Waiting on Wednesday!

June sounds like a great month for new releases--and it's also my birthday month! Here are two I'm greatly anticipating:

Me, My Elf & I

by Heather Swain

Coming out June 11, 2009

It's not often you see an elf in the middle of Brooklyn, let alone a tall, gorgeous elf in the middle of one of the most prestigious performing arts high schools in the country. And that's just where Zephyr Addler finds herself: smack dab in the middle of a bustling New York City school, worlds away from the secluded woodland community she knows so well. But Zephyr knows that she has to figure out how to live in the world. And dress in the world. Thanks to a little friendly advice from her new friend Mercedes, Zephyr starts to get the hang of Brooklyn. That is, until Zephyr snags a role in a commercial, beating out the most popular girl in school, Bella Dartagnan. Now with Bella and her friends out to get her, can Zephyr out-maneuver the mean girls (and catch the eye of a certain cute boy) without losing herself?

It sounds so cute and creative! And I love the adorable cover!

Along for the Ride

by Sarah Dessen

Coming out June 16, 2009

   It's been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents' divorce--or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

   A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she's been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

How good does this sound? I've never read any of Sarah Dessen's other books but this sounds like a good one to begin on...

Make A New Friend!

Hey, everyone. Since it's nearly Valentine's Day, which is a season of friendship and love, why don't you be a sweetheart and make a new friend by following a great up-and-coming review blog, Laura's Review Bookshelf? She has great reviews and giveaways and is also a really nice person. (:

She's having this contest....if you begin following her blog, you can be entered to win a book of your choice (ARC or regular), and how can you pass that up?! Also, tell her I recruited you so I can also get points towards the contest. So...go! Check her blog out now!

Edit: I know I'm also really behind on my reviews, but I've just been busy with life and school and other stuff. I'm almost done with Violet on the Runway (and lovin' it!) so I should have that up soon. (:

T is for Tags!

I was tagged by Sharonanne to do this fun meme where you are assigned a letter and have to list 10 things you like that start with that letter! I was assigned "T". Here goes:

1) Turtles--they're so cute and wise

2) Taffy--especially that saltwater stuff they sell near the beach. Ohmigosh, root beer is the best.

3) Trick-or-treating. I love Halloween (:

4) Tabasco sauce. On pizza. Seriously, it's the best.

5) Tacos with cheese, chicken, and olives.

6) Talking. Ask any of my friends. I never shut up, LOL.

7) Totally awesome books--who doesn't love a good read?

8) Tootsie Rolls. Yum!

9) Target. I could spend hours in that store. 

10) Taylor Swift's songs (particularly "White Horse" because she gets annoying after a while)

Bonus: Tags like this one--too fun, huh?

Anyone who wants to can participate, so if you're interested, comment below and I'll assign you a random letter! Have fun! 

Heaven Looks A Lot Like the Mall

Title: Heaven Looks A Lot Like the Mall

Author: Wendy Mass

Pages: 251

Little & Brown, 2007

Genre: Hmm....Realistic/Not fantasy..but non-realistic? What do you think?

Recommended to: Teen readers 13 and up

Rating: B

   16-year-old Tessa has had an average life: bad times, good times, drama, highs, lows. Nothing too exciting, at least in her opinion. She's a pretty normal high-school girl, still trying to figure out what the question (Who are you?) on her college application forms means. She knows she's not too thin and not too pretty, and she doesn't really have any self-esteem, but knows that's not really the answer. But then what is?

   But all of that's about to change when she is knocked into a dangerous coma when she is involved in an accident in PE and finds herself in "heaven", a place that looks creepily like her local mall back home. There, she revisits her past up until when she was knocked out playing dodgeball. She remembers times she's made mistakes and bad decisions, reencounters times she'd rather forget, goes back to things she wishes she could change, and ends up learning a lot about why life is worth living, and who she really is deep down. 

   Wow. Don't let the fluffy cover or the sugary-sweet chick lit-like title throw you off. This book is deep, a totally touching and memorable story. I loved how the author shows you Tessa's self-development and how her actions just made her totally human. Tessa has made some bad choices and some major mistakes, and has learned the hard way. For me, this just made her character so much deeper and more realistic. I loved hearing her first-person thoughts, as well. I enjoyed how Wendy transitioned from the baby to child to teenager stories/memories because you could tell that Tessa was getting older and more mature: her thoughts were more complex and she faced bigger issues. At some points, I just wanted to cry for her. She didn't have a terrible easy home life (her mom put lots of pressure on her), and she really did face some ego problems inside. I found her to be a bland character at first, but by the end I knew why: she was insecure, trying to impress everyone else but not being herself. 

    I also liked the poetic format that made the book more well, poetic and flowing. Parts of the novel to be a bit cheesy, and the ending seemed a little bit too perfect for me, but maybe everything seemed a whole lot more sunnier at the end because Tessa finally realized who she really was. Some of the transitions were a bit jerky and random, but overall I was impressed by how beautiful the novel was. I was practically in tears at the moving ending because I felt like Tessa was a real person who had finally discovered that she didn't have to impress anyone but herself, and that made me happy. All in all, it actually kind of reminded me of Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere.

