Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Books I Need NOW #2

Without further ado, I present to you more books that I need RIGHT now!!

Enjoy~

Monday, June 29, 2009

Bad Girls Don't Die

Title: Bad Girls Don’t Die Author: Katie Alender Publisher: Disney Hyperion Number Of Pages: 346 Publication Date: April 21st , 2009

Synopsis from back of book: Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence: dysfunctional like her parent’s marriage; her doll-crazy, thirteen-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own antisocial, anti-cheerleader attitude.

When a family argument results in sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunctional to dangerous. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green; she uses odd, old-fashioned language—and even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her weird behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on an unlit stove, and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough for the girls to see their breath.

Alexis wants to believe it’s all in her head, until these seemingly occurrences become life-threatening—to her, to her family, and to her budding relationship with the student council vice president. Alexis knows she’s the only person who can stop Kasey; but what if that green-eyed girl isn’t even Kasey anymore?

Review: Bad Girls Don’t Die was astonishing! It took me a day and a half to finish this book, and I loved every second of it. If, I had to describe it in three words I would say: Creepy, compelling, and amazing. I read most of it at night, and I found I was scared to put it down to go to sleep because I was scared my little sister would come in and say, “Come outside and play with me,” and then her eyes would turn green. Laugh all you want. (I told my sister that the next day, and she found that to be quite funny.)

The characters were awesomely written, I really wish I could meet Alexis, Carter, and Megan. The plot ran seamlessly with the characters and the writing. I applaud Katie’s writing and need to read more of it! Overall, this is a dazzling debut!

I recommend this book if you like ghosts, paranormal books, young adult novels, and a touch of romance.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Weekly Wrap-up #1

Things I posted this week:

Books I finished this week:
  • DupliKate by Cherry Cheva
  • Emily The Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger & Jessica Gruner
  • Suddenly Supernatural: Scaredy Kat by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
  • Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
Books I am currently reading:
  • Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
  • Behind Every Illusion by Christina Harner
  • The Sorceress by Michael Scott
  • Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
-Senfaye :)
P.S. Book Reviews by Jess is having an amazing contest, where she is giving away a copy of Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri! Click here!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

In My Mailbox #12



From Henry Holt/Megan Crewe:
Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe

From Houghton Mifflin/Carolyn MacCullough:
Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

From Random House:
Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
The Sorceress by Michael Scott
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

From Barnes & Noble aka Books I Bought Yesterday:
Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
Me, My Elf, & I by Heather Swain
Gifted: Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind by Marilyn Kaye

For Traveling To Teens:
Behind Every Illusion by Christina Harner

From ILA Golden:
Time Forgets by ILA Golden

For my birthday from Emmyreader:
Zombie Queen Of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
I had a really good week!

-Senfaye :)

Friday, June 26, 2009

One Of The Most Special Days Of My Life!

Today, I had one of the best days EVER! It was so much fun. I had lunch with some VERY special people. And those people are............

Kami Garcia & Margie Stohl authors of Beautiful Creatures!!!

They are so much fun, I had a great time!


Thank you so much for taking the time to have lunch with me Kami & Margie!
(By the way, Margie did a great job filming the video, and Kami did a great job on camera! :) )

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Stolen One

Title: The Stolen One Author: Suzanne Crowley Publisher: Harper Teen Number Of Pages: 412 Publication Date: June 30th, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: No one wanted you. But I did.

When her adoptive mother dies, Katherine Bab takes the chance she has been waiting for her whole life: she flees from her country village to London, to uncover the secret of who she really is. Before long, Kat has become the favorite of Queen Elizabeth herself, and rumors are swirling—could fiery-haired Kat be the secret daughter of the Virgin Queen? Kat’s got plenty of other things to figure put, as well…such as how to choose between her childhood love and the two handsome men at court vying for her affections.

This sensual novel drips with intrigue, period detail, and drama, and it will resonate with anyone who has ever longed to find his or her place in the world.

