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About the Book: The houses of the Zodiac each have their own planets and strengths. Sixteen-year-old Rho Grace is a student from House Cancer. Her ability to read the stars has resulted in a unique vision, but her teachers dismiss her readers as false. When a blast strikes the moons of Cancer killing millions of people, Rho has a feeling that her mysterious vision was a prediction.
With the leader of Cancer killed in the blast, Rho is shocked when she is chosen to be the House's new guardian and leader. She's still having upsetting readers in the stars, but no one believes her. When a reading shows that two other signs are the next ones targeted for disaster, Rho believes that the ancient and exiled thirteenth sign, Ophiuchus, is back and seeking revenge. It's up to Rho to save the Zodiac and protect everyone. Along with her adviser and Royal Guard member Mathias and Hysan, a delegate from Libra, Rho must travel the galaxy and spread her warnings-before it's too late. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: When I was a teen, I was obsessed with astrology. I am a poster child for Gemini and I loved reading about the various signs of the Zodiac and what they meant. And I know it's not just me! So many of my teens love reading about astrology and Zodiac hits that fascination perfectly. Zodiac is a fast paced space adventure. It's a mix of science fiction, fantasy, adventure and romance. The science is a bit goofy and not always explained and there's a love triangle that I don't think really needed to be there (sigh...why are there always love triangles?). But I can overlook those things for the fun that I had reading. I hate when books take a long time to get the action going so I was thrilled that Zodiac kicks off and high speed and doesn't slow down. In the first twenty pages Rho has had an ominous vision and Cancer is sent into turmoil. Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger so you have to keep reading and this book is easy to fly through. While it might not be the perfect read for avid science fiction readers since some of the how's and what's and why's aren't always explained, for someone who likes science fiction light, this is a fun read. I wish there would have been a bit more background on how the Zodiac was formed. While it's not dystopian, the relationship between Rho and Mathias reminded me a bit of Tris and Four in Divergent.
Zodiac is a fun, fast paced adventure that I had a lot of fun reading. This is the start of a series and I'm excited to see where Rho heads next as she's trying to save the Zodiac. On a side note, my library has been part of YALSA's Teens Top Ten Galley Groups and our teens get to review books. When we got copies of Zodiac in, they flew off the review shelf and the teens have been clamoring for them since! This is a a great recommendation for teens who enjoy reading about astrology, enjoy some lighter science fiction and adventure and romance. Book Pairings:Across the Universe by Beth Revis, Divergent by Veronica Roth Full Disclosure: Reviewed from finished copy sent by the publisher
0 Comments on Zodiac by Romina Russell as of 12/27/2014 6:02:00 AM
About the Book: Rio lives Below in Atlantia. Since the Divide, Below in Atlantia is the safest place to be. The intricate water system of tunnels and habitats makes a safe environment for the surviving humans. But Rio longs to go Above.
After the death of their mother, Rio promises her twin sister Bay she will stay Below and they can be together. But when Bay unexpectedly chooses to leave for Above, Rio is left to figure out just why Bay left. With a dangerous mentor in her aunt, Rio tries to uncover what happened to her mother and tries to formulate a plan to escape through the complex system of Atlantia to Above.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: It's hard to describe Atlantia. It's a little bit dystopian, an underwater world setting, a story about sirens, and a little bit of mystery. It's a book that has a lot going on!
The main part of the story focuses on Rio, who is trying to find a way out of Atlantia and escape to Above where she longs to be. Things are unveiled slowly throughout about Rio's gift as a siren and as to how and why the Divide occurred and how Atlantia was formed. If you're a reader who wants all the information up front, you're going to have to be patient because things are uncovered bit by bit. Hints are dropped throughout and things mentioned and then layers are added to the story to slowly answer the questions Rio and the reader have.
Rio is a siren, as is her aunt and sirens are one of the miracles of Atlantia. I really liked the siren lore and aspects of the novel and it was unique without feeling like a paranormal. I think even readers who typically shy away from novels with magical creatures would find these sirens to be engaging and very human.
The plot is interesting and the story is engaging, but it does have a bit of a slower pace, which might surprise some readers, especially fans of Matched. The writing is rich and detailed though and Atlantia is an interesting world to uncover.
The great thing about Atlantia is that it's a stand alone novel-yay! Don't worry about having to commit to a series-it's all right here in one book.
Would you like to win a copy of Atlantia? One lucky reader will receive a signed copy thanks to Penguin Books for Young Readers! Leave a comment below to enter.
-One entry per person -Contest ends 10/28 -US Address only Please -Age 13+
0 Comments on Atlantia by Ally Condie Giveaway as of 10/22/2014 8:51:00 AM
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Genre: Comic Book/Superheroes Release Date: 9/10/2013 Add to Goodreads Check out author Chris A. Bolton's Guest Post About the Book: Andrew is obsessed with Defender, the local superhero. But when a blast destroys Defender and somehow transfers superpowers into Andrew, suddenly Andrew is the new hero in town. He can fly, he has super strength, he can stop bad guys-and he has to be home in time for bed. Being a fifth grade superhero is a rough job!
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Superheroes are always a fan favorite and Smash pays homage to the superhero genre and comic book format. Smash feels like a classic superhero tale-from the storyline of a kid getting powers to the fighting of the main jealous bad guy Magus, to the powers and secrets that Andrew now has, this is a great choice for readers looking for a hero tale.
