YA bibliophile

Blog Tour: Goddess

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Oh man. I cannot believe the Starcrossed trilogy is coming to an end! I am such a fan of these books. It's been such a pleasure to be on the blog tour for all three! For tour details, including info on all three books and full tour schedule, check out the official tour page. Today I have a guest post for you as well as two chances to win great prizes!

Here's a bit more about Goddess. Remember, it's the finale so there may be spoilers for books one and two in the description!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Release: May 28th 2013 by HarperTeen

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

Josephine Angelini is a Massachusetts native and the youngest of eight siblings. A real-live farmer's daughter, Josie graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in theater, with a focus on the classics. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Guest Post: Goodbye to Starcrossed

Sometimes, the strangest thing about saying goodbye is believing you’re actually saying it. I haven’t written about Helen and Lucas for over a year now, but I still talk about them, think about them, and get messages about them on Facebook and Twitter every day.

It’s almost like they’ve gone off to college, but they still come home to visit me on the weekends to do their laundry. Hector is still wandering around. Apparently, he’s now married to my former editor’s assistant, who I now call “Mrs. Delos” in our emails.

And then there’s Daphne. I don’t know what it says about me that I sympathize so much with my villains that I feel they deserve their own spin-offs, but there it is. Complicated characters, whether they are good or evil, are the ones who stick with me the longest.

I miss Helen the most, though. I don’t usually re-read sections of my books unless I’m preparing to read aloud to an audience, and on those occasions when I glance back, I am struck by how far we’ve come. STARCROSSED was the first novel I ever wrote. Helen was my first hero. She and I grew up a lot in three books, and now, thankfully, both of us are much better at expressing what we really mean.

That’s why I’m having such a hard time believing I’m saying goodbye. It’s probably because what I really mean isn’t goodbye at all—it’s thank you.

Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. Thank you for teaching me, for challenging me, but most of all, thank you for this opportunity to express what I really mean.

Thank you, Josie, for taking us on such a great ride. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next.

Giveaway:

You now have the chance to enter TWO giveaways! The first is for the chance win one of 15 copies of either STARCROSSED, DREAMLESS or GODDESS. The second is signed(!!) Goddess Kindle Paperwhite!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, May 20th - Starryeyed Reviews
Tuesday, May 21st – fiktshun
Wednesday, May 22nd – The Irish Banana
Thursday, May 23rd – YA Bibliophile
Friday, May 24th – Supernatural Snark
Monday, May 27th - Birth of a new Witch
Tuesday, May 28th – Refracted Light Reviews
Wednesday, May 29th – Tales of a Ravenous Reader
Thursday, May 30th – Hobbitsies
Friday, May 31st – Reading Teen
Monday, June 3rd - Parajunkee
Tuesday, June 4th – Buried in Books
Wednesday, June 5th – Candace Book Blog
Thursday, June 6th – Alison Can Read
Friday, June 7th – Book Twirps

The Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini Available Now!!

Starcrossed: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Dreamless: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Starcrossed City (novella prequel to Starcrossed): Goodreads | exclusively on Josephine's website

Waiting on Wednesday (91)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday

Scorched

by Mari Mancusi

Release Date: September 3, 2013

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Sixteen-year-old Trinity Brown is used to her grandfather's crazy stories, so she never believed the latest treasure he brought home was a real dragon's egg. Not until their home is invaded by soldiers trying to steal it and a strange boy who tells her the world as she knows it will be wiped out in a fiery dragon war—unless they work together to stop it. Meantime, there's a different voice whispering to Trinity, calling to her, telling her what to do...the dragon inside her egg is not ready to give up without a fight.

Um, dragons? SOLD! I got to hear Mari talk a bit about this one and I am so looking forward to it. Sounds right up my alley. Why is September so far away!!

The Elite

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The Elite

Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: April 23, 2013
Pages: 323
Series: The Selection, book two
Source: Purchased

About the Book: The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestsellerThe Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending. (goodreads)
My Thoughts: Gah! These books! They suck me right in and I get caught up in the story and I just can't stop reading! But also? They drive me crazy!! Like, crazy in a good way. In an I-need-to-know-right-now way! And also a what-the-heck-are-you-doing type way. You know what I mean, right? Where you're sure you know better than the character and they are clearly making all the wrong choices! But then you remember that they're 17 and in the midst of some pretty emotionally crazy things and you think about how 17 year old you would have dealt and then thank the stars you're not the character? Also, it makes you write/think in really crazy run on sentences with poor punctuation.

So, yeah. There was that. Still, I really enjoyed getting to know the remaining girls a bit better. Maxon and Aspen too! I am still totally a Maxon fan but can understand America's hesitations. Also, one of my favorite parts of this story was learning more about the history of Illea... and not just what everyone has been told. I am such a geek like that. I love all history, even the fictional variety.

The Selection is one of the most popular books in my LMC and I have a whole long list of girls waiting to borrow my copy of The Elite. Thankfully, they won't be disappointed with the story! It really is great fun :)

Me with Kiera the day The Elite debuted at #1 on the NYT Bestseller list! Go Kiera!

Etiquette & Espionage (audiobook)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Etiquette & Espionage

Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Pages: 307
Series: Finishing School, book the first
Source: ARC for review, purchased audiobook
Read By: Moira Quirk
Audiobook Publisher: Hachette Audio
Length: 8 hours, 55 minutes

About the Book: It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

My Thoughts: When can I have more? Seriously. I had so, so, so much fun listening to this one! I actually woke up the next day and thought, "Yay! More Etiquette & Espionage!" only to remember that I had finished listening to the book in one day! That never happens! The story and the narration were just too good to stop!

Etiquette & Espionage was just so clever and witty and everything I wanted it to be. I loved learning more about the differences in the world it's set in (steampunk fun!) Sophronia is a delightful character and it was a pleasure to get to know her. Yay for girls challenging the gender mold! I actually enjoyed learning more about all the characters. The other "debuts" (girls in the same class as Sophronia at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality) are such a fun and varied lot. And the sooties! Loved them.

Throw in some supernatural beings, a bit of mystery, a bit of adventure and you have a book I could not get enough of. Curtsies & Conspiracies cannot come soon enough.

Blog Tour: Truth or Dare

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green. Today I have an interview with the author based on one of the main characters Guinness. The publisher has also generously provided FIVE copies of the books as a giveaway! But first, a bit about Truth or Dare:

In Jacqueline Green’s highly charged debut thriller, perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars, an innocent game of TRUTH OR DARE spins out of control for three girls who find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

Paranoia builds as each little slip of paper taunts the girls with dares that threaten not just their reputations but also their lives. How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

And to let you know a bit about Guinness, here's an excerpt from the book:

When Sydney had arrived at Sunrise, she’d been filled with a cavernous anger that had terrified people, chased them away. But Guinness had met her head-on. She remembered her worst night at Sunrise, when the anger had gotten so big, so strong, it threatened to swallow her right up. She’d snuck into Guinness’s room and even though it was the middle of the night, even though she was breaking every single rule by being there, he didn’t hesitate, didn’t even blink.

“Come with me,” he’d whispered. He’d taken her to the darkroom and given her a lesson in developing. As they moved steadily through the dark stillness of the room, methodically dipping the paper in bin

after bin, Sydney actually felt calm.

It had felt so nice, having someone know about her issues with anger— and not care. She’d even come close to telling him the secret she carried everywhere with her. But at the last minute, she’d stopped

herself.

Interview:

Is Guinness based on anyone you've ever dated (or wanted to), or is he pure wish fulfillment?

Guinness is an amalgamation of many different guys, some real, some imaginary. There are great parts to him—how he understands Sydney better than anyone, how he’s been her rock time and again. But there are bad parts, too. He has a hard time giving all of himself to anyone, and I think most girls have encountered at least one guy like that!

