Cover Love: Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

As I was perusing the Macmillan Children's Group Fall 2012 Catalog, I came across this and got a warm, fuzzy, excited feeling inside my belly...

I LOVE Gabrielle Zevin's books!  Seriously.  I've read all of her YA books, and have never had anything negative to say about any of them.  Elsewhere is one of my all-time favorites (ranking up there with Gone With the Wind and Harry Potter), and the first book in this series, All These Things I've Done, was brilliant as well.

So here is the cover for Because It Is My Blood.   I love it!  If you haven't read All These Things I've Done, get on it, because it's great (read my review of the audio HERE)!

Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, & Giroux BYR

Publication Date:  September 18th, 2012

“Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in.”- Michael Corleone, The Godfather

Since her release from Liberty Children's Facility, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. No high school wants her with a gun possession charge on her rap sheet. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship.But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It’s a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve--and her heart--will be tested as never before.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Publisher:  Amulet Books

Publication Date:  March 1st, 2012

Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I know this is a rather bold statement to be making in March, but this is my Beauty Queens of 2012.  What I mean is that Me and Earl and the Dying Girl will top my 2012 list of "Funniest Books of the Year".  I have never laughed so hard while reading a book as I did while reading this one.  In fact, I'm going to be even more bold and say that this is quite possibly the funniest book I have EVER read.  You may find this statement odd, given the fact that this book is about two guys and their friend, who is dying of cancer, but this book is not about cancer; cancer is more like a supporting character...  This book is actually about the main character, Greg, and the changes he goes through during his senior year.  Yes, Rachel's cancer plays a role in shaping who Greg and Earl become over the course of the book, but in the end, it plays a rather small role.

I had a lots of reasons to love this book, and I really can't think of anything I didn't like about it.  That said, I should give a disclaimer:  I am an adult, and am not easily offended by profanity, objectification of women and their parts, or crude conversation (in fact, I tend to have a rather crass sense of humor, and often find these things amusing).  This book contains all these things and more; it is a true depiction of how a 17 year old boy thinks and talks, and there are people who might find that offensive.  If you are one of those people, you might as well skip this book.  Now I can get to what I loved...

• This book is written as a stream of consciousness.  It's written from the POV of Greg, and it is written as he thinks about and experience.  Since, as you may have noticed, I write in much the same way, I like reading things written this way as well.
• Did I mention this book was funny?  If Judd Apatow wrote books, they would all read like this one.
• The characters were GREAT!  Greg was the hopeless, lovable, self-deprecating kid who is too smart and/or edgy for his own good.  Earl was the tough, tell-it-like-it-is, reluctant hero, who also happened to be my favorite.  Rachel was the girl with cancer who forced Greg to grow, and Earl to show his vulnerable side.  The supporting characters were pretty awesome too.  I loved Greg's descriptions of his parents and sisters, Earl's brothers, and his teachers.  Honestly, Jesse Andrews's biggest strength had to be in his descriptions of characters.  They were just brilliant, and he had me laughing my arse off at every turn.
• Initially you're led to believe that there's not much plot or story line in this book.  For a large portion of the book, I thought it was mainly Greg's observations of life; he even goes out of his way, many times, to let you know that, regretfully, this is NOT a book about a kid who discovers himself through his experiences dealing with a friend dying of cancer.  Of course, it IS about that, but in a very convoluted way...  I have to admit that the final chapter threw me for a loop.  I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't tell you why, but I was genuinely surprised, and I NEVER saw it coming.
• The whole film angle was brilliant.  Greg and Earl are ginormous fans of B-Movies and recreate many of their favorites over the course of their childhood.  They show these to NOBODY, until Earl gives them to dying Rachel in the hopes of cheering her up.  Greg is none to pleased, but he reluctantly goes along with it.   A lot of the story involves the films and, I found myself wishing there was an interactive component to this book where we could see these films (especially the ones with the sock-puppets).
• The pacing was awesome!!!  I mean, I could not go five pages without guffawing, and I couldn't go 25 pages without laughing so hard I had tears running down my face.  I'm pretty sure that I peed my pants a little at least three or four times.  
• The cover is phenomenal.  It is eye-catching, relevant to the story, and so VERY well done.  Bravo to the designer!

Really, I could have just written, "This book is made of win, with awesomesauce on top!", but that would not have been much of a review.  I have no doubt about the fact that Me and Earl and the Dying Girl will make my Top 25 YA Books of 2012 list.  It is a definite favorite, and I hope you all will read it (but ONLY if you are not offended by profanity).

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+++ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  As I mentioned before, this book is heavy on the profanity, amongst other possibly objectionable things.  I would say this is a definite "NO!" for Middle School age students, and iffy for even 9th graders.  If this book were a movie, it would definitely be rated R.  Because there are no actual visualizations, like in a movie, I'm not putting a 17+ stamp on it, but I am going to say that this is a book that should not be read by anyone younger than High School age.  I recommend this book for readers who are AT LEAST 15 and older (grades 10+).

Cover Reveal: Serpent's Kiss by Melissa de la Cruz

Ya'll, this is the week of awesome cover reveals!  I loved Witches of East End, the first book in Melissa de la Cruz's newest series.  Well here is the cover of the sequel, to be released on June 12, 2012 by Hyperion.  If you haven't read Witches of East End, get on it!  (Read my review HERE!)

Serpent's Kiss by Melissa de la Cruz

Isn't it absolutely STUNNING?  Can't wait!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten YA Covers of 2012

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 one that I am absolutely ecstatic about!  I am a total cover whore, and often buy books just for the cover, without even reading the synopsis.  Fortunately, I've only been burned a few times.  They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I can't help it!  So, without further ado, here are my Top Ten YA Covers of 2012 (and maybe a few runners-up because I just can't narrow it down).  As I went through the covers, it seems that Penguin and Harper seem to employ the best designers since their imprints have the most on the list, so bravo to them!

Top Ten YA Covers of 2012

1.  Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne (Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons)~ This cover is so gorgeous!  The balance of light and dark, and the crisp imagery.  I had this on my TBR, based on the cover, long before I had any idea what it was about.

2.  Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Published by Balzer+Bray)~ While I thought this book was okay, it didn't come close to measuring up to the stunningly beautiful cover.  One of my all-time favorites.

3.  Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Published by Putnam Juvenile)~ This cover was on Penguin Books for Young Readers 2012 Spring catalog, and you can see why.  It is lush and eye-catching.  I would have read this anyway, but the cover made me want to buy it just to have on my shelf.

4.  The Selection by Kiera Cass (Published by HarperTeen)~ This cover is so delectable!  Seriously, those dresses look edible to me; the girls look like they should be on top of a cake.  I hope this book measures up to my high cover-based expectations!

5.  Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Published by HarperTeen)~ I liked the cover of book #1, Divergent.  I LOVE this one.  The colors and level of detail are perfect, and it fits beautifully next to its predecessor.

6.  Timepiece by Myra McEntire (Published by EgmontUSA)~ I bought the first book in this series, Hourglass, because of the cover and it ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2011.  Here's to hoping that this book is just as amazing (if we base it on the cover, we're doing well)!

7.  Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (Published by TorTeen)~ This is another sequel of a book I picked up because of the cover, only to find it on the top of my 2011 best books list.  I like this cover even more (but will the ink on the pages match like in Anna Dressed in Blood?).

8.  Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey (Published by Dial Books)~ I'm not sure if I'll read this book, but the cover is absolutely brilliant.  

9.  Until I Die by Amy Plum (Published by HarperTeen)~ I haven't read the first book in this series (Die for Me) yet, but I fully intend to.  I've had it on my Kindle for ages and have just not gotten to it.  The covers of both are lovely!

10.  Reached by Ally Condie (Published by Dutton Children's Books)~ All of the books in the Matched trilogy (Matched, Crossed) are simple, but perfect for the story.  This one is my favorite of the three because I am a sucker for red covers, but I love them all.

Runners-Up

(because I suck at decisions)

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (Published by EgmontUSA)~ This entire series has beautiful covers, but this one is the best yet.  I would never have read The Dark Divine if not for the cover.

Fever by Lauren DeStefano (Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Books)~ This cover is fantastic, and it really captures the story, much like its predecessor, Wither.  I did love the cover of Wither more, but this one is almost as good.

Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer (Published by Balzer+Bray)~ This cover is just awesome!  Th story looks really great, and I probably would never have given it a chance if not for the cover.

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: January 31st, 2012

New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This book was such a surprise for me.  Several months ago, when people started buzzing about it (the cover, mostly), my interest was piqued, but this wasn't one of the 2012 debuts that I felt like I HAD to get my hands on without delay.  I thought, "Sure, the cover is really pretty, and the story sound interesting enough, but it's not CALLING to me."  Well, in this case, my instincts were way off.  This book was awesome, one of my favorites so far this year; and now that I know the story behind the cover, I think it is the most beautiful cover of the year.  Ya'll NEED to read this book!

