WWW (7) and Waiting on Wednesday (June 15th, 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?

I've been a little slack on my weekly memes, but I'm trying. I actually wrote a WWW/WoW last week, but it was Saturday by the time I finished it, so i just scrapped it.... Going to see Phish tonight, so this one will be short and sweet.

What are you currently reading?

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter~ I just started this morning and I can already tell that it's going to be amazing. Don't you love it when a book grabs you from page one?

Entwined by Heather Dixon~ I'm having a hard time getting into this one. It's gotten great reviews on Goodreads, so I'm sticking with it, but I'm on page 96 and not liking it at all...

What did you recently finish reading?

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky~ SOOOOO good! A total must read. One of my favorites of 2011. Read my review HERE.

The Black (Morpheus Road, #2) by D.J. MacHale~ Even better than the first book (The Light). From Cooper's point of view this time. If you like creepy stories, this series is a great one. Review coming soon.

Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl~ Both were fabulous. Read my reviews HERE.



Wake by Lisa McMann~ I liked it, didn't love it. I thought Cryer's Cross was better. Review coming soon.

Stay by Deb Caletti~ Great book. Scary premise. Review to come.






What do you think you'll read next?

Bumped by Megan McCafferty~ This has been on my TBR for ages. It's finally out and I have it on my nightstand...

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic~ This is an ARC that looks pretty good. Look for my review soon...

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray~ One of my most anticipated titles of 2011. So excited!

"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.

Having just fallen in love with the Caster Chronicles, I have to put the next book on my WoW because I am antsy for it!

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin? 

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask. 

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

If you read my review of the first two books, you know that I think the writing and plotline of this series are flawless. I am so invested now that I can't help but be anxious to know what happens next! Come on October and get here...

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 18th, 2011

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: May 23rd, 2011

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her. 

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. 

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Oh. Wow. Hands down, the most believable dystopian premise yet. An entire digitalized society? One where most people rarely leave home because just about everything can be done form their computers? Where even when they are out and about with other people, "interacting", they are still plugged in to their cell phones, laptops, iPods, etc., not even listening to or looking at other people? A society where you have hundreds, if not thousands of "friends", who you have never met face-to-face (and never intend to)? Sounds a lot like we're more than halfway there, doesn't it? This book is more than a fictional dystopia. It is a social commentary on where we are headed as a society, and it is scary.  It makes me want to disable my Facebook, Twitter, and blog (which of course, I won't) and go live in the woods for awhile...

I thought this book was really, REALLY good, and not just because it wasn't far-fetched. The writing was excellent, and I was dumbfounded when I found out that this was Katie Kacvinsky's debut novel. The way she uses words makes you feel like it's real. I felt Maddie's hopelessness, then her growing hope. Her helplessness, then sense of empowerment. Her longing and need. Her happiness and fear. They were Maddie's emotions, but Kacvinsky, through her writing, made them mine. As for the characters? Well, they are now my friends. Friends that I can't wait to catch up with in book number two, Middle Ground (which was just optioned). I thought Maddie was a great character. She wasn't entirely sure of herself, but managed to be a strong heroine anyway. She was totally human, which when you read the book, you will find ironic.  As for Justin? *swoon* Could he be more perfect? Selfless, gorgeous, principled... Sure, he's kind of emotionally detached, but that's what feminine wiles are for, right? Clare was great as someone who could relate to Maddie, and though we saw very little of her, Maddie's mom was a wonderful character as well (who I think/hope will play a larger role as the story plays out).

Anyway, I loved this book. One of my favorite reads of 2011. Middle Ground has already been written, so I expect it's release won't be years and years off (although a date has not been announced). I will definitely be looking out for it because I plan to read it on the day it drops (unless someone is kind enough to send me an ARC *wink, wink*).

Oh, and isn't the cover eerily gorgeous? Having read the book, I totally get it now, and it is PERFECT!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ +

Grade Level Recommendation: There is definitely romance in this book, and the feelings are intense, but there is no sex or physicality beyond making out. There is a curse word here and there, but I can count on one hand the number. Violence is very minimal, and for a dystopia, practically non-existent. I think this book is fine for 5th grade+ (ages 10+). Even a mature 4th grader could read this if the parents were okay with the romantic parts (I would have encouraged my rising 5th grader to read it last year, and I am MAKING her read it now.). I think that kids today NEED to read this book. They are so plugged-in that this WILL be their reality if they don't get some kind of wake-up call.  Honestly, I plan to suggest this to a 6th grade teacher I know, who is looking for classroom-read options.  It would be a FANTASTIC class discussion book that the kids could relate to.