Guinness is caught in a bit of a love triangle between Sydney and Tenley. Did you have fun writing about the tension between the three characters?

Absolutely! Tenley and Sydney have very different relationships with Guinness, so it was fun to explore that. I thought a lot about what it was like for a guy to want to be with one girl, but be tempted by another. And of course, how that made both girls feel.

Guinness and Sydney share a love for photography. What hobby/interest are you passionate about?

Reading has always been my biggest passion. One of my favorite childhood memories is my mom giving me my very first chapter book. As I got older, I used to drive my sister crazy by always having my nose in a book. When we were on family vacations, she would beg me to stop reading and hang out with her instead! I’ve been known to do the same thing to my husband now...

Guinness has an unusual tattoo. Do you have a tattoo? Or…if you could get any tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it?

I don’t have any tattoos. Mainly because I’m kind of a wimp. I used to really want a tattoo of a ladybug on my big toe. I once even asked a tattoo artist about it. He told me that toe tattoos fade really quickly, which of course served as the perfect out for a wimp like me.

Guinness has nicknames for both Sydney ("Blue") and Tenley ("Tiny"). What was your nickname growing up?

I’m probably going to regret sharing this, but...when my sister was younger, she went through a phase where she started every word with a W. During that phase, she took to calling me Wackie instead of Jackie. Somehow, my friends got wind of that story in high school and from then on out, my nickname was Wacky. I like to tell myself it was Wackie with an ie, not Wacky like crazy, but that might be wishful thinking!

Very fun! Thanks to Jacqueline Green for answering the questions :) Now for the giveaway. US only. No PO boxes. Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the giveaway!

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RT Wrap-up

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:34:00 +0000

This is a bit belated but it's been a crazy couple of weeks! I had such a great time at the Romantic Times Convention and I just wanted to share a bit about it. You should totally come next year. It's in New Orleans!

So, I totally failed and only took one picture the whole time I was there. But it's a cute one of Kiera Cass and I the night she found out The Elite debuted number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. So at least there's that :)

Thankfully the RT peeps take about a billion pictures and share them on flikr. The link under each image will be take you to the RT Convention photo stream.

Image Source

Much of the week at RT is spent going to panels on any number of genres/topics/etc... I typically go to all the YA panels and some of the librarian ones as well. As you can see from the image above the YA panels are made up of and moderated by amazing YA authors. It was so interesting to hear what the authors had to say on all the different topics adressed. The last part of the panel discussion is opened up for questions from the audience. I love this because the audience is made up of readers, aspiring writers, and published authors. There are usually really interesting questions. It's so much fun.

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There are also all kinds of events organized by different publishers and authors. I helped out at the Avon Red Slipper Lounge. It was a party for attendees that featured a large group of Harper authors. There were plenty of free books and plenty of free chocolate. What more could you ask for in a party? I got to sit with Sarah MacLean while she was signing and it just affirmed that she is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.

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Other events like the Anniversary Ball, Freaky Friday Dance, and Steampunk Tea create opportunities for attendees to dress up. I am not clever enough to come up with awesome costumes but Leigh Bardugo totally is. How great does she look? There were so many people dressed up for every event. I was so impressed by their packing skills! I had a hard enough time trying to figure out what to wear for the everyday stuff. No way could I have planned out so many wardrobe changes!

At the end of the week there is Teen Day. If there is ever an RT convention near you I highly suggest that you at least attend this part. It stars with a huge signing. There is a whole section of the signing set aside for YA authors. It's pretty epic. Not gonna lie, I brought a suitcase full of books to get signed AND bought more there!

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After the super signing there are a couple more panels. Again, these are made up of and moderated by amazing YA authors. There is also a speed reading session and a speed dating session you can go to. I was familiar with all the authors doing both so I went to the panels. Great discussion and lots of laughs! YA authors are the best!

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Teen Day ends with a bang at the Teen Day Party. As teens enter the party they are given a bag with YA books and swag. They then can go through a line and pick up out a few more books. I love this part. It's so fun to see how excited the teens get. Some of the books are ARCs and you can just see their faces light up when they get a book that isn't even out yet. The authors attend the party as well. Teens (and all other attendee) can mingle with them and get their books signed. This year I spent most of the party helping teens find the authors of the books they got so they could get them signed. Also, I got one of the extra teen bags to give to my local library for summer reading prizes. It was great!

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There aren't any pictures of one of my favorite parts of the week... just hanging out with friends in one of the many seating areas of the hotel. It's so nice to get to see people you talk to online and maybe see once a year. I loved just sitting at the tables and talking about what we've been reading.

A HUGE thank you to all the authors who attended. I especially want to thank Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong. They organize the YA track and Teen Day. It is so well run. I can only imagine how much work it involves. As a reader and a librarian I so appreciate all they do.

While RT is not really a convention all about getting free books I did buy a ton as well as getting some ARCs and awesome swag. Rather than doing an IMM I thought I'd post the pictures here.

Paperbacks I already own the hardcover of

Finished Copies

ARCs

Bookmarks! Stickers! Samplers!

And I had to highlight these awesome things! Eyeshadow from Born of Illusions (thanks to Teri Brown!) Pins inspired by Stephanie Perkins' books (Thanks Penguin!) And a super amazing gift that Sarah Rees Brennan "accidentally" snagged from Cassandra Clare... Jem's jade pendant!

Blog Tour: The Girl with the Iron Touch

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross. This is a series I have some crazy love for. I adore the setting, the characters, the mystery... all of it! Check out my reviews for book one The Girl in the Steel Corset and book two The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. Today I have an interview with Finley Jayne and a chance for you to win great prizes. First, here's more about The Girl with the Iron Touch:

About The Girl with the Iron Touch Goodreads

Pre-order your copy today: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

Character Interview with Finley Jayne:

You're life has changed quite drastically. What has been the hardest part of the changes? The best part?
You certainly ask personal questions, don’t you? I’m told I have to answer you honestly, so I’ll say that the hardest thing has been finding a balance between the light and dark sides of myself. The best part is actually a person, and I’d rather not say who.

If you could speak with your father one more time what would you want to say to him?
What the bloody hell were you thinking when you made that potion?

What three words come to mind when you think of Griffin/Jack/Emily/Sam/Jasper?
Griffin – Honorable. Strong. Perfect.
Jack – Dangerous. Friend. Complicated.
Emily – Sweet. Strong. Intelligent
Sam – Temperamental. Huge. Lummox.
Jasper – Charming. Loyal. Fast.

What would make up your ideal day?
A day spent lazing in the shade with a good book and a certain someone to read it with me. Oh, and probably a good boxing match along the way.

About Kady Cross - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

In her other life, Kady Cross is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than twenty books. She is lucky enough to have a husband who shares her love for the slightly twisted and all things geek, and a houseful of cats with whom she shares her darkest secrets. When she’s not listening to the characters in her head, she’s either trying to formulate the perfect lip gloss or teaching herself to solder. She has a weakness for all things girlie, sugar skulls and boots. Her love of books and makeup borders on addiction—of which she never, ever wants to be cured.

Giveaway:

There are two giveaways for those following the tour!

The first giveaway is a daily one for the chance to win your choice of either The Girl in the Steel Corset, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar or The Girl with the Iron Touch.

The second giveaway is for a grand prize of a beautiful Clockwork Necklace, the matching Ring and a set of The Steampunk Chronicles books!

Please note that both the daily and grand prize give-aways are for US/Canada participants only. See full contest rules here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

You can also stop by the tour page here.

