Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature run by the lovely crew at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

1.The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: I know you're all surprised I have this one first, right? My being a huge John Green fangirl aside, I really need to talk with people who have read this book! Thankfully it's the first book the YA book club I am a part of chose! We'll be discussing it in a few weeks. I fear I'm going to start crying again!

2. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King: This is the audiobook that had me pulling over while listening in my car because I was crying so hard. I actually recommended it to my cousin and her book club is reading it :) It's a book club made up of adults but they read all different genres. It made me so happy that they picked Vera!!

3. Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King: There were so many things I wanted to talk about when I finished this book! You could have really good discussion about a number of different issues as well as the general awesome that is the story and A.S. King's writing. 


4. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr: I read this book quite some time ago but I vividly remember wishing I knew someone else who had read it. It was one of the first book I read when I was just getting in to YA and it blew me away. I had never read anything as real and honest. I loved it! 

5. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Yeah. I freaked out after reading this one. I would want to read it for book club just so I'd have an excuse to spend a few hours fangirling. The writing is so beautiful. I loved the setting, the characters, the mythology. All of it. It also really made me think about what makes a "monster." 

6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian or anything else by Sherman Alexie: We use this book in literature circles with my eighth graders. It is one of my favorite lit circles to sit in on. It's a hilarious book with so, so much to discuss! I am always impressed with the depth of understanding my teens walk away with. Anything the man writes is great for discussion.


7. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: Bring on the snark! I loved this book and think it would be so much fun to discuss. I am sure I didn't pick up on all the jokes/puns/social commentary. It'd be interesting to see what stuck out to others. 


8. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson: I can't really explain why without spoiling the book so just trust me... lots of moral questions and right versus wrong type things! 


9. Deadline or anything else by Chris Crutcher: I put off reading his books for so long because I thought they were "sports books" and that is not a huge interest of mine. I was so, so wrong! Yes, sports play a large part of the characters lives but the books are about so much more. Crutcher spent 25 years as a child and family therapist specializing in abuse and neglect (his bio on his website.) This is reflected in his novels. I don't think I've ever made it through one without tearing up. Also, he is one of the most challenged authors. That makes for awesome discussion


10. A Prayer for Owen Meany  by John Irving: This is one of my all time favorite books. I love it and want everybody to read it. Obviously this makes it a great book club choice. :) 

The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm

Author: Robin Bridges
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 389
Series: The Katerina Trilogy, book one
Source: ARC from NCTE, e-galley from Netgalley


About the Book: St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue. 

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn. 

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

My Thoughts: I honestly don't even know where to begin with this book! There were so many factors I loved in the description alone. Nineteenth century Russia? Aristocratic society? Boarding school? Magic? Mystery? Intrigue? Yes, please! Sign me up. I mean, I was hooked by the informational paragraph about Russian names before the book even started! 


Now, obviously with all the afore mentioned awesome in one book I had some pretty high expectations. The Gathering Storm did not disappoint. I was engrossed in the history and the different myths and supernatural beings. I sighed over the ball gowns, parties, and outings the characters attended. Katerina's desire to be more than just an aristocratic wife, to be a doctor, had me rooting for her through it all. 


The Gathering Storm is a wonderful example of historical fiction with a paranormal twist. Robin Bridges kept me guessing through the whole story! I loved that the characters and plot twists surprised me. I could not put it down! This is the first in a trilogy so not everything is wrapped up neatly. Still, the story didn't leave any loose ends or dropped plot lines. You will be dying to know what happens next in the best possible way. This is certainly a series I will be continuing with. 

In My Mailbox (46)

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.

From the lovely Michelle:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

HANKLERFISHED!!!!!

For Review:

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Thank you Harper Teen!

Curveball: The Year I Lost my Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick 

Thank you Scholastic!

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Thank you Vicky Alvear Shecter!

Letter Writing

I love getting mail of the non-junk variety. It totally makes my day. So when Jaime retweeted this link today I got really excited. YES! The lost art of letter writing! So true! I followed the link to Mary Robinette Kowal's "The Month of Letters Challenge."

When I was in college my nana wrote me letters at least once a week. I cherish them. She is the reason I wanted to become a teacher. Nana passed away before I finished my degree. I never imagined that she wouldn't be there to help me through my first year of teaching. Thanks to her letters she was there. I would go back and reread them when I was having a rough day. Some days it was only her faith in me that gave me the boost I needed to keep going. Even though she wasn't there I had her letters to remind me. She was a life long letter writer. My parents have a box of love letters she and my grandfather exchanged during the year early on in their relationship that they had to live apart. They are so dear. I doubt that years from now my theoretical grandchildren will ever cherish an email or facebook message the way I cherish those letters. 


