Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual

Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual by is it Pennsylvania? (’07-’08 edition)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: In this manual readers will unlock the secrets to being a skilled driver. From road signs to what not to dos, young teens will follow their passion and travel wherever they wish. Only of course if they pass the test… (ha! I crack myself up being so bored).

Review: Let me just say that I’ve read the ’04 edition and the ’08 edition is so much freaking better! It’s a lot more in-depth with better explanations, more information, and the format much smoother.

Anyway the reason behind this review was from this little twitter chat with Erica and Kristi. Erica (The Book Cellar) asked why I was reading the driver’s manual and Kristi (The Story Siren) said that so I can review it. She of course didn’t know that I don’t have classes for these things like she does. So the only way to prepare myself for the permit test was to read the darn thing. So here I am…reviewing my driver’s manual. It’s more of a joke than anything really.

I want to mention the pros and cons of IRL manual and e-manual. For future teens getting ready to take the permit test, I suggest you get both. But definitely get the online version if you can only pick one.

The IRL manual is a lot easier for your eye rather than staring at the computer screen for 4-5 hours. They have shiny pictures, bright colors, and neat little tables/charts should you drink while driving. They like to mention how much money you’ll be fined with, years in year, and blah blah blah. A lot of it is of course common sense. If you’ve been in a car or on the road, it’s basic information. Some of the information you’ll probably never see in real life. Their descriptions are off at times, confusing me more than helping. It took me about 3 chapters to figure out what was “passing other cars” meant. It seemed fairly simple but they way they explained it was like brain surgery.

The online manual you get from PennDot. Trust me, get this. It’s the same as the IRL manual but after each chapter they have this set of review questions. The IRL manual does not. It helps…a lot. Mostly because the permit tests likes to use very similar questions like those coughcoughthesame!cough I zoomed by the test because I’ve seen them before. I’ve answered them before—twice. Go over the question, try your best, go back to see what you got wrong, and after a few days do the entire set all over again. It’s a $38 test, don’t screw up. Better to waste an extra 30 doing all the questions over again than failing the test.

As for the online test, try them. It can’t hurt. There’s also this road sign online test.

Anyway that’s all! Good luck!

P.S. If anyone wants to know, I did pass my knowledge test the first time around. It took less than 10 minutes but the waiting was freaking long! Line for this, line for that, mom forgot her ID.

Monday Mystery: Megan Crewe

Megan's Top 5 Ghost Movies

I already have a list of my favorite ghost books on my website so I figured it'd be fun to talk about ghosts in another medium: movies! These are my five favorite portrayals of ghosts on the big screen, in chronological order. If you haven't already seen them, give 'em a watch. If you have, why not watch them again?

The Watcher In The Woods (1980) -- I'll admit, I haven't seen this one since I was a kid, so I don't know how well it holds up. But it's one of the first movies I think of when remembering movies that creeped me out. Very suspenseful and spooky. Plus it has Bette Davis in it, which raises the awesome level by like ten points right there.

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) -- The only movie version of A Christmas Carol I've been able to get through. Does a great job of capturing the original story while making it somewhat kid-friendly--though, whoa, it does have some pretty dark moments. The bit with the Ghost of Christmas Future in the graveyard still freaks me out!

Ghostbusters (1984) -- How can anyone not adore this movie? I do not know. Bill Murray makes such a charming scoundrel, the idea of capturing ghosts with scientific methods is genius, and really: Slimy spirits. Realms of evil in a refrigerator. Giant marshmallow man. I shouldn't have to say more. Hilarious and spooky at the same time.

Ghost (1990) -- I've always loved the idea of a character having to solve the mystery behind his own death. Add a fake medium who suddenly becomes not-so-fake (much to her dismay), a believable romance, and intense emotional moments like the floating penny, and you've got a keeper.

The Frighteners (1996) -- It's possible some of my inspiration for GIVE UP THE GHOST came from this movie--after all, it is about a guy whose only friends are ghosts. But Frank uses his ghost friends in a very different way (scamming folks) and for a very different reason (death of his wife). Another movie that balances laughs with scares to great effect, and the romance is so sweet.

Thanks for hosting me!

Megan

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Megan Crewe

http://www.megancrewe.com

Contest Reminder

The contest is back open for comments!

Also you can earn an extra 10 entries for commenting on my review for CANDOR! +15 if you were one of the lucky few to comment before the 19th!

MAXIMUM RIDE Book Promotion

So that long title might throw you off a bit but hopefully you'll read this.

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Read “MAX” - the newest book in the bestselling Maximum Ride series.

On sale in paperback 09/01/09!

"Still reeling from their most recent adventure, Maximum Ride and the rest of the flock must head out to sea to uncover the secret behind a brand new series of disasters—fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii, hundreds of ships are being destroyed. As if that weren’t enough, they’re also being tracked by a criminal mastermind with, oh yeah, an army of mercenaries. Can the flock save themselves and the ocean, and the world, from utter destruction?"

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This is what one lucky fellow can win:

1. Maximum Ride: Max (paperback)
2. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (paperback)
3. Maximum Ride: School’s Out – Forever (paperback)
4. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (paperback)
5. Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (paperback)
6. Maximum Ride: Manga (paperback)
7. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (paperback)
8. Daniel X: Watch the Skies (hardcover)

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Rules:

It's going to be fairly simple with this promotion so the only rule is to comment with your email address.

