Review: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:  October 18th, 2011

Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about what it means to be a family and the many roads we can take to become one.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I really liked this book.  When I first started reading it, I wasn't sure I was going to... It was a little slow to start for me.  The first fifty or so pages didn't really draw me in, but I've had good past experience with Sara Zarr's writing, and this book had gotten such rave reviews, I kept going.  It was well worth it!  This story, told from the POVs of two very different teenage girls, thrown together by circumstance, was really awesome.  I was invested, and by halfway through, I was propping this book up on the vanity so that I could continue reading while I brushed my teeth.  The story wasn't the best part of this book though.  That award goes to the characters.  Sara Zarr has a gift for character development.  She understands the   angsty, volatile minds of teenage girls and she knows how to articulate it so that the reader understands who they are.  A lot of the time I didn't like Jill, but I felt empathy toward her; I understood why she was the way she was and forgave her for the hateful things she did and said.  I liked Mandy better than Jill, but sometimes she was very dim- I wasn't sure if it was act of not, but I definitely wanted to figure her out.  Robin, Jill's mother, was a pretty great character, which is one of the reasons I really didn't care much for Jill; she was so lucky to have her for a mom, and she totally took it for granted. Then there were the boys, Dylan and Ravi; both were great characters, and I honestly didn't know who to root for.  I waffled a lot because they both had so much to offer as both friends and love interests.  This scenario was very believable and the characters were very real.  I understand why it has gotten so much attention from awards judges.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the same thing I didn't like about the other book I've read by Sara Zarr, Once Was Lost...  The ending was too neat for me.  The book was so real to me, but the ending seemed a little bit too easy, and life doesn't work that way most of the time.  That said, it had a very small impact on how I felt about the book as a whole, because the emotions evoked throughout were really what counted.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  Death of a parent, teen pregnancy, and sexual abuse are all themes in this book.  Still, I don't think that it is inappropriate for a MS aged reader.  These topics were all addressed well, and this story actually has a lot to offer as far as life lessons go.  Grades 7 and up (ages 12+).

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Want to Give As Gifts

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.  Each week a new Top Ten list topic is posted and book bloggers fill in their own choices.  I'm a list girl (as in, I don't function without them), so I thought this would be a good choice for me!  This week's topic is fitting since The Broke and the Bookish host the Secret Santa I'm participating in this year...

Top Ten Books I Want to Give As Gifts

1.  Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare~ Since I just mailed a personalized, signed copy of  this book to my Secret Santa person, it had to top my list.  I hope she loves it! :-)

2.  Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson~ This is the other book I sent to my Secret Santa person.  Three kick-ass authors white a seasonally appropriate book?  Can't go wrong!  Plus my person listed all three as faves.  Win!

3.  Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones~ I'm getting this book for my kids' teachers this year.  I think all teachers, parents, coaches, etc. should read it.  Read my review HERE.

4.  Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick~ Not only are they great stories, but the pencil illustrations are gorgeous.  I'll probably get these for my dad this year.  He's always admired my copy of Hugo.

5.  Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe~ Have you seen this book.  It's SO awesome!  This is the book that I most want, so I'm kind of dropping hints to my husband who *should* read my blog.

6.  Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley~ I just read this and I think my sister would love it, so I'm probably going to get it for her.  Read my review of it HERE.

7.  Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins~ I finally got my sister to get over her title/cover aversion to read Anna and the French Kiss, and she LOVED it!  Her library doesn't have Lola yet, so I will also send it to her.  Read my review HERE.

8.  Junie B. Jones First Grader Boxed Set (Books 1-8) by Barbara Park~ I hate Junie B., but my 7 year-old daughter LOVES her, so I am caving and getting her this. I refuse to read them to her though.  Her poor grammar drives me nuts!

9.  Oopsy Daisy by Lauren Myracle~ I'm getting this one for review and then giving it to my 10 year old who worships the ground Lauren walks on.  She'll be super excited to get it a week before its release!

10.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins~ Everyone on my list who hasn't read this, is getting it before the movie comes out.  A MUST read for everyone!

Review: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Publisher: Atheneum

Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011

Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.

While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.

Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I will start this review off by saying that John Corey Whaley owes Gabrielle Zevin an apology... Over the past couple of weeks, I've been working on my "Top 25 YA Books of 2011" list for my 25 Days of Jubilation Giveaway post that I have going up on the 19th.  I thought I had my list ready and wrote most of the post.  I was really proud of myself for being ahead of the game; I even had a list of runners-up with a few blanks, just in case I read something between then and the 19th that belonged on the list...  Then I read this book!  I had to rearrange my whole list and bump #25 (Gabrielle's All These Things I've Done) to the runners-up list.  So, John Corey Whaley, if you're reading this, you should apologize.  It's only right.  Moving on...

Hands down, this book is THE most underrated debut of 2011!  I always like to read the work of debut authors (as of now, I'm at 34 debuts for 2011) because it's awesome when you find that rare gem that not enough people know about and can spread the fangirl love (and then when said author becomes REALLY famous, brag to everyone that you told them about him/her first).  For me, that rare gem for 2011 is this book.  I know it's made some lists, but it really hasn't gotten a tremendous amount of attention and it totally deserves to!  I honestly only picked this up because I'm a bird-nerd and it had a woodpecker on the cover.  I'm so glad it did!  I loved it, and here's a list of reasons why...

• This book made me not hate Literary Fiction so much.  One of the reasons I read YA at age 35 is because I find most adult books painfully boring, depressing, and/or pompous.  YA is much more entertaining.  This book takes Literary Fiction and lightens it up and makes it enjoyable and entertaining.  It could have been depressing, but John Corey Whaley does a wonderful job balancing sarcasm, wit, and insight with the sad facts of life.
• The small-town setting was SO real to me.  I'm from a small town.  (We're talking, one traffic light.)  I get the desperation of small-town teens, and so does John Corey Whaley.  The difference between he and I?  He is able to articulate it well enough that people who don't share that background can get it.  That's not easy without resorting to cliches and stereotypes, but he manages it perfectly.
• The story, but not really...  I admit it, when I read the synopsis, I was more drawn to the fact that there was a Ivory-billed Woodpecker type situation involved.  If you're not a total dork like me, you have no idea what I'm talking about, and it doesn't matter because this book is not about woodpeckers, and it's not even the actual storyline that is important.  To me, this book is about hope, desperation, love, and human nature- our desire to hold on to all three at any cost.  It is beautifully written to make the reader feel those emotions deeply.  I'm not a crier, but I cried more than once while reading this.  I think most readers will find things it this book that touch them.
• The characters were so great.  I felt such a connection to every single one of them.  I could go on and list every character and why, but that will take forever, so I'm just going to list a few... Gabriel was my favorite.  He is such an old soul and so wise, despite his young age.  He said one thing that will always stay with the book-lover in me... He was saying that God was the best writer ever and when is brother asked why, he said, "Because he gives every good writer something to struggle with and try to work out by writing it down. That's genius."  There is so much truth in that statement... Lucas is amazing as well; a person who can be who HE wants to be in spite of the shitty lot life as given him.  I think Benton was the most tragic, yet honest character.  He spent his entire life doing everything to please others, never giving a thought to what HE wanted.  Then there's Cullen.  There were times that I wanted to shake him and tell him to get a grip, and there were times I wanted to hug him.  He was so real that his pain made me hurt as I read about it.  He was every teenager to me.

I think what surprised me most about this book, after I got past the fact that I loved it so much, was the fact that John Corey Whaley is so young!  He has such insight into what makes people tick; the kind of insight one would expect of an author who has been around the block many times, not someone who looks like he still gets his ID checked every time he buys beer.  I don't know what struggles God gave him that made him able to write this way at such a young age, but I for one, am glad he came out so well on the other side!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There's some heavy themes in this book, and I think it would take a more mature reader to identify with a lot of them.  Grades 9 and up (ages 14+).

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Publication Date:  December 27th, 2011

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

The synopsis above does not do this book justice.  It's accurate, sure, but it's so much more than what it implies.  This story is an entirely different take on the paranormal, and it was quite refreshing.  Lately I've been wary of anything in the paranormal genre because of all the garbage that followed on the heels of Twilight's success, but there are some good ones out there, and this is one of them.

Going into this book, I was not even thinking about it going in the direction that it did, and I was so pleasantly surprised.  I am a science-nerd, and this book spoke to the girl with the Genetics degree.  I can't really say more without major spoilers, but it is great how this story comes together.  This book does not start out slowly, and the pace only quickens as the story progresses; by the final third of the book, you will not want to stop reading for any reason.  House burning down?  Keep reading and hope the fire department arrives before the smoke and fire reach your room.  That seriously would have been me once the secrets started unraveling.  Of course, the story can't really make a book without characters, and the characters in this one are very well drawn.  Kali is a great kick-ass heroine.  Honestly, I wish this book had come out a few months ago, because I think she could have had a real shot at the YA Sisterhood Heroines Tourney.   Another kick-ass character is Skylar.  She was my favorite character of all of them; quirky, sweet, and totally comfortable in her own skin.  Mean girl Bethany was okay after awhile, but she definitely has some growing to do.  Then there's Skylar's never-ending number of brothers... I loved that.  It was  like, "Need a doctor? Good, Skylar's brother's a vet.", "Need a cop. Cool, Skylar's brother's FBI.", "Need a hot boyfriend type to keep bitchy Bethany in line? Lucky for you, Skylar has a brother who already fills that role!".  Hilarious on its own.   I really enjoyed the characters and thought the development of them was great; their flaws and strengths revealed nicely, and at the right times.  As for romance, there's not a whole lot.  There is a boy, Lev, who is like Kali, but the story really doesn't have room for romance, and thankfully, Jennifer Lynn Barnes doesn't try to cram it in to please the Twilight crowd. 

I went into this book thinking that it was a stand-alone, but judging from the ending, I'm guessing it's the first in a series.  I don't see any evidence of that on Goodreads or anything, but the door has definitely been left wide open for it.  I, for one, will be happy if the story continues because there is definitely potential for greatness.  I would love to see where Kali's abilities take her and how things play out with Lev.

Honestly, there was only one thing about the story that I hated, and I'm not going to mention it because it would be a total spoiler.  If you've read the book, I'm sure you're aware of what I am referencing, if not, you will when you get to that part...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  Very violent and gory.  Does have some language.  If it was made into to a movie, it would carry a PG-13 rating.  I'm going to say that it is appropriate for 7th grade and up (ages 12+).

WWW (21) and Waiting on Wednesday (December 7th, 2011) Double Feature: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

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 a particularly awesome past couple of weeks reading.  I've read at least two books that have earned places on my Top 10 of 2011 list, and considering I've read 181 books so far this year, that's huge.  Anyway, I am hoping to get to 200 by the end of the month, so here's what I'm reading..


What are you currently reading?

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley~ A wonderful, insightful work of YA Literary Fiction.  It is so beautifully written.  It is unfathomable to me that this is his first book.   

Halflings by Heather Burch~ I just started this as a buddy-read with Emma, but it looks promising so far.  It's about three "halflings"- angel/human hybrids- sent from God to protect a young girl.  But what happens when a halfling falls in love with a human?  Releases February 1st.

Tempest by Julie Cross~ Time travel, romance, and adventure.  A truly awesome mix.  I just started this one as well, but I've heard fabulous advance buzz, so I'm excited.  Releases January 17th.



What did you recently finish reading?

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins~ As with all Ellen's books, this was a beautifully written, but extremely difficult to digest.  I would have to say that this is one of her most heartbreaking books.  If you haven't read it, I recommend the audio.  It was very well done.

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes~ A fresh take on paranormal creatures.  Not at all what I expected, but very good.  I will probably post my review later today, so keep an eye out.  Releases December 27th.

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig~ Great modern Robin Hood story.  I didn't have any idea that this was the first in a series until I finished.  I'm pretty happy about that, because I enjoyed this story and can't wait to see where it goes.  Releases March 13th.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin~ Wow, wow, WOW!  One of the best books I've read this year.  So awesome!  Read my review of this AMAZING book HERE.

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake~ Another book that has made my Top 10 of 2011 list.  Just awesome.  So much better than I imagined it could be.  Read my review HERE.



What do you think you'll read next?

How To Save a Life by Sara Zarr~ I've had this on my TBR for too long, and I really need to read it.  I've heard wonderful things about it...