Review: The Caster Chronicles (so far) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I would just like to go on the record to say that I was an idiot to have put off reading these books as long as I have. Seriously. I have had Beautiful Creatures on my nightstand since May of last year, and have been putting it off because I really thought it was just going to be another Twilight re-telling. How wrong I was! After I finished it, I had to move right on to the second book, Beautiful Darkness. Now I have to sit and anxiously await the third book, Beautiful Chaos, until October... With that off my chest, I can now tell you why I loved these books.
 

Beautiful Creatures
By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: December 1st, 2009

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Wow. This book was so much better than I expected it to be. I have absolutely no complaints about it whatsoever. That NEVER happens. I was hooked from the beginning, and did not want to stop reading. The writing was great, the characters well-developed, and the story flawless. What else is there to say? If you like a good paranormal romance, but are sick of seeing Bella Swan in every one you read, then this is the book for you. Bonus? It's told from Ethan's point-of-view.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: The content is pretty clean. I would say wholly appropriate for 5th grade+ (ages 10+).


Beautiful Darkness
By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010 

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.
Sometimes life-ending.
Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Everything I said about Beautiful Creatures applies here, but more so. I was a little reluctant to read Beautiful Darkness (despite the compelling need to know what happened next) because I didn't think it could top the first book. I am happy to report that it did, and then some. The story got a bit darker (in case you weren't clued in by the title), but it was fitting. I anxiously await book three, Beautiful Chaos. There is so much more story to be told and I just know it's going to be amazing!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: Same as Beautiful Creatures. Ages 10+ (5th grade+).

In My Mailbox Monday (8)

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.

Last week I missed both my IMM and my WWW/WoW posts. We are in the heat of softball All-Stars season, and we have had back-to-back-to-back-to-back tournaments. I've gotten lots of reading done, but very little blogging. With one tournament left, I should be able to get back into the swing of things very soon, with LOTS of reviews to come. In the meantime, I've gotten some great books since my last IMM two weeks ago! Lots of NetGalleys too (Thanks Clarion and Amulet Books!).

The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School
By Alexandra Robbins
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication Date: May 1st, 2011
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
While not technically a YA book, I love Alexandra Robbins and everything I have read by her (Overachievers, Pledged) has had more relevance to teens than to adults. I think this will be no different.

OyMG
By Amy Fellner Dominy
Publisher: Walker & Company
Publication Date: May 19th, 2011
Source: Library
Goodreads Synopsis
This looks hilarious. I think it's something my (almost) 10 year old daughter would enjoy (we're a mixed-faith family), but of course, I have to read it first. :)

Beauty Queens
By Libba Bray
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: May 24th, 2011
Source: Purchase
Goodreads Synopsis
I love, love, LOVE Libba Bray, and this book looks great! It's one of my anticipated titles of this year. So excited to read it!


The Carrie Diaries
By Candace Bushnell
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: April 27th, 2010
Source: Kindle
Goodreads Synopsis
I was a HUGE fan of Sex and the City when I was in my 20's and I can't believe I haven't gotten around to reading this yet.


Deviant
By Adrian McKinty
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: October 1st, 2011
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
This looks like an excellent read and it's got a great cover. I'm really looking forward to it.


Misfit
By Jon Skovron
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: August 1st, 2011
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
Another awesome cover, and the story seems great too. Did I mention the cover?


Also Known as Rowan Pohi
By Ralph Fletcher
Publisher: Clarion
Publication Date: November 14th, 2011
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads Synopsis
This is going to be one of those books that you read in public and get funny looks from people because you're laughing so much. I can tell...

Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Publisher: Point

Publication Date: April 26th, 2011

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This book got some pretty scathing reviews on Goodreads, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. I was absolutely riveted by this book! I thought it was a great, modern take on the whole Hades/Persephone story. It was a quick (probably because I couldn't put it down) and easy read, filled with suspense and intrigue. The story was perfectly paced so that I wanted to keep turning the pages until the end, and then immediately go to Goodreads to find out when book #2, Underworld, is coming out (sometime in 2012).