So, all that to say I am so in! I can't wait to find fun things to send! The problem? I need more people to send things to! If you want a letter/postcard/random thing I find to send fill out the form here! Also, I highly encourage you to participate to some extent! SEND MORE LETTERS!

River of Time Blog Tour: Author Book Picks

Today I have Lisa Tawn Bergren here for The River of Time Series blog tour! She is sharing with us some book picks from 2011 as well as books she hopes to get to in 2012!


Also, check out the awesome scavenger hunt she is hosting to go along with this tour. She's giving away TWENTY books and THREE Kindle readers! 


Okay, on to the books! Here's Lisa...



I don’t read as much as you’d think, since I find it hard to read while I’m writing,
which is pretty much all year long. I’m inherently lazy, so if I have a good book
calling to me, it’s hard for me to focus on my own story. This year has been all
about YA, so that’s what’s dominating my shelves.


Here's a pic of some of what I read in 2011:

My favorite reads of 2011 were THE HELP, DIVERGENT, RUBY RED,

UNEARTHLY and THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS.

Here's a pic of what remains in my TBR pile:

The ones calling the loudest are: MARA DYER, DARK DIVINE, and DAUGHTER

OF SMOKE AND BONE. Hope to get to them in January/February! But first I’m

reading AWKWARD and GRACELING on my Kindle.

Thanks to Lisa for sharing her book picks. I always love seeing what others are reading or have on their TBR pile. Graceling is one of my all time favorites ever and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Unearthly, and Divergent were among my favorites of 2011.

Don't forget to check out the awesome scavenger hunt! 

Other Info: 

Lisa is releasing an e-novella in February, called BOURNE, which is River of Time Series #3.1. It picks up directly where TORRENT left off. It will be on Kindle first, and hopefully in other formats (Nook, etc.) afterward.

Lisa's website: www.LisaBergren.com

River of Time site: www.RiverofTime.mobi

Lisa on Twitter: @LisaTBergren

Lisa on Facebook: “River of Time Series”: https://www.facebook.com/riveroftimeseries

Bittersweet

Bittersweet

Author: Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 384
Source: ARC from publisher


About the Book: Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. 

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. 

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….
My Thoughts: Do I dare admit that this was my first time reading a book by Sarah Ockler? I know, I know. Shame on me! I do own a copy of Twenty Boy Summer, if that restores your faith in me. After reading Bittersweet it has moved WAY up on Mt. TBR. What the heck was I waiting for?!?!?


Bittersweet starts with a defining moment in Hudson's life. She was 14 and her world changed in a night. The rest of the book takes place three years later. I liked that there was this seperation. Hudson has had some time to move on but her life is still affected by "the night." She is now 17 and looking toward another change (college.) This really makes her think about her life before. She has to decide how she is going to proceed with her life and where her priorities are. Like any teen (really, like any person!) she makes mistakes and goes through some trial and error. I found the whole situation to be incredibly authentic and relatable. 


Now on to the things that I just have to mention:
*Bug: I LOVE that Hudson calls her little brother this! Also, he is totally adorable.


*Chatper "titles": Each chapter begins with a cupcake name and description. I was hungry the whole time I read this book!


Josh: I LOVES him! Check out the This or That post he did for the blog tour!


I cannot wait to read more from Sarah Ockler. She does a fabulous job of balancing humor and tension as well as telling a great story. I could not put this book down. Don't be a fool like me. Read her books ASAP! 

Waiting on Wednesday (44)

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

January 25, 2011

The Selection

by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Published by: Harper Teen

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Initially the cover of this one caught my attention. After reading the summary it sounds like something I'd enjoy. It reminds me a bit of a modern Princess Academy. Since I adored that book I can't wait to check this one out!

Sidenote: When I was little I always wanted a "doll cake." My sister had one and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I never got one... until this year! Yes, for my 30th birthday my mom made me a doll cake. Why bring this up? A number of people have pointed out that it looks a bit like this cover! What do you think?

Top Ten Freebie

Today's top ten list is a freebie. I missed a topic I totally wanted to do a couple weeks ago so this is my chance! I bring you...

Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012

Well, The Fault in Our Stars, Bitterblue, and Black Heart would have been tied for first place but I have read all three so I took them off the list to make room for more! Also, Daughter of Smoke and Bone two, The Name of the Star two and whatever Carrie Ryan is coming out with this year aren't on the list since I don't have titles. Yes, I am cheater! Also, these are not in any order. I want them ALL!

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare: Yeah, so The Clockwork Prince broke me. Cassandra Clare has a way of ending her books so that I would do pretty much anything to get my hands on the next one!

2. Endlessly by Kiersten White: I adore these books. I adore the author. What's not to love?? I need more Tasey! (And Evie and Lend too!)

3. Insurgent by Veronica Roth: Divergent surprised me with how much I loved it. I need to know what happens next!

4. Hidden by Sophie Jordan: Draki! I love them!!!!! Ms. Jordan has me all up in knots over the love triangle in this series. 

5. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins: Could these stories be any more delightful? That's a trick question. The answer is no! Love, love, love, love, love!

6. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan: Yeah. SRB. Enough said. 

7. Until I Die by Amy Plum: I adored Die for Me and cannot wait to see where we go next!

8. Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready: This series is all kinds of awesome. There are musicians and kilts and romance and do I really need to go on?

9. Ask the Passangers by A.S. King: All I know about this book is that it's by A.S. King. Frankly, that's enough for me to know I need to read it.  

10. Underworld by Meg Cabot: Meg Cabot + Persephone myth = WIN! I think Meg is basically amazing and I still fan girl about meeting her at the kick-off This is Teen event. I really enjoyed Abandon so I can't wait to see what's in store for the characters.

Wings of the Wicked

Wings of the Wicked

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Pages: 528
Series: Angelfire, book two
Source: ARC from Pageturners Blog for blog tour, ARC picked up at NCTE


About the Book: Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined. 
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night. 

She’s been warned. 
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself. 

She’ll be betrayed. 
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay. 

My Thoughts: When I first got this ARC I was a bit daunted by the size. Five hundred pages is a lot of book. Once I started reading I quickly remembered how much I enjoyed book one and the story flew by. The action starts on page one. This sucked me in immediately and kept me breathless until the end. We're also introduced to some new characters right away. This was helpful to me because it took me a bit to remember what happened in book one. Adding the new characters worked in some reminders from book one without a boring recap. 


One of the things I really appreciate about these books is the way the author works in humor. Every time something good happens or things start to look up disaster follows. This has the potential to be quite depressing. Thankfully Ellie and company are fluent in sarcasm and joke around with one another. I mean, high school is hard enough. Throw in a little thing like saving humanity and you need a little humor!


Wings of the Wicked brings up the good versus evil issue as well. Are things/people/decisions/whatever inherently good or inherently evil? Is there gray area? Can there be good in evil or evil in good? These are all questions that I found my self pondering while reading Ellie's story. I appreciate a book that entertains me and gets me thinking.


This book is more than a great follow up to Angelfire. Yes, there is another cliff hanger ending but Wings of the Wicked isn't just filler between books one and three. There is a lot going on in the book without being overwhelming. My major questions from book one were answered. I got more of Caden and Will (I'm more torn between the two than ever!) Ellie still kicks butt. Basically it had everything I hoped for and more. I'll certainly be picking up book three as soon as I can! If you were so-so about Angelfire you need to give Wings of the Wicked a chance!

In My Mailbox (45)

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.

No vlog this week since I only got one book. I did get a couple geeky things I ordered off etsy so I thought I'd show you those too!

50th Anniversary Edition of A Wrinkle in Time! I've never read this book. I KNOW! Please don't stone me! I'm the A Wrinkle in Time:50 Years, 50 Days, 50 Blogs tour! Super excited to share my experience of reading this book for the first time!

On to the geekery:

How cool is this? This etsy vendor prints all kinds of images on old dictionary pages. Obviously I need the police box. I mean, who doesn't need a framed TARDIS on their wall?!? Now I just have to buy the frame!

Yes, my Star Wars geek is showing. I saw these pins and knew I had to have them. There are nine to choose from but seriously, who thinks Greedo shot first? (Ordered from this vendor on etsy.)

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Author: Patrick Ness
Publisher: Candlewick, audiobook by Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: Sept. 9, 2008
Pages: 479
Series: Chaos Walking, book one
Source: Audiobook from library


About the Book: A dystopian thriller follows a boy and girl on the run from a town where all thoughts can be heard — and the passage to manhood embodies a horrible secret.

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.


My Thoughts: Why did I wait so long to read this book?!? Seriously. I've wasted years of fangirling! For shame! The one good thing to come from waiting is that now I have all three books at my disposal. No waiting for the next one to be released! Because seriously. If I had to wait a year between books one and two I might have snapped! 


