Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles Halter is sick of not having a life, so he leaves boring Florida for Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama in search of the Great Perhaps, a desire for something more to life inspired by the last words of poet François Rabelais. And Culver Creek is all Miles, ironically nicknamed Pudge, has been looking for because there, Pudge has genuine friends and an introduction to the wilder side of life via Alaska Young. Alaska is the most beautiful, enigmatic, fascinating, ingenious, mysterious, and dangerous girl Pudge has ever met, so it’s no wonder she steals Pudge’s heart and changes his entire perception of life. And it’s no wonder, after everything is said and done, that Pudge cannot alter the terrible greatness that is Alaska.

A beautiful tale of love and loss, life and death, Looking for Alaska succeeds in being hilarious, heart wrenching, and profound. Green’s realistically portrayed characters are so well created and placed that they become more than just words on paper, particularly the enigma that is Alaska. Alaska is the type of girl everyone loves to hate but don’t, and he sometimes impulsive and elusive behavior embodies the exploration and some of the greatest questions that I feel are at the heart of what it means to be a teenager. It’s not just about eh cigarettes, booze, and defying authority; it’s about learning to live, with the past and as oneself, and doing something right in one’s own view. This is a novel so soul searching of two amazing characters, primarily through narrator Pudge and indirectly Alaska. It asks and attempts to answer some of the most difficult questions about life and identity in a way that will stimulate readers’ minds. Reading this novel will give readers a greater understanding and appreciation for living.

I know great writing when I see it, and Looking for Alaska most definitely fits this category. I’d rate it among some of the all time best teen literature I’ve ever read. Fans of this novel will also enjoy the similar and less tragic Paper Towns also by John Green, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers, and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

Rating: 5.0

Review copy borrowed

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy

Tabitha McAbe is just your ordinary teen girl juggling overprotective parents, schoolwork, crushes on cute guys, and her faith. As a friend, she’s as loyal as they come. Her bond with her four closest friends, Morgan, Priah, Naeomi, and Cara, seems unbreakable, especially because of the promise they’ve all made, to remain pure until marriage, symbolized by their purity rings. To Tabitha, it seems nothing could go wrong.

But things can go wrong, and they do when one of Tabitha’s friends goes back on her promise. She sets off an unpleasant chain of reactions which splinter the used-to-be tight knit group of friends. One betrayal leads to another and another until the event that started this war is blown way out of proportion, transforming a small disagreement to a battle of faith and morals. And no matter how much Tabitha wishes life could just go back to normal, to homework and freaking out about her next date with Jake, she knows she’s part of this quasi-revolution, for better or worse.

Read the rest of my review at Young Adult Enchanting Reviews.

Rating: 3.0

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster through YA Enchanting Reviews

Miss Match by Wendy Toliver

Sasha Finnegan is just your ordinary teen girl with a knack for matchmaking. She’s been setting up couples for as long as she can remember because seeing others in love makes her happy. Now sixteen, she’s put her Cupid-like talents to work through an online business where she goes by the pseudonym Miss Match.

Derek Urban is the new guy in school, not to mention a total hottie. With Homecoming approaching, there’s a certain cheerleader who’s caught his eye. But Derek doesn’t know how to get close to her, so he goes to Miss Match for help.

Sasha is more than willing to offer her services, because she’s saving up to buy a car, but it makes her uncomfortable that her work is now so close to home, literally. Derek has his sights set on Sasha’s more beautiful and popular older sister Maddie to be his Homecoming date. This’ll be possibly the hardest match Sasha’s ever made, not because Maddie isn’t interested—but because Sasha might be falling for Derek herself.

Read the rest of my review at Young Adult Enchanting Reviews.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster through YA Enchanting Reviews

Daylight Runner by Oisín McGann

Sol Wheat has gotten used to the monotonous life of living in Ash Harbor, one of the last refuges for human existence amidst a severe Ice Age which has rendered the exposed earth uninhabitable. Sol obediently functions as part of the Machine just like the other residents of Ash Harbor, traveling clockwise through the city to help power the Machine and making do with what little meager resources are left.

But Sol’s world irrevocably shifts when his father disappears and is accused of murder. Targeted by a secret supposed policed force called the Clockworkers for asking too many nosy questions, Sol is now on the run, hiding out in Ash Harbor’s underground. Nothing will stop Sol from pursuing the truth, however, and he soon learns that there is so much more at stake than he initially thought; it’s not longer just a personal score to settle but a matter involving the dysfunctional fascist government of Ash Harbor and the very survival of the fragile world he lives in.

