Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Au Courant Announcement
Hi, all! I sadly have to announce that because of my hectic schedule this summer, my blog has begun to become unmanageable to keep updated. So, because of this I'm not going to be able to constantly post and update it like usual.
I will still be posting book reviews, book trailers, book synopsis, connections, random browsing, polls, and so-ons, but just at farther apart intervals. This will be happening for about the next month or so. But don't worry! I will be back in full throttle by the end of August and you can still expect plenty of book news to be posted until then. Happy Readings!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Miles Between Excerpt
The Miles Between
by Mary E. Pearson
Publication Date: September 01, 2009
Synopsis:
Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: Don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip.
They’re searching for one fair day—a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions hope will hold simply a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows that Langdon holds far more than that—a deep secret she has never shared with anyone.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
It has been announced that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be released December 10, 2010 by Fox and Walden. Information about ratings, trailers, and movie posters yet to be released. I'll keep you updated on any news concerning this awesome series!
About The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:
Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.
Based on the book:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
by C. S. Lewis
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Warning!
Cashing In
by Susan Colebank
Pub. Date: November 12, 2009
There are some problems even winning the lottery can’t fix.
With as many hours as Reggie Shaw puts in at the Cashmart, it’s no wonder that her grades and her friendships are slipping. Worst of all, Reggie’s mother’s inability to keep a job means that Reggie is pulling the weight of two people. Then, Reggie’s mom wins big in the lottery. Suddenly the money—and the popularity—comes pouring in. But when Reggie finds out that her mother has been borrowing more money than she actually won, she must face up to the fact that happiness can’t be bought—it only comes with hard work.
A Pearl Among Princes
by Coleen Paratore
Pub. Date: September 17, 2009
Welcome to the island where princes learn to be charming.
Gracepearl Coal is the cook’s daughter on Miramore, the island all princes visit for their summer program in the Charming Arts. Each year, the princes-in-training arrive on gallant seacraft, guided by captains trained to navigate the island’s treacherous waters. Passage on one of these boats is the only method to leave the island—thus betrothal to a royal is the only way for Pearl to find her far-off destiny, the one that’s started haunting her dreams. Luckily, this year’s crop of princes include some promising prospects, but how will Pearl leave behind her ailing father or—hardest of all—marry a boy other than her long-time beloved, Mackree . . . who now finds it too painful to even speak to her?
Witch & Wizard
by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
Pub. Date: December 14, 2009
The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?
Devil's Kiss
by Sarwat Chadda
Pub. Date: September 01, 2009
Fifteen-year-old Billi San Greal never meant to make history. Co-opted, or rather coerced, at the age of ten into the modern-day remnant of the Knights Templar by her father, the Grandmaster, Billi's the first girl ever to be a Templar. Her life a disciplined round of weapons' practice, occult lore, and a heck of a lot of bruises, Billi would happily settle for being a normal high-school girl rather than a secret warrior out to defeat the Unholy.
When she meets seductive, exciting Mike, Billi is dazzled. At last here is someone she can confide in; someone who will make up for the coldness and fear of her life. But Michael is not just a heart-breaker, he's an archangel with a terrifying agenda: to unleash the Tenth Plague — the death of all first-born children - and kids are already falling sick.
As the Templars ready for combat, it's clear that Billi's destiny is interwoven with that of Michael. Now she must choose who she wants to be. If she chooses the path of a true Templar, living out her terrifying heritage, it will destroy everything that matters to her. And there are some things, as Billi will discover, that are much, much worse than death . . .
Deadly Little Lies (A Touch Novel)
by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Pub. Date: November 10, 2009
ast fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift—pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?
Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Alex, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Alex is easy-going, and seems to really care about her.
But when Camelia and Alex start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past—and Alex's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out whom-before it's too late.
Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go
College Scholarship Program
Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! College Scholarship recognizes high school seniors who understand and value the limitless possibilities that education can offer with a scholarship award.
“Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t Stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.”
—Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
ESSAY QUESTION:
Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! delivers an important message about the chances and the troubles that life presents. Thinking about the book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, what kinds of opportunities and challenges do you think your education will present in the future?
Applicants must be 12th grade high school students graduating spring 2010, age 21 years or under. (Family members; employees of Bertelsmann; Random House, Inc.; or its subsidiaries, divisions or affiliates are ineligible.)
1st Place $5,000—One Scholarship Awarded
Scholarship award will be made by Random House, Inc. directly to your choice of post-secondary educational institution. First award will be paid during the year 2010. Please note, that acceptance of scholarship amoney may effect your eligibility for other financial aid. Please check with your college or advisor.
Winner will be announced and posted on the Random House, Inc., Web site, www.ohtheplaces.org, by May 1, 2010.
Compositions are judged by their technical merit. We are looking for writing with a strong, clear voice by authors who are original, creative, and draw clear connections back to Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!. Compositions should answer the question fully.
1. You must be a high school senior.
2. Your original literary composition must be submitted in personal essay/memoir format.
3. All submissions must be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than one page (500 words) with a minimum font size of 12 point.
4. Include your name and the title of your entry at the top of your submission.
5. No handwritten entries
6. No photos or drawings.
7. You may submit only one entry to the competition.
8. Foreign language submissions and previously published or awarded material will not be accepted.
9. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE ORIGINAL WORKS. NO PLAGIARISM, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.
DEADLINE: Entries must be postmarked by February 15, 2010, and mailed to Oh, the Places Scholarship Program
Click here to download the application.
Intertwined Review
Intense and Surprising
Intertwined
By Gena Showalter
Pub. Date: September 2009
4.5 out of 5 stars
Violence
“Both attracted and repelled, he thought… Were they like magnets? And if so, did that mean she was like him? Or his opposite?“
Aden has always been the outcast, but never alone. Four drastically different chatty souls reside in his head. They don’t know how they got there or why, all they know is that none of them can get out. Left unable to do anything else, the spirits resign themselves to a life were all they do is narrate and criticize everything Aden does. There is never a moments silence in his head, until Mary Ann crosses his path. Whenever she is near, the voices disappear. He doesn’t understand how it works, but he does know that if he wants more quiet he needs to spend as much time with Mary Ann as he can. Unbeknownst of them, their meeting caused a power surge that hurt every supernatural creature across the world. None of them are happy about the aching tug Aden created and they are about to let him know that…
Intertwined immediately drew me in. Not only did I never want to put it down, I also completely lost track of time.
Every fight was intense, horrible, and quick, taking me faster and faster along. The best of logic was torn apart by unanswerable questions. Romance budded within their midst and blossomed into passionate, loyal love. Intertwined ran from the beaten path of common love triangles and replaced it with unexpected romances, mutual untrusting tolerance, sibling-like caring, and ultimately… friendship. It was very refreshing to have characters who knew what they wanted and weren’t afraid to chase after it… even when everything went downhill. The characters’ supernatural abilities and nonhuman divisions, were amazingly well-developed. They were authentic and palpable.
Awkward moments of misunderstanding and touching intimate conversations were perfectly executed in present tense, allowing me, the reader, to feel them first hand. The ending was unexpected, gruesome, and left me wanting more.
I cannot wait until the next book comes out, and not just because of the cliffhanger last page. I hope it turns out just as intense, unputdownable, and unpredictable as Intertwined was.
Date Reviewed: June 14th, 2009
*This book was provided by Harlequin Teen Panel.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Poll Results
The first thing I do with a new book is...
- smell it.
- stroke the cover.
- flip the pages really fast.
- reread the back cover (and/or front flap).
Make sure to cast your vote in the new poll! :)
Recycler Review
Gross
(Re)cycler
By Lauren McLaughlin
Pub. Date: August 2009
Not Rated
Sexual Content
Recycler was odd, bizarre, and gross. Besides the fact that this 18 year old girl, Jill, turns into a boy, Jack, for 4 days a month, the only thing either of them ever seem to think about is sex. Really? When Jill’s world is falling apart and Jack is finally able to experience life first hand, all they can think about is sex and where to do it.
I’m not going to finish this book. I have better things to do with my time. Recycler is not suggested to anyone, but especially not for people 14 and younger because of the constant discussion of sexual behavior.
Date Reviewed: June 18th, 2009
*This book was provided by Random House (more specifically Random Buzzers).
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