Bad Apple
Author: Laura Ruby
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (October 6, 2009)
Full Disclosure: Borrowed ARC

My Rating: 3 out of 5

My Summary:
Tola is different. She has candy apple green hair, dresses in ratty clothes, and is always talking about fairy tales. She's also an artist, and is accused of having an affair with her art teacher. At first the rumors don't bother her, but after awhile it starts to cause some big problems for Tola.

Bad Apple, was an incredibly fresh out look on why someone may be different. It shows how all the little things going on in someones life makes them who they are. For Tola it was her parents divorce, that started pushing her towards the book of fairy tales. It was the divorce that changed the way she looked at things. I enjoyed watching her life and situations change.

In between every chapter of Bad Apple is a comments section from some of the other characters. At first this threw me off, and I really didn't like it. But as the book went on it allowed me to get to know more of not only Tola, but of what everyone thought of her. There are several comments from Seven, the boy who is supposed to be the romance interest, that made me smile. They were really sweet comments that for me added a little bit of fluff to the story.

OH and can I just say how different the cover is? It's a different take on the standing out/being different/bad apple thing. Love it!

Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster  (October 13, 2009)
Received: Library

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
Hush, Hush oh, how I do not know how to describe thee. Allow me to attempt anyway. Okay, seriously enough with the melodramatic. Hush, Hush is one of those books that I loved but honestly have mixed feelings about. It's a 4 out of 5 for me because I will be buying a copy for my shelves. But at the same time, I wonder why I'm doing so. This is actually one of the hardest reviews for me to write, because I loved the idea of the story, but the characters not so much.

Nora usually partners up for class assignments with her best friend, Vee. When her biology teacher switches up the seating chart for the big reproduction unit (think S-E-X), Nora gets stuck with the sexy and irresistible Patch. Suddenly, Nora who is usually clam and level headed is doing all sorts of rash things. Like breaking into the school office for a look at Patch's file, riding dangerous carnival rides, and flirting with Patch.

That's pretty much the jist of the story. Bad Boy Patch flirts with Good Girl Nora, and slowly worms his way into her life. Once he's there he's like a thorn, hard to get rid of. Patch being in Nora's life causes so many problems for Nora, that it's not even funny. There are several attempts on Nora's life as well as a severe accident involving Vee.

The end was the best for me, I found myself crying, and that is honestly what saved the book. From the first page til then I kept questioning why I was reading Hush, Hush. Then suddenly it all just seemed to make sense to me, and I realized that all the hype it got made sense.

Even though a lot of Hush,Hush seemed to be like Twilight, in the whole immortal stalker boyfriend kinda way, it was at least in my opinion much better. I don't personally approve of the type of relationship that Patch and Nora have, for me it was a bit too much. But then again I guess if  I was a fallen angel I'd be a pretty dark person.

I will read this book again, and will buy myself a copy. Also, there is a sequel slotted for this book, tentatively titled Crescendo I will be picking it up, if only to see if Nora and Patch can redeem themselves in my eyes. I would recommend this book to others especially if you like paranormal spooky stuff, or if you liked Twilight.

And in the grand fashion of me loving book trailers, I have to post the book trailer for Hush,Hush which I absolutely adored.

Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Hardcover: 383 pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile (June 16, 2009)
Recieved: Library

My Rating  4 out of 5

Summary:
Auden's life was anything but ideal. Her parents are divorced, her father has a whole new family, and her mother is so wrapped up in her own career that she expects Auden to be just like her. After a phone call from her neer do well brother, Hollis, Auden realizes that she's missing out on the best times of her life, so she decides to go visit her father and his new family.

As soon as she gets there Auden figures out she may have bit off more than she can chew. Thisbe, her baby half sister, never seems to stop crying. Heidi, her father's new wife, is at her wits end trying to manage the baby and her business. While Auden's father seems to do nothing at all but work on his writing.

It's a sense of déjà vu being in her fathers household for Auden. She sees the same actions that caused her parents to split up, and remembers the pain that it brought her. Auden had already stopped sleeping at night, in an effort to deal with her parent's break up, and the whole not sleeping thing just seems to be getting worse.

