YA bibliophile

Legend

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Legend

Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: Nov. 29, 2011
Pages: 305
Series: Legend, book one
Source: ARC from BEA, purchased finished copy and audiobook

About the Book: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

My Thoughts: I. am. a. fool. Why did I not devour this book when I got a copy at BEA last year?!?! It was the book that everyone was talking about. I even loaned it to my friend Jillian and she raved about it. I totally trust her recommendations. Again, why did I not read it?!? Okay, enough self recriminations. On to the book...

I listened to this one on audiobook. The book itself has dual narrators (LOVE!) so I was pleased that there were two audiobook narrators: Steven Kaplan and Mariel Stern. They did a wonderful job giving voice to Day and June.

I just did not want this book to end. The set-up had me hooked. As I learned more about Day, June, and the Republic in general so many more questions arose. I wanted to know all the things right now! At the same time, I loved the build up and secrecy. I'm really looking forward to where the clues and loose ends will take us in Prodigy and any future books.

Don't be like me!!! Rush out and get a copy of this one ASAP. Trust me. You cannot wait to meet Day and June and to learn more about their world.

In My Mailbox (62)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 05:00:00 +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.

This weeks IMM is brought to you by the fabulous April from Good Books and Good Wine. She was Kind enough to loan me the audiobook of Changeling by Philippa Gregory! Perfect timing April! I'm headed down to Naperville to see a group of awesome romance authors today and know that the audiobook I have been listening to will end! Can't wait to start Changeling on the way home!

image from Simon & Schustere website

Dreamless Blog Tour: Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Josephine Angelini's Dreamless! You guys! I am so excited to be on this tour. I was on a tour for Starcrossed when it came out and just loved it! It's so fun to get to promote book two as well. You can check out the official blog tour post over at Mundie Moms. They're such great tour hosts! Also, follow along on Twitter by following @Josieangelini and using the #DreamlessDays hashtag.

I have a treat for you today! It's a spoiler free excerpt from Dreamless! Before we get there let's take a look at the book.

About the Book: Helen needs to get through hell in two ways: by night they reflected the underworld, even worse torments her day that Lucas and they may possibly love. In the underworld, Helen meets Orion. The more time they spend together, the closer they come to. Then something totally unexpected happens, the forces calculated for holding and Lucas Orion: The four houses are combined and Scion, a new Trojan war seems inevitable!

Browse inside at Harper Teen

Official Dreamless Playlist

Don't miss Starcrossed! Get the e-book:

And now, for the brief but totally swoon-worthy excerpt:

"I already told you. I"m in this with you to the end, no matter what."
"I was hoping you'd say that," she whispered, smiling up at him gratefully.

If I wasn't already totally excited for Dreamless I'd read it just to find out more about the situation this excerpt is from!

The super awesome Josephine Angelini is also hosting a giveaway! You could win a kindle with a Dreamless or Starcrossed skin on it! These covers are so pretty. Either one would look great.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, how cute is Josephine Angelini?!? (Also, Amy Plum!)

Josephine Angelini, me, Amy Plum

Keep Holding On

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Keep Holding On

Author: Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: May 31, 2012
Pages: 224
Source: e-galley from publisher via NetGalley

About the Book: A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.

My Thoughts: This is a book I will definitely be buying for my middle school library. I think my students will love the romance and the high school setting. I love that they'll be getting a look at bullying from the perspective of a teen living through it.

Keep Holding On is told from Noelle's perspective. We don't get a whole lot of detail about the past. Also, we don't see every second of every day. Instead it's really more of glimpses of what Noelle is thinking about and going through at the time. When things from the past affect her in the moment we learn more about them. I think this will keep my students interested. They are very "in the moment" as well :)

Noelle is dealing with so many issues... bullying, self image, and parental neglect to name a few. It was a lot to take in but I felt it was handled in such a way that it won't overwhelm the readers. I can see many of my students identifying with different aspects of what Noelle is going through. Noelle grows and become stronger throughout the story. This is something I like for my students to see.

Keep Holding On is a great read for any teen, whether or not they are dealing with bullying. I know I'll be recommending it like crazy once it arrives for my middle school library.

Waiting on Wednesday (59)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday

Venom

by Fiona Paul

Release Date: October 3, 2012

Published by: Philomel

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, access to the best balls, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

But when Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of secret societies, courtesans, and killers. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

A book set in Renaissance Venice? Heck yeah! After reading a brief excerpt from Venom I cannot wait to get my hands on it!! Plus, the cover looks super great!

