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: 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.

Review: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Publisher: Bloomsbury/Walker Children's Books

Publication Date: April 24th, 2012

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship. 

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This is a 2012 debut that I have had my eye on for awhile. The title, the synopsis, the cover; all of it called to me, saying,"If you have to read something contemporary, this should be it!".  I'm not typically a big fan of the genre, but this book sounded really good to me.  As I began reading it, I started to get an uneasy feeling like my expectations were too high.  The first few chapters were confusing, and to be honest, my high hopes for this book began to falter... Then it clicked.  I spent the rest of the book frantically reading, not wanting to put this book down, needing to know what the deal was.  What I thought was going to be a contemporary read, full of emotion and grief, turned out to be a kick-ass mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.  Yes, it had some elements of contemporary fiction, and it was definitely heavy on the emotion, but it was so much more!  The story was excellent, the characters were flawed and relatable, and the pacing was dead-on.  I went back and forth between who I thought may have done what and whether or not everything was in Allie's head.  I felt queasy (in a good way) when things would turn out to be entirely different than I could have ever expected.  I was down with strep throat the week that I read this, and I have never been happier to lay in bed sick.  I wish I could share more, but I would hate to spoil any of this book; I want you to be on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, just like I was!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book has some pretty heavy themes, but is very real in how they are dealt with.  There is some language, domestic abuse, teen drinking, etc.  I would say that this is for grades 8 and up (ages 13+).

Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Publication Date: April 10th , 2012

It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark. 

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora’s best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora’s sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Honestly, I've been trying to write this review for almost a week.  This is THAT book.  You know?  The one that is almost impossible to review without spoilers?  This book has so much going on, that every time I try to articulate my reasons for liking it, I give some important spoiler-y detail away.  I am going to do my best...

This book was very, very good.  I enjoyed it as an adult reader, and I have a feeling that although it is a YA book, it is going to require a certain type of YA reader.  Not every YA reader is going to want to invest in the intellectual side of this story, and that is a HUGE part of this book, but those readers who like to THINK, will love this book.  This is not Twilight, people.  It's more like The Da Vinci Code meets A Great and Terrible Beauty.  It is smart, with intelligent, driven characters.  It is full of mysterious twists and plot developments, jumping back and forth between the late 1500's and the present through letters being translated to English from Latin by the protagonist, Nora.  As she translates these letters, she begins to realize that they may be the missing piece to the puzzle; the one that is needed to break the code that will make sense of a 400+ year old book that supposedly holds the key to knowing the mind of God.  This is a secret that people would kill to know or protect, depending on which side they are on...  As Nora and her friends get mixed up in this centuries old dispute, truths come out that are both unbelievable and grotesque, and you never know who is to be trusted.

This book is one hell of a ride, and it will keep you guessing until the very end.  It had its slow parts, but they were well worth it every time the action kicked off again.  This book appears to have been meticulously researched, and it had me in awe of Robin Wasserman and her dedication to getting it right.  If you like a smart, action-packed mystery that will make you question right and wrong on many levels, pick this one up.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This is not a book for younger readers.  It's violent, but that isn't even the issue.  This book has too much detail and historical reference for even the most well-read, intelligent Middle School readers.  This book reads like adult lit, and I would recommend it for grades 10 and up (ages 15+).

Release Day Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Publication Date:  March 27th, 2012

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.Henry's first wife, Persephone.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Aimee Carter, you are a cruel, cruel woman!  That being true, I will keep coming back for more as long as you choose to keeping dishing it up!!  I really liked the first book in this series, The Goddess Test; it wasn't my favorite book ever, but I felt like it was a solid start to what I think will be an amazing series (as far as Greek Mythology retellings go, I liked it a lot better than Percy Jackson).  I took far too long to read it after it was released, and when I did, I fell in love with the characters, the world, and the interesting and unique take on the Hades/Persephone story.  I was hooked when I read the prologue, and I found myself unable to put it down until I had finished the book in one sitting.  I liked the way it ended, and I didn't feel like there was this horrible cliffhanger to stew on.  Yes, I very much wanted to read Goddess Interrupted, but I didn't feel mad that I had to wait for it.  Such was not the case at the end of book number two.  The cliffhanger at the end of Goddess Interrupted is mean, and I will probably think on it for weeks... Book three, The Goddess Inheritance will definitely be ones of those books that I will grovel and beg for an ARC of, because I can't possibly imagine waiting until October to find out what happens next!  In fact, although as a rule, I don't usually read the "half" eBooks that have become all the rage (in this case they would be, The Goddess Hunt, book 1.5 and The Goddess Legacy, book 2.5), because of general lack of time, I plan to for this series because after reading Goddess Interrupted, I really can't get enough...

