Beastly by Alex Flinn

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

What i thought: First of all, before i say anything else, you need to know that the Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairytale/Disney Princess Film/broadway musical. The story itself is such an irresistable love story it is almost imposible to dislike it.

So, building up from that, i absolutely loved this novel! The idea of a modern fairytale was so clever, and i loved the e-chats with other fairytale characters--luv ya Froggie! Adrian--better known as Kyle Kingsbury--was so cruel and heartless it was almost unbearable, but underneath it all, just like Beast, he was a great guy who had never really been loved. The personalities of all of the others surrounding him really helped build his character, especially the wretched Mr. Kingsbury, Will, Magda, Kendra, and--of course--Lindy. Even when not trying to be so, Flinn was absolutely hilarious, and Adrian was positively charming!

The way that the roses were woven into the story was very unique, and the plotline tended to swerve away from the classic Beauty and the Beast retellings, which was something new. Flinn's writing was fabulous, and i found myself falling in love with Adrian along with Lindy--the emotions were that powerfull.

I very much enjoyed the theme of this novel, which, clearly, is something along the lines of 'its what's inside that counts.' Truly, i think that this is something very important that both girls and boys my age (teenagers/preteens) need to learn: When push comes to shove, it doesnt matter how much money you have or how perfect you look--its who you are, what kind of person you've become--or are becoming. And i really think that's something everyone needs to understand, or you'll spend so much time worrying about futile things that really don't matter in the end.

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeenyear- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

What i thought: This book is very good. It is an extremely intense story that will not only appeal to teens, with a lot of crossover adult appeal, too, but not enough to force it into one specific group. Gayle Forman does an excellent job going from Mia's present to Mia's past and drawing the reader in so they truly understand her love for the cello, her family, and Adam, her boyfriend. As I was reading, I could not shake the feeling that i really was getting to know Mia and her loved ones. I also eventually found myself grieving along with Mia--the writing is just that powerful.

Despite how much i loved the story as well as the writing, at times i found myself very frustrated and hardly able to resist skipping ahead because of the flashbacks. When another flashback came along, i couldnt keep myself from groaning aloud. It was almost as if Forman was stalling--no, not really stalling. It was sort of like she knew it was too short so she just added in all of these things that i honestly did not care to read. I really just wanted to get on with the present--because, i feel that out of the 196 pages, about 126 were spent in flashbacks. And, really, the hook in the beggining is just fabulous, but . . . i really just wanted to stick to the story. I mean, i truly did not care about the time that they had an accidental Labor Day party. Not that i mean this in a rude way . . . but i seriously was just about to throw the book at the wall. I was constantly looking ahead for when it would go back to the present time, then counting down the pages until i would get there.

I really think that you should never have to do that when reading a good book.

Not that this is not a good book. Really, i did love it--but i loved the present and the characters. I disliked the flashbacks of the past. That is not to say that you should not read this--because your really should--but, dont say i didnt warn you.

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Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

What i thought:Okay, im just going to go out and say it: this novel is completely astounding. There. I said it. The Hunger Games completely outshines almost every single novel that i have claimed to love. Each and every page is filled with some sort of shock, some sort of revelation that will stun you to silence. Every word is powerful, and holds so much meaning that you will be crying at the simplest of sentances. This novel is truly as close to perfect as its going to get. It is so suspensfull--i guarentee your palms will be sweating by the time you reach page 10. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I made myself stop and shut it, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it for hours at a time.

Katniss herself is captivating, and her sturdy personality never disappoints. Peeta is absolutely amazing, and, if i say so myself, he would make a fabulous boyfriend to any lady out there in Fiction Land. The other tributes all have their own distinguishing characteristics and quirks that made each and every one of them stand out among the crowd.


Suzanne's writing itself was just mind-boggling to me. Her voice is constantly clear and unique, able to be discussing a first kiss in deadly circumstances to an attack by mutant dogs and still maintain an amazing way of displaying emotions and describing the scene at once.

This novel is an unforgettable whirlwind of action, adventure, family, and romance. like very few others, this novel willl stun you into silence too many times to count, and bring tears to your eyes at the fierce displays of emotion.


Completely shocking and thrilling, this novel will amaze you in ways you have not been amazed, touch your heart in places that have yet to be touched. The Hunger Games is one that will never be forgotten, even months after you have shut its cover.

I recommend this to just about every reader out there, from ages 11 to 100. This novel will most definately be one of your favorites.

For those of you who have already read--and loved--this novel, dont forget to keep an eye open for Catching Fire, the highly anticipated sequel. i'm hoping . . . things will happen in this novel, arent you?

Sadly, it wont be released until September 1st. I know, weep with me:(



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Not-So-Sneaky Cover Look-Alikes; Pathetic But True

I know tons of people have published posts like this, but for those who have no clue what i'm talking about: Cover Look-Alikes are books that have similar covers, or sometimes even the same one just flipped with a few tweeks. I rarely ever come across these, so i felt that i should post my discoveries today while browsing through Good Reads and adding tons of books to my To Read shelf.

Okayyyyy! So, the first two are Flirting With Boys by Hailey Abbott and The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Calletti. First of all, I've read all of Deb Calletti's YA novels (which i think is all she has . . . right? I mean, just YA.) . . . and none of them particularly rocked my world, but i did grow to like The Nature of Jade and Wild Roses after a slow process of re-reading and disecting. I did like those two very much after giving Calletti's novels a second chance--and i still do--especially The Nature of Jade. I'm not sure i reviewed that one . . . hmm. Anyyy-who, I have never heard of Hailey Abbott, and possibly that is because she has no other YA books . . . nooo, she does; i just checked.

She has quite a few. For whatever reason, i have never heard of her.

Soooo, moving on, here are the two not-so-sneaky covers that are clearly the same picture, just one is zoooooomed in:

Not so subtle is it?

I mean, a blind person could see how alike these are. Seriously, do these cover artists think that because we're YA book fans we're not smart enough to notice this kind of stuff? Basically, the only differences I'm seeing (despite the ZOOOOM) are some slight fading of color and darker shadowing--or maybe thats just the affect the ZOOOM had.

Anyway, the other two Look-Alikes i caught are Evermore by Alyson Noel and North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headly. I've read--and loved--Evermore as well as three of Noel's other YA novels; you can find the review on this site. I have not read North of Beautiful, though. Here ya go:

Okayyyy, so this is definately not as bad as the Secret Life/Flirting With Boys . . . but it still gets to me, that they really dont think we'd notice. Or that they just dont care that we would. looking at this, the only diferences i see are which way the photo is, and the coloring. So, basically, going from North of Beautiful to Evermore, they removed the compass-y thing, flipped the photo vertically, did some funky color adjustments, then threw in some red tulips . . . and waa-laa! you have two book covers.

Comment, Comment, Comment!

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Book Review: Stargazer by Claudia Gray

this is the sequel to Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evernight Academy: an exlusive boarding school made for educating the most beautiful, dangerous students of all in the current technology and customs--a boarding school that only recently began accepting humans to attend. A school that may very well be haunted at this very moment.

Bianca: a teenage girl, though not quite average, being hunted by something scary and chilling--something that most of us only know in our nightmares.

Lucas: a vampire hunter sworn to destroy Bianca, the girl who fell in love with him not even a year ago, and all of her loved ones. Lucas and Bianca are struggling to stay together, and relish in any moments they can be alone. Things do not get much better when Bathlazar and Bianca start "dating"

All together: Not. Very. Good.

Review:

Gray wrote this novel just as beautifully as that before it, and it truly could not have been more chilling or suspenseful.

And I really cannot help but say that it was much better than Evernight, and I honestly did not think that was possible. While there was still the passionate relationship between Bianca and Lucas, we got to see quite a bit more of Balthazar. Which I liked very much. I constantly found myself wondering when he would make a move, when Bianca would start to fall for him, where his story would pop up--when we would get more of a background on him. I get all of the feelings Bianca has for Lucas, who, need I remind you, is a BLACK CROSS HUNTER, but part of me really wanted her to give poor Balthazar a chance--i really think that they could make it worth. I mean, with her slowly turning into a vampire it made so much more sense for her to be with someone like Balthazar than with a vampire hunter.

But when does the main character ever make good choices when it comes to there romance life? I mean, give me 5 books where the girl doesnt make a terrible mistake when it comes to guys? Yeah, exactly. Really, though, other then my conflicting emotions with Lucas/Bathlazar, i truly loved this novel. I think that sequel-wise, Claudia did amazing, and i really hope all of you Evernight fans out there agree!

Grade: A

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Book Review: The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler

Fern is really weird--or at least she's not normal. She can talk to her dog, Byron, hears Voices in her mind (that are usually talking about her), has predicted the correct weather for over two years, and blisters after just moments in the sun light. But, really, other than that, Fern's somewhat similar to your average twelve-year-old . . . until she disapears in the middle of her English class to find herself at the beach. Doesn't sound TOO bad, right? But what if the next place she disapears to isnt as . . . CALMING, lets say? Fern still has no clue JUST how different--and powerfull--she is.

When the arrival of an extremely dangerous vampire becomes known, Fern starts to wonder who she really is. More troublesome, what is she? And who can she trust?

What i thought: This novel was shocking. It completely amazes me, how unlike it is from every other vampire-related young adult novel. I must say: the idea is absolutely fantastic; the characters are strong; the voice has life . . . but i'm just not feeling it. Honestly, it has just fantastic structure and a great base--but i dislike the way that Kogler dealt with it. It is similar Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society in this way; they both were great ideas, and could have been amazing . . . but, sadly, it did not meet its potential--no where near.

Truly, the characters were just great though. Fern was surprisingly strong throughout the entire novel, and very ocasionally came near her breaking point. Sam, her twin, was a great kid, and a sturdy shoulder to lean on. Mrs. McAlister was definitely not without a back bone. Mr. Bing was like the perfect grandfatherly image--despite the fact that he probably isnt a grandfather. But . . . it just doesnt go. The novel, i mean. It clearly could have came together wonderfully--but it does not.

The main reason for this is that it is just . . . slow. Even if it was at an exciting part, it was STILL slow. Achingly slow. I cannot pinpoint it exactly, but there was something that kept me from being sucked in completely. It was like doing to Hokie-Pokie; one minute my arm would be in, the next minute my leg would be in--but i'd never be in all the way. No, actually, thats not true. I was completely sucked in at one point--that point being fairly close to the end of the novel, which i suppose makes it even MORE like doing to Hokie-Pokie.

Despite this, i admired Kogler's writing style. Not so much her style, actually, but her voice. Kogler's words were all very clear, and so were their meanings. It was not hard to follow, but the voice was most definately one of a kind.

Frankly, I think this book could have been so much better, but I would recommend it to younger audiences--sixth grade (ages eleven and twelve), maybe--who are not quite ready to reach the Graceling (Kristin Cashore) or Old Magic (Marianne Curley) point yet.

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Book Review: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Six incredible kids--with no families, no home--are running for their lives. Max, Iggy, the Gasman, Nudge, Fang, and Angel are products of an experiment: they were engineered to fly. And thats just the beginning of their amazing powers. Now they've escaped, and they need to know who made them, whose hunting them, and why they were designed to be superior to all humans.

Review:

This novel is absolutely fantastic, and one that will keep you reading late into the night. Max's story, as well as those of her flock, is completely captivating and unforgettable. They are all amazing, and each and every thing they do will surprise you. This book practically turns its own pages. Very original, and so unlike anything I have read before--and trust me, I've read plenty of books.

Patterson utterly amazed me with this novel, in a way that not many authors do. No way is Patterson just for adults anymore! With the Maximum Ride series he has created edge-of-your-seat thrillers that teens won’t be able to put down.

Honestly, this novel is just indescribable! It is so exciting and suspenseful that I literally jumped when certain events occured. The narrator's voice was hilarious; I laughed out loud in the middle of my English class. With a Meg-Cabot-y air of sarcasm, Max sure knows how to tell a story. The voice is strong, the characters are real--its just fantastic. It was a great book, and I can't wait to read the next one!

This book would be great for fans of Meg Cabot's teen flare, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, and anyone who loves a kick-ass heroine.

POSTED BY Leah:)