As I mentioned above, I listened to this title on audiobook. I was debating between reading or listening but then I saw that Nick Podehl was the narrator. As in, Nick Podehl my very favoritest audiobook narrator ever! (Yes, I have a favorite.) Clearly I had to check out the audiobook. I am glad I did. In the world where the Chaos Walking trilogy takes place there is "Noise." The thoughts of men and animals are broadcast for all to hear. I liked having it read to me. I think listening to it really enhanced the "reading experience" and gave me a better understanding of what Todd was going through.


Now, the book itself. So. Much. Love. I was drawn in from page one, line one. (Sidenote: My students love it because it says the word "poo" about eight times within the first two pages.) The voice and language used really build in to the story. Todd has a distinctive dialect. Nick Podehl did a wonderful job giving voice to this in the audiobook but you will be missing out if you don't read at least part of the story. I was really impressed with the way Patrick Ness structured it and the ways he used the text/spelling/word  choice/capitalization/ etc.. to build it up. You can read the first 20 or so pages through google book preview  or listen to an excerpt here.


I felt totally immersed in what was going on in the book. I was invested in what happened to Todd, Viola and even Manchee (the dog.) The characters and their struggles felt so real to me. I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately but I don't want to give many more details. I fear taking away from your reading/listening experience. I think it's really important and powerful for the reader to know only what Todd knows. 


Patrick Ness is basically amazing. I say this even after he ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and then LEFT ME HANGING! Oh Patrick Patrick, Patrick... how could you?!? I am listening to book two now so I don't know if I completely forgive him yet. Just know this, dear reader, you'd best have a box of kleenex and book two handy! 


If you're looking for a read that is unique and powerful The Knife of Never Letting Go is the book for you. 


Bonus: There is a song from Todd's childhood that is mentioned in the story. Nick Podehl sings a bit of it in the audiobook and I had it stuck in my head for days after listening. This version is sung by the artist Patrick Ness had in mind when writing it (per twitter response):

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile 
Publication Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 313
Source: Purchased (In like, three formats!)


About the Book: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

My Thoughts: This book... I just... I can't even. Thinking about it now, a week after reading it, I am still all flustered. I don't know that any other book has affected me as much as this one. The only one that comes close is The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta (my thoughts here.) 

This is not going to be a typical review. I don't want to go in to detail about anything that happened in the book because I think that would take away from the reading experience. That is the last thing I want to do. I considered not writing a review at all but I loved this book so much that I just couldn’t pass it up. What kind of John Green fangirl would that make me?!?! So... here are a few of my reactions that are not spoilery!

*The first sentence is also the first paragraph. I'm not sure why this tickled me so much, but it did! 


*I liked the way John Green used capitalization to make things stand out. For example, "Regular Doctor Jim" and "Support Group."

*Hazel's voice... it was fabulous. I loved her as a narrator.

*I really appreciated the descriptions of the characters. No gleaming bronze hair or eyes the color of spring's first dew (what the heck is that supposed to mean anyway?!?!)

*The language and vocbulary. I am such a word nerd so any book that uses terms like "hamartia" automatically becomes awesome.

*Chicago gets a mention! 

*Things I recognized from the vlogbrother videos (like goat soap!)


*"Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost gets a mention! I adore this poem.

*There were so many passages I marked! Obviously I'm not sharing them here because I 
want you to read them in context but trust me... have a pen handy for marking down parts you love!

*From about page 210 until the end I was crying. At first I was sobbing so much I had to stop reading for about ten minutes to get myself under control. Then it was just tears streaming down my face until John Green would throw in some one line observation that would set me off again. I used nearly a box of kleenex. An hour later I was lying in bed still doing the thing where you're okay and then randomly your breath hitches and your off again. The Fault in Our Stars profoundly affected me. 

*Even though this book broke me in a way I wasn't prepared for I was so incredibly satisfied with it. The end didn't leave me grasping for the pieces. I didn't feel cheated out of an ending. Did it end how I ideally wanted it to? No. Was the ending more authentic/appropriate than what I wanted? Yes. Honestly, had the book progressed any other way I think I would have been disappointed. 

So, there you have it. Some general and non-spoilery thoughts. If you read one book this year let it be The Fault in Our Stars. And I'm not just saying that because John Green is my favorite ;)

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Top Ten Books I'd Recommend to Someone Who Doesn't Read YA

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature run by the lovely crew at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend to Someone Who Doesn't Read YA

1. Anything by John Green but particularly his newest The Fault in Our Stars: If you've been to my blog before or follow me on Twitter this probably comes as no surprise to you. He is my very favorite author. His writing is clever and all around awesome. I love his plot lines and characters and word choice. I love the ideas that his books make me consider and the fact that he doesn't talk down to his readers. Yeah, I just love his books.


2. The Curse Workers series by Holly Black: Again, I am a total Holly Black fangirl. Her Curse Workers series is incredible. I think adults will appreciate the noir feel to these books. The mafia style curse working families are sure to be a hit!


3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: This is Alexie's only YA title. I certainly think fans of his short stories and novels will love it. I also think that any adult who works with teens will be able to connect. The book is honest, smart, hilarious, and heartbreaking. 


4. Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness: I am listening to book two of this trilogy and oh. my. stars. I love it! The ideas and situations that Ness addresses have universal appeal. His writing style and voice are just amazing. I would also recommend his newest, A Monster Calls.


5. Chime by Fanny Billingsley: I raved about the beauty of the language in my review of this book. I stand by that and think that adults would really love it. I highly suggest giving the audiobook a try. 


6. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: Oh the snark. So much lovely, lovely snark! I think adults may appreciate some of the subtle (and not so subtle) references more than teens!

7. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King: No matter what your age this book will speak to you (as will King's other titles Dust of 100 Dogs and Everybody Sees the Ants.) My cousin's book club (made up of adult women) is actually reading this one on my recommendation. I am so excited to hear what they think! 

8. The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta: Like The Fault in Our Stars this book broke me. Like, hit me so hard I was a sobbing mess. Marchetta writes incredibly authentic and incredibly broken characters in this book. It was so honest and intense. I loved it. 

9. Anything by Sarah Dessen: This one is for my chick lit loving friends! I suggest her books to all the adults I know who love books by Jennifer Weiner and Emily Griffin. 


10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: This may have been my favorite book of last year. I recommend it to teens and adults alike. 

Hallowed Blog Tour: Review

Hallowed

Author:Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Pages: 416
Series: Unearthly, book two
Source: ARC from NCTE conference

About  the Book: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. 

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

My Thoughts: I loved this book like... whoa. For real. As I mentioned in my review of Unearthly I was a little hesitant to read it because I thought the whole angel thing wasn't for me. Turns out I'm not a fan of the fallen angel romance deal but LOVE the part angel type stories... for example, this series :) With both books I was impressed by the writing, the pace, the characters... all of it was so well done and engrossing. Cynthia Hand = rockstar!!!


Hallowed is a "book two." This had me a little worried. I mean, was this going to be one of those books that spent half the time trying to refresh me on book one and the other half setting me up for book three? I hate that (note: that doesn't stop me from reading second books! I am a glutton for bookish pain!!) After reading Unearthly, I should have known better. Hand does a wonderful job of hooking the reader with the prologue and then working the major points from book one into the story without breaking the flow of book two. I was impressed by how flawlessly the book read. Obviously there are events and issues that lead up to the next book but there was still a lot of action and things occurring and being resolved in the now. Hallowed is one of the best middle of the series books I've read.


As far as events, I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling someone else's reading experience. I don't even feel comfortable talking too much about the characters. I will point a few things out:


* One of my favorite lines ever occurs in this book, "...admittedly creepy in an Edward Cullen kind of way." I was thinking exactly this before she said it. Thank you Cynthia Hand for acknowledging that!!!


*I found my heart breaking in ways I didn't anticipate.


*I have never been so undecided on so many issues in a book. I know what I think I want but then I also see the other side. I empathize so much with Clara and the whole "what I want versus what is best" dilema


*Having made the above statement, I still love Tucker. 


I have more notes... a lot more notes. I made many predictions (most of which were right!) and I have many ideas for book three. I cannot share any of that here because it is all spoilery. Just know that I will be eagerly anticipating the next release! I highly recommend checking this series out so we can talk about it!!! I need someone to discuss it with! 

Check out the entire tour:

10th- Eve's Fan Garden, excerpt

11th- The Story Siren, interview & giveaway

12th- The Reading Teen, review

13th- I Read Banned Books, guest post & giveaway

14th- Books Complete Me, excerpt

15th- no post

16th- YA Bibliophile, review

17th- Mundie Moms, character interview & giveaway

18th- Novel Novice, guest post

19th- Anna Reads, interview & giveaway

20th- Fire & Ice, review

21st- Page Turners Blog, author interview & giveaway

22nd- no post

23rd- GReads, review

24th- Once Upon A Twilight, guest post

25th- Hypable- interview

* Giveaways include a swag prize pack along with either a Team Christian Ski cap or a Team Tucker cowboy hat. Each blog that's hosting a giveaway will have one of these hats to giveaway, along with the swag prize pack.

Pre-Order/Purchase from: Harper Teen | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

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