Monday, March 31, 2008

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Jennifer and Cameron were best friends in elementary school. Always the target for bullies, they stuck together to survive it all. Then one day, Cameron disappears. The kids at school tell Jennifer he died, and her mother doesn't refute the story.

But Cameron didn't die. And Jennifer, now Jenna and 17, thinks she's losing her mind. She's completely changed since Cameron went away. Gone is the chubby little girl no one liked. She changed schools and is popular. But she feels it's all fake--and Cameron brings back her memories of what she was like before he left.

With the conflict Jenna now feels, can things go back the way they were?

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Rose and Lissa escaped from their school almost 2 years ago. Since then, they've been wary of being hunted by guardians of the Moroi, and the Strigoi. Until one night, when it seems they can't escape.

But they're captured by the guardians, who only want to return the girls to the academy, not the Strigoi who would kill or convert them. Well, convert Lissa. Rose is her guardian and a dhampir. Both need to finish their schooling so they're prepared for the outside world full of Strigoi.

Rose and Lissa both have a hard time fitting back into their routine. There are rumors floating around about why they ran and what Lissa can do with her powers. And someone seems to have it out for Lissa, and if Rose can't find out who, they'll both be in more danger.

An exciting read. The ending more than makes up for the slower pace in the middle of the book.

Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

The authors of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist are back in another alternative voice book. Naomi and Ely have lived across the hall in their New York apartment building for their entire lives. They both understand each other in a way no one else does. Until the unthinkable happens. Ely kisses Naomi's boyfriend.

Now Naomi has lost her trust in Ely. Even though she wasn't all that happy with Bruce the Second, she can't believe Ely kissed her boyfriend. He wasn't on their No Kiss List, but he should have been! Both Naomi and Ely are left floundering without the other. And everyone else is affected by the separation.

This is a great book told from many different points of view. Sometimes confusing, it's still laughable and intriguing, all in one.

Monday, March 17, 2008

The Highwayman's Footsteps by Nichola Morgan

Will is a young aristocrat in Britain, fed up with his life and the direction his parents want it to go. He runs away, straight into the guns of Bess, a young common woman, who is out to seek revenge on the people who killed her parents--an entire army!

Together, these two will face unbeatable odds. They face red coats at every turn. They steal, lie, cheat, and make things up as they go along. And Bess is determined to avenge her parents' deaths--and forces Will to face the one man he fears the most--his father.

If you have never read "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes, you should. Then read this book.

Read this book anyway--there is action, drama, and the good guy's attempt to triumph..will they?

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It by Lisa Shanahan

Gemma lives in a small Australian town. Her mother crochets--a lot, her sister is a little out there, and her dad is obsessed with grass. Then Debbie, Gemma's sister, announces her engagement to Brian, the guy she's been dating for a month. And things begin to change.

For one, Gemma's crush, Nick, notices her--but only to get her to try out for the school play. But Gemma has issues with public speaking--it makes her throw up. But she goes out anyway. And then Raven deHead, a delinquent from her class, goes out for the play as well. And the two of them get partnered together. And Gemma sees how the poorer families live in her town.

But Gemma likes Nick, right? So why does she find him so annoying now? And will she ever figure out what she wants?

Sight by Adrienne Maria Vrettos

Dylan has a big secret. She can see things happen. Most of the time, she tries to hide her sight--and hide from it. But sometimes...she sees dead children. And only after they're dead.

The first time it happened, she was five years old, and her classmate, Clarence, was missing. She saw him--saw where he was buried. But she didn't tell anyone, not until after they found the body. After that, she went to the police whenever she got a vision.

Things are changing now. The man that killed Clarence, the man they called the Drifter, is back, and killing children again. If Dylan can force herself to see what happens before another child dies, she might be able to catch him. But secrets have a way of coming out. And life is not always what it seems in her little town.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Mob Princess: For Money and Love by Todd Strasser

Kate has an unusual life. She tries to be a normal junior in high school, but it never quite happens.

Most of the people in her hometown think they know what her dad does. They aren't sure, but they think so. So when her boyfriend tells her she's not meeting his needs, he worries about her dad coming after him. Thanks to the Sopranos, everyone assumes they know what happens when you cross the Blessing family.

But Kate has bigger problems. Her mom decides to leave her dad after one too many infidelities. Her dad is about to lose control over his "crew". And the family is falling apart. Unless Kate can do something to save it. And she has other problems now too--she's fallen for her father's biggest enemy's son.

A great short read--some action, some romance, and a quick read!

Monday, March 3, 2008

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Are you a fan of Gossip Girls? You might like this book then!

Elizabeth is a young aristocrat in New York in 1899. She is the heiress of a family name--and only a family name. She must marry Henry, a young man of a rich family, who has a playboy image. Through marriage, she will save her family and their name.

But Elizabeth is in love with Will, the stablehand. Her maid, Lina, is also in love with him, and would rather do anything than serve Elizabeth. Diana, Elizabeth's younger sister, is in love with Henry, who begins to share her feelings back for him. In the background is Penelope, Elizabeth's best friend and biggest rival--who also wants Henry for her own. The solution to all of their problems is unclear, and all mentioned are set to being miserable for the rest of their lives. Until it appears Elizabeth has died....

Dusssie by Nancy Springer

Dussie wakes up one morning to find two things wrong with her life. She's started her period..and her hair has turned into snakes. 27 snakes, to be exact.

Not sure which is worse, Dussie desperately tries to find a way to get rid of her snakes. Not only do they move around on her head almost constantly, they accidentally turn the boy she likes into stone. But only partial stone. As she struggles with finding a solution to her problem, Dussie starts to see her snakes as part of her personality. Telling the shrink she's hearing voices doesn't help either--although it does get her out of school for a while. Dussie learns things about herself and her family--especially her mom, as she struggles to come to terms with her new 'hair'.

A great, short read.