In My Mailbox (11)

I won The Education of Hailey Kendrick from Steph The Bookworm

Thanks for watching! :)

"Waiting On" Wednesday (11)

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Release Date: February 15, 2011

This book was released yesterday, but I decided to still feature it on WoW. I read The Body Finder, the first book in the series, and loved it. 

I can't wait to find out what happens, and where Kimberly takes the story. :)

Wish by Joseph Monninger

Pages: 190
Publisher: Delacorte
Age Group: Middle Grade/Young Adult
Challenges: N/A
Release Date: November 9, 2010

Bee’s brother, Tommy, knows everything there is to know about sharks. He also knows that his life will be cut short by cystic fibrosis. And so does Bee.
 
That’s why she wants to make his wish-foundation-sponsored trip to swim with a great white shark an unforgettable memory.
 
But wishes don’t always come true. At least, not as expected. Only when Bee takes Tommy to meet a famous shark attack survivor and hard-core surfer does Tommy have the chance to live one day to the fullest.
 
And in the sun-kissed ocean off a California beach, Bee discovers that she has a few secret wishes of her own. . . .

Stars: 4/5

Cover: B+

Plot:

Wish was an endearing, touching, and wonderful account of a girl with a younger brother that has cystic fibrosis. Before reading the book, I had no clue what the disease was, and I didn't know people even had it, and Wish really opened my eyes up to it. 

I thought this book was really cute. At first, it started out as Bee taking care of her brother. But then, she meets a boy who goes by the name of Little Brew, and the book gets an element of romance in it, too.

Wish held me attention until the last page.

Characters:

The characters were the best part of the book. They were funny, sweet, and extremely likable.

I absolutely loved how much Bee cared about Tommy. She was such a great older sister, and it was obvious that she tried really hard to fill their mom's shoes. 

Writing:

Joseph Monninger wrote a book that leaves you thinking about it for days with a pang in your heart. It's a very thought-provoking book, and it was sad to think that a lot of kids with Cystic Fibrosis (and even other diseases) don't have as awesome of an older sister as Bee.

Ending:

The ending was fantastic! I liked that all of the loose ends were tied up, yet the book still left you wondering what would happen next.

Cover:

I think the cover's cute. It's pretty, and the font looks really nice. :)

Lovely Line:

I looked at Tommy, who was laughing as hard as I had seen him laugh in a long time. And maybe wishes weren't something you hoped for, but instead something that found you. Tommy, Mom, and I were three specks in a big world, I thought, with sharks in the seas around us.

(Page 33)

The Final Verdict:

I think Wish is a book that people of all ages will enjoy. It has a great message, and is a fast, entertaining read.

FTC: Publisher.

Woahh, Man

Hey, guys!

I know that I haven't been posting frequently. Everything's just been really crazy, and on top of that, my internet is spazzing out.

I'm counting on the internet thing getting fixed soon, so stay with me here.

Anyways, thanks for being patient with me, and just know that I am hoping to get some reviews up soon. :)

In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is a wonderful meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. 


So I realize that Monday is not my usual In My Mailbox day, and that I haven't posted an IMM these past few weeks, because this video was having trouble uploading or something. Anyways, the new IMM day is Thursday, because it will be convenient for me (starting this Thursday, the 10th). 



Links:

Hira's Blog
Zoe's Blog
Lea's Blog

Thanks for watching! See you guys later. :)

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Pages: 304

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Age Group: Young Adult

Challenges: Debut Author Challenge

Release Date: January 25, 2011

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Stars: 4.5/5

Cover: A

Plot:

Emily was fine with being invisible at her school, and living in the shadow another girl named Emily that was sweet, popular, and pretty. But when the popular Emily is murdered, geeky Emily starts changing. She's more outgoing, and she'll do whatever to get what she wants.

When another kid is shot, but not killed, Emily starts getting scared. Soon, she finds out that the murderer is coming after her and trying to kill her.

