Leap Year

Just had to mention this movie...
Ahh...
Loved it so much!

I love Amy Adams and she is cute and OCD-ish and quirky is this movie. Her wardrobe - fantastic! So pretty. I just kept thinking that I wanted to steal her outfits. *sigh*

I have a new crush...Matthew Goode is YUMMY!! That face, that voice, the gruffness...*double sigh*

Anyway, to continue drooling...Ireland. Great scenery...need I say more?

If you haven't seen this yet, GO RENT IT NOW! So good.

The Dead-Tossed Waves

The Dead-Tossed Waves

by Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth companion book

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She's content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry's mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother's past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

When I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I was impressed, really impressed by Carrie Ryan's zombie apocalypse and the realism of her world. What struck the deepest chord with me was that it did not have the happy frou-frou, "oh, the world is ending, but we all fall in love and live happily ever after...laa laa laa" ending that most YA paranormals have. This was a true ending. There was hope, yes, and happiness, but it was REAL.

I was stoked when I found out that Ryan was putting out a companion book. I had hoped, but it would have been fine if The Forest of Hands and Teeth was a stand-alone. I was so happy when I finished The Dead-Tossed Waves. As pleased as I was finishing the first, I was ecstatic devouring the second!

Again, the main character was real...flawed, scared, questioning, but also brave, moral, and full of love. Gabry is not brave like her mother, Mary (mc of book 1). She does not feel a pull to leave the safety of her sheltered life...until she is drawn out by the boy she's admired from afar. Once she has broken beyond the barrier, though, she may be continually terrified, but she pulls through for the ones she loves. Her adventures again just felt ultimately real to me.

I love the tone of these books. I love the Mudo and the Breakers. I love the way that Ryan effortlessly questions religion, morality, love, family relationships, government...essentially all of society. In The Forest of Hands and Teeth, the book was about strength, questioning, and because of Mary's background, the book's tone was somber, quiet, but resilient. In The Dead-Tossed Waves, action reigns, passion abounds, and horomones sometimes rule. As the younger generation, raised in a non-religious environment, become the focus of the story, more of the world comes into focus.

Having seen the government structure that this society was able to build, becoming attached to Gabry and her love (trying not to give spoilers here!!), and learning some very important things about Mary's past, I cannot wait to jump back into this world whenever Ryan puts out book 3!

Lord Sunday

Lord Sunday
by Garth Nix
Keys to the Kingdom, book 7

Seven days.
Seven keys.
Seven virtues.
Seven sins.

In this thrilling conclusion to Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, Arthur Penhaligon must complete his quest to save the Kingdom he is heir to...and Arthur's world. (taken from Amazon.com)

This is the final book of the series and took quite a while to come out. Since it is the final book, I do not want to give anything away...but I will say simply that I was very pleased. There was a great deal of action. Though this is such a fantastically conceptual series, the things that happen to Arthur and his choices are actually very realistic and authentic feeling. Without giving anything away, I can say that what I loved best about the book is that Arthur is able to become the supernatural being that he has to be in order to get things done, yet never loses his inner humanity and moral compass. A well done end to the series.

Kiss of Death

Kiss of Death
by Rachel Caine
Morganville Vampires, book 8

Vampire musician, Michael Glass, has attracted the attention of a big-time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs - which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michaels all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a roadtrip from hell... (taken from Amazon.com)

First off, I had not realized how much it had unconsciously begun to bother me that every book in this series took place in one town. I know, I know! That's the whole point of the series, but I ended up feeling the same way when I used to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV. I always wondered how one town was able to contain all that "mess" without just spontaneously combusting?! It helped a little when Buffy went to college...it made a slightly new scene, but I always wondered how no one else in California ever wondered at the huge body count in one small town.

Okay...off the topic a little, I know. I loved that show, but back to the book! I loved that Caine took the gang out of Morganville. Again, I hadn't realized I needed that until she delivered. It was a great choice to move the action to a new location. It put what was going on in the last two books in Morganville into a more worldly perspective.

I loved, also, how each of the characters really grew again in this book. Each, even the one I really disliked earlier in the series, showed new facets to their personalities and Claire especially grew in leaps and bounds in terms of her own self awareness. There was action and revelations galore, but this book was really about character growth, I think.

An excellent addition to the series...I can't wait for Ghost Town!

PS - When I found out who the girl was on the cover, I was "tickled pink!"

This World We Live In

This World We Live In
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Last Survivors, book three

When one year ago, the moon was struck by a meteor, knocking it closer into the Earth's orbit, catastrophe after catastrophe plagues the earth, leaving only a sprinkling of survivors struggling to have human life continue on Earth.

Miranda's family, in rural Pennsylvania, managed through cunning, tenacity, and finally luck to survive as a unit. Alex lost half his family immediately in the disaster and struggled to save his sisters, finally being forced to flee New York City with his sister, Julie, to look for "greener" pastures.

In This World We Live In, their stories collide...Miranda and her family are beginning to worry about when their food supply with cease to exist. Her brothers go out on a fishing expedition and Matt comes home with fish...and a bride. Days later, Miranda's father also arrives on their doorstep with a troupe in tow. Not only has he brought his wife and their new baby, but also a new best friend and two new "children," Alex and Julie. With ten people in one household, can Miranda's new extended family make it work? Will they all survive?

This was the final book of the trilogy and though I am sad it's done, it was a satisfying end. Susan Beth Pfeffer is gifted in being able to deliver a heartbreaking and realistic disaster story, balanced by love and hope for the future. All elements of this story rang true. I cried...and I smiled through my tears. I sighed at the compelling ending. I will definitely read this trilogy from start to finish again and probably again in the future. If you haven't read Life as We Knew It or The Dead and the Gone definitely start with those, but don't stop until you've read all three...it's worth it!

Karma Club

Check out this great trailer for Jessica Brody's book, The Karma Club, out tomorrow, April 27th!!



You can also enter a contest on Jessica Brody's website, for a chance to win one of four Flip Video Cameras! Very cool.

Check it out and boost your karma!!

Will Grayson Will Grayson

Will Grayson Will Grayson
by John Green and David Levithan

It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old - including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire - Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical.

To be totally and completely honest, I have never read anything before by John Green. I have read both Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, though. I also saw David Levithan speak at Book Expo America last year and he is dynamic, funny, and interesting! I mention these facts only because I was so blown away by this book and I wasn't really expecting it, and I think that's because I hadn't read anything solely by these authors previously...combining them, apparently, is pure magic!

To start with, besides the fact that the premise is unexpected and funny, the characters are so authentic and fully formed in this book, it astounds me. Each Will was completely different and in many ways complimented the other. Their friends, or lack thereof, was fitting and made their life stories compelling. I loved how they became dependent on the existence of each other...but, I'm trying not to give spoilers! Sorry!

On to Tiny Cooper...I think he is my new favorite book character. Not only is he fabulous, he is funny, honest, open, lovable, awe-inspiring, and gut-wrenchingly true to himself. I cannot state how much I loved Tiny and the way he affected others around him.

Okay, okay...enough gushing...anyway, if you haven't picked this book up yet... GO NOW! You will not regret it.

PS - I listened to this as an audiobook and it is fantastic. The narrators, MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl, are amazing. You never doubt who is speaking and they can both sing, as well! Funny and touching.

Full disclosure: Audiobook version reviewed for SLJ.

Shhh...It's a Secret Scoop!!

Just found online today the title for the new spin-off "Camp Half Blood" series by Rick Riordan!

Due out Oct. 12, 2010 is The Lost Hero.
The Heroes of Olympus: Book one

Description from Amazon: It was hard to say good-bye to Percy--but fans don't have to! A lovable new generation of demigods have their own prophecy to prepare for, and their hero Perseus Jackson just may turn up in times of need.

*squee* Cannot wait for this one!!!

Marissa Doyle at CLA

I just had to share how excited I was to attend a program called, "Austen Revisited: Bringing Historical Fiction to Life," at the Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference yesterday!

Self-professed history geek and young adult author, Marissa Doyle, will discuss her stealth mission to introduce readers to the joys of history through fiction as well as blogging.

Marissa Doyle was great. I love her books, Bewitching Season and Betraying Season. What I liked best about her books was the combination of historical fiction, the really interesting details of the Victorian period, and fantasy. There is just enough magic for me to be completely enthralled, but without overtaking the feeling that you have traveled back in time...for real!

Hearing Marissa speak about her work really added another dimension to my interest in her books. I want to go back and reread them now, knowing that she refers to herself as a "history guerilla," intent on passive-aggressively interesting teens in history by sneaking little tidbits of historical fact into her stories.

I love that term..."history guerilla!"

It was a really great talk. The best part...as Marissa had laryingtis, she cut her talk a little short, BUT I look over while I'm waiting for my valeted car, and who is standing next to me? Marissa Doyle! (insert quickly surpressed fangirl squeal here!) I actually got to say a few personal words to her as we were standing outside the casino. Sigh...good day.

Goddess Girls Series

Goddess Girls

Book 1: Athena the Brain

Book 2: Persephone the Phony

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Join the class at Mount Olympus Academy with this new series that puts a spin on classic Greek myths.

Athena the Brain - Finding out I'm a goddess and getting sent to Mount Olympus brings new friends, a weird dad, and the meanest girl in mythology -- Medusa.

Persephone the Phony - Hiding my feelings works fine until I meet a guy I can be myself with -- Hades, the bad-boy of the Underworld.

This series is for ages 8-12 and should really appeal to those girls that love the mythology of
Riordan's Percy Jackson series or Hennesy's Pandy series. This may even be the bridge into those longer series for some girls. These books are fun and introduce a lot of mythological characters and concepts in an easy way. The focus is not so much on the mythology itself, but on the four "goddessgirls," the way they relate to each other as friends, the lessons they learn individually, and how they are going to grow up to become their famous selves. They read like friendship books with a fun, mythological twist.

My favorite scene in the "Athena" title is when Athena and her classmates must send their mortal heroes on quests and they set the Trojan War in motion on a giant model in their classroom. The best part is that Athena views it like a giant chess board and is unashamed of her smarts...and it works out for her! Very similar to Hermione from the Harry Potter series in the fact that she makes it okay to be smart!!

My favorite part in the "Persephone" title is not one specific scene, but more about the character growth. Persephone finally owns up to her mother, Hades, and her friends that she is not sunny-natured all the time, but neither is she angry all the time. Once she conveys that she is a blend of the two and tells her mother that she needs more freedom to explore her own decisionmaking skills, Persephone is pleased to find that no one hates her for exposing her true feelings. This book really conveys that it is okay to be yourself and that you shouldn't judge others too quickly.

A great start to a new series and I look forward to reading Aphrodite the Beauty and Artemis the Brave.

Full disclosure: Books won from contest on Readertotz and sent by author, Joan Holub!

Anxoiusly Awaiting...

Wildwing
by Emily Whitman

Author of Radiant Darkness, Whitman's next book is due out in Sept. 2010. Would I love to get an ARC of this!!! I loved her first book. Check the description of Wildwing here.

Beauty and the Briefcase

Okay, I have to admit that I am a total nut when it comes to seeing all these cheesy, formulaic, girl/love/lessons learned type movies! I Lurve Legally Blonde, Clueless, etc., etc., etc!!

I just got done watching Beauty and the Briefcase on my DVR and I LOVED it!!!
Hilary Duff was funny, cute, and all around likeable/relatable. The guys were all cute and the premise (girl goes to business world undercover to write article for Cosmo magazine about finding the right guy) was totally fun and just different enough, that though I knew the ending far before it came, it was still FUN to watch!

If you love the cheesiness that makes you *squee* when the end comes and then immediately hunt down your bf/hubby to hug like a crazy woman, I recommend you check to see if this is rerunning or Hulu it!

PS - As a wanna be fashionista (wanna be since I am sadly not economically able to ever even dream about owning the things I fantasize about...) I should also mention that the wardrobe, both male and of course female, was fantastic in this movie!

Forgive my Fins

Forgive my Fins

by Tera Lynn Childs

Lily is a mermaid - a Thalassinian princess who recently discovered she's half human - and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its drawbacks, like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince, but it has one major perk: Brody, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. The problem is, mermaids aren't really casual daters - when they "bond," it's for life. So when an attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-size case of mistaken identity, Lily is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails as smoothly as you planned.

Loved it! Lily is a quirky, lovable teen. Awkward with out her "sealegs," Lily just cannot seem to get things right in the guy department! When the unthinkable happens (and I won't go into detail as I don't want to spoil this before it comes out), Lily must learn to get along with her previous nemesis, Quince. Full of conflicting emotions that are heartfelt, warm, and touching, this breezy tale enthralls and entertains! A great would be beach read. I love the descriptions of Thalassinia, too. With a killer cliff hanger in the epilogue, I cannot wait to read book 2!

Full disclosure: ARC received from publisher via TLC (Thanks!!!)

On sale date: 6/1/2010

119th CLA Annual Conference

119th Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference

"Our Common Ground"
April 19 & 20, 2010
Mohegan Sun Casino

As the co-chair of the YA section of CLA, I will be at CLA for the next two days, running amuck! I hope to see you all there (if you live or work in CT, that is)! We've got some great programs this year...

Check it out here.