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 29 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Author: Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Pages: 416
Series: Steampunk Chronicles, book two
Source: e-gally from publisher through netgalley

About the Book: In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

My Thoughts: The Girl in the Steel Corset was one of the first steampunk books I read. It was a wonderful introduction to the genre and just a good book in general. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is a great addition to the series. I enjoyed it just as much as book one, if not more.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar picks up shortly after book one ended. Finley, Griffin, Emily, and Sam are on a dirigible headed to New York. They're on their way to try and help Jasper. As much as I adored the steampunk London setting of book one it was fun to get to see a steampunk version of New York City too. I really liked how we get both the posh society that Griffin has access to as a duke and the seedy areas where the gangs rule.

And oh the delicious romantic tension! Finley and Griffin, Sam and Emily, Jasper and Mei! I loved it all! I'm particularly fond of the dynamics of Finley and Griffin's relationship. He's a duke. She's a commoner. Add in their "special abilities" and it becomes even more complicated. And of course there is the Jack Dandy factor as well! Like I said, delicious.

I could go on and on but I fear you'd get sick of reading. A quick list of a few things I loved that I just HAVE to mention:
*Multiple narrators (Finley, Griffin, Jasper)
*Tesla!
*I love that Finley is a tough girl but oh man can she be reckless!
*Emily... she is just awesome. I love her spirit!

Basically you just need to read the book! The Girl in the Clockwork Collar a delightful blend of action, adventure, mystery, romance, and invention with a wonderful steampunk backdrop. I didn't want it to end.

The Nightmare Garden

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 28 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

The Nightmare Garden

Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Publication Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Pages: 417
Series: The Iron Codex, book two
Source: Purchased audiobook

About the Book: Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.

My Thoughts: I listened to and reviewed book one, The Iron Thorn, back in October. I was so excited to get back in to the world Caitlin Kittredge created and spend some more time with the wonderful characters. Plus, the audiobooks are so well done and such a pleasure to listen to. I love the narration!

The action in this book never stopped. Aoife and her friends are on a desperate quest to save the Iron Lands (our world) from the havoc Aoife has released by destroying the Lovecraft engine. I loved being introduced to new lands and characters.

Before listening to this story I had been in a bit of an audiobook slump. This one had me totally engrossed in the story. I couldn't get enough. A few times I had to turn it off until I was not driving because I was afraid I'd get distracted!

There was a brief moment at the end of the book where I thought I was going to scream. Okay, I actually did scream. No way did what I think just happened happen. If it did I was done. I could not read any more! Turns out what I thought happened did but I should have trusted the author because she handled it in such a way that I am dying for book three!

The Iron Codex books are not to be missed. The world, the characters, the adventure... I just loved it all!

In My Mailbox (61)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:52:00 +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.

I didn't receive any books in the mail this week. I didn't buy any either! However, I always forget to share the books I got through NetGalley. I thought I'd show you the ones coming out in June.

June 5: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo from Henry Holt and Co.

I've already read and raved about this one! DO NOT MISS IT!

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

June 12: Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson from Random House Children's Books

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

June 14: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick from Dial Books for Young Readers

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another
“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

June 19: Something Like Normal by Trish Dollar from Bloomsbury USA

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

June 26: Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel from Random House Children's Books

Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she’s never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone, when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west" (California).
Along the way she meets Jack a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there’s also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate.

I'm super excited to dive in to all of these! Thanks so much to all the publishers :)

Dark Parties: Author Interview

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome! YA Bibliophile is the next stop on the blog tour for Sara Grant's Dark Parties! Today I have an author interview and a giveaway for you! First, a bit about Dark Parties and Sara Grant:

Dark Parties: Sixteen-year-old Neva was born and raised in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. Hundreds of years ago, her country constructed an electrified dome to protect itself from the outside world. What once might have protected, now imprisons. Her country is decaying and its citizens are dying.
Neva and her friends dream of freedom.
A forbidden party leads to complications. Suddenly Neva’s falling for her best friend's boyfriend, uncovering secrets that threaten to destroy her friends, her family and her country -- and discovering the horrifying truth about what happens to The Missing. . .

Bio: Sara Grant was born and raised in Washington, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with degrees in journalism and psychology, and later she earned a master’s degree in creative and life writing Goldsmiths College, University of London. Sara is senior commissioning editor for Working Partners, a London-based company creating series fiction for children. She has worked on ten different series and edited more than 75 books. Dark Parties is her first young adult novel.

Author Interview:

YA Bibliophile: I read in your bio that you have a degree in psychology. Did that come in to play at all when you were writing Dark Parties?

Sara Grant: Understanding – or at least observing – human behavior plays a fundamental role in developing characters. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University, but I think my life experiences have a bigger influence on my characters than any scholarly study.

