ARC Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date:  February 19th, 2013

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I will start this review by saying that I loved Kiersten White's Paranormalcy series, and Mind Games was nothing like it.  It is almost like a different author wrote Mind Games.  That's not to say that I didn't like it.  I did.  Just not even close to as much as I did the former.  Now, with that out of the way, I can get down to my reasons why I liked Mind Games, but also why I didn't LOVE it...  I'm a bad-news-first type of person, so I will start with the things I didn't like.

First off, I really wasn't into the format.  There were two points of view, Fia's and Annie's, and the chapters alternate between the two of them.  That is something I can deal with, and even like in most cases.  What I didn't like was that along with the alternating POVs, the story also jumped between past and present.  I found it very confusing. I found it too hard to keep track of both whose POV I was reading and when it was taking place, at the same time.  Another thing that bothered me was the fact that it took a good bit of time get into this book.  That said, I suspect that had something to do with my getting used to the format.  I will say that once the story picked up, it was quite riveting.  Finally, I have to say that I thought the ending wasn't great.  I felt like there were too many question left unanswered and not enough closure.  I know this is the first book in a series, but there were some questions that I felt needed to be answered in this book.  Hopefully, book number two proves me wrong, and that there is good reason for my lack of closure, but right now I see it as a flaw. (I will totally retract this statement if I'm given good reason to in book number two!)  Now, on to the "likes"...

First and foremost, I LOVED the cover.  I always rave about HarperTeen's covers, and this one is no exception.  Absolutely stunning.  So what about what's between those pretty pieces of cardboard?  Well... I loved the premise of this book.  A private school for girls with special abilities- seeing the future, reading minds, feeling the emotions of others- to name a few.  I loved the secrecy behind who the man funding the school was, and what happens to the girls upon "graduating".  I loved that no one could see him, and I loved that no one knew what his motives were.  Those questions kept me turning pages.  I also liked the characters.  I really liked James a lot, right from the beginning, but I especially liked him when we learned more about him toward the end of the book.  I think I like Fia, although to be honest, I still have too many questions about who she is to say for sure.  We never really find out exactly why she is so important, and that bothered me.  Annie was alright.  I didn't dislike her, I just thought she was maybe a bit bland.  I liked her enough, but she wasn't very exciting.  We didn't get to know Adam very well, but I have a good feeling about him.  I feel like there is still loads of development left to go on all of the characters, but so far, so good.  The pacing went both ways.  I mentioned earlier in my review that the story was slow to start, but it really did pick up abut 1/3 of the way through, and when it did, it really did.  The action was really well done, and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the 2nd half of the book.  Of course, writing action is one of Kiersten's strengths, as evidenced by the Paranormalcy books, so I wasn't expecting anything less.

Overall, I would say that although Mind Games didn't hold a candle to Paranormalcy, I still really enjoyed it.  It was a short, quick read that left me wanting more (both in a good way and in a bad way). I will definitely pick up the second book of the series next year because there is no way I am going through life without knowing the answers to all of my questions!

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book was pretty clean.  There were a few make-out scenes, and a good bit of violence, but it was pretty benign otherwise.  Appropriate for 6th grade and up (ages 11 and up).

Review: The Girl In the Park by Mariah Fredericks

Publisher:  Schwartz & Wade/Random House Children's Books

Publication Date:  April 24th, 2012

When Wendy Geller's body is found in Central Park after the night of a rager, newspaper headlines scream,"Death in the Park: Party Girl Found Strangled." But shy Rain, once Wendy's best friend, knows there was more to Wendy than just "party girl." As she struggles to separate the friend she knew from the tangle of gossip and headlines, Rain becomes determined to discover the truth about the murder. Written in a voice at once immediate, riveting, and utterly convincing, Mariah Frederick's mystery brilliantly exposes the cracks in this exclusive New York City world and the teenagers that move within it.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

The Girl In the Park was one of those books that had me waffling on my feelings about it several times throughout the book.  There were things I loved and there were some problems.  The main character, Rain, is a sympathetic one.  She's a bit of an outcast at her private Manhattan prep school.  She was born with a cleft palate, and although she's long ago had it fixed, she is haunted by the abuse she endured from her peers when she was younger, and just doesn't talk much; she's kind of invisible. When her used-to-be closest friend, Wendy, is brutally murdered after a party one night, Rain starts to remember the things that made her love Wendy in first place, and feels a deep desire to put the pieces together and solve the mystery of her death.  She has intense, if very mixed and confusing feelings, as she rehashes the past few years, their friendship, and their eventual growing apart.  You see, Wendy didn't have the best reputation.  Wendy had always been shunned by her classmates for being Jersey new money trash, but on top of that, she had earned herself a reputation for being a slutty, boyfriend-stealing, party-girl.  When she turned up dead, people acted shocked and saddened, but whispered on the sidelines about how she kind of had it coming.  Rain knew Wendy like nobody else did, and knew there was more to Wendy; knew she was too smart to go into Central Park alone at night...

