Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters

Author: Meredith Zeitlin
Publisher: Putnam
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Pages: 288
Source: ARC from publisher


About the Book: Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny. 

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it. 

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…



My Thoughts: What a cute and quick read! I thought I'd just read a few chapters and a couple hours later I was done with the book. I couldn't put it down! Meredith Zeitlin flawlessly meshes the high school mentality and drama with refreshing and witty humor. 


Kelsey is very much a fourteen year old girl. She gets caught up in how everything affects her and views her parents, teachers, and school in ways that made me shake my head. Still, I found this to be very authentic and she grew on me. I loved her resilience. Time after time her plans came crashing down around her yet she managed to keep going. I love it when a character can laugh at the situations they find themselves in even as they seem awful! Plus, any book that contains the phrase, "the endless cycle of injustice that is my life" on the first page is sure to entertain! 


While the humor is what really stuck with me (I was still smiling and giggling hours after finishing the book) there is a delightful depth to the story. Kelsey and her friends deal with issues that any teen could encounter. I appreciated the thoughtful ways Meredith Zeitlin addressed these. She wasn't preachy at all but still brought up questions I hope my students would consider if they were in the same situation. 


At the risk of doing all these books an injustice (I hesitate to compare books!) Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters reminded me of a female version of David Lubar's Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie with girly humor to rival Louise Rennison's Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging. (Each of these books was awesome in its own way and I highly recommend reading them all!)


Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters is a must read for those going in to high school, those currently navigating the social waters of high school, and those (like me) who look back at their high school days and shake their head. Yes, this encompasses everyone! 

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

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

Hidden

by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: September 11, 2012

Published by: Harper Teen

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride.
But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse,
a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue
her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself,
though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control.
As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian
can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be
only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

Look at the pretty!!! I am oh so very, very excited for this release! Sophie Jordan consistently gives us great romance with adventure and basically awesomeness. So much excitement. 

Major Crush

Major Crush

Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 1, 2006
Pages: 304
Source: Gift from the lovely Erica


About the Book: Marching to the beat of a different drum...

Tired of the beauty-pageant circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles--drum major of the high school marching band.

Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute...

But as the drum majors' heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything--including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster.

My Thoughts: I was introduced to Jennifer Echols books when amazon recommended Going to Far and I needed to spend a few more dollars for free shipping. I then read Forget You and Love Story as soon as I could get my hands on them. It was love! Imagine how excited (and surprised!) I was when the lovely Erica from The Book Cellar sent me Major Crush for Christmas! 


Major Crush was my first romantic comedy by Echols. Considering how much I adored her romantic dramas I am somewhat shocked and appalled with myself for waiting so long to give this one a read! I am hooked!


This book is everything I was looking for. It's a lighthearted and romantic read that still has a strong plot, developed characters and depth. The romantic tension between the main characters is so well executed. Witty dialogue, solid "minor" characters, and humor meshed authentically with the story make this a book I devoured in one sitting. Obviously this is one of those reviews where I could just gush and gush about the awesome!


If you've never read anything by Jennifer Echols I highly recommend you remedy that situation STAT! Check out her website to see her romantic comedies and romantic dramas. You cannot go wrong! 

In My Mailbox (50)

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.

I've had a crazy busy week with parent/teacher conferences and my grad class so you get poorly taken pictures today!

Destined by Aprilynne Pike

Thanks Shanyn! You are a doll :) 

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Thanks Scholastic!

(Remember that time I met Meg Cabot and she said she liked my blog? Yeah, that was amazing. I've read this book and LOVED it. I have a signed copy so I'll be doing a giveaway with this paperback copy.)

The Galahad Books by Dom Testa

The Comet's Curse

The Web of Titan

The Cassini Code

The Dark Zone

Cosmic Storm 

The Galahad Legacy

Thank you Karen!

Perception

Perception

Author: Kim Harrington
Publisher: Point (Scholastic)
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Pages: 288
Series: Clarity, book two
Source: unsolicited ARC from publisher


May contain spoilers for book one


About the Book: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you? 

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past. 

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her. 

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back? 

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

My Thoughts: I was so very excited when I opened a surprise box from Scholastic and found this book among the titles. Clarity was one of the first ARCs I ever received and a book I reviewed when I first really started blogging. I loved it and could not wait for book two! Perception was worth the wait.


