GYM CANDY

GYM CANDY

by Carl Deuker

2007

313 Pages

From Back Cover:

High school football star Mick Johnson is determined not to make the same mistakes his father made on the field. But after being tackled outside of the end zone in a crucial game, Mick decides that his current training plan isn't working. It isn't long before he's purchasing, and using, "gym candy." Mick gets the results he was looking for-and a lot more he wasn't after, and he soon finds himself trapped......

Mick is moving up from middle school to high school football. Just a stepping stone in his football career if he follows in his father's foot steps-which he's planning to do. His dad has been tossing him a football since he could walk. His dad already has a blank wall in the den to put his newspaper clippings, trophies and awards. Mick has pressure from home, school and the gym to be faster, bigger and stronger. He has the determination and the drive but after a while he feels like his best isn't good enough. Someone he trusts and considers a friend assures him that steroids is the answer he's looking for. As soon as Mick make the decision to take "gym candy" his life changes. Now he is faster, bigger and stronger, but at what cost?

My 15 year old son read this book first-in record time. This is a boy that only reads when he has to do a book report for a grade(much to his librarian mother's dismay). So I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did. Kids in high school are using steroids more and more to improve their body strength for the sports they play. It's highly addictive, the side effects are horrible and it's so easy to get. It's an ugly truth that I'm happy to see written about in a young adult novel. In this story we see Mick's life spiral out of control by making one little decision that takes him down a path of destruction.

This book is definitely for any boy or girl who loves or plays sports. There was quite a bit of football "language" I had to ask my son about but the story is solid and Mick is a great character. I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. I bought this book at Barnes and Noble and I'll be donating it to my local library.

CONTEST CRAZE 2010

Because I'm such a loser and so very behind on so many things I forgot to mention this totally cool contest that I've been participating in the last couple of weeks. It's hosted by Princess Bookie and it really lives up to it's name-CONTEST CRAZE!
A bunch of bloggers have donated a ton of books and winners are chosen at random all the time. Just go to her site and pick the books you would like to win and check back often-that's it! Could there be an easier way to win free books?? I think not! The contest is going on for a couple more weeks so head on over and join the fun!

DEWEY'S 24 HOUR READ-A-THON

ITS ALMOST HERE!

APRIL 10th!

Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon is just around the corner!

It's a fantastic way to burn through that TBR pile, meet new people and did I mention you can win prizes? Oh yeah! Sign up now. Use this link to go to Dewey's site

ITS MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Where did the weekend go?

After a few days of furious spring cleaning I can claim that every closet in my house has been de-junked and reorganized, windows are washed, and house is no longer under inches of winter dust! I feel victorious although children are still glaring at me and whispering among themselves that I failed to follow child labor laws.

So now it is Monday and it's time to ask my fellow bloggers.....What are you reading? Sheila over at One persons journey through a world of books hosts this meme. It's a great one that gives all of us a chance to check in on our fellow friends and see what they have lined up for the week. Also Shelia is always having awesome giveaways and contests so you should go check in out and join the fun!

This past week I read:

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop(reviewed)

What Happened to Cass McBride?(will be reviewed this week)

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker(will be reviewed this week)

Boy, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman(will be reviewed this week)

Plan to read this week:

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

Repossessed by A.M Jenkins

I need to finish up Alice and Wonderland and Philosophy -edited by Richard Brian Davis

I don't know how much reading I'll get done this week. It's spring break for my kids and I have some rooms to paint and a garage to clean.

So what are your plans for the week?

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE?

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE?

By Gail Giles

2007

240 pages

Summery from Good Reads:

Kyle Kirby has planned a cruel and unusual revenge on Cass McBride, the most popular girl in school, for the death of his brother David. He digs a hole. Kidnaps Cass. Puts her in a box--underground. He buries her alive. But lying in the deepest dark, Cass finds a weapon: she uses the power of words to keep he nemesis talking--and herself breathing--during the most harrowing 48 hours of her life.

Cass is a girl who has everything. Looks, popularity and brains. Everything she does, she does well. The teachers like her, her fellow classmates respect her, no one has a bad word to say about Cass McBride. So how does a girl like her end up kidnapped and held captive in a box buried deep underground? It's a question that will eventually be answered as you race from page to page. This story is told by three people: Cass, Kyle and the detective trying to find Cass before it's too late.

Suspense seems like such a weak word to describe this book. Thank goodness it's a small book because I don't think my heart could have taken more pages. It's a tale that will leave an impression long after you have finished it.

I bought this book used on Amazon.com and will be giving it away as a prize to one lucky person in celebration of my one year anniversary. Scroll down for more information on that.

BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY!!

DON"T FORGET!!

to enter my GIVEAWAY of course!

2 Beautiful Hardback Books are up for grabs:

What Happened to Cass McBride?

& Repossessed!

The rules are simple:

1. Be a Follower (Old or New)

2. Leave your contact info in comment section.

3. Be over the age of 13

4. Sorry can't include International w/ the price of shipping and all that. :(

Thanks for entering!

IT"S FRIDAY! BOOK BLOGGER HOP!

A NEW MEME!

WOOHOO!

This is a weekly event, hosted at Crazy-For-Books, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read. It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends!

Jennifer thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!Pretty please - Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

Check out the site for all the info and hop on in!

GENTLEMEN

GENTLEMEN

by Michael Northrop

2009

234 pages

From Inside Cover:

Micheal, Tommy, Mixer and Bones aren't just from the wrong side of the tracks-they're from the wrong side of everything. No one at their high school takes them seriously, except Mr. Haberman, their remedial English teacher. Mr. Haberman calls them "gentlemen," but everyone else ignores them-or, in Bone's case, is dead afraid of them. When one of their close- knit group goes missing, the clues all seem to point in one direction: to Mr. Haberman.

The inside cover blurb doesn't do this debut novel by Michael Northrop justice. Sure, the cover is fantastic-very eye catching. But the hook isn't there in the description.

I'm so glad I gave it a whirl after reading the great review by Bookshelves of Doom.

Author Michael Northrop did such an awesome job of capturing main character, Micheal's voice and personality from page one. His slacker, I-don't-give-a-crap attitude grated on my nerves! I found myself gritting my teeth and shaking my head in frustration by his actions. Or lack of. So here's the beauty of the book- Micheal is not a likable guy, in fact he's definitely someone I would stay clear of on the street. But I found myself still caring about him! I was cheering for him, hoping he would make good choices and just be a good kid. ARRRGGG!

Gentlemen is a nail biter for sure. Some really good twists and turns. The story builds and builds and then wow.

I would recommend this story for readers 15 and up due to language, violence and sexual content.

CURSE OF THE BLUE TATTOO

Curse of the Blue Tattoo
Being an Account of the Misadventures
of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady
By L.A. Meyer
2004
488 Pages

From Inside Cover:
After being forced to leave HMS Dolphin and her true love, Jacky Faber is making a new start at the elite Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston. But growing up on the streets of London and fighting pirates never prepared Jacky for her toughest battle yet: learning how to be a fine lady. Everything she does is wrong. Her embroidery is deplorable, her French is atrocious, and her table manners-disgusting! Then there's the small matter of her blue anchor tattoo.... Will Jacky ever become a proper lady? Not bloody likely! But whether she's triumphing over her snobbish classmates, avenging a serving girl's murder, or winning over a stubborn horse that's as fast as the wind, one thing's for sure: Jacky Faber finds adventure wherever she may be.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jacky Faber! She is one of my most favorite heroines. Mostly because she is so completely imperfect, you can't help loving this girl. She is smart, quick witted, emotional and full of flaws. Though her adventures and mishaps Jacky grabs ahold of your heart and won't let go. This historical young adult novel is set in 1803 where Jacky finds herself enrolled in an all girl's school in Boston. Coming off a ship full of men where she learned to survive for three years leaves her ill prepared to deal with a school full of snobby girls. Quick as she can Jacky learns to navigate through art, music, equestrian, penmanship as well as making new friends. But of course Jacky just can't stay out of trouble and soon she is dodging the police while singing in pubs, fighting the school bully and solving the murder of a serving girl. This is the second book in the series of Jacky Faber and I can't wait to read about her next adventure in the third book.
I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. It is available for check out at the Salmon Public Library

FEED

FEED

By M.T. Anderson

2002

236 Pages

From Inside Cover:

"We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to totally suck."

So says Titus, whose ability to read, write, and even think for himself has been completely obliterated by his "feed", a transmitter implanted directly into his brain. Feeds are a crucial part of life for Titus and his friends. After all, how else would they know where to party on the moon, how to get bargains at Weatherbee & Crotch, or how to accessorize the mysterious lesions everyone's been getting? But then Titus meets Violet, a girl who cares about what's happening to the world and challenges everything Titus and his friends hold dear. A girls who decides to fight the feed.

This book had some very real and frightening concepts to me. It shows the planet in a not so very distant future after we have used up important resources. The air and oceans are polluted and people are getting sick. Humans are implanted with feeds that constantly bombard their thoughts with advertisements. Feeds connect people in a split second but completely disconnect you from your surroundings.

I had a hard time liking Titus, the main character. He's a selfish, self absorbed teenager who lives for the moment and could care less about the future. He struggles with the way he is and the way he wants to be after he meets Violet. A very interesting book for sure. I'm not super crazy about science fiction but I really needed to know how Titus and Violet would end up.

