Angel Burn

Summary: Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind.

Review: Three reviews in a week…what? What is this madness? The madness is I got a nook Tablet and Angel Burn was the first book I bought on it! :] I couldn’t stop reading and the fun part about a e-reader is I couldn’t skip ahead as much as I wanted to so I had to keep reading. I’m hoping that this awesome start to 2012 is a continuous trend. I only had five reviews last year…it was pitiful. I hope to keep this up. Anyway, onto the actual review!

Angel Burn is pure unadulterated brain candy. Enter Alex Kylar: gorgeous, sexy, kick-ass, tough, and on top of it an angel assassin. Now enter stage left, Willow Fields: blonde, slim, smart, a mechanic, a psychic, and…a half-angel (unbeknownst to her). Alex is told that this monstrosity must be killed and when he is ordered to kill an angel he does it. No questions asked. Well, upon arriving he realizes that Willow isn’t really an angel, but human and angel at the same time. It baffles him and he can’t help but notice just how pretty she is. He’s attracted to her, surprise surprise. I don’t want to give away everything, but let’s just say they end up on the road together on the run from the Angels.

For the first half of the book, Alex acts like an ass. He has watched his entire family die one-by-one and refuses to get close to anyone else. Yet he cannot deny the growing attraction he feels towards Willow and the urge to touch her at times is over-powering. Well, since he acts like an ass Willow hates him, but she also cannot help but notice how gorgeous he is. On a random tangent: why is it the guy is always the one abstaining? Why can’t a girl decide that “I’m really attracted to this person, but they’re bad for me! I need to push them away” it’s always the guy…why? Girls can deny their feelings too, ya know. Anyway, at some point they realize they love each other and Alex is transformed into every girl’s dream guy for about two chapters until the big showdown must go down.

See? Brain candy. That being said, it was good brain candy. Aside from the whole romance, the plot for the book was rather fascinating. Angels are not the heavenly beings we know them as, but instead almost demon like creatures that feed off the life energy of humans leaving them inflicted with Angel Burn. A condition that leaves them sick and dying (often with a disease like MS, cancer, Parkinson’s, and such), but believing that the Angels are beautiful and good. Only there to help them. The only way they can be killed is by being shot through their halo (their heart). These angels want to basically invade the human world and feed off humans, which of course would mean the eventual destruction of the human race. That’s a rather original concept and it’s fun to read about it. It makes for an action-packed story.

The writing alternates from first person in Willow’s POV to third person in Alex’s and occasionally Jonah’s and Raziel’s. I understand why Weatherly did this, but sort of wish that Alex’s was in first person as well and that the point of views would not change mid-chapter. Overall, the book was fun to read and I honestly can’t wait to the sequel to come out in America. It was exactly what I needed after Mockingjay.

Rating: 4/5 Brain Candy, but well-written and thought out brain candy
Reviews from the pros:

Because this book was originally published in the UK I didn’t want to grab reviews from their in case it may have confused people or spoiled anything. So no reviews for this right now! Just bask in mine :]

Happy Reading Everyone!

-She Who Reads A Lot

Mockingjay

Summary: Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss’s family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. Distrcit 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and It is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. Distrcit 13 has come out of the plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.

Review: Like most fans who read this book by the time I was done I had mixed feelings. There were certain moments in this book where I was struck by the utter talent of Suzanne Collins. Obviously, I knew she was an amazing writer to tackle this subject matter in the way she did, but there were moments that just had me honestly impressed because the scene was so haunting. Oddly enough, though, these moments were not the ones with the fighting or the death (of which there were plenty gruesome ones), but the moments in thirteen. For instance, the scene where Katniss sings the Hanging Tree in the forest outside of District 12. The other big moment that sticks out in my mind is Finnick and Katniss walking up to the hologram of the Capitol and together saying, “Let the Seventy-Sixth Hunger Games begin!” I can’t even describe what it was about these moments and several others, but it stuck with me because it felt true and real.

The reality of it all is another great aspect of the book. PTSD. It’s fairly obvious that both Katniss and Finnick are suffering from this when they begin, even after. Katniss has nightmares, breakdowns, and is deemed for a time mentally unstable. I love Collins for this. I know a lot of people hated that Katniss seemed to become weak, but Katniss was only a seventeen/eighteen year old girl. She is strong, but she is breakable. She was still strong and her determination never wavered, but she was human. That is Collins single best achievement through these series is the utter truth she captures of humanity. The good and bad sides of it all and the murky gray areas in between.

There is so much I could talk about in this book. I will get to what I didn’t like, though. The deaths and such did not have the affect on me the first two books did. I’m a fairly sensitive person who actively avoids upsetting books and movies and the some of the deaths in the Hunger Games series have really rattled me, but none did in Mockingjay. [SPOILER!] I was upset when Finnick died and down right appalled with the way Prim died, but aside from that not very emotional through the entire book. [END SPOILER]

The writing is amazing, but it lacks in some points and I didn’t really connect with the characters all that much. I liked certain ones, but I saw them all very objectively. I understood Gale’s lust for the death of anyone having to do with the Capitol, but did not sympathize with it. I understood Katniss’s feelings towards Peeta, but again didn’t necessarily support her decisions throughout the book. I truly felt like an outsider, I didn’t really connect with anyone. And that may be the book’s greatest fault. The writing it fantastic, but it only does so much if you are not emotionally connected to the story.

