Bookworm Readers

Haunting Violet

2011-07-14T23:03:00.001-07:00

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Pages: 344,

Published: June 2011, Walker Books for Young Readers

Genre: Paranormal/Historical fiction/Mystery

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade:

As the daughter of a scam-artist "medium", Violet Willoughby naturally doesn't believe in ghosts. But when she is forced to accompany her mother to the wealthy Lord Jasper's country estate to conduct seances, she is forced to reconsider her views on the spiritualist world. There, Violet encounters a frightening vision she can't ignore: the ghost of a young girl, seeking justice from beyond. Thrust into the center of an unsolved murder admidst the highest echelon of Victorian society, Violet must discover the mystery behind this girl's violent death before her twin sister suffers the same fate. The only person Violet can trust with her secret is her mother's assistant Colin...but will she be able to accept her new talent and prevent another murder without risking her own chances for a future with the one she truly loves?

My thoughts: I had a tough time getting into the first few chapters of Haunting Violet, but once I had reached the tenth page or so, this haunting, beautifully written, fast-paced, and easy to understand romance/Victorian mystery/paranormal delight flew by.

I fell in love with Ms. Harvey's Drake Chronicles, so I was thrilled when I heard that she was writing a new book that went in a different direction. All in all, I was pleased with Haunting Violet--equal parts high-class Victorian-era glamour, swoon-worthy romance, and murder mystery, one thing made itself very clear throughout the novel: Ms. Harvey did her research! Each detail that made the book so lifelike and clear was perfectly on-key with the time period: the clothes, the mannerisms, the dialogue, the descriptions of the country manor and gardens.

Although the plot was pretty much that of your average paranormal novel, these details and the Victorian English setting took the book to another level. The plot moved quickly and fluidly, and I loved the realistic relationship between Colin and Violet (you could just feel the social tension), the mystery and glamour of the seances, the strained relationship between Violet and her fraudulent mother, and the chilling murder that Violet had to solve before time ran out.

Interesting, unique, and beautifully, realistically written, Haunting Violet will please both avid paranormal readers and fans of historical fiction.

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Monthly Mailbox: June

2011-07-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

June was a pretty quiet month for actual blogging (ahem, school finals and vacation/blogging hiatus). However, my mailbox was full when I got home from a trip to Spain!

Just for fun:

The Lovely Shoes by Susan Shreve
Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt (And Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell) by Crickett Rumley
The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch
Haunting Violet (for a Bloomsbury book tour) by Alyxandra Harvey (thank you to Kate Lied)
To Catch a Prince by Gillian McKnight
Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

When I came home from Spain, I found this box of books waiting for me from Random House!:

Sons of Liberty: Death and Taxes by Alexander & Joseph Lagos
Amen, L.A. by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Starstruck by Cyn Balog
The Other Countess by Eve Edwards
The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer
Sass & Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler

These are going to be so much fun to read, I've got a lot of reviewing ahead of me! :)

Save the Date

2011-07-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Author: Tamara Summers

Pages: 314

Published: HarperTeen, 2008

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Cover Score: D

Overall Grade: A

17 year old Jakarta (aka Jack) is sick of being a bridesmaid. With two out of five older sisters already married, she's had her fair share of Bridezilla catfights, lacy gowns, pre-nuptial stress, flowery wedding showers, and drama. Not to mention her "wedding curse"--every time she brings a boyfriend to a wedding, it ends the relationship and disaster ensues. However, two of her older sisters are planning summer weddings, which means that Jack is back to making place settings and sampling cake flavors. However, the drama of the weddings might be bearable, what with the company of the wedding planner's attractive son, Leo...Will he be able to break her curse?

My thoughts: I took this book on vacation with me, and was expecting a light, breezy beach read. However, Save the Date blew past my expectations. Don't let the cheesy book cover fool you: Save the Date is a hilarious, honest, and quick summertime read that is not all whirlwind romance and fluff.

The best thing about this novel, to me, was Jack's narration. She was frank and funny, and completely unlike the stereotypical protagonist of a romance novel. She was sarcastic and often ridiculed her sister's following of cheesy traditions, much to their disapproval. I loved the relationship between the sisters: the drama with flower-child Victoria and crazy, artistic Paris planning their own, very different weddings added comic relief. I often found myself laughing out loud at their antics! I also liked the romance between Jack and Leo, as it didn't consume the whole storyline. The book was also about family and sisterhood, not just romance.

As well, the "wedding curse" was a unique addition to the storyline. It was interesting to see Jack trying to push aside her feelings for Leo in order to save her sister's weddings.

Overall, if you're looking for a funny, light, and well-written book that you'll get sucked in to, definitely check out Save the Date. Will the weddings be disastrous? Or is the Wedding Curse over?

What Would Audrey Do?

2011-06-07T18:20:00.001-07:00

Title: What Would Audrey Do? Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style
Author: Pamela Keogh

Pages: 253

Published: Gotham Books, 2008

Genre: How-to/Etiquette/Biography

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: B+

Audrey Hepburn was more than a movie star--she was mother, humanitarian, Holocaust survivor, and the epitome of class, grace, and style. Whether in fashion, relationships, her work on the screen, or UNICEF, there is no one more worthy of imitation. What Would Audrey Do? presents readers with the necessary tips and mannerisms needed to become a woman of grace and style, just like Audrey herself.

My thoughts:

What Would Audrey Do? is more than an etiquette book based off of the mannerisms of an iconic, timeless cinema star. It is chock-full of interesting facts about Audrey herself, a style guide, and a biographical account that explores the most private aspects of the star's life.

The book is carefully sectioned into chapters that dole out advice in a graceful, endearing manner that Audrey herself would be proud of: "Audrey as a Movie Star", "Romance Central", "Zen Audrey", "Home Studies", "On the Road", "'A Very Stylish Girl...'", "Heartbreak and Solace", "Modern Times", "St. Audrey", and "Legend".

What Would Audrey Do? is a book that you want to snuggle up with on a rainy day, a book that you want to drink tea and eat bonbons with while reading it in a rose garden. It reads quickly, and not like an etiquette book at all, which most often simply lay out rules in a commanding manner.

Ms. Keogh delicately displays the "dos and donts" of a lady in an old-fashioned and quirky manner, while supplementing her facts with tidbits and Audrey history, stories that are both amusing, hilarious, heartbreaking, and relatable. This guide to living life with grace and character is a delightful and charming presentation of Audrey's life, as well.

Ms. Keogh's admiring and spunky account of this iconic star's life verifies that Audrey goes beyond what we believe to be a "celebrity". A true role model, What Would Audrey Do? justifies how much of a role model Ms. Hepburn truly was--and still is.

The Sartorialist

2011-06-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

Author: Scott Schuman

Pages: 507

Published: Penguin, 2009

Genre: Nonfiction/Fashion photography

Overall Grade: A

Scott Schuman just wanted to take pictures of people on the street who looked great. His now renowned fashion blog, The Sartorialist, was an attempt to showcase the wonderful and varied style of real people--not only those of the fashion industry. This book is an anthology of Scott's favorite shots from around the world, including well-known fashion figures, as well as shots of anonymous passersby whose outfits are created with comendable imagination and taste. From the streets of Rio to Beijing, Stockholm to Milan, these are the people that have inspired Scott and in turn, inspired designers and people of all ages, wage and nationalities with an interest in fashion.

My thoughts: The Sartorialist is a book that I want to keep around--sitting on my

dresser as a source of inspiration when I'm getting dressed in the morning, resting on my coffee table when I want a dash of beauty in my day, in my hand as I commute home from school. A collection of beautiful, glossy, color shots, this book truly satisfies the fashion junkie within me.

One of the best things about this anthology is that it is light on words and heavy on images--showing, and not telling, about the extraordinary and unusual job of Mr. Schuman, and the people he meets and encounters on a daily basis, picking them out of a crowd.

I spent a whole afternoon combing through the book and taking notes on my favorite outfits. The book is small (ideal for travel!), but packed full of funny anecdotes, memorable faces, and unique looks that make me want to paw through my closet and put together my own polished outfits.

Mr. Schuman is beyond a "fashion photographer"--he is a portrait artist,

capturing the personality and inner essence of every person he photographs. The way he photographs clothes gives readers tiny glimpses into the private lives of his subjects--the holes in the shoes of the tiny woman on one of the glossy, minimalistic pages hints at a difficult life, but her brightly colored bag is a spark of hope.

Some of the outfits are good enough to be replicated, some are quirky and bizarre, and yet others are stunning takes on "fashion" that you want to hang on your walls.

I will definitely continue reading The Sartorialist blog daily, and this chunky book of style makes a great gift for a fashion or photography-crazy friend.

Monthly Mailbox: May

2011-06-04T19:10:00.001-07:00

My take on the Story Siren's In My Mailbox!

Thank you to Random House Children's Books!

I So Don't Do Famous by Barrie Summy
Things I Know About Love by Kate le Vann
Passion by Lauren Kate
The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Tighter by Adele Griffin
Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson

The A Circuit

2011-05-25T20:28:00.001-07:00

Authors: Georgina Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka

Pages: 272

Published: Bloomsbury, 2011

Genre: Realistic fiction

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: A-

On the A-circuit, talented teenage equestrians travel the country competing at top levels of horse showing, in the hopes of winning prestige and glory. At Pelham Lane Stables outside of New York City, the teen riders are some of the best competing on the circuit. Tommi, a billionaire heiress, and Kate, a working student are serious about their riding. So when party girl Zara Trask, daughter of a famous rock star, shows up at Pelham Lane in a wake of drama and attitude from LA, she is not welcome. Then there's Fitz, the barn's resident Casanova, who just wants Kate to give him a chance. But for these girls, who all want to prove themselves, the real challenge will be when the drama from the real world spills into the show ring!

My thoughts: As an equestrian who competes on the A-circuit herself, I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied by Ms. Bloomberg's debut in young adult fiction. The author's account of the elite level of horseback riding is accurate (although a bit more melodramatic), and she doesn't try to gloss over the less-glamorous aspects of the sport, giving the reader a good understanding of all of the work, sweat, and tears that are part of the horse world.

All three main characters were well-developed and had a good background story: party animal Zara is sick of living under her famous father's shadow, working-girl Kate is trying to make a name for herself despite her self-doubt, and Tommi wants to prove that she is more than her father's money. It was interesting to see how each girl struggled with her personal problems, attempting to solve them, as the plot progressed. The book itself was fast-paced, and I whipped through the chapters, eagerly seeing what was next.

For girls who love horses and enjoy books like Gossip Girl, The A-Circuit is perfect. While I was expecting a Clique-like novel filled chock-full with mean girls, catfights, and tension, I was pleasantly surprised by how I could relate to all 3 of the girls, and the bonds between them and their teammates, their horses. There was still a level of privilege and social drama, but it only made the plot more interesting and juicier

However, I was expecting more action from the novel, and was a bit disappointed by the abrupt ending (I felt that it needed more closure). Nevertheless, Ms. Bloomberg has the makings of a great series on her hands--she has set up conflicts and left me with questions that I am excited to see answered in future books. All in all, I can't wait for more fast-paced action, suspense, and romance.

Tempest Rising

2011-05-14T11:44:00.001-07:00

Author: Tracy Deebs

Pages: 341

Published: Walker Books for Young Readers, 2011

Genre: Paranormal/Romance

Cover Score: B-

Overall Grade: A

Tempest Maguire is more than comfortable with the life she has: her one love is surfing the California waves with her boyfriend, Mark, and hanging out with her dad and two little brothers. However, Tempest's 17th birthday is approaching, and she will have to make a decision that typical teenagers don't have to face: as a half-mermaid, does she want to remain on land, or does she want to give herself to the ocean like her mermaid mother, who left Tempest and her brothers 11 years ago to return to her true home? Even though Tempest loves her friends and family, the pull of the water is becoming increasingly insistent, as is her attraction to Kai, a mysterious and gorgeous surfer whose superhuman abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. When Tempest enters the underwater world, it is unlike anything she ever could have imagined--she will come face to face with power-hungry sea witches, terrifying monsters, her mother, and, ultimately, her destiny, which the whole sea depends on...

My thoughts: Wow! I am definitely loving this current "mermaid" trend in YA! Tempest Rising was enchanting and beautifully written. I was sucked in to Tempest's story by page one, and it was an exhilarating ride, right up to the conclusion.

I really liked how the book wasn't all fantasy: it was about romance; it was about a mother and a daughter; it was about choosing your future. There was a perfect amount of lead-up (aka Tempest's life on land), so that I got to know Tempest's character and the importance of the decisions she had to make.

There was so much emotion jam-packed into a couple of hundred pages, and as a reader, I felt them all, sympathizing for Tempest. I felt the tension within the Mark-Tempest-Kai love triangle, I felt Tempest's longing for the sea, I felt her anger towards being abandoned by her mother, I experienced her confusion and fear at turning into a mermaid, I felt the love she had for her brothers and father, and I felt her guilt as if it were my own.

In addition, Ms. Deebs created a fantastical underwater environment that gave the novel a genuine 3D feel. I felt as if I were swimming alongside Tempest in this magical alternate reality that was flawlessly created. Tempest was easy to relate to, and I saw a lot of myself in her.

Although I was expecting more action and adventure and less internal monologue, I really enjoyed the fast, thrilling, romantic, ride of Tempest Rising. Overall, a stunning debut. I can't wait to see what's next for Tracy Deebs, Tempest, and Kai!

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

OyMG

2011-05-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Author: Amy Fellner Dominy

Pages: 256

Published: May 11 2011, Walker Books for Young Readers

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: A

Ellie Taylor loves nothing more than a good argument. After all, she's been arguing with her Yiddish grandfather, Zeydeh, ever since she could talk. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's psyched--the end-of-camp speech tournament could present her with a scholarship to the best speech school in the country! However, winning the scholarship won't be easy. The competition is hot--literally. His name is Devon Yeats, and whether she likes it or not, he makes her sizzle! Ellie is determined to win--until she discovers that the scholarship's private benefactor has negative feelings towards Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?

My thoughts: I really, really enjoyed OyMG. It was funny, it was witty; it was lighthearted and fun and unique.

First of all, I need to acknowledge all of the wonderful characters. Ellie was a realistic protagonist who was struggling between hiding her true identity to fit in (and therefore disappointing her family), and revealing her secret, which could ruin her dream. I felt that the situations Ellie found herself in were relatable. She had a great, energetic voice, and her story really spoke to me, even though I'm not Jewish. I feel like any teen can relate to her situation. Zeydeh, Ellie's traditional Jewish grandfather, was absolutely endearing--his words of wisdom really stuck with me, and provide a strong, positive message for the book.

I loved the humor in the plot--the witty banter between Devon and Ellie lightened up some of the heavier issues that the novel brought to the table, such as modern-day anti-Semitism and accepting who you are.

Although this story was about so much more than going to a speech camp, the setting of the camp was a fun addition, and gave the story a unique edge (and really helped boost the dramatic ending!).

All in all, OyMG gave me that warm, and satisfying feeling, like I had just eaten a bowl of hot, homemade matzo ball soup. A great debut for middle-grade readers!

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother!

*** Thank you to Kate Lied and Bloomsbury Children's Books for giving me the great opportunity to participate in this blog tour!

Free E-Book Alert!

2011-05-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

From May 3 through May 9th, Sourcebooks is offering a free e-book copy of Kim Culbertson's Songs for a Teenage Nomad! If you're interested in checking out this award-winning YA book, click here! As well, keep your eyes peeled for a review of Kim's latest release, Instructions for a Broken Heart, coming soon on my blog! Meanwhile, you can check out the book trailer here and get excited for a novel jam-packed with romance, humor, and Italy!

Monthly Mailbox

2011-05-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

...A very lazy book blogger's take on The Story Siren's "In My Mailbox"! Here's the contents of my mailbox for the month of April...and maybe even February and March, too. :)

Famous by Todd Strasser
The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

For Review (many thanks to Bloomsbury Children's Books & Sourcebooks!):

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen
The A-Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg
OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
Flawless by Lara Chapman

For Review, cont. (many thanks to Random House Children's Books):

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper
Exposed by Kimberley Marcus
Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
Orchards by Holly Thompson
Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer

(not pictured):

Faerie Winter by Janni Lee Simner
Flip by Martyn Bedford
Rotters by Daniel Kraus

Demonglass

2011-04-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Pages: 359

Published: Hyperion, 2011

Genre: Fantasy/Mystery

Cover Score: B+

Overall Grade: A

Sophie Mercer's last semester at Hecate Hall (aka reform school for shape-shifters, witches, and faeries) was stressful. Not only did she find out that she was a demon, but her great-grandmother killed her best frenemy and her crush turned out to be working for an organization whose goal is to wipe out all demons. As one of the two demons (the other is her father) in the world, Sophie possesses dangerous and volatile powers that threaten everyone she loves, which is why she decides to go to London to get the Removal--a perilous procedure that would remove all of her powers. But when Sophie arrives, her new housemates are demons--which means that someone's secretly raising demons, with creepy plans to use their powers (and probably not for good). Meanwhile, the Eye is still hunting down Sophie in hopes of wiping her off the face of the earth, and they're using her ex-crush Archer to do it. Good thing she doesn't have feelings for him anymore. Right?

My thoughts: Demonglass as definitely one of the best books I've read this year. While I loved the first book in this series, Hex Hall, Demonglass simply blew me away! This novel was just the right length--there was plenty of action, juicy secrets, and romance packed in, and it wasn't too lengthy or complex.

I loved Sophie as the narrator--she was fresh, funny, and relatable. I enjoyed seeing her relationship with her father flourish, and I loved her witty interactions with Archer. The plotline moved quickly and fluidly, and was easy to follow. Ms. Hawkins clearly spent a lot of time on details when it came to the magical properties of the characters, and it showed. The demon history and background information that she provided helped the plot become 3-dimensional and realistic (well, as real as demons and witches can get!).

Thorne Abbey, where Sophie stays in England, made a great setting. It was mystical and mysterious, and Ms. Hawkins's beautiful descriptions made it come to life.

I do have to put forth a warning--once you start reading Demonglass, you most likely will not be able to put it down until the heart-stopping, cliff-hanging ending. I can't wait to see what's next for Sophie in this thrilling, exhilarating series!

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Mystify

2011-04-06T15:23:00.001-07:00

Author: Artist Arthur

Pages: 245

Published: KimaniTru, 2011

Genre: Paranormal

Cover Score: C

Overall Grade: n/a

Growing up with parents who are more interested in the Lincoln, Connecticut social scene than their own daughter, Sasha Carrington has always felt like an outsider. That is, until she meets Jake and Krystal--her fellow Mystyx who, like her, possess supernatural capabilities that they use to battle a mysterious dark force that is headed towards Lincoln. Not only is Sasha trying to grapple with her new powers and where they come from, she's also dealing with social pressures from her parents, as well as unexplainable feelings for Antoine Watson, a boy who she shouldn't like, but can't help feeling drawn to. The dark side is getting stronger, and as Sasha's powers grow, she must come face-to-face with decisions that affect her friends, family, and, ultimately, her destiny.

My thoughts: I really, really don't like giving bad reviews, but I just couldn't finish Mystify. At about 100 pages in, I had to put it down. I was really disappointed by the second book of the otherwise promising Mystyx series. After really enjoying the first book in this new ghostly paranormal trilogy, Manifest, I was surprised that Mystify and I didn't click. It had all the ingredients for success: forbidden romance, a modern and realistic protagonist, and a unique paranormal twist that even included mythology, which I love.

