WWW (31) and Waiting On Wednesday (April 18th, 2012): The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?

I've had sick kids the past two weeks, and now I'm sick, so while I haven't gotten much else done, I have done a good amount to reading (silver lining, right?).  Let's see what we have here...

What are you currently reading?

Whisper by Alyson Noel~ I really enjoyed the first three books in the Riley Bloom series, and I am enjoying this one just as much.  If you want to read my reviews of the other three books, click HERE for Radiance and Shimmer, and HERE for Dreamland.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder~ Plugging through this series with my seven year old daughter.  I think I love these books each time I read them, but this is my least favorite of the series.  Pa is such a dumbass...

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins~ I'm still buddy-reading this with my *almost* 11 year old daughter and I'm having a very difficult time keeping my promise to not read ahead.  Last week she went on a three night school trip and forbade me to read ahead.  Brutal!

The Sword Thief (The 39 Clues, Book #3) by Peter Lerangis~ I'm reading this series with my seven year old son.  We took a break to read Liesl & Po, but now we're back to The 39 Clues.  We just started this one last night, so I'm not really sure I have an opinion yet...

What did you recently finish reading?

The Selection by Kiera Cass~ This book was pretty good.  It had gotten such mixed reviews, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I liked it and am looking forward to the 2nd book next year.  Read my full review HERE.

Dearly Departed by Lia Habel~ This book was really awesome, and not at all what I expected.  I was so pleasantly surprised with what I got.  I listened to the audio, and highly recommend it as it is done by an ensemble cast.  My full review will be up later this week.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver~ This was a re-read, but this time I read it to my son, Benjamin.  He got so into it, and loved it SO much.  He has spent lots of time on the website, and although it's unrelated, he is VERY eagerly awaiting Lauren's next MG novel, The Spindlers.

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman~ This is not your typical YA book at all.  It definitely reads more like an adult novel.  It is The Da Vinci Code meets A Great and Terrible Beauty.  I love it when YA authors show respect to their readers by assuming they are intelligent enough to handle a book like this.  Bravo to Robin Wasserman. Full review HERE.

What do you think you'll read next?

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf~ This is my next book for review.  I've been excited to read it for awhile, and although it's gotten some mixed reviews, I still have pretty high expectations.  Stay tuned!

The Fire (Witch & Wizard, Book #3) by James Patterson~ Yes, I think I'm finally going to get to read this.  It's been on my shelf for FAR too long!  I loved the first two books, so I hope this one measures up! 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa~ I've heard absolutely BRILLIANT things about this one.  I have a bunch of for-review book for next week, and this one is huge, but I think I need to fit it in, like, right now!  Stay tuned!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.

There are almost too many "Waiting On" books to choose from right now, but it must be done.  Since I mentioned this one above, and since my Benjamin is not the only one eagerly awaiting this book, I am going to highlight...

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.

Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers-evil, spiderlike beings-came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him.

Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy, and the road to the spindlers' nests is riddled with danger. She must brave tree snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting serpents before facing her greatest challenge in the spindlers' lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.

Evocative of Alice in Wonderland as well as Neil Gaiman's modern classic, Coraline, this new middle-grade novel follows Liza as she embarks on a daring quest through the dark and fascinating world that exists beneath our own.

(Courtesy of HarperCollins)

I don't usually review Middle Grade fiction on this blog, but occasionally a book will come along that is so brilliantly done, that I have to mention it. I am a Lauren Oliver fangirl, and I loved her first foray into MG, Liesl & Po. Nothing brought me more joy than to share it with my son. Lauren gained a fan in him, and now we are on pins and needles together for her next book! :-)

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

What are YOU Waiting On this week?