Keep Holding On

Keep Holding On

Author: Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: May 31, 2012
Pages: 224
Source: e-galley from publisher via NetGalley


About the Book: A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.

My Thoughts: This is a book I will definitely be buying for my middle school library. I think my students will love the romance and the high school setting. I love that they'll be getting a look at bullying from the perspective of a teen living through it. 


Keep Holding On is told from Noelle's perspective. We don't get a whole lot of detail about the past. Also, we don't see every second of every day. Instead it's really more of glimpses of what Noelle is thinking about and going through at the time. When things from the past affect her in the moment we learn more about them. I think this will keep my students interested. They are very "in the moment" as well :)


Noelle is dealing with so many issues... bullying, self image, and parental neglect to name a few. It was a lot to take in but I felt it was handled in such a way that it won't overwhelm the readers. I can see many of my students identifying with different aspects of what Noelle is going through. Noelle grows and become stronger throughout the story. This is something I like for my students to see. 


Keep Holding On is a great read for any teen, whether or not they are dealing with bullying. I know I'll be recommending it like crazy once it arrives for my middle school library. 

Waiting on Wednesday (59)

Waiting on Wednesday

Venom

by Fiona Paul

Release Date: October 3, 2012

Published by: Philomel

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, access to the best balls, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

But when Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of secret societies, courtesans, and killers. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

A book set in Renaissance Venice? Heck yeah! After reading a brief excerpt from Venom I cannot wait to get my hands on it!! Plus, the cover looks super great!

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Author: Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Pages: 416
Series: Steampunk Chronicles, book two
Source: e-gally from publisher through netgalley


About the Book: In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

My Thoughts: The Girl in the Steel Corset was one of the first steampunk books I read. It was a wonderful introduction to the genre and just a good book in general. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is a great addition to the series. I enjoyed it just as much as book one, if not more.


The Girl in the Clockwork Collar picks up shortly after book one ended. Finley, Griffin, Emily, and Sam are on a dirigible headed to New York. They're on their way to try and help Jasper. As much as I adored the steampunk London setting of book one it was fun to get to see a steampunk version of New York City too. I really liked how we get both the posh society that Griffin has access to as a duke and the seedy areas where the gangs rule. 


And oh the delicious romantic tension! Finley and Griffin, Sam and Emily, Jasper and Mei! I loved it all! I'm particularly fond of the dynamics of Finley and Griffin's relationship. He's a duke. She's a commoner. Add in their "special abilities" and it becomes even more complicated. And of course there is the Jack Dandy factor as well! Like I said, delicious. 


I could go on and on but I fear you'd get sick of reading. A quick list of a few things I loved that I just HAVE to mention:
*Multiple narrators (Finley, Griffin, Jasper)
*Tesla!
*I love that Finley is a tough girl but oh man can she be reckless!
*Emily... she is just awesome. I love her spirit!


Basically you just need to read the book! The Girl in the Clockwork Collar a delightful blend of action, adventure, mystery, romance, and invention with a wonderful steampunk backdrop. I didn't want it to end.

The Nightmare Garden

The Nightmare Garden

Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Publication Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Pages: 417
Series: The Iron Codex, book two
Source: Purchased audiobook


About the Book: Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.


My Thoughts: I listened to and reviewed book one, The Iron Thorn, back in October. I was so excited to get back in to the world Caitlin Kittredge created and spend some more time with the wonderful characters. Plus, the audiobooks are so well done and such a pleasure to listen to. I love the narration!


The action in this book never stopped. Aoife and her friends are on a desperate quest to save the Iron Lands (our world) from the havoc Aoife has released by destroying the Lovecraft engine. I loved being introduced to new lands and characters. 


Before listening to this story I had been in a bit of an audiobook slump. This one had me totally engrossed in the story. I couldn't get enough. A few times I had to turn it off until I was not driving because I was afraid I'd get distracted! 


There was a brief moment at the end of the book where I thought I was going to scream. Okay, I actually did scream. No way did what I think just happened happen. If it did I was done. I could not read any more! Turns out what I thought happened did but I should have trusted the author because she handled it in such a way that I am dying for book three! 


The Iron Codex books are not to be missed. The world, the characters, the adventure... I just loved it all!

In My Mailbox (61)

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 didn't receive any books in the mail this week. I didn't buy any either! However, I always forget to share the books I got through NetGalley. I thought I'd show you the ones coming out in June.

June 5: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo from Henry Holt and Co. 

I've already read and raved about this one! DO NOT MISS IT!

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. 
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. 
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

June 12: Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson from Random House Children's Books

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

June 14: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick from Dial Books for Young Readers

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another
“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

June 19: Something Like Normal by Trish Dollar from Bloomsbury USA

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

June 26: Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel from Random House Children's Books

Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she’s never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone, when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west" (California). 
Along the way she meets Jack a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there’s also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate.

I'm super excited to dive in to all of these! Thanks so much to all the publishers :)  

Dark Parties: Author Interview

Hello and welcome! YA Bibliophile is the next stop on the blog tour for Sara Grant's Dark Parties! Today I have an author interview and a giveaway for you! First, a bit about Dark Parties and Sara Grant: 

Dark Parties: Sixteen-year-old Neva was born and raised in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. Hundreds of years ago, her country constructed an electrified dome to protect itself from the outside world. What once might have protected, now imprisons. Her country is decaying and its citizens are dying. 
Neva and her friends dream of freedom. 
A forbidden party leads to complications. Suddenly Neva’s falling for her best friend's boyfriend, uncovering secrets that threaten to destroy her friends, her family and her country -- and discovering the horrifying truth about what happens to The Missing. . . 

 Bio: Sara Grant was born and raised in Washington, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with degrees in journalism and psychology, and later she earned a master’s degree in creative and life writing Goldsmiths College, University of London. Sara is senior commissioning editor for Working Partners, a London-based company creating series fiction for children. She has worked on ten different series and edited more than 75 books. Dark Parties is her first young adult novel.

Author Interview:

YA Bibliophile: I read in your bio that you have a degree in psychology. Did that come in to play at all when you were writing Dark Parties?

Sara Grant: Understanding – or at least observing – human behavior plays a fundamental role in developing characters. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University, but I think my life experiences have a bigger influence on my characters than any scholarly study. 

YAB: Speaking of college, if you could design your own degree that was made up of any kinds of courses that you wanted what might it have looked like? 

SG: I love learning. While I was attending Indiana University for my bachelor’s and Goldsmith’s College for my master’s, there were so many more classes I wanted to take. If I had endless money and time, I think I would never stop taking classes. The quirkier the better. Classes and seminars are always a great source of inspiration. Subjects that might not initially seem interesting can end up generating the best ideas. So my own degree would be an eclectic mix of everything from archaeology to forensic pathology from the history of rock ‘n’ roll to philosophy and everything in between.

YAB: Do you have any writing rituals or steps you need to follow when working on a project?

SG: I try not to be too precious about my writing time. I try to write whenever and wherever I can. I find some of my most productive writing is on planes, trains, boats, etc…. Sometimes shaking up my writing time and location helps inspire me. 

YAB: If you could travel to the world(s) of any book(s) you’ve read where would you want to go?

SG: I hate to avoid the question, but the truth is…there’s no place like home. Also I tend to read lots of dystopian novels – so I definitely wouldn’t want to go to any of those settings. I love murder mysteries and thrillers. Most of those locations prove they aren’t too friendly to tourists. I recently took an amazing vacation in the Maldives. For a week I was on this really small island in a hut over the ocean. I may have to use it as a setting for a future novel just so I can go back there!

YAB: What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

SG: I’ve only recently discovered Libba Bray. I read Going Bovine and Beauty Queens last year. The books are wild and imaginative and layered. As soon as I finished them, I wanted to go back and read them again because there was simply too much to appreciate in one reading.

Thanks so much to Sara for taking the time to answer my interview questions. I too am a fan of all things Libba Bray! Also, I wouldn't want to visit any of the dystopian settings I read about either! No fears about avoiding that question!