I recommend this book for readers 14 and up for language. This book available for check out at the Salmon Public Library.

DAWN OF THE DREADFULS

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES
DAWN OF THE DREADFULS
By Steve Hockensmith
2010
287 pages

From Back Cover:
Journey Back to Regency England-
Land of the Undead!
As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands-until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.
Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth-and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Benet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawkworth is a powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies?
This book was sent to me by a publisher for review. Thank you!
I enjoyed it immensely. It was pure silly fun. I got a kick out of zombies stumbling about the English countryside. Mr. Bennet is trying his best to get his prim and proper daughters trained for hand to hand zombie combat. Meanwhile Mrs. Bennet could care less that the undead are roaming about. Her biggest fear is not finding a perfect match for the oldest daughters and that they may disgrace the family by taking part in the slaying of the undead. There are moments that had me laughing out loud as Elizabeth tries to figure out a ladylike way to chop the head off a rotting corpse. Or the times she is trying to sort out her mixed feelings for Master Hawksworth and Dr. Keckilpenny.
These books are called Quirk Classics for a reason. If you're a Jane Austen fan with a sense of humor or have unexplained deep affection for all things zombie- pick this book up. You will not be disappointed!

BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

MUG OF MOXIE IS ONE!!!
Happy Blogoversary to Me!

Let celebrate by having a giveaway!

Who doesn't like free books right?

Here's the Rules:

1. Become a Follower!

2. In your comment please leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

3. You must me 13 years old to enter

4. No International entries please(sorry- tax season ya know!)
Contest ends on April 15, 2010

Here's what's up for grabs-

1. Whatever Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

2. Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins

If I reach 50 Followers I will also throw in...wait for it....

3.Dawn of the Dreadfuls-The Prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombie by Steve Hockensmith

What are ya waiting for??? All the cool kids are doing it!

IT"S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

HOLY COW!!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

This is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila-One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books-here's the link- http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ It's a fun way to see what other people are reading and read some great reviews. Come join us! I find it hard to believe that another weekend zipped on by!

Here is what I have planned next on my reading list.

1. Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

2. Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

I finished and still need to review:

1. Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

2. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyers

3. Feed by M.T. Anderson

This week is going to be a crazy one! So far on the schedule I have a basketball banquet, PTO Dinner and a Book, and Scout Roundtable. So we'll see how much reading I get done!

Have a good one everybody!

CONTEST!

Nely over at All About {n} is giving away an awesome book!

GIVEAWAY: She has 1 copy up for grabs -

Rules: This contest is open to U.S. & Canada residents only. Winners will be drawn Saturday, March 27.

Head on over to her site to read her great review and enter her contest!

Good Luck!

CONTEST!

Stephanie over at Curling Up By the Fire is having a very cool contest! To celebrate hitting 50 followers she is giving away....
The opportunity to win any book from The Book Depository. Yes, that's right, any book (under $20 please). Contest is open internationally, as long as The Book Depository ships to where you live.The rules are very simple.
Contest ends March 31, 2010.
So get on over there and enter!!

IT'S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

This is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila-One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books-here's the link- http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ It's a fun way to see what other people are reading and read some great reviews. Come join us!

This past week I read:

The Chosen One by Linda Lynch Williams(review is posted)

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser(review is posted)

The Feed by M.T. Anderson(review coming soon)

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

This week I plan to read the following:

Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies-Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!

THE CHOSEN ONE

The Chosen One


By Carol Lynch Williams
2009
213 Pages
From Inside Cover:

Thirteen year old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is without questioning them much-if you don't count her secret visits to the Ironton County Mobile Library on wheels to read forbidden books, or her meeting with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.
But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty year old uncle-who already has six wives-Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.

I remember watching an episode on Oprah where she sent reporter Lisa Ling into the desert to do an in depth report on a big polygamist group from Colorado City. They believe in polygamy-the practice of having multiple wives.
I watched in fascination as Lisa Ling interviewed an ex member who had run in the dead of the night to escape a life she didn't want. She now lives with no contact with her loved ones that still live inside the walls of the compound.
It all came back to me as I read the heartbreaking story of Kyra-who never chose to live this way-she was born into it. She has never known any different. She is only fourteen when she is told that she will marry her uncle who is sixty years old. She is expected to obey without question. She is told that this is what God wants.
This is a story that grabs you and won't let go. Kyra's life isn't her own on any level. She answers to three mothers and a father who truly believe with all their heart that they are following God's plan. Even when it is announced that she will be marrying an old man her parents are convinced that it is the right and faithful thing to do.
Kyra's story is powerful not only with high emotions but also takes a dramatic turn when Kyra decides that she is done accepting that other people will decide her future and makes the heart wrenching decision to leave her family and run.
But don't worry this review contains no spoilers! I can promise you that The Chosen One will touch your heart and not leave your mind. I bought this book from Amazon.com and I will be donating to Cindy at http://princessbookie.com for Contest Craze 2010. Go to her website and check it out.

