Waiting On Wednesday: One Night That Changes Everything

This week's WoW book is One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt! It will be released on July 6, 2010.

Book Description:

Eliza, 17, loses her possessions on a regular basis. None of them, however, matters as much as her purple notebook. Her notebook is where she lists the things she would love to do but is most afraid of doing, from asking a random guy to dance at a club to kissing a secret crush. Via text messages, she learns that her notebook is in the hands of her evil ex-boyfriend, Cooper. He and his friends, who are some of the most popular boys in school, threaten to make the contents of Eliza's notebook public unless she spends one night doing some of the things on her list.

Oh my gosh, I'm dying to read this one! I'm really curious as to what Eliza wrote down on that list. And I love this cover. PUBLISHED ON JULY 6, 2010!

On My Bookshelf (18)

(Originally by The Story Siren, as "In My Mailbox.") On My Bookshelf is used to share what books I bought, won, traded, received for review, or got from the library this week. It's to let you know what to expect for me to read/review next. (:

BOUGHT FROM BOOKSTORES:

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee: It’s not so easy being Rosemary Goode and tipping the scales at almost two hundred pounds— especially when your mother runs the most successful (and gossipiest!) beauty shop in town. After a spectacularly disastrous Christmas break when the scale reaches an all-time high—Rosemary realizes that things need to change. (A certain basketball player, Kyle Cox, might have something to do with it.) So begins a powerful year of transformation and a journey toward self-discovery that surprisingly has little to do with the physical, and more to do with an honest look at how Rosemary feels about herself.

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin: Pure. Unplanned. Perfect. Those were Nick’s summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parents’ divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs. All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he’s neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn’t mind in the least. But Nick’s world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then weeks later, while Nick’s still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she’s pregnant, and Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can’t stop caring for, the girl who insists that it’s still over.

WON FROM CONTESTS:

The Amanda Project: invisible I by Melissa Kantor: Amanda Valentino changed everything. Callie Leary has exactly one thing, and one thing only, in common with Nia Rivera and Hal Bennett: They were each chosen by Amanda to be her guide. When Amanda arrived at Endeavor High, she told Callie she moves around a lot and always picks one person to help her navigate the choppy waters of a new school. Why did Amanda lie? Following a course that they suspect Amanda deliberately plotted, Callie, Nia, and Hal piece together some cryptic clues. But they find more questions than answers and quickly realize that before they can figure out what happened to Amanda—the girl who changed their lives—they'll need to solve the most important mystery of all: Who is Amanda Valentino?

Party by Tom Leveen: It's saturday night in Santa Barbara and school is done for the year. Everyone is headed to the same party. Or at least it seems that way. The place is packed. The beer is flowing. Simple, right? But for 11 different people the motives are way more complicated. As each character takes a turn and tells his or her story, the eleven individuals intersect, and reconnect, collide, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.

RECEIVED FROM TRADING:

Evernight by Claudia Gray: Bianca wants to escape. At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW:

Summer In Paris by Michele Bell: Kenzie Williams feels like she has it all; wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father tells her that he has declared bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution while they sort through their financial and marital problems is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris...Idaho! Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie arrives in Idaho feeling like a square peg with name brand clothes, in a round, horribly podunk, hole. Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, who's been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town. Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets.

CAMP! :)

I'm going to be gone until the beginning of July, because my youth group at church is going on our yearly summer trip again! It's to Caswell, the beach, and I am SO excited. I know that God will do marvelous things while we're there. So please be praying for our trip! I have some posts scheduled for next week, but I won't be able to get on the computer or check my email.

Hope everyone is having an amazing summer so far and I'll talk to you guys in JULY!

Waiting On Wednesday: Life, After

This week's WoW book is Life, After by Sarah Littman! It will be released on July 1, 2010.

Book Description:
After a terrorist attack kills Dani’s aunt and unborn cousin, life in Argentina—private school, a boyfriend, a loving family—crumbles quickly. In order to escape a country that is sinking under their feet, Dani and her family move to the United States. It’s supposed to be a fresh start, but when you’re living in a cramped apartment and going to high school where all the classes are in another language—and not everyone is friendly—life in America is not all it’s cracked up to be. Dani misses her old friends, her life, Before. But then Dani meets a boy named Jon, who isn’t like all the other students. Through him, she becomes friends with Jessica, one of the popular girls, who is harboring a secret of her own. And then there’s Brian, the boy who makes Dani’s pulse race. In her new life, the one After, Dani learns how to heal and forgive. She finds the courage to say goodbye and allows herself to love and be loved again.

I really love the pretty simplicity of this cover. It's what sparked my attention about it! PUBLISHED ON JULY 1, 2010!