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder~ I have this for review, and since it releases on December 27th, I'm probably going to read it next week.  I've been looking forward to this one!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi~ This is another book that I need to read for review.  It releases on January 3rd, and is one of my most anticipated debuts of 2012.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer~ I have this audio for review, and am much looking forward to listening to it.  I've heard great things!  Releases January 3rd.

"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 so many great books coming out in the early months of 2012, that feel almost bad pining for one that doesn't release until the end of May, but...

Dreamless (Starcrossed, #2) by Josephine Angelini

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I loved the first book in this series, Starcrossed (read my review HERE), and have been excited for the sequel since I finished it months and months ago.  Now a mere 6 months away, my excitement is building even more!  I have high expectations for Josephine Angelini's sophomore book, and have a really great feeling that I won't be let down!  And hey, what about that cover?  So gorgeous!

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publication Date:  May 29th, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

What are you waiting on this week?

**Don't forget to enter my international GIVEAWAY for your chance to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins!  Click HERE to enter!**

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date: September 27th, 2011

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

In short, this book was amazing!  I had really high expectations because it has gotten such rave reviews from bloggers whom I respect, but that can be really dangerous...  Often when I have such high expectations, I'm disappointed, and that disappointment makes me judge the book a little more harshly than I would have.  I was so happy when this book not only met my high expectations, but exceeded them.  It was really awesome!

I didn't have a single complaint of this book; it was perfect!  The writing was very good.  You would never guess that this was written by a debut author.  Michelle Hodkin did a wonderful job with Mara's flashbacks and nightmares, which could have very easily gone wrong.  She also managed to take characters who, if written differently, would have evoked entirely different feelings in me.  Mara is a great heroine who I never felt pity for, even though I felt sad for her great loss and confusion.  She was a strong girl who had a terrible tragedy befall her, but she was aware of what she wanted, and did what she needed to do.  I also adored Noah; with his playboy reputation, he could have easily been someone who, despite his actions, I could never trust, but I do.  I trust him. Implicitly.  

As for the story itself...  So good.  Original, dramatically paced, with just the right amount revealed at just the right times.  I never once thought I had things figured out, but at the same time, I never felt confused.  I was taken aback by a few twists, and even then, I wasn't thinking back on things like I usually do, saying, "Oh, I should have totally seen that coming!".  The twists and revelations were always surprising, and often the type that leave you with your mouth hanging open.

I loved this book.  A LOT.  It is easily one of my top 5 books of 2011 (which is saying loads because so far, I've read 181 books this year).  It was an amazing read, and I highly recommend it for lovers of all genres.  It's got it all; thrills, suspense, mystery, romance, and drama.  Sadly, book #2 doesn't come out until late 2012.  It will be torture to wait considering the ending, but I'm sure the read will be that much more satisfying when the time comes!  Michelle Hodkin has definitely raised the bar for future debut authors, and I have a good feeling that she'll do the same for the Sophomores...

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+

Grade Level Recommendation:  There are some scary moments and a bit of cursing.  There is also some steamy stuff.  I would put this book at 8th grade and up (ages 13+).

**Don't forget to enter my international GIVEAWAY for your chance to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins!  Click HERE to enter!**

Top Ten Tuesday (2): Top Ten Childhood Favorites

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.  Each week a new Top Ten list topic is posted and book bloggers fill in their own choices.  I'm a list girl (as in, I don't function without them), so I thought this would be a good choice for me!  I'm excited for this week's topic because I was the type of kid who always had her nose in a book...

Top Ten Childhood Favorites

(in no particular order)

*click the title for a Goodreads synopsis of each book*

1.  Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling~ My grandmother used to read this book to me when I was little.  I still have the copy she bought for me for Christmas in 1981, when I was 6 years old and now I read it to my three children.

2.  Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, etc. by L.M. Montgomery~ I discovered this book series when I was in 3rd grade and I devoured them in order.  I think I related to Anne because I was a handful as a child as well.  I've read the first two books at least a half-dozen times over the years.  Gilbert Blythe was my first book crush.

3.  Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great,  Superfudge, etc. by Judy Blume~ Sadly, I found out there was no Santa because of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, but I still love this series.  Another one that I've read several times over the years.

