Holy Great Book Batman!!

I have to admit, I sometimes read a book reluctantly. My book club picked this one and I was afraid it was going to be along the line of The Lightning Thief . Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed that series, but it was on the younger end of things. So I sucked it up and read Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini because it is a longer book and my book club meets next week. Let me ask you this, do you remember the first time you read Twilight? I mean before the ridiculous hype of it? Have you been looking for something to take it's place? This book just might be it. Don't be turned off if you didn't like Twilight- this one isn't about vampires. It is about Greek Demigods- called Scions. It has all  the requirements, beautiful girl, spectacular boy, warring families, oracles, fighting, teen angst etc. Only for a change, the female lead is NOT helpless, she is actually the most powerful of them all. Helen is a shy girl, who tries to hide herself from the world. She doesn't know what she really is. Her mother left her when she was a baby and she is being raised by her mortal dad. Then the Delos clan come to the island and each is more spectacular than the next- especially Lucas. But Helen sees Lucas and wants to literally kill him. And she tries. This leads her to finding out who she is and how powerful she can become. So as you may have guessed, she and  Lucas don't kill each other, but as the title tells us, their love will wind up being starcrossed. Can they break the cycle of Greek mythology that tears families apart or will they have to resist their love forever. All the characters in this story are great- love Jason and Hector as well. Of course this book is not the end, as it is primed for a sequel or two. I will look forward to another book for sure and Lucas goes in the top 5 of my favorite fake boys. Watch out Jace, you might have some competition here!

Linger

     As far as sequels go, this is a good one, and a perfect bridge book. In the first book, Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater, Grace watches the wolves in the woods. One of them is Sam. He is human part of the year and in the winter, he becomes a wolf. When Sam is in human form, he falls in love with Grace, who he has a past with. They spend book one trying to keep Sam human. In this book, Sam is trying hard to believe he will stay human. Grace, however, is showing signs that things aren't right with her-see she was bitten by a wolf when she was just a little girl. This novel introduces a new character Cole. He is a former boy band rockstar who became a wolf willingly to lose himself. How will he help or hurt the situation?  The question becomes, now that Sam is human, what happens if Grace isn't? Can he save her and himself by finding a cure? I guess we all have to wait for book three to see what happens. I, for one, am hoping for a happy ending.
     A new box of books arrived in the mail the other day, and I can't wait to get started on them. The sequel to Demon King, the sequel to Torment and a new book by Wednesday Wars  (one of my all time favorites) author Gary Schmidt.  But first, my book club has picked a book called Starcrossed so that will be next for me. Anyone have any other suggestions? I'd love to hear them!

Mr. Sandman.... bring me a dream

In taking a break from sequels, I quickly read Sleepless by Cyn Balog. It was a short novel told in alternating voices. One voice is Julia, the other is her sandman, Eron. Eron has been putting Julia to sleep since she was born. When Julia's boyfriend, Griffin, dies in a car crash, he is chosen to replace Eron as sandman since Eron is now allowed to become human again as his 100 years of service is up. You know the drill, of course, Eron falls for Julia and Griffin gets jealous. There is nothing worse than an angry sandman who likes to get involved in the human lives. The twist is, if Griffin can't do his job, then Eron can't become human and must stay as sandman for 100 more years. This was a pretty good read, not the best or worst of the summer so far. If you like a quick tale, with a different supernatural element, you might enjoy this one. Eron is very likeable, as he tries to make his way in the 21st century considering he was alive in the early 1900's. It is fun to watch him try and figure out the lingo, television and the clothing of today. Now it's back to sequels with Linger, the follow up to Shiver - to be a wolf or not to be a wolf- that is the question!

Sequel 2... City of Fallen Angels

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE JACE whatever his last name is (Herondale, Lightfoot, Morgenstern) . He is one of my all time favorite characters, I love his look, his attitude, his job, his friends. I love him with Clary- she is not some damsel he has to save, in fact, she saves him as much as he saves her. But enough is enough. I can't take anymore. Let them live happily ever after. I mean we have Bella and Edward and Harry and Ginny and even Katniss and Peeta all living out their happily ever afters. I hated Mockingjay, but at least it is over. Now, with that being said, I do love this series, I just want them to be happy for more than one page. This sequel to City of Glass was non stop action and torment. Why can't Jace just be happy? Why can't Simon get a girlfriend? Why can't Luke and Jocelyn just get married? So this sequel finds those crazy Shadowhunters recovering from the deaths of Valentine and Sebastian...or are they? Simon's Mark of Cain, Camille from Clockwork Angel, and Lilith, the mother of all evil make appearances to ruin the peace of our heroes. The consequences of bringing Jace back from the dead will definitely get in the way of happiness for our heroic couple. Ehhhh. I did enjoy the references to Will Herondale from the companion series The Infernal Devices and can't wait to see how they all tie together, but how long must I wait? What a complainer I am today. Sorry. I will stick by Jace to the bitter end, and hopefully it won't be so bitter. I want my own runes and wouldn't mind being a Shadowhunter if this teacher gig doesn't work out. I think I could wield a wicked sword, I'd call mine JACE. Gonna take a break from sequels and read one about a sandman... a new kind of supernatural for me. Happy reading all.

