Stacking the Shelves {9}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to showcase the books we've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc. If you'd like to participate please check out Tynga's website for more information. 

For Review:

Shadows (Ashes #2), Ilsa J. Bick

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 9/25/2012, EgmontUSA

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

The Archived (The Archived #1), Victoria Schwab

Source: Sneak Peek from publisher

Release Date: 1/22/2013, Hyperion

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Crewel (Crewel World #1), Gennifer Albin

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/16/2012, FS&G BYR

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

The Shadow Society, Marie Rutkoski

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/16/2012, FS&G

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Dead Girl Moon, Charlie Price

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/30/2012, FS&G

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Safekeeping, Karen Hesse

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 9/18/2012, Feiwel & Friends

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Eve & Adam, Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/2/2012, Feiwel & Friends

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

Source: Movie Edition Paperback from publisher

Release Date: 2/1/1999, MTV Books

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower. You can check out my review here.

Reaper (Lightbringer #2), K.D. McEntire

Source: Hardback from publisher

Release Date: 8/24/2012, Pyr

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Through to You, Emily Hainsworth

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/2/2012, Balzer + Bray

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Spark (Sky Chasers #2), Amy Kathleen Ryan

Source: Audiobook from publisher

Release Date: 7/17/2012, Macmillan Audio

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Purchased:

Hollowed (Half Light #1), Kelley York

Release Date: 8/15/2012

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

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A HUGE thank you to EgmontUSA, Disney-Hyperion, FS&G, Feiwel & Friends, Simon & Schuster, Pyr Books, Balzer + Bray, Harper, Macmillan, Macmillan Audio, Edelweiss and Netgalley. That's it for me this week. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!

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ARC Review: Slide

Slide (Slide #1), Jill Hathaway

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal Thriller, Young Adult

Publication: 3/27/2012, Balzer + Bray

# of Pages: 250 (Hardcover)

Source: I received an advanced readers copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

My Review:  Slide was a welcome change of pace for me. I'd been reading a ton of contemporaries and while they are my favorite, I was in the mood for something a little different and Slide delivered.

Vee's ability to "slide" into another's consciousness is not in and of itself thoroughly original. I've seen it done before and to me it has always seemed like an extremely convenient way for an amateur sleuth to get the clues needed to solve the mystery that would otherwise be lost to him/her. That being said, Slide still appealed to me. There are a few Paranormal YA staples--Vee has her tragic past, her secret gift/curse that controls her life, and a male best friend who would do anything for Vee but who is harboring a few secrets himself. 

On the surface, there's nothing too extraordinary, but once you dig a little deeper, you'll realize that what really drives this story is not the plot but the characters. They're each fully drawn and emotionally engaging, each hiding a secret that I wanted to know. Vee is likeable to the nth degree. She's not overly snarky and she cares a great deal about her family, which includes a workaholic father and a sometimes bratty little sister.

I actually managed to solve the mystery long before Vee did, but overall this knowledge didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I kept reading because I wanted to know how Vee would react when she discovered it. I wanted to see her gain perspective about her ability. And I wanted to see the development of her relationships with her family and especially Rollins, her best friend/potential love interest. For me, Vee carried this story through force of personality alone and more than made up for what could have been a lackluster mystery. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Waiting on Wednesday {21}: What Happens Next

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

 

Today I'm featuring What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton.

 

 

Synopsis from Goodreads: How can you talk about something you can’t remember?

Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.

Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

witty and poignant, Colleen Clayton’s stunning debut is a story about moving on after the unthinkable happens.

Goodreads / Amazon

What Happens Next will be released by Poppy on October 9th, 2012!

 

Okay, so that's mine. What's your WOW pick this week? Also, if you want to participate, head on over to Breaking the Spine and link up!!

Stacking the Shelves {8}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to showcase the books we've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc. If you'd like to participate please check out Tynga's website for more information. 

For Review:

Midnight City (Conquered Earth #1), J. Barton Mitchell
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/30/2012, St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads / Amazon

I absolutely loved this one. I'm also having a giveaway for an ARC. So, if you want a chance to win a copy, check it out!!

