The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Will and Bet have been raised as brother and sister since tragic events brought them together to the same household. But now that they are sixteen, there are expectations placed upon them. Will is forced to attend school because he is a boy, while Bet must stay at home because she is a girl. Neither is very happy. Bet wants with all her being to continue her education at school, and Will wants to join the army. So Bet devises a plan that will allow both of them to get their way: Bet will take Will’s place at his new school. At first, everything goes smoothly, but Bet fails to take into account how hard masquerading as a boy really is. Then she starts to develop feelings for her roommate, and now sticking to the plan will be harder that Bet thought.

The Education of Bet is a short and sweet tale of one girl’s determination to get an education, and, of course, the sometimes ridiculous events that ensue. This book completely charmed me. Bet’s character in particular was so fun to read about; her precise yet quirky manner of speaking and her boldness make her so likable. Readers will root for her to first make it to Betterman Academy and then to get the guy. I was a little disappointed that The Education of Bet was such a breezy read, because I would have enjoyed more of Bet’s story and an extension of the ending would have been fascinating. Everything about this novel is overall satisfactory, even if there were a few minor details that didn’t completely add up, and I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic tale.

The Education of Bet will be enjoyed by fans of A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, Sovay by Celia Rees, and Wildthorn by Jane Eagland.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Tale of a book signing with Cecil Castellucci, Natalie Standiford, and Siobhan Vivian

I was beyond thrilled to have been able to go to an utterly fabulous author event yesterday at BookCourt in Brooklyn with three utterly fabulous authors: Cecil Castellucci, Natalie Standiford, and Siobhan Vivian. I absolutely adore these three talented authors and their books, so this was an exciting opportunity!

My subway ride to Brooklyn took about half as much time as I thought it would, so I was pretty much the first person there for the event, which didn't bother me because I got a superb front row seat for the action. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. I was going to upload the videos I took of each author reading from her latest book, but Blogger seems to not want that to happen.

Guess who else showed up? Only their fabulous editor David Levithan!

Three fabulous ladies: Cecil Castellucci, Siobhan Vivian, and Natalie Standiford

Natalie Standiford reads from Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters

Siobhan Vivian answers a question from the audience

David Levithan and Cecil Castellucci discuss

And lastly, me and the most fabulous Siobhan Vivian, Natalie Standiford, and Cecil Castellucci!

I'm so glad I was able to make it to this awesome event. I got five books signed to add to my collection, but even more exciting than that and meeting these wonderful women, I actually met an incredibly lovely publicist from Scholastic! She even took this last picture for me. It's like networking, even though I don't officially work in the publishing industry yet.

So that was my fantastic day yesterday (sorry if I'm running out of exciting adjectives). I want to send out a big virtual hug of thanks to everyone who made it possible, especially the authors!

Wildthorn by Jane Eagland

Something is seriously wrong. Louisa Cosgrove thought she was supposed to be taken to stay with the Woodvilles, but instead, she’s at someplace called Wildthorn Hall and people are calling her Lucy Childs. But Louisa isn’t Lucy…is she? She doesn’t belong in an insane asylum, right? Louisa is determined to figure out why she’s here, but she has nothing, not even her own identity. Still she persists, because she knows she has to escape. She cannot stay here or she will surely lose herself—and the possibility of the truth—forever.

Wildthorn is a unique story of betrayal and love in the nineteenth century. It opens with Louisa’s arrival at Wildthorn Hall, so the reader is just as knowledgeable about the situation as Louisa is. This takes the reader along for a ride as Louisa tries to find out who would do such a horrible thing as imprison her with the mentally ill. It might seem that through her vehement denials of being Lucy Childs and crazy would prove her insane, but I never had a doubt that Louisa was perfectly rational. The flashbacks that are peppered in through Part One of the book only solidify this by providing background on Louisa and her unusual upbringing. Learning about the motives for committing Louisa and the people responsible for the dreadful act will be rather tragic for most female readers, particularly those who consider themselves independent women. Most of Louisa’s characteristics are progressive for her time and will resonate with modern women, even if other aspects of her are more difficult to relate to. Overall, Wildthorn is a very satisfying read that will keep readers guessing but also smiling at the sweet ending.

