Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon

Jessie from Remarkable Reads is hosting a readathon from December 22 to January 1. There will be giveaways and mini challenges so if you'd like to participate, head on over to her blog and sign up. 

I'm not sure how much reading I'll get done but here's what I'm hoping to read over the holidays:

• Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler
• Shattered Dreams by Ellie James
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
• My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody
• Saving June by Hannah Harrington
• Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
• Unlovable by Sherry Gammon 

Added:

• Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
• All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
• Nightshade by Maryrose Wood
• Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
• Indigo Blues by Danielle Joseph

Updated on 12/31/11

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

From Goodreads: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

My Rating: 4.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: With my last dystopian read being Veronica Roth’s amazing Divergent a few months ago, and me not being a huge fan of the dystopian genre, Marie Lu’s Legend had some pretty shoes to follow up on. And, oh my gosh, did it ever! While the plot is a little predictable, Legend kept me hooked enough that I stayed up late and finished reading it within a day.

The story is narrated through the alternating perspectives of June and Day who are a little on the younger side – they’re only fifteen – to be living by themselves. I’m willing to let that slide a bit though because June is a prodigy and Day is smart and has exceptional (and totally unrealistic) physical abilities.

June originally comes off as slightly standoffish, but she slowly becomes more likeable over the course of the novel. Despite living a sheltered life and now becoming an agent for the Republic, I liked that June was willing to question things even if they came from the mouth of a known criminal. She could have easily ignored whatever Day said and been a perfect soldier who believed everything that the Republic taught her.

Day was even more interesting to me. I loved his confidence and the fact that it was impossible to break his spirit even after he landed in the Republic’s jail. If I ever get thrown into a dystopian world, I’d want Katniss and Day by my side!

The worldbuilding is a little vague because it’s not clear how the US broke down into the Republic and the Colonies nor is much told about the Republic’s history. Since Legend is the first in a series however, I expect that Lu will reveal more in the books that will follow. For now, all I can say is that the Republic may not be so perfect, and what it does sounds hypothetically plausible.

Rather than a huge focus on romance, Legend instead focuses more on the familial bond. June has grown up under the care of her brother because her parents died in a car crash when she was young and the two have a very close relationship. It’s too bad then that Metias has to die early in the novel, but I enjoyed getting to know him through June’s memories (even if her sadness at his death sometimes felt more like a case of telling than showing). Similarly, the reader learns about Day’s family through his memories because circumstances have made it so that he’s unable to live with them and instead must survive on the streets. Personally, it was somewhat harder to care about them than Metias (except when John did what he did), but it’s obvious that they’re Day’s greatest weakness because he loves them so much.

There is some romance though; and I liked that it wasn’t something that took over the entire book. There’s clearly attraction between June and Day but there’s also a nicely developing friendship, which made me like their relationship a lot more. Lu deserves bonus points for not having her characters make declarations of love when they haven’t known each other for very long. Moreover, June and Day in my mind were greater together than each individually so I can’t wait to see what will happen to them in the sequel.

A highly recommended book for fans of the dystopian genre, Legend was released by Putnam Juvenile in November 2011. 

Comments About the Cover: I like its simplicity, and the gold embossing stands out nicely against the silver background.

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

From Goodreads: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team ... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

My Rating: 4 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: When I requested Miranda Kenneally’s Catching Jordan, I thought I’d be getting a nice, light read based on the synopsis and the cover. What I got instead was a book with a surprising amount of depth – one that highlights going after what you want regardless of the obstacles while also providing the expected dose of romance.

As the quarterback of her football team, Jordan has faced a lot of discrimination because she’s a female; but that’s never stopped her from playing the game. Now, she's determined to attend the University of Alabama and play for their football team. This sometimes comes across as if Jordan has tunnel vision because she doesn’t even think about other universities’ football programs as a possibility, but it’s impossible to not admire her perseverance.

Since team camaraderie is such a big part of sports, I was really happy that Kenneally also emphasized this in Catching Jordan. Rather than Jordan’s team being a mass of nameless and unknown players, there were important secondary characters on it. I grew so comfortable with these characters as well that I felt as if JJ, Henry and Carter were my own friends. I think a huge reason for this was because Kenneally excelled at the dialogue, which therefore made Jordan and her friends feel like actual teens.