   Overall, I recommend this novel to most teens. I really enjoyed Tessa's unique voice and the beautiful writing! 

   Oh-- and which cover do you prefer? Paperback (gumball machine) or hardcover?

Waiting on Wednesday (8): Double Feature!

Here's what's come across my book-stalking radar this week:

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Coming out July 7, 2009

All her world's a stage.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She's not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

   Until now.

Welcome to the Théatre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known...

This one recently came to my attention, and it looks amazing. It sounds unique and thrilling. I can't wait to read it, and if anyone knows how/where to find an ARC of this one, I will love you forever! (:

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

Coming out May 14, 2009

  Growing up in a world of wealth and pastel-tinted entitlement, fifteen-year-old Carly has always relied on the constancy--and the authenticity--of her sister, Anna. But when fourteen-year-old Anna turns plastic-pretty over the course of a single summer, everything starts to change. And there are boys involved, complicating things as always. 

  With warmth, insight, and an unparalleled gift for finding humor even in stormy situations, beloved author Lauren Myracle dives into the tumultuous waters of sisterhood and shows that even very different sisters can learn to help each other stay afloat. (Amazon.com)

Aww...sounds awesome! And I love the cover, don't you?

The Monday Muse: Interview with....Me!

Hi! Today's Monday Muse is going to be a bit different from normal. Instead of an interview with an author, I'm showing you all an interview with me! It's part of this fun new thing Lauren over at Shooting Stars Mag interviewed me for. Thanks, Lauren. It was fun! If you want to be interviewed, too, I've posted the rules are below. (: Enjoy!

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

1) Do you read magazines? If so, which ones?

Yes, I read some magazines: I'm a sucker for US Weekly and People, but I only read those when I'm at the dentist or doctor's office. If I'm going on a trip, then I'll splurge and get myself a Teen Vogue (I love all the pretty clothes I can't afford in there) or a J-14, just for kicks. And then there's all my horse magzines: Young Rider, Horse and Pony, Practical Horseman, Equestrian...

2) If you could be anything, what would you pick and why?

I'd want to be a dolphin, because they're so cute and always look so happy and playful.

Or a movie star. That would be awesome, too! But I also like being me. (:

3) If you were lost in the woods and could only have one author to keep you company, who would you picks and why?

It's a tie between Michele Jaffe and JK Rowling. Michele because she's hilarious and makes me laugh. And JK because she'd amuse me with stories. If I had to choose just one, I'd probably end up picking Michele. She's just too funny! 

4) What are five things you can't live without?

My family (pets included), books, movies, happiness, and cupcakes. 

5) Would you rather be able to fly or read people's minds?

Hmm....hard decision. If I could, I'd pick both because that would just be too cool. But for now I'll go with flying. Then you'd never have to deal with traffic jams. (:

Do you want to be interviewed?

1. If you want to be interviewed, comment with "interview me" and your email address so I can contact you

2. I will email you five questions in return

3. Update your blog with the answers and let me know when it's posted so I can link it

4. Include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment, you will interview them, too!

Have a happy Monday!

Bad Kitty: Catnipped

Title: Catnipped

Author: Michele Jaffe

Art By: Lince

Pages: 172

TokyoPop & HarperCollins, 2008

Genre: Manga/Mystery

Recommended to: Teen readers 13 and up

Rating: A

   Crazy-haired cowboy boot-wearing anti-Nancy Drew Jasmine ("Jas") Callihan is back, and this time, manga-style! In her very first graphic novel, Jas has got a lot on her hands:

a) she can't manage to have brunch with her "Tabasco-hot" rock star boyfriend Jack Early without being mobbed by his fans

b) she's trying to solve a diamond heist at the mall 

c) her evil cousin Alyson and her hench twin Veronique are trailing Jas and her friends wherever they go

and 

d) trying to handle all of this while trying to avoid getting caught by the Thwarter, aka her overprotective dad!

It's going to be a long day....But can Jas find the culprit before someone innocent gets framed? 

   I've got to start out by saying....I love Michele Jaffe. She is hilarious. Seriously. Every time I pick up one of her books I immediately get sucked into all the humor, funny slogans ("That is so Visa!"), awesome characters (Go Roxy!), and creativity that she puts into the plot. 

   I'm not a big manga reader, so I was surprised to be overall very delighted with the book. I loved how the oh-so-talented artist Lince really made Jas and her friends come to life exactly as I'd imagined them, and how clues and hints were hidden into the artwork. In my opinion, the comic book is just as good as the previous two novels, if not better (who doesn't love illustrations?), making a quick (it took me only about an hour and a half to finish) and suspenseful read for those who need a break from real books! I can't wait to see what crazy situation Jas gets herself into next...

Click here for a review of Bad Kitty

Click here for a review of Kitty Kitty