Read the rest of my review at Young Adult Enchanting Reviews.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher HarperCollins through YA Enchanting Reviews

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Being the face of Stark Enterprises isn’t easy, especially if the brain behind that face doesn’t really belong to the body it’s in. But that’s Em Watt’s predicament, for better or worse, and she has to learn to deal with that. But juggling high school and a modeling career aren’t her only problems, and neither are all of Nikki’s ex-boyfriends or Lulu’s upcoming holiday party. Because now, Nikki’s brother has appeared with news of his mother’s disappearance, Em’s crush and used-to-be best friend Christopher has made it his mission in life to take down the company Em’s new face represents, Em’s sister is dead set on going to cheerleading camp, and Em has no idea how to convince Christopher that there’s more to this supermodel than meets the eye. But unfortunately for Em, there’s also a lot more to her new life than meets the eye—and this time, it’s for worse.

Cabot does not disappoint with her original and creative mystery sequel to the already fabulous Airhead. Being Nikki succeeds on so many levels and is just such an enjoyable read. Protagonist Em is fun to read about, is witty and sweet, and has such a good heart. Her desires to help people don’t stop at her immediate family but extend even to some people who don’t even like her. She has such drive and determination that is admirable in her search for the truth. But these qualities are just the basis for a good story. A well written character would be nothing without an equally well crafted plot, like the one Cabot has created in Being Nikki. Cabot appeals to a large audience by offering glimpses into the ritzy life of the rich and famous, the not improbably future of science, technology, and medicine, and the sometimes nefarious activities of the corporately powerful. This leads the reader on a sometimes crazy, sometimes dangerous, and entirely satisfying journey with Em to find the truth behind what started this whole mess. Occasionally, little details and events seem to appear out of nowhere, but overall, this story is easy to follow, making for a fantastically unique, suspenseful, and unpredictable mystery readers won’t be able to put down.

All fans of Cabot’s writing, particularly in Airhead and Avalon High, won’t want to miss Being Nikki. I certainly will be eagerly waiting for the next installment in this series, Runaway. Fans of Airhead and Being Nikki may also like And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson

James Hoff is a long term pessimist—he believes humans have consistently trashes the planet and aren’t doing enough to reverse that trend, thus leading to ecological disaster. Her rejects American consumerism, materialism, and popular fads. And he particularly hates cars, as he views automobiles as the root of today’s environmental problems. He talks big, of change the world, but his AP English teacher is getting fed up with James’ “manifestos.” And his ex-girlfriend Sadie, a supposed activist, seems content to organize food drives and build bike paths, even though those methods won’t save the planet from impending disaster. But James is just out outcast teenager; what can he do? And what happens when other people get in the way of his big plans?

Destroy All Cars, while a good attempt to educate teens about current issues such as the drestruction of the environment all for the sake of “me, me, me!” and “stuff,” was ultimately a failure for me. Firstly, the narrator, James Hoff, is a pessimistic extremist who can’t see good in virtually anything. I agree with many of his thoughts, that American culture seems to be more about commodities and making money than actually thinking individually for the betterment of the world; however, James struck me as annoying, especially in his frequent insults of what he views as mindless American morons, and “all talk.” Despite his passionate rants, James never makes one legitimate action to further his cause. James’ AP English essays are unbelievable as well, and not in a good way; I’m in an Honors English class in the same year as James, and the essays I write have significantly more substance than James’ disguised ranting journals. Second, Destroy All Cars was unsuccessful in conveying its message because I am already aware of the current issues this novel presents as well as many more. In fact, I found it slightly insulting how James lumps all Americans together as being ignorant, particularly teens, because I am a living contradiction to that. And honestly, I think most avid readers are also pretty aware of the world and people just browsing through bookstores would probably avoid this type of novel, thus defeating its purpose. The only redeeming part of this novel is James’ relationship with Sadie and how if opens his eyes further, but other than that, Destroy All Cars was just strange and awkward for me to read.

While not for me, Destroy All Cars may be enjoyed by political and social activists that double as readers. Those who liked So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld may also like this novel.

Rating: 2.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches

Skye Sebring, a hospitality greeter in Heaven, is perfectly content with her life. She’s got great friends, the best boyfriend—a perfect life. But all that perfection starts to slip away when Skye meets Ryan Blaine, whose near death motorcycle accident propels him into the Heavenly dimension for a few moments. Neither can forget the other, Ryan for the love of his life he believes he’s lose and Skye for some mysterious connection she feels for this stranger. Skye’s ultimate decision comes when she is chosen to go to Earth by the Supreme Being. Things are not what they seem to be, and Skye will have to find the courage to leave behind all she knows to enter the realm of old and new beginnings, risk and hope, and Beatles songs.

Earthly Pleasures is a beautifully and cleverly crafted story. I love the uniqueness of Neches’ vision of Heaven, a synergy or modern technology and spiritual elements; it is a model of perfection without being too religious besides the incorporation of a Supreme Being. Much of Neches’s writing challenges traditional beliefs in a subtle and not too provocative way: the Supreme Being is actually female, everyone goes to Heaven, and souls live many lives on Earth. This provides for an interesting backdrop for Skye’s story, which is complicated but easy to understand and get used to. Neches definitely proves herself to be an incredible and skilled storyteller through her manipulation of events and details from the perspectives of so many different characters. The switching points of views are sometimes confusing, because the reader may wonder what the significance of this obscure character is, but the gradual unraveling of the truth of Skye and Ryan’s relationship makes the story so satisfying to read. My favorite part by far was the love story and the fact that one man refused to give up on the woman he loved, no matter how much time passed and how circumstances change. Earthly Pleasures is such a fantastically put together story and novel that will be completely enjoyable for all readers.

Fans of novels regarding the afterlife involving love stories, such as Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, and Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn will probably love Earthly Pleasures as much as I did.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from BookDivas

Poison by Chris Wooding

Poison has always been an independent and strong willed girl, if easily provoked and stubborn. She even chose her name to spite her stepmother. There are very few people Poison truly cares about, one being her younger sister Azalea, so when baby Azalea is kidnapped by phaeries and a demonic changeling left in her place, it’s the final event Poison needs to leave home and embark on a journey. But searching for Azalea is no easy task, especially when phaeries are concerned, because of the gruesome challenges that lie in her way and the deceitful nature of the Phaerie Lord. And Poison’s phaerie tale takes a turn for the worse when she finds herself caught in the middle of a murderous scheme involving the Lords of the Realms, the fate of the race of man, and the all powerful Hierophant. Because the Hierophant is writing again, and his stories will decide not only the end to Poison’s phaerie tale but the fate of the Realms as well.

Entertaining, fantastical, and thought provoking, Poison is a true joy to read. This novel shows fantasty in a postmodernist view that is completely original. The various settings and interesting and adequately described without being overbearing, and the characters, especially Poison, are mostly well developed and certainly delightful. Wooding creates an entire new world with a multitude of dimensions that is unique and exciting in its exoticness. Even better than reading about Poison’s encounters with various dangers and quick thinking was the Hierophant and his almighty pen. This elusive character raises such deep questions about where individual will stops and fate decided by some higher being begins. I’ll admit that some of Poison’s thought processes are confusing and most definitely trippy, but it is also an excellent display of postmodern thought: how do we know we’re even really alive? This inclusion of this into a world where life is made up of one or more stores was just so fun and enjoyable for me to read about. I love how Poison effectively combines story and thought into a novel I feel is more than worthy of being dissected in a high school English class.

This great novel will likely be enjoyed by fans of Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and Tithe by Holly Black and particularly by those who loved the movie The Matrix.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from personal collection

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/2009/05/forest-of-hands-and-teeth-by-carrie.htmlThirteen-year-old Kyra has never really questioned the polygamous and isolated community she’s grown up in. She isn’t bothered by the facts that her father has multiple wives, she has twenty and counting siblings, or the compound is essentially ruled by a religious fanatic. Sure, she occasionally defies some of her community’s laws when she sneaks away to read forbidden books borrowed from the Mobile Library on Wheels or spend time with the forbidden boy she loves. And everything is going just find until Prophet Childs announces that Kyra is to become the seventh wife to her sixty-year-old Uncle Hyrum. That’s when Kyra’s world starts to fail her, when she starts to wonder if it’s really by God’s direction that such a young girl as she would be forced to marry a cruel man more than four times her age who she doesn’t love in the least, when she starts to realize that the outside world might not be as Satan-filled as she’s been taught to believe. That’s why Kyra is forced to choose between the only world and family she’s ever known and the possibility of a different and freer life outside.

