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 & Giveaway: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (Audio read by Ilyana Kadushin)

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux/Macmillan Audio

Publication Date: September 6th, 2011

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. 

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Okay folks, if you are an old follower, you know that I love Gabrielle Zevin.  Her 1st YA book, Elsewhere, is one of my favorite books ever.  I also loved Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, so when I heard about this one, I was, of course, ecstatic!  This book was definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2011, as evidenced by THIS WoW Post from back in May.  I was so thrilled when Macmillan Audio contacted me to review it; I am a big audio listener because I spend a lot of time running carpool for my kids.  I did read it before listening to it because sometimes I don't get a book as well from the audio and given my love for Zevin's books, I really wanted to give it a fair shake.  I can happily report that the pre-read was not necessary; the audio version was FANTASTIC!


This book was read by a young lady named Ilyana Kadushin and let me tell you, Macmillan did a fabulous job casting this reader.  The story is told in the first person, and if the wrong reader had been cast, it would have been disastrous.  This reader was so good.  I really believed Anya (the protagonist) was telling the story.  I have listened to dozens of audiobooks read in the first person, and this was one of the best yet.  I think it must be very difficult to become the character; film and stage actors can use body language and facial expression to enhance their portrayal of a character; audiobook narrators have to rely on voice alone.  Ilyana Kadushin did a fabulous job and I believe I got MORE out of listening to this than reading it.


As for the story, AWESOME!  I won't be able to give a very in depth review without spoilers, but I will say that this book is a winner.  Anya doesn't have it easy.  She has a load to shoulder that no teenage girl should ever have to shoulder, but she does it with great integrity and maturity.  She is judged by just about everyone for who her dead father was and what her last name still is.  She has huge familial obligations that have nothing to do with the crime family her name makes her a part of.  She has to make very tough decisions about the people she loves and would love, her commitment to her faith, her commitment to her family and friends, and how those things fit with honoring herself.


This story is packed with emotion, but also suspense and intrigue.  As hard as Anya tries to do what's best for everyone, things do not always go her way; in fact, they rarely go her way.  I can't wait for the second book of this series because I want to know Anya better, and I really NEED to know what happens next in her very interesting life.


Bravo to Gabrielle Zevin for once again knocking it out of the park!  It takes a brilliant author to be able to write several different books and not have any of them be even close to similar.  My opinion of her has gotten even better, and I didn't think it possible!


My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


Grade Level Recommendation:  There is some mild violence, a couple of instances of almost sex, and a few swears.  Nothing I would consider inappropriate for a middle schooler.  Ages 12 and up. (6th grade+).

WWW (3) and Waiting on Wednesday (May 4th, 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?

With school letting out in a few weeks, and the softball season dying down (and All-Stars ramping up), I've been crazy busy, so I haven't been reading as much as I would like...

What are you currently reading?

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison~ I'm reading this one with Emma and it is very cute.  We're both enjoying it and are looking forward to the next one, My Unfair Godmother.  I am always a little bit of a sucker for re-telling.  What can I say?

Nightshade by Andrea Creamer~ Yeah.  So I'm still working on this one.  I am REALLY loving it, but my husband commandeered my kindle for a few days and I had to put it down.  I'm back to it, and almost finished.  So far, so VERY good!

What did you recently finish reading?

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes~ I listened to the audio of this and I thought I wasn't going to like it at first, but it grew on me, and I ended up really liking it by the end.  Some people asked how the audio version was, and I have to say, I really liked the reader.  She had a nice voice and brought the story to life.  I'll have a review up soon...

Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster~ This was quite a bit better than I thought it would be and not at all what I expected.  Read my review HERE.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman~ I absolutely loved it!  I should have my review of it up today...

Shine by Lauren Myracle~ Check out my review of this one HERE.  I can't say enough great things about this book.  I want everyone in the world to read it!  And guess what?  Lauren Myracle actually commented on my review!  How cool is THAT?

What do you think you'll read next?

Haven by Kristi Cook~ I've had this on my TBR list for far too long, so as soon as I finish Nightshade, I'm on it.  I don't have a regular book (you know, the kind with paper) going right now anyway...

Hereafter by Tara Hudson~ I've been waiting for this one to release, and I just got a wonderful surprise yesterday- an ARC!  Yay me!  Needless to say, I will be reading this soon! (Thanks HarperTeen!!)

"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. 

So, without further ado, the book I am highlighting this week is....

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

From the author of the critically acclaimed Elsewhere comes this brilliant novel about an impossible romance, a family living outside of the law, and the ties that forever bind us.

Chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is increasingly scarce, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine—going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until someone in her inner circle ends up poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight—at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafiya family.

Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I’ve Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and fantastic.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This is the first book in Gabrielle Zevin's Birthright series and I am super excited.  It's no secret that I love dystopian fiction.  It's my favorite genre, and I'm pretty thrilled that Zevin is entering that realm.  That said, I would have been "waiting on" on this one anyway.  I would have been waiting on this one even if I didn't know anything about it because I love Gabrielle Zevin's books.  Elsewhere, her first YA novel, is one of my all-time favorite books (definitely top 5).  It's one of those books that stays with you long after you read it.  It's one of those books that I recommend to everyone, adults included, and everyone I've recommended it to loves it.  Her other YA book Confessions of a Teenage Amnesiac is also very good.  SO... This is my WoW for this week.  Keep an eye out for it since it's sure to be AWESOME!  (And if you haven't read Elsewhere, you need to.   You'll kick yourself for not reading it sooner.)

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Publication Date:  September 27th, 2011

My Expected Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★