Strands of Bronze and Gold

Welcome to Wyndriven Abbey.  Mississippi, 1855.
Sophia Petheram has a wealthy godfather.  A godfather that has given her gifts of jewels, clothes, riding lessons, for her entire seventeen years.  And even though she has never met him, she is leaving her siblings in Boston to go live with him on his plantation in Mississippi.  Her mother died when she was an infant, and with the sudden death of her father, Sophie is going to live with M. de Cressac and his wife.  Only when Sophie gets there, she discovers his wife has been dead eighteen months.  It's too late for her to return to her family, she would be a burden to them, so she stays.  In the beginning, Sophia is charmed by M. de Cressac.  He has traveled all over the world, and gives her costumes and dresses to wear from different cultures.  He makes sure all of her needs are tended to.  Sophia even begins to fall in love with him, imagining what it would be life to be his wife.  Gradually his dark side begins to show.  He owns slaves, which Sophia is strictly against.  He has been married four times, but refuses to discuss his former wives.  He doesn't allow her to go into town, or attend church, and Sophia becomes very lonely.  She intends to leave at Christmas, when her family comes to visit, but de Cressac keeps his lock firmly on her.  As Sophia begins to discover the truth of Wyndriven Abbey, she realizes her godfather is much more dangerous than she thought possible.
This novel is a twist on the fairy tale of BlueBeard.  I had not read the story, and Googled it, so what happened in the novel wasn't a huge surprise.  There is a ghost element, so this would be a great book to give to students who like historical fiction and ghost stories.  I read this based off of a strong recommendation of a book club member, and when she discussed it at the meeting, many students were also interested in reading it.

Burn for Burn

Lillia, Mary, and Kat are not friends.   That is what makes their secret revenge pact so perfect.  Circumstances bring them together, and they decide to work together to get even with those who have wronged them.    
Lillia is the perfect daughter.  She is pretty, popular, and beginning her senior year at Jar Island High School.  However, something happened to her over the summer.  Something that has changed her,  and made her fiercely protective of her younger sister.  She will do anything to make sure her sister is not hurt in the same way she was, even if that means getting even with one of her closest friends.
Kat is from the wrong side of the tracks.  Her mother died when she was younger, and her father has not recovered.  Kat is free to roam the island as she pleases, but she is lonely.  She is determined to get back at her former best friend, who has been spreading viscous rumors about her.
Mary is returning to the island after being gone a few years.  She left after something terrible happened to her, and she wants to see the culprit pay.
As the girls begin their revenge, the pranks turn cruel, but it is too hard form them to stop.  They won't stop until they feel they have gotten justice.
This is truly Mean Girls 2.0.  The events leading up to the girls getting revenge are cruel, and they stunts they pull get out of hand fast.  I love Jenny Han, and this book was really, really good.  It ends with a giant cliffhanger, and there are 2 more books to finish the story of these unlikely friends.  I am really interested to see where this story goes.

Paper Valentine

Need a spooky read for Halloween?  Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff is a great ghost story that will get you in the creepy mood!

Hannah sees ghosts.  Not just any ghost, but the ghost of her best friend who died 6 months earlier.  Only in ghost form, Lillian is cruel, full of hate and jealousy.  Hannah's town of Ludlow is trying to deal with the hottest summer on record, when young girls begin to be murdered.  The serial killer leaves paper hearts, candy, and cheap toys arranged around the body.  Hannah's mother, worried about her since Lillian's death, keeps Hannah on a short leash.  Having her walk her little sister to band camp, go straight to work at her cousin's photo store, and come home.  At the photo shop, Hannah sees the pictures of the crime scenes, and then begins seeing the ghosts of the murdered girls.  As Hannah tries to piece together the murders, she begins a relationship with Finny Boone, the town delinquent.  He keeps popping up when Hannah needs someone, but could he have anything to do with the murders?  Hannah must figure it out before she ends up like the others.
This was my choice for my Book Club's Halloween pick.  Ghost stores were always my favorite when I was younger.  I grew up with Fear Street as a staple in my library, but don't read a lot of them now.  "Where are the scary stories?" is a question I get asked the most, and this will be one I direct students to.  The writing is beautiful, full of similes, and metaphors.  The character of Hannah is very quirky, but she really comes to stand up for herself in a way students will relate to.  I thought this was a great book, and I am going to look into others from this author.