I just felt like I couldn't relate to Sasha's character, like she wasn't a real person. Her generic narrative felt very forced and formulaic, and after a while, the storyline became too wordy and slow to keep me interested. I know there is a suspenseful, fast-paced plot hiding underneath all of Sasha's internal monologues and lengthy descriptions of everything and everyone, but I just could not locate it. As well, the powers of the Mystyx and exactly what they do and what dark force they are trying to stop was unclear to me, which muddied the storyline and gave it no clear destination.

Who knows? Maybe I'll give Mystify another try later on down the road, but for now, I can't say that I'll be able to complete this series.

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Mini Reviews!

2011-04-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been reading lately during my lapse from blogging (very very bad, I know, but life happens!). I've been super busy and took the small amounts of free time I've had to catch up on books that I should have started way earlier! :)

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Pages: 384

Published: 2008, Scholastic

Genre: Action/Fantasy/Dystopia

Overall Grade: A

In the not-so-distant-future, North America has collapsed into a single country (divided into thirteen districts) called Panem. Each year, two children from each district are selected to battle it out to the death in the televised, gladiator-sport-like Hunger Games, in the hopes of obtaining ultimate glory for their district. A talented hunter and survivalist, 16 year old Katniss Everdeen is used to fending for herself and her family in impoverished, filthy District 12. However, when her little sister is selected to be in the brutal Hunger Games, she volunteers to take her spot, and alongside fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark, she must fight for her life when she is plunged into the violent world of the Games. As time goes by, she must face the difficult decision of love vs. survival.

My thoughts: The Hunger Games was unlike anything I've ever read before. Impossibly brutal, candid, and fast-paced, I was sucked into this dystopian world and into the mind of the book's bold, brave heroine Katniss Everdeen, who was relatable, strong, and admirable. This is one of those books that, after reading, I ask myself: why didn't I read this sooner? I picked up the Hunger Games on a rainy day and was plunged into the violent, harsh environment of the Games. I could picture every event in my mind, and the characters were realistic and interesting.

Ms. Collins' story packs a punch: she has an imagination that, combined with a knack for word-weaving, resulted in a heart-pounding, adrenaline-rushing read that moves quickly and effortlessly. Both devastating and beautiful at the same time, The Hunger Games has the capacity to affect more than just young adults.

Title: Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5)

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 336

Published: HarperTeen, 2009

Genre: Mystery/Contemporary fiction

Overall Grade: B

Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer have had a stressful start to their junior year of high school. After their best friend Alison was murdered, they were taunted by threats from an anonymous stalker who dangled their darkest secrets over their heads--secrets only Alison knew. Now, the stalker has finally been caught, and Ali's killer has been put in jail. These four pretty little liars are ready for their lives to go back to normal. But in the privileged town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, nothing is as it seems...And these little liars had better watch their backs, especially with the new secrets they've each been harboring: Aria's crushing on her mom's new boyfriend, Hanna's stepsister has questionable intentions, Emily's got a new boyfriend, and Spencer is diving into dark family history. What they don't know is that someone is always watching...

My thoughts: I'm completely addicted to this series. Once again, I don't know why I didn't start reading the Pretty Little Liars books sooner. The books are the perfect combination of fluffy chick lit (boys, clothes, drama) and heart-pounding thriller (mystery, murder, suspense). However, Wicked wasn't as good as the previous four books in this addictive, fast-paced series. Coming off of a huge, scandalous reveal in Unbelievable (book #4), Wicked didn't seem to have the same heart-stopping thrills and constantly-moving action that kept me riveted to my seat, madly flipping pages. In fact, Wicked was mildly ho-hum, except for the big surprise ending. While Wicked is a must-read for series fans, I felt like it was nothing more than a transition from the fourth book to the sixth book--but it sets up what I expect will be big action in Killer, the sixth book.

Chatting with Suzanne Selfors

2011-02-25T09:11:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Suzanne, the author of newly-released Mad Love, as well as fellow YA reads Saving Juliet and Coffeehouse Angel! Welcome, Suzanne, and congratulations on the new book!

Bookworm: What inspired you to write Mad Love?

Suzanne: I have long loved Greek and Roman mythology. In Coffeehouse Angel I reimagined the Greek messenger god, Hermes. And in my first adult book, Daughters of Crete, I reimagined the story of Ariadne. I knew I wanted to do something with Cupid. So I thought about it for a while. The story took shape over many intense revisions.

Bookworm: Bipolar disorder plays a large role in the novel. How did you research this topic?

Suzanne: I read about it. But I also drew from my own childhood. My father struggled with manic episodes, and he also struggled with anxiety and depression, for which he self-medicated with alcohol. He was never diagnosed bi-polar but I'm guessing he would have been if he'd ever sought help.

Bookworm: Do you believe in Cupid?

Suzanne: Cupid is the God of passionate love, the kind of love that hits you real hard and fries your brain for a month or two. I've experienced it firsthand. Who hasn't?

Bookworm: If you were a cheesy romance-novel writer, like Alice's mom in the book, what would your first book be named?

Suzanne: Well, I have this thing about the Scottish highlands and men in kilts to it would be something like Hung in the Highlands. :)

Bookworm: What was your favorite part of the book to write?

Suzanne: The ending!

Bookworm: Which character is most like you, and why?

Suzanne: I guess I most relate to the mother character, Belinda Amorous, simply because she's a working writer with a teen daughter.

Bookworm: What is your next writing project?

Suzanne: I'm busy with my next teen novel, which will be released in 2012 if I can ever finish the thing. And my next middle grade novel, Smells Like Treasure, comes out in May 2011.

Bookworm: What are your writing essentials (environment, music, snacks, etc)?

Suzanne: I need something hot to drink, usually it's a nonfat latte, sometimes it's Earl Gray tea. I like white noise so I usually work in a coffeehouse.

--------------------

To learn more about Suzanne's other books and to view Mad Love's awesome book trailer, visit her website here!

Thanks, Suznne--we can't wait to see what's next for you!

Mad Love

2011-02-20T18:20:00.001-08:00

Author: Suzanne Selfors

Pages: 325

Published: Walker & Company, 2011

Genre: Contemporary fiction/Fantasy/Romance

Cover Score: C-

Overall Grade: A

As the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life for sixteen-year-old Alice Amorous should be pretty sweet. But ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness, Alice has been forced to maintain a brave front--living alone; lying to her new crush Tony; forging her mother's signature; answering fan letters; telling the publisher that all is well and the Queen's next book is on its way. Now time is running out, and so is their money. The next book is overdue and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs to deliver a new novel for her mother--and she needs to come up with one fast. That's when she meets Errol, a strange guy claiming to be Cupid, who insists that Alice must write about his tragic romance with Psyche--the greatest love story of all time. Alice needs the story, but can she trust Errol? After all, she doesn't believe in Cupid...

My thoughts: I'm a huge fan of Suzanne Selfors, so I was thrilled to read her latest book. Luckily, I loved it just as much as her previous books--if not more. The thing that made Mad Love such a winner to me was its amazing, hilarious, diverse cast of characters.

I loved all of the characters, from Alice herself to the crazy neighbors that share her Seattle apartment complex: Ms. Selfors clearly spent time crafting each unique personality to perfection. The characters created a fresh, 3 dimensional sort of family unit in the novel, and I felt like the characters were the type of people I'd encounter in real life: lovable, quirky, realistic, funny, and often frustrating.

As well, I appreciated all of the smaller subplots woven into the main storyline, creating depth: Alice's crush on Tony, Alice and Errol's story, Alice's family drama, Alice's neighborhood life. I also appreciated Ms. Selfor's research skills. The facts she included on Alice's mother's bipolar disorder helped build the plot and made me sympathize towards Alice--Ms. Selfors has an ability to evoke emotion in her readers. The plot moved quickly and fluidly, making for an easy read whose pages I couldn't stop turning. In Mad Love, I experienced the mark of a truly good book: while reading, I felt like I was submerged in the plot itself, like I was Alice, experiencing the events firsthand.

A funny, light, bittersweet novel that is fresh and unique, Mad Love gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling after you've finished reading--I'm totally in love with this book!

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Cover Love!

2011-02-19T09:59:00.001-08:00

Lisa Mantchev's Theatre Illuminata books have always struck me as having the most exquisite covers. What do you think about the cover for the 3rd book, So Silver Bright (coming out September 13th!) I can't wait to see what's next for Bertie & co!

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance

2011-02-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

Authors: Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

Pages: 229

Published: Walker & Company, 2011

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cover Score: B+

Overall Grade: B+

Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers have two jobs. One is to star on their megahit comedy TV show, Jenna and Jonah's How to Be a Rock Star. Their second job is to pretend to be a real-life couple, boosting ratings and attracting show publicity. The downside? Charlie and Fielding can't stand each other. So when a harmful rumor that could potentially ruin their futures and their fauxmance is started by a pesky paparazzo, Charlie and Fielding must go into hiding until the scandal dies down. Far from Hollywood, Charlie and Fielding finally get to know each other away from the chaos and stress of their job, and find that they actually might have a shot at getting along. Or has this fauxmance-gone-wrong ruined their chance for real love?

My thoughts: Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance as a light, funny, and sincere novel that exceeded my expectations. While I expected the story to be predictable and cheesy, it was witty and had me rooting for the two main characters until the end.

The plot moved fast, and it was easy to follow. My favorite parts? When Fielding and Charlie went into hiding in an isolated beachhouse, and, of course, the Shakespeare festival! I enjoyed how Charlie and Fielding's feelings for each other developed over time in a realistic way, and their banter was sarcastic and amusing, keeping readers entertained throughout the story. I also appreciated all of the "behind the scenes" Hollywood information--the authors clearly either have experience in the industry or did their research.

I only wished that there had been more background information on the characters and their TV show. I felt like Fielding and Charlie lacked depth, and relatability to them was absent until the last few chapters of the book (although I did appreciate the alternating point of view, which helped me see the world through their eyes). As well, I felt like the first three quarters of the book were slow and boring. The story only began to progress when the two main characters headed to Oregon for their "last chance" at the Shakespeare festival--there was simply too much lead-up.

However, the plot evolved from being a romantic, bitingly funny romp into a story about finding the true you, proving yourself, and discovering what you truly want. While it sounds corny, the information and themes were brought up in a way that was interesting, fresh and hilarious.

To fans of Hollywood stories, Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance was a cute, clever, and easy read that's perfect to bring along with you during spring break!

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Last Day to Enter for Ruby Oliver!

2011-02-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, enter the Ruby Oliver contest here! I'll be giving away 6 copies of the final book in E. Lockhart's charming, hilarious, and romantic series. Enter before tomorrow night at midnight for your chance to win!

The Monday Muse: Interview with Jennifer Solow

2011-01-31T20:59:00.001-08:00

Today's muse: Jennifer Solow

Author of: The Aristobrats (review here)

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Bookworm: Welcome, Jennifer! Let's start with the vital question--how did you decide to become a writer?

Jennifer: I was a managing partner/creative director of an advertising agency was stuck in a meeting in Manhattan, just a few blocks from the World Trade Center, on September 11th. By the end of that day I decided that, if there was going to be a tomorrow, I better do something good with it. I left my cushy job and took my first writing class. An assignment I was working on in class eventually became a novel. That novel became a national bestseller. That day I learned that there are no excuses for not doing something you love. It's never too late.

Bookworm: Was The Aristobrats based off of any of your life experiences?

Jennifer: I went to Winchester-Thurston, a school that has similarities to Wallingford. Many of the characters and even some of the names in the book are inspired by people I know. There's a scene in the next Aristobrats book which is exactly something that happened to a friend of mine in school. It was highly embarrassing--I knew it would make it into a book some day!

Bookworm: What was the inspiration behind The Aristobrats?

Jennifer: One word? The anti-Clique. My children are in middle school. I wanted to write something I'd be proud for them to read and they, in turn, would be proud for their friends to read. The book is about the struggles of popularity and being a good person and a good friend. Or at least trying your best. I wanted to write a book about popular girls that also has a good message. You don't have to be Massie Block.

Bookworm: Which Aristobrat are you most like, and why?

Jennifer: I'm a little like all of them but mostly Parker. Parker is insecure deep down but has learned to project confidence to the point where she actually feels it. She's also a good friend. I think I may dress a little crazier--like Kiki.

Bookworm: What was your writing process like?

Jennifer: I write everyday either in my office or in the library. I also exercise every day, which helps my brain kick into gear. Some days I get stuck--on those days I go shopping.

Bookworm: What's your next writing project?

Jennifer: The next Aristobrats!

Bookworm: What were your writing necessities while you were writing The Aristobrats? (for example: music, food, etc...)

Jennifer: I can't listen to music when I write--I find it distracting, although I am inspired by music. I have a lot of Taylor Swift on my "playlist" for this book. Cybervixen. Gwen Stefani. The only thing I need is a spot to sit, my computer and an enormous thermos of Japanese Hojicha tea.

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Thank you so much, Jennifer!

To find out more about upcoming books and to see which Aristobrat you're most like, visit Jennifer's website here.

The Lying Game

2011-01-30T15:26:00.001-08:00

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 307

Published: HarperTeen, 2010

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A-

When orphan Emma Paxton learns that she has a long-lost identical sister, Sutton, she is thrilled. Stealing away from her foster home, she travels to Arizona to meet up with the twin she never met, only to discover that Sutton has been murdered, and someone (could it be Sutton's killer?) wants Emma to slip into her sister's old life, posing as Sutton as a way to avoid any suspicion. But as Emma becomes her twin, she realizes that keeping up the act is harder then it seems, especially since Sutton's murderer is watching her every move. Emma learns that Sutton has some dirty little secrets to hide--especially in the form of the Lying Game, a vicious prank war that Sutton and her friends orchestrate. Emma's determined to get to the bottom of her sister's murder, but the killer might be closer than she thinks...

My thoughts: The Lying Game was a fast-paced, addictive, and thrilling rush. I was surprised at how different it was from Ms. Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series--but not necessarily in a bad way.

I loved the unique point-of-view and narration of the novel. Sutton, who has been killed, watches over her long-lost-twin sister Emma as she attempts to solve the mystery. The book is dark and full of intrigue, with a cast of interesting characters and and binding storyline.

However, I didn't get the same satisfaction from The Lying Game as I did from Pretty Little Liars. The twists and turns in the novel were often hard to follow, and I felt myself becoming confused at times. I understand that Ms. Shepard wanted suspense and buildup in her novel, but the lack of information was sometimes frustrating when the plot became hard to follow.

The Lying Game was a great set up to future books in the series, where I hope more information will be disclosed. This unique, fascinating, and slightly creepy story makes for one quick, action-packed, juicy read. I can't wait for the sequel, Never Have I Ever, coming out this August.

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings

2011-01-24T16:01:00.000-08:00

Author: Héléne Boudreau

Pages: 206

Published: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2010

Genre: Contemporary fiction/Fantasy

Cover score: A

Overall Grade: A

Jade is having the worst. Day. Ever. Not only does she get her first period and embarrass herself in front of the cutest boy in school, but she comes out of a supposed "soothing and relaxing" bath with a...mermaid tail? Jade soon discovers that she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mother. But if Mom was a mermaid, then how did she drown? Jade is determined to solve the mystery--no matter how dangerous and difficult it might get. So how does a plus-sized, chocolate-addicted, aqua-phobic, half-mer go about doing that exactly? And how is she supposed to keep her massive secret from her best friend and adorable crush? One thing's for sure: this summer is about to get a whole lot more interesting...

My thoughts: Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings was a clever and fresh take on a coming-of-age story. It was colorful, it was whimsical; it was witty and heart-warming and humorous. Jade made an empathetic main character: she was relatable and funny, and her narration was sincere and heartfelt. I felt like I could really get into her head and feel what she was feeling. I loved the supporting characters, including Jade's dad, her best friend Cori, and her crush Luke. They were all interesting and unique.

The plot was fast-paced and easy to follow. I literally whizzed through this book in a day. The story had perfect amounts of fantasy, romance, and adventure, the action was simple (even though I wish there had been more buildup!), and I loved all of the useful mermaid background information. Ms. Boudreau clearly went above and beyond in building her story and characters. Plus, I loved the chocolate mug cake recipe in the back of the book--I will DEFINITELY be trying that out!!

Creative, clever, and sweet, Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings is a fresh twist on a common plot. A middle grade girl must-read!

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

Jillian Larkin Interview

2011-01-22T13:27:00.001-08:00

I'd like to welcome Jillian Larkin, author of Vixen (one of my favorite books of 2010!)

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Bookworm: Hi, Jillian! To start off: what was the inspiration behind Vixen?

Jillian: I'm a huge film nerd, so a lot of my inspiration comes from movies. One of my favorite films is Annie Hall. I think Annie is such a fantastic character. She's smart, funny, and the lady pulls off suits like it's her job. Her actual job as a nightclub singer helped spark the inspiration for Gloria and her story.

Splendor in the Grass is another big inspiration. It's a gorgeous film that takes place in the 1920s and deals with some very heavy, modern issues. It helped me realize that being a teenager girl back in the Jazz Ages wasn't as different from being one in contemporary times as one might think.

Bookworm: What drew you to writing a book set in the 1920s?

Jillian: I've been in love with the Roaring Twenties practically since before I could remember. I was obsessed with the film Thoroughly Modern Millie as a kid and forced my family to watch it with me repeatedly. I've always admired the independence and strength flappers showed and it continues to inspire me. Also writing about gorgeous jazz, fantastic slang, and sparkly dresses is deliciously fun.

Bookworm: If you could travel back in time, what era would you visit, and

why?

Jillian: Would it be too boring and predictable of me to say the 1920s? I really would love to spend and evening at the Cotton Club listening to Fletcher Henderson and his orchestra play while dancing the Charleston. I would also like to visit the 1960s. That's another era with some amazing fashion, musicians, and historical events that would've been wonderful to witness firsthand.

Bookworm: Which character in Vixen as your favorite to write about?

Jillian: Aw, I love them all in different ways. Before I decided I wanted to be a writer, I planned to pursue musical theater. I still love to sing, but mainly in the shower, so it's nice to follow Gloria through her musical aspirations. Clara is how I wish I had been in high school. She's witty, smart, and unafraid to speak her mind. Despite the fact that she's lying about who she is, I think Clara knows herself best out of the three girls. I have fun with Lorraine too, since she can be silly in ways Gloria and Clara would never be.

Bookworm: What's next for the characters of Vixen in the novel's upcoming sequel, Ingenue?

Jillian: Each of the girls is thrust outside of her comfort zone in the next novel. Instead of the pampered ease to which they've grown accustomed, they try to make their way in new careers and settings. This novel takes place in New York rather than Chicago, which was easier on me research-wise since I live here. A new main character also comes into the fold.

Bookworm: What YA book have you read recently and loved?

Jillian: I recently read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins for the second time because I read it too quickly the first time, haha. I just love that Suzanne Collins didn't go the easy District 13 = Good, Capital= Bad route. She acknowledges that no side is without corruption and it's staying true to your own values that matters.

Bookworm: What are your writing essentials (snacks, music, setting...)?

Jillian: I have a special Flappers playlist with authentic 1920s as well as Jazz Age-influenced jazz that I always listen to while working on the series. I have three favorite Brooklyn coffee shops I alternate between which all have delicious iced coffee and vegetarian options. When I'm home, I lay on my bed, bend my knees, and write with my computer in my lap. It's probably terrible for my neck but great for inspiration. :)

Bookworm: If Vixen were made into a movie, who would pick to play the main characters?

