Secret Project Revealed

Hello,

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Now for those of you who don't already know this December I'll be hosting...

The 25 Guests of Christmas

Each day there will be one or more guests (either an author or blogger) who will be sharing some of their favorite things about the holidays. Some will even share their book or other goodies with you!

There will be more details later with all the little requirements for contests and such but for right now I just wanted to let y'all know what was going on and why I've been kind of MIA for a while as I organize all this and enjoy my own holiday traditions.

You should be seeing changes pop up here and there as we grow closer to December 1rst but they are all temporary. Everything should be back to normal on this blog after December but for now, enjoy the simple changes.

So be ready for lots of Christmas-y Fun starting December 1rst and ending the 25th.

Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!

Jill

A (Kinda) Secret Project

Hey Everybody!

Just thought I'd let you know that I'm working on a (kinda) secret project that's not really that big of a secret because I'm about to give you a huge hint and I've asked a lot of people that could possibly follow this blog to help me but still....

Those who don't know about it will find out very soon but in the meantime here's a hint...

What holiday is coming up soon?




......Okay okay I know Thanksgiving is coming up very soon and I'm very excited but that's not what I'm getting ready for and it's not what this project is about so keep thinking...



Give up yet? Here's another clue. During this happy time a big jolly guy (I'm not naming names here but he wears red and flies reindeer....but you know that could be anybody...) comes to visit and gives out PRESENTS FOR EVERYBODY...well if you're good (or at least lucky).




More on this later. but let me tell you-it's definitely worth getting excited about. Check back soon for more details.



thanks and happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

Jill

The Vinyl Princess Review

Title: The Vinyl Princess
Author: Yvonne Prinz
Release Date: December 2009

Summary from Amazon:
Summer is here, and 16-year-old Allie, a self-professed music geek, is exactly where she wants to be: working full-time at Berkeley’s ultra-cool Bob and Bob Records. There, Allie can spend her days bantering with the street people, talking the talk with the staff, shepherding the uncool bridge-and-tunnel shoppers, all the while blissfully surrounded by music, music, music. It’s the perfect setup for her to develop her secret identity as The Vinyl Princess, author of both a brand-new zine and blog. From the safety of her favourite place on earth, Allie is poised to have it all: love, music and blogging.
Her mother, though, is actually the one getting the dates, and business at Allie’s beloved record store is becoming dangerously slow—not to mention that there have been a string of robberies in the neighbourhood. At least her blog seems to be gaining interest, one vinyl junkie at a time….

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Hookability: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Voice: 9/10
Recommendation: 8/10
Total Score: 52
Grade: A

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 3/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 2/10
Sexual Content: 1/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 3/10

Written Review:

I couldn’t help but love The Vinyl Princess. Though the whole novel was great, one of its strongest points were the characters. They each had such a definite personality whether they were major or not. Allie was very strong, witty, and passionate. Her clever voice narrated the whole book and the way she described a scene unfolding or a new unusual character that walked in to the store is what really pushed this novel over the top. You could tell that the author was a vinyl princess in her own way too and owning her own indie record store probably helped to develop those eccentric characters that shopped at the store.

Even though I am in no ways a music buff, I could really relate to Allie. Just like she has a passion for old records, I have a passion for books; just as she finds her “community” of other vinyl lovers through her fanzine and blog, in a sense I find my community of those who love YA novels through my blog. Her passion is what all of us can relate to in one way or another. Well that and the fact that she’s a teen girl facing most (if not much much more) of the same dilemmas we all face.

Like I said before, I am not a person who knows music at all. The mention of albums and artists went right over my head and I didn’t fully understand all the references until I shamelessly googled them. But none of that stopped me from enjoying this novel. Enough other stuff happened which kept the story moving at a very realistic pace. And even though it all happened over the course of one summer the whole book flowed flawlessly.

Romance was never the main theme of this novel but I wasn’t expecting it to be so that wasn’t a disappointment at all. The amounts of romance it did have were very well done though. The novel mainly toyed with the idea of finding the “perfect love” and all of the trouble that goes with it. Allie’s relationship with her mom was so cool because her mom was going through all of the dating stuff (again) at the same time as Allie and Kit making them relate a bit more to each other and even making Allie have the upper hand a few times because of her so called boy knowledge. It was funny to see their backwards roles that they played in a not-so-typical mother-daughter relationship.

The Vinyl Princess got me hooked from the very fist page with its sharp voice and intriguing characters. Though I really enjoyed it I know that people with a strong passion for music, especially for older classics, would enjoy this all the more because they would understand all the references to albums that I didn’t fully get. The ending had all the aspects you would want also. It tied up any loose strings and gave a great conclusion to Allie’s story while also making the reader want to spend more time with her and the rest of the characters.

Overall this is a realistic and humorous novel with true heart and great passion for music. The witty tone, incredible characters, and strong prose get you hooked from the beginning and keep you wanting more. Though those in love with music as much if not more than Allie would enjoy this the most, I recommend it to anyone wanting to get into the mind of a passionate teen with a fresh voice and plenty of adventures to share.

O and check out her blog and even sign up to recieve a fanzine and a button (I have one, It's awesome) at http://www.thevinylprincess.com/

Thanks so much

Jill

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: 6 Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure

Title: I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets
Author: edited by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser at Smith Magazine
Release Date: September 1, 2009

Summary from Amazon:
One life. Six words. What's yours?

True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I Was Planning, the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir series—and an international phenomenon. Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell.

Met online; love before first sight.

Hair's pink to piss you off.

I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today.

I'm seventeen, engaged, and not pregnant.

My mom had my boyfriend deported.

Late for school every single day.

According to Facebook, we broke up.

Written Review:

This review is a little harder to write then some of my past reviews because this isn’t a book to sit down and read from cover to cover (though you most definitely could do that without getting tired of it a bit). There are no stable characters, plot line, or voice like a typical novel would have. But that’s all because this isn’t a typical novel.

SMITH Magazine has captured so many unique stories in just a few short words in just one short book. There are those that make you laugh, those that make you think, those that make you happy, those that make you sad, and those few memoirs that are so relatable that you read them again and again, wondering how some teen from somewhere you don’t know has put your whole life into six words with as much depth and honesty as they did.

I recommend every teen to have a copy of this book to read and remind yourself that you aren’t alone in all of your struggles and emotions. I applaud these teens for having the ability to share so much of their life when their restricted to only six little words.

Overall, I CAN’T KEEP MY OWN SECRETS is a quick read that is entertaining and heartbreaking and then entertaining again. With such a vast array of teen writers (and there truly are some talented ones in there) there is easily something for everyone to relate to and everyone to enjoy.

This is a book you can read over and over, each time discovering something new and refreshing. It’s another great addition to the 6 word memoirs collection and I definitely recommend buying a copy if you don’t already have one.

__________________________________________________

Thanks.

Jill

P.S. Did you know that another fellow blogger (The Compulsive Reader) has her very own entry that made it into the book!?! I think the whole book’s worth checking out just for that...

P.P.S. Check out the trailer. It's really well done and definitely gives you a taste of what this book is like.

Guest Post

A Guest Post by LM Preston, author of the upcoming YA novel, EXPLORER X-ALPHA
____________________________________________________

TRUSTING IN YOURSELF

Trusting your own gut feelings is one of the best gifts we possess. We all get that little ‘twinge’ when something just isn’t right. When that happens…LISTEN TO IT! Trust yourself or your ‘gut’ some call it. Trust it at all times, it will never steer you wrong.

When I was young I lived in the inner-city. The neighborhood I called home, had gangs, drugs, muggers, killers, and lots of kids and family nearby. However, with all of these things present, I didn’t realize that my gut instincts were strengthening with each day I played outside, walked to school, to the bus, or traveled the city alone.

I never understood why my grandmother, affectionately named NaNa, didn’t want me to leave my block to go to the store alone. Or why, I wasn’t allowed to cut through the alleys to get to my cousin’s house, and the numerous lists of things I was told to watch out for.

My main character in EXPLORER X – Alpha realizes that something isn’t quite right with the immunization he is given. Aadi takes the initiative as asks the Doctor why it is being given to him. In addition to this finding, Aadi confirms his concerns with others.

Here are some steps to take in trusting yourself in all things;

LISTEN TO THAT ‘TWINGE’ IN YOUR GUT

When you are in a situation with a friend or an adult, and you get that feeling that something isn’t quite right, then you are most likely correct. Learn yourself, and test this ability.

Take this example for instance. Your friend tells you that you should sneak out to go to that great party that so-and-so is going to, but you feel this tickle in your tummy before you hesitate. This is your gut talking to you. It’s telling you … hold on … don’t jump into this.

Listen to it. Find out how your gut talks to you. Think of all those times you got into major trouble, and ponder over what you felt just before you did the deed that got you into that mess. That’s how you learn how your psyche talks to you.

TAKE A STEP BACK, AND ASK QUESTIONS

Never, ever, feel like you don’t have the right to ask a question. Asking a question only gets you in trouble when it hasn’t been asked, or the person of whom you are asking the question doesn’t want to give you an answer.

Don’t think I’m right on this? Test it, and think back to times when the person of whom you asked a question reacted negatively. In most cases, it is because they don’t want to give you an answer.

Asking the question is never, ever wrong. You have the right. So use it when you are in those situations where your gut is telling you that something is just not adding up.

IF IT DOESN’T ADD UP THEN IT DOESN’T ADD UP

When something doesn’t make sense, or the story just sounds down right disjointed, and your gut is telling you that something is off. Then trust your gut, something is off.

This is a saying my Nana used to tell me when I would give her a scenario of what a friend told me, or did to me.

“Honey, if it doesn’t add up, it won’t add up. Something is definitely not right with that story.”

Do you know in each instance she said this, she was absolutely correct.

TAKE ACTION

If you get that feeling something isn’t right take action.

In EXPLORER X – Alpha Aadi and Eirena, his co-pilot investigated their gut feeling that something is off about their camp with their team. They find that terrible things have been done to them.

There are several ways to take action. Here are some;
- Just tuck the knowledge away, and wait for the truth to reveal itself. Believe it or not this happens a lot in life. The truth has a way of coming out. Sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes it takes a long, long time.
- Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in order to get the answers you want. You can ask anyone questions, and that may solve the mystery.
- Run away or stay away. If you are in a situation where an adult or a peer appears to be leading you in a direction that you feel is not safe. Run. There is no harm in running away from or staying away from someone.

TAKE ACTION

Realize that you have control of your destiny. No matter what happens to you in your life, you can learn from it all and become a better person. Making the same mistakes will become harder the more you learn to trust your gut instincts, and yourself.

by: LM Preston,
www.lmpreston.com
author of EXPLORER X - Alpha


Audi0 Prologue

Chapter One


Book Trailer:



Comments are appreciated. Thanks so much.

Jill

The Naughty List

Title: Naughty List
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: Feb. 4, 2009

Summary from Amazon:
As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Hookability: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Voice: 10/10
Recommendation: 10/10
Total Score: 57
Grade: A+

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 1/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 2/10
Sexual Content: 5/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 0/10

Written Review:

The Naughty List overflowed with cuteness and I could not get enough of it. Tessa’s always sweet, always perky voice and polite ways made you forget all previous cheerleader stereotypes. I loved her cute phrases and the way she looked at the others if they swore. Because kittens do not swear. It’s bad form.

And though The Naughty List was so strawberry smoothie, it did have a few frustrating moments where I just wanted to bang my head against the wall and yell “mash potatoes and gravy!” Especially anything involving Christian. I just had a hard time seeing Christian as this amazingly handsome guy. To me he seemed just a little too forward with his feelings. Especially with someone so clearly not interested. But Tessa being the Smitten Kitten she is, was always polite and o so kind even when he tried to hit on her for the thousandth time! And though Christian got on my nerves, Aiden most definitely did not! He was the most perfect guy that makes you believe that there are caring, non jerkish guys out there.

There was a great balance between the missions and every day cheering life. I liked how the mission reports, equipment order forms, and any other SOS related announcements were intermingled throughout the book. Plus, the wording of the mission reports was so professional and clever and perfectly summed up the case in just one page.

O and I haven’t even mentioned the originality of this book! Have you ever read a story about amazingly kind cheerleaders whose job is not only to be “spirit saviors” but to catch all the cheating boyfriends in the school while maintaining good grades and character at all times! Goodbye cheerleader stereotypes! Hello Smitten Kittens!

The ending was so sweet. It left you satisfied with a conclusion but at the same time eagerly waiting for more time with these characters and SOS. It truly was the best unhappily ever after ending ever!

Overall, The Naughty List is a wonderful start to the series. It’s a completely purrfect novel that is way too cute for words. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel—summer seems so far away when you have something you are looking forward to, doesn’t it? Packed with drama, jealousy, and totally cute phrases, I strongly encourage anyone looking for an absolutely adorable book with tons of kitten power to check this one out in February.

___________________________________

comments are appreciated. thanks so much.

Jill

Hold Still Review

Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina LaCour
Release Date: October 20, 2009Summary from Amazon:
dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 6/10
Hookability: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Voice: 9/10
Recommendation: 10/10
Total Score: 53
Grade: A

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 5/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 1/10
Sexual Content: 5/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 4/10

Written Review:

I can’t begin to describe how much I loved this poignant novel. From the very first page each word seems heavy with so much pent up emotion. The whole book is very touching without being depressing. On the very first page I got that feeling of oncoming tears and by the end of the novel I had cried way more than once.

Caitlin’s voice held such raw feelings that only made you sympathize and really love her all that much more. All of Caitlin’s anger at Ingrid for not telling her of her pain; her anger at herself for not being the friend she should have been; all of her guilt. Her sadness; were portrayed as honestly as ever. She was a character with so much depth and that made her story so real.

Caitlin developed amazingly as a character. She reacted very realistically to the shocking death of her best friend; Going into seclusion almost and trying to get all images of her out of her head while also trying to keep her alive for as long as possible. The pacing was very well done also. Caitlin’s growth throughout the book developed during real time which was nice to see.

You also get a clear feel for the character of Ingrid and how her suicide not only affected Caitlin but also her sibling and parents and each of her classmates and teachers. Each of her journal entries really let you see how much she was hurting and how much she desperately tried to change for the better.

The ending was perfect. I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It was bitter sweet to see the growth of the characters as they learned to moved on but not forget.

Overall, HOLD STILL is a touching debut story with great characterization, voice, and emotion. In a heartfelt novel of overcoming such a shocking loss, Nina LaCour blends effortlessly a story of hope, love, and forgiveness. HOLD STILL is a sad book that portrays the beauty of friendship and leaves you smiling through your tears.

___________________________________________________________________

And check out this awesome trailer Nina LaCour put together for her book!

Ahhh! I can’t get it to show up on blogger right but check out the link below. It’s worth it if you haven’t seen it yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XYJQa4u2jQ

___________________________________________________________________

thanks so much

Jill

IMM

hosted by Kristi at www.thestorysiren.com

The last 2-3 weeks I've gotten the following:

1. The Naughty List By(I totally screamed forever when this showed up)
2. Nothing Like You
3. Vinyl Princess
4. Cashing In
5. Little Miss Red
6. Ex-Mas
7. By the Time you Read This I'll be Dead
8. Wish you were Dead
9. Of All the Stupid Things

So overall I've had a great last couple of weeks.

Sorry for the lack of pictures by the way. I'll update this later today with them. My computer is just running slow and I wanted to get this up before it froze again.

Thanks so much.

Jill

Nothing Like You Review

Nothing Like You
By: Lauren Strasnick
Release Date: Oct. 20, 2009

Summary (by GoodReads):

“You think he’s yours but he’s not, I thought. You think he’s yours but really he’s mine.” When Holly loses her virginity to Paul, a guy she barely knows, she assumes their encounter is a one-night stand. After all, Paul is too popular to even be speaking to Holly, and he happens to have a long-term girlfriend, Saskia. But ever since Holly’s mom died six months ago, Holly has been numb to the world, and she’s getting desperate to feel something, anything—so when Paul keeps pursuing her, Holly relents. Paul’s kisses are a welcome diversion, and it’s nice to feel like the kind of girl that a guy like Paul would choose. But things aren’t so simple with Saskia around. Paul’s real girlfriend is willowy and perfect… and nothing like Holly. To make matters worse, she and Holly are becoming friends. Suddenly the consequences of Holly’s choices are all too real, and Holly stands to lose more than she ever realized she had.

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 7/10
Hookability: 9/10
Ending: 7/10
Voice: 9/10
Recommendation: 9/10
Total Score: 51
Grade: A

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 5/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 4/10
Sexual Content: 8/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 1/10

Written Review:

Nothing Like You is refreshing novel of loss and love. One of the best aspects of this novel was its great characterization. Holly was someone who had to learn to deal with the loss of a parent long before anyone should and who, because of her tragic loss, found comfort in all the wrong people. She made one huge, obvious lapse of judgment that spiraled other problems later on. Through all that she was still very relatable as a teen girl trying to figure out who to trust, who to love, and who she really is. Her thoughts were bluntly specific to every feeling and every opinion that went through her mind making it easy to see the reason she chose the path she did, no matter how unthinkable, every time. Besides Holly, the minor characters shined just as bright. Nils was so sweet. Holly’s narration of him tracked how the relationship had changed over the years as they both matured. Every scene between the two of them made me smile and then I’d want to tear the pages out because their chemistry seemed to be obvious to everyone but the two of them! Saskia was very different then you’d think the gorgeous, popular girlfriend would be but her characterization never faltered through it all. She always obtained composure and kindness that made you realize why Holly was so easily drawn to her. Paul on the other hand was the very charming, very popular guy who took advantage of a grieving Holly for his own pleasure. At the beginning I disliked him. By the end I couldn’t stand him! At all! I just wanted the best for poor Holly and Paul was kept sucking her into his jerkiness! Besides the great characterization, the book was paced perfectly for this story. It was a very quick read that left me wanting more of these awesome characters. The ending was satisfying enough but I would have liked a better resolution with a few people or at least one big dramatic blowup or confrontation. Even without my desired conclusion this is a very original story that I fell in love with. It’s very sweet and very cute but definitely not innocent.

Overall, Nothing Like You is a story of finding comfort in all the wrong places and of learning to love by first learning to lose. Holly is a character that finds a way into your heart from the very beginning. Through all of her mistakes and misfortune you can only wish the best for her in everything she does.

thanks

Jill

The Tear Collector Review

The Tear Collector
By Patrick Jones
Released on Sept. 1, 2009

Summary from Amazon:
Descended from an ancient line of creatures that gain their energy from human tears, Cassandra Gray depends on human sorrow to live. Only Cass has grown tired of living this life and wants to live like a human, especially now that she's met someone worth fighting for.

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Hookability: 7/10
Ending: 6/10
Voice: 7/10
Recommendation: 8/10
Total Score: 47
Grade: B+

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 6/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 2/10
Sexual Content: 5/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 6/10

Written Review:

If The Tear Collector could be summed up in one word that word would be drama. Not to say that this book didn’t have romance, and family issues, and a journey to self discovery but the force behind all that was definitely drama. This book overflowed with rumors, and death, and scandal. But for a book with lots of drama there wasn’t a lot of true emotion that followed. But that was the concept of this book basically. About a very unique character who thrived off the drama and suffering of others without the ability to truly feel any of the hurt, pain, or love herself.

From the first page of this book I was hooked. Then towards the middle I began to pull away. But by the end the strong plotline, filled with action and deceit, pulled me in again. The Tear Collector was very unique. Never before had I heard or even thought about this concept of a tear collecting creature who desperately wants to feel human emotion. Patrick Jones created a whole new aspect to this vampire phase of YA books. Cassandra’s voice was very well written. Behind her words were hidden emotions that clearly detailed her conflicting thoughts of choosing loyalty or choosing love.

I really loved the romance part of this book. I think it was paced a little too fast (who says “I Love You” within the first week of dating?) to be realistic but the actual development of it in general was nice. Instead of Scott and Cass’s love being about fate and their destiny it was truly about their growing feelings for each other (even if it was paced a little too fast).

Unrelated to the actual plot and writing of this book, I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the stereotyped Catholic references. I know this is my personal judgment and I’m totally biased because I’m Catholic, but all of the references to how guilty us Catholics feel all the time and such is totally not true and that just bugged me. Okay back to the review....

I think the main problem I had with The Tear Collector was it’s abrupt ending. I was very disappointed in it. It seems that the story should have gone on because to me a few f the major plot lines were left unconcluded. Patrick Jones left the ending in a way where we as the reader could take three steps and figure it out ourselves but I think it would have been nice if he took those extra steps for us and showed us how it played out. But oddly enough, I don’t feel like the very poor ending ruined this book at all. I still recommend it one hundred and ten percent.

Overall, The Tear Collector is a very original novel filled with drama, trauma, and one decision that could change two lives. Putting romance, friendship, and the “family” aside, this is a novel about finding yourself in a mixed up world where what you’ve always known isn’t what you always want.

thanks.(and sorry for the super long review)

Jill