Review of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

Title: If I Lie
Author: Corrine Jackson
Published by: Simon Pulse
Pages: 276
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

A complex tale of one person's secret and another's lie.  If I Lie is not only a powerful, emotional novel, it is also wonderfully written with a skill that far surpasses a debut author.

What a heart-breaking novel.  It was raw, pure and unbelievably good.  Quinn is completely ostracized by not only her friends and classmates, but the whole town.  The dynamic of this military town is fascinating.  They all band together to support those serving overseas and to do something that betrays one of them is unthinkable. 

Immediately before the secret came out I knew what it was and I adored Quinn that much more.  She took verbal and physical abuse just to protect someone's secret.  In fact, she is protecting multiple secrets and bears her suffering in silence.  Quinn definitely got the short end of the stick, but instead of complaining she finds an unlikely companion in the VA hospital that her father forced her to volunteer at.  Quinn uses this friendship to help heal her and make her go from a scared little girl to a strong and independent woman. 

Corrine Jackson blew me away with this debut novel and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. 

Review of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that  horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. Echo and Noah couldn’t be more different, but they find themselves united by a common goal: to sneak into their court-  ordered social worker’s case files in order to learn the truth about themselves and their families. What they didn’t count on is falling in love -- and now Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

I crave a good love story.  The heat, the passion, the drama...I live for it.  Katie McGarry's debut novel, Pushing the Limits, satisfied that need and more. 

Echo and Noah are an unexpected, yet deliciously scandalous and completely right couple.  They are opposites on the outside, but share so much pain on the inside.  I loved how unique these characters were.  They were not your typical "popular cheerleader and sexy bad boy" couple, instead they had depth and an array of problems that haven't really been touched on much in the YA world.  They were refreshing and while at times you felt sorry for them, or wanted to strangle them, by the end you will admire their strength and who they've become. 

As crazy as it sounds, I absolutely loved exploring the traumatic experiences that plagued Echo and Noah.  Looking into their therapy with Mrs. Collins and how each of them dealt with their situations and waring emotions was fascinating.  I have no experience with their issues and it was interesting to see different techniques that their counselor used.  I liked how unconventional Mrs. Collins seemed and how she seemed to really care about Echo and Noah, not just with overcoming their issues, but also about them and their everyday lives. 

The writing was good, but at times seemed a little disconnected.  However, I loved the alternating points of view between Echo and Noah.  I loved seeing both sides of their times together and also how each person dealt with their circumstances.  They are intriguing people and getting a look into both of their thoughts added immensely to the story.   

Overall this was a great book that I really enjoyed! 

Review of Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Title: Something Strange and Deadly
Author: Susan Dennard
Published by: Harper Teen
Pages: 248
Source: Thanks to HarperTeen/Edelweiss
Format: ebook arc
Available: July 24, 2012
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.
Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper:
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor… from her brother.

Susan Dennard delivers a debut novel filled with adventure, strange events and of course, the dead. 

Eleanor Fitt is going through a rough time.  Downcast by the death of her father, and the family's financial demise it gets worse when her brother Elijah goes missing.  Not to mention her mother trying to bid her out to the first wealthy suitor to save both their bank accounts and their reputation.  But the truth of the matter is that Eleanor has never really fit in with this society and their beliefs. 

Eleanor is the type of character that you may be unsure of at first.  She comes across as uptight and nosey, but soon her tenaciousness grows on you.  Eleanor and the Spirit-Hunters are what really made this book wonderful.  They are lively and attention graping.  They don't follow the customs and each have a bit of a rebellious streak in them that makes them interesting and unforgettable.  Their back stories are rich in detail and emotion making you understand their personalities and builds a connection between you.

I have to admit I'm not much of a Zombie person, and though they were central to the storyline they didn't overtake the story.  Susand Dennard brings a new type of story into the mix.  It's fraught with scandal, death and even a touch of romance.  She brings passion and emotion to the story and her writing seems to flow softly and smoothly.  And my favorite thing is she knows how to write a spectacular ending.  She wraps up the story, but leaves just enough loose ends to have you wanting more.

Something Strange and Deadly is a wonderful debut and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.           

Review of The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Published by: HarperTeen
Pages: 327
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Selection is reality TV meets YA literature. 

The whole time I was reading The Selection I felt like I was watching The Bachelor.  There is definitely a reality TV vibe going on where all these girls are competing to be queen...oops I mean to win the princes heart.  Of course there is the sweet girl, the jealous one, the backstabbing witch and the one you hope is going to win.  Plus their wardrobes sounded amazing.  I was quite jealous of their dresses include to one on this cover. 

After finishing this novel, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about America.  At times I loved that she didn't conform to people's opinions or get swept up in the drama, and others times I found her whiny.  She's indecisive and not fair to Maxon or Aspen.  Maxon on the other hand is everything you want in a prince.  He's handsome, diplomatic, observant, and really cares about all castes in his country.  Kiera Cass gives you a sweet, hero with a heart of gold. 

But then...the dreaded love triangle.  Oh how I'm sick of the love triangle...anyone else?  Aspen or Maxon?  One is below her caste and the other way above it.  New twist, but same story. 

At times I forgot this was a dystopian novel, because I got swept up in the drama of the Selection but other times it was front and center.  I enjoyed the world that Kiera Cass slowly built and it was interesting to see throughout the novel how the governmental situation was escalating.  She left many questions and hooked us with some mystery surrounding the rebels and the contestants.  I think we will definitely see more of this unfold in the next novel.   

For some odd reason I didn't realize this was going to be a series so when I got to the end I had one of those "are you kidding me" moments where you want to know where the rest of the story is.  Just thought I should warn you in case you are having a ditsy moment like me. 

Review of Somthing Like Normal by Trish Doller

Title: Something Like Normal
Author: Trish Doller
Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 214
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

Are you ready to be blown away?  Read Something Like Normal. 

What is not to love about this book.  First, it's told from Travis's point of view as he is home for a month on leave from Afghanistan.  After being gone for a year, his life has completely changed and how does he handle it...not the best.  Travis is one of those characters that you instantly like.  He may be a jerk at times, but you know that down deep he's a great guy.  I loved how complex Travis emotions were in this novel.  Trish Doller dives into Travis's head and you really get a feel for the struggles he goes through everyday.  Not only is he dealing with PTSD, but his family is falling apart and his brother has essentially taken over Travis's old life. 

Enter Harper.  Travis was a first-class-jerk to Harper back in the day and I love how the first time she sees him when he's on his leave, she slaps him across the face.  Oh she's definitely fiesty and my kind of girl. These characters that Trish Doller writes are so relastic and authentic you feel as if they could be people you know. 

There are not many novels featuring military personal, especially in the YA field.  I though Trish Doller did an amazing job at bringing this aspect of the novel to life.  She showed not only the good stuff associated with being a solider, but also the bad.  She explored the life of an active duty officer as well as one on leave.  It was intriging and connected us to Travis on a whole other level.

I highly recommend Something Like Normal!  Trust me...you won't regret it. 

Review of Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Title: Pretty Crooked
Author: Elisa Ludwig
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books         
Pages: 368
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 2.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”-known to everyone as the Glitterati-without them suspecting a thing, is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her-evening the social playing field between the have and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of burglaries at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could he wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

When life is unfair, what is the first thing you want to do?  Well if you are me then you'd probably start crying because you'd feel so sad and frustrated, but I'm sure most other people would answer that they'd get upset and want to set the wrong right. That is exactly what Willa decides to do when she realises the Glitterati are purposefully harassing the scholarship students.  This storyline is super cute.  Who doesn't want to swoop in and be a hero?  I know Willa's intentions were in the right place, but her execution was not thought out very well.   

I had a hard time believing Willa to be true.  She wanted to fit in and by doing that went against what she knew and her upbringing.  She started to overspending and she knew it was wrong but still did it anyways.  She liked being popular and all the "perks" that went with it.  I did like her, but she just seemed so spacey.  First she doesn't want to believe her new friends are not nice people even after seeing all this evidence and then when she finally does admit they are mean people she comes up with this crazy plan.  Did she really think stealing from her rich classmates and giving anonymous gifts to the scholarship kids was a great plan?  Seriously? 

During with Willa's "Robin Hooding", she somehow caught the attention of Valley Prep's resident hottie.  Aidan comes with a lot of mystery surrounding him.  I thought you'd find more out about him at the end, but that was not the case.  I'm guessing I'll have to wait until book 2 to figure him out some more.  Aidan seemed like a genuinely nice guy.  I love when we meet nice guys in books...they seem more real to me.  I wish we would have learned a little more about him and for the romance between him and Willa to be stepped up a notch.  There relationship was really mild and innocent with just a touch flirtation.    

Along with not finding out about Aidan, I felt that Pretty Crooked just kind of ends.  While it does wrap some things up, there is still a ton of loose ends.  I understand this is a series, but I'd like a little more resolution at the end of the book.  I know some people like big cliffhangers or for one storyline to be continuous completely throughout all of the series.  If that is your fancy, then this book if for you. 

Review of Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Title: Where It Began
Author: Ann Redisch Stampler
Published by: Simon Pulse
Pages: 384
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. But when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss...Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.

And Billy's nowhere to be found.

How much would you sacrifice to be popular?  That is a question I'm sure many high-schoolers face everyday.  It was an issue when I was in high school and I can only see it getting more serious in years to come.  Gabby seemed happy in her old "sub-regular" life, but then her mom gives her an intensive make over and now she's caught the eye of the High School Hottie.  Only months later she wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of getting trashed and crashing Billy's Beamer. 

I had a really hard time with this novel.   Gabby clung onto Billy so much and made him her universe.  I felt this devotion was very one sided and a little pathetic.  She kept calling herself a cow every time she felt clingy and would actually have to talk herself down from saying certain things because she thought if she told him her true feelings he'd ditch her.  I don't think this is a healthy relationship.  Billy's life also seemed a little too good to be true.  Sure he was on probation for a DUI, but he never seemed to meet with a probation officer or do any community service.  In fact, he and Gabby skipped school all the time and never got into trouble.  How flippin unfair is that.  I'm sure that if I skipped school in high school, I would have not only gotten detention, but also a truancy ticket and been grounded.  Oh the life of the obscenely rich and powerful.   

Without giving too much away there is something weird about the crash itself.  Gabby is found passed out outside the car with the keys still in her hand and no one else around.  You don't figure out exactly what happened the night of the crash until the end because Gabby literally doesn't remember anything.  Throughout Gabby's recovery and the aftermath Billy and his mom guide Gabby with the lawyers, social workers, therapist, etc.  This was very suspicious to me.  I understand they have money and are super connected but I just thought it was a bit shady. 

Another thing that bothered me was Gabby's parents.  They were not the best role models and I wish they would have just been happy with Gabby instead of trying to change her or just flat out ignore her.  I feel they should have thought more about their daughter's best interest instead of trying to impress others around them. 

This novel was very well written and I think it held an important message.  I liked that is wasn't the typical story of geeky girls gets a makeover and snags the football star.  There was more depth to it.  The novel deals with more complex issues of self-esteem, deceitfulness, and getting taken advantage of.  It was tough for me to read, as I mentioned before, but worth it.

Review of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Published by: Macmillan Audio
Length: 8 sound discs (540 min.)
Source: Libaray
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Revamped fairy tales?  Whether you love them or hate them, they seem to be the big trend right now in YA literature and Marissa Meyer joins the gang with Cinder.

While I'm not a huge fan of science fiction, I do enjoy it every once it a while.  While Cinder was a cyborg, the story went beyond who she was mechanically.  It was a story of not fitting in or being accepted by your family.  It's a story of finding someone who likes you and understands you, but at the same time may not know the real you.  It's the story of Cinderella with a whole new twist. 

One of the great things about this novel is that Marissa Meyer made all of her characters seem real, whether they were cyborg, android, human or lunar.  Cinder is the type of character that everyone can relate to.  Who hasn't felt a little different or left out at times?  While Cinder doesn't have the perfect life she makes the best out of it and every situation she is put in.  She's got enough spirit to be a feisty at times, but she also knows when to back down.  I really disliked her stepmother/guardian and I think she put Cinder in really difficult situations.  She twisted reality and always blamed Cinder.   

The relationship between Cinder and Prince Kai is innocent and fun.  Of course he's the almighty prince and he thinks Cinder is a mechanic, but they seemed to click.  He begins to fall for her without knowing who she really is or her history.  Throw into the mix a spiteful stepmother/guardian, a jealous lunar queen, a deadly disease, and a missing lunar princess and the plot gets more exciting by the minute. 

While I did enjoy the story I found myself drifting off at times.  I'm not sure if that had to do with the story or that I just wasn't engaged enough in the audio.  Rebecca Soler did a good job as a narrator so I'm guessing that the science-fiction parts of the story are what lost my interest.  While this is a retelling of a classic fairy tale and I knew the general plot, I often felt it was predictable.  I wanted a couple of more twists and surprises.   

Cinder is a enjoyable read and as with all fairy tale retellings, it was fun to see how the author changed this well known classic tale. 

Review of The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

Title: The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Author: Emily M. Danforth
Published by: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 480
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief she’ll never have to tell them that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief soon turns to heartbreak, as Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and not making waves, and Cam becomes an expert at this—especially at avoiding any questions about her sexuality.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. To Cam’s surprise, she and Coley become best friends—while Cam secretly dreams of something more. Just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, her secret is exposed. Ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to “fix” her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she’s not quite sure who that is.

Unbelievable poignant and beautifully written.  The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a novel that will stick with you long after you've finished reading it.

I'm having a hard time finding the words to do this novel justice.  It's pure and completely real.  The characters are your everyday friends.  They are the people you see at the grocery store and the ones you see driving down main street.  Cameron is a young girl who may start off questioning her sexuality but soon realizes that there is no question, she's attracted to girls.  The story tracks Cameron's life from her first kiss, to the death of her parents, her first love, to her extremely religious Aunt finding out about her sexual preference.  Soon she is sent to a religious school to be "fixed." 

There are definitely ups and downs to Cameron's life and friends come and go.  Cameron is a person who stays true to herself, which I really admire.  She is often confused and hasn't dealt with the guilt of her parent's death, but still lives her life.  There are people in Cameron's life who I think are amazing people and I can't wait for you to meet them.  There are also some people who I think need to be given a good slap upside the head or worse.  I'm not much for intolerance or ignorance so there were parts of this novel that were simply hard to digest. 

This novel brought out the full spectrum of emotions.  There are times when you are laughing and smiling and others when you feel downright confused and upset.  It really gives testament to Emily M. Danforth's ability as an author to bring your emotions into overdrive and have you not only read about but actually experience the range of feelings this story will bring out. 

Emily M. Danforth graces us with an outstanding debut and I eagerly anticipate what she will come up with next.

Review of Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Published by: Putnam Juvenile                     
Pages: 330
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating:★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.

Do you believe in magic?  I've always been intrigued with witches since I was young.  Soon, probably while watching an episode of Charmed, I've wondered if it is possible that people with powers really exist.  I don't know if they are witches, heroes, or superhuman, but it makes me question the possibility.  I haven't decided anything for sure and will probably need tons of proof, but I think it could be possible.

That being said, I've always devoured any reading dealing with Witchcraft.  When I first heard about Born Wicked I got really excited.  Historical and witchcraft...what could be better?  I'm happy to tell you that Born Wicked not only lived up to be expectations but far surpassed them. 

Cate is the type of character you instantly feel something for.  It may be understanding, pity or even dislike, but the most important thing is that she makes you feel.  She's led a difficult life and throughout the story she has to make life-changing decisions that not only affect her but others around her as well.  Jessica Spotswood did an amazing job getting the reader to feel the emotional turmoil Cate has to go through.  She's put in these challenging situations where she has to sacrifice so much and it can't help but break your heart a little.

Some of these characters and secrets in this novel will shock you and horrify you.  I felt at every chapter there was a new challenge or twist to the plot.  While there is some mystery, there is also some steamy romance.  Finn stole more heart from the minute he was introduced.  While there was a bit of a love triangle (though I don't think it added much to the story), there was no choice in my mind.  Any man who is that fiercely protective of his mother and sister has my vote. 

The ending left me breathless.  While, it's not necessarily a cliffhanger I'm still anxious and excited to know what happens next.   

Review of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Title: Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters
Author: Meredith Zeitlin
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 288
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

Freshman year of high school is always hard, but it seems for Kelsey Finkelstein nothing seems to go right.  Kelsey starts of her first day of high school with a plan to change her life and make sure that high school is all she wants it to be (didn't we all feel this way a bit?).  Well like everyone knows even the best laid plans have ups and downs and it seems for Kelsey there are way more downs than ups. 

The one thing that really stood out for me in this novel was the friendship between Kelsey, Em, Cass and JoJo.  Sure like all friends they fight some and disagree, but for the most part they are there when one another needs them.  Out of all the girls, I didn't particularly like Cass and how she handled some of the situations in the book.  She and Kelsey seemed a bit immature at times but I guess that is to be expected.  As crazy as JoJo was (which I didn't think was outrageous at all) and as quiet as Em was, I really liked them as characters.  They brought their own confidence and style to the friendship and balanced everyone out.  They are both characters I could have seen myself become friends with in high school. 

I thought the romance was at times funny and cute and others times a bit ridiculous.  I think Kelsey often found herself in these awkward situations, be it her own fault or some weird coincidence, and then regretted them much latter.  There is one 'relationship' though that is so flipping adorable that you just feel giddy and happy thinking about it.  As light as this book was, there were some serious issues that I thought Meredith Zeitlin wrote very well.  She had a refreshing take on high school that wasn't naive or condoning, but really a close reality to what some teenagers deal with everyday.   

Overall it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this debut author. 

Review of Slide by Jill Hathaway

Title: Slide
Author: Jill Hathaway
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 256
Source: NetGalley/HarperCollins
Format: ebook
Rating:★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

What an intriguing concept.  While there have been stories about mind readers, Jill Hathaway takes this concept and adds her own twist to it.  The ability to touch something of a person's and be able to "slide" into their mind at that exact same time is mind blowing.  While I personally wouldn't like this gift (or curse whichever way you look at it), I did enjoy reading about someone who did have it.

Vee is an interesting character.  She wants so much to be "normal" or at least have someone to talk to, but the last person she told about her gift didn't believe her and made her see a shrink.  I felt bad for Vee always having to carry this burden around with her alone.  I would hate not being able to control it and seeing everyone's true nature.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss.  I felt the reason that she clung to Zane so quickly is because she couldn't talk to anyone else.

While I enjoyed both the male leading characters of Zane and Rollins, I was also suspect of them.  They were both obviously hiding things and I felt they let Vee down when she needed them the most. 

I loved the mystery that was present in Slide.  I wasn't quite sure what was real or not because it's not like Vee's gift is exact.  I kept switching back between two suspects and trying to figure out their involvement.  My big problem was that the ending felt rushed for me.  There was this big anticipation leading up to figuring out who the killer was and then bam we found out and it's over.  I would have loved to see the ending with a couple of more twists and turns and building to this huge and exciting climax.  Instead it fell flat for me and I was a bit disappointed.

An intriguing concept and a great mystery, and while it didn't blow me away I'm still excited to see where this series goes.  

Review of Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton
Published by: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 240
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Format: ebook
Rating: ★★★

Summary from Goodreads: 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.

Greek Mythology is a huge trend right now in YA lit, and Brodi Ashton is the latest one to join the gang.  Everneath is a retelling/vamped up version of the story of Persephone.  Out of all the gods and goddess I'd choose to be, Hades and Persephone make the bottom of my list.  While I might not necessarily want to be them, but that doesn't mean their story is any less interesting.  In fact, it's quite intriguing because it deals with the Underworld or what Brodi Ashton calls the Everneath. 

Nikki went through what she thought was a traumatic experience and she wanted the pain to go away, so she decided to go to the Everneath to get all her feelings and emotions sucked away by Cole.  There was a lot going on in Nikki life at the time of her decision.  The driver of the car who killed her mother had just been found innocent, and there was a very cute and very popular girl trying to steal her boyfriend Jack.  I understand she's hurting, but she ends up jumping to conclusions and makes a decision that not only affects her but so many other people around her.  I felt like her decision was not only impulsive, but also very selfish.   

I'm not sure if it was the fact that Nikki was drained of all emotion but she felt really flat as a character for me.  In fact, I felt no real attachment to anyone in the story.  Cole is an interesting character, but we don't get to learn enough about him to become invested.  I did like Jack, but again I would have liked some more depth from him.  I actually enjoyed him more in Nikki's memories of before.  He seemed fun and full of life, then Nikki left and he fell apart.

The story itself was intriguing and it was quite a mystery with Nikki trying to find a way to not get sucked back into the tunnels. The story was a little anticlimactic until the end, which by the way...I was not a fan of.  I understand why Brodi Ashton ended the novel how she did and it was a bit romantic, but that still doesn't mean I have to like it.  

I had high hopes for Everneath and while it didn't meet my expectations, I still did enjoy the story and it was fun to learn a little more Greek mythology.

Review of Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Title: Never Eighteen
Author: Megan Bostic
Published by: HMH Children's Books
Pages: 204
Source: Library
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

Heartbreaking and hopeful; this is a story you won't soon forget.  The majority of the story follows a weekend where Austin has a very important agenda.  He wants certain people to realize they are not living their lives, but instead living a shadow of it, including himself.  He recruits his best friend Kaylee, who he's secretly in love with, to be his chauffer on this important journey. 

Each of Austin's visits touch your heart a little.  While some are sad, and others crazily unexpected, each one is there for a specific reason.  The more people Austin visited or the more adventures he tried, I gained more respect for him then I can even begin to express.  While he was going through the hardest time in his life, he reached out to others.  Hopefully each person he visits feels a little better and realizes to cherish their life and start living it.   

The ending tore me apart.  I was expecting what happened, but still I couldn't stop the tears.  I felt like I got a glimpse into this amazing person's life and I wanted more than he had left to give. 

Never Eighteen was a stunning debut that left me heartbroken, but also gave me hope and courage to live my life to its fullest. 

Review of The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Title: The Whole Story of Half a Girl
Author: Veera Hiranandani
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 224
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★

Summary from Goodreads: After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni, half Indian and half Jewish American, finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education. For the first time, Sonia's mixed heritage makes her classmates ask questions—questions Sonia doesn't always know how to answer—as she navigates between a group of popular girls who want her to try out for the cheerleading squad and other students who aren't part of the "in" crowd.

A delightful coming of age story about a modern girl was is part Jewish, part Indian and 100% confused.  Sonia's life gets upended when her father loses his job and she is forced to transfer from her small tight-knit school that she's grown up in to a public middle school.  Life is tough at this age.  You had to feel bad for Sonia who not only gets thrust into a public education after coming from a school with no grade assignments and only 1 teacher who sticks with the same class for multiple years, but also leaving all her friends and everything she knows. 

Like all new kids it takes Sonia awhile to find out who her true friends are.  She meets Kate who seems fun, super nice, and popular, but at times acts a bit uneasy around Sonia.  I wasn't really sure what to think of Kate.  She seemed really nice at first, but then you'd catch these glimpses that seemed like she was almost embarrassed by Sonia.  That is one thing I can't tolerate in a friend.  Sure we all do things to embarrass ourselves and others, but to be embarrassed by someone because of who they are is just plain rude!  I started to get a bad vibe from Kate at that point, but like Sonia's parents I had to trust Sonia to make her own decisions.

Like moving to a new school isn't enough of a transition, things at home are not what they used to be.  Sonia's father is very moody and depressed since he lost his job and it takes it's toll on the whole family.  Everyone feels alone and awkward at times, but it takes Sonia a while find her footing and to realize what's really important in life. 

While the novel was a little young for my usual taste, Veera Hiranandani did an good job and making the little everyday situations come to life.  Everything seemed so real and it was almost as if you could transpose this novel into your own childhood.  It was a bit slow at times and I felt the chapters just sort of ended without a true transition, but overall a delightful read.

Review of Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Title: Ditched: A Love Story
Author: Robin Mellom
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 288
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. And then ditched her.

Never let your mom pick out your prom dress.  This is the first think I want to tell Justina.  Somehow I think her whole night would have been a lot simpler if Justina would have followed those prom magazines and not let her mom dress her in head-to-toe blue, with shoes dyed to match and a blue corsage.  Next I want to tell her to bring a tide pen with her.  This poor girl gets into more incidents with food and she's got the stains to prove it.

Justina had the prom night from hell.  She is was super excited to go to prom with Ian her best friend, which she hopes who become more than her best friend by the end of the night.  It seems things are not aligned in her stars though, because it seems if something was supposed to go wrong on prom night it did.  She gets in to scrape after scrape with the finale being ditched on the side of the road without her purse or cell phone.

The story is told from the morning after prom while Justina explains her night to the gas station attendant she stumbled upon while trying to walk home after her disaster of a night.  It is told by the series of stains and how they appeared on Justina's dress along with the gas station food that is consumed during the venting session.  It is a cute and quirky read that was fast and very enjoyable.  Some parts were a little slow, but it was nice that everything tied together in the end. 

Review of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky

Author: Veronica Rossi

Published by: HarperCollins

Pages: 268
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

What a way to start off 2012.  If all of the debut authors are as good as Veronica Rossi, my TBR pile will be growing exponentially.

We start out by meeting Aria.  I wasn't really sure about Aria at first.  She was really sheltered and judgemental.  I'm sure I would be freaked to no end to be kicked out of my home and left to die, but I think I would hopefully accept any help, especially if it was given by the same person who saved my life days earlier.  Throughout the novel she ends up growing tremendously as a character.  Not only does she physically grow stronger, but she comes to realize that not everything is so black and white.  By the end of the story I really came to care for Aria and understand her inner strength and resilience.

One of the best things about this novel was the relationship between Aria and Perry.  There are so many complex emotions going on between the two.  Their alliance was formed under duress and their hatred for one another was evident.  As the spend more time together their feelings get confused and their emotions are in an uproar.  I really enjoyed the slow burning romance between the two.  For some reason the whole enemies turned lovers is a really gripping tale, especially when they are fighting for their lives.  And the best thing...the story is told in alternating POVs between the two, so we get both sides of the story.  I truly loved that part. 

Veronica Rossi creates a world like no other.  Where some people live in a made up, virtual life, others are fighting for their survival.  The sky is an enemy along with the cannibals, disease and other savages.  This novel was so gripping that I had a hard time putting it down and often read into the early hours of the morning.  And my favorite thing about this novel was the ending.  It was done fabulously.  The main conflict was resolved, but the bigger issues are still there.  This lady knows how to write a cliffhanger the right way!    

While I still have some questions about the Aether and other things, I am left wondering and not confused like other novels have left me.  I think Veronica Rossi figured out the perfect combination of how much information to give and how much to withhold to keep us wanting more.