The Appearance of Annie Van Sinderen

Have you ever read a ghost story that never actually says the word ghost? Well, I just did. Wes is making a film for a summer school project at NYU. While taping a seance, he sees the most enchanting girl he's ever seen. She's in a 'vintage' dress, and is lurking around the edges of the room. When he and his friend Tyler realize they didn't get her release to be on film, Wes is sent on a mission to find her. He finds her, but she keeps disappearing on him. Little does he realize, she is literally disappearing. She is floating between two times, her own in 1840 and his in present day NYC. She is searching for her missing cameo from her boyfriend Hershel. Wes agrees to help her before he realizes who and what she is. This leads them on a mission to find out what happened to her and how they can set things right. It is a great story, filled with history of the Erie Canal and the problems with it being built. It is also a love story that really can't have a happy ending- or can it?? Wes, Annie and Maddie, along with Tyler and Eastin, are on a collision course with both history and time. Can they help Annie find her way before her time runs out? Much like the word ghost, the ending leaves you with more questions than answers. I will admit, I woke up in the middle of the night wondering if my theory is correct. And who doesn't love a book that makes you think? This will be for a more mature reader interested in history and intrigue. One who loves an ending that makes you wonder just a little. I thoroughly enjoyed this "Rip Van Winkle" tale and will pass it happily on to others who feel the same. Happy reading my friends! RIP Annie!

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. 

Six of Crows

Who doesn't love a heist? Take six misfits with varying talents. Offer them money, big money, life changing money. Send them into an impossible situation. Throw as many challenges in their way as you can. Put them in mortal danger at every turn. Oh- what's missing you say? How about some tricky romances? Put those all together and you have the next great series from Leigh Bardugo. You may know her from the Grisha Trilogy. Well, move over Alina- Kaz Brekker is here. Katz is the leader of the Crows. He is broody, talented and out for revenge for past wrongs. Then there is Inej, the Wraith. She can get in anywhere- including Kaz's heart. Jesper, the clown, always down for an adventure. Wylan, the rich man's son, harboring a secret. Matthias, the Grisha hunter and Nina, the Grisha he is in love with- even if he can't admit it. These six crows set out on a mission that means sure death. Or the greatest payday of their lives. I LOVED this book. Each character is finely crafted and their backstories will break your heart. The mission is worthy of the risk. The mysterious Kaz will be forever on my favorite fictional boys list. Not as high as Will of course, but right next to Han, another of my favorite thieves. Bardugo has created a world that is filled with stories yet to be told, with characters that will cling to you long after you have left them to their mission. I think I liked it more than the Grisha series- more characters to love. But you can't go wrong with either. So pick this up and put it in someone's stocking and then steal if for yourself. Just make sure you are sneaky about it. Happy reading my friends and Merry Christmas!

Carry On

Well, Rainbow Rowell is three for three. First I fell in love with Eleanor and Park. Then Fangirl. And now Carry On. This is the story of Simon Snow and Baz, the fictional characters that Cath writes about in Fangirl. Rowell has taken this story within a story and made it a story of it's own. Confused? Don't be. This is a story that stands on it's own. It is a Harry Potter for a more mature audience. Simon is at Watford School for Magicians. He is roommates with his evil archenemy Baz Pitch. Pitch is a vampire, maybe. He is always out to kill Simon, maybe. They will be the death of each other, maybe. Simon has his faithful sidekick Penny and his uninterested girlfriend Agatha. He is seemingly always about to be killed by some horrible monster and has no control of his immense store of magic. He is the Mage's Heir. He is destined for great things. He just doesn't know what. There is an unlikely love story that I loved. There is magic. Heroic deeds. And the most hilarious spells ever! This is an amazingly funny story with a touching heart. I couldn't get enough. It is told from many points of view which gave great insight into everyone's perspective. I can't say enough nice things about this book. I'm sad it's over. I don't think there will be more, but I will cast my spell, I wish I may, I wish I might that this isn't the last I've read about Simon and Baz. If you haven't spent any time in Rainbow Rowell's worlds, run, don't walk to the nearest place to get books and take your pick. Happy reading my friends!

Slated

Kyla has been in the hospital for nine month and now she is going home to her family. A family she has never met. In fact, she doesn't know who she is or why she was slated. Only criminals are slated- minds wiped and given a second chance. Kyla must find a way to fit into her new family. She is monitored by her Levo which is wired into her wrist and keeps track of her emotions. If she gets to upset or sad or angry, she will pass out or worse, die. But Kyla starts to have memories of her previous self. She is more alert than most slated. When others start to disappear, Kyla gets her friend Ben involved. But Ben is not as savvy as Kyla and he isn't content to sit back and observe. Kyla must try to convince him not to do anything stupid, like join the AGT terrorist group. Society is divided to two factions trying to control their population. The closer Kyla gets to the truth of her life, the more danger she and her new family are in. She is determined to find Ben and figure out her place in both the past and the present. I enjoyed this novel. No one is what they seem, everyone seems to have major secrets that will somehow impact the plot. Not sure what they are yet, as this is, of course, book one. Kyla is no damsel in distress and I look forward to seeing what her true skills are. Happy reading my friends.

Another Day

I love David Levithan's books. Haven't read one I disliked. One of my favorites was Everyday. It is the story of A, who jumps to a new body every day. He meets Rhiannon and falls in love and for the first time, tells someone about his life and his rules. He leaves her with Alexander, in hopes she can find happiness with him. Well this book is the same story from Rhiannon's point of view. It shares her feelings as she learns of A's life, his feelings for her, and her dysfunctional relationship with Justin. She must decide if the outside of a person matters if you love the inside. She must decide if she can deal with the life A presents to her. She must decide if her own happiness is more important than what other people think. I couldn't put this book down. I put off reading it for a while because the first one made me sad and happy, but mostly sad. This one leave me with more hope. If I could send David Levithan a post-it note, it would have a big, red heart on it. It doesn't matter which book you read first, it just matters that you read these books. It will make you question what is important and reaffirm that YOU are important. The kids in my classes who have read this will love this tale told from the other side. Know I did! Happy reading my friends!