YAB: Speaking of college, if you could design your own degree that was made up of any kinds of courses that you wanted what might it have looked like?

SG: I love learning. While I was attending Indiana University for my bachelor’s and Goldsmith’s College for my master’s, there were so many more classes I wanted to take. If I had endless money and time, I think I would never stop taking classes. The quirkier the better. Classes and seminars are always a great source of inspiration. Subjects that might not initially seem interesting can end up generating the best ideas. So my own degree would be an eclectic mix of everything from archaeology to forensic pathology from the history of rock ‘n’ roll to philosophy and everything in between.

YAB: Do you have any writing rituals or steps you need to follow when working on a project?

SG: I try not to be too precious about my writing time. I try to write whenever and wherever I can. I find some of my most productive writing is on planes, trains, boats, etc…. Sometimes shaking up my writing time and location helps inspire me.

YAB: If you could travel to the world(s) of any book(s) you’ve read where would you want to go?

SG: I hate to avoid the question, but the truth is…there’s no place like home. Also I tend to read lots of dystopian novels – so I definitely wouldn’t want to go to any of those settings. I love murder mysteries and thrillers. Most of those locations prove they aren’t too friendly to tourists. I recently took an amazing vacation in the Maldives. For a week I was on this really small island in a hut over the ocean. I may have to use it as a setting for a future novel just so I can go back there!

YAB: What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

SG: I’ve only recently discovered Libba Bray. I read Going Bovine and Beauty Queens last year. The books are wild and imaginative and layered. As soon as I finished them, I wanted to go back and read them again because there was simply too much to appreciate in one reading.

Thanks so much to Sara for taking the time to answer my interview questions. I too am a fan of all things Libba Bray! Also, I wouldn't want to visit any of the dystopian settings I read about either! No fears about avoiding that question!

Check out the full tour here!

And now for the giveaway... I have another of the book-inspired necklaces to give away!

There is only a week to enter so do so ASAP! US only. Must be 13 years or older to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ruby Red

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date:
Pages: 324
Series: Edelstein Trilogy, book one
Source: Bought for my school library

About the Book: Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the eighteenth century and in contemporary London, they can trust. (goodreads)

My Thoughts: I had heard a lot of good things about this book but I never picked it up. I'm not really sure why. I didn't really have a clue what it was about. Then I saw the cover to the next book Sapphire Blue and the new cover for Ruby Red:

They had me intrigued. I had some time the other day at work and so I picked Ruby Red up off the shelf to read a couple chapters. I couldn't put it down! I was immediately sucked in to Gwen's world. Everything I found out had me wanting to learn more and more and more.

I mean, just the idea that there is a gene or something in a person's blood that determines their ability to time travel is so cool! To make this idea even more awesome there is a prophecy, secret societies, family secrets, and mystery. There is even a bit of romance (which I hope to see explored more in books two and three!)

I think what I found most surprising was that with all the dramatic elements of the book there was still quite a bit of humor. Gwen is a teenage girl. She is dealing with a somewhat crazy family, school life, and an unforeseen ability to time travel. I loved her wry comments. Also, her best friend Lesley was a great addition to the cast of characters. The way she suggests movies to learn more about any topic cracked me up.

Basically you just need to read this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. It is certainly one I'll be purchasing for my personal collection. Now I just have to figure out how to be patient while waiting for book two!

Waiting on Wednesday (58)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday

Miracle

by Elizabeth Scott

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Published by: Simon Pulse

Megan survived the plane crash—but can she survive the aftermath? An intense, emotional novel from the author ofThe Unwritten Rule and Between Here and Forever.Megan is a miracle. At least, that’s what everyone says. Having survived a plane crash that killed everyone else on board, Megan knows she should be grateful just to be alive. But the truth is, she doesn’t feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn’t feel anything at all. Then memories from the crash start coming back. Scared and alone, Megan doesn’t know whom to turn to. Her entire community seems unable—or maybe unwilling—to see her as anything but Miracle Megan. Everyone except for Joe, the beautiful boy next door with a tragic past and secrets of his own. All Megan wants is for her life to get back to normal, but the harder she tries to live up to everyone’s expectations, the worse she feels. And this time, she may be falling too fast to be saved....

Elizabeth Scott. Enough said. She is a must read author for me!

Of Poseidon

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Of Poseidon

Author: Anna Banks
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Pages: 324
Series: Of Poseidon, book one
Source: e-galley from NetGalley

About the Book: Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk. (goodreads)

My Thoughts: So, you've probably noticed that there are a slew of books coming out featuring mermaids. I've been really interested in trying one out. Of Poseidon was a great place to start. (Please don't tell Galen I lumped him in with "mermaids!" I know he's Syrena!!!)

