Want to Go Private?

Want to go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

With life becoming more and more digitalized and social networking becomes a must, the danger of internet predators looms overhead. For Abby, starting high school is scary. Best friend Faith begins to spread her wings in high school leaving behind Abby. Alone and betrayed by her best friend and her parents Abby turns to Luke whom she met in the virtual world for comfort. Luke, however, is more dangerous than what is perceived by his screen name.

Sarah Darer Littman or should I say Sarah “Daring” Littman constantly writes the darker side to life not censoring even the more graphic details. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, but depression, confusion, and loneliness. Littman was able to capture the life of an adolescent girl with low self-esteem beautifully and somehow transformed her life to one with power and strength. Want to Go Private? tugs at the readers’ heartstrings and pulls them along with Abby’s dark journey. Be prepared to feel sadness, sympathy (or empathy), anger, and relief.

Broken into 3 different parts, readers follow Abby through her fall, her capture, and her road to self-redemption. Want to Go Private? is told in multiple perspectives to showcase how many people the villain can affect besides the victim. Best friends, parents, siblings, and even crushes from school plays a role in Abby’s rescue and her recovery.

Littman does an amazing job at describing the life after the attack. Abby had been groomed to believe that Luke loved her and cared for her. She becomes reluctant to leave and blame Luke and doesn’t fully understand the true depth of the crime. She willingly goes to Luke and willingly gave herself to him, but to the world Luke is a sick bastard. Abby is judged and bullied by her classmates and her father making them as sick as Luke. Littman doesn’t begin the book with happiness and butterflies and she doesn’t leave the book as such. Instead Littman writes Abby as a survivor who tells the world of what she had been through, which makes her stronger. Want to Go Private? is an inspirational novel.

However with all that being said, I wished Littman took her time to cultivate the relationship between Luke and Abby. While Abby was in a dark place making her more susceptible to influences, the level of trust and quickness to agree to meet up with Luke is hard to believe at times. One thing that struck me strange was when Luke asked about Abby’s bra size within the first week of chatting. That to me should have struck an alarm because who asks about the size of a girl’s chest? When Abby replied back believing that because he’s online and that they aren’t face-to-face she’s safe, I wanted to shake her. No! Lie! There are reasons why some things are personal!

Things escalate sexually and I must warn readers that the book gets very graphic. When pictures are shared and videos are streamed, I wondered why Abby never asked Luke to remove his hat. She points out how his face is obscured by his hat and the shadows yet she never asks for a better picture. Abby’s naivety is less endearing and more annoying.

Want to Go Private? is still a remarkable novel. Sarah Darer Littman proves as always that she is an amazing storyteller.

Cover C

Published: 2011, August 1

Source: unsolicited ARC from Scholastic

Amazon: preorder

You Are Not Here

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

Grade: 3.8 stars out of 5

Annaleah and Brian:
one as the sun,
the other, the planet.
Annaleah revolves around
Brian, but he
has other planets.
His sudden death forced
Annaleah out of orbit;
out of kilter.

You Are Not Here.
Good, well-formatted, but
far from comprehensible.
A girl dealing with grief
that affects many moons:
friends, family, strangers.
The boy seemed nice...
at first.

Brian is a jerk
and I couldn't get past that.
Once it was in my mind,
I couldn't get Annaleah.
I wanted anger from her not
sorrow or depression.
Pure hatred.
But her dealt with grief was
raw and passionate.

I love her many friendships:
strong, caring, and understandable
(except for her relationship with Brian,
which I completely agree with.)

I love her dreams of what could have been
if her father hadn't left,
if Brian had told his friends,
if...
if...
if.

And I love her
getting out of that black hole,
with a pizza pie no less.

Cover C+

It's a personal taste; I'm just sick of symbolic flowers. I do like old cover a bit more and am sad that they changed it because they felt it was too similar Before I Fall. For whatever reason when I see this cover, it reminds me of Laura Weiss's books: Such A Pretty Girl / How It Ends / Leftovers. Especially with Such a Pretty Girl, the covers have some type of object (typically organic) with a solid color background.

Published: 1 October 2010; hardback

Amazon

old cover

Linger

Linger (Wolves of Mercy Fall) by Maggie Stiefvater

Source: ARC from Scholastic

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

"In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love - the light and the dark, the warm and the cold - in a way you will never forget." (from B&N)

A part of me LOVES this book only because the end was like ZOMG!, but another part of me, a larger part for sure, is frustrated by this book. I am frustrated because Linger took a hell of a long time to reach any sort of tension and meaning behind these novels. So Linger is told through a new perspective, Cole I believe, who was turned because he wanted to and his best friend, who didn’t know. Linger was pretty much about Cole and Isabelle and if you ever want to read about a bad boy, Cole is your man. (He is also a rock-star so there’s a double good isn’t it?)

Then there was the build-up and the build-up and more building and finally, you guessed it, more build-up. It got to the point where I was clawing my face and complaining to my brother at how pissed I was at the point. By page 300 or somewhere around there I leaped up from my bed and screamed FINALLY! It was getting juicy and good and tension filled and emotional and wreaking havoc on my feelings and then it ended. Then I got pissed again because the ending was like super huge cliffhanger.

