Uncommon Criminals

Uncommon Criminals

Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney Hyperion/Brilliance (audiobook)
Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Pages: 298
Series: Heist Society, book two
Source: Audiobook from BEA


About the Book: Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

 
My Thoughts: Ally Carter is one of my go to authors when I'm looking for a book that will keep me entertained and on my toes. I adore her Gallagher Girl's series but Heist Society is my favorite. I honestly considered following in Kat's footsteps and taking up a life of crime to get Uncommon Criminals early! Thankfully I attended BEA and got to meet Ally (twice!) so I did not have to resort to that. Although if it attracted an older version of Hale it might have been worth it ;) I picked up a finished copy of the book as well as the audiobook. I really enjoyed the Heist Society audio so I decided to stick with that format for Uncommon Criminals. It really suits the story. I felt almost as though I was listening to an old radio detective show like Dragnet. Brilliance really got the audiobook right!
 
As far as the story goes Ally Carter does not disappoint! Not only do we get a great heist (actually we get a few!) we also get to learn more about Kat and what makes her tick. I loved seeing the way she interacted with her crew. The tension between her and Hale adds to the story. I appreciate that in addition to the romantic undertones he challenges her and calls her out when she needs it. The interactions between the characters are perfect!
 
And the heists, oh the heists. I LOVE reading about all the different equipment and plans that Kat and crew could try. I feel bad saying this but I wish that there were really people who pulled off jobs like that! How amazing would it be to read about that in the morning paper! The history behind the jobs is interesting as well. In Heist Society we get a look in to the Holocaust art. Uncommon Criminals goes back even further in time to tomb robbing in Egypt. The stories behind the jobs really give a greater sense of purpose to Kat, Hale and company. It challenges the reader to think about right, wrong, and the grey areas. 
 
Uncommon Criminals will hook you from the get-go. The heist, the characters, the possibilities... It's an engaging read that will have you wishing you could join the crew!

Random Things I Loved:
*Hale
*Trying to guess what the "W.W." stands for in Hale's name
*Kat's name
*Visily Romani
*The conversations Kat and Gabrielle have
*Kat's dislike of water (How cat-like!)
*Maggie's brassy Southern persona
*Meeting new members of Kat's family
*The interaction between Kat and Hale in the car in NY
*The Paraguay/Uruguay deal
*The setting in the second half of the book
*The names of the different heists... so clever!
*The time-stamps at the beginnings of chapters
*Marcus... I want one!
*Hale in a tux! Well, basically Hale in anything! ;) 
 
Sidenote: A couple of nights ago I was able to make the trip to Anderson's Bookshop to see Ally. I went with my friend Sarah and her daughter Anna. Anna was one of my seventh grade students. She and her mom are two of my favorite people to talk books with. We spent much of the 2.5 hour drive home gushing about how kind and authentic and personable and wonderful Ally was! She recognized me from the other times I've seen her and was so sweet. If she is ever signing in your area you HAVE to attend! I meant to get a book signed to giveaway but I was talking when I labeled them and accidently had her sign it to me. Now I have TWO copies of Uncommon Criminals signed to "Heidi." What do you think... would you still want to win a book signed to someone else? I mean, I could cover my name up with a sticker or something... thoughts?

The ridiculously sweet Ally Carter

Legacy Tour Stop - Review

Legacy

Author: Cayla Kluver
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Pages: 496
Series: Legacy, book one
Source: requested from Net Galley, egalley received for blog tour


About the Book: The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon of the nighttime sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, on the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.

Across the land of Hytanica, under the shadow of the crimson moon, infant boys continued to vanish. Not until the blood had faded from the sky did the disappearances stop and the bodies of the murdered infants were found outside the gates of the city, a final word from the greatest enemy Hytanica had ever known. For the next sixteen years, peace reigned, but one mystery remained unsolved. The Cokyrians had abducted forty-nine newborns, but returned only forty-eight bodies.

