BlackBox by Julie Schumacher Review/Ramble. Well, mostly a ramble

This is my first review in a very, very long time... As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure I'm going to post this. But I feel like I actually have an opinion of this book...

Blackbox and I have a history. This is one of the few books I actually own, and I didn't buy it. My boyfriend bought it for me on our one year anniversary, back when Joseph-Beth was going out of business. It was in their last few days, and we happened to be near their location by me, and we dropped in so I could browse the YA section. He's really sweet, he doesn't like books, but he doesn't dislike them either, he'll read one occasionally though. He's not NEARLY as in to books as I am. I had just recently seen this book on Shelfari, and had added it to my TBR list, and got really excited when I saw it. You can imagine how even more excited I was when I saw it was only $3.50! So he offered to buy it for me. So he gave me the money, and he went...somewhere. I don't remember where. And I gave the lady the money and bought my book. It would hit me later he complete irony of him buying me a book about depression.

My boyfriend has suffered from depression for years. We've been together almost a year and a half now, best friends much longer then that, and I've been really struggling this last month or so with how to cope with it and help him. I actually thought that I had helped him, and it was going away. He had medication for when it got bad, and between that, me, and God, I really thought it was pretty much gone... He was still off all the time, but I chalked that up to stress.

Then he told me it wasn't gone. That it had never been gone, and he actually felt like he could no longer talk to me about it, and it was just as bad, possibly worse, as it's always been.

So when I FINALLY picked up Blackbox (I started it yesterday and have owned it since June) because it finally hit me that, hey, this book was about depression! Maybe reading about Lena learning to cope will help me and some way! And it kind of has.... I've read a ton of books like this one, about depression, but I don't think I've ever read one that was from the POV of a person who has a loved one suffering from depression. Honestly, it's really great to know I'm not the only one struggling....

To an attempt at a review... (Cause let's face it, I suck at reviewing.)

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Book Facts:

Title: BlackBox
Author: Julie Schumacher
Publication Date: August 26, 2008
Stars: 4 stars
Pages: 163 (paperback)

Blackbox is about a girl, Eleana, who's sister Dora is suddenly diagnosed with depression. Elena believes everything is just fine, and that her sisters just fine, and then out of the blue Dora takes a bunch of antidepressants and is placed in a mental hospital. She doesn't stay there throughout the whole book, she's released after about 3 weeks and they let her go back home. Then starts the wild ride she and her family go through... In the midst of all this, Elena meets a boy named Jimmy and Jimmy tries to help Elena get through it.

Everything about it this book was pretty average, except for the message. That if you have a loved one going through depression, it's not your job to fix it... No matter how much you love them, how much you want to help them, it's really up to them and their medication as to whether they get better or not and how fast. I'm not saying they don't want to get better, I have firsthand experience that that is NOT true. They just need to help themselves get better. One thing that I noticed about Dora was that there were times when it seemed like she wanted help...but then there were times it seemed like she didn't.

I really liked this book. I liked the characters, especially Jimmy. I could really relate to Elena and what she going through with Dora. I really liked that. It's been a while since I've read a good book with a character I could actually relate too!

OK, I'll end your suffering, review over.

To wrap it all up, Black box was a really great book about relatable characters and an inspiring message. This book changed me. It made me realize it's not all up to me. Thank-you, Julie Schumacher :)

Update and Rant on Audiobooks

   Ohmygosh! I'm blogging! Haha.
   So I'm STILL not reading. I've read maybe 75 pages almost 3 weeks...I'm going insane. I never realized just how much I rely on my books to get me through the week. Life's just no fun when you can't see it through someone else's point of view. I still haven't been reading The Dark and Hollow Places, so what do I do? I pick up City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. I'm a HUGE Cassie fan, I LOVE this series, it would be my favorite if it weren't for Harry Potter. So I picked up City of Ashes, I'm about 50 pages into it, and I decided I was going to get the audiobook from the library to listen to while I'm shelving books.
   Here comes the rant on audiobooks.
   I just can't listen to them. The voices never seem right. I'm listening to City of Ashes and the voice SUCKS. Like WOW. It's terrible! The only thing she's getting right is the faeries' voices! Those are pretty epic, but besides that it's absolutely TERRIBLE. I don't know what it is....she's not doing the voices right, she doesn't even TRY to deepen her voice for the guys! At least she's not speaking in monotone....Thank God for small miracles, right? I've just never been a huge fan of audiobooks, I have a tendency to zone out and will zone back in and be like, what's going on??? What happened with...??? Why are they...??? So I don't listen to them much. But I've decided that, because I've been dying to reread so many series, I was going to get the books that I wanted to reread on audiobook and listen to them, so when I zoned out I wouldn't be completely confused. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer' Stone was actually pretty good, but this chick doing COA SUCKS. Again, LIKE WOW. I managed to listen for a couple of hours before I just had to stop. She's too terrible. That's another thing I don't really like about audiobooks, you never know if you're going to get a good reader or not. Another reason I avoid them. I wonder if the same reader read City of Glass too...
   OK, long rant over. Hopefully I'll start reading again this weekend....This is driving me insane.

