Waiting on Wednesday (Tuesday?)

March, 31, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill over at BREAKING THE SPINE

Up this week isss:



Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns…

The sparkly, innocent creatures of lore are a myth. Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. And they can only be killed by virgin descendants of Alexander the Great.
Fortunately, unicorns have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.
Or not.

Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed at her eccentric mother’s stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods – thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom – Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters, all is not what is seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to – perhaps most dangerously of all – her growing attraction to a handsome art student… and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.
RAMPANT, a tale of killer unicorns, will be released in August of 2009 by Harper Collins.


Can't waiiiitt for this to come out...but why is AUGUST so far away. :(

Willow by Julia Hoban

MARCH 30, 2009

I read this book a loonnng time ago, sometime in December, I think. I wrote the review right after I read it, to keep Willow fresh in my mind and so I could share my completely unbiased opinion. But since the book is just coming out, I had to wait to post the review until now. Thank goodness for scheduled posting...

I want to start this off with the tag line on the ARC.

"It's hard to keep a secret when it's written all over your body..."

The novel starts seven months after a horrible accident. Seven months ago, Willow's parents drank too much and asked their daughter to drive them home through a violent rainstorm. Seven months ago, Willow lost control of the car and both of her parents were killed in the accident.

Seven months ago, Willow's life was normal.

Now, it's anything but.

Seventeen year old Willow has moved in with her older brother, his wife and child, leaving behind her old friends, her home, school and herself. The accident has left a terrible mark on Willow and her brother. Unable to handle the pain, Willow numbs herself by cutting herself.

Willow's life begins to take a turn for the better when Willow's secret is discovered by one of her new classmates, Guy. Guy is kind and sensitive and when he learns of Willow's problems, he refuses to let her continue on her self-destructive path.

Firstly, I have to note how much I love the cover of Willow. I think it's great for the story and I would have probably bought the book solely because of it's cover. Props to the cover designer.

Anyways...

Nowadays there are so many books written about "teen issues." Somewhat generic teen books about drinking, suicide, depression, drug abuse and so on, clutter the shelves of bookstores.

Luckily, Willow will not be one of them. At least, I hope not. (I haven't read any reviews yet [Dec/08] so I have no idea what anyone else thinks of it.)

I love the twist in the novel. It makes Willow's situation all the more horrible. Not only are your parents dead-they're dead because you killed them, however inadvertently. No wonder Willow will do anything to escape the pain and guilt. Especially considering how her relationship with her brother has been marred. Willow feels as if David hates her and blames her for her parents' death. Everything seems to go wrong for Willow, at least until she meets Guy.

I can't really understand her cutting, though. And nor do I ever want to be able to understand such a horrible thing. But, while reading the novel, I could see Willow's pain, feel sorry for her and want Willow's situation to improve and for her relationship with her brother to be healed.


Guy's character is an integral one to the novel and a likable one as well. What he does for Willow, in the novel, is indescribable. It makes me wonder if there are actually people that kind out there. Anyways, his character is well-rounded and so is his relationship with Willow. The parts with him were among my favorite parts to read in the book.


Really, the only thing that I disliked about the novel was how abrupt the ending is. In my opinion, it's the perfect ending...I only wish that there had been a bit more leading up to it. Then again, the ARC was already 340 pages or so and I suppose that it couldn't be much longer. I just wish that there had been more of lead up to the ending. Luckily, it didn't detract much from the novel.

Overall, Willow is terrific. The subject matter is hard-hitting and the book is powerfully written. It's not a novel you'll forget anytime soon and I suggest that you preorder this book right now, as it comes out on April 2, 2009.

Oh, and don't forget to check out this awesome contest hosted by Lauren. It's one you DON'T want to miss. I mean, really, you get to buy a terrific book AND get an entry to an amazing contest? Sooo, buy it now. You won't regret it.

Rating:

Originality: 9/10

Characters:9.5/10

Readability: 9/10


Overall: 9.2/10 + RR1 & 2 recommendation


Happy Reading,


Reader Rabbit

CHARITY CONTEST TIME....It's a TWO IN ONE

March 30, 2009

Stephanie Kuehnert is hosting a contest to win an ARC of her latest book, Ballads of Suburbia, OR a signed copy of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. To enter, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is vote for her cousin's charity, Tipping Points to win a 25,000 grant. So it's a win/win. You get an entry for a super-dooppper contest AND you get to help a charity out.

Enter: HERE

and VOTE here

Good Luck!

And DON'T FORGET to let her know that you heard it from Reader Rabbit!

In My Mailbox

March 29, 2009

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments. (review already posted)

At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn’t want to hear and truths she can’t face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa’s Prohibition-era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with something that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well – they’ve even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home – but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex-, Eric, but she can’t stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet’s sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?

Hunted by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

March 28, 2009

Hunted opens up with Zoey and her old friends united again. Stevie Rae and her group of red fledgings are no longer Neferet's secret and appear to be committed to helping Zoey. But, nothing's every that simple for Zoey. The red fledgings appear to have regained their humanity, but, can Zoey really be sure? And Neferet's powerful new (and dangerous) consort, Kalona. The House of Night has fallen completely under Kalona's spell. His past life seems to be the key to breaking Kalona's hold...only Zoey seems to play an important part in it. As Kalona's love A-ya...

Added on to that are Zoey's infamous boyfriend troubles. Zoey has a chance to make nice with her drool-worthy Eric. But then, her old human boyfriend, Heath makes an appearence and maybe, just maybe, imprints on her again. And finally, Zoey just CAN'T stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms in the last installment. And it doesn't help that he's back...as a red fledging.

The House of Night series continues in this 5th addition to Zoey's adventures. At the end of the last book, we left Zoey and her group of friends hiding in the tunnels where Stevie Rae and her band of red fledings live.

It is there where they must come up with a plan to overthrow Kalona before he starts a full-fledged war. That is, until Zoey is faced with a life-threatening injury and has to return to the school...

This installement is as fast-paced and thrilling as the other novels in the series. The action is quick and believable and the plot is somewhat intruiging.

We get to see more of Aphrodite in the novel, which is enjoyable...she's become more likeable than ever, which is a vast change from her character at the beginning of the series.

Stark, the archer from the previous book in the series, is also integral to Hunted. As a red fledging, Stark is torn between his loyalty to Neferet and his desire to be with Zoey. While his indecision is evident for the majority of his appearences, I found his eventual decision to have been made a bit quickly...it seemed to lack substance.

There was also a lack of character development in Hunted. I wish we could have seen more of the twins, Heath and Eric. They seemed to just be there...they weren't very well-rounded. Stevie Rae, Aphrodite, Zoey and Stark were the characters where most of the focus was on. Thus, because the book revolved mostly around them, the lack of development of the other characters was not too important.

The ending of the novel was also a bit of a let-down...it seems as if it came a bit too easily. However, there still is the promise of an even more dangerous conflict to arise in the sequels which left me anticipating the next novel in the series.

Overall, Hunted is a fast, inventive and fun *vampyre* novel that all tweens/teens interested in vampires should pick up. If you haven't read this series, make sure to start out with the first one, Marked.

Rating:
Originality: 7/10
Readability:7/10
Characterization: 6/10
Overall: 6.7/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

HAHAHAH: Flight of the Conchords

March 27, 2009

HAHAH! They're soooo awesome!
Watch.
NOW!
It's a perfect timewaster. Especially now that it's SPRING BREAK. WHEE

And then go watch their other ones :)

http://tiny.cc/xRgZc

http://tiny.cc/xRgZc
isn't it so cute?

Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

Kara Martinez's greatest desire is to be normal. However, ever since the accident that took her father's life, she's been unable to suppress the strange signs that she's been seeing. Her mother has consistently disregarded Kara's thoughts and emotions and Kara must do everything to please her..including forsaking her personality to be the ideal girl that her mother wants. One that dresses in pink, sleeps peacefully at night and causes no trouble. In fact, no one knows the real Kara...not her best friend, Danielle...nor her brother, Jason, who seems to be having a few of his own problems. Then, when Kara falls for the mysterious Anothny, another puzzle comes into play. Kara must use her hidden talent to unsnare the deadly web before something drastic happens.

Everyone seems to love Invisible Touch, at least from what reviews I've read. While I did not particularly adore it, Invisible Touch proved to be a quick and fun read after a somewhat taxing day at school.

The novel starts out with a secret blog entry by Kara, speaking about her hidden psychic abilities. Kelly Parra's writing was distinctive from the get-go. It's detailed and yet at the same time very too the point.

Anyways, we discover quite early on about Kara's general situation with her relationship with her mother and brother. However, the inner bits and pieces of their family dynamics are slowly revealed through the novel, through Kara's flashback to the accident and the blog entries that Kara consistently writes.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was the fact that it took place in the "Latina" world. The gang fights, the lifestyle all contributed to giving the book a unique flavor. The contrast between Kara's lifestyle as well as Anthony's contributed to the intensity of their relationship.

That being said, I did find Kara and Anothony's relationship to be lacking. It seemed to random...and so improbably. It almost seems as if she decided that she would date him just because he looks dangerous BUT attractive and she wants him.

Blegh. I saw nothing in common, nothing to bond over. Just. Whatever. It could have been done so much better with Anothony having more depth and his problems seeming less lackluster than they did.

More showing, I guess...than telling. Him telling his girlfriend about his best friend's death isn't nearly as heart-wrenching as having been shown it or by having subtle hints throughout the book leading up to it.

Besides that, I don't have that many qualms. The paranormal aspect seemed realistic and I loved her ability. It was unique and not at all like most paranormal abilities that I had read about.

Character-wise? I loved Kara's best friend, Danielle. I wish she could have been included in more and maybe more of the story could have been focused on her. The revelation about her in the end was kind of random though her drawings, I guess, were a bit of a prelude to it. Still. I wanted more Danielle.

Kara, of course, was a great character. Sometimes she seemed too mature for her age. And yet, other times, much too naive. However, it did work with the experiences that she'd already gone through so...yay?

Kara's mother and brother were both integral characters to the novel. Both were interesting to read about, however, once again, I wanted a bit more depth.

It seems that all I wanted was a bit MORE. Perhaps that was from expecting too much of the novel. Either way, Invisible Touch proved to be a fun read and a good way to pass the evening. If you find yourself with some free time, be sure to pick it up!


Originality:8/10
Characters:6/10
Readability:7/10
Overall 7/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Just a quick tidbit (check out the post below for more recent stuff) SO ABOUT NEW MOOON

March 25, 2009

For those of you who think Robert Pattison is some hot stuff...check this out!

Apparently he's very smelly.

Might want to rethink that one.

I mean, unless you think that there's nothing sexier than a good whiff of BO...


*gag*

TODAY'S FMYLIFE AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS (IE: GRAD DRESS HELP. ANYONE????????)

March 25, 2009

GAHHH GRADDRESS..I MEAN

A) Sorry for the lack of reviews. I will HOPEFULLY be amending that by tomorrow. For those who have sent us review copies, we will GET TO THEM ASAP. However, APRIL is going to be a bit of a jumble with a blog feature so it may have to wait until after that. MAYBE. It just matters how fast we can get our butts into gear :)
B)SOOO ABOUT THAT FEATURE.
Um.
yeah.
Come back on APRIL 1,2009 TO SEE THAT.
Just a HINT.
It may or may not involve some possible contests.
So.
You know.
(everyone likes free things.)