The book is being marketed for middle grade readers and I think the artwork and story will appeal to readers wanting something that is not light and fluffy in the comic world, but instead something that is a bit more real and gritty. There is a lot of action in the book and it's not cartoonish at all, which I think readers will like. There is also a corrupt police chief, a mean bully, a dangerous bad guy, and dangerous weapons. The story is lots of fun, but it's not a sickly sweet tale of a superhero either. It's realistic and true to the comic book hero world without giving into slapstick humor. I would compare Smash to Batman as far as story and tone.
With more to come from Smash, comic book readers are sure to have a new hero root for.
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from advanced copy sent by publisher
0 Comments on SMASH: Trial by Fire by Chris A. Bolton, illustrated by Kyle Bolton as of 9/14/2013 9:46:00 AM
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Genre: Horror/Paranormal Release Date: 2/12/2013 Add To Goodreads About the Book: Three years ago Vanessa's sister disappeared from the New York Ballet Academy. Her sister was one of the most talented dancers there and had been cast in a lead role as a freshman. The rumor was she cracked under pressure, but Vanessa doesn't believe it. Vanessa enrolls in the school in hopes of finding out what happened to her sister. As she begins to follow in her sisters footsteps, she realizes that something strange and that dance is dangerous.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Dance of Shadows is a book about ballet with a horror novel twist. Dancing becomes dangerous and there's even more pressure to being the best. In some ways, this novel reminded me of a teen version of Black Swan with paranormal elements and I think readers who are looking for just a touch of the macabre will enjoy this book.
The details about ballet are excellent. It's obvious the author knows and cares about her subject. The story is also interesting enough with enough mystery about the missing girls and the strange dance the dancers are performing that I was engaged throughout.
I did wonder why no one ever seemed to care about the missing girls at the school and always chalked it up to dropping out due to the pressure of the school. There were a lot of girls that just disappeared from this place and no one seemed suspicious about it. Vanessa is a somewhat bland character, but I wasn't so bothered by that that she distracted me in my reading. She may have been especially dumb about the love triangle she ends up in, but at least she does something to try and solve the mystery of the missing girls, so I have to give her that. And yes, there's a love triangle, but it was more Vanessa liked one guy and another guy was a jerk and maybe liked her, so it wasn't incredibly irksome.
Overall the book was a good read and I did enjoy it. It's a bit long, but I liked the ballet aspect and the mystery kept me engaged. I also really liked the paranormal take on ballet. There's a main mystery that is solved in this book with the door open for a sequel. Give this one to teens who like a lighter take on horror.
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from egalley sent by publisher
2 Comments on Blog Tour: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black, last added: 3/10/2013
I had a lot of trouble believing that so many would just swallow that the girls were dropping out due to pressure. I guess that could have been part of the magic but if so, that didn't come across very well.
Ooh-good point about it being part of the magic. That could have been it, but it felt odd that no one even wondered about the girls or where they had gone.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Release Date: 2/1/2013 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Jade is finally in high school, she has a cute boyfriend and life seems to be going well. Only the Mermish Council has declared that all land dwelling mers have to return to the ocean. And there's this pesky dance coming up that's a girls ask guys dance and Jade would have to wear a formal! This year was not supposed to be this complicated.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: This is a great mermaid book to give tweens and young teens. While Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels is the third book in the series, I thought it stood well enough on its own and you don't have to be familiar with Jade's story to enjoy this book.
Jade is a fun spunky character and she made me laugh throughout. She's loyal to her friends and family and even though she has run ins with the school mean girl, I appreciated Jade's ability to see situations from everyone's point of view. I also loved Jade's family-her dad especially who always had a scientific answer to everything! The mermaid folklore is different and I think young teens who are looking for a book with a bit of a mythological twist will love this series.
Author Interview with Helene Boudreau
What would be the best part about being a mermaid? What would be the worst?
Best: Swimming so freely in the ocean without the need for fins or snorkels and exploring what’s down there in those watery depths. Coral, fish, crustaceans, kelp, seals, shipwrecks—wow! My father is a lobster fisherman so I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean. Worst: I hate being cold and wet! LOL
What fictional character would you like to have dinner with?
I would love to dine with Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. We would sit at a humungous solid oak banquet table laden with the rich bounties of our kingdom and shout out “Prepare to die!” and spear our meat with swords then spit out the bones on the castle floor.
Why do you write for tweens/teens?
I have two tween daughters, and I absolutely love this age. They are hopeful, optimistic, love life and as far as they are concerned—can do anything. When they read, their minds are wide open and anything is possible. What more could an author want?
Since school dance plays a big part in the book, what would be the best prom theme?
A Princess Bride theme, of course. Can you imagine? Knights, princesses, banquet tables full of food, memorable quotes like “Anybody wanna peanut?” written all over the gym walls, sword fights…okay, maybe not the sword fights. *wink* A Princess Bride prom-I love it!
Want to win a copy of Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels thanks to Sourcebooks! Fill out of the form below. Good luck! Contest is open to US Addresses only, ages 13+, ends February 13
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1 Comments on Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels by Helene Boudreau Plus Interview & Giveaway, last added: 2/7/2013
I hope I win this book! Two things I loved about this blog post: 1) The girl on the cover actually possesses a respectable-sized rear end! She is not a skinny mermaid! 2) Inigo Montoya is one of my biggest book crushes!!!!! Sorry about the excessive exclamation points!!!!!
