Friday Finds (15)

For this week's Friday Finds I don't have quite as many, but a few I've been eagerly awaiting...

Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days (Book 4), by Derek Landy
2010
Ok - this is one series I've actually read ALL the books in. I've actually bought them all NEW TOO, a huge rarity for me. I get bored really quickly in series, but this one just stays great each time. For the review of the third book (The Faceless Ones) and the grades for the first two, catch my post here.


Except The Queen, by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder
2010
Jane Yolen is one of those authors that you pay attention to. Even if you're not sure you'll like the book, you have to check it out and see, because she always surprises you. Plus, some major cover love is going on here.



Reckless, by Cornelia Funke
2010
It's Cornelia Funke for crying out loud, and plus the plot sounds different. Different is good.


Cloaked in Red, by Vivian Vande Velde (COVER NOT AVAILABLE)
2010
It's VVV, and I love her stuff.

The Dream-Maker's Magic, by Sharon Shinn

The Dream-Maker's Magic, by Sharon Shinn
YA/Juvenile, 2006

Publisher's Description: Kellen's mother has always insisted that her only child was born male, not female--so Kellen has been raised as a boy. Then she is forced to go to school, where she meets Gryffin, whose mind is as strong as his legs are damaged, and the two become friends and allies. A few years later, the two get jobs working at a nearby inn, the Parmer Arms. When it is discovered that Gryffin is the kingdom's new Dream-Maker--someone whose mere presence can help dreams come true--he is whisked away to the castle, leaving Kellen behind. By now, their friendship is shading into something more.
Raspberry: It took forever for me to finally read this, the 3rd installment in the Safe Keeper's series. I finally did, though, and I really enjoyed it. It's a nice addition to the series, and a sweet read about growing up and finding who you are. I enjoyed the characters, and it was clean as well - something I sighed in relief for. :) If you enjoyed the first two, then give this one a shot.
Graded a B.

A Pearl Among Princes, by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

A Pearl Among Princes, by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
YA/Juvenile, 2009

From fantasticfiction.co.uk: Gracepearl Coal is the cook's daughter on Miramore, the island all princes visit for their summer program in the Charming Arts. Each year, the princes-in-training arrive on gallant seacraft, guided by captains trained to navigate the island's treacherous waters. Passage on one of these boats is the only method to leave the island - thus betrothal to a royal is the only way for Pearl to find her far-off destiny, the one that's started haunting her dreams. Luckily, this year's crop of princes include some promising prospects, but how will Pearl leave behind her ailing father or - hardest of all - marry a boy other than her long-time beloved, Mackree . . . who now finds it too painful to even speak to her?
Raspberry: This book is such a cute idea. There were some darling scenes and laugh-out-loud moments. The ending was a bit pat for me, and some of the scenes so juvenile. But once I started reading it like it was meant for a younger audience I enjoyed it better. My only other beef would be her name..a little much for me, especially since everyone else's names were so plain compared to hers. I mean, Gracepearl? Really?! I think it would appeal most to Tween girls - ages 11 - 14ish, and just so you know it's squeaky clean.
Graded a B-.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary Pearson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary Pearson
YA, 2008

Jenna wakes from a coma remembering nothing of her previous 17 years. Given home videos, and prompted by questions she has, bits of her memories start to come back to her. But why do her parent's look so worried all the time? And what really happened when she had the accident?
Raspberry: I don't want to say too much because not knowing makes this book all the better. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the ideas that made this book unique. There wasn't even a hint of anything cliche, and it was entirely engrossing. The ending will bug you - in a good way. Perfect for a book club, I'd recommend it for 14 and up. Noted there was some light swearing.
Graded an A-.

Memory Monday: To Catch A Thief, by David Dodge

I didn't read this 'way back when' - in fact, I just finished it a couple of days ago. But since it was published nearly 60 years ago, and since it's a very unheard of classic, I though it would be appropriate for today's post:

To Catch A Thief, by David Dodge
Adult, 1953

When retired thief John Robie is accused of being 'back in business' he has to find who is mimicking him so well. But this will include a lot of disguising, thwarting the police, and being on his toes as he tries to out think this copy Cat.
I first watched Hitchcock's version of this on the big screen, which in turn made me find the book it was based on. I enjoyed the witty conversation, the interesting characters, and of course the mystery of who is the new Cat. I must admit I liked the movie better, but this is well written in a very 50's style if you know what I mean. I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up at a thrift store (especially because it's not in print anymore of course).
Graded a B+.


The movie came out a mere two years later through Paramount (1955) starring the gorgeous actors Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The movie is a favorite and fun to watch over and over - way to go Hitchcock for surpassing another book. How does he do that so well?!
Graded an A.

YA Bloggers Book Battle 2010 Kickoff!

We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the first YA Bloggers Book Battle. Hosted by The Shady Glade, 24 books are up for the competition. We're part of Round 1, and will be reading and choosing between Jessica's Guide to Dating on The Dark Side, and Silver Phoenix. I'll be the one reading and reviewing, but I'm hoping to get Trackgeek to read them both as well so we can both judge which book moves forward.



Here's the official bracket, so you can see which books are up - it'll be updated as it goes on to the next rounds. Has anyone read quite a few of these and wants to hazard a guess as to the #1 spot? What about Round 4? Click on the image to enlarge since I can't get it to blow up any more.
I haven't read most of them, but I was a huge fan of Brightly Woven, so that would be my guess. :)

For the button, and to help promote this fun Book Battle, go to The Shady Glade's blog where it's located on the right hand side.

Top 5 Picks for a Deserted Island Trip

Over at Froggaritaville's Bookcase, Froggy has come up with a fun meme, Friday's Fab Five. The questions are a lot of fun, and I like reading the answers in her comments - I end up adding quite a few books to my TBR list. (Like I need more... :)

One of her questions is: What one book you would have with you if stranded in a desert island?
This got me thinking about a surprisingly in-depth conversation I had with my husband and parents about a similar question.
What 5 books would you take with you if you were to be stranded on a desert island? (And I always wondered, why can't it be stranded on a tropical island?)
Anyways, the point of the conversation was that those 5 books say an immense amount about the type of person that you are. So think carefully before you comment...not only do you have to read these books over and over again, they'll probably be your only link to any life, and your only source to sanity if you're all alone. Not to be doom-saying...

My 5 picks:

1. North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell
Not only is it my favorite book, but it has just about everything. The characters actually grow, the romance is fabulous, there's mystery, tragedies...a few comic moments, and it is a thoroughly satisfying read. Yes, it's a classic, but for those of you who can't handle them, this might change your mind. Particularly if you catch the movie first.

2. New Arabian Nights, by Robert Louis Stevenson
I am the only person I know who loves this book this much...Stevenson has such a particular way of writing that I can't even imagine teenagers getting past the first page or two. So - not for the faint of heart, and if I found a new favorite then this is probably the one to go from this list...but the fact is, it's on it.

3. Tisha, by Anne Purdy and Robert Specht
An incredible true story, filled with all the emotional elements of a great novel, and written in this century? Absolutely.

4. Something by Charles Dickens
I realize this is vague. And while Charles Dickens is an excellent author, his largely depressing works aren't probably the things you should read while stranded. However, he has a couple of works that I particularly enjoy. If I found myself grabbing books to go and just couldn't bring myself to take a Dicken's book, then I'd probably grab Under the Greenwood Tree, by Thomas Hardy, which is another classic, but on more of the humorous (and short) side.

5. This last spot is a hard one to fill. In the end I'd probably pick The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, although I'm tempted by both The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi, and The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery. All of them are enjoyable reads - Speare's book is my favorite YA book, and Avi's is one of my favorite juvenile reads. The Blue Castle is a sweet love story that's an easy read. All of them would be welcome among my large classics that I insist on toting to this island.

What are your picks?

