YA Books Central Blog

Review: Showoff by Gordon Korman

2012-01-27T20:07:00.001-05:00

Gordon Korman’s Swindle team is back and in Showoff, they’ve gone to the dogs. When Luthor, the massive Doberman, destroys a dog show and injures a champion dog, his family faces a massive lawsuit and are forced to take him to the pound. Griffin and his friend Ben can’t let Luthor be left there—but the only way to keep the dog safe would be for him to win Best In Show at a national championship. Is it possible to do this before Luthor eats his competition?

Click here to read my full review.

The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story

2012-01-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

I really appreciate the fact that there are books out there that help make Jesus' death and resurrection easier for children to understand. This book does just that. It opens the door for family discussion, and even have discussion questions and activities in the back that the entire family can do together. To read more of my review, click here.

The Berenstain Bears All Things Bright and Beautiful!

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Brother Bear, Sister Bear and their Sunday School class go out on a Nature Walk to enjoy God's creation. From the small animals in the forest to the homegrown watermelons, they children and their teacher, Missus Ursula, sing and enjoy the beautiful world around them. My boys and I really enjoyed reading this book. We loved the song the children and teacher sang, and we also loved how the authors described everything they saw. To read more of my review, click here.

Hugs & Kisses, God from Kids Around the World

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Read the rhymes, lift the flaps, and let little ones discover God as the source of every good thing as children from around the world recognize God's everyday gifts---from yummy pancakes to daisies on the hill and rainbows in the sky. It's time to cuddle up together and count our blessings. To read more of my review, click here.

I Hate Bullies!

2012-01-25T10:30:00.000-05:00

Noodles has a tasty bone. But then a bully takes it! How will he get it back? This is a cute, easy reader, for young children. It is also a great book to use to start talking about bullies with young ones. To read more of my review, click here.

Replication (The Jason Experiment)

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

I just found this book so thought provoking and refreshing. I got lost in the world, but I was still able to think about this really happening. Is cloning worth the risks that it brings with it? Is a clone just a clone or really another human being? I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this topic. And let me just say this as well, it's not a boring science book either, to read more of my review, click here.

Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

2012-01-24T21:46:00.000-05:00

Lucy’s sophomore year does not begin as expected: she is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, Alex, before homeroom. As she weeps over where things went wrong, three glamorous older girls reach out to her with a beguiling promise. If she does what they say, they will teach her the magical skills to never have her heart broken again and let her join the ancient Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers. Of course, promises and magic often have strings attached and Lucy must decide if the sisterhood is worth the high price of joining.

Click here to read my full review.

I Spy an Apple

2012-01-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

All-new easy-to-read riddles are paired with photographs culled from previous I Spy books to create this early reader that's perfect for fall! With rhythm, rhyme, and picture clues, this book is written to support the newest reader. To read more of my review, click here .

Every Which Way to Pray

2012-01-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

Hayley and Harley Hippo want to pray, but it seems like such hard work to do it right. The book they read says so. Then a comical collection of animal friends-an almost angelic pelican, a sheep librarian, a bear policeman, and more-helps them see that prayer can be done anywhere, anytime, and in many ways. To read more of my review, click here.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Is the worth of a person's life or their soul connected to how many years they've lived? The longer you've lived, the more you're worth? Is a soul really strong enough to transcend time and rebirth?

In the land of Range, reincarnation is the norm. The cycle of life, death and rebirth has been happening for thousands of years - until Ana is born. She's the first Newsoul in Heart and her birth has thrown their world into a panic because it signifies the end of another's chance at rebirth. Forever.

For most people, including those closet to her, Ana represents a curse and is living a life that doesn't belong to her. There is one person though, who believes she's good and wants to help her find out how she came to be. If he can get Ana to see her worth, he might be able to convince the rest of Heart to see it as well, but they'll have to survive their journey first.

Click to read my full review...

Dead Letter Office

2012-01-23T18:25:00.000-05:00

Celia is sent to live in New Orleans after her father dies while serving in Afghanistan. Her father's family lives there and isn't quite accepting of Celia's eccentric mother. Then Celia finds a mysterious letter in a mailbox which is over 150 years old. What's freaky is it's addressed to her. Add to the mystery is Luc who she meets on Halloween night. Celia feels somehow they are connected and decides to solve the mystery with the help of her new friends Tilly and Donovan. Dead Letter Office is a fun interactive story where you decide which path Celia will go on. This paranormal is Ghost Whisperer meets Veronica Mars with Southern charm.

Click here to read more

Review: All of Baby Nose to Toes by Victoria Adler

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh my! How cute is your baby? This book lets you take a dive in the adorable wonderland of your darling little one. Click here to read my full review.

Blogger Loses Everything in Fire

2012-01-22T14:48:00.004-05:00

Just read this post and wanted to pass it along in hopes that others would help:

Fellow Blogger loses everything...
January 21, 2012, Posted by Donna at 11:05 am

One of our fellow bloggers and dear friend Yara lost everything yesterday in a devastating house fire. She and her family are all safe, but they have lost everything.

If you want to help Yara and her family we suggest you do so through the Twilight Moms site. If you want to support Yara, please follow this link.

We totally trust that Lisa and the Twilight Moms will make sure every penny reaches Yara and her family. And every penny will help them rebuild the pieces of their world.

