My Reading Challenges: Updates & Future Challenges

So I think something has become abundantly clear to me: I start out strong & struggle to continue my efforts. I took on the 2010 Debut Author's Challenge & J.Kaye's 2010 YA Reading Challenge. I even posted my own reading challenge about the Teens' Top Ten. I am sad to report that I didn't finish as much of these challenges as I would have liked.

For the 2010 DAC I managed to read 19 titles. Technically I completed the minimum of 12, but there are so many more I just didn't manage to get my hands on. Here are the ones I did get read:

1. 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison (Read review here)
   
2. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Read review here)
3. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey (Read review here)
4. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey (Read review here)
   
5. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Read review here)
   
6. In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth (Read review here)
7. Lost for Words by Alice Kuipers (Read review here)
   
8. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (Read review here)
9. Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz (Read review here)
10. Party by Tom Leveen (Read review here)
    
11. Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony (Read review here)
12. The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (Read review here)
    
13. The Line by Teri Hall (Read review here)
    
14. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (Read review here)
15. The Mark by Jen Nadol (Read review here)
    
16. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard (Read review here)
17. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (Read review here)
18. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards (Read)
    
19. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis (Read review here)

For J.Kaye's 2010 YA Reading Challenge I was going for reading 50 YA books this year. I'm coming in at 43 of the 50 I have read being YA. I'm quite pleased considering I thought I would have read more this year. I really wanted to read 150 books this year, but I didn't factor in how much reading I was doing at my 8-hour data entry job. :) Whoops.

For 2011 I am trying harder. I think that I bit off more than I chew based on my reality & the fact that my life kind of got flipped upside down in 2010. I am determined to make 2011 more productive in the reading realm! So I am going after the 2011 Debut Author Challenge & the 111 in 2011 challenge! So far there are only 12 books on my DAC challenge reading list, but I'm sure as more information is released on the later titles that I'll add several more. Here's hoping 2011 will be full of great books, great friends (online & off) & lots of love.

My Reading Challenges: Updates & Future Challenges

Party by Tom Leveen

This was a complicated, interwoven storyline. So that I don't giveaway too much, I'm using the book jacket summary.

It's Saturday night in Santa Barbara and school is done for the year. Everyone is headed to the same party. Or at least it seems that way. The place is packed. The beer is flowing. Simple, right? But for 11 different people the motives are way more complicated. As each character takes a turn and tells his or her story, the eleven individuals intersect, and reconnect, collide, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.

From Goodreads

Whew, that was so much safer than what I originally had written. Party was a fascinating novel. It is told in first person, based on the chapter narrator. There are eleven narrators all giving partial glimpses at this one night. When you piece all their stories together you obtain one cohesive time line of events. Each of these kids represents almost the whole gamut of the teenage years. The parental arguments, the sense of loss, the shyness, the awkwardness, the break-ups, the make-ups, the hook-ups, and everything in between. These eleven kids experience it all in hyperdrive at this one party.

While each character only gets one chapter, I felt like they didn't waste any time getting to the heart of their personalities and issues. You knew from the beginning what was going on in their lives and what their personal focus would be. Even better, are the vignettes we glean from earlier chapters. By the final chapter we have come full circle and see the complete night as a whole.

I think most people can find at least one character they can relate to in this book, whether it's the loner girl with a secret, the uber-responsible friend, the devoutly spiritual, or the conflicted jock. There are attributes in each of them that appeal to the reader in some manner. I personally identified with the responsible friend, although I never attended a party in high school (lame, I know). While not a light, happy read, if you're a fan of no-holds-barred, realistic fiction (along the lines of Going Too Far) then this book is perfectly suited for your tastes.

This book was graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Party by Tom Leveen

The Line by Terri Hall

The Property, where sixteen-year-old Rachel and her mother live, and Away are just barely separated by The Line and everyone knows to stay out of Away. Sounds simple enough right? Rachel does as she's supposed to and follows all the rules to stay in Ms. Moore's good graces, as she is the owner of The Property.

Everything is as hunky-dory as it can be, until Rachel uncovers a mysterious recorded message. They're all alone on The Property, but given their proximity to Away, that's the only logical conclusion for the recording's origin. The message is dire though and asking for help. Rachel decides to heed that call and do the unthinkable. She's going to Away and her life will forever be altered.

Terri Hall's debut novel The Line is equal parts suspenseful mystery and dystopian fight for survival. Terri does a fabulous job outlining the changes the United States had to undergo in order to devolve into their current existence. Her detailing allowed the reader to glean a fuller understanding of the trials these people faced. Unfortunately it also made the book dull to start off. Although it became increasingly more interesting and fast-paced, the beginning really took some working to get through.

