Young Adult Literature Lover

Stay With Me by Paul Griffin

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here’s a quick bite from the author’s webpage: Fifteen-year-olds Céce and Mack didn’t expect to fall in love. She’s a sensitive A student; he’s a high school dropout. But soon they’re spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they’d planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can’t stay.

My Take

If you like happy endings with hearts and flowers…this is not a story like that. It had its fair share of hearts and Cece and Mack fall deeply in love, which was beautiful. They were both deeply scared individuals who had a rough life up to finding one another. To see so much hope, possibility and optimism about a future that seemed at best unsure before they met each other was joyful. But it’s amazing how fast things can change. A person’s whole life can hinge on a moment. This book illustrates the frailty of life and the pain of paying for wrong choices. In reality none of us gets any “do-overs”.

Mr. Griffin creates characters that you genuinely care about and want to see succeed. He also includes gritty reality and truth. You see the characters short-comings, their broken places and you celebrate their growth and mending too. Stay With Me gets 5 sloppy puppy dog kisses from me!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Librarything as part of their early book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

2012-01-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

I don’t generally write reviews of movies, but hey it was adapted from a book and I feel compelled to do so with this one. Here’s a bit about the film from its website: Adapted from the acclaimed bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” is a story that unfolds from inside the young mind of Oskar Schell, an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker whose discovery of a key in his deceased father’s belongings sets him off on an urgent search across the city for the lock it will open. A year after his father died in the World Trade Center on what Oskar calls “The Worst Day,” he is determined to keep his vital connection to the man who playfully cajoled him into confronting his wildest fears. Now, as Oskar crosses the five New York boroughs in quest of the missing lock – encountering an eclectic assortment of people who are each survivors in their own way – he begins to uncover unseen links to the father he misses, to the mother who seems so far away from him and to the whole noisy, dangerous, discombobulating world around him.

My Take

In the mind of a child everything has a reason for happening. There is the ever present “why” tied to everything until the sea of whys have been quelled in their landscape. Some things have no answers, no reasons, nothing solid and concrete to hang on to. Oskar is a young boy longing to discover an answer or at least some legacy left behind by his father that will help him make sense of what has happened; to show him how to go on from the very painful existence he’s experiencing since his father’s death. His father used to send him on expeditions. Expeditions that were the most masterfully crafted experiences to challenge Oskar in facing his fears, pushing his boundaries, and yet all of that cloaked in the adventure of it all. Oskar most assuredly faces challenges with sensory processing issues and more than likely Asperger’s Syndrome (a condition on the autism spectrum). Clinging to the memory of his father he sets out in search of the lock to fit the key he found in his father’s belongings. Along the way, he meets a myriad of people who may not know what the key fits but they each bring their own gifts to Oskar. He may help some of them to find answers of their own on his journey.

This movie was a symphony of emotion where not a sour note was struck. The emotions were far ranging and ran the gamut of the human experience. The characters are rich, deep and honest. Thomas Horn, who plays Oskar gives an amazing performance. This is his first movie and we’re bound to see more of him for many years to come. Tom Hanks plays his wildly creative, extremely loving father that we get to know through flashbacks. Sandra Bullock plays his loving, albeit grief stricken mother. The rest of the cast is wonderful as well. This movie is phenomenal and should be experienced. I wish I could give more than 5 kisses but these 5 will have to be the answer. Now get yourself to the movies. J

Shine by Lauren Myracle

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a tiny bit from the Ms. Myracle's website: When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.
Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

My Take

This book was amazing! I had heard good things but even that left me unprepared for how moving this book was. Both the story and the writing were fabulous.

Cat is courageous, smart and so loving. Going against everyone she knows, she's determined to discover who committed the hate crime against her best friend Patrick. She starts out naive but comes to discover there is no good versus evil. Nothing in life is so black and white. She went from clinging to the memories of her childhood to hopeful about her future.

I read this book in just over one days time. It pulled me in and kept me there. I'm giving it 5 shiny kisses!!

