Waiting On Wednesday: First & Then by Emma Mills

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

First & Then

By Emma Mills

Publication Date: September 8, 2015

From Goodreads:

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Why I picked it:

Besides the fact that the cover is insanely awesome? Well, I'm pretty dang curious to see what trouble Foster will present to Devon, and who she is going to end up with in the end. Click here to put your name on the hold list

Monday Meme Spotlight: Scare Factor

Some people like scary movies- and some people like scary books. Here are some scary, unique books that can make you shiver in the dead of night. 

172 Hours on the Moon- John Harstad- Okay, not a lot of people love this book as much as I do. I thought it was the perfect amount of scary and realistic, and the best part was that it was all scientific. It wasn't some supernatural force making things happen- there was a real explanation, and the most terrifying part was that if it really happened, no one would ever know. Click here to see what it's all about.

The Monstrumoslogist- Rick Yancey- Monsters are real. At least they are in this twisted historical fiction novel, the first in a series of four. The first installment focuses on hideous creatures that roam the countryside at night, destructive, terrifying monsters that can't be caught. Until the Monstrumologist takes it into his head to study them, anyway. To see what happens, click here and get the book. 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth- Carrie Ryan- Mind the Fence. Don't venture into the forest- dangerous things lurk there. But as secrets come to light, you might find that all is not as it seems....Click here to unravel the mystery in the first book in the trilogy.

So if you like to be scared, if you like some terror in your reading life, pick up one of these- you'll be sure to enjoy it! And remember what to do if you're nervous:

Waiting On Wednesday: A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

A Mad Zombie Party

By Gena Showalter

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

 

From Goodreads:

The battle rages on.

Ali Bell and Cole Holland's crew of zombie slayers thought they'd won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular—the love of his life, Kat Parker.

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond—Kat's spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla is the one who betrayed them all, leading to Kat's death.

But when Anima rises from the grave to become a force the slayers may not have the strength to overcome, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes, the line between hate and attraction is blurred…and the road to redemption isn't through revenge, but in letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.

Why I picked it:

I was in love with this series from the very beginning, and I absolutely adore it. When I read the third book (and at the time I thought it was the last book in the series) I was content with the ending, but at the same time I was heart broken for Frosty (because I'm a big fan of Happily Ever Afters.) So when I heard that there was going to be another book, and this time it was going to focus around Frosty, I was ecstatic.




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Monday Meme Spotlight: Eliot Rosewater Award

It's award time again! Every year a selection of books are chosen for the Eliot Rosewater Award, nominated in the fall and award given in the late spring. It's a program for high school students to choose the winner, and here are a few of the books nominated this year.

Fangirl- Rainbow Rowell: Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? This one is really fun, and there's a lot to be loved in this novel. Request a copy here.

Throne of Glass audiobook- Sarah J. Maas: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men- thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. I have a lot of friends who adore this book, and the audiobook is said to be amazing as well. Click here to request it.

Boy Nobody- Allen Zadoff: They needed the perfect assassin. Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die-of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target. But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission. I haven't read this one personally, but I think it looks pretty interesting. And it must be good if it was nominated for an award. Click here to request a copy.

So hopefully one or more of these sound interesting to you, and be sure to check out the rest of the selection on display in the teen area.

Teen Book Review: Sweet by Emmy Laybourne

The book Sweet by Emmy Laybourne was an unexpectedly creepy read. I was expecting a book about ending world obesity and nothing more. I should have had an open-mind when deciding to read this. Prepare to be shocked, but the shock sort of sneaks up on you. This whole story kept me wanting more. I laughed and trembled throughout the entire thing. Emmy had an amazing idea when writing this because, it was original and almost futuristic. Laurel and the rest of the characters are automatically relatable as soon as you crack open this book. Laurel feels comfortable in her own skin. She doesn't want to lose weight in the first place and I feel we could all learn something from her. Society was a very big threat in this book, and was one of the main reasons I decided I loved it. This is definitely one of my new favorites and I can't wait for the next one in the series.

(Reviewed by Gingerbread637, 14, Western High School)

Reserve a copy of Sweet.

Waiting On Wednesday: Never Never by Brianna Shrum

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

Never Never

By Brianna Shrum

Publication Date: September 22, 2015

From Goodreads:

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does.

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one. 

Why I picked it:

This is another fairy tale retelling, but this time from a completely different point of view. I don't usually tend to like books when the narrator is a guy, but I'm willing to give this book a try because I really like Captain Hook. (and by that, I mean that I like the Captain Hook portrayed by Colin O'Donoghue on Once Upon A Time, not the crazy looking one from the original Peter Pan)




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Monday Meme Spotlight: Star Wars

     I think everyone has heard of Star Wars by now. The epic saga with a new installment being released in December is still loved by most, hardcore nerds and geeks especially. The most quotable scenes can be heard anywhere you go- and you'll probably get it. So here are a few books inspired by the classic movies that can hold you over until Episode VII this winter.

Lost Stars- Claudia Gray: This YA novel has just been released from NYT Bestseller Claudia Gray, and it looks to be a good one. Telling the story of two Imperial cadets who find themselves on opposite sides of a war during the course of several of the movies, it crosses time from a unique point of view, one that we don't see often. I've just started this one, personally, and I think it's going to be great. Click here to get a copy from the library.

The Star Wars- J.W. Rinzler, Mike Mayhew, George Lucas: This is a graphic novel, I'll admit, but I thought it was interesting. Based on the rough-draft screenplay by George Lucas (this is pre- all the films) it tells a vastly different story, but one that's entertaining all the same. The finished product it much more cohesive and understandable, but The Star Wars is an intriguing look into the process of creating such a massive saga. Click here to get it from the library. 

The library also carries a large number of graphic novels pertaining to the Star Wars expanded universe- bounty hunters, the Old Republic, and more, if you really want to delve into that universe. But remember that nothing is cuter than kittens with lightsabers.

 

Waiting On Wednesday: Ash and Bramble by Sarah Prineas

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

Ash & Bramble

By Sarah Prineas

Publication Date: September 15, 2015

From Goodreads:

When the glass slipper just doesn’t fit…

The tale of Cinderella has been retold countless times. But what you know is not the true story.

Pin has no recollection of who she is or how she got to the Godmother’s fortress. She only knows that she is a Seamstress, working day in and out to make ball gowns fit for fairy tales. But she longs to forsake her backbreaking servitude and dares to escape with the brave young Shoemaker.

Pin isn’t free for long before she’s captured again and forced to live the new life the Godmother chooses for her—a fairy tale story, complete with a charming prince—instead of finding her own happily ever after.

Sarah Prineas’s bold fairy tale retelling is a dark and captivating world where swords are more fitting than slippers, young shoemakers are just as striking as princes, and a heroine is more than ready to rescue herself before the clock strikes midnight.

Why I picked it:

I'm rather fond of fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, and I think that this one sounds extra awesome. I've never thought about the Fairy Godmother not being as nice as she seemed before, and I think it'll be a nice twist on the classic that we all know and love.
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Monday Spotlight: Erin Bowman

 

 And Erin Bowman's new book, Vengeance Road, is coming September 1, to a library near you!

A BIT ABOUT ERIN

She’s awesome. That’s the first thing you should know. And she’s got an amazing book coming out this fall, Vengeance Road, a wild western throwdown that’ll knock your socks off. (I mean, I’ve only read ten chapters, but I love it so far). She’s always been into stories, and she released her first book, Taken, in April of 2013. That’s the first in a series, which includes three books and a novella. You can find her full bio, as well as some pretty pictures and info about her books, on her website at www.embowman.com.

WHY SHE’S FEATURED

Erin is featured today because she’s personable. From emojis to romantic comedies, she’ll tell you what she thinks and she’s got some great opinions. She’s really fun to talk to, and her writing is super-stellar. I love the way, in Vengeance Road, she writes likes she’s in the Old West, and although sometimes that can turn me off from books, Erin uses it in a way that doesn’t overpower the storyline, but enhances the way you see the plot come to life in your mind. There’s magic in that- a writer who can make their book come to life in your mind. And that’s why Erin Bowman is my spotlight. 

Put a hold on Vengeance Road by clicking here!

Teen Book Review: Perfect Cover by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Perfect Cover by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, was hilarious to read. It was as comical as it was clever. Toby Klein, the main character of this book is a phenomenal computer hacker but prefers combat boots to heels. So when a group of cheerleaders recruit her to be on their squad she can't help but laugh. But she realizes that it's not just any group of cheerleaders, it's a group of spies. After she joins the squad it gets even funnier as she's forced to wear skirts and lipstick. I couldn't get enough of this book and am very excited to read the second installment.

(Reviewed by Gingerbread637, 14, Western High School)

Reserve a copy of Perfect Cover.

Waiting On Wednesday: The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

The One Thing

By Marci Lyn Curtis

Publication Date: September 8, 2015

From Goodreads:

Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.

Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.

Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.

But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future...before she loses everything she has grown to love.

Why I picked it:

I like the premise of the book, something about it is just really compelling. I'm curious to see why Maggie can see Ben, and I'm hoping that the reason isn't going to be heartbreaking.
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