Cover A+


Linger is out now: Amazon / Indie Bound / Book Depository

And Then I Found Out the Truth + Giveaway

And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman

Source: ARC from Publicist / Point

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

And Then I Found the Out Truth is the sequel to And Then Everything Unraveled. Some spoilers below:

“Delia Truesdale didn’t think life could get more complicated. Her mother’s on the run in South America and won’t be coming home anytime soon—at least, but until Delia can outwit the evildoers who are out to destroy them both.

But it’s hard to thwart evildoers from an entirely different continent, especially when everyone things you should be doing your homework instead. And Delia’s stuck in Manhattan, along with her slightly insane aunt Charley, her uptight aunt Patience, a petulant psychic, a love-struck detective, boy-crazy brainic, and Quinn, who defies description but has kissed her twice.

The answers are waiting in exotic Buenos Aires, and time is running out. Delia might not speak Spanish or know how to tango, but she does have a passport. Will she be able to uncover the truth—before it’s too late?”—from the novel.

And Then I Found Out the Truth was a high stakes adventure that will make even James Bond pleased. And maybe even Sherlock Holmes. Jennifer Sturman drops hints throughout the book like a Jeopardy game; vague enough making you scratch your head yet when the answer is presented it makes sense. But never once does Sturman make you feel like an idiot (because Delia is on the same boat as the reader).

I did enjoy reading the many characters that Sturman writes, each one so vastly different yet equally charming, but I did find some characters unnecessary—Erin for one. Her name is dropped a couple times, but with not much a real purpose. However, one thing that I found most impressive and that personally made me happy was the cultural—racially and ethnically—diversity that Sturman incorporated which is so rarely seen.

Despite my affection of the book I am stopping myself from giving it another star. And Then I Found Out the Truth lacks a certain finesse and sparkle that I always look for in a novel. In and out the novel gives two different experiences for me. In: immersing myself into a world of different sights, sounds, and smells. Out: a vague recollection of the novel; nothing really pops out with blurred scenes.

Overall And Then I Found Out the Truth was a fun and flirty (with danger and boys) ride.

---

1. Was there a reason behind each country written in the novel or was it a random draw with a spinning globe and closed eyes?

The right answer to this question is probably that it was all the result of meticulous planning and exhaustive research. Sadly, the real answer is a lot closer to the spinning globe/closed eyes scenario! I started with wanting Delia’s mother to disappear somewhere. I also knew she’d be an environmentalist, and then I saw an article about the impact of global warming on polar ice shelves – anyhow, the next thing I knew, characters were going missing in the Antarctic, trekking through the wilds of Chilean Patagonia and chasing each other down the streets of Buenos Aires.

2. Can you quickly name some travel tunes you listen to?

I always have very lofty ambitions for all of the work I’m going to get done on long plane flights or train rides, and then spend the whole time staring out the window and listening to my iPod. Some favorites for spacing out include: Everything But The Girl, Mazzy Star, and old Van Morrison.

3. Do you believe in psychics and fate?

No – but also yes! I’m mostly a huge skeptic. I was once even uninvited from a séance because I couldn’t pretend that I thought it might actually work. That said, it would be nice to believe everything isn’t entirely random and unknowable, either. So I’m hedging my bets and saying maybe.

4. Which version of Bewitched do you enjoy watching the most?

The classic TV version (with the original Darrin, obviously!) – I desperately wanted to be Tabitha.

 

5. In the novel there are so many ethnicity and cultures discussed: any particular favorites?

Questions like this always stump me! It’s like being asked to choose a favorite color or song or book. That’s probably why I love living in New York City – there’s so much diversity. Take food – in the past week, I’ve eaten tacos, pad thai, falafel, and mac and cheese, and I enjoyed them all (probably a little too much given that it’s bathing suit season). Meanwhile, each meal probably tasted even better because of how it contrasted with whatever I’d eaten last. And now I’ve made myself hungry...

---

Buy And Then I Found Out The Truth and And Then Everything Unraveled from Amazon. Or you can win copies here:

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahn

Source: Surprise ARC from Scholastic

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

I recall dying to read this when I first read the synopsis; it sounded like something right up my alley! Now less than a month since I have finished the book I have a hard time recalling just what I read. I can recall everything from the summary, but the in-betweens are a blur. I can recall that the beginning of the tale and the ending of the tale are very similar which made me smile because it reminded me a story-telling technique my 8th grade English teacher loved to read/use. Ah wait, now everything’s coming back, but first the synopsis from Goodreads (it’s very in-depth):

Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

Jared and Browen relationship was at a pace that I was uncomfortable reading; just too fast, too impulsive, too young for me to fully swoon over. There were bouts of swooning of course and the creditable factor is there as well with the relationships starting a much younger age nowadays. Jared and Browen’s relationship is sweet, tender, and humorous that left me a little dizzy, but again, no full on swoon.

Falling back into the young and impulsive actions Browen is indeed very young to begin considering marriage. Yet the novel seems to focus more on identity. Browen’s identity is beyond the realm of fantasy and is the case of a dead father and a family that just never seemed to talk about it or anything at all. Browen’s now the only brunette amidst a crowd of blonds in her family that just screams how different she is. So what does she do? She dyes her hair blonde. By doing this she seems to shroud herself from what she wants and follows what everyone else wants—fitting into the “status-quo” of her mother, her peers, and ultimately a “world” she believes herself to live in. The novel follows the growth period of Browen—self-identity being the main issue—and beginning of recommunicating.