Monday, May 6th - Harlequin Paranormal Blog and Reading Teen
Wednesday, May 8th - Candace Book Blog
Friday, May 10th - Rainy Day Ramblings
Monday, May 13th - Two Chicks on Books
Wednesday, May 15th - YA Bibliophile
Friday, May 17th - Fiktsun

Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:09:00 +0000

Today's post is inspired by the Top Ten Tuesday topic from The Broke and The Bookish. The topic for this week is Books Dealing with Tough Subjects. I'm sure I could come up with ten books no problem (there are so many amazing authors out there) but when I saw that topic one name came to mind. Chris Crutcher. If you don't know who that is, do yourself a favor and head over to his website. The man is basically amazing. A few quick facts (from the biography section of his website):

* He's been publishing "young adult" since 1983. As of this year he has 14 books published.
* He is a former teacher and director of an alternative school.
* He worked for 25 years as a child and family therapist specializing in abuse and neglect.
* He spent 30 years as a Spokane Child Protection Team Leader.
* He is one of the most frequently banned authors in North America.

What does this have to do with anything? The man knows what he is talking about! Aside from being an amazing author he has the background knowledge and years of real life experience to write about abuse, neglect, and other tough subjects. And he's honest. He doesn't shy away from saying things or writing about things that get his books challenged. Plus, plus, plus... he is funny. He understands how to use humor when writing about tough situations without making light of the issue. His books are accessible to teen readers today (even though some were written nearly 30 years ago!) and I just cannot fangirl enough. Also, as you read about each of the books listed below you will notice that sports factor heavily in the story. If you know me you know that I'm not a "sporty" girl by any means. This made me put off reading his books for the longest time. What a shame! Once I finally picked one up (Deadline) I flew through everything I could get my hands on. Seriously. Chris freaking Crutcher y'all. Read. His. Books.

Note: I'm focusing on his full length novels for teens that I have read. He also has an autobiography and two short story collections. The book descriptions come from Crutcher's website. Titles are linked there as well.

Running Loose (1983)

Louie Banks has the world by the tail. It's his last year in high school; he has wheels, a starting spot on the football team, good friends, and the girl of everyone's dreams. If he can stay away from Boomer Cowans long enough to graduate, he's got it made. But the world suddenly turns and snatches Louie by the tail, and it just won't let go. His visions of sportsmanship and fair play go up in smoke by the second game of the season; his expectations of life are shattered by spring.

Many of Louie's wounds are self-inflicted; others, the result of a cold random throw of the cosmic dice. Either way, his road to manhood has become cluttered with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Running Loose is a story about that time in a boy's life when he is suddenly expected to act like a man-to be accountable for the things he does and to react reasonably to the craziness around him. Sometimes Louie does; sometimes he doesn't.

Stotan! (1986)

In the final swimming season at Frost High School Coach Max II Song offers his small but talented team the gift of self-discipline in the form of Stotan Week--a grueling four-hour-a-day, nonstop test of physical and emotional stamina designed to bring them to the outer edge of their capabilities. The four young men accept the challenge-and something none of them could have predicted is set in motion.

Stotan! is a humorous, sometimes heartbreaking story about making sense of chaos, about falling in love when it's not in the cards, about friendship and commitment, about life and death.

The Crazy Horse Electric Game (1987)

Willie is a top athlete, the star of the legendary game against Crazy Horse Electric. Then a freak accident robs him of his once-amazing physical talents.

Betrayed by his family, his girlfriend, and his own body, Willie's on the run, penniless and terrified on the streets, where he must fight to rebuild both his body and his life.

Chinese Handcuffs (1989)

When Dillon Hemingway is forced to witness his brother Preston's suicide, his life understandably seems to fall apart. His quest to make it whole again involves Stacy Ryder, Preston's girlfriend, who is left with more than a memeory of Dillon's dead brother, and Jennifer Lawless, a star high school basketball player with a secret too monstrous to tell and too enormous to keep.

His antagonist are a vicious cycling gang, a single-minded school principal, and Jennifer's father, a brilliant lawyer with a chilling disregard for human sensitivity.

Chris Crutcher's Chinese Handcuffs is a story about a time when life seems too overwhelming to confront. It is also a story of courage and acceptance, told with power and sensibility.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (1993)

When Sarah Byrnes was three years old, her condition became synonymous with her surname. Her face and hands were badly burned in a mysterious accident, and her father refused to allow reconstructive surgery. She developed a suit of cold, stainless steel armor to defend herself against the taunts of a world insensitive to her pain. You enter into Sarah Byrnes's world on her terms, or you don't enter.

Enter Eric Calhoune--Moby to his friends. Eric passed through his early years on a steady diet of Oreos and Twinkies and root beer floats, and he sports the girth to prove it. Because of their "terminal uglies," he and Sarah Byrnes have become true masters in the art of underhanded revenge directed at anyone who dares to offend their sensibilities.

When Eric turns out for the high school swimming team, he begins to shed layers of extra poundage. Fearing the loss of the one friendship he treasures, he gorges to "stay fat for Sarah Byrnes," who discovers his motive and threatens to beat him more senseless than she thinks he already is. Then the truth of Sarah Byrnes's horrific past finally catches up with her.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a darkly funny, suspenseful novel about friendship, fear, and making the best of a bad situation. Once again Chris Crutcher slaps us in the face with compelling questions that demand dignified answers.

Ironman (1995)

Bo Brewster has been at war with his father for as long as he can remember. Following angry outbursts at his football coach and English teacher that have cost him his spot on the football team and moved him dangerously close to expulsion from school, he turns to the only adult he believes will listen: Larry King.

In his letters to Larry, Bo describes his quest for excellence on his own terms. No more coaches for me, he tells the talk show icon, no more dads. I'm going to be a triathlete, an Ironman.

Relegated to Mr. Nak's before-school Anger Management group (which he initially believes to be populated with future serial killers and freeway snipers), Bo meets a hard-edged, down-on-their-luck pack of survivors with stainless steel shields against the world that Bo comes to see are not so different from his own. It is here he meets and falls in love with Shelly, a future American Gladiator, whose passion for physical challenge more than matches his.

Ironman is a funny, sometimes heartbreaking story about growing up in the heart of struggle. It is about standing up, getting knocked down, and standing up again. It is about being heard--and learning to listen.

Whale Talk (2001)

There's bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don't have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway.

A group of misfits brought together by T. J. Jones (the J is redundant) to find their places in a school that has no place for them, the Cutter All Night Mermen struggle to carve out their own turf. T. J. is convinced that a varsity letter jacket--unattainable for most, exclusive, revered, the symbol (as far as T. J. is concerned) of all that is screwed up at Cutter High--will be an effective carving tool. He's right. He's also wrong.

Still, it's always the quest that counts. And the bus on which the Mermen travel to swim meets--piloted by Icko, the permanent resident of All, Night Fitness--soon becomes the cocoon inside which they gradually allow themselves to talk, to fit, to bloom.

Chris Crutcher is in top form with a cast of characters--adults, children, and teenagers--fighting for dignity in a world where tragedy and comedy dance side by side, where a moment's inattention can bring lifelong heartache, and where true acceptance is the only prescription for what ails us.

Deadline (2007)

Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year. Had big things planned. Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world.

How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho?

First, Ben makes sure that no one else knows what is going on—not his superstar quarterback brother, Cody, not his parents, not his coach, no one. Next, he decides to become the best 127-pound football player Trout High has ever seen; to give his close-minded civics teacher a daily migraine; and to help the local drunk clean up his act.

And then there's Dallas Suzuki. Amazingly perfect, fascinating Dallas Suzuki, who may or may not give Ben the time of day. Really, she's first on the list.

Living with a secret isn't easy, though, and Ben's resolve begins to crumble . . . especially when he realizes that he isn't the only person in Trout with secrets. Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year. Had big things planned. Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world.

Period 8 (2013)

In this full-length novel from Chris Crutcher, his first since the best-selling Deadline, the ultimate bully and the ultimate good guy tangle during Period 8.

Paul "the Bomb" Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday School. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his ex-girlfriend, unfortunately) and his other classmates don't know is that the ultimate bully, the ultimate liar, is in their midst.

