Waiting on Wednesday (2) - Linger

By: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
To be released: July 20, 2010

Summary (from Goodreads):


In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past...and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves...and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love--the light and the dark, the warm and the cold--in a way you will never forget.


I think everyone who has read Shiver is waiting for Linger. Shiver was such an amazing book and I've been dying to read Linger ever since I finished it. Now that it is nearly July, we only need to wait 20 more days to read! I cannot wait to read more about Grace and Sam and see were this book takes them.


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Pietr from 13 to Life Has Been RANSOMED!!

Oh no! Yesterday, we discovered that Pietr from 13 to Life had been kidnapped by Mundie Moms founder Katieb and is being held ransom! To help save him we need people's help. Here's Katieb's demands:

To help free him (taken from Shannon Delany's site):
Make a donation of $13 or more (or the foreign equivalent) and email your receipt to info [at] shannondelany [dot] com. As soon as Shannon knows there’s a hero helping Pietr and his kind out, she’ll contact the ransomers and let them know the ransom’s been paid. Then Pietr (the adorable stuffed wolf seen here) will be sent to visit you! Take good care of him, because he’ll be traveling on as soon as more people jump in to help get Pietr home. As soon as Pietr arrives at his next stop, you’ll be sent a signed 13 to Life mini poster, a signed bookplate to put into your copy of the book, a glow-in-the-dark 13 to Life pin and a card from Shannon thanking you for your willingness to help wildlife sanctuaries. All participants are required to pay to ship Pietr to his next destination within 1 week of being notified of another hero.

For a list of places to donate and to learn more on how to free Pietr visit Shannon Delany's blog.
I donated to Lakota Wolf Preserve in Knowlton Township, NJ. 

Review: 13 to Life

13 To Life
Shannon Delany
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: June 22, 2010
Pages: 320 Pages

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (From Goodreads):

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction… 

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort. 

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

I have found my new favorite book series. 13 to Life is one of my favorite books I have read this year. I loved every page of it. 13 to Life is not a typical paranormal romance, it encompasses much more than that; it is a story of love, loss, trust and friendship.

There was so much to love about this book that its hard to decide where to start. The characters truly made the story. Jessie is such a strong, amazing character who is a much better person than most. As I read 13 to Life, I kept realizing how Jessie is a much better person than I will ever be, she is so admirable. A person like Jessie is someone people should aspire to be. After losing her mother, as a reader you can feel Jessie's pain. The grief and sadness she feels is real and relatable. Yet even though Jessie is in pain, she is able to put others feelings before her own. I loved that Jessie cared more about her own friend Sarah's feelings than her own, forcing Pietr to date Sarah even though Jessie and Pietr had feelings for each other. Jessie is a friend I would want. However, Jessie might be to good for her own sake, which I believe will end her in trouble in coming books, especially trouble with Sarah (who is not the innocent, nice girl she appears to be). 

This book has provide me with a new guy to love; his name is Pietr. Oh my god. I have a new character crush. Pietr is Russian and just came to small town Junction. The chemistry between Pietr and Jessie jumps straight off the page and was so real. Jessie and Pietr needed to be together no matter how hard Jessie pushed him toward Sarah. Pietr is his own complex character, much like Jessie, dealing with the loss of both his parents and some other more complicated matters. I'm looking forward to learning more about him, his family and his past in the coming books. 

I really, really loved this book. It did not have that typical story arc that appears in most young adult paranormal stories. Instead the plot was more character driven and not focus on the werewolf thing. The story felt real and relatable, even though mythical beings were in it. The end had plenty of action to sustain the book, and the ending left me desperately turning pages looking for more. I'm eagerly awaiting its sequel Secrets and Shadows out February 2011. This is one series I will be continuing reading.

Check out Mundie Moms chat from yesterday with Shannon Delany to learn more about the series and get some special goodies. 

The Vampire Academy Movie

Some good/bad news came out today, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead has be optioned by Preger Entertainment . This does not nessecarily mean it will become a movie, it just means that Preger has the option to be made into a film. Preger has the rights and can decide to move ahead with the project or not. You can read Richelle's blog post to learn more. Read the press release here.

Now, I like movies, but I dislike movies made off books. This is good/bad news. I love Vampire Academy and would love to see it be made into a movie, however, movies based on books are often, in my opinion, EPIC FAILS. I know that movies cannot have everything the book has, but I feel movies take away the true value of books. If the movie is done right, I have no problem with the movie, but more often then not it is not done right. I'm excited that it may possibly be on the big screen, but if the movie isn't true to the books, I will not be seeing it. Hence, this is good/bad news.

Waiting on Wednesday (1) - Clockwork Angel

By Cassandra Clare
Published: Margaret K. McElderry
To be released on August 31, 2010

Summary: (from Goodreads)

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.


As a big Mortal Instrument Fan, I have been eagerly awaiting this book since Cassandra Clare announced she was writing a prequel. Victorian England, Shadowhunters and steampunk all in one book, sign me up. I cannot wait until the end of August to read this. I'm so excited to meet the new characters and decide if I'm team Will or team Jem. 


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highly upcoming release that I am excited about. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Review: Raised by Wolves

Raised By Wolves
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Pages: 432


Rating: 4.5 Stars


Summary: (from Goodreads)


Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?


I brought this book out of curiosity yesterday for my Nook, thinking that it was going to be just another book about werewolves. Boy, was I mistaken. Raised by Wolves was much more than a typical werewolf novel, instead it delved into what it was like living in a Pack and the relationship and hierarchy inside a Pack from the perspective of a non-Were, with a unique story line that had mystery, action, suspense and romance.


The main character, Bryn, was everything one could want in a female character. She is strong, independent, feisty and stubborn. Bryn's narrative immediately sucked me into the story from the first page were she is already getting into trouble from the Pack leader, Callum. Bryn felt like a real girl, one people could relate to. Sure, she is not like other girls, having seen her parents murdered in front of her and being Marked and accepted into a Pack full werewolves, but her attitude and narrative made her feel real. What I loved about Bryn was that in society based on dominance and male superiority, Bryn is able to hold onto her independence and fight for what she believes. Bryn is not afraid to take risks for something she believes is right, even if she can get punished for it, something I love to see in female characters. 


Besides Bryn, I loved the character of Chase. While we do not learn much about him, he is one of my favorite characters, besides Bryn, in the book. After being attacked by the Rabid and surviving to be turned into a Were, Bryn and the reader really become interested in him and feel for him. I loved unraveling the mystery behind Chase and his attack. And the chemistry between Chase and Bryn was great. I loved all the scenes when they were in each others head, making me eager for when they would be together.  


What really set Raised by Wolves apart from other typical Werewolf novels is that the story did not focused on the supernatural aspect of being a Werewolf, but the issue of the Pack and of family. Since the story is told from the perspective of Bryn, one who is Marked, part of the Pack but not a Were, it is easy to see the structure of Pack life and the difficulties faced in living in a Pack. The dynamics in the Pack and interactions between Packs was very interesting and I loved learning about them in this book. Not to sound like a nerd, but I was really fascinated to learn what it was like to live in a Pack and the feeling of having the Pack there to support in protect you. Jennifer Lynn Barnes did an excellent at creating a believable life for Bryn in the Pack and explaining the difficulties Bryn faced from being in the pack.


While reading this book, I did not want to put it down for anything, but my sister kept interrupting me in the most intense scenes. This is definitely a book to read in one sitting. The plot is constantly moving forward until the conclusion of the story, leaving you wanting more after every event. This book also had some great action scenes in them that made it impossible to want to put down. The end of the book left me wanting more! I cannot wait to find out what happens next in Bryn's life, especially after what happened when Bryn took on the Rabid. Jennifer Lynn Barnes left the book at a perfect place for a sequel to pick up.


While the plot was excellent and constantly kept me on the edge of my seat up until the end, what did bother me a little bit was that some of the characters felt under developed. While the relationship between Bryn and Callum, the Alpha of her Pack, felt genuine, some of Bryn's other relationship did not feel as well developed. I felt that Bryn and Callum had a well developed relationship; Callum was a well developed character, who as Alpha, had taken Bryn in and fulfilled the role as father. Callum really cared for Bryn, and took care with her safety. On the other hand, I felt that Bryn's relationships with other characters, particularly Ali, felt a little forced and undeveloped. Ali is supposed to fulfill the role of "mother" for Bryn, but their interactions were often brief and little was said or described to get the real feeling of love between the two, instead it felt a bit forced in my opinion. Some of the characters could have used a little more development in order to fully understand them and to make their actions, particularly their actions at the end, a little more believable. 


Overall, Raised by Wolves was a great read. I loved every minute of it. In a genre currently filled with all sort of paranormal books, Raised by Wolves really stand out in the crowd. It is a fresh new take on werewolves just when I thought I was getting bored with them. Raised by Wolves is a must read for anyone who likes paranormal YA. 

Claire de Lune Month-a-versary Giveaway

Today, at midnight, Christine Johnson's book, Claire de Lune will be out for one month. In honor of her month-a-versary, Christine Johnson is throwing a huge contest with tons of swag.

There are many easy ways to enter. To find out go here. 

Sea Love!!!

I have deep love for Sea by Heidi R Kling.

Currently on her blog Heidi R. Kling has a contest going on for all sorts of goodies in celebration of her debut novel, Sea.

Heidi has been awesome to her fans and been hosting these contests for awhile now. This is probably the last one so go enter to win some Sea goodies and BEA loot. There will be multiple winners, so everyone should enter.

In order to enter you just must do five simple things, so go head and enter.

To learn more about Sea and Heidi you can visit her beautiful website.

First Review: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Sea
Heidi R. Kling
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: June 10, 2010
Pages: 336


Rating: 5 Stars


Summary: (from Goodreads)


Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.


Wow. What a stunning debut from author Heidi R. Kling. I heard about Sea during the Fall of 2009 and have been anxiously awaiting its release day, and it lived up to my expectation. Sea was beautifully written, full of emotions, and deeply touching.


Sea expertly deals with loss, love and life, all in one book. While reading Sea, I constantly found myself thinking what I would do in the characters situations and wondering what a struggle it is for some people to make it day to day. 


What I really enjoyed about Sea was the characters. All the characters, everyone from Sienna, to Deni, to Spider, were so real and well written. Each character was there own distinct person who had their own issues that they had to deal with throughout the book. For me, I loved Sienna. Her emotions were so real, I felt I could truly connect with her. When Sienna experienced sadness, I felt sad; when she felt joy, I was happy. I love when a book can make you connect with a character on a personal level and in Sea, that is truly what happened. 


What I truly loved about this book was its setting and the topics it dealt with. Heidi truly recreates what it would be like living in Indonesia after the 2006 tsunami. You truly get a feel for Indonesian cultures and traditions thru Sea. Reading this book made me want to hop on a plane and go visit this country to see the beauty for myself. While reading this book, I also realized how catastrophic the tsunami in Indonesia was in 2006 and the struggles and loss that the people had to go through and it deeply saddened me. After reading this, I wished I could have gone back in time to help with the relief efforts in that country to less the pain of characters such as Deni. 


Sea is one of those books that I know will stay in my mind forever. The powerful messages of loss, love and hope are messages that are crucial to living. As Sea reminds us we must Dare to Love and Dare to Live. 

Overflowing Shelf Information

My name is Danielle. I will be a freshman at Boston University in the fall of 2010 majoring in English.

Now that it is summer, and I am free until the start of college, I'm hoping to start this blog and get into the habit of using it. I have said this multiple times in the past, but I really plan to stick to it this year.

The purpose of this blog is to review books that I read. I read mostly YA fiction so most of the reviews will be YA. In the YA genre, I read basically anything, no matter what the genre. If a book sounds interesting in any way, I basically read it. My reviews will contain personal opinion and contain a rating based on a five star scale. My review and rating will encompass all aspects of the book to give the read the best overall impression of the book.

I encourage people to give me advice and help me improve my blog and reviews in any way. This is going to be my first attempt at doing a review blog so any advice would be helpful. If you can share your experiences or advice on my comments that would be great. I am still working on adding content to the layout and tweaking the layout so please be patient with that.

Thank you for visiting.