Title: CATCHING JORDAN
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: December 1, 2011
Number of Pages: 281
Source of Book: Requested from publisher at NCTE because I loved the cover and premise and really wanted to read it.

What girl doesn’t want to
be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t
just surrounded by hot guys, though – she leads them as the captain and
quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of
the guys, and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic
scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there’s a new guy in
town who threatens her starring position on the team… and has her
suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

CATCHING JORDAN is a cute contemporary romance with a unique twist. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and Jordan is a refreshing character who tells it like it is and doesn’t put up with crap from the boys who she is surrounded by as she is the quarterback of the football team. It’s a unique setup for some high school drama, and drama definitely ensues with football and relationships and friendships and family, but it all seemed very realistic. Jordan’s relationship with her mom and brother and guys on the football team was fun to read, but there is strain with her dad, who happens to be a pro football player, but doesn’t seem to want her to play. Then there is the fact that Jordan’s only friends seem to be the guys on the team, as the cheerleaders are pretty nasty to her and she feels like she doesn’t have anything in common with other girls. The thing that was interesting about Jordan was how much she seems to be in control of everything, and is honest in her narration, but isn’t able to see what’s really in front of her. Of course, that seems to be pretty typical for teens as they are pretty much focused on themselves in their own little world. But, as Jordan grows throughout the book and starts to realize more of what’s around her, I began to like her even more. She started to realize what was really important to her and what she needed to be able to live with herself and as herself. This led her to start advocating for herself more and to her making decisions that were right for her.

As much as I enjoyed it, I had a little bit of an issue with this book because of Jordan. It’s mostly a personal preference type of thing, I think, but I had a hard time believing that this girl, who had never even kissed a boy before Ty showed up, was willing to sleep with him so quickly after they got together. I was fine with the insta-attraction (I get the crush thing) and even the love triangle element and her being clueless to part of it, but this one thing stuck with me. In her narration she gives all the guys on the team a hard time for sleeping around, and doesn’t want to get a reputation, which I completely understand, but I guess it just seemed a little bit out of character for her to go so far so quickly. It could just be me, and the fact that I’m a teacher, but I didn’t see any realistic, emotional consequences to that choice. But, they did at least use protection.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, fun, straight-forward contemporary read. I especially liked the added element of the creative writing that Jordan comes to discover she enjoys. As she starts journaling to get her feelings out since she can’t talk to anyone about them (can totally relate to that!), Miranda made the choice to include some of the poems Jordan has written in between chapters. It was a unique and interesting choice by the author to allow the reader to get more insight into Jordan’s feelings even as she was unable to tell them to use herself. I also have to add that I loved the secondary characters. The guys on the team who are her best friends are so hilarious with how they treat her, especially when she wants to talk relationships, and how protective they are of her. And I especially liked her older brother and what a great relationship they had. The ending was just perfect for this type of book with all of the elements – her dad, her choice of college, her boy situation, and her friendships – coming together as I had hoped they would.

Title:  CLARITY
Author:  Kim Harrington
Publisher:  Point (a Scholastic imprint)
Release Date:  March 1, 2011
Number of Pages:  242
Source of Book:  ARC from my bookseller friend

When you can see things others can’t, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It’s a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case – but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother – who has supernatural gifts of his own – becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

I had heard so many positive reviews of this book that I was eagerly anticipating reading it, and it didn’t let me down. Once I looked at the first page to see how it sounded – I was gone for the next two days reading it every chance I got. “You don’t want to kill me,” I said. “Of course I don’t, Clare. But I have to.” And a paragraph later, “…On my right was the crumpled body of a guy I hadn’t fully realized the depths of my feelings for until I saw a bullet rip into him.” OK – I was hooked – there was no chance I was putting this book down.

Clarity (Clare) Fern is a psychic from a family of psychics, and not the kind you normally think of as the scammers, but the real kind. She, her mother, and her older brother all have different psychic abilities, and they use them to entertain the tourists in their Cape Cod town. I loved Clare – she is full of snark and sass and wit in a Veronica Mars type way – and I totally want to be her friend. She doesn’t take any crap from anyone, and is fiercely loyal to her family. She’s been hurt, but she still has hope for finding a good guy (and there are a few to go around apparently!) Plus, she’s just really likeable the way she’s written. This book, and her character, reminded me of other favorite mystery books THE LIAR SOCIETY and DEATH BY BIKINI, all with kick butt, tell-it-like-it-is girls who are smart, but vulnerable and whose mysteries are sometimes usurped by their teen relationships with family and boys.

The secondary cast of characters in this book was fun, as many small town novels tend to be, and I enjoyed seeing Clarity struggle with the boys she was surrounded with. Although it was a little predicatble in the end (as I did guess earlier on who might be the culprit), it still kept me guessing throughout and I was never quite sure if my guess would turn out to be right or not. The mystery kept me on my toes, and Clare’s realtionships kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next.