Review: Honestly I didn’t know what to expect from The Stolen One. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it or not. When I started reading it, it was interesting and different. As it progressed I was shocked at how fantastic it was. At the end of this great novel, I was so sad that it ended and didn’t want it to end. I loved all the characters, and thought they all fit into the story well. The plot was also great, the whole idea worked very well. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed this.

Even for people who don’t usually like historical fiction, I would definitely recommend you check this out. Again, I cannot express how deeply I enjoyed this book. Overall, I highly recommend this book. (To anyone!)

I recommend this book if you like romance, historical fiction, and young adult novels.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Fairest Of Them All

Title: Fairest Of Them All Author: Jan Blazanin Publisher: MTV Books Number Of Pages: 262 Publication Date: April 21st, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess with shining, golden hair…

If life was a fairy tale, Oribella Bettencourt would have a “happily ever after” kind of future ahead of her. A Hollywood producer has come to Des Moines in search of a perfectly modern princess Rapunzel, and Ori—a model, dancer, and star of the beauty pageant circuit—lands the part. And why shouldn’t she? With her hardworking, self-sacrificing mother guiding her career, Ori is stunning, dedicated, and poised…and then there’s her hair. Breathtakingly lustrous blond hair that sets her apart from all the other girls at school. So what if she doesn’t have an friends her age, or anyone to talk to other than her mother? She’s on the verge of having everything she’s dreamed of.

But in this fairy tale, the beautiful princess wakes up to her worst nightmare—when almost overnight, Ori begins to lose her hair…

Review: Fairest Of Them All was different. I have never read anything quite like it before. Which was nice. It had a few good qualities and a few bad qualities.

Ori personally was very shallow, but near the end of the book she grew on me. She wasn’t a bad person, just didn’t think of other people first. I also think she over analyzed how people looked on the outside, and not what’s on the inside. Nonetheless though, she was a good person. She just didn’t know she was analyzing people like that. Now, onto her mother. She was not a very good character, I didn’t care for her at all. And, I didn’t like how her mom was shallow, and got mad at Ori when her hair started falling out. It made me so mad that she showed NO compassion for her only child. Ok, I have stated what I didn’t like about the book.

As the book progressed I think the story line got better. As did Ori’s character. I would have liked to see more of the supporting characters. I am having a really hard time portraying what I liked about this book. I truly really liked this book. Oh, thought of a reason why I liked this. I was in a reading slump and this got me right out of it. Jan has some writing ability also. She was able to write a story unlike anything else. This was a great debut in my opinion. All in all, I enjoyed it.

I recommend this book if you like young adult novels, fairy tale type books, and finding yourself books.

Books I Need NOW #1

Instead of Waiting On Wednesdays (I have gotten to lazy too do them!) I am going to make these slideshows every so often.



The Tenners actually posted about this here. (That made me feel really special!!)

-Senfaye :)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Forget Beach Reads. Darken Your Summer Days!

Sorry if this gets cut off!

Bear Review: I Don't Want A Posh Dog!

Title: I Don’t Want A Posh Dog! Author: Emma Dodd Publisher: Little, Brown Number Of Pages: 32 Publication Date: June 1st, 2009 Age Group: 4-8

Synopsis from book: I don’t want a posh dog. A blow-dry-when-washed dog..

I just want a silly dog. A sweet willy-nilly dog.

A not-too-proud or loud dog. A know-me-in-the-crowd dog.

Join one little girl in her quest to find her perfect pet companion. While dogs come in every shape, color, and size, she knows there is only one dog that she’ll call her very own!

Every young child will relate to love we feel for our four-legged pals. After all, dogs are more than pets—they are our best friends.

NOTE: There will be a new reviewer (occasionally) my little sister, who will review picture books. Reviews like this will happen maybe once or twice a month.

What Bear says: It was a very good book! The pictures were awesome and cute! I loved the really puffy dog (which is the poodle). The little girl was super cute. If we rated books I would give it 5 stars!

What Senfaye says: This book is really, really cute! I enjoyed reading it with my 6-year-old sister. Who, now likes to read it to our puppy. The pictures were totally cute. I wouldn’t suggest that young kids that can read, read this just because there are only a few words on every page. But, nonetheless it was cute!

We would recommend this book if you like dogs, picture books, and cuteness.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

In My Mailbox #11


From Penguin:
Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen (My first Sarah Dessen book EVER!)
Fire by Kristin Cashore (Cannot wait to read this!!!)
After by Amy Efaw
Surf Mules by G. Neri

From Laura at Laura's Review Bookshelf:
Suddenly Supernatural: Scardey Kat by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel (I have read the first one and have the 3 one for review, and Laura was nice enough to send me a copy of the second one!)

From Reviewer X / St. Griffin's Press:
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

From Scholastic:
Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
The Comeback by Marlene Perez

From Harper Teen: (This week I got some Harper Teen love, I got two huge packages full of books!)
Emily The Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger & Jessica Gruner
Secret Society by Tom Dolby
DupliKate by Cherry Cheva
Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
The Waters & The Wild by Francesca Lia Block
As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Immortal by Gillian Shields
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Thanks everyone!!

-Senfaye :)




12 Hour Reading Challenge- Hour 4

Okay, so I am posting this a little early because I have a dilemma! I have NO clue what to read. Here are my choices (I added a few!):
  • The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
  • Suddenly Supernatural: Scaredy Kat (Book 2) by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
  • Suddenly Supernatural: Unhappy Medium (Book 3) by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
  • Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
  • Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block
  • DupliKate by Cherry Cheva
  • Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
  • Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
  • Secret Society by Tom Dolby
  • Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
  • Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
  • Emily The Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger & Jessica Gruner
  • Immortal by Gillian Shields
  • The Comeback by Marlene Perez
So, which do you think I should read? I can't guarantee that I will read that book, but it would be a LOT of help!

Accomplishments:
  • Again none
Goals:
  • To actually read a book :P
-Senfaye :)
P.S. I might not read anymore, I am kinda in a bad mood.


12 Hour Reading Challenge- Hour 3

Wow, this hour I barely did ANY reading. Well, take in perspective that I had to eat and I needed to play with my puppy for a little while.

Accomplishments:
  • None
Goals for the next hour:
  • To read more
  • Read a little of Emily The Strange: The Lost Days
  • Read a little of a Suddenly Supernatural book
  • Find a book that I will focus all my attention on!!

12 Hour Reading Challenge- Hour 2

Accomplishments:
  • Finished As You Wish by Jackson Pearce (Let me just say, I loved it!!)
Goals for the next hour:
  • Start reading The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
-Senfaye :)

12 Hour Reading Challenge Update- Hour 1

During the first hour I think I accomplished a little bit.

I am a little more than halfway through As You Wish by Jackson Pearce.

Here is the exact page I am on:
Page 192 out of 300

My goals for the next hour:
  • Finish As You Wish
  • Start either Pretty Dead or The Chosen One
-Senfaye :)

Friday, June 19, 2009

My Goals For The 12 Hour Reading Challenge!

The books in my mini stack: (By the way this is just a stack I gathered in 5 minutes, and it is not my whole reading pile, my whole reading pile consists of 50-60+ books)
  • Emily The Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner
  • Rampant by Diana Peterfruend
  • As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
  • Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
  • Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block
  • Immortal by Gillian Shields
  • The Comeback by Marlene Perez
  • Suddenly Supernatural: Scaredy Kat (Book 2) by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
  • Suddenly Supernatural: Unhappy Medium (Book 3) by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
  • The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
There is probably no way I will finish all of them. Here are my goals tho:
  • Emily The Strange: The Lost Days
  • Pretty Dead
  • Both Suddenly Supernatural books
  • The Chosen One
  • As You Wish
  • The Comeback
I probably won't even finish all of those.

Wish me luck!

