Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

May 20, 2009

Auden is more than just your typical super-keen overachiever with divorced parents (a snobby literay prof mom and a self-absorbed father.) She has never really had fun, had a chance to be a kid and has never really been close to anyone her own age. Instead, she's strived hard to succeed the academic way, the only way that really gets her parents' attention and approval. She's gotten into a great university, that she will attend come Fall and Auden is ready for a change of scene.

So for her summer vacation, Auden decides to go visit her father with his new wife, Heidi and their recently born daughter, Thisbe in Colby. And that's what she does, along with a suitcase stuffed with textbooks for her to study over the summer.

Summer with in Colby is definitely not what Auden expected. Auden's father spends all of his time working on his novel, leaving an overwhelmed Heidi to take care of her crying newborn by herself.

And when she first gets to Colby, Auden stupidly hooks up with a guy that turns out to be the recent ex of a girl who works at her stepmother's store.

And then Auden finds herself working in Heidi's super-pink clothing store, a place that Auden's pretentious mom would scoff at. Auden follows her mother's (would-be) example, secluding herself in the backroom, completing her job alone.

But Auden's reclusive ways won't last forever. Her insomnia, dating from the time when her parents divorced, forces her to stay awake, roaming the town where she eventually bumps into Eli, a local guy who she keeps on stumbling upon. Eventually, the two form a companionship, roaming in the night together. It leads to a quest where Eli and Auden try to make up for everything that Auden missed as a child. From breaking curfew to a food fight, Eli helps Auden have a second chance at childhood. As the two grow closer, Eli's history is revealed as well and the two connect, helping each other heal from the past.

Along with her nighttime adventures with Eli, Auden slowly begins to get to know the girls who work at Heidi's store, as she learns not to judge people simply by their appearences. None of the girls turn out to be who Auden thought they were and they befriend Auden, and teach her what friendship really is.

In Sarah Dessen's latest novel, Along for the Ride, we are introduced to yet another set of characters with yet another touching story that truly will touch almost everyone who reads it.

Sarah Dessen truly has the magic touch, at least when it comes to story telling and characterization. Auden's character is well portrayed, and, at least for me, is pretty easy to relate to. I often feel socially awkward and I also go to a pretty rigorous high school and it's so different from other high schools with an assortment of people. The difference often helps give the other students and I the impression that the unsubstantial appearence of some people means an empty interior where no coherent thoughts lie. Which is wrong, of course. The same judgement even happens inside the school with the more academically-geared ones judging the rest with the same scorn that Auden's mother judged Heidi.

Everyone in the novel was integral; with their own important stories. Heidi turns out to be much more than Auden had expected her to be, Thisbe is more than just a newborn, Auden's childish older brother (Hollis)may have the potential to grow up and even Auden's parents may have more to them than Auden can see.

Honestly, it's amazing watching and reading about Auden's transformation. It affects her, her family and even her newfound friends in ways they couldn't imagine. I especially love the connection between Eli and Auden and how, together, they are able to face the past and look to the future.

Besides the reliving childhood aspect of the novel, there is so much more going on, allowing almost everyone to relate. The family issues, death, growing up and really, just living, are what makes Along for the Ride the terrific story that it is.

Sarah Dessen's writing is impressive, I swear, every new release of hers comes with a huge leap in quality. Which is amazing considering that even from the beginning, she was terrific. Now she's astounding. I never thought she'd be able to top Just Listen, which had been my favorite out of all her books, but Along for the Ride did. To be truthful, it didn't the first time I read it (I'm a huge rereader...I don't even want to count the number of times I reread Just Listen) but by the third reread, it has officially become my favorite Sarah Dessen book and definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

So yes, makes sure you pick this book up when it comes out on June 16. If you don't, you're missing out. Big time.


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

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Waiting on Wednesday: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

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

My pick for the week is : Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Pub date: August 1
Summary (Chapters.ca):For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf? her wolf?is a haunting presence she can?t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human?until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It?s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human?or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

I loved Maggie Stiefvater's first novel, Lament! I can't wait till this one comes out!

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

75 days ago, Amy's life was completely different. 75 days ago, Amy still had a best friend. 75 days ago, Julia was still alive.

Amy has spent these past 75 days at Pinewood, a rehab clinic, trying to recover from her dependency on alcohol and the guilt that has hounded her ever since Julia died. When Amy is finally allowed to go home, her therapist advises her to keep a journal. Instead, Amy writes letters to her dead friend, slowly coming to terms with the past, the present and the could-be future.

