Winners

Dottie

won the entire Clique Summer Collection

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Michelle, Cata Ananias, Megan, Jessica, and Kristen

each won Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Love on Cue by Catherine Hapka

The only place Maggie Tannery isn’t shy is on the stage, and thanks to years to working her way up the theater system, she is the most likely candidate for the lead in Romeo and Juliet. She’s psyched for a little Shakespeare to let her shine, especially when she finds out that her crust Derek might also be auditioning for the school play. But a switch from performing a play to a musical catches Maggie off guard. How is she supposed to land the lead opposite Derek when she can’t sing? To remedy this predicament, Maggie begs musical genius Nico for singing lessons. But as opening night approaches, Maggie has to ask herself, is it really Derek she’s trying to impress, or Nico?

As always, Hapka creates a sweet, innocent, and satisfying romance in Love on Cue. The majority of the characters are realistic, each with their own issues and insecurities that make them generally pretty easy to relate to. Maggie, particularly, is cute, funny, and just an all around adorable heroine. Her near complete inability to communicate with guys wile off the stage, the complete opposite of stage fright (life fright, perhaps?), may be a little exaggerated but certainly is amusing, as are Maggie’s commentaries on her overall social ineptness in the vicinity of hot guys. The only character that really got on my nerves was Derek, because his supposed perfection felt unreal throughout the story. The plot is never too exciting and is quite predictable, but I nonetheless enjoyed this lighthearted PG-13 romance.

Readers who enjoyed Something Borrowed and The Twelve Dates of Christmas, also by Catherine Hapka, or any other Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies may also enjoy Love on Cue.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

According to Anna’s best friend Frankie, their three week vacation in California is the perfect opportunity to find a guy. Frankie figures if they average one boy a day, they can fit twenty odd boys into their schedule. And with all those prospects, there’s bound to be one to claim Anna’s Albatross, a.k.a. her virginity. But even though Anna agrees to this little game, she’s reluctant to truly play along because she’s already had this kind of relationship—with Frankie’s older brother Matt, just before he died a year ago. Frankie never knew, and Anna doesn’t know how to or if she can reveal this secret to her best friend. Is it possible to have a normal vacation when memories and ghosts from the past threaten to ruin everything good in the present?

I seem to find myself reading many novels dealing with grief and death, many of which I have enjoyed, and still, Twenty Boy Summer has made itself stand out. Ockler’s simple yet descriptive style of writing has a way of connecting with the reader’s emotions. Because of this, I was better able to understand Anna’s and Frankie’s difficulties with dealing with their grief from Matt’s death. Ockler, I feel, gets to the heart of how tragedy can suddenly complicate even the most basic relationships, such as Anna and Frankie’s friendship. I’m not sure if I can quite pinpoint exactly what about Twenty Boy Summer made it so memorable to me, as it could be its realistic characters, the strength of Anna and Frankie’s bond, the fact that their struggles are so true to life, or a combination of those three. I am definitely glad to have read Twenty Boy Summer because of its emotional journey but also because it was sweet and ultimately hopeful.

Twenty Boy Summer appeals to readers who liked The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman, Saving Zoë by Alyson Noël, Freeze Frame by Heidi Ayarbe, A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell, and Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers. I look forward to more great things from Ockler.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown

New Layout and Calling Muncher Friends

I guess it's pretty obvious, but The Book Muncher has gotten a makeover, courtesy of me. Figures, right? Anyhow, I hope you like. It's a little less fun, but I decided to conserve the green and make the blog sleeker and more organized. Check out the new drop down menu navigation bar; you wouldn't believe how long that took me. A lot of the stuff that used to be in my sidebars has now moved to the navigation bar.

Also, my "Muncher Friends" list a.k.a. blogroll is sadly very short. I'm trying to improve it, but if I miss you and you want to be added to it, please contact me or leave a comment on this post with your blog name and URL. That would be most helpful!

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin

Finn’s life has been unraveling ever since that night in September, that party and Adam Porter. And of course, to add even more stress, her parents’ relationship has been steadily deteriorating. Life is almost more than she can bear. It’s a good thing her best friend Audrey is there for her, or Finn wouldn’t know what to do. Thus, Finn ignores her tentative initial attraction to Beautiful Boy Jersy, her childhood friend from way back when, when Audrey expresses her interest. When Audrey goes away for the summer, Finn finds herself spending more time with Jersy. But being with Jersy, the only thing that feels right amidst the disaster in Finn’s life, would mean betraying Audrey. How if Finn supposed to know what’s right and wrong now?

