Book Review-THE GIRL IN THE WALL

THE GIRL IN THE WALL
By Daphne Benedis-Grab
2012
256 Pages
Summary taken from Goodreads-
Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's east coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: this could be one very long night.
They have no idea just how right they are.
Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.
My Thoughts-
When I first saw the cover of The Girl In The Wall I assumed it was a paranormal tale, I was pleasantly surprised that this book is actually part thriller-part romance.
Author Daphne Benedis-Grab keeps the story fresh by playing off  two different points of view-one is Sera and the other is Ariel. Both girls have very different personalities and that keeps the story from lagging or getting boring. Sera and Ariel have a former friendship and a long past in common that we get bits and pieces of as the story unfolds.
The story is intense-filled with unexpected friendships and a couple of violent deaths I didn't see coming. I loved the action and the unexpected twists and turns this tale took me on. 
The only thing that made me scratch my head in confusion was Sera's inability to dial 911 from a cell phone thats' the latest and greatest in technology-HUH??? We all know that every cell phone is capable of that. This detail kinda drove me crazy because it is a major part of the story.
The romance between Sera and Hudson is a cute distraction. The story can easily carry itself without it.
Looking back I wish the story had been a chapter or two longer to flesh out the character of Nico. To me he was the most interesting character and I would have loved more details about him.
The Girl In The Wall was a suspenseful nail biter that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I would love to find another title by Daphne Benedis-Grab.
This book was sent to me to read and review by FSB Associates. I will be donating this book to my local Middle School Library.

Book Review-The Disreputable History of Frankie Laundau-Banks

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

By E. Lockhart

2008

342 Pages

Summary taken from Goodreads:

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:

Debate Club.

Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.
Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.
Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.
Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.
This is the story of how she got that way.
My thoughts:
Have you ever been excluded from a game, locked out of a tree fort or left behind because you were a girl? In elementary school I didn't want to play with dolls, hang on the money bars, or swing. I wanted to run with the boys, catch the football, and shoot the bad guys with my finger gun. Maybe that is why I completely fell in love with this book.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is BRILLIANT! The story takes place over the span of two years. We see Frankie go from shy and uncertain to someone who could quite possibly take over the world.
Frankie starts a new school year having gone through some major physical changes over the summer. She immediately gets the attention of popular senior, Matthew.
As their relationship progresses she finds out that Matthew belongs to an all-boy secret society at her boarding school. This secret society-The Loyal Order of the Bassett Hounds has a long history of pulling legendary pranks. Frankie wants to be a part of it but can't simply because she's a girl. But Frankie is not the type of girl to accept no for an answer.
Frankie is impossible not to fall in love with and root for. A main character with brains, beauty and wit quick enough to make your head spin.
I bought this book used from Amazon.com and donated it to my local middle school.

Movie Trailer:BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

This is a movie I'm excited to see-BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
Coming to theaters FEBRUARY 2013
The book is written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.
Summary from Goodreads.com
There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
Looks like its worth the price of admission in my opinion.
Check out the movie trailer-

New Moon:BAD LIP READING

Need a laugh today?
Thank you Bookshelves of Doom for finding this little gem.
This earned a snort laugh from me.
Enjoy.

A Gift Card Giveaway Hop!

The Christmas countdown has started. Are you ready?
What perfect timing for a giveaway hop!
The prizes are GIFT CARDS!!
I'm not participting in this hop but still wanted to give you all a heads up. I'll be hopping and hoping that I win one or two of these awesome giveaways.
But I have to admit that if I won a book gift card it would probably go into my own stocking!
A giant thank you to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Sweeping Me for hosting and organizing this giveaway hop.
Now grab a cup of hot chocolate and hop away. Good Luck!!
Click HERE to go to Giveaway Hop List.