+1 to you if someone enters saying that they were referred by you

+1 to the person that states your name

This will end on October 2nd--exactly 2 weeks from now

The Fine Print:

The Maximum Ride: Max Promotion is open to legal US residents who are at least 13 years of age as of August 31, 2009. There will be two prizes for each Promotion. Each prize consists of the following eight (8) books: Maximum Ride: Max (paperback); Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (paperback); Maximum Ride: School’s Out – Forever (paperback); Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (paperback); Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (paperback); Maximum Ride: Manga (paperback); The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (paperback); and Daniel X: Watch the Skies (hardcover). The approximate retail value of each prize is $72.00. Winners will be confirmed on or about September 28, 2009 by email. Prizes will only be shipped to confirmed winners with addresses in the US. Prizes will be shipped within 30 days after a selected entrant is confirmed as a winner.

Random Post About Everything to Nothing

Hey guys, Julie Kraut emailed me letting me know that she'll be coming to Philadelphia (she remembered that I'm from Philly) for a reading of Slept Away! I'm already trying to convince some fellow PA bloggers to go (Steph Su and Harmony) and hopefully will find more to come! I'm not exactly sure if I can make it but since it's only an hour's worth of a commute via bus and train it isn't that far. One of my friends might come with me since she's awesome like that!

So here's the details:

October 3rd, 2009, 1:00 pm

Reading and signing of Slept Away

Penn Bookstore (hey if you want to tour UPenn, now will be a great time!)

3601 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

Let me know if you can make it! It'll be fun (hopefully!).

I also wanted to let you know of a contest Cat is having! She has some amazing books up for grabs, some of which I loved! Seriously she's such a great person so I want this contest to be big for her! Plus it's international~~

Donut Days

Donut Says by Lara Zielin (August 6th 2009—Putnam)

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “Emma has a lot going on. Her best friend’s not speaking to her, a boy she’s known all her life is suddenly smokin’ hot and in love with her, and oh yes, her evangelical minister parents may lose their church, especially if her mother keeps giving sermons saying Adam was a hermaphrodite.

But this weekend Emma’s only focused on Crispy Dream, a hot new donut franchise opening in town, where Harley bikers and Frodo wannabes camp out waiting to be the first ones served. Writing the best feature story on the camp for the local paper might just win Emma a scholarship to attend a non- Christian college. But soon enough Emma finds the donut camp isn’t quite the perfect escape from all her troubles at Living Word Redeemer.”

Review: While I’m not a super religious person Donut Days managed to stay within my comfort zone. That is to say, despite the numerous sermons, and talks of God, I got the impression that there was something more. Something beyond. This, to me, was a coming of age story with a sweet twist.

I found it delectable that Lara Zielin managed to bring that whole church and God issue to a rather calmer and simpler environment—the opening of a donut shop.

Through the various takes of how people found God—a group of bikers (!)—and why-are-you-here-at-donut-camp questionnaires, Zielin delivers a wonderful voice. From growing up in Detroit to winning a RV (for camping more than 13 days), she aptly moves from harsh realities to why-the-heck-not curious amusements.

One of my biggest concerns regards Jake (Emma’s childhood best friend). While Zielin creates building blocks for Emma and Jake, it seemed as though Emma only started to like Jake when he became hot. I mean, there are moments where she reflects back to the younger days and how Jake’s personality never changed, but she mentions him being ‘hot’ a lot. It puzzles me.

I also wanted more of the bikers’ stories. Why did they join? Where did they stay? And possible more insight of whatever happened to the church and Emma’s parents.

Overall: Donut Days is similar to that of Eileen Cook’s What Would Emma Do? (they both have the same name!) but with a more girlish touch. More emphasis between Emma and Jake.

Cover C+

I love the donuts. I’m just not as charmed by the unflatteringly shot of the girl.

8 Reviews Each Under 8 Sentences

During one of my periods where I grew increasingly frustrated of how I've spent weeks for review books but not on my own personal books, I decided to take several days off to tackle it.I read these books from August 9th-August 11th along with this other book: TwiLite. I plan to do a full review for that one

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith [3 stars]

"Emma Healy has never fit in with the rest of her family.

She's grown used to being the only ordinary one among her rather extraordinary parents and siblings. But when she finds a birth certificate for a twin brother she never knew she had, along with a death certificate dated just two days later, she feels like a part of her has been justified in never feeling quite whole. Suddenly it seems important to visit his grave, to set off in search of her missing half. When her next-door neighbor Peter Finnegan -- who has a quiet affinity for maps and a desperate wish to escape their small town -- ends up coming along for the ride, Emma thinks they can't possibly have anything in common.

But as they head from upstate New York toward North Carolina, driving a beat-up and technically stolen car and picking up a stray dog along the way, they find themselves learning more and more about each other. Neither is exactly sure what they're looking for, but with each passing mile, each new day of this journey, they seem to be getting much closer to finding it."

It was clean and nice but the romance sparkled from out of nowhere. The author tries to connect these two teens together but it seemed more like "I've seen the light and now I see that I love him". Coming of age story that deals with past grief. Enjoyed some scenes and found the book to be decent.

Girl V. Boy by Yvette Collins and Sandy Rideout [3 stars]

"When offered a chance to write an anonymous column for the school paper chronicling Dunfield High's efforts in Chicago's citywide literacy challenge, 16-year-old Luisa Perez jumps at the chance. She hopes to distance herself from her family's legacy of academic underachievement as well as to differentiate herself from the ten other Luisa Perezes in the school. The competition between the girls and boys heats up, as each group tries to outdo the other in fundraising. Luisa offers the girls' perspective for the paper, while another writer provides the male point of view. As if juggling her writing, a part-time job, school and a sudden rush of possible F.B.s (future boyfriends) were not hard enough, Luisa has to contend with her sister, Grace, who moves back home with her young daughter. Readers will dope out the identity of the boy writer long before he is revealed in the narrative, but a strong voice and quirky characters keep the plot moving despite the absence of dramatic tension. Smart dialogue and realistic scenes add to the story's appeal."