Gone by Michael Grant

Title: Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Published: April 2009 by Katherine Tegen Books

My Rating: 4 stars
Tags: YA | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Series (Book One)
Includes: Violence, Disturbing Scenes, Eating Disorders

First Lines: I never meant for it to happen like this. But if I had the chance, there's no way I would take it all back.

During school one day, all of the adults and teenagers just suddenly disappear. Gone completely. All that's left is anyone under the age of fifteen. At first, it's like a wonderful new life for the kids: no parental guidance or rules, no one to tell you to do chores or eat healthy. But soon, this strange new life becomes a nightmare. Caine, an older student from the private school nearby, comes to town with a big posse. It doesn't take long for him to strive to be the leader, and he won't let anything get in his way. Sam, the main character of the book, is the right guy to take up the leadership position though. As their fifteenth birthdays near, and they know they'll disappear soon, they'll both have to make some serious decisions.

From Page 21
Then, without warning, the truck veered off the road. Lana stared at the empty seat where her grandfather had been a split second earlier. He was gone. The truck was going straight down.

This first book of a series was like Lord of the Flies... but on steroids. There were many parallels between the two books, but Gone was more disturbing and exciting. The first few chapters of the book extremely held my attention. With the mysterious vanishing of anyone over the age of fifteen, all the kids that were left behind reacted differently. Some cried, others cheered, some went home, others formed groups, and some took charge. Like Sam. I really loved his character. For a fourteen year old, he was very mature and courageous. He immediately stepped up and sort of became all of the kids at Perdido Beach's leader. He had the help of his crush, Astrid, and his best friend, Quinn, to calm the chaos and set things straight. The characterization was spot on and I really got to know and understand the main characters well.

Michael Grant's writing style was very interesting. He included descriptive details, so I was easily able to visualize what was happening in the story. The book began thrilling and exciting, but about halfway through things started to wind down. I could tell that the author was trying to keep the pace fast, but I think that the book was just way too long. He could have condensed his writing and tiny side-plots, to make the story not take up almost six hundred pages. However, after the slow middle section, it gets interesting again. Very interesting. Some of the kids have powers: speed, strength, teleporting, healing, etc. Even some animals are producing abnormal powers. Caine wants to be the ultimate leader of every kid living in Perdido Beach. He's heartless and manipulative - especially to the kids with special powers. Even though he's the antagonist, I really liked his character in a bad-boy sort of way. He was very believable and unpredictable. The author did a terrific job setting up his character.

There were endless amounts of questions that remained unanswered even after I finished the book. Instead of answering major questions, the author simply created new ones. I desperately hope there is a reasonable explanation for everything in the second book of the series. It almost makes me think that the author himself is uncertain about his writing and ideas. Sure, a cliffhanger ending is good for books in a series, but it seems like this one shouldn't have quite ended like it did. Almost like the next book will be the wrap-up.

I'm so glad I took the time to read this book though. It was a disturbing and addicting read. It was adventurous and creative and I can't stress enough how awesome the characterization was, especially from third-person perspective. I wouldn't be surprised if this was made into a movie; if I was a director, I wouldn't hesitate to bring this one to life.

Cover Thoughts: It's alright; I don't hate it but I don't love it. It has an air of mystery to it and makes me wonder what the book is about though.

Book Supplied by: Bought at Borders.

I really need question ideas!

HELPPPP!

So I don't think anyone saw my post a few days ago, but I got an email from ABC Family's producers of the Pretty Little Liar show. It says:

Thanks so much for playing our Secret Keepers game! Now comes the fun part - please send me 1 or 2 questions for the cast member who has also been playing Spencer, and we will film her answering it. Timing is tight since the schedule for the show is very busy, so if you could send me your question today that would be great. Thanks again!

I can't think of any good questions to ask, anyone have any ideas?!

I get to ask ONE question...

Today was the last day of the Pretty Little Liars Secret Keeper Game :( It seemed so short! But it was a lot of fun. As 'A' promised, those of us who were able to complete at least 8 out of the 10 missions, get to ask the producers of the ABC Family show ONE question. 'A' is going to email me soon asking for my one question. But...I have no idea what to ask!! Help!?

So pleaseeeee leave a comment with what you would ask the producers of the Pretty Little Liars show! :) Thanks so much, I desperately need ideas!

Waiting On Wednesday: Tell Me A Secret

This week's WoW book is Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala! It will be released on June 22, 2010.

Book Description:

It's tough living in the shadow of a dead girl. . . .

In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda's death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister's world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own. When two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears, Miranda is stripped of her former life. She must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister's demons and her own.

I've read a couple of reviews for this one and it sounds good! Not really a fan of the cover but hopefully the story is much better. PUBLISHED ON JUNE 22, 2010!

My Summer Blog!

My best friend, Rachel, and I have a huge to-do list of things we wanna accomplish over the summer. I want this one to be the best one yet, so we're going to blog our way through these next three months. :) It will be kind of like an online scrapbook!

So anyways, if you want to check it out and become a follower, I will love you forever. No really, like we desperately need followers. I don't want to spend all this time blogging our way through summer and have no one else experience it with us. I promise our posts will not be boring, and we have some pretty awesome things on our to-do list. Check it all out by clicking here. Thanks! HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!

Cover Look-alike (2)

Doing It by Melvin Burgess

or
Love, Ghosts, & Facial Hair by Steven Herrick?

Same picture, different lighting. I think I like the first cover better though, just because it's easier to see the picture and it's colorful. These books were published two years apart and are both young adult.

Opinions, anyone?

Waiting On Wednesday: A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend

This week's WoW book is A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner! It will be released on June 10, 2010.

Book Description:

For months, Cass has heard her best friend, Julia, whisper about a secret project. When Julia dies in a car accident, her drama friends decide to bring the project—a musical called Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad—to fruition. But Cass isn't a drama person. She can’t take a summer of painting sets, and she won’t spend long hours with Heather, the girl who made her miserable all through middle school and has somehow landed the leading role. So Cass takes off. In alternating chapters, she spends the first part of summer on a cross-country bike trip and the rest swallowing her pride, making props, and—of all things—falling for Heather. This is a story of the breadth of love. Of the depth of friendship. And of the most hilarious musical one quiet suburb has ever seen.

Hmm this one sounds quirky; a must-read for me! I really like the title and cover. PUBLISHED ON JUNE 10, 2010!

Pretty Little Liars Pilot Episode

The first episode of the new ABC Family show, Pretty Little Liars aired last night! I watched it twice in a row because it was just that good. I'll admit, I wasn't sure whether or not I would like the show at first, or if it would be anything like the books.... oh my goodness, it was EXACTLY like the book series! With the only exception being what the characters look like.

I thought the show went by extremely fast, it felt like a twenty minute show, definitely not an hour! And they were able to make the entire book just the first episode. I'm kind of worried now. I've only read the first two books in the series, and at the rate the show is going, I'll probably see a lot of spoilers. :/

My mission for the Secret Keepers Game was to look for a scene in the episode that might include a math test. That was my secret object, and I was supposed to look for a scene with that might include that. Dude, I kept my eyes glued to the screen but this was such a hard challenge. After watching the episode twice, I still couldn't figure out a scene that would include a math test. Help anyone?!

So overall I think this is going to be a really good show. I like the acting, the plotline is no question - brilliant and the guys are really cute. :)

For those of you who watched it, what did you think?!

For the Future (7)

This is a monthly meme of mine that I made up! :) It's similar to my "Waiting on Wednesday" posts, but highlights many books, not just one. And doesn't include summaries. If you'd like to do it too, you can. But could you link the idea credit to me? Thanks!

Here's a list of young adult books that are still in-the-making or will be published in the future. This can range from being released tomorrow, to two years from now! These covers and release dates might not be permanent, it's just what I saw on Amazon, Goodreads, or the author's website. Hope this will be efficient to expand your reading pile!

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (June 7, 2010): "Fairy tales take a modern twist with this action-packed story of strong sisters, deadly wolves, and risky love." -Melissa Marr
Things I Know About Love by Kate le Vann (June 22, 2010): Swept up in the promise of romance and the magical New York City that Adam shows her, Livia is smitten, but with all she knows about love, is Livia really ready to risk her heart again?
Majix: Notes From a Serious Teen Witch by Douglas Rees (July 1, 2010): Kestrel is a witch-in-training forced to move to California.



Dark Flame by Alyson Noel (June 22, 2010): In Alyson Noel’s most darkly seductive Immortals novel yet, Ever fights for control of her body, her soul—and the timeless true love she’s been chasing for centuries.
7 Souls by Barnabus Miller (July 13, 2010): With its blend of suspense, horror, fantasy, and realism, 7 Souls is an adrenaline rush of a thriller.
Plus by Veronica Chambers (August 5, 2010): The perfect romantic makeover story about an every-girl whose dream comes true.



Rush by Jonathan Friesen (June 10, 2010): Jake King is a full-fledged adrenaline junkie. Firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn’t stop soon, they could all get burned...
Watch Me by Lauren Barnholdt (July 6, 2010): "I could not put this book down - it was hilarious! Barnholdt is a fresh new voice in teen fiction." - Sarah Mlynowski
Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon (June 15, 2010): A love story as only Andrew Auseon can write it: with unflagging soul and plenty of crazy.” - Sara Zarr

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Title: Something Like Fate
Author: Susane Colasanti
Published: May 2010 by Viking Juvenile

My Rating: 3.5 stars
Tags: YA | Realistic | Romance | Chick-lit
Includes: Sensuality, Homosexuality

First Lines: I never meant for it to happen like this. But if I had the chance, there's no way I would take it all back.

