I know it's Thursday, so this is a day early, but I'm going to a camp tomorrow and Saturday so I won't be here to post! Enjoy your Friday and your weekend! (:
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Between Shades of Gray
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Have you ever thought about how much a human life is worth? On that morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.
In 1941, Fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the soviet secret police barge biolently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.
Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. SHe risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.
It is a long a harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?
I sat in awe for minutes after finishing this book. I was heartbroken, happy, scared, and frozen. I can't even think right now! This book was so beautiful in so many ways and it just reached right into my heart and tore it open the whole time I was reading. It's so captivating.
Between Shades of Gray is the untold story of all the people who lost their lives in Siberia. It is Lina Vilkas's story. And it all starts when she and her brother and her mother are taken from their home in Lithuania and put on a cattle car. They don't have any idea where they are going, and the don't know why. All they are worried about is being able to eat, and staying together. When a soldier tries to take away Lina's younger brother, Jonas, their mother bargains him with a watch. That's how important his life was to the soldier. And that was just the begining. Six weeks on a cattle car, disease, death, a public shower and a grope from the commander is just the begining. Lina, as a girl, is very vulnerable. And her new-found friend Andrius Arvyday knows it. Together she, Andrias, and Jonas along with her mother and other Lithuanians in their cattle car, stick together when they arrive in Siberia. They are weak with fatigue and their muscles are nothing. And they are being sent to work. Relying on each other, the hope that their families are still alive, and the will to live, Lina, Andrius, and Jonas are three strong spirits who will stop at nothing to save themselves and their families.
Lina is one of the best characters I've ever read about. She is just so determined to live. She is strong and brave and cunning. She is beautiful even though she is caked with dirt and lice. No matter what obstacle comes her way, she has such a desire to live, that I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book. She is such a loving person for her family and so protective of them, but at the same time has such a strong hatred for Stalin and the NKVD's. I was willing her on throughout the whole book. Everytime she felt defeated my heart just expanded and I urged her to keep her head held high and to never give up or lose hope.
I've recently read other books about the Holocaust and this book is really similar in so many ways, but yet, it is so different. It's unique and itself. It reminds me of one of the words in the book: Krasivaya. I'd give you the definition, but that word is for you to find out on your own and a secret to the book.
Heartfelt and horriying at times, I doubt anyone can read this book and not be moved by it. This is Ruta Sepetys's first novel, and after reading it I have to say that I cannot wait for her second. It's a must read and it will change the lives of many. I waited in agony for this book, after many techinal problems with the shipping, and I have to say, it was worth the wait. I'm still in awe.
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
In 1941, Fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the soviet secret police barge biolently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.
Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. SHe risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.
It is a long a harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?
I sat in awe for minutes after finishing this book. I was heartbroken, happy, scared, and frozen. I can't even think right now! This book was so beautiful in so many ways and it just reached right into my heart and tore it open the whole time I was reading. It's so captivating.
Between Shades of Gray is the untold story of all the people who lost their lives in Siberia. It is Lina Vilkas's story. And it all starts when she and her brother and her mother are taken from their home in Lithuania and put on a cattle car. They don't have any idea where they are going, and the don't know why. All they are worried about is being able to eat, and staying together. When a soldier tries to take away Lina's younger brother, Jonas, their mother bargains him with a watch. That's how important his life was to the soldier. And that was just the begining. Six weeks on a cattle car, disease, death, a public shower and a grope from the commander is just the begining. Lina, as a girl, is very vulnerable. And her new-found friend Andrius Arvyday knows it. Together she, Andrias, and Jonas along with her mother and other Lithuanians in their cattle car, stick together when they arrive in Siberia. They are weak with fatigue and their muscles are nothing. And they are being sent to work. Relying on each other, the hope that their families are still alive, and the will to live, Lina, Andrius, and Jonas are three strong spirits who will stop at nothing to save themselves and their families.
Lina is one of the best characters I've ever read about. She is just so determined to live. She is strong and brave and cunning. She is beautiful even though she is caked with dirt and lice. No matter what obstacle comes her way, she has such a desire to live, that I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book. She is such a loving person for her family and so protective of them, but at the same time has such a strong hatred for Stalin and the NKVD's. I was willing her on throughout the whole book. Everytime she felt defeated my heart just expanded and I urged her to keep her head held high and to never give up or lose hope.
I've recently read other books about the Holocaust and this book is really similar in so many ways, but yet, it is so different. It's unique and itself. It reminds me of one of the words in the book: Krasivaya. I'd give you the definition, but that word is for you to find out on your own and a secret to the book.
Heartfelt and horriying at times, I doubt anyone can read this book and not be moved by it. This is Ruta Sepetys's first novel, and after reading it I have to say that I cannot wait for her second. It's a must read and it will change the lives of many. I waited in agony for this book, after many techinal problems with the shipping, and I have to say, it was worth the wait. I'm still in awe.
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Waiting On Wednesday (2)
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme/feature hosted by Breaking the Spine to showcase new novels being released soon that we are waiting anxiously for. This week I'm picking:
Pages: 448
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Like the fingers on a hand--first headstrong Olga; thenTatiana, the tallest; Maria the most hopeful for a ring; and Anastasia, the smallest. These are the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, grand dutchesses living a life steeped in tradition abd priviledge. They are each on the brink of starting their own lives, at the mercy of royal matchmakers. The summer of 1914 is that precious last wink of time when they can still be sisters together--sisters that link arms and laugh, sisters that share their dreams and worries, and flirt with the officers of their imperial yacht.
