Upcoming: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner will actually be free online from June 7th to July 5th at www.breetanner.com as a thank you to all of Stephenie Meyer's fans. It will also come out in book form to compliment your Twilight set. The website is where Stephenie explains about the release of this 'short story', and you can buy it here (also released in hard copy June 5th).

Product Description from Amazon.com:
Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

Night Runner, by Max Turner

Night Runner, by Max Turner
Young Adult, 2008

Zack Thompson lives in a mental ward, where he is taken care of from his strange allergies. Surviving solely on strawberry shakes, his only friends are a pretty nurse and best friend Charlie. But when a visitor comes who tells him to run...he finds out strange secrets about his parent's deaths, his past, and his future.
A fabulous idea, I had no hint really of what was coming (although I kind of guessed). For the most part it was very underplayed, with scenes feeling a bit underwhelming. The ending also drove me nuts as it was way too pat. Hopefully Turner can get the characterizations better for his upcoming sequel (due to be published this year), End Of Days.
Graded a C+.

The Tomorrow Code, by Brian Falkner

The Tomorrow Code, by Brian Falkner
Young Adult, 2008

Best friends Tane and Rebecca theorize about time-travel, only to discover a code sent to them from the future. As they decode it they realize it's to the next winning lottery. But more messages follow, and slowly they realize that it's up to them to save the world from disaster.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed the idea, the clues/codes, and the adventure. On the other hand there were quite a few parts that were very unrealistic. I'm sure that's partly because I'm a scientist and I'm not the intended audience. I also was very frustrated with the ending. I think that was the general idea, but seriously...I went through all that for THAT?! However, I'm pretty sure this is a great book for the ages of about 11 or 12 to about 15. There's a little teen romance, but nothing too mushy or inappropriate.
Graded a B-.

The River Between Us, by Richard Peck

The River Between Us, by Richard Peck
Juvenile, 2003

from fantasticfiction.co.uk: The year is 1861. Civil war is imminent and Tilly Pruitt's brother, Noah, is eager to go and fight on the side of the North. With her father long gone, Tilly, her sister, and their mother struggle to make ends meet and hold the dwindling Pruitt family together. Then one night a mysterious girl arrives on a steamboat bound for St. Louis. Delphine is unlike anyone the small river town has even seen. Mrs. Pruitt agrees to take Delphine and her dark, silent traveling companion in as boarders. No one in town knows what to make of the two strangers, and so the rumors fly. Is Delphine's companion a slave? Could they be spies for the South? Are the Pruitts traitors? A masterful tale of mystery and war, and a breathtaking portrait of the lifelong impact one person can have on another.

Guest Reviewer, Gardening Granny:


Like a holiday surprise, this is a story within a story. And the story within is much more delicious than the shell surrounding it. It was thought provoking, and I loved it. Richard Peck writes with versatility and relevance. Nothing inappropriate, however, probably for ages 12/13 and up.
Graded an A-.

Duo Review: When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

Juvenile, 2009

Newbery Award Winner

In sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend Sal know the streets of NYC like the back of their hand. But in a series of events that changes everyone's lives, a mystery unfolds that must might be the answer to everything she's been asking.

Raspberry: A sweet book, with a mystery to boot, this was a fun and enjoyable book. A little tame, maybe, for the 'modern' child who is used to Harry Potter, but this is definitely a must-read anyways. I'd recommend it from ages 10 up, and it's squeaky clean.

Graded a B+.

Trackgeek: An intriguing plot and a good juvenile mystery that's well done.

Graded a B+.

Top 25 SciFi/Fantasy Books

www.sfx.co.uk has posted their top 25 SciFi/Fantasy Novels of all time based on readers votes. Click here for the webpage and comments, but I've included a list here. How many have you read? We've bolded our reads and added a few comments of our own.

25. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - personally I feel like this isn't my favorite of the Narnia books, but I'm glad at least one of them made it on here.
24. The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester - this actually sounds good, and we've put it on our tbr list.
23. Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett
22. Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - ok, I highly doubt this would be here if it hadn't just been made into a movie. After all, it's a graphic novel, which isn't exactly something I consider literature.
21. It, by Stephen King
20. Legend, by David Gemell
19. Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett
18. The Stand, by Stephen King
17. Hyperion, Dan Simmons
16. Magician, by Raymond Feist
15. Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
14. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson - I'm sure this is a good book, but I bet a lot of the reason it's on this list is again the hype of being made into a movie.
13. Guards! Guards!, by Terry Pratchett
12. The Day Of The Triffids, by John Wyndham
11. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card - a favorite for us both.
10. A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin
9. His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman - also known as the Golden Compass, I've read the series and enjoyed the first books, but not the last one.
8. The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien - this is my favorite of Tolkien's books.
7. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
6. Nineteen Eighty Four, by George Orwell
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling - I think this is self-explanatory. It's Trackgeek's favorite of the Harry Potter series, and this and the first are my favorites.
4. The War of The Worlds, by H. G. Wells - Trackgeek hasn't read this, but I listened to the original broadcast of it in school at one point and enjoyed it.
3. Dune, by Frank Herbert - fabulous piece of scifi, that I highly recommend. Trackgeek has not read it.
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams - I've read it but didn't really like it that much. I thought it was a bit silly. Trackgeek enjoyed it more, but I think it's safe to say that neither of us think it deserves 2nd place.
1. The Lord Of The Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien - obviously this won, and obviously we both have read it. :)

Notably missing was anything by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which is a shame. I thought of the Dark Elf Trilogy by Salvatore and Fahrenheit 451...Anybody else you think deserves some credit?

Mini Reviews: Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause, and Kisses and Lies, by Lauren Henderson

Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
Young Adult, 1997

from fantasticfiction.co.uk: Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.
Raspberry: While the writing was decent, the plot drove me nuts. I felt the ending was the 'easy way out', although this is for the most part personal preference.
Graded a C+.



Kisses and Lies, by Lauren Henderson
Young Adult, 2009

The sequel to Henderson's Kiss Me Kill Me, the mystery continues as Scarlett races with her American sidekick Taylor to uncover the truth.
Raspberry: While the plot as a whole (including the first book) was interesting, dividing it into two books was stupid for a mystery. Plus, the ending while entirely believable seemed to detract from what the book had been about the entire time. A little bit more closure on the guy end would have been nice - I was confused with the author's portrayal of a 'goodbye' for those of you that have read it.
Graded a B-.

Win a $100 dinner!

Carolyn Crane over at The Thrillionth Page has created the Trapped in a Restaurant meme game to celebrate one of the many mysteries of Mind Games (of which she is the author):
Why does tortured mastermind Sterling Packard NEVER ever set foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant? Anybody anywhere can play.

Prizes:
First Prize: One randomly chosen player will get $100 toward a fancy dinner at a restaurant of their choice! (Any restaurant anywhere that accepts plastic or sells gift certificates. You don’t have to choose until you win.) Second prize: $50 toward a dinner.

How to play:
Just post the questions, your answers, meme icon and meme game line on social media site (blog, facebook, livejournal, other).

Below is all you have to put (but make up your own answers!). And before you ask, no I haven't read it, so I'm not sure who Sterling Packard is, but I have seen the cover around before and when I get a chance I'll check it out to see if it's any good. (And let you know, of course.):



1. In MIND GAMES, hypochondriac heroine Justine Jones can’t figure out why tortured mastermind Sterling Packard never sets foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant. What if you were somehow trapped in a restaurant, what sort of restaurant would you prefer?

Tandoori Grill, our current favorite Indian Restaurant. I could eat their Paneer Masala for days.

2. What if you won the fancy $100 dinner to a restaurant of your choice, and you could dine with any character from any book, movie, or history. Who would you choose?

Atticus Finch, from To Kill A Mockingbird came to mind first, although a variety of Dicken's characters came to mind.

3. Choose three characters to dine with for a lively dinner party (you can define lively however you want).

Ah, well I mentioned the Dicken's characters. Just about any of the characters from Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell would be a hoot. (If you haven't read it, at least see the movie and you'll understand...)

and Why?

Dicken's characters are just that - characters. They would be fascinating conversation. And as I said before, Gaskell's Cranford characters for the most part would make me laugh till my sides split.

