ALA : Friday

I'm in ARC heaven! I can't wait to share them with you. If you see one you want... email me fast!

FTBT Review: Dreamless

Title: Dreamless
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pubdate: May 29, 2012
ISBN: 9780062012012
Author: Josephine Angelini

“But how do I get home” she asked before he could get too far.


“All you have to do is wake up. And Helen,” he called out ,almost like he was warning her, “In the coming days, try to remember that dreams do come true, but they don’t come easily.” pg 322

As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies' cry for blood is growing louder.

In Dreamless, Helen and Lucas, both deceived and broken, are forced to repress the deep feelings they have for one another.  Helen is bound to fight the evil furies alone, and without Lucus by her side, she fights exhaustion and discouragement night after night.  In a twist of fate, Helen’s deceptive mother sends Orion to her aide, complete with the ability to protect Helen from harm AND soothe her broken heart.  Orion is irresistible, and his playful presence in Helen’s life definitely makes things interesting.  Never to be underestimated, Lucas keeps his presence invisible,  and does what he can to help Helen without her knowing.

Dreamless provides a strong female character that truly lives up to her legacy. Helen takes care of business- and even at her most vulnerable moment, is strong and true.  I thought my devotion to Lucas could not be swayed, but Orion placed his invisible grip on my heart, just as he did with Helen.  This frustrating love triangle provides just the right amount of literary tension, which demands the reader to turn pages and read furiously until the story closes. Once again, the book ends without resolution, and despite my frustration, I loved every single page.  Fans of Greek mythology and a complicated love story are going to devour this novel.

I give this book an A+ for leading me to the River of Literary Joy!

Net Galley Review: Tempest Unleashed

Title: Tempest Unleashed

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

PubDate: June 05, 2012

ISBN: 9780802728302

Author: Tracy Deebs

         Though they were being total gentlemen, I still felt like a rope in a tug-of-war contest- caught between two opposing sides. Belonging equally to both of them. It made my head throb.  Pg. 200

Tempest Maguire is happy with her decision to embrace her mermaid nature and live among her mother's clan within the ocean's depths. Even though training to one day ascend the throne for the aging mermaid queen is rigorous, she finds refuge in the arms of Kona, the selkie who first opened her up to her mermaid side. But when word comes that one of her brothers has been gravely injured on land, Tempest immediately rushes to his side—which also brings her back to her old flame, Mark. And in her absence, a deadly battle begins raging at the hands of Tempest's old nemesis, the sea witch Tiamat. As the dangerous war erupts, Tempest's two loves—Kona and Mark, sea and land—will collide for the first time, both to protect her and to force her to choose.

After reading book one, I was eager for book two. Now that I have finished book two, I am desperate for book three! The clash between water and land, new love and true love, keeps you involved and interested from start to finish. The independent and fiery Tempest is overwhelmed with the choices she is forced to make- and her ties with her family on land, and her mermaid heritage within the sea- pull her two completely different directions. Deciding to fight an evil sea creature doesn’t hold a candle to the heartache Tempest experiences as she faces the fact that she loves two boys at once.

Teen readers will be crazy for mermaids after reading Tracy Deebs’s books. Tempest Unleashed is filled with pearls of wisdom that reveal crucial pieces of Tempest’s past so that she can face her uncertain future. Tracy- if you’re reading this… I wanted you to know that I’m “Team Kona” all the way!

 I give this book an A+ for it’s magical mermaid charm.

Net Galley Review: Grave Mercy

Title: Grave Mercy
Subtitle: His Fair Assassin, Book 1
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pubdate: April 03, 2012
ISBN: 9780547628349
Author: Robin LaFevers

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Nun by day… assassin by night? This book has it ALL going on! If you’ve searched for a strong female character that can take care of business, AND have the brains to understand it… than this is the book for you. Ismae takes the term heroine to a whole new level, and as she learns the deadly tricks to her lethal trade, she is confronted with something more terrifying than Death itself…forbidden love. Thank you Robin LaFevers for delivering a story that kept me on the edge of my seat AND reading past my bedtime. There’s only one problem… I need book 2!

I give this book an A+ for it’s original plotline and its “kick-butt” heroine!

Net Galley Review: The Peculiars

Title: The Peculiars

Publisher: ABRAMS

Imprint: Amulet Books

Pubdate: May 1st, 2012

ISBN: 9781419701788

Author: Maureen Doyle McQuerry

The Peculiars, by Maureen Doyle McQuerry, is an awesome YA read. The first thing that captured my interest was the cover. The mute colors and the delicate wings, combined with a steampunk look, sold me before I even read the book. The main character, Lena Mattacascar, makes the decision to travel alone in search of her father in the northern wilderness of Scree.  Her vulnerabilities and insecurities are revealed early on, and this allows the reader to connect with her "peculiar" characteristics.  While on the train to Scree, Lena meets Jimson Quiggley, who both fascinates and frightens her. Together, the two work for a mysterious inventor Mr. Beasley, and as they travel deep in to Scree, Marshall Thomas Saltre who wants Lena’s father for a completely different reason, relentlessly chases them.

Throughout the story, Lena is forced to face her deepest fears, which includes learning if she is indeed, a Peculiar. Her mind tells her one thing, but her bird-like hands and feet tell a different story.  What she discovers as she seeks the truth about herself reveals a terrifying plot to rid the world of all peculiars.  Her inability to trust, including the dashing Jimson, keeps her from opening up about her insecurities. Jimson's unwavering devotion is the support Lena needs to confront her fears, and accept her Peculiar features.

With a little bit of romance and a lot of mystery, this novel will keep you interested until the last page.  Tweens, teens, and fans of steampunk will love this book!

 Our KWN trip to NYC was absolutely amazing! Thank you to the Panasonic Corporation and KWN for treating us like royalty. 

Riordan Webinar

Thank you to the School Library Journal for allowing us to participate in the Rick Riordan webinar today! 

Hollyweird ARCs

Thank you Terri Clark for the ARCs of Hollyweird!

Net Galley Review: The Immortal Rules

Title: The Immortal Rules

SubTitle: Book of Eden: Book I

Pub: Harlequin

Imprint: HarlequinTeen

PubDate: April 24, 2012

ISBN: 9780373210510

Author: Julie Kagawa

“Immortality is a lonely road,” he murmured, “and it will only be made worse if you don’t release your attachments to your old life. To that boy, you are the enemy now, the unseen monster that haunts his nightmares. You are the creature he fears the most. And nothing in your previous life, not friendship or loyalty or love, will ever change that.” Pg 149

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die…or become one of the monsters. Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike. But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa brings everything that a reader loves to the YA table.  The characters range from vampires who use and abuse humans, to crazed rabids who crave human flesh, to human beings desperate to find refuge from the chaotic world they live in.  The main character, Allie, chooses the bite of immortality instead of physical death, even though her choice changes her into a monster. Allie is a passionate, complicated teen that struggles desperately with the vampire she has become.  Despite her immortal status, she commits herself to her former humanity, vowing to protect a small band of humans searching for Eden, a paradise free of rabids and vampires.  Zeke is the unsuspecting boy who welcomes Allie into his band of humans as they search for Eden. Allie does not compromise herself, and as she struggles with her fascination and growing attraction for Zeke, she fights her thirst for blood. Zeke has been taught all his life to hate creatures like Allie, and when she protects his family from harm, he questions his faith and his upbringing.

“What are you doing to me? He whispered, as his hand moved down to my neck, tracing my collarbone. I couldn’t answer even if I wanted to. “You make me question everything I’ve learned, everything I know. Truths I’ve believed since I was a kid, gone.”  He sighed, and I felt a shiver go through him, but he didn’t pull his hand back. “What’s wrong with me?” he groaned, low and anguished. “I shouldn’t be feeling any of this…”  pg 409

I absolutely loved this book; I was glued to the pages from start to finish.  I love a love story with bite, and when Allie and Zeke are faced with breaking the Immortal Rules in order to be together, I found myself hoping for the impossible.  Twilight’s Edward and Bella, along with Cassandra Clare’s Jace and Clary, need to move over and be ready to share the YA spotlight with Julie Kagawa’s Allie and Zeke. The Immortal Rules is a winner!

I give this book my highest rating: A+ for its forbidden love story and action-packed plot. 

The Immortal Rules

Rabids, Vampires, and the Unregistered...Oh Yeah!

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is OUTSTANDING! Watch for our teacher/student reviews coming soon.

NCT Article

Stetson...

Here is my new horse Stetson! He's a Missouri Fox Trotter.

Illuminate~A MUST Read!

 

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything changes when she is awarded a prestigious internship at a posh Chicago hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous strangers: the powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

I LOVED this book. It's available NOW at Barnes & Noble or on your eReader. You will need to make sure your homework is done before you start this book- because once you start it, you will not want to stop. 

Mr. Hot Dog

As promised, here is the picture of Mr. Hot Dog at the Oceanside Street Fair. 

VITs While You Read

Look for VITs while you Read!

Reading Challenge: Look for examples of your VITs within your independent reading material. Keep a list in your comp and include the term, page #, and the textual example. Be picky- similes and alliteration examples are plentiful, so only select the strongest and weed out the weak. We will start a VIT assignment next week- so front load your comp with examples and be ahead of the game for the assignment!

CoLS release party: May 8th, O'side Barnes and Noble. Free SWAG! Cassie Clare ROCKS! See you there!