Scored by Lauren McLaughlin {Review}

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: October 25, 2011

Source: Library
Goodreads

Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed. All kids given a "score" that determines their future potential. This score has the ability to get kids into colleges, grant scholarships, or destroy all hope for the above. Scored's reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend's score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? 

I feel Scored never got the recognition it deserves. This is one solid dystopian.

The idea that the world is run on a scoring system doesn’t really take a lot of imagination. We already base a person’s worth off whether they got a certain amount of schooling and how well they did at it to a certain degree. The setting also doesn’t require too much thought in that the current time period doesn’t seem to be too far in the future. I mean, at some point Imani even mentions Kmart. This isn’t a bad thing, though. It really works to have the focus be on the score rather than the setting for this one.

I liked Imani a lot. She made some regrettable decisions a few times, but that’s part of being a teenager, especially with something like the score hanging over your head. She had good intentions, but just didn’t know what to do with them for a while. She was determined and (sort of) knew what she wanted which is a lot more than most protagonists in dystopians know.

The romance between Diego and Imani was slightly abrupt, but I’d say it still worked.

The Nutshell: This is an incredibly fantastic dystopian which doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. The scoring system is something that’s not too hard to imagine in our current society. Imani is a strong character who is determined to get what she wants, but not by stabbing those close to her in the back. Scored is a quick read that you should definitely devote a few hours to if you’re a fan of dystopians. If you’re unsure whether you like dystopians or not you should still give this one a try as it’s fairly light.

Pages: 240

Series: No
Rating: 4 stars

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens {Review}

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: April 5, 2011

Source: Library

Goodreads

Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.
Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power,an evil they know nothing about.
Until now.
Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world...a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem. And -- if an ancient prophesy is correct -- what they can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.do 

Just another book proving how awesome middle grade is.

It doesn’t take very long for the story to throw you right into the thick of things and from there, there’s barely ever a moment of down time which is precisely how I like it. The only thing that threw me off was the time travel. I wasn’t really expecting it from the synopsis and I kind of felt like I was waiting around for the story to start up. That’s my fault, though, since they were my expectations. Now you know there’s time travel, so you won’t have that problem :P

I really enjoyed all the characters, though I occasionally wanted to tell Emma to stop being such a child. Since she’s only ten, I think it’s perfectly acceptable to act like a child, though. The siblings were all so different and unique. I loved that none of them felt dispensable and were all integral to the story. The side characters were great too. They were all really well developed and made the story complete.

I really enjoyed all the intricacies to the story. I was kept guessing until the answer was right in front of my face, but there was still plenty of unanswered questions to leave room for the sequel.

The Nutshell: The Emerald Atlas is a fast-paced, action-packed story full of risky situations and plucky young siblings. If you’re up for a crazy journey that’ll have you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing, you should definitely get your hands on this one.

Pages: 417

Series: The Books of Begining #1

Rating: 4 stars

Awkward by Marni Bates {Review}

Publisher: K-Teen

Publish Date: January 1, 2012 

Source: Library

Goodreads

Mackenzie Wellesly has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disasterous -- not to mention unwelcome -- attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting. 

I thought I was awkward in school, but Mackenzie Wellesley showed me a whole new level of awkward!

I had pretty high hopes for Awkward before I even opened to the first page since it looked really cute and I’d heard some good reviews. At first, I was disappointed. It seemed Mackenzie was being too stubborn in the way she held onto her geek pride. Don’t get me wrong, I completely get the geek pride thing, but the Mackenzie waved the Geek Flag around just kind of started to get on my nerves.

But then something happened. I’m really not sure what it was, maybe it was just Mackenzie starting to grow and change, but whatever it was I started to really get into the story. When I turned the last page, I had that content feeling you get after reading (or even watching) a really cute romance.

I really enjoyed most of the secondary characters too. Corey was pretty much a stereotypical gay best friend, but I totally loved him. He was sweet and always looking out for Mackenzie. I totally want him as MY best friend. Tim and the rest of ReadySet were cool too. I liked that they actually had a part in the story and weren’t just a stop along the journey. I wasn’t as big a fan of Jane, though. I think that’s basically due to the fact that she was barely in the story.

Oh, and there’s Logan. He was nice and sweet and funny. I really liked him, but I do wish he’d been a little more fleshed out.

This book also happens to have the best “insult” I’ve heard since the boy in my 7^th grade class called me “Reader Girl” like it was a bad thing: “You, Mackenzie, have a thesaurus where your heart should be.” I laughed so hard at that! It’s just so completely absurd. Have you ever had someone try to insult you, but instead the insult was laughable?

The Nutshell: Awkward is cute, funny, and fun. Mackenzie is a character most of us can relate to in some way or another. Problem not the instant stardom, but the awkwardness is easy to relate to. Even if you weren’t the geeky one in school, you probably felt out of place at some point in your teenage years. Marni Bates has created a story that gives us all an outlandish and humorous look at the awkward years. If you’re a fan of cute romance and hilarity, you should definitely get your hands on this one.

Pages: 259

Series: No, but it will have a companion out next year.

Rating: 4 stars

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger {Review}

Publisher: Poppy

Publish Date: September 7, 2010

Source: Library

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

!!!!!

That’s pretty much how I feel after finishing The DUFF. When I’d gotten about 50 pages in, I really wasn’t sure that I’d like it. Yes, the synopsis warned me Bianca was cynical, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the level of cynicism her character contained. Turns out, I didn’t really need to worry. This turned out to be one of those awesome books that caused my heart to swell and make me all happy inside.

So, Bianca. Her bitter outlook on life really got to me sometimes. I could really see where she was coming from a lot of the time, though. For one, she’s only 17 trying to navigate life and we all know how big of a pain in the butt that can be sometimes. On top of that, she had problems at home.

At first I found it a little unnerving to be reading from the point of view of someone who was using sex as an escape tactic. After a while, though, I came to respect the fact that Keplinger would delve into an issue most people wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.

Then there’s Wesley. I wanted to hate him most of the time just like Bianca (he could be quite the jerk), but he was just so sweet sometimes! I’m still not entirely sure about my feelings for Wesley, but be assured that I was totally Team Bianca+Wesley.

That’s enough about characters, though. I really appreciated what Keplinger was willing to write about. She got right down to the nitty gritty (in this case, that would be sex) and didn’t let up. This means The DUFF probably isn’t for everyone, but if you can handle it, definitely give it a go. She also touches on issues like divorce and alcoholic parent/s.

The Nutshell: This really isn’t a very eloquent review, but in a way, I think that fits with The DUFF. Now, don’t take that the wrong way. This book isn’t bad, it’s simply…raw. Keplinger looks at a relationship and a person that most people would never write about. Honestly, Bianca’s not very likable, but that’s one of the reasons I ended up loving this book. If you’re up for a contemp that’s not so mushy-gushy, then this should definitely be your next read.

Pages: 280

Series: No

Rating: 4 stars

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel {Review}

Publisher: Del Rey

Publish Date: October 18, 2011

Source: Library

Love can never die.Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid's arrow priece the hearts of the living and the dead -- or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria -- a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country's political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible -- until she's nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she's suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting "The Laz," a fatal virus that raises the dead -- and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble...and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there's no turning back.
Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

Since first hearing about Dearly, Departed, I’ve been a bit wary. For one, the thing is humongous, I mean 466 pages can be a lot, especially when you’re not all gung-ho about it in the first place. Second, I’m a tad frightened of steampunk. Yes, yes, I’ve heard that this isn’t really classified as steampunk, but that’s what I’m going with for the time being.

Never fear though, I adored this book.

Seriously, how could I ever have doubted myself loving this book? I mean, I don’t believe I’ve come across a zombie book I’ve disliked before! I’m glad this one didn’t break the streak.

So, characters. They were all pretty fantastic. Of course Nora is awesome, but considering she already has a dislike for the society when the story starts, we could totally see that one coming. Now, what I couldn’t see coming was her best friend, Pamela. That girl was fantastic! I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice it to say that when the time comes to be tough, Pam definitely steps up.

The story itself was great. Though I found it a little slow at times, I loved it overall. The New Victorian setting fascinated me. I’m not a big historical fiction fan, so I never really read about Victorian times with their pretty dresses and whatnot, but Dearly, Departed delivered me the whole package: Victorian setting with awesome futuristic technology! Plus, you know, zombies, which happen to be my favorite.

