Five stars...no lie!

The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Song of the Lioness Quartet is an inspiring series about Alanna, the girl who became a powerful knight-sorceress by dressing as a boy for over five years and working her tail off. Tamora Pierce has written tons since then, but this was her first series and her first of four series about the land of Tortall. (can't wait to read the rest!) The series is VERY romantic with lots of adventure. If you liked Graceling, you'll love the books of the Song of the Lioness quartet. The series follows Alanna from the time she goes to court to become a squire until she is a full knight in her twenties. Books in the series include: Alanna: The First Adventure; In the Hand of the Goddess; The Woman Who Rides Like a Man; Lioness Rampant. The world that Pierce has created in these books is full and rich. Characters are fully developed and grow on the reader over time. I especially liked how Pierce handled the love triangle that emerged between three of the characters. This is an incredibly told tale that you'll probably want to reread again and again. (thanks, Gabi for recommending it!)

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The Roar...dystopian sci-fi thriller...

The Roar by Emma Clayton

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Mika is a twin living in a futuristic world where all of humanity lives in the northern hemisphere of Earth behind a Wall due to an Animal Plague that has made the rest of Earth uninhabitable. Mika is twelve years old and is part of the first generation born since the Plague took hold over 40 years ago. Life is uncomfortable and unpleasant for most people (i.e. the poor people) who have to live in confined spaces, eat colored mold, are terrified of the idea of animals and barely ever see the sun. Mika's twin, Ellie, is missing, but Mika senses that she is not dead, as their parents presume. When the government begins offering Mika and all his classmates FitMix and encourages them to play arcade games after school, Mika is suspicious. Once he learns that playing the game is the only way to get closer to Ellie, however, he is determined to win...no matter the cost.



I'm completely creeped out by Clayton's take on the future we're headed towards if we continue to trash our world. (I like to be creeped out by dystopian future Certain elements of the book were confusing and seemed not to fit with the story. The ending was pretty open and left room for a sequel, but I've found no indication that there will be one. I wouldn't mind having to imagine my own ending in this case. Clayton is a first-time author and I look forward to reading more. I wish I could give this 3.5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who liked The Hunger Games by Collins, Unwind by Wasserman or Carbon Diaries 2015 by Lloyd


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Book Challenge Update

I know, I know. I said I'd read for over 20 hours and finish 5 books. In total I actually read only 15 hours and only finished 4 books within the 48 hour time limit. I did finish The Actor and the Housewife the next day, but that obviously doesn't count.

Am I disappointed in myself? A bit. Will was out of town and it rained all weekend so I really should have been able to read more. I did run a 10K, help a family member pack for a move, have dinner with a friend and watch a movie, though.

I'm looking forward to participating in the "official" 48 hour book challenge next year, but in the meantime I'll continue to add to goodreads and see if I can make it to 1000 books read in less than 5 years. Since I've been on Goodreads for two years already and have already read 402 books, I'll wager that I'm going to make

CONTEST!!

Want an ipod Touch or a signed audiobook from a favorite author?? Enter this video contest!

Here's the contest:

If you could go on a fantasy road trip with a character (or characters!) from your favorite series, where would you go? What would you do along the way? How would you travel? Create a VIDEO and show us!

You can do a video on the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray, the Percy and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan or the Legend of Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce.

DULL BOY by Sarah Cross

Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Avery is not normal. He has superhuman strength and the best superpower ever: he can FLY. It's a lonely life as a superteen, though...until he meets some other teens with cool powers and an adult named Cherchette who has powers and claims to also have answers AND solutions to his fears. Now Avery faces a difficult decision: who does he trust? There are some good twists in here and the ending was definitely unexpected for me. I'm looking forward to the sequel! Wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars...


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Do you love Generation Dead?? Two pieces of news related to that book:

1. There's a NEW book in the series:Kiss of Life came out May 12!! Whoo!! Our copy is on the way. :)

2. Author Daniel Waters is looking for places to stop on his Zombies Across America tour. Go to his blog and tell him in the comments that he should come to the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, Massachusetts!!!

Blog address again: http://mysocalledundeath.blogspot.com/

Let's get an author visit!!

The CW is picking up Vampire Diaries!

Vampire Diaries, the books by L.J. Smith are being made into a new TV show!!

It starts this fall on Thursdays at 8 p.m. I know I'll be DVRing this one for sure.

Here's the link for more info: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries

2008 Printz Award Winner!

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was incredibly confused in the beginning of this book, but kept on anyway. I'm so glad I did. Taylor Markham's character was so well developed that by the end of the book I was almost going crazy hoping that things would "work out"...as well as they can when so many people in her life had already died. I completely fell in love with the boy she fell in love with along with her. The story within a story enchanted me completely. This book is definitely for sophisticated teens who can handle the necessary development in the beginning of the book.


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The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Now I know what all the hype is about! So many teens have told me to try this series, but for some reason I put it off. Now that the 5th book is being released tomorrow, though, I thought I'd better finally give it a try. WOW. Maximum Ride is an unbelievably awesome character with wings, incredible leadership abilities and a pretty difficult destiny (save the world)...plus she's only 14. The rest of the flock: Fang, Gasman, Iggy, Angel and Nudge are mutants, as well, on the run from the Erasers and the rest of the Whitecoats from the School. Really all Max wants is information and the ability to live free...