Martin paints a vivid picture of the effects of damage on people’s lives in One Lonely Degree. Protagonist Finn is the prime example of this. She is still reeling, months later, from an unpleasant experience that probably freaked her out more than harmed her but is nonetheless branded into her brain. She consequently withdraws into herself and she feels helpless when other things start to fall apart around her. Even though I’ve read many books that present similar problems as in One Lonely Degree, Martin seems so much more frank on the subject by including emotionally scarring experiences in multiple characters’ lives. It just goes to say that in spite of damage happening, life goes on. Martin portrays this superbly through Finn’s rocky struggle to overcome her past drama. Martin’s characters are undeniably realistic, even the ones the reader only gets a few glimpses of. I like how she neither condemns nor condones any of the characters’ actions, but rather leaves that to the reader’s prerogative. One Lonely Degree is a beautifully written and moving story like life imitating art.

I recommend One Lonely Degree to readers who also liked Purge by Sarah Darer Littman, Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers, Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell, and anything by Sarah Dessen or Deb Caletti. I can’t wait to see more writing from Martin in I Know It’s Over and novels to come.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Random House

Win Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

CONTEST CLOSED

So, I have (3) lovely copies of the very funny Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson to give away, thanks to the wonderful people at Scholastic.

Don't know what it's about? Read my review, check out this summary...

Scarlett is the third of four children in the Martin family. The Martins live in and manage a shabby hotel in NYC that dates back to the 1920s. When Scarlett turns 15, she is put in charge of one of the hotel's 27 rooms- the Empire Suite. Into this room moves Mrs. Amberson, a failed 1970s starlet who has returned to New York to write her memoirs. Soon, Scarlett is taking dictation, running around town with Mrs. Amberson, and getting caught up in her Auntie Mame-meets-Bianca Jagger adventures.

...or watch this cool video.

To enter, all you have to do is leave your name/alias and a valid email address in a comment on this post. Comments without both or either will not be considered.

US residents only.

Contest ends 7/21/09 (I belive that's the day after I get back from vacation), around 9 p.m. PST. Winners will be contacted and announced sometime after.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Summer has never looked so bad to Scarlett Martin, starting with the news that she will have to help out more around the Hopewell, the hotel her family owns, instead of getting a summer job for much desired spending money. And on top of the Hopewell’s economic woes, Scarlett has to deal with her older brother’s failing acting career and her bratty little sister, not to mention having to take care of the Empire Suite, the hotel’s grandest rooms. Scarlett is less than thrilled when the Empire Suite acquires a guest, Mrs. Amberson, a glamorous theater has-been, but this slightly wacky woman opens up Scarlett’s world to all of life’s possibilities, especially the ones in NYC. Enter in a bit of luck, Scarlett’s older brother’s gorgeous co-actor, a heavily disguised fairy godmother, and a historic feud, and this will be a summer like no other.

Johnson weaves a breezy, humorous, and heartwarming story in Suite Scarlett. She immediately captures the reader’s attention with her unusual setting and cast, particularly lovable Scarlett. Scarlett seems slightly out of place among her still-in-love parents, her acting brother, her cancer-surviving little sister, and her trust fund-dating older sister, yet this only increases the reader’s desires to see her shine. Though the plot is very enjoyable, I felt Scarlett fell a little short of true brilliance despite her resourcefulness and sheer determination. I think this is because Johnson didn’t offer enough insight into her mind; I couldn’t really connect with Scarlett’s character beyond just sympathy for whatever situation she was in. However, this book was still very fun for me to read because of the frequent humor and Mrs. Amberson, Scarlett’s not infallible fairy godmother, and just the general sweetness of how things tend to work out.

Good but not fabulous, I recommend Suite Scarlett as a quick summer read to those who enjoyed Johnson’s other novels, such as 13 Little Blue Envelopes and The Burmudez Triangle, or Fringe Benefits by Valerie Frankel, Airhead by Meg Cabot, and Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling. I look forward to catching the continuation of Scarlett’s story in Scarlett Fever.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

Growing up with women who’ve had nothing but bad relationships, Quinn has only heard bad stories and dire warnings about the male gender. Still, she tries to remain optimistic. After all, her father is back in her life after years of absence; that must be some proof that men aren’t entirely bad. But being suddenly dumped by Daniel, the boyfriend she thought was perfect, jars her back into reality, and a shocking discovery in her father’s household makes her question the trust she’s placed in him. Is her father just a handsome charmer or also a cruel womanizer? Emboldened by a reconnection with her spunky half sister Frances Lee and opportunity, Quinn embarks on a road trip with her younger sister, her half sister, and a tagalong musician to fix her father’s wrongs and ultimately find the truth.

There are a lot of partially contradictory statements I can make about The Secret Life of Prince Charming. I liked most the story a lot, but there are some elements I wasn’t pleased with. Caletti takes an extremely long time—practically the first third of the book—to set up the story, and unfortunately, this was rather hard for me to get through as it wasn’t that interesting. After that, though, the story turns around and becomes much more exciting with adventure, humor, and especially romance. Too bad I often felt Quinn’s romantic interest was a little too good to be true. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters as well, and this may have something to do with Caletti’s writing rather than their realism. I have no problem with creative literary sentences filled with symbols and metaphors and whatnot, but Caletti, I felt, laid it on a bit too thickly, especially in the first section; this sadly made me feel bored instead of intrigued. While I was bothered by these technicalities, I did enjoy the messages behind the story. Caletti does a wonderful job of exploring all the facets of relationships between family and significant others, from the pits of the bad to the dizzying heights of the good.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming is a sweet story with a great message, if a slightly disappointing execution. Having really enjoyed Caletti’s Wild Roses and The Nature of Jade, I was expecting a little more from this novel than I got. Nevertheless, fans of Sarah Dessen’s Lock and Key and This Lullaby and C. Leigh Purtill’s Love, Meg will still enjoy this book.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

Micheal, Tommy, Mixer, and Bones are those kids, the ones that barely pass each class just to graduate, are avoided by most other kids out of fear, and are basically going nowhere in life. No one takes them seriously because they come from the wrong side of mostly everything. At least they have each other. But the disappearance of one of the friends starts to dissolve the glue that holds the rest together. Wild guesses, twisted conclusions, and unchangeable actions later, and none of their lives will ever be the same.

Gentlemen is one of the books that sounds mildly interesting at first glance but turns out to be many times below my expectations. I did not like this novel at all, probably because it was just so boring. The plot seems to drag on and on with only one even slightly exciting section in the middle that also fizzles out. I didn’t enjoy reading about any of the characters either, since I couldn’t relate to any of them at all and because I just couldn’t understand how they functioned. The narrator Micheal’s stream of consciousness is boring as well and at times hypocritical. On top of that, the story often felt unrealistic to me, and I had a hard time believing that a remedial high school English class would read Crime and Punishment. Other readers may be able to take away some meaning from this story, but its depressing ending killed any theme of friendship Gentlemen had going for it. This book took way too long for me to struggle through, and unfortunately, I can honestly say it was one of the worst and least enjoyable books I’ve ever read.

I do not recommend Gentlemen, but readers who enjoyed The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger may find some merit in Northrop’s writing style.

Rating: 1.25

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Not long after the discovery of magical abilities and the resulting Ixian execution order, former food taster Yelena flees to Sitia, a neighboring country. She hopes to find peace and refuge in her newly discovered birthplace, but Sitia still seems foreign and Yelena has yet to regain her memories of the home she doesn’t know. She is uncomfortably unfamiliar with the customs of the various clans in Sitia, including her own, the Zaltana Clan, and even her own brother treats her like an intruder. But Yelena has little time to ponder her feelings of being an outsider or yearn for Valek, the only home she has ever known, because there is something terribly amiss in Sitia, deaths and disappearances likely to be the work of a rogue magician. Once again, Yelena finds herself a key player in a greedy ploy for power, a situation only she can remedy if she can learn to control her magical gifts.