Friday Finds (14)

Haven't done these for a while, and thought I'd show you my latest finds:

Matched, by Allyson Condie
November 30, 2010



Stay With Me, by Jessica Blair
2009





The Mermaid's Mirror, by L. K. Madigan
October, 2010





Crossing The Tracks, by Barbara Stuber
July, 2010






Blindsided, by Priscilla Cummings
July, 2010

Shiver, by Maggie Steifvater

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
Young Adult, 2009

In a sentence? This is a similar plot to Twilight and Hush Hush - girl meets boy who is not exactly human and they fall into (very thwarted) love.
Raspberry: Ok, so Twilight was better written than Hush Hush, but I liked the plot of Hush Hush better. Shiver is a whole other bag of beans, because I felt like both the writing and the plot was better than both Twilight and Hush Hush. I know, I know, I can hear you yelling words at your screen like 'blasphemy!' and running over to 'unfollow' me. But I just liked Shiver best. It seemed the most realistic of the three books, and the ending - oh MAN was that pure sweetness that last paragraph. The whole werewolf thing made sense as well, nothing too unrealistic or too much fantasy to make you go 'what?!' - it just made sense.
I will say that she had a line where she said her mom wasn't an apron-wearing Betty Crocker-making mom, so she wasn't typical. I don't know about you guys, but I've found that that's actually abnormal. Most moms work these days, and Steifvater isn't the first to make that blunder. I mean really, when is the last time one of your parents (or you) made a homemade cake?
Light swearing, the only real flag is sex in this one. It's really light, and the kissing scenes are much more firey than this, so it wasn't offensive. I just personally feel that teenagers don't need any justification in their literature to go out and do that when they're that young.
Grade: B

Prom Nights From Hell, by Various

Prom Nights From Hell, by Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, and Lauren Myracle
Young Adult, 2007

from fantasticfiction.co.uk: These authors take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.
Raspberry: On a whim I grabbed this off the shelf and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Meg Cabot's story was cute and funny, while Stephenie Meyer's got surprisingly deep for a 10 pager. Kim Harrison's story was disturbing...and I wasn't able to finish the stories by the other two. However, for me 3 out of 5 wasn't bad. After a rough date, this might be something to snuggle up to and remind yourself - it could definitely be worse!
Graded a B-.

The Spell Book of Listen Taylor, by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Spell Book of Jaclyn Moriarty
Young Adult, 2007

Product Description:
The Zing family lives in a world of misguided spell books, singular poetry, and state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. They use these things to protect the Zing Family Secret -- one so huge it draws the family to the garden shed for meetings every Friday night. Into their world comes socially isolated middle grader Listen Taylor, whose father is dating a Zing. Enter Cath Murphy, a young teacher at the elementary school that Cassie Zing attends, suffering from a broken heart. How will the worlds of these two young woman connect?
Trackgeek: A couple of things that were weird about this book: The book didn't flow at all- the author moved so often between different character's viewpoints, carrying one to a particular time and then switching and going back several months and telling the parallel story not to mention the flashbacks to things that happened farther back in the past, to the point that you get lost and frustrated very easily. My other problem with this book is that all of the adults either have affairs or contemplate having an affair, which in my mind is pretty ridiculous. What I did enjoy was the the characters. They were interesting and diverse.
Graded a C.

LAST DAY for the GIVEAWAY!!

Hurry, hurry....it's your last chance to enter our giveaway for Princess of Glass, by Jessica Day George! Just click here for the form!

