Waiting on Wednesday (93) - Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Coming September 29, 2011 from Dutton!

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

 

Ummm, ya.... hello gorgeous! I simply cannot wait for this one, I needed it to come out about 6 months ago. After seeing the cover and reading the description, I'm convinced this one will be another instant love title by Stephanie Perkins that I will fan girl like crazy :)

Cupidity by Caroline Goode

Cupidity
Caroline Goode
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: December 28th, 2004
Pages: 288
Source: Bought

Rating: 3 stars

Dating in high school is like reality TV. It can get pretty surreal.



Between the strict social ladder (geeks' lockers left, jocks' to the right), and silly, pointless rules (no hand-holding, no kissing, no breathing!), high school is the single worst place to find a boyfriend. And Laura Sweeney is no exception. She hasn't had a date since...well, ever.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. So Laura is calling in the big guns. She needs guidance. A proven "get the guy" strategy. Luckily she knows exactly the expert to call. He's a matchmaking mastermind who actually has the bow and arrow to prove it. Let's just call him...Cupid.

The Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies are always such great reads! Cupidity was no exception, and I found myself loving the story. I love mythology, so finding books that incorporate it is a ton of fun.

The characters were very real in Cupidity. I found it very easy to connect with them. While the plot was a bit corny, it was still fun to read about.

I suggest Cupidity, and all the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies. The story is a bit cheesy, but it is fun to read anyways.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Sleepless by Cyn Balog
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Pages: 215
Source: Library

Rating: 3.5 stars

Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.



But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .
Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?
Sleepless was a book I enjoyed just as much as I had enjoyed Balog's first novel, Fairy Tale. It was a refreshing story, unlike anything I had read before. While I wasn't completely enthralled with it, I really enjoyed it.

The story line was very original, something I really appreciated. I found the lives of the sandmen extremely interesting, and the whole plot tying them together and offering people the chance to serve as a sandman for 100 years was really neat. All the characters were very well written. I think they were my favorite aspect of Sleepless. Eron was such a gentleman, and Julia was very intelligent.

Sleepless is a great read. The life of a sandman was very interesting and the plot just captivated me. While Sleepless didn't live 100% up to my expectations, it was still a really good read.

In My Mailbox (91)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.
This week I got:

For Review:

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby + Stones
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

Trade with Jordyn:
Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Chasing Alliecat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Bought:
Ironside by Holly Black
Pure Sin by Kate Brian
Vanished by Kate Brian
Ominous by Kate Brian

Hangman's Curse by Frank Peretti

Bookmooch:
The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson
Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal


What did you guys get?

Q&A with Lauren DeStefano - Author of Wither!

I am so happy to have Lauren DeStefano here today for a Q&A. Lauren is the author of Wither, which came out March 22nd. You can visit Lauren on the web at: http://www.laurendestefano.com/. Here's a bit about Wither, in case you didn't already know:

What if you knew exactly when you would die?


Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.


When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.


But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

Q: Your novel combines genetic engineering, polygamy, and super-low life-expectancies to create an awesome storyline. How did the idea come to you?

A: I may never know exactly where it came from. This story is the culmination of many strange factors. I was bedridden with the flu, for starters, and I was getting frustrated with an adult writing project I had going. My agent suggested that I try something out of my comfort zone, something that I would normally never write, and she also linked me to a site that was taking short story submissions. I began Wither with the intention of making it a short story, and I had no idea where it would take me. Page one began with a girl in a dark place; she didn’t know where she was going, and she was scared. That girl turned out to be my protagonist, Rhine, and at the time she knew about as much of her story as I did.
Q: Describe your debut novel, Wither, in three words.

A: A broken fairytale.

Q: If you could pair Rhine, Linden and Gabriel with any character from any book, who would your pick for each be?

A: I probably wouldn’t do that. It’s hard to imagine the characters in this world entering another world. But for Rhine, I would say that being paired up is the last thing she’d want. She’s a strong-willed girl who values freedom above all else; love is not something she’s ever thought to look for.

Q: Can you tell us why you chose the title Wither, and how it correlates with your Rhine’s story?

A: It was a title that the publisher and I generated from a long list, after the story had been through copyediting. It can be interpreted any number of ways, but for me it describes what’s happening not only to my characters, but to everything around them. Flowers, trees, crumbling buildings—it’s a world where everything is slowly dying.

Q: How long did it take you to write Wither?

A: The first draft took about a month, which isn’t typical for me. I have some unpublished stories that have taken years to complete.

Q: What can we expect from future books in this series?

