Crescendo Book Trailer

Ok so the trailer for Crescendo, sequel to Hush Hush, came out! Watch it! Bask in the awesomeness of it!



I know, it's pretty cool.

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Summary from goodreads!

Hexbound by Chloe Neill 

January 20, 2011

Lily Parker is new to St. Sophia’s School for Girls, but she’s already learned that magic can be your best friend…or your worst enemy.

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear…

--I loved Firespell, the first book in the series, and hope this one will be a nice continuation of Lily's story.

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

(summary from goodreads)

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Review: If I Stay is a truly heartbreaking book. I cried in this book more than I have in any other book. That is not to say that it was a bad book. It was exceptional, just very emotional. 

I was happy that the initial accident happened early on so that the plot could get moving. And get moving it did. Even though the entire book takes place in one day, it seems like I learned Mia's entire life story through her flashbacks. 

The characters also made this book as real and touching as it was. Even though I mostly only knew about Adam and Mia's other friend's through her eyes, they were still surprisingly real and alive.

Gayle Forman has found a way to write something that is deeply touching and heartbreaking at the same time. I have yet to read any of her other books, but I can only hope that they are just as good as If I Stay. 

Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

(summary from author's website)

"What do you want from me?" he asks.

What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him.

More.

Taylor Markham is not a popular choice. She is erratic, has no people skills and never turns up to meetings. Not to mention the incident when she ran off in search of her mother and only got halfway there. But she's lived at Jellicoe School most of her life and as leader of the boarders that's her greatest asset. Especially now the cadets, led by the infamous Jonah Griggs, have arrived. The territory wars between the boarders, townies and cadets are about to recommence.

But Taylor has other things on her mind: a prayer tree, the hermit who whispered in her ear, and a vaguely familiar drawing in the local police station. Taylor wants to understand the mystery of her own past. But Hannah, the woman who found her, has suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but an unfinished manuscript about five kids whose lives entwined twenty years ago on the Jellicoe Road. 

Review: Jellicoe Road is without a doubt my favorite book to date. Words can not adequately describe how I feel about this book. The plot was wonderful, the characters were amazing, and it took place in my favorite place. If you know me then you know I have a thing for Australia. Don't know why, I just do.

At first it was a little confusing and difficult to get into because of the separate story lines. But after the first couple of chapters it was easy to get fully absorbed in this book.

Overall, Jellicoe Road was an absolutely phenomenal novel that will be one of my favorites for a very long time, and if you haven't read it yet then you need to go to your nearest book store/library and get this book.

A note on the cover: I swear for about two months I thought the flower on the cover was actually a butterfly. 

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspire by Pop Culture Junkie.

From the library: 

Candor by Pam Bachorz
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 


Bought:

Old Magic by Marianne Curley 

Review: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

(summary from goodreads)

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. 

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. 

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them. 


Review: First of all, I have a serious question that must be answered: was Luc's name pronounced Luke or Luck? Not knowing how to say it bothered me all through the book. Because I think it's Luke, but I'm not positive. Now, on with the review.


You's think the choice between Heaven and Hell would have people choosing the obvious choice, Heaven, right? Wrong. I myself like Luc much more than Gabe. I found it somewhat odd that Luc and Frannie got to narrate their chapters, but there was no narration from Gabe. But, then again, I've heard talk of chapters in Gabe's POV in the sequel. 


Anywho, I found all of the characters very enjoyable, except for, at times, Frannie. Something about her just got on my nerves at times.


The plot was an interesting one, but a bit confusing at first. I didn't really understand why heaven and Hell were fighting over Frannie until about halfway through the book. But it did have a good pace to it which let us learn about Frannie and Luc bit by bit.


My only real problem with this book was Frannie's "love" for Gabe. Now Luc I understand because she spent time with him and got to know him. But it seemed like she spent one afternoon starring into Gabe's eyes and is now torn between the two. 


Never-the-less, this book was very fun and entertaining and I hope that the sequel will shed a bit more light on Gabe and his history so that we can really get to know him.


Not regarding the ending: Spoiler alert! Highlight to read. I was NOT a fan of the ending. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I wanted Frannie to be tagged for Hell, but I personally thought it would have been more interesting if Frannie had been left untagged. Also, I would expect a little more emotion at seeing my dead brother come back to be my guardian angel. It seemed to me like she was just "Oh your here." I don't think someone who blames herself for her brother's death would be that emotionless over it.