Fast paced and exciting, Magic Study is a terrific continuation of Yelena’s story from the fantastic Poison Study. Snyder beautifully weaves another unforgettable tale full of secrets and intrigue that is impossible to set down; she is a storyteller so powerful that the reader is drawn into the story as if they are actually there. There are many threads to this story, but they are quite easy to keep track of. And it’s not just the interesting and unique plot that captures the reader’s attention, but the vivid and realistic characters. Yelena is as strong willed and independent as ever, and I admire her resourcefulness and determination to help all those who need helping; she still steal the reader’s heart all over again as she confronts old demons and battles new ones. I think it’s very interesting how there’s not any real set of defined rules of right and wrong and how these gray areas and various interpretations are so integral to the story. Loyalty as well is a large influence from Yelena’s Ixian friends to surprising past relationships. I feel a sort of greater theme is at work developing here besides Yelena’s trilling tale, and I’m excited to see how it plays out in the conclusion to this trilogy, Fire Study.

Fans of Poison Study will certainly not be disappointed in the unpredictable and satisfying story in Magic Study. Readers who enjoy this trilogy will also like The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix, Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, and the Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare.

Rating: 5.0

Review copy from personal collection

Winners

Mari, Jesse Drewry, Sylvia, Sadako, and Lucile

each won a paperback copy of Airhead by Meg Cabot.

__________________________________________________________________

Ann Diana Dinh

won a signed copy of How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson.

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Faythe Sanders craves independence and freedom. As a female werecat, she is rare and valuable but also expected to compliantly produce litters to further her species, a role she can’t bear to think of as her own. That’s why she’s run away from home so many times and is content to attend summer classes in college, to escape however temporarily from her father, an Alpha, and his Pride. When Faythe is unexpectedly attacked by a Stray, a werecat not born into a Pride, she is once again forced to come home—for her protection. The situation is much worse than Faythe anticipated, especially when two of her fellow tabbies are kidnapped. But Faythe has never been meek or submissive, and she won’t back down from any challenge no matter what past demons are dragged up or what present dangers threaten her.

Suspenseful and satisfying, Stray contains both a high action plot and believable characters. The story is fast paced and exciting at all times with no shortage of danger or anticipation. The plot in itself is enough to get any reader interested, but this novel is made even better by its complex characters. Spunky and passionate, Faythe is a strong and snarky heroine that readers will continually root for, whether in gaining her much desired independence or worming her way out of her latest plight. The more minor characters even have distinct identities as well and are enjoyable to read about even if I can’t distinguish some of the many werecats at times. Vincent did a fantastic job in creating Faythe’s world, from the werecats’ governing structures to their customs to the struggle between feline instincts and human emotions. I truly love how well structured Stray is with its dual importance of Faythe’s relationships with others and the actual outcome of the main conflict, and I’m pleased to suspect there’s a lot more to the werecats’ world and struggles that hasn’t been revealed just yet.

Stray is the perfect choice for even the pickiest reader. Fans of the paranormal and those who prefer weres over vampires will enjoy Stray, particularly those who also liked Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I for one can’t wait to finish the next installments in this series.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from personal collection

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It by Lisa Shanahan

A select few members of Gemma Stone’s family are prone to illogical, emotional outbursts—chucking a birkett, as they say. But not Gemma, who views birketts as unseemly and embarrassing, an angry sort of fit to be avoided at all costs. Of course, that’s before her life takes a turn for the chaotic, before her crush on a guy who barely knows of her existence, before she auditions for the school play, before the surprising Raven De Head enters her life, and before her sister Debbie’s crazy wedding plans. And as Gemma tries to navigate these unpredictably waters, she slowly comes to understand that sometimes, chucking a birkett can actually be a good thing.

A cute and sweet coming of age story, The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It was a little technically disappointing but externally enjoyable. From a quick glance, this novel appears original, particularly with the inclusion of birketts and quirky, unusual characters, and romantic, because who doesn’t love a guy who can quote Shakespeare like Raven? However, once the layers are peeled away, the reader realizes that the characters are either stereotypical or confusing. Gemma’s crush Nick, though perfect on the outside, is predictably a jerk, Debbie fills the role of Bridezilla, and Gemma’s soon-to-be-sister-in-law Jack is the classic stiff tomboy beginning to embrace girliness. I didn’t complete understand Raven or Gemma because no explanation if given for some of Raven’s actions and because I couldn’t get a clear sense of who Gemma is. Is she the boy crazy girl who lets her emotions affect her decisions, the open girl who eventually lets Raven in, or the younger sister who doesn’t seem to mind much being called the Big Mistake by her sister’s friends? Plus, Gemma’s supposed best friend Jody is present so infrequently that I often forgot she even existed. Through this story, Shanahan also attempts to address class differences, prejudice, and the positive and negative effects of consumerism but leaves her critiques on these themes largely unfinished; the only evidence of any sort of understanding of those ideas manifests slightly in Gemma though her personally realizations. I enjoyed Gemma’s growth in this cute novel, but all the little details could definitely have been improved.

Fans of The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis, The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer, Fact of Life #31 by Denise Vega, and A Little Friendly Advice and Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian may also enjoy this novel.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from personal collection

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

Anita is a city teen, used to the hustle and bustle of her hometown London. So, it comes as a big shock when she finds herself in a beautiful and mystical realm called Faerie after a boating accident. Brought back by Lord Gabriel Drake, Anita discovers that she is Tania, the seventh daughter of King Oberon and Queen Titania, a princess of Faerie. Unfortunately, Anita doesn’t have any recollection of Tania’s life, of her six older sisters, or her disappearance from the Faerie realm on the eve of her marriage to Lord Gabriel five hundred years earlier. She’s stuck between her life in the Mortal World, full of familiar sights and memories, and the realm of Faerie, where nothing is certain. She doesn’t know who to trust, her sisters, Lord Gabriel, or the boy she thought she loved in the Mortal World. But she’ll have to remember of find out why she disappeared so long ago because she’s the only one who can stop the treasonous plot afoot that started five centuries ago.

The Faerie Path is a cutesy fantasy tale that overlaps a magical realm with the world of humans. I enjoyed how the realm of Faerie isn’t just a hidden part of the Mortal World, but completely separate from it. It adds obstacles to Anita/Tania’s story by making crossovers so difficult. The realm of Faerie is a little more fantastical and frivolous than I would’ve thought; court life seems akin to that of royal European families except with a few extra quirks. The plot and characters are nothing special, satisfactory for their roles but nothing beyond that. In fact, Anita/Tania’s identity crisis is a little confusing and Jones’ long descriptions of the physical aspects of the Faerie realm are rather overbearing. The strongest reason I continued reading was probably due to my interest in the technicalities of the realm of Faerie, the included romance, and the feeling that there is more to come, not necessarily in this volume.

Good but not great, The Faerie Path is an innocent look at one interpretation of another realm, most likely to be enjoyed by younger teens. Fans of Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and Tithe by Holly Black may also enjoy The Faerie Path, but they probably won’t enjoy this novel as much as those more intense faerie tales.

Rating: 3.25

Review copy from personal collection

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos

Unable to deal with the pressure of living in Harlem, the frequent jumpings by just about everyone in his neighborhood because he’s a light-skinned Latino, Rico Fuentes leaves for Wisconsin. Rico can blend in the Midwestern farm country with his light skin so well he’s generally mistaken for a white. It’s just what he needs, and the longer he stays on his friend’s farm, the more he thinks he’ll never go back to New York. But appearances aren’t everything, and even if Rico is mostly enjoying his stay in Wisconsin, he still can’t forget the family he left behind. And he eventually realizes that you can’t change who you are no matter how far you travel from where you’re from.

Dark Dude is a mildly interesting and very realistic novel about cultural identity. For some reason, I just couldn’t get very into this book; the theme appeals to me but the story itself is nothing spectacular. I appreciate the detail included in Dark Dude, especially the stark differences between Harlem and small town Wisconsin; however, this because a bit too much with Hijuelos’ very descriptive inclusions of drug use which I found sick to read about even though I recognize its realism. I like Hijuelos’ depiction of race relations because it shows that no place in America, whether metropolis or small city, USA, is free of ethnic prejudices. Protagonist Rico, a generally pretty go-with-the-flow kind of guy, fits nicely into this equation with his Cuban roots and light complexion, a predicament which causes him trouble or discrimination wherever he goes. Despite finding him a little boring and dreamy, I ended up enjoying Rico’s contemplations and conclusions about life. Dark Dude isn’t a particularly great novel, but it does provide a unique take on the meaning of identity.