The Chosen One is a gripping and moving tale about culture and individual beliefs. Williams provides a realistic if horrifying depiction of a religious and polygamous society in which the individual is always expected to do right and every infraction calls for severe punishment. It is a single minded community which survives by instilling that train of thought in each and every one of its members, at the expense of personal freedom. Probably the hardest part of this novel for me to read was the inferior image of all women and the expectation for girls as young as fourteen to start pumping out babies, because this subjugation of females into commodities is wrong and the thought of girls younger than me being forcibly paired with old men is truly disgusting. However gruesome and brutal Kyra’s situation may seem, it’s important to remember that this is all Kyra has ever known, thus complicating her seemingly easy decision between staying and leaving. Williams portrays this crucial separation of unwavering belief in what one is told and the beginnings of independence of thought through Kyra’s emotional and scarily realistic struggles. Readers will genuinely care about Kyra and root for her happiness and freedom and well as be shocked by her harrowing tale. The Chosen One is a powerful story that will make readers more self examining and open minded.

This unforgettable novel will be enjoyed by those who liked The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan and Shift by Charlotte Agell. Williams skilled writing proves her to be a worthy author to watch.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Aphra Connolly’s life can never be normal again, not since she discovered the true nature of her mother’s work and unwittingly landed herself on the hit list of a very dangerous man known as The Mold. So, she and her mom have been flying under the radar and hiding out in France, but despite their careful precautions, they are still not safe. When they discover they’re being followed, they’re on the run once more, but they don’t get very far once Aphra’s mother’s Parisian contact is found drowned in the Seine. And just like that, Aphra finds herself a pawn in the midst of another deadly plot involving The Mole and the boy of her dreams, Seth Mulo. But this girl isn’t just another pawn in this sick game; she’s a player, sick and tired of being threatened. And she’s not leaving without a fight.

Gerber does not disappoint with this exciting novel from her Death by… series. Gerber’s strength is by far in creating such a thrilling and fast paced plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. There are even the spies, sleeper cells, and dangerous thugs, everyone with mixed up identities, to keep thigs fresh, interesting, and unpredictable. While I appreciate Aphra’s quick thinking and resourcefulness, I also feel the character development could’ve been better. The reader barely gets to know certain characters because the story moves along so quickly. But despite that, Death by Denim is a wholly enjoyable read, full of action, romance, and international flair. Action packed and suspenseful, Death by Denim wraps Gerber’s Death by… series into a trilogy while still leaving room for an offshoot continuation.

Fans of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte by Linda Gerber, the earlier installments in this series, won’t want to miss Death by Denim. Teen girls in particular looking for a fast and fun mystery to devour will enjoy Gerber’s Death by… series.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from author Linda Gerber

Win a signed copy of How to Buy a Love of Reading

CONTEST CLOSED

To Carley Wells, words are the enemy. Her tutor’s innumerable SAT flashcards. Her personal trainer’s “fifty-seven pounds overweight” assessment. And the endless reading assignments from her English teacher, Mr. Nagel. When Nagel reports to her parents that she has answered “What is your favorite book” with “Never met one I liked,” they decide to fix what he calls her “intellectual impoverishment.” They will commission a book to be written just for her—one she’ll have to love—that will impress her teacher and the whole town of Fox Glen with their family’s devotion to the arts. They will be patrons— the Medicis of Long Island. They will buy their daughter The Love Of Reading.

Impossible though it is for Carley to imagine loving books, she is in love with a young bibliophile who cares about them more than anything. Anything, that is, but a good bottle of scotch. Hunter Cay, Carley’s best friend and Fox Glen’s resident golden boy, is becoming a stranger to her lately as he drowns himself in F. Scott Fitzgerald, booze, and Vicodin.

When the Wellses move writer Bree McEnroy—author of a failed meta-novel about Odysseus’ failed journey home through the Internet—into their mansion to write Carley’s book, Carley’s sole interest in the project is to distract Hunter from drinking and give them something to share. But as Hunter’s behavior becomes erratic and dangerous, she finds herself increasingly drawn into the fictional world Bree has created, and begins to understand for the first time the power of stories—those we read, those we want to believe in, and most of all, those we tell ourselves about ourselves. Stories powerful enough to destroy a person.