Waiting on Wednesday! (9)

Thiiiiiis week I'm dying to get my hands on.......(eventhoughijustgotCITYOFFALLENANGELSsoireallydontcareaboutotherbooksatthemoment)

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies! Coming September 27 from HarperTeen.

Summary:

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker.

Still not reading....

(I have a turtle obsession, isn't he awesome????? XD)

   So I'm still not reading. The turtle is disappointed. I am disappointed. The Dark and Hollow Places is disappointed. We're all disappointed. But I guess I kinda needed a break. But this weekend, regardless of whether I want to or not, that break is OVER! Why? Because in celebration of Harry Potter in the Deathly Hallows coming out, I'm spending ALL WEEKEND (when I'm not at my friend's house....or working....or at Youth Group....) re-reading the Harry Potter series. Now, it's going to take longer then the weekend, but I've been needing some one-on-one time with my favorite books. The stack of magical books have been calling my name for months now, I think it's time I answered. I may even see if I can purchase my own copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard while I'm at it. I already own Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastical Beasts and where to find them...I think I shall.

   I'm not obsessed. Not at all. Between you and me, I've never dreamt about Sirius ;)

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

   So I am in a bit of a reading slump, which sucks, but that doesn't stop me from WANTING to read books. This week I'm dying to get my hands on....

Divergent by Veronica Roth, release date May 3, 2011.

Summary:

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris, and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together, they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes-fascinating, sometimes-exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret: one she’s kept hidden from everyone, because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly-perfect society, she also learns that her secret might be what helps her save those she loves . . . or it might be what destroys her.  

Amazon.com

Reading slump...

   I haven't been reading lately. Why? I DON'T KNOW. It's driving me insane too, because I've got a million books out from the library and went out and bought The Dark and Hollow Places and have been reading it for a week. A WEEK. A WHOLE FRICKIN WEEK. I've been waiting to read this for a YEAR and it's taking me a WEEK. The worst part? I'm only 100 pages into it. What's wrong with me...? I want to read, but then I sit down to and think, "I can't do this..." I haven't written a review in almost 2 weeks too.... I suck.

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

This week I'm waiting on...

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough. Release date is August 1, 2011 from Clarion Books. Isn't that cover gorgeous????

Summary:
Since the gripping conclusion of Once a Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother’s prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady’s maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

   I still need to read Once a Witch, and reading the summary of the sequel makes me want to read it even more!

   Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme to let us bloggers show which upcoming books we can't wait to read. It's hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Library Thursday Blog Hop (2)

    Library Thursday Blog Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Lazy Girls Reads. It's purpose is to encourage people to support their libraries. Here are the rules:

   Create a Library Thursday post with a list, pictures or a vlog of your books. Or feature a picture of a library, or your favorite library. Grab the button for the post (above) and include it in your post, and make a shout out to the library you went to!

   This week I came home with...well....A Lot. I had some time to kill, so I picked up quite a bit!

 Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. I read Remember Me? by her, it's one of my all time favorite books ever, so I was excited to pick this book up that I'd had on hold.

Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Miss You Most of All by Elizabeth Bass

Wings by Aprilynne Pike. I've heard so much about this book, and with the third coming out, I figured it was time I read it.






      I said I got a lot.

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

   So I heard about this book a while back, it sounds so amazing!

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace. Release date is May 8. Sorry the cover is so small, it's all I could find.

Summary:
Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.

