Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

4/5 Stars

Goodreads:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

My Unfortunately QUICK QUICK QUICK Review:

I am so sad that I didn't write a review for this book. I love this series. I remember loving the dialogue and the banter between Daemon and Kat. It was all just so real and fresh. I remember not wanting to stop reading. I've only read the first 2.5 books because the cliffhangers drive me insane! I need all the books in the series to be out before I continue. So, the author needs to write faster.

Love the series!

4/5 Stars

This is actually the #.5 of the series. I read it after I read Lux #1.

5/5 Stars

#2 in the series

Existence (Existence Trilogy #1) by Abbi Glines

5/5 Stars

Goodreads:

What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.

Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.

Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.

He is Death and he's about to break all the rules

My unfortunately QUICK QUICK QUICK Review:

I really wish I actually wrote a real review when I read this book because this is not going to do the book justice at all. All I can say is that don't judge the book by thinking, "It's about a girl falling in love with "death". Lame. I'm not reading this." Don't do that!!! Just give it a try. I am so glad I did because I feel in love with the series. I read all 3 books in 3 days. It was so good. The characters were amazing, the little twists here and there were amazing, and the whole plot itself was just great.

Honestly, read it!

5/5 Stars

5/5 Stars

These are the other two books in the series. I am not going to put what the two other books in the series are about because it just ruins the first book. But trust me, you'll want to read them.

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

5/5 Stars

Goodreads:

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.

Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…

In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.

My Review:

I loved loved loved this book. The banter between the two were just perfect. I loved it so much that I was nervous it would end once they got together. It did lessen, but it was still there.

The characters were amazing. I loved how they had constant banter back and forth for so much of the book. That was really my favorite part. I loved how quick they were with each other. There were definitely parts that had me laughing out loud. This is one I will definitely read again because of how much I loved the characters, dialogue, and just the plot itself.

The only change I would make was that the last part with the cat wasn't in the book. I'm ignoring it which is why it's still a 5 star for me.

Amazing amazing read.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

5/5 Stars
B&N:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

My Review:

I read this book when it first came out (a couple of years ago), and I loved it. I have no idea how I missed putting it in this blog!

It became one of my favorite books. I loved how raw it was. Also, the format of it was incredibly interesting. The way the author had to the story go from present time, to past, and then with the tapes and listening to Hannah...just amazing.

I can't believe it was the author's first book.

In fact, it stayed in hard cover extra long because the sales were doing so well (I emailed the author about when it was going to be put into paperback way back when, and that was his answer.).

I do recommend this book to my 8th grade students because I fell it leaves a lasting important message (Also- see the book Speak for another one all teen girls should read!).

There is one really "adult" part. It's only a line or two, but you can see why the author puts it there. I explain this to the students. (Also, I keep this book behind my desk so that I can monitor who wants to read it and such. I also always have a discussion with the students after they read it.) The author put this part (hot tub scene) in the book to really show Hannah finally giving up.

Again, this is one of the most amazing books I've read and will keep recommending it.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

5/5 Stars

B&N:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Review:

I must say...I loved this book. I love the whole dystopia theme, and this one did not disappoint.

The characters were fully developed and seemed so real. I hates some, wanted to hang out with some, and loved some.

The whole plot of the society being broken up into "factions" and each individual once they turn a different age having to choose which one they want to be in for the rest of their life was extremely interesting.

The author did an amazing job setting the world up, making you think (moral dilemma and situations where you put yourself in the characters place and think, "what would I do in this situation?!?!"), and throwing in some twists. It's a young adult book which most of the times does lead to predictable moments, but they were still really well done.

Some parts just made me so angry I wanted to jump into the book and punch someone! Haha. And of course there is a little "love interest" which... swoon. But, romance does not take over the entire book.

I will definitely be reading more from this author (and I'm pretty sure there will be more to this series! Yay!)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

5/5 Stars

B&N:

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and for Jacob the circus world was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an un-trainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was ultimately their only hope for survival.

My Review:

I have not seen the movie for this book yet (so I don't know if they changed anything in the movie or not), but I do plan on it. I bought this book a few years ago, but didn't read it until a year or two ago with my book club.

And, I didn't write a review at that time and honestly forget what I liked/didn't like about it...but I must have really liked it because I did rate it 5/5 Stars on goodreads right after I read it.

I do remember getting it at a yard sale but not really being interested in reading it. Why would I be interested in a carnival setting... well good thing I was "forced" to read it with book club because I loved it. I loved everything about the setting and time period and the overall story. I usually always suggest this book to people when they ask me what to read.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

5/5 Stars I may have even given it 6/5! (Just finished reading it July 1st.)

B&N:
Barcelona, 1945-just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother's face. To console his only child, Daniel's widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona's guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again. Daniel's father coaxes him to choose a volume from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the novel he selects, The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax's work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last one in existence. Before Daniel knows it his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love. And before long he realizes that if he doesn't find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.