Since I'm back in the blogging world, I can post Tween Tuesday on a regular basis again-yay! Tween Tuesday is a meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen. Share your Tween Tuesday links below!
About the Book: Fern is in middle school and she feels invisible. She's in the middle of her siblings, her family is busy running the family restaurant, and Fern feels like her family doesn't pay attention to her. Her sister Sarah is taking a gap year before college, her brother Holden is being bullied at school and trying to pretend that everyone doesn't know he's gay, and her youngest brother Charlie is the only one who ever seems to notice Fern. But Charlie can be so annoying and he's always demanding Fern's time and attention. When tragedy strikes the family, Fern feels even more alone and responsible and has to figure out how to help her family heal.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: When I first read this book, I did not like it. And I don't mean that in "I really hated this book and think it's terrible" way but instead in a "I am so mad at the emotional turmoil the author put me through while reading this book" way. This is a family story and it has a sad twist that you think is going one way and it goes completely another and it makes you an emotional wreck.
The more I thought about this book though, the more I appreciated what Jo Knowles wrote. This was a book I couldn't get out of my head. This is a beautiful, emotional look at family in the midst of unspeakable tragedy. It's not a book that is easy to read-there are pages and pages of grief and sad emotion, but it's realistic. It's exactly what real life would be like-there are no magical happy endings or families getting better immediately. This is pure raw emotional that reads exactly like a contemporary novel should-realistically and emotionally true. There are no easy answers in life and there are no easy answers in See You At Harry's which makes the book work so well.
Fern is a great character-she's smart, funny, and has a wonderful tween voice and I think tweens who are searching for where they fit in will relate to her. I also really loved Fern's best friend Ran-he compliments Fern's character in a nice way and I liked his advice to Fern throughout the book. I also liked the storyline with Holden. I felt that Holden's story about coming out was well done and touched on issues of sexuality and bullying in a real way and fit well with the rest of the story. I think what I liked most about this book was that it was a great family story-it's a quiet emotional story about a family that can't help but seem so real you feel as though you really know them.
See You At Harry's is a book to give your readers who want a sad a book-just make sure you give them a box of tissues to go along with it.
Book Pairings:Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LeFleur
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from personal copy
1 Comments on Tween Tuesday: See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles, last added: 2/7/2013
About the Book: Aldywn is a typical ally cat-trying to find food and running away from the local animal bounty hunter. When Aldywn is running for his life, he ducks into a pet store to escape. But this isn't just any pet store-it's a pet store for familiars, animal companions to wizards. Aldywn doesn't know anything about the wizarding world or magic, so it's just his luck that a young wizard chooses him to be his familiar!
Aldwyn tries to fake his way in his new home and pretends to be a magical cat. When the familiars young wizards are kidnapped, Aldwyn and his new familiar friends must help them before it's too late-and Aldwyn has to decide if he should reveal the truth or not.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I remember when this book first came out and it looked fun, but I'm not the biggest fan of animal fantasy, so I passed on it. I picked up it again for two reasons-1) it's nominated for our state book award and 2) a co-worker's third-grade son said it was the best book he ever read. So with those things pushing me to read The Familiars, I decided to give it a try.
The Familiars is very much The Warriors Series meets Harry Potter. (I was all excited to think of that "meets" line and than realized that Michael Buckley says the same thing on the back of the book-so much for being creative!:) It really is the best way to sell this book to tweens though and I think young fans of both series will enjoy The Familiars.
The Familiars has everything tweens will love-lots of adventure and excitement, humor, good guys versus bad guys, magic, danger, secrets and friendship. It's a non-stop adventure-filled ride and even though the book is long, it's easy to get caught up in the story and it ends up being a very fast paced read. Add in the fact that it's the start to a series, and I think this one will end up being very popular with tweens.
For adults, it's a bit predictable, but it's great for younger readers looking for excitement and adventure and a fun magical series. Since we put this out on our award shelf, it hasn't stayed long! Lots of fun for readers who enjoy magic and animals.
7 Comments on Tween Tuesday: The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, last added: 4/24/2012
The book is also on the IL state award list too. I like those lists because it usually feature books that I wouldn't normally pick up and read. I look forward to reading it. It sounds super cute. :)
About the Book: A collection of artwork based on missed connections ads.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Not my usual fare, I know, but I do read some adult titles once in awhile! This book has been on my radar since I got the Love at First Sight poster from ALA which features a missed connection in a bookstore. (Sadly, this print is not incldued in the book).
I love Sophie Blackall's artwork, so I was very excited for this collection! We've all read missed connections, right? (Admit it, I'm not the only one!) It's a fascinating peek into another person's story and in some ways it gives us hope that love can be found. Some are funny, some are strange, and some are heartbreaking.
The introduction to the book made me nod along as Sophie explained her fascination with missed connection ads. Who hasn't read one and wondered what happend? (Or secretly wished there was one about you?) I always want to know more of the stories and this collection made me want to know more about the pictures. Sophie included a note that she heard from some people who met via missed connections and I would have liked to know if any of the connections illustrated actually did. They are heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
I would suggest this as a story starter set for older teens and adults-I know I can't be alone in imagining the outcome of each posting!
