The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark

The Edumacation of Jay Baker
Jay Clark
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Pages: 240

Rating: 3.5 stars

Meet Jay Baker . . . or, as he is not-so-affectionately called by his opponent in the freshman class presidential election (and by members of the high school football team): Gay Baker.

A few important things to know about Jay:

1. He is in love with his best friend, cheerleading dynamo Cameo “Appearance” Parnell.

2. He is rocking an unfortunate case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

3. He has the largest storehouse of pop culture references, jokes, and puns in the history of fifteen-year-olds.

4. He is about to uncover a horrifying family secret that will turn his world upside down.

Root for Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl, loses himself in a Bermudan love triangle, watches his parents’ relationship implode in a series of Maury Povich-inspired events, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself.

The Edumacation of Jay Baker was a cute read. It had a slow beginning, but once the story picked up I really enjoyed it. The Edumacation of Jay Baker was a story that I could realistically see going on in high school and was a lot of fun to read.

The first of half of this one was very slow. It took me awhile to get into the story. Once it picked up in the second half, I really enjoyed the story more. This book was definitely funny - I was laughing for a good part of the book. The funny parts are balanced with the serious undertone of the plot, dealing with divorce, family issues, and friend issues.

The characters were great. Even the characters like Alice, who only appeared in one scene, really stuck out in my mind. Abby, Cameo, and Caroline totally sold this book! They were just great characters. They all had their moments of vulnerability or a moment where they don't make the best decision, but I really liked the three of them! The faults in them made them that cooler of characters. Ms. Lambert was also a pretty cool character - definitely one of the best teachers you could have!

For me, this wasn't a superb read, but it was still a very promising debut and I'm curious to see more from Jay Clark. If you are looking for a book that is funny and tells a good story, then this is the one for you.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
Marissa Meyer:
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 387

Rating: 4.5 stars

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

This book was awesome! Cinderella is one of my favorite tales, and Marissa Meyer has revamped it and upgraded it to a story that is just stunning. With Cinder's futuristic element, an epic romance, and the looming threat of war, it is a tale that you will not want to miss.

The world was so cool. Though I was a bit confused at first - fully understanding the world and what was going on did take a bit, but once it did everything made perfect sense. The story also switches between being told from Kai and Cinder's lives, which is about my favorite thing an author can do.

I loved all the characters in Cinder! Iko, Peony, Dr. Erland, Kai - they were all just great. I loved Cinder as a main character - she had a bit of spunk and wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. I am really curious to see how all the characters develop over the next books, as I just loved them all. Everything about Kai was great - I was always curious to see how he'd react in different situations.

The plot was a lot of fun. I won't lie, I guessed how the book would end fairly close to the beginning. Since I was pretty sure how it would end, throughout the entirety of the book it was a lot of fun guessing if I was right or how this event would play out. I loved that Cinder was a mechanic - it was very different and made it that much more fun.

This is a absolutely brilliant debut. I loved the elements of Cinderella entwined in the futuristic world and intense story line. Marissa Meyer is definitely an author to watch, and I cannot wait to see what it next for Cinder and Kai.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky
Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages:  400

Rating: 4 stars

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

I had heard all sorts of hype for Under the Never Sky, but for me, it did not live up to the praises I had heard.  I still found it to be a very good read, and I am curious to see how the story will grow in the sequel.

Under the Never Sky was a very slow read. It picked up a little around page 200, but was still very slow and steady. Not that this was bad, I just was hoping for a little more to happen. That being said, the last 50 pages or so had a lot going on, and it set up a really cool premise for what is to come in book 2. I am very curious to see how the story will develop from here.

I was a bit confused about the world. For a large portion of the book I sat trying to piece together all the elements and come up with a coherent road map, but didn't have much luck. By the end I had been able to piece together a general idea, but I still was very unsure. It was a really cool world, but I didn't completely understand the Aether and the different Markings people could get. I am very curious to see more of this in book 2.

I really loved the mix in genres this one felt to have. There was definitely a huge element of dystopian, but also a lot of sci-fi and almost an element of fantasy. It was a lot of fun to read in that sense, as it wasn't solely one "thing".

I really enjoyed the characters in Under the Never Sky - they were definitely my favorite aspect. I loved Aria and Perry both. Roar was another favorite character of mine. I loved that the story alternated from Aria to Perry's story. It made it a lot more fun. I hope to hear from some of the characters only mentioned in passing or in conversations. Aria and Perry's relationship was one I really liked. It was slow to build and was absolutely adorable.

Under the Never Sky was a promising debut, and I am curious to see how Veronica Rossi grows as a writer in further books. Veronica Rossi has really set the stage in this novel for what will be an awesome book to follow.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan
Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: December 1, 2011
Pages: 288

Rating: 5 stars

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Books that star girls who play sports are my favorite sort of contemporaries. Catching Jordan was phenomenal debut, and I am already eagerly anticipating Miranda Kenneally's next book that comes out next year. I seriously just loved everything about this one, and am sitting here gushing as I'm typing up this review. Miranda Kenneally is the next big thing!

The characters were probably my favorite thing about this book. I loved them all - Henry, JJ, Carter, Jordan, Marie, Carrie - they were all just such great characters. I found myself very easily being able to connect with the different characters. All the guys just hilarious - they were always up to something.

The story was so easy to get caught up in - while I did not play varsity football, it was still very easy to connect with Jordan and get so caught up in her story. I loved that there were so many side stories with all the different characters as well, yet they all connected in the end.

This is a book that is among my favorites of the year and was a stunning debut. It's a book that I will be telling everyone about, and how they need to read it now, as it is that good. Words really cannot capture how much I loved this book. It has a brilliant story worth telling, and sends a great message: to work for your dreams no matter what others tell you.

*side note* If you love Keri Mikulski's books (Pretty Tough series) you will adore this one as well!

This review is cross-posted from YA Books Central where it was originally posted.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

I am so happy it is that time of the year again! The Debut Author Challenge is a challenge where you try to read 12 or more YA or MG debuts throughout the year. You can find out all the details about the DAC here if you want more information and to join us in our debut reading :)

Italicized titles: Own, Not Read
Bolded titles: Read, Not Reviewed

Here is my list:

• The Selection by Kiera Cass
• Level Two by Lenore Appelhans
• Everneath by Brodi Ashton
• Tempest by Julie Cross
• Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
• Ditched by Robin Mellom
• The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg 
• Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne
• When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen
• Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
• After the Snow by Sophie Crockett
• Slide by Jill Hathaway
• Above by Leah Bobet
• Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
• Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Shadow & Bone by Leigh Burdago
• The New Normal by Trish Doller
• Innocent Darkness by Suzanne LaZear
• The Shadow Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson
• Auracle by Gina Rosati
• Queen of Glass by Sarah J Maas
• The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina

Debuts I Read in 2011:

The Edumacation of Jay Clark by Jay Baker

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I know I will end up with an even longer list by the end of the year, but since this one is so long as it is, I think I'll leave it at that.

So what debuts are y'all most excited for?