I was hooked from chapter one. It's very short yet mysterious. Chapter two takes the reader back 16 days so you don't know how the events of chapter one carry out until the end of the book. I loved this.  It kept me guessing throughout the story.


The progression of the story and the growth of the characters and their relationships since book one were really well done. Clare's involvement in the case from Clarity has given her a new found popularity that she doesn't trust nor want. It has also sparked a desire to use her gift for more than entertaining tourists. It was interesting to see how she changed. I also loved seeing how her relationships with Justin and Gabriel played out. The regular "high school drama" fit seamlessly with the drama surrounding the missing girl. It just worked so well! 


If you enjoy mysteries with a dash of romance and a paranormal twist Perception is for you! I read it in one sitting! 

Waiting on Wednesday (46)

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

The Crimson Crown

by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: October 23, 2012

Published by: Hyperion

A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed— Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.
     Now, once again, the queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana’Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible. Tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells’ inner turmoil, Raisa’s best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she’s falling in love.
      Navigating the cutthroat world of blueblood politics has never been more dangerous, and former streetlord Han Alister seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?
      A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series.

Ohmystars. I need this book in my life! Cinda Williams Chima writes some of the most amazing fantasy out there! Her world building is truly incredible. I just love, love, love this series to pieces. Han, Raisa, Dancer... so many characters to care about! This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year!

Allegiance

Allegiance

Author: Cayla Kluver
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 490
Series: Legacy, book two
Source: e-galley from Netgalley for review


Warning! Spoilers for book one ahead! 


About the Book: Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive. 

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return... 

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge. 

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn....
My Thoughts: Allegiance is a book I have been waiting a long time to read. I first read Legacy back in early 2010. When I finished the book I wanted more immediately. Two years later I finally got to see what happened next! And oh my! Now I need Sacrifice! 


As we begin the prologue of Allegaince Narian (***dreamy sigh***) is back in The Overlord's hands. The Overlord (Boo! Hiss!) has in his possession something to blackmail Narian in to doing his bidding. (Cue dramatic music!) And that is all we see of Narian until his story meets up with Alera's again. 


Chapter one begins with the pomp and circumstance of Steldor's (another ***dreamy sigh***) coronation. Since Steldor and Alera are now married this is also Alera's ascent to queen. I really enjoyed all of the descriptions this entailed. As a reader you really get a feel for the importance of the occasion. It also paints a detailed picture for the reader. Having this happen right away made it easier for me to picture later events without needing as much description. I found it very helpful.


As you can imagine (if you've read Legacy. If you haven't I would just like to point out that I did warn you about spoilers!) Alera and Steldor's marriage is not off to a fabulous start. Alera is still in love with Narian and so not in love with Steldor. Steldor is losing patience with her. Now they have the added stress of running the kingdom. This is not a recipe for success. 


At the beginning of the book I was a bit frustrated with Alera. I understand that she did not want anything to do with Steldor and she didn't feel ready to wed, much less be queen. Still, I really felt that she saw fault in everyone else but herself. She didn't seem to think about her actions or take responsibility for them. As the book progresses Alera really grows and I came to like her a lot more. I was really glad to see this change. Alera is eighteen. So much has been thrown at her in such a short amount of time. To top it all off she is heartbroken. I can forgive her for being a bit self  indulgent at the start!


I think London is still my favorite character. I really just love him. I was thrilled that we got to learn more about his past in Allegiance. He is such an interesting character. 


Overall I really enjoyed Allegiance.  I love the world that Cayla Kluver has created for us. The action and the heartbreak are both stepped up from Legacy. I honestly could not put the book down! I need you all to read it so I can discuss more without spoiling events in Allegiance!

Allegiance Tournament Kick-off!

I am oh so very excited to be kicking off the blog tour for Allegiance by Cayla Kluver. I read Legacy when it was first released a couple years ago and was dying for the sequel. You can imagine how thrilled I was to hear that Harlequin Teen had picked the series up! As an added bonus? Cayla is a Wisconsin girl like me and an absolutely delightful person! 

Now on to the tour! This is a tour like no other I've ever been on. It's a tournament between Lord Steldor and Lord Narian, Hytanica and Cokyri. How fun is that? Plus, there are daily giveaways as well as an awesomesauce grand prize! 

Here at YA Bibliophile I am starting things off right with the champion of Hytanica, Lord Steldor!!

CHAMPION STATISTICS:

Lord Steldor

Son of Cannan, the Captain of the Guard, Steldor comes from a long line of prestigious military men and represents the epitome of youth, strength, and skill in the Kingdom of Hytanica.  He is intelligent, witty, bold, and always has the last word in an argument (even when he’s wrong).  He charms all those around him, except, it seems, for Alera, the woman to whom he is married.  Side by side, Steldor and Alera are crowned King and Queen of Hytanica, and given responsibilities usually shouldered by men and women twice their age.

At 21, Steldor is, in fact, the youngest king Hytanica has ever crowned.  He also made history by being the youngest graduate of the Military Academy, and then was quickly promoted to leading troops in battle.  His abilities with a sword and with his fists are known kingdoms over.  His confidence, shrewdness, good looks, and temper are legendary, as are his sense of duty and steadfast loyalty to his friends and kingdom.  

Nearly black hair and deep brown eyes give Steldor a dangerous and alluring look.  He stands at six-foot-one, and his build is that of a warrior – broad-shouldered and muscular, with arms that almost any girl in the Recorah River Valley would happily have wrapped around her.  Needless to say, he boasted quite a reputation as a lady’s man prior to his betrothal to Alera.  His general approach with women is to captivate them or command them, but rarely to listen to them.

He has been called egotistical and conceited, but as his father points out, he is still young.  There is much time for Steldor to grow and mature, and once he has, he could easily make history once more – as the greatest king Hytanica has ever known.

Series Information:
Book 1: Legacy (July 2011)
Book 2: Allegiance (March 2012)
Book 3: Sacrifice (November 2012)


About Allegiance - 

Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indiebound
AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUEEN IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY AS THEIR COUNTRIES PASS THE POINT OF NO RETURN…

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….

About Cayla Kluver - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
Cayla Kluver was born on October 2, 1992, in Wisconsin.  She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook

Don't worry! I didn't forget about the prizes! Allegiance is on tour with daily give-aways of Allegiance and a grand prize give-away of a Kindle Touch skinned in the sumptuous Allegiance cover art.

To win the Grand Prize of the Kindle Touch you will be able enter at the end of the Tour by guessing which Champion won The Tournament! Be sure to check out all the tour stops!


Monday, February 20th - YA Bibliophile 
Wednesday, February 22nd - For Those About To Read 
Friday, February 24th - Books With Bite 
Monday, February 27th - Harlequin Blog 
Tuesday, February 28th (Book Birthday!!) - Hippies Beauty & Books 
Wednesday, February 29th - Starting The Next Chapter 
Friday, March 2nd - A Cupcake and A Latte 
Monday, March 5th - Electrifying Reviews 
Wednesday, March 7th - Kindle Fever 
Friday, March 9th - Unabridged Andrea



Daily entries for the copy of Allegiance are managed through the Rafflecopter widget below.

Open US/Canada.  See full contest rules here.

In My Mailbox (49)

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.

Yes, I am in my pjs!

Bought:

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Gifted:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Thanks Jillian!

For a Blog Tour:

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Thanks to Kensington:

Awkward by Marni Bates

Thanks to Scholastic:

Choke by Diana Lopez

Grim by Anna Waggener

Border Town: Crossing the Line by Malin Alegria

Devine Intervention by Martha Brockenbrough

Cardboard by Doug Tennapel

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

How to Survive Anything! Boys Only written by Oliver Martin, illustrated by Simon Ecob

The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford

1nf1n1ty by Rachel Ward

Sleuth or Dare: Partners in Crime by Kim Harrington

Game Changers by Mike Lupica

Goosebumps: Wanted: The Haunted Mask by R.L.Stein

Invisible World by Suzanne Weyn

Whatever After: Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski

Zac and the Dream Stealers by Ross MacKenzie

Lucky Stars: Wish Upon a Friend by Phoebe Bright

The Big Something by Patricia Reilly Giff

Bird & Squirrel: On the Run by James Burks

I am Sacagawea written by Grace Norwich, illustrated by Anthony VanArsdale

The Letter Q edited by Sarah Moon

The Chronicles of Avantia: Chasing Evil by Adam Blade

The Loser List: Revenge of the Loser by H.N. Kowitt

The Pack: Dogs of Drowned City by Dayna Lorentz

Gold Metal Summer by Donna Freitas

Graveyard Shift by Chris Westwood

Thanks to the lovely Tara for this darling card and journal. It's perfect for taking notes for reviews! 

A Wrinkle in Time Blog Tour

I am so very excited to be a part of the 50 Years 50 Days 50 Blogs tour for the 50th anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time. If you've been following the tour you know that this is the Reading A Wrinkle in Time for the first time leg of the tour. Young me had absolutely no desire to read this book. Until I was in college I was convinced that I did not like fantasy/sci-fi/anything that could not really happen. I remember being in late elementary or early middle school and a friend tried to get me to read this book:


Friend: Oh my goodness. You have to read this book!!!
Me: Yay! Another book! What's it called?
Friend: A Wrinkle in Time and it is so so so so so good!
Me: Ummm, a what in time? Sounds kinda, ummm, well.... What's it about?
Friend: Well there's this girl and she has glasses and braces and she's really kind of awkward and doesn't really fit in. You'd like her. You're a lot alike!
Me: o_O  Thanks? Also, I don't wear glasses. Or braces.
Friend: Okay but you need braces. Anyway, her dad is missing and there is this boy with red hair and then there are these ladies and they're like really odd and stuff. One is actually a horse/man/rainbow thing with wings. Oh, and her brother is this super smart little kid and I don't understand him and they have a dog! I love dogs.
Me: Oooookkkaaayyyyy. Do they, you know, do anything or are they just kinda there?
Friend: They go all these crazy places and are rescuing the dad from IT but it's like in space so they wrinkle time to get there. Get it? Wrinkle. Time. A Wrinkle in Time???
Me:  Ummm, I think I'll stick with The Babysitters Club.


This description put me off the book for approximately twenty years. When the 50th anniversary of the book rolled around I jumped at the chance to be a part of the celebration. So all in all I guess it's a good thing my friend was really bad at describing the book! 


Macmillan has done some really cool things for the 50th Anniversary edition of the book, First, you can check out their facebook page. Then there is this very cool book trailer:

The 50^th Anniversary edition of the book includes:

•       Frontispiece photo*†

•       Photo scrapbook with approximately 10 photos*†

•       Manuscript pages*†

•       Letter from 1963 Caldecott winner, Ezra Jack Keats*†

•       New introduction by Katherine Paterson, US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature  †

•       New afterword by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Voiklis including six never-before-seen photos †

•       Murry-O’Keefe family tree with new artwork †

•       Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery acceptance speech

* Unique to this edition                † never previously published

Okay, on to what I am really supposed to be posting, my thoughts as a first time reader of A Wrinkle in Time:

You have to love a book that starts, "It was a dark and stormy night." Classic. It sets the tone perfectly. And then we meet Meg. Poor Meg. She is the epitome of awkward young teen... glasses, braces, crazy hair. She feels alone and somehow fundamentally wrong. She doesn't fit in at school and though she loves her family she doesn't feel she fits with them either. It's easy to see why so many teen readers identify with her (still, it was not cool of my "friend" to point out my similarities!)

Charles Wallace was an interesting character. I adored the fact that he had two names. I also loved how loyal he and Meg were to each other. I did have a really hard time with how well spoken and intelligent he was. I know he's unique but there has to be more. Maybe it's explained more in the other books?

And Calvin. Oh, dear, sweet Calvin. He is so proper and darling. He is polite to Mrs. Murry and kind to Charles Wallace. He holds Meg's hand and tells her she is the nicest thing to happen to him in a long time. I approve of him as a crush for tween/teen readers! 

As far as the story itself goes... there was a lot going on! Meg is swept up in a whirlwind adventure to save her father and perhaps all of humanity. The book touches on so many themes and ideas. It was a lot to absorb in one reading. A Wrinkle in Time is the kind of book I could read over and over and still find new ideas. Clearly a book that stands throughout time!

Random things I think I noticed as an adult reading the book for the first time that I probably wouldn't have cared about as a younger reader:

*I really wanted the kitten to have a name. WHY DOESN'T THE KITTEN HAVE A NAME?!?

*Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who, and Mrs Which. Why don't they have periods after the abbreviation of Mrs?!? This threw me off every time.

*Charles Wallace. I know he is supposed to be this super smart yet odd five year old but it really creeped me out. I have a 5 year old nephew. He talks about super heroes and movie characters and poop.

*Calvin is a 14 year old popular junior on the basketball team? Does not compute.

*There is a line about the moonlight flashing across Meg's braces. Followed by the use of the phrase "dreamboat eyes." 

*Calvin and Meg hardly know or talk to each other. At all. Through the whole book. The do hold hands quite a bit though.