5 Comments on Missed Connections: Love, Lost and Found by Sophie Blackall, last added: 12/11/2011
You know what this reminds me of just a bit? The book "Chance at Love" by Jimmy Liao. I love that book. I read once that it was going to be a movie ... but I don't exactly see how that could happen. And I've never seen word of it since.
I saw this book mentioned somewhere recently and immediately put it on my wish list. I LOVE the Missed Connections! They are too hilarious! And the artwork looks awesome. Thanks for posting about it, and NO, you are not the only one reading those ads! : )
About the Book: What happens when the meanest kids around want to appear in the annual Christmas Pageant? They don't know the story and everyone is braced for the worst pageant yet. But the Herdman's are about to change the Christmas Pageant in a way no one will forget.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I can't believe I haven't read this book before. Every Christmas I tell myself I'm going to pick it up and I never get to it. This is I checked it out and read it in one sitting (it's a short little book).
I can see why this is a favorite book of many readers. The Herdmans are memorable characters and their antics are pretty funny. I was expecting more humor and silly things to happen at the pageant, so I was a bit dissapointed there.
Even though the book was written in the 70's, I didn't think it felt outdated at all and I think tweens today could still relate to the fear of bullies, gossiping adults, and a new way of trying things.
A fun holiday book for all ages!
2 Comments on Tween Tuesday: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, last added: 11/29/2011
About the Book: Juliette is dangerous. Her touch can kill. The Reestablishment locked her up for murder and she's been in isolation and hasn't spoken to anyone for 264 days. Until The Reestablishment decides they want to use Juliette and her powers. She could be the ultimate weapon. But there are murmurings of war, of rebellion. Juliette must decide just where her loyalties lie-be a weapon or be a warrior.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says:Shatter Me is an exciting debut that will be a great book to booktalk to fans of romantic adventure stories. The book keeps getting compared to the X-Men and it's easy to see why-Juliette has special powers and she's viewed as a strange being (much like a mutant). While there is a dystopian setting, but the dystopian aspects are very light. There are lots of questions left unanswered about the dystopian world Juliette lives in, The Reestablishment, and how the world got to where it is. (Maybe these will be answered in books two and three as this is the start to a trilogy). So if you have hardcore dystopian fans, they may be disappointed in the lighter dystopian setting.
If you have romance fans, on the other hand, give this book to them now. Juliette and Adam have a steamy romance that is sure to please fans of epic romances. Juliette and Adam share a past, but there's still a bit of insta-love. There's also a lot of concentration on the romance aspect (I think there were just as many adventure scenes as there were make out scenes!) so make sure you have readers that want a book heavy in the romance and lighter on the dystopian. Not that I disliked this, (I like romance in my stories) but I wasn't expecting it to be such a heavy part of the story.
Even though there is a lot of romance, the book is still action packed and there are several memorable scenes that are just the right blend of action, adventure and creepy dystopia. Juliette and Adam were engaging enough to keep me reading-I liked learning about Juliette's powers and her story. I also found the strikeouts throughout the book that supposedly tell Juliette's inner thoughts to be an interesting plot device and I liked getting that extra peek into what Juliette was really thinking.
The character that was the real standout to me and what made me really enjoy the book was Warner. Warner is the "evil bad guy" to the story and man is he a creep! I thought of him as a cross between Lucius Malfoy and President Snow, so you can imagine what a crazy bad guy he is! We don't know much about Warner, but he made my skin crawl and he was so creeptastic that I loved it. (That doesn't make me weird, right?) I want to read more just because I want to know what he'll do next and how exactly Juliette plans to take him down.
The end of the book is very much a set up for the sequel, so readers will be left hanging with lots of questions. Shatter Me is a page turner that is sure to leave readers wanting more.
Book Pairings: The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll, Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from finished copy sent by publicist
Want to win a copy? One lucky winner will receive a copy of Shatter Me!
45 Comments on Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi PLUS Giveaway, last added: 11/26/2011
I read the first 20 pages on harperteen.com and I've been dying to finish it. Silly library doesn't have it yet and with Christmas so close, I can't buy it. A
All that to say, I would love to win this. :)
katiebk12(at)gmail(dot)com
ps. are you going to see Hugo today? I can't wait to watch it!
I'm not going to see Hugo today-I'm trying to decide between The Muppets and Hugo! But I want to see it soon-they had a preview of it here-on a night I worked, so I didn't get to go, but my co-workers did and they said it was good!!
Thanks for the giveaway. Since it's dystopia light I might actually like it. I'm more of a romance person than a dystopia one. Although I don't like poorly developed world building.
I followed Tahereh before she got published. It's been so exciting to watch her progress! Glad her book has turned out to be a success! (I will fully admit to my jealousy of her 6 figure contract with Harperteen and a movie deal already though...;p)
This sounds really interesting! I immediately thought of Rouge from X-men as well, but I'd love to read Tahereh Mafi's take on the whole touch and die thing. Plus the cover is pretty cool. :)
Hmm, I really want to read Shatter Me, but am kind of nervous now since you mentioned that there's a more romance in it then I had first thought there was going to be.
