Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
After a love spell goes horribly wrong, Sophie Mercer is sent to live, at Hecate Hall. There she and other teen Prodigium, shape shifters, witches, and faeries, learn to use and control their powers so they don’t attract the attention of their mortal enemies. When Sophie arrives, she discovers that something more sinister is lurking inside the protected wall of Hecate Hall, something that will put lives in danger.

At first this book came across as a tamer version of P.C. Cast’s House of Night series mixed in with a little of Rowling’s Harry Potter. Readers may recognize parts of the books that will remind them of other favorite series that they are familiar with. Once past the initial pages, things begin to pick up and become a little more original.

Her characters are wonderful, especially Sophie and her roommate Jenna. Sophie’s naiveté and inability to control what comes out of her mouth when she starts speaking, provides us with a charming and likable heroine with a refreshing dose of humor. Hawkins writes with a wonderful sense of humor, and has some pretty good laugh out loud moments:

“Sophia Mercer, “ Elodie intoned, “we have come to induct you into our sisterhood. Say the five words to begin the ritual.”
I blinked at her. “Are you freaking kidding me?”
Anna gave an exasperated sigh. “No, the five words are, ‘I accept your offer sisters.’” (pg 92)

I like that this book made me laugh, and since it picked up towards the end, I may definitely have to give the sequel a shot. Yes this is the first book in a projected Hex Hall series, and I think that it will be interesting to see where Hawkins will take us next.

Cautions for sensitive readers:  This book had all the fun of House of Night without the mature content.  No language, some violence, and very mild sexuality.

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NOW ON ORDER! The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa sequel to The Iron King

Haven't read The Iron King yet? Here is a taste of the book that should get you interested!



Already read The Iron King? Then get your hold in on The Iron Daughter due out 8/1/2010 by clicking here.

Help Name KHCPL's New Teen Room!

The building remodel is right on schedule, but we need your help!  We need a new name for the teen room in the remodeled library. Currently, our teen room is called the Teen Scene, but if you have a better idea, we want to hear it!  Submit your suggestions either in the comments below or by emailing me at mwheelock@khcpl.org!  Your suggestion could be our new name!!!  Hurry and send us your suggestions now!

YALSA Announces 2010 Teens Top Ten Nominations!

The new nominations list for the 2010 Teens Top Ten Award has been released. So far I have read 10 of the nominees. They all look great though and several are on my "To Read" list. Check out the list and let me know how many you have read!

2010 Teens’ Top Ten Nominations

Book Review: Tantalize Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Quincie Morris has a lot on her mind. Since the death of her parents three years ago, Quincie and her Uncle Davidson have been running the family restaurant Fat Lorenzo’s. With the completion taking away business they decided to change the restaurant into Sanguini’s, a restaurant built around a vampire theme. When the head chef, and good friend Vaggio is murdered in the restaurant kitchen, Quincie’s best friend, Kiernan, a hybrid werewolf and the boy of her dreams, warns her that real vampires may be involved. While the police investigate Kiernan and the werewolf connection, Quincie must get the restaurant ready for its grand reopening, and hope that whoever killed Vaggio doesn’t come back for her.

Cynthia Leitich Smith did an excellent job with her characters and her plotting. I can’t believe how fast I was drawn into this novel. While it still suffers from the Twilight vampire and werewolf phenomenon, it was still interesting and unique.

Recommended for those who like paranormal fiction, vampires, and werewolves.

Cautions for sensitive readers: Some violence, some sexuality although no sexual descriptions are in the book. Mild language.

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Book Review: Snap by Carol Snow

Snap by Carol Snow


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Preppy and pampered Madison Sabatini has just about everything going for her. She got the job as photographer for her school newspaper, she has great friends, great clothes, and she is going on a Hawaiian vacation on her summer break with enough time left at the end of the summer to come home for the newspaper’s pool party. That is, until her parents cancel the trip and inform her that they are going to Sandyland instead. She suspects something is up with her parents, her dad isn’t talking much and her mother has been angry a lot lately. They seem to be keeping secrets from her. Then her prized camera begins to capture images that aren’t there in real life. Images of people who later suffer tragedies. Now Madison has a secret of her own, one she can only share with her new friends at the Psychic Photo store in town. Can she figure out what’s wrong with her parents and solve the mystery of her camera before it is too late?

A quick read for someone looking for light paranormal stories or semi-realistic fiction. It has the feel of a Sarah Dessen novel with paranormal circumstances.

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Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gabry lives in the protected town of Vista with her mother, Mary. She has always known safety in her small quiet town until one night when she and some of her friends decide to cross the barrier that protects Vista from the Mudo, the walking dead, on the outside. Although Gabry doesn’t want to cross the barrier she goes anyway to win the love of her best friend’s brother, Catcher. Only things don’t turn out as the teens expect, and when tragedy strikes, Gabry would give anything to go back to that moment before she crossed the barrier.

This sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth was exciting and action packed. There were times when my heart was racing because I didn’t know what would happen next. This book was so unpredictable, the narrator so indecisive that I had no clue where the book would take me next. I liked Gabry, but felt that she needed to reevaluate some of the choices she has made. She finds herself facing danger around every turn as her once quiet and safe life unravels around her. But it is her decision making (whether good or bad) that makes this novel such an unpredictable delight.

Cautions for sensitive readers: There is quite a bit of violence in this book. There is no language or sex.

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Winner!

The winner of the Heist Society ARC has been contacted. Thank you to everyone who has particpated. Keep watching for more giveaways in the future!

Book Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When Violet Ambrose was eight years old she found the remains of a human corpse. Violet has been able to find the dead her entire life. She senses echoes off both the dead and those who are responsible for their deaths. When a serial killer starts targeting teens in her area, Violet sets out to use her ability to find the murderer. What she doesn’t plan on is that as she gets closer to the killer, the killer gets closer to her.

Part romance, part paranormal fiction, part mystery, this book has a little for everyone. Although it has a few slow spots, the mystery and the romance pull you through the book. Violet’s abilities are unique. She can sense, visual, auditory, olfactory, or even taste echoes off both the dead and those responsible for their deaths. It was an interesting twist to see a character who senses violent deaths, rather than ghosts. The romance with her best friend was realistically portrayed and appropriately awkward at times. But my favorite parts of the book were the chapters from the killer’s point of view, which were riveting and kept me engaged. In fact, I found myself wanting to flip forward to find the next chapter from the killer’s point of view. (I was good and didn’t skip to those chapters, but boy did I want to.)

Overall this was a fun and entertaining read. Derting has created a highly enjoyable debut novel. I would recommend this to fans of paranormal fiction, romance, and mystery. The sequel, Desires of the Dead is scheduled to be released in 2011.)

Cautions for sensitive readers: While you know girls are being murdered, there are no gruesome descriptions. There is some drinking at a party and an incident where an intoxicated young man makes unwanted advances on Violet.

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Giveaway! Enter By 5pm Today!

Only a few more hours left to enter for your chance to win one free Advanced Reading Copy of Heist Society by Ally Carter. To win you must send me an email by 5pm today--Friday April 2nd.

Send email to mwheelock@khcpl.org

Email must inclued which branch you would like to pick the book at if you win.

Entries open only to KHCPL library patrons who have a library card.

I will contact the winner on Monday by email. Good Luck!

Book Review: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer



My expectations were VERY high when I went to read this book. I truly loved the first book in this series, which centered around a girl named Miranda and her family dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster involving a meteor hitting the moon. I liked the second book as well, which was about a young man named Alex and his family dealing with the same situation. In this book, the two families meet and form relationships. Miranda and Alex end up liking each other as well.


While I really liked the concept of knowing what happened next for the characters of those books, I was ultimately quite disappointed with the merging of the two storylines. I didn’t find the idea of Miranda and Alex falling for each other believable at all. There wasn’t enough attention given to the developing of that “love story”. And once again in this series, the story doesn’t completely wrap up completely in the end, so I have to wonder if she’s planning on writing a fourth installment.

It was still very interesting to contemplate the continued repercussions of the natural disaster, however. So while I feel that the books lessened in quality as the series went on, I don’t think they are a waste of time by any means! All in all I would still very much recommend reading this series, simply because the concept is just so gripping and thought-provoking.

Cautions for sensitive readers: Some gruesome descriptions of the dead and indications of violence. No sex or foul language.

Guest reviewer: CW

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