   On the Amazon page for it, they have this slide show/book trailer after the summary. It's pretty amazing, so I figured I'd put it here too.

Review- Paranomalcy by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Pages: 352 pages
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Evie learns that she is not quite the person she thought she was in this creature-feature mash-up. Possessing the unique ability to recognize paranormals beneath their glamour, Evie has lived most of her life under the protection of the International Paranormal Containment Agreement (IPCA), an organization dedicated to the cataloging and neutralizing of paranormal creatures. After a mysterious entity begins killing paranormals around the world, Evie discovers some startling truths about her own identity.


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   So I'm going to start by saying I loved this book. Evie reminded me sooooo much of Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it was ridiculous. She had it all down, the cheesy one liners, the puns, the kick-buttedness. She quickly turned into one of my favorite book characters ever. She made me laugh sooo hard, especially when she introduced us to Tasey. What's cooler then a pink taser with rhinestones? Especially one that can take down almost any paranormal.

   Paranormaly is one of those books you just don't want to put down, it's full of action and twists and that bad guy you love to hate. It was hilarious too, Evie wasn't the only one making me laugh. I loved Lend, he was so charming and sweet, and was always there for Evie. Reth scared the bleep out of me, he was so dark, and just plain scary. I was in shock when I heard he was a Seelie.

   The writing was amazing, fun, witty, hilarious, but could be dark and serious at the same time. White crafted an amazing world about a girl just trying to figure out who she is, and get a boyfriend at the same time. Paranormalcy is definitely a new favorite, and I can't wait for the sequel.

Third Line Thursday (3)

  

   Third Line Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Shari at My Neurotic Book Affair. It's where I pick up the book I'm currently reading and post the third line from any chapter with a 3 in it (3, 13, 33..) or any page with a 3 in it (3, 13, 33, etc.) and post the third line from that page. This week I've been reading alot. I finished 3 books this weekend alone, so I started Paranormalcy by Kiersten White this morning.

Page 23:
  He smiled again. Then his skin rippled like water disturbed by the wind, and Jacques melted away.

   Doesn't this book sound amazing???

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

   This week I'm dying for....

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. Expected release date is April 19, 2011.

Summary:
Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails... (Goodreads)

Review- Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Forgive My Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Pages: 304
My Rating: 4 Stars

Summary:
Lily may look like a run-of-the-mill high-school student, but she is actually the mermaid heir to the throne of the ocean kingdom of Thalassinia. Half human, Lily is able to maintain her bipeds in order to snag a human beau, who will then turn into a merman to rule by her side with a single kiss. She has her fins set on champion swimmer Brody. But when Lily accidentally busses bad-boy biker Quince instead, she moves heaven and sea in an attempt to swim off into the sunset with her first crush as planned. But it isn't long before the scales fall from her eyes, and she realizes which boy truly loves her, tail and all.

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   Forgive My Fins was a....an interesting read. In a good way. I've never really been a big fan of mermaids, but this exceeded my expectations. It was everything you'd expect from a mermaid novel, fluffy, cute and sweet, and...different. I liked Forgive My Fins, I'd been craving reading a fluffy romance for a while now, and this hit the spot. It was definitly different then all the other books on my shelf, and I'm glad it was.

   I loved the characters, I fell in love with Quince. He was sooo sweet, it was so romantic how he loved her for so long and she hated him. I was rooting for him the whole way. Lily was interesting, I was annoyed with her a lot that she couldn't see through Brody, and actually see Quince.

   My only problem with the book was the cat, I can't remember her name....but she loved Lily. Lily's a mermaid, she lives in the water, shouldn't the cat hate her..? Besides that one little quirk, I loved this book. The writing was great, the characters well developed, and the ending was great as well. I'd definitly recommend this book if you're looking for a light, fluffy and quick read.

Library Thursday Blog Hop

   Library Thursday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Lazy Girl Reads. It's purpose is to encourage people to support their libraries. Here are the rules:

   Create a Library Thursday post with a list, pictures or a vlog of your books. Or feature a picture of a library, or your favorite library. Grab the button for the post (above) and include it in your post, and make a shout out to the library you went to.

   I work at the library, and used to volunteer, so it kind of feels like I'm always there. This week I got off work, to go to another library for a class my little brother was attending. So I picked up a few after work, just to pick up a few MORE at the second library. So I came home with a lot of books (and a couple of CDs). I got...