Memory Monday: Hawksong, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

I remember reading this a while back and really enjoying it. For some reason I thought it was in high school, but it wasn't published until 2003 so I guess it wasn't as long ago as I thought. At any rate, I recommended it to Trackgeek and thought we'd do a duo review here for those of you that never found this gem:

Hawksong, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Young Adult, 2003

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Danica Shardae is an avian shapeshifter, and the golden hawk's form in which she takes to the sky is as natural to her as the human one that graces her on land. The only thing more familiar to her is war: It has raged between her people and the serpiente for so long, no one can remember how the fighting began. As heir to the avian throne, Danica will do anything in her power to stop the bloodshed-even accept Zane Cobriana, the terrifying leader of her kind's greatest enemy, as her pair bond and make the two royal families one. Now Danica must convince her people that Zane is just as committed to peace as she is-though she can't help fearing that, despite his word, he will strike as swiftly and lethally as the cobra that is his second form. Among the serpiente, she'll have to pretend to be in love, though when they're alone, her reserve threatens to keep her and Zane worlds apart. And in their midst are dissenters who will do whatever it takes to destroy this union.

Trackgeek:
A very intriguing plot. I really enjoyed the plot idea and the development of the romance is well done.

Graded a B+.

Raspberry:
It's been so long I'm afraid to grade it, but I do remember I really enjoyed it - the plot was original and rereadable. Which I will do soon, after I read her latest book Token of Darkness first. For anyone that hasn't read Atwater-Rhodes, her ideas are fabulous and her writing surprisingly well done, so give her a shot.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, by Kaleb Nation

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, by Kaleb Nation
Juvenile, 2009

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
In a bustling metropolis where magic is outlawed, a six-year-old child is found inside a locked bank vault. A scrap of paper reveals his name: Bran Hambric. The child remembers nothing of his life before the vault. Only magic could have done this. But why would any mage risk breaking the law to place a child in a bank vault?
Eight years later the City of Dunce has forgotten about Bran. Even his foster parents don't seem to know he exists. But there are those who have been watching, biding their time, waiting to strike, people who know where Bran came from and why he was sent away. And they will do anything to get Bran back, dead or alive.

Trackgeek:

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, although the plot does seem to be a bit crazy. I found the writing style witty, but the ideas very confused- it felt a lot like a first novel (it is) in that an author is trying to put down all of the ideas that have been going through their head for years.

Grade: B-.

Mini Reviews: Sweep Series, by Cate Tiernan and Beauty, by Nancy Butcher

The Sweep Series, by Cate Tiernan
published from 2001 - 2003

This series follow Morgan as she realizes who she is, what she is, and her destiny as a witch. I only read the first two titles in the series.
Raspberry: I had a hard time with Morgan just jumping into wicca - after all, she's been a Christian her whole life, and I think that religion is hard to give up, especially when you believe it. However, the writing was engaging and fast-paced, with enough of a cliff-hanger in the end to drive you nuts, but not so much you pulled your hair out.
Grade (for both Book of Shadows and The Coven) a B.



Beauty, by Nancy Butcher
Young Adult, 2005

In a re-telling of the Snow White tale, Ana does everything she can to please her mother, including making herself as ugly as possible, to win her love. But when she blossoms at The Academy far away from her mother-queen, she realizes too late the curse of being beautiful.
Raspberry: Excellent ideas and an interesting plot line. The ending didn't make sense until I'd thought about it awhile, and it was completely devoid of all romance - something that seems odd when reading a fairy tale.
Graded a C+.

What Should We Read? (1)

A few variations on this meme are out there, all of which are fun to read just for the suggestions that come pouring in.
We would love suggestions too, and have a few ideas for how we'll pick what to read:
1. There are two of us, so two comments will be picked randomly.
2. We'll have 1 month (30 days) to read our books.
3. May we suggest you look at what got a B+ or better so you know what we already enjoy. In that same line, you might want to look at our Cs - we're not big fans of those books. :)
4. Any book counts no matter when it was published, although we reserve the right to say no to your book. (I can't imagine too many reasons to do this.)

So get commenting!

Brightly Woven, by Alexandra Bracken

Brightly Woven, by Alexandra Bracken
Young Adult, 2010

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.
Raspberry:
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. North isn't the typical nice wizard you find in these kind of books, and their love story takes a bit longer at development than most - a realistically pleasant idea. The ending wasn't perfectly tied up, but a couple loose threads for a sequel sound like a great idea. Fans of The Seer and the Sword and Graceling would enjoy this book. It's clean with a few dirty jokes made by guys, but nothing she doesn't quickly knock them down for. I'd say it's good for 13 and up.
Graded a B+.

Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling: Discussion

Both of us have, of course, read all the Harry Potter books. But we were both wondering if our grades had changed at all - if after the rush of fad and popularity we still enjoyed them. In the case of the later books, we wondered if we'd read them too fast and so had given them a lower grade than they deserved...either way we've both reread them these past couple of months in between our other books, and this is what we've decided:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Raspberry: This has always been an A for me. I was hesitant to start the series when they came out because of the absolute rage it caused, but once I did I was hooked.
Trackgeek: An A, and my favorite.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Raspberry: This one is an A- for me, because it feels so very similar to the first book. I enjoyed it emmensely but felt Rowling hadn't created an entirely new plot.
Trackgeek: B+.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Raspberry: An A. Fabulous, and a tie for my favorite with the first.
Trackgeek: I liked it - an A-.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Raspberry: I enjoyed this one immensely as well, but was shocked with the death which Rowling said was to demonstrate exactly just how horrible the Voldemort problem was. I understand, and that definitely made the point, but I preferred the simpler plots where they were resolved in one book instead. However it still gets a B+, which is actually a change from the original A- that it had before.
Trackgeek: A-; the grade hasn't changed.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Raspberry: For me this has always been the worst of the series. I gave it a C+ the first time and nearly stopped reading the series, except that I had gotten that far and wanted to know what happened without finding out 'hearsay'. I still give it a C+, and really the movie didn't make it any more palatable.
Trackgeek: Graded a C. I didn't bother reading it again.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Raspberry: The first time I read this I was a) glad it was better than 5, and b) still disappointed. My first grade was a B-, but a second read made me like it better. I'm still anti the over-arching Voldemort plot and wished there was at the very least a subplot to make it more enjoyable, but this time it gets a B.
Trackgeek: B+; it's the first time romance actually develops, and I enjoyed that.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Raspberry: I know I can be harsh when I grade sometimes, but after I read this I felt that while number 5 was a huge let down, this one was the worst written. It felt unedited, rushed, and confusing. This time I read it much slower and still found myself rereading pages trying to figure out what had just been said. Just goes to show no matter how good of a writer you are, you should always be edited! I graded it a C+ before, and I'm sorry but it doesn't change.
Trackgeek: Reading it the second time you see more of the depth of the characters and what they're going through. It still felt disjointed and drawn-out, though. Graded a B- first, but this time it gets a B.

What do you guys think? Any rereads and grade changes?

Top 100 YA List Commentary.

Ok, between Sharon's commentary about April's Top 100 YA list and my own disgruntled feelings...I just had to do my OWN commentary. Skip if you want - I just wanted my posterity to know how I felt, or at the very least get out my angst. :)
I'm not going to make a list of what should be on there. I looked in vain for favorites like Witch of Blackbird Pond or The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. At any rate, I felt like I've read enough of them to have an opinion. The blue links are to my reviews if they're on our blog. Those and the bolded ones are those we've read.