The Nutshell: I’ve already gushed all over the place, so let’s try to keep it short. Dearly, Departed is a fantastic story which will likely surprise you. If you’re afraid of steampunk, dystopian, historical fiction, or zombies, I suggest giving this one a go anyway. It blends all these different genres together so well, you won’t even realize your reading something you’d normally turn your nose up at. (I’m not completely sure that sentence makes sense, but I think you still catch my drift.) In short, go read this book.

Pages: 470

Series: Gone With the Respiration #1

Rating: 4 stars

Spellbound by Jacqueline West {Review}

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: July 11, 2011

Source: Library

With no way into the house's magical paintings, and its three guard cats reluctant to help, Olive's friend Morton is still trapped inside Elsewhere. So when Rutherford, the new oddball kid next door, mentions a grimoire -- a spellbook -- Olive feels a breathless tug of excitement. If she can find the McMartins' spellbook, maybe she can help Morton escape Elsewhere for good. Unless, that is, the book finds Olive first.
The house isn't the only one keeping secrets anymore. Mystery, magic, corruption, and betrayal abound (plus just enough laughs to take the edge off).

Spellbound is a fantastic continuation of The Books of Elsewhere series. There’s more talking cats, of course, but this time an unpleasant book and some new friends (as well as some old) make an appearance as well.

I rather liked Rutheford. He was just slightly odd which made him a bit like Olive, in that sense, but just strange enough that it added to his quirkiness and made me like him all the more.

Olive was still the tough, plucky heroine of our first book, but this time stubbornness also gets added to the mix. The trait might have been annoying in an older character, but somehow, it totally works for 11-year-old Olive.

Final Thoughts: Spellbound was a fantastic sequel to a series that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It has the perfect mixture of magic and emotion which manages to completely suck you in and make you wish you had talking cats as friends as well. As I said with the first in the series, if you’re afraid of middle grade, start here. I think you might like what you find.

Pages: 160

Series: The Books of Elsewhere #2

Rating: 4 stars

Tempest by Julie Cross {Review}

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publish Date: January 17, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy -- he's in college, has a girlfriend...and he can travel back through time. But it's not like the movies -- nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there's no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors -- it's just harmless fun.
That is, until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson accidentally jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he's stuck in 2007 and can't get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007, learns what he can about his abilities, and meets Holly for the first time...again. Soon he discovers that nothing about his life is what is appears to be, including his own father.
But it's not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these "Enemies of Time" will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time traveler. Recruit...or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he's willing to go to save Holly...and possibly the entire world.

I've heard quite the mixed bag of opinions and ratings when it comes to Tempest, but as for me, I quite enjoyed it. Something about it is holding it back from being a full 5 star from me, but I can’t quite put my finger on it, and it certainly doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth the read.

First, you know those books that move so fast you’re left sitting there going “what in the world…”? Well, Tempest was like that, but for some reason it totally and completely worked! Normally it drives me insane when a plot moves so quickly it’s almost a blur, but either I was just in the mood for it or Cross totally makes that work for her. It certainly makes sure there’s never a dull moment. That being said, Cross still managed to sneak some seriously heartfelt and touching moments in there. Yes, I cried.

Second, did you watch Jumper (if not, you’re totally missing out)? Anyhow, Tempest has a feel similar to Jumper while still managing to be its own thing. I liked how we get to learn basically everything right along with Jackson even if it had me trying to shake the book down for answers a few times. It made everything feel a little more real since Jackson was just as in the dark as I was at any given moment.

Adam was possibly my favorite character, though that’s probably just because he’s a super smart hacker/science nerd :P

The Nutshell: Tempest will keep you on the edge of your seat with the action as well as the mystery. The time traveling here is a totally new (and might I say AWESOME) compared to anything else you’ve ever heard about the subject. I love that among all the action and intrigue Cross still slipped in sweet moments here and there that even had me crying at one point. This book has everything from conspiracies to romance to a touch of scifi, so I’d say there’s a little bit of something in there for everyone.

