Between the Lines

Contest!

2010-05-12T15:15:00.000-04:00

Cleverly Inked is having a great contest here:
http://cleverlyinked.blogspot.com/2010/04/birthday-phenomenon.html
Check it out!

WorDissection: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

2010-05-08T11:51:00.002-04:00

Did I like it? YESSSS!!!
You'll love it if you liked: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, Sarah Dessen novels, When It Happens by Susane Colasanti and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin.
Aura: Striking and powerful but not overly intense
Read If: You want a contemporary romance that doesn’t preach, overdramatize or undermine.
Main Character: Zoey Commander, high school senior, female
Themes: Hate turned to love, Redemption, Self-discovery, Memory Loss, Family Trouble, Relationships, Romance
Plot: 8.75/10. Beautiful fleshing of a previously used concept.
Narration: 8.75/10. Grasping.
Characterization: 9.5/10. The “wow” factor of the novel.
Overall: 9.25/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Not at all. It was a smooth read.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1.5/5. Just at times.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal, Communicative
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 2/10. I loved how the predictability was not there despite the fact it is a simple storyline.
Imagery: 4.5/5. The scenes seem to be playing right before me.
Cover: 9/10. Sensual yet innocent in it’s wonderfully ironic way.
Ending: If the book is thought of as a very, very good looking person, he/she sure has exceptionally sexy feet! (Seriously, how’d you get feet like that?!)
Reading priority: Must Read
Reading duration: Slow readers: 6 days. Fast readers: 4 hours.
Synopsis:

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

WordVore Prod’s Review:

I felt like I was reading something life-changing. The book has the power to move planets off their orbits. It is truly difficult to come across such powerful prose.

Zoey was such a multidimensional character. She grew so much yet so realistically throughout the book! The way she learns to let go, cope with troubling issues and feel like a blossoming human…it’s simply marvelous. Her narrative was sharp, edgy and strong and I thought it did an amazing job of getting the story across. Her relationship with her parents and its development has been shown in perfectly symmetrical steps and it’s hard to feel out of step when I was following her life story.

Doug was beautiful. His character was not clichéd and offered a fresh new silhouette of the quintessential “bad boy” stereotype. I love the relationship between Zoey and Doug—they learn from each other, mess up but get up again and gradually meld into each other like jagged, but nearly perfect, puzzle pieces. Doug seemed a tad bit controlling though, however, not in the control-freak way, thankfully.

The plot was truly inspiring. It portrayed the downfalls and lessons of growing up without being preachy or unbelievable in any way. Dialogues were well written and fit perfectly with the respective scenario. I LOVED the way Jennifer Echols works with emotions and sentiments in this book. Every single transition in emotion feels like a slight change in temperature—subtle but it’s there and it creates a stirring inside of you.

What bothered me a little is how Brandon, Zoey’s boyfriend, seemed to be missing. It wasn’t as if I missed the guy terribly, but his inclusion would have made the story a little more structured.

Forget You does NOT stay true to its name—because I couldn’t forget a word I read after I was done! I had been waiting for this book for a long time and I’m glad to say it didn’t let me down. The novel is a well-sewn blanket, with the fabric being a vividly visual background, the designs being the little anecdotes and happenings that make up life and the threads being the rush of emotions that accompanies each story.

WorDissection: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

2010-04-16T07:53:00.003-04:00

Did I like it? Totally did.
You'll love it if you liked: Tamora Pierce novels, The Chronicles of Narnia series
Aura: Somewhere between intense and light. There is some nail biting tension buildup, though.
Read If: You want a convincing fantasy that still contains elements of reality
Main Character: Meghan Chase, 16-year old female
Themes: Supernatural abilities, Kingdoms at war, Kinship, Family bonding, Star-crossed love
Plot: 9/10. Convincing.
Narration: 8.5/10. Quite impressive.
Characterization: 8.5/10.
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Not at all. It was a smooth read.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1.5/5. Not much really, just the overly descriptive parts.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal
Uniqueness: 8.5/10
Predictability: 3.5/10.
Imagery: 4.5/5. The scenes seem to be playing right before me.
Cover: 8.5/10.
Ending: Aye, there’s a sequel!
Reading priority: Must Read
Reading duration: Slow readers: A week. Fast readers: 5.5 hours.
Synopsis:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

WordVore Prod’s Review:
Two things that this book changed about me:
1.) My skepticism about Harlequin Teen
2.) My distaste in fantasy
I swear, fantasy was never my element. However, I loved this book so much that midsentence, even I was surprised! I absolutely loved how the plot was light (not too crammed up) yet interesting. It was like a delicious diet cola (which I have yet to find literally). The story was very streamlined and flowed smoothly. Usage of words was articulate and striking. Descriptions were astoundingly beautiful; however, at times I felt were a little long-drawn and redundant.
Meghan’s character was…unique. Not unique as in Lady-Gaga-Lil-Wayne-hybrid-unique, but it had a very distinctive, individualistic quality about it. You could relate to her but at the same time you could recognize her as an individual person. I would have loved a little more insight into Ash’s character, since I feel it would be a great character to read about. Portrayal was relationships was intricate and true to life, but heartwrenching. Meghan’s love for her stepbrother was so real it jumped out of the pages. I also liked how the concept “No one is perfect” is played upon, e.g. Meghan’s former parents having an imperfect relationship despite her rose-coloured illusions. Puck was the most amusing, adorable “friend” character one could create.
Meghan and Ash had marvelous chemistry. Their kiss rocked my socks off with the subtle fireworks and spontaneity. I’ll just end it at that.
The Iron King was so well-characterized in such a short time that it’s unbelievable. His chilly yet weirdly appealing character is something I couldn’t get over.
The only thing that slightly irked me was that the characters were just a tad bit repetitive at times. It’s not too distractive, thankfully, but I feel their dialogues could have been a little less cyclical.
Overall, a great book to read. I cannot wait for the sequel to come out!

Tête-à-Tête with author of A Blue So Dark, Holly Schindler

2010-04-16T07:20:00.003-04:00

Holy scheibe. What is /wrong/ with me?
I am so, so sorry I have been absent from blogging for so long. Between the sudden stress of school, French classes, community service, guitar classes and IGCSE external courses, I was fumbling with time management, and I apologize. Now I feel I'm more smart with my time, and I've suddenly experienced a huge boost in stamina.
Anyways, I'm back. For real. And I want to start with an amazing interview with the author of A Blue So Dark, Holly Schindler. Trust me when I say that the book looks compelling to the nth degree.
Read on, and enjoy:)

Tell us something about yourself: likes, dislikes, favorite color, even why you think the chicken crossed the road…

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. ALWAYS. When I got my master’s degree, I decided to chuck the whole notion of a real full-time real job in favor of chasing a writing career. I’m ECSTATIC to now have three books in development! My debut, a YA titled A BLUE SO DARK, is due out from Flux in May. PLAYING HURT, my second YA (that’s a tentative title) is due out from Flux in ‘11, and FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS (again, a tentative title) is my first adult novel, due out from Blooming Tree Press in ’11.

…I’m also a lifelong Missouri girl. I don’t really think there’s a much prettier place than the Ozarks…Even when she’s being cruel in the winter, unleashing ice storms and feet of snow, she’s pretty…The perfect place to write, I think…

A BLUE SO DARK sounds so rich and enticingly intense. Tell us more about it.

A BLUE SO DARK is an edgy, literary YA novel that tackles madness, the nature of creativity, and the healing power of art. Here’s a brief synopsis:

Terrified that her mother, a schizophrenic and an artist, is a mirror that reflects her own future, sixteen-year-old Aura Ambrose struggles with her overwhelming desires to both chase artistic pursuits and keep madness at bay.

As her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet keeps drawing Aura toward the depths of her own imagination—the shadows of make-believe that she finds frightening similar to her mother’s hallucinations.

Convinced that creative equals crazy, Aura shuns her art, and her life unravels in the process.

How did you come up with the plot? Do you feel that the story is based off your life in any way?

I’ve always loved to draw…took as many art courses in high school as I did English courses. Trust me—there are FAR better artists than I am. But I’m fascinated by creativity—why some people explode with ideas, and others stare at a sketchbook for hours and get nothin’.

In A BLUE SO DARK, I got a chance to explore some ideas about where creativity might spring from. For Aura, creativity and madness are inextricably linked. And there’s no denying many artists have been both creative and mad…so her fears really do give readers something to chew on.

Rapid fire round! Blue or red?

You kiddin’? Blue, of course! It’s the color of my very best broken-in writing jeans, of my favorite pair of glasses (I’m extremely nearsighted), and of my favorite book cover. (Is it crazy to be in love with the cover of your own book?)

What would be on Aura’s top 10 most played songs?

I LOVE this question! Buuuuut….I’m going to break the rules a bit, and just give you just the #1…

The novel includes a few references to some classic artists—Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel…most notably, Pink Floyd. If I were to give you just one song that I think kind of tells Aura and her mother’s story, I’d have to say, “Wish You Were Here.” Google the lyrics, and you’ll see what I mean.

Three words to describe yourself and three words to describe A BLUE SO DARK.

Me: I’m a writer. MAN, it feels SO good to say that. A real writer. With more than one book in development!

A BLUE SO DARK: Does art cripple? That’s the central question that Aura has to answer. Will art free her, give her a much-needed outlet, or will it completely cripple her, bring on the same mental illness that her mother has struggled with for so many years?

Oh my GOD. PINK FLOYD. I'm in love with the book already.

Tête-à-Tête with author of Fairy Tale and Sleepless, Cyn Balog

2010-02-04T11:09:00.003-05:00

Okay peeps of the blogosphere, today we have the AMAZING Cyn Balog grace my blog. I'm so honoured. or those who are unaware, she already has a mindblowing book called Fairy Tale out and her second book called Sleepless will be coming out this year! Read on to find out more about her and her works.

>Tell us a little something-something about Sleepless.

Sleepless is about a Sandman who falls in love with a mortal girl whose sleep he controls.

The plot and premise of the book is so creative it baffles us regular non-writing people. How’d you come up with it?

I don’t really have any time to think very much because I have two young children. This particular idea, I came up when driving home from work with my daughter babbling in the back and I’m a Little Teapot playing on the radio. They say that all ideas come during the 4 B’s—Bed, Bath (getting ready for the day), Bus (your commute), or Beer. And it’s true because I got the idea for Fairy Tale while lying in my bed, and Sleepless on my commute!

What was your favourite part of writing the book?

Typing “THE END”? Seriously. I had a hard time with SLEEPLESS. I sold it on proposal and after finishing the first draft was told it was hopelessly dark and depressing. Still, I thought the premise was amazing. So I vowed to write the entire thing over, which I did in about three weeks. So by that time, I was so frazzled I was happy to get to the end and nervous to find out if it passed muster with my editor!

Okay, so how is Sleepless different from Fairy Tale, your awesome debut?

Well, Julia and Eron are not as funny and sarcastic as Morgan is. I loved that about Morgan, because I am a sarcastic person, but I know a lot of people found her annoying. So I really had to tone down the sarcasm that threatened to spew out of me on every page. The fun thing about this book is that Sandmen were once human, so Eron, the Sandman, was a human once, but back in 1900. So I loved placing him in the present day and having him find his way.

Rapid fire round! Five things you can grab without moving from where you are?

A pen. My daughter’s sock. A pack of five playing card games (old maid, etc), a gift certificate to Collage Video, and my royalty statement for Fairy Tale.

Gel pen or ball point?

Um, I am not picky at all. As long as ink flows from it, I am good.

If Eron had a Facebook profile, what would it look like?

Imagine your great-grandfather having a facebook profile. Scary. Eron is still trying to figure out that thing we call “computer”.

What would your autobiography be titled?

And Then Some Confusion Happened

Hmm, I wonder, what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

I approached Yo Yo Ma, rather brusquely, and told him that my husband was in love with him. My husband loved Yo Yo Ma but was too scared to talk to him, and I really didn’t know much about him, so I took the reigns. I meant to say, “My husband thinks you’re wonderful,” but for some reason it came out as if my husband had a romantic crush on the man.

Last question! Favourite songs to write to?

Silence. I can’t write to music. It’s so loud in my house during the day and I get headaches really easily, so I just love peace and quiet!!

Getting to know authors on a personal level is the awesome stuff.

And the winner is...

2010-01-15T11:18:00.002-05:00

Okay dudes, I was supposed to do this A LONG TIME AGO. And I apologize, profusely. But now that I'm here, I'll announce the winner of the Ghost Swag Pack.
And the winner eeeeeeeezzzz...

Throuthehaze!

I've mailed you for your address! Ms. Crewe will personally send your prize to your doorstep. Enjoy:)

WorDissection: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2010-01-15T09:21:00.003-05:00

Did I like it? Totally did.
You'll love it if you liked: Fun vampire fiction.
Aura: Light with slight underlying tension buildup.
Read If: You're looking for a supernatural-entwined-with-reality novel with FUNNY vampires (ahem, not Edward, that is).
Main Characters: Jessica and Lucius
Themes: Vampiredom, Romance, Supernatural abilities
Plot: 8.75/10
Narration: 9/10. Very communicative.
Characterization: 9/10. Great buildup.
Overall: 9/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope. It was entertainment sandwiched between hardcover.
Did any part confuse me? Not at all. It was a smooth read.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5. Not much really.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal, F-U-N.
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 2/10.
Imagery: 4/5. The scenes seem to be playing right before me.
Cover: 9/10. I love how it’s simple but beautiful.
Ending: Happy…but realistic with a good twist.
Reading priority: Definitely Read
Reading duration: Fast readers- 6.5 hours; Slow readers- a week.
Synopsis:
This book made me love vampires again.
Okay, so you have this normal girl who’s actually a vampire princess, but acts like a normal girl, right? Throw in a sinister, handsome, and sarcastically funny vampire who’s actually not so bad at heart (but not a complete angel either). What do you get?
A kickass vampire novel.
The plot had a whole lot of flesh, positive point numero uno. The story buildup was done in a great way, planned out to reflect scenes that seem to be happening right in front of the eyes. The writing style completely blew me away—expressive yet not grossly poetic. It was like chunks of regular conversation put down on paper. The transitions between one scene and another was smooth and in no way rough around the edges.
Jessica was great. She had her vices and her strengths and I loved her for that. Her voice was not whiny (thank goodness)—rather sardonic in a very amusing way. But Lucius was the big cookie in the book. He was this charming, dark vampire to the T, but he was sooo funny! Humour was one of the biggest strengths of the book—not overdone but enough to make you laugh out loud.
One thing that bothered me in the book was the repeated references to gender differences and stuff (eh, what can I say, I’m a feminist). But oh well, it shouldn’t put you away from reading the book—not at all.
If you’re looking for a book with an authentic voice, feel, story and above all, an authentic vampire and not a skewered version of one, then I would definitely recommend picking up Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. I would suggest grabbing a cup of coffee with it though; that should set the mood.
P.S. I read this book when I had a horrible case of flu. Even through that, I couldn’t help but love this book. Give Jessica’s Guide some more credit points for this particular postscriptum.

WorDissection: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

2009-12-21T07:58:00.000-05:00

Did I like it? I LOVED it!
You'll love it if you liked: Good YA literature.
Aura: Haunting, Intense, Gripping.
Read If: You're looking for an intense read that’ll leave you with awed and amazed and enthralled at the end.
Narration: First person
Main Characters: Gemma and Ty
Themes: Kidnapping, Obsession, Adaptation, Psychological developments, Friendship (maybe?)
Plot: 8.75/10
Narration: 9.9/10. Gemma’s voice rocked my socks off.
Characterization: 9.85/10. Beautiful characterization.
Overall: 9.75/10
Did I get bored anywhere? NO!
Did any part confuse me? Not at all. My own brain and how it responds to the story did though, in a good way.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.25/5. I didn’t at all.
Writing Style: Short sentences, Informal, Expressive
Uniqueness: 9.6/10
Predictability: 0.5/10.
Imagery: 4.5/5. So descriptive and visual.
Cover: 9/10. I love how it’s simple but beautiful.
Ending: Realistic, unique, amazing closure.
Reading priority: Must, MUST read.
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 6 hours, Slow readers- Approx. 10 days.
Synopsis:

“It happened like this.

I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him. This is my story.

A letter from nowhere.”
Told in a letter to her captor by 16-year-old Gemma, Stolen explores the influence that a really wild and remote space can have on the inner development of a young woman.
Gemma, a British city-living teenager, is kidnapped while on holiday with her parents. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the wild land of outback Australia. To Gemma’s city-eyes, the landscape is harsh and unforgiving and there are no other signs of human life for hundreds of kilometres in every direction. Here, there is no escape. Gemma must learn to deal with her predicament, or die trying to fight it.
Ty, a young man, has other ideas for her. His childhood experience of living in outback Australia has forever changed the way he sees things. But he too has been living in the city; Gemma’s city. Unlike Gemma, however, he has had enough. In outback Australia he sees an opportunity for a new kind of life; a life more connected to the earth. He has been watching and learning about Gemma for many years; when he kidnaps her, his plan finally begins to take shape.
But Ty is not a stereotypical kidnapper and, over time, Gemma comes to see Ty in a new light, a light in which he is something more sensitive. The mysteries of Ty, and the mystery of her new life, start to take hold. She begins to feel something for her kidnapper when he wakes screaming in the night. Over the time spent with her captor, Gemma’s appreciation of him develops into what could be referred to as Stockholm syndrome.

WordVore Prod’s Review:
Wow…one word….WOW! Stolen was such a different read from all the other books I’ve read that it completely blew me away. I’ve always had a soft spot for something that deviates from the regular and this was no exception. It is rightly so that I bestow so much awe upon this book.
Stolen is not your ordinary romance novel brewing from Stockholm syndrome. It is not your ordinary kidnapping cat-and-mouse chase story. Heck, it’s not ordinary, period. Characterization is absolutely unblemished, with no hint of neglect or overdramatization. I was scared—scared I tell you!—by the way Lucy Christopher made me feel sympathy towards Ty, and no, it’s not because he is this perfect prince charming who somehow became a kidnapper out of the blue. He is a guy with major issues like a kidnapper should, and these issues are drawn upon from such a psychological angle that it leaves you enthralled. You do, in fact, feel contempt towards him at times. I had such varying opinions about Ty—so vulnerable and heartwrenching yet so frightening at times. The whole novel, in fact, plays upon the human psych like Mozart played upon his musical instruments. It’ll frazzle you, puzzle you, and it’ll leave you awed at the capacities of psychology. Gemma is not a helpless damsel in distress, in fact, she is strong yet vulnerable at times. Her emotional development throughout the whole novel is so astoundingly well done that it deserves a standing ovation. Her final feelings towards Ty are subtly justified but with strong grounding. At the end of the novel, you actually get why both characters acted the way they did, why they did what they did, and that’s weird since it’s not supposed to make sense but it does. Ah, the wonders of pure good literature.
The plot is holy whoa. I know it’s something you’ve heard before but the plot development and the ending make the story downright unique. Speaking of which, the ending was ama-freakin’-zing. It was one of the best closures I’ll ever see in YA literature, ever. It makes you rethink and re-evaluate everything around you—the world and your life itself. Imagery was wonderful as well—it takes a brush and paints the image right in your head. One thing is for sure, the book communicates extraordinarily well with the conscious AND subconscious mind. The story will make you visit realms of your own mind you’ve never bothered tapping into before. Tell me how many books can do that. The relationship between Ty and Gemma is mindblowing. It’s something you can’t label, ever, yet you know that it’s not flimsy and it’s strong, in a strange yet beautiful way.
Okay, no complaints from me. Strange, right? Of course there are scopes of improvement but I just don’t know where. I think you should rad and be the judge yourself this time.
No other conclusion than: Read! Now!

WorDissection: In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey

2009-12-20T07:28:00.001-05:00

Did I like it? Yeah.
You'll love it if you liked: Ellen Hopkins novels.
Aura: Haunting, Chilling, Gripping.
Read If: You're looking for a quick but intense read.
Narration: First person alternating
Main Characters: Sophie and Mia, teen females
Themes: Drug Addiction, Friendship, Peer Pressure, Adolescence
Plot: 8/10
Narration: 9/10
Characterization: 8.5/10. Very charming.
Overall: 8.75/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nah.
Did any part confuse me? Not at all. Simple.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5. Not much.
Writing Style: Short sentences, Informal, Becomes choppier as the addiction develops
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 3/10.
Cover: 8.75/10. I like how it’s simple but beautiful.
Ending: Realistic, hopeful, good closure.
Reading priority: Should read.
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 4 hours, Slow readers- Approx. a week.
Synopsis:
“I pictured the roughly made tablets with their tiny butterflies. An amazing experience inside a tiny pill. That morning I figured life couldn’t get any better. How could something that made you feel like that be bad for you?”
Mia and Sophie have been best friends forever- but that’s all about to change. Experimenting with alcohol, flirting with boys and dabbling in drugs, things quickly spiral out of control. And they finally realise how bad things really can get.
WordVore Prod’s Review:
Ahoy fellow readers, today I bring to thee…
Australian YA fiction.
It’s good. It’s fun. It’s underappreciated.
I was quite excited to start In Ecstasy, since that was my first dip into Australian YA lit. And I wasn’t disappointed. To my delight it read differently than American YA, and to my delight the change was also a pleasant one.
In Ecstasy tells the story of two teenagers named Mia and Sophie and their downward spiraling into the sinister world of drug addiction. This is such a topic where you can weave a thousand different sorts of stories on the same subject, and it won’t sound repetitive. The best part of the book was that the character and plot development was very rational--from the initial temptation to the final shots at recovery-- and I didn’t have trouble believing in the two characters or their actions and reactions. The unexpected turn of events leaves readers with a satisfying sense of unpredictability. Mia’s narrative is so effective that it made my feet run cold in seconds. The horror and helplessness that she feels is almost tactile. Sophie was no stupid supportive character either—she was the friend that tries her best to drag Mia out of the dark and wails in frustration at each failure. One thing this book can do is definitely let you into the dark abyss of an addict’s mind, and let me tell you—it’s captivating.
A tad bit of issue with the book was that at times it comes off sounding a little preachy…more so like a drug addict manual. But the upside is also that the issue is not severe, thankfully. However, this also acts as an advantage since I feel that this is a novel parents can read to gain better insight into drug addiction and teens and how these two get tangled up in a mess together.
I liked all the other supporting characters in the book, and wouldn’t mind more insight into their personalities. Themes like clique discrepancy and peer pressure are also covered in the book. The book was a short, quick read and a rewarding one at that. So curl up on your couch with this book and enjoy. After all, Australian YA ain’t bad at all!

For this book, please do check out the official page: http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/youngadult/861
It's cool:)

WorDissection: Sovay by Celia Rees

2009-12-19T04:34:00.009-05:00

Did I like it? Oh yes!
You'll love it if you liked: Gemma Doyle books, maybe? And anything historical yet storylike.
Aura: Crisp, Adventurous, Exciting
Read If: You're looking for a looong, loooong read that’s fulfilling. Not exactly for non-readers.
Narration: Third Person
Main Character: Sovay Middleton, a rebellious, determined and compassionate 17-year old female
Themes: French Revolution, Gender boundaries, 1700s
Plot: 9.5/10. Awesome plot.
Narration: 8.5/10
Characterization: 9/10. Very charming.
Overall: 9/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope, strange yet pleasant surprise.
Did any part confuse me? Sometimes. Lotsa characters.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.75/5. Not much.
Writing Style: Long sentences, Uber-formal.
Uniqueness: 9/10
Predictability: 1/10. Not predictable, really.
Cover: 8/10. Not bad, but I’m not swooning either. Had an issue: there are two covers. One I have, i.e. the one with the review, has a model not compliant with the character’s described appearance. Oh well, whatevs. :)
Ending: Realistic, good closure.
Reading priority: Must read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 1 day, Slow readers- Approx. a month.
Synopsis:
It’s England, 1783. When the rich and beautiful Sovay isn’t sitting for portraits, she’s donning a man’s cloak and robbing travelers—in broad daylight. But in a time when political allegiances between France and England are strained, a rogue bandit is not the only thing travelers fear. Spies abound, and rumors of sedition can quickly lead to disappearances. So when Sovay lifts the wallet of one of England’s most powerful and dangerous men, it’s not just her own identity she must hide, but that of her father. A dazzling historical saga in which the roles of thieves and gentry, good and bad, and men and women are interchanged to riveting effect.

WordVore Prod's Review:

I have always avoided historical fiction like the plague, honestly. That being said, I gotta say that Sovay is one of the most charming and enrapturing novels I’ve ever read. It’s compliant to reality, yet rather than reading like a droning biography of sorts, it reads like a true storyteller’s ballad.
The writing quality is absolutely marvelous and flawless to the t—there is a certain regal finesse to it. Sovay was such a real and inspiring character. She is a true heroine who does not need other characters to develop. Her bravery to step out of the gender boundaries of the 1700s has been portrayed so well—human but wild. Each and every expedition of hers as a highwayman leaves the reader breathless and craving for more. The adrenaline rush is renewed with full vigor in every new page. Sovay’s emotions are so raw they leap out of the tangible pages; her burning determination, her love for her family and her frustration at the shackles of gender discrimination are all emotions that we can feel through her soul while reading.
Imagery and description is crafted wonderfully and weaved in such a way so that it doesn’t become monotonous. The side characters are great to read about, as they form a crucial part of Sovay’s journey. The ending was amazing—perfect climax too. I was also in for s surprise right enar the end but hey, we all like a bit of unpredictability, right?
My only complaint? Too many characters, which are sometimes hard to keep track and the length which might not sit well with the average, not-so-avid reader.
The book was, in a word, delicious. That’s the first word that’s running through my head right now. So if you’re in for a long treat, then grab your copy of Sovay. To average readers too, don’t be scared by the size of the book because you won’t be disappointed by how fast the story moves—for a historical fiction, it’s astoundingly well-paced.

WorDissection: Immortal by Gillian Shields

2009-12-10T09:34:00.004-05:00

Did I like it? Yeah.
You'll love it if you liked: Stories with a gothic feel and a traditional romance.
Aura: Intense and gothic
Read If: You're looking for an engrossing read that is at the same time not too complex.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Evie Johnson
Themes: Social outcast, Friendship, First love, Connection between past and present, Superhuman abilities
Plot: 8/10
Narration: 8.5/10
Characterization: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Nope. ‘Tis simple=)
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5. Not much.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal, Self-discovering.
Uniqueness: 7.5/10
Predictability: 3/10
Cover: 9.5/10. Delicious cover.
Ending: Hopeful, satisfying, albeit clichéd.
Reading priority: Should Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 5 hours, Slow readers- Approx 7 days.
Synopsis:
Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.
Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.
Gillian Shields's electrifying tale will dazzle readers with suspense, mysticism, and romance.

Okay, so there were so many bad reviews on Immortal that I was, in fact, a tad bit apprehensive about reading the book. But, here’s the deal: I liked it. Yup. That’s solely my opinion and I’m going to be completely unbiased and state it.
Maybe we can go over the negatives first. The writing falls a slight bit lackluster at times, and more prosaic than each segment flowing smoothly into another. The plot line could have used a little more substance, maybe? However, I do think that even though originality was lacking, the build-up on the plotline was quite commendable.
I liked Evie’s character, and definitely related to her on quite a common ground. She is someone consumed by loneliness, and I like how the pain caused by the isolation seeps through the paper rather than come off as a monologue of whining complaints. Although not a big fan of Sebastian, he was definitely not hateable. I liked how he is a little more human towards the end--being vulnerable to manipulation. The format was the best part of the book, and the interchanging between present day and Lady Agnes’ diary was a captivating arrangement. The gothic feel of the story is pulled off with much skillfulness, and the implementation of the setting is equally marvelous.
All in all, Gillian Shields is definitely an author whose work I would like to read in the future. I would recommend that you judge the book yourself rather than completely go with reviews—you just never know.
Oh, and, pretty cover!

Sorry for the absence!

2009-09-26T12:39:00.002-04:00

I am so, so, SO sorry I haven't posted in 10 days! Here's my excuse: I was off to village to celebrate Eid. It's traditional for most families here to go to their village homes and celebrate with relatives. Since there was no Internet connection over there, I couldn't blog:( But I promise I'll be posting regularly from this week:)

Save Shrinking Violet

2009-09-26T12:34:00.003-04:00

SAVE SHRINKING VIOLET!
Help Tere keep her voice!

What is Shrinking Violet? It's a young adult novel about an extremely shy high school senior trying to find her voice and reach her dream of becoming a DJ, despite the obstacles that stand in her way.

The book is about to go on back order and in order for more copies to be printed, more people have to place orders for the book.

So here's how you can help:
Please tell anyone that you think might be interested to place an order now before it's too late. Guys, girls, grandmas. grandpas, you're never too old to read humorous teen fiction!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416596968

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781416596967

Seriously guys, no author deserves something like this for his/her effort! And not to mention there have been loads of positive reviews about this book. Here's the cover for your viewing delight:

Want more? Read the First Chapter right here and I'm sure you'll want to read the rest (I do!). So here's Chapter One of Shrinking Violet for you:

Chapter One

You're listening to Sweet T on 92.7 WEMD SLAM FM. It's after dark now, so don't change that dial because here's where killer tunes explode through your speakers, leaving you wanting more. I'll take you through the night and feed your soul. Call me at 1-800-555-SLAM and let me know what's up, Miami. Now check out the new Juice Box track I've been promising you.
* * *

Until a few years ago, I always dreamed that a radio station would be a sleek glass architectural gem on Ocean Drive. Flashing neon lights with the studio's call letters would adorn the top of the builing, large enough to be spotted miles away. Don't get me wrong, SLAM FM has a good setup five minutes from the beach in North Miami. But they occupy the second floor of an office building, nestled between a law firm and a bail bondsman, hardly in the midst of all the South Beach revelers staring at the disc jockeys through the huge windowpanes.

The only good thing about Mom marrying Rob Fandango, radio bigwig, is that he owns a top-forty station. But while he whisks Mom off to celebrity-wannabe parties every weekend, I'm holed up in my room, downloading all the latest tunes on my iPod and scanning the dial for the next overnight sensation.

There are a few local celebs, like the hottest up-and-coming rapper, PJ Squid, that I'd like to meet, but I'd have nothing to say to him. More like I'm afraid I'd open my mouth and nothing would come out, or even worse, I'd say something stupid.

Might as well admit it -- I'm shy. Not the kind where you blush when someone compliments you, but the kind that results in feelings of nausea when meeting new people. When I was little, I thought I was Shy Adams. People would ask my name, and my mother would immediately answer for me, "She's shy." She even did it three weeks ago when we met up with some of the radio people at a restaurant. It was so embarrassing because I can no longer hide behind her; rather, she can hide behind me. I'm five inches taller than her and a good thirty-five pounds heavier -- I'm the evergreen tree to her palm.

* * *

"Teresa, you can wait in the car if you like." Mom's ID card pops out of the slot and she zooms into her reserved space in the station's parking garage.

My seat belt is already unbuckled. "No, I'm cool."

I walk a step behind Mom toward the elevator. By the time we reach the second floor, my stomach is whirring. I cross my arms against my chest and inhale. I can do this. I've done it before. We'll only be inside for five minutes, tops. Mom has to drop off a birthday present that Rob asked her to buy for his lawyer. Then we're off to my Friday afternoon dentist appointment. Joy.

When you open the heavy glass door to the station, the first thing you see is a gigantic red and blue SLAM sign hanging over a large U-shaped desk. In addition to the receptionist's area, the entrance is large enough to fit two red couches and a table filled with Rolling Stone, Vibe, and other music industry magazines. There's a small guy with a goatee and shades sitting there now. He's speaking in a hushed tone on his cell. I don't recognize him. Maybe he's a promoter. I hope he's here for PJ Squid.

Patty's up front answering the phones. She's in her midforties, is the proud owner of a seventies feathered hairdo, and plays solitaire in between calls. She gives us a half smile as we waltz by.

We round the corner and walk past the on-air studio. My heart thumps. I'd give anything to be inside there, broadcasting live, instead of doing mock shows from my bedroom.

Derek, the drive time DJ, is leaning against the outside of the door. "Hi, Delilah." He throws Mom a crooked smile.

"How's the show going?" Mom asks.

"All good." He winks. "Do you like your new ride?"

I'm standing next to Mom, but he doesn't even acknowledge me. We've met several times before but have never spoken to each other. It has always been at the end of a long table at a restaurant or at a few station parties filled with models and other women that don't eat for a living.

"I love the Lexus. It drives so smoothly," Mom coos.

Derek puts his hand on Mom's shoulder. His knuckles are really hairy and so is his chest, for that matter. I don't think the first three buttons on his shirt have ever been used. "You deserve it."

I try to peek into the studio, but Derek's blocking the glass pane in the door.

"I like to think so." Mom laughs. "Rob knows what makes me happy."

Okay, this is about all I can handle. This guy gives me the creeps. I clear my throat and point down the hall toward our original destination.

"Right." Mom nods and says good-bye to Derek.

We continue down the carpeted hallway to Rob's window office, facing the bay. When we're a few feet away, I hear him talking to someone.

Mom reaches for the doorknob. "Maybe he's in a meeting," I say.

"Nonsense. He knows I'm stopping by." She whips open the door.

DJ Wipeout is seated across from Rob. "I'm sorry to hear that -- " Rob stops midsentence as soon as he spots us.

Both men are sporting poker faces. Call me crazy, but it looks like they're busy.

Mom strolls right in, while I linger at the entrance.

"Here you go, honey." She plops the gift bag onto Rob's desk and gives him a big smooch on the lips.

He smiles but doesn't budge. Mom looks at Rob, then DJ Wipeout. "Excuse me. Did I interrupt something?"

"Aaron's leaving us," Rob says.

What? No way. He's got a great show, The Love Shack, "where lust is always in the air."

"For how long?" Mom slides her wedding ring back and forth.

Rob taps his coffee mug with a gold pen. "He quit."

Mom's jaw drops. I inch closer to the desk.

"I'm going to work on my uncle's cattle ranch in Texas." Wipeout runs his hand over the top of his shaved head. I catch a glimpse of the tattoo stretched across his forearm that says Rock or Die.

Double no way. He's going to waste his sexy voice rounding up cows all day and stepping in manure?

"That's nice." Mom smiles.

"The Love Shack won't be the same without you," Rob says. "I have no clue who to replace you with."

Me! I want to shout. I can do the show blindfolded! But instead I stand there deader than a stuffed moose.

"I'm sorry, bud." Wipeout lets out a huge sigh. "But this is my calling."

Yeah, me, too.

This is Sweet T live on The Love Shack, hoping all your dreams come true...

Now hurry! Order!

Whiner's Wednesday a.k.a Waiting On Wednesday

2009-09-16T12:41:00.002-04:00

This is my weekly list of books that are droolworthy (at least according to me). By the way, don't forget to check out my giveaway for a whole pack of goodies, click here. Anyways, that said, let's move on to this week's Whinerrrrr's Wednesday.

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Synopsis:
Zoey’s life in her Florida beach resort town is happy and organized. She’s the captain of her high school swim team, and she works for her dad at his popular water park. Then her dad has an affair with one of his employees, and her mother has a breakdown. But Zoey begins a committed relationship with a hot lifeguard, which makes her feel stable, even if things aren’t perfect at home. Everything is still under control.
Until she has a car accident that she can’t remember. She should have been with her boyfriend that night, but he doesn’t seem to know anything about the accident—and he doesn’t seem to care. The person who does care, and knows more than he’s telling, is Doug, Zoey’s darkly handsome arch-enemy who saved her from the wreckage. As Zoey begins to piece together what happened that night, she finds her sense of control over her life was only an illusion. And she inches closer to discovering the darkest secret of all: why Doug has fallen in love with her.

Yeep.

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her she shouldn't do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Now how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to keep her secret. How does the mark work? Why her? Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?

Because the plot's just that hot.

Ghost Week Day Four: Guest Post by Megan Crewe; How I Got Through High School, Breathers Only

2009-09-15T18:30:00.000-04:00

When we think YA, we think teens. And when we think teens, we think high school. Wherever you are, whoever you are, if you are a teen or have survived through adolescence, it's likely that high school is common ground for us. On that note, Megan Crewe, author of Give Up the Ghost tells us how she lived through high school without any ghost friends. Here's how:

How I got through high school, breathers only In my book, GIVE UP THE GHOST, Cass feels her ghostly friends are pretty much essential to getting through high school. Without them, she feels she'd have no one to talk to, and be dismissed or harassed by everyone. Thankfully, my teen years were a lot less traumatic than Cass's! I never had a friend stab me in the back, and while I did get teased some in junior high, I always had friends for support, too. I was particularly lucky in high school, because I went to a school with a strong academic focus. I was the kind of kid who got her essays done a week early and was on the honor roll every term, and I talked to people (especially girls) who went to other high schools and felt they had to play dumb or they'd be made fun of. But at my school most of the popular kids were doing well academically, too, and people would congratulate you for being on the honor roll. So I could just be the sort-of-nerdy person I was and most people respected that. My high school wasn't very clique-y either, which was a relief after all the teen book and movie portrayals I'd seen. I had a couple of close friends I almost always hung out with, but I had lots of not-so-close friends who hung out with a variety of different people, too. There were any number of people I might end up eating lunch with, talking to in class, or joining up with to do a group project. You could chat up just about anyone in your grade and no one would think anything of it. I don't know if it helped or not, but I was active with a lot of different groups in high school as well. I did a brief stint in the drama club, a couple years on the school newspaper, and participated in both the speed swim and synchronized swim teams throughout. I got to know a lot of people that way I might not have otherwise--either because we didn't share many classes or they were in different grades. And of course it's easier to feel happy at school when you're involved in activities you enjoy there! So that was my high school experience--maybe some of you reading this can share yours? How do you get on at school? Do you wish you had ghosts to confide in or spy for you? :)

Ghost Week: Day Three--Tête-à-Tête with YA Author Megan Crewe

2009-09-14T03:08:00.002-04:00

Okay, so today I talk to Megan Crewe about...all sorts of random stuff. But I promise, it's good stuff:P Read on to find out more.

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your book.

GIVE UP THE GHOST is about a girl who's turned her back on the living in favor of ghostly friends--partly because she's been afraid to trust her classmates ever since her ex-best-friend turned on her in junior high, and partly because the ghosts can dig up the popular kids' dirty secrets so that Cass can expose them for what they really are.

How did you come up with the plot? Was it inspired by your own> experiences

The story started (like most of my stories do) with a 'what if': what if there was a girl who preferred hanging out with ghosts instead of living people? I came up with the plot as I figured out why she felt that way, and what might make that change. Thankfully, I never experienced any bullying as severe as Cass has, but I was teased now and then in junior high, and I witnessed other kids being ostracized or gossiped about behind their backs. And I've never seen a ghost, myself. :)

What’re your favourite book/s?

Far too many to list! You can see my all-time faves at my GoodReads account: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2270302 As a kid, my favorite book was THE CHANGELING by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and as a teen my favorite was BIRTH OF THE FIREBRINGER by Meredith Ann Pierce. I still love both dearly.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

I love animals of all kinds and am a bit of a pet fanatic. Right now I have two cats, but in the past I've owned ferrets, hamsters, mice, and fish, and I've considered getting rats. At some point, once we get a house, we may get a dog. And I used to want to have a horse (isn't that a typical girl thing?) and took riding lessons, but now I don't think I'd be able to commit enough time.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

I doubt I'd ever write one, but imagining I did... Maybe A PRACTICAL DREAMER.

Any other things you’re passionate about other than writing?

Well, reading, of course! I always have a book on the go and it's a thrill getting wrapped up in a new story. I also love traveling--have visited Britain, China, and Italy and hope to see much more of the world.

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

I've always seen myself as like Martha from THE CHANGELING (mentioned above)--shy but creative as a kid, slowly coming out of my shell in my teens.

If you had to wish upon a falling star right now, what would it be?

For a long and joyous writing career. :)What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?

When I was in junior high hanging out with a couple of my friends from choir downtown, we started an impromptu performance of various songs from Les Miserables for everyone walking by. We were just having fun, but I'm sure lots of people thought we were weird!

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

I find books make excellent company! :) As people go, I'd have to say my husband, because we can always find stuff to talk about for hours.

Frankenstein resurrection and world invasion! What does Cass do?

Get her ghost friends to find out as much info as they can, and use what they learn to locate and secure a safe place for her and her family--and Tim, if he wants to come along.

Would you prefer ghosts to breathers as friends?

Nope. Ghosts like the ones in my book are great, don't get me wrong, but as Cass discovers, there's some things you can only get from living, breathing people. Like hugs. Or the ability to remember what's been going on in your life.

Three words to describe yourself and three more to describe your book.

Me: Imaginative, dedicated, practical.
GHOST: Quirky, thoughtful, emotional.

Ghost Week: Day Three--Giveaway!

2009-09-14T02:20:00.006-04:00

So, in honour of the release of Give Up the Ghost, Megan has been kind enough to let me host a giveaway on this blog! How cool is that?
Here is what you could win in the Give Up the Ghost swag pack:

-A ghost scent sample
-A friendship bracelet
-A mini paper lantern
-A Give Up the Ghost bookmark
-A Give Up the Ghost sticker set
-A Give Up the Ghost button

So hurry up and enter! You must be a follower to enter.Here's how you can get entries:
+1 for leaving a comment on this post with your email address
+2 for already following my blog (thanks guys!)
+1 for becoming a follower
+1 each for leaving a comment on any of the posts on this blog
+1 for leaving a comment on any post on Megan's blog
+1 for following me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ProdElektra)(leave your username please)
+1 for blogging, tweeting, or posting this somewhere (sidebar is okay).

Whew! Giveaway ends October 10th midnight EST, so you guys have plenty of time. I'll choose a winner using random.org on the 11th and Megan will send the winner his/her prize pack directly:)

Ghost Week!-Day Two: WorDissection: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

2009-09-11T23:56:00.002-04:00

Did I like it? Yeah.
You'll love it if you liked: Stories with ghost characters, or stories about the backstabbing of friends.
Aura: Slightly Intense
Read If: You're looking for a fresh read with literary and entertainment value.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Cass McKenna, high school junior.
Themes: Social outcast, revenge, breaking of trust, trust issues, healing, redemption, friendship, support.
Plot: 9/10
Narration: 8.5/10
Characterization: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Slightly when character development seemed a tad bit stagnant.
Did any part confuse me? Nope. it's a neat story with no scope for confusion.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5. Not much.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal, Self-discovering.
Uniqueness: 8.5/10
Predictability: 1.75/10
Favourite Quote: "I have friends, I wanted to tell her. You just wouldn't believe they exist."
Cover: 9.5/10. You gotta love the cover.
Song(s) to go with book (from author website, click here for source):
1. Trouble By Lisa Germano Ringtone | Buy Song 2. How Soon Is Now- Love Spit Love Ringtone | Buy Song 3. Geek The Girl By Lisa Germano Ringtone | Buy Song 4. Texarkana By R.E.M. Ringtone | Buy Song 5. Smoke By Natalie Imbruglia Ringtone | Buy Song 6. Understand The Dream Is Over By The Juliana Theory Ringtone | Buy Song 7. Country Feedback By R.E.M. Ringtone | Buy Song 8. Displaced By Azure Ray Ringtone | Buy Song 9. Elsewhere By Sarah McLachlan Ringtone | Buy Song 10. Wise Up By Aimee Mann Ringtone | Buy Song 11. How To Save A Life By The Fray Ringtone | Buy Song 12. Into The Dark By The Juliana Theory
Ending: Hopeful, satisfying, very realistic.
Reading priority: Should Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 5 hours, Slow readers- Approx 7 days.
Synopsis:
Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance….

WordVore Prod's Review:
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t anticipated this book much—I was dying for it! So when it first landed on my lap, I literally squealed. So naturally, I had a lot to expect from this book. And believe me, I wasn’t disappointed.
Cass McKenna is a social pariah, made so by the overreaction and revenge taken by her ex-best friend just because Cass got a place in the debate team that she wanted by chance, and got to be around the guy that she liked. Now, this idea may seem inflated at first look, but it wasn’t. It was made to be a story that could happen to anyone and everyone. Neither is this book a typical “ghost story”. Even the ghosts have well-crafted characters, which serves as a fresh breath of air. Cass’ desire for revenge is human and not something that turns her into an abominable character. But we can’t help but notice how she also realizes that it wasn’t worth it after all. The trust issues that hold Cass back are very neatly justified, not like an essay in itself but gradually as the story progresses. That is exactly why when she hesitates from being a friend to Tim, her defiance does not annoy us—rather it makes us empathize with her. Tim is one heck of an adorable character. The death of his mother along with his realization that his “friends” aren’t exactly his true friends makes him miserable at best. He feels utterly lonely at this point, and the emotions that he feels are amazingly communicates with the reader. You can’t help but feel like going over and giving him a tight bear hug. I was really glad that Cass came around and offered her friendship and support—and the way their relationship wasn’t all mushy and all-over-the-place. The way Cass takes baby steps towards giving people a chance and not be so stereotyping and opinionated made me admire her. None of the characters are too clichéd or exaggerated. She also gradually but awkwardly comes to terms with the fact that she genuinely cares about Tim. Danielle, Cass’ ex-best friend, showed hopes of redemption near the ending and the fact that she was worried about Tim shows us that she’s not completely disloyal or uncompassionate. Imagery is very well done, as it succeeds in pulling the reader into the book’s own world.
The best parts of the book were the fresh outlook, the hope of redemption and healing that each and every character showed and the well-drawn reasoning behind the characters’ actions. The book certainly had a neat quality about it. What I felt could have been better were: 1.) the character development felt a little stagnant at times—however, all the characters did end up in their proper positions by the end of the book; 2.) The characters could have used a little more depth—especially Cass. I would’ve loved to know more about her. Same goes with Tim.
Everything put together and weighed out against each other, I would recommend this book as a good reader to any reader looking for a spanking new plotline and outlook. The book also has high entertainment value and should keep you occupied throughout the entire read.

WorDissection: Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig

2009-09-11T18:30:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yeah.
You'll love it if you liked: Castraction Celebration by Jake Wizner, maybe?
Aura: Snarky-humorous, light
Read If: A story full of sass and lightness but with some meaning
Narration: First Person
Main Characters: Les Eckhardt, 14-year old male
Themes: Transitions, Friendship, Sexuality
Plot: 8.5/10
Narration: 9/10. Funny.
Characterization: 7.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Nuh.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5
Writing Style: Average Sentences, Informal, Snarky, Straightforward.
Uniqueness: 9/10
Predictability: 1/10
Imagery: 8/10
Song(s) to go with book: American Idiot by Green Day, Over My Head by Sum 41, Here In Your Arms by Hellogoodbye
Favourite Quote: "Wait, is it possible this pelvic inflammatory disease is another name for AIDS?"
Cover: 5/10. Me no likey.
Ending: Hopeful, Realistic, Light.
Reading Priority: Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 4 hours, Slow readers- Approx 7 days.
Synopsis:
LES WANTS the girl. He thinks she’s amazing, exotic, perfect. But he doesn’t know how to talk to her, kiss her, or make her realize that he’s the best and only guy for her in the whole wide world.

Once he masters these things, she’ll be his! Easy-peasy, right? The gulf between dreamgirl and realgirl is explored and made somewhat less vast in this bawdy yet romantic not-quite-coming-of-age. Teens will relate to 14-year-old Les’s hilarious and squirmy longings, and the fulsomely awkward efforts he puts forth to make his real life match his fantasies. The story also
portrays the perils of unexamined hero-worship, and the strength and humanity of people that may seem plain and boring, but who stand up for what is right when called upon to do so. It is a tale both hilarious and thoughtful, in which, to paraphrase the old Rolling Stones adage, one boy figures out that even if you indeed can’t always get what you want, if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need.

WordVore Prod's Review:

Boy Minus Girl is very unlike a usual YA novel. The narrative is absolutely fearless and real, and the story does not shy away from topics that may be considered taboo. Les is a character struggling with the restrictions of his conservative religion and the changes he is going through as a teenaged boy. He is just another confused teen coming to terms with the changes occurring within him. Les’ voice is very relatable—definitely not of another fantastically sugarcoated hero. Uhlig is successful in achieving a very important end—that of bringing out the real behind every face. Even through the crass and snarky humour of the novel, he touches sensitive topics such as homosexuality and the discrimination that comes with it, religion, being one’s true self and the awkward encounter of a teenager with his physical changes. The novel very deftly projects everything from an open perspective, where the lines between what is “right” and what is “wrong” are questioned. By the end a depth has been given to each and every character. I was extremely proud of Les when he finally grew a backbone and dared to be himself without any qualms rather than swallowing everything fed to him.
My complaint is with the plot. I thought there could be more substance to it, but then again, the novel is meant to be lighthearted. However, since some deep issues were approached, just a little more substance to the plot would have done the book better justice. The novel’s pace is pretty impressive—you can easily breeze through it.
Boy Minus Girl relates to the concept of growing up and coming of age in ways that no other novel has. Definitely not for the conservative-minded who would be scandalized by sensitive so-called taboo issues related to teenagers, the book definitely receives my appreciation because of its uniqueness and nonconformity.

WorDissection: Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

2009-09-10T18:30:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yes!
You'll love it if you liked: A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, Before I Die by Jenny Downham, Love Story by Erich Segal
Aura: Emotional, Heartwrenching
Read If: A heartbreaking sad story with a beautifully crafted emotional journey and a tragic ending
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Beth, High Schooler female
Themes: First love, Death, Friendship
Plot: 8/10
Narration: 9/10.
Characterization: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Not at all.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5
Writing Style: Short Sentences, Expressive, Emotional
Uniqueness: 7.5/10
Predictability: 2.5/10
Imagery: 9.25/10
Song(s) to go with book: You by Switchfoot, You and Me by Lifehouse, The Mixed Tape by Jack's Mannequin, Take Me Home by After Midnight Project, Your Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, In Loving Memory by Alter Bridge
Favourite Quote(s): "Gosh, Beth. You've got a one-track mind."
Cover: 8.75/10
Ending: Heartbreaking yet Hopeful (but heartbreaking! I cried.)
Reading Priority: Definitely Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-4 hours; Slow readers-6 days. I breezed through it.
Synopsis:
Beth has always been "The Beast"--that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glases. Who could love a beast? Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist and receives the makeover of a lifetime. Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of Beth.

Things only get better when her choir travels to Switzerland and Beth meets the mysterious Derek. They have an incredible whirlwind romance that makes Beth realize, for the first time, she too can find love. She’s no longer The Beast. In Derek’s eyes, she’s a beauty. But then Scott makes a heartbreaking confession to Beth that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous passionate feelings she has for Derek?

And there’s an even bigger problem: Derek’s got a secret . . . one that could shatter everything.

WordVore Prod's Review:

Sing Me to Sleep was a heartbreaking novel that really pulled at my strings, and not many books have done that in a while. It was a romance to the truest sense of the word. The plot was nothing too magnificent or out of this world—just another story about star-crossed lovers that you may have heard many times before. However, it is the journey and Beth and Derek’s everyday struggle to make it work that sets their story apart. Most importantly, it is the feelings they evoke in each other that really makes you want to sit down and listen to their story than get up calling it “typical”. One thing I thought Angela Morrison did a great job with was keeping the romance real. I’ll admit I was annoyed out of my mind at times by the desperation that both Beth and Scott brought in the mix of their romantic feelings, but slowly they seemed to make some sense to me. Morrison didn’t make Beth and Derek’s love one of those perfect, pure relationships which later end in tragedy, but a real one with its share of imperfections that ends in tragedy and causes just as much of pain and sorrow. Beth’s transition was quite believable other than the sudden makeover part. But otherwise, her awkwardness with the newfound admiration is just right. I was quite in tune with Scott’s character in the book. The musical setting of the book sat more than well with me—the parts where Beth sang or wrote songs conveyed her emotions right to my heart. The strongest factor in this book, I would say, was the intensity with which it can make a reader feel—unbelievable (Tears leaked out of my eyes at the end. Why, why, WHY did it end like that?!? Um, sorry. Sidetracked). The emotions communicated are raw, unpretentious and vivacious, and throughout the book my heart ached, leaped in happiness, went empty in sorrow—felt with the two main characters.
Now, coming to the complains I have. I really, really wanted more conversations between Beth and Derek—actual verbal interactions. Sure, I could feel the passion between them radiating out of the pages, but some more conversation would have provided more grounding for the relationship for me. I think I would have howled near the end if they did. Another thing that slightly irked me was Scott’s desperation. Beth’s suited her somehow; but Scott’s seemed out of the blue. But I think if you think about his situation (not ruining it) you can probably understand why the poor guy is justified.
Sing Me to Sleep is a perfect example that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, and that the journey means more than the ending. If you’re looking for a strong, passionate and intense romance read and are absolutely okay with sad endings, then this book is for you. Oh heck, just read it—it’s truly an amazing experience!

Ghost Week!-Day One

2009-09-10T08:42:00.000-04:00

As I had mentioned before, leading upto the release date of Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe, which is September 15, this blog will undergo a celebration of 6 days! So today, I initiate...
The Ghost Week!
We'll kick off the first day with an awesome trailer for the book:

Like what you see? Then head for the bookstore on September 15th!

Whiner's Wednesday a.k.a Waiting On Wednesday

2009-09-09T04:53:00.000-04:00

Ugh. All the wait is making me hungraaaaaaayyyy...
Anyways. Now that we've moved on from my randomness, we all know there are s***loads of upcoming books we're going crazy for. Here's my personal weekly list. Sorry, hunnies. No shinies for you this time because neither of these books have a finalized cover yet.

Fe by Brenna Yovanoff
Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

Yummy with Hershey's chocolate syrup on top.

The Vespertine (Tentative title) by Saundra Mitchell

Now, there's no formal synopsis out for this one, but quoting the author, the book is a "period fantasy...about a girl (in Victorian Baltimore) who can see the future, but only at sunset". How headspinning of an idea is that?!?!

That's it for now. Stay tuned by the way, for the posts for Ghost Week!

Tête-à-Tête with YA author Gayle Forman

2009-09-08T23:15:00.000-04:00

You might say that posting two interviews back to back is absurd.
I beg to differ.
The world is too full of YA awesome, so not my fault. Now, speaking of awesome, today I have the author of If I Stay, Gayle Forman, in my hot seat. Excited? You should be! Read on to delve into her world.

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your book, If I Stay.

Although, I think, everyone already knows about it.
If I Stay is a novel about a 17-year-old cello player named Mia who, at the beginning of the novel, thinks the biggest choice facing her, is whether to pursue her prodigious musical talent and move to New York City, even if this means leaving her cool, loving family and her devoted boyfriend, Adam, behind. The book opens on a snow day. School is canceled. The family goes for a drive. All at once, Mia's life is irrevocably changed and suddenly all of her choices are gone, except for one, the only one that matters.

How did you come up with the plot?

It just sort of unfolded. When I sat down to write it, I wasn't sure what I was doing, where I was going, whether I was actually writing a novel. The book was an answer to a question that had haunted me for some time—what would you do if something catastrophic had happened to your family and you yourself were left hanging by a thread and were aware of what had happened and could choose to stay or go. So I just started writing and wrote this happy breakfast scene, and then this grueling accident scene. Then I needed a break from the intensity, so I wrote a flashback and after that I kind of realized I had my structure. I knew I wanted the book to take place in 24 hours and I knew that the basic premise would be Mia's dilemma, her having to choose. The rest of it just developed around that.

What’re your favourite book/s?

That's an impossible question because I have so many. But I just finished reading Charlotte's Web to my older daughter for the hundredth time and was struck again what a beautiful book it was. It is very embarrassing, however, to cry in front of a five-year-old.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

When people meet me, they tend to say things about how I must burn easily in the sun, being a redhead. I have long, curly, auburn hair and freckly skin. I look like a natural redhead. I have the personality—I think—of a readhead. But I'm a total fake. I have been dying my hair red since I was 13 years old. The red looks more real on me than my true color (light brown that used to be flecked with blonde and is now flecked with gray). I think that it's a genetic mistake that I'm not really red, one that I have to correct every four to six weeks.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

Weird Girl

What do you do when you’re not writing? As in, hobbies?

Those are two different answers. I have two young daughters so when I'm not working, I'm catering to their needs, as a maid, a short-order cook, a driver. But I wouldn't say those are my hobbies. My hobbies are traveling, reading, cooking, going to the movies.

Any plans for an upcoming work? Tell us about it, pretty please?

I have a draft of my upcoming novel. I'll be returning to it for polishing in the next couple of weeks and turning it in to my editor at the end of the year, at which point I will tell everyone all about it. But until then, it's a secret. Sorry.

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

My fictional characters? I'm probably a mix of Kim and Willow from If I Stay, with a bit of Brit from Sisters in Sanity mixed in.

If you were Mia, would you decide to stay...or leave?

If what happened to Mia happened to me now, I'd leave because if my family—my husband and kids—had gone, I would not want to wake up without them. Because they are my future. It's a little different with Mia, though, because her future is still wide open. That's what makes her decision less cut and dry. I don't know what I'd do if I were Mia and when I was writing the book, I didn't know what her decision would be until I was about halfway through.

Weirdest thing you've ever done?

Drop everything for a year and travel around the world. I also took three years off before high school to travel. I don't think these things are particularly weird but other people tend to find them peculiar.

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

A fireman who could get me out of the elevator. I'm a wee bit claustrophobic so I don't think I'd be very good company in a stalled elevator. Not with Obama. Not with Bono. Not with Hillary. Not even with Nelson Mandela.

Okay, so our heroine Mia just got asked out by none other thaaaaan...*drumrolls*...Harry Potter! Her reaction?

"I'm flattered but I'm already very much in a relationship."

If you could, which YA author would you like to collaborate with for a joint project?

I don't know that I'd want to collaborate on fiction; writing novels seems like such a singular activity to me and I like the collaboration with my editor. That said, I'd like to have a slumber party with Rebecca Stead and Sarah Dessen because I've never met them but I admire them both a lot and them seem like incredibly nice, salt-of-the-earth people.

Three words to describe yourself and three words to describe your book.

Me: Curious. Empathetic. Bossy. Book: Surprising. Emotional. Affirming.

Thank you so much for being with us today. I loved her answers--so much depth and tells the reader so much about herself. Any more questions for her? Comment away!

Tête-à-Tête with YA author Saundra Mitchell

2009-09-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

I missed this feature. Really, I did. I haven't read funny/touching/sweet author answers for a long time. But ah-hah! Drought's finally over and today, we have some uber-amazing answers from the equally amazing author of Shadowed Summer, Saundra Mitchell! Read on and enjoy!

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your book, Shadowed Summer.

Shadowed Summer is a southern gothic ghost story. When 14 year old Iris hears a ghost whisper to her in the town cemetery, she and her best friend Collette, and Collette's latest crush, Ben, spend a summer digging into the past, to find out who the ghost is and what he wants. What Iris doesn't realize is that in a town as small as hers, every secret is a family secret.

How did you come up with the plot?

The characters showed up in my head first, and I sort of picked around until I figured out what they wanted. Initially, I wanted to write a southern gothic romance, but Iris was less interested in kissing boys than she was in investigating missing ones! You have to do what the characters want, or they won't cooperate. (Or you have to kill them. It's not an idle threat!)

What’re your favourite book/s?

This list could go on and on, but I really love The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause, IT by Stephen King, Alanna by Tamora Pierce, The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan, The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, and Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

I collect t-shirts from various police departments' Homicide Units; my favorite mug is from Baltimore's Homicide Unit. It has the police shield on one side, and on the other, it says, "Our day begins when yours ends."

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

See, I Told You I Was Sick. No wait, that's what my gravestone should say. My autobiography would be called Dodging Trains and Making Stuff Up for a Living.

What do you do when you’re not writing? As in, hobbies?

Oh, I dabble in a lot of things. I like to make soap and paper, I do some cross-stitch, I enjoy making bread. But the one hobby I have that has been a constant since I was a teenager is writing fan fiction. I tend to write for television shows, but I'll read fanfic based on anything I like. Lately, I've been enjoying stories based in The Demon's Lexicon universe!

Any plans for an upcoming work? *crosses fingers*

Right now, I have a period fantasy on submission, about a girl who can see the future, but only at sunset. And I'm currently working on a short story for an anthology, as well as plotting my next novel. Right now it's a toss up between a love story about a Clockwork Girl and a vampire- the only two people left after the apocalypse, or something a little more realistic like two teens who can see death coming. ;)

(Read above answer READ ABOVE ANSWER awesome plot idea alert!) Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Well, in my head anyway. I only torture fictional people, though!

Weirdest thing you've ever done?

I used to be a phone psychic! That's right, for $3.99 a minute, and .99 for each additional minute, there was a time when you could call me up at 3 a.m., and I'd read your tarot cards for you.

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

This is so funny, because I wrote a short film called "Going Up" about two people who get locked in an elevator. It was produced by Fresh Films (www.fresh-films.com) by teenagers participating in Chicago's Tech 37 program! It's one of my favorites! But, um, that wasn't the question. I think I'd like to get stuck in an elevator Angel Coulby. Then she could tell me all the secret, behind-the-scenes gossip that goes on on the MERLIN set.

Uh oh. Iris comes across a vampire, and an extremely sappy and hormonal one at that. She could've handled ghosts in a jiffy, but how does she react to this?

I'm pretty sure she'd study him to death. I almost feel sorry for the guy.

If you could, which YA author would you like to collaborate with for a joint project?

Oh man, that's so hard. I don't work well with others, but neither does Sarah Cross (Dull Boy.) So I guess it would be fun in a cage-match, no-survivors kind of way to collaborate with her. If nothing else, I bet it would be great reality tv. WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT ELLIPSES, SAUNDRA!? YOU AND YOUR WITTY DIALOGUE CAN BITE ME, SARAH!

Three words to describe yourself and three words to describe your book.

Me: Hermit, Historian, Odd
Book: Atmospheric, Brief, Longing

That was so good I wish I could answer interviews even 10% as well as she did. Any other questions for her? Shoot in the comment box!

Sunday Sundae

2009-09-06T06:17:00.000-04:00

Aaaaand more and more and more bookish stuff up for you guys! However, today I shall be a self-obsessed freak and rant about myself a little around the end. Please, put up with me:)

Bookish One: Check out Sarwat Chadda's blog. It's pretty cool, all spooky and dark and ominous. Here's the linkie: http://www.sarwatchadda.blogspot.com/

Bookish Two: Please, please, PLLLLEEEASE, check out my Under the Radar Challenge. I'm begging, really, against my dignified backbone! There you basically pick out a book or two written by underappreciated YA authors. Trust me, they deserve a chance. Sounds good? Check out the Challenge post here: http://myriad-words.blogspot.com/2009/08/somethings-been-bothering-me-recently.html

Bookish Three: Cross your fingers for September 9th...because I'm going to have a launch party for Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe from the 9th uptil the 15th, which is the book's release date! So if you're even remotely a fan of YA books, be there for the Ghost Week!

Bookish Four: Have you checked out http://yalit.com? It's an extremely awesome site to keep your eye on upcoming YA releases.

And Self Obsession One: I have a 104 degree fahrenheit fever, which means I might fall a little behind on my reading. Forgive me, please? I promise that if I live through the sickness I WILL go back to a fast pace of reading.

That's it for now. Check back next Sunday for more bookish dessert, and sorry if I sound delusional:P

Signing off,
WordVore Prod.

WorDissection: The Lost Summer by Kathryn WIlliams

2009-09-04T12:42:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yes!
You'll love it if you liked: That Summer by Sarah Dessen, Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares
Aura: Emotional, Heartwrenching
Read If: A summer story with a balanced amount of intensity and lightness
Narration: First Person
Main Characters: Helena Waite, 17-year old female
Themes: Transitions, Friendship, Summer Camp, First Romance
Plot: 9/10
Narration: 9.5/10. I was a big fan of the narration.
Characterization: 9.6/10
Overall: 9.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Not at all.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.5/5
Writing Style: Average Sentences, Expressive, Emotional
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 2.5/10
Imagery: 9.5/10
Song(s) to go with book: All Summer Long by Kid Rock, Lonely Road by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day, Perfect Day by Avril Lavigne, Dani California by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Favourite Quotes: "I found myself suddenly jealous of the time when things were simple, when days centered on creek walks and tetherball, and your biggest worry was whether byou'd have riding or sailing. There were no boys, there were no secrets or rumors, and there were no regrets. Not even fear of regret. There was just a best friend and endless hours to fill with Pixy Stix and laughing so hard you couldn't breathe."
"The result of my pushing ahead? Wading behind twelve eight and nine-year-old girls who still got immeasurable pleasure out of splashing in a muddy creek, while all I could think about was whether the cow pee would turn my tennis shoes yellow."
"It's in the remembering that I've begun to understand. That summer the ground beneath me shifted--slowly and silently, like the continental drifts that created the hills and valleys that surround Southpoint. The movement was almost imperceptiblebut for the changing of the landscape."
Cover: 8.5/10
Ending: Hopeful, Realistic, Heartwrenching Closure.
Reading Priority: Definitely Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 4 hours, Slow readers- Approx 7 days.
Synopsis:
For the past nine years, seventeen year-old Helena Waite has come to summer camp at Southpoint. Each July, the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back as a Southpoint sister. This year, however, she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor. The only downside? Her best friend, Katie Bell, is still a camper.

All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, sing-alongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys' camp and stolen kisses in the hay loft. As she struggles to define herself, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. When Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, things get even more confusing. It will take a life-threatening accident to show her what she's lost... and found.

Told with honesty and heart, Kathryn Williams' second novel tackles the timeless theme of growing up against the backdrop of summer camp--a place where innocence is safely guarded and sometimes lost .

WordVore Prod's Review:

The Lost Summer was a wonderful read. It was written in a simple style—nothing too serious or complex, but nothing too light; rather, it focuses on the intensity of each simple moment in our lives. A very true to life novel, The Lost Summer emphasizes on the changes in a person and the impact it has on her relationships and the world around her. Coping with changes can be tough for anyone—but the author draws a poignant picture of how sometimes you just have to move on, keeping all the memories but not hanging on to them. I could connect very well on a personal level with the story—it has something for everything. Helena’s nostalgia for the simplicities of childhood lost is something each and everyone out there can relate to. Also, her shattering of the image she had created of the people she idolized is a very realistic example of how nothing in this world is as perfect as it may seem. Katie is an astoundingly real character with just enough dynamics to her personality—not too many, not too few. The strain and gradual drift in Helena and Katie’s friendship is something you can see happening to you or around you. There were many first times for Helena in the timeframe of the novel—and the awkwardness but subtle bravery with which she deals with them is not over-the-top like comic book heroism but what a real girl of the world can admire and respect. To suit the story perfectly, the plot development was mid-paced.
The sudden course that the ending takes threw me off a little, but it does not stray from the overall realistic feel of the novel. There were parts near the end where my eyes watered up slightly (I am not kidding, and no, I rarely tear up at works of fiction). Williams’ writing style is very emotional and expressive, and it targets right for the heart. An intricately woven tale of summer and leaving behind simplicity of childhood to move on to the complexities of a grown-up world, The Lost Summer beautifully tells the story of the transitions of one girl occurring over the period of one summer camp, and the lessons that come with them.

CoverLover

2009-09-03T06:06:00.000-04:00

Whew...it's been way too long since I have posted this feature! Don't worry--the long-forgotten features will soon make a comeback:)
CoverLover is basically where we put droolworthy covers of upcoming books on our altar and worship them. 'Mkay?
So, here are some runway-gorgeous covers for you to check out.

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme

That's it for now. Let me know if I should continue this feature next week onwards:)

My First Award!:D

2009-09-02T08:52:00.000-04:00

OMGIGOTANAWARD!
This was a huge thing for me, knowing that my blog is being read AND liked. I'm on cloud nine *spaces out*.
Annnyways, I got this award from MissAttitude of Reading in Color. Her blog celebrates multicultural YA fiction, which I believe really do deserve a lot more attention. Check out her blog--it's amazing!
Here's the beautiful award:

It's called the Lemonade Award (love the name!). The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude. Nominate this award to 10 blogs. My nominations in random order are:

Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century

Caroline from One Book Away From Heaven

Katie from Another Book Blog Whore

Lizzy from Cornucopia of Reviews

Laura from Laura's Review Bookshelf

Kelsey from The Book Scout

Sarah from Sarah's Random Musings

Liyana from Liyanaland

Stephanie from Steph Su Reads

Kate from Neverending Shelf

Go and nominate as well!

Whiner's Wednesday

2009-09-02T08:22:00.001-04:00

Welcome to another week of Whiner's Wednesday! Prepare to bear with me as I rant and rave about the upcoming books that I'm drooling over.

I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

Algonquin “Ali” Rhodes, the high school newspaper’s music critic, meets an intriguing singer, Doug, while reviewing a gig. He’s a weird-looking guy—goth, but he seems sincere about it, like maybe he was into it back before it was cool. She introduces herself after the set, asking if he lives in Cornersville, and he replies, in his slow, quiet murmur, “Well, I don’t really live there, exactly. . . .”

When Ali and Doug start dating, Ali is falling so hard she doesn’t notice a few odd signs: he never changes clothes, his head is a funny shape, and he says practically nothing out loud. Finally Marie, the school paper’s fashion editor, points out the obvious: Doug isn’t just a really sincere goth. He’s a zombie. Horrified that her feelings could have allowed her to overlook such a flaw, Ali breaks up with Doug, but learns that zombies are awfully hard to get rid of—at the same time she learns that vampires, a group as tightly-knit as the mafia, don’t think much of music critics who make fun of vampires in reviews. . . .

It's unique and it sounds fun. What more could I want?

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

Sounds yummy.

In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Story of a heart transplant told in alternating chapters between two girls: the heart transplant recipient and the heart transplant donor. When Eagan dies during a figure skating competition, Amelia receives her heart, but when she experiences new personality traits, she questions whether she's received more than just a heart.

Sounds like a book I can remember forever.

That's it for now. Three books to look forward to this week...whew! Stay tuned next week for more though;)

My Life According to the Books I've Read

2009-09-01T11:39:00.001-04:00

Okat, this is an extremely fun meme that I noticed in Angiegirl's blog first. It was originally started by Today's Adventure. Here's the procedure: Using only books you have read this year (2009), cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. It's haaaaard.

Describe Yourself: Not Like You by Deborah Davis
How do you feel: Peeled by Joan Bauer
Describe where you currently live: Epitaph Road by David Patneaude
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Epitaph Road by David Patneaude (sorry!)
Your favorite form of transportation: ICANNOTDOTHISONE.
Your best friend is: Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
You and your friends are: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
What's the weather like: The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams
Favorite time of day: Morning is a Long Time Coming by Bette Greene
What is life to you: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler
Your fear: Ordinary Me by June Sproat
What is the best advice you have to give: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Thought for the Day: Trust Me by Rachel Hawthorne
How I would like to die: Candy in Action by Matthue Roth
My soul's present condition: Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson

Teaser Tuesdays

2009-09-01T09:45:00.001-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays was introduced by MizB at Should Be Reading. You can participate too!Here's the drill:
•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!

Here's my teaser:

"My head was swimming. 'We were talking, and he just kind of...laid one on me."

-Page 130 of The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams.

Next week, more teasers!

WorDissection: Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

2009-09-01T06:09:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yes!
You'll love it if you liked: Anything supernatural
Aura: Eerie, Haunting
Read If: You're looking for something that is supernatural yet stays true to reality
Narration: Third person
Main Characters: Victoria, Belle, Bice, Christian and Valentin Faust, all 15 year old
Themes: Faustian Bargain, Redemption, Ambition
Plot: 9.8/10
Narration: 8.9/10
Characterization: 9.75/10
Overall: 9.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope. It was captivating.
Did any part confuse me? Just a few parts, but they got cleared up later.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.15/5. I devoured every word.
Writing Style: Average Sentences, Formal, Descriptive.
Uniqueness: 9.25/10
Predictability: 0.5/10
Imagery: 9/10
Song(s) to go with book (Authors' choices):
Daniel Nayeri:

•Nicola Vileroy – Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria
•Victoria – Skullcrusher Mountain by Jonathan Mountain
•Valentin – The Feel Good Drag by Anberlin
•Christian – All that I’ve Got by The Used
•Bice – Heaven Forbid by The Fray
•Belle – Flashing Lights by Kanye West

Dina Nayeri:

•Nicola Vileroy – O Fortuna by Carl Orff
•Victoria – Shove it by Santogold
•Valentin - Gives you Hell by Great American Rejects
•Christian - All Apologies by Nirvana or Nothing Like You and I by Perishers
•Bice - Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
•Belle – Love Game by Lady Gaga
Favourite Quotes: "Someone once said that 'French is the language that turns dirt into romance.' Valentin knew this to be true because he lived in Paris, and when he wasn't feeling romantic, he was feeling like dirt."
"I think the biggest lie the devil ever told was that beauty and goodness are the same."
Cover: 9.25/10
Ending: Hopeful, Realistic Closure. Leaves readers to contemplate their own endings in a way.
Reading Priority: Must Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 7.5 hours, Slow readers- Approx 12 days.
Synopsis:
One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the sideeffects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption.

WordVore Prod's Review:

Another Faust was majestic.
Yes, that’s the first word that pops into my head when I think of the book.
Let’s start with the best part of the book: the concept. The whole idea behind the story was captivating. After all, we had yet to see a YA novel on the Faustian Bargain. The implementation was absolutely impeccable as well; however, I would have liked just a little more information on the bargain in the book itself. That was not exactly a drawback; I suppose too much information would have turned the tone of the book into droning. In the beginning I felt the writing style would not pull me in, but boy oh boy was I proven wrong. By the last page I think I sold my soul to the book! Character development was so smooth and polished that I believed each and every character and felt emotions along with them. Funny thing was, despite the book’s very interesting twist of all flawed characters, I didn’t hate any of them. Even Victoria, who was portrayed as so despicable gained my sympathy at times. No action or behaviour was left unexplained; and there was depth to each and every character, which is a commendable feat to accomplish in a book with a third person narrative and five main characters. The importance of the characters was also at equilibrium which made my respect for the book go up a few notches higher. The overall feel or aura of the book was set extremely well—it was able to permeate through the skin. The theme of redemption was beautifully addressed and realistically developed. Near the end I was slightly confused about the way Madame Vileroy was dodged, but then there was an “eureka” moment—which felt pretty awesome!
My only complaint: at times, certain parts lacked lucidity. But nothing serious enough to make anyone blunder in a daze, so it’s totally offset by the overall awesomeness of the book. Read…NOW!

Here's a sweet trailer for the book:

What are bloggers around the blogosphere reading?

2009-08-31T06:39:00.000-04:00

WABATBR is your weekly one-stop feed on what book bloggers around the blogosphere are reading. Without wasting any more time, here's the list.

Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century is reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Frogs & French Kisses by Sara Mlynowski and Rampant by Diana Peterfreund.

Sarah from Sarah's Random Musings is reading Beautiful by Amy Reed.

Steph from Steph Su Reads is reading The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills and After by Amy Efaw.

Tina from Fantastic Book Review is reading Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda.

Ravenous Reader from A Lush Budget Production is also reading Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.

Lizzy from Cornucopia of Reviews is reading Oh.My.Gods by Tera Lynn Childs.

Carrie from Carrie's YA Bookshelf is reading Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough.

Sharon from Sharon Loves Books & Cats is reading The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Fire by Kristin Cashore, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare and Into the land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville.

So that's it for now. What are you reading, my lovely blog-reader? I'd love to know!

Wazzat In Her Hands?

2009-08-31T06:21:00.000-04:00

Another week of the wordvore. Ah, the delectability of the words. This week, here's what I'm getting my nutritions off:

What I Just Finished Reading:

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri. If you haven't read this already, get your butt out of the chair right now, drag it to the closest bookstore and get yourself a copy!

What I'm Reading:

Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig. Not bad. Pretty entertaining.

The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams. I just started this, on the first page. So no opinion yet. But it looks good.

What I'm going to read after that:

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey.

Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison.

Stolen by Lucy Christopher.

What are you guys reading this week? What are you looking forward to reading? Tell me in the comment box!

Blogger Spotlight: Stephanie Su of Steph Su Reads--"My double life as a book blogger and a regular girl."

2009-08-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

Today, we have a beautiful guest post from Stephanie Su of Steph Su Reads. Click here to check out her amazing blog--trust me, I've been a follower for a while now and it's great.

Here's Stephanie Su taking over:

The phrase “double life” always makes me think of being a spy, which I would be absolutely horrible at. I’m intelligent, but not clever; in shape, but not a risk-taker. I love reading books about girls kicking butt via innovative solutions in tough scenarios, but if I were ever in a story like that, I’d be the quiet but intense innocent bystander who gets blown up by an enemy’s stray bullet. A civilian casualty.

That being said, while I don’t think I’m “spy-like” in my double life as a young adult and a book blogger, I do feel like two completely different people. You know that Myers-Briggs personality test that, like, all career guidance office make you take, the one that assesses you on four different poles, one of which is introversion-extraversion? Yeah, I’m as introverted as you can get without going off the scale and into improbability. I’m a total loner. A sheet of tiredness instantly floats over me whenever I encounter a large group of happily chattering people, even if it’s people whom I know and like. Even among my closest friends, I don’t talk much. There is nothing happier for me, nothing more invigorating, than being immersed in an amazing book or on a roll with my writing.

These admissions may come as a surprise to people who read my blog, as well as people whose blogs I comment on. According to some blogger friends, I am an extremely friendly and funny person, always happy. Whenever I hear these sorts of things said about me, I usually start to choke dangerously on whatever I have in my mouth at that moment—because I was, up until age 18, quite possibly one of the most dissatisfied teenagers I have ever known.

So the duality of my life comes from my ability to be more myself in written words than I can ever be in speaking, in person. I love the time for thinking and preparation that we are allowed before making a blog post, or leaving a comment on someone’s blog, or even replying to someone’s Tweet on Twitter. I would never say that my conversations with some friends via email are less fulfilling than in-person encounters, even if the former can take several hours or days to come up with a reply.

I think that some people think in dialogue, which makes them always ready with a reply when you’re talking face-to-face with them. Others think in terms of scenes, like from a movie—they consider camera angle, lighting, the actual movement of the conversationalists involved. I, on the other hand, think in words—actual, written words. Often when I’m talking to someone I’ll hear a word that was said, and then I’ll type the word out on an invisible keyboard with my jittery fingers, or write it in cursive, my thumb tracing the word out on the side of my pointer finger—over and over again, all the while keeping up the conversation with the other person. A little embarrassing to admit the extent of my written-wordiness!

I think in written words, which is why I’m so much more myself in writing than I ever am in person. So you bloggers are actually getting more of me than many other people in my life—and that’s the best part of me having a “double life.”

That was lovely, don't you agree? A blogger with such communication skills through her writing must be a fantastic blogger too! So go ahead and explore Steph Su Reads!

Movie Review: An American Haunting

2009-08-29T02:18:00.001-04:00

Whiner's Wednesday

2009-08-26T03:36:00.000-04:00

Today I bring you fresh upcoming treats that I'm drooling for. Check them out and wipe the corners of your mouth along the way.

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

No summary (boo...), but it's Susane Colasanti! Hello? And the cover looks awesomelicious!

After by Kristin Harmel

Synopsis:
Lacey's world shatters when her dad is killed in a car accident. And secretly? She feels like it’s her fault. If she hadn’t taken her own sweet time getting ready that morning . . . well, it never would have happened. Her mom wouldn’t be a basket case. Her brother Logan wouldn’t drink. And her little brother would still have two parents.

But life goes on even if you don’t want it to. And when Lacey gets the chance to make a difference in the lives of some people at school, she jumps at it. Making lemonade out of lemons is her specialty. Except she didn’t count on meeting a guy like Sam. Or that sometimes? Lemonade can be a pretty bitter drink to swallow.

Now that is some serious awesome sauce.

WorDissection: Not Like You by Deborah Davis

2009-08-25T09:25:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Definitely.
You'll love it if you liked: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler
Aura: Realistic,Heartwrenching
Read If: You're looking for something that deals with reality and everyday struggles
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Kayla Hanes, 15 year old female
Themes: Mother-daughter relationship, Moving, Loneliness
Plot: 9.25/10
Narration: 8.5/10
Characterization: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.25/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope. It was a very enticing read.
Did any part confuse me? No.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.75/5. Not much, really.
Writing Style: Average Sentences, Informal, Expressive.
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 2/10
Imagery: 8.5/10
Song(s) to go with book: She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5, Home Improvement by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
Favourite Quotes: "I almost said no just to see if she would react. I could raise the bar, or the hoop. Light it on fire. Build up a higher wall of flames. Jump, Mom. Jump. She was waiting. I bent down, pretending to scratch my knee. 'Okay.'"
Cover: 8/10
Ending: Hopeful, Realistic, Satisfying Closure.
Reading Priority: Definitely Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 4.5 hours, Slow readers- Approx 8 days.
Synopsis:
“Starting a new chapter” is how Kayla’s mother, Marilyn, has always referred to their abrupt moves—five in the past two years. But what Kayla hates even more than moving is Marilyn’s drinking. It once landed Kayla in foster care, so she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her mother from falling apart again. Just until she turns eighteen, less than three years away.
Now Marilyn has moved them to New Mexico, and promised, yet again, to quit booze for good. Kayla knows better than to believe her, but something about this move does feel different. Kayla is putting down roots, earning money as a dog walker, and spending time with Remy, a twenty-four-year-old musician. He’s her refuge from Marilyn’s daily struggle to stay sober. And after years of taking care of her mother, Kayla is starting to think of herself and who she wants to be. She knows for sure who she doesn’t want to be. But is she willing to do whatever it takes to create her own life—even if it means leaving her mother behind?
Sharply honest and beautifully written, Deborah Davis’s powerful novel is about loving someone else enough to stay with her through anything—and loving yourself enough to let her go.

WordVore Prod's Review:
Not Like You was a pleasant surprise. From the description on the back, I thought the novel would be packed with instances when Kayla would go off to get busy with Remy, the 24 year old musician but that was definitely not the case. The story flowed like a poignant ballad of two hermits lost and stranded even from each other. I loved the conveying of emotions in this book—it was raw and heart wrenching. Characterization was extremely well done—each character had its fair share of flaws but depth of actions. The struggle to keep relationships standing was beautifully portrayed—falter, then get up again. The development of Kayla’s character was very smooth and polished. She is someone you would root for, yet someone whose actions you will disapprove of at times. The plot had a strong grounding and moved at a balanced pace. The themes of mother-daughter relationship and everyday struggles were addressed with great sensitivity. It took them a lot of hard work and weathering to meet halfway, but they did. Even the secondary characters had voices of their own—they had their own lives and own identities. Tough issues like drinking and teen pregnancy were approached not in a preachy but realistic way. I was impressed by the way the story could communicate to me and make me build a personal attachment to it.
What got on my nerves was Kayla’s mother’s dependence on her. Sometimes when she kept on doing it, I felt like shaking her by the shoulders and tell her to grow independent. Even though at times this stagnancy will annoy you, in the end it is made clear that Kayla’s mother is just another soul lost amidst the complexities of the planet.
Not Like You is reality in its purest form. Happiness, sadness, hope and redemption are all mingled and intertwined so well that sometimes it’s scary how real the whole thing can feel. Added to that was a good enough imagery mechanism and voila! I am definitely looking forward to more of Deborah Davis’ works—Not Like You was such a captivating and recommendable read.

Teaser Tuesdays

2009-08-24T23:38:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays was introduced by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's what you gotta do:
•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!

Here's my teaser:
"Between fourth and fifth periods I'm at my locker when Darlene Kerns, a cute blonde eighth grader, sidles up to me. "Hey, Les. Can't wait to see your magic act Friday night." 'Thanks, Darlene."
Is Darlene Kerns flirting with me? I'm so thrown I can't say another word.
-page 131, Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig.

Tune in next week for more teasers!

What are bloggers around the blogosphere reading?

2009-08-24T03:16:00.000-04:00

WABATBR is your weekly one-stop feed on what book bloggers around the blogosphere are reading. Without wasting any more time, here's the list.

Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century is reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater and Assiniboin Girl by Kathi Wallace.

Sarah from Sarah's Random Musings is reading Beautiful by Amy Reed.

Steph from Steph Su Reads is reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick and Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley.

Tina from Fantastic Book Review is reading Ash by Malinda Lo.

Ravenous Reader from A Lush Budget Production is also reading Ash by Malinda Lo.

Lizzy from Cornucopia of Reviews is reading Unwind by Neal Shusterman.

Carrie from Carrie's YA Bookshelf is reading Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman.

Sharon from Sharon Loves Books & Cats is reading Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White, The Hollow by Jessica Verday, Exodus by Julie Bertagna and This is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy Stone.

So that's it for now. What are you reading, my lovely blog-reader? I'd love to know!

Wazzat In Her Hands?

2009-08-24T00:29:00.000-04:00

I'm back again this week with another feature that lets you stalk my reading state. Ths week, as per statistics:

What I'm Reading:

Not Like You by Deborah Davis, half done, and it's really good. Realistic stuff couldn't get more real.

What I'm going to read after that:

Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams.

What are you guys reading this week? What are you looking forward to reading? Tell me in the comment box!

Sunday Sundae

2009-08-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

Sunday Sundae is a goopy mix of everything bookish. Read on and see what catches your fancy.

1. Miley Cyrus is a top choice for the lead character of the possible movie made based off Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett. Now, I have yet to read this book (an e-Galley awaits on my laptop), but God-oh-God why?!?! Not that I am prejudiced against Cyrus. But I think after Hannah Montana on TV, Hannah Montana the Movie, Hannah Montana the 3D, Hannah Montana the CD, Hannah Montana the Weedy (you never know, it might exist), and Wings, I think we all deserve a fresh face.

2. Win a signed ARC of Dark Divine and other goodies here: http://bit.ly/46sIFk. Pretty nailpolish+Pretty book=Pretty contest. Yay Bree!

3. Harvard Sophomore writes YA Hollywood novel. Eh? How cool is that? Check out Isabel Kaplan's website (Yep, that's her name) here: http://isabelkaplan.com.

Wait for more scoops next week. Till then, buh-bye!:)

I got featured!

2009-08-23T03:25:00.000-04:00

IgotfeaturedIgotfeaturedIgotfeaturedIgotfeatured! *beats pinada*

Did you know it was more than awesome to see yourself on someone else's blog? Oh yes, it's pretty darn amazing! I'm still giddy from excitement!
Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century interviewed me for her weekly blogger spotlight:D I think it's a great idea to appreciate rising book bloggers--it really makes us feel important. Check my interview out here: http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentury.com/2009/08/sunday-spotlight-between-lines.html and tell me what you think about it! And don't forget to take a look around Kristen's blog--it's one of the most prolific and regularly updated blog you'll ever come across and Kristen is a fantabulous person. So go, follow her:)

Also, this is pretty late notice but I had also guest blogged for Lee Verday, the fittingly marvellous husband of the marvellous YA author Jessica Verday (You know, The Hollow? You DON'T!? Damn, enjoy the company of the fungi infesting the rock you're living under!), here: http://leesguestbloggers.blogspot.com/2009/08/guest-blogger-day-back-to-school.html
Also, follow his blog at leeaverday.blogspot.com, please. You won't regret it, I promise.

That's it for now. Both these blogs have a blogger spotlight feature every week so get in touch with them if you want to be featured. Till then,
Adios,
WordVore Prod.
xoxo

WorDissection: Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

2009-08-23T00:13:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Heck YEAH!
You'll love it if you liked: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Gone by Michael Grant
Aura: Intense, Chilling, Edgy, Heartwrenching
Read If: You're looking for something that pulls you into a fantasy world and makes you believe in it
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Kellen Dent, 14 year old male
Themes: Post-Apocalypse, Conspiracy, Death, Friendship, Parents, Love
Plot: 9.8/10
Narration: 9.8/10
Characterization: 9.7/10
Overall: 9.75/10
Did I get bored anywhere? No way!
Did any part confuse me? No. It was intense and a lot to take at once, but no.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.1/5. None. Nada. Zilch.
Writing Style: Average Sentences, Descriptive, Graphic, Vivid.
Uniqueness: 9.85/10
Predictability: 0.1/10
Favourite Quotes: "In the end, the throwbacks and loners of Afterlight and the rest of the Peninsula had only one freedom--the freedom to die."
"Ain't no late night heart-to-hearts, ain't no summer since you've gone."
Cover: 9/10
Ending: Hopeful, Realistic, Satisfying Closure. No fairytale-ishness.
Reading Priority: Must Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 6 hours, Slow readers- Approx 10 days.
Synopsis:

In 2067, an airborne virus wiped out 97 percent of the male population. Thirty years later, women rule the world and have ushered in a new golden age on Earth. Poverty, crime, war and hunger have all disappeared. Growing up in this utopia, 14-year-old Kellen Dent feels isolated as one of the few males alive.
When a rumored outbreak of the virus threatens Kellen's outcast father, he knows that he must warn him of the coming danger. During his desperate race to find his dad, Kellen uncovers a secret so frightening that his life and the future of the world will never be the same.
A fast-paced, post-apocalyptic thriller, Epitaph Road is an exciting and fresh new entry in this best-selling genre.

WordVore Prod's Review:
I loved Epitaph Road is an understatement.
Seriously, this novel had everything a reader could want. The writing style was absolutely fantastic. I felt drawn in to the post-apocalyptic world so easily that even I was surprised, considering how I almost always have a difficult time being drawn into anything other than contemporary. Patneaude’s word choice was extremely clever—balanced out and artistic. The plot was extraordinary! Reading the summary you may think that it will turn out clichéd, but believe me—far from it. The plot was packed with originality and creativity, and the story moved at a smooth but fast pace. I did not come across any bumps at all, neither did I ever feel detached from the story; not once. The characters had just the right amount of depth—not too in-the-reader’s-face, not too vague. Kellen is so believable that it’s scary. His feelings and loneliness are conveyed in the most subtle yet heart-wrenching of ways. He keeps struggling with the pain of losing his loved ones and at the same time frantically searching for a valid source of love and caring. Tia and Sunday were anything but secondary characters—their roles were individually crafted and attributes were evenly distributed. The plot had so much unpredictability and twists and turns that it will keep the reader even farther from the edge of their seat. The way I laughed and cried with the characters moved me to the core—I rarely do that.
David Patneaude has designed a world that is believable, chilling and scary at the same time that will blur the lines between right and wrong. What surprised me was that since I had to read this one with a lot of breaks due to horrible circumstances, but the next time I picked it up, I didn’t feel like I’ve forgotten anything at all—not even the smallest details. Overall, I would say March 2010 is in for a big bang and each and every reader should go grab a copy of Epitaph Road! Start saving money, now!

Whiner's Wednesday

2009-08-19T10:31:00.001-04:00

Sorry I missed out on my weekly cravings on Saturday! But, I'm making up for it right now:D

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson, coming out summer 2010.

Not much is known yet about this one, but it's a YA werewolf romance...I dunno why but I'm already drawn to this book!

Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala, coming from HarperCollins, 2010.

Tell Me A Secret chronicles seventeen-year-old Miranda’s unexpected pregnancy and her gripping journey to navigate the labyrinth of her bad-girl sister Xanda’s life, unravel the mystery of her death, and free herself in the process.

Tête-à-Tête with YA author Beth Fantaskey

2009-08-19T10:24:00.000-04:00

Aaaaand I'm back with another author interview! Today I have here for interrogation: Beth Fantaskey, author of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and the upcoming Jekel Loves Hyde. Read, and enjoy!

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your upcoming book, Jekel Loves Hyde.

It's about two young people who learn that they share a mysterious, and possibly deadly, connection to the old Robert Louis Stevenson novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As they work to unravel the mystery, they fall in love - and become more dangerous to one another. It's a romance with lots of twists and turns and cliffhangers.

How did you come up with the plot?

I honestly have no idea! Isn't that bizarre? I've tried to look back and recall exactly where it came from, but it's like a mystery, itself!

What’re your favourite book/s?

As you can probably tell if you've read my first book, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - and just by looking at the title of my second book - I am a big fan of classic literature. Melville and Bronte, whom I referenced in Jessica's Guide, are two favorite authors, along with Dickens, Austen and Dumas. Anything by those writers, from the Pickwick Papers to The Three Musketeers, will rank among my favorites.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.
My favorite color is peach - in between pink and orange, and I have trouble working without the radio on.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one? "Confessions of a Happy Neurotic!"

What do you do when you’re not writing? As in, hobbies?

I like to relax by going to the gym (where I also have lots of friends to hang out with when not actually exercising... It's very social!) This summer, a bunch of us trained for a triathlon, which we just finished on Saturday. Whew. I also like to hang out at the pool with my kids, watch terrible reality TV, and listen to music.

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?
Probably Fannie Price... I am super shy!

Any sekrit talents (By sekrit, I mean super-sekrit. Like rolling your tongue or burping for an hour straight or something like that.)?

I am an awesome parallel park-er. I can get my car into the tiniest spots!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done? I took a bath in chocolate for a newspaper story I wrote. The paper sent me to a spa in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where they literally dip you in chocolate milk. Actually not as fun as it might sound...

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

My husband, definitely. After almost fifteen years of marriage, we still have stuff to say!

Try fitting Bart Simpson into the plotline of Jekel Loves Hyde--he has to play a vital role. How would you squeeze him in?

He'd fit right into my novel, wreaking havoc in the chem lab. Maybe he'd mess with the lab supplies and blow something up!

If you could, which YA author would you like to collaborate with for a joint project?

I only know three other authors personally - Cassandra Clare, Elizabeth Scott, and Lisa McMann - and I would work with any of them in a heartbeat. They're not just amazingly talented - they're super cool people.

Three words to describe yourself and three words to describe your book. Quiet, funny, happy... Intense, funny, passionate

Teaser Tuesdays: August 18th

2009-08-18T10:39:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. You can join in the fun too! 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!

Here's my teaser for the week:

"The lights brightened. Some of them flashed, sending weird diffused rays of red and blue into the trees. I heard women's voices. Half crouching, we crept to the edge of the forest, hid behind thick rough-barked trunks, and peered out.
We'd found our roadblock."
-Page 117 of Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

Check back next week for more teasers!

Wazzat in her hands?

2009-08-17T09:50:00.000-04:00

This is a feature where I tell you about what I am reading and what am goingto read next. Enjoy:)

What I'm Reading:

Epitaph Road by David Patneaude, and loving it.

What I'm going to read after that:

Not Like You by Deborah Davis

Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

I hope this week is not as hectic as the last two, I really need to get on with my reading!

Movie Monday at Write for a Reader

2009-08-17T09:28:00.000-04:00

Write for a Reader is hosting a gothic movie review club here: http://writeforareader.blogspot.com/2009/08/movie-monday_17.html in context of the release of Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters. The author's blog is here: http://michellezinkbooks.wordpress.com/ and the beautastic cover is here:

Here's my review of Edward Scissorhands:
I love Johnny Depp. And I love Winona Ryder.
That being said, I will make a difficult attempt at remaining completely impartial in my review. But even then, the movie was so beautifully crafted that I won't need to.
The movie has a very gothic feel to it but it also has a beating heart and flesh. Edward's character is detly portrayed by Johnny Depp, reaching out to viewers' hearts with his scissor hands. He is a social pariah, segregated because of his difference, and you cannot help but sympathize with him. He covets the few that love him, among which is Ryder's character, Kim. Edward is constantly being thrown back and forth from freak status to stardom. He is misunderstood--someone you would feel sorry for.
I loved how the plotline moved smoothly despite the amount of substance it carried. It didn't trudge or rush. What Tim Burton has here is a masterpiece, an artistic spin-off of Shelley's Frankenstein. Four point seven five out of five from me, definitely recommended.

Blogger Spotlight: Scarlett Haines from From the Heart

2009-08-13T12:44:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry for being such a horrible blogger. I had sooo many tests and homework that it's inhuman. But hopefully this week will be less hectic:)
Today we have Scarlett from her blog From the Heart. Visit her blog here: http://scarlettfromtheart.blogspot.com

Tell us something about your blog.
It's a relatively new blog called From The Heart.

Three tips to fellow book bloggers.
1. Get out there and contact other bloggers!
2. Have fun while creating your blog.
3. Make sure you like what you put on your blog.

Do you think writers and their books should be treated leniently if the writer has taken the effort to personally ensure the sending of the review copy to the reviewer?
I think that they should be given a good and honest review of their books. If you don't like something say why, but try to put a positive spin on some things. In the end it's just about being honest.

Enough seriousness. Rapid fire round! Three words to describe you and three more to describe your blog.
Me: happy, intelligent, caring Blog: Fun, interesting, unique

Three books that are on your mind right now.
EyeLeash by Jess C Scott
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
Wake by Lisa McMann

What's the weirdest thing you've ever done?
Filled an entire bathtub with jelly and took a 'jelly bath'

A person had to take over the world. Even though we know it's gonna be me, who would you rather it was?
Probably Lisa Simpson because she'd still let us read books

Dream fictional boyfriend, and why?
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I would love to date Dave the laugh from the Georgia Nicolson series, he's cute and he's utterly hilarious. I just think he would be so fun to be around.

The sky just fell and monster-sized Chicken Littles took over the city. Write a five-sentence review on this incident.
It's a most unfortunate day today, the sky actually did fall. I'm not too worried about this as I am indeed still alive, which is a totally good sign. However, not such a fan of the monster-sized Chicken Littles that have taken over the city, definitely not a strong point. Overalll, it's not too bad of an event but if you can I would definitely give it a miss.
That was great! Now you bloggers, be nice and go give her blog a visit--it's awesome!

WorDissection: Peeled by Joan Bauer

2009-08-13T12:13:00.001-04:00

Did I like it? Yes.
You'll love it if you liked: Stories about journalism and sticking through it despite the obstacles.
Aura: Light
Read If: You're looking for something to breeze through.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Hildy Biddle, high schooler.
Themes: Journalism, Overcoming Obstacles, Death, Propaganda
Plot: 7.5/10
Narration: 8.5/10
Characterization: 7.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Slightly when I felt the plot needed more grounding.
Did any part confuse me? Nope.
Line/ Page Skippability: 3/10.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Informal, Smart.
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 1.5/10
Ending: Inspiring
Reading priority: Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 5 hours, Slow readers- Approx 7 days.
Synopsis:
The orchard-growing community of Banesville, New York, is known as The Happiest Town in the Happy Apple Valley. But the sleepy town is stricken with hysteria and fear after a series of spooky happenings, and then a death occurs near the abandoned Ludlow House. As Pen Piedmont, the editor of the local paper, publishes fear-mongering headlines, high-school reporter Hildy determines to find the true story behind the incidents and settle her community’s growing unrest. Although there are several puzzling incidents at the story’s center (Is there a plot against Banesville’s citizens? If so, who’s involved?), readers will be most drawn by Hildy’s growing excitement, relayed in her own strong, witty voice, as she learns from a cantankerous, demanding mentor what it takes to be a journalist. Hildy’s romance with a fellow student feels underdeveloped, and the object of her affection is a bit too good to be true. But Bauer’s gleeful wordplay, her sure sense of setting, the details of newspaper life, and the many colorful side characters make this a pleasurable read that may encourage teens to consider deeper questions about family farms, urban sprawl, and the many who profit from public fear.
WordVore Prod's Review:
I enjoyed reading Peeled. Hildy was an inspirational character—someone you can look up to without much hesitation. She’s strong, focused and headstrong, yet she shows enough vulnerability to make her seem real. She pursues her passion with such integrity that it makes the reader want to push his or her own boundaries when it comes to putting in effort. Hildy doesn’t conform; she strays and creates. Her fearlessness is exemplary, the way she deals with issues like death and betrayal even more so. Baker Polton is one of those try-harder advisors who aren’t easy to please but once pleased, can give others the sense of accomplishment. Characters were realistic and grounded, and there were no extravagant fly-abouts in characterization or premise. The book holds entertainment value and it was a smooth read. The writing style is absolutely commendable and is able to impress readers. I loved how the fear-and-propaganda mechanism of past and present were presented in a lighter view.
What I did have a problem was with the slight hollowness of the plot. A little more substance and meaning would have been better, because at times it felt that maybe the story would end up nowhere. Deeper portrayal of relationships would be great to read, but maybe it would’ve killed the phrase “light read” that is attached to Peeled.
Overall, it was a fun read that I breezed through. It’s a must read if you want to pursue a career of journalism.

Saturday Sighs

2009-08-08T04:36:00.000-04:00

Hola amigos and amigas! (Ehh..no. I'm not Spanish, neither do I know Spanish other than a few words). Today I serve to thee a fresh weekly list of the whinings and wishings of yours truly.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Not cover or not much information out yet, but here: The novel tells the story of Lennie, a 17-year-old bookworm and band geek who has spent her life in her older sister Bailey’s shadow; when Bailey dies suddenly, Lennie finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with Bailey’s boyfriend and the new boy in town.

iSwoon.

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn’t so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don’t always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she’s soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

Beyond...cool.

Under The Radar Challenge 2009

2009-08-08T04:13:00.000-04:00

Something's been bothering me recently.
A lot.
Did you, like me, notice a set pattern of the hype amongst young adult readers surrounding only a few specific books or authors?
Before you get aggressive, I have nothing against these authors or books. In fact, I frankly love reading any good book by any author. What I'm trying to say is that, I think there are a lot of YA authors out there who don't get the attention they deserve--they are overshadowed by others because they couldn't snag a deal with one of the biggest publishing houses out there or their story did not conform to the trend at that point of time. Or maybe it was plain bad luck.
I didn't think the disparity was always because the book didn't stand up to standards--no. I've read quite a few books lately written by understated authors which were some of the best I've ever read.
So, I'm taking a stand. I'm not telling you to stop reading books that are heavily publicized--no way. I'm telling you to give these understated authors/books/pub houses a chance. You never know what you're going to get in return; maybe words that you won't forget in a lifetime.
In light of all that I've said now, I'd like to initiate the Under the Radar movement. The movement is like this:
For Readers:
I will read at least one book by an understated YA author per month.
I will tell my friends about this, and also recommend the ones that I liked.
I will post the button below on my website/blog.
For Book Bloggers:
I will read at least one book by an understated YA author every month.
If like any, I will recommend it to my friends.
I will review the book I've read.
I will post the button below on my blog/website.
For Authors:
I will not give up writing.
I will not conform to a particular style or story type just because it sells.

Authors, if you feel like you are being deprived of the attention you deserve, feel free to drop me an email. Readers and bloggers, please don't hesitate to tell me if you come across an author you felt should get more readers.

Tête-à-Tête with YA author Jennifer Brown

2009-08-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

Yes, I suck for the irregular posts. My net's been killing meX_x
Anyways, I'm BACK!:D And today I have Jennifer Brown, author of the stormraiser Hate List in my hot seat. Fasten your seatbelts and delve into her world:)

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your latest book.
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman’s boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saves the life of a classmate, but is implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things they hated. The list her boyfriend used to pick his targets.Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

How did you come up with the plot? It’s a fabulous one, by the way.

Thank you! You know, it was one of those ideas that just "came to me," which I know sounds a little weird, but it's true. I'd been thinking about school shootings and it was right around the time the Nickelback song, "If Everyone Cared," was popular and on the radio a lot. When I went to bed, for some reason the song got stuck in my head, and when I woke up, I had the idea for Hate List in my head. I wish I had a more writery answer for you, but this is how most story ideas come to me... in my sleep!

What’re your favourite book/s?

I have so many favorites, it would be impossible to list them all. I'm a big fan of the classics, and probably my all-time favorite book ever is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I love Marian Keyes and Janet Evanovich and, yes, I read all of the Harry Potter books. I love the intensity of YA books, and probably my favorite YA writer is Gail Giles, whose book What Happened to Cass McBride? was awesome and whose book Shattering Glass just blew me away.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

I'm a total foodie. I watch all the cooking shows and get all fangirly over Art Smith and Bobby Flay. I totally could get into being a chef.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

First, it should be said I'm awful at writing titles. But I guess something along the lines of:
Wishing Upon Stars and Other Dreamy Dreams: The Life of a Hopeless Believer
(Ack! That's awful! See, what'd I tell you...?)

What do you do when you’re not writing? As in, hobbies?

I'm a stay-at-home mom of three kids, so there isn't a lot of time for hobbies. Mostly I hang with my kids, read, and occasionally plink around on the piano (I taught myself how to play, so I'm no genius at it or anything).

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

Valerie Leftman, my main character.

First question you'd ask a magic 8-ball right now.

Omigosh, it's been so long since I asked an 8-ball anything! "Does Scott have a crush on me?" LOL!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?

I'm one of those people who's almost always up for anything... I've got "scariest" and "most adventurous" and even "goofiest" and "most cliche," but "weirdest"... I'm sort of at a loss.

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

John Lennon, because he was such an inspiration, and Kristin Chenoweth so she could sing me the Wicked soundtrack (What? We're locked in! We have time!). Oh, and probably an elevator repairman.

Mr.Darcy just broke into Valerie's room and confessed his undying love for her. What would she do?

Bury herself in her blankets and hide until he left. And then later she'd get out her favorite photo of Nick at Blue Lake and stare at it for a really long time.

Three words to describe yourself and three more to describe your book.

Me: Determined, shy, happy

Hate List: Powerful, hopeful, important

I had a blast reading through Jennifer's answers! Didn't you? Tell me your opinions as well as other questions in the comment box.

Holy Crap Hwednesday, a.k.a Wholly Crap Wednesday.

2009-08-05T13:12:00.000-04:00

Today's Holy Crap is exclusively quoted from The Guardian.
Stephenie Meyer is no stranger to comparisons with JK Rowling: the obsessive fans, the midnight bookshop openings, the eye-watering sales figures. Now she can add another: accusations of plagiarism.

The Twilight author has been served with a "cease and desist" order sent to her publisher, Hachette Book Group USA, by lawyers acting for Jordan Scott. The letter claims that the latest volume in Meyer's Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, which was published last year, "shows a striking and substantial similarity" to Scott's book The Nocturne, and asks the publisher how it intends "to cease and desist from any further copyright infringement and to compensate my client for her damages".

Hachette called the claim "completely without merit" and said that any lawsuit would be "defended vigorously".

Scott's lawyer, J Craig Williams, claims that Scott's book was published and posted on the internet in 2006 and cites similarities. Among these are that both books include an after-wedding sex scene on a beach, that both contain a scene about a woman who is sick because she's pregnant with a child with evil powers, that both feature a scene in which the pregnant wife is dying, that both include a scene in which the main character sees their baby for the first time, and that both see the main character turn into a vampire. Scott also points out that in both books the main character refers to his wife as "love".

Breaking Dawn follows the story of the vampire Edward Cullen and his girlfriend, the human teenager Bella Swan.

The news of the plagiarism accusation was broken by website TMZ, which posted Scott's letter online.

Hachette responded with a statement which said that that neither Meyer nor her representatives "had any knowledge of this writer or her supposed book prior to this claim".

"Ms Scott's attorney has yet to furnish us with a copy of the book to support this claim as requested," the statement said. "The world of The Twilight Saga and the stories within it are entirely the creation of Ms Meyer. Her books have been a phenomenal sensation, and perhaps it shouldn't be surprising to hear that other people may seek to ride the coattails of such success. This claim is frivolous and any lawsuit will be defended vigorously."

In 2001, American author Nancy Stouffer claimed that JK Rowling stole her ideas for Harry Potter from a series of books she written between 1984 and 1988, starring one Larry Potter and featuring "muggles". The court found in favour of Rowling.

The Nocturne is not available from Amazon, and Scott's website lists it as "temporarily sold out". The site says she started writing the book when she was 15, after she "took some time away from writing music and working in film and television".

"I wrote The Nocturne with the intent of bringing readers into a completely new world of the fantasy and romance genres," Scott writes. "I have an award-winning script, and three other scripts in various stages. Wow. I love school, writing, music, and of course Boys."

Holy crap.

What Just Hatched?

2009-08-01T09:27:00.000-04:00

What Just Hatched is a new meme for celebrating book birthdays. Woohoo! Here are the books that were published today:

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. Give it a big hand!

Another big hand for Troy High by Shanna Norris!

Give it up for Dead Girl in Love by Linda Joy Singleton!

Once more for Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey!

That's all I could find. If you know of any other books being released today, don't hesitate to inform me!:)

Saturday Sighs: Double Dish

2009-08-01T05:16:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I realized I should add in two or three more books from my cravings this week. So here's the second edition of today's SS post. Enjoy:)

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

This book looks sooo good! It's a romance, and here's the summary from Angela's website:
Beth, a tall, ugly girl survives high school in Port, Michigan, north of Detroit by keeping her head down and hanging out with best friend since pre-school, Scott, short, nerdy, fellow outcast. Her escape is singing.
Beth turns from beast to beauty (with the help of a pushy girl in her choir and a high-tech makeover) when she lands the solo spot in her all girls choir. Her mad vocal skills propel the choir into the international spotlight. They go to the Choral Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland, where beth meets the star soloist, Derek, from the Amabile Boy’s Choir—right across the border back home. He puts the moves on her, and she falls hard for him. Derek is perfect—except for a troubling secret he won’t ever explain to Beth.
When she gets home, faithful, loyal Scott is there. He’s finally growing, filling out, almost as much of a babe as Derek, Beth is into Derek, but she’s torn up over how her relationship with him hurts Scott. She cares about him, too. And then Derek’s behavior gets more and more erratic. And Beth gets more and more unsure of what she should do.
Beth writes lyrics and Derek composes music. Beth’s lyrics are sprinkled through the novel, so there is a poetic element to Sing Me to Sleep.

Awwww! It's bound to be a great read. Remember Taken by Storm? Yup, Angela wrote that too. She's also going to write two sequels to TBS. Can't wait!

My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours by Kristina Springer

Now, this one doesn't have a summary out yet...but you can guess:)

That's it for today! Five books...whew! Drool over them while I sign off blogger. Peace:)

Saturday Sighs

2009-08-01T00:44:00.000-04:00

This is just another excuse of me putting up a list of upcoming books that I'm craving for.

Fixing Delilah Hannaford by Sarah Ockler (Cover not out yet)

Okay, so there hasn't been an official announcement for it, but it's Sarah Ockler, and anything by Sarah Ockler=iCrave! Here's a quick summary, quoting Sarah herself:
Stuck in Vermont all summer with her workaholic mother, a Tarot-card-reading aunt, and a childhood friend who thinks he can fix anything, sixteen-year-old Delilah Hannaford confronts her elusive family history to expose the secrets that have defined and divided the Hannafords for three generations.

Sounds good? Thought so.

Sea by Heidi Kling

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers. And Sea’s real adventure begins.

OMG. Look at the cover. Look at the summary. You crave? No? Well I crave!

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents’ deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her.

Now this is one to go ga-ga over (keep flattering yourself, Lady GaGa. Not happening). Sadly, I don't think I'll get a chance to snag this one *weeps* This book has been released today so my message to the lucky ones: Hurry to your nearest bookstore and buy! Now!

Tête-à-Tête with YA authors Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

2009-07-28T10:54:00.000-04:00

I know I've posted like four interviews in two days...can't help it. I'm addicted:P
Today we have the dynamic duo that was behind the masterpiece namely The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading. Hold your breath, and enter the world of Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance.

And by the way, today is Darcy's birthday, so pleeease wish her a happy one on the author website! (http://thegeekgirlsguide.com)

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your latest book, The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading.

Geek Girl’s Guide is the story of two smart, kind of geeky girls who unexpectedly find their way onto their school’s varsity cheerleading squad. It’s the story of their season on the squad. But I like to tell people that it is also a story about falling in love for the first time and about being a good friend to someone, even when they’re not being such a good friend back.

How did you come up with the plot? Was it inspired by your own experiences?

D: Charity came up with the basic plot about five years ago. It’s been through a few transformations since then though. I’ll let her tell you how she was inspired to write the book.

C: The initial premise for the story is based on something that happened to me my senior year of high school. I got talked into trying out for cheerleading and made the squad. (And believe me, I wasn’t the cheerleader type.) The rest of the story? While I’ve pulled a few things from “real” life, it’s pretty much all fiction.

What’re your favourite book/s?

D: I have a gabillion favorite books and every time someone asks me this I seem to come up with a different answer. ; ) But there is one book I love more than any other. It’s A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I’ve read it five times already and, as soon as I make a dent in my to be read pile, I plan to read it again.

C: It’s probably no secret that I love Pride and Prejudice. While in college, I majored in Russian, so I have a fondness for many Russian writers as well. I have a literary crush on Pushkin, the father of Russian literature.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

D: My favorite color depends on my mood. I like a nice sunny yellow when it’s dreary outside. (BTW, it’s dreary a LOT where I live.) I like green when I’m busy and stressed. It seems to calm me down. And cherry red is just plain pretty. Here’s something quirky about me: I like to find out mostly useless facts about random subjects like, for instance, colors. Did you know that some jails paint special rooms a certain color of pink because it makes people feel less violent?

C: I’m a blue/green girl myself. Here’s something weird about me: I must have short nails when I write. Seriously, my nails get too long, I can’t write. It’s very, very strange.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

D: Coming up with titles is not one of my strong points. As evidence of that, the only one I can think of right now is: Dorks with Sporks. Not exactly promising.

C: In thinking about this, I really hope it would be called Unexpected.

What do you do when you’re not writing? As in, hobbies?

D: Writing, and promoting our book, takes up LOTS of time. I love to read though and spend time with my family and friends. Oh, and I love to listen to live music!

C: What Darcy said. Promotion could be a fulltime job and you’d still find things you could do. I love to read, which is good for writing, so I never feel guilty about it. I like to exercise/workout (leftover from my Army days). I used to run, but my knee doesn’t like it so much anymore (also something we can blame on my Army days).

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

D: I’d like to say someone exciting or glamorous but really, I am probably most like Molly Weasley, Ron’s mom in the Harry Potter series. My family is not as large as hers but I do have a crazy, crowded house where people tend to come and go to seek safe haven and hatch their next plot. I love my family and friends just as fiercely as Molly does and I worry over them just as obsessively.

C: I want to say Elizabeth Bennet, but I’m projecting. I want to be like her, but I’m not nearly as witty.

Why are hot dogs named hot…dogs?

D: Hot dogs are named that way because they are best served hot (but still taste semi-fabulous cold, straight from the package) and because as soon as one smells them cooking one becomes as ‘hungry as a dog’ no matter what one has previously consumed.)

C: As you may have guessed, Darcy and I share a love for processed meat products that are bad for you. The adjective hot does double duty in this case. Yes, the dogs are best served hot, but they’re also hawt. The only reason they’re not called hawt dawgs is so much awesomeness would simply be redundant.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?

D: I don’t think it’s weird but I do seem to collect strange looks when I attend rock concerts and shows where I am the oldest person there, especially when I sing all the words just as loudly as the teenagers.

C: I once ate Puppy Chow (the real stuff you feed little puppies, not the human snack food). I’ve jumped out of an airplane (five times). I once went forty days without a shower, which is both weird and smelly.

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

D: I would hope it was a big elevator because I’d like to bring my husband, my two kids, a few friends and maybe you, Prodhi. We’d have a party and we just might be a little sad when the elevator started working again because it would be the end of our fun.

C: Oh, sure. And here I was going to say George Clooney, but that just looks shallow compared to Darcy’s answer. So. Never mind. I’m ignoring all of you. Give me a fully charged Kindle and a decent Whispernet connection.

A giant chicken just took over the city. What would Bethany do?

D: Bethany is a practical girl, so I think the first thing she would do is grab an umbrella. Chickens are not too particular about where they, um, eliminate their waste and it would be hard to develop a plan if you had to keep dodging chicken poo.

C: I’m thinking that a giant chicken also means a giant, sharp beak. That umbrella should be reinforced with titanium steel and some Kevlar.

I think Bethany would get everyone at school to help herd the chicken into the football stadium, where they could lock the gate behind it. She would then use her mad journalism skills to write up an article for the paper, which would be picked up by all the wire services. Todd would make a YouTube video that would go viral.

The school would end up selling the chicken to a secretive consortium of large chicken fanatics. And, at long last, the school would finally have the money to get the newspaper/journalism class the new software and computers they need.

Three words to describe yourself and three more to describe The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading.

D: Me = Goofy, Geeky and Gregarious
Geek Girl’s Guide = Funny, Surprising and Endearing (I hope!)

C: Me = Shy, Quiet, Geeky
Geek Girl’s Guide = Fun, Unexpected, Sweet (I hope!)

Awesome answers, much? Seriously, I need to learn how to answer like that! Opinions? Questions? Throw them in the comment box.

Tuesday Cravings

2009-07-28T10:46:00.000-04:00

So, here's my weekly list of books I'm dying to read! Enjoy:)

Holy crap. Cyn Balog just announced her upcoming release and it sounds like Pepsi on a hot day. Qouting her:"SLEEPLESS is a paranormal about a Sandman who falls in love with a mortal whose sleep he controls."
Oh.My.God. Someone ship this book to me..NOW! This instance! Even though I live far away...whatever! Ship! Now!

Look at the cover. Need I say more?

Tête-à-Tête with YA author Pam Bachorz

2009-07-28T03:00:00.000-04:00

If you are into YA books and surf the net at least once a week, you must have heard of Candor. Today we talk to the author of this extremely delicious-smelling book (read the summary! pre-order! it's so awesome!), Pam Bachorz. Here are my questions and here are her answers. Enjoy:)

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your upcoming book, Candor.

CANDOR is a novel for ages twelve and up. It takes place in a planned community in Candor, Florida, US, where the residents pay top dollar to have their entire families brainwashed! The kids don't know what their parents have signed them up for--except for Oscar Banks, the son of the town founder. He knows about the subliminal Messages that are hidden in music that plays everywhere in town--and he's secretly fighting them. He thinks he has his world figured out until Nia Silva moves to town. When Oscar falls in love, he must choose between saving Nia from brainwashing or keeping himself safe.

You can see the book trailer on my website (www.pambachorz.com), as well as read the first chapter.

How did you come up with the plot? I mean I read the synopsis and it’s definitely not something that you just wake up one day, look at the ceiling and go “Wham! Eureka!”--it's complex, unique and creative.

Thanks! It took a lot of work and a good number of drafts! I am a plot geek and I read a lot of books about the writing process, as well as books about screenwriting. My favorite plotting tool is something I call my "story wire": it's a wire stretched across my study, over my writing desk (about 5.5 feet tall and 12 feet long). I hang index cards from it that denote each scene in my current project, and have way too much fun swapping and sliding them around while I'm plotting.

What’re your favourite book/s? Other than Candor, because I’m evil and I don’t want an easy answer.

Like every author, I am a voracious reader. Some of my favorites are Jeanne DuPrau's "City of Ember", Neal Shusterman's "Unwind", and anything by Lois Duncan (a childhood fave!).

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your hair colour to why the chicken crossed the road and how that’s even relevant in your autobiography works.

I am a very creative, high-energy person who has a hard time sitting still! Even when I'm watching TV I multi-task. Oh, and I have red hair.

(I want red hair!) Speaking of autobiography, what would it be titled if you wrote one?

"Good Lord, Nobody Is Going To Want To Read This Except My Mother"

What do you do when you’re not writing? As in, hobbies?

I love to read (big surprise). I also watch far too much television and love going to the movies. I like any water sport--swimming, boating, etc and also jog--but that's not a hobby, that's torture that I reluctantly submit to.

Rapid Fire round! Which fictional character do you find yourself most similar to?

Oh, probably Anne Shirley Blythe, my all-time fave.

Why is the moon round when it could be a hexagon for all it could be?

I guess some space monster broke off all the sharp corners years ago for a snack.

Do stairs go up or down?

Precisely.

Are marbles made of marble?

Not in our house. We prefer hand-rolled playdough ones.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?

Hah, I keep my weirdest stuff buried deep! Probably one of my weirder moments was entering my middle-school lip synching contest with a friend. Boy were we terrible. It did NOT get us dates to the next school dance like we had hoped.

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

That guy who stars in the TV series "Dirty Jobs", because he could get us out of there right quick and tell funny stories while he did it. Plus we both live in Maryland so maybe he could suggest some places for some good crab cakes.

Which shoe do you put on first—right or left?

Depends. Which one did I find first while I wandered the house yelling, "has anyone seen my other shoe?"

A cow just flew by. What would Oscar Banks (the main character of Candor) do?

Blame it on the brainwashing. If you're really resistant to the Messages, you get locked in the Listening Room and bombarded by brainwashing until you're completely changed. One of the unfortunate side effects is hallucinations--one character sees dead birds flying. Yeah, dead ones. How can he tell they're dead? Don't ask me. I haven't been to the Listening Room (or have I....)

Three words to describe yourself and three more to describe Candor.

Me: outsider, driven, suspicious. Book: creepy, engaging, fun!

Good God, authors really are creative! Thank you so much for your time and awesome answers, Pam. If anyone else has any opinions or questions to shoot, fire away in the comment box!

WorDissection: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

2009-07-27T12:28:00.001-04:00

Tête-à-tête with YA author Courtney Sheinmel

2009-07-27T05:31:00.000-04:00

Courtney Sheinmel is the author of My So-Called Family and the highly-anticipated YA novel Positively which sounds extremely captivating and promising. I seriously and sincerely want to read that book badly. Read the book description here and you will know what I'm talking about. If you're as beguiled as I am, just click here and pre-order!
Without further adieu, here's the question-answer session that 21st centurians call interview.

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your latest book.
How did you come up with the plot? Was it inspired by your own experiences?

POSITIVELY is about a thirteen year old girl named Emerson (“Emmy” for short) who is HIV-positive, infected with the virus that causes AIDS. After Emmy’s mother dies of AIDS, she has to move in with her father and stepmother, and she struggles to find a place for herself in a world without her mother.

The book was inspired by work I’ve done with a wonderful organization called The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (www.pedaids.org). I’ve been involved with the Foundation since I was in eighth grade, and over the years I’ve spent a lot of time imagining what it would have been like to grow up facing such life and death issues. I think POSITIVELY is the result of that.

What’re your favourite book/s?

This is such a difficult question for me to answer. Although this is not an exhaustive list, my favorites include:
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee; AUTUMN STREET by Lois Lowry; THE SHADOW MAN by Mary Gordon; and THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Krauss.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

I don’t have a favorite color, though when I was little, I did – it was yellow. Usually I eat meals that include cheese. I like movies that make me cry. I watch the Today Show every weekday. I am an older sister. Two of my favorite parts of writing a book are making up names for people and writing the dedication/acknowledgments section.

What would your autobiography be titled if you wrote one?

I have a title in mind for a memoir (slightly different than an autobiography, I know), but I’m not ready to share it yet. I need to start writing it first.

Rapid Fire round!

Why are hot dogs named hot…dogs?

That’s one of life’s great mysteries.

You’re locked in an elevator. Who would you want in there with you to keep you company and why?

Someone who could fix it. And if I could have another person in there with me, I would want my friend Amy – she is very practical and she always calms me down.

A giant bull (we’re talking Hulk-size) just came into the city singing his horns off. What would the main character in your book do?

The main character in my book is a lot like me; I have a feeling she would run for cover.

Three words to describe yourself and three more to describe your book.

Me: Tiny, friendly, loyal
My Book: Sad, hopeful, touching (I hope!)

I'm sure it is, Courtney! Now, bloggers, wasn't that an amazing interview? Throw in your opinions or further questions in the comments box.

Blogger Spotlight: Katie of Another Book Blog-Whore

2009-07-27T05:16:00.000-04:00

Okay...this is another feature I'm adding to my blog. I'll be interviewing book bloggers round the blogosphere and posting them here. Coolio?
Today we talk to Katie from Another Book Blog-Whore (isn't the name awesome and creative?). Click here to go to her blog and give it some lovin':)

So, let's start from the...well, beginning. How did you come up with the interesting name for your blog?
Hmmm, well I sat and brainstormed blog names for about five minutes. I wanted books in my name or something to do with reading. I also wanted something that stood out. My blog name "Another Book Blog-Whore" said fast is "Another Book Bloggor/Blogger". I liked that because that was what I was, another book blogger. There was already a community of book bloggers, I was just joining them.

Tell us about your blog. Anything from the content to the features to the little fineprints at the bottom works.
I post book reviews (as regularly as I can) and also occasionally participate in memes e.g. Waiting on Wednesday, Teaser Tuesday and In The Post (English version of In My Mailbox). I also have author interviews and am expecting to host my first competition in August sometime.

Three tips to fellow book bloggers?
Tips, I'm fairly new to this myself. Well, one of the best things about book blogging is reading others blogs and talking to them about books.
#1 I suppose networking is quite a good way to get followers.
#2 If you have trouble making blog headers like me, there are quite a few websites that will make headers for you. I got mine done at Garden of Headers. It was free :)
#3 Urm, this is hard! Have fun! You should enjoy book blogging!

Do you think writers and their books should be treated leniently if the writer has taken the effort to personally ensure the sending of the review copy to the reviewer?
-I always appreciate being sent a review copy. However, that doesn't guarantee someone a glowing review. I'm honest in what I say but I tend to be a pretty positive person overall. I feel it is important to list both the good and bad. We are not here to advertise but to advise. I wouldn't want to be lied to on a blog. However, it's worth noting that what one person loves on a blog, another person might hate.

Enough seriousness. Rapid fire round! Three words to describe you and three more to describe your blog.
Me: Crazy. Readaholic. Fun.
Blog: Detailed. Colourful. Bloggerlicious.

Three books that are on your mind right now.
"Selina Penaluna", "Tender Morsels" and "The Ask and the Answer".

What's the weirdest thing you've ever done?
Hmmm! I've done a lot of crazy things. I'll replace weird with crazy :D
I got a little tipsy and decided to ride a bike! I didn't fall over but I did look like one of those idiots in the alcohol adverts. To be fair though, my balance on a bike is quite crap when I'm sober. And I was riding a bike that had a seat that was too high for me! It was crazy though as it is was daylight and loads of people were around. Should I reallly be posting this on blogger?

Why are hot dogs named hot...dogs?:S
I've seen the real answer but it's not interesting enough. One day these savages found a dead dog. They were primitive and decided to cook the dog over a spitfire. The dog they found was one of those sausage dogs. Needless to say, they ended up with what is known as a hot dog. When everyone called them weird names, the savages recognised them and called them hot dogs. The name has stuck ever since :)

Dream fictional boyfriend, and why?
Oooh, either Harry Potter, Alex Rider or Dimitri. Harry Potter because he is brave, although I have a thing for ginger guys so Ron has a chance too. Alex Rider because he is blonde, brave and fit ;) And Dimitri from Vampire Academy because I have a thing for guys with Russian accents and this guy kicks ass.

A giant elephant just entered for American Idol, crushing everything in its way. Write a review on this incident.
This is really hard. I've had to brainstorm for this:
Entrant causes storm, default winner!
Sorry that is a little crap :D

LMAO at Katie's answers! As the answers suggest, she is a really cool person to talk to! Any other questions for her? Shoot 'em in the comment box:)

Peek in Motion: Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

2009-07-23T10:02:00.000-04:00

I realized I haven't featured a trailer in a long time. So here it is, the long awaited peek in motion.
Synopsis:

Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…
When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”

Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.

WorDissection: Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson

2009-07-23T04:08:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Loved it to the power of infinity. Now how much does that make?
You'll love it if you liked: It's for anyone looking for a good read, really.
Aura: Light, yet bears depth. Not something you'll forget in a while.
Read If: You're looking for something that is a light read yet has depth and meaning, and you're looking for a perfectly balanced YA read.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Leigh Nolan, 18 year old female
Themes: Indecisiveness, Overanalysis, Friendship, Respect, Relationship, College
Plot: 9.5/10
Narration: 9.75/10
Characterization: 9.95/10. It's THAT good.
Overall: 9.75/10
Did I get bored anywhere? HECK NO.
Did any part confuse me? Nope, not really,
Line/ Page Skippability: 1/5. Only when Leigh is talking at length about something, but only a line or two.
Writing Style: Midlength Sentences, Fun, Descriptive, Graphic, Vivid, Informal.
Uniqueness: 9.8/10
Predictability: 0.5/10. Just the ending.
Favourite Quotes: ""Hey there's one Coke left in the fridge. What would jerkface do?"
'Take it?' "No. He'd pee in it, and then he'd take it."
"I do it, too. Make up stories to pass time as I lie in bed?" 'Oh yeah? What are yours about--cats?' "No...are yours?"
"I'd always been a wader. It was time I did a cannonball."
Cover: 9.5/10
Song(s) to go with book: Anything upbeat!
Imagery: Doled out in perfect amounts. Thou canst visualize.
Ending: Cute and sigh-worthy. Slightly fairytale-ish, but you'll love it! It's nothing impossible and you could believe it can happen in real life.
Reading Priority: Must, Must, Must Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 7 hours, Slow readers- Approx 11 days.
Synopsis:
Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year. Presenting Concerns: The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorschach blots).
Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much.

Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream?

Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive. Diagnosis: Psych Major Syndrome.

WordVore Prod's Review:
I’m in love.
I stayed up until 4 in the morning finishing Psych Major Syndrome.
It was one of the best books I’ve ever read. Not because of endless depth of the story, not because of Shakespearean lingo—but because of the perfectly balanced constitution of all the elements that is behind the making of a great book. I laughed out so many times that i've lost count. Leigh was charming, funny, loyal, intelligent in her own way, afraid of change, over-analytic to a fault and absolutely adorable. Reading the summary you would think that you’ll be blasted away with over-the-top over-analyses from the main character, but lo and behold. It’s completely believable how she fusses over small details a little too much—in fact, she’s someone you know could exist right at this moment but yet be unique. Like Cassie from Wintergirls, I found myself rooting for her and cheering her on as she realized the hollowness of her relationship with Andrew. The path to her self-discovery as well as realizations and decision-making involves the reader. Basically, there is sizzling chemistry between the reader and the story. And by sizzling, I mean acid-to-water sizzling. Downright explosive. There are things that are explained without any confusion, and then there are things that the readers realize themselves so as to create a certain level of intimacy with the plot and characters. I mean seriously, do you have your best friend give you play-by-play of his/her emotions and motives? I bet you figure a lot out yourself and that's what cements the relationship further.
The relationships in the book are tied together in an adroit manner. The friendship between Leigh and Ami is something you’d keep craving for all your life (and Ami rocked! So witty, funny and unique!), and the relationship between Leigh and Andrew reminds us how much respect matters in a partnership. I was absolutely impressed by how Ms Thompson brings up issues like sex and teen pregnancy and advices readers without even letting them know she’s doing so. Therefore you need not be afraid of even a hint of preachy tone. Imagery was a perfect quantity—I could visualize everything yet not be bored by droning of details, since they weren’t long-drawn. Another mind-blowing aspect of the book was the depth and individuality each and every character bore. Even Leigh’s parents were characters by themselves and not stupid shadows that have to be in the story just for the sake of it. Leigh's decisions give us a prime example of how change is not always for the worse but sometimes for the better. The story teaches us how sometimes you should root for your own happiness, and also seize the day without worrying about tomorrow. Carpe diem, bay-bee, carpe diem.
The part I’m getting to definitely deserves a separate paragraph of its own—the chemistry between Leigh and Nathan. Oh my. Nathan is absolutely remarkable, with his smarts but charming reclusiveness, his depth of emotions, maturity and also, hotness. Leigh is consumed by the supportiveness, respect, attention and friendship Nathan offers, while Nathan is mesmerized by the uniqueness and good heart that Leigh is beholder of. However, he is irritated by how Leigh sticks out her relationship with Andrew just for commitment’s sake and doesn’t stand up to him for all the less-than-deserving treatment she has received from him.
I was just a little irked by the absence of much insight into Nathan’s character because sometimes he may fool the reader as a Gary Stu, but then you realize that it’s just because we don’t know all that much about him. I would also have liked a little bit more time taken on the development of Nathan and Leigh’s relationship—not because what’s there is vacantly inadequate, but because it’s so intricately woven and so beautifully portrayed that you can’t help but ask for more. The book is pretty clean of cliché and has surprises jumping at you every page or the other. Even Leigh’s name has a surprise behind it. I kid you not.
Overall, it’s an amazing read and you must, must, MUST, read it. It’s one of those books that goes far beyond the summary at the book and one that you’ll read a gazillion times yourself and then pass it on to your great-great-great descendants until one of them finally decides to eat up the pages (being a toddler, of course. I wasn’t suggesting your descendants were herbivores/pagevores or insulting them, I swear). Reading this book feels like watching the waterfalls or a sunset by the beach for the first time while sipping Starbucks. Now that’s gotta be good.
Now, back to business. I want my Nathan. NOW. Is he available for pre-order on Amazon?

A Word on Words

2009-07-22T10:34:00.000-04:00

So, I'm not too sure about this feature but hey, I can try things out! This is basically a weekly column where I'll put up three tips on writing. Tell me whether you agree or disagree, since they are only suggestions from the point of view of a reader and what I think could improve or spoil a book.
Without further adieu, let's start with today's tips:
1. Don't make the main character whiny. Sure, we all have problems. But it's only so long before we get tired of continuous complains from the MC instead of him/her doing something about it to fix it for good (or shutting up), snap and shut close the book.

2. Make sure the tone is not monotonous. Readers like a little variation in the tone, otherwise it feels boring and drawn out.

3. Throw in graphic imagery of good doses. When we read a book, unlike a movie we don't have visual support to make us feel pulled into the situation. In this case, vivid graphic imagery plays a great role in captivating the reader and create a strong reader-to-story relationship. But remember, too much detail will bore the reader.

WorDissection: An Off Year by Claire Zulkey

2009-07-22T02:31:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yup, I did.
You'll love it if you liked: Any book about a college-bound teen, or transitions.
Read If: You're looking for a life-size story you can relate to. If you like action-packed thrill rides, then this is not the book for you.
Narration: 8.5/10
Aura: Simple and Realistic
Main Character: Cecily Powell, 18 year old female
Themes: Simplicity, Indecisiveness, Stepping Out of Comfort Zone, Relationships
Plot: 8.5/10
Characterization: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Not really. Sometimes the story got too mundane to captivate attention, but it manages to jump back up afterwards.
Did any part confuse me? Nope. It was simple--that was the beauty of it.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1.5/5. Only when the pace dropped a little too much.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Casual, Flashbacks, Smooth flow.
Uniqueness: 9/10. It's not everyday a girl turns back from college.
Predictability: 2.5/10
Reading Duration: Fast Readers-3.5 hours; Slow Readers-6 days.
Favourite Quotes: 'Hey can we hang out in your room? It just feels like it would be more normal.' "I'm not having sex with you, Cecily, if that's what you're hoping."
'You'd think an entire class could afford to donate more than just a bench, but maybe they were moe expensive than they looked.'
Cover: 8/10. It's cute.
Imagery: 6.5/10. Could do better.
Songs to go with book: The theme song of Matilda the movie (that music at the end...I can't remember!), The Smiths- Let Me Get What I Want, Asher Roth - I Love College.
Ending: Hanging, Realistic Closure. The ending was awesome--very deftly done.
Synopsis:
Cecily has always done everything as she was supposed to: taken the right classes, gotten the right grades, applied to the right colleges. But after a lifetime of following the rules, she surprises everyone by arriving for her freshman year of college . . . and turning around. There are infinite possibilities for Cecily’s unexpected gap year. She could volunteer, or travel around the world—but, for now, Cecily is content to do absolutely nothing. What follows is a year of snarkily observed self-doubt and selfdiscovery during which Cecily must ask herself, for the first time, what does she really want to do with her life?
WordVore Prod's Review:
An Off Year focuses on a girl’s indecisiveness about going off to college and facing the unpredictability offered with it. Cecily is someone who doesn’t like blending in and knowing that she has no friends around her, and she’d rather avoid stepping out of her comfort zone. On her first day of college, she just turned back and went home. Throughout the book, it’s subtly shown that she was not ready to take on the challenges of finding new friends and keep from dissolving into the background. The eroding friendship between Cecily and Kate disarms us of the notion that staying put in the same place in life is not going to change relationships. Very realistically, Cecily and Kate drift apart due to the growing differences between their personalities. I liked the overall portrayal of the people in this book—they were shown as pragmatic individuals that we can imagine walking by the streets in our everyday life. The book slaps brutal honesty into the reader’s face at times, which doesn’t come off as harsh but worldly. Youth issues are lightly touched but not in a preachy way, so everyone has something to relate to. I really appreciated the nature of Cecily and Mike’s friendship—it was fresh and not clichéd. Cecily’s relationship with her siblings was drawn excellently. None of them were unbelievably mean or unbelievably stereotyped—rather they both had the capability of feeling for their sister but had the relationship strained because of Cecily’s dad babying her and pampering her only. Here again, we see that it’s not like Cecily’s father doesn’t love all his kids, but he just sometimes lets Cecily get away with things because she’s the youngest. I loved the simplicity of the book; it’s like regular life put on paper. It comforts and advice anyone who has suffered from indecisiveness during a major decision of their lives.
The problem I had was that: I would’ve liked a bit more of imagery. Vivid descriptions were avoided, so it was hard to be completely pulled into the story. The story-to-reader connection could have been a little better, in my opinion.
But anyways, I would still recommend the book because the flow of the story and splashes of sarcastic humour along with everything else I have listed rolls in very well, and any young reader can relate to at least one element in the entire book. There’s something for everyone—that’s the core motto of the book.

Monday Cravings

2009-07-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

So, Monday Cravings is basically my new feature added to MyriadWords. This is basically like "Waiting on Wednesday" of several other book blogs, but I just wanted to add my own twist to it:P
Here is my weekly list of books that I'm craving for.

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

WorDissection: Candy in Action by Matthue Roth

2009-07-16T11:51:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yup.
You'll love it if you liked: Fans of both Gossip Girl and action/adventure novels.
Aura: Action-packed.
Read If: You're looking for chicklit-meets-action.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Candace "Candy" Bettina Cohen, 18 year old female
Themes: Escaping Attack, Action, Adventure, Thrill Ride
Plot: 8.5/10
Narration: 9/10
Characterization: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Not really. Just felt that the super-high pace dropped to just high at the middle.
Did any part confuse me? During the course of intense action, I just had to reread some parts to keep up.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.5/5. Pretty much not at all. Too much going on. Teehee.
Writing Style: Average sentences, Descriptive, Graphic, Vivid, Informal.
Uniqueness: 9.5/10. It was a really unique plot, I must say.
Predictability: 0.5/10
Favourite Quotes: "I never say heart when I mean cheesy stuff. I love the idea of actual hearts, though: the squirmy things with all the veins sticking out. That those are what keep us alive. If i gave you my heart, that’s what it would look like. Not some dumb velvet pillow with lumps and a point at the bottom.”
"But when you broke it down, time wasn’t really like anything else. Even if I lived my whole life naturally, and died in bed at age one hundred and twenty from a broken record, I still wouldn’t have enough time to learn everything I wanted to know, and do all the crazy things I wanted to do.
That’s why I had to keep going."
Cover: 7.5/10
Song(s) to go with book: (Taken from Matthue Roth's soundtrack for the book, click here to download):
01 Candy's On the Run by Alpenglow
02 O.K. Girl by Prowler
03 Who Knows? by Cookie Jar
04 Candy on the Catwalk by Alan Jay Sufrin
05 Jamie Lee Curtis by Edie Sedgwick
06 Candy Ass by The End of the World
07 Zia Alessandra by Giustino Petrone
08 Screaming Candy by Tossing Green
09 I'll Kill You by Postal featuring Matthue Roth
10 Roman Holiday by Giustino Petrone
11 Witchcraft (live) by Burke
12 Lights. Candy. Action. by Itta Roth
Ending: Redeeming, Realistic, Satisfying Closure. No fairytale-ishness.
Reading Priority: Should Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 7 hours, Slow readers- Approx 12 days.
Synopsis:
Candy Resnick is just the girl next door — if the girl next door happens to be a college freshman and part-time model with a wicked sense of humor. She and her best friend Velma jaunt around the world, flirt with rock stars and power brokers, and party in countries that don’t know the meaning of the word. All that changes one night, however, when Candy turns down a dinner invitation from the rich and powerful Preston Reign. Suddenly, she finds herself being stalked by a guy who never takes “no” for an answer. Drawn into his web and lacking direction for the first time in her life, Candy is on the run. Dodging bullets, blowing up buildings, being chased through exotic cities, she fights back with the only weapons she has: Velma, her natural wit, and her stiletto heels. Candy in Action is a hilarious novel with a serious message about the lonely side of being popular and the importance of standing your ground.
WordVore Prod's Review:
Candy in Action was a total whirlwind for me—whew! And I mean in the good way.
The book has got it all—adventure, drama (the non-cheesy kind), suspense, humour and even a few life lessons. Candy is the type of person you’d want to be—yet you clearly recognize her flaws and want to rectify them. She is a high-society girl who stampedes all over the picture-perfect-dumb-blonde stereotype by being one of the smartest and toughest cookies around. Candy is extremely good at putting up a cool and composed façade, but she is innately tired and exhausted of it. Her sturdy relationship with her father shows us she is also a good daughter. She has trust issues—issues about opening up to people in the fear of being vulnerable. Being in control makes her feel comfortable and she tries to maintain that position no matter what. Candy may appear slightly snobby at times given her status quo and model-like features, but that’s just evidence that none of us are insensitive to our environment however hard we try. At the beginning she seems like an ice-cold vapid blonde, but reading on you figure out there’s a lot more human to her. Velma, her best friend, is another character quite similar to Candy, but she is slightly more authoritative, conscientious and more expressive. She realizes she has turned into a snobby prick, but has trouble coming in terms with that change. Matty is a fun, airy geek whom you can’t help but go “aww” at, and even though you’ll figure out later why a Candy and Matty pairing would never work; you can feel that the initial chemistry is quite well-developed. Preston, the anti-hero of the story so to speak, is not given much insight of and thus appears as a neurotic, merciless guy who has a hard time giving up on anything.
The book was tightly packed with action and adventure, with only slight dwindling of pace around the middle—but nothing too big. At parts I felt there was too much packed into a short space, but again, not so much that you’re completely lost. I would have liked to see a little more expression from Candy, but it sort of suits the indifferent nature that she has cultured for herself. You’ll have fun with all the pop-culture references, vivid and graphic descriptions, and so much of cultural diversity thrown in. The book rightly celebrates girl power in all its glory—Candy being a butt-kicking alpha heroine with boundless mental and physical strength. I enjoyed the book; it truly kept me on the edge of my seat.

Peek in Motion: Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

2009-07-16T07:02:00.000-04:00

Prada and Prejudice is YA author Mandy Hubbard's debut novel. As you can guess, it's a slight spin-off of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Now, I know you guys loved Pride and Prejudice,so why not give Prada and Prejudice a try? Here's an awesome trailer for your viewing pleasure.

WorDissection: Ordinary Me by June Sproat

2009-07-14T04:24:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yeah.
You'll love it if you liked: The Princess Diaries By Meg Cabot, Avalon High by Meg Cabot, All American Girl by Meg Cabot. The book is less girly than Cabot's books, so don't let the Cabot relevance shoo you away.
Aura: Relaxed and Casual
Read If: You're looking for a fun, light read with a twist of crime and mystery in it.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Kate Sterns, 15 year old female
Themes: Ordinary turned popular, Spotlight, Crush, Friendship, Breaking of stereotypes, Criminal breakout.
Plot: 8.5/10
Narration: 8/10
Characterization: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? Nope.
Did any part confuse me? Nuh. It was a simple plot.
Line/ Page Skippability: 1.5/5. Just bits where Kate is rambling a lot, but the important parts grasp your attention.
Writing Style: Long sentences, Informal, Fun and relaxed.
Uniqueness: 8/10
Predictability: 3/10
Favourite Quotes: “If you have an endless night, doesn’t that mean it doesn’t end? So why would you need one hundred of them? Hello!”
'“He really is quite cute. I’m surprised you were
able to learn anything,” my mom said. It felt like my face was going up in flames. How could she say that? And what did she know about‘cute boys’, and why was she looking at him? I mean,she’s old!'
Cover: 8.5/10
Song(s) to go with book: Supergirl by Superchick, Extraordinary Girl by Green Day, Story of a Girl by Blink-182, Borders by The Sunshine Underground.
Ending: Satisfying, Everything falls back to place. A tad bit fairytale-ish.
Reading Priority: Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 4 hours, Slow readers- Approx 6 days.
Synopsis:
While behind the wheel during driver's ed, high school sophomore Kate Sterns inadvertently foils an escaped convict's getaway. When her heroic actions land her face on the front page of the Wainscott Gazette, she thinks her life is over, and it is, at least her life as an ordinary anyway. Overnight she is plucked from the ordinaries and plopped into the "in crowd." At first Kate is in denial of her status change, but then she likes it, that is until she's labeled a snob, her locker gets trashed and one other minor thing-- she's being stalked.

WordVore Prod's Review:
The one word that pops up the most in my head when thinking of Ordinary Me is:
Fun.
Sheer, pure, puts-a-smile-on-your-face fun.
The book’s plot is centralized on Kate Sterns, a stubborn 15 year old girl who has her self-image issues but nothing too serious, and who avoids spotlight like a plague (this point may not be highlighted all that much but it’s pretty obvious if you read between the lines). She is also someone who would rather comply than go into any sort of confrontation, but inside her head she has an opinion on pretty much everything.
Read the above lines and you’ll guess the word Kate lives up to: Ordinary.
At first I thought it was one of those books with the plot “ordinary teen turns popular then gets ditched by real friends for hanging out with the populars”. Lo and behold was I shocked. The book had quite a creative plot with just slight splashes of cliché here and there on the canvas. I loved the way Kate’s inner struggle of finding her true self and coming to terms and recognizing the change she was going through was portrayed deftly amidst the criminal trouble. The way all the relationships were drawn was amazing too—absolutely realistic. Every character has his/her flaws but not so much that you hate them for it. I also liked how stereotypes were thwarted through a “popular” character, Becky, but the same action taken through the character of Steve was a tad bit clichéd. Jodi, Kate’s best friend, is believable but her flaws include being a little less supportive than necessary and stereotyping too much.
Kate’s awkward yelling at Steve, her crush, was very well-explained. I can relate to her individualistic streak and her confusion over Steve’s feelings towards her. Throughout the book, the fact that Kate is a very impulsive character is highlighted strongly, but I admired her for trying to rectify that near the end of the book. Kate hesitates from apologizing but isn’t ignorant of her mistakes and does feel guilty over them. The mystery and crime portion of the book was pretty well done. It was well tended to and not overlooked, but not over the top either. The revelation of motives and the events taking place on its basis were well-sequenced. The ending was superb—you think you have it all figured out but things take an interesting turn. I say no more or else the book shall be spoilt for prospective readers.
The things that irked me at times was Kate’s occasional whining and, and Jodi trying to press down her opinion on Kate—I’d have liked to see a little more backbone in the latter, and the lack of depth of emotions. But honestly, they are covered up for at other times, so sin forgiven.
All in all, I would say you should pick this book up with a sweet frappe in hand and just relax. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud at parts.

CoverLover

2009-07-14T02:48:00.000-04:00

Indulge in superficiality...
And judge these covers.

Another Faust by Dina and Daniel Nayeri

Gone by Lisa McMann

Tête-à-Tête with YA author Julie Kraut

2009-07-14T01:11:00.000-04:00

Julie Kraut is the author of two YA books, including the recent attention-grabber Slept Away along with Hot Mess: Summer in the City. Here's her answering a few questions with stuff you may, or may not, know about her.

Let’s start with the basics. Tell us something about your latest book, Slept Away.

Well, the quicky pitch is that it’s about a New York city it-girl who spends an unexpected summer at a very rustic sleepaway camp. Slept Away is perfect for anyone who’s ever been to sleepaway camp or somebody who’s felt just a little uncomfortable in a new situation or folks who just love them some fun and funny summer reading.

For the official description, click here.

A giant chicken just took over the city. What would Laney Parker (the main character of Slept Away) do?

Update her Facebook status to “Who ordered the giant, angry chicken? WTF?” and then run for cover.

How did you come up with the plot? Was it inspired by your own experiences in summer camp?

Because I still want a spot at the Thanksgiving dinner table, I won’t go into too much detail about this, but during a recent trip home, I found myself yelling down the stairs, “I swear I’m like the only person in this family who wears pants on a regular basis.” And then I thought to myself, “What a ridiculous thing to say. I want the main character in my next book to say that.” And that really was the little kernel of the idea that started the book. I outlined my ideas for Laney and her mother and not-at-all-step-father and made sure that the two adults never wore pants.

After I laid out this little trifecta of pantsless family dysfunction, it felt like the perfect set up for sending Laney to camp. After ten years (no wait, more—ah, when did I get this old?) of reminiscing on my summers at camp, I really wanted to write about the experience. While Slept Away isn’t the love letter to sleep away camp I’d write if I were telling my own story, it still allowed me to put a lot of my ideas and memories about camp on paper.

Tell us something about yourself. Anything from your favourite colour to the wackiest quirks works.

My favourite color is purple and that’s the first time I’ve ever spelled favorite with a “u.”

What's the weirdest thing you've ever done?

Oh man. This is a toughie. I don’t even know. Here are three weird things that came to mind.

I just mixed hummus with cottage cheese for lunch as an experiment. (It tastes way better than it looks.)
Once I did the robot in front of reality television cameras. Thankfully, the footage never made it to air.
When I was little, I used to take pickles and hide them around my house for my parents to find when they got really stinky.

Did you ever think authors could be this cool? Julie Kraut sure can be! Any more questions? Shout out in the comment box!

WorDissection: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-07-12T08:21:00.000-04:00

Did I like it? Yes!
You'll love it if you liked: Purge by Sarah Darer Littman, That Summer by Sarah Dessen, Cut by Patricia McCormick
Aura: Haunting and Intense
Read If: You're looking for something that truly affects you and is strongly insightful. Not a beach or fun or light read.
Narration: First Person
Main Character: Lia Marrigan Overbrook, 18 year old female
Themes: Anorexia, Self-Image Issues, Cutting, Death, Mental Conflict and Struggle
Plot: 9/10
Narration: 9.5/10
Characterization: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10
Did I get bored anywhere? No.
Did any part confuse me? No. It was intense and a lot to take at once, but no.
Line/ Page Skippability: 0.5/5. Pretty much not at all. I didn't skip a single line.
Writing Style: Short Sentences, Crossed out lines for added effect, Descriptive, Graphic, Vivid, Informal.
Uniqueness: 9/10
Predictability: 0.5/10
Favourite Quotes: "For one moment we are not failed tests and broken condoms and
cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds."
'That's crap.' "One guy's crap is another guy's fertilizer."
Cover: 9/10
Song(s) to go with book: Frozen by Within Temptation, Any song by the band Evanescence
Ending: Hopeful, Realistic, Satisfying Closure. No fairytale-ishness.
Reading Priority: Must Read
Reading duration: Fast readers-Approx. 6 hours, Slow readers- Approx 10 days.
Synopsis:
"Dead girl walking," the boys say in the halls.
"Tell us your secret," the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies.
But now Cassie is dead. Lia's mother is busy saving other people's lives.
Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia's head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way - thin, thinner, thinnest - maybe she'll disappear altogether.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the National Book Award finalist Speak, best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson explores one girl's chilling descent into the all-consuming vortex of anorexia.

WordVore Prod's Review:
Wintergirls is one of the best problem books I’ve read in a while. It deviates from being typical in any way, or only focusing on the issue itself rather than the person entrapped within the issue or the relationships that revolve around him/her. Lia is so very real yet so ethereal. The emotions she feels make her ethereal, yet we are given glimpses of a normal young girl lurking somewhere about within the obsessive fears of gaining weight. She feels that being thin is the only thing she can be good at, which is a complete giveaway that her self-esteem has hit rock-bottom. She is consumed by the illusion that empty equals strong, and the imagined ghost of her dead best friend, Cassie, further draws this illusion. Lia is always at a constant struggle of wanting to live and wanting to follow this illusion she believes is true. But deep down inside, she is aware that it is killing her. She is a wintergirl; encased in an ice fortress she has created for herself, pushing close ones away. But she displays signs of warmth—a human fire still trying to ignite inside of her—when she is with Emma, her stepsister who she treats no different than a blood sister. Relationships in the book are intricately woven, showing strains but also hopes of reconstruction. The narrative is so powerful and haunting, that no matter how different you are from Lia, you are bound to be pulled in and feel her emotions and her pains as if they were your own.
I found myself so strongly rooting for the side of Lia that wants to get better. I felt like yelling out to her “Come on! Eat! Open up!” and telling her to stop blaming herself and wipe off her guilt over Cassie’s death. It was nearly impossible to bring myself to blame her or think of her as “girl gone bad” or a “hopeless neurotic”. I wanted her to get better, genuinely. This is how any reader would empathize with Lia if they read this book, I’m sure. You can’t help but cheer on for this girl and want to reach out and help her take the baby steps towards improvement.

Peek in Motion: Candor by Pam Bachorz

2009-07-12T06:40:00.000-04:00

You've heard of Candor, haven't you? You haven't?!? Oh, you bad, bad YA reader! But that's what I'm here for! For the utterly clueless yet yearning-for-new-words YA readers, here's the jist of the delicious book:

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape Candor, Florida before they're transformed into cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

Cool, no? Want something cooler? Here's...
*drumrolls*
...the Trailer!

Watch, watch! Then tell me your opinions. Good? Bad?

Hola, lovelies!

2009-06-30T05:31:00.000-04:00

Thanks for dropping by and visiting my not-so-informative blog (for now, at least). I'm planning to turn this space into a YA book review and music review and whatevers site. Any help will be greatly appreciated, e.g.site design, suggestions etc. Please contact me at queenofdivinechaos@gmail.com if you think you could contribute anything. Ciao!