Meme Game! Send meme game link by 4/8 to meme@authorcarolyncrane.com to enter. Anyone can play. Details at www.authorcarolyncrane.com.

Sea Change, by Aimee Friedman

Sea Change, by Aimee Friedman
Young Adult, 2009

from fantasticfiction.co.uk: 16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate. There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality. Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?
Raspberry: I have picked this up over and over, only to return it to the library unread. I figured it was just another teenage drama pseudo-Twilight and I was sick of the cliche. However, this past week I grabbed it again and before I knew it, had started it. I was pleasantly surprised by the writing, and enjoyed the plot very much. The Selkie-Island background makes it seem like you're burying yourself in local lore, and I enjoyed the light mysteries of her grandmother, her mother, and even herself. The romance was nice, although heads up the sexual tension while well done is very very strong. I also enjoyed Miranda's character - that she was strong enough to not give in to peer pressure (for the most part) without realizing how strong she was. A fun read and one I wouldn't mind reading again someday, although I hope for closure's sake that there is a sequel.
Graded a B+.

Memory Monday: A Treasury of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Unable to find a picture of this book (and my own is missing the dust flap), I've resorted to a picture of the knick-knacks used by the infamous Holmes.

A Treasury of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Adult, 1955 (although the stories were written prior; this is a collection)

Stories of Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr. Watson are said to be ingenious, and are certainly quite addicting. The detective that misses nothing, seeming to find clues out of thin air. The bumbling policeman, and the pointman friend there to see the genius. These are not new, of course. Anyone who has read Poe has seen his darker versions of Holmes that came prior to anything in Doyle's imagination. Or even Wilkie Collins who is credited with the first true detective stories. But whoever influenced him, Doyle did a fantastic job creating the mysterious stories that no one can seem to put down, even today.
Never read him? Try the Red Headed League for starters....
Graded a B+ overall, but many of his stories are an A or A-.

Mini Reviews: Amy, by Mary Hooper, and The Silver Kiss, by Annette Curtis Klause

Amy, by Mary Hooper
YA, 2002

fantasticfiction.co.uk: It's a difficult time for Amy--her two best friends have abandoned her and she's feeling lonely and vulnerable. Then, she meets Zed in an internet chat room and their online relationship quickly develops. But is Zed the person he claims to be?
Raspberry: Mary Hooper is a fabulous writer, and not just with historical fiction. Amy's story is something we can all relate to on some level.
Graded a B.




The Silver Kiss, by Annette Curtis Klause
YA, 1990

fantasticfiction.co.uk: A mysterious teenage boy harboring a dark secret helps Zoè come to terms with her mother's terminal illness.
Raspberry: A well-written vampire story, with a reality that more modern books tend to bring.
Graded a B-.

Beastly, by Alex Flinn

Beastly, by Alex Flinn
Young Adult, 2007

Kyle Kingsbury is perfect. On the outside, that is. With his all-that attitude, he's the guy we love to hate but secretly have a crush on. When he ticks off a witch, she turns him into a beast - a hideous monster unable to even eat correctly with his fork. Given a timeline, he has to find someone to love him, fast. But how can the most shallow guy in NYC truly find someone he cares about and have that returned?
A modern teen version of Beauty and the Beast, I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and the depth of the character's change. I didn't like the chat room scene - I thought Kyle was a total jerk there and didn't express how his personality had changed very well. FYI there are also some sexual innuendos particularly prior to his change. But I loved the romantic vibe the whole story had, and in particular the way roses were incorporated so strongly into them. I would have liked a few more details about some of the other character's fates, but that's just a nit-picky moment for me.
Graded a B.

And the number one reason I read it - it's being turned into a movie! And it looks like it'll be such a cute movie too. I'm a little sick of Vanessa Hudgens, but hey, she's alright. Check out the trailer - what do you think?