Pages: 352

Series: Tempest #1

Rating: 4 stars 

P.S. I'll be doing a giveaway for an audio of Tempest on Saturday, so come back for you chance to win :]

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald {Review}

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publish Date: January 24, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly one-sided. The object of her obsession -- ahem, affection -- is her best friend, Garrett Delaney. For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to '80s indie rock -- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder -- until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for a total Garrett detox!
Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including hunky chef, Josh), and a customized self-help guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, martifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

This book was absolutely adorable and I loved it!

First, Sadie was a fantastic main character. She drove me nuts with her attitude and pining at the beginning, but we really get to see her grow into herself throughout the story. You think it’ll be really hard to relate to her at first since she’s all “black is the only coffee (according to Garrett) and I only read big, stuffy books” but you slowly start to realize there’s a lot more than that under the surface. I don’t know about you, but I can completely relate to wasting years of my life pining after guys when the relationship simply wasn’t happening or was most certainly doomed which made Sadie even more real to me.

I loved the coffee shop setting because, well, who doesn’t? There’s just something awesome about coffee shops. It was my dream to work at one as a teen. I doubt all of them are as fun as Totally Wired was, but I definitely would’ve loved Sadie’s job. The staff (also making up most of the side characters) were all pretty awesome.

I really enjoyed reading about Sadie trying to get over the guy rather than trying to get him. It was such a refreshing change of pace. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some romance, but this time it was way more fun reading about a girl discovering who she really was, making new friends, and becoming independent.

My one complaint would be the descriptions. It touched very little on what many of the characters looked like past hair color or state of dress which saddened me since my imagination isn’t always the best. The other thing was the description of the summer. That sounds weird, and maybe it’s just me, but I actually kept forgetting it was summer since it was constantly talking about the chill in the air or something. It was just odd.

Final Thoughts: Tired of the same old girl-meets-boy-gush, gush gush-happily ever after? Then this is definitely the book for you. Getting Over Garrett Delaney is a fun, cute contemporary definitely worth the read.

Pages: 336

Series: No

Rating: 4 stars

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman {Review}

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publish Date: October 2008

Source: Library

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal is he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who beings to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack--who has already killed Bod's family...

I’ll admit it: I wasn’t a fan of The Graveyard Book for a good 3/4s of the book. I know, you’re all winding up to lob tomatoes and various rotten fruits and veggies at me right about now for saying such things about a book written by Neil Gaiman, but wait just one moment.

Something about The Graveyard Book simply wasn’t working for me for a majority of the book. I think part of it was the feeling that the story had no real meaning or plot. It seemed Bod would do something, be done with it, then move onto the next which was completely unrelated. Maybe I was reading it all wrong, but that’s simply what I got out of it. Luckily, though, the last little bit of the book tied it all nicely together and I was hanging on the edge of my seat just waiting to find out what happened next.

I rather enjoyed Neil’s writing. It was something different than what I’ve ever experienced before and though I found myself confused a few times, I still enjoyed it on the whole.

Final Thoughts: It took quite some time for me to really get into The Graveyard Book but I ended up really enjoying it. I’m glad I needed something to read while waiting at the doctor otherwise I might never have picked it up :P If you’re a fan of Gaiman or aren’t sure if you are, you should definitely give The Graveyard Book a try, especially if you read and enjoyed Coraline.

Pages: 309

Series: No

Rating: 4 stars

Frost by Marianna Baer {Review}

Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Publish Date: September 2011
Source: Library

Leena Thomas's senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends chose to live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate--confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar.
What Celeste lacks in social grace, however, her brother, David, a recent transfer student, makes up for in good looks and charm. But while he and Leena hit it off immediately, Leena finds herself struggling to balance her growing attraction with her fear of getting hurt.
As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House--frames mysteriously falling off walls, doors locking by themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And while Leena tries to play peacekeeper beteen her best friends and new roommate, soon the mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena's own mind...or in Frost House itself?

Frost was seriously intense. It was all sorts of crazy and completely messed with my head. In fact, the eerieness completely sunk into my bones and I was convinced things were moving out of the corner of my eyes and something was coming to get me. This book gave me the serious chills.

Now for the characters. Leena drove me nutso.I know I was probably supposed to feel sympathetic towards her and her...problems, but I didn't really. She annoyed the crap out of me with her "I'm always right and you're insane" routine. Plus, she kind of treated everyone around her like crap. Celeste was no problem for me, but David's crazy love for her was borderline creepy sometimes. Certainly not one of my favorite romances of all time, though I think that was the point.