Check out the full tour here!


And now for the giveaway... I have another of the book-inspired necklaces to give away!

There is only a week to enter so do so ASAP! US only. Must be 13 years or older to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ruby Red

Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date:
Pages: 324
Series: Edelstein Trilogy, book one
Source: Bought for my school library


About the Book: Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the eighteenth century and in contemporary London, they can trust. (goodreads)

My Thoughts: I had heard a lot of good things about this book but I never picked it up. I'm not really sure why. I didn't really have a clue what it was about. Then I saw the cover to the next book Sapphire Blue and the new cover for Ruby Red:

 

They had me intrigued. I had some time the other day at work and so I picked Ruby Red up off the shelf to read a couple chapters. I couldn't put it down! I was immediately sucked in to Gwen's world. Everything I found out had me wanting to learn more and more and more. 


I mean, just the idea that there is a gene or something in a person's blood that determines their ability to time travel is so cool! To make this idea even more awesome there is a prophecy, secret societies, family secrets, and mystery. There is even a bit of romance (which I hope to see explored more in books two and three!)


I think what I found most surprising was that with all the dramatic elements of the book there was still quite a bit of humor. Gwen is a teenage girl. She is dealing with a somewhat crazy family, school life, and an unforeseen ability to time travel. I loved her wry comments. Also, her best friend Lesley was a great addition to the cast of characters. The way she suggests movies to learn more about any topic cracked me up. 


Basically you just need to read this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. It is certainly one I'll be purchasing for my personal collection. Now I just have to figure out how to be patient while waiting for book two!

Waiting on Wednesday (58)

Waiting on Wednesday

Miracle

by Elizabeth Scott

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Published by: Simon Pulse

Megan survived the plane crash—but can she survive the aftermath? An intense, emotional novel from the author ofThe Unwritten Rule and Between Here and Forever.Megan is a miracle. At least, that’s what everyone says. Having survived a plane crash that killed everyone else on board, Megan knows she should be grateful just to be alive. But the truth is, she doesn’t feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn’t feel anything at all. Then memories from the crash start coming back.      Scared and alone, Megan doesn’t know whom to turn to. Her entire community seems unable—or maybe unwilling—to see her as anything but Miracle Megan. Everyone except for Joe, the beautiful boy next door with a tragic past and secrets of his own. All Megan wants is for her life to get back to normal, but the harder she tries to live up to everyone’s expectations, the worse she feels. And this time, she may be falling too fast to be saved....

Elizabeth Scott. Enough said. She is a must read author for me!

Of Poseidon

Of Poseidon

Author: Anna Banks
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Pages: 324
Series: Of Poseidon, book one
Source: e-galley from NetGalley


About the Book: Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk. (goodreads)


My Thoughts: So, you've probably noticed that there are a slew of books coming out featuring mermaids. I've been really interested in trying one out. Of Poseidon was a great place to start. (Please don't tell Galen I lumped him in with "mermaids!" I know he's Syrena!!!)


Of Poseidon starts in the middle of a scene. Emma has walked face first in to a really good looking guy (who turns out to be Galen.) I like how we are introduced to Emma through this. It's typical Emma... a bit clumsy and a bit embarrassing. That seems to be how it always goes for her. She's not entirely comfortable in her skin. As the story progresses the reader realizes that this is likely because of her "Gift" (mentioned in the summary.) 


There is a lot of tension in this story. Tension between Emma and her mother. Tension between those "of Poseidon" and those "of Triton." Tension between Galen and those who believe he spends too much time with humans. And of course, the romantic tension between Emma and Galen. That last one was my favorite! 


One of my favorite parts of the story was watching as Galen and the other Syrena who are spending time with humans learn more about human life. It was fun to see their take on pop culture and the customs of a typical American teenager. I also really liked the science aspect of the story. We get a look at what physically makes a Syrena different from humans. 


The ending, while a bit predictable, is a total cliffhanger. I was NOT ready for the book to end. I have SO many questions that I still need answered! I'm looking forward to more in book two.


Of Poseidon is a fun summer read. Can't wait? Get a taste from the chapter sampler here! Also, check out the Fierce Reads facebook page to see if Anna is coming to a bookstore near you! I know I can't wait to get my book signed in Naperville :) 

Dark Frost: Author Q&A

Today I am pleased to welcome Jennifer Estep to the blog! I've devoured every one of the Mythos Academy books. Dark Frost, book three in the series, comes out May 29! 

Here's a little bit about the Mythos Academy books from Jennifer's website:

The Mythos Academy books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s magic lets her see everyone who has ever touched or used an object as well as feel their emotions — the good, the bad, and the ugly.After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen finds herself shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendents of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and more. The academy is located in the fictional suburb of Cypress Mountain, North Carolina, and the kids there are training how to use their magic and various skills to fight Reapers of Chaos. The Reapers are some seriously bad guys who want to free the evil god Loki from his mystical prison so Loki can take over the world and enslave everyone.Gwen doesn’t think that she belongs at the academy or that she’s any kind of warrior, but she’s wrong — and she’s a lot stronger than she realizes.

And now for the interview...

YA Bibliophile: I'm a sucker for any type of mythology. With all the different mythologies worked in the Mythos Academy books they are such a treat! What made you decided to incorporate multiple mythologies instead of focusing on one culture's?

Jennifer Estep: Thanks. I’m glad you are enjoying the mythology in the books. I really like mythology-based stories, but it seems like most of them only focus on one type of mythology. There are so many interesting gods, goddesses, warriors, creatures, and stories in mythology, and I just thought it would be fun to write a story with a world that was a little more open-ended and include more than one type of mythology in it. That way, I could use bits and pieces from different mythologies. So that’s what I did with the Mythos Academy series.

YAB: Even with all the crazy things that go down at Mythos Academy it seems like such an awesome school! Whenever I read about boarding schools I totally regret my boring public high school experience. Where did the idea of Mythos Academy come from? 

JE: One of the first things I thought about for the academy was the Library of Antiquities. I just thought it would be really cool if there was this huge, slightly creepy library with all these statues on it that also contained all these mythological artifacts. Once I had the idea for the library, I just sort of built the rest of the campus around it, and that was how I came up with the academy.

YAB: Spartans, Vikings, Valkyries, Romans, Amazons, Gypsies and more! They all have different powers and characteristics. I can imagine that makes it fun to craft your different characters. Which is your favorite type of "warrior whiz kid" to write and why?

JE: I like writing about all the different warrior whiz kids and showing how they use their different powers and abilities. I’m always trying to think of new and interesting powers and ways that they can use their magic.

YAB: While each book in the Mythos Academy has had it's own story they all work together in an overall arc. The way authors do this always impresses me! When you started writing the series did you know what each book was going to be about or did you only know the overall arc? How do you make it all work together?

JE: I generally know the overall story arcs and the big things that need to happen in certain books to drive the characters and the various arcs forward. But I’m also a panster in that I don’t do extensive outlines of what happens. For example, I don’t plot out each book chapter by chapter. Usually, when I start writing a book, I know the characters and the major turning points of the story. Once I have those in mind, I just sit down and get to work and see how the plot fits in with the larger story arcs that I want to tell.

YAB: I'm assuming you've read a number of myths and the mythos of some different cultures. What's the most interesting myth or belief you've come across in your reading? 

JE: One of my favorite stories is the one of Psyche and Cupid because it’s a myth but it also has a bit of fairy-tale quality to it. Plus, it has a happy ending, as Psyche and Cupid are finally reunited. I just like the idea that love conquers all.

YAB: If you could be a part of the pantheon for any culture which would you choose?

JE: That’s a tough one, but I think it would be cool to be Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. I would imagine that being the goddess of victory that you would always win at everything. I think that would be an interesting power to have.

YAB: There are a number of mystical artifacts and supernatural creatures in the Mythos Academy books. If you could have any artifact or any creature for a pet which would you choose and why?

JE: I think it would be fun to have a pet gryphon that I could fly around on.

YAB: Logan. Quinn. Oh man. I just love him! I mean, Gwen is kick butt and awesome too but the bad boy with a kind heart? SOLD! Is there a character that you enjoy writing more than the others? 

JE: I probably have the most fun writing Vic, Gwen’s talking sword. He’s so bloodthirsty and completely unapologetic about it. I always have a good time imagining the outrageous things he would say in any given situation.

YAB: Mythos Academy has it all.... action, romance, mystery, humor, and more! Is there a type of scene that is easier to write than the others? Is there one that is hardest? 

JE: I really like writing fight scenes. I always enjoy trying to think of ways that Gwen can use her brains and magic to defeat the bad guys. It can be tough for me to write some of the scenes between Gwen and Logan. There are so many things I want to capture about their relationship – how they feel about each other, what they like about each other, their insecurities, and the things that are keeping them apart. I just really want to pack a lot of emotion and feeling into those scenes, and that can be challenging sometimes.

YAB: So... read any good book lately? 

JE: I recently finished Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas, which I enjoyed, and I’m looking forward to reading Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore; Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter; and The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, among the other books in my TBR pile.

Thanks so much to Jennifer for stopping by! I love these books. Getting to learn more about them is such a treat! And now a treat for you lovely readers... Jennifer has offered a copy of Dark Frost for you to win! US only. 13 or older to win. Use the google form below to enter! Ends May 31.

In My Mailbox (60)

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.

Just a quick video to share three awesome books from this week! 

Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo (Thanks Ksenia and Macmillan!)

Dark Parties by Sara Grant  (Thanks Hachette!)

Endlessley by Kiersten White (Thanks Kiersten!!!!!!)

Dark Frost

Dark Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Pages: 336
Series: Mythos Academy, book three
Source: e-galley from author


About the Book: I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life. (from goodreads)

My Thoughts: Mythos Academy is a series I really enjoy. I love the way it blends mythologies from all around the world and works them in to a modern day setting. The fact that the setting is a boarding school is a huge plus! If you've seen my review of Touch of Frost (book one) or Kiss of Frost (book two) you've already heard me go on and on about how much I enjoy it! 


There were some pretty big secrets revealed to Gwen in book two. She is also given a quest to accomplish in order to prevent another Chaos War from occurring. Dark Frost starts soon after Kiss of Frost ends. And oh what a start it is! We jump right in to the action and are reminded that Gwen is part of a world on the brink of war. 


I really liked the tension Gwen's "dual" life creates. On one hand she's a teenaged girl. She has the "regular" problems... friends, school, boys, etc... On the other hand there is the whole "champion of a goddess trying to prevent a war of the gods" thing! Add in the fact that Gwen has some psychic powers as part of her gypsy blood and you can see how crazy her life can be. 


Dark Frost is a solid addition to the Mythos Academy series. I love the combination of action, romance, mythology and high school life. 

Take A Bow

Take a Bow

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Publication Date: April 1, 2012
Pages: 278
Source: ARC and Finished copy from publisher


About the Book: From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform. (goodreads)

My Thoughts: Oh man. So many things I love! A performing arts high school, NYC, multiple narrators, a band, and, of course, it's an Elizabeth Eulberg book. You know right there that I loved it! 


Take a Bow focuses on the main characters during their senior year at performing arts school. However, the books starts off back when they were auditioning to get in as freshman. I really liked the way this set the story up. We have some insight to the characters and get to fill in the blanks as the story goes.


 Emme, Sophie, Ethan and Carter alternate narrating the different chapters. It's a perfect example of why I love books with multiple narrators. We get to know how the characters view themselves and how others see them. This is especially important with a character like Sophie! I just love seeing the same situation from many different points of view. 


Take a Bow was a treat to read. It deals with many of the issues that teens deal with in high school (not just performing arts school!) and still manages to be fun! I was totally impressed with the way Elizabeth Eulberg did that! If you like contemporary YA (or honestly, even if you don't!) I highly recommend you give this one a try! Bonus factor? MUSIC! 

Hey look! I remembered to take a pic this time!
Me and Elizabeth Eulberg
Wisconsin girls!