and the sequels begin with... InVincible

Nick Gautier is destined to end the world. Literally. Unless he can change the events of his life and alter the course of history. No problem, right? Nick is a fourteen year old in New Orleans who is just learning how powerful he is. In the first book of this series Infinity, by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nick learns that the supernatural exist and are all around him. In book two, the action picks right back up. And doesn't stop. This book is a page turner, never a dull moment. Nick is sarcastic- which I love-  and dedicated to protecting those around him. As he learns to use his powers, he will have to decide if he stays good or turns into his father- an evil being. There is a great twist about this story, but I don't want to give it away. But Ambrose is not who you might think. I love all the other characters in this story, the loyal Kyrian, the mysterious Acheron, the nutty Simi and lovely Kody, none of whom are what they seem. This is a great 'boy' book, lots of angst over wanting a girlfriend, dealing with bullies and worrying about what he doesn't have. Great sequel that of course left me hanging for the next one. On to the next sequel- City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare and the world of Shadowhunters with one of my all time favorite characters- Jace. Happy reading.

What happened to goodbye?

I hate Sarah Dessen. I know that sounds harsh. I was dragged into reading The Truth About Forever by my book club. I hate that she writes these books that I can't put down. I hate that she writes these characters that reek of realism. I hate that she finds a way in all her books to make me cry. So when I say I hate Sarah Dessen, I hate that I don't mean it. I put off reading this book because I knew when I was done I would be sad that it was over, would need tissues and would have new characters that would forever be in my memory. What Happened to Goodbye is the story of Mclean, who is not handling her parents divorce very well. She lives with her dad, who moves around a lot as he rehabilitates restaurants. Mclean is mad at her mother as she blames her for the dissolution of her family. She copes by reinventing herself in each new school, drama geek, goth, student council joiner. She changes her name at each stop as well. As they arrive in this new place, she fully intends to do the same thing. But something happens, and she realizes that making connections to other people isn't such a bad thing. Of course, there is a cute neighbor named Dave who helps her with this realization. If you hate Sarah Dessen as much as I do, this is the book for you- just keep the tissues close and enjoy the ride.

All hope abandon, all ye who enter in...

When Pierce Oliviera meets a stranger in a cemetery when she is 7, her life is forever altered. It's probably not a good thing to catch the attention of a keeper of the Underworld. When she dies at 15 and meets him again, she realizes her life will never be the same. He wants her to stay with him in the Underworld, she wants to go. After she escapes and is brought back to life, she is haunted by this man (or actually a handsome "wild thing") She can't decide what to make of him, is she terrified or fascinated- or both? When she moves back to Isla Huesos with her mother, she sees him everywhere and why not, the island is on top of an entrance to the Underworld. Of course, the Furies are also after her. (lots of Greek mythology in this one) What if the only way to stay alive and protect her loved ones, is to go back to the Underworld and stay with John- the mysterious stranger. I LOVED THIS BOOK. Couldn't put it down. Meg Cabot has started a series that will keep the readers guessing and interested. Looking forward to reading more, put John on the list next to Jace, Patch, Daniel, Tobias, Han, Amon, and the list goes on . What is it about a bad boy?

Would you rather be a hero or a villain?

It's Damien's sixteenth birthday- the day he's been waiting for- the day when the V will appear on his thumb declaring him a supervillain. He will finally be able to join his friends at the villain's high school where his girlfriend and best friend will be going. He'll be able to work with his mom on all her evil plots. Well, at midnight, when the V is supposed to appear, instead he gets an X on his thumb. What the heck?? Damien comes to find out his mother had a one night stand with -wait for it- a SUPERHERO!! This devastates Damien, I mean really, a superhero father!! Damien finds out who his father is and is forced to go and live with The Crimson Flash to see which side he will really be joining. Of course, he keeps getting into situations that force him to HELP people he loves- dang it- that sounds almost heroic! This book was really clever and interesting. Damien has a great sense of humor and uses it to get himself out of and into difficult situations. Oh- and he's afraid of heights- quite a problem for someone who has the power to fly. I definitely recommend The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell for all readers. It has it all, love, action, humor and a fast paced story- sidekick included.

The Demon King

Evil wizards, the bad boy, the loyal friend, the street kid with a mysterious past and a princess. Clans, realms, wars, magic amulets, intrigue and cliffhanger endings. If any of these things appeal to you, check out the book The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima. It is the first in the Seven Realms Trilogy. All I can say is after I am done writing this, I will be ordering book two. This is a great fantasy novel with strong characters and lots of mystery and romance. I can't decide who I am rooting for yet- Amon or Han...and how will Micah fit into Raisa's future? There are many storylines to follow, so give it a chance, it will be a tough read at first, but once you get going and follow Raisa into the town disguised as a servant girl, you will be hooked. What are those silver cuffs on Han's wrists that he can't get off, why are the Bayar's chasing him down to retrieve the amulet he stole? Who will Raisa be forced to marry as she comes of age? What hold does Bayar hold over her mother the queen? I still don't know!! That's why I'll be reading book two as soon as it arrives. It's been a good summer of reading so far! What are you all reading this summer?

Wither or Not

Sat down yesterday and picked up the next book in the pile. One of my students, Ashley, read it for a reading minute and it sounded like a winner. The title is Wither by Lauren Destefano. It is about a society in which they have cured all diseases. Only one problem, the children born to that generation are only living to the ages of 20 and 25 depending on whether they are boys or girls. Rhine and Rowan are twin 16 year olds. They are trying to survive after the death of their parents. Rhine is kidnapped one day and sold to a man who wants new brides for his son. He is trying to cure the virus. Rhine becomes one of 3 sister wives to the man's son Linden. Linden is kind of clueless to how his father has found these 'brides'. Rhine's only wish is to escape the mansion and try and find her way back to her brother. She meets a house servant named Gabriel who she is more and more drawn to. Life in the mansion is perilous, what happens to the people who die, why aren't the wives allowed off their floor of the mansion, and what happens to the babies born? This was a great, fast, one afternoon read. It was creepy, and interesting and set up an interesting love triangle. This is the first in a trilogy, so I'm looking forward to reading the next one. I enjoyed the setting of the novel, a world where only North America is left... or is it?

Split

I randomly picked this up off my pile. And couldn't put it down. What a great book about domestic violence and the aftermath on the kids. Split by Swati Avashti, is about Jace and his brother Christian who have survived their abusive father, a judge.  Jace's mother puts him in the car and gives him his brother's address and sends him on his way. Christian had left years before and hidden from his father. Jace lands on his doorstep and Christian doesn't know what to do. He lets Jace stay for "a while" and they try and figure out a way to get along. Jace has a secret he doesn't want anyone to know and this comes between the brothers. There is some romance, some action and some serious issues as the boys hope to get their mother to leave and be free of their abusive father. This was a great story and such a fast read. Give it a try.

Supernatural summer...

I had been wandering the book store one day and saw this title and thought, that is right up my alley. The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks is about a boy who finds out he is a werewolf. He wakes up one morning in a dingo pen, and can't remember how he got there. When his mother takes him to the doctor, Toby is contacted by Reuben, an older werewolf, with an offer of help. He needs Toby to make arrangements before the next full moon. Toby doesn't quite believe him and goes on a journey that ends up with him being kidnapped so he can fight other werewolves. Reuben comes to rescue him with the help of his vampire friends. This is a companion book to the Reformed Vampire Support Group, which I really didn't like much. I liked this one much better, but the rescue could have been wrapped up quicker. Zombies also make an appearance, so if you're into the supernatural, but don't want the romance, this is the book for you.

Next up...

I had been waiting for Beauty Queens by Libba Bray to come out since I had heard an excerpt at a book conference. Here's the premise- a plane full of teen beauty queens on the way to a pageant crashed on a (supposedly) deserted island. What do they do now??? Why practice for the pageant of course, what if they are rescued? A beauty queen is always prepared! The girls learn that looks aren't everything when trying to survive, but their 'talents' might just come in handy when it counts. This book is a comment on our society that is filled with reality tv. When the girls are visited by a boat of reality show pirates, mayhem ensues. This book is hilarious but also has a great message that girls are strong and capable and can use their brains! I mean when they take on an evil dictator (think Kim Jong Il in an Elvis outfit) and bring down a corrupt pageant leader, they learn some valuable lessons. Text is dense, and takes some getting used to but don't let that stop you. Enjoy the ride! And watch out for Miss Texas... she may have gone a little crazy.

And it began with...

The first book I read was Divergent by Veronica Roth. I saw this book in a few reviews and it sounded pretty interesting. It didn't disappoint.  In this novel, society is divided into 5 factions based on your personality. Are you courageous, honest, selfless, peaceful or intelligent? What would you choose if given the choice? Do you stay with you family, or take a risk and follow your heart? What if you have all these traits and are Divergent? This is a Hunger Games type of dystopian novel with a (surprise, surprise) love story too. I can add Tobias to the long list of fictional boys teenage girls will love. Trice is a strong willed, tough, caring girl who fights for what she wants. What a great way to start the summer of reading.

So I decided to start a blog

As I looked at the pile of books I brought home to read this summer, I thought- how am I going to tell my former students about all these great books. My favorite part of every year is discovering who I will get to have amazing book conversations with... this last year was no exception. After all, it was a student many years ago who said to me- you have to read Twilight- long before the current craze. So I will be plowing through this huge pile and letting you know what I like and dislike. If you are interested, follow along. It will be the summer of books...