Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray


Series: --
Next book in series: --
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Hardcover: 400 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library, 350 Page
Overall: 5/5


Summary                                                                              
From bestselling, Printz award-winning author Libba Bray comes the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.
First Paragraph                                                                                                                               
This book begins with a plane crash. We do not want you to worry about this. According to U.S. Department of Unnecessary Statistics, your chances of dying in a place crash are one in a half of million. Whereas your chances of losing your bathing suit bottoms to a strong tide are two to one. So, all in all, it's safer to fly than to go to the beach. As we said, this book begins with a plane crash. But there are survivors. You see? Already it's a happy tale. They are all beauty queen contestants. You do not need to know their names here. But you will get to know them. They are all such nice girls. Yes, they are nice, happy, shining, patriotic girls who happen to have interests in baton twirling, sign language, AIDS prevention in the animal population, the ancient preparation of popadam, feminine firearms, interpretive dance, and sequins. Such a happy story. And shiny, too. 
My Thoughts                                                                                                                                 
Wow. I don't even really know where to start. This book was freakin' hilarious! I was laughing so hard at different parts in the novel. To be honest, when I first heard about this book, I wasn't very interested. Beauty Queens? I asked. Seriously? 


But then I heard that it was basically a parody of different things. Also that it was a much lighter, funnier, twisted version of Lord of the Flies. Which I seriously see! (If you have to read Lord of the Flies for school, or maybe you're just reading it for fun, pick up Beauty Queens afterwards if you want some giggles.) 


There are lots of funny footnotes. And I mean LOTS. At some points, too, too much. But still, it was a great book, and they were funny to read at times. 


The writing itself was awesome. Hilarious. I've read the first two book in Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series, and I loved them. She's definitely an amazing writer. I'll have to definitely check out her other books sometime soon. (When my TBR lets me, that is.) 


The characters are all so different! At times they are called by their state names (i.e. Miss Nebraska, Miss New Mexico, etc.) and sometimes their actual names. Which those are mostly for the ones who you read about more often. Like Adina, and Taylor, and Mary Lou, etc. 


I can't completely figure out which character is my favorite. At first, I was rolling my eyes at every one of them. They all seemed just so ditzy and like they couldn't form a "smart" thought. Do you know the type? But then as the story went on, you started really getting to know each character and their story and realized that they aren't the normal Beauty Queen type. They all have a certain story to them of why they entered in the first place, which you will have to read the book to find out, because I'm not giving anything away on that! 


If I had to choose which Beauty Queen was my favorite, though, I think it might be Adina. She's the smartest of them all (Sorry Taylor.). She tried to engrave the fact that there was a possibility that no one was going to come rescue them into their minds as soon as they started brainstorming of what to do. But of course, no one really listened. Adina didn't join the beauty pageant to really win, she just wanted to bring the organization down. Which is all I'm going to say! 


But other than the writing, Libba adds other fun stuff into the story like profiles of the beauty pageant contestants, and commercials. No, seriously. Commercials. You'll have to at least look in the book to understand. 


Overall, this was a great book. I'm sorry I underestimated it. I seriously didn't think I was going to like it as much as I did. I'm very glad I picked it up and read it! =) So, you people should get to it and read it. Now. Seriously. GO! 
Cover Love                                                                                                                                  
The cover is cool. =) I really like it. I mean, at first I was just staring at it like WTF? but after reading the book, the cover is hilarious and awesome. It fits SO well.  



Ha, thought I'd share this video of Libba Bray talking about Beauty Queens. You gotta love her!

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters


Series: Generation Dead, book #1
Next book in series: Kiss of Life
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Hardcover: 400 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Own
Challenge: A to Z, Off the Shelf, 350 Page
Overall: 4/5


Summary                                                                           

Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. He’s strong and silent…and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn’t want them.
The administration at Oakvale High attempts to be more welcoming of the “differently biotic." But the students don’t want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn’t breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the “living impaired” from the people who want them to disappear—for good.
When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

First Paragraph                                                                                                                               

Phoebe and her friends held their breath as the dead girl in the plaid skirt walked past their table in the lunchroom. Her motion kicked up a cool breeze that seemed to settle on the skin and catch in their hair. As they watched her go by, Phoebe could almost tell what everyone was thinking. Everyone, that is, except for the dead girl. 

My Thoughts                                                                                                                                  

At first all the different names for characters, such as their nicknames were confusing. The characters would be called by their real name one time, and then the next sentence would be their nickname by a certain person. But still, after a couple of pages the story really pulls you in. Heck, I was very curious within the first paragraph (As you can see above!)

I'm starting to get into the zombie hype (You know, just like the werewolf, vampire, fairy, angels, etc. hype?), there are a lot of books with them through YA nowadays. This may be an older YA book, but it is very good and unique! I mean, c'mon, have you ever heard of american teenagers (No one else. Not parents, or dogs, or anything. Just teenagers.) coming back to life after they die? And I mean coming back to life and going right back to their daily lives, almost as if nothing happened. I mean, of course they have their faults. They're a little slower, a little quiet, a little more zombie-like? Ha, ha! 

They don't try and eat people, they don't eat blood (Or anything else for that matter.), they just go to school. Seriously. It's awesome. Most people don't like it, but they have to deal. And I mean some people REALLY don't like it. Not going to get anymore into that because I don't want to ruin the story by telling those of you who haven't read it yet. 

The writing was good and really funny at times, it flowed well and had me hooked. The characters were cool, I mean, Margi annoyed me a little, but other than that she was pretty cool. Adam was awesome! He was a jock, but really sweet and was one of Phoebe's best friends. Have you ever heard of a goth girl being best friends with a  football player? Or a football player being in love with that said  goth girl? Ah, said way too much already. 

Tommy, and the other 'living-impaired' students were pretty cool. I still don't know the full deal on how him and a few other dead characters can move and talk a little faster than the other 'living-impaired', but hopefully I will find out in the next installment. Which I will be trying to fit into my reading pile soon! *Looks over at insanely high tbr stack and glares*

Tommy was really sweet and I liked Phoebe and him together, but at the same time they didn't click right. 

Overall, it was good. That's all I have to say. If you're a fan of zombies, or maybe even if you aren't a fan of zombies, pick it up! It's unique and fun. 

Cover Love                                                                                                                                      

The cover is pretty cool. It's pretty. Not one of those 'OMG, this is gorgeous and awesome!' book covers, but still pretty. I kind of wish it would of been a little different because it made me think there was a dead, er, 'living-impaired' cheerleader in the book, but there wasn't. There was only Tommy, who played on the football team for a little while. 

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick


Series: Hush, Hush, book #1
Next book in series: Crescendo
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Paperback: 391 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Own
Challenge: Off the Shelf, Book Blogger Recommendation, 350 Page
Overall: 4/5

Summary                                                                             

To Nora Grey, Patch seems like the completely unexpected, picture-perfect guy; handsome, friendly, attentive. But perhaps he's too perfect, too attentive, trespassing over the line between would-be boyfriend and stalker. At first confused and then frightened, Nora eventually discovers that both she and her ever-watchful companion are enmeshed in a primordial battle for souls.

First Paragraph                                                                                                                                

Chauncey was with a farmer's daughter on the grassy banks of the Loire River when the storm rolled in, and having let his gelding wander in the meadow, was left to his own two feet to carry him back to the chateau. He tore a silver buckle off his shoe, placed it in the girl's palm, and watched her scurry away, mud slinging on her skirts. Then he tugged on his boots and started for home. 

My Thoughts                                                                                                                                  

The first few pages of Hush, Hush pulled me in. I was hooked to the story before the first chapter even started.    I had a little trouble getting through this book, but that's not because of the book, I just didn't have much time to read and I didn't like only being able to read a few pages at a time. 

Nora was a good character, but she wasn't a favorite. I liked reading about her and Patch, even though Patch was kind of creepy at first. (Sorry to those of you who are in love with Patch!) I mean, I do love Patch, but not very much in the beginning. He's still a bit creepy to me, but towards the end of the book I started liking him. 

Nora and Patch's relationship is weird. I can't really explain that, it's just so different, if that makes sense. Which different is good. Unique. And gosh, do I looove me some YA angels! 

Patch is cocky and doesn't care about anything it seems, and Nora stands up for herself (Which I really liked, it's unlike a lot of the main girl characters in YA.) 

I loved Nora and Vee's friendship, they really show the meaning of best friends. Though Vee, alone, really got on my nerves at times. You'll just have to read it and see what I mean. 

Overall, this book is really unique, I'm not going to go into too many details because I don't want to give any spoilers away. But Fitzpatrick's writing is really good, can't wait to read the next installment. I'll definitely be trying to get my hands on that soon. =)

Cover Love                                                                                                                                    

This cover is so cool! It's all cloudy, and shows a fallen angel and there are black feathers everywhere! So cool! And I really like the font. 
Book Trailer                                                                                                                                  

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Series: Touch Mortal, book #1
Next book in series: A Touch Morbid
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date:  February 22, 2011
Hardcover: 432 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy:Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Library
Challenge: Debut Author, Support Your Local Library, 350 Page
Overall: 5/5

Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long, happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end. 

First Paragraph: Eden dug her hand into the damp sand, black polish chipping off the tip of her fingernails. The sand was cold, the beach pockmarked by late afternoon raindrops. A gust of wind ruffled through her dark hair. Eden sighed. 

A Touch Mortal blew me away. I mean, I had heard it was a great debut, and it was backed up with a bad-ass cover, but I honestly didn't know it would be this good. It greatly exceeded my expectations. I mean, at times it was kind of confusing, but it was a great read! Leah Clifford did an amazing job and she has definitely added her name to my overgrowing list of authors to stalk, er, I mean watch out for! Ha, ha!

This book is packed with characters, but they all have their own personalities and their own purpose adding to the story. (I mean, c'mon, Kristen anyone? She was severely insane, but awesome!)

This book was so strange, but not a bad strange. It was the type of strange you are very curious about. I couldn't put this book down, and if I absolutely had to, I was thinking about it and trying to process everything in my head. I finished this book about a month ago, I think?, and I still can't stop thinking about it. I'm sorry I can't give a great review, but it's just something I can't really put into words. 

All I can say is this is definitely a book you want to have on your to-read list, and hopefully it's near the top of your list! You'll be very sorry if it's not. I can't wait for the sequel, I hate how it's so far away!! 

I recommend this to all dark, angel loving, immortal loving, strange loving, readers out there! If that even possibly makes sense!

Cover: Absolutely bad-ass!

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

 Linger by Maggie Steifvater


Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls, book #2
Read my review of Shiver. 
Next book in series: Forever
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Hardcover: 360 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Own
Challenge: A-Z Challenge, Off the Shelf, Book Blogger Recommendation, 350 Page
Overall: 5/5

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, inLinger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

First Paragraph: This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one. 

Oh. My. Gosh. I don't even know what to say! And how many times have you seen me say that on this blog? Ha ha. I just finished Linger about ten minutes ago. I cannot believe the ending! I want to scream! My mind cannot wrap around all of this. I really wish I had Forever in my hands right now. This is going to bug me until I finally do get to read it. 


Maggie Stiefvater has done it again. Linger was amazing. Not as good as Shiver, but almost! Still five stars. The writing in this sequel was beautiful and lyrical just like the first, but has a little bit more of a darker edge. 


And just like the first novel you are able to get in the heads of Sam and Grace, but they aren't the only ones this time around! You are able to get into Isabel's head and a new character, Cole. I enjoyed reading Isabel's point of view and Cole's, as well! I have loved Isabel from the beginning, she's among my favorite characters. At first I didn't like Cole very much, but I definitely do now! I was able to get to know him a lot throughout the book. 


I can't wait for Forever! The ending left with a huge cliffhanger! VERY huge! I NEED to know what happens. I cried at the end for Sam and Grace. Fate is against them, but they aren't ready to give up! It's so tragic and beautiful and it leaves you breathless. 


Overall, this was amazing and is definitely my favorite wolf series out there. 

Cover: Just as amazing as the first. :)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater


Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls, book #1
Next book in series: Linger
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: January 1st, 2009
Hardcover: 392 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Own
Challenge: Off the Shelf, Book Blogger Recommendation, 350 page
Overall: 5/5

the cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. 
the heat. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now. 
the shiver. For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

First paragraph: I remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves. They were licking me, biting me, worrying at my body, pressing in. Their huddled bodies blocked what little heat the sun offered. Ice glistened on their ruffs and their breath made opaque shapes that hung in the air around us. The musky smell of their coats made me think of wet dog and burning leaves, pleasant and terrifying. Their tongues melted my skin; their careless teeth ripped at my sleeves and snagged through my hair, pushed against my collarbone, the pulse at my neck.

This is my second time reading Shiver. My first time reading it was in early 2010, I fell in love with it then and I think I possibly love it just a little bit more reading it the second time. This book is just....beautiful. The writing flows together almost lyrically and add in Sam's bit of poetry it fits together so well. The whole novel is told in alternating perspectives, between Grace and Sam. Sometimes I hate when books have that, but not with Grace and Sam. 

I love seeing how everything unfolds in the eyes of both Grace and Sam, their different points of view on everything and how they both feel about each other. 

This isn't just about werewolves, it's about doing absolutely everything to stay with the person you love. Even giving up your wolf side to become fully human. The love they have for each other, way before they truly ever met each other as human to human is just completely magical and beautiful.

The emotions in this book are so strong that you just have to feel them all too. I cried so much in this book that its ridiculous. Even this second time around. All of it just completely makes me utterly speechless.

Not only do I love Sam and Grace, but I love all the supporting characters too. Isabel, Rachel, Olivia. Especially Isabel. She has the perfect attitude of sarcasm and angst. 

If you haven't picked up this series yet, do it now. You won't be sorry! If you're in love with love, and werewolves, you'll be in love with this book. 

Cover: The cover is gorgeous. Simple, and gorgeous.  

Also, as a side note, if you haven't noticed Shiver's font is in blue, and not the normal black. And the second book, Linger, is in green ink. Which I think is absolutely cool! 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins


Series: The Hunger Games, book #2
Read my review for The Hunger Games.
Next Book in Series: Mockingjay
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Hardcover: 391 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Bought
Challenge: A to Z, Off the Shelf,  350 Page Book
Overall: 5/5

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol.

First Paragraph: I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air. My muscles are clenched tight against the cold. If a pack of wild dogs were to appear at this moment, the odds of scaling a tree before they attacked are not in my favor. I should get up, move around, and work the stiffness from my limbs. But instead I sit, as  motionless as the rock beneath me, while the dawns begins to lighten the woods. I can't fight the sun. I can only watch helplessly as it drags me into a day that that I've been dreading for months.  

Even though Catching Fire wasn't as good as The Hunger Games, it is still a favorite of mine and a great sequel to The Hunger Games. I was worried, at first, that I wouldn't be able to jump back into the book because I wasn't really sure what could possibly go on in this book without Katniss and Peeta in the game anymore and just the fact that after reading The Hunger Games  I had VERY high expectations about it's sequel.


I think this possibly might be my all-time favorite series now. But then I start thinking about all my other top favorite series and can't possibly choose.


Catching Fire got so many reactions out of me, which a truly great book always does. I screamed and wanted to throw the book across the room so many times due to some of the events that happened. I was hit in the face so many times because I wasn't expecting the events to happen. Which I've always loved about these books because I've never been able to guess what would happen next.


You can see that Katniss has grown a lot since being in the Hunger Games and you get to see the effect that it has had on her. Even though Katniss annoys me at times with the whole Peeta situation, I still love her as a main character.


Overall, I absolutely loved this book. But absolutely HATE the cliffhanger at the end. I own the first two books, but don't have the last one yet, sadly. I went to put it on hold, being very happy I was going to be going to the library the next day, but to find that ALL 32 copies of the book that the library systems in my town has, were all UNAVAILABLE. I put it on hold and I'm currently 28 on the list to get it. WHY?!


I recommend this to everyone. Read it!


Cover: Even though I absolutely love this series, the covers are on my top favorite lists. Though I love that they fit the storyline. Book design is by Elizabeth B. Parisi

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl


Series: Caster Chronicles, book #1
Next book in series: Beautiful Darkness
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 1, 2009
Hardcover: 563 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult 
Author Website
Buy: Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: A-Z, Support Your Local Library, 350 Page Books
Overall: 5/5

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

First Lines: There were only two kinds of people in our town. "The stupid and the stuck," my father had affectionately classified our neighbors. "The ones who are bound to stay or too dumb to go. Everyone else finds a way out."

Okay, I'm going to start off by saying that I don't read many books that have males as the main character in the story. I guess it's because I relate better with a female point-of-view, so when I first picked up this book, I had no clue it was told in the POV of a male. For some reason I had always thought it was a female. When I found out the main character was a male, I was worried that I may not be able to get into it. 

Which I am VERY glad to say I DEFINITELY got into it. I was hooked after only a few chapters in. Sometimes it seemed like the story dragged on, but then something would happen that would make all of that alright. I would easily fly through 20 pages without realizing. 

It took me longer than it should have to read Beautiful Creatures, I guess because I didn't want the story to end. (Even though I know there is a sequel.) Garcia and Stohl did a great job at keeping the story captivating and unique. 

The story wasn't predictable at all, which I absolutely loved. I hate being able to figure out what will happen before it happens. It's much more fun being completely surprised to the point your jaw drops. (Which happened a lot, by the way.) 

They did an awesome job at the descriptions of everything, I could easily picture everything and felt as though I was right there experiencing everything. Their details are amazing! I also love the fact that this novel is a mixture of different things; romance, mystery, historical facts, magic! 

All of the characters felt real. Besides Lena and Ethan, I really loved Uncle Macon. He was hilarious and had me cracking up at nearly everything he said. His secret REALLY surprised me. Which I'm not going to get into because I really want it to make your jaw drop as well. :) 

Overall, there isn't really much I can say about this book other than I loved it. I can never really explain all the reasons why I loved a book. Especially one that has made it to a favorite. I guess I've been saying that a lot around the blog. I've been picking out great books to read. 


I recommend this to anyone who loves magic mixed in with a little romance, historical facts,  and mystery.

Cover: I loved the cover. It was dark, gorgeous, simple.With awesome font! I love the dark background, with the purple font. It's so pretty! Book design by David Caplan.