Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is a hoot. Take 13 overachieving (for the most part) beauty queens, place on a deserted (supposedly) island without any adults and few cosmetics and what do you get. Well, in this case you get (on one level) a serious case of Girl Power Gone Wild, and on another level some pretty fierce political and social satire.



For the first time in most of their lives, these girls get to think for themselves and put their priorities on order. So we find out that we have an ultra feminist determined to bring down the pageant, a lesbian, a transgender person in transition, well, pretty much everyone has something to hide. I love the way the characters find their own voices and forge friendships, how they overcome obstacles and survive. I also love the pure absurdity of whole book. This is definitely a book for older teens. There is language and sex. I also think it is a bit sophisticated for tweens. Overall, a barrel of fun.



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Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Morgan is your average 16 year old. She makes good grades and goes to church with her family. Her best friend, Bree, is part of the "in" crowd but they have remained friends even though they belong to different cliques. When a new boy, Cal, comes to school, Morgan is completely taken with him. She has never felt like that about a boy. What is even more surprising is that Cal seems to like her too. When Cal reveals that he and his family practice Wicca as a religion, Morgan, Bree and several other students are fascinated and attend one of his circles. It soon becomes apparent that when it comes to witchcraft, Morgan is anything but average.



I really enjoyed this book. Morgan is interesting because she is a really good girl who want to do the right thing. That is a hard stance for a 16 year old to take. Even when she tries to defy her parents wishes (they are totally against the whole witchcraft thing) her plans keep falling apart. The other characters are very good and represent the usual groups you see at a high school. I think the first person narrative rings true almost as if you are reading a diary. There is mystery and romance in the future. I will be reading the next book in the series.



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Entwined by Heather Dixon

This is a wonderful book. It is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses and has everything a fairy tale should have, romance, evil pretending to be good, damsels in distress and surprisingly, humor. I found it very hard to put down but it took me about 50 pages to really get into it. Azalea, the oldest princess, is devoted to her family but does not always make the best decisions. Although she had sworn to her dying mother to protect her sisters, she unknowingly endangers all of them, her father and the kingdom. But she fights to make it right and finally calls on the most powerful magic of all, love. Beneath all the magic is a story of a family torn by loss and misunderstanding. This would be an outstanding mother/daugther book club choice.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Kate has brought her mother to her childhood home to die. The previous four years have been a stuggle to keep her mother alive, now the end is near and Kate is trying to cope. When she meets the mysterious Henry, she is interested. He is inhumanly handsome. When he offers her a deal, pass seven tests and become immortal, she thinks he is just nuts. But when she sees him bring someone back from the dead, well, maybe he can help her mother too...



I really enjoyed this book. It is sad and sweet. I really like Kate. She is so practical even when she is thrust into a magical world. I also like Henry, even if I want to shake him sometimes. (just say the "L" word already). The writing is very accessible to teens. I think there is enough angst here for the average Twilight fan, but a much stronger female role model.



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Speak No Evil by Marilyn Kaye




The story of the "Gifted" class continues. This time we find out the secret of the most mysterious member of the class, Carter Street. This series is great for what it is. It is an easy and fun series for tweens/teens. I have given it to some reluctant readers with pretty good success. I love Marilyn Kaye and am really hooked on the series. As more and more people learn the secrets of these kids, the mystery of where this series is going increases. This is the 6th book and I am not tired of it yet.



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Wither by Lauren DeStefano

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In a post apocalyptic world, genetically engineered humans have overcome most of the diseases that have haunted man for centuries. However, their children are ticking timebombs. Females die at 20 and males at 25. While scientists search for a cure, young girls are forced into marriages to produce children so the human race will continue. Rhine is one of these girls. As a wife she is living in the lap of luxury. But it is a luxurious prison, and Rhine wants to spend her remaining years on her own terms.



Wow. What a book! I am still reeling from the emotions this book brought up. It is certainly about being able to make your own decisions and standing by your values. But it is also about caring for people even when they do not share your beliefs and values. It is about sacrifice and despair. It is about hope and love. It is so well written. I want to know where Rhine is going to go from here but I also want to know the fate of those left behind. I hope we get to find out.



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Night School by Mari Mancusi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Rayne and Sunny are forced to hide out in a creepy boarding school for vampire slayers that is supposed to protect them from the fairies who are trying to find them. However, they seem to have jumped out of the pan and into the fire. Rayne has been left with no blood supply (cause no one but Sunny knows she is a vampire) and when a hunky slayer starts paying attention to her, well nature, um super-nature, takes it course and Rayne gets her first taste of human blood. She also finds out that things are definitely not what they seem at the school. Barely escaping with her life, Rayne now has to rejoin her blood coven to save Sunny from becoming the Queen of the Fairies. (Yeah, its complicated)



Hmmm, I have to admit that this was not my favorite in the series. I always have a bit of trouble when fairies are involved. But I am warming up to the idea and their Fairyland which is really more Fairytale Land. I always enjoy the girls though. Rayne is the narrator of this one and she is always snarky and fun. This book set up the next which sounds like it will be an adventure so I will definitely be reading it when it comes out. Hoping for more vamp/slayer action and less pixie dust.



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What I Am Reading

Reading Night School by Mari Mancusi. It is the 5th book in the Blood Coven series. I really enjoy this young adult series. I am very curious to see where the story is going.

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Bianca and Lucas return to Evernight so Lucas can learn to live in his new form. Speaking of new forms, Bianca is learning more about being a wraith and the powers she has. But it is dangerous for Bianca because the vamps at Evernight, led by the uber-scary Mrs. Bethany, are still trapping wraiths. Will Bianca and company finally discover why?



Well, I am a bit sad. This is the last book in the Evernight series. As usual there is plenty of action and just a bit of teenish angst. I have really come to love the characters in this book. They are great examples of loyalty. It also has a lot to say about people who just accept what they have been told instead of seeking the truth. I am glad there is going to be a book about Balthazar, hopefully some of the other characters will show up there.



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