Generation Dead

Generation Dead
by Daniel Waters

Something strange is going on all over America, and only America. Some teenagers die, but are not staying dead. They come back to life. Kind of. They are feared and most of all, they are hated by most of their peers.

Oakvale High is different though. The administration welcomes those who are "differently biotic" or "living impaired". The students have a problem with this though. They don't want these zombies around at all. They should be dead and under ground.

Phoebe can't help but be interested in Tommy Williams. Her peers don't understand it, and won't stand for it. Her best friends don't get it either.

Grade: A

I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this book, and was excited when I finally got to borrow this from a friend. So, I started reading the book, and it was all good and everything, but it was kind of slow. But I kept on reading, because I have heard so many good things about this book. I continued on, and then I could not stop. It was amazing. And so interesting. I could have never thought up a story about zombie teenagers. I recommend this to ya, and I look forward to reading Kiss of Life!

The Lonely Hearts Club

The Lonely Hearts Club
by Elizabeth Eulberg

Penny Lane Bloom is sick of dating boys. All they do is cause her trouble and heartbreak. She vows to date no more for the next two years, until she graduates from high school. Penny decides to start a club: The Lonely Hearts Club (yep, like the Beatles).

The club soon has multiple girls joining. These girls have also realized that they are changing themselves to get the guy, only to get hurt in return. Things change after an article in the school paper though, and Penny doesn't like how she is now known for having the "lonely heart". Besides, there is this one boy...

Grade: A

This was an amazingly written debut novel. I loved every minute of reading, and I could not stop until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. The characters were fun and unique. The plot was totally original which made the story even better. I was a little worried at first, seeing how the cover was changed to be more Beatle-ish, that there would be a ton of musical references to the Beatles. But it wasn't over done, for sure. And personally, I prefer the more girly and swirly cover. It seemed like there were a lot of main characters, but that was okay, because the plot flowed well, and I got to know each character pretty well. Overall, this was very enjoyable, and extremely cute. A great debut!

*released on December 29, 2009
**reviewed for TeensReadToo

The School for Dangerous Girls

The School for Dangerous Girls
by Eliot Schrefer

Angela Cardenas is sent to Hidden Oak by her parents after they think there is nothing left that they can do to help her. This is her parents' last hope, a reform school for girls..."dangerous" girls. But this is not the normal kind of school.

Angela soon finds out that the school does not have her best interest at heart. She and her new friends, including Juin and Carmen, decide that they need to do something about the school, even if that means getting the school shut down for good.

Grade: D-

I was very interested after reading a few reviews for this novel. It sounded really cool and unique. And it was. But sadly, not until pretty much the very end of the book. There didn't seem to be anything really amazing about it. The end had me turning pages quickly, but other than the interesting ending, I was disappointed. The characters weren't fully explained. I was expecting more than what I got. So, all in all, I agree with the past reviews I have read. Don't bother with this one, unless you want to wait 300 pages for it to get really good. (This is the worst grade I have ever given a book!)

Deadly Little Lies

Deadly Little Lies
by Laurie Faria Stolarz

It has been four months since Ben left Camelia. Since then, Camelia has been researching psychometry, the mysterious gift that Ben has. Camelia is sure that somehow she has this power as well, like it rubbed off on her somehow.

Then Ben comes back to school. He keeps his distance, but then breaks it, confusing Camelia. He wanted space, so Camelia decides to finally give up and move on. She meets Adam at Knead. He seems to care about her, but he isn't Ben. Camelia is also starting to get more weird photos and letters. She is even hearing things; warnings. Someone is lying to her. But who?

Grade: A+

This book was just as amazing as the first, if not better. BRILLIANT! I have yet to find a book by Laurie that I don't like. I love the way she writes, and I love the characters. I found myself during this novel rooting for Ben the whole time, but I even got suspicious of him, just like Camelia did. There is so much suspense in this series. And I just think...Wow, Camelia is one unlucky girl, seeing how there are all these weirdos in her town! Anyone and everyone needs to read this series if you haven't already. Amazing. I cannot wait for Deadly Little Games!