Jillian: I think Emma Stone would be a fantastic Gloria. She's gorgeous, feisty, and she can even sing! For Clara I could see Dianna Agron from Glee or Mia Wasikowska. Lorraine's tougher..maybe Troian Avery Bellisario? She's got the right kind of angular beauty.

Bookworm: If you could be any one of the characters for a day, who would you choose?

Jillian: It depends on which day--there are certain times in Vixen when I wouldn't want to be any of them! But I would love to spend a day living Clara's fabulous old New York life.

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Thanks so much, Jillian! Check out the Flappers website here, where you can see the (gorgeousamazingwonderful) book trailer and Flapper-ize yourself!

Make sure to check out Jillian's upcoming blog tour stops, too:

Jan. 23-The Book Scout

Jan. 24-Bloggers Heart Books

Jan. 25-Daisy Chain Book Reviews

Jan. 26-Moonlight Book Reviews

Jan. 27-Teen Reads

Anna and the French Kiss

2011-01-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Pages: 375

Published: Dutton, December 2010

Genre: Contemporary fiction/Romance

Cover score: B-

Overall Grade: A

Anna's life in Atlanta was perfect, until she was shipped off to American boarding school in Paris, France, with no French skills, no friends, and her swoon-worthy crush stuck back home. Adapting isn't easy, but soon enough, aspiring film critic Anna finds her place in the new city with a new group of friends and the discovery of French cinema. Things especially start to look up when Anna meets Etienne St. Clair, a gorgeous, charming guy--with a girlfriend. Anna's year in Paris is filled with romantic near-misses: but by the end of the year, will Anna get her French kiss? After all, Paris is the city of love...

My thoughts: To me, the star of this book was the cast of well-developed, likable, and realistic characters. I felt like I was involved in Anna's group of friends, and, being a high school student myself, I really appreciated how life-like they were, really acting like a group of teenagers. Although I often found Anna whiny, I grew to really like and understand her point of view, and, of course, St. Clair made a dreamy love interest. The thing I appreciated most was that St. Clair wasn't your obvious Mr. Perfect: he was quirky and witty and sarcastic, which made him all the more lovable.

Anna and the French Kiss didn't really have a structured plotline, but it was set up as more of a "year-in-the-life" story, which I found refreshing and easy-to-follow. The novel was set against a Parisian backdrop, and I loved all the quirky little details that Ms. Perkins included: the sights (Notre Dame! The french cemetary! The funky little Parisian cinemas!), the food (baguette! panini! hot chocolate!), and the people. It was a little like a vacation without going anywhere.

I only wish that there had been more culture and Paris in the novel than romance. After the first 300 pages or so, I was getting tired of and confused by all of Anna and St. Clair's back-and-forthing. There was one too many twists-and-turns, which weren't necessary, as the ending was quite predictable.

However, Anna and the French Kiss is a fun, absorbing, frothy, fresh, and down-to-earth romance with humor and a genuine, sincere heroine that readers will relate to. If this is a delicious French picnic, then bon appetite! This is one delicious read that you don't want to miss.

Must-Read! Check it Out! Don't Bother

E. Lockhart Guest Blog and Giveaway!

2011-01-17T12:54:00.001-08:00

Welcome to E. (which stands for Emily!) Lockhart, the author of the fabulously funny Ruby Oliver series!

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Hi--and thanks so much for having me on Bookworm Readers to spread the word about my new book, Real Live Boyfriends. It's book four of the Ruby Oliver novels, the series that started with The Boyfriend List. All the scoop on the book and a preview chapter can be found here.

One of my favorite things to do as a writer is to title chapters. I loved chapter titles as a kid, especially if they were good ones. Reading them let you know what delicious things were in store. I still love them as an adult. Good ones will make me buy a book.

A.A. Milne wrote the most wonderful chapter titles. "In Which Eeyore Loses and Tail and Pooh Finds One." What could be better than that?

In the Ruby stories, I've had a great time playing around with these. In the first book, each chapter was named after a boy on the boyfriend list that ends up ruining Roo's reputation and losing her all her friends. In the second novel, The Boy Book, each chapter is named after a section of the notebook Roo and her friends keep, chock full of spurious advice on "The Care and Ownership of Boobs" or "Why You Want the Guy You Can't Have."

In The Treasure Map of Boys, each chapter is a sentence that begins with "I". "I am a Reluctant Bodyguard". "I Uncover the Secret Mental Health of Hair Bands." And so on.

For the final book, Real Live Boyfriends, I was somewhat stumped for a chapter title gimmick, until a librarian I know only on Twitter said something about how Roo's hysterical tendencies called to mind the hyperbolic headlines of Victorian scandal sheets. Aha! So all the chapter titles in Real Live Boyfriends have exclamation points, as if to evoke "Murder in the Museum Gallery!" or "Adultery on the Upper East Side!" But instead they say things like "Distraction Caused by Bare Chest!" or "Emotional Breakdown in the Parking Lot!"

They were very fun to write.

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In honor of the release of the final book in the Ruby Oliver series, Random House Children's Books is providing me with 6 copies of the concluding novel, Real Live Boyfriends, to give away!

Entering is simple, as always:

1) You must be a follower and you must live in the US (sorry, international friends!)

2) Name and email address below

3) Extra entries can be obtained by blogging/sidebar link (+2 for each mentioned)

Our 6 lucky winners will be chosen on February 14, 2011, so enter now!

Check out Emily's other stops on her tour (you won't regret it--she's quite hilarious):

January 10th: Confessions of a Bookaholic

January 11th: Random Acts of Reading

January 12th: Books on the House

January 13th: Figment

January 14th: Book Butterfly

January 19th: Robin's Roundup

Last Day to Enter!

2011-01-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

3 of my contests are ending tonight at midnight, so enter before it's too late!

Click here to win a copy of Jillian Larkin's YA debut Vixen, full of heart-pounding romance, jaw-dropping action, and thrilling secrets, all set in 1920's Chicago.

Click here to win a copy of Jennifer Solow's The Aristobrats, a middle-grade story with sass and style where 4 popular girls give a new meaning of cool.

Click here to win one of 3 holidays prize packs, which include Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, Kate Brian's Ex-Mas, Sarah Beth Durst's Ice, and Sophie Merrifield's Banished (and 4 other awesome picks!)

All contests are US-only.

* Looking for more contests? I'm also giving away a copy of Sarah Beth Durst's latest novel Enchanted Ivy (Princeton and were-tigers and romance, oh my!)--enter before February 1st!*

Unbelievable

2011-01-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

Author: Sara Shepard

Series: Pretty Little Liars, Book 4

Pages: 335

Published: HarperTeen, 2008

Genre: Mystery/Contemporary fiction

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

Thanks to the intervention of a mysterious stalker named "A", four girls living a privileged lifestyle are going through hell. Emily's been shipped off to ultra-conservative Iowa, Aria's boyfriend is behind bars--because of her, Spencer is afraid that she was involved in Ali's murder, and Hanna is hardly clinging to life in the hospital--because she knew too much. With increased threats and dangerous secrets, these girls have everything to lose. But can they get to the bottom of the mystery of A's identity before someone else gets hurt? And how is A related to the murder of their best friend, Alison?

My thoughts: Why, oh why, didn't I start reading this series earlier? I'm absolutely hooked. Unbelievable was unbelievably good, full of twists and turns and jaw-dropping secrets.

The book was packed chock-full of fast-paced action, heart-pounding mystery, and quick-moving drama. The 4 main characters are well-developed and realistic, and the book is detailed enough so that I felt like I was witnessing the events firsthand.

I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say that a major secret (ahem--A's identity!) is revealed in this book. Unbelievable left me with some big questions that I can't wait to uncover in the next novel, Wicked. Don't wait like I did: start reading this series as soon as you can get your hands on a copy: I can guarantee that you won't be able to put it down!

Other books in this series:

Pretty Little Liars

Flawless

Perfect

Interview with Sarah Beth Durst & Contest!

2011-01-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

Today's author: Sarah Beth Durst

Author of: Enchanted Ivy, Into the Wild, Out of the Wild, and Ice (review coming soon!)

Interested in winning a copy of Sarah's latest, Enchanted Ivy? Check out the details at the bottom of the interview!

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Bookworm: Welcome, Sarah! What was your inspiration behind Enchanted Ivy?

Sarah: Enchanted Ivy was inspired by one of the most harrowing experiences of my life: the college application process. Seriously, junior and senior year of high school, I was obsessed with getting into college. It was all I talked about and practically all I thought about for two entire years.

In Enchanted Ivy, Lily Carter is obsessed with getting into Princeton University. While visiting the campus, she discovers a secret gate to a magical realm and must race against time to save herself, her world, and any hope she has of college admission.

So this novel is completely autobiographical. Except for the were-tigers. And the talking gargoyles. And the dragons...

Bookworm: You yourself are a Princeton graduate--what is one of your favorite memories from your time there?

Sarah: I met my husband there so that memory has to be top on the list. :) He was my next-door neighbor freshman year. In winter, we used to borrow trays from the cafeteria and go sledding on the golf course behind our dorm.

Another favorite memory is working on my senior thesis at the same time as performing in Into the Woods. Literally, the same time. I had my laptop backstage. I'd revise part of my thesis and then I'd jump on stage to sing a song, and then I'd be back at my laptop.

(In case you're curious, I was the Granny in Into the Woods. And my senior thesis was a stage play about the birth of stories called "To Ride a Dragon". It included a live, fire-breathing dragon.)

Bookworm: How long was the writing process for Enchanted Ivy?

Sarah: Enchanted Ivy took about a year to write. This included two research trips to Princeton. You'd think after living there for four years, I wouldn't need to do research, but a place looks different when you see it through a character's eyes. I visited once during the outline stage and once while writing, and I walked every step that Lily took. I really like to get the details right so that the real world feels as real as possible to contrast with the magic.

Bookworm: Ahhhh, I'm so excited! Speaking of magical creatures, which one of the magical Princeton creatures

in Enchanted Ivy was your favorite?

Sarah: I'm partial to my were-tiger. I like shapeshifters. But I'm also fond of the talking gargoyles. The dragon in particular was fun to write. Ooh, and I LOVED writing the fairy. I can't really talk about her without giving spoilers, but she was very fun.

Bookworm: Are you on Team Jake or Team Tye?

Sarah: I adore them both! Plus I wouldn't want to hurt either of them by choosing. That said, I do think Lily makes the right choice for her. I think you should always go for the guy who loves you for who you are, not who you could be.

Bookworm: How are you and Lily alike, and how are you different?

Sarah: We're both devoted to our families and dedicated to our dreams. But other than that, I see her as a very different person. I talk about the novel being autobiographical, but that's only because it's based on emotional truth. The actual events and people are drawn from imagination, not reality. Except for the talking gargoyles. Obviously, they're real.

Bookworm: What upcoming YA book are you dying to read?

Sarah: I can't wait for Tamora Pierce's Mastiff (next in her Beka Cooper series). Also, I'm looking forward to Theodosia and The Last Pharaoh by R.L. Fevers and The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent.

Bookworm: What's your next writing project?

Sarah: Next up is Drink, Slay, Love. It's about a vampire girl who develops a conscience after she is stabbed through the heart by a unicorn's horn. It's been so much fun to write, and I'm so excited about it. It will be out in September 2011 by Simon & Schuster.

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Thanks, Sarah! As always, it was a pleasure to read your latest book. :)

**Want to win a copy of Enchanted Ivy? Simply comment below with your name and email address. You must be a follower and a resident of the US. Enter before February 1st to win!**

In My Mailbox

2011-01-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the past few weeks of In My Mailbox (created by the Story Siren). Lots of good reads!

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Diary of a Chav by Grace Dent
Timeless by Alexandra Monir (1/11/11)
Tutored by Allison Whittenberg
Teenie by Christopher Grant
Trance by Linda Gerber

Thank you to Random House Children's Books!

Wishlist of 2011 (Part One)

2011-01-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some 2011 releases that I'm really anticipating:

THE TIME-TRAVELING FASHIONISTA by Bianca Turetsky (April 5, 2011): Fashion, vintage clothing, and the Titanic: what else could you want?

PASSION by Lauren Kate: I love, love this series.

THE ROYAL TREATMENT by Lindsey Leavitt: Such a cute series!

DEMONGLASS by Rachel Hawkins: I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Hex Hall

Look for more of my posted wishlist coming soon! :)

Which 2011 releases are you anticipating the most?

Elixir

2011-01-02T15:34:00.001-08:00

Author: Hilary Duff

Pages: 327

Published: Simon & Schuster, 2010

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Romance

Cover Score: B+

Overall Grade: A

17-year-old Clea Raymond is used to living in the public eye. The daughter of a famed surgeon and a renowned politician, Clea herself has become a talented photojournalist, traveling the world. But after Clea's dad disappears on a humanitarian mission, Clea starts to notice an eerie, shadowy man show up in all of her pictures. Who is this man? Why is he so prominent in her work? How did she not notice before? When fate brings the two together, Clea realizes they have a deeper, dangerous connection that spans centuries...and that the man might know a key fact involving the truth behind her father's disappearance.

My thoughts: I was so pleasantly surprised by Elixir. Normally, I don't even bother picking up a celebrity-written book, but I had read reviews praising Hilary Duff's debut into YA fiction, and I couldn't resist (I admit, I was also a Lizzie McGuire freak as a kid).

Elixir is just stunning. From page one, I was sucked into the vortex of Clea's life. The plot evolved with every chapter, from a mystery to a romance to a heart-pounding thriller. This also caused a bit of confusion for me: the beginning of the novel starts out with the mystery of the man in Clea's photos, and then evolves into the mystery behind her father's disappearance, the mystery of who Sage really is, the mystery of what the Elixir of Life is, and--the most important--how they all link together, which is where I got tripped up.

Each character is beautifully done-out, and the jet-setting action is intriguing. I loved Clea's narration: I was enthralled with her story (I felt I could really get into her head), madly flipping pages until the cliffhanging ending. Good thing Ms. Duff's started work on the sequel, which will hopefully tie up loose ends!

Well-written and fast-paced, Elixir will please multiple categories of fans: fans of ages-old romance (think Lauren Kate's Fallen), fans of dark paranormal stories, and fans of running-down-the-clock mysteries.

Books Read in 2011!

2011-01-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

Here is my cumulative list of all the (hopefully great) books I'll get to read in 2011!

January

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Héléne Boudreau

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

February

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

March

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Wicked by Sara Shepard

April

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

May

OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman

June

What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh

The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg

What I Read in 2009

What I Read in 2010

Win A Copy of the Aristobrats!

2011-01-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, readers!

What's a better way to kick off 2011 than with a contest?

I'm giving away one copy of Jennifer Solow's novel The Aristobrats (check out my review here!). To enter (you guessed it): you must be a follower, and please comment with your name and email address below. US entries only, please! To earn extra points, you can sidebar link/blog/Tweet/do whatever you want, just as long as you leave me a link to your post(s)!

Contest will be closed January 15, 2010--also check out the Vixen and Super-Holiday Giveaway before then to win!

Best (and Worst) of 2010

2010-12-31T10:34:00.001-08:00

Click here to see a list of every book I read in 2010!

---------------------

I got this idea from The Story Siren:

1. Best Book of 2010

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst was the book I enjoyed reading the most this year. I'm normally not the biggest fan of fantasy, but this novel was riveting and well-written enough to really suck me in.

2. Worst Book of 2010

Hmm...I wouldn't say I have a worst book. There were some books that didn't work for me, but nothing so bad.

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010

I was really let down by Lisa Mantchev's Perchance to Dream. The first book in the series, Eyes Like Stars, was so beautiful and enchanting, but I spent the majority of its sequel confused and irritated.

4. Most Surprising Book of 2010

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey. I was expecting

cheesy romance and a stereotypical vampire plot, but it was so different from anything I imagined. One of my favorites of this year, actually!

5. Book You Recommended Most to People in 2010

Vixen by Jillian Larkin--how could you not love the sparkling glamour of 1920's Chicago? I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

6. Best Series Discovered in 2010

Well, The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey was my favorite new series of 2010, but I also started reading the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard, and I'm totally addicted.

7. Favorite New Author of 2010

Too many to count! :)

8. Most Hilarious Read of 2010

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt was really cute, well-done, and witty.

9. Most Thrilling Unputdownable Book of 2010

Well, it technically came out in 2009, but I was literally glued to Lauren Kate's Fallen for three days straight.

10. Book You Anticipated the Most for 2010

I was super excited (read: book-stalked) about Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins and Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (one of my favorite authors) for months before either book came out. They didn't disappoint!

11. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2010

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy has such an adorable, girly cover. What can I say--I'm a sucker for shoes...

12. Most Memorable Character in 2010

I loved Lucy from Hearts at Stake and Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey. She was spunky and had a great attitude and sense of humor!

13. Most Beautifully Written

Book in 2010

Even though I didn't love it, Lisa Mantchev's Perchance to Dream was like beautiful, descriptive poetry.

14. Book That Had the Greatest Impact on You in 2010

Once again, not a book written in 2010, but still inspiring: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I took it with me on a trip to Seattle, and I'll never forget the weird looks I got from people on the plane while I sobbed my eyes out.

15. Book You Can't Believe You Waited Until 2010 to Finally Read

The Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard and Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison. Thank you, summer vacation!

----------------

Look for my "2011 Releases I'm Dying to Read!" post coming this week...And until then, thank you to all readers, publishers, and authors for making 2010 so fabulous. Let's hope 2011 is just as great!

The Aristobrats

2010-12-30T11:31:00.001-08:00

Author: Jennifer Solow

Pages: 211

Published: 2010, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Genre: Middle-grade fiction

Cover Score: D

Overall Grade: A-

Parker Bell and her three best friends have been waiting for the start of their eighth grade year for their entire middle school career. This year, Parker and her friends have made it to the top of the populadder at their exclusive private school, Wallingford Academy. Their Facebook friend count has never been higher, and as Aristobrats (or Wallingford legacies), they've been groomed to lead the school to greatness. But when the girls are assigned to produce the lame, losers-only school webcast, their hard-worked-for popularity plummets. Will this tragedy destroy everything they've worked for? Or their friendship? Or both?

My thoughts: Before picking up The Aristobrats, I was expecting just your typical mean-girls novel, a la The Clique. However, The Aristobrats had something that the Clique and other books in the same genre lack. The popular girls are actually--gasp--friendly, and Ms. Solow actually projects some surprisingly good morals into her story, including the value of friendship and the real way to get to popularity.

The Aristobrats still has the same humor, label-dropping (though not as obnoxious as in The Clique) and attitude as similar books in the genre, but it also presents readers with four strong protagonists who have good ethics and are thoroughly relatable: how refreshing. My one complaint would have to be the cheesy cover--it doesn't do the book justice!

While The Aristobrats starts off a bit slowly, Ms. Solow has a strong, appealing writing style that sucks the reader into the quick-moving story. I definitely recommend this book to middle-school girls who want a bit of glitz and glam embedded in an overall fresh and lively quality read.

happy holidays!