BOOK REVIEW-The Dark Light

THE DARK LIGHT
By Sara Walsh
2012
483 Pages
Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.
That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.
Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.
My thoughts:
Let's talk about the word "assume".
According to Webster the definition of the word assume means to take to or upon oneself.
I assumed many things about this book in the beginning-
Let's start with the first assumption-
The Cover:
Based on the beautiful cover of The Dark Light I thought this book was going to be rated PG(something I would put in the hands of an older teen)-there's a big sexual tone to it. She has the "this man is mine-come near him and I will cut you" stare. If you doubt the seriousness of her look-check out her hand planted firmly on his butt showing full ownership. Yep, I assumed Mia and the tattoo man probably had done/will do/are doing the BIG NASTY. Assumption was wrong-this romance is very G rated. Don't judge a book by it's cover you silly rabbit!
Content:
A lot of book reviews drop the word paranormal when talking about this book. Maybe we all have different definitions of paranormal? To me paranormal has elements of vampires, witches, werewolves, magic, etc. But after looking up the definition of paranormal in Webster's dictionary I found that paranormal means not scientifically explainable. The Dark Light has magic, a parallel universe, shape shifters/changelings, demons, and people with wings. This book sits firmly in the fantasy area for me. But it could technically be considered either/or/maybe both.
The Author:
I have never read anything by Sara Walsh before The Dark Light. After finishing this I can say I was blown away by the fact that I never knew what she was going to throw at me-the story was unpredictable on every level. The plot twists and story surprises kept me turning pages like a maniac.
Here we are tooling around in small town Nebraska, then when you least expect it she drops the reader into Brakaland and doesn't look back.
Her world building was amazing. I wanted to know more, more, more about Brakaland and Bordertown.
I liked that she made the characters real in the sense that they weren't perfect. I admired Mia's strength but at times she annoyed me by running head long into a situation she knew little about. I loved that she was so protective of her little brother but still acted like a seventeen year old that forgets to turn off her headlights and lets her car battery run out.
Don't even get me started on Uncle Pete. Flawed with a capital "F".
Sol's companion Delane is the trusty sidekick who brings the comedy to lighten the mood now and then. He was one of my favorite characters.
Sara Walsh recognizes that in order to connect/identify with a character they need to have some flaws.
At almost 500 pages the story wraps up nicely leaving a small possibility for a sequel(I could definitely hear more about Mia and Sol) but could also be left as a terrific stand alone novel.
If you are looking for great fantasy, romance with a ton of adventure this story is for you.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book to read and review. I'll be donating it to my local Middle School where it's sure to be a big hit.

Please Santa Please!

This is at the top of my Christmas wish list-
Sending out some Santa Signals for this book that I've read great reviews for. Forget warm and fuzzy for the holidays-I want a hair raising, nail biter.

Movie Trailer-WARM BODIES

The movie version of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion is headed to a theater near you-FEB. 2013
Book summary taken from Goodreads.com-
A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love—with a human—in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.
I haven't read this one yet but it sounds like an interesting take on a zombie book. I will definitely be checking it out before I see it on the big screen.
Here's the movie trailer-Enjoy!

WINNER! WINNER!

The turkey has been eaten, black Friday has come and gone and hopefully everyone read at least a book or two over the Thanksgiving holiday. Gratitude Giveaways has officially wrapped up and a winner has been chosen!
LEAH49
Congratulations!
The winner will be sent a copy of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.
Leah49 has 48 hours to respond to the email sent or a new winner will be chosen.
Thank you to all who participated and hopped. And HUGS to I'm a Reader, Not a Writer who hosted and organized another fantastic giveaway hop.

GRATITUDE GIVEAWAYS

Welcome to GRATITUDE GIVEAWAYS!
This year has been a great year for growth and learning. I have always had a passion for books and reading has always been a wonderful escape for me. To have a place to share that love means more to me than words can really express. I am filled with gratitude for fellow bloggers who inspire me, followers that that the time to drop by and BOOKS.
I also want to throw out a BIG thank you to Kathy at I'm A Reader, Not A Writer that hosts and organizes every single hop and giveaway that I participate in-I'm not really sure how she manages to run a fabulous blog, support bloggers and authors and host great giveaways-I suspect she has super powers.....THANK YOU KATHY!!!
I love young adult and spend most of my reading time in this area. In celebration of the books I love I would like to give away one of the following books that were chosen for this year's TEENS' TOP TEN WINNERS(which was announced by YALSA -Young Adult Library Services Association). These titles are chosen and voted on by teens as the best of the best for the year.
This is the list-

