Screams All Sound the Same

Expected Publication:  May 26th, 2015

The Tenderness of Thieves

By: Donna Freitas

Philomel

ISBN-13:  9780399171369

Jane is ready for a fantastic summer.  In fact, she's pretty sure the universe owes her one.

This past winter, Jane was held at knifepoint during an armed robbery and the specter of that night still haunts her.  A summer romance with one of the town bad boys -- sexy Handel Davies, who takes her breath away and makes her feel like a bolder version of herself -- seems like the universe's way of paying her back.

But bad boys always have secrets, and Handel's secret just might shatter Jane completely.

Review

       I just seem to be striking out with books lately, and this one was no exception to that rule.  I requested this from the tour site that I belong to, because almost four years later I still remember her book The Survival Kit fondly.  I remembered comparing her to Sarah Dessen and really enjoying myself while reading her books, namely her characters.  I read the synopsis to this one and the comparison to Gone Girl (a book that, despite the hype, I still haven't read yet) did give me a moment's hesitation.  But I decided to request it anyways, even though the synopsis doesn't exactly cover up what the big "secret" Handel's keeping is regarding.  I have a soft spot for bad boys.  Well, me and this book did not get along.

       It started with a phrase the author, narrating as Jane in first person, uses in her thoughts - "me and my girls."  That phrase sounds like some sort of animal pack, or something out of a Brooklyn-ized Mean Girls revival.  This phrase happens at least four times within the first chapter.  I flipped through and it happens way more than just that, with "the girls and I" heading chapter thirteen, for example.  I am a freak and I know this, fully admitting it right now.  But something about that phrase SCREAMS ghetto trash, Maury-show contestant -- or rich, spoiled, partying Daddy's girl.  Either way, I cannot STAND that phrase.  I have come to the collective realization that I am now officially old in a way that I never was before.  Plus, the whole first chapter is a "meeting" between Handel and Jane, where he says her name twice, she says his once and he walks away.  Then she goes and rehashes the whole thing to her friends as an "interesting" story.  Overall, I think the current generations might like it, but I'm an old lady.  I kept thinking to myself, who talks like that?  And in what universe are this girl and her friends interesting?  Not for me.

VERDICT:  DNF, No Star Rating

**I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is May 26th, 2015.**

I Said What About Breakfast At Tiffany's?

Expected Publication: October 14th, 2014

Oh Yeah, Audrey!

By: Tucker Shaw

Amulet Books

ISBN-13:  9781419712234

It's 5:00 a.m. on Fifth Avenue, and 16-year-old Gemma Beasley is standing in front of Tiffany & Co. wearing the perfect black dress with her coffee in hand -- just like Holly Golightly.  As the cofounder of a successful Tumblr blog -- Oh Yeah, Audrey! -- devoted to all things Audrey Hepburn, Gemma has travelled to New York in order to meet up with her fellow bloggers for the first time.  She has meticulously planned out a 24-hour adventure in homage to Breakfast At Tiffany's -- however, her plans are derailed when a glamorous boy sweeps in and offers her to New York experience she's always dreamed of.

Gemma soon learns who her true friends are, and that sometimes, no matter where you go, you just end up finding yourself.  Filled with hip and sparkling prose, Oh Yeah, Audrey! is as much a story of friendship as it is a love letter to New York, Audrey Hepburn, and the character she made famous: Holly Golightly.

Review

       Sixteen-year-old Gemma Beasley lives an ordinary, boring life with her parents.  Than her Mom dies and in her grief, Gemma starts a Tumblr blog about Audrey Hepburn, called Oh Yeah, Audrey! to pass the time.  It's in doing this she discovers her favorite movie of all time, Breakfast At Tiffany's, and her idol: Holly Golightly.  Through the blog she becomes friends with Bryan and Trina, other Audrey fans from other parts of the U.S.  She even gets someone named Telly involved, who constantly makes hateful comments.  The friends make a plan to meet in New York, for an Audrey themed day, ending with a revival showing of Breakfast at Tiffany's.  It's shaping up to be a day to remember, when Gemma is presented with the opportunity for adventure of the romantic sort, with a mysterious weathly boy named Dusty.  But is he everything he seems?  And can her friends forgive her for ditching them?  Will Gemma's adventure be everything she wants it to be?