Thought I didn’t particularly enjoy Dark Dude, fans of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriguez Wallach, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain may.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy borrowed

Marked by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Against her wishes, Zoey Redbird has been Marked a fledgling vampyre. Now she must leave behind the human world she knows in order to just survive and join the House of Night. There she will stay until she becomes a mature adult vampyre, if her body survives the change. But Zoey has greater things to worry about than living to see the next night—her unusual Mark makes her an outcast and shows her great potential when all Zoey wants is to fit in and be normal. These possibilities, like the Change, will make or break her—her unique powers gain her entry into the elite Dark Daughters but their conniving leader is determined to take down this threat to her dubious authority. Zoey must learn to trust the gifts of the vampyre Goddess Nyx, her own strength, and the loyalty of her new vampyre friends if she’s to stop the vampyre disaster waiting to happen.

Marked is a unique and intriguing combination of traditional vampyre lore with the modern boarding school. But while I love the concept, setting, and background to this tale, I am not quite as thrilled with the actual story. The Casts set this story up so nicely down to the littlest detail; everything is taken care of from vampyre curriculum to public (human) opinions and stereotypes of vampyres to the interesting vampyre rituals. This take is obviously well researched and well referenced, and thus was a delight to read as the Casts make this vampyre world so realistic. Unfortunately, the story that results was not quite up to my expectations. It is still well written and I can appreciate the interconnectedness of some of the smallest plot details, but, overall, it is a slight mess. The main plotline is easy to follow but then there are these little offshoots that keep the reader second guessing and wondering what the significance is; most of these distractions I felt just take up space as they don’t really contribute to the story in any meaningful way unless that has yet to be revealed in later books. Despite the scatterbrained effect, I liked Marked because it was an original and interesting new vampyre read for me.

The Marked series may also be enjoyed by fans of Peeps by Scott Westerfeld and the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, although I didn’t enjoy Marked as much as I did those other vampire novels. I’ll probably continue this series, but only if I have the time.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from personal collection

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

Born into a life of privilege as a Russian noblewoman, Anna has never let her family’s wealth and status go to her humble head. When her family is forced to leave revolutionary Russia due to the dangers against the aristocracy, Anna refuses to be dependent on her dear and devoted English governess when they arrive in Britain. Instead, Anna hides her noble background and becomes a lowly servant at the Earl of Westerholmes’s financially struggling household. She has only an old housekeeping manual and determination to overcome her lack of domestic experience. It becomes even more difficult for Anna to keep her past a secret from prying eyes, especially after she meets Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme with whom she feels a strong connection. But their mutual attraction is dangerous for the both of them because being together would be going against Rupert’s engagement and solution for his family’s economic woes, not to mention violating the social norms of propriety.

With historical accuracy and cultural infusion, A Countess Below Stairs is more than just a sweet love story. The historical events of the Bolshevik Revolution and World War I in combination with the stark differences between England and Russia provide a fantastic backdrop which Ibbotson uses greatly to her advantage. Ibbotson’s poetic skill with words is quite adept at weaving together events and characters at the most opportune times for maximum effect, and thought they may just be coincidences in the story, they are crafty and delightful ones. The characters are also well portrayed from Anna and Rupert to the littlest ones like Petya and even the dog Baskerville, although the various servants and their positions in various households are impossible to keep track of. The readers obtains a deep understand of the most important characters, their virtues and their weaknesses, which works well with the plot to provoke even greater emotion when necessary. I have to say that nearly everything in this novel is perfectly placed form seemingly random circumstances, the importance of Anna’s hair, and the unfortunate effect of eugenics; A Countess Below Stairs is the kind of book one realizes as great because everything fits so well together.

A Countess Below Stairs will be enjoyed by fans of all historical fiction, especially by those who also liked Sovay by Celia Rees, The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, and the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray. I look forward to reading more of Ibbotson’s novels in the future.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy borrowed

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez

Daisy Giordano is the only one in her family without psychic powers. This normally doesn’t bother her that much, but there’s something irritating about how Daisy’s mom enlists Daisy’s older sister Rose’s help in solving a teenage girl’s recent death because there’s nothing Daisy can do to aid her mother—Daisy can’t provide the psychic support her mother needs. But that won’t stop Daisy from investigating, especially when strange and unexplainable illnesses strike several girls at her own school. Plus, the head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux’s new look is enough to arouse some suspicion; her style has taken goth to its extreme. Now, it’s only a matter of making it onto the cheer squad and convincing her friend Ryan to help her to further this investigation and crack the case, although a little romance or some psychic abilities would be helpful as well.