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. (I'm rereading City of Bones, this is one of my favorite series. I saw the sequel and figured I'd go ahead and check it out.)

Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson

Firelight by Sophie Jordan! I've been waiting to read this one for a while, I'm sooo excited.

Matt Cruse Book 2: Sybreaker by Kenneth Oppel. The covers for these books are horrible, but they're pretty amazing.

Graceling by Kristen Cashore, another book I've heard a lot about and can't wait to read.

   The libraries I went to are England Run (where I work) and Headquarters. I'm really starting to love England Run, but Headquarters will always be my favorite.

   And that wraps up my first Library Thursday Blog Hop post. I normally come home with way more from the library, I have an addiction, but due to a bet I have going and the massive ammont of books I need to read, I can't. Maybe next week, assuming I find the time to read...

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

   This week I'm waiting on....

   Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott. Love You Hate You Miss You has been on my shelf forever now waiting to be read, and this was sounds equally as awesome. It hits shelves on May 24.

Summary: (from Goodreads)

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

  Doesn't it sound amazing?

   Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that are on you wishlist.

Review- Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Title: Stolen
Author: Lucy Christopher
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Pages: 299
My rating: 5 stars

Summary: While 16-year-old Gemma is en route to Vietnam from England with her parents, she is drugged and kidnapped from the Bangkok airport. She regains full consciousness in a rustic house deep in the Australian Outback with a 25-year-old man who is going to keep her forever. Ty never sexually abuses her, but she is truly a captive. Little by little, Ty wears down her defenses as Gemma realizes that escape is impossible. Soon she discovers the stark power and vibrancy of the wilderness and becomes absorbed in it. She also learns that Ty has been stalking her for years, devising a crafty plan to steal her away to make her love him which she ultimately believes she does. Ty's capture, taming, and release of a female camel effectively parallels Gemma's ordeal. Her unique first-person narrative is written to Ty after her release. Both characters are as vivid as the desert setting in which they are immersed. Despite the fact that Ty is a kidnapper, the revelations about his difficult youth and his usually caring behavior allow readers, like Gemma, to eventually care about him.

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   Spoiler alert!!!

   To start, I didn't know what this book was about when I picked it up. I thought it was a love story (blame the butterfly and that the copy I had didn't say "A letter to my captor" on it. So I was kind of surprised when I started reading it and, low and behold, it's not one. I didn't think I was going to really like it, and was disappointed it wasn't a love story (wouldn't Stolen be an awesome name for a love story? Like the Dashboard Confessional song) but I quickly grew to be fascinated by it. It was an amazing story about a guy, who was I believe genuinely in love with a girl, stealing her away from everything she's ever known and taking her to the Australian outback. I really wish Ty waited about 10 years and tried to get her to love him and Australia normally....but it would still be super creepy cause he's been stalking her since she was 10.

   This was my first book by Lucy Christopher, and I have to say I was amazed. She's an excellent writer, she developed the story beautifully and poetically and at just the right pace. I love how she wrote the story from a letter's perspective, how it was Gemma's account of what happened in her own words. I connected with Gemma, and because of the unique way Christopher wrote it, with Ty too. I understood his logic in taking her quickly, but I wish Christopher gave us more information about Gemma's past life so I could figure out Ty's reasoning a bit more, it almost made me wonder if he was a liar as well as psychotic.

   I loved the ending, how Ty goes with Gemma in the plane even though he knows he's going to get caught. It redeems him a little bit, and proves that he really, truly loved her in all his crazy and obsessiveness. I wish there had been more answers about Anna and Ben though, they were both mentioned a few times in the book, but Gemma never goes in depth about them. I can see why, it being a letter to Ty, and why would she go in depth about them in a letter to him? But I still wish Christopher had found a way to incorporate their stories into it.

   All in all, Stolen was an amazing, poetic read. I fell in love with Gemma, and, I'm sorry to say, Ty. There was just something about him that made me love him. Maybe it was the way he seemed to really care about her, or how much he loved Australia despite the fact that it seemed dead to everyone else. Maybe it was when he got on the plane with Gemma when she asked him to. I just loved them both. I was continuously thinking that I would react the same way, should I ever been in the same position. Christopher did an amazing job with this unique novel, I'll definitely be looking forward to read more by her.

Summin it up:
Plot: Fascinating and poetic. 4/5

Characters: The only ones you really interact with are Ty and Gemma, and both were really great characters. Described well and very realistic. 5/5

Writing: Beautiful, this book made me a big Lucy Christopher fan.

Ending: Well drawn out, I wish it answered some more questions though. 4/5

Kid friendly: The f bomb is dropped a few times, and there's substance abuse.

Weekly Prompt from New Books For New Bloggers

   So there's this pretty awesome blog out there, Into The Morning Reads. Jenny, who authors the blog, came up with this awesome idea. She thought it'd be cool if new bloggers could get there hands on ARC's so she made a blog and is somehow sending them out, not entirely sure how it works, but as soon as I found out I signed up. (The blog is New Books For New Bloggers by the way.) She has a new weekly prompt over there where she asks a question and the new bloggers could answer. This week I got the time to participate, so here's my answer.

   The question:

Week #002: Top 10 Most Anticipated Books of 2011
I'm pretty sure that everyone looks for something different in the books they enjoy reading and looking forward to. I want to know which books you covet and why. I also would love to see discussion on why you agree or disagree with my list or others lists. But, you know, keep it polite peeps. :)

1. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare (4/5)
2. Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society Book 2) by Ally Carter (6/21)
3. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (3/22)
4.  Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler (3/8)
5. But I Love Him, by Amanda Grace (5/8)
6. Vanish by Sophie Jordan (9/6)
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth (5/3)
8. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (sometime in September)
9. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (1/11)
10. Cloaked by Alex Flinn (2/8)

   And that's my list.

Third Line Thrursday (2)

   Third Line Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Shari at My Neurotic Book Affair. It's where I pick up the book I'm currently reading and post the third line from any chapter with a 3 in it (3, 13, 33..) or any page with a 3 in it (3, 13, 33, etc.) and post the third line from that page. This week I'm reading Stolen by Lucy Christopher:

   "It's better like this, just you and me. It's the only way it could work." 
   I scanned the sky again, trying to work out my thoughts. 
Page 83.

   So far this book is absolutely amazing! I'm really looking forward to getting to read it some more!

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

   This week (and every week since I finished the last book) I'm waiting on...

City of Fallen Angels! The fourth in the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. Release Date is April 5, 2011.

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. (Shelfari.com)

Review- Heist Society by Ally Carter Review

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Pages: 304
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Summary:
After a childhood spent assisting her father, one of the world’s most talented art thieves, Katarina Bishop tries to leave the family business behind when she forges her way into a New England boarding school. She quickly discovers, though, that her past is inescapable. Her father has been accused of stealing already stolen masterpieces from a dangerous Italian billionaire. Certain that her father is innocent, Kat resolves to find the missing paintings and return them to their unsavory owner, who has given her a two-week deadline. Carter, the author of the Gallagher Girls series, skillfully maintains suspense as Kat assembles a team of teen accomplices, travels across Europe, and plots an impossible art heist to save her dad. (Amazon.com)

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   So I just finished this book, and I have to say it was pretty awesome.
   Ally Carter is a really desciptive, almost poetic author. It was action packed, a real page turner.It was my first book by Ally Carter, and I wasn't disappointed, it was everything I was expecting from a book like this. I wish there had been a few more twists though....but besides that, I liked it. It's not hitting my favorites list, but it was really good. Her characters were deep and interesting, she described them all to a minute detail and I didn't have any questions about any because she described them so well. The plot was fast moving and I didn't want to put it down....until I got sick and didn't want to pick any book up. But once I picked it up when I was feeling better, I couldn't put it back down again.
   It's a story about a teenage thief pulling off a big heist, so once I heard about this book I was EXCITED. And it didn't disappoint. It's got all the aspects from a novel like this you'd expect, the interesting characters, the exciting plot twists (just two -sigh- but they were still there), the nasty bad guy. But Carter manages to make it all her own. The ending was a little too drawn out though, I thought she could've wrapped it up faster.
   The characters were so interesting! They were deep, fun, realistic, and Carter does an amazing job describing them. I loved Kat, she made an awesome lead character, and Hale! He was awesome! I wish Nick had made more of an appearance though, and earlier. I really hope he's in the second book.
      All in all, this was a really good book. Ally Carter did an amazing job describing everything and making deep characters and a fast-paced plot. I'll definitely be looking forward to the sequel.

Summin it up:
Plot: Fast-paced and fascinating. 4/5 stars
Characters: Deep, very well described and realistic. 5/5 stars
Writing: Descriptive and captivating, Ally Carter is an awesome writer. 4/5 stars
Ending: A little too drawn out, she could've wrapped it up faster. But it was good. 3/5 stars
Kid Friendly: Pretty much. There wasn't any cussing or substance abuse, nothing of a sexual nature either.

Covering Covers

   Ever heard the phrase "judging a book by it's cover"? Of course you have, everyone has. Well I do it. A lot. I know I shouldn't, but I go to the library, I look through the shelves in the teen books, and two things make me want to pick up a book. An awesome cover, and an awesome name. I saw this book:

I saw it online, and it was like a double threat. Triple! Amazing cover, Great title. AND THE SUMMARY SOUNDED AWESOME TOO!!! I wish my library didn't suck. I want this book. Maybe I should buy it...haha. Ya. Right. With what money? That's what my new job is for!!!! My whole paycheck is going to go to buying books if I'm not careful...
   But ya, I LOVE (note the underlining, caps, *and boldness) this cover. The girl on it is so pretty, and with the camera up it just makes her seem so cool. And then you add the awesome title and it makes me wish I had some moolah. I should get some moolah just for this book.

Here's what it's about:

What happens when a city girl is transplanted onto a ramshackle organic farm in the middle of nowhere? Everything.
Sixteen-year-old Roar has been yanked from her city life and suddenly she’s a farm girl, albeit a reluctant one, selling figs at the farmers' market and developing her photographs in a rickety shed. And then she witnesses a crime that will throw the whole community into an uproar. Caught among the lure of a troublemaking friend, her love for a brooding boy, and her complicated feelings about her father’s human rights crusade, Roar is going to have to tackle it all. And with a camera around her neck, she’s capturing it all, too.
Yvonne Prinz and her novel The Vinyl Princess have ignited the teen blogosphere and entertainment media. Once again, she’s taken the pulse of culture and emerged with a book that is timely, quirky, and unforgettable.

   And the lead character's name is Roar. How cool is that?

Third Line Thursday

   Third Line Thursday is hosted by Shari over at My Neurotic Book Affair! The rules are:
   Pick up the book you are currently reading, go to chapter 3 or page 3 or any page or chapter with a 3(13, 23, ect.) then type in the third line (sentence) from that page. Here we go!





   At least, that was the only place Kat had ever heard him say.... "We're home."





I've been sick. Bleh.

   I've been really sick lately. Like wow sick. Like, let's go sleep all day and all night, sick. So I haven't been reading....At all. I don't think I've picked up a book in a week.....Which is bad, bad, bad, bad. I just haven't felt up to it. I even had to cancel a job interview... I haven't felt up to doing anything except sleeping, coughing, and blowing my very stuffy nose. And fainting because I haven't even felt up to eating. Hence the silence this week, hopefully I'll be able to finish my book soon and maybe post a review this weekend.

   That is all.

Waiting on Wednesday (2!)

   WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, it puts a spotlight on those books that you just can't wait to read.

Title: Bitter End

Authr: Jennifer Brown

Release: May 10th, 2011

Sumary:

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate-someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose - between her "true love" and herself.

   I've been meaning to read Hate List by her, and this one sounds equally as good.

Waiting on Wednesday

   My first, woot! WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

Book: The Dark and Hollow Places

Author: Carrie Ryan

Release: March 22, 2011

Summary:

Annah knows she has a twin sister, but she forgot her long ago. Back when they went to play in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she and Elias lost her, and after that there was no going back to the village. Life's been hard, but Elias has taken care of her, and living in the Dark City can help one to forget the horror of the Unconsecrated—if you try hard enough. But when Elias disappears, Annah's world crumbles. To her, life isn't worth much more than the walking dead who roam the wasted world she lives in. It's not until she meets Catcher that she cares to start living again. Yet Catcher has secrets. Dark, terrifying secrets that link him to a past she's longed to forget and to a future too deadly to consider. Annah must decide: Can she continue to live a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the answer to all her problems?

   I love Carrie Ryan, I love The Forests of Hands and Teeth series, this book can't get here fast enough.

