Fallen

Fallen
by Lauren Kate

Luce Price doesn't know what happened that day. And now her own parents are afraid of her. They sent her to a reform school, Sword & Cross. Upon her arrival she is drawn to Daniel Grigori, a boy who seems incredibly familiar for some reason.

Luce wants to get to know Daniel, but he isn't having it. He makes it clear that he doesn't want a thing to do with her. But Luce can't help it. She needs to find out more about him, whatever the cost.

Grade: A+

To start off, just let me say how beautiful the cover of this book is. I just love it! I was so excited when I started to read this because I have heard wonderful things about it. And the wonderful reviews were right on the ticket. This book was amazing. I loved everything about it. And I am so happy it is a going to be a series, that way not all this info is packed into one book. The book left me questioning Luce and the shadows, but I know I will find out more in the coming books. I look forward to reading them, for sure! If you like romance, especially, this book is one for you.

Winter's End

Winter's End
by Jean-Claude Mourlevat
(translated by Anthea Bell)

Four students, Helen, Milena, Milos, and Bart, have run away from their respective prison-like boarding schools. Each of the four have something in common--their parents were all murdered fifteen years ago, which is why they are in these schools.

But only three make it to Jahn's restaurant, the headquarters of the Phalange resistance movement. The fourth is captured and forced into playing a barbaric game. If he doesn't play, he'll die. Can one voice stir a change of the brutal ways of the government?

Grade: A+

Before reading this novel, I had no idea what to expect. Honestly I thought I wouldn't enjoy it all that much. But I was oh so wrong. This novel was brilliant. I loved every moment of it. There was never a dull moment. This book was fast-paced and kept me wanting more until there was no more left to read. My only disappointment was the Epilogue, but only because it didn't explain much about Helen, so I was somewhat confused after reading it. Various parts of the novel seemed awful. Not bad awful, just awful. I couldn't believe how adults could be so rude to teens, just because of their parents! All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot. It wasn't a type of book I normally read, but I was pleasantly surprised by it.

*Winter's End is on shelves now!
**reviewed for TeensReadToo

Gemma: A Novel

Gemma: A Novel
by Meg Tilly

Twelve-year-old Gemma is enjoying her young life on the outside, but she has a secret. She is being sexually abused by Buddy, her mother's boyfriend. He sells her out to Hazen Woods, who pays $100 to have sex with Gemma.

Hazen, later on, kidnaps Gemma, and they drive all over the country. She tries to get away, but he always found her. She gave up. Nobody would listen if she asked for help, no one would help her. She can't tell anyone anything, because Buddy embedded that Gemma would go to jail if anyone found out. She stays strong with her imagination, and thinks that eventually, she will be home again.

Grade: A

This is a difficult book for me to review. And it was a difficult book to read. I had no idea what to expect when I began reading this novel, because I knew it was about child abuse, which is a really tough subject for anyone. And as a disclaimer, this book is definitely not for younger readers.

The novel started off somewhat slow. But it wasn't long before I couldn't stop reading. I felt so much pain, Gemma's pain, from the start. I had trouble understanding how anyone could treat a child in that way. I think that the story was made better since it goes back and forth between Gemma's point of view and Hazen's. After reading Hazen's point of view for the first time, I could not FATHOM how a grown man could be so disgusting.

So, this novel was tough to read. But in reality, it was amazing. Really. By the end of the novel, I was so happy for Gemma, yet so sad for her. Books don't often give off this much emotion, which made the book even better for me.

To find out more about this novel, and Meg's others, you can check out her site, here.

*released February 16, 2010
**reviewed for TeensReadToo

housekeeping

So, I have gotten a few awards. The first is from quite a while back.

This is the Honest Scrap Award. It is for those bloggers who write from the heart. The rules are to pass it along to seven bloggers and then list 10 honest things about myself. (Thanks Alexa!)

1) I am studying to be an elementary school teacher.
2) I'm currently at a community college, and hope to transfer to Pacific Lutheran University. I hope I get in, because I don't have a back-up plan.
3) Major Norwegian geek!
4) Music is a big deal. Relient K and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are my faves.
5) I love writing, and I hope to be published someday.
6) I love Ghost Hunters (TANGO!).
7) I believe in the paranormal. It's fascinating!
8) Books=life
9) I have a long-haired chihuahua named ChiChi.
10) I love pizza. And spaghetti.

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award. (Thanks Kath!)

Gosh. I have no idea who to award. Anyone, who reads this, take it or both of them! We all deserve it! :)

So, if you are wondering, I started back up with school today. Which means less time for my reading. But don't fret (I doubt you are though), because I plan on reading daily. I'm reading a few different books at the moment, but I will be pretty busy this quarter.