that way since I was a kid.

I can't remember what the first book was, but all of these books are family treasures, especially during the holiday season. With the warm, Euro-style stories and the beautifully intricate illustrations (be sure to check out the borders of each page, they hold another story!), these books have been favorites for years and years.

If you've never read any of these, or at least flipped through the pages, go to your local public library. I guarantee there will be a few there! My favorite is the Christmas Trolls, always has been. Check them out (after Christmas, of course, public libraries observe the holiday) and start a new tradition of your own.

Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season to all!

Review: I Want My Hat Back

2011-12-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen.

Summary from Goodreads.

The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance.

Review

OK, so the summary makes this book sound much more dramatic than it is. Here's what you really need to know:

I read this book in the store after staring at the cover for a good five minutes and giggling, then immediately bought it after finishing it. Why? Because books children's books don't tend to make me laugh so hard I get tears in my eyes. Maybe it was my mood at the time, but I loved this book and have shared it with everyone I could since then.

Illustrations are very simple, just the animals and a simplistic background with different colored text to show who is talking but it works.

Ever have someone take something of yours (like a hat) and deny it to your face? Well that's what happens to the bear, and he gets his revenge. Sort of.

Silly and lots of fun. Enjoy!

Bought at Book House.

Review: The Water Wars

2011-12-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher.

Summary from Goodreads.

Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations.

Review

A lot of people made a lot of noise about this book, so I had to check it out. In some ways, it lived up to the hype. In other ways, it fell short.

The idea that water will become scarce sometime in the near future is a real fear and Stracher worked it well. Water is only for the rich and powerful, whereas the rest of the world gets processed water that does little good. People are dehydrated and no one lives much longer than fifty. Vera and Will were born to this life, but their parents remember when water was plentiful, or at least seemed to be. This contrast isn't as strong as it could have been but the longing in the father's words is evident enough.

Canada is part of the big bad in this book. That's right. Canada. Canada has closed off the borders and dammed up the rivers so that any water coming from there won't flow to the United States. Or what used to be the US anyway.

Another scary part of this book is the real big bad (yes, I'm stealing that from Buffy). Capitalism at its finest. I think that's the most frightening part of this book. We could see this happening sometime in the future. Without water, the central government fails and the US is broken up into territories. Water is the most important resource and yet most people don't have access to it.

That said, I think the book could have been better. The action fell a bit short and the sequence of events felt a little too forced to be believable. Kai's ability felt more like magical realism and therefore out of place. It's hard to say that people evolve within fifty years to find water like a bloodhound. Still, it was a good book and I would put it on a list for any lovers of dystopian novels.

Borrowed from the library.

Review: The Gray Wolf Throne

2011-12-17T13:24:00.001-05:00

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima.

Summary from Goodreads.

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

Review

These books just keep getting better and better. I didn't think it was possible but Chima's done it again. There is a list of authors that I automatically buy without even looking at the title or content. Cinda Williams Chima is one of them, and for good reason.

Raisa and Han develop further in the third book of the series and I love them even more as the story unfolds. Both characters are strong, honorable and determined but this doesn't make them perfect, either. They have their faults, just like any other person and that is what makes them real to the reader. Now I'm even more excited to read the next book, The Crimson Crown, hopefully coming out next year.

If you haven't read the first book, The Demon King, put it on your list along with its sequels The Exiled Queen and The Gray Wolf Throne and be prepared for an awesome ride. Don't worry, the romance is light, so those looking for a serious adventure won't be put off by sappy scenes. Light and tasteful with a healthy dose of evil doers, gray areas in politics and trying to figure out who allies are in war.

And look, the cover is pretty too!

Enjoy!

In My Mailbox (14)

2011-12-11T14:21:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren. Here, I post any items that I buy/borrow/receive from this past Monday until the time this is posted on Sunday.

Bought

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

To Review

Stomp Out the Bullying! by Angel McGowan

What's in your mailbox?

Hiatus is coming to an end (really!)

2011-12-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't updated in forever, and I apologize for that. This past semester has been kicking my butt. However, it's over next week! Finally!

Lots of things to look forward to. I've been reading some, and I've got a bunch of titles to review.

Not on Shelf is on Facebook! 'Like' the page and receive blog updates and random things I find interesting, such as articles on libraries, authors and other goodies.

All of this begins next week! So sorry for the long wait. Happy holidays, everyone!

Review: Ash

2011-10-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

Ash by Malinda Lo.

Summary from Goodreads.

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Review

A totally new twist on the old Cinderella classic, and with a lesbian romance to boot, I fell in love with this story. Not only is Ash well written, the characters are also beautifully fleshed out and I was extremely happy to see that the romance wasn't the main part of the story (well it was, but not in the way most LGBTQ romances are).

Honestly, this is my favorite retelling of Cinderella for multiple reasons. Ash is a very sympathetic character and she fights to keep her own identity. The dabbling into the world of the fairy was also a nice touch as opposed to the classic fairy godmother shtick, which always seemed a little hokey to me. More detail was given to the backstory to flesh out each character, even the ones traditionally left to mystery in classic versions.

Sidhean was an interesting twist, but I liked Kaisa even more. Hooray for female characters with both strength and compassion! The LGBTQ part of the book was downplayed in a way that isn't seen in most other books like it: Ash and Kaisa didn't have to face a horde of naysayers when it came to their relationship, it was simply accepted as is. It was seen as no different from a heterosexual relationship. That might not seem all that revolutionary but considering what else is out there, that alone made this book a breath of fresh air.

All in all, Ash is a fresh take on an old classic and well worth a read. I can't wait to read the sequel, Huntress!

Borrowed from the library.

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

2011-10-12T18:41:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers share a highly anticipated read.

This week's is...

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore.

In stores May 1st, 2012.

Not much is known about the third installment of this series, but I still can't wait to read it! Then again, if it's by Kristin Cashore, you bet I'm going to get my hands on it!

Other books by Kristin Cashore

Graceling

Fire

So what book are you waiting for?

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

2011-10-11T08:40:00.000-04:00

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.

Summary from Goodreads.

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

Review

This book has gotten so many good reviews, I had to pick it up and I'm glad I did. Not my usual taste but I still enjoyed it.

The book is set primarily in Paris, and you can't get much more romantic than that, right? The characters are just as colorful as the setting and I was happy to see that no one was completely cliché. Suffice to say I have to agree with all of the glowing reviews. This book really was fantastic, and perfect for a rainy day or just a light read that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and maybe make your heart beat a bit faster. Great dialogue, interesting characters and a swift plot keep the pages turning.

Sure, it doesn't have great depths in its pages but this is definitely a book you will enjoy if you're looking for some good chick lit. It might not change how you look at things, but it definitely will be a good way to spend an afternoon.

Bought from Barnes and Noble.

Review: Everybody Sees the Ants

2011-10-09T13:43:00.002-04:00

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King.

Summary from Goodreads.

Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their family is fine. And he certainly didn't ask to be the recipient of Nadar McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.

Lucky has a secret—one that helps him wade through the daily dysfunction of his life. Grandad Harry, trapped in the jungles of Laos, has been visiting Lucky in his dreams—and the dreams just might be real: an alternate reality where he can be whoever he wants to be and his life might still be worth living. But how long can Lucky remain in hiding there before reality forces its way inside?

Review

So how does A.S. King follow up a Printz Honor book like Please Ignore Vera Dietz? By writing an equally inspiring and absolutely amazing novel like Everybody Sees the Ants.

As with Dust of 100 Dogs, Everybody Sees the Ants is yet another genre-defying novel that is impossible to place but equally impossible not to love. I have no idea how to categorize this book in my tags list, so I just chose realistic fiction and fantasy but really, it blends seamlessly into a million other genres too. Both surreal in the dreams of Vietnam and painfully realistic in Pennsylvania, King once again writes a novel that cannot be put down and will strike a chord in every heart.

Lucky Linderman is a well-loved character and despite the dreams and the visions of ants - which had to be some of my favorite characters with their commentary and random actions - is startlingly realistic. As can be expected with King's writing, nothing felt rushed or out of place, and I couldn't put the book down from start to finish.

So many issues in this book, from bullying to POW/MIA, women's rights (The Vagina Monologues is amazing and everyone should see it at least once. I've seen it three times), and addiction but King treats them all with grace and respect.

The ants are the silent narrators of Lucky's life, often playacting his emotions when he doesn't know how (they throw tiny bombs at his aunt, for example) to become his conscience while his visits with his grandfather become his escape and then his strength.

I literally just finished this book and will wait a few days before I read it again just because it's that good. Once again, King doesn't disappoint (but we've come to expect that already) with yet another beautifully written novel that is painfully honest and achingly real. You don't watch Lucky grow up. You grow with him with the ants leading the way.

Bought from Barnes and Noble.

In My Mailbox (13)

2011-10-09T09:45:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren. Here, I post any items that I buy/borrow/receive from this past Monday until the time this is posted on Sunday.

Bought from Barnes and Noble

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Interlibrary Loan

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Borrowed from the library

Ash by Malinda Lo

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

What's in your mailbox?

Review: 7 Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes

2011-10-06T20:22:00.002-04:00

7 Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer.

Summary from Goodreads.

Okay, so here's the deal: there are books about volcanoes erupting and meteorites hitting Earth and plane crashes where the survivors have to eat people—those are extraordinary crises.

That's not what this book is about. I'm more the ordinary catastrophe type. This second semester of my sophomore year, there are basically 7 KINDS OF ORDINARY CATASTROPHES: high school, boys, heartbreak, family, job, friends, and the future.

Well, I guess everyone's life is full of ordinary catastrophes. These are mine. Hi, I'm Gert Garibaldi. Welcome to my crazy life.

Review

Ok, so this is actually book two, not book one, but this book came in the mail for me months ago and I've finally read it (after searching for the prequel).

Absolutely hysterical.

Gert Garibaldi's rants and raves are both brilliant and hilarious. Her energy is contagious and yes, she jumps from one thing to another but what hyper teenager doesn't? I certainly did (and still do, if I'm being honest). She handles many issues in the books, from gay relationships, what's the difference between male and female nipples (if there are any), the best soundtrack for a marriage proposal, a serious illness in the family, and poorly executed breakups. Gert's journey is both funny and familiar. Maybe the reader isn't as random and boisterous as Gert is, but we can all identify with feeling confused over our changing bodies, the first boyfriend/girlfriend, what to do in a family crisis, how to act at your first job... The list goes on.

A bit like Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice books, Gert is navigating being a teen and being a woman by asking questions and sometimes bumbling along concerning sexuality and the nipple question (which really made me laugh and the characters bring up excellent points about it).

Sex is mentioned in this book. I'm learning that more and more adults are squeamish about this, although I still don't understand why. However, there is nothing explicit in this book (a few kisses, mentions of nipples and knowing what your own lady parts look like, which seems like good advice to me) so I would say it's safe for teens and tweens both.

I hope there's another book in the works because Gert is hysterically funny and I want to know if she gets up the courage to ask Lucas to a dance!

Won through another blog (remind me so I can credit you, please!!).

Review: The Iron Daughter

2011-10-05T09:31:00.001-04:00

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa.

Summary from Goodreads.

Sequel to Iron King.

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Review

Like the Iron King, Meghan grows exponentially from one book to the other and I have to say that while I had some misgivings about the series at first, I absolutely love it now.

My favorite character is probably Grim, the "cat" and I adore him. That doesn't mean that I don't love the other characters though, and to see more of the world Kagawa's created. A fantastic continuation and I love the story more and more as the series continues.

I really don't know what else to say other than it's worth reading and putting on the shelf at the library. The romance gets steamier and Ash just keeps getting more awesome. Mr Tall Dark and Icy competes some more with Puck and really, I'm not sure who to root for. I'm a sucker for the trickster, but Ash has that whole... you know. Yeah.

Read it! It keeps getting better and Kagawa is amazing at keeping the suspense going.

Bought from Wegmans.

Review: Paranormalcy

2011-09-22T09:35:00.002-04:00

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.

Summary from Goodreads.

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Review

I started out disliking Evie, but I have to say that after a while she grew on me. While her personality is completely understandable given her situation, her attitude still irked me. (A pink taser named Tasey? Really?) After a while though, I came to accept it and was able to look past her immaturity and deeper into the story.

Lots of mythology here, and you only touch the surface. (The first page regarding vampires was my favorite by far, I laughed openly at that scene.) I haven't read the sequel yet but I hope mythology is explored more thoroughly in Supernaturally. I want to learn more about the more popular supernaturals (werewolves, vampires and such) but also the others, such as Lend and his mother, and the lesser known creatures like banshees and bog hags.

The battle between the faerie courts has been done again and again, but this added feature is something entirely new and definitely interesting. I can't wait to find out what happens next in the series, although some of the draw is seeing more of Lend. I know, he's a little too cookie cutter good guy but he's just so cute!

Paranormal junkies will rejoice with this series, so keep an eye out for it!

Bought from Barnes and Noble.

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

2011-09-21T13:25:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers share a highly anticipated read.

This week's is...

Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler.
In stores March 20th, 2012.

Summary from Goodreads.

Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard is the kid that everyone picks on, from the school bullies to the teachers. But things change drastically when Death tells Billy he must stand in as Pestilence, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Now armed with a Bow that allows him to strike with disease from a distance, Billy lashes out at his tormentors...and accidentally causes an outbreak of meningitis. Horrified by his actions, Billy begs Death to take back the Bow. For that to happen, says Death, Billy must track down the real White Rider—who is lost in his memories.

In his search, Billy travels through White Rider’s life: from ancient Phrygia, where the man called King Mita agrees to wear the White Rider’s Crown, to Sherwood Forest, where Pestilence figures out how to cheat Death; from the docks of Alexandria, where cartons of infested grain are being packed onto a ship that will carry the plague, to the Children’s Crusade in France—all the way to what may be the end of the world. When Billy finally finds the White Rider, the teen convinces the man to return to the real world.

But now the insane White Rider plans to unleash something awful on humanity—something that could make the Black Death look like a summer cold. Billy has a choice: he can live his life and pretend he doesn’t know what’s coming, or he can challenge the White Rider for his Crown. Does one bullied teenager have the strength to stand his ground—and the courage to save the world?

Does this not sound absolutely amazingly awesome?? I adore Jackie's writing and her other two books were so incredible I recommend them to everyone (read my reviews here), so I can't wait until this one comes out in March. Her writing is brilliant and this is an absolute must-read.

Other books by Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger
Rage

So what book are you waiting for?

Review: The Folk Keeper

2011-09-20T09:33:00.000-04:00

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley.

Summary from Goodreads.

She doesn't really know who she is or what she wants...

Corinna is a Folk Keeper. Her job is to keep the mysterious Folk who live beneath the ground at bay. But Corinna has a secret that even she doesn't fully comprehend, until she agrees to serve as Folk Keeper at Marblehaugh Park, a wealthy family's seaside manor. There her hidden powers burst into full force, and Corinna's life changes forever...

Review

Written in journal format, The Folk Keeper was a refreshing change of pace from what I usually read. The language is different, the protagonist is different (not quite human but still easy to relate to, which is a testament to the author's skill) and the mythology is something that I didn't recognize (Celtic folk?) but enjoyed immensely.

