Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Rage
Jackie Morse Kessler
Publisher: Harcourt Graphia
Release Date: April 4, 2011
Pages: 213

Rating: 4 stars

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

I was not super crazy about the first book in this series, Hunger, so I was not originally going to read this one. I was talking books with Kristen, and she told me that Death has a much bigger role in this one. When I heard that, I was sold as I adored Death in Hunger, and wanted to see a lot more of him as a character. What I found in Rage was everything I had been hoping for in Hunger and was really just blown away by this one!

I really liked Missy as a narrator. Her character was really rounded out and I thought she had a really interesting story to tell. I would just like to take a moment and say that sister Sue was just a, pardon my language, bitch! She was so horrible! I love Death - he is my favorite character in this series. He is hilarious! I cannot get enough of him, and I was happy that Death was very much more present in this one!

This series is just so fascinating to me. I love what Jackie Morse Kessler has done with the Horsemen of the Apocalypse - it is just so interesting. I never can guess where the story is going to go. I had a bit of an issue in the first book with the story not being explained enough, but everything was very much fleshed out in this one. The book was longer and it had time for the story to grow.

I cannot wait to read Loss, the next book. I cannot wait to see where the story goes. I'm curious to see more from Pestilence as he was quite the character. Rage was everything I had been hoping for for this series and I really enjoyed it.

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer Hubbard

Try Not to Breathe
Jennifer Hubbard
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: January 19, 2012
Pages: 272

Rating: 4 stars

Ryan spends most of his time alone at the local waterfall because it’s the only thing that makes him feel alive. He’s sixteen, post-suicidal, and trying to figure out what to do with himself after a stint in a mental hospital. Then Nicki barges into his world, brimming with life and energy, and asking questions about Ryan’s depression that no one else has ever been brave enough—or cared enough—to ask. Ryan isn’t sure why he trusts Nicki with his darkest secrets, but that trust turns out to be the catalyst that he desperately needs to start living again.

Try Not to Breathe was a really great read. I was very interested in this one when I heard about it, since I had liked her debut, The Secret Year. Try Not to Breathe was a really touching read that was just a really great book and I am happy to have read it.

I really loved the characters. Val, Jake, Nikki, they were all just great. The relationships between all the characters were so complex, and I loved seeing how everything would pan out between them. I really liked Nikki - she was no nonsense when it came to Ryan; she wasn't going to let him just hide within himself. I really admired her.

Jennifer Hubbard's prose is absolutely beautiful. She really has written just an enchanting story. It deals with such a raw, emotional topic, yet there was a very hopeful light about it. The characters all support each other and will not let anyone fall into darkness, and I loved that about this book.

I would quite recommend this one. I loved the characters and the story they had to tell. Jennifer Hubbard's writing really grew from her debut in this one, and I really am excited to see what is next from her.

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci

First Day on Earth
Cecil Castellucci
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Pages: 150

Rating: 4 stars

A startling, wonderful novel about the true meaning of being an alien in an equally alien world.
"We are specks. Pieces of dust in this universe. Big nothings.
"I know what I am."
Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Yet loving the world -- or, at least, an idea of the world.
Then he meets Hooper. Who says he's from another planet. And may be going home very soon.

First Day on Earth was a cute read. I really enjoyed the characters, but I wish it had been a bit longer. I felt like the book was over much too fast. It was my first Cecil Castellucci read, but by no means my last.

This was a book of extremely short chapters. Usually, I think this may bother me, but it really worked well for this one. I loved the formatting too. Some pages only had a few sentences, but it was always meaningful when that happened.

The plot was fun. It was very simplistic, yet I still was never exactly sure where it would go. There wasn't a lot of substance to it, and I do wish it had been a bit more fleshed out. The book was only 150 pages, so to me, there wasn't really room for all of that.

The characters were fun. I loved the relationship between Mal and Posey - it was such an odd relationship, yet they had an invisible bond almost. Hooper was a riot. I loved him. I felt so bad for Darwyn! He was always doing everyone's grunt work or being made fun of.

This was a super fast paced book that was really cute. I would recommend it if you are looking for one of those reads that you don't have to think a lot while reading. I am very curious in seeing more from Cecil Castellucci after this one!