1). Divergent-Veronica Roth
2). The Fault in Our Stars-John Green
3). Legend-Marie Lu
4). Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- Ransom Riggs
5). What Happened to Goodbye-Sarah Dessen
6). Across the Universe-Beth Revis
7). Cinder-Marissa Meyer
8). The Scorpio Races-Maggie Stiefvater
9). Where She Went-Gayle Forman
10). Abandon- Meg Cabot
So this giveaway is reader's choice. Tell me which book you would like to win if your name is drawn.
**Rules for the Giveaway:

1. Please enter contact information in comment section along with your book choice.
2. This giveaway runs from November 15th to November 25th. A winner will be selected on November 26th.
3. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
4. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
5. This giveaway is open to everyone-BUT you must be a follower.

DYSTOPIAN Winners!

 Announcing the winners of the Dystopian Giveaway Hop-
A copy of the book Divergent by Veronica Roth goes to-
BIOCHEMGUY

A copy of ARC The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse goes to
EMILY ROSE

Thank you to everyone who played along on the hop. I appreciate everyone who enters, follows and supports. Big thanks goes to Dystopian Giveaway Hop hosts and organizers- I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and My Shelf Confessions.

SPOOKTACULAR Winners!

Announcing the winners of the Spooktacular Giveaway:
Recieving a copy of one of my very favorite zombie books
World War Z by Max Brooks is-
CAYCE

The winner of the First Season of The Walking Dead DVD is-

MARIEHAHN13

Both winners have been contacted and have confirmed. I appreciate everyone who participated, followed and liked. A giant thank you to the hosts of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop-I'm A Reader, Not A Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm.

Book Review-DEAD CITY

DEAD CITY

By James Ponti

2012

288 Pages

Summary taken from Goodreads:

Most kids have enough to deal with between school, homework, extracurricular activities, and friends, but Molly Bigelow has something else on her list: hunting zombies. By day, Molly attends MIST—the Metropolitan Institute of Science and Technology—but outside the classroom she’s busy dealing with the undead. Because not only do zombies exist, they’re everywhere, and it’s her job to help police them and keep the peace. Sure, she’d like to be a regular kid, but given that her mother was the most revered (or feared, depending on your perspective) zombie hunter in the history of New York City, “regular” just isn’t possible. Molly’s got some legendary footsteps to follow—and some undeadly consequences if she fails.

My thoughts:

I LOVED this book!

Let's start with the cover which is cool and creepy. Molly is ready to kick some serious zombie butt. Love the omega sign hidden in title-clever! I have no doubt many kids will pick up this book based on the cover alone.

Main character Molly is a smart, yet awkward 7th grader who is struggling to fit in and figure out where she belongs. Everything in her life suddenly changes when she finds herself accepted into a secret society of zombie hunters called the Omega Society. An ages old club dedicated to keeping New York safe from the undead.

A genius move by author James Ponti adds a new twist to zombies by making the undead emotional, feeling creatures-some of which are just trying to live peacefully among humans. Of course, some zombies are trouble makers and that's where the Omega Society comes into play. It is now Molly and her team's job to gather clues, solve puzzles, and track down the evil undead. 

Not only is Molly trying to wrap her head around her unusual new job, she deals with complicated new friendships, a strained relationship with her older sister, as well as discovering shocking things she never knew about her mother. 

I loved that Molly was not a perfect person, she messes up-sometimes in big ways. It was fun to watch her grow and evolve through out the story. The New York history and landmark facts were also a fun reading bonus. I stand firmly in the "Molly" fan club. I can't wait to read more of Molly's zombie fighting adventures. 

Dead City is a perfect Middle School read. I can't wait to put it on the library shelf and watch the kids devoure this zombie story.

A big thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing this book to read and review. I'll be donating this book to the Salmon Middle School.

DYSTOPIAN Giveaway Hop

*Welcome to the Dystopian Giveaway Hop*

November 1st to 7th*

dys·to·p*i·an
a noun
a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease,
and overcrowding. 
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & My Shelf Confessions
This hop features Dystopian Novels.
*GIVEAWAY:*
The winner can choose either of these dystopian novels:

 Rules for the Giveaway:
1. Please enter contact information in comment section along with your book choice.
2. This giveaway runs from November 1st to November 7th. A winner will be selected on November 8th.
3. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
4. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
5. This giveaway is open to everyone-BUT you must be a follower.
AND here's where I sweeten the deal-Like me on Facebook(HERE) and you will also be entered to win a bonus book-an ARC of FORSAKEN by Lisa M. Stasse

Good Luck!!

SPOOKTACULAR Giveaway Hop

 IT'S FINALLY HERE!
Seven glorious days of hop-tastic fun!
Mug of Moxie is joining the biggest giveaway hop of the year!
Over 400 participants-which mean over 400 books and other goodies are offered to you lucky hoppers! This giveaway hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm.
I'm going to confess that I have a bit of an addiction right now-ZOMBIES! Love em!
So this Halloween I celebrate the existance of my favorite bad guys-The Undead! Below are a few books that I have read and loved.
This giveaway is reader's choice. Which book would you choose if you won?

Rot and Ruin
Jonathan Maberry

World War Z

Max Brooks

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Carrie Ryan

Rules for the Giveaway:

1. Please enter contact information in comment section along with your book choice.
2. This giveaway runs from October 24th to October 31st. A winner will be selected on November 1st.
3. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
4. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
5. This giveaway is open to everyone-BUT you must be a follower.
AND here's where I sweeten the deal-Like me on Facebook(HERE) and you will also be entered to win a DVD of The Walking Dead Season 1.

Happy Halloween and Good Luck!

Book Review-The Grimm Chronicles

The Grimm Chronicles
By Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky
2012
378 Pages

Summary Taken From Amazon.com:
200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world. Literally. Now the characters of the Grimms’ stories walk among us. With every day that passes, they grow more evil. They are the Corrupted, and only a hero can stop them.
For 18-year-old Alice Goodenough, that means taking precious time off from her summer vacation. In addition to volunteering at the local library, Alice must stop the Corrupted who are now actively hunting her down. With the help of her magic pen and her trusty rabbit friend, the world has suddenly gotten a lot more complex. The Corrupted are everywhere, and only Alice can see them for what they truly are.
This book contains the first 3 episodes of the critically acclaimed series:
Episode 1: Prince Charming Must Die!
Episode 2: Happily Never After
Episode 3: Revenge of the Castle Cats
My Thoughts:
There is nothing I love more than a twist on a classic fairy tale. It seems like the Grimm Brothers are getting some respect lately.
Volume 1 of the Grimm Chronicles contains 3 episodes in Alice Goodenough's life. Each episode contains a character and back story from a Grimm Brother's tale-Prince Charming, Cinderella, and the Seven Dwarfs.
Alice is a normal teenager living a pretty average life-she goes to high school, hangs out with her cute boyfriend, has dorky parents, etc. It all changes one day when she finds an old pen while putting away books in the basement of the library she works at. The moment she picks up the pen she finds out that she is a "hero" and it's now her job to rid the world of the "corrupted". Luckily, in all the confusion and new responsibility she has a mentor/trainer in the form of a big furry white rabbit-yes, a rabbit- to help her understand her new role in life.
I like that the main character Alice is a strong, independent, female who has to think her way through the situations she finds herself in. She also knows how to use a sword and takes fencing classes-how cool is that? AND she works in a library as a volunteer-big "like" points for that!
I wasn't really into the Briar Rabbit sidekick-not being to familiar with the Briar Rabbit tales I was a bit confused by him and his role in Alice's life. He doesn't seem to be that much of a help-maybe he's more of a comedy relief? Perhaps he'll grow on me in upcoming episodes.
I would really like to see more of Seth in stories to come. I think he could really become a more helpful part of "Team Alice" with his savvy computer programming skills and subtle sense of humor.
I loved that the authors included a collection of Grimm Fairy Tales at the back of their book. That was an extra treat. It also helped familiarize me with lesser known tales and characters that were scattered through out their book.
I also really liked the lost diary of a past hero included in story-I hope we get more of that in upcoming episodes.
I'm very much looking forward to Volume 2 which will follow Alice through her senior year. I can't wait to see which Grimm characters will make an appearance and how Alice plan to take care of them. A very entertaining book!
Thanks to Ken Brosky for sending me a copy of the Grimm Chronicles to read and review.