Or save her.

Well, I'm sure none of us book lovers need to worry about buying a love of books (we get it for free!) but I guess it'd be cool to read a book about it, right?

Anyhow, I'm going to be giving away a signed copy of How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson to a random commenter on this post. Please leave your name/alias and a valid email address (solely so I can contact the winner). Comments without one or both of these will be not be entered.

Since this contest is sponsered by the lovely people at Dutton, entries are limited to US residents only. Contest ends 5/31/09 at 9 p.m. PST.

Distant Waves: a Novel of the Titanic by Suzanne Weyn

Five sisters, daughters of the famed psychic Maude Taylor, grow up in unusual circumstances. They make their home in Spirit Vale, a small and unique town in which a high concentration of clairvoyants and those with the “gift” also reside. Despite their shared last name, the five sisters are quite different. Beautiful Mimi, the oldest, yearns to claim a place in high society while also internally struggling with the truth of her heritage. She, along with her youngest sister Blythe, believes their mother’s psychic business is just a load of nonsense. Naïve Blythe, similarly to Mimi, wants to experience the world through the eyes of the rich. Twins Emma and Amelie seem to be following in their mother’s footsteps. And rational Jane is just trying to hold the family together and make scientific sense of it all. But all five sisters are fated to board the doomed Titanic. It is a voyage that will test their beliefs, threaten their lives, and irrevocably alter their courses forever.

Distant Waves is interesting and well written enough, but I just could not get much into the story. I found the intersection of science and the supernatural quite intriguing, and in enjoyed the incorporation of several key historical figures such as the acclaimed scientist Tesla and the magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. Weyn’s writing has continually frustrated me, particularly in the endings of Reincarnation by The Bar Code Tattoo, and since she is a good writer, I keep hoping that the nest story will be better, but Distant Waves was just a huge downward slide to me. There are some commendable parts of this novel, such as its researched historical accuracy and Weyn’s skilled manipulation of each sister’s story, but unfortunately, that just wasn’t good enough. Distant Waves lacked something to it, and I’m not quite sure what, to capture my interest and bring the story together. It also didn’t help that the unequal amounts of information were given about each sister, as Jane is the narrator and her interactions with her different siblings vary. It’s also so disappointing to me that Weyn certainly is a capable writer but lacks in storytelling skills because she has such unique ideas.

Readers who enjoy Weyn’s writing, particularly in Reincarnation, may also enjoy Distant Waves. I don’t think I will be reading any more of Weyn’s writing as it has continued to let me down.

Rating: 2.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Congratulations to...

deltay

...who won a signed copy of Mackenzie Lost and Found by Deborah Kerbel.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel has always been a little different. A strict vegan and model pretty, Laurel would rather relax outside in the sun than be imprisoned indoors. But moving from small town and familiar Orick to Brookings, she has to attend public school with its claustrophobic rooms and uncomfortable lighting. Just when she starts to blend in, something small turns into something startlingly abnormal, a shocking part of her and her unknown heritage that shakes her world. This is when Laurel learns just how unique she is, when myths intertwine with ordinary life, when laurel’s eyes are opened to an entire supernatural world around her.

Though inaccurately titled, Wings is a satisfying debut and certainly one of the most original fairy tales I have ever read. Pike has a very detailed and specific vision of fairies which she incorporates effectively into this novel. As a girl of science, I appreciate the somewhat scientific explanations for supernatural existence; however, at the same time, some of Pike’s science, such as the combination of biology and physical symmetry in organisms, did not add up. Also, some of Pike’s details are just so farfetched and bizarre that I often found it difficult to suspend my disbelief. While Pike offered an overabundance of descriptions of, for example fairies’ habits and customs, I felt she lacked in other details, such as fairy history, both long gone and recent. Laurel is a solid and likeable, if at times annoying, character, but all the lesser characters suffered for her well written character. The minor characters remained somewhat mysterious or puzzling. This criticism doesn’t go to say that I didn’t enjoy this story, because I did. I just feel that Pike’s attention to refining her take was unevenly distributed and that the overall story could’ve been better than it was.

Even with an interesting take on fairies, Wings can be enjoyed by fans of more traditional fairies such an in Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones, and Tithe by Holly Black. I’m hopeful that Pike’s writing will improve in subsequent novels.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Evie loves her stepfather, Joe Spooner, more than anything. That’s why she’s so thrilled when he finally comes home after World War II. Things are mostly back to normal, but something’s different. It’s not until Peter Coleridge, a handsome fellow who served in Joe’s company, shows up that Evie’s truths start to fall apart. Evie finds herself falling for Peter despite the fact that her parents warned her away from him. She doesn’t really know what she’s getting herself into until it’s too late and tragedy turns a spotlight onto the twisted truths and lies that become her new life. Caught in the midst of a web of deception, Evie will face her greatest test of loyalty, but who will she betray, the family that’s always loved her of the man she believes she loves?

Historically accurate and thought provoking with controversy, What I Saw and How I Lied is an interesting coming of age story in a socially tumultuous time. I found Blundell’s description of the post-World War II era to be spot on, particularly with the booming economy and unfortunate lingering of anti-Semitism. The mystery of what the tragedy really was is well written, and I enjoyed the gradual peeling away of the layers of lies to reveal the ugly truth. The ending is somewhat disappointing from a romantic standpoint, but completely realistic in all other respects. Evie’s character is introduced as a young and slightly naïve girl just beginning to test the boundaries between childhood and womanhood, but the scandalous family ordeal she’s put through forces a loss of innocence. The reader really feels for Evie, because she has to learn the hard way that the people she always regarded in the higest esteem aren’t really who they said they were. This novel clearly shows the negative side of World War II from mental, social, and economic perspectives and displays what I believe is one of the lowest points in American culture; an abundance of money created a new higher class that felt it had the right to pass judgment and act as it pleased in complete disregard for the little people who got run over in the process. I did however appreciate the foil to this in the generous and kind Jewish couple who transform Evie’s social views for the better. My only issue with this story is that too many past details are obscured and I, as the reader, was guessing a little too frequently.

What I Saw and How I Lied is a solid historical mystery and coming of age tale that will be enjoyed by those who also liked Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher and A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from Amazon Vine

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

For Jory Michaels, it’s all about the nose, that oversized facial feature of hers she’s dubbed the Super Schnoz. It’s the one thing ruining her life, making her look like the adopted daughter next to her classically good looking family and the odd one out among her gorgeous friends, and preventing her hot crush from really noticing her. If Jory could just fix her nose, she knows everything will be better. Enter the plan: Jory gets a job delivering cakes and flowers to foot the bill for her nose job. She even prepares to join the “Nice Nose Club” by compiling a Nice Nose Notebook to show the cosmetic surgeon. But is rhinoplasty really Jory’s cure all? Or will she start to accept and love herself, big nose and all?

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters, a hilarious and sweet novel, explores personal image and identity in a heartwarming story. Jory obviously has serious issues with self esteem, and all because of her nose which she views as a supersized monstrosity. Salter portrays Jory and her insecurities well and realistically; lack of self confidence causes Jory to obsess over and exaggerate the size of her nose and makes her feel like an ugly, unloved failure. It’s so sad how most of Jory’s experiences have soured due to someone outshining her, only feeding her self-degradation. I liked how in the end, Jory and her mother together come to terms with their appearances and start to love themselves, but I was disappointed that Jory’s friends never offered her moral supposed when she truly needed it. I didn’t like how they continued to pick of Jory’s choice of a guy even after they made up from previous fights, because I’d like to think a good friend would be happy for her friend’s happiness; it’s good that at least Jory gained enough confidence at this point to not let this get to her. Despite those little things, I enjoyed reading Jory’s personal journey because even though much of it was terribly sad, the sweet and satisfying ending made it all better.

Fans of Faking 19 by Alyson Noël, A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian, Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker, and Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman will also enjoy this cute story. Readers who liked this novel may also enjoy Purge by Sarah Darer Littman.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from Amazon Vine