Of Poseidon starts in the middle of a scene. Emma has walked face first in to a really good looking guy (who turns out to be Galen.) I like how we are introduced to Emma through this. It's typical Emma... a bit clumsy and a bit embarrassing. That seems to be how it always goes for her. She's not entirely comfortable in her skin. As the story progresses the reader realizes that this is likely because of her "Gift" (mentioned in the summary.)

There is a lot of tension in this story. Tension between Emma and her mother. Tension between those "of Poseidon" and those "of Triton." Tension between Galen and those who believe he spends too much time with humans. And of course, the romantic tension between Emma and Galen. That last one was my favorite!

One of my favorite parts of the story was watching as Galen and the other Syrena who are spending time with humans learn more about human life. It was fun to see their take on pop culture and the customs of a typical American teenager. I also really liked the science aspect of the story. We get a look at what physically makes a Syrena different from humans.

The ending, while a bit predictable, is a total cliffhanger. I was NOT ready for the book to end. I have SO many questions that I still need answered! I'm looking forward to more in book two.

Of Poseidon is a fun summer read. Can't wait? Get a taste from the chapter sampler here! Also, check out the Fierce Reads facebook page to see if Anna is coming to a bookstore near you! I know I can't wait to get my book signed in Naperville :)

Dark Frost: Author Q&A

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Today I am pleased to welcome Jennifer Estep to the blog! I've devoured every one of the Mythos Academy books. Dark Frost, book three in the series, comes out May 29!

Here's a little bit about the Mythos Academy books from Jennifer's website:

The Mythos Academy books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s magic lets her see everyone who has ever touched or used an object as well as feel their emotions — the good, the bad, and the ugly.After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen finds herself shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendents of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and more. The academy is located in the fictional suburb of Cypress Mountain, North Carolina, and the kids there are training how to use their magic and various skills to fight Reapers of Chaos. The Reapers are some seriously bad guys who want to free the evil god Loki from his mystical prison so Loki can take over the world and enslave everyone.Gwen doesn’t think that she belongs at the academy or that she’s any kind of warrior, but she’s wrong — and she’s a lot stronger than she realizes.

And now for the interview...

YA Bibliophile: I'm a sucker for any type of mythology. With all the different mythologies worked in the Mythos Academy books they are such a treat! What made you decided to incorporate multiple mythologies instead of focusing on one culture's?

Jennifer Estep: Thanks. I’m glad you are enjoying the mythology in the books. I really like mythology-based stories, but it seems like most of them only focus on one type of mythology. There are so many interesting gods, goddesses, warriors, creatures, and stories in mythology, and I just thought it would be fun to write a story with a world that was a little more open-ended and include more than one type of mythology in it. That way, I could use bits and pieces from different mythologies. So that’s what I did with the Mythos Academy series.

YAB: Even with all the crazy things that go down at Mythos Academy it seems like such an awesome school! Whenever I read about boarding schools I totally regret my boring public high school experience. Where did the idea of Mythos Academy come from?

JE: One of the first things I thought about for the academy was the Library of Antiquities. I just thought it would be really cool if there was this huge, slightly creepy library with all these statues on it that also contained all these mythological artifacts. Once I had the idea for the library, I just sort of built the rest of the campus around it, and that was how I came up with the academy.

YAB: Spartans, Vikings, Valkyries, Romans, Amazons, Gypsies and more! They all have different powers and characteristics. I can imagine that makes it fun to craft your different characters. Which is your favorite type of "warrior whiz kid" to write and why?

JE: I like writing about all the different warrior whiz kids and showing how they use their different powers and abilities. I’m always trying to think of new and interesting powers and ways that they can use their magic.

YAB: While each book in the Mythos Academy has had it's own story they all work together in an overall arc. The way authors do this always impresses me! When you started writing the series did you know what each book was going to be about or did you only know the overall arc? How do you make it all work together?

JE: I generally know the overall story arcs and the big things that need to happen in certain books to drive the characters and the various arcs forward. But I’m also a panster in that I don’t do extensive outlines of what happens. For example, I don’t plot out each book chapter by chapter. Usually, when I start writing a book, I know the characters and the major turning points of the story. Once I have those in mind, I just sit down and get to work and see how the plot fits in with the larger story arcs that I want to tell.

YAB: I'm assuming you've read a number of myths and the mythos of some different cultures. What's the most interesting myth or belief you've come across in your reading?

JE: One of my favorite stories is the one of Psyche and Cupid because it’s a myth but it also has a bit of fairy-tale quality to it. Plus, it has a happy ending, as Psyche and Cupid are finally reunited. I just like the idea that love conquers all.

