Wednesday Wishlist

Something Happened

by Greg Logsted

Summary: Barnes and Noble
"All around me I see people laughing, joking, and walking around with these huge, goofy smiles plastered on their faces. I've begun to wonder how they do it, and more important, will I ever be able to be like that again?"

Five months after his dad's unexpected death, Billy Romero is still struggling with the loss. Billy's mom spends more time talking to her Bluetooth than to him, and his best friend, Ziggy, just doesn't get it. There's no one who understands how alone Billy feels...except his new English teacher, the young and beautiful Miss Gate.

Miss Gate offers support and friendship, even giving Billy extra help with his writing outside of school. Billy isn't really sure how he feels about spending so much time with his teacher. It's a little weird, but it's also kind of exciting that someone like Miss Gate wants to hang out with him. But the closer they get, the more Billy wonders what kind of friendship this really is....

Why?
The teacher/student relationship pulls me in. This has yet to become a common plot.

Young Writters Conference

You can now register for The 2010 Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference!

This year's conference will be held June 14-June 18, 2010, and promises to be an exciting week. Our new venue in Sandy, UT, is large and full of light. And we're working with the wonderful bookstore
The King's English! As usual, we have an amazing, award-winning faculty, too.

Our faculty includes:
Rick Walton and Cheri Earl--who will team-teach the Beginning Class www.rickwalton.com
Bonny Becker--who will teach a Picture Book class www.bonnybecker.com
Kristyn Crow--who will teach a Picture Book class www.kristyncrow.com
Mike Knudson--who will teach a Chapter Book class www.mikeknudson.com
Kevin Hawkes--who will teach the Illustration Class www.kevinhawkes.com
Emily Wing Smith--who will teach the Beginning Novel Class www.emilywingsmith.com
Ann Dee Ellis--who will teach the Contemporary Novel Class www.anndeeellis.com
Alane Ferguson--who will teach an Intermediate/Advanced Novel Class www.alaneferguson.com
Sara Zarr--who will teach an Intermediate/Advanced Novel Class www.sarazarr.com
Brandon Mull--who will teach a Fantasy Class www.brandonmull.com
Dave Wolverton (Dave Farland)--who will teach a Fantasy Class www.davidfarland.net

Editors and Agent:
Jennifer Hunt from Little, Brown
Kate Angelella from Simon and Schuster
Mary Kole from Andrea Brown Agency

Thursday Afternoon Presenter:
Mary E Pearson (The Miles Between, The Admiration of Jenna Fox, A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams, David v. God)
www.marypearson.com


If you can't spend the whole day with us, look into attending the afternoon sessions.
Additional speakers will include Will Terry, Guy Francis, Ally Condie, Jennifer Grillone, Kirk Shaw, Matthew Kirby, Sydney Salter

For more information, and to register, please go to www.foryoungreaders.com

Must Monday

The Complete History of Why I Hate Her

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)
Nola has always stood by her younger sister, Song-through surgery, chemotherapy, remission and the recurrence of Song's cancer-but, craving adventure and normalcy, she takes a summer job as a waitress at Rocky Cove, a swanky Maine resort. On the bus, she immediately bonds with spontaneous, gregarious Carly. When Carly abruptly replaces Nola's roommate Bridget, Nola is overjoyed, and the two girls spend the first half of the summer as an inseparable duo, known to all as "the Cannolis." As busy mealtimes in the dining room, lazy days at the beach and beer-soaked parties bleed together, Carly takes over Nola's life-copying her haircut, becoming pen pals with Song, flirting with the boy Nola likes-undermining Nola's confidence and sense of self all the while. During a surprise visit from Song, Carly precipitates a dangerous stunt, which prompts a major confrontation with Nola.

Why?
It sounds exciting and interesting. Like the kind of book I enjoy!

BUY IT APRIL 27 2010

Interview

Interview with Scott Nicholson of The Skull Ring

1. Give my readers a synopsis in ten words or less.

A fragile woman is targeted by a sinister cult.

2. What did you learn while writing this book?

You can’t trust psychologists or Satanists.

