December Confessions

Can you believe the holiday season is almost over and tonight is New Year's Eve? I can't! I feel like I just put up the tree and finished wrapping gifts. It really does fly by. I did a lot of baking this Christmas and I'm pretty sure I ate my weight in cookies and chocolate. I'm looking forward to getting back into my health kick this coming month.  I hope everyone had a great holiday and I hope 2013 is as awesome as 2012 was. Happy 2013, everyone!

Books Read in December:
1.  Just One Day by Gayle Forman - 5 stars
2.  The Nutcracker by E.T.A Hoffman illustrated by Maurice Sendack - 4 stars
3.  The Selection by Kiera Cass - 4 stars
4.  Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed - 3 stars (Review to come)
5.  Shine (Shade #3) by Jeri Smith-Ready - 4 stars (Review to come)
6.  The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan - 4 stars (Review to come)

Didn't Finish:
The Farm by Emily McKay (I'll be hosting a giveaway soon!)

December Top Five:
1) Favorite Book: Just One Day by Gayle Forman - LOVE, LOVE this book! I wouldn't expect anything less from Gayle Forman.

2)  Biggest Disappointment: Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed- I thought it was mildly entertaining, but ultimately, it fell flat for me.

3)  Biggest Surprise: The Selection by Kiera Cass- I have read so many mixed reviews for this book, but was pleasantly surprised by how entertained I was. Maybe it's because I am a secret die hard fan of The Bachelor...So embarrassing.  

4) Favorite Post: 2012 End of Year Book Survey

5) Favorite Part of December: Baby D's first Christmas was a blast!

Happy New Year!

Winner of Just One Day

And the winner of Just One Day by Gayle Forman is.........

#151  Sarah O

Congrats, Sarah! Thank you for entering and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.  

Happy New Year!

Stacking the Shelves (9)

This week I am sharing books that I received for review and two that I bought with my holiday gift cards.  If you want to learn more about these books, click the title and it will take you to the Goodreads page.

For Review:

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart by Leanna Renee Hieber

*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks

Alychemystic by Anton Strout

*This was a holiday gift from Penguin...thank you!

Bought:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Diviners by Libba Bray

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This new meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, so check it out!

2012 End of Year Book Survey

One of my favorite posts of the year is the End of Year Book Survey hosted by Jamie at Perpetual Page Turner.  Check out my End of Year Survey from 2010 and my favorite books of 2011.

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? 

Adult fiction: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani
Contemporary YA:  My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry, Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols, and Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Paranormal/Fantasy YA: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, Entice by Jessica Shirvington, Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood and Until I Die by Amy Plum.

Historical YA: Gilt by Katherine Longshore

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson - I thought this book had the ingredients for everything that I love in a summer read, but the book was just ok for me.

Dearly, Departed by Lia Handel- I love steampunk and the idea of New Victoria, but zombies are a deal breaker for me. 

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian- I love all things Jenny Han and I thought I would love this book as well, but it was just a middle of the road read for me.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer- I love the Nightshade series, but was disappointed by the ending. :(

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

I was most surprised by Easy by Tammara Webber and Taking Chances by Molly McAdams. I wasn’t sure what to think about the “new adult” genre, but I am now a fan and both books were addicting.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Fans of young adult paranormal series, must try out Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace. I’ve been recommending it all year since it’s one of my new favorites series.  I also LOVED Gayle Forman’s Just One Day, which technically comes out in 2013. I’ll be recommending that one to everybody!

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

The Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin- Even though I am easily creeped out, this series was worth the spook factor. 

The Violet Eden series by Jessica Shirvington- (Read my answer above; plus, I can’t wait to see it as a TV show!)

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Here are a few: Huntley Fitzpatrick, Michelle Hodkin, Jessica Shirvington, Molly McAdams, Tammara Webber, Katie McGarry and Erika Robuck. 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams- I heard a lot of good things about it, but I also heard it was super steamy. That’s not really my thing, but I was pleasantly surprised.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - This book kept me up late reading and I’m pretty sure it freaked me out to the point where I had a few dreams about it. Now that’s the mark of a compelling read!

