Living In The Faerie Realm

Okay, admittedly I am a slacker because I have just been reading books and not reviewing them. And also this will be a short review, because I'm busy. Hello - it's almost December.

The Wings series by Aprilynne Pike is wonderful! I read all four books in a matter of days. It includes Wings, Spells, Illusions, and Destined, in that order. Our heroine Laurel comes to life as she discovers that she's not a normal human - in fact, she's not a human at all. She just looks like one. And she has a flower growing out of her back.

I love Pike's take on the idea that Faeries are evolved plants. Laurel finds out what she is, she becomes involved with David, a local prince charming that helps her figure out what's growing out of her back, and meet Tamani, another faerie who finds her in the forest and tells her what she is.

The first book revolves around land that Laurel's family owns and why they can't sell it. The land guards the gate to Avalon (the Faerie realm) and the trolls are trying to find the gate so they can attack the realm. This is just the beginning, because as each book unfolds you start to find out more and more about the gate and who really wants to get into that gate.

Why I Like This Book:
I'll admit it - I love faerie books! I love the whole idea of them, but I particularly liked this series because of how pure it is. Hardly any swearing, people doing things because they love each other and not for sex, and gut instinct that doesn't always turn out the way it's planned. This is life. The bittersweet ending left me ultimately happy - and I'm not talking about the first book, but the series in it's entirety. LOVE!

What I didn't like about this book:
Some parts are a little slow, but that's not really a problem. Also, when David first swears in the first book, I thought it was a weird place to put it. Sort of a wasted curse - might have worked better elsewhere. This is such a tiny complaint. I also noticed that Pike uses the phrase "rolled her/his eyes" a lot. I just noticed this because I'm also weird.

Aside from those little things, I definitely recommend this book. I gave the last book 5 stars on Goodreads, and that in itself is a rarity! Visit Aprilynne Pike here.

As always, Happy Reading!

Divergent

What I’m listening to right now: It’s Not Over, Daughtry

What mood I’m in today: Reading

Divergent is the first in a series by Veronica Roth. I’d heard about it being great, and thought I’d give it a go.

What the book is about: Beatrice lives in a Dystopian society divided into Factions; Amity, Erudite, Candor, Abnegation, and Dauntless. On her sixteenth birthday she is tested in a simulation in order to give her guidance about which faction to choose. If she doesn’t choose right, she could become factionless, the part of their community that labors.

Something goes wrong with the test, and the woman in charge of the simulation tells her that she’s Divergent, and that she can never tell anyone or her life will be in danger. The results are covered up, and though the test results report that she’d do well in Abnegation, it’s not what she chooses.

What I liked about this book: The conflict. Beatrice is constantly conflicted in her decisions. She admits that she’s a selfish person, that she would do almost anything to earn her place in her new faction. It’s a difficult ride; she loses and gains friends, is betrayed, and falls for one of her instructors. Though some reviews I’ve read say the love story is surprising, I thought it was predictable. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, of course.

Divergent has a great plot, and the end is a little sad and cliff-hanger, but that’s what makes it so good. Great series all have great cliff-hangers.

What I didn’t like about this book: It’s repetitive. I like Dystopian, but I’m also finding it a little old. It took me three weeks to finish it. In other words, it wasn’t a “couldn’t-put-it-down” situation.  

Overall I give it 3.5 out of 5, and I do recommend it. An interesting and entertaining read, for sure!

Endlessly

What I’m listening to right now: This Is Halloween, Nightmare Before Christmas

What mood I’m in today: Reading

 

 

Endlessly, by Kirsten White, is the last book in the Supernaturally trilogy. I think I mentioned when I reviewed Paranormalcy that I couldn’t wait to read this book. And I have to tell you, I was not disappointed!  

What the book is about: The last in the Supernaturally trilogy, Evie realizes something big is going down and it has to do with the Faerie Realm. Her old boss and mother-figure Raquel has mysteriously gone missing after making a strange one-note appearance where she didn’t act like herself at all. Boyfriend Lend is loyal, and Reth and Jack reappear, and with the help of vampire friend Arianna they help Evie figure out why all the paranormals are suddenly congregating around her.