CLARITY was a fun, light read, even though there were some serious elements with the mystery, the murder, and the people trying to figure everything out, and I would definitely recommend it to students who are looking for a mystery, and even to students who maybe need to be exposed to a mystery book. It’s got a great main character, an interesting mystery, and lots of snark and sass and laugh out loud comebacks, with a touch of vulnerability. I also appreciated the underlying story of not judging people before you know them and know the truth, and Clare’s battles to stand up for herself and be confident even when others are doubting her.

I’ll be eagerly waiting on the sequel, PERCEPTION, coming March 1st, to find out what Clare decides to do and what happens to her next.

Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moly.

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she
gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer
camp, she’s sure that if she wins the final tournament, it’ll be her
ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country.
Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is
Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle.
Luckily she’s confident enough to take on the challenge-until she
begins to suspect that the private scholarship’s benefactor has negative
feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be
worth a shot at her dream?

Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising
secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt
story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.

I’ve
been wanting to read this one ever since I first heard about it, and
I’m so glad I finally did. It’s a cute, easy read, and I’m glad to find a
book that will be appropriate for my younger middle school readers, but
doesn’t feel so “middle grades”. The overall plot arc is a little
predictable, but kind of like a good chick flick-you know what I’m
talking about, right? The one you really want to go see because you just
need some comfort watching and pure entertainment even if you know how
it’s all going to go in the end? It follows a safe formula for reluctant
readers, while adding in elements of religion and needing to be true to
self that make it resonate on a deeper level and send the kind of
message I want my students to read.

Secondary
characters are fun, but this book really focuses on Ellie and what
she’s going through. I have to say, I’ve never read a book about speech
students, but it added a new twist that gave some unique depth to the
story. Ellie is a fun character who really goes after what she wants.
There is, of course, a boy, and a best friend, and a family, and one
hilariously entertaining grandfather involved. Right wins out in the end
by standing up for oneself, and there are some really strong messages
throughout about prejudice and trying to fit in and doing things for the
right reasons and making sure that you are comfortable with your
actions. OyMG is just a fun, cute, light read that I will definitely be
handing off to my students right away. I look forward to reading Amy’s next book as well!

Goodreads Summary:
Juliette hasn’t touched
anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident,
but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why
Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no
one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay
attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population,
food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the
wrong color.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Juliette is alone – and can’t be touched. She is deadly – and lonely and
neglected. All she wants is to feel human again and know that she has a
choice in what she does and how she’s treated, but with her abilities,
it’s not meant to be. Once people realize what she can do, they’re going
to try to use here. They’re going to try to sway her to their side.
They’re going to try to make her do what they want. Juliette’s journey
through this book leads to a growing strength and conviction as she
figures out what she really wants and who she wants to be. Along the way she
discovers a strength she never knew she had – in more ways than one.

Tahereh’s writing is really, really unique. It’s a little bit reminiscent of a
Laurie Halse Anderson style with a not completely linear writing
quality-there are poetic parts to it and repeated lines and an
interestingly effective use of the strikeout tool that I’ve never seen
before amazing incredible entrancing. It took me a
little while to get used to it, but once I did, I was hooked. Oddly, I
noticed the use of the word “shatter” quite a bit
throughout, and I’m not sure if it’s because I knew the title so it
stuck out to me more, or if it was a bit overused, but overall, a slight
quirk in an otherwise extraordinary story.

The first part of the book is really about Juliette and her solitary
confinement, but then a boy shows up. Adam was unexpected. Adam turns
out to be different than he seems; although, he does have his secrets. I
loved Adam though – he is the kind of sweet boy character who has
always
been out for good that I like to read about in YA books. He’s probably
one of my favorite boy characters I’ve read (he’s kind of in the vein of
a Peeta-type of love interest) recently. There are some definite scenes
of romance in this book-nothing too graphic, but definitely there.

Once you get to a certain point, it’s a can’t-put-it-down read and the
action kicks in. Up
until then, it’s a more subtle kind of book. It’s a dystopian,
but you don’t really get the world building until the last part of the
book; it’s much more character driven up until then. It doesn’t really
all come together for the reader to understand what’s actually happening
until the last part of the book – and by then you care so much about
the characters that your heart is breaking for them. But, we get Kenji
then – and oh how I loved Kenji and the comic relief he provides when
it’s most needed. I hope we get more of him in book two!

There is an overall feeling of a slow exposition and then a lot of the
action happening in the later half of the book. By the end, I was left
with a Hunger Games-ish feel. In the last quarter of the book – all of a
sudden the game was changing with much bigger stakes and I was even
more intrigued by what was going to happen. I very much feel like the
ending was left open for a series and can’t wait to find out what’s
going to happen next now that Juliette knows what she does. I do think
this will be a much talked about book come November!

