Book Recommendations

I have to admit, after having done several recommendation posts by this point, and recommending to people on Twitter regularly, I can never remember what I have and have not talked about. But since I think you can never really push a book you love too much, if some of these are doubles, maybe it will twist your arm to go get it, or if it's already in your stack, you'll push it up. But these are some of my all time favorite YA books- the ones I give my friends to read. The ones I will reread, even when there's a million other books that interest me, because they are just that good.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown: This one is gritty and gutting, but it is such a raw portrayal of not only bullying, but what it's like to not actually be the one who snapped but hold the blame anyhow. There is intense emotion throughout this book, and some incredibly rough scenes, but it speaks such an astounding message.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles: Hot Latino gangbanger. Rich girl who acts bratty but is quick on the uptake and intelligent. A bet based in sex and nothing else. Yep, this book has a simple premise but plenty of depth and brilliance. Not to mention, this is one of the hottest books I've read yet. Not geared toward the younger crowd, this one definitely kicks up the heat and shows things as it is. If you want a good romance with drama mixed in, go straight for this one.

Such A Pretty Girl by Laura Weiss: This one is emotional, heartrending, and holds a certain wtf element. But it is powerful and so worth the emotional drainage that comes with it. Handling the rough topic of child sexual abuse gracefully, and pulling in some other great aspects, this one is one of the single most memorable books I've ever read.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers: This one takes the bully thread, but does it in a different way. It's girls turning against their own. It's raw and doesn't hold anything back. Some of the things that happen in this book are disgusting, but the reason they are there is clear. Written with a striking grace as well, if you haven't picked this book up yet, go get it. Now.

Freefall by Mindi Scott: It's a boy POV, which sets it up there in my sights already. Add in the fact that that boy is a bit of a broken mess, has a logic so simple its humorous while still being smart despite some of his actions, and is now falling unexpectedly in love, and it's a mixture for something really fantastic. Seemingly raw, there is actually a lot of humor in this book. It's Seth, trying to figure life out, fumbling all along the way.

Those are the ones I've got for you guys today. I know most hold darker elements, but those are the books I gravitate towards. If you haven't picked these books up yet, go do it.

Author Interview: Amber Riley

Dropping in today is Amber Riley, author of Flash of the Firefly, the first book in the Kindred Blood series. This first book centers around the 600 year old vampire Kadan, and his struggle between his humanity and his darker side.


What was the hardest aspect in creating Kaden, given the years of history and experience he has?

The hardest part was finding an appropriate reaction to certain situations. Most things stopped fazing Kaden a long time ago, but I wanted him to be relatable and somewhat human. Being undead didn’t change his true character – it just made him forget what it was for awhile. His nature was a different story. It was difficult to surprise him.

What is one place Kaden has been or event he's experienced that you wish you could have experienced?

This is a tough one. I would have loved to see the court of King Henry VIII. The gowns were amazing and there was enough intrigue to last a lifetime. I would have to watch my head (I kind of like it attached to my body), but I would have chanced it for an opportunity to meet all six of his wives.

What would be your biggest struggle if you found yourself in Kaden's position, fighting against your own personal demons and darkness?

The personal demons and the darkness ultimately want the same thing. Fighting both things at once would be tough. My biggest struggle would be not letting anyone down. In Kaden’s situation, it would have been hard for me to win without doing something that would jeopardize people’s trust in me.

If you could pair Kaden with any character from any book, who would you match him with?

I think it would be interesting to see him paired up with Pam from the Sookie Stackhouse novels. :::snicker::: I can only imagine the fights they would get into.

What is the most private thing you're willing to share here?

I hate bugs. I hate them with a passion. Ladybugs and butterflies are cool but everything else freaks me out. I think it has something to do with all their little legs. Or, maybe it’s the way they crawl. Ick. Give me the reptiles or rodents any day! Of course, I prefer my cats.

If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would it be?

I would find a way to rig the lottery. No one would get hurt and I would be rolling in the dough. It’s win-win, I’d say.

What kind of cookie would you describe yourself as?

I would be an Oatmeal cookie with a few raisins tossed in. I’m a traditional kind of girl. I don’t need a lot of extras to make me sweet and delicious, but there are a few surprises lurking under the surface once you get to know me.

Thank you, Amber, and if its any consolation, I have a basically disabling fear of spiders. Now make sure you guys all check out Amber's book!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick is Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard, coming March 8, 2011 from Delacorte.

Summary: It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin.

When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their badlands town.

Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal.

My Thoughts: From the premise alone, we have beauty, explosions (okay, explosive friendships but shh), danger and betrayal. Do we really need anything else to go OMG want? I didn't think so. But oh look, there's skinny-dipping, for those who like that, and plenty of other shenanigans. The cover is eye catching and pretty, but also so simple, though I think it really will speak volumes to the story itself. Overall, I really cannot wait for this one. I love contemporary. I love broken, tormented characters. And I love wild rides. This one seems to have it all.

Book Review: The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

SUMMARY:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

OPINION: 5 STARS

The Short Version:
Emotional and gripping, The Mockingbirds is a stunning blend of a horrible situation and a private school set up. Opening the morning after Alex is date-raped, Whitney hits the reader with intrigue and a connection from the start. The sense of helplessness, blame and guilt many victims often feel are carried throughout the book, portraying with gutting realism how easily one event can seep into and taint everything else in the victim’s life. With a steadily paced plot and undercurrents of seriousness without being constantly overbearing to keep a still light nature, this is a great read for many ages.

The Extended Version:
Alex is an incredibly realistic teenage character with a succinct voice. There is a very obvious dissonance between the girl she was before the incident and who she found herself becoming after. A big part of her struggle and development was finding a way to unite the two parts and Whitney does a remarkable job handling this. Alex is bold in a way unknown to herself and a free thinker with a very strong mind. She shows tremendous personal growth throughout the book, both as a result of the date-rape and in response to other events and people.

There are several supporting characters throughout this book, from Alex’s roommates/best friends to the Mockingbirds to Carter and his friends, Whitney has built a strong set of people who help carry the book in a bold way. Even small characters fill big roles and many hold their own quirks and reasons to stay memorable. The alliances are cast in stunning ways and secrets about several characters have lasting, striking impacts.

Whitney’s writing ability is one of the most notable aspects of this book, strengthening not only the characters but the plot as well. She has some clever and unique ways to describe things, straying from usual euphemisms, analogies and mannerisms. Her writing is fluid and holds hints of lyricism and Whitney infuses a surprisingly easy blend of teenage with forced adult in Alex’s mentality and voice. In the midst of the pain, fear and frustration Alex finds in her situation, there are subtle thoughts and phrases that remind the reader- and maybe Alex herself- she is still in high school.

Also noteworthy is how boldly the entire situation plays out. Even after finding the strength to start standing up not only for herself but other girls, Alex still questions and second guesses not only her current actions but those of that night. The simplest event or thought will suddenly transport her back to that night and as the book progresses, Alex gets back more bits and pieces of that night. The reader is as constantly reminded of what has transpired as Alex is, painfully and brutally forced back even in the simplest and happiest of times. Her view of herself is damaged and the overall list of things impacted and ways she needs to change her way of thinking continues to grow throughout the book.

Pushing The Mockingbirds even further is the vigilante nature of the group. At a school that holds its students to such a high standard of perfection the students can seemingly do wrong, justice and a code of conduct fall through the cracks. Whitney blends a student judicial system into the novel seamlessly, even making it open as public knowledge. The overall system is remarkably well thought out and put together and unfolds to the reader at a steady pace. The strong tie-ins of music, Shakespeare, science, To Kill A Mockingbird, and many other notable aspects also help to build the overall world.

Whitney has packed a powerful punch with this book, keeping enough gripping detail and emotion to make her strong point to the reader while offering plenty of relief and enjoyment as well. While some scenes are lighthearted, others are gutting and portray with a raw realism the horror of not only experiencing and remembering such an event but other outcomes and lashings as a result. She has done a fantastic job blending rough and harsh with sweet and naïve, and strengthens everything with her bold, inherent writing ability, the small twists and steady flashbacks, and distinct, memorable characters. The Mockingbirds will remind readers what it’s like to be alone, seemingly without options and scared- and to push past that and take a stand.

Details:
Source: ARC received for review from publisher
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (November 2, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316090530
ISBN-13: 978-0316090537

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.This week's teaser comes from Fearscape (The Devouring #3) by Simon Holt.

"But then, as if from very far away,she heard something. It was hard to discern over her racing heartbeat, but slowly it grew louder." - 38

SUMMARY:

The Vours: evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the Winter Solstice.

It's been a year since Reggie first discovered the Vours, and the Winter Solstice is approaching once again. It will be another night of unspeakable horror for those unlucky enough to be taken by the Vours, because this time, she won't be able to stop them. The Vours have imprisoned Reggie in a psychiatric hospital, where she is subjected to a daily routine of unfathomably sadistic experiments. Her life is a living Hell, but she won't give up. They attacked her brother. They killed her friend. And Reggie will never stop fighting back.

Book Review: Trance by Linda Gerber

SUMMARY:

Ashlyn Greenfield has always known when bad things are going to happen. Each time that familiar tingling at the back of her neck begins, she knows what's to come; a trance. She's pulled in, blindsided, an unwilling witness to a horrible upcoming event. But she's never been able to stop it; not even when the vision was of her mother's fatal car accident. When soulful Jake enters Ashlyn's life, she begins having trances about another car accident. And as her trances escalate, one thing becomes clear: it's up to her to save Jake from near-certain death.


OPINION: 4 STARS

The Short Version:
With a great twist on the vision scenario, strong characters, and a quick dive into the plot, Trance makes for both a fun and intense read. Ashlyn's way of life is different from those around her, apart from her sister, but she is suddenly more alone than ever. Struggling to deal and learning to cope, things start amping up in Ashlyn's life in surprising ways. With smooth writing and a well paced plot, Trance is well worth the read.

The Extended Version:
Ashlyn has a strength that seems hidden but has strong undercurrents throughout the book. She misses her mother and is racked with guilt over her death, struggles to make some kind of connection to her now distant father, and strives to understand why her sister- who also has trances- left. With years of experience telling her to continue to keep her distance from people but a burning need for some kind of friendship outside of her best friend, Ashlyn finds companionship in surprising ways. She has her flaws but they are minimal, and the trances are the primary ruler of her life. Ashlyn shows tremendous determination and personal growth throughout the story.

Jake is attractive and funny, and deep into his music. There is a quick connection with Ashlyn that stems not from his looks, but more from the way they interact and his immediate sense of caring. The romance angle of this book was well done, mixing in at the right times, playing into the plot in an important way, and adding some extra intrigue while not overtaking everything and running the show. Jake is likable and the reason Ashlyn falls for him is easy to see.

Gina is a very great addition to Ashlyn's life, jaded in her own way but having an even bigger personal, inner strength than even Ashlyn has at the start of the book. She has an interesting way of viewing things, and is both fierce and loyal for the things that are important to her. Her interest in numerology also adds a certain element without being simply there for convenience, and the overall interaction between Gina, Jake and Ashlyn is well written.

The plot is basic in nature but plays out in a seamless fashion. More details about the trances are not only revealed to the reader, but to Ashlyn as well, but Gerber continues to keep some things hidden until the right moment. The trance aspect of this story, from how they happen to the deeper portions of it is intricate and well done, with the level of thought and detail Gerber has put into it coming through quite strongly. Though some parts of the book were predictable, there are a few surprising, well handled twists and several intense, raw scenes. The climax is almost explosive in nature, before winding down and slipping into an interesting final outcome and ending.

Details:
Source: ARC received for review from author
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Speak; Original edition (October 14, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142414158
ISBN-13: 978-0142414156