Audiobook Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Narrated by Kate Rudd

I am nervous to share my review of this book with you guys because I know how beloved this author is. However, I did not like this book. I didn’t realize this until I was about 60% of the way through listening to the audiobook, but once it hit me...I had a hard time finishing. I did though, mostly due to the fabulous narrating of Kate Rudd who delivered this book with such charm & life that I couldn’t stop listening, if only to hear more of her acting.

WARNING: There are some spoilers here. Tried to keep it as vague as possible, but thought it’d be fair to warn you!

So, if you’re unfamiliar with the plot (maybe I am not the only one who had never read a John Green novel), this book is about two kids who have cancer that fall in love. The love story is sweet and tragic and beautiful, but while Mr. Green’s writing is witty... I really could not distinguish two clear cut characters. Hazel and Gus blurred into ..HaGus, which is nothing like the Scottish dish. The “HaGus” is a witty, intelligent teenager that you wish you knew. It’s Juno, only better and afflicted with cancer. I did love some of the dialogue, but as I said, the characters are so similar that it blurred and lot some of its wit. Had it not been for Ms. Rudd’s distinct voices for the two different characters, I don’t think I would have gotten much enjoyment out of following their love story. Sure, in the end, there was one major difference between them which is kind of what the whole point of the book is...so I won’t spoil it, but in the end, I felt cheated. This book reminded me of “Easy A”. So many people will love it and so many others will feel like they have to say they love it, fearing retribution from fans or worried that they were just too dumb to understand its appeal. I feel the same way about that movie that I do about this book - it was trying too hard. It felt forced.

Another thing that drove me crazy was that I felt like my emotions were constantly being manipulated to feel a certain way instead of naturally feeling that way out of caring for the characters. In the end, I realized that I never really cared about the characters. I was more upset because I was thinking of my loss due to cancer (my mother) and the things I went through. I also felt so much more for their parents and was constantly relating it to how I’d feel if my son got sick.

Oh and the whole plot device of Peter Van Houten, or whatever? So....LAME. It just fell flat for me and when he shows up at the funeral? I couldn’t help myself. I groaned aloud and rolled my eyes (which was dangerous since I was driving!).

This book wasn’t for me. It seems like I’m one of only a handful of folks though who didn’t like it. John Green is an incredibly popular writer and if you just can’t get enough of that fast paced wit, you should check it out.

I listened to “A Fault in Our Stars” on audiobook. It is published by Dutton Juvenile (Penguin) and the audiobook is produced by Brilliance Audio. I purchased my copy on audible.com.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

I always feel like I need to preface my reviews of contemporary YA with “I’m not usually a contemporary fan”... but let’s face it, while I do tend to gravitate towards paranormal/fantasy/historical/science fiction, if it is well written, I’m going to read it and love it. I will try not to continue using “I don’t usually read this” as a way of saying “OMG THIS IS GOOD”. I’ll just stick saying “OMG THIS IS GOOD!”

So, let me start out with, OMG THIS IS GOOD. Haha. Seriously though, “Shut Out” was a ton of fun. I read the entire thing on my plane trip from Long Beach to Seattle for KidLitCon. I laughed out loud quite a few times. I think the guy sitting next to me was jealous that I was so entertained and he was stuck watching morning programming on TV. For those of you who didn’t watch the book trailer (shame on you. It has ah-mazing voice over if I do say so myself. Hehehe!), this story is about a girl who is tired of fighting for her quarterback boyfriend’s attention. He’s obsessed with the rivalry between the football and soccer teams, as are all the players. When one of the soccer players gets hurt due to a prank gone awry, the girlfriends band together and form a pact to not “put out” until the rivalry ends. Along the way, our heroine, Lissa, and the young women learn a lot about themselves. She knew that putting teenage lust in check would be difficult, but the sexual tension between Lissa and soccer player, Cash? Well, she never saw that one coming!

This book is just plain FUN. If you’re looking for a sexy, sassy book, then check out “Shut Out” by Kody Keplinger. You won’t be disappointed.

And yes, I am totally going to post the trailer here ONE MORE TIME since it’s cute and I voiced it. Deal with it. ;)



“Shut Out” by Kody Keplinger was published in September of this year by Poppy (Little Brown). I received a finished hardcover from the publisher for review.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

LOVE.

