Monday, June 27, 2011

Must Monday

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What?

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.



Why?
I adore Lisa and this book looks like it will be even better then her others!

When?
Tomorrow!!!! Go buy it!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Q & A with Skyler Samuels

Skyler Samuels plays Chloe King on ABC Families new show The Nine Lives of Chloe King. I recently had the chance to be in on an interview with her. Here is some of what she had to say!

Moderator Can you tell us what we can expect this season?

Skyler Well, this first season of The Nine Lives of Chloe King is filled with adventures, thrills, romance, comedy and drama, and a lot of heartfelt relationships. There is nothing predictable about this first season. It’s filled with a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and it will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Moderator How did you become involved in the project?

Skyler I had an audition for this show back in the fall of 2010, and I went in and I just fell in love. I loved the pilot before, and I was just, I was just in love with the script. Chloe and I have so much in common. I could hear my own voice in the things she said and did.

And a super-embarrassing story—when I walked in on the audition, I introduced myself as Chloe. I was totally embarrassed because I accidently said Chloe instead of my own name, but sure enough, they agreed, because here I am playing Chloe King, and I’m having the time of my life.

Moderator I’m curious if you read the books to sort of prepare for your role.

Skyler I have read the books. I read them before we started the pilot to get a little bit of a background about the show. But in all honesty, we’ve taken a lot of creative liberties with the books and our adaptations of the TV show. We kind of have a lot of the same basic ideas as the books—some of the mythology, a lot of the main characters are still the same. But we’ve taken a lot of liberties in making it more exciting, and more action-oriented, and really spicing it up. So I think that the fans of the book will really appreciate what we’ve done with the show.

Moderator Has it been a challenge for you playing sort of an element of the supernatural?

Skyler Playing a supernatural is more realistic than I thought it would be. It’s a lot of fun, absolutely, because having super hearing and super vision and super speed and all of the super things you can have is certainly not normal, and it’s a lot of fun. But on this show, it always comes back to something very realistic that I can relate to from my own life. So it’s been not as difficult as I thought it would be to play the supernatural. It’s been quite fun and easy.

Moderator Would you share with us your guilty pleasure TV show?

Skyler Oh, my goodness. My guilty pleasure TV show would have to be Glee. I’m weirdly addicted to the show, and I couldn’t explain it to you if I tried. I’ve never been a big musical buff, or anything, but I find myself week after week, no matter what, tuning into Glee. So that’s definitely my TV go-see pleasure.

Moderator Did you ever watch any supernatural/paranormal shows growing up?

Skyler Oh, there were supernatural movies, like the Hocus Pocus and Luck of Witches and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. So I had a little bit of supernatural influence when I was growing up and watching TV. But I never thought anything different of it, compared to the rest of the shows I might watch. The supernatural never struck me as something that I really wanted to do; I just kind of fell into it by accident.

Moderator Can you describe Chloe?

Skyler Sure. Well, Chloe is definitely more of a superhero than a supernatural creature. On her 16th birthday when she discovered that she’s got these heightened abilities—the super speed, super hearing, and these claws, and she’s got, you know, the ability to read peoples’ feelings. This incredible combination kind of leads Chloe to want to help people who are in trouble.

So even though Chloe finds herself running from bad guys and the ones who are trying to kill her because I’m this special girl who can die nine times and people are trying to see if it’s true, and they’re trying to get rid of me and the rest of our feline race, the Mai. Chloe still finds herself trying to help people and save peoples’ lives using her heightened abilities. So she’s constantly torn between the chase and having to save the day.

Moderator What character traits of Chloe King that mimics your own?

Skyler Chloe and I are both kind of quirky, odd balls out that don’t exactly go with the status quo. We’re both juniors in high school full time, and we’ve got quirky best friends and awesome relationships with our moms. But I think the biggest difference and the thing I admire most about Chloe is her willingness to just be adventurous, and take a risk, and do these incredible things. So, Chloe’s like Skyler, but amplified and I kind of love it.

Moderator Is there any characteristic of Chloe that is complex that you had to take time to adjust to it?

Skyler I think Chloe definitely has challenged me as far as the situations that she goes through. Chloe is always involved in situations where it’s life and death, and I think having to put myself in the fear factor mode is definitely a challenge. But it’s been really interesting trying to adapt to that and trying to get into Chloe’s head and be like, “What does it feel like to be in this life and death situation? What would I do? How would I handle it?” So that’s definitely been a challenge; but a fun one.


