In My Mailbox #3

Today I am going to share the books that I either borrowed from the library, people have lent me, or ones that I've recently bought for my classroom library and/or personal enjoyment.  If you've read any of those books, please tell me what you think! This meme is hosted by the Story Siren.   Happy reading!

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
I am pretty excited to read buy book especially since she is a local author.  I wanted to go to her launch party in Haverford, which is where I grew up, but the awful snow interfered.  I will have to catch her when she comes to Exton in February.  
What Goodreads says, "Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept."
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

My friend at work and school librarian was kind enough to share this book with me.  It's the Newbery Award Winner and I haven't read it yet. I have been sharing a few chapters with my students and am pleasantly surprised.  What Goodreads says:  Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.  By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late."

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
I bought this one and am excited to read it. I'm thinking maybe I should wait until I am down the shore with my feet in the sand and the sun on my face. This book sounds like it was written for me.   What Goodreads says: Some summers are just destined to be pretty. Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along."

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I bought the audio book, because I wanted to read this before the movie comes out, but I didn't think I would have time.  Plus, a lot of my students are currently reading it and loving it.  I have read a lot of Sparks other novels; I'm sure I won't be disappointed.  What Goodreads says, "An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life."

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I borrowed the audio book version from my library, because it has been years since I've read Northanger.  I am a HUGE fan of Jane Austen and I would like to re-read all of novels this summer.  I spend a lot of time reading YA lit, but I also enjoy the Regency Period.  What Goodreads says, "A wonderfully entertaining coming-of-age story, Northanger Abbey is often referred to as Jane Austens Gothic parody. Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysterious chests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers give the story an uncanny air, but one with a decidedly satirical twist. The storys unlikely heroine is Catherine Morland, a remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Bath with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henrys mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril in confusing life with art. Executed with high-spirited gusto, Northanger Abbey is the most lighthearted of Jane Austens novels, yet at its core this delightful novel is a serious, unsentimental commentary on love and marriage."

Review of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Pages: 306

Published: January 2010

Genre: Historical/Realistic Fiction

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

What Goodreads says, "Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she’s been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille— the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it’s 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it’s 1951 and she’s just been crowned the Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia.  The day CeeCee discovers Camille in the front yard wearing a tattered prom dress and tiara as she blows kisses to passing motorists, she knows her mother has completely flipped. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, a previously unknown great-aunt comes to CeeCee’s rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. Within hours of her arrival, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities—a world that appears to be run entirely by women.  While Tootie is busy saving Savannah’s endangered historic homes from the wrecking ball, CeeCee encounters a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters. From the mysterious Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in an outdoor tub under the watchful eyes of a voyeuristic peacock, to Oletta Jones, the all-knowing household cook, to Violene Hobbs, the loud-mouthed widow who entertains a local police officer in her yellow see-through peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.  But CeeCee’s view of the world is challenged in ways she could have never imagined: there are secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to find her ballast and experiences a sense of belonging, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction."

For me, there is nothing like a heartwarming Southern story to thaw me out on cold Pennsylvania nights and that is exactly what this story did for me.  Beth Hoffman's descriptions of Savannah took me there every night. I, along with CeeCee, went walking through Forsyth Park, smelled the wisteria in Miz Goodpepper's garden, sipped cold beverages on Tootie's Gaston Street porch, watched the eccentric neighbors put on their nightly display along with the fireflies under the Georgia star-filled sky.  Savannah is such a magical town and Hoffman portrays it perfectly.

The Goodreads summary above does a great job of covering the basic synopsis, but there is so much more to this story.  I can't say enough about the characters. They are well-developed, dynamic and memorable. I have two favorite characters.  First-- the housekeeper and long time friend of Aunt Tootie,  Oletta Jones.  She is a paragon of courage and I found myself captivated by her.  I also adored CeeCee.  As stated in the Goodreads summary, her life in Ohio was anything but a happy childhood.  Her mother was mentally ill and living in the past, literally, as a Southern beauty queen. CeeCee deals with a multitude of hardships when living in Ohio and what she had to deal with on a daily basis simply broke my heart.   I must mention my other favorite character,  Mrs. Odell.  Mrs. Odell, who is CeeCee's Ohio next door neighbor, reminded me so much of my own grandmother; I couldn't believe the similarities.  She was CeeCee's only friend, refuge, and source of solace.  CeeCee and Mrs. Odell's strong connection was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