Before I wrap this up, just gotta touch on the ending that upset a lot of people. If you have not reaqd Mockingjay and do not wish to be spoiled, do not read after this point. Got it? STOP! All right…only people who have read now? Good. Peeta and Katniss were meant to be together. Gale was too extreme for her. Katniss always needed someone steady and strong, and Peeta had always been that someone to calm her down. Katniss had enough fire for the both of them. It was meant to be and they were as happily ever after as they could be. OKAY PEOPLE WHO STOPPED READING CAN READ AGAIN!

Basically, the writing was great, but I didn’t connect with the characters and the plot was only so-so. Still a must read simply because it’s the conclusion to one of greatest series that has gripped a lot of the nation. It certainly has made me even more excited for the film to come out in March.

Rating: 3.5/5

Reviews from the Pros:

"Collins does several things brilliantly, not the least of which is to provide heart-stopping chapter endings that turn events on their heads and then twist them once more. But more ambitious is the way she brings readers to questions and conclusions about war throughout the story. There’s nothing didactic here, and sometimes the rush of events even obscures what message there is. Yet readers will instinctively understand what Katniss knows in her soul, that war mixes all the slogans and justifications, the deceptions and plans, the causes and ideals into an unsavory stew whose taste brings madness. That there is still a human spirit that yearns for good is the book’s primrose of hope."
--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"This dystopic-fantasy series, which began in 2008, has had such tremendous crossover appeal that teens and parents may discover themselves vying for -- and talking about -- the family copy of "Mockingjay." And there's much to talk about because this powerful novel pierces cheery complacency like a Katniss-launched arrow. Look skeptically at computer and television images, it suggests, be aware of spin, gaze upon the young faces of the world's soldiers. Children forced to kill children? It's not just in the pages of a novel."
--The Washington Post

"The indelible conclusion to Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy proves once more that the greatest fantasy novels hold an incandescent mirror up to reality."
--Parade, Parade Picks

"The final installment, the grimmest yet, is a riveting meditation on the costs of war...Clear your schedule before you start: This is a powerful, emotionally exhausting final volume."
--People Magazine,4 OUT OF 4 STARS

"This concluding volume in Collins's Hunger Games trilogy accomplishes a rare feat, the last installment being the best yet, a beautifully orchestrated and intelligent novel that succeeds on every level... In short, there's something here for nearly every reader, all of it completely engrossing."
--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

That’s only some of them! If you want to read more, here is the link to the page I got these from. http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/mockingjay_102797.htm Happy Reading Everyone! A review for Angel Burn will be coming soon.

-She Who Reads A Lot

Clockwork Prince

Summary: In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Review:

I suppose the first thing I should mention about this book is that I finished it in a day and a half. It was that good. I couldn’t put it down, and this is someone who really hasn’t read actively since the summer. The whole reason I picked it up is because my computer has a virus and is being cleaned up (yay library computers!) and being on break I had nothing better to do. A friend had begged me to read it so we could discuss it and because I love the first part of this trilogy so much I was eager to begin.

Cassandra Clare’s stories may not be deep or thought-provoking but dang does she know how to execute a plot with very human characters that you can’t help but love and a world that you can’t tear yourself away from. And for that you must give her credit because its what makes her stories so popular. Clare brings you right in with the convening of the Consul an event that basically gives Charlotte and Henry two weeks to find Mortmain or the institute goes to Benedict. That’s the premise of the story: find Mortmain. This, of course, leads them down various paths that brings us closer with Sophie, Jessamine, Charlotte, Jem, Tessa, and Will. I will not reveal much more about the plot because you need to read it, just be assured that if you ever find yourself getting bored another plot twist will come up that drags you right back in.

Now let’s get to what everybody cares about yeah? Does Tessa end up with Will or Jem? Well, I will tell you this…by the end of the book she is committed to one of them (read if you want to find out which!). I ended Clockwork Angel by leaning towards Jem’s side. He was unbelievably sweet and kind and he seemed to genuinely care about Tessa. It only took me about a quarter way through Clockwork Prince to become an adamant supporter of Will as you learn more and more about his character. The romance scenes between Will and Tessa and the ones between Jem and Tessa are delicious and done tastefully without giving you the idea that Tessa is some skank who is just giving her kisses away.

Overall Clockwork Prince is a fast-paced addition to this series with satisfactory plot and character development. An amazing second book and I believe it definitely secures the Infernal Devices above the Mortal Instruments for me. If you were a fan of the first one, you won’t be able to put this down!

Rating: 5/5

Reviews from the Pros:

"It's got everything; set in Victorian London but with a usefully American heroine - feisty and attractive, natch; it features the Nephilim, a category of quasi-angelic beings and some interesting vampires... a cracking read".-Evening Standard

I promise I'm going to attempt to get some more reviews up! Sorry I lost interest :[. I hope to have an Ophelia review up soon and possible Mockingjay if I finish that soon enough.

Happy Reading!

-She Who Reads A Lot

The Maze Runner

Summary: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s door’s open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the mazy that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home...wherever that may be. But It’s looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets within his own mind.

Review: Wow. This book kind of blew my mind. The plot in this book was brilliantly paced. Once the plot really got going I could not read this book fast enough. I skipped over words and often found myself reading ahead. That is why is makes it even more powerful when I say I knew what was going to happen and was still shocked, mortified, excited, happy, and heartbroken by the end of the book. For the last 200 pages or so I sat on the edge of my seat with a small knot of tension growing in my stomach as events unfolded in front of me. Dashner makes unrealistic things seem very possible. This book begs to be made into a movie. A very creepy movie, but a great one nonetheless.

Thomas was a likable character, though sometimes I found him annoying, which made him all the more real. I grew attached to several characters in this book mainly Newt, Minho, and Chuck. I liked watching Thomas evolve as a character. By the end of the book, you wouldn’t think that the Thomas in the end is the same Thomas you met in the beginning. He develops into a smart, caring, curious, and charismatic leader quite naturally. The bond between him and Teresa seems very natural, not at all weird or forced.

Now for criticism. The book was slow getting off to a start. The plot was brilliant! The description and wording never really stuck in my mind. I wanted to read as fast as I could to see what happened, which is not a bad thing. However, I didn’t really want to digest and absorb every word.

Overall, it was a great book. You should all read it!

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Reviews from the pros:

“Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic. Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what happens next.”-Kirkus Reviews

“A fast-paced narrative...Dashner’s suspenseful adventure will keep readers guesting until the very end.”-Publishers’ Weekly

“The tantalizing hints of a ravaged world outside make for a gripping reading.”-Booklist

Happy Reading Everyone!

-She Who Reads A Lot

Sphinx's Princess

Summary: Although Nefertiti is the dutiful daughter of a commoner; her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And her striking beauty garners attention that she’d just as soon avoid, especially when it’s her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who has set her sights on Nefertiti. The queen wants to use her niece as a pawn in her quest for power, and Nefertiti must leave her beloved family and enter a life filler with courtly intrigue and danger. But her spirit and mind will not rest as she continues to challenge herself and the boundaries of ancient Egyptian society. With control of a kingdom at stake and threats at every turn, Nefertiti is forced to make choices and stand up for her beliefs in ways she never imagined.

Review: As with Nobody’s Princess Esther Friesner is able to take a iconic and somewhat mystical historic female and weaves another fascinating and enthralling tale with a mixture of myth and fact. I am a history major and to be honest, I’d never given much thought to Ancient Egypt and Friesner makes me want to learn more about the culture. She actually makes me realize how little I do know about it. She paints an Egypt that is beautiful and rich in culture and myths. It is a world I would love to have lived in. Between the charismatic Pharaoh, a manipulative queen, corrupt priests, and cities filled with art and temples dedicated to an array of gods.

Nefertiti is a strong-willed, intelligent, and beautiful woman and yet she is completely relatable. She tells her little sister that looks don’t matter in husband, yet, like any girl her age, her heart skips a beat when she sets eyes on the handsome crown Prince Thutmose. Despite the fact that he is manipulative and cares for nobody but his cat, even later she still feels attracted. When she meets Amenophis she is struck by how awkward and gangly he is despite the fact that his personality doesn’t match his looks. She may have been the most beautiful Queen in Egypt in her time, but Friesner’s take on the young Nefertiti is one every girl can relate and look up to.

Overall, I LOVED it! I loved Amenophis, Sitamun, and Nefertiti and the bond between Nava and Nefertiti gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling.

It was a great book and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel! I highly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction.

Rating: 5/5

Reviews from the pros:

“Friesner imagines the early life of Nefertiti, crafting a complex teen character who is in turns intelligent and brave, and has little concern for the prospect of marriage or trading on her remarkable beauty…dramatic plot twists, a powerful female subject, and engrossing details of life in ancient Egypt make for lively historical fiction.”-Booklist

“[A] satisfying foray into a time and place not often written about.”-Kirkus reviews

“Readers will identify strongly with the intractable and wildly optimistic protagonist, and they will anxiously anticipate the promised sequel to see what lies in store for her.”-The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“An exciting story, with an engaging young heroine. It will leave readers anxious to learn more of the historical Nefertiti.”-BookLoons.com

“Friesner creates an ancient Egypt that is lush and exotic, filled with beauty and sophistication, but which also harbors dangerous intrigues. I found this a suspenseful, well-paced and credible coming-of-age story about the young woman who will be forever immortalized in history as Nefertiti, ‘The Beautiful Woman Has Come.’”-Historical Novels Review
Happy Reading everyone!

-She Who Reads A Lot


P.S. Told you I would get it up by the end of February! =^.^=

P.S.S. Just one last thing to say…I LOVED this cover. Isn’t it so amazingly awesome?

Ohayocon and an explanation!

Hey Everyone,

So, I haven’t blogged since I finished Beastly and I want to apologize for that: so, sorry! I have been very busy with the start of classes. I have decided to take on an extra class this semester, while still holding up a job and all four clubs I am a part of. Generally at the end of the day I literally just fall into bed, exhausted, and fall straight to sleep without glancing at my books. Also, I went to Ohayocon this weekend with my school's anime club! It is the anime convention in Columbus, Ohio I had a great time and it was such a great birthday weekend! That’s right! I am officially nineteen as of January 28, 2011. It was my first con and it was most definitely a memorable experience. Some of my favorite pictures from Ohayocon are posted below.


I got so freaking excited when I saw Captain Jack Sparrow! :D Isn't his costume amazing?


Look! It's Totoro. This guy was pretty amazing as well. :)


Anyone who has seen Tangled must realize why me and my friends practically jumped these people to get their picture. ^.^


I applaud this person for walking around in this all weekend, it could not have been much fun. It had to be hot in there! Props for the awesome costume and for being an awesome pokemon!