Terrifying, thought-provoking, and original, this novel combines all the qualities of a great thriller with the controversy, ethics, and raw emotion of a classic Crutcher story.

So there you have it. Chris Crutcher, ladies and gentleman. I think you can tell how very much I love his books. If you're not sure where to start I recommend Deadline and Whale Talk. Those are the two I started with. But really, you can't go wrong!

The Program

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:53:00 +0000

The Program

Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Pages: 416
Series: The Program, book one
Source: ARC for book club/review

About the Book: In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.
My Thoughts: I already talked a bit about this one in my post about our The Program book club meeting. It was the perfect book for discussion. There are so many different aspects to talk about.

One of the things I liked most about this book was that it kept me guessing. I had many ideas about what I thought might happen or what certain things meant but I never knew for sure. I also liked the way the author subtly changed my mind about people and events in the book. I would jump to a conclusion about something and then suddenly realize that I was seeing it in a totally different way.

Sloane was an interesting character in a world that was just different enough from our reality to be disturbing. I loved that it was so similar that I could picture it happening yet different enough that I was captivated.

Suicide, especially teen suicide, is not a comfortable topic. Add a very controlling "Program" with a big brother feel and you have a book that kept me reading! I had to know what was going to happen to the characters I had grown to care about.

The Program is a promising start to a series that will make you feel all the things! I highly recommend reading it along with someone else so you have someone to talk to! Plus, the ending! You're going to want to see what your friends think!

Sapphire Blue (audiobook review)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Sapphire Blue

Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt
Publication Date: October 30th, 2012
Pages: 354
Series: Ruby Red Trilogy, book two
Source: ARC, purchased audiobook
Read by: Marisa Calin
Audiobook Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Length: 8 hours 57 minutes

About the Book: Gwen’s life has been a roller-coaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out. (goodreads)

My Thoughts: Wow, how could I have forgotten how very much I love Gwen and these books? Love, love, love, love, love. And the audiobook? So well done. The narration was perfect for Gwen and her story.

I know I said this in my review of Ruby Red but I think one of my favorite aspects of this series is the humor. With all the secrets, adventure, and historical aspects I just didn't expect it to be funny. The humor seemed like such a treat. Gwen's inner dialogue and the ways in which she interacts with the various characters kept me smiling. She's the kind of girl I would have wanted to be friends with!

Also, secret societies, a prophecy, and a time travel gene? Yes, please! I loved learning more about the Circle of Twelve and Gwen's place in it. There are so many secrets and questions surrounding what it all means. I can't wait to dive in to Emerald Green to find out more!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Gideon and the romance. Poor Gwen. As if her life isn't confusing enough (what with finding out she is part of this whole time travel deal) she is partnered with a gorgeous but maddening boy! I loved the tension and banter that this brought up. And Gwen's best friend Leslie! And the ghosts that Gwen can see! And her great aunt! Basically, I just loved all the characters.

My only complaint? The ending! AHHHH! I was listening to the audiobook on my phone so I had no idea how close to the end it was. When the scene ended and it switched to the epilogue I may have screamed, "WHAT?!?! Nooooooooo!" So glad I have Emerald Green on hand.

If you've not read Ruby Red do yourself a favor and pick it up as soon as possible! This is one of my very favorite series.

Doll Bones (audiobook review)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Doll Bones

Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 256
Source: audiobook from publisher
Read By: Nick Podehl
Audiobook Publisher: Listening Library
Length: 5 hours, 15 minutes

About the Book: Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . . (goodreads)

My Thoughts: This book was clearly a must read. Holly freaking Black. I read anything with her name on it... books she wrote, short story collections, books she blurbed, all the things. And then I got an email about the audiobook. Read by Nick Podehl. My favorite narrator reading a book by a favorite author? Sign me up! This was a great life choice. The story and the narration were superb. However, note to all my friends who read it and told me it wasn't that creepy: you severely underestimated my phobia of creepy old dolls. I know it's "middle grade scary" but it's Holly Black. Also, I've already overused italics and this is just the first paragraph. Just keep in mind that I really love the book :)

Here are my highlights:

*Friendship: I love a good story of friendship. Zach and Poppy and Alice are such a great trio. But being a trio can be hard... it's easy to sometimes have one person on the outside. I really loved how realistically this was all portrayed. It was interesting to see how the friendship changed as the story progressed.

*Zach: Oh how I loved him. First, I tend to read mostly books that follow a female POV so it's fun to get the thoughts and feelings of a male character. Second, his character was so authentic. Holly Black did such a great job writing him. My heart broke for him when his dad threw out all his guys (as my nephew would call them.) His reaction and the way he chooses to deal with it were spot on. And his confusion over the girls and the way they seem to be changing into something very alien to him... Come here Zach. Let me give you a hug and tell you it will all be okay!

*Imagination: Oh man. The main characters are all going to be writers or performers or something incredibly creative. I loved how much they played with their imaginations. It wasn't just getting together to watch TV. They made up their own stories that were so real to them!

*Creep Factor: Obviously this is a big part of the book. Doll Bones is a ghost story. At times it's subtle but it's always there. Wonderfully creepy and spooky, I was totally hooked on the ghost aspect. I mean, I'm pretty old dolls come to life at night and cause mischief anyway but a china doll made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl? Lock that thing up tight because it is coming after you.

*Real Life Issues that are not "Issues": I don't know if this makes sense but I loved the way that many real life issues that young teens deal with were a part of the story without being "An Issue." The characters are dealing with the changes that come with growing up. So, so much is going on when you're twelve... physically, emotionally, everything. We see this in the characters' lives without it getting in the way of the story.

Audiobook Notes: Again, Nick Podehl. Love his narration. He was perfect for Zach and did a great job with Poppy, Alice, and the other characters. The reading was well paced and never took me out of the story. I would say Podehl added to the authenticity of Zach as a character and totally nailed the creeptastic spooky bits. Perfect choice!

Basically I am a Holly Black fangirl for life. She is the plot master and writes incredibly compelling stories. Now I just need to get my hands on The Coldest Girl in Coldtown....

Blog Tour: Dare You To

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Katie McGarry's Dare You To. I was totally wowed by McGarry's Pushing the Limits so I'm thrilled to share more about Dare You To. There's a giveaway too! Read on!

About the Book:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BookDepository

Release: June 7th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

An emotionally-charged roller coaster ride that will keep you turning the pages well into the night, DARE YOU TO tells the story of seventeen-year-old Beth Risk, who finds her life turned upside down at the beginning of her senior year. Forced to leave the mother she’s always protected and the only friends she’s ever known, Beth must start over at a new school, in a new town, with an uncle she hasn’t seen in years.

The last thing she wants is to catch the eye of the town’s golden boy, popular jock Ryan Stone, who seems determined to win her over for all the wrong reasons. But when she discovers that Ryan has secrets of his own, Beth is drawn to him despite herself. Soon she’ll have to make a choice—between the past that beckons her back, and the life she never dreamed possible.

With PUSHING THE LIMITS, Harlequin TEEN introduced a singular new voice that continues to resonate with teens and adults alike. With DARE YOU TO, Katie McGarry cements her place as a master of contemporary young adult fiction.

About Katie McGarry - Goodreads | website | Facebook | Twitter

Katie was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of the full-length Young Adult novels PUSHING THE LIMITS and DARE YOU TO, and the e-novella CROSSING THE LINE. Her debut novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS, is a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and an RT Book Reviews 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel.

Writing has given Katie an excuse to pursue her passions. Research for her books has provided her with the amazing opportunity to train with baseball players, ride along in a drag car at ninety-six miles per hour and experience boxing and mixed martial arts. The most memorable moments for Katie are when she speaks to groups of teenagers about her research, writing and the truth that no dream is out of reach. Katie would love to hear from her readers.

Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, at Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Novels by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits (available now)

Crossing the Line (e-novella, available now)

Dare You To (available June 2013)

Crash Into You coming soon...

As part of the blog tour I have a song from the Dare You To playlist and an excerpt Katie McGarry selected that goes with it!

“Just a Dream” ~Nelly

Note: Follow the link on the video to watch it on youtube.

The firelight flickers against Ryan’s tan, giving his face a beautiful bronze glow. Gold shines in his hair. He’s gorgeous. Honestly he is, and he wants me to dance. Could this day get any worse?Ryan steps closer and flashes an all-knowing smile that makes him adorable and me weak. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again.The music changes from superfast to a bit slower. Its strong beat mimics the frantic pounding in my chest. Ryan rests a hand on my hip and his heat seeps into my skin and creeps into my bloodstream. “Dance with me, Beth.”“No.” I’m definitely learning impaired. I whispered the reply. I might as well have screamed yes. Ryan places his other hand on the small of my back and molds his strong body to mine. I inhale and welcome the scent of warm earth and summer rain. Ryan smells… delicious.“This works better if you touch me,” he says.I loosely lay my hands on his shoulders. My skin tingles. “I’m only doing this because I owe you.”“That’s okay.” On rhythm, Ryan moves his hips from side to side. His hand slides an inch lower and the gentle pressure he exerts on my thigh stirs my body to sway in time with his. Our feet never leave the ground, but, I swear, I’m flying.

Pretty great, right?!? Now for the giveaway! Actually, TWO giveaways! The first is for the chance win a either of Pushing the Limits or Dare You To. The second is unique Dare You To Grand Prize Package full of goodies, including an iPod nano, iTunes Gift Card, Baseball Jersey, Leather Bracelet and a copy of Pushing the Limits and Dare You To. US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Monday, April 29th – Bewitched Bookworms
Tuesday, April 30th - Harlequin Blog
Wednesday, May 1sh – The Irish Banana T
hursday, May 2nd – Review - Tyngas Reviews
Friday, May 3rd – Evie Bookish
Monday, May 6th - YA - Bibliophile
Tuesday, May 7th – Review - Real of Fiction
Wednesday, May 8th – Book Swarm
Thursday, May 9th – Review - Book Nook
Friday, May 10th – Alice Marvels
Monday, May 13th - Xpresso Reads
Tuesday, May 14th – Review - Chapter by Chapter
Wednesday, May 15th – Book and A Latte
Thursday, May 16th – Review - Blog Girl
Friday, May 17th – Supernatural Snark

Find Katie McGarry:

website | Katie McGarry on the HarlequinTEEN website
Follow her on Twitter
Like her on Facebook
Become a Fan on Goodreads

Find Dare You To and Pushing The Limits:

Dare You To: Goodreads | Amazon
Pushing The Limits : Goodreads | Amazon

Blog Tour: If I Should Die review

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Amy Plum's If I Should Die. Oh man, this series. I love this series. I reviewed Die for Me in my first year of blogging and it was one of the first e-galleys I remember freaking out about getting approved for! I was thrilled to be on the blog tour for Until I Die last year. It seemed perfect to get to finish the series up this way :)

Today I have my review of If I Should Die as well as a chance to win the the entire trilogy plus bookmarks! Please check out the official tour page to see guest posts, reviews, and excerpts. Also, more chances to win!

Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 405
Series: Revenants, book three
Source: ARC for blog tour

About the Book: I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

About the Author: Amy Plum is author of the International Bestsellers DIE FOR ME (an Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal), UNTIL I DIE, and digital novella DIE FOR HER. The final book in the series, IF I SHOULD DIE, will be released in May 2013.

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, Amy Plum escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward.

Amy managed to find work in the world of art and antiques in New York. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, she swapped her American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants.

After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She now lives in Paris with her two kids and big red dog Ella.

Visit Amy via her: Blog | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

My Thoughts: This was a very bittersweet book for me. I couldn't wait to see what would happen with Kate and Vincent (especially after the way Until I Die ended!!!!!) Still, it's the end of a trilogy I love for so many reasons! Thankfully it was a fabulous conclusion!

It's always hard to review a third book in a trilogy without giving away all the things. I find myself talking about the series in general rather than the specifics of the book I'm reviewing. In order to avoid that here are a few bullet points of things I loved about If I Should Die. (I'll refrain from going on and on and on about the series in general. Just know that I could!)

* Fast-paced. If I Should Die picks up right after Until I Die left us all hanging. The momentum is there from the beginning.

* More history! I'm a history geek with a penchent for fictional history. Is that weird? I just love learning more about the way people groups are shaped and evolve. You had better believe the Revenants and company have some pretty fascinating stories!

*Suspense. I just didn't know exactly what was going to happen next. I found myself holding my breath or getting goosebumps. I finished the book while at school and my coworker asked me with concern, "Are you okay? You look really flushed." Yep. Fine. Just caught up in the excitement of the story!

*Familiar. I loved getting to spend time with characters I'm familiar with after two books. Kate, Vincent, Jules, Ambrose, Charlotte... EVERYONE! And I just love the ways they interact together.

*Romance. I mean, it's set in Paris. There has to be romance, right? I like muy much. Especially seeing the way the different relationships develop. Also, Kate's grandparents? Cutest couple.

*Surprises!!! Oh, the surprises. I may have gasped a few times.

That seems a good place to stop or I'm in danger of letting something slip. Just read these books. I've loved them all.

Giveaway: Open internationally. Must be 13 or older to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (90)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday

The Dream Thieves

by Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Published by: Scholastic

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Oh man. Ohmanohmanohmanohman. I need this book in my lief STAT. LOVED The Raven Boys like crazycakes (November Cakes?) September, WHY ARE YOU SO FAR AWAY?!?!?!?

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:54:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature run by the lovely crew at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Words/Phrases that Make me Pick up a Book

1. Written by John Green: Obvs. Instabuy. No questions asked. This is true for so many other authors as well. The author is my main criteria for choosing a book.

2. Blurbed by Holly Black: Again, instabuy. Love her and every book I've read that she blurbed. I love finding new books/authors based on the recommendations of my favorites.

3. Alternate History: There are not enough of these! I am a history geek so I love a book where the author takes history and twists it.

4. Boarding School: Just cannot get enough of these. I NEVER would have wanted to go to one but I love the idea of it!

5. Southern Gothic: I just love an atmospheric story... especially set in the deep South.

6. London/Paris/Anywhere I wish to travel: Apparently setting is a bid deal for me!

7. Snarky/Witty/Sarcastic: Big clues I'm going to like the main characters.

8. Pride and Prejudice/Jane Austen: If a book is inspired by or based on any Jane Austen book I'm likely to snatch it up.

9. Mythology: Love my some Greek retellings/continuations.

10. Kissing: I. Am. So. Shallow.

The Program: Book Club AND Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:47:00 +0000

I am so excited to share today's post with you! Awhile back I got an email asking if I'd be interested in running a book club for Suzanne Young's The Program. I jumped at the chance! Simon and Schuster graciously provided copies of the book and bookmarks for each participant and a tote bag for me! Plus, they gave me a stipend to buy some yummy snacks! We had so much fun meeting and discussing the book. There was so much to talk about. But first, more about the book and author:

About the Book:

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

About the Author:

Suzanne Young currently lives in Tempe, Arizona, where she teaches high school English. When not writing obsessively, Suzanne can be found searching her own tragic memories for inspiration. She is the author of several books for teens, including The Program, A Need So Beautiful, and A Want So Wicked.