*shrugs* okay. Nothing much really.

Feels Like Home by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo [3 stars]

"Growing up in a dead-end South Texas town, Mickey had two things she could count on: her big brother, Danny—the football hero everyone loved—and a beat-up copy of The Outsiders. But after the accident—after Danny abandoned her to a town full of rumors and a drunken father—all Mickey had left was a smoky memory, her anger, and the resolution to get out of town for good.

But Danny is back—and he's not the golden boy who left six years ago. He's altogether a different person, and the life Mickey has worked so hard to rebuild seems to be falling apart. Danny's anger is something Mickey just can't forgive, and his best friend's mysterious death six years ago keeps coming back to haunt the edges of her mind. No matter how hard she tries, she can't remember what happened that night—and she's starting to realize that remembering is the only way she can move on. She'll have to face the brother who broke her heart, and that beat-up book that will never again feel like home."

Ended up teary eyed at some parts. Found this one very similar to You Are Here but enjoyed this a bit more. The ending, however, would have liked to be more developed. Some answers are never answered and I wish the author would delve deeper in the death.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles [4.5 stars]

"A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart."

Sensual. Hot. Sexy. Deep. Strong. Brittany was annoying sometimes though. Really impressed with the entire book. Ending was superb! Epilogue was pure fan service that I loved! LOVED!

How To Take The Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison [4 stars]

"Sixteen-year-old Giovanna Petrizzo finds it hard enough to fit in. Three years since her family moved to Texas, she's still the newcomer compared to everyone around her. It doesn't help matters when her twin brother, Dante, takes on the mayor's son by running for class president. The least she could expect, though, would be for her boyfriend, Jesse, to support their cause. But Jesse's apparent defection triggers Giovanna's rash emotional side, and before she knows it, she's turned Jesse from the boy of her dreams to the exboyfriend she dreams of winning back."

A perfect book if you want something funny and wholesome. Great love story.

Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt [3.5 stars]

"There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other."

No comment. Was good, but I have no words as to express really why. Love the format of the novel. Two POV, flashback, present, cause and effect.

How To Hook A Hottie by Tina Ferraro [3 stars]

"At 17, Kate Delvecchio has one goal in life: to become a millionaire before the age of 20. And as far as she’s concerned, college will only slow her down. Unfortunately for Kate, the one thing her parents do agree on is that they totally disagree with her strategy. And so the deal is born. If Kate can raise five thousand big ones by graduation day, her parents will hand over the balance of her college account to invest as she pleases. No college, no degree, and no way she’ll ever be able to pull it off. But when Kate accidentally agrees to go to the sports banquet with the hottest guy at school, she stumbles upon a possible cash cow. The rest of the junior class is amazed that no-nonsense Kate could hook such a hottie, and one by one they approach her for help hooking their own. She doesn’t know anything about getting guys, but for $100 a pop, she’s more than willing to invent a six-step plan for How to Hook a Hottie. And how could that possibly backfire?"

Cute. Main character annoyed me at times.

Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Dress by Tina Ferraro [3 stars]

"Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems."

Starting to sense a pattern to my reviews for Tina Ferraro's books. Once again, cute. As was How To Hook A Hottie and ABC's of Kissing Boys.

Waiting on Wednesday! (29)

Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly (April 27th 2010--Simon Pulse)

"Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly is the timeless tale of first love."

About the Author

Maureen Daly, still in college when she wrote Seventeenth Summer, recaptured with extraordinary freshness and sensitivity an experience that because of its very nature no older author can touch. Seventeenth Summer was chosen unanimously as the first winner of the Intercollegiate Literacy Fellowship.

This is actually a reprint from 1985 (??):

Viola in Reel Life

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani (September 1st 2009—Harper Teen)

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Summary: “I'm marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.”

Review: Viola in Reel Life surprised me by how much I enjoyed this book. By the first page I was hooked by the narration and detailed description by Trigiani. I honestly don’t know what sold me to the book. I mean the characters were good but not the oh my god version, the plotline was clean but not the oh my god version, so I’m thinking that hot damn, Adriana Trigiani can really sell it. Her voice was amazing; I was addicted to it like a bar of chocolate.

Humor, sass, and love are the combination to this book. It reminded a bit of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. We have the Latina, the artsy video girl, a combination of tall, blond, and beautiful with family troubles, and the athlete. It’s basically a sisterhood for these girls. Living together for a solid year can make that happen. I loved the girls separately and collectively. They each bring a sparkle out.

As for the video making I was pleasantly interested in the process and the special effects. I was more interested in the BFFAA (best friends forever and always) Andrew. Dare I say, they have some chemistry? Sadly the novel ended before anything happened. Jared on the other hand, the one that Viola actually dated for some time, is a prick. You just don’t know it yet, but he is. First he wraps you around his finger but being so amazing then poof.

I'm so excited about this new series!

Overall: Compelled by the presence of the voice.

Cover A

I must say I do like this cover. Love the pop of the yellow patent leather flats (quoted from book). Sense of fashion, check. Associated with the plotline, check.