If my lamentation over the wait for The Goddess Inheritance and my gushfest over the series in general weren't enough of a review in favor of Goddess Interrupted, I will go a bit further (but not by much because I don't want to give spoilers for The Goddess Test or Goddess Interrupted)...  Goddess Interrupted begins six months after The Goddess Test ends.  Kate's winter with Henry at Eden Manor is over (obviously, since there is a book number two, she has passed the tests and made a choice about whether or not to marry him), she has spent her spring and summer on surface, touring Greece with James, and has returned to the Underworld to be with Henry for the fall and winter... This is when all hell breaks loose in a very literal sense.  From the beginning this book is packed with action and adventure.  It is also packed with emotion, mystery, and several twists and turns that I didn't expect (there were some predictable parts as well, but they are forgiven because I feel smart when I figure things out).  The end, in particular, threw me for a loop because while it was a cliffhanger, it was one I never in a bazillion years saw coming! 

This book was great, but not perfect.  There were times when I was very frustrated; Kate was a bit stupid and oblivious and beyond hard-headed at times, and there were times when I wasn't clear what was going on.  The confusion turned out to be fine in the end, because everything was made clear, and since the story is told from Kate's POV, it makes sense that I would feel confused when she did.  Her sometimes stupidity annoyed me though.  I will say that as she grew stronger as a character, I became less annoyed, so perhaps that won't be a stumbling block to the 5 stars I so want to give this book next time around.

Overall, I thought this book was an improvement on its very well done predecessor, The Goddess Test.  I liked the first book, I loved this one, and I have very high expectations that the third book, The Goddess Inheritance, will be even better!  Stay tuned, and I will let you know what I think when it comes out in October!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book is pretty clean.  There is some sex, but it is between a married couple.  There is talk about how some of the gods and goddesses have been known to sleep around, but that is pretty common knowledge, and was already covered in the MG series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  That said, I would place this book in the 6th grade and up category (ages 11+), and would even allow 5th graders who have already had "the talk" to read it.

Review: Croak by Gina Damico

Publisher: Graphia/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publication Date: March 20th, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure. 

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business. 

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer. 

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

What a pleasant surprise this book was!  When I first heard about it, I wasn't sure it would be my thing, but by the time I was through the 3rd chapter, I knew that I was going to LOVE this book.  Of course, I was right.  Croak is GREAT!  It had a little bit of everything; sometimes that can make a story a bit muddled and hard to follow, but that was not the case here.  Croak was extremely well written and the different elements of the story fit together seamlessly.  This book had humor, mystery, intrigue, drama, romance, realism, and fantasy rolled into one truly phenomenal adventure.

I think my favorite part of this book was definitely the characters.  The protagonist, Lex, was smart, witty, insecure, and pretty kick-ass.  I enjoyed watching her morph from a confused teenage delinquent into a happy girl who has found her place in the world.  She was very real and easy to relate to.  Then, of course, we had the boys.  I loved that Driggs and Uncle Mort were both crush-worthy; Driggs for the teenage girls, and Mort for their YA reading moms...  The supporting characters in the town of Croak were also great.  We didn't see Lex's parents and twin sister much, but what we did see of them made for a few good laughs.  Lex's Civil War obsessed mother was awesome, naming her daughters after Civil War battles (Lexington and Concord).  The characters were all wonderfully developed, each with the right amount of emotion and humanity.

Obviously, the story was great, or I wouldn't be writing this gushfest, but the it wasn't the only thing that was great.  The creativity and amazingly detailed world building were first-class.  The town of Croak had so many brilliantly named businesses (a butcher called "Dead Meat", a florist called "Pushing Daisies").  I think one of my favorite parts was when all the teens were hanging out in the dorms and playing board games because instead of playing one at a time, they took them all and played a bizarre board game mash-up that involved Monopoly, Clue, Twister, Battleship, Chutes and Ladders, etc.  I found myself laughing out loud at some of the rules.  I also loved the real quality of the relationships, especially the awkward growing attraction between Driggs and Lex.

Overall, I have to say that this is one of my favorite debuts of 2012, and I have a feeling that it will stay near the top for the remainder of the year.  This book completely drew me and made me smile almost the entire time I was reading it.  Fortunately, the sequel to book, Scorch, comes out on September 25th, so there isn't very much of a wait as far as sequels go.  One thing is for certain; I will be eagerly awaiting its release!  

My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  There is some cursing, and definitely some death.  There is romance, with heavy make-out scenes between two of the supporting characters, earning comments like, "Get a room!", but otherwise, this book is pretty clean.  I would say this book is (conservatively) fine for 6th grade and up (ages 11+), but I would have no problem allowing my 5th grader to read it, and probably would have let her in 4th grade.