I'll start my review by telling you what I loved best (and I say "loved" because "like" is not a strong enough word to properly express my feelings)... The characters in this book were so multi-dimensional, especially "nosoul" Ana.  I cannot even fathom being in her position- everyone she's ever met has the experience of thousands of years of living- they all intimately know each other, in one way or another, and they can never really die because they will just be reincarnated with all the knowledge and experience of their previous lives.  They don't really care if they die- they will come back soon enough- but Ana?  No one knows what her fate will be when she dies.  That has to be scary!  Add to all of that the fact that most people, her own parents included, hate her for being an aberration.  These feelings are so intense that her father left when she was an infant and her mother kept her hidden away from society as a whole, for her first 18 years of life; physically, mentally, and verbally abusing her the entire time.  Imagine what kind of person you become after that.  Ana has a strong spirit though, and she perseveres, teaching herself life skills that her mother couldn't be bothered with teaching her.  Now she's 18 and she wants answers.  Who is she?  Why was she born?  Is there anyone out there like her?  When she goes on her quest for them, she meets Sam, and I have to say, he is one of the most tender and worthy male characters I've come across in a YA novel.  I found myself rooting for them from the beginning, and one of the things that kept me reading was the need to find out if a romance ever developed between the two, of if their relationship would stay platonic.  Sam and Ana were the main characters, but Jodi Meadows spent a decent amount of time developing the supporting characters as well, and I was so glad for that...

Of course, you can't write a book with characters alone, and that brings me to the story.  It was equally good.  A well rendered world, with an interesting premise behind it.  The originality of this book was amazing.  Imagine the utopian existence that could be built if the people within it had thousands of years of personal experience on which to build it.  Imagine how that might be disrupted if suddenly a beloved friend, who everyone expected to be reborn, was suddenly replaced by a brand new soul who had no experience to draw upon.  Imagine if that person was raised away from society for 18 years, only to return under the protection of a valued member of society.  You would think it would divide the people, and it did.  

If you haven't ascertained this already, I will reiterate...  I LOVED this book.  It was beautifully written, with such a strong sense of humanity- both the good and bad aspects of it.  I couldn't put it down, and I am beyond excited for the release of book #2.  Anyone looking for something fresh and different,   should definitely give this book a try.  You won't be disappointed you did.

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book is pretty clean.  There is some romance, and sex is alluded to in one chapter, but never spoken about outright.  Anyone reading this that wouldn't be ready for that type of content, probably wouldn't understand what they were talking about anyway.  I was say this book is more than appropriate for 5th grade and up (ages 10+).

Review: As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: September 15th, 2011

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This has to be one of the weirdest books I have ever read.  It has gotten a lot of mixed reviews, and I can see why now.  It takes a certain type of reader to like this book, and a lot of fans of Elizabeth Scott's other books will absolutely hate it because it's a bit of a departure.  I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it.  It was okay, but not anything I'm going to go out of my way to recommend.  Here are some things you should know before reading this book:

• It is extremely confusing for the most of the story.  I THINK I understand what was going on, now that I've finished it, but I'm still not 100% certain.  I know I didn't have a clue until about 90% through.  If you like a book that has you puzzling to figure it out through the entire thing, then this book is for you.
• It's hard to connect with any of the characters because of the fact that you're never sure who you are dealing with, or how they connect with the story, until the very end. 
• The language is strange.  The way the protagonist, Ava, talks to and about herself is very strange and confusing.  Granted, she really doesn't have a clue, herself, but I found it bothersome.  If you are easily frustrated when authors use different styles of speech, you will have difficulty with this book.

If you can get past the above points, then you may enjoy this.  I found it a little too complicated because I read for entertainment and escape, and this book was just way too taxing on my brain.  It was very intense.  It's definitely for a very niche group of readers, that I don't think I'm a part of.   (It does have a fabulous cover though!)

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  I think it's fine for Middle School (6th grade) and up.  There's some violence, but otherwise, it's pretty clean.  Ages 11+.

Some GREAT Cover Reveals Over the Past Couple of Weeks!

Ya'll know that I am a total cover whore, right?  If the cover rocks, I will pick a book no matter what it's about.  I've only been disappointed a few times, but more often, I've been surprised by a book that I wouldn't have picked up otherwise.  Some recent examples?  

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell~ I am not a fan of Historical Fiction, and while this book definitely has a Paranormal element to it, it's still very much a Historical Fiction novel... I would have never picked this book up if not for the cover, and I ended up really enjoying it and I'm looking forward to book #2, The Springsweet.  Read my review HERE.

Envy by Gregg Olsen~ Gregg usually writes True Crime, and that is not my thing at all.  Too real.  Too graphic.  Too plausible (because these things actually happened-duh!).  I read this book, his first venture into YA, because of the creepy-awesome cover, and loved it.  I will definitely read Betrayal, book #2 in the series.  Read my review HERE.

Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster~ I knew I was going to read this before I even looked at the synopsis, because of the cover.  This book ended up being one of the most original stories I've read in awhile.  It was not at all what I expected, but in the end, the cover made complete sense.  Read my review HERE.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer~ I was a bit over the whole werewolf thing and probably would not have read this if not for the cover (Clarification: I am talking about the ORIGINAL cover that I've shown, not the new ones, which I do not like.)  I loved this book.  I went on to read Wolfsbane (one of my Top Ten YA Books of 2011) as soon as it came out, and am waiting anxiously for Bloodrose.  Without the cover of Nightshade, I would never have become a total Andrea Cremer fangirl. Read my review of Nightshade HERE and my review of Wolfsbane HERE.


So- those are a few examples of books I never would have read if not for the covers... Now for the new cover reveals that I'm so excited for... Is anyone else as excited as I am?


Thumped by Megan McCafferty~ This is the sequel to Bumped.  If you haven't read it, do so soon, because it was very good.  Witty, funny, and quite thought-provoking.  (Read my review HERE.)  I'm really looking forward to Thumped and I really like the cover.  Thumped comes out April 24th, 2012 from .

Endlessly by Kiersten White~ This is the 3rd book in the Paranormalcy Trilogy.  Paranormalcy was first, then Supernaturally, and finally, Endlessly.  I love these covers, and Endlessly is my favorite.  Plus the stories rock!  Endlessly comes out July 24th, 2012 from HarperTeen.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire~ This is the sequel to Hourglass, which was one of my favorite books of 2011 (read my review HERE).  Myra said on her blog that this cover was not supposed to be revealed for a LONG time, but someone leaked it, so here it is.  She also said it isn't final, but I think the publisher would be nuts not to to keep it.  It fits with the fabulous cover of Hourglass perfectly, but is even more fabulous!  Timepiece releases June 12th, 2012 from EgmontUSA.

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake~ This is the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood and while I liked the cover to Anna, this cover blows it away!  Isn't it awesome?  Girl of Nightmares releases sometime in August of 2012 from Tor Teen.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini~ This is the sequel to Starcrossed, which I loved. (read my review HERE)  Not only was the book great, but I loved the cover, so I was anxious to see what the publisher would do with the sequel.  I think this cover is even prettier, and I'm am getting more excited by the day.  Dreamless releases May 29th, 2012 from HarperTeen.

**Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a copy of The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson!!  It ends at 12:01am November 10th.  Click HERE for details.**

WWW (10) and Waiting on Wednesday (August 10th, 2011) Double Feature

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great YA 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?

My kids are back in school!  Yay!  My house is spotless, and my garage is cleaned and organized.  I still have lots to do in my yard and my basement is desperate for a good cleaning, but otherwise, I'm feeling free to read without a tremendous amount of guilt.   Yay Me!  I didn't do a IMM post this week because I didn't get anything new.  :(  Back-to-School is expensive, so I had to put my bookish needs on hold, but I'm reading some great stuff...

What are you currently reading?

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis~ Currently revisiting my HS years for a challenge I am co-moderating on Goodreads.  If you're interested, join up HERE.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter~ Loved Heist Society, and so far, I'm loving this even more!

Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card~ This has been on my TBR forever... Too long.

Divergent by Veronica Roth~ Reading this to Emma and she is enthralled.  SO good!

What did you recently finish reading?

Fire by Kristin Cashore~ I adored it's companion, Graceling.  I though this was almost as good.  Much looking forward to Bitterblue, the third installment.

Flip by Martyn Bedford~ This got a lot of rave reviews, but I found it just okay.  Unique, no doubt, but I didn't find myself compelled to forgo responsibilities to read it.

Tighter by Adele Griffin~ An ending you will never see coming.  Oh, and don't read it late at night.  I didn't sleep that night...

What do you think you'll read next?

Choker by Elizabeth Woods~ This is about to be due at the library and I don't want to wait on the horrendous list again.  Such a pretty cover.

t.t.y.l. by Lauren Myracle~ My daughter wants to read this. LM, herself said 15+, but Emma won't stop pestering me as to why, so I'm going to read it and give her a sound and educated "NO!" (because apparently my telling her it tops ALA's "most challenged" list is not enough).

Bumped by Megan McCafferty~ I know, I know.  I should have read this by now.  I know I'm going to love it.

"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.

I believe this will be my first 2012 release, and I know it's going to be fantastic!  I was going to make it my WoW last time but the cover hadn't been revealed yet... I'm sure you will see a lot of this one, but I'm too excited for it to be different from everyone else!

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.
(Courtesy of Goodreads)

First off, look at that COVER!  I didn't think it could get better than the Wither Cover, but this is just stunning!  I loved Wither and am really, really, REALLY excited for this book's release.  I cannot wait to find out what happens to Rhine and Gabriel next. 

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date:  February 21, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+