Emily has to figure out what she is, and what she's changing into, and discover what connects her to the other two victims, before the murderer catches up to her.

Characters:

I loved Emily, the main character. She was witty, and very, very, likable. I loved who she was during the day, but I loved even more the daring side of her that came out when the sun set.

I found Emily's best friend to be extremely irritating, though. She seemed really arrogant and acted superior to everyone else.

Writing:

Jeff Sampson wrote a book that I couldn't put down. It was just simply amazing. I'd say to myself, "okay, just one more chapter," but then I'd get to the end of the chapter and just HAVE to know what happens next.

I love books like this, and Jeff Sampson pulled it off quite wonderfully.

I also thought it was unique how every so often the interview transcripts would be shown. (If you pick up the book and flip through it, you'll know what I mean.)

Ending:

All I can say is that it is going to be a looooooong wait until the next Deviant's novel.

I want to know what's going to happen with Emily, and I REALLY want to know how everyone is connected to each other.

Cover:

I think the cover is gorgeous! It's alluring and creepy, yet the pop of color makes it really stand out on the shelf.

Lovely Lines:

And he had said "us." I wasn't alone. Even though Emily Cooke was gone forever and Dalton would be in the hospital for who knows how long, I had found another person like me, someone who knew exactly what the past week of my life had been like. Someone I could talk to about everything without having to keep any secrets.

(Pages 251-251)

The Final Verdict:

Vesper was exciting, exhilarating, and an all-around good read. I enjoyed every single second of it, and I think you will, too.

FTC: Zoe

*By the way, if you haven't already, there's a suggestion box at the VERY bottom of my page. I would love it if you'd give me your feedback as to how to make The Cover better! :)

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Pages: 440

Publisher: Harper Collins

Age Group: Young Adult

Challenges: 350 Page Challenge

Release Date: August 3, 2010

In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.

Stars: 4.5/5

Cover: A-

Plot:

From the planet Lorien came nine aliens, though you wouldn't know they were aliens just by looking at them. They are constantly having to live on the run, have fake aliases, and not trust anyone, because the Mogadorians are after them, seeking to kill them.

I Am Number Four was fast-paced, exciting, and adventurous. It got so suspenseful that I couldn't even rip my eyes off the page for a single second.

Characters:

I thought the characters were very well developed, and I felt like I knew them like I know my best friends.

I thought Four and Sarah's little romance was really cute. :)

I also loved to see who actually stepped up to help fight in the end of the book; it was a pleasant surprise.

Writing:

There's been a lot of controversy over this book, and who actually wrote it, but whoever did write it did a wonderful job.

I Am Number Four was the perfect mix of suspense, adventure, humor, and romance. I can't wait to read the sequel, and the rest of the books in the series, just so that I can devour more of this style of writing.

Ending:

The ending was crazy-good. The last one hundred fifty pages were full of action, and it was all very fast-paced to the point where I basically read the last half of the book in one sitting.

Cover:

I love the simplicity of the cover, and how striking it is. The little swirly things are also raised, so it feels cool. :D

Lovely Line:

Sam runs into his room and comes out with a backpack. He sets it on the kitchen counter and goes to change his clothes. I peer inside of it. There is a crucifix, a few cloves of garlic, a wooden stake, a hammer, a blob of Silly Putty, and a pocketknife.

"You do realize these people aren't vampires, right?" I say when Sam walks back in.

"Yeah, but you never know. They're probably crazy, like you said."

"And even if we were hunting vampires, what the hell is the Silly Putty for?"

He shrugs. "Just want to be prepared."

(Page 220)

The Final Verdict:

This book is just so amazing. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking, "OhmyGod, I can't wait to see what they look like on screen. OhmyGod, this is going to make such a great movie. OhmyGod, I LOVE THIS BOOK."

Can you tell that I can't wait to go see the movie? :)

But anyways, this book is a definite must-read, and I think you guys should read it before you watch the movie. It'll probably be more enjoyable that way.

FTC: Gift from Uncle