Listen Up! - The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Published: September 2010
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Copy: Library and Overdrive
Summary: Goodreads

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.


A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

Christinabean first reviewed this book back in December last year, so technically this should be a Same Book, Second Look/Listen-up post I guess. If you'd like to check out her review click HERE.  She really enjoyed it and very kindly lent me her copy of the book, which sat and sat and sat on my shelf.  When I saw it was available from Overdrive for download I thought Yeah! now I'll get a chance to listen to it, and away I went.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that the narrator of Replacement was none other than Kevin T Collins, who narrated my favourites - Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness.  Unfortunately, that is where my delight ended.  I have persevered through the whole book, thinking 'Come on Kevin, wow me here!', but it just wasn't working.  I love his narration, but Ms Yovanoff's story just didn't do anything for me at all.

After thinking about it for a while, I have decided it has just too much 'woe is me' for my tastes.  Now don't get me wrong here, the storyline is different and interesting, but I was never able to fully engage with most of he charaters. One caveat here, I did enjoy Tate - she was definitely a fine upstanding young lady, with a wicked left hook!  Mackie just never felt like anything more than a whiny 16 yr old to me.  He has a loving family, a sister who adores him and a best friend who is always there for him, whatever his problems and all I could hear was 'why me?'.  There is an interesting little twist on the title towards the end, but it just wasn't enough.

Final verdict, sorry Replacement, but I'm just not that in to you.

In My Mailbox - May 30th



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren  in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

I have quite the haul from the library this week.  One is a book that was recommended to me from a colleague that will probably be reviewed for In Case you Missed it.  can you guess which one?

What's in your mailbox?



Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Published: January 2011

Publisher: razorbill

Pages: 398

Copy: My own

Summary: Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.


What an incredibly thought-provoking book.  I really enjoyed reading Across the Universe.  It was different.  It's a science fiction/dystopian/coming-of-age hybrid, that manages to cover the best of each genre and meld them together into a taut, intriguing story that captures the imagination and takes the reader on a ride across the stars.
 
I found that Amy and Elder were very easy to relate to.  Their reactions and emotions seemed real and believable, which is quite a feat, considering the story is set an unidentified number of years in the future and takes place entirely on board a space ship.  What fascinated me about the story was its underlying message about the dangers of drug abuse and gene manipulation, and also the nod to cloning and euthenasia.
 
My interpretation of the story is the message that it's ok to be yourself.  We don't have to follow like sheep - it's ok to question and expect answers.  We may not always get the answers that we want, but that's ok too.
 
"I force myself into the picture of calm.  If I have learned one thing from Eldest today, it is this: Losing my temper will make me look foolish and childish.  Instead, I speak slowly, calmly, and clearly, as if I were explaining something very simple.  " I have begun to look for the information that you have refused to teach me.  I am supposed to be the Eldest one day.  If you don't tell me what to do or what I need to know to rule, then I'll just figure it out another way.  If you're going to stand there and be mad at me for looking for answers to these question, then you have only yourself to blame; it's your job to teach me these things first."' (page 316)
 
Words to live by, perhaps.  Ultimately, Across the Universe was a fascinating, intriguing book that explored the possibilities of 'what might happen' if we ever venture out into the stars.  I loved it and hope you do to.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Published: Oct 2007

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 288

Copy Provided by:

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind.



This is Jay Asher's debut novel and it has been on my TBR list for about a year now.  Most of librarians at our branch have read and loved it.  I'm going to have to jump on that bandwagon myself. 

Mr. Asher takes us on an incredible journey through the voices of Hannah and Clay.  Hannah has gone and Clay remains but he is left to put the pieces of Hannah's life back together as it began to unravel.  This story is about truth, lies and consequences.  The right road is not always the easiest and Thirteen Reasons Why demonstrates how your actions (or inaction) can create a snowball effect in someone's life.   (Have you seen the Fringe episode that started with catching fireflies?) The underlying lesson in this book is be be aware and act on what you feel is right as well as speak up when you think something is wrong.