YAB: If you could be a part of the pantheon for any culture which would you choose?

JE: That’s a tough one, but I think it would be cool to be Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. I would imagine that being the goddess of victory that you would always win at everything. I think that would be an interesting power to have.

YAB: There are a number of mystical artifacts and supernatural creatures in the Mythos Academy books. If you could have any artifact or any creature for a pet which would you choose and why?

JE: I think it would be fun to have a pet gryphon that I could fly around on.

YAB: Logan. Quinn. Oh man. I just love him! I mean, Gwen is kick butt and awesome too but the bad boy with a kind heart? SOLD! Is there a character that you enjoy writing more than the others?

JE: I probably have the most fun writing Vic, Gwen’s talking sword. He’s so bloodthirsty and completely unapologetic about it. I always have a good time imagining the outrageous things he would say in any given situation.

YAB: Mythos Academy has it all.... action, romance, mystery, humor, and more! Is there a type of scene that is easier to write than the others? Is there one that is hardest?

JE: I really like writing fight scenes. I always enjoy trying to think of ways that Gwen can use her brains and magic to defeat the bad guys. It can be tough for me to write some of the scenes between Gwen and Logan. There are so many things I want to capture about their relationship – how they feel about each other, what they like about each other, their insecurities, and the things that are keeping them apart. I just really want to pack a lot of emotion and feeling into those scenes, and that can be challenging sometimes.

YAB: So... read any good book lately?

JE: I recently finished Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas, which I enjoyed, and I’m looking forward to reading Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore; Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter; and The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, among the other books in my TBR pile.

Thanks so much to Jennifer for stopping by! I love these books. Getting to learn more about them is such a treat! And now a treat for you lovely readers... Jennifer has offered a copy of Dark Frost for you to win! US only. 13 or older to win. Use the google form below to enter! Ends May 31.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

In My Mailbox (60)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:00:00 +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.

Just a quick video to share three awesome books from this week!

Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo (Thanks Ksenia and Macmillan!)

Dark Parties by Sara Grant (Thanks Hachette!)

Endlessley by Kiersten White (Thanks Kiersten!!!!!!)

Dark Frost

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Dark Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Pages: 336
Series: Mythos Academy, book three
Source: e-galley from author

About the Book: I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life. (from goodreads)

My Thoughts: Mythos Academy is a series I really enjoy. I love the way it blends mythologies from all around the world and works them in to a modern day setting. The fact that the setting is a boarding school is a huge plus! If you've seen my review of Touch of Frost (book one) or Kiss of Frost (book two) you've already heard me go on and on about how much I enjoy it!

There were some pretty big secrets revealed to Gwen in book two. She is also given a quest to accomplish in order to prevent another Chaos War from occurring. Dark Frost starts soon after Kiss of Frost ends. And oh what a start it is! We jump right in to the action and are reminded that Gwen is part of a world on the brink of war.

I really liked the tension Gwen's "dual" life creates. On one hand she's a teenaged girl. She has the "regular" problems... friends, school, boys, etc... On the other hand there is the whole "champion of a goddess trying to prevent a war of the gods" thing! Add in the fact that Gwen has some psychic powers as part of her gypsy blood and you can see how crazy her life can be.

Dark Frost is a solid addition to the Mythos Academy series. I love the combination of action, romance, mythology and high school life.

Take A Bow

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Take a Bow

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Publication Date: April 1, 2012
Pages: 278
Source: ARC and Finished copy from publisher

About the Book: From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform. (goodreads)

My Thoughts: Oh man. So many things I love! A performing arts high school, NYC, multiple narrators, a band, and, of course, it's an Elizabeth Eulberg book. You know right there that I loved it!

Take a Bow focuses on the main characters during their senior year at performing arts school. However, the books starts off back when they were auditioning to get in as freshman. I really liked the way this set the story up. We have some insight to the characters and get to fill in the blanks as the story goes.

Emme, Sophie, Ethan and Carter alternate narrating the different chapters. It's a perfect example of why I love books with multiple narrators. We get to know how the characters view themselves and how others see them. This is especially important with a character like Sophie! I just love seeing the same situation from many different points of view.

Take a Bow was a treat to read. It deals with many of the issues that teens deal with in high school (not just performing arts school!) and still manages to be fun! I was totally impressed with the way Elizabeth Eulberg did that! If you like contemporary YA (or honestly, even if you don't!) I highly recommend you give this one a try! Bonus factor? MUSIC!

Hey look! I remembered to take a pic this time!
Me and Elizabeth Eulberg
Wisconsin girls!