Moderator What would be kind of your ultimate dream role? Other than this show, if you could pick anything.

Skyler I think I would love to do a role where I completely transformed myself and I looked completely different, acted completely different, and I did some kind of crazy, cool, action drama where I was like undercover saving the world. I guess it’s got a hint of Chloe King, but maybe a little more spiced up.

Moderator If you had someone that doesn’t necessarily watch the supernatural, and doesn’t necessarily believe in it, or it’s not really their thing, how would you describe the show to get them to tune into it?

Skyler Well, I think that the really cool thing about The Nine Lives of Chloe King is that while it has a lot of supernatural elements and Chloe is kind of a superhero, herself, it is not all about the supernatural. I mean, this show, week-to-week, deals with the struggles of Chloe trying to manage her relationship with her mom. Her mom’s a single mom trying to raise a teenage girl, and so that presents a lot of difficulties, as in what that brings when her mom starts dating, and how does Chloe feel about getting a new dad, and how can she maintain relationships with her friends in high school as they go through all these changes?

And how can you maintain a relationship with a boy you really like if you can’t really be with him. There’s a lot of realistic, really grounded, heartfelt relationships and dynamics on this show to the point where the supernatural elements don’t even strike you. It’s like it all just seems to blend in and make sense.

Moderator What was it about Chloe that when you first read the script or got the sides for her that really made you want to play her?

Skyler When I read the pilot I sat down and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything so fast in my entire life. I was completely just eyes glued to the page, and I just kept turning and turning, and it got more and more exciting. When I finished it, all I could think was, Chloe King is the girl I would fantasize about and I would dream to be. She’s fearless, she’s fun, she’s funny, and she’s quirky, and she’s honest, and she’s cool.

Just everything about her I was like, I want to look up to her and she’s totally a role model in my mind. I’ve got to be this girl, you know, she’s incredible. I’m a lot more cautious than Chloe is, and Chloe’s kind of taught me how it can be fun to take a risk. The things I’ve done playing Chloe King have been some of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. So I’m just so thrilled to be Chloe.

Moderator What’s been your favorite either moment, or favorite scene you filmed?

Skyler Well, there’s been a lot of really cool favorite moments, but I think one of the most incredible scenes that we’ve done was in our third episode we shot underwater, and I was chained up underwater for part of the episode. That was probably the most exciting and frightening thing I’ve ever done, but it was absolutely incredible.

Every week we’ve got all these big fight sequences, and that one happened to involve an underwater element, which I thought was so fun. And it was absolutely incredible to film.

Moderator So Chloe King debuts with Pretty Little Liars next week. How do you feel that the show sort of fits in to the ABC Family Network?

Skyler Well, ABC Family has an absolutely incredible job in producing these hit shows. The ABC Family is where the good stuff’s at. I’m so excited to be a part of this network because they’ve really done a great job introducing shows that are heartfelt, that are exciting, that are kind of everything you’d want; everyday there’s something new and there’s something great to watch.

But being paired with Pretty Little Liars is a high honor, in my opinion. I’m so excited, and I think it’s going to be really great, because I feel like the ABC Family audience, while they’ve gotten a lot of really great shows like Pretty Little Liars and now Switched at Birth, they’ve never had a genre show before. They’ve never had action in the way that Chloe King has action, and excitement, and thrills. So I think Chloe King will only add to the excitement of being great shows on ABC Family.

Moderator What have you learned about yourself from this experience so far?

Skyler That’s such a wonderful and complex question. Being a part of The Nine Lives of Chloe King has absolutely changed my life. In so many ways, Chloe has really opened up this new courageous, brave side of me that I didn’t know I was capable of.

I couldn’t say that I had a fear of heights, because never before was I running on top of buildings and doing the things that Chloe does. But sure enough, being there, sometimes I would think, “Gee, I’m 15 stories above ground level, and now I’m going to jump across a roof. This is a little frightening.”

But every episode I do it, and to think that I’ve been able to accomplish all of these magnificent things is really incredible. But Chloe, also, throughout her emotional transformation on the show; the things she has gone through and experienced, she’s just kind of taught me a lot about myself and life, and to enjoy and take risks. I mean, Chloe teaches me things every day. It’s a never-ending list.