The Geography of You and Me

In 2003, New York City lost power.  They city went completely dark.  However, the city came together to form a "party" like atmosphere- stores gave away melting ice cream, there was no looting, and very little crime was reported.  This is the situation that begins The Geography of You and Me, Jennifer E. Smith's latest romance novel.  Lucy and Owen are trapped together during this blackout in their apartment building's elevator.  Lucy lives on the twenty-fourth floor, Owen lives in the basement.  Lucy loves her city, living there her entire life.  Owen has just moved from a small town in Pennsylvania. After his mother died, his father took a job as the building's superintendent, hence the life in the basement.  After being rescued from the elevator, Lucy and Owen head up the building's roof, so Lucy can get a chance to see stars of NYC for the first time.  They share a connection, both feeling more comfortable with each other than they ever have with anyone else.  But then morning comes.  Owen sneaks out while Lucy is still sleeping, to check on his father, and doesn't make it back before Lucy wakes up.  Thinking Owen left her, she leaves and is unsure of how to approach him.  Then life gets in the way.  Lucy's parents move her to Scotland, for her father's work, and Owen's dad loses his job.  Since they can no longer stay in the basement, Owen and his father begin a cross-country trek out west.  So begins the journey of Lucy and Owen.  Each thinking about the other, but not sure how to ever connect again.  Lucy travels throughout Europe, while Owen sees much of the west coast.  Communication is rare, since they are both on the move so much, but they just can't seem to move past that one nigh.  Are they just full of hopeful wishing?  Are they making too much of one evening?  Will they ever reunite?  You have to read the book to find out!
I LOVED Smith's two previous novels- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and This is What Happy Looks Like.  If you haven't read those two books STOP what you are doing right now and get them.  They are both great reads.  Really cute stories that I couldn't put down.  And while I liked this book, I didn't LOVE this book.  First- Lucy's parents completely ignore her.  And she doesn't seem to have a problem with this.  They are constantly traveling the world, and leaving her at home.  By herself.  And when she finally brings it up, it is sweetly forgiven and swept under the rug.  Second- Owen is still in high school, yet he is traveling the country with his dad, enrolling in schools along the way.  As a teacher, this bugged me.  I don't think it's as easy as it was for Owen to just move in and out of schools.  The fact that he had lots of credits was emphasized ALOT, but it bothered me.  I just didn't love this book as much as her other two.  And while my teenage romance readers will probably love it, I would just say it was ok.

Amber House

When Sarah's grandmother dies, she travels with her family from Seattle to Amber House, one of the largest private homes in Maryland.  Sarah has never been there before, her mother refused to visit, but she has heard stories from her grandmother who would come to her.  Amber House is huge, with two stories added on during the three centuries it has been in Sarah's family, a grand ballroom, 9 bedrooms, a conservatory filled with exotic plants and flowers, and even a large hedge maze on the grounds.  Sarah's mother wants to sell the property and leave as quickly as possible, but Sarah's 5 year old autistic brother convinces their mother to stay.  Sarah meets Jackson, the longtime maid's grandson and together they begin exploring the house for lost diamonds.  During these search Sarah begins to have visions of her ancestors when she picks up their old belongings.  At first, she likes the comforting scenes of her family's past, but as secrets betrayals, and even crimes play out in front of her, she begins to realize there is a lot about her family she doesn't understand.  The attention of one of Maryland's senators sons is also thrown in.  He his handsome, athletic, and seems to have sincere interest in Sarah.   This all culminates in a large sweet sixteen party Sarah's mother is throwing for her at the house, where the secrets only seem to deepen.

Another book from the Tayshas list, and this one was more  my speed.  I really enjoyed the supernatural aspects of the story.  The history of AmberHouse, though pretty brutal, was interesting and added a different aspect.  Sarah seems insecure. and that got a little old, she's constantly wondering why the senator's son is spending so much time with her, and trying to decide is she likes it, or not.  The ending went a little too far out there for me.  I know the book is supernatural, but it went so far extreme, I thought it was a little too much.  This is going to be a trilogy and the second book just came out, and I will read it to see how Sarah's story plays out.

My Favorite Love Stories

Happy Almost Valentine's Day!

I love reading YA romance novels.  They are so innocent and passionate.  I get asked for romance stories a lot, so I put together my top ten list of favorite YA love stories.
10.

This is a very cute book.  3 girls are sent to work on a peach orchard for the summer, and become close friends.  Of course, boys are involved, and a cross country trip to find the love of one of the girls is included. Light and fluffy.
9.
 
I'm not sure many would agree with me, but I loved the relationship between Tris and Four.  He is so protective of her and helps her through the initiation process.  Plus, Theo James is playing him in the upcoming movie.  You can't go wrong.

I would have chosen Dauntless too!

8.

Everyone loves Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.  Even though their love story was not smooth, he eventually came to his senses.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” 

― Jane Austen, Pride And Prejudice

The movie is also amazing!

7.

This was my first experience with teenage love.  I think I read this book in middle school and my friends and I all passed it around.  I haven't read it as an adult, but I remember loving this story and being heartbroken (spoiler alert!) when Michael and Kath broke up.  I wonder if my students would be able to relate to this book today.  Not sure.
6.

Another first love story, with its share of head over heels romance, only to come to a screeching halt when real life gets in the way.  An honest look at high school romance. 

5.

Delirium is set in a future, dystopian society that believes love is a disease.  At 18, every citizen must undergo a procedure to remove any feelings of love.  Lena has seen firsthand the problems love can cause and is looking forward to the day she will have her delirium removed.  Then she meets Alex, and begins to realize she might not want those feelings taken away from her after all.

4. 

This was my first book to read by Sarah Dessen.  She has written lots of books and she is always my go to for students looking for a love story.  Macy's boyfriend goes away to summer camp and she is lost without him.  When she begins working for a catering company, she beings to learn more about herself and the options open for her.
3.

Hazel Grace and Augustus meet in a cancer support group.  He shows her that life is worth living, taking her on adventures that she never imagined possible.  Such an awesome book, everyone loves it.  And the movie comes out in June!

2.

Hadley is not happy about going to London for her father's wedding. She misses her flight, and ends up waiting in the terminal for the overnight flight out of JFK.  That's when she meets Oliver.  Oliver cheers Hadley up, and the flight seems to pass in a matter of minutes.  But, they lose track of each other at Heathrow once they land.  Was their love meant to be?

1.

Oh, how I loved this book.  The Garretts were such a cute family and Jase such an easy boy to fall in love with.  The author is writing a follow up, and I can't wait to read more.

Have a great Valentine's week!

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Leonard Peacock is an angry kid. His father is not around anymore, and his mother leaves him in their small suburban town to work in New York City. On his 18th birthday he wraps his grandfather's World War 2 handgun in pink paper, places it in his backpack, and takes it to school.  His mission:  to kill another student and then himself.  First he is going to deliver four presents to his only friends, or people who have somehow made a difference in his life.  Leonard's story is told in flashbacks, as he explains why he wants to kill himself.  He thinks becoming an adult means your life stays as hopeless as his is now.  He sees commuters on the train to work; looking ultimately defeated, and thinks nothing wonderful waits for him in adulthood.  He thinks ending his life now will avoid anymore pain coming to him.
One of the characters that Leonard gives a gift, Walter, his elderly neighbor, introduces Leonard to Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.  Leonard and Walt speak in quotes from the movies.  Another interesting character, Herr Silverman, is Leonard's Holocaust teacher.  Leonard really respects his opinions and ideas and Herr Silverman goes out of his way to help Leonard.  He understands Leonard's struggles and tries to convince him to hold onto hope.
The story takes place in a 24 hour period, so it is a very quick read.  The downside was Leonard himself.  I feel bad for him, really I do, but he was such a jerk.  He definitely had a terrible situation on his hands, but he was a very unlikeable jerk to everyone who tried to help him.  I enjoyed the writing, Quick captured the soul  of a tortured teenager, but the message of hope was a little too in your face.

Happy New Year!

I was able to knock out a lot of reading over the Christmas break. I tried to read some of the new book we just got into our library, and started one series that is a favorite of some of my students.

Zoe has a horrible secret.  She is a murderer.  She got away with it, everyone thinks it was an accident, and life moves on as normal.  The problem is, the secret is getting too much for her to handle.  So she decides to tell someone.   Who better than an inmate on death row?  He accidentally murdered his wife, so he must understand, right?  Zoe's story is told through letters to this inmate.  She confesses everything in great detail, starting at the beginning.  She includes details about her family, friends, and the impact the murder has had on her life.  I don't want to give away too much, but there is an interesting plot twist that kept me wanting to get to the end.  A quick and enjoyable read.

I finally got around to reading Eleanor and Park.  This book has been on my radar for a long time, some of my students have read it and loved it, Amazon lists it as one of the best YA books for 2013, and I do enjoy a good love story.
Eleanor doesn't fit in.  She has crazy red hair, the wrong clothes, and no friends.  She sits beside Park on the bus on the first day of school, after being tormented by the other kids.  He ignores her.  High school is hard enough without being seen talking to the new, weird girl.  But, Park doesn't quite fit in either.  He is part Korean, and unfortunately inherited his mother's short stature.  He likes comic books and karate, so he just tries to stay out of the way.   Park begins to notice Eleanor reading his comic books over his shoulder on the bus, and slowly a friendship forms.  He gives her comics and tapes of his favorite bands and it turns into a sweet love story.  Eleanor has a horrible home life and seeks refuge in Park's home and family.  A first love story with all the moments, feelings, and struggles of teenage romance.  Set in 1986 it also provides a flashback to the fabulous 80s.
Highly recommended.  I think many students will get wrapped up in the love story and understand the intense emotions Eleanor and Park feel.

Fallen is book one of a series that began in 2009.  Many girls read it, and read it again, so I thought I would give it a try.
Luce is a sixteen year old, sent to the reform school, Swords & Cross.  The school is made up of delinquents and criminals, and she doesn't feel she fits in with them.  During the previous summer she had been with a boy who died in a fire.  She couldn't remember anything that happened, just that the dark, dangerous shadows that follow her around were there.  The judge had agreed to send Luce to Swords & Cross instead of juvenile detention.  She is immediately attracted to Daniel, a gorgeous boy she swears she has met before.  He completely ignores her, even goes out of his way to avoid her.  Cam is another beautiful boy, who showers her with gifts and attention, but she can't shake her attraction to Daniel.  She begins to have visions of Daniel with velvet wings, carrying her in his arms away from danger...and that's about where I gave up.  I just couldn't get into it.  I had a recent discussion with a girl who reads these books over and over. so teenage girls see something I don't.  There are 4 books total and it does seem, according to Amazon, the book get better near the ending of the series.  However, I tend to think the only ones stick through until the end saw that thing I didn't.  Not for me.

Jane Green is my favorite "chick lit" author.  This was my adult read over the break, although it did deal with teenagers and teenage issues.  I did enjoy it, but wouldn't order it for my library.