I enjoyed the parts of this book that had Rain exploring who she is, as a result of her friendship with Wendy.  I enjoyed the complicated mixed feelings she had about Wendy, who very much deserved her reputation, even if she didn't deserve to die.  I enjoyed the emotional journey that Rain underwent.  Rain is a complex character, and surprisingly, so was Wendy, and it was only through Rain's memories of her, that I ever really understood that.  At the beginning, I also thought the mystery was well done.  It certainly had me turning the pages. Where it went wrong for me was when I pinpointed the killer, far too soon.  I don't get mad when I predict the ending, unless it is WAY early in the story, and that is what happened here.  I did think the way Rain worked it all out was well done, but I don't like that I KNEW, without a doubt, the "who".  It was like the author tried too hard to put the focus on the guy she wanted us to think did it, and in doing so, made it glaringly obvious that it was the someone else...  My other complaint about this book is that there was ZERO levity.  Even in books containing serious subject matter, such as this one, there should always be something to break the tension here and there, and this book had nothing.  Because of this, it became a bit tedious.  That said, I still enjoyed this quick, intense read.  It wasn't perfect, but books rarely are.  If you like a fast-paced, intense mystery, give this book a go, just don't expect any huge surprises in the end.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book has a bunch of teen drinking, sex, inappropriate relationships, a brutal murder, and some language.  I would say this is appropriate for grades 9 and up (ages 14+).

Review: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Publisher:  Abrams Books

Publication Date:  May 1st, 2012

This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance.

On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This book was a tough one for me to review, which is probably why I'm reviewing it long after reading it.  I had to let it digest some, before I could truly appreciate it...  I will admit first that I was drawn to this book for one reason- the stunning cover.  I love the clockwork, the wings, the art.  It is a beautiful rendering, and very, very fitting to the story.  When I started reading The Peculiars, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it.  It was a little slow to start.  When I say "slow" though, I mean that I didn't feel compelled to drop things to read it.  Although there was a good bit of action from the beginning, it seemed irrelevant at the time.  About a third of the way through the book, that all changed though, and things began to fall into place.  Sometimes I really didn't like where the story was going, but things started to make more sense... The story is a unique one, with rich complexities, that require the reader to really stay with the story.  That is this book's strength and its weakness.  Readers who have a hard time keeping track of details are not going to enjoy this book as much, while those who thrive on the intricacies and subtle plot twists will love it.  The characters are all the type who have to grow on you.  There was not one, not even the protagonist, Lena, who I felt a quick connection to, and for most of them, it took me the entire book to work out whether I liked them or not.  As for the pacing, I mentioned before that it was a little slow to start, but it picked up quite well by about halfway through, and kept me turning pages until the end.  I really enjoyed the Steampunk elements of it, and I felt like the whole exile of the Peculiars added an emotional twist it it, that made me think of the prejudices that people who are different endure in our society, even now.  I greatly enjoyed the revelations of what was happening in Mr. Beasley's lab and his role in Lena's finding the answers she was looking for.  As far as the romance was concerned, I found it to be a little lacking.  It seemed forced, like it was added as an afterthought because YA novels MUST (insert sarcastic face here) always have a romance to be relevant.  I liked Jimson, but it just didn't click that way for me.  I would say the best part about this book would be the world building.  The author painted gorgeous pictures in my mind's eye of lush snowy landscapes, dilapidated, yet loved estates, and quaint, if depressed mining towns.  The Victorian era is a favorite of mine, and I think she nailed it.  I felt like I could picture every setting perfectly, just as she saw it when creating the story. 

Overall, I did end up liking The Peculiars more than I initially thought I was going to.  After sitting on it awhile, I feel even better about it.  It was well written, and the story was different from most of the YA Steampunk out there right now.  I can't say I agree with Booklist giving it a Starred Review, but I think it is a solid YA debut for Maureen Doyle McQuerry, and I think she is definitely one to watch in the future.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There is some violence, but nothing graphic or over-the-top, and there's an innocent romance.  It's really very tame compared to most YA.  That being said, this book is rather detailed in its descriptions and plotline, and I think it would be hard for many younger readers to follow, even if the content is benign enough.  I would say this is best suited for readers age 10 and up (5th grade+).

Audiobook Review: Chomp by Carl Hiaasen, Narrated by James Van Der Beek

Publisher: Random House Audio/Listening Library/Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 27th, 2012

Wahoo Cray lives in a zoo. His father is an animal wrangler, so he's grown up with all manner of gators, snakes, parrots, rats, monkeys, snappers, and more in his backyard. The critters he can handle.  His father is the unpredictable one. 

When his dad takes a job with a reality TV show called "Expedition Survival!", Wahoo figures he'll have to do a bit of wrangling himself—to keep his dad from killing Derek Badger, the show's boneheaded star, before the shoot is over. But the job keeps getting more complicated. Derek Badger seems to actually believe his PR and insists on using wild animals for his stunts. And Wahoo's acquired a shadow named Tuna—a girl who's sporting a shiner courtesy of her old man and needs a place to hide out. 