Okay. That’s an understatement. Let me start again. I literally hugged this ARC with tears in my eyes when I finished.

LOVE

LOVELOVE
LOVELOVELOVE

LOVELOVELOVELOVE

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

What? You want more info than that? Okay, fine. Lola is a crazy awesome teenage girl who is a budding fashion designer. Her life is pretty great. She lives in a nice neighborhood in San Francisco with two loving fathers (even if they are really strict) and has a rockin’ hottie for a boyfriend. Everything is going pretty great until figure skating star Calliope Bell and her twin brother Cricket move back in to the house next door. Cricket crushed Lola’s heart two years ago. She thought she had gotten over it, but all those feelings come rushing back, along with Cricket’s tender smiles and warm heart as they get reacquainted. Can they simply be just friends or were they destined for something more?

If you are unfamiliar with Stephanie Perkins, then shame on you. Do yourself a favor and go get her book Anna and the French Kiss right now (my review, podcast interview). I seriously cannot rave enough about her writing. It’s charming, intelligent, and oh so romantic. I don’t usually like contemporary fiction, but I adore her writing. You really connect with the characters and fall in love with the cute boys they love. It just can’t be helped! Ms. Perkins is the master of writing about cute boys. Cricket is my favorite one so far. (Sorry Etienne fans, but I love Cricket’s sweet and slightly nerdy personality!)

If you’re looking for a witty, well written romance, then this one should definitely be on your “must read” list. Warning: Your heart may turn into a puddle of warm goo and you may find you want to re-read this book over and over again. In fact, you might just want to save yourself some trouble and pre-order 2 or 3 copies right away. :D

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins is published by Dutton (Penguin). I received an ARC from the publisher for review. It is scheduled to be released on September 29th of this year.

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

This is going to be the shortest review I have ever written. Why? Well, because this book is indescribably beautiful, haunting and surreal. I don’t want to have my weak words cloud your judgement. This is not a book I’d usually read, but the cover was so beautiful and my sisters are two of the most important people in the world to me... so I decided to give it a read. I’m glad I did. I will be honest with you. It was tough for me to read at times. You won’t burn through this in one sitting like the cotton candy or addictive style YA reads. The prose is absolutely gorgeous and the plot.. well it’s a bit of a mindf@*%. Honestly still trying to wrap my head around what was reality, what was in Chloe’s imagination, etc. I seriously cannot describe it. It’s magical, mysterious, frightening, and ethereal. That’s all I can really say. If you like books that make you question what is real and what isn’t or if you have a sister that you love more than anything, this book is a must read.

Imaginary Girls is published by Dutton (Penguin). It came out in June of this year. I bought my own copy because I wanted to get the talented author to autograph it during our August special edition interview of Authors are ROCKSTARS! Go get your own copy and listen to the interview. :D

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young’s “A Need So Beautiful” is a classic tale of good vs. evil and duty vs. personal desires. The plot is a bit formulaic, but it’s a formula that works and is well used by Ms. Young. Her writing is engrossing and it brings you in and doesn’t let you go. I read “A Need So Beautiful” in less than 24 hours... I just couldn’t stop. I cared so much for the characters and needed to find out what happened to them in the end.

Charlotte tries as hard as she can to lead an ordinary life, but fate has other ideas. She keeps getting these impulses to help strangers. She’ll be minding her own business, spending time with her sexy motorcycle ridin’ boyfriend and wham! She’s hit with an overwhelming urge to help someone specific who needs her help. They could be across town or in the building nearby. The need guides her to wherever she is needed. She has kept this urge a secret from her loved ones (her best friend just thinks she’s psychic), but it’s starting to consume her life and now her body. She finds out that she is part of a bigger plan and that her existence on earth is limited. However, when an eerie woman offers her an opportunity to stay with the boy and family she loves, will she choose to stay with the people she loves even if she may turn into a monster? Will she embrace her destiny and be the light the world needs?

This book is paranormal light. Despite being about angels and good vs. evil, it really has a contemporary feel to it. In fact, Suzanne Young talked about that a little bit in our Authors are ROCKSTARS! interview. She wrote it first as a contemporary, then laced in the paranormal elements. I think it would be a great book to recommend to people who aren’t really into paranormal romance, but are interested in trying it out. Ms. Young does a great job avoiding any major religious affiliation with the angels, so for those that are religiously squeamish, do not avoid this book based on that fear. The relationship between Harlin and Charlotte is so sweet as is her friendship with Sarah. You really connect with Charlotte and feel her pain at helping out so many strangers while not being able to aid those dearest to her.

This is truly the first published angel book I have read that I’ve enjoyed. Have a tissue box ready though folks. Ms. Young really makes you care for these characters and with the decision Charlotte has to make, a happy ending is just not in the cards for Charlotte.

“A Need So Beautiful” was published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) in June of this year. I purchased this book. Be sure to go listen to the podcast with Suzanne Young, Cindy Pon, Nova Ren Suma and Holly Goldberg Sloan over at AuthorsareROCKSTARS.com.

Audiobook Review - The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams, Narrated by Jenna Lamia

Breathtaking. That’s the one word I keep using to describe this audiobook. It literally stole my breath while listening... from shock, from anger. I just couldn’t help but vocally react to what was happening to Kyra as I listened. This book is powerful and then when you combine it with Jenna Lamia’s amazing narration, beware. It will blow you away.

“The Chosen One” is the story of Kyra, who is a thirteen year old girl living in a religious polygamous colony. She doesn’t really know any other life since the leaders of her religion have isolated the colony from the outside world. She’s beginning to learn that something isn’t right when starts reading books from the county mobile library and also falls in love with a local boy. Then the Prophet, their leader, decrees that she is to become the seventh wife of her biological uncle who is sixty years old. Kyra faces the decision that will forever changer who she is - become the wife of a violent and domineering man and lose her identity or find some way to leave the colony. But can she leave her family behind. Will she be able to escape with her life?

I honestly am having a hard time putting into words how I feel after listening to this audiobook. The story is powerful and horrifying. I found myself yelling out loud for Kyra to leave and wanting to punch her uncle for being such a horrible human being. It really evoked an emotional response and I think anyone can connect to Kyra. She’s a very relatable teenage girl, despite her extraordinary circumstances. Ms. Lamia’s narration is so intense. She does a great job making distinct transitions between the large cast of Kyra’s family and really personalizes Kyra’s grief. The combination of the author’s words and Ms. Lamia’s narration was incredibly moving. You may want to avoid listening in the car. I was in tears quite a few times.

This audiobook runs 5 hours and 33 minutes. It’s no surprise that this one the Audie Award for “Solo Narration - Female” this year from the Audio Publishers Association. Congratulations to both Ms. Lamia and Ms. Williams. Audiobook fans, check this one out today.

I purchased this audiobook through Audible.com. “The Chosen One” is written by Carol Lynch Williams and published by St. Martin’s Griffin. The audiobook is narrated by Jenna Lamia and produced by Macmillan Audio.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

I’ve been having a hard time writing this review. I enjoyed “Forgotten” by Cat Patrick while reading it, but as it came to an end, I found myself disengaging from the plot line. Ms. Patrick is a very talented writer and I hate to put a negative vibe out there because as I said, I did enjoy “Forgotten”, but the plot line was very ambitious and I just feel like it was missing...something. I’m not quite sure what that something is though. I enjoyed the ride and would definitely recommend it despite this weird hang up of mine.

Everyday is a new day, but we always come into it knowing what happened the day before. For London Lane though, all she has is a note. For some reason, London remembers things from her future, but not from her past. It sure doesn’t make high school life or friendships/relationships easy. Talk about awkward! To top it all off, London is plagued with nightmares and she can’t determine who they are about or the “when” these nightmares come from. She decides it’s time to dig into her past beyond the notes and journals she keeps for herself. To quote goodreads.com, “Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.”

“Forgotten” is such an interesting read and as I mentioned before, an ambitious concept. I really enjoyed watching London unravel her past without being able to access the memories locked in her mind. Ms. Patrick’s writing is splendid. She took on a lot with this novel and I think she handled it quite well. I fell in love with the characters and the romance between our heroine and Lucas. It’s just SO sweet. I absolutely love friendship based romance and this one is delightful. The book started to lose me towards the end, partially because I wanted to stay focused on Cat and her life rather than on the conflict presented. It wasn’t like Ms. Patrick’s writing wasn’t engaging (I cannot emphasize enough that this book is so well written!). I don’t know why... I’m just a weirdo.