Waiting on Wednesday (57)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday

The Thing About the Truth

by Lauren Barnholdt

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Published by: Simon Pulse

In this humorous love story from the author of Two-Way Street, an unlikely romance is the best sort of surprise—but the wrong secret can ruin everything. Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before...But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth.

Oh, oh, oh! How delicious does this sound?!?! Cannot wait!

Goddess Interrupted Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:01:00 +0000

If you've been around my blog a time or two you might have noticed that I love mythology! Re-tellings, continuations, stories loosely based on myths... I love them all! One of my very favorites is Aimee Carter's The Goddess Test series. You can see how much I've loved the first two books by checking out my review of The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted. You can also check out the book trailer for Goddess Interrupted:

So, if I've already reviewed the books what is this post about?!? A giveaway of course! The awesome folks at Harlequin Teen are hosting a giveaway for one copy of Goddess Interrupted. It's the perfect summer read! This giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Must be 13 or older to enter. Use the rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Harlequin Teen also provide me with a Q&A with Aimee Carter. There were a lot of awesome questions and answers but I picked out a few of my very favorites to share with you! Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Aimee Carter!

How familiar were you with Greek myths and folklore before writing the Goddess Test series? Was a lot of research required?

+ I first fell in love with Greek mythology when I was a kid learning how to read, and my infatuation only grew from there. I’ve studied various kinds of mythology for years, sometimes for class and always for fun, but even then I put a great deal of research into the Goddess Test series. Mostly as a refresher to make sure I was getting my facts right, but I also researched the various myths looking for ways to tie the plots and characters together in unexpected ways.

You give the gods and goddesses in the series “ordinary names” – Zeus is named Walter, Aphrodite goes by Ava, Hermes is named James. Why did you do that and do the more contemporary names have any significance?

+ This was something I went back and forth on multiple times. Initially the characters Kate encounters weren’t council members at all – I changed that very, very quickly though. By the second draft, I had a place for each of the Olympians, and I did some heavy rewriting to replace my first draft characters with the gods. I wanted to find a way to keep their names the same, but since they’re supposed to live among us in secret in the modern world, it didn’t really make sense. How many men named Zeus do you know, or women called Aphrodite? On top of that, keeping the council’s identities secret was incredibly important to the plot. So eventually I decided they would have changed their names when Western civilization stopped worshipping them as gods, allowing them to live freely among us.

I did choose each name for what it means, some more than others – Walter, for instance, means “army leader”, while James means “supplanter”. The exception is Calliope, which in the story was chosen by her counterpart for its Greek roots. The reason the gods changed their names – and why Artemis didn’t wind up with the name Diana – is explained throughout the series, but you get to actually see this happen in The Goddess Legacy (July 31).

When is the next book in the series due out? Any hints on what will happen in book 3?

+ Goddess Interrupted, the sequel to The Goddess Test, came out in late March. The next book in the series, The Goddess Legacy, will be out July 31. It’s a collection of five novellas told in the perspectives of Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James, and Henry, and together they form one story.

The third book in the series, The Goddess Inheritance, is currently scheduled to be released in March 2013. Unfortunately I can’t say too much about it, but the challenges that Kate will face are pretty clear by the end of the sequel!

After the huge success of The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted is on many, many TBR lists for this summer. What’s on your TBR list?

+ I’m so excited for a slew of books coming out – The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, Grave Mercy, The Selection, The Serpent’s Shadow, Philippa Gregory’s YA novel, and a ton of others. I never have as much time to read as I want, but I’m definitely making time for all of those and more!

Yearbook Superlatives! If you went to high school with the Greek gods and goddesses, who would you vote for?

Most likely to succeed? - Hera
Class clown? - Hermes
Nicest? – Demeter or Hephaestus
Best dressed? - Aphrodite
Best dancer? - Apollo
Most school spirit? - Iris
Most likely to attend summer school? - Ares
Teachers pet? - Athena

Top Ten Authors I'd LOVE to meet!

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday post was a freebie with a couple ideas listed. I thought I'd stick with the author theme so...

Top Ten Authors I'd LOVE to meet!

Now, I am super lucky and live just a couple hours from Anderson's Bookshop. They host so many awesome author events! I've meet many of my very favorite authors there or at events and conferences I've attended. However, there are still some authors I would be so super excited to meet.

1. Robin McKinley: Yeah. Robin. McKinley. When I was in college I took a young adult literature course. This course really changed my life. One of the first books I read for it was Beauty by Robin McKinley. I then proceeded to read all the books I could find by her. I absolutely love her writing and would love, love, love to meet her someday!

2. Neil Gaiman: Do I need to explain this one? Stardust is one of my favorite books. I love the variety of work he has done. He was one of the first people I started following when I joined Twitter way back when. Also, I live in the same state! Granted, I live in the Southern part but still... how have I not made it to one of his signings?!?