The romance in Catching Jordan was a little angstier than I expected but my main issue was the casual sex. Yes, teens do it; but it seemed like there was no one (except for maybe Carter) not having sex. Maybe it’s just the crowd Jordan hangs out with – cheerleaders and football players – but considering that the book is a bit about breaking stereotypes, it would have been nice to have more characters being in steady relationships and not hooking up just for sex. I also thought that Jordan lost her virginity a little too quickly, especially since she's never even had a boyfriend or been kissed before.

As well, the book summary doesn’t hint that a love triangle will develop, although that’s what ends up happening. It’s a well-developed love triangle however and not just a case of you know, two hot guys liking the main character just because. One of the guys interested in Jordan is Ty whose appeal I could see but who also annoyed me since he was controlling. The other guy also annoyed me but only because I wanted him to grow some balls and go after Jordan instead of not wanting to change things between them. I was obviously Team Henry as soon as I began to suspect that he might like Jordan because he was my favourite character in the book. 

In addition to the romance, Jordan’s relationship with her family also gets a large focus in the book. Jordan’s brother, Mike, is someone she can talk to not just about football but also about other things. For instance, when Jordan thinks that she might like Ty, Mike is the first person she tells. It was a little strange for me because if I had an older brother, I’d probably not be talking to him about my love life but it works for Jordan because she’s surrounded by and grown up with guys.

Kenneally also makes Jordan’s relationship with her parents pretty realistic. It’s obvious they love her, but like any parent, they have their own wishes for Jordan. I think what’s important in the end though is that your parents support you and accept you for who you are, and Jordan’s parents definitely do that.

Whether you’re a football fan or not, if you love contemporary YA, you'll want to check out Catching Jordan!

Catching Jordan was released by Sourcebooks Fire on December 1, 2011.   

Comments About the Cover: Don’t be fooled by the cover! Even if I think it’s cute, the cover gives off the vibe that Catching Jordan is a fluffy read. That’s so not true!

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Sourcebooks) for free via NetGalley.

Author Interview: Karen Amanda Hooper

Today, I'd like to welcome Karen Amanda Hooper, the author of Tangled Tides to my blog.

A bit about Karen (as found on Goodreads): Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two sweet and adorable dogs. She is addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters. 

What was the inspiration behind Tangled Tides?

I've loved mermaids since I was a toddler, and I've always been drawn to the ocean, so it was a given that I'd create a story about what kind of fantastical creatures could be lurking beneath the surface. 

In addition to the more common paranormal YA creatures, there are some mythological ones in Tangled Tides. How much research did you do to find out more and create your own lore about them?

I had to research Medusa's sisters because I didn't know much about them, but Clash of the Titans was one of my favorite movies as a child (I know, I'm a bit odd) so I've always had an odd fascination with Medusa. However, when Perseus kills her in Clash of the Titans, it always made me sad. I gave her a much happier ending in my twist on her lore.

There are a couple of Disney references scattered here and there throughout Tangled Tides. What is your favourite Disney film and why?

Oh, there are so many. Obviously I'm a big fan of The Little Mermaid, but I think my absolute favorite is Peter Pan. I love the idea of Neverland, and there's so much magic and adventure in the story.  Peter Pan's flight is my favorite ride at Disney World. My boyfriend even calls me Tink, and I call him Peter Pan. And, of course, I love the mermaids in Peter Pan too. 

Which of the characters from Tangled Tides do you like most and why?

Unfair question! I love all of my characters! That's like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. You can't make me choose! lol.

Which character from Tangled Tides are you most like?

As far as who I'm most like ... hmmm ... I guess I'd have to say Nixie. Minus the dressing slutty factor, and the soul stealing ability. Nixie is forced to act confident and always appear strong and in control, but deep down she's always doubting herself and worrying if she really fits in anywhere. Plus, she has a huge heart.

Do you have any writing projects planned for the future? If so, could you please tell us a little more about them?

I'm currently writing book 2 of The Sea Monster Memoirs, and I also have a YA supernatural story that is reincarnation based. I wrote that one way before Tangled Tides, but I think it needs some revising before I send it out into the world. I also have 2 other projects that I started, but they will just have to wait their turn. 

A big thanks to Karen for taking the time to answer my questions!

Karen can be found on: [her website] [her blog] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Goodreads]

Tangled Tides can be bought from: [Amazon] [Barnes and Noble] [The Book Depository] 

Review: Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper

From Goodreads: When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people - until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process - or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Despite The Little Mermaid being one of my favourite Disney movies – The Lion King being the other; Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper is the first mermaid book I’ve ever read. Told from the perspectives of Yara, the merman Treygan and the selkie Rownan, Tangled Tides had an original plot and made me laugh often. In spite of the story being told by three characters however, I was still often left in the dark about what was to come because they were so good at not revealing their secrets and plans.

Yara was a fairly realistic character who initially goes into denial about being turned into a mermaid and attempts to get back home. After accepting her situation though and understanding her role in the struggle between the selkies and the mermaids, I liked that she was determined to make her own choices rather than be subject to others’ whims. As for the male leads, neither of them were particularly appealing to me. I didn’t really care about or like Rownan until the end (when he redeems himself) and didn’t find Treygan as interesting as his friends. Pango was definitely my favourite merman.

Hooper’s worldbuilding is solid and detailed, and I liked the idea of merfolk and selkies being enemies of each other. There are also sirens and gorgons present in Tangled Tides so it was interesting how Hooper made all the creatures connect using the myth of Poseidon and Medusa as her foundation. As each new species was introduced, I didn’t think that it would be possible for Hooper to juggle all these creatures together without overwhelming me; but she was able to for the most part. Things only became confusing when the characters starting discussing conversions and intermarriages and how they affected the plot.

A nice mix of paranormal and mythology, Tangled Tides was released in November 2011 by Rhemelda Publishing. 

Comments About the Cover: I love the colours used – the tail is especially awesome – and how it looks like the mermaid is bursting out of the water during a storm. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Rhemalda Publishing) for free.

Review: Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

From Back Cover: Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal - except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they've lived in castles, become swept up in historic battles, and fallen in love with handsome knights willing to do anything to keep them alive. They've returned with their mother to the present to save their father before his tragic death, and now the family travels back to the place that holds the girls' hearts: medieval Italy. But remaining there means facing great risk as the battle for territory wages on and the Black Plague looms. Will the Betarrinis truly be willing to risk it all? Or in facing death head on, will they discover life as it was always meant to be lived? 

My Rating: 5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: I originally planned to read Lisa T. Bergren’s Torrent over the winter holidays; but after reading some okay and slightly better than okay books, I needed a book that I knew I was guaranteed to love.

Torrent picks up where Cascade leaves off and brings back the action and adventure that has characterized the previous two novels in the series – this time with another Betarrini thrown into the mix. This of course changes things between some of the characters, but Bergren continues to make the importance of family and love a priority. I love how close the Betarrinis are and the fact that they consider each other before making huge decisions that will impact everybody in their family.

In my reviews of Waterfall and Cascade, I gushed about how awesome Bergren’s guys are so I obviously have to address them in this review. I was sad to see what happened to Fortino but it was hard to dwell on him for too long because other things kept happening – like Gabi being taken away by Lord Greco and the Fiorentini.

Lord Greco managed to capture my heart in Cascade so I was thrilled to see more of him in Torrent. Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles, but Bergren managed to keep this one appealing because it wasn’t something that became serious. Rather, Lord Greco’s role really makes it clear to Gabi just how much she loves Marcello, and made me ridiculously happy because it led to something poor Marcello had been waiting a couple of years for. (The last few pages of Chapter 26 and the entire twenty-seventh chapter were my favourite part from the entire series.) And, it also freed up Lord Greco for me :)

Torrent was released by David C. Cook in September 2011.       

Comments About the Cover: I like that the covers of the series sort of match, but they need to be more visually appealing. I think Torrent’s cover does a better job though of showing the fantasy aspect of the series because knights and weapons are often associated with fantasies.

Review: Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman

From Goodreads: A friend posted a video of me dancing online and now I'm now longer Alicia Ruffino. I'm dancergirl - and suddenly it's like me against the world - everyone's got opinions. My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy - even he's acting weird. And some stranger isn't content to just watch anymore. Ali, dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you've seen me online, I've trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Based on the tone of the novel, the characters’ actions and the important message of being careful of what you post online, Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman is a book that I think is better suited to teens on the younger side. As Ali, the main character, can attest, anything that gets put online becomes open to public opinion. Tanzman however chooses to forego dwelling on cyber-bullying, and instead gives Ali a mysterious stalker as the biggest consequence of having a friend post an online video of her dancing.

While the ending felt rushed and things were resolved a little too easily for my liking, the identity of the stalker kept me guessing and left me surprised in the end. Tanzman did a really good job of showing how increasingly terrified and suspicious Ali became as the situation escalated, and I’m sure I would have reacted exactly the same if I was in her position.

The biggest reason why I didn’t like Dancergirl more though was because of the characters. Besides the fact that a lot of them felt one-dimensional, I found it really hard to care about Ali and her friends. It didn’t help that they were prone to being occasionally immature (e.g. refusing to tell a parent that you’re being stalked because you’re worried about being grounded) and that I didn’t understand a lot of the technical dance terms.

Dancergirl was released by Harlequin Teen in November 2011. 

Comments About the Cover: I think it would have better if it wasn’t just a facial shot but a girl dancing blurrily. This would show that there’s quite a bit of dance in the book and also kind of represent the video of Ali dancing. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.

Cover Reveal: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

A series which I've been waiting for patiently to be released in the US is Jessica Shirvington's The Violet Eden Chapters, which I first heard about from Aussie bloggers like Cass from Words on Paper and Nic from Irresistible Reads. Today, I'm helping Sourcebooks Fire finally reveal the cover of Embrace, the first book in the series.

But first, here's what's on the jacket flap:

It starts with a whisper.

            “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human - oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden …

Doesn't that sound interesting? If you want to know more about the series or get a fuller description of Embrace, you can check out www.embracetheseries.com.

Now without further ado, here's the cover of Embrace:

Pretty, right? Purple is my favourite colour so I obviously love the background; and since Violet is half-human, I like that the cover designer has chosen to focus on that, but hints at her angelic side by creating some ethereal looking wings. I also love how the font matches Violet's wings, and the falling black feathers kind of suggests that there's going to be a battle between light and dark, good and evil.

I've also included the behind-the-scenes cover shoot video. It's always fascinating to me seeing how publishers come up with the cover of a book.

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

So, what do you guys think of the cover and video?

Blogging Break

Hey, everybody! I'll be super busy next week and so will be disconnecting from the blogosphere from now until about December 10th. See you all when I get back! 

Review: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

From Goodreads: New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing ... Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul. 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: Set in New York City, Leanna Renee Hieber’s Darker Still is a slow-paced but seductive novel that draws the reader into a world full of magic that’s centred on beliefs about spiritualism – a subject I’m not at all familiar with but liked learning about.

Although the setting and the overall atmosphere of the book was what I loved most about Darker Still, I also liked that Hieber chose to create a unique protagonist. Since Natalie is a mute, the book is narrated through her journal entries and so allows the reader to forge a deeper connection with her. Smart and witty, I loved that Natalie refuses to be a damsel in distress and doesn’t hesitate to create her own opportunities while also appreciating all the things that she’s been given.

The relationship between Natalie and the charming Lord Denbury in Darker Still starts off deliciously tense. I kept waiting for them to just kiss already! After that first kiss though, the romance lost a tiny bit of its appeal because it progressed faster than I would have liked, especially considering that the story is set during the Victorian era. Still, it was definitely passionate.

A great beginning to what I’m sure will be an enchanting series; Darker Still was released by Sourcebooks Fire on November 8, 2011. 

Comments About the Cover: I like that you can tell that Natalie is starting to go into the painting. Where is the handsome Lord Denbury though?  

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Sourcebooks) for free via NetGalley.

Since November is NaNoWriMo and some of you have been hard at work writing/typing up a potential novel, why not enter the Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition before it ends?

Serendipity Literary Agency, in collaboration with Gotham Writers' Workshop, is hosting its Third Annual Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition for a chance to win a one-on-one consultation with one of New York's leading YA literary agents! 

If you've written a novel for young adults—or have an idea for one that you would like to write—we invite you to enter our contest. Simply submit only an enticing title along with the first 250 words from the opening of your original YA novel.  http://bit.ly/YAContest

GREAT PRIZES
The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to submit an entire manuscript to YA literary agent Regina Brooks and receive a free, 10-week writing course, courtesy of Gotham Writers' Workshop, plus a collection of gourmet teas from Possibiliteas.co.

The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks, one of New York’s premier literary agents for young adult books. They will also receive commentary on their submissions by editors at Scholastic, Disney, Harlequin Teen, Random House, Viking, Roaring Brook Press, Sourcebooks, and Kimani Tru and receive a one-year subscription to The Writer magazine.

The First 50 Entrants will receive a copy of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks.

Enter to win at  http://bit.ly/YAContest

Hurry contest ends November 30, 2011!

Review: Crave by Melissa Darnell

From Goodreads: Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail. For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back ... different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences ...

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Crave by Melissa Darnell begins with a really intense prologue. The actual story then shows how Savannah and her boyfriend, Tristan, got to the point in the prologue and continues it from there. The problem: getting to the actual scene in the prologue takes a really long time! I thought a lot of unnecessary mundane stuff like going to school and finding a way to sneak in a makeout session could have definitely been cut in order to let readers reach the dramatic parts of the story faster.

The characters themselves aren’t really memorable. It’s been a couple of weeks since I read Crave, and all I can remember is that Savannah and Tristan seemed like the typical paranormal YA teens – you know, they fall in love fast and don’t take too long to accept that they’re more than human. I did like Savannah’s best friend, Anne, however. She was smart, snarky, and just an overall awesome friend.

Crave was a decent start to The Clann series and the way it ended made me at least a little curious to see what’s going to happen next to Savannah and Tristan. Hopefully its sequel, Covet, will have plenty of action and be more exciting right from the beginning. 

Crave was released in October 2011 by Harlequin Teen. 

Comments About the Cover: I have no clue how the cover relates to the plot of the story, but the model's dress is pretty.

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.

Review: The Predicteds

From Back Cover: The whole school is freaking out about Profile, an experimental program that can predict students' future behaviour. But the only question Daphne wants answered is whether Jesse will ask her out. He's definite boyfriend potential and Daphne is falling hard, but there's something about his past he's not telling her. When the Profile results are revealed, Daphne is devastated: Jesse is a Predicted, destined to commit an act of severe violence. She's torn between two choices: Follow her heart which tells her he's innocent. Or go with her head, which says she'd better run ... before it's too late. 

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: The Predicteds by Christine Seifert raises the question of whether we are products of nature or nurture. Do we act the way we do because of our biological makeup or can we change who we’re supposed to become?

In The Predicteds, scientists have created a program called Profile which can determine whether you’re going to “commit a crime, engage in addictive behaviours and/or behave in socially problematic ways in the future.” As someone who is majoring in neuroscience, I thought the premise was interesting, particularly since it was explored in the aftermath of a school shooting.

For students who experienced something so traumatic, the kids at Quiet High appear to recover relatively quickly. When a girl is found beaten by a baseball bat though and Profile scores are released publicly by the school, – whatever happened to personal privacy? – the reaction of the town is extreme (which in a way makes sense because they’ve gone through a school shooting and a child being beaten). Predicted students are immediately segregated to a different part of the school and ostracized.

In general, the characters in The Predicteds were hard for me to relate to. Daphne for example seems smart, but hangs out with a group of people that she clearly can’t stand and that I found completely annoying. I also couldn’t really feel the connection that Daphne had with Jesse. He wants her to trust him but is constantly hanging out with/attempting to save another girl, and starts acting weird once he realizes his Profile results are going to be made public.

Unfortunately, rather than focusing on Profile, Seifert made it like a side plot. Still, The Predicteds does bring up some interesting ethical questions like: If we know that someone is going to commit a crime only based on personality, IQ and neuroscience tests, should we treat them any differently? Also, by telling someone that they’re destined to commit a crime or become addicted to something, are we not in a way giving them the go-ahead signal to do whatever it is they’re supposed to do, and indicating that they’re not capable of changing who they are? Note that the brain  is malleable; and although it affects the way you experience things, your experiences also alter the brain.

I was really curious about the science behind Profile as well, but The Predicteds never really gets into it that much. If a program like Profile is ever developed in real life, I’d be very concerned about who was coming up with these arbitrary cutoff scores and who stands to gain from the program. As Seifert shows, being wealthy can enable someone to get their name off the Predicteds list. 

The Predicteds was released by Sourcebooks Fire in September 2011. 

Comments About the Cover: The cover didn’t really make sense to me until I figured out it was supposed to be a pixellated face. I like it more now because I think it fits really well with the premise of the story and the slogan “Your future is not your own.”  

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Sourcebooks) for free via NetGalley.

..................................................................................................

FYI:

• Statistically, 1 person out of every 100 people is a psychopath.
• Although fMRI or MRI data cannot be used as evidence in a court of law, you can detect psychopaths pretty accurately using brain imaging techniques.

Review: Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather - but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend? As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side? 

My Rating: 4.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Told from the perspective of three teenagers, Heather Davis’ Wherever You Go is a novel about love, loss, hope, family and friendship. Although there is a paranormal element in that one of the leads is a ghost, the spotlight isn’t on him and so the book feels like a contemporary for the most part.

Holly Mullen, the first person narrator, is a very mature and likeable character. Faced with the task of managing the household and taking care of her little sister and grandfather because her single mom has two jobs and is rarely home, Holly accepts her responsibilities and handles them with grace rather than whining and complaining about the unfairness of life.

I actually felt like the Mullen family was real based on the way that Davis portrayed them. Too often, YA novels feature dysfunctional families; but in Wherever You Go, I sensed genuine love and a strong sense of loyalty to each other. Like any family though, the Mullens aren’t perfect. Holly, for example, gets annoyed at her mother for questioning her decisions about the way she’s running things since she’s been the one doing it all along.

Rob’s point-of-view felt a little strange because it was narrated from the second person, but this didn’t stop me from being able to relate to him. It’s easy to understand his avoidance of the memories surrounding his accident and confusion at wondering why he’s still stuck on earth. By making Rob a ghost, Davis enables him to see how his death affected those close to him and yet realize that life continues to go on. This is probably best exemplified in the romance that develops between Jason and Holly based on attempt at friendship.

Told from a third person narration, Jason’s perspective allows the reader to not only be aware of how Holly feels about him (from her narration) but also know how he feels about her. Despite the fact that both Holly and Jason are still trying to get over Rob’s death and that Holly has doubts about him (since Rob’s friends weren’t very nice to her while he was alive), Jason isn’t afraid to fight for their relationship. I thought it was really sweet that unlike a lot of guys in high school, Jason was willing to spend time with Grandpa Aldo and Lena because he understood that they were important to Holly and that she was in charge of taking care of them.

Aside from the great cast of characters and the emphasis on family, I liked that Davis chose to deal honestly with the subject of mental and neurological disorders. I cried when Grandpa Aldo showed Holly the list of things he never wants to forget because I can’t even imagine what it’s like to slowly be robbed of your most meaningful memories. Watching his condition worsen later was pretty tough too. Davis successfully demonstrates that having something like depression or Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) isn’t just hard on the person suffering from it but also on those close to them, and not seeking help can be disastrous.

A realistic novel that turned out to be much better than I was expecting, Wherever You Go will be released on November 14, 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books. 

Comments About the Cover: The faded look of the cover kind of hints at memories slowly disappearing, which would make sense in terms of the plot because Grandpa Aldo has AD and Holly begins to create new memories with Jason. The title also has significance since wherever Rob goes, he’ll never truly be forgotten by his family and friends. So while it looks like Holly is thinking about him, I’d much rather have Rob – even if he’s not the main character – on the cover because he needs to go somewhere and is also being replaced in Holly’s life. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for free via NetGalley.

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Relevant statistics:

• The lifetime prevalence of depression in men is about 5-10% and about 10-20% for women.
• Close to half of those who commit suicide are depressed when they do it.
• The most common form of dementia, AD affects 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 and about half of those over the age of 85.

Waiting on Wednesday: Winterling and Everneath

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Winterling

Author: Sarah Prineas
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Release: January 3, 2012 

Goodreads Description: With her boundless curiosity and wild spirit, Fer has always felt that she doesn’t belong. Not when the forest is calling to her, when the rush of wind through branches feels more real than school or the quiet farms near her house. Then she saves an injured creature - he looks like a boy, but he’s really something else. He knows who Fer truly is, and invites her through the Way, a passage to a strange, dangerous land. Fer feels an instant attachment to this realm, where magic is real and oaths forge bonds stronger than iron. But a powerful huntress named the Mor rules here, and Fer can sense that the land is perilously out of balance. Fer must unlock the secrets about the parents she never knew and claim her true place before the worlds on both sides of the Way descend into endless winter. Sarah Prineas captivates in this fantasy-adventure about a girl who must find within herself the power to set right a terrible evil.

Why am I waiting? I don't normally read MG, but this one has magic and is a fantasy. Plus, I really like the cover.

Title: Everneath

Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date of Release: January 24, 2011 

Goodreads Description: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned - to her old life, her family, her friends - before being banished back to the underworld ... this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back - this time as his queen. As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's ... 

Why am I waiting? It seems like there might be a love triangle situation that'll develop in this one, and while I'm not usually a fan of those, the premise and the world of Everneath sound pretty interesting. Judging from the one review I've read, it also looks like there's a nice focus on character development.

Poison Diaries Competition: Win a Signed Copy of Nightshade

From Goodreads: A dark, gothic tale of romance ... and murder.

Our heroine, Jessamine, has lost her faith in the men she loved, and her innocence as well. She turns to the dark side and plots to kill her father, using his own poisons, before becoming an assassin, a poisoner for hire. Can she recover from her heartache and reunite with her true love, Weed? Find out in this thrilling story where poisons, darkness and horror are a part of everyday life, and love is the only cure.

Nightshade, the second book in the Poison Diaries series, was recently released in the US and Canada by HarperCollins on October 25. To help celebrate, the Poison Diaries team is giving away one signed copy of Nightshade to a lucky winner. To enter before November 15, all you need to do is interact with them on Twitter, Facebook and the Poison Diaries website by clicking the pictures and following the instructions below.

For Twitter: Follow @poisondiaries and send a tweet to them with the words 'win a copy of Nightshade by Maryrose Wood' and 'Musings of a YA Reader.' So a sample tweet could be: @poisondiaries I want to win a signed copy of Nightshade by Maryrose Wood via Musings of a YA Reader.

For Facebook: Like the Poison Diaries Facebook fan page and post something similar to 'I want to win a signed copy of Nightshade by Maryrose Wood via Musings of a YA Reader.'

For the website: Enter the Poison Diaries website, find the plant Arum Maculstum and add it to the 'my poison diary.' Then, share it through Twitter with @poisondiaries and include the name of this blog (Musings of a YA Reader).

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

From Goodreads: In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before ... and her secret is almost exposed. Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

My Rating: 2 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: I rarely get excited about reading dystopian novels before they’ve garnered a lot of positive reviews, but I instantly put The Pledge on my wishlist back when I first heard about it because it was going to be written by Kimberly Derting, the author of The Body Finder series. After reading The Pledge though, it’s hard for me to believe that it’s written by the same author because the worldbuilding was weak, the characters were flat and the romance … *shakes head*

While I thought it was really interesting to segregate people based on language and it’s not hard to imagine a dystopian world being created when the use of language is governed, Derting’s eventual explanation for why Charlie has the ability to speak and understand any language is pretty sketchy and didn’t sit well with my scientific mind because babies actually have the potential to learn every single language (if they’re exposed to them all on a regular basis). The reason given by Derting for Charlie’s ability therefore isn’t based on anything rational and simply makes the book veer towards fantasy than dystopian. Moreover, this made it hard for me to realistically consider Charlie’s powers (unlike her sister Angelina’s) to be something worthwhile to have.

I also couldn’t really connect with Charlie nor did she particularly fascinate me, especially once Max entered the picture and she began obsessing about him. The romance was blatantly an insta-love situation and I saw no reason for why Max would be interested in Charlie other than because of who she is. I actually scoffed and rolled my eyes when Max told Charlie that he would have found a way to be with her even if she was a servant’s daughter because given who he is, it would have been pretty much impossible for her to catch his eye if she was just a normal girl.

In terms of the ending, The Pledge has no cliffhanger and concludes with a satisfying (but predictable) epilogue. Since the book is part of a series though, I’m wondering where Derting plans to go from here because The Pledge’s plot and the way it ends seems much more appropriate for a standalone novel. 

The Pledge will be released by Margaret K. McElderry Books on November 15, 2011.

Comments About the Cover: Charlie is constantly trying to keep a low profile so I feel like the cover represents that well.

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Simon and Schuster) for free via Galley Grab.

Trailer: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

One of my WoW picks for this week was Lynn Weingarten's The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers. Later on Wednesday then, Lynn sent me a link to the book's recently created trailer and so I figured I'd share it with everybody. Enjoy!

Title: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbeakers 
Author: Lynn Weingarten
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Date of Release: December 27, 2011 

Goodreads Description: When her boyfriend breaks up with her on the first day of sophomore year, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. Enter three stunning girls with a magical offer Lucy can’t refuse. All she has to do is get a guy to fall in love with her in the next seven days, and then ... break his heart and collect one of his brokenhearted tears. As the girls teach Lucy how to hook a guy (with the help of a little magic), she quickly discovers how far she is willing to go - and who she is willing to cross - to get what she wants.

Fans of Lauren Myracle, Jodi Lynn Anderson, and Meg Cabot will love this tale of breakups, friendship, new crushes, and magic. Told with wit and charm, The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers is sure to be one of this winter’s most irresistible reads!

Waiting on Wednesday: Destined and The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Destined

Author: Jessie Harrell
Publisher: Mae Day Publishing
Date of Release: November 17, 2011 

Goodreads Description: When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear. As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined. 

Why am I waiting? I love, love Greek mythology and this one is based on the Cupid and Psyche myth.

Title: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

Author: Lynn Weingarten
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Date of Release: December 27, 2011 

Goodreads Description: When her boyfriend breaks up with her on the first day of sophomore year, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. Enter three stunning girls with a magical offer Lucy can’t refuse. All she has to do is get a guy to fall in love with her in the next seven days, and then ... break his heart and collect one of his brokenhearted tears. As the girls teach Lucy how to hook a guy (with the help of a little magic), she quickly discovers how far she is willing to go - and who she is willing to cross - to get what she wants. Fans of Lauren Myracle, Jodi Lynn Anderson, and Meg Cabot will love this tale of breakups, friendship, new crushes, and magic. Told with wit and charm, The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers is sure to be one of this winter’s most irresistible reads! 

Why am I waiting? The premise of this one sounds so fun, and I like that rather than a guy going around and breaking hearts, this time it's a girl. Also, the summary says that this one will appeal to fans of Meg Cabot and I love Meg's writing. 

Mini Reviews: If I Tell by Janet Gurtler and The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

From Goodreads: Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure ... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a onenight stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving. Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?

My Rating: 2.5 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: Janet Gurtler’s If I Tell was okay enough for me to keep reading despite the fact that pretty much every character in the book had a missing or dead parent and the author chose to explore a multitude of issues, including racism, drugs and postpartum depression. Though Gurtler managed to make it all come together somehow; in the end, I thought the book suffered because there was just too much going on.

As well, I found it really hard to connect with Jaz. I get that she’s biracial and has trouble fitting in, but she stressed it so often that I felt like I was being beaten over the head with it. Moreover, in struggling with her identity, Jaz pushes away the people that care about her, which made it even harder to like her. Oh, and let’s not forget that Jaz also lashes out at her mother (e.g. by calling her “the worst mother in the world”) which kind of negates the fact that she’s trying to protect her from a horrible secret because Jaz’s mom is still getting hurt to a certain degree. 

If I Tell was released in October 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire.

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Sourcebooks) for free via NetGalley.

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From Goodreads: The year is 1856, and orphan Abigail Tamper lives below stairs in Greave Hall, a crumbling manor house in London. Lord Greave is plagued by madness, and with his son Samuel away fighting in the Crimea, the running of Greave Hall is left to Mrs Cotton, the tyrannical housekeeper. The only solace for the beleaguered staff is to frighten Mrs Cotton by pretending the house is haunted. So when a real ghost makes an appearance - that of her beloved mother - no one is more surprised than Abi. But the spirit has a revelation that threatens to destroy Abi’s already fragile existence: she was murdered, and by someone under their very own roof. With Samuel returned to England badly wounded, it’s up to Abi to nurse him back to health, while trying to discover the identity of the killer in their midst. As the chilling truth dawns, Abi’s world is turned upside down.

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Set in Victorian England, The Poisoned House by Michael Ford is a ghost story/murder mystery. Ford does a good job making the setting feel as realistic as possible in terms of the time period, especially considering that most of the story takes place in Greave Hall. Since Abi is a maid however, there’s a lot of description of her chores and not much action. The mundane day-to-day stuff is disrupted by the occasional appearance of Abi’s mother’s ghost who will rest only after her murderer is discovered. Though it was hard to figure out who the murderer was because there weren’t that many clues in the novel, the story ends satisfactorily with all loose ends being tied up neatly.

The Poisoned House was released by Albert Whitman & Company in August 2011.

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Albert Whitman & Company) for free via NetGalley.