2012 Debut Author Challenge

The 2012 Debut Author Challenge is almost here, so if you're excited for it, head on over to The Story Siren and sign up!  I can't wait!  I've been perusing the Apocalypsies site, and I think 2012 is going to by an EPIC year for readers of YA and MG novels.  This freshman class of authors is looking good!


The objective of this challenge is to read and review at least 12 books by 2012 debut authors.  There's more info about it HERE, so check it out and support the newbies!  Looking at the list on Goodreads, I can already tell that 12 books will be a piece of cake!  I already have at least twice that on my TBR...  So, without further ado, my (preliminary) list:

1. Cracked by K.M. Walton~ January 3rd, Simon Pulse
2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi~ January 3rd, HarperTeen
3. Fracture by Megan Miranda~ January 17th, Walker & Company
4. Halflings by Heather Burch~ January 17th, Zondervan
5. Everneath by Brodi Ashton~ January 24th, Balzer + Bray
6. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows~ January 31st, Katherine Tegen Books
7. The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker~ February 1st, Usborne
8. Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne~ February 2nd, Putnam Juvenile
9. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood~  February 7th, Putnam Juvenile
10. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons~ February 14th, Tor Teen
11. Trafficked by Kim Purcell~ February 16th, Viking Juvenile
12. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg~ February 21st, Dial
13. When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen~ February 28th, Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
14. Croak by Gina Damico~ March 20th, Graphia
15. Slide by Jill Hathaway~ March 27th, Balzer + Bray
16. Above by Leah Bobet~ April 1st, Arthur A. Levine Books
17. Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova~ April 1st, Sourcebooks Fire
18. Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers~ April 3rd, Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt
19. The Selection by Kiera Cass~ April 24th, HarperTeen
20. Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf~ April 24th, Walker & Company
21. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins~ May 1st, HarperTeen
22. What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen~ May 1st, Simon Pulse
23. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock~ May 8th, Katherine Tegen Books
24. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown~ June 12th, Delacorte Press
25. Insignia by S.J Kincaid~ July 10th, Katherine Tegen Books
26. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard~ July 24th, HarperTeen
27. Auracle by Gina Rosati~ August 7th, Roaring Brook Press

I already have a few of these and I will probably not be able able to wait to read them for the challenge, but I think that's okay given the fact that there are far more than 12 here... Come on! Join the fun!

Review: Crossed by Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: November 1st, 2011

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I will start this review by stating the fact that I loved this book's predecessor, Matched.  I've read it twice, and I liked it even more the 2nd time around.  If you haven't read it now, you really need to do so.  Matched was very reminiscent of The Giver by Lois Lowry; there were a lot of similarities.  In Crossed, this trilogy becomes its own.  I loved Matched, I am IN LOVE with Crossed.  We always hear about authors having sophomore slumps when writing series, especially when the first book is amazing, but worry not with Crossed.  If Matched was good, Crossed was GREAT.  Here's why...

• Cassia goes from Society Girl to independent, self-sufficient, kick-ass heroine.  Sure, she does a few things in Matched to buck the Society's rules, but she goes all out in Crossed. Question is, does she go too far?  I liked Cassia a lot better in this book.  She put her mind to something and she made it happen, against all odds.  Even if her choices weren't always the best, she followed her heart, and she has to be respected for that.
• The love triangle became a TRUE love triangle.  I don't usually like love triangles in books because I think they are usually overdone, but in this trilogy it's really working for me because it's not the center of the story; it's key, but it's not all there is to it.  In Matched I had my mind set on who I wanted Cassia to end up with.  Now I don't know.  I don't think Cassia does either...
• We found out more about Ky's story.  Ky was somewhat of an enigma in Matched and for that reason, I couldn't really wrap my mind around liking him.  I'm still not sure if I like him now, but at least I now understand and respect him.
• We learn the everyone in The Society is not who they pretend to be, and some of these people are very key players.  I was thrown for a loop when I found out certain things...
• Ally Condie does a much better job with world building in this book.  We learn so much about the Outer Provinces and world beyond Cassia's Society bubble.  I was transported into this world that was both beautiful and harsh.
• This book is non-stop action.  Forget about getting anything else done while reading it, because you won't want to stop reading.  It sinks its claws into you and does not let go until the very last page, and then you're still left wanting more.  November of 2012 is so far away...
• There are new characters who are really great in both good ways and bad ways.  That is to say, they aren't always likable, but as supporting characters go, they are well rendered and memorable.
• The Rebellion is still a mystery, but in a good way.  I have a feeling that, like The Society, it is not what it seems...
• The ending will floor you.  It did me.