The jester from Hunchback of Notre Dame another character that I practically mauled asking for his photo. He was very nice about it! :)


Haha anyone who grew up in the 90's has to remember the powerpuff girls! I thought this was really creative and was so excited to get his picture.

Anyway those are some of my favorite pictures, but I took a ton more! If you want I will share more with you all.

Back on subject, as you can imagine these past few weeks have been hectic and I have had little to no free time on my hands to read, let alone blog. I hope to be changing that very soon. I am just about 2/3 through Sphinx’s Princess by Esther Friesner (which is great by the way! I am not disappointed at all). I will have that review up by the end of February the latest. Things should be settling down on this front (I hope!) as I get used to the work load and get my schedule all figured out. Right now I am just trying to balance everything. Anyway, I hope to be blogging, and reviewing, soon!

Happy reading to you all! See you (figuratively speaking, of course) soon!

-She who Reads A lot

Beastly

A beast. Not quite wolf or gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature with fangs, claws, and hair springing from every pore. I am a walking monster. You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. And I’ll stay this way forever—unless I can break the spell. Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly…beastly.

Review: So, as suggested by the title and summary, Beastly is a modern day tale of Beauty and the Beast. If you have ever seen Disney’s Beauty and the Beast then you know the plot of this book with some subtle differences. We start off with Kyle Kingsbury a self-centered, good-looking son of a famous newscaster who has had it pounded in his head from day one that looks get you everywhere in this world. He is the kind of guy you really love to hate. He is a jerk and loves to rag on anyone who is remotely ugly or unpopular, he revels in torturing them. This is what lands him in this whole situation in the first place. He decides he is going to torture a funny looking girl in his English class, Kendra.

He tells her he will take her to the dance, but in reality is planning on going with the hottest girl in school and completely humiliating Kendra publicly, just because she tells Kyle he is basically not nice. Well, long story short Kendra wants to teach him a lesson and casts a spell on him. He transforms into a hideous beast and he has two years to find someone who loves him despite his appearances, or he remains a beast forever. After his father realizes the condition isn’t reversible he banishes Kyle to a secluded house in Brooklyn with only a blind tutor and maid.

Will is basically Lumiere and Cogsworth combined and Magda is obviously Mrs. Potts. One main difference in Beastly and Beauty and the Beast is that Kyle learns rather quickly to appreciate the beautiful things in life, like roses and he learns how to be kind and sincere as he suffers. Our Belle’s name is actually Linda and instead of being beautiful she is fairly average looking with a heart of gold and instead of a well-meaning inventor, he is a drug-addict who could care less for his daughter. In fact, he offers Kyle his daughter in exchange that he does not turn him into the police after being caught breaking in.

This book is fun, sweet, romantic, fast-paced, and funny. I caught myself laughing out loud more than a few times. The book moves very quickly and I devoured it in less than four days. You will fall in love with Kyle/Adrian and feel for his plight as you are rooting for him to get the girl.

It isn’t anything terribly engaging on the intellectual end, but it is pure fun brain candy.

Rating: 4/5 I highly recommend it if you are looking for a fast, fun, romantic read.

Reviews from the pros:

“A delicious love story…romantics everywhere will adore this book.”-Annette Curtis Klause, author of Blood and Chocolate
“Teens will…race to see if the beast gets his kiss, lifts the curse, and lives happily ever after.”-Kirkus Reviews

“An engrossing tale.”-VOYA

Legacies

Summary: Spirit White’s life is not exactly where she wants it to be, to say the least .Her parents named her an awful hippie name and then unexpected her parents and her little sister die in a car crash, in which Spirit miraculously survives. Then, of course, after that her entire house burns down in a freak accident. So no family, no house, no home, as far as Spirit is concerned she has nothing left to live for. Until she finds out that she is to be taken to Oakhurst Academy. A high-end prep school that is to take custody of Spirit until she is twenty one years old. The thing is, though, that this is no ordinary school. All the students are magicians. On top of that students have been disappearing and Spirit and her friends decide to make it their responsibility to figure out what exactly is going on at Oakhurst.

Review:

This book was very slow. I actually ended up reading two books in between this one (books I had previously read). It was a lot like Once A Witch. Poor Spirit was the only one without her power and there was some greater evil that they all had to fight against. Unlike, Tasmin, though Spirit remains “powerless” throughout the entire book, which is refreshing. I actually really did like the slight romance between Burke and Spirit and I think the concept of the powers developing more as they grow is very interesting.

The concept is interesting; a super-secret school that houses witches and wizards whose parents all mysteriously die. It isn’t executed very well though. I never really felt the danger of being “tithed” and never truly believed all the pressure and competitiveness Spirit frequently said the school placed upon them.

It wasn’t all that engaging. It was fun, but I never really got into it. A.K.A. it wasn’t bad, but not anything life changing. I will probably pick up the second just because I want to know what Spirit’s mage gift will be.

Rating: 3/5

Reviews from the pros:

“An enchanting mixture of mystery, romance, magic, and murder.” –Delia Sherman, author of Changeling.

“Legacies has enough action for reluctant readers, and enough character development for teens to see themselves in this group of friends. The book's fans are sure to eagerly await Spirit's discovery of her mage gift and further confrontations with the forces of evil.”-School Library Journal

“Immediately pulling the reader into Spirit's mourning psyche as well as the fast-paced action of the mystery, mixing marvelous elements of fairy tales and mythology into both the plot and references in the students' Magical History class. There's also a touch of gentle romance, and readers who appreciate everything from X-Men to Harry Potter will be begging for the sequel, signaled by the abrupt ending.”-Booklist

Happy Reading everyone!

-She who Reads A Lot

Thankful for Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone,
I haven’t posted anything that wasn’t a book review in a while, but seeing as today is Thanksgiving I figured it was a special exception. I am currently annoyed with my college because they have yet to post my schedule and honestly I need some cheering up. It helps a lot to count my blessings when I am annoyed over little things so here we go. What I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:
For my wonderful parents
For my mom who supports me every step of the way
For my little sister who makes me laugh
Even for my little brother who matures a little bit more everyday
For my best friend who has always been there for me no matter what
For my friends who allow me to be myself at all times, even if that person is annoying or boring.
For a house to live in
For the town I was born and raised in
For every teacher I have ever had that has taught me more than just a subject in school
For every person in my life who has taught me right from wrong and how to be a good person
For the food that is always on the table
For the patience of teachers (in all aspects of life) as I stumble and make mistakes
For the children I work with who touch my life in ways they do not understand
For my grandma
For my family; all the aunts, uncles, second cousins, third cousins, and more
For my country which allows me every opportunity I can make for myself and allows me my freedom and liberty.
For the little moments of laughter that touch my life everyday
For a loving and supportive family
And lastly, for God who has blessed my life with all these wonderful things.

That does make me feel better :). Happy Thanksgiving everyone! What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

-She Who Reads A Lot

The Hourglass Door

Summary: Abby’s senior year is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriends, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He’s mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she’s ever met before. Abby can’t deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

Review: So, The Hourglass Door is a lot like Twilight, only infinitely better. Abby is a bit like Bella. She drove me crazy for the first half of the book. She flirted with Dante, while she had a boyfriend, without feeling guilty at all for the fact that she was essentially cheating on her boyfriend and lifelong best friend. However, when her boyfriend finally dumps her, and Dante flirts with her after she begins to think “What audacity! I just broke up with my boyfriend!” Like it was okay when you had a boyfriend, but now that you don’t it is bad? So, Abby drove me crazy. She was indecisive, whiny, stupid and ridiculously over-described things. She is very much attracted to water metaphors and storms. They appear continually throughout the book. Towards the end of the book she finally grows a backbone, though still doesn’t do much.

Dante is so much better than Edward, as far as a love interest is concerned. He is Italian, memorizes poetry, is sincere, mysterious, and just overall the most attractive book character I have ever read about (and that is saying something). Dante is also from 15th century Italy so he is a lot older than Edward. (I will not divulge the secret to his age)So, that bit is a lot like Twilight and the romance is as well. Painstakingly ordinary girl falling for a supernatural hottie who thinks she hung the stars? Sound familiar to anyone?

That being said about the main characters; the plot is much better than Twilight. Mainly in the fact that there is a plot and it’s not predictable. For the longest time I was trying to figure out what Dante and his group of peers (I wouldn’t call them friends) were and why on earth they could do the things they did. Also, why he would disappear? I couldn’t figure it out and when it was finally revealed I was very pleased to see the originality of it. For that alone The Hourglass Door trumps the entire Twilight series. It also didn’t have a happy ending, not a complete happy ending anyways. It was the hope of a happy ending without actually wrapping up the ending. That is probably why there is a sequel, which I am pretty excited to read, actually.

Rating: 3.5/5 The main character drove me nuts, but the plot was original, the romance was great, and there was a hot Italian guy in it. It was very good brain candy, but besides that nothing special.

Reviews from the Pros:

“The perfect romance!”-Ally Condle, author of Being Sixteen

“What’s not to love? A mysterious, gorgeous, Italian who recites poetry? I’m so there.”-Becca Wilhite, author of My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions

Once a Witch

Summary: Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and on the day she was born, her grandmother proclaimed she would be the most Talented among them. But Tamsin’s magic never showed up. Now, seventeen years later, she spends most of her time at boarding school in Manhattan, where she can at least pretend to be normal. But during the summers, she’s forced to return home and work at her family’s bookstore/magic shop.

One night a handsome young professor from New York University arrives in the shop and mistakes Tamsin for her extremely Talented older sister. For once, it’s Tamsin who’s being looked at with awe and admiration, and before she can stop herself, she agrees to find a family heirloom for him that was lost more than a century ago. But the search—and the stranger—prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the past sins of her family, and unleash a power so strong and so vengeful it could destroy them all.

Review: All righty so the idea of these witches is that each one has a Talent (which is a power, like Tamsin has an Aunt that can “freeze” people, as in stop them from moving). When the child turns eight their power comes to them and then two years later, after they have learned to master their powers they are initiated with the family. Tamsin’s eighth birthday comes and goes with no Talent and she ends up being the only Talentless one in her family. Who wants to guess how long that lasts? Just about halfway through the book. Obviously, I knew she would not remain talentless her entire life (though it would have been a cool plot twist to have an ORDINARY girl save the day huh?).

Aside from some predictability in the plot, I really enjoyed this book. It moved quickly and every time I set out to only read a chapter it would be like five chapters later that I actually put the book down. The characters were fun and Gabriel was attractive and alluring. It wasn’t anything terribly special, but it was a fun quick read and I was very absorbed in it. My life was not changed by it, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the sequel.

Rating: 4/5

Reviews from the pros:

“A fantastic urban fantasy with an enchanting romance at its heard.”-Cassandra Clare

“An absorbing and elegant urban fantasy”—publisher’s weekly

“Quick and suspenseful, with a climax that is camera-ready, this will appeal to readers who enjoy family drama and teen romance salted with magical action adventure”—the Bulletin

“Carolyn MacCullough casts a mesmerizing spell with Once a Witch. Family secrets and sibling rivalry, time-travel and magical ‘Talents’ all brew together to create a superlative—and supernatural—coming-of-the-age story. Add an epic battle of good versus evil and an enchanting first kiss, and this bewitching novel commands a sequel.”—Megan McCafferty

Clockwork Angel

Summary: When sixteen-year old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep the order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa’s power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm’s length…everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realized that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world…and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Review: Let me just note that that summary is way too long. Anyways, onto the book! So…I seriously love Cassandra Clare’s world. The Shadowhunters and the downworlders and all that happens in it, is truly fascinating. As you all know, I loved Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series…and I think I actually am enjoying the Infernal Devices more. She has grown as a writer. I mentioned that the Mortal Instruments series was borderline really good fanfiction. This has no fanfiction tone to it at all, she has emerged as one of the strongest voice in the Young Adult world.

Will is like Jace(His descendant, by the way), but more imperfect. Will is sarcastic and witty like Jace, but with Jace I never believed his anger. I never really felt anything but love towards Jace. Will is more volatile and his mood swings seem more real to me. I still loved him, but there were times I could see what the characters in the books said about him. Jem was possibly the sweetest characters in the book, he certainly has me on his side!

As for the plot it moves quickly and the five-hundred-something page book seems like only one-hundred. You, in short, will not be disappointed in this book! As usual, Clare has left us with a cliffhanger ending and all of us hanging at the edge of our seats waiting eagerly for the next segment.

Rating: 5/5 Duh!

Reviews from the pros:

A century before the events of Clare’s Mortal Instruments trilogy . . . this crowdpleaser’s tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews

"Mysteries, misdirection, and riddles abound. . . . Fans of the Mortal Instruments series and newcomers alike won't be disappointed." - Publishers Weekly

"Compulsively readable . . . Packed with battles, romantic entanglements, and tantalizing foreshadowing, this will have readers clamoring for the next installment." - Booklist

"Top Pick! Readers will be thrilled and amazed with this prequel to The Mortal Instruments, tearing their way through a beautifully constructed story of action, magic, mayhem, and romance. Fans and newcomers alike will be enchanted by Clare's fantastical world and left begging for more!" - Romantic Times Book Reviews
Truly happy reading everyone!
-She Who Reads A Lot

Hunger

Summary: Food ran out weeks ago and starvation is imminent. Meanwhile, the normal teens have grown resentful of the kids with powers. And when an unthinkable tragedy occurs, chaos descends upon the town. There is no longer right and wrong. Each kid is out for himself and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, beings calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them. The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

Review: Just as good as its predecessor. It keeps you at the end of your seat the entire time and there were definitely moments when I gasped out loud, unable to believe what just happened. Grant does a suburb job of weaving you into his world and making you connect with his characters. It’s fascinating, quite frankly. It shows how kids act and it also shows a darker side of childhood even when broaching the subjects of their past lives before the FAYZ.

It is full with raw emotions. You will not be able to put it down, can’t wait to get the third book!

P.S. Sorry for the short review, I am exhausted! College is exhausting!

Rating: 5/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“Readers looking for intense, nearly nonstop action and emotional drama will find lots to enjoy.”-Publishers Weekly

“Like Gone this novel is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.”-School Library Journal

“Readers will be unable to avoid involuntarily gasping, shuddering, or flinching while reading this suspense-filled story. Some of the questions from Gone are answered, but they leave new questions in their wake. The story is progressing with smart plot twists, both in actions and in emotions.”-VOYA (starred review)

Gone

Summary: Gone. Everyone except for the young. Teens. Middle Schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Gone, too, are the phones, internet, and television. There is no way to get help.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It’s a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen and war is imminent.

Review: I couldn’t put it down. Gone was creepy, scary, and filled to the brim with raw emotions. Grant sugarcoats nothing. He puts these children in this situation and has them respond accordingly, there is no delusions of everyone coming together and living happily ever after. In fact, most kids don’t even want to come together. All they want are their parents. It is like a modern day Lord of the Flies with some sci-fi thrown in just for kicks.

Sam is an easily relatable character. He becomes the leader and hero of the people, even though he wants nothing more than to just disappear. You will be rooting for him the entire way. And what would the story be without the charismatic villain and his sicko sidekick to hate? Drake Merwin is truly disturbing, but Caine (Ironically Caine and Abel huh? You will have to read the book to get why this is so true for Caine) is charismatic and believable, you know there is something just wrong with him, but can’t quite put your finger on it.

To put it simply: Gone is amazing. You will be flipping pages as quickly as you can to see what happens to all the characters you have become so attached to. You’ll desperately try to figure out how they will survive.
Just go read it. It is not only a great piece of fiction, but also a moving tale on human, and kid, nature.

Rating: 5/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“Intense, marvelously plotted. A tour de force.”-ALA Booklist (starred review)

“If Stephen King had written Lord of the Flies, it might have been a little like this.”-VOYA (starred review)

Destiny's Path

Summary: Branwen refuses to take orders from anyone—even the Shining Ones, the ancient gods whose power is feared throughout the land. They want her as their Chosen One, destined to save her country from the Saxon’s. But Branwen doubts she’s truly ready to be a leader.

