Book News: October Releases!

 It's that time again. Time to highlight some of the most anticipated books of October (for me anyways). I know I'm a day early but that's because the first book I'm talking about actually comes out tomorrow! 

So without further ado...

Coming October 1st . . .

Summer of the Mariposas

by 

Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Fifteen-year-old Odilia and her younger sisters embark on a journey to return a dead man to his family in Mexico, and must outwit monsters and witches to make it back home again.

Coming October 2nd . . .

Destroy Me

by 

Tahereh Mafi

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

Coming October 9th . . .

Time Between Us

by

Tamara Ireland Stone

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.


I was lucky enough to have gotten my hands on a copy of this, and boy was it amazing! You can read my review HERE

Coming October 16th . . .

Out of Reach

by 

Carrie Acros

How do you find someone who doesn’t want to be found? A girl searches for her missing addict brother while confronting her own secrets in this darkly lyrical novel. Rachel has always idolized her older brother Micah. He struggles with addiction, but she tells herself that he’s in control. And she almost believes it. Until the night that Micah doesn’t come home.

Rachel’s terrified—and she can’t help but feel responsible. She should have listened when Micah tried to confide in her. And she only feels more guilt when she receives an anonymous note telling her that Micah is nearby and in danger.

With nothing more to go on than hope and a slim lead, Rachel and Micah’s best friend, Tyler, begin the search. Along the way, Rachel will be forced to confront her own dark secrets, her growing attraction to Tyler…and the possibility that Micah may never come home

Coming October 23rd . . .

Finale

by 

Becca Fitzpatrick

Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the New York Timesbestselling Hush, Hush saga. Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn—but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer?

Blind Spot

by 

Laura Ellen

There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.

Seventeen-year-old Tricia Farni’s body floated to the surface of Alaska’s Birch River six months after the night she disappeared. The night Roz Hart had a fight with her. The night Roz can’t remember. Roz, who struggles with macular degeneration, is used to assembling fragments to make sense of the world around her. But this time it’s her memory that needs piecing together—to clear her name . . . to find a murderer.

This unflinchingly emotional novel is written in the powerful first-person voice of a legally blind teen who just wants to be like everyone else.

Are any of these on your TBR?

Book Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Title: Starters

Author: Lissa Price

# Of Pages: 352

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Level: Young Adult

Rating: 5 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life . . . until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan. . . .

My Verdict

When this book first started making its way around the web I didn’t really know much about it and wasn’t really interested. However, after seeing the books trailer I decided I wanted to read it. I was bummed to see a lot of mediocre reviews of it and my hopes for it dropped. I’m here to say that this book surprised me with its brilliance! I’m so glad I didn’t let those things keep me from reading this amazing book!

The plot line is so intricate and detailed. I felt like every little detail had been planned and was critical to the story. All these details click together sooner or later, and the things that didn’t come together by the end of this book I’m sure will be solved in the next. I don’t think there will be any loose ends with this series.

I’m going to warn you, the first half of the book is pretty slow as the world, characters, and story line are being built up, but once it hit the second half I was totally engrossed!

Callie was a strong and loving heroine whom I really enjoyed. She was smart, and could hold her own. She had strong beliefs of right and wrong and always did what she believed to be right in her heart. Another character I loved was Callie’s little brother, Tyler. We don’t really get to know Tyler’s character first hand but rather grow attached to him through Callie’s love for him.

I admit the book could be really confusing on occasion, but it just took me a few minutes to collect my thoughts or flip back and reread a passage and I could usually figure it out.

The ending wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger but boy did it pack a punch! I’m so excited for the next book, Enders, and was disappointed to find out it’s not coming out until sometime in 2013 because the back of my book said December 2012. I’m a little nervous because this is the kind of book where all the little details are important, so if the wait ends up being too long I know I’m going to forget everything and be totally lost when I pick up the sequel.

Take my word for it, this is one series you don’t want to miss!

PS. 