100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
99. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix - I'm ok with this and I've only read the first two books.
98. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly - A favorite YA of mine, my only complaint is that it's not higher up on the list.
97. Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix - I enjoyed this series as well, although if I were to pick a Haddix book to put on here, it wouldn't be this one.
96. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Claus - this probably wouldn't have made my own list, but one of her other books might.
95. Forever by Judy Blume
94. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - It's not reviewed on here because I read it when it first came out and before this blog was a twinkle in my eye. I graded it an A.
93. Tithe by Holly Black
92. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike
90. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
89. Angus, Thongs And Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison - To me this was too much silliness with a bit of inappropriateness thrown in, and not worth a top 100.
88. Marked by PC And Kristin Cast - I haven't read it, but have debated doing so. I don't think it'd make my list...just based on the plot idea, but I'll give it a shot. Maybe. :)
87. Maximum Ride series by James Patterson - I read the first book. It wasn't amazing, but it was alright. I can see teens devouring them, but I got a bit bored.
86. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
85. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - Trackgeek read this one.
84. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
83. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli - Absolutely. Absolutely.
82. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
81. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - eh. I get a bit underwhelmed about Sarah Dessen's books.
80. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin - I tried, I tried, I swear. It was a Failed to Finish.
79. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - This isn't teen. At ALL. In fact, I don't think teens should read it, because you'll just learn to hate American writers too soon.
78. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
77. Evernight by Claudia Gray - are you kidding me?
76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman - This book had me tossing and turning after I read it. On one hand it was amazing. On the other, frustrating. I can't find a review...which is odd...
75. Life As We Knew It series by Susan Beth Pfeffer - it's postapocalyptic. It's going to take a while for me to get the guts to read it.
74. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston - Not a huge fan of these books, but I can see why teens are crazy about them.
73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - I WANT to read it. :)
72. Alana: The First Adventure series by Tamora Pierce - Yeah, this is ok. I enjoy Tamora Pierce's series.
71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman - I'm sorry, this is just me, but I actually hate Neil Gaiman's books. Sorry.
70. Unwind by Neil Shusterman
69. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech - yes.
68. Paper Towns by John Green - odd that I can't find a review for this one either. Trackgeek read it.
67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles - have it on hold...
66. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith - yes.
65. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli - I like this choice...one I forget from time to time, but a good one.
64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon
63. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell - My favorite of his is Sing Down the Moon, but I would have put both on the list.
62. Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz
61. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous - I think this is an excellent book about what it's really like to find yourself drinking/doing drugs/etc and finding yourself in a spiral of addiction.
60. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
59. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - yes, it's a great book, but...I wanted to know what her life was like after she made her choice. I mean page by page, not the way it ends.
58. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - you already know my thoughts on this...
57. Eragon by Christopher Paoloni - oh, absolutely.
56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
54. Fallen by Lauren Kate
53. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett - yay! Glad it made it, although I'm not pretending that this is in any way a teen book.
52. The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot
51. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
50. Number The Stars by Lois Lowry - loved this one as a child.
49. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding
48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - looking forward to the sequel
47. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares - my mom pointed out that no one ends up happy, despite any closure. Not a favorite, although the first one is better than the rest.
46. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
45. The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong
44. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - excellent writing. Horrifying plot.
42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card - an A, and definitely definitely.
41. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - I've only read the first, same with Trackgeek, but we both enjoyed it. A little odd for the both of us, but still fun.
40. Wake series by Lisa McMann
39. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
38. Are You There Good? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
37. Looking For Alaska by John Green
36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - Again. Not teen. Still great, though!
35. A Great And Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray - only read the first because basically I had no idea what the plot was and what was really going on.
34. His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman - I enjoyed the series but was freaked out by the pseudo/twisted - Christian philosophy in the 3rd book. I'd rather his Ruby and the Smoke series be on here.
33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - A great book and a good one for teens.
32. Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare - ok, this is SO not his best work. Try Taming of the Shrew.
31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr - liked the first book, but not enough to keep reading...
29. Forest of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan - I can't believe I don't have a review! I think it must be because we read it before we set up our blog. I really liked it, although it scared me to death.
28. Holes by Louis Sacher - cute book...like the movie.
27. The Outsiders by SE Hinton - yes.
26. The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger - Salinger is a bit much for teens.
25. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - love this book.
24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
23. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
22.Uglies series by Scott Westerfield - surprisingly good. I expected a very cliche plot, but Westerfeld has a knack, and for the most part I read all his books.
21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
20. Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder - This is adult, in the adult section, and the underlying themes of rape and abuse are not in a context that I believe are appropriate for teens.
19. Book Thief by Markus Zusak- on our bookshelf ready to read, and we're torn since people seem to either love it or hate it.
18. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine - cute read.
17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - Liked the plot better than Twilight, but like Meyer's writing better than Fitzpatrick's.
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - always appropriate for women of any age.
14. Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery - duh.
13. The Giver by Lois Lowry
12. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare - enjoyed the first book, but won't be reading the rest.
11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis - love these!
9. A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeline L'engle - after the first couple books it gets kind of weird, but they're such a favorite.
8. Graceling series by Kristin Cashore - I don't have the review for Graceling on here, but I enjoyed it and I loved Fire as well (which is the review linked).
7. Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan
6. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen - hey, I'm glad to see it's not the zombie version.
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - one of my top favorites of all time.
3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer - I really don't think this deserves number 3, but it's so popular that I can see why it was voted that way.
2. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling - I think this should be up there....I'm not sure it deserves the number 2 spot though.
1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins - Not my pick for #1, but hey...

Where's Patricia Wrede? Anyone?

Secret Society, by Tom Dolby

Secret Society, by Tom Dolby
Young Adult, 2009

From Tom Dolby's website:
An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York’s wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about. They didn’t ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything. Even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown, and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they’re forced to get on the nape of their necks. Once they’re part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It’s all perfect—until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.
Raspberry:
With a very large nod to 'The Skulls', Secret Society starts off very interesting - moody and dark. The characters seem promising, and the initiation while weird isn't over-the-top. Unfortunately, the plot starts to drag a bit, and the ending had no closure at any point whatsoever. In fact, it read like the end of a chapter. It was so frustrating that I grumbled about it for a couple of days. However, if you can deal with that kind of cliff-hanger, then give it a shot.
Graded a B-.

Coffeehouse Angel, by Suzanne Selfors

Coffeehouse Angle, by Suzanne Selfors
Young Adult, 2009

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother's coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won't leave until he can reward Katrina's selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .
Raspberry:
I enjoyed the premise quite a bit, particularly as Katrina discovers her strengths and the confidence she should have in herself. On the other hand some of the minor details drove me nuts like her best-friendship with a guy and the absolutely irritating next door neighbor that acted ridiculous. (Although I know there really are people like that out there.) On some level I felt the ending was sweet and on another too pat. It was a mixed bag for me, so give it a shot if you're on the fence with this one.
Graded a B-.

Favorite Illustrators

In our world of blogging about our obsession with books, sometimes we don't give any credit to the illustrators. Not that many of our books even HAVE illustrations, but there are a few out there whose illustrations affected me more than the words of the books did. There are also a few illustrators whose works are just so poignant that I read the book because of them.

A few favorites:

Virgina Lee Burton, whose books include classics like Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel and The Little House, has a gift for taking her imagination and imprinting it on a page.


Her colors can be subdued or dark and bold - whatever fits the scene. The tiniest detail adds to the overall effect, and that grass - do you love that grass?!

*****************************


Hilary Knight (who you might know as the illustrator for those famous Eloise books.), illustrated this gorgeous version of Cinderella.


The illustrations are detailed to perfection, and every part of the character seems to tell the story. This was a favorite as a child and I still own a copy today. He has galleries in both New York and California where you can view his original artwork and get a signed copy.

*********************************


Kadir Nelson is definitely a favorite for me as well. You may know his awards winning book Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led her People to Freedom. I must confess while the story is lovely, the illustrations are what make me love the book. He seems to know exactly how Harriet Tubman felt as he drew her.


My favorite of his books is Brothers of the Knight. A twist on the 12 Dancing Princesses, it's also a cute love story with some jazz. The illustrations are absolute dynamite.

So, those are my top 3 Illustrators, although I have many more I could add to this list.

Any one else have a favorite they'd like to share? I know there's a lot of professional illustrators out there - I'd love to see your work and who you admire in your own field.

Princess of Glass, by Jessica Day George, Review and Giveaway

Princess of Glass, by Jessica Day George
Young Adult, 2010

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances - and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale - until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest.
Raspberry: A companion to the Princess of the Midnight Ball, this is the story of Poppy who has now grown up, having a fairy-tale of her own. I didn't like it as much as Midnight Ball, but I would chalk that up to not liking the 'Cinderella' tale very much. I thought that again Jessica's ideas were inventive - it's always nice to read something new when a story has been told over and over, and I can honestly say this is one of my favorite Cinderella stories ever written.
Graded a B+.