While reading this novel, I found myself reaching across the nightstand for a post-it to mark certain pages. Honestly, the last time I did that was when I read one of my favorite novels, Tuesdays with Morrie. Beth Hoffman's characters shared such wonderful lessons and advice that I felt was worth noting and reviewing at a later day--so much so that I put a mini post-it by each extraordinary quote.  By the time I was done the novel, I found an abundance of bright orange post-its sticking out of random pages.  For example, here are two of my favorite lines:

"Cecelia Rose, she said, reaching for my hand, "far too many people die with a heart that's gone flat with indifference, and it surely must be a terrible way to go. Life will offer us amazing opportunities, but we've got to be wide-awake to recognize them."  

"Oletta gazed at the ocean and inhaled.  "It just don't get any better'n this."

"I know this is the same sky that hangs over Ohio, but the sun seems bigger here.  Everything seems bigger." 

She pursed her lips and thought about that for a moment.  "Maybe your eyes is just more open."

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is one of those touching, rare books that comes along and makes you think about life.  After reading it, I had an overwhelming sense that all is right,  good will prevail, and there will be nothing but blue skies from now on.  So, cozy up this winter and let Beth Hoffman transport you to CeeCee's world, because you'll be laughing out loud, shedding a few tears, and meeting unforgettable characters whose stories and advice will resonate through the pages and find their way to your heart.

Buy It Here:

Waiting On Wednesday: Dark Flame

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Dark Flame by Alyson Noel (Immortals series)

Coming out: July 6, 2010

Goodreads says, "At the start of this mesmerizing new installment of the Immortals series, Ever is helping her friend Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and carelessly putting them all at risk, their friendship becomes more and more strained. At the same time, Ever delves deeper into magick in order to get control over her enemy Roman and free Damen from his power. But when the spell she casts on Roman backfires, she’s bound to her deadliest enemy. Frantic to reverse the spell the moment the moon enters a new phase, she finds her efforts are fruitless—there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, one that propels her toward Roman. Desperate to break free of this terrible curse before Damen or the twins can discover what she’s done, she turns to Jude and delves deeper and deeper into dark magick, ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including Damen."

Teaser Tuesday #2

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

I just finished this book yesterday and I thought I would share a teaser.  It's a heartwarming read; I loved it!

"Everyone needs to find the one thing that brings out her passion.  It's what we do and share with the world that matters."  (page 101)

In My Mailbox #2

Today I am going to share the books that I borrowed from the library or  ones that I've recently bought for my classroom library and/or personal enjoyment.  If you've read any of those books, please tell me what you think! This meme is hosted by the Story Siren. 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
My students showed a real interest in this book and it was recommended to me by a colleague so I bought it at my local bookstore.  I highlighted this book trailer in my recent blog entry. Check it out- it's brilliant.  

Goodreads says: In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

I know this one has been out for a while and the sequel is already out, but I thought I better see what everyone is talking about!  Luckily, a friend let me borrow this book!

Goodreads says:  "Some secrets shouldn't be kept... Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.  Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret."

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

I borrowed this one from the library and am excited to start it!  I need a break from YA fantasy and this seems perfect.

Goodreads says: "Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible. And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest. Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them...."

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite young adult authors.  There are only a few which I haven't read and this is one of them. I am actually listening to this book on the way to work; it's been very entertaining. However, this book seems much more serious than Dessen's other novels.  It has a strong and important message.

Goodreads says, " Strange, sleepy Rogerson, with his long brown dreads and brilliant green eyes, had seemed to Caitlin to be an open door. With him she could be anybody, not just the second-rate shadow of her older sister, Cass. But now she is drowning in the vacuum Cass left behind when she turned her back on her family's expectations by running off with a boyfriend. Caitlin wanders in a dream land of drugs and a nightmare of Rogerson's sudden fists, lost in her search for herself.  Why do so many girls allow themselves to get into abusive relationships--and what keeps them there? In this riveting novel, Sarah Dessen searches for understanding and answers. Caught in a trap that is baited with love and need, Caitlin must frantically manage her every action to avoid being hit by the hands that once seemed so gentle. All around her are women who care--best friends, mother, sister, mentor--but shame keeps her from confiding in any of them, especially Cass, her brilliant older sister, whose own flight from home had seemed to point the way."
 