Seriously, this book is really interesting and a great read for anyone who enjoys a good psychological drama and/or romance. It is unlike any other book on the market right now so read it for a complete change of pace. I’m sure you’ll love it!

I received a copy of “Forgotten” from publisher. It is published by Little, Brown for Young Readers and was released on June 7th of this year.

The Ghost and the Goth/Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

“The Ghost and the Goth” and “Queen of the Dead” are two books in a series by Stacey Kade. I’ll try to keep this spoiler free for those of you who haven’t read “The Ghost and the Goth” yet. The story follows a teen girl named Alona Dare. Alona has it all. She’s intelligent, beautiful and a master of manipulation. Her life is a game of chess and she’s the queen. (Although she would NEVER relate her life to something as dorky as chess. Ew!) Unfortunately, that life is cut short by a freak accident and now she’s left hanging around in this in between zone - among the living, but without being alive anymore. She has some unfinished business, but she can’t figure out what or how to finish it so she can move on to that mega mall and closets full of shoes in the sky. She’s walking around campus, seeing how people are reacting to her death, when she stumbles across Will, the boy who likes to wear dark clothing and hangs out with a girl with safety pins in her face. Will laughs at her...because he can SEE her. Will is a ghost talker. The poor guy is haunted by ghosts all day long and is seen by his mom and people around him as mentally ill. Alona decides that Will is just the guy to help her and she is a girl who is used to getting her way. She won’t take “no” for an answer and maybe Will isn’t exactly as anti-Alona as he seemed back when she was alive. Will though has some problems of his own including a weird cloud of a ghost that is haunting him and the fact that his psychologist wants to lock him up in a padded room. This unlikely duo pairs together to solve both of their problems and ends up forming a fun and sassy friendship. The question is can they both make their problems go away without killing each other (again!) first?

When I sit down to review, I try to take a look each book from three different perspectives. I think about three general types of readers that might be interested in my reviews.
1. Someone like me - This is a reader who obviously likes young adult literature, but prefers things oriented to older teens or that are not contemporary (since fantasy I think crosses the age barrier the easiest).
2. Someone like my friend Estelle or my husband - They are both very intellectual readers and while they appreciate some YA literature, they are both a lot more particular than I am about what they’ll read. For example, Estelle has a lot of trouble with the “whiny teen” voice.
3. My younger sisters - They aren’t big readers. They both like books that grab your attention quickly and don’t let go. They don’t have the patience for books that lack that addictive quality.

Where do I put “Queen of the Dead”? Well, I don’t think Estelle would read it, but I could totally see my sisters and I discussing it over a cup of coffee at Starbucks (or what I call a sugar with a tiny bit of coffee.. hah). It’s a fun, light read with an addictive quality that I think would really appeal to its teen audience. It’s also a fun read for a young adult fiction fanatic, like myself, who wants something light in between intense fantasy or romance books.

“The Ghost and the Goth” and “Queen of the Dead” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re fun reads that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. It’s the perfect read for a summer outing to the beach. This series has a more contemporary feel to me than other paranormal romances, making it appealing to readers who usually shy away from fantasy/paranormal romance. The witty repartee between Will and Alona is really cute and sassy. Alona isn’t the most likable character in the world, but you come to care for her as she learns how to be a nice person (or deal with the consequences, but I won’t spoil it!). Will is just a troubled teen who walks this fine line in his life. He knows he isn’t crazy, but he also can’t exactly blame people for not believing him either. He really can’t be himself with anyone, until Alona comes along. He has a refreshing vulnerability and isn’t the stereotype he appears to be at first. He really develops, especially in “Queen of the Dead” into this sweet guy who just wants to not be alone in the world anymore. So for a fun, sassy quick read, check out this series. I’m excited to find out what happens to our duo in the next one!

I was provided with an ARC of “Queen of the Dead” by the publisher. It is published by Hyperion and was released on this past Tuesday (May 31).

Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen

If you could wish away all your troubles and get a new life, would you? Seventeen year old Hazel has been given that opportunity. On the day she decides to finally approach her birth mother...she is given a gift. The seamstress that she brings her thrift store dress to not only repairs her gown, but unknowingly to Hazel, gives her three magical dresses in return. Each dress corresponds to one wish. Hazel discovers her unexpected fairy godmother’s magic when she is thrust into the past on a journey to complete her first wish... a wish to get to know her mother.

This book floats like its magical butterflies in a few different genres. It seems to take all the best pieces from every genre and blend them into a solid, emotional tale of self-discovery and strength. “Wishful Thinking” is technically a sequel to Alexandra Bullen’s first book “Wish”, but it reads as a standalone. This book makes me think of my mother. As I mentioned in my review of Lost Voices, my mom had a thing for stories about wounded people. Hazel definitely fits the bill. She’s been on her own all of her life. She was adopted by a woman who passed away when she was just a baby and has been passed from home to home since. She doesn’t know who she is or where she belongs. She has lived her whole life in survival mode, not getting to close to caring about anything since it could all just get taken away. Then she gets this incredible chance to possibly change her whole life story. It’s a story of self-discovery and learning that part of what makes you who you are as a person are the challenges you face along the way.

I really enjoyed “Wishful Thinking”. It was really thoughtful and well written. There is something in it for everyone - romance, a touch of fantasy, time travel, and some deep characters. The end made me teary eyed, so be sure to have a box of tissues near by. You may need them! Man, I really just don’t have much to say. It was very enjoyable and really defies words. It won’t blow your mind, but it will certainly make you think. What would you do if you were given three wishes? Would you change your life or are you happy with who you already are?

I was provided with a copy of “Wishful Thinking” by the publisher. This book is published by Scholastic and was released in January of this year. Go pick up a copy today.

Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

I hate to write negative reviews, but I really did not care for “Two Moon Princess” by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban. It looks like I am alone in this camp. It’s not that I hated it. Ms. Ferreiro-Esteban’s writing style just didn’t jive with me. I felt like it was a lot of telling instead of showing, which as you know from some of my previous reviews, is a pet peeve of mine. I know this is something difficult to do as I’ve learned from my writer friends. To be honest, I don’t know how you guys do it! With my job, I get critiqued and sometimes, yeah, it hurts when it is negative, but in the end, I know that I got paid to do the job the director wanted. But with writers, it’s YOUR baby. Sure you have editors and whatnot, but in the end, it’s your work and you don’t get paid unless people like it. That is ROUGH and I admire anyone who has the guts to write. You have to lay it all out there.

Anyways, back to “Two Moon Princess", the plot is really quite interesting. It’s about a headstrong young princess who wants nothing more than to be a knight, but her parents have other plans. They’ve indulged her, but now that she’s 14 (17 in our world) it’s time for her to learn to be a lady. Problem is, Andrea isn’t lady material! She lives in a medieval period world that legend says holds portals or doors to other worlds, including Earth where Andrea’s ancestors originally came from. Well, Princess Andrea ends up traveling between our world and her own .. and learns a lot about people and herself along the way.

Sounds really cool right? I think it has the potential to be an amazing story, but just falls short due to the writing. That’s just me though. Lots of people obviously really love it and if that sort of thing doesn’t bother you, then you should check it out. The pacing is slow at the top, but it really picks up toward the end. It’s definitely different than anything else I’ve seen recently and will make for a refreshing read for fantasy and even time travel lovers who want something a little different.

“Two Moon Princess” is published by Tanglewood Press. I received a digital copy for review. It was published in June of 2010 so you can find it at your local bookstore or online today!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

“Anna and the French Kiss” by Stephanie Perkins is a-freakin-dorable so READ IT NOW. There. That’s all I need to say, right? Seriously though, this book is so fun and romantic. I do not normally like contemporary young adult fiction and I absolutely adore this book. I went out and bought a couple copies of it to give to my sisters and my best friend.

Anna is sent away to Paris by her nouveau riche father (who is an author a la Nicolas Sparks..mwahaha, nice touch Ms. Perkins) for her senior year of high school in an effort to broaden her horizons and make him look super fancy. As if leaving her best friend and guy friend (def boyfriend potential) behind wasn’t hard enough, she’s thrown into the world of upper-crust snobbery in a country where she doesn’t even speak the language! Luckily, she falls into a great group of friends and meets the perfect guy, Etienne St. Clair. He’s a Parisian, whose also American, but has lived extensively in London so he has a British accent. Plus, add in the fact that he’s an incredibly nice guy and is slowly becoming her best friend. Perfect right? Oh yeah, there’s just one little hiccup - she’s maybe-sorta-kinda taken by that potential boyfriend back home and he’s in a long term relationship. Yowza.

To be honest, the description of the book didn’t have me convinced. As I said earlier, I’m not a big fan of contemporary YA. I’m more of a fantasy/paranormal/historical gal myself. I decided to take the plunge and give “Anna and the French Kiss” 50 pages... if it hooked me, great, but if not, I’d go back to my comfort zone. It had me in less than five pages. The writing is just so sharp, fresh, and charming. I instantly loved Anna and Etienne. I cared so deeply about their happiness and let’s face it, I’m always a sucker for best friend romances. (Yes, Twilight fans, I was unabashedly Team Jacob and will continue to pretend that “Breaking Dawn” never happened. Ugh.) For a teen romance, it is so wonderfully realistic too. It’s so very real and sweet. There is no crazy love triangle. There is no lusty instant sexual connection. It’s real world love and it’s beautiful.

This book will have you saying “oo la la!” Seriously, I know I’m being a total cornball here, but I cannot stress enough that if you like LOVE, you will ADORE Stephanie Perkins’ “Anna and the French Kiss”. And if you don’t like love, um, please go get help.

I know this came out a little while ago, but I just had the opportunity to read it recently (thanks Lalitha for loaning it to me!). I now own my own. :D You can get your very own copy at your favorite bookstore. It is published by Dutton Juvenile (Penguin).

Shine by Lauren Myracle

“Shine” by Lauren Myracle was hard to read, but not because it was bad. It was just so good, intense and gripping that I found myself savoring this tale of self-discovery and mystery. It deals with some very heavy topics including drug use, alcohol abuse, sexual molestation/pedophiles, violence, and homophobia. So, be warned if that isn’t your cup of tea. It isn’t my usual either, but Ms. Myracle’s writing brought me in and kept me engrossed until the very end.

Set in the deep south, “Shine” is the story of an innocent young woman who takes the law into her own hands when she finds out her childhood friend (who is gay) has been brutally beaten and left for dead in a degrading and hateful way. Along the way, she faces the shadows of her own past and learns how to overcome in order to do what is right.

Y’all might like these parts:

• Setting - AMAZING choice. The setting of a small mountain town in the South adds so many interesting layers to what could have ended up being a simple mystery. The drug use, alcohol abuse, and homophobia all comes about due to the setting. It’s an impoverished town with small-town, somewhat religious values. The tight knit community protecting its own and their belief systems provide a dynamic challenge to Cat’s investigation.
• Cat - Cat really discovers her strength as a woman when she comes up against road blocks in her investigation and is forced to face her own personal demons. Ms. Myracle did a great job at slowing peeling back the layers to Cat’s psyche, creating additional mystery besides our main plot. Absolutely lovely character development!

Maybe could use a little less moonshine:

• I would have liked to seen more of our other main male character. I feel like sometimes he became an afterthought. I can see how developing him further though could have hurt the pacing.

“Shine” is an interesting combination of self-discovery and mystery that I think adults and teens would both find engaging. The setting is what really makes the story. Not only is our heroine, Cat, facing some pretty major demons of her own, but she’s trying to go up against this tight knit, impoverished community to find justice for her friend. The setting creates additional challenges for Cat and adds a really fascinating layer to the story. This is a story that will stick with you afterwards and really make you think. It’s definitely intense, but well worth the read. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing this one winning many awards this year!

“Shine” is scheduled to be released on May 1st of this year by Amulet Books (an imprint of Abrams). Thank you to Amulet/Abrams & NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

When describing “Prom & Prejudice” by Elizabeth Eulberg to my husband, I said it was like cotton candy. It is a sweet and fluffy treat with little substance that I enjoy eating on special occasions. After reading some dystopian books lately, “Prom & Prejudice” was just the light reading snack I needed to lighten the mood. I devoured it in less than 24 hours.

Yum yum:

• It was fun seeing how Ms. Eulberg adapted Austen’s romance to fit into today’s society and make it relevant to teenagers.
• Lizzy is absolutely adorable. I loved her character and I had fun following her adventure. Her reaction to finding out about Will’s parentage was incredibly well written.
• This book is SO charming. I think Austen fans will definitely appreciate it and that Ms. Eulberg did a great job handling the application of a modern world with Austen’s original story. It also may end up introducing teens to the world of Austen too which is wonderful. A+ Ms Eulberg!

The calories:

• Will Darcy was a bit flat as a character. Obviously, since I know P&P so well, I knew he had the hots for Lizzy, but I don’t think my 17 year old sister would have had a clue.
• I know that this book deals with the upper crust of society, but at times, I felt like Ms. Eulberg was trying to hard to stay too close to Austen-esque language. It felt like a bit of a stretch. I didn’t mind it, but I would worry about it appealing to a crowd unfamiliar with formal speech patterns.

Overall, Ms. Eulberg’s “Prom & Prejudice” is positively delightful and a book I would recommend to anyone who is looking for something light and fun to read.

Thanks to Scholastic for providing me with a copy of "Prom & Prejudice” to review. It is currently available online and at your local bookstores.

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

I have mixed feelings after finishing "Here Lies Bridget" by Paige Harbison. This novel tells the story of mean girl Bridget Duke, who basically is a carbon copy of "Mean Girls" character Regina George. She rules the school through fear and celebrity. Some of her peers worship her, others despise her. What Bridget doesn't realize is that she is a psychological bully.

The first portion of the book was hard to get through. I didn't see any redeeming characteristics in Bridget's character. I know that the author said a few times that she was a better person (especially around love interest, Liam). However, we never saw it. I think that had we seen a bit more of the softer side of Bridget prior to her time in purgatory/judgement... maybe I would have felt a bit sorrier for her as she saw how much she's hurt the people in her life.

Her time in judgement helped raise this book from a one star to a two star (using Goodreads.com scale of two stars = "it was OK"). This portion of the book was incredibly well written and emotionally powerful. I really connected to Bridget's character (finally!) and I loved the journey she went through as she saw her actions through someone else's eyes.

Well, this review may be short, but it just about covers it. Get past the first portion of the book. If you were bullied in high school, it may be a bit hard to stomach, but once you're through, it's actually a lovely tale of redemption and doing the right thing.

"Here Lies Bridget" published by Harlequin Teen. They provided me with an advanced reader's copy. The book is scheduled to be released in February 2011.

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

This book made me miss my mom. I know that seems a little strange, but my mother was a CASA worker and a long time foster mother (over 30 foster children, plus her own 4!). She would have enjoyed this interesting take on what happens to abused children.

Lost Voices is the first book in a series and to be honest, it sometimes feels like pieces are missing, making the plot a bit disjointed. The book follows the story of Luce (short for Lucette) who is a mild mannered, troubled young teen. Her father, who was a “diamond in the rough” type, has presumed dead after being lost at sea and now Luce lives with her alcoholic and bitter uncle. She is treated poorly by almost everyone in she encounters and has become a weak slip of a girl. After the abuse hits a breaking point, she transforms in this dark and mysterious way into a mermaid. In Ms. Porter's world, abused females turn into vengeful mermaids/sirens who take revenge on the human race for having wronged them in their past life.

Ms. Porter's mermaid lore is very interesting to read and I found it a nice twist from the romantic paranormal young adult books I've been reading as of late. While this book definitely falls into the paranormal category, it is a book that deals with real life issues including abuse (physical and sexual), revenge, the moral dilemma of right and wrong, etc. I really enjoyed seeing Luce's character develop from someone who has been beaten down for years to a strong young woman who follows her own moral code, which is different than the society she lives in. In addition to interesting character development, the writing style of Ms. Porter is incredibly exquisite. She definitely has a gift for using words as an artist as well as a storyteller. Lost Voices stimulates the imagination with absolutely gorgeous visual images. I do not think that I have ever saved so many passages from a fiction book to my clipboard on my Kindle. I just wanted to be able to re-read these visual passages again. They were like beautiful sweets to feed my imagination.

While I greatly enjoyed Ms. Porter's novel, it did have its downfalls. The plot seemed a bit disjointed at times and I wasn't sure where it was going. There was no real action. However, I'm eager to see how the second book develops. It might explain some of the questions I now have after completing Lost Voices.

Overall, it's a solid debut novel that takes an interesting real life topic and adds an unusual paranormal twist. Great job, Ms. Porter!

Lost Voices is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. They provided me with an advanced reader's copy. It is scheduled to be released in July 2011.