The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Title: The Big Crunch
Author: Pete Hautman
Release Date: January 1, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 288
Source: Copy Received from Publisher

Overall: 4 Stars 

Summary:

June and Wes do not "meet cute." They do not fall in love at first sight. They do not swoon with scorching desire. They do not believe that they are instant soul mates destined to be together forever.

This is not that kind of love story.

Instead, they just hang around in each other's orbits...until eventually they collide. And even after that happens, they're still not sure where it will go. Especially when June starts to pity-date one of Wes's friends, and Wes makes some choices that he immediately regrets.

From National Book Award winner Pete Hautman, this is a love story for people not particularly biased toward romance. But it is romantic, in the same way that truth can be romantic and uncertainty can be the biggest certainty of all.

My Thoughts:
The Big Crunch is one of the most sincere and realistic contemporary reads I've ever read. For sure, this is a romance novel... but it's not in a way that the two characters feel an instantaneous attraction and fall head-over-heels in love at first sight. No, this was an everyday story that I think anyone could relate with... and that's the aspect I thoroughly enjoyed while reading this novel.

On the first day of junior year, Wes surveys his classmates in his language arts class only to briefly pause on the new student who he immediately pegs as Aqua Girl for her eyes. June is well used to the routine of being the 'new girl' at school. She's already been to over 5 schools in the past few years, constantly moving because of her father's job. She doesn't even notice Wes in her first class; she's just tired of having to really connect with anyone when she knows she's just going to move away again soon. So when she meets Jerry Preuss, a friend of Wes, she knows he's a safe option to date and that she won't feel bad saying goodbye when the times comes like it always does. But throughout the course of the year, June and Wes will become irrevocably closer than they ever would have thought on that very first day...

It's the oddest thing, but even though nothing absolutely amazing or exciting occurs, I still found it quite difficult to put this book down. I simply became lost in Wes and June's story! The novel is told in alternating points of view in third person but sometimes it's really random the way it comes about. Sometimes it switched after a chapter... and sometimes it was after only a few paragraphs. Despite this fact, it really wasn't confusing at all to read and simply added to the story, allowing you to see how Wes and June felt about each other and really giving you a feel for their personalities.

Wes and June are truly just your everyday teens that you and I could know in our own lives. They're your average students who attend school, hang out with friends... you know, ordinary stuff. As their feelings for each other grow, you can see just how well these two connect and understand each other, and the drama that forms which stands of chance of stopping them from being together is entirely out of their control. It's how each of them deal with these obstacles that have you holding your breath and crossing your fingers that Wes and June will make to the other side okay together.

I really do feel like this novel is flying completely under everyone's radar... which is just wrong! If you're looking for a not-so-typical romance story with a touch of offbeat humour and quirkiness, then definitely take a closer look at Pete Hautman's The Big Crunch.  

Thanks so much to Scholastic Canada for sending me this copy! 

WINNERS of My 200 Followers Giveaway!

I'm sincerely sorry for not announcing the winners of my 200 Followers Giveaway sooner! Forgive me? School kept me super busy the past week and picking the winners just sort of blew right out of my mind...

Apologies aside, I'm guessing you all want to hear who the five winners of one signed book each are... right? These were the books up for grabs in my very first giveaway:

• signed copy of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
• signed copy of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
• signed copy of Need by Carrie Jones
• 2 signed copies of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (this is the adult cover version found only in Canada)

I was absolutely blown away by how many people entered the contest! There were 118 individuals who entered the contest which came to a total of 268 entries all together overall! Seriously, because none of the books are new releases or anything, I thought I'd be lucky enough just to get a handful of entries...

 Now to announce the winners!! Random.org has spoken and the five winners are.... *drumroll*...

1) Library Gal @ Lost in the Library

2) P.E. @ Tantalizing Illusions

3) Daisy @ Between The Pages

4) Donna/BLHmistress @ Book Lover's Hideaway

5) Emmy L. 

Congratulations you five! I'll be sending an email later to the first place winner for their choice of one of the books, then an email to the second place winner who has second pick, etc. etc. You will have 48 hours to respond back to my email after which point, I will have to choose another winner.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! I'm definitely sure there will be more giveaways to be held in the future!! ^_^

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

This week I got...

Won:

• The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

Thank you Penguin Canada! I won a copy of this novel as part of a Penguin Book Club (Canada) monthly contest. They focus on adult books, which I don't read as often, but I think it's always nice to see what titles are being talked about... You are also automatically entered into any contests for being a subscriber to their monthly newsletters!

Received for Review:

• The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman
• ARC of Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
• If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now by Claire LaZebnik
• ARC of Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black

I have lots of thanks to extend this week! Thank you to Scholastic Canada for sending me The Big Crunch (which was a huge surprise!) and to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me Red Glove! And a huge, huge thank you to Claire LaZebnik who not only mailed an ARC of her debut YA novel Epic Fail to me, but also included her latest adult release for fun too! She is kind beyond words! 

And you might have noticed some swag to the left of the photo above...  I got some swag too! Thank you to Steph from The Thoughts of a Book Junky for sending some swag my way just for being a participant in her A-Z Reading Challenge! 

So I didn't buy any books this week (shocker, I know), but I'm sure I'll be making my way to a bookstore soon especially now that Julie Kagawa's The Iron Queen is now in stores! I'm also going to have to wait a little more before beginning Holly Black's Red Glove because I haven't read the first novel White Cat yet since I'm waiting for the paperback release which is in early February.

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!! 

Lesley Livingston's Once Every Never COVER Reveal Next Week!

I have some wonderful news for everyone! Myself along with a few other Canadian bloggers will be unveiling the cover for Lesley Livingston's upcoming novel Once Every Never sometime next week... I'm sure you won't want to miss it!

For now, you can check out the banner for a hint as to what the cover will look like... but wouldn't you like to learn a little more about the novel too?

Quick Blurb:
Once Every Never is the story of a modern teen girl who spirals back in time to Rome's bloody conquest of Britain -- where she befriends the daughter of a fiery queen, falls for a fierce warrior prince, and discovers that she may be the only hope of averting a devastating blood-curse. 

Summary:

Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. On the surface. She’s smart, but a bit of slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker… but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.

Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there’s still time—literally—maybe even get a date.

This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every… never.

For now, the novel is only slated for release in Canada and it sounds sooooo good! It's described as a YA time-travel adventure-romance novel being published through Penguin Canada so I'll be definitely looking forward to its release this July 2011.

So yes, be sure to check back on the blog for the big cover reveal next week! :)   

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across The Universe (Across The Universe #1)
Author: Beth Revis
Release Date: January 11, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 400
Source: Bought

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.  

My Thoughts:
Across The Universe has undoubtedly been one the most hyped and talked about books lately, so I was quite eager to get my hands on a copy as soon as it hit stores to see for myself just how good this novel really was. (And so I could gaze at its gorgeous cover!) Did it live up to the hype in my eyes? Well, not really... at least not quite completely as I had originally hoped. However, I do think for some people that they really will be blown away by the novel because I'm sure it will be an reading experience they've never felt before.

I grew up reading science fiction novels (mostly of the Star Wars variety, mind you), so I was fully ready to let my geeky side out after hearing about this sci-fi dystopian novel. So as soon as I flipped open the pages, I was already fascinated about this new world Beth Revis has created as is usually the case whenever I read sci-fi. She's done a superb job explaining the new technologies when it's needed, but she's also not afraid to say less and let her readers envision some scenes for themselves. It's with her beautiful descriptions that the spaceship Godspeed and her inhabitants come to life before your very eyes.

