SISTERS RED: A Fairy Tale Retelling

I must have picked this book up and re-read the ending at least seven times. And every single time? Tears. BUCKETS.

Scarlett March is a vividly drawn, innately strong, and yet a flawed female heroine. She's fighting against the sorrows of her past, determined not to let them bleed into her future. She's tough on the outside, maybe a little scary even, but there's a whole mess of broken behind the outer facade.

Read more of my review of SISTERS RED at YABC here.

Review: Last Breath

The Rayne Tour promised to be a stunning success, Shaley O’Connor traveling from concert to concert with her mom’s popular band. But two murders later and with Shaley just rescued from a kidnapper, the band members, Rayne and Shaley feel like they are going through the motions after their surreal experience. What the others don’t know is the man who kidnapped Shaley whispered his last words into her ear and completely upended her world: “Your father sent me.”
Click here to read more.

Help a Book Blogger's Race for the Cure

On October 6th, 2009, Andrea Ross of JustOneMoreBook.com was diagnosed with breast cancer.

On October 3rd, 2010, she will run for the cure.

If you'd like to support her efforts to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, please click here to sponsor Andrea, and help spread the word about this event!

An Interview with Sydney Salter

... author of Swoon at Your Own Risk and My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters has been posted on YABC! Click over to read about her skate-boarding skills (or lack thereof), how her worst job experience inspired a book, & her ideal summer day.

After reading the interview, be sure to check out Sydney Salter's website and then her blog where, as she says, "I host a lot of guest authors—and give away their books!"

Click here to read the interview!

Dead is Just a Rumor

Teen psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is back on a case.  This time it involves a string of mysterious letters that seem to be blackmailing those who have paranormal abilities.  Daisy is determined to find out who's behind this.  But her overprotective father is watching her every move and doesn't approve of her relationship with her boyfriend, Ryan.  Add to that a new guidance counselor who is determined to also separate Daisy and Ryan.  Plus, a sinister celebrity chef Circe Sivertongue who has secrets of her own.  Dead is Just a Rumor continues Daisy Giordano's adventures with a sassy, upbeat heroine that is sure to make you smile.

Click here to read more of my review.

Review: Sorta Like a Rock Star

Are you a prince or princess of doom or of hope?  Seventeen year old Amber Appleton is clearly a princess of hope until one night her mother leaves the school bus they call home and never returns.  She's found brutally murdered several days later.

The first half of Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick shows how outward Amber is, giving of herself to Franks Freak Force Federation or the Korean Divas for Christ or the Wednesday Afternoon Battle Between Hope and Pessisim at the Methodist Retirement Home (read the book to find out what they are). 

The second half recounts her sinking into depression after her mothers murder.  But this is not a depressing book because of Quick's upbeat, descriptive writing, his quirky characters (Door Woman Lucy, Joan the Old, Private Jackson), and his evident love of his character Amber. 

If you like quirky characters, fun plots, and a little philosophy thrown in (Joan the Old quotes Nietzsche), then you'll like Sorta Like a Rock Star.  (I'm not going to tell you why the book is so titled.  You'll have to read it to find out.)

Review: Brain Camp

Summer camp is the time for meeting new friends and having fun.  Camp Fielding is the exception.  Both Jenna and Lucas are sent there by their parents, who hope this opportunity will help them unlease their hidden potentials.  Instead sinister things await them.  Brain Camp feels like one of those spooky urban tales told over a campfire complete with horror filled twists and turns.

Click here to read more of my review. 

YABC Receives Top 50 Children's Book Blog Award!

Congrats to everyone here at Young Adult Books Central! YABC has been named one of the top 50 Children's Book Blogs!


PhD Online

Review: Don't Call Me Sidney

Sidney is a pig with a problem. No good words rhyme with his name. Disaster for this aspiring poet! What will he do?
Click here to read more.

Other

Gwen Williams has a secret that she can't reveal.  She's a shapeshifter.  In her small Washington town it's dangerous to be an Other.  Gwen longs to share this with her religious boyfriend Zack but fear holds her back.

Then a werewolf clan shows up and Others are murdered.  Also Tavian, a mysterious guy, shows up who might be an Other too.  Gwen finds herself attracted to Tavian but holds back from revealing her secret.  Other is an urban fantasy mystery complete with lush descriptions that is sure to sweep you away.

Click here to read more of my review.

Review: Queen of Secrets

Essie and Micah are cousins, but she won’t tell anyone. Why is she denying their relationship? Because Micah is an observant Jew and wears his yarmulke every day. He misses football practice on the Jewish holidays. He’s different. Essie is not observant at all.

As a new member of the ‘in-crowd’ now that she’s a cheerleader, Essie isn’t confident enough that her new friends will continue being her friends if they knew she and Micah were cousins.

A missed field goal kick by Micah will test both their convictions as well as their family ties.

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff explores family and friendship and self confidence and convictions. It’s a well written coming-of-age story. It’s realistic. It makes you think. You should definitely read it. (Click here to read my review.)

2 Chicks Chat ... LINGER

Myra McEntire and I (MG Buehrlen) are starting a new feature at YABC called 2 Chicks Chat, where we let you in on our (embarrassingly candid) discussions regarding the latest in YA lit.

Our first installment?

A she said/she said review of Maggie Stiefvater's LINGER.

*Warning* This review contains mild spoilers and a blatant disregard for punctuation.  

Here's a snippet to get you started, then click on the "read more" link below to continue to the full chat transcript.

~Let’s start with Sam and Grace~

Myra: I think it was nice to see an established, obviously committed-for-the-long-haul couple in YA in juxtaposition to a HOT NEW whatever it was with Isabel and Cole

MG:  Yes, I really enjoyed seeing Sam and Grace in an established place and seeing the trials teens in their situation would have to go through, in terms of being “too young” to be truly in love.

Myra: Holla to Maggie for bringing her A-game on the relationships.

I read for the relationships - to see how they develop. More so than for plot I think.

They all felt real. Even Grace's journey with her parents. I hope FOREVER explores Sam and Cole's relationship.

Rules of Attraction

Carlos Fuentes is sent to Colorado to live with his older brother Alex.  He's not too excited.  Then he's set to live with one of his brother's college professors who just happens to have this very annoying daugher, Kiara, who gets on his nerves. But there's an attraction between the two there's no denying.


Rules of Attraction is one of those stories with a great love story that goes against the odds. It's up to Carlos to decide whether he should follow his heart or let their social differences stand in the way. Click here to read more of my review.

Are You the Next YABC Teen Reviewer?

Calling all teens! It's that time of year again. This year's Teen Demi-Goddess (Noel) has done a spectacular job, but it's time for the changing of the guard.

If you are interested in being the next YABC Teen Reviewer, please check out our offical application form. Applicants must be between 13 - 19 during the 2010 calendar year.

Application deadline is July 31, 2010. Good luck, everyone!

FREE Audiobook Downloads from SYNC

Check it out, YABC readers! Each week, SYNC is giving away 2 FREE downloads -- a popular Young Adult title paired with a Classic title that appears on Summer Reading lists -- starting July 1 through September 1, 2010.

Available July 8 - July 14
Over the End Line by Alfred C. Martino
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay


Available July 15 - July 21
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson


Available July 22 - July 28
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll


Available July 29 - August 4
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson


Available August 5 - August 11
Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith


Available August 12 - August 18
Beastly by Alex Flinn
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson


Available August 19 - August 25
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare


Available August 26 - September 1
Handbook for Boys by Walter Dean Myers
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

SYNC is hosted by Audiobook Community, a new social networking site for the discovery of audiobooks. Visit Audiobook Community each week to download these great books!

Amigas Fifteen Candles

Alicia Cruz has it all.  She lives in Miami, Florida and just got a prestigious internship.  Then she runs into Sarita, who's worried about her upcoming quinceanera.  What's a girl to do?  Alicia decides to help Sarita by putting together the 'perfect' quinceanera with the help of her amigas.  Amigas Fifteen Candles is a fast paced tale that shows the power of amigas can do just about anything. 

Review: Before I Fall

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is about Sam Kingston. She and her in-crowd friends, Lindsay, Ally and Elody are coming home on a Friday night from a Valentine's Day party at Kent McFuller's house. Lindsay is driving when they see a white flash in front of them. Lindsay swerves, crashing into a tree and killing Sam who is riding shotgun.

However, she wakes up the next morning when her sister Izzy wakes her up for school. Is it a dream? How could it be Friday again? But it is and the day's events replay themselves. Is she dead or alive?

Sam replays Friday six times, each time gaining some insight into herself, her friends, her boyfriend Rob and some of the non-in-crowd people who she and her friends torment, as the in-crowd is prone to do.

Before I Fall is well worth reading for the writing, the story and possibly the insights you may gain. Click here to read my full review. 

Shadow Hills

Persephone "Phe" Archer is having a hard time dealing with the drowning death of her sister. After a series of dreams, she decides to go to Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts, the place mentioned in her sister's diary. Once there she finds a graveyard that is just like the one in her dreams. She also runs into Zach, a cute townie with his own secret. Shadow Hills is a great paranormal thriller that also addresses some sci-fi themes. Another Egmont winner!

Click here to read my full review..

Passing Strange

When Karen Desonne was alive, she lived the life of a norm teen. But doing this cost her the love of her life. Now that she's dead, she's trying to pass off as being alive. In the meantime her zombie friends have been accused of killing a lawyer. They go underground to avoid being caught and killed a second time. Karen finds out her friends have been framed by Pete Martinsburg, who's involved in the anti-zombie movement. Karen decides to get close to Pete, hoping he'll reveal the truth. Passing Strange is the third book in the Generation Dead series. This time we find out more through the eyes of Karen. Will she succeed in finding out the truth? Click here to read my full review...

June Book Winners

WHITE CAT Winners:

judybrittle
annkerr65
lancemib
miraitrunksgirl2
Jessikahx
corapera
celialarsen
yilingni
mestas.amanda
helenkeeler




SHADE Winners:

rnoel1
jaanemaan786
Katelyn.Burgess
traymona
xxloveless
NickPengRune
aroudenbush
lostinbelieving
lydia.olajide
itryme




SHADOWED SUMMER Winners:

judo500
bentzen.linda1943
aprilmom00
perfectlittleangel
michelleconner23456









DORK DIARIES 2 Winners:

rexreadingrobot
baileythebookworm
LPoser1
iceberg_freak_old_person
cbdileo
PelicanJL
josiebakerbooks
stacedog01
natashalinder
ntaylor228




Congrats, everyone! Click here to enter this month's giveaways!

Review: Side Effects

The novel Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss chronicles six months in the life of Isabelle, a 12-year-old with lymphoma. When Isabelle went to the doctor because her swollen glands did not seem to be getting better, he immediately sent her to the hospital for tests. It turns out that she has cancer. Her treatment? Eight rounds of chemotherapy, the side effects of which are nausea, hair loss and several other unpleasant conditions.

A novel such as this can go one of two ways: it can be totally depressing or it can be extremely hopeful. Thankfully, Koss took the second approach. Side Effects explores how Izzy and her family and friends handle her illness. Izzy tries to be herself, joking and drawing, even when the nausea is too much or when her hair begins to fall out. Her best friend Kay stands beside her throughout the ordeal, showing her to be the very best of best friends.


Koss deals with the physical impact of chemo on Izzy and the emotional impact of the disease on her family and friends. You will like Izzy and Kay. You'll relate to her parents. You'll feel everyone's pain. Like Poison Ivy and The Girls, Side Effects handles a difficult topic in an extremely readable manner. It is a book you should read and it is a book you will want to read once you begin. You can count on Amy Goldman Koss for fine writing, great characters and a plot you can sink your teeth into.

Click here to read my full review.