The Line, by Teri Hall

The Line, by Teri Hall
Young Adult, 2010

An invisible Line creates the border of the Unified States. The Line is a segment of that border that cut off part of the army and many of its innocent inhabitants during the war. Next to that Line is a greenhouse that cultures Orchids, and a home that contains a little girl whose curiosity may lead to a revolt that the U. S. cannot stop.
Raspberry: First of all, I don't think the cover is quite right. After all, the greenhouse in the book is a beautiful building devoted to live plants, not some scare you to death scene of a crime. Also, the writing was...well, bad. First of all, the organization was off - the different perspectives were interesting, but the constant conversations about past history of the U. S. made up the bulk of the book and detracted from the plot. The plot is also incredibly simplified and ends very abruptly. If you're looking for a dystopian novel that you can't put down, can I recommend anything by Gemma Malley instead.
Graded a C.

Memory Monday: Tisha, by Robert Specht and Anne Purdy

Tisha, by Robert Specht and Anne Purdy

This is the heart-warming story of a beautiful young teacher in Chicken, Alaska. She survives the harsh winter, the local prejudism against Indians, and the thwarted love of the man she's not supposed to have.
Raspberry: An absolutely fabulous book, I would recommend it to everyone. To me it's a classic - one of those rereadable books that has you laughing and crying on every page.
Graded an A.

Friday Finds (12)

Borderline, by Allan Stratton
An explosive thriller ripped from today's headlines, borderline is the story of a funny, gutsy Muslim-American teen determined to save his father, his family, and his life.






Ivy Tree, by Mary Stewart
Mary Grey has nothing to look forward to except a future as colorless as her name. So if she looks, walks, and smiles so much like the glamorous missing heiress Annabel Winslow, why not be her for a little while? Because fairy tales do not come true...and someone wants Annabel to stay missing.





No Moon, by Irene
If Louisa refuses to go on the voyage, she will be dismissed, and she will never get beyond the working-class life she has escaped from. How Louisa learns self-reliance, overcomes her fears, and goes beyond what is expected of a girl makes No Moon an unforgettable story.





The Poisoned House, by Michael Ford
-no summary available-

Violet Eyes, by Debbie Viguie

Violet Eyes, by Debbie Viguie
Young Adult, 2010

Continuing in the re-told fairy tale series, Viguie tells the story of the Princess and the Pea. When Prince Richard ends up on her father's farm hurt and sick, Violet tends to him, nursing him back to health. They fall in love quickly, but he must leave to marry whichever princess pasts all the tests his parents have created. As her mother lays dying, Violet is told the secret of her parenthood - one that could mean having all her heart desires. But warring countries, evil royalty, and princess tests stand in her way.
Raspberry: An enjoyable idea, but the plot was rushed and you didn't feel like the prince and Violet really had a chance to fall in love. I was also a bit put off by her racing to the palace to be a part of the princess tests. And my last nit-picky is that everything is just perfect in the end. TOO perfect for me, at any rate. A cute story and definitely fun, it's probably not something I'll reread over and over again.
Graded a C+.

The Lonely Hearts Club, by Elizabeth Eulberg

The Lonely Hearts Club, by Elizabeth Eulberg
Young Adult, 2010

After Penny Lane (yes, it's a Beatles' song) has a seriously horrible experience with a guy she's crazy about, she vows never to date again - at least not during high school. Before long, girls are clamoring to be a part of her club, and the boys are getting a little frustrated. But what if the guy Penny has been waiting for suddenly shows up in her life, just when she's decided not to date?
Raspberry: The writing is decent, and the plot idea interesting and funny at times. I didn't think the boy in question was realistic - no high school boy I ever knew was ever that mature, and I don't think they ever will be. Also, Penny always seemed to have the perfect thing to say; the perfect comeback to any situation. That drives me nuts. I never knew what to say when someone was a jerk to me in high school, and I'm betting most of us still find ourselves struck dumb when in those situations. I also was again disappointed that teen drinking and teen sex were made to look completely normal, and even expected. I do think the karaoke night was the sweetest thing EVER, and while I didn't like all of her friends, I liked the kick-hiney basketball player (if you've read it you know who I mean).
Graded a B-.

Fabulous Contest!

Sheila Nielson, author of Forbidden Sea, is doing an ARC giveaway, which includes a copy of Forbidden Sea, PLUS 3 other ARCs. Stop on by to enter, giveaway ends March 12.
US only.

For our author interview, click here.
For our reviews of Forbidden Sea, click here.