Moderator Now that you’ve only done part of the season so far, what’s something that they haven’t done yet on the show that maybe you would really like to see happen to your character?

Skyler It’s hard to say. Chloe is definitely becoming a very interesting and complex young lady throughout this transformation. But I would be very curious to see if maybe Chloe falls into a bit more trouble in Season 2. Maybe Chloe will kind of team up with a villain, or goes undercover, or does something maybe a little grittier than her daily routine.

Moderator How many episodes are there for this season?

Skyler We have ten for this season—nine additional to the pilot.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wednesday Wishlist

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What?
This moment changes everything.

Becca has been head-over-heels for Alec from the instant they met. He’s a brainy jock with a poet’s heart—in other words, perfect for her.

Camille is careful with her words and protective of her heart, especially since Chicago. Then a new boy in her new town catches her off guard with a surprise kiss.

Too bad that new boy is Becca’s boyfriend, Alec.

Camille and Becca have never met, but their lives will unravel and intertwine in surprising ways as they deal with what happens after the kiss.




Why?
Sounds like a deliciously deceptive romance! Can't wait to devour this one!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dead Rules

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Summary:

Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.

Do

But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.

Us

Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part

But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

Review:

Best book of the summer so far! This delightfully twisted Romeo and Juliet story has jumped straight to the top of my “MUST READ” list. A definite 12+A due to the humorous nudity and shockingly witty speech used to described the characters’ life/death stories. Believe me, and clear your day planner because this is a book you won’t want to put down even after you’ve reached the end!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Must Monday

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What?
Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting-and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship. And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will devour this juicy debut novel.

Why?
It says fans of the PLL series.... THAT'S ME! Plus it just sounds amazing!

When?
Tomorrow!!!!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

What's So Funny About Getting Old

Cover Image I wanted to take a moment to again point out a super awesome gift idea for parents and grandparents. This book had me laughing out loud!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Do Not Open

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Summary:
In the groundbreaking tradition of DK's New York Times bestseller Pick Me Up, this book uses the same irreverent style to explore all the things THEY don't want you know about. From the Mona Lisa's hidden past to the history of Area 51, Do Not Open explores lost worlds, unravels secret codes, and lets readers step through the looking glass to see if they can handle the truth!

My thoughts:
To be honest this book was not all it was hyped up to be. Half of it was great. The other half failed to be interesting and lacked the spark that made me want to read. So much of it was common knowledge. I was expecting so much new information from this book and that did not occur. I'd give this book a "c" grade because it was pretty average.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Rival

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Summary:

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Review:

I give my regards and respect to miss Sara Bennett Wealer for her wonderful story that truly captures the essence of high school girls in today’s society. It was rather vague in the beginning and slow to reveal the truth of the conflict. The ending was also rather abrupt in my opinion. I was honestly disgusted at how these girls treated each other which shows the author’s skill at rousing a reaction from her readers as well as the distinctive characters and personalities she’s created.

Overall I would honestly have to rate this under the category of 12+B. I liked it but it didn’t leave me feeling that “wow” that I get from other books like this one. There is not much swearing , but there is plenty of scheming and back stabbing.

I look forward to the next book by miss Sara Bennett Wealer and hope that all of you who read enjoy.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Twilight Guide

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Summary:
This must-have hardcover edition--the only official guide--is the definitive encyclopedic reference to the Twilight Saga and provides readers with everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. This comprehensive handbook–essential for every Twilight Saga fan–is full-color throughout with nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs and with exclusive new material, character profiles, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more.

My thoughts:
I loved reading this awesome guide. It gave me so much more to go on then what had been given in the novels. It was great being able to piece each character a little more. It made me want to go back and read the books again. I think we would get so much more from the books with this back history.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Harry Potter Movie Magic

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Summary:

Take a behind-the-scenes peek at all the magic of the Harry Potter movie saga!

Ever wonder how they made Harry fly on his broomstick? Or Hermione transfigure a teacup? Find the answers to those questions and much more about life on the set of the Harry Potter movies in this handbook! It takes a peek back with the cast and crew to explore just what it took to make the Harry Potter films happen.



My thoughts:

I have been a huge fan of Harry Potter since I was read the first book by my second grade teacher. This was just before the first movie came out. Since then I have devoured each and every novel and movie. This book gave me a chance to see deep into the movie. I loved knowing some of the little known facts and secrets. The pictures were beautiful and the bits of information delectable.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Must Monday

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What?

Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very top of the popularity tower. One of the Populazzi.

Now, junior year could change everything. Cara’s moving to a new school, and her best friend urges her to seize the moment—with the help of the Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms into the perfect girlfriend for guys ever-higher on the tower, she’ll reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment, a straight climb up, but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.


Why?
This sounds like the perfect mix of humor and drama! Bring it on :)

When?
August 2011

Sunday, June 12, 2011

You're No Spring Chicken

Today I would just love to bring attention to a lovely book I found. It is hilarious. It can be bought used on Barnes and Noble. I found You're No Spring Chicken when helping my grandparents move. It was an adorable and the perfect gift for any grandparent. It's a book full of jokes that the elderly can especially relate to. I recommend it 100% as a gift!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Random book wanderings (2)

Today I went on another search for 2 books I had heard little about. Here is what I found.


Cover Image When November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November's life forever, and now she's faced with the biggest decision she could ever imagine. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh's parents take the news? She's never needed a friend more.

Jericho Prescott lost his best friend when he lost his cousin, Josh, and the pain is almost more than he can bear. His world becomes divided into "before" and "after" Josh's death. He finds the only way he can escape the emptiness he feels is to quit doing the things that made him happy when his cousin was alive, such as playing his beloved trumpet, and take up football, where he hopes the physical pain will suppress the emotional. But will hiding behind shoulder pads really help? And will his gridiron obsession prevent him from being there for his cousin's girlfriend when she needs him most?

This sequel to The Battle of Jericho is a no-holds-barred look at what happens when life doesn't go as planned, by the acclaimed author of the 2007 Coretta Scott King Award winner Copper Sun.


Cover Image Willa and Louie could not be more different. Louie wants to be a lawyer and is an outstanding student. Willa lives in a pub and just wants to get through the year so she can graduate and become a chef. But they are completely attracted to one another when they first meet at a fast-food restaurant. Soon they fall in love fast and furiously, and everything the girls are sure of—their plans, their faith, their families, their identities -– is called into question...

Friday, June 10, 2011

Through Her Eyes- Jennifer Archer

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Summary:

Every ghost has a story to tell.

The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.

Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.

Review:

If you’re someone who’s ever wondered what it would be like to live someone else’s life, this is definitely a book you should make time for. The descriptions and scenery of this excellently worded masterpiece literally give you the insight of looking through the main character’s mind and thoughts. If there were and more detail in this book, it’d be a very high brow pop-up picture book. This is something I’d love to see done as a movie, which is something I’ve never said about a book before.

Seeing as how it involves alcohol and smoking as well some intermittent “snogging” and “shite” like that, I’d rate this as a 12+/ 13+ A

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Consumed- Kate Cann

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Summary:

The thrilling sequel to POSSESSED finds 16-year-old Rayne still entwined in the creepy history of Morton's Keep -- and about to discover that she's the only one who can stop the evil lurking there.

Rayne's countryside escape has proven to be anything but -- the remote mansion house where she lives and works holds terrible secrets, and she feels trapped there. And when a new manager shows up, things take an even more sinister turn.

Rayne doesn't know who to trust -- even the ghosts of Morton's Keep seem to be warning her. It's up to Rayne to overcome the ancient evil lurking here -- but how?


My thoughts:

I adored Possessed so when this came in the mail I was ecstatic. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. The first book had me enthralled from the word go. I was devouring the book faster than almost any other book. I did not expect anything but the best from this book.

I started this book the moment I got it. I gave it so many chances to pull me in and make me love it. It never did. I was disinterested the whole way through. The story took a long time to start. When it finally started I was already very iffy on the book.

I think the main problem with this book was how satisfied I was with book number one. I believe she should have ended it there. I would give this book a letter "c" and a 15+ rating.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume

Details

Summary:
Whether laughing to tears reading Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great or clamoring for more unmistakable "me too!" moments in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, girls all over the world have been touched by Judy Blume's poignant coming-of-age stories. Now, in this anthology of essays, twenty-four notable female authors write straight from the heart about the unforgettable novels that left an indelible mark on their childhoods and still influence them today. After growing up from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing into Smart Women, these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors of all time.