Title: LEGEND
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: Borrowed ARC from Heidi at YA Bibliophile
Author’s Website: http://marielu.org/

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

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

*************************

LEGEND was a book that I couldn’t put down. I do love dystopian books, and this one was a fresh concept of a no longer United States divided into the Republic and the Colonies. There wasn’t much to go on as far as how we got to this point, although there were little clues along the way that make me think we could get more backstory in the next book – and I do hope there will be a next book! In some books, it would bother me that I didn’t know how they got to this point, but in this one, I barely even noticed it because I was so wrapped up in the action-packed, suspenseful, intrigue aspects of the story. I appreciated debut author Marie Lu’s writing style. It was very straight-forward and focused on the action and details of what was going on, constantly moving the pacing forward with little clues for both the reader and the characters. 

Speaking of characters, I was hooked on both Day and June, which was good because the story unfolds from alternating points-of-view (clearly noted in chapter title, text font, and color). I appreciate the complexity of stories written from multiple perspectives, and it really works for this case and is so necessary for discovering the whole truth of what’s happening. Day and June both have heart and want to do what’s right for their families, and they both have big brothers to be admired. I’m a sucker for a great big brother in a story (probably because I’m the only girl with an older and younger brother myself), and this one has two to love! Day and June are believeable in their actions and intentions, and they’re smart, but young. It’s all of that that helped me to root for them both to figure out the political situation, work together, and succeed. The romance elements are there, but don’t take over the focus of the story; they were written with a deft hand. Secondary characters abound and we get to know their role in the story as it unfolds – some become even more important than I could have thought.

I ended this book with a feeling of contentment, hope, not wanting it to end, wanting to go back and re-read it, and desire to read the next book! I was definitely emotionally invested in this book and these characters. LEGEND is perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT. I will absolutely be passing this recommendation on to my students.

Read An Excerpt at LegendtheSeries.com

 

And remember to check out this week’s other Mara Mondays offerings and comment away to be entered in Lori’s contest at Pure Imagination.
The Secret Life of a Avid Reader – Miami post
Greads – Quote graphics post

It’s been three months since I first posted my
review/thoughts on THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, so I wanted to share it
again for those of you who may have missed it, and to remind you of all
of the reasons that you want to get your hands on this book when it
releases next week!
  *This review originally posted in June. 

OK…I
know this is a really early review, but I needed to process my thoughts
about this book – and that’s why I have a book blog – to share my
thoughts!

Title: WILDEFIRE
Author: Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Number of Pages: 400
Source of Book: Bought the hardcover on the release date
Author’s Website: www.karstenknight.com

Goodreads Summary:

Every flame begins with a spark. 

Ashline
Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her
place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated
on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into
her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the
unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in
California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her
fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is
beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the
tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash
discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled
at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has
resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her
own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master
the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one
more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to
be a storm.

I’m a little torn on this book, so this review will be a little different. I’m not sure if this was a situation of high expectations not being met, but I didn’t love it – I liked it though. This book definitely reads like a contemporary at the start, and then leads into some paranormal elements and adds in mythology from different cultures which makes it interesting and fresh. I felt like it read a little long because some parts seemed to have inconsequential details that didn’t need to be there in my mind, but in other parts I wanted more details. I definitely read it quickly because I kept turning pages wanting to know where it was going.

My Positives: 
– The beginning really hooked me. The scene develops in a way that I wasn’t expecting and I really wanted to keep reading.
– There is a unique mythology element taken from various cultures.
– Ashline is a sarcastic, whip-tongued main character who is doing all she can to protect herself.
– Good pacing of the reader getting information as needed to keep tension building.
– Each chapter was really long, but it represented one day in the week of these events occurring. Then there were a few interludes that captured my attention and led to a surprising reveal toward the end.
– The villain was created in such a way that I really did hate her, as I should have.
– I liked the group of friends (the other gods/goddesses) so much and how they all watched out for each other.
– I also liked the headmistress character and wanted to cheer for her a little bit.
– Unexpected ending, not exactly a cliffhanger, but more of a didn’t see that coming at all, now holy cow where are we going next.

My Negatives:
– I didn’t totally connect with Ashline as much as I wanted to.
– Parts were left unexplained and left open for the sequel, but where is it going?
– For some reason I was aware throughout the book that it was a guy author writing a teen girl character, so it didn’t feel totally authentic to me.
– Some parts I noticed the 3rd person point-of-view (which is a pet peeve of mine).
– There was an element of weird creepy-crawly creatures which always bugs me when it comes out of nowhere. I’m sure there’s more of a reason, but I didn’t totally get it.
– Some of the emotions seemed to develop too fast for me. I liked the romantic subplots, but I didn’t get the depth of the feelings developing.
– When I’m pulled out of the world of the story and notice the writing (instances of coarse language), that, to me, is not quite true to life. It’s there to be there, not because it feels totally natural I guess.

