Inside Out Trailer!

I absolutely LOVE Maria V. Snyder's Study series, which you probably know if I've commented on your review of any of the books in the series, lol. So I'm super excited that her new dystopia book, Inside Out, is going to be released on April 1st! In the meantime, Inside Out's website is going up today with the trailer, both of which look very awesome (bravo to the HarlequinTeen team). Check them out! :)

Read the first three chapters free, take a personality quiz to find out how to become a "productive" Inside member, and more.

Website screenshot

The trailer is available on the website, but I'm just posting it here as well because it's so amazing. :D



The Saturday Network (12)

**Please, please don't comment if you are NOT participating. If you have questions or comment, feel free to email me!**

Eep, I know I said a survey, but because I'm going on vacation, I'm putting that off until next weekend, sorry!

And, of course, this week's featured blog is A Good Addiction, run by the fabulous Kari, aka last week's Saturday Networker #20! She writes amazing and clear young adult book reviews, and even has her own book forum titled Book Addict's Giveaway. Kari has some great authors planning on dropping by, so head on over and sign up today! :)


For Bloggers:
1. Comment with a link to your log and a one or two-sentence description.
2. Head on over to the blog of the blogger that commented right before you.
3. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! (Thoughtful comments are appreciated.)
4. That's it! If you'd like, feel free to comment again and repeat the process, including the link to your  blog. You don't need to give a description again, and please wait until at least one person comments after you to comment again. :)

For Non-bloggers:
1. Don't worry, you can still participate! Just look for any blog that you like and head on over.
2. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
3. Come back and look for another great blog!

Commenting will be closed on Sunday at 9:00PM EST. I hope you discover some awesome blogs in the process and, most importantly, have fun! :D

And if you'd like to grab and post the button anywhere, you can find the code on the right side-bar, thanks!

Photobucket

Affiliate News! (2)


Before I get started, I just want to say that I'm leaving tomorrow for Disney World! (Haha, I'm such a dork.) I'll be back next Saturday, but until then, I'm really not sure how much internet connection I'll have if I have any at all. I do have a couple posts scheduled though, and I swear I'll get back onto commenting soon; this week has been crazy. It's spring break for me, so for the others of you that have this week off as well, enjoy! :D


Le Femme Readers

Whew, Eleni wrote a ton of reviews this week! To mention a few, she reviewed Hard to Get by Emma Carlson, The Circle of Friends: Book V: Heather by L. Diane Wolfe, and Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. Eleni also posted about upcoming YA reads, so if you're a bit behind on new books, it's a great reference - especially because they have beautiful covers. (I'm shallow, I know.)

Bookworming in the 21st Century

Kristen reviewed Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce this week - and gave it 5 stars! This book is definitely one I've been looking forward to and is a supposedly unique spin on the classical tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Kristen also recommended the book Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books by Francesca Lia Block, a book that I've never heard of but one that apprantly addresses many various issues from AIDS to homosexuality.

Teens Read and Write

I'm feeling a bit biased for picking Alyssa's posts, but she has a very short and cute post semi-obsessing over Fenn from Darklight by Lesley Livingston. I have yet to read the book, but I'm sure you all know how much I love my guys, right? She also wrote a thorough review of Freaksville by Kitty Keswick, with scans from the book to match.

YA Book Queen

Lea wrote a review of Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson, another book that has a very pretty cover and interesting in that the perspective is from a teen female werewolf. She also wrote a review of Fallen by Lauren Kate; I always love reading reviews of Fallen because it recieves so many mixed ratings, and Lea gave it a 3.5 rating.

In Which a Girl Reads

Meg wrote some awesome-amazing rants/discussion posts this week (don't listen to her putting herself down!), and you can check them out here: continuing a blog revolution and follow up: why ya romance needs to change. She also has a meme called Captivating Thursday, where she spotlights pictures, quotes, videos and the like, and I definitely recommend checking it out. Meg's latest Captivating Thurday can be found here.

Delightful Reviews

Lucy didn't post much this week (like me), but she did have a short, concise review of O' Juliet by Robin Maxwell. She also has a new, very fresh and spring-y layout that's A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! :)

Pirate Penguin Reads

Sandy wrote a great review on Whisper by Phoebe Kitandis, another book with an intriguing premise that I'm looking forward too (are we seeing a trend here?). She gave it 4 stars, and actually praised the fact that the whole family was alive, lol! Sandy's also hosting a contest for a copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens or swag, so go enter before April 11th for your chance to win.


And that's it for now! I'll talk to you guys in a week, provided that I don't get squashed by Pooh bear. I'll try to bring back some pictures to share, if anyone's interested. (I know, who would be interested in my life, right?) Happy last week of March and, if you're like me, spring break!

Sidenote: Pertaining to emails, if you email me this week, or technically next week, and I don't respond, please feel free to email me again. It's not because I intend to ignore you, I promise!

Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi
Swati Avasthi's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2010)
Hardcover: 288 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}
Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.
At least so far.

Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. First-time novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split — how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down.


Rating: View my rating system. 
 


My Thoughts: Split was a touching reminder that family is always, always a point your universe centers around, regardless of whether that’s good or bad. I’ll honestly admit that I love the short summary of Split; “re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist, $3.84, and a secret” is genius and definitely hooked me from page -1. So before you put this book down because of the cover (I’m not going to lie, the cover is not attractive), do yourself a favor and read the summary. Please. It might not be for you, but the perhaps sub-par appearance hides a beautiful debut.

The summary is exactly what this book is about, Jace Witherspoon, a teenage boy, running from his abusive father. Jace has always been part of a broken and fragmented family; his mother takes the abuse, his brother ran away years ago, and he has never felt valued by any of his family members. The plot really picks up from there, and we see Jace established as a perceptive, intuitive boy who, in some ways, is mature beyond his years whereas, in others, he’s very much a teenager that’s struggling to find personal identity and niche in his unique family. Other than the occasional anger management struggles, which are understandable considering his upbringing, and his mischievous streak, Jace is the perfect boy; he’s athletic, cute, considerate, understanding, and sweet. That's not to say he doesn't come with all the negatives of many teenage boys, but the balance is perfect in that his flaws - and he definitely has some - aren’t overwhelming enough to rule out his good points while still adding that extra realistic touch. My favorite part is that Jace’s voice is spot-on to the angst-y teenager he is, and I found myself quickly drawn into his story. I won’t be absolutely obsessing over Jace anytime soon to the point of Alex (Perfect Chemistry), but he’s definitely a more realistic definition of an "ideal" guy.

As for the premise as a whole, I think Swati Avasthi did a wonderful job tackling the abusive relationship. As I read, I started to see Jace's father as not entirely evil and, in fact, maybe in some ways nice... but just when I would start seeing the other side of things, Swati really had a knack for reminding me that, yes, Jace’s father is abusive. He nails his wife’s hands to the wall. Literally. (I think that almost made me gag, but it's memorable.) Setting aside the extent to how repulsive and disgusting some of Jace’s father’s actions are, Swati made it clear that abusive is not an exclusive term; just because someone is labeled “abusive,” he/she is still a person that has his/her own feelings and desires. I’m by no means advocating abuse, but twisted (let’s say very, very twisted) desires are still desires. Jace is also labeled “broken,” “abused,” etc. by his brother and brother’s girlfriend, Mirriam. I really saw how these labels played into Jace’s definition as a person and how much he had to fight to prove to them that, again, he’s a person that can’t just be categorized as something to be objectively studied, properly aided, then efficiently discarded. Split really enforced that as much as we say labels are “bad,” shouldn’t be used, and prejudiced, that doesn’t stop people from automatically labeling others. I’m not going as far to say we incorrectly label others all the time, but they’re not all inclusive and all exclusive, which can be hard to remember, especially when dealing with “victims” and “perpetuators.”

My largest complaint with Split is that I would have liked to see more of some secondary characters. There was enough information to be enjoyable, but not enough that I felt like I could truly relate and sympathize with them. Theb there were some I simply found interesting and wanted to see appear more often. The only one that really annoyed me at times was Christian, Jace's brother, who would at times seem helpful and understanding, then do a 180 degree turnabout be unwilling to understand what Jace was going through; ugh, fickleness does not become him. In general, the secondary characters were by no means a major detractor, but it could have made the book even better for me. Then, of course, we approach the ending... it was good though in that the door to the future was open just right; it's not the fairytale ending but a hopeful beginning. A couple unexpected but logical twists made it interesting, and my heart was weeping on Jace's behalf until the very last few pages. A very clean, simple, and effective ending that wrapped up Split perfectly.

Overall, I strongly applaud Swati Avasthi for her fantastic, memorable debut and will be watching out for her works in the future!

Romance: Kissing... I really didn't feel like the romance was a major part of the book, though it was still very much there. Instead, the romance felt like it was a smaller part of the whole concept. There is a bit of kissing though.
Cover: 1.5 -- I guess I can see where the keys come from, but this cover just doesn't work for me. It's definitely not one I would pick up at first glance from the book store.
Writing: 4.5
Characters: 4.5
Plot: 5.0

Bottom Line: Memorable. Intricate. Real. Fans of young adult books dealing with what can be deemed as "deeper" issues or concepts, Split is a book for you.

(Changed format of "bottom line;" what do you think?)

Thank you to Goodreads First Reads for providing me with a copy!

Contests Alert + Numbers Winners!

First off, I want to annouce the winners for the Numbers by Rachel Ward contest. Regardless of whether you won, thank you to everyone who entered! :)

The winners are:


Jennifer M.,
 
Andrea O., and
 
Mandy K.

Congrats! I'll be emailing you soon to inform you, but I already have your mailing addresses, so no need to reply. As for everyone else that entered, you can still check out my 500 followers contest or the awesome contests my affiliate and blogger buddy, Lea, is hosting over on her blog that I'm posting about below.


300 Followers Contest - chance to win Before I Fall, The Sky is Everywhere, The Line, and more!

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (ARC) - this book doesn't come out until May, so go enter while you can!

Interview: Kimberly Derting

Ahh, this is a bit late coming (sorry, Kimberly!), but I'm still excited to welcome the amazing debut author of The Body Finder, Kimberly Derting! I have to admit I haven't read the book yet, but I've ordered it and it should be coming soon, so watch out for a review. I can't wait to receive my copy, and I hope after this interview, you'll feel that way too! :)

Very Click-able Links: {website}, {blog}, {goodreads}, {amazon}

Without further ado...

1. You have three words to describe The Body Finder; what are they?

The… Body… Finder  (I knew that title would come in handy someday!) 

 2. How did the story of The Body Finder come to you? Was it first the characters, a special event, etc.?

When our friends ask me this question, my husband will tell them that it was all his idea and that he should be my co-author.  But what really happened is that we were driving one day, brainstorming book ideas, when he said something about a boy who could find dead bodies.  After hearing that, I was practically racing through the door to start writing about Violet and her creepy ability.  So, I guess he deserves a little bit of the credit.  J

3. Do you ever wish that you shared Violet's knack for finding and tracing dead bodies?

Umm….no way, I’m a total scaredy cat!  I’m very happy to leave the body finding to Violet.

4. Throwing a bone to the fangirls here, can you describe Jay Heaton, Violet's love interest, for us? ;)

 Jay is a boy who doesn’t really know how great he is.  He is very sweet and funny, but when it comes to protecting Violet, there is nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

5. Why did you choose to gear The Body Finder towards young adults? Is there any particular aspect of YA fiction that appeals to you (ie. teen emotions)?

I’m guessing that since I can’t even remember the last time I DIDN’T have a teenager in the house that must have something to do with it. In my experience, teens are just so genuine (good or bad) and emotionally charged.  Everything they experience is right on the surface.  And even when they’re trying to hide their feelings, what they’re experiencing is so intense.  They’re just not as jaded as most adults yet.  I really love exploring that part of life.

6. Are you surprised by all the hype and excitement The Body Finder has generated?

I’m thrilled with how the book has been received so far!  The team at HarperCollins has done an amazing job, and I couldn’t be happier with how everything is coming together.  Of course, next week I’ll be an emotional wreck because that’s how I roll.      

7. In your Q&A, you mentioned that you love watching people fall and run into things. (I have to admit that I share this "interest.") Using your superior writer's perspective, can you attempt explaining this phenomenon?

My husband calls me a simpleton…that pretty much sums it up!  J

8. You also mentioned that you love anything dark and twisted. What started your love for all things dark?

When I was growing up, we didn’t have the huge variety in YA that there is today so I read my mom’s books.  At the time, she read a lot of Stephen King, and in turn I was fairly young when I read books like The Shining and Salem’s Lot.  So yes, I’m going to blame my dark and twisted nature on Mr. King!

9. If you could invent any writing-related item, what would your creation be called and what would it do?

Hmm, how about something that will let me freeze time so I can get more writing done?  Where is Hiro Nakamura when you need him?

10. Any projects you're planning to or currently working on now?

I’m working on several things right now, thank you for asking.  (See how I answered without really answering?)

11. Anything else you'd like to share?

Just that I loved answering your questions and had a great time!  Thanks so much for having me!

And thank you, Kimberly, for dropping by!

Lol, I absolutely loved Kimberly's answers, and I can't wait to read about Jay for real. Also want to give a shout out for The Body Finder's release date, which is TODAY!!  And Kimberly has some cute pictures with hilarious captions of her release and post-release parties on her blog. So, are you excited to read The Body Finder as I am? :D

In My Mailbox (15)

I've ordered some books, but while I wait GET HERE NOW impatiently for them to arrive, I borrowed a couple books from the library - for the first time in months! I forgot how awesome the library is. :D


· The Pale Assasin by Patricia Elliot -- I love the cover, and it's historical fiction! I love the sound of the French Revolution, and I'm hoping it lives up to it's summary.
· Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten -- I actually already finished this one because it was goooood. Nina is perfect, and Sean is such a crazy, delusional sweetie. This is definitely the type of book when I think touching but weird awesome, if that makes sense.

Anyways, I know these books have been out for a few months, but would you guys be interested in seeing a review(s) for either or both of the two?

Last, but not least, a quick mention for my newest affiliate, Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century! I'm super excited to have her as an affiliate because her blog is simply amazing, and she updates like a madwoman, but a lovable one. I'd definitely recommend checking her out say... NOW! Kristen also has some challenge-activity going on, such as the Clear Away the Clutter Mini Challenge hosted by Kate at the Neverending Shelf, so go on and possibly join in the fun! :)

 

And that about wraps it up. What did you get this week?

The Saturday Network (11)

**Please, please don't comment if you are NOT participating. If you have questions or comment, feel free to email me!**

Good morning, Saturday Networkers! I've been thinking of doing a survey to get your thoughts on SN, which I'll probably put up next week - would you mind filling one out? I'm also considering putting up a contest solely for Saturday Networkers sometime, but that probably won't be happening for a couple weeks at least... I'm really not sure about these things though, and I'd definitely appreciate your feedback to make SN better! I'm just throwing some ideas out there for now, and if you have any you want to mention, I'll include it on next week's survey, thanks. :)

Anyways, this week's featured Saturday Networker is SN#21, Stacie! She writes both young adult and adult book reviews along with awesome product reviews and numerous giveaways. You can check Stacie out on her blog: Simply Stacie.


For Bloggers:
1. Comment with a link to your blog and a one or two-sentence description.
2. Head on over to the blog of the blogger that commented right before you.
3. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! (Thoughtful comments are appreciated.)
4. That's it! If you'd like, feel free to comment again and repeat the process, including the link to your  blog. You don't need to give a description again, and please wait until at least one person comments after you to comment again. :)

For Non-bloggers:
1. Don't worry, you can still participate! Just look for any blog that you like and head on over.
2. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
3. Come back and look for another great blog!

Commenting will be closed on Sunday at 9:00PM EST. I hope you discover some awesome blogs in the process and, most importantly, have fun! :D

And if you'd like to grab and post the button anywhere, you can find the code on the right side-bar, thanks!

Photobucket

500 Followers Contest!

I recently reached 500 followers, and as a thank you, of course I have to throw another contest! This one is just sweet and simple, but I just wanted to really express my love and appreciation for you guys, even if I'm a bit intimidated by all the other awesome box contests out there (eep!). That being said, I'll definitely have another big contest again sometime...

Anyways, on with the contest! This time, it's for two ARCs:


· Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland AND
· your pick of Split by Swati Avasthi or The Naughty List by Suzanne Young


Rules:
· Ends April 9th, 11:59 EST
· Fill out the form to enter
· Open internationally
· You must be a follower to enter (right sidebar)
· Please refer to my contest policy for further concerns



The Weekly Debate (8): What Exactly Does "Young Adult" Entail?


This week's debate: What age group are young adult books intended for? Should there be an age requirement for a "young adult" book?

I remember starting to read young adult books back in sixth grade, when I thought I was exceedingly mature and sophisticated to - gasp! - be found in the Young Adult section of the library. Though what surprised me were some of the books I found there. The It Girl series was definitely akin to xxx material at that time, and I remember my friends and I checking out a book to giggle and feel so daring for doing so. What, no - naked?! Oh 'em gee, are they kissing?! Is that... a c-c-condo...?!!! Yes, we were mature back then.

But I know that there are a lot of girls that age now that actually read those type of books (not saying they're bad, just perhaps intended for an older audience) and think it's normal. Should this type of book be truly regarded as "young adult," while others, such as the Clique series by Lisi Harrison, be categorized as childrens?

My stance: I feel that young adult is truly diverse; there are books that I deem appropriate for sixth-seventh graders and ones that I definitely feel should only be read by eighth graders and above. But as for actually setting a restriction on young adult books, I think it should be left to the reader or parent's discretion. I don't necessarily approve of all decisions, but I don't feel it's not my decision to make.

That being said, I think it might be beneficial to include little but easily visible labels on the spines of books in the Young Adult section saying this book is for "age _-_" or "grades _-_." (Obviously, I'm not an educator or any sort, so I'm not speaking from experience but rather from personal preference. Librarians out there...?) Overall, I feel the Young Adult section is perhaps a bit too broad - should sixth graders be labeled as young adults? - but perhaps it reflects our changing times, with the younger children being exposed to more and more media at an earlier and earlier age.

New Winner: A Match Made in High School Swag


This is just a quickie post, and I'll post a weekly debate later today. I've chosen another winner for the A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker swag contest due to the fact that one of the previous winners did not respond to my email. Without further ado, the new winner is:

Jessy (Emma015 on Twitter)

Congrats, Jessy, and please email me back within 24 hours.

If you didn't win, don't forget you can enter the contest for Numbers by Rachel Ward! :)

Review: Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap
Susanne Dunlap's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (March 2, 2010)
Hardcover: 352 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}
“Will I never see you again either?” I asked, feeling as though I was about to jump off a high mountain peak and hope to land without hurting myself. That’s how impossible everything seemed at that moment, no matter what I did.
“Perhaps we will meet again,” Sasha said, softening his voice. “But you must see that it does not matter. You have so much ahead of you. It’s your choice now. Choose the future! Choose life!”
For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia’s last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family’s future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?
Inspired by the mysteries that have long surrounded the last days of the Romanov family, Susanne Dunlap’s new novel is a haunting vision of the life—and love story—of Russia’s last princess.

Rating: View my rating system.



My Thoughts: Anastasia's Secret is a beautiful, historic tale of a young girl growing up and dealing with love and loss. The only difference is that, in this case, the young girl is the Grand Duchess of the Soviet Union, who's increasingly exiled as the rebels take over the Soviet Union. But despite Anastasia's lofty position, Susanne Dunlap makes her feel like any other girl: lonely, confused, a little lost, insecure, and yearning for love and family.

As revealed in her earlier guest post, Susanne Dunlap definitely did her research, and it shows in the vivid backdrop of Anastasia's Secret. I can't guarantee that all depictions are accurate, but they seem true to the time and quickly reeled me into the rapidly changing political climate of the early 20th century Soviet Union. My complaint is that I felt many of the characters were defined by how Anastasia perceived them rather than by their actions, though they're interesting add-ons that walk on-and-off the stage as Anastasia holds the spotlight.

Anastasia herself immediately caught me as well with her blunt, straight-forward voice coupled with all the innocence of a sheltered princess. Anastasia's the oddball of her talented siblings - don't we all feel that way? - and struggles to find her purpose and identity, endearing herself to me like a close friend. I admire Susanne Dunlap's interpretation of Anastasia as vulnerable but willing to be strong for her family, but though I applauded her open-minded and curious approach to topics, I was often annoyed by her continued naivety and lack of action. Despite Anastasia's development from a small girl to a young woman, I didn't see much change in her passive, idealist approach to her circumstances, always relying on others to find a solution for her. So please pass me a small hammer so I may knock the sharp nail of reality into her head.

The solider whom Anastasia counts upon most is Sasha, a supposedly handsome soldier approximately ten years her senior. However, in times of war, what matters most is the emotional connection they experience, and their age difference sort of fell by the wayside. Their romance is exactly what Sasha and Anastasia need through their hardships, though I got a sense that a portion of their relationship was derived from desperation rather than affection; Sasha needs a warm, comforting body while Anastasia needs someone to actually tell her everything will be okay. As for Sasha, I still feel like I barely know him. Yes, he's always there and provides the side of reality and logic that Anastasia lacks, but who exactly is he? I'm not sure. But overall, the romance was an intriguing aspect that held my attention throughout the book and, surprisingly, probably accounts for about one-third of Anastasia's Secret.

At times, the romance and relocating became repetitive and monotonous, but the differing occurrences and descriptions kept me from skipping other sections or putting the book down. Anastasia's Secret progresses at a moderate pace, and I'm happy with the epiphany Anastasia experiences at the end, though the wrap-up felt rushed considering the long journey there. But the ending is bittersweet in that we know Anastasia's inevitable fate...

Romance: A large part of the book, and a few instance of sex. I mentioned it already above, and there's nothing explicit.
Cover: 2.5 -- Sort of standard, but the model is gorgeous and looks very Russian. Not exactly how I imagined Anastasia, but I can see it, I suppose...
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Anastasia's Secret is a rich, relatable story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov that fascinates me as an avid historical YA novel reader. The book itself was solid, though I more enjoyed Susanne Dunlap's take on the journey from a young princess who still has everything she could ever want to an older, more mature young woman that can now fully understand the deep connections of family and love. Susanne Dunlap definitely knows how to write historical fiction, and I give her kudos for somehow being able to pull so much from a tragic princess's exile. (After all, how much can really happen when you're confined and watched over 24/7?)

Thank you to Anna from Bloomsbury for the review copy!

Interview: Teri Hall

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming newcomer Teri Hall for a 1-on-1 about her dystopian YA debut, The Line, that came out on March 4th. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome, and continue reading for an inside look on the mastermind behind the words. 

As for the picture, I've reverted to posting the picture on Teri Hall's info page. (No, that is not actually her, if you were wondering.)

Very, very clickable links: {website}{goodreads}, {amazon}

1. What three words would you use to describe The Line?

I’m going to cheat and use three words people who have read it describe it as:
Chilling
Gripping
Hopeful

2. I expected The Line to be a serious dystopian read, but you mentioned that The Line is a fun adventure that also asks some questions about integrity, bravery, and love. What exactly would you say makes The Line both entertaining and meaningful at the same time?

I think The Line is mostly the story of a girl who has a fun and sometimes dangerous adventure. This girl, Rachel, also happens to live in a country—a world, really—where things have gone pretty wrong in a lot of ways. She learns a lot about how some things—like being brave or doing the right thing—aren’t so simple or easy as she thought they were. So while The Line is a fun, fast read, it does also ask some pretty serious questions, questions I was asking as a younger reader and questions I still ask today.

3. On the topic of those "serious questions," would you say The Line is an outlet for you to express your opinions on those questions?

I think some of my opinions are in there. But I hope that The Line raises more questions for readers than it proffers opinions.

4. Who was your favorite character to write about?
 
I loved writing Ms. Moore. I think that she is such a great example of the possibility of growth and change. Honestly though, all of the characters were fun to write. Is there any one you particularly relate to? I relate to all of the characters in the book, in one way or another. And I hope readers will, too.
 
5. Now that you've written your first YA book, what did you like/not like about the genre and do you plan to explore other genres in the future?
 
Well, I am in the camp that believes YA is not a genre, it’s a marketing category. Within that marketing category you can find many, many different genres; romances, sci-fi, etc.. That said, I do love writing books that can fit into the YA marketing category, because I think many of them are reaching an audience for whom reading can be transformative. Not that reading isn’t transformative for adults too, but some of the most intense reading experiences I ever had were as a young adult.
 
6. If The Line is a dystopia, what would your ideal uptopia be like?

I tend to be a pragmatist (my friends might say something a bit more harsh) so the idea of a successful utopia seems pretty far-fetched. But the thought of people being kind to one another—even when it’s not easy or convenient—that seems like a good start.

7. And what does love mean to you?

To me, love is never a noun, it’s an action verb. <-- original answer, but changed because Teri realized it might be misconstrued! And I didn't even notice. Lol, isn't she sweet? :)
Love is never about saying something; it’s about the small kindness we do, the great sacrifice we make, the meal ready at the end of the day for someone more tired than you, the offer of help from someone in a better place than you. Love is doing something to make life better for someone else, in whatever way you can do that.

8. Spill, what's your deep, dark secret that people could never guess by looking at you?

I would tell you, but then it wouldn’t be a deep, dark secret.

9. Are there any not-too-secret projects you're working on now?

Right now I am hard at work on Away, the sequel to The Line.

10. Anything else you'd like to add?
 
I think that covers it! Thanks so much for the chance to chat!

Thank you, Teri, and congrats on your debut!

And Teri claimed she was boring at the end of my interviewing - what? No, definitely not! Double thank-you to Teri for sticking up with me and correcting all my juvenille errors. I hope you enjoyed the interview, and be sure to look out for Teri's book in the bookstore! ;)

Review: Numbers by Rachel Ward

Numbers by Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward's website here // $12.23 from {amazon}

Publisher: The Chicken House (February 1, 2010)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}
Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!


Rating: View my rating system.



My Thoughts: The first thing I want to clear up: what made me interested in Numbers was the plot summary, though the book itself was much different from my expectations. I had the impression that the book would be Jem running in circles to prevent a potential terrorist attack - but no, hold that thought. Instead, the terrorist attack takes place very early in the book and the following 300 or so pages depict Jem and her new friend, Spider's journey as they run from the scene of the crime and are chased by police for interrogation. Unexpected? Yes. Just as intense? Definitely.

The idea, being able to foretell death, behind Numbers wasn't exactly new, but Rachel Ward adds a fresh voice to an older concept. She doesn't smooth down the rough edges of reality and instead manages to find the beauty in the ordinary, daily occurrences that we often take for granted. I loved the gritty descriptions, though I felt the writing was slightly bogged down by the cursing. The plot itself was fast-paced and action-packed, though there were a few parts that had me wondering what exactly the characters were thinking... but, I digress, perhaps their brains shut off for five minutes.

My main problem with Numbers lies with Spider and Jem. They're rough and occasionally nasty, and I give props to Rachel Ward for being able to make two people who, by societal values, would be characterized as troublemakers or good-for-nothings and actually make them semi-likeable. Spider had a stubbornness and optimism that I admired, but he also had this naivety that annoyed me; though his innocent perception of drugs and stealing can perhaps be seen as a reflection of some misguided teens today. As for Jem, I don't think I have to say more beyond she-can-see-deaths-and-doesn't-go-crazy to prove her strength, but her constant whining and, at times, irrationality irked me. Especially at the end, ugh. Overall though, the characters were fine, and what I enjoyed more were the sarcastic dialogue and changing relationship between the two. The dialogue was spot-on in expressing the two's personalities, slang and all, and it was sweet seeing Jem's vulnerability peek through as she gradually opened up to Spider.

In general, I felt Rachel Ward's exploration of this seeing death concept was solid, though not exceptional. There are enough elements to satisfy the light psychological reader, but I would say to read a book like The Mark by Jen Nadol over Numbers if you're looking for a more psychological read at the expense of some action.
Romance: Emotional, but one instance of sex. There is sex, but it's very broad and basically follows the process of naked, love, then happiness. Given the book's young adult label, I don't think any additional censorship is necessary.
Cover: 3.0 -- A little bit too bland for me, and I feel like the eye could have benefitted from better placement or blending. It does set the slightly creepy tone for the book though.
Writing: 4.0
Characters:  3.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Numbers was a fast-paced read that offers both an interesting premise and a realistic, fresh teen voice from debut author Rachel Ward. I would recommend Numbers to anyone looking for a gritty teen adventure with a bit of a psychological twist, and congrats to Rachel on a solid debut!

In My Mailbox (14) + News!!!

I definitely need to start ordering books again soon, but I got one amazingly awesome book to review this week - Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder!! -hyperventilates- I absolutely love Maria Snyder's Poison Study series, and I'm interested to see how she tackles dypstopian novels, which I'm also a huge fan of. :)

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck I risk is my own. Until I accidently start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I should have just said no...

I also want to give a quick heads up about the spring break party of some 2k10 authors over at The Daily Dose. There are some interesting guest posts, as well as the opportunity to win some cool swag and an ARC of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. So click to head on over to the info page, and join in!


There's also a YA contest that will blow you away running on my blogger buddies Kari and Eleni's blogs that you definitely do not want to miss. Who doesn't want to win a copy of Linger, Sea, or Rules of Attraction? It's international and with 6 winners, so go, go, go, and enter!

Last but not least, the reason for the three exclamation marks about "News"... I want to thank each and every one of my faithful followers (even through my slight period of inactivity these past couple weeks) for sticking with me. I've reached 500 followers - wow, what?! I know - and I'll definitely have to throw a contest soon to celebrate the occasion. It's not going to be a particularly big one yet, but I'll make sure it's international. So, again, THANK YOU!! I love you guys and wouldn't be able to do it without you. To say thank you, it being pi day and me loving lemon meringue pie...
 
 credits to www.womansday.com

The Saturday Network (10)

**Please, please don't comment if you are NOT participating. If you have questions or comment, feel free to email me!**

This week's featured Saturday Networker is SN#30, Marg! She's a book challenge addict, and she reads and reviews books from a wide spectrum of genres over on her blog Reading Adventures.

For Bloggers:
1. Comment with a link to your blog and a one or two-sentence description.
2. Head on over to the blog of the blogger that commented right before you; if you're the first commenter, you don't need to do anything.
3. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
4. That's it! If you'd like, feel free to comment again and repeat the process (including the link to your  blog). You do not need to give a description again, and please wait until at least one person comments after you to comment again.

For Non-bloggers:
1. Don't worry, you can still participate! Just look for any blog that you like and head on over.
2. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
3. Come back and look for another great blog!

Commenting will be closed on Sunday at 9:00PM EST. I hope you discover some awesome blogs in the process and, most importantly, have fun! :D

And if you'd like to grab and post the button anywhere, you can find the code on the right side-bar, thanks!

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Affiliate News! (1)

credits to treehugger.com 

Whew, the fever sort of let up... but not really, and I've felt woozy all week. Ugh. Thank you for all your well wishes though, they really mean a lot to me! But that doesn't change the fact that I'm horrendously behind, sorry (especially with mailing out prizes!). I'll catch up soon and post an interview with Kimberly Derting, the awesome author behind The Body Finder, next week though it was actually scheduled for this Tuesday. I haven't been around much on anything internet-related this past week, so feel free to shoot me another email if I haven't responded to your first one. YES, I WILL GET BACK ON THE BLOGGING TRAIN.

As for affiliates, I've finally gotten around to announcing the happenings of my new affiliates! (Am I slow or what?) They're all amazing blogs with great bloggers, so I'd definitely recommend checking each and every one of them out. You can also drool at their buttons in my affiliates section on the left sidebar. ;D

YA Book Queen

This week, Lea reviewed The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson and Tagged by Mara Purnhagen. They're both books I've been looking forward to, especially Tagged for it's graffiti-centric premise, and Lea gave them 4.5-stars and 4-stars respectively - good books alert?

Pirate Penguin Reads

Sandy posted a frank and humorous review of The Naughty List by Suzanne Young. She gave it 4 stars, and I completely agree with everything she said. Wondering about The Naughty List? I'd definitely check out Sandy's review.

In Which a Girl Reads

Wow, Meg/Choco had a lot going on this week. She's created a new meme, Captivating Thursday, which showcases simply beauty, whether it be in pictures, music, etc. Meg chose beautiful pictures and quotes, and you can always see if you'd like to join in yourself. She also posted a review of the movie Alice in Wonderland a while ago, but I felt like I had to mention it because I'm dying to see the movie. *o*

La Femme Readers

AMAZING CONTEST ALERT: Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey. And it's international - what more could a bookworm ask for?! Enter, enter, enter. Love this girl, and her too-awesome-for-words contests. Haven't followed yet? Start!

Teens Read and Write

The trio just reviewed Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser and Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley, two books that are completely different from each other; the first is the run-of-the-mill serial killer while the second is geared more towards younger teens. Both books were reported as good though, so read the reviews and see if they're right for you.

Delightful Reviews

Sort of last week, but Lucy had a Saturday Shin-dig, a cute meme for other bloggers, with Jessica's Vision. She also did a mini-review of Bones of Faerie by Janni Simner, which I was surprised that it only recieved a 2.7-stars rating but, then again, I've never read it. It's short and to the point, and it's always nice to hear things from the other side.

And I think that's it! If you're my affiliate, and I forgot about you... I'm so sorry! That's what comes out of not putting up affiliate news for a couple weeks. If that happens to be the case, just comment or email me, and I'll be sure to put up your button ASAP and add you to this week's affiliate news. It's not because you're not important, but because of my silly, fickle memory. I think I'll stop rambling now so you can stop reading my blog, and go on to visit all these fabulous others. :D
And I just want to say an additional thank-you to everyone who has still been dropping by my blog and supporting me. You guys are the best. ♥

Giveaway: Numbers by Rachel Ward!

I can't believe how many times I've been saying sorry. I was planning on putting up an affiliates post yesterday, but then I got a fever and was delirious all day. But that's no excuse! I'm a bad girl. I'm also supposed to post a review of Numbers today, but since I'm not feeling quite up to par, I'll be pushing that to Wednesday. I'm thinking of taking a break from blogging soon though, just for a month or so, to get back into the groove of things and after all my testing is done in late April-early May. But enough with depressing talk for now... (And thank you to everyone whose been putting up with me! -hugs-)

I'm psyched to be able to host an online Numbers by Rachel Ward giveaway, and Chelsy from Big Honcho Media has been kind enough to provide 3 COPIES of Numbers to giveaway! For more information on the book, you can visit here: http://www.scholastic.com/numbers/

Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!

Rules:
· U.S. addresses only - sorry!
· 3 copies = THREE WINNERS
· Please fill out the form, comments will not count as an entry
· Contest Ends: March 22, 2010 at 11:59 EST

The Saturday Network (9)

**Please, please don't comment if you are NOT participating. If you have questions or comment, feel free to email me!**

This week's featured Saturday Networker is SN#20, Dahlia! She's also a YA book reviewer on her blog The Book Shopaholic, and her blog is adorable. :)

For Bloggers:
1. Comment with a link to your blog and a one or two-sentence description.
2. Head on over to the blog of the blogger that commented right before you; if you're the first commenter, you don't need to do anything.
3. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
4. That's it! If you'd like, feel free to comment again and repeat the process (including the link to your  blog). You do not need to give a description again, and please wait until at least one person comments after you to comment again.

For Non-bloggers:
1. Don't worry, you can still participate! Just look for any blog that you like and head on over.
2. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
3. Come back and look for another great blog!

Commenting will be closed on Sunday at 9:00PM EST. I hope you discover some awesome blogs in the process and, most importantly, have fun! :D

And if you'd like to grab and post the button anywhere, you can find the code on the right side-bar, thanks!

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Contest Winners: AMMHS Swag & Light Beneath Ferns

Thank you for being patient with me as I tallied up the entries to the contest for an adorable A Match Made in High School swag pack and a copy of Light Beneath Ferns! Without further ado, here are the winners:

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker (thank you, Kristin!) swag pack (3)...

Stacie Vaughn, Gunjan Jaswal, and Stephanie

And my copy of Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen...

Nancye Davis

Congrats to the winners, and thank you to everyone else who entered! I'll be emailing the winners, and for those of you that didn't win, look for more contests soon. :)

Review: In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
Loretta Ellsworth's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (February 2, 2010)
Hardcover: 244 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}
A touching novel of last regrets and second chances in the tradition of Lurlene McDaniel and Gabrielle Zevin.

When a small mistake costs sixteen-year-old Eagan her life during a figure-skating competition, she leaves many things unreconciled, including her troubled relationship with her mother. From her vantage point in the afterlife, Eagan reflects back on her memories, and what she could have done differently, through her still-beating heart.

When fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant, her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And afterwards when she starts to feel different — dreaming about figure skating, craving grape candy —her need to learn about her donor leads her to discover and explore Eagan’s life,meeting her grieving loved ones and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on.

Told in alternating viewpoints, In a Heartbeat tells the emotional and compelling story of two girls sharing one heart.

Rating: View my rating system.



My Thoughts: In a Heartbeat has a premise that caught me right off the bat, and it definitely didn't fail to disappoint. I loved the concept of exploring the life post-heart transplant, and though the book doesn't contain any I-need-a-bucket-to-cry-in moments, it has that bittersweet element that made me go "aww." :)

First, we have Amelia, the sickly but otherwise perfect daughter. She's defiant, scared, brave, vulnerable, and realistically innocent. Then there's Eagen, who's everything Amelia's not: athletic, blissfully normal, with an adoring and hot boyfriend, and on the fast track to a good college and a shining ice skating career. But when Eagen incorrectly judges a skating jump, she hits her head and dies, donating her heart to Amelia. From there begins the story of Amelia's quest to find Eagen's family and Eagen's own acceptance of her death.

When Eagen dies, she wakes in this vast, gray "in between" state where she relives her fondest memories. Poor, poor isolated girl with so much more potential, but life's life; there's the good and the bad, and Loretta Ellsworth finds a bittersweet ending that consolidates the two. I'm usually not a big flashback fan, but it was easy to get caught up in Eagen's memories, especially since she was so obnoxiously cute. Unfortunately, Eagen is also a prime example of how you can have so much but not realize it until you lose it. I didn't want her to die, but Loretta Ellsworth did such a great job of developing the story that I felt like the ending was what Eagen needed  rather than living on. I don't believe in any form of god, but is there such a thing as fate? After reading Eagen's story, maybe.

As for Amelia... girl, she was no Eagen. I still feel like I still don't really know Amelia, and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's partially because our relationship just didn't "click," while the other, possibly larger part is that Eagen and Amelia's personality seem extremely similar. Even pre-transplant. There were some superficial characteristics that set them apart, such as Eagen talking back to her mom and liking purple, but they both seemed defiant, strong, and vulnerable. The only real difference for me was that Eagen's personality and voice were even stronger, outshining Amelia's (and that's saying something because I have a small corner in my heart that wants to kill Eagen again for being so beautiful and talented). In fact, if the structure was the same and they had no titles, I might confuse the two girls. I don't have any hard feelings for Amelia, she just wasn't distinct.

Overall, I found Loretta Ellsworth's interpretation of a heart transplant interesting, especially because it was told from both sides, the heart recipient and donor. Though a bit similar, the two girls' voices were still enjoyable and realistic, and I loved going along with them on their quests for self-discovery. The only real negative aspect was that though I felt Eagan's story was complete, I really wanted to more about Amelia; more closure please!

Romance: A little kissing. Just a little bit of romance thrown in for that icing on the cake. It goes into Eagan's past relationship with her boyfriend, and I'm glad to say there is some stress on talking and sharing emotions rather than simply making out. Yes for intellectuals!
Cover: 3.5. Pretty, but it's neither stunning nor extremely suited to the book.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 3.0
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: In a Heartbeat has an interesting premise and relatable voices that made this book enjoyable, though it didn't necessarily wow me. If you're looking for a bittersweet, touching read without needing to get the tissues, I'd definitely recommend trying out In a Heartbeat. :)