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

I don’t normally re-read books, but if I were going to, I would definitely re-read Just One Day before Just One Year comes out.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - It just screams summertime to me. I love it!

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

Violet Eden from Embrace and Entice by Jessica Shirvington

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton- She is an incredible writer...so very talented,

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Here are the two books that had me sobbing this year:

Second Chance Summer by Morgon Matson and The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani 

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

Firelight by Sophie Jordan- Who would have thought I would have really enjoyed a book about dragons? I’m glad I read it!

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

From The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani: “Life, Enza decided, is not about what you get, but what is taken from you. It's in the things we lose that we discover what we most treasure.” 

From Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson- “And I’ve realized that the Beatles got it wrong. Love isn’t all we need—love is all there is.” 

 16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Longest —The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - 544 pages

Shortest — The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann- 120 pages

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? 

The ending of The Evolution of Mara Dyer had me dying for book three!

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 

I really loved the relationship in The Shoemaker’s Wife - it was definitely swoon-worthy and spanned many, many years.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Second Chance Summer by Morgon Matson was great; I always love her books and of course, Just One Day by Gayle Forman was amazing. I’ll read anything Forman or Matson writes.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams- I read it after reading Leanna at Daisy Chain Book Review’s write-up.  We have the same taste in books and I’m so glad I read it, because it sparked my interest in the new adult genre.

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - So many people said it was their favorite book of the year, so I must read it soon!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

There are many books that I am looking forward to, but I’ve narrowed it down to my top ten.  

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

I hope to continue to read a mixture of books that I WANT to read, books for review, and books for my classroom.  That’s my goal...to keep it fun and never a chore!

Let me know what you think and I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Picture from my wedding on 12-20-08

Happy Holidays! I hope everybody has a holiday filled with family, love, laughter, and some good holiday treats. 

It's going to be quiet around here until after the New Year because I am going to be busy spending every moment of this holiday with Baby D--it's his first Christmas after all!  

The only scheduled post I have is the 2012 End of Year Book Survey next week.  I plan on being back in the New Year with some great reviews. A big thank you to all my readers and for sticking with me this year. I appreciate it!

Be sure to check out my Holiday giveaway for an ARC of Just One Day by Gayle Forman.  

Happy Holidays,

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Pages: 327

Genre: YA Sci-fi/Romance

Pub. Date: April 24, 2012

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."

America Singer lives in a post WWIII world where people are divided into castes. She just so happens to be a Five, which means they are struggling musicians or artists.  America is in love with Aspen, who belongs to a caste below her. This makes their love forbidden and she has been meeting with him in secret for years.  Meanwhile, Prince Maxon is of the age where he must look for a princess, which is where the "Selection" comes in.  Think of it like The Bachelor. Much to America's surprise, she is chosen to be a part of the selection and for every week she is there, her family will be compensated.  This is what drives America to do it, but deep down she knows her heart belongs to someone else.  The Selection by Kiera Cass is an deliciously entertaining read, especially if readers can recognize that this is more of a young adult romance than a dystopian novel.

America is a likable girl that is easy to connect with.  She loves her family and feels she owes it to them to be a part of the selection as it's hard to be a Five in their world.  Some days they barely get by.  Even though Aspen doesn't want her to be a part of the selection, he recognizes that this could bring many opportunities for her and her family.  Once America is selected, she leaves things in a bad state with Aspen and while at the palace, she struggles to forget about him.  America knows she isn't interested in Maxon romantically, but as they become better friends, she realizes that maybe she was wrong about him.  Her internal struggle between the two boys, although a love triangle, was done well, especially because Aspen is absent for most of the book.  So, it wasn't an in-your-face type of love triangle that normally makes me cringe.

I know many readers had issues with The Selection because it was supposed to be a dystopia.  Yes, I found that it lacked in dystopian themes as well, but once I started to think of it more as a romance, similar to The Bachelor, I really enjoyed this guilty pleasure.  With many girls living at the palace competing for the crown, you can only imagine what kind of drama ensues.  