Review: Another Jekyll, Another Hyde by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Publisher:  Candlewick Press

Publication Date:  March 27th, 2012

An elusive stalker is targeting Marlowe kids - and something unearthly has gotten into its wealthiest student - as the Another series builds up to a fiendish finale. When his billionaire father marries French governess Nicola Vileroy, high society is all abuzz - but Thomas, the most popular student at Marlowe, is just plain high. Ever since his girlfriend Belle dumped him, he's been spending less time with old friends and more time getting wasted at clubs. But after someone slips him a designer drug one night - and his stepmother seems to know way too much about his private life - things really start to get scary. As Thomas's blackouts give way to a sinister voice inside his head, and as news of a vicious hate crime has students on edge, Thomas comes to the sickening realization that Madame Vileroy has involved him in a horrifying supernatural plan. How can he muster the strength and will to stop it? The pulse-quickening climax revisits Jekyll and Hyde as a current-day cautionary tale laced with a heady dose of paranormal intrigue.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I recently read and reviewed the first book in this series, Another Faust (read my review HERE), in preparation for reading this book.  My eye had been on it for awhile, and when I got an advance copy of Another Jekyll, Another Hyde, I knew it was time to get around to reading it.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and wish I had time to read book number two, Another Pan.  I understood what was going on in Another Jekyll, Another Hyde, but there were a few holes, so I will definitely go back and read Another Pan, but I think you really only NEED to read Another Faust to read this book.

Another Jekyll, Another Hyde was fantastic.  I liked it slightly better than Another Faust because there wasn't a lot of backstory to bog it down, so it was a quicker, more action-packed read.  Where the pacing in Another Faust kind of ebbed and flowed, the pacing in this book was non-stop, all while keeping the mystery and intrigue alive until the last page.  This is the kind of book series that would make a brilliant movie franchise because of how well written the world and the action sequences are.  They kind of read like a movie, and you become very involved.  This book took me maybe a day and a half to read because I found it impossible to put down; if I had, I would have had a knot of anticipation in my gut until I was able to pick it back up.  The story was great, and I always felt an intense need to know what was going to happen next.  The Nayeris delivered in spades; they provided plausible answers that often opened up other questions.  The conclusion, however, was extremely satisfying.  It wasn't too neat and it didn't feel at all rushed.  It was exactly the type of ending a series like this should have.

The characters were mostly the same as those in Another Faust.  There were a couple of new ones, judging from the dialogue,  that I think were from Another Pan, but their roles were rather small, so I didn't feel like I needed their story.  Madame Vileroy, of course, is a central character, but the main character in this book is Belle's boyfriend from book #1, Thomas.  Madame Vileroy manages to marry his billionaire father, and becomes his stepmother.  The things she has in mind for Thomas are not pretty.  She's as manipulative and evil as ever, but she's also in a weakened state and desperate to regain her full power.  From the wedding until the end of the book, she turns Thomas's world upside down, while making it look to everyone else, including Thomas, like he is slowly descending down a drug-addled path to madness.  We do see the original Faust children a few times, but this story is not really about them, and their main purpose is to serve as backstory to people who may not have read Another Faust.

I can't say that this is the best book of three, because I haven't read Another Pan yet (I fully intend to, so stay tuned), but I can say, that I feel like the Nayeris outdid themselves over Another Faust.  This series is a brilliant modern-retelling of an old tale woven together with some classics, and I hope lots of people will pick it up.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book has a lot of recreational drug use (along with a strong cautionary message), a good bit of violence (a la Mr. Hyde), and some allusions to sex.  That said, I don't think it would be inappropriate to upper-Middle School age students because of the consequences to all of the actions described.  Honestly, I think they would gain from reading this modern retelling.  Grades 8 and up (ages 13+).

In My Mailbox (26)

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 didn't get a ton this week, but that's okay because I'm kind of behind on my reading as it is.  Anyway, here is what I did get...

Pandemonium
By Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 28th, 2012
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
Not only did I finally get my copy of this, but it is SIGNED!  Yay Me!  I also got a signed copy for one of my lucky followers, so don't forget to sign up for my GIVEAWAY!

Liesl & Po
By Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
I bought this for my 7 year old son as a "reward" for sitting through the author event so quietly, but I really bought it for me.  Nothing wrong with killing two birds with one stone.  Shhh!  Don't tell him!

The Summer My Life Began
By Shannon Greenland
Publisher: Speak
Publication Date: May 10th, 2012
Source: ARC/NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
I saw this on someone's Waiting On Wednesday post awhile back, and it looked cute.  I saw it on NetGalley, and decided to give it a shot.  Stay tuned!