But in a gunshot the future changes — for these sisters and for Russia.
As World War I ignites across Europe, political unrest sweeps Russia. First dissent, then disorder, mutiny — and revolution. For Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, the end of their girlhood together is colliding with the end of more than they ever imagined.
At the same time hopeful and hopeless, naÏve and wise, the voices of these sisters become a chorus singing the final song of Imperial Russia. Impeccably researched and utterly fascinating, this novel by acclaimed author Sarah Miller recounts the final days of Imperial Russia with lyricism, criticism and true compassion.
This books sounds amazing! I love reading fiction history books, especially about places and times that I really don't know that much about. Also, I love the discriptions about the princesses fitting on your fingers(: It's so cute! And the cover is absolutely gorgeous! Look for this book when it releases!
What books are you waiting on this Wednesday?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Teaser Tuesdays (1)
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading. Here are the steps:
1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page
3. Share (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
5. Make sure to add the Title & Author so readers can add your book to their TBR lists!
Elain talking to her older brother Lavian says:
"If I had known, all these years, that you still felt inclined to watch over me, I likely would have been one hundred times wilder and one thousand times more willing to seek out danger."
I love this! It made me smile and think hmm.. I wonder if I would do the same if I had an older brother!
Starcrossed
Okay, so I just found this book and I read a few reviews and summaries for it and it just sounds amazing!!! I was going to post it for my Waiting On Wednesday feature, but I just couldn't wait! So, here it is! Starcrossed:
Helen Hamiliton has always tried to hide how different she is—no easy feat on an island as small as Nantucket, and only getting harder as she finds herself haunted by hallucinations and vivid nightmares. It’s not until she crosses paths with Lucas Delos at school that Helen’s true heritage is finally revealed. Yet even as Lucas helps her awaken to her startling powers, they can never be together—not unless they can break free from the tragic destiny the Three Fates have in store.
Oh my goodness! This book sounds amazing! And I know that this doesn't describe it in the best way, but the review I read sounded sooooooooo good! And this book takes place in Greece! :D 1000x better! In case you didn't know, Greece is a little obsession of mine. (:
Starcrossed is being released on May 31, 2011! Watch for it!
Top Ten Tuesday (1)
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme/feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is authors that need more recognition. Here are my top ten authors:
1. Susan B. Pfeffer. She is the author of Life As We Knew It and even though many people know of her and that trilogy, whenever I recomend them to my friends, no one knows who she is.
2. Pittacus Lore. Okay, before you all protest that everyone knows who that is, I would like to point out that it is probably because I Am Number Four was recently made into a movie. I read the book a week after it was released and just fell in love with it. Now because of the movie many people are reading the book which is a good thing.
3. Marcus Zusak. He is the author of I Am the Messenger, which i didn't really like, but also, The Book Theif which I absolutely loved and cried over. It's a great read if you haven't read it, and Marcus Zusak is an amazing author!
4. Janet Evanovich. She is the author of many many books, based for adults which is why not many teens know of her, but one great series is the Stephanie Plum Bounty Hunter series. So far it consists of sixteen laugh-out-loud books which I think teens will love! The first book is called One For the Money.
5. Denise Hunter. She has a few books, the one that made me fall in love with her is Seaside Letters. Again, its an adult fiction book, but its also a romance and it's a great story!
6. Patrick Ness. He is the author of the Chaos Walking Series which I am just head over heels for! It's a popluar series, but he deserves more praise for it.
7. Sarah Beth Durst. She is an amazing author! She has written one book that I know of, called Ice. I remember just being hooked by the book and just turning page after page, dying to finish it! She really needs more praise for it!
8. Robin Jones Gunn. Many people know her for her Adult Christian books, but I love this author for writing the Christy Miller Collection. This series, consisting of 5 volumes (15 short books in all) is one of my favorite series! You will not be disapointed with her books.
9. Maggie Stiefvater. You might know her from her current series: Shiver, Linger, and releasing soon: Forever, Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorite authors. Check her out!
10. Catherine Fisher. She is the author of tons of books! Only, she lives in Wales so many of her books are just being published in the USA. My favorite book by her is Incarceron and the sequal Sapphique. Comming soon this summer is a 4 book series: The Relic Master. She is a great author who deserves tons of praise!
What great authors do you know? Comment any great authors I should look out for!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Song of the Sparrow
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
Pages: 383
Beautiful sixteen-year-old Elaine has a temperament as fiery as her long red hair. The daughter of a soldier in young Arthur's army, Elaine is the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. Often slipping into daydream, she wishes that the handsome Lancelot wouldsee her as more than a tomboy.
Then a new girl arrices, and Elaine is thrilled - until Gwynivere proves to be cold and cruel. But when Elaine and Gwynivere are thrown into a situation of gravest danger, the girls must band together in order to surveve. Can Elaine find the strength to fight for the kingdom she has always believed in?
One thing that's really cool and I enjoyed about this book is that it's written as a poem. It makes the book very unique and beautiful. And speaking of beautiful, how about the cover? I absolutely looooove this cover. I am a real fan of Camelot and King Arthur stories, and I always love a good adventure. This book mixes the two magnificently in a true story of love, fear, freedom, hatred, friendship, family, and one young girl's amazing story.