I wish that Cass would have explained a bit more about the post WWIII world and these different castes.  For example, there was a rebel attack on the palace, but it really wasn't explained fully. A little more background would have been helpful and would have probably strengthened the already weak dystopian themes.  

Overall, I found The Selection to be enjoyable and seriously entertaining.  I am excited that it is going to be turned into a TV show on the CW and I think it will be loads of fun.  So, if readers are interested in a hardcore dystopian novel, they won't find it with The Selection; however, if they want a fun, Bachelor-like romance, I recommend this series.  Book two, The Elite, comes out this April and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Waiting on Wednesday: Belle Epoque

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

Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross

Pub. Date: June 11, 2013

Goodreads says, "When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.  Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil. But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose."

I am completely intrigued by the synopsis; plus, it takes place in 19th Century Paris.  Can't wait for this one! What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: The Best Books I Read in 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  I'm excited to participate; after all, I am pretty much obsessed with making lists.  This week's topic focuses on our favorite books we read this year. I sort of cheated and added two separate lists...one for my adult reads and another for my young adult reads. 

The Best Young Adult Books That I Read This Year:
1.  Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin
2.  Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum
3.  Gilt by Katherine Longshore
4.  My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
5.  Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
6.  Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
7.  Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols
8.  Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
9.  Entice by Jessica Shirvington
10.  Just One Day by Gayle Forman

The Best Adult Books That I Read This Year:

1.  The Kingmaker's Daughter (The Cousins' War #4) by Philippa Gregory
2.  Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck
3.  The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
4.  The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Let me know what you think.  What are your favorite books of the year? Any that you recommend? And yes, I will be reading The Fault in our Stars ASAP as that seems to be everyone's favorite book of the year! :)

Book Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: January 8, 2013

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay. When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines."

Allyson Healey has always played by the rules.  She did well in school, listened to her parents, hung out with her best friend, and did other extremely predictable things for a high schooler.  She never really branched out or went on an adventure...that is until her trip abroad the summer before college.  Her parents sent her and her best friend on a tour of Europe and Allyson was feeling pretty bored on this trip despite being in Europe.  While in London, Allyson and her best friend watch an underground performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and an actor from the play, Willem, catches her eye and they have a connection of some sort.  This connection blossoms into an overnight adventure; Allyson breaks the rules and goes to Willem to Paris on this last night of her trip.  She knows her parents would be furious and she knows it dangerous to go with someone she just met, but she wants to live a little.  The whole day in Paris is magical, but the next day doesn't go as well. She can't find Willem anywhere.  and consequently, she finds herself stranded in Paris and must get back to London in time to catch her flight home.  Readers will follow Allyson after this heartbreaking day and all through her freshman year in college where she still can't shake the memories of her night in Paris with mysterious Willem.  Gayle Forman's Just One Day is a heart-wrenching tale of first love, the freedom that travel brings, and the trials and tribulations of discovering what you want out of life.

I will admit that I found Allyson to be taxing at times.  She was tough to connect to, but I could appreciate her story nonetheless.  That's why I adore Forman as an author, because readers can still find something to enjoy in her books, even if they don't relate to the characters.  Once Allyson started to gain confidence, I found myself enjoying her more and more.

Willem is such a great male lead.  He's mysterious, talented, good looking, and adventurous.  While he wasn't in the story very long, I found myself, along with Allyson, wondering about him long after he exited stage right.  Just One Day is much more of a mystery than I thought it would be and I really liked that aspect of the book.

Also, Just One Day is really about self-discovery.  Allyson is at that age where she isn't sure who she is or what she wants out of life. She listens to her parents (too often!), pretends to be someone she isn't, and lets her mother orchestrate her life - (her mother even tells her what classes to take at college!)  Allyson has to break free from her parents and really put herself out there at college.  Once she does, I found Just One Day to be unputdownable.  While she is "finding herself," always in the back of her mind is Willem and while they only spent one day together,  I couldn't let him go either.

Just One Day has a lot of traveling in it, which is another aspect of this book that I enjoyed.  You can learn so much about yourself and about the world when you travel. I loved reading about Allyson's adventures, which force her to leave her comfort zone. It reminded me a bit of Wanderlove and 13 Little Blue Envelopes.  

Lastly, Forman incorporates a lot of Shakespeare into Just One Day and being an English teacher, I loved that!  It truly demonstrates how timeless Shakespeare is and how many years later, readers can still relate to his characters and the themes.  One of my favorite parts of Just One Day is the Shakespeare class Allyson takes at college.  Sign me up for that class!

Just One Day didn't leave me a blubbering mess like If I Stay did and while it isn't as powerful, Just One Day is just as good, but in a different way.  It's going down as one of my favorite reads of the year and after the ending of Just One Day, which left my heart beating out of my chest, I cannot wait for Just One Year.  In sum, Forman has hit a home run once again.

Want to win an ARC of Just One Day? Check out my giveaway!

Stacking the Shelves (8)

This week I am sharing one book that I received for review and one that I bought.  If you want to learn more about these books, click the title and it will take you to the Goodreads page.

For Review:

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

*Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending me this.

Bought:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

*I may be the last book blogger to not have read this.

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This new meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, so check it out!

Winner of Easy

And the winner of Easy by Tammara Webber is......

#64 Tabitha 

Congrats, Tabitha! I hope you enjoy Easy and thanks so much for entering my giveaway.  Also, thanks to Penguin for allowing me to host this giveaway.

If you didn't win, be sure to check out my giveaway for an ARC of Just One Day by Gayle Forman.  

Have a great weekend,

Holiday Giveaway: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Somehow I received two ARCs of Gayle Forman's Just One Day which comes out this January. I just read it last week and it's awesome!  Since I received two books and it's the holidays (one of my favorite times of the year!), I am hosting a giveaway to pass along my extra ARC to one lucky reader.  

This giveaway is open to US/Canada only (sorry international friends!) and the deadline is December 30th.  Please refer to my giveaway rules.  Good luck and Happy Holidays! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann & Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Pages: 120

Genre: Children's

Pub. Date: October 30, 2012 (first pub. 1816)

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share. Maurice Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Christmas production of Nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. He joined with the eminent translator Ralph Manheim to produce this illustrated edition of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all ages. The world of Nutcracker is a world of pleasures. Maurice Sendak's art illuminates the delights of Hoffmann's story in this rich and tantalizing treasure."

Everyone is familiar with the classic tale of The Nutcracker, which is a perfect holiday read.  What is special about this edition of The Nutcracker are Sendak's illustrations. Readers might remember Sendack as the author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are.  Although The Nutcracker is a familiar story for some, Sendak's illustrations really enhance this classic tale and make it such an enjoyable read for children and children at heart.

I personally LOVE The Nutcracker and have gone to see Pennsylvania Ballet's The Nutcracker many times.  There's something about this story that is beautiful and really instills a sense of childhood wonder and imagination in the reader, which is perhaps why it is still popular although written long ago.  

The Nutcracker be a perfect book for a parent to read aloud to their child, especially during the holiday season.  Keep in mind, this isn't a picture book; it is actually quite long as it is 120 pages.  Also, the vocabulary can be tough for a young reader since it was written in the 1800's, but as a read aloud, it would be ideal and lend itself to many discussions between parent and child.  I know I can't wait to share this story with my own son, especially since it has been illustrated by Sendak.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story of The Nutcracker is a bit different than Balanchine's ballet, which I have seen many times.  There are some extra side plots and stories, such as Princess Pirlipa, which really add to this memorable childhood tale.  Also, Godfather Drosselmeier is a lot scarier than I remembered!

The Nutcracker will keep young readers on their toes.  Between Toyland, the toys that come to life, and the Rat King, children will be completely enthralled.  I imagine that sharing this story with your child before taking them to see The Nutcracker ballet would be so special, especially when they see the characters and the story come to life.

If you are looking for a beautiful classic tale this holiday season with stunning illustrations, pick up a copy of E.T.A Hoffmann's The Nutcracker with illustrations by Maurice Sendak.  