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass
Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 232

Rating: 4 stars

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Moonglass was a really touching debut. It was a much needed contemporary that I really enjoyed. It had a story that I really enjoyed and the characters were just great.

The plot of this book was just very easy going and had a steady pace. I loved that Anna and Tyler's relationship took a bit to build. It wasn't simply ok, we're together now. I was actually a good chunk into the book before they actually got together, and that was awesome.

The characters were my favorite part of this book. I loved Ashley - she isn't the type of character I usually would be crazy about, but she was just lovely. I would love to have her as a friend. Jillian was another character who was just great. She was just a really nice person. James was a hilarious character and I would've loved to hear more from him.

I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending. I wish the story had gone on a little more. I felt like the peak of the book happened and then the book just ended.

Moonglass was a really great read. I loved the stories within the story and the action by the ocean. It was just a really nice read, and while it was a something of a book of grief for Anna and her dad, it was also very much about growth. I really am curious to see more from Jessi Kirby in the future.

From the Back of My Shelf (9): Purge by Sarah Darer Littman

From the Back of My Shelf is a bi-monthly event, that happens on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month where you pull a book from the back of your shelf (with a 2009 release or prior) and review it. It's a way to read some of those books that have been gathering dust while new books came out. Feel free to join in and participate, and link your reviews up in the Mr Linky below. Check out more in my intro post here here.

Purge
Sarah Darer Littman
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: April 1, 2009
Pages: 240

Rating: 4 stars

Janie Ryman hates throwing up. So why does she binge eat and then stick her fingers down her throat several times a day? That’s what the doctors and psychiatrists at Golden Slopes hope to help her discover. But first Janie must survive everyday conflicts between the Barfers and the Starvers, attempts by the head psychiatrist to fish painful memories out of her emotional waters, and shifting friendships and alliances among the kids in the ward.

Purge was a book I really enjoyed - It feels weird to say I enjoyed it, given the subject matter, but Sarah Darer Littman has written a book filled with such hope and a positive message for teens.

I really liked the characters. I thought Janie, and all the other teens at Golden Slopes. They all were very different, but I found them all very easy to connect to. No, I haven't  gone through the same things as they had been through, but so many contributing factors to their situation I have experienced in some manners, making it really easy to relate to all of them. I really liked Tom. He was hands down my favorite character of the book. I also really liked Brad, he definitely played a smaller role, but I just loved the one scene he was in.

Each chapter started with an entry from Janie's diary, and I thought it was a really neat format. The diary entries were very different from the regular narrative, as it was not only here thoughts, but also a lot of Janie's back story. The one thing I wasn't too crazy about was how Janie referred to everyone as a Puker or a Starver. It just felt a bit odd to me, and it was almost like there was like a battle between the two.

Purge's plot was very sad at times, but it had such an element of hope throughout most of it. There were so many touching scenes. I found Nurse Joe to be hilarious and he helped Janie a lot when no one else was really succeeded. Any scene with Tom was just great, he always brought something new to a scene

I really liked Purge. I thought it was a book that addressed a very important topic, and that Sarah Darer Littman really succeeded in writing about it. This is my first Sarah Darer Littman read, but after Purge, I am very anxious to pick up another!

Did you do a From the Back of My Shelf post? Link it here :)

From the Back of My Shelf (8): Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

From the Back of My Shelf is a bi-monthly event, that happens on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month where you pull a book from the back of your shelf (with a 2009 release or prior) and review it. It's a way to read some of those books that have been gathering dust while new books came out. Feel free to join in and participate, and link your reviews up in the Mr Linky below. Check out more in my intro post here here.

Jellicoe Road
Melina Marchetta
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: September 1, 2008
Pages: 416

Rating: 4 stars

"What do you want from me?" he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More.

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

I have heard that this book is amazing for ages, and decided I finally needed to sit down and read it, to see what everyone was talking about. Jellicoe Road had a very touching story to tell, and I really enjoyed it. I didn't love it to the point that I feel others have, but I thought it was a story worth telling.

This was a very slow book to get into. I had no idea what was going on until just before page 100, and didn't grasp a full idea until closer to page 200. This was bothersome in a way, but it almost made me more curious. I was so intrigued by the storyline, yet I had no idea what the basis for all of it was. After that, I found the story to be so charming. The story line from the past, with Narnie and the others, was very hard to follow. I found myself finishing still not having a clear understanding of everything that happened. I was able to piece together the gist of it, but I still had so many questions that I didn't feel were answered. That went for the main storyline as well, there definitely were some questions that remained unanswered, when I had hoped I would discover an answer.

I really adored all the characters. Jessa was a character who really grew on me throughout the book; at first, I was not super crazy about her, but by the end I could not imagine the book without her. Griggs was awesome. He was just such a great guy. Ben was another character who I really loved - he was such a good-hearted person. Taylor grew a lot as a character as the book went on, and I loved seeing the changes in her as the book went on.

Jellicoe Road is definitely a book worth reading, and while it wasn't a for sure favorite of mine, I still am happy to have read it. I am very interested to check out other works by Melina Marchetta after this one. Jellicoe Road was a story of a simply wonderful cast of characters.

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The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson

The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills
Joanna Pearson
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Pages: 224

Rating: 4 stars

For anyone who's ever survived a rite of passage or performed a mating dance at Prom . . .
The Japanese hold a Mogi ceremony for young women coming of age. Latina teenagers get quinceaneras. And Janice Wills of Melva, NC ... has to compete in the Miss Livermush pageant.
Janice loves anthropology--the study of human cultures--and her observations help her identify useful rules in the chaotic world of high school. For instance: Dancing is an effective mating ritual--but only if you're good at it; Hot Theatre Guys will never speak to Unremarkable Smart Girls like Janice and her best friend, Margo; and a Beautiful Rich Girl will always win Melva's annual Miss Livermush pageant.
But when a Hot Theatre Guy named Jimmy Denton takes an interest in Janice, all her scientific certainties explode. For the first time, she has to be part of the culture that she's always observed; and all the charts in the world can't prove how tough--and how sweet--real participation and a real romance can be.
Funny, biting, and full of wisdom, this marks the debut of a writer to watch.

The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills was an absolutely delightful debut. I read straight through and just loved  it. Janice has a great story to tell, and I loved every page of it.

The plot was a lot of fun. There were definitely aspects that were slightly cliched and predictable, but I loved them all the same. The book had little interruptions to the plot such as "A Note From the Anthropologist" which were a ton of fun to read. It was just another thing that made this book so great. I love contemporaries - and this one was quite funny at times, yet still had serious undertones.

The characters were probably my favorite thing about this one. They were all great. Even the minor characters stuck out in my mind. Janice was a character who developed a lot throughout the book, and really came into herself. I loved Paul - he was my favorite character of the book. All his quirky ideas he tried, he just seems like a very fun person.

After this debut, I am very intrigued to see what is next for Joanna Pearson. I really enjoyed this one! I would definitely recommend it to all, especially for those looking for a contemporary with charm and is a fast read.

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

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.

Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert

Mercy Lily
Lisa Albert
Publisher: Flux
Release Date: October 8, 2011
Pages: 240

Rating: 4 stars

Mom has slowly been losing herself to MS. After traditional treatment fails, she takes bee sting therapy, administered by Lily, to alleviate her pain. Lily is trained as a veterinary assistant, so she can easily handle the treatments. What she can't handle is what happens when the bee sting therapy fails and it becomes clear that Mom wants to die.
One beautiful spring day, Lily's mother asks her for the most impossible thing of all—mercy. They live in Oregon, where the Death with Dignity Act allows a patient to make the decision to end their own life.
While navigating first love, friendship, and the other normal worries faced by high school sophomores, Lily also has to choose: grant Mom's request, or cling to Mom's fading life for all it's worth.

I should warn you all now that this was a really hard review for me to write and was a very emotional read for me. This book hit really close to home for me - my mom was diagnosed with MS when I was 8 years old, and my entire life since that has had me living in the same fear Lily has for a lot of the book. While my mom is lucky and is no where near as severe as Lily's mom in this book, it still was a very emotional read for me. I heard about Mercy Lily, and I wanted to read it, to see if I was strong enough. I really liked Mercy Lily, I thought it was a really strong debut.