TEASER TUESDAY!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
**Grab your current read
**Open to a random page
**Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
**BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
**Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Book: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

TEASER:

"Don't say anything to anyone," Mother says as she gets out. She slams the door shut. It feels good not to be rattling around still. I'm glad to be on solid ground.

"They'll look at us," Mother Claire says. "They'll stare. But you ignore them girls. You remember who you are. The Chosen."

"Yes, ma'am," Laure and I say together. We follow our mothers down the sidewalk. The air is hot. The sun eats down. It must be noon straight up.

Page 117

JUST LISTEN

JUST LISTEN

by Sarah Dessen

2006

371 Pages

From Inside Cover:

Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least that's who she plays in the commercial for Kopf's Department Store: top student, popular cheerleader, dazzling prom queen surrounded by friends. In real life though, Annabel is the girl who has nothing: no best friend since her friendship with mean-but-exciting Sophie ending with malicious rumors flying, no peace at home while her sister's eating disorder preoccupies the family, and no ability to tell anyone what's on her mind. And then she meets Owen Armstrong-intense, obsessed with music, and determined to always tell the truth, no matter the consequences. Can a girl who hates confrontation find a way to connect with a guy who thrives on it? And can Annabel find the courage to tell what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

I really enjoyed this book. I liked Annabel. Reading her story brought back memories of high school and how hard it is to deal with the every day drama and pressure. On the outside Annabel really does seem to have it all. She's pretty(actually a model) smart, parents are supportive. But things are not always as they seem.That is the strong message of this book-you never know what can really being going on behind closed doors or on the inside of someone who seems so very perfect on the outside.

I'm excited to get my hands on another Sarah Dessen book. Sadly our library has no books by this YA author. I was able to get this one through a Inter-Library Loan.

I recommend this book for readers 14 and up-for some sexual situations.

BOOT CAMP

BOOT CAMP

by Todd Strasser

2007

235 pages

From Inside Cover:

In the middle of the night Garrett is taken from his home to Harmony Lake, a boot camp for troubled teens. Maybe some kids deserve to be sent here, but Garrett knows he doesn't. Subjected to brutal physical and psychological abuse, he tries to fight back, but the battle is futile. He won't be allowed to leave until he's admitted his "mistakes" and conformed to Harmony Lake's standards of behavior. And there's no way to fake it. Beaten, humiliated, and stripped of his pride, Garrett's spirit is slowly ebbing away. Then he hears whispers of an escape plot. It's incredibly risky-if he's caught, the consequences will be unthinkable-but it may be his only way out.

Wow! I could not put this book down! From the first page where Garrett is being transported to Harmony Lakes by two people that have kidnapped him in the middle of the night from his own house-with his parent's permission.

I was dying to know the reason his parents had decided this teen was out of control. Page after page the truth finally unfolds. It left me feeling on the fence. I myself would be horrified if my son did what Garrett has. What parent wouldn't be? But Kid's Boot Camp is so extreme-the punishment hardly fits the crime.

What Garrett is put through in an effort to "break him" is heartbreaking. Harmony Lake of course justifies their actions by stating that they take bad kids, turn them around and produce the kids every parent wants or wishes them to be.

The ending is......

Let's just say that I immediately put the book down and starting researching Boot Camps for Kids-I needed more information. It's hard to believe that these places are for real. And that parents would be so desperate for help that they are willing to sign their children up for something like this. This is a disturbing and powerful story. I would definitley like to read something else by this author.

I recommend this book for ages 12 and up. It is availabe for check out at the Salmon Public Library.

It's Monday! Whatcha Reading??

SO..........WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Good Morning!

It's Monday already! Where did the weekend go?

My family is still neck deep in basketball-we made it to state! YAH! That means we will be headed to Boise on Thursday for a fun filled week of games. We also added to our family-A new puppy! Some sort of rottweiler mix?? We named him Ben after our favorite Steelers quarterback.

Regardless of all this crazy stuff I had a great week reading-it is without a doubt my therapy.

This Monday meme is hosted by Sheila from One Person's Journey Through the World of Books it a fun way to review the week and share with the class what reading plans we all have for the coming week- If you would like to join click on her link .

This week I finished:

WITCH & WIZARD-James Patterson(review posted)

BOOT CAMP-Todd Strasser(review coming soon)

JUST LISTEN-Sarah Dessen

This week I plan to read-

Girl in the Arena by Lise Hianes

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

I bought both these book used on Amazon. com

Happy Reading Everyone!