Emerald Green

When Gwyneth Shepherd turns 17 she learns she has inherited a time traveling gene passed down through her mother's side of the family.  This is a problem because everyone thought it was passed to her cousin Charlotte.  Charlotte has spent her entire life training and preparing for traveling into the past.  So, when it actually happens to Gwyneth, no one is prepared.  Now Gwyneth must carry out the plans to close the circle of twelve.  When that happens, it is believed all of humanity will be positively affected.  However, the two members of the circle before her have disappeared, taking an important time traveling instrument with them.  She begins working with her male counterpart, Gideon, who she quickly falls in love with, to find these two members at different points in the past.  She quickly learns that everything is not what it seems and the secrets of the secret society meant to protect the circle, may not be what everyone thinks.
This is the third book in the Ruby Red trilogy and concludes Gwyneth's story.  I loved the first two books.  Gwyneth is a normal teenager, who is thrust into a wild situation.  I enjoyed her as a protagonist.  I love historical fiction, so the time traveling aspect was something new and different.  However, this book was not that great.  It moves very, very slowly.  It is more than half-way through the book before Gwyneth actually travels to an important ball that gets the action moving.  Up until that time, she is crying over Gideon, and trying to figure out what the Guardians are really up to.  Some of the characters' actions are so over the top it's humorous.  The story is wrapped up neatly and I was satisfied with the ending, it just took too long to get to that point.  Lots of non-essential plot points.  I do recommend the first two books, so I would recommend this one as well just to finish out the story.  With that being said, I am so glad I am done!

New Books!

I returned from Thanksgiving break with 15 new boxes of books!  Hurray!

This is a part of my job that I absolutely love, going through the boxes and pulling out clean, ready to read books.

These books came in Dewey order, so I was very careful to keep them that way as I put them on the carts.
I then check the books with my order, to make sure I received everything.  I also begin to think about which books I can't wait to read first.  Here are a few on my radar:

Emerald Green is the final book in the Ruby Red trilogy.  Gwenny discovers she inherited a time traveling gene and begins to go back in time.  Her cousin Charlotte was supposed to have it, so Gwyneth is completely unprepared when it actually happens to her.  I loved the first two books and this one became my first choice! 

 Rainbow Rowell's book Eleanor and Park has been on my radar for a long time now.  And this, her second book, is receiving rave reviews. 

This book just looks really interesting to me.  I love books about summer, and being on the beach, and September Girls is about those two things.


I put Stickers on the spine labels that say New and place the books in the middle of the library.  I go through the books and add them to categories, so they will come up in students' searches.  Zombies are a popular genre now, so I want students to be able to locate those books easily.
Students get so excited to see new books, especially the series they have been waiting to finish.  Talking with  them about books is definitely my favorite part of being a librarian.

Incarceron

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other- it is its own world full of cities, forests, and oceans.  It was created to be a perfect society, or so it was presented to the people.  Criminals, miscreants, and dangers to society were placed inside, and the prison was locked.  However, the prison quickly detiorated and it became a nightmare.  The Sapienti, the wise men trained to enlighten the criminals and reform them, created Incarceron as an experiment.  After 150 years, the experiment has failed.  Although the people living outside of the prison have no idea how terrible it has become.  Only one person has ever escaped, Sapphique.  He is a legend in Incarceron with stories and songs to praise his living in the "outside."
Finn Starseer is a prisoner inside Incarceron, but he believes he came from the "outside."  He has faint memories of stars, cake, and ringing bells.  He lives among the Comitatus, known as Scum, who kill, plunder, and steal to survive.  They are ruthless, but Finn must stay with them in order to survive.
Claudia is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron.  Her world is the exact opposite of Finn's, full of luxury.  The world she lives in is a replica of the 17th century, all modern technologies have been forbidden and everyone must follow protocol.  Claudia has been betrothed to Casper, the prince of the realm.  He is cruel, arrogant, and spoiled, the last person Claudia wants to marry.  To get out of it, Claudia, along with her trusted tutor Jared, try to figure out the secrets of Incarceron.  She believes Finn is the key and is determined to get him out.
Incarceron is very, very complex.  Incarceron is not described completely until a little later in the book, so I had a hard time figuring out what exactly was going on in the beginning. The book jumps between Incarceron and Claudia's world, telling both sides of the story.  I enjoyed Claudia's chatpers the most, she is very intelligent and works to figure out solutions to problem.  I find Finn to be a difficult character to like.  Even though he feels he must stay with the Comitatus, and feels guilty for some of the things he does, he still does them.
This book was published in  2007, so I'm a little late to the game.  I have never enjoyed fantasy that much, but I'm trying to expand my horizons, so I chose this one.  I found myself skimming towards the end, just trying to finish it.  The book ends on a cliffhanger, with the sequel Sapphique finishing out the story.  Fantasy readers will definitely enjoy this book, but it does have a depth that might be out of the league of some readers.

This is What Happy Looks Like

When Ellie O'Neal responds to an  accidentally sent email from GDL824@yahoo.com, she begins a digital pen pal relationship with the boy who sent it.  She lives in "middle of nowhere" Maine, and he lives in "middle of everything" California.  The correspondence becomes important to both of them, and each one looks forward to the emails the they receive.  Ellie keeps the email secret from her mother and her best friend because she doesn't think anything will ever come of it.  Little does she know, the boy behind the yahoo account is Graham Larkin, a popular, teenage heartthrob actor.  Neither Ellie,  nor Graham reveal themselves to one another, but when Graham gets his current movie to shoot in Ellie's hometown of Henley, Maine, the two are forced together.  Ellie has her reasons for not wanting to get involved with Graham, he is followed constantly by the paparazzi, and she is harboring a secret.   And Graham's manager would prefer if he started a relationship with the female star, for publicity, not the redhead with a secret.  Henley is a small town, however, and avoiding each other, especially when they feel so strongly, proves impossible.
I loved this book:

So I couldn't wait to read This is What Happy Looks Like, but it wasn't as good as the first one.  The relationship between Graham and Ellie is a little hard to believe.  Graham is shown as a completely grounded 17 year old superstar, who would prefer to stay home with his pet pig than enjoy the nightlife of Hollywood. And while Ellie's secret is unexpected and different, also implausible.  The setting of Maine is beautiful, and the writing is much in the likeness of Sarah Dessen, this book didn't quite live up to my expectations.  I would still recommend it to my love story readers, but it won't be one I push on others.

Prodigy and Champion

2 reviews in one!

Hooray!  An ending to a series I enjoyed.  These two books follow the story of June and Day.  Day is a legend.  June is a prodigy.  To find out who will be champion, you must read the book!
The setting is the future- in an America unrecognizable.  June and Day live in LA, part of The Republic led by a dictator.  Day is from the poor sector, trying to find a way to survive.  June is upper class, a military genius, who is trying to avenge the death of her adored older brother.  I really did enjoy the series, I think it appeals to boys and girls, and any fan of The Hunger Games will enjoy it.

#TBT The 5th Wave

Happy Thursday!  This is a review of one of my favorite recently read books, The 5th Wave.  I have been recommending it to both boys and girls, and most of them liked it as much as I did.

Synopsis: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Review:  I received a copy of this book at a conference, and it sat on my desk for a few weeks.  I really couldn't get used to the idea of aliens.  Science fiction is a genre I don't usually enjoy, so I looked at it with true trepidation.  However, it kept popping up on my radar- listed in EW's 10 must have list, Amazon rated as one of the best new books for YA, and a starred review in Booklist.  I thought I would give it a shot.  I am so glad I did!  The book is told through different perspectives, which keeps the action moving.  Cassie has a fierce determination to find her little brother, and kept me rooting for her.  The aliens have embodied humans, so you're never sure who is one, and who is not.  This is a book anyone would enjoy, and I can't wait to read the next installment of Cassie's story.

Throwback Thursday

I cannot keep up with my students.  I have kids who read two or three books a day, sometimes more.  I cannot recommend anything to them because they have already read it.  I have two small children and a full-time job, so I read books about once a week.  I can read them a little faster if they are digital because I can read them at the gym.  However, it seems I am read more non-digital lately, so I feel I am falling behind.  In honor of my turtle-speed reading, I am going to start Throwback Thursday.  TBT is a trend on social media which usually entails posting an older picture of yourself.  I will spare you all the horror of my 90s self and post books that I have previously read.

Synopsis: The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

Review: This book came in my first order of the school year.  This is always like Sophie's Choice for me, how do I pick just ONE.  But, I did, and this was it.  Such a cute book.  If you have Sarah Dessen fans, give this to them.  The Garretts were an easily family to love, as Samantha did, and I found myself wishing I lived next door to them too!  It takes place during the summer, and has all the happy summer feels and smells of lazy, beachy days. A sequel is coming out in 2015 and I can't wait to read more about this family!

Cool Posters

I recently discovered the website Teen Librarian's Toolbox and have since been checking it everyday.  They have great tips for book talks, readalikes, and reluctant readers.  I also found these two posters and put them up in my library.

How did I not know about this?

I loved Ruby Red and thought it would make a great movie.  While looking around on YouTube, I discovered it HAD been made into a movie- albeit one in German.  However, here is the trailer dubbed and I must say, I can't wait to see it!  If you haven't read this book, you MUST!

 

Allegiant

Synopsis:
One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Review:  Let me start by saying Divergent is maybe my favorite young adult book ever.  I loved it so much, I completely ignored my family for a weekend while I read it.
It became my go-to book, my constant recommendation.  "You HAVEN'T read Divergent?!?!?"

It became my go-to book, my constant recommendation.  "You HAVEN'T read Divergent?!?!?!?  Here, take it now.  Read it.  You'll love it!"

I was able to get my hands on an advanced copy of Insurgent.  I couldn't believe my luck.  I immediately dropped everything to read it.

Right now, I couldn't even tell you what it was about.  Really, do you remember?

When Allegiant came out last week, I didn't think I would buy it right away.  However, I heard there is a big twist ending, and many readers were unhappy with it.  That definitely got me interested.  I like reading blogs, Goodreads, EW, and really, really didn't want to have the ending spoiled.  So, I went to Target and picked it up.  

Here goes: Not terrible, but not great either.  Tris and Tobias leave Chicago to go see what is happening "outside the fence."  They learn Chicago was only one of the "experiment cities" in the United States, and begin piecing together why the government chose to do this.  A new crop of characters are introduced, with a new crop of problems Tris and Tobias must get caught up in to try to solve.  I won't spoil the ending for you, but I was pretty surprised.  I think the main reason I didn't love the book is because there are all of these serious and profound "deep thoughts" throughout.  Especially near the end.  Seriously, teenagers cannot possibly have these types of thoughts running through their heads.

A sample:

“The first step to loving someone else is to recognize the evil in ourselves, so we can forgive them.” 

This is a big theme throughout the novel- self sacrifice.  I understand this is a different world, but I had a hard time believing all they corny things Tris and Tobias came up with.

I still love Divergent and Veronica Roth.  I was just disappointed with the last two books.  However, I am still excited to see the movie!

Happy Halloween!

Here are some scary books to get you in the mood for trick or treating!

Not my favorite book, but I know I'm in the minority.  It starts off with a murder, and the little boy lives in the nearby graveyard with the ghosts.  The writing is extremely descriptive and usually a hit.






















This is a good one, the ghost of Jack the Ripper is killing again in London.  Plus, I really liked the main character.  She is from Louisana, attending boarding school in London.  I loved the setting and the history of the murders.

  

This is my favorite of the bunch.  I love Libba Bray!  Set in the 1920s with lots of creepy crawlies!  Highly recommended .

You can never go wrong with these!  Super scary!

Have a great Halloween!

Something Creepy for Halloween...

 

The Dark Between By Sonia Gensler

Book Synopsis: 

Kate is a schemer.

Asher is a skeptic.

Elsie is a dreamer...who can speak with the dead.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

Review:

I really, really loved this book, one of those I couldn't put down.  This is a time period I enjoy reading, and adding the supernatural aspect made it more interesting.  

Kate is a great protagonist, very outspoken and scrappy.  She is an orphan and has to make her own way through any type of scheme she can.  One of her close friends, and fellow schemer, has gone missing.  She is afraid he has gotten mixed up with something terrible, and needs Elsie to help her find him.

Elsie can communicate with the dead.  However, during this time it is seen as a mental illness and she has been sent to Summerfield to rest.  She is trying to learn to control her visions, and wants to be useful in Kate's search.

Asher has unrequited love for Elsie, so he accompanies the girls on their mission for the truth.

The ending is a cliffhanger, and I hope Sonia Gensler is planning on writing more about these characters.

I definitely recommend this book!

Watch the Book Trailer!