The gist is that she has to open a gate again, even though she doesn’t know how. Nor does she want to. Not only that, but something weird is going on at IPCA (or is it ICPA?) and Raquel is unreachable, which makes her worry. The new person in charge wants Evie to make a gate to, but not the same kind that the paranormals would like…

What I liked about this book:  Fun and intense at the same time. One of my favorite parts is when the Dark Queen makes it so Lend falls asleep every time Evie is in the same room. Talk about overcoming the worst situations for the one you love.

I loved the ending. Vivian (Evie’s sort-of twin) does all the things she can’t do – they balance each other out. I won’t give away more here, but definitely some losses, and some gains, that were well written and satisfying.

What I didn’t like about this book: Evie is sometimes a bit of a blonde. But she’s also a teenager, so I think I have to cut her some slack.

Overall I give it 4 out of 5. I would recommend it and probably read it again, which means I’m willing to purchase it. If you like the Fey and other paranormal stories, you’re sure to love Endlessly!

Link to Paranormalcy website

Crossed

What I’m listening to right now: Wide Awake, Katy Perry

What mood I’m in today: Reading

 

 

Crossed, by Ally Condie, is the second in the Matched series. I have to start by saying that I loved Matched, a great dystopian-futuristic-rebellion sort of story that revolves around Cassia Reyes. While many were disappointed by the second book, I really liked it. I love poetry and a struggle for love. Cut Condie some slack, because though many of us require a pumped up action filled middle-of-the-trilogy, that second book is the absolute hardest to write. It’s completely true. Most authors will tell you the middle of the story is the hardest.

What the book is about: (Caution! Spoilers if you’ve not read the first book!) Cassia has chosen to go to a camp where other Aberrations work (see first book for explanation of Aberrations). She leaves her family behind, sneaks on board an air ship with a girl named Indie, and flies to the Outer Provinces to find Ky. I love Ky, and I will tell you I’m partial because I’m married to an artist with a sensitive, darker side. Ky is dark and mysterious and can write and paint (important note: nobody in the society can write).

Before she leaves camp though, Xander makes a surprise visit, something he can do because he’s her Match, and because of another giant secret he has kept from her (note: Xander is Cassia’s best friend). In fact, everybody seems to be in on this giant secret except Cassia.

Half of the book is from Ky’s point of view. You learn right away that Cassia is just steps behind him most of the time. The Outer Provinces are under attack, and the only reason the Society sticks people there is to have them killed. Ky escapes with a couple friends in tow, and Cassia follows as soon as she reaches the Provinces. They are both going to something called the Carving, a place reminiscent of the amazing red-rock canyons and features in Southern Utah and Arizona. The farmers live(d) here, which is who they are trying to find. They have information about the Rising, an order formed to eventually overthrow the Society. (Just FYI, I think the Society is very communistic)

What I liked about this book: The little things that both of them do to help them remember who has died, who has sacrificed everything for their cause. I also like that Ky doesn’t necessarily want to join the Rising, that he has apprehensions about it because deep down inside he knows that Cassia will not be with him once they find it.  Ky’s doubt in the Rising is natural, and mirrors my own. They don’t know anything about it, except that it is run by people who once lived in the Society. Not real encouraging.

I also really liked the new characters: Indie, Vick, and Eli. Indie, because she’s just who she’s meant to be, Vick because he just wants to go home to his girl, and Eli because he reminds me of my son.

What I didn’t like about this book: It was a little long and slow. But I think I was in the mood for it. More literary than action packed. I liked hearing Ky’s POV, but it jumped too much in spots.

Overall I give it 4 out of 5. I think this book will be an important link between the first and third book, and once Reached hits shelves I believe this book will become more popular. I recommend it!

Link to Ally’s site: http://www.allysoncondie.com/

The Book of Three

What I'm listening to right now: For The First Time, The Script
What mood I'm in today: Listening

I'll start by pointing out that when I started reading this book I immediately thought my ten-year-old son would love it. You can find it in the children's and young adult's sections at the library, so I thought, why not? Especially after a friend recommended it.

