Some Girls Are

Some Girls Are: A Novel
by Courtney Summers

Regina Afton was part of the Fearsome Fivesome, the clique at school that everyone was afraid of. Not any more, because of a false rumor going around that involves her, and her best friend's boyfriend.

Now Regina is at the bottom of the food-chain of Hallowell High. Her ex-best friends are bullying her more and more daily. Regina finds solace in Michael Hayden, a boy who she herself used to bully. While around him, Regina feels better, until she may have to give it up so Michael doesn't get hurt too.

Grade: A+

Wow. What else can I say? Amazing. Fantastic. Brilliant. The only bad thing about this novel was the ending, because it ended to fast for me. I want more on what happens after the fact, but I guess this will have to do.

Some Girls Are takes Mean Girls to a WHOLE new level. No kidding. I couldn't even fathom how girls can be so vicious. And to someone who was your friend before.

I really liked Regina's character. I really felt for her. How could I not? I mean, sure, she was a total biotch, but she was thrown out on a lie that was the farthest thing from the truth. I loved her and Michael. I just wanted them to be together from her first lunch at the Garbage Table.

Courtney Summers is a genius. I don't know how she does it, but I sure hope she does it again soon.

Fat Cat

Fat Cat
by Robin Brande

Catherine "Cat" Locke has no idea what to do for her science fair project. But then it hits her. She is going to be her project. For the next 7 months, Cat is going to become a hominin. That means no more junk food, television, computer (except for school use), or cars and phones (except for emergencies). This is going to be hard of the chocolate eating, Diet Coke drinking Kit Cat.

She knows her project is going to blow Matt McKinney's out of the water, and that is just what she wants. They haven't been friends since he betrayed her...even if it was four years ago. As her pounds start dropping, her confidence rises, and boys start to notice her, she is still too busy hating Matt.

Grade: A+

(First off, I would like to thank Steph at Steph Su Reads. If not for her Blog Blitz post {The Best YA Books You Haven't Read}, I would have never heard of this book. Thanks Steph!)

Once I picked up this novel, I could hardly put it down. All of the characters were interesting. The plot was totally original. I have never read anything like it before, and I loved every minute of it. I found no dull moment whatsoever, either. I really liked all of the scientific references, since Cat is the "science geek". The novel really puts you into perspective of how a teenage girl can be so insecure in her own body. Cat changes so much throughout the book. And her changes are for the better. She wants to be healthier, she wants to beat Matt, but then she realizes it was a change that she wanted, and needed. I recommend this book for anyone, really. It was really enjoyable, and I'm so glad I got a copy.

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.

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!