Wildthorn appeals to readers with a taste for the historical and women’s rights; those who enjoyed Folly by Marthe Jocelyn, Ivy by Julie Hearn, and A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly will be interested in this novel.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci

For two years, Rose has been lonely. With no friends and no hope for becoming the greatest ballerina, she has sunk into a fog of despair. For two years, Yrena, a Soviet transplant, has lived next door to Rose. Yrena’s life has been limited to her home and the Soviet compound; she has never truly experienced living in New York City, though she yearns to. It all changes with a surprising party invitation, a trip to an ice cream shop, and spontaneity. Together, Rose and Yrena will experience a night in the city like no other that will show them the power of friendship and love.

Sometimes, I judge the stories I read by the effect they leave on me; the greater the effect, the better the story. If this holds true, then Rose Sees Red is certainly one of the best stories I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was drawn into Rose’s and Yrena’s lives. They’re the sort of characters that readers want to like, even when they’re selfish or self deprecating. Their adventure in New York City has a sort of dreamlike quality to it, but the convenience of all of Rose and Yrena’s actions and choices is what lends the story its charm. Rose Sees Red is a book that just radiates love. The fact that Rose, an American, and Yrena, a Soviet citizen, can have such an immediately strong bond during the Cold War, a time of American-Soviet tensions, just proves this point. This may be a feel-good story, but it is also a sweet and worthwhile read that promotes tolerance, love, and hope.

Rose Sees Red will be enjoyed by fans of When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson. I hope to have the opportunity to read more of Castellucci’s fantastic writing soon.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Various Bookish News

I feel like I haven't been very active on my blog lately. Granted, book reviews have obviously been posted, but that was scheduled way ahead of time, like months ago. Thus, I have decided to grace you with my slightly more current voice to tell you of things that are of interest to me and possibly to you as well.

First up on the agenda is the 2010 Green Books Campaign sponsored by Eco-Libris. I participated last year, but unfortunately, I just do not have the time this year. But my absence from this event shouldn't stop you from getting involved. And you should. Learn more about the 2010 Green Books Campaign and how to get involved over at the Eco-Libris blog.

The other thing that needs to be brought up are book signings. For those of you not in the know, I am now a resident of New York City. That means there are book signings of interest practically every day (or week) within reasonable distance. Of course, I cannot go to ALL of them because of this tiny little thing called classes (for example, I'm going to have to pass up seeing Alexandra Adornetto because of scheduling conflicts).

I did go to a book signing two days ago, though. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you who it was for quite yet because I got a gift for my sister there which she still does not know about, and I want it to remain a secret until then. After that, I'll be sure to put up some pictures.

And you should expect even more pictures and commentary after this coming Monday, because that's when I'm going to go see three incredibly talented authors: Siobhan Vivian, Cecil Castellucci, and Natalie Standiford. They'll be having a nice little YA panel moderated by author and editor extraordinaire David Levithan at BookCourt in Brooklyn. I'm especially excited to see Siobhan because I absolutely adore her and her books. And hey, if you're in the area or planning to go the book signing, let me know! Either email me or look out for me (I'll be slightly overdressed).

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Once the queen of a vicious vampire coven, Lenah Beaudonte is a vampire no more. With the help and sacrifice of her love Rhode, Lenah has been able to become human again—the dream of all vampires. Now Lenah is just a sixteen-year-old girl who needs to figure out how to fit into the twenty first century. Or is she? Even as Lenah learns how to live again and undergoing the experience of human love and emotions, her old coven threatens her newfound happiness and humanity. Lenah’s deep connections to her coven prevent her from escaping from them so easily, no matter how much she wants to now. There’s no telling what disaster the coven will wreak to get Lenah back, but destruction of her new life may be the one thing Lenah can’t accept. But how is a former vampire supposed to defend herself from the most powerful vampire coven?

Infinite Days is a unique take on vampires. I really enjoyed Maizel’s fresh interpretation of what it means to be a vampire; it helped Infinite Days stand out from the rest of the vampire stories and all the more interesting to read. The story overall was enjoyable to read, if a little odd at times. But even though, I liked reading Infinite Days, I did not like it as much as I could have. Maizel’s writing was pretty satisfactory even though she could have integrated Lenah’s flashbacks more smoothly. However, there were certain parts of the story that I just didn’t like. I think Lenah made the wrong decision in picking which guy to like, so I was always bothered with the tension between her and her best friend and her attachment to her boyfriend. The entire second part of the novel was also a bit bizarre, especially when Lenah gains special powers. I didn’t quite buy into that. As Infinite Days is the first installment in a new series, it will be interesting to see what Maizel produces next, particularly with the drastic turn of events from this novel.