I am not a huge fan of dystopian lit. That said, I did really enjoy The Hunger Games and I have heard great things about the Maze Runner series which makes me want to give it a try. I also enjoy a healthy does of romance when I read. I might have to add this to my list for between the semesters.
About the Book: In a future where Earth is being destroyed, the hopes of finding a new planet to continue life is pinned on two ships-the Empyrean and the New Horizon. Waverly is the oldest girl on the Empyrean and wants a bit more to her life other than a proposal from Kieran, the oldest Empyrean boy. When the Empyrean is met up with their sister ship, New Horizon, the ship is abuzz with what the ship could want. Soon, the Empyrean is being mounted and all the girls are whisked away to a new life on the New Horizon.
As the oldest, Waverly knows she must fight for their survival and rights. The New Horizon has never been able to successfully conceive children in deep space and they want the girls of the Empyrean to help them create a new generation. Meanwhile, on the Empyrean, the boys are looking for a way to survive and save their friends and family. Kieran tries to take leadership of the ship, but is overthrown.
With Waverly and Kieran surrounded by enemies, they must each formulate a plan to save their ship and those around them.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says:Glow is one of the big buzz books of 2011. I finished it a week ago and I'm still unsure what I thought about it. To make it easier for me to formulate my thoughts, I'm going to break this review down into what I liked and what I didn't like.
What I liked: I liked that Waverly is pretty kick butt and I can see her growing during the rest of the series into a nice, strong, female lead that you really want to cheer on. I also liked that the book is straight science fiction-this is scifi in space in the future-no genre mashups. There's a bit of romance in the book, but it's not a focal point. Instead the story is more about Waverly and Kieran and their respective trials of survival in their own way. Waverly is fighting a more psychological battle where Kieran is fighting more of a physical and spiritual one. There's a small hint that there might be a love triangle, but I'm holding out hope that that doesn't happen in future books, because I think the story is strong enough without it. (Also, the character that could possibly be in the love triangle is kind of a jerk, so I would have a hard time wanting Waverly to be with him.)
Glow is fast paced and the action starts very early on-just a few pages in, which makes for a quick, page-turning read. The story alternates between what's happening with Waverly and her ship and Kieran and his ship. The New Horizon is an interesting ship that will get readers talking for sure! Anne Mather is the leader, or Pastor, of the ship and it borderlines on a cult. She's a great bad guy because you never know who to trust or not, what to believe and you want Waverly to fight back. Kieran on the other hand is dealing with a ship that has been attacked, trying to keep up morale and find a way to save his ship, it's passengers and the missing girls. Kieran begins holding meetings and preaching sermons to boost morale. One ship has religion that is bad and harmful, another has a religion that is hopeful and healing.
There's an exploration of what people do to survive in tough situations, religion, trust, relationships, power vs. absoulte power and what is right or wrong and are there blurred lines at times. With everything that is going on in the plot, this one could be ripe for book discussions and dissecting the plot.
6 Comments on Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan, last added: 8/30/2011
Interesting. I really think that reviews broken down like this are the most helpful. I’ve read a few YA Dytopian/sci-fi stories, lately that I have had similar issues with. I don’t know if I’m expecting something more or if I’m just not really reading the right things.
Funny enough I just posted a giveaway for this on my blog. It is sitting in my TBR pile so I only glanced at the review. I am also excited about more SciFi books coming out. We need more of them!
Isn't it funny...so many of the things you disliked are what I liked about it. I am curious about where Ms. Ryan is going to take the story and especially what part Seth is going to play. I kind of liken Seth to Peeta in some ways.
Pam-I'm not really sure what it is either. I think I keep hearing this hype and then it doesn't live up to the hype (at least for me). But this book has had me thinking about it for a week now, so there was something good there!
Karen-I'm excited about more SciFi coming out too in YA. I'd love to know your thoughts when you read this one.
Pam-Novel Goddess-Yes, I did like that Seth wasn't a typical "oh, the shy boy who doesn't get the girl" character. I'm interested to see what happens with him, but I still think he's pretty mean!!
Natalie-That cover is great, isn't it? Let me know if you read this one!!
Anonymous said, on 8/30/2011 5:59:00 AM
As for why they only took the girls, I thought that was pretty well explained, but sadly it spoils things. Suffice to say, they were only missing eggs.
About the Book: Sophie can feel her friendship with best friend Maddie changing now that they're in seventh grade. Maddie is hanging out with popular girl Nia more and Sophie will do anything to keep things the same. So when she suggests posting their secret "Hot List" at the school, Sophie thinks their secret will keep them close. Instead, it propels the "Hot List" into the ultimate decision list for the middle school and now someone else is adding to the list. Not knowing what else to do, Sophie makes a bet with Nia that she can get anyone on the list. So Nia challenges Sophie to transform dorky, not cool Squid into a Hot Lister, or else embarrass herself in front of her crush.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: At it's core, The Hot List is a story about friendship. Middle school is a strange time to navigate friendships as people change and find new interests, and Hillary Homzie nails that awkwardness perfectly. You don't want to give up the friends you've always known, but how do you let go and make new ones? And can you actually be friends with someone new? And what about being popular and cool-doesn't that count for everything?
What I liked most was the story with Squid and being true to yourself. This isn't a makeover story where the makeover changes them for good, but instead, the makeover helps them see what was best to begin with.