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mary’s world is fenced in. She lives in a small enclave within the Forest of Hands and Teeth, constantly surrounded by the fear of an attack by the Unconsecrated. All she really knows is that she should listen to the Sisterhood’s wisdom, let the Guardians protect her, and perform her expected duties. But Mary’s world starts to unravel when her parents are infected and become Unconsecrated and she joins the Sisterhood. She learns about the secrets the Sisterhood has been guarding and that there might actually be a world outside the tiny one Mary knows, a possibility that tears down the rest of the trust Mary’s placed in God and the Sisterhood. And then the fence is breached and there is no more safety, only dangerous uncertainties. Now Mary will have to make the most difficult decisions of her life between love and duty, fear of the unknown and faith in possibilities, and survival and her dreams.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a riveting tale set in a terrifying post apocalyptic world, but although the story is well written and captures my attention, I’m not quite sure if I like it or not. There is no doubt that Ryan is a skilled storyteller, especially for a debut author, and I like her vividly descriptive and honest style. Mary’s character is a success as well; readers will be able to relate to her curiosity and questioning of what she has always known. Mary’s bleak situation made me trust her as a narrator, because the atrocity of living surrounded by Unconsecrated cannot be glossed over, and appreciate the complicated love story centering on her; I couldn’t help but keep rooting for Mary to pull through and survive. What I didn’t enjoy, though, was Ryan’s slaughter, or perhaps sacrifice, of many main characters; it was just so heartbreaking and made me feel a sad sense of hopelessness. I understand that such a novel as this can’t have a perfectly happy ending because of the devastated atmosphere, but the love proved through Mary’s relationships with various other characters was partially spoiled by all the death. I was also disappointed that more background information was not provided regarding the Unconsecrated and how they came to be, except my inference of the connection between the spread of the virus and hope. But then again, maybe it was supposed to be that way and I just didn’t understand everything.

Though not quite what I was expecting or hoping for, The Forest of Hands and Teeth is still a captivating tale that everyone should read to interpret for themselves. Fans of The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix, Daylight Runner by Oisín McGann, Shift by Charlotte Agell, and the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld may enjoy this novel as well. I look forward to more writing from Ryan.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Win Airhead by Meg Cabot

CONTEST CLOSED

Want to win a copy of the hilariously awesome Airhead by the even more fantastic Meg Cabot? Well, look no further, because I'm giving away 5, yes 5, copies of this wonderful book.

Don't know what Airhead's about? Well, check out my review or read this quick summary:

Emerson Watts isn't your average sixteen-year-old girl. She loves playing video games with her best friend, Christopher, and has made peace with her less-than-supermodel-esque looks. But when she's involved in a bizarre accident, she wakes up to find she's now in the body of a supermodel. Who's behind it? What's the motive? And how can she get Christopher to realize she's still the same person inside?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author MEG CABOT comes Airhead, now available in paperback! And look for book 2 in the series, Being Nikki, in hardcover in stores now!

Doesn't sound good enough from that? Watch the trailer!

The Deets:
(5) winners get: (1) paperback copy of Airhead by Meg Cabot.

How to Enter:
Leave your name/alias and valid email address in a comment on this post. Comments without both of these will not be considered.

US residents only. Sorry, no PO boxes.

Contest runs from now until 5/31/09, around 9 p.m. PST. Winners will be contacted and announced soon after.

Evermore by Alyson Noël

A horrible accident that claims the lives of the people closest to Ever, her family, erases any chance she has of being normal again. Because of her near death experience, Ever gains the ability to read people’s minds and see their auras, curses she feels that make her as a freak. And so Ever withdraws within herself, hiding her true feelings and avoiding most other human interaction; she tries to mask her grief and special abilities with hoodies and loud music. But then Damen enters her life, Damen who is possibly eh most gorgeous and perfect person Ever has ever met. Ever is drawn to him and his strange way to calming the storm inside her head caused by her despised psychic abilities. And although Ever knows virtually nothing about Damen, about who or what he is, her self-admonishments that Damen’s mystery can lead to no good go largely unheeded because she’s falling to far in love with him.

A fantastically original paranormal tale, I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything quite like Evermore, and this is definitely a good thing. Noël effectively puts her superb writing to work to create this irresistible glimpse into a psychic world and life after death. I was sucked into this unique and supernatural tale involving immortality and spirits, and I felt that there couldn’t be a better background for this exciting tale. And it’s not just the mystical twist that’s addicting but the powerful love story as well. Even though most of the details remain fuzzy regarding Ever and Damen’s past relationships, I do enjoy the idea of a love that spans all time. Noël overlaps the normal and the paranormal so well, making this story surprisingly realistic. The characters I felt could’ve been developed a little better, because I couldn’t connect as well to Ever as I did with the heroines from Noël’s other novels, but I liked how Damen’s unpredictability increased the suspense and kept me guessing. And although parts of the story are too cutesy or easy to predict for my taste and the story could’ve been better refined, Evermore is still one of my favorites of Noël’s novels.