Rachel was a fun, spunky kind of girl. I really enjoyed reading about her growth under Ms. Moore's tutelage in the hot house. Her attitude could chafe sometimes, but it was certainly understandable. I really admired that fact that her character felt it imperative to help those in Away, despite everything she knew about those who inhabit Away.

While not the quickest read I've ever had, this was definitely an attention-grabber. It reminded me of Restoring Harmony in a way because it was slow to start-off, but really good once it gets going. Be on the lookout for Away, the second book in the series, in 2011!!

This book was graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

The Line by Terri Hall

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Polly Martin has no problem attracting guys. Her problem lies in keeping them. In the last year alone she has won and lost Jack, Gareth, Sawyer, Hayden, and Kurt. Some of them were very brief relationships (does hooking up on a trip constitute dating?) and some were a little longer. The main thing they all had in common was that Polly chose to emulate whatever her current guy was interested in. Thus landing her a summer job working under Sawyer at a lowly cowboy-themed water park, unsure of what she really wants, unsure of who she really is, and swearing off guys.

On top of all her dating drama, Polly worries about the fact that her mother has to take a part time job as a food angel to help pay the bills, her grandmother (the love advice columnist Miss Swoon) is moving in with them, and her decimated relationship with her father and little sister. Even with all this going on, Polly still manages to catch the eye of geek turned hottie Xander Cooper. Will she be able to wrestle her own issues into submission so she can enjoy Xander or will Polly simply retreat and hide?

Swoon at Your Own Risk is an odd little story that jumps around a lot. Not only do you jump from stories about ex-boyfriend #1 to ex-boyfriend #5, but there is also some seriously extra nonsense. There was so much drama going on between family members, friends, and co-workers that I was having trouble keeping up. Many of the characters I thought were minor, turned out to be pretty important to understand the plotline and then others that were given some serious spotlight fizzled.

The writing was fine and I really did enjoy a) the column entries from Miss Swoon, b) the blog articles from a co-worker (I've only seen a blog used effectively in one other book, Stalker Girl), and c) the poetry-like snippits from Xander's journal. All of these pieces added depth to an otherwise shallow story. I have to admit that many of the events seem improbable at best. I honestly can't believe that someone can get so many "extra chances" to improve performance at a job. Sorry.

In general, this was a fluffy read that was only mildly enjoyable. If you like drama and gossip, this book is good for that, but not really much else.

This book was graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Waiting on Wednesday: The Deathday Letter

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am looking forward to the June 15th release of The Deathday Letter by Shaun Hutchinson, published by Simon Pulse. This sounds like a cooler (and shorter) twist of Before I Fall. Summary:

All fifteen year-old Oliver Travers wanted to do when he woke up Thursday morning was squeeze in a little underwear gymnastics before school, until his mom called him downstairs to tell him he had received a Deathday Letter, which sort of ruined the mood.

Content to spend his last day of life at school (where the girls are), Oliver's best friends Shane Grimsley and Veronica (Ronnie) Dittrich convince him to burn his books and ditch school to, you know, have a little actual fun before he kicks the bucket.

In a world where only taxes, Deathday Letters, and teenage boy's hormones are certainties, Oliver, Shane and Ronnie embark upon a bus ride that takes them from the post office, to a house filled with college-aged anti-Deathday Letter activists (and Dave Matthews fans), and nearly to prison. And as the end draws near Oliver learns that living is way tougher than dying…and that kissing is wetter than he'd expected.

From Goodreads

How much fun does that sound like? It kind of reminds me of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". (Make sure to click that link for the trailer if you haven't seen it) Oliver obviously just wants to enjoy himself and there's nothing wrong with that. He's a teen, in the prime of his life, he shouldn't be getting his Deathday Letter yet. I can't wait to get my hands on this book. I hope it's as fun as it sounds!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Deathday Letter

Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

Sixteen-year-old Celestia is the youngest daughter of two very prominent people of Pennsylvania society in 1889. She and her sister spend their summer vacation doing what all proper ladies of their position do, lazing in the shade and taking up needlecrafts at their resort, the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Celestia is not content to just laze about, so she often spends her time in the shade of a old tree next to the lake. That is where she was the day she met and fell in love with Peter. While he was just a hired hand, working at the club before going to work in the coal mines like his father, he was well-read and well-versed in all manner of subjects.

The couple grow fond of one another very quickly and pledge their fidelity to each other. Their bond is quickly tested when it is discovered that Celestia's sister is with child, and that child has not been sired by her fiancé. Immediately the sister is cast out of the family and Celestia is whisked away to Europe for finishing school before her societal debut. The couple keeps in touch and hopes to rekindle their triste the following summer.