Just to finalize this review I would like to mention I disliked the brother and the mother, but found them and the rest of the characters differentiable. And as much as I would like to know what they were thinking, it’ll be slightly impossible because of the first person point of view narrative—limited of course. Though the mother’s nonchalant manner still irks me even after understanding this.

Cover B+

The Deadly Sister

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

Source: ARC from Scholastic

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

My oh my oh my. Give me a second while I pick my jaw from the floor.

Abby Goodwin is deemed the responsible older sister who constantly takes care of Maya even when the late night escapades started become more dangerous. But this sisterhood could only last so long and eventually the distance between them grew and at age 15 Maya has more piercings than Abby would care to know.

On a morning run, Abby accidently finds a dead body near the creek. The body turns out to be Jefferson Andrews (who I still think should have his name reversed)—valedictorian and the boy who is always invited to the parties first, but also the drug-dealer and user. When Abby finds Maya’s cellphone near the crime scene, she starts to get really worried. She knows that something was going on between the two during their tutoring sessions. After connecting one of Maya’s friends to figure out where she is as Maya runs away more frequently than Abby likes, Abby convinces Maya that she needs to hide, to run, and to stay hidden because she is the main suspect.

While Abby tries to pick up the pieces and protect Maya like an older sister the odds are stacked against her. And when she meets Brian, Jefferson’s younger brother, she finds a scapegoat. But nothing is going right; Abby is starting to lose the battle. Or is she?

In this deadly cat chasing mouse trap Eliot Schrefer draws the reader and makes them forget that it’s 8 in the morning and they’re still in their pajamas and reading a murder novel. Schefer knows how to write and does it well in this fast-paced novel. He pulled rabbits from hats that I had no clue existed; he managed to make me feel empathic to a character that I did not like; he provided clues and enough mind-twisting abilities to make me think that I thought that his book was predictable. (I’ll get you next time Schefer).

However, the characters are less than dynamic and there have been instances where I felt the hints of foreshadowing did not fit well in scenes and only serve to make the sentence awkward and unbelievable. I also wonder why fingerprints were never brought up and the scenario of hitting the same place 9 times makes me wonder if that is possible. But the shock value makes up for this and despite the negative aspects of the novel this I enjoyed myself. A lot.

The School for Dangerous Girls was good, but The Deadly Sister topped that; kudos to Schefer for not caving under pressure and growing as a writer.

P.S. I’m still picking my jaw from the floor.

Cover C+

P.P.S. Yes I am going back to my grades. Trying to write my own summary still though—trying.

Mini-Reviews

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Information overload—hoping the sequel will delve deeper into the plot. Great promise though.

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black

Half liked, half ehh.

After by Amy Ewaf

Really, really liked the beginning—great voice, intriguing plot—but then I got stuck halfway. It was like with The Cinderella Society, information overload, situation lost control (opps sorry, song stuck in my head).

Suite Scarlett/Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

Weee. That was fun! Defintiely something to pick up when bored or looking for a good read. There is a big Spencer-favor in Scarlett Fever, which is good for the people who love him! I kind of grew tired/annoyed by him later.

The Season by Sarah MacLean

It’s sort of this separation of romance and mystery. Like with The Body Finder it goes back and forth fighting for dominance. The mystery aspect really lacked. Easy read with lots of giggling :)

Monday Mystery: Remainder Reviews

Mistletoe by Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, Nina Malkin

Glittering white snowflakes. The handsome blond ski instructor. The sparkle on a cashmere skirt. Hot cocoa and kisses in front of a crackling fire. The holiday season is the ESSENCE of magic...and romance. Four of today's bestselling teen authors -- Melissa de la Cruz (THE AU PAIRS), Aimee Friedman (SOUTH BEACH), Hailey Abbott (SUMMER BOYS), and Nina Malkin (6X) -- bring us delectable tales of love and lust and holiday cheers (and tears) in this one-of-a-kind collection that teens will devour faster than a plate of Christmas cookies.

Only the first story was worth any time—sweet and satisfying. The rest were really really disappointing.

You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay

Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she's part-time shrink to a whole bunch of semi-dead people with killer issues. All Megan really wants is to go to homecoming, but when you're trailed by a bunch of slobbering corpses whenever you leave the house, it's kinda hard to score a date. Let's just say Megan's love life could use some major resuscitation.

Megan's convinced her life can't get any worse - until someone in school starts using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into scary, hardcore flesh-eating Zombies. Now it's up to Megan to stop the Zombie apocalypse. Her life - and more importantly, the homecoming dance - depends on it.

Teen drama and zombies, what’s not to love? Reminds me a bit of Wake by Lisa McMann

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae have one thing in common: they all want to die. When they meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens make a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides...and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living--or if there's no turning back.

I WoWed it, received it for review, devoured it, and almost threw it back up. Can someone be more than disappointed? It started out really promising, then dwindled, halted, backtracked, and finally went a course that I did not expect nor appreciate. And seriously, sock puppets are fine but when they are not clean—fresh off the feet—and you’re smooshing it in someone else’s face it’s mildly disgusting.

