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.

Twilight: the Graphic Novel

Twilight: the Graphic Novel by Stephanie Meter; Illustrated by Young Kim

Source: Personal Bookshelf

In this graphic novel adaption of New York Times bestselling novel, Twilight, Young Kim illustrates the meeting of Edward Cullen and Bella Swam. And by now YA book readers have probably know something about this series from movies or just friends so there is no point behind writing summaries. However, if you have not yet read the series (or watched the movie) and only know the general gist do not start with the graphic novel. There are scenes that will not make any sense because some of the inner monologue is missing. Even then the tension, anguish and self-doubt will not be as prominent as it was in the book (and for some that might be a positive aspect). I do feel that the graphic novel will get more people interested in Twilight since I already managed to get about two people to read the graphic novel. (Though when they finished I asked if they would like to continue the [graphic] novel to which they replied ‘no’.) The Twilight: the Graphic Novel is something you might read to pass the time that does not add much to the series.

While visually pretty, the artist Kim seems to favor stoic features on faces. There is nothing dynamic that compels the reader to stay interested. I wanted Kim to ‘ugly’ the faces up with more emotions—exaggerate the face—that does not seem to say ‘look I’m so pretty; I’m pretty from this and that angle’ and not seem so monotone (without relying so much on the thick effect lines). I would like to mention that I love the color pages. Amazon has a example of this with the scene where Edward sparkles (several of my friends laughed when they saw that picture).

For the price of the graphic novel—a whopping twenty dollars—and the chapters covered, around 14 chapters based off the original novel which is about halfway through the book, I feel like it is not worth it. The graphic novel reads and looks more like an American comic than a manwha* and the fact that it is first published as a hardback instead of a typical paperback shocks me. It is not a very thick comic and can easily be read under an hour. If you are a huge die-hard Twilight fan I would say go for it because it is a stunning piece of artwork, but if you are just curious about it, it’s not worth buying (at least until the paperback version releases).

*A Korean comic/“manga”

Read, Remember, and Recommend

Read, Remember, and Recommend: A Reading Journal for Book Lovers by Rachelle Rogers Knight

Source: Publishers (because my blog is under the resource section yay! and for tour)

Read, Remember, and Recommend is a personal book journal; a log of what you've read, some books you might want to read, and resources to visit to find new reads!

Aside from the tabs, there is a table of contents page, which outlines the entire journal for you. Rachelle Knight makes it a priority to organize the journal for an easier time yet still adding vibrancy with bright colored dividers.

What I love most about this journal is its table of awarded books. It lists the title, the age recommendation, and whether you own it, was recommended to you, if it's a to-read books or you want it. This is great for parents because you know exactly what your children is allowed to read or should not read. Parents can keep a log for their child's progress and gives the children a sense of accomplishment to say 'wow I really read that many books'. Keeping them motivated is essential. It can, however, backfire because there is a great deal of titles, awards, table after table after table. And while this may be a preference because I can't imagine the cost would be behind this, but I would have liked to see various colors in the key map regarding age groups: juvenile nonfiction=gray; juvenile fiction=darker gray; fiction=even darker gray; nonfiction=black.

The next sections are the "Journal Pages" where you list the books you've read, some words that you didn't know and should define later, thoughts when you read the book and so forth. I read more books than the typical person would so the space given for the books you've read is small. The table spans for about 4 pages; in an estimation that would be about a year's worth of titles, maybe less, for me.

Rachelle Knight has a creative mind I tell you that! I think I laughed out loud when I saw the "Loaner List" section. I've been lending out books more frequently than rather and often times to more than one person. So this section is extremely helpful to me because my brain needs all the memory cell it has.

But again I would just like to reiterate that this journal is perfect for new and younger readers (despite slightly going against what the title of the journal states). The last few pages, before the index, are literary terms. It mentions various types of characterization , denouncement, plot devices, metaphors, types of point of views, irony! and so much more.

Parents should really consider this journal for their children. It's helpful, informative, and safe (look no paper cuts yet! ;P). Bibliophiles might find themselves running out of space and should consider buying new journals yearly (but I wonder if there'll be replacement pacts...). Just don't try to mail these journals in the mail.... My spine is not functioning as it should be (since I know how it should look, but it doesn't want to stay in that position) and I'm finding things that stick out being heavily creased.

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P.S. Have you entered the giveaway to win your own copy of this journal? If you haven't be sure to! Just follow the link and type in your email address--it's that simple.