Here is the book trailer that got me hooked!

MINI REVIEW

After finishing Starters I needed more! I was super excited to discover The Unhidden Stories: three short stories offering a little bit more of a focus on the characters. I quickly snapped up the first one “Portrait of a Starter,” which followed Michael and how he came to draw the famous sketch of Callie (which is on the cover of the book.) It was a little extra that I enjoyed reading but something I could have easily lived without.  

After paying $2.99 I was disappointed that it was only 15 pages! I was finished within 5 to 10 minutes and would have easily breezed through the other two short stories, “Portrait of a Marshal” and “The 3^rd Unhidden Story” had they not cost $2.99 each. I came to the decision that while, yes I wanted to read them, $3 for 15 pages is kind of ridiculous. 

Wordlover Wednesday: Naff

Naff (Naf)

Adjective- Very unstylish or unsophisticated

Earliest documented use- 1950's

Example- " The entire point of the original mod movement was to reject the naff rocker look."

Discover more about this word here: http://wordsmith.org/words/naff.html

Tune in Tuesday: Ellie Goulding

Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! The feature is hosted by Ginger over at GReads! but until further notice you can find it over at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands.

Ellie Goulding

I'm sure a lot of you have heard the song "Lights" by Ellie Goulding, which is on the radio every five minutes and currently #35 on itunes top 100. A recent Youtube excursion not only got me hooked to her music, but I've come to the conclusion that she sounds even more amazing accoustic than she does on her CD. 

I've been watching the below videos over and over, the last few days and found myself wishing she had an acoustic version of her album for sale!

Ps.

Don't you just love her accent?!

Find Out More About Ellie:

Official Website

Youtube

Twitter

Facebook

Breathtaking Book Cover: A Blue So Dark

Todays Breathtaking Book Cover is...

A Blue So Dark

by

Holly Schindler

Click on the image to go to the books Goodreads page =)

Book Review: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title: Time Between Us

Author: Tamara Ireland Stone

# Of Pages: 384

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Publication Date: October 9, 2012

Level: Young Adult

Rating: 5 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility. As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

My Verdict

I think the fact that this book is not even out yet and it’s already been picked up in thirteen other countries and optioned as a film by CBS speaks for itself.

Tamara Ireland Stone brings a new concept to time travel and creates a great story about family, relationships, and love. I really liked how time travel was a big part of the story yet subtle at the same time. I must admit I did get a little confused at some points where Bennett was explaining what he could and couldn’t do.

For the most part I liked Anna as a main character, she has a good head on her shoulders, is responsible, determined, and full of dreams. Did I mention she works in a bookstore? Nuff said, haha!

Can we just gush about Bennett for a little while? First off, I love that name, it’s original just like Bennett. He has this incredible gift of being able to travel through time but he doesn’t let it go to his head or believe that he’s some super hero meant to change history. He is such a sweet and lovable guy, and treats Anna so well. I think my heart literally melted when he traveled back to Thai Island just to get her a souvenir postcard =)

As I drew closer and closer to the end of the book I got sad because I wasn’t ready for it to be over! While I loved the book as a whole, I did feel like the ending was a little bit lacking. There are a few things I would have liked to see happen that didn’t. It’s still a satisfying ending nonetheless. There is no doubt this is one of my favorite books of 2012! 

Book Review: Girl Coming In For A Landing by April Halprin Wayland

Title: Girl Coming In For A Landing

Author: April Halprin Wayland

# Of Pages: 144

Publisher: Knopf

Publication Date: August 13, 2002

Level: Middle Grade

Rating: 2 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

You walk into class

my head clears.

No kidding.

You are my aspirin.

One girl. One school year. All poems. From friends to first dates, school dances to family fights, this inspiring collection captures the emotional highs and lows of teen life with refreshing honesty and humor.

