Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Michelle

Wonderful! Wondrous – what a great word and put it together with Strange – and you have a beautiful description of a truly wonderful and yet strange story. Seventeen year old Kelley is trying to make her big break as an actress in New York and by happenstance has been granted her wish and is now playing the leading role in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But strange dreams and a “stalker” lead her to another life in another time that maybe she’s just not too sure about.

I adored this story, it brought the modern-day theatre to the fantasy world of faeries and the Faery courts – but it was done so subtly that by the end you were very comfortable moving back and forth between the two worlds. I’ve always enjoyed Shakespeare, never read too much of his work (somehow managed to find a way around it in school), but reading this book makes me want to go back and check out A Midsummer Night’s Dream. How close are these two stories? I don’t ever remember hearing my friends talk about faeries and Shakespeare in the same sentence – so I’m curious now 🙂

The other REALLY great aspect of this book – Lesley Livingston is a Canadian author! Oh and did I mention I already have the sequel in hand, Darklight? Look for my thoughts on this one really soon…

Favourite quote:

” “Okay, okay!” Kelley rolled her eyes and went back to the line. “and thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me on the first view to say, to swear, I love thee. Better?” ” p. 273

Livingston, Lesley. (2009). Wondrous Strange. Toronto, ON: Harper Trophy Canada.

Author’s website: http://www.lesleylivingston.com/

Hardy Boys #1 The Ocean of Osyria Graphic Novel

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Michelle

If you’ve read my earlier post on the first Hardy Boys Graphic Novel I read (#17 Word Up!) you’ll remember that I was a bit disappointed in how the boys were portrayed and just how things had changed from the last time I read or watched the Hardy Boys. Well that’s not the case with this one! Guess I should have started from the first issue rather than jumping to the middle – oh well – who knew?

The story behind this graphic novel was exactly what I was expecting – the brothers embarking on their own detective mission – it was fast, it was adventurous, they brought the girls along – it was great! It left me believing that the Hardy Boys are still the Hardy Boys I remember. Ok I’m sure you’re wondering -well you didn’t really like #17 but you like #1 – what about the ones in between? Well I have to admit that I think I’m going to try a few more in between to see where the change happens – maybe if I follow it through I might have a different view on the graphic novel series. On that note – stay tuned and join me on my walk through the Hardy Boys graphic novels.

Lobdell, Scott and Hernandez, Lea. (2005). Hardy Boys #1The Ocean of Osyria. New York, NY: Papercutz.

Hardy Boys Graphic Novels Wiki:http://hardyboys.wikia.com/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys_Graphic_Novel

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Michelle

Ally Carter kept me laughing with the sequel to I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You. Just imagine a group of girls attending a private spy school, oh sorry I mean, the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, and out of the blue fifteen boys move into the East Wing of their school and join their classes. The girls go from spending five minutes to get ready in the morning to one hour, they now have to contend with boys in class, but they also get the chance to learn about the inner workings of a boy with real specimens. They can strive to answer questions such as: What do they mean when they say this? Or What do they really mean when they do that?

I listened to this book during my weekly commutes and it was fantastic! The situations these girls can get themselves into and how they learn about boys with Macey McHenry’s help is hilarious! I am so looking forward to hearing the third book in the Gallagher Girls series, Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover.

Favourite quote:

“It’s one thing to know that boys are coming…someday. It’s quite another to be enjoying a nice, relaxing meal and then turn around to see a mob of teenage testosterone moving your way! (I mean, hello, I was wearing a skirt with a stain on the butt).”

p. 87

Carter, Ally. (2008). Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy [sound recording CD]. Grand Haven, MI :Brilliance Audio.

Author’s website: http://www.allycarter.com/

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Michelle

Zara, Nick, Betty and their friends Issie and Devyn return to their normal lives after dealing with the King and his pixies in Need. Unfortunately, their normal life routine is short-lived when pixies from other territories come to Bedford, Maine to try to take over Zara’s father’s territory. Captivate sees Zara and Nick grow closer, even as Astley, a young pixie king arrives in Bedford and has a very peculiar effect on Zara. The friends try to find ways to save everyone from the pixies and to prevent the War while making very difficult decisions.

I loved Captivate, the sequel to Need. The story kept me engaged all the way to the end. The characters became more real as I read along. The world of pixies was a new one for me and Carrie Jones did a wonderful job at drawing me in.

I tried to find whether there are any plans for a third book and I found mention of the potential but nothing concrete. To that I say – there HAS to be one! I NEED to know what happens with Zara and Nick! and then there’s Issie and Devyn – and Cassidy, the half-elf – what role will she play? Ugh… I NEED more! Please give me the third and final chapter in the world of Pixies.

Favourite quote:

She responds with a quote, ” ‘People sleep peacefully in their bed at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.’ That guy who wrote Animal Farm said that, I think. The Orwell guy.” p.207

Jones, Carrie. (2010). Captivate. New York, NY: Bloomsbury.

Author’s website: http://www.carriejonesbooks.com/

Another great way to buy books – that I forgot!

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Michelle

Laugh if you will – but you know how some days something hits you that’s SOOooooo obvious you feel really foolish – well that happened last night and yes I just had to share it with you – maybe you’ll be able to take advantage of this as well 🙂

My youngest daughter comes to me last night and says “Mom here’s my book order form – and the books I want to get. Let me know if that’s ok?” Oh my goodness – school book orders! How could I have forgotten these wonderful (and CHEAP) vehicles to buy more books. Really $20.99 bookstore book down to $5.99 – how could I resist? But I restrained – only added 2 to her order for myself – and what does she say? Oh Mom – I want to read that one too!

So the books we’re ordering you might ask?

Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by Ehrich van Lowe
Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Oh and to think that this will be the last year I can take advantage of Book Orders – now that’s sad on so many fronts 😦

Blue Moon by Alyson Noël

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Michelle

I really enjoyed Evermore by Alyson Noël, the first in the Immortals series, but I have to say I was not as enamoured with this one. I really enjoyed how Damen and Ever’s relationship developed in Evermore, but I didn’t feel or see any progression in Blue Moon.

A new classmate, Roman shakes things up in Ever’s High School and at the same time comes between Ever and Damen. Ever learns some hard immortal lessons on her own and develops a close relationship with an unlikely ally. With help from Ava and some new friends, Ever makes a tough decision that could jeopardize her future with Damen.

I was very disappointed with the ending – I think the first chapter of the third book in the series, Shadowland gave me more reason to look forward to the next one than the ending of Blue Moon. I will read the next book in the series but probably not for a while.

Favourite quote:

“…Just suck it up and approach her already.” p.228

Noël, Alyson. (2009). Blue Moon. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Author’s website: http://www.alysonnoel.com/

How It Ends by Laura Wiess

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Michelle

Oh Wow…. what can I say – a beautiful and very powerful story! It was extremely hard to put it down and yet at the same time almost hard to pick it up again in fear and anticipation of what was coming next. There were so many facets of this story that I loved – the relationship between Hanna and Seth, the potential for a relationship between Hanna and Jesse, the relationship between Hanna and her Gran, then of course the audiobook story. The more I think about it there were so many paths this story could have taken – so many dangling storylines – but in the end they don’t matter. It was a beautiful and real love story with all life’s ups and downs – and I’d argue with anyone who disagrees with this 🙂

When I start to think about the audience for this book, I waver – who is it directed to? The young adult or the adult? I’m not sure… I think it can be equally directed to both audiences. The young adults who enjoy the “real-life” type stories will love this, but I think it would be a shame to not market it for the adults as well. I believe there is such a huge audience for this story. I like the way Laura Wiess summarizes the audience for her books: “Those books are about teens but not necessarily only for teens.” And I couldn’t agree more.

Recommended

Ages: 16 and over

Favourite quote:

“The relief that comes from this shames me, but I’m still thankful because the birds who died quickly have not only been spared but have spared me the struggles of the mortally wounded, of kneeling helpless beside a body too broken to fly but not broken enough to die, beside living wreckage that cannot be healed and would never again be more than a twisted, flightless song trapped on the ground alone, defenseless, and forsaken by its own kind. ” p. 338

Wiess, Laura. (2009). How It Ends. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Author’s website: http://www.laurawiess.com/

I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Michelle

My first audio book in 2010 and I really enjoyed it! I loved the title – and it was probably the main reason for checking this book out of the Library. It was also so fitting – a young 15-year-old girl, Cammie, training to be a spy at the Gallagher Academy – uses her training to get a boyfriend and keep him secret from her Mom, her teachers and her Gallagher sisters with the exception of her best friends. The story was funny and a pleasure to listen to.

While listening to it though I found myself thinking about the TV show or cartoon called Totally Spies – there were many parallels. Teenage girls, spies, getting themselves into the most unusual situations – just as Cammie did in Book One of the Gallagher Girls series. The story was so easy and light that I am curious about the second book, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy and will be adding it to my list – hopefully I can find an audio version of it 🙂

Favourite quote:

“If lemon could join forces with lime to create something as delicious and refreshing as Sprite, then surely I can work alongside Macey McHenry for the cause of true love!” p. 136

Carter, Ally. (2006). I’d tell you I love you, but then I’d have to kill you [sound recording CD]. Grand Haven, MI :Brilliance Audio.

Author’s website: http://www.allycarter.com/

Need by Carrie Jones

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Michelle

Yeowsers! I had so many things I had planned to get done this morning – but I started to read Need last night and just couldn’t wait to get back to it – and now…. well you know the rest! Could NOT put this book down!

It was awesome! I was literally on the edge of my seat at times! Then smiling from ear to ear at other times… oh it was great! It starts off with Zara, who just lost her stepfather and is sent away to Maine to stay with her grandmother. Her mother’s hope is that she funds her spunk again, but what she finds is a bit more than she expected, new friends, new relationships and her stalker. Seriously I could not put this down with the suspense and blossoming relationships..

Carrie Jones did such an excellent job weaving the supernatural world with today’s teen’s world without the reader being aware of where you’re being drawn to. Hmm… all that to say – that I didn’t feel like I was reading about some futuristic or way out there pixie story – I was reading a perfectly plausible story about teens and their relationships.

Phobias – holy cow! I didn’t realize that these phobias existed – now that’s scary! Now to add Captivate to my reading list 🙂 Need to read it soon….

Favourite quote:

“… You lovebirds just sit on the couch and think swooning things at each other.”

“Gram!” I try to scold her but she just laughs and heads to the kitchen. “I love her, but she’s embarrassing.” p. 261-261

Jones, Carrie. (2009). Need. New York, NY: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books

Author’s website: http://www.carriejonesbooks.com/

Evermore by Alyson Noël

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Michelle

Looks like Saturday mornings have now become my reading time! Maybe it’s the books I’m choosing – but it seems I wake up, grab my latte and my book and before I know it – book is finished and the morning is gone!

I really enjoyed Evermore by Alyson Noël! Watching Ever, a 16-year-old girl who lost her entire family in a terrible accident try to overcome her struggles, deal with her guilt and her new life in California with her Aunt was very intriguing. Ever tries to hide from the world and her “gift” until Damen comes along and offers her some solace… Ok I don’t know how authors do it – but after reading about Damen – I could picture just how intense and hot he was. Oh I love it! The push and pull of their relationship was great! And the ending…. well…. left me wanting more and yes I’ll be seeking out the second book in this series Blue Moon.

I really enjoy reading about the supernatural where you have ghosts and after lives – but now I’m really curious and intrigued about The Immortals. If you’re reading this and thinking – oh another vampire book! Nope… not the case at all here!!! You’ll either have to take my word or read it yourself!

One last thought – I never knew that the red tulip signified undying love, perfect love, declaration of love – did you?

Favourite quote:

“But when I said you’d freak out when you saw him, it wasn’t a suggestion, it wasn’t supposed to be taken literally…. Because that was some mega tense awkwardness, a real Hello, my name is Ever and I’ll be your next stalker kind of moment.” p.13

Noël, Alyson. (2009). Evermore. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Author’s website: http://www.alysonnoel.com/