My Thoughts: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

4 yummy ice cream sandwiches.

Cover Love:  I do love this cover!  I love that it celebrates the friendship that is a focus of the book rather than the romance.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I have had this as an ebook for awhile, but hadn't taken the time to read it.  Then this week, this book was available during my library's book fair. Everyday I would pick it up and read a little bit.  Finally I just gave in and read it all!  Here's the synopsis from Good Reads:

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what?

Romance?: Yes!

My Thoughts:
I liked the romance in this book, but the memories of Sloane and Emily's friendship is really what drives this book.  Emily is so sure she is lost without Sloane, but when she opens herself up to a world without Sloane she learns she is not lost, she is fun and worth knowing.

I liked how the author kept the story fast paced and moving forward, giving us new characters and giving Emily new experiences, yet slowly doling out information about Sloane.  Sloane was the catalyst for Emily's story, but she wasn't the focus.  The book really focused on friendship.

I didn't love the absent parent aspect, why do young adult books always have to invent a way for parents to not be present?  Although Emily's parents are around, they aren't available.  But, they don't sound like horrible parents, just really caught up in their work.  I think this story would have been fine if they had been present, just working normally.

The author did a great job of giving us a picture of the girl Emily was before she met Sloane and the girl she thought she became when she had Sloane with her.  Emily had no confidence or strength of character on her own, she thought she got it all from  Sloane.  She did a great job of taking steps to realize she was strong on her own and she was also different than Sloane.  She didn't need to be a copy of her.

I adored Frank!  Perfect book boyfriend and one that I was glad to see developed a friendship with Emily before it went anywhere.

To Sum Up:  A great summer novel about friendship and romance.  Fun read!

My Thoughts: Nightfall by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski

4 frosted brownies.

Cover Love:
Yes.  This has such a creepy feel to it.  I love the font and I love the tagline at the top.  It all works!

Why I Wanted to Read This:
The synopsis caught my eye right away.  It seemed like such a weird and scary idea.  Here it is from GoodReads:

On Marin’s island, sunrise doesn’t come every twenty-four hours—it comes every twenty-eight years. Now the sun is just a sliver of light on the horizon. The weather is turning cold and the shadows are growing long.

Because sunset triggers the tide to roll out hundreds of miles, the islanders are frantically preparing to sail south, where they will wait out the long Night.

Marin and her twin brother, Kana, help their anxious parents ready the house for departure. Locks must be taken off doors. Furniture must be arranged. Tables must be set. The rituals are puzzling—bizarre, even—but none of the adults in town will discuss why it has to be done this way.

Just as the ships are about to sail, a teenage boy goes missing—the twins’ friend Line. Marin and  Kana are the only ones who know the truth about where Line’s gone, and the only way to rescue him is by doing it themselves. But Night is falling. Their island is changing.

And it may already be too late.

Romance?: We come in at the start of a possible romance between Line and Marin.

My Thoughts:
The world of YA and MG books has been so saturated with dystopian books that I forget there are straight up fantasy/sci-fi books that aren't dystopian.  This is a fantasy book, set in a world vastly different than ours.  It's not futuristic, it's just not our world.  And I loved that about this book!  I loved the setting and getting to know the rules right along with Line, Marin and Kana.  But I felt it moved a bit slowly in letting us learn anything.  It didn't dissuade me from wanting to know, though.  I just wish information would've come a little bit quicker.

I like the little added mystery, it was the kind that an experienced reader (adult) picked up on pretty quick, but a younger reader would be wowed with the twist!  I liked all three characters with Kana being my favorite.  The circumstances that lead up to them being left on the island were plausible.  The only thing that made me question is why they ever go back to the island.  They live 14 years away, why would they even both coming back after that time.

There was enough darkness and things that go bump in the constant night that I was having a few nightmares.  The ending was very satisfying for me and it wrapped everything up.  I would like another book in this world, but I don't have to have the same characters.  I would love to know why they feel the need to go back to the island after 14 years away!

To Sum Up:  This one is going to be a big hit in my library.  Creepy, but with some good twists, I think that middle schoolers will love reading this story!

Book from my personal and school library.

My Thoughts: A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder

4 yummy chocolate chocolate chip cookies.

Cover Love:  Oh my yes!!  I love this cover so very much.  It is what definitely attracted me to the book.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
The cover drew me in, the synopsis kept me interested.  Here it is from GoodReads:

In a small river village where the water is cursed, a girl’s bravery—and the existence of magic—could mean the difference between life and death in this elegant, luminous tale from the author of Parched and Audacity.

Along a lively river, in a village raised on stilts, lives a girl named Luna. All her life she has heard tales of the time before the dam appeared, when sprites danced in the currents and no one got the mysterious wasting illness from a mouthful of river water. These are just stories, though—no sensible person would believe in such things.

Beneath the waves is someone who might disagree. Perdita is a young water sprite, delighting in the wet splash and sparkle, and sad about the day her people will finally finish building their door to another world, in search of a place that humans have not yet discovered.