Elaine is sixteen and lives with her dad and two brothers in King Arthur's army camp alont with fifteen hundred other soldiers. She lives there because when she was eight, other soldiers killed her mom - and she watched it all go down. She is the only girl and she is their nurse. She heals their body wounds, and their clothes. She has always looked up to Lancelot because when she was eight and absolutely terrified, he looked out for her and he always played with her. He was her hero, and slowly she began to fall in love with him. But, when Gwyneviere, Arthur's bride, comes to the camp, Lancelot falls head over heels for her and completely dismisses Elaine. Humiliated with Lancelot for giving her heart ot him, and feeling a total sense of hatred for Gwynivere for numerous reasons, Elain turns to her best friend Tristan. But, the Saxons are attacking Arthur's land and he has to lead his army into war. And Elaine is determined to go with them to protect her family and loved ones. She trails behind the army, but it only leads to trouble. She will need Gwynivere's help to escape and save Arthur and the whole army.
I'm just totally in love with this book!
Elaine is a perfect character for this book. Everyone in the army still views her as the little girl that came to the camp eight years ago, but she's not. And she is determined to prove it. She is free-spirited, caring, loving, protecting of her family, and strong. Those qualities keep you gripped to the book and just rooting for her the whole time, just waiting to see how she will deal with every new situation that arises, and what devious plan she has in store next for Gwynivere or anyone else who gets in her way.
Mixed with all the fighting, this book is also a love story which has such a beautiful ending I just wanted to jump right into the book and cheer with them. Anyone who reads this will absolutely love it, I can garuntee that!
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Beautiful sixteen-year-old Elaine has a temperament as fiery as her long red hair. The daughter of a soldier in young Arthur's army, Elaine is the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. Often slipping into daydream, she wishes that the handsome Lancelot wouldsee her as more than a tomboy.
Then a new girl arrices, and Elaine is thrilled - until Gwynivere proves to be cold and cruel. But when Elaine and Gwynivere are thrown into a situation of gravest danger, the girls must band together in order to surveve. Can Elaine find the strength to fight for the kingdom she has always believed in?
One thing that's really cool and I enjoyed about this book is that it's written as a poem. It makes the book very unique and beautiful. And speaking of beautiful, how about the cover? I absolutely looooove this cover. I am a real fan of Camelot and King Arthur stories, and I always love a good adventure. This book mixes the two magnificently in a true story of love, fear, freedom, hatred, friendship, family, and one young girl's amazing story.
Elaine is sixteen and lives with her dad and two brothers in King Arthur's army camp alont with fifteen hundred other soldiers. She lives there because when she was eight, other soldiers killed her mom - and she watched it all go down. She is the only girl and she is their nurse. She heals their body wounds, and their clothes. She has always looked up to Lancelot because when she was eight and absolutely terrified, he looked out for her and he always played with her. He was her hero, and slowly she began to fall in love with him. But, when Gwyneviere, Arthur's bride, comes to the camp, Lancelot falls head over heels for her and completely dismisses Elaine. Humiliated with Lancelot for giving her heart ot him, and feeling a total sense of hatred for Gwynivere for numerous reasons, Elain turns to her best friend Tristan. But, the Saxons are attacking Arthur's land and he has to lead his army into war. And Elaine is determined to go with them to protect her family and loved ones. She trails behind the army, but it only leads to trouble. She will need Gwynivere's help to escape and save Arthur and the whole army.
I'm just totally in love with this book!
Elaine is a perfect character for this book. Everyone in the army still views her as the little girl that came to the camp eight years ago, but she's not. And she is determined to prove it. She is free-spirited, caring, loving, protecting of her family, and strong. Those qualities keep you gripped to the book and just rooting for her the whole time, just waiting to see how she will deal with every new situation that arises, and what devious plan she has in store next for Gwynivere or anyone else who gets in her way.
Mixed with all the fighting, this book is also a love story which has such a beautiful ending I just wanted to jump right into the book and cheer with them. Anyone who reads this will absolutely love it, I can garuntee that!
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Sunday, March 27, 2011
In My Mailbox (2)
Earlier this week I ordered Between Shades of Gray and I am waiting in agony for Barnes & Noble to ship it to my house! It'll be a week tomorrow and I don't know what is taking so long!
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Other then that, I didn't buy any books this week/: I am going shopping this week though for spring break since I'm not taking a vacation to oh so warm and lovely florida, so hey! I'll just have to stop by Borders because everything is 60% off. Sounds like a good plan to me!
I got many books from the library though. I've been reading like crazy and already reviewed some of them, but I'll post them up here anyways.
Books from the library:
The TOUCH novels by Laurie Stolarz:
1. Deadly Little Secret
2. Deadly Little Lies
3. Deadly Little Games
Waiting For No One by Beverly Brenna
Choker by Elizabeth Woods
Wild Roses by Deb Caletti
Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
These are all great reads so far! What great books did you get this week?
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Deadly Little Secret
Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Pages: 252
SOMETIMES SECRETS SHOULDN'T BE KEPT. . . .
Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job
at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. SHe's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she's inexplicably drawn to Ben . . . and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that her wants to help -- but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something . . .but he's not the only one with a secret.
What is it with me a creepy books today? Although, Choker wasn't nearly as extreme as this- not at all. Intense, suspensful, creepy, and pure terror, are the first words I can think of to explain this book- this first in the TOUCH series. I should have guessed by the title this would be a very intense book.
Camelia is a sixteen-year-old girl who most certainly doesn't have a normal life. Three months ago she was saved from being hit by a car by a mysterious guy on a motercyle. Now, at the start of school, the mystery guy is back. Although he denies saving her, she knows it is him. Camelia is not very close with her parents, and left home alone quite often. She usually turns to her friends Wes and Kimmie when things happen. Which is exactly what she does when she recieves a picture of herself in the mail with a heart around her. She doesn't think too much of it and thinks it was a joke. But neither of her friends know what she is talking about. And a few nights later, there is a present delivered in her window by a secret stranger. Its lingerie she and Kimmie had been looking at earlier that day in the mall. She recieves phone calls and more pictures, and she knows somebody has been in her house. There is one suspect: Ben, the mystery guy that has a reputation of killing his last girlfriend. Although, no matter how horrible the rumors are, Camelia can't bring herself to believe them. She knows he is not behind this and on her side. But, he is holding a secret so powerful, it could change everything.
Talk about the creeps! Once I opened this book, I just sat on my bed for two hours reading it. There was no way I could get up without finishing this and figuring out who was behind it, why, and what was going to happen to Camelia. This book was so gripping it was insane. It's a book you can't read unless it's in one sitting.
The characters in this book were so dynamic and well rounded. Everyone of the characters could have been a suspect. I had nooo idea what to expect and I was guessing throughout the whole book who was behind the "stalkerism." I must say, I did like the ending. It was the perfect character behind the plot. I'm not going to say any more about this character in fear of giving away anything, but I absolutely loved it!
If you have a short horror tolerance level, you might not want to read this book. Yes, I will probably have nightmares tonight, but I think it was worth it. So, if you have a short horror tolerance level and you are up to the challenge of reading this book, and the series (which I hear gets even more creepier) good for you!! Have fun being scared for once(: I know I'm enjoying right now! It's a little bit of a rush, to be honest.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
SOMETIMES SECRETS SHOULDN'T BE KEPT. . . .
Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job
at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. SHe's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she's inexplicably drawn to Ben . . . and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that her wants to help -- but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something . . .but he's not the only one with a secret.
What is it with me a creepy books today? Although, Choker wasn't nearly as extreme as this- not at all. Intense, suspensful, creepy, and pure terror, are the first words I can think of to explain this book- this first in the TOUCH series. I should have guessed by the title this would be a very intense book.
Camelia is a sixteen-year-old girl who most certainly doesn't have a normal life. Three months ago she was saved from being hit by a car by a mysterious guy on a motercyle. Now, at the start of school, the mystery guy is back. Although he denies saving her, she knows it is him. Camelia is not very close with her parents, and left home alone quite often. She usually turns to her friends Wes and Kimmie when things happen. Which is exactly what she does when she recieves a picture of herself in the mail with a heart around her. She doesn't think too much of it and thinks it was a joke. But neither of her friends know what she is talking about. And a few nights later, there is a present delivered in her window by a secret stranger. Its lingerie she and Kimmie had been looking at earlier that day in the mall. She recieves phone calls and more pictures, and she knows somebody has been in her house. There is one suspect: Ben, the mystery guy that has a reputation of killing his last girlfriend. Although, no matter how horrible the rumors are, Camelia can't bring herself to believe them. She knows he is not behind this and on her side. But, he is holding a secret so powerful, it could change everything.
Talk about the creeps! Once I opened this book, I just sat on my bed for two hours reading it. There was no way I could get up without finishing this and figuring out who was behind it, why, and what was going to happen to Camelia. This book was so gripping it was insane. It's a book you can't read unless it's in one sitting.
The characters in this book were so dynamic and well rounded. Everyone of the characters could have been a suspect. I had nooo idea what to expect and I was guessing throughout the whole book who was behind the "stalkerism." I must say, I did like the ending. It was the perfect character behind the plot. I'm not going to say any more about this character in fear of giving away anything, but I absolutely loved it!
If you have a short horror tolerance level, you might not want to read this book. Yes, I will probably have nightmares tonight, but I think it was worth it. So, if you have a short horror tolerance level and you are up to the challenge of reading this book, and the series (which I hear gets even more creepier) good for you!! Have fun being scared for once(: I know I'm enjoying right now! It's a little bit of a rush, to be honest.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Choker
Choker by Elizabeth Woods
Pages: 232
Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team and tries to avoid the populat girls who, after an embarrassing incident in the cafeteria, endlessly tortue her, calling her Choker. But mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing her would finally notice her.
Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe givers her a new look and new confidence, and the next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she can talk about everything with her BFF.
Bust just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everone is a suspect- including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day while Cara's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what . . . but what if she turns into a total stranger?
I'm shaking from the pure excitement of just finishing this book. I had to tell myself to calm down and I took a few deep breaths. This is one of the best books I've ever read.
Cara is bullied all the time at school, especially after choking on a carrot. When cute junior Ethan Gray saves her, she instantly falls for him. But not even his support can help her from the threats and names she is called at school by her next door neighboor, Sydney, and her followers. Then, unexpectedley, Cara's childhood friend Zoe shows up in her bedroom, alone and on the run from problems at home. That very same night, Sydney is found dead in her swimming pool after drinking at her own party. The whole town is distraught, espcially Alexis - Sydney's best friend and Ethan's boyfriend. Zoe puts a new confidence in Cara and helps her with her hair and clothes and most importantly: winning Ethan's heart. But Zoe starts to act strange. She becomes wild-like and obsessive over Cara. And then, Alexis goes missing. The whole town is looking for her. And the cops think they know who did it. Ethan. Cara and Ethan are growing close, but she needs to prove that Ethan is inoccent. And there is only one thing standing in her way: Zoe.
Cara is the little, almost frightened girl who is constantly bullied. Zoe re-entering her life really changes her personality. She makes sure Zoe thinks something is cool. If Zoe doesn't like it, Cara doesn't either. Sometimes Cara loves Zoe, and other times Cara hates Zoe. She is a really rounded character with a surprising personality - literally.
This book had one of the best endings I've ever read. Ever. It was so shocking I zipped through the pages wildley trying to calm myself down at the suspense and almost creepy ending. After I was done I realized my heart was pouding so loud I was afraid it would jump out of my chest! It has been a long time since a book has wowed me like this one. No one will be dissapointed!! To top it off, Elizabeth Woods is a debut author! I cannot wait for her next novel!
"What are best friends for?"
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team and tries to avoid the populat girls who, after an embarrassing incident in the cafeteria, endlessly tortue her, calling her Choker. But mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing her would finally notice her.
Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe givers her a new look and new confidence, and the next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she can talk about everything with her BFF.
Bust just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everone is a suspect- including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day while Cara's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what . . . but what if she turns into a total stranger?
I'm shaking from the pure excitement of just finishing this book. I had to tell myself to calm down and I took a few deep breaths. This is one of the best books I've ever read.
Cara is bullied all the time at school, especially after choking on a carrot. When cute junior Ethan Gray saves her, she instantly falls for him. But not even his support can help her from the threats and names she is called at school by her next door neighboor, Sydney, and her followers. Then, unexpectedley, Cara's childhood friend Zoe shows up in her bedroom, alone and on the run from problems at home. That very same night, Sydney is found dead in her swimming pool after drinking at her own party. The whole town is distraught, espcially Alexis - Sydney's best friend and Ethan's boyfriend. Zoe puts a new confidence in Cara and helps her with her hair and clothes and most importantly: winning Ethan's heart. But Zoe starts to act strange. She becomes wild-like and obsessive over Cara. And then, Alexis goes missing. The whole town is looking for her. And the cops think they know who did it. Ethan. Cara and Ethan are growing close, but she needs to prove that Ethan is inoccent. And there is only one thing standing in her way: Zoe.
Cara is the little, almost frightened girl who is constantly bullied. Zoe re-entering her life really changes her personality. She makes sure Zoe thinks something is cool. If Zoe doesn't like it, Cara doesn't either. Sometimes Cara loves Zoe, and other times Cara hates Zoe. She is a really rounded character with a surprising personality - literally.
This book had one of the best endings I've ever read. Ever. It was so shocking I zipped through the pages wildley trying to calm myself down at the suspense and almost creepy ending. After I was done I realized my heart was pouding so loud I was afraid it would jump out of my chest! It has been a long time since a book has wowed me like this one. No one will be dissapointed!! To top it off, Elizabeth Woods is a debut author! I cannot wait for her next novel!
"What are best friends for?"
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Friday, March 25, 2011
Follow Friday (1) & Blog Hop (1)
Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Parajukee's View and it also has a weekly question. This week's:
"Tell us five book related silly facts about you."
My Answer: 1. I am a sucker for romance books (who isn't?) but, on the contrary, I also have a HUGE passion for sci-fi/ adventure reads.
2. I read books from the library before I buy them from Barnes and Noble so that I know for sure I like the book and I don't waste my money.
3. I love to read in the tree in my front yard, especially in the spring when the flowers are blooming and the whole earth smells of spring.
4. I can't eat anything while I read because I'm afraid to spill on the books or soil the pages.
5. When I was in 7th grade we had to read 800 pages every 12 weeks. I didn't have a problem doing that. After the year was over there was an awards ceremony for funny things like "Best Social Studies Student" and "Math Whiz." My English teacher stood up and called me to the front of the large room and handed me an award: "For Reading Over 14,000 Pages This School Year."
The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books and every week we get a question. This week's is:
"If you could physically put yourself into a book or series…which one would it be and why?
My Answer: I would get into the Christy Miller series because I just love her personality and all her "Jesus-loving" friends. I especially took a liking to Todd: the attractive, california surfer, who loves God and sweeps Christy off her feet. They have some pretty amazing adventures along the way in finding themselves, figuring out where they stand with God, and the road they take to get there is one of the best stories I've ever read.
Waiting for No One
Waiting for No One by Beverley Brenna
Pages: 175
"Beverley Brenna's fifth novel for young people, Waiting for No One, is a gem of a book ... From the moment readers meet Taylor as she makes a glorious hash of her first job interview, they are her friends for life. Taylor is a funny, honest, smart, endearing girl with Asperger's syndrome. Little things others take for granted often confuse her. She longs to escape from those who, for her own good, keep her dependent. She tells the sometimes comic, always moving story of her fight for freedom in a voice all her own. One of the most importnat characters in the story is Taylor's gerbil Harold Pinter. Harold Pinter does not notice the syndrome but simply loves the person ... So will you when you read this book." -Jean Little.
This book is the story of eighteen-year-old Taylor Jane Simon. She has Asperger's syndrom which makes the book very interesting. She thinks about things in different orders then I do sometimes and she notices things and comprehends things differently. She lives with her mom who is making her dependent, where as she wants to be independent. That's why she applies for a job at a bookstore. She thinks that she ruined the interview though, so she is afraid to call the manager. She goes to dance class and a biology class in college where she meets Luke Pheonix, and she has a photographic memory. To top it all off, when she leaves Canada to visit her Dad in Cody, Wyoming, she meets her Dad's new girlfriend. Sometimes, the only thing that can keep her from falling off the world is her pet gerbil Harold Pinter.
Taylor is just such a sweet, honest and caring girl who looks at the world in a whole new perspective. Sometimes she blurts out words that she doesn't mean to - sometimes curse words, which she is trying to quit saying. She is brutally honest with her feelings sometimes and when other people didn't always understand it was interesting to see their reactions. I absolutely loved reading this book and watching her go through just a few weeks of her life as she struggles with understanding simple words like "how." I also loved her pet guinea pig. Harold Pinter was very adorable.
The plot was new and exciting and even though it was a very fast read, I enjoyed the book sooooo much. It was just written beautifully. I highly recomend reading this book.
Overall Rating: 5 stars
"Beverley Brenna's fifth novel for young people, Waiting for No One, is a gem of a book ... From the moment readers meet Taylor as she makes a glorious hash of her first job interview, they are her friends for life. Taylor is a funny, honest, smart, endearing girl with Asperger's syndrome. Little things others take for granted often confuse her. She longs to escape from those who, for her own good, keep her dependent. She tells the sometimes comic, always moving story of her fight for freedom in a voice all her own. One of the most importnat characters in the story is Taylor's gerbil Harold Pinter. Harold Pinter does not notice the syndrome but simply loves the person ... So will you when you read this book." -Jean Little.
This book is the story of eighteen-year-old Taylor Jane Simon. She has Asperger's syndrom which makes the book very interesting. She thinks about things in different orders then I do sometimes and she notices things and comprehends things differently. She lives with her mom who is making her dependent, where as she wants to be independent. That's why she applies for a job at a bookstore. She thinks that she ruined the interview though, so she is afraid to call the manager. She goes to dance class and a biology class in college where she meets Luke Pheonix, and she has a photographic memory. To top it all off, when she leaves Canada to visit her Dad in Cody, Wyoming, she meets her Dad's new girlfriend. Sometimes, the only thing that can keep her from falling off the world is her pet gerbil Harold Pinter.
Taylor is just such a sweet, honest and caring girl who looks at the world in a whole new perspective. Sometimes she blurts out words that she doesn't mean to - sometimes curse words, which she is trying to quit saying. She is brutally honest with her feelings sometimes and when other people didn't always understand it was interesting to see their reactions. I absolutely loved reading this book and watching her go through just a few weeks of her life as she struggles with understanding simple words like "how." I also loved her pet guinea pig. Harold Pinter was very adorable.
The plot was new and exciting and even though it was a very fast read, I enjoyed the book sooooo much. It was just written beautifully. I highly recomend reading this book.
Overall Rating: 5 stars
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Fancy White Trash
The book Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling will not be reviewed anymore. I normally don't do this, but after the first chapter I had to quit reading the book. It's not because it was boring. It was weird and disgusting. If you want the jist of it, here it is:
The main girl Abby is 15. She has an older sister who is 18 named Kait that is having a baby. The baby-daddy left her though, for her older sister Shelby. Shelby already had a baby. Then he moved on to their single mom. Now, three months after being married, the mom and the boyfriend/husband (who is half her age) are having a baby. Then Shelby says that she is pregnant again -- and the boyfriend-husband is the father.
Wacked up! I'm sorry. If you still wish to read the book you can, but I will not be reviewing it. I would also like to mention that it didn't say all those babies were from the same guy in the summary of the book.
The main girl Abby is 15. She has an older sister who is 18 named Kait that is having a baby. The baby-daddy left her though, for her older sister Shelby. Shelby already had a baby. Then he moved on to their single mom. Now, three months after being married, the mom and the boyfriend/husband (who is half her age) are having a baby. Then Shelby says that she is pregnant again -- and the boyfriend-husband is the father.
Wacked up! I'm sorry. If you still wish to read the book you can, but I will not be reviewing it. I would also like to mention that it didn't say all those babies were from the same guy in the summary of the book.
The Fortunes of Indigo Skye
The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti
Pages: 298
"I suddenly see where I'm standing, and that's at the edgo of change - really, really, big change."
Eighteen-year-old Indigo Skye feels like she has it all - a waitress job she loves, an adorable refrigeratior-delivery-guy boyfriend, and a home life that's slightly crazed but rich in love. Until a mysterious man at the restaurant leaves her a 2.5 million-dollar tip, and her life as she knew it is transformed.