It was really hard for me to write a review that didn't include spoilers for either Matched or Crossed, and I hope I succeeded.  If you've read Matched, I doubt I have to do any convincing to get you to read Crossed.  All I can do is maybe urge you to move it to the top of your TBR; I think you will be happy that you did!  If you haven't read Matched yet, you need to.  Now.

That's all.  Carry on.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ +

Grade Level Recommendation:  As with Matched, I think this book is fine for well-read 5th graders and even mature 4th graders (ages 9+).  It has some romance, but nothing racy.  Some violence, but nothing extreme.  If the later Harry Potter books are okay for a kid to read, so are these.

Review: A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: August 9th, 2011

It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone— and her future full of peril.

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose— hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire— is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes— or be left without any future at all.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

If you look at the cover, you can see why I was initially drawn to this book.  So pretty, right?  Well, I'm glad the publisher did such a bang-up job with this cover, because I would not have wanted to miss this book.  I really, really enjoyed it.  It was so ridiculously good!  When I read the synopsis, I thought, "Wow. So this is a total Across the Universe rip-off!", but it isn't.  Yes, both girls are in stasis and wake up decades later to a whole new world, but the similarities end there...  I can tell you that while I was reading this, I started noticing certain parallels on another story, and although it wasn't touted as such, it is totally a Sleeping Beauty retelling, but so very different from any other fairy tale retelling I've ever read.  I was beyond impressed!  I've read a lot of retellings since it is one of my favorite genres, but I've never read one with a dystopian flair.  This book could have been a disaster, but it was anything but because of Anna Sheehan's skillful world building and character development.  Because of her descriptions, I was able to visualize the setting as if I was there.  It was as if she painted a picture for me with her words, and she did it beautifully.   As for the characters, they were awesome.  The main character, Rose, had so much depth, which given her situation, would be required, but Sheehan went beyond the necessary and made Rose real.  I enjoyed being in her head, even during her most painful moments of self discovery.  Rose had to come to grips with some truths that she subconsciously tried to block out; these discoveries, they were truly heartbreaking and I found myself feeling raw emotion on Rose's behalf.  The things she had to endure from other people, on both sides of her long stasis, were unconscionable, but she bore them with dignity and grace.  I came to really admire Rose by the end of this story. Another character I adored was Otto.  He was such an interesting person and I found myself smiling every time he came up in the story.  Honestly, he could have his own book; there is just that much to him.  As for Rose's love interests, well, there is a lot of complicated story there, and since my reviews are spoiler-free, I can't really go there... Xavier, her pre-stasis boyfriend, just made me sad.  I spent much of the story wondering about him; I can't imagine what it was like for Rose.  Then there was Bren, her prince who woke her with a kiss at the beginning of the story...  He was definitely a worthy love interest, but there are some issues there, and they will blow your mind.  Warning: there are a few things in this story that had me saying, "wtf?", but if you stick with it, I promise, it all makes sense in the end...

The Long Long Sleep is probably one of the best books I've read in the past few months.  It was so much more than I expected, and I love it when I go into a book without expectations and am blown away.  If you are a fan of Fairy Tale Retellings, Science-Fiction, and Dystopias, you must read this.  You will be very happy that you did. 

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book was pretty clean.  No language, minimal violence, innocent romance.  This book is appropriate for ages 10 and up (5th grade+).