Traveling to Teens: Rachelle Knight with Contest

Hi guys, welcome to the next stop for Rachelle Knight's online blog tour promoting Read, Remember, and Recommend--a reading journal.

You guys can find more about Rachelle at her blog Bibliobabe and follow her at twitter: @bibliobabeblog

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1. Have you yourself read all the books listed in the journal?

No! But I am making good progress. I read at least two books a week and have been doing so for a long time - so I am making a good dent in all the lists.

2. How did you go about choosing your symbols for book awards?

Good question! The symbols are very important to the journal, in my opinion. I feel very strongly about showing the accolades each book has won - in an effort to give full recognition to the author's achievements. It was actually a lot of work picking the symbols! There are so many awards and only so many symbols that can be seen with that small of a font. I did a lot of research and there was a lot of back and forth with my publisher before everyone was happy with how they all looked. It's something that most people wouldn't think about - but was a definite labor of love!

3. Was the packaging of the journal planned ahead? Instead of a planner-like format with a spiral wire, have you considered a regular notebook style?

Another great question! When I first published the journal under my own publishing company, Bibliopages, both the fiction and teen versions were notebook style. This is another thing most people wouldn't think about - bookstores don't like to carry books that are spiral bound because

they can't be shelved with the spine out (no one would know what they are). Shelf space is expensive real-estate in bookstores and having to shelve books face out takes a lot of room. But, I don't like journals with hard spines because they are much harder to write in and you can't fold them back. I think the solution Sourcebooks came up with fits all the criteria - the journals can be shelved with the spines out and the reader gets the value of the spiral for easier use.

4. How do you keep track of these literary resources like teen blogs?

To come up with the initial list of teen blogs in the Resources section of the journal I started with a few blogs and then followed their blog rolls to find others. I kept these in a list (and now on my own blog roll) and check back periodically to see if they are still active.

5. Do you personal have a GoodReads account or Shelfari account or any other online book tracking sites?

I use Goodreads. I do post all the books I read on it, but the value to me is the social interaction it affords - I like to see what others are reading. I like seeing other reader's reviews of books I have read - it always gives me another perspective.

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(Sorry about the fuzzy pictures. I had to turn the flash off and my hands are naturally shaky)

Know you have a vague idea of what are some of the components to this journal and its image, but if you want the physical journal enter the contest to win one for Books by Their Cover's readers!

You might also want to check out the stops to this tour at T2T's weebly blog! My review for this journal will be up very shortly :)

Unpredictable

Unpredictable by Eileen Cook

Source: Personal Bookshelf

Sophie just got dumped by her boyfriend, which she totally didn’t see coming! Despite her best friend’s advice (and mine too! because he is ick), Sophie wants him back…badly (so badly that she wears one of his socks as a headband). So during one of her stakeouts (aka stalking sessions where she stole said sock) she finds her hiding underneath a sink in a laundry room in his apartment complex. Because coincidently her ex decided to come down and collect his load and starts to flirt with this tall, blond, and gorgeous girl (who doesn’t seem to lack in the chest area). It turns out that the new love rival seeks out psychics to predict her life. With this knowledge in mind what does Sophie do? She fakes being a psychic to potentially take back her ex. But wait, Sophie somehow manages to attract a radio show host and is now being featured on a talk show in Canada as a psychic!? Oh snap. Not to despair, Sophie manages to faint in her engagement party (but to whom is the question), dream a little dream, and knows just what to do with her future.

Sophie is this lost puppy type of person; you want to direct her and pet her, but she’ll only bite and growl at you. She’s larger than life and takes the extreme of situations. Her naivety, lack of consideration, and take-no-prisoner attitudes at times counteracts the hilarity of the novel. The reader may perhaps find themselves liking her then having the desire to shake her in the very next chapter. In my opinion, the annoyance I held on her outweighed my pity for Sophie making her an unlikable heroine towards the second half of the novel.

Nick is average height (for a female), has a moderate Scottish accent, and is a disbeliever of psychics that teaches Sophie all she knows about the facts to become a psychic. Did I mention that he’s also pining for Sophie’s love? Because he is. He’s the kitten in this novel. Sweet, innocent, and seems to be lingering somewhere behind.

So what happens when you mix Nick and Sophie together? A balance of sensibility and wildness; yin and yang; comfort and fun. That’s not to say that they end of together in the end because maybe, just maybe, Sophie ends up back with her ex. Or I can just be messing with your minds. Seriously I should have left enough cliffhangers in this review to make you curious at one point.

Unpredictable presents a small irony: The title. Unpredictable was very much predictable. However, this is a madhouse roller coaster ride and you are definitely going to watch something fall apart. This is a laugh-out-loud, I’m-so-happy-that-my-life-isn’t-like-that-sad haha, novel. But, just get those muscles in your hand clenching though because I was surely frustrated with this novel at times.

A chick-lit novel to the tittle of the i.

Cover B-

I like to run my fingers down this cover. It's those bumps and shapes! Her legs are oddly positioned though, but goes on for miles.

Pride and Prejudice (Rant)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Source: School

So I was asked if I could post a review about why I gave Pride and Prejudice 2 stars on GoodReads. I replied that it’ll be more of a rant than anything really, which was fine in her eyes.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen has inspired so many writers, both female and male. It has been adapted into countless movies viewed by millions. Heck it’s so famous that it’s become a classic and now schools require you to read them (raises hand). If Jane Austen were alive today she’d be filthy rich. And all I can say to that is ….

You should know about Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy and the jazz so there would be point in dwelling on the small stuff. Let’s get to the nit and git of why I disliked this book. First off Elizabeth, she infuriates me. Secondly the dullness, it was just really really hard to get through. Thirdly, just about the entire Bennet family makes me want to scream, Lydia particularly.

DISCLAIMER: I understand that this is a classic for a reason. I’ve already got that embedded into my skull thanks to my teacher who coincidently told the class up-front that “I know it’s dull, but hang in there”.

Elizabeth I feel never lets go of her so called prejudice. And even if we were to claim that she is no longer prejudice what was it that changed her mind? A letter? A letter from someone she loathed that finally convinced her that this person is bad and this person really isn’t? Okay Austen, you’re stretching things a bit. And even if Jane or the aunt thinks doesn’t believe he’s really all that bad that’s just two out of a ton. Instead of this prejudice magically poofing, it shifts to someone else. High and mighty Elizabeth Bennet annoys me.

I was promised by a friend that once I finished Volume I, and the majority of Volume II things will pick up. So when I told her, “I passed the letter part,” she asked if I liked it, “It’s amazing yeah”. Um “No”. And when I reached that last page I let out this huge sigh of FINALLY!

Lydia, ohmyfreakinggod, someone just STAB her already. If I had a sister like that argh!

So yeah, this is just my side to it; I was just asked to share. I was, however, enraptured by the movie.

This review is obviously unprofessional hence it's just a rant.

Vintage Veronica

Vintage Veronica by Erica S. Perl

Source: Publishers

Vintage Veronica is very different from the current marketed YA novels because for one thing it does not involve any paranormal creatures. The novel begins with this comical approach with the louder or grander the situation is, the more humorous it becomes. The prologue starts this off with a pow with a childhood trauma—children can be very cruel at times—with a solemn promise to never trust anyone ever again.

Fast forward several years, Veronica works in the consignation section shifting through clothes for “The Pile” or “The Real Deal”. Think Plato’s Closet—selling old clothes. Not all those old clothes are good clothes though and all those clothes go into “The Pile”. The good ones go to “The Real Deal” in racks where Lenny, aka The Nail aka D.BW., trolleys over. See Veronica has always been a little creeped out by Len and Zoe and Ginger feel the same way. When this idea of Len stealing clothes hits the fan, Veronica finds herself in a very awkward situation: in front of Len’s house. And wait, did she just get invited in? Dun, dun, dun—what does that spell for our charming heroine? Well definitely something she never expected to happen, but of course the readers are hoping for (wink wink).

Veronica’s voice, which I’ve heard is hard to connect with, was not an issue on my end. There are times, however, when she goes off tangent into this anecdotes that leads no where, but in general it is fairly straightforward. The plot may seem simple but lays an underlying message to just be comfortable in your own skin and not everyone is like that—that childhood friend who turned against you, the Dad that always promises, the Mom that is always disappointed with you just being you.

Veronica, like many of the other characters, is a caricature; extremes of one persona or another. Zoe the mean Amazonian woman is all curves; Ginger with ever-changing hair and frequent giggles; Bill with the Hippie ponytail and pipe; Veronica with her large dresses and bowling shoes; and Lenny with his limp and pale skin and hair. By mere appearances only readers can gauge their personalities from low self-esteems, to the sickly, and to the dude-that-was-heavy honesty.

While Vintage Veronica is a refreshing contemporary novel where the heroine does not undergo a drastic weight loss, it needs a few refinements. The ending seems very open-ended, Len’s story half unfinished, the situation with the job unclear, and the relationship with Dad vague. I do warn, however, before picking up this novel for yourself or another that there are many “F” bombs laid out.

There was also this one line that put me off very much: “She has very short bangs, tight pigtails, and several chins. She’s smiling so hard that her eyes are almost closed like she’s Chinese or something” (page 46). I’m not sure if I should take offense in that or just laugh—I guess it will just depend on the reader, I just have one comment: Miley! I'm just going to go with that.

Overall, Vintage Veronica is a contemporary fiction with a sense of style.

Cover C+

It's different. I happen to like the naked book better: It's bright orange underneath the cover, which just makes me smile!

P.S. Trying out a new reviewing style: like or dislike? You'll still find the grade at the very bottom on my labels (rounded to the first digit).

Interview with D.J MacHale + Giveaway

Hey guys, I'd like to introduce you to D.J. MacHale. He's produced several TV shows and movies and written a few books here and there. You know that series called Pendragon? Yeah he wrote that. His latest book, Morpheus Road: The Light will be coming out really soon (like today!) To celebrate this release I have a small interview with MacHale and a lovely surprise in the end :)

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1. How do you find the time to focus on your novels in the midst of all your other writing projects? I was just reading a short biography and there was a lot that just boggled my mind a bit.

After having worked in episodic TV for so many years, I developed the ability to compartmentalize and switch gears pretty quickly. While shooting a season of a TV show, at any given moment I would have to juggle thirteen different stories in various stages of completion…from writing to production to editing and sound work. Once I started writing novels, the challenge grew. For many years I’d spend half the year writing the next Pendragon novel, and the other half of the year writing and producing the TV show Flight 29 Down. The good thing was that I was always re-charging my creative batteries in

different ways. When writing any story, after spending so much time on it you can lose your objectivity. So I found that switching between stories keeps me looking at each one with fresh eyes. Right now, I’ve got three different book series going. Morpheus Road, The Monster Princess and The Equinox Curiosity Shop. Each is very different and geared toward different ages. Jumping from one to the other bends my thinking in different directions and, I believe, keeps the ideas fresh and the ideas flowing. So jumping around is actually a good thing!

2. Does your thinking differ when writing novels than say screenplays? Do you try to be more descriptive? More dialogues?

There are many similarities between the two, and quite a few differences. The similarities are obvious. A good story is a good story. You have to create interesting characters who go on a journey and encounter compelling challenges. That applies whether you are writing for TV, movies, books, shorts stories, etc. So the basics are the same. The differences come with style. With a screenplay you have to be very descriptive using as few words as possible. You only write what you will see or hear. I think that’s why so many of my readers tell me that they can easily visualize my stories. That comes from years of writing quick, descriptive sentences. Readers also tell me that my dialog is authentic. That comes from having written tens of thousands of lines of dialog that were actually spoken by actors. As I’m writing and re-writing my books, I perform the dialog in my head. It’s habit. It may not be considered superlative literature, but it is definitely real. It’s written the way that people speak.

One of the great, freeing things about writing books as opposed to screenplays is that I can write about thought process. That’s one of the reasons that I write so much in the first person. I like to be able to get into a character’s head and write what he’s thinking as he encounters various challenges. That’s something that you can’t do with a screenplay. With a screenplay, the character’s thought process has to be conveyed by his actions. So it’s fun for me to get into the head of Marshall Seaver or Bobby Pendragon and actually write about their confusion, or annoyances or desires. For me, that’s the biggest difference between writing screenplays and books. Each have different challenges, but in the end it’s just about writing a good story.

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And because I told you that there'll be a surprise (but I think I spoiled it already....) I was offered by someone lovely to host a giveaway for 5 copies of The Light to 5 lucky winners in US.

To enter just leave me a nice little comment telling if you ever tried to balance so many things all at once. Were you successful? Just remember to leave your comment before May 7th!

P.S. Linking this interview/giveaway doesn't hurt your chances either :P

P.P.S. D.J. MacHale will be available during a LIVE UStream chat at 6EST today! So just visit the site, login on the right side via Twitter or Facebook and post questions for him. It's that simple :)

Sisters Red

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (June 7th 2010—Little Brown)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Source: HipLit (Little Brown)

Summary: “Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.”