Now, as seventeen-year-old Princess Alera of Hytanica is besieged from all sides by suitors vying for the Throne, a teenage Cokyrian boy, Narian, is encountered within the walls of her Kingdom, a boy who will show Alera a world where women serve a purpose and not just a husband. As Narian helps Alera find her voice, she struggles against an arranged marriage that will shatter the life she has scarcely begun to live. And when Narian's shocking past is uncovered, and war with Cokyri looms once more, he must fight to defy a fate ordained at his birth.

My Thoughts: I was so incredibly excited when I heard Harlequin Teen would be publishing this book. I read it when it was previously released and was left dying for the next book. Seriously... I stalked Legacy hoping that book two would become a reality. Thankfully Harlequin Teen agreed that Cayla is awesome and I will now get to know what happens next! 


I re-read Legacy for this tour and was as hooked this time as I was the first time I read it. The prologue grabs you and gives you a taste of the mystery and adventure you'll find in the book. There is a lot of description... characters, clothing, places, history, etc... Personally I enjoyed it. The reader really gets a feel for the story and the reasons events take place. The writing paints beautiful images (add to that the authors relatively young age and it kinda makes you want to dislike her for being so talented! Good thing she's also incredibly sweet!) I feel it does a great job of setting the feel for book two!


One of my favorite things about this book is the main character Princess Alera. I would not have said that in the beginning of the book. As the heir to the kingdom she has a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders. There were a number of decisions she made that I didn't agree with or understand. Quite frankly she made me angry. However, the more she goes through the more I began to understand where she was coming from. She learned from mistakes and sought to "make it right." I can respect that. She wasn't perfect but I could empathize with her desire to have more control over her life. 


Legacy is a tale that will leave you begging for book two.


Random Things I Loved:
*The line, "All such things must come to an end, however, and that is where my story begins."
*The unique character names.
*The fact that I could want to slap a character one minute and a couple chapters later be rooting for them. 
*The descriptions
*The fantasy
*London... I love this guy!
*Steldor AND Narian! 


Find Cayla on her blog and on twitter! 

Follow along on the LEGACY Blog Tour for a chance to win an iPod Nano! 

For every one, legitimate comment made on the tour posts you will receive an extra entry in the giveaway. The final giveaway form will be posted on the last stop of the tour. Good luck!

 http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/legacy-tour-details.html

iPod nano 8GB (6^th Gen.)

Color: Graphite

Divergent

Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 384
Series: Divergent, book one
Source: Accepted for review


About the Book: 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 threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Thoughts: I have a confession. I was a bit afraid of reading this book. You see, it has so many things I love in it... Chicago, set in the not so distant future, dystopian, huge life changing choices, cute boys ;) You get the idea. In addition, bloggers I admire like Kristi, Anna, Jen and Jacinda & Jasmine raved about it. That's a lot of pressure for one book. I was afraid that it would let me down. I was afraid that it would just be "okay." I would like to take this time to publicly apologize to Veronica Roth for ever doubting the amazingness that is Divergent. Add me to the list of bloggers raving and gushing and just not being able to say enough good things about it! If the rest of my thought aren't coherent just know this: You MUST read this book.


When I think back to my reading experience with Divergent the thing that sticks out to me the most is the way the author deals with hard facts. I love the way she just puts it out there. Tris has to face some pretty difficult truths about herself and the people around her. She has to make terrible decisions that no sixteen year old should ever have to make. There is no sugar coating to make things seem softer or to justify the choices Tris (or any other character) makes. It's gritty and real and unapologetic. I appreciated this. It fits with the story and affected me way more than pussyfooting around the subject. 


Juxtaposed with these darker elements are incredibly tender moments. There is still love and hope and goodness amidst the stark reality that is Tris' world. The factions serve to highlight these extremes. They really made the book for me. I felt more invested in the story then I have in a long time. If you're looking for a powerful read this is the book for you.


Random Things I Loved:
*CHICAGO!
*The factions
*The extremes that exist in Tris' world
*Tris' ability to be honest with herself
*Four (times about a million! I adore this boy!)
*The stunts the Dauntless pull
*How Four got his name
*The tension... between factions, between characters, romantic, emotional, pyschological... all of it!
*Okay, basically just everything!

Dark Days of Supernatural Giveaway

I was super lucky and I got to go to both the winter and the summer Dark Days of Supernatural tours. They were both awesome and I got a ton of swag and signed books. I've been such a slacker and haven't posted about either so I thought I'd do a brief recap and a slew of giveaways :) 

Winter:

This stop was particularly great because a number of my favorite bloggers were there. We met up for dinner and then went to the event. This picture doesn't include everyone but most of us are there :) The authors at the Naperville stop were: Ellen Schreiber, Courtney Allison Moulton, Kimberly Derting, and Claudia Gray. They were delightful and the whole night was one of my favorite events ever!

Summer:

Me with Tara and Amy

Me, Veronica and Aprilynne

There were fewer bloggers I knew there for this stop but it was no less awesome. Aprilynne Pike, Veronica Roth, Amy Plum, Tara Hudson, and Ellen Schreiber had a great rapport and it was really fun to listen to what they had to say. I love going to multiple author events :)


And now for the part you really want... the giveaway. Thanks to Authors on the Web and  Harper Teen I had an ARC of Divergent and an ARC of Illusions I was able to get signed. I bought a copy of Hereafter as well as the first six books in the Vampire Kisses series (Books 1-3 are in one volume.) I'm giving all these books away as well as a swag pack. You can enter to win each "prize pack" one time. Here they are again:


Prize Pack 1:

SWAG:

Includes Divergent tattoos, Dark Days bookmark signed by all authors mentioned in this post, Once in a Full Moon bookmark, Die for Me bookmark, Desires of the Dead sticker, Angelfire sticker, Hereafter bracelet, and Team David/Team Tamani tattoos (from the Wings series.)

Prize Pack 2:

Divergent ARC:

Includes Divergent ARC, Divergent tattoos and Dark Days bookmark

Prize Pack 3:

Illusions ARC:

Includes Illusions ARC, Dark Days bookmark, and Team David/Team Tamani tattoos (from the Wings series.)

Prize Pack 4:

Hereafter:

Includes Hereafter finished copy and Dark Days bookmark

Prize Pack 5:

Vampire Kisses 1-6:

Includes Vampire Kisses books 1-6, Dark Days bookmark, and, Once in a Full Moon bookmark


To enter fill out this form. One entry per prize pack per person. US only. Ends July 5.

Sarah Rees Brennan Week Winners!

Sorry this is belated! Unexpected summer busyness! 

Winner of SIGNED The Demon's Lexicon and SIGNED The Demon's Covenant:

Kailia Sage @ Reading the Best of the Best

Winner of The Demon's Surrender:

Ann @ Semisweet

Congrats! I've sent the winners emails. They have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize :) Thanks to everyone who participated! Hope you enjoyed the week.

In My Mailbox (29)

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. 

This is two weeks worth of IMM :)

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender (blog tour)

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala (blog tour)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins(AMAZING!!!!!)

Thanks to:

Random House
Teen Book Scene
Scholastic
Michelle from Hooked to Books


I just have to say I read Lola and the Boy Next Door and I seriously wanted to start it again as soon as I finished! It was SO incredibly wonderfully fabulous! If you've not read Anna and the French Kiss you you're doing yourself a disservice! Read it! 

A Tale of Two Castles

A Tale of Two Castles

Author: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: ARC requested from NetGalley, Audiobook received at at School Library Journal Day of Dialogue 


About the Book: Mysteries abound, especially in Two Castles. 

A handsome cat trainer, black-and-white cats, thieves on four legs and two, suspicious townsfolk, a greedy king, a giddy princess, a shape-shifting ogre, a brilliant dragon. Which is the villainous whited sepulcher?

Elodie journeys to the town of Two Castles to become a mansioner—an actress—but luck is against her. She is saved from starvation by the dragon Meenore, who sends her on a dangerous mission inside the ogre's castle. There, disguised as a kitchen maid at an ogre's feast, she finds herself cast in the role of a lifetime and pitted against a foe intent on murder.

Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine weaves an entrancing tale of a fearsome ogre, a dragon detective, and a remarkable heroine, who finds friendship where she least expects it, learns that there are many ways to mansion, and discovers that goodness and evil come in all shapes and sizes.

My Thoughts: I don't typically review middle grade fiction here. For Gail Carson Levine I make exceptions. I read her Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted for a course in college and fell in love. I then went to teh public library and checked out every book she had written up to that point. That was a weekend spent in a fairy tale retelling stupor. It was glorious! Since then I've ordered every book for my middle school LMC. They students don't even see them until I read them! Basically, I love Gail Carson Levine. A lot. 


A Tale of Two Castles was everything I hoped it'd be and more. Elodie is a delightful narrator. I loved viewing the world threw her eyes. As an aspiring mansioner (actress) she has sharp skills of observation and she thinks about the things she sees. I also found it really helpful that she is new to Two Castles so we are meeting everyone as she does. There isn't a back story between her and other characters that we don't know about. I just adored her!


Do I even need to bring up how awesome it is that there are dragons and ogres? What's a fairy tale without them? The fact that the dragon is a master of induction and deduction (as it would be quick to tell you itself!) and the ogre can shape shift into different animals just adds to the awesomeness. The best part about them is that they aren't your typical "terrorize the village" types. Gail Carson Levine works her magic and makes them new and unique. They add so much to the story and Elodie's journey. 


For the majority of this title I listened to the audiobook. The narrator did a fabulous job. The voices for the different characters were distinct so I never got them confused. They also felt "right." Her pacing and expression added a lot to the story as well. Brilliance Audio nailed it on the head with this one!


Random Things I Loved:
*Cat trainers. As in people who train cats. How cool is that?!?
*Inducing and deducing
*Elodie seeing different animals for the first time
*The rules Elodie's mother gives her to follow while away from home
*Meenore's smoke
*The mystery and adventure!

Bad Girls Don't Die

Bad Girls Don't Die

Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: April 21, 2009
Pages: 352
Series: Bad Girls Don't Die, Book One
Source: Purchased


About the Book: Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence: dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy thirteen-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. 
When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction to dangerous. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green; she uses odd, old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her weird behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on the unlit stove, and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough for the girls to see their breath.
Alexis wants to believe it's all in her head, until these seemingly harmless occurrences become life-threatening--to her, to her family, and to her budding relationship with the student council vice president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey; but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?



My Thoughts: WARNING: Do NOT read this book right before bed! Holy creeptastic storyline Batman! I get the shivers just thinking it! I read this book some time ago but realized I'd never reviewed it. With the recent release of it's companion From Bad to Cursed (review to come) I thought I'd revisit it. 


Confession... I am a HUGE baby when it comes to two things: spicy food and scary stories. It's pretty bad. In regards to food I can't even handle "medium" salsa. I'm even more of a baby about scary stories. Since I am such a fraidy cat I tend to not read/watch scary or creepy books/movies. I don't enjoy them. This book was an exception! The first chapter drew me in (and the covers above my head!) 


I really enjoyed Alexis as a narrator. As a budding photographer she views the world in a way that is unique. I loved her descriptions of things. It was interesting to see events/people/places through her eyes. I also liked that she didn't "fit" one stereotype. Actually, this was true of a number of the characters. I would think that I had them pegged but them the author would reveal more about them and my perceptions would change. I can remember being in high school and feeling like people didn't really know me at all. They pegged me as someone in middle school and since we all went to the same schools that was who I was throughout high school. It didn't matter if it was true or not. It just felt really authentic to me.


The only thing that felt a little off to me was the family dynamic. I can't say too much without spoiling the book. I'll just say that I was a little confused by some of the interactions between Alexis' family. It didn't really detract from the book but I was a little confused by some of the actions.


If you feel like to be creeped out in the best possible way this book is definitely one you should check out!   


Random Things I Loved:
*The photography element
*The "Doom Squad"
*The doll collection. PERFECT for making the story creepy. Something about all those eyes... shudder!
*Carter and his adorableness! 
*The banter between Alexis and Carter.
*Carter's description of Alexis' house
*Pink hair! I LOVE pink hair! 