Before reading Frost I'd read quite a few reviews that mentioned the ambiguous ending which is something I absolutely hate. Surprisingly, this ending totally and completely worked for me this time. Once I turned the last page I felt like my questions were answered and things were nicely resolved instead of being lost and disgruntled.

Another thing: I wished there was a little more about Barcroft. I feel a little like I got gyped on the whole boarding school aspect of it all.

Final Thoughts: Frost most certainly has the creepy-factor going for it. It gets into your mind and makes you all jumpy. If you're looking for a good mystery/thriller, you should definitely give Frost a read. Though the characters annoyed me at times, it was never enough to actually make me want to stop reading. For 400 pages, this is a really quick read, too.

Pages: 400
Series: No
Rating: 4 stars

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan {Review}

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: September 2011
Source: Library

Evan is alone.
His best only friend, Ariel, is gone.
Evan is feels responsible.
And in her wake, Evan is left with nothing a conscience and never-ending insomnia.
But then, while walking to school one morning, Evan finds an envelope in his path. Inside is a photograph. Of nothing. Except the spot where he is standing.
The next day, Evan finds another envelope. In the exact same spot as before. Inside is another photograph. Of him.
Evan's not sure what to think. Is Ariel back? Are the photographs her way of tormenting him for reminding him of what he did to her? Or worse--has someone else found out what he did and is toying with him as punishment? Either way, he will not be able to sleep rest until he finds out who is responsible.
As the cryptic photos keep surfacing, Evan's paranoia amplifies, and the feeling that he never really knew Ariel at all starts to paralyze dominate his life thoughts. Will he uncover the truth before he loses his mind his grasp on reality?

Every You, Every Me surprised me, but in a good way. I'd never read a book with photographs before this one, at least, not a book where the photographs are an integral part of the story, so I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying it.

Every You, Every Me should have been confusing. There are strikethroughs throughout the story of everything from Evan's thoughts to fake conversation. You would think that something like that may trip you up and having you rereading things just to make sure you know what's going on, but I never found myself confused. Evan's thoughts can also go from past to present with absolutely no transition at all, but it's written in such a way that you know exactly what's going on.

The thriller/mystery aspect was also done really well. As I was reading I had thoughts of what may have happened and what may be going on, but I could never say for sure until Levithan spelled it out for me. I love the subject this takes on. Not just the missing friend, but also the...well, I'll let you read to find that one out. It's not something I see very often in books and I'm pretty sure I've never personally read anything about it.

Final Thoughts: This was a good, quick read. It's definitely worth taking a look into if you've never read anything with photographs before. Heck, you should pick it up even if you think you hate books with photographs in them because, well, look at the author. Seriously though, Every You, Every Me exceeded all my expectations and had me flipping pages to find out what would happen next.

Pages: 245
Series: No
Rating: 4 stars

The Darlings are Forever by Melissa Kantor

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Publish Date: January 4, 2011
Source: Library

Jane. Victoria. Natalya. Together, they are the Darlings. Best friends forever.
They have matching necklaces, their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, and even a shared motto: May you always do what you're afraid of doing.
When the friends begin freshman year at three different high schools in distant corners of New York City, they promise to live by their motto and stay as close as ever. The Darlings know they can get through anything as long as they have one another. But doing scary new things is a lot easier with your friends beside you. And now that the firls aren't spending all their time together, eberything they took for granted about their friendship starts to feel less certain. They can't help wondering -- will they really be The Darling forever?

I rather enjoyed The Darlings. It was a fun contemp, but it had some serious aspects as well which really brought it to another level.

So, The Darlings is told from all three girls' points of view. On the one hand, this was really fun interesting since you get to see what's going on in three totally different lives both from the inside and outside. The large differences between Natalya, Jane, and Victoria's lives really kept me invested and looking forward to every new page. On the other hand, sometimes three separate narrators all being talked about in third person could be a bit difficult to follow. It was almost like sometimes I didn't know who was supposed to be the main character at the moment so I felt like I wasn't attached to anyone and was just observing things rather than feeling invested.

I really enjoyed that The Darlings pulled off being both light and serious. I mean, we go from the whole banana situation (seriously, read the book just for this. I was giggling behind my hand like a crazy person!) to something  serious like a student/teacher situation. Nothing felt forced or unrealistic (though it likely was) which is awesome.

Final Thoughts: You'll totally want to jump into the book and be best friends with Natalya, Jane, and Victoria. If you love a fun contemporary with some serious life lessons mixed in, The Darlings is a definite must. It's cute, fun, and realistic :]

Pages: 336
Series: The Darlings are Forever #1
Rating 4 stars

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point
Publish Date: March 2011
Source: Library

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?

I'm feeling rather conflicted about Clarity. It was an enjoyable read overall and I loved that it kept me guessing until the end, but there were a few things that really annoyed me.

First of all, Clarity. I understand the whole tough exterior/soft interior thing, but the "I-hate-you-I-love-you" thing with both guys was really annoying. I can see her side of it all, but I couldn't connect with it so it just made Clare seem all wishy-washy and annoying. She was also very conveniently dumb sometimes. I mean, there was a part towards the end where she was all "something's not right, but I can't figure it out" and it had to do with her powers! I mean, come on, her power is her thing, you know, she shouldn't be thrown off by something that is such a part of her.

I thought I had a problem with some little things here and there that just didn't seem to fit in with the story, but it is a mystery, after all, and everything did get cleared up nicely. That being said, there was a good amount of setup for the sequel and I'm quite looking forward to it. For all you cliffhanger haters out there, let me assure you that this one doesn't fall in that category. Like I said, everything wraps up nicely so it could be a standalone, but there's a good tease to leave you wanting to enter Clarity's small town of Eastport once again.

I quite loved the characters. Though I would absolutely hate having a mom who could read my thoughts, it made some very entertaining moments. Justin was really interesting too. I thought I was supposed to hate him, but then he was all gooey and sweet. I'm totally team Jason all the way :] Nate was a great sidekick/friend too and I'm really hoping for more of him in the sequel.

Final Thoughts: Though there were some things that annoyed me along the way, Clarity is definitely worth the read (especially since it's been optioned for a tv show!). It has a little paranormal with a mix of mystery and just a little dash of romance.

Pages: 242
Series: Clarity #1
Rating: 4 stars

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: August 2011
Source: Library

It's winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year's even better -- the guy she's been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there's no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em's best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that's nothing compared to what's really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it's only a matter of time before he's exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls -- three beautiful, mysterious girls -- are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.

I'm not at all sure how I feel about Fury. The story was done well, but there were some...unpleasant (my attempt to not be a spoiler) things I wasn't a fan of simply because they weren't pleasant. Yeah, I like a good pleasant story sometimes. That being said, I think the unpleasantries were good for the story. Okay, I'm done being all weird and cryptic now.

The characters were a great fit for the story, but that's not the same as likable. In fact, I really wasn't a fan of a lot of the characters. I hated Zack and I really wasn't a fan of Emily. They both got under my skin and just completely irked me off. The other characters weren't so bad but I didn't really like them either, well, except for JD. I really liked JD and wished there's been more of him.

The writing was great. It had a touch of creepiness, but it wasn't really scary. The snowy, Maine setting really brought an unexpectedly eerie feeling I never would have thought of. It took a little bit to get into Fury part of the story, but the set-up isn't at all boring.

Final Thoughts: While I was hoping for a little different outcome, this was a fantastic start to the trilogy. The creepy factor is subtle but spectacular. You may not believe me, but the crappy characters make for a really good story (crappy as in generally unlikable and not badly written).

Pages: 352
Series: The Fury Trilogy #1
Rating: 4 stars

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publish Date: February 2010
Source: Library

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own -- scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster's priceless art collection has been stolen and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled off this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.
For Kat there is only on solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and, hopefully, just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's (very crooked) history -- and with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

I'm not sure if I'm in some kind of slump or what, but it took me a while to get into Heist Society. Don't take that the wrong way though. The story is done well and it's a pretty quick read. Every time I sat down to read I was able to knock out a good 50 pages or so before something distracted me and I had to put it down.

I loved the fact that the story was like pranking taken to a huge new level. All the heist talk was fun and exciting (even if I did get lost a few times). That brings me right into Katarina's "family." It's necessarily a family as you or I might think, but they're just as close, if not closer. In fact, they seemed almost mob-like to me with the way they all kept shunning Kat because she left the life. Though the cold-shoulder deal kind of bothered me, I ended up loving every part of her family.

Another fantastic thing about Heist Society is all the different POVs woven in. The story does follow Kat and for the most part, it's her shoulder you're standing behind, but sometimes you get to see the world through the villain's or shopkeeper's eyes. It added both a feeling of mystery and inclusion.

Final Thoughts: Heist Socieity is a fun, quick read full of action and family. There's a small bit of romance added in, but for all intents and purposes, this story is about Kat and her family. It's like a James Bond movie, but for girls.

Pages: 287
Series: Heist Society #1
Rating 4 stars

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Publish Date: October 2009

Source: Library

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 must prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it's a 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 drink 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, caffeine-fueled read. I loved the idea behind the story and it turned out to be everything I'd hoped for.

The romance was actually a bit of a surprise to me. I mean, not as the story went on, but at the beginning, I thought Jane was going to end up with every guy who walked through the door. It was nice to be proved wrong for once in my romance predictions. Usually I can peg the guy as soon as he enters the story.

I rather liked Jane, but I didn't quite understand why she had to be a school-skipper. It was an okay personality point, but it just didn't really jive with me. I also enjoyed getting to meet her regulars and other customers. In my opinion, that would be one of the best parts of working coffee job like that. You could get to know regulars and build relationships and I really felt like the story let that shine.

My one gripe isn't with the story, but the writing. Contractions weren't used that often. All the characters and even the narration would switch back and forth between contractions and not. It's not really a major thing, but it really started to drive me nuts. I mean, most people don't go around talking without contractions.

Final Thoughts: This is an absolutely adorable read. It's quick and fun, and really, who can turn down a book all about coffee? The Espressologist is a must read for any lover of coffee and/or romance.

Pages: 184

Series: No

Rating: 4 stars

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: November 15, 2011
Source: Tara at Fiction Folio for ARC Tour

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war -- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

I'm not sure if I was just in a mood, but I really couldn't get into the first half. It simply just blah for me, but slowly and surely it really started to draw me in. By the end, I was completely engrossed and begging for the sequel. I'm really hoping for more of the dystopian world history and the science behind Juliette's ability in book two, though. These are the things that I really love about dystopian, after all.

Thereh Mafi does a fantastic job with the writing in Shatter Me. It was unique and beautiful with just a touch of quirky. I can honestly say I've never encountered writing like this before...and it's a great thing! The strikethroughs were interesting. I didn't always completely understand them, but I thought they were still a good peek into Juliette's thoughts.

I absolutely loved every single character. Not all were nice (I'm looking at you, Warren) but I still loved them all just the same. Usually side characters tend to be just that: pushed to the side and forgotten about. That wasn't the case in Shatter Me though. I loved everyone from James to Warren to Kenji to Juliette to...yeah, I could really keep going all day on this one. I have to say, though, I wasn't really an Adam fan until the shower scene. After that, you could say I was a pretty big fan. And speaking of that shower scene, let me just advise you to read this just for the sexytimes. Can we say amazing kissing scenes?

Final Thoughts: Though the first half was a bit shaky for me, Shatter Me is an absolutely fantastic read. The characters are all amazing, the writing is wonderful and unique, and, well, there's a good bit of kissing to add the extra little cherry on top ;]

Pages: 342
Series: Shatter Me #1 (planned trilogy)
Rating: 4 stars

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Publisher: Hyperion Books
Publish Date: August 2011
Source: Library

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.There are no strangers in the town of Near.These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.But when and actual stranger -- a boy who seems to fade like smoke -- appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion.As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know -- about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of the nameless boy.

So, The Near Witch didn't quite sell me for the first 2/3 of the book. It wasn't bad, the writing was fantastic, but I just wasn't really feeling it. And then the last 1/3 of the book pretty much grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I ended up being awake until 2 just so I could finish it. At one point I checked the clock and it was midnight and after I turned the last page I checked again and it was 2. It completely sucked me in and I had no idea that much time had passed!

I've heard everybody rave about how awesome Lexi is, but I wasn't quite feeling it most of the time. She proved herself in the end, but while I applaud her for wanting to help, she just seemed majorly stubborn in the beginning to me. Cole wasn't anything swoon-worthy for me either. Mostly he was just neither here nor there. I could take him or leave him. And Helen. Her placement in the story was just kind of odd to me. Lexi seemed to be more of a loner so I don't really think she needed a best friend in the story. Also, Helen was barely there at all. In fact, she's only in three scenes. I feel like she was just this weird add-on.

Then there's the romance. I really wasn't a fan of this romance at all. There was just no lead in at all. It was like he wasn't there, then he was there, then they were all in love and stuff. I can understand being interested because he's new, but the emotions all felt like a little too much.

Final Thoughts: Despite the complaining, I really did enjoy the story. The writing was fantastic and eerie. It has a sort of fairy-tale vibe to it, but it's completely original. The stories and rhymes sprinkled throughout were a wonderful touch to a world all its own.

Pages: 288
Series: No
Rating: 4 stars

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Publish Date: April 2011
Source: Library

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food. 

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody's doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they were searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friends, Zen, who is way too short for the job. 

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believed her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. 

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls' lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

I had absolutely no idea going into this that it wasn't a stand-alone title. No, that has nothing to do with my actual review, but I really just wanted to get that out there. Now that I got that out of the way, let me just say that I quite enjoyed Bumped. There were so many things that made it unique!

First, I love dystopia writing like no other. I have a serious problem/obsession with it. That being said, this was totally different than any other dystopian I've read. The quirkiness and comedy was something I've never encountered before and I LOVED it! That's not to say I like one better than the other, but this was such a refreshing change of pace. I enjoyed the world itself as well. The concept of teens needing to have sex and make babies just to keep the world populated really makes you think. If it's a necessity for life when is it wrong?

I really enjoyed the alternating Melody and Harmony chapters. It was nice to get into each characters' head (as always) and it was extra interesting since the two were so seemingly opposite. I especially liked Harmony's point of view. I really enjoyed watching her grow and go through her thinking process. Another great think about the alternating chapters was the way it kept me on the edge of my seat. Something crazy would happen but then we'd switch back to the other girl and I'd get sucked into her problem's all over again. I loved how both Melody's and Harmony's personalities were obvious right from the start and I didn't have to puzzle them out.

Final Thoughts: This is a great starting point and I look forward to the sequel. The characters are strong and the writing is fun. The humor is fantastic and makes for a totally different take on dystopian. This is a must read if your in for a fun, light dystopian that always gets in your head a little and makes you think.


Pages: 323
Series: Bumped #1
Rating: 4 stars

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books
Publish Date: July 2011
Source: From author (for honest review)

She's writing about him. He's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines. 

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions -- it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter...so why does he sneak into her thoughts  as the hero of her latest writing assignment? 

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter...except this story could come true.

I found Love Story to be a very refreshing change of pace. Erin and Hunter had such an interesting dynamic. Just when I thought they were nice and friendly, they were hating each other full force again. I actually got a bit dizzy from all the back and forth, but it really did add a little something to the relationship that made it more delicious. Normally the jerky tendencies would have put me off of Erin, but with Hunter's attitude and everything that was happening in her life, it was completely understandable.

And oh my gosh, the stories! My only complaint is that I wish there were more. I loved that the writing of the stories was totally different than the actual book and unique to each Hunter and Erin. Though the steamy stories were something I haven't really experienced in YA so far and it was nice to get another angle and perspective on the teenage life. And, yeah, I enjoyed them simply because :P

I found that it took me a bit to get used to Echols's writing style, but it certainly wasn't bad. There's something to say for lyrical writing, but there's also something to say about stark reality. That's not to say it's an ugly sort of starkness, but rather one that puts the reader more into the story.

Final Thoughts: If you're in for a good contemporary with a nice dose of steamy romance, you have to pick this up. It's such a fantastic change of pace from all the insta-love, love triangles, and paranormal romances out there (not that I hate all of those, it's just a nice change.) It's also a nice, quick read. You won't regret this one.



Pages: 243
Series: No
Rating: 4 stars