While Celestia does make it back to the Club, she finds that Peter is no longer employed there. She's had all she can take from her family and runs to the neighboring town to find him, leaving all she has ever known behind. Unfortunately for her, her timing could not have been more tragic. The Club lake was artificially made by a dam. Every year the townsfolk joke that it will give way during the stormy season. Sadly this does come to pass and the novel tells the tale of love, loss, survival, and destiny through verse.

Three Rivers Rising was in a phrase: an enchanting and harrowing tale. This book was historically factual in that the timeline and the most of the events actually took place on that fateful day in 1889. It's hard to believe the devastation that something as simple as water can cause, but in mass quantities anything can be deadly.

The characters were very representative of their time and station and I really found myself drawn to the lower class characters. The book is told by revolving narrators with the focus on Celestia and Peter, yet I found myself drawn to Maura and Kate much more. They were simple, ordinary people going on about their lives as best they could, when this tragedy struck and changed their lives irrevocably. A fascinating change to behold!

The writing was incredible! The verse and poetry of the words were both heart-wrenching and affable. Richards really captured the desire, desperation, and magnitude of this event in her narrative. I would say if you enjoyed The Sky is Everywhere, then you will enjoy this novel. Simply amazing.

Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

My Challenges Update!

I only joined two challenges that cross over one another, but so far, here's where I stand.

Debut Author Challenge: I have read 14 books that count. You can see the full list of what I want to read here.

1. 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison (Read review here)
   
2. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Read review here)
   
3. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Read review here)
   
4. In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth (Read review here)
   
5. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (Read review here)
6. Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz (Read review here)
   
7. Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony (Read review here)
   
8. The Line by Teri Hall (read)
   
9. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (Read review here)
10. The Mark by Jen Nadol (Read review here)
    
11. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard (Read review here)
12. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (Read review here)
13. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards (Read)
    
14. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis (Read review here)

On the 2010 YA Reading Challenge front, I have read 22 of the 50 YA books that I want to read this year. Considering that I have 38 more books to read for the Debut Author Challenge, I think I'll be fine for this one as well.

Also, come on back on Thursday to check out the reading challenge that I will be hosting. There are only 26 books to choose from, there are 3 levels, you don't HAVE to review them at all, and the best part is the prize! Check back on Thursday for more information.

My Challenges Update!

Lost for Words by Alice Kuipers

Words can fail you. They seem to be in a permanent state of failure for Sophie. She finds herself having severe panic attacks, distancing herself from her friends, turning her back on the only family she has left, and just generally withdrawing in on herself. What could possibly have caused this transformation? An awful, horror that Sophie can't bring herself to talk about with anyone.

So instead of talking Sophie takes refuge in the written word. At the suggestion of her therapist, who is making absolutely no progress with Sophie or her condition, the London teen picks up her notebook and writes whatever comes to her. There are some entries like a diary, there are some reflecting on her recent past, and there are some poems.

As her relationships with those who were once close to her are deteriorating, Sophie manages to make a new friend with a recently-arrived Canadian. Rosa-Leigh helps Sophie work through her issues and deal with the complicated mess that is the remains of Sophie's life. The future can't be much more bleak than the past, can it?

What a novel! It truly did read like a diary, with some entries being much more interesting than others and still more that you can find yourself having thought about before. This book had a very interesting part to it being that you start off the novel in the dark about "the tragedy." It is such an integral part of the storyline and the reason behind Sophie's actions that it absolutely ate me up not knowing what it was. Yet the way that the clues are dropped, the attempt to piece them together, and then the revelation were SO worth the wait!!

While I did not fancy Sophie that much as a person, even taking in to consideration her troubles, she was miles above her friends and pseudo-boyfriend. Her friends (other than Rosa-Leigh) were so self-absorbed and despicable that I really wanted to smack them! The pseudo-boyfriend was such a skeez (not to mention an uncompleted plotline) that I just skimmed the parts that contained his pathetic existence. Sophie's mother was quite likable and understanding, definitely more so than my mother would have been in the same situation.

While I did like this book, I felt that it could have been better executed. The diary-ness of it really got old after a while and I kind of wish there had been a little more poetry sprinkled throughout it. As a whole, the story was very compelling and breath-taking; filled with unimaginable heartache and toil, but the writing felt wonky most of the time. Now some of what I don't prefer may be intentional to give it the "written by a teen" feel; it just lacked for me. If you like a good thinking/puzzle book, then this will work well for you.

This book was provided by Around the World Tours.