I cried so much throughout this book. I would say for nearly 200 pages I was crying on and off, and I do not cry easily in books. Mercy Lily was so realistic - so much of what happens seriously is what I fear every day could happen. Between the emotional, heart wrenching moments there are a lot of lighter, fun moments between Lily and her friends. I wish this had been fleshed out a bit more, I didn't feel like they were quite developed enough.

The characters were great. I definitely wish I had gotten to spend more time with a few of the characters, as I loved them so much. Gretchen was an awesome character, and I loved the scenes she was in. Shauna and Trent were another pair of awesome characters. Shauna had so much spunk and Trent had a great sense of humor.

Mercy Lily was an interesting read for me, it was one of those books that tells a really hard story, but also a story of growth and finding strength. It is a really touching story, and I am very curious to see more from Lisa Albert!

Dark Mirror by MJ Putney

Dark Mirror
MJ Putney
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 304

Rating: 4 stars

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic.
When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.
But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

This was such a fun read! Historical fiction mixed with magic and fantasy make the best sort of reads in my opinion, so I could not wait to read this one. Dark Mirror had a bit of a rocky start, but it was smooth sailing from there on out!

The first 40 pages or so were very slow and the writing seemed almost detached. The story was very disjointed and had no flow. After this, it picked up and I just loved discovering what the characters would do or what would happen next. For a good portion of the book, I did have to really suspend reality as even with the fantastical I had a bit of a hard time believing certain things would happen. Despite this, the story really was a lot of fun. The magic element was a huge part of the story, yet it didn't override the other aspects. It was a perfectly balanced book.

Dark Mirror had a great cast of characters - they were all really well written. There was not a single character I did not like, and I really am excited to see more of the characters in book 2. The characters were definitely my favorite aspect of the book. Tory was a great main character, she had spunk and was quite strong.

Can I just say I love this cover? Historical books have the prettiest of covers. It was a fun, fast read with characters that are so charming. I am so excited to start book 2, Dark Passage, and see what is next for the characters :)

Legend by Marie Lu

Legend
Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Pages: 336
Source: BEA

Rating: 4 stars

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.


From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Legend was an interesting read - it started out being a book that I almost didn't finish, but ended up finishing strong and turning out to quite the read.

It was divided into 2 sections. Part 1 was a total flop for me. I was bored until about the last 15-20 pages of it, and even then I wasn't completely on board. Part 2, now THAT was one heck of a read. I couldn't put it down, and I loved the twists and turns to plot took. The plot was not simple at all, instead it kept thickening and thickening.

The world was super cool - I always love the worlds in dystopians. I think that was part of what contributed to the slow factor - the world building that had to go on. The whole deal with the Republic was a bit confusing at first, but as things became clearer, it was simply fascinating.

I had issues connecting with the characters. As the book went on, it become a bit easier to connect with them but characters were definitely not my favorite point of the book. I really liked Tess, I thought she was just a total sweetheart. Though, I would have loved to know more about her and why she is on the streets with Day.

As far as dystopians go, this one was a pretty good read as long as you don't mind a very long beginning of about 150 pages in which nothing happens. The other half of the book is brilliant, but it was that first part that held me back from absolutely loving this one. I am super excited to see where Day and June's story goes in book 2!

Tour: Prized by Caragh M O'Brien

Prized (Birthmarked #2)
Caragh M O'Brien
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Release Date: Novemberr 8, 2011
Pages: 368

Rating: 4 stars

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

I was very much anticipating Prized, after reading Birthmarked and absolutely loving it. While I didn't love Prized quite as much as Birthmarked, it still was a really good read. I found the plot very intriguing, but my biggest issue was with the main character, Gaia.

I wasn't as on board with the plot for the first chunk of the book. It seemed a bit rocky and I was a little uncomfortable by the happenings of some of the characters. This changed, and the plot became very intriguing. It was so different from the world of Birthmarked, and I loved discovering it!