Visit the Official Site of The Program

Visit Suzanne Young’s Official Site
Follow Suzanne Young on Twitter

Our Book Club:

Not to brag but I'm part of a pretty awesome book club. The ladies that I get to meet with and talk about books are the best! I regret that we didn't get a group picture. I totally meant to but am lame and forgot. We just got to involved talking about the book! Most of our comments are spoilery since they center around secrets revealed! Here are some of the non-spoilery highlights:

* We all agreed that it was an engrossing read and most of us loved it. THe one person who was in the fence didn't dislike it but thought it was a bit depressing (I mean, teen suicide. Yeah. Understandable.)

* We had a couple different takes on what exactly happened at the end and what we think happens next. This was super fun to discuss. I have some very definite ideas about what I think happens and cannot wait to see if I am right!

* We can't decided who is on the cover. Before reading the book we thought it was Sloane and James and it lead to some predictions in the story. After reading it we're not so sure....

*The book is divided up in to sections. The page and chapter numbers started over in each section. As a reader this was very disconcerting. However, it totally makes sense with the story. Still, it drove me (and a number of other book clubers nuts!)

*There are so many talking points with The Program. A lot of what we talked about was "The Program" itself. Was it really helping or was it adding to the problem? How could people let it happen? Who is behind it all? Etc...

Okay, I'll stop there because I don't want to give anything away. On to the snacks! As I said, I was given some resources to buy/make snacks and goodies inspired by the book. Here is what I came up with:

I had so much fun putting it all together. Let's take a closer look. First, there's Diet Coke since it's mentioned a couple times. Also, in the back there are pretzel rods covered with white chocolate and yellow sprinkles. Pretzel rods are in the book as well :) I added the white chocolate and sprinkles to jazz them up and match the book! There are a number of different color pills mentioned in the book. I made note of each color and bought Jelly Belly jelly beans to represent each one. Also mentioned a number of times are orange cupcakes that one character shares with another. They come in packs of two and I took this to mean those orange Hostess cupcakes. Of course these are no longer in production so I had to make them myself! I found a recipe online and gave it my best shot!I think they turned out pretty cute.

I figured that was plenty to snack on so I spent the rest of the money putting together some goddy bags.

It's kind of hard to see but each box had the bookmark from the publisher, a paper medicine cup with one of each "pill" and a plastic ring like you get out of one of those quarter machines outside stores. I put yellow shredded paper inside to match the book and stamped a camera in yellow in the front. The camera is there to represent memories which are also central to the book.

Finally, I put together a basket with some items I felt connected to the story.

There was a deck of cards, more rings, nail polish, a photo frame, a pen with smiley faces and another cup of "pills." I won't explain all these since you need to read the book to find out what they mean! I had planned to give the stuff away at the meeting but we got to talking and it just didn't happen! Oh well, it was still a fun idea :)

Here's me showing off the book with the goodies and my yellow nails and scarf. When I commit to a theme, I commit!

Thanks to the ever wonderful Boswell Book Company for letting us meet and bring treats! Thanks to Erica for taking pics at the event!

So, that's our book club in a nutshell. Want to have your own? Use the rafflecopter below to enter to win FIVE copies of The Program and a $50 visa gift card to run your own book club! How cool is that?!?!?! Thanks Simon and Schuster! US only. Must be 13 or older to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: House of Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:59:00 +0000

I am thrilled to be the next stop on the blog tour for House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini. Check out a guest pist from Ned Vizzini as well as my review for this is highly enjoyable middle grade read!

About the Book:

The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult.

Suddenly the siblings find themselves launched on an epic journey into a mash-up world born of Kristoff’s dangerous imagination, to retrieve a dark book of untold power, uncover the Walker family’s secret history and save their parents . . . and maybe even the world.

Guest Post: MG vs. YA: Words You Can Use and Words You Can't

“Middle grade” fiction was not a term I remember growing up. I saw the progression of reading as follows:

Picture books
Dr. Seuss
Encyclopedia Brown (which I never got right, not once)
Hardy Boys Books
Chapter Books
”Books for Teens”
Grown-Up Books

Admittedly this is a male-skewing hierarchy, and one heavily influenced by the publishing trends of the 1980s and 1990s. But I think it accurately reflects the reading trajectory of readers today, and what qualifies as “middle grade” is everything from Encyclopedia Brown to “Chapter Books,” which for me covers great adventure stories like Narnia and Redwall.

I loved these books because

they had great voices (there are few narrators more comforting and avuncular than C.S. Lewis)
they had creepy characters (Cluny the Scourge!)
they had gut-wrenching situations (On My Honor)

But there was one more thing I really loved about middle-grade books: they had words I needed to look up. This was always a thrill for me. I was into words from a young age. When I was 11, I told my mother I wanted to be an etymologist when I grew up. (She told me, “That's not a real job.”) Whenever I found a word I didn't know in a book, I always looked it up, starting with the Redwall book Mattimeo where I got the word “corpse” (a dead body) confused with “copse” (a stand of trees) and really messed myself up. (How are they all hiding inside a dead corpse?) Later on I made a name for myself with young-adult fiction, so when Chris Columbus and I sold House Of Secrets to a publisher for the middle-grade market, I wasn't sure what to expect.

Here's what I learned:

You can't use the same kind of language in middle-grade. As in, you need to be careful with words like “freaking” and “crap.” Considering all the words I got away with in Be More Chill, this was an adjustment.

You can't have people get decapitated in middle-grade. Getting killed by a falling bell (Redwall) is okay. Getting sacrificed on a stone table is okay. But the decapitation in House of Secrets got turned into a stabbing.

You can still use big words. This was the part that made me most happy. House of Secrets has words in it like “Himalayan” (for “really big”) and “luminescence” (“light produced by low-temperature emission”). I can only hope that middle-graders like me will look up the words inside it.

The himalayan "Fat Jagger"

Bio: Ned Vizzini is the bestselling author of the acclaimed young-adult books The Other Normals, It's Kind of a Funny Story (also a major motion picture), Be More Chill, and Teen Angst? Naaah.... In television, he has written for ABC's Last Resort and MTV's Teen Wolf. His essays and criticism have appeared in the New York Times, the Daily Beast, and Salon. He is the co-author, with Chris Columbus, of the fantasy-adventure series House of Secrets. His work has been translated into ten languages. He lives in Los Angeles.
My Thoughts: What a ride! House of Secrets hits the ground running and doesn't stop. My middle schoolers are going to love that! I loved that!
In House of Secrets we meet the Walker siblings. They just move to a new house when everything goes crazy. Magic and mayhem ensue. The Walker's find themselves separated from their parents in an unfamiliar land. I loved getting to know the siblings and seeing how they interact with each other and the new characters they meet. Actually, it reminded me a bit of the things I loved about Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Each sibling looks at the world their in and the situations they find themselves in a bit differently.
And boy do they find themselves in some situations! Danger, action, mystery, adventure... it's all there. Even a tiny bit of romance! This book is sure to be a hit with readers, especially those who love getting swept up in an adventure!

Undone Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Today I have an excerpt for you from Elizabeth Norris' e-novella Undone. Her first book, Unraveling came out last year. Unbreakable, book two in the series released just this week! Undone takes place before, during, and between the two books. Here's more about each one:

Unraveling
Two days before the start of her junior year, Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from school Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And though it isn't possible, she knows with every fiber of her being that Ben somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

Undone (a novella)
Available electronically, Undone contains three stories from Ben’s point of view. One story is a prequel to Unraveling, where readers get a chance to find out more about Ben. Another story is set during Unraveling, as Ben realizes he loves Janelle. A third story is set in between Unraveling and Unbreakable.

Unbreakable
In bookstores and e-retailers on April 23^rd, Unbreakable takes place four months after Unraveling concludes. Janelle is determined to stop dwelling on the events in Unraveling by solving a new mystery: while everyone is trying to rebuild their lives, people are starting to disappear without a trace. Soon one of Janelle’s close friends goes missing too. Then Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay reappears to tell Janelle that Ben needs her help, because Ben is a prime suspect behind the people vanishing. If Ben does not come forward in five days, his imprisoned family faces execution for his alleged human trafficking activities….