The alternating chapters between Amy and Elder were an aspect I thoroughly enjoyed. Their backgrounds, their morals, and their train of thoughts are just so completely different from each other... yet it paints a perfect picture and really gives you the best of both worlds. Amy's sudden awakening is terrifying and it's through her eyes we get to discover the wonders of a ship that's just brimming with secrets and lies. And then there's Elder, mesmerized by Amy at first sight for she looks like no one he's ever gazed upon before. (Literally, everyone is of the same ethnicity on the ship). He's not content that the current leader Eldest has lacked in teaching him the skills he'll need for when it's his own turn to lead, but he's never outright questioned what happens on the ship. This changes though when he sees Amy for the first time and it's then that we begin to see the natural charisma of a born leader.

The novel really left me conflicted and I felt so bad for Amy. On the one hand, I really liked seeing her growing feelings for Elder develop but on the other hand, I was torn because while she was awake, her parents were still frozen in the cargo hold below. But she's a strong and courageous person, so after grieving for her new circumstances, she immediately sets out to uncover what's really happening on the ship and to investigate who unplugged her before it's too late for someone else. You have to really admire how she doesn't just wallow in despair.

From fairly early on in the novel, I had already deduced who the possible murder suspect might be and it did turn out I was correct. However, I think Beth Revis still does a great job keeping your guard up, throwing in a few twists and turns here and there just when the storyline begins to slow done so you're left wondering if your suspicions are right. She builds up the right amount of tension while simultaneously allowing you to learn more about the society that has taken form on board. 

I'm going to be purposely vague right now so it doesn't give anything away, but there's a reason why Amy notices so quickly why some of the people do things on the ship that don't seem so natural to her although Elder thinks they have the perfect society. If you've read the classic novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, then I don't think you'll be all too surprised to learn this discovery that Amy and Elder eventually uncover. For sure, it will be a new concept to some of you but because it was something I'd seen before, even if it's a super rare find in YA books, it did sort of lose its originality momentum.

Across The Universe is a great introduction to the science fiction genre for those looking to try something out their comfort zone but I'm sure anyone who likes dystopian novels will fall for this novel too! Intriguing, romantic, mysterious, and even heart-pounding at times, it's a novel that will leave you in awe at just how much thought and world-building Beth Revis has poured into her debut novel. I already can't wait to join Elder, Amy and the Godspeed in the second installment for another journey... well, across the universe!

Waiting on Wednesday (30) - Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: April 5, 2011

Summary:
It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I absolutely cannot wait for Where She Went! I was crying through most of If I Stay but the writing and storyline were both so incredibly good that there's no way I'm waiting around for the paperback again this time. I wouldn't have originally thought there would be a sequel, but I'm glad we get to see more of Mia and Adam because I'm not quite ready to let these two go just yet...

If you still haven't read If I Stay, I highly recommend you get a move on and read it! And if you want, you can read my review for the novel here... it was one of the first reviews I posted on the blog!

Book Trailer! - Afterlife by Claudia Gray

I spotted the book trailer for Claudia Gray's upcoming novel Afterlife, the fourth and final novel in the Evernight series, through the Pitch Dark facebook page they have for The Dark Days of Supernatural event.

 Release Date: March 8, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary (from HarperTeen):

** Warning: This summary contains spoilers especially if you haven't read the third novel Hourglass.** 

Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . . 

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?

It's sad to see a series end but in this case, I think the plot for the Evernight series has run its course and I'm glad to see it end before it becomes too stretched out... and well, Bianca gets on my nerves sometimes too.

It's a short trailer but I like the sad, solemn tone of the background music that's hinting there's more darkness still to come...

Are you excited for Claudia Gray's Afterlife?

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

This week I got...

 Bought:

• Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1) by Beth Revis
• Hexbound (Dark Elite #2) by Chloe Neill
• Shadowspell (Faeriewalker #2) by Jenna Black
• Unearthly (Unearthyl #1) by Cynthia Hand

Received for Review:

• ARC of The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) by Caitlin Kittredge
• ARC of Wither (Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

I had a pretty good week for books, finally getting to the bookstore to pick up some books I was pretty excited to read! I ordered Hexbound in early January and only finally got it this week, so I was pretty happy to finally get it considering how hard it is to find Chloe Neill's books in stores sometimes.