2010-12-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa! Whatever you celebrate, I just wanted to take the time to thank each follower and reader, and wish a happy, healthy, and safe New Year to all! Look for my "Best of 2010" post coming soon, where I will highlight the top reads of this year. I'm sitting here in a snuggly new cashmere sweater and some great new books to look forward to--life's good? :)

PS. If you're in the holiday spirit of gift-giving and receiving, I'm giving away 9 holiday-themed new releases here, and a copy of the smashing new YA novel Vixen by Jillian Larkin here! Enter to win!

Win A Copy of Vixen!

2010-12-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Here's your chance to win a copy of Jillian Larkin's new novel Vixen! Full of 1920's mystery, intrigue, and romance, Vixen was one of my favorite books of 2010 (check out my review here!)

You must be a follower to enter (and if you're not, it's super easy--check out my sidebar and click "follow"!). To enter, simply comment below with your name and email address. A winner will be selected on January 15, 2011. US entries only, please! Good luck!

PS. Also check out the Mega Holiday Contest here--I'm giving away 9 books total. Enter before January 10 to win a wintery prize pack!

The Karma Club

2010-12-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

Author: Jessica Brody

Pages: 258

Published: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: B

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma worked: good deeds are rewarded, and bad deeds are punished. So when Maddy catches her boyfriend of two years cheating on her with perfect Heather Campbell, Maddy decides that she can't wait for Karma to balance the universe and exact revenge on Mason Brooks. He deserves punishment, now. That's when Maddy and her best friends decide to form the Karma Club--a secret organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes the universe is leaving behind. By righting the wrongs of former exes and getting payback on mean girls, the girls of the Karma Club believe that they're doing the right thing--they're watching out for each other. But what the girls don't realize is that it isn't wise to meddle with the universe. Because once you mess with Karma, it messes back...Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, as she's created an even bigger mess for herself.

My thoughts: I really liked the concept for The Karma Club. It was fresh, it was fun, it was unique. However, the book fell a bit flat for me in certain areas.

The best part of this book, for me, was when the girls put their plans into action. Their revenge plans were funny and clever, but I wish there were more moments like these! Most of the book was Maddy's internal monologue, and frankly, it got boring after a while. I wanted more action and a faster plot. The story seemed to move slowly, and by the end of the book, I just wanted it to be over already. It took too long to get to the point.

I did love the members of the club, though. Jade, Angie, and Maddy were all hilarious and relatable, which makes this book perfect for teenage girls!

The Karma Club put some good points out there, and I really enjoyed the useful, sincere information about harmony and Karma. Ms. Brody clearly did her research! While a bit slow and quite predictable, The Karma Club is still an entertaining read--maybe just wait until it comes out in paperback.

PS. Watch the awesome trailer here!

Big Holiday Contest!

2010-12-17T20:07:00.001-08:00

Here's my gift to you this holiday season! I'm hosting a super-duper holiday giveaway! There will be 3 lucky winners, who will each receive one of the wintery prize packs below:

The Holiday Romance Pack

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (review coming soon!)
Ex-Mas by Kate Brian (review coming soon!)

The Icy Winter Wonderland Pack

Ice Claw by David Gilman
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst (review coming soon!)
Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner (review coming soon!)

A Very Paranormal Christmas Pack

Banished by Sophie Littlefield
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Sleepless by Cyn Balog

To enter:

You must be a follower of Bookworm Readers
Enter your name and email address below
2 extra entries will be awarded to anyone for either blogging about the contest or adding a link to your sidebar (that's up to 4 extra entries!)
US entries only, please!
The contest will end at midnight PST on January 15, 2011.

Good luck and happy holidays!

Mailbox Monday

2010-12-13T18:46:00.001-08:00

Vixen by Jillian Larkin (giveaway coming soon!)
Teenage Waistland by Lynn Biederman and
Wish by Joseph Monninger
The Tapestry: The Fiend and the Forge by Henry H. Neff
Sammy Keyes and The Wedding Crasher by Wendelin vanDraanen
The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant
A Time of Miracles by Anne-Laure Bondoux
The Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow
Hailey Twitch and the Great Teacher Switch by Lauren Barnholdt
Secrets of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway
Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

Have a great week--5 more days of finals and school, and then I'm freeee!

Vixen

2010-12-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Author: Jillian Larkin

Pages: 421

Published: December 14, 2010

Genre: Historical fiction/Romance/Mystery

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A+

Welcome to 1920's Chicago, where anything goes....

Seventeen year old Gloria Carmody wants what she can't have, the flapper lifestyle: sneaking into underground clubs, dancing the night away...However, she's engaged to Sebastian Grey, one of the most powerful businessmen in Chicago. Now, her carefree party days are over before they've even started...or are they?

Meanwhile, Gloria's squeaky-clean country-mouse cousin Clara Knowles has come to Chicago to help prepare for the wedding, but looks can be deceiving. Clara's got some dirty little secrets in her past that she'd love to put behind her. But in a dangerous, thrilling city like Chicago, they just might pop up again...

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's envious, social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria's shadow. Lorraine's ready to make a splash for herself, and she won't let anyone stand in her way. Someone is going to be very sorry....

My thoughts: I can't stress how much I enjoyed the first book in this smashing new series. Vixen was captivating, dangerous, sexy, and beautifully written. First, I loved the characters in the novel.

The alternating chapters helped me get into each character's head. I could feel Gloria's stress regarding her upcoming forced marriage, Clara's desperation not to fall in love again, and Lorraine's spite towards her "perfect" best friend. Ms. Larkin did a superb job at capturing 1920's society in the pages of her book. I could imagine Chicago perfectly in my head, and each little description of Chicago's wealthy, beautiful young adults made me want to hop in the book and stay there amidst all the danger and romance.

Ms. Larkin's writing style is easy to get in to, and the book whizzed by for me. The mystery aspect was easy to follow, the romance was swoonworth, and the descriptions of everything were simply beautiful. I loved the glamorous, secretive world of underground speakeasies, Mob bosses, and glittering flapper dresses that she created. I loved 1920's fashion, so this book was perfect for me.

In short, I can't recommend Vixen enough. If you're looking for a "totally jake" read, here's your best bet. I can't wait to read the next book, Ingenue, coming out next year!

Vixen Book Trailer

2010-12-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

I adore this trailer--it's glamorous, it's mysterious, it's well-made...I'm almost done with the book (Releasing December 14, so be prepared to make a bookstore run) and I'm loving it! Expect my review and a Vixen giveaway in the next few days!

Invisible Things

2010-11-29T20:56:00.000-08:00

Author: Jenny Davidson

Pages: 272

Published: 11/23/10, HarperTeen

Genre: Historical fiction/Mystery

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: B

15 year old Sophie knows that there is more to the story of her parents' death than what she has been told.

Now that she is living in Denmark (safely away from the secrets of her life in Scotland), Sophie is on a mission

to uncover what really happened. On her side is Mikael, her best friend who has turned into something more.

Along the way, Sophie will realize that the only person who can help her is her parents' former employer: Alfred Nobel,

the billionaire, reclusive scientist. However, Sophie quickly learns that nothing--and no one--in her life is what it seems.

And coming to terms with dark secrets means imagining a truth that she never dreamed possible.

My thoughts: Invisible Things was shorter, quicker, and easier to read than its predecessor, The Explosionist. A mere 272 pages compared to 400-something, I felt that Invisible Things covered more material and was easier to understand.

The mystery aspect was more apparent: Sophie wanted to uncover what really happened to her parents in the mysterious factory explosion that they died in. This, combined with a string of events involving the possibility of war add to suspense, danger, and adventure in the plot. I loved the developments in the lives of the characters, like how Mikael and Sophie's relationship flourished, and the introduction of Albert Nobel.

However, it is hard to follow along in the book, difficult to figure out what is going on, and confusing to understand where the plot is going.

Once again, I felt that the mystery sort of fizzled out in the end of the information-packed story. There seemed to be a lot of leadup and suspense for a rather disappointing ending. I felt like there was still so much left to cover!

Even though the ending of Invisible Things left me unsatisfied, the actual body 0f the story was written beautiful and in great detail. The setting was absolutely amazing, and I felt transported to a different time. Definitely give this one a try, but wait until it comes to your public library.

The Explosionist

2010-11-25T13:17:00.001-08:00

Author: Jenny Davidson

Pages: 448

Published: HarperTeen, 2008

Genre: Historical fiction/Mystery

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: B

15-year-old Sophie lives in a dangerous time on the brink of war; full of terrorism, dark secrets, politics, and betrayal. A bomb that goes off near Sophie's school sets off a chain of mysteries, including a dark prophecy made by a psychic medium that is murdered shortly after. Does the medium know anything about the bombings? Is Sophie's handsome chemistry teacher (who is very knowledgable about dynamite) involved? Sophie and her friend Mikael need to get to the bottom of the mysteries, in order to save themselves--as well as the rest of Europe.

My thoughts: The Explosionist is a heavy book. Not only is it a long book, but it is also dense. Ms. Davidson has packed tons of information in here, which creates a complicated plot that can be confusing to the reader from time to time.

However, The Explosionist was extremely well-written. Ms. Davidson clearly put in a lot of research to perfect the historical details of her book, and it paid off. As I flipped through the pages, I felt like I was submerged in Sophie's 1930's-Scotland. Every action and character came to life in my head.

I loved how Ms. Davidson created an alternate-universe Scotland brimming with complex politics, the possibility of war, betrayal, technology, and psychic happenings.

I just felt like there was too much going on: the bomb going off over near Sophie's school, the romance aspect, the murder of the psychic, Sophie's connection with the spirit world, the possibility of war, a school that brainwashes girls...I felt like a lot of this material went uncovered in the end, adding to my unclear confusion. After the long lead-up and the murder and explosions, the mystery aspect of the book kind of faded away.

Nonetheless, I look forward reading the sequel in hopes of clarification and more heart-pounding adventure.

I Completely Forgot About...

2010-11-12T16:56:00.001-08:00

Bookworm Readers' 3RD BIRTHDAY! I started this blog 3 years ago (on October 12th, 2007) with the hopes of reading and reviewing books for publishers. I just wanted to take the time to thank all of my wonderful, lovable readers and supporters. Blogging wouldn't be half as fun without you! :)

Expect a fun birthday contest coming soon!

In My Mailbox

2010-11-07T11:55:00.001-08:00

This week in the mail Random House sent me a copy of Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. It looks like an adorable winter read--look for my review coming soon!

Thank you Random House!

Classy

2010-11-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

Author: Derek Blasberg

Pages: 230

Published: Razorbill, 2o10

Genre: Nonfiction/How-to

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

Nowadays, it's hard to find a classy young lady. Thanks to the negative influence of the media, girls are famous for the wrong reasons--drinking and partying and having no manners whatsoever. Derek Blasberg is here to help girls clean up their act--staying cleaner and acting and dressing better (ie not wearing rhinestone-studded dresses and breaking up via text message). Whether they need help setting a table for a dinner party, or encouragement to keep their tops on at parties, Mr. Blasberg has made it his mission to help girls be ladies, and not tramps.

My thoughts: Every girl needs to own a copy of Classy. It's funny, it's honest, and it's packed chock-full with great advice (how to set a proper table, what to wear to a party, how to go about a break up, how to avoid temptation, what books and movies to know). I adored every page!

Mr. Blasberg certainly knows his stuff (he should, after working for top fashion mags like Vogue and W)--and injects his sassy, witty knowledge into each segment. The book was nicely organized so that it was easy to read, and all of the cute graphics and hilarious visuals made a nice supplement. The book was made of a collection of different articles, which were helpful, but still managed to stay positive, light, and easy to read.

Mr. Blasberg put a clever, modern twist on a classic etiquette book, and made the story clever, fashionable, and au courant. The book was divided into 8 sections: "A Lady Gets Dressed" (fashion and presentation), "A Lady Receives an Invitation" (proper dress/etiquette at a party), "A Lady Throws a Party" (how to throw a successful fete), "A Lady Goes Abroad" (travel tips), "A Lady Makes Friends" (how to make and keep friends), "A Lady Looks for Love" (the dos and don'ts of relationships), "A Lady Faces Temptation" (how to stay clean and classy), and "A Lady Is Always Learning" (book/movie recommendations).

Whether you're looking for fashion tips, party themes, or how to tell which guy is good, bad, or gay; Classy is the ideal read for the put-together, fashionable young lady (or one who needs desperate help).

Enchanted Ivy

2010-11-02T20:18:00.001-07:00

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Pages: 310

Published: McElderry Books, 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

High school junior Lily Carter has college on the mind: she's dying to go to Princeton University, just like her grandfather did. So when the opportunity arises to accompany him to his 50th reunion, she jumps at the chance. However, she wasn't expecting to take the top secret Legacy Test...something that will grant her automatic admission to Princeton if passes. But this is no ordinary test: as she searches for the elusive "Ivy Key", Lily uncovers dark secrets, including a magic gate that leads to an alternate, magical Princeton--a gate that only she can open. War is rising between the magic and non-magic worlds with her family in the center of the conflict, and it is up to Lily to face all the (cute) were-tigers, taking gargoyles, dragons, unicorns, and other magical creatures and bring peace to both worlds--but who can she trust? Getting into college has gotten more complicated than she's expected...

My thoughts: I cannot stress how much I adored Sarah Beth Durst's latest novel. Enchanted Ivy was totally unlike any fantasy I've ever read before. I'm usually not the biggest fan of fantasy, but fantasy lovers and those who prefer different genres will both love this story. Ms. Durst made the plot interesting, fast-paced, addictive, and totally unique. Once again, Ms. Durst's creativity amazed me. I loved how she combined magic and Princeton--the result was unlike anything I've ever read before. Ms. Durst painted a wonderful picture of the campus and of every event, so that I felt like I had been sucked into the story myself and could picture all of the well-developed and likeable characters in my head.

The novel was the perfect length for me, and even though some of the details of the book (who's on which side of the magical battle) got a bit confusing, I never wanted it to end. The twists and turns had me madly flipping pages, and there were perfect amounts of humor and romance to balance out all of the fantasy.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Go buy a copy to experience the magic yourself!

Spooky Reads for Halloween and Beyond

2010-10-30T22:27:00.001-07:00

It's one of my favorite times of the year again, and I love curling up with a mug of hot apple cider and a spooky, ghostly book to get into the Halloween/autumn mood. Here are my top 7 spooky paranormal picks to read this year on Halloween:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
Manifest by Artist Arthur
Deception by Lee Nichols
Hex Education by Zareen Jaffrey and Emily Gould

...And even after Halloween, it's fun to dive into a spooky mystery or fantasy book that's fitting for the winter months. Have a fun, safe Halloween and happy reading!

In My Mailbox

2010-10-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

Here's what was in my mailbox this week:

Monster High by Lisi Harrison (just for fun...)
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Classy by Derek Blasberg (a fashionable guide from the library)
Trash by Andy Mulligan
Dark Water by Laura McNeal
Ice Claw by David Gilman

Thanks so much to Random House Books for Young Readers! This rainy weather looks like it's staying--so I have lots of good books to pass the time with (and plenty of time to catch up on pathetically catch up with my lack of reviews...argh!).

Contest Extended!

2010-10-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, check out the contest to win a copy of Lauren Baratz-Logsted's The Twin's Daughter! I've extended the deadline to enter to November 1st. Click here for your chance to win--US entries only, please!

In My Mailbox

2010-10-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Gaaah I've been so slow at updating le blog. Anyway, here are a few week's worth of IMM. I've been busy with school and sick so there hasn't been a whole lot of reading time. Thanks for your patience, I should have some reviews up soon. :)

Project Fashion: Armani Angels by Jasmine Oliver (used book sale)
Vixen: The Flappers (ARC) by Jillian Larkin (Thank you to Meg O'Brien!)
Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters (ARC)
Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde
The Sphinx's Queen by Esther Friesner
Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst
I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison
Brain Jack by Brian Falkner
Banished by Sophie Littlefield
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Sammy Keyes and the Wedding Crasher by Wendelin vanDraanen
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Special thanks to Random House Children's Books and Sarah Beth Durst! I've got plenty of happy reading ahead of me--I'll keep you posted!

The Ivy

2010-10-08T20:59:00.001-07:00

Part of a Traveling to Teens blog tour!
Author: Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur

Pages: 312

Published: Greenwillow, 2010

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A-

Despite lacking connections, money, any East Coast legacies, and a prep-school ready wardrobe, California girl Callie Andrews has managed to get into the most prestigious college in the world--Harvard University. Callie's got the brains and the determination to get through the hardcore academics, but it's the social aspects that have got her all confused: she has to face three crazy roommates, boy problems galore, her first college parties, and an ex-boyfriend in California who may ruin her life. And, oh yeah--the most popular upperclassmen in school is out to get her and is, coincidentally, the editor of the magazine that Callie's dying to get on...Will she be able to survive her first semester at college? Or will the stress send her packing for LA?

My thoughts: I was expecting a light, chick lit read going into The Ivy: maybe not-so-great writing, kind of fluffy, kind of Gossip Girl-y. I should know by now not to judge a book by its cover. The Ivy was written in a descriptive, addictive way that kept me turning pages. It had its light, funny, party moments, but also held some deeper morals and meanings.

I was sucked into Callie's world: the drama, the parties, the hard work, the scandals, the day-to-day college life (coffee, work, lectures, work, more caffeine...) Her story had me completely hooked from start to finish, making for a quick, breezy read! Ms. Kunze has a comfortable writing style that gives you a perfect picture of every event, every character in your mind. She clearly was writing from experience, and it showed in her details and fun little Harvard facts tossed in throughout the novel. I also really liked the little snippets from the fictional school blogs and newspapers before every chapter--it gave the book a more personal, college-y feel.

The characters were well-written and oh-so-lovable: I loved all of Callie's kooky friends and roommates, and the mean girl was just so fun to hate. The romance was just right (although I want to see more of Matt!), and it felt like it spoke directly to teenagers. Although sometimes a bit predictable, I found myself wanting more--what's next for Callie?

This book felt like a little snippet of easy-to-read-about college life, and makes a leisurely, enjoyable read for readers 15 & up!

The Twin's Daughter

2010-10-01T21:40:00.001-07:00

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Pages: 304

Published: September 2010, Bloomsbury

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A-

Lucy Sexton's world is turned upside-down when her mother's identical twin turns up at their doorstep. Separated at birth, Aunt Helen is the exact opposite of the elegant, upper-classsociety lady that Lucy's mother is. However, the family takes her in, and before long, Aunt Helen has been transformed into an exact replica of her mother. However, she doesn't seem to mind being mistaken for Lucy's mother...especially when it comes to Lucy's father. Even Lucy is having trouble telling them apart. But when a brutal murder takes place in Lucy's own home, who has been left alive, and who has been killed? And who is behind the murder?

My thoughts: I must admit, The Twin's Daughter is a solid, deep story that took me a long time to get through. The story starts off very slowly, winding its way up to a climax that occurs nearly more than halfway through the book, and speeding up to the exciting conclusion. However, I felt that the plot took a little too much time to get to the point. The story was very wordy and packed with detail, and I would've like to have seen a more-developed aspect of mystery. However, once the story began moving, I was instantly engrossed--the twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat.

Ms. Baratz-Logsted clearly did her research on Victorian London, and it showed: the daily-life aspects, narration, and details of Lucy's home, dress, and surroundings painted a perfect picture of the time period for me. Ms. Baratz-Logsted has an abundance of writing skills!

I loved how well-developed the characters were: I really felt that I could get into Lucy's mind, and I adored Aunt Helen and Kit as supporting characters.