       This book is extremely light.  Yes, it's chick-lit, but that doesn't mean that at least the characters can't have substance.  I have to say, that the plot was really cute (if unbelievable at times, especially a plot point involving Gemma getting her hands on one of Audrey Hepburn's dresses).  I liked the friends hanging out and for the most part Bryan and Trina seemed pretty cool.  Probably the low point for me with their friendship was how judgemental they were of Telly when she came to apologize about putting down Audrey.  She tries to tell them all the great humanitarian things Audrey did, but Bryan brushes her off.  She basically says, "Who cares about the fashion?" and Bryan shallowly tells her that's all that really matters.  Then near the end when Gemma learns Dusty's true colors and finds out what a slimeball he really is, Trina is EXTREMELY mean and judgemental.  She basically wants everyone to shun Gemma.  

       Basically the book ends with the friends reuniting and woo-hoo, it's all better!  Not!  The author brought in a subplot about Gemma's unresolved feelings about her Mother's death and it seemed really abrupt/unfinished.  Not to mention, the whole thing is set within a 24 hour period and it just really doesn't allow for a lot of depth.  Gemma was basically an any-girl, cardboard cutout and I was never really able to picture her through the whole book.  Overall, I just felt like this book was too shallow to be good reading.  There's a difference between fluff, and wasted potential.  This is the latter.

VERDICT:  2/5  Stars

*I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is October 14th, 2014.*

Go On Now, Take It

Published:  December 1st, 2013

Another Little Piece of My Heart

By: Tracey Martin

Harlequin Teen

ISBN-13:  9781459254749

What if your devastating break-up became this summer's hit single?  In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying Mother's request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she's ever loved.  Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared's big break.  While Jared is catapaulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire's heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it's been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family.  But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past?  Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?

Review

     Let me just tell you right now (in case for some reason, you didn't already catch on from my other ramblings and related posts: I AM A COMPLETE JANE AUSTEN-OBSESSED FREAK!  For some people this would be equivalent with Austen purism and they wouldn't touch re-tellings or posthumous sequels with a 10-foot pole!  I am not a purist and adore the chance for more of some of my favorite characters in classic literature.  What made this book doubly impossible to pass up was the fact that it was a retelling of Persuasion - my favorite of Austen's novels, now that I've grown older.  Maybe it's because I relate almost completely with poor Anne Eliot and her miserable life spent in service of others.  Not everyone can be an Elizabeth Bennet or an Elinor Dashwood.  Some of us suffer serious heartache for our happiness!  So color me excited that this was supposed to be teenaged, modern versions of Anne and Wentworth! 

     I did enjoy a lot of things about this book.  I liked the fact that it was set during the summer, in a beach town.  It was a lot easier to have it be during that season - especially in modern America, with all the restrictions on the time and energy of today's teens.  I really enjoyed seeing how Claire (Anne) handled the loss of her college fund.  At least she wasn't afraid to go out and get her hands dirty to try and save some money for school (not that her family at all encouraged her in this)!  The writing was gorgeous at certain points and the descriptions of Claire's feelings after the break up were definitely spot on - take it from someone who knows.  My biggest issue was the characters.  With the reader limited to first-person point of view (Claire's) and we don't get any insight into what Jared, her Dad, her sister or her cousins are feeling or experiencing.  As a result of how closed our window into Claire's world is, us readers really only get to know her and her side of the story.  Also, Claire makes some REALLY stupid mistakes.  She has an inability to tell anyone 'no' and it almost causes her to have a serious issue, that could completely ruin her life!  All because she can't tell someone "no" at the least, "NO FUCKING WAY" at the most!!!  