And now for the excerpt! Enjoy :)

PROLOGUE

Certain moments in my life are imprinted in my memory.

They’re easy to recall with perfect clarify whether I want to remember them or not. Any small thing can trigger them: a phrase, a smell, a thought. It brings everything back like I’m reliving that moment, a brief scene in the movie of my life, complete with how horrible I felt at the time. And I usually felt horrible in those moments, because for some reason it’s the moments that I want to forget that stick around.

Like in eighth grade when I had my first kiss with Jane Sheriden and my arm got stuck awkwardly between her head and couch: just thinking about it still makes me cringe. Or when Ms. Wittak caught me cheating in Algebra freshman year because I’d saved the formulas I needed to remember in a fake game on my graphing calculator, and she tore up my test in front of the whole class.

Then there were memories that were more significant.

The pivotal moments that changed everything.

Those I don’t want to forget. Now that I’ve had too much time to think about them, to replay them over and over again in my mind, they’re the things I wouldn’t take back, that I wouldn’t do over.

Because of Janelle.

She saved my life when we were ten. She anchored me by being who she was, and somewhere along the line, I fell in love with her.

In just about every significant moment in my life, she’s there. Whether she knew it or not.

Find Elizabeth Norris online at:

ElizabethNorrisBooks.com

LizNorris.blogspot.com

Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads and Pinterest

The Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

A Mutiny in Time

Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Pages: 192
Series: The Infinity Ring, book one
Source: Library

About the Book: Scholastic's next multi-platform mega-event begins here! History is broken, and three kids must travel back in time to set it right!

When best friends Dak Smyth and Sera Froste stumble upon the secret of time travel -- a hand-held device known as the Infinity Ring -- they're swept up in a centuries-long secret war for the fate of mankind. Recruited by the Hystorians, a secret society that dates back to Aristotle, the kids learn that history has gone disastrously off course.Now it's up to Dak, Sera, and teenage Hystorian-in-training Riq to travel back in time to fix the Great Breaks . . . and to save Dak's missing parents while they're at it. First stop: Spain, 1492, where a sailor named Christopher Columbus is about to be thrown overboard in a deadly mutiny! (goodreads)
My Thoughts: So. Much. Fun. The Infinity Ring series is a great blend of history, action, and adventure. It's set up a bit like the 39 Clues series. Each book in the series is written by a different author and there is an online element that enhances the story. I love this because it gets my "I don't like to read" students interested and then all of the sudden they're reading! Plus it's just fun :)

We learn in A Mutiny in Time that something in history went horribly wrong. The world that the main characters (Dak and Sera) live in is very similar to our world but slightly different. A somewhat sinister group basically runs the world. They orchestrated "breaks" in history. This means that they changed major events which then changed the course of the world. Dak and Sera have to travel back in time to fix these breaks. Of course they don't know what the breaks are! In their world the "right" thing never happened. I really enjoyed seeing the ways that history was reworked in a believable way and the outcome it could have had. I'm a history geek so I just liked the history aspect in general!

This series is one that has already proven popular in my LMC. Now that I've read the first one I can't wait to talk about the series with my students!

The Moon and More

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:59:00 +0000

The Moon and More

Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Pages: 384
Source: ARC borrowed from friend

About the Book: Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. (goodreads)
My Thoughts: I know this book is still a bit over a month away but I just can't hold it in any longer! I enjoyed it so much and I just want the world to know! Also, Sarah Dessen is signing at Anderson's Bookshop tonight and I can't wait to see her!

There were so many reasons I was excited for The Moon and More. I mean, other than the fact that it's simply a Sarah Dessen book! First of all we get to go back to Colby. I live in Wisconsin so beach towns aren't prevalent around me. I think this is one of the reasons I enjoy books set at the beach so much! Also, I just love Colby. Going back there is like visiting an old friend. Isn't that they beauty of a new Sarah Dessen book? You get the exciting adventure of meeting new characters. You also get to revisit the familiar and "check in" with characters and places you already know and love.

Okay, back to the other reasons I couldn't wait to read this one... a documentary film (love those!), a reclusive artist, and a girl getting ready to leave the world she's grown up in and head to college. So many elements that I enjoy. And as always, I was excited to meet the newest "Dessen boys!" Sarah always writes the best love interests. However, in The Moon and More the romantic relationships really took a back seat for me. And I'm not gonna lie, I loved it!

Don't get me wrong, I adore all of Sarah's books. However, when I think of Just Listen I think of Annabel and Owen. When I think of The Truth About Forever I think of Macy and Wes. When I think about The Moon and More I think about Emaline. What really sticks out to me is how Emaline grew as a character and how her views on life, love, and her future are altered in relation to her life experiences. She loves her home, her family, and her friends but sees that she has choices. Living in a small beach town makes her feel a bit closed in. At the same time she is afraid of losing it all. Yes, she wants more. But does that mean she has to let go of all she already has? This inner struggle really resonated with me. I remember panicking about the very same thing right before leaving for college.

I know this review is getting a bit on the long side but I can't not mention Emaline's friends and family. Those are the relationships that really stole the show for me. They were so well written. Emaline isn't perfect and she makes some mistakes over the course of the summer (as we all have!) I loved the ways in which these things affected her relationships with others. You can see the people who really care for her. They aren't threatened by her "coming into her own" so to speak. I think it's refreshing for teens (and really any reader) to see this.

Basically you need to read The Moon and More and I'm a terrible person for gushing about it when it isn't out until June 4th. Sorry. But it's that good. To make up for it I'm giving away a signed copy of the new What Happened to Goodbye paperback.

Also, if you preorder The Moon and More from Anderson's Bookshop you get a super awesome gift back! Along with the book you get a poster, Colby Sticker, necklace, and signed bookplate!

To order from Anderson's call 630-355-2665 OR you can order online. When you order online you should note that you are preordering to get the gift pack in the comments section of the order (These instructions are per Anderson's staff.) There is a charge for shipping.

Giveaway: Use the rafflecopter below to enter to win a signed paperback of What Happened to Goodbye. US only. Must be 13 or older.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life After Theft

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:03:00 +0000

Life After Theft

Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Pages: 352
Source: e-galley from Edelweiss.
Prequel e-novella: One More Day

About the Book: Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel. (goodreads)
My Thoughts: I'm a fan of Aprilynne's Wings series so I was super excited when I saw Life After Theft available on Edelweiss. I downloaded it to my nook and started it at the gym that night. Life After Theft was the perfect workout read! Fun and well paced. I finished it in two days (with adding to my elliptical time and just a little cheating by reading at home!)

One of the things I most enjoyed about this book is the male narrator. Judging by the cover I totally expected a girl (and, unfortunately I think this cover will turn away my middle school boys who would really enjoy the story!) I was pleasantly surprised to meet Jeff. And yes, I know the description talks about Jeff but I didn't read it right before starting the book and apparently forgot.

Back on topic... Jeff. He was so fun! I liked his humor and his commentary on his new school and classmates. The snarky way that he and Kimberlee interact and needle each other kept me smiling (even through my workout!) As a middle school teacher I would say he is a great representation of a teenaged boy!

The story itself was interesting. I had no familiarity with The Scarlet Pimpernel until after I re-read the book summary and looked it up. I can definitely see the connections! I liked that there were some more serious undertones to the story that the reader discovers as we learn more about Kimberlee and her past. On that note, the prequel novella One More Day gives the reader an even greater look in to what makes Kimberlee tick. I didn't read it until after Life After Theft and am actually glad I waited. It's not spoilery but I liked how it made me reflect on the book as well.

Humor, a bit of romance, a klepto ghost and a male narrator make Life After Theft a great read. It's exactly what I was looking for.

