Clock Work Angel Review

Set in 1878 London, we first meet Tessa, a 16 year old from New York. After Tessa’s aunt, and primary caregiver, passes away, Tessa travels to London to live with her brother, Nathaniel. Upon arriving to London, Tessa is surprised when two mysterious women pick her up instead of Nathaniel. She soon realizes her brother is missing and decides to do whatever it takes to find him!


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Review: The Sweet Life of Stella Madison

Stella Madison has quite the summer. She has a boyfriend, Max, who has just dropped “The L-Word,” and seems to be perfect boyfriend material, great friends, and she managed to land a summer internship at a local paper. Sounds great, right? Now, throw in a cute, older guy that works at Stella’s mom’s restaurant (who she cannot stop thinking about) and trying to figure out her separated-but not divorced-for six years parents’ relationship. Stella’s journey is full of ups and downs while she tries to figure out what and whom she wants.

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Review: StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Fantasy vs. Historical Fiction vs. Young Adult.
It's not easy to categorize StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce. Following the success of her debut novel, A Curse Dark as Gold, Bunce transitions into a whole new world in this new book, due out October 1st. Lovers of magic, lovers of the Renaissance-era, and lovers of just plain great writing will all enjoy this read!

Find out more about the tale here.

Announcing the winner of MOCKINGJAY!

We had a lot of great entires in our MOCKINGJAY giveaway this past week.

Honorable mentions go to Andy Porter with his hybrid creation, the PeetaGale.

"I was thinking of a PeetaGale. This is obviously a meld of the two love interests from the books. The powers of the hybrid are the ability to love like Peeta, and the ability to be loved like Gale. This is the perfect solution to Katniss' predicament."

I don't care who you are, that's just hilarious.

Also to Callie and Jen Hen, whose creations were super cute:

"What about a winged fox, called a Boxwing? (bird...fox...box) it would be airodynamic and light like a bird, and smart and furry like a fox, so it could evade predators and be insulated against cold wind...also, it would make a good predator." ~ Callie

"How about a porcuphant. Imagine a smaller sized elephant (large dog sized) with quills. Though super cute, they aren't very cuddly. The quills make catching them for circus' a little difficult." ~ Jen Hen


But I think we can all agree on the winner, whose muttation creation was well thought out and rang true to THE HUNGER GAMES tradition:

Congrats mary-j-59!!

Your wirewolf mutt was awesome!

"The wirewolf. In the 21st century, distressed by humankind's enduring hatred and fear of wolves, the brilliant geneticist Victoria Frankenstein collaborated with the biologist Nate Kipling to fit a small pack of Alaskan wolves with voiceboxes that would translate their howls to human speech. The pack survived, in spite of this interference, because non-engineered wolves were clearly impressed with the beauty of the wirewolves' howls. Gradually, the subspecies mingled with unaltered wolves and spread eastward. Today, the beautiful nightly howls, in full operatic voice and four- part harmony, can be heard as far east as Michigan, with rumors of wild wirewolves in New York and New England. It should be noted, though, that, even though they may howl in human words, these are still wild animals and should not be treated as pets. If you are fortunate enough to come across a wirewolf, give it space and observe it quietly.

This last point leads to what the wirewolf may symbolize. How one sees this beautiful animal depends on what one brings to the encounter. Some people see the wirewolf as an unfortunate reminder of humankind's desire to control nature and tame the untameable. Others see the beast as a pointer to the difference between artistic expression and rationality, while still others point it out as a clear example of altruism and the hope for true inter-species communication."

Please email me at mandy [at] yabookscentral [dot] com with your full name and mailing address, and I'll have a copy of MOCKINGJAY sent out right away.

Thanks, everyone, for playing!

Review: Karma Bites

Franny Flanders can’t seem to catch a break. Her two best friends are not speaking to each other, her nutty grandmother just moved in, and her parents are recently divorced. Franny is convinced that the only karma she has, is just bad. When she learns of a secret-magic recipe box, she is convinced that it will fix all of her problems. Franny soon finds out, when you mess with the world, it will come back and get you. With a little help from some friends, Franny learns what she needs to do to get her life back to normal.

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Review: Dear America: The Fences between Us

Pearl Harbor has been bombed. The government has rationed food. Piper's brother may be dead. And innocent men are going to jail. Click here to read more ...

Review: Sunny Bunnies

How many things can you do in 1 day, at the beach? Let's find out! Join a brother and sister bunny on their way to the beach. Your child with love this book with wonderful rhyming words and fantastic fun all along the way! Perfect for children of any age!

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Review: Fire Will Fall

‘Fire Will Fall’ picks up where ‘Streams of Babel’ left off. The Trinity Four have been isolated in a remote mansion under twenty-four hour medical care while scientist on four continents rush to discover a cure. Meanwhile, U.S. operatives scour the world for the bioterrorists responsible for this heinous crime, as two teen virtual spies, also infected, hunt for the criminals on the Internet. The danger remains real-for ShadowStrike has every reason to pursue the Trinity Four, and their evil plan will unleash a new designer virus that’s even deadlier than the first.

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Review: Scars

The fact that author Cheryl Rainfield is a former cutter and an abuse survivor makes Scars even more chilling than it would have been otherwise. Kendra is a victim of sexual abuse but she has repressed her memory of her abuser. She does remember him telling her that he will kill her if she ever tells what happened. He is now stalking her as well, occasionally dropping off little ‘presents’.

Kendra releases some of the emotion through cutting,a dangerous means of easing the emotional pain.  Readers will understand her actions while, at the same time, get chills at the thought of her self-mutilation.  Scars is a gripping story, full of emotion.  Scars (and Kendra) are winners.  (Click here to read more.)

Win a Copy of MOCKINGJAY!

I just couldn't stand the excitement over MOCKINGJAY's release tomorrow, so we're having a giveaway! There will only be one winner, so read the instructions carefully:

Step 1) Come up with your own muttation or hybrid animal (like the mockingjay), complete with special abilities and symbolism.  

Step 2) Share it with us in the comments section of this post.

Hint: You'll get more "points" with the judge (me) if you share an image of your creation with us. Even more points if you create a short video. Even more points if you let others know about this contest on your blog, Facebook or Twitter! But don't worry, the most points will go toward creativity -- the most absurd, silly, or genius creation will win in the end. So give it your best shot!

Let the games begin!

Open to US residents only. Contests entries must be received by August 26th at midnight to be eligible. If you share this contest with your friends (blog, facebook, twitter) please let us know in the comments so we know you did! The winner will be announced on Friday, August 27th. The winning copy will be shipped once contact information has been obtained. Good luck!

Review: Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow

Abigail Stewart lives a simple life in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, but the War for Independence quickly intrudes on her family when General George Washington leads his troops to winter in the area ... Click here to read more.

Review: Dear America: A Journey to the New World

Twelve-year-old Mem Whipple and her family have endured a difficult trip to the New World aboard the Mayflower. Sickness and deprivation mar their trip. When they arrive in the new land, they hope to forge a new, better life ... Click here to read more.

Review: Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic

When her brother left her sick and weak on an orphanage stoop in Whitechapel, England, Margaret Ann Brady wondered if she would ever see him again. Click here to read more.

Beautiful Dead Arizona

Darina helps the Beautiful Dead--teens that aren't dead but not alive either.  They have one year to find the truth behind their deaths in order to pass on.  It's up to Darina to help them.  Now it's time to help Arizona, a former Ms. high maintenance drama queen at Ellerton High.  Her death was ruled a suicide but something isn't quite right.  Beautiful Dead Arizona is book two of a very gripping paranormal series.  I couldn't wait to get this book.  I wasn't disappointed.

Click here to read more of my review

Justin Bieber: The Fever! Review

Justin Bieber: The Fever! is the perfect book for anyone wanting to know more about Justin’s journey from YouTube video debut to mega pop star – seemingly overnight. A quick and easy read, Marc Shapiro tailors this biography to tweens and teens and delivers the inside scoop on Justin’s superstar life.

Reading about his celebrity crushes, his plans for the future, his epic sixteenth birthday party (which was a three-day affair including a lavish gift from Usher) will fascinate tried and true Bieber fans.

Click here to read my full review >>

Fallout

Ellen Hopkins has done it again!  Fallout is the stunning conclusion to Crank told through the eyes of three of Kristina's children.  All have felt the effect of the 'monster' of meth in their lives.  This story is powerful and will stay with you!

Click here to read more of my review.

Wildthorn

Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove thinks she's going off to be the companion to a daughter of some rich family.  Instead her horse drawn carriage pulls up in front of Wildthorn Hall, an asylum for the insane.

Louisa is sure this is a huge mistake.  They even call her by a different name.  Only later does she learn the horrible truth--that she was betrayed.  Her crime?  She refuses to follow the norms of her time.  She's determined to escape this horror.  Wildthorn is an extraordinary historical tale with chilling descriptions of what happened to young women who refused to follow the norms of  that time.

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July Book Giveaway Winners

Congrats to our July Book Giveaway Winners!

Winners of COUNTDOWN
bookaholic117
darlenecomeaux
traymona
Katelyn.Burgess
hawkes

And the winner of the Grand Prize (a copy of COUNTDOWN and a loaded iPod Shuffle)
zhoubluebear

Winners of GHOSTGIRL: LOVESICK
booksake

baileythebookworm

wildpeetree7

koolkat25654

skberlin5

littopandaxpress

michelleconner23456

Mrs.Graef

jsmaslonaker

readergirls

rachel21695

divinedenyse

treyswifie

nancyedavis

addicted2novels

Winners of OTHER by Karen Kincy:
kaileybehrendt

michelleconner23456

willbprez

NickPengRune

girliess13

readergirls

jenmcconnel

August Book Giveaways

Click on the book cover to enter to win your very own copy!


THE THIN EXECUTIONER by Darren Shan


CHERUB: THE RECRUIT by Robert Muchamore


JUSTIN BIEBER: THE FEVER! by Marc Shapiro

CROSSED OUT by Kim Bacciella


Good luck!

Review: The Snowball Effect

The Snowball Effect, Holly Nicole Hoxter's debut novel, is about grief.  Lainey's mother, Lisa, committed suicide soon after Lisa's boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident.  Lainey is only seventeen, almost eighteen.  She's got a five year old, special needs, adopted brother, Collin, and an older sister, Vallery, who she hasn't seen or spoken to in 10 years.  When Vallery returns home to become Lainey and Collin's guardian, it sparks a whole host of feelings. 

Lainey's grief exhibits itself in many ways.  It affects her relationship with her boyfriend.  It affects her relationship with her friends.  She must learn to live with Vallery.  It even affects her ability to do laundry, since Lisa hung herself in the basement. 

Hoxter's novel has likeable characters and a story that makes you think.  The Snowball Effect is worth reading.  Click here to read more.

Songs For A Teenage Nomad

Callie Smith has lived in twelve different places in the last eight years.  She's learned it's best not to get close to anyone as she'll probably just pack up again.  One thing that helps her is her song journal where she writes down songs that reflect her life.  At her latest stop she finds herself in Andreas Bay, California.  Also friends start to creep into her life including a cute boy with a secret.  Callie is used to secrets.  Her own mother has kept an important one from her.  All Callie wants is to settle down and find love.  Songs For A Teenage Nomad  is a lyric tale of relationships and  finding yourself.

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Bone: Tall Tales by Jeff Smith with Tom Sniegoski

Long before the Bone cousins were ever lost in the uncharted forest of the Valley, Big Johnson Bone, the discoverer of the Rolling Bone River, founded Boneville. But little is known of the might explorer's adventures before he started his famous trading post.

So when Smiley sits down with a group of young scouts to retell the legendary stories of Boneville's origins, what they hear are tall tales in typical Bone fashion -- wild antics, complete with rat creatures, dragons, and a snarky little monkey!

Bone: Tall Tales by Jeff Smith with Tom Sniegoski, a companion to the epic Bone saga, was previously published in black-and-white as Stupid-Stupid Rat-tails. This brand-new edition, published by Scholastic Graphix in both hardcover and paperback, features new stories and full-colour art.

Bone: Tall Tales serves as a perfect introduction to the series for new readers, and it's a must-have for long-time Bone fans as well. This fun collection of stories of Casper-looking underdogs is perfectly titled, because each and every funny tale Smiley shares 'round the campfire is a tall one. The glossy full-colour illustrations will reel kids in, and the high-falutin' stories will keep them intrigued. The tale of Bone's birth is especially off-the-wall. My favorite tale is the final story, in which Bone gathers a hodgepodge group of woodland creatures, including an adorable fox, a shy turtle, a very put-upon monkey, and a guardian dragon named Stillman who quickly stole a little piece of my heart, to help him in a fight against the evil rat creatures.

Two thumbs up for Tall Tales, Smith, and Sniegoski!

Just Breeze

Breeze Brannigan is the tallest girl in eighth grade.  She feels like the oddball at her middle school.  Then Cam, a new boy comes to her school.  Breeze's convinced he's from a different planet as none of the other boys at her school are so polite.  She finds out Cam has a secret.  A huge one.  Can Breeze keep his secret?  Just Breeze is a fun tale with a very likeable heroine.

Click here to read more of my review.

Review: White Cat

I have been a fan of Holly Black's world building for a very long time. What she does with fairies and trolls is a jewel in the crown of the paranormal genre. There's an edge to her work, a darkness that throws you off balance and keeps you there. So you could say I'm a fan from way back.

With the excellence she's already achieved in her books I didn't think it would be possible, but she's managed to take it to the next level with THE CURSE WORKERS: WHITE CAT.

I was hooked from the very first image of Cassel Sharpe standing on a cold roof in the middle of the night, breathing in icy air. Why was he there? What was he doing? Of course the obvious answer is always wrong, and looking for the truth kept me turning the pages (I read the ARC in one sitting, and then bought the hardback and read it again). Black drew me into Cassel's world and under his spell - beat by beat, sentence by sentence, chapter by chapter - and I was searching out answers like a heat seeking missile.

Read the rest of my review here.

Review: The Devil's Paintbox

Fifteen-year-old Aiden Lynch realizes that starving to death takes longer than he expected. The only survivors left on their parents’ Kansas farm, he and his sibling Maddy won’t last much longer. When trail guide Jefferson J. Jackson discovers the orphaned teen and his sister at the creek, they are consuming mud and looking for grasshoppers to eat. Aiden and Maddy must stay and die or travel with Jackson’s wagon train to the Pacific Northwest to find a new life.

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Meanicures

What is worse than having a friend decide to move on?  Add to that a former friend that decides to make your life miserable?  Madison is fed up with the attics of her former BF Cassidy.  Then she visits Combing Attractions and decides to follow the advice, given to someone else, of writing the names down of her former friends and burning them.  What happens next puts a whole different twist on be careful what you wish for.  Meanicures is a light fun read.

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Review: Dangerous Neighbors

Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart is a must read. Actually all of Kephart's books are must reads. Kephart describes the book the best: “It is 1876, the height of the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Katherine has lost her twin sister, Anna, and though it was an accident, Katherine remains convinced that Anna’s death was her fault. One wickedly hot September day, Katherine sets out for the exhibition grounds to cut short the life she is no longer willing to live. This is the story of what happens.” But this just touches the surface. There is so much more to this book. Read it and see.

Also, read Beth Kephart's other books: House of Dance, Nothing But Ghosts and Undercover.