The Waking: Dreams of the Dead

The Waking: Dreams of the Dead
by Thomas Randall

Kara Foster and her father just moved to Japan to follow their dreams after the death of Kara's mother. She is the American girl, an outsider. Then she meets Sakura, another outsider at the private school.

Sakura is haunted by her sister's death that happened during the previous school year. Then, Kara starts having nightmares. Other students turn up dead. But who is killing them?

Grade: B-

I'm a big fan of the supernatural. From the start of the story, I didn't really know what was going on. I kept reading and reading, and was like, where is the supernatural part? That didn't hit until way towards the end of the book, sadly. So, really, the book kind of dragged for me. It kept me interested though, because I really wanted to know what in the world was going on. It was an interesting read, because the author included Japanese words. This book will be a part of a series, but I don't think I will be checking out the next books.

*reviewed for teensreadtoo.com

Forest Born

Forest Born
by Shannon Hale

Something is wrong with her, Rin is just sure of it. She doesn't feel at home in the Forest, where she has lived her whole life. Razo, her favorite brother, has gone off to the city. She is left as Ma's shadow. Rin has no idea who she is. But when Razo comes home for a visit, Rin goes back to the city with him. To be one of the Queen's ladies in waiting.

Soon after her arrival, war has come to Bayern. Rin accompanies Isi, the Queen, and her closet friends, in search of those who want to hurt Bayern. Rin thinks of them as the Fire Sisters. Together, they go into the Forest towards the land of Kel.

Grade: A

I haven't read any of the other Books of Bayern, but reading this made me want to. Having not read the previous Books, I had no idea what to expect of this one. I was impressed. I have only read one other book by Shannon Hale (which is by far one of my favorite books ever). Her writing is irresistible to me. I love it. I just feel for the characters in the story. I am pulled in and need to know what is going to happen. That is exactly what happened to me again in this book. I felt Rin's raw emotions, whether it was pain or happiness. This book, I think, is more of a younger book, but really, anyone will enjoy it.

*reviewed for teensreadtoo.com

Killing Britney

Killing Britney
by Sean Olin

Britney Johnson is the girl you love to hate. She was the "ugly-duckling", then reinvented herself. Now she is blond, popular, and beautiful. She is dating Ricky, the captain of the ice hockey team.

Then, someone starts killing all the people around Britney. Ricky is the first of many deaths. Britney is scared out of her mind, thinking someone is trying to get to her, just by starting out with the people around her.

Grade: C+

Um, I'm not too sure where to go with this story. It was pretty average. It was exciting, and hard to put down. I was really shocked at the ending, it was SO weird, and I'm not sure I fully understand it. When I started reading it, I figured it was going to be a very predictable book, but it actually wasn't, because of that crazy ending. Really, I don't think I recommend this book, but hey, your choice.

Old Magic

Old Magic
by Marianne Curley

Kate Warren just knows that there is something different about Jarrod Thornton as soon as he walks into the classroom. She thinks he is supernatural...like her. And not much later, a thunderstorm occurs, in the classroom.

But, Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. He doesn't believe Kate, but goes along with it, because he finds her fascinating. But he has a problem. Anything bad that happens always will happen to him. Kate thinks it is a curse, conjured up from Jarrod's ancestors, which age back to medieval Europe.

Together, to save him and his family, Kate and Jarrod embark on an adventure to try to help him, and maybe learn a little too.

Grade: A+

This was my first book from PaperBackSwap, and I was totally impressed. I hadn't heard of this book before, nor the author, but I am sooo glad I got it. It was amazing. There is history, romance, and it was just a fun story. And look at that guy on the cover. He is SMOKIN. :] Medieval Europe is one of the most interesting time periods to me, and this book included it, which made it even better. I loved the relationship between Kate and Jarrod; I just wanted to be her so I could be around that guy! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a little magic.

Deadly Little Secret

Deadly Little Secret
by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Three months ago Camelia's life changed. She almost got hit by a car, but someone, a guy, saved her. That same guy starts school with her. His name is Ben. And the rumors are flying.