When she takes a job at Heidi's store to help her out, Auden realizes that there were a lot of things she missed out on growing up, and for her, this summer is going to be all about taking that back and getting her second chance.

Along for the Ride wasn't anything like any of Sarah Dessen's other works. This one focused more so on family, and growth and was, at least in my eyes, much deeper than her other works. I really enjoyed reading it. The not sleeping at night thing, really spoke to me because I don't sleep at night either.

The characters were also really wonderful. They all stood out and had their own voices. I also liked how one of Sarah Dessen's other characters made a cameo. I've noticed that it happens a lot. I personally would love to have a book about one of the supporting characters. Over all, this was an awesome read. Something I will buy and add to my collection.

So I'm finally posting about my completion of the 2009 YA Challenge hosted by J Kaye at J Kaye's Book Blog. I've been finished with this challenge for quite some time, but haven't gotten around to posting my wrap up. This was my first time participating in a reading challenge. I'm pleased with how quickly I finished it. I'm looking forward to getting involved in more challenges in the future.

The books I read were:

1. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
2. Truth or Dairy by Catherine Clark
3. Marked by P.C & Kirstin Cast
4. Betrayed by P.C & Kirstin Cast
5. Chosen by P.C & Kirstin Cast
6. Untamed by P.C & Kirstin Cast
   
7. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
8. Hunted by P.C & Kirstin Cast
9. Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
10. The Good Ghoul's Guide to Getting Even by Julie Kenner
11. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
12. Gone by Michael Grant

Not a bad list after all. I should have joined a series challenge as well since I read almost the whole House of Night series, well what was published at the time. Anyway, here's to YA books both new and old. I'll keep reading them especially because there are so many awesome YA books both coming out and already released.

Troy High
Author: Shana Norris
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Amulet Books (August 1, 2009)

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary:
First off let me say I know I promised spooky and scary books for October, but honestly, what's scarier than a bunch of football players and cheerleaders? (Hahah, I tease!) Now onto the review!

Troy High is supposed to be a modern retelling of Homer's Iliad. Cassie goes to Troy High, and her best friend and crush, Greg, goes to Lacede High. The rivalry between the two schools is fierce and Cassie really doesn't understand what the big deal is.

Both Cassie and Greg have older brothers who play on the Football teams, Cassie's for the Trojans of course, and Greg's for the Spartans. When a cheerleader from the Spartan's team is forced to switch schools and ends up going to Troy, all hell breaks loose. Elena, the former Spartan cheerleader, was one of Greg's brothers girlfriend. When she switches schools and teams, she also switches boyfriends and ends up dating one of Cassie's brothers. It is then and there that Cassie and Greg have to deal with the football rivalry, and put their friendship at stake.

The pranks the two schools pulled on one another were pretty funny, but a bit unbelievable for me. I liked reading this book, and the characters were like able, but for me it didn't click. Cassie and Greg's emotional teenage angst was real and believable, but that was about all that was. I also wasn't a big fan of the cover, I suppose it could be Elena depicted. But honestly the book was all Cassie, and Cassie wasn't a cheerleader.

I think that this book would be good in the classroom environment. It would take Homer's Iliad and bring it much closer to home for students.

The Cupcake Queen
Author: Heather Hepler
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (September 17, 2009)

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
Penny Lane was forced to move from the city to Hog's Hollow. Penny isn't thrilled about this, and is convinced it's just a stage her mom is going through, that soon she'll be back in the city, back to her old life and things will be back the way they were before.

Penny gets stuck helping her mom at a birthday party for a girl her age, and when things go wrong Penny knows that she's in the wrong town. It's because of the massive mishap that happens at this party, that Penny's life is made miserable when school starts.

With the help of some new friends, Tally, Blake and the mysterious guy who runs on the beach with his dog Sam, Penny learns that life is what you make out of it.

Look at the cover! It's one of the most delicious covers I've seen in a long time. The cupcakes look so amazing. And Penny's full name: Penny Lane, so genius.

