Rival

Rival
Author: Sara Bennett Wealer
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Feb. 15, 2011
Pages: 336
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge
Source: Different Area Codes Book Tours


About the Book: Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star. 

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

My Thought: I'm not really sure what I expected going in to this book. I thought the idea was interesting and I'd heard good things about it. I guess it was one of the books that I wanted to read but didn't really have strong preconceived notions about. Perhaps that is what made loving it that much more awesome... it was a surprise!


Rival alternates chapters between Kathryn and Brooke. It also alternates between senior and junior year (every few chapters.) At the beginning of the book the reader learns that something happened between Brooke and Kathryn junior year and it has made them rivals. As the book switches between junior and senior years the reader begins to piece together what happened. This really worked for me. I loved it! Admittedly, I do have a thing for dual narrators :)


As I was reading I couldn't decide which girl I liked best. One had to be "the good one" right? The fact that this isn't true is another reason this books rocks. Kathryn and Brooke are teenage girls. They both make mistakes and interpret the other girl's actions through their own experiences. They have very different lives and so this makes for many misunderstandings and misconstrued situations. At times they are each the victim. At times they are each the aggressor. I loved this. It is so true of girls, high school, and drama!


The final highlight I want to point out is the romance... or "nomance." We're talking high school girls so yes, there are romantic interests. However, this is really the story of a friendship. Rival focuses on the girls, their thoughts, and their actions. Boys take a backseat. Again, it just worked for me. 


Rival  is an interesting look at the anatomy of a friendship from beginning to end (and everything in between!) I found it to be engaging and unique. I look forward to reading more from Sara Bennett Wealer!.

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.

Book titles link to goodreads. Author names link to their website/blog.

I was SO much better this week! Hopefully I'll be good next week too. It will be tough since I'm going to my favorite bookshop (Anderson's in Naperville, IL) to see Sarwat Chadda and Rachel Hawkins! I already own their books but it's always tempting to buy more when I'm there!

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
The Poison Eaters by Holly Black
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan


Different Area Codes book tours

Fangirl Friday: Robin McKinley

Robin Mckinley has long been one of my favorite authors. I love her fairy tale retellings and her fantasy novels SO MUCH! She's one of the first authors that I really started reading when I became obsessed with YA literature. In college I read everything of hers that I could get my hands on. I bought so many of her books (which is saying a lot since I was so incredibly broke!) I've never regretted a purchase! So, with no further ramblings... my gushing about the fabulous Robin McKinley and her books:

Robin McKinley on the web:

Website

Blog

Forum

Twitter

Why YA authors are the BEST!

I am re-posting this from yesterday evening since it is still going on.


When YA author Maureen Johnson woke this morning she decided she wanted to do something good. At about nine AM she tweeted about it saying, "Today, I want to do something good, and I need your help. Today, we are going to provide someone in a crisis with a safe temporary home." Johnson then proceeded to tell her followers about Shelterbox, an organization that provides supplies and a temporary shelter to those in need. Her goal was to have followers donate enough money to fund one shelter (about $950) by eight PM. At eight she was going to total up donations, make up the difference and then give a random donator her last ARC of The Last Little Blue Envelope, the companion novel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes. **Sidenote, her books are FABULOUS. You should check them out!** 


Donations were given the tag #lastlittleshelterbox so that a total could be tracked. It took off from there. One of her Twitter followers asked if she would donate a second box if we raised enough money for one. She said yes. About three hours after her first tweet she posted this to her blog explaining everything. At 1:30 her agent donated another ARC of The Last Little Blue Envelope and pledged to make up the difference on a second shelter. About FOUR hours after starting the donations people had given enough to send one box PLUS about $200 towards a second. 


Then things got even crazier! Other authors joined in and began donating ARCs of their books to help raise money. Libba Bray and Barry Goldblatt donated and ARC of Bray's upcoming book Beauty Queens and Holly Black's Red Glove as well as an ENTIRE SHELTER!  Scott Westerfeld donated an ARC of his upcoming releases Goliath. Carrie Ryan donated an ARC of her book The Dark and Hollow Places as well as a monetary donation. Beth Revis (Across the Universe) , Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson Series), Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall), and others donated money. Many authors retweeted the information to their followers. And what wonderful followers they are... by 4:30 there was enough money raised for FOUR SHELTERS! That's $3800! Wow. I am so impressed. This is yet another reason why I chose to work in a field where I can promote YA authors. Not only do they write amazing books, they do amazing things. 


*** NOTE: According to Maureen Johnson's website, yesterday ended with $6000 raised! You can enter today (2/24/11) until 8 PM Eastern time to win one of these FABULOUS prizes! Check out Maureen Johnson's blog for more info.***


One more ARC of The Last Little Blue Envelope (from @DaphneUn)
An ARC of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
An ARC of Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
A signed copy of Across the Universe by Beth Revis
A signed copy (and poster) of Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margi Stohl
An ARC of Pink Boots and a Machete by Mireya Mayor

The Chaos

The Chaos
Author: Rachel Ward
Publisher: Scholastic (Chicken House)
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 
Source: ARC received from publisher


**Follow up to Num8ers**


WARNING: The summary and beginning of my review are slightly spoilery**


About the Book: Adam sees 'numbers' - when he looks in peoples' eyes he can see their death-dates, just like his mum Jem used to. Adam has trouble dealing with his awful gift, and when he realises that everyone around him has the same series of numbers, he becomes deeply afraid of what might happen in 2025. 
Desperate to find out what could be about to go wrong, Adam spends hours researching possibilities - war, nuclear accidents, killer viruses. He knows something big is coming, but what? And is there anything he can possibly do about it?

My Thoughts: I read Num8ers as part of a young adult book club this summer. I DID NOT want there to be a sequel. It's not that I didn't like Num8ers... I really did. I just couldn't watch Jem go through any more turmoil! Well, I needn't have worried. 

The Chaos picks up in 2026, about 16 or so years after the main events in Num8ers. (NOTE: You can read The Chaos without having read Num8ers and it will totally make sense... you just get more if you've read Num8ers first.) It has dual narrators with the chapters alternating between them. We follow Adam (Jem and Spider's son!) and Sarah. Adam has his mother's ability times ten! Not only does he see the date a person will die in their eyes he feels it... if it's peacful, violent, natural, etc... This has, understandably, done a number on him. He is a VERY troubled young man. Enter Sarah... when Adam sees her death it is years down the road and he is there with her. It's a warm, calming vision. When Sarah sees Adam she sees the boy from her nightmares come to life. This does not make for a happy introduction. Both teens are confused and more than a little freaked out. To make matters worse, Adam is seeing TONS of people with death days at the beginning of the new year (which is right around the corner) and Sarah is dealing with a pretty messed up home life. We're talking SERIOUSLY unhealthy. She knows she has to get out. Her nightmares continue and she and Adam realize that her visions and his deah days are connected. Some thing big and bad is about to happen in London and there is little they can do to stop it. 

This was one dark and disturbing book! Adam is incredibly angry. His life has never been easy and he carries the reputation of his family as well as his own curse. Sarah's family may look perfect from the outside... rich, put together, happy... but behind closed doors there is an ugly secret. Both teens are looking for a place to belong and for someone to really see them.

The action starts right away and doesn't ever slow down. I think the fact that the story jumps between Adam and Sarah keeps you on the edge of your seat. Every time Adam goes out in public it's a struggle for him. He has to see and feel the deaths of all those around them. He feels helpless to stop whatever it is that's coming. The only thing that brings him peace is Sarah but she wants nothing to do with him! It was interesting to watch the ways their stories would overlap and then go their separate ways. I was surprised by how much I could want to shake them one minute and then my heart would be breaking for them the next.

Aside from the language (which fit the story but could still get quite crude) there were only two things that bothered me. One was the fact that Adam was obsessed with wanting to know if he was one of the "twentysevens" (those who would die at the New Year.) He knows that Sarah is going to live to be old and that he'll be there when she dies therefore he should know he survives! And the other was the mention of "crocs"... as in the shoes. Really, there are still crocs in 2027? Please God, say it isn't so!

The Chaos is a nonstop ride. Adam and Sarah will grab your attention and keep it until the end. You won't be able to put it down until you know if they've succeeded with their plans and made it through. 

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It's a weekly meme to talk about what upcoming book we're most looking forward to reading

Waiting on Wednesday

February 23, 2011

Supernaturally

by Kiersten White

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Published by: HarperTeen

The next book of the Paranormalcy trilogy, coming Fall 2011!

Evie, Lend, Reth, Arianna, Raquel, David . . .

And Jack.

Life's never fair when faeries are involved.

From the author's website

Gah! Just look at that cover!?!?! GORGEOUSNESS! If I hadn't already been DYING to read this book you know I would be now! However, Paranormalcy already had my aching to get my hands on Supernaturally so I think the awesomeness that is the cover is just a bit cruel! ;)

Storm Runners: The Wind

Storm Runners
Author: Roland Smith
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 160
Source: ARC received from publisher


About the Book: Chase Masters and his father are "storm runners," racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in a classroom. But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined.


My Thoughts: Wow! I feel like this book needs to come with a warning! It's the first in a series (actually, I think it's a trilogy but I'm not sure) but it ends with a HUGE cliffhanger!!! Like, my middle schoolers are going to KILL me when they finish the book. Seriously... I was like, "Wait... what?!? He ends it THERE?!?!?!" It took me about an hour to read. I couldn't put it down! 


The book follows Chase Masters. After his dad is struck by lightening he becomes obsessed with weather. He sells his part in the family construction company and they start moving from place to place chasing natural disasters. (Yes, you read that right... CHASE Masters becomes a storm chaser!) Chase's dad makes his living doing repairs after the storms hit while Chase helps out and goes to the local school. 


Their latest adventure takes them to Florida where a hurricane is set to hit. They set up camp on the wintering grounds for a traveling circus. Chase's dad goes to work helping people prepare for the storm and Chase starts school. When the hurricane strikes there are some unexpected twists. Chase ends up in a fight for his life and the lives of two classmates while his dad has problems of his own. 


This is a great middle grade read. It's fast paced and full of danger and adventure. Reluctant readers won't be intimidated by the story and will get sucked right in. Just be careful! They are going to be demanding the next book ASAP!

Top Ten Book to Movie Adaptaitions

Top Ten Book to Movie Adaptations

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by

The Broke and the Bookish

I thought that this week's list would be harder than it was. There are actually a lot of movie adaptations that I like. I guess it's just recent ones that I'm a bit queasy about!


1. Pride and Prejudice (1995, BBC) I admit, I saw the movie BEFORE reading the book. This may have something to do with my love for it. Who am Kidding? It's totally Colin Firth! Especially after he swims across the lake in that lovely white (read: sheer!) shirt ;)


2. Anne of Green Gables (1985, Sullivan) Another one where I loved the movie first. Yes, they condensed the books and changed some aspects but it's still fabulous! I loved it so much I went to Prince Edward Island this past summer and did all things Anne :)


3. Lord of the Rings (2001 - 2003, New Line Cinema) Will you all still be my friends when I tell you I own the extended versions of all three movies? If not, forget I said that! I read these books at about the time the movies came out and loved both.


4. Stardust (2007, Paramount Pictures) Love! Lovelovelovelovelove! I mean come one... the book is by NEIL GAIMAN and the movie has BEN BARNES and HENRY CAVILL in it. British boy love!


5. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, Universal Pictures) Classic! The book and the movie. I vividly remember my first experience with both. Also, Gregory Peck! How can it not be fabulous?


6. Flipped (2010, Warner Bros. Pictures) I absolutely LOVE that the movie is set "back in the day" while the book is contemporary. It totally works. Also, I love the way that we get to see the same scenes from both Bryce and Juli's perspective.


7. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008, Screen Gems) Music, awkward teens, romance... what more could you ask for? I'm a sucker for dual narratives.


8. Harry Potter (2001-2011, Warner Bros. Pictures) Don't yell at me! I KNOW they leave a lot out but seriously... those books are LONG! I think the movies do a good job of capturing the overall feel of the series. However I must say... Daniel Radcliffe = most awkward screen kisses EVER!


9. The Princess Bride (1987, 20th Century Fox) I love the movie SO much more than the book. I can't help it. I mean, come on, Billy Crystal as Miracle Max? And Carol Kane as his wife? AWESOME!


10. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005 - 2010, Walt Disney films) The books are about 100 times better than the movies but I still enjoyed them. Again, that might have something to do with a hot guy in a wet white shirt (Ben Barnes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Seriously, that scene is the only reason I'm buying that movie!)


So, what did I forget?

Darkest Mercy Giveaway

Ohmystars! Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr comes out TOMORROW!

I reviewed it back in January and I couldn't say enough good things about it. Seriously. It was a long post! You can check it out here. 

Melissa Marr speaking at Smart Chicks tour

I met Melissa Marr at the Smart Chicks tour stop in Naperville and she was delightful! It was such a fabulous event. The women were all so fun and entertaining. I can't wait to read the short story collection they put together. With that crew you can't go wrong!


Okay, back to Darkest Mercy! To celebrate the release I am giving away some Darkest Mercy swag AND a copy of the book with a signed bookplate. My local Barnes and Noble had the books out on Sunday so I already picked up my copy and one to give away. I was just going to do the swag but I loved this book too much not to want to share it! So the details... there will be SEVEN winners. One person will win a final copy of the book with a signed book plate. 

SIX others will win a Darkest Mercy bookmark signed by Melissa Marr and a silicone bracelet from one of the faery courts (Dark, Winter, Summer, High, Solitary, or Shadow.) If you win I'll try to send you the court you affiliate with but no guarantees! The winners will be chosen using random.org and I only have one bracelet for each court.

This giveaway is open internationally. It ends March 5th.

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.

Book titles link to goodreads. Author names link to their website/blog.

This week was a little crazy! I'm kind of embarrassed by the number of books. In my defense, THREE of the bookstore trips were for school purposes ;) Also, I had to cut out the part where I talk about the e-galleys I got so I added them to the list after the vlog :)

Matched by Ally Condie

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda

Vanished (one and two) by Meg Cabot

Angel by James Patterson

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson

Sense & Sensibility (graphic novel) by Nancy Butler & Sonny Liew

Vanished (three and four) by Meg Cabot

Morganville Vampires books six to nine by Rachel Caine

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher

The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Abandon by Meg Cabot

  

From Galley Grab:

Red Glove by Holly Black (OHMYSTARS! It's so good!)

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

From NetGalley and HarperTeen:

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Thank you to Book Nerds Across America, NetGalley, HarperTEEN, Simon & Schuster, and Point (Scholastic!)

Ranger's Apprentice Series

The Ranger's Apprentice Series
Author: John Flanagan
Publisher: Philomel (US)
Books in the Series: The Ruins of Gorlan, The Burning Bridge, The Icebound Land, The Battle for Skandia, The Sorcerer of The North, The Siege of Macindaw, Erak's Ransom, The Kings of Clonmel, Halt's Peril, and the final volume,  The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (to be released in the US 4/19/11.)


About Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan- He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied . . . .

My Thoughts: I typically focus on more YA titles but I am a middle school librarian so I read a lot of middle grade fiction as well. This series is one of my favorites. It's well written, fast paced, and appeals to both male and female readers. The books take place in an imagined world similar to medieval Europe. While they are considered fantasy there are no magical elements or fantastical creatures. 

When we meet Will in book one he is 15 and just about to set off on his apprenticeship. The reader follows Will as he gains skill and confidence as an apprentice and eventually a full fledged ranger. The books build upon the events of the previous ones yet they are separate adventures. Chronologically they occur in the order they were published with the exception of Erak's Ransom (book seven) which takes place before The Siege of Macindaw (book six.) 

The series moves along nicely. As Will matures so do the issues he faces and the decisions he makes. There is a bit of a romance that develops part way through the series but it isn't a major part of the story. The entire series is appropriate for middle grade readers but will appeal to older readers as well.

I listened to books seven and eight on CD. John Keating reads them and does a wonderful job. I highly recommend the audiobooks!

Students who love Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Maximum Ride, and Alex Rider books seem to really love this series as well. I've never had a student I recommend it to not enjoy it. I'm sad that it's coming to a Halt (if you've read the books you know why Halt is capitalized!) #iamsuchadork

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 26, 2010
Pages: 272


About the Book: “I’ve left some clues for you. 
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Timesbestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

My Thoughts: I finally got around to reading this book! I've been meaning to since it came out. I even got a copy signed by both Rachel and David at the ALAN conference in November. I really enjoyed their previous joint projects (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List) so I had high hopes for this one. While Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is not my favorite of the three, I did really like it. There's just something about the dual narrators that I love! Rachel and David carry it out so well!

I have to admit... I was a little wary at first. I didn't care for the cover; it reminds me of Sesame Street. Also, Lily seemed a bit... simple? I loved that she is all about Christmas whereas snarky Dash can't stand it. However, at first her extreme enthusiasm and tenderheartedness made me wonder if she was "playing with a full deck." As I got a bit further in to the book my doubts went away. 

I absolutely adore how different Dash and Lily are. Snarly Dash and sweet Lily bear cracked me up when interpreting what the other person wrote. I also loved the notebook. Can an inanimate object be my favorite character? I loved the idea of it, the placement, the fact that it was red, and most of all the anonymity it lends to Dash and Lily. In writing in a notebook there isn't the face to face interaction to inhibit their words or the instantaneous responses you get from texting/emailing. It forces them to take time between exchanges. I think this lends power to what they write. 

I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention New York City, the setting. It's basically another character! I've never been to NYC (BEA in May will be my first time!) so it was interesting for me to picture all the places mentioned. I can't wait to visit a few and get a better picture when I'm there!

Three final comments... 1. I totally want Snarly Muppet, 2. How do we make Collation a reality? and 3. I never want to play Words with Friends with Dash. He would annihilate me!

I happen to have an extra copy of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (I won it from Random Buzzers! I thought the person I'd loaned my signed copy to had lost it!!) Fill out the form below to be entered to win! Open internationally. You don't have to do anything special to win... just fill out the form. 

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It's a weekly meme to talk about what upcoming book we're most looking forward to reading

Waiting on Wednesday

February 16, 2011

Illusions

by Aprilynne Pike

Release Date: May 3, 2011

Published by: Harper Teen

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

These books are incredibly popular in my LMC. I love them as well. I appreciate that they are engaging and can grab teens but are still appropriate for my seventh and eighth graders. I'm excited to see where Ms. Pike takes us next!

Demonglass

Demonglass

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

Pages: 368

I received this book as part of Different Area Codes Book Tours. 

***WARNING*** If you haven't read Hex Hall yet this summary and some of my review may be a bit spoiler-ish. It can't really be helped with the second book in a series. Also, WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ IT YET?!?! Stop right now and go request it from your library or order it online!

About the Book: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. 

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth. 

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers. 

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My Thoughts: "Rachel Hawkins must have a bit of a sadistic streak." That was my first thought after finishing Demonglass. Well, my first coherent thought anyway. I tired to write this review right away but it went something like, "Ohmygoodness. Sophie was all... then her dad shows up (her DAD!!!) and it gets all... and Cal, ***sigh*** Dear, sweet Cal. And then, WHAT?!?! So they go to England and ARCHER is in England. Oh. My. Stars. ARCHER... he's all sizzle-y and Archer-y and Sophie's life is all CRAZY TOWN. And, and , and...SECRETS, oh the secrets. Crazy, crazy secrets! Everything starts happening at once and then........ A YEAR LONG WAIT to find out how that sentence ends." So, you get the picture. I was all sputtery and I-need-to-knowy and  then my mind cleared and I had two thoughts. "Rachel Hawkins must have a bit of a sadistic streak. Also, she is AMAZEBALLS." Yes, I did steal one of her words and use it to describe her. 

If you couldn't tell I REALLY enjoyed this book. Rachel Hawkins is a master at snarky/witty/sarcastic dialogue. There were so many lines that startled very undignified chortles out of me; I was glad I was reading it at home! 

Hex Hall dropped a doosey of a bomb on us at the end (See! Sadistic Rachel!!) Demonglass picks up about six months later. Sophie's story loses no momentum. I appreciate that Ms. Hawkins doesn't detail every minute in between or feel the need to spell out every nuance. The characters are smart and engaging. The plot moves along nicely and will keep readers turning the pages. Demonglass was one of those books where I kept checking how many pages I had left because I DIDN'T want it to end. I highly recommend it! 

Seriously, I loved it so much I'm thinking of taking a personal day from work to make it to her author event with Sarwat Chadda at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on March 1st.