In My Mailbox - October 31st

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

For Review:



The Best Paranormal Crime Stories Ever Told

Won:



Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford (from The Book Scout)

and

$10! Thanks to Sheery from Sheery's Place (won during Dewey's Read-a-thon!)


Bought (with the Gift Card...well, part of it):



The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Random Gift (from ABC Family):




A cute bowl of orange M&Ms that say Trick or Treat, an orange flashilight, and a message from -A from Pretty Little Liars.


And that's it! :) What did you guys get?
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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.


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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.


Read this past week:
Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky
The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Currently Reading:
Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey (for some reason this audiobook is taking me ages...)
The Hole in the Wall by Lisa Rowe Fraustino

Upcoming:
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (maybe...)

Not sure what else yet...

Posted last week:
A Spooktastic ARC Giveaway
Interview with Brenna Yovanoff + Giveaway

I need to get my act together and review some books this week - for serious. :)
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The Sunday Blues (10)

So, today is my 1 year wedding anniversary with my lovely husband Chris. :) I'm sorry I'm so laggy about comments lately, I will get better.. one of these days...

And our plans today involve - Olive Garden (nom) and some scary movies (Paranormal Activity).

I'm looking forward to see what you link up this week!


This meme is basically a pick-me-up - a way to get some extra comments on a post that didn't go so well on your blog the past week, month, or even year.

So, official rules/explanation below.

1. Please link directly to the post that you would like more people to comment on.
2. Posts should have 3 or less comments before posting the link. Only one link per blog/person. Also, these should be content posts - not giveaway posts...
3. Please pick 3-5 links yourself to comment on and write at least a sentence or two in the comments. No "great post" or "great review" comments.
4. I will be trying to comment myself on every single post linked in the Mr. Linky below.

How to Link: Title of Post (Name of Blog)


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In My Mailbox - October 23rd

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

So, tomorrow is my anniversary! :) I've been married to my lovely husband for one full year now! :) It just flew by. We're heading to Olive Garden for a yummy dinner and then some scary movies (old dating tradition) when we get back. Any recommendations?

There's a picture of us at my grandparents' 50 wedding anniversary in early October. :)

Onto IMM! :)

For Review:



Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer

Won:



Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Dertling (and some cool book title bracelets and other swag!) Thanks Kimberly!

Bought (from Half-Priced Books - I only spent $6, I swear!):



Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters
The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
The Dragon's Eye by Dugald A. Steer

(My husband thinks I'm in denial... that I am blind to the 400ish books I own and still have yet to read.. I just can't resist.. lol!)
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Interview with Brenna Yovanoff + Giveaway

Today I have with me the lovely Brenna Yovanoff, author of The Replacement. Learn more about Brenna and her novel at her website:
http://www.brennayovanoff.com/

When and why did you begin writing?

I think I started writing every day when I was about eleven. Before that, my handwriting and spelling weren't fast enough to keep up with my brain and it was pretty frustrating trying to get everything down before I lost the idea, but once I started, it got much easier. I don't know that there really was a “why.” I'd been making up stories since I was really young, and I finally got to a point where I could start writing them down.

How did you get the idea for The Replacement?

I'm not really a bolt-from-the-blue kind of writer, so I don't remember ever getting the idea. It was just there in the back of my head for a long time—years. Then one day, it just felt like the right time to sit down and write it!

The cover is gorgeous, yet creepy! What was your reaction to seeing it for the first time?

Oh, I was so happy! I immediately had to find my husband and show him, because I couldn't stand to go another second without someone else seeing it.

If your book, The Replacement was turned into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?

Hmm . . . I don't actually have a good answer to this. If Alex Pettyfer were still sixteen, he could play Mackie. And Linda Cardellini circa Freaks and Geeks could play Emma. I don't know who would play Tate or Roswell.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

Right now, I'm working on a love story about demons, monsters, and kissing. It should be out sometime next fall.

Thanks for having me, Kristen!

Thank you Brenna for answering my questions! If you want to read my review of her book, The Replacement, please click HERE.

Now for the giveaway!

I have one finished copy of The Replacement to giveaway, thanks to Penguin. Fill out the form below to enter!

For +10 extra entries, you can click on THIS LINK - it's for a contest I really want to win. All you have to do is click and I promise it's not spam. You may even be interested to enter into it yourself. :)

Rules:
1. Open to US residents only (no PO Boxes).
2. Please fill out the form below.
3. Contest ends Friday, October 29th at 11:59 EST.

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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.



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A Spooktastic ARC Giveaway

Thanks to Hachette Book Group and Little Brown Books, I'm here to offer you a fun Halloween giveaway! There will be 4 total winners, 3 winners will win the first prize pack, and one will win the second! Fill out the form below to enter!

*note that all the books are ARCs


Prize pack #1 (3 WINNERS!)


The Witches' Kitchen by Allen Williams
Birth of a Killer (The Saga of Larten Crepsley, book 1) by Darren Shan
Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney
Dark Song by Gail Giles

Prize Pack #2 (1 Winner!)



Dewey the Library Cat by Vicki Myron
The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt
Tumtum & Nutmeg: The Rose Cottage Tales by Emily Bearn


For +10 extra entries, you can click on THIS LINK - it's for a contest I really want to win. All you have to do is click and I promise it's not spam. You may even be interested to enter into it yourself. :)

Rules:
1. Open to US/Canada residents only (no PO Boxes).
2. Please fill out the form below.
3. Contest ends Friday, October 29th at 11:59 EST.

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What I Want...

Okay, I know these two books are out on the shelves, but my itchy little fingers are not allowed to purchase them due to some budget constraints... and I have a surprise at the end...

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Released: October 12th, 2010

Summary (via Goodreads): The Maze was only the beginning...

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more Variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety... until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, much of the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated--and with it, order--and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim... and meal.

The Gladers are far from done running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder--does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

This sounds SOOOO good and I'm dying for more after reading The Maze Runner. I'm dying to go buy it and my local library is closed down for construction for a full month.. I will have to scour other local libraries for it!

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Released: October 12, 2010

Summary (via Goodreads): Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper. His best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

Okay, so I don't have to wait as long for this one because I will be purchasing it for my school library - in fact, I just ordered it from Scholastic because I couldn't wait to get a full order ready and I decided whatever, I'll just order two copies of this one for now. I know, quit my whining, it'll be at the library soon.


And... on another note.. I'm not much of a gamer, but I have a few faves and my hubby JUST informed me that in March.. Dungeon Siege III will be released! SQUEEEE. These games are fun fantasy RPGs that are very hacky-slashy and this next one looks awesome. Click HERE and press the word Video to get a sneak peak.

I really did do a ton of SQUEEing... just when I saw that. :-D

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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.


Read this past week:
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan
Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison
The Nixie's Song by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
A Giant Problem by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
The Wyrm King by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black


Currently Reading:
Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey (for some reason this audiobook is taking me ages...)
The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles

Upcoming:
Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky
The Hole in the Wall by Lisa Rowe Fraustino

Not sure what else yet...

Reviewed last week:
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan
Book Views (10) - Coraline by Neil Gaiman, The Thief by Megan Whelan Turner, and Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

This weekend was nice and relaxing, besides my strange determination to clean... I didn't do as great with the Halloween Readathon, like I had planned, but that's okay. What do you guys have going on this coming week?
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Halloween Read-a-thon Finishing Line!

So, my weekend didn't just consist of reading - I did a lot of cleaning and made an apple pie... and spent some time with the hubster walking around in the great 70 degree weather here in Illinois.

Here's what I did read:

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison (487 pages)
The Nixie's Song by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (162 pages)
A Giant Problem by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (154 pages)
The Wyrm King by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (202 pages)

I sort of also started: Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky but just the first few pages.

I have no clue how many hours I read - maybe.. 7? or 8? Not sure.

Pages read: 1,005

Pretty good! :) How did you guys do if you participated?
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The Sunday Blues (9)

This meme is basically a pick-me-up - a way to get some extra comments on a post that didn't go so well on your blog the past week, month, or even year.

So, official rules/explanation below.

1. Please link directly to the post that you would like more people to comment on.
2. Posts should have 3 or less comments before posting the link. Only one link per blog/person. Also, these should be content posts - not giveaway posts...
3. Please pick 3-5 links yourself to comment on and write at least a sentence or two in the comments. No "great post" or "great review" comments.
4. I will be trying to comment myself on every single post linked in the Mr. Linky below.

How to Link: Title of Post (Name of Blog)



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Halloween Readathon! :)

So, I'm way late in posting about this, but I've been trying to read for the readathon.. and cleaning and doing other stuff in the process. But anyways!

I decided last minute when I found out about it on Friday that I'd try and read some paranormal books for this awesome readathon. I'm doing okay for doing a ton of cleaning today, I'm about 300 pages into Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. I'm not going to predict what I will read after that.. I have too many choices.. seriously.

And here's some challenge stuff! :-D

YA Book Addict asked us what our spookiest read was!

My choice is:

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle

Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy. He is a savage little creature, but the Yorkshire moors harbor far worse, as Tabby soon discovers. Why do scores of dead maids and masters haunt Seldom House with a jealous devotion that extends beyond the grave?

As Tabby struggles to escape the evil forces rising out of the land, she watches her young charge choose a different path. Long before he reaches the old farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the boy who will become Heathcliff has doomed himself and any who try to befriend him.

Wow. Let's just say that this book will definitely keep you up at night and I highly suggest to read it in daylight. Dunkle mixes a meld of classic writing with such horror and suspense, that you will jump if anyone interrupts you while reading (I certainly did). I actually have not read Wuthering Heights (bad me) but I'm definitely intrigued to learn just what the little boy in the book becomes as the character Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. I think the author did a fantastic job of staying true to the classic voice in the novel while still chilling you to your bones. Definitely a novel to pick up when you need a good, intriguing scare.

Oh My Books! wanted to see what we were dressing up for Halloween. I plan on getting this costume:

And I think it needs a better cape...


So, that's that. Back to reading!
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In My Mailbox - October 16th

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

For Review:



Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Graham
Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marchesani

That last one really cracked me up. :-D

I'm sort of happy I haven't been seeing much in my mail.. I need to catch-up.. somehow.. which won't happen, but I'll try my best. Off to read some more.

What did you guys get?
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I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

Author: Erin McCahan
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Genre: YA Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Copy provided by: Publisher
Summary (via Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

Why I read this: When I read the description for the book, I thought it sounded like a fun contemporary YA that I would enjoy.

Plot: True to the tone of a great contemporary novel, this was another book that tugged at my heart and while reading it, I really felt that I was the main character. I was just so involved in what she was thinking, going through and all of the fantastic emotions streaming through the novel. I cried when she cried, my heart skipped a beat when hers did and I just couldn't put this book down when I was reading it. It's about a 17 year old girl who falls in love, almost gets married before even going to school and decides that yes, she does love her fiance, but is she ready to give up her whole future wants just to be with him? I think it was a great novel about love and being brave enough to see past falling in love with love and make real life choices.

Characters: I loved Bronwen's character. I think every little girl at one points wants to be Someone Else - maybe not a real someone else, but at least a rich princess or a heroine. I was really drawn to Bronwen in this book and I loved her point of view and the way that she had her faults and weaknesses as well as her strengths. Nothing was completely easy for her as hard decisions often are not.

As for Jared, I was little worried he'd turn out to be like the first boyfriend, but he really surprised me and turned into a guy that I think any girl would love to marry.

Relatability: As someone who actually got married last year, I can very much relate to what Bronwen was going through when she fell in love. I think finding the one person who is right for you is probably the most beautiful thing on earth and I loved how that was broached in this book.

Cover Commentary: I love it. Definitely captures the feeling of the book.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Bloodthirsty Winners!

So, the contest for a shiny new copy of Bloodthirsty ended on Tuesday!

Here are the WINNERS!

Arceli

Jenny N.

Robin K.

Also, random thought... I've been thinking lately about my decline in reviews some weeks - how would you guys like more info about the books I deal with at my elementary school library.. new books, old books.. different genres, etc?

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Book Views (10)

Book Views is an idea that Kate over at The Neverending Shelf created. Basically, I give you a picture, the summary and a review (in less than 75 words).

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Summary (via Goodreads): When Coraline explores her new home, she steps through a door and into another house just like her own - except that things aren't quite as they seem. There's another mother and another father in this house and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. Coraline must use all of her wits and every ounce of courage in order to save herself and return home... but will she escape and will life ever be the same again?

Review: I was surprised by how closely the movie followed this book, as I had seen the movie long before I picked up this book. It's a great short and spooky read that is perfect for Halloween coming up. Gaiman is a fabulous storyteller.

Final Verdict: Definitely a book you do not want to miss. Appropriate for 4th grade and up.

The Thief by Megan Whelan Turner

Summary (via Goodreads):

"I can steal anything."

After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task -- to steal a hidden treasure from another land.

To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

Review: I was a bit surprised when I started reading this that it was from the POV of a young man - not sure why, but I just assumed it was a young woman. Full of adventure, political intrigue, and mythology, The Thief is a fantastic start to a trilogy I'm dying to read more of.

Final Verdict: Highly recommend picking this one up if you want a story filled with adventure, mythology and a surprising end. I'd recommend this book as 6th grade and up.

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Summary (via Goodreads): Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey.
But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.

Review: A moving middle grade novel that made me laugh and cry more than I have in a long time. The younger brother Jeffrey provides hilarious 4-year-old dialogue that will make you laugh and then cry because of how serious his situation really is. I highly recommend this book for anyone!

Final Verdict: Definitely a book you don't want to miss reading. Recommended for 5th grade and up.
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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.


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The Emerald Talisman

Author: Brenda Pandos
Publication Date: March 24, 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Copy provided by: Eleni @ La Femme Readers
Summary (via Goodreads):

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

Why I read this: Vampires, a debut, and my girl Eleni really backed this book up with a tour a few weeks back and I jumped on board. I know, I'm a bit behind - review-wise.

Plot: Your usual plot when it comes to YA paranormal romance - girl is a bit 'different', enter hott brooding vampire... type novel. :) I was a little put off during this first book because it turns away from the fact that Julia has a special ability and becomes more about the new vampire in town. That aspect just seemed to get waylaid, but hopefully will come up more in the next book. There's some decent action, damsel in distress situations, and a lot of "does he really like me?" moments that are quite common to this genre. I definitely recommend this book to readers who like the plot to revolve more around a love interest/relationship.

Characters: There's definitely a spotlight on the two main characters and I feel definitely want to know more about their background. I feel like it was a good starting point to get to know them better, but I need more. My curiosity has been piqued.

Relatability: Definitely a great book for lovers of the YA Paranormal Romance genre.

Cover Commentary: I love the colors and design.

Rating: 4/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Christmas Shopping time!

It's coming up to that time again. When I went apple-picking a week or so ago, we all selected our adult family member to buy a gift for (we do this on my dad's side) and have already begun my shopping. I've been looking a lot at CSN stores, because they have great items for all areas of the house - from nightstands to bakeware to even toys!



Where are you guys shopping for Christmas gifts? Have you started? Are you finished?
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Artemis Fowl; The Atlantis Complex

Author: Eoin Colfer
Publication Date: August 3, 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Sci Fi
Copy provided by: Library
Summary (via Goodreads):

Artemis has committed his entire fortune to a project he believes will save the planet and its inhabitants, both human and fairy. Can it be true? Has goodness taken hold of the world’s greatest teenage criminal mastermind?

Captain Holly Short is unconvinced, and discovers that Artemis is suffering from Atlantis Complex, a psychosis common among guilt-ridden fairies -- not humans -- and most likely triggered by Artemis’s dabbling with fairy magic. Symptoms include obsessive-compulsive behavior, paranoia, multiple personality disorder and, in extreme cases, embarrassing professions of love to a certain feisty LEPrecon fairy.

Unfortunately, Atlantis Complex has struck at the worst possible time. A deadly foe from Holly’s past is intent on destroying the actual city of Atlantis. Can Artemis escape the confines of his mind -- and the grips of a giant squid -- in time to save the underwater metropolis and its fairy inhabitants?

Why I read this: I absolutely love the Artemis Fowl series - it is one of the best middle grade series I have ever read. It mixes a few different genres with fantastic characters, hilarious dialogue, and a plot that always twists and turns.

Plot: I actually was a bit surprised about this book. I never thought they would throw a curve ball like Artemis slowly losing his sanity. But, if you know Artemis, there's always something strange going on with the evil mastermind. Beyond that, there is still a spectacular blend of action, suspense and the usual twists and turns. Eoin Colfer is a genius. Seriously.

Characters: I love all the characters - even the "bad" guys. They're just so unique and different from the usual that you can't help but like them just a teensy bit. The narrator on the audiobook version I listened to does a fantastic job on Butler's voice and due to that and his personality... Butler is probably my favorite character.

Relatability: I think that readers looking for something a bit different in middle grade sci-fi and fantasy will find it in the Artemis Fowl series. Definitely one of my favorite series ever.

Cover Commentary: I really love the look of the new covers. They're beautiful and will probably sell better than the sort of boring, old covers.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Mockingjay (spoiler-free)

Author: Suzanne Collins
Publication Date: August 24th, 2010
Genre: YA Dystopian
Copy provided by: Myself, bought
Summary (via Goodreads):

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. District 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. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is 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.

Why I read this: Do you even have to ask?

Plot: The last of the Hunger Games trilogy did not disappointment me in the least - besides it marking the end of a fantastic trilogy. Full of action and continued dystopian themes, I couldn't put this book down for long. I really like the way Collins wrapped up the series. The book played out in a way that will keep me thinking about the characters and world for a long time.

Characters: The only thing I'm going to say - is someone I love dies and it really broke my heart. I'm also not quite certain that I like the way it ended for the characters, but that's all I'm going to say. I really like the way the characters develop in this book and I hope that many more people will discover this trilogy in the future, because it is an amazing set of books.

Relatability: I liked that it stayed within the realm of dystopian - I was worried it would focus on a different theme too much and that it would lose the feel I so loved about the series. But, it didn't and I'm happy! :)

Cover Commentary: Very fitting for the book. I love the symbolism and I think it will be a trilogy that is later taught as part of an English course curriculum.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read this past week:
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick
Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli
Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks
Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building by Deborah Hopkinson
Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen
Dodger & Me by Jordan Sonnenblick
Being Teddy Roosevelt by Claudia Mills
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor
Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln by Judith St. George
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman
Frogs by Nic Bishop
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell


Currently Reading:
Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey
The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles


Upcoming:
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Trance by Linda Gerber
The Princess and the Snowbird by Mette Ivie Harrison


I just love seeing a long list of read books. *sigh* Thanks to a four-day weekend, an upcoming booktalk, and a 24 hour readathon.. I read a lot! :-D How did you guys do?
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In My Mailbox - October 10th

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

For Review:



Contagion by Joanne Dahme
We are Not Eaten by Yaks by C. Alexander London

Bought (from Half-Priced Books):



Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones

From the library, I brought home 19 books, all from this list:

Bluestem Readers' Choice Award

The only one I didn't bring home - was Kenny and the Dragon.

I've already read all but two of them. :)

So, what did you guys get?
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