He supposedly killed his ex-girlfriend. Camelia doesn't believe the rumors, and is drawn to him. She wants to know the truth. Soon after school starts, she receives a picture in the mail. A picture of her, with a heart around it. She gets weird phone calls. Ben tells her she is in danger. She wants to trust him, but doesn't know if she can.

Grade: A+

:O Wow. That is what my face looked like towards the end of this novel. It was absolutely AMAZING. I've been way interested in reading all of Laurie's work (I have her series, but have yet to start it) after reading Project 17. I loved that novel, and I loved this one as well. I had to keep reading to figure out the mystery, and I didn't see it coming! It was so great, and I am so excited for the next book, Deadly Little Lies! You should definitely grab this novel for suspense, romance, and friendship.

The King's Rose

The King's Rose
by Alisa M. Libby

Yet another young female has caught the eye of the aging King Henry Tudor. This time it is fifteen year old Catherine Howard, cousin to Anne Boleyn. Less than a year has she passed since her arrival at court, and she is now the Queen of England. Catherine's new life of luxury and being the king's "rose without a thorn" is different.

But Catherine's past haunts her, so she must be careful. She dreams of that kiss she shared with her (distant) cousin, Thomas Culpeper. A perfect kiss. Her relations with other men. But all must stay a secret, or death caused by treason could come her way.

Grade: A+

I am a HUGE historical fiction fan, and I am especially interested in reading about Henry Tudor and his numerous wives. Once I heard about this book, I had to have it, but it took me a while to get it, sadly. This was one of those novels that is hard to put down, because you really want to know what happens next. There isn't much for me to say, really. I loved this book. It was amazing, and if you're a fan of historical fiction, you should pick this up for sure.

*also reviewed for teensreadtoo.com

well...

I am a college sophomore, as of Monday.

I haven't even been back to school for even a full week, and I am already exhausted. I think life is about to be quite busy for me. I have three classes, all of which have very high amounts of dry reading. And I am still working a few days a week, and as soon as I get my clearance, I will be back to my elementary school as a volunteer. (Get this: I need 40 hours of volunteer work in the classroom BEFORE I can take ONE class. Nuts!)

So, this means, basically, my only reading time is before bed, or on my break before biology, if I'm not doing history work. Therefore, I am pretty sure I will not be making my goal of reading 100 books this year. Maybe 2010!

Grist

Grist: A Novel
by Heather Waldorf

This summer will be Charlena's first away from home, away from Mike, her father. He invited her to go with him and his girlfriend to Toronto, but she would rather not be the third wheel, let along spend time with Barb. She is going to Lake Ringrose to spend her summer with Grams.

Grams warns Charlie to stay away from Kerry...she can befriend him, but nothing more. Charlie doesn't understand why, but she finds herself falling for him, and he is falling for her too. But then she learns something. Something terrible, and something that makes their relationship more than complicated.

Grade: B

I'm not sure where to begin. So, I will say that I love the creepy looking cover. But, I have NO idea what "grist" means. I've looked it up, but the definitions don't match the way it is used in the book. That is quite frustrating. I think the best part of this novel was the part where Kerry's secret was revealed. I didn't see it coming, and I was freaking out about it! I was really rooting for the relationship between Kerry and Charlie, but after that secret, I was as confused as Charlie. I liked her character a lot, because she was sarcastic, and we talked the same way. I haven't heard anything about this author, or if she has any other novels. I enjoyed this one, but I think it is a one-time read.

The Lost Summer

The Lost Summer
by Kathryn Williams

Helena Waite is finally a counselor at Southpoint, a summer camp for girls. She's been going to camp for years, and it is all she looks forward to. The bad part is, Katie Bell, her best friend, missed the counselor age requirement by a few months, and is therefore is stuck as a camper for another year.

Katie Bell and Helena swear camp will be the same. But Helena thinks it will be different. And it is. Helena leaves Katie Bell behind for her counselor friends, and Ransome, her long time crush that has become a reality.

Grade: B

As I've mentioned before, I love camp, therefore, camp books are a must read for me. And look at that cover. I love it. It reminds me of one of the camps I attend, because of the lake. I was a little disappointed in the read. The ending was a complete surprise that I didn't see coming, which is always a good thing. A lot of the time I found myself quite annoyed with Helena, what with her treating her best friend the way she did. With me knowing so much about camp, it made me curious, because most of the time it seemed as though there was nobody watching the children. I really thought this book was going to be different. It was quite average.

Ashley's ABC's

I was tagged by The Ladybug Reads...


Available or single? Neither. I am currently in a relationship. :]

Best Friend? I have two. Krysten and Rachel.

Cake or Pie? I'm thinkin' cake. I loooove frosting, which is probably bad.

Drink of choice? Water or milk.

Essential item for every day use? It's not really an "item", but oxygen is pretty darn essential.

Favorite color? TURQUOISE!

Google? I use it daily.

Hometown? Tacoma. Same house my whole life.

Indulgences? Do I need to answer this? Books.

January or February? Um. That's tough. I'll go with February.

Kids and their names? No kids.

Life is incomplete without…? Love. :)

Marriage date? I'm not thinking about marriage. I'm only 19!

Number of siblings? Two: one of each.

Oranges or apples? Apples all the way.

Phobias and fears? Death.

Quote for the day? I don't really have one. :/

Reason to smile? I'm happy. That is reason enough. :)

Season? Summer!

Tag 3 people: I'm not going to. There's too many people to choose from!

Unknown fact about me? I was on the bowling team in high school. We won state 3 years in a row.

Vegetable you hate? Pretty much all of them. haha

Worst habit? Well, I used to bite my nails. But now I pick/bite the skin around my nails. I dunno why, but I hate that I do it!

X-rays you’ve had? Arm, fingers (hand, I guess), and teeth.

Your fave food? Pizza, spaghetti, or nachos!

Zodiac sign? Aries.

Winners!

I was a little disappointed in the turn out of the contest, but maybe no one liked the books up for grabs. Next time will be something good, I hope. :)

The winner of Meet Me at the Boardwalk is:
Jordan!

The winnter of It's All About Us is:
Alexa!

The winnter of Shrinking Violet is:
Lilibeth!

The winner of What Would Emma Do? is:
Paradox!

I have emailed you all, so get back to me and in a few days I will end up at the post office to get the books sent out!

And as for reviews, I am reading as much as I can in my free time. I'm back in my groove, so there should be more reviews!

Wintergirls

Wintergirls
by Laurie Halse Anderson

from cover flap:
Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia's mother is busy saving other people's lives. Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia's head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way--thin, thinner, thinnest--maybe she'll disappear altogether.

Grade: A+

First off, I think the cover is amazing. Secondly, this is probably one of the most disturbing books I have ever read.

Spiders hatch and crawl out of my belly button, hariy little tar beads with ballerina feet. They swarm, spinning a silk veil, one hundred thousand spider thoughts woven together until they wrap me up in a cozy shroud...Page 43

I mean, that is weird. But it is written sooo well. It almost made me feel like I was her, counting calories, etc. I can't imagine being as sick as that.I hate to admit it, but I was really interested in reading this book because...I have my own background in anorexia. Overall, another amazing novel that deals with the hardship of anorexia and cutting.

**REMEMBER TO ENTER MY CONTEST! IT ENDS ON SATURDAY!**

Something, Maybe

Something, Maybe
by Elizabeth Scott

Hannah Jackson James knows how to be invisible. She wants it that way. Her father made it big on his reality show Cowboy Dad. He is like Hugh Hefner. He has "his girls" and they live in a castle. Hannah's mother, Candy Madison, was once one of his girls.

Hannah doesn't want to be noticed by anyone. Except Josh, her crush. They work together, go to school together. She is sure that he is her soulmate. But then there is also Finn. Annoying, but sweet Finn. She hopes to get what she wants, but is what she wants what she needs?