At times the story seemed to not know exactly what it wanted to be, but it got there in the end. Sophie learns to be confident, which I think middle schoolers can relate to. A fun, light tween read perfect for readers looking for a book about tricky middle school friendships.
3 Comments on Tween Tuesday: The Hot List by Hillary Homzie, last added: 8/9/2011
Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun and add your Tween Tuesday post below.
About the Book: Dini's parents have just announced that they're moving to India for two whole years! Dini can't believe her parents are making her move away from her best friend Maddie and now she has to miss out on the Bollywood dance class she and Maddie were going to take. But India is home to Dini and Maddie's favorite movies and their favorite Bollywood star, Dolly Singh. Dini's parents aren't moving to Bombay, the movie capital of India, but instead to a small town called Swapnagiri. Surprises are ahead for Dini as she discovers that her favorite star might be closer than she thinks-and Dini has a plan to meet her idol.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Our summer reading theme this year for the kids program is One World, Many Stories, and I can't wait to highlight The Grand Plan to Fix Everything as a great read for our theme! Ms. Kishnaswami transports readers to Swapnagiri and throws us right into a storyline that is a wonderful nod to Dini's favorite Bollywood films.
I did think at times Dini seemed a bit younger than an eleven-year-old and at the beginning the narration seemed a bit simplistic. But it picked up and got better as the story went on, so maybe I was just being a bit picky at first.
The story is mainly about Dini, but there are many supporting characters that appear and we learn about their stories as well. It's a somewhat silly story and you have to suspend some belief, but that's the charm of the book. The book really does read like a script for a Bollywood film complete with some zany and charming characters, a romance, random happenstance and coincidence-I even expected the characters to break out into song!
Dini might be eleven, but I would hand this one over to early tween readers looking for a funny, light story that will take them to a new part of the world. The book has fantastic illustrations that accompany the story and the book is fast paced-I read it in one sitting. There's plenty of humor and madcap fun to keep readers engaged.
Book Pairings: Dini reminded me a lot of Allie Finkle, so I think fans of Meg Cabot's tween series would enjoy this book. I'd also pair with the Popularity Papers: Book Two by Amy Ignatow, which also features best friends separated by a move to a new country.
3 Comments on Tween Tuesday: The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Kishnaswami, last added: 5/31/2011
About the Book: May Amelia has seven older brothers and is the only girl that's been born along the banks of the Nasal River. It's hard to be a proper young lady when you're surrounded by boys. May Amelia longs for a sister and now that Mama is going to have another baby, there's hope that another girl will come along.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: At ALA they announced a sequel to Our Only May Amelia and I decided I better read this one before the sequel comes out!
May Amelia is a great main character-she's funny and spunky and gets into a lot of mischief. The first part of the book tells the various adventures of May Amelia and her brothers and then one the new baby is born, the book shifts a bit. There's still stories about May Amelia's adventures, but the book becomes more about her than it was to start. (And I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read it).
This one had the same problem with the other Jennifer Holm book I recenty read, Turtle in Paradise. A great story, fantastic characters, but the ending just comes a bit too quickly. I wanted a bit more to be wrapped up. But as a whole, the book was great and I really enjoyed. I listened to it on audio and Emmy Rossum is the narrator and she did a great job-I hope they can get her again for the sequel.
Book Pairings: Little House Series or Caddie Woodlawn.
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from audiobook CD borrowed from my local library
4 Comments on Tween Tuesday: Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer Holm, last added: 3/17/2011
Thanks for the review...this is one of those books that has been in the library for a while but has taken a back seat to other new reads. I'll be sure and put it on my list! Here is my Tween Tuesday!
I'm a new follower. I had no idea there was a sequel planned for Our Only May Amelia, but I will definitely plan to read it. I read the first one when I was in library school, and I remember really loving it. Thanks for the review!
I Love her Boston Jane series. I think I have to give these books a try :)
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About the Book: Clarity "Clare" Fern has a special gift-she's a psychic and see visions about people's pasts. When a teenage girl is found murdered in her quiet Cape Cod tourist town, Clare's cheating ex-boyfriend enlists Clare's special talent to help solve the case. Clare is still mad about the fact that he broke her heart. But when the top suspect in the cast becomes Clare's brother, she knows she has to help. Clare joins up with Gabriel, the hot son of the town's new detective to bring the murderer to justice. But will Clare's gift fail her just when she needs it most?
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Clarity is a supernatural mystery that is an easy and addicting read that I think will appeal to fans of Meg Cabot. The writing and mystery reminded me a bit of Cabot's books and the banter is fun. The book is a fast read and Clare is an engaging character. She has a quirky family and she's easy to like and root for.
The mystery is a bit simplistic and I would have liked things to be a bit fleshed out more. Clare stumbles upon clues fairly easily and I wanted a bit of a more complicated mystery and puzzle to figure out. There's also a large cast of characters which means a lot of people to keep track of. Clare also has a lot of potential love interests for Clare, which I found a bit annoying, since she mentions many times that she's a loner and viewed as a freak at school because of her gifts. Sure, we have our love triangle, but I kind of hoped that her brother's best friend would become a possible love interest as well! It's also a bit convenient how the teens end up working on the case, but that can be overlooked fairly easily.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy Clarity and I think it sets up what could be a great new mystery series. I really hope we see more of Clare. While it doesn't end on a cliffhanger and the mystery is resolved, the book does leave a few things open and I would love to know what happens next. It's easy to get pulled into the story and finish it quickly. I liked that while Clare has a psychic power, that's not the focus of the book, the focus is the mystery and her power aides in solving that. I also liked her relationship with her mom and her brother-I love great family dynamics in YA! I just hope that the future volumes in the series give us a more complex mystery.