Review: Red Glove by Holly Black

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Publication Date: April 5th, 2011

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Don't you love it when the second book in a series is better than the first?  I do.  I always find it frustrating when I have high expectations for a 2nd book, and they aren't met.  In this book, Holly Black not only met, but exceeded my expectations!  If you've read my review of White Cat (you can do that HERE if you haven't), you'll know that I love this series.  Holly Black went outside of her normal realm (ahem- pun totally intended- get it? realm? as in faery realm? ha, ha.) with it, and did a great job!  As I mentioned in that review, I listened to the audio of this one and, let me tell you, Jesse Eisenberg nails it.  He IS Cassel Sharpe to me now.  At first, I was like, "Seriously? Facebook movie dude? No way is that going to work!".  Well, (I hope my husband reads this as evidence) I. Was. Wrong.  He totally pulled it off!  He nailed it, and if they don't get him for book #3, I will be devastated!  Now that I've gushed about the audio version, let's get down to the book review...

As I mentioned, Red Glove was even better than White Cat.  Most of the cliffhanger-ending questions I had were answered, and I am no longer mad at Holly Black for the ending.  Where White Cat was quite plot driven, Red Glove was more character driven, and it was done so well.  I thought I had a decent grasp on who is good and who is bad, but I'm not so sure anymore.  While many of the lingering questions from White Cat were answered, Red Glove served up plenty of new ones.  The biggest of which is, "Who is Cassel Sharpe?"... I am so eager to know what path he is going to take, and Holly Black has done such at great job writing his character, that I don't even have a solid opinion on which one I WANT him to take.  As for the other characters, I think it's quite clear what direction Lila is going with family obligations and all (also there is the cover and title of Black Heart, if you have any doubts), but what about Sam, Daneca?  And let's not forget Cassel's Mommy Dearest and her little side show?  There were some major twists in this book that open up some serious questions about certain characters and I for one, cannot wait to find out the answers...

As for the story itself, I thought it was a bit predictable at first, but I was dead wrong.  Everything I thought I knew was thrown out the window.  There are twists involving every single major character in this book, and not only that, we learn things about certain characters from White Cat whose stories we thought had already been told.  There was so much action!  It was a good thing I was listening to this; if I had been reading it, my house would have ended up looking like a bomb hit it - at least I could listen and clean at the same time.  So many doors were opened to pave the way for a very exciting final installment of this fabulous series.  I cannot wait until April 3rd when Black Heart is released.  Hopefully Jesse Eisenberg will continue to be the audio narrator, because he breathes such life into Cassel.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation:  This one is a little more sexy than White Cat, so I have to go to a recommendation of grades 8 and up (ages 13+).  

Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: July 26th, 2011

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I have been putting off writing this review for awhile because I'm having a really hard time articulating my feelings about this book without my words coming off wrong.  I loved the first book in this series, Paranormalcy.  I mean, I LOVED it.  It was one of my favorite books of 2010.  That said, I was anxiously awaiting the release of this book, its sequel.  I had extremely high hopes and expectations; Supernaturally was near the top of my "most anticipated" list for 2011, and I was ready for a out-of-the-park hit.  Maybe that was part of my problem... When a debut author like Kiersten White has a first book that is SO good, like she had with Paranormalcy, I think it can be difficult for the second book to top it, despite the desires and expectations of the readers.  For me, Supernaturally was an excellent book- I enjoyed it enough to read it twice (once for myself, and once as a buddy read with my 10 year old daughter)- it just fell a little short of Paranormalcy...

I did very much enjoy the characters in Supernaturally, particularly Arianna and Jack.  Arianna was just sarcastic/witty enough to add some sly comic relief when Evie was being whiny and needy.  As for Jack, I know I'm in the minority for liking him, but he was funny.  I just picture some kind of imp when I think of him, and he was always good for a few laughs. Of course, Evie is the center of the story, and everyone, myself included, loves Evie.  There were times in this book when she got on nerves though.  I think she mastered being a "normal" teenager a little too well in some ways, and made some really dumb choices that I don't think she would have made in book #1.  That said, I still adore her and I think she was even more kick-ass in this book because she had to compensate for her impulsiveness.

As for the story... This book was action packed, while continuing to explore the Evie and Lend's romance.  The action was awesome.  I love it when Evie takes down the bad guys, and there's some real baddies in this book (and not always who you think they are).  Evie isn't just taking down problematic paranormals on order like she was in Paranormalcy, she is having to rely on her own perceptions and intuitions, while doing it on the sly because the important people in her life don't know that she's back to "work".   As far as the romance is concerned, I know I will gain some haters here, but I don't like Evie and Lend together.  I like Lend, don't get me wrong, I just don't think they're a great fit; there's just something off that I really can't put my finger on.  Lend has his life mapped out; he know what he wants and he knows how he's going to go about getting it. It almost feels like Evie's just expected to go along for the ride, and she is so much more than THAT girl.  I'm kind of leaning toward wanting to see her with Reth...

Overall, I really did love this book, just not as much as I loved Paranormalcy.  I am still anxiously awaiting the release of Endlessly on July 24th (especially with its gorgeous cover- see it HERE), but my expectations aren't quite as high, which in actuality, is probably a good thing!  I gave Paranormalcy 5+ stars, I give Supernaturally a solid 4 ½ stars.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Grade Level Recommendation:  As with Paranormalcy, this book is completely clean.  Of course there's romance, but no sex.  No major swears that I can recall.  I would say this book is entirely appropriate for grades 5 and up (ages 10+).

WWW (18) and Waiting on Wednesday (November 9th, 2011) Double Feature

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?


These past few weeks have been phenomenal as far as books are concerned.  I've read one five-star book after another, and they just keep right on coming.  If this trend keeps up, people are going to think that I don't even read books, and just give them all five-star ratings (I totally DO read the books!)...

What are you currently reading?

The Near Witch by Victoria Schawb~ This book is just made of win.  If you have been meaning to pick this one up, and haven't, do it.  You won't regret it!

The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern~ This has been on my TBR for ages with all its fantabulous reviews and now I'm finally reading it, and so far, it's very good.  Whether or not it lives up to its "best book ever" honor so many bloggers remains to be seen, but I'm not seeing that yet.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner~ This is a re-read.  I've been trying to get my daughter to read it for ages.  We went to a James Dashner signing, and suddenly she's interested, so we're buddy reading it (then The Scorch Trials, then The Death Cure).


What did you recently finish reading?

Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris~ Just finished this one this morning, and I thought it was great.  It wasn't literary genius or anything, but it was a fine bit of humor and zombie action.  I laughed a lot, and that's always a good thing!

Love Story by Jennifer Echols~ This was my 1st book by this author, and I was impressed.  Romance isn't my favorite genre. but I do enjoy a good one from time to time.  Love Story was very sweet with quite a lot of sexy.

Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer~ Not at all what I expected but very good.  The story drew me in and held me tightly.  This ended up being a one day read for me because I found it so real and riveting.

Crossed by Ally Condie~ One word.  Love!  Matched was great, Crossed was even better.  I can't wait to tell Ally how much I loved it when I go to her signing at Little Shop of Stories tomorrow night!



What do you think you'll read next?

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch~ I've had this on my shelf for ages, and I have really been wanting to read it.  So excited to finally be getting to it.  Zombies rule!

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl~ I loved the first two books in the fabulous Caster Chronicles, and have been anxiously awaiting this.  So excited to read the ending of this trilogy!

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix~ I want to get this read before its release date next week.  It looks really good, and it's short, so I should have 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.


This week I am thinking ahead to 2012 because it is almost here.  I was perusing the website for 2012 YA debut authors, The Apocalypsies, and I thought I would go ahead and list some of the 2012 releases I am most excited for.  If you don't follow the blog, you should (and don't forget twitter!).   You can link to it HERE.


The Everneath by Brodi Ashton~ Maybe one of my most anticipated releases of 2012.  The cover is gorgeous and the plot looks great.  Read the Goodreads synopsis HERE.  Releases January 24th from Balzer + Bray.

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf~ This book looks gut-wrenching and compelling.  I have a feeling this is going to get a lot of attention.  Read the Goodreads synopsis HERE.  Releases April 24th from Walker Books for Young Readers.

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic~ I've read this book and it's great.  Heartbreakingly beautiful.  I have an advance copy of this, but I will definitely be getting myself a finished copy when it comes out.  Look for my review and interview with Megan in a few weeks.  Read the Goodreads synopsis HERE.  Releases January 17th from Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt BFYR.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood~ Have you ever seen a more beautiful cover?  Add to that the advance buzz on this book and you have a winner.  Plus, I'm a sucker for witch stories... This is right at the top of my list of most anticipated 2012 releases.  Read the Goodreads synopsis HERE.  Releases February 7th from G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR.

