Reader Girls Blog

Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 8, 2011) Book summary: 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 ...

Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 312 pages Publisher: Flux (February 8, 2011) Summary: When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane. But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin—even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect. Our review: The summary paired together with the cover drew me to this book. Donna Underwood's markings are...

This week we're waiting for Abandon by Meg Cabot. Here's the summary: New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld. When Pierce first sees him, she thinks he is a murderer. She's right about one thing -- he does take lives. But not in the way she ever imagined. Pierce is drawn to the dark stranger even as she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the tragic death of someone close to her. As she gets closer to the truth -- and the stranger -- unexpected secrets are revealed, even in her own heart. ( From Goodreads .) Abandon (hardcover, 352 pages) will be published on April 26th by Scholastic Inc. Intriguing summary and cover and it's by Cabot. Is 2011 the year of covers with flowery silhouettes? we've seen a bunch with similar designs. What do you think? What's your pick? Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at breaking the spine .

It's Tuesday (yes, we're a day late). We tease. We open a book we're reading and choose two lines. This week they are: "As I'm pulling another monster stack of books from my locker to take home with me, Wish comes up behind me and plants his chin on my shoulder. "Hey, you." This week's tease is from Starstruck by Cyn Balog. Summary: Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since. At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great,...

You might have noticed we did not post anything for a week. It's not that we weren't reading. We were. When we could. You see, we went on a small vacation as an early birthday present for our very own Meghan who will be celebrating her Sweet 16 next week. In lieu of a party she wanted to see  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the newest park within a park at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure . Our family boarded a Jet Blue plane at seven o'clock on Saturday  morning and headed to the very green and palm tree filled warm and sunny Orlando, Florida, last week. We had a wonderful time and think Meg has some unforgettable birthday memories. (Thanks to Caity for her pictures.) As we walked around the two parks we kept noticing one major thing: so many of the rides were based on books . There was Seuss Landing , a park filled with the zany creations of the beloved author Dr. Seuss. Green Eggs and Ham anyone? The Cat in the Hat ride was cute and so nostalgic, ...

ReaderGirls are participating in the 2011 Follower Love Giveaway Hop hosted by Inspired Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer blog. This hop runs from today, Tuesday February 8 through midnight on Sunday, February 13. There are over 200 blogs participating in this hop so please check them all out. Our contest is open Internationally, one entry per person, and you must be a follower. We are giving away an ARC of The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney ( Young Adult,  352 pages, published by  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) 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 th...

Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (January 25, 2011) Summary: My name is Meghan Chase. I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it. This time, there will be no turning back. Our review: First off, the minor concerns I brought up about main heroine Meghan in the second book of the Iron Fey series, The Iron Daughter , were completely blown out of the water in this third installment. Author Julie Kagawa has converted me into a fairy fangirl. Secondly, the characters in this book have grown and become such awesome people I am in awe of them. The Iron Queen has easily become my f...