Book Review-Burn for Burn

Burn for Burn
By Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
2012
368 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.
Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.
Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.
Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.
My Thoughts:
3 Very Different Girls
3 Point of Views
3 Acts of Revenge
One word-Wow!
A contempory novel with a tiny paranormal twist. This book left me wanting more, more, MORE.
Firstly-LOVE the cover! The picture really captures the mood of the story. The body language speaks loud and clear-these girls aren't besties-but they're together to carry out something big. They look scared/paranoid/secretive.
My favorite character out of the three is Mary. She is the one who carries the deepest scars of her past and the one who has the most mystery that surrounds her. I think she's the live wire of the bunch who will probably get completely out of control with her revenge. She's the wild card and I can't wait to read more of her story in the sequel.
Who hasn't dreamed of getting revenge on a ex-boyfriend or high school frenemy? It's a story that most everyone can relate to in one way or another.
After visiting Jenny Han's website I learned that Burn for Burn is the first book in a planned trilogy(YAH!) The sequel is currently being written with her BFF-Siobhan Vivian-it's called Fire with Fire and will be released in the Fall of 2013.
Can't wait to read it!
A giant thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing the ARC to read and review!

TOP TEN PICKS for 2012

THE TEENS HAVE SPOKEN

YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) announced their Teens' Top Ten winners for 2012! These titles are chosen and voted on by teens as the best of the best for the year.
1). Divergent-Veronica Roth
Beatrice lives in a society where she must choose either to remain with her family’s faction or set off towards
independence and her beliefs. And what happens when the unity between these factions begins to fall apart?
2). The Fault in Our Stars-John Green
Hazel and Augustus meet and forge a relationship at a support group for
kids battling cancer. As Hazel and Augustus struggle with the “side-effects of dying,”
they come to learn the strength of wishes, the complexities of long human lives, and the
wondrous ways of the universe.
3). Legend-Marie Lu
June, a fifteen-year-old military prodigy, is hunting Day, the outlaw she believes is responsible for her brother’s death. What will happen when the two meet and discover the government is corrupt?
4). Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- Ransom Riggs
When Jacob was little, his grandfather would tell him stories of the fantastical children’s home where he grew up and the seemingly magical kids who lived there with him. When his grandfather is killed, Jacob sets out to find the home where these children lived, unearthing a magical secret and uncovering his true heritage.
5). What Happened to Goodbye-Sarah Dessen
Ever since Mclean’s parents divorced, she has lived in four towns in two years – each time taking on a new persona. Mclean expects to leave Lakeview in six months, but soon finds that she doesn’t want to – she just wants to be herself.
6). Across the Universe-Beth Revis
Cryogenically frozen centuries ago, Amy and her parents are on their way to a new planet aboard the spaceship, Godspeed. Unplugged from her cryo chamber, Amy discovers she has been awoken 50 years early, in a failed murder attempt. With Elder, the future leader of the ship, by her side they are on an adventure filled with murder, lies, dreams, and stars.
7). Cinder-Marissa Meyer
A futuristic retelling of the classic Cinderella, Cinder, a cyborg and talented mechanic, lives with her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters in the plague-ridden New Beijing. Soon after meeting Prince Kai, Cinder must find the truths of her past, which may help to save the future.
8). The Scorpio Races-Maggie Stiefvater
Every November, the beaches of Thisby come alive with the Scorpio Races. The water horses are vicious, the terrain is treacherous, and death is likely, but the reward can be beyond anything you could imagine. Puck Connolly is racing for her family, Sean Kendrick for his passion—but only one can win The Scorpio Races.
9). Where She Went-Gayle Forman
This sequel to Gayle Forman’s If I Stay is narrated by Adam, Mia’s ex-boyfriend. Shortly after the devastating accident that killed Mia’s family, the talented cellist moves to New York, where an accidental meeting brings them back together.
10). Abandon- Meg Cabot
Pierce has experienced death before and barely escaped. When she moves from her old town to a town called Isla Huesos - Island of Bones - for a new start, she realizes that death wants her back. Can she escape death once again?