A: For some big questions to be answered, and for some bigger questions to arise.

Q: I know that Justin Bieber and Paris Hilton were huge inspirations for Wither, but is there anything else? A song, another book, a place?

A: Just to dispel this up front: No pop singers or celebutantes inspired this story. But while I was going through some old books from my childhood last week, I found a copy of The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson, which was about a mysterious virus that killed everyone over the age of 12. I was probably nine or ten when I read it, and I’m sure that planted a very early seed. I’m also fascinated by stories on the news about eradicating cancer genes or genetically modified foods, and loved the movie Gattaca. Somewhere in my brain is a spinning wheel that processes all of my life’s experiences and makes them into story ideas.

Q: Is there any certain person who instilled the passion for reading and writing in you? A family member or a teacher maybe?

A: I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed, and when I was young I didn’t give much thought to why I loved it, nor did I share it with anyone. I saw it as a private thing, like keeping a diary, except all the entries were fictitious. In fifth grade I was assigned to write a short story for school, and I remember my teacher pulling me aside and asking if I had ever considered writing books when I grew up. Before that moment, publication had never occurred to me, but as I got older I began to take the idea more seriously.

Q: Were you inspired by other dystopian stories, such as The Handmaiden's Tale? What other dystopian would you recommend we read?

A: I have seen a lot of comparisons between my story and The Handmaid’s Tale which frankly surprises me. I am a huge admirer of Margaret Atwood and would absolutely recommend her dystopian, but I think her story and mine focus on different topics and paint different worlds. As far as recommending dystopians, it would really depend on what the reader is looking for. The beauty of dystopian fiction is that it breaks the boundaries we’re used to; it makes us uncomfortable, and it makes us see our own world in a new light, and so I would only recommend, whatever dystopian each reader chooses, that it’s met with an open mind.

Q: What are some of your favorite books that have had the biggest influence on your writing?

A: I’m not sure that other books are any more or less influential as anything else that might inspire me, such as a conversation or a crime documentary—I never really know what will trigger something. I once wrote an entire scene because of a shape I saw in a puddle.
This interview is provided by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and can be reprinted for publication either in full or excerpted as individual questions and answers, as long as they are reprinted in their entirety.

Waiting on Wednesday (92) - My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody
Coming June 7th from Farrar, Straus, Giroux (BYR)

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I’m gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

Oh my gosh, this sounds so fabulous. I love the description and I love the title. There is also a SUPER fabulous trailer, which I posted below. The trailer only made me want it even more - I will be counting down the days until it is out!

Blog Tour: Interview with Lindsey Leavitt

Today, I am super excited to have Lindsey Leavitt at The Book Cellar for an interview! Lindsey is the author of Princess for Hire and Sean Griswold's Head.

Could you share your favorite scene to write in Sean Griswold's Head? To be super cruel and make everyone more excited for your book, please refer to it by a page or chapter number, without more detail. If you could also explain (without spoiling it) why it was your favorite, please do so.

Pages 81-83
I wrote this scene sitting on a park bench next to a lake in Chautuaqua. Lots of times with my writing I’ll read back and I don’t remember writing those words, but this scene I remember what I was wearing, where I was sitting, and what I was thinking when I wrote it.

Which of your characters is most similar to you?
Probably Desi from PRINCESS FOR HIRE. I was so awkward at thirteen, wanted so much to feel bigger than what I thought I was. As far as my YA fiction goes, there are pieces of me in every character, but I don’t think I can identify what those pieces are.

If the characters from both Princess For Hire and Sean Griswold's Head got stuck on a deserted island, who would fare the best? The worst? And who would be the one to find them a way off said island?

Oh, Princess for Hire cast wouldn’t even get stuck. There’s MAGIC. They’d have bubbles to whisk them away, while the characters from Sean Griswold’s Head would still be scratching their heads, trying to knock a coconut off a tree.

What was your favorite part of being an elementary school teacher?

When a kid fell in love with a book, whether through independent reading time or a classroom unit. I loved sharing my favorite books with my students, and loved when they handed my something with that excited expression, “Mrs. Leavitt. You HAVE to read this.”

What are a few books that are out today that you wish were out when you were growing up?

I just finished THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson, and it was one of those books where every emotion was played out so perfectly. And there’s funny moments. I love books that mix funny with the hard stuff.
Others off the top of my head: FIRE by Cashore, HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins, and although it feels like I’m cheating saying this because we’re friends, but anything by Lisa Schroeder, because her books pack such an emotional punch in a few, perfectly selected words.