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Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2), Moira Young
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/30/2012, Margaret K. McElderry Books
Goodreads / Amazon

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Because it is My Blood (Birthright #2), Gabrielle Zevin
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/18/2012, FS&G BYR
Goodreads / Amazon

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Breathe (Breathe #1), Sarah Crossan
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/2/2012, Greenwillow Books
Goodreads / Amazon

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The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/1/2012, Scholastic Press
Goodreads / Amazon

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The next three books came in a package from the lovely people at Harper to celebrate the release of The Rise of Nine on 8/21/2012. I heart them so much.

I've read I Am Number Four, but I haven't gotten to The Power of Six or The Rise of Nine yet. Hopefully soon.

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1), Pittacus Lore
Goodreads / Amazon

The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2), Pittacus Lore
Goodreads / Amazon

The Rise of Nine (Lorien Legacies #3), Pittacus Lore
Goodreads / Amazon

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The Fine Color of Rust, P.A. O'Reilly
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/4/2012, Washington Square Press
Goodreads / Amazon

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Lost Antarctica, James McClintock
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/18/2012, Palgrave Macmillan
Goodreads / Amazon

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The River: A Novel, Michael Neale
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/18/2012, Thomas Nelson
Goodreads / Amazon

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The Dead of Winter (Cora Oglesby #1), Lee Collins
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/30/2012, Angry Robot
Goodreads / Amazon

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A HUGE thank you to Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Atria, Angry Robot, Harper, Scholastic, Thomas Nelson, Edelweiss and Netgalley. That's it for me this week. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!

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Giveaway: ARC of Midnight City

I haven't done a giveaway in like forever, so I thought I'd start with an ARC that I read recently that I absolutely loved, Midnight City, which is book #1 in the Conquered Earth Series.

In a post-apocalyptic world controlled by alien invaders, two teens and a young girl with mysterious powers embark on a dangerous journey. What they find will change everything...

Earth has been conquered. An extraterrestrial race known as The Assembly has abducted the adult population, leaving the planet’s youth to fend for themselves. In this treacherous landscape, Holt, a bounty hunter, is transporting his prisoner Mira when they discover Zoey, a young girl with powerful abilities who could be the key to stopping The Assembly. As they make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, the trio must contend with freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and perhaps most perilous of all: Holt and Mira’s growing attraction to each other.

Midnight City is the breathtaking first novel in the Conquered Earth series, and a stunning work of imagination from debut author J. Barton Mitchell.

Midnight City will be released by St. Martin's Griffin on 10/30/2012. Contest ends 9/30/2012!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Imaginary Girls

Imaginary Girls, Nova Ren Suma

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal, Young Adult

Publication: 6/14/2012, Speak

(First Pub. 6/14/11 Dutton Juvenile)

# of Pages: 304 (Paperback)

Source: Purchased / Owned

Synopsis from Goodreads: A beautiful and chilling story for fans of Lauren Oliver and Lisa McMann

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be contained or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has deeply hidden away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

My Review: Nova Ren Suma may well be one of the best writers I've ever encountered. She's definitely on my list of favorites. And Imaginary Girls may be one of the most interesting stories I've ever read. It's so quietly powerful. You think you're reading something slow-moving and laidback until you realize you've been holding your breath and maniacally flipping through pages.

Every word Nova Ren Suma writes serves a purpose. It reads like a literary novel, with these strange paranormal elements thrown in. It's so hard to classify because I'm reluctant to call it just one thing. It's many things all at once. It's haunting and compelling and beautiful but never overdone. You can feel the force of the writer's voice, the way she strings everything together, even as Chloe's voice is pulling us along, telling us her tale. I've honestly not read much like it in the YA realm.

Highly recommended. It's like a perfectly executed magic trick--it will intrigue you and surprise you and, ultimately, leave you wondering how the author managed to pull it off. One of my favorite reads of the year. Also, while I loved the first cover--the one with the girl in the water--there is something eerie and provocative about the new paperback cover (above). I'm surprised at myself, but I really like it.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Waiting on Wednesday {20}: Ten

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

Today I'm featuring Ten by Gretchen McNeil.

Synopsis from Goodreads: And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Goodreads / Amazon

I absolutely adored Gretchen's debut novel, Possess, so this one has been on my radar since the book deal was announced. Ten will be released by Balzer & Bray on September 18th, 2012!

