Circle Nine

Summary:

She knows only Sam, a mysterious teenage boy. He is her sole companion; her whole life. She was born, already a teenager, lying outside a burning building in soot-stained clothes, remembering nothing, not even her name. He showed her the necklace she had on, the one that named her: Abby. Sam brought her to live in his cave-palace, where he gives her everything she needs. He loves her. He protects her from the world outside, from everyone who wants to hurt them, like the denizens of Circle Nine, Dante’s deepest circle of hell. But even in a charmed, brand-new life like Abby’s, change will come. Sam falls ill. A new girl comes to stay, and Abby begins to question Sam’s devotion. With doubt comes emotional turmoil, changes in perception, and glimpses of her past identity. In this courageous psychological thriller, Abby tells the story of living her new life and discovering her old one, while grappling with an ever-changing reality.

Review:

My, oh my, where to begin? I was not very impressed with the format of this book, it was very hard to follow considering no quotation marks were ever used. The story was even more confusing, but I suppose that was fitting in regard to how jumbled up the main character was. I liked it, but it was really disappointing because of the misfortunate lack of quotation, that right there took so much away from the story that it kept this book from being quite good. That being said, I’ll cut to the chase: 14+ and either a paperback or a library book.

Never Have I Ever (Sara Shepard)

Summary:

My perfect life was a lie.

Now I’d do anything to uncover the truth.

Not long ago, I had everything a girl could wish for: amazing friends, an adorable boyfriend, a loving family. But none of them know that I’m gone—that I’m dead. To solve my murder, my long-lost twin sister, Emma, has taken my place. She sleeps in my room, wears my clothes, and calls my parents Mom and Dad.

And my killer is watching her every move.

I remember little from my life, just flashes and flickers, so all I can do is follow along as Emma tries to solve the mystery of my disappearance. But the deeper she digs, the more suspects she uncovers. It turns out my friends and I played a lot of games—games that ruined people’s lives. Anyone could want revenge . . . anyone could want me—and now Emma—dead.

My Thoughts:

I will admit that The Lying Game is a very addicting series, as is Pretty Little Liars. They are just starting to bug me. The books are so similar (which I will discuss in paragraph two, so spoilers ahead). They also take half a book to get entertaining and then leave you where you want more. Then you buy the next book and don't get the same pace the last book ended at.

SPOILERS HERE: I do not like that both of Sara's "big" series have twins as a main plot point. That was bad enough. Then we are given plot point that revolves around a cliff in both of her most recent books. I feel like ideas are being recycled.

Maybe I have no room to judge. I am one of the crazy fan girls who will continue to buy her books and continue to be annoyed. They are just too addicting to stop.

I recommend you read one sereis or the other. Not both. I give this a letter C and a 14+ rating.

The Lady of the Butterflies

Summary:

They say I'm mad and perhaps it's true.
It is well known that lust brings madness and desperation and ruin. But upon my oath, I never meant any harm. All I wanted was to be happy, to love and to be loved in return, and for my life to count for something.
That is not madness, is it?

So begins the story of Eleanor Glanville, the beautiful daughter of a seventeenth-century Puritan nobleman whose unconventional passions scandalized society. When butterflies were believed to be the souls of the dead, Eleanor's scientific study of them made her little better than a witch. But her life-set against a backdrop of war, betrayal, and sexual obsession-was that of a woman far ahead of her time.

Review:

This book absolutely and completely broke my heart. It starts off innocently enough, luring the reader just like a whimsical butterfly. A story so beautiful and happy, I could not resist falling in love with it. I felt, intimately, all the happiness and pain and unfathomable sorrow that Eleanor felt so that by the end of the book I was overwhelmed in tears at the heart wrenching truth that underlies and undermines the truest of loves and ultimately enough to destroy the heart of one’s soul. I love this book as passionately as I hate it because it is so base and raw that destroys the reader with the clarity that we all search for in life and that not many of us find. I will forever keep this book close to my heart as a reminder that you may never know the truth until it is upon you to drive you to madness.

I would rate this with my highest praises and an A+13/ A+14. I regard this book as my second favorite EVER.

Must Monday

What?

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Why?
Don't tell me you don't think this sounds adorable?

When?
This book will be released September 29, 2011

Back from Texas

I am back from Texas today! Thanks to all who followed, emailed, or commented while I was away. I promise I will be getting back to you all as soon as possible!





Love you all! Thanks for all your support!

Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher)

So happy Hannah got the chance to read one of my favorite books! Here is what she had to say:

Summary:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Review

Well Jay Asher, you’ve certainly made my list. My top 10 list that is, for the best reads of summer and here are a few of the reasons why:

1. Your style is the most unique I’ve ever seen. It makes everything so crisply significant when the entire book is dialogue. And the way you slid between Hannah and Clay was brilliant.

2. The way you incorporated the character of Hannah right from the beginning of the first tape, introducing her spunk and sarcasm. It pulled me in that she was such a loud presence but was silent most of the time as the story went on.

3. Your wording, the way you made her speak, I felt all of the passion, the sorrow, the deep pain that is instilled in all of us at some point. You made her relatable, and in doing so you made her utterly unforgettable.

4. The hardest part of this book for me was Clay. His pain tore through me as he pleaded and talked to Hannah as he listened to the tapes. Not many of the authors I’ve read have come anywhere near this kind of reality, there’s always that one little un-namable obstruction keeping them from jumping into the next dimension and somehow in this book, there was nothing. You transcended the realm of “I just went there” and you owned it.

Readers, I could go on and on so let me put it to you this way: Why are you still on the computer? If you are 14+ you should be on your way to the book store. NOW.

The Near Witch (Victoria Schwab)

Summary:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Review:

This book was fantastic! It was a really easy, very smooth read from beginning to finish. There really isn’t much I can criticize, just a lot of praise for this book. The characters were wonderfully created and the back stories were just long enough to give the reader what we needed. So all in all a great book and one I will be keeping on my shelf to read again and again. And to those who read my reviews I’d say go and get this book right now. There is some brief swearing but nothing more than kisses so 12/ 13+

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self (Danielle Evans)

Summary:

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self offers a bold new perspective on the experience of being young and African-American or mixed-race in modern-day America.

My Thoughts:
I had such high hopes for this book. I heard great things about it was excited to explore this new voice. It was not the book for me. I had a hard time connecting to it because of the language. It was not the way I speak, nor is it the way anyone around me speaks. This threw me off enough that the rest of the book became less enjoyable.

It was not a bad book and I do not wish for people to think that is what I am saying. The stories were very real and honest. I just had a hard time connecting with them. For that I would give it a letter B. I would also like to mention that this is an adult title, aimed at adults.