At first it's amazing: a hot new car, enormous flat-screen TV, and presents for everyone she cares about. She laughs off the warnings that money changes people, that they come to relay on what they have instead of who they are. Because it won't happen... not to her. Or will it? What do you do when you can buy anything your heart desires - butwhat your heart desires can't be bought?
This is the story of a girl who gets rich, gets lost, and ultimately finds her way back - if not to where she started, then to where she can start again.
So, who wouldn't want to get a 2.5 million dollar tip at your amazing restaurant job? Indigo Skye tries to give back her tip, but the mysterious vespa guy won't have it. Indigo is determined that she will stay the same person that she was before, but can she really be sure? She lives with her mother, her little sister Bex, and her twin brother Severin in Seattle. She has an amazing boyfriend Trevor who is adorable and understands her in everyway. But after recieving the money, things start to change for Indigo. She buys her family and Trevor loads of stuff for their house and new cars and numerous other items. People around her start to expect that. They use her money without asking and take things too far. Quiting her job, letting her cat on the loose, and saving her brother from a rich, stuck up and uptight girlfriend cause her to take drastic measures and fly with her friend Melanie to California. Will the rich lifestyle take ahold of her? Or will she somehow find a way back to the girl she used to be? And if she does make it back can her family and boyfriend ecxept her back?
Deb Caletti does a beautiful job writing this book. Normally, you think about 2.5 million dollars and you think- wow! I wish I had 2.5 million dollars! I would buy this and this and this. Your list would go on and on right? Well, Indigo's expirience with money really opens up your eyes and shows you that it's not all glory.
One thing about this book is that there are lots of comparisons. Similies and metaphors and just comparing things and openly thinking that normally writers don't use. Too many comparisons can be overwhelming sometimes. This book is pushing the border between just enough and too many. It does make the story interesting though. Sometimes the comparisons made me laugh out loud.
I also love the characters. Indigo is so adorable. Her love for waitressing is fascinating, and her refrigerator-delivery-guy boyfriend matches with her perfectly. Her little sister Bex is so adorable. She loves watching CNN and helping victims of tsunamis and other natural disasters. And her twin, Severin is completely unlike her: ready for college with scholarships from his straight A grades, and desperately trying to impress a rich girl from their school. This book was so enjoyable I was dissapointed when I closed the back cover. My love for Deb Caletti just keeps growing with each book I read by her.
Overall Rating: 4.5
"I suddenly see where I'm standing, and that's at the edgo of change - really, really, big change."
Eighteen-year-old Indigo Skye feels like she has it all - a waitress job she loves, an adorable refrigeratior-delivery-guy boyfriend, and a home life that's slightly crazed but rich in love. Until a mysterious man at the restaurant leaves her a 2.5 million-dollar tip, and her life as she knew it is transformed.
At first it's amazing: a hot new car, enormous flat-screen TV, and presents for everyone she cares about. She laughs off the warnings that money changes people, that they come to relay on what they have instead of who they are. Because it won't happen... not to her. Or will it? What do you do when you can buy anything your heart desires - butwhat your heart desires can't be bought?
This is the story of a girl who gets rich, gets lost, and ultimately finds her way back - if not to where she started, then to where she can start again.
So, who wouldn't want to get a 2.5 million dollar tip at your amazing restaurant job? Indigo Skye tries to give back her tip, but the mysterious vespa guy won't have it. Indigo is determined that she will stay the same person that she was before, but can she really be sure? She lives with her mother, her little sister Bex, and her twin brother Severin in Seattle. She has an amazing boyfriend Trevor who is adorable and understands her in everyway. But after recieving the money, things start to change for Indigo. She buys her family and Trevor loads of stuff for their house and new cars and numerous other items. People around her start to expect that. They use her money without asking and take things too far. Quiting her job, letting her cat on the loose, and saving her brother from a rich, stuck up and uptight girlfriend cause her to take drastic measures and fly with her friend Melanie to California. Will the rich lifestyle take ahold of her? Or will she somehow find a way back to the girl she used to be? And if she does make it back can her family and boyfriend ecxept her back?
Deb Caletti does a beautiful job writing this book. Normally, you think about 2.5 million dollars and you think- wow! I wish I had 2.5 million dollars! I would buy this and this and this. Your list would go on and on right? Well, Indigo's expirience with money really opens up your eyes and shows you that it's not all glory.
One thing about this book is that there are lots of comparisons. Similies and metaphors and just comparing things and openly thinking that normally writers don't use. Too many comparisons can be overwhelming sometimes. This book is pushing the border between just enough and too many. It does make the story interesting though. Sometimes the comparisons made me laugh out loud.
I also love the characters. Indigo is so adorable. Her love for waitressing is fascinating, and her refrigerator-delivery-guy boyfriend matches with her perfectly. Her little sister Bex is so adorable. She loves watching CNN and helping victims of tsunamis and other natural disasters. And her twin, Severin is completely unlike her: ready for college with scholarships from his straight A grades, and desperately trying to impress a rich girl from their school. This book was so enjoyable I was dissapointed when I closed the back cover. My love for Deb Caletti just keeps growing with each book I read by her.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Waiting on Wednesday
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekley meme hosted by Breaking The Spine to showcase unreleased novels that we are waiting for anxiously. This week I'm picking: The Vespertine. (And I know that it came out two weeks ago, but I haven't been able to buy it yet and I'm just dying to read it!)