Emma

Emma by Jane Austen

This Sunday, PBS will be showing their version of Emma in three episodes starting this Sunday at 9pm.  I am beyond excited!  I am a loyal fan of Jane Austen and Emma is one of my favorites.  I simply love the "clever, handsome, and rich" Emma Woodhouse.  In my opinion, she is the funniest of the Austen heroines.  Yes, she has her head in the clouds and perhaps has too much time on her hands, but I can appreciate her attempts at matchmaking as I have tried my hand at this and have epically failed.

Tune in this Sunday to see how PBS has portrayed the classic novel and if you have a Twitter account, check out the Emma Twitter party going on during the show.  There's a chance to win Austen prizes!  Read more about it here.  

I leave you with this trailer.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend--you know what I am doing this Sunday!

(Picture and video from PBS.org)

Book Trailers

Check out these fabulous book trailers. I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting is coming out in March 2010. 



The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez.  It's coming out May 11, 2010.


Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is out NOW!


The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare- out now!


If I Stay by Gayle Forman- out now. I'm very excited to read this one!

Review of Wings

Review of Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Pages: 304
Published: 2009
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


What Goodreads.com says: "Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings. In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever."


Pike's debut novel is unique; she puts a new twist on the faerie archetype.  I'm not sure any other author has done this.  With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed it.   I love an original read and Pike accomplishes that. 


Laurel Sewell has lived an childhood.  She's adopted and is different than the other girls her age.  Up until sophomore year, she was home-schooled.  Her adopted parents decided it was time to send Laurel to public school and yes, you guessed it......now she is a new student.  True, this sounds like the familiar cookie-cutter YA plot; however, Pike pulls it off effortlessly. We follow Laurel through her days as she is trying to adapt and make new friends, and then......a bump starts growing out of her shoulder blades.  At first she thinks... is it cancer? The dreaded backne? A bug bite? Wrong. She finds out that this bump is growing into wings. I know this sounds cheesy, but Pike makes it believable.  In all seriousness, it was a pleasurable read as I have never read a modern YA book about faeries before.  Pike tied in mythology seamlessly.


Like most YA books, there's the infamous love triangle, but this triangle wasn't one that I minded.  Laurel meets the "good guy," (David)  in biology class (sound familiar, Mr. Cullen?) and becomes friends with him instantly.  The love triangle develops between David, Laurel, and the mysterious Tamani who is a faerie.  I think that I was ok with this love triangle, because both romantic interests have their roots in friendship and not some superficial infatuation. If you ask me which team I am on, it's definitely Team Tamani. Lets hope that Pike can keep this love triangle fresh, because there are four books to this series, which is exciting news for Mrs. Pike! 


Aprilynne Pike writes beautifully and her story is enchanting.  It's no surprise that Disney, the place where dreams come true, is going to make it a feature film.  Pike spins a wonderful and original tale. Here's an excerpt.

"Taking a deep breath, she blinked away the dark spots and stepped toward the mirror. She didn’t even have to turn to see the new development. Long, bluish-white forms rose over both shoulders. For a moment Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were beautiful — almost too beautiful for words."

The only thing that I am bummed about regarding this upcoming movie adaption is that Disney picked up the dazzling actress Miley Cyrus to play Laurel. (*barf*).  Even though I am not a fan of Cyrus, I am definitely interested to see how this movie will be portrayed on the big screen.  And let me put it out there--Tamani better not be played by any of the Jonas Brothers. 


I think Aprilynne Pike is an delightful author that my middle school students will love.  All I had to do today was say that Miley (a.k.a. Hannah Montana) is playing the main character in the movie and immediately I had their attention....boys and girls alike! 


Spells, the sequel is coming out in May of 2010 and I look forward to seeing what will happen between Laurel/David/Tamani.   You know I am rooting for Tamani!  I must admit before Tamani and Laurel, faeries were never this cool.  
Buy It Here:

Interview with Aprilynne Pike:

Best Books of 2009....according to my students!

In class today, we reviewed the  Newbery winners, the Printz winner, and Amazon.com Editors' Picks for 2009.  The students had their own chance to vote on which book deserves to be called "The Best Book of 2009" and/or which "Book They Want To Read in 2010."  Each student had to include a brief response along with their vote.  I promised my students that I would post the four most insightful responses from each class. Those lucky students have earned extra credit for quarter two. Good job, everyone! It was a tough decision!