Undone by Brooke Taylor

When Kori Kitlzer, the “dark angel” of the 8th grade, tells Serena Moore that they are more alike than she thinks, Serena is instantly intrigued. As their friendship solidifies and their lives entwine, Serena tries to become more like the fearless, outspoken, and ambitious Kori. Soon Serena doesn’t know where she begins and Kori ends. But when a twist of fate yanks Kori away from Serena, she will need to find a way to complete her best friend’s life left undone.

A fine novel just not for me it seems.

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

Cuteeeeee

Riding the Universe by Gaby Trina

Chloé Rodriguez values three things above all else—her family; her best friend, Rock; and Lolita, her Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster. With a black body, blue airbrushed flames, and perfect sloping ape hangers, Lolita is Chloé's last connection to her beloved uncle, Seth, who left her the bike when he died last summer. So when a failing chemistry grade threatens to separate Chloé from her motorcycle, she vows not to let that happen . . . no matter what.

Enter Gordon. Ridiculously organized, übersmart, and hot in a casual, doesn't-know-it kind of way, Chloé's peer tutor may have a thing or two to teach her besides chemistry. But she has to stop falling for Gordon . . . and get Rock to act mature whenever he's around . . . and pass chemistry so she doesn't lose Lolita forever. Just when Chloé thinks she's got it all figured out, a bump in the road comes out of nowhere and sends her skidding.

Decent, a bit fast paced, but a tad forgettable.

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Eh, promising start to hopefully something great.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Same as Strange Angels. LOVE the blue ink though.

The Book of Luke by Jenny O'Connell

Emily Abbott has always been considered the Girl Most Likely to Be Nice -- but lately being nice hasn't done her any good. Her parents have decided to move the family from Chicago back to their hometown of Boston in the middle of Emily's senior year. Only Emily's first real boyfriend, Sean, is in Chicago, and so is her shot at class valedictorian and early admission to the Ivy League. What's a nice girl to do?

Then Sean dumps Emily on moving day and her father announces he's staying behind in Chicago "to tie up loose ends," and Emily decides that what a nice girl needs to do is to stop being nice.

She reconnects with her best friends in Boston, Josie and Lucy, only to discover that they too have been on the receiving end of some glaring Guy Don'ts. So when the girls have to come up with something to put in the senior class time capsule, they know exactly what to do. They'll create a not-so-nice reference guide for future generations of guys -- an instruction book that teaches them the right way to treat girls.

But when her friends draft Emily to test out their tips on Luke Preston -- the hottest, most popular guy in school, who just broke up with Josie by email -- Emily soon finds that Luke is the trickiest of test subjects . . . and that even a nice girl like Emily has a few things to learn about love.

Awkwardly fast paced.

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

A steamy Southern beauty makes one fatal mistake

Natalie Hargrove would kill to be her high school’s Palmetto Princess. But her boyfriend Mike King doesn’t share her dream and risks losing the honor of Palmetto Prince to Natalie’s nemesis, Justin Balmer. So she convinces Mike to help play a prank on Justin. . . one that goes terribly wrong. They tie him to the front of the church after a party—when they arrive the next morning, Justin is dead.

From blackmail to buried desire, dark secrets to darker deeds, Natalie unravels. She never should’ve messed with fate. Fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.

Awkwardly slow-paced

Daddy's Little Angel: Bedeviled by Shani Petroff

“Mom always said my dad is the devil. I never knew she meant it literally!”

All Angel’s father (a.k.a. the Devil) wants is to be a part of her life. And in return he has the power to give her anything she wants—including popularity and a date with her long-time crush, Cole Daniels. But Angel will only accept him on her terms: get out of the devil business and leave his special powers out of the equation. Is Angel condemning herself to an eternity of lunch at the losers’ table? Or can she and Daddy Dearest strike some kind of deal?

Can I say cuteeeee again? My 10 year old cousin loves this book

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

Boys. 7 of them, to be exact.

Megan is used to moving from place to place -- it's typical for an army brat. But she drew the line at South Korea. She insists on staying in the States to finish her last two years of high school. So her parents made arrangements for Megan to live with their friends, the McGowans...and the McGowans' 7 sons.

Turns out, living with 7 boys might as well be a foreign country! The boys are messy. They are cliquey (who knew?). And worst of all, two of the oldest boys are H-O-T. (A problem considering they are supposed to be Megan's "brothers.") Megan is definitely in enemy territory. She needs to win over the boys' hearts without totally crushing her own.

And when Megan starts falling for one of them, sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning....

What is a girl to do?

Fine but I kind of dislike the ending.

Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s

Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s by Kristen Kemp (November 1st 2009—Scholastic)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: Kat's come to New York City with a dream: to be a big fashion designer and to see her name on a label in Bloomingdale's. Back in Kentucky, she imagined a city paved in Prada…but the reality isn't quite so fashionable. Still, there are friends to be made, boys to be flirted with, and amazements to be found…sometimes when she least expects it. Even when her lame hick boyfriend from back home comes to the city to try to reclaim her, Kat knows she's found her place…now all she has to do is have the place find her back.”

Review: First off the summary is from Amazon. Secondly Amazon needs to fix their mistake because Cat is spelled with a C not a K, unless of course the entire book was wrong.

Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a refreshing read to an otherwise dull day. It is filled with humorous adventures, passionate dreams, and a hot clown—ohlalala.

Cat’s grandmother, Nina, just passed away so she’s out to pursue their dream: to have a line in Bloomingdale called Breakfast. Inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn’s best friend, Holly, this girl can create a corset in 48 hours, cut, sewn, and hem a dress in less than 5 hours! Holy smokes. And she’s seventeen! With a good amount of money Cat travels to New York City and meets a heedful of unique group of people though I question the safety of befriending this people so quickly in such a large city. Breakfast in Bloomingdale’s is an outlandish book that made me smile even if it confused me sometimes. Endearing, crazy, and chic all in one.

However the book goes off tangent quite frequently. Not in the hey that’s an interesting tidbit you just shared, but more in the what the heck are you talking and wherever it came from please put it back as it means nothing to me. Then there are times where the author skips certain information so now you’re re-reading scenes just in case you missed something then realized you didn’t.

I would have like to see some of the sketches of the designs incorporated into the book because I was LOST when they were describing the clothing. I’m not a fashion guru, I watched enough seasons to catch the Tim Gunn reference and general sewing techniques and objects, but when you describe a clothing line for goth children I immediately conjure up an image of black and deep purple diapers. With fishnets. And heavy dark eye shadow. And I do not think that was the author’s intention.

Cover A-

I like this cover.

Kin and Kith

Kin by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh (October 1st 2008—Graphix)

Summary: “Rue Silver's mother has disappeared . . . and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it's not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn't kill her mother -- instead, he broke a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue's mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her -- and must also defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.”

Kith by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh (October 1st 2009—Graphix)

Summary: “Rue Silver's life is not what it appears to be. Her mother is a faerie, and has been taken back to the faerie realm. As Rue goes to bring her back, she must travel deep into an inhuman world. At the same time, the faerie realm is venturing into our world too, and taking its toll on those Rue loves. When her grandfather's plans threaten Rue's city, she realizes that she's the only one who can stop him. But is Rue a human or a faerie? Where does she fit? How does she know the difference between love and enchantment?”

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Review: Hmmmm what is there to say about these two comics. I do feel like I should prepare myself for the heartache that is to come with these types of books/comics. I never do seem to love them.

Anyway Black’s storytelling translates well into this format. I think Naifeh’s skills as an artist compliments well with the story as it’s much more of gritty, thick outline, gothic feel. As for the story itself I question how much do I enjoy her work. For me, it’s much too fast and much too slow at the same time.

The plot moves very fast for me. Snap of the finger and there’s something new. Another snap of the finger and there goes a secret. Scene after scene you’re bombarded. Then you step back and question why was that even included. I’m debating about if this scene is important or not, then questioning why am I debating about it because obviously it must be important if the author included it. So wait, huh? Then there are scenes where I’m going O_O what the freak?

I always, always, feel like Black’s work has so much potential! SO MUCH! But then she has to be odd and the entire book falls off balance and I’m just frustrated. There’s so much emotion, so much drama, so much plot that I expect more!

Overall: Every book is a stepping stone to something greater. Will it disappoint in the end I’m crossing my fingers.

The Lonely Hearts Club

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (January 1st 2010—Point)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice…and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways…which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like….”

Review: I think I have solved the mystery of small and cute YA literature. I cannot believe how long it has taken me to realize this but I finally figured it out. When the author describes a male character to the T of his gorgeous blue/green eyes and is tall, dark, handsome and athletic in some way then he and the girl are going to hook up.* When that happens I can guarantee that this book is going to be predictable to an extent. And The Lonely Hearts Club was…to some extent...of almost the entire book....

Fans of the Beetles rejoice there’s a lot of Beatles references here. Okay so there are not that many references mainly just saying how awesome they were. Anyway aside from that The Lonely Hearts Club will be a guilty read to some but with a good motif behind it. Women empowerment—we are women, hear us roar. For a good heartfelt, sisterly [not in the literal sense] bonding this book will sure to please. If you enjoy clichés with a very small twist then try with this book. If you’re looking for a whole new sensation with more action [not in the literal sense] then I suggest finding a new book.

Overall: Small and cute that doesn’t pack much a pow or wow.

Cover B-

Heh. I just got the iPod reference to music to Beatles. Wow I’m slow. Oh the real life cover is much more smoother in detail than it shows.

*There are however many novels that does not follow this pattern.

Ruined: A Ghost Story

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris (August 1st 2009—Point)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her aunt. And at the snooty prep school, the filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city. There's just one catch: Lisette is a ghost.

A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle.

As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend -- and as she slowly learns to trust Anton Grey -- she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?”

Review: Ruined relied heavily on the feel of New Orleans. Despite the fact that it’s smack dab in America, it has an exotic presence that the locals embrace. Ruined brought this feeling along with voodoo magic, haunting, and family ties. Emphasis on the family tree.

Morris does an exceptional job tying history to the book. She explains briefly of New Orleans’s background, a detailed life of Lisette—cause and effect—and the ties that each family has of the city. This was Morris’s greatest strength for me. Her ability to mold a story within a story.

