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Friday, July 23, 2010

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard


I was lying in bed one day, sick as a dog, and I decided to pick this one up just for some entertainment. While I started it with low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised.

Callie, your typical not so popular teenager goes on a class trip to England, she finds her self ditched by her trip partner, and stuck in a hotel. So when she goes out and does a little shopping, she comes out with a pair of red Prada heels. As she steps out of the store, she takes a tumble and finds herself transported to the 18th century. While she's there, she becomes friends with Emily, a well to do girl who is currently trapped in an unwanted marriage. And things really start to take a turn when she finds herself into a new romance with the arrogant but incredibly handsome Duke. So what is a modern girl in a not so modern world to do? Cause trouble, of course.

The book was a cute read, even though the writing was simple at times and the plot fairly predictable. I finished it that same day, and I found myself getting a few good laughs and swooning at her unpredictable relationship with the Duke.

Callie is a cute character that I think a lot of teens could relate too, and her personality is fun and quirky. All in all, an enjoyable read that I would suggest to anyone. I give it a 7/10.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Books to be Read!

I know, I know. I haven't updated in forever.
I've been a bit busy, and I hope you will all understand!
However, I did just pick up a few books at the library, so I'm hoping to get a couple reviews out, soon!

For now, I've complied a list of books I'm just dying to read!

1.) The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
- I've wanted to read this book since forever, but I could never find it anywhere! I thought it was weird since it seemed like a pretty popular book.
I read the reviews and summaries on Barnes and Noble, and it seems so interesting and unique.
Just a cute book in general!
Plus, I heard it was going to be a movie soon? Logan Lerman, who starred in Percy Jackson, is suppose to play Charlie. I also heard Emma Watson was going to be in it! So I'm just dying to read it.

2.) Wintergirls
- Laurie Halse Anderson is an amazing author, and I've enjoyed all the books I've read by her. I'm especially intrigued by this one! My mother has it on CD, but I prefer actually reading the book, so I'll just wait until I can find it. :)

3.) Along For The Ride
- I've read almost all of Sarah Dessen's books, and I've even mentioned before how she is one of my favorite authors. So I'm itching to get my hands on this book! I still need to read Lock and Key, as well!

4.) Will Grayson Will Grayson
- John Green. Is that enough?
I'm DYING to read this. His books never fail me, and I don't expect this one too, either.
I haven't previously read anything by David Levithan, however, so I want to see what he adds on to the writing.

5.) Anything about Marilyn Monroe, old Hollywood Glamour, 50's, or pinup!
-I'm obsessed. I've found myself absorbed in the world of Rockabilly and vintage fashion. So I'm looking for some good books that are based around these topics. If you know of anything, please let me know the title and author!

Read any of these yet, lovelies? Let me know! And give me some other suggestions you have.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Weekend Blog Hop!


Hello, everyone!
Time really seems to fly! I can't believe this is my third week in the hop!
If you found me via the hop, leave a comment saying hello! I love to find new blogs!

And, the question of this week!

Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!
- Well, my top three favorite authors would have to be John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Rick Riordan! All of these fantastic authors continue to write books that always capture my interest, and they all write books that I can never seem to put down. While all three of them write in totally different genres, they all have plots that are riveting and touching. I could read and reread all their books over and over! That's why they are my favorites. :)

Violet On The Runway by Melissa Walker


If you're looking for a nice, easy read and you're interested in fashion and modeling, this may be a good book for you. It's a pretty fast read, and I finished it in about a day and a half!

Violet Greenfield has lived her whole life as a wallflower, so when a glamorous modeling agent discovers her and tells her she could be the next big thing, Violet travels to New York and is swept away in a world of snobby models, expensive clothes, heartbreaking boys, and the press.

The plot is pretty good, even though it isn't too original. The writing at times seem kind of simple, but the quirky humor is entertaining and good for a day when you don't feel like reading anything very difficult.

Also, if you're interested in the modeling industry and fashion, you'll enjoy the references made to Chanel and Prada.

All in all, I give the book a 5/10.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Tell me what book YOU think I should read!

Hello, lovelies!
I'm really sorry about the lack of updates, but It was a busy weekend! I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July, and if you aren't from the US, I hope your weekend had general awesomeness.
:)

I'm going to be at the local library tomorrow afternoon, and I would absolutely love if you left some book suggestions! Tell me what your favorite book is, or something you've just read that you think I should read! I want YOU guys to help me make a TBR list! I'm also thinking about rereading Harry Potter (again.)

Also, I'm going to try and expand this blog into more than reviews. Author biographies, book events, programs, blogs, etc. Let me know in the comments what you guys want to see.

Hope your week is good!
-Katie

Friday, July 2, 2010

Friday Already?!

It seems like it was yesterday I did last weeks blog hop! It was a whole bunch of fun, and I found a ton of great blogs! I'm really glad to be participating again this week!

Parajunkee's Fabulous Friday Hop!


And Crazy For Book's Book Blogger Hop!
http://www.crazy-for-books.com/2010/06/book-blogger-hop-june-25-28-2010.html


If you found me through the hop, I'm a teenager reviewing YA books for other teenagers (or anyone who loves YA literature!) Soon I'll be adding more then reviews, so don't forget to follow for new material almost everyday!

Also, leave a comment saying hello! I love finding new blogs.
:)

-Katie

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning


I recently just picked up this book to reread it. I liked it before when I first got about 2 years ago, but it sparked my interest again, and I got through it in about 3 hours.

Molly Montgomery is just an average high schooler who fails to get noticed. Mainly she stocks shelves at a convenient store and listens to her hippy parents go on about the evils of McDonalds. But her life is changed in a not so average way when she starts a band called The Hormones with her friends Jane and Tara. They hadn't gotten far when bad boy Dean and his silent dread-locked hair friend T comes into the band. Along with the boys comes a fancy manager, world wide fame, drugs, alcohol, and decisions Molly has to struggle with on a daily basis.

I love the Rock N Roll theme of this book, and it's funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Molly is a character who struggles with things much larger things than the average teenage, but still manages to be relate able. The witty humor in the book keeps the story light, and the romance aspect is typical good girl goes for bad boy.

All in all, this books wins a 6/10 from me, and I recommend it for someone looking for an easy, fast paced read.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The Summer King by O.R Melling


*Note When I first got the Summer King (I'll admit it, I only got it because the cover was shiny and gorgeous!) I didn't realize that it was part of a series. It is the second book in The Chronicles of Faerie. However, this is a book that you can read without the rest of the series.Trust me, you won't miss out on anything if you read this before you read the first book! I have not read any of the other books in the series, so I can't tell you how good it is as a whole.

The Summer King is great if you are looking for a riveting fantasy adventure! It's a book filled with interesting and fantastic creatures that will keep you enthralled until the very end. But, along with the fantasy aspect, it also has a lot of realistic qualities that will keep you feeling intouch with the book.

When twin sisters Laurel and Honor visit their family in Ireland, a tragic accident occurs that takes Honor's life and leaves Laurel distraught. A year later, Laurel is back, and she begins to think that it wasn't an accident that Honor died, and that she may even still be alive. Not only that, but Ian, her melancholy, on off love interest whom she blames for her twin's death, has come back and it is making her head reel. She then begins to learn of the tales about Faerie, a mystical but extremely dangerous world parallel to their own. Together, her and Ian take a journey to find out what exactly happened to Honor. Along the way, they stumble across dangerous creatures similar to ravens, faeries, and a pirate queen named Grace O'Malley(who is based off of a real Irish pirate queen named Gráinne Ní Mháille!).

I've read this book twice, and each time I loved it. It's the kind of book you start and can't put it down until you're down. And once you're done, you'll want even more! Not only does it have tons of action and fantasy, but the romance between is Ian and Laurel is passionate and will leave many female readers swooning.

Another interesting thing about this book that I really enjoyed was the heavy Irish influence. O.R Melling is from Ireland, and it shows in the book. Not only does it take place there, but a lot of Gaelic terms and phrases are used(No stress, though! There is a translation guide in the back that shows every term used!) and a lot of Irish legends are incorporated into the plot. For example, Grace O'Malley, who helps Laurel and Ian in their journey, was a character that I personally fell in love with. Her attitude and personality was very rough, but you couldn't help but be fascinated by her. So it was really cool when I found out that she was based off of a real pirate queen from 16th century Ireland!

All in all, I think most people would really enjoy this book, and I give it a 9/10. If you want to check out any of the other books in the Chronicles of Faerie series, they are titled The Hunter's Moon, The Light Bearer's Daughter, and The Book Of Dreams.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter

Oh My Goth is a funny, entertaining read that any teen would enjoy. A mix of sarcastic humor and a plot that the reader will relate to makes the book a perfect summertime read.

Jade Leigh, teenage gothic anti-conformist extraordinaire, dreads every day in her personal hell. AKA high school.
She deals with the abuse of every barbie clone in the school on a daily basis, all while rocking Victorian corsets and vinyl skirts with her equally rebellious friends at her side. But her principle goes for an extreme punishment that sends Jade into world that is a totally twisted version of her own. What will she do when everyone is goth, her best friends hate her, and she's the most popular girl around? What about the gorgeous and mysterious Clarik that caught her eye on his very first day of school? And what about Mercedes, her barbie clone enemy, who was sent into the same topsy turvy world that has totally turned against her?

I loved Oh My Goth because of how realistic it is, while still putting in a futuristic fantasy plot. Everyone who is (or already has) enduring the halls of high school will recognize themselves amongst all the labels and cliques described in the plot, and they'll even find a little of themselves in the reeling mind of Jade, the main character. And of course, every teen has found them self admiring that one person just like Jade does.

The writing includes a lot of sarcasm and slang, making it very appealing to YA readers. All in all, I give it a 8 out of 10! It's a great read for those rainy or sunny summer days, unless you prefer that pale goth look, of course!

Friday, June 25, 2010

The Blog Hop!

This is my first time in the Blog Hop, and it's really fun!
:)

Don't forget to join these hops!

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/2010/06/book-blogger-hop-june-25-28-2010.html



Don't be shy! If you found me through the hop, leave a comment saying hello!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A Series Review : Percy Jackson and The Olympians + Sequel news!


*Note: If you have already read the Percy Jackson series, go to the bottom of the post for news and links to the sneak pick of the sequel to the series!

You probably recognize the title Percy Jackson from the big screen from early this year. While I haven't seen the movie yet, I have read all of the books!

This is probably my favorite book series besides Harry Potter. I remember finishing all five of these in two weeks and being distraught when I had finished them. These books have everything! From action and suspense, to romance and humor. After you finish one book, you'll be hungry for the next one.

The series revolves around greek mythology (which is probably the main reason I loved it so much! Mythology FOR THE WIN!) and features all the gods and goddesses, myths, legends, and stories.

Weird things have always happened in Percy Jackson's life. He can't seem to stay in one school for more then a year, and when his math teacher attacks him as a strange feathered monster, he's decided something about him has made him different from everyone else. He then finds himself at Camp Half Blood, where demigods (the children of a god and a human) come together to learn about mythology and to train. During a game of capture the flag, Percy realizes his powers and discovers he is the son of the great god...

Well, I won't spoil it!

But, seriously, the series is amazing. It has the perfect amount of humor and not to mention the alluring romance between Percy and the daughter of Athena, Annabeth. Another thing I absolutely loved about the series was the fact that I could put pieces together with my own knowledge of mythology. Even if you have only read a few mythology stores in school, once you start reading, that little light bulb over your head will light right up! It really gives you a sense of being a part of the story.

All in all, the series is a solid 10/10. I recommend it to everyone!


*Note - If you have already read the Percy Jackson series, or are in the middle of reading it, there is good news! Rick Riordan has announced a sequel series to PJATO, called The Heroes of Olympus! The first book, The Lost Hero, is suppose to be released October of this year! You can read the first two chapters online by typing in the password (newhero) at:

http://www.camphalfblood.com/

*Spoilers!*
the first two chapters are really good, and a certain gray eyed girl makes an appearance. It is said by one of the characters that she has been 'going out of her mind with worry' because her 'boyfriend' has been missing from Camp Half Blood for 3 days. Oh, cliffhangers!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Go Ask Alice (Anonymous)


I read Go Ask Alice about a month ago after hearing about it from a friend. While doing some research, I learned about the controversy around it, and I just had to read it for myself.

I wouldn't suggest Go Ask Alice to anyone who cannot handle intense subjects. The book itself is the diary of a 15 year old girl who began her life as a drug addict at a party. She was offered LSD, and from there, her life was changed dramatically. It doesn't take long for her to experiment with other drugs, and for her to end up as a runaway. Together, her and other drug addicts begin to live a self destructive life.

The diarist is actually never named in the book, and Alice is just a minor character who is another addict she met on the streets.

It has been suggested that the book was written by Beatrice Sparks(who has published many other anonymous journals), who was the publisher, as a work of fiction. However, nothing was denied or confirmed.

To this day, many school and public libraries refuse to keep the book on the shelves because of its mature content. The book was even ranked as number 6 on the 100 most frequently challenged books of 2003.

All in all, I would give it a 6 out of 10, however, if you cannot handle very intense content in your reading, I wouldn't suggest reading it.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Looking For Alaska by John Green


Looking For Alaska is my all time favorite book, and I can't tell you how many times I've read it. Anything by John Green (DFTBA!) is amazing, and Looking For Alaska is his best in my opinion.

The plot is different than the average 'boy meets girl, boy likes girl' that you see in most YA books, the characters are quirky and lovable, and the writing itself is absolutely phenomenal.

The book is about a 16 year old boy named Miles (who has never had much of a social life) that packs his things and goes to boarding school. When he gets there, he meets a group of people who change his life, including the reckless and self destructive Alaska Young who he instantly falls in love with. However, he learns that there is so much more to her then what most people see. He then goes on a personal journey in which he is introduced to cheap pink wine, cigarettes, pranks, true friends, and foreign literature. The book is separated into two main segments, which are 'before' and 'after'. You'll have to read the book in order to figure out exactly what is before and after.

The book is filled with classic lit references and quotes from poems and a fictional general based on Simón Bolívar. The plot takes twists and turns that makes you feel like you just got off of a roller coaster once you're done. And no matter what, you will cry in this book.

I give it a 10 out of 10 easily. I recommend this for anybody who reads! It is also suppose to become a movie in the year 2013.

Note: John Green is one half of the vlog brothers, whom you can find on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers?blend=1&ob=4

Please Don't Kill The Freshman : A Memoir by Zoe Trope




Please Don't Kill The Freshman is unlike anything I have ever read, which is why it is one of my favorite books. As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down.

The book is a collection of rants and rambles by the author, who was only 14 when her book was published by a small press. It is separated into diary entries, therefore making it a pretty fast read.

The book seems to lack consistency, and at most points really doesn't make sense. The author's friends and family are the main characters, and she gives them eccentric nicknames like Linux Shoe, (her gay best friend who is also her love interest, even if it is unrequited) and Curry (fellow high school freshman who rebels against society and occasionally dresses in drag because of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)

The actual content of the book screams angsty teenager, and is basically the whiny thoughts of a young girl who uses large words where they don't make sense just so she can sound poetic. However, teens will love it because of how relatable it is. Zoe's ranting will draw you in and make you want to continue reading about her life.

All in all, I would give it an 7 out of 10! A fun and interesting read that stands out from most other young adult books.

Note: You can follow Zoe Trope and her now adult rants on her website!
http://www.zoe-trope.com/
Ahh, summertime!
For most teenagers, the best time of the year. No school, no homework, no projects!
But of course, everything has a setback.

Summer can be so boring.
But of course, there is one solution to this feared disease.
Reading!

That's why I'm here. This blog is totally dedicated to giving book reviews and suggestions for teenagers, from a teenager. I'll be giving suggestion lists, reviews, and author articles! So go and grab your library card and keep an eye out!
:)
 
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