And now for the giveaway! I have one ARC, lightly used to give to one of you that wants it. If you have a blog I'm sure the author would appreciate another review. If you don't and you win this you could also email me your review to post here.

Fill out THIS FORM to enter! And yes, there are extra entries.
A couple thing: It ends April 20th, and it's US only - sorry to all you amazing international followers, although if you have a friend in the US, I can ship it to them for you if that works.

*Disclaimer: I received this ARC from Bloomsbury with no financial remuneration of any kind.

Friday Finds (13) on Saturday

Sorry it's a day late, but I made blackberry jam and we've been...well, busy! I love spring and if you want the recipe, it's 2 C blackberries (or other berries), 2 C sugar, and 2 teas lemon juice and it's very easily doubled or rearranged for how many you have since it's a 1:1 ratio with the sugar. Boil longer if you're at a higher altitude. Maybe 10 minutes for sea-level and about 40+ if you're at 5 - 6000 feet. You can easily can these if you want to - just follow the directions in your Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. :)


Ok, on to books! We've found a couple that look interesting:





Legacy, by Gemma Malley
September, 2010
Book 4 in The Declaration series



Flash Burnout, by L. K. Madigan
2009





The Pretty One, by Cheryl Klam
2008




Good Fortune, by Noni Carter
2010




Icecore, by Matt Whyman
2007

Flavia de Luce Mystery Series, by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley
Adult, 2009

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
It is June 1950 and a sleepy English village is about to be awakened by the discovery of a dead body in Colonel de Luce's cucumber patch. The police are baffled, and when a dead snipe is deposited on the Colonel's doorstep with a rare stamp impaled on its beak, they are baffled even more. Only the Colonel's daughter, the precocious Flavia -when she's not plotting elaborate revenges against her nasty older sisters in her basement chemical laboratory, that is - has the ingenuity to follow the clues that reveal the victim's identity, and a conspiracy that reached back into the de Luce family's murky past.
Trackgeek:
It was a thoroughly enjoyable book for readers of mystery and those with a penchant for chemistry. I enjoyed the depiction of 1950s England and felt it was very well written.
Graded an A.


The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, by Alan Bradley
Adult, 2010

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
The plot, beginning with the arrival in Bishop's Lacey of a travelling puppet show, features a grisly murder during a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk in the village hall and reaches back to an earlier, even nastier crime centring on an ancient, rotting gibbet that has lain like a shadow over the village for years. For Flavia, undoing the complex knot that ties these strands together will test her precocious powers of deduction to the limit - and provide a shocking insight into some of the darker corners of the adult world.
Trackgeek:
Enjoyable follow-up to the first book, with the suspense was very well built.
Graded a B+.

Midnight Predator, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Midnight Predator, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Young Adult, 2002

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Turquoise Draka is now a hunter, committed to no higher purpose than making money and staying alive. In a deadly world of vampires, shape-shifters, and powerful mercenaries, she'll track any prey if the price is right. Her current assignment: to assassinate Jeshikah, one of the cruelest vampires in history. Her employer: an unknown contact who wants the job done fast. Her major obstacle: she'll have to mask her strength and enter Midnight, a fabled Vampire realm, as a human slave. Vulnerable and defenseless, she faces her greatest challenge ever.
Raspberry:
Already a fan of Atwater-Rhodes, I hadn't read the Den of Shadows series, of which this is a part (the 4th book). Don't let that stop you, however, they're all individual in their stories and don't require that you read one before another. I really enjoyed this action-packed gutsy plot. I wish it had been more fleshed out...it felt short and lacking in details that I wanted, and in the end I was hoping for more closure for Turquoise. However, the characters were good, the writing decent, and it kept my attention the whole way.
Graded a B.