Torment (Fallen 2) by Lauren Kate

2011-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a blurb from Ms. Kate's website:
LOVE NEVER DIES
Lucinda is sure that she and Daniel are meant to be together forever. Now they are forced apart in a desperate bid to save Luce from the Outcasts–immortals who want her dead. As she discovers more about her past lives, Luce starts to suspect that Daniel is hiding something. What if he has lied to her about their shared past? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

My Take
I liked the first book of this series, Fallen, but I didn't love it. I still have those same lukewarm feelings for this installment as well. I did like this one a bit better. I felt Luce was more independent and that was a great thing for her character. I also liked the supporting characters in this one as well.

I look forward to reading Passion to see where this story goes. Can't wait to resolve the cliffhanger at the end of Torment too.

Oh and the cover is simply gorgeous!! I'm giving this one 4 angelic kisses!

Demonglass (Hex Hall 2) by Rachel Hawkins

2011-12-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a blurb from the goodreads page: That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My Take

This is the second in the Hex Hall books. What if your ex-crush were trying to kill you? Then to make matter worse Sophie discovers she is one of two demons in the world. She can't control her powers and they threaten her and those she loves. She determined to go through the Removal, stripping her of her powers. First she has to spend the summer with her, up to now, very distant father. Will she still go through with the Removal? What happens when she discovers someone is secretly creating more demons? Will she ever make it back to Hecate Hall?

I loved this book. It was suspenseful, but also full of humor. Rachel Hawkins makes me smile and even laugh out loud. The characters are so lovable, the writing wonderful. I read this book almost in one sitting. I can't wait to read the next Hex Hall book. This one gets five demonized kisses!!

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

2011-12-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick blurb from Ms. Smith-Ready's website: Aura's life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend Logan died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows that he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can't deny her connection to the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she's not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura's search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets...and her heart.

My Take

I waited for what felt like FOREVER to read this book. I loved Shade! Well, it was worth the wait. Shift was even better than Shade.

So much happens in this book. We find out about the Shift and Aura's parentage. The relationship between she and Zach really develops. Yes, Logan is back and there are happenings with him as well.

This comes high on my recommend list to read. I don't want to give away too much, just trust me when I say it's not to missed. I'm giving it 5 violet kisses!!

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a bit from Ms. Derting's website:
Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

My Take

Violet is back. She's still chasing down the ghostly echoes that haunt her. She and Jay are still together but he's more protective of her now. This is something she can't bring herself to appreciate.

Violet begins to realize that someone is stalking her. Leaving gruesome gifts and notes for her to discover. Can she unravel the mystery of who before things take a deadly turn?

I became engrossed in this book. It kept taking me around all the twists in the plot path, leading me to its surprising conclusion. The characters are easy to relate to and this second book feels like catching up with old friends with some new additions.

This one gets 5 breathless kisses!

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick blurb from the Goodreads page: What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan - the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah - unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.

My Take

First off, let me apologize for not updating my blog regularly. I've been working almost 80 hours some weeks and just can't sacrifice the time. I'll try to be better. In the meantime, thanks for your patience.

Aahh, teenage love! Great, right?! Pretty torturous really. Especially if you're Joy. Her boyfriend, Zan abandoned her. To make matters worse, she has no idea why. He only left his best friend Noah to look after her. Noah, who she finds excruciatingly annoying.

I wasn't sure if I could really connect with these characters at first, but I did. I found myself enjoying the story. There were times I wanted to scream at Joy to "wake up".

Noah is a great guy who is more than willing to be roped into whatever Joy chooses. He keeps trying to show her what a nice guy he is. I kept thinking, she had to realize it before he gave up and quit being a nice guy.

Everyone needs closure, right? Go along on the journey and see if Joy ever gets any closure with Zan? And where would that leave Noah anyway?

This is one of the books in the Contemps Challenge also. I'm giving it 4 sweet kisses!

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick summary from Ms. Forman's website: It’s been three years since Adam’s love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it . . . and three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future—and each other.
Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

My Take

Okay, the cover...it's lovely. Not totally how I pictured Mia but I do love the cover nonetheless. I have been waiting what feels like forever to find out what happens to Adam and Mia. I really loved this book. I really liked If I Stay and I know that I enjoyed Where She Went just as much. It was tough to see these two characters struggling to know what they wanted and trying to determine if that might involve each other. At times it was almost frustrating. I won't give away the ending but wasn't disappointed by this book at all. I'm giving this one 4 1/2 kisses!