And a huge thank you to Bookurious and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me The Iron Thorn and Wither respectively. It was an awesome surprise to find them in the mail!

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always.... Happy Reading!!

Book Trailer! - Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston

Lesley Livingston revealed the full-length book trailer of her latest release Tempestuous, the final novel in her Wondrous Strange trilogy, through her Twitter account earlier this evening! A teaser trailer was released in late December, which you can watch on Lesley's blog here, but even if you have or haven't seen the teaser one, you should definitely check out the full-length version below!

Release Date: December 23, 2010

Publisher: Harper Trophy Canada

Summary (from HarperCollins Canada):

**Warning: This summary contains spoilers if you haven't read the second novel Darklight.**

"I don't love Sonny Flannery." 

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City. 

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley. 

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange and Darklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

Isn't the book trailer for Tempestuous just so awesome? I sure think so! And the background music... wow!! It's pretty epic too! I bought Tempestuous during the holidays and haven't read it yet, but I'm sure I'll get to it someday. I think it's a good idea if I re-read the first two books, Wondrous Strange and Darklight, before reading the final book since some of the details of what went down previously are a little fuzzy now... 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: December 7, 2010 (hardcover)
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 372 
Source: Bought 

Overall: 5 Stars 

Summary:
Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

My Thoughts: 

Anna and the French Kiss is everything you could ever want in a romantic, contemporary YA novel… and yes, it most definitely lives up to all the hype. It will meet your expectations and surpass them in a way you didn’t think was even possible! It’s more than just a romance novel- it’s a story of friendship, of first love, and braving the unknown all in the heart of the beautiful city of Paris.

Anna’s not exactly thrilled when her famous author father ships her off to Paris to attend an elite boarding school, especially when it means leaving behind back home in Atlanta her very best friend and a crush that was about to be something more. All alone in an unfamiliar city with no knowledge of the language and no friends, Anna feels it’s going to be a horrible senior year. But meeting a new group of friends is not as difficult as it seems and that includes the beautiful- and also taken- Étienne St. Clair. Even when she knows it’s wrong to like him that way, she can’t help it and falls for him... but can they ever be together when obstacles keep getting in their way?

Anna is a great female lead with a strong head on her shoulders. She may be attending boarding school because of her father’s money, but she’s very down-to-earth. While she’s initially afraid to really experience and make the most of the opportunity she has to learn about such an historic city and culture, she really does come into her own during the novel. Watching how she grows as a person was almost as fun as seeing how she steadily becomes closer to Étienne. She’s also sensible and doesn’t completely pine away for him after she learns he has a girlfriend; his friendship is worth more to her than anything and she completely earned my respect in that regard.

Étienne St. Clair. He might just take your breath away and make you swoon… and that’s all I’ll say.

The romance that unfolds between Anna and Étienne is one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of reading. They’re both realistic characters and therefore have flaws and make mistakes, but that only endeared them to me even more. As soon as the two meet, you can already sense it in the air that they have a connection and as the novel progresses, there’s always this sort of underlying attraction- and tension- you can almost feel whenever the pair are together. Even as Anna and Étienne become closer and closer as friends, learning about each other’s families and relying one another for support in difficult times, you’re left waiting… waiting for the moment that they both finally realize how right they are together.

Anna and the French Kiss is the perfect novel to read if you’re looking for a well-written romance story set in one of the most romantic cities of the world. You’ll fall in love with this novel, rooting for Anna and Étienne from the very beginning. You’re missing out on something wondrously good if you still haven’t read Anna and the French Kiss yet and I’m most definitely looking forward to the companion novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door… though I have a difficult time thinking how Stephanie Perkins can top this one!

Waiting on Wednesday (29) - Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 15, 2011

Summary:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger. 