This story of betrayal, jealousy, secrets, and mystery is an engrossing gothic that has a killer mystery aspect that is both chilling and fascinating. A must-read for fans of historical fiction!

PS. Win a copy of The Twins' Daughter here!

Interview with Lauren Baratz-Logsted & Contest

2010-09-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Author of: The Twins' Daughter

Part 1 of the Bloomsbury Fall 2010 book tour!

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Bookworm: Welcome, Lauren! To start, what was your inspiration for The Twins' Daughter?

Lauren: I'm fascinated with twins. Aren't most people? Well, except for actual twins, perhaps; maybe they're not as fascinated by it all as the rest of us are. So I decided I wanted to do a story from the point of view of the child of an identical twin.

Bookworm: Which character can you relate to the most?

Lauren: Ooh, that is a hard question! I'd like to saw I relate most to Kit--he's so heroic. The only problem with that is that I'm nowhere near as heroic. Maybe I'm most like Lucy's father? We are both writers.

Bookworm: Why did you want to write a book with a mystery aspect?

Lauren: It's not the first time. The adult novel Vertigo is also Victorian suspense. Secrets of my Suburban Life is a contemporary comedic YA with a mystery within it. Even The Sisters 8 series for young readers has a mystery that runs throughout. So I guess it wasn't so much me saying "I want to write a mystery" as me saying "I need to write this specific book now!" I do like to stretch different writing muscles.

Bookworm: Describe your writing process.

Lauren: I get an idea, a one-sentence idea that's somehow so large I can see an entire 250-to-400 page novel in it. Almost immediately, there's a main character and a title for the book. Then, when the idea starts burning so strong I can't stand it anymore, like Curious George, I sit down and begin to write. I typically write from 7 am to 4 pm--the hours my daughter is in school--and sometimes nights and weekends.

Bookworm: What are your writing essentials (snacks, music, etc)?

Lauren: I need to watch "General Hospital" every day. That's pretty much it. I'm not one of these rock bands with all their demands for when they're on the road--espresso machine, bowls of green-only M&Ms, etc. Really, I'm a very low-mantinence creator.

Bookworm: If you could travel back in time, which era would you like to visit?

Lauren: Victorian England, hands down. There's a reason why I've set more than one book in that time and place. I want to wear one of those dresses! I want to drive around in a carriage! I'm not sure I'd be as happy, though, with the state of the indoor plumbing.

Bookworm: What YA book have you read and loved recently?

Lauren: The most recent one I read and loved was Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I loved the atmospheric nature of the storytelling.

Bookworm: What is your next writing project?

Lauren: I'm still working on finishing The Sisters 8, the series of books for young readers that I write with my husband and daughter. My next YA, due out next year, is called The Middle March. This one is contemporary but it's strongly tied to a classic novel: Little Women.

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Thanks so much, Lauren! Click here to visit her online! :)

Are you interested in reading Lauren's latest, The Twins' Daughter (expect my review soon!)? Enter below to win a copy! US only, please! To enter, simply leave your name and email address below. 2 extra points will be rewarded to followers of Bookworm Readers! This contest will close on October 15th, 2010. Good luck!

Fallen

2010-09-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Author: Lauren Kate

Pages: 496

Published: December 2009, Delacorte

Genre: Paranormal/Romance

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

Ever since she was a little girl, Lucinda Price has been seeing dark shadows--and after a particularly serious incident, Luce finds herself at Sword & Cross, a rundown reform school. There, Luce finds her fair share of crazy people, good friends, and boy trouble. There's Cam, who is charming, kind, and interested. And then there's Daniel, who goes out of his way to be unfriendly to Luce. Still, she is drawn to him--but he has a dark secret that Luce is dying to find out. The students at Sword & Cross had better watch out, because an ancient battle is coming...

My thoughts: Fallen is deeply, beautifully written story: it's fast paced, intense, dark, romantic, scary, fascinating, enchanting, and simply unlike any other paranormal I've ever read. I was sucked in by it--Ms. Kate's writing is beautiful, detailed, and addictive, probably the reason behind her success.

I could not put Fallen down. I ate up Luce's world at Sword & Cross, and I could picture everything going on in the book. Luce was a great protagonist who had a clear voice--I could really get into her head. I felt like the two love interests (Daniel and Cam) were all right. I just couldn't picture them, and they were underdeveloped compared to Luce and her other friends. I just didn't get her fascination with Daniel. I felt like I needed more information on him! The romance aspect didn't gobble up the whole book. It was an important aspect, yes, but the mystery and other events gave the book interesting twists and turns that led to a surprising conclusion.

Ms. Kate broke away from the norm of vampires and werewolves and put out a fantastic YA debut that kept me hooked until the satisfying ending. She clearly did her research and worked hard to make all of the information on angels, religion, etc make sense and relate to the novel. I definitely want more--I can't wait to dig into the second book, Torment! (Released September 28 by Delacorte)

Low Red Moon

2010-09-22T17:34:00.001-07:00

Author: Ivy Devlin

Pages: 208

Published: Bloomsbury, 9/17/10

Genre: Paranormal/Romance/Mystery

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: A-

Avery Hood can't remember the night her parents were killed--all that she can recall is a flash of silver, moving inhumanly fast, and then the police who found her near her parents' bodies on the edge of the forest that they loved. Now she's on her own, living with a grandmother she never knew, grieving over the world she loved that is gone forever, and trying to cope while, at school, she attracts whispers and stares. Then Avery meets Ben, a boy who's...different. Who doesn't quite seem all human--whose eyes sometimes flash silver. But Avery is drawn to him anyway...However, she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died. And who could be in grave danger herself.

My thoughts: I was expecting the average teen paranormal novel from Low Red Moon. At first glance, it screamed, Twilight knock-off--but I was still intrigued. While some aspects of the book were very been there, done that, so many parts of Low Red Moon really worked together to make an unforgettable read.

For instance, the aspect of the death of Avery's parents added a sort of "grief narrative" to the plot. This part of the story mingled well with the romance--but the aspect of Avery grieving and attempting to find her parent's killer gave the novel a forward push and some real depth. Avery herself was a deep, complex character who I really took to.

Ms. Devlin's writing is literally beautiful--Avery's narrative is poetic, and the wording is perfect. I really understood how Avery was feeling: about Ben, about her parents, about her shaky relationship with her estranged grandmother (who I began to love more and more as the book continued). The story was suspenseful, spooky, and dark--a real page-turner. The ending had me at the edge of my seat, and is thrillingly surprising.

Ironically, the one part that I didn't like as much was the romance. Ben and Avery's relationship was so abrupt and it felt fake, not real at all. Sure, they had some sort of "bond", but I just couldn't help but yawn whenever they were together, or when Avery mentioned that "he wasn't quite all human" over and over again. Sure, it gave the book some paranormal romance pizzaz, but the cheesy factor was high and made the middle of the book drag.

However, Ms. Devlin has made a breathtaking debut that had me hooked. Definitely check this out if you're a fan of the genre and you want a romantic, chilling, well-written, fast mystery!

* Thank you to Kate Lied and Bloomsbury Children's Books for the ARC, and for letting me take part in the Low Red Moon blog tour.

The Monday Muse: Interview with Tera Lynn Childs

2010-09-20T21:05:00.001-07:00

Today's muse: Tera Lynn Childs, goddess of creative and funny YA novels! Today, Tera's talking travel, kissable characters, ancient Greece, and what's up next!

Author of: Oh. My. Gods, Goddess Boot Camp, and Forgive My Fins

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Bookworm: Welcome, Tera! To begin--why Greek gods and mermaids as the subjects for your YA novels?

Tera: I've always loved Greek myth, everything about ancient cultures, really. My obsession with mermaids dates back to the movie Splash and childhood bath toys called SeaWees. So I guess the short answer is that both Greek gods and mermaids are the stuff of my childhood fantasies.

Bookworm: What is your favorite Greek myth and god?

Tera: One of my favorite myths is the story of Persephone and the underworld. Although kidnapping is never a good thing, I kind of feel sorry for Hades. He got the short end of the stick in the draw for kingdoms, definitely. And the underworld must get pretty lonely. My favorite god would probably be Ares, all that bad boy jockishness is just too yummy.

Bookworm: Have you ever been to Greece?

Tera: Sadly, no. It's on my life list.

Bookworm: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Tera: Autoportation. I'd love to be able to go anywhere in the world in an instant. Though I'd probably want to break the rule about only going places you've been and would end up popping myself into trouble.

Bookworm: Who was your personal favorite character in the Oh. My. Gods books?

Tera: As weird as this sounds, I kind of like Stella. Yeah, she's a brat with an attitude, but she's got layers and she definitely has her act together. I always like writing the bad character and finding a way to redeem them.

Bookworm: Moving on to your next (fabulous) book...How long was your writing process for Forgive My Fins?

Tera: Technically, three years. I started writing Forgive My Fins in the summer of 2006, right before I sold Oh. My. Gods. I had to put the project on hold while I worked on Oh. My. Gods and Goddess Boot Camp and didn't get to return to Seaview until 2008. I think the final revision was turned in by June 2009. Probably my time spent on the writing adds up to six months.

Bookworm: How are you and Lily alike, and how are you different?

Tera: Lily and I are probably less alike than any of my other girl characters. As a teen, I did tend to fall head over fins for a guy I barely knew, just like Lily, but she's way more scattered and clumsy and frazzled than me.

Bookworm: If you could kiss one of your character in Forgive My Fins, who would it be?

Tera: Do you even have to ask that question?

Bookworm: Who would you cast as the characters in a Forgive My Fins movie?

Tera: This one is hard because the people I picture as Lily, Brody, and Quince (Shakira, Brody Jenner, and Eric Dane) aren't exactly role appropriate. I saw a review the other day that suggested Taylor Swift as Lily and Cam Gigandet as Quince and I think that's pretty awesome.

Bookworm: If you were a mermaid, what would be your essential item to have undersea?

Tera: If I were a mermaid, I'd be so happy I wouldn't need anything else! But every mer girl needs a fashionable tankini top or two.

Bookworm: If you could be any place right now in the world, where would you be?

Tera: Seattle, but only because I'm moving there soon and I wish I were already there. As for travel dreams, I fantasize about Buenos Aires, Tokyo, and Morocco.

Bookworm: What are your travel essentials?

Tera: A camera and a comfortable pair of shoes. I try to pack as light as possible, because I'd rather spend my time exploring than lugging and unpacking. After spending seven weeks traveling with nothing but a carry-on suitcase, I still wished I'd packed less.

Bookworm: What's the most exciting place you've traveled?

Tera: Alaska. I got to go for about two weeks with a friend who is from there, and it was amazing. The two most spectacular moments were canoeing across a small lake to go blueberry picking and an awe-inspiring glacier cruise of Prince William Sound.

Bookworm: What YA book have you read and loved recently?

Tera: Firelight by Sophie Jordan. It's a breathtaking story about a girl who is descended from dragons and the boy whose family hunts her kind.

Bookworm: What's your next writing project?

Tera: Next up is Fins are Forever, the sequel to Forgive My Fins, which will be out next summer. After that, I'm starting a new trilogy about triplet descendants of Medusa who discover it's their destiny to guard the door between the world of monsters and that of man.

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Thanks so much, Tera! All the best to you in your next exciting project!

Visit Tera's website here, and check out what's next undersea in the upcoming Fins are Forever by visiting its page on Goodreads!

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball

2010-09-06T20:07:00.001-07:00

Author: Risa Green

Pages: 315

Published: Sourcebooks Fire, 9/16/10

Genre: Realistic fiction/Fantasy

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

Erin Channing's life is completely, utterly boring. She has nothing to write about for her AP Art History application for a trip to Italy, her crazy aunt hasn't contacted her family in a year, and the only thing that Erin has going for her is her 4.0 GPA. That is, until her Aunt Kiki dies suddenly and leaves Erin with a pink, plastic crystal ball. Erin is just about to write it off as another one of Aunt "Kooky"'s oddities, but then she and her best friends decide that the crystal ball just might have the magic and power to see into the future. Is it the perfect way to get whatever Erin wants--including a date with the mysterious Jesse Cooper? Or is it just going to make a mess of everything? One thing's for sure...Erin's life sure won't be boring anymore.

My thoughts: The Secret Society was an entirely fun, sincere, and unique read. Fairly light and quick, this book is ideal for a teenage girl who wants a humorous, relatable story they can't put down.

I loved the characters in this book: Erin and her two best friends Lindsay and Samantha were lifelike, the sort of people I'd like to be friends with. Erin was a great narrator: I really felt for her, and she had tons of personality. I was rooting for her till the end of the book. I also loved the relationship between Erin and Kiki, and how close they were: it was refreshing to see an aunt-niece relationship.

The aspect of the all-seeing crystal ball also made the story interesting and kept me on my toes--I always wondered what Erin would ask for next, and how it would go crazily (and hilariously) wrong!

The book flowed smoothly, and although it started off a bit slow, the plot continued at a steady pace. The end left me satisfied, as Ms. Green tied up all loose ends and everything made sense. Ms. Green has a wonderful writing style that hooked me in. Her descriptions were rich and deeply written, and I feel like she put a lot of emotion and hard work into perfecting her storyline--you could really tell.

I can't wait to see what's next for Erin--hopefully a sequel can be predicted in the near future!

Interview with Sarah Quigley

2010-09-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

Today's star author: Sarah Quigley

Author of: TMI

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Bookworm: Welcome, Sarah! To begin, please tell us: how long did the writing process for TMI take?

Sarah: TMI's journey to publication is a bit different from most other books. In 2004, I was living in New York, teaching English, and blogging about my life. I wasn't writing novels or even thinking about it, really. Then, I received a life-changing email from an editor at Dutton Children's Books. She'd randomly run across my blog and contacted me because she though my writing style would work well in a young adult novel. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I wrote an outline for TMI. That took a few months, and with the editor's input, I made improvements. A few more months went by, and I signed a book contract with Dutton.

I finished the first draft of TMI in six months. The editing process took another year, and a little over a year after that, the book finally came out. So from start to finish, it all took about three and a half years. That may sound like a long time, but in the publishing world, it's pretty standard.

Bookworm: How are you and Becca alike? How are you different?

Sarah: Becca and I both enjoy knitting, baking, and watching classic 1980s movies like Heathers. We have a similar fashion sense. And we're both emotional and dramatic.

I don't have as much in common with Becca as I used to, though. When I was a teenager, I was definitely a TMI sort of girl. I liked the attention I got from oversharing, but underneath it all, I was pretty insecure. I didn't understand the importance of personal boundaries until I was a little older. As an adult, I still have a fairly open personality, but I don't feel the need to broadcast everything about my life to everyone.

Bookworm: Have you ever had a TMI moment like Becca?

Sarah: Too many to count, but I'll share one of the best. One of the earliest entries on my blog was a story about a boy I'd kissed when I was in college. I made the mistake of using the boy's first and last names--I couldn't resist. Everyone who hears this boy's name laughs out loud (sorry I can't share it with you, but I've already gotten into enough trouble).

Several years passed, and I forgot about the story even though it was still in the blog archives. Then I received an email from the boy, who was now 28 years old and in business school. It turns out someone had Googled him and found my blog. According to him, the story had caused some "awkward personal and professional situations", and he wanted me to remove his name from the blog. The whole message was very kind and polite, but I was horrified by what I'd done. I immediately deleted the entire post and sent him an apology.

Bookworm: Why did you choose to include the aspect of blogging into your book?

Sarah: This was my editor's idea since my blog caught her attention in the first place. On my blog, I wrote in the third person and created an alter ego for myself called Babs. My editor really liked that and thought it would be fun for the main character to do the same thing.

By the way, I made my blog private a while ago. Sorry to pique your curiosity, but some of the content isn't appropriate for young readers.

Bookworm: Have you ever been in a musical, like the Grease production in the book?

Sarah: Yes, I was quite the theater geek. My little hometown has a great community theater program, and I was involved in a dozen productions over the years. I never got a chance to be in Grease, though. My favorite role was Fruma Sarah, the butcher's dead wife, in Fiddler on the Roof.

Bookworm: Who was your favorite character, other than Becca, in the book (mine was Jai)?

Sarah: Everyone loves Jai! I do, too, of course, but my favorite character is Evan Johnson. He is exactly the kind of guy I would have had a crush on when I was fifteen. And confession: he's loosely based on my actual ninth-grade boyfriend.

Bookworm: What was a YA book that you recently read and loved?

Sarah: That's easy: Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu. It's about a girl whose mother is a compulsive hoarder. This means she never throws anything away, and their house is packed from floor to ceiling with junk. The author does an amazing job of helping the reader understand this mental illness and the effect it can have on a family. I was absolutely fascinated.

Bookworm: What's your next writing project about?

Sarah: Well, my next big project actually doesn't involve writing. I'm expecting my second baby this winter, so I'm taking a break from writing. It was a tough decision but ultimately what's best for me right now. My plan is to concentrate on being a mom for a while and return to writing when I feel ready.

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Thank you so much to Sarah for sharing (and not oversharing!). I loved her hilarious story of her own TMI moment--to learn more about Sarah, visit her website here!

Sarah, I wish you all the best on the coming addition to you family--congratulations!

A Few Weeks' Worth of In My Mailbox

2010-08-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've failed as a blogger for the past few (days? weeks? months?). School is back and time is short...Anyhoo, here's what's been in my mailbox for the past few weeks:

Bookstore/Library/Contests:

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard
Troy High by Shana Norris
The Not-So-Great Depression by Amy Goldman Koss
My Double Life by Janette Rallison
Goddess Games by Niki Burnham
Plus by Veronica Chambers
How I Chose the Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood
Model by Cheryl Diamond
The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson
And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman

For review:

Torment by Lauren Kate (9/28/10)
The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green (9/14/10)
Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson (11/23/10)

Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies)

2010-08-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Author: Justina Chen Headley

Pages: 241

Published: 2006; Little, Brown

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

All her life, Patty Ho has felt incomplete. Incomplete because she's half white and half Taiwanese, and doesn't really fit in anywhere. Incomplete because her white father left her when she was two. Incomplete because her strict Taiwanese mother worships Patty's older brother (he's going to Harvard, you know). So when a fortune-telling grandmother spies a white guy on Patty's horizon, Patty's no-nonsense mom decides to ship her away to Stanford math camp. Just when Patty's sure that her summer is going to be a major bust, life starts looking up...With the help of her friends, a camp love interest, and a long-lost relative, Patty might just find herself along the way.

My thoughts: Justina Chen Headley writes meaningfully and lovingly in a way that makes me think that she based the story off of her real-life experiences. The writing was so rich and deeply written, and I loved the diverse cast of well-developed characters. Not only bi-racial teens will be able to relate to Patty: the way that she told her story really had me rooting for her to overcome all odds, and she was honest and humorous. I also loved Patty's mom and how the author totally had me thinking that she was a horrible, harsh person. And, of course, all the people that Patty met at math camp were wonderful and realistic: I loved all the adventures that Jasmine and Patty shared.

Although the book starts off very slowly, Ms. Headley had the great ability of being able to wrap it all up in the end. I closed the book with a smile, wanting more of her writing! If you're looking for a meaningful, sincere, and still funny story about acceptance and family, then I'd highly recommend Nothing but the Truth.

Interview with Jane Harrington

2010-08-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Please welcome Jane Harrington, author of 4 Things my Geek Jock-of-a-Best-Friend Must Do In Europe and My Best Friend, the Atlantic Ocean, and Other Great Bodies Standing Between Me and my Life with Giulio. (She really likes long titles!) :)

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Bookworm: What was the inspiration behind 4 Things and My Best Friend?

Jane: When my middle daughter (Emma) was thirteen, I took her on a Mediterranean cruise. It was, like Brady's trip in the book, a "not mitzvah"--an event my husband and I made up to help out daughters feel that coming-of-age could be important even in a family with a mixed religious heritage. So, that was the inspiration for Four Things. The storyline is totally made up, but settings and characters are, well, familiar.

My Best Friend continues Brady's adventures, and is more imaged than Four Things, I guess you could say. I had our local high school in mind (TC Williams HS in Virginia, actually, which was the school from the movie Remember the Titans), and modeled some characters after neighborhood kids. Delia's sense of humor certainly mirrors that of one of Emma closest buddies. I had tons of fun writing My Best Friend: the characters were just off the map most of the time, and even I would crack up in surprise in the things they did and said. Hm...that sounds kind of crazy, doesn't it? Maybe the creative process is really just a form of insanity. A good insanity, though!

Bookworm: Where in the world have you traveled, and where would you like to go?

Jane: From the time I was born in 1959 until I graduated high school in 1977 I never traveled beyond the east coast of the US. And then I went to college locally, in the DC area, so I STILL didn't get anywhere. But I've been trying to make up for that since. I've been to various Caribbean islands, Mexico (Mayan ruins are COOL), and in 2000, I made it to

Europe. Ireland was my first venture across the pond, then Paris another time, then the Mediterranean cruise (Italy, France, Spain, & Malta), and then Ireland three more times. That has become a bit of an obsession.

Oh, yeah! And I've gone to lots of other awesome places IN the US now, like the Grand Canyon, which is AMAZING. We went on a family rafting trip down the Colorado River there in 2009, when my oldest daughter Meghan graduated from law school. We hiked all the way down from the rim to the river, and then spent a week whitewater rafting and camping under the stars--I totally recommend that! Next trip in the works? And Alaskan cruise. CAN'T WAIT.

Bookworm: Do you have a funny travel story?

Jane: Well, there are a lot of funny things that happened on the Mediterranean cruise with Emma, and I just had a fairly zany trip to Ireland with my three sisters (for instance, our mother bought us matching raincoats for the trip, which is both funny and not funny at the same time, considering we’re all kind of OLD for that), but I think I’ll share a memory from a trip I took with my youngest daughter, Lucy, since she hasn’t figured into this interview yet. She was 18 at the time.

We were in Ireland (of course), the summer of 2009, and we decided to climb a mountain to look for a holy well from ancient Celtic times. It was the kind of place where people used to “do rounds,” which was all about chanting and going in circles, and leaving offerings, etc. People did it to get cures for illnesses, or to appease the sidhe folk (which were always causing trouble to humans), or to get good weather, a bountiful harvest, stuff like that.

We had a map, so we kind of knew where the thing was supposed to be. It took an hour to climb the mountain, and once at the top we looked and looked and looked, but couldn’t really find this well. Then Lucy noticed a small fenced-in spot in the middle of a sheep pasture, so we figured that had to be it. (It had become very obvious that this well had not been so popular in modern times.) This sheep pasture was steep, and the grass was really long. But we were determined to see the well up close. So, we carefully made our way down to the fenced-in place, and, sure enough, it was a pretty little well with purple heather growing around it. Water trickled from a rock at its base. We made offerings and wishes, and were really, really satisfied with ourselves for finding it.

When we were done, we looked back up the grassy pasture, and then down to the bottom of it, where there was another trail. I decided that going down would be easier than going back up to where we came from. Lucy didn’t agree, so we parted—she headed up, I headed down. Very soon I came to realize that under the thick grass at my feet was a LOT of water. And it was moving swiftly. As these invisible currents pulled at my shoes, and it became harder and harder to lift my feet out of the matted sod, I started getting crazy thoughts about disappearing into a watery Celtic underworld where the sidhe would shrink me or turn me into a changeling, or

marry me off to a merman, or whatever it is that sidhe do in a situation like that. SO, I did what any normal human would do in a situation like that: I starting screaming. Looking back up the hill, I could see that Lucy was standing, quite safely, on the trail above the field, while I still had half the hill to scale in order to reach bottom. She was “encouraging” me to continue on—if you consider laughing at your mother a form of encouragement—and lifted her camera and began memorializing my predicament.

Okay, this wasn’t so funny for ME, maybe, but I do laugh at the memory. Here’s one of Lucy’s pictures (obviously, I lived to tell!):

Bookworm: What's next for you, writing-wise?

Jane: The book I’m working on right now is a departure from my past published works. It’s a lengthier mix of a contemporary story of a teen traveling to Ireland + a story of an Irish family just before their exodus from that land during the Great Hunger (a.k.a. the Famine) of Ireland. The contemporary story of the teen is not a new thing for me (though humorous antics are not part of her repertoire), but the historical fiction is what has become quite a project.

The nineteenth-century Irish family is based on the genealogic record of my own Harrington ancestors, so I have felt compelled to find out as much as I can about them. I had not done any genealogy work before I started on that quest. I love it, it’s fascinating, but it’s also addictive. I spend too much time trying to piece together their lives—both in Ireland and in the US—and not enough time actually writing about them. Every time I get a chapter done, I go back and ask myself questions like, “What kinds of berries would have grown around them? Where did they go to the get water for cooking and bathing? What did their clothes look like? Did they have shoes?” I don’t mind fleshing out characters, making up dialogue and putting them into scenes (it’s fiction, after all), but I won’t be satisfied with the work unless I’ve made it as authentically honest as I can.

The desire for this authenticity has also turned me into a wannabe Irish historian. In order to get inside the heads of my characters, I needed to understand why the Irish peasants were so poor, why they starved, why they fled in such great numbers. (A million left during the years of the Great Hunger, a million more died on the streets…in a country the size of New Jersey.) So, it took a lot of reading, and a lot of imagining, and searching newspaper articles in Irish libraries, and visiting memorials, and reading old manuscripts (some in the Irish language, which I had to have translated). Whenever I could, I made this a focus of my own English graduate studies—looking at the Great Hunger through poetry from the period, for instance. I have LOVED the research. But with my master’s degree earned now, four trips to Ireland completed, and a bookshelf and laptop computer chockfull of texts, it’s time for me to finish the writing. (I repeat, now, to myself: IT’S TIME FOR ME TO FINISH THE WRITING!)

Bookworm: What is your favorite part about writing for teens?

Jane: I guess what I appreciate most about the teen reader is her complexity. When I'm writing for teens, I know I have to earn every laugh, every tear. I've written for younger ages, and that's totally fun, but there's a definite satisfaction in knowing I've pasted muster with the high school crowd. That's my goal right now, with this latest work. So I better continue on with that. (And now for the requisite metaphor:) Though it may take some serious effort to get ther--splurch, splurch, AHHHH!--I can see that path at the bottom of the hill, and it's gonna feel GREAT to stand on it.

Thanks so much, Jane! Visit Jane online here

Confessions of a First Daughter

2010-08-10T10:30:00.001-07:00

Author: Cassidy Calloway

Pages: 214

Published: HarperTeen, 2009

Genre: Realistic fiction

Age Range: 12 & up

Cover Score: B-

Overall Grade: A-

Aside from nearly identical looks and manners, 18 year old Morgan Abbott is nothing like her mother. Accident prone and klutzy, every single one of Morgan's many slip-ups makes the front page of newspapers and gossip mags. Why? Because her mom is the president of the United States. To top it off, her already nonexistent social life is being ruined by her clingy, serious, barely-older-than-she-is (but still slightly cute) new Secret Service agent, which makes dates with her boyfriend impossible. But when Morgan's mom needs to slip away on secret business, she needs a good decoy, and Morgan is the only one who can cover for her. Can she pull it off? Or will it be another Morgan Abbott Mess-Up?

My thoughts: Fun, fun, fun! Morgan's story was hilarious, engaging, and still managed to be realistic.

I loved the "first daughter" aspect. It was fresh and interesting, and I appreciated how Ms. Cassidy included real information about the White House and a president's responsibilities. Morgan made a great, well-rounded character that teenage girls will be able to relate to. She was clever, charming, and funny. Readers will be rooting for her throughout the novel! I do think that Max, the Secret Service agent and possible love interest, could've been better developed. I feel that if the book were longer, I could've gotten to know and like him better.

The entire book took place over 214 pages, and I wish that there could've been less buildup, getting straight to the best part of the book (when Morgan impersonates her mom), which was too short for my taste. Nevertheless, it was a fun, fast, and super-cute read that stays light but also is easy to get into and hard to put down.

While the ending of Confessions was very predictable and on the cheesy side, I still can't wait to sink my teeth into the second book, Secrets of a First Daughter, coming out this fall.

TMI

2010-08-07T13:59:00.001-07:00

Author: Sarah Quigley

Pages: 302

Published: Dutton, 2009

Genre: Realistic fiction

Age Range: 13 & up

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: B+

Becca Farrell has a bad habit: nicknamed "the Overshare Queen" by her friends, she often confesses and blabs on and on about personal information to anyone who'll listen. But when a TMI moment leads to her sweet band-geek boyfriend breaking up with her, Becca decides she needs a change. With the pressure of keeping a new friend's deepest secret, getting the lead in the school's rendition of Grease, having to share a stage kiss with her crush, and her mom's pregnancy, Becca needs an outlet. So she turns to an online blog, where she is free to gush and spill as much as she needs through her alter ego, Bella, who tells it like it is, gory details and all. It's not like anyone's ever going to read it...right?

My thoughts: TMI was a light, refreshing, and funny read that has great characters and relatable events.

I loved Becca's character: she was honest, hilarious, and charming. Even though I felt that she could be a bit obnoxious at times, she was really realistic and came off as mature beyond her years. Her blog entries were hilarious--I wish there had been more scattered throughout the plot! Secondary characters Jai, Katie, and Matt were well-developed and came off as people I'd really like to be friends with: they were real and fresh.

However, the story started off really, really slow, and sometimes it felt like there were too many words. True to form, Becca's narration tended to ramble in an unnecessary way, but the plot picked up about halfway through when Becca's big blogging secret was spilled.

I really liked the way Ms. Quigley tied the story up--it made me hope for more Becca and more of Ms. Quigley's addictive writing! Overall, a quick, fun debut.

Perfect

2010-08-03T09:28:00.001-07:00

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 298

Published: HarperTeen, 2007

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Age Range: 13 & up

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: B+

Four pretty little liars are still up to no good: Aria's family has kicked her out, Emily's questioning just what she really wants, Hanna's about to fall from her throne of popularity, and Spencer's a plagiarizing cheater who just can't quite remember exactly what happened the night Alison DiLaurentis went missing. These four girls better watch out, because this time, A isn't afraid to spill their secrets. And it may just turn out that one of them could be a pretty little killer...

My thoughts: After the thrill and excitement of the first two books in this series, Perfect fell a bit short. It started off reallyreally slow: there was some action (Aria getting kicked out, Hanna and Mona fighting, etc) in the beginning, but the plot only really picked up towards the last few chapters of the book.

Still, I was hooked throughout the entire story. Once again, Ms. Shepard's descriptions, realistic characters, and suspenseful storytelling had me constantly flipping pages. Ms. Shepard also has an amazing talent for tying up loose ends that were brought up in the first two books so that everything made sense.

The addition of the "Rosewood stalker" added some excitement, along with the thought that A's identity will be revealed in the next book, Unbelievable. The cliffhanger ending of Perfect had me wanting more--I've already got a copy of book #4 on hold at the library...it's an addiction, I swear! A must-read.

Artist Arthur Interview

2010-08-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

Here's part two of a recent blog tour I hosted for Artist Arthur's Manifest (released yesterday by KimaniTru). Different bloggers were able to submit their questions for Artist (yes, that is her real name), and super-publicist Lisa Roe put them together into an awesome community interview! Here are a few of my favorite questions:

Me (Bookworm): What drew you to the paranormal genre of YA?

Artist: I've always been a fan of the paranormal genre adult and YA. I like that there are no boundaries to the world that can be created.

Diva's Bookcase: Is the character of Krystal based on yourself or someone that you know?

Artist: Krystal is a combination of myself and my daughter. We are extremely moody and stubborn, but once you get to know us you can't help but love us. OK, that might be exaggerating, but yeah, I drew a lot of my own experiences and feelings as a teenager and then on some moods I've seen my daughter in to create Krystal.

Star Shadow: How did you come up with the amazing idea for the basis of the book and the Mystyx group/their powers?

Artist: I love watching the weather channel. I kept thinking that something has to be left behind after all these storms and natural disasters. My daughter came up with the names of the Mystyx characters, and I gave them powers. I wanted different powers, ones that would fit each character specifically.

LuAnn: What sort of research did you need to do for your novel?

Artist: I had to find books on the weather that would back up what I'd seen on the weather channel. Books on Greek mythology that I already had because I love the subject in general. Then, I just wanted to spend time with teenagers to get a real feel for their lives, loves, issues, dreams.

Faye: The paranormal genre is big in teen/YA literature right now. Most bestsellers feature vampires, werewolves, faeries, angels or the like as a main character. In your opinion, why are teens currently fascinated with all things paranormal?

Artist: I think, like everyone else, they want a break from what's currently going on. They want to be taken away to another time, or another place, or the same place with a different cast.

ladystorm: If Manifest became a movie, who would you like to see play the main characters?

Artist: I've actually been asked this a lot in the past month so I've been thinking about it. I like Selena Gomez for Sasha. Zac Efron would be great for Jake but I think he might be too old. Keke Palmer for Krystal.

Sherry: What, if any, are your writing rituals (certain lighting, room, food, etc)?

Artist: I can write just about anywhere at any time, but I really like to write to music.

Jami: Who are some YA authors that inspire you? Can you name any YA novels that you read and loved recently?

Artist: I'm so in love with Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers. I really enjoy Laurie Halse Anderson and Alyson Noël as well. Just recently I read Fallen by Lauren Kate and enjoyed her voice.

Forgive My Fins

2010-07-31T15:26:00.001-07:00

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Pages: 293

Published: Katherine Tegen Books, 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 12 & older

Cover Score: C+

Overall Grade: A

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not just her huge crush on gorgeous swimmer-god Brody Bennett. It's already tough enough that she's a mermaid princess, living on land to take a break from underwater life. Even more, she's living next door to an obnoxious biker boy who loves seeing her mess up--especially in front of Brody. To top it all off, mermaids like her bond for life with their "mermate"--one kiss ties you to a person permanently, so she's attempting to win over the perfect Brody's love. Little does she know, a romantic mishap involving mistaken identity leads to a tidalwave of confusion and drama...and possibly the best mistake she's ever made.

My thoughts: Well, I can honestly say that I loved Tera Lynn Childs's latest. Before diving into Forgive My Fins, I had really enjoyed her first book, Oh.My.Gods, which was filled with the same creativity, humor, and lightness that I found again in Forgive My Fins.

One of the strongest points of this book, I think, was the "mermaid" aspect. It was fresh (I'm so over vampires), and Thalassinia made for a perfect setting that was enchanting and colorful, as well as fun to read about. I really felt like I could picture all of the settings and characters and events in my mind! Another great point of the story were the well-developed, lifelike characters. I loved Lily, who made a wonderful protagonist, and where shall I start regarding Quince? Seriously, I adored him--if only he were a real person...

Although very predictable, Forgive My Fins was a quick, lovable story that I never wanted to end. Even though it starts off a bit slow, definitely give this one a try: it's an ideal summer read. I want more of Lily and Quince, now!!

Must-Read! Check it Out Don't Bother

Manifest

2010-07-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Artist Arthur

Pages: 256

Published: Kimani Tru, 8/1/10

Genre: Paranormal

Age Range: 14 and older (for some disturbing content)

Cover Score: B+ (so-so, kinda boring)

Overall Grade: A-

As if moving from New York City (and leaving her father behind) to the middle of nowhere in Connecticut isn't bad enough, now Krystal Bentley is seeing dead people. Well, just one particular (and very cute) dead person--Ricky Watson, a boy her age who was killed a year ago and has unfinished business: he wants Krystal (as a ghost-whisperer, she's the only person that can help him) to help him find his murderer. But now Krystal's strange power draws two other kids with supernatural abilities to her: Sasha, a rich girl, and Jake, who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Together, they are the Mystyx, and their powers are manifesting. They set out to learn who killed Ricky, and the connection between Ricky's murderer and creepy texts being sent to teenage girls...Darkness is coming, and the Mystyx need to be prepared.

My thoughts: I didn't know what to think coming into Manifest. Nowadays, there are so many stories about girls who can talk to ghosts and girls who fall in love with dead boys. The paranormal genre is getting a bit overdone, so I was expecting the same old, same old plot from Manifest.

There was still the same general story line, but the addition of Krystal's family problems and the murders of the girls added a new spice to the story. Sometimes, all the different aspects of the plot (Krystal's home life, her ghost-whispering abilities and Ricky, the sexual predator, her love life, and the Mystyx) got a little jumbled, which is why I think the story took so long to get to the point and the exciting conclusion, but it was still refreshing to see a 3-dimensional plot.

I can't stand a whiny main character, and Krystal complained a lot, so I got a bit frustrated sometimes. I would've liked to have seen more details on the other two Mystyx, and regarding Ricky and Franklin too.

I did really like how realistic Krystal's family problems were--teens will be able to relate. Also, I was really happy that the main character was half African American, part Cherokee: I like books with diversity! The ending was a great shock: I pleasantly surprised at how well Ms. Arthur tied up all the loose ends and showed me who the killer really was. To me, the last chapter wasn't necessary--the book was perfect ending after the exciting conclusion, leaving me wanting more.

Fans of Lee Nichols' Deception will love this author's YA debut!

*ARC provided by Lisa Roe of The Online Publicist

Flawless

2010-07-24T18:20:00.001-07:00

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 330

Published: HarperTeen, 2007

Genre: Realistic fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Age Range: 13 & older

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A

In seventh grade, Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hanna's best friend Alison went missing--and now, 4 years later, she has been found dead. The girls are shocked and horrified, but even more so when they continue receiving creepy text messages from an unknown "A"--messages threatening to reveal secrets that only Alison knew. For Spencer, she and Alison had a secret together than no one else knew: one that had to do with the night that Jenna Cavanaugh was blinded. And now that the Cavanaughs have moved back to wealthy Rosewood, Spencer's afraid that Jenna's always-creepy stepbrother Toby wants revenge...but will she be able to tell the other girls before they're all in danger?

My thoughts: Yep, I'm hooked. "Amazing" is an overused word--but it's the only way to describe the Pretty Little Liars series. I seriously don't know how Ms. Shepard does it--the plot line was thick and complicated, but by the end she's wrapped up all the loose ends into an ohhhh I get it now! way, leaving you wanting more.

Before picking up this series and watching the ABC Family TV show, I guessed that the books were just trashy chick-lit. Never judge a book by its cover. The first book set everything up, but Flawless had more action and mystery and creepiness. Flawless was intense--I absolutely couldn't stop reading!

I loved all of the characters. They felt life-like and I liked how, even though the story was narrated in third person, I felt like I could really get into each girl's head. My favorite character would probably have to be Aria, though.

I know I'm a little late for (finally) giving the series a try, but I'm totally obsessed now--anyone out there who hasn't read Pretty Little Liars, go ahead and get yourself a copy, and make sure you have the next book in the series on hand. I just got the third book, Perfect, from the library, and I'm ready to dig in.

