Review for The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The Lying Game (The Lying Game #1)

Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: Harper Teens
Source: Public Library
Challenges: For the Love of YA, Library Challenge
307 pages

I had a life anyone would kill for. Then someone did.
The worst part of being dead is that there's nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It's enough to kill a girl all over again. But I'm about to get something no one else does --- an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet. Now Emma's desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me---- to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convice my boyfriend she's the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents goodnight? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?
Let the Lying Game begin. - Goodreads

    YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING! I didn't know this was part of a series?! (Note to self: next time do research or at least look up the book on goodreads). Here's the catch readers: the sequel Never Have I Ever doesn't come out till Augest 2011 (not so bad eh?) but the third and final book comes out in 2012! I am not going to know who did it until 2012! *sigh*

   This was the most interesting point of view set up I have ever read. We are reading what Emma (the live one - so considerate of me huh?) is feeling and seeing it through her eyes but it's narrated by her dead sister Sutton with the occasional "I wish I knew too....dah du dah" as Sutton speaking. It really gave a voice to both characters. See it mostly focuses on Emma who we feel terrible for and of course you feel bad for Sutton too, even though she is really *cough* shallow. Or should I say was. Then there is Sutton's friends who I thought were like a two edged sword... on one hand you want to trust them but you know you shouldn't so you're always suspicious. The only character I was certain about the way I felt (good or bad I won't tell) was Ethan. I was like chanting to the author, although obviously she has already written the book, please don't do a twist on this character cause I have a such strong feeling for him. Love or hate, again I won't tell. Overall, the characters in this book just added to the suspense and mystery of this story. They totally had you biting your nails.

   I couldn't get over how addicted I was to this book! Of course I was blindsided by the fact that it was part of a series, until about half way through the book when I asked myself, "I hope this isn't a series!" Sure enough... anyways it had me hooked to find out as much as I could although I realized after the fact that I won't be finding out who did it. That saddened me. There was just so much mystery! The author had you formulating potential suspects in your head but then she threw a twist in there and, at least for me, I hit a brick wall and whined "but I was so sure!" I just never knew what to expect next and I learned to not make assumptions and try to get ahead of the book. I enjoyed how the author also gave us tibits of information slowly letting us in on the real story. It was such an interesting and intriguing plot! Not too fast paced, just right for me that I had no problem with boredum but wasn't strambling to catch up.

   I recommend this to those who liked Pretty Little Liars and LOVE mystery/suspence --- You will be greatly satisfied! No doubt about that. It was an interesting read that had me glued and had my brain smoking from trying to figure everything out! I really wish I had the second book!

Excerpt:

   And even worse, every second that passed, things got fuzzier and fuzzier. Like they were disappearing.
Like  I was disappearing.
But then I concentrated really hard and I heard a muffled scream. And suddenly it was like I was somewhere else. I felt pain shooting through my body, before a final, sleepy sensation of my muscles surrendering. As my eyes slowly closed, I saw a blurry, shadowy figure standing over me.
"Oh my God," I whispered.
No wonder Emma didn't see me. No wonder I wasn't in the mirror. I wasn't really here.
I was dead.

Review for Gone

Gone (Gone #1)

Author:  Michael Grant
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Public Library
Challenges: For the Love of YA, Library Challenge
558 pages

"In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE. Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened. Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.  It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else... "- Goodreads

       Let me just get this off my chest first.... I don't think I've ever read a book that thick before! I mean over 500 pages? I am very proud that I can now say that! Gone I found was a unique read that left me wanting more of this series!

     There are many many characters in this book so I am just going to focus on Sam Temple who I believe is the main character. From the start he is a very likeable person, I found he was a perfect main character. He didn't want to be in the center of attention and have a neon sign saying 'this guys a hero' but he wasn't afraid to step up and take action. He is definitely someone you want around when the world goes nuts because he thinks, acts, and deals with consequences. There are many other kids and characters within this story, who I thought fit well. Some, one in particular, Quinn I found I never knew what to expect from him. And like Lana, I found her story awesome. Let's just say I had a few favourites.... but all the characters didn't clash instead they provided the needed attributes to make this story work and the plot turn out.