I read the first book, The Body Finder, only a week or so ago and it was good! After finishing it, I couldn't believe I had waited so long to read it... but on the other hand, now I don't have to wait so long for the second book!! I loved the relationship that forms in the first book between Jay and Violet, and I'm also looking forward to seeing if Violet will learn more about her abilities in this book!

And if you haven't checked out the cool book trailer for Desires of the Dead yet, you can watch it here. 

The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter by Kristen Tracy

Title: The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter
Author: Kristen Tracy
Release Date: January 11, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 320
Source: ARC received from publisher through Bookurious 

Overall: 3 Stars 

Summary:

After an unfortunate incident at the hair salon, Bessica is not allowed to see her best friend, Sylvie. That means she's going to start middle school a-l-o-n-e. Bessica feels like such a loser. She wants friends. She's just not sure how to make them.

It doesn't help that her beloved grandma is off on some crazy road trip and has zero time to listen to Bessica. Or that Bessica has a ton of homework. Or that gorgeous Noll Beck thinks she's just a kid. Or that there are some serious psycho-bullies in her classes. Bessica doesn't care about being popular. She just wants to survive—and look cute. Is that too much to ask when you're eleven?   

My Thoughts:
I don't read many middle grade novels because I consider the protagonists too young for my reading tastes, and indeed, I think my rating of 3 Stars is a reflection of that. The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter is an enjoyable read, and perhaps if I were younger I would have enjoyed it even more, but in the end, I simply liked the novel.

Bessica Lefter feels like her life is over. Not only has her grandma abandoned her in favour of going on a road trip with her new boyfriend to explore caves and different landmarks, but her best friend won't even be attending the same middle school as her! Poor Bessica. She's about to head to her new school all alone and no clue how to ever fit it...

I did sort of roll my eyes a bit at Bessica's actions in the novel. I know she's only eleven, but she's sort of stubborn and is under the impression that whatever she thinks is best, others would also agree with. It's not that she's bossy... she just sort of thinks that she's always right. In other words, she's pretty much a girl that acts her age- but even so, I don't remember acting the way she did when I was that young! She's forgetful at times and she tends to act before she thinks, with both of these characteristics leading to some funny moments and putting a smile on my face!

When I think back on it, not much really happens in the novel... yet I was always entertained in some fashion. Bessica is adjusting to a new school without her best friend, which would be hard for anyone, and she's not used to the fact that her grandma is not by her side. Combine these facts with how Bessica is having a horrible time trying to make some new friends, and you've got some heartwarming moments to be found too. It all sort of leads lead up to a hilarious ending that had me laughing so hard I had to put the book down for a moment. So while I might have been slightly annoyed with Bessica's immaturity in the beginning, I was happy to see her grow as a character and be a little more considerate to others. 

The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter is a novel that younger audiences will most certainly take a liking to... and great for those looking for some light-hearted laughs along with a story about a young girl just trying to settle into her new middle school all alone.

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Title: Choker
Author: Elizabeth Woods
Release Date: January 4, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 240
Source: Copy received from publisher

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria.

Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in.

But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger? 

My Thoughts: 

Choker is one messed up novel and I mean that it in the most positive of senses. Dark, creepy, and even chilling at times, the novel left me completely on edge. It’s a short, quick read but I was enthralled the entire time I was reading, drawn into a story that seemed so predictable at first, but which soon turned out to be anything but.

Cara’s life hasn’t been easy since her family moved away years ago, leaving behind her best and only friend Zoe. Popular girls, like Alexis and Sydney, love to give her a hard time, and their taunting has only gotten worse since Cara choked on a carrot, giving her the nickname “Choker”. Things change when Zoe suddenly reappears back into her life after having run away from home, and Cara instantly agrees to help hide her away, all too happy to see her once again. Cara’s got her best friend back at her side and with Zoe’s help, she’s finally confidant enough to speak to her crush Ethan, even though his girlfriend is the awful Alexis. But just when Cara feels that everything is right again, a girl disappears from her school and Zoe begins to act strangely…

The friendship between Zoe and Cara is so tight that even after years of not seeing one another, they immediately pick up the pieces and act as though they were never separated. Cara’s alone and having a really tough time at school; she’s socially awkward and the popular girls easily pick up on this, giving her a difficult time. She comes across as a rather weak character in the beginning but with Zoe’s arrival, we begin to her personality change for the better as she grows into her own. She’s an outsider, but with a little more confidence, she gains the courage to put herself out there a little more.

Zoe’s personality was a whole other matter. Her behaviour was totally erratic- invested in helping Cara one moment and then the next, oddly detached and couldn’t care less. She had an almost possessive nature when it came to Cara and well, she sort of freaked me out…

The ending is crazy insane! Just when you think you have everything figured out, Elizabeth Woods pulls the rug out from under you and you’re left stunned. I swear if anyone saw me when I finished, I would have worn a stupefied expression because it was just that good. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, wracking my brain trying to remember any signs and they are there, but I just didn’t connect the dots until everything was spelled out for me already. The build-up to the end and the subsequent conclusion are so sudden, you’re just left reeling. I loved it!

Elizabeth Wood’s debut novel is a wonderful addition to the so few psychological thrillers to be found in the YA genre!

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me this copy!

Book Blogger Hop + Follow Friday (13)

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop are weekly events hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee and Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books respectively. 

This week's FF question is: What makes up your non-human family?

Meet Georgia, my family's cockatiel bird. Not only is she older than me, but she also loves to drive my sister nuts and says, "Pretty bird!" 

This week's BBH question is: Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?

I love reading YA fiction but within this category, I don't stick to a particular genre! I'll read anything ranging from paranormal, dystopian, contemporary, romance, etc., etc.! I try to keep an open mind and as long as the story sounds like something I would enjoy, then I'll read it! I'm drawn to these stories in that anything can happen- a girl can find her prince, zombies can rise from the dead... I'm sure you know what I mean. I also read adult books sometimes! They usually have some sort of crossover appeal and even more often times, they're urban fantasy with kick-butt main characters and some hot romance scenes. *blushes*

What about you guys?

Thanks so much for dropping by and don't be shy to leave your blog link so I can visit your own blogs!

Well, I'm off to do some blog hopping! *hops away*

2011 A-Z Reading Challenge Hosted by The Thoughts of Book Junky

If you had read my 2010 Bookurious ABC's of Reading Challenge Results post, you'll know that I came so close to completely reading the entire alphabet last year! I was already keeping track for the 2011 Bookurious ABC's of Reading Challenge, even entertaining the idea of hosting my challenge of the sorts to encourage some more bloggers to get involved, but I don't have to think about that anymore because someone else is hosting one just like it with some fun prizes for participating!

Steph from The Thoughts of a Book Junky is hosting a 2011 A-Z Reading Challenge! The goal is to read the 26 books with each corresponding to the letter of the alphabet. Sounds simple, right? But some letters are actually pretty tricky... I'm really hoping I can get to all the letters this year though!

Anyways, I'm not setting up a list of the expected reads I'll get to since I prefer to fill it in as I go! (I tend to fill in the list once I've completed a novel regardless if I've read the letter already or not.) I've already started the list on my profile page on Bookurious (link takes you to the website, not my page since you need to be a member to see it), but I'll add the 2011 A-Z Reading Challenge on my Challenges page for anyone curious to see my progress!

Oh yes, I did mention Steph was giving away prizes... right? You'll get a swag pack just for joining, and by including your link to the list of participants, you'll be automatically entered to win 2 books under $25. Plus, for every book she completes on her list, there will be another giveaway! And, wait for it... it's INTERNATIONAL!! For more details and to sign up for the challenge, you can visit her blog post here.

Good luck to those participating in the challenge!!

Waiting on Wednesday (28) - Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. 

Publisher: HarperTeen 

Release Date:  August 2, 2011 

Summary:

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

• As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

• As the daughter of the new principal, new-girl-on-campus Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long. Fans of Susane Colasanti (When It Happens), Polly Shulman (Enthusiasm), and, of course, Jane Austen will love finding out if Elise’s love life will be an epic win or an epic fail. 

Epic Fail is Claire LaZebnik's debut YA novel and doesn't it sound like so much fun? Early in the month, there was Elizabeth Eulberg's spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice when her sophomore novel Prom and Prejudice was released... but I can't wait to see Claire LaZebnik's own take on the classic come August! Let's hope Epic Fail brings on the laughs in an enjoyable tale!! And seriously, with an awesome name for a book and a cute cover, I'm half in love with this novel already!

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Title: The Mockingbirds (The Mockingbirds #1)
Author: Daisy Whitney
Release Date: November 2, 2010 (hardcover)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 339
Source: Bought 

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary: 

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it. 

My Thoughts: 

The Mockingbirds is one those novels that everyone needs to read at least once… and that’s saying something. It’s a contemporary novel that was not only enjoyable, but at the same time, it touched on a subject that is so rarely talked about in YA… date rape. I began reading the novel late at night and the next thing I knew, I was halfway done and a couple hours had passed. I was so lost in Alex’s story and the aftermath of the one horrible night that changes everything for her.

When Alex Patrick is date-raped one night after attending a party, she turns to the Mockingbirds, her school’s secret society whose word is the law at Themis Academy. Inspired by Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, they seek to right the wrongs of their fellow students, forming their own sort of justice system as their school will only turn a blind eye. Because if Alex truly wants justice served for what happened to her night, they are the only ones who can help her.

I think anyone can picture themselves in Alex’s shoes and understand what’s she going through... or at least try to. There are so many emotions running through her mind like hurt, confusion, anger, pain, fear, and even shame, and Daisy Whitney does an excellent job portraying all of that. Like any victim, she feels like it was her fault, like she did something wrong when in actuality, she did nothing of the sort. She’s haunted by the fact that she can’t truly remember the details of the night, and while she does her best to try to move on, it’s rather difficult when the memories slowly return with no warning when she’s doing the most normal of things. Initially, Alex wants nothing to do with the Mockingbirds, but she’s lucky to have such great friends and older sister who support her from the very beginning. They’re the ones who give Alex the confidence she needs to speak up, but in the end, it’s Alex’s brave courage which stops her from remaining silent.

I do think The Mockingbirds is more intended for a mature audience. The subject of date rape is not one to be taken lightly, and there are some moments in the novel that I feel some people might find too discomforting. As Alex slowly remembers the events of that night, more and more details of the night are revealed from the eyes of a teenage girl who was frightened and in no position to understand what was happening to her. It’s enough to make you clench your fists and wish for the worst fate to happen to the boy who would do such a thing to her. But while the subject matter may be heavy at times, Daisy Whitney easily balances this by throwing in more light-hearted moments like the good-times between best friends and budding romances such as the one found between Alex and Martin. Ah, Martin. *happily sighs*

The Mockingbirds captures your attention from the very start. You’ll be intrigued by the Mockingbirds and their own form of the justice system, but most of all, your heart will reach out to a girl who only ever wanted to play the piano so she could someday attend Juilliard. It’s a novel about speaking up for what you believe in and that it takes courage to right wrongs. Daisy Whitney has written a truly inspirational novel and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for her readers next.

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

This week I got...

Won (from author via Goodreads First Reads):

• Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout

Thanks so much to Sandy for sending it to me and to Goodreads for the chance to win! 

Received for Review:

• Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending the novel to me!  

Bought:

• Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
• Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
• Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange #3) by Lesley Livingston

Well, this was my IMM this week! I actually got a couple books in the mail this week so that was fun! A few weeks ago, I got an email from Goodreads saying I had won a book and I was so shocked! I'm the type of person who never wins contests so I was pretty happy that I won Love, Inc. which I had really wanted to read. And then another surprise came in the form of Choker... I've been looking forward to this one and I've heard several people making some sort of comment about the ending!

And then I bought a few books on the last day of the Boxing Week sales at Chapters/Indigo. I'm waiting for my sister to finish with Prom and Prejudice so that I can read it! There's mixed reviews for Rosebush on Goodreads, but I'm hoping I'll enjoy it. And I'm sure I'll be sad when reading Tempestuous, the final novel in the Wondrous Strange trilogy.

What about you guys? Any new reads/finds this week?

Happy Reading!!

Book Trailer! - Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Lisa McMann unveiled the book trailer for her latest novel, Cryer's Cross, yesterday on her blog!

Release Date: February 8, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary (from Chapters/Indigo):

The small town of Cryer's Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn't that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain.

When a second student goes missing-someone close to Kendall's heart-the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall's not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she's losing her grip on reality. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school-messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there-Kendall decides that crazy or not, she'd never forgive herself if she didn't act on her suspicions.

Something's not right in Cryer's Cross-and Kendall's about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.  

The book trailer is so perfectly creepy and definitely captures the feel of the novel!! The whispered "Help Me", which is also used for the countdown widget, always freaks me out a bit... 

I was fortunate to receive an early copy of Cryer's Cross not long ago and absolutely loved it! It was so creepy, mysterious, and addictive! I reviewed it the other day, but if you missed it, you can check out my spoiler-free review of the novel here. 

Spotted! Cover of Passion by Lauren Kate

Lauren Kate revealed the cover of Passion, the third novel in her four-parts Fallen series, earlier today on her blog!

Release Date: June 14, 2011

Publisher: Delacorte Press 

 

Summary (from Goodreads):

Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross and fought immortals at Shoreline, they lived many lives. . . . 

 

While I don't think the cover of Passion is my favourite compared to the gorgeousness of Fallen and Torment, it is still extremely pretty. I love the dark theme with the a little splash of red... and of course, the dress Luce is wearing is another beautiful one!

 

The Fallen series isn't my absolute favourite but I know I'll still read Passion to learn more about Luce and Daniel's past lives together (or you know, how they've been trying to be together since forces beyond their control always stop them). I wasn't a huge fan of Daniel's in Torment, but hopefully he'll convince me to rejoin his side in this one.

 

What do you guys think about the cover? Are you excited for Passion? 

Book Trailer! - Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Kimberly Derting unveiled the book trailer for Desires of the Dead, the second novel in her Body Finder series, yesterday on her blog!

 Release Date: February 15, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary (from Chapters/Indigo):

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger. 

Shhhh! I haven't actually read The Body Finder yet but I'm really planning to change that soon. (The book is currently on my shelf just waiting to be read.) So while I can't say I'm really excited for the novel just yet, I'm sure will be once I've read The Body Finder!

Who's excited for Desires of the Dead? What did you think of the trailer? Doesn't the background music add a nice chilling effect?

Spotted! Cover of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Michelle Hodkin revealed the cover of her debut novel The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer earlier on her blog today!

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing 

Summary (from Goodreads):

Mara Dyer believes life can’t get any stranger than waking up in a
hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember
that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been
through, she can fall in love.

The Goodreads summary is such a tease!... But if you'd like a bit more details (like I did!), here's another one!

Summary (from Simon & Schuster Canada):

Mara wakes up from a coma with no memory of the accident that caused the deaths of her best friend, boyfriend, and boyfriend's sister. The doctors tell her parents that starting over in a new state, a new school will be good for her and to let the memories come back on their own. But Mara's new start is anything but when she sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere and her world is falling apart. And then she begins to see people's deaths before they happen - at least she thinks that is what is happening. On top of that, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen can't seem to leave her alone, but is his agenda more than he leads on?  

Ahhhh! Doesn't The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer sound soooooo good? As for the cover, it is absolutely gorgeous!! I love the underwater concept and how the guy is holding the girl from behind! September is so far away but there's tons of other amazing-sounding books released before then which will keep us busy in the meantime!