Taran, our protagonist, is an eager hero wannabe and moves faster than his brain can think. Just a boy, he quickly finds out how difficult it is and how much is required of a hero. He is named Assistant Pig Keeper, but quicly loses her when she is scared away by the horned king, and goes on a journey to find her and bring her home.

Along the way he runs into Gwydion, a prince who was actually coming to see the oracle pig to find out what evil was stirring in Annuvin. They set out together to find Hen Wen (this is the pigs name) and are captured by the servants of Achren, an evil queen. Taran is thrown into a dungeon where he meets Eilonwy, a girl who can't stop talking but has a keen knack for digging tunnels in and out of the dungeon. Together they escape, but the castle falls behind them and Taran feels his friend Gwydion is lost forever. Now he has two missions; two rescue the pig and to tell Gwydion's people that Arawn is gathering evil forces and that the Horned King is at his doorway.

This story reeks of Lord of the Rings type stuff, but it really is a great story. I give it four out of five stars for several reasons. I love Taran's character, how brave he is and wants to be, and how he learns from his mistakes. He becomes more humble in his journey and more aware of life and what has to be sacrificed to overcome evil. I won't say much about the story here, only that it is the beginning of the Chronicles of Prydain, and the next book is The Black Cauldron, which I can't wait to read.

I don't know that there was much I didn't like about this book, except that it was very much from a guy's prespective. IIt's not like I hated that, I just felt slightly disconnected from it because of it. Maybe that was a good thing, not to get too emotionally involved, like I do with other books...

But I would definitely recomment this. Goodreads averages it 4 out of 5 stars, which you know must mean good things. And even though you will be fiercely reminded of LOTR, it really has its own story and its own characters that make it an entirely different story, one to be shared.

Shameless Self Promotion

This is not a book review.
Don't be upset, I'll have another review soon, as I'm ending The Book Of Three and am just starting Matched (which I've heard so much about).
This will be short, just to post a link to Scarlett Rains Poetry Blog, where I'm featured this week as the guest poet. Stop by, tell me what you think!
And go write some of your own.
Or, as always, read a good book.
-Mandy

The Immortal Rules

What I’m listening to right now: My fan blowing hot air around
What mood I’m in today: I’m Not Sure

Eeeeeeeeeee! I know, it’s not a word, but it’s what I said when I found out about this book. Of course, there was a big part of me that sighed and went, “Another vampire book? Really?” So although I was super excited for the new novel from one of my favorite authors, I was hesitant to find myself in another vampire story.

Vampires Suck (parody movie)

What the book is about:

Allison Sekemoto lives in an altered futuristic universe (I guess you could take out “altered.” Who knows? Vampires may someday rule the world). She’s a survivor, mixed up with a gang of other teenagers who are also parentless because they’ve all been killed, either by vampires or rabids (a subspecies of vampire, as you’ll find out in this book).

While making a daring attempt to gather food one night, most of Allison’s gang is killed by rabids. Even she is ready to die when Kanin, a vampire master (or something like that), asks her if she wants to live. The bad news, she’ll be a vampire forever. Her survival instincts kick in, and she’ll take being a bloodsucker over death, so she agrees.

Kanin Turns her, then trains her on how to live as a vampire. He tells her that she can only survive on human blood, and that one day, she’ll kill another human being. He assures her that she’s a monster, just like him, but that she has a choice of what kind of monster she’ll become. Though she doesn’t know what this means at first, she begins to figure it out.

After Kanin is captured by vampires, Allison runs for it. She’s on her own until she runs into a band of humans making their way toward a place called Eden, which may or may not exist. She meets Jeb, a hardened man who will do anything to get to this place, and Zeke, a seventeen year old boy who takes an interest in her. What the rest of the band doesn’t know is that something is trying to kill them.

What I liked about this book:

Great story line! A fantastic break from lovesick vampires and general smushiness, this book was a little more gritty and true to life. People are selfish, rotten and unpredictable, but it’s the fight Allison makes to prove she’s better than a blood-thirsty vampire that makes the story. Aren’t we all fighting our own little (or big) demons? I want to be good! I hope to be good, and to fight the natural demons that want to get out of me.