Review-The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes (Vol. 1) by Neil Gaiman

Title: The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
Author: Neil Gaiman
Artists: Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Malcom Jones III
Release Date: 1988
Pages: 234
My Rating: 5 Stars

Summary:
  In Preludes and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman weaves the story of a man interested in capturing the physical manifestation of Death but who instead captures the King of Dreams. By Gaiman's own admission there's a lot in this first collection that is awkward and ungainly--which is not to say there are not frequent moments of greatness here. The chapter "24 Hours" is worth the price of the book alone; it stands as one of the most chilling examples of horror in comics. And let's not underestimate Gaiman's achievement of personifying Death as a perky, overly cheery, cute goth girl! All in all, I greatly prefer the roguish breaking of new ground in this book to the often dull precision of the concluding volumes of the Sandman series. --Jim Pascoe (Amazon.com)

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   So I just finished this book about 5 minutes ago, and I'm just in awe. I don't normally read graphic novels, this was actually my first, and I'm amazed at how much I loved it! It's just...wow. I've been meaning to read more by Neil Gaiman lately, and I've heard so much about this series, that I decided I had to read it and now I'm seriously considering hitting my bed later and reading the other 4 I got from the library, completely disregarding every other book I have that needs to be read.
   This book was just...wow. That's all there is to really say about it. It was insane, literally, metaphorically... I'll never look at dreams or revenge the same again. It was so colorful and intriguing and shocking and amazing and dark and sexy and lifelike and just... wow.
   I love the art, it was sooo colorful, and detailed. Heh, so detailed some scenes may give me nightmares tonight. And the plot, the storyline...I've never really approved of revenge, but it just felt so right. Some parts of the story just went right over my head, I didn't understand some of it, but maybe that's the point...because a lot of it was insanity. Pure insanity.
   I can't wait to read the next one! I'm seriously considering going out and buying the series, which I never do...

Summin it up:
Plot: Wow. Absolutely frickin' amazing.
Characters: See plot ^
Writing: Neil Gaiman is an amazing storyteller, this is really inspiring me to get off my butt and read more by him.
Art: Colorful, detailed. Inspiring.
Ending: Leaves you wanting more.
Kid Friendly: Wouldn't really suggest it for anyone other then 16 and up....there's sex, cannibalism, murder, nudity, cussing, death....

Review: Defect by Will Weaver

Title: Defect

Author: Will Weaver

Release Date: July 24, 2007

Pages: 199

My Rating: 3 Stars

Summary:

David's odd appearance makes him a target for bullies, but what sets him apart most is his secret: he can fly. After persistent hazing, he is moved to an alternative school, where he meets Cheetah, a girl with epilepsy. David and Cheetah, both medical anomalies and social outcasts, begin a strong friendship and, eventually, a romance. When David's flying is observed in public, everyone wants a piece of him—doctors, religious fanatics, the press. With the steadfast support of Cheetah and his compassionate and loving foster parents, David must decide whether to undergo corrective surgeries to remove his collapsible wings, giving him a more "handsome" appearance. The eerie cover and enticing premise will draw readers in for a big payoff. David struggles with his ability: Is it a gift or a curse? Will he be different if he looks different? Does God have a plan for him? (Courtesy of Amazon.com)

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   This book kind of fell flat for me. I had higher expectations cause the cover was so awesome, and they were apparently too high... It was a good book, I just didn't find the characters ratable. The only one I really liked was Brandon, he was so colorful and fun to read about, I was sad when he died. The writing was mediocre, the characters...I don't know, aside from Brandon I didn't really like any. I didn't like it, but I didn't not like it either. It was just OK. The ending was nice though, I thought it wrapped things up nicely. It kind of left me wondering a little bit what was going to happen afterwards with David.

   Yeah, short review. But it was just OK, there's really nothing more to write about it. It's not going to stick with me, and it's not going to make me think about it. The awesome cover is going to stick with me more then anything else.

Summin it up:

Plot: Meh, it was OK.

Characters: Again, just OK. Brandon was nice and colorful, but the rest were just OK.

Writing: Mediocre. I don't think I'll be looking to read anything else by Will Weaver again.

Ending: Nice, probably the best part of the book, I liked the way Weaver wrapped everything up and left me questioning what's going to happen next.

Kid Friendly: It's about a teenage guy, so there are a few mentions of, "stirring in the crotch area", and mentions of death.

My Perfect Book

   Notice I say *my favorite. Just an FYI.

   A good author is when they can pull you in at the first page. When you're immediately sucked in and focused on the story at the first page, that's when an author's gone from being just good, to great. Of course, every author has a different style, and everyone likes different writing styles.

   For example, I have a friend, she loves (note the underlining) Lisa McMann. I don't like her writing style....at all. She drank the Wake series in, whereas I struggled through it cause it bored me. So I guess it really depends on the person, but not always. Some authors are just great.

   Neil Gaiman for instance. Everyone loves Neil. His book's are always circulating on their Too Read lists.

   Another thing that makes an author great is charachters. They have to be deep, actually have a personality. Even if they're just ditzy, ditzy characters are fun. Ever book needs a ditzy character. They have to have a past, and it has to have an impression on who they are as characters in the present of the book. There also needs to be a reason they're there, characters who have no purpose annoy me.

   Another thing, I love (yes, underlined AND in bold) relatable characters. It really makes a book stick with me, when I can relate to the characters.

   The plot needs to be sorta-fast moving. Slow moving plots BORE ME. Twists are AWESOME, especially when you don't see them coming and they make your mouth drop. The ending has to tie up all lose ends, and leave me reeling. I can't stand it when I have ANY questions at the end and there's no word of a sequel.

   If there's a sequel, it better be at least as good as the prequel, otherwise I won't really want to read the third, cause it's obviously not going to be as good.

   Yeah, a lot of "duuuuuuh" questions, but my full opinion none the less.

   I soooo don't have low expectations.

   Peace.

  

Review: Behemoth by Scott Westerfield

Title: Behemoth

Author: Scott Westerfield
Release Date: October 5, 2010

Pages: 496
My Rating: 5 stars!!!!
Sequel to: Leviathan by Scott Westerfield

Summary:
This book continues the hard-driving, action-packed adventures of Alek, heir to the throne of the Austrian empire and current British prisoner of war, and Deryn Sharp, a midshipman assigned to the Leviathan. Their loyalties to their respective governments and philosophies are tested as their friendship grows; Alek is an Austrian Clanker and Deryn an English Darwinist. After the Leviathan is damaged by a German attack, Alek and his personal guard escape the airship and join a revolutionary group dedicated to the overthrow of the sultan of Istanbul. Meanwhile Deryn has been sent to sabotage a key military blockade in the Istanbul harbor. But true havoc doesn't ensue until the teens are reunited. (Courtesy of Amazon.com)

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  I LOVED Leviathan, so I was really psyched to finally get my hands on (and the time to read) Behemoth! I've been waiting for this sequel forever and the library finally got a copy.

   I've heard some people say this isn't a steampunk book. Whoever says this novel isn't steampunk is dead wrong. Sure, it's not from a Victorian era, but every genre grows, and this one is, in my opinion, helping the genre of steampunk grow. Everything about this book screams steampunk, the outfits, the goggles (just take a look at the cover), the background, and the whole plot itself. I'm a huge steampunk fan, I've read steampunk novels before, this is steampunk.

   I'm a huge Scott Westerfield fan, I loved Uglies, Peeps, and his books are always circulating my To Read list and are making appearances on my shelves. This wasn't a disappointment. I was worried that I wasn't going to like it as much as I liked Leviathan, but I did. I LOVED it. I love the world he created, the characters. If I had to pick any book to actually live in, I'd pick this one, and be a huge Darwinist, perhaps even dress up like a boy and live on the Leviathan. I was a little disappointed cause the second half of the book takes place in Istanbul, and not on the Leviathan, but it was still really good. He finishes the book with a cliffhanger, so I'm really happy that there's going to be a third, this is one of those series that I want to go on and on forever and never end.

   Scott Westerfield is always good at developing alternate worlds, creating amazing characters, and writing a page turner. I cannot wait for the sequel to Behemoth.

Summin it up:

Plot: Colorful and riveting. A page-turner.
Characters: Deep, interesting. Everyone plays there part.
Writing: It's Scott Westerfield, I need say no more.
Ending: Good, but a cliff-hanger. I can't wait for the next one.
Kid friendly: Very, no cussing, no mentions of sex or substance abuse.