Infinite Days may be enjoyed by fans of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Evernight by Claudia Gray, and Fallen by Lauren Kate.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher St. Martin's Griffin through LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Rich and Mad by William Nicholson

Maddie wants to fall in love, so deeply and madly in love that she can’t think. She’s even found the perfect candidate in Joe, who is incredibly cute and popular. Too bad he has a girlfriend, but if he’s dating Gemma, then why is he sending signals that he likes Maddie back? Rich had had a crush on Maddie’s friend Grace for the longest time. He knows there’s no chance Grace would like him back, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to win her over anyway. In the midst of all the lies and confusion, Maddie and Rich both struggle to figure out love and relationships. In the end, though, they’ll find that love sometimes comes from where you least expected it.

Rich and Mad is a detailed and realistic exploration of romantic relationships, first love, and everything that comes with that. Nicholson does a fantastic job of portraying teens. I find it rare that an author will go so in depth in discussing love and sex; this novel is less a romance than a question and answer of what love is.  With varied but always believable characters, Nicholson is able to write about relationships and opinions of love from multiple angles. Everything about this story, from the content to the questions it presents to the emotions of the characters is sure to resonate with all teen readers. Though some of the plot is predictable or just strange, Rich and Mad remains a very sweet and enjoyable read.

Rich and Mad should be read by teens everywhere and will particularly appeal to those who enjoyed Crash Test Love by Ted Michael and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

A year ago, Carly was murdered, and even though they’ve put someone in jail, no one can forget, least of all Neily, Carly’s ex-boyfriend, and Audrey, Carly’s best friend. Neily blames himself for not answering Carly’s call the day she died; maybe he could’ve saved her. Audrey blames herself too, because her relationship with popular golden boy Cass is what got Carly involved with bad boy Adam Murray. Now, Audrey is convinced that the wrong man was put in jail and that Carly’s killer is still free, and she wants Neily to help her prove this. This unlikely pair will investigate the shady dealings of Brighton Day and their own relationships with Carly to bring the truth to light.

All Unquiet Things is a teen murder mystery that didn’t quite do it for me. Firstly, all the characters are poorly developed and not very realistic. At first, Neily’s character showed promise, but this fell flat when he and Audrey became obsessed with finding Carly’s killer. During the investigation, which took up the grand majority of the story, the back-and-forth accusations and theories regarding Carly’s death made Neily and Audrey seem less like people than just instruments of the investigation, if that makes any sense. The lines between who each was became blurred, and I even started to get confused when the narrations shifted between them. I wouldn’t mind the flat characters if the actual mystery was very satisfying. Unfortunately, Jarzab disappoints on this account as well. I found it difficult to follow Neily’s and Audrey’s logic when they determine Carly’s murderer. To be perfectly honest, All Unquiet Things would make a better movie than book, because on the screen, the action is often more important than everything else.

Though I was very disappointed, All Unquiet Things may still be enjoyed by fans of Death at Deacon Pond by E.M. Alexander and The Sight by Judy Blundell.

Rating: 2.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine

The Season by Sarah MacLean

As a lady of seventeen years, Alexandra Stafford is expected to be introduced to London society this season. That means memorizing dance steps, lessons on proper conversation and etiquette, and endless dress fittings. Unfortunately, Alex would rather read poetry and make mischief with her friends than waltz through ballrooms. She has no choice in the matter, though, and before Alex knows it, she’s just another young woman on the marriage market being paraded from party to party. At first, it’s not so bad since Alex’s best friends Ella and Vivi are also going through their first season with her. But sooner than later, overhearing a clandestine conversation draws Alex into a mystery regarding the former Earl of Blackmoor and his ghastly death. It’s something Alex can’t pass up investigating, but the deeper she delves, the more danger she’s in.

The Season is a quick and fun mystery with historical flair. MacLean does a wonderful job of portraying Regency London and particularly the nature of the season. Readers will be swept away in the glamour of beautiful dresses, sweeping dances, and extravagant parties. What MacLean does even better than setting the stage, though, is creating a set of strong heroines who dare to defy the stifling double standards set on women at this time. These girls’ quick wit and charming audacity is sure to amuse readers. I particularly enjoyed reading about marriage averse Alex; her social exploits are entertainingly and her investigatory adventures nothing but intriguing. The actual mystery is quite satisfying and interesting to read about, as is the rather predictable but still sweet romance. I quite enjoyed this amusing historical read.