Sidenote: I liked the book so much I forgive the author for the reference to the school librarian just sitting around reading a romance novel! ;)

Gimme A Call

Gimme A Call

Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 27, 2010
Pages: 320
Source: Received at ALAN 2010 conference


About the Book: A new life is just a phone call away! 
Devi's life isn't turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted the past three years going out with Bryan—cute, adorable, break-your-heart Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn't join any clubs . . . and now that Bryan has broken up with her, she has nothing left. 
Not even her stupid cell phone—she dropped it in the mall fountain. Now it only calls one number . . . hers. At age fourteen, three years ago! 
Once Devi gets over the shock—and convinces her younger self that she isn't some wacko—she realizes that she's been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do . . . because she's already done all the wrong ones! Who better to take advice from than your future self? 
Except . . .what if getting what you think you want changes everything? 
Fans of Sarah Mlynowski's Magic in Manhattan series will love this hilarious new novel with a high-concept premise .


My Thoughts: A cell phone that allows you to talk to a past version of yourself? What an fabulous idea for a book! Giving that power to a senior in high school who has just had her heart broken? Even better! 


I listened to the audiobook version of this title for most of the book. The narrator wasn't my favorite but I could still listen and enjoy (unlike many others I've tried!) Towards the end of the story I got too impatient and had to pull the book off my shelf to finish. I kind of wish I would have done that sooner. I enjoyed the idea of the book and the unexpected outcomes that occurred due to changes Senior Year Devi made Freshman Year Devi make. However, it started to drag for me. I think that if I had picked the physical book up and read sooner it wouldn't have seemed so drawn out. I still liked the book but it isn't a favorite of mine. If you're looking for a twist on the typical high school drama this book is a good choice.


Random Things I Loved:
*The names Senior and Freshman Devi give themselves to distinguish between them.
*Senior Devi's first kiss
*Freshman Devi's first kiss
*Alfonso (I'm 99% sure that was his name!)
*Devi's friends
*The salsa incident

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Book Blogging

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Book Blogging

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by

The Broke and the Bookish

Yes! I am super excited about this topic! I cannot wait to see all the reasons people blog. I find it very encouraging :)

1. The Community: I love the book blogging community (bloggers, authors, publishers, etc...! The majority of people involved are friendly, helpful, and join together for the good of the community and to do good outside the community.

2. Other Bloggers: I have made so many friends that I never would have meet if not for blogging. They are not friends of convenience but people who I genuinely enjoy and we have a lot in common. I've found the other bloggers I've interacted with to be easy to talk to, generous, and insightful. I love it! 

3. Fabulous Authors: I've said it before, authors are my rockstars. When I started blogging I never thought that it would be a way to connect with the men and women who write the books I admire. I was floored the first time an author responded to me. Who am I kidding? I am floored every time an author responds to me! I love that blogging gives me a way to promote and support what they do.

4. Justification: It gives me a cover story for all the stacks of books that sit around my house!

5. Accountability: As a school librarian I want (and feel that I need) to stay "in the know" about what's hot in YA lit. Blogging gives me a way to do that. It keeps me accountable in a way I love :)

6. Outlet: All my book love used to be bottled up. I get to discuss middle grade and some YA with my students but there was so much more I wanted to say! Blogging gives me an outlet for my thoughts and allows me to connect with others to discuss! I love that!

7. Acceptance: Book bloggers know what I mean when I say my series have to match and they don't look at me like I'm a nut job for it. We are on the same page!

8. Passion: The book blogging community is passionate about what they do. An incredible amount of time, energy, and money is put in to blogs. Very few bloggers make money on them. They do it because they love it. 

9. Inspiration: I am wowed and inspired by things I see in the blogosphere daily. It may be an incredibly well written post or someone's selfless efforts to raise money for a good cause or someone's dedication or any number of things. There are days where it keeps me going. It makes me think, "I can do this!" no matter what "this" may be. 

10. Books: Again, when I started my blog I never thought I'd get free books. I don't think I was even really aware that this happened. Still, I'm not gonna lie and say I don't love it! Even with all the money I spend on books in a year (which is an embarrassing amount!) I could never buy all the books I want to read! I use the library a ton but free books still make me jump for joy!