C) School has eaten up RR2. I HAVEN'T SEEN HER FOR AGES! IT'S TOO TRAGIC FOR WORDS.

D) I haven't checked my email. So. Don't freak out if you haven't heard from me. I'M SLIGHTLY BUSY ATM. BUT JUST A COUPLE MORE DAYS TILL THE SHORT BUT AWESOME SPRING BREAK


E) RR NEEDS A GRAD DRESS. Like, STAT (or before MAY). So. ANY IDEAS, ANYONE? Online, instore. WHATEVER. It just needs to be under 200 bucks, look good on a petite person (5'2), be a color that would suit a medium skinned color? Kind of brownish but kind of lightish? (so no DRESSES THAT ARE yellow, orange or the like). And it should be fairly formal. Because everyone seems to have those big, poofy pricess dresses. PLEASE, PEOPLE! I'm begggiinngg you.

F) (SO HELP?)

G) FMYLIFE OF THE DAY: (from fmylife.com)
Today, I was invited to a pink panty party at my neighbor's apt. I went out and bought the cutest pair of pink panties and went over to the party in only them and a matching bra. When I opened the door everyone was wearing jeans. Apparently a pink panty is a mixed drink. FML


BAHAHAH
wow.
priceless, isn't it?

Waiting on Wednesday: Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

Austin music fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

While the summary doesn't make the book sound all that special, the fact that Melissa Walker's the author does. I mean, hello, Violet books? They=<3. And while I haven't reviewed most of them, one day I will. As soon as I have time.

Suffice to say, I adore them. And so I want this one.

And this is the first PAPERBACK to make it to my WOW list. IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

March 23, 2009

17 year-old Mia has a great life. Her parents are understanding former punks, she's a talented cellist and her boyfriend completely gets her. Then, one seemingly-innocent snow day changes Mia's life. With her day off from school, Mia, her brother and her parents go on a drive.

The next thing Mia knows, she's watching the paramedics pull her beaten body out of the car.

The accident has taken the lives of her family and Mia feels as if she won't be able to handle the pain. In her strange state where she can go anywhere but not be seen, Mia learns that it is her choice if she wants to fight to leave or die.

Throughout the novel, we see Mia as she contemplates her choice, a difficult one to make. Family and friends come in and out of her hospital and everything they say and do affects Mia's choice.

Finally, the day after her accident, Mia finally decides what she wants. That is, until one final person speaks who completely alters Mia's decision. The question is, is it best for her to stay or is it really her time to let go?

While topics like this have been explored before, I've never read a single book like If I Stay. It was heartrending and the method that Gayle Forman used was truly innovative. I love how the book went from present to past; it fully developed the characters and defined the relationships between them

The entire story is captivating, even though it simply revolves around one decision. I love how everything that mattered to Mia's decision was explored in the novel. Past experiences, the way the future would be...just everything.

The most important part, I think, is the way love is explored. The people who love Mia and the people who Mia loves are the ones that are the focus of Mia's decision. With her parents and brother gone, can everyone else's love be enough?

Everything about everyday life becomes important in If I Stay. Things that you might never have considered important may be the points that make or break a death-or-life decision.

*spoiler*

I think one of the most moving moments(for me, besides the ending) was the part where Mia's grandpa tells Mia that he understand if she chooses to die. It makes Mia's loss all the more evident. Her parents are gone, her brother is gone. Really, is there enough left for Mia to hold on to? If it were me...would it be enough for me to stay back for?

*Spoiler End*

If I Stay is a beautiful and sincere story of an ordinary girl who must make the hardest decision that she will ever have to face.

If I haven't made it obvious enough, I completely adored If I Stay. Make sure you pick this one up right away! It's released on the 2nd of April.I've also read Gayle Forman's other book Sisters in Sanity and while it's not quite up to the par of If I Stay, if you need some extra reading, check that one out too :)

Rating:
Originality: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Readability: 10/10
Overall: 9/10 =D


Happy Reading,

Reader Rabbit

Why NOT to move to Canada

March 22, 2009

         Because it snows on the second day of spring.

In My Mailbox

MARCH 21, 2009 (HAPPY SPRING)
In My Mailbox was created by the lurvely STORY SIREN.

Slow week this week:

While juggling friendship issues (her best friend isn't speaking to her), a love triangle-turned-square (okay, maybe she shouldn't have kissed her best friend's boyfriend...but it was totally an accident!...sort of), and escalating mayhem in her small religious town (uh-oh...what would Jesus do?), Emma realizes she has to stop trying to please everyone around her and figure out what she wants for herself. It's time to start asking, "What would Emma do?"







Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be -- compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the Sign Seer.
Because Kara has a gift -- one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about -- until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?


Yeah. That was all...

Read them both, reviews coming up :)

And on the topic of books, any reccomendations for my spring break reading?

VIDEO OF LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON DISCUSSING WINTERGIRLS

Click play and enjoy :)

My New Timewaster (young children, be warned..)

F*** My Life

I love this site. It's so pathetic that it's awesome. I mean, how can you not like snippets of things such as :

"Today, my boyfriend of over a year and I were discussing how neither of us is the other's usual 'type'. I explained that I usually go for insular asshole types and then asked him what made me different from his usual choices. He said 'Oh, well, I usually go for the attractive ones.' FML"

and

Today, I was sifting through my parents old home movies. I put in one and was horrified to see my parents having sex. I immediatly ejected the tape and looked at the label. It said "Bermuda, 1989". They've told me I was conceived in Bermuda around that time. I've seen my own conception. FML

BAHAHAHA

anyways.

clicky the link at the top ORR http://www.fmylife.com/

And now I'm going to go and study. Like I was SUPPOSED to be doing all along...

Waiting on Wednesday:Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

March 18, 2009
Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

Up todayyy is:
Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
(PUB DATE: April 16, 2009)
Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town working at the library and lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she’s convinced he’s the one—her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama’s strict rules, and stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he’s called away to help his family—and seems uncertain about returning—Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own, both literally and figuratively.


Once again...a hardcover. This really is becoming a pattern.

Oh well. :) Can't wait to read it!

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

March 17, 2009

I swear to be the skinniest girl in school, skinnier than you

The only thing Lia wants is to be thin. She'd die for it, even. Having already been in for treatment for anorexia twice, Lia should be on the road to recovery. Only, she's not. After her ex-best friend dies after calling Lia 33 times, Lia succumbs to her inner demons, counts her calories obsessively and mutilates herself trying to forget about her friend and her stomach's constant pangs of hunger. Except, soon, Cassie (Lia's former friend) starts appearing to Lia as a ghost, calling Lia her wintergirl and telling her to join her in death. As Lia's body weakens, death seems to be her destiny. But does Lia allow Cassie to help her make the final push?

I read Wintergirls about a century ago. (Okay, not really...but close.) But even though Wintergirls isn't "fresh" in my mind, I still remember it as I would have if I had read it yesterday. And that is skill, on Laurie Halse Anderson's part.

Eating disorders are a topic that people dance around. They try to avoid discussing it and, when they do, they seem to only be able to preach about how to avoid such things. Many books have been written about these disorders, however, Wintergirls far surpasses those that I have read.


Lia's anorexia is portrayed clearly and painfully in the novel. She lies compulsively, hides coins in her bathrobe during weigh-ins, and conceals her emancipated body under layers of bulky clothing. Her self-destructive thoughts along with her obsessive calorie counting only serve to heighten Lia's condition.

Wintergirls is a horrible novel yet so amazing. Laurie Halse Anderson's prose mimics poetry; the words are perfectly chosen and when reading, the novel flows. Lia's obsessive need for control is seen as she even attempts to divert her thoughts by striking out her actual feelings and replacing them with the words she knows she must think. The characters in Wintergirl are well developed as well. Lia's parents, while well-meaning, only serve as an added fuel to Lia's anorexia. Whatever they mean to be an encourgement, provokes Lia into furthering her need for a weightless body. Both the father and the mother deal with their daughter's illness in different ways and are flawed, though they do mean well. Both act and seem like real people in the novel.Lia's stepsister, who at home adores her, is ashamed to be seen with Lia in public and Elijah, the guy Lia meets at the hotel that Cassie died at, is not what he seems. And Cassie, as a friend and as a ghost, has complicated motives...

Overall, Wintergirls is not a book to be missed. Even if you find the subject matter unappealing, I advise you to read the book anyways. The way Laurie Halse Anderson tackles the subject is unique and I found the pages to breeze by yet resonate with every turn. Wintergirls is published in 2 days (the 19th), so make sure that you get yourself a copy!



Rating:
Originality:9/10
Readability: 10/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE

You better be wearing green...


*pinch*

In My Mailbox 2

In My Mailbox was created by the Story Siren. :)

This week was a rather decent week, albeit one without a trip to the library...

The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee
Ten-year-old Jennifer Day lives in a small mining town full of secrets. Trying to make sense of the sudden death of her teenage sister Beth, she looks to the adult world around her for answers. As she recounts the final months of Beth's life, Jennifer sifts through the lies and the truth, but what she finds are mysteries, miracles and more questions.Was Beth's death an accident? Why couldn't Jennifer ' or anyone else ' save her? Through Jennifer's eyes,we see one girl's failure to cross the threshold into adulthood and her family slowly falling apart. Her eccentric nanna is banned from visiting and her parents blame Beth's friends and each other.Karen Foxlee captures perfectly the essence of growing up in a small town and the complexities and absurdities of family life.





Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared. His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered. Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy." Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew. What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.






Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her.Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportion.





Swoon by Nina Malkin
Sin is Coming...Prepare to Swoon!Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him—but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent—and irresistible—adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott (thanks Karin!)
You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.

It's been seventy-five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her. And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.
No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.
Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. And as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance.

Whee. Yay for books...haha...

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

March 14, 2009
It's the beginning of her junior year and Parker knows she's destined for great stuff. She's been playing on the Junior Varsity team and it's basically a given that she'll be headed for the Varsity team this year. That is, until it turns out that there's no space for her on the team. And her coach insists that she needs Parker where she is, the JV. With that, Parker's friends start to ditch her and publicly humiliate her based on Parker being stuck with the freshmen, leaving Parker to fend for herself.

Of course, Parker's not going to take her coach's decision sitting down. She, her brother and his friend Luke concoct a plan, a really CRAZY plan, to get her spot and her friends back.

Only, for the plan to work, Parker needs to be able to give Luke a real (and steamy kiss).

The problem? Parker has no idea how.

So she turns to her neighbor who happens to be a freshman, the son of the person her father most despised and...he happens to be a really good kisser.

But when Parker's plan starts to unravel, she finds out who her real friends are and realizes that, maybe, just maybe, it's worth the social suicide to be seen with the freshman.

When I first started reading The ABC's, I found it to be a bit reminiscent of Band Geek Love, all because of the upperclassmen/lowerclassmen romance angle.

However, as I continued reading, the ABCs proved itself to be much different. It's a small, quick read, but it's packed from page to page with laughter, friendship and more.

The characters (besides Parker) are not very well developed. However, this does not detract from the novel at all; The ABC's is about entertainment, not character devlopment. Parker, of course, was pretty developed as she is the main character. She's also a character that is easy to relate with and sympathize with, even if you don't care or know a thing about Soccer.

The plot of the ABC's was not groundbreaking or amazing but it was cute, funny AND entertaining. What more can a girl ask for?

I loved the feud going on between Parker's father and Tristan's father; it was just the perfect added touch. And Parker's scheme to get her spot on the varisty team? It was so random yet perfect for the novel.

What else can I say, really? For what it is, the ABC's of Kissing Boys manages to do exactly what it's meant to do. It's the perfect novel for winding down after a long day. I advise you to pick it up now or order it from Amazon.

Rating:
Originality: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Readability: 9/10
Overall: 8.75/10 + RR1 recommendation :)

Happy Reading,
READER RABBIT

www.randomhouse.ca www.mcclelland.com www.booklounge.ca

Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein

April 3, 2009
Alison Cole has everything. She has a good-looking boyfriend, she's been crowned the freshman class president and she has two great friends, or so she thinks.

Except, not really. She does have her problems, Alison and her stepmother have a mutual hate/hate relationship. And Alison still feels insecure about her less than gorgeous past.

Eventually, Alison's best friends get sick of being out shined and decide to trick her into going into an experimental face symmetry surgery. They convince her that her face isn't symmetrical enough and cause her to book an appointment for the surgery.

Of course, as it's an EXPERIMENTAL treatment, things don't go quite as planned...

An accident during the surgery causes Allison to randomly get the power to spout fire out of her fingers.

Her inability to control the power, at first, leads to her being deemed a pyro-freak and she's shunned by all of her former friends.

With her loss of popularity, Allison becomes friends with super geek David Eels and soon the two of them kick up a partnership...of the superhero variety and

HOTTIE is born!

But can Allison keep her secret identity a secret? Especially since she's falling for firefighter wannabe T.Hull...

Not to mention, what will Allison do when she finally meets her match? And who exactly is this supervillan?...

Okay, so I realize this book is meant to be a comedy. And while it does pull off that aspect, I found it lacking in other departments.

Yes, I realize that Hottie is not meant to be the deepest book in the world, but (in my opinion, anyways) I found it to be really, really shallow. Like, shallow to the point where I was bored for the majority of the book.

I couldn't relate to the characters at all. They were just too much. Too dorky, too popular, too crazy. I don't know. Even if that was the point, eventually it all got so tiresome.

I also felt like the book was a bit too long. It felt too stretched. I think everything could have been tied up in 50 less pages.

However, I don't want to make it seem like I completely hated the book. The writing style was, at some rare times, smooth and readable and of course, some of the crazy antics that the characters got into were laugh-worthy.

Despite being somewhat predictable, Hottie's premise is lingers on being remotely unique and it's possible that you MAY enjoy Hottie solely because of it's complete lack of realism and your desire to live in a fantasy world.

For what it's worth, Hottie pulled off what it was trying to do. For those with time to spare, it'll serve up it's purpose as a somewhat comedic read; however, don't be expecting something amazing. Or even remotely good.

Rating:
Originality: 6/10
Characters: 4/10
Readability: 4/10
Overall: 5/10 ~only read as a library loan, IMHO.

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Waiting on Wednesday: Meridian by Amber Kizer

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill from Breaking the Spine
Up today is:

MERIDIAN BY AMBER KIZER

Release Date: August 11, 2009
Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain. Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.


Sounds awesome! I can't wait till this one comes out. I want it. Very badly.

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

It's summertime and Alex is expecting it to be nothing out of the ordinary with her working for her family's whitewater rafting company. Of course, nothing goes as planned. When her childhood friend, Sean, comes back, everything gets turned upside down. Last summer, after her father's death, Alex left things with Sean in a bad way and she doubts that he'll ever forgive her. But maybe, just maybe, canthe summer can mend their broken friendship?

I think one of the merits of Heartbreak River is its emphasis on different relationships. After her father's death, Alex hasn't allowed many people to get close to her. Because of this, Alex's relationship with her cousin, Mala, plays a really important part in the novel. However, Mala's character was a bit over the top, I think. She was overly flirtatious and while it was clear that she also had her "issues", Mala wasn't very easy to relate with.

Alex's relationship with Sean is obviously one of the main focus points of the novel. There are quite a few little scenes between the two, such as the one where Sean helps Alex tackle her fear of the river, that help develop the story and move it along. Yet, I wish there had been more development in their relationship; it seemed to be a bit shallow. It didn't really help that I found Sean's character to be underdeveloped; such an important character should have been explored a bit more, I think.

I did like the interactions between the secondary characters of the novel. The secondary characters played an integral role in Heartbreak River; I especially liked the interactions between Mala and Daniel.

One thing I disliked was how late the details of Alex's dad's death were revealed. Waiting for the revelation dragged on too long and it was slightly irksome.

Much is compacted into this novel. It tackles many serious issues such as the death of a parent and the infamous war in Iraq. Because of the subject matter, I expected this book to explore the topics in more depth which I don't think it really did.

Despite it's flaws, Heartbreak River is a decent read that I think many teens will enjoy. If you like the sound of it, make sure you buy it when it comes out on April 16, 2009.

Rating:
Originality: 6/10
Characters: 6/10
Readability: 6/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Teen Books You Should Read

Everyone's been doing this so I want to see what score I'd get :)

The following list of books teens love, books teens should read, and books adults who serve teens should know about was compiled IN ABSOLUTELY NO SCIENTIFIC MANNER and should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Instructions:
Put an “X” next to the books you’ve read
Put a “+” next to the books you LOVE
Put a “#” next to the books you plan on reading
Tally your “X”s at the bottom
Share with your friends!


1. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams
2. Kit’s Wilderness / David Almond X
3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson #
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson X
6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher X
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer (editor)
9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway X +
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block #
11. Tangerine / Edward Bloor X
12. Forever / Judy Blume #
13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X +
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray X +
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot X +
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus
19. Ender’s Game / Orson Scott Card
20. Postcards from No Man’s Land / Aidan Chambers
21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn X
24. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan X +
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer X
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins X +
27. The Midwife’s Apprentice / Karen Cushman
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen X +
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer X +
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman #
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going #
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding
39. Looking for Alaska / John Green #
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton
44. Crank / Ellen Hopkins #
45 The First Part Last / Angela Johnson
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause X +
47. Arrow’s Flight / Mercedes Lackey
48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee #
50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan #
51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart X
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry X
53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry X
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler X
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey X
58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta X +
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr X +
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock X
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers
66. Step From Heaven / An Na
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor
68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix
69. Sabriel / Garth Nix X +
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel X
71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini X
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer X
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman X
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison X
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez
78. how i live now / Meg Rosoff X
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling X +
80. Holes / Louis Sachar X +
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger #
82. Push / Sapphire
83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi
84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman X
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah
86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli X
87. Chanda’s Secrets / Allan Stratton
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot
89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas
90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien X
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman
92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar X
93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld X
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick
96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin X
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak X +++ xD
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak #

40.
Not bad, I suppose.
Still, that's less than half.
I'll have to check some of those out.

And if you haven't done this..then I tag YOU

In My Mailbox 1

March 8, 2009
Since I'm procrastinating and not studying for physics, I decided I might as well take a turn at IN MY MAILBOX which was created by the lurvely STORY SIREN.

So...

Peace, Love and Baby Ducks: Growing up in a world of wealth and pastel-tinted entitlement, fifteen-year-old Carly has always relied on the constancy—and authenticity—of her sister, Anna. But when fourteen-year-old Anna turns plastic-perfect-pretty over the course of a single summer, everything starts to change. And there are boys involved, complicating things as boys always do. With warmth, insight, and an unparalleled gift for finding humor even in stormy situations, beloved author Lauren Myracle dives into the tumultuous waters of sisterhood and shows that even very different sisters can learn to help each other stay afloat.


Read this one and looveed it. Review forthcoming.




Enter the Parrot by Kiki Lon:


Meet Jade, the White girl in the Wong family.
On the surface, Jade fits in perfectly. But just below the surface lurks the fragrance of ginger, ginseng, and a secret kung fu society.
When her crazy grandpa’s deluded parrot goes missing, Jade must dive deep into the seedy underbelly of Chinatown to find him, keeping secrets from her best friends and her cute eco- mentor, Cedric: aka the hottest guy in school. She’ll need her wits about her to solve the riddle, especially when more than one bird goes missing. Could TF, the hot Chinese guy with the washboard abs, hold the key to the mystery?
One girl. One parrot. One ancient kung fu mystery.Got kung fu?




Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabely
Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…
When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”
Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.
Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.


I iz currently in the middle of this one...t'is interesting so far


The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks


(thanks JH, I can't wait to read it!)

Here Dr. Sacks recounts the case histories of patients lost in the bizarre, apparently inescapable world of neurological disorders: people afflicted with fantastic perceptual and intellectual aberrations; patients who have lost their memories and with them the greater part of their pasts; who are no longer able to recognize people and common objects; who are stricken with violent tics and grimaces or who shout involuntary obscenities; whose limbs have become alien; who have been dismissed as retarded yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents. If inconceivably strange, these brilliant tales remain, in Dr. Sacks's splendid and sympathetic telling, deeply human. They are studies of life struggling against incredible adversity, and they enable us to enter the world of the neurologically impaired, to imagine with our hearts what it must be to live and feel as they do.


Library Books:


Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead
Some days, a girl just can't catch a break ... especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there's her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It's not just that they can't have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block.Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused-especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge-rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again.



Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore



MAGGIE QUINN IS determined to make her mark as a journalist. The only problem? The Ranger Report does not take freshmen on staff.Rules are rules. But when has that ever stopped Maggie?After facing hellfire, infiltrating sorority rush should be easy. It’s no Woodward and Bernstein, but going undercover as the Phantom Pledge will allow her to write her exposé. Then she can make a stealth exit before initiation. But when she finds a group of girls who are after way more than “sisterhood,” all her instincts say there’s something rotten on Greek Row. And when Hell Week rolls around, there may be no turning back.If there is such a thing as a sorority from hell, you can bet that Maggie Quinn will be the one to stumble into it.


And finallyy..


Sovay by Celia Rees



It’s England, 1783. When the rich and beautiful Sovay isn’t sitting for portraits, she’s donning a man’s cloak and robbing travelers—in broad daylight. But in a time when political allegiances between France and England are strained, a rogue bandit is not the only thing travelers fear. Spies abound, and rumors of sedition can quickly lead to disappearances. So when Sovay lifts the wallet of one of England’s most powerful and dangerous men, it’s not just her own identity she must hide, but that of her father. A dazzling historical saga in which the roles of thieves and gentry, good and bad, and men and women are interchanged to riveting effect.

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong:

It's not easy to find a fresh angle for the werewolf theme, but this debut novel from a Canadian writer proves that solid storytelling and confident craftsmanship can rejuvenate one of the hoariest of all horror clich‚s. Elena Michaels is a self-described "mutt," a werewolf who left her secretive pack in upstate New York for a life among humans. In the year since she relocated to Toronto, she's embarked on a career as a journalist and begun a pleasingly mundane relationship with a decent man. All this is jeopardized when she agrees to help her old packmates hunt some troublesome mutts who are converting common criminals to werewolves and leaving a trail of conspicuous carnage. Reunited with her former lycanthrope lover and forced into brutally predatory confrontations, Elena finds the call of the wild subtly reasserting itself. Armstrong prepares readers for her tale's twists with several key revisions of werewolf lore the werewolf taint is mostly hereditary, and werewolves can be killed as easily as any human or wolf. Her true achievement, though, is her depiction of werewolf nature in believably human context. Elena's feral sensibility, like her psychological vulnerabilities, seems a natural outgrowth of her abusive childhood, and her relationship with the pack is that of any prodigal child to a close-knit family. The sensuality of Elena's transformations and the viciousness of her kills mesh perfectly with her tough personality. Filled with romance and supernatural intrigue, this book will surely remind readers of Anne Rice's sophisticated refurbishings of the vampire story. Agent, Helen Heller. (Oct. 1)Forecast: The sensual, non-genre jacket design will help to signal that this novel will also appeal to mainstream tastes

So, which (out of the ones I haven't read) should I read next?

:)

-Reader Rabbit 1

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

March 5, 2009
Hannah appears to be your ordinary teenage girl, with all the dreams and wishes that typical girls have. However, Hannah is the product of two very extra-ordinary parents. Her mother makes a living by sitting in front of the camera in skimpy lingerie and her father is an absentee parent and is a 70-something trying to cling on to his has-been Playboy Mansion type fame.

Clearly, Hannah's life has been anything but typical. But that's the problem. All Hannah wants is a normal life.


On top of all that, Hannah also has a crush on a guy at work. Hannah works at a call station for big restaurant chain drive-thrus. There she meets...not one but two cute guys. On paper, Josh appears to be the perfect guy. He's the coffee-drinking teen activist and Hannah can't seem to get enough of him. And then there's Finn. He's the exact opposite of sensitive Josh. Hannah can't stand being with Finn, or so she says to everyone. Funny, how it is that she has more fun spending time with Finn than anyone else...


Except for work, Hannah doesn't spend much time socializing with other teens her age. She has one person who she'd actually call a friend and the rest,well, she keeps herself closed off from them.


But when Hannah's father seems to want to reconnect with her (but only for the sake of his television show), Hannah's life morphs from somewhat bearable to chaotic. As her life give in to turmoil, Hannah learns more about her co-workers, her parents and, most importantly, herself.

Hannah's mother and her job plays a central role in the novel. When I first started reading Something, Maybe, I thought her mother would be completely irresponsible and frivolous. (After all, her job description doesn't scream "GOOD MOM, RESPONSIBLE!") However, there's more to Candy (her mother), than is first revealed. She isn't simply a former semi-celebrity who was dumped by the "big playboy" of the time. Instead, she's a real person who has loved, lost and grieved. Hannah's mom only wants the best for her daughter and she does what is in her ability to ensure that. Candy's character is one of the most complex in the novel, and the most interesting.

Hannah's father is another unique one. He's eccentric and unavailable. His treatment of Hannah is that of a child with a toy. While, at first, it seems like Candy is the childish parents, he's the real infant. While Hannah desperately longs to be loved and cherished by her father, he brushes her needs and wishes aside so he can fulfill his own. And get his television ratings. His place in the story is vital, yet, I wish that he had been more fleshed out and less static.

And then there's someone else, someone so pivotal to the family, that isn't even present but who has affected Hannah and her mother for life. But, no more on that from me, only that I enjoyed that added twist and thought it added alot of dimension to the novel.

Finally, Hannah. Hannah's ordinary. There's nothing special about her...nothing unique. At first, I wanted Hannah to be different, to be more than she was. Now, after reading it, maybe Hannah's ordinariness's point was to serve as a contrast to her family's craziness. Still, I wish that she had been better developed and more interesting. Her relationships with her friend could have been better explored, however I did enjoy her interactions with her mother and co-workers. Hannah's growing relationships with Josh and Finn were believable and fun to read about.

Plot wise, Something, Maybe is not as compelling as Elizabeth Scott's other novels. However, it is a fun, light read that you should pick up when it comes out on March 24, 2009.


Rating:
Originality: 6/10
Characters:7.5/10
Readability:7/10
Overall: 7/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Waiting on Wednesday: Prophecy of the Sisters

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill over at BREAKING THE SPINE

Little, Brown Young Readers (August 1, 2009)

Summary: Sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportion.

Doesn't it sound terrific? I wish August wasn't so far away.
And really, why is it that I only seem to want hardcover releases? I swear, it's a conspiracy against my wallet.

(But hey, if any of you have a copy of it...send it my way. *nudgenudgewinkwink*)

House of Night: Hunted EXCLUSIVE BOOK TRAILER

HUNTED BY PC AND KRISTEN CAST

Summary: "What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil, and all he wanted was you?

At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn’t want to hear and truths she can’t face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa’s Prohibition-era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with something that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well – they’ve even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home – but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex-, Eric, but she can’t stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet’s sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?"

TO BUY : CLICK


And, if you want to read the SECOND chapter of Hunted...click: here.

Finally, if you want to LISTEN to the SECOND chapter..click play?

“ ”


HAPPY LISTENING/WATCHING/READING,
Reader Rabbit

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

King Henry VIII is infamous for his treatment of his six wives. The King's Rose is the tale of one of the lesser known ones, Catherine Howard.


Only 15 years old, Catherine Howard catches the eye of King Henry. This position would be ideal for most women. Those favored by the king are granted land, power and are the envy of everyone in court.


Only, Catherine's luck places her into a deadly game.
Her family, wanting to use her for their own gains, weaves lies about Catherine to create the ideal woman for Henry within her.


This imaginary Catherine is virginal, devoted to King Henry and willing to bear him an heir. In reality, Catherine's affections belong to another and she isn't particularly innocent.



Yet, Catherine ends up being married to King Henry (a man old enough to be ger father), after he deems his marriage to the less-than-attractive Anne of Cleves to be null and void.

Soon, Catherine finds herself in a web of deceit, trying to produce a heir for the ailing King as she risks all to save herself and her family.


I've always found the Tudor Era to be compelling. I've read many books about Mary, Elizabeth, Jane Seymour, Anne Boleyn and so forth.


But I had never read a book specifically about Catherine Howard until The King's Rose.

Catherine's rise and fall from power is told from beginning to end in this novel. Libby manages to tell Catherine's tale without making it seem like a history lesson; the story unfolds realistically.


In the novel, Catherine's family uses her as a pawn to gain more power with the King. Catherine's vulnerability is clear throughout the novel, she is clearly a child with dreams of grandeur and romance, yet her family has put her in a situation where she must manipulate and lie to survive.


Her romance with Thomas is explained thoroughly, in the novel. His betrayal is heartbreaking and the horror of what happens to Catherine is only made more acute.

Catherine's story is tragic, a 15 year old queen, executed on demand by her husband....

Alisa M. Libby develops these historical figures effectively in the novel. Her interpretation of their characters is interesting to read about and realistic.



For those history buffs among you, The King's Rose will make a delightful read as it explores Catherine Howard's part of history; a part which is much glossed over. Be sure to pick this one up as it comes out on the 19th of March.



Rating:
Characters: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Readability:7/10




Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Reader Rabbit

Isn't currently reading anything at the moment.

So give some suggestions to Reader Rabbit.

Because Reader Rabbit fails.

Yep...

Video Excerpts: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Check out Catherine Ryan Hyde reading excerpts from her two books in the following videos:

(To go to the video just click the titles.)

The Day I Killed James

and

Chasing Windmills

Enjoy the videos!

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

March 1, 2009
All Meg has ever wanted is to escape from backwater town. Away from certain memories, away from her parents who seem to want to suffocate her in their dull lives...away from everything. And it looks like she's getting her wish, it's almost spring break and she's going on a trip to Miami and see the beach.

But then, Meg and a few friends end up on a bridge where, a few years ago, some kids died. They're caught by a cop, John After, who's only 19 years old and was one of the top students of his year...Meg can't imagine why he would choose to remain tied down in the tiny town and work as a cop. But John is connected, strangely, to the bridge and Meg and her friends' stunt provokes him to want to teach them a memorable lesson.

Meg is assigned to join John After during his night shifts for a week, to learn about the law and the importance of it.

Only, Meg isn't one to be complacent and she pushes to find out exactly what promoted John to remain bound to the small town that she's so determined to escape from. And he fights back, and stretches her boundaries in an attempt to figure out exactly why Meg refuses to remain in the small Alabama town that has shaped both of their lives so much.

So, this was my second Jennifer Echols novel. I'd always intended to read The Boys Next Door, but for some reason, I never got around to it. I *did* read Major Crush which was a pretty cute ro-com read. But then I read Going Too Far. It blew Major Crush away.

I'd expected Going Too Far to be good. To be great, even. I was sure that when I reviewed it, I'd tackle it like most of the other books I've reviewed. Normal and level-headed. Except this time, I have no CHOICE but to let loose and write a completely fan-girly review of Going Too Far. You've been warned.

Okay. So this book has depth. And I'm not talking the shallow pool that some YA novels are. Going Too Far is a freaking ocean. And I mean it in the best way possible.

The relationships and characters in this novel are so complex and layered. The main characters and secondary characters all seem so real. They all have their dreams, their hobbies and their insecurities. John and Meg's pasts both haunt them, every decision in the now is a reflection of certain events from before. Both have secrets that are hinted at, throughout the novel. But, it is only further in the novel that the secrets are fully revealed to the reader and the other characters. (And, of course, this fuels further conflict and further revelations and conclusions.)

The story is told in Meg's POV, and it couldn't be told any other way. Meg's voice is realistic; everything about her makes sense and stays true to her character.

Along with that, Meg's easy to relate with and feel for, despite her not being like the average teenager. When she hurts, you cringe. When she's happy, you smile. In that aspect, reading Going Too Far is like a (fun) roller coaster.

Similarly, John is well-rounded as well. His secret, his driving motivation in life and everything..really, are questioned by Meg in this novel. The way he handles his life, his job and the way he is, makes it easy to feel for him as well.

And when you put the two characters together? It's completely believable to have them get each other. To have them fall in love, even. There are so many books where relationships are handled shabbily; the girl and the guy meet, think the other is hot and decide, at the end of the book, that they should go out. It's not like this at all in Going Too Far. In the span of the week that the book takes place over, it's easy to see their relationship build as you read page after page.

Overall, Going Too Far is an intense, touching and believable story of love, loss and friendship that will resonate with you for a long time after you've closed the book.

Honestly, this is one that deserves a spot on your bookshelf. Preorder it now! (Going Too Far comes out on the 17th!) It won't be a purchase that you'll regret.

Rating:
Originality: 9/10
Readability: 10/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit