Author Interview: Hillary Frank

My encounter with one Hillary Frank began during fall of 2009. One of my best friends (who did not really like to read) had asked me to get her a book. At the time we were in school library and I did not readily have a book in my possession that I was not reading, so I randomly extended my hand into the stout shelf of the bookshelf to my right and produced a book with a rather interesting cover. Being an artsy person I was rather drawn to the cover, however I did not read the summary and simply handed the book over to her. Later that same week, I had been browsing around my public library’s in the stack they had for sale when I found a rather new copy of the book. Lo and behold I took this as a sign so I bought the book for a messily $0.50. How sad that such an amazing book was put to the wayside. I probably would have paied $100 to own a copy of this book! It is rear that I find a novel that is not filled with mystical creatures that completely envelop my thoughts. One such book: Better Than Running At Night. I loved loved loved this book and I am so grateful that Mrs. Frank has taken the time from her busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Hillary Frank is a freelance writer based in Montclair, NJ. She is the author and illustrator of the novels Better Than
Running at Night (Houghton Mifflin 2002), I Can't Tell You (Houghton Mifflin 2004), and The View From the Top (Penguin 2010). Better Than Running at Night was named a Top Ten First Youth Novel by Booklist and a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. In 2010, Booklist selected The View From the Top as one of the Top Ten Romance Books for Youth.
-Hillaryfrank.com

Q: What inspires you to write?
A: Overheard conversations. I'm a big eavesdropper. Sometimes I'll be on a train or sitting in a coffee shop and I'll hear something that I have to write down. And then later on a version of that conversation will show up in a book or radio story. Sometimes those conversations even inspire an entire plot. My stories on This American Life's Babysitting show and Promised Land show are both the product of eavesdropping.

Q: 3. Are any of your characters similar to you or anyone you know?
A: I think there's a little of me in every single character I write. Even Nate from Better Than Running at Night.

Q: Which do you prefer when writing or reading- first or third person?
A:I much prefer first person. I try to do something new with the format in each book I write. For me most recent book, The View from the Top, that new thing was writing from the POV of seven teens in the third person. I thought that third person would allow me to keep a consistent voice throughout the book. But in order to maintain empathy, I also wanted the voice in each chapter to reflect the thoughts of the main character of that chapter. If that makes sense. So in a way I was still writing in different voices. What I learned from the whole experience is that I feel more deeply attached to characters when I write in their voices.

Q: Can you share with us a little of the work that is yet to come?

A: I don't have a book in progress at the moment. But a year ago I launched a podcast about surprising struggles in early parenthood called The Longest Shortest Time. You don't have to be a parent to listen. You might even learn some stuff about what it was like for your mother when you were a baby. I actually interviewed my own mom, thinking it would be our comedy relief episode, and she wound up crying and apologizing to me for not being able to breastfeed me.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
A: Edit. Edit, edit, edit. And then edit some more. The first drafts of all three of my novels are absolutely embarrassing. As are the following three or four drafts, probably. On every single book I did massive rewrites, in which very little of the first draft made it to print.



Random Question:

Q: If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?
A: An onion. But not because of all the layers. Because it's the food that entertains my two-year-old daughter most. She likes to unpack them from grocery bags, watch them simmer in oil, and pick them out of food and devour them as if they were raisins or chocolate chips or something.

Find Hillary Frank:
Author Website
Amazon
Twitter: @HillaryFrank

I would like to thank Mrs. Frank for taking the time to answer a few of my questions. I look forward to reading more of her novels and enjoying them all the same! Lastly, congratulations on her new baby!

Book Review: Will Grayson Will Grayson

John Green and David Levithan
Reading level:Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher:Speak; Reprint edition (April 5, 2011)

Summary:
One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

-Amazon.com

So far, this is the third book I’ve read by John Green and my first by David Levithan. I had mixed feelings about this book. Through the actual reading process, I loved both Wills but then I didn’t. As usual these characters are realistically crafted and easy to relate to. There were times throughout the story that I felt myself nodding in sympathy or feeling vindictive hatred for the unfortunately dead-on portrayal of selfishness and angst that's common in most high school teenagers. What I love about these characters is that they are individuals who learn life lessons and cry and hope and dissect situations to ridiculous extremes and hold grudges and appreciate love and friendship. This is the kind of book that reminds you what a coming of age tale is supposed to be.

But then there were the times when I felt like giving up. I don’t get why his is written in all lower case letters, something that actually bugged me quite a bit. “will” was the MOST stereotypical emo character I have ever read. Every cliché "emo kid" idea you could come up with is thrown in his chapters. And I do have a few emo friends, even they do not whine as much as this guy!

However, I trusted John Green as a writer so I continued to read on. After several chapter, there is a clear shift in “will’s” character and then the novel became quite enjoyable. John Green never fails to present a wonderful character who is full and enjoyable.

All in all, this was a pretty great novel. It’s not long before you are pulled into the world of the Will Graysons. You will laugh, cry, have hopes and enjoy the time you spend reading this novel.