Personally, I found this book to be emotionally taxing but well worth the tissue invested as I bawled like a baby, hearing Hannah's story.  Jay Asher did an incredible job of narrating from both a male and female POV.  Curlypow thinks this title should be a requirement of all high schools and I tend to agree.  I wonder how many teens would be affected by this story.  How many people would take a good hard look at how they treat their peers?  If you like something that is gritty and moving and will make you cry, read this.  You might also want to consider Jennifer Brown's Hate List as well.  Both are ISU worthy.

What's up next for Jay Asher? I caught wind of some book gossip that he will be working with Carolyn Mackler on a new book entitled The Future of Us due in November 2011.  Can't wait!

Friday Blog Hop - May 27th

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –

Which book to movie adaptation have you liked the most?  Which have you disliked?

Hands down I think that Harry Potter takes the cake for this question.  Plus, it keeps getting better and better.  Can't wait for the last movie to be released.  On the flipside, I have to be honest, (I think I'm going to get some flack for this) I didn't really like the first Twilight movie.  Please don't throw tomatoes at your computer screen...

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Christinabean's Friday Finds



I'm keeping this creature for this week's Friday Finds. Here's what I found this week -

YES!!!

Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong will team up for a middle school series called The Blackwell pages.

If Kiersten White ever gets tired of writing YA, she should go into comedy....READ THIS.

(omg.yahoo.com)

OK, so can you see Lenny Kravitz playing Cinna now in The Hunger Games?

That's all for this week.  LOVE LOVE LOVE the Clockwork Prince pic...



Illyria by Elizabeth Hand

Published: May 2010

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Pages: 144

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads



Summary:

Madeleine and Rogan are first cousins, best friends, twinned souls, each other's first love. Even within their large, disorderly family—all descendants of a famous actress—their intensity and passion for theater sets them apart. It makes them a little dangerous. When they are cast in their school's production of Twelfth Night, they are forced to face their separate talents and futures, and their future together. This masterful short novel, winner of the World Fantasy Award, is magic on paper.

Review:
I've had a bunch of short titles to read lately and it almost feels like I've been trying out appetizers before a big meal.  What is my big meal you ask?  CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS of course!  I have not had time to sit down a read this book to really savour it.  I'm hoping to do so later this coming weekend. 

I'm not sure how I originally came across this title but the title and the cover drew me in.  Illyria was about how something taboo could turn into an innocent beautiful love between two people.  While I was reading, I found myself forgetting more and more about Maddy and Rogan's familial ties and seeing how their relationship blossomed over the years into something much stronger.  While young and innocent they are both all they've ever known.  Dependant on one another and sharing secrets.  Even though they move on through their own lives, years and years later they come back to one another and the magic is still present, just as fresh as when they were children.

Ms Hand has a way with her writing that made me feel as if she was spinning magic into words.  This novel was more like a poignant short story and a pleasure to devour.  This was a beautiful piece to read and would be a great novel for interpretation.  Personally, I think it would make a great ISU suggestion.  One caution that I did have about this book is that Rogan seems to have a bit of a potty mouth at times so beware a bit of language.
 
P.S.
I think I'm on an Elizabeth roll here.  The last 3 books that I've read have been by Elizabeth Scott, Elizabeth Cook and Elizabeth Hand.  Go figure!  It's the Liz Fiction run!

Waiting on Wednesday (May 25) - Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Summary (by Goodreads):

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.

Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

The first time I ever saw Libba, she was wearing a cow costume and trotting around to promote her book (going Bovine).  Now that takes guts to do!. I LOVE the idea of America's Next Top Model meets Survivor.  Just seems like a really fun read!

Musings by Knitwits - Simple Knitting by Erika Knight

Published:  May 2010

Publisher: Quadrille Publishing Ltd

Pages: 144

Copy Provided by: Library

Oddly enough, I could not find a summary for this book which is a shame because it is absolutely fantastic.  Erika Knight reminds me of Debbie Bliss in her ability to find classic, and simple ways to show the audience her craft without dating her books.  You'll find that this title has a contemporary feel with very easy and understandable instructions.  Being a very visual person myself, I find that I need to "see" what my product should look like (hence I need lots of pictures in craft and cookbooks).  For me, Ms. Knight nails it in the presentation of how to knit for beginners.  I would consider myself a beginner and can appreciate the section on how to read charts and understand patterns.  What may seem simple to those who are experienced is like reading a scientists' formula to some of us.  This title provides plenty of graduated projects and even includes Fair Isle items which always seemed daunting to me but not nearly as intimidating as other patterns I've seen.  I'm giving Simple Knitting by Erika Knight a two thumbs up and I will definitely be purchasing it to add to my own collection.

You can find other books by Erika Knight listed here on Goodreads.  I really like her style so I'll probably be checking out more of her work!

In My Mailbox - May 23rd

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren  in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

                                

      

                       

                                                        

Great haul from the library , but I think I have a bit of a dystopian theme going on this week.  What about you? What's in your mailbox?

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Published: June 2011
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Copy: Arc received for review
Summary: Goodreads


From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches.



The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.


For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.


With a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites, this is a page-turning, deliciously fun, magical summer read fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Witches of East End for review a few weeks ago and had fun reading this newest novel by Melissa de la Cruz, this time written for an adult audience, instead of YA. The premise of Witches is your basic Good vs Evil, but there is really nothing basic about it.

Joanna, Ingrid and Freya are strong, interesting women, who happen to be witches, but with a lot more to them than meets the eye.  The story gives nods to the Salem witch trials and Norse mythology,  (which seemed strangely apt after having just watched 'Thor' at the movies) .  Wait a minute you're saying - Norse mythology in a book about witches.  Yep - I said there was more going on than meets the eye.  Weird things are happening in North Hampton, and part of the appeal of this story is the 'who dunnit' aspect.  There's murder, mystery and mayhem and so much more.

Romance - you betcha!  Ingrid and Freya are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to dating.  I particularly loved the crazy bumblings of Ingrid and Matt - they are just so cute!  Freya and ??? - you'll have to read it to find out what's going on there. Every time I thought I had worked out where things were going, something changed, which kept the story interesting and fun.

All in all I really enjoyed Witches of East End.  A great summer read. It might also be a nice cross-over novel for older YA's - no more or less sex and violence than in most YA's and a lot less language.  But Melissa, what's with the epilogue?  Are you trying to kill me?

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Published: October 2010

Publisher: Delacorte Press for young readers

Pages: 472

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break..


PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Revolution was without doubt the best book I have read so far in 2011.  Beautiful writing, believable characters and a Paris setting come together for one of the most complex and compelling books I have ever read.  The contemporary Paris timeline with Andi was woven skillfully through with the revolutionary Paris and Alex.  Both completely separate, yet at the same time part of each other. 

Andi's pain was heartbreaking.  Her inability to cope with the death of her brother, for which she blamed herself, was so achingly drawn that I suffered with her.  Objectively, I was angry that she couldn't pull herself out of her depression, but subjectively I was right there with her.  This was also the case with Alex, who is brought to life through the pages of her diary.  Their stories became so real to me that it was hard to remain objective. 

Ms. Donnelly's inclusion of music in the story was incredible.  By the end of the book I was searching the internet to find out more about Amade Malherbeau. The references and comparisons to contemporary music were so well researched that it was extremely hard to believe that he was not a real person. I found myself wanting to listen to Bach, Beethoven, Led Zeppelin and Radiohead, just so that I could understand what she was telling me.  So much so, that the music becomes a character in itself. 

I was able to fall into contemporary Paris with Andi and 18 Century Paris with Alex.  I actually went and found some cloves, just so I could experience the smell of them along with the girls.  It's hard to expain the agony and sorrow that is to be found in this book, but at the same time there is that positive thread  that winds through the story - thanks to Virgil, and it is so strong that the story turns into one of hope and redemption.

'I put the diary down for a moment and close my eyes.  I see that girl, too.  In my mind.  I hear her voice.  And I want her to tell me the rest of her story.' (p150)

I couldn't put it better myself! There was nothing I disliked about Revolution.  I cried several times throughout the story, but I ended up smiling and thinking 'WOW, I'm going to have to read that again.'  Try it for yourself and fall into history, the way it should told.

Friday Blog Hop - May 20th

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –

"If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?"

This is a tough one for me.  I think one of the most interesting places that I've read about is from Alyson Noel's Immortal series.  There is a Hall where only the worthy can enter and you can learn about anything you'd like.  It seems to be timeless and can show you the past.  I'd love to put my life on rewind and see happy moments with my loved ones as a home movie.

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Published: May 2010

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Pages: 294

Copy: From Library

Summary: Goodreads

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp…



Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.


Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again

Glimmerglass was a wonderful mystery, with a fae twist.  Lots of interesting characters and a setting that we have all heard about but are never likely to visit, made for an interesting and absorbing story.  The setting for this mystery is Avalon, but more like an Avalon Noir, than the usual Lady of the Mist type that we are used to.  Think of a bustling, modern city state, populated with fae and humans - a gateway to Faerie - and yes, passports are required, thank you very much.

Dana, a self reliant,16 year old teen has finally had enough of her alcolholic mother and she decides it's time to visit Daddy in Avalon. Remember that she has never met daddy before  so what she finds when she gets there is not quite what she was expecting.  Add in a psychotic Aunt, cute guys, brainy girls, wierd assassins, crosses, double crosses and confusion, and some interesting shopping, and what you get was a quick, fun read.  

The second book, in what I assume will be a trilogy - but I could be wrong there - 'Shadowspell' is already available and number three 'Sirensong' is due out July 5, 2011.  I'm looking forward to reading both of them and finding out what happens to Dana and her friends.

Waitng on Wednesday - Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Summary (by Goodreads):

The New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series delivers her first novel for adults, a story about the living, the dead, and a curse that binds them.


Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.
 
Ohhh!!! Sounds so spooky!! And I love spooky!!  Anyone else interested in upping the creep factor in their fiction? Can't wait!!

Fantastic Fairytales - Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Published: June 2009

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 248

Copy: From Library

Summary: Goodreads

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.


Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.
Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

First of all I have to say I'm not loving this cover.  Doesn't really tell me anything about what's going on at all.  But I'm very proud of myself, because I ignored it and started reading - and had lots of fun.  It just proves to me, that you really can't judge a book by its cover, although we (read I) often do.

Here we have Morgan - psychic extraordinaire and long time girlfriend of Cam.  She is witty, clever, thoughtful and all around nice girl.  Then we have Cam - quarterback and star of school team, studly (his own words) funny, thoughtful, long time boyfriend of Morgan.  Enter Pip - Cam's cousin, tall, geeky, goofy all around nice guy, but who is he really and where did he come from? What a wonderful twist on the old tale of changlings. Do we have the ubiquitous triangle going on here, well... kinda sorta maybe, but not quite, if you know what I mean!

What I really loved about this quick read was the fact that although the main character is Morgan, the problems are all Cam's.  What a wonderful idea to make the guy the fairy! His disintegration from stud to dud was so well done and the fact that Morgan is the only one who can actually see the physical changes was a masterstroke.  Lots of guessing going on as you read - will he, won't he, will they, won't they - and I loved the conclusion which both surprised me and didn't. Beautifully written with a twist of humour, this was a great read. Everything neatly wrapped up in one short book. No sequels.

So I was checking out Ms Balog's website and may'be I could get to like the cover a bit more, now that I've seen her other ones.  I know, I'm such a fickle person.  Hope you enjoy(ed) Fairy Tale as much as I did.

In My Mailbox - May 16th

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren  in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

My mailbox was a bit lonely this week but then I realizes that I didn't share a gem I received from Simon and Shuster Canada a few weeks ago! 



Can't wait to read it!! THANK YOU SIMON AND SHUSTER CANADA!  (You sure take good care of our book cravings....)

What's in your mailbox?

Grace by Elizabeth Scott

Published: Sept 2010

Publisher: Dutton

Pages: 208

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads



Summary:

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose by acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

Review
I loved Living Dead Girl and was so excited about Grace coming out.  Elizabeth Scott has a wonderful way with words and whether she writes simply or uses a more descriptive tone, her books always seem to pack a powerful punch and drive home a gripping message.

I really hate doing this but I read the first 50 pages and just couldn't get into the story.  From the summary, I think I was expecting one thing and it delivered something else.  I'm still wondering if I was even understanding the story.  From my understanding of the first 50 pages (and I could be totally off base here), I was picturing a suicide bomber that was trained to die and die for the greater good.  She was raised to believe that this was her duty and is looking at her life choices.  Themes coming to mind were freedom, choices and consequences.  I was having flashbacks to 9-11 and it was making me feel uncomfortable and very emotional.  I've been reading other reviews of Grace and it seems that everyone has different interpretations.  Granted, I didn't finish reading the entire novel but it definitely got my my mind going. 

I really do think you should give Grace a go.  With Scott's writing style her words seem to flow from the page and I feel that she is very gifted at creating a mood....I just wasn't sure if I was interpreting it in the way it was meant to be.  As always, I would love to hear what others thought of this book.  Maybe I'm just not in the right headspace?  Hate to say it but here goes - Grace, I'm sorry but I'm just not into you.  I came across the best picture for our 'did not finish' titles.  It's the book graveyard.  I may come to pay my respects to you at a later date....

Here Lies Grace

(photo was found from a post done by Booklist Online)

Same Book, Second Look - Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Published: Simon and Shuster

Publisher: Jan 2011

Pages: 233

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria.

Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in.

But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

 

Review:

 

If you haven't read Curlypow's original review of this book, please check it out here.  I'm not going to rave as much about this title as she did but I did still enjoy it.  Cara and Zoe's relationship is a bit on the creepy side.  It is like having a friend who is genuine one minute and manipulating your emotions the next.  Zoe was a bit clingy and really worked Cara's emotions to remain important in her life.  She always knew just how to make Cara NEED her and never want to away from her best friend.  It kind of gives me the heebie jeebies....beware of stalker friendships...

 

**Spoilers - don't read any further if you haven't read the book or do not intend to**

 

 

**No, really...I mean it...**

 

I figured out what was going on part way through this book and to even have it cross my mind was quite disturbing.  I think the clues that gave it away were the holes in Zoe and Cara's past and also poisoning the neighbour's dog.  C'mon, I've watched the profiler series.  I know that if you can kill an animal without remorse, you can do the same to another human being.  That's scary.

**Spoilers end**

This was a great book with a touch of creep factor.   I think you should give it a try.  Just watch out for stalker friends who stop bathing.  (You'll know what I mean when you read the book). 

 

Christinabean's Friday Finds



My apologies for being away for so long to share my finds.  I've got lots of interesting goodies this week to share though!  Prepare for a long post!  Like my creature?  I found him on tinypic.com.  Who wouldn't like a little creature rockin' it out while downing a slurpee?  Get ready for some fun...

First off, let's explain that I still have yet to get myself a bookshelf.  Yes, it is pathetic.  They used to reside in a dresser in the spare room but now my books have migrated to a plastic under the bed box.  Check out these bookshelves though.  Which is your fav?

This is my favourite...quite possibly because it holds more than all the rest....

Other fun things I've run into over the past week...Cassie Clare is one of my favourite writers.  I think that the Mortal Instruments series should be read by everyone.  Hands up if you're a fan!  So if you haven't read the series (first 3 books) then don't bother visiting this site but here is a bonus read from Miss Clare.  It's the first kiss between a certain couple...speaking of this couple, check out this laugh out loud dialogue via postcards, a short story by Cassandra.

There were a ton of new books that I came across this week!

The Scorpio Races is a new stand alone by Maggie Stiefvater.  Darkness Falls by Kate Tiernan is book #2 in the Immortal Beloved Series.  Silence (uh, where can I get one of those?) is book number 3 in the Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick.  Last but not least is a new series called Wolf Springs Chronicles by Nancy Holder.  Book Number 1 is Unleashed.  Great looking reads eh?

  

Non-book related stuff

So not all that I found this past week was YA book related. I wanted to share this really cool link as well from the NYPL. They have an archive of menus (yes, menus) that need to be transcribed and they are asking the public for assistance. Try your hand at transcribing online at this website and be a part of history for this great digitization project!

Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a bit of a giggle.  I've seen this video a few times on different blogs but Julian Smith really cracks me up here....how do people come up with these things??  The next time someone is bugging you, just grimace and say - I'M READING A BOOK, CAN'T YOU SEE I'M READING A BOOK?  (ha! ha!)



Friday Blog Hop - May 13th

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!


Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –

Will you be attending BEA or BCC?

Waaahh!!  No.  Unfortunately, funds and family circumstances are preventing us from going.  Although we had planned to attend right up until the beginning of this year, life happens and sometimes you just have to roll with it.  I'm going to think on the bright side though and say that we are still new to this community (although we are coming up to a year soon) and have much to learn.  Perhaps by the time Curlypow and I head out to BEA, people will actually know who we are!

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Waiting on Wednesday (May 11) - double header

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week there are two “can’t-wait-to-read” selections



I really enjoyed Jennifer Brown's Hate List last year.  It is full of angst and is emotional and the characters will drag you back and forth with their issues.  Lots of drama but oh such a good read.  I am eager to read anything else that Ms Brown brings to the table.

Am I crazy or was there another cover for this originally?  I mean, don't get me wrong, this is a beauty but wasn't there another cover?!  Either way, they were both gorgeous.  Can't wait to read it!

Let's Hear It for the Boys - Invasion by Jon S Lewis

Published: January 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 321

Copy: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Colt McAllister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.


After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.


Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.


Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn't just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.


I really enjoyed reading this title - it was lots of fun and fairly quick to read.  It was a bit like reading a comic book, without the pictures!  The story references comics about the 'Phantom Flyer' and through the course of the story, we discover that the stories are based on the truth. Cue the nasty aliens and the huge corporation run by bad guys trying to over take the world - which is only one of twelve that can be reached through portals.

The protagonists are Colt McAllister - I just love that name - Danielle and Oz, with a little bit of Lily thrown in, and the adults in the story are really just bad guys or background noise.  There is some romance, but just a very little - no triangles in sight! Colt and Oz are the children of CHAOS operatives - think otherworldly spies with amazing James Bond type gadgets - and are recruited to become the next generation of operatives.  There's lots of car chases, wild weapons, explosions and killing of aliens. It was just so much fun.  Everything ties up very nicely, and the whole story was a wonderful introduction into the world of CHAOS.  It looks as though there's more fun to come with a second volume due out in January 2012.

This was a very clean read, that is more than suitable for younger teens.  It's violent, but not on a really nasty scale, and the romance really is quite minimal.  A great title for guys, and for any girls who like comic books or video games - or just good books.

In My Mailbox - May 9th

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren  in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store. 

 

  

Interesting selection from the library this week don't you think. Actually, Withering Tights is a gift from my good friend Christinabean.  She knows I am a huge fan of Louise Rennison. Between these four books there are 1,764 pages. I seem incapable these days of picking a book from the library with less than 350 pages - most of them are closer to 500.  Oh, and then we have these two that I bought.  At least these two are just around 300 pages, which makes them slightly more managable.  The choices, the choices!

 

 What's in your mailbox this week?