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Showing posts from April, 2012

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl's mother died four years ago, she just finalized her divorce, and is going on a journey that will she will always remember because from that point on everything in her life changes. From that point on she can move on.

This is my second memoir not counting Born to Run which I count as just a biography. I don't know. No one else says it's a memoir so I won't either. So I am really comparing it to both books because Born to Run was about long distant running while this one is about a young woman trying to heal after her mother's death after she sabotaged her marriage and then goes on a hike for oh lets see... Eleven hundred miles! I also compare it to my first memoir because well... it's a memoir and it's about a girl trying to heal with her mother's death as well which is the whole purpose of her going out there and roughing it so here it goes...

So Born to Run taught me new things. I'm absolutely a wannabe runner and as you can guess a hiker …
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Kickstarter #1

Hello everybody! I want to talk to you about Kickstarter. Kickstarter if you don't know already is a website for people to get funds for their projects. Many months ago I found a book there that led me to some great illustrators. It's called: A Rule Is To Break: A Child's Guide To Anarchy. Although I'm just a teenager in High School the least I can do is help spread the word about some awesome books that need funding. You may get an award so why not check these books out? I'll try to post new books as much as I can. Probably once a month... Well here are some new books I found today:





Here are some books who have reached their goal. Yay!
As you can see I like children's books. I've been thinking of reading and reviewing picture books because honestly I love them. I'm still thinking about it... So if you like any books please feel free to spread the word. Thanks guys (:
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Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Chloe is the personality out of her group of three friends. Merc is the brains and Brie is the beauty. She has a passion for shoes, soap operas, and everyone she loves. She's always there for them when they need a laugh but now after a winter break without her best friends she is abruptly hit with her friends cold eyes and wavering friendship. Brie is none to happy with her and Merc follows her lead. Having no idea what is going on she is left outcast and she soon finds herself with the outcasts. Her crazy counselor disapproves of her former JISP, a program each student has to do to help the community, and forces her to join the tanking school radio. She is definitely not welcomed by this cast especially Clementine a.k.a. nose-ring girl who's attitude towards her can be matched by Brie's new one. However she is welcomed by the quiet yet handsome Duncan who's always there to fix everything. Can he fix her broken heart?

I needed Chloe! I've become absolutely obsesse…
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Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Theodore Boone has got to be the most knowledgeable 13 year old on law around. He's spend his life around judges, lawyers, police officers and court rooms and prides himself on knowing everyone in the courthouse. His mother is a divorce court lawyer who always sides with the woman while his dad is a lawyer who spends his time in the office not going near the courts which he can't possibly understand because his dream is to become a great trial lawyer. He's so into this life that he even has kids coming to him for legal advice ranging from a dog committing a second offense of  walking around without a leash to the murder of the century in his small town. There hasn't been a murder for years and he's fascinated by this one but then he suddenly finds himself in the middle of it. Theo is determined to help his client in the best way possible but what if that contradicts with all he believes is right and just?

I've never read anything by John Grisham before so let …
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My Name Is Olivia... and I Can't do Anything About It by Jowi Schmitz

Olivia's mother has died and she is waiting for her in the form of an urn. It has to be mailed because her father and her moved to another town leaving her Grandma and Grandpa who think her father is very immature (which he is) behind. But it's only temporary. She doesn't need any friends especially not Sasha the boy everyone makes fun of or needs to worry about Milena and her friends teasing her or her not being able to live in a boat in the backyard of her dad's barbershop. It's only temporary after all.

Olivia's story is one I've come across plenty of times. Well not as quite as unique as her situation but a parent-dying-and-trying-to-pick-up-the-pieces type of story. She hasn't really let it out and let herself cry even though they are a "tolerant family." That right there and other things make the book really weird to me. Her father is always crying and I'm always thinking how the mother didn't get frustrated with him and yell at…
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Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme by The Broke and the Bookish
Could not put this in an order this week. So the books rated are not in order well maybe the first one is correct (; Warning! A lot of males on this list.

10) Maia from Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson. My favorite (sometimes) book ever. Maia loves to read... and she has to move far away and deal with evil sisters... She also is a explorer and is pretty resilient even if she is an orphan. So if you don't get why I love this book and character to death.. I don't know what else to say to you. She is just amazing and her and Finn make me happy.







9) Clay from Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Clay! My heart breaks for you. I just crumpled over this book and how great Clay was and what he had to deal with. Well worth one of my top favorite characters.








8) Ben Wolf from Deadline by Chris Crutcher. Another heart breaker. This guy was just incredible. He had a little bit of a complex because he was short. He's in …
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Zero by Tom Leveen

Amanda Walsh's a.k.a. Zero's life has made a turn for the worse. Her parents are still arguing, her dad is still drinking way too much, she wasn't able to get scholarship money to go to her dream school, and her and her best friend are just not talking.

She loves the artist Salvador Dali (think clocks) after she was introduced to him by her all time favorite art teacher well Teacher period Mr. Hilmer who always told her she was doing a good job on her artwork. She doesn't like her body but it doesn't stop her from awkwardly trying to talk to the drummer with the killer eyes named Mike from Gothic Rainbow. He actually wants to hang out with her. (A lot of italicizing so far).

From then on out everything seems to be going right. Well she still isn't able to go to the school of her dreams but she's working on her art, her parents are still yelling but she's got the perfect Mike to distract her, and she's still on the outs with her friend but then agai…
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Socialpunk Blog Tour #5

Concluding the Socialpunk blog tour for me is an interview with author Monica Leonelle. Well enjoy!

What's your typical day like as a writer?

All of my days revolve around my dog, actually. I wake up and take her out, then feed her. She has another break at dinner and another before bed. She keeps me on schedule!

I usually try to get three things done per day. I'm a "burst of energy" type of person. So I will write a whole book in a week or two, then go back and edit it all in a week or two. And then I won't write as much for the next few weeks. On an average day I probably write a couple thousand words, during a book writing session I write closer to 5000 words a day.

On days when I'm not finishing a manuscript, I am catching up on a ton of marketing activities. Today, for example, is a "clear my inbox" day. So I've caught up on almost all my email plus about 25 interviews that have been sitting in my inbox from the last several days. I have to…
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What have I been up to...

Ugh. Sorry guys. Last week was bad for me. I just went home and fell asleep but not only that. I have this big project due. I've decided I'm not going to stress it so much anymore. Whatever happens happens. So sorry! I'll be a better blogger. It's just one of those weeks. I also had Grad Bash Saturday which was AMAZING! I stood in line for Harry Potter for 3 HOURS! So mad. I wanted to quit so many times and my friend was bothering me about it the whole time... it ended up being good but still.... Best time of my life! My mom was freaking out. I kind of hate it sometimes but this time I loved her for it. She's such a mom.... Now I'm back with the last bit of the Socialpunk Blog Tour... the interview! Plus I actually read Zero a week ago and will post the review soon. Sorry again guys.
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Socialpunk Trilogy Blog Tour #4

Ima lives in The Dome. You can't leave The Dome. She doesn't remember her younger years-the years she wasn't at Dome. Her best friend in the world is Dash and it's become awkward between them. See she loves him but can't tell him. He even sets her up with Nahum who is new to The Dome.

Her father is controlling and hurts her if she goes too far while her mother decides to do nothing while her daughters in pain. She runs away to go to a concert- her father hot on her trails but she makes it there with Dash which is where she meets Nahum and another boy... One of the boys with black hoodies grabs her just before an explosion kills a mass of people. But no one seems to notice. It must be the drugs the black hoodies were giving them so why is this one helping her?

She discovers the impossible. Her home is a simulation. The world is completely different. The real world with artists and people who are immortal. There body is basically technology and there is no love. She…
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Trouble Gary D. Schmidt

Gary D. Schmidt famous for (well at least for me) The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy plunges himself into creating a story about brothers, loss, and forgiving.

"Henry Smith's father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you."

Henry's brother was hit by a car one day while out running. They were supposed to go climb Katahdin together but it looks like that's not going to happen. His brother lies in the hospital--his once athletic unbeatable brother. His brother speaks one word and it's directed at him... Katahdin. And now when he's on his beach and feels a wave... a silence and knows his brother is dead he knows what to do. He must climb the mountain and do what his brother said he could not.

 He can't convince his family of course. His family has been split apart. His father hasn't shaven in weeks which has never happened before and he won't leave the house. …
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Socialpunk Trilogy Blog Tour #3

Okay I have been holding out on you guys. I actually received the first 10 chapters of Social Punk from the author. What I mean is she allowed all the bloggers to share it with you guys. I don't know how long you'll be able to see it or download it so I would recommend if you truly want to get to know this book to read it before May. Just in case.