3. Was getting published a hard task?

I had more than 400 rejections before my first novel sold. It’s still just as difficult!

4. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Write the novel you don’t want your parents to read but you hope your kids will read someday.

5. Complete the sentence: My favorite writer is William Goldman because he writes well in a variety of genres.

6. If I could only reread 2 books over and over they would be Huckleberry Finn and This Perfect Day.

7. If I was a teacher I would have students read Dr. Seuss.

Planet Pregnancy

Planet Pregnancy

Linda Oatman High

Publisher:

$16.99

2008

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 10/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: Moderate

Violence: none

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: mild

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

If you’re a mom / can you still / go to the prom? Pregnant at 16, Sahara, a former Dixie Queen pageant winner, considers her choices in her small Texas town: adoption, abortion, or keeping the child. No way will she marry the baby’s father: He’s a bum. / He doesn’t work. / He’s a jerk. / He’d be / a bad dad, just like the dad / I never had. She lies to her mom and says her pregnancy resulted from date rape, but Mom is not supportive, at least at first, and Sahara worries that her religious best friend will reject her as a knocked-up sleaze. There is too little about what it is like to go to school after a pregnancy begins to show. But true to the teen’s voice, the gripping narrative, written in very short lines of free verse with occasional rhyme, makes for a roller-coaster read. Even teens who do not agree with Sahara’s final choice will be caught up in the rising tension as she copes with her guilt, regret, despair, and hope.

My Thoughts:

This was a quick, light read. Okay maybe teen pregnancy is not a light issue but the way it was written made it so. I read this within 2 hours, probably a lot less because I was mostly reading between commercials.

The plot was interesting and well written. It was comical and cheesy but in an enjoyable way. I would recommend this to just about anyone. It’s super fun!

Wherever Nina Lies Contest Winners

Congrats to

• Lexi E.
• Erica
• Kelsey O.

You have all won a copy of the book. I need your address by this Sunday or I will select a new winner in place of you. You all have been emailed.

Contest

Oh my...

I have been blogging for two years today! I have been reviewing for 2 and a half but that doesn't really matter. What matters is we are celebrating this blogs second birthday. In honor of that I am having a contest.

Rules:

You have to be in the US or Canada. I am poor and have no job so I cant afford international :P

You have to be 13+ OR use your parents email.


What:

I have 10 books all with sticky notes on them. They are numbered one through ten.

First place winner: Picks 3 #

Second place: picks 2 #

Third place: Picks 1 #

enter: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGxrbEhvczlYMkV1bnNWQm9ObGo1d2c6MA

Wednesday Wishlist

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)
Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae have one thing in common: they all want to die. When they meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens make a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides...and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living—or if there's no turning back.

Why:
It sounds super intriguing!!!

The Snowball Effect

The Snowball Effect

Holly Nicole Hoxter

Harperteen

$16.99

March 23 2010

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20

Plot 18/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 98% A

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to know about the people in her family just by letting you know how they died. Her reckless stepfather drove his motorcycle off the highway and caused the biggest traffic jam in years. Her long-suffering grandmother lived through cancer and a heart attack before finally succumbing to a stroke. And Lainey's mother—well, Lainey's mother hanged herself in the basement just days after Lainey's high school graduation.

Now Lainey's five-year-old brother is an orphan and her estranged older sister is moving back home to be his guardian. Meanwhile, Lainey's boyfriend is thinking about having a family of their own, and her best friends are always asking the wrong sorts of questions and giving advice Lainey doesn't want to hear. As she tries to pull away from everything familiar, Lainey meets an intriguing new guy who, through a series of Slurpees, burgers, and snowballs, helps her to make peace with a parent she never understood.

My Thoughts:

Before I started this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. You constantly hear “oh its (so and so’s) first book so I don’t expect much” but I am starting to disagree. I have recently seen some new authors who are kicking the asses of some “developed” authors. Maybe it’s the fact that they aren’t going off on tangents like some of these “developed” authors do. I don’t care to read series with 12 books… Anyways now that you have some background of how I feel I want to say, I LOVED THIS!