I love the connection between Zeke and Allison. It’s realistic, and it gives people a sense of hope throughout the book. I read a review that said the middle of the story was slow, but I didn’t think so because the middle of the book is where Zeke and Allie become acquainted. Yes, much of it is a back story, but a needed back story, kind of like the first Harry Potter.

What I didn’t like about this book:

Again, it’s too much foul language for me. That being said, it’s not like there was a lot of it. I’ve read books with much more. And Kagawa refrains from using the “eff” word in most of her books. It does appear in the beginning of The Iron King, to show the seriousness of the situation I think.

It was also a little lengthy for me. Not that I’m complaining; it was like reading two books. But it did take me an extra-long time to finish. I’m not a fast reader, and I’m a mother of three and a part-time business woman, so it leaves me with not a lot of free time.

Worth it though? Definitely.

Until next time, grab a good spooky book on this fabulously cloudy day (if it’s cloudy where you are), maybe one about vampires.

The Immortal Rules Official Website 
Thanks to Goodreads for the Cover pic
Thanks to http://2or3thingsiknowaboutfilm.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html for the Vampires Suck pic
Thanks to http://kristina-worldofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/immortal-rules-review.html for the wicked pic of Allie and her Katana blade (where you will also find another review of this book :)

Holes

What I’m listening to right now: Hallelujah, Rufus Wainwright

What mood I’m in today: Reading 

I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book. I saw the movie first, and loved it. And I loved the book too. The movie hardly strays from the book at all, with two differences I noticed: Stanley Yelnats starts out overweight in the book, and there is one scene from the book (lady in slippers) that wasn’t in the movie.

The first thing I loved about this book is the main character, Stanley. His first name is just his last name spelled backward. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and getting mixed up in a crime he didn’t commit, was sent to Camp Greenlake, a juvenile detention center for boys.

Here we meet Armpit, Squid, X-Ray, and most importantly, Zero. Every day they have to dig holes, five feet wide and five feet tall, all to build character, or at least that’s what they’re told. It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize the warden is looking for something.

Louis Sachar does an excellent job with his flashbacks. They are timed right, and you begin to understand how all the stories are connected. It might take a couple of reads, and a little bit of movie watching, to really understand and get everything that’s going on. From the onions to the yellow-spotted lizards, the story keeps you intrigued to the end.

One of my favorite lines – from the book and the movie – is “I can fix that.” Sam is such a great character, and good man who falls in love with Katherine Barlow, the school teacher. This is a long time ago, of course. Back when Greenlake was actually a lake, and not a dessert. When Sam kisses Katherine, it’s such a beautiful moment, ruined by the peeking townspeople, who kill Sam for what he did. Why? Because he’s black, and Katherine’s white.

If you haven’t read this, or seen it, do it! It is a can’t miss opportunity to work your brain and enjoy at the same time. Clean and fun for the whole family. The “Aha!” moments never end, up until the very last lines.

Until next time! Enjoy your summer, and keep reading!

Shatter Me

What mood I'm in today: Writing
What I'm listening to right now: What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction (Yes, I'm a geek)

So I've been waiting to read Shatter Me for a while now, after hearing fantastic things about it. And I'm hear to tell you, they're all true.

First I'll get this out of the way: I'm not a big fan of lots of swearing (a few too many for me in this book) and it's a little violent in places, but the reason Tahereh Mafi gets away with this is the story is great!

From the get go, you have a mystery to figure out. Who is this girl in prison that can't touch people? And why can't she touch people? Well, it's because she can kill them. With her skin.

Juliette gets a roommate, someone she knows, who doesn't remember her. She is taken out of prison and sent to a place slightly worse: a big gray building owned by the Reestablishment and conducted by a nineteen-year-old psycho named Warner. (So many questions already, right? Who is the Reestablishment? Is this futuristic? Not telling.)

And Warner is seriously scary.