Author's Tour

Hi guys I just got an email several days but JUST found the time to post it.

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Celebrated author Adriana Trigiani is adored by millions of fans around the world for her adult novels, including the New York Times bestsellers Very Valentine, Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, Rococo and the Big Stone Gap series. Teens finally have a chance to experience Adriana's humor, insight and beloved storytelling for themselves with the publication of her highly anticipated YA debut, VIOLA IN REEL LIFE (September 1, 2009; HarperTeen), the first in a new teen series.

Trigiani’s entrée into the teen world centers on fourteen year-old aspiring filmmaker Viola Chesterton. When Viola’s parents leave for Afghanistan to make a documentary, they send her to boarding school in South Bend , Indiana. Homesick for Brooklyn , her BFF Andrew Bozelli, her confidante mystical Caitlin Pullapilly, and cold sesame noodles from her favorite local place, Viola does her best to fit in. With her trusty camera in hand, her three dynamic roommates (Romy, Marisol and Suzanne) by her side, a new crush, and the challenge to write and direct her first movie, the year Viola was dreading becomes one filled with wonder, surprise, heartbreak and joy.

Adriana will be going on a 6 city VIOLA IN REEL LIFE tour:

• Tuesday, September 1 - LAKE GROVE, NY - Barnes & Noble – 600 Smith Haven Mall – 7pm
• Thursday, September 3 - LOS ANGELES , CA - Barnes & Noble – 189 Grove Drive – 7pm
• Wednesday, September 16 - ATLANTA, GA - Barnes & Noble – 7660 North Point Parkway ( Alpharetta , GA ) – 7pm
• Thursday, September 17 - DALLAS, TX - Borders – 10720 Preston Road, Suite 1018 – 7pm
• Friday, September 18 - RALEIGH, NC - Quail Ridge Books & Music – 3522 Wade Ave. – 7:30pm
• Tuesday, September 22 - CHICAGO, IL - Off-site event hosted by Anderson ’s Bookshop – Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College , 310 E. Benton Ave. ( Naperville IL ) – 7pm
• Thursday, September 24 - WASHINGTON , DC - Borders – 5871 Crossroads Center Way (Baileys Crossroads, VA) – 7:30pm

Definitely go see her if you have the chance! I read the book and it is amazing!! Watch out for tomorrow for a review!

Monday Mystery: Jess C. Scott

Jess is an indie writer whose novel EyeLeash is already releases. You can find her here.

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1. I saw tofu meat at the store for around $5, what's your opinion on that? Is it worth it? How do you suppose companies make tofu meat anyway?

I'd prefer calling a rose, a rose (which means if it's *actually* tofu, I'd appreciate it BEING called "tofu"!). It'd be worth it if it tasted very good -- tofu has loads of natural goodness + nutritional value too, so I don't mind paying for that.

I've heard about cloned tomatoes and cloned beef/meat. Perhaps companies combine "meat essence", with tofu, and market it as tofu meat. As for how the whole production process goes -- I think I'd rather not know. Maybe they clone mad cows -- so people wouldn't know what they're consuming anyways...

2. If you can roll around in anything from a product of Mother Nature what would it be?

A bed of roses (petals only, no thorns)...think of the softness, the decadence, the romanticism. For extra pleasure, I'd have dark chocolate on the side, and play Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses" in the background as well.

3. Tell me a story of how Father Time and Mother Nature hooked up.

FT was bored -- time was infinite. It needed to be of essence.

MN was exhausted -- her energy was scattered, in trying to keep her minions together. There was no order, no sense of organization.

FT noticed MN, and complimented her on her beauty and charm.

MN reciprocated in kind. She complimented FT on his "renowned prowess".

He smiled. She smiled.

FT & MN wanted to make things work out for the both of them, forever.

They wanted something eternal, renewable, and lasting.

They conspired to form: the 4 seasons.

So it all began, on a fantabulous Spring day, with a gorgeous blooming of fresh flowers.

4. Do you prefer Baby New Year or Cupid?

Neither -- I'd go more along the lines of Thor, with his might hammer, or Robin Hood and his bow and arrow (he'd PWN Cupid any day!)...guess I'm more of a warrior sort?

Both Baby New Year and Cupid are too cutesy-wootsy for me. Exception to the depictions of Cupid in classical paintings, such as Bronzino's The Allegory of Lust (1540-50) [featuring Venus & Cupid].

5. You're stuck on an island. What you bring to best rescue yourself?

One of those gryphons or zeppelins from the Warcraft universe. One of Gandalf's eagle-friends from LotR would do too. Then again, I'm someone who enjoys solitude from time to time, so I might not need to have to call upon their kind assistance in the first place.

6. A serial killer bunny is after you. Do you A) Chase it back, remove its hide then make gumbo out of it? B)Run for dear life then throw a giant rock at it once it's below you C) Nothing D) All of the above

A) Too gruesome

B) I've no strength to hurl a giant rock

C) No way!

D) N/A

Therefore, my answer is:

E) None of the above -- I'd get the help of The Energizer Bunny (is this serial killer bunny its nemesis, The Duracell Bunny?).

7. Ask yourself a question than answer it.

Qn: Could you describe yourself 10 years ago, and now, both in 5 words only?

Ans: (In)sane, drive, introspective, complex, intense. No changes in a decade.

8. Why is 7 scared of 9?

Conventional answer: Bcoz 7-ate-9 *insert LOL's*

My answer: 7 may have luck on its side. But according to Dante's Inferno, there are 9 levels of Hell -- by that token, 9 may be the more powerful and formidable force than 7.

But I wouldn't be fearful or worried, if I were 7. Because 7 owns the deadly sins -- "Lust", "Gluttony", "Greed", "Sloth", "Wrath", "Envy", and "Pride".

P.S. I have been banished to the Fifth Level of Hell, according to the Dante's Inferno Test.

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Jess has kindly offered an e-book of her book Eyeleash. I think it's international? (I lost the email! *sobs*). Let's make this last for 1 week so it'll end on the 21st.

Spam Attack!

Just a little place holder and to let you guys know that the contest is re-opened again!~ So comment/spam away!

Also I am now offering the chance to snag an extra 10 entries if you comment on my GIVE UP THE GHOST review! If you've commented before September 12th then you get an extra 15 entries instead of 10!

Love is the Higher Law

Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan (August 25th 2009—Knopf)

[thanks Lauren for pointing out my mistake!]

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Summary: “First there is a Before, and then there is an After. . .

The lives of three teens—Claire, Jasper, and Peter—are altered forever on September 11, 2001. Claire, a high school junior, has to get to her younger brother in his classroom. Jasper, a college sophomore from Brooklyn, wakes to his parents’ frantic calls from Korea, wondering if he’s okay. Peter, a classmate of Claire’s, has to make his way back to school as everything happens around him.

Here are three teens whose intertwining lives are reshaped by this catastrophic event. As each gets to know the other, their moments become wound around each other’s in a way that leads to new understandings, new friendships, and new levels of awareness for the world around them and the people close by.”

Review: Khy is perhaps one of the most avid fans of David Levithan. I, however, never read any of his books. I had many other books to read, to tackle, so I wasn’t planning to read any of Levithan’s work for quite some time. But wow I really read more of his works.

David Levithan threw together a novel of growth—of a city, of yourself, of an entire nation. We follow these 3 teens from the during to the after and fragments of the before.

In just 24 hours the city of New York, known for its constant traffic is abruptly put on hold. The entire city changes, many New Yorkers change, and we live with it. We watch as the city come together and aid those with whatever they can—lighting candles, donating blood, sheltering people.

The 3 teens—Claire, Jasper, and Peter—are all very different. Claire is someone who has to help, who wants to move forward, who pretends to be the strong one even if she doubts herself in every wink. Jasper—the gay Korean—is the one who just can’t feel, he wants to but he can’t, he doesn’t know how. And then Peter—who falls in love with Jasper—lives life through music. They all have one thing in common though, a party right before the twin towers fell.

I really do think that this novel was spectacular. It was heartbreaking, it was emotional, it was moving. I love all three main characters differently but at the same time similar. They each spoke a volume worth of words even if it’s just 5.

Overall: I bow down to David Levithan.

Cover B+

TwiLite: A Parody

TwiLite: A Parody by Stephen Jenner (April 27th 2009—Virtualbookworm.org)

Grade: 2.8 / 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Love between a teenage girl and a vampire can be a beautiful thing. Then again, it can get a little ugly. Just ask Stella Crow. Stella is a clumsy but otherwise ordinary girl whose life takes a radical turn the moment she meets Edweird. Though perfect on the outside, Edweird Sullen is remarkably unrefined on the inside. He also happens to be a one hundred year old vampire, trapped in the body of a teenage boy, who has yet to finish high school. Nonetheless, Stella is unconditionally smitten with him. But not everything is rosy in this gloomiest of towns. Edweird's enemies have sworn to put a tragic end to their romance. Against all odds, the bond between Stella and Edweird is *nearly* strong enough for their love to survive. Most love stories between an impossibly handsome vampire and an ungainly young woman have a magical ending. This one—not so much.”

Review: Die hard fans of Twilight, you might want to cover your eyes should you ever pass this book. This parody is such—a parody “humorous or satirical mimicry”.

Haters of Twilight will laugh until their pants fall off. Stephen Jenner holds nothing back when “gently poking” fun this New York Times Bestseller. Hell it even pokes fun of the parody.

Fans of Twilights but not the crazy ones, you will still laugh your pants off.

‘“So it’s true, isn’t it? The whole lot of you—vampires? …You crave me; you yearn for me, and you can barely contain yourself from killing me—that’s why you love me and hate me all at the same time…. No human can compete with you. That’s why girls and women of all ages swoon all over you. Hell, if someone wrote a book about you, well, it’d sell a million copies the day it was released. And if someone else was clever enough to write a parody—you know, to provide some comic relief during these extremely difficult economic times—that would probably be an even bigger seller, or at least it should be.”—Stella when she figures out that the Sullens are vampires

“I hope to see you soon, certainly no later than when book number two comes out, published by the fine people at Little, Brown and Company, and read to you on audio books by Ilyana Kadushin.”—Stella’s letter to Mom aka Gargantuan Sideshow Lady

And let’s not forgot the many, many, many luscious descriptions of how hot Edward it as Stephen Jenner liked to point out:

“His buns were forged from Bethlehem steel. A hunk of coal would be transformed into a perfect diamond should they find their way between those luscious cheeks. Oh, and he has perfect hair too. Really nice-like.”

“His blueberry eyes were gleaming down at me; his French vanilla teeth peeking behind those cherry red lips; his pectorals tenderly danced like ripe mangoes under his form-fitting shirt. I had this sudden urge for a fruit shake.”

More fun:

“Dang, you are one smart girl. And pretty, too. Scientifically speaking, I can safely say that you are pretty smart.”—Edweird, scene in biology examining cells

The down side to this book would be the fact that it gets stupid at the end. It started out hilarious in the beginning but then died a bit then just sucked. I think it may be the fact that I didn’t relish the book and instead plowed through it. If you by any chance read the book, stop every now and then to maintain the novelty of this book.

This book also needs more editing. At one point the author calls Casper his actual name—Jasper. That’s a big no-no.

Overall: He knows where to hit it where it hurts. Better editing would make this a lot better though.

Cover B+

Ha! Even the cover is chuckle worthy!

Rampant

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund (August 25th 2009--Harper Teen)

Grade: 4.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns...

The sparkly, innocent creatures of lore are a myth. Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. And they can only be killed by virgin descendants of Alexander the Great.

Fortunately, unicorns have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods — thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom — Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters, all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to — perhaps most dangerously of all — her growing attraction to a handsome art student... and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.”

Review: Move over My Little Pony someone has come to take your place—Bonegrinder (lovely name isn’t it?). Killer unicorns has yet to ever cross my mind until this book popped up so kudos to Diana for creating an addictive, originally, enthralling, super awesome book. From page one to page I WANT MORE! I was captivated by the gruesome bloody battles, cute exchange students, and shiny claymores.

I love the basic background work, the information, the past, the history—they blended together to give the reader a cushion for the fast paced action. The combination of different ethnicities of warriors gave a small insight various cultures and how everyone has a common ground.

I thought it was brilliant of the author to add some twists especially with Astrid’s cousin and the whole virginity issue. The whole conspiracy, the underground mission, the deceiver—fake Alexander, and ohhhhh so very good!

The battles scenes vivid, imaginative, gory, and lots of weapons—very shiny weapons! It was also nice to see some of the training beforehand as to prevent the same ol’ same ol’ “perfect without help” warriors.

One thing that I happen to not like (with a passion) was the ending and the mother. The mother flipped flopped too much for me. A wretched woman in many of the scenes and the last one she’s practically on her knees sobbing for Astrid. The ending was very abrupt and left some things missing. What ever happened to Brandt and the other people that the fake Alexander took? Sequel where forth art thou!?

Okay I give up, this review does not do the book justice.

Overall: READ IT NOW!

Cover A
I really like this cover especially comparing it to the older one!

Waiting on Wednesday! (28)

This meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Never Bite a Boy on the First Date by Tamara Summers (October 1st 2009--Harper Teen)

Newly turned vampire Kira has earned a reputation for breaking the rules. So when a student is murdered at her high school, via fang-bite, all fingers point to Kira. But she swears she had nothing to do with it! In order to prove her innocence she has to show her family that there’s another vampire in town. She’s pretty sure it’s one of three new guys who’ve moved in recently—so she goes about dating them all. Dating three cute boys may be fun, but which one is the murdering vampire? And what if he’s the boy she’s falling for...?

The cover doesn't really intrigue me but from the summary, the book looks fun!

Snap

Snap by Carol Snow (September 1st 2009—Harper Teen)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Madison Sabatini thought she knew who she was: an almost-sophomore with a bright future. The newest photographer on her school paper. A shopaholic with great hair and a fabulous wardrobe. Then, in a flash, everything changed.

Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .

Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be.”

Review: Snap was one of those novels that you can’t assume about based off the summary. This book was more about Madison and her moving to a new town, losing her old friends, her perfectly planned school year, and a potential boyfriend. It was less about the eerie scenario of her photograph and the possible deaths related to it.

Snap was a decent read for someone looking to take time away. I really didn’t get much of Maddie’s character as she seemed shallow this few chapters around. She did, however, grow on me a bit later on. She grew up you may say. I enjoyed reading about her friends especially Deliah. Loving the whole sale-everything-on-eBay, I can totally relate to that. I also liked Madison’s old friend that she left back home. She wasn’t the typical snobby blond bimbo, in face she was almost the complete opposite.

The last 2 chapters were where I actually loved the book. It portrayed a distinct emotion, answered some dying questions, added some humor and revealed the truth.

As for the “dying” photographs, we actually never figured out how that came to be. Was the physic photo shop influencing the function of Maddie’s camera? We may never know…

Overall: I kind of expected more but the last 2 chapters were quite good.

Cover C

It’s actually very, very scary looking in person. Online it looks like o.o but in real life it’s more like O_O

A Note

Okay so after 7 trials, 7 trips to the invisible trash can I give up! The audio as horrendous. Argh. The point of the vlog was to apologize to Khy, Catt, and Erica for saying that I hated the Vampire Academy series. They kept telling me how awesome it was and I was all like pshhhhh. Well I'm sorry...because the Vampire Academy series is

AWESOME!

I had some issues with it but the overall effect was pretty darn good.

Just wanted to give a shout-out to Laura and Carol saying thanks! Laura has sending me the first 3 books and Carol for daring me to re-read the series. I read all 3 books in 2 days even with school and whatnot.

Anyway so I had this vlog all planned out--flipbooks, the actual series so I can show you and everything! So I was so upset that the vlog was so bad. Khy and Erica bet me to wear a tutu and prance around in a library while doing this vlog but guess that didn't work out.

P.S. hate the American covers. I have a hard time telling who's who.

The German ones are pretty good.

Monday Mystery: Heidi R. Kling

So we're countering Josh's interview with Heidi's for a little friendly battle! Ha! Heidi's book SEA comes out June of next year!

---

1. Have you ever wore fishnets, spiked accessories, or mini short shorts?

Fishnets, yes. I used to work at a costume shop. Spiked accessories and mini short shorts ditto.

2. So Sharon calls you a chinless monster huh?

Yes.

3. If you can have a stalker, would you? And how many?

I have many stalkers, yes, but I would love some more.

4. Evil sock puppets. Eat your flesh or stab your eyes out?

Eat your flesh. I'm into Zombies.

5. So you're suck between a rock and a hard place. Describe this "hard place" It smells like rotten eggs and Josh Berk and Sharon Luvs Cats reside there.

6. Have you ever had the urge to go streaking in the middle of day?

Come to think of it...

7. Have you ever starred at someone until they went away?

No. When I stare at people they melt. Does that count as 'going away'?

8. Would you like to live in a library or in the clouds (literally)?

The clouds. I love Care Bears and all things fluffy.

9. Can you describe your peepee dance for me?

Dude. Lots of jumping up and down and running is involved.

Thanks for interviewing me!

Comment Contest!

Taking a break from BOOK BY ITS COVER this month mostly because I don't have many poems left and I need an easy contest while I slave over reviews.

Inspired by Lee Verday's contests, I'm hosting a contest of my own...using comments...a hoard of comments.

Rules:

1. Play nice.
2. You must have a US mailing address. I am broke.
3. This contest will end on September 30th. It begins now.
4. Your 1st comment must include a contact email.
5. You may only comment on Saturdays from 12:01 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST (EDIT: Shoot forgot about internaional readers who have US addresses. Okay the same rules apply to you guys, just not the EST. 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM Saturdays.) Any other days your comment will be deleted. As for those of you who commented on the contest post a while ago, you guys can pick one other day (aside from Saturdays) to comment spam.
6. Be intelligent. Your comments must be more be longer than 2 letters not counting numbers. If you do this:

Comment 1: Entering!

Comment 2: Second entry

Comment 3: Third!

...etc...

I will rip your tongue out and feed it to some goldfishes/snapping turtles. Seriously I get all the comments sent to my inbox and if I read that for 454239755578 times I will be annoyed.

Suggestions:

1. You can leave a comment right after your first comment and the comment after that, and the comment after that etc.
2. You have no limitions on the amount of comments. It's called comment spamming. Go right ahead, leave 50 a day if you want. It's up to you how many entires you want.
3. You can come back the next Saturday and comment as much as you like.
4. You can strike up a conversation with another commentor.

The Prize:

Winner's choice of my ARC of Candor by Pam Bamchorz OR my ARC of Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe.

Have fun! Hoping to reach past 1000 mwhaha.

The Lost Sister

The Lost Sister by Megan Kelley Hall (August 1st 2009—Kensington)

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “Sisters are born, not chosen. . .

Maddie Crane is grappling with the disappearance of Cordelia LeClaire, and trying to escape the grasp of The Sisters of Misery--an insidious clique of the school's most powerful girls, whose pranks have set off a chain of horrific events, and who have Maddie in their sights.

Beware the sister betrayed. . .

Now in a prestigious boarding school far away from her mysterious hometown of Hawthorne, Massachusetts, Maddie feels free from danger. But when an unmarked envelope arrives at her dorm containing a single ominous tarot card, Maddie realizes with terror that some secrets won't stay buried. Knowing she must return to Hawthorne--a town still scarred by the evil of the Salem witch trials--Maddie prepares to face the fears of her past. . .and the wrath of the sister she wronged.”

Review: Like Sisters of Misery, The Lost Sister was an equally riveting tale albeit one that left a bit of some holes behind.

The Lost Sister began with the retelling of some scenes through Cordelia’s eyes. The readers gets a first class ticket into her mind as she thinks back to the Sisters of Misery trial, her struggle afterwards, her life she’s been hiding for the past year or so. Fans of Sisters of Misery will have this opportunity to refresh their memories and give sympathy to Cordelia. This sequel was more action packed, more magical, and more drama filled as we get closure.

Maddie grows through the year she’s been away at boarding school from mousy and to someone who might have a spine. But she comes back to Hawthorne when her mother is diagnosed with cancer.

Again each character is exquisitely done. Again the plotline is diabolical with a hint of disgust to the villains. The plot moves like a snake, twisting this way and that, each time never giving the chance for the reader to suspect the true culprit. I should have seen it coming but alas I was too enraptured by the actual story to make assumption.

The emotions were palpable as the sisters share grief and guilt for the past. Reunions are teary eyed and the answer…deadly. It involves blood, yes it does.

However I would like to know what happened to certain characters in the end. For example Reed. He was a suspect for a murder and the town drunk. There are these little nags in the back of my mind when I put this book done. A lot of it seems to revolve around magic though.

Overall: A nice ending especially since it ended with a bit of a humorist touch.

Cover B-

It seems like my copy of the book dissipates the black as more severe. I can barely see the branches of the tress and only if when you squint your eyes. If it was a lot lighter I would like it more. Right now it reminds me a bit too of Halloween…

Sisters of Misery

Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall (August 1st 2008—Kensington)

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Summary: “There are some girls who have everything...

She has the right clothes, the right friends, and the right last name, but fifteen-year-old Maddie Crane sometimes feels like an outsider in her clique in the wealthy, seaside town of Hawthorne, Massachusetts. And when her gorgeous, eccentric cousin Cordelia LeClaire moves to town, Maddie is drawn toward her ethereal, magical spirit and teeters even more toward the edge of her friends' tightly-knit circle...

Then there are the jealous ones...