Fans of Noël’s writing, as I am, will welcome this interesting topic change from her previous writing. Readers who liked Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn, Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King, and the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz will also enjoy Evermore. I eagerly await the next in the Immortals series, Blue Moon.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher St. Martin's Griffin

Way behind with the awards

But, come on, is that really surprising?

Once, again, the I Heart Your Blog Award, which I have been nominated for by Korianne Speaks (who is also behind with the awards stuff, I don't blame her!), Must and Lust for Books, and Books and Needlepoint. And once again, linking back to the original post from way back when.

I've also been nominated twice for the One Lovely Blog Award by Liyanaland! (who told me I was one of the first blogs she read, yay!) and Garden in My Pocket.

The Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Well, since I am a horrible book blogger, I haven't been keeping track of what other blogs are doing. And I feel really bad about that, because when I was just starting up, I think other bloggers were definitely more attentive to me than I am to newbies now. But I'll try to come up with as many as I can (um, most of them I've found from them nominating me...): Must and Lust for Books (which I must say is a very clever blog title), Books and Needlepoint, Korianne Speaks, Liyanaland!, Garden in My Pocket, and A Book Dork.

I got the Proximidade Award again from A Book Dork, which I posted about back here.

The Book Girl nominated me for the Sisterhood Award.

The Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Um, I don't really get these rules (show great gratitude...), but I guess I'll nominate: Bookluver-Carol, Book Chic, Harmony Book Reviews, Presenting Lenore, and Reading Keeps You Sane.

Last but not least, the Friends Award from Reviewabook123.

I get to give this award to 8 people who you aim to be friends with. Can I please leave this one open ended? There are just so many new reviewers (and some that have been here for a while too) that I just don't know, so please, make yourself known to me. Consider yourself a recipient of this award if I have never had contact with you before. Email me or something :D

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Candice’s recent move from the great NYC to boring and much tinier Swoon, Connecticut seems like a huge downgrade from interesting. But when Dice’s perfect yet spoiled cousin Penelope, better known as Pen, falls from an ancient ash tree, everything changes. Why? Because in flirting with death, Pen’s vulnerable body is infiltrated by the spirit of a man named Sinclair Youngblood Powers, a man who died centuries earlier and vowed to exact revenge on those who wronged him. Being that Swoon is a small town, the families Sin wants to punish still thrive in this area, and so he, though Pen, sets about giving them what he believes they deserve—nothing short of the cruelest humiliation. Unfortunately, he wrecks many of the lives of people close to Dice, which she can’t forgive. And even worse than that, in an attempt to save Pen and exorcise Sin’s spirit, Dice gives Sin a body and makes him into a flesh-and-bone man. Dice knows Sin’s evil plans, and she knows she’s probably the only one who can stop the effect of Sin’s mischief, but he one thing stopping her from doing the right thing is that she’s in love with him.

Swoon, an intriguing paranormal mystery and romance, was not quite what I expected, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I particularly enjoyed the mysticism in this novel including Dice’s psychic abilities and its influence in nearly every part of her life, just because I’m a big fan of the paranormal. Dice’s personal life and background as well as the setting of Swoon are portrayed in a slightly awkward way. I think it is Malkin’s language that makes it seem this way; her writing isn’t flowery and poetic but rather just natural with a dash of sophistication and wit that worked well for the flow of the story but at times comes off as monotonous. The naturalness of Malkin’s writing is also a blessing and a curse because it slips little details and minor subplots that distract from the main story, and often, it’s hard to distinguish which are crucial to the rest of the tale and which are largely unimportant. I didn’t like the focus on sex, drugs, and booze, which bordered on obsessive as if all teen are purely driven by those three items. I just couldn’t warm up to Dice’s character either; I had a hard time connecting with her because she just seemed so flat since he most pronounced characteristics are a desire to do good and an intense attraction to Sin. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this story, especially the revelations at the end, the twists I never saw coming, and the surprising parallels between Swoon circa Sin’s era and that same town present day to show that some things just never change.

Swoon will be enjoyed by fans of The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King, the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, Rogelia’s House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood, and Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra.

Rating: 4.25

Review copies from publisher Simon & Schuster and author Nina Malkin