Then a messenger from the skies shows her a vision of a bleak and violent future—a future in which Branwen has abandoned her destiny, and those most dear to her suffer unspeakable horrors. There’s a blurry line between good and evil, and those Branwen trusts the most are capable of the greatest betrayal. The Shining Ones have spoken. Will Branwen answer their calls?

Summary: I think this was a significant improvement upon Warrior Princess. It might have been that I am now used to Jones’s writing style, or that I am more acquainted with the characters, but I connected a lot more with Branwen in this adventure than the previous one. I understood her character and the adventures were thrilling. They were not so gripping that I was glued to the book.

As with the previous one, I flipped ahead to read what would happen. It was enjoyable and the characters were more easily relatable all around. It has the makings of a great heroic war story. The kind of tale that bards sing of. (The graphic description of the battle were albeit disgusting, very welcomed as realistic). One thing Jones does seem to excel at is ending the book so that you can’t wait to get your hands on the next one.

Rating: 4.3/5 It was a significant improvement upon the first.

Reviews from the Pros:

“Despite graphic depictions of battle scenes, Branwen’s compelling story leaves readers waiting for the sequel.”-Booklist

Happy Reading!
-She Who Reads A Lot

An Abundance of Katherines

Summary: When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun—but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself by Printz medalist John Green.

Review: So I have successfully read all John Green books to date, except for a Christmas one that was jointly written with a group of authors. However, with the finishing of An Abundance of Katherines I have read all his solo works. :) This makes me happy. Now onto the review! This Green book was a little slow to start off. It took me about halfway through the book to start laughing all the time and be able to not wait to read again and see what happens. The natural wit and great story-telling that is very John Green-esque is rampant throughout the story, but it takes a little while to connect with Colin (the sort-of washed up child prodigy with an affinity for girls name Katherine). Once you make the connection to Colin though, it is easy to get wrapped up in his world and his journey to Gutshot and to himself.

So, overall it is a pretty good book. Not John Green’s best work, but still admirable and fun. The characters are true and real and the dialogue is raw, witty, and very natural feeling (not forced at all). By the end of the book you will find yourself rooting for Colin and smiling along as they grow in this one summer. It is so very easy to fall into John Green’s books and characters. Very easy to get attached. I recommend you read not only this book, but all of his other books as well.

Rating: 4.5/5 It got a little slow at some parts, but overall a great book.

Reviews from the Pros:

“Fully fun, challengingly complex and entirely entertaining.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Laugh-out-loud funny... coming-of-age American road trip that is at once a satire of and tribute to its many celebrated predecessors”. -- The Horn Book Magazine, starred review

“The narrative is self-consciously dorky, peppered with anagrams, trivia, and foreign-language bons mots and interrupted by footnotes that explain, translate, and expound upon the text in the form of asides. It is this type of mannered nerdiness that has the potential to both win over and alienate readers. As usual, Greens primary and secondary characters are given descriptive attention and are fully and humorously realized. While enjoyable, witty, and even charming,”-School Library Journal

“The laugh-out-loud humor ranges from delightfully sophomoric to subtly intellectual, and the boys' sarcastic repartee will help readers navigate the slower parts of the story, which involve local history interviews. The idea behind the book is that everyone's story counts, and what Colin's contributes to the world, no matter how small it may seem to him, will, indeed, matter.”-Booklist

Max

Summary: Someone—or something---is decimating ships and sea life off Hawaii’s coast, and Max and her flock find themselves sucked into the Navy’s top-secret investigation of the catastrophe. Their objective: Rescue Max’s activist mom from a wicked subterranean enemy. The hitch: They must dive deep into dark waters, where gruesome evil dwells…and for high-flying Maximum Ride, could there be anything more terrifying than being trapped in the great abyss?

Review: So, I have come to the conclusion that I have outgrown Maximum Ride books. It was good, but there were points where it was actually kind of painful to read. I would roll my eyes at the gushy love scenes between Max and Fang. They were so cheesy, I wanted to gag. Angel was annoying and diabolical, and I didn’t like her character at all. I still love Gazzy and Iggy. The idea that the bird kids are trying to save the world environmentally still kind of irks me.

The book is meant for 4th-7th graders and it is probably a really great book for that age group. It helps inform them about the environmental issues with cool superheroes that are kids just like them. Not the best book to read at 18. I kind of still want to read Fang, but I won’t be spending any money on buying it, that’s for sure. I will have to reread the Maximum Ride books to see if I have truly outgrown them, or if the series just went way down hill.

This was an improvement on the last one, that’s for sure.

Rating: 3/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“A masterpiece!”-Avi Arad, executive producer of Iron Man and Spider-man

“Max narrates with a precocious, snarky voice, but makes it relatively easy to jump into her complicated tale midstream. Not surprisingly, the open-ended conclusion begs for a follow-up; it's also little wonder that a movie franchise is in the works.”-Publisher’s Weekly

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

It’s not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Gryason and Wil 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 apush from friends new and old—including the massive, and massively fabulous Tiny cooper, offensive lineman and musical theatre extraordinaire—Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most awesome high school musical.

Review:

John Green is AMAZING. I can’t really reiterate this enough. Combine him with David Levithan and you get a whole new level of awesomeness.