Lisette’s story was one of tragedy. Karma comes back a full 180 when her death is the main cause of the death of 16 to turn 17, 7 daughters in one family. Not to say that the family is kind of crazy and demented (there sort of are, half tempted to shove one of the girls off the roof myself). Of course Lisette isn’t bitter about the whole thing—150 years can do that to a girl—but she has a great personality. I was completely beguiled of her story from beginning to end.

However I would to mention that some things threw me off. There was this issue with the colons. As in a lot of them. At odd times.

"She couldn't seeor hear the group she'd followed: They'd left the central path and disappeared down one of the alleys."

"And there was another strange thing about the students at Temple Mead Academy: They were all white."

"The layout of the school was confusing: It seemed to be a maze of locked doors, roped-off staircases, and dark hallways that led nowhere in particular."

"This was a lie: Rebecca didn't have a middle name at all"

"Rebecca felt out of step: The curriculum in Louisiana was completely different from the one she'd been following in New York."

Another thing was that the narration would lose at points. I got confused easily and had to back-track to set things straight. The ending needed a bit of clean up. A lot of it was assumptions albeit very easy assumptions, but it would be nice for a clean break. Also the conflict after Lisette’s passing was left unanswered.

Cover B

In person the cover is much pretty. There’s a smidge of a stencil work of leaves near the girl on the cover. It pops in the right light. I found it to be a very nice touch.

Ghost in the Machine

Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman (October 1st 2009—Scholastic)

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “Ryan and Sarah are trapped inside the mystery of Skeleton Creek. Nothing in their town is what it first appears to be. And there are forces at work that want to keep old secrets buried…at any rate.

Clue by clue, the pieces begin to add up—and they all point to danger. In his journal, Ryan tries to chronicle his discoveries. Meanwhile, Sarah investigates and captures what she sees on video.

As time starts to run out, Ryan and Sarah are forced to make more and more desperate moves to get to the heart of the mystery. Someone—alive or dead—is trying to stop them. And as the stakes get higher, so do the risks.

There are threes sides to this story: Ryan’s. Sarah’s. And the deadly truth.”

Review: Ghost in the Machine has tough act to follow about Skeleton Creek and in some ways it lacked the ompf factor.

Just as Skeleton Creek we follow Ryan and Sarah uncover the mystery of the dredge number 42 haunted by the ghost of Joe Bush—or is it really him…?

The intricacy of the book is still here as well as the fear. Every last detail counts in this series as we go back and forth trying to uncover what really happened. Ghost in the Machine is the final book in this exciting series and the ending of course was just as spectacular as the beginning. We finally figure out the true identity of the ghost of Joe and the reasons why he did so.

The reason why Ghost in the Machine did not do as well as Skeleton Creek was because of the first page. On the first page Ryan somehow writes a list of names related to the dredge that no amount of reading will give the reader as to how he knows this. Ryan claims that he must of wrote it the night before he fell asleep after coming home from the dredge. He doesn’t remember that night, only fragments. What I loved so much of Skeleton Creek was the fact that it gave the reader reasons for everything! Ryan didn’t just magically come up with a list of names, he searched for the cooperation linking to several people and from there it expanded.

Ghost in the Machine provides entertainment as I read both books in one sitting, in less than a day, and wanting more from Patrick Carman.

Overall: Exciting, with twists, but not as in depth as I would have liked.

Cover C+

Go here to see the companion videos (at least I think this is where you go...?)

Skeleton Creek

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman (February 1st 2009—Scholastic)

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Summary: “Something mysterious is happening in Skeleton Creek. Something scary. Something sinister...

Ryan came close to it...and nearly died. Now he's trapped in his house. He can't trust anyone--not even himself.

He is forbidden from seeing his best friend, Sarah. So when Ryan is isolated and alone, she plunges back into the mystery, putting her life on the line to get the truth.

Ryan is desperately trying to write down the full story. And while he does, Sarah takes videos of what she finds, then sends him the links so he can watch.

Together they discover: The past is dangerous. The present is haunted. And the future is deadly.”

Review: There was something exceedingly extraordinary about Skeleton Creek that left me hanging off the edge of my seat. Not because it was too frightening, it was just something enthralling and captivating about the narration that forced me to continue.

First thing I have to say is how much I love the presentation of the book. The book itself is a composition notebooks tucked into a plastic sleeve similar to that of how a VHS is done. It’s a combination of both Sarah and Ryan—video and writing.

I love the intricacy of the book. At first I was thrown off by how many little things the author wrote about—it made absolutely no sense. Then he threw the word “alchemy” then it all came together like a jigsaw puzzle. I love the pictures, the notes, the newspaper articles—they all provided the reader interesting facts as well as building the mystery up.

The ending will make the reader cry for the sequel. Luckily for me I had the sequel at the same time I had this book. I probably would have cried too if I didn’t have the sequel—it was that much of a cliffhanger.

Overall: Great book if you’re looking for a thriller.

Cover C+
Cover elicits an indifference from me.

Go here to see the companion videos (at least I think this is where you go...?)

The Comeback

The Comeback by Marlene Perez (August 1st 2009—Point)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie's starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend. Sophie has been quickly dispatched to social Siberia, but not for long--she'll do anything it takes to make a triumphant comeback.”

Review: The Comeback is one of those novels that scream TEEN NOVEL! It’s the typical—girl is popular, new girl comes along, old girl is not popular anymore, old girl wants popularity back, insert: a crazy scene that degrades the old girl even more, old girl learns a lesson, and the let bygones be bygones.