I can't wait to read the second book! I'm actually glad to be reading this series now because I can blow through all five without waiting. :)


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Graceling by Kristin Cashore

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Katsa lives in a world with seven kingdoms and seven Kings where some people are Graced, meaning they have special powers (and two different colored eyes). Katsa's Grace allows her to fight with incredible skill and at incredible odds. She never loses and she never tires. When Katsa meets Prince Po, a Graced prince from a nearby kingdom, she finally gets to fight someone with skills that rival her own. This book is full of adventure, romance and suspense. Katsa is one of the strongest heroines I've ever met (and I can't believe this is the author's first book!).


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My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Read this in less than 24 hours! Savannah's older sister Jane steals her boyfriend and Savannah is devastated. In walks her fair (not fairy, but fair b/c her grades aren't that hot) godmother, Chrissy Everhart with three wishes for Savannah and a cranky leprechaun as an assistant. The chaos that ensues when Chrissy messes up Savannah's three wishes is pretty funny. Savannah ends up in the Middle Ages as first Cinderella, then Snow White and finally herself (but she has to help her classmate become a prince). I'm a fan of the reimagined fairy tale, so all of this was interesting, but certain sections of this book are too rushed. I found the end especially disappointing.


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The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I did not know what to expect when I saw that Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan was releasing The Demigod Files before the fifth and final book of the series. While not essential to understanding the storyline of Percy Jackson and his mythical adventures, The Demigod Files is definitely worth the read. Besides containing interviews with the main characters, a few puzzles and a map of Camp Half-Blood, the book has three mini-quests involving Percy that take place between book four and the upcoming book five. In each, Percy narrowly avoids death. In one, he almost kisses Annabeth! Fans of the series should not miss this companion novel.


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Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cecilia has grown up knowing that she is the "one true princess" despite the fact that she lives hidden away in a small village disguised as a poor orphan. Sir Stephen, a knight, teaches her in secret and tells her of a future as queen. When tragedy strikes, though, Cecilia must immediately make way to the castle to claim her destiny. This book was clever! The twist near the end caught me completely off guard. I read Just Ella quite a long time ago, but was pleased to see Ella make an appearance in this book. I wouldn't call this a sequel but maybe a companion novel to Just Ella.


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Books about Bullying

Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ivy has been picked on all her life, especially by Ann, Benita and Sophie. She also has the worst nickname ever: Poison Ivy. When her teacher suggests bringing a mock lawsuit against her three tormenters during a unit on the judicial system, however, the whole class will learn important lessons. The relationships are believable and the not-so-happy ending will make perfect sense to anyone who actually lived through high school (and barely survived). This book is told from multiple perspectives...eight! Compare with Koss' other book, _The Girls_ and _Carlos is Gonna Get It_ by Kevin Emerson.


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Beastly by Alex Flinn

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This modern-day re-imagined fairy tale follows Kyle Kingsbury, a beautiful shallow teenager who is cruel to the wrong witch. She casts a spell on him and makes him a beast. He's forced to live in hiding, which isn't too uncomfortable thanks to his father's wealth (think live-in maid and tutor plus all the entertainment you could wish for). The only way out of the spell is for a girl to fall in love with him and kiss him. The love story that results is a bit rushed, but otherwise this book is a definite winner. The IM messages between BeastinNYC, SilentMaid (the little mermaid), a frog (the frog prince), etc. are pretty funny, too.


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National Book Award winner announced tonight!

Tonight the National Book Award for Young People will be announced! Here are the finalists:

• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
  
• The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
• What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

So far I've read two of these and I'm dying to read the rest.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks is a hilarious look at an exclusive boys-only secret society at a private high school and Frankie's (a girl) attempt to take it over.





The Underneath is a touching, poetic story of an old hound dog, two kittens, a thousand-year-old snake and a bitter, angry man. I couldn't put it down.






I'm off to read The Spectacular Now next. I'll post the winner tonight!

EDIT: The winner is What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. Come get it at the library today!

Go here to vote starting Sunday, October 12!

Live chat with authors all next week!

Watch this video to find out what authors you can chat with during Teen Read Week, October 13 - 17!

All chats are at 9 p.m. EST on the Readergirlz Myspace forum

Brisingr!

The newest book in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini was released on Saturday! I recently read Eragon and Eldest, so I'm pretty excited to read Brisingr, too!! I'm dying to know if Roran and Eragon defeat the Ra'zac, rescue Katrina and defeat Galbratorix. Aren't you?

Here are some Brisingr related websites to keep you happy while you're waiting for the book:

Alagaeisa
Main website of the books

Vroengard Academy
Virtual reality site where you can pretend to be Eragon

Eragon on Myspace

Alagaeisa Adventure Game

CNN article about the author

REVIEW: Boys that Bite by Marci Mancusi

This book was recommended to me by Sylvia...and I loved it! Sunshine and Rayne are completely identical twins. They are so identical that their mom can't tell them apart and neither can the vampire that is supposed to turn Rayne. He turns Sunny instead, instantly giving her Vampire Scent (irresistible to all human males and some females) and a taste for blood. She wants a reversal, but is it possible?

What follows is a funny, light book about vampires, love and legend. The conversational tone along with the fun twist on vampire life kept me reading along. This book is a cross between Sweet Valley Twins and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Both have cultish appeal and I think this series could, as well. There are two sequels: Stake That! and Girls that Growl. Check out the author's website, too.

These books are available through Inter-Library Loan. You can place a hold using the SAILS website and your library card or call the library!