The Season is sure to be enjoyed by fans of La Petite Four by Regina Scott and Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar

Kalix MacRinnalch is an unhappy werewolf. She has been for a long time, but it’s even worse now that she’s run away from home. Well, she had to; after brutally attacking her father, the Thane, and leaving him in a precarious state of health, the rest of the clan wanted her dead as well. On the run, Kalix has managed to survive, but barely with her anxiety, anorexia, and an addiction to laudanum. The last thing she expects to find in London is a friend, but that’s exactly what she is rescued by two college students. Even though Kalix hardly knows how to deal with this new kind of relationship, she finds herself relying on these two humans more than ever, especially when the Thane dies and a bitter dispute over the next leader of the clan threatens a civil war among clan members. It seems there will never be rest for Kalix MacRinnalch.

Lonely Werewolf Girl is a novel of many interwoven plots and subplots, eccentric characters, and sometimes ridiculous situations. Millar seems to have taken a page out of Christopher Moore’s books (though not quite literally) as his storytelling is much in the same spirit. This is definitely a compliment, considering I absolutely loved Moore’s Bite Me, and it works rather well for Millar too. I loved reading about cross dressing Markus, the fire elemental fashionista Queen Malveria, fashion designer and Enchantress Thrix, and angsty Kalix. Each character’s personality brought so much flavor to the story, especially through the rotating points of view. Lonely Werewolf Girl also has its fair share of action and danger as a more thrilling complement to the story’s quirky characters. My only complaint with this book is that it was long. This usually never bothers me, because with a good story, I usually can’t tell. However, towards the middle and end of the book, I started to feel that everything was being drawn out too much. Though I enjoyed the entire story, I do appreciate having things a bit more concise sometimes.

Lonely Werewolf Girl appeals to fans of Christopher Moore and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. I look forward to reading this novel’s sequel, Curse of the Wolf Girl.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from personal collection

Win Dust by Joan Frances Turner

CONTEST CLOSED

What happens between death and life can change a girl. Jessie is a zombie. And this is her story...

Nine years ago, Jessie was in a car crash and died. After she was buried, she awoke and tore through the earth to arise, reborn, as a zombie. Now Jessie's part of a gang. They fight, hunt, and dance together as one-something humans can never understand. There are darkplaces humans have learned to avoid, lest they run into zombie gangs. But when a mysterious illness threatens the existence of both zombies and humans, Jessie must choose between looking away or staring down the madness-and hanging on to everything she now knows as life...

(5) lucky winners will receive Dust by Joan Frances Turner
courtesy of Penguin Group



Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 9/30/10, at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Samilae is a town of superstitions and suspicion. Though the villagers pay wood-carvers to make objarka, talismans meant to bring good luck or ward off evil, they also fear any skill with the knife. Thus, when a mysterious illness and deadly fog sweep through the land, many fingers start pointing at Plain Kate, a young orphaned wood-carver. Kate knows she cannot stay for fear of being burnt at the stake as a witch. Luckily, it seems, a stranger named Linay offers a proposition: means for Kate’s escape in exchange for her shadow. With no other options, Kate accepts. But even as Kate starts building a new life, she learns the truth of Linay’s evil intentions. Does Plain Kate have the courage to risk her own life if it means saving thousands of others?

Plain Kate is an interesting coming of age story filled with adventure and witchcraft. It’s so common these days that fantasy and paranormal books for young adults are just disguised romances. Thankfully, debut author Bow is here to remind us that romance was never a prerequisite for a good fantasy story. And Bow certainly does present a fascinating tale with Plain Kate. Readers will be swept away with Kate’s hectic journey as she searches for belonging and happiness and instead encounters cruelty and hardship on the way. Kate is realistic and though initially weak, also an ultimately inspiring character. Although I was a little thrown off by the lack of a central romance, I am glad Bow avoided that distraction because it strengthens the rest of the story. Fantastic and sweet, Plain Kate is sure to capture any reader’s heart.

This novel will be enjoyed by readers who also liked Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock and Raider’s Ransom by Emily Diamand. I can’t wait to see what Bow has in store next.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Haven Moore is not destined to live a quiet life. For a long as she can remember, she’s had fainting spells and vivid visions in which she is not Haven but Constance. Even though Haven knows there must be more to what increasingly feels like memories of a past love of someone named Ethan, she is never quite afforded the chance to find out. It seems Haven will pass her days being accused of being possessed by the devil in small town Snope City until seeing Iain Morrow on television sets her visions off once again. Defying the wishes of her family, Haven sets off for New York City, intent on figuring out this business about past lives. Could Iain really be her beloved Ethan? Or is there something about their past lives that Haven still can’t remember? Haven finds herself bewildered in this strange and dangerous new world of possibilities. Unsure of whom to trust, Iain or the mysterious Ouroboros Society that professes to help people like her, Haven will somehow have to unlock the secrets of the past and the present before it’s too late.

