You by Charles Benoit

You by Charles Benoit

Hardcover, 223 pages

Published August 24th 2010 by HarperTeen

“This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go.You’re just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can’t be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place? There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time’s running out. How did this happen?
You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn’t make that lead to his own destruction.
In his stunning young-adult debut, Charles Benoit mixes riveting tension with an insightful—and unsettling—portrait of an ordinary teen in a tale that is taut, powerful, and shattering.” – Goodreads

My Opinion: I have to say that this book was not what I was expecting. It was very real and the emotions were so clear that I felt them as Kyle was feeling them. Charles Benoit did a great job writing in second person. It made the book so much more personal and easier to relate to Kyle. Kyle is a typical teenager I think. He just doesn’t know what he wants out of life and that is so easy to relate to. The emotions were very clear and I found that in the way Kyle thought sometimes, I found myself thinking that is so true. This was an amazing read and I can’t believe that I haven’t picked it up sooner. Definitely recommending to a lot of people.

I think however that my favorite character had to be Zack. I understand that he is a little weird in that way that he ends up controlling people into doing what they do, however my favorite line in the book is said by Zack and he says, “Don’t blame me Mr. Chase… I never told you what to do, I never tell anyone what to do. I make suggestions, I provide opportunities, and I make them very tempting, but when it comes down to it, everyone makes their own bad decisions.” (Benoit, 215) It reminds me of something the devil would say, and now that I think about devils, it reminds me of  the movie Bedazzled and Elizabeth Hurley. But I love that he says that because when we act we rarely think about the consequences to our actions and what might happen because of them. I really enjoyed the book, hope you guys do too.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Another Pan

If you like mythology and Peter Pan... here is the book for you! When I first picked it up I thought it was about the Greek God Pan. But I knew it wasn't when I saw the name Wendy Darling. This book has quite a twist on the disney character but I think it was for the best. It is a lot more adventorus and is set in modern times. I got a good laugh whne I read that Wendy had a Facebook. Wendy is quite popular, while John is a nerd-like boy that wants to be popular. There is no other brother though and no Mrs. Darling either because she ran off in the middle of the night. There is still the Lost Boys but they're all over the world. There is no Wonderland either. There is Egyptian Mythlogy in this book. I really did love this book.

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published November 9th 2010 by Feiwel & Friends

“Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.
There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.
Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.
Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.
But, it’s not.
Andrew Smith has written his most beautiful and personal novel yet, as he explores the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our bodies and our minds.” – Goodreads

My Opinion: I think this book was interesting. It almost seemed like Jack was experiencing a split personality disorder. However, I think it was due to his traumatic experience that caused most of the things to happen. I really liked Jack he didn't want to show any weakness and wanted to be brave and that in my opinion is why he keeps saying in the book, "Jack doesn't cry" when he gets scared or feels alone. I enjoyed this. It was new and different. I haven't read anything like this before, so that was an experience as well. I though that it was very well written because it was easy to see how much Jack cared about his friends and to sympathize with him and what he is going through. it was well written because in the book, its difficult to decide which place is the real world, London or Marbury until the end at at least. Reminds me of a story called La Boca Noche Arriba by Julio Cortazar in the aspect of the not knowing which world is real. I think that is what I liked most about the book, the mystery of it. I really enjoyed this book.
5 out of 5

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead

Hardcover, 594 pages

Published December 7th 2010 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published 2010)

“Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.
Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.
But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?” -Goodreads

My Opinion: Oh my goodness! That’s all I have to say for now. This was an amazing finish, not as good as I would have liked it to be. I wanted a little more action. However, the mystery of who killed Tatiana kept me going and who was Lissa’s sibling. That definitely made up for it. And I’m glad that Rose ended up with ____________ and not ________________ in the end. They are perfect for each other and hopefully, the spin off will cover ______________’s perspective of Rose’s and ___________’s relationship. This was a great addition and a great finish in my opinion of the series. It’s amazing how everything sort wrapped itself up. And I think that the spin off will be from Lissa’s sibling’s perspective. That would make things interesting in my opinion. Can’t wait for it!
Rose definitely grows as a character in this novel and we learn more about how she sees the world and we learn about how she feels about taking care of everyone. We also learn more about Lissa and Dimitri and Adrian. We also learn more about Abe and what he is willing to do for Rose.
Overall amazing!

Fox 2000 Does Taylor Lautner Deal For 'Incarceron'

Fox 2000 Does Taylor Lautner Deal For 'Incarceron'

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

"A “perfect fit for those seeking expressive writing, emotional depth, and lush, cinematic romance, cementing [Ockler] comfortably next to similar teen favorites like Deb Caletti, Carolyn Mackler, and Sarah Dessen.” —Booklist

Things in Delilah Hannaford’s life have a tendency to fall apart. She used to be a good student, but she can’t seem to keep it together anymore. Her “boyfriend” isn’t much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family’s painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.” – Goodreads

I loved this! It deals with many themes, depression and family and friendship, as well as discovering yourself. The book is about a girl named Delilah Hannaford and its set in Vermont. She has problems with her and she wants to make their relationship better at the same time as solve the rift, that caused their leaving the family home and never coming back before this, between her grandmother and mother. The plot revolves around the mystery of the rift as well as how no one in her family, now only her mother, aunt, and herself, wants to talk about their other sister. At the same time, Delilah learns more about herself and what true friendship and love are about.
It was so easy to relate to her because alot of high schoolers feel that way and even adults do too because we lose ourselves at some point in our lives and try to find ourselves again. Delilah rocks!
Great story I LOVED it!!!

Last Sacrifice Chapter 1

The first chapter of Last Sacrifice! Yay! Last Sacrifice is the last book in the Vampire Academy series. However, Richelle Mead has said that this will not be the end of the Vampire Academy world. There will be a spin off, still untitled that will have cameos of Rose but it will not be about her and her perspective.
FOR CHAPTER 1 CLICK HERE!

Heist Society 2 Title Announced!

Ally Carter announced on her blog that the second installment for Heist Society is going to be called Uncommon Criminal!

Official Title : UNCOMMON CRIMINALS: a Heist Society novel

In US Stores June 21, 2011

blog: http://allycarter.com/diary

Audrey, Wait!

“Audrey, Wait!” involves a girl named Audrey Cuttler who breaks up with her boyfriend, a small town musician. She goes to his concert later that week to say, “Sorry for breaking up.” She is surprised when he starts singing “Audrey, Wait!” a song about her walking out the door on him and making her sound like a terrible person. The worse part… it’s a great song, terribly catchy. It becomes so good that it’s heard everywhere Audrey goes. It becomes a #1 nationwide song! She is bothered by everyone and everywhere she goes she is never left alone. Small town musician want to become her boyfriend so they can use her as her”muse.” How can she hang out with her best friend or find a new crush? How can she ever get her normal life back?

I loved this book. I thought it was going to be like the regular book where it has the paperazzi and the main character is whiny. But it's not like that, I must so the book and its characters do swear a lot though. I gave it to my friends at school and they loved it! I highly suggest this book!

TEDxNASA - Maggie Stiefvater - How Bad Teens Become Famous People

Maggie Stiefvater

I was just checking out the TEDx Youtube channel and guess what I find... thats right you probably guessed it... Maggie Stiefvater! She talks about many things in our society today, from labels, to perspectives, to goals for the future. Check it out. See if you can get some special meaning, like me.


I can't seem to figure out how to add it as a video so just click on the following link: CLICK HERE 

Graceling, The Seven Kingdoms #1 by Kristin Cashore

“Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace — or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away… a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.”

I have to say that I wasn’t expecting the book to be this good when I first started reading. There were certain parts that I felt were too much description when in a previous part of the novel it was described and didn’t need another description. I really like Katsa she was a very interesting character and I don’t feel like I have another a book with a character similar to her so I applaud Kristin Cashore’s originality. I also really liked Po. Bitterblue was my favorite though I think because even though she is little she is very perceptive and observatory and also that she wants to protect herself and want to learn how, instead of just relying on bodyguards.

I really like Katsa because she is such a strong woman, she doesn't allow the king to control her and steps up to protect others. Also, when the times comes to part ways with the king, when she couldn't before she, she does and tells him that if he ever tries anything with her again he is going to regret it.I really love that she stands up for her.

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

"On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them.

But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?

In her young-adult debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn presents a distinctly twenty-first-century tale of myths and machines, and an alliance that crosses a seemingly unbridgeable divide." 

I have to say this is going to be one of my favs for the year. Its sort of a Romeo/Juliet with out the love but just a friendship. It is also like Aragon, in the learning to ride although Kay doesn't get the special powers when she rides Artegal.
Pretty much the book is about how humans are afraid of dragons and how they are willing to start a war and the only human who has talked to a dragon in a really long time is Kay and how she may be able to stop the war with Artegal at her side. If she able to talk to him. Lesson to learn: Don't be afraid and hate something that you don/t understand.

LOVED IT!

Wintergirls

Two girls who have a bet to be that skinnest in school. One dies.... all alone in a motel. Lia is haunted... by her.

Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat.

The shadowghosts are talking to her. The only way to let them free is to cut, cut, cut them free.

Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat. Must not eat.

Lia is now a wintergirl and Cassie died because she was one too....

Lia's guilty but she doesn't know what to do...

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33

She called 33 times and you didn't answer!

She died because of you!

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

Ben Tomlin is an only child. But all that changes when his mother brings home Zan - an eight-day-old chimpanzee. Ben’s father has moved the family from Toronto to Victoria to pursue his latest research project, an experiment to determine whether chimpanzees can acquire advanced language skills. Zan will be treated as a family member and Ben's parents tell him he has a new brother. What happens is an interesting story of family dynamics. This young adult novel is special. The writing is wonderful with loads of humor and heart and the interaction between Ben and Zan is touching. There is so much that is good about this book. Oppel scores another writing winner!

Teens Top Ten 2010

Happy Teen Read Week, Niles Teens!

Last month you joined more than 8,000 teens from around the country to choose your favorite books from the past year. Here are the results.

The 2010 Teens’ Top Ten is:
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Teens visit www.ala.org/teenread and vote on next year's theme (Picture It @ your library, Feast on Reads @ your library, or Cloak and Dagger@ your library

Book Bowl

Welcome to the Book Bowl. The Niles Teen Advisory Board christened the Young Adult Fiction Area the Teen Alley. All reviews are welcome! I started the ball rolling with a review of Mockingjay.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay is heartbreaking with its honest portrayal of the cost of revolutionary action against the Capitol. Who are the good guys and who will live or die kept me fixated until I finished. Collins writes with pinpoint precision with the same accuracy that Katniss displays with a bow and arrow.

Mockingjay moves in military precision in drills of brutality, tenderness, calculation, strategy, horror, and heartbreak. Collins’s background as a screenwriter is evident. The fast pacing, the quick settings change and the dialogue are all geared toward the visual. The author makes your care what will happen to all the characters in the trilogy, especially Katniss. Katniss’s humanity serves as a foil to the cold cruelty of the Capitol. Throughout her war weary exploits she wears her sensitivity, independence and vulnerability. The personal conversations and interactions between the characters are brilliantly written.

Collins is no stranger to the horrors of war since her father taught at West Point and served in Vietnam. After a while I thought how does she come up with all these ghastly ideas for evil and torture. In the last heartbreaking disaster, I was reminded of the famous picture from Vietnam with a child on fire from a napalm bomb. Horrific events continue in war after war and Mockingjay follows this realism.

The Hunger Games trilogy, Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, hits hard and after reading all of them I felt stunned. Although I would have favored a few more characters spared, Mockingjay ends the trilogy with a believable conclusion.

Teen's Top 10 for Teen Read Week

Vote between August 23 and Septermber 17 for your favorite books by picking the Top 10 Teen books of the year at the AV desk or the Reference desk and receive a prize!

http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/2010_tttnoms.pdf

Make Waves Summer Reading

Books are flying off the shelves in the Teen Alley during the Make Waves Reading Summer Program. This site is waiting for your reviews of books that you have read and loved this summer.