Endure
By Carrie Jones
Publisher:  BloomsburyUSA
Publication Date: May 8th, 2012
Source: ARC/NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
I really liked the first two books in Carrie Jones's Need series (Need and Captivate), but had kind of mixed feelings about book #3 (Entice).  I'm hoping Endure will redeem the series for me.  I've been looking forward to this book for over a year...

Purity
By Jackson Pearce
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: April 24th, 2012
Source: ARC/Southern ARC Tours
Goodreads Synopsis
I'm a HUGE Jackson Pearce fangirl, and this is the first of her two books that are coming out this year (the other, Fathomless, will be out in the fall)!  I am thrilled to be getting to read it.  So far, so good!

Take a Bow
By Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Point
Publication Date: April 1st, 2012
Source: ARC
Goodreads Synopsis
I forgot to mention this last week, but I'm pretty excited about reading it, so I wanted to mention it now.  My daughter is a HUGE fan of Elizabeth's and she has already read this and says it's great.

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+).

In My Mailbox (25)

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.  Since I never actually posted this last week, I've added the new stuff, and tweaked this, so now it includes two weeks!

Black Heart

By Holly Black

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Publication Date: April 3rd, 2012

Source: ARC/Southern ARC Tours

Goodreads Synopsis

When this came in the mail last Saturday, I could not have been more thrilled!  I dropped everything I was reading and started it right away.  It is an amazing conclusion to the Curse Workers trilogy, and I am so excited to post my gushfest of a review in a couple of weeks.  Stay tuned!

Trafficked

By Kim Purcell

Publisher: Viking Children's Books

Publication Date: February 16th, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads Synopsis

I've been eagerly awaiting this book, and was so excited when I saw that my library was getting it.  I'm kind of a sucker for books about social issues, and the sex-trafficking industry is a big one right now.

The Alchemy of Forever

By Avery Williams

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: January 3rd, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads Synopsis

You just have to read the synopsis... This book looks really good! Alchemy has always been a fascinating subject to me, and this puts a nice little spin on it.  Also, I love to show support for debut authors.

Grave Mercy

By R.L. LaFevers

Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt

Publication Date: April 3rd, 2012

Source: ARC/NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis

I'm sure I will see this title on a lot of IMMs this week.  I've been hoping for an advance copy of this, and then I got an invite from NetGalley to download it.  Yippee!  I'm not typically a fan of Historical Fiction, but this looks really good.

The Stone Girl

By Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf BFYR

Publication Date: August 28th, 2012

Source: ARC/NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis

This book is about a girl with an eating disorder and since I go for the stuff about social issues, this one's on my list as well...

Breaking Beautiful

By Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: April 24th, 2012

Source: ARC/NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis

This is one of my most eagerly awaited debuts of 2012.  I'm not a ginormous fan of Contemporary Fiction, but I've read a bunch of really good stuff within the genre letely, so I'm optimistic.  This looks great!

Something Like Normal

By Trish Doller

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Publication Date: June 19th, 2012

Source: ARC/NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis

I'm beyond excited for this book.  ALL of the advance buzz about this book has been glowing! My expectations are high, but I have a really good feeling about this one exceeding them.  Also, it is written from a male POV, which is so rare in YA.

Hanging by a Thread

By Sophie Littlefield

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 11th, s012

Source: ARC/NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis

Wow.  This looks amazing.  I hadn't heard anything about it before I saw it on NetGalley, but Delacorte never seems to let me down.  I was sold after I read the synopsis.  It's going to be hard for me to keep this in its place on my ARC schedule, and wait until July or August to read it.

The Paladin Prophecy

By Mark Frost

Publisher: Random House BFYR

Publication Date: September 25th, 2012

Source: ARC/NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
When I was in HS, Twin Peaks was my favorite show.  I watched it religiously, and was one of the legion of fans who were absolutely devastated when it ended after two seasons. The brilliant Mark Frost was one of the writers, so it should go without saying that I will read any  YA book he writes.  I'm REALLY excited for this one!

When the Sea is Rising Red
By Cat Hellisen
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux BYR
Publication Date: February 28th, 2012
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
This was my Waiting on Wednesday post a couple of months ago.  The whole vampire craze long ago began to get on my nerves (and I'm an old-school vampire lover- like Anne Rice), but this looks like such a fresh take on the whole sub-genre.  I'm intrigued.  Also, the cover rules.

Bewitching
By Alex Flinn
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 14th, 2012
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
I haven't actually read Alex Flinn's other books, Beastly and Cloaked, but my daughter has, and she loved them.  I purchased this for her, but after reading the synopsis and ogling the GORGEOUS cover, I am definitely reading it first.  I love me a good Fairy Tale Retelling, and this one sound superb!