Okay, so that's mine. What's your WOW pick this week? Also, if you want to participate, head on over to Breaking the Spine and link up!!

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ARC Review: All These Lives

All These Lives, Sarah Wylie

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult

Publication: 6/5/2012, Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux (BYR)

# of Pages: 245 (Hardcover)

Source: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky.  She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal.  And Jena is wasting away. 

To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives.  Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one.  Someone like Jena.  But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization.  Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all.  Maybe she really only ever had one.

My Review:  You should all know by now that I am a sucker for a good contemporary. The more it makes me cry, the higher it goes on my list of favorites. But I don't like them all. Because these stories are realistic and I can't rely on hot vampires or thrilling action scenes to get me through, it has to be a story that sucks me in. It has to be about a character whose story I can't stop thinking about when I'm not reading.

All These Lives did just that. I'd picked up a few other review books prior to grabbing this one and they all failed to hold my attention until I got to Dani. She's got this rough exterior that made me want to crack it, so I could look inside and see all the broken little pieces she was trying so hard to hide.

She also has a tremendous amount of love for her twin sister and this struck a nerve in the sister center of my brain. I have many sisters. I couldn't begin to think about living without even one of them. So, it was easy for me to sympathize with Dani's situation. She doesn't know how to deal with a sick sister so she avoids her. But more than anything she wants Jena to just be okay again. Throw in the fact that Dani has had a few run-ins with death and cheated him, and you've got yourself a confused little girl who thinks she can transfer some of her extra lives to her sister.

Realistic and vivid, All These Lives is an emotional, heartfelt tale of two sisters in an excruciating situation. It broke my heart a little bit but I really enjoyed it. It's easy to read the synopsis and classify this as a "cancer book" but it's not. It's not out to manipulate emotions or to force sympathy. It's more about Dani coming to terms with being very much alive than it is about Jena's illness. In the end, it's about life, not death.

Goodreads / Amazon

Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult

Publication: 1/1/1999, MTV Books

# of Pages: 213 (Paperback)

Source: Purchased / Own

Synopsis from Goodreads: Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction.

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up

My Review:  I'm the type of person who has to read books before I see the movie. I don't know why. It's just who I am. And since the trailer for the movie coming out in September caught my attention, I knew I had to read this book.

Let me start off by saying that if not for the movie trailer, I doubt I would have purchased this book on my own. The cover does absolutely nothing to sell it. However, having read the book, I now see how fitting it is. This completely unassuming cover hides a coming-of-age story so simple it's practically brilliant. There are no gimmicks here, no trends, just a pure story of one boy's freshman year seen through the eyes of an immensely sympathetic and instantly likeable main character.

It's definitely a quick read--I read it in one sitting--that pulls you along. Charlie's voice is as captivating as it is simplistic. He tells you a story in a way that begs you to listen. At first he's unsure and tenous and you can sense there's a current running just beneath the surface. You know something will come to light later even if you can never get a grasp on what it will be. He grows and comes into his own in a way that--as an adult reading a YA book--made me proud of him. And even though there is sex and drugs and things that may make parents uncomfortable, they are a normal and almost necessary part of growing up and are handled carefully and honestly.

I adored this book. I absolutely could not put it down once I started reading and I recommend it to lovers of contemporary young adult fiction.

ARC Review: Lies, Knives, & Girls in Red Dresses

Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses by Ron Koertge

Andrea Dezso (Illustrator)

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retellings, Young Adult

Publication: 7/10/12, Candlewick Press

# of Pages: 96 (Hardcover)

Source: I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Writing in free verse honed to a wicked edge, the incomparable Ron Koertge brings dark and contemporary humor to twenty iconic fairy tales.

Once upon a time, there was a strung-out match girl who sold CDs to stoners. Twelve impetuous sisters escaped King Daddy's clutches to jiggle and cavort and wear out their shoes. A fickle Thumbelina searched for a tiny husband, leaving bodies in her wake. And Little Red Riding Hood confessed that she kind of wanted to know what it's like to be swallowed whole. From bloodied and blinded stepsisters (they were duped) to a chopped-off finger flying into a heroine's cleavage, this is fairy tale world turned upside down. Ron Koertge knows what really happened to all those wolves and maidens, ogres and orphans, kings and piglets, and he knows about the Ever After. So come closer - he wants to whisper in your ear.

My Review: This isn't usually my thing. I like Fairy Tale retellings but I like them in novel form, with a lot of plot and character development. Short stories have never appealed to me. That being said, I actually enjoyed Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses. It's clever and the humor is dark. And I like my fairy tales dark.

Though my ARC didn't have the beautiful cover art you see above, there was art on the inside, each drawing perfectly suited to the story. It's a quick read. The stories are short and grim, sometimes shocking, but never simply for the sake of being grim or shocking. They're purposeful and expertly written. I will say that it is definitely intended for an older, more mature YA audience. It wasn't exactly the kind of story I would want to share with my preteen aged neice.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Stacking the Shelves {7}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to showcase the books we've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc. If you'd like to participate please check out Tynga's website for more information.

Purchased:

I bought this one after reading a gushing review by Valerie from Stuck in Books. Can't wait to read it!

Spill Over, Jolene B. Perry

Release Date: 7/11/2012, Next Door Publishing

Goodreads / Amazon

 

As the next few books will confirm, I am kind of on an adult Science Fiction kick right now. There's a giant hole in my life left by the conclusion of the Mass Effect video games so I'm trying to fill it with books. If anyone has a recommendation for an awesome Space Opera or Military Science Fiction book, let me know in the comments.

Dauntless (The Lost Fleet #1), Jack Campbell

Release Date: 7/1/2006, Ace Books

Goodreads / Amazon

The January Dancer (January Dancer #1), Michael Flynn

Release Date: 10/14/2008, Tor Books

Goodreads / Amazon

This is the one I posted about a few weeks ago after I saw the trailer about a homicide detective trying to solve a murder in a pre-apocalyptic world. I started reading it a few days ago. So far, so good.

The Last Policeman: A Novel, Ben H. Winters

Release Date: 7/10/2012, Quirk Books

Goodreads / Amazon

For Review:

Starling (Starling #1), Lesley Livingston

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 8/28/2012, HarperTeen

Goodreads / Amazon

Cuttlefish, Dave Freer
Source: Finished copy from publisher
Release Date: 7/26/2012, Pyr Books
Goodreads / Amazon

Between You & Me, Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
Source: Finished copy from publisher
Release Date: 6/12/2012, Atria Books
Goodreads / Amazon

Ten Girls to Watch, Charity Shumway
Source: Finished copy from publisher
Release Date: 7/31/2012, Washington Square Press
Goodreads / Amazon

Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1), Jamie McGuire
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 8/14/2012, Atria Books
Goodreads / Amazon

The Assassin's Curse, Cassandra Rose Clarke
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/2/2012, Strange Chemistry
Goodreads / Amazon

vN (The Machine Dynasty #1), Madeline Ashby
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 7/31/2012, Angry Robot
Goodreads / Amazon

Seven Wonder, Adam Christopher
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 8/28/2012, Angry Robot
Goodreads / Amazon

Speechless, Hannah Harrington
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 8/28/2012, HarlequinTeen
Goodreads / Amazon

Mystic City (Mystic City #1), Theo Lawrence

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/9/12, Random House

Goodreads / Amazon


Every Day, David Levithan
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 8/28/2012, Knopf BYR
Goodreads / Amazon

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Jon Meacham
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 11/13/2012, Random House
Goodreads / Amazon

Gross America, Richard Faulk
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/11/2012, Tarcher
Goodreads / Amazon

 

Won:

From Justin's Book Blog!!!

Team Human, Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
Release Date: 7/3/2012, HarperTeen
Goodreads / Amazon

Once (Eve #2), Anna Carey
Release Date: 7/3/2012, Harper
Goodreads / Amazon

 

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A HUGE thank you to Justin from Justin's Book Blog, Valerie from Stuck in Books, Atria, Knopf BYR, Random House, Angry Robot, Harper, Pyr,  Harlequin Teen, Tarcher, Edelweiss and Netgalley. That's it for me this week. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!

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