Okay-I am dismayed and a little embarassed to admit that I have read none of the above! How is this possible? I obviously need to step up my game...I'm ashamed of myself.

Banned Book Winners

ANNOUNCING.....
Winners drawn from Banned Book Week 2012
Thanks for celebrating with Mug of Moxie!

Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Winner- DOMINIQUE

Hungar Games by Suzanne Collins
Winner- APE2016

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky
Winner-HOLLY LETSON
Congratulation to all the winners! Books will be mailed out this week. Thanks for hopping and following.

I will also be participating in the HUGE Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. So stay tuned! I'll be giving away some amazing books!

Book Review: FORSAKEN

FORSAKEN
By Lisa M. Stasse
Simon and Schuster
2012
375 Pages

Summary taken from Goodreads:
As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
My Thoughts:
The Forsaken is the first book of a planned trilogy by Lisa M. Stasse.
I'm not sure you are going to find a book this year with more mixed reviews. Book reviewers loved it or hated it. I find myself somewhat in the middle. I liked The Forsaken. It's a great story that left me wishing for a bit more.
I really liked that main character Aleena is a strong, smart female thrown into a situation that forces her to fend for herself. She doesn't waste time feeling sorry for herself. She quickly learns the skills she needs to survive and decides she won't be a victim to The Wheel.
I really disliked the romance-it didn't feel like it truly had a place in this book-possibly added as an after thought.
The story without a doubt drew me in with it's non-stop action but left me wishing for more information. For example the U.N.A. -At the beginning of the book Aleena fails the Government Personality Profile Test (G.P.P.T.) and is quickly shipped to the Prison Island Alpha(The Wheel)but I would have liked more about the world she grew up in so I could better understand her-maybe allowing me to feel more of a connection to her.
Once on "The Wheel" Aleena meets several characters good and bad. The world building here is more detailed. The wheel is divided into sectors and a gray zone. Tribes have claimed the different sectors and war with each other. The Monk and his drones rule most of the sectors-they raid and kidnap from the tribe that takes Alenna in. It's here that Alenna learns her warrior skills and decides to become part of a plan to escape The Wheel. Two thumbs up for the creepy factor involving several elements on "The Wheel"-intense/shocking/heartstopping.
Along the way there are several plot twists and a few surprises that left me eager to read the second book of The Forsaken. I'm curious to see what happens next to Aleena. I'm sure author, Lisa M. Stasse will keep us on our toes.
I would definitely reccomend this book to readers who like action and dystopia.
A giant thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing this ARC.

Movie Trailer-Beautiful Creatures

Looks promising.....

Ellen Hopkins is My Hero

Here's why-
I felt a physical reaction-like I had actually had the wind knocked out of me after reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins. I'm not really sure I have ever had such an emotional shock to the system while reading a book. Which is why I had to include a book by her for Banned Book Week in my giveaway. If you google Ellen Hopkins inevitably her name pops up with the words challenged and censorship. In this article found on her livejournal.com she talks about an instance in which she was uninvited to a Teen Lit Fest in 2011.
You will not find person more passionate about censorship and books for young adults. In this article she shares her thoughts about censorship and a powerful poem she wrote called Manifesto. Her books are raw, honest and sadly realistic. She writes about the dark topics of drugs, cutting and suicide. These are things that our kids see and hear about in the halls of school every day.
Small town America is now armed with drug dogs while hydrocodone is being bought and sold in school parking lots during recess. These topics are not shocking revelations to the teens living it every day.
I shake my head in frustration when I read that adults or libraries try to keep these books out of the hands of teens.
Crank does not glamorize the use of drugs. It shows the slow, dark, descent of a girl that tries a drug and then becomes addicted to the "monster". Crank doesn't have a happy ending and that's why it's so powerful. It's exactly why we need to make sure that it's accessible to teens and we use this book as a teaching tool. If it helps even one child to think twice before going down that road it's worth the fight.
Thank you Ellen Hopkins for fighting the good fight. I've got your back.
For the chance to win a copy of Crank by Ellen Hopkins click on sidebar to right or just scroll down.