They've only been on location in the Everglades for a day before Derek gets bitten by a bat and goes missing in a storm. Search parties head out and promptly get lost themselves. And then Tuna's dad shows up with a gun . . .

It's anyone's guess who will actually survive "Expedition Survival". . . 

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

With grand plans of doing a joint guest review, my husband actually buddy-read this with our (then) ten year old daughter in late 2011.  When he started animatedly telling me about it, gushing about the humor and wit, I told him that he didn't have to do the review... He got me excited for it, and being the selfish girl that I am, I wanted to review it myself.  But, as it usually does, time slipped by and I got more and more backed up on my review reading.  Well, imagine my excitement when I found Chomp in Audible's library (AND that it was read by Mr. Dawson's Creek himself, James Van Der Beek!)!  I promptly downloaded it and gave it a listen.

I am a fan of Carl Hiaasen.  Back in the day when I read books written for adults, I read quite a few of his adult novels (Skinny Dip, Sick Puppy, Nature Girl, Skin Tight, Star Island, etc.).  I've also read all of his MG novels as well (Flush, Hoot, Scat).  Between the facts I am already a fan, and that they show up on just about every summer reading list known to man, reading them was really a no-brainer.  It just stands to reason that I would like Chomp, right?  Right.  I did like it.  It was typical Carl Hiaasen; great characters, enticing plot and pacing, funny, adventurous, well-researched and informational, with smatterings of intelligent sarcasm throughout.  Just like every other book I've read by him, it takes place in Florida, and is heavily laced with eco-speak.  It is obvious that Mr. Hiaasen cares tremendously about our natural world, particularly the piece of it that we call Florida (and he calls home).  As a avid bird-nerd and conservationist myself, I applaud him for lacing his books with thought-provoking dialogue related to the damage we do, as humans, to our environment.  If his books open the eyes of even a small percentage of the people who read them to these facts, he has done a great service to our planet, and has entertained the masses at the same time!  Bravo!

But enough about my general feelings toward Carl Hiaasen, and on to this particular book...  I liked Chomp.  It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't my favorite of his books, but I probably laughed most reading this one.  I think the characters, or rather (for the most part), the caricatures, were the best part of the book.  There were too many great ones to list here, but each one was done so well, even the most minor of them.  The characterizations were spot-on; from the ratings-obsessed Hollywood producer, to the over-indulged TV star, to the bubba Everglades airboat tour guide, to the trailer-trash drunk, each added an element of entertainment and enjoyment to the story.  I don't know if everyone will get the same vibe off the characters that I did because I'm a bit biased.  I'm sure part of my enjoyment came from having lived in Florida for four years, and the fact that I encountered some of the latter type regularly.  For me, they were what made this story great.   

Told mostly from the POV of Wahoo Cray (How's that for a name? And yes, that's his REAL name!), Chomp takes us on a crazy adventure that takes us deep into the Florida Everglades, with a cast of characters that doesn't get any more bizarre.  Wahoo is great, and probably the most level headed and "adult" of the entire bunch.  He's the son of a renowned animal wrangler, and although his dad, Mickey, is great with the animals, he's rather flaky about the other facts of life.  When Wahoo's dad is hired by the TV show, Expedition Survival, to do a show in the Everglades, the adventures kick off and just keep getting nuttier.  The star of the show, Derek Badger, is a real piece of work.  He is supposed to be a cross between Steve Irwin and Bear Grylls, but he is really anything but.  The world sees him is this hard-core survivalist, but he is actually a pampered, spoiled, Hollywood creation (and former Irish Folk Dancer), who couldn't survive the county park without help.  He is the source of a great number of the laughs, and for me, played a huge part in making this story as good as it was. Added to Derek and his drama, was Wahoo's friend, Tuna, who they accidentally rescued from her abusive father (and the trailer they lived in, in the local Walmart parking lot).   While her whole situation added a bit of austerity to the story, it also provided a bunch of laughs as well, taking the story in a rather unexpected direction.  Along with the laughs, I really enjoyed being a casual observer to both the way Wahoo matured throughout the book, and how his sweet, unexpected relationship with Tuna evolved.  Carl Hiaasen wrote these parts so well, in in such a way that they didn't get lost beneath the laughs and adventure, and I think that takes a lot of talent.

As for the audio experience, I thought James Van Der Beek did a great job with it.  I thought his voice added a nice touch, breathing life into Wahoo's character, in particular.  I think I liked this book better this way, than I would have if I had just read the text version.  If you are considering reading this book, and enjoy audiobooks, you should definitely give this one a shot.

Overall, I think this was a good story.  Like I mentioned before, it wasn't my favorite by Carl Hiaasen, but it was well worth the listen/read.  This would be a great addition to any upper elementary or middle school classroom/library.  This book has appeal for not only the MG readers it was written for, but teens and adults as well.  In fact, I think my husband loved it even more than my daughter did.  It would be a great choice as a read-aloud for parents who still read to their older kids because both would enjoy it.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  Carl Hiaasen's MG books are not squeaky clean.  There are usually a few swears and almost always a bit of violence, although none of it graphic or gratuitous.  This book was no different.  Considering this, I think Chomp is appropriate for the average 4th grader and up.  (Ages 9+)

ARC Review: Touched by Cyn Balog

Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:  August 14th, 2012

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work.