So, basically, I’ll read the next book in the series because I’m intrigued by the overall premise and want the explanations for the shocker ending and want to know what happens to Ashline next and hope I’ll connect with her more. But, I didn’t love the execution, so I’m hoping that will improve with the second book in the series, EMBERS & ECHOES coming in 2012, and the third book,  AFTERGLOW coming in 2013.

Title: SHATTER ME
Author: Tahereh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Number of Pages: 352
Source of Book: Borrowed ARC from Tara @ fictionfolio.com
Author’s Website: http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/

Goodreads Summary:
Juliette hasn’t touched
anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident,
but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why
Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no
one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay
attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population,
food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the
wrong color.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Juliette is alone – and can’t be touched. She is deadly – and lonely and neglected. All she wants is to feel human again and know that she has a choice in what she does and how she’s treated, but with her abilities, it’s not meant to be. Once people realize what she can do, they’re going to try to use here. They’re going to try to sway her to their side. They’re going to try to make her do what they want. Juliette’s journey through this book leads to a growing strength and conviction as she figures out what she really wants and who she wants to be. Along the way she
discovers a strength she never knew she had – in more ways than one.

Tahereh’s writing is really, really unique. It’s a little bit reminiscent of a
Laurie Halse Anderson style with a not completely linear writing
quality-there are poetic parts to it and repeated lines and an
interestingly effective use of the strikeout tool that I’ve never seen
before amazing incredible entrancing. It took me a little while to get used to it, but once I did, I was hooked. Oddly, I noticed the use of the word “shatter” quite a bit
throughout, and I’m not sure if it’s because I knew the title so it
stuck out to me more, or if it was a bit overused, but overall, a slight
quirk in an otherwise extraordinary story.

The first part of the book is really about Juliette and her solitary confinement, but then a boy shows up. Adam was unexpected. Adam turns out to be different than he seems; although, he does have his secrets. I loved Adam though – he is the kind of sweet boy character who has always
been out for good that I like to read about in YA books. He’s probably one of my favorite boy characters I’ve read (he’s kind of in the vein of a Peeta-type of love interest) recently. There are some definite scenes of romance in this book-nothing too graphic, but definitely there.

Once you get to a certain point, it’s a can’t-put-it-down read and the action kicks in. Up
until then, it’s a more subtle kind of book. It’s a dystopian,
but you don’t really get the world building until the last part of the
book; it’s much more character driven up until then. It doesn’t really all come together for the reader to understand what’s actually happening until the last part of the book – and by then you care so much about the characters that your heart is breaking for them. But, we get Kenji then – and oh how I loved Kenji and the comic relief he provides when it’s most needed. I hope we get more of him in book two!

There is an overall feeling of a slow exposition and then a lot of the action happening in the later half of the book. By the end, I was left with a Hunger Games-ish feel. In the last quarter of the book – all of a sudden the game was changing with much bigger stakes and I was even more intrigued by what was going to happen. I very much feel like the ending was left open for a series and can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next now that Juliette knows what she does. I do think this will be a much talked about book come November!

Title: THE LATTE REBELLION
Author: Sarah Jamila Stevenson
Publisher: Flux Books
Release Date: January 1, 2011
Number of Pages: 327
Source of Book: Bought the paperback
Author’s Website: www.sarahjamilastevenson.com

Goodreads Summary:

Our philosophy is simple: Promote a latte-colored world! —from the Latte Rebellion Manifesto
When high school senior Asha Jamison gets called a “towel head” at a pool party, the racist insult gives Asha and her best friend Carey a great money-making idea for a post-graduation trip. They’ll sell T-shirts promoting the Latte Rebellion, a club that raises awareness of mixed-race students.

Seemingly overnight, their “cause” goes viral and the T-shirts become a nationwide fad. As new chapters spring up from coast to coast, Asha realizes that her simple marketing plan has taken on a life of its own-and it’s starting to ruin hers. Asha’s once-stellar grades begin to slip, threatening her Ivy League dreams, and her friendship with Carey is hanging by a thread. And when the peaceful underground movement turns militant, Asha’s school launches a disciplinary hearing.Facing expulsion, Asha must decide how much she’s willing to risk for something she truly believes in.

I’m feeling a little bit mixed about this book. There are things I liked. I liked the premise with the social action elements related to mixed race students wanting others to be more accepting of them and acknowledging their uniqueness. I liked the strength of character Asha gains through the course of her senior year as she learns more about becoming involved in causes and staying true to oneself. I liked that she learned to speak for herself and be strong in her own ideals outside of what others may think of her. I liked that she learned the importance of having her own voice heard. I liked the elements of dealing with the realities of friendships at the end of high school-how they start to change based on what people want to do with their lives, as their priorities change, as they grow apart into their own people. I also liked the way the author chose to set up the story with telling chronologically what was happening, but having flash-forward moments to the disciplinary hearing that occurs at the end of the story, helping add tension and building suspense throughout.