Sometimes with re-tellings I get nervous. I wonder how the author can possibly do justice to the original while making the story her own. Meg Cabot managed to do this with ease (although I can't really say how without a major spoiler). This story was truly different from the one it is based on, and I felt like it parts of it were actually an improvement. I was kept wondering until the very end, and while Cabot answered a good number of my questions neatly, she still left enough for me to eagerly anticipate book #2. I hate it when too much is left to the sequel. I like at least some resolution, but not too much.

As far as the characters were concerned, I felt like the character development was good. I would have liked to know a bit more about Uncle Chris and Alex, as well as a bit more about Pierce's parents, but as far as Pierce and John are concerned, I felt like the amount of information we are given (albeit slowly, throughout the book), is sufficient. My favorite character, funny enough, was the cemetery sexton, Richard Smith. At first, I really didn't like him, but he grew on me.

The biggest gripe most of the haters of this book had was that they didn't like Cabot's writing style. Her style is what it is. I like it enough. I think she is a master at drawing you into the story by giving information, a tidbit at a time, through the entire book. Yes, sometimes you go through half the book not really knowing what's happening, but she always pulls everything together nicely. I'll admit that I get frustrated sometimes by the lack of understanding at first, because I'm an impatient person by nature, but I always feel like Cabot redeemed herself (and then some) in the end. This book was no different than her others in that respect.

One of the tings I loved the most was the chapter headers. Each was a stanza from Dante's Inferno, which happened to be one of my favorite reads in college literature. Most of the books I read in the many lit classes I took in college were painfully boring to me. The entire Divine Comedy had me enthralled, but Inferno was, by far and away, my favorite. Reading Abandon made me want to go back 15 years later and read it again, so "Bravo" to Meg Cabot for reminding me of how much I loved Dante! After all, has there ever been a better description of the Underworld than his?

Overall, I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. It left me wanting for more, which is always a good thing. I was invested in the characters, and really want to know more about them and their stories. I will definitely be on the lookout for Underworld in 2012!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Grade Level Recommendation: I would say late Middle School and up because of a teen suicide due to an affair with a teacher. Otherwise, this book is fairly benign. Grade 7+ (ages 12+).

WWW (6) and Waiting on Wednesday (June 1st, 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?

I missed last week because it was the last week of school and I was just too busy to put together a post. This week we started our summer break, which means more time (and headaches) for me....

What are you currently reading?


Abandon by Meg Cabot~ I started this yesterday and am almost finished. It is quite excellent! Look for my review soon.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl~ I can't believe it has taken me this long to get to reading this. It's great!

The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter by Frank L. Cole~ I'm reading this to my 6 year old son. Pretty slow going at a chapter each night, and I'm trying hard not to read ahead... :)

Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary~ I'm reading this to my 6 year old daughter. I adored Ramona as a child and still do.




What did you recently finish reading?

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell~ I am not a huge fan of Historical Fiction, but I really enjoyed this one. Check out my review HERE.



Heist Society by Ally Carter~ The Gallagher Girls books were so much fun, and the sequel to this one comes out this month, so I needed to read it. A+. Review coming soon.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini~ I LOVED this book! It just came out yesterday, and I highly recommend it. Read my review HERE.



Impulse by Ellen Hopkins~ I just love Ellen Hopkins. She is such a phenomenal writer. Review coming soon.




What do you think you'll read next?

Voss: How I Come to America and Am Hero, Mostly by David Ives~ My daughter says this book is hilarious and it's been on my TBR forever. It's due back to the library on the 4th, so it'll be my next read.

Stay by Deb Caletti~ This looks really good. I've never read any of her books, but I've heard great things.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty~ So VERY excited to read this! We'll be at the ballpark all weekend for my daughter's softball tournament and I'm looking forward to reading this in the down time.

"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.

June is going to be a great month for new releases. Mundie Moms has a great POST listing the upcoming releases for this month, so check it out. Meanwhile, here is my WoW for this week...

Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.

Do

But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.

Us

Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part

But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I'm super excited for this one! It looks to be just the mix of fun and drama that I love! And the cover (because I am a total cover whore)? To die for (no pun intended)! I have a feeling that this will be one of my favorite books of 2011.

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: June 21st, 2011

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★