The plot was very different and stood on its own. The only lack was towards the front. This book took me longer to read but it had nothing to do with it being a bad book. I was honestly savoring it. The characters speak directly to you, you feel as if they are your friends.

I would recommend this book to all teen girls. Heck, lets make this required school reading!

Last side note: anyone else reminded of the stacking cup craze by the cover?

Quotes:

Here is a quote I liked while reading the book:

“Love wasn’t a buffet. I couldn’t have everything that looked good.”

Must Monday

The Exile of Gigi Lane

by Adrienne Maria Vrettos

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)
Heathers meets Bring It On in The Exile of Gigi Lane, where a high school queen bee's rise to glory is nothing compared to her fall from it.

Why:
Come on, read the summary and who wouldn't want to read it?!

When: April 6th 2010

Of All the Stupid Things

Of All the Stupid Things

Alexandra Diaz

Egmont

$16.99

December 2009

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review with no compensation.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 80% B

Total rating: 14+

Summary: (Amazon)

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara's boyfriend Brent has been sleeping with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn't just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara's training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment after being deserted by her father. Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave this beauty to look for meaning in all the wrong places. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she's never stopped missing. This friendship that promised to last forever is starting to break under the pressure of the girls' differences.

And then new-girl Riley arrives in school with her long black hair, athletic body, and her blasé attitude, and suddenly Tara starts to feel things she's never felt before for a girl--and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay--or does she just love Riley? And can her deepest friendships survive when all of the rules have changed?

My Thoughts:

When I received this book I didn’t know much about it. I had one friend who had reviewed and loved it. It was not my thing though. The people were portrayed in a way that just bugged me. I felt not one connection to the characters. It was as if they were not human because of the things they felt. That probably sounds bad, but honestly that’s how I felt.

The plot was different but not developed enough. If it had been more developed I may have liked it better. It might have just needed developed in a different way all together, I’m not sure.

I recommend this book to people who just want a book about sexuality.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

“Don’t you ever do that to me again!”

LA Candy

LA Candy

Lauren Conrad

Harper teen

$9.99

January 5^th (Paperback)

FTC: This is my book. I did not receive it or any compensation from the author or publisher.

Characters 20/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: moderate

Violence: none

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: extreme

Swearing: moderate

Total rating: 15+

Summary: (Amazon)

After high school, two best friends move to Los Angeles hoping to start "a new and amazing life," but their existence is anything but glamorous. Jane is an intern for a famous event planner and Scarlett is a freshman at U.S.C. However, things change quickly when a TV producer asks them to be in a new reality series along with Madison and Gaby, following their lives as they try to make it in L.A. After signing on, the two friends move into a posh apartment and get into the hottest clubs. Scarlett is skeptical about all the attention, but Jane enjoys being in the limelight. When Jane becomes the show's star, Madison is jealous and plots to bring her down. By story's end, Jane learns that having cameras follow you everywhere isn't what it is cracked up to be. The cliff-hanger climax indicates that there will be more to come.

My Thoughts:

When this book began I think my expectations were too high. I expected a flawless story from the way everyone talked it up. I was disappointed when I saw that it wasn’t. Finally I accepted that it’s her first book and then I was really able to enjoy it. The characters were fun and all so different. The setting was typical but she wrote what she knew so I can appreciate that.

The plot was enjoyable to me because I love The Hills. It was fun to really see how Lauren felt about her reality TV experience shine through. I was able to see it’s not just a cake walk. The ending to this story was AMAZING! I had been iffy about the book until the last ten chapters, but the final chapter BLEW it away! I was amazed with how she wrote a cliffhanger.

I would say fans of reality TV and chick lit should check this out.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

She sounded louder then usual and a little drunk.