Waiting on Wednesday: Gameboard of the Gods

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

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Pub. Date: June 4, 2013

Goodreads says, "In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills. When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board. Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense."

*I adore Richelle Mead and will read anything she writes, although I have never read any of her adult books.  I hope this new series is just as good as Vampire Academy...I am STILL sad that series is over! What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite New-To-Me Authors of 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  I'm excited to participate; after all, I am pretty much obsessed with making lists.  This week's topic focuses on my favorite new-to-me authors of 2012.  Here are some that come to mind so far:

Jessica Shirvington Via Goodreads

1.  Jessica Shirvington- She is a new-to-me author of the Embrace series and it easily became one of my favorites. 

2.  Erika Robuck- I loved Hemingway's Girl and can't wait to check out her other historical reads. Her next book, Call Me Zelda, focuses on Zelda Fitzgerald...how cool is that?

3.  Katie McGarry- I was totally consumed by Pushing the Limits (despite some cheesy dialogue) and I have got this new author on my radar.

4.  Huntley Fitzpatrick- I adored My Life Next Door- it was one of my favorite summertime reads.  Her next book, What I Thought Was True , sounds just as good!

Michelle Hodkin via Goodreads

5.  Michelle Hodkin- I love the Mara Dyer series even though it scares the crap out of me. She is definitely a brilliant writer and I can't wait for book three!

6.  Tammara Webber- I really enjoyed Easy and am all about the "new adult" genre, which is new to me as well.

7.  Wendy Higgins- Sweet Evil was such awesome mind-candy and a great start to a promising new paranormal series.

8.  Molly McAdams- Taking Chances was one of my favorite "new adult" reads and am looking forward to her other books.

9.  Sophie Jordan- She got me to read a series about Dragons, (Firelight), so she must be a good author!

10.  Kirsten Hubbard- Wanderlove made me want to pack my bags and leave it all behind. I had a serious travel bug after reading this book.

So what do you guys think? Which authors that are new-to-you this year are your favorite? Let me know!

The Winners of the Anna Karenina Giveaway

And the winners of the Anna Karenina prize package are.............

#17 Eleanor M.

#6  Juju from Tales of Whimsy

Congrats! I hope you guys enjoy it!  A big thank you to Focus Features for allowing me to host this exciting giveaway.

And if you didn't win, be sure to check out my giveaway for Easy by Tammara Webber, which is one of my favorite "new adult" reads.

Book Review: Home Front Girl by Joan Wehlen Morrison

Pages: 272

Pub. Date: November 1, 2012

Genre: YA Non-fiction

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "This diary of a smart, astute, and funny teenager provides a fascinating record of what an everyday American girl felt and thought during the Depression and the lead-up to World War II. Young Chicagoan Joan Wehlen describes her daily life growing up in the city and ruminates about the impending war, daily headlines, and major touchstones of the era—FDR’s radio addresses, the Lindbergh kidnapping, Goodbye Mr. Chipsand Citizen Kane, Churchill and Hitler, war work and Red Cross meetings. Included are Joan’s charming doodles of her latest dress or haircut reflective of the era. Home Front Girl is not only an entertaining and delightful read but an important primary source—a vivid account of a real American girl’s lived experiences."

Joan Wehlen is your average girl living through the Depression and the beginnings of World War II.  She lives with her family in Chicago, goes to school, gets good grades, enjoys writing, and has many friends.  However, Joan's diary is anything but average.  Yes, it includes everyday observations and beautiful prose, but also reflections of life leading up to World War II.  She discusses events such as FDR's radio address, Hitler, Pearl Harbor, and other important moments of the time.  Readers interested in history, especially World War II, will love Home Front Girl as it is a glimpse into Joan's seemingly average life during an extraordinary time. 

I love the background of Home Front Girl.  Her daughter found her mother's diary amongst her personal belongings after she died and decided to publish it.  The idea that we can live on through our writing is inspirational; in fact, it makes me want to keep a journal, something I have failed miserably at in the past.  It's interesting to think about what insight you gain into a time period when you read their diary; one thing is for sure....it's much more captivating than reading a history textbook.