Lost for Words by Alice Kuipers

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie is painfully aware of the fact that she doesn't fit it. Not only is she the daughter of a college professor obsessed with all things paranormal, Sophie has never met her father in person, she's lived in more states than she has celebrated birthdays; oh, and she's a witch.

After coming in to her powers, as all Prodigium (magical persons) do, Sophie couldn't manage to stay out of trouble. Obviously their presence cannot be openly established with the human world, so it must be kept secret and she was never very good about that. While all she really wanted to do was help people and fit in, she only managed to make a huge mess and force her and her mother to move on the next place.

When her last "helpful" spell goes horribly wrong for all involved, the Council sentences Sophie to be confined to the private, secluded Prodigium school of Hectate Hall. Residents of this historic school range in age from 12 to 18, at which point they "graduate" and are allowed to rejoin society. Sophie is fascinated by the shifters, fairies, and other witches/warlocks that also attend Hectate, affectionately referred to as Hex Hall. To her surprise, Sophie finds herself rooming with pink-loving Jenna, the only vampire student on the campus. The girls begin a rocky, but solidifying relationship while bonding over the evil that is the coven. Comprised of the 3 most beautiful witches in the school, and dubbed "The Witches of Clinique," they naturally covet Sophie's talent. When she refuses, she manages to seal her fate as the most undesirable witch at Hex Hall.

As if changing schools again and having to live in a dorm wasn't bad enough, there's something amiss on campus. Jenna's former roommate, and coven member, was murdered not long before Sophie arrived and now more coven members are falling. As Sophie digs deeper to discover the truth, she starts practicing her magic more and working on expanding her abilities. Her late night practices start to pay off, but at a severe cost to those around her. Can she find the truth before the Council steps in and decides on punishment?

Hex Hall was a riot to read!! The witty humor weaves throughout the novel in a way that one would expect a teenager to think. I can hear the sarcasm dripping off the pages along with the angst and attitude. In a way this book was like Harry Potter meets Viola in Reel Life, but on a small scale campus. It was really fun to see these unique characters go through what is without a doubt the most difficult adjustment period of their lives.

I found the mystery surrounding the evil Prodigium-hunting societies intriguing, but I felt that it was lacking since it never really went anywhere. I know that there are going to be at least two more novels and I know it was used to help bait the reader, but it was frustrating to have this idea dangled in front of me and yet me completely helpless to find out more information. Especially when one of the main characters might be involved with one of the societies.

Overall the characters were each fascinating and over-the-top as one would expect teenagers to be and I found that they were quite pleasant to read about. None of them were too much of anything and I really didn't struggle to understand them, which made the story more fun to read. While there are some unanswered questions at the end, it just leaves room for more novels. I'm hoping it's only a trilogy because any longer than that and I'm afraid it will start to get repetitive. Give a shot if you haven't already!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

The Mark by Jen Nadol

If you have the ability to know someone is going to die within 24 hours, do you have to help? When sixteen-year-old Cassie finally pieces together that the fuzzy, light glow around people is the mark of death, she doesn't really know what to do about it. She lives in fear of it because she feels powerless to stop it. Orphaned as a toddler, she has lived in rural Pennsylvania her whole life with Nan, her maternal grandmother. While Cassie's had a fairly normal childhood, her easy going time is cut short when one day she sees the mark on Nan. Nan has always believed Cassie about the mark and decides to accept her fate.

After Nan's death, Cassie learns that in order to obtain the large sum that Nan has stored for her, she must go back to Bering, Kansas (where she was born and her parents died) and live with her estranged aunt for 90 days. This is obviously a total shock to Cassie. She's got her friend Tasha and the ever-present and gorgeous Jack to keep her company, why should she go somewhere she's never been, to live with a woman she's never met, just to satisfy some legal mumbo-jumbo? Either way, Cassie decides to look at it as an opportunity and goes ahead.

Bering, Kansas is a college town and Cassie quickly finds things to occupy her time. She obtains a job at the local coffee nook Cuppa, takes a Philosophy 101 class as an audit student, and fills her extra hours with Lucas, the TA from her class. As the summer continues on, Cassie starts to see more and more marks. At Lucas's prodding she tries to warm some of them, with varying results. Confused, hurt, and very lost, Cassie stumbles upon a bit of truth that changes her whole outlook and her future.

This was an interesting book. It reminded me of Numbers by Rachel Ward, only Cassie didn't have to see everyone's death date. Cassie just had to know that there was only one chance to let them know that they wouldn't survive the day. It posed an fascinating dilemma that I found myself debating, about the responsibility of this power. In general I found Cassie to be a mostly likable character, although she seemed a bit childish at times. I really found that she grew on me as her character developed and she stood on her own in Kansas.

The guys in the novel were a little too pushy for my tastes and very obviously macho, but you never really get to know them. I kind of would have liked to see more of the personal side of Lucas and Cassie's relationship. We kind of just got to know them as almost anyone who ever saw them would have. It would have been preferable to see them in a more intimate manner (growing up stories, family stories, really describing a daily scene, etc).

The story really didn't seem to be going much of anywhere, at least no where visible, until Cassie went to Kansas. I really think her time spent there was what made up my mind to like the book as a whole. She was so out of her element and on her own that it really made me appreciate what was going on more. It's not too fast and not too slow, really a short read. Take a chance on it!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

How perfect would it be to relive the last school day before Valentine's Day? You get to wear a cute outfit, hangout with your friends, be showered with flowers from admirers, go to a great party, and then die in a car crash. Wait; that last bit's not quite right. Sadly though this is what 16 year-old Samantha Kingston relives. Seven times! Each time she hears the squealing tires, sees the car roll over, and then wakes up in her bed to the same morning over and over.

After a time or two, Sam starts to realize what's happening. She also discovers that by changing the smallest thing, she can change events that happen in that day. Can she change the outcome of that night? Is she strong enough to do what's right instead of what's easy?

I must admit that I wasn't as big a fan of this book as I was hoping to be. The premise sounds fascinating and weird, but it just didn't pan out so easy for me. Sam was such a revolting character to me. She was so shallow and unlikeable that I just couldn't relate to her. She spent a good deal of her time talking about the pending loss of her virginity (do people really plan it out like this?) and ignoring anything of real importance or value in her life. She was quite flippant in her care of life and I just kind of found her insufferable. Her friends were no better, but as the story progressed I did notice a change in many of them. They were all very individual people who stood out in their own rights and I enjoyed watching them alter their behavior and personalities accordingly.

The writing was quite eloquent and well thought, with attention paid to every possible detail. I guess when you're repeating the same day again and again you really need to make sure you get your details down. I found that while the day was continually repeating, that I wasn't getting tired of it. I was looking to see if I could spot the differences myself between the days. It was amazing to watch the chain of events set off by altering one little thing each day. I'm still not quite sure what I think and feel about the ending, so I'll let you decide. Don't let the hefty page count scare you off, give it a shot!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony

Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony is set to be released May 13, 2010 by Putnam Juvenile and was provided by Around the World Tours.

Love can drive people to do many things. It drove Molly McClure from her tiny island home in Canada all the way to Gresham, Oregon in search of her grandparents. This included crossing the Canadian/US border underage and illegally, having to sell whiskey on the black market to raise the funds to come home, and fighting the Organization for survival. But let's start at the beginning.

After the Collapse, when the oil dried up and became strictly government property, and with most major cities now in tatters, Molly and her family get along as well as can be expected on an island in Canada. They farm and raise livestock that they both eat and sell for profit. The main way of communicating with the mainland is through electronic correspondence like CyberSpeak and e-mail. Snail mail still runs, but it's slower than ever. It's through this last form that the McClure family learns that Molly's grandmother has had a stroke and is in the hospital. When they finally got through to the hospital to find out if she's okay, the connection is lost and unable to be found again. Molly's heavily pregnant mother goes into to shock at the non-information surrounding her own mother's life and falls into bed-rest.

It is decided that Molly must cross the border illegally and retrieve, at the very least, her doctor of a grandfather and her grandmother, should she still be living. Along the way she meets a couple of very kind people who help her in their own special way to keep her out of trouble in, what is to her, a foreign country. Molly finally arrives at her destination, barefoot, penniless, and exhausted. While she is thrilled to discover that her grandmother lives, if a little off due to her condition, she is soon dismayed to find her grandparents wasting away with no money and very little food. But that's not all, her grandfather staunchly refuses to go back to Canada with Molly as it's too dangerous for them to travel with the grandmother and there is no money.

Molly has to decide whether she's going to let them stay in her grandparents' home and possible die of starvation or if she's going to make something happen. With the help of a sometimes shady, but quite dependable local guy named Spill, and a no-good neighbor, Doug, with two helpful children and a garden, Molly thinks she has a chance at saving all of her family. That is if the Organization doesn't decide to step in her way.

This dystopian novel was quite fascinating. I really felt like I was caught up in the action with Molly and kind of confused about which decision would be best for everyone involved. Molly is a bright, capable young girl, who is still growing into her own skin. While very unsure of the rules, regulations, and protocols she still managed to wiggle her way through tough situations and make the best out of everything. I wouldn't necessarily call her an optimist, but I will say she was persistent in her demands and actions. Spill was intriguing to me. I found his appearances in the story a bit flustered and hap-hazard, but I think that without him, nothing could have happened. While I understood that he was ingrained with the Organization, everything seemed to happen all too easily for him.

Heck, the storyline in general was a little to neatly wrapped. There was no major conflict to pique my interest. What little action there was tended to finish up quickly and a little too neatly. I also found that people bended to other people's wills far too easily for my tastes. If someone suggested an idea, it was usually followed with very little scrutiny. I wasn't expecting major, in depth analysis, but some kind of "hang on a second, how're we going to do that?" would have made a little more sense.

I'm not saying this is a bad novel, I'm just saying it was a little rough to get through. There were parts where I struggled with it, but in the end I liked it well enough. I could take it or leave it, I didn't really gain too much from it. Although I will have to say it was one of the most believable dystopic futures I have ever seen laid out.

Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis was provided by Around the World Tours and is set to be released April 27, 2010 by Balzer + Bray.

Joy has grown up listening to other people's desires and not in the conventional manner. Joy can Hear what others desire. It's a kind of telepathy that has been passed down through the female generations of her family. Both Joy and her older sister Jessica ("Icka") have this ability but neither of them use it the same way. Joy likes to do just what her name suggests, she Hears people's desires and finds joy in giving them what they want. Icka can't seem to Hear anything but the worst from people, which is why she is an outcast in society. She can't seem to make or keep friends because of her Hearing issue.

Icka received her nickname due to her foul attitude. And this foul attitude has gotten on Joy's last nerve. After years of ruined birthdays, the family has decided that this year is going to be different and disaster-free. Of course Icka manages to get some jabs in that morning, causing ruffled feathers among Joy's friends. This is the straw that breaks Joy's back. She tracks her sister down and blows up at her, making sure that Icka understands that she never wants to see, hear, or Hear her sister again.

So when Icka doesn't come home that evening, Joy is content to be placated by her mother's explanation that Icka has gone to visit a local college. But by the next morning, following random clues, Joy realizes that Icka's not okay. And that she might just get her wish never to see Icka again. Now, with her newly-discovered, juvenile deliquent confidant, Joy must rush to find Icka before her sister does something to permanently silence the Whispers.

I must say that this was a spectacular book! I really enjoyed this form of telepathic communication as it was different than many of the others that I've read about in these types of books. It's not exactly reading the mind because it specifically focuses in on just desires. I'm also a really big fan of genealogical gifts, especially when it's one that the character has had to grow in to and deal with. I find giving characters phenomenal power that they've never even heard of tends to be hard to pull off convincingly.

I really liked these characters, even the mean ones, because they just seemed so familiar. I have actually met people like them and could believe their interactions. Most of the time, for me, I can at least identify most of the characters, but I have trouble believing their interactions. Some writers only get some of the interactions right (mostly the familial ones) but have trouble with different personalities. I found that most of the main personality types that exist were represented in this book and interacted accordingly. Such a joy not to go, "A shy person would never do that!"

The story was quite well done, although for someone who just wants to make other's happy, Joy is awfully trusting. I mean she runs off with a guy she barely knows (and by barely I mean she noticed him like 3 days before) to save her sister. Although the explanation behind why they trust each other so intensely so quickly is very interesting, but to get that scoop you'll have to read the book. A delightful pleasure, filled with things that actually make you think about relationships and personal dynamics, Whisper is a winner!

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison

Tanya has seen the fairies her whole life and they've never been very kind to her. They have teased her and tormented her because she is the only person, that she knows of, who can see them and they don't take kindly to being exposed. After months of questionable incidents that have caused injuries to Tanya, and that she has had to explain away, her mother has had enough. Tanya is sent to her grandmother's estate to work out her "issues" while her mother takes a break in their home in London.

Not in the least thrilled about being banished to the boring countryside with her stand-offish grandmother, Tanya is determined to make the best of her situation for as long as she can. The estate has fallen into disrepair as time has gone on. Very little of the house is used anymore as there are only four human inhabitants that live there. Florence (Tanya's grandmother), Warwick (the current groundskeeper), Warwick's father Amos (the now insane, former groundskeeper) and Warwick's son Fabian all share the space, unknowingly with several fairie creatures who love to cause mischief. As Tanya is the only one who can see these creatures, she does her best not to anger them and stay out of their way. Unfortunately it's not enough.

As Fabian and Tanya begin to explore the more closed off portions of the estate, they make some interesting finds: secret passageways (and not just the servant kind), blocked off rooms, and forgotten promises. The house isn't the only thing hiding secrets though. When the two become lost in the woods while chasing Tanya's dog Oberon, they stumble upon a young girl with her own secrets. And her secrets are the dangerous sort that people never recover from.

This was a classical fairy tale, complete with English backdrop, in which a girl can see fairies, but other cannot and she must work within her bounds to make it through whatever crisis crops up. The descriptions of the creatures were so detailed, without being boring, that I could actually imagine them climbing off the page! Most of the characters were well-defined as well. The reader catches glimpses of each character throughout the story that start to put them in context and round them out, again without being over-detailed and dragging on.

The plot was intriguing enough to move the story along, but not so in-depth and convoluted that it was hard to follow. I'll admit that many "mysteries" were quite obvious to the reader and I really had to suspend my belief that anyone could be that dim-witted, but for the most part it was fascinating to watch the kids put the pieces together. There was only one character who made sense in the end, but when she's first introduced seems very mismatched with the surroundings. I let the explanation for her existence go and just enjoyed the story.

This was a fun, fast read with just enough mystery and intrigue to keep the reader engaged throughout the whole story. If you prefer more traditional fairies to the urban fey of current popularity, then this book is just right for you. I think everyone should at least give it a shot!

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Penny Lane's parents are HUGE Beatles fanatics. Hello, note her name and those of her sisters: Lucy & Rita. Talk about an embarrassing existence; but not nearly as embarrassing as getting cheated on by the one guy you've been head-over-heels for forever. That's exactly what happened to Penny Lane, just as she was ready to take the next step in their relationship.

Taking solace in the only four men who she's ever been able to fully trust, George, Paul, John, and Ringo, Penny Lane decides to swear off boys for the remainder of high school. As a junior, that shouldn't be too hard for her. Naturally she has to make up an awesome name for her miserable state: The Lonely Hearts Club.

Only the population of TLHC doesn't remain at 1 for long. Soon, her old friend Diane, after her recent break-up with longtime-boyfriend Ryan, joins her club looking for affirmations of her worth and the pleasure of non-demanding female company. Shortly thereafter, word of the club spreads like wildfire and membership explodes. Penny Lane must deal with the club, her school's dislike of the club, and her growing feelings for a boy. But she'll make it, with a little help from her friends.

This fun novel was a real pleasure to read. It was uplifting and self-affirming in all the right places. It's a perfect novel for teen girls who are frustrated with the dating situation. These girls are far from perfect, they have doubts and fears and issues, but the fact that they stick together and work on them is what's so important.

Penny Lane does a fabulous job of embodying the constant struggles that young women face. She is hurt and in need to comfort and creates what she needs. She turns to those who really care for her and makes her own path with their help. I think that is a very important and powerful message to send to readers.

While there isn't much earth-shattering conflict, I enjoyed the ride all the same. It was especially delighted to be rewarded with titles and snippets of popular Beatles songs at the beginning of each section. A wonderfully alluring novel, I highly recommend it for a feel-good, pick-you-up read.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

The Sky is Everyehwere by Jandy Nelson

The Sky is Everywhere is a great novel by debut author Jandy Nelson. It will be available in stores March 9, 2010.

Lennie Walker feels abandoned. Not just because her mother disappeared when she was a year old, but as the quirky, clarinet-playing, little sister to her queen-of-the-stage sister Bailey, Lennie has never really had to stand out on her own. She could hide in her sister's shadow and never have to worry about being noticed. That is, until the day that Bailey dies. Lennie's whole world is turned upside down by this one event.

Left behind to ponder how she will go on, Lennie isn't alone. Bailey's boyfriend Toby can't seem to stay away from their family as they're the only ones he can commiserate with. Unfortunately for Lennie, the line dividing her and Bailey into two individuals becomes blurred when Toby can't seem to stay away from her. This does not bode well for anyone, especially the new flame in town who is head-over-heels for Lennie.

And not to be outdone, there is even more drama at home with Lennie's Grandmother and Uncle Big who want to help her move through this tough time. They keep trying to get her to pack up Bailey's things and talk to them about what she's feeling, when all Lennie wants to do is keep Bailey's memory alive as long as she can; even if it means shutting out the world. The thing is, you can only run from the truth for so long before you're winded and it catches up to you.

Absolutely beautiful. That's what comes to mind when I think of this book. I wanted to read it slowly so that I could savor it, but it was so page-turning that I couldn't stop myself. Lennie is about as real as it gets. I swear she could have walked right off the page and danced in my living room. She is vivacious and funny, poignant and thoughtful, and above all conflicted. This story is about love, loss, recovery, and learning. Life is not easy and it most certainly isn't fair and that is never more obvious than when you're a teenager.

I found myself laughing out loud at the hilarious parts (a massive arborist uncle who tries to revive deceased bugs under replica Egyptian pyramids?) and sobbing at the most difficult scenes. My heart actually broke with the characters and I rejoiced when they triumphed. The writing was wonderful with a colorful vocabulary and the style is one that I am very fond of: there is poetry (written by the main character) scattered throughout the book and throughout the setting. This very natural habit to document emotions makes Lennie even more present in my mind.

Truly, I believe that Jandy Nelson has joined the likes of many great authors of contemporary YA fiction: Sarah Dessen, Francesca Lia Block, and Laurie Halse Anderson come to mind. This is book is imaginative, powerful, genuine, and unforgettable. I don't think I know anyone who couldn't empathize and understand this book, so go ahead and read it.

The Sky is Everyehwere by Jandy Nelson

Waiting on Wednesday: The Line

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Line by Teri Hall is set to be released on March 4, 2010.

An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the Unified States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It’s said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line.

Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel’s dad died in the last war. It’s a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from Away. The voice is asking for help.

Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right? From Goodreads

How awesome does that sound?! It's got some serious mystery to it that I find ridiculously appealing and a unique plot. Quartered off sections of the country that left those on the other side to fend for themselves? Sign me up for reading that book! Anyway, I am hoping that Rachel will be a strong, female heroine because those are my favorite types. Maybe she can go all "superhero"-ish and saves those on the other side. Who knows? Can't wait to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Line

In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Nobody dies while figure skating; that's just not normal. Sadly, such is the reality for sixteen-year-old figure skater Eagan. Just a fraction of an inch would have kept her from hitting her head on the board at the rink during her performance. She could have lived and possibly gone on to the Olympics one day had it not been for that fraction of an inch.

As it is, her unfortunately early demise, allowed sick fourteen-year-old Amelia to get a new heart. She has been sick for so long her parents had to install a sliding chair in their staircase for her to get to her bedroom. Now, simply because Eagan checked the "Organ Donor" box on her driver's license, Amelia has another shot at life.

Told through alternating points of view, In a Heartbeat is an incredibly moving book. We get little glimpses into what both girls' lives are like before and after the accident. That tragically happy accident may have deprived one girl of her dreams and one family of a future with that child, but it also gave another family hope that their daughter could have a future at all. While Eagan and Amelia are polar opposites on the personality spectrum, they both have such a life drive that they cannot seem to shake. As the story progresses the girls seem to take on more and more of each others' personalities even though they never meet.

Both girls are strong, independent characters that were well-rounded. There was the potential for them to fall flat (over-the-top athlete and sick kid) and I found them standing out more and more. They both had little mannerisms and habits that spoke more loudly of their personalities and essence than any description ever could. I found the writing to be quite plain, which only added more emphasis to the actual story and not the delivery.

A truly heart-wrenching, tear-flooding tale, In a Heartbeat is an incredibly powerful novel. Loretta Ellsworth really hit the nail on the head with this storyline. I felt so much raw emotion and vulnerability without having to wade through a bunch of layers to get to it. The romance plot line was a little obvious, but necessary in order to bring the metamorphosis full-circle. Give it a shot, it's a quick read at only 195 pages. I promise at the end you will feel uplifted and rejuvenated.

In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

From Goodreads

So right off the bat you realize that this review is different than the rest. Normally I write my own review of the book's events, but in this case I made an exception as I did not finish the book. I could not force myself to finish a book that could not even keep its own mythos in order. I don't know what it was about this that struck me, but I couldn't let it go. The pheromones (seriously?), the ways to kill a vampire (varied in different parts of the book), and the ability of a vampire to give birth (don't even get me started on the impossibility of that fact) were the main issues that I had with this story. I am a fan of "traditional" vampire mythos and make a few exceptions, but I am always willing to try new experiences. I attempt to go ahead with as little prejudice as can be expected when dealing with a topic that has been written about a thousand different ways.

Not all of this book was unpleasant. I did enjoy the writing style as it was fresh and entertaining. The alternating narrators, a peppy, human and her angsty, vampire best friend, make for a fascinating dynamic. They were practically inseparable during their respective childhoods which allowed them both to give diverse perspectives on the community in which they lived. The characters themselves were varied and represented a wide range of personalities that I found unique.

I don't like not finishing a book, but my friend suggested a motto to help me deal with my distress: there are so many books to be read, why waste any more time than necessary on books that I don't enjoy. I feel like I gave this a good go as I read a little over half the book. If you like vampires and teens I am sure that this book is at least for a go, but for me, it wasn't really worth it. I hope that at least some of you find otherwise.

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Book Trailer: Hearts at Stake

So, I bought this book a little ways back with Christmas money. It's sitting in my TBR pile after a few books for review. After seeing this trailer, I am even more stoked to read it. Enjoy!

Book Trailer: Hearts at Stake