Grade: A

I adore Elizabeth Scott. I'm never disappointed. I wasn't too sure about this one, because there were mixed reviews about it. But I really enjoyed it, and I read it super fast! :) Hannah was somewhat annoying, only because she couldn't see that Finn liked her! It was only obvious! I loved Finn. He was funny and sweet. I hated Josh. He seemed nice, but I thought he was a jerk from the start. Once again, Elizabeth Scott has written a wonderful story. I can't wait for her next one.

After the Moment

After the Moment
by Garret Freymann-Weyr

from cover flap:
Maia Morland is pretty, only not pretty-pretty. She's smart. She's brave. She's also a self-proclaimed train wreck.

Leigh Hunter is smart, popular, and extremely polite. He's also completely and forever in love with Maia Morland.

Their young love starts off like a romance novel--full of hope, strength, and passion. But life is not a romance novel and theirs will never become a true romance. For when Maia needs him the most, Leigh betrays both her trust and her love.

Grade: A-

This one was just too hard to make a synopsis by myself. After reading the synopsis, I really wanted to read this book. After starting it, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I really loved it though. It is always way more different for me reading from the male perspective. I really liked Leigh's character. And I thought Leigh and Maia were perfect for each other. It was really surprised by the ending, so that was really good. Overall, this novel was really enjoyable.

REMEMBER TO ENTER MY CONTEST! :)

A Contest! :)

It is my second. I was looking at my overstuffed shelves and thought "hey, I can give a few of these away!" So, that is exactly what I am going to do.

Here is what is up for grabs:

Meet Me at the Boardwalk by Erin Haft

It's All About Us by Shelley Adina

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook


To enter:

+1 A comment!
+1 Tell me what book you're reading
+2 Follow my blog
+3 If you already follow my blog

U.S. only. (Postage gets expensive!) And please leave your email address, so I can notify the winners. There will be 4 winners. The contest will end on the 5th, next Saturday.

What Would Emma Do?

What Would Emma Do?
by Eileen Cook

Emma has sinned. She kissed her best friend's boyfriend. And she knows she's messed up. It doesn't help that she lives in a small, religious town where everybody knows everything. Emma is somewhat of an outsider anyway, since she is basically the only person in Wheaton that wants to leave. She's counting down the days until she gets to Chicago for college.

Now the girls in the school's popular crowd are mysteriously fainting. Emma is one of few that knows something that proves they are lying, but by fessing up, she would lose her track scholarship, and her ticket out of town.

Grade: B

This was a really interesting story. I enjoyed it a lot. It was a slow beginning, which I don't enjoy, but then it picked up the pace. I think I loved Emma the most. She seemed like me in many ways, by the things she said. When I started reading the book, I really had no idea where it was going. The ending was good, but it left me hanging. I like the title, but the cover doesn't make any sense to me. Overall, I found this to be enjoyable, but a one-time read.

Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale
by Cyn Balog

Morgan Sparks and her boyfriend Cam have been together forever, basically. She knows they are perfect for each other, and nothing can break them apart. Then Pip, Cam's "cousin" comes to stay with him, and Cam is suddenly different.

When Cam finally fesses up, he reveals to Morgan that he is a fairy. He and Pip were switched at birth, and Cam's biological brother died. Now Cam is the rightful heir as Fairy King.

Morgan wants nothing more than to be with Cam forever. But he is physically changing, and Morgan can't help but think maybe he should leave.

Grade: A+

I loved this book soooo much. I had no idea what to expect from it, since it is about a male fairy. I mean, how strange is that? The story was amazing. I loved every minute of reading it. I didn't want it to end, that's for sure. I really liked Morgan, but sometimes I just wanted to smack her to see that she couldn't decide what was best for Cam. I decided I like Pip better, mostly because of the way he spoke, and when I pictured him, he was just beautiful. :) I recommend this to everyone. It will not disappoint.

*reviewed for teensreadtoo.com

I'm Gone. Again.

To another Norwegian camp. And, on my last post about camp, some of you thought I was going to Norway. Sadly, no. The first camp was in the Snoqualmie Pass, and this camp is in Arlington. Both are here in Washington. It would be amazing to go to camp in Norway, but alas, I cannot. This time around, here is where I'll be:


This is the BEAUTIFUL Lake Riley. Amazingly gorgeous. This is what it looks like in the morning.

So, I will be back in 2 weeks. When I'm back I will have WAY more time for reading, though I will be going back to work as well, sadly. :( But still, more free time. I'm bringing a book to read at camp, I'm not sure which though.

The Everafter

The Everafter
by Amy Huntley

Madison Stanton doesn't know anything anymore, aside from being dead. Where she is, how she got there. It just Is. All that is around her is darkness and space. Here and there she comes across objects from her life that she lost. These objects let her relive each moment where she lost them. And sometimes she can even change these moments from her life. By reliving, Maddy learns the truths about her life and death.

Grade: A

You know something funny? My copy of The Everafter is an ARC, and it says The After, with a sticker that says the title has been changed. Moving on.

I was very impressed by this book. At first I wasn't too sure about it, and it was kind of hard to get into. But once I got a little ways in, it was hard to stop reading. It was like no other book I've read. Very original. I had no idea how Maddy died, and when I found out, I was completely shocked; I didn't see it coming at all. It really kept me guessing. So, overall, you should pick this up when it comes out in September. I was not disappointed.

*reviewed for teensreadtoo.com
**released September 29, 2009

Princess Academy

Princess Academy
by Shannon Hale

High on Mount Eskel, there is a village where Miri lives with all the other villagers. All her life, Miri has dreamed of working with the others in the quarry, pounding away at the linder of the mountain. Miri's Pa will never let her work though, and she thinks it is because she is so small.

From the valley, news comes from king's priests that the next princess will come from Mount Eskel, and the prince will choose her himself. But before a girl is chosen, all the girls eligible must attend an academy to prepare.

Grade: A

Me and my "co-counselor" read this each night to the 6 girls in our room at camp. I loved every minute of it. It leans more towards the younger crowd, but that didn't matter. The story was so fun, and I really enjoyed it. The ending could have lasted longer, but am I happy with it. What really hooked me were the names. They were Norwegian, and we were at Norwegian camp, so I loved it. :)

Cast the First Stone

Cast the First Stone
by Gwendolyn Glover

Denise Stone, aka Denny, and Haley Fisher have been best friends ever since Denny moved in across the street. They couldn't be more different. Denny is sharp-tongued, prefers her independence, and enjoys cigarettes and alcohol. Haley is quiet, reserved, and begins to give herself to God. Along with that, Haley's family, poverty-stricken, is always having trouble, and she is the one taking care of her younger siblings.

The girls keep changing through the years. And Denny wants nothing more than to get the hell out of the small Oklahoma town, and run off to California.

Grade: B

Where to start? I'll thank Gwendolyn for asking me to review her books. :) This debut was very original. I haven't read anything like it before. I enjoyed Denny's character for her sharp tongue, but sometimes I got so mad at the way she treated the people that love her. I didn't understand why she did that. I wasn't very happy with the ending of the story, only because I feel like more should have happened. I didn't really want it to end either. I am really curious as to what happens with all of the main characters. Overall, this was an interesting read, and if you come across it, give it a go.

For more information on her novel, visit Gwendolyn's website, here.

I'm Gone.

That's right. Tomorrow I will be heading to Norwegian camp! As a counselor, of course. I can't wait. It's 2 weeks of dancing, singing, games, heat, and all things Norsk...that means Norwegian. :) Here is what it's like up where I will be. It's gorgeous up there. We stay in this lodge called Trollhaugen, which means Troll Hill in Norwegian. It's so comfy and it just feels like home. I tried to find a picture of the place, but I couldn't find a good one.

The day after I get back, I'm off to Ocean Shores with three of my good friends. It'll be a great time. And we might be stopping in at Forks on the way home. So, I doubt I will be getting any reading done while I'm at camp. But I'll probably bring my Harry Potter book to recap before seeing the movie. So, have a good 2 weeks, and I'll catch up with ya when I get back!