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne~ Another fabulous cover!  Yes, I do judge books by their covers, especially those of debut authors.  This one comes out early in the year, so at least the waiting-on torture won't be so awful...  Read the Goodreads synopsis HERE.  Releases February 2nd from Putnam Juvenile.

The Selection by Kiera Cass~ Okay, I admit it.  Another book that was just love at first sight... The synopsis sounds great and well, this cover.  I got the same feelings of OOOOOH! that I got when I saw the cover of MatchedGoodreads synopsis HERE.  Releases April 24th from HarperTeen.

This is by no means an all-inclusive listing!  In fact, there are LOADS more on the Apocalypsies site that I am drooling for, but they will have to wait for another post...  What are you waiting on?


**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.**

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.**

Review: The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: September 1st, 2011

Your future is not your own...

"We wanted to know what makes a good kid good and a bad kid bad. Can you blame us for that? We found an astoundingly, marvelously simple answer: The brain isn't so much a complicated machine as it is a crystal ball. If you look into it, you will see everything you want to know."

-Dr. Mark Miliken, senior researcher at Utopia Laboratories

Who will it be?

Will the head cheerleader get pregnant?

Is the student council president a secret drug addict?

The whole school is freaking out about PROFILE, an experimental program that can predict students' future behavior.

The only question Daphne wants answered is whether Jesse will ask her out...but he's a Predicted, and there's something about his future he's not telling her.
(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I didn't have any real expectations for this book.  I saw it on someone's Waiting on Wednesday post awhile back and thought the synopsis looked interesting, so I put it on my list.  I was surprised by this book from the beginning.  I starts with a bang- literally; it begins with a school shooting and spirals out from there, and really, who can stop reading after that? While some books tend to fizzle after starting with such heart-pounding action, this one doesn't.  A mystery unfolds, and it keeps you turning pages until the end.  I started reading this book on a Thursday evening and was finished by Friday morning, not because this was a short book (342 pages), but because I felt compelled to know how it ended.

I think this book was mostly character driven, as you can imagine, from the synopsis, but not as much as I would have expected.  The plot definitely played a huge role.  It was a mystery, for sure.  Some of the "Predicted" (kids who are pegged as future sociopaths, violent criminals, misfits, etc. through groundbreaking science) were no brainers, and then some who I thought would be Predicted weren't and vice-versa.  Add to that the horribly violent crime against one of the characters, and the who-done-it mystery, and you have quite a good story. There was a bit a predictability (no pun intended) as far as the mystery was concerned- I totally knew who DIDN'T do it- and I figured out who did before the big reveal, but not too far ahead that it killed the story.

As for the characters, there was a diverse mix.  I mostly liked the main character, Daphne, although I sometimes found her tiring.  I really didn't get why she hung out with the group of girls she did since she held intense dislike for most of them.  Dizzy was alright at times- heart in the right place, but God, she could be annoying!  I think I would rather see Daphne hang with January than her.  Jesse was my favorite character- complex and swoon-worthy.  I also liked Daphne's brilliantly flaky mother, Melissa.  I hated the characters I was supposed to hate, and didn't really have non-feelings about anyone.

Other than the minor predictability, the only thing I disliked about this book was how the people of this town reacted to the PROFILE results.  Nobody, save Daphne, stood up for the kids who were Predicted.  I find that very hard to believe.  I felt like it was a little far-fetched to have adults- parents of the Predicteds, at the very least, or Daphne's mother, the creator of the science behind it- turn a blind eye to the treatment they endured.  Everyone reacted either like sheep, or like venom-filled advocates for practical imprisonment for what these could had the potential to do.  That didn't seem plausible to me.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book.  It had its flaws, but it was definitely a fast-paced, intriguing read.  Anyone who likes a good mystery, with a little sci-fi thrown into a contemporary setting will like this book.  It has some questions of morality that would make it a great read for a HS Contemporary Fiction class.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book has some sex, a teenage pregnancy, a bunch of teen drinking, vicious mean-girl behavior, violence, and an attempted rape/murder.  Add to that some pretty complex ethical questions.  Because of these things, I would probably say this is definitely a high school read.  9th grade and up (Ages 14+).

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