Interesting and fun, this paranormal mystery is a quick and enjoyable read. Dead is the New Black delves into only some of the secrets of Daisy’s hometown, Nightshade, primarily its supernatural side or psychics, vampires, and werewolves galore. This provides for a unique mystery that mostly kept me guessing. I like how Perez smoothly integrates the supernatural with everyday life as it makes the story seem more plausible and provided for quite a bit of amusing entertainment. I can’t say that anything about this novel is particularly excellent, but it is satisfactory. The characters are realistic with only the smallest inconsistencies, but lack of development in the minor characters is disappointing. It would also have been nice to have more background information about Daisy’s life and the town of Nightshade, because while several past details are mentioned, they aren’t elaborated on; the only way this would work for this story is if newly uncovered secrets are incorporated in later novels. Fast and humorous, Dead is the New Black is a cutesy and innocent paranormal read.

Fans of You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay, Revealers by Amanda Marrone, Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer, The Otherworldies by Jennifer Anne Kogler, Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley, and the Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld will also like this supernatural novel. I look forward to reading its sequels, Dead is a State of Mind and Dead is So Last Year.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from personal collection

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

After waking from a year-long coma, Jenna has no idea who she is. She’s been told her name and has watched the many home videos of her life but she still can’t recall the details of her past life, who she was, and how she ended up in this situation. All she knows is that she was in a horrible accident. Little by little, memories start to come back to her, yet they are meaningless because Jenna doesn’t understand their significance. And worst of all, Jenna can’t remember the accident and what happened during the coma, but her questions are going unanswered. Who really is Jenna Fox? Jenna would love to know.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a shocking look at a futuristic world in which science has advanced so far, nearly anything is possible. This novel explores not only the personal effects of this advancement but also the moral issues it comes with. There isn’t really much more for me to say about Jenna’s situation beyond this without giving the story away than that Jenna is a miraculous product of science. This novel brings up some of the most difficult issues that accompany any form of advancement, mainly, what must be given up for progress? It touches on the meaning of being human and of living and how far science will go before it starts to become playing God. Jenna’s character is so beautifully placed in this future environment, learning to live for the second time because her waking up from her coma is similar to being reborn while piecing together the scraps of a past life with her present one. Though the scientific progress presented in this novel is a little scary and will prompt readers to delve into their own morals and beliefs, the ending is ultimately hopeful, which I appreciate ever though the ending statistical standards bring the story into a seemingly pointless circle.

Exploring love, life, and humanity, The Adoration of Jenna Fox is an enjoyable and philosophically stimulating read that will be enjoyed by those who also liked Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Being by Kevin Brooks, the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, and The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from personal collection

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

It’s been seventy five days, and Amy still doesn’t know how to function. Seventy five long days and Amy doesn’t know how she’s supposed to live without her best friend Julia. But she has to live, because living without Julia is her punishment for letting Julia die. And so Amy struggles along, barely able to bear her parents’ phony concern, endure the trials of school, and weather her shrink’s uncomfortably probing questions. Angry and frustrated, Amy starts writing letters to Julia instead of journaling as her shrink suggested. But with that writing comes reflection and remembrance, and Amy starts to realize Julia may not have been the perfect friend Amy held her up to be, that there is a limit to what she can control or change, and that the future also deserves a chance.

Scott has continually been one of my favorite authors for her incredible writing, and she does not disappoint with Love You Hate You Miss You. Scott departed from her usual unique teen romances, as in Bloom and Stealing Heaven, with Living Dead Girl to tackle more intense and serious topics. Even though the idea of Love You Hate You Miss You isn’t quite as original as Scott’s previous novels, since the “teen doesn’t know how to live once best friend dies” storyline has already been explored, this novel is still a moving and gripping peel into a mind devastated by loss. Amy is a realistic character, and her grief is compounded by insecurity, stubbornness, and loneliness. Her desires and despairs are surprisingly easy to relate to, because I’m sure everyone of us has visited a part of Amy’s life at least once, if not in such extreme a way as she. Amy’s struggles are so heartbreaking, and the reader really feels for her because of all she’s gone through. I find the human mind so fascinating, so I appreciate how Scott has broken down Amy’s head into surprisingly simple elements with such great insight. I like how Love You Hate You Miss You is much more than just a grief story; it’s a contemporary psychological novel that explores the effects of our choices through the span of time. I completely fell in love with this novel and commend Scott for her delicate writing and superb storytelling.

