Title: The Last Best KissAuthor: Claire LaZebnik
Published: 2014
Source: Local Library
Summary: Try as she might, Anna's never been able to forget dorky, sweet Finn, her freshman-year boyfriend that she drove away by not admitting they were dating. Their senior year, he comes back to town, no longer dorky, and no longer at all interested in her.
First Impressions: Awwww. I loved this. Quick read with strong emotional core. And of course it's an Austen retelling so you know I'm all over that.
Title: Catching JordanAuthor: Miranda Kenneally
Published: 2011
Source: Local Library
Summary: As the only girl and the quarterback, Jordan Woods is in a unique position on her football team. She wants to focus on getting an amazing college scholarship, not on romance - but romance seems determined to find her.
First Impressions: Did not entirely love this one. Not sure why. Maybe it's because neither romance seemed especially fleshed out? The dismissive and scornful way she treated other girls got under my skin, even though it was addressed.
Title: Six of CrowsAuthor: Leigh Bardugo
Published: 2015
Source: Local Library
Summary: A gang of con men and criminals get the biggest job of their career, but will their pasts, both with each other and with the people they're scamming, scotch the whole deal?
First Impressions: This was very unevenly paced, although I enjoyed the characters. But it seemed like we would have action and then this long flashback about each character. I didn't really get into it until the end.
More: Book Nut
Best Young Adult Books: Top Picks from YA Bloggers in the Know, #3
By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 9, 2012
Michelle and Andi, the masterminds behind Galleysmith, kindly agreed to choose not 5, but their 10(!) most swoon-worthy and gripping new summer reads. We’re ready to grab a beach blanket, a pina colada, and dive into these books. Thanks to Michelle and Andi for making our summer reading list even better.
The Ten Most Anticipated YA Summer Reads
When The Children’s Book Review asked that I stop by and tell you all about my five most anticipated summer reads I thought to myself, “only five?!?” You see, on my blog Galleysmith my colleague Andi and I have The List of Ten. The purpose of this list is to plot out our next ten reads to avoid the indecision that sometimes accompanies book selection. Moreover, it’s intended to help us keep our reading varied by being comprised of various formats, genres and ages. Have no fear, readers! The list below doesn’t follow our usual rules of formation nor does it come with any of the usual selection indecision. We’re thrilled to share with you some of our most anticipated forthcoming summer releases and we couldn’t just stop at five!
By Courtney Summers
Zombies! Need I say more? ZOMBIES. And not just the flesh eating terrifying kind. The kind that have heart and soul despite their undeadliness. Oh, and it’s Courtney Summers one of the all-time best writers I’ve read.
Ages 13-17 | Publisher: St. Martin’s Press | June 19, 2012
by Jenny Han and Siobahn Vivian
Jenny Han wrote one of my favorite series ever (the amazing Summer series which I encourage you to pick up) and Siobahn Vivian is equally amazing at writing empowered and independent female characters. Together I have no doubt they will work magic with their story about girls seeking revenge on those that have wronged them.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers | September 18, 2012
By Jennifer Echols
The queen of contemporary drama, Echols has yet to disappoint me with any of her work. She writes romance like nobody’s business! When she announces a new book I’m all about pressing that “pre-order” bu
You guys, I'm reading
Miranda Kenneally's
Catching Jordan right now, and it's filling my
Friday Night Lights void! Yay! Here's Miranda with her Cover Story:
"I imagined my main character, Jordan, lying head-to-toe in a patch of grass with her best friend, Sam Henry. She’d be holding a football and he would be playing with some white clover.
"[My publisher] didn’t ask for input, but I couldn’t have been happier with the first options I saw.
"There were three options, and I didn’t have any comments other than, 'I love them!'
Read the rest of Miranda's Cover Story, and see previous cover tries for the book, at
melissacwalker.com.
Today I have a Character Interview from Catching Jordan, by Miranda Kenneally. Enjoy!
Hello Ty! Can you tell us about yourself?
I’m a Aries. I like football and working out. I’m a one girl kind of guy. Family is everything to me.
My life goals include:
1. Make it onto an NFL team.
2. Be the first in my family to graduate from college.
3. Always maintain a 30.01 body mass index or better.
4. Always have a six-pack.
5. Visit all seven continents.
How has your life changed since you moved?
I miss my dad a lot. He died six months ago, and sometimes I wake up and don’t want to get out of bed because the pain is crushing me down. But I have to take care of my little sister, so that gets me out of bed and to school and to my job bussing tables. I still try to make time for football, because it’s in my heart.
What made you fall for Jordan?
She’s smart, independent and serious. I like that she’s organized and knows how to lead a team. She and I are very similar in a lot of ways.
Who is your football idol and favorite team?
My football idol is Troy Aikman. He was quarterback of the Cowboys when I was a kid. The Cowboys are my favorite team.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Playing for an NFL team. I want to be chosen in the first round of the draft. I’d like to be married or engaged and thinking about having kids. And maybe I’ll get a dog. A yellow lab.
Thanks for stopping by Ty!
From Goodreads. What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (December 1, 2011)
Paperback: 288 Pages
Genre: YA Contemporary
Miranda Kenneally's Website |
Blog |
Twitter
From Goodreads. What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.
Review by Kate
CATCHING JORDAN, by Miranda Kenneally, is the story of Jordan, female quarterback/captain of a Southern high school football team. Ever since she started football at a young age Jordan has worked hard to build up her skills to play at the college level. But a newcomer joins the team and Jordan falls for him...hard. Her life is turned upside down for Ty as she tries to balance her dreams of being a football star and a normal teenage girl falling in love.
Initially the premise of this book intrigued me, but I never imagined how much I would like it. Jordan's character was honest, strong and nothing could bring her down. She was not the typical girl who wanted to climb the high school social ladder. She had a dream and best friends who stood by her and nothing seemed to be able to get in her way until Ty showed up on the field. I loved watching Jordan turn into something other than a football player. She stayed true to herself but she charted unfamiliar territory when she started dating Ty. her confidence wavered and her ability to balance everything was overwhelming. Kenneally truly created a female that smashed the mold of typical YA main characters. Growing up I was definitely a sporty girl and I could identify similar characteristics in myself and I think other sporty teens now could too.
I loved Jordan's friends. JJ and Carter were typical big brother types and they loved their captain fiercely. And right away I knew Henry would be a contender for Jordan's heart and I waited patiently until she realized his friendly actions spoke volumes more.
I was not a fan of Ty from the beginning. Although he was a great football player, he had a lot of issues. Jealousy and anger were just two of them and while I didn't like him for Jordan, I did feel bad for his situation. Kenneally really captured the emotional turmoil that many teens do face and it made the story more realistic.
Besides dealing with Ty, Jordan had a lifelong issue with her father (a professional football player). He never turned up for her games and he rewarded Jordan's brother's football dreams but ignored hers. His intentions were sincere but the wake of resentment it left with Jordan was sad and I felt terrible for her. Along with family issues came social issues within her high school and prospective college teammates. Jordan faced criticism from all sides about being a girl quarterback and I rooted for her to do what she liked no matt
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I just love it when the 'characters' attend the interviews. Ty sounds like a great guy.<br /><br />Look forward to reading about him in the book.<br /><br />Thanks for the posting!
An Aries means on flaming guy!! Definitely feisty. I'm intrigued.<br /><br />Vivien<br />deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
OMG! You sound so SWEET! Gosh, you boys make it hard to choose between you guys. Team Henry or Tean Ty? It's even right now. :D Thanks for stopping by!