Beautiful

Beautiful

Amy Reed

Simon Pulse

$16.99

October 2009

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 15/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: 12/20

Violence: 5/20

Drugs: 13/20

Underage drinking: 15/20

Swearing: 15/20

Total rating: 16+

Summary: (Amazon)

Thirteen-year-old Cassie has bloomed. Following her family's move from an island off the coast of Washington to a Seattle suburb, she has a new attractiveness that earns her the moniker "the beautiful seventh grader." Her good looks and willingness to conform are a passport to her school's powerful clique of druggies led by Alex, a frightening but charismatic fellow seventh grader who adopts Cassie as her best friend. Cassie's compliance with Alex's demands—to burn photographs of former friends, to take acid, to have sex—secures her a position as Alex's second in command but threatens her health and safety. When Alex's half sister Sarah moves in with Alex and her wasted mother, Cassie finds her allegiance shifting from her best friend to Sarah.

My Thoughts:

It wasn’t till I was looking on Amazon that I put it all together. This book reminded me so much of something and I finally figured it out. The movie Thirteen ring a bell to anyone?

Cassie’s age shocked me. I had to remind myself that she was my baby sisters’ age. I didn’t talk or act that way in 7^th grade. I didn’t know anyone who did and I went to the middle school located smack dab in the ghetto. The school was 70% wealthy and 30% not. Neither class group was that way so this just freaked me out. I also hated how all the “bad” kids were poor. Come on, my rich friends are the ones that have tried drugs. The poorer ones have too much to lose.

At one point when they are looking for drug money I found it hilarious. That was super unique and wow they are crafty drug addicts. Speaking of drugs I would like to give a big WHAT THE HECK??? How do parents not know there kid is on drugs and smoking pot out there bedroom window? That’s a big case of DENIAL!

My favorite character was Sarah. My god, her life story was devastating. I just wish I had heard more from her, more about her.

Even though the girls in this book are fairly young I would not recommend this to middle school kids. Not even freshman. I think you need to have some real maturity because this book can be taken two ways. You can learn and grow or you can be left with a new corrupt view on the world. Be ready.

Quotes:

Here is a quote I found while reading:

“You look like a slut,” says my dad.

Touch

Touch

Francine Prose

Harperteen

$16.99

June 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 80% B

Total rating: 12+

Summary: (Amazon)

Maisie has always been best friends with three boys in her class, including Shakes, who has mild cerebral palsy. In ninth grade, though, things change after she grows huge breasts, and she and Shakes start to explore each other’s bodies in the back of the school bus. Then, their two buddies join in and grope Maisie. Afterward, false rumors spread at school that Maisie asked her friends to find other guys who would pay money in exchange for touching her, and Maisie’s stepmom sues the school board.

My Thoughts:

I will start off by saying I was not a fan of this book. I felt that it was over dramatic and made big deals out of little things. The plot was lacking in my opinion. The characters seemed dull and not super well developed. I felt that that took away from the book. The cover was awesome though. It was what made me want to read it originally.

I would recommend this book to younger teens.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

Doctor Atwood says that the dream isn’t strange at all.

Wednesday Wishlist

Here is what I hope to buy this week!

Summary: Barnes and Noble
Things change so suddenly. one day Hanna has a long-term boyfriend; the next, she realizes she doesn't have strong feelings for him and breaks up with him. one day Hanna trusts her two best friends completely; the next, all of that trust is toppled. And then Hanna finds herself the bearer of a major secret: she was the last person to see two teenagers before they died in an accident on the icy lake. she can't tell anyone, so when Hanna finds herself drawn to will, the elusive boy she's noticed around town, the kind of boy who'd increase any girl's pulse, she doesn't hold back. what she learns about him will astonish her. but what she learns about herself—her friendships, her family, her life—will affect her far more.

