In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that talks about books that have been bought, swapped, received for review, or borrowed from the library. It is hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

In the world of Middle School Swimming, the Conference meet is the biggest meet of the year. It also signifies the end of the season, so after this week’s meet, I am done coaching for the year! Hopefully things will slow down now and I can tackle my gigantic TBR pile. Because said TBR pile is taking over my room, I didn’t get much this week.

I won (from the Story Siren):

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
(Finding this on the front porch Wednesday was an awesome surprise during a busy week!)

I got from the library:
Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I bought:
New Moon the movie (I know it isn’t a book, but it’s book related)

I also cut off about a foot of my hair to donate to Locks of Love this weekend! I had pictures to post, but my camera is being dumb and won’t turn on, even with new batteries. Maybe later this week?

This is what has been going on for me . . . feel free to leave suggestions for what should move to the top of the stack!

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that talks about books that have been bought, swapped, received for review, or borrowed from the library. It is hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

The last two weeks have been crazy, so I haven’t had time for much in the way of library/bookstore trips or blog posts. However, on Friday, I made time and spent some time at the library (as you can tell by the library stickers on my books’ spines).

Here is what I found:
Dance with a Vampire (Vampire Kisses #4) – Ellen Schreiber The Coffin Club (Vampire Kisses #5) – Ellen Schreiber
Royal Blood (Vampire Kisses #6) – Ellen Schreiber
The Secret Year – Jennifer R. Hubbard
Age Before Beauty – Virginia Smith
Raven – Allison Van Diepen
The Tear Collector – Patrick Jones **
Kisses and Lies – Lauren Henderson
(which actually comes after Kiss Me Kill Me)
Kiss Me Kill Me – Lauren Henderson

** This book is especially fun for me to get because Patrick Jones is my absolute favorite librarian ever! He worked in my city when I was younger and made a huge impact on my life as a reader and as a collector of autographed books, so I’m excited to read his story.

In addition to finally catching up on getting books, I also have 3 new reviews:
The Espressologist – Kristina Springer
The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading – Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance
Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott

This is what has been going on for me . . . feel free to leave suggestions for what should move to the top of the stack!

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

author’s website: Elizabeth Scott
release date: September 2, 2008
appeals to: ages 16 and up (grades 10 and up)
genre: Contemporary
length: 176 pages
overall rating: 5 stars
Content Warning: The author points out that this book is for ages 16 and up.

*the inside flap*
Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friend – her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

*my review*
I feel awkward saying that I loved this story, because of the terrifyingly horrible things that happen in it, but this is an incredible book. Without being graphic or explicit, you are able to understand the terrible experiences that Alice goes through on a daily basis. Short chapters and intense writing move this story along at a pace that was difficult to put down. It is easily read in one sitting, but at the same time, it is a difficult story to get out of your mind.

The topics of kidnapping, sexual abuse, powerlessness, and total mind control are apparent on every page, but there are no detailed descriptions of any of them. (*Not a spoiler) I think the ending for me was difficult, because you aren’t really sure about what is happening, and then it is just over. It is a striking ending, but at the same time, you are thinking, “But what now?!?!”

Gripping, horrifying, and absolutely amazing!

*short and snappy*
writing: short chapters, fragmented thoughts, and short memory scenes create a striking story
plot: fast moving, but in a pieced-together way that makes you get a better feel for Alice’s reality
characters: fascinating – both Alice and Ray are incredibly developed, but at the same time, nothing is spelled out. You get everything from Alice’s thoughts and from the interactions between the two.
judging by the cover: I prefer the hardback cover (which I used in this post). I think it gives more of a picture of the actually story than the paperback cover which can be seen here.
miscellaneous: The idea for this book came to Scott in a recurring dream. This interview is incredible, but it is very spoilery!! Good to read after you’ve read the book (or if you don’t mind spoilers, I guess)

The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading
by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

author’s website: thegeekgirlsguide.com/wordpress
release date: May 19, 2009
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Contemporary
length: 352 pages
overall rating: 4 Stars

*the back cover*
When Bethany – self-proclaimed geek girl – makes the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there’s one thing worse than blending in with the lockers: getting noticed. She always felt comfortable as part of the nerd herd, but being a member of the most scrutinized group in her school is weighing her down like a ton of textbooks. Even her varsity cheerleading guide can’t answer the really tough questions, like: How do you maintain some semblance of dignity while wearing an insanely short skirt? What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party”? And how do you know if your crush likes you for your mind . . . or your pom-poms?
One thing’s for sure: It’s going to take more than brains for this girl genius to cheer her way to the top of the pyramid.

*my review*
I really enjoyed this story – much more than I thought I would! I love the idea of breaking down the high-school clique stereotypes, and this novel did just that. Even better, it was realistically done – a girl who is a geek one day will not just be accepted as queen of the school the next day, and this novel makes that point. I like that Bethany and Moni weren’t just automatically popular because of cheerleading. Even more, I liked that their geeky friends weren’t hugely accepting of the change to cheerleader. Overall, I thought the book was a realistic look at what might happen if the geeky girl made the cheer squad.

*short and snappy*
writing: casual – reading this story felt like a conversation with Bethany over a cup of coffee, which made it fun to read
plot: simple, but realistic – there are ups, downs, and the occasional twist
characters: varied – Bethany was well developed, but I would have liked to learn more about Jack and even Moni.
judging by the cover: cute cover – it is what actually got me to pick up the book – I hadn’t heard of it before seeing it on the library shelf

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

author’s website: Kristina Springer
release date: October 27, 2009
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Contemporary Fiction
length: 192 pages
overall rating: 4 Stars

*the inside flap*
What’s your drink of choice?
Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium Americano? You must prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie.
Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their drink orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

*my review*
This was a cute, fun, and quick read. I loved the descriptions of personalities that matched the drinks in this story, and the concept of match-making based on drink preference was very cute! The characters in the story weren’t especially developed, but did have their own quirks which helped to make them more real. I especially liked some of the minor characters that came in to be matched by the Espressologist! I would like to have seen more in terms of Jane/Cam interaction. I felt like there could have been a lot more developed in that area. But, overall, the story was a great choice for a stress-free afternoon.

*short and snappy*
writing: easy-going --- I especially enjoyed the personality that came out in the narration and the dialogue in the story
plot: quick and fun
characters: quirky enough to seem realistic, but a little underdeveloped
judging by the cover: I love the cover – I think it was very cleverly designed!
miscellaneous: Her second book, My Fake Boyfriend is Better than Yours, is due out September 1, 2010.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

author’s website: Alex Flinn
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Contemporary Fantasy
length: 371 pages
overall rating: 4 stars

*the inside flap*
Talia fell under a spell…Jack broke the curse.
I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic…
I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
I awakened in the same place but in another time – to a stranger’s soft kiss.
I couldn’t help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn’t know this would happen.
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!
Now I’m stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels....The good news: My parents will freak!
Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all – even time?

*my review*
I picked this book up thinking that a retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” would be a quick, fun read, but this book far exceeded my expectations! I love the twist that 300 years have passed before the spell is broken. It seems that Princess Talia has no clue about how to handle herself in the 21st century, and expects Jack to respond to her every need. But as you read, you realize that Talia has it more together than you would think, and that Jack hasn’t really got a handle on where his life is headed.

When Talia awakens, she comes across as naïve, bratty, and spoiled – but then again, she is a princess from the 17th century, so she is probably supposed to be that way. However, in a modern world, that just comes across as clingy, whiny, and needy…especially to Jack! As the story continues, Talia begins to learn about the modern world and adapt to it. Her diplomacy skills are mentioned and highlighted in several scenes, and I grew to really like her character.

Jack comes across as cocky and slightly arrogant in the beginning of the book, but as you learn more about his family, you realize that the arrogance is really just a shield from his parents’ lack of faith in him. He grows in confidence throughout the book, and I think events toward the end really made him quite likable.

The story is told with chapters alternating in perspective between Talia and Jack. I think it really adds to the telling, because both Jack and Talia are thinking things that are quite different than their actions. The first-person perspective makes it easier to understand the characters and shows that Flinn has really created depth in both of them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a modern twist.

*short and snappy*
writing: light – I especially like that Talia’s speaking is very proper, as is fitting a 17th century princess (this detail also comes through in Talia’s clothing choices and mannerisms)
plot: cute and enjoyable, and, while slightly predictable, there were a few unexpected twists characters: complex – both Talia and Jack have moments that you love them and moments that you hate them, but Flinn created depth in both
judging by the cover: I love the cover and it really ties in to the story (but I pictured Talia differently)miscellaneous: There is an excerpt from chapter 1 on Alex Flinn’s website (here)

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that talks about books that have been bought, swapped, received for review, or borrowed from the library. It is hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

This week, I didn’t buy any books, but that isn’t all that unusual for me. I am a HUGE fan of the public library system, and I visit quite frequently. Usually, I visit the library branch that is closest to my house. This week, however, I took a trip to our downtown “main” library branch – and I was like a kid in a candy store for two main reasons: first, there is an entire room dedicated to Young Adult materials, and second, that YA room is larger than my normal branch.
SO…this week’s books are all from the Library:
Very Lefreak – Rachel Cohn
Undead Much – Stacey Jay
Devoured – Amanda Marrone
Vampire Kisses: The Beginning – Ellen Schreiber
(This book actual contains the first three books in the Vampire Kisses series: 1. Vampire Kisses, 2. Kissing Coffins, and 3. Vampireville)
Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott
(On her website, the author notes that this book is listed as being for ages 16 and up)
Something, Maybe – Elizabeth Scott
Stealing Heaven - Elizabeth Scott
Stuck In The Middle – Virginia Smith (not YA)
Third Time's A Charm: A Novel - Virginia Smith (not YA)
The Espressologist – Kristina Springer
Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie – Maggie Stiefvater
The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading – Charity Tahmaseb
The Secret Hour – Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters #1)
Touching Darkness - Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters #2)

I’m pretty excited about all of these books! I’d love to hear any advice on books to send to the top of the stack!