The Eternal Ones is a very long story about reincarnation, eternal love, and possibly a lot of other things. Although the idea of love that can span lifetimes isn’t very original, Miller manages to craft it into a passable novel. I enjoyed the first part of the story as well as the very end. However, things started to get messy in between. Firstly, there’s a lot going on to keep track of, like who was who in which past life, and more importantly, who did what in that life. Then there was the whole matter of figuring out which tale was the true version of the events that transpired in the past. There were basically two versions that mattered: the one where Iain is good and the one where he’s the bad guy. It got really tiring watching Haven go back and forth in her opinions and it made the love story frankly not very romantic. I also didn’t like how certain details seemed to jump out of nowhere, especially when these details were supposed to explain rather significant portions of the novel. To top that off, there was this whole religious angle that felt out of place. As with most novels, if you ignore all these little details, the story is a great read. I definitely think it could’ve been better refined, but on the surface, it’s still a worthwhile, if not terrible romantic, read.

The Eternal Ones appeals to those who enjoyed Fallen by Lauren Kate, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn, and the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Penguin

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

For the longest time, it’s just been Jessamine Luxton and her father, a skilled apothecary. Her mother died long ago, and when her father is away to heal people, she is alone except for the plants in the gardens. She wishes more than anything to have a companion, but when Weed arrives, little does she know what kind of companion he’ll turn out to be. Weed is a shy and mysterious boy who knows little more about himself than others do. He has a strange knowledge of plants that fascinates both Jessamine and her father, but in different ways. Jessamine wants to know Weed, but her father wants to know Weed’s knowledge—and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means tragedy ensues.

The Poison Diaries has reminded my why Wood is one of my favorite authors. I loved her clever humor in Why I Let My Hair Grow Out, but her writing in The Poison Diaries is completely different, in a good way of course. Mainly from young Jessamine’s perspective, Wood’s writing takes on the detailed mindset of a hopeful botanist. It’s fascinating to see inside Jessamine’s mind; her curiosity and attention to nature make her seem so innocent and likable—and unfortunately, also the perfect victim. I could not forget this story of great romance and tragedy after I read it. I attribute this all to Wood’s skill. The development of her main characters is superb. They are all so vivid with their fears and desires. The inclusion of Weed’s interesting ability is just another plus. Wood doesn’t need an aura of the mysterious and supernatural to boost her stories; her writing is enough to draw the reader in. I fell in love with this story, so I will be extremely disappointed if there is not a sequel because it will make this story’s ending so unsatisfying.

Those who enjoyed Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, the Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare, and The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix will not want to miss The Poison Diaries.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Interview with T.L. Clarke

What was your inspiration for writing The Secret of the Scarlet Stone?
The inspiration for writing THE SECRET OF THE SCARLET STONE came from my sense of adventure and also my almost geeky obsession with anything related to mysteries. I had been thinking about the concept of THE SECRET OF THE SCARLET STONE for a long time, jotting down characters and plots all along. Inspirations many.....a good sense of adventure, mystery and just questioning everything around me.

What do you hope to accomplish through your Gabby Girls Adventure series? What do you feel you've accomplished with its first installment?
I wanted to write a fun mystery adventure novel with strong and interesting characters that work together throughout the Gabby Girls Adventure and to offer something totally different from what's already out there right now. I think that I accomplished that with the first installment of THE GABBY GIRLS ADVENTURE (GGA) series.

Why did you choose to make "girl power" a central focus of your novel? Why do you believe it is important?
I wanted to convey that teen girls have more strength and "power" than they give themselves credit for. That tapping into that "girl power" regardless to what life throws at you is the most important thing. It's important because it says I'm confident despite what society thinks I should be or believe.

Which of your characters can you relate to most and why?
I'd have to say that I can actually relate to all of the Gabby Girls in one way or the other. But I have to say that I can relate to Gabby Girl Gabrielle (Gabi) the most. Like her I could care less about being popular, I speak my mind freely, and l love the challenge that life brings.

What was your favorite part about writing The Secret of the Scarlet Stone?
I had many favorite parts like the fun of creating the many twists and turns within THE SECRET OF THE SCARLET STONE, getting totally engrossed with the Gabby Girls personalities which are as different as night and day and creating the Gabby Girl Clues. It was an absolute blast!

What was the most difficult part about writing this novel?
There's a scene at the end where the Gabby Girls are forced to make some pretty serious life changing decisions and I believe those decisions really propelled the plot. I think I must have rewritten that scene about a gazillion times, each time thinking about it from each of the Gabby Girls perspective.

What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing The Secret of the Scarlet Stone? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I learned a lot about balancing the intensity of the plot with the humor of the Gabby Girls while I wrote THE SECRET OF THE SCARLET STONE, and discovered that there are a lot of helpful resources for writers.

What is the most rewarding part of being a young adult author?
Absolutely without a doubt it's connecting with teens. It's just so rewarding to know that teens are reading and enjoying my book and really connecting with the GABBY GIRLS characters.

If there was one thing you could change about The Secret of the Scarlet Stone, what would it be?
I am really happy with THE SECRET OF THE SCARLET STONE. There were so many different directions I could have taken the Gabby Girls Adventure but honestly, I would not change anything.

What are you working on next?
I'm actually working on the next installment of THE GABBY GIRLS ADVENTURE (GGA) series. It will be out next year...summer 2011. In the next installment of the GGA series, there will be more of everything.....more adventure, more mystery, and a whole lot of drama as the plot thickens between the Gabby Girls as they press forward into a new Gabby Girls Adventure. So, hold on to your seat because the next installment of the GGA series is absolutely going to be a nail biter!

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Not too long ago, the distant planet Lorien was destroyed. There were no survivors except nine children and their nine guardians. They fled to earth, the closest planet with life, to hide among the humans and develop their Legacies so that one day, they would be able to fight back against the Mogadorians. But the evil enemy followed the Nine to earth, not only to finish what they started on Lorien. The Mogadorians want earth for a sinister plan, and the only ones with the power to stop it are the Nine. The cunning Mogadorians have found and killed One, Two, and Three. Number Four is next. When his Legacies develop, will he have the strength to defeat his enemy?

I Am Number Four is one heck of a thrill ride, and a fantastic one at that. It’s really no wonder it was already being made into a movie before it was published. Lore delivers a fascinating account of intelligent extraterrestrials masquerading as humans while their evil counterparts try to hunt them down. There really isn’t an inch of this book that is boring. Even when Four is just assimilating into his new home, the anticipation of drama at school or the possibility of the Mogadorians finding him makes everything a bit more manic and exciting. And when the real action hits, well, there’s really nothing that will be able to stop readers from flipping those pages. Although the plot was impeccable, though, there were a few details that bothered me, such as Four’s attachment to Sarah and the small cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Four’s relationship with Sarah didn’t develop very realistically for me, and I found the aforementioned structural detail rather annoying, especially when I could predict what would happen immediately after. As a whole though, I immensely enjoyed reading I Am Number Four and look forward to the rest of the series.

I Am Number Four appeals to fans of The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine

White Cat by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a long line of curse workers—people born with the power to change your memories, emotions, luck, or shape with a single touch from a bare hand. Since curse work is frowned upon, most curse workers are mobsters and con artists. Cassel’s family is no different, and even though Cassel isn’t a curse worker like the rest of his family, he was raised with the con. It’s almost a way of life. But everything changes when Cassel starts to have sleepwalking nightmares of a strange white cat intent on telling him something. Suddenly, things start to make less and less sense, like the memories of killing his best friend Lila three years earlier, the strange and secretive behavior of his brothers, and why Cassel has always been told he isn’t a curse worker. Is Cassel just a pawn in another wicked con game? And how can he outcon the real conmen to find out the truth?

White Cat is another fantastic and unique story from skilled author Black. The many selling points of this novel, curse work, conmen and mobsters, and the promise of a larger scandal, all work superbly well together. Black’s imagined world where magic or curse work is real is so fascinating. On one hand, there is the wonder that such power is possible, and on the other, there is the fear of the different held by normal people. I just love how Black develops the sociopolitical scene here and how that, in turn, influences the rest of this tale. The story itself is enthralling; only a few details are predictable, and all the secrets and cons will keep most readers guessing until the end. The characters as well as realistic within their circumstances, but I have to say that the plot is really what kept the story going. I thoroughly enjoyed White Cat and look forward to more installments in the Curse Workers series.

White Cat will be enjoyed by fans of Tithe, also by Holly Black, Revealers by Amanda Marrone, and Firespell by Chloe Neill.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from Amazon Vine