Why? It sounds like a good book :)

Girl Stays in the Picture

Girl Stays in the Picture

Melissa de la Cruz

Simon and Schuster

$16.99

June 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 15/20

Plot 10/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 80% B

Total rating: 14+

Summary: (Amazon)

The newest rich girls series from de la Cruz (Au Pairs, Blue Bloods) cuts between the points of view of three teenagers: pop star Devon, celebutante Livia and Casey, assistant to singer Summer Garland, Devon's rival. The three girls converge on the French island of Saint-Tropez for the summer-where egos collide and designer outfits compete on a regular basis-and manage to become friends. Tabloid excerpts, blog entries and magazine articles between chapters provide a paparazzi-eye view of the girls' back-stories and report juicy, hyped-up gossip on their nights out, drinks imbibed, possible love affairs and exaggerated, nasty interactions. All three struggle with insecurities about their success (or lack of it) under the constant watch of the gossip-hungry. Those hoping for a new spin on the genre needn't bother, though there is enough boy-drama, label dropping, club hopping and backstabbing to satisfy those addicted to Gossip Girl-style series-and better yet, it all takes place on the French Riviera.

My Thoughts:

I adore the Au Pairs series so I was hoping this would be just as great. It was good but it didn’t match up. The plot lacked anything super new from the typical “rich girl” story. The characters were similar to many books. I felt that she should have mixed things up a lot more. Maybe I am being too picky but I wasn’t looking for a common book. I recommend this as a beach read!

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

So this is why dresses like this cost three thousand dollars instead of three hundred

Must Monday

Here is what I'm waiting for this week.

Summary: Barnes and Noble
carlett Hughes is overly involved in the lives of everyone around her, especially her neighbors, including: a young goth girl who chalks her very traditional wishes on the sidewalk; a forgetful mailman; and an older couple whose main excitement in their lives are the formal-sounding scam emails from foreign lands promising large sums of money.

But when Scarlett's sister, Juliet, returns home from school--pregnant and surprisingly married to a sweet, handsome boy who she seems to have no interest in, but who is hopelessly in love with her--Scarlett is thrust solidly into her own life, and forced to take a look inward for the first time.

The Six Rules of Maybe is about the necessity of dreams, as well as the necessity of facing reality and speaking the truth.

Why? It just looks flat out adorable!

BUY IT TOMORROW!

Beautiful Stranger

Beautiful Stranger

Zoey Dean

Little, Brown

$9.99

August 2008

FTC: This is my book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 20/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 15/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: 10/20

Violence: 5/20

Drugs: 5/20

Underage drinking: 15/20

Swearing: 10/20

Total rating: 15+

Summary: (Amazon)

Anna decides to take an end-of-summer getaway-to get away from her drama-filled LA life. So she packs her Louis Vuitton, grabs her close friend Sam, and heads to the Big Apple. Between trips to the Met and shopping at Bendel's, the girls are living the A-List life on Anna's home turf. But their trip isn't exactly a vacation. Sam is here to spy on Eduardo and decode his recent strange behavior. Will what she discovers send her hopping on the next private jet back to Beverly Hills? And who is the beautiful stranger who appears on Anna's Upper East Side doorstep? Anna begins to wonder whether she wants to head back west again-especially since Ben seems to have moved on . . . with someone who isn't a stranger at all. When it comes to the A-List, there's drama coast to coast.

My Thoughts:

I love the A-List series but to be honest they all started going down after book six. I should have just let it all end there. It would have made me feel so much better about this series. I feel as if the author is struggling to keep the story going at this point. Everything has to be so dramatic and over stated which is super annoying. I just want a good story, not a soap opera.

If you like long series keep reading on to this, if not, quit at book six!

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

There were chuckles around the room, the sophisticated laughter of the upper ten percent.

Second Summer of the Sisterhood audio book

Second Summer of the Sisterhood Audio Book

FTC: This is a library audio book. I did not receive it from the publisher or Author

Total grade: A

Total rating: 13+

My Thoughts:

This is not going to be a typical book review. I am basically going to discuss the tone and personality of the reader compared to the desired tone and personality within the pages.

I actually loved the woman reading the book. I felt that she really got into character and enjoyed the book just as much as when I’d read it myself.

I recommend reading the book then listening. You will get so much out of this wonderful book!

