The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan

The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan

Hardcover, 211 pages

Published January 4th 2011 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

A sweet and touching modern love story, told through dictionary entries. basis, n.
There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.
If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.
How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time. – Goodreads

My Opinion: This us definitely that you guys should read. Its short and easy and FUNNY. A lot of the story is funny and some of the words that I read I never imagined could be used with love. Very good read and the I definitely recommend it to you guys! All the words and stories are based on one relationship.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Stork

This is the first in the series of Stork. The teenage daughter of divorced parents move her out of California to Minnesota with her grandfather. Her name is Katla, her nickname Kat and is of the Icelandic descent. She soon finds out that there are family secrets, lost memory, and secret ability. She is drawn to a group of women to deliver souls to pregnant women called the "Storks". It has romance, high school drama, nature-inspired magic, and a great story!
  I loved this book. This was also inspired by Norse mythology which makes it even more interesting. There is a sequel coming out in fall 2011!!

Author's website: http://www.wendydelsol.com/books She's a new author but she writes GREAT STORIES!!!

(I love her hair don't you!?)

Kerley, Willems Win 2010 Cybils

Kerley, Willems Win 2010 Cybils

Tiger’s Curse (Tiger Saga, #1) by Colleen Houck

Tiger’s Curse (Tiger Saga, #1) by Colleen Houck

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published January 1st 2011 by Sterling

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?
The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world.
But that’s exactly what happened.
Face-to-face with dark forces, spell-binding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more. – Goodreads

My Opinion: I don’t have words to describe this book. This was just AMAZING. I loved this. The plot line was different and it sort of reminded me of Beauty and the Beast except that Beauty this time figured out that she could help him with the curse. Kelsey is a great character and I love how noble she is in the end. I loved the ending. It just worked so well with how the story is going. I can’t wait for the second book, Tiger’s Quest, to come out in June.

Hampi, India

I loved the setting. There are so many locations that are amazing in this story, so why don’t I share some of them with you guys?

First off is Hampi, India.These are ruins are isolated and located close to jungles and forests. There are lots of amazing building and it was an important trade center back when it was created in the 3rd century BCE and until the 16th century.

Some of the animals mentioned int his book are amazing… Tigers for one are my favorite animals and it was fun learning some new tidbits about them. For example, I never imagined that a black tiger existed and I still don’t but I found this great image for you guys to look at. The Black tiger in the book is Kishan and the white tiger is Ren.

Ren

Kishan

Now back to the story, the characters were all very lovable, even Yesubai. Lokesh had his faults but he is looking for power.

This was a great book that I definitely recommend for you guys to read. I think you will enjoy it greatly.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Life as We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life as We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Hardcover, 337 pages

Published October 1st 2006 by Harcourt Children's Books
(I listened to this: Read by: Emily Bauer)

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.
Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world. - Goodreads

My Opinion: This was an amazing story about survival. Miranda was annoying for about the first half of the book because she kept whining about how she was hungry and cold all the time but then she got it together and got a hold of herself. My favorite character had to be Matt because he knew what was actually happening and was asked for his opinion by their mom. Another favorite was Mrs. Nesbit, she was realistic about their circumstances and knew that she wouldn't survive for long and in the process did whatever she could to help Miranda and her family.

So the story is pretty much about the effects of what would happen if the moon was hit by an asteroid and was brought closer to the Earth and what its effects would be. Its very interesting because some of the things that Miranda and her family go through as very difficult. I'm surprised that she didn't give up faster.

I loved how the book ended. It brought back hope. I think that the electricity turning off and coming back on was symbolic for the good and bad things coming.  I really enjoyed this.

Emily Bauer was also not a bad reader. She helped me create a better picture in my head of what Miranda was talking about by providing her with a voice. I would definitely listen to a book read by her again.

Overall: 4.75 out 5

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: February 22nd 2011 by Luna

The world’s gone.
Worse, so is her daughter.  Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.
And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.
In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world….- Goodreads

My Opinion: This was interesting. It has a little bit of The Book of Eli (the movie) and a little bit of Resident Evil and it all mixed so well together. Cass was interesting. I love that as we learn more about her we see her flaws and that she is like a normal person. I love that she is also a great mother. Something that was really interesting to see was the progression in her relationship between herself and Smoke.

 

Something I also really liked about the story was that, if an apocalypse did happen, it would probably happen like in the book and that eventually people will see it as an opportunity to start controlling others. And that religious zealotry will try to take over. The Order was really extreme and it wasn’t even that people wanted to follow it, it just kept them safe. I think that that is one of the reasons people become manipulated so easily.

 

The plot was ingenious. There were so many things that were just different from other Zombie books that I have read that it was awesome. (Not that I have read many zombie books). The zombies were a lot like those of Resident Evil, changed due to something released (a terrorist attack of some sort) and they feed on people, but only their skin and they want the people to be alive as they’re feeding on them.

 

This was definitely an enjoyable read, read in about a day, and I couldn’t stop reading it.

 

Overall: 4 out of 5

All Just Glass (Shattered Mirror Sequel) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

All Just Glass (Shattered Mirror Sequel) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published January 11th 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Sarah Vida has given up everything for love. From a legendary family of vampire-hunting witches, Sarah was raised to never trust a vampire, to never let her guard down, and to avoid all tricky attachments of the heart. But now Sarah IS a vampire—changed by the boy she thought she loved. Her family has forsaken her, and Sarah herself is disgusted by her appetite for blood.

Aida Vida is Sarah’s older sister, the good, reliable sibling who always does her family proud. But when Aida’s mother insists that Sarah be found and killed, Aida is given the one assignment that she may not be able to carry out.

Taking place over just twenty-four hours, ALL JUST GLASS tells the story of a game-changing battle that will forever change the world of the Den of Shadows. And at its center is the story of two sisters who must choose between love and duty. Dark, fully-imagined, and hard to put down, ALL JUST GLASS will thrill Amelia’s fans—old and new. – Goodreads

My Opinion: I know that a lot of people have said that this one was confusing but I’m my opinion it was okay in wasn’t what I expected it to be. I wanted more action and it just wasn’t that actiony. However something that i really enjoyed was the ending. I loved that twist that the author put in. I also loved the observations that Sarah made about Kristopher and Nikolas. But my favorite character had to be Kendra, even though she was only in a couple of scenes in the book it just worked and she was just someone I felt like I really enjoyed because of all the stories she told Sarah.

Something else that I really liked and didn’t like at the same time was the different perspectives of Sarah, Nikolas, Dominique, Adia, Michael and some other characters. I liked to see their perspectives but there were just too many of them set up into this one book. I also didn’t like that you had to figure out whose perspective you were looking through a couple of times, it was just a little confusing. However, If you haven’t read Shattered Mirror, I think it would be okay to just jump into read this one because there wasn’t really much talk about what happened Shattered Mirror and I don’t think you would be lost. The characters were also easy to keep up with because after a new character was mentioned there was a little description of who that character was/is.

The plot was okay. Sarah is conflicted about what she wants to do and with Dominique calling the Rights of Kin, she doesn’t know what to do and she doesn’t want other people to get hurt. That basically it. Sarah becomes closer to Nikolas in this novel and sorta loses a little of her relationship with Kristopher, but otherwise it was an easy read.

Overall: 3.75 out of 5

V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

Paperback, 286 pages

Published April 1st 1995 by Vertigo

A powerful story about loss of freedom and individuality, V For Vendetta takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts. It’s a gripping tale of the blurred lines between ideological good and evil. – Goodreads

My Opinion: This was definitely interesting. The movie, V For Vendetta is based on this graphic novel and the art in this was interesting, especially the special article that was posting in the end of the book about the interview that Alan Moore did when the story was still in progress. Those pictures are amazing. If you have seen the movie and liked it I would definitely recommend that you read it because in the book, you find out a little more about V and his background as well as about Evey. I love the plot of this.
Some favorite lines that I could find:

• page 14 – “Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gun-powder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun-powder treason… Should ever be forgot”
• page 41 – “Her name is ANARCHY and she has taught me more as a mistress than you EVER did! SHE has taught me that Justice is meaningless without freedom. She is HONEST . She makes no promises and breaks none. Unlike YOU, Jezebel.”
• page 177 – “To pick a flower is not a large thing. It is easy as it irrevocable. understand what is being offered here, and do as thou wilt.”

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Outside In (Inside Out, #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Outside In (Inside Out, #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 22th 2011 by Harlequin Teen

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there’s more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion – between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we’re free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again – while still touching base with Riley, of course. He’s the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there’s outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In. – Goodreads

My Opinion: oh my gosh!!!! I think that this might have been better than the first in the series, Inside Out. There was definitely more mystery and more running around trying to figure out what is going on and who is doing the things that are endangering the lives of Inside. Trella grows so much as character and Riley just rocks. Trella finally learns what it means to be a leader and in the end we don’t find out if she will be the leader yet. I’m hoping for a third book in the series. The Controllers return and they want things their own way. My favorite character was definitely Jacy in this one. He was not naive and oblivious as some of the characters in the beginning of the novel. I loved that he kept his head.

I loved the CRAZY ideas that Trella comes up with. Some of them made me laugh and other made me smile. There were some that even made me scared, but in a good way. This was definitely a great installment to the series.

Overall: 5 out of 5

To read CHAPTER ONE OF OUTSIDE IN CLICK HERE

For the review of Inside Out (Inside Out, #1) by Maria V. Snyder CLICK HERE

Will Work For Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

Will Work For Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

Paperback, 240 pages

Expected publication: February 8th 2011 by EgmontUSA

Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann’s Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because – hey – who doesn’t want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money – lots of money – and even though the girls could easily have Ann’s mom design their dresses (she’s only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way.  And that’s how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi’s fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He’s cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can’t sketch).  But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who’s also kind of a jerk, but won’t leave Quigley alone? And Ann – she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it’s ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster. – Goodreads

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this book. There were so many moments where I laughed and though “Oh my gosh, that so true.” Quigley is just like your average student. I know because I still don’t know to which college I want to go to and just choosing is super hard because of all the pressure. I loved that she changes in little steps because of how she learns little things and I love the loyalty she feels towards Anne. Quigley is a great character. However, my favorite had to be The Spikester (Lance) because of all the things that he had to go through to be the type of person he is today especially with all the obstacles.

I also really enjoyed how the novel progressed and the growing up that the characters went through. It was a great book that made me read it in in less than 24 hours. Loved it!!!

Haha  my favorite part had to be the Elvis pizza!!!

Overall: 5 out of 5

Cover Reveal: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

 

Comes out on June 21st, 2011 

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Hardcover, 240 pages

Expected publication: February 8th 2011 by Simon Pulse

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on… until Kendall’s boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it’s crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear…and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating…and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico’s mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried. – Goodreads

My Opinion: This was not as good as the Dream Catcher series but this was unique in and of it self because of who Kendall is and how she sees things. I liked that she figured out a way to overcome her OCD and how she can use it to her advantage. The book starts off with an adrenaline rush of a search party for a girl named Tiffany who has disappeared, Kendall is upset but not really that affected by it because she distances herself off. However, another person disappears and this time its someone that she really cares about. She begins to become depressed and worried and scared. At the same time as all this is happening, she starts to spend more time with Jacian and Marlena, two new students that come to live in Cryer’s Cross. Cryer’s Cross is a town in Montana that has a little over 200 people. These disappearances cause a lot of unrest. And Kendall becomes so obsessed with Nico’s disappearance that she sets off the disappearance of another person.

Jacian is AWESOME! I loved him, he was my favorite character in the novel. I loved that he was smart and athletic but at the same time caring and sensitive. I also thought that it was interesting, how everything seemed to be going wrong for him and then it all righted itself.

Overall: 3.75 out of 5

The Fledgling Handbook 101 (House of Night) by P.C. Cast with Kim Doner

The Fledgling Handbook 101 (House of Night) by P.C. Cast with Kim Doner

Paperback, 176 pages

Published October 26th 2010 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Merry meet, fledgling.  I trust this guide will serve you well…. Every vampyre fledgling who arrives at the House of Night receives a copy of “The Fledgling Handbook 101″, and now, fans can have one, too, with this gorgeous must-have edition.  Inside you’ll find original stories, the complete vampyre history, inside info into rituals, vamp biology, and the Change, and much more. – Goodreads

My Opinion: This was an interesting read. I really liked that it explained the different elements and how who is which element is chosen. I also liked that the book went into the histories of powerful vampyres in in certain elements (the first of the first, you can say) and I also really liked that there were allusions to people in our actual history. From Egypt to Greece and many others. Another aspects that I really liked were the illustrations/images that were created for the book. Kim Doner did an amazing job. I wish I could find some more of the images in the book to share with you guys. They were amazing done, especially the ceramics (I know how hard it can be  to make it into certain shapes).

Overall: 4 out of 5

Some Images:

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis

Hardcover, 398 pages

Published January 11th 2011 by Razorbill

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.  – Goodreads

My opinion: This was definitely something that was different, although it sort of reminded me of Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder and those of you who have read it, can see the similarities that I won’t mention. The book has two narrators, Amy and Elder. They are both teenagers, only difference is that one is from space (a spaceship) while the other was cryogenicaly  frozen on Earth. Elder is trying to figure out how to be a better future leader than Eldest, while Amy is trying to figure out who wants the other “frozens” dead and who is trying to murder them.

The plot of this book was pretty interesting, we are out in space in a ship that is about the size of a Japanese island (I believe it was said in the book), lets just say that the ship is HUGE. The mystery back-up to the story makes the whole experience of Amy being a place/location that is so completely different from what she is used to. I really liked that Beth Revis made it so that in the beginning when Amy was still frozen, we know what she is feeling and thinking. I thought that was a great point to make in the novel. I also really liked that Elder admits to his mistakes and that he regrets it and feels sorry for it. I also really liked how the characters change as the story continues. Elder learns what a real leader is supposed to be like and Amy learns the truth and she wants to improve the condition of the ship and its people. I also really liked that Amy was an individual on the ship, because she was so completely different from the people on it (from the inside to outside looks). It makes the whole experience that she goes through more real for us, the readers.

And the cover… can you say gorgeous?

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Selfish Elf Wish by Heather Swain

This is an awesome book about an elf family that moves from their world of Averland to Brooklyn. The novel features two cousins who attend high school, fall in love for the first time and celebrate their first Thanksgiving. A twist occurs when two bad elves cast bad spells on the cousins so they can locate Averland.Take my advice and read this awesome book. This is the second book in a series but you do not need to read the first book to understand the action in the second book.

Winter Reading Review by Massera

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

When Grace was little she was pulled off a tire swing and dragged into the woods by a pack of wolves.One wolf with captivating yellow eyes turned human to save her.Now Grace looks out her window hoping to see her yellow eyed wolf. When a local boy disappears the town decides that it is time to kill the wolves once and for all. Grace stops them from shooting at the wolves but when she comes home discovers a boy who has the same eyes as her wolf, bledding all over. She helps the wolf, he tells her that he changes into a wolf when it starts to get cold and both of them try to keep their love alive, despite many troubles. This supernatural romance covers the themes of coming of age and self-confidence. During parts of the book I couldn't help but smile nonstop since the moments were so pure and I could feel the warmth of the moment in the pit of my stomach. This book expresses that if you truly love someone even though he changes physically you shouldn't stop loving them. This is an amazing and captivating book. If you love this book read the second book in the trilogy, Linger. The third book will be coming out next summer.

Winter Reading Review by Aimee

Absolute Brightness

Girls will love this novel. It shows that it is ok to be different. It also alerts us to be more forgiving and loving.

Winter Reading Review by Sherlina

Faery Rebels Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson

This novel gives an insider's look on the less beautiful aspects of the faery realm. Knife is a spunky, young heroine ready to sacrifice for love. I give it four out of five stars.

Winter Reading Review by Grace

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

I liked how the story was told by different people so that the the reader experiences various viewpoints of the story line.The novel starts off in a confession room with a teenage boy with a disturbed nervous face confessing to the police. The reader will find out that there is much more behind that face. Never judge a book by its cover. This is a beautiful book full of mystery and action.

Winter Reading Review by Alina



The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Amazing! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I was unable to put the book down! I couldn't stop reading and every page lured me in with new suspense. Great book for guys and girls with a perfect balance of fighting and emotion.

Teen Winter Reading Review by Sherlina