Buy this book:    
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Find these authors:
<---  John Green



David Levithan --->

Book Review: Looking for Alaska

John Green

Reading level:Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher:Speak (December 28, 2006)

Summary: Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (François Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . . After. Nothing is ever the same.

-Amazon.com

I loved this book! Looking for Alaska was not what I thought it was going to be. Honestly, I didn’t even read the summery, but after reading John Green’s, An Abundance of Katharines, I had to read more. And I was not disappointed! I felt as if I was part of the novel rather than reading it. I laughed and cried! Green’s crisp voice transcends all age limits. This book deals with all the big situations that EVERYONE goes through: friendship, suffering, loss, and grief, love, hatred, and philosophy- it does so with such compassion and humor that the net impact is uplifting.

I loved the idea of “last words,” and “escaping the labyrinth of suffering”. throughout the novel I felt that I was seeking the same answers the characters were and through the author’s plot process I was not left feeling that I didn’t understand.

I was sad when the book ended- because I wanted it to go on forever. I did not want to leave this world that was so real!

This is a must read book. Even if you prefer reading paranormal romance or fantasy novels, GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY!

Where you can find John Green and his books:
Kindle  Nook     Author Website    
Youtube: VlogBrothers
Twitter: @realjohngreen
Facebook: John Green Fans
Goodreads: Fan Page

About John Green:
John Green is a New York Times bestselling author who has received numerous awards, including both the Printz Medal and a Printz Honor. John is also the cocreator (with his brother, Hank) of the popular video blog Brotherhood 2.0, which has been watched more than 30 million times by Nerdfighter fans all over the globe. John Green lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

-Amazon.com

Book Review: Shattered (Dream Realms Trilogy #1)

Sophia Sharp

Format:Kindle Edition
File Size: 589 KB
Print Length:122 pages
Publisher:Dream Publishing (June 18, 2011)

Short, spoiler free review:
Shattered was a very interesting book. It only takes about a day to read because it is only about 122 written pages. I felt very frustrated with this story because the author sometimes failed to flesh out her characters and left a lot of plots hanging. I was drawn to the concept of the dreams in this novel and was, honestly, the one thing that really kept me reading. I admire Ms. Sharp for her creative ability, however I do wish she spent more time on this novel instead of rushing into getting it published. I didn’t enjoy the rushed relationship between Laura and Logan and the dialogue was strained in my opinion. For some reason I did enjoy Shattered . I look forward to reading the sequels to the book, hopefully it gets better. I really love this cover art as well, done by Sophia Sharp herself.
*Warning:This review contains spoilers*

Laura Cubus was perfectly content with her life. A junior in high school, she felt perfectly normal. She had good friends, a great family, and did well in school. Nothing particularly exciting ever happened where she lived, and everything was stable.
But that all drastically changes when a new student arrives at Laura's school. Wild rumours swirl about his past, and Laura becomes determined to find out the truth.
As she gets to know the mysterious student, he shares with her an ancient secret... one that may yet put both of them in grave danger.
And for the first time in her life, Laura is exposed to a completely unfamiliar world. She is swept away on an exhilarating journey that takes to a place where great destiny may yet await... and where supernatural powers run rampant.
Shattered
is the first book of the Dream Realms Trilogy

-From Amazon.com

　

Shattered was defiantly an interesting book. Short and quite to the point, I had a strong love/hate relationship with Ms. Shape’s novel. I had read a lot about this books before finally deciding to get it. There were those who “love, love, love[d]” it, and then those who “hated this book with a passion”. If I had to pick what made me buy it: the price. For only $0.99 I really wasn’t giving up much and I love reading Indie novels; I’m a huge fan of Indie/Self-Published authors.

So I gave it a try. This book had a lot of grammatically and spelling mistakes. But that aside, this book also had a strong resemblance of Twilight, which I do not hate nor am I a “Twi-hard“ searching for a new Twilight replacement. There were elements that was all new to Vampires, in my own experience, about Vampires accessing the “dream world”. I thought this was very interesting, but there wasn’t enough of it. But I’m getting ahead of myself, let me start with the beginning:

Laura lived a very normal life, one that she was very happy with keeping, she really didn’t want any changes. Then Logan shows up and everything kind of happens in a blur. They get stuck together in a week long after school detention on math. Then the guy Laura was so in love with tries to rape her with his buddies- DURING SCHOOL!- by this time Logan is all super cool and saves her, but she gets upset. (I felt like there should have been more with this event, like Laura tries to talk to the guy or he tries to beat up Logan, but Ms. Sharp seems to just drop the subject after this, only using it has a bit of a gateway to get the story rolling.) This was actually a bit understandable, especially when the author explains it a little while after.( A reason why I was so torn between loving and hating this book.) When Laura tries to apologize, Logan all of a sudden is showing her his superhuman “abilities” which she isn’t really freaked out about, then he shows her the dream realm and still although she justifies that it is defiantly not “human” she still does not really seem to question what he is. It is not until the middle of the book where, from the little information she has on Logan, that she figures out that he is a Vampire. Now, I knew that he was a Vampire, I had read a lot of reviews etc., but honestly from the little we knew about Logan and what he could do, he really didn’t seem like a Vampire to me. Then when the Vassiz‘s hit men, the term is used to name the Vampire race, comes after then, Logan has to take her away, and although she has only known this guys for about 2 weeks or less, she goes off with him not once bothering to protest that she can’t leave. She does mention that she is leaving her family behind, but that’s it. Logan never attracts me. He’s a bit strange and not in any way mysterious or magical or however Sharp intended him to be. I felt like he was a bit like Edward at times, except he was a bit more stupid at times. He knew that the Vassiz Elders monitor the dreams and that he shouldn’t carry Laura, but he does for hours in the dreams world like an idiot. Laura doesn’t stand up for herself and doesn’t ever put things together. There were parts in the book that fell short and I thought could use a bit more explanation. The dialogue was sketchy and was not at all natural. The characters conversed in long, drawn out sentences that just wouldn’t end and I found myself having to reread pieces because my mind kept drifting. At times I wanted to through my Kindle because I was so frustrated (but because I love my Kindle I didn’t).

But as it seems I’m bashing the book, there are things that I liked. Mainly, this was interesting to see a Dream world. I would have loved to learn more about it, but as it stands, Sharp brings about interesting topics and situations that end in a flash. Logan mentions a Maria that he loved once, but never says more. And in the end when Laura says to change her so the Vassiz cannot track her scent, Logan hesitates for only a second before her changes her. Then the book ends.

I hope that the next two books pick up and that Sharp fills in the bits and pieces she left behind. For $0.99 I really couldn’t ask for a novel like Dark Inside or Blood Red Road. You will either love it, or hate it, or you might be like me and won’t really be able to choose.

In all honesty, I felt this book could use work. The author herself admits this so do not think that I’m bashing her. I felt drawn to the story, yet I wanted to rip it to shreds (figuratively of course because it is only available in E-book formats). I admire Ms. Sharp’s creative ability and I look forward to reading the rest of the series as well as her new book in a new series.

Where you can find Sophia Sharp:
Amazon Kindle
Nook
Blog
Goodreads

About the Author:
Student and aspiring writer. 19 years old. Born in Seattle and moved across the country a few years ago!

                                                      - Sophia Sharp's Amazon page

Book Review: Hell Phone

William Sleator
★★★★★

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 2007)



Nick wants a cell phone so he can talk to his girlfriend, Jen, after school, but he doesn't have a lot of money. The used phone he buys seems like a bargain, until the phone calls begin—strangers calling night and day, some begging for help, others making demands. Nick wants to get rid of the phone, but something prevents him, and, soon he finds himself committing crimes—stealing, conning . . .and killing. --- Goodreads

Surprisingly, I found this book in the Dollar Store. I’ll tell you now, if you’re thinking that “Oh, it’s from the Dollar Store, it must be bad,” I have to let you know now that this statement is not true. I’ve actually found some really amazing books there.

Now, on to the review: I really liked this book. Honestly, I thought how serious of a story that is about a phone from hell is going to be? Boy, was I wrong to judge (Remember kids, don’t judge a book by it’s cover- but sometimes the cover helps). Sleator really spun a story out of an almost wacky idea that had me terrified that my phone might ring one night and people from hell would be on the other side. I swear to you, I used to jump out of my skin when the phone rang while I was reading this book.

I really liked Nick as a character. He felt whole and real to me. There was no hide and seek with his character. He was a really sweet guy who wanted to be closer to his girlfriend and then falls into a horrible situation. I felt for his character. Sometimes I felt like I was Nick. When he was sad, I was sad. When he got angry, I got angry. There were a lot of emotions in this book, but not so much that you felt lost.

I love the twist in the last few chapters! My heart was racing and I could not stop reading. William Sleator was a horror genius! If you love horrors that hit you with an unexpected twist, you will love this novel!

William Sleator (February 13, 1945 – August 3, 2011)

Where you can find other William Sleator books:
Amazon: Author Page
Goodreads: Author Page
On this blog:

Book Review: What I Was

 

Meg Rosoff
★★★★★
Reading Level: High school and up
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Viking Adult (January 24, 2008)

　
What I Was is a reminiscence of an old man as he recounts a life changing experience during his sixteenth year. First, let me start by saying that I loved Meg Rosoff’s How I Live Now- just as it captivated me, so too has What I Was. I think it’s safe to say that I love Rosoff’s work. She writes in a voice that captivates you and damn near makes you want to jump in and swim among her words. This novel was hauntingly magical. Rosoff explores the relationship between H and Finn. H hungers for new experiences far from the bleak halls of St. Oswald boarding school, the glares of authority and the taunts of his roommates. One afternoon, after stopping for a drink of water while running along the coast, H meets the young Finn, a teenage boy who seems content to live a life like Robinson Crusoe. Self-sufficient and contented, Finn makes his living by hauling boxes at the market and he not only has no parents, but lives alone and doesn't go to school. According to the government, Finn doesn't actually exist. H becomes obsessed with Finn as he attempts to escape both day and night from the daily rituals of St Oswald's, endeavoring to spend time with his new friend. H stalks him at the local market, everything he knows about Finn eventually coming to him in fragments, tiny shards to number and label and fit together.

This isn't so much sexual attraction, although there is a great love, but its more a type of vicarious living- the sensation of living inside another person's life. Eventually ignoring the ever-harsher glares of authority and the taunts of his roommates, H becomes more of a risk taker, braving the school's curfew to spend even more time with Finn. The accusations however, begin in whispers with Reese and Barrat and Gibbon, his roommates.
I was enchanted by every word Rosoff wrote. What I Was is the story of a friendship that is so strange that it can only exist within the woods that the story takes place. I loved H’s obsession with an obsession of my own. It was interesting to see how he dealt with it. It made me wonder if that isn’t what love is- wanting to be that person more than wanting to be ourselves. The relationship was not strained or tainted. There is a childlike delight in their relationship and a twist I could really not have seen coming.

This book was just awesome. I couldn't put it down and then when I did I couldn't stop thinking about H and Finn. It makes me want to burst with excitmen,t I love this book so much!

Not in any way your average story, I would not be surprised if it becomes one among the classics. Short and simply delightful you will not want to put this book down. A must read!

Where you can find Meg Rosoff and her delightful books:
Twitter @MegRosoff
Amazon: Meg Rosoff Author Page
GoodReads: Author Page
Author WebSite

Book Review: An Abundance of Katharines

John Green

★★★★★

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Dutton Books (Imprint of Penguin Group USA)

An Abundance of Katharines tells the story of noted child prodigy Colin Singleton. Colin had dated 19 girls, all named Katharine- not Katie, or Kat, or Kitty, or Cathy, or Rynn, or Trina, or Kay, or Kate or, God forbid, Catherine. But K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E. And now K-19 has broken his heart. One a road trip to nowhere in particular with his Judge Judy loving, overweight best friend, Colin sets out of a mission to prove the Theorem of Underlying Katharine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, average Dumpees everwhere, and finally win him the girl.

An Abundance of Katharines has to one of the funniest, most brilliant stories I have ever read. John Green creates a cast of characters that are funny, smart, and very memorable. There is actually nothing that I didn’t love about this book- it was that good! I loved Colin, and by the end of the book I wish I knew someone like him. I liked the idea that this was not just about him proving a theorem or getting over a girl. This story really explored Colin as a person, who he was and what he wanted- which was, overall, to be remembered, to not be forgotten. Everyone wants that.

I quickly found out while I was reading this book that with it's an original concept, this was a laugh-out-loud funny story, complete with satire, and an American road trip that's unlike any road trip I ever took! I loved Colin’s view on the world and I can very much relate to his ability to not being able to talk with people. Honestly, even that is a skill I have yet to master. I also loved that I actually learned and remembered things from his novel. Some was trivial to the plot and others were bits of information that Green placed in footnotes that I thought was a most brilliant idea ever! These are things I never knew until I read this book:
1) Fetor hepaticus is a symptom of late-stage liver failure where your breath literally smells like a rotting corpse.
2) The junior senator from New Hampshire in 1873 was Bainbridge Wadleigh.
3) There is absolutely no scientific proof that drinking eight glasses of water a day will improve your health.
4) Dingleberries can be anagrammed into see inbred girl; lie breeds grin; leering debris; greed be nil, sir; be idle re. rings; ringside rebel; and residing rebel.
5) Nikola Tesla did a lot for electricity before Thomas Edison came along and stole some of his ideas, and he also loved pigeons.
6) Sitzpinkler is German slang for “wimp” which literally means “a man who sits to pee”.
7) There is a difference between a genius and a prodigy.

I think as a girl, I was hoping for a bit more romance, but being the tomboy that I am, I loved that it never overflowed with icky heartaches and over the top “love at first sight” crap. During the period of reading this book there was never a moment I was not smiling or laughing- which incidentally got me trouble for laughing in class, but who cares? I usually love just reading fantasy fiction novels, but John Green has shown me that sometimes reality is cool too.  

Hassan is the funniest, always the joker, and it was wonderful to see that not only did Colin progress as a character, but so did Hassan, and Lindsey.

Honestly, I can parttle on and on about how amazing this book it, but then I’d be giving away a lot of spoilers. In short: An Abundance of Katharines is funny, smart, and very entertaining. John Green has a very, to say the least, interesting way of writing that defiantly brings a voice to literaturethat is beyond amazing!
I cannot wait to get my hands on all his other books!

Also, click here if you would like to design the new cover for An Abundace of Katharines- ends November 21st, 2011.

DFTBA- Don't Forget To Be Awesome!