4.  Beezus and Ramona, Ramona the Brave, Ramona the Pest, etc. by Beverly Cleary~ Another series I couldn't get enough of.  I've read these to all of my children, and they love them as much as I did.  Timeless!

5.  Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume~ I was raised by a single dad, and was an early bloomer to boot.  Thank God for this book!

6.  The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner~ I used to fantasize about living a a boxcar in the woods.  I had every last detail of my boxcar imagined.  Most kids fantasized about living in a mansion, my dream house was a boxcar.

7.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett~ I learned the meaning of the word "contrary" from reading this book.  As a child, my aunt would always say I was "contrary" and I always thought she was complimenting me.  I was stunned in 2nd grade when I read this and found out otherwise.  LOL

8.  Flowers In the Attic by V.C. Andrews~ I started reading her books the summer between 3rd and 4th grades (my parents clearly didn't censor my reading material) when I was old enough to ride my bike the 6 blocks  to the library and pick my own books.  While not technically a children's book, it was still a favorite.

9.  The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis~ A no brainer.  I'm sure a great many lists this week will have this series.  I read these over and over and over.

10.  A  Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle~ I adore her books, and I read this one over and over until it fell apart.  I still have my cover-less copy somewhere...

11.  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien~ I couldn't have this list without this one, so I had to add an 11th book..  Still a favorite that I read from time to time.

**Don't forget to enter my international GIVEAWAY for your chance to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins!  Click HERE to enter!**

Go Team Katsa!

Hey All!  I just needed to do a quick post to advocate for my all-time favorite YA Heroine EVER, Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore.  The YA Sisterhood is hosting the YA Heroines Tourney, and while I'm not Katsa's official advocate (that would be Stacy and Pixie over at Page Turner's Blog), I did want to spread the word and encourage you to vote.  She is up against a formidable opponent, Emerson from Hourglass by Myra McEntire !  If you have been a follower for any amount of time, you know I LOVED that book and I love Emerson, but she's no Katsa!  Anyway, voting closes at 12:01am tonight, so get your bootie over there an vote!  It only takes a minute!  Just click HERE!!! When you're finished, make sure to tweet that you voted @YASisterhood with the hashtags #HeroinesTourney and #TeamKatsa (or #TeamEmerson, if you must.)!

GO TEAM KATSA!!!

Check out the bracket so far!!

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox (IMM) was started by The Story Siren a few years back, and is a great way for bloggers to give the books they are reading (or are planning to read) a quick mention.  I don't have a ton of books to report, but I have some great ones...

A Monster Calls
By Patrick Ness
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: September 27th, 2011
Source: Library
Goodreads Synopsis
I've heard tons about this book, and I'm intrigued.  Patrick Ness is an amazing author, so I'm sure this will be great!

The Future of Us
By Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: November 21st, 2011
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
I have such high hopes for this.  Thirteen Reasons Why was such an amazingly written book, that I know this will be too.  Also, the advance buzz has been amazing!

Halflings
By Heather Burch
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: February 1st, 2012
Source: ARC/NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
I think it's great that a Zondervan (Christian publisher) title is getting such attention and great advance buzz.  As the parent of a tween, I like them because I know that it will be "clean" enough for her to read.  Also, I really like angel stories.

Touch of Power
By Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: December 27th, 2011.
Source: ARC/NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
Maria V. Snyder is an amazing author, so I know this will be great.  Also, the cover is beautiful.

Cinder (Audio)
By Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Fiewel & Friends/Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2012
Source: Advance Copy/Macmillan Audio
Goodreads Synopsis
Initially, I didn't think I was interested in this one, but then I read Lori's (from Pure Imagination) review and I was sold.  I respect her opinion, but more than that, she also wasn't that sold on it, and ended up loving it.  Read her review HERE.

Tempest (Audio)
By Julie Cross
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin/Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: January 17th, 2012
Source: Advance Copy/Macmillan Audio
Goodreads Synopsis
I really love the cover of this one and the story sounds great.  I will probably do a giveaway of this one if I love it as much as I think I will.  Stay tuned!

**Don't forget to enter my international GIVEAWAY for your chance to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins!  Click HERE to enter!**