He wants Juliette in every way imaginable, but he wants her to torture people at his side. Not only this, but he resents having to force her to do it. He wants her to want to do it. He knows exactly what to say to get her mad and do what he wants her to do. He's cruel from the inside out, and he still has this weird thing about his mom that we have yet to discover.

Adam, gorgeous and protective lovely Adam, was the soldier assigned to her cell. He loves her, has since third grade, but she doesn't know this. He's super protective of her, tells her about the cameras in her room, and finally figures out he can touch her.

Adam can touch her, and it doesn't hurt him. How perfect is that?

Without giving away much more, I'll tell you what I love about this book. It was a challenge to read because of the writing style, (words crossed out, extremely poetic) but I loved it for this reason. It opened my brain up, and I could picture everything almost perfectly. I like the love story - it's a bit over-the-top for me, but a great story nonetheless. The end was fantastic and gives you a feeling of hope, even though it's not the end of the story. The book also keeps you interested. Great dialogue, not giving away too much at the beginning, and constant movement.

Can't wait for Unravel Me, out February 2013.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Supernaturally Complicated

What I’m listening to right now: I’m Glad You Came, The Wanted
What mood I’m in today: Writing

Okay, so when I first started reading this book – months ago – I couldn’t get into it for some reason. Maybe it was just the place I was in at the time. Mentally. But I picked it up again a few days ago, and oh my bleep! It was awesomeness that I couldn’t put down. By the way, I was in the store the other day and when confronted with a problem actually said, “Oh bleep!” out loud. I’m pretty sure I got some weird looks for that. Not to mention when I said that the pants with the bling on them were “Uber-sparkly.” (yes, overly sparkly so much so that it was a little disturbing)

Supernaturally starts out with Evie at school, trying to play a game of soccer, which she’s terrible at. She describes her new “normal” life briefly, before being Raquel unexplainably checks her out of school and she is snatched by a sylph and dragged up into the clouds. Unable to fight him any other way, she steals some of his soul and starts to half-fall, half-float to the ground.

So the whole point of the story is how she starts working with IPCA again because she wants just a hint of her other life back, how she lies to Lend, a new boy from IPCA named Jack that’s mischievous with a wicked grin to match, and what she finds out about her past. WARNING – SPOILER ALERT! She actually has a father, a drunk faerie who Reth introduces her too, and a mother who she knows nothing about, except that she was probably human and probably dead.

I absolutely loved this book, and I think it was because I could relate so completely to Evie right now. She struggles with feeling a part of nothing, the fact that she belongs to no race whatsoever; not quite human, not quite faerie, and nowhere in between. Figuring out exactly what you’re supposed to be or who you are is a grueling, sometimes earth-shattering experience. I so know how that feels. And sometimes you round another corner and “Oh bleep!” It starts all over again. Four stars, definitely, better than Paranormalcy even, and a fun but empathetic reading experience.

I love Kiertsen White, and I love how she uses “bleep” to get away with no vulgarity in her books. Love it! And it’s also a happy little reminder of Lish. Oh Lish, we miss you. Anyway, I’m also super excited because the third book in the series, Endlessly, comes out July 24. May I direct you to her blog? http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/. Yep, so excited.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

A Wrinkle in Time

What I’m listening to right now: NPR

Mood I’m in today: reading

Meg Murry is a stubborn, out-of-place girl who spends most of time defending her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, with her fist. Her father disappeared a few years ago, and the town’s all-a-talk about how he abandoned his family and turned Meg and her brother into stupid kids.

Little does Meg know, her father’s been on another planet during most of this time. Along with her brother Charles Wallace, and her new friend Calvin, three mysterious ladies take them through the “Wrinkle” in time and space in order to face the Evil darkness that is consuming other planets, including earth.

Overall, I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a great read, and I really got into parts of it. Although this is considered a children’s book, I definitely wouldn’t rule out Young Adults as an appropriate audience. I love the instant friendship between Meg and Calvin, and how much they rely on each other throughout the book, how Meg is always reaching out for his hand. The character development – a realization that being stubborn can be a great strength, for example – is well done throughout the book.