Book Pairings:The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, Echoes by Melinda Metz, The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot, 1-800-Where R You Series by Meg Cabot, Touch Series by Laurie Faria Stolarz
13 Comments on Clarity by Kim Harrington PLUS Giveaway, last added: 3/10/2011
Nice review! I really like the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, and comparing this to that has moved Clarity list of priorities quite a bit. Also, thanks for the giveaway!
I love -- LOVE -- this cover. I was a little dubious of the story, just because it's another in a long line, you know? But I have yet to read a bad review of it, so I think I have to cave and put it on the wishlist.
I really enjoyed this book and I am totally with you that I hoped Perry's friend would become a love interest...I wondered if I was alone in that. They seemed to have a really easy rapport.
Thats a great cover on the book. My only complaint with YA books are that they are sometimes a bit 'thin' for adults. That said, it probably works in favour of the younger reader.
I read this one recently too (liked it a lot- review is on my blog), and I SO agree about the brother's best friend- I thought he would turn out to be a potential love interest! I really liked him. Maybe in a future book?
About the Book: Alice Amorous is the daughter of the Queen of Romance, so she knows a lot about romance, even if she's never really had a boyfriend. Everyone is waiting for the Queen's next novel, but the Queen is actually away in a hospital dealing with a mental illness, a secret that Alice is trying to keep from the public. When Heartstrings publisher's writes that the latest book is due-or else, Alice knows she has to deliver something.
While at a book signing for her mother, Alice meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid. He tells Alice he has the ultimate love story to tell and that he needs her to write it. Could this be the story she's been looking for? And is Errol really the god of love or is Alice going crazy?
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I was drawn to this book because of the Cupid storyline. It reminded me a bit of the TV Show Cupid, which I watched in high school and loved.
While there is a plot with Cupid, this is more about Alice growing more confidant and learning she doesn't have to hide her mother's illness. A good portion of the book is about Alice's mother and her bipolar disorder and Alice learning how to live with it and realizing she can't always fix everything. I think this issue was handled well and it might appeal to readers who typically shy away from issue-driven novels since it's woven in with other plots.
I did feel that there was too much happening at times in the plot and that prevented things from really flowing. There were pieces that I felt just didn't fit or weren't as developed. I wanted more with Alice and her possible new love interest, Tony. I also wanted more with Errol and about Cupid's story since the parts that were there I really enjoyed. I did enjoy some of minor characters like Mrs. Bobot and Archibald-they were well done and fun to read.
Overall, it was an OK read. I think it would be a good pick for readers who might want romance, but don't like the typical gushy romance or readers who want a contemporary issue novel that's a bit lighter than the usual fare.
Book Pairings: Cupid by Julius Lester (for another take on Cupid and Psyche), A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler (grittier than this book, but a good pairing for another take on a teen deal
3 Comments on Blog Tour: Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors, last added: 2/7/2011
Sarah-Yes, too many elements in the story that didn't always seem to work together. There were times I was wondering why the Cupid stuff was there to begin with.
Well, I am back with another review. This book has been on my TBR pile for quite a while but I could never quite bring myself to dive into it. Finally, after months of listening to the recommendations of GreenBeanTeenQueen and her library teens that I read it, I finally gave in and picked it back up. I just finished it yesterday so here are my thoughts.
About the book: The story focuses on two main characters, the headstrong princess Raisa and a teenage former thief and gang leader named Han. Set in an area of the Seven Realms called The Fells and in its capitol Fellsmarch, Han must learn how to provide for his mother and sister after giving up the leadership of a street gang which had previously been his means for provision. Meanwhile, Raisa is quickly approaching her 16th birthday at which time she will be eligible to be married. Raisa desperately wishes to escape the meaningless confines of fashion, propriety, petty court intrigue, and marriage to learn useful skills that will help her become a good and wise queen like her heroine Hanalea, the warrior queen who defeated the Demon King and saved the world. After a powerful magical item is stolen and the High Wizard begins to grow in influence with the Queen, Han and Raisa each begin adventures that could change the future for everyone in the Realms.
Mr. GreenBeanSexyMan says: I am not entirely sure what to say about this book. I did enjoy it, but I don't think it is something that will I come back to after I finish the trilogy. The characters are likeable enough and the series seems to have a very strong story arc overall, but I felt that this first book was little more than a setup for the rest of the series. I thought it was fairly obvious what was going to happen by the end of the book after reading the first few chapters. On the other hand I was very impressed that Ms. Chima did not seem to give much away about what would happen in the rest of the series. But since this review is about the book itself and not about the series as a whole I have to give it 3.5 stars. I did like the writing, I did not have any major problems with the character developement, but I thought the plot was a little predictable. Perhaps I am judging this book too harshly, but I had been hearing how great it was supposed to be for over a year. I came in expecting so much that perhaps there was no way that this book could live up to the hype. I will continue reading the series because the overall story arc has me e
1 Comments on Guest Post from GreenBeanSexyMan: The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima, last added: 1/31/2011
Thanks for the review. I really liked it, but I love high fantasy. I also loved Cinda's prior series and met her at a conference. She is an awesome speaker and so nice. Glad you made a guest review.
Bean (aka Pearl) and Henry, misfits and best friends, have the strangest mothers in town. Henry’s mom Sally never leaves the house. Bean’s mom Lexie, if she is home, is likely nursing a hangover or venting to her friend Claire about Bean’s beloved grandfather Gus, the third member of their sunny household. Gus’s death unleashes a host of family secrets that brings them all together. And they threaten to change everything—including Bean’s relationship with Henry, her first friend, and who also might turn out to be her first love.
I have such a hard time reviewing and rating books like this one. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a conservative reader. Thus there is certain content that I prefer not to read about. This book has some of that content which makes me hesitant to recommend it. Since I hate spoilers I'm not going to share what it is... but conservative readers beware that the family secrets that unravel although not graphic may not be for you.
That said Pearl is a well written book, one I read in one sitting. Delving into family secrets, relationships, love, grieving and friendship Jo Knowles packed a lot into this fast paced family drama. The characters were well developed in a short time and I was drawn into this story and enjoyed it (for the most part).
Pearl by Jo Knowles will be released in July 2011
Content: Some language and other content that may bother conservative readers. Email me if you want more details as I don't want to post spoilers.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Source: ARC Tour
4 Comments on Book Review: Pearl by Jo Knowles, last added: 1/23/2011
Thanks for the review. It is nice for readers to have a warning about something in a book they may not want to deal with. I am not that conservative a reader, but I still like to know because there are a few things I don't care to read.
About the Book: Poncho is alone after loosing his mother, father and now his sister, so he finds his new home at St. Anthony's. Poncho isn't planning on staying long-he doesn't believe the reports that his sisters death was from natural causes and is bent on finding her killer. But while at St. Anthony's, Poncho is assigned to assist D.Q., a teen with cancer who is writing a "Death Warriors Manifesto" which will help him in his final days and maybe win the love of Marisol. As Poncho gets to know D.Q. more he finds himself caught between revenge or becoming a Death Warrior and embracing life.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: So I liked the author's first teen book Marcelo and the Real World well enough, but it wasn't my favorite and I didn't know how much teen appeal it really had. I ended up trying The Last Summer of Death Warriors on audiobook and it worked very well for me as an audiobook (I wasn't as bored with it as I was during parts of Marcelo), but again I found myself wondering about the teen appeal. I think Death Warriors works best for teens who might think they're "too old" for YA and there's nothing high brow enough for them to read or adults who look down on YA books. That's not to say other YA readers won't enjoy it, I just think it has an older appeal to it. I did think this one was more accessible than the author's previous YA novel, so points for that.
I found the story for Death Warriors to be engaging, but part of me wonders if that was due to the audibook narration-I really liked the way the narrator brought the story to life. I also liked D.Q. and his thoughts on life and his Death Warrior Manifesto. There's even a passage about D.Q.'s thoughts on religion (page 109 if you're interested) that I've shared with people because I thought it was brilliantly written.
What bothered me about this book was the fact that it starts out with one story, Poncho wanting revenge on his sister's killer, but then goes into another plot with D.Q. and the two don't always connect. There were times I forgot about Poncho's quest for revenge and it felt like we left that storyline alone and it was almost jarring when we came back to it. That aspect of the plot wasn't as fleshed out as I would have liked it to be and there were times we hadn't read anything about it in a good while, so when it appeared again it felt out of place. So that took away a lot of my enjoyment because I felt there were times the two plots didn't connect as smoothly as they could have.
My other gripe with this book is a minor one, but I'm going to bring it up anyway. We learn in the beginning of the story that Poncho's sister had sex before she died, but Poncho didn't even know she was seeing someone and can't believe his sister would do that (his sister has some sort of mental handicap and Poncho didn't think his sister kept secrets like that from him). There's a point when Poncho is talking about sex and he says "...do more sex things to her." "Sex things"-really? Poncho is about 17, so I would think he'd be more mature than say "sex things" and I think the teens who read this book would be able to handle it. It just felt immature for the character and the book and
3 Comments on The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork, last added: 12/13/2010
This is the quintessential Book That Adults Think Teens Should Read for me. That's part of why I don't care for it. It doesn't feel authentic or realistic and we know exactly what'll happen before it does.
Your comment on the audio production's interesting. I won't put myself through this one again to find out, but knowing it has a good narrator is good.
Kelly-EXACTLY! I felt that way about Marcelo too. I think this one had more dialogue so I enjoyed it a bit more, but still I don't see the wide teen appeal an I'm fangirling over it.
Interesting, Sarah. I loved "Marcelo" mostly because of Marcelo's observation of the world around him than the plot per se. So I can definitely see your point on not really having a teen appeal. As for this book, I have it on my tbr pile but could it be that the two journeys are metaphorical like D.Q. by Cervantes?
I had a lot of trouble believing that so many would just swallow that the girls were dropping out due to pressure. I guess that could have been part of the magic but if so, that didn't come across very well.
Ooh-good point about it being part of the magic. That could have been it, but it felt odd that no one even wondered about the girls or where they had gone.