     I could understand Claire's reasons for breaking up with Jared, but I agree with some other reviewers that have stated that Claire loved to victimize herself and paint everyone else as the villains.  Jared really drew the short end of the stick in this book.  The way the reader is introduced to him is as an asshole who asked his girlfriend to choose between her dying Mom who had cancer, and him.  Then he ran away in a hissyfit when she chose her family!  Plus he wrote a bunch of songs about what a bitch she is and how materialistic she is.  I'm supposed to root for Claire to get back with this guy?  Also, Claire's cousin is interested in him and Claire says NOTHING TO HER.  She doesn't tell her he's her ex-boyfriend or what an asshole he is.  Instead she just seethes and plays the martyr of the situation.  It annoyed me quite a bit.  By the end, I was won over (mostly) by Jared.  But I spent the majority of the book NOT invested in the romance, which is a problem for a book that is completely centered around romance/romantic angst.  The songwriting and singing bits were fun and I truly enjoyed them.  However, overall this book was fun but not very substantial or anything I will reread.  More of a summer beach read than anything.  In other words, classic Harlequin (even if it is the teen imprint)! :D

VERDICT:  3.5/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, Harlequin Teen, via NetGalley.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book was published December 1st, 2013.*

That's The Beat of a Heart

Expected Publication:  January 10th, 2014

Heartbeat

By: Elizabeth Scott

Harlequin Teen

ISBN-13:  9780373210961

Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

 Review

      Just a quick disclaimer: the cover hasn't been revealed as of yet, so I was forced to get creative with clip-art/internet pictures.  Okay now on to the review! :)  The reason the premise of this book intrigued me from the start, was the resemblance to a plot that Jodi Picoult might tackle in one of her books.  Not an 'issue' novel in the direct sense or the traditional one, but technically that's the classification.  This book was extremely difficult to read and not let myself make judgments on the characters until the end.  Emma's Mom is dead and she will never be able to ask her advice on boys, tell her about school or speak to her at all and get an answer back.  But even though she's dead, her Mom is hooked up to machines and turned into a living incubator to try and keep Emma's unborn brother alive long enough to make it when he's actually born.  Emma is horrified by this and thinks that her Mom would hate what Dan, her husband (Em's stepdad), has done to her.  And Emma is almost certain that her Mom only got pregnant to please Dan and was terrified to have a baby - that she never wanted one at all.  As Emma exists in a haze of anger and loneliness that is eating her up inside she makes friends with Caleb who is the school degenerate.  He is dealing with his own grief, which stems from something worse than Em ever imagined.  With him and her best friend Olivia to support her, Emma thinks she just might make it through.  But then Dan actually asks for her opinion and Emma is forced to make the hardest choice of her life.  Is it the right one and is it a choice she can live with?  Also, can Emma let go of her deep anger and open herself up to love in all its forms?

     I definitely sympathized with Emma.  She has not only lost her Mom, a vibrant and important person but is forced to see her barely existing all for a baby that isn't even for sure going to make it.  Something like that is bound to create resentment, anger and horror in a teenage girl.  Also, I loved that Scott showed that Emma was angry with Dan mostly for not even asking her opinion about continuing life support and his sudden focus on the baby, ignoring her almost completely.  She basically loses both her parents at the same time.  But for all that, Emma really grated on my nerves with her constant vilification of an unborn baby and her seeming determination to wipe it from her life.  Plus the insistence that just because her Mom felt afraid, that she hadn't wanted the baby, etc. got on my nerves.  Just because she is Emma's Mom doesn't mean that Em knows every little thing about her, as much as Em thinks it does!  She is a teenager and is inferring all this from her limited observances of her Mom's pregnancy.  All the whining/observation/anger about this supposed fact did begin to grate on me and make Emma seem like she had the reasoning capabilities of an 8 year old, rather than a 16 year old!  Urghhh!  Was her Stepdad supposed to just let the baby die out of respect for his wife and lose the only child he would ever have with her - all due to what Emma believes?