Give up the Ghost

Give Up the Ghost
Megan Crewe
Henry Holt
$17.99
September 2009
FTC: I received this from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Total grade: C

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)
A supernatural twist on the "Mean Girls" plot provides page-turning action. Cass McKenna sees ghosts. Her first spotting was her sister Paige, who failed to pass on to the afterlife following a drowning accident. Unfortunately for Cass, Paige and the ghosts that inhabit her school are her only friends. A junior-high bullying incident left her jaded and angry, and as revenge, she uses her supernatural informants to spill her classmates' juiciest secrets. When the student council VP discovers her covert ability, Cass unwillingly helps him contact his dead mother, leading to changes in her social status. Cass isn't the most lovable of protagonists, but her resentment is well developed and convincingly sustained throughout. Mysterious plot elements and the budding relationship between Cass and the VP will quickly engage reluctant readers

My Thoughts:
This book was not for me, I will admit that right off. I am not a paranormal fan but there have been a few lately that I actually LOVED. This was not one of them. I felt that the only real aspect of this book was paranormal. There seemed to be no close to life things I could connect to. There for I would only recommend this to fans of paranormal literature.

Quotes:
Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

Back when we were innocent kids.

The Diamonds

The Diamonds

Ted Michael

Delacorte

$8.99

April 2009

FTC: This is my book. I did not receive it from the publisher or the author.

Characters 15/20

Plot 10/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 15/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 75% C

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

At Long Islands’s private Bennington School, the Diamonds rule supreme. They’re the girls all the boys want to date and all the girls want to be. And fortunately for Marni, she’s right in the middle of them. Best friends with the ringleader, Clarissa, Marni enjoys all the spoils of the ultrapopular: boys, power, and respect. But then Marni gets a little too close to Clarissa’s ex-boyfriend, Anderson.

Wrong move. The Diamonds don’t touch each other’s exes.

And just like that, Marni is jettisoned from Diamond to lower than Cubic Zirconia.

But Marni isn’t about to take her ouster lying down. She has dirt on the Diamonds, and she’s not about to go down without a fight. Everyone knows, the only thing strong enough to cut a Diamond is another Diamond.

My Thoughts:

I read this after finishing an A-List book and so much of it reminded me of the A-List. I may be judging it harder because of that but to be honest I didn’t really like it a ton. It was okay but not great! The characters weren’t super connectable and the setting was typical for “rich girls”. I would recommend this to people who won’t read the A-List series. Younger teens may also connect easier.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

“Who knows what’ll happen when he finds out its missing.”

Wednesday Wishlist

Here is what I hope to buy this week.

Summary: Barnes and Noble
hloe-Grace can't help it—she's spectacular. How could she not be with celebrity parents who have been the queen and king of Hollywood for years? And Chloe is a celebrity all unto herself as well— she's the first celebrity-adopted kid in Hollywood. But now Chloe's sixteen, and she is tired of every undesired moment of the world's attention. She wonders what it would be like to be a "normal" kid in a regular school. To really understand it, though, she would need to go undercover. So after getting a "make-under" at the hands of her mother's fabulous stylist, she enters the "real" world. But she soon finds out that there is just as much drama there as there is in Hollywood....

Why?
I love this cover and the plot sounds fresh!

North of Beautiful

North of Beautiful
Justina Chen Headley
Hachette
$16.99
February 2009
FTC: This is a library book, I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 10/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 15/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 10/20
Total grade: 70% C

Total rating: 12+

Summary: (Amazon)
Terra's body is very nearly perfect, except for the port-wine birthmark on her left cheek, which several surgeries have failed to remove. It is the teen's final semester of high school and she looks forward to college where she can study art and escape from her bullying, verbally abusive father. Over the Christmas holidays, Terra and her mother get into a car accident and meet Jacob, a Goth Chinese boy with a cleft lip, and his adoptive mother. The women immediately strike up a supportive friendship, while Terra and Jacob grow close. When Terra's brother, who lives in Shanghai, sends her and her mother tickets to visit, and Jacob's mother wants to try to track down Jacob's birth mother, they decide to travel together. But what about Erik, Terra's enamored but slightly clueless boyfriend?