It’s hard for me to rightfully review this book because it is just great. It is such a simple concept, and one that is becoming more and more common in our real world. It is about two boys, who don’t know each other. One a young homosexual who struggles with depression and a not-so-stellar home life who has fallen in love with a boy named “Issac” online and is beyond nervous and ecstatic when Issac says he wants to meet him. The other boy is the quiet and some-what dramatic best friend of possibly the "world's largest person who is really, really gay" Tiny Cooper. The two boys live in separate towns near Chicago and have never heard of each other. They share one thing: their name. One fateful night they end up meeting, at all places, a porn shop. From there on out they are somewhat involved as they both grow into themselves and find love and true friendship. All the while helping, in some way or another, Tiny Cooper put on an amazing play about love.

It is so simple. It’s life! There are no dragons, no wizards, no psychopaths, or serial killers, there is nothing out of the ordinary. The fact that it is life and that John Green and David Levithan capture it so completely is what makes this book just astounding. They capture that feeling between wanting to jump over the edge and full head into a relationship, but at the same time wanting to pull back because you’re afraid you’ll get hurt. They capture the feeling of wondering if your friendship is real and struggling to be yourself and sometimes just to get through one day. These raw emotions that teenagers go through, they are capture so perfectly in this novel that it’s scary.

That’s what makes this book great combined with great writing, real side characters, a simply story, and two amazing leading teenage boys. It is life and it is captured perfectly in this book about finding love, finding ourselves, and finding friendship.
In all seriousness, everyone should read this book at some point. Everyone feels the way both Will Graysons do in this book, and this book lets you know it is normal.
By the way the book was hilariously funny at some parts, and so I included some quotes below. Though, they are probably funnier in context.

Amazing quotes:

“o.w.g: you know my name, and I love you, Tiny Cooper. Although not in the same way that the guy in the pink pants might love you.”

“I awake to the sound of my alarm clock, blaring rhythmically, and it seems as loud as an air siren, shouting at me with such ferocity that it sort of hurts my feelings.”

Rating: 5/5 Obviously.

Reviews from the Pros:

“Based on the premises that "love is tied to truth" and "being friends, that's just something you are," this powerful, thought-provoking, funny, moving, and unique plot is irresistible. Told in alternating chapters from each Will Grayson's point of view (one in lower case, effectively individualizing identities), complete with honest language, interesting characters, and a heartfelt, gritty edge, this quirky yet down-to-earth collaboration by two master YA storytellers will keep readers turning pages.”-School Library Journal

“makes a rousing and suitably theatrical finale for a tale populated with young people engaged in figuring out what’s important and shot through with strong feelings, smart-mouthed dialogue, and uncommon insight.”-Booklist

"An intellectually existential, electrically ebullient love story that brilliantly melds the ridiculous with the realistic." --Kirkus

"A wonderfully campy, sweet, romantic gesture in the spectacular style that readers have come to expect from these two YA masters." --VOYA

Warrior Princess

Summary: Fifteen year old Branwen’s life is changed forever when enemy Saxon troops attack her homeland and her brother is killed. Branwen wants to jump into action and avenge her brother’s death, but instead she is sent to a neighboring stronghold where she’ll be safe from harm. Yet while she is surrounded by exquisite beauty and luxury in her new home—as a princess should be—she feels different from the other girls. Deep down, Branwen has the soul of a warrior.

Then a mystical woman in white foretells a daunting prophecy: Branwen will be the one to save her homeland. Suddenly forced to question everything—and everyone—around her, she realized that the most difficult part of her journey is still to come. With no time to lose, Branwen must make a choice: continue on the path her parents intended for her…or step into the role of a true Warrior Princess.

Review:

“Felt dramatic—when I should’ve been feeling the character’s emotions all I thought was: how dramatic.” “Doesn’t grip readers, at first.” This is what I have written in my little notebook of notes on books. Her brother died in the first chapter and I should’ve been feeling Branwen’s emotions, instead I just thought ‘she is whiny’. I didn’t connect with Branwen in this book, I think that was my problem. I liked the story line and I loved Rhodri (who I hope never becomes a love interest because I can’t view him as more than a friend to Branwen).

The story line and plot were fascinating. Branwen…not so much. Branwen went through some traumatic stuff, and I should’ve felt some of it. I should’ve felt her anger leap out of the pages, her worry, her fear, but I didn’t. So that is my one complaint about the book: Jones didn’t connect emotionally with her readers.
That being said, by the end of the book I really wanted to get the sequel. So it was very well-written, just the main character wasn’t fleshed out too well.
It wasn’t terrible, and I enjoyed reading it for the most part.

Rating: 4/5

Review from the Pros:

“Exciting from start to finish.”-School Library Journal

“A fast paced plot that will keep readers turning pages.”-ALA Booklist.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Summary:
Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket

In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.

The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.

Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/bloke-about-town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous—though utterly romantic—results. But will she ever see him again?

Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of 13 little blue envelopes.

Review: I literally read this book a month ago…heh so this review is way over due. That being said I enjoyed Maureen Johnson’s 13 little blue envelopes. It was fun brain candy. It didn’t go quite as I had thought it would after I read the summary. I suppose that was a good thing.

Ginny was a very easily relatable character and pretty fleshed out. There isn’t much to say about this book. I liked it. It was an easy read. I don’t have any complaints over it. However, it was not anything e extraordinary.

Rating: 4/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“Equal parts poignant, funny and inspiring, with a delicious fairytale ending.”-Publisher’s weekly

“Johnson’s writing is sophisticated and humorous, her characterizations pitch perfect.”-Kirkus Reviews