Then there are some things I didn’t like as much. I felt that the pacing just dragged on a little bit. At times I was trying to get through the book just to get to the end and on to the next one – which is unfortunate because I think there were strong messages in this book. However, I did feel like it read long. Asha narrates this story, so we’re very much in her head as the reader. At times, that is helpful, but at times it got a little bit monotonous. Basically, I just wanted more action to be happening faster. The major events were good and I cared what would happen, I just wanted it all told to me sooner. I also felt that it wasn’t as descriptive and engaging as I would like. In addition, there was a romantic interest subplot, but it fell a little flat for me. Overall, it is an okay book with a good message that I would recommend, just not needing to be moved to the top of your to be read pile.

Book 12 of 12 for DAC2011	~ Challenge Completed!!!

Title: MEMENTO NORA
Author: Angie Smibert
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books
Release Date: April 28, 2011
Number of Pages: 192
Source of Book: ARC Offer from Publisher
Author’s Website: www.angiesmibert.com/blog

Publisher Summary:
Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.
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Another day…another dystopian   If you didn’t catch the blog post back at the end of March, I’ve been running a dystopian book club group with a class of 8th graders. It’s been a blast and they’ve been cranking out the books (some kids have read over a dozen!)  It’s definitely true that dystopian is a genre that is hot right now with adolescents – and I’ve always loved it too. So, I’ve been trying to alternate dystopian books with my other genres so that I can keep recommending new ones for my students and participate in the reading time and conversations. I had seen an ARC offer for MEMENTO NORA and requested it because I knew the dystopian book club was coming. I’m glad I did as it’s a short, quick read, and a unique take on the genre. Mostly my students liked it, although parts were a little confusing for some of them.

I liked the story quite a bit. The whole idea of a society in which people take pills after traumatic events in order to forget about them is intriguing. The idea of someone choosing to fake taking the pills in order to know what’s really going on is even more intriguing! This story is told in three voices in alternating chapter perspectives. I really liked Nora and Micah, not so much Winter – she confused me a little bit. Overall, I felt the character development was a little shallow and I missed the reasons for the world having come to this. It felt a little underdeveloped because it was so short and such a quick read – I liked the concept enough that I really wanted more substance to it. The parts of the overall concept, the idea that Nora finds out there’s more going on in her family than she thought, the way Micah engages with Nora in the first place, and Winter’s grandfather were all interesting to me though. Everything came together in the end, and it was surprising how some people were connected that I didn’t expect throughout. The concept of this world and the way the characters grow up were the elements that I enjoyed the most. I’ll probably be reading the next book in the series, THE FORGETTING CURVE, I just hope for a little bit more depth to the characters as we grow with them.

Book 9 of 12 for DAC 2011

Title: WHERE I BELONG
Author: Gwendolyn Heasley
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Number of Pages: 289
Source of Book: Bought the paperback
Author’s Website: www.gwendolynheasley.com

Goodreads Summary:
Meet Corinne. She’s living every girl’s dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .

When Corinne’s father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she’s stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she’s supposed to be living. She doesn’t care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.
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So…I didn’t love it, but I liked it (and a few of my students have already read it and really liked it).This is a really light-hearted book that’s not too deep and a little predictable, but it’s entertaining. It’s a familiar storyline – city girl out of her element in the country learns to like the people and not be so shallow and becomes more likable in the end. I think my biggest struggle was that I really didn’t like Corinne throughout much of the book – and I find it tough to get through a book where I don’t like the main character, even if I know that they’re going to come around in the end (although, Corinne’s letter to the reader at the start of the book warns that you’re not going to like her very much – cute idea!). And I did really like where Corinne ended up at the end of the book. I do think this book has the potential to become dated pretty quickly because there are a lot of brand names and pop culture references thrown in throughout the book and they’re very current right now. I also thought it wrapped up pretty fast – I was finally liking Corinne and where she was headed, so I wanted a little more of the story with her at that point.

It was a fun book with the Texas themed stuff and the small town setting. One of the best parts of the book was the secondary characters – I loved the little brother, new best friend, the jock boy who we’re not sure about in the beginning, etc. I thought they were the most entertaining part. It’s a little stereotypical, but it’s exactly what you might be looking for in this kind of book – and it delivers for that expectation. There were two main themes for this book that hit home with me: “The company you keep is the most important part of life.” and love is “the ability to go away and to come back again as if nothing has changed even though everything has changed.” Those two ideals are something Corinne has to learn and the reader enjoys her journey getting there.

3 STARS for WHERE I BELONG

Book 8 of 12 for DAC 2011

Title: RIVAL
Author: Sara Bennett Wealer
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: Won from The Contemps Challenge
Author’s Website: www.sarabennettwealer.com

Goodreads Summary:
What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?
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All right Gleeks – this is your book (and you’ve got two more weeks until a new Glee episode – just enough time to read RIVAL!) Before I start raving too much about the book, I just have to share that I read this book on a plane flight, and I am now typing my review based from my notes on airplane beverage napkins as I didn’t have any paper with me (what was I thinking?!)

I ADORE this book about the roots of friendship, and popularity, and the fleetingness of acceptance in the high school social hierarchy. It’s about figuring out what one really wants, what’s really important, and who really matters. Both of the main characters have voices that were so true and honest. It was refreshing that they were both well-rounded and the focus wasn’t on boys (although boys do, of course, play a secondary role to the main point of the story-this is YA after all!), but it was refreshing that wasn’t the main focus – it was about this friendship, why it started, why it failed, and if it could be saved. It was about girls and the pressures they feel about friendships and rivalries, even if they don’t want them that way. It was one of the most interesting contemporary books that I have read recently and the vocal music piece added another level of sophistication to it and heightened the drama.

I love that we get to hear the story from both Brooke and Kathryn’s points-of-view in alternating chapters, and that it alternates sections from senior year and junior year (when it all went down). It was a very effective way to tell this story (instead of strictly chronologically) to leave the reader in a bit of suspense as to why these two girls are such staunch rival – and then to find out that they were friends at one point. Tension built throughout the story as we get clues and eventually get the full story of what happened and what turned these two girls into friends and rivals. The big competition looming at the end adds the perfect prize at the end. Wealer writes in a straight-forward and engaging style as we see into the minds of both girls and how they perceive the same situations so differently. One of my favorite lines from this book highlights the writing style and voice and gets to one of the themes in this book about rivalry, “But I don’t shatter; I’m not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren’t on the outside.”

Ultimately, this book shows that sometimes you really don’t know someone else, nor can you see yourself clearly as others do. It’s a fascinating look into perceptions and intentions and misperceptions and true desires. This is a fantastic new addition to the contemporary genre – and a great YA book! I highly recommend getting this one – it will be a quick read because you won’t want to stop until you find out who wins the big competition at the end.

4.5 STARS for RIVAL

Goodreads Summary:
Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…
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BORN AT MIDNIGHT is a fun, light read – even though it’s a paranormal story. I really enjoyed the story as Kylie goes to camp and it turns out it’s a place for paranormal teens of all types (werewolves, vampires, shape-shifters, faeries, and witches) to get together and learn about each other so they can get along and stop all of the infighting. Kylie is a sassy character with vulnerability and a great voice. This was one of those addicting books that I stayed up way too late reading to find out what would happen next. I so enjoyed spending time with Kylie at Shadow Falls.

Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely some seriousness to this book too. Sixteen-year-old Kylie is dealing with her parents divorce, friends who are growing apart as they make differing choices, an ex boyfriend who isn’t quite out of her mind because of how badly things ended, feeling displaced and lonely and unwanted and left out; however, she really does grow to start deciding things for herself. Kylie becomes stronger throughout this book. She comes into her own as she starts to fight for what she wants and what makes her happy. She starts to discover more of who she is, and if she has special abilities herself, and learns who the people are that she can count on who she would fight to keep in her life. The thing I loved the most about Kylie is the good example that she is when it comes to romantic relationships and not doing anything more than one is comfortable with – it’s a great message for young girls. There is also a really great, but subtle, message about getting along with others and not having preconceived notions or prejudices about those who are different. Of course, it’s all done in a really approachable, non-preachy way which I think will come across well. All of the secondary characters were intriguing as well, which made it easier to get the message because I really liked all of them and wanted them all to get along too.

At times, I did feel it was a little too predictable in the love triangle. I didn’t totally feel the reason for the attraction to one of the guys, but I could appreciate where their storyline went. The other thing that threw me off a little bit was the places the author chose to end the chapters  – sometimes I felt as if it was right in the middle of a scene, so it wasn’t a good ending point to put in my bookmark because I had to know what would happen next.

Overall, this book was quite interactive. I had laugh out loud moments when reading this book. I tried to figure out the mystery of what was going wrong. I felt for Kylie when she was drifting apart from a friend. I smiled when she realized that she had new friends. I melted when the boy was being so sweet to her. I cheered her on when she stood up to others and fought for what she believed in. This book is about friendship and finding oneself and learning to get along and moving on and standing up for oneself and making one’s own path. I’m looking forward to seeing where Kylie’s path takes her next in the Shadow Falls series.

4 STARS for BORN AT MIDNIGHT

Book #2 in the Shadow Falls series, AWAKE AT DAWN, will be released in October. I’m definitely going to be reading it to see what happens in Kylie’s world next!