Wow, thanks Lindsey for stopping by! You can visit Lindsey on the web at her website, blog, twitter, and facebook. You can also find Lindsey at the Contemps site.

Blog Tour: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Sean Griswold's Head
Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Copy for Review

Rating: 5 stars

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object—an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas—it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.



The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.
In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.
This book is absolute love! From the first page to the last, it is a story filled to the brim with wonderfulness. Sean Griswald's Head is an adorable read following a wonderful teen.
 
The book hit really close to home for me, as my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 9 years ago. It was interesting to read how it affected another family, as fictional as they may be.
 
I really loved the characters - Payton was a wonderful character, and I enjoyed following her story. I found Jac really great as well, as she's the kind of character who has your best intentions at heart, she just may mess up and make some mistakes along the way. I think everyone has someone like this in their life.
 
I really enjoyed Leavitt's writing. It was a beautifully woven story. The events were a lot of fun to follow. I loved the incorporation of cycling - it was a lot of fun to read about. Sean and Payton's cycling was absolutely adorable.
 
I could not recommend this book more! Sean Griswold's Head is a story that will be sure to stick with readers. Witty and entertaining, this story of first love is a must read. It is a story you would be sad to miss.

Interview with The Opposite of Amber's Ruby

Today, I am honoured to have Ruby from Gillian Philip's The Opposite of Amber. The Opposite of Amber is out April 18th. Here's a bit about The Opposite of Amber, in case you haven't heard:

They found the fifth girl right after the snow melted ...the place where he left her was winter water, crazed with ice-feathers and dusted with snow. The traces from her body were gone, the ones that said his name, but she had an extra skin of ice that protected her and she looked perfect, like Snow White'. Ruby and her older sister Jinn live together on their own, just about making ends meet. Jinn is beautiful, with glittering blonde hair, and makes it her business to look after Ruby. They are horrified by, but try to ignore, the local newspaper stories of prostitutes who are murdered, their bodies eventually discovered underwater. Then the no-good Nathan Baird turns up on the scene - again - and Jinn starts to change. First Nathan moves in with Jinn and Ruby, making Ruby feel an outsider, and then Jinn and Nathan move out, leaving Ruby alone. Jinn no longer has time to look after Ruby. And it seems to Ruby that Jinn herself needs looking after. Her beautiful glittering hair starts to lose its shine. And then Jinn disappears. A deeply moving, chilling, and incredibly powerful thriller that celebrates the love two sisters have for each other and mourns the events beyond their control that will conspire to drive them apart.

Now, here is Ruby! :)

What made you decide to work in the salon?

Hi Erica! Well, firstly, of course, because I’m crazy about hair design. I love everything about it – the way it can change people, everything from the way they look, to the way they act, to the way they feel. What’s the first thing most women do when they feel they need a new chapter in their life? Change their hair. I love that!
Sometimes I do wonder if I made a mistake not going to college... and then I think, nah. Starting in work straightaway was just right for me, and it’s not like I can’t work towards my qualifications in the salon. I really like it there – the place, the boss, the other staff, the customers (except for Mrs Bolland of the Brick-Melting Face, but I shouldn’t say that).

But mostly, I think, I just wanted to get out of full-time education. I wanted to... grow up. Job-wise, at least. I wanted to go and make my own way in the adult world. I reckon that’s something to do with always being in Jinn’s – not shadow, I’d hate to use that word; maybe just Jinn’s care. I never really had to do anything for myself, look out for myself, and I suppose I thought it was time I did. Maybe one day I’ll regret not going to college. But not yet.

Can you share a favorite childhood memory with Jinn with us?

Oh. There are so many. OK... there was the key ring incident. I was about seven, I think, and I had this key ring – long before I had any need for keys, of course. It was just a toy to me. It was a really fierce-looking orc, all cross-eyed and snarly, and it glowed in the dark, and I loved it. I took it everywhere... which was a mistake, because of course I took it to the playpark one day and lost it. I didn’t realise till I got home, and then I was hysterical. My mother was pretty upset for me too – practically smothered me with hugs and sweets and promises to get a new one – but it was Jinn who didn’t give up on it, even though it was the middle of winter. Lara went out that evening with some bloke and left Jinn in charge, so Jinn got a torch and took me back to the playpark and we hunted for ages. She made it all into a big adventure. And sure enough, there it was half-buried in bark under the swings, glowing away in the torchlight, looking absolutely livid. Jinn gave it such a row, and told it it didn’t scare her and never to do that to me again, till I was practically killing myself laughing.

