2010 February

Age Group: Young Adult
Other Books by This Author: Sisters in Sanity
Received From: Library
IBSN: 9780525421030
Blurb:
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck…
A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

My Thoughts:

I knew going into this book that it would be sad. Heartbreakingly sad. Cry your eyes out sad. So I really didn’t have any other expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the whole story was utterly amazing!

This book is about the ultimate tough choice. Should Mia stay and live the rest of her life without her Mother and Father and her little brother. Or should Mia let go and face the unknown just so she doesn’t have to face life without the people closest to her. Mia has to make this choice while her body in lying in the ICU. She is just a invisible observer.

To really make Mia’s story more powerful the author tells her history in flashbacks. Her history with her boyfriend, with her best friend, and of course her family. All the characters in this book felt so real to me. Even the ones that died in the first 10 pages. I felt for Mia. What a terrible choice to have to make. I found myself thinking what would I do in her situation?

Overall, this was a incredible book. I caught myself smiling throughout even with the sad topic. So don’t count it out just because it’s sad. It’s above all a beautiful story about love and family. I highly recommend reading it!

5 Stars!

Filed Under: Gayle Forman, Young Adult

Facts on Friday(4)

February 26, 2010 By Lori 1 Comment

I’m sure most of you heard but…..Gayle Forman, author of the incredible book If I Stay announced on Wednesday there WILL be a sequel. I’m super excited about this! I just read If I Stay a couple of weeks ago and my review will be posted tomorrow. She went on to say that it takes place 3 years after the end of If I Stay and it’s from Adam’s POV! It’s titled Where She Went.
I’m really happy it takes place 3 years later or else it would be a little depressing. It will still probably be a bit depressing.

The new cover for Magic Under Glass was recently released. I can honestly say that all the controversy aside I really like this cover better. Not only does it represent the main character well but I also feel it goes better with the story. It has all the little gears in corner which I like. Where as the old cover had the fairies under the glass. Which was a very small part in the book. What do you think about the new cover?

Lisa McMann did a book signing in Decatur, GA on Wednesday. I had all the plans to go but then I got called about a job interview! So I had to do that on Wednesday, when I would have much rather went to the signing. But enough whining. Kelsey at Just Blinded Book Reviews went and she has some great pictures AND some videos of Lisa reading from her upcoming books The Unwanteds and Cryer’s Cross! How awesome is that! Now I’m so mad that I didn’t go! Go check out the post and the videos HERE.
Oh and Kelsey is also having a Giveaway for a signed copy of Wake and a ton of swag!!

I want some suggestions! For happy make you feel good books. I have been reading a lot of sad books lately and now I really need happy ones!! Books along the lines of Perfect Chemistry and Going to Far or just anything that you love and is feel good! Please suggest some!

Filed Under: Facts on Friday, Gayle Forman, Jaclyn Dolamore, Lisa McMann

Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

February 25, 2010 By Lori 9 Comments

Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: May 2009(UK) May 1, 2010(US)
Other Books by This Author: Flyaway
Received From: Book Depository
IBSN: 9781906427139
Blurb:
Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don’t exist – almost.

My Thoughts:

It’s been a couple of days since I finished this book and I’m definitely still trying to digest it. Did I like it? I’m not really sure. Did I dislike it? No, I can’t say that. Was it an engaging read? Most definitely.

Stolen starts off with a bang. With Gemma getting kidnapped from the airport. But the rest of the story was a little slow and drawn out. But not so much that it didn’t keep me interested. The story is told in a letter Gemma, the main character, is writing to her capture. I thought that was a very intriguing was to tell the story.

I still had some mixed feelings after I finished the book. Maybe I still have mixed feelings. Don’t get me wrong though, the writing was great. But I was so torn between wanting Gemma to escape and wanting her to stay with Ty. That made it a big confusing mess for me.

This book definitely made me think. While the ending left me a bit unsatisfied, I can’t think of any other way it could have ended. I still really recommend this book. Read it and decide for yourself!

4 Stars

You can enter to win this book on my 500 Follower Giveaway!

Filed Under: Lucy Christopher, Young Adult

Waiting on Wenesday(34)

February 24, 2010 By Lori 14 Comments

September 28, 2010 Delacorte Books for Young Readers

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Doesn’t this sound great!!? I can’t wait to read it!

Filed Under: Waiting on Wednesday

Dragging Up the Past(7)

February 23, 2010 By Lori 7 Comments

Welcome to Dragging Up the Past, where we are going to spotlight not necessarily old books but books that don’t get as much attention as they deserve. Hopefully this is going to become a every Tuesday thing. With a different book and a different Blogger every week.

This week’s Dragging Up the Past is Me!

The Society of S by Susan Hubbard

I got this book from Paperbackswap.com after hearing about it on Shelfari. I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew it was a vampire book but that was about all I knew. The narrator is very young but she comes across as very mature. It’s full of mystery and suspense. It will definitely keep you turning pages.
The vampires in this book aren’t your everyday vampires. I loved that! They are completely different from any thing I have ever read. The writing was fantastic and I still recommend this one today. So read it!

There is a sequel, The Year of Disappearances which I read and loved too but I have searched high and low for any info on a 3rd book and I can’t find any. The last book definitely left some question unanswered so I would LOVE a 3rd book!

I would like to have a different Blogger highlighting a book every week. So if you would like to write a post for this feature please e-mail me at pureimagination77(at)gmail(dot)com

Filed Under: Dragging Up the Past

Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

February 22, 2010 By Lori 8 Comments

Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: 1 ARC Tours
Other Info: 2010 Debut Author Challenge
IBSN: 9781606840382
Blurb:
Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

My Thoughts:

Sydelle has settled for a life in the middle of nowhere. One day she will marry her childhood friend they will have children. Her children will have children and then she will die. That is what Sydelle expects of her life. What any person from Cliffton would expect of their life but with the rain everything changes.

Alexandra Bracken has created a magical and adventurous love story like no other. I was hooked from the first page. The world was very visual and easy for me to imagine.
The story is told in a very different way then most young adult novels right now. There is romance but it is almost nonexistent. It takes a backseat to the adventure but still somehow stays a main focus. Did that make any sense…I loved the way it was done. It almost made you love North more. And crave the romance more!

Speaking of North. What an unlikely male lead! I get so tired of these perfect male characters with there perfect powers and perfect hair. Finally a character with flaws and funny ones to boot! I might have fallen in love a little bit! Just a little.
All in all I loved this book. Alexandra has written an excellent debut and I’m so happy she shared it with the rest of us. I do have one little complaint….I need a sequel! Like now!

4 Stars!