If I was younger, I would have loved this book. That being said, it was a great read. It would be an amazing read for anyone who is going through a tough time with their parents, since Penny's parents are in the middle of a separation. It really showed how much a tween needs someone to talk too, and what an open line of communication will help.

Hate List
Author: Jennifer Brown
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (September 1, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:

This book touches on a very sensitive subject, school shootings. It was a very tough read. It also was an incredible read. I had a hard time putting it down, and found myself crying more than once. Jennifer Brown did an amazing job with this book, and I honestly would like to see her tackle more tough subjects. She handled the subject with grace but was still real, and honest.

Valerie was a killer. At least that's what she thinks the kids at school are going to think. Her boyfriend Nick shot up the school, and killed a lot of kids. When she tried to stop him he accidentally ended up shooting her, before he turned his gun on himself.

Valerie feels guilty because the people shot were part of a Hate List that her and Nick maintained. The list had anything on it that they hated, be it people, vegetables or having to do their homework.

When the new school year starts Valerie isn't sure she even wants to go back, but she knows she has too. Her parents aren't as supportive as she thinks they should be, and she's terrified that everyone is going to blame her for Nick's actions, and she feels like maybe she is at fault.

This book was an amazing tale of self discovery and forgiveness. I would happily recommend it too adults as well as older teens. I say older teens because of the subject matter it deals with. I even think that this book would be good to use in a classroom setting.

Hunger
Author: Michael Grant
Hardcover: 608 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 26, 2009)

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
Things in the Fayze are getting worse. Food and other supplies are running out. Sam is starting to run low on hope and everything just seems so bleak.

Sam has to be the adult that he doesn't want to be, and it's really starting to wear on him. The kids of the town are looking to him for help, and guidance. He's expected to stop fights and to provide for everyone. He's also expected to be the one with the answers. When all he really wants is to go surfing and be a real kid.

For me this book was not as good as the first one, still a great read and a totally diffrent look on a survivor story. But ultimately not as good. It took me much longer to get into this one than it did Gone.

Hunger was much more violent than the first installment of this series. The violence actually shocked me. There were times when I felt as if I wasn't reading about young children, I had to forcefully remind myself that I was. However, for all the violence and such it felt very realistic. It's something that I'm sure if it were to happen would almost play out exactly the way it was written.

I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes novels like this. I would also still recommend this series to a teenage boy who isn't too fond of reading. My little brother picked it up and was actually interested in it, and he hates to read.

Never Slow Dance with A Zombie
Author: E. Van Lowe
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (August 18, 2009)

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Summary:
Margot is a really fun character. She forges notes from her parents to get out of gym that have ridiculous reasons. The reasons were hilarious for her to get out of gym were pretty hilarious. I found myself chuckling more than once.

Her best friend Sybil was also pretty awesome. She loves Tom Jones and is always really nice. Sometimes she's so nice that Margot can't believe that she's actually from planet Earth.

This book didn't click with me, and I don't know why. I tried really hard to like it, but I think it just wasn't for me. Although I really did like the way that E. Van Lowe used the zombie cliques to kind of show that most cliques are mindless zombies anyway, all following one leader who is also a mindless creature. That to me was a really awesome way of showing that.

I would recommend this book for kids in middle school, it would be a great teaching tool and a good way to open up discussion on hanging out with people outside of your cliques.

Lipstick Apology
Author: Jennifer Jabaley
Paperback: 321 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (August 6, 2009)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

My Summary:
I received this book as an ARC from ALA. I was hoping to have finished it earlier, but life got in the way and of course me being the scatter brained person that I am lost the sticky note that had the release date on it.

Emily's parents are dead, and her life is in shambles. A mysterious note scrawled in lipstick by her mother simply reads "Emily please forgive me." It's that note that sends Emily on a journey of self discovery and acceptance.

When she moves to New York with her semi famous Aunt, Emily realizes just how much her life has changed. From public schools to a private school, and of course being uprooted with out your best friend or parents. Emily struggles to fit in, and still manage to grieve.