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

This week's WoW is the final book in the series of awesomeness.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

February 1, 2011

I couldn't find a summary, but if you've read the first two books you know that this is a pretty awesome series and therefore, this book is bound to be amazing too.

Review: Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern

(summary from goodreads)

I am sitting at a desk in the middle of a hallway, and all of the lights are off. No one will tell me what they're going to do with me or how they're going to help me or how long I have to be here. They just plunked me down in this freaky place, told my parents not to worry, and now I'm stuck.


Review: This book sat in my TBR pile for months upon months before I actually picked it up to read. I don't usually read books that take place in a mental hospital, so I thought a new placement and only 193 pages would help this book go by quickly. That was not the case. 


After the months of avoiding this book it took me about 2 and a half weeks to actually read it. I'm all for books that just tell what's happening on a day to day basis with the main character, but this book seemed to have no plot. Anna talked about the rules of the hospital. Anna told us what she did at the hospital. Anna couldn't wait to leave the hospital. But she knew she was only in there for a few weeks so it wasn't as if her getting out was part of the plot. This added to my confusion of what exactly the plot was. 


Anna herself also annoyed me. She seemed to be constantly complaining and would either obsess about something/someone or completely over exaggerate.


Overall this book was very hard to get through. It was lacking a plot and a good main character. On the bright side, it did have a nice setting.    

Review: My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

(summary from goodreads)

“If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.” 

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....


Review: This was a wonderful follow up to My Soul to Take, which I loved. It had the same quick pacing that allowed you to learn more about the Banshees without dragging along, the same solid plot that kept you captivated, and the same unique characters that brought the story to life. 


Although the pacing was good, this book seemed slower to me, and I don't mean that in a bad way. It had plenty of action and mystery, but it wasn't rushed.


I loved how we were introduced to new characters and places. We weren't given minor characters that would only take up space and then be killed/move away etc. (well maybe one). The minor characters were just as important as Kaylee and Nash, and that was refreshing.


I was also super excited that we finally a glimpse of the Netherworld.  It helped to expand my knowledge of the Banshees without cramming it all down my throat at once. 


Overall this was a fantastic sequel and everyone who read My Soul to Take should definitely read it. 


Note on the cover: I preferred the type of cover from the first book: where the person was smaller and centered on the cover. That way we saw all of her. Not just half of her.

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. All summaries are from goodreads.

Bought:

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. 

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. 

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.


--I'm pretty sure that this is the UK paperback cover, but it also happens to be the ebook cover (which is the version I own). I like this one a lot more than the American cover though. Except for the girl, who I presume is Frannie. It says she's blonde in the book, and she's obviously not blonde on the cover.


From the Library: 

Night Runner by Max Turner
For Zack Thomson, life in the Nicholls Ward wasn't so bad. After his parents died, he developed strange allergies, and the mental institution was the only place where he could be properly looked after. As strange as it was, it was home. But that all changes the night a stranger on a Harley crashes through the front doors and tells him to run. Along with his best friend Charlie and a girl he may or may not be falling in love with, Zack does just that: run. Under the cover of night, hiding amongst the shadows, he races for the truth.

                                Possessed by Kate Cann

Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?

Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz 

High atop Hathorne Hill, near Boston, sits Danvers State Hospital. Built in 1878 and closed in 1992, this abandoned mental institution is rumored to be the birthplace of the lobotomy. On the eve of the hospital's demolition, six teens break in to spend the night and film a movie about their experiences. For Derik, it's an opportunity to win a filmmaking contest and save himself from a future of flipping burgers at his parents' diner. For the others, it's a chance to be on TV, or a night with no parents. But what starts as a dare quickly escalates into a nightmare. Behind the crumbling walls, down every dark passageway, and in each deserted room, they will unravel the mysteries of those who once lived there and the spirits who still might.

Review: The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger

(summary from goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley. 

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.


Review: This book was a wonderful debut novel! It's books like this that make me love reading contemporary fiction. An original plot, real characters, and smart, witty dialogue.


The plot was very well paced. Not too slow but not too fast. My only "plot-problem" was with Bianca's mom and Jake. I was hoping there would be a little more to each, especially Jake. It seemed like there was a lot of build up around him and then nothing really happened.


The characters were wonderful! I love the fact that Bianca was a cynic. It's nice to not always have a happy protagonist. I loved how Bianca talks about love and also what it means to be the DUFF. It definitely let me see more of who she is. Her friends were also good. My only problem with them is that I kept getting them mixed up. They seemed to be two very different people yet I couldn't keep them straight.


I loved watching Bianca and Wesley grow throughout the book. I could definitely see the changes: Bianca starting as a hater of the world and ending as a little less hateful, and Wesley going from a chasee to a chaser. 


This is one of those books that you can pretty much see how it ends, but don't quite know how it gets there. The dialogue never seemed forced or unnatural and the characters were great. All in all, if 
Ms. Keplinger keeps it up, she could have a pretty good future in books. 

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

January 11, 2011

(summary from goodreads)

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship—tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

--Sounds pretty epic to me. A spaceship, attempted murder, frozen cargo. Everything one needs in a futuristic novel, plus an awesome cover, which it also has. 

Review: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

(summary from goodreads)

She doesn't see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next…

Review: DIFFERENT! That's what I thought when I read this book. It's DIFFERENT!  Wait, Kathryn, are you saying their aren't any werewolves or vampires? BLASPHEMY! Is it possible to read a paranormal YA book these days without there being two mythical creatures vying for our protagonist's heart? This book answers with a yes, yes there is such a book.

Banshees are probably something that everyone's heard of but don't really know what they are. Thus comes the originality of this book. It wasn't the same werewolf/vampire book. It was something new and different. 

I loved the plot and the characters. The idea of people dying before their time definitely makes for a good mystery. Kaylee also added to the mystery what with her unknown ability. And here come into play the two thing I loved (most) about this book. (1) Kaylee did research on what was happening to her. She didn't wait around for someone to tell her. She went and looked. (2) I'm getting kind of tired of the "girl has no idea of their power, but then they know and all of a sudden they start using said power" plot. Kaylee had her ability, and was using it, albeit unknowingly, long before she knew what it was.

I am a fan of a good love triangle, but sometimes a line is enough (and who said I wouldn't use geometry in life? Ha!). Since this book was more centered around Kaylee and the mystery of the dying girls a triangle would probably have been too much going on. That being said, I really liked Nash. He was very well written. However, I think it's kind of strange how he went from not even knowing Kaylee to absolutely needing to talk to her. 

Overall, though, this was a wonderfully written book with a fresh plot and a surprising end. 

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

(summary from goodreads)

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still. 
           When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. 
           Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. 
           Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. 
           As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.


Review: Cassandra Clare has done it again! She has somehow managed to create both a fantastic world and fantastic characters. I was a bit apprehensive to read this at first because I was such a big fa of the Mortal Instruments series and was afraid that this book may not be as good as the MI books. I was not disappointed. The author managed to create a whole new cast of characters and an intriguing plot to put them  in. 


The overall plot of Clockwork Angel was a good one, in my opinion. The pacing got a bit slow in some spots but it was always picked back up with the mystery of Tessa's powers. 


Along with the plot came the creation of some amazing characters. I loved Tessa. She had all the characteristics of a protective younger sister, with a little bit of an adventurous side mixed in. Jem and Will were great together. Their brotherly bond was clearly evident and I could definitely see bits of Jace in Will. And of course my favorite MI character made his appearance...Church! How can you not love a cat named Church?! 


But, alas, no book is without its faults. The only thing that didn't register with me was the importance of the clockwork angel. What with it being the title I thought it was going to hold some importance, but it wasn't really significant until the end. And even then it wasn't fully explained. Perhaps we'll get an explanation in the next book?


Overall this was another great read by Cassandra Clare. With its consuming plot and extraordinary characters, anyone is bound to love this book. The twists keep you guessing until you get to the surprising end. This book is in no way, shape, or form predictable, and I can't wait for more. 

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Only bought one this week.

(summary from goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley. 

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Review: Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

(summary from goodreads)

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. 

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.


Review: This was actually the first Sarah Dessen book I read. I had heard a lot about her and knew this book was coming out so I decided to get it and see if this Sarah Dessen person was any good. And in answer she is not good...she is wonderful!


What I loved about this book was how light and carefree it was yet it still managed to have complex emotions and a deeper meaning than most summer beach reads. It had the humor and the cute romance, but it also showed Eli's grief and all of Auden's various problems.


That's another thing that Ms. Dessen did that made this book shine the way it did. Her characters were flawed. Eli and Auden were not the perfect happy couple. Eli was dealing with his grief and guilt while Auden was dealt with her parents' divorce and her need to be the perfect child. Even the minor characters had their own emotions which were subtly shown yet easy to see. 


Overall this is a great read for anytime, not just summer. Its complex characters and emotions make it 100% more believable. I have most definitely become a Sarah Dessen fan and cannot wait to read what else she has!  

Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

(summary from goodreads) 

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him. 

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers. 

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Review: 

This was a very interesting book. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it yet, so I'll put it this way, I've never read about this kind of magic before. Until this book I'd never even heard of it. And that's one of the things that made this book so good. I didn't have high or low expectations because I didn't know what to expect. Bracken did a great job weaving this story, and all of its magical qualities, together. 

The characters also helped move the story along. Each had separate personalities that made them unique players in the story overall. I enjoyed seeing the interaction between North and Sydelle. And this is what was wonderful about it: They INTERACTED! It wasn't "love at first sight we're soul mates forever nothing will stop our love." They hated each other at first! But then they used the magic (no pun intended) of interaction. 

Unfortunately this book did leave me with unanswered questions. Did North have to have his capes to do magic? Because that could've led to some serious problems. *SPOILER* Who poisoned Sydelle and WHY did North and Lady Aphra not try to figure this out hmmm? *END SPOILER* Also, what was going on with Owain and his horse? And the most important of all questions, will there be a sequel? The ending made it seem like a sequel was in order. Either way, you will not hear me complaining if there is a sequel. I look forward to seeing what other magical works Ms. Bracken comes up with.  

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill atBreaking the Spine.

Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz


(summary from goodreads) 


Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.

Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about...


--


I am sooo excited about this book! I read the first two in the series, Deadly Little Secret and Deadly Little Lies, and loved them. December can not come fast enough!

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

(summary from goodreads)

Who is Jenna Fox? 

Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen? 

Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions—questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident? 

In this fascinating novel, acclaimed author Mary E. Pearson presents an unforgettable look at one human life and a glimpse into a possible future that may be closer than we think.


Review: 


This story had a very interesting premise to it. I mean, girl's in accident, girl should be dead, girl lives, girl doesn't know if her memories are her own. Who wouldn't be interested in that? When I first picked up this book I didn't realize that it took place some time in the future. This led to quite some confusion on my part. But once I figured that out it was pretty smooth sailing. It was an adventure, to say the least, to go through the book with Jenna and try to solve the problem of who she is and what happened in her past.


In my opinion Jenna was an okay character. A bit confusing at times, but hey, she doesn't know much about herself, so she's bound to be a bit confusing. Ethan, however, I did like. He seemed like a really sweet guy, but it also seemed like he wasn't a very well developed character. One of my biggest problem with this book was Dane. The guy was really weird, to put it bluntly. And there was never an explanation for why he went off and acted like he did. Characterwise, I believe the book was saved by Jenna's parents. They acted like most parents would in the situation they were in: scared for their daughter and very overprotective. This made them seem much more real to me.


I loved the writing in this book. It was in first person, which I love, and that really let me see the confusion that was Jenna, because it was her words and her thoughts. The only thing I was confused by were the poem like entries throughout the book. Was it Jenna talking? Was it before or after the accident?


Overall, this is an interesting book with a protagonist who is faced with a peculiar problem. Although some characters were lacking and the writing a bit confusing, the story itself was worth it. 

Review: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

(summary from goodreads)

In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body -- with her memories intact. 

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

Review: The simplest way to put it is that I really liked this book. It was so different than any book I've ever read. King did a great job of taking the cliche of magic and making it into something truly unique. 

I loved the character of Emer/Saffron. She was a very strong protagonist who knew what she wanted and went out to get it. The secondary characters were also very well written. The sketchy people were genuinely creepy, as well as the kind were genuinely nice. 

This book was extremely well written. I liked how the author didn't use flashbacks per se, but wrote from Saffron's point of view and then from Emer's. This made it seem more like two separate stories, as opposed to one story with flashbacks. Also interesting were the dog facts that were spread throughout the book. It really helped me to see what Emer/Saffron's life was like as her various canine selves. 

Overall this book was a fantastic read! I loved both the story and the characters. The author's use of magic had a nice spin away from the usual and I can't wait to read more from Ms. King.

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

(summary from goodreads) 

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. 

She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace — or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Review: I must say that at first I did NOT want to read this book. I thought it was going to be the typical fantasy. It was not. The world, the characters, everything was truly unique. I love reading world building books, but i am easily confused in them, what with all the different names and places. This, however, was anything but a confusing book. Although it was hard to keep track of names and places at first, it quickly became easy to understand. 

The writing was absolutely phenomenal and the characters were stupendous! Both Katsa and Po were well rounded, well written, three dimensional characters. If you have not yet read Graceling i suggest you go out and get it as soon as possible.