3. Melina Marchetta: Her books just get to me in a way that I don't even understand. Also, Melina was the very first author interview I ever did on my blog. I about died when the publisher asked me if I wanted to host her. Melina Marchetta. Yeah, I was in total fangirl mode :)

4. Sherman Alexie: Of course I love The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian so I would want to meet him just to get that signed! I've also read many of his other works. He is another author I was introduced to in college. This time it was in a Native American literature class. I've been a fan ever since.

5. Patrick Ness: I have to admit... I still haven't been able to bring myself to read Monsters of Men (Shhhhh! Don't tell Lisa!) I started the audiobook but just am not sure my heart is ready for it! Those books affect me so much! Still, I loved the first two Chaos Walking books and A Monster Calls. Clearly this means I need to meet him.

6. Scott Westerfeld: Uglies was one of the first YA books I read post college. A fellow teacher at the school I was a long term substitute in was reading Pretties and couldn't stop talking about how great it was. I am so glad! I flew through the books and every other Scott Westerfeld book I could find. I did see him from afar at BEA last year but that doesn't count!

7. Jennifer Echols: I've not read a Jennifer Echols book I didn't like. I started with her romantic dramas but have been flying through her romantic comedies. If I'm in a reading slump I know I can grab one of her books and it will be all better :) I'd love to meet her and get my favorites signed.

8. John Flanagan: He is one of my favorite middle grade authors. The Ranger's Apprentice series was one I saw a number of my middle schoolers checking out when I first got my job. I figured I'd better read it. I fell in love! Book one, the Ruins of Gorlan, is probably one of my most recommended titles! I have to meet him and get it signed (for me, not the LMC!)

9. Gayle Forman: If I Stay and Where She Went are two of my favorites. I've also heard about how nice Gayle is and what fun her events are. I'd love a chance to meet her and get my books signed :)

10. Donna Jo Napoli: Another author I was introduced to in my college young adult literature class. I was on a huge fairy tale retold kick and I read all of her books in the period of a couple weeks. It was wonderful :) I'd love to meet her and tell her how much I enjoyed her books and how much my students do too!

***The lovely Caitlin from http://whatchyareading.net/ pointed out that I FORGOT J.K. Rowling!!!! How crazy is that?!?! I think I forget that she is REAL and not also a part of the Harry Potter world!

In Honor Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

It's time for another blog tour post! This time I have the lovely Jessi Kirby here to share her top ten songs for In Honor. This book involves a road trip so music would be crucial!!!

Top Ten Songs for In Honor

1. Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift

2. Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty

3. Where Are You Going? By Dave Matthews Band

4. Wayward Son by Kansas

5. Fans by Kings of Leon

6. Heart of Life by John Mayer

7. Fearless by Taylor Swift

8. Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley

9. God Bless This Town by Wade Bowen

10. Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder

A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.”
Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.
Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

In My Mailbox (59)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:00:00 +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.

Umm, yeah. I cannot believe I am posting this video. I have been frantically trying to do ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS that I need to get done so I only had a few minutes to film this. Also, no, I'm not sick. Just a bum ;)

Won:

The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons

Borrowed from the super awesome Jillian:

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

(Oh. My. Stars. I am so excited to read this one!)

Bought:

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Legend by Marie Lu (audiobook)

Awesome Authors Being Awesome:

THANK YOU so much to Zoraida for donating copies of The Vicious Deep to the alternative school in my district that doesn't have a library! Stickers too! You are awesomesauce!

Until I Die Tour Stop

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Hello lovelies and welcome to the penultimate stop on the Until I Die blog tour! Hopefully you've been following along and collecting the scavenger hunt words to put together the riddle and win a totally awesome prize! Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out Amy Plum's post explaining the whole deal and revealing the grand prize here. Also head to the Mundie Moms' Until I Die tour post to learn more and get the full list of blogs participating here. Are you ready for the last word?!? Of course you are! My addition to the scavenger hunt riddle is... Who. Add that to the rest of the words and unscramble them to find the riddle. Keep reading for my review and a super awesome giveaway from Amy Plum!

Until I Die

Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: May 8, 2012
Publication Date: Harper Teen
Pages: 357
Series: Revenants, book two
Source: ARC for Mundie Moms Blog tour

About the Book: Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

My Thoughts: As I said in my review of Die for Me these books have so many aspects that I love. Paris, the idea of revenants, romance, mystery, history and more! I couldn't wait to get back in to Kate and Vincent's world.