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

2011-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s a quick bit from Ms. Turner’swebsite: The most powerful advisor to the King of Sounis is the magus. He's not a wizard, he's a scholar, an aging solider, not a thief. When he needs something stolen, he pulls a young thief from the King's prison to do the job for him

Gen is a thief and proud of it. When his bragging lands him behind bars, he has one chance to win his freedom--journey to a neighboring kingdom with the magus, find a legendary stone called Hamiathes's Gift and steal it.

The magus has plans for his King and his country. Gen has plans of his own.

Newbery Honor Book Award, 1197

ALA List of Notable Books, 1197

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Blue Ribbon List

Horn Book Fanfare List

Selection of the Junior Library Guild

My Take

I was so very fortunate to have won a copy of this book from the author in the hope that I would pass this along so that others could read it. I am giving my copy to the library at my son’s school. They are thrilled to be getting it and I know that many other kids will be reading it for some time to come.

Now, about the book itself… I can see why this book has won so many awards. It’s quite a tale. I do feel it’s geared towards middle school age kids but older teens are just as likely to enjoy it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. I see that there are a couple more books planned beyond what’s out there now as well.

This book was suspenseful and interesting. Gen, the main character, was not terribly likeable in the very beginning. However, as the story went on, he became much more endearing. Ms. Turner’s writing pulls you in and takes you along on the journey. I’m excited to see where Gen’s adventures take him next. I’m giving this one 5 kisses!

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Littman

2011-10-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

Here’s a blurb from Ms. Littman’s website: When Abby meets Luke online, she can’t believe her luck. He’s nice. He’s funny. He listens to her and he thinks she’s pretty. He even gets jealous of other guys, which is adorable. Without Luke, Abby’s not sure how she’d make it through her first year of high school. Everyone, including her mom and her best friend, Faith, tells Abby that if she just made more of an effort, she’d be having fun instead of dreading each and every day as if it’s a prison sentence. But there’s nothing fun about being the lowest link in the social food chain.

Abby knows she’s not supposed to chat with random guys online. But Luke isn’t random, and he isn’t a stranger. Best of all, he really loves her. So what if she never goes out with her friends anymore and her grades are slipping? All she needs is Luke. Luke is her secret, and she’s his — it’s perfect that way. So when Luke suggests that they meet each other in person, Abby agrees. And then she’s gone. Missing. Without a trace. And everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don’t, they’ll never see Abby again...

My Take

It is so frightening to think about a child just disappearing. And worse, you know they are with a sex offender and you’re left behind, helpless. How terrifying. Abby’s descent down the rabbit hole was difficult (to see as a parent) but absolutely realistic as well.

I can fully see how teens get sucked into the vortex of communicating with these predators. Abby was a great character. It was scary to see her separating herself from her friends and family. Similar to watching an accident happen. Her friends and family were all wonderful characters as well. I think Ms. Littman did a wonderful job relaying a story that is a very real concern for teens today. Her characters were likable, relatable and very human. It would be a great book for teens to read and discuss with friends and family. Maybe giving them pause to consider what they would do given the same situation. This is another one of the books on the Contemps Challenge for this year as well. This one gets 4 ½ kisses!

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

2011-09-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s a little bit about this book from Ms. Walker’s website:

Does falling in love mean falling out of faith?

“Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver’s license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church’s annual haunted house of sin, Lacey’s junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn’t know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.”

My Take

I didn’t know if I was going to like this book. I don’t generally do well with anything that’s one extreme or another. However, I did find that I really did enjoy this book. It was nice to see a different kind of character represented as well. Not much swearing and not much sex in this book and it was nice to see a more innocent side of teens and in today’s world to boot. Ms. Walker’s characters are very endearing. A group of friends whose bonds are as strong as steel, but willing to add another to their ranks was wonderful. It was also nice to see parents who were present, not clueless and not portrayed as the villains. Are Lacey's values strong enough to withstand a challenge? Will her family understand if Lacey's values aren't the same as theirs? The love story between Lacey and Ty was great and built slowly, which I liked. He respected her and was not the typical bad boy. I thought Ms. Walker's characters were unique and I liked them all. This book is yet another in the Contemps Challenge. I’m giving it 4 ½ sweet innocent kisses!

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

2011-09-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s a little bit about it from Ms. Schroeder’s website:
Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living like each moment is his last.

My Take

This book is written in verse and I loved it. Lisa Schroeder is the expert at writing in verse. Her books never fail to pluck at my heart strings and fall in love with her characters. Amber is off for her day to herself when she meets Cade who’s like a gust of wind in her life. It’s funny how sometimes the few hours you spend getting to know someone, can forever change your life. The only little nit-picky thing I have to say is that I thought the girl on the cover was dead. Sorry but it kinda' looks that way. Just my opinion though, to be sure. It's a lovely cover despite that. This is another of the books on the Contemps Challenge. The ending has a surprise. I loved this book. It was a sweet story about treasuring the here and now. I’m giving it 5 lasting kisses!!

Family by Micol Ostow

2011-09-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Here’s a quick bit from the author’s website: It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go. Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

My Take

Wow, this book was...wow! It definitely pulled me right back to the early 70’s. Mel describes herself as broken and she has been through so very much. It was at times disturbing to see the affect Henry had over his “family”. Further and further down the rabbit hole they all seemed to fall. How far will they all fall for the love and acceptance they crave so deeply? The verse it was written in was interesting and while it did switch between past and present, it seemed easy enough to follow. THis is one of the books on the Contemps Challenge. There are depictions of sex and drug use in this book, so be aware of that. I would recommend this book especially as a look back into history. Even though fictional, it's very realistic of that time period. This book was a taut emotional ride through a very haunting time and experience in America. I’m giving it four kisses!

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

2011-08-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

A bit from Ms. Ryan's website: There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets—dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah—can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

My Take

The third and final book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series. I just decided to read all three, one after another. I couldn't wait to read the last one anyway. This continues with the characters we've gotten to know, especially in book two (The Dead Tossed Waves). Everything in this book feels more intense, more urgent.

Ms. Ryan's writing is taut as ever. The thirst of the characters to survive is more desperate than ever. I loved this book and felt it was a terrific wrap-up to the series. Full of action but the love stories so central in the plot as well. Another 5 smooch-erific zombified story!

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

2011-08-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a blurb from Ms. Ryan's website: Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier...

One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.

My Take

This is the second in the series of the Forest of Hands and Teeth books. I loved the first book and this one did not disappoint either. Carrie Ryan sucks you in with her writing. Each chapter ends with you dying to turn the page and keep reading. Her descriptions have you visualizing everything clearly and when the characters are desperately trying to get away, your heart is pounding almost as hard as theirs.

Gabry is a great main character. She's so much stronger than she realizes. It's nice to get a glimpse of Mary from the first book as well. I loved how the storylines would tie together to make you feel as though you were coming full circle with it all.

I never thought I could get into zombie stories. However, I'm a convert. I really do love these books. They have a wonderful love story woven around the fact that there are undead everywhere. I'm giving this one 5 fleshy kisses!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2011-07-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a quite bite from Carrie Ryan's website:

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

My Take

This book was absolutely a page turner! It was so suspensful. I couldn't wait to find out what happened with Mary, Travis, Harry and everyone. It's dystopian at it's best. I never thought I could really get into the whole zombie thing, but this book was a definite must read. You feel pulled into the storyline and the characters are relatable. I'm giving this one 5 very alive kisses! Oh and I'm currently reading The Dead Tossed Waves.

Eli the Good by Silas House

2011-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

This book tells a bittersweet tale of a family trying desperately to hold on to their beliefs and one another. Set in 1976, it’s absolutely relatable for me. Eli Book is looking back remembering the summer everything changed for him.

We all reach a point in life when we realize our parents are people too. They are fragile and scarred from life’s tribulations. Oftentimes we don’t reach these conclusions until near or well into adulthood. This particular summer Eli discovered the adults in his life were grappling with large issues. His father was clinging to sanity, desperately trying not to give in to the nightmares and flashbacks plaguing him from Vietnam. His war-protesting aunt is fighting cancer and trying to repair her relationship with her brother. His mother caught between the two, trying to hold the entire family together. Eli Book manages to find solace amongst the branches of a birch tree.

At one point, Eli realizes that the Vietnam War has affected every member of his family and in many ways they are still fighting this war every day. He knows they are all victims of the Vietnam War whether they fought in uniform or not.

I liked this book and felt Silas House did a wonderful job with description and the overall story. You knew Eli was a young boy who worshipped his father, but was getting a bitter dose of reality. I enjoyed the character development and loved that there was a sense of closure in the end with details from his adulthood. I give this one four tender kisses.

Change Is In the Air

2011-05-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another! ~Gail Sheehy

I don’t think that very many of us are in places that we ever thought we would be as we made our way through life. I know things are not like I would have imagined and I’m grateful for that.

Not too long ago, I underwent gastric bypass surgery. Everything went well and I’m recovering very nicely. It does however, require a complete life change. I have to think about everything that I put in my mouth. I have never really been an active person and I now have to be active pretty much every day. Also, I added a second (part-time) job to the roster. While it is only part-time, this all adds up to much reduced free time for me.

I may not be posting on here often. I know I won’t be posting regularly. I miss it and plan to still keep in touch, when possible, with many of the wonderful people I’ve met both through my blog and through being a part of the writing community. Say hi whenever the mood strikes you and I’ll most definitely respond. Always know that I’m somewhere working on making me the best that I can be. And I hope you too take that challenge, in whatever form it takes for you.

I’m not totally disappearing and will post here from time to time. Thanks for stopping by and being a part of this little blog that I’ve grown to love so very much. See ya’ around!

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

2011-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick blurb from Ms. Hubbard's gorgeous website: It’s hard to find beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming. Fourteen-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it’s not her mother’s pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances and pickup trucks adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild girl Mandarin Ramey: seventeen, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin.

When the misfits are united for a project, they embark on an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town’s animal-head trophies, and constantly searching for someplace magic. Grace even plays along when Mandarin suggests they make a pact to run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds that plague their badlands town.

But all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin’s unique beauty hides a girl who’s troubled, broken and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, even the best friendships can’t withstand betrayal.

My Take

This book dripped with imagery. I loved the author's ability to place me right in the setting with the characters. I also liked the descriptions she used. One in particular I remember was she described the fenders on an old truck as being 'chubby'. I could absolutely picture it in that very moment.

The storyline between Grace and Mandarin drew you in. I wanted to know where their friendship was going. Would Grace be pulled down the same paths that Mandarin was travelling? Is it really the wildwinds that make you release all sense of reason? I really enjoyed this book. I'm giving it 5 blown away kisses!

This is also one of the books on the Contemporary Challenge. Definitely a great read. Things will slow down here on the blog, as tomorrow I'm having my weight loss surgery. I'm sure before long, I'll be seeing you around the blogosphere before you know it. Here's those kisses for LIKE MANDARIN!

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

2011-04-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a review from the author's website: *"Surprising everyone at their private school, a sardonic loner befriends the new girl in this unusual story of an intense platonic relationship between two misfits. Dubbed a robot by her emotionally unstable mother after she fails to manifest sufficient heartbreak over the death of their gerbil, Bea meets pale, withdrawn Jonah, maliciously called “Ghost Boy” by their peers. Almost immediately, she realizes that she has more in common with Jonah than with the catty, insular girls that surround her and begins to rely increasingly heavily on him even as she discovers more about his tragically strange past. Standiford has crafted a darkly whimsical tale filled with details that will be recognizable to teens truly existing on the fringe, complete with references to John Waters films and outsider musician Daniel Johnston. Bea’s original first-person voice will draw readers in, and the unexpected plot will keep them engaged. A decidedly purposeful not-love story, this has all the makings of a cult hit with a flavor similar to Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999)."