     That said, the situation did tear at my heartstrings.  The subplot with the accident that is still tearing Caleb's family apart years later was so real that it made me physically ache for the family's suffering.  The ending of this book was far from neat and tidy but it fit the story and was believable in regards to the different characters and their personalities, etc.  I liked the romance as the light in the storm, but also felt like it was almost entirely unnecessary to the book.  They did fix each other though and did it in a beautiful way.  I can't say it was the best book I've ever read, but I did enjoy it and it was certainly thought-provoking.  That said, I would only recommend this to readers who don't shy away from controversial issues.  Otherwise don't even bother.

VERDICT:  3.75/5  Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication is August 27th, 2013.*

The Game of Life Isn't Always Fair

Expected Publication:  August 1st, 2013
Canary
By: Rachele Alpine
Medallion Press
ISBN-13:  9781605425870

Staying quiet will destroy her, but speaking up will destroy everyone.

Kate Franklin’s life changes for the better when her dad lands a job at Beacon Prep, an elite private school with one of the best basketball teams in the state. She begins to date a player on the team and quickly gets caught up in a world of idolatry and entitlement, learning that there are perks to being an athlete.

But those perks also come with a price. Another player takes his power too far and Kate is assaulted at a party. Although she knows she should speak out, her dad’s vehemently against it and so, like a canary sent into a mine to test toxicity levels and protect miners, Kate alone breathes the poisonous secrets to protect her dad and the team. The world that Kate was once welcomed into is now her worst enemy, and she must decide whether to stay silent or expose the corruption, destroying her father’s career and bringing down a town’s heroes.

Canary is told in a mix of prose and verse.

Review

 

     Kate is desperate to keep her family together, but since her Mom died they've drifted dangerously apart from each other.  So when her Dad gets a new job coaching basketball at privileged Beacon Prep, she is more than happy to start school there.  Especially since it means she gets to leave behind all the 'friends' who deserted her when her Mom got sick with cancer.  Her brother Brett is angry and withdraws even more, especially when Kate starts hanging out with the popular kids who make fun of him all the time.  Enjoying the all of the perks that come with having a basketball God for a boyfriend, when things start to go downhill Kate starts to have serious doubts about who her real friends are and who's even worth her time.  When Kate is assaulted and tries to speak out, she needs to decided whether or not to let herself be silenced, or to speak the truth and maybe begin healing all the poisonous hurts in her life.  Will Kate be forced to choose between herself and her Dad before all is said and done?

     This book was really powerful.  At the beginning, Kate is a typical teenager worried about the shallow things in life.  She's focused on her appearance, popularity, getting a boyfriend and surviving high school.  But as the book moves forward, we get to see her changes as she matures.  The blog posts in a combination of prose and verse were a really nice touch and added an extra element of reality to the book for me personally.  When I was a teen, I wrote poetry constantly to express myself and I know that a lot of teens still do.  A poem can be a life-changing event.  As things go from bad to worse with the basketball boys and the popular girls, readers get to see Kate taking a stand for things she believes in (especially when they all attempt to cheat off of her homework) but letting things go too (like when they make fun of her brother Brett and his girlfriend Julia).  The decision that Brett makes to go into the military and the backstory/thoughts from when their Mom was sick, and how this all affected Kate definitely makes her more relatable.  I could see how after all that personal pain she'd be so mixed up about what her values were and what she wanted.  The way she handles the assault is realistic, but still portrays her as a strong girl who is willing to stand up for herself. 

     I liked that the author managed to show the Father's road back to his daughter from the major disconnect he's been in, without vilifying him to the readers.  When all is said and done, you are sure of the fact that he's a human being, albeit one who made some VERY huge mistakes.  All of the interactions with her boyfriend (who abandons Kate in favor of the team) and the girls who were her friends, but start bullying her after the assault were pretty realistic to how entitled/spoiled teens seem to react to things they see as threats to their freedom or way of thinking.  My only complaint would be the way Kate made excuses for Josh's douchebag/borderline abusive behavior for most of the book.  But I know it happens all the time in reality which makes me sad.  The ending was definitely in keeping with the overall, never-give-up strength and attitude of the rest of the book.  All in all I enjoyed it a lot, even when it was breaking my heart into tiny pieces.  A very emotional and gripping book that I would recommend to teens who like books dealing with real issues, reluctant readers, teachers and librarians.  Or anyone wanting a great book! :)

 

VERDICT:  4.75/5  Stars

 

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. It will be available for purchase on August 1st, 2013.*

Crash Into Me Baby...

Published: January 5th, 2012

Slammed (Slammed # 1)

By: Colleen Hoover

Self Published

ISBN-13: 2940014187602

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

Review

     So I got schooled this year, by this novel.  This one was what I consider to be my first true introduction to the New Adult Contemporary genre that has popped up over the last few years and expanded like mad in the writing community.  This book in particular seems to be one most people either really dislike, or really love.  I saw an article about New Adult fiction in Romantic Times magazine and figured I'd give one of the spotlighted books a shot.  Boy am I seriously grateful that I chose this one (which won the draw mostly because it's set in my home state of Michigan!).  Layken was a relatable main character, who although she was mature and good-hearted was far from perfect.  In fact there were times when she was a downright brat to everyone who loves her.  And that made this more real to me than a million perfect heroines with true 'speshul' loves ever could.  We are never our best selves 100 % of the time - EVER.  I loved the way that she and Will met and while the source of their angst and the thing keeping them apart was very cliched, for the most part it was handled extremely well by the author and never delved into the realm of lurid fantasy that it could have easily hijacked.  Layken and Will's little brothers were hilarious and heartbreaking, especially with the tragedy that they're going through with Layken's one remaining parent.  Their Halloween costume made me cry and laugh both.  This book was so sincere and gripping in its emotions that I couldn't put it down, reading it straight through in one sitting!  I can't say much more without giving major spoilers, so all I will say is that if you love romance and reading characters that are people you could actually know, this is the one for you.  But have the sequel within close reach or you'll be dying for the next fix! 

VERDICT:  5/5  Stars

**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**

Ink Connects Me and You

Expected Publication:  June 25th, 2013
Ink (The Paper Gods # 1)
By: Amanda Sun
HarlequinTeen
ISBN-13:  9780373210718

I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

Review

 

     Katie Greene has just lost her Mom and now she's losing her home too.  Due to an outdated will, she is being sent to live with her Aunt Diane all the way in Japan instead of her Grandparents in Canada.  At first she is despondent and not making much of an effort.  But then she meets Yuu Tomohiro, the school kendo (a type of martial arts from what I gather) star and is intrigued by him.  Oh, there's also that little thing where his drawings come to life!  Refusing to be brushed off, Katie moves herself deeper and deeper into Tomo's world and the dangers that come with it.  But will she survive the journey?  And can Tomo and Katie have a relationship that lasts when something in her makes his ability even harder to control than ever before?  I really loved this book!  It was everything I was hoping to read when I subjected myself to Katana by: Cole Gibsen, which was a far inferior book to this one in my opinion.  Katie was a great heroine, strong and feisty but not afraid to show her grief for her Mom.  At the same time she was learning a language, making friends (Yuki was the cutest thing ever, loved her big mouth and all) and adjusting to living with Diane, her Aunt who she barely knows.  Diane was a believeable parent substitute which is a rare thing in YA.  You could tell that she loved Katie, but had no idea how to deal with the responsibility of having her in Japan.  Tomo was smug and rude, but he had a great heart.  I was broken after learning his back-story.  The whole subplot with the Yakuza gang trying to recruit him for his power was chilling and honest.  I loved his loyalty to his friend who has joined Yakuza, even with the danger to himself.  The whole ink drawings coming to life plotline was scary and thrilling, just like it should be.  The lack of control made for some terrifying events especially with an ink dragon.  The immersion in Japanese culture was honest and never came across as fake.  I never even needed the glossary in the back of the book because of the easy style of the author.  I loved the ending, but am dying for the next one already and this one won't be published for another 7 months!  The only thing I could have been happier with was a little less romantic angst.  Overall, a great book that I would recommend for mythology fans who want a fresh read. 