Here are the list of books my students could choose from:

When You Reach Me by Stead (Newbery Winner)

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Philbrick (Newbery Honor)

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Lin (Newbery Honor)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Kelly (Newbery Honor)

If I Stay by Forman (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Catching Fire by Collins (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Fire by Cashore (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Marcelo in the Real World by Stork (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Hoose  (Amazon.com Best of 09' and Newbery Honor)

Leviathan by Westerfeld (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Going Bovine by Bray (Amazon.com Best of 09' and Printz Winner)

Shiver by Stiefvater (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Beautiful Creatures by Garcia and Stohl (Amazon.com Best of 09')

Responses:

Marcelo in the Real World-  "I would like to read this book for multiple reasons.  One being my mother used to work in a school with autistic students and I would love to receive a more in depth description of what goes on inside an autistic person's brain.  Secondly, I am curious to know whether Marcelo's phenomenal functioning will carry over in the legal field.  Lastly, I would love to see a person with Marcelo's deficiencies succeed in their desired field.  In conclusion, I would love to read this book, and I can't wait for my next trip to Barnes and Noble.   (period 3)

Catching Fire- "I absolutely love this series and I can't wait until the next book comes out! I love how the author created this universe and you can relate to it because it's future Earth.  The main characters are very interesting and compelling, and the plot twists and turns crazily, and the ending is completely unexpected.  Altogether, an amazing book! (period 3)

"Catching Fire is the best book I've read.  The captivating plot makes you keep reading and saying "just one more page."  Action and excitement in both books from the series have cliff hangers that really make you read for hours.  All readers will like it because of the realistic fiction, action, and a hint of romance." (period 4)

Fire- I am currently reading Graceling, which is the first book in the series...even though reading Graceling isn't necessary.  I cannot wait to read Fire!  Graceling has lured me into reading the book for hours and I'm sure that Fire will do the same.  The way Cashore makes Katsa a killing child has pulled me into the story more.  This book is very mysterious and a true fantasy novel.   (Period 3)

"Going Bovine sounds the most interesting to me not because of the topic so much as the author.  Libba Bray contributed a short story to a collection of short stories called Geektastic.  I remember reading her story and thinking how realistic and authentic it was.  I could relate to the main character so easily and the topics, themes, and dialogue flowed effortlessly.  Out of all the authors in that book, I remember two or three of them, and Libba Bray was one of those.  I hope that her Going Bovine is as amazing as her short story.  If it is, she could easily become one of my favorite authors."   (Period 4)

If I Stay- I want to read this book because I can't imagine how hard it would have been to choose if you want to stay.  She must have been afraid to let go.  She had to consider every aspect.  How will loved ones feel? Will you be missed? Do you really think that you can go back to normal after your close encounter with death?  These are the things that she has to consider before she decides. (Period 4)

If I Stay- It seems like a great story.  It seems sad, but definitely worth reading.  The story seems interesting and full of decisions.  I think that this book will be one of those books that when you pick it up, you will never be able to put it down.  I am definitely looking forward to reading this book.

(Period 4)

Leviathan- I want to read this book because I've read five of Scott Westerfeld's books and loved them.  His writing is really futuristic.  The summary of the book looks really interesting because the world the characters live in sounds unpredictable and exciting.  Though it is set in the past, it sounds more advanced than our time.  Westerfeld writes about rebel heroes which I find really interesting, and more exciting than traditional ones.  (Period 3)

The Winners Based on the Most Votes By My Students:

2009's Best Book

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The Book That Most Students Want to Read in 2010:

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

I couldn't agree more! I ABSOLUTELY loved Hunger Games and Catching Fire! They are the best books I have read in a long time.  I haven't read Going Bovine, but I definitely want to.  Libba Bray is a fantastic author that truly understands the YA audience.  I am looking forward to reading and discussing books with my students in 2010!

Graph of the Votes:

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From Graceling by Kristin Cashore

"After a few minutes, the pounding of hooves surrounding her, Katsa's irritation diminished. She couldn't be worried for long when she was moving." (page 26)

In My Mailbox #1

Today I am going to share the books that have either been lent to me or I've recently bought for my classroom library and/or personal enjoyment.  If you've read any of those books, please tell me what you think! This meme is hosted by the fabulous Story Siren.

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
This book was lent to me by a colleague that thought I might enjoy it especially since I love the HBO show, Big Love.  She is a book fanatic so I always listen to her opinions. Plus, her significant other was on the Newbery committee.  How cool is that?!