The recovery after the death of someone close to you is never easy and Amy's path is littered with extra obstacles. Amy has never felt wanted or loved by her parents and as a result, she doesn't feel able to accept their support and reach out to them during her arduous journey.

Elizabeth Scott realistically portrays Amy's dependence on alcohol. Amy's longing for the substance that will make her numb again is evident through Scott's blunt and truthful words. Also, Scott does not use the opportunity to preach about the dangers of alcohol, something teens will be grateful for.

Along with Amy's recovery from her addiction to alcohol, Elizabeth Scott focuses much of the book on friendship. Amy and Julia's friendship is explored through the heartfelt letters that Amy writes to Julia expressing her resentment, her anger, her guilt and her sadness.

The story of Julia's death is revealed slowly. As it is revealed, it is easy to see why Amy feels the way she does and why she reacts to different events in a certain manner.

When Amy first begins school again, Amy is ignored by many of her peers, especially Julia's other friends who despise her. Amy does find new friends as the story progresses with both new people and old friends. Those characters are well explored as well, especially Amy's former friend, Caro as well as Mel and Patrick, someone with whom Amy already has a past with.

Overall, Elizabeth Scott has created yet another engrossing tale, this time of a vulnerable girl who cannot find it within her to forgive herself.


Rating:
Originality: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Readability: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

One Lonely Degree by CK Kelly Martin

For fifteen year old Finn, the world seems like it's crashing down. For one thing, her family's falling apart. And on top of that, there's that thing with Adam Porter that happened at the Party and it continues to haunt her. Only one person knows about it and that's Audrey, Finn's best friend. But when Finn's childhood friend, Jersey, comes to town and things between him and Audrey begin to heat up, well, things begin to change.

When summer rolls around, Audrey's parents go off, with Audrey in tow, on vacation, leaving Finn to spend her summer without her confidante. But as life continues to get harder on Finn, she finds herself hanging out more and more with Jersy. Everything with him is perfect, except for one small issue. Can Finn really do something so horrible to Audrey?

Having read I Know It's Over, I had high expectations for One Lonely Degree. I have to say, One Lonely Degree panned out very differently than the way I'd expected it to be.

Finn, who wants to be a graphic designer and move to London or New York, is easy to relate to. She shares the type of dreams that many teens do, likes similar music and has a unique way of looking at things that really struck a chord with me. Watching her watch her family life disintegrate was painful to read about and her reactions were realistic. It was easy to feel her desperation and her anger.

Audrey and Finn's friendship was also portrayed very well. I hate it how in some books things like that are just stated and never really shown. In One Lonely Degree, the depth of their bond is evident and it makes Finn's horror at what happens during the summer more palpable.

Jersy, on the other hand, kind of conflicted with me. For one, he was going out seriously with Audrey and then after she was gone, he tries to get together with Finn. In my opinion, that would make him the lowest of the low. But then Jersy also had his own problems, he was never really a jerk and CK Kelly Martin did make it seem like the thing between Jersy and Audrey was basically over when Audrey went away for the summer. I guess, overall, Jersy is just like any of us. Someone who makes mistakes, just like Finn.

The way that the story is told is different from I Know It's Over. In I Know It's Over, there were clear events which marked risings and fallings of tension. In One Lonely Degree, it seemed sort of passive. Instead it was more of a recounting of a period in Finn's life. While this caused One Lonely Degree to not be as engrossing as CK Kelly Martin's first novel, One Lonely Degree is decent and entertaining read that many teens will be able to relate to.

Be sure to pick this one up when it comes out on May 26, 2009.

Rating:
Originality: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Readability: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.5/10

www.randomhouse.ca www.mcclelland.com www.booklounge.ca
Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/RandomHouseCA

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Native New Yorker, Candice has been dumped into calm and dull, Swoon Connecticut. There, under the guidance of her popular cousin Pen (short for Penelope), Candice becomes Dice. And then things begin to really get shaken up in Swoon, beginning after a tumble from an old ash tree drastically alters Pen's personality. Dice, who's no stranger to the supernatural, is naturally suspicious of Pen's personality change. So she isn't too shocked when she finds out that her cousin's spirit has intertwined with that of a ghost, Sinclair Youngblood Powers. And the reason why he's back? Revenge, of course. Through Pen, Sin is adamant on the path he's on. He wants nothing more than absolute revenge on those (or more like the descendants) who have wronged him.