But when Luna’s little sister falls ill with the river sickness, everyone knows she has only three weeks to live. Luna is determined to find a cure for her beloved sister, no matter what it takes. Even if that means believing in magic…

Romance?: No

My Thoughts:
This book was written from two points of view, Luna and Perdita.  The chapters for each were short and wonderfully written.  Each of the stories, at their core, were about sisters.  Luna's sister gets sick and she has to find a way to save her.  Perdita loses her sister and needs to find her.  I loved the writing in each chapter.  It flowed so beautifully, it reminded me a bit of The Underneath by Kathi Appelt.  I knew the stories would come together, and was pretty sure how, but the journey to that intersection was wonderful.

I was rooting for both sets of sisters the whole time.  I wanted Luna to find a cure for her sister and I wanted Perdita to find hers.  I felt touched by both Luna and Perdita.  The story moved along so easily, it was impossible not to be caught up in their stories.

I think this has the opportunity to be very popular for it's intended audience.  There are a lot of elements that are attractive to middle school readers--the length of the story, the writing, two main characters you root for, magical elements, and an interesting setting.  I know several readers that will enjoy this story and will passit along to their friends.

To Sum Up:  Magical, lovely short story that will be attractive to middle grade readers.  The copies I bought for my library have already been circulated a few times.  And an amazing cover to boot!

Book sent from Simon & Schuster for review.  

My Thoughts: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel and the Farm Boy by Alexandra Bracken

4 yummy and nostalgic soft gingerbread cookies with frosting.

Cover Love:  YES!!!  I love this cover so much I want to marry it.  Even if I didn't want to read these books I would want them displayed on my shelves at home because they are so amazing.  Disney should sell big versions of these covers so I could hang them on my library wall!!

Why I Wanted to Read This:
This is not a novelization of the movie.  If it was I wouldn't want to read this.  This is a retelling for younger readers.  Here is the synopsis from GoodReads:

The galaxy is at war.

Although the Rebel Alliance has won a few battles against the Empire, hope is fading. The Empire is about to unveil the greatest weapon the galaxy has ever seen--the Death Star. The Rebels' only chance to defeat it now lies in the unlikely hands of a princess, a scoundrel, and a farm boy....

Romance?: Nope

My Thoughts:
First off, read the Author's Notes at the beginning.  They totally made me tear up.  This movie came out when I was 5 years old and I remember seeing it in the theater.  I remember how much it affected my brother (who was 8) and sister and because they loved it so much, so did I.  The funniest thing is that my impressions of that movie are still young and now watching it I catch things that I never even thought of back then.  And each time I watch it I catch more.  Like the fact that Han, Leia and Luck had only known each other about a day, and when Leia kissed Luke before they swung across on the bridge, she had barely known him for an hour!  Reading this book brought those things to mind.

The first chunk of the movie is told from Leia's point of view in the book, the second from Han's and the third from Luke's.  And that makes sense, because even though we don't see a lot of Leia in the first part of the movie, that is her emotional arc for sure.  And the second is getting to know Han and the third is Luke starting to embrace his destiny.  I am getting more goosebumps just writing this.

I love that this is not a novelization of the movie or a rehash of the script.  I The author has taken the movie, the script, and several other sources to fill in the gaps and flesh out Leia, Han and Luke and she does a great job.  It is a retelling, without being a retelling, if that makes sense.

This book made me want to watch the original Star Wars movie (which was only called Star Wars when I was young, not A New Hope), right now.


To Sum Up:  This is a great introduction to the Star Wars universe for young readers, both ones that have seen the movie and those that haven't. I think these books will be checked out most of the rest of the year, especially after The Force Awakens is released!

Book sent to me by Dina at Disney.  Thanks so much!!

My Thoughts: Slasher Girls and Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke

5 comforting frosted maple cookies

Cover Love:  Yes!  This is simple and eye catching!

Why I Wanted to Read This:
This came in with my latest book order for my library.  It caught my eye because I hadn't been able to finish a book in a while due to the busyness of life and how I tired I was at night.  A book of scary short stories for October by lots of authors I love was just the ticket for my reading slump!  You can read the synopsis on GoodReads here, it's a bit long to repost.

Romance?:  Not so much.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book.  There was not one story that lagged and they were all full of scary imagery.  I loved that each story was "brought forth" from a movie that affected or stayed with the author in some way.  Not only did I discover new authors, but I discovered some new movies I need to watch!  I loved trying to guess what movies the stories were based on--sometimes I was right, sometimes I was wrong.

When I first picked this up I turned right to Jonathan Maberry's story, because he is one of my favorite authors.  It did n;t disappoint, in fact, he needs to flesh that story out into a novel.  It was great.

I read SLEEPLESS by Jay Kristoff right before going to sleep and had nightmares about that one.

While they are all strong and engrossing and terrifying stories, I think my favorite was the one by Marie Lu.  It's called THE GIRL WITHOUT A FACE and it starts out in one place and totally ends up somewhere else.  I loved it.

To Sum Up:  Not one story in this book disappointed.  They were intense and interesting, introduced me to some new authors and was the perfect read for the Halloween season!

Book bought for my library.

My Thoughts: Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

3 frosted maple cookies.

Cover Love:  OH YES!!  I just completely adore this cover.  I want to be on that park bench with Jackson and Crenshaw!

Why I Wanted to Read This:
Because of the cover and the synopsis.   I am not as in tune to childhood hunger and I think I need to be for someone who works at a middle school so I was hoping this would give me some more insight.  Here is the synopsis from GoodReads:

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary.

Romance?: Nope.

My Thoughts:
I haven't read The One and Only Ivan, a travesty I know,  nor any of the Animoprhs, so I think this is my first Katherine Applegate story.  The writing is wonderful, fluid and descriptive.  It was easy to stay in this story once I was there.  Jackson is very sympathetic and is his little sister.  His parents, however, are not.

I know there are mixed reviews on this book.  I can totally understand that.  It's a very real situation that Jackson's parents find themselves in, and you just want to shake the pride right out of them.  I mean, how can someone be too proud to ask family members for help or to go to local services for help, yet not too proud to stand out with a cardboard sign.  That just seems super false.  Jackson's dad was diagnosed with MS.  He has a medical issue.  The fact that he is not going to his parents or siblings or that Jackson's mom isn't makes me scratch my head.  I know that the one thing either set of my husband's or my parents would do is make sure that our kids are fed.  Even if they didn't help out with rent, they would  make sure my kids had food.  Jackson's parents seemed so immature and childish.  It was very frustrating to read. 

Not only that, they don't let their kids know what is going on, yet their kids know.  The parents need to open up, Jackson is way more wise than give him credit for!  He is so stressed out by what is happening that his mind conjures up his imaginary friend from his younger childhood.  I loved Crenshaw and his relationship with Jackson was very sweet, there just wasn't that much of it.

In the end things for Jackson and his family seem to get packaged up nicely, however, with the way Jackson's parents act I don't imagine it will be that good for long!

To Sum Up:  I think this would be an important book for some of those kids that you know are in weird transition with their families.  They are in and out of our school every year.  It would be nice for them to see that they are not alone, however, most of them are probably in way worse situations than Jackson.  I also think many kids who are no where close to Jackson's situation would enjoy this because it is a glimpse of a life that hopefully they will never know.  I will be buying a few copies for my library.

Book requested and sent from Macmillan.  Thanks so much!!

My Thoughts: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

4 wonderful M & M cookies.

Cover Love:  Yes!  I love the simplicity of it.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
Everyone gushes about Rainbow Rowell and I loved Eleanor and Park.  I decided to finally read this and am so glad I did!  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

Romance?:  Yes.  Sweet, darling romance.

My Thoughts:
There are a lot of reasons to love a book.  One of the big ones is that you can relate to one of the main characters.  I could relate to Cath, but more as I ma now than as I was in college.  I have always loved solitude, and was so, so homesick when I started college.  I wasn't allowed to wallow or be alone like Cath because I happen to be on the track team at my college.  It was such a blessing because it forced you to get out and be involved and you kind of had a set group of people you could hang out with.  I have often wondered if I have made it if I didn't have that.

Cath's roommate helps get her out of her shell but the one person who should have been there to help, her twin sister Wren, was such a bitch!  She was so intent on being an individual and partying that she couldn't see that Cath was drowning and needed help.

But, like any good coming of age story, Cath begins to find her footing and accepts herself and finds some romance and grows strong.  I think it;s super easy for parents to let their child come home from college after a semester if they still haven't found anything to connect them to school, but I also believe that if they can just wait out the year they will fond a reason to stay.  Cath found her reasons and became a strong person who could make the choice to be on her own or be with people and be happy with either choice.

To Sum Up:  Such a relatable story for a lot of readers.  Love Rainbow Rowell!

My Thoughts: The Disappearance of Emily H by Barrie Summy

4 fudgy brownies.

Cover Love:
Yes.  I love the way the bridge is almost part of the font.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
The synopsis for this book got me very excited.  A middle grade book about bullying with a little supernatural bent.  I was very excited to read this!  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

A girl is missing. Three girls are lying. One girl can get to the truth.

Emily Huvar vanished without a trace. And the clues are right beneath Raine’s fingertips. Literally. Raine isn’t like other eighth graders. One touch of a glittering sparkle that only Raine can see, and she’s swept into a memory from the past. If she touches enough sparkles, she can piece together what happened to Emily.

When Raine realizes that the cliquey group of girls making her life miserable know more than they’re letting on about Emily’s disappearance, she has to do something. She’ll use her supernatural gift for good . . . to fight evil.

But is it too late to save Emily?

Romance?: There is a cute little middle school crush.

My Thoughts:
It's very hard not to feel for Raine right off the bat.  She lost her grandmother, who is the only one Raine knew with the same "talent" Raine had, and was living with her scatterbrained mother.  Her mom can't commit to staying in one place for very long, mostly because she gets involved with the wrong man, then runs when it goes bad.  So, when school starts for Raine she is not optimistic about staying there for very long.  She tries to keep herself apart from others so that she won't have too many ties to break when she moves away.

What sets Raine apart from others is her ability to see and collect sparkles.  The sparkles are memories and Raine's grandmother was training Raine on how to use her gift.  Now her grandmother is gone and her ability to see sparkles is waning, so when she sees one it's hard for her to not go after it.  Soon after school starts Raine discovers that she is living in the house of a girl named Emily who had disappeared a few weeks before.  Every now and again Raine comes across sparkles that give her memories of Emily's life before she disappeared.  And she discovers that there was a group of girls at the middle school who were making Emily's life miserable.

This seemed like a straight forward bullying/mean girls story, but there are twists and the reason for Emily's disappearance is not what it seemed.  I really liked the twists because they came across as very unexpected and it made it a good mystery, one of the best middle school ones I have read in a long time.

This ended strong, without a hint of a sequel, which is fine but, I would definitely visit Raine and her unique ability again.

To Sum Up:  Buying this one for my library and I will be book talking it this fall!

My Thoughts: Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

4 double fudge brownies.

Cover Love:
I like this and know it would be eye catching for readers in my library.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
Sometimes when I am in a reading slump the only thing that gets me out of it is reading a contemporary teen romance.  I reached for this about a month ago for that very reason and it worked!  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

Before:
Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...

After:
Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.

Told in alternating sections, LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE is a charming and romantic debut about loving, leaving, and letting go.

Romance?: Yes, of course.

My Thoughts:
I really liked this romance and story between Kelsey and David.  The main reason is that both teens are very true to life.  David is not that perfect teen boy that lots of YA romances make their main boy.  He's flawed and has a hard time communicating and  doing the right thing.  Kelsey is too focused on what people think of her and cultivating an image.  I have met both of these teens in real life!

The biggest problem with Kelsey is that she doesn't know what she wants.  She wants the David she grew up with and probably a romance with David, but tells all her friends she doesn't.  Then gets upset when one of her friends goes out with him.  David knows he wants Kelsey, but since she is making it so difficult (and already has a boyfriend) he moves on, but never far away.

They make several mistakes (including making out while they both still have significant others), but eventually get out of their own heads long enough to realize they want and need to be together.

I remember my own teenage years and I have two teenagers in my house.  I know the difficulties teens have in  navigating relationships--whether it's just someone they are dating or whether it's someone they are in love with.  I think Gina Ciocca has done a great job of putting those struggles on paper.  This was a great read!

To Sum Up:  More true to life than a lot of teen romances I read, but I truly enjoyed it.  Would be a great read for teens!

Galley sent to me by Simon & Schuster.  Thanks!

My Thoughts: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

5 freshly baked oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies.

Cover Love:
It's alright.  Not my favorite cover ever, but it's fine.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I liked the synopsis and have been hearing good things, so I checked it out and gave it a go.  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Romance?:  Yes!

My Thoughts:
I adored Simon.  I want him to be in my life.  He's darling and funny and loyal and sweet.  Seriously, I just loved him!

I loved Blue too.  Their emails back and forth were so sweet and flirty and fun.  It was easy to see how well matched they were.  One of the things I liked about this book is there wasn't any of that angst that comes with a lot of contemporary teen dramas.  Yes, there was a little misunderstanding, but it was still all over email so there weren't awkward scenes where Blue and Simon weren't talking to each other in the halls and their friends weren't having to pick sides.

I like to think that Simon's coming out is more like how it would be today, with the majority of people being just fine with it.  Yes, Martin was an ass, but even he knew he'd gone too far and while there were a few assholes, on the whole most everyone was just fine with his being gay.

I adored Simon's family and how supportive and wonderful they were.  Even though Simon hated how they made a big deal out of everything, Simon's mom's talk to him hit me hard.  That's exactly how you feel as a mom, when you aren't allowed into your child's everyday life anymore.  It's so hard and so sad, but you are also so excited to see what kind of person they are becoming!

This book made me cry a bit and smile a ton.  I went back and re-read sections as soon as I was done.  I just loved it.

To Sum Up:  Some language and situations are a bit mature for my library, but I will be recommending that the high schools in my district get a few copies each!

My Thoughts: I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

4 chocolate chip cookies with nuts.

Cover Love:  Yes!  I love this cover but it definitely made me think it was going to be a light story.  It wasn't.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I have read a few other Cherie Priest books and was excited to see her writing a YA book.  And I loved the cover.  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

Once upon a time, two best friends created a princess together. Libby drew the pictures, May wrote the tales, and their heroine, Princess X, slayed all the dragons and scaled all the mountains their imaginations could conjure.

Once upon a few years later, Libby was in the car with her mom, driving across the Ballard Bridge on a rainy night. When the car went over the side, Libby passed away, and Princess X died with her.

Once upon a now: May is sixteen and lonely, wandering the streets of Seattle, when she sees a sticker slapped in a corner window.

Princess X?

When May looks around, she sees the Princess everywhere: Stickers. Patches. Graffiti. There's an entire underground culture, focused around a webcomic at IAmPrincessX.com. The more May explores the webcomic, the more she sees disturbing similarities between Libby's story and Princess X online. And that means that only one person could have started this phenomenon---her best friend, Libby, who lives.

Romance?: No.  I thought there was going to be, but there wasn't.  I liked that choice the author made, it makes the book seem a little more mature than an average YA book.

My Thoughts:
This book was a quick and easy read.  The pacing was good and story interesting.  I found myself reading late because the story just kept feeding me--bit by bit.

Once May was onto the idea that Libby might be alive she had to go find someone to help her.  She found a computer hacker named Patrick who was willing to help her.  There were times I felt this partnership would end in romance, but the author didn't go that way at all.  Not even a little bit.  May was focused on finding Libby and Trick was just along to help her.  The real "relationship" was Libby and May.  When Libby died May became half a person.  At the same time things happened in her family life--parents divorcing and her mom moving--that threw her even more off kilter, but she never fully recovered from losing Libby.  It makes me wonder what would have happened to her further down the line without Libby.  Would she have ever gotten stronger on her own?

There was a lot of action, with May being convinced there were clues in the webcomic that would lead her to Libby.  It was a good mystery and May and Trick were put into several dangerous positions.  It's tough to really review this because I don't want to give anything away.  I think that if you are in the mood for a mystery and a YA book with no romance, give this one a try!

To Sum Up: Fast paced and very enjoyable.  I think this is a read that many readers would enjoy!  I will be ordering this one for my library.

My Thoughts: Some Adult Books I Have Read

This was a great read, but not at all on par to READY PLAYER ONE by the same author.  (If you haven;t read that yet, what are you waiting for).  This book is a bit of a genius story though--generations of people raised on video games and science fiction tales were actually being trained for an inter-galactic war.  I love that!  I love that everything people experience they can relate to a movie or tv show they watched or book they read or a game they played.  It is so much more satisfying that these things are real life (unlike the Walking Dead--how many words for zombies do they have that isn't "zombie"?).  I enjoyed this book, didn't read it near as fast as I did Ready Player One, and didn't love how neatly thing tied up in the end.  It will make a great movie someday!

I was not at all interested in reading THE MARTIAN until I saw the trailer for the movie.  That caught my interest and luckily I was able to get a copy from my library that day.  This was a fantastic read, a little slow when it was just Mark's log on Mars, but once NASA figured out Mark was alive this book just flew.  I can't wait for the movie.  The tension during some of the scenes in the book was so strong that I know seeing it on screen with totally stress me out.  Luckily I know how it all ends so watching it all will be a little easier for me!  Great story.  If you love science or survival stories, read this book.

My Thoughts (& Giveaway): Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

4 soft frosted sugar cookies.

Cover Love:  I like how it is simple but eye catching.  Appealing to many readers.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
This one actually flew under my radar until I was offered a chance to participate in the blog tour.  I looked up the synopsis and decided I wanted to give this one a try.
Here it is from GoodReads:

In the vein of The Outsiders and the early Western novels of Elmore Leonard, this inventive debut novel, a cross between the cult classic Mad Max movie series and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, blends adrenaline-fueled action with an improbable yet tender romance to offer a rich and vivid portrayal of misfits and loners forced together in their struggle for a better life.

Adam Stone wants freedom and peace. He wants a chance to escape Blackwater, the dust-bowl desert town he grew up in. Most of all, he wants the beautiful Sadie Blood. Alongside Sadie and the dangerous outsider Kane, Adam will ride the Blackwater Trail in a brutal race that will test them all, body and soul. Only the strongest will survive.

The prize? A one-way ticket to Sky-Base and unimaginable luxury.

And for a chance at this new life, Adam will risk everything.

Romance?: Not really, although Adam does have a crush during the book.

My Thoughts:

Dystopian books used to be my absolute favorite genre.  There have been some great ones--The Giver, The Hunger Games, Unwind, The City of Ember.  The problem is that The Hunger Games was so successful that the genre got diluted for awhile there.  (This doesn't count the books I consider "apocalyptic," like Rot & Ruin and The Knife of Never Letting Go).  So I have kept away from them for some time.  When I got a chance to be part of this blog tour I read the book synopsis and decided I wanted to give this dystopian book a chance.

And I am glad I did!  It set up a very interesting world, one that I want to learn more about.  Not necessarily the world of the "Left-Behinds" on earth, but the world of the Sky-Base.  That place sounds both amazing and awful.  I have a feeling that anyone who wins the right to move to the Sky Base don't really get to be part of the Sky Base.  I bet there is a lot of dystopia on the Sky Base.  I wouldn't mind a prequel book either.

Back to the story, each person involved in the race own a byke/motorcycle.  But they are made of a material that seems to remember previous riders and that adds to the abilities of the current rider.  Winners of the races win a ticket to Sky Base and the second and third place riders earn points that they can save up to eventually purchase a ticket.

The world Adam lives in before the race is awful and crazy and bleak.  Basically people can be miners (I can't remember the name of what is being mined, but they are pulling it from the earth's core) or have a job in town (and by town I mean old Western type town).  If you are young enough you can ride in the race.  This race reminds me of a novella I read a long time ago that was written by Stephen King back when he wrote under the pen name of Richard Bachman called The Long Walk.  It was the story of boys who walked, just walked, but if you fell or stopped walking you were shot and there could only be one winner.  Not everyone dies, but a lot of people do and it's ok to try and kill other riders.  The strong survive and all of that.

Adam literally doesn't have anyone.  He has no family and no friends.  However, a strange rider named Kane enters his life early on and although they don't connect right away, Kane soon becomes someone Adam realizes he can trust--warily.

The one thing that didn't quite jive with me is that Adam has no confidence, yet he is a really good rider.  One that many consider the one to beat.  And he knows he's good, he feels it.  That should give him some confidence, but he has a hard time making decisions.