In my opinion Until I Die was a fabulous second book. In Die for Me the reader is just getting introduced to revenants and their world. Kate is thrown in to her knowledge of the supernatural and it's a bit of a baptism by fire! Everything happens so fast! I loved that in this book Kate really delves in to the history and lore of revenants. She is getting more involved in their world and wants to understand Vincent better. I just couldn't get enough! I'm fascinated by the idea of their existence and would totally be like Kate... ferreting out any and all information I could!

There is a lot of behind the scenes action going on in Until I Die. It isn't until the end that things really get fast paced. Much of the book is looking for clues and piecing together information. There were a few questions I had from book one that were answered and some things hinted at even more. But oh man... once the action starts it doesn't stop. When you get to the end you will be begging for more. I cannot wait to see what happens next and if the rest of my predictions are accurate. The ending certainly leaves you hanging! Ahhh! Amy! What are you trying to do to me?!?!? The summary is certainly right. I am desperate for the third and final installment!

Giveaway:
And now for the super awesome giveaway! Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter to win signed bookplates and an Eiffel Tower keychain (pictured below)! I am super jealous of this prize. The bookplates are gorgeous and I have a thing for the Eiffel Tower! Lucky winner! The contest is open internationally. You must be 13 years or older to enter :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Josephine Angelini, me, and Amy Plumb

The Summer of No Regrets Review

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

The Summer of No Regrets

Author: Katherine Grace Bond

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date:

Pages: 290

Source: ARC for Teen Book Scene blog tour

About the Book: The day Brigitta accidentally flings herself into the lap of a guy she's never met, her friend Natalie is convinced he's Trent Yves, egotistical heartthrob-in-hiding. When the boy, who calls himself Luke, is nearly eaten by a cougar, Brigitta finds herself saving his life, being swept into his spectacular embrace and wondering if she wants Natalie's fantasy to be true.

As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can't be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents' death, her father's sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, she isn't sure of anything. What is the truth? More importantly, can she accept it?

My Thoughts: The Summer of No Regrets was not what I thought it would be. When I read the description above I thought it would be a lot more about the whole Luke/Trent question and his relationship with Brigitta. We certainly do get some of that but Luke's identity isn't the only truth Brigitta is searching for. As the description states her life has kind of spun out of control and the book has Brigitta asking deep questions about religion, philosophy, life, death and more.

I was interested in the many different faces of the characters we meet. Obviously there is the whole Luke/Trent issue. We're also introduced to Brigitta's dad who has done a complete 180 since his parents' deaths. Brigitta's sister Mallory is home from college and a different person as well. Natalie, Brigitta's best friend is different around Brigitta than everyone else. And then there is Brigitta herself. She has her secret blog and Hollywood gossip craving that no one knows about. Her thoughts and desires are buried so deep within herself. These differences kept me reading to see if things would begin to work themselves out.

The Summer of No Regrets isn't you're typical lighthearted beach read. It's an interesting look at all that can change in the summer of a young woman's life.

In Honor

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:01:00 +0000

In Honor

Author: Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Pages: 240
Source: ARC for Teen Book Scene blog tour

About the Book: A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.”

Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.

Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences? (from goodreads)

My Thoughts: This book opens with the military funeral for Honor's brother (this is not a spoiler. It's in the description!) To me, this was such an amazing opening scene. It grabbed my attention and my heart even though I didn't even know the characters yet. I have a page of notes on this scene alone. It was so well done. I found myself so emotionally invested that I had to put the book down and walk away for a bit. It was just so overwhelming. Very few books have ever had such a profound effect on me and never that quickly. It was pretty intense.

Thankfully the rest of the book, while still awesome, didn't rip my heart out ;) I mean, it's certainly still emotional... a road trip to fulfill Honor's dead brother's last request? Yeah. There are going to be some hard hitting moments for sure! But it's still a road trip with a hot boy. I loved seeing Honor and Rusty interact. There is history and tension there that the reader doesn't quite get right away. Learning more about it as well as the changes in Honor and Rusty really kept me invested. There were so many great scenes along the road trip. I love the variety of locations a road trip brings to a book. The fact that the characters are stuck in close proximity to one another the whole time adds to the tension I love so much.

In Honor broke my heart within the first pages and then put it back together piece by piece. It's a great addition to contemporary YA!

Waiting on Wednesday (56)

noreply@blogger.com (YA Bibliophile) — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday

The Treachery of Beautiful Things

by Ruth Frances Long

Release Date: August 16, 2012

Published by: Dial

A darkly compelling mix of romance, fairy tale, and suspense from a new voice in teen fiction

The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.

I don't even know where to start with this one. The title, the cover, the description... all just capture me and lure me in. I am SO EXCITED for this one! Like, I need it.