Sending positive thoughts your way, Yara!
~EFG Staff

To help and/or donate, please click here.

Review: In Darkness by Nick Lake

2012-01-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

The 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti has trapped fifteen-year-old gangster Shorty under the rubble in the hospital where he has been recovering from a gunshot. As his hope for survival slowly fades, he maintains his sanity by telling his life story to the darkness that surrounds him.

Click here to read my full review.

Review: Pink Smog: Becoming Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

2012-01-22T13:45:00.000-05:00

For the past twenty years, Weetzie Bat has been an icon for outcasts who choose to see the world through rose-colored glasses (preferably cat-eyed and pink). Francesca Lia Block has returned with PINK SMOG: BECOMING WEETZIE, an origin story that takes us back to 1970s Los Angeles, before Weetzie was slinkster-cool, when she was just awkward, thirteen-year-old Louise Bat.

Click here to read my full review.

War Horse (Movie Tie-In Edition) by Michael Morpurgo

2012-01-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

An epic, heartwarming tale of a horse and his boy that will have even the least of horse lovers reaching for the tissues. Spanning the years of World War I, "War Horse" is told from the point of view of Joey, a red-bayed horse whose journey begins as a young colt on a sheep farm and chronicles his adventures into becoming a decorated soldier. Joey and his young master Albert are inseparable, each sharing a mutual love and respect for one another but when Albert's father sells Joey both of their lives are forever changed.

Click here to read my full review

Released This Week

2012-01-21T02:30:00.000-05:00

Here are some of this week's Young Adult book releases. To learn more about each book, click on its cover art to be redirected to its page on Young Adult Books Central.

January 17, 2012

January 19, 2012

This post is brought to you by Missy's Reads & Reviews. It spotlights some of the newly released books in YA - but it is not a comprehensive list to ALL Young Adult releases. To see these books on the date that they are actually published, please be sure to "like" Missy's Reads & Reviews on Facebook.

2011 YABC Reader's Choice Awards Results

2012-01-20T16:41:00.000-05:00

We received twice as many votes this year for our 2nd annual YABC Reader's Choice Awards. Thank you, readers, for nominating and voting. There were a few clear winners and several close calls, but the final tally is in!

Without further ado, here are YOUR favorites for 2011!

(Click on the cover images to see book reviews.)

Favorite Young Adult Novel of 2011

Divergent by Veronica Roth

~ RUNNERS UP ~

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Favorite Middle Grade Novel 2011

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

~ RUNNERS UP ~

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Favorite Children's/Picture Book 2011

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

~ RUNNERS UP ~

I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

Favorite Young Adult Author 2011

Cassandra Clare

~ RUNNERS UP ~

Veronica Roth

Stephanie Perkins

Myra McEntire

Favorite Middle Grade Author 2011

Rick Riordan

~ RUNNERS UP ~

Lauren Oliver

Lisa McMann

Favorite Children's/Picture Book Author 2011

Mo Willems

~ RUNNERS UP ~

Melanie Watt

Kevin Henkes

Review: ChirChir is Singing by Kelly Cunnane

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

A young Kenyan girl wanders through her family's village to find how best to help out, discovering her own gift along the way. Click here to read my full review.

Review: Witch's Brew by Heidi R Kling

2012-01-19T03:13:00.003-05:00

Fantasy has always been my favorite genre, so when I learned Heidi R Kling was writing a fantasy book, I was beyond ecstatic. I harbor this immense crazy love for Heidi R Kling’s debut, Sea. Something I didn't think was possible happened with Witch's Brew - I loved it even more. I should learn to never doubt Heidi R Kling, as she is simply a mastermind with words and can write the most beautiful stories.

Click here to read more of my review!

Review: Past Continuous (Sequel to Future Imperfect)

2012-01-18T17:21:00.000-05:00

Ade Patience has done what he was told he couldn’t. He’s broken the rules, used his powers to save a life. And no good deed goes unpunished. . . .

Senior year finds Ade and his girlfriend, Vauxhall, deeply in love, indulging themselves with wild dates and exploring their newly strengthened abilities. Only Ade isn’t as happy as he should be. He’s got an itch that he can’t seem to scratch and it has everything to do with his joining the Pandora Crew, a group of radical oracles hell-bent on disturbing the peace, performing Jackass-style stunts, and spreading the mayhem. To read my review, click here.

Review: Mine! by Shutta Crum

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sketchy pencil and watercolor drawings bring selfishness and sharing to life as two siblings and their dog discover how much fun sharing can be. Click here to read my full review.

Trailer Tuesday: Lovetorn and Born Wicked

2012-01-17T10:52:00.000-05:00

Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

2012-01-17T07:02:00.001-05:00

"What would you do if you only had one day left to live?" This is the question that haunts Delaney Maxwell after she spends eleven minutes under a winter lake. Her heart and brain stopped working; Fracture's protagonist dies in the first seven pages of the novel, but somehow she doesn't stay dead. Despite all medical reason, Delaney survives as good as new. Almost.
Read my full review here.

Review: Puppies, Kittens and Other Pop-Up Pets by Matthew Reinhart

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Vivid and intricate pop-up animals come to life in this adorable book. Click here to read my full review.