Kate Endicott and the Sisters of Misery--a secret clique of the most popular, powerful girls in school--are less than thrilled by Cordelia's arrival. When Kate's on-again, off-again boyfriend Trevor takes an interest in Cordelia, the Sisters of Misery become determined to make her pay...

Now Maddie must choose between the allure and power of the Sisters of Misery and her loyalty to her beloved cousin. But she'll have to give up on ever fitting in and accept the disturbing truth about the town, her friends, her mysterious cousin, and even herself as she faces the terrifying wrath of the Sisters of Misery...”

Review: This book was beyond riveting. Intense, strong, and heart-pounding, Sisters of Misery will keep readers back-hunched and dying to read more. Megan Kelley Hall is an author worth watching out for and stalked for the next release.

Every single last character is a power house that demands attention. Each character is defined by a single word—Maddie the innocent one, Cordelia the wild one, Kate the evil one—but surprisingly each characters carries so much more than that. They have their faults, their secrets, and vulnerability—some showing more than others—but also the hidden face in the mirror.

Maddie the girl that followed the sisterhood in fear of the consequences should she take on a path to best defend her cousin against the Sisters. Maddie is one that desires the close-knit relationship that Cordelia has with her mother. Despite this jealousy Maddie turns to be Cordelia’s best friend. At times I wish that Maddie would stand up for both herself and Cordelia more but should it have been me, I would have backed away as well. I mean, seriously, Kate scares the crap out of me.

Kate, in my opinion, is freaking crazy. All I could think about is how can a girl like this exist? I swear someone should drop kick her to the floor and shove urine down her throat to see if she likes it. Disgusting.

Cordelia is almost the complete opposite of Maddie. Wild…unpredictable…with no boundaries. She is a girl that has that “X Factor”. Like both the girls and guys, I was infatuated and captivated by her.

I was enthralled and hanging off the edge of my seats with this book. Literally one of my books fell from my bookcase and I jumped.

It did seem odd that this book seem inclined to include urine in a lot of things…it added to the evil factor of Kate I must say though.

Overall: Highly impressed by this book!

Cover A

I love red heads and freckles. I always wanted some, too bad I’ll probably look like the devil’s spawn or some deranged clown if I do have that.

Winner of Books By Its Cover Month 2

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Childhood at its worst

Clown face makeup

Underneath the children’s feet

Set in a playground

A nightmare you can’t escape

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Golden locks

Undone

Splayed

Across the back

Family of

Many

Escape

Fragile Eternity by MelissaMarr

Blue and brown

Monarch butterfly

Resting on frozen fingers

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall

Jet black

Ghostly white

Freckled face

Music creates

Motion

Waves

Pattern

Slept Away by Julie Kraut

Graham crackers

Hersey’s chocolate

Roasted marshmallows

With a hint of pink nail polish

The perfect set up for a sleepover

At summer camp

And the winner is...

Cecilia aka Epic Rat!

Woot! Congrats! Her winning entry was for The Chosen One.

I had 58 entries this month so I'm hoping this month we'll have more ;P

Waiting on Wednesday! (27)

This meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott (April 16th 2010--Simon Pulse)

'"Everyone knows the unwritten rule. You don't like your best friend's boyfriend."

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more..."

Life Sucks--Dealing With It

School's starting or has already started so I wanted to let you guys know that I'll be MIA/too lazy/too tired. I have scheduled posts for this entire month and working on October but while doing this I lost my interview with Thomas Fahy. I could have sworn I had it ready to go but when I checked my google reader and noticed that it was blank, I was like !@#$. This is why you should never email me with important things that involve future events.

Anyway I'm going to be less responsive and it will take longer to respond back to you--you just don't notice it yet since I've only started half of my classes. You can blame Sharon for sucking up all my free time and plus, oh and don't forget twitter.

Anddddddddddd I don't know what else to write O_O so um yeah, that's all.

Overall: Yan+school+homework=no: reading, socializing, or anything remotely ~*fun*~

Sleepless

Sleepless by Thomas Fahy (August 11th 2009—Simon and Schuster)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Emma Montgomery has been experiencing nightmares of gruesome murders. In fact, all of the students in Dr. Beecher's secret society have been having terrible dreams and sleepwalking. Now, as their classmates start turning up dead, Emma and her friends race against the clock to find out what's causing them to kill in their sleep.”

Review: Sleepless was a novel of mystery, drama, and suspense. We start off with New Orleans where the magic is seemingly everywhere. Bring that back to Emma’s hometown and we’re stuck with a duh duh duh…mystery! So basically everyone’s dying: Murder, drowning, suicide, you name it, they’ve done it.

There’s a lot of a build up in the first few chapters. The prologue gave a startling dialogue where Emma’s father talks about Emma and how she sleepwalks which relates to the case where many of the children murdering in their sleep. The action, however, dies a bit and we’re left with drugs and drama. The characters also falter a little. Not so much where you’re left scratching your heads though.

Then it picks up again towards the middle with…murder! Now we’re talking. So the mystery thriller aspect of the book finally reveals itself and the reader is captured in a scene by scene as the characters struggle to stay awake and figure out what the heck’s going on.

In some areas the question of New Orleans is a start but left unanswered. How does the scene from New Orleans connect to the true reason behind the murder? The sleepwalking girl was said to be controlled by voodoo yet the ending of the novel Emma was controlled by something else entirely. I didn’t, however, expect the turn of events. Surprising.

Overall: N/A

Cover B-

It seemed a bit grittier than what I had hoped. Still the cover is worth a second glance in a bookstore.