My Verdict

Girl Coming In For A Landing was different from most other novels in verse that I’ve read. While all of the poems did work together to tell one story, I felt as if each poem worked better on its own than as one big flowing story. It just felt disjointed to me.

The story was told from first person point-of-view, therefore we never even learned the name of our main character. While there was a small cast of side characters they were not a main focus of the story nor were they memorable enough for me to even remember their names. The first person point-of-view did not work to the benefit of the reader. Most of the time whenever the main character would say “we did this” or “we did that” you had no clue which person she was talking about. I was always thinking to myself you did that with who?? WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!

My favorite thing about the book was all of the illustrations, which were done by Elaine Clayton. Each page was like a work of art, tying in with each poem and really helping to bring the words to life. For me, this really added to the overall reading experience.

I feel like this book focused more on the poetic side of things, than telling a complete story. My favorite poem from the book was the passage entitled “TAKING VIOLIN.”

“I open my case

tighten my bow

pluck a string to tune.

I love to listen to it chirp across the echoing room.

My friends are in class

reading about

a famous English King.

But I am training this wooden bird upon my arm to sing.”

Overall, I just wasn’t able to connect with this story. It ended and I was just like huh? It all felt so pointless. Like what did I even just read about for the last hour? 

Wordlover Wednesday: Anopisthography

It's time for another segment of "Wait, There's a Word for That!" Where I'll share crazy words for things you never would of dreamed existed. 

So this weeks word is...

Anopisthography- The practice of writing on one side of the paper.

Book News: Finale Excerpt Week!

I am SOOO SUPER EXCITED right now!! =D 

I just discovered that SimonTeen is having a Finale excerpt reveal ALL WEEK LONG!

 Each day this week you can head to a different blog where you will find an exclusive excerpt from the much anticipated FINALE by Becca Fitzpatrick! 

(On Sale 10/23/12)

I started reading the Hush, Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick last winter over school break.

I chewed through the first one in just one sitting and like a maniac went running back to the bookstore for more! You can check out my reviews of the first three books:  Hush, Hush, Crescendo, and Silence. This is why I'm so excited to get even a taste of the next & final book!

Here is the schedule:

Monday, September 17th: NovelNovice.com

Tuesday, September 18th: Stephsureads.blogspot.com

Wednesday, September 19th: Wondrousreads.com

Thursday, September 20th:Fallenarchangel.com

Friday, September 21st: Beccafitzpatrick.com

Who else is excited about this?!?!

Breathtaking Book Cover: The Beginning of After

Todays Breathtaking Book Cover is...

The Beginning of After

by

Jennifer Castle

Click on the image to see the books Goodreads page =)

Randomness: Contest Winner!

Congratulations Megan! 
You have won a paperback copy of Shackled by Angela Carling.

Thanks to everyone who took part in Shackled Weekend!!

Wordlover Wednesday: Suss

Todays wordlover word is...

Suss (suhs)

Verb- To inspect, investigate, or to figure out.

Earliest documented use-1953

Example- "Within moments a swarm of small drones could arrive on the scene to suss it out for the cops."

Discover more about this word here: http://wordsmith.org/words/suss.html

Book Review: Karma by Cathy Ostlere

Title: Karma

Author: Cathy Ostlere

# Of Pages: 528

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: March 31, 2011

Level: Young Adult

Rating: 3 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

It is 1984, and fifteen-year-old Maya is on her way to India with her father. She carries with her the ashes of her mother, who has recently committed suicide, and arrives in Delhi on the eve of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination - one of the bloodiest riots in the country's history.

Then Maya is separated from her father and must rely upon the help of a mysterious, kindhearted boy, Sandeep, to safely reunite them. But as her love for Sandeep begins to blossom, Maya will have to face the truth about her painful adolescence . . . if she's ever to imagine her future.

My Verdict

Karma is definitely the most complex and thought provoking novel-in-verse I’ve read to date.

Set in 1984 the story starts in Canada but the majority of it takes place in India. The story focuses on fifteen-year-old Maya who is half Hindu, half Sikh. Her parents wed against both families’ wishes and both of their beliefs.