Book 7 of 12 for DAC 2011

Title: DIVERGENT
Author: Veronica Roth (she’s only 22!)
Publisher: HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Number of Pages: 487
Source of Book: Won an ARC from the author’s blog contest
Author’s Website: veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com

Author’s Book Summary:

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A weird thing happened to me when I started reading DIVERGENT. I kept turning pages although I couldn’t figure out why. I’m not sure if I went into this with a little bit of a skewed perception. I have already been hearing so much hype for this debut book, and I had just finished another dystopian that was haunting in an entirely different way. But, I just couldn’t put this book down. I couldn’t quite figure out what it was that was making me want to keep reading because it wasn’t feeling mind-blowing to me, in fact, it was seeming a little bit predictable, but in the end, I LOVED it. I read it so fast that when I finished, I wanted to go back and reread the whole thing again to pick up on things I may have missed the first time around. So, I guess what I’m saying is, it took me a little while to feel fully engaged in the characters and this world, but at the same time I never wanted to put it down. DIVERGENT is an engrossing read. It’s scary in showing how easy it was to get to this point with a world built of the five factions. It was really interesting to see how the world ended up divided by the five different strengths people valued. It is definitely a book that caused some deep thinking/analyzing (as any good dystopian should!) of our current societal beliefs.

DIVERGENT has a page-turning, action-packed, fast-paced, twisting plot from the very beginning to the very end full of heart-pounding thrills and wrenching shocks of sadness. This book definitely has a thriller feel to the plot as well. Smaller plot points would be important and keep me wanting to read and then the big overall conflict came together at the end in a way that was not totally expected earlier on in the book. I loved how it deals with fear and bravery in interesting, thought-provoking ways. It has lots of commentary on people and perceptions and control and fear and focuses on figuring out what true strength is. Some parts were horrifying in what this world has become (when it started with the best intentions) and shows the worst part of human nature. Other parts were inspiring in how people with the best intentions can use their strength to overcome odds and work for those they love.

DIVERGENT has likeable characters and I enjoyed spending time in Beatrice’s head. I did feel that some secondary characters could have been developed a little bit more though. Ultimately it’s about Tris’ journey to figuring out how she can go against what she’s always been conditioned to do/believe. Tris is a strong, kick-butt, take-no-crap character who always does what she thinks is right, but with a caring heart. She’s so smart, but doesn’t always realize it, but when she finally does, her bravery and intelligence shows through in unexpected ways. Tris struggles in this book between family obligation and what she thinks she wants. She’s having to start dealing with the consequences of actions and discovering how she can affect her world. Seeing her insecurities and struggles through her eyes, but most especially seeing how she dealt with them with sass and wit, really made the book for me. Some parts seemed a little predictable – it was obvious who was going to be the love interest, but I still enjoyed seeing how that played out and how they grew closer. I felt that way about most things though – the way everything was tied together in the end made me feel better about the whole book because it all made sense. It was just an exciting book and a fast read – make sure you have time to get through it because you won’t want to put it down.

4 1/2 STARS for DIVERGENT
This is the first book in a trilogy and I will definitely be in line to get my hands on the next book in this intriguing dystopian series (although it’ll be a really long wait now since I got to read this one early)!

Book 6 of 12 for DAC2011

Author: Chris Rylander
Publisher: Walden Pond Press (A HarperCollins Imprint)
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Number of Pages: 240
Source of Book: Hardcover sent by publisher for review
Author’s Website: www.chrisrylander.com

Publisher’s Summary:
Do you need something?

Mac can get it for you. It’s what he does – he and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boys’ bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And his business is booming. 

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday. It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over, it’s going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples, an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school, and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years. And that’s just the beginning. Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else’s problems is that there’s no one left to solve yours. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Sopranos in this laugh-a-minute mystery from an exciting new talent.
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I’m always on the lookout for books that will appeal to the boys in my classes. I struggle to find those books that will really engage them through contemporary situations and humor – well I’ve now found another one to add to my highly recommended for boys list with THE FOURTH STALL. Chris Rylander has created a funny book with heart. Mac, so nicknamed because he can get anything kids want and can solve their problems, thinks he has everything under control at his school as he works from his office in the basement bathroom that no one uses. He has long lines out the door everyday at recess of other kids needing help, and he runs a tight ship of a highly organized business with his best friend, Vince, who is the money guy. The two of them pretty much have control of the school and help people with all kinds of problems – whether it be bullies, dating, homework, or loans – Mac has what kids need. He takes payment or favors for his work. The payment is being saved up so Mac and Vince can go see the Chicago Cubs play in the World Series – if they can make it there. He has an internal network throughout the different levels of the school hierarchy who help him do what he needs – for a small fee. He thinks he has it all under control, until the day Fred walks in with a problem to solve that changes it all for Mac. Someone is infringing on his territory. Now he has to figure out how to solve the illegal gambling ring problem Staples has brought to his school.