Dice is determined to stop him. Only, her efforts seem to be backfiring. An attempted exorcism of Sin's spirit from Pen, results in him gaining is own flesh and blood body. As Sin continues to cause havoc and wreck the lives of the townspeople, Dice knows that she must stop him. The thing that's stopping her, though? She loves Sin.

I'd expected great things of Swoon, especially after reading the summary. The plot intrigued me and so I was really excited when Swoon popped into my mailbox. Swoon wasn't what I expected at all, but not necessarily in a bad way.

Nina Malkin's writing is unique, and has a nice flow to it. This caused the tale to be revealed rather naturally and smoothly. Everything seemed interconnected, and the chaos that Sin was creating was effectively revealed through her writing. However, a downfall of her prose was that, at times, it was hard to distinguish between meaningless trivia and important details.

The characterization was also slightly weak. For one, Dice wasn't a very complex character. All we really knew about her was that she had psychic abilities, had a desire to save the world and was in love with Sin. I couldn't really connect with her, however, her point of view was a sufficient one to reveal the story from.

The plot of the story, in my opinion, is what really makes reading Swoon worthwhile. The Swoon from Sin's time and the Swoon from Dice's time are so similar and really showed how things haven't changed, making Sin's quest more relevant. There were also many revelations, many twists and much adventure in the novel, all of which make Swoon a worthwhile read. Swoon was released earlier this week, be sure to pick it up at a bookstore near you.


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

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Waiting on Wednesday: Crazy Beautiful

Waiting on Wednesday originated over from Jill at Breaking the Spine.
Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Pub date:Sept. 7, 2009
Summary (from Amazon):Summary from Amazon:
In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.
Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.
But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.
Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.



Sounds interesting, doesn't it! It's going to be a long time till September!

Giveaway: 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

For Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, the ingredients for the Absolute Best Summer Ever are simple: Two girls. Two bikinis. And twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, California. The best part? According to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a good chance Anna will find her first summer romance.

Anna lightheartedly agrees to the fun, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie… she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death last year.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Sounds great, right? Well here's your chance to win!

Little Brown has kindly donated 3 copies of 20 Boy Summer for a giveaway!

So, to win...

+1 for Commenting
+1 for linking the contest elsewhere (+1 per each place, up to a maximum of +3 from this criterium)

Good Luck! The contest will remain open until June 2, 2009! US ONLY PLEASE! Start entering!

Contest Winners!

Hey, guys! As you may have noticed Canadian month is over (actually was over with the very awesome Summoning features). Thank you all for commenting on our posts and just for coming to our blog. And, thanks to all the authors (Courtney Summers, CK Kelly Martin, Neesha Meminger, Jaclyn Moriarty, Kelley Armstrong and Susan Juby) for participating!

Sorry for taking to long to reveal the contest winners-there were much more entries than we expected.

Without any further ado, the winners are..

I Know It's Over winner-Barrie

The Year of Secret Assignments winner-Laina

Miss Smithers' winner-canadiangiveaways

Cracked Up to Be winner-Miss Erin

The Summoning and the Awakening winner-bridget3420

And, Laina is obviously really lucky (what are the chances?) because she also won the main giveaway!

We're about to email all the winners. Again, thanks to all of you for participating in Canadian Month

-the Rabbits

Perfect Fifths by Megan Mccafferty

May 17, 2009
Taking place years after Fourth Comings, Perfect Fifths starts off with Jessica Darling rushing to catch a flight to the wedding of her good friends, Percy and Bridget. Only, instead of reaching her plane, Jessica trips over her ex, Marcus Flutie.

The collision results in a reunion of the two, who haven't seen each other in years. Both have changed but their imperfect connection remains as perfect as ever. Told in third person, Perfect Fifths takes a different approach to the series, allowing readers into Marcus Flutie's head and letting his enigma be solved in the terrific conclusion of the Jessica Darling Series.

I first picked up Sloppy Firsts when I was 14 years old, bored to death waiting for my piano lesson. I had no expectations for the book, I had picked it up on a whim. I was pleasantly shocked to find a story and a neurotic girl that was easy to relate to, amusing and most of all, engrossing.

I proceeded to read Second Helpings and after a wait, Charmed Thirds and then Fourth Comings. And since then, I've been waiting, [im]patiently, for Perfect Fifths.