-Senfaye :)
P.S. I will be posting about my progress hourly tomorrow! (Sorry if you get tired of me by the end of the day)

12 Hour Reading Challenge Tomorrow!

Tomorrow starting at 7 am Pacific time and ending at 7 pm Pacific time is the 12 hour reading challenge. Started by the lovely Stargirlreads at Books Make Great Lovers! I am taking part of this challenge because my reading pile is getting huge. Emmyreader and my little sister (Bear) will be joining me. Bear volunteered , she already has the books she is gonna read picked out, haha. She is so cute. As I type this she is reading, it is very cool to have a sibling to share my love of reading with. She tells me which of the books of mine she is going to read when she is older. :) Oh, and by the way if you are joining email Stargirlreads at princessashley9 {at} gmail {dot} com

Thanks Stargirlreads for starting this!

-Senfaye :)

Reading Update!

Ok, I feel really bad about not posting a review lately. I just have been in a review slump if there is such a thing. Although, I have been reading a lot more lately.

Here are the books I am reading now and how far I am into them:
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley (p. 343 out of 412)
Rampant by Diana Peterfruend (p. 57 out of 398)
Emily The Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner (p. 77 out of 263)

I hope to finish The Stolen One today, I love it so far!

-Senfaye :)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

What I recommend for summer reading! (Part 1)

Here is part 1 of the books I would recommend you read this summer:
-Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
-Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
-The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
-Anything by Lauren Myracle (Lauren's writing is Ah-mazing!!)
-My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
-Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
-Wings by Aprilynne Pike
-Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita
-Sea Change by Aimee Friedmen
-Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitmen
-GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow
-Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
-Prophecy Of The Sisters by Michelle Zink
-Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
-The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
-Graceling by Kristin Cashore

More recommendations coming soon!

-Senfaye :)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

20 Things In 20 Days: Clue #6

To celebrate the launch of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, I’m blogging clue #6 for the 20 Things in 20 Days Scavenger Hunt. Answer clues and challenges to earn points toward the 20 Things grand prize, including 6 signed books from 2009 debut authors! Get a clue... June 11th-30th at 20 Things In 20 Days!
Today's clue: In Twenty Boy Summer, main character Anna grew up experiencing Zanzibar Bay through the descriptive postcards Matt would send her each summer during his family vacation. Postcards are a fun way to share your summer adventures with friends, whether you're road-tripping across the country, swimming with the dolphins, or just checking out a new summer hotspot with your pals. The good news is... you don't have to leave home for 20 Things clue #6. Just send an e-postcard to Sarah Ockler telling her about your latest summer adventure! Be sure to include your email address so Sarah knows it's from you! 3 points.


Monday, June 15, 2009

My Summer Reading List!

My summer reading list is huge, so sorry if this post is massive. Here is the list: (The books are in no particular order)
  1. Strange Angels By: Lili St. Crow
  2. After The Moment By: Garret Freymann-Weyr
  3. Dull Boy By: Sarah Cross (Stopped reading it for now)
  4. Ghost Huntress: The Awakening By: Marley Gibson
  5. Ghost Huntress: The Guidance By: Marley Gibson
  6. My Fair Godmother By: Janette Rallison
  7. The Demon's Lexicon By: Sarah Rees Brennan
  8. Academy 7 By: Anne Osterlund
  9. Posh & Prejudice By: Grace Dent
  10. Along For The Ride By: Sarah Dessen (My first Sarah Dessen book)
  11. Same Difference By: Siobhan Vivian
  12. Shrinking Violet By: Danielle Joseph
  13. Undone By: Brooke Taylor
  14. The Summoning By: Kelley Armstrong
  15. The Amaranth Enchantment By: Julie Berry
  16. Hate List By: Jennifer Brown
  17. After By: Amy Efaw
  18. Ghostgirl By: Tonya Hurley
  19. Ghostgirl: Homecoming By: Tonya Hurley
  20. Thirteenth Child By: Patricia C. Wrede
  21. Evernight By: Claudia Gray
  22. Blue Bloods By: Melissa De La Cruz
  23. Masquerade By: Melissa De La Cruz
  24. Revelations By: Melissa De La Cruz
  25. North Of Beautiful By: Justina Chen Headley
  26. Fire By: Kristin Cashore (SOOOO excited to read this!!!!)
  27. Access Denied (And Other Eigth Grade Error Messages) By: Denise Vega
  28. Silver Phoenix By: Cindy Pon
  29. Surf Mules By: G. Neri (Not so sure about this one)
  30. The Elite By: Jennifer Banash
  31. In Too Deep By: Jennifer Banash
  32. Confessions Of A Triple Shot Betty By: Jody Gehrman
  33. Triple Shot Bettys In Love By: Jody Gehrman
  34. Nothing But Ghosts By: Beth Kephart
  35. The Diamonds By: Ted Michael
  36. Warrior Princess By: Frewin Jones
  37. Breathing By: Cheryl Renee Herbsman
  38. Coffeehouse Angel By: Suzanne Selfors
  39. Flygirl By: Sherri L. Smith
  40. Sloane Sisters By: Annabelle Vestry
  41. Wintergirls By: Laurie Halse Anderson
  42. The Forest of Hands And Teeth By: Carrie Rya
  43. Purge By: Sarah Darer Littman
  44. Gentlemen By: Michael Northrop
  45. A Map Of The Known World By: Lisa Ann Sandell
  46. Wherever Nina Lies By: Lynn Weingarten
  47. Airhead By: Meg Cabot (My first Meg Cabot book)
  48. Being Nikki By: Meg Cabot
  49. Summer Girls By: Hailey Abbott
  50. The Spell Book Of Listen Taylor By: Jaclyn Moriarty
I don't think it is possible to read that many books but I will try to read as many as I can!

-Senfaye :)

Saturday, June 13, 2009

In My Mailbox #10


From Little, Brown:
Ghostgirl By: Tonya Hurley

Ghostgirl: Homecoming By: Tonya Hurley

Posh & Prejudice By: Grace Dent

Acess Denied (And Other Eighth Grade Error Messages) By: Denise Vega

From Shani Petroff:
Bedeviled: Daddy's Little Angel By: Shani Petroff (It is Signed! And, it came with duckies!!)

From Houghton Mifflin:
Dead Is The New Black By: Marlene Perez

From Bloomsbury:
My Fair Godmother By: Janetter Rallison

Undone By: Brooke Taylor

The Amaranth Enchantment By: Julie Berry

Thanks everyone!!

-Senfaye :)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Which book?

Happy friday!
I would like your help.
I need to know which book you would like to see a review of first:
- Twenty Boy Summer By: Sarah Ockler
- Fortune's Folly By: Deva Fagan
- Beautiful Creatures By: Kami Garcia & Margie Stohl
- Switch By: Carol Snow
- Fairest Of Them All By: Jan Blazanin
- Destroy All Cars By: Blake Nelson

Thanks everyone!

-Senfaye :)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Soulstice

Title: Soulstice Author: Simon Holt Publisher: Little, Brown Number Of Pages: 266 Publication Date: September 1st, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: (WARNING: Don’t read this synopsis if you haven’t read the first book!!!)

The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter soulstice.

Six months…

Since Reggie first discovered the existence of the Vours in a tattered journal. Since her little brother, Henry, began to mutilate animals and turn against her. Since she learned to devour her fear and destroyed a Vour to save Henry.

The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams—until one horrifying night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality.

Terrifying, nail-biting, and grossly intriguing, readers will devour this thrilling sequel.

Review: Soulstice, I have to say is a little disappointing. I loved the Devouring and didn’t love this one as much. Instead of it being creepy like the Devouring it was just disgusting. I thought the plot was well thought out and a cool idea, but I wished it was more creepy. I really, really hope that the third and final installment is better than Soulstice. It had good writing, great characters, but was a little too gross for me. Although, the ending was amazing and left off on a giant cliffhanger. Overall, it was sort of a disappointment.

I recommend this book if you like creepy(gross) books, demons, and young adult novels.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Crazy Beautiful

Title: Crazy Beautiful Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Number Of Pages: 192 Publication Date: September 7th, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: I would give a lot to see that smile again, directed at me. It may not be much, but I would give up everything I’ve got.