This book has a full cast of characters who are each entertaining in their own right. As much as I adored Mac, some of his helpers (I’m looking at you M) were laugh-out-loud funny. The way that Mac runs his business is somewhat mobster-style and is impressive as such a well-oiled machine. Mac’s voice is also greatly engaging in this book. It’s written as if he’s talking right to the reader with asides and side notes. It’s like hearing a story from a good friend (almost Ferris Buehler style). Chris throws in some great similes that bring more character to the story overall.  The one aspect I was a little concerned about was the slight glorification of the school bullies. There is a whole range of types of bullies in his school and Mac (humorously describing them all) uses them to do his dirty work. He pays them to be his muscle and while they have his back in the end, I worry if it puts them in too good of a light. I do think, though, that because of the humor and tone of the book, and the way they help protect Mac in the end, that it overall has a positive message about sticking together and standing up for oneself.  The book also deals with friendship and trust and honesty between friends Mac and Vince. There’s action and mystery and scheming and humor and friendship. It’s a great middle-grades book to recommend to boys that should engage them in reading.

4 STARS for THE FOURTH STALL

Book 4 of 12 for DAC2011

This is a really interesting paranormal because it reads more like a contemporary. It was hard to put down and moved forward with an urgency to Clara’s angel purpose and figuring out the good angels vs. Black Wings showdown that I could tell was coming, and had a take on the angel back story that was really interesting. I also really liked that Clara knew from the start that she was an angel-blood and was figuring out how to deal with it while trying to remain a normal high school girl. Along with this, this story had a true sense of a contemporary with a high school girl stuck between following her purpose to what she’s told should do or following her heart to what she wants to do. Of course, those paths tie directly in with the two boys that she is dealing with – Christan (the boy from her purpose vision) and Tucker (her best friend’s twin brother). I did definitely have a preference for one through the whole story, even before I knew he could be a real possibility for her, and when something finally developed, I enjoyed those parts of the story – in fact I think they were my favorites.

The story also deals a lot with family dynamics between Clara and her mother as another piece of the typical coming-of-age decision-making process Clara is going through – following the path her mother wants, or striking out on her own. Of course, with the angel background, it also portrays beliefs and fate and faith as thought-provoking conversations. This book, ultimately, is about decisions and choices and why we choose what we do and the impact that can have on others and ourselves. Early in the story, Clara’s English teacher is talking about how people really get to know each other and wonders if it based on the actions we take – that nicely sets up the strong undercurrent of choices for the entire book. It also deals with the typical adolescent views on finding one’s place in the world and having that change based on situations one encounters.

Another piece of this book that I really liked was the setting. The move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a big one for Clara and her family, and the descriptions of the setting and the way the author makes good use of the scenery available by the story taking place there adds greatly to the overall feelings of the story for the reader. I had a good time getting to know Clara and Tucker, but I was left feeling like there were things I was missing from other characters in Clara’s life. I wanted to know a little more about some of the characters and what was going on with them – I have some lingering doubts about the intentions of some of them. I was left with a little bit of a sense of a let down by some of the pieces that I felt like I should have known more about, but didn’t get in this book. Overall, I liked the book, and read it quickly, but as much as it wraps things up, it still ends with a lot of loose or unsure ends in my mind, and now there will be a long wait until the next book to find out where things go.

4 STARS for UNEARTHLY
The second book in the series will be coming out next year & I’ll definitely be looking for it.

Book 2 of 12 for DAC 2011

One of the blogs that I read and heard about a lot when I started my book review blog was Kristi’s aka: The Story Siren.  She reviews a lot of YA books, and does some awesome community building of YA bloggers and promoting of books and authors.  You’ve seen my In My Mailbox posts which link back to her site as the originator of the shared posts, and now I’m joining in another one of her lovely book ideas.  I’m going to be participating in The 2011 Debut Author Challenge.  


The challenge is to read at least 12 young adult or middle grades novels in one year – from authors who are releasing their first book book in that genre that year. Then, each month, the book reviews from all participating blogs get linked on The Story Siren. See…community building! Read more about it at The Story Siren 2011 Debut Author Challenge.  So…from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, I’m challenging myself to read 12 books from first time young adult or middle grades authors. That would amount to one debut author book each month (and I’m sure I’ll read more than that!). I’ll be posting the reviews as normal, but stating that they’re for the 2011 DAC. I’m excited to start a new book stack!  


As of now (and it could change) these are the titles I’m most looking forward to reading and reviewing from debut authors for 2011:
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis
UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand
THE LATTE REBELLION by Sarah Jamila Stevenson
WHERE I BELONG by Gwendolyn Heasley
LEVERAGE by Joshua C. Cohen
THE FOURTH STALL by Chris Rylander
LIKE MANDARIN by Kirsten Hubbard (also a Contemps Challenge book)
BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys
TEN MILES PAST NORMAL by Frances O’Roark
THE EMERALD ATLAS by John Stephens
DIVERGENT by Veronica Ross
FALLING FOR HAMLET by Michelle Ray