For one thing, Perfect Fifths is shorter than the other books in the series with 272 pages or so. Also, Perfect Fifths is not relayed through Jessica's journals. Instead, it takes on a third person point of view, allowing us access into both Jessica and Marcus's head. (And really, seeing things from Marcus's POV was terrific...I mean, how many times have we wondered, earlier in the series, "WHAT ON EARTH IS HE THINKING??")

The book is told in dialogue and there is s section told entirely in haikus. That part, I adored as it really showed how much Jessica and Marcus connected even while communicating in such a restricted form.

Megan McCafferty shows us a matured version of Marcus and Jessica. Jessica has become less cynical and less judgemental than she was during her high school and college days. And Marcus, of course, has grown up too, something emphasized by the third person point of view.

The book revolves around Jessica and Marcus, with a few phone calls and mentions of the other characters that we've grown to love while following the series. There is one new character, Sunny, who's situation weighs heavily on Jessica and she plays a major role in the book, despite being in absentia.

I don't really know what else I can say about it, other than the conclusion really was perfect. It takes place over 18 hours, and the 18 hours change everything for Marcus and Jessica. All I can say is that, for all fans of the series, Perfect Fifths is the perfect conclusion to the series. And for those of you who haven't read the Jessica Darling series, Sloppy Firsts is required reading.

Rating:
Characters: 9.5/10
Originality: 9.5/10
Readability: 10/10
Overall: ~9.75/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

May 15, 2009

City of Glass, third and final installment of the Mortal Instruments trilogy, lives up to the standards that the previous two (City of Bones and City of Ashes) have set.

The book starts with Clary on a mission, one that will require her to travel to the City of Glass, the ancesteral home of the Shadowhunters. However, entering the City without permission is a crime, one that is punishable by death. The only way for Clary to enter the City is through a portal, and the warlock Magnus has agreed to create one for Clary and the Lightwoods to enter. The only issue is, Jace doesn't want Clary to come with them because he thinks it'll be too dangerous, and so he lies to her about the departing time.

Clary eventually finds her way to the City herself, making a portal with the runes that she is able to create. When she gets there, she finds things to be in a mess. Jace still doesn't want her there, and somehow, her best friend Simon has been thrown into a Shadowhunter prison!

And Jace and Clary's relationship continues to develop despite the taboo surrounding it. But then Jocelyn makes a startling revelation, one that could make or break Jace and Clary.

And along with that, once Clary is in the City, she finds things have taken a turn for the worst, with Valentine's evil plots coming to a head causing a war that will require everyone to do their part to win.

The final book in the Mortal Instruments, City of Glass ties up everything neatly, with a satisfying conclusion.

More characters are introduced in this novel as well as further development on the ones already part of the story. For one, we get to meet Valentine's other son. He and Valentine really do make a perfect evil pair. Both are pretty terrific villans, charismatic yet completely horrible. The type with no chance of redemption. They really pushed the story forward, with the tension they caused with their horrific plans.

Simon plays his important role in the book as well. I think he really grew as a character in this novel, he's gone so far from simply just being Clary's loyal best friend. He takes his own part in saving everyone from Valentine and his nefarious plans and also takes the steps to his own happy ending.

Jocelyn finally woke up (not really much of a spoiler, since it's the end of the series...it kind of had to happen) and I really enjoyed reading about her while she was awake and learning about the things that she revealed when she woke up.

Clary and Jace continue on their up and downs together, they're still drawn to each other despite the "sibling" issue that continues to eat away at them. They have quite a few great scenes together, their longing is palpable in each scene together.

And the ending? I can't say that I'd want it any differently. Cassandra Clare did wonders with it. Not all evil can be erased and that's not what happened. But she managed to tie it all up nicely, with a satisfying conclusion. (Though I think most fans are pretty sad that we won't be reading about Jace, Clary, Simon and the rest of the gant anymore...)

Overall, City of Glass is a terrific conclusion to a great series. Be sure to pick this one up, it's at a bookstore near YOU!

Rating:
Originality: 9/10
Readability: 9/10
CharactersL 9/10
Overall: 9/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Help me!

May 13, 2009

I was writing the pros and cons of the various universities that have accepted me, to help me pick a university since I need to pick a university by the end of the week (personal deadline...I'd rather get this decision done with so I can get on with my life...though my decision won't be nearly as hard to make as Jocelyn over at Teen Book Review's was.) I'm fairly sure which university I'm going to pick out of the following (note: FAIRLY. My sister will attest to the fact that I'm notoriously indecisive. And she'll also wonder why I'm posting this. But that's her problem.)

Anyways, I thought it'd be interesting to see what you guys (readers, fellow bloggers, authors, any of you!) have to say about my list. So please, tell me what you think(and I'll really appreciate it!) Info on the unis below the poll!

poll by twiigs.com

(I was considering putting the University of Toronto on here but I decided that it's completely out of the realm of possibility. And since I don't even want to go there, why include it?)

Option One: University of Alberta

The University of Alberta is the local university. Tuition would be cheap, I wouldn't have to pay more than 5-6k a year. I'd live at home, have the same friends that I've had for years and would already be familiar with the city.
Downsides...I'd live at home, meet the same people and it'd probably be a repeat of high school.
This is the one that I'm shying away from the most, but if you have any other reasons why I should go there, then do tell. :)



Option Two: University of British Columbia

This university is a province over, and not even an hour flight away. Besides the Uni of Alberta, UBC would be the cheapest of the lot coming in around 15k per year, including res. UBC is one of Canada's most known universities, and it's around 2/3 in Canada and in the top 50 of the world. So, it does have it's prestige, if that's what I'm looking for. Vancouver is a great city, the Olympics are going to be held there next year and it'd be a once in a lifetime opportunity. The weather there is great, there's tons to do in the city.
Neutral: My uncle lives in the city, so if I get tired of the residence and the crappy food, I'll have a place to go. But then, it means possible surprise drop-ins. Second biggest uni in Canada.
Downside: I won't really know many people there, if any. Huge commuter population. Won't be able to get a single room.

Option Three: McMaster University

McMaster university is located in Hamilton, Ontario, a very industrial area of Canada. McMaster would cost just a bit more than UBC, so there's not much of an advantage/disadvantage regarding costs. The school is very community-orientated. Hamilton is a bit of a university town, there aren't many commuters so this would make it easier to get to know people and enjoy the experience. McMaster is also a well-known university, though not on the UBC scale. It's also a bit smaller that UBC so it's more of a medium sized university. Most people I've asked say they love going to McMaster.
Downside: According to people I've talked to, Hamilton is a crappy city, polluted and smaller than my home city right now. There wouldn't be much to do outside of the student areas and downtown. Also, I won't know anyone. At all.


Last, but not least, McGill University:
Out of all the universities I've listed, this may be the only one you've actually heard of. (If you've heard of it at all...) McGill is located in the beautiful and bilingual city of Montreal. The upside would be that it'd help me improve my French. I've also actually visited the city last summer in part of a French immersion program and I know that I like it. The university is prestigious and attracts international students, so it'd be a very diverse student population. All the students are very bright, so I'd be competing against some of the best students in the country. Montreal has a great music scene and a really awesome downtown area. Also, it's said to be the place where North America meets Europe, and it has a terrific atmosphere. Also, going to McGill would make it easier to get into their med school or law school, if I choose to take that path. (It's very hard to get into their Med/Law schools as out of province students...)
Downside: Montreal is cold in winter, though not as cold as Edmonton. McGill would be hitting around 20k per year, the tax in Quebec is high and that bell curve will be hard to beat, with all those uber-keeners out there. Also, McGill is known to be a bit of a party school because of Quebec's drinking age (which, incidentally, is the same as Alberta's). And so, a majority of the students spend quite a bit of time hitting the clubs and such. While this might not necessarily be a bad thing, it's not a good thing either. I suppose. I don't know. It's just a random fact I decided to throw in. I'll also not know very many people. And the majority of people I know who ARE going there, aren't really my friends anyways. We're more like friendly acquaintances who don't have anything in common. But of course, I'll (hopefully) meet new people and make new friends. etc. Wherever I go...

Wow. This list has confused me all over again! AGHh!

So yes. That was my list. Please tell me what you think! And RR2, stop complaining. Thanks guys! :)

ETA: And contest winners will be announced tomorrow! Sorry for the delay.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

May 12, 2009
Laurel has lived her entire life in a small and sheltered town. Then, one day, her parents decide it is time for them to move and her to quit homeschooling and enroll in a regular high school. Ironically enough, it is when Laurel's parents try to assimilate her into having a normal life, that Laurel find out that she really isn't like anyone else at all.

For one thing, she has a wing blossoming on her back. And for another, her first best friend from her school, David, has looked at her cells under a microscope. Only thing is, they have a eerie resemblance to plant cells. Laurel, who was discovered in a basket when she was three, may not even be human. In fact, she may just be a faerie.

Laurel learns that she was sent to her parents in order to protect the land that they lived on, the land that they have moved away from to send Laurel to a regular high school. However, nothing will be simple for Laurel again. Firstly, she her feelings for her classmate David and Tam, a mysterious faerie boy, that continue to confuse her. And on top of that, Laurel must find a way to protect the land, which serves as a gate to Avalon, protect her secret and get along in a brand new high school.

With faeries being one of the latest popular topics of the YA genre, Wings brings something unique to the table. The type of faeries portrayed in the novel are vastly different, yet similarly charming, than others that I've read. For one, there's that whole scientific thing about it, with the whole cell examining thing and hints that point to the nature of the faeries being. That maybe they're more green that human, if that makes sense.

The characters, despite not being as well-developed as they could have been, were interesting and unique. Laurel's history made her unique and she is a character that you can sympathize with and root for. However, at times, she did seem to make the weirdest decisions. I realize that a lot of the story revolved around Laurel trying to keep her "blossom" a secret, however, I don't understand why she would not have told her parents even though she thought it was a life-threartening disease or something...


David, on the other hand, seemed fairly consistent as a character, however, he remains unexplored, in my opinion. I hope that in further books, David's character is delved into more.

The same can be said about Tamani, he was there but his character seemed a bit rushed. His character is something that I'll look forward to reading about more in future books.

However, the character issues did not detract too much from the book. The plot is unique and debut author Aprilynne Pike's storytelling is entrancing. She has a way with words and despite some faults, it is clear that the story only has potential to grow as she (hopefully!) continues to write about Laurel's world.

Wings is not a novel that you want to miss, while it is slow to start, the action and intruige that the book provides later, will more than makeup for it.

Wings was released on May 5! Make sure you pick it up at a store near you! To browse inside click HERE!

Rating:
Originality: 9/10
Characters: 7/10
Readability: 7/10
Overall: 8/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Retrospective

May 10, 2009
Steph, over at Reviewer X, thought it'd be a good idea to have a recap meme, since so many people read so many different blogs and it's so easy to get behind. So head on over to her blog and join in on the fun!


First, we had a bit of a scheduling blooper and instead of a Canadian Month post...out popped up a review of Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle.

And then we got back on track with the Canada Month thing, with a review of the Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

After, a really awesome guestpost on how authors should "Play Fair," by Kelley Armstrong!

Which was followed by (THANKS KELLEY!), a giveaway of the Summoning AND the Awakening!.

And finally, we reviewed the Ashbury-Brookfield Series by Jaclyn Moriarty! !

How did your week go?
Put a link over at the post at Steph's blog!

The Ashbury-Brookfield series by Jaclyn Moriarty

15 year-old Elizabeth Clarry has been having a tough time of it lately. Her dad's returned from Australia and wants to reacquaint himself with his daughter. Her best friend's run away to join the circus. Her mother's mostly out of the picture (their main correspondence is through sticky notes on the fridge). And, her English teacher is insisting on rekindling the "Joy of the Envelope"-Elizabeth's found herself writing to someone from a rival school (Brookfield).

The entire novel is told in the form of letters written to Elizabeth or by Elizabeth. (One part I especially loved are Elizabeth's letters to herself from associations like The Society of People Who are Definitely Going to Fail High School And Probably Life as Well which is an amusing way of getting across the self-doubt Elizabeth is feeling).

In fact, the entire novel is incredibly funny. The characters are well-developed and I loved reading about Elizabeth's growth as a character. Just as a side note, in a particularly well-done interview at teenreads.com, Jaclyn Moriarty discussed her intent of including characters of differing maturity levels. That was something I really liked in the novel because I thought it was very realistic of high school (I can definitely relate that explanation to my friends and I, at any rate). Anyway, she is far more articulate than me, so I highly recommend checking out that interview.

The Year of Secret Assignments is the second novel (and incidentally, also my favourite) , featuring yet another year of rekindling "the Joy of the Envelope." This time the book features three best friends, Lydia, Emily, and Cassie, all of which are distinct voices. Their correspondence with the dreaded Brooker Kids is hilarious although soon what began as simple letter-writing transforms into a series of pranks, finally escalating into a full-out war.

Okay, I dare you to read the first 10 pages of this novel and not laugh or want to read the book. (It's impossible). The novel's one of funniest I've read and definitely one of my favourite books. It's just pure fun and pretty much every other page had me laughing. Annnd...the characters are all really well-developed.

PS. We're giving away a copy of this book here.

The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie. To be honest, I prefer the title Becoming Bindy Mackenzie (which is the UK title). The murder plot doesn't come up until the last 100ish pages and while it's quite awesome, the novel is mostly about Bindy's change in perspective and growing up.

Anyway, The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie is about the most unpopular girl in school. And for the first half of the book, you discover why. First, you might find Bindy annoying and then halfway through, you'll find yourself understanding and sympathizing with Bindy. Like her other books, The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie is funny-even if the first bit is a bit hard to get through. It's definitely worth reading.

By the way...The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie is part of our main giveaway (which is open for another couple days) so if you haven't already enter I highly suggest you do!

(Comment for +1 in the Year of Secret Assignments giveaway)

Giveaway: THE SUMMONING AND THE AWAKENING By KELLEY ARMSTRONG (CLOSED)

Hey guys, we'll be giving away a copy of The Summoning and its recently released (squee!) sequel, The Awakening.  These books are AMAZING so definitely, definitely, enter.

To enter:
+1 Comment here (with a contact email)
+1 Post about this giveaway
+1 Relevant comments on any  Kelley Armstrong posts (the guest blog and review)

Contest ends in two weeks.

Check out Kelley Armstrong's  exciting guest blog here!

Check out a review of the Summoning. 

Good Luck! 

Kelly Armstrong Guest Post: "Playing Fair"

At the end of the month, The Awakening comes out, and when it does, I’ll finally be able to stop apologizing for the cliffhanger ending of The Summoning.  I hope.

I have been apologizing to readers, sincerely, because I realized, too late, that I hadn’t played fair with them.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, when I was envisioning the future, after all three books in the trilogy are out, and readers would hit that cliffhanger and race to the library to get the next one.  That’s cool.  What’s not so cool is the nine months between the release of the first and the second…nine months where readers couldn’t rush out and read the next book.

At a convention last month, I listened to an author panel  called “What do we owe our readers?”  The short answer?  Everything.   At least as far as our careers are concerned.  It’s the readers who allow us to have this dream job.

On the panel, though, there was some blurring of the distinction between “catering to readers” and “playing fair.”  Catering to readers means giving them what they want, regardless of what we want or what’s best for the story.  That’s a fool’s gambit.  It’s impossible to write something that every reader will love.  It’s an insult to readers, too, assuming they’re clones with identical tastes.  As I writer, I pay attention to what readers tell me, which gives me a good sense of the general direction they’d like a series to go.  If that works for me and for the books, then I’ll listen.  But what’s more important to me is playing fair.

Playing fair means respecting readers.  If the book is a mystery, you don’t introduce a new character in the last chapter and make him the killer.  If the book is a fantasy, you don’t have the character discover new powers in the last chapter and save the day.  If the book is a romance, you don’t get to the last chapter and kill off the love interest.

That doesn’t mean you can’t add a twist—just that the twist shouldn’t interfere with a satisfying resolution.  Satisfying doesn’t necessarily mean happy either.  It means that the reader puts the book down and feels that, good or bad, it made sense—it satisfied the promise of the book and the expectations it set up.

So, as much fun as it was to write a cliffhanger ending, I’ve promised readers that I won’t do it again.  And I’ll keep my promise because that’s playing fair.

Hey guys, The Awakening's out now so be sure to check it out!

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

When Chloe was younger, she lived in a house with a ghost in her basement. And they liked to scare her. Chloe's parents moved her away from the scary ghosts and now Chloe knows better. There are no such things as ghosts. And now, teenage Chloe Sauders has a dream.To live a perfectly normal life. One with friends, school and maybe even a special guy. Unfortunately, that is not going to be the case for Chloe. Instead, she starts seeing ghosts and knows that things will never be perfectly normal again.

The ghosts plaugue Chloe; begging for her attention and driving her crazy. And as soon as she breaks down,. she's admitted to a special house for disturbed kids where she's diagnosed with schizophrenia and is forced to take medication for her disorder Lyle House.At first, Lyle House seems just like any loony bin. But soon, Chloe starts to understand that things are not what they seem to be. As she grows closer to Simon and his intimdating brother Dereck and Tori, a girl who happens to have an affinity for "fire," she finds that she's not mad...but maybe..actually psychic?