What Booklist says: "Taking a story “ripped from the headlines,” Williams looks inside a polygamist cult and the dangers it poses for one girl. Kyra and her father, three mothers, and 20 siblings live in an isolated community under the thumb of a prophet, who controls every aspect of his apostles’ lives. The most shocking intrusion of all comes when the prophet decrees that Kyra is to become the wife of her 60-year-old uncle. A secret patron of a local mobile library, Kyra knows there’s a world away from the compound she might escape to, but first she pins her hopes on her father’s ability to change the prophet’s mind. Instead, her family is threatened, and the stakes for her refusal to marry are raised. The clandestine relationship Kyra is having with one of the compound’s teenage boys is a romance more convenient than convincing (everyone is carefully watched except this duo, it seems). Contrivances notwithstanding, this is a heart pounder, and readers will be held, especially as the danger escalates. Williams’ portrayals of the family are sharp, but what’s most interesting about this book is how the yearnings and fears of a character so far from what most YAs know will still seem familiar and close. Grades 7-10."

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
I was pretty excited to buy this book last night at Barnes & Noble, because Beth Hoffman may be the nicest author out there. Hands down.  Plus, I've heard such amazing things about this book and what a beautiful cover?! Just looking at it, I feel like I am being transported to Savannah and out of this awful Pennsylvania weather. A girl can wish, right?

What Barnes and Noble.com says:  "Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom.  Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.  In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.  Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman's sparkling debut is, as Kristin Hannah says, "packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart." It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others."

City of Bones by Cassanda Clare
One of my students lent me this book and has been raving about it ever since. I'm interested to see what all the talk is about!

What Barnes and Noble.com says: "When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.


Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...."

 

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
A fellow book blogger, The Bookette, recommended this book to me and when I came across it last night at B&N, I thought this book sounded intriguing. And what a fabulous cover! My husband was even asking questions about this book, because he thought the cover was dramatic.

What Barnes and Noble.com says: "For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.  For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. "

My Rating System

Review of Fallen

Fallen 

by Lauren Kate

Published: 2009

Pages: 452

Genre: YA Fantasy

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

What Amazon says: There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.  Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

You know the story. New, shy student goes to unfamiliar school and has to adapt. New, shy student sees hot, mysterious James Dean-esqe guy across the hall. She is immediately attracted to him even when he blatantly isn't interested in her and/or sends a series of exhausting mixed signals. It made me want to throw up my hands in disgust and cry out, "He's just not that into you!" Anyway, continue to insert the usual fantasy elements + possibly a vampire or some creature + a love triangle = the basic plot of most of the YA fantasy novels currently out there. I'm not going to lie. Fallen posseses many of these characteristics; however, there are some new and interesting aspects that make this book stand out.

I personally loved the fact that this book, like Beautiful Creatures, takes place down south. The descriptions of the spanish moss, live oak trees, and decrepit cemeteries, were extremely vivid. I just visited Savannah last spring and fell in love with it so needless to say, I was in my glory.

For example, "She followed Cam to the bottom of the bowl-like graveyard and the more ornate tombs and mausoleums.  On the slope above, the headstones seemed to be looking down at them, like Luce and Cam were performers in an amphitheater.  The midday sun glowed through the leaves of a giant live oak tree in the cemetery , and Luce shaded her eyes with her hands. It was the hottest day they'd had all week."  pg. 145

I also loved that this book didn't include any vampires, because if you've read my blog before, you know I'm done with vamps...for now. The novel also seemed dark to me and a bit scary at times. I don't know if this is because I just watched Paranormal Activity, which by the way scared the be-jesus out of me, but some of Lauren Kate's descriptions of the shadows were eerie. Just take a look at the cover! It's beautiful, but very ominous. Lastly, I must say that Lauren Kate's ending was superb. Yes, I was extremely confused and there were many, many questions that I wanted answered; however, she does end it masterfully, because I know that I will be picking up the sequel, Torment, which will come out in the fall.

There are two reasons I didn't give this novel four out of four stars. The first reason being the fact that parts of it follow the cookie-cutter format of many of the YA fantasy novels out there. I truly long for original plots (AHHMM.....Hunger Games) and although there are many new concepts in Fallen, parts of it seemed derivative. As I was reading it, I was thinking that it was a lot like Evermore by Alyson Noel, which by the way I wrote a review of and liked it more than Fallen. But I digress.... the last and final reason is because Luce wasn't tough enough for me. She was another co-dependent Bella Swan-ish character. Luce said herself that she had problems standing up to people (Hello?! The whole incident with Cam) so I found myself relentlessly yelling at her to put on her big girl pants . And what about Cam? Trying to understand his motives was like trying to figure out the DaVinci Code. I simply didn't "get" him. Scratch that. I am still unsure about him. Can anyone clue me in?

