YA Books Central Blog

The YABC Blog is Moving!

2012-05-15T11:33:00.000-04:00

That's right, the YABC Blog is moving from this blogspot location to a new home on YABooksCentral.com. This way, all the latest YABC info will be located in one handy place, so you won't have to check two different sites to get all the latest reviews and updates.

We'll be posting giveaway news, updates, press releases, author interviews, event notifications, and more on the new blog here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/.

To make things easy, you can now subscribe to the blog, to individual posts, and even comment threads to keep up-to-date. How awesome is that?

So get ready. The change is coming. We're excited to invite you over for a proper house-warming party soon! (Hint: there will be giveaways!)

Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore

2012-05-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Enter the world of King Henry VIII, encountered through the eyes of 15-year-old Katherine Tylney, best friend of the soon-to-be famous Catherine Howard. Gossip, lust, manipulation, and flattery are the keys to the top in this dazzling glimpse into the 15th-century Tudor Court. Click here to read my full review.

From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas

2012-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

This book is "The Hangover" for teens and it made me laugh, cry and swoon; sometimes all at once. Kylie and Will are BFF's while Max and Lily are the "beautiful couple". To say these two pairings don't like each other is an understatement of epic proportions, but when Kylie and Max are forced to work together on a final Senior project, a split second decision thrusts them into the adventure of their lives!

After an insane 24 hours of drinking, carjacking a vehicle of stolen goods, Kylie and Max wake up in bed, donning matching wedding bands. Wait... WHAT?! They haven't even graduated yet! To make matters worse, Kylie can't remember how she ended up here with Max or why he seems so happy about it. Don't they hate each other? The person who really won't be happy is Lily, and she's just walked in the door. Oops! With only a few hours to spare before they grab their diplomas, Kylie, Max, Will and Lily will have to make sense of the previous days' events but they'll have to make it back across the border first.

Click here to read my full review...

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

2012-05-13T22:23:00.000-04:00

In the eight and a half months since we left them in Bumped, Harmony and Melody have become the most famous teens in the world, known as The Hotties. As twins who are pregnant with twins, they are swamped with endorsement deals for perfumes and energy bars, hounded by paparazzi, and copied by everyone who follows them on the MiVu. Yet they both are hiding secrets and stand to lose everything if they face up to their lies.

Megan McCafferty's sequel, Thumped, will satisfy fans of the series.

Click here to read my full review.

Confectionately Yours #1: Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou

2012-05-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

In this new series, life for seventh grader Hayley, is not as sweet as the cupcakes she bakes. Her parents are newly divorced, Mom is out of a job, her BFF is pulling away from her and her 8 year old sister is a few sprinkles shy of a funfetti cupcake.

To top it all off, one of the parents at school wants to ban cupcakes, forever! (clearly, this woman is an alien). Together with an unexpected ally, Hayley will fight with all the fondant she can roll out to "Save the Cupcake!". She'll discover that life may not always happen the way we expect it too but that doesn't mean it's wrong, sometimes it's the angle we're seeing it from.

Click here to read my full review...

See You At Harry's

2012-05-10T23:54:00.002-04:00

Twelve-year-old Fern's family life is total craziness. Her father is off on yet another scheme to bring more business to their restaurant, her mother is upstairs 'meditating', her brother has his own little secret, and then there's three-year-old Charlie. When tragedy hits, Fern feels personally responsible. Will her family be forever torn apart?

Once again Jo Knowles weaves her magic and gives us a beautifully written tale that will make you laugh, cry, and smile.

Click here to read more

The Vicious Deep

2012-05-09T13:06:00.000-04:00

After Tristan is almost killed during a freak riptide he finds out he's not like other teens. What happens next takes him on an adventure not for the faint of heart.

Engaging, vivid tale that shows the mermaid world in a whole different light told through the eyes of a guy.

Click here to read more

Little Visits with Jesus (25th Anniversary Edition)

2012-05-09T10:13:00.001-04:00

Having two young children (a third on the way) in my household, I'm always looking for wonderful faith related books/devotionals to read with my children. 'Little Visits with Jesus' is the book I've been looking for. Each devotion is 1 page long, to the point and easily keeps young children's attention. To read more of my review, click here.

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burnstein

2012-05-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

Amy is part of a BFF trio with Lila - the pretty one and Cassie - the tough one. She knows she's the back up friend, the wing girl, the leftover and she's okay with that. It's better than being a complete nobody, right? When the girls are stood up for their Senior Prom and end up crowned Jailhouse Queens instead of Prom Queens, Amy faces a summer of work and community service that gives her plenty of time to consider the choices she's made.

Click here to read more...

Trailer Tuesday: Shadow and Bone, Lies Beneath

2012-05-08T17:57:00.000-04:00

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Read and write reviews on this title here!

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Read and write reviews on this title here!

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

2012-05-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

Gene is different from everyone else he knows. He has to be. His survival depends on it. He knows there's a short list of "don'ts" in order to maintain that survival, things like, don't sweat, don't show emotion and don't ever fall in love with one of them.

Every day is a battle to keep his secret but when he's picked to participate in a hunt that involves taking out what's left of the humans, his real battle begins. Gene's not only in for the fight of his life, but his heart too, as he's forced to compete with the one girl who makes him feel things he knows he shouldn't.

Click here to read my full review...

Review: Mr. and Mrs. Bunny--Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath

2012-05-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

You will find yourself falling down a different kind of rabbit hole in this unique, funny, and slightly ridiculous book. Click here to read my full review.

Review: In Honor

2012-05-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

As I was looking through a list of upcoming YA releases, I stumbled upon In Honor by Jessi Kirby. I was nothing short of thrilled when I was able to receive a copy to review from the magic that is YABC. Thank you!!!!

Right away this book pulls you in. The first scene is Honor sitting at the funeral of her brother, Finn, who had been killed while serving in Iraq. I could hear the stillness in the air, except for the gun shots of the salute and the playing of Taps. If you've ever been to a military funeral, you know how powerful that moment is.

Finn has been Honor's source of everything since her parents died many years before. When he enlisted in the Marines instead of heading off to college, Honor was distraught. And when the soldier arrived at the door to her Aunt's house to tell her what happened to her brother, she wasn't sure how she would go on.

After the funeral, Honor opens a handwritten letter from her brother, that arrived three days after he was killed. Something in the letter makes her decide that she has to fulfill her brother's wishes, so instead of heading off to her college orientation, she decides to head for California. *cue Rusty*

To read the rest of my 5 STAR REVIEW click here.

Broken Illusions (Midnight Dragonfly #2) by Ellie James

2012-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

For 16 year old psychic Trinity Monsour, life in New Orleans isn't one big party, even if it is Mardi Gras. Her visions, which she sees in her dreams are beginning to bleed into reality making it difficult for her to tell what's real and what isn't. Another girl has gone missing and while Trinity feels compelled to help, she knows it could cost her relationship with Chase.

There's one person who doesn't question her ability and the more time she spends with him, the more he begins to show up in her visions. Secrets from her past will be revealed and a shocking twist will leave one of them dead. Does Trinity have the power to change what she sees or is it all just an illusion?

Click here to read my full review...

If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor

2012-05-06T21:41:00.003-04:00

Carolyn Samuels dreads the first day of high school. She feels the only way to get a boyfriend and to fit in is to be the perfect size and be just like Jennifer Taylor. Then something happens that lets her find out that maybe Jennifer isn't as perfect as everyone thinks.

Click here to read more

Review: About Habitats: Oceans by Cathryn Sill

2012-05-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

The largest habitat on earth, filled with all kinds of creatures, many yet to be discovered. Discover the oceans with your child in this enchanting book exploring the its beauty and diversity. Click here to read my full review.

A Guest Post by Geoff Herbach + a Giveaway

2012-05-02T11:20:00.000-04:00

Today we're so proud to have Geoff Herbach, author of Stupid Fast, guest posting for us. This topic is very dear to our hearts here at YABC, so please take the time to read Geoff's insightful words and enter to win a copy of his latest book, Nothing Special.