But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift . . . and there's no way to stop things from happening. Or is there? 

In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he's about to discover--or the choice he will be forced to make. . . .

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Disclaimer:  This review is going to be very short and sweet.  This is the type of book that even the smallest details will likely be spoilery, so I am avoiding them at all costs...

Well, this book was just full of surprises!  I have to admit that I was expecting something a whole lot more creeptastic, based on the cover and the font that the title is printed in. That said, I'm not disappointed with this book either.  Unexpected is sometimes a good thing, and this is one of those times.  The story moved along a nice pace, with new twists revealed at precise moments when I was beginning to feel like something new was needed for this book to hold my interest.  The romance could have been cliche, but ended up not being so, because the author wove in plausible explanations and details.  The characters were unapologetically flawed and achingly human because of it.  I liked that the future was constantly changing based on Nick's decisions whether to stay on of go off "script".  It not only kept things fresh, but really highlighted the agony of what life must have been like for him.  As far as the Book of Touch, and Taryn's involvement- that kind of threw me for a loop.  I feel like she should have told him everything from the beginning, and not revealed a little at a time.  But then, I guess the story's pacing would have suffered for it, so that part is forgiven.  I think that my favorite part of this book was how it ended.  It was unexpected and very satisfying.  There were some things that made me sad, but it fit well, and it kept me thinking about the book after I finished. 

Overall, Touched was a solid read.  It wasn't one of my favorite books ever, but I liked it.  It was entertaining and thought-provoking, and I like that it was a stand-alone; the world needs more of those!  If you like a twisty-turny mystery, with an ending you won't ever see coming, the check this book out!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book is pretty clean.  There is innocent romance and some sad parts, but it is perfectly fine for the average 5th grader (ages 10 and up).

ARC Review: Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Publication Date: July 10th, 2012

It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning.

A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school. 

In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a school where kids don’t fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive. 

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I have very mixed feelings about this book... The premise is extremely good, and I found the way the story played out very believable, but I struggled a bit with the execution and some of the content.  Let me elaborate...

I will first touch on the brilliant premise.  This book was like a modern-day Lord of the Flies that takes place in a locked down school instead of on a deserted island.  If something like what happened in this book happened in real life (all the grown-ups suddenly die and an entire HS has to be locked down by the government to prevent the spread of a deadly super-virus carried by only teens), I believe that the kids would behave almost exactly as they did here, and it is scary!  Because this book is such an honest prediction, it is violent, gruesome, and utterly horrifying.  While some of the kids cling to their morality, most of the others turn into vicious animals, and sadly, it's the most ruthless of the animals that come out on top most of the time. It's survival of the fittest at its most basic level.  It's a harsh reality, in a fictional format, and this is where I struggle a bit with the content. I think there are a lot of kids who would read this book, expecting the standard YA dystopian fare, and get something far more raw and disturbing.  The Hunger Games has nothing on this book as far as the things kids will do to other kids in the name of survival.  What I found more disturbing than what they would do in the name of survival, is what some of the kids were willing to do in the name of power and control over others, and where books like The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies leave a lot to imagination, this book does not.  Some of the violence is is described in such detail that several times I had to stop reading for a few minutes in order to get my bearings.

Obviously, you can't have this type of character driven (someone has to commit the violence, right?) story without characters, and I think much of this book's strength is in them.  The physical world they were living in was well built, but it was almost like it didn't matter because the characters were really the heart of it.  I loved how each tribe- Nerds, Geeks, Varsity, Pretty Ones, Sluts, Skaters, Loners- was a character of its own volition.  As far as individual characters go, there were many.  David is a great character; he is very human, and while he does try to cling to his morality, he doesn't let it get in the way of his or his brother's survival.  He wouldn't kill another person for power or control, but if it's kill or be killed, he doesn't hold back.  I really liked him, and I found myself rooting for him the whole way.  His brother, Will, on the other hand, is a total douche.  I just wanted to grab him and shake him.  He was self-absorbed and whiny, not ever really grateful for all his brother was doing to protect him.  As for the many other characters that were part of the story, they all played extremely crucial parts, and I felt like they were all well drawn.  Sam was an intriguing character, and it was interesting to be in his head from time to time, and Lucy was alright, but definitely not worth the many sacrifices made for her.

Now for the things that bothered me... I did not like how the actual story was executed.  It shifted from character to character, most of the time in a 3rd person narrative, but once in awhile, it would shift to 1st person.  It don't know if that was intentional or just poor writing, or perhaps it was just the result of being written by a two person writing team, and my copy being an editorial proof, but I found it confusing and frustrating at times.  I also struggled a bit with the pacing; it was really good in the first third of the book, then it became repetitive and slow in the middle third.  By the final third of the book, it did pick up, but I kind of felt like much of the middle third could have been left out altogether.  

Overall, I would say this is great read for the RIGHT reader, and in the end, that wasn't me.  I enjoyed it, but there were just too many problems that I had a difficult time getting past, for me to give it a stellar rating.  I think HS age boys will devour this book, and be ready for more at the end.  Will I read the next book?  Probably.  I would like to know where the story goes, but if I'm honest, I would say that it won't be at the top of my reading pile.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This is a tough one.  The violence is graphic, and horrible things like murder, rape, and torture take place.  This is definitely not a book for someone who is sensitive to that type of thing.  It is also definitely not a book for the younger end of the YA reading audience.  I definitely wouldn't allow my middle schooler to read this, and I'm pretty liberal with her.  I would say this book is for ages 15+ (grades 10 and up).

ARC Review: This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: June 19th, 2012

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. 

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This book has gotten some seriously rave reviews! Every time I turn around, one of my blogger peers is gushing over This Is Not a Test. Between that and the fact that this book involves zombie apocalypse, I was sold; I definitely went into to reading it with high expectations. I was forewarned that although this book was an end-of-the-world story, complete with a zombie invasion, that it was actually NOT a zombie story. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when I heard that; I was really looking forward to loads of action and hard-core fighting-zombies-in-order-to-preserve-the-human-race stuff. Still, I went on to read it, and while I can't necessarily say I enjoyed it, I did think it was very well done.

There are a few parts of the book that involve some of the aforementioned (zombie fighting and action), but this story was more about the protagonist, Sloane, coming to terms with the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, the loss of her older sister, the desire to escape it all, and her internal struggle over whether or not her feelings have changed now that her circumstances have. Holed up in a school with five other kids her age, Sloane doesn't know if she wants to go on, but she knows that if she offs herself, she puts the others at risk, and so the struggle goes. This book primarily takes place inside Sloane's head, and I have to say that she is a piece of work- I'm still undecided on whether or not I liked her. I know she is damaged, so I never faulted her for her lack of likability, but I couldn't connect with her either. As for the other characters, I didn't really find most of them very likable either. Rhys was alright, and he seemed to really care for Sloane, but he was so guarded. Grace had her kindness to redeem her somewhat, but her spinelessness when it came to her brother pretty much cancelled that out. Cary seemed to at least have a survival instinct that was much more developed than any of the others, and was probably the reason they made it as far as they did, but he knew it and didn't hesitate to remind everyone at every opportunity. Trace was a total douche and Harrison was absolutely worthless. Since I have kind of a hard time with books that don't involve people I like, I a bit struggled with This Is Not a Test. As for the story, it was very well written. The emotions came through the pages in a very real, very raw way. I actually had to pick up a different book than I intended after reading this because I needed something light; this book really gutted me at times. I felt kind of depressed and hopeless after reading it, and that didn't sit well with me.

Overall, while I think this book definitely has a large audience who will love it, I just didn't. I read for escape, and this book didn't do that for me. That said, I will admit that it was extremely well written, and I loved that it was a totally unique take on the woe-is-me-let-me-come-to-terms-with-myself YA Contemporary, I just didn't feel good after reading it...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Grade Level Recommendation: This book is really heavy emotionally. There is also some sex, teen drinking, lots of language, and violence. I would say this book is most appropriate for grades 9 and up (ages 14+).

ARC Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 12th, 2012

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.
(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I was really excited when I got the opportunity to review Lies Beneath. I like mermaid stories, I thought the cover was great, and I am a total sucker for books told from a male POV. Win on all accounts, right? Not quite. First I should comment on the cover... Um,the protagonist is a merMAN, so why is a merMAID on the cover? That little discrepancy made me dislike a cover that I initially really, REALLY liked. Now that that's covered (no pun intended), let's move on to the important stuff...

I started out really loving this book...  I plowed through the first half with gusto, not able to put it down, but toward the middle it kind of sputtered for me.  It did redeem itself somewhat in the end, with its unexpected conclusion, but there were 70 or so pages where it dragged somewhat, and that sort of tainted it for me...  That said, I will tell you that if you are into lengthy descriptions of how the bad boy nefariously woos the good girl, accidentally falling in love with her, then the parts of the book that bugged me won't bug you.  You'll love it!  The story was good; quite different from the other mermaid stories I've read.  You see, mermaids are cold-blooded creatures, supposedly incapable of feeling positive emotions on their own.  Feelings like joy, happiness, elation?  Not in their emotional spectrum.  The only way they can feel these much craved emotions are by absorbing them from their "prey", human victims, who they kill by draining, then hide at the bottom of deep water; they are consummate predators.  This all comes into play when Calder, our main character, and his three sisters prepare to collect on an old life-debt, and need pretty Lily Hancock to get close to their target, her father.  Should be a piece of cake for hottie Calder, right?  Not so much...

I like my bad boys, but Calder didn't really do it for me.  He was kind of creepy, if I'm being honest.  When I was reading the book, I couldn't help thinking that he thought more like a girl than a guy.  On the surface he was cocky as they come, but he was actually pretty insecure.  Add to that the fact that he was essentially a stalker, and I just couldn't find him appealing.  He made me think better of him by end of the book, winning me over to a point, but he's just not a "swoon-worthy" leading man by my terms.  Lily, on the hand, was great.  She's the type of girl I wouldn't mind having for a daughter.  Headstrong, but not to a fault, responsible, smart, and principled.  Definitely too good for Calder... The sisters were great too; I actually consider Pavati a favorite character, but I didn't feel like they were used enough in the story (it isn't coincidence that the parts of the story I liked best heavily involved them).  They really added the sinister element to the story that set it apart from other mer-tales I've read.  They were what they were supposed to be- cold-blooded predators- and that is something I can respect, even if I don't necessarily like it.

Lies Beneath is the first book in a series (Deep Betrayal comes out next year), and I will probably read it.  I'm curious as to what Anne Greenwood Brown has in mind since I felt like the story wrapped up quite neatly.  I really did love the ending; it took me by surprise and it was quite well thought out.  If the entire book read as well as the ending, this would have been a five-star book for me, but alas, it didn't.  I enjoyed it, it just wasn't a favorite.  If you're a fan of Paranormal Romance  novels, if you're a fan of the Twilight series, or if you love merpeople, you will love it more than I did.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There was some teen drinking, talk of seduction, and a few swears, but nothing over the top.  This is fine for grades 6 and up (ages 11+).

Review: Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company BYR

Publication Date: April 24th, 2012

After years of boredom in her rural South Carolina town, Maria is thrilled when her father finally allows her to visit her estranged artist mother in New York City. She’s ready for adventure, and she soon finds herself immersed in a world of rock music and busy streets, where new people and ideas lie around every concrete corner. This is the freedom she’s always longed for—and she pushes for as much as she can get, skipping school to roam the streets, visit fancy museums, and flirt with the cute clerk at a downtown record store.

But just like her beloved New York City, Maria’s life has a darker side. Behind her mother’s carefree existence are shadowy secrets, and Maria must decide just where—and with whom—her loyalty lies. 

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I was drawn to this book because the cover and title made me think of my Jr. High days.  Like most girls, my middle school experience was full of ups and downs, and music (especially mixtapes) played a big part.  I didn't know what this book was about, but the fact that it triggered memories (good and bad) from so long ago made me want to read it.  It wasn't at all what I expected, and I had no idea I would connect to it the way I did.  This review is one that has been one of my most challenging to write, and I had to sit on it for over a month before I could properly form my thoughts...

This book takes place in the mid-1990s and I wholeheartedly related to so many of the pop-culture references.  I graduated high school in 1994 and I remember the tears my friends and I shared when Kurt Cobain took his life; I remember the Doc Martens, baggy jnco jeans, flannel shirts, the music, all of it... I grew up in Upstate NY and it was common for us to go down to The City for the weekend to hang out in the Village where all the coolest people hung out.  These are common experiences I shared with many teens my age, at that time.  For that reason, I think there are a lot of readers my age who would relate to, and enjoy this book.  I related to it on that level, but on a deeper level as well.  Maria's mom is a self-absorbed addict; a woman who wants to give a shit about her daughter, loves her daughter unconditionally, but doesn't want to be a PARENT to her because that would require putting another person's needs ahead of her own.  Instead she tries to be a "friend", which is the last thing Maria really wants or needs from her.  We could name Maria's mom "Michelle" and she would be my mom.  Like Maria, I thought I would be happier if I lived with my "cool" mom.  I wanted to know her better, she had fewer rules (actually, she had no rules) than my dad, she had great taste in music and clothes, liked to party, and had a cool, younger musician boyfriend.  She was an artist, she wrote poetry, she was the picture of freedom.  I kid you not, I could have written parts of this book from my own life experiences, so reading it kind of gutted me in a way.  This book made me realize that there are people everywhere who have mothers who should probably never have been mothers.  Those people will get a lot from this book.  Maria is a wonderful, misguided girl; she learns a lot of valuable lessons over the course of this story, and I hope that they carry her on to a happy well-adjusted adulthood despite what she went through.  She is so real- imperfect, impressionable, naive, and eager to please- my heart ached for her as I saw her making many of the same mistakes I made at her age, often blaming herself for her mother's mistakes, always trying to be the responsible adult because her mother wasn't going to be.  It was nice to find a kindred spirit, even all these years later, and even if she is fictional.  This is a touching story that I won't soon forget.

So I gave it five stars, right?  Unfortunately, I couldn't, and here's why... I did love this story, but it was because of my own deeply personal feelings toward it.  When I review books, I try to think of the "typical" YA reader, and this isn't a book that would come to mind.  It will have a niche, but most teens are not going to relate to the protagonist, are not going to understand a lot of the pop-culture references, and are going to be hard pressed to care about what is going on in this story.  Add to that the fact that the object of Maria's affection is not some hottie, but a chubby, rather dorky guy, and I just don't see it.  Honestly, I think this book would be better marketed to 30-somethings who remember being a teen during the time period this story takes place.  It's almost as if the reader needs the benefit of those extra 10-15 years of life experience to GET this book.  If I were reviewing it for them, I would say 5-stars in a heartbeat, but for the YA market, its appeal is way too narrow.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There's language, sex, drug use, and teen rebellion.  There are definitely mature themes here.  I would say this book is for high school aged students and up (grades 9 and up, ages 14+), but as I mentioned before, I really see this as more of an adult novel, not for content, per se, but because I don't think the average teen is going to relate as well.

Audiobook Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Publisher: HarperTeen/Brilliance Audio

Publication Date: September 7th, 2010 

A hidden truth. 

Mortal enemies. 

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I've been wanting to read this book for a REALLY long time.  When I first heard of it about a year ago, I was like, "Wow! That sounds like it has the potential to be a really kick-ass book!", and then I just never got the time to read it.  When my library got the audio version, I was really excited because now I could "read" it during those hours I spend in the car shuttling kids to and from school, sports, etc. (Yes, I'm the horrible mom who puts ear buds in while driving with her three children, instead of talking to them.  They fight too much and I can't deal...)  So... I got it, put it on my ipod and here we are.

I will start by saying that the audio is very well done.  The narrator, Therese Plummer, is a fantastic reader.  She seamlessly switches tonality and voice when reading dialogue between two characters, so that it almost seems as if it is being read by two different people.  She also puts forth the right emotions, breathing lots of life into the story.  Because of her adaptation, I think I liked it more than I would have if I had read the text version to myself.  That all being said...

I wanted to love this book.  Like I mentioned before, the story has TONS of potential.  A race of creatures (Draki) who descend from dragons who can morph into to human form, each with his or her own special ability?  Hunters who specialize in capturing these creatures, only to sell their parts on the black market?  A female Draki who falls for a hunter? Intriguing, right?  I thought so too, and I had high expectations...  I liked it, but I didn't love it like I thought I would.  The main characters were pretty well rendered, but the supporting ones could have used a bit more development.  I especially would have liked to know more about Jacinda's mom and Will's family. As for plot and pacing, it started out really strong, pulling me in for about the first 20%, then it just kind of fizzled for me.  It did pick up in the end, but there was too long a stretch in the middle that I struggled with.   You see, I really loved Sophie Jordan's account of the land that the Draki inhabit; mountainous, with lakes, and lush, green valleys.  I also loved her physical descriptions of the Draki; they sounded like astoundingly beautiful creatures, and found myself yearning to know more about them.  It was beyond exciting when Jacinda was pursued by hunters and nearly captured, and  I thought this book was going to be a thrill.  She lost me when Jacinda's mom moved the family to a human town, away from their pride, to protect her.  Without the beautiful world and fantastic creatures, it became just another YA Paranormal Romance with a different fantastical being...  They move to a new town, Jacinda meets Will, the unattainable, hot guy who every girl in her new HS drools over, and they are inexplicably drawn to one another, but are trying not to be, each for a different reason.  Sound familiar?  The book goes along in this vein until about the final 15%, and then it picks up; secrets are revealed, the action picks up, and new questions arise.  Will I read the next book in the series, Vanish?  Probably, but I don't feel compelled to rush right out and buy it.

Overall, I have to say that this book was a solid start to the series.  It definitely had a few flaws, but that is to be expected from any author's debut novel.  Although, it isn't my favorite story, it was well written, and I can see why it has legions of fans.  Any fan of of angsty teen love stories like Twilight will love this book.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Grade Level Recommendation:  There's the same types intense feelings of attraction between Will and Jacinda as there are between Edward and Bella (Twilight).  There are a couple of pretty heavy make-out sessions as well, including one where Will spends the night (no sex).  Because of that, I would recommend this be read by ages 12 and up (7th grade+).

Review: Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: March 13th, 2012

High school sophomore Willa and her artist mother move to Arizona where Willa starts attending an elite prep school after her mother finally sells some paintings, and Willa attempts to even things out by stealing from the rich students and giving to the poor ones.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

When I first read about this book, I was curious.  A modern-day retelling of Robin Hood where the "rich" are mean girls at an ultra-exclusive private school, and the "poor" are the scholarship kids that attend there?  I figured it would be one of two things; either painfully cliche or cute in a snarky/funny kind of way.  What I didn't expect is that it would be delightfully cliche, cute, snarky/funny, and have a message to go along with it.  It was like a mash-up of Gossip Girl, Mean Girls, and Robin Hood.

Willa starts out at her new school when her mother finds success after many years as a starving artist, and on her first day meets the "nice girl" that is part of every popular/mean girl clique.  She befriends her and immediately taken into the fold.  As time goes by, Willa realizes more and more that she doesn't really fit in with this ultra-rich crowd, and that the girls, with the exception of Cherise (the "nice one"), are not very nice at all.  They constantly berate, bully, and cyber-abuse everyone, including one another, but especially the scholarship girls, who Willa knows to be very nice.  This bothers Willa.  Since Willa knows that it would be social suicide to confront them about their behavior, she begins stealing from them and using the money to buy designer stuff for the poor girls, who see their statuses raised by having access to these things.  Yes, cliche, but still quite cute...

But that isn't all... "How does Willa come by her mad thievery skills?", you may ask.  She enlists the help of Tre, a sexy, mysterious bad boy who also just started at her school.  Son of a pro basketball player, he has a shady (possibly criminal?) past, and is full of tips to help Willa with her scheming; with the tips, however, come his advice to not do whatever it is she's doing.  And then there's Aiden, who of course, is the unattainable, super-gorgeous, ultra-rich, bad boy/playboy who shows interest in Willa, then kind of disappears until later on in the book.  THEN, aside from the teenage romance, there's another element of mystery with Willa's mom and possibly the father she never knew?

As you can see, there is a lot going on in this book, and honestly, while there are some things that I saw coming a mile away, there were some events that I didn't expect (although I won't spoil them here).  It had its moments of been-there-done-that, but it also had a great many laughs and right-on moments as well.  It addresses cyber-bullying in a non-preachy manner that I like, and it doesn't leave a black-and-white, right-or-wrong taste in your mouth.  It would be interesting to have teens read this and debate Willa's actions and whether they are justified or not.  I'm glad this book is the first in a series because as much as I enjoyed the book, I didn't love how it ended; it felt very abrupt and it left me a tad bit annoyed.  Thankfully, the 2nd book, Pretty Sly, comes out in March of 2013, and Willa's story will continue.  I, for one, can't wait to read it.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There's the standard teen drunkenness, partying, and sex that are a part of any YA book about the overprivileged, undersupervised.  I would say this is best suited for grades 8 and up (ages 13+).

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

Publisher:  HarlequinTeen

Publication Date:  January 31st, 2012

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I'm a sucker for a good retelling.  Jackson Pearce is a favorite author of mine, as are Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine.  When I heard Paige Harbison was doing a modern retelling of Daphne du Maurier's brilliant Rebecca, I was really excited to read it.  I read Rebecca in college and always thought it was a perfect Psychological Thriller; a 5-star read. I think in writing New Girl, Paige Harbison had some really big shoes to fill, and sadly, I think it fell a little short.  That said, I think if I hadn't read Rebecca first, I would have liked New Girl much better, but having done so, I spent most of the book making comparisons...

I'm going to try not to spend this entire review comparing the two books, but it will be difficult.  I liked that Harbison stuck to the original format, right down to the names she used and withholding the protagonist's name until the end; Rebecca, Manderley, Dana (Mrs. Danvers), Max- she worked the names and places in well.  I also really liked her take on the characters.  Rebecca Normandy was a total sociopath, manipulative to her very core, and I enjoyed reading her side of the story, which was told in alternating POVs (hers and New Girl's).  She was a total train wreck and you know how it is witnessing one of those- you just can't stop watching, as horrifying as it may be.  Some of the things the girl said and did were so disgusting and wrong, I wanted to be sick, but in the end, her antics were really what made this book so interesting.  Reading New Girl's character, or "Me", as her chapters were titled, was a bit different of an experience.  She was the quintessential nice girl who happened to be in an impossible situation, but she handled it as well as could be expected.  Where it got really interesting is when the romance between Max and New Girl began to blossom- it was beyond complicated because Becca had been the supposed love of his life.  The mystery surrounding Becca was intense and, as the reader, I never knew what to expect.  I liked that part a lot, and it was the book's saving grace for me.  I was happy with the way it ended too.  As I read the book, I couldn't help thinking that it was just a mediocre retelling of a book I love, but in writing this review, I see that if you take the amazingly done original (that is a long-standing classic for a reason) out of the equation, you have a pretty good book here.  Paige Harbison is a very good writer, and I will certainly keep my eye out for other books by her (I have Here Lies Bridget, but haven't read it yet).   I think anyone would be ambitious to tackle Rebecca and truly make it their own.  

Overall, I would recommend this book to people who like a good Mystery and/or Psychological Thriller.  If you've read Rebecca and loved it as much as I did, I would caution you that while it tries hard, it doesn't measure up.  If you've read it, but it's not a favorite, you may like this version better- it is definitely sexier and more modern.  Those who haven't read Rebecca are probably in the best position to read this because it won't be in the back of your mind, biasing your opinion, as it did mine.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This is DEFINITELY a High School read.  There is loads of sex, and not just sex between couples who are in love, but sex used as a tool of manipulation.  There is also lots of teen drinking and drug use.  The kids at Manderley go to the boathouse on campus regularly to party and get absolutely wasted, with no consequence.  These parties are described in detail, and play a huge role in the story.  Aside from that, there is a part where a girl is drugged by a friend and date raped, and another part where a girl describes being sexually assaulted by a friend's older family friend.  Another inappropriate theme is that Becca is loved and admired because of the manipulative things she does.  A less mature reader might misconstrue that and try to emulate her behaviors in hopes that she would gain the type of popularity Becca had.  I would say this book is for 10th grade and up (ages 15+).