A Peek in the Biblio-Bin (18)

In My Mailbox (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the Biblio-Bin) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This week Bel gives you a Peek in the Biblio-Bin!

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

So tell us...What's new in your Biblio-Bin?

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

**** 1/2

From HarperCollins:

First there are nightmares.

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

I know I previously mentioned that Angelfire is one of my surprise favorites of 2011; however, I recently re-read Angelfire when we received the Wings of the Wicked ARC for the ARC Tour hosted by The PageTurners Blog.  I was a little nervous that Angelfire may not live up to the hype in my head on a second read, but that was just silly.  Angelfire is the first in the trilogy telling the story of Ellie, the Preliator.  An ancient warrior who is reborn over and over to fight the demonic reapers and prevent the Apocalypse, ie the Second War between Heaven and Hell.

The Bad:

Keeping the different types of reapers separate and organized in my head was a little troublesome on my first read, but I definitely have them down now.  That was the only issue I had with Angelfire. 

The Good:

I love the characters that Courtney has created in this series, even the demonic reapers.  Plus, Will is my literary crush for 2011.  Angelfire is a riveting, compelling story with touching romance and mysteries that will keep you hanging on.  And seriously, Will.  Love. Him.  Check out Courtney's website for her graphic art of the characters, phenomenal - I seriously want some of the bookmarks she has created! http://www.courtneyallisonmoulton.com/

I could not put Angelifre down (really, ask my family, they were annoyed that I would not put the book down to spend time with them).  I had the pleasure to read an ARC of Wings of the Wicked and I have to tell you, I was not disappointed, not in the least.  Bel got to read it first and the moment I was done my phone rang for the post-game wrap up!  We will have a full review in the next few days.  Check out this beautiful cover:

~Shel

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Matthew Quick

Publication Date: March 5, 2012

Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in broken-down Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, his dad works nights and Finley is left alone to take care of his disabled grandfather. He's always dreamed of somehow getting out, but until he can, putting on that number 21 jersey makes everything seem okay.

Russ has just moved to the neighborhood. The life of this teen basketball phenom has been turned upside down by tragedy. Cut off from everyone he knows, he won't pick up a basketball, and yet answers only to the name Boy21—taken from his former jersey number.

As their final year of high school brings these two boys together, "Boy21" may turn out to be the answer they both need. Matthew Quick, the acclaimed author of Sorta Like a Rock Star, brings readers a moving novel about hope, recovery, and redemption

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

* * * *

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.


I’ve always wondered about the inner workings of the male mind. In Catching Jordan, Miranda Kenneally proved what I have always believed. Most boys just plain don’t talk about feeeelings. They are creatures of few words and they are content as can be with that. Having my theory proven correct, I began imagining conversations they have when discussing major events in their lives…

At some point, while dating the Executive Officer, he decided that he was going to ask me to marry him. I imagine the conversation with his best friend went a little something like this:

Executive Officer: I think I’m going to ask Nat to marry me. *shoots some bad guys on his video game*


Best Friend: Ok. Cool. *shoots more bad guys then drinks his Dr. Pepper*


Executive Officer: Yep. *eats some Doritos and takes a swig from his beer*


Or better yet, here is the conversation between the Executive Officer and Bel’s husband.

Executive Officer: I’m going to ask Nat to marry me.


Bel’s Husband: *punches Nat’s XO in the face*


That second one is an honest to goodness true story. Now in Bel’s husband’s defense, he warned my XO that he would punch him the face if he asked me to marry him before dating me at least a year (we had only dated nine months). And Bel’s husband can always be counted on to carry out a promise.

But that isn’t all I learned from Catching Jordan. I also learned that tomboys don’t necessarily want you to forget that they are a girl. I learned that a good team protects and supports one another. And I learned that girls can play some kick ass football. And that is saying a lot as I really am not a big fan of American Football. Alright, I am sure that I learned more than that but that is what first came to mind.

There were a lot of things to love about this story. The camaraderie between Jordan and her teammates was wonderful and made me feel all warm and fuzzy with the naturalness of it. The relationship between Jordan and Henry, her best friend since forever, was very sweet. But what I loved most of all was watching Jordan struggle and grow as she learns to deal with boys and new girlfriends and then in turn learns to balance her relationship issues with school, football, and college hunting. She grew considerably throughout the book. Starting out a tough but insecure girl and eventually coming out as a strong woman with a lot of self respect.

This was a fun, romantic fast-paced read. I finished it in one day which doesn’t happen very often and I have already gone back twice to re-read my favorite parts. I always enjoy a romance that makes me smile and Catching Jordan did just that. I have added this book to the “Cheer Me Up” shelf - right next to Anna and the French Kiss.



Nat

A Peek In the Biblio-Bin (17)

In My Mailbox (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the Biblio-Bin) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This week Nat gives you a Peek in the Biblio-Bin!

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

From some of the biggest names in teen fiction comes a timely and moving collection of personal stories about bullying.

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the "funny guy" into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Read your favorite authors' stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, as perpetrators.

With contributors including Heather Brewer, Nancy Garden, Ellen Hopkins, Carolyn Mackler, Lisa McMann, Alyson Noel, Aprilynne Pike, Carrie Ryan, Jon Scieszka, Rachel Vail, Nancy Werlin, Mo Willems, Kiersten White, and many more.

basis, n.

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Whether you’re a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or teaching game to a beginner, Watching Baseball Smarter leaves no territory uncovered. In this smart and funny fan’s guide Hample explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will surprise even the most informed viewers of our national pastime.

What is the difference between a slider and a curveball?

At which stadium did “The Wave” first make an appearance?

How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills?

Which positions are never played by lefties?

Why do some players urinate on their hands?

Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott’s Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport–no matter what your level of expertise.

Zack Hample is an obsessed fan and a regular writer for minorleaguebaseball.com. He's collected nearly 3,000 baseballs from major league games and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published in 1999.

So tell us...What's in your Biblio-Bin this week?

Crossed by Ally Condie

* * * 1/2

RULES ARE DIFFERENT OUTSIDE THE SOCIETY

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky – taken by the Society to his sure death – only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices everything to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.

Narrated from both Cassia’s and Ky’s point of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever.

The driving force behind the first half of the book is Cassia’s search for Ky and her acceptance of her new life away from the Society. Ky on the other hand is undergoing a crisis. Condie shows us a complicated Ky by revealing his back story out of of which arises his cynicism towards the Rebellion. So as Cassia moves in that direction, he is reluctant to ally himself with any one side. Despite his love for her and his disbelief that she chose him, he finds himself insecure and questioning his place in her life and his role as a leader. While Crossed is told from both their perspectives, I felt that it was more about Ky deciding what kind of man he wanted to be.

The things I loved in Matched annoyed me slightly in Crossed. For instance, in Matched, I admired the simplicity of Cassia’s and Ky’s relationship, how their physical intimacy was minimal yet so alluring. In Crossed I wanted more. Even though they were openly more affectionate with each other, they held back a lot. I think I got wrapped up in the Romeo and Juliet of it all and fell in love with the idea of them being together in spite of all the odds stacked up against them. I naively expected it to be easy for them to reconnect and instantly be a couple without fear of the Society. But Condie subtly reminds us that all relationships are a work in progress and need to be grounded in trust. Though Xander is not in the Outer Provinces with them, between Cassia's and Ky's memories, his presence figures prominently only fueling Ky's insecurities. For someone like Ky, exposing his vulnerabilities can be even scarier than some of the harshest things he has had to face in the Outer Provