Friday, April 23, 2010

BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY!!!


DON"T FORGET!!
to enter my GIVEAWAY of course!
2 Beautiful Hardback Books are up for grabs:
What Happened to Cass McBride?
& Repossessed!
The rules are simple:
1. Be a Follower (Old or New)
2. Leave your contact info in comment section.
3. Be over the age of 13
4. Sorry can't include International w/ the price of shipping and all that. :(
Thanks for entering!
I will draw on April 28th!!!

GIRL POWER!!!!


I'D TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU
By Ally Carter
2006
284 Pages
From Back Cover:
Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school--typical that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes for computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man seven different ways with her bare hands, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"--but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
My thoughts:
I had visions of Sidney from Alias dancing in my head the whole time I read this story. How I miss that show.
Cammie Morgan has her hands full. She lives, eats, and breathes the life of a spy in training. She was born to do this job. Both her parents are spies and her mother runs the Gallagher Academy. But when Cammie meets Josh her life is turned upside down. After all, she can't really share details of her personal life, introduce him to her friends, or have him meet her mom. She quickly realizes that her whole life must be kept a secret which makes a relationship really hard.
What's a girl to do? Get creative of course!
I loved the spy element that was dropped into the all girls school story line. It was fresh and exciting. There were laugh out loud moments of the situations that Cammie and her friends got into trying to use their spy techniques-it didn't always go according to plan. And Cammie just seemed very human in an unusual situation.
This is the first book in a series and I most definitely want to pick up the next one. I really want to see where Cammie and the gang end up next. This book has also been optioned for film by Walt Disney Pictures. It would make a great movie, I hope they do it.
I recommend this book for readers 12 and up. I bought it at Barnes and Noble bookstore.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A CHINESE TALE


BOUND
By Donna Jo Napoli
2004
186 Pages
From Inside Cover:
Young Xing Xing is bound.
Bound to her father's second wife and daughter after Xing Xing's father has passed away. Bound to a life of servitude as a young girl in ancient China, where the life of a woman is valued less than livestock. Bound to be alone and unmarried, with no parents to arrange for a suitable husband. Dubbed "Lazy One" by her stepmother, Xing Xing spends her days taking care of her half sister, Wei Ping, who can't walk because of her foot bindings, the painful but compulsory tradition for girls who are fit to be married. Even so, Xing Xing is content, for now, to practice her gift of poetry and calligraphy, to tend to the mysterious but beautiful carp in her garden, and to dream of a life unbound by laws of family and society. But all of this is about to change as the time for the village's annual festival draws near, and Stepmother, who has spent nearly all of the family's money, grows desperate to find a husband for Wei Ping. Xing Xing soon realizes that this greed and desperation may threaten not only her memories of the past, but also dreams for the future.
My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up off the shelf. The beautiful cover has always jumped out at me and the inside flap made it sound like a promising read. I wasn't disappointed. It was a wonderful story. Xing Xing is an amazing character that has been dealt a difficult hand and she plays it to the best of her ability. She is born into a country that doesn't offer alot of opportunities to a girl in general, she is then orphaned and life now seems impossible. But Xing Xing has determination and smarts. Chinese traditions and customs weave in and out of this tale and the Cinderella element makes it feel familiar yet the story stands on it's own.
I will definitely be looking for more titles by this author. I recommend this book for readers 12 and up. This book is available to check out at the Salmon Public Library.

Monday, April 19, 2010

IT"S MONDAY!


Seriously?
How is it possible? Somehow I missed the weekend and now it's Monday!
Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books hosts this awesome meme. Please join in! It's fun and fat free!
I have done a ton of reading but really slacking on getting my reviews posted. I vow to post one review a night till I get caught up.( I also vow to not eat bread for a week as a punishment....alright that has more to do with the 5 pounds I want to lose before Mexico)
So this past week I have read:
**Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
**I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
**The Maze Runner by James Dasher
**Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
This week I'll be reading:
**Swim the Fly by Don Calame
**boys,bears, and a serious pair of hiking boots by Abby McDonald
Have a great reading week everyone!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

READING WRAP-UP!



DEWEY 2010 READ-A-THON

Well -I didn't make it the full 24 hours. Those who did-a giant pat on the back! By the time I did go to bed at 1:30am my brain was fried and I couldn't read another word.
I accomplished reading three and a half books:
*A House of Tailors by Patricia Rielly Giff
*On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
*People Like Us by Barbara Cohen
* I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Total Pages -464
Total Hours-14
I already have goals for next year and ideas on how to do things differently. Planned out snacks and a quiet house really does help! Thank you to all the hosts and cheerleaders. The mini challenges were so much fun! I didn't win any contests but it was great fun to visit all the different bloggers and see how creative everyone is. Can't wait for next year!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN


The big Read-A-Thon is winding down. I did get three books read today. I'm happy with it. Next time I will be better prepared and more organized for the day. Hee Hee I loved dusting off the old pom poms and cheerleading.
A BIG thank you to the organizers of is awesome event. And congratulations to all the winners.
I have a house full of teenagers and I'm ready to call it a night. I probably won't get much more read tonight.
Good night!

EXTREME TOE TOUCHES!!!


I just finished some beautiful toe touches and finished up the cheering with jazz fingers! I really hope that fellow bloggers appreciate me....
Here's a few I just visited:
Andye at Reading Teen
Way to go Read a thoners! We are past the half way mark!!!

Dewey's 24 Hour Read A Thon!!



Well I'm half way through my third book-
People Like Us
by Barbara Cohen
It's definately an oldie that I chose of the shelf at the library because it's outdated cover caught my eye.
I'll show you the cover when I do the review! Hee Hee
So here's some questions that Andye @ Reading Teen was asking over at her site and I thought I would play along:
1. What are you reading right now? People Like Us
2. How many books have you read so far? 2 1/2
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Bound
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No-I really should have thought that one through better!
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Mostly kids just needed things.......
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How many participates there are
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Seems to be working like a charm to me!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Plan ahead better
9. Are you getting tired yet? YES
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? No

DEWEY UPDATE!!!!


Update:
Read and Reviewed:
*A House of Tailors by Patricia Rielly Giff
*On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Moving on to next book after a quick shower and coke break.
Good luck to all the other readers out there!
And a HUGE thank you to my cheerleaders!

ON MY HONOR

ON MY HONOR
BY Marion Dane Bauer
1986
Pages 90
Review taken from Barnes and Noble Book:
Publishers Weekly
This is a devastating but beautifully written story of a boy's all-consuming guilt over the role he plays in the death of his best friend. Joel and Tony have been together since they were babies. Although Tony's crazy jokes and wildness sometimes make Joel feel as if he were much older, and even make Joel angry, no one is as exciting as Tony. But when Tony suggests they climb the bluffs at Starved Rock, Joel is frightened, knowing how dangerous the bluffs are. He's also afraid of Tony's sharp tongue, though, so he asks his father for permission to ride his bike to Starved Rock, certain that his father will say no. When his father says yes, Joel finds himself riding Tony's old, beat-up bikewhile Tony coasts along on Joel's 10-speedout to the state park. Halfway there the boys cross the Vermillion River, and Tony, who earlier had refused to go swimming at the pool with Joel, decides to swim in the river instead. Angry at Tony's lack of sensethe river is both dangerous and dirty Joel dares Tony to race out to a distant sandbar with him. Then the unthinkable occurs: Joel reaches the sandbar; Tony disappears. The realization slams into Joel with its hideous finality. Tony is dead, and it is all his fault.
My Thoughts:
A very quick read but with strong emotions.
At 90 pages the reader is taken on a roller coaster of emotions as Joel comes to grips with the realization that his friend is gone and he is left to explain how and why. This book is a Newbery Honor that has been on my TBR list for while. It was a perfect choice for the 24 Hour-Read-A-thon.

A HOUSE OF TAILORS

A HOUSE OF TAILORS
by Patricia Reilly Giff
2004
pages 148
Synopsis taken from Barnes and Noble:
SEWING! NO ONE could hate it more than Dina Kirk. Endless tiny stitches, button holes, darts. Since she was tiny, she’s worked in her family’s dressmaking business, where the sewing machine is a cranky member of the family.When 13-year-old Dina leaves her small town in Germany to join her uncle’s family in Brooklyn, she turns her back on sewing. Never again! But looking for a job leads her right back to the sewing machine. Why did she ever leave home? Here she is, still with a needle and thread—and homesick to boot. She didn’t know she could be this homesick, but she didn’t know she could be so brave either, as she is standing up to an epidemic or a fire. She didn’t know she could grow so close to her new family or to Johann, the young man from the tailor’s shop. And she didn’t know that sewing would reveal her own wonderful talent—and her future.
My Thoughts:
What a wonderful little book. Short and sweet- filled with many tender moments.
I fell in love with Dina and her determination. Her actions and strength left my eyes filled with tears throughout the story. I would recommend this story to readers 11 and up.

Cheer Squad Alert!


I've had the chance to visit a few blogs to cheer on the other readers:
Good job readers! Keep up the good work!

HERE WE GO!!!


BOOK ONE: A HOUSE OF TAILORS
I'm jumping in here to start the 24 Hour-Read-A-Thon!
I have a stack of books I'm going to try to get through starting with A House of Taylors by Patricia Reilly Giff. It's a new Young Adult from my library. I wanted to read it so I will have an idea who to reccommend it to.
Good luck to all the other participates in the Read-A Thon!
I'm off!!

Friday, April 9, 2010

YAH! IT'S FRIDAY! TIME TO HOP!!


COME JOIN THE FUN!!!

This super fun Friday meme is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy-For-Books.com It's a great way to meet fellow book bloggers out there that are the new kids on the block(like me!) or have been around for a while. It's so much fun to see what everyone is up to, what they are reading and reviewing and check to see if there are any hot giveaways out there.
So come join the fun and make some new book-blogging-buddies!
ALSO dont' forget to sign up for my Blogoversary Book Giveaway! If I reach 50 followers I'll be giving away 3 awesome books and I'm almost there! Scroll down for more information or leave contact info. on this post. Have a great weekend!!

Monday, April 5, 2010

IT'S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?


IT'S MONDAY!
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
This awesome meme is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books It's a great way to catch up with fellow book bloggers and read their reviews and see what they have coming up in the next week. She also has some super fun giveaways so go check her out!
Please endure my NyQuil ramblings as I try to recount my past week of reading. I had huge plans for Spring Break-painting, dejunking, etc. Much to my children's dismay I caught the flu and spent most of the week alternating between couch and bed. Thank goodness for playdates, xbox and the Disney Channel. Plans of cleaning garage and yard work came to a screeching halt. Happy children played with friends and engaged in electronic entertainment while mother hacked up lungs.
BUT I did get alot of reading done! Luckily I wrote reviews because I can't really recall details today.
WROTE REVIEWS FOR:
Gym Candy by Carl Deuker
Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
READ AND REVIEWED:
Girl in the Arena by Lise Hines
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
STILL NEED TO REVIEW:
Alice and Wonderland and Philosophy by Richard Brian Davis
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
This week I plan to read:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson for a book club that I recently joined.
Very excited-I've heard great things about it.
And of course I'm gearing up for Dewey's 24 Hour read-a-thon taking place on April 10th.
My plan is to read small short books- I've chosen some Newberry Honor Books that mostly just sit on the shelf. If I read them it would be much easier to recommend them, right?
Do you have any suggestions for me?

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS


PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
By Sara Shepard
2006
286 Pages
From Inside Cover:
Gossip thrives amid the Mercedes-Benzes, mega mansions, and perfectly manicured hedges in the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Behind their big Gucci sunglasses, beneath their perfectly pressed Polos, everyone has something to hide.Especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna. Spenser covets her sister's gorgeous new boyfriend. Aria is having an affair with her English teacher. Emily is infatuated with the new girl in school. And Hanna is using some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. Deeper and darker still is a horrible secret the girls have shared since sixth grade-a secret they thought was safe forever. Then the girls start receiving threatening messages signed by someone named "A." Could "A" be Alison, the ultra-popular girl who disappeared three years earlier? Alison was their best friend. She knew everything about them. But if Alison isn't "A," who is? And how could anyone else know so much about the bad girls they were and the bad girls they've become? Suddenly their secrets-the big ones, the little ones, even the long buried ones-no longer seem so secret. Suddenly nothing is safe in Rosewood.
I originally started this series because another blogger that I was following was having a "Pretty Little Liars" Book Challenge. So I bought the book used on Amazon.com and thought I would join. So here's where I'm pretty sure my age is starting to catch up with me-hell if I can remember who the blogger is! If anyone else knows please give me a heads up in the comment section. Thanks.
Luckily the book was not a waste of time or money. I flew through it on a Sunday morning wrapped in covers and a NyQuil fog. I'm definitely hooked, today I will be ordering the second book in the series called Flawless.
I'm going to call this book a guilty pleasure. These girls are naughty! They are all up to bad things they really shouldn't be doing, they are all headed down a slippery road of destruction. Emily is thinking she might be playing for the other team after a cute girl moves to town. Aria is a hot mess-she witnessed her father, a professor, fooling around with a young student and kept the secret from her mom. Now she is involved in a forbidden relationship with her English teacher. Hanna is head queen bee but has abused her body to get to the top and she's a theif who steals high price items for the thrill of it. And Spenser, she wants to be the best at everything and never quite feels like she will ever measure up to her perfect older sister, Melissa. Maybe stealing Melissa's boyfriend would be the perfect payback?
Reading the escapades of these girls is like licking the brownie bowl instead of filling it with hot soapy water. You know you shouldn't, your probably going to regret it.... oh but it tastes so good!
I would recommend this book for ages 15 and older. There is Language, Drinking, and Serious Making Out but not the big nasty. I will be saving this book for a giveaway.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

GIRL IN THE ARENA



GIRL IN THE ARENA

By Lise Haines

2009

324 Pages

From Inside Cover:

During the week, Lyn lives in a big house in Cambridge and hangs out with friends in Harvard Square. But over the weekend, she cheers her father on as he gears up for neo-gladiator competition-a high profile televised blood sport that rivals the NFL. Lyn's father is the top player in the league, and the paparazzi that have always swarmed him have started to dog Lyn's every move. All this fame comes with another price-Lyn's family lives with the constant presence of violence, uncertainty, and a strict cultural code set by the Gladiator Sports Association. When a skilled young fighter slays Lyn's father, the GSA imposes an unthinkable sentence-Lyn must marry her father's murderer. Though her mother made a career out of marrying into Glad culture, Lyn is prepared to do whatever it takes to claim her independence. Even if it means going into the arena herself....

Girl in the Arena is Lise Hines first young adult novel. I loved The Hunger Games and everything that Katnis represented in a strong young female. I fully expected to eat this book up with a spoon. A young female gladiator-on the cover she looks seriously kick ass. Never mind that within the first few chapters of the book she shaves her head and remains bald for the rest of the story! Baldness aside, the story was fine. Although it did sort of piss me off that her big battle doesn't even take place until the every end. It feels like it takes for ever to lead up to the big battle scene. Come on already!! It felt a little pieced together in parts-like maybe it was edited but never tidied up by the author? No, the story was fine. The problem was Lyn-the main character. I never felt an emotional connection with her. And for everything that she goes through in the book, it should have been there. Maybe it was me? Was I the one lacking spark? I did battle the flu all week.... I can't wait to read some other reviews on this one and try to figure it out.

I really wanted to LOVE Girl in the Arena but sadly it was just a good book. Put down and quickly forgotten as I move on to the next. I bought this used on Amazon.com and I'll be donating it to the Salmon Public Library. I recommend it for reader 13 and up. It does have violence-hello! It's gladiators people.

BOYS, GIRLS AND OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS



BOYS, GIRLS & OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

By Rosalind Wiseman

2010

279 pages

From Inside Cover:

Charlie Healey just wants a drama free year, but it doesn't seem like she's going to get it. Middle school was rough. There were mean girls all around her; and she was even in danger of becoming one herself. High school was supposed to be her chance to leave all that behind, except that it isn't. On her very first day, who does she run into but he former best friend, Will, who'd moved away years ago. Now he's back, he's HOT, and he's popular. Befriending him again takes Charlie back into the danger zone. And when a hazing prank turns near deadly, Charlie and their new no-drama friends realize Will has gotten in way over his head trying to prove his loyalty to upperclassmen. Torn between doing what's right and secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

I was very excited to read this book because years ago I read Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wanna Bees, which made quite a lasting impression on me. It's a great book and I think anyone who has a daughter should read it. Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials is her first work of fiction. The main character Charlie is ready to make some big changes in her life after a few horrific experiences with some frenemies in junior high school. But her hope to break free is crushed on the first day when she finds herself face to face with a couple of people she never expected to see at this new school. One of whom is her old best friend Will who she hasn't seen in a few years. Is Will still the same good old guy she remembers from years back or has high school and his new found popularity changed him into someone completely different?

I really like that Ms. Wiseman touches on the subject of hazing in her novel. In this case, the high school lacrosse team target incoming freshman. Who are subjected to dares or humiliating acts in order to be accepted and considered team members by the upperclassmen. Alot of times this hazing is allowed by coaches and excused by adults in the name of tradition and a coming of age rite of passage. In my opinion it's all bullshit and should never, ever be tolerated. Hazing is harassment, assault and in many instances against the law.

I recommend this book for ages 13 and up. High School situations. Some Language. I will be donating this book to the Salmon Public Library. I won this book in a contest sponsored by The Story Siren. Thanks Kristi!

Friday, April 2, 2010

2010 100+ READING CHALLENGE

UPDATE ON 100+ READING CHALLENGE
that was originally started by J-Kaye but has been taken over by Home Girl Book Blog. If you are looking for a bit of a challenge it's not too late to join
Titles that I have read so far this year:
1. The Magician's Elephant
2. The Cupcake Queen
3. Magyk
4. Rules
5. The Wednesday Wars
6. Bloody Jack
7. The Seer of Shadows
8. Huge
9. Does my Head Look Big in This?
10. The Adoration of Jenna Fox
11. Flour Babies
12. If the Witness Lied
13. Marked
14. Witch & Wizard
15. Boot Camp
16. Just Listen
17. The Chosen One
18. Dawn of the Dreadfuls
19. Feed
20. Curse of the Blue Tattoo
21. Gentlemen
22. What Happened to Cass McBride?
23. Gym Candy
It's my goal to read 100 Books this year. So far so good. I'm looking foward to Dewey's 24 Hour Book Challenge next weekend.

AWESOME BLOGS I FOUND ON BOOK HOP!


Okay here are some super awesome blogs I found on Jennifer's
Book Blogger Hop:
Chelle @ Time Out
The Book Hop as given me the opportunity to visit these super fun sites and gain a few new followers. Thanks Jennifer!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP!


IT'S FRIDAY!
TIME FOR THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP!!
This is a weekly event, hosted at Crazy-For-Books, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read. It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends!
Jennifer thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!
Pretty please - Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added!
Most Importantly......HAVE FUN!!!!
Don't forget to sign up for my blogoversary giveaway-scroll down for details.