Thursday, November 29, 2012

Every You, Every Me By: David Levithan (Review #5)

BOOK: Every You, Every Me
AUTHOR: David Levithan
PUBLISHER: Knopf Books for Young Readers
DATE: September 2011
FORMAT: Hardcover
PAGES: 245
SOURCE: Library
Every You, Every Me(Goodreads synopsis)
In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan,Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

A bit disappointing for my first David Levithan book. I thought the concept was fascinating, but sense I haven't heard much about it, I decided to pick it up at the library. The beginning of the story was enjoyable but as I started to go deeper within the pages, it just got
really slow and really confusing. The characters started to act really strange and awkward and it suddenly felt like watching a Disney channel show. Also, the pace was horrific. Something really interesting would happen then, for a whole 50 pages after that, the book would be unreasonably lifeless. The setting was interesting as some parts. EXAMPLE- forest, railroad, exc. But really nothing special. I'm kind of glad that I didn't buy this book...




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday #2


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Prodigy (Legend book 2)

Marie Lu
Putnam Juvenile
January 29th 2013
Prodigy (Legend, #2)

 June and Day make their way to Las Vegas where they join the rebel Patriot group and become involved in an assassination plot against the Elector in hopes of saving the Republic.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #1



"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Shadowlands
Kate Brian
Hyperion
January 8th 2013
Shadowlands
Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye. 

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Read - A - Thon

Dewy's 24 Hour READ-A-THON is among us! This being my first year I am very excited, and can't wait to see what i'll end up reading!















Introductory Questionnaire: 

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
     
    I will be reading from Massachusetts located in the US.

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

    Definitely Gabrielle Zevin's, All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1)  

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
   
    Cheddar Cheese Pringles :)

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

     My name is Max, I am 12, and I read books.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

     This is my first year!!! Wooo - Hooo I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone is reading and how they compare to other bloggers.



So Far, I'm really enjoying the Read - A - Thon!! I realized it's a great way to get out of a reading slump (*guilty*)

9 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Books Read:
Slide By: Jill Hathaway
Currently Reading:
Every Day By: David Levithan
Favorite Character: 
Maddie From Slide. I really loved the way she developed throughout the story. I also loved her weaknesses and the things she realized as the story progressed.
Minutes: 
Approximately 3 hours
Pages:
210
Favorite Snack:
Cheddar cheese Pringals. =)
Current Mood:
Bibliophilic!!!

2 P.M. - 5 P.M.

So, i haven't done much reading. LIKE AT ALL. I put down Every Day By: David Levithan. I felt there was to much of a connection between Every Day and Slide so I really just got distracted and confused. I am now reading Please Ignore Vera Dietz By: A.S. King, Which I am very much enjoying. I'm roughly 50 pages through. 

6 P.M. - 10 P.M. 

Enjoying Please Ignore Vera Dietz only about 100 pages in, snacking A LOT. Also, I have been entering some mini contests including, Time Flies Challenge, The Six Word Story, and more. Have been checking out a few blogs including, Ticket To Anywhere, That READioactive book blog, Chasing Quills, Dead Book Darling, AND MANY MORE!! :D 

MID-EVENT SURVEY:

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
    
    Kind of disappointed, not reading much. But I'M KICKED WITH ARIZONA ICED TEA!

2) What have you finished reading?

    Slide By: Jill Hathaway. About Halfway Done with, Please Ignore Vera Dietz By: A.S. King

3) What is your favorite read so far?

     Probably Slide, But am much enjoying Please Ignore Vera Dietz (A bit depressing though)

4) What about your favorite snacks? 

     Enjoying my cheddar cheese Pringals....... But Fritos BBQ twists are starting to become obsessed with my mouth and stomach...

5) Have you found any new blogs from the read a thon?

     Yes! They are listed above, located in hours 6-10

11 P.M. - 2 A.M.

Still very much enjoying Please Ignore Vera Dietz but is getting a little to dull. I picked up An Abundance Of Katherines By: John Green to meet my humor criteria levels and keep me awake.  WARNING! I MIGHT CRASH SOON.

MORNING. (yes, I feel asleep. at about 2:30) 

WOW. Kind of disappointed. Only read about 1 2/3 of BOOKNESS. Had loads of fun though, definitely
participating in April. I HAVE A READING HANGOVER.

PAGES READ: roughly 330 D:
BOOKS: 1 2/3
TIME SPENT: only like 13 or 14.
CURRENT MOOD(S):
TIRED and ACHIEVED.











Monday, August 6, 2012

Monument 14 By: Emmy Laybourne (Review #4)

BOOK: Monument 14
AUTHOR: Emmy Laybourne
PUBLISHER: Feiwel and Friends
DATE: 2012
FORMAT: Hardcover
PAGES: 294
SOURCE: Bought
Monument 14
(Goodreads Synopsis)
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong. 

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.


I was surprised by how much I loved this!

     The plot was what originally made me pick up the book, and thank god I did. Unlike every other distopian, the world is falling apart in the story, whereas in others the world has already been destroyed. This made the book a thrill ride that made me stay up all night.

     Writing = SOFREAKINGGOOD. It came across for me that Laybourne wrote the story meaning it to be Dean's journal that he writes in throughout the book, this was something I haven't read much, so this captivated me even more. 

          I also really enjoyed the characters. They were introduced right when they made an entrance into the story, which made the story more enjoyable. Also, I loved reading about all of there personalities and back stories, some were hilarious and made me laugh out loud. I could really connect with them because they all had strengths and weaknesses, and in the end I really didn't want to leave them.

       The only thing I had a problem with was the relationships. IT WAS SO AWKWARD. Its like all love in this book is bipolar. Someone will make-out with another person, they they'll hook up with someone else. Like I had no idea what was going on when something romantic was happening.


       Overall I really loved this book and its not like a typical YA Dystopian, Highly Recommended


Saturday, July 28, 2012

Th1rteen R3asons Why By: Jay Asher (Review #3)

BOOK: Th1rteen R3asons Why
AUTHOR: Jay Asher
PUBLISHER: Razorbill
DATE: 2007
FORMAT: Paperback
PAGES: 288
SOURCE: Bought

(Goodreads Synopsis)
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.


     Such a powerful read! I really loved the plot but the writing could have been a bit better, it was confusing to read because it switched a lot from Hannah talking to Clay talking, and you forget who is who while reading. But, I got used to it about halfway through. 

      The best part of the story was definitely the characters. They all had there own personalities, which was interesting and fun. I could really connect and relate with them while reading. Also, when you forget about a previous character in the book, they pop up again in another chapter. In the end, it was so interesting to see how all the characters were connected.
                                                                          
         Another thing I really liked was the setting. There was really nothing great about it, and that's what I liked. No crazy back story, or unusual things that happen in it, just your  average american town.

     Mostly everything in this book was AMAZING.



                                                                             


    

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Percy Jackson & the Olympians series review (Review #2)


BOOK(S): Percy Jackson & the Olympians series
AUTHOR: Rick Riordan
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
DATE: 2005 - 2009
FORMAT: Paperbacks
PAGES: (5 books) 1702
SOURCE: Bought

(Wikipedia Synopsis)

"Percy Jackson & the Olympians" is a pentalogy of adventure and fantasy fiction books authored by Rick Riordan. Set in the United States, the books are predominantly based on Greek mythology and deal with a demigod, Percy Jackson, and his quest to stop the rise of the Titan lord Kronos. All 5 books are seen from Percy's witty and sardonic point of view. The series tackles themes like coming of age, love and teenage angst.

          The Lightning Thief was definitely the best out of all five. The characters were great, each had their own personalities and were relatable. I enjoyed the writing, it was simple, yet fast paced and got right to the point. Some parts were to continuous and were written as stalls before other events happened. Overall, I really liked book one.


        The Sea of Monsters, meh. New characters were introduced, they developed quickly, but i didn't like some of their personalities. There were definitely a few cliff hangers (literally) that made me want to read more. The general story line was good but the same order of events happened in this as it did in The Lightning Thief, which made it kind of boring. (cover = awesome)



        The Titans Curse, this one was actually good. There are a TON of more characters introduced in book 3, and it was AWESOME. The writing was still witty, funny, and enjoyable. I could still, vaguely, see the same thing going on with the plot, but other than that it was great.


        
        The Battle of the Labyrinth, I muchly disliked this. It was mostly all the same characters, which is fine but they didn't do anything, it was boring. IT WAS THE EXACT SAME PLOT AS ALL THE OTHER BOOKS, eeeergg.

                                                               
         The Last Olympian, I don't really know what I think about this yet. The plot was new (unlike 3,4,5) and was a good finish to the series. In a way, I didn't want to let these characters go. I realized how much I have grown to like them, and they make me despise characters in other stories. The middle of the story was SO BORING, it seemed Rick Riordan was desperate for parts and put in things that did't even make sense. All in all, it was a good conclusion that answered a lot of questions about the series.




Other Thoughts
   The conflicts and solutions are AMAZING!! there is always something new lying beneath every chapter.

The way Rick Riordan incorporates the Greek mythology into this book is mind blowing, he really makes the gods seem believable with their funny & witty personalities. 



Monday, June 11, 2012

An Abundance of Katherines 3rd cover reveal!

Newest Cover
(#3)














      And yet, another cover for An Abundance of Katherines by: John Green. And yet, another book I have yet to read. So, for the past (x) months, Nerdfighteria has been creating new covers for John Greens novel, An Abundance of Katherines. The cover was revealed at B.E.A. (Book Expo America) a couple of days ago, and its epic. Buying this book is now my top priority.
Cover #2
Cover #1














                                                                                                                                                             

Friday, June 8, 2012

R.I.P Ray Bradbury, 1920 - 2012


Ray Bradbury in 1975
1975
       We have unfortunately lost Sci-Fi legend, Ray Bradbury. Luckily, he had accomplished many things in his extensive lifetime. From 1920-2012 Ray Bradbury has inspired many people, and changed the world of literature forever. He has written countless classics including,   "Fahrenheit 451," "The Martian Chronicles" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes."   I have yet to read any of his novels, but definitely will in his honor.  
               Bradbury died on June 5th, at the age of 91, in Los Angeles, California, after a lengthy illness. Although he never attended college, Ray has written over 25 novels, and more than 600 short stories.  Ray Bradbury will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.      
              

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Other Side of the Island By: Allegra Goodman (Book Review #1)

BOOK: The Other Side of the Island                           
AUTHOR: Allegra Goodman   
PUBLISHER: Razorbill
DATE: May 2009
FORMAT: Paperback
PAGES: 288
SOURCE: Borrowed


(Goodreads Synopsis)



Honor and her parents have been reassigned to live on Island 365 in the Tranquil Sea. Life is peaceful there, the color of the sky is regulated by Earth Mother, a corporation that controls New Weather, and it almost never rains. Everyone fits into their rightful and predictable place. . . .
Except Honor. She doesn't fit in, but then she meets Helix, a boy with a big heart and a keen sense for the world around them. Slowly, Honor and Helix begin to uncover a terrible truth about life on the Island: Sooner or latter, those who are unpredictable disappear . . . and they don't ever come back.

     Overall, I thought the general idea of the story was good, but the writing kind of ruined it. The book is told in 3rd person, which I enjoyed because not many books now are. But, the writing only focuses on significant parts in the story, and in between those parts it is carelessly written and not well planned out. Also, the time went by in a weird order. On some parts 5-10 pages = an hour, and then the next page will have a paragraph that = 4 days.
       
       I didn't really like the setting either. It wasn't explained enough, and I had to keep flipping back to pages searching for answers.

       As for the characters, I thought they were wonderful. The were really unique, and although i couldn't picture myself in their shoes, the developed nicely through the course of the book.

       Definitely a great story idea, but it could have been written a lot better.








Sunday, June 3, 2012

Mark of Athena cover reveal & initial thoughts about Heroes of Olympus

As most of you may know, Rick Riordan is releasing the 3rd book in the Heroes of Olympus series, The Mark of Athena, on October second, 2012. The cover has officially been revealed, it was featured on Rick's blog the 1st of June. The cover was done (yet again) by John Rocco, who has done the cover art for Percy Jackson & the Olympians, and also The Kane Chronicles.
I still have yet to read either books out in this series, but i don't know if I want to. There are supposedly 2 more books coming out in this series, which I think is a bit ridiculous. For Percy Jackson, I felt the series dragged on for AGES. There was nothing knew what so ever in books 3,4, and 5. I'm afraid the same will happen with The Heroes of Olympus series if the books keep getting dragged on. I will get to these books soon, and hopefully my thoughts on Percy Jackson won't interfere with the other series.

Happy reading
-Max

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