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew off his arms. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make a difference to her at all.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering. Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

A modern retelling of Beauty and The Beast, Lauren Baratz-Logsted’s Crazy Beautiful strips away the original tale to get to its essence, revealing truth about forgiveness, redemption, and the power of love.

Review: Crazy Beautiful was an okay read for me. I mean, it was good but nothing I would run to the bookstore to buy. The characters had depth and were interesting, but I just thought that the story was a little too short. I would have liked to know more about the supporting characters rather than know everything about Aurora and Lucius, I mean it is nice to know a lot about characters but Lauren gave a little too much information. I liked the romance part of the book though. I thought the relationship was well developed. Aurora and Lucius’ relationship was well developed, but they’re relationships with other characters were not developed enough. Overall, it was a good book, but not the greatest book I have ever read.

I recommend this book if you like romance, Beauty and The Beast, and young adult novels.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters

Title: My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters Author: Sydney Salter Publisher: Graphia Number Of Pages: 345 Publication Date: April 6th,2009

Synopsis from back of book: “If I got this job, I could become a member of the Nice Nose Club in time for senior year. All I needed was approximately $5,000 and two weeks of initial recovery time…Super Schnozz would be defeated. One last sniffle, then bye-bye.”

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER OF PASSION. For seventeen-year-old Jory Michaels, that means three sun-and-fun-filled months of spending time with her best friends, obsessing over her crush, trying to find something she is passionate about, and…saving money for a nose job. Jory is determined to lose the big, honking, bumpy monstrosity she calls the Super Schnozz—one thing standing between her and happiness.

So accident-prone Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for surgery; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. To find her passion, she tries yoga; she tries becoming a foreign film buff; but nothing is quite as interesting as finding a boyfriend. And that can’t happen until Super Schnozz disappears...right?

Jory is in for some big surprises when her passion finds her—and she discovers the beautiful people she longs to look like are not as perfect as they seem. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

Review: My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters is a great debut novel. I found myself either smiling, laughing, or upset. I really liked Jory, she was a likeable character but I found at times that she was just a tad bit too whiny. While, I really liked Jory I didn’t like her supposedly best friend Megan, she seemed like a backstabber from the beginning. Hannah her other best friend was funny, but I didn’t like her all that much. Gideon was a much better character and I found that he was hilarious.

The plot was interesting. Girl wants a new nose to fit into her “pretty” family. I wasn’t so sure about the beginning of the book. The middle of the book was interesting. But, the ending was perfect and made the book all the better. All in all, this was a great quick, light summer read.

I recommend this book if you like romance, feel good novels, and YA novels.

Monday, June 8, 2009

It's Not You, It's Me

Title: It’s Not You It’s Me Author: Kerry Cohen Hoffmann Publisher: Delacorte Press Number Of Pages: 176 Publication Date: June 9th, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: Zoe loves Henry.

Henry dumps Zoe.

Zoe wants Henry back—at any cost.

Zoe’s two best friends come up with a plan to help Zoe get what she thinks she wants. The plan: make Henry jealous.

But the plan takes a surprising turn…

Spanning thirty-one days in the cycle of a breakup, Kerry Cohen Hoffmann’s funny and touching novel depicts a girl whose single-minded focus on her ex-boyfriend has pulled her far from the person she most needs to win back—herself.

Review: It’s Not You It’s Me, is not exactly what I thought it would be.. It turned out to be a cute novel, which I totally expected , but it is VERY touching too. You can see the struggle the main character Zoe is having and you want to help her but at the same time you want to yell at her. At the beginning of the book, when Henry breaks up with Zoe she is upset and I understand, but soon after that she becomes I don’t know, stalkerish..I guess? As the story unfolds and progresses, things don’t get better for Zoe and I felt terrible for her, but the ending is a fantastic ending. It leaves questions, but it still has a happy ending. Overall, I really enjoyed It’s Not You It’s Me.

I recommend this book if you like touching stories, humor, young adult novels, with just a touch of romance.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Devoured

Title: Devoured Author: Amanda Marrone Publisher: Simon Pulse Number Of Pages: 287 Publication Date: September 22nd, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: Megan takes a summer job at the Land Of Enchantment amusement park so she can keep an eye on her new boyfriend, Ryan, and his clearly-in-love-with-him best friend, Samantha.

Okay, so Megan’s not off to the best start.

But things get even twistier when Megan starts seeing the ghost of her dead twin sister. Turns out, fellow employee Luke can see her too. Add in the fact that Megan’s new friend Ari seems to have a crush on Luke, who seems to have a crush on Megan..well that makes for a love triangle that is positively possessed.

Review: Devoured is great novel. It is intense, slightly disturbing, and has a few unexpected twists. Megan the main character is very likeable, but her dead twin sister Remy might be more interesting then her. I really wish that there was more of Remy and Megan’s best friend Nikki in the novel though. Now, onto Arianna aren’t most people named Arianna or Aryanna really cool? Well, aside from that fact she is sarcastic and funny with a dark secret. I really never liked Megan’s new boyfriend Ryan and didn’t understand why she liked him so much anyway.

One of the greatest things in the novel, is the twists! Some things I never would have expected happened and I am usually able to tell the plot of a book from the first couple chapters. So it was a nice surprise. Although, the surprises disturbed very much. For the rest of the day those disturbing images were in my mind. I wouldn’t suggest this book for younger teens and would not read this at night, it may cause nightmares. Another thing, I love that it took Snow White but put a new twist on it.

This might seem a little random, but I really like the cover! All in all, I would definitely recommend this book!

I recommend this book if you like romance, scary/creepy books, ghosts, Snow White, and young adult novels.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

In My Mailbox #9



From Simon Pulse:
Devoured By: Amanda Marrone

From Random House:
It's Not You, It's Me

Thanks everyone!
By the way, I finished both books so reviews should be up soon!

-Senfaye :)


Friday, June 5, 2009

Fairy Tale

Title: Fairy Tale Author: Cyn Balog Publisher: Delacorte Press Number Of Pages: 248 Publication Date: June 23rd, 2009

Synopsis from back of book: Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They’ve been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah—they’re totally hot for each other.

But a week before their joint sweet sixteen birthday bash, everything changes. Cam’s awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Cam starts acting distant. Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she’s shocked to discover the reason for Cam’s distance. It isn’t another girl—it’s another world. Pip claims Cam is a fairy. No seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.

Witty, original, and unexpectedly touching, Fairy Tale is a remarkable debut by Cyn Balog that will captivate fans of Twilight and Wicked Lovely.

Review: Fairy Tale is in one word—wonderful! I liked that instead of the protagonist being the fairy, someone she loves dearly is. And, it shows her struggle and her watching what happens on the sidelines. She really can’t do anything to help him and you can tell that it makes her very, very upset. Considering, that Morgan’s boyfriend/best friend is turning into a fairy she is still able to be sarcastic and all around hilarious. The other main characters, Cam (the one being turned into the fairy) and Pip (basically Cam’s replacement) were awesome too. I really, didn’t expect this book to be touching, and boy it was. I almost cried at the end, it was sad and happy at the same time. All in all, this book is a superb debut. I can’t wait to read more from Cyn!

I recommend this book if you like fairies, romance, humor, and YA novels.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAR!!!

Happy Birthday Bear! I cannot believe you are already 6-years-old!! I love you and I hope you have an amazing day! 

-Senfaye :)

(Edit: Someone asked me if today is my teddy bear's birthday, and to that I have to say no. Today is my little sister's birthday and her nickname is Bear. :P) 
(Another Edit: I also have to say Happy Birthday to Emmyreader's little brother who happens to be turning 6 today also!!! So, Happy Birthday Reid, hope you have a great day!!!)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side

Title: Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side   Author: Beth Fantaskey   Publisher: Harcourt       Number Of Pages: 351   Publication Date: February 1st 2009

Synopsis from back of book: Marrying a vampire Definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica’s senior year “Get-a-life” plan.

Enter a bizarre new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu who claims Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth and he’s her long lost fiancé. He’s arrogant, officious, embarrassingly overprotective, and, well, incredibly hot.

Armed with a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide To Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica tries to imagine the transition from an average American teenager to a glam European vampire princess. But just when things start to heat up with Lucius, a devious cheerleader sets her sights on him.

Soon Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal damnation. All of which leaves her to wonder. Wouldn’t life be easier if she could just fall for a nice mortal boy?   

 

Review: Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side was a GREAT novel!! The main characters Jessica and Lucius were portrayed very well. By the end of the novel, you really feel as if you know them. Although, at times I wanted to yell at them and show them the obvious, in the end I think it worked out perfectly. This book at times made me mad, upset, and joyous. And, that is really what I wanted. My expectations were well exceeded and I am glad that I decided to read this novel.

I wish that it went on more to tell about Jessica’s Vampire family, but I won’t hold that against the book. Oh, and there is a devious cheerleader that just made me angry from the beginning, but now I see that if she wasn’t in the book the story wouldn’t have progressed like it did.  So, all in all I loved this book. I really hope there is a sequel and I if not I can’t wait to read more from Beth.

 

I recommend this book if you like vampires, romance, and YA novels.                                                              

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Review Archive!

-A-
As You Wish By: Jackson Pearce
-B-
Betwixt By: Tara Bray Smith
Bras & Broomsticks By: Sarah Mlynowski
Bones Of Faerie By: Janni Lee Simner
Bad Girls Don't Die By: Katie Alender


-C-
Coraline By: Neil Gaimen
City Of Bones By: Cassandra Clare
City Of Ashes By: Cassandra Clare
City Of Glass By: Cassandra Clare
Cycler By: Lauren McLaughlin
Crazy Beautiful By: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Coffeehouse Angel By: Suzanne Selfors
Crank By: Ellen Hopkins
Catching Fire By: Suzanne Collins
The Cupcake Queen By: Heather Hepler


-D-
The Dust Of 100 Dogs By: A.S. King
Dream Girl By: Lauren Mechling
Darkwood By: M.E. Breen
Devoured By: Amanda Marrone
Dead Is The New Black By: Marlene Perez
Destroy All Cars By: Blake Nelson


-E-
Eyes Like Stars By: Lisa Mantchev
Exclusively Chloe By: J.A. Yang (Review/Interview)


-F-
The Faerie Path By: Frewin Jones
Fade By: Lisa McMann
Fairy Tale By: Cyn Balog
Fairest Of Them All By: Jan Blazanin
Fortune's Folly By: Deva Fagan


-G-
Girlwood By: Claire Dean
GoldenGirl By: Micol Ostow
Generation Dead By: Daniel Waters


-H-
The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins


-I-
It's Not You, It's Me By: Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
Immortal By: Gillian Shields


-J-


-K-
Kin By: Holly Black


-L-
The Luxe By: Anna Godbersen
Love Is Hell By: Various Authors
Love You Hate You Miss You By: Elizabeth Scott
Lovestruck Summer By: Melissa Walker
Lipstick Apology By: Jennifer Jabaley


-M-


-N-
NEED By: Carrie Jones


-O-
Once Dead, Twice Shy By: Kim Harrison
One Butt Cheek At A Time By: Amber Kizer


-P-
Prophecy Of The Sisters By: Michelle Zink
Princess Ben By: Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Prada & Prejudice By: Mandy Hubbard


-Q-


-R-
Radiant Darkness By: Emily Whitman


-S-
Something, Maybe By: Elizabeth Scott
Sleepaway Girls By: Jen Calonita
Sea Change By: Aimee Friedman
Shiver By: Maggie Stiefvater
Soulstice By: Simon Holt
The Stolen One By: Suzanne Crowley


-T-
TTYL By: Lauren Myracle
The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones


-U-


-V-


-W-
Willa By Heart By: Coleen Murtagh Paratore
3 Willows By: Ann Brashares
Wake By: Lisa McMann
Wings By: Aprilynne Pike
The Waters & The Wild By: Francesca Lia Block


-X-


-Y-
You Are So Undead To Me By: Stacey Jay


-Z-
Zombie Blondes By: Brian James