Books to Crave: April

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

RESPONSE: Looks amazing. Cover is gorgeous, description is promising, idea is fresh. I am counting down the days until I can devour this book. Aimee Carter looks like she has a future ahead of her with some great books.
(April 26, 2011)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9681214-the-goddess-test

Abandon by Meg Cabot

RESPONSE: Have I mentioned how much I like Greek myths? Nobody ever thinks about Persephone when recreating a Greek myth and this book looks wonderful.
(April 26, 2011)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9397967-abandon

The Ghoul Next Door by Lisi Harrison

RESPONSE: Read the first one.....loved it. Drama, paranormal, more funny abbreviations, count me in!
(April 5, 2011)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9415962-the-ghoul-next-door

Plague by Michael Grant

RESPONSE: looks just as action-filled as the last, with so many questions waiting to be answered. Sure to be a heart-pounding addition to the series, this book looks like pure adrenaline.
(April 5, 2011)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6686101-plague

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

RESPONSE: An action-packed paranormal book sounds perfect to me. There are sure to be just as many plot twists, betrayals, triumphs, kisses, and fights as the last.
(April 5, 2011)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6752378-city-of-fallen-angels

Reviews From Spring Break

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

RESPONSE: The first of the Alex Rider series, this book was a strong beginning. Filled with action, description, evil villains, and English schoolboys, you will not want to put this book down.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136782.Stormbreaker

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

RESPONSE: Dark and delicious, this will appeal to anyone who loves a good paranormal romance. Some people hate Twilight, but even if you do, you should read this one. Romance, action, lies, betrayal, emotion. Everything a book needs is right here.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7937462-the-short-second-life-of-bree-tanner

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

RESPONSE: Just as good as the first one. Lovely and intriguing with all the lush complexity and Shakespeare quotes woven into it. Vivid and wonderful, this book is a must read.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7179686-perchance-to-dream

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

RESPONSE: Great book with many action scenes and with buckets of suspense thrown in. My only problem is that I didn't feel very connected to Dru; she wasn't very relatable.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6006518-strange-angels

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

RESPONSE: A heartwrenching book that drowns you in the sadness of a lonely girl who is mocked and scared after an incident over the summer. I'd say ages 12+ (not descriptive during incident).
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/439288.Speak

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

RESPONSE: Belly is very relatable. She is sweet and confused about growing up, which makes the reader fond of her. Her sadness at the death of Suzanne and her guilt and confusion over Jeremiah and Conrad makes for a very interesting book. This book is the incarnation of the beach.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6584188-it-s-not-summer-without-you

The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper

RESPONSE: Loved. It. Filled with summer days and romance, this book takes you to the streets of Verona and to Juliet's balcony. Bursting with romance, it makes you want to sigh and laugh and wish you were Kate.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3017947-the-juliet-club

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

RESPONSE: This book honestly blew me away. One of the most phenomenal books I have ever read. It's such a different concept and I both learned from this book and loved it. Alternating between Andi and Alexandrine was a genius combination and this book is firmly rooted on my favorites list. Good for both adults and young adults.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7558747-revolution

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

RESPONSE: I love this series. Rose is one of my favorite heroines: loyal and loving, but sassy and fierce. Yet another book filled with action and romance. Perfect :)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2802316-shadow-kiss


Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
RESPONSE: With her lyrical writing, Maggie weaves a world out of frost and ice and romance. Sam and Grace are great and this is a wonderful start to an addictive trilogy.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6068551-shiver

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

RESPONSE: clever and interesting dystopian fantasy. However, the writing was confusing in some places.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/332775.Incarceron

Numbers by Rachel Ward

RESPONSE: Great. Although, the first impression of the book wasn't a good one. Way too many f-bombs in the first chapter and gritty scenes. The book steadily improves and by the middle, you are hooked.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609758-numbers

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

RESPONSE: Probably the best "faerie" book that I have read. 5 stars. Great sequel too.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3112850-lament

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

RESPONSE: This book is terrifying, raw, and lyrical. Alice's haunting prose half makes you want to shove all these thoughts surrounding the book from your mind and never read it again and half makes you want to never put it down. Stunning.

Love,
Grace

Fairy-Tale Twists

Whether they are set in modern times or just remade, I absolutely LOVE fairy tale twists. I seriously am IN LOVE with them. If y'all are like me, here are some of my favorites.

PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL by Jessica Day George

MY RESPONSE: No matter how many times I read this book, I fall in love with it again every time. Clever twist with romance, intrigue, and a wonderful setting.

PRINCESS OF GLASS by Jessica Day George

MY RESPONSE: This is kind of a spin-off of "Princess of Glass" and I want to read it sooo bad. <3 <3

BEASTLY by Alex Flinn

MY RESPONSE: You have probably heard about this before, but for good reason. This is a great book.


MY RESPONSE: A tad bit young but it's one of those books you never grow out of. I love it!

RED RIDING HOOD by Sarah Blakely-Cartwright

MY RESPONSE: Good but kind of strange. And creepy. It's a dark version of the fairytale, which you gotta love. The only bummer was that they wouldn't give you the last chapter! You had to wait until the movie came out!

THE PRINCESS FROG by E.D. Baker

MY RESPONSE: So cute. So funny. So absolutely adorable that I must read it a thousand times.....


MY RESPONSE: This book is perfect for when I'm in my I-must-read-a-fairy-tale-book moods. Love it and have loved it ever since I was ten. It can pass for children's or a YA book. :)

ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine

MY RESPONSE: Love this book. And the movie. One of the best fairy tale remakes in my opinion.

Basically everything by Gail Carson Levine is great.


There are plenty more, I just don't have time to mention them all!

Love,
Grace

Katherine's Post

So my friend was talking to me the other day about how she liked my mermaid post and was like "Mom? I want these books" and her mom pointed out that they don't come out until summer.

So.....how to fix that? I'm going to post some REALLY good books that I think she'll like that are actually out NOW.

BEASTLY by Alex Flinn

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: (a) she REALLY wants to see the movie but the book is always better than the movie (for everything). (b) she likes cute books with a lil bit of romance and fantasy mixed in, etc., etc., and (c) its absolutely an awesome book.

PEGASUS by Robin McKinley

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: Hello??? It's PEGASUS! (pegasi? I don't know the plural). Anyways, I haven't read it but it's on my must read.

PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL by Jessica Day George

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: Such a good book. Really. I absolutely am in love with this book. I'm so jealous of princesses :P (I have it so you can borrow it if you want to read it, Katherine!)


ALL-AMERICAN GIRL by Meg Cabot

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: SUCH A HILARIOUS BOOK. I seriously BUSTED up laughing. Oh and plus, its adorable. They have this at the school library (surprise! one of the ONLY teen books they actually have! Oh and by the way, they have Princess at the Midnight Ball too) and I just got it at a thrift store for less than a dollar so I won't have to go on battering the library copy (all those folded over pages and the rip in the cover....that was me. Sorry.) YAY!

AVALON HIGH by Meg Cabot

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: It's adorable. It's clever and cute and written clearly and has a really good plotline. The movie didn't do it justice.....yet another one of my thrift store steals (bought five books for three bucks on Friday...)


WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: Girl power, fantasy, awesomeness. BEST. BOOK. EVER. I know I say that about practically every good book but I can't decide! They're all amazing. This book......well, if it was a boy, I'd marry it. I love this series (this is the first). The first couple chapters are kind of confusing but you understand it by the fourth chapter.....MUST READ. (I have this too.)

I have some more, I'm just really lazy right now. I'll give you a list at school, okay?? There are also some other really good books but they are currently on loan to Mary Elizabeth or Katie right now....

<3 these books!! :D

Boarding School Books

As I was talking with my friend Katie today, she asked me to lend her some books. I asked her what type she liked and she said "prep school books" which made me realize.....I HADN'T MADE A LIST OF THEM FOR THE BLOG.

I mean, while we're being honest, we must admit that all of us secretly wish we went to a boarding school with funky cool uniforms.
I wish we had blazers and ties and knee socks. I really do. Instead, we have these weird in-between uniforms that aren't casual but aren't uber-cool-boarding-school uniforms either.

GIVE US BLAZERS OR GIVE US DEATH!!! Oops, a little dramatic, or just GIVE US CASUAL!!!
Geez....

anyways, here's the list of awesomely preppy books! : ) the covers are above because I'm trying a new design thing.

LIST OF PREPPY BOOKS

GALLAGHER GIRLS SERIES by ALLIE CARTER
Response: love em! j'adore them!

CRACKED UP TO BE by COURTNEY SUMMERS
Response: looks really really good! :) haven't read though. Looks like an edgy read.

PRIVATE SERIES by KATE BRIAN
Response: looks really good....haven't read but is on my "must read" list

HEX HALL by RACHEL HAWKINS
Response: SOOOO GOOD! THE SEQUEL "DEMONGLASS" COMES OUT TOMMOROW! SO EXCITED!! :D


I am going to bring the Gallagher Girls series and Hex Hall for Katie tommorow....plus my "beach reads" list she wanted to read so badly.

Mary Eliz

My friend Mary Elizabeth just came over, and she asked to borrow some books. Since I know she has similar tastes to some people, I'm going to share some of the books I lend to her with the blog.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: She read "Beautiful Creatures" and loved it. This is also a dark book that takes place in the South. She also absolutely LOVES books with romance in it.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: Two words - mermaid books.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: She ADORED Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. This is kind of similar.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: It's absolutely awesome. Plus, she loves girl power books that basically involve fighting. What can I say? She's tough.

Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

WHY SHE'LL LOVE IT: Girl. Power. + adorable guys = perfect happiness.

I Promised, Didn't I? Well, Partly Anyway

BOOKS I MIGHT BRING TO CAMP
I am dividing these into two sections....the DEFINATELYs and the MAYBEs....

DEFINATELY bringing.....

FALLEN by Lauren Kate
TORMENT by Lauren Kate
HALO by Alexandra Adornetto
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly
GRACELING by Kristin Cashore
EYES LIKE STARS by Lisa Mantchev
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J.K. Rowling
BRISINGR by Christopher Paolini
IMPOSSIBLE by Nancy Werlin

MAYBE bringing.....

IRON QUEEN by Julie Kagawa
SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater
FORGIVE MY FINS by Tera Lynn Childs
ENDLESS SUMMER by Jennifer Echols
INGO by Helen Dunmore
NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer


The reason I'm wondering about the last couple of books is because I like to have a) variety at camp b) I think that another one of that type of book might come out soon.

What's a bummer is that SOOO many books come out at camp.
There are at least 7 highly awaited books that come out during June. Basically, I will be rocking back and forth on my bunk whimpering "Passion comes out today........" or "Fins are Forever came out today...." and even more books. Needless to say, first thing I do when we get out of camp is CONNECTING TO THE WIFI!!! I will preorder all those books. Mwahahaha. Dunno why I did the evil laugh.

Vale (I'm studying for Latin),
Grace