Huge

2010-07-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Author: Sasha Paley

Pages: 259

Published: Simon Pulse, 2007

Genre: Realistic fiction

Cover Score: A (yummy s'mores!)

Overall Grade: B+

Privileged Wil's health nut parents are forcing her to spend the summer at Wellness Canyon (aka fat camp). Reluctant to leave behind her flat screen TV and luxurious beach house, she's determined to get the ultimate revenge by gaining weight. Meanwhile, perky and enthusiastic April has been saving up her money all year in order to attend, and is pumped to shed the pounds.

But when the girls are assigned as each other's roommates, the fur starts to fly. Wil's sneaking off to 7-Eleven, April's determined to get into the popular crowd, and soon they're even crushing on the same guy. But between reduced-fat snacks and fitness hikes, the girls both get humiliated by the same person--and revenge is in store. Can these two, overweight, unlikely friends come together to form the perfect prank? Maybe this summer will be one to remember.

My thoughts: I've been watching the TV show (based off of this book) on ABC Family, and I fell in love with the cast of quirky characters and the drama-filled, honest, and funny plotline. However, I was a bit disappointed at how different the book was--in fact, it fell a little flat for me.

While I loved April and Wil as main characters, the book could've used more well-developed secondary roles. In the show, this kind of character keeps the story really interesting and fresh. I was expecting to see more characters that I know from the show: like Dr. Rand, Amber, Chloe, Ian...Now I know that the show is a loose adaptation of the book.

However, I really liked the "fat camp" setting. It was unique and was a perfect background for all of the self-discovery and growth that went on in the book. I also liked the relationship between Wil and April, even though it was super-predictable. Even though I hate whiny characters (ahem Wil), their dynamic was perfect for the drama that went on, and I liked the alternating points of view (though I'm not a big fan of third person).

Even though the book could've used a few more twists and turns and better-developed characters, it makes for a fun summer read. If you're a fan of the show, or if you just want a book that's funny and sincere, give Huge a try.

Summer Reading?

2010-07-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

...The dreaded assignment. I always am so hesitant about summer reading. I read enough on my own, so I always think why do I need to read another book, scouring it for hidden meanings just so I can crank out an essay that I'll probably never see again? I have specific genres that I enjoy reading, and I like choosing my own reading material so that I can really enjoy it. Then there's always the possibility of having just one mandatory summer reading choice--a book from 30 years ago that you've never heard of.

I've had some assigned reading that I really liked--The Outsiders and Marley and Me were both great novels, but other than that, I've just obediently chugged through my vacation English work. I'm all for suggested reading lists--but mandatory??

But this year--gasp--I actually enjoyed my summer reading book. Our school is pretty good at giving us lots of different choices that cover all sorts of genres. Out of the 4 diverse novels that we could pick from, I chose Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Algoquin Books, 2006). It had a slow start, but by the end, I was actually surprised at how much I really loved it: it was well-written, exciting, and riveting. It has mature content, so it's more adult than YA, but I'd easily recommend it to older teens. I'm so excited that there will be a Water for Elephants movie coming soon!

I want to hear from you...What does your school do for summer reading assignments? What books did you have to choose from this year? What was your favorite summer reading book of all time?

Sarah Mlynowski Blog Tour

2010-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

I'm so honored to be a part of bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski's summer blog tour for her recent YA release, Gimme A Call (read my review here). Today, Sarah will be telling us about what to indulge in this summer--and more importantly, what to read!

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MY SUMMER OBSESSIONS

Things I am obsessed with this summer: taupe nail polish (so pretty), Whole Foods homemade tortilla chips (try one now. Trust me), Fresh bath products (the lemon scent), GLEE )why didn't anyone tell me how awesome it was so I could have started watching it from the beginning? Oh, right, everyone did. Well, why didn't I listen?) and these seven books:

1. If I Stay by Gayle Forman. So sad and beautiful. So well done. You've probably already read it (it's been on the NYT list for months now) but if you haven't, you want to pick it up before the movie and sequel come out, don't you? I promise it'll make you cry. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a paranormal romance about a girl, a horrible accident, and the power of love.

2. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Also sad and beautiful! Also about loss and love. Although this one has a love triangle. Or maybe a love rectangle. Regardless of the shape, an excellent read.

3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It doesn't pub until February 2011, but I scored an ARC at Book Expo. So glad I did. It's a dystopian Romeo-and-Juliet story, and it blew me away. Also it made me cry.

4. Thirteen Plus One by Lauren Myracle. Thank goodness--no crying! Only uncontrollable giggles. This is the fourth book in the Winnie Years series. If you haven't already read the first three, go do

that now. I'll wait. La, la, la, la. Done? Good. Now go read Thirteen Plus One. You want to read about "nekkid boy bottoms", don't you? Of course you do.

5. One Day by David Nicholls. A guy and a girl. Every July 15th for twenty years since the first July 15th they met. Judging from the insane amount of press this paperback is receiving, I'm not the only one obsessed with this smart and bittersweet book.

6. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter. The fourth book in the Gallagher Girls series is just as awesome as the first three. Danger! Adventure! Romance! Fun! Cutest covers ever! Start with number one, but have number two on hand because you're going to want it ASAP.

7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'm only on page ten. But already--wow. Like with Glee, I'm a bit late to the, um, game. But why didn't anyone tell me? Oh right, they did. Anyway. Need to finish book one and two before the final book comes out in August.

If you need me I'll be in the bath, eating tortilla chips, listening to the Glee soundtrack, admiring my toenail polish, and catching up on my reading.

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Thanks so much to Sarah and Meg O'Brien of Random House Children's Books for including me in the tour!

Visit yesterday's stops here and here

Become a fan of Gimme A Call on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gimmeacall

Watch out for Sarah! She'll be stopping by Ally Carter's blog next, so keep your eyes peeled!

Sleepless

2010-07-14T18:37:00.001-07:00

Author: Terri Clark

Pages: 257

Published: HarperTeen, 2008

Genre: Mystery/Romane

Cover Score: C-

Overall Grade: B+

18-year-old Trinity Michaels has an unusual gift: she can dreamwalk, which means that she can physically go into other people's dreams when she's asleep. But after helping solve a murder case by dreamwalking into the victim's dream, the psycho murderer Rafe wants revenge--and now that he's broken out of the mental hospital, he's stalking Trinity in her dreams. With the help of super-cute Dan Devlin, who's evil lawyer father kept Rafe from being permanently locked up, Trinity is determined to find Rafe before he finds her...but can she trust Dan?

My thoughts: Don't let the cute, chick-litty cover fool you--this book is darker than it seems! The concept of the story was creative and unique: I'd never heard of dreamwalking before, and it made an interesting addition to an already suspenseful plot line. Trinity made a great narrator, I really understood what she was going through and she was both honest and funny.

I wish the mystery had had just a few more twists and turns, but overall it was pretty well written with good detail. Don't read this one before bed--it could get pretty creepy and sometimes a bit gory! I also felt like the plot seemed a bit abrupt and sudden: Dan and Trinity's relationship felt like it happened too fast, and the ending was cheesily predictable.

Sleepless was one of those super fast-paced books that you absolutely can't put down until you're done (I easily finished it within a day). If this book weren't a paperback, I wouldn't buy it. However, if you are going on a trip to the beach, the $5.99 price tag is worth the day or so of entertainment it brings--take Sleepless along for a fast, easy, suspenseful, and thrilling read!

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging

2010-07-13T11:38:00.001-07:00

Author: Louise Rennison

Pages: 247

Published: HarperCollins, 1999

Genre: Realistic/Humorous fiction (diary format)

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: A-

Meet 14 year old Georgia Nicolson, whose life is very unnormal: her parents are from the Stone Age, her three year old sister likes to hide used diapers in her room, and her mixed-breed cat Angus is certifiably insane. To top it off, there's the boy factor: Georgia's heartbroken over beautiful, gorgeous, guitar-playing Robbie, who Georgia can't even talk to without stammering and staring. Luckily, Georgia's got her best friends on her side...but will she ever be able to nab Robbie?

My thoughts: I've heard so much about this book: it's my favorite, it's SO funny, it's AMAZING...I saw the movie adaptation of the best-selling books, loved it, and knew I had to try the series (why hadn't I thought of this before??).

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging was genuinely hilarious, clever, and witty. I was often laughing out loud. Georgia was just so wonderfully random, honest, and super-sincere. She had a great voice that really made me feel like a fourteen-year-old girl was talking to me. Georgia's problems were all so silly, described in hilarious detail. I felt like I could really sympathize with her, as she was so relatable.

And oh, the British terms used in the story: now I have the urge to go around saying "prat" and "tosser". I loved the cute little glossary in the back of the book, it was very clever!

The only thing that I think could've been improved were some descriptions. I couldn't really picture what the rest of the characters looked like, especially Robbie. The Robbie interactions were brief, and I think that Ms. Rennison could've used more detail when it came to him, because he and Georgia's relationship seemed really abrupt to me, unlike in the movie.

Overall, I am thrilled that I picked this silly, oh-so-funny story up, and look forward to the next book in the series. Definitely a must-read for all teenage girls!

PS. Which cover do you prefer: the paperback (top left) or the hardcover (lower right)?

Pretty Little Liars

2010-07-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 286

Published: HarperTeen, 2006

Genre: Mystery/Chick lit/Thriller

Cover Score: A (love the dolls!)

Overall Grade: A

In 7th grade, Aria, Emily, Spencer, Hanna and queen bee Alison were best friends. They did everything together. They were inseparable. And Alison knew all of their secrets. That year, Alison went missing and the 4 girls drifted apart--and now in their junior year of high school, they're reunited, each with a dangerous secret that no one can ever know. Spencer's coveting her sister's boyfriend, Aria likes her new teacher a bit too much, Emily's friendship with the new girl is complicated, and previously-chubby and awkward Hanna is using dangerous methods to stay gorgeous. But when the girls start receiving mysterious texts, emails, and IMs from an anonymous "A" (containing secrets that only Alison knew about), they're together in their suspicion. After all, Alison is dead. Right?

My thoughts: I'm totally hooked on this storyline. After I started watching the TV show on ABC Family, I couldn't get the addictive, suspenseful plot out of my mind. I knew that I needed to read the books, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Would they be trashy? Different from the show? Light and fluffy, or serious and dark?

Ms. Shepard's writing is natural and intoxicating: I got pulled into the plotline and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it (and then went straight to the bookstore to buy the 2nd book, Flawless). It's so unique, and Ms. Shepard writes a well thought-out, creative mystery that has chick-lit appeal with an underlying darkness. Her descriptions were vivid, and each character was well-developed and had an interesting background.

Although the book isn't short, it was a quick page turner for me. With a major cliffhanging ending, you'll definitely want to have a copy of Flawless on hand. I can't wait to find out what's next for the Pretty Little Liars--this series is a must-read!

My Cup Runneth Over

2010-07-08T11:35:00.001-07:00

Author: Cherry Whytock

Pages: 163

Published: Simon & Schuster, 2003

Genre: Realistic fiction

Cover score: B

Overall Grade: A-/B+

Compared to her cute, tiny friends, Angelica Cookson Potts (aka Angel) feels like a huge, wobbling whale. Even though she loves cooking, eating, and all things Jamie Oliver (the Naked Chef), she just feels big around her classmates, tiny ex-model mother, and Adam (aka the Love of her Life). Angel decides it's time for some Life Changes in order to nab Adam and to not look like a total blob at the upcoming school fashion show--starting with an all-cabage diet that has, er, explosive results. But with the support of her 3 best friends, Angel may just realize that being "big" isn't so bad after all...

My thoughts: What a cute, cheeky British read! Angel was an ideal main character--funny and honest, I felt like she was relatable and super down-to-earth. I hate whiny main characters, but Angel was the exact opposite: she was so lovable!

The other characters in the story (Angel's friends, family cook, wacky parents) created a colorful backdrop for the refreshing, unique story. I loved the strong, love-yourself-for-who-your-are message behind some of the silliness, and I also loved that Angel cooked! The recipes in the story sound super-yummy, I definitely want to try some out. And the super-cute little doodles that were scattered throughout the book made a great visual for the story and added a personal touch that really added to Angel's voice.

My only complaint would be that the book might be a bit too short for my liking. After all, it was only 163 pages. Ms. Whytock took a perfect amount of time getting to the point, but the ending ended up feeling rushed and kind of abrupt. Plus, it was a bit predictable.

Still, what a fun, quick, and cute read! I'd definitely recommend this to the teenage girls that I know: I can't wait to see what's next for Angel in the sequel, My Saucy Scottish Dumplings (crazy titles, huh?)!!

PS. Which cover do you prefer, the purple UK one to the upper right (which is the one that was in my public library) or the American version, above?

Princess for Hire

2010-07-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Author: Lindsey Leavitt

Pages: 239

Published: Disney/Hyperion, 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A-

Desi Bascomb's hopes for an amazing summer are quickly disappearing. Stuck with a job that includes dressing up as a groundhog for the local pet store, all that unpopular Desi wants in life is a bit of glamour and the ability to have an impact on people. So when an impeccably-dressed woman in a shining bubble offers Desi a job as a substitute for princesses, Desi jumps at the opportunity. Now, with the help of Royal Rouge, a magical transforming powder, Desi can stand in for any princess that just needs a break from royal life. But being a princess is more than just wearing a tiara and waving to paparazzi. What does one do when a bullying sister puts you on a date-only diet? Or when you are expected to perform a tribal dance you don't know? Desi's determined to help make the princess's lives better...even if she has to break the rules.

My thoughts: I had high hopes for this book. First of all...just look at that cover. It's just so pink and girly and sparkly. The content of the story was just as fluffy and enjoyable as the cover suggested.

Desi's character was super funny and relatable. I could really feel for her, through every crazy and hilarious situation that her unique job put her in. I loved the creativity in the plot line. Subbing for princesses? I've never seen something like that before! Ms. Leavitt set up a well-developed new world that was fun and refreshing and full of girl-power. It reminded me of Kay Cassidy's The Cinderella Society, except with better-outlined details and more action.

The story was a quick read, and one of my favorite parts was learning about all the princesses that Desi got to sub for. I loved all the different cultures and expectations for royalty brought up in the book (it kept the book fresh and interesting), and I loved how spunky and confident Desi was--she had a real voice that brought humor to everything.

Overall, a great debut from Ms. Leavitt that will resonate with girls all over. I can't wait to see what's next for Desi!

Little Blog on the Prairie

2010-07-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Cathleen Davitt Bell

Pages: 374

Published: Bloomsbury, 2010

Genre: Realistic fiction

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: A-

Thirteen year old Gen Welsh was looking forward to having a normal, relaxing, summer--that is, until her mom signs their family up for "family frontier camp". Now, instead of hanging by the pool, Gen is reluctantly stuck in a camp that reenacts pioneer life in 1890--right down to milking cows and wearing sunbonnets. Farm life is harder than she expects: not only is her family failing the frontier competition, but a real life "Nellie Olson" is threatening to steal Gen's newfound crush, Caleb, who's at camp, too. Using a contraband cell phone, Gen relays all of her camp experiences to her friends at home. But when they turn her texts into the most popular blog on the Internet, Gen's beginning to enjoy camp...so what if she gets caught?

My thoughts: The thing that I loved most about this book was how fresh and creative it was--from the witty title right down to the unique plot line. Before reading this book, I had never heard of "family frontier camp", but it sure made a great premise for a book!

Gen was so funny--and even though she could sometimes be whiny, she always had something clever to say about the crazy situations Camp Frontier put her in. There was lots of comic relief in this book: imagine a reluctant city girl plunked down into 1890. The scenes that involved sharing a room with her whole family, milking a cow, visiting an outhouse, wearing bulky pioneer clothes, and eating endless beans and grits had me cracking up out loud: it was absolutely hilarious! I also loved the modern twist of the blog added into the plot. It brought more entertainment and excitement and moved the story along.

The book rolled along smoothly and quickly (although a bit boring in places), and Ms. Bell didn't waste words. She described every situation so vividly that I could picture them.

However, I still wish that Caleb's character could be better developed. I just felt like I didn't know all that much about him.

I hope to see more of Gen in the future--perfect for middle grade readers, Little Blog on the Prairie doesn't disappoint.

Mailbox Monday & Contest Winner

2010-06-28T16:30:00.001-07:00

Another great week in books--plenty of light, fluffy reads from the library! I need to get on my reviews! (:

Meme created by the Story Siren

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (loved the movie, have heard lots of great things about the book!)
My Cup Runneth Over by Cherry Whytock (another cute British read)
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Enola Holmes and the Gypsy Goodbye by Nancy Springer (also posted this one for last week, sorry!)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (thanks to Doubleday for sending me a copy to review!)

And the winner of the Start of Summer contest is......YAN! Congratulations, Yan! I'm sending your copy of CK Kelley Martin's The Lighter Side of Life and Death and your bookish swag to you tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who entered, and keep your eyes peeled for some more upcoming contests that may even include international readers! :)

Oh, and tomorrow is my birthday--yay!

Got a Question for Alyx Harvey?

2010-06-26T21:03:00.001-07:00

If you have a question for Alyxandra Harvey, author of Hearts at Stake and Blood Feud, now is your chance to ask!

To get the word out about the Drake Chronicles, Bloomsbury publishing is presenting blog and book readers with an awesome opportunity: they are creating a "Get to Know Alyx Harvey" video. In the video, Alyx will give a tour of her haunted farmhouse and maybe answer a question from YOU!

What you need to do: Submit a question for Alyx along with your name and hometown to teens.publicity@bloomsburyusa.com by Monday, July 5th, 2010. Make sure the subject of the email is "Alyx Harvey Contest".

Why?: If your question is chosen, it will be answered by Alyx in the video and your name and hometown will appear as well! Look for the video after September 1st on www.thedrakechronicles.com to see if you are a winner! PLUS everyone who submits a question will receive an exclusive sneak peek of the next book in the series, Out for Blood (coming out this December)!

Good luck!

The Wide-Awake Princess

2010-06-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Author: E.D. Baker

Pages: 261

Published: Bloomsbury, 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Cover Score: B (gotta say, I like this one a lot more)

Overall Grade: B+

Compared to her older sister Princess Gwendolyn, Annie is rather...well, ordinary. She has no special magical gifts and isn't considered beautiful. However, when Gwendolyn pricks her finger on a spinning wheel and sends the whole castle into a deep sleep for a hundred years, Annie's resistance to magic keeps her awake. In order to protect the kingdom and save her sister, Annie and her guard Liam set out on a journey to find the prince to kiss Gwendolyn awake. But who is Gwendolyn's true love? And will Annie ever find one of her own, too?

My thoughts: Cute, cute, cute! I love fairytale retellings--especially creative, clever, and funny ones, like Ms. Baker's previous The Frog Princess series, so I was excited to hear that she had put a new twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty.

The Wide-Awake Princess was full of charm, humor, and adventure, reading like Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. I loved the journey described in the book: it was full of adventure and twists and turns, keeping me at the edge of my seat to see what was coming next for Annie and her motley crew of princes. She was the ideal main character: funny, relatable, and oh-so-average. I loved how witty she was, always having a clever response on the tip of her tongue when she was in a sticky situation.

The world Ms. Baker created was perfectly imaginable, and the helpful details helped bring the story to life.