After Maya’s mother commits suicide, her and her father travel to India to spread her ashes. While there, terror rocks the nation when the Prime Minister is murdered and all chaos breaks loose. Sikhs are now being hunted down and brutally murdered.

Caught up in the middle of this bloody massacre, Maya’s father abandon’s her to find help. Scared and alone, Maya is forced to try and survive on her own, find her father, and make it back home.

Cathy’s use of free verse and poetic way with words made for a beautifully told story, with descriptions that could take your breath away. I found myself tucking little scraps of paper into pages as I read marking my favorite passages.

“The pilot steers along ribbons of light. Green

polar flames rippling in the dark. Long silken

scarves floating on the air. It’s like watching the

wind on fire. Pulsing.”

“I stand up. Stretch my arms out wide to the

empty horizon. Do not be afraid of limitless

possibilities. The desert is infinite to the eye

as love is to the heart.”

“The dream-sky is perfect black. The moon in shadow like a

shy girl hiding behind her mother’s skirt. Yet the

atmosphere hums. Then pulses with light. The pilot

strings the stars together with green ribbons.”

The story is told from the perspectives of three different personal journals; Maya’s diary, Sandeep’s notebook, and Jiva’s journal.

The thing that bothered me most was that many of the characters had multiple names, which got confusing at times. I’m not sure if one was the name and one was the word for mother or father? I’m not really sure, all I know is it was confusing.

• Maya/Jiva
• Leela/Mata
• Amar/Bapu
• Pavarti/Deedi
• Sandeep/Miraj
• Barindra/Pita
• Amma/Mina

The other thing that threw me off at times was the use of different fonts and italics to indicate conversation and dialog, leaving me unsure if some things were being spoken or just thought.

While the first half of the book flew by as the momentum built, the story really started to slow down in the second half and you could really feel those last 250 pages.

Objectionable content warning: There are a number of instances with upsetting and brutal violence that would be too much for young readers.

Breathtaking Book Cover: Undercurrent

Todays Breathtaking Book Cover is...

Undercurrent

by

Tricia Rayburn

Click on the cover to go to the books Goodreads page =)

Randomness: Contest Winner!

It's time to announce the winner of The Girl Who Was On Fire contest!

The odds favored...

 Michele Luker!

Congratulations Michele.You have won a paperback copy of The Girl Who Was On Fire!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated! =D

ps.

Don't forget to head over to Cover to Cover  and 

see what YA cover I chose to discuss today! 

Book News: September Releases!

 Here are some September book releases I'm really looking forward to. 

(Click on the book title for it's Goodreads page.)

Coming September 18th . . .

Ten

by 

Gretchen McNeil

And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

The Dead Girls Detective Agency

by 

Suzy Cox

When Charlotte comes to after being pushed onto the subway tracks, she is informed by a group of teenage girls that she is dead…they all are. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency. With the support of these dynamic girls—including fashionable Lorna, who can’t wait to find out if the devil actually wears Prada, and nerdy Nancy, who insists on staying in limbo to help out other girls—Charlotte follows leads and tracks down clues to solve her own murder. With plenty of juicy mysteries and some pretty cute guys, readers are sure to fall in love with this fun and suspenseful page-turner!

What's Left of Me

by

Kat Zhang

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Coming September 25th . . .

The Turning

by 

Francine Prose

Jack is babysitting for the summer on an isolated island with no Wi-Fi, no cell service, and no one else around but a housekeeper and two very peculiar children. He immediately senses something sinister-and it's not just the creepy black house he's living in. Soon he is feeling terribly isolated and alone, but then he discovers there are others. The problem is, he's the only who can see them. As secrets are revealed and darker truths surface, Jack desperately struggles to maintain a grip on reality. He knows what he sees, and he isn't crazy…Or is he?

What September release are you looking forward to?