Well enjoy!

PDF Format

I only know that the PDF works. If you need it in a different format let me know and I'll try to accommodate you.
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You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Mikey's sister was raped and the person is going to get off he just knows it. All he wants to do is bash his skull in. Because that's what brothers do when horrible things happen to their sisters. They protect. They make them stop hurting.

Karyn has never been the same since. She cries constantly and won't leave their home. He has to take care of her and their eight year old sister Holly. His mother is no help. She's either sleeping or she's drunk. Now when he decides to find information about the rapist or get him alone he stumbles upon his sister. The same age as his sister. He knows what he needs to do now. She was there and he knows that the best way to get information is through her.

Ellie's brother is accused of rape. She tells the cops that she saw nothing. I mean her brother who has always protected her and always been there for her doesn't deserve this. He didn't do this. Her family walks in a blur like everything is normal when it's not. …
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The Socialpunk Trilogy Blog Tour #2

Continuing the blog tour is an excerpt from Social Punk by Monica Leonelle...

After playing God for six years with the world he created, he couldn't control any of his subjects, none at all. Over the years, he had watched them evolve and become the sum of their own choices rather than the sum of his; and for that, he regretted ever giving them life.


A small, blinking red light from just inside his eyelid reminded him of the news they sent him earlier that morning. The company had cancelled his funding and would shut down his project within three months. According to them, the project cost too much and took up too much space, and the inconclusive results couldn't be published reputably, now or in the future.


Six years of his work, tens of thousands of lives at stake--and he could do nothing to save any of it. He bowed his head, letting his chin rest on the rim of his breakfast smoothie. The smoothie reeked of powder--crushed pills--but he supposed he had better get used to it. He…
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The Socialpunk Trilogy Blog Tour #1

Hey guys! I have a special treat for you today. All this week I'll be talking about The Social Punk Trilogy well specifically the first book: Social Punk by Monica Leonelle. The author was kind enough to let me participate in this blog tour as well as review her book and later on even have an interview. So stay tuned this week for more updates about the book. For now a description of the book, about the author, and a giveaway!

The Book:




Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what's beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.





 The Author:






Monica Leonelle is a well-known digital media strategist and the author of three no…
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Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Donald Zinkoff has always been messy, an atrocious writer, clumsy, and has never really one anything. One day someone finally takes notice and he is dubbed a Loser. He's made fun of and doesn't know it and he just takes everything because life is just one big laugh to Zinkoff. Then he does something that shows his real side and can be called a hero.

Spinelli is almost one of my favorite authors. You may or may not know that I have a rule that if I like four of an authors books I can call them a favorite author. Unfortunately this wasn't in league with his other books i.e. Maniac Magee, Wringer, and Eggs. So I'm still waiting... This wasn't a bad book it was just a little bit too childish even for me. I mean the main character was different and I liked that he literally laughed in the face of danger but I don't know... it was too innocent.

One right after the other I read a book about bullying. Lucky me, right? Well this was a change of pace from what I just re…
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I Forgot To Say....

Happy Easter everybody! Have a great day! Listening to some Christian music right now....

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By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Daelyn Rice is going to die in 23 days. That's the plan according to the website www.through-the-light.com. She would do it sooner she really wants to do it sooner but she can also wait. During the time between she goes on forums and sees other people's problems laid out. Some days she gets asked a question like How are you going to go? (paraphrasing) There's also this boy who seems intent to bother her but she won't smile at him or get connected because that's how she failed the other times... she felt some hope but not this time. But is there... hope for her after all?

Daelyn was the "fat girl" everyone always teased her and she was even sent to the hell on earth that was fat camp. She had a neck brace and I'm sure you already know it's from an attempt or she likes to say failure. Her parents are always checking up on her and her mother is always trying. I understand that but the father has this thing where he can check the computer to see what…
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Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant

Addison Blakely is a PK. After seeing the words PK mentioned oddly in two books I've read in the past couple of weeks I have finally discovered what it means! Yay for me! It means preacher's kid. She does everything for her father (well that's how I see it) while he's always away doing something for the church. She gets to cook him dinner three days out of the week, worry about his health, and maintain the image hat is the PK by getting the best possible grades, choosing the right choices, and overall being perfect.

Then comes in Wes who she has been obsessively stalking. He is the brooding-leather-jacket-motorcycle-riding-get-away-from-my-daughter type of person. He's always around poodle girl as she likes to call his "girlfriend" and they are sure to be making out but Wes has caught Addison's eye and maybe he actually might like her.

Luke is the boy your mother and father would love to meet. He's always sweet to Addison but she has her eyes on …
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Banished by Sophie Littlefield

Hailey Tarbell lives in Gypsum, Missouri. Her house being close to Trashtown where the Morries live. There people who are dirt poor and  look it too. They keep close together. And she feels drawn to them but doesn't know why...

Hailey lives with her Grandmother, Chub (a four year old she adopted as her little brother), and Rascal the dog. Her Grandmother is a mean old thing. She smokes and drinks, does nothing for Hailey and she sells drugs from her house. She had this hope... somehow maybe she could love her but no. She could never especially after she finds out she's been keeping secrets from her. How her mother really died, why Dun (a druggie) looks at her like that, and who she really is.

After an accident in gym class everything starts to unravel. She's a Healer and a good one too. She's never had to practice. She never needed to know anything... well she did actually break a cardinal rule. The only rule you should never break. Doing something unforgivable... An …
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Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

I honestly felt completely blind sighted by this book. I mean I thought oh a prank war of football players and gymnasts and there are steroids so that should be interesting. THIS WAS NOT ABOUT STEROIDS!!! Well it was an underlying problem but I felt like the author just passed by it. One of the main characters, Kurt, took pills from his coach but then that was it... until nonchalantly two weeks later he just casually mentions that he is getting bigger because of the D-Bol (Steroids). It's weird that I know the name for steroids with reading Gym Candy and now this book. Gym Candy actually mentioning more. I understand that it can be used to say why the three football players were acting crazy but really it annoyed me that the author just waved it off. It's not cool to just use steroids. Kurt better be stopping! Other than that it was an amazingly powerful read that just.... wow.
Well I passed the summary... so what it's about: Kurt Brodsky is a new football player for the …
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Top Ten Books To Read in A Day

Top Tuesday is a weekly Meme by The Broke and the Bookish
Honestly this was ridiculously hard to put in order. I am still thinking about it. My reactions to most were... My eyes! Why did I do this to myself!!!???, If you don't leave me alone right now you will be seriously injured, What did you say? (family members trying to talk to me), and How long do I have to wait before dad figures out I haven't had lunch yet?

10) I Am The Cheese by Robert Cormier
The first book I read that made me discover the genius that is Robert Cormier. Has a huh kind of ending.


9) Rules by Cynthia Lord
Made me want to attack Catherine if she DARED hurt David. Which she kind of did. Which made me a very unhappy person...


8) How Not To Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler
I read a ridiculous amount of chapters on Barnes and Noble which never happens late at night and then the next day I went to go buy it literally the next day. Barnes and Noble can be very sly. Loved the Goody-Two-Shoes Jack. Love the name Ja…
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City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I finally relented and got this book. I have nothing against it. It's really popular but it never interested me that much. It was out of the norm. It actually had a "bad boy" who wasn't a complete ass. He wasn't really one ever actually. He was painted to be the bad boy but he never did anything wrong. He fought for his friends... He may have had a sarcastic attitude and could be a little mean but  I really didn't see it which made me really like him. Because bad boys can be overrated. You're cute for a second but then everything goes down hill because you are really wrong for the girl and you try to "reform" but you're still a jerk in my eyes because you act all tough and are never really sweet. Jace is there with Peeta with me. He's not super nice but he has the dark and good side on his... well side so he wins me over.

Getting ahead of myself there. Jace as you can tell is the love interest. Clarissa or Clary for short goes to a nigh…
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March 2012 Cover Love

Another month another new batch of beautiful covers....



It annoys me that there aren't an even number of Cover Loves this time but whatever...
My picks for Cover Love for this month are Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Jump by Elisa Carbone, and The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith.

The cover of Paranormalcy is so fantastic but then the character is nothing like the stoic girl in the front image. I think it's her pink dress from the Prom... I have a thing with girls on covers. I know I have already admitted it but it's so true and then there are girl's in the cover withe dresses. Now THAT clinches it for a beautiful Cover Love.

So happy that Jump came into my life! There are hardly any YA Sports reads out there especially one with rock climbing. Loved the story and loved the bright colors and scenery that is the cover. Plus the Heart in the middle that I just noticed... *shakes head at themselves*

The picture of The Rules of Inheritance has become so symboli…
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