Reader Girls Blog

Publisher : Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers Date : October 2009 Page Count : 375 BOOK DESCRIPTION: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade--a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.  Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up--the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.  Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.  MY REVIEW: The Maze Runner is an enjoyable,...

Wow, the last day of January is already here. Once again, our postman did not let us down. We received more great reads this week. Here they are.   We received: ALL UNQUIET THINGS-Anna Jarzab (swapped) THE MARK-Jen Nadol (purchased) BEAUTIFUL DEAD-Eden Maguire (caught on sale) THE STOLEN ONE-Suzanne Crowley (swapped) RAMPANT-Diana Peterfreund (swapped) THE HIGH KING'S TOMB-Kristain Britain (swapped, already read and wanted to add to our collection) We rented from the library: THE MIDNIGHT GUARDIAN-Sarah Jane Stratford ABSOLUTELY, MAYBE-Lisa Yee How was your week?

Publisher : Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Date : November 2009 Page Count : 330 BOOK DESCRIPTION: "You are more than you think you are." THAT IS THE ANONYMOUS MESSAGE that Beth Michaels receives right before she starts seeing things. Not just a slept-through my-alarm-clock, late-for-homeroom, haven't had-my-caffeine-fix kind of seeing things. It all starts with some dots, annoying pink dots that pop up on and over her mom and her best friend's face. But then things get out of control and Beth is seeing people's pasts, their fears, their secrets, their desires. The images are coming at Beth in hi-def streaming video and she can't stop it. Everyone thinks she's crazy and she's pretty sure she agrees with them. But crazy doesn't explain the gold envelopes that have started arriving, containing seeing keys and mysterious tarot cards. To Beth, it all seems too weird to be true. You are more than you think you are? But here's ...

Instead of reviewing (since I'm reading HEARTS AT STAKE & THE SEVEN RAYS), I thought I'd spend a little time on a subject matter I've read quite a lot of lately. Since December I've read Cyn Balog's FAIRY TALE, Lisa Mantchev's EYES LIKE STARS, Julie Karawa's THE IRON KING and I'm halfway through Lesley Livingstone's Darklight. Since last spring I've read Janni Lee Simner's BONES OF FAERIE, Nancy Werlin's IMPOSSIBLE, Aprilynne Pike's WINGS (I recently received the next book SPELLS) and Maggie Stiefvator's LAMENT: THE FAIRIE QUEEN'S DECEPTION (BALLAD is also on my TBR pile). The one common character they share are fairies, but they are all so diverse and very entertaining. A few titles share some similarities, of course, and most describe the fey as having long, pointy ears. Both WONDROUS STRANGE and EYES LIKE STARS are set in theaters with a strong nod to the characters in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dre...

**2010 Debut Author Challenge List** Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (February 1, 2010) Language: English BOOK DESCRIPTION: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she finally discovers why. For when her half-brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she had never imagined--the world of Faery.  MY REVIEW: When I first read the blurb I thought, "Oh no, another story about the fae." After finishing EYES LIKE STARS, LAMENT, FAIRY TALE, and halfway through DARKLIGHT, I picked up the book after I received it and turned to the first chapter.  As a writer I am always interested in how authors begin their stories. Kurawa started with this intriguing line: "Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday my father disappeared." By the time I looked up I had already finished the first chapter. Needless to s...

 We received some great ones this week: The Amanda Project: book One: Invisible I by Stella Lennon and Melissa Kantor (gift); Lost for Words by Alice Kuipers (gift); Captivate by Carrie Jones (purchased); Spells by Aprilynne Pike (gift); The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (purchased); Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott (purchased). Laurie and Caitlin have begun reading The Iron King and they already love it! Once Meg is finished with midterms she'll probably dive into something. Our bookshelf is very happy today and so are we! In My Mailbox was begun by The Story Siren.

Publisher : Walker & Company Date : September 2009 Page Count : 284 Reading Level : Ages 12-UP BOOK DESCRIPTION: As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands--the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious--and surprisingly cute--messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew--what's a teenage demon princess to do? MY REVIEW: DEMON PRINCESS is a fast-moving, fun read. I liked Nikki as a character. She was smart, funny and tired of being the new girl in town (her ...