My Thoughts:
I hate to do this. I am usually generous with my reviews, but this book did not cut it for me. I knew so many people who “LOVED” this book but I can’t see why. I am happy I read it but I would not go buy it. I thought the plot was lacking and something about the characters just made me not like them. Every review I have seen for this book has been A’s or 5 stars. That’s what made me pick up this book. I think young teen girls should read it, it addresses body issues, but get it from the library first just to make sure its your kind of book.

Quotes:
Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

“Trust me, I never thought I would,” I said, and all but sprinted back to the bathroom.

Must Monday

Here is what I am waiting for this week!

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)
What if you find your soul mate. . . and he’s your best friend’s boyfriend?
Best friends Lani and Erin couldn’t be more different. Lani’s reserved and thoughtful; Erin’s bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There’s no possible way they could be interested in the same guy. So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can’t believe she feels such a deep connection with him—and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it’s her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can’t have?

Why?
I love the author and cant wait to see what she does with this one! I have also been in a situation where my friends boy wanted me and I wanted him...

Buy it this May!!!

Skinny-Dipping

Skinny-Dipping (The Au Pairs book 2)

Melissa de la Cruz

Simon Pulse

$8.99

May 2006

FTC: This is my book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 20/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: 12/20

Violence: 0/20

Drugs: 8/20

Underage drinking: 10/20

Swearing: 10/20

Total rating: 14+

Summary: (Amazon)

Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui return for a second season of high fashion, fabulous parties, unlimited alcohol, sex, and celebrities in New York's exclusive Hamptons. Last summer, as au pairs for the wealthy Perry family, the girls partied their way through the season. Now Mara and Jacqui have returned to care for the Perry children while Eliza has chosen to work at the ultra-hip nightclub, The Seventh Circle. Sound perfect? Not quite. Eliza has broken up with the hunky gardener from last year and has hooked up with Ryan Perry, Mara's ex-boyfriend. After all, Mara did break up with him. The catch is that, unbeknownst to Eliza, Mara wants him back. Jacqui, the beautiful Brazilian, has recently sworn off men-until she meets Eliza's replacement, the stunning Philippe. Oh, yeah, it may be worth mentioning that Mrs. Perry also has her eye on him. The story is ultimately about the fleeting nature of popularity and how easy it is to get caught up in the game.

My Thoughts:

I loved the first Au Pair book when I read it about a year ago! After that I was bombarded with books so I had put off reading more of the series. I wish I hadn’t! The plot was common in many ways but it was still a light, enjoyable read.

The characters were each there own person which is always nice. Friends in books shouldn’t be too similar. I found some real connections with the characters in this book.

I recommend this book to girls looking for a fun beach read.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

“Turn the lights down around them, will you? They’re totally killing the mood.”

Inexcusable

Inexcusable

Chris Lynch

Athenaeum

$16.95 USD

2005

FTC: This is a library book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 10/20

Plot 10/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 70% C

Total rating: 14+

Summary: Amazon

Keir is a senior who fancies himself a lovable rogue. So do his widowed father, his older sisters, and his classmates. He likes being liked; he just doesn't do well with involvement. Keir would never do anything to hurt anyone intentionally–or would he? When he tackles and cripples a member of an opposing football team, it's determined to be an accident–one that earns him the good-humored nickname, Killer. When he and his buddies destroy a town statue, they consider it a high-spirited, funny prank. When he gets drunk, the alcohol abuse is dismissed as silly, harmless drinks, and drugs at parties are strictly recreational. And when he date rapes the girl he thinks he loves, at first he convinces himself that the way it looks is not the way it is. Keir's first-person narrative chillingly exposes the rationalization process that the troubled teen goes through to persuade himself and those around him of his innocence.

My Thoughts:

This book has been on my Amazon list for quite a while. When I saw it at my local library I was super excited. To be honest I am glad I got it there because I would have felt like it was not worth my money. The old cover sucks but there is a new much better one. The plot had so many holes and took forever to get going. The writing style was not for me but I do know one friend who loved it. The characters seemed dull to me. They were lifeless and needed to be more developed. I felt that I learned a bit from this book but I would recommend everyone try a library copy before buying.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page.

“He was giggling again by the time we had finished speaking…”