There were parts of this book that made me want to smack Emily extra hard when dealing with the boys she meets. I love the fact that this book really showed what it's like to be young and going through all the emotions and struggles that Emily had to go through. It also showed how the choices you make can affect you forever.

It is really hard for me to explain this book without giving too much away, because it seemed to me everything hinged on something else. I will say that I couldn't imagine going through everything that Emily went through.

I would gladly recommend this book to young adults and anyone who enjoys stories that make you tear up, and feel real emotion for the characters.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 10, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth was a truly bone chilling read. I stayed up all night reading it and literally as I finished the last sentence the sun started coming up. It seemed fitting to me that a new day was starting for me, just as it was for Mary.

Mary wants more from her life. She wants to see if there really is an Ocean out there, or if her life just ends where the fence begins. The struggles she goes through, trying to pretend to be happy with the life she has in the compound really made this book for me. Mary seemed so realistic and the way the author described what was going on actually gave me chills.

There were times while reading this that I wanted to put the book down and go to sleep, but I just had to read one more chapter, one more page, one more word until finally the book was done. Even after I finished it I laid there, eyes open wanting more. I wanted to know what happened to Mary at the end.

According to Carrie Ryan's website there is a possibility of a movie. This really excites me. I think this book would translate very well into a movie. And if you doubt that then watch this super amazing book trailer:

Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
Grace is fascinated by the wolves that live in the forest behind her house. Okay, fascinated is a bit of an understatement, obsessed is more like it. They are unlike any wolves she's ever seen. And the wolf with yellow eyes, is her wolf, she misses him when he disappears during the summer months, and cannot wait to see him come winter. He is her soul mate ... in wolf form.

Sam lives two lives, one of which is about to come to a screeching halt, even though he doesn't want it too. He loves Grace, even though he doesn't actually know her, but he's watched her from afar and he knows that she is his.

When Grace and Sam actually meet, while Sam is human form it's amazing, even though it is under less than ideal circumstances. They have a very whirl wind romance. They also try to enjoy every moment they have together, even though they don't have much time. Sam could change back at any moment.

When a newly turned wolf threatens the packs way of life, Sam has to choose between the girl he loves and doing what he feels is right.

This book was astounding. Everything that happened had me on the edge of my seat, and there were parts where I was full out crying. The emotion in this book was thick. The love between Sam and Grace, extremely beautiful. Honestly, I liked this book much more than Twilight. Which is what a lot of people are comparing it too.

I would recommend this book to people who liked Twilight, and who like shifter stories in general. I also made the comment to my grandma that this book is something I wish would have been around while I was in high school. Great beach read, great anytime read actually.

Eyes Like Stars
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (July 7, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is an orphan ... kinda. She has always lived at the Theatre Illuminata, and has never really had a play to call her own. Well except for the ones she writes, where she tries to figure out what happened to her parents. With her side kicks, the fairies from A Midsummer's Nights Dream, Bertie manages to get into all sorts of trouble. But when push comes to shove, Bertie stands up for what she beleives in and fights for her right to stay at the only home she's ever known.

Trying to summarize this book was actually really hard, there are so many elements that pulled together to make it one bang of a read. It was extremely quick paced, and Bertie was a very strong heroine. She is what every girl should be. Headstrong, loyal and a bit of a rebel.

I received the ARC of this book in a contest held by the author. Who by the way is really lovely, she has a livejournal and a twitter and often comments and replies to people. Anyway, I received this book as an ARC and started reading it, only to get swamped with finals and other nasty stuff. So my grandma was looking for a book to read and saw it sitting on the end table, she picked it up and it took me almost 2 months to get it back from her. She kept saying that it was "remarkable" and "totally neat".

Both of our favorite characters were the fairies. They were laugh out loud funny, there were points where I was literally laughing like a loon and snickering, often at the same time.

Eyes Like Stars is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves strong heroines and twisty plots. The best thing is you don't even have to be familiar with Shakespeare in order to get it. It did make me more familiar with some of the characters, but honestly the way they are written totally captures their personality in a more modern feel.

This book hits the stage July 7, 2009. I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy.