Fans of Scott’s earlier writing in Bloom, Stealing Heaven, and Something, Maybe will likely enjoy Love You Hate You Miss You even is the plot is so much different than Scott’s romances. This novel should also be read by fans of Freeze Frame by Heidi Ayarbe, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, and the very similar Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers. Love You Hate You Miss You is my new favorite from Scott, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store next.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from author Elizabeth Scott

Win The Clique Summer Collection

CONTEST CLOSED

(1) lucky winner will get a complete set of The Clique Summer Collection by Lisi Harrison, which includes Massie, Dylan, Alicia, Kristen, and Claire. And the winner will be lucky indeed, since this contest is just in time for summer!

The Pretty Committee is spending the summer apart, but they’re never far from drama... Five girls. Five stories. One ah-mazing summer.

THE CLIQUE: SUMMER COLLECTION

Find more information visit here: http://www.pickapoppy.com/

It’s the usual rules to enter, but just as a refresher…
Leave your name/alias and a valid email address in a comment on this post. Comments without both or either will not be considered.

US residents only.

Contest ends 6/24/09, around 9 p.m. PST. Winners will be contacted and announced sometime after.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Miranda Merchant of New York City is a girl of science, fact, and rational thought. So when she’s introduced to the legends and myths of surrounding Selkie Island off Georgia’s coast, her summer destination, she easily dismisses them. Why would a logical girl believe in the kraken and other such made up frivolities? Instead, she tries to focus on cleaning out her deceased grandmother’s familial summer home and navigating the awkwardness of Southern formalities. But meeting Leo changes everything. Leo, the deeply mysterious local boy from the wrong side of the island, challenges all Miranda knows from friendship and love to her very perception of reality. But what happens when this scientist-in-the-making leans that what she dismissed as just stories of Selkie Island might actually be true and closer than she thinks?

Sea Change is a beautifully crafted mystical romance. My interest in this novel was piqued before I so much as read the summary because the cover art for Sea Change is some of the most beautiful and alluring I’ve ever seen. I’d classify this novel as mythological rather than paranormal, but there’s no denying that the story, if not the characters, is magical. Friedman has a way of creating such a believable and likable heroine in Miranda; her affinity for logic, feelings of being the odd one out, and determination not to show her weaknesses make her particularly easy for me to relate to. There is a thick sense of mystery that pervades this story, especially surrounding Leo, which fueled my interest in this story further. The reader, along with Miranda, is kept guessing until the very end, and all the twists and hidden secrets maintain a high level of suspense and excitement. Although all the little clues point in one direction, I can’t help but both love and hate how Friedman never actually states what Leo is; the mythology buff in me squeals over discovering such a cool creature, but my skeptic side writes if off as all coincidence. Unfortunately, I can’t come out with my suspicions because the journey to these is half the story, but I can say that Sea Change will warm your heart, open your eyes to all of life’s possibilities, and make ever the hardest headed person start to believe in true love and myths.

Fans of Friedman’s writing in The Year My Sister Got Lucky will be similarly delighted in this fantastic and romantic tale. Readers will also enjoy this novel is they liked Evermore and Cruel Summer by Alyson Noël and Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriguez Wallach. I really hope there will be a sequel to Sea Change so I can follow the rest of Miranda and Leo’s relationship and see some of the loose ends tied up.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Win Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

CONTEST CLOSED

Yay! More contests, and this if for one I’m super eager to read as well.

So what's it about?

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

To win one of (5) hardcover copies of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, published by Little, Brown, all you have to do is leave your name/alias and a valid email address in a comment on this post. Comments without both or either will not be considered.

US residents only.

Contest ends 6/24/09, around 9 p.m. PST. Winners will be contacted and announced sometime after.