     The plot is genius. I mean a world without adults, how awesome is that? Totally not awesome. And this book brings out why. For one thing, I would have blinked out (I'm 15) which totally sucks! Second, the place goes mad. Third, kids have evil minds sometimes *shudders*. The author kept adding new elements into the story and it just built up and built up, it was a very addicting rea! What he also did was have many different POV 's (point of views) which I loved. Because this gave us perspective from all angles. Plus, at one point I was wondering: how do these seperate experiences of kids fit together? Then, bam! All of them came together and was critical for the reader to get enough facts to figure out events that unfolded. But I must warn audiences: it can get pretty cruel. It is very intense and sad sometimes. Kids die, they starve, get beat up etc. The desicions of some kids were very poor too and I constantly had to remind myself that 'hold on, these are 14 years and younger'. I am so happy if I don't find myself in that situation though....

   I recommend it to those who like future world, mystery, romance (there is some in here!), and thrills. Don't judge this book by its cover (I know it's not the nicest cover) because this is a great action packed book! I'm crossing my fingers the library has Hunger :p

Here's the book trailor:

Excerpt:

One minute the teacher was talking about the Civil War. And the next minute he was gone.
There.
Gone.
No "poof." No flash of light. No explosion.
Sam Temple was sitting in third-period history class staring blankly at the blackboard, but far away in his head. In his head he was down at the beach, he and Quinn. Down at the beach with their boards, yelling, bracing for that first plunge into cold Pacific water.
For a moment he thought he had imagined it, the teacher disappearing. For a moment he thought he'd slipped into a daydream.
Sam turned to Mary Terrafino, who sat just to his left. "You saw that, right?"
Mary was staring hard at the place where the teacher had been.
"Um, where's Mr. Trentlake?" It was Quinn Gaither, Sam's best, maybe only, friend. Quinn sat right behind Sam. The two of them favored window seats because sometimes if you caught just the right angle, you could actually see a tiny sliver of sparkling water between the school buildings and the homes beyond.
"He must have left," Mary said, not sounding like she believed it.
Edilio, a new kid Sam found potentially interesting, said, "No, man. Poof." He did a thing with his fingers that was a pretty good illustration of the concept.
Kids were staring at one another, craning their necks this way and that, giggling nervously. No one was scared. No one was crying. The whole thing seemed kind of funny.
"Mr. Trentlake poofed?" said Quinn, with a suppressed giggle in his voice.
"Hey," someone said, "where's Josh?"
Heads turned to look.

Review for My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Unfair Godmother (My Fair Godmother #2)

Author: Janette Rallison
Publisher: Walker Books
Source: Personal Hardback Copy
Challenges: For the Love of YA
320 pages

"Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control."- Goodreads

    "Applauses* Janette where do you get these ideas? Hmm? I insist on knowing! Fine, have it your way. This was a great sequel to My Fair Godmother. Both could  be read as stand-alones but frankly together they are fantastic!

   I loved Tansy as the main character. You can't help but feel like rooting her on. I love her sassy remarks that she made a few times, I'm like 'yeah show em'. She had problems with her father which were sort of resloved and throughout this book she grew so much as a character. And her wishes (not really her wishes) were what really made the story. It was very nice to see how she handled all the things that were thrown at her. By the end of the book she was one tough girl! The other character I'm going to talk about is Hudson (the cute police chief's son). *squee's with joy* Isn't the name enough? Hudson. Awesome name in my opinion. He was so, how do I put it? Just what a boy should be. Tough, yet caring, handsome, strong, sweet... shall I go on? And the friction sometimes between him and Tansy was hilarious! Every moment with those two together I was squeeing with joy! Chrissy was still the shopping loving diva and Clover was hilarious in this book also... I love the cast! And of course the other characters were great, well not so much Rumplestiltskin but who can deny Robin Hood?

   The plot itself was amazing. It didn't have as many laugh out loud moments as the first book but it had more substance. Everyone of Janette's books has a moral... including this one. It was a nice pace that kept you reading until the end so you could finally see what happened. The twists and re-tellings of the stories was incredible! Janette's viewpoint on things opened my eyes and made me say stuff like 'yeah, that makes so much sense' and 'I never thought of it like that!' This book did have humor, it was incredibly fun, a perfect book to give you satisfaction. I want to mention one more thing. Janette if your reading this... thank you so much for that ending (what Tansy did). I thought that was an amazing part of the story that made me almost cry I was so happy. I liked that magical aspect to it. So yeah the plot for this book was very entertaining.

   I highly recommend  both of these books, they will have you laughing, cringing, wondering, guessing and so much more it's hard to describe! Amazing work(wo)manship!

Check out this awesome trailor! :)

Excerpt:

“They’re not alive. They’re machines, like . . .” but I couldn’t

A car passed by our house, and Robin Hood and Little John simultaneously gasped.

Little John leaned into the window until his nose touched the glass. “What strange manner of beast was that? Lights streamed from its face.”

“A car,” I said. “They’re one of the twenty- fi rst century’s very useful things. They’re faster than horses and easier to take care of.”

Robin Hood put one hand on the glass and peered farther

down the street. “Are they friendly?

Status report and New Winner!!

Hi readers! Isn't the world a magical place where school no longer exists? Oh that's just my opinion? Well, I am having a grand ol time not having to hand in reports and tests and whatever else teachers dream up. Since I am free from the bondages of the public learning system (no it's not that bad but still) I will be posting things other than reviews. Yay! Like a few memes as well and maybe a cover discussion because are the covers getting more gorgeous or is it just me noticing? Well, that was my lame status report on to the second portion....

As most know, my first giveaway was that of Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. The winner was Cindy but she hasn't responded at all so I have to assume she is not going to. (I'm sorry Cindy if you've been on vacation or something D:) The new winner is

                                 

April X

Hopefully April will respnd otherwise I am the worst hostess of giveways. Sigh. Well thanks for reading and stay tuned for my review of My Unfair Godmother :) Peace and love...

**Update: She responded... Yay! :) **

Review for My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Fair Godmother (My Fair Godmother #1)

Author: Janette Rallison

Publisher:Walker Books

Source: Personal Copy

Challenges: For the Love of YA

320 pages

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience!

 After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy! - Goodreads

  
    What can I say? I'm a sucker for Janette Rallisons books! I thought this book was killer good... yes it could kill with its goodness. I am telling you to go get in NOW... here I'll even wait.... You got it? I know right the cover is totally fun!

  In the very beginning it starts off with a letter and report from the one and only Chrissy. I thought she was hilarious from the beginning! What a total 'teen' godmother... I mean she is conveyed exactly how she looks on the cover! A sassy, shoppin loven, gum chewer, cell phone kind of girl. The chapter that follows is written from Savannah's older sister's point of view. You can't help but like Jane, I mean she totally didn't mean to stab Savannah in the back (notice the irony?). After another hilarious letter from Chrissy's teacher stating that she left out some 'details' aka her mishaps, we come to the main perspective - that of Savvanah. Then you start reading and you can't help but feel sorry for her! I mean, really? So now you don't hate Jane too much but are conflicted with who to like.. but that didn't pose any problem for me what's so ever. Then there is Tristan. *Sigh* Tristan, Tristan, Tristan... ok *shakes head*. He is so awesome in this story! The pool scene is where we're introduced to him and as soon as that moment came bam! I knew it was going to be a great romatic story. All the characters were great and played their role excellent!

  The plot was so fitting. I don't know about you but I LOVE these types of stories... combining time travel, fairy tales, magic, laughter, and romance. I mean who doesn't want to laugh? And trust me you laugh all right... I burst into a fit of giggles over that Snow White section and when Clover makes his jokes about the food! Anyway, if you love comedy (not overdone though at all) and a fun story, look no further. The writing is awesome, the names are great (I loved the names), and the plot and turn of events will keep you reading right to the end!

  I HIGHLY recommend this book! It left me with this upbeat and satisfied feeling... I just can't explain how awesome this book was. Even though it is part of a series this is a great stand alone but you know when you see a great movie and say 'hmm I wonder what other adventure -insert name- has?' well that's what the second book does. I've  heard it's even BETTER than this one so I am extremely excitied. I guess all that's left to say is GO GET THIS BOOK!

Here is also the book trailor: Enjoy :)


Excerpt:

Dear Professor Goldengill,

Thank you for allowing me to raise my semester grade through this extra credit project. First off, let me say that I was a little worried about the whole thing. When I went into the Fairy Godmother Affairs office to get my assignment, the lady behind the desk wouldn't even tell me which of the sisters, Jane or Savannah, was supposed to get the wishes. She gave me a condescending look and told me that as a fairy godmother my first task was to figure that out. Then she handed me this huge report to read and said, "I do hope this mission is more successful than your last."

Personally, I think the main problem I had with my last assignment was the leprechaun assistant FGA gave me. I mean, I know that we have a lot of free time during these projects, but halfway through the job he wandered off to play poker with card sprites. and I never saw him again. So I told the lady that I wanted to work with, you know, some really hot elf guy or at least a unicorn, but she flipped through her papers and said, "You've been assigned Clover T. Bloomsbottle."
Which is the same leprechaun I had last time.
I asked the lady, in a very clam manner - despite what she might tell you- "What in the world is FGA thinking?"

Review for Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover (Gallagher Girls #3)

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Source: Public Library

Challenges: For the Love of YA, Library Challenge

263 pages

"When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth.." - Goodreads

  
    I LOVE this series so much!! And not because of the totally-awesome-teenage-girl-dream covers! Ally Carter is an amazing writer that will have you hooked!
 
  I absolutely adore Cammie. I mean who wouldn't? She doesn't brag - though she's awesome, she doesn't whine, is sassy, fun, relatible and totally puts the Girl in Gallagher. I mean every single time I'm reading these books, I want to swap places with her! ... But really she is totally a teenage girl who talks, acts, and thinks like one would. Ally Carter really knows what she's doing - you fall in love with Cammie as a main character. You can't help but laugh at some things she says, she's funny! Bex and Liz are back in too... I wish I had two friends like them! Liz is still as smart as ever and Bex well Bex is still as bad-kick as before. This story though has a lot to do with Macey, and I liked how we got to learn a bit more about her and how she really feels towards her life. And guess who else was there? Zach! *swoooniee* I forgot how much I love him! Though in this book he doesn't appear enough for me. I hope the next book has more of him... I love him because well he's handsome, mysterious. and apparently dangerous (supposedly by Cammie's aunt). All the characters from Cammie's mom to Mr. Solomon rock in this story.

  But come on besides the awesome cast (did I mention  how much I love Cammie and Zach -especially together?!) the plot is ROCK-TASTIC! It has spies, missions, covers, secrets not to mention action. Ally Carter knows how to keep you interested in the story enough to keep on reading. I love her writing, it flows and even with simplistic words manages to pull on your emotions (not in a bad way!).

  I highly recommend this whole series to everyone! I love love it and I hope that if you do decide to pick up these books that you'll love them too! I think I enjoyed the second one the best.... I can't wait to get my hands of the fourth (it's supposedly the best out of the series cuase there's more mystery, action and oh yeah more Cammie and Zach moments!). My hat is totally off to Ally Carter... thank you for the incredible books that make me want to sign up for Gallagher Academy! So everyone Go go get these books... you won't be disappointed!!

P.S. Check out this LINK to see the trailor fo Only The Good Spy Young!
Click HERE for the author's site and amazing amount of info on the books!

Excerpt:

   “Don’t forget the rehearsal!” her mother called, but Macey was already pulling me through the double doors.

   I caught the agent’s eye one final time as he tried to figure out what I could possibly have in common with the girl who was pulling me along. On the TV, someone said, “Cynthia McHenry is a well-known businesswoman and philanthropist. The couple has one daughter, Macey, a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, in Roseville, Virginia.”

Our school. National television.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind before Macey slammed the doors behind us, as if trapping my worries on the other side. She smiled a mischievous smile, and for the first time that day I recognized my friend in the girl who stood before me. “So, how do you like my cover?”

Review for Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties (Uglies #2)

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Public Library

Challenges: For the Love of YA, Library

370 pages

"Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong. Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive" - Goodreads

  
   As a Pretty would put it, this book was totally "bubbly". It's a great continuem of the first book Uglies and gives us more Tally! Though I didn't love it as much as Uglies.... I have to admit that.

   In this book, I was less annoyed with Tally and by the end of the book she had changed from the Tally from Uglies. Now if this was good or bad I don't know. I'm still trying to figure it out. I finished this book a couple days ago and I'm stilling sitting on the fence. But I am sort of happy to report there is a new character Zane. How do I feel about him? I like him, not totally swoon worthy but I find he is a strong, bubbly character that will definitely have an effect in book 3 (hopefully). [ Just a note for this love triangle thing going on: Tally first loved David, then she turns Pretty and meets Zane who is also a Pretty and now is in love with him. She doesn't love David anymore which breaks my heart. I was totally team David but I do like Zane. *sigh* I guess it's up to Tally but David holds a special place in my heart.] Shay is not a huge part of this book except towards the middle but sad to say I don't like her anymore. I am not going to say why though! For those who know the book will understand why I'm sealing my mouth! The other characters were all well rounded and some surprised me with their attitude change!

  What can I say, the plot was totally not 'bogus'! [I've actually started usuing the words bogus and bubbly in everyday life by accident and people are staring at me funny]. The moral of this whole series is a great one! And I find myself glued to these books. There are enough exciting events to keep you going that you don't feel like you're growing a beard but also not rushed along. It's a really nice balance. There are a few surprises and twists. But what really stands out to me is the world that Scott Westerfield built. It is so cruel and controlling but do they have the right idea? I know that makes no sense but when you read the book you'll know what I mean.

  I recommend this book to those who have read Uglies or who have any sliver of interest in this series. I find them quite engaging and they give me an escape from the world! I am crossing and double crossing my fingers that the library has Specials!

Excerpt:

   Tally let her head fall back onto the pillow. The bed was spinning like a hoverboard now, the day just starting and already wiping out.

She slipped on her interface ring and listened angrily as the ping played, saying that no one would be admitted tonight without a really bubbly costume. Three hours to come up with something decent, and everyone else had a huge head start.

Sometimes, it felt like being a real criminal had been much, much simpler.

Review for Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies (Uglies #1)

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Public Library

Challenges: For the Love of YA, Library Challenge

425 pages

"Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever."- Goodreads

    Whoa. I did not expect to like this book, especially not this much. Scott Westerfield did a great job! I picked up this book because frankly there weren't too many others I was interested in and by golly I am so happy I did! Let me explain why.

  The characters. Now to someone like me, I do not consider Tally 'ugly' actually nobody will. But to herself she is hideous because that is how people described her for her whole life. Everyone who is not Pretty, is Ugly. I found Tally I bit naive at times but that is just because of the society she lives in... so I let it slide. And good that I did because by the time she starts turning around she will make you root for her! She is very logical and can think on her feet which I think makes a main character very likeable and fun to read about. I loved Shay too, I  thought she was a great friend and so true to herself! Slight spoiler: That was why was so sad to see her change at the end.. I almost cried :(*End of spoiler* But alas I can't wait to see how this story continues with all the characters including David who I really enjoyed reading about (of course!) he was just so right for Tally and saw her for who she was, as well as his mother and their other friends! I hope it all works out for them! 

   The plot was great I thought. I didn't know it was futuristic but yes, it actually is. I found the author created a very complete world, even incorperating new slang and words which made it more real. Great world building! It also had enough events spread throughout the book that is was never slow... in fact I was glued! I couldn't tear myself away from it! It was simple writing so that it didn't make you run to get a dictionary. I enjoyed the smooth writing and how each conversation was realistic. I really didn't expect to like it but I admit I am addicted now and want to know what happens!

  Would I recommend it? Highly recommend it to those who like fun, fast paced, interesting, futuristic, and romantic books because it has all those elements and more! I looked on Goodreads and found not everyone loved it but I did and I hope that if you try it you'll like it too! I cannot wait to get my hands on Pretties.... I hope no one checked it out from the library!

Excerpt:

Tally Youngblood was waiting for darkness.
She could see New Pretty Town through her open window. The party towers were already lit up, and snakes of burning torches marked flickering pathways through the pleasure gardens. A few hot-air balloons pulled at their tethers against the darkening pink sky, their passengers shooting safety fireworks at other balloons and passing parasailers. Laughter and music skipped across the water like rocks thrown with just the right spin, their edges just as sharp against Tally's nerves.
Around the outskirts of the city, cut off from town by the black oval of the river, everything was in darkness. Everyone ugly was in bed by now.
Tally took off her interface ring and said, "Good night."
"Sweet dreams, Tally," said the room.
She chewed up a toothbrush pill, punched her pillows, and shoved an old portable heater -- one that produced about as much warmth as a sleeping, Tally-size human being -- under the covers.
Then she crawled out the window.

Review for We All Fall Down by Eric Walters

We All Fall Down

Author: Eric Walters

Publisher: Doubleday Canada

Source: Public Library

Challenges: For the Love of YA, Library

192 pages

"Today is September 10, 2001, and Will, a grade nine student, is spending the day at his father’s workplace tomorrow. As part of a school assignment, all the students in his class will be going to their parents tomorrow, but Will isn’t excited about it–he’d rather sleep in and do nothing with his friends. His father doesn’t even have an exciting job like his best friend James’s father who is a fireman. Will’s dad works for an international trading company and has to wake up early every morning to commute to his office on the eighty-fifth floor in the south building of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. Will doesn’t see his father very often because of the hours he puts in at the office. He doubts that his dad will bother making time for him tomorrow even when they are supposed to be spending the day together.

In this fast-paced and dramatic new novel by bestselling author Eric Walters, Will discovers a new side of his father during an event that continues to affect the world. As Will’s new teacher says, tomorrow “might be an experience that changes your entire life.” "-Goodreads

     What a tragically amazing book. We all know or have seen in clips and such how viewers felt about 9/11 but what were the people inside thinking or feeling? Especially the ones above the crashes, the ones with no escape? Eric Walters lets us get a glimpse of what they thought and how they felt. It may be fiction but I believe that that is as close to factual as one can get. I was this close *hold up fingers indicating a mm* to rating this book five stars.

    One thing I really liked about this book is that it is told through Will's eyes. I just don't read enough of male characters POV. It's quite refreshing. (They tend to be less whinny). Will is a strong main character through out this book. Well, of course he has to be to deal with the 9/11 attack. Best part? He is my age, the same grade! Isn't that cool? I thought it was. I found him very relatable for the fact alone. The only other main character was Will father. At first I didn't like him because he seemed like one of those father's that could care less about his kid. But we soon see that it's not his fault that's he's not home half the time and that he actually wants to spend time with Will. He was truly very caring. The characters were well written and structured, great characters for this story.

  The plot was amazingly heart wrenching. I had such strong emotions throughout this book that I felt as though I wanted to burst. I was only five when 9/11 occured so I didn't really know anything about it till now (hard to believe); I mean I didn't know many details. So I went on Youtube to get a sense of what Eric Walters was trying to convey and let me tell you he nailed the details! The story's problem I guess was the relationship between Will and his father and through 9/11 they're bond becomes stronger. It was a truly tragic day and I cannot imagine anyone justifying that action. I love this book for how it gives the readers the experience in a fast paced book that will leave your breath hitched.

  I highly recommend this to people who don't mind a tear jerker and want to be emotionally touched because I know I was. The writing may be a little simplistic but the story is not. It is an amazing tribute to the event that changed the world! My hat is off to Eric Walters!

Excerpt:

  "I'm going to recite a line of poetry and I want you all to say the next line."

There was an audible grumbling and I turned to James to ask if I'd missed a poem in the assigned reading. Suddenly my attention was caught as that girl slowly reached underneath the desk for her history textbook. My mouth dropped open and I tried not to stare . . . I wondered if she was doing that by accident or if it was a very deliberate thing meant to drive boys - to drive me - crazy.

"Ring around the rosie!" Mrs. Phelps sang out.

"A pocket full of posies," most of us chanted back after a slight hesitation.

"Ashes, ashes," she continued.

"We all fall down," we all said, finishing the rhyme.
 

Winner of Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen!

  First off can I say thank you? Thank you to all who participated in my first ever giveaway - you rule! And a big thank for those who even went the step farther to spread the word around- I am eternally grateful. Due to everyone's efforts I got around 17 entries, not bad I must admit. Without further ado.... the winner is

#13 Cindy

The winner will be emailed later today!

                                        

 I wish I could give everyone one of you something because you guys/gals are awesome! But I AM PLANNING to do another giveaway (first I have to get a book to giveaway :p) because it just felt so great to be able to give a book, not to mention fun! So stay tuned :)

Thanks for reading everyone and peace!