An excerpt can be found on the authors livejournal: HERE

The Boyfriend Game
Author: Stephie Davis
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 3, 2009)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:
Trisha loves soccer, it's the only thing she can think about. She works hard at it and is good because of that. When her coach announces that there will be a chance to make the Varsity team, she knows without a doubt that she wants Varsity more than anything.

Her two best friends, Beth and Sara, are also on the soccer team. Beth really doesn't care about soccer, she's only there to spend time with her friends. Sara on the other hand does care. She's naturally good at it and is one of Trisha's main competitors for the spot on the Varsity team.

Where Sara is naturally good at what Trisha wishes she was good at, Trisha gets all the attention from the boys. A boy named Kirk more than anyone else, Sara likes him, Trisha wants him to get lost and it is a cause of major tension throughout the book.

One night after practice, Beth and Sara go out to the local hangout spot and leave Trisha behind, because she insists that she needs to practice. It is then that she bumps into Graham. The two strike up an unlikely friendship. They start practicing together, and Graham constantly tells her that she's so cool and awesome and amazing and 'not like other girls'. However she starts to crush on him, and it changes everything.

This book was so cute! I smiled and sighed and made little noises throughout the whole thing. Also a plus, is that it's short. It's only 156 pages long, it was a super quick read that was entertaining and endearing.

I would recommend to young girls. It would make a good beach read. Super cute!

No Excerpt available

Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 24, 2008)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Gone is the first book of 6. It is a large book, but was a very quick read. As soon as I picked it up I was immediately sucked into it.

Sam once saved a large group of people, and is now expected to save the group of kids that are left behind when anyone over the age of 15 disappears into thin air. All he wants to do is be normal, but he's anything but. He carries a secret with him, something that he doesn't want anyone to find out, but it looks like once all of the adults disappear the chances of someone finding out is larger than he thought.

Astrid asks Sam for help finding her little brother Petey, and Sam sees it as a chance to get out of town. They set off with Sam's best friend Quinn, and have quite the time trying to find Petey. Once they do though and head back to town, they realize more has changed than just the adults disappearing. The bullies have taken over the town, and are now calling it the Fayz. People are still scared and still looking to Sam for help.

With the help of Astrid, Little Pete, Quinn and Elidio they start to push back against the bullies. They want to find out why this has happened and what's going on. When the rich troubled kids come down from the hill, Sam is relieved. It means that he doesn't have to be the leader. But a few days later they realize that these kids are hiding something else.

I love books like this. It has a very end of the world feel to it, which is something that I enjoy reading about. Plus there is just enough romance in it to make the romance lover in me go AWWWW, but there's also fights and mutants and talking animals.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action. I would also say that this would be an awesome book to recommend to a teenage boy, maybe one who isn't too fond of reading. Yes, it is a large book, but it flows very well and is super action packed.

No excerpt could be found.

13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (September 26, 2006)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:
Ginny was very close to her aunt. She felt that her aunt was truly the one person who understood her, and made her interesting by association. When Ginny receives a package from her Aunt Peg, who is deceased, she doesn't think anything of it. The package contains 13 blue envelopes.

The first envelope has the four rules that Ginny must follow, along with instructions to only open the envelopes one at a time in order. So she sets off on this journey through England. On her trip she starts to find out more about herself and her beloved aunt.

This book was such a quick read, and it was entertaining as well. Ginny really stood out to me. She was this girl who felt shy and uninteresting, but as her trip starts to really speed up began to feel more self aware and interesting. She made some great friends along the way and even managed to start a whirl wind romance.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt uninteresting, or to anyone looking for just a quick read.

No excerpt was available.

The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even
Author: Julie Kenner
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (APril 3, 2007)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:
This story is told from the point of view of Elizabeth. She's a junior in high school and has a whole lot going on. Including the fact that now she is a vampire. She goes to try out to be a cheerleader at her school, instead wakes up under the bleachers. She wasn't too sure what had happened until she realizes that suddenly a vampire. Now she has to deal with the fact that she didn't sign up for this! She didn't even want to be a cheerleader. She has to stop the vampires taking over before it's too late. But she can't do it alone. She gets some help from some people that she normally wouldn't be friends with, and realizes that they aren't too bad.

It's hard for me to review this book and tell what happend without giving away too much. It's also one that I read during the read a thon, and honestly didn't stick with me too well. It was a cute book, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I would recomend it for anyone who likes vampire books, but doesn't want to spend a lot of time reading. It was a very quick book, and didn't drag.

An excerpt is below the break.

Prologue

If he weren't already dead, I swear I would kill Stephen Wills. I mean, the undead jerkwad completely ruined my sixteenth birthday. It's one thing not to get the car my dad promised me, but to be turned into a vampire? I'm sorry, but that's taking bad karma to a whole new level.

But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. My name is Elizabeth Frasier and I'm sixteen years old (dead?). I'm a junior at Waterloo High in Austin, Texas. Or, at least, I was a junior until I woke up dead in a field behind the school. I'm pretty sure that the Austin Independent School District's budget doesn't cover the education of the undead.

Austin, you might be interested to know, has the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in the world. I've known that fact for years. More recently, I've learned that Austin has a pretty hefty population of teenage vampires. Coincidence? I think not.

The thing is, I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in cause and effect, set-up and payoff. I've spent almost sixteen years' worth of weekends parked in front of a movie screen, and I know that it's always the stupid coincidences that have the audience groaning and throwing popcorn. But make the stupid coincidence part of a bigger plan, and we're right there on the edge of our seats.

It's like that in life, too. Something might look like a coincidence, but it's probably part of some overall scheme. Just because you don't see the big picture doesn't mean it's not there. And if you don't watch out, you might end up getting burned.

So you see, I should have realized. I should have known. But this is Stephen Wills we're talking about. Hunky, gorgeous, dreamy Stephen Wills. And all I can do is plead temporary insanity.

It started, like so many things in high school, during lunch...


Chapter 1

"Are you going to eat your banana?" Jenny was staring mournfully into the purple Container Store lunch sack that her mom had packed for her that morning.

We were in our usual seats at a small table tucked in the corner of the cafeteria, near the window that overlooked the faculty parking lot. The table sat six. Two chairs had been dragged away for a cluster of boys who had their Gameboys wired together and were getting down and dirty with some game or other.

The other two chairs were empty. I expected they'd stay that way. It's not that Jenny and I weren't popular. (Well, we weren't, but that's not the point.) It's just that we were average. And we'd been snagging this table for ourselves for the last two years. I edit the school newspaper, and Jenny's our weekly columnist, so we usually had articles and pictures spread all over the place.

Jenny also writes The Waterloo Watch, an anonymous blog that's hugely popular. But I'm the only one who knows about that. And since Jenny can't reveal herself as the brains behind The Watch, she's gotten no coolness mileage out of the blog at all.

Which is too bad, really. Because at the moment, the whole school's all hyped up with this Voice of Waterloo contest to pick a guy or a girl who'll be the on-campus reporter for a news segment one of the local television stations is starting.

The Waterloo Watch has been running a poll, but I hardly needed to see it to guess who was in the running. Either Stephen Wills or Tamara McKnight. Why? Because only one month ago they were elected homecoming king and queen. And, honestly, the student body just isn't that imaginative.

Even so, Jenny swears that we have a shot, too. Her theory is that because we control who's in the news, that makes us cooler than the kids in the popular cliques.

"We have the power," she's always saying. "And that makes us sooooo much cooler than Stephen Wills and Tamara McKnight and their whole crowd."

Um, whatever.

It's sort of like the whole tree falling in a forest thing: If you're popular but nobody knows, are you really popular at all?

I'm thinking the answer is no.

I passed Jenny the banana, then shoved my uneaten tuna sandwich back into the sack and crumpled it up. I so wasn't up for food right now.

"So why are you eating my lunch?" I asked, nodding toward her lunch sack. "Nothing good in there?"

"Peanut butter." She made a face. "My mother's sole purpose in life is to torture me. She knows this stuff is loaded with calories. I'll be the size of a blimp if I eat this."

Since Jenny was about as big around as Lindsay Lohan after a fit of bulimia, I wasn't terrible worried about impending blimpiness.

"Trade?" she asked, starting to peel the banana.

I shook my head. "Can't eat. Nervous." I'd missed first and second periods in order to audition for one of the drill team's replacement slots, and I was counting down the minutes until the faculty advisor posted the names of all the girls who were getting a callback.

"I still can't believe you actually auditioned," Jenny said, since I'm not exactly the drill team type even though I've taken dance and gymnastics since I was three years old. "My mom wanted me to, and I told her I wouldn't even consider participating in such a sexist, anti-feminist ritual." Jenny's all about sniffing out and eradicating sexism.

I shrugged. "Yeah, well, you know." Just so the record's straight, the drill team hasn't ever been a huge ambition of mine, but right now I'm all about rounding out my transcript. I've got the academic thing down with my grades and three years of AP science and math classes. And I've got the leadership thing down with the school paper. All of which sounds really good if you're chatting with your grandparents, but I knew my application needed more. I needed something on there that proved I didn't have to be the one in charge. Colleges like to see that you're a team player. That's very, very important. All the how-to books say so.

Even my mom (who's a pain about most things) is totally behind my crusade to up my college appeal. My mom's a trial attorney, and her motto is that you can never be too careful or too prepared. Which was why she made me take my SATs early, and then apply to a ton of in-state schools, just so I'd have something lined up if the Shangri-La of higher education turned me down.

Now I've got conditional acceptance letters and one early admission invitation from four schools in Texas. But those are just my back-up plan. My Shangra-La is the Tisch School at NYU (with UCLA and USC running close behind). True, I hadn't informed my parents of the whole Tisch Is Nirvana plan, but that was just a minor oversight. Because no matter how much my parents might be gunning for me to be a doctor or a lawyer, I just didn't see that happening. Instead, I was going to make great movies. I saw myself as the next Stephen Spielberg, but without the scraggly beard and baseball cap. Or the next Coen Brothers, only without the sibling. Or Sophia Coppola. Only with, you know, a plot.

Whatever. The point is, I want to get accepted to Tisch, and that meant I was doing everything—everything—to make sure my application was so stellar that there was no way they could turn me down. (Technically, I think they can now turn me down for being dead. Which sucks. And which is why Stephen Wills was going to pay big time. But while I was waiting for drill team callbacks that day, I was still blissfully alive and unaware of my impending vampiness.)

I needed a perfect college application, and that meant extra-curriculars, and that meant drill team.

Which is why I was totally stressing about whether I'd made the team.

"I hate this," I told Jenny. And I did, too. I always know how I did on tests and stuff. But right then, I had no clue what was going to happen, and it was making my stomach jump around in a really unpleasant way.

"So, are you too nervous to eat anything at all?" Jenny asked, and this time when I looked up she was holding a chocolate cupcake with a single candle. "Happy birthday!"

"Oh, man!" Honestly, I thought I was going to cry. "No one else remembered."

"No one?" Her tone was bland, but I knew she understood. My parents divorced six months ago. You'd think I would have suddenly been their priority, but it hadn't worked out that way. Instead, they just shifted me between Mom's house and Dad's apartment, and tried to pretend like everything was normal. Let me clue you in here: everything was far from normal. Very far.

"Whatever," I said, running my finger over the icing and then sucking it off.

"Maybe they're just waiting until tonight. Your dad said he was getting you a car, right?"

"He hinted heavily." A few months ago, my dad got me a part-time job in the lab of a nearby hospital where he has privileges, and last weekend he came into the lab and dropped some pretty heavy hints. But this was my dad we're talking about—a man who can remember the diagnosis of a patient from fifteen years ago, but can't remember to buy milk—so I knew better than to get my hopes up.

"Hmm," Jenny said.

"Hmm," I agreed. Then I took another fingerful of chocolate.

Jenny looked around the lunchroom, as if expecting my dad to drive a Mini Cooper into the room at any second. "Beth!" she hissed, whipping back so fast her ponytail smacked her in the face. "Ladybell just got here!" Ladybell is the drill team coach and—yes—that's really her name.

My stomach quit doing flips and started doing jazz hands, fluttering so much that I thought I'd barf up the tiny bit of frosting I'd just ingested. This was it, I thought. Fail, and my application's screwed.

Even worse, it would be the first time I'd failed at anything at school.

And honestly, I wasn't really sure I could deal with that.

Perfect You
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 25, 2008)

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5


Summary:
Kate's life was starting to fall down around her ears. Her dad quit his job to open a vitamin kiosk, and her best friend ditched her to hang with the in-crowd, then of course there is the guy that she likes but who has a massive player status reputation. Kate's life could be any girls life.

The main I didn't like about Kate is that she was very focused on herself. But then I have to stop and remember that at Kate's age I too was very self focused. It was more about me than anyone else.

Anna, Kate's best friend keeps jerking her around. Kate misses her so much, and is so desperate for any sign that her old best friend is in there somewhere. Anna does show that she still cares for Kate, but doesn't want to be seen with Kate. I feel that Anna jerked Kate around. She knew that no matter what Kate would be there, and yet took advantage of that.

Kate's dad is essentially just another one of the kids. He plays video games with her brother, and has no issues leaving his job to follow his dream, to own a vitamin kiosk. I really wasn't a big fan of her dad. The fact that he would have both of his children work at what he is calling the family business, but would have no problem leaving Kate there by herself to go play video games or something really annoyed me.

Kate's mom, brother and grandmother were all wonderfully supporting roles. And her mom and grandma's relationship dynamic was very realistic. Something that when her grandma was first introduced I thought would end up being extremely played out and cliche.

Will, Kate's player status crush was adorable. I totally want a guy like him. I felt bad that she wouldn't cut him even the smallest break. The way Kate felt was that everything he did or said had some ulterior meaning or was him just being a player. I had to remind myself though that that too was part of being in high school.

Growing up, falling in love, family issues. This book was really good. I would recommend it to young girls. Maybe 8th grade and up.

No excerpt to copy and paste here, but the author does have the first two chapters up on her website. Or you can click HERE to read them as well.

Hunted
Authors: P.C Cast & Kirsten Cast
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 10, 2009)

From the back of the book:
Zoey's friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren't Neferet's secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threate he poses. Kalona is gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life unearths secrets Zoey doesn't want to see and truths she can't face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa's Prohibition era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with somethign that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well - they've even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home - but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex, Erik, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet's sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone survive the power evil has to hide among us?

Personal Review:
This book was amazing. I have to say that the House of Night series is quickly becoming one of my favorite Vampire Series.

Zoey had finally pulled it all together or so it seems. Her friends were back to being her friends, and even her relationship with Erick was getting back on track. Until the dreams started. She was having dreams about Kalona, and he kept telling her that she was his chosen mate. Zoey didn't want to be his mate, but what if she was?

When she met a nun who believed that the Goddess Nyx was the Virgin Mary reincorperate, Zoey knew that she had met someone special. So of course when something bad happend, Zoey knew to call on the sister.

This book was fast paced, and neatly tied up some of the story while creating a whole new set of questions. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 29, 2008)

From the back of the book:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Personal Review:
A friend of mine lent me this book, and within a day I had read it and wanted more. The story is of Aislinn, a girl who has seen fairies her whole life, and all the rules she had to follow in order to not let them know that she can see them. The characters in this book, stood out so beautifully. While the main focus is on Aislinn, Seth and Keenan, the other characters in the book have distinct voices, and would I believe, be able to stand on their own in a story of their own. Which they do in the following book, Ink Exchange.

The story, is amazing. It made me actually feel for Aislinn, and made me cheer for her. I felt that she would be someone I would be friends with. Keenan sounds like he would be a bit bossy, and overbearing, but Seth. Oh my Seth, he would be a wonderful boyfriend. Both sensitive and strong, and always having Aislinn's back.

I couldn't put this book down, couldn't stop reading it, and when it was over I wanted to re-read it. Which I did.

Rating: 5 out of 5