I still have that orc, even though it eventually fell off the actual key ring. I’m careless with a lot of my stuff, but that’s one thing I’ve kept safe.

How did you first meet Wide Bertha?

Must have been soon after she gave Jinn a weekend job at the mini-mart. I’d seen her around before that, because it’s a small town and she’s, ah – she’s a big lady. Don’t tell her I said that, or she’ll kill me. I remember being scared of her when I was little, thinking she was one of the Breakness witches, because she’s got a fierce face when she isn’t smiling, and she has this enormous presence (uh-oh, there I go again). So when I went to see Jinn at work one day, and Bertha was behind the counter, I was practically petrified. She said, ‘You’re looking for Jinn,’ and I couldn’t even speak (what’s new). She tried again, and I was still dumbstruck, so I just nodded. So she sighed, and rolled those eyes, and picked up a packet of Starburst and slapped it into my hand, and said ‘Well you might as well use that mouth for something.’ And after that we were mates.

If you could change your name to anything, what would it be?

You know what? I used to think I’d change it to something exotic or romantic, like Lola or Roxanne or Gabrielle. But now I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s just me. It’d feel like changing my head for another one. I’m happy to be Ruby.

What's the funniest moment you and Foley have had together?

That’d have to be the time he tried to teach his little sister Mallory how to play Poohsticks. (Poohsticks! That was funny in itself. The child’s a delinquent psycho.) Anyway, there we were on the rickety bridge that goes over to the beach at Breakness, and he hadn’t collected very many sticks, so when one of them got caught under the bridge she was broken-hearted. Or pretended to be. So she did the Bambi-eyes thing that he always falls for, and he leaned right over, with me hanging on to his ankles, and tried to dislodge it. And needless to say, a rotten old rail of the bridge gave way and I lost my grip and he fell in. And again needless to say, when I leaned over, a bit worried and not thinking, the little minx shoved me after him. Now that I think about it, it wasn’t so funny at the time, but we did laugh about it later, especially when we got to dry each other off with our jackets. It’d have been even funnier if Mallory had fallen in instead.

Rapid Fire! Could you share with us some of your favorites?

Favorite Color:
Well, red of course!

Favorite Food:
Jinn’s chicken fajitas, with far too much sour cream. Or a sandwich picnic at Lara’s grave.

Favorite Flower out of Jinn's Garden:
Nasturtiums. They keep coming back all summer and they’re impossible to kill.

Favorite Animal at the Zoo:
Not the goat. Let’s see... I hate to admit it, but it’s those incredibly ugly pigs that Mallory likes. Oh, and I have a soft spot for the peacock, since it scared Foley into my arms.

Favorite Icecream Flavor:
Breakness Butterscotch. The chunks of butterscotch are big enough to stick in your teeth. Delicious, and another excuse not to talk too much.

Wow, Thanks Ruby for stopping by! The Opposite of Amber is out April 18, and you can pre-order is on The Book Depository!

You can visit Gillian on the web at her website, twitter, and Facebook.

In My Mailbox (90)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:

For Review:
Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
Stay by Deb Caletti
Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell by Crickett Rumley
Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Family by Micol Ostow
Ask Elizabeth by Elizabeth Berkley

Bought:
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (I am a horrible fan girl, as I didn't buy this til now!)

I am so excited for every single one of these books, so I can't wait to read them!

What did YOU guys get?

Waiting on Wednesday (91) - Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Coming May 31st from HarperTeen

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

There are so many amazing sounding books coming out lately! This is a book I'm going to be counting down the days until it is out. I love the cover and I love the summary!

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Daughter of Xanadu
Dori Jones Yang
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Copy for Review

Rating: 4.5 stars

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

I love historical fiction - I read all of it I can. When read the description, I'm not going to lie, I was not sure if I was going to like it. The time of the Mongol Empire isn't one that had interested me all that much. Daughter of Xanadu bypassed every single expectation I had for it, and it was absolutely amazing! I got addicted to the story, and didn't want to put it down.

I loved the characters. I think that's one of the things I love most about historical fiction is the characters and seeing how they lived and how they react to different events. Emmajin was a really strong character, and I love books where the main character is represented as such. Marco was a really cool character and a much warmer character than I had been expecting him to be.

The places the characters visited were so interesting, and I loved reading about them. Yang made me feel like I was right in the story, next to Emmajin and Marco. Everything was so real, and I really appreciated that. I loved seeing the cultural differences between what Emmajin grew up with and what Marco had.