Review: After reading Pearce’s debut novel, As You Wish, I knew that she was capable of writing romance so I looked at Sisters Red more closely for the action than anything else. I love the action—very kick-butt modern-day hero—that still managed to incorporate the beloved fairy tale aspects—hatchets, capes, countryside and grandmas. However, it was the romance that I felt brought the level of the book down. It felt so forced that I had a hard time buying it.

Jackson Pearce does a great job of creating two very contrasting characters that still has close ties; how one event can change so drastically that these two sisters have very different personalities. Rosie is the romantic while Scarlett is the cynical realist. This is a visible attribute with Scarlett’s scars and missing right eye. In essence Pearce does an amazing job creating symbolisms and ironic situations. There are times when dramatic irony becomes, well, not really dramatic nor ironic and just plain ol’ predictable.

Overall: Sisters Red while original, despite it being a fairy tale retelling, proved to be sluggish at points. It is still a good step in the right direction that I think will bring a new group of readers.

Cover A+

Waiting on Wednesday (50)

Wildthorn by Jane Eagland (September 6th 2010--Houghton Mifflin)

They strip her naked, of everything—undo her whalebone corset, hook by hook. Locked away in Wildthorn Hall—a madhouse—they take her identity. She is now called Lucy Childs. She has no one; she has nothing. But, she is still seventeen—still Louisa Cosgrove, isn't she? Who has done this unthinkable deed? Louisa must free herself, in more ways than one, and muster up the courage to be her true self, all the while solving her own twisted mystery and falling into an unconventional love . . .

This meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

My Double Life

My Double Life by Janette Rallison (May 19th 2010—Putnam)

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Source: Publishers

Review: Amidst the countless essays, stuck in-between novels dealing with death, abuse, and oppression, My Double Life is wanted I needed so badly. Bring in the fluff, the glitter, and the fun. Oh goodness just the fun.

I’ve read only one Janette Rallison novel before, How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend, and what I loved there can be reasons in what I love here. My Double Life does incorporate the heavier, darker tones of family issues, but it becomes more of the backbone to the novel. So those looking for a gritty read will find it, just not so intense than what others might be.

Janette Rallison’s basis of a plot may not be the most original but her character’s make up for it. Alexia Garcia has been getting straight A’s since the sixth grade and has won numerous awards so when the opportunity arises to become a double for a famous rock star what does she say? Thanks, but no thanks. (Alexia, bless her soul, has a brain! The little tidbit about Alexia being smart?—yeah it actually comes across in her actions! ) But while the temptation of earning tons of money and potentially losing your soul fails to sway Alexia, the chance to meet her father, whom she has never met before, has become an option she can’t say no. There are going to be bumps and bruises along the way for Alexia on this quest….

Alexia demonstrates sensitivity and vulnerability throughout the entire novel while maintaining a sense of calmness in the midst of chaos. She is a wholesome character and a blast to read as we follow her on her journey of self-discovery.

Kari Kingsley whom you may think of as being snobby, high and mighty, isn’t really. She comes off as real, personal, and slightly pitiful. When I imagine Kari I think of Ke$ha—a tad crazy at times yet a smidge of innocence (Kari not Ke$ha). You just never know what might come out of her mouth. Kari, herself, undergoes a trip of acceptance, which comes through with her struggle of writing her next album.

Grant Delray aka Mr. Predictable Boy Toy. Wait, hmm, that might have a negative connotation to that. Grant is the typical male in these novels except of the dark and broody we have the sweet and nice. Awh! Not to mention the evil clutches of Hollywood has yet to sink in so he’s fully committed ladies! Score!

All in all My Double Life was a very good, solid read. The pacing was steady, never faltering, the characters were developed where they needed to be and the rest served their purposes, and the style of the writing is one that I would not change (and the format of the book I loved! Odd that I mentioned it, yes, but the final line of a chapter pushed back to a page of its own? PERFECTION!). To showcase some of Rallison’s humor I present to you some quotes:

“For two hundred and fifty dollars, Tommy Hilfiger himself had better come to my house and iron it.” (page 75).

“You could always dye your hair brown and hang out with my family in West Virginia. The paparazzi would never find you there. We could do the prince and the pauper.”

“What’s the prince and the pauper?”

“See,” I said. “You just proved my point. No one reads anymore.” (page 120).

“I didn’t explain about the glitter in my hair. I figured they could think it was a family trait. We all glittered, just like the Cullens in Twilight.” (page 243).

Okay so it isn't as funny as I thought it was out of context.

Cover D

She needs a good night's sleep or something

Before I Fall

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (March 2nd 2010—Harper)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Source: B&N First Look Program

Summary: “What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.”

Review: Before I Fall, and please don’t kill me for saying this, was an okay read. I am a not fangirl of Lauren Oliver just yet. But seriously it’s really scary to give this book 3 stars on GoodReads when all you see is a bunch of 5s and ‘FAV’s! I’m petrified to be killed after this, but that’s what the internet is for—hiding behind a screen.

I’m not bothering to resummarizing the book in any shape or form and will get to the grit of the issues I had.

A) Because I find myself not connecting with any of the characters. When I should be balling my eyes out, pouring my heart out to Sam, or pretty much setting me off on a philosophical rant I just sat there. Um, okay, next.

B) While I found each chapter on its own very rewarding at times, together they did nothing. It plays with ‘what would you do if you knew today was your last day?’, but sometimes I feel like there was unnecessary scenes.

C) The relationships in the book? Very flat. Guy-whose-name-escapes-me and Sam together? Okay, yeah, I didn’t get that. From his perspective she is sort of randomly attacking him because she has been practically ignoring him throughout the years.

Now that’s out of the way here’s what I liked about Before I Fall:

D) The concept. So much potential, perfect setup, the possibility was endless. Top score for originality.

E) The ending. Total shock, but still has that believability factor.

Cover C

I’m confused. Who does the model represent?

Why DNF is Rare for Me

(This is a somewhat continuation from my other post)

So you may or may not have read Kristi's (The Story Siren) post about the question if she ever posts a negative review. There's a line there that struck me: "I frequently evoke the 100 page rule. If a book doesn’t grab my attention in the first 100 pages, it gets set aside." I know so many bloggers and readers alike who set this standard when it comes to how much time and effort they'll put into reading a book. In some ways I wholeheartedly agree with this limit; there's a reason why if the first so-so pages does not interest me, most likely than naught the book will never interest me after that. But, yes there is a but, it has happen.

Personally, for my reading I never set this limitation if I can. I've come across books that took more than 100 pages to pique my interest. A fairly short, but from the top of my head list includes:

• The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. Took around halfway through the book for me to actually care. (4 stars)
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore. This definitely took more than 100 pages for me to get into! (5 stars)
• The Maze Runner by James Dasher. Around midpoint like The Demon's Lexicon. (4 stars)
• The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare (Ha! This took City of Bones, and half of City of Ashes before I realized why so many people love this series. She's also coming to Philly May 8th at the Free Library if anyone's interested. I'm there so let me know if you're coming! (4 stars)

These are just a couple titles that I loved that probably would not have been given a chance if I set that 100 page limitation. Granted there are times when I wish I had given up on some books because the first several chapters were an accurate way to tell if I'll like the book. Because of my stubbornness this usually means that I post more indifferent and negative reviews than most bloggers, but on occasions I find books that deserves a place on my bookshelf and that is what fuels me to read past those 100 pages.

To the people who sets this guideline, I do not disagree with you. This is just the reason why I do not do it if possible.

P.S. I really had no idea what pictures should accompany this post so I did the whole 'there's hope in the end' or 'a light at the end of the tunnel' motif. Cheesy and cliche, but somewhat fits.

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 :)

Winners (A Lot of Winners!)

Congratulations to all winners! Though you're all winners in my eyes for entering ;P

Aries Rising:

Lisa R.

Demigods and Monsters:

Donna W.

Sarah L.

Numbers:

Sylvia

Leslie G.

Tawnda

NEW Winners for Token of Darkness (because some never emailed me back):

Emily L.

Stacey (xxsquigglesxx)

P.S. Would this be a bad time to say April Fools? Because I'm just kiddin' y'all. Seriously I don't know what I'm talking about.

P.P.S. So the no updating thing? I'll fix that soon, count on it!

P.P.P.S. I'll send the winners emails soon, but if you want to take the incentive I'll ♥ you for it! (Addresses please).

Which is Worst?

In between my screams of frustration, tests, papers, and failed group meetings I somehow (miraculously more like it) was able to find time to read. That doesn't always mean I finish what I read. The past couple of weeks has produced more books that I had not been able to finish than all summer of '09. That had me thinking though: Which is worst, DNF or BAD?

In my opinion a bad book is worst than a did not finish book. With a bad book there is a possibility that your book-discussing-friend might be interested in this "horrendous" book. It sounds so bad that the mind thinks, 'how bad can it be?'.

Whereas with a did-not-finish book what can you say to your friend when they ask about it? It was eh...blah...I didn't get anything out of it. There is nothing you can say to intrigue your friend. It all comes down to 'curiosity killed the cat'.

So in your eyes, which is worst? A book that you were not able to finish reading or a book that you considered bad, but was still able to finish it. Or are these two categories correlated?

Something Like Fate

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti (May 12th 2010—Viking)

Grade: 2.8 stars out of 5

Summary: “Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.

How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?”

Review: Something Like Fate is a typical YA novel of two best friends after the same guy. One takes the initiative and asks said guy, Jason, out. He agrees. But then the best friend of said girl, Lani, begins talking to him and finds out that she likes him…and he likes her back. They talk more, with Erin’s consent, and finds out that they have a lot in common! Like a freakish amount of things in common (I’m still wrapping my mind around the common oddities). So when the girl goes away, the cats will play. Jason’s and Lani’s relationship is refreshing and ever so endearing (awhhh). But when Erin comes back things go downhill….

It was within the last few chapters that things get out of hand. Erin is a complete ’itch. Lani needs to stop being a pushover but they are times where I applaud her. To make amends for stealing her ex-boyfriend (yeah, ex), Erin tells Lani to stop seeing Jason, which she compiles. Excuse me for a second while I scream. Seriously!? Are you daft woman? In the very next line, Erin tells Lani that is yet to be forgiven and ignores her for the next several days at school. So the purpose of not seeing Jason is…?

I dislike the ending very much so. It was way too fast. Erin apologies, Lani forgives; Lani apologies, Erin forgive; then cry and hug. That’s it. I did not see much character development for the majority.

There were some characters that I found really enjoyable to read: Blake and Connor. Blake is gay but no one knows about it and Connor is from Canada (yay Canadians). They add a touch of serenity and whimsical humor at times that added much to the dialogues. I love the fact that Blake was able to forgive and grow whereas Connor is sweet, caring, and a steady rock.

Cover B

It may seem strange now with the ice cream poster but it will make sense later on.

Special thanks goes to Ka-Yam for sending this to me! (even if I did not like it very much...)

Winners of Token of Darkness

Congrats to the 5 lucky winners:

Anna ♥ (goodgonegirl)

Isalys (booksoulmates)

Anne J. (ajolly)

Bonnie M. (wakeupangel)

Elie N. (zenfoxflower)

Email me if you can!

Jekel Loves Hyde

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey (May 3rd 2010—Harcourt)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.”

Review: If you love Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, don’t bother to read this review because you should just PREORDER THIS BOOK NOW. If you hated it, well, I’m sorry you wasted your time. Anyhow I had received an ARC of this upcoming book and to say I was excited is an understatement. I dropped whatever I reading, literally when I saw the package in the mail I jumped high and hard enough for the book to fall off my hand, and with a somewhat psychotic grin began to read. And read, and read, and read I did.

My overall reaction was a bit on the disappointed side. My expectations on my end were too high. Coming off of Jessica’s Guide to Dating of the Dark Side I had hoped Fantaskey topped herself and instead I had a lukewarm response. There was hardly any of that humor I loved in her debut novel.

The chemistry between Jill and Tristen while sizzling failed to give any sense of a deep connection. The same issues I had with Crazy Beautiful were present here: a hard time grasping either character in such a short book. The novel alternates POV which may demonstrate an author’s flexibility but can result in losing something more important.

The best part of the novel was the plot. The plot attracted me the most and it was because of the plot I just had to keep reading. I needed to know the end—will it be a happy ending? a sad ending? a satisfying ending at least? It was both creative and ingenious and like my brother said, it is the selling point to the book.

I half hate/half love the epilogue. I won’t give it except that it left me frustrated and slightly annoyed.

Cover B-

FTC: review copy as provided by the publisher in exchange for this review

Blog Tour: Bonnie Hearn Hill (Guest Post and Giveaway)

I would like to introduce you to Bonnie Hearn Hill, author of the Star Crossed Series. Her first book, Aries Rising already been released and can be ordered on Amazon. You can also visit Bonnie at her website.

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Q: Did you use astrology to create the characters of your teen series?

A: I've always used astrology to create characters, even though I might not know the specific birthday of a character. Instead, I might think--Oh, she's a Fire sign, very assertive. But she's not interested in center stage the way a Leo would be. No, she really wants to be first, and she doesn't always think things through. She just goes for it. Ah, an Aries.

Thanks to my friendship with humorous astrology writer Hazel Dixon-Cooper, I got an education in astrology right along with my character. I learned that all signs have a positive side as well as a negative one, and I realized I needed to balance both sides. For instance, a Sagittarius might talk a lot, but you'll seldom find one who is petty or mean. A Cancer might be manipulative or needy, but you won't find a more nurturing sign. Taurus may be stubborn but is usually fair.

At the end of the book, I list each Sun sign (and my publisher later added press-on astro tattoos). I include both the positives and challenges of each sign to give readers the whole story. In later books, I go into the influence of the Moon, Mars and Venus. A really outgoing Pisces (usually not an outgoing sign) might have a lot of Fire (Aries, Leo or Sagittarius) in her chart. A talkative Pisces might have Gemini, the natural communicator, or even Libra.

I also think what might have happened to this character to make her uncharacteristically bold. By thinking about the whole person, you avoid cookie-cutter characters in fiction and in real life. You won't be so ready to jump to conclusions.

I had a pushy bad Aries cheerleader in ARIES RISING, so I balanced that with another character, a dedicated, determined Aries working several jobs. I even gave my Aquarius protagonist an Aries Rising so that she would be more proactive.

I don't believe astrology is a life sentence. It's just a starting place, and it can help you understand others--and yourself. If you are a multitasking Gemini (the way I am), you can acknowledge that and remind yourself of the importance of also being a finisher. If you are an emotional Scorpio, you can accept that about yourself but also work on letting go of the past. If you are an intellectual Aquarius, you can work on expressing your emotions--as my protagonist does.

Sometimes when I'm developing a character, I'll ask myself, "What sign is she?" And the answer will be clear. When a character is clearly developed, it's pretty easy to tell.

I purposely gave my protagonist and her two best friends very different personalities. Logan is an Aquarius. She knows how she feels but has difficulty expressing it. Jessica (Chili) Chiliderian, is a talkative Gemini, who is always falling for a different guy. Paige, a Pisces, is a shy daydreamer. Together, though, they have everything they need to combat the challenges they encounter.

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About the Author:

You can thank Coca-Cola for Bonnie Hearn Hill’s long lived writing career. They were the ones who sponsored the writing contest she won in the fourth grade that gave her writing fever. She’s been writing ever since.

Bonnie spent 22 years as a newspaper editor and wrote six thrillers, as well as several non-fiction books. An interest in astrology and a friendship with Cosmo Magazine Astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper led to the development of her new Star Crossed Series for the YA market.

And in case you’re wondering…Bonnie is a double Gemini, saved by an Aquarius Moon. Air and Fire with very little Earth.

The next two installments of the Star Crossed Series will release soon:

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Also as part of the blog tour I am able to give away 1 copy of Bonnie's book; Aries Rising:

When Logan McRae discovers a magical book called Fearless Astrology, all she wants is to change her sucky life. In order to get into the summer writing camp of her dreams, she needs the recommendation of her stubborn and irritable English teacher Mr. Franklin. Logan also has her eye on Nathan, the hottest guy in class. Unfortunately, so does popular, beyond-gorgeous Geneva, editor of the high school paper.

Logan's two best friends, Chili and Paige, are always there to give her the advice she needs. But now that she has Fearless Astrology, Logan discovers a whole new way to overcome her dilemmas-while helping the three of them land the guys they're crushing on.

When the Gears, a group of boys, starts causing trouble in school and out, she decides to identify them using astrology. Her goal: to impress Mr. Franklin, Nathan, and the kids who believe she is faking her newfound knowledge. The answers are in the stars, all right, but can Logan decipher them before it is too late?

To enter: comment to tell me your astrological sign and do you think it fits you?

Contest details: 1 copy; US and Canada addresses only, ends on April 1st.

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Special thanks goes to WOW (Women on Blogging) Blog Tours. You can find more information about them here and find the tour dates for Bonnie here.