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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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