To Sum Up:  This is a book that would appeal to many YA readers, especially those that like dystopian.  I have many questions about this world and look forward to book 2.  I will be adding it to my order for the fall!

I am giving away a copy of Stone Rider to one lucky reader from the US or Canada.  Please fill out the form below and I will inform you if you win.  Contest ends on August 12.

My Thoughts: The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

4 yummy frosted maple cookies.

Cover Love:  Sort of.  I like that it looks geeky and all, but there really is no math in this book.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
You know that contemporary teen romances are my bread and butter.  This one was mailed to me by Harper Collins in the spring and I decided to read it to help get me out of my reading slump!  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

It all begins when Ana Watson's little brother, Clayton, secretly ditches the quiz bowl semifinals to go to the Washingcon sci-fi convention on what should have been a normal, résumé-building school trip.

If slacker Zak Duquette hadn't talked up the geek fan fest so much, maybe Clayton wouldn't have broken nearly every school rule or jeopardized Ana’s last shot at freedom from her uptight parents.

Now, teaming up with Duquette is the only way for Ana to chase down Clayton in the sea of orcs, zombies, bikini-clad princesses, Trekkies, and Smurfs. After all, one does not simply walk into Washingcon.

But in spite of Zak's devil-may-care attitude, he has his own reasons for being as lost as Ana-and Ana may have more in common with him than she thinks. Ana and Zak certainly don’t expect the long crazy night, which begins as a nerdfighter manhunt, to transform into so much more.

Romance?: Yes, of course!

My Thoughts:
One reason I loved this book is because both Zak and Ana are so relate-able.  Zak is a geek with a capital G but so comfortable in that position.  He reminds me so much of one of my own children!  Ana is a hard working middle child who is terrified of upsetting her parents (who seems awfully hard to please).  While Zak is always on the look out for a girl and does have his eye on Ana, Ana knows she can't date so she doesn't even let herself be distracted.

I love the atmosphere of the Washingcon!  It totally makes me want to go to a convention.  I love that Zak is totally popular at the convention.  One subtle lesson in this book is that you cannot judge someone on the outside, both Ana and Zak learn this lesson well.

Some of the situations are totally outlandish, but this would make for a fun movie or TV movie.  You wouldn't even need to add action scenes because it is full of them already.

I like that one of the voices of reason is Ana younger brother.  He sees way more than anyone realizes.

The romance between Zak and Ana is super sweet, slow moving (in book time, but since this all takes place in one evening it's actually quick).  The author does a great job alternating between Zak and Ana and does a good job with both their voices. When an author does it well this is a great way of telling a story and developing a romance!

To Sum Up:  Sweet romance and a great story about high-shcoolers on the cusp of taking the next step in their lives.

Book sent by Harper Collins.  Thanks so much!

My Thoughts: Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten

3 soft chocolate whoopie pies.

Cover Love:
Yes!  I think it's eye catching and raises questions.  Made me want to read this book to see what it was about.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
The cover and the synopsis made me want to read this.  Here it is from Good Reads:

Gone Girl meets 13 Reasons Why in this stylish, sexy, and atmospheric story about friendship packed with twists and turns that will leave you breathless.

They say Delia burned herself to death in her stepfather's shed. They say it was suicide.

But June doesn't believe it.

June and Delia used to be closer than anything. Best friends in that way that comes before everyone else-before guys, before family. It was like being in love, but more. They had a billion secrets, tying them together like thin silk cords.

But one night a year ago, everything changed. June, Delia, and June's boyfriend Ryan were just having a little fun. Their good time got out of hand. And in the cold blue light of morning, June knew only this-things would never be the same again.

And now, a year later, Delia is dead. June is certain she was murdered. And she owes it to her to find out the truth...which is far more complicated than she ever could have imagined.

Sexy, dark, and atmospheric, Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Romance?:  Nothing to get excited about, but that's not what this book was about.

My Thoughts:
There is a lot about this book that can't be discussed because it gives to much away.  Just know it is a very psychological book (however if I had read the synopsis a little more closely I might have guessed some of the twists).  So many times I wanted to just read the last few pages so I knew what happened, but I thought it would probably be worth it to keep going through.  (I do that sometimes when I am having trouble staying into a book--lots of time reading the ending will make me more interested in reading the middle to see how it ended up where it did!)

June does A LOT of infuriating things, and several times I wanted to reach into the book and just shake her and say,  "THINK!!"  She was just so easily led around by everyone!  Her memories of Delia are so weird, they truly were like one person.

There was a lot about this book that I found unbelievable, I wonder if the author did a lot of research.  I did find it interesting, fascinating even.  I was such a goody in high school I always like reading about ids who aren't.  But the kids in this book are not just partiers or out having sex, they are doing some really weird stuff.

Overall, it was an intriguing read, I was just left a little unsatisfied with the conclusion.  And a few things that happened before that.

To Sum Up:  If you want a read with an interesting twist, give this one a try.

ARC sent from Simon & Schuster.  Thanks so much!

My Thoughts: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

5 wonderful, warm chocolate chip cookies dunked in milk.

Cover Love:
Yes!  The cover is what drew my eyes to the book and that is without even seeing it in person.  I have seen pictures online of the actual book and the cover and I believe it is more gorgeous in person!

Why I Wanted to Read This:
The cover caught my attention, the title piqued my interest and the synopsis put me over the edge.  Here is it from GoodReads:

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

Romance?: Yes, yes, yes!!

My Thoughts:
First of all, this was so gorgeously written, so descriptive, so transportative (I am sure that is not a word).  You absolutely felt like you were in the palace. You could smell the smells, taste the food, see the beautiful clothes and FEEL THE HEAT between Shahrzad and Khalid.  It is intense.

I did have a little hard time at the start keeping people and their plot lines straight, but by the end it had all snapped into focus.  By halfway into the book I was not able to put it down and have two late nights of reading to attest to that fact.

I loved Shahrzad, she didn't let her hatred totally cloud who she was.  Yes, she went there with a purpose and for most of the book really wanted to follow through with that, but she did let herself discover and question things.

I am SO glad the author wrote chapters from Khalid's point of view.  He was so aloof and uncaring (as he really needed to be) it was hard to get a grasp on who he was until later in the book.  The chapters from his point of view were awesome but also how as we learned more about him, so did Shahrzad so that eventually each of their chapters were very similar. 

The reasons behind why Khalid needs to kill his brides and what he does to try and relieve a tiny little bit of his guilt are both heartbreaking reveals. 

One other thing I liked was how trusting of each other Shahrzad and Khalid (and Jalal) became.  Every action was not looked at with suspicion.  There was a lot of love there and the author did a wonderful job showing them falling in love, fighting it, and then being in love.  I was so glad there was none of the old misunderstanding leads to hurt and break ups, leads to etc... that YA novels tend to do.  This was a more mature relationship once they got into being in a relationship.

UGH!! If I knew there was going to be a book 2 I might not have started this one because I want to read it NOW!!

To Sum Up:  I don't think you will be disappointed in this book, it's just gorgeous and intriguing and romantic.

eGalley requested and received from Penguin via Edleweiss.

My Thoughts: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

 4 yummy soft snickerdoodles!

Cover Love:  Yes.  It looks romantic, but also friendly.  No kissing, just two people hanging out.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I like this author for contemporary teenage romances!
Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Romance?: Of course!

My Thoughts:
My first impression of Gia was not that favorable.  She seemed bossy and shallow right from the start.  She calms down a few pages in, but the way she is with her friends gave me pause.  These are seniors in high school, they have history.  She and Claire have been best friends for 10 years and she and Laney for five.  Does she really think they don't trust her or love her enough that they will believe anything Jules tells them?  Their whole friendship seemed like middle school girls rather than seniors. They were just really immature for high school seniors!

Unfortunately, they didn't improve as a group, but Gia made a lot of progress!  Sometimes the moment where you are ready to change just comes upon you and for Gia that moment was prom.

One thing that bothers me is that we never did find out why Jules was so awful to Gia.  And there was never the Gia/Jules showdown I longer for, but by the end, Gia had grown and matured enough that it wasn't necessary for her, just for me :).

Oddly enough, while Gia and the "Fill-In" have an attraction, the best part of this is Gia's growing friendship with his litter sister Bec.  It's through Bec's eyes that Gia sees how awful she has been and how she needs to change.  And she has won Bec's loyalty, it makes her feel more worthy of maybe a relationship with the "Fill-In" but also stronger to be without her friends.

Gia's family is kind of ugh.  Her brother is a butt head who does something that, while I didn't think it was awful, did warrant an apology that he provides a little too late and insincerely in my opinion.  And her parents are so sugar coating with everything.   There just wasn't a lot real there.

I adored the "Fill-In."  He had his own issues and was willing to give Gia the benefit of the doubt for a lot of things.  They start off having a nice friendship, which I greatly enjoyed.  It wasn't a jump right into a relationship, it was getting to know each other.

To Sum Up:  Very good story.  Would be good to hand to those girls who think that their friend's opnions are all that matters (I see a few of those in my middle school).

ARC requested and received from HarperCollins.  Thanks so much!!

My Thoughts: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

 4 lemon Oreos.

Cover Love:  I like this cover a lot.  It's eye catching and each pane tells a little about each character.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I didn't.  I passed it up when I had the opportunity to read an egalley and didn't give it another thought...until the movie was made and got such stellar reviews at the Sundance Film Fesitval.  Still I wasn't sold, then the trailer was released.  Now I am a bit obsessed with it.  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

Romance?: No. Just the usual teenage boy obsession with girls.

My Thoughts:
Lots of teenage boy talk.  Lots of it.  Like to the point I think even a high school library would think twice about putting this in their collection (However, a quick check tells me that my son's high school has it their collection).  This is not to say that teenage boys don't talk this way, I am sure a lot of them do.

Greg's voice is awesome.  I had very many laugh out loud moments, and a few good chuckles.The book is from Greg's point of view and his world is funky.  I am not sure why Greg wants to go around being invisible at all times, but he has some issues to say the least.  I would say it all developed when he was in high school, but it seems like he was always this way.  Never really puts himself out there and is very, very private.  But he is sharp and funny and observant.

I love Earl, or at least Greg's version of Earl.  And we don't really get to know Rachel, which is mirrored in Greg's eyes later in the book when he realizes he doesn't really know Rachel either.  Because the book is written from Greg's point of view I can see why some people would get frustrated by him as a character.  He really, really doesn't want to get involved in anyone's life.  He has to be forced to by his mom and he doesn't have a clue how to be a friend to someone.  He;s a weird guy, but very funny, guy!

I would have given this book a five cookie rating, because it was so funny and I enjoyed the heck out of reading it, except there isn't a lot of resolution or growth for Greg by the end.  With what he experienced with Rachel and seeing how she handled everything, you would think he would take more positive steps in the end towards making a change.  But I guess this was more true to life than some coming of age books, he was taking baby steps.  I just wanted more for Greg!

To Sum Up:  So glad I read this book, it kept me very entertained.  Can't wait for the movie!  Watch the trailer!

My Thoughts: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

5 amazing and wonderful oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies.

Cover Love:
Meh.  The paperback cover is way better but this one is ok.  The colors are eye catching.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I recall this one being touted as a good crossover (teens to adults) type book when it came out, but for some reason the synopsis never made it seem that interesting to me.  Then the news came out that Steven Spielberg* is directing the movie and I read a bit more about the author and decided to give it a try.  So very glad I did!  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads (from the paperback version, the hardback synopsis still isn't that great):

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune — and remarkable power — to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved — that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt — among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life — and love — in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

Romance?: Yes, there is a romance and while it's not the main part of the story for awhile it's a big part of the story.

My Thoughts:
I fully acknowledge that one reason I love this book is all the 80's references.  Between this and the upcoming movie Pixels (this is going to be a great summer for movies!), I predict a huge resurgence of 80's interest by this current generation.  But beyond all the awesome, amazing 80's references this is a great book., with tons of action.  For the first time I read a book that dealt with virtual reality that I could actually get and see being reality in the not so distance future.  I am not saying we will all start living most of our lives there, but I could understand it more.

From the first page this book caught me.  I dreamt about it for the two nights I was reading it and couldn't stop thinking about it most of the time I wasn't reading it.  I haven't had this in-depth of a reading experience in a long time.

I don't normally talk a lot to adults about the books I am reading because I know most of them look down their noses at YA and MG books, and while I think a lot of young adults would love this book (I am making my son read it this summer, he will love it), I know most people my age would love it.  It's not a specific genre, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Wade (or Parzial as his OASIS avatar is named) is awesome.  And I think the freedom of having an online persona is what makes him and most people more relate-able.  Even though they have the anonymity of a separate persona, they seem a little more real in the OASIS than their real lives. I liked that the characters Parzival has in his life (by choice and inadvertently) and all like him. I don't want to give anything away, but they are tough and smart and driven.

This book just has everything, romance, action, technology, puzzles, quests, and on and on.  Just go read it.  I cannot rave enough!

To Sum Up:  I want to hand this book to most of the people I know and watch them start the first chapter because then I know they will actually read it.

*Now that there is a director, I cannot wait to see who is cast.  A lot of people throw Nicholas Hoult's name around and I think he would be perfect!!  But I am going to trust this process because this is a book will easily translate to a movie and I am excited to see the process and watch the finished product!

My Thoughts: 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

4 frosted shortbread cookies.

Cover Love:
Yes, I do like this cover.  It tells a story itself.  Eye catching!

Why I Wanted to Read This:
The synopsis intrigued me.  It really leaves you guessing--what happened?  Why was Patrick home? Will things work out?  Here is its from GoodReads:

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

Romance?: Yes.  Molly is one lucky girl--two gorgeous, kind brothers who are in love with her.

My Thoughts:
After I was a few pages into this I looked it up on GoodReads and read a few reviews.  A lot of them really blasted Molly for being a cheater and how could they root for a cheater.  The thing about that is, it's not that clear because Patrick was being an ass and had just broken up with her before her "alleged" cheating.  I know, semantics.  And Molly knew she had made a mistake which she compounded by making a few more mistakes, including running away as soon as the secret was out.  In fact, running (& hiding) was Molly's go to response to everything.  That's what annoyed me about Molly.  That, and the fact that later in the summer the cheating isn't so gray.

Here's what I really liked, what I felt the message was and would be good for many a teenager:  you are going to make mistakes.  But they don't have to define you.  It's how you own up to them, how you learn from them that helps you grow.  And though it takes Molly a long time, she does learn and grow from her mistakes. 

I also liked that Molly was able to view her relationship with Patrick with the wisdom of a year apart and to see that it wasn't at all perfect.  And that her year away from him was actually very good for her to see that there is more to life than Star Lake and Patrick.

I loved that this was a messy story, not easily tied up with a bow and it ended with Molly in a good spot, albeit not a perfect one.

(I also loved how the secret got out in the first place-but obviously Molly had a right to be extremely pissed off)

To Sum Up:  Everyone makes mistakes and when you are a teenager mistakes can feel life ending.  They aren't everyone will move along and so will you.  Great lessons from this book!

eGalley requested and received from HarperCollins via Edelweiss.  Thanks so much!