--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

My Take

Bea is a cool, quirky little character and Jonah is heavier on the quirk. Both great characters. I loved the fact that Jonah never saw his brother Matthew as broken, only different from himself. I really liked this book. It speaks of love and how deep it runs. It challenges your thoughts on family and just who ones family can be comprised of.

I had heard great things about this book before reading it. It lived up to the words of praise bestowed on it. I liked all the Nite Lights and their funny little personalities interplaying with one another. I could see a sequel to this one eventually, but have no idea if one is planned or not. The overall message I took away from this was that no matter how disabled or tenuous their grip on reality may be, you don't give up on them. I'm giving this one 4 1/2 robotic smaks!

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

2011-03-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a blurb from Ms. Zago Rosenthal's website: Ari Mitchell feels invisible at her Brooklyn high school. Her hair is too flat, her style too preppy, and her personality too quiet. And outside school, Ari feels outshined by her beautiful, confident best friend, Summer. Their friendship is as complex and confusing as Ari’s relationship with her troubled older sister, Evelyn, a former teenage mom whose handsome firefighter husband fills Ari’s head with guilty fantasies.

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari’s family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. Meanwhile, Summer warns her that what she feels for Blake is just an infatuation. Not real love. But Ari’s world is awash with new colors, filled with a freshness and an excitement she hasn’t felt in years.

When misfortune befalls Blake’s family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

My Take

It's 1985; the year I graduated. Ari is struggling to find her niche. She transfers to an elite prep school and that niche seems even further away. Then she meets Leigh. She begins gaining more independence and more confidence.

Then Ari meets Leigh's cousins. She and Blake tumble head-long into a relationship. Ari is beginning to think she has found where she belongs. But things begin to change as the outside world affects them. Along the way Ari learns what true love is and what it isn't. She grows so much and is so strong. This book was a little jewel. I'm giving it 5 kisses!

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

2011-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a blurb from the book's website: In eight days, Coke and Pepsi McDonald are going to turn thirteen.

Before then, they'll jump off a cliff, get trapped in the locked basement of their burning school, chased cross-country by murderous lunatics, left for dead in the pit of a sand dune, forced to decipher mysterious coded messages, thrown into a giant vat of SPAM, and visit the world's largest . . . ball of twine!

There's more, but if we told you here, we'd have to kill you.

Megapopular author Dan Gutman brings on the excitement with an action-packed new series that's nothing short of dynamite. Join Coke and Pep on their quest to uncover just what it means to be part of The Genius Files . . . if you dare!

My Take

I don't read tons of middle-grade books. I should definitely read more of them, especially if they are as good as this one. This book was packed with action and all sorts of secret agent antics.

Coke and Pepsi were great characters. This book is seriously funny. I found myself laughing quite often. I enjoyed seeing what would happen next as the twins made their way across the country in the rented Winnebago with their clueless parents. I'm planning on reading the next in the series to see what happens to these two. I'm giving this one 5 secret super agent kisses!

Note: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Librarything as part of their early book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

2011-03-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an synop from Ms. Ferrer's website: A dancer driven to succeed.

A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.

The summer they share.

And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad’s affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

My Take

I really loved this book. I liked Soledad's spice, her independence, and her willingness to make herself vulnerable to love someone. I also loved the fact that she understood there is great strength in making yourself vulnerable.

I loved her grandmother "Mamacita" who raised her. She was such a warm, interesting character. Her love for Soledad so evident. But her willingness to let her go for her own growth commendable.

The 'moment it all went wrong', I never saw coming. I was completely blown away. It was easy to get engrossed in the world of dance and corps while reading this book. You felt as though you were living it with the characters sometimes. This was a lovely book that I would recommend. I'm giving it 5 precise kisses!

Note: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Goodreads as part of their early book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

2011-03-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a blurb from Ms. Wealer's website: Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

My Take

This is one of the books in the Contemps Challenge. All wonderful books. I loved this book and I can totally see how girls get caught up in the drama of competition. I think most never fully intend for things to go very far but it's easy for it to get out of hand. I loved the fact that the ending wasn't quite as predictable as I would have thought it might be. Definitely pick this one up and see what you think. I'm giving it 4 1/2 lovely kisses!