The first book in a supernatural YA triology by Kelley Armstrong, the Summoning is Kelley Armstrong's first venture in the teen genre. And she makes the leap gracefully.Having read only one of her books, Bitten, the Summoning has convinced me to read more, at least after I worked my way through the rather unremarkable beginning.

Chloe is a likable character; it is easy to relate to her and to sympathize with her. What I really liked about her is that we weren't just told things about her, we were also showed them. For example, Chloe has an ambition to direct and write movies. Instead of just stating this, the whole book seems as if Chloe is comparing it to a movie with the good takes and the bad takes. That was one of my favorite bits of the novel.

The other characters in the novel are also interesting, especially because, at first, you think that every single person at Lyle House are all wackos too. The way that their respective relationships grow with each other and Chloe was fun to read about. Especially as more and more secrets were uncovered.

The plot is fairly unique and pretty engrossing, especially action picks up near the end. And then it leaves us with a horrible and painful cliff-hanger. Luckily, the Awakening is now out in stores so you can get your hands on it as soon as you finish The Summoning.

Overall, The Summoning is a fun supernatural read that many readers, YA and otherwise will enjoy. Be sure to pick this up next time you're at the bookstore.

Rating:
*Under this feature of Canada Month, every single of the books we post about deserves an 8-10 rating, in our opinions. AND on top of that, we're recommending these books to you. So be assured that we're only recommending our favorite books by Canadian authors...

ETA: whoops

That was a scheduled post that my sister forgot to remove :) And we forgot to mention that Canadian Month has been extended for another week and all the giveaways are still open!

Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

May 1, 2009
After spending her summer getting in touch with nature, 15 year old Carly decides to put aside her materialistic life and focus on the things that really matter. As in, things that are not related to money, clothes or appearances.

But when Carly comes home suffused in her new outlook on life, she is shocked to find out that her little sister, Anna has morphed into a barbie doll! As in, her former companion and dorky sister has turned into the sexy girl that all the guys lust after. Including the object of Carly's affections...

Along with her sister's transformation, Carly has to deal with a lack of acceptance from her best friend. Carly's new views of life set her apart from the main crowd, a fact only emphasized by her sister's complete transformation into a "Barbie."

Anna's change really shakes Carly and Anna herself, up. For one thing, Carly can't help but feel inferior to her newly hot sister, causing the two to grow apart. And on another, Carly can't seem to realize what her sister is going through and that the grass on the other side isn't always greener...

Eventually Carly whips her life back into shape with new and old friends who actually appreciate her for who she is. People who are real.

But when Anna's struck by a problem that only her sister can solve, both realize the true meaning of sisterhood.

I adore Lauren Myracle's TTYL series which has been one of my favorite YA rereads ever since...well...the first one came out! So obviously, I had some pretty high expectations from Peace, Love and Baby Ducks. And, she didn't disappoint me.

Being a sister myself, reading about Carly and Anna's relationship was really intruiging. Their relationship versus the one between my sister and I.

While it was fairly different from the ones my sisters and I have, the sisterly banter and their fights were all too realistic. In fact, pretty much everything was on target relaying to the characters in the novel. The parents, Cole (the "sexy, bad boy", Roger (who may or may not be Carly's ironic love boodle, the snobby girls at the Christian private school that Anna and Carly go to and Anna and Carly themselves.

It was really easy to picture the characters, and relate to them...or hate them, depending on who they were.

The only thing that kind of irked me was how blind Carly could be at times. There were some moments where I just wanted to dive into the book and shake her till she regained some common sense...

Anyways, the storyline was pretty good, I have to say. It was unique yet typical all at the same time. As in, it could have just been a generic storyline about a girl getting to know and accept herself as well as others. But instead, it was a heartwarming and HILARIOUS story about a wacky teenager and her sister and the way they dealt with the problems that were thrown at them.

Oh, and did I mention that it was really funny? I love the way that Lauren Myracle managed to tackle important problems while keeping the mood light and fun. It made for a really enjoyable read.

Anyways, so what was I saying?

Right.

So basically, on May 14th, you're going to want to head over to the bookstore to get yourself a copy. Because if you don't, you're really missing out on a great book!

Rating:
Originality: 9/10
Readability: 8/10
Characters: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit