It's the First Day of School... Forever! By R.L. Stine

Artie Howard is having some trouble on his first day of fifth grade. It starts with him falling out of bed and gets much worse after that. Everything he does at school seems to go terribly, horribly wrong. He makes enemies of the biggest and scariest boy in school, loses the class pet, and gets creepy warnings from the principal. And just when he thinks he may have made it through the worst day of his life, he starts it all over again!

Ahhh.... R.L. Stine. Does middle-grade horror get any better than this? I think not. As a long time (my whole life, practically) fan of Mr. Stine, I am always stoked when he writes another book. This time, it is his first with Feiwel and Friends, and I certainly hope this is the start of a great publishing relationship! The story was pure, classic Stine. Short chapters, with cliffhangers at the end of every one of them. Spooky imagery and tense scenes. Artie was humorous and likeable, even when he got into all of those accidents. And the twist ending will make young readers gasp with surprise, before they laugh at the brilliance of it!

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Fear Street Flashback (19)

Why? Because FEAR STREET was like, my favorite series growing up.

Originally released in March, 1994.

This book started off pretty silly, but by the middle gets really good. Maggie and Andrea and such competitive sisters - they fight all the time, are both on the swim team, and even look alike. I found myself feeling like Maggie - ecstatic about the beautiful canopy bed (what girl doesn't want a canopy bed sometime in their life?) and then getting scared for her when things begin to go wrong. Maggie is a fairly unique character for Fear Street in that she knows she is not crazy but it is difficult to explain the insane things that are happening to her. The chapters in this book seem to be slightly longer than the normal Fear Street books, and I think it allows more room for character development. Bad Dreams is a spectacular piece of the Fear Street series!

Fear Rating: 3 out of 3 Screams

Waiting on Wednesday 7/13/11

EVERBLUE by Brenda Pandos

SYNOPSIS:
Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.

Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.

Merrrrrrmaid..... *drooool*. I have not yet read any of the Talisman books by Brenda Pandos, but apparently she knows that if she really wants to get my attention, she has to write a mermaid story! I also like that it is lake fin-folk rather ocean/sea creatures. Can't wait!

Release Date: July 31, 2011

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Lacey Byer has always been a good girl and perfect Christian. She also just turned sixteen, which not only means she gets her driver's license, but also makes her old enough to try out for a lead role in this year's Hell House. Lacey's father is the Children's Pastor at the local community church in her small town, so the Hell House production has always been a "movie moment" goal for her. And this year's show promises to be the best ever. But then things begin to happen in the lives of her best friends around her, and she begins to doubt the words her father preaches. Add to that the new boy in town, and things are getting rather confusing in the once simple life of Lacey.

Small Town Sinners is an enthralling book. Predictable, yes, but it doesn't pretend to want to surprise you with its actions. I had not heard of the phenomena of Hell Houses before this books, and found myself fascinated with the whole experience. Lacey was an unbelievably raw character. As the reader is pulled along through her doubt and re-invention of herself, Lacey remains unflinching honest. Melissa Walker wants to tell an authentic, open story, bold and without apology. Teen readers will have characters to identify with and are sure to find similarities in their own rebellion against their parents. I also think this is an important book for teens to read, not just for the lesson in thinking for yourself, but also for the beautiful love story that is equally as much the point of Lacey's journey. This is the first book of Walker's I have read, but I will definitely pick up her others to give them a whirl!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Bound by Book-To-Movie Law: The Time Traveler's Wife

Book-to-Movie Law states that once you have read the book, you are bound by the media to go see the movie based on said book, and therefor compare to two.

Even though this movie has been sitting on my shelf for quite a long while now, I had not watched it until recently. The Time Traveler's Wife was such a powerful, unique, incredible book, that I was terrified that the motion picture could never do it justice. I was thrilled that it was made into a movie in the first place, but it turns out my fears were correct, and it really was a terrible film. I think the main cause of this is due to the beautiful and complicated chronology in which the book is written. The reader is left to sort out time and plot as it is slowly revealed to them. The movie, on the other hand, tells the story in one solid time period, using flashbacks to portray past history. This felt very cheesy in most instances, and I am sorry to say that it is just not that effective in building suspense and amazement. To the movie's credit, the "traveling" effect was pretty neat (and sometimes creepy!). I liked how Eric Bana would slowly fade until he was gone. I will give this movie a few more viewings to see if it gets any better, but for now my opinion is set.

Bottom Line: The book was WAY better.

Waiting on Wednesday 7/6/11

FURY by Elizabeth Miles

SYNOPSIS:
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

I am completely attracted to the mystery this synopsis holds... must read to find out what Chase did! And look how stunning her bright red hair is on the cover. Beautiful cover art. A new read with plenty of mystery and gorgeous cover art. I can't wait!

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

Sara Gallagher is a woman who understands how important parents are. Not only was she adopted and grew up with foster parents, but she is also a single mother of a six-year-old daughter named Ally. Now happily engaged to Evan and feeling good about her life, Sara decides to give looking for her real birth mother one last shot. To her surprise she finds her mother, which quickly leads to figuring out who her biological father is. Unfortunately, it turns out her real father is a very well-known and dangerous man. Equally as bad is the fact that now that he knows who Sara is, he won't leave her alone.

Never Knowing is a fabulous sophomore novel by Chevy Stevens. Her first book, Still Missing, had me on the edge of my seat and ignoring everything around me until I finished it. This book had me feeling the same way. Such high tension! Chevy Stevens creates intense emotions in poor, tortured Sara. I felt bad for those around her, like Ally, Evan, and her sisters, because of the way she was so focused on the terrible things that were happening to her. As much as the reader knows how horrific Sara's real father is, Stevens is careful to write him realistically. There were a few moments when I was even rooting for him. The plot is narrated through Sara via her recorded sessions with her psychologist, and I think this ends up working very well. The twist ending was not necessary, but definitely gave me an OMG moment. Make sure you put aside enough time because once you start this book, you will want to sit in one place until you finish it. I am looking forward to more from Chevy!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

The Rites & Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson

Janice Wills is an observer. She enjoys sitting on the sidelines and watching her fellow classmates move through the tricky and often confusing landscape that is high school. This also works well to promote her interest in anthropological studies. But Janice's junior year may prove to be a little different than the previous years. For one, there is the overrated Miss Livermush Pageant, which Janice thinks is over-hyped and underwhelming. Plus, there are two boys vying for Janice's attention, making her observations and studies become even more important!

The Rites & Wrongs of Janice Wills was a cute and wholesomely innocent book. The note-taking interruptions were funny and worked well as a literary convention. Perhaps like-minded readers will be inspired to take notes of their own! Joanna Pearson has a sunny style of writing. All of the characters in the book were seemingly happy all of the time and often funny as well. I am usually a little wary of the getting-revenge-on-the-popular-girls story, but this book has a lot of heart. I found myself rooting for not only Janice, but for her friends Paul and Margot as well. And nice cover! It was a perfect fit with the book.

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 6/29/11

DARTH PAPER STRIKES BACK by Tom Angleberger

SYNOPSIS:
It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.” But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . . .

OMG. I totally loved The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. That book was brilliant. That book was magic. That book rocked my world. I was completely sure it was going to be a one-hit wonder. And then this second book was announced and I yelped with delight! I so can't wait for this book. If you haven't read Origami Yoda yet, you MUST. Go. Now. Such good books!

Release Date: August 1, 2011

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

With her mother dead and her father in jail, Lucette lives with her abusive Uncle in a small coastal town in Alaska. When a particularly brutal night causes Luce to accidentally slip off the cliff and into the ocean below, she does not expect to survive. However, Luce soon wakes up and discovers she is now one of the many young girls to become mermaids of the sea. Luce meets others like herself and quickly adapts to her new life underwater. But when queen mermaid Catarina begins to act secretive and vindictive, Luce needs to think for herself... before something terrible happens.

Those of you who follow this blog know I read a LOT of mermaid books. So there are a lot I can compare this one to. and while there are mermaid stories that are much better, this one wasn't that bad, really. Nothing in story came even close to being as beautiful as the cover art, but it was still an enjoyable read. Luce is a very compassionate 14-year-old girl. She so often thinks of others before herself. The other character in comparison felt a little flat and undeveloped. But I liked that the girls still had your typical girl troubles (mostly in getting along with each other). I also appreciated the science and biology of Sarah Porter's mermaids, especially in their coveted singing abilities. My only complaint is the serious lack of guys in this book! You can't possibly convince me that teen girls weren't on the lookout for boys! Lost Voices is a lovely mermaid story that is just as playful as it is dark and moody.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Harper Scott has recently lost her older sister June to suicide, and is having trouble coping. So is her mother. Which is why when Harper gets an idea to drive her sister's ashes to California, she knows she must do it at all costs. Luckily, she meets a quiet boy named Jake Tolan, who offers to drive her there. Jake seems to know more about June than he lets on, so with her best friend Laney by her side, the three set out across the country for California. Harper isn't quite sure what to expect from this adventure, but one thing is for sure: she will never be the same again.

This book was not only beautiful, but it was tender and fierce and tragic and uplifting as well. That is to say, I loved it! Harper is so raw and real, as are the other supporting characters of Laney and Jake. Jake! The tension between him and Harper was so deliciously thick in some scenes, that I thought I would scream if I didn't get some relief. But it is in Harrington's superb writing that honest and true-to-life scenes like these fill the story with such great emotions. I was cheering for Harper's closure, as well as rooting for Laney (who might be the bestest friend EVER in a book). With an amped up dose of teen angst, this novel was an incredible debut. I am looking forward to more from Hannah Harrington!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 6/22/11

FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater

SYNOPSIS:
In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Not much of a synopsis, I know. But does this third book in a trilogy really need one anyway? If you have read the first two, then you are probably like me: frothing at the mouth for this series conclusion. I love Maggie's soft yet powerful storytelling style, and Sam and Grace are one of my favorite literary couples of all time. Can't wait!

Release Date: July 12, 2011