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

Teen Tuesday: KARAOKE PARTY!!

Next Tuesday is our Karaoke party.
I can't wait!!!! See you here from 3 - 5 p.m.

Exclusively Chloe by Jonathan Yang

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Chloe-Grace is a celebrity child who’s led a life in the tabloids thanks to her adoptive parents. Her mom is an Oscar award-winning actress and her dad is a rock star. Chloe has led a pretty awesome life of shopping and being famous up until now, but now she’s starting to question everything. Would it be better to be anonymous? And how will she ever know if people really like her for the right reasons? When Chloe gets a make-under and goes undercover at a public school she discovers love, friendship and herself. I liked it!


View all my reviews.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
"I went away for the summer, fell in love, and everything changed. It's the oldest story in the world." (p. 337)



It may be the oldest story in the world, but of course Sarah Dessen makes it feel fresh and new. Auden grew up too fast thanks to parents who fought all the time and the academic drive she inherited from/did to please her mother. Visiting her father (and his new wife and baby) during the summer before college in the small beach town of Colby, she meets Eli, a boy haunted by his past. Eli and Auden, both insomniacs, begin to spend their sleepless nights together wandering the town of Colby and eventually helping Auden complete childhood experiences she missed the first time around. Sub-plots abound and are all richly explored. Another fabulous book by Sarah Dessen! A must-read for teens who have ever enjoyed one of her other books or for anyone who likes teen romance books that are fully developed.


View all my reviews.

48 hr personal challenge UPDATE: 12.5 hours read/listened
# books finished: 4

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cammie Morgan is back in her most exciting adventure yet. Roommate Macey McHenry's father is running for vice-president and Macey is a target. After an incident on the campaign trail when Cammie and Macey barely manage to escape an attack on their lives, a new operative is brought to Gallagher Girls Academy to watch out for Macey. Cammie, Liz and Bex are told not to worry, but when have they ever followed the rules before? And why does Cammie keep seeing Zach in strange places? Does he still like her or was their kiss in book 2 a one-time thing?



I loved this book just as much as the first two, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy. I highly recommend this series for middle and high school students. Ally Carter writes books that are fun to read; I can't wait for book 4 in the Gallagher Girls series! Put this one on hold today...the Millicent Library owns two copies, but it will be very popular!!


View all my reviews.

48 hr personal challenge UPDATE: 7.5 hours read/listened
# books finished: 3

(I've got some major reading to do the rest of today!!)

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a tough book to listen to, but I'm glad I did. Hannah is dead; she killed herself. Now Clay must listen to her voice on the seven tapes (13 sides because "there are 13 sides to every story") he receives in the mail to find out why and what his role was. This book emphasizes how small actions can have large, devastating consequences and highlights the importance of reaching out to others with compassion. I recommend this book for older teens. If possible, listen to this one; Hannah's voice is haunting.


View all my reviews.


48 hr personal challenge UPDATE: 5.5 hours read/listened
# books finished: 2

3.5 hours in: finished FIRE!

Fire is the companion novel or prequel to Cashore's debut novel (which I LOVED), Graceling. In case you haven't read it yet (go get it!! now!!), Graceling is about a world of seven kingdoms where some people are born with special gifts, graces. The main character, Katsa, has the gift of killing people, but is tired of being manipulated by the king to inflict harm on others. She and Prince Po, another Graceling who is almost her match in a fight (and other ways!), much work together on an adventure that reveals the most dangerous Grace of all.

Fire is loosely related to Graceling. I don't want to say too much since this book won't actually be released until September. Speaking generally, I'll say that I've fallen even more in love with the way Kristin Cashore builds new worlds and for her ability to create kick-butt female characters who are complex and real. What made so many teens here at the Millicent Library swoon over Graceling, though, was the romance. Fire is even more romantic. I promise!

I wish I could say more about this one, but I'll hold off until after September 9. !!
If you want to know more about Kristin Cashore, visit her blog/website. She lives in Massachusetts!

(many thanks again to my friend Nicole who lent her ARC from BEA to me!)

48 hr personal challenge UPDATE: 3.5 hours read/listened
# books finished: 1 (almost done with 2nd)

So a few weeks ago a blogger that I read hosted a 48 hour Book Challenge. The idea is to read as many books as possible and blog about them, too. I couldn't do it at that time, but now I'm totally game. I've got a free weekend, it's RAINING and I have a huge stack of good books I can't wait to read.

My goal: to read for at least 20 hours and finish at least five books (including ones I've already started)

Here are some of the titles I may or may not get to this weekend:

YA SciFi/Fantasy

ARC (advanced release copy!!) Fire by Kristin Cashore (almost finished)
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
NEW Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

YA Fiction

NEW Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
NEW Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
NEW Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang

Audio (great for still getting other things done like housework! and walking the dogs!)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (halfway through already)
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Graphic Novel

NEW Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang

Adult

NEW The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale (YA connection: Hale wrote The Princess Academy, The Goose Girl series and Rapunzel's Revenge, a fabulous graphic novel!!)

Be on the lookout for lots of reviews over the weekend!!

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.

Forest of Hands and Teeth video

Go check out Jackie & Sylvia's response via YOUTUBE to zombie thriller The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. It's ridiculous!!

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...


View all my reviews.

Catching Fire!!!

So I have a confession to make. I got a copy of Catching Fire in the mail from a friend of mine who went to Books Expo America (BEA for short) and I read it. In one sitting. While chewing my nails down to nothing. I wish I could share it with some of you, but I have to send it back to my friend. You can read it yourself starting September 1st, but in the meantime, just know that IT IS AWESOME. I didn't believe it possible, but it may actually even be better than Hunger Games. !!

While you're waiting for the book to be released, here's a little trailer to keep you excited: