tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24710353752846966312024-03-14T07:01:02.008-07:00thebookreviewermary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-71163156775038682822011-01-26T14:13:00.000-08:002011-01-26T14:27:53.660-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (33)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.orcabook.com/client/Products/ProdimageLg/3351.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 239px;" src="http://www.orcabook.com/client/Products/ProdimageLg/3351.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">She Said/She Saw by: Norah McClintock</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming on: March 1st 2011</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span id="freeText17405010089222710585" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tegan was in the backseat when her two best friends were gunned down in front of her. Was it an argument over drugs? An ongoing feud? Or something more random? Tegan says she didn't see who did it. Or know why. Nobody will believe her. Not the police; not her friends; not the families of the victims; and not even Kelly, her own sister. Is she afraid that the killer will come back? Or does she know more than she is saying? </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Shunned at school and feeling alone, Tegan must sort through her memories and try to decide what is real and what is imagined. And in the end she must decide whether she has the strength to stand up and do the right thing.</span><br /><br />This looks really exciting. I wonder what happened to Tegan's friends. Was there even a killer or was it her friends like the summary? I also wonder what the outcome will be to this crime or if the killer comes back. I'm going to have to get this for my birthday! :)<br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-8718030245601464582011-01-23T14:58:00.000-08:002011-01-23T15:59:00.353-08:00Quad by: C.G. Watson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://classof2k7.com/mt/images/quad.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 230px;" src="http://classof2k7.com/mt/images/quad.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quad by: C.G. Watson</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: May 10, 2007 by Razorbill </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary: </span> <span id="freeText10955547517378735417" style="" class="reviewText"><p style="font-style: italic;">Everything led up to this moment—the point when the teasing, the cruelty, the pressure all became too much. And someone finally snapped.</p><p style="font-style: italic;"> Now six students, from six different cliques, are trapped in the student store while a shooter terrorizes their school. The shooter's identity is teased out through the students' flashbacks until the reader breathlessly reaches the final page. It's only there that he discovers the shocking answer to the question: Who is shooting out in the quad?</p><p style="font-style: italic;"> This gripping thriller by educator C. G. Watson is inspired by observations made in her own high school. Quad examines in heartrending detail how even the most casual cruelties can tear people apart.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Quad</span> was a very surprising read that was filled with such anger, that by the end I wanted to punch a couple of characters in the face.</p><p><br /></p><p>Forced to seek shelter after shots are fired at their high school, Ranger, Ken, Maggie, Sage, Calvert, and Christopher are forced to take shelter in the school store. All six kids are from six different cliques. They know that it has to be one of their friends. Could it be Stone on a steroid rage? Or Perry the choirboy with a vengeance? Or Rufus, the freak with a score to settle?</p><p><br /></p><p>I didn't expect much from this with <span style="font-style: italic;">Quad</span> since I didn't hear much about it,but it really blew me away. I would find myself scrambling through pages to find out what would happen next. With this book, you are brought back and forth from the past and the present. I really loved this because it gave you more insight on what happened to the character before and what was happening in the quad. I could really see this becoming a movie.</p><p><br /></p><p>There were a ton of POVs for this, but I felt that most of the characters were highly developed. My favorite would probably be Ranger, I found him to be funny and the kind of person I would hang out with. I also liked Paisley, Sage, Hayley, Ken and Theo. These people were all normal, nice people and when I needed to, I sympathized them. I hated Maggie the most I think. She was a loser who thought she was different but was just like the mean guys. Speaking of the mean kids, boy oh boy, what I would give to slap Brittany and Nicole! Gosh, these girls took mean to a whole new level! And Stone...let's just say by the end I wanted to kick him where the sun don't shine.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The only problem I had with this was the ending. Yes, I never saw it coming, but it left me with so many questions. I felt that there should have been an epilogue or at least one more chapter.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span> 4.5 stars</p><p><br /></p><p>You can find out more about the author and book <a href="http://cgwatson.com/">here</a>.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-11651903721054201272011-01-19T13:29:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:45:11.292-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (32)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe23LkGJqO7wzBtOZrS6AbXbx_4t03PDrSWaL8hWFH9xRl0j7BvZza7ZaImZ5vv-cGAccu2rFsao_0jDVmLpmobsbLJyG-EkmwPJhUfjbQIZXnpjK10r-jPdsmSFzDxkSbTG6_MaAeKAD/s1600/9781402256363-300.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe23LkGJqO7wzBtOZrS6AbXbx_4t03PDrSWaL8hWFH9xRl0j7BvZza7ZaImZ5vv-cGAccu2rFsao_0jDVmLpmobsbLJyG-EkmwPJhUfjbQIZXnpjK10r-jPdsmSFzDxkSbTG6_MaAeKAD/s1600/9781402256363-300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My pick this week: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm Not Her</span> by: Janet Gurtler </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: May 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText15686566338224449828" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">“For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy…” </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will? </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Janet Gurtler tests the bonds of sisterhood in this moving debut that readers of Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen will savor</span><br /><br />This looks heartbreaking. From looking at the title on Goodreads, I knew that this would have to be one to check out. I can't help to feel bad for Tess. She's always felt second best to her sister and when she finally come first it's when her sister is dying. I wonder what will happen to Tess's sister and how Tess faces her new found popularity. This is a must-read for me.<br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-85573976210796174592011-01-12T15:58:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:13:02.548-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (31)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://liliwilkinson.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Pink.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 244px;" src="http://liliwilkinson.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Pink.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Pick This Week is:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pink by: Lili Wilkinson</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: February 8, 2011 by HarperCollins </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary: </span><span id="freeText13567172498166614990" style="" class="reviewText"><p style="font-style: italic;">Ava has a secret. She is tired of her ultracool attitude, ultra-radical politics, and ultrablack clothing. She's ready to try something new—she's even ready to <em>be</em> someone new. Someone who fits in, someone with a gorgeous boyfriend, someone who wears pink. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">Transferring to Billy Hughes School for Academic Excellence is the perfect chance to try on a new identity. But just in case things don't work out, Ava is hiding her new interests from her parents, and <em>especially</em> from her old girlfriend. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">Secrets have a way of being hard to keep, though, and Ava finds that changing herself is more complicated than changing her wardrobe. Even getting involved in the school musical raises issues she never imagined. As she faces surprising choices and unforeseen consequences, Ava wonders if she will <em>ever</em> figure out who she really wants to be. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">Humor, heart, and the joys of drama—on- and offstage—combine in Ava's delight-fully colorful journey of self-discovery.</p><p><br /></p><p>I've been waiting for this one since I've read a review of this months ago. I love books with the idea of a "do-over" I guess you can say and seeing a goth girl try to become one of the things she's suppose to hate the most, popular. This looks like a fun read, I have to pick this up next month.<br /></p></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-84070963203655693512011-01-10T15:20:00.000-08:002011-02-08T16:22:05.840-08:00Books Read In 20111. <a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2011/01/aristobrats-by-jennifer-solow.html">The Aristobrats by: Jennifer Solow</a><br /><br />2. <a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2011/01/quad-by-cg-watson.html">Quad by: C.G. Watson</a><br /><br />3. Coffeehouse Angel by:Suzanne Selfors<br /><br />4. Forget You by: Jennifer Echolsmary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-65394675891749578012011-01-10T14:36:00.000-08:002011-01-10T15:20:06.463-08:00The Aristobrats by: Jennifer Solow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279674926l/7823474.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 231px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279674926l/7823474.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Aristobrats by: Lauren Solow</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: September 1, 2010 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books in this series</span>:<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9730138-stay-pretty-wallingford">Stay Pretty Wallingford</a> (<span style="font-weight: bold;">coming out June 1, 2011)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary: </span><br /><p style="font-style: italic;">Parker Bell has been waiting her whole life for Eighth Grade – she’s finally at the very top of the populadder at Wallingford Academy and her Facebook Friend count has never been higher. A second generation Wally (what most people call an “Aristobrat”), Parker is determined to use her status to champion the underpopular. But when Parker and her three best friends are mysteriously assigned to produce the highly academic (and seriously bleh) webcast, she watches in horror as their spot on the populadder plummets.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">The girls will do whatever it takes to save their reputations, even if it means masterminding a plan to get kicked off the project. But when their predicament gets even worse, they just might realize that true friendship means more than status.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review</span>: I was scared to get into The Aristobrats. I thought it would be a The Clique rip-off, but while it was different, it still had a Cliquey feel. Overall, though, I was very surprised with this.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This is they year for Parker and her friends to shine. Finally, in eight grade, Parker, Ikea, Kiki, and Plum are ready to make it their best year yet. But their plans are soon canceled when their principal,Ms. Hotchkiss, names them the producers of their school's broadcast. Almost immediately, their population drags down dramatically. All of the people who they used to call friends ditch them and start making fun of them. So much for the best year ever.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">The Aristobrats</span> was a great book. I have to say, I fell in love with all of the characters. I also loved how the main characters were very different. Parker, the girl with money problems struggling to stay in Wallingford, Ikea, the smart one, Kiki, the fashion-forward one,and Plum, the tom-boy. I loved how through their differences they were still best friends. Now, I'm going to say it, I think one of my favorite characters in this was Kenneth. He made me laugh so hard whenever he came into the book. I wish he was in it more though.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The only problem I really had with this was the slow beginning. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into this and I just really didn't think too much of the girls in the beginning. I thought that they were annoying and just like <span style="font-style: italic;">The Clique</span>! But when you get deeper into this, you find out that they are actually N I C E. They aren't bitches and actually behave like girls my age. Which is a huge up in my book.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span> 4 stars</p><p><br /></p><p>You can learn more about Jennifer Solow and The Aristobrats <a href="http://www.jennifersolow.com/">here</a>.<br /></p>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-30809997909913479602011-01-03T15:47:00.000-08:002011-01-03T16:28:08.183-08:00The DUFF by: Kody Keplinger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1271108843l/6931356.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 223px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1271108843l/6931356.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The DUFF by: Kody Keplinger</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: September 7,2010 by Poppy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books by this author:</span> <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9923243-luststruck">Luststruck</a> (coming out somwhere this year) and <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8542845-a-midsummer-s-nightmare">A Midsummer's Nightmare</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>( 2012)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. </span><p style="font-style: italic;">But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The DUFF</span> was an amazing read. It felt raw and emotional and left me begging for more.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bianca has never felt like the prettiest girl,especially when she's with her two gorgeous best friends, Casey and Jessica. She's just fine with this fact until her school's play-boy Wesley,calls her the DUFF. DUFF, which stands for "Designated Ugly Fat Friend." Bianca just pours her drink over him and tries to forget about it,but she can't. Soon the nickname and family troubles get to Bianca's head and she leans on Wesley for support. Soon, Bianca finds herself actually falling for Wesley. </p><p><br /></p><p>This book was amazing, Bianca has to be one of my favorite female protagonists that I read about this year. Her I don't care attitude never got annoying and I found her sarcasm to be really funny. I really loved all of the characters in this. Wesley may have been slimy but I still couldn't help myself to sympathize him. Casey and Jessica were great friends who I totally would love to meet. Not only did I love Bianca, but I really felt bad for her. As much as I hated her mom, I still felt bad for her and Bianca's dad melted my heart.</p><p><br /></p><p>I really loved the narration in this, too. Bianca felt very realistic. All I was expecting from <span style="font-style: italic;">The DUFF</span> was a mis-matched romance but it was a lot more than that, which made me really happy.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> 5 stars</span></p><p><br /></p><p>*And yes, this does have a lot of sex and cursing. I was a bit nervous to read it because I usually shy away from books that have sex in them, but I was fine with this.<br /></p>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-47146876500040406832010-12-31T16:00:00.000-08:002010-12-31T16:15:25.799-08:00My Top Ten of 2010Can You Believe that the year is already ending!? Well, I can't. My list may be embarrassing (it's less than 50!) but I promise next year's will be better! So without further ado, I give you my top ten favorite books of the year (in no particular order):<br /><br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/01/beautiful-by-amy-reed.html">Beautiful by: Amy Reed</a><br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/02/audreywait-by-robin-benway.html">Audrey,Wait! by: Robin Benway</a><br />I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by: Stephanie Kuenhart<br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/04/going-too-far-by-jennifer-echols.html">Going Too Far by: Jennifer Echols</a><br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/09/along-for-ride.html">Along for the Ride by: Sarah Dessen</a><br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/09/paul-is-undead-by-alan-goldsher.html">Paul is Undead by: Alan Goldscher</a><br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-girls-are.html">Some Girls Are by: Courtney Summers</a><br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/10/bad-girls-dont-die-by-katie-alender.html">Bad Girls Don't Die by: Katie Alender</a><br />The DUFF by: Kody Keplinger (review to come)<br /><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/11/whats-your-status-by-katie-finn.html">What's Your Status? by: Katie Finn</a><br /><br />You can see my list of books I read this year <a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/search/label/Books%20read">here</a>.<br /><br />Happy New Year! :)mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-62049164720830507462010-12-29T16:13:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:14:04.253-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (30)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BuxeqROoL.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 233px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BuxeqROoL.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday (29) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Pick This Week: Dead End by: Jason Myers</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming on: June 14 2011 by Simon Pulse</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary: </span><span id="freeText875693981064111901" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dru and Gina are young, in love, and can’t wait to get out of Marshall, Nebraska, a town where bloodline means everything and whoever has the money makes the rules. But all their dreams are shattered when Gina has a monstrous run-in with the son of the richest man in Marshall—an incident that leaves her broken, battered, and violated. </span><p style="font-style: italic;">Driven by rage, Dru and Gina take matters into their own hands, and quickly find themselves in over their heads. Without any other options, Dru and Gina are on the run. But there’s more chasing them than they think, and love might not be enough to save them.</p><p><br /></p><p>This looks really good. I wonder what Dru and Gina did and what will happen next. Plus, some romance is involved!? This looks like a good thriller. I'm going to have to pick this up when it comes out in June. :)<br /></p></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-12057976773225094032010-12-28T20:59:00.001-08:002010-12-28T21:03:14.583-08:00That Was Then, This Is Now by: S.E. Hinton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wikizaki.wikispaces.com/file/view/that_was_then.jpg/152545745/that_was_then.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://wikizaki.wikispaces.com/file/view/that_was_then.jpg/152545745/that_was_then.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">That was Then, This is Now by: S.E. Hinton </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: 1971</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Books In This Series: <a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/12/outsiders-by-se-hinton.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Outsiders</span></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText15599851774220432817" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ever since Mark's parents died, he has been living with Bryon. The boys are more like brothers than mere friends. They've been inseparable--until recently. Something seems to be changing between them, and Bryon can't figure it out. Is it Cathy, Bryon's new girlfriend? Is Mark jealous? Bryon is also tired of the street fighting, but Mark seems unable to quit. And where is Mark getting all of that money? In That Was Then, This Is Now, one of her most admired novels, S. E. Hinton paints a richly textured portrait of two boys at a crossroads in their friendship. With careful, intimate strokes, Hinton reveals a boy struggling over whether to protect his best friend or whether to follow his own beliefs about right and wrong. The ending will surprise readers, challenging them to puzzle over Bryon's dilemma in their own hearts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review:</span> <span style="font-size:100%;">Bryon and Mark may not be brothers but they may as well should be. Since Mark's parents were killed when he was nine years old, they have lived in the same house with Bryon's sick mother. Now 16, they seem to be growing apart. Mark has been going out more lately and making large sums of money. While Bryon has been spending more time with his girlfriend, Cathy.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >That was Then, This is Now</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> was honestly a huge letdown. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >The Outsiders</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> was one of the greatest books I have ever read, I was expecting this to be great too, but it went </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Low </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">below my expectations.<br /><br />This was my second time reading </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >That was Then, This is Now</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. The first time I tried reading this I only got up to 40 pages or so and stopped. This starts off </span><span style="font-size:100%;">really </span><span style="font-size:100%;">slow,taking about three chapters to really get started. The first three chapters just mainly talk about Bryon's daily life.<br /><br />The only character I really liked in this was M&M. He was smart and mellow, but not a big part in the book, seen only barely until the end. I just didn't feel for Bryon or Mark. I didn't have any sympathy or even liked them for that matter. I'm not sure how to explain why though. It was just something about them that threw me off of them. I guess they weren't my cup of tea. I also really didn't like Bryon's girlfriend, Cathy. I felt that she was, honestly, a smart-ass. I hated her! Ponyboy was only really in this for about two pages! I really wanted him in this more! :(<br /><br />The ending...I saw a part of it coming, but not all of it. I felt that while it was still an ending, it was not complete. After reading this I felt very depressed,cold. I really wasn't expecting it.<br /><br />Overall: 2 stars</span></span></span></span></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-39412198112108742382010-12-20T13:24:00.000-08:002010-12-20T13:30:03.946-08:00I Hate Being Sick!Yes,unfortunately, I've been bitten by the sick bug. So, please excuse me for a couple of days while I get better. I'm still gonna comment on other blogs, but I'm really not up to reading or writing reviews for now. I'm sorry for this little break. :(mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-70120795217621805972010-12-15T14:29:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:15:09.916-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (29)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJKwmdT3IcafHb-89-YSAzuyndEtApQQc1NPYq64BH2Nd0E6A2k38ZUXRJSpPh_mx8ULF55DeAzTG14oFpPdc4GSSwJj-mPiaUoV8RxTXgW-QkPzpryero9PTxqbrv9txQXG5AeBM8wc/s320/But+I+Love+Him+by+Amanda+Grace-Mandy+Hubbard.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJKwmdT3IcafHb-89-YSAzuyndEtApQQc1NPYq64BH2Nd0E6A2k38ZUXRJSpPh_mx8ULF55DeAzTG14oFpPdc4GSSwJj-mPiaUoV8RxTXgW-QkPzpryero9PTxqbrv9txQXG5AeBM8wc/s320/But+I+Love+Him+by+Amanda+Grace-Mandy+Hubbard.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My pick for Waiting on Wednesday is:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">But I Love Him </span>by: Amanda Grace</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: May 8,2011 by Flux</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText5661986241237758386" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved-and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything-and everyone-in its path. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.</span><br /><br />OH. MY. GOSH. Is all I can basically say about this one. <span style="font-style: italic;">But I Love Him</span> looks amazing and raw. You don't come about this book all the time so this is a rare gem. Honestly, the title is what threw me into this book. I really love it and how creepy it sounds. I will definitely be looking out for this one.<br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-15811200270585620992010-12-13T13:24:00.000-08:002010-12-13T15:15:26.212-08:00Belle of the Brawl by: Lisi Harrison<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n70/n353870.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 223px;" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n70/n353870.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Belle of the Brawl by: Lisi Harrison </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: October 5, 2010 by Poppy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books in this series</span>: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2009/11/alphas-by-lisi-harrison.html">Alphas</a> and <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/08/movers-fakers-bylisi-harrison.html">Movers & Fakers</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText4023046772747959387" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Eccentric billionaire Shira Brazille founded the super-exclusive Alpha Academy to nurture the next generation of exceptional dancers, writers, musicians, and inventors. It's a dream come true for one hundred lucky girls, but those not measuring up will be sent home at any time, for any reason. The one left standing will win worldwide fame. Who will it be?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skye Hamilton</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">arrived at Alpha Academy ready to dance circles around the competition, but she's having a hard time feeling the beat. Her newest HAD (Hope and Dream): less stress, more fun. Now Skye's torn between what kind of Alpha she wants to be, and which über-hawt Brazille boy she wants to be with.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Charlie Deery</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">can invent practically anything--except girlfriends. But now Allie A. is warming to her, and Charlie wants to keep it that way--even if it means helping Allie A. land Darwin. But will hooking up her ex-crush end up crushing her?</span><br /><br /></span><span id="freeText4023046772747959387" style="" class="reviewText"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allie A. Abbo</span></span><span id="freeText4023046772747959387" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-weight: bold;">tt</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">is serious-leh relieved she hasn't been sent home yet, especially now that everyone knows she's more faux than a St. Tropez spray tan. Can she prove she's a true Alpha after all? Or will she go from beautiful to beta-ful?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If at first you don't succeed, you're not an alpha.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review:</span> Skye, Charlie, and Allie have gone through a lot at Alpha Academy, but their adventure has just started. Sydney,one of Shira's five sons, starts liking Skye. But Skye really doesn't like Sydney, she likes Taz, his brother. But if she breaks Syd's heart, Shira will expell her from Alpha Academy. Charlie still likes Darwin. The good news? He likes her back. The bad news? Allie still can't get over Darwin. The solution? Get Allie to start liking Darwin's other brother, Melbourne. Allie is ready to get back to business but the real Allie J is making this very tough on her by making a whole album based on her identity theft and now she is making everybody hate her at Alpha Academy (well except for Skye and Charlie) What's an alpha to do?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Belle of the Brawl</span> may be the third book in the series but it still shows that the Alphas series hasn't lost its spark. It still delivers so many twists and turns it makes your head spin.<br /><br />In the last book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Movers & Fakers</span>, I wasn't a big fan of the characters,especially Skye, but I really liked them in this. In the last book, Skye was so snotty I really just couldn't take her anymore, but I really liked her in this book. I loved her determination to be the best in her dancing class. Charlie's relationship with Darwin is so Cute! I loved how she made sure Allie was over with Darwin before she made a move for Darwin. I think Allie is my favorite of the three. I loved how she bounced back quickly from the Allie J experience.<br /><br />I also loved the minor characters Triple, Ophelia, Tweety, and all five of Shira's sons. If I had to pick my favorite son I would have to pick Sydney, I love my poets. :)<br /><br />I did have a few problems with this though. I thought that some of the stuff Lisi Harrison wrote were very hard believe. I don't know about you, but can you imagine an "A" shaped boat? Also in the book it always describes Allie as having blond hair then why is she a brunette on the cover? Is it her or her when she is Allie J?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span>: <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">4 Stars<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The last book of the Alpha series, <span style="font-style: italic;">Top of the Feud Chain</span>, comes out in May 2011.</span><br /></span></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-38700084063452702552010-12-08T15:14:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:15:36.536-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (28)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa0N4h-o9GagNA-feiOiwT0nf1jPYyzVPk37AY_QqukoLXz30-cMTZyC6eceIkUBzdXBOiMDgA6GDeKjhMyAEeOBA3iVGuizCcJ6WoYkQJ4IADwoeTPnH4D1a76W7i3hjTG14OGI8G_w/s1600/northrop_trapped550.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa0N4h-o9GagNA-feiOiwT0nf1jPYyzVPk37AY_QqukoLXz30-cMTZyC6eceIkUBzdXBOiMDgA6GDeKjhMyAEeOBA3iVGuizCcJ6WoYkQJ4IADwoeTPnH4D1a76W7i3hjTG14OGI8G_w/s1600/northrop_trapped550.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday (27) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week my pick for Waiting on Wednesday is:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trapped by: Michael Northrop</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: January 1, 2011 by: Scholastic</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary: </span><span id="freeText10088431291930439505" style="" class="reviewText"><p style="font-style: italic;">The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....</p><br /><br />Oh my gosh this looks so awesome. First off the cover really freaks me out. The school looks scary covered in all that snow. This does not only look awesome but also creepy and kinda reminds me of a horror movie. My school is pretty old so I might get creeped out in about a day. Also, I really want to know what the devastating decision is. Do they play survival of the fittest or try to leave the school? I'm going to have this pick this up once it come out.<br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-69709187401618159672010-12-06T14:04:00.000-08:002010-12-06T14:46:01.079-08:00The Outsiders by: S.E. Hinton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/146/453/353/hn7EI2LrfIZEiTS.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 225px;" src="http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/146/453/353/hn7EI2LrfIZEiTS.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Outsiders by: S.E. Hinton </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: 1967 by Puffin</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText12875585130574158167" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser. This classic, written by S. E. Hinton when she was 16 years old, is as profound today as it was when it was first published in 1967.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review: </span>Ponyboy's life has always been tough. His parents are dead, he and his older brother Darry fight all the time, and their rival gang,the Socs,have been on his gang's tail. Little does Ponyboy know that his and his friends' lives will soon change forever.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Outsiders</span> is an AMAZING book. Even though it is a bit of an old book, it still feels so real. All of the characters were amazing. By the end, I was at tears. Which I don't really understand since I already read this, while I still thought it was really good, this time it blew me away.<br /><br />The Greasers (Ponyboy's gang) is made up of Pony, Darry, and Soda-Pop( Pony's brothers) Dally, Randy,Two-Bit Matthews, and Johnny. I have to say I loved them all. But, my favorite characters would have to be Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, and Two-Bit Matthews. I loved them from Dally's heartless attitude to Two-bit's awesome sense of humor. I also really liked the conversations between Cherry and Ponyboy ( Very Cute!)<br /><br />S.E. Hinton's writing is amazing. Ponyboy is reallt realistic and so is the other characters. The end had me at tears and wouldn't let me stop reading it. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Outsiders</span> was amazing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span> If it had me cry then it's amazing.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">5 stars</span><br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-5378241275847751872010-12-02T17:34:00.000-08:002010-12-02T18:30:04.092-08:00Love Sucks! By: Melissa Francis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0XO2ngCHJvdt9SrKDlg4o-rHdkSuPvU8DCN01XjZc9EdCiOgV5WCSL5dOm_wcqU_hFUQeuzEBYxW2RfEuwbcAUS9bMcT3KlqE0jIEkWaZvE1l-BxMzDRJn3rvfMYpOtb79io1ooETRY/s400/melissa_francis-lovesucks.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0XO2ngCHJvdt9SrKDlg4o-rHdkSuPvU8DCN01XjZc9EdCiOgV5WCSL5dOm_wcqU_hFUQeuzEBYxW2RfEuwbcAUS9bMcT3KlqE0jIEkWaZvE1l-BxMzDRJn3rvfMYpOtb79io1ooETRY/s400/melissa_francis-lovesucks.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love Sucks! by: Melissa Francis</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: July 27 2010 by HarperCollins</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books in this series:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-bite-me-by-melissa-francis.html">Bite Me!</a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText16374389398742985352" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">AJ Ashe is moving on. Sure she still has not-so-sisterly feelings for Ryan, her ex-boyfriend-turned-step-brother, but there’s a new vampire in town and his name is Alexander Archer. Caught between the desire to move forward with Sexy Lexy and being drawn to her past with Ryan, AJ thinks life couldn’t get anymore complicated. Yeah, right. When her mother’s pregnancy is threatened, it looks like AJ’s long lost father is the only person who can save her. But Dad’s help comes with a price. AJ is forced join the evil side of her family, and a very creepy shape-shifting demon is there to make sure AJ cooperates. All this and she’s still got to plan the prom. Being a teenager is tough, but being a teenage vampire just flat out sucks. Pun totally intended.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review:</span> Just when A.J. thought all her worries were over her father comes back into her life. To protect herself and her family her auntie Tave hires her nephews Robbie and Lex, to help train her. But A.J. finds herself falling for Lex while still trying to get over Ryan. With prom just around the corner and a new prophecy brother or sister on the way A.J.'s life is back to being crazy and unexpected.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Love Sucks!</span> was a great sequel to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Bite Me!</span> series. It felt just like <span style="font-style: italic;">Bite Me!</span> but I still had a few problems with it.<br /><br />I felt that this book was more slower than <span style="font-style: italic;">Bite Me!. </span> I would pick this up and then put it back down and stop reading. Also, I really wasn't a fan of "sexy Lexy" a.k.a Aunty Tave's nephew. I felt that there wasn't any chemistry between A.J. and him. I also found him a bit stalkerish, like reading A.J.'s thoughts? That was a little creepy and annoying. Another character I just did not like was Bridget, A.J.'s best friend. She would just annoy me, but she really wasn't in the book until the end.<br /><br />Except for those two characters, I loved the rest of them. A.J. is always headstrong and doesn't complain about her problems. What's not to love about Ryan? He's cute, nice, and funny. I also really liked Malia and Robbie. I think they should have been in the book more.<br /><br />Although this book was slow, it was addicting. Melissa Francis' writing draws you right in. I thought the ending was amazing. It made me laugh one minute and the next made me gasp with surprise. I can't wait to read more from this series.<br /><br />Overall: Love Sucks! is a slow but great book in the Bite Me! series.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3 stars</span><br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-71496679337006969652010-12-01T15:47:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:16:16.998-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (27)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415ltoDXFjL.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 233px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415ltoDXFjL.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Pick This Week: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">All The Things You Are</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">by: Courtney Sheinmel</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: June 14,2011</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</span>:<span id="freeText14598192228645379653" style="" class="reviewText"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Carly Wheeler lives a charmed life. Her motheris a stylist for the soap opera Lovelock Falls, she lives in a nice house, and goes to an excellent private school. But when her mom is arrested and charged with embezzlement, everything starts to unravel. There are shocking stories about her mother's crimes in the local newspaper. Carly's friends start avoiding her. And her stepfather starts worrying about money. How can Carly put her life back together when it feels like she's missing all the pieces?</span></span><br /><br />Have you ever heard of the phrase "You don't know what you've got until it's gone?" Well, this is exactly what this book reminds me of. I've been hit with this feeling countless times so I really want to see how Carly reacts when her no worries life leaves her worrystruck. I can't wait to read this one.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-40506873348326276392010-11-25T09:23:00.000-08:002010-11-25T10:09:24.950-08:00My Little Phony by: Lisi Harrison<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bookfinds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/mylittlephony.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 230px;" src="http://bookfinds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/mylittlephony.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Little Phony by: Lisi Harrison</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: August 3, 2010 by Poppy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books in this series:</span> <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/890143.The_Clique">The Clique</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95658.Best_Friends_for_Never">Best Friends For Never</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95661.Revenge_of_the_Wannabes">Revenge of the Wannabees</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95659.Invasion_of_the_Boy_Snatchers">Invasion of the Boy Snatchers</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95660.The_Pretty_Committee_Strikes_Back">The Pretty Committee Strikes Back</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/261161.Dial_L_for_Loser">Dial L for Loser</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6835.It_s_Not_Easy_Being_Mean">It's Not Easy Being Mean</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/690816.Sealed_with_a_Diss">Sealed with a Diss</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/628955.Bratfest_at_Tiffany_s">Bratfest at Tiffany's</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3378137.P_S_I_Loathe_You">P.S. I Loathe You</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5291841-boys-r-us">Boys R Us</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/03/these-boots-are-made-for-stalking-lisi.html">These Boots are Made for Stalking</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</span>: <span id="freeText16370923486624113165" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sugar, spice, and everything lice. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Massie Block</span>:<span style="font-style: italic;"> The holidays are just around the corner, and the only thing Massie doesn't want for Christmas is a lip-kiss from her ninth-grade crush, Landon. Not that she'd ever admit it, but she's nervous! To distract herself, Massie focuses on getting revenge on Claire for ditching the Pretty Committee. But when the plan to bug her ex-BFF backfires big-time, she may find herself headed for a Merry Kissmass-whether she likes it or not. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alicia Rivera</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Promised her parents she wouldn't shop at awl between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her reward? An all-expenses-paid trip to the Spanish Riviera. But what happens when she sees the cuh-yutest pair of Ralph Lauren sunglasses? No pain, no Spain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dylan Marvil:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">After going overboard at the Westchester Mall, Dylan isn't worried about the size of her clothes . . . but she is worried about the size of her clothing budget. Cuh-redit denied! </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kristen Gregory:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Is sick of being the only poor girl in Westchester. But misery loves company, and maybe, just maybe, she won't be the only broke member of the Pretty Committee for long. . </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Claire Lyons:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">When Massie scares off her new drama friends with a fake-lice scare, Claire decides she's done letting Massie bully her. The alpha may have exterminated Claire's social life, but what goes around comes around. The raid is on, and it won't be over until the fat ladybug sings. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review</span>: It's been the last straw for Claire! After Massie shaves Todd's head and convinces her ninth grade friends that she has lice, Claire forms a rebellion. With Layne, Claire forms Claire-a, a rebellion group against the Pretty Committee. But Claire-a is the least of Massie's worries. After her friends steal her phone and tell her ninth grade crush, Landon that she wants to kiss him, he agrees! Now, Massie is freaking out on how to make their kiss seem perfect.<br /><br />It's always sad to see your favorite series end. Even though there is still one more book in the series, I felt like this was it. One of my favorite YA series is ending and it makes me feel old.<br /><br />In <span style="font-style: italic;">These Boots are Made for Stalking</span> I hated both Claire and Massie, but this time it was just Massie getting all the hate. Claire actually (finally!!) stands up to Massie with her group, Claire-a. I found the friendship between Claire and Layne to be refreshing and funny. Massie is a total bitch in this. Whenever I thought she wouldn't do something that mean, she did. I really hated her in this.<br /><br />I lost basically all of my respect for Alicia, Kristen, and Dylan. There was one part of the story when Massie says some very hurtful things to them, but like three days later, after ignoring her, THEY apologize to HER and only because they needed backup. Massie would treat them like dirt and they would come crawling back to her. Meanwhile, Claire's boyfriend, Cam, was so swoonworthy! He would support Claire no matter what she did and was so sweet! I love him and the other boys in this series even though they weren't even in this one.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Little Phony</span> was so addicting. I love the details Lisi Harrison would put in for just everyday things and make them seem so much more funny and silly. Also, most of her characters are so lifelike. I would love to be friends with everyone of them (except Massie). I will definitely be looking out for the next and final book.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span>: Very addicting and fun.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">4 stars</span><br /><br />The last book in this series, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7884756-a-tale-of-two-pretties">A Tale of Two Pretties</a>, will be coming out on February 15, 2011.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving! :)<br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-26228454266493721032010-11-13T11:12:00.000-08:002010-11-13T11:40:39.105-08:00What's Your Status? By: Katie Finn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://luxuryreading.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/WYS.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 340px;" src="http://luxuryreading.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/WYS.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's Your Status By: Katie Finn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: July 1, 2010 by Point</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Books in this series</span>: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://mk-thebookreviewer.blogspot.com/2010/02/top-8-by-katie-finn.html">Top 8</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText4181353761366890107" style="" class="reviewText">Madison MacDonald thinks things are finally working out!<br /><br />Followers: 300<br /><br />Status Updates:<br /><br />mad_mac Nate and I have been together for two months, and it’s wonderful! Life is good!<br /><br />mad_mac Well, except for the fact that I still might be failing history.<br /><br />mad_mac And I no longer have a BFF.<br /><br />mad_mac But aside from those things!<br /><br />mad_mac Okay. So, um, apparently I’ve just been put in charge of the school’s priceless heirloom.<br /><br />mad_mac And the assistant headmaster has a vendetta against me.<br /><br />mad_mac And it seems I’m being blackmailed.<br /><br /> mad_mac Gathering together a crew. I’m going to try and pull off a heist. Without getting caught. Or expelled. Or arrested.<br /><br />mad_mac Also, I think I may have just accidentally wrecked my relationship. . . .<br /><br />Madison MacDonald is trying not to panic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review:</span> Madison MacDonald's life is finally perfect. Her relationship with Nate is amazing,she is getting along greatly with her friends,and prom is just around the corner. Then, everything unravels. A simple hand gesture causes Nate to think that Madison wants to take their relationship to the next level, Kittson leaves Madison in the custody of the school's most priceless possession,and she is being blackmailed!<br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What's Your Status?</span> was a great sequel and better than <span style="font-style: italic;">Top 8. </span><br /><br />I love the use of the internet in books. I like seeing a characters' profile because it's a lot more interesting than, "Debbie has light brown hair and brown eyes" to me. Also, it makes reading shorter, which I hate to say, but it helps me get in more pages in before I go to bed. This made the book a lot more funner to read.<br /><br />I love the characters in this book. I feel like I could be friends with anyone of them(well,except Sarah). They felt so realistic and some of the things they did made me laugh out loud. Madison was a fun main character, who I never got annoyed of.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What's Your Status?</span> was so addicting. I could not stop reading this. It felt like every chapter ended with a cliffhanger. I did not find it slow like I did for Top 8.<br /><br />Overall, I really liked this book. It was amazing. I can not wait until the next book in the series. <br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-80755179649927983692010-11-11T07:53:00.000-08:002010-11-11T08:22:30.519-08:00My Life in Pink and Green By: Lisa Greenwald<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lvnar0wY8qo/S7jrEV_1gwI/AAAAAAAAAMw/bIBUg4KNQFw/s1600/my-life-in-pink-and-green.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 402px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lvnar0wY8qo/S7jrEV_1gwI/AAAAAAAAAMw/bIBUg4KNQFw/s1600/my-life-in-pink-and-green.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Life in Pink and Green by: Lisa Greenwald</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: March 1,2009 by Amulet Books</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books by this author:</span> <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7785751-sweet-treats-secret-crushes">Sweet Treats and Secret Crushes</a> (coming out Nov.28)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText17070065577050081379" style="" class="reviewText">Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem solver. After the local homecoming queen shows up at her family’s struggling drugstore with a beauty disaster that Lucy helps to fix, Lucy has a long line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the pharmacy. If only she could find a way to make the pharmacy the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dreams up a solution that could resuscitate the family business and help the environment, too. But will Lucy’s family stop fighting long enough to listen to a seventh-grader? This book is a funny and sweet debut featuring an unforgettable narrator who knows what she wants, whether it’s great makeup, a killer business plan, or a better world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review: </span>Ever since Lucy was a little girl, her family has owned The Old Mill Pharmacy. Now Lucy is twelve and the pharmacy is in danger of closing. While trying to figure out a way to help fix the store,Courtney Adner, the it-girl of her high school,comes in with a hair disaster that needs some serious fixing. Lucy gives her some hair products and before she knows it, girls from all over town are going to the Pharmacy for make- overs and hair tips. Could Lucy be the one to save the Pharmacy?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Life in Pink and Green</span> by: Lisa Greenwald is a pretty cute read but by the middle/end,I was staring to get tired of it.<br /><br />Lucy was relatible to me,but she got very annoying, For example,one minute, she would tell Sunny how beautiful she looked and then the next she would be like, "Your hair looks greasy. Use this conditioner." Sometimes, I felt like she was a walking ad for the Pharmacy.Sunny, Lucy's best friend, was a person I could see myself being friends with. She would always be so nice and give so much to the pharmacy. I have no idea why she would put up with Lucy.<br /><br />Another problem I had with this book was how they put in the Relaxation Room, a room that Lucy made just for the Pharmacy was only mentioned twice after it was made. I hate when books do that.<br /><br />However, I have to admit that the writing was so cute! I loved the little romances they put in this. Also, at the beginning of every chapter there is a little tip on how to take care of your body which I found very useful.<br /><br />Overall, <span style="font-style: italic;">My Life in Pink and Green</span> was a cute read, but the main character was not my cup of tea.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">2.5 stars</span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-38815088542618976672010-11-10T14:12:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:24:33.426-08:00Waiting On Wednesday (26)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFan1hbXBx9ueY4PponBbJj6y7pNh_XdSxpXdKNrMJ6QNnrFtksbRGyciIlOdNwcQMJMNWyeQWVnLk8wXZSWxwCMFFhS1AJRZvoVxLOcwL9dEQVkiHG6PVno-dBsKLSjEJRo8VT9vcAbni/s1600/8524429.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFan1hbXBx9ueY4PponBbJj6y7pNh_XdSxpXdKNrMJ6QNnrFtksbRGyciIlOdNwcQMJMNWyeQWVnLk8wXZSWxwCMFFhS1AJRZvoVxLOcwL9dEQVkiHG6PVno-dBsKLSjEJRo8VT9vcAbni/s1600/8524429.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My pick this week: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Life, The Theater, and Other Tragedies by: Allen Zadoff</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: May 22,2011 by Egmont</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</span>: <span id="freeText13936192112988226164" style="font-style: italic;" class="reviewText">Life can’t be lived behind the scenes.<br /><br />High school sophomore Adam Zeigler thought the best way to live life was behind the spotlight. When his father died two years ago, Adam retreated into the world of the theater, ultimately winning a coveted place on the theater crew and finding (what he thought) was his place in the world, high above the theater floor in the lighting grid.<br /><br />But then a young actress, Summer, appeared in his view. Instantly smitten, Adam is determined to win her over. But to do so, he'll have to defy his best friend and break the golden rule of his school: techies and actors don't mix.<br /><br />Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, MY LIFE, THE THEATER is a theater story, a love story, and a bromance in one. The complexities of life, death, and high school are revealed as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light.</span><br /><br />This sounds so cute! I heard great things about this author (if the name sounds familiar it's because he is the author of <span style="font-style: italic;">Food,Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have</span>) so I expect great things about this one! I also like the idea of the two cliques coming together, I really want to see what happens with that.mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-30045075555153961872010-11-03T14:48:00.000-07:002011-01-19T13:25:06.233-08:00Waiting On Wednesday (25)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnqn9xaRaikvEau2oA3s6ePdE8ZQt5bwU1C-R7yUQF7tmezEWX4aBytIS5VWWRoF0MRVDZUpJ-w8yorT0xAlbcVjqUPT410dHwgCZ3XxWhHB_VLkYLkN2EmDuYXEhdi90UiLGUzAo9Lbj/s1600/exposed.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnqn9xaRaikvEau2oA3s6ePdE8ZQt5bwU1C-R7yUQF7tmezEWX4aBytIS5VWWRoF0MRVDZUpJ-w8yorT0xAlbcVjqUPT410dHwgCZ3XxWhHB_VLkYLkN2EmDuYXEhdi90UiLGUzAo9Lbj/s1600/exposed.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting on Wednesday (25) </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Pick This Week: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exposed by: Kimberly Marcus</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: February 22, 2011</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText11839795662633482098" style="" class="reviewText"><em>In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.<br />As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.<br />The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her<br />legs extended in a perfect soaring split.<br />The straight line to my squiggle,<br />my forever-best friend.</em><br /><br />Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, <em> Exposed</em> is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm not usually into free verse books but I really like plot of this. Imagine your brother being accused of a crime that your best friend said he did? I'm not sure what I would do. I also love the cover to this,it's really pretty. </span><br /></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-30791030717912365512010-10-26T14:20:00.001-07:002010-10-26T14:35:39.209-07:00Bad Girls Don't Die by: Katie Alender<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzK5VaF7YAOPYxv-T_XPij40Bk-xCSVdOPUqQHwSUL-tR2TZMKvPLK1z-kFM4ZfqfTXe7C1Vrbj3sBg6x0esMW6sSm_c4TxccvUXRBIRD-w-bzYDyJKj6Tpp8wwPqjBZTkjSRIhzXxjec/s1600/bad+girls+don%27t+die.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzK5VaF7YAOPYxv-T_XPij40Bk-xCSVdOPUqQHwSUL-tR2TZMKvPLK1z-kFM4ZfqfTXe7C1Vrbj3sBg6x0esMW6sSm_c4TxccvUXRBIRD-w-bzYDyJKj6Tpp8wwPqjBZTkjSRIhzXxjec/s1600/bad+girls+don%27t+die.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bad Girls Don't Die By: Katie Alender </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: April 21,2009 by Hyperion</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other books in this series</span>: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9004758-from-bad-to-cursed">From Bad to Cursed</a> (Coming out June 2011)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</span>: <span id="freeText12272461895990939150" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. </span><p style="font-style: italic;">When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?</p> <span class="readable reviewText"> <span style="display: none;" id="freeTextContainerreview82385858" class="reviewText"> Bad Girls Don't Die was a kick ass great read that leaves you wondering what will happen next.<br /><br />Alexis has a not so normal life. Her parents hardly pay attention to her, she's sure her sister is not sane, the cheerleaders are out to get her, and she has feeling for a boy who's not even her type. When her sister starts acting weirder than she normally does, Alexis knows that something is up, that something must be controlling her sister,but what?<br /><br />I was so surprised with this <a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3678651.Bad_Girls_Don_t_Die#">...more</a> </span> <span id="freeTextreview82385858" style="" class="reviewText"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Review</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Bad Girls Don't Die</span> was a kick ass great read that leaves you wondering what will happen next.<br /><br />Alexis has a not so normal life. Her parents hardly pay attention to her, she's sure her sister is not sane, the cheerleaders are out to get her, and she has feeling for a boy who's not even her type. When her sister starts acting weirder than she normally does, Alexis knows that something is up, that something must be controlling her sister,but what?<br /><br />I was so surprised with this book. I was expecting just a creepy, suspenseful book but it was far more than that. It felt like it could happen to almost anybody, it was so realistic. Alexis had to be my favorite part of the book. She was so funny, awesome, and had that I-don't-care-about-anything attitude that wasn't overdone. <br /><br />Carter was so swoon-worthy. I felt bad at some of the stuff but Alexis was only doing it for his own good. Megan I also really liked too. I really just didn't like Kasey but she didn't ruin the book for me. There was some parts that made me creeped out by her and some where I got angry at the girl. <br /><br />This book was so awesome, I wonder how the next one's gonna be like.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span>: Kickass awesome!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">5 Stars</span><br /></span></span></span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-43842107707169419832010-10-20T15:00:00.000-07:002011-01-19T13:25:44.928-08:00Waiting on Wednesday (24)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n71/n358258.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 293px;" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n71/n358258.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting On Wednesday (24)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All Just Glass by: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming out: January 11, 2011 by Delacorte</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span> <span id="freeText7579021870062537852" style="font-style: italic;" class="reviewText">Sarah Vida has given up everything for love. From a legendary family of vampire-hunting witches, Sarah was raised to never trust a vampire, to never let her guard down, and to avoid all tricky attachments of the heart. But now Sarah IS a vampire—changed by the boy she thought she loved. Her family has forsaken her, and Sarah herself is disgusted by her appetite for blood.<br />Aida Vida is Sarah's older sister, the good, reliable sibling who always does her family proud. But when Aida's mother insists that Sarah be found and killed, Aida is given the one assignment that she may not be able to carry out.<br />Taking place over just twenty-four hours, ALL JUST GLASS tells the story of a game-changing battle that will forever change the world of the Den of Shadows. And at its center is the story of two sisters who must choose between love and duty. Dark, fully-imagined, and hard to put down, ALL JUST GLASS will thrill Amelia's fans—old and new.</span><br /><br />I love the sister vs sister battle. Sarah's story could be a book all on it's on both sisters. I also like the cover. It's cool to see what both sisters look like.mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2471035375284696631.post-22139972267581431942010-10-15T12:42:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:04:32.336-07:00Give Up the Ghost by: Megan Crewe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ops.org/MIDDLE/LEWISANDCLARK/Portals/0/Gallery/Album/81/Give%20Up%20the%20Ghost%20by%20Megan%20Crewe.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 219px;" src="http://www.ops.org/MIDDLE/LEWISANDCLARK/Portals/0/Gallery/Album/81/Give%20Up%20the%20Ghost%20by%20Megan%20Crewe.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Give Up the Ghost By: Megan Crewe</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: September 15, 2009 by Henry Holt</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span id="freeText3298371722906506318" style="" class="reviewText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over "breathers". Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad — and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review: </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Give Up the Ghost</span> was a book I had great expectations for but it fell a bit short for me.<br /><br />Cassie McKenna started seeing ghosts when a tragedy struck her family four years ago. To some people, this might come off as annoying, but Cassie uses this for her own advantage. She uses the ghosts at her school to get the the dirt on all her classmates. Everybody thinks Cassie is nuts because they see her talking to "no one" in the halls, but Tim figures out her secret. When Tim asks her if she would help him talk to his deceased mother just one more time, she surprisingly says yes. What surprises her the most though, is how much Cassie likes Tim. Maybe it's time to give humans another chance...<br /><br />I thought this would be a five out of five book, but instead it was far from it for me. The writing was beautiful, but I had a hard time really getting into this. The first 100 pages were a torture for me. The only thing that kept me going was the writing. I didn't really like Cassie, actually I was surprised by her. I thought she would be quiet and somewhat nice, but she was bitchy and cold for a good amount of the book. Yes, I understand you want to get revenge on your ex-friends and I would probably do the same thing, but she did it to people she hardly knew too. And the way she was to Tim was just ridiculous! She was so cold to him and he was so nice to her!<br /><br />I did like Tim, the vice president of the school and the boy Cassie is trying to help. He was so sweet,nice and surprisingly bad-ass. I also liked Norris, Cassie's ghost friend. You don't get to know how he died though. I wish we got to know more about him. Also, Bitzy, Cassie's other ghost friend only shows up like five times in the book, plus, you don't get to know much about her.<br /><br />The last 100 or so pages were pretty amazing and addicting. Cassie became nicer and I wish the whole book was like that but, it was not. I still enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to supernatural fans.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span> Very dissapointing but not bad.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">3 stars</span>mary katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10762978792323487395noreply@blogger.com1