I love the three ladies, especially Mrs. Whatsit, who you come to find out had an amazing past and gave up something she loved dearly to fight the Evil dark thing.

There was something about this story that bothered me, though I’m not exactly sure what. Maybe the waiting so long to find out what happened to Meg’s father? Of course, this did allow for some character development.

A good story, one to read with your entire family. Again, happy reading!

Firegirl

Mood I’m in today: Reading

What I’m Listening to: Mad World, Gary Jules

I’m late on my book review this month because I was trying to finish one in particular; a literary find by Tony Abbott called Firegirl. I loved the title, of course, because of my obsession with fire, but the book wasn’t what I expected it to be. Because Abbott also writes the Secrets of Droon series, which my boys love, I thought it would be fantasy. Not even close.  

That being said, I loved it.

Tom just started the seventh grade in a private catholic school. He talks about the other kids at school and the roles they play in his life. Jeff, his best friend who shares comic books with him and calls him Cobraman, Courtney, the beautiful and confident girl who he dreams about rescuing from impending dangers, and Jessica, the new girl.

The minute Jessica walks into class it changes everything. Her body is badly deformed; burnt in a fire. Tom is just as uncomfortable around her as the rest of her class, but is surprised to find that some people hate her for being there. When he finds out about the terrible accident that led to Jessica’s ill fate, he feels horrible inside, for himself – and for her.

I love the character development in this story, the way it addresses how we change depending upon our experiences, whether adolescent or adult. It is a sad yet wonderfully written, and encourages us all to be uncomfortable about the right things.

Happy Reading.

(Thanks to Goodreads for the image)

The Secret Hour

What I'm listening to right now: All Around Me, Flyleaf
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Going back in time today, I wanted to review the first book of one of my favorite series of one of my favorite authors. The Secret Hour, first book in the Midnighters series, is a window into just what the title says, the Secret Hour. Every day has 25 hours, not 24. One of them is just hidden, and only those born at exactly midnight can be awake in this time. Not only that, but the hour only opens up in the city of Bixby, Oklahoma.

This is exactly how I pictured these things!

When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, weird things start to happen - weird even for the other midnighters who've lived there much longer than she has. The darklings begin to creep back into town, risking exposing themselves again because of their need to kill Jessica. Rex, Melissa, Dess, and Jonathan, all get involved in trying to understand why the darklings want to kill Jessica in particular.
I loved this book. Not only do the five kids get to be awake in a secret hour, but they each have different abilities that the 25th hour gives them. Rex has a special sight that allows him to see things belonging to the midnight hour ultra-clearly. Melissa can read minds, or I guess a better word is taste them. Dess is a mathematical genius, which turns out to be very important in the secret hour. Jonathan is the Acrobat. His power is different, because he can only use it in the midnight hour. As they try to find out exactly what it is Jessica can do, they get closer to the reason the darklings want to kill her.
She can kill them.
I won't give away too much here, but Scott Westerfeld's Midnighters series is intense fantastical realism that will keep you reading into the night. He captures the urgency of the situation, the personalities of every character and their importance to the story, and provides a little romance in the background (not that I would call this book romantic, but who doesn't want to see a great couple get together?). If you like books with a little bit of sci-fi/fantasy, set in the real world, this is your next read.
Until next time...keep reading. Let me know if you've read any good books! I'm always looking.

Of Creepy Towns and Other Things

What I'm listening to right now: Solitude Standing, Suzanne Vega
What mood I'm in today: Writing

Have you ever seen the X-Files episode Arcadia? If you haven't, I'll give a brief recap. Mulder and Scully move into a spotless neighborhood, undercover as a married couple. The houses all look pretty much the same, there are countless rules and regulations to follow, and if anyone ever breaks a rule they end up dead. This is why I've never moved to a structured development.