My Thoughts:
This was an adorable book. I love Judy Blume and have always been a huge fan of hers. I loved reading how Judy had influenced the lives of all these women just as she had influenced mine. Each woman was influenced in a different way and it was great to see. Everyone should read this book!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Shopaholic and Sister

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Summary:
What’s a round-the-world honeymoon if you can’t buy the odd souvenir to ship back home? Like the twenty silk dressing gowns Becky found in Hong Kong…the hand-carved dining table (and ten chairs) from Sri Lanka…the, um, huge wooden giraffes from Malawi (that her husband Luke expressly forbade her to buy)… Only now Becky and Luke have returned home to London and Luke is furious. Two truckloads of those souvenirs have cluttered up their loft, and the bills for them are outrageous. Luke insists Becky go on a budget. And worse: her beloved best friend Suze has found a new best friend while Becky was away. Becky’s feeling rather blue—when her parents deliver some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister! Becky is thrilled! She’s convinced her sister will be a true soulmate. They’ll go shopping together, have manicures together.…Until she meets Jessica for the first time and gets the shock of her life. Surely Becky Bloomwood’s sister can’t…hate shopping?

My Thoughts:
I love love love the shopaholic series! I do not read the series straight through because I want to cherish it. I love it so much. My fiance and I decided to watch Bridget Jones (Edge of Reason) and after that I couldn't put this book off any longer. I needed my Becky fix.

The shenanigans she gets herself into are hilarious. There are points in this book where you can not help but crack up. There are also points where you want to scream and call her an idiot. In the end though, you have read a superb work of fiction, one that tops the rest.

I recommend you read this series. I give it a big, fat, A++! I would also rate it 14+, mostly for language. There are a few adult themes in them as well.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Tighter- Adele Griffin

Please welcome to the stage my lovely friend Hannah. She will be reviewing about once a week. All of her reviews will be tagged as "Hannah's Reviews". Take it away Hannah!

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Summary:

When 17-year-old Jamie arrives on the idyllic New England island of Little Bly to work as a summer au pair, she is stunned to learn of the horror that precedes her. Seeking the truth surrounding a young couple's tragic deaths, Jamie discovers that she herself looks shockingly like the dead girl—and that she has a disturbing ability to sense the two ghosts. Why is Jamie's connection to the couple so intense? What really happened last summer at Little Bly? As the secrets of the house wrap tighter and tighter around her, Jamie must navigate the increasingly blurred divide between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Review:

This in one of the few books I’ve found that when you pick it up, you clear your schedule because it’s just too good to put down. The stylistic writing of author Adele Griffin is so precisely tuned to each character that there is no doubt who is speaking and she knows how to keep a secret until the very end.

By my colleague’s standards I believe this would warrant a 12+ A due to a recurring theme of pill popping, and a couple low scale kisses, as well as death and schizophrenia.

So be sure to make room on your book shelves for Tighter by Adele Griffin

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Random book wanderings

Today I went on a little meander around amazon and thought I would show a few books that looked great that I had never heard much about!

Cover Image JAMES AND ALEX have barely anything in common anymore—least of all their experiences in high school, where James is a popular senior and Alex is suddenly an outcast. But at home, there is Henry, the precocious 10-year-old across the street, who eagerly befriends them both. And when Alex takes up running, there is James’s friend Nathen, who unites the brothers in moving and unexpected ways.





Cover Image Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) . . . and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends-and then, startlingly, more than friends. What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Wednesday Wishlist

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What?
Twelve-year-old Isabel is dying to get out of Oregon. She spends her free time in the library, reading and dreaming about faraway places. When her mom decides to open a cupcake shop in their little town of Willow, Isabel feels just like buttercream frosting to a cupcake-stuck. It seems as if it will be another disappointing summer, until Isabel learns of a baking contest. If she can come up with a winning recipe, she might have a chance of competing in the bake-off in New York City! But Isabel's best friend, Sophie, is also entering the contest, and things always seem to go Sophie's way. To make matters worse, Isabel and her mom don't exactly see eye-to-eye on the type of recipe Isabel should enter. In this sweet treat by popular teen author Lisa Schroeder, Isabel discovers that maybe it's not about where you go in life as much as it is about enjoying the view from wherever you are.

Why?
I love Lisa so I want to read this even though it is for the younger set. Also, CUPCAKES!!!! Yummy.