A little darker than most middle grade books, but a good one for more classic fantasy lovers and anyone looking for a book that's a little bit creepy and dark.

I would have liked to know more about the Folk themselves, although the protagonist doesn't know much either so it makes sense that the reader wouldn't know much either.

A cute (and mildly creepy) story that felt like more classic fantasy literature but it's definitely good and I'd recommend it to any child looking for a little bit creepy a little bit mythical.

Can I just say that Corinna is adorable in her very own strange way? Because she totally is.

Borrowed from a friend.

Review: The Graveyard Book

2011-09-18T09:30:00.001-04:00

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

Summary from Goodreads.

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . .

Review

I wanted to love this book. People have been going nuts about it all around me and I read it and thought "meh."

The premise is interesting, and certainly original. Gaiman's writing is as fluid as ever and the characters are wonderfully unique but somehow the story just didn't quite catch in my mind.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. It was good, and I enjoyed it. I just didn't think it was the most amazing book ever, which is what I sometimes hear from friends when the book comes up in conversation (and as librarians, books come up all the time). I liked it, but I didn't love it.

A boy raised by ghosts? That's new, and certainly interesting. A deranged killer like Jack? He was certainly an interesting character. Not quite stereotypical (especially when you learn more) but with little development (and the ghosts don't change much either but I suppose that's in their nature).

I liked Bod best when he was a toddler although his adventures with the ghosts and demons and things are certainly interesting, but I didn't feel much for his character as a whole. My favorite character was the witch he meets later in the book and his teachers (I won't give it away, but I like them both for different reasons).

If you have a child looking for another macabre book to read, then show them The Graveyard Book. They'll thank you for it.

Borrowed from the library.

TGIF! (9)

2011-09-16T10:51:00.003-04:00

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads.

It's (almost) the weekend, so let's kick it off with a fun question and recap the week!

This Friday's Question:

Book Disappointments: Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?

Oh boy, loaded question. I can definitely say "yes" without hesitation.

Most of the time it's because a friend recommended them, saying the book (or series, as it often is) is absolutely amazing and a must read, so they let me borrow them and I settle down to read it.

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez was one of those books (series, really). My friend was so excited to show me these books because he felt they spoke to him (he's gay, obviously) and I was happy to read some because I had never found a good book with a gay protagonist before. Sad to say, I was very disappointed. I had to return the books (after reading them all, of course, I would have felt even worse otherwise) and admit that they weren't what I had expected. The premise was good, but the writing fell short on so many levels.

Happy weekend!

TGIF! (8)

2011-09-09T10:54:00.011-04:00

TGIF is a Friday feature hosted by Ginger at GReads to recap the week on your blog and to answer a fun question.

This Friday's Question:

Books to Television: Which books would you love to see made into a TV series or a movie?

Ooh, this is a toughie! Big note to put here: if these shows/movies are done right, they would be awesome. Keep in mind that I ignore most movies/shows based on books. Sorry Hollywood, but you've seriously been slacking lately when it comes to translating text to film! Ok, here we go!

Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore. The action and characters would make for incredible movies. Fire, especially, would have some of the best special effects for all of the monsters and I would love to see how Fire herself would be portrayed.

Subject Seven by James A Moore. This book would make an awesome TV series, especially with lots of film noir camera angles and dark scenes. Action packed with a Jekyll and Hyde twist.

Jeremy Bender and the Cupcake Cadets by Eric Luper. Admit it, this would be an adorable movie.

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow. Another cute movie. Not so much action but I think the setting would be breathtaking and the characters are just as vibrant. It would also be funny to see Frances's mother on screen.

~*~

This week at Not on Shelf

Review: House of Many Ways

Review: City of Fallen Angels

Review: Dear Bully

Review: Meridian

I'm back!

In My Mailbox (12)

Happy Friday!