The Vestpertine by Saundra Mitchell
Pub. Date: March 7, 2011
It's the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause. This book takes place in 1889 which I think will be fascinating! It sounds like a great book and I hope I can buy it soon!
What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?
In My Mailbox
In My Mailbox is a weekley meme hosted by The Story Siren. This week I got a lot of books in my mailbox! I love that feeling you get when you see a package on your front porch and you know that inside the box, waiting to be read, are brand new books!
This week I bought:
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti
The Book Theif by Marcus Zusak
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
I Am The Messenger by Marcus Zusak
What great books did you get this week?
Hiroshima
Hiroshima by John Hersey
Pages: 152WHEN THE BOMB DROPPED. August 6, 1945:
MISS TOSHINKI SASAKI, a clerk at the personal department of East Asia Tin Works, had just turned her head to chat with the girl at the next desk.
Dr. MASAKAZU FUJII, a physician, had just sat down to read the paper on the porch of his pricate hostpital.
FATHER WILHELM KLEINSORGE, a German priest, lay on a cot in the mission house reading a Jesuit magazine.
DR. TERFUMI SASAKI, a yound surgeon, walked along a hospital corridor with a blood specimen for a Wasserman test.
THE REVEREND MR. KIYOSHI TANIMOTO, pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church, was about to unload a cart of clothes at a rch man's home in the suburbs.
A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY THE ATOMIC BOMB. THESE SIX WERE AMONG THE SURVIVORS. JOHN HERSEY TELLS YOU THEIR STORIES. AND IN THIS NEW EDITION, HE HAS RETURNED TO FIND THEM FORTY YEARS LATER... TO TELL YOU THEIR FATES.
Hiroshima starts out the morning of the bomb. It starts with the Reverend Mr. Tanimoto. It shows what happens to him as the bomb is dropped. Then it switches charater to Mrs. Nakamura and explains what she and her family does as the bomb is dropped. All six characters' expiriences with the bomb is showed in the first chapter. As the book continues it opens your eyes to the gruesome horror of what was the city of Hiroshima. The book shows each character's struggle to survive and the effect that the A-bomb had on them. It's interesting to read about their side of the story and how they prepared (and didn't prepare) for the attack, and what they thought the "noisless flash" of a bomb it was. The characters also thought the bomb only hit in their neighborhood. But when they open their eyes and get a look out into the rest of the city, they know. It was like nothing they had ever seen before.
The characters (which are real people in Japan) are very interseting. Since there are six different characters you have to pay attention to who is who or else the book will be very confusing. In the edition of the book I had, which was printed 40 years after the original, told what happened in the Aftermath of Hiroshima and how each of the character's lives turned out to be.
This book is considered nonfiction, although it is written so well and the devastation is so shocking that it seems like you are reading a story. It's a wonderful read that everyone should read. Beware, there are some very horrific scenes after the bomb was dropped about the fate of some of the people who were hurt and injured. I suggest you all to read it.
Overall Rating: 4
Pages: 152MISS TOSHINKI SASAKI, a clerk at the personal department of East Asia Tin Works, had just turned her head to chat with the girl at the next desk.
Dr. MASAKAZU FUJII, a physician, had just sat down to read the paper on the porch of his pricate hostpital.
FATHER WILHELM KLEINSORGE, a German priest, lay on a cot in the mission house reading a Jesuit magazine.
DR. TERFUMI SASAKI, a yound surgeon, walked along a hospital corridor with a blood specimen for a Wasserman test.
THE REVEREND MR. KIYOSHI TANIMOTO, pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church, was about to unload a cart of clothes at a rch man's home in the suburbs.
A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY THE ATOMIC BOMB. THESE SIX WERE AMONG THE SURVIVORS. JOHN HERSEY TELLS YOU THEIR STORIES. AND IN THIS NEW EDITION, HE HAS RETURNED TO FIND THEM FORTY YEARS LATER... TO TELL YOU THEIR FATES.
Hiroshima starts out the morning of the bomb. It starts with the Reverend Mr. Tanimoto. It shows what happens to him as the bomb is dropped. Then it switches charater to Mrs. Nakamura and explains what she and her family does as the bomb is dropped. All six characters' expiriences with the bomb is showed in the first chapter. As the book continues it opens your eyes to the gruesome horror of what was the city of Hiroshima. The book shows each character's struggle to survive and the effect that the A-bomb had on them. It's interesting to read about their side of the story and how they prepared (and didn't prepare) for the attack, and what they thought the "noisless flash" of a bomb it was. The characters also thought the bomb only hit in their neighborhood. But when they open their eyes and get a look out into the rest of the city, they know. It was like nothing they had ever seen before.
The characters (which are real people in Japan) are very interseting. Since there are six different characters you have to pay attention to who is who or else the book will be very confusing. In the edition of the book I had, which was printed 40 years after the original, told what happened in the Aftermath of Hiroshima and how each of the character's lives turned out to be.
This book is considered nonfiction, although it is written so well and the devastation is so shocking that it seems like you are reading a story. It's a wonderful read that everyone should read. Beware, there are some very horrific scenes after the bomb was dropped about the fate of some of the people who were hurt and injured. I suggest you all to read it.
Overall Rating: 4
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