Wintertown by Stephen Emond

Lucy and Evan have been best friends since the were kids. Even when Lucy moved away, the duo manages to keep their partnership alive. Lately, though, it seems the two are growing apart. Until Lucy comes to see Evan.

Soon the two are inseparable. What Evan doesn't know, though, is that jealousy is slowly eating Lucy away. She can't stand how perfect Evan's life is. His parents are still together, he has the perfect grades, the perfect friends, the perfect life. Everthing Lucy is trying to escape at home comes creeping back during her time with her best friend. She can't stand herself, but she can't seem to stop. She wants Evan to hurt, like she did. She wants him to know what heartbreak feels like and how much it hurt to be crushed. Can their love survive the season?

I blasted through this book. It took me probably three days to read it, it was that good. It also had pictures, which the inner child in me absolutely loves! It definitely isn't your typical romance novel, that's for sure.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 

And The Hunger Games trilogy comes to an end in this thrilling third novel by Suzanne Collins. In Panem, the city where Katniss Everdeen and her family once called home, the rebels against the capitol are in an uproar, and Katniss herself is to blame. After being captured by the rebels and taken to District 13, a place where just weeks before capture she believed to be uninhabited, Katniss must figure out a way to save Peeta, the boy with whom she won her first hunger games with, from the capitol.

 

While she is trying to deal with the stress of being the Mockingjay, the face of the rebels, Katniss must also find a way to sort out her love life. The overbearing weight of deciding between Gale and Peeta is finally taking it's toll on her, and she finds herself breaking down more often than not. As the capitol gets ready for war with the rebels, Katniss must decide which is more important. The ones she loves or the entire population of Panem?

 

This third book brought a great close to the series. Although, I have to admit, it wasn't my favorite out of the three. The book answered any questions that were left unnanswered by the endd of Catching Fire and added surprising twists. Anyone who is a fan of The Hunger Games will love the end to this great series.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

 

In a world where vampires are lurking in every corner and only few know they even exist, America's sixteenth president will accept the challenge of killing every vampire he can get his hands on. A lot of people told me that they didn't like this book, saying it was boring or didn't follwow Lincoln's life well. I, on the other hand, loved the book. It may be due to my infatuation with Lincoln's amazing yet devasting life, but  I loved this modern twist.

 

You may think you know everything there is to know about Abraham Lincoln, but you have never seen the United States' sixteenth president like this. After his mother was murdered by a vampire when he was just a young boy, Abraham vowed that he would get revenge by killing every vampire in America. Soon he meets up with a vampire who has the same wish as him and together they wreak havoc on the vampire population.

 

As Abe carves his way through America, on his way to presidency, a war is brewing. A war between human and vampire. A war Abe has to lead a country, torn apart by greed, thorugh. A war which would go down in history as the war that ripped America in two. The Civil War. 

 

Sorry, the summary is awful, but I am up to my eyeballs in irritation right now. The amount of annoying my little brother is capable of dishing would amaze most of you. Anyways, this book was good. A word of caution, it is considered boring for most people so beware. Blah, Blah, Blah. Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Hope to see you sometime soon!





I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

 

Throughout the entire time I was reading this book I was constantly going Awww! Seriously, I got some pretty weird looks...

Emily Bell is your average, run-of-the-mill kind of girl. Plain and easy to walk by and not really notice. Until she meets Sam Border and his little brother Riddle. Sam is unlike anyone Emily has ever met, from his mysterious looks to his artsy side to his amazing musical abilty. Emily isn't the only one who notices Sam's uniqueness, Bobby Ellis, a boy with a "thing" for Emily, seems to think that her and Sam are spending too much time together, and that's not good.

When Bobby starts to do some snooping around he uncovers the truth. Sam and Riddle live with their aggressive father who constantly steals and hears voices. When Emily's family accepts Sam and Riddle into their lives with the love of a real family, the boys feel as though nothing can go wrong. Until their dad hauls them away from the only place that has ever been home and throws them in a life-threatening situation. Emily, devastated by the thought of never seeing Sam again, and her family, consumed with the grief of losing the boys, have to find a way to get them back and sew back together the pieces of a life they never imagined having.

This book was adorable. I would recommend this if you love happy endings. Oops, I probably shouldn't have said that :D! Any teenage girl or hopeless romantic will love this book and it is truly a great read.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

 

 

This modern take on Cinderella is as far from the original story as you can get. With a plot that keeps your eyes glued to the page and twists that will give you whiplash, this book will leave you wanting more. Thank Goodness there are a billion other books in the series!