Other than that, I found it entertaining and a fun read. I think my students will enjoy it and I can see why it is on the New York Times Bestseller list. Word on the street is that Disney Studios secured the rights to Fallen; I think it will translate well to the big screen. It seems that everyone is "loving angels instead" of vampires and I must say that is music to my ears. I think vampires have had their day in the sun....errr...spotlight and I think the YA literary world is ready to move on.

Book Trailer:

Moved Things Around A Bit

Hi guys,

I recently moved the blog portion of my website here, because although I love my mac.com website, it is virtually invisible on the internet.  After much research, I realized that mac.com websites aren't "googleable."  So, with that said, I put my blog portion on blogger.com, but will still be keeping my other pages on my mac.com website. I won't be deleting it!  That is what is going on in case you are wondering. I also set up my google follower, which is something I didn't have on my mac.com website.  Please follow me; I'd appreciate it!


Have a great weekend!
Thanks,
Christina

Review of Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures 

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Pages:563

Published: 2009

Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy)

My rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

 In my blog  entitled “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly,” I mentioned this book and all the buzz it was receiving.  I knew that I had to read this book over Winter Break. Even Entertainment Weekly, one of my favorite magazines, was praising it and claiming this series to be the next big thing.  Warner Brothers bought the movie rights to it BEFORE it was published!  People were “tweeting” about this novel.  There was an article in Teen Vogue commending it and it’s currently a NY Times Bestseller! Need I say more? I assumed that this was going to be a young adult book that I loved. Well, not so much. You know what they say about assuming. 

    This book is from a male point of view, specifically a sixteen year old boy named Ethan Wate.  Ethan lives in a Gatlin, South Carolina and can’t wait to move away as he is bored of his town and the small minded people.  Just like any cookie-cutter young adult novel, Ethan’s life is changed by the entrance of a new girl, Lena Duchannes. Of course, Lena is unlike anyone he has encountered before.  She is a “caster” (pretty much a witch) and has come to live with her eccentric Uncle Macon--think Rhett Butler meets Professor Snape from Harry Potter.  Ethan finds out that he is psychically connected to Lena as they share dreams, nightmares, thoughts, etc.  To make a long story short, Lena and Ethan find out about a curse on her family that could destroy their world and threaten their very existence.  

    I will admit that Garcia and Stohl write beautifully- especially their descriptions of the southern plantations and landscape.  They used an elegant tone and rich imagery; I felt the Old South really came to life.  Some connections that come to mind are True Blood meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil meets Twilight --except as a young adult gothic novel, of course. I also applaud Garcia and Stohl for having Ethan as the narrator as there are too many novels with female point of views. For me, this was a welcomed change.  Lastly, I really enjoyed the authors’ allusions to To Kill A Mockingbird.  I personally LOVE LOVE LOVE the classic TKAM! I even named my dog, Scout!  This was a nice touch.

    With that said, there were many aspects of this novel that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy.  For example, the male point of view. Yes, I realize I said I loved it; however, by page one hundred, I started to question the authenticity of the narrator. Ethan didn’t sound like sixteen year old boy to me at all. Seriously. I don’t know any sixteen year old boy that gives such detailed descriptions of clothing or hair.....you get the idea.  Next, this book was simply too long.  Could the authors have said what they needed to say in half the amount of pages? Yes. There were pages and pages of questioning and self-indulgence. I felt disengaged at certain parts; essentially, the middle of the novel dragged on. I even found myself wondering what would Katniss do? (By the way, if you live in a bubble and you don’t know who Katniss is, please read my blog from December 12th!)  

    Many claim it to be one of the best young adult novels of 2009.  Do I agree? Nope. Do I think it’s a decent young adult novel? Yes, but I feel it doesn’t live up to its hype.  I find myself questioning all this hype. Could it be because Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter movies are ending soon and they need a new hit? Perhaps.  One things is for sure. We will see more of Ethan and Lena as this is going to be a five book series!  After reading this book, you may disagree with me, but lets be honest. There is only one female “caster” that my heart belongs to and that’s my girl, Hermione.