My Review:

This book was amazing. I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. (Thank you book club for "making" me read it!) The author did a phenomenal job of keeping the reader guessing throughout the entire story. You would get a piece of the puzzle that really made you think, and then the story would move on giving you more information and other smaller pieces of the puzzle. Then the author would reveal what the first piece of the puzzle really meant causing you to piece the entire thing together a little bit more. I must say some of the information revealed were shocking (even if I started to guess a little of what was going on.)
The plot was perfect. There were basically two stories going on at once, but they were somehow connected. If you enjoy family drama, history, Spain, books, and mystery (I am not a mystery reading which is why I was shocked at how much I loved this book!) this is definitely a book you will want to add to your "to-read" list.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

5/5 Stars

B&N:
When Melinda Sordino's friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast -- even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide.

This is Laurie Halse Anderson's award-winning, highly acclaimed, and controversial novel about a teenager who chooses not to speak rather than to give voice to what really happened to her.

My Review:

I've read this book a few times. It's an easy read in the sense that the format is not straight on prose. This book is one of my favorites due to the way the author presents a strong emotional topic.

The characters are real and dealing with a situation that unfortunately happens too often. And just like Melanie, girls don't always know how to speak up.

I am happy to say that my old high school has put this book as on of the choices on the summer reading list. I think girls should definitely read this.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead #5 Vampire Academy Series

5/5 Stars

Ok- this entire post will be spoiler alert. You really can't read even the synopsis because if you haven't read the series- it will ruin it for you!

*****Spoiler Alert********

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B&N:

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong… After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.


My Review:

I love this series. I was very impatient waiting for this book. I must say after reading it once, it was good- but I expected more. I think now that I think back to it (I read it when it first came out- so it's been a bit) it was more of a lead into the last book.

The ultimate thing everyone thinks about when reading this book is why guy are you a fan of... Dimitri or Adrian? I really like Adrian, but I used to love Dimitri until he turned bad...but I still did like him then.

Now that's he's back and good, I'm torn. I talked to my students about this and they were all Adrian fans. They said Dimitri wasn't the same and he doesn't want Rose anyways. But- the one part that kept me a Dimitri fan is when they're in the cafe and the people come to take Rose away. Dimitri is ready to fight to the death for her.

It's frustrating to see Dimitri say how he doesn't want to be near her because of what he did to her. But Rose knows it wasn't really him...

I'm very exited to read the last one. AND I recently heard that she's going to do another series- a spin-off of some of the minor characters.

I hope Christian is seen more in the last book because I really liked him.

I want to go back and read the entire series again. <3 it.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

5/5 Stars

B&N:

In the course of her dark and eventful tale, Cashore plays with the idea of awkwardness, how at a certain age gifts and talents are burdens, how they make it impossible to feel comfortable in the world. And in this she writes a fairly realistic portrait of teenage life into the baroque courts of her outlandish kingdoms…In many respects Graceling is a study of mysterious angers: it offers a perfect parable of adolescence, as its characters struggle with turbulent emotions they must learn to control. The consequences are more tangible than they usually are in more mundane settings—if Katsa loses control, she breaks someone's jaw by accident—but the principle is the same. The teenage characters in this novel, like some we may know in life, grow into their graces. They realize that their monstrous individuality is not so monstrous after all.


My Review:

This book got many many great reviews that I just had to add it to my list to read. One of my students actually bought it for me for Christmas! I was so excited. I read it a bit ago, but am now just writing the review.

I really enjoyed this book. The whole concept was interesting. Children developing Graces that change their entire life. They are viewed differently and treated differently. Some Graces are more accepted than others. Katsa is deadly. Her uncle uses this to his advantage basically taking who she is away.

While on a mission, Katsa meets someone who will change her life forever.

There is mystery, action, and romance all in this book. The characters are developed nicely. They are believable and interesting.

I have yet to read the sequel- although I heard it was more of a companion novel than an actual sequel. I did hear it was good though, some say better than the 1st.

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman

5/5 Stars


B&N:
"There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast." Julie knows from bitter experience: her best friend, Ashleigh, is an Enthusiast. Ashleigh's current fancy is also Julie's own passion, Pride and Prejudice, and the heroine's quest for True Love. And so Julie finds herself swept along with Ashleigh, dressed in vintage frocks and sneaking into a dance at the local all-boys' prep school. There they discover several likely candidates for True Love, including the handsome and sensitive Parr. And Julie begins to wonder if maybe this obsession of Ashleigh's isn't so bad after all. . .

My Review:


This book started off slow, but then it got really good. I didn't want to stop reading it. I had recently just finished re-reading Pride and Prejudice so it was a perfect book to read. The connections with Pride and Prejudice was neat. I found myself laughing the the characters and making connections because I knew what they were talking about. The characters were well developed and mostly believable. One thing I noticed though was the emails that we sent back and forth seemed a bit formal. This could be what the author wanted to show from the boys from the prep school, but it just seemed a bit formal for high school kids.

This is a young adult book and I believe the girls will enjoy it, but I think they'd like it a lot more if they have actually read Pride and Prejudice- although it's not a "have to have read" book.

While reading the book I found myself really getting into it. I would laugh out loud at some parts.

I read it in a few days- was actually mad that I had to work and wasn't able to read it.

Overall a great read.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

5/5 Stars

B&N:

It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.

Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler.

Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

My Review:


This was a very interesting book. I really enjoyed the way the author told the story from many different view points. It was easy to follow because of the chapter names (name of characters whose point of view you are reading about.) I also enjoyed how well the author wrote in flashback mode. It gave just the right information without over doing it. It also told us just enough to keep us guessing and wondering.

The story itself was very interesting. It really only goes through one day, but through the flashback mode it takes you over years and years. It's such an intriguing story. All the characters were believable and the back-story as well.

It took me around 6 hours total to read... unfortunately I started it at night and ended up staying up way too late reading it! I just had to find out who was the cause of what was happening. It has a really good twist at the end.

I've never read The Lovely Bones, but I would say people who liked that one, will enjoy this story.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

5/5 Stars

B&N:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

My Review: This book was great! I got it free from scholastic, as did a few other teachers, and I'm so happy I did. I was talking with another teacher and she mentioned how it reminded her of the short stories "The Lottery" and "The Most Dangerous Game." I fully agree.

It also reminded me of a really bad movie I saw about adults being dropped off on an island, and I believe it was a game show type thing and they had to kill each other... last one standing wins. Which is basically what this book is. It has a few twists and a few "Ahhh!" moments which makes you keep reading. It's a fast read because it just sucks you in.

***Catching Fire (2nd book) and Mockingjay (3rd/last book) I rate 5's as well! Amazing series.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman (Amazing book!!!!)

5/5 Stars

B&N Summary:

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed — but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life — not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive.


My Review:

Holy smokes this was so good. I didn't want it to end. It pulls you right in and I can see some amazing discussions coming from it.

I would LOVE to discuss this books with some of my students!!! So read it so we can talk about it!!!!

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

5/5 Stars

B&N:

ABout to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooma in the palace--and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust--and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

My Review:

This has become one of my favorite books.

Another reread. LOOOVE this book. About a girl who is in prison and she gets the chance to be the commanders food tester (for poisons) or she is next up to hang. The thing is...she has to try all the poisons in order to know them. SUCH a good book! You start reading it and you just can't stop! I've had many friends read this (and my book group) and almost every single person has loved it. It's just a really well written story. The plot is exciting, the characters are true to life (as much as they can be) and of course there's some great romance...

Oh and it doesn't hurt that the author is so nice! I contacted her about some classroom stuff and she responded so fast and we wrote back and forth a few times. I love when authors do that!

***The entire series is good, but you really don't want to read what the others are about until you've read this one.

Shadow-Kiss by Richelle Mead #3 Vampire Academy Series

5/5 Stars

I'm not going to post the B&N synopsis because it will give too much away if you haven't read the series.

My Review:

I loved this book...minus one little part. Let me explain... The 1st book set the vampire world up and introduced the characters. The 2nd book really took you into the world and the characters. I get very into my books- I usually feel what the characters feel...etc. While reading the 2nd book, I fell in love with some of the characters. I wanted things to go how I wanted them to go! Haha...I became selfish.

The pace of the 2nd book is great. You can't put it down. The 3rd book...just the same. The 4th book doesn't come out till Aug. 24th...I can't wait that long! I need to see if I'm going to really want to throw the book across the room (this involves characters and what the author will do with them, of course.)

Great series. I highly recommend it. If you start the 1st one and just "don't know about it"...keep going. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Now onto the actual discussion of the book... don't read behind this part if you haven't read it.


*********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**************






















Rose and Dimitri
I love Rose and Dimitri. The tension that builds in the 2nd book is great...but the 3rd book- holy hell it's great!

I was so unbelievably happy when they got together. It was so great how happy they were. It made me so happy! And then the author went and put a stake in my heart (haha.)

How could she make him turn into a Strigoi!!!!! Honestly- I really really get into my books and when I read this I wanted to cry. I wanted to throw the book across the room and pretend that part never happened!!!

I read the 1st chapter of the 4th book (the author posted it online) and it didn't let me know i he really is one or not.

Most will say he is- they say it right in the book- but I don't want to believe it!

Maybe it's a trick... or maybe if he is one- Lissa can turn him back. I know, I know...wishful thinking.

But how can the author do that! I am not a fan of sad books- I need my happy ending. I'll be so sad if I don't get it with this series.

Christian

I love him. I liked him the 1st time he was mentioned in the book. I'm not a huge fan of Lissa- never was. But, I do like his character and he wouldn't be there if it wasn't for her...so I guess I can deal. haha.

I really enjoyed how much he came out in this book. I liked how the author made him and Rose be put together. That was a nice twist. I also liked Eddie with Lissa. But back to Christian...

I really enjoyed reading his interaction with Rose. It was funny and just seemed right. I loved how they ended up fighting together.

Rose

She is just an amazing character. I love her. Her interactions with everyone are just perfect. Also I really love how the author made all that happens to her happen. Each even in the book fit perfectly.

Overall

Great great book. There were a few mistakes I noticed in the books- things I believe the editors should have picked up...but oh-well.

I'm going to look at her other books now. If they are as good as these- it'll be sooo exciting.

Yes, I know...I'm a total geek... I'm ok with that. :)