 

VERDICT:  4.5/5  Stars

 

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. It will be available for purchase on June 25th, 2013.*

If You're Angry and You Know It...

Expected Publication: August 28th, 2012
Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions # 1)
By: Louise Rozett
Harlequin Teen
ISBN-13: 9780373210480

Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some CONFESSIONS to make... #1: I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?

#2: I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who "might" be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.

#3: High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry-get it?)

Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.

(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.) (Sorry. That was rude.)

Review

   Rose Zarelli is fourteen years old and really angry at life.  Her Dad died recently, her Mom has completely withdrawn, and her brother went off to college and ditched them.  She has all of these confusing feelings for Jamie Forta, an older guy who everyone says is no good for her - and he might have a girlfriend.  Her best friend Tracy made the cheerleading squad and is dating a complete jerk named Matt.  Rose just doesn't understand the rules of high school and why everything has to change so much.  Will she always be this angry and on the fringes or can she get her life back together?  Rose tries to be a good friend and look out for Tracy, all the while being left behind and criticized for not thinking that popularity is the end-all-be-all of everything.  She's confused and angry because of her Dad's death.  She loves her brother but is totally pissed when he doesn't come home for Thanksgiving and goes to his girlfriend's house instead.  Plus she has to figure out whether or not she wants to get involved with Jamie or give in to Robert, who follows her around like a puppy that's been kicked a lot.  I sympathize with Rose so much and understand why she's so angry.  I also totally understand her confusion at the rules of high school society.  I hated that Rose saved her friend Stephanie from alcohol poisoning at a party and got labeled 911 Bitch and tormented for months afterward by the cheerleaders, especially Jamie's girlfriend who hated Rose's friendship with him.  Rose has attitude, snarky and sassy comebacks, plus she's a word nerd.  What's not to love?  Yes, she does stupid stuff a lot, but she's only fourteen.  I was angry that there was a cliffhanger at the end!  I want to know what happens now but I have to wait months on end for more of Rose and her screwed up life! :)  I definitely recommend this to people who like a strong heroine.  Don't be discouraged by her age, in this case it worked in her favor because she actually acted like it in a good way.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is August 28th, 2012.*

The Curse of the Lost Colony...

Expected Publication: September 4th, 2012

Blackwood

By: Gwenda Bond

Strange Chemistry (Imprint of Angry Robot)

ISBN-13: 9781908844071

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island's most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can't dodge is each other.

Blackwood is a dark, witty coming of age story that combines America's oldest mystery with a thoroughly contemporary romance.

Review

   Miranda Blackwood has been an outcast all her life.  With a screwed up family life, a Father who's the town drunk and a golden retriever named Sidekick as her only friend, she can't wait to get out of Roanoke and start a life somewhere else.  Phillips Rawling is a juvenile delinquent, the son of Roanoke's sheriff and can talk to ghosts.  His parents sent him out of town after getting in trouble one too many times.  Now he's been called back because 114 people have disappeared from town without a trace - just like the original Roanoke disappearances in 1584.  When Miranda's Dad turns up murdered and then mysteriously comes back to life changed for the worse, it will be up to Miranda and Phillips to solve the mystery of what happened to the missing people, why her Dad is acting so strange and how the family curse has passed along to Miranda.  Can they save the town before it's too late?  I have always been fascinated with the mystery of Roanoke Island.  I have curiosity about it still, but so little fact remains that we'll probably never know what really happened.  It felt like the book dragged quite a bit, moving slowly towards the action.  At certain parts this was a good thing but at others it bored me.  Phillips and Miranda's romance was cute without making me gag and I liked the randomness of their adventures together.  They both had a complicated family history with the original Roanoake disappearances playing a part.  I enjoyed it up until alchemy became involved.  Yes, it meshed well with the 1584 events, but I honestly am bored practically to tears by the actualities of supposed 'alchemy.'  All in all, it wasn't a major part of the book until close to the end.   I liked the book, thought it was very original and would highly recommend it to fans of unsolved history mysteries and YA paranormal fiction. 

VERDICT:  3.85/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is September 4th, 2012.*

Questions of Life and Death

Published: October 4th, 2011
Liesl and Po
By: Lauren Oliver
HarperCollins
ISBN-13: 9780062014511


Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.
That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.
Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

Review

   Liesl is locked away in the attic upon the sudden death of her Father, by her evil Stepmother (who only wants Liesl's money without her in the way).  Liesl is unexpectedly visited by Po, not a boy or a girl, but most certainly a spirit from the Other Side and Po's Cat/Dog companion Bundle.  She makes Po promise to find her Father and tell him goodbye.  Po doesn't expect to ever actually do this, but does find Liesl's Father.  He wants his ashes to be taken to the house they lived in when Liesl's Mother was still alive and well.  She decides to undertake the journey, sneaking out of the attic to do so.  What she isn't aware of, is that the alchemist's apprentice, Will, had accidentally switched the box of her Father's ashes with a box of the most powerful magic in the world.  Now Liesl is being chased down by the woman who it was intended for, the Alchemist, Mo (the woman's kind security guard) and her stepmother who wants to get rid of her once and for all.  Will Liesl be able to get her Father to his resting place and will she be able to let him go in the end?  More importantly what will happen to the magic once it's unleashed?  This was a cute book, full of magic and fantastic occurences peppered in on top of ordinary people and places.  I truly enjoyed reading about Po, Bundle and the Other Side.  However, I was at times bored by the slowness of the plot and detached from the characters' predicaments.  I liked Liesl and Will, but never really empathized with them at all.  Mo was wonderful, but I felt like Lauren Oliver did him a diservice by making him mentally slow (kind of like saying he was only kind to the children because he wasn't exactly a 'real' adult) and it bothered me.  Overall a fine story, but a little off in it's connection with me and I would recommend it more for children twelve or under (maybe teachers too).  The illustrations were a serious high point for me.

VERDICT:  2.5/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*

How To Save Yourself

Published: October 18th, 2011
How To Save A Life
By: Sara Zarr
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316036061


Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.
Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?
As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems.
Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about the many roads that can lead us home.

Review

   Jill MacSweeney is still grieving hard for her Father, who died very recently in a car accident.  So she is resentful when her Mother decides to adopt a baby, because she feels like she's trying to replace him.  Mandy Kalinowski just wants a way out of her messed up life.  She doesn't know if the baby is a result of a one-night stand at the county fair or the product of sexual abuse by her Mom's boyfriend.  Either way, she knows she can't take care of it and Robin MacSweeney seems like a good person to entrust the baby to.  When Mandy comes to stay with Jill and Robin for the last month of her pregnancy, will they manage to keep each other from breaking down or will they all fall apart completely?  Mandy begins to have second thoughts about the adoption, but will she keep her promise?  This book was heartwrenchingly beautiful.  I am not a huge Sara Zarr fan and I could take or leave her other books.  But this one was love at first sight.  I was glad that it was from Mandy and Jill's points of view alternately.  I really sypmathized with Jill's problems and she was a great girl at heart.  But being from the wrong side of the tracks myself, Mandy really tugged at my heart.  By my Aunt's husband I was voted most likely to be a teen Mom and I always wondered what my decision would be if I did become one (I never did BTW).  I loved the realistic relationships between the characters and the ending was awesome, but I'm not gonna say anymore for fear of spoilers.  I couldn't put it down and it's the best contemporary fiction book I've read so far this year! :)

VERDICT:  5/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*