Code Name Verity (audiobook review)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Code Name Verity

Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 15, 2012
Pages: 343
Source: Purchased audiobook and hardcover
Read By: Morven Christie & Lucy Gaskell
Audiobook Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
Length: 10 hours, 7 minutes

About the Book: Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. (goodreads)
My Thoughts: Incredible. Simply incredible. I finished Code Name Verity the night before I'm writing this and I can't... I just can't. It had such a profund impact on me. I was a wreck when I finished reading it. A sobbing emotional wreck. And even now, twenty-four hours later, as I sit here and try to marshal thoughts I am tearing up. I simply cannot put everything I'm thinking together without spoiling your reading experience or breaking down again. So I won't. This is not going to be a typical review. I'm giving you a few general thoughts and reactions

* The audiobook was simply amazing. Amazing. Amazing!!! Like, I can not stress this enough. The narration was perfect. I think the fact that I listened to it added to the experience. The readers were the characters in the book. Queenie and Maddie were so incredibly real to me. I had to keep reminding myself that these were people reading a fictional story, not actual recordings of historical figures. Man, I love these girls.

* Typically when I am listening to an audiobook and I love it as much as I loved this one I get a physical copy and just read to the end. I did buy a hardcover part way through the story. I knew I'd want it on my shelf. And I did open it to where I was listening and begin to read. But I didn't read ahead. I did something I haven't done since I don't even know when. I sat listening to the audio and following along in the book. Something about the story made it so I had to follow along to see if I was really hearing what I thought I was hearing. Seeing the words as "Maddie" said them... it just added to the story for me.

* On a related note, I really had to process the story. Like, I would hear something and then it would really sink in a few minutes later and tears would just start streaming down my face. And every time I thought I had myself together I'd start all over again. I cry all the time in books but not like this.

* The only other books that have ever had me this broken up were The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington. All very different books but, goodness, they got me.

* What a superbly crafted story. Elizabeth Wein is a steller storyteller. I would love to go on and on and on about this. I was so engrossed in every nuance of Queenie and Maddie's stories. I don't want to give a single thing away so I'll leave it at that. Just be prepared to be impressed.

* I loved the ways that the two narrators tell us the story. I love how we get to meet the other characters and see them through the eyes of whomever is talking at the moment. And I love, love, love the way that Maddie and Queenie talk about one another.

*The friendship between these girls. All the love. I just want to draw hearts all around their story. It was so, so beautiful.

And really that's what I want you to know. Code Name Verity is a beautiful story of friendship and courage. There are so mant other facets to it but that, that is what touched my heart and soul. I have to stop now as I am getting weepy all over again. This is a book and a reading experience I will never forget.

Top Ten Series I Love but am Behind On

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature run by the lovely crew at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Series I Love but am Behind On

There are so many series that I love, love, love but am one or more books behind on! Here are some of the ones I need to get to!

1. The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare: I went to the release party for this one and everything! I just know how Cassandra Clare likes to RIP MY HEART OUT so I've been holding off!

2. The Body Finder: The Last Echo (and on)by Kimberly Derting: My students and I love these books. I really need to get to this one but it's basically always on loan to a student.

3. Shades of London: The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson: I have a really lame reason for this one... I'm a baby. Seriously. I need a day when I have nothing planned so I can read it in the morning and then read something that won't make me have to sleep with the lights on afterwards!

4. Hex Hall: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins: Basically I was in denial over the series being over. However, now I have School Spirits so I can read this one!

5. Morganville Vampires: Fade Out (and everything after!) by Rachel Caine: I came to these books late in the game but really enjoy them. After reading the first one I went out and bought all the rest! I'm slowly but surely making my way through the series.

6. Gallagher Girls: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter: Also, Heist Society: Perfect Scoundrels. I love Ally's books so much. They're so fun and I always feel good after reading them. Why am I not caught up?!?!

7. Raised by Wolves: Trial by Fire (and on) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I've loved everything I've read by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Raised by Wolves was actually the first of her books I read. It's one of my all time favorite werewolf books. SUCH a slacker to have not read the others!

8. Ruby Red: Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier: I am terrible. I adored book one and was so excited to get Sapphire Blue for review. Yet I never picked it up. What is wrong with me?!?!

9. The Montmaray Journals: The FitzOsbornes at War by Michelle Cooper: While I thought A Brief History of Montmaray was a bit slow, things really picked up in The FitzOsbornes in Exile. I remember dying for The FitzOsbornes at War. Yet, have I read it? No! Fail!!

10. Under the Never Sky: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi: Oh man. Perry. I love him. Under the Never Sky really surprised me with how much I loved it. I cannot believe I haven't read this one yet! Worst. Fangirl. Ever.

What about you? What series do you love but are behind on? Are you like me and pre-order the book but don't get around to reading it? Or are you a call-in sick-and-read-it-right-now type?

Beautiful Darkness (audiobook review)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Beautiful Darkness

Authors: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: Oct. 12, 2012
Pages: 503
Series: Caster Chronicles, two
Source: purchased hardcover and audiobook
Read by: Kevin T. Collins
Audiobook Publisher: Hachette Audio
Length: 15 hours, 56 min

About the Book: Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems. (goodreads)
My Thoughts: I read Beautiful Creatures back in 2009 and immediately fell in love. I adored the atmospheric feel of the story. I felt like I was there. I have no idea what took me so long to read book two. I think it's because it came out about the time I first got in to blogging and I went a little crazy thinking I needed to read all the new books that everyone else was blogging about. Anyway, thank goodness for students who fall in love with series and make me read them so we can discuss! Seriously. They've got me caught up on so many series!

Random digression over. On to Beautiful Darkness. I feel like this is a review where I have to talk about the audio aspect in with my thoughts because I can't really separate them. I think I'm in the minority when I say I didn't really care for the audio. It wasn't terrible. I really liked that the "Seventeen Moons" song was sung. Actually, it's still stuck in my head! The pacing was pretty great too. There were two main things that kept pulling me out of the story.

1. The background noises. It turns out I really don't like sound effects in an audiobook. Rain falling, doors creaking, etc... really jars me out of my listening groove. The sound effects used in this audiobook were appropriate to the mood and time used but I just wasn't feeling it.

2. Ethan's dialog voice. This one is kind of confusing. When Ethan is thinking or telling the story to us I have no problem with his voice. I actually like it. However, when he is speaking to another character in the book he has a very distinct southern drawl. Now, I have nothing against a southern drawl. Heck, I even like them. I just could not get past Ethan actually having two separate voices. Again, it pulled me from the story.

Overall I liked the book. It didn't quite have the same Southern gothic feel that I adored about the first one but that is understandable. The setting was set in the first book. Perhaps I would have felt it more had I read it closer to Beautiful Creatures. I did enjoy the twists and surprises in the plot and will certainly continue with the series. Because, I mean, ETHAN! I love him. I just don't think I'll be listening to the others on audio.

Here's a different opinion on the audiobook style from Andye at Reading Teen (It's for the audio of Beautiful Creatures but it's the same idea! She loved it!)

In My Mailbox (88)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

In My Mailbox

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.

More fun books!

For review:

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris Thanks to Balzar and Bray!

Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris Thanks to Balzar and Bray!

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood Thanks to Putnam!

Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes Thanks to Berkley!

Purchased:

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (I'm listening to the audiobook of this right now. It's so amazing I knew I had to get the book.)

Dark Triumph by Robin LeFevers (Saw her at a book signing last Sunday!)

I almost forgot!

The Program by Suzanne Young

The ladies in my book club were each sent a copy of this one and we're discussing it next week. I also got a tote bag plus bookmarks for everyone in the book club. I'll be making snacks inspired by the book. Sometime in the last week of April I'll be posting about our book club, the snacks, and there will be a giveaway so that you can run your own book club! How fun is that?!? Thanks to Simon and Schuester!