Candor by Pam Bachorz is somewhere along these lines. The title is actually the name of the town, although I still think it's meaning (The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.) has a sort of underlying, twisted implement as well.
We start out by meeting Oscar, the main character and voice. His dad runs Candor; charges insane amounts of money for people to live there. Everything is structure. No one breaks the rules. And the reason why is because he feeds them subliminal messages through music. Oscar, however, knows all about the Messages (I love that this is capitalized throughout the book). He creates his own messages to counter his father's. He helps kids escape Candor, as long as they pay him, right up until Nia moves in.
Nia's a little bit of a bad girl, and Oscar is afraid the town will turn her into something she's not. He likes her the way she is, and decides to feed her his own Messages and not tell her about leaving town or that it's even an option. He wants to keep her there.
After one of his client's escapes fails, things start to change. Someone knows about the Message, and his father will do anything to put a stop to it. When Nia finds out what's been going on, she accuses Oscar of making her like him and literally goes out on the town, vandilizing along the way. When she does get caught, Oscar's father takes her (and the fat kid who seems to ruin everything) into The Listening Room, a place where memories are wiped clean. Nia is changed into someone completely different, and Oscar finally realizes he has to help her escape in order to save her.
An interesting love story of sorts. My favorite part is what Oscar sacrifices for the girl he loves. Things don't go his way, but it's not necessarily the end for him either. I won't give a spoiler alert here; you'll have to read it for yourself!
Overall, I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. (By the way, I rarely give 5 out of 5). A new idea, this book, written in Collin's style (..I say, I sit down - present tense), is a great read for young adults and old alike.
As always, Happy Reading!

The Sky Is Everwhere

What I'm listening to right now: 21 Guns, Green Day
What mood I'm in today: Editing

Today I wanted to review a book that I've hesitated reviewing because of this tiny little thing about it that irritates me.  However, I've realized that as much as the tiny little thing bugs me, I loved this book. 

The Sky Is Everywhere tells us the story of Lennie, a high-school girl whose older sister dies very suddenly and unexpectedly.  Her life changes dramatically, and the most suprising for her is that boys are noticing her.  First Joe Fontaine, the new guy from France that plays music just like Lennie, only on forty different instruments.  Joe can make her laugh and smile, making her question if she should be laughing or smiling.  Didn't her sister just die? 
Second is Toby, her sister's boyfriend, who is as torn apart as Lennie.  They find temporary solace and comfort in each other, usually by making out in Lennie's bedroom or in her Gram's garden. 
The reason I love this story so much is it shows how Lennie finally overcomes her grief - without losing her sense of loss entirely.  She knows what she's doing with Toby is wrong; letting her emotions out this way isn't healthy, especially when she's falling for Joe, the one who makes her truly happy.  This little triangle can't go on for long without worlds colliding and falling apart again, and Lennie has to try to put everything right, learning and growing in the process. 
There is a side-story here between Lennie and her best friend Sarah that I adore.  Sarah, finally fed up with feeling ignored and like Lennie doesn't trust her anymore, confronts Lennie about it.  It leads to a friendship repair that helps Lennie get through this life upheaval that she's going through.  Loyal friends!  Love it! 
So now to spill it.  I'm a little hesitant to review it because I was a little hesitant to admit I read it.  Throughout the book, that little word (starts with an F) is sprinkled quite a bit.  Excessive swearing bugs me.  Yes, we make that word into a swearword and give it its negative meaning.  But that doesn't mean it doesn't bug me still.  So, with that little warning, I actually do recommend this book, especially to late bloomers like myself - awkward, shy girls who didn't really get noticed by guys until their junior year in high school.  Yep, that's me.  And no, I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Upcoming and Why I've Been Gone

What I'm listening to right now: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, background noise
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Happy New year! 
So after a few months hiatus, which I will explain briefly, I'm back.  And I have some exciting news.  Well, for me anyway.  Here's what my blog will focus on this year:
   1. Book Reviews (I've read enough now to actually review them.  Yay!)
   2. Short stories and Novellas (I'm going to actually post stuff that I've written.  Brace yourselves.)

I've been gone for a while because we've been dealing with a lot of issues in my family.  Illness, severe accidents, and death to name a few.  It's been rough, but we are doing a lot better now, and I'm ready to jump back on the bandwagon, so to speak. 

Hope your New Year goes well!
-Amanda