~ ~ ~

Stupid Fast has been out for almost a year. It’s been really great. I’ve traveled a bit, met lots of writers and librarians and bloggers. Best of all, though, I’ve met “elusive” teen boy readers – both through my blog, email and in person. Good stuff.

I do have some concerns, though.

A really smart 16-year-old from Brooklyn wrote to tell me how much he loved Stupid Fast. He also said, “I hate books, always have.”

What?

A freshman at a high school I visited the other day told me: “I only like two books. Stupid Fast and this other one I can’t remember.”

Okay…

I have had similar exchanges again and again in the last year. It reinforces the reason I wanted to write Stupid Fast in the first place: there is a good-sized subset of kids who don’t have enough books to read. I was that kind of kid.

Click here to read the rest of the post and enter a giveaway to win a copy of Nothing Special!

Trailer Tuesday: Struck and Arise

2012-05-01T17:38:00.000-04:00

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Click here to read and write reviews about this book!

Arise by Tara Hudson
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Click here to read and write reviews about this book!

Wanted

2012-04-30T17:29:00.001-04:00

Seventeen-year-old Michal Garcia can't wait to leave Carson City High and go to college. She earns money by being a bookie, taking bets for anyone at her high school. She never places a bet for herself. But her whole world is shook up when Josh Ellison moves into town. He's from a wealthy family and totally different than Michal. Still he fascinates and intrigues Michal so much that she ends up breaking her one rule and places a bet. What happens next puts everything Michal knows in question.

Click here to read more

The Berenstain Bears; God Bless Our Home

2012-04-30T13:45:00.003-04:00

The Bear Family seems to be outgrowing the tree house. But God has blessed them with happy memories in their home, and no one really wants to move. Can they find a way to stay? This book hit home for me because we have a new baby on the way and we are trying to figure out where to put everything in our home to make room. To read more of my review, click here.

Reckless Heart

2012-04-30T13:35:00.000-04:00

First of all, I'm a big fan of author Amy Clipston. Ever since I read her book 'Roadside Assistance' I have put her on my "favorite authors list". So, I was pretty excited to read RECKLESS HEART, even though I'm not a huge fan of Amish books. However, Amy Clipston does a fantastic job of keeping the story realistic to those outside the Amish community, while still keeping it true to Amish tradition. To read more of my review, click here.

DoSomething.org's Epic Book Drive + Kindle Fire and Scholarship Giveaway

2012-04-30T11:32:00.000-04:00

Access to books continues to be a barrier in education equality. In fact, 61% of low-income families have no age-appropriate books at all in their homes for their children. But YOU can make a difference! Join DoSomething.org's Epic Book Drive and give your favorite book to a family in need.

Gather your friends to join and you'll be entered to win an Amazon Kindle Fire! Need more incentive? In addition to the Amazon Kindle Fire give-a-way, one outstanding group will be awarded an awesome scholarship. Up to $10,000 per group (with a cap of up to $1,000 per person).

Visit www.DoSomething.org/epic or text EPIC to 38383 to find out more information and to sign-up!

Spectral

2012-04-28T12:41:00.001-04:00

Jewel, alias True, and her family have been on the run forever. Each place they end up at means another name and identity before they're off to another place. Jewel thinks she's in some kind of funky witness protection program as her father must have done something to upset the mob. Little does she know that it's not her father but rather her that is the reason her family is running. Then there's a prophecy that must be fulfilled when she turns seventeen. Let's just see if Jewel can live long enough to see that seventeenth birthday.

Click here to read more

Review: The Good Braider by Terry Farish

2012-04-27T08:21:00.003-04:00

Viola, her mother, and her brother are doing their best in war-torn Sudan, where all the men have gone to fight and those left behind are terrorized by soldiers. Viola is not exempt from the violence; when she is attacked, the family escapes to stay with an uncle in Portland, Maine. There, they must adjust to the extreme cultural differences between Sudan and the United States. The Good Braider gives the reader insight into the life of a Sudanese girl, a group that is often neglected in war stories.

Click here to read my full review.

Horse Diaries #8: Black Cloud by Patricia Hermes

2012-04-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what life could be like as a horse? If you love horses and their amazing history, this book will satisfy. Click here to read my full review.