Where to find John Green:
Amazon: John Green Author Page
YouTube: The Vlog Brothers
GoodReads: John Green
Twitter: @realjohngreen
Author Website: John Green Books
Contact Info: Stalk John Green

Books I'm Most Greatful For:

THE GIRL WHO OWNED A CITY

Although I never knew it then, after reading “The Girl Who Owned A City” my taste for books changed. No longer could I stand the mundane challenges of normal characters- I needed action, full blown, killer action. (I’m weird, I know). But yeah, I just loved that book, I still do to this day! O. T. Nelson brought a world that was not like our own and created characters who were strong and dependable. This was a great concept with an amazing delivery. I actually remembered pondering what it would be like if I had to take care of my little sisters. At first it would have felt scary, no? If anything, I think this book gave me an insight on a (well not so possible) possibility the universe can come to and showed me how to be a leader in a time of need. Cheesy, I know, but you gotta love this book!

I am extremely thankful for this book because if not this novel, I don’t think I would have loved reading as much as I do. Well, maybe not all that true, there are lots of AMAZING books out there, but still, it sure helped to have amazing books to read to fuel my book obsession.

So a big thanks to my 5th grade teacher, Ms. Ebert, for allowing me to have read this amazing book. We may not have always saw eye to eye on everthing, but at least one good thing came from your class! (And a "B" not being one of them. *nerd alert* XD)

Enter Beth Revis's book contest.
What book are you most thankful for?

ENTER NOW

Ms. Beth Revis. Awesome picture Ms. Revis!

Book Review:The Silent Boy

 Lois Lowry
★★★★★
Reading level:Ages 12 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Laurel Leaf (January 11, 2005)

The Silent Boy is told by Katy Thatcher, an old woman in 1987, about a critical period in her life from 1908 to 1911. Katy, whose father is a community doctor, dreams of becoming a doctor herself. Katy takes an interest in Jacob, a “touched” boy from a neighboring farm, who can't speak, but somehow humms quietly to himself, and seems able to communicate with animals. Jacob occasionally comes to the Thatcher home to be in the barn with the animals. Katy shares Jacob’s love of animals and comes to feel she can communicate with him in a rudimentary but empathetic way.
When Nell, the sister of Jacob, has a baby out of wedlock by Paul Bishop, Jacob is aware of the trouble. He abducts and brings the baby to the Thatcher's house on a stormy night, hoping to save it the way he has saved orphaned lambs by bringing them to a substitute mother. But it does'nt go the way he had planned it to. Later, Katy marries Austin Bishop and becomes a doctor. 50 years later the Asylum closed and Jacob was never seen again. There were no records of him there.

　I’ve read this book a few years ago, and after rearranging my bookshelf I found it hidden away, still is perfect condition.

Lois Lowry has touched us through many of her works, like The Giver and Number the Stars (which I’ll be doing a review for), but rarely have I heard, or frankly ever heard of, The Silent Boy. And, truthfully, it’s one of my favorites!

The story is told through Katie’s POV as an old woman looking through a photo album and recalling her memories. I particularly loved Jacob. He was strange and curious. Today, perhaps, he would have been diagnosed with autism, but in the 1900’s he was just different, but that never seemed to matter to Katy, who connects with him and understands him when no one else does. This was something I found truly amazing. This wasn’t a “love story” in the terms of romantic love, but a love in friendship that I enjoyed. Another thing I found truly amazing was Lowry’s way of creating a complete early 1900s in such a short novel without leaving anything to the wayside. Honestly, is there anything that Lois Lowry cannot do?

If you love Lois Lowry’s books, but have never read The Silent Boy, you will not be disappointed when you read it.

Where to find Lois Lowry:
Amazon: Lois Lowry Books
Her Website: LoisLowry.com

Book Review: POSSESS

Gretchen McNeil
★★★★★
Reading level:Ages 13 and up/ Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (August 23, 2011)


After stressing over school work, I’ve found little time to read ANYTHING! But finally, after much homework and studying for mid-terms, I’VE FINISHED POSSESS!

So, this book follows 15-year-old Bridget Liu who just want to be left alone, by her mother, Matt Quinn, and the eerie voices and can suddenly hear- which are demons. And unfortunately for her, Bridget posses the power to banish them. After being enlisted by San-Francisco’s senior exorcist Monsignor Renault, she begins to come to terms with her new abilities. But then she receives a startling message from one of the demons, and one of her oldest friends is murdered, she realizes she is in farther than she thought. Now, she must unlock the secrets of the demon’s plan before it’s too late.

I have to say that there were many pros and cons to this book. Much like every book. Some things really bugged me (which I’ll get into in a sec) but I have to say this book was actually refreshing and a new twist I really enjoyed.

Let’s start with the cons (just because there isn’t much): I really didn’t care for Bridget’s attitude when she found out different aspects to her power. I mean, there was this one part, where she was freaked out that she could possibly hear angels and well as demons. It was just so baffling to her. Come on, you have to know that if you can hear DEMONS that angels are not that different. And then when Father Santos told her the story of how she came to be (meaning possessing her power and all) she just couldn’t accept it. If you could hear demons-DEMONS- why is the story of angels so hard to accept?But while those things bothered me, it’s not that bad especially when you compare it to how AWESOME the book was. I actually found that those things didn’t bother me after a while.

McNeil’s style of writing was somewhat unusual but flowed smooth and effortless. Written in third person, McNeil focuses on Bridget’s thoughts and does not stray. Bridget’s natural wit and sarcasm is utterly hilarious and fun to read. McNeil does not bore you with an abundance of description, nor does fail to bring the scene alive.

Her characters are absolutely perfect: Matt is hot and sweet, everything you want in a guy; Alexa is just evil; Bridget’s friends are comical; and the priests are like wow. McNeil’s plot flows effortlessly and even though you think you know who’s evil, she will just slap you in the face when you find out the truth. I kept guess and tripping over my own thoughts as I started to piece together the story just as Bridget did. There were points that were made that, at first, I thought she was just going to drop when she never mentioned them again, but then they came into play and it was just awesome. I literally had chills at some point in the book. I just freaked at the part with the doll shop, I mean scary, possessed dolls- crap my pant, that was horrifying!

I love McNeil’s spin on the whole fallen angels/ Nephilim, good vs. bad concept. It wasn’t that “Oh there were good ones and bad ones” she actually explained to us how they came about (and while I’d love to tell you how, you should read and fins out).

Plus, look at her cover design, is that now spooky and totally and awesomly sick! I just love it, one of the best cover arts I've ever seen!
This was a great debut novel that I am hoping will be the first in a fabulous series! A must read.

Other places to find Gretchen McNeil:
Twitter: @GertchenMcNeil
Amazon: Possess[Hardcover]
YouTube: Monday on YARebels
Facebook: Posses by Gretchen McNeil
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There's Only One Rule of Exorcism: The Spirits Lie

Book Review: The Chosen One (Grimsley Hollow #1)

★★★★★
Nicole Storey

Age Group: MG/YA
Format:Kindle Edition/ Paperback
File Size: 527 KB
Publisher:Nicole Storey; 1 edition (August 24, 2011)

The Chosen One, the first in the Grimsley Hollow series, tells the story of a young boy named Gage who has autism, loves Halloween, and has no friends. But then he meets Eve, a young witch from the magical world of Grimsley Hollow. But after an evil witch threatens to destroy the safety and peace, Gage and his friends must fight to defeat the evil witch and save Grimsley Hollow.

Let me start by saying that I usually do not read a lot Middle Grade (MG) novels. Mostly because many try to copy the awesomeness of Harry Potter while failing completely. But after reading the summary- and in dire need for a great novel-I bought it on my Kindle-PC, and was not disappointed.

I love Mrs. Storey’s way of description. Her characters- vampires, witches, pixies, dragons, and even a demon doctor- are so fun and crafty I wish I knew each one of them. After tagging along with Gage on his wild adventure filled with mild violence (which is very acceptable in my book) and the joy of friendship, I was craving more when this novel was finished. The fact the Gage was autistic added a charm to the book that few rarely capture. Instead of being helpless, Gage was a hero.

I personally enjoyed this story. Instead of whining that he could not do something, Gage triumphed through magical danger and came out victorious. It not only tells a MARVELOUS story, but sends a message that I think everyone, not just kids can learn: Just because people have special needs, does not mean they are disabled from overcoming difficulties…no matter how magical.

This is a great read for all ages, especially those craving for a book as great as Harry Potter.

Where you can find Nicole Storey:
Facebook: Nicole Storey Fans
Twitter: @Nicole_Storey
GoodReads: The Chosen One
Amazon: The Chosen One: Kindle Edition

Book Review: Brilliant Prey

Brenda B Wallace
★★★★★

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 277 KB

Publisher: Wallace Publishing; 1 edition (July 17, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Summary:

Even a genius can be played for a pawn by a cunning and deadly manipulator.
Lauren James is a former psychiatrist, still reeling from her husband’s suicide and the subsequent miscarriage that swept away her tidy life the year before. On the anniversary of his death, she opens what she hopes to be a "Welcome to Mensa" envelope and pulls out a threatening puzzle along with the identical suicide note she had burned the previous year. Unraveling the twisted clues, Lauren embarks on a harrowing journey drawn in by a child’s neglected grave, a professor from the island of St. Croix, and a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. When Lauren discovers the reason behind her husband’s shocking death, she must struggle with her deepest convictions and whether killing is acceptable if it saves more lives.
Just, wow. I originally didn’t have mush time to read this book. With everything I had going on I thought I’d perhaps find a few minutes to read. But I never expected to stop everything I was doing just to finish.
I really don’t want to give spoilers, this book was so fantastic I don’t wanna ruin it for anyone. Brenda Wallace write with a voice that has the essence of Dan Brown and even a little Stephen King, with a whole lot of her own. I’m not used to reading psychological thrillers for a reason: I just don’t like the mundane feel of them. But Brilliant Prey captured and held my attention. I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are believable and thrilling to read about.
A must read!

To find out more abou the author:
Website: http://brendawallace.com
Twitter: @BrendaBWallace
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brilliant-Prey-ebook/dp/B005F0YSZS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318021010&sr=1-1

Book Review: The Replacement

Brenna Yovanoff

★★★★★

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Mackie Doyle is The Replacement - left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. He has been raised among us. But he is not one of us. Now, he must face the dark creatures of the slag heaps from which he came and find his rightful place - in our world or theirs.

This story made me smile, laugh, and at some point, I wanted to cry. Mackie is such a beautiful character, it made my heart hurt to see his predicament. (But then there would be no story). I loved this story of dark story with its unusual characters.

Unlike other books, this one reminded me of how teenagers actually acted. Mackie and is friends are funny and creative. This story teaches us that friends are not your friends by accident, but because they choose to be. I felt like Mackie kept whining about not fitting in, but it was worth it when he realized that he does and that his friends and family are true.

There is true meaning and love between the characters. Nothing false and out of the blue about it. This was a really sweet and strange story.

Book Review: Divergent

Veronica Roth

★★★★★

Reading level: Ages 14 and up

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

　

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.          During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

  I really enjoyed this novel! After all the hype about it, I bought the book, but I really did not expect all the book had to offer. I had my doubts about it being a thrilling dystopian, but I was proven wrong. With 2011 being the year for YA dystopian novels, some have fallen short. The book lagged in places and I felt at times that I knew what was going to happen (which turned out I was right about the things I guessed on) but Ms. Roth never failed in her writing.

The characters were fun and defiantly beyond the norm in YA fiction. I loved the concept the author portrayed and it showed how afraid people can be and how power is a ruling “drug” in a sense. The was fast pace and almost impossible to put down at times. I loved the heroic and brave qualities of Tris and just all in all the fact that she was no damsel in distress. Facing one’s fears has never been more enjoyable!

Ms. Roth created a world that made it so that I was not reading a story, but living and experience. I loved this story and I can’t wait for the next installment. Let’s hope the movie is just as great!

Book Review: Blood Red Road

Moira Young

★★★★★★/5

(The Extra star for being the best book I've ever read)

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher:Margaret K. McElderry (June 7, 2011)

At first, I did not think I would enjoy this book like I enjoyed The Hunger Games, which at the time was my leading book. The writing was defiantly not like other books with perfect grammar and quotation marks. It was a turn off for me at first. But it took only the first few pages before I was hooked. It turns out that the way it was written added to the glamour on the book. All I could think about were these characters and their journey.

Blood Red Road tells the story of Saba as she tries to get her brother back after he was kidnapped by strange men. I was a bit intrigued with the fact that this story wasn’t about forbidden love or whatever else the YA brand has been selling lately.

I’ve said this before, that some characters seem real to me. But it was unlike any I’ve ever read about before. Moira Young’s characters are smart, cunning, funny, and just plain awesome. Usually the main female lead is all love struck and a damsel in distress type. But Saba was a strong and fierce fighter who had one thing on her mind: getting back her brother. Some people would say that she went overboard with her obsession to finding him, but I felt that it gave her a sense of purpose and throughout the novel, that was her aim. She never let that stray. Jack was just delicious. He was funny and cocky and just plain sexy! (He actually reminded me of one of my characters in the novel I’m writing.) The Free Hawks were the bravest and most thrilling fighters. Ike was just hilarious and intriguing. Emmi was bold and daring. These characters were like real people. Each were dynamic and rounded characters that I instantly fell in love with.

The plot of the story was always held in front. This I especially like, because I hate when the main purpose of the story is pushed aside and then the character goes off on their little adventure to find themselves and then finish off the book in the last few pages with a bit of action and a happily ever after. This novel was not like that. The main purpose was always first and the characters grew from that. There was a bit of romance in here as well, but is didn’t get all twilight on us, which is just what I like.

Moira Young has defiantly written an amazing book! My favorite book. If I was ever so lucky to meet her I would bow at her feet. This books is just…perfect. A MUST MUST read!Now, all my life, I’ve never really found a book that was my favorite. There were defiantly those I treasure most and would read over and over, but never could I find one that was THE best. Until now. Blood Red Road is my perfect novel. It is a dystopian dream!

Book Review: Across the Universe

Beth Revis

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Razorbill; (January 11, 2011)

As the spaceship Godspeed travels toward a new earth, the lives of 100 cryogenically frozen settlers hang in the balance after someone endeavors to quietly murder them. The other passengers aboard the ship have never known life outside its walls and are enslaved by the machinations of Eldest, their tyrannical leader, who divides them into three distinct classes. When Amy, a frozen settler from earth, survives being thawed in a murder attempt, she immediately bonds with Elder, Godspeed's lone teen and future leader. Amy’s individuality, her rebellion, and her fierce desire for freedom, inspire Elder to act on his own doubts and defy Eldest--his mentor and keeper--with shocking results. Eldest’s methods of twisting history and altering the lives of this captive community are a frightening echo of tyrants in our own history, and Across the Universe challenges readers to consider the impact of unchecked power, blind trust, and the ability of one dissenting voice to make a difference.

　

This story was very different from most YA novels that I’ve been reading. First: it was set on a spaceship in the future. I don’t read much sci-fi so I was a bit skeptical about this book. But it actually turns out I kinda liked it. The story started slow and the main problem of the story- trying to figure out who is killing the frozens- is pushed to the back burner as the “dystopian” aspect of the story kicks in. The author sends a lot of messages about differences and individuality. God is a fictional character to those on the ship and Sol-Earth’s history is changed to feel like Hitler was a great leader, and that all differences are bad.

The characters weren’t flat, but they weren’t my favorite. Elder is madly in love with Amy, while Amy is stuck in the past. Eldest is an evil tyrant. The entire ship is loony, and the loony ones seem to be the only normal ones. The only character I really liked was Harley.

And, maybe this was just me, but I kind of figured out most of the lot twists before the author told us in the end. I can’t say it was completely obvious, but I guessed most it…

All in all this book was rather different and I like different. Ms. Revis did an amazing job of creating a sci-fi- dystopian world. I would have liked to see more action, but it was a great book altogether. Creative and entertaining, you may experience a few nightmares of being frozen alive…

Book Review: Matched

Ally Condie 　
★★★★★

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher:Dutton Juvenile
　
　
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story that I think Ally did an amazing job of creating. I was a bit saddened by some of the characters at first. There seemed to be little character development throughout some of the book, but as the story finished off and Cassia, the heroine of the story, found her true path, the story really caught my attention.
I loved the idea of this dystopian world and the way that Cassia and Ky fell in love. It was gradual and as the story unfolds, you won’t want to put it down.

Book Review: Beautiful Creatures

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
★★☆☆☆
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 592 pages

Publisher:Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Beautiful Creatures is the first novel in the Beautiful Creatures series. Being a lover of gothic styled love stories and a fanatic for fantasy, I thought this would be right up my ally. However, early on in the book, I realize my mistake. The authors put every cliché remake about the south in this 600 page book of ridiculous, unedited mess of a novel.
First, the characters are unreal. Ethan is not like any sixteen year old boy I have ever met- I’m sixteen, I should know what I’m talking about. He has no hormones, I swear. I’m not saying that every teenage boy is a hound dog, but he’s just lacking in that field. Lena was a bit boring. Amma could have been a good character, but failed. And every kid in Jackson High School fit every high school cliché ever written.
I was still in my “I’ll finish a book no matter what” phase when I read this book, and it may have been the reason that I stop reading a book as soon as I start to lose interest. I really tried to finish it, I did. But page after page of droning on and on I just couldn’t do it.
I have to say sorry to the authors. You have amazing fans, but I am just not one of them.

Book Review: Die for Me

Amy Plum
★★★★★
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 341
Publisher: Harper Teen 2011

I completely devoured this novel. Die for me, tells the story of a girl named Kate as she moves with her sister to Paris to live with her grandparents after her parents die. Kate is enveloped with sadness because of this, and spends most of her summer losing herself in art and novels at cafes. When she meets Vincent, a handsome and mysterious young man, she finds herself wanting to open up to love again, but there are secrets about Vincent will put her life-and her family's- in jeopardy.

The characters in this novel was a bit refreshing. Kate, although is intensely attracted to these handsome beings, she keeps knows of the danger this could mean for her life and her heart. Vincent deservingly earns the title hero, and has the looks to match.

I’ve never heard of a revenant before and after some research on the subject I loved the story even more. It was a great tale on an old folklore.
Just brilliant!

Book Review: Halo

Alexandra Adornetto　
★★ ☆☆☆

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher:Feiwel & Friends
　Halo, sadly to say, was painfully flat. First off, it’s a massive book, just under 500 pages, that moves at a slow pace and goes practically nowhere. Adornetto tries hard to sound professional, but comes across like a dictionary that was blended up, swallowed by an alien, and vomited onto the pages. Yes, details are important, but 100 pages about the set up- although very important to a fantasy novel- is a bit over the top, don’t you think?
Then there is Bethany, the main character. Bethany's naiveté about life on Earth is amusing in the beginning but as the story progresses it begins to sounds…false. Everything seems to come easily to the angels: they are preternaturally good looking, they inevitably excel at everything they do, they glow- literally. And yet, Bethany can't figure out how to talk to other teenagers when they use slang or reference pop culture? She finds herself tongue-tied and completely obsessed by the first (literally the first, I'm serious) good looking boy she sees. What?
On top of that, everything about Halo felt very contrived.
As a teen writer myself I get that she’s trying, but has she read her own book? It sucks!
I had high hopes for this book. I liked the concept of the story and the cover art is amazing. If it had been delivered properly, this would have been an amazing book. It felt clique and… just bad, just really bad. I couldn’t finish it. I got half way and just had to put it down. If it takes forever to get to the main idea of the story, then there is no reason to read the book at all.
Sorry to all of you who loved the book and to Alexandra Adornetto. I wish her the best, but I will not be reading the sequel.
Be warned.