Although Joan does talk a lot about what you would expect a teenager to talk about in Home Front Girl, such as boys, school, teachers, movies, etc, she makes even the mundane and everyday occurrences seem interesting.  Simply put, Joan is an incredible writer and extremely smart.  As I was reading it, I couldn't help but be reminded of Anne Frank's diary, The Diary of a Young Girl.  There's no doubt that this book would make an excellent companion to an Anne Frank/WWII unit, as it truly gives readers an idea of what life was like for a girl living on the home front during a tumultuous time not only in the United States, but the world.  Students can make many connections between the girls as well as their similarities regarding their reflections and thoughts on life.  Sadly, Anne never did become that writer she dreamed of; however, Joan ended up becoming a writer amongst other things.  I was glad to hear this as it was definitely an innate talent of hers.

Joan started her diary, Home Front Girl, at age fourteen and it continued till she was twenty years old. Whether she was discussing FDR or the beautiful blue-eyed boy in her class, I was captivated.  There's something special about this time period that America has lost and we will probably never get back.  A time before computers, texting, the Internet and reality television--it was quite refreshing to be transported into Joan's world.  It was nice to hear about her choir practice, the everyday events at school, her adventures at camp, going to movies with her parents, etc.  As I was reading it, I couldn't help but feel a little sad because that innocence is so hard to achieve this day in age; nonetheless, I loved learning more about what life was like for a young girl living then.

I recommend Home Front Girl by Joan Whelen Morrison to fans of young adult non-fiction, WWII, and those that are curious as to what life was like during a time that is gone forever.

Books on the Big Screen (5)

From time to time, I highlight various movies that are coming out based on books. Check out my post on movies in 2012/2013 as well as some others coming out in 2013. Here are some more that I've heard about:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn- I recently read an article that Reese Witherspoon is going to produce this movie. I have yet to read the book, but I know it's a bestseller.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner- I read this book in college and I'm not really a fan of Faulkner, but I am intrigued by the film.  James Franco is said to be directing it.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan- My students LOVE this series and I'm glad to see that they are continuing the movies.  Stanley Tucci (LOVE HIM!) will be playing Dionysus.   It comes out in August 2013.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare- Yes, they are making yet another R&J movie. I hear that Hailee Steinfeld will be Juliet and there are some other big names attached to this movie which comes out in February of 2013.

The Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy- This movie is due to come out next December and Keira Knightly, Kevin Costner, and Chris Pine are in it.  It seems action-packed.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card- This is SUCH a popular book in my classroom and I'm happy to see they are making it into a movie.  Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, and Hailee Steinfeld are just some of the incredible actors in this film, which comes out next November.

The Giver by Lois Lowry- OMG! I adore this book and would love to see it on the big screen.  I hear they found a director and Jeff Bridges is involved.

Oz: The Great and Powerful by Frank Baum- This is the "prequel" to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and I saw the movie trailer last month at the theater. It looks amazing! Plus, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis and James Franco are in it.

Books Being Made Into TV Shows:

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington- You guys...this is one of my new favorite young adult paranormal reads of the year and I am so pumped that the CW is making it into a TV show. I am definitely excited to see this series come to life.

The Selection by Keira Cass- I hear they are re-shooting the pilot of this show and Aimee Teegarden is still a part of it.  It will be on CW as well. I am hoping to read The Selection this month...although I've read some mixed reviews.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory- I've been following Gregory's updates regarding this mini-series and am so excited since this is one of my favorite historical reads.  It will be on Starz in 2013.  Can't wait!

Which books are you excited to see on the big screen? Have you heard of any others being made into movies or TV shows? Let me know!

Waiting on Wednesday: Invisibility

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

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

Pub. Date: May 17, 2013

Goodreads says, "Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth."

*I like Cremer and Levithan's writing style, so this is a must-read for me.  Plus, doesn't the synopsis sound completely original?  Let me know your thoughts.