Even though the book tended to drag in places and was quite predictable, middle grade girls will adore Ms. Baker's latest, and, like me, will want more of Annie!

Pretty Little Liars recap

2010-06-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, I'm hooked on ABC Family's latest show. The scandals, secrets, and mystery...you can count me as one of the many fans.

So...what did you think of last night's episode, To Kill A Mocking-Girl? Here are my thoughts:

I'm intrigued by the whole Toby Kavanaugh situation. Is he a friend or major creeper? It's a mystery...I need to know more!!
This whole Ezra-Aria thing is majorly creepy. As is Wren-Spencer. As is Wilden-Mrs. Marin (Hanna's mom). What is with all the creepy relationships? *Shudders*
Everytime Meredith came onto the screen, I cringed a bit. What's going to happen when Aria's mom learns the truth about Meredith and Mr. Montgomery?
Did anyone else notice the major To Kill A Mockingbird references in this episode (other than the obvious title)? Toby reminds me a lot of Boo Radley...or maybe that's just me.
Best shot of the whole episode? Definitely Ezra's squirrel face........ ----------------->
Ben. I hate Ben. Thank GOD Emily got away from him...But her relationship with Maya is still really awkward. And what about Toby?
I liked all the flashbacks--they really serve this show well. It adds a lot of depth and background info!
Jenna (blind girl) is really starting to creep me out. And at the end of The Jenna Thing episode (last week's), she had me asking questions. Could she be involved with A?
Major cliffhanger ending!!! Can't wait for next week's episode!

Since I've been a loyal follower of the show ever since it premiered, I've decided to start reading the books--I actually just got the first one from the library. Are they as good as the show? Better? Worse?

What questions do you want answered in next week's episode?

Blood Feud

2010-06-21T08:58:00.001-07:00

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Pages: 272

Published: Walker, June 22 2010

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Cover Score: B-

Overall Grade: A

As the different vampire clans come together for Helena Drake's coronation as the new vampire queen, old rivalries are fading. However, they have a new common enemy--Lord Montmartre, who has plans on stealing the throne and gaining all power in the vampire world. Now, it's up to the Drakes to unite the different tribes against him, including Isabeau St. Croix's clan, the wild and magical Hounds. Isabeau's intent on getting her own revenge on the vampire who murdered her and left her to die centuries ago, but after she meets Logan Drake, she realizes that fighting for the common cause is just as important...

My thoughts: I loved Hearts at Stake, so I was particularly excited to read Blood Feud, and maybe even a little bit hesitant. But Blood Feud was just as good--if not better than its prequel.

To start off, I loved the alternating points of view from the main characters, Logan and Isabeau. They were both well-developed and had amazing chemistry that made them perfect protagonists. I loved hearing their story going back and forth and seeing how each character perceived certain events.

Having flashbacks to Isabeau's past was an interesting detail to the book. It was a beautiful addition and provided great history to back up the events of the rest of the book, something that I wanted to see in Hearts at Stake. You could tell that Ms. Harvey did her research--the time periods described in the story were in vivid detail, so that I could picture the events clearly. It even made me wish that the snippets of history could be combined into their own story--I would definitely want to read more.

There was the same fast-paced, kick-butt action, heart-pounding thrills, and a romance that felt even stronger, more real, and better defined than the ones in the first book. Some of the details on the world of the Drakes can be a bit confusing, but it's a great alternate to Twilight. Ms. Harvey clearly spent a lot of time creating her own vampire world--and it shows. I can't wait to see what's next for the Drakes (and I hope a lot more from Isabeau and Logan!) in the next book, Out for Blood (Dec 2010).

In My Mailbox & Updates

2010-06-20T20:19:00.001-07:00

Another week gone by, another great haul of books to read! Here's what was in my mailbox this week (meme created by the Story Siren):

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell
The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
Enola Holmes and the Gypsy Goodbye by Nancy Springer
Reality Check by Jen Calonita (June 14, 2010)
A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
Heart to Heart by Lurlene McDaniel
Manifest: A Mystyx Novel ARC by Artist Arthur (August 1, 2010)
Crash Test Love by Ted Michael

Many thanks to Random House and Lisa Roe of the Online Publicist!

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In other news, the winner of the Deception ARC giveaway is Christa! You have been emailed so I can send your prize out ASAP--congratulations, and thanks to everyone who entered!

Also, check out my summer kick-off contest, enter here by June 28!

New Look (aka HELP!)

2010-06-17T18:05:00.001-07:00

OK, so Bookworm Readers has a new look. I'm not positive that I absolutely love it yet, but I felt like the blog was in need of a little summertime makeover (we'll see how long that feeling lasts).

However, I (the technologically challenged) need some help:

a) I custom-made the banner from a "Cutest Blog on the Block" freebie, but for some reason it came out too short. Does anyone know how to make it longer to fit the standard Blogger header?

b) My sidebar is really crowded, and I'd like to expand into a 3-column format...but how exactly do I do that? HELP!!!!

c) Any other comments, questions, and advice is gladly accepted. Just leave a comment below!

Perchance to Dream

2010-06-16T17:05:00.001-07:00

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Pages: 352

Published: Feiwel & Friends, May 2010

Cover Score: A

Overall Grade: C+

In the sequel to Eyes Like Stars, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith (the Mistress of Revels) and company have left the enchanted Theatre Illuminata in order to rescue one of their fellow castmates from the clutches of the evil sea witch who captured him. Struggling between the kidnapped pirate and Ariel, a wind spirit from the play The Tempest, Bertie faces challenges that she would never have to face within the Theatre--and will ultimately have to put the magic within herself to the test.

My thoughts: I had high expectations for Perchance to Dream. After reading Eyes Like Stars, I fell in love with the enchanting Theatre and Bertie and her ragtag crew of friends, ranking it my #1 book of 2009. However, I felt that this sequel did not live up to the glory of its predecessor.

To start, I was totally confused with the storyline. I knew that it was a basic journey to rescue Nate from Sedna, and that Bertie was struggling with her feelings for both Nate and Ariel. I knew that Bertie was reunited with her father, and there was some drama there regarding why he left her and her mother, but other than that, I wasn't clear on what was going on in the story. Between Bertie's illustrious dreams and magic and the new characters (whose roles in the book were unclear), I felt like I was lost in the rolling descriptions and fantasy.

The story itself was so long and tended to drag along in places, which added to my confusion. I think that Bertie's character got lost in third person. I really would've liked to know her better, but she felt like a distant focus on the book between lengthy descriptions of scenery. I feel that if she were more developed, as she had been in Eyes Like Stars, then I also would've understood her magic and her journey.

The descriptions were packed chock-full with foreign sights, sounds, smells, and theatrical and old-fashioned dialogue so that I felt uncertain whether the story was real or one of Bertie's magical dreams. However, Ms. Mantchev injected beauty and detail into everything. Her writing was enchanting and simply poetic. For instance: "The air spilled over her lips in a cloud-colored ribbon that dragged her toward him".

With a bit more background information and some clearer narration, I think that this book could've been just as good as Eyes Like Stars. Still, Ms. Mantchev has great talent as a storyteller--and I am still eagerly looking forward to Bertie's next adventure.

The Inside Story

2010-06-15T14:20:00.001-07:00

Author: Michael Buckley

Pages: 288

Published: Amulet, May 2010

Genre: Fantasy/Mystery

Age group: Middle grade readers

Overall Grade: B+

Picking up where The Everafter War left off, sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm (aka fairytale detectives) find themselves in an enchanted storybook that serves as a historical record for every fairy tale ever written. However, while searching amongst the pages for the evil and cunning Master, who betrayed the family and has stolen a prized possession for them, the sisters must be careful. They must avoid the Editor and his crew of Revisors, who would love nothing more than to erase the Grimms from the pages of their book entirely.

My thoughts: I absolutely love this series, and whenever there is a new addition, I immediately get myself a copy. I was stunned after the last installment (major cliffhanging action), so I was super-excited to see how things ended up in The Inside Story, the second-to-last book.

There were, sure enough, some of the same qualities I loved from the rest of the books: the creative twist on fairytales, a slew of unique and funny characters, hearty wit, edge-of-your-seat suspense (even though it was a little slow at first), and a spellbinding new adventure full of twists and turns.

On the other hand, this book was simply missing something. Maybe it was the different setting or the absence of the usual characters of Ferryport Landing, but the book lacked that magical spark that pushed it from good to great, as seen in the other seven installments. Seeing as there will be one final book in the series, I can only hope that Mr. Buckley will tie up all loose ends and make the conclusion to one of my favorite series of all time truly magical.

Start of Summer contest!

2010-06-14T11:02:00.001-07:00

It's finally summer, and in celebration of the beginning of the best season of the year, it's time for a contest!

Here's what I'm giving away:

- CK Kelly Martin's The Lighter Side of Life and Death

- Tons of book-related swag!

To enter, please leave your email address below. US entries only, please!

For an extra two entries, blog/link about the giveaway!

Contest will end June 28, 2010. Good luck!

If you're in the mood to win, enter to win an ARC of Lee Nichols' Deception. Contest ends June 16, so hurry and enter here!

Look Who's Back in the Blogosphere

2010-06-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

Where, oh where have I been? It's been ages since I've blogged (OK, maybe it's only been less than a week, but I haven't been frequent in my posts).

The main reason for my absence? School. Funny how it entirely takes over life, huh? Between finals and homework and other school-related events, I've been completely too busy. Ah, high school...But now that it's summer (freedom!), I'm planning on spending some time doing what I want to.

What else have I been up to over this choppy semi-leave of absence?

a) I've been watching Glee. Yes, a lot of Glee. Even though the second season wasn't quite as good as the first, there's been some great new music (LOVE Puck's version of "Beth"), some great new friendships (Mercedes and Quinn--hello!), amazing drama (Finn and Kurt? Rachel's mom? Quinn's baby?) and some great new Sue-isms (gotta love her).

b) Make it or Break It. It's an obsession. Seriously. Gymnastics, scandal, romance...it's all right there. And a new season is starting on June 28 at 9 on ABC Family. *Squeeee!*

c) The World Cup. If you're not watching, get your butt over to a TV and tune in to the biggest soccer event (hosted in South Africa this year) in the world. Now. Italy's my number one (as always), with Spain and Portugal following close behind. Let's do it again, guys!

d) Music. I'm always plugged into my iPod, especially during study time (which there's been a lot of lately). Recently I've been loving Marina and the Diamonds' debut album The Family Jewels. There's tons of lovable British wit and humor in her lyrics, and I love the alternative sounds. Definitely check 'em out!

d) Sports. Aiyiyi. I've been taking ballet recently and I'm pretty into it. My latest session just ended, but my friend and I are looking into taking it this summer. I'm a competitive horseback rider of ten years, as you may know, and I'm training hard for the upcoming summer show season! I've also been thinking of trying out for club volleyball, so I've been practicing my skills (or lack thereof) on a daily basis. Unfortunately, you have to be good to make the team. So I need to keep on practicing.

Between all of that and my family and friends, it's been hard staying committed to this blog. But don't worry. I'm not giving up yet. There's a stack of books to be reviewed larger than the Empire State building in my room, and I've got lots of plans for Bookworm Readers this summer: I'm planning on reformatting and possibly giving the blog a makeover, and I've got lots of contest and interviews squared away. I've also been thinking of starting up a photo blog--I'm a major lover of photography, and I'd love a creative outlet. Thoughts? Comments? Recommendations? Encouragment? Let 'em at me!

I know I've not been the most regular blogger lately, but please stick with me--you don't want to miss what's coming up!

xo,

Claire

aka Bookworm

The Summer of Skinny Dipping

2010-06-11T14:48:00.001-07:00

Author: Amanda Howells

Pages: 304

Published: June 1 2010, Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cover score: A-

Overall Grade: B+

When 16 year old Mia Gordon learns that her family will be bringing back the tradition of vacationing with their cousins this summer in Southampton, New York, she's relieved. Eager to leave behind her mother's criticisms and a boy she thought she loved, Mia is more than ready to spend some quality time on the beaches that she loves with her best friend and cousin Corinne. But Corinne is nothing like Mia remembered her to be--newly sophisticated, jaded, and obsessed with the dangers of the party scene, Corinne could care less about spending time with Mia. Meanwhile, Mia's family seems to be falling apart, and Mia's summer begins to look worse and worse. But then Mia meets Simon (who loves painting and walking on the beach)--and everything changes...including the thoughts

My thoughts: Just like the unforgettable summers that Mia describes within the first few pages of the book, The Summer of Skinny Dipping is a story that will stick with you well after reading it.

To start, Amanda Howells is a beautiful writer. I felt like I was seeing the world through Mia's eyes throughout the novel. Mia was incredibly relatable and down-to-earth as she struggled with the changes her 16th summer brought. She was logical, well-developed and offered straightforward narration. Ms. Howells' words were melodic, poetic, and wrapped me up in the events of the plot.

Ms. Howells combined family problems, romance, and friendship in a way that was interesting and created a good flow in the story, never focusing on just one thing. I couldn't stop turning pages as Mia's summer transitioned from awkward and lonely to wonderful and unforgettable. However, somewhere in the middle, the book dragged a bit and I got a little bored with Simon and Mia's repetitive nighttime swims and beach walks. I think the book got a little too lengthy, which is why I temporarily lost interest.

However, the story picks back up in the end--the surprise (yet sad) ending will have reader at the edges of their seats, grabbing for a box of tissues.

Perfect for Sarah Dessen fans and the upcoming summer, readers (primarily girls) will gobble up this nostalgic, breezy tale of adventure, family secrets, first love, and loss.

Must-Read! Check it out Don't Bother

Deception Review

2010-06-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Lee Nichols

Pages: 304

Published: Bloomsbury, June 8 2010

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy

Cover score: A

Overall Grade: A

When Emma Vaile's parents disappear on a mysterious business trip, everything seems to go downhill from there. Emma's friendless, guardianless, and the scary visions from her childhood are coming back. But when Emma's only friend notifies social services that Emma is on her own, it's her older brother's former best friend, Bennett Stern, who comes to her rescue, whisking her off to Massachusetts to enroll in an old-fashioned prep school. However, Emma's haunting visions are getting worse, and she's constantly having flashbacks to the past. She learns that, like Bennett, she's a ghostkeeper, who can communicate with ghosts. She must come face to face with dark secrets, her past, and the truth behinds her parents' disappearance--but she doesn't know who to trust. And when a series of "otherworldly" murders start popping up, Emma must put her skills to the test.

My thoughts: Wow. Can I just say that I absolutely adored this book? It was intriguing, fast paced, and unique.

I loved the creative concept of ghostkeeping: it's never been done before, and Ms. Nichols clearly put a lot of time and effort into creating Emma's world. It really showed in the writing, which was rich with detail and history and action.

The book was definitely not one to read before bed--it was spooky, creepy, and haunting. I couldn't get it out of my mind! It was definitely a quick read. The mystery, intrigue, and suspense had me madly flipping pages. I really couldn't put it down, and finished it in a day.

The characters themselves were well developed and truly lovable. At the start, I was wary of the vague descriptions of Emma's acquaintances and family, but as the story moved along, they became better developed. Emma was an awesome protagonist. I felt like I could relate to her, and her narration was spot-on. I would've liked to have seen a little more information on Bennett's character, but I guess that's what makes him so mysterious. (:

I'd also like to point out that Bloomsbury has had such a strong slew of wonderfully written paranormal books lately. Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles, Michelle Rowen's Demon Princess...Deception is the icing on the cake. Keep 'em coming, guys!

The sad, cliff-hanger ending made me want more--I can't wait for book two, Betrayal (coming out March 2011)!

Must-read! Check it out Don't Bother

Deception Blog Tour Part I: Interview & Contest!

2010-06-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today's interview: Lee Nichols

Author of: Deception: A Haunting Emma novel

If you're interested in winning a copy of the book, read on for details!!

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Bookworm: Welcome, Lee! To start off, please tell us what the inspiration behind Deception is.

Lee: I wanted to write a contemporary Gothic mystery with a kick-butt heroine.

Bookworm: What is your favorite ghost story?

Lee: I loved old Barbara Michaels novels, where the ghost haunting the mansion the heroine lives in is always helping her solve a mystery and getting her to fall for the right guy.

Bookworm: Speaking of ghosts, if you could meet/talk to a ghost, who would it be (celebrity, deceased famly member, etc)?

Lee: I would love to introduce my grandmother to my son. They would've adored each other.

Bookworm: What's next for Emma?

Lee: In Betrayal, the second Haunting Emma book due out in March, her powers grow stronger and she gets tougher, like hard-core. Plus she learns a lot about her parents' past and struggles to make things work with Bennett.

Bookworm: What is your favorite thing about writing for young adults?

Lee: It's just a really fun genre to be in. I think more exciting things are happening in young adult fiction than anywhere else right now.

Bookworm: What book have you recently read and loved?

Lee: Along with everyone else, I love the Hunger Games series. Can't wait for the third. Team Peeta!

----------------------

Thanks so much, Lee! Deception is released June 8, 2010 by Bloomsbury. Expect a review soon!

Many thanks to Kate Lied for letting me participate in this Bloomsbury tour!

***If you're interested in winning an ARC of Deception:

- Comment below with your name and email address.

- US entries only, please (sorry international friends!)

- Winners will be chosen June 16, 2010!

Good luck!

My Best Friend, the Atlantic Ocean, and Other Great Bodies Standing Between Me and My Life With Giulio

2010-05-26T19:26:00.001-07:00

Author: Jane Harrington

Pages: 174

Published: 2008, Darby Creek Publishing

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cover score: B+

Overall Grade: B+

When Delia told her best friend Brady to bring back a "code-red Euro hottie" after her trip to Europe, she didn't know that Brady would take it so seriously--and bring home a true-blue Italian exchange student! Even though Delia knows that Giulio is Brady's boyfriend, she can't help but crush on him--plus, she knows that the average teenage relationship lasts only 34 days (32 left to go). However, between trying to learn Italian, managing the school football team, and recording her thoughts and feelings in her English journal, Delia may discover that maybe she and Giulio aren't meant to be...

My thoughts: Ohmygoodness, I love Delia. She was funny, honest, lovable, and frank. I really liked how the novel was in journal format--it made the narration feel more personal and relatable. Delia's voice was super-honest, and she often had me laughing out loud over her crazy schemes to steal Giulio away from Brady.

I wished that the characters of Giulio and Brady were a little bit more developed, though. I also think that the plot could've used some more detail and twists and turns, but it made for a light, breezy read, which was excellent for my pre-finals book slump.

I really couldn't help but root for Delia the whole way through--right up to the surprising (but super-satisfying!) ending. She's someone that I'd love to have as a friend--no matter how silly, quirky, and utterly (but adorably) oblivious she is!

Perfect for summer, this book (and its prequel, 5 Things My Geeky Jock-of-a Best Friend Must Do in Europe) will have girls ages 12 and up wanting more of Delia and Brady--and Jane Harrington's addictive writing!

In My Mailbox

2010-05-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

Another great week in books--another busy week of schoolwork! ): 3 more weeks until summer....please, please, hurry!

Folly by Marthe Jocelyn (May 11, 2010)
Deception: Haunting Emma by Lee Nichols (blog tour, released June 8)
The Mosts by Melissa Senate (June 8, 2010)
Sons of Liberty by Alexander & Joseph Lagos (May 25, 2010)
The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (May 11, 2010)

Many thanks to Random House and Kate Lied of Bloomsbury!