The Moon and More

Oh Sarah Dessen. Every time. The latest addition to the heart wrenching stories that Sarah Dessen creates is the story of Emaline. A beach girl from Colby, (yes, home of Auden) in the summer before college. She has a blended family, an absent father, a longtime boyfriend and sand between her toes. When her father comes to town for the summer with her stepbrother, Emaline must resolver her shaky relationship with him. She is pulled into the world of a New York filmmaker and her assistant. She experiences the heartbreak of losing her long time love. She gets pulled into a new romance that seems exciting at first, but does not turn out to be the Best Thing Ever. (And I'm glad, I didn't like Theo at all. Team Luke all the way!) Emaline navigates the world of summer rentals, her family and her best friends, all while trying to decide who she truly is and what she wants for her future. Does she really want to leave Colby and see the world, does she want to make peace with her father, or will she follow her own dreams? Wow, this was a one day read that I have been putting off because these books always leave me with a pit in my stomach. They are filled with such great characters that seem so alive and true. I want to live in Colby and meet the people and walk on the boardwalk. I'll skip the shrimp burgers though! So for those of you who already know what it is to read a Sarah Dessen book, enjoy! For those of you who come to this as a new experience, welcome. -sigh- Happy reading my friends!

Towering

I love Alex Flinn's non-fairy tale books. They are super fantastic. This is the second fairy tale re-imagining I have read. This is the story of Rapunzel. Rachel is trapped in a tower in the middle of nowhere. Her only company is her 'Mama' who comes once a day to feed her and warn her about the perils of the outside world. Mama tells her the man who killed her mother is still out there and wants to kill her too. Rachel longs for something more, a romance like in all the books she reads. Wyatt is sent to live with his mother's friend's mother. He is trying to get away from the death of his best friend. He starts to hear singing when no one else can and he is determined to find the cause of it. On his quest, he falls through some ice and Rachel escapes from her tower to save him. They are incredibly drawn to each other and quickly fall in love. But Rachel won't leave the tower until she figures out her destiny and Wyatt wants to be worthy of being a hero for a change. As Wyatt investigates Rachel's story, he uncovers a nefarious plot that will take Rachel out of the safety of the tower and on a crash course towards her destiny. This is a fun Rapunzel tale set in a modern time. My favorite line "But those who are not trapped in towers could not possibly understand the special concern of those of us who are." Deep on many levels. But isn't that the beauty of a fairy tale, a deep message hidden in tales of knights and dragons? If you love a retold fairy tale Alex Flinn is your girl. But don't miss out on a couple  of my favorites- Breathing Underwater and Nothing to Lose. Happy ever after reading my friends.

Variant

Benson is finally going to get something good in his life. He has been shuffled around from foster home to foster home. But now he has been accepted into the Maxfield Academy, a boarding school. Benson will now have a great school and friends. When he arrives, he notices the students trying to get his attention from the windows, but he doesn't know what they are trying to tell him. As the doors open two students fly out and try to run away. As Benson is brought into the school, he realizes it is not what it seems. First of all, there are no adults. Secondly, there is no way out. The students are controlled by the "school" which uses the students to keep the peace. And if you wind up in detention, you are dead. Literally. Benson is determined to find a way to escape and can't understand why all the students don't feel the same sense of urgency he does. When he makes a startling discovery about his girlfriend, he must convince the others to run before it is too late for all of them. What kind of experiment is this school and how can Benson find his way out? But most importantly, who can he trust when he can't seem to trust anyone?? This was a fast paced read that will appeal to the male population for sure. Always love a book that the reluctant reader will like. The story continues in the sequel Feedback, so I'll get back to you when I read that. Onward my friends and happy reading!

Goddess

The final book. Will Lucas and Helen finally learn the truth and get to live happily ever after? Will they fulfill the prophecy? Who is the Tyrant? Which of the Scion's will survive? All these questions are answered in the final book of the Starcrossed Trilogy. With a war with the gods of Olympus on the horizon, Helen must rally the Scions in order to save everyone she loves. After becoming blood brothers with Lucas and Orion, Helen seems to be gaining in power. She is scaring her mortal friends and is unable to control her emotions leading to tragic consequences. Which side will everyone line up on when the war finally begins? When Helen learns the truth of her fate as well as the past lives she has lived, she comes to some startling realizations that affect all those who love her. This book is filled with intrigue and plots, love and death, war and peace. When the truth of Lucas and Helen is finally revealed, will it be too late to save the one true love of her life? This was a great series filled with Greek mythology, but you better keep a scorecard of the players because it isn't easy to keep track! In the end, though, this is a fun series for fans of the mythology and a great love triangle. Helen is a warrior willing to give up everything for her family. Lucas is a hero for the sacrifices he makes in order for Helen to find happiness. And Orion, Hector and Jason are just fun! So watch out Zeus, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Helen! Happy reading my friends!

eleanor and park

oh. my. goodness. I was waiting for my ride to the beach and didn't want to unpack the book I was reading from my bag. I had just read that John Green loved this book so I picked it up off the pile and started. Well, 15 minutes later, my ride was here and my old book was out and I was sucked into the world of eleanor and park. Two sixteen year old kids who were insecure with their places in the world. Eleanor is overweight, dresses 'differently', has bright red curly hair and lives with her 4 brothers and sisters with their abusive step father. Park is half Korean, lives with his overly affectionate parents and giant brother. When Eleanor steps on the bus for the first time, Park wants nothing to do with her because he knows the attention she will get and he likes to live under the radar. Eleanor just wants a seat on the bus. Park's good manners win out and he invites her to share his seat, not knowing how that one small gesture will change both of their lives. They slowly create a friendship fraught with obstacles. Friendship turns to love. Park will do anything for Eleanor and she can't figure out why he loves her- no, needs her. All the while she must navigate the bullying at school and more frightening, at home. When things with her stepfather come to a head, she must run for her life and the only one she can turn to is Park. But by saving her, he also knows he will lose her. This is a FANTASTIC book that is up there among my all-time favorites. I loved this book. I can't say enough nice things about it. I hope awards pour down on this author. I hope somewhere, Eleanor and Park are having their happily ever after. Run to the bookstore and pick this up. You won't regret it. I promise. Happy reading my friends!

The Program

There is a suicide epidemic going on. Teenagers are committing suicide left and right. So society has created The Program, a way to erase all the bad memories and cure the teens. Only problem is, all your memories get erased until you barely know who you are anymore. Sloane's brother has committed suicide and she and his best friend James have been trying to cope. They turn to each other and fall in love. But the Program is always watching for signs that you are sick. When James starts to show the symptoms, Sloane tries to save him, but she can't and she watches as James is dragged into the Program. Her mother soon turns her in as well and Sloan finds herself undergoing 'treatment'. Fighting back is futile. As her memories of James are slowly stripped from her, she finds a friend in Realm, a boy who seems to know the ropes of the Program. He tries to help Sloane get by, but what are his true motives? Sloane is exited from the program with no memories but finds herself drawn to this boy- James. When she discovers a message she left herself, Sloane must decide what her and James's past was really all about and she needs to rely on Realm to help her. This was a frightening book that begs the reader to think about what memory they would save and how much of ourselves are made of memories. The Program will make me think for a long time to come. Happy Reading my friends!

Monument 14 Sky on Fire

One of the most popular books in my class last year was Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne. A chemical cloud has been unleashed in Colorado and a group of kids take refuge in a superstore. They have to figure out how to survive and find a way to get to the airport to evacuate and maybe find their parents. In this sequel, it picks up when half the group has left in the bus to get help for those left behind. Among the group are high school kids and some much younger kids, oh and a dog. The story is told in the alternating voices of brothers Dean and Alex. Alex has left with the bus and Dean has stayed behind because his blood type makes it deadly for him to be exposed to the air. Each group faces deadly circumstances on their journeys. The kids on the bus are hijacked by some rogue teenagers and must make their way to the airport on foot. The kids in the store face intruders who want to get into the store. But they have learned not to let outsiders in. When the hijackers find out about the store, they take the bus and head for the group that was left behind. Mayhem ensues. People are killed. Friends are lost and new friends are made. Dean is forced to do things that will haunt him for the rest of his life. A love story even occurs amidst the chaos. After a harrowing rescue mission, the kids are reunited- mostly- until a newspaper arrives. And the person in the picture must be saved... Cue the next book in the series. These are fast paced books that appeal to all readers, but especially the hard to reach boy population. That being said- strap on your gas masks and pack your backpacks- it's going to be a bumpy ride! Happy reading my friends!

The Beautiful and the Cursed

You had me at gargoyle, Page Morgan! What a concept, gargoyles protecting their human charges who live in the houses the adorn. They come out of hibernation when the house is occupied and are tied to the humans that live there.Ingrid and Gabby move into such a house in Paris in the 1800's. They are going to be reunited with Ingrid's twin brother Grayson, who had arrived weeks ago. But when they get there, they find that Grayson is missing. Ingrid is determined to find her twin and in her quest, meets up with some interesting people. Not to be left behind, Gabby joins the search and meets the infuriating Scotsman, Nolan. But it is Ingrid's connection to Luc that really guides the story. Luc is the gargoyle sworn to protect the family as long as they are living in the house. It is strictly forbidden for gargoyles to have a romantic attachment to humans. Luc is quickly forced to reveal his true self to Ingrid and instead of running in fear, Ingrid is fascinated with Luc's gargoyle form. Luc is drawn to her in ways he has never experienced. It could cost him his life. As Ingrid and Gabby search for a way to find their brother, they find out about secret societies, demons, angels and the dark and dangerous place that holds Grayson. Ingrid discovers she has mysterious powers of her own and her true nature is a puzzle to both the gargoyles and the Alliance alike. Only Axia, a fallen angel, knows what she truly is and will stop at nothing to possess her. This was a GREAT story filled with fabulous characters, supernatural wonders and a fast paced storyline, unresolved of course! I, for one, will never look at gargoyles the same again. My heart belongs to Luc and I look forward to meeting up with him again in the sequel, which can't come out soon enough for me! Happy reading my friends!

The Culling

Oh. My. This book was brutal. Imagine the Hunger Games, but way more violent and disturbing. That being said, I couldn't put it down. This is the story of Lucky, who is living in a post apocalyptic world where you can be pulled off the streets and disappear forever. He lives with his four year old brother Cole. Lucky is trying to keep them both alive and when his old friend Cassius comes back to town as a Prefect, he thinks his problems may be solved. Unfortunately, Cassius has changed and as revenge for Lucky not helping him catch the resistance, Cassius puts Lucky in the running to become an Imposer. Of course, to become one you must win The Trials. As the five unlucky names are called, Lucky finds himself in competition with the dreamy Digory. The only problem is that only one person will survive the Trials- oh and if you come in last in any of the events, someone you love will be "culled" or killed in some horrible fashion. Since Cole is one of Lucky's Incentives, Lucky must sacrifice everything to keep him safe- even at the cost of Digory and the other contestants's loved ones. I haven't despised a character as much as Cassius in a long time. I look forward to him getting what is coming to him in future books. The Trials that the contestants must endure are horrifying and gory. The choices the contestants must make are devastating. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it definitely will keep you on the edge of your seats. Steven Dos Santos has created a world that disturbs me in so many ways and leaves me with more questions than answers. So, if you have a strong stomach and can find hope in little things, give this one a try! Happy Reading my friends!

The Testing

Cia is about to graduate from school. She is living in Five Lakes with her family. The world isn't as we know it. She is waiting on pins and needles to see if she is chosen for The Testing. Only a few are chosen, and no one from Five Lakes has been taken in years. The day after graduation she is informed that she and three others will be going to the Testing. Her father is less than thrilled and tells her of his experience with the Testing. He can't remember any of it, except what comes to him in dreams. And those dreams are nightmares. He is worried for his daughter's safety and warns her to "Trust No One". But he can't mean Tomas, the boy from her school, the one that every girl dreams about. Cia and Tomas team up to try and pass the Testing. To do any less could result in their deaths. As each test is given, the stakes get higher and higher and Cia must use all her wits to keep her and Tomas alive. She has to trust her instincts and if they are wrong, people could die. This book is fraught with tension as each test becomes a matter of life and death. Even at the end, you aren't sure who Cia should trust and what the consequences will be if she doesn't pass the Test. This definitely has a Hunger Games quality as no one is safe from violence, deceit and death. The participants aren't given the choice whether or not they want to attend, and more than one does not return to their colony. The sequel is coming out in the fall and this is a series to watch out for. Happy reading my friends!

Angelfall

Why are all the angels in angel books guys? Daniel, Patch, Jackson, even Castiel on Supernatural?? Not that I mind, there's something about a fictional boy with wings that is enjoyable. Add Raffe to the list. Penryn is trying to keep her family safe in the aftermath of an Angel Apocalypse. The humans must hide from the packs of roaming angels that are destroying cities. She comes upon an angel being beaten by a group of angels. She is horrified when they cut off his wings. As she finds herself helping him fight off the pack, her sister is taken by the angels. She saves his wings and brings him to safety to heal so that he can help her get her sister back. Raffe doesn't want to help her and is struggling to recover. But he reluctantly agrees to do so when she helps him out of a couple of tricky situations. She did save his wings after all... He leads her to the aerie in San Francisco where he hatches a plan to find her sister and get his wings sown back on. Nothing goes as planned and the events that follow are beyond disturbing. Raffe is much more than he appeared to be and Penryn's sister is not quite the same. Penryn is a tough girl with loyalty and determination in spades. The forbidden relationship between angel and Daughters of Men is taken very seriously in this book and will make for many problems in the future of the series I'm sure. I have yet to read an angel book I haven't liked- or a cute angel boy for that matter, so I look forward to reading more of this series and am quite disappointed that the sequel isn't out there yet!!! So add Raffe to the list and await his return on his wings of.... not giving that away! Happy reading my friends!

The Elite

She loves him, she loves him not, she loves him, she loves him not. Aspen-Maxon, Maxon-Aspen. And so it goes. In this sequel to The Selection by Kiera Cass, America is torn. Does she want to be a princess and marry Maxon, or is it her boy-next-door former boyfriend Aspen she wants to spend her life with? Her indecision is driving the two boys crazy and to be honest, me too! This is such a fun concept, kinda like the Bachelor for teens. Even though I refuse to watch those shows, this novel is a fun read. America is feisty and sure of what she believes. She isn't afraid to speak her mind, even when it goes against what Maxon is trying to do. She is unhappy with the caste system which guides her society and when she finds out how it was started, she is determined to try and fix it. Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to do that and she is less than graceful in the way she goes about it. Maxon loves her, but can't deal with her outspokenness as it interferes with the quiet way he is trying to change things in his father's kingdom. Aspen doesn't think she can handle being a princess, but he is the one who let her go to pursue this chance. Also, the rebels keep attacking the palace and what exactly are they looking for? All the decisions seem to rely on America and she is torn between who she is and who she has the potential to become. I can't wait to see how it ends, someone's heart is bound to be broken and  the fate of a country may lie in the hands of a couple of teenagers. Scary thought- eh? The first book was a popular one in my classroom this year and I know the girls will be eager to get their hands on this one! Happy reading my friends. I'm off to the beach. (bag of books in hand!)

Darkness Before Dawn

Dawn is the newest and youngest delegate that Denver has ever had. She is taking the place of her parents in their job of serving Lord Valentine. She is the go between as she supports the VampHu treaty. You see, after a long war between vampires and humans, they have come to an uneasy peace. The humans agree to supply blood to the vampires and the vampires, well, they agree not to eat all the humans. When Dawn goes to a party with her best friend Tegan, they are attacked by four vampires. Victor arrives just in time to save them and makes sure they get home safely. They assume he is a member of the Night Watchmen, the trained men who guard the city. How wrong they are. Dawn discovers he is the son of Lord Valentine, her mortal enemy. As Victor keeps turning up to help Dawn, she begins to realize that he is different. He wants to help the humans and the vampires coexist. But danger is afoot. His evil brother makes an appearance to undo all the good Victor wants to do. ANd who is the guy in the hoodie who keeps stalking Dawn? Dawn has many decisions to make on who she will trust and who she will save and at what cost will she do both? This was a fun vampire story with some twists and turns. Victor is the typical dreamy vamp who falls for the human girl. But I'm not so sure that Dawn is what she seems. I'll have to read the sequel to see if I'm right. Happy reading my friends!

Unremembered

When Sera wakes up as the only survivor of a plane crash she has NO memories. Of anything. Not even her name. The only thing she knows is that everyone is interested in the beautiful girl with the violet eyes. When a boy shows up at the hospital asking if she remembers him, her mind says yes, always yes, but she can't trust him. He seems to turn up everywhere she goes, warning her that others will come looking for her. Run away with me, he asks. Sera is stubborn and isn't ready to trust anyone. She enlists the help of her foster brother Cody to help her figure out who she is and where she comes from. She discovers she has super strength and an ability to run really fast. She can understand and speak many languages and she is drawn to Zen, the mystery boy, for reasons she can't explain. When he offers her her memories back, she slowly realizes who he is and why she had to run. Only problem is, she didn't run far enough and the company that is responsible for her has found where she is. And they want her back. Sera and Zen must figure out a way to outwit the company and make there way to a place where they will be safe, but can they do it in time? This is a really fast paced adventure with a neat twist at the end. Sera is not what she seems and Zen is willing to follow her to the ends of the earth to protect and love her. How do you remember someone when your memories are gone? Would you still recognize your soul mate? Would you trust a complete stranger if he knew how to pull on your heart strings? I totally recommend this book and would love to know how Sera and Zen are doing and if they reached their destination. Happy reading my friends!

The Friday Society

The Silver Heart, Lady Sparkle and Hyde. What a group of swell heroines! In this steampunk novel, the three girls join forces to foil evil, back each other up and find a little romance along the way. Cora, who works for Lord White is the inventor. Nellie, who works for the Great Raheem, is a magician's assistant with skills to get out of tricky situations. And Michiko, who works for Callum as his Samurai assistant, who is really the one with all the skills. When the ladies meet by accident at the scene of a murder, they keep finding themselves in death defying predicaments. They are clever, resourceful and brave, all while keeping outstanding senses of humor. Most of the men in their lives underestimate them, but that doesn't stop them from foiling several diabolical plots, solving a couple of murders and keeping their independence at a time when women didn't seem to have much. This was such an enjoyable book, written with great style and humor. These three are no damsels in distress! I will be looking forward to more capers with the Friday Society in the future. It most definitely has a sass and personality many readers will enjoy. Summer vacation has officially begun- so let the reading commence. Happy reading my friends!