Stand Off

Meet Ryan Dean West. Don't call him Ryan. He is now a senior at Pine Mountain Academy. He is 15. He is in love with Annie Ackerman. He is getting over the death of his best friend Joey. He is now captain of the rugby team. He is not getting over the death of his best friend Joey. Oh, he also has just been assigned a freshman roommate. A twelve year old roommate named Sam Abernathy. The Abernathy is as cute as a button, highly claustrophobic, not yet in the throes of puberty, an amazing cook, and may just be well beyond his twelve years. Ryan Dean is determined NOT to befriend Sam. He will NOT talk to him. He will certainly NOT be nice to him. But if you know Ryan Dean, you know none of these NOTs will be possible. For Ryan Dean has the biggest heart of anyone you will meet and even though it was broken when Joey died, his friends will help him see his way back. This book is the sequel to Winger, which if you check out my blog, you will see that I LOVED. Ryan Dean is funny- laugh out loud at my desk during silent reading funny. He is insecure and secure at the same time. He is a leader who everyone looks up to even if he doesn't see it. He does NOT cuss. At least not out loud. He is obsessed with Annie, who is just as obsessed back. This sequel takes Ryan Dean and a cast of amazing characters through his senior year. He makes new friends, he experiences new things and he learns that maybe, just maybe, with the help of his friends, nothing terrible will happen to him. I can't recommend this series enough. It is for a more mature reader, there is lots of talk about sex, and boy things, and language, but that is what makes it feel so authentic. So if you haven't met Ryan Dean yet, start at the beginning and get your box of tissues handy. He will break your heart in only the best ways. Happy reading my friends!

Winter

It started with Cinderella, moved on to Little Red Riding Hood, lifted off with Rapunzel and comes to it's amazing conclusion with Snow White. Marissa Meyer has created the most amazingly modern series of fairy tales that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Winter is Snow White's tale. In this rendition Winter is the step-daughter of the evil Levana. (Check out her story in Fairest). Winter is a little of her rocker in a very endearing way. She refuses to use her Lunar gift and this has reeked havoc on her mind. While she means well, she has terrible visions and this messes with her grip on reality. To make her problems worse, she is stunningly beautiful and a huge threat to Levana. Winter decides to help Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Thorne, Kai and Wolf start a rebellion to put the lost Queen Selene back on her throne. With her loyal guard Jacin, she must use all her cunning to stay out of Levana's way while convincing the people of Luna to rise up and revolt against the queen. All your favorites are back in this fourth and final volume of the Lunar Chronicles. All of them are in peril for over 800 pages. All of them are looking for their happily every after. I don't know which character I love the most. Sometimes it's the Captain's humor. Sometimes Cinder's bravery. Sometimes Winter's quirks. Sometimes Kai's steadfastness. Sometimes Wolf's loyalty. It's hard to decide. You can't start with this book, so find your way to Cinder and enjoy the journey through your childhood fairy tales. But don't think for one second these books are for a child. Clever, modern and wickedly funny, you  will never be sorry you went to the ball, ate the apple, let down your hair or took a trip through the woods to Grandma's house. No damsel's in distress here. Happy reading my friends- may you read this happily ever after.