Review: Double by Jenny Valentine

Double

By: Jenny Valentine

Pub. Date: February 27, 2012

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Pages: 256

Source: Netgalley

When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel’s identity, gaining the family and friends he’s always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn’t as easy as he hoped—and Chap isn’t the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel’s disappearance, Chap realizes that he’s in much deeper danger than he could have imagined.

After all, you can’t just steal a life and expect to get away with it.

Award-winning author Jenny Valentine delivers an explosive mystery where dark secrets, betrayal, and loss pave the way for one teen’s chance at redemption.

Chap has been living on the streets ever since his grandfather fell and was sent to live in a rehabilitation home. His life consists of getting into fights with other street kids and looking for food in dumpsters. He has no friends, no family, and no place to call home. As luck would have it, he gets mistaken for a boy named Cassiel. Except for a few minor scars and different teeth, they look exactly alike. Thinking this is his chance to have a real family, Chap goes along with everyone and says that he is the missing boy.  Once inside the walls of his new home, he soon realizes that things aren’t always as they seem and Cassiel might not have run away, he might have been murdered. Chap has to figure out the mystery before he disappears too. In the process he learns a lot more about himself as well.

I really liked Chap and felt bad for him. As horrible as it was, I understand why Chap did what he did. Every child deserves a family and Chap never wanted to hurt anyone. Chap was a very admiral character, and based on his age and what he went through before he pretended to be Cassiel, I was surprised to find out just how admiral he was. As for the other characters in Double, I never really got to know them well enough. They weren’t fully developed and I was disappointed in that.  

Double is the perfect murder mystery story for middle and high school kids. It is a very quick read and I was able to read it in one sitting. I would recommend it! 

Review: The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

The Juliet Spell

By: Douglas Rees

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 304

Source: netgalley

I’m Juliet.

At least, I wanted to be.

So I did something stupid to make it happen.

Well, stupid and wonderful.

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.

Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star-crossed....

Will Romeo steal her heart before time steals him away?

First the title caught my eye, then the cover, and then the story just drew me in completely! The Juliet Spell is an original, fun and cute read and I highly recommend it if you are looking for that kind of story! I thought that writing was good and the pacing flowed nicely (well, except at the end, which I discuss later on in the review). Overall, it was a great and entertaining read!

Miranda really wants to be Juliet in her high school production of Romeo & Juliet. She decides to cast a spell to win the part, but instead gets Edmund Shakeshaft, William Shakespeare’s younger brother. Plucked from his 1597 world, Miranda has no idea what she is going to do with him, and how she is going to get him back to his own time.

I loved Edmund! He was so adorable and innocent while learning the ways of our world. He wanted so much to go back home, but at the same time, really embracing this new way of life. He became friends with Miranda’s friends and even got the part of Romeo in the school play. It was a nice change of pace from other guy characters in YA today because Edmund was so humble and sweet and not the arrogant, “must hide my feelings from everyone” type.

Miranda was a little annoying, but I grew to love her too! She and Edmund were so cute together and I love watching their friendship turn into something more. I absolutely adored Miranda’s friends, Bobby and Drew. Bobby comes off as such a jerk, but he really turns out to be a great friend. Drew is the adorable nerd who totally wants the girl, but can never have her.

I have two issues with The Juliet Spell. The first one is that I felt the ending came too quickly. The last chapter or so felt rushed, almost like the author realized he had more things to add and had to get it in the story quickly. Then, all of a sudden, the story was over. Second, I hated Miranda’s dad. What a douchebag! He leaves his family to “find himself” and doesn’t call them in years and one day realizes he needs his wife and daughter to be whole, and they welcome him back with open arms. Hello!?! If my father left and I hadn’t heard from in, he would not be so quickly forgiven. The dad had no consequences for the pain and heartbreak he caused his family and it felt unrealistic to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Juliet Spell and can’t wait to have a pretty copy of it on my bookshelf! 

 

Waiting on Wednesday # 13

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly waiting for.

 

The Future of Us
By: Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Publication Date: November 21, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 309

It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Eve (The Eve Trilogy # 1)

By: Anna Carey

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 320

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

In the year 2015, a plague has been wiping out the population, and the vaccine that was supposed to help is making everything worse. When Eve was five years old, her mother died and she was taken to a school for orphaned girls. Eve and the other girls spent their entire life learning. They learned about diseases, vicious dogs and the evils of men. They all knew that when they graduated they would go to college and learn a skill or a trade. Eve could not wait to live in a cute little apartment with her friends and they would all be career women. Now, Eve is 18 years old and the night before graduation, she finds out the truth. Instead of continuing their education, females are tied to a bed and impregnated. The rest of their lives are spent giving birth. Eve is able to escape and once outside, realizes she has no idea how to survive. She then meets Caleb and realizes that men aren’t as bad as her teachers made them out to be. She also learns what she is capable of and what she needs to do to survive.

Through Caleb, we learn that while orphaned girls are becoming educated, orphaned boys are basically slaves. They rebuild the cities and are forced to carry pounds of concrete on their backs every day and are beat if they can’t handle it. I loved Caleb. He cared about Eve and protected her, but I would have like to learn more about him. I can’t say much because I don’t want to give anything away, but what he did for Eve at the end was so selfless and sweet. I really hope we meet him again in the second book!

Eve was very naive, but this is all she has known. She never had a reason not to trust the people who took care of her. I enjoyed watching her grow. She was very strong, and I don’t think I would have been able to handle the things she did.

Overall, I enjoyed Eve. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Review: Blood by K.J. Wignall

Blood (Mercian Trilogy # 1)

By: K.J. Wignall

Publication Date: September 5, 2011

Publisher: Egmont Books

Pages: 288

I do not remember being bitten. I wish I did, for then I would know the creature who did this to me and I would have a purpose, to track him down and repay him for the poisoned gift he gave me. Back in the Thirteenth Century, Will was destined to be Earl of Mercia, although he never lived to inherit his title. In the centuries that follow, Will has led a lonely life, learning to deal with whatever the present day throws at him, always searching for answers but never finding any. Until this time, when he awakens after a 20-year-slumber, hungry for the blood that sustains his undeath, when it appears that he is finally getting a glimpse at why he exists. He does indeed have a destiny, and an enemy, but revealing that fate will be a matter of trust...

Blood is about a vampire named Will, who if he hadn’t “died” at age 16, would have become Earl of Mercia. Since his death in the 1200’s, Will has been completely alone, never meeting another like himself. Every few decades or so, he leaves the tomb he was buried in, feeds, spends a little time in the ever changing world and then goes back into hibernation. He does not understand anything about his kind, and he has no idea who turned him, or why he was chosen to suffer.  When he wakes this time, Will feeds from and kills a man named. Jez. Before Jez dies he tells Will, “You need the girl, the girl needs you”. On Jez’s wall and in his notebook are drawings of the girl that Will is destined to meet. After leaving Jez’s apartment, he meets Eloise, the girl from the drawings. Now it is up to Will and Eloise to figure out what happened to Will centuries ago, and to find out who is still after him today.

I loved Blood! It was completely unlike any vampire book I have read. The story was original and fascinating. I was not able to put it down until the very last page! The writing flowed nicely, and there were no parts that dragged on.

I loved Will. He was such a sad character. But even though he was lonely and felt like a monster, he was good. He was kind and thoughtful and really cared about humanity, especially Eloise. Eloise pissed me off a little, but the way she was there for Will like no one else ever had really changed my opinion of her. Will and Eloise were so cute together and I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom into something more.

Blood leaves you with an “Oh shit” kind of cliffhanger, and I can not wait for the second book in the series! I highly recommend Blood, whether you are into vampire novels or not, this one is a great story! 

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren to share with everyone the books they bought, borrowed, or received for review.

Review

 Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (via Netgalley)

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez (via GalleyGrab)

Past Perfect by Leila Sales (via GalleyGrab)

Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey (via Netgalley)

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins (via GalleyGrab)

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (via GalleyGrab)

Bought

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

What did you guys get in your mailbox? Leave your link in the comments so I can check it out!

Follow Friday # 6

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel of Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read! It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

This weeks question is:

If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

Answer: Ooh, this is a good question! I don't really know what part I would like to play in a book since I am so indecisive in everything! So instead, I'll write who I would want to be and why. I would love to be Bella from Lover Awakened (The Black Dagger Brotherhood) by J.R. Ward. She's smart, noble and kind and has the love of Zsadist, who in my opinion, is the best character (besides John Matthew) in that entire series! She was there for Zsadist even though she kept getting turned away by him and despite what he looked like on the outside, she knew the man he really was on the inside. Who wouldn't want to be the women who heals a century worth of severe emotional scars!

 

Review: Iceberg, Right Ahead! The Tragedy of the Titanic by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

Iceberg, Right Ahead
By: Stephanie Sammartino McPherson
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Lerner Books
Pages: 112 

Only 160 minutes passed between the time a sailor on lookout duty uttered these chilling words and the moment when the mighty ocean liner Titanic totally disappeared into the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic. This century-old tragedy, which took more than 1,500 lives, still captivates people in the twenty-first century.

Seventy-three years separate the two major TitanicNew York Times executive who sent multiple reporters to meet the rescue ship, thus earning a national reputation for his newspaper. She also links the Titanic tragedy to changes in regulations worldwide. After a Senate Inquiry and a British trial attempted to assign blame for the disaster, new laws on ship safety were put in place. A group of nations also banded together to form an ice patrol, eventually leading to the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard. events—the 1912 sinking of the vessel and the dramatic 1985 discovery of the wreck by Robert Ballard. But additional stories about the victims, survivors, rescuers, reporters, investigators, and many others show the far-reaching effects this tragedy had on society. Award-winning author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson has collected numerous personal accounts of the event, including the knighted man who spent the rest of his life in seclusion because he was accused of dishonorable behavior in a lifeboat, the stewardess who survived two shipwrecks and a mid-ocean collision, and the

Even the most avid Titanic fans will learn something new as McPherson brings the reader up to date on the politics and intrigue still surrounding the wreck—including what modern science can reveal about what really happened to the ship and who was at fault. Prepare to follow the never-ending story of the Titanic into its second century.

Iceberg, Right Ahead discusses the terrible events surrounding the 1912 Titanic disaster. It also includes a lot of information about the ship itself and the people that were involved. There are photos on every page which also made it a lot more interesting.

At 100 pages, it is a very easy read and I think Titanic enthusiasts, as well as younger people who are first learning about the Titanic will really enjoy this book. It is very educational and I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know about the ship itself, as well as the actual disaster. There is also a timeline and a glossary for those unfamiliar with certain words being used.

Overall, Iceberg, Right Ahead is very educational and I would definitely recommend it for the younger YA crowd wanting to learn more about it. 

 

Waiting on Wednesday # 12

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly waiting for.

Stay With Me

By: Paul Griffin

Publication Date: September 8, 2011

Publisher: Dial

Pages: 304

An urban romance that will capture your soul, break your heart, and restore your faith in the human spirit

Fifteen-year-olds Cece and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay.

From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Me is both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

Review: Hoopskirts, Union Blues, and Confederate Grays: Civil War Fashions from 1861 to 1865 by Kate Havelin

Hoopskirts, Union Blues, and Confederate Grays: Civil War Fashions from 1861 to 1865
By: Kate Havelin
Publication Date: October 2011
Publisher: Twenty First Century Books
Pages: 64

What would you have worn if you lived during the Civil War era? It depends on who you were:

*Upper-class women wore tight corsets, bustles, and wide hoop skirts to fancy balls. The layers weighed almost 30 pounds (14 kilograms)!
*For everyday, whether at home or nursing soldiers, women put on multiple layers of simple fabrics. Some daredevils sported women's trousers--called Bloomers--to make a statement on women's rights.
*Civil War soldiers wore flannel and wool uniforms--blue in the North and gray in the South.
*Men of fashion donned suits with velvet collars and silk lapels during the day and coats with fancy tails for parties.
*Underneath their everyday clothing--a shirt, tie, vest, coat, and trousers--men wore "drawers," baggy long undergarments that buttoned in front and tied in back.
*Slaves wore whatever their owners gave them--usually only two sets of rough linen clothing, one for winter and one for summer.
*Girls had loose garments called pantalets and pinafores, while sailor suits were popular for boys.

Read more about wartime fashions of the 1860s--from ankle boots to parasols and tiaras--in this fascinating book!

I love history, especially American history and I love fashion! I am obsessed with fashions from The Civil War, so when I saw Hoopskirts, Union Blues, and Confederate Grays: Civil War Fashions from 1861 to 1865, I knew I had to read it!

I really enjoyed reading about specific types of fashions from this time period. The book had everything from the types of dresses women wore, to what different classes of soldiers wore. It even incorporated the different clothes that slaves had. I also loved that mostly everything mentioned came with a picture. I even learned some interesting things about Abe Lincoln!

As a social studies teacher, I would highly recommend this for any classroom or school library. Hoopskirts, Union Blues, and Confederate Grays is perfect the pre-teen obsessed with fashion, or the pre-teen who just wants to learn more about life during this time!

Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Forgotten 
By: Cat Patrick
Publication Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 288

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

Starting from the very first page of Forgotten I was hooked! It was such a fantastic read! It was fun and quick and had great characters and plot twists. The writing was also fantastic and I was able to read it in one sitting.

Every night before London goes to bed, she writes down everything that was important that happened during the day. She also writes herself reminders. She does this because if she doesn’t write these things down, she will have no recollection that it happened. Nobody knows why her memory is messed up like this, but she deals with it in the best way that she can. What made this even more interesting is that she can only remember things from her past, if they tie into her future! Crazy, right??

I loved London. She was so strong! I don’t think I would ever be able to handle something like this. Even with her condition, she was still such a normal and believable teenage girl. Her boyfriend, Luck was also great. He was so sweet and everyday he had to make London fall in love with him all over again and it was adorable watching that play out! London and Luke had great chemistry and I think there relationship was also very believable.

The story was really unpredictable. There is nothing worse then reading a book that is totally predictable that you don’t even have to finish reading it because you know exactly what will happen! I so did not see that plot twist toward the end. I’ve read a few reviews on Forgotten and they mentioned a big twist. Even knowing that something was going to happen, I still had no clue what it was going to be!

Forgotten comes highly recommended. I don’t think you will be disappointed!! My only regret is that it took me so long to finally read it.  

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren to share with everyone the books they bought, borrowed, or received for review.

~Review~

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (via Netgalley)

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm (via Netgalley)

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting (via S&S GalleyGrab)

~Bought~

 The Trouble With Spells by Lacey Weatherford

~Free~

 Blood of the White Witch by Lacey Weatherford

My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent

~Borrowed~

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

What did you guys get in your mailbox? Leave your link in the comments so I can check it out!

Follow Friday # 5

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel of Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read! It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

This weeks question is:

How has your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently?

A:  When I was a teen I would only read when I had too. Except for To Kill A Mockingbird, I hated every book that my English teacher forced me to read. It wasn't until I graduated college that I really started to love reading. There are so many awesome YA books out today that I wish were around ten years ago when I was a teenager.

Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns
By: Rae Carson
Publication Date: September 20, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 299 

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is the story of Elisa, Princess of Oravalle and bearer of the Godstone, a jewel implanted into her navel. This means she has been chosen by God to perform a special service. Elisa has no clue what this service is going to be, or that she can even do anything worthwhile. When she is sixteen, Elisa is forced to marry the King of another land to form an alliance between the neighboring countries, and she is taken from everything she has ever known. As soon as Elisa starts to get used to her new life, she is kidnapped by people who have been searching for the next chosen one. Elisa soon realizes that her kidnappers are good and their people are suffering and it is up to her to save them. She realizes that this is the reason she is chosen by God, and will do everything in her power to save the people.

Elisa has a complete transformation throughout the story which I really enjoyed. She starts out really annoying and weak. By the end, she was strong and selfless, and willing to do anything to protect others.

My main issue with this book is the fact that she had a jewel stuck to her navel. It just really grossed me out. Every time it was mentioned, I would squirm. I just found it disgusting.

Overall, I thought it was an original fantasy novel. It wasn’t my favorite that I read this year, but I still enjoyed it. I can see this turning into a very good series! Also, I think it could have used some maps. I love maps! 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns comes out September 20, 2011. 

Waiting on Wednesday # 11

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly waiting for.

Fever (The Chemical Garden # 2)

By: Lauren DeStefano

Publication Date: February 21, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?  Leave a link in the comments so I can check it out!! 

Prince William & Kate by Matt Doeden

Summary Provided by Netgalley:

On April 29, 2011, the whole world watched as Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton exchanged marriage vows. This royal wedding was one of the most anticipated events in England in recent years. Ever since the couple officially announced their engagement in November 2010, every detail of the wedding has captured headlines around the globe.

Why all the excitement? William is second in line to become Britain’s king. William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales is the firstborn child of Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales. And through marriage to William, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton—known as Kate—turned from a commoner into a duchess. If William becomes king one day, Kate will be the Queen Consort.
Follow the couple’s royal romance from their first meeting at the University of St. Andrews, through the ups and downs of their relationship, to the romantic wedding ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey. 

Unlike a lot of other Americans, I have never been one to care about the Royal Family, but that Kate Middleton is something else! I just adore her. She’s beautiful and has style and class. I think she makes a great Princess and will make a wonderful Queen. When I saw Prince William & Kate: A Royal Romance on netgalley, I requested it right away because I really wanted to learn more about Kate and her relationship with William.

It’s only 52 pages, and it includes a lot of pictures from their wedding, their courtship, as well as from their childhoods.  Prince William & Kate: A Royal Romance is wonderful, educational and perfect for younger children! I think it really gives kids a sense of the Royal Family and the story was easy to follow and easy to understand.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know a little more about the Prince and Princess. I also think it is a wonderful book to carry in school libraries!