Cinder, a cyborg who is left with her rude step mother and sisters after her adoptive father dies, is a mechanic working in the markets to pay for her family's luxuries. In the midst of a plague that is quickly killing everyone she knows and cares about, Cinder is just trying to keep herself alive. That is, until she meets the handsome prince Kai. While Cinder is trying to keep herself from feeling things for Kai, her sister is rapidly dying of the fast spreading plague and Cinder feels as though she is drowning.

When Kai asks her to his coronation ball it takes all her strength to say no. She has too much on her plate to indulge in such a luxury, with the realization that she is immune to the plague and the evil Lunar queen visiting the castle, Cinder doesn't have time for boys. Or should I say men? Along with some very secret knowledge that she has uncovered about herself, thanks to her friend, Dr. Erland, Cinder has to deal with her hate consumed step mother and the fact that her dreams of running away may never come true. Will Cinder ever catch a break?

This book was marvelous! I loved how Marissa Meyer took the general idea of Cinderella and she twisted it to her liking. I mean, how much more modern can you get than cyborgs?! This book kept me up at night, reading until my eyelids were so heavy that I was reading with my eyes closed. To read this book or not to read this book, that is the question? Oh, wait! No, it's not! READ THIS BOOK!

How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr

When your father dies you expect your mother to mourn, right? Well what if she decided to adopt a baby AND temporarily take in the pregnant teen who's giving birth to that baby? When Jill's mom decides it is time to make an addition to the family, she is anything but happy. Especially since Jill has just lost her father. While her friends abandon her and her boyfriend finds her to complicated to deal with, Jill is left to deal with mess her mother has created, by herself. When Mandy, a pregnant teenager whose family could care less if she left home, finds someone to adopt her baby she thinks it is nothing short of a miracle. Once she finds out that she is more than welcome to stay will Jill and her mother until the baby is due, she feels it is to good to be true. And it is. While Jill and her mother constantly argue over Mandy's situation, Mandy herself is left in the frustrated wake. The girls, though, find they must come together and learn they may even enjoy being thrown together.

This book was a super fast read, because I couldn't put it down! It was great to finally find a book that I could really get into. Of course, the book had it's downfalls, like the ending that did not satisfy my romantic needs, but overall it was a great addition to my Read list.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

After winning the Hunger Games, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen are sure they are safe from the Capitol's rage. What they don't know is that they have started an uprising. Forced to feign love for each other, they must find a way to deal with a new fear. They are going back into the Hunger Games, along with two victors from every other district. As they head back to the place of their nightmares, the couple are forced to face their worst fears. But Katniss and Peeta aren't the only ones with a problem on their hands. The capitol, faced with the rage of citizens from, not only the districts, but from the Capitol City as well, is brutally trying to find a way to silence the uprisings. Oh! And did I mention there is a fake baby on the way?

This book is a must read for anyone who loves books. Fast paced and keeps you guessing. I found my heart racing and myself unable to sit still. If you haven't read the series, go read the Hunger Games and tthen come back and read this sequel. Fantastic thriller and an exciting read.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

 

I apologize for taking so long and for also looking like a rag-a-muffin in this video! I finished Catching Fire, so I will post the review soon. Hopefully I won't take as long to get up a review as I did this time, but I can't make any promises. I am doing homework as we speak! I am up to my eyeballs in it! Anyways, enjoy and if you have a book you think I should read leave in the comments :)

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

What would you do if you woke up in a strange room with no recollection of what happened the night before? What would you do when the sudden realization hit that you did something you really wish you hadn't of done? What would you do if you were raped?

Alex attends Themis Academy, where everyone is perfect and nothing bad ever happens. Except bad things do happen. That's why Alex's sister created The Mockingbirds, a group that is set out to right the wrongs that happen behind the teachers' backs. So, when Alex is date raped her only logical choice is to go to The Mockingbirds. They tell her it will be hard, but ultimately things will work out. But when Alex starts feeling thing for one of her friends who is also in The Mockingbirds, things get complicated.

I loved this book! It was a great read and I could not put it down. The pacing was great and the book had a great plot. What is better than a book with a dash of justice? A book with a dash of justice and romance (wink wink). I don't care who you are, you will love this book. I can't wait to get my grubby fingers on the sequel!

100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson

Another journey, another great read! While I was away in the land they call "The Oregon Coast" I got to embark on another fun book with an exciting plot.I thoroughly enjoyed how young this book made me feel. There was no complicated romance or mind numbing mystery, just a young boy who found a fantastic adventure!

This book has been sitting on my book shelf for who knows how many years! And as soon as I picked it up and started reading, I thought to myself  "Why have I waited this long to read this book?" I felt like a kid again, reading a book simply for the fun of reading. The writer's imagination blew me away! How many people can say "Hey, I just thought of an idea! What if we had magical cupboards that took you to different worlds and different dimensions?" Not many. It was so brilliantly imaginative that you could tell the writer is genuinly thoughtful and not just groping around in the dark for an idea.

After his parents are kidnapped and held for ransom, Henry is shipped off Henry, Kansas for the summer, where his aunt and unce live, along with their three daughters. His attic bedroom doesn't hold much excitement, until he hears a strange thumping and sees a strange doorknob protruding from his ceiling. As he starts exploring he uncovers 99 cupboards, all with their own dimensions and secrets. But not everything is as it seems and Henry is getting himself in way deeper than he wants. With the help of one of his cousins, he uncovers secrets about himself, the cupboards, and things that should never be meddled with.

Big Day Tomorrow

Heading off for the great city of Newport, Oregon tomorrow night. Wish me luck! A whole week with my family? Somebody had better pray for me! But, hey, wouldn't trade 'em for the world, so might as well make the most of it right? Definitely!

Can't wait to revisit the coast, my favorite place on earth. What is better than the smell of the ocean and the patter of the rain? Nothing, that's what! After a trip to the dry, over heated state of California it is really nice to be going somewhere where the trees aren't crippling with death and the grass isn't crunching with dryness under your feet. I absolutely love the life I see at the coast, from the candy covered faces of children, to the blooming wildflowers, it is an absolutely uplifting place! And I can't wait to sink my teeth into a nice, relaxing vacation.

What am I going to be doing for an entire week in a city so full of fun? Going with the flow, of course! Here, there, everywhere. Maybe take a stroll down the boardwalk, munch on some caramel apples, I might even visit a museum or two! Whatever I do, though, you can be sure I will be having a great time.

There are a few errands I have to run, as does any American, before I leave. Bop over to the library, pop a squat at the orthodontists and get some reading done while mother dearest is at the hairdresser's. Oh, yeah, and one other minor thing. Get packing!

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

What are you supposed to do when your brother is accused of rape, and you know the truth?

How do you protect your sister when she claims she was the one who was raped?

When Mikey McKenzie's sister claims she was raped by Ellie Parker's brother it starts a whirlwind of emotions and heartache for both Mikey and Ellie. When they met, all Mikey was trying to do was get close to Tom Parker, if only to pummel his face in. But when he starts feeling things for Ellie that he's never felt for any girl, things start to get complicated. When Ellie realizes she feels the same things, things really take a turn for the worst. Through the stress of accusations and lies, Ellie and Mikey somehow find a way to overcome their fears and fall in love.

With a tense and romantic plot, this book left me wanting more. I finished this book in no time at all. Two thumbs up, I would say. It was one of those books where I know I will remember it, but I am not so sure anyone else will. I loved how the story didn't drag and it was perfectly paced, but some people may not feel the same way I do about the pacing of books. If you love young adult romance with a dash of mysterious truth, then this book is a must read.

One Day by David Nicholls

I recently read this book, called One Day. Looking at the cover you think 'Oh, what a nice, romantic book!'. No, it was, in fact, an awfully irritating, disappointing, stupid, insert-insulting-word-here, book! The ending was sad and depressing and I could barely pull myself through the mucked up mess that was this book. Want my opinion? No? Too bad. Save yourself the time and heartache and find a book with a real plot.

Okay,so I am being a bit harsh. The book, I'm sure, to someone else was a smashing hit, but with me it didn't tickle my tummy. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for sadness (which the book definetly had) and so I came down with a little too much force when I decided that this book was not in my Fave Five.

Dex and Emma have been best friends ever since a that fateful night when they took a tumble in the sheets (wink wink). We take a look into their lives for one day (that same day they met) every year, for twenty years. Through tears and triumphs, heartbreaks and -aches, Dex and Emma manage to hold onto their love for each other until (SPOILER ALERT) they finally get together. For keepsies.

But this isn't what makes me dislike the book. No, what makes me not like the book is two years after they get together she (SPOILER ALERT) dies. Yes, you heard me right, she dies. Now what kind of ending is that?