Why I love Sherman Alexie

Books are something that I'm passionate about. It might explain why I have chosen jobs that allow me to spend alot of time around books-I work part-time at a public library and substitute at a local middle school library.
I find great joy putting a book into the hands of kids or recommending a great book to a reluctant reader. Books have always been a comfort, an escape and a source of happiness for me.
Last year my son came home from school with an assignment to write about the "Growing Trend of Young Adult Books-How exciting for me! My teenage son still doesn't really get what my blog is about-nor at 16 does he really care. LOL!
While researching the topic he came across an article that was featured in The Wall Street Journal written by Meghan Cox Gurdon called Darkness Too Visible? In which she asks the question-

Contemporary fiction for teens is rife with explicit abuse, violence and depravity. Why is this considered a good idea? The full article is found here .

Of course the article found alot of attention from readers-pro and con, bloggers and authors.

One of my very favorite authors Sherman Alexie responded to Meghan Cox Gurdon's article with an essay called Why the Best Children's Books are Written In Blood. It's found here . His words brought me to tears while reaffirming to me why it's so important that we put these "challenged" books into the hands of kids that NEED to read them.

During this week we celebrate the freedom to read-

I gladly take this opportunity to participate in Banned Book Week. During this week you have a chance to win  an excellent book by Sherman Alexie called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Information is found on side bar as well as below.

Bloggiesta Wrap Up

BLOGGIESTA WRAP UP

I'll be honest-I didn't get alot of the things I had planned to do originally at the start of Bloggiesta with the exception of cleaning up my blog roll and writing a couple of reviews.
But I come away feeling great because through the mini challenges I learned this-
*How to print my blog and why I should(Suey@ It's All About Books)
*I created an Evernote Account-a place to keep all my scattered notes and hopefully keep me more organized(Joy's Book Blog)
*I have 20+ Post and Discussion Ideas for future posts(Tanya@Girlxoxo)
*I visited 10 blogs that were also participating in Bloggiesta and left comments-a challenge to Help me Build A Blog Audience(Sheila @ Book Journey)
*I wrote 2 back logged reviews-a mini challenge (Hannah@ Word Lily)
So I'm going to call Bloggiesta 2012 a success. I made a small dent but learned alot.
A BIG thanks to the hosts It's All About Books and There's A Book. A GIANT thank you to the hosts of the mini challenges.
I look forward to Bloggiesta 2013!

BLOGGIESTA Continues

BLOGGIESTA UPDATE

HOLA!
Hope your weekend has been filled with the joys of getting @#$% done.
What I have done so far-
*Cleanup on my blog roll
*Written a couple of reviews(they will be posted after Banned Book Week).
*Updated my Goodreads
I have also enjoyed in participating in a few mini challenges.
*Sheila at Book Journey- Building a Blog Audience
She encouraged us to visit 10 new blogs and leave a comment. Great idea! I visited a few blogs that are also doing the Bloggiesta and found some excellent new blogs that I know I'll be visiting again very soon. The idea is that if you take the time to make a comment they will return the gesture and soon you are building your blog audience...and making new friends :)
1. Ruby's Books
2. Ms. O Reads Books
3. Scuffed Slippers and Wormy Books
4. My Little Pocket Books
5. Mariana @ Book Travels
6. Project To Be Read
7. Little Book Owl
8. The Cozy Armchair
9. Lady In Read
10. Fiction State of Mind
*I participated in a survey at It's All About The Books thanks to Suey.
*Word Lily challenged bloggers to use this weekend to catch up on our back logged reviews-I did two.
*Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity challenged bloggers to keep a notebook or calendar for our blogs to jot down those random ideas, stay organized and keep track of things. I have several notebooks devoted to my blog, ideas, half started reviews and thoughts about books I've read or am reading(these cool colorful notebooks have nothing to do with my addiction to office supplies).
Here's my notebook with BLOGGIESTA happenings-

It's Sunday afternoon and I'm feeling a nice sense of accomplishment so far. I'm foing to try to do a few more of the mini challenges and pick up a few ideas.

Banned Books Week Hop

There is nothing that gets me more fired up that finding out a book has been challenged. Usually by a parent that hasn't even bothered to actually read the book-they "heard"  the book in question has what they deem inappropiate. Maddening!!
This will be a week of talking about banned and challenged books. BUT let's not forget to have some fun along with the serious. Mug of Moxie will be particiapting in Banned Books Week Hop also. Our lovely hosts I Read Banned Books and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer have organized this hop. Thank you very much! Below is an entire list of participates giving away all kinds of goodies. Please join us.
Now what I have up for grabs are books that have been "challenged" not banned. BUT a challenged book can be removed from a shelf-restrictions can be put on that book and a select few can only check it out.
We'll be discussing this more at length during the week.
Without further ado-
I will be giving away a copy of one of these fabulous books to a winner!!

The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

                                                       Hungar Games by Suzanne Collins

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

All these happen to be very good books. Books that should indeed be read.

So tell me which book would would choose if you won this giveaway. And please take the time to follow. I'm insecure and I need the love. Leave you GFC Name in comment section along with your contact information. Because I love these book so much I will choose at least two winners....maybe more.

This contest is open to International as well.

Have fun!

BLOGGIESTA 2012

TIME TO GET #$@%* DONE!!!

BLOGGIESTA 2012

September 28-30

Bloggiesta is the perfect event to check off those to-do lists and also get inspiration going into the wintry months! It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other bloggers you may have not met before or haven’t talked to in awhile. We’d love to have anyone interested to join in the fun!
This event is hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books
If you have some clean up projects you have been trying to get to or you need some new blog ideas this event is perfect for you.
Here are a few of things that I'm going to try to get accomplish this weekend-
*Update challenge lists for the year
*Clean up my blog roll
*Catch up on the 5 book reviews I'm behind on.
*Make sure my Goodreads reviews are up to date
And I plan on joining a few mini challenges-because who doesn't like to win prizes!
Wish me luck!

Winners Announced!

I'm a little back logged with contest winners as of late so lets catch up on that-

REUNITED Giveaway-

An ARC of the book Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Winner- ABBI HART

Thank you Simon & Schuster!

LAST DAYS OF FREEDOM Giveaway-

An ARC of the book Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Winner- NICOLA

Thank you Simon & Schuster!

UNDER THE SEA Giveaway-

Hardback book of Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Winner- PERSEPHONE

Congratulation to all the winners! Books will be mailed out this week. Thanks for hopping and following.

I will also be participating in upcoming giveaways-Banned Books Week Giveaway and the HUGE Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. So stay tuned! I'll be giving away some amazing books!

REVOLUTION-TV worth my time?

Very little on TV catches my eye anymore. But this one actually looks promising....
REVOLUTION on NBC

GIVEAWAY-Under the Sea Giveaway Hop

Welcome to UNDER THE SEA Giveaway Hop hosted by  Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Musings of ALMYBNENR.
This giveaway is reader's choice!!
Which book would you choose if you won this giveaway?

Rules for the Giveaway:
1. Please enter contact information in comment section.
2. This giveaway runs from September 14th to September 20th. A winner will be selected on September 21st.
3. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
4. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
5. This giveaway is open to everyone-BUT you must be a follower.
Good luck!

Book Reviewers For Hire

An interesting tidbit in the news today-
Book Reviewers For Hire

Book Trailer-Forsaken

Book Trailer for FORSAKEN by Lisa M.Stasse
My review of her book will be posted later today.
Enjoy!

Last Days of Freedom Giveaway

Those dog days of summer are coming to an end. Hopefully everyone took a little time to soak up a few rays, have an ice cold whatever and enjoy a good beach read. Fall is in the air. It's time for back to school schedules, early bedtimes and FOOTBALL! But wait! Turn those frowns upside down! We have a giveaway hop to celebrate the Last Days of Freedom.
Thanks to Kathy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jessi from The Elliott Review for hosting this Giveaway Hop.
For this giveaway I'm giving away an ARC of Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian.

Included with this ARC is a cute little bottle of sunscreen lotion-SPF 30 on a key chain. Both are courtesy of Simon and Schuster. Rules for the Giveaway:

1. Please enter contact information in comment section.
2. This giveaway runs from August 17th to August 22nd. A winner will be selected on August 23rd.
3. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
4. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
5. This giveaway is open to everyone-BUT you must be a follower.
Good luck and may the forces of evil be confused on the way to your house!