This should all sound very familiar does it not? We’re jumping back years of what young adult novels have come from. The Comeback is a guilty pleasure. One of which leads the reader back to the good ol’ days where everything was simpler and a good pepper-down-the-dress can spoil anyone’s big day.

Sophie is an aspiring actress that demands the spotlight. But when Angie appears from nowhere Sophie is pushed aside even by her own boyfriend. Insert diabolical schemes that makes me pity the poor girl. You can compare it to when someone pulls someone else’s pants. It’s mortifying for the person and you know you shouldn’t be looking, but it’s like stopping gravity from being…gravity—impossible. I feel like I should turn my head the other way when Sophie’s schemes never turn out how she wants it to be but you just can’t help but look.

I loved some the characters in this book particularly Sophie’s best friend and the best friend’s brother. Witty and strong characters. I did not really enjoy Sophie’s ex-boyfriend though; a bit fickle for my taste and his reason for breaking up with Sophie was not really a good reason at all. In the end you kind of like they’re friends though so you can sigh happily to the hookup between the best friend’s brother and Sophie. I thought Angie was also a great character. The author provided substantial background information and some character build-up.

Overall: Cute. Nostalgic feeling of the good old days though I wished for a bit more pow in the book.

Cover B+
I’m a sucker for a good dress. I admit I probably like taffeta a bit more than the rest of society. Loves the color scheme though, rich and deep with a splash of color. The body language is there as well.

And Then Everything Unraveled

And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman (July 1st 2009—Point)

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “Delia Truesdale has no idea her life's about to change forever. She's too busy enjoying the California summer. Her internet tycoon mother, T.K. Truesdale, is out of town, and that means Delia can spend all her time at the beach, surfing. That is, until everything unravels.

Her mother suddenly goes missing, and everyone thinks she's dead - except Delia, who knows T.K.'s way too organized to simply disappear. But Delia's still sent to New York to live with her two aunts - a downtown bohemian and an uptown ice queen.

And in case that's not bad enough, she also has to deal with a snooty new school and trying not to fall for the wrong guy. Oh, and finding her mother.

As she delves deeper into the tangle of conspiracies and lies surrounding T.K.'s disappearance, Delia begins to suspect that the wrong guy may be the right guy...and that some secrets - especially the dangerous ones - were never meant to be unraveled.”

Review: And Then Everything Unraveled gives Nancy Drew a run for her money.

I was wrapped up completely in Delia’s story from page one to the end. I expected her to crack at some points like she really was crazy and her mother’s actually dead. I thought it might have been a “dealing with grief” type of story. I was way off--like in outer space off.

While dealing with the world around her, Delia faces another world: School. In this spectrum of class hierarchy Delia captured the eyes of a boy who’s at the top of the pack. While the two produced squeals of happiness because of the drama class scene of Romeo and Juliet, it was refreshing how everything was not about them. It steered off to family troubles, friend troubles, and mother troubles.

Delia’s aunts are hilarious. It’s having that crazy aunt only times two. Both complete opposites it was odd to see how one gene pool can produce 3 variations.

What amused me the most was the fact that the jumping off point involved a physic and a random private investigator that happened to set off chain reactions. A stroke of good fortune I guess was what it was all about. Without them Delia would have never figured out if a) her mother is still alive, b) how she can prove that her mother is still alive.

I also had trouble with the names the first part of the book. Especially when you throw in nicknames, birth names, middle names, it all becomes a mess.

The ending could have been tided up a bit more. I don’t know if there’s a sequel in the making but an epilogue would have been nice if nothing else. It’s a semi-cliffhanger with some gaps in the middle. If there is a sequel, however, then Jennifer made a great tease towards the end. Definitely interested in a sequel but it might not be a full novel since there’s not much else to cover.

Overall: Good.

Cover C+
Meh. Not really feeling the vibe of the cover.

Sea Change

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman (June 1st 2009--Point)

Grade: 2.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?”

Review: I enjoyed the small facts of sea creatures, the folklore behind the island, and in general the little details which gives the novel an excellent foundation. I thought the way the tale of the merman and mermaid was nicely presented through the voice of a fisherman.

My biggest disappointment was the fact that the relationship between Miranda and Leo was never dealt with in detail. It was just a few scenes of only these two. Love at first sight is a good start, but what comes after the first sight is important. I need reason why these two people are meant for each other. I need more dialogue, more interaction, a deeper connection. As well as if Leo truly is a merman. Throughout the book, I was just waiting to read about the conflict once Miranda figures the truth out. Sadly, hints were dropped that he is but never a full blown confession.

I would have also liked to read about Miranda’s mother’s past; her struggle, her path of falling in love and divorcing, the interaction between her ex-fiancée and old friends. What was the sudden switch from the cold shoulders to the rubbing elbows? Somehow, somewhere I need a bridge to fill in these gaps. But I enjoyed the reading about the relationship with Miranda; I thought it was realistic and not overly dramatic.

However, I did enjoy Isadore’s character. It was compelling and full of excitement. The way Aimee connected Isadore’s past and Miranda’s current self was brilliantly done with the few attributes that Miranda possess similar to that of her late grandmother.

The side characters reminded me a bit much of MTV’s reality TV show “The Hills”. Basically it’s a group of rich children that has no other goal in life than to get laid, rich, and beautified. I have no trouble about this but when about half the book is the activities that Miranda and they do, it just spells non-enjoyment.

Overall: A sad disappointment. A diamond in the rough is what I mostly sum it up as.

Cover B-
The bottom half is weird. It’s like this poorly done Photoshop where they cut off her entire body, bumpy, oddly shaped.

Being Nikki

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot (May 5th 2009—Point)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts.

Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.

But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.

How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. John's - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...

Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all... especially one model in particular. But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.”

Review: Being Nikki was actually much better than Airhead, its prequel. We saw more development with the plot, and more conflict. Originally it was flat, just Em trying to coop with her new body. Now, however, we try to understand the real purpose behind everything. This gives the reader another layer to digest.

The plot thickens, and we find the real Nikki…in someone else’s body. We go deeper and deeper into Stark and find the real reason why Em happens to be Nikki. We meet new characters that bring more dynamic personalities. A touch of sass, a dash of evil, and a pot full of gasps.

I really do enjoy reading some of the characters in this book. We come across Steven, Nikki’s brother, who acts from of the intermediated and the in-between of all the craziness. Through him we can understand more of Nikki’s past and her background.

But one thing that I would like to say is the fact that the characters really do not have any major flaws. Unlike some of the older works, the flaws are blatant but the way Cabot morphed the flaws into something unique, something lovable, worked for me. Nowadays it is somewhat forced and makes me cringed. Or if not force, they are perfect, unless you start to make up random lies that there are flaws.

Take for example Christopher. Christopher was the geek that slept during class but when acquires a new haircut and a leather jacket, he is suddenly Mr. Popular.

Okay I may just contradict myself here but oh well. Em is starting to annoy me. Not sure how the rest of the readers feel but the whole “Nikki’s body has a mind of its own and it’s horny” does not sit well with me. Two is fine, three, why not? But 4!? Will you please stop kissing every guy you meet? And it’s only book 2, I cannot wait to see who else she plans to hook up with.

Overall: Being Nikki was a nice installment to the Airhead series.

Cover C+
Wrong angle. Her chin is massive looking.

Airhead

Airhead by Meg Cabot (May 13, 2008--Point)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary:"Emerson Watts, 16 and female, loves playing video games, hanging out with her best friend, Christopher, and has made peace with her less-than-supermodel-esque looks. But when she's involved in a mysterious accident, she wakes up to find she's now in the body of...a supermodel. Who was behind this switch? What was the motive? And how can she get Christopher to realize she's still the same person inside?"

Review:It makes me wonder at points if this book had not been written by Meg Cabot, would it have received the same amount of attention? Certainly, for me, the summary and title/cover would not have interested me as much. A bit generic and a tad cliche, Airhead was nothing jaw-dropping.

I never seem to enjoy Cabot's series, mostly her stand alone books, and Airhead backs up that thought. Nothing really held my attention for more than that actual page. That is not to say that Airhead was awful. It wasn't. It just was not substantial.

Emerson Watts was a conflicting character for me. Sometimes I like her, and others I do not. Her sudden new appearance results in a sudden new rush of male attention. Of course, Em receives it with open arms. I kind of understand it since she never had such a romantic life but it gets too much. I just wish she stops fawning over so many guys--behave yourself girl!

When I first encountered Lulu, I hated her. Pompous cheerleader with a pea-sized brain, her attitude made me gag. But I gradually came to terms with her and found myself liking her (who knows why).

Em's family I really did quite like. Her little sister had spunk and sass and both parents were sweet. And Cosy was squeal-worthy. Adorable!

It was an on again off again for many of the characters. Appear in one scene just to disappear for another five.

Overall: Airhead shows potential but nothing more.

Cover: B-
Shiny but nothing special.

Destroy all Cars

Destroy all Cars by Blake Nelson (May 1, 2009--Scholastic Press)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: "James Hoff likes to rant against America's consumerist culture. He also likes to rant against his ex-girlfriend, Sadie, who he feels isn't doing enough to change the world. But just like he can't avoid buying things, he also can't avoid Sadie for long. This is a fantastic, funny, sexy, cool masterpiece from one of the best YA writers at work today, an anti-consumerist love story that's all about idealism, in both James's relationship with the world and his relationships with the people around him."

Review:Destroy All Cars was quite a liberal piece of work. James is irrational and rational at the same time, with his cut-off sweaters, he reminded me of the kid in the back row. The one that makes you wonder, is he doing that on purpose or just for the heck of it? And with his ways of not shampooing his hair, and talk about the corrupt nature of humans you tend to shy away from characters such as he.

One of the strongest points of this book has to be James's essays. The reader gets a great sense of his personalities from his monologue. And let me tell you, he does have a lot of things to say. From hobos to soccer moms James tells all on how this society works. Which brings me back to the question if James is as real as it seems.

Outside of his snide humor, the actual book was lack-luster. I really did not care for Sadie nor the other girls. The teacher, I have to admit, added some type of humor besides James.

Overall: Destroy All Cars seemed to be more of random assortment into a guy's mind. Odd humor, thought-worthy topics, Destroy All Cars was a book to be read on a whim.

Cover: C+