Daughter of Xanadu is a book you will not want to miss! If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is DEFINITELY a book to check out. Even if you are not a usual fan of historical fiction, I suggest giving it a try. Daughter of Xanadu is a book that will not disappoint, and I'm anxious to read future works from Dori Jones Yang!

In My Mailbox (89)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:



For Review:
Red Glove by Holly Black

Won from Britt:

Radiance by Alyson Noel
Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell
Revolution by Jennifer Donnely
Saphique by Catherine Fisher
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
The Line by Teri Hall
Stork by Wendy Delsol
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Trade with Brit:
Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Poison by Sara Poole

Trade with Zoe:
Vesper by Jeff Sampson
Wildwing by Emily Whitman

Trade with Heidi:
Ash by Malinda Lo
+ Won a Dark Court Band

PLUS I GOT THE COOLEST SHIRT EVER: A CLARITY shirt :)


Back of the Tshirt




Front of the Tshirt

What did you guys get this week? :)

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer's Cross
Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Pages: 233
Source: Library

Rating: 4.5 stars

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

This was my first Lisa McMann book, and boy, was I impressed! With the first few pages I fell in love with the story and the writing. Cryer's Cross is a fun mystery that will keep you guessing as to where it will lead readers next.

The characters were really well written. Kendall was a really well-rounded character, and I really liked her as a main character. My one complaint with her would be the fact she calls her parents mommy and daddy at points - I don't know any teenagers who still refer to their parents as "mommy" and "daddy". Jacian and Marlena were a lot of fun to read about. I loved the scenes they were in, and thought they both brought a lot to the story. Hecter's stories and knowledge were a lot of fun as well.

The orginality of the plot was another aspect that really made me enjoy Cryer's Cross. It really was unlike anything I had read before - which was very refreshing and appreciated. I also really enjoyed how I felt there were multiple layers to the plot - and something was always going on. Everything wasn't always directly related to the main plot, I felt, which was a really great aspect of Cryer's Cross.

I was a bit confused about some of the details of the ending. Even now, I look back trying to sort out exactly what had happened. The actual ending was really cute, but it was those last few chapters that muddled a few details for me.

I would definitely read this one! I picked it up off the shelves at school half way through the day, and by 8:30 that night I had polished off the last page. Cryer's Cross has an addicting quality that will keep you reading, until you turn the last page.

Waiting on Wednesday (90) - The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Coming April 19th from Harlequin Teen

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

Oh my gosh, I LOVE mythology and this book sounds fantastic! This needed to come out about yesterday. Waiting until April will be painfully painful!

In My Mailbox (88)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:

For Review:

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti (OH MY GOSH!!!! She is one of my FAVORITE authors, so I freaked out when I got this!)
Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando
Brother/Sister by Sean Olin - I had never heard of the last 2 titles, but after reading about them, they sound really great!)

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike - I haven't read any of the books in this series yet, but I think this means I just got an excuse too :)
Blood and Flowers by Penny Blubaugh

Darkness becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Won from Heidi:

Matched by Ally Condie
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Other Swag!

Bought:

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
She's Got the Beat by Nancy Krulik - My mom bought me these 3 the other day, I was so happy!

I had a really great book week this week - I wasn't expecting any of these, so I was super excited when I got them!

What did you guys get?

Waiting on Wednesday (89) - Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Coming June 7th from HarperCollins

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Cover LOVE. The cover was the first thing I had saw about Hereafter, then when I read the description it was even more love! I cannot wait until it is out, I am coutning down the days!

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity

Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 242
Source: ARC For Review

Rating: 5 stars

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

Clarity is an absolutely thrilling read that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out all the pieces to the puzzle. I was glued to the pages and any time I was forced to set it down, I was counting down until I could  read some more.

Clarity is just merely an awesome character. She was so spunky and I loved her confidence she has. There is a hilarious scene where she just dumps a soda on this snotty girl and I was sitting her cheering for Clare! I also am officially declaring myself Team Gabin, as I can't choose between Justin and Gabriel as they are both awfully lovely. Both of these guys were so swoon worthy and awesome.

I loved the mystery! It was so fun to try to figure out everything. While the story is a murder mystery, it still has a very light feel to it. There was a great mix of lighthearted, funny scenes with the more serious ones. Clarity will keep you absolutely captivated.

I absolutely adored every page of this book. It has made it's way on to my list of favorites, and is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Clarity is the sort of book that one could reread over and over, yet still never get bored, as it just has a certain quality to it that never gets old.