Gaia changed a lot in this book, and I found her to be a much weaker character. Many of her choices just didn't see on board with the Gaia I had come to know in Birthmarked. That aside, I loved all the characters in Prized. Will, Peter, Norris, they were all just extremely lovely. I still can't help but to fall for Leon, I simply love him. He is probably my favorite character of the book, and he just gets more complex as a character in Prized.

Prized was an intriguing read that I didn't want to put down. Most of the characters are absolutely lovely, and the plot is one to get you hooked! I am eagerly anticipating the last book in the trilogy, I am very curious to see where Caragh M O'Brien will take readers after the unpredictable twist Prized ends with. These books are among my favorite dystopians, as I just love mostly everything about the two!

Tour: Audition by Stasia Ward Kahoe

Audition
Stasia Ward Kahoe
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: October 13, 2011
Pages: 464
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

I have grown up dancing, since I was four years old, so when I found out Audition was a story of dance, I was ecstatic. I somehow missed that it was a book in verse in my excitement over dance, and I am happy that I did, or I may have passed up this brilliant novel. 


Stasia Ward Kahoe's writing in Audition is just beautiful. It flows together, like the notes of music. Generally speaking, I'm not super crazy about verse,  but I could read Stasia Ward Kahoe's writing all day long.


I really enjoyed the characters - Sara was a great main character, I loved the complexity of her and her world. I liked the other dancers as well, but I didn't find them very distinct from one another besides Lisette and Bonnie. Julio was one of my favorite characters of the book, he was just so fun and sweet. I absolutely loved every scene he made  an appearance in.


I loved the plot, especially the scenes at the studio. Everything about dance fascinates me, so I loved this fictitious story.  I wasn't as crazy about some of Sara's choices near the end of the book, I wanted her to realize what was around her and take advantage of it. 


I would really recommend this one. If you love dance and the arts, read it. If you don't think you do, read this one anyways. Stasia Ward Kahoe is a radiant new voice in YA. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Audio Review: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds
Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Unabridged Compact Disk, 7 disks
Narrator: Simon Jones

Rating: 4 stars

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret--behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

The Unwanteds was a really fun book - I quite enjoyed it. I listen to audio books as I walk around campus, to and from class, and whenever I had to stop listening, I just wanted to pick it back up again. I had only read Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann, but after this one, I am quite certain I need to read her Wake series soon!

I really enjoyed the narration of The Unwanteds. Simon Jones had so many different voices for the different characters. My particular favorite was Ms Octavia, I loved that she was southern. I thought the narration just made the book so much more interesting, I felt like I was simply in Artime.

I really liked a lot of the characters, but to me, it felt like there was at least one character driving me a bit crazy for a lot of the book. Lani really bothered me for the first half of the book, I thought she was annoying and simply a nusance. She got much better as the book went on. Ms. Octavia was one of my favorite characters of the book, I just loved her. Megan was another really great character.

The plot was a lot of fun - I loved the whole idea. Artsy, creative kids get the short end of the stick way too often, but taking that short end of the stick to the extremes was just super cool. The world was neat, I loved finding out all the details about Artime. I was always finding out something new about the world or some quirky thing that was allowed there.

The Unwanteds was a great read, it was simply just a ton of fun! With its great world and intriguing premise, The Unwanteds is definitely a book you do not want to miss. I love fantasy, and whenever I find more, it is just lovely.

Tour: The Radleys by Matt Haig

The Radleys
Matt Haig
Publisher: Free Press
Release Date: December 28, 2010 (Paperback on September 20, 2011)
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher


Rating: 4 stars

Just about everyone knows a family like the Radleys. Many of us grew up next door to one. They are a modern family, averagely content, averagely dysfunctional, living in a staid and quiet suburban English town. Peter is an overworked doctor whose wife, Helen, has become increasingly remote and uncommunicative. Rowan, their teenage son, is being bullied at school, and their anemic daughter, Clara, has recently become a vegan. They are typical, that is, save for one devastating exception: Peter and Helen are vampires and have—for seventeen years—been abstaining by choice from a life of chasing blood in the hope that their children could live normal lives. 

One night, Clara finds herself driven to commit a shocking—and disturbingly satisfying—act of violence, and her parents are forced to explain their history of shadows and lies. A police investigation is launched that uncovers a richness of vampire history heretofore unknown to the general public. And when the malevolent and alluring Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives to throw the police off Clara’s trail, he winds up throwing the whole house into temptation and turmoil and unleashing a host of dark secrets that threaten the Radleys’ marriage.

The Radleys was a really great read. This was the first book I have read by Matt Haig, but I definitely will be checking out other books by him! I loved the characters, and the plot was pretty darn unique, which made it a lot of fun.

I loved the set up of the book - it switches between the points of views of many of the characters in the book. You hear from some more than others, but it just was a lot of fun to hear from so many characters! It also has tidbits from the Abstainer's Handbook mixed it, which I thought was a creative idea.

I really enjoyed the plot of The Radleys, it was definitely a more original take on vampires. I did find the beginning slightly unbelievable - I didn't understand how you could not realize something that huge about your life. But that aside, the secrets and layers built into the world with the vampires was just really cool.

I loved the characters - even the more minor characters really stood out in my mind. Clara was a really great character, as was Eve. They were probably my two favorite characters of the book, they just seemed like super good hearted people.

I quite love the paperback cover! I would really recommend The Radleys, I loved the characters and the set up of the world Matt Haig has his characters living in.

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Follow the rest of the tour here! Every Friday during the tour, one person who commented on all participating blogs for that week to win a prize. The winner will be announced each Monday on Helen and Rowan’s twitter accounts @Helen_Radley and @rowanradley. The prize will be a copy of THE RADLEYS in both hardcover and paperback signed by author Matt Haig and some blood-red hot chocolate.

Also make sure to check out the super fun site for The Radleys, an excerpt for the book, and the book trailer:

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Past Midnight
Mara Purnhagen
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 1, 2010
Pages: 216
Source: Harlequin Teen Panel

Rating: 4 stars

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.

All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive….

Ghosts are one of the paranormal creatures that I'm late jumping on the bandwagon for, and they're really starting to grow on me. Past Midnight was simply an absolutely adorable read, that is really the only way I could think to describe it. It's another fantastic read from Harlequin Teen.

I love Mara Purnhagen's ghosts in Past Midnight. They weren't full on like ghosts like you are used to, but instead just more like a shadow or a voice or an object moving, so it was more just the energies of people. I thought that was so much more effective and more eerie.

I really liked Charlotte's character. At first I wasn't as crazy about her, thinking she was going to be stereo-typical less favorite child, but she didn't turn out to play that role which was nice. Noah was a super fun character as well, as was Jared. I'm really interested to see what role those 2 play in future books, as with Bliss. I didn't like Bliss at all, but I think she certainly is an interesting character.

I really liked Purnhagen's writing, it just had a really fun quality about it. This book was so light and I just breezed right through it. When I was reading it, it was simply the perfect read for the time.

Past Midnight is a book I really wish I had picked up earlier. I had noticed it, but for some reason didn't pick it up. With it's fresh take on ghosts and fun cast of characters, Past Midnight is just one great read.

From the Back of My Shelf (5): The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

From the Back of My Shelf is a bi-monthly event, that happens on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month where you pull a book from the back of your shelf (with a 2009 release or prior) and review it. It's a way to read some of those books that have been gathering dust while new books came out. Feel free to join in and participate, and link your reviews up in the Mr Linky below. Check out more in my intro post here here.

The Espressologist
Kristina Springer
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Release Date: October 27, 2009
Pages: 184
Source: Gift

Rating: 4 stars

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

The Espressologist was a super cute read! The pages flew by at a crazy fast speed, and all too soon the book was finished and I was left wanting more from this fantastic plot Springer had spun.

The plot was adorable. I loved the whole idea of matching people by the drinks they order - it's so unique and I would really love to see if it would actually work out ever!

I really loved the characters in The Espressologist. I thought they were all super easy to connect with and a lot of fun. I thought Derek was absolutely hilarious, with all his different moods he would be in. I did have a little more of an issue connecting with Em, Jane's best friend but she was still a ton of fun.

The ending was about the most adorable thing in the world! This was a great book, that I would absolutely recommend! This is my first book from Kristina Springer but after this one, I definitely want to check out her other book now!

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse #8)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Pages: 359
Source: Bought

Rating: 4 stars
After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone human and otherwise is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.


It's clear that things are changing whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community is caught up in the changes.


In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.

WooHoo, this series is finally going back on the upswing after the let down I thought the past 2 books were! I am so excited to see where everything is going to go now, between the new characters that popped up and the events that have come to pass.

At the end of the book, readers hear briefly from Hadley's ex-husband Remy and his family, I really liked all of them as characters and I really hope that they make more appearances in future books as they were all lovely!

I am super curious to see how the whole new Vampire group will play in to the series. From Dead to Worse was perfectly balanced between Vamp and Were action in my opinion - the books in the series that have some of both end up being my favorites, because I love characters that are both.

I super love this series, and I recommend it to all. I can't wait to see where the series goes, especially after the super huge cliffhanger-esque ending Harris ended with!

Tour: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steve Wedel

After Obsession
Carrie Jones and Steve Wedel
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: BEA


Rating: 4 stars

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts, and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other for the first time, in a cold Maine town, they can’t stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel strongly that something, or someone, is haunting them. They’re wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it’s neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It’s Alan’s cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life—and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney, but everything around her…. Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love—and introducing an exciting new YA voice in Steven Wedel—this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

When I heard about After Obsession I was super excited. I had loved Carrie Jones Need series and while I have never read anything by Steven E. Wedel, I was still very excited.

The plot was really interesting – I found it very fast paced and interesting to read about, but I found it slightly confusing from time to time. I was also a bit wary at first about the plot, in the synopsis it mentions Aimee connecting immediately with this new guy, a stranger to town. I was happy that connection between that was void of the cheesiness and fake qualities I was afraid if could have possibly contained.

There were so many great moments throughout After Obsession – the Cheeto incident was definitely one of the ones that sticks out in my mind; I found that part great! There were so many moments like this where you really got to know the characters better, and I loved that.

I loved that the story was told in alternating perspectives, between Alan and Aimee.  Alternating perspectives in books is absolutely fascinating to me, as you get 2 sides of the story, and it worked just marvelously for After Obsession.

After Obsession was a really great read that was super fast paced and had so many intense moments. I was sucked into the story right away, and while it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, it was a marvelous read.

Also, make sure to check out the super stellar trailer for After Obsession!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1954129248558  (I couldn't figure out how to embed it, so I am just linking to it! :)

The Postmortal by Drew Magary

The Postmortal
Drew Magary
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

John Farrell is about to get "The Cure."
Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can . . .

Imagine a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and-after much political and moral debate-made available to people worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems-including evil green people, government euthanasia programs, a disturbing new religious cult, and other horrors. Witty, eerie, and full of humanity, The Postmortal is an unforgettable thriller that envisions a pre-apocalyptic world so real that it is completely terrifying.

The Postmortal was a cool read that was something that felt like it could be so real in the not so far off future. With its thought-provoking premise, readers will be sorry to miss The Postmortal.

The Postmortal had a really cool design . First, off it spans over the period of many years so it's divided into sections because of that. Then, the actual book itself is a mix of writings from John, blog posts from others, facts about the changing world and how the Cure is affecting things, and other things like that. It really broke up the story, and I really liked that constant change.

The Postmortal had a bit of a slower start to it, then the story picked up and I really enjoyed it. The end slowed down a bit again, and it just got a bit long.

I really liked Katy. I thought she was a wonderful character, and while she was only in a very brief section of the book, that was one of my favorites parts. She was so free. Polly was another character I really admired - she was the grounding of the book I felt. she was so sensible, and even when things got out of her control, she was still just this great character.

The relationship between John and Allison really just didn't feel that real. I felt like that with Sonia and John too. There was no lead up, it was just this all of a sudden relationship and it was very unrealistic to me.

The Postmortal is definitely a book I would recommend to all. With its intriguing premise, it was a very thought provoking read that I simply didn't want to put down.