Lani and Erin have always been best friends, yet they are really different people. Erin's outgoing, lively, and usually found with a group of people. Lani is a quiet introvert; however what they do share in common is their interest in fortune-telling and fate. Once Erin starts dating Jason, Lani's surprised when she starts getting feelings for him, too. And to make matters worse, the feeling is mutual. When Erin leaves for summer camp, it also leaves a lot of time for Lani and Jason to spend together. But at the end of their summer romance, and school starting back up, how will they be able to tell anyone about their secret relationship...especially Erin?

Susane Colasanti is perfect when it comes to realistic teen fiction; she's never failed to hit it spot on. And this book was no exception. I really liked the main idea for the book: falling in love with your best friend's boyfriend. What an awful situation to get into! Each day as their summer passed, I was able to watch Lani and Jason's relationship bloom. Lani's a sweet, shy person, however I consider her weak. During the second half of the book, when everything around her is falling apart, she just simply had no idea what to do. I understand that you feel helpless in situations that you can't control, but I had just about had it with Lani! She needed to step up to the plate and confront the people in her life that were giving her problems - not just sit back and watch it grow worse, letting people walk all over her. Lani needed a backbone, and it irritated me that she'd always just hide when a problem hit her. Don't even get me started about how much she cares what other people think...

From Page 214
After I get my lunch, I just stand there with my tray, searching for a safety net. I sit at an empty table. I try to look like I don't care that I'm all alone. Or that everyone in here is talking about me. I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

When school starts, and Erin finds out about Lani and Jason's love affair, that's when the book got real for me. Sure, the first half was cute and fun - but that's all it was. Nothing seemed to be really happening, and I was ready for some drama. And that's exactly what I got. Oh my goodness, the reactions from everyone at school when they find out about Lani? Even though it was a bit extreme and maybe not totally accurate, it was so real! I felt like I was right beside Lani the whole time, helping her through that first week of school as she felt so alone and fragile. Even though Erin is a horrible best friend (and you'll have to read the book to find out why!), she was one of my favorite characters to read about. She reminded me of a number of girls I know, so I could really relate.

I was kind of disappointed at the writing style. It just seemed to lack something, but I can't put my finger on what it was. During long conversations, the author would leave out who was talking - so I got confused endless amounts of times at who was speaking.

Overall it was a quick and enjoyable chick-lit book. I didn't get much out of it, but I'm glad I spent the time to read it. Probably not one of Colasanti's best books, but definitely worth the read. The second half is so much better than the first half, so don't get discouraged while reading it - just stick through it and experience the emotion in those last few chapters that really changed my perspective on the book as a whole.

Cover Thoughts: Ahh I love this cover so much! It's what made me first interested in this book. That's what I imagined the characters to look like, and the picture shown on the cover is such an eye-catcher.

Book Supplied by: Publisher for review.

Waiting On Wednesday: Raised By Wolves

This week's WoW book is Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Barnes! It will be released on June 8, 2010.

Book Description:

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs. But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

Ooh I love a good werewolf novel. Not to mention how gorgeous that cover is! PUBLISHED ON JUNE 8, 2010!

Interview with author Morgan Matson

I was able to have a quick interview with YA author Morgan Matson. Her debut book Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was published this month, and I have to say it was one of my favorite books.

Summary: Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

What do you hope readers will get out of your debut novel?

I hope that they feel like maybe they got to see a little bit of America they might not otherwise have encountered! But mostly, I hope that they take away the idea that it’s easier to travel the road with someone else. That it might seem easier to keep things to yourself, but ultimately, it’s always better to let someone help you.

What was the hardest part while writing your book?

I really found it challenging to capture the feeling of each place. I’d look back at my notes and pictures of the places I’d been, and wonder how I was going to transfer the feeling I had in a place into words. That was the biggest challenge of the book by far.

What's the best place you've ever visited on one of your own road trips?

Such a hard question! I don’t know if I can narrow it down to one place, but Memphis would definitely make the list. I just fell in love it – Beale Street, Graceland, barbeque, folk art, the Civil Rights Museum, tons of live music. I thought I’d heard the blues before I went to Memphis. But it turned out that I was mistaken.

Top 5 favorite bands at the moment?

Jack’s Mannequin

Tallest Man on Earth

Owl City

The New Pornographers

Jackson Browne

Are you planning on writing another book; if so can you tell us a little about it?

I’m actually finishing the first draft of another book now. It all takes place (for the most part) in one place – which I think I needed that after Amy & Roger. I wanted people who would stay put for a while! It’s about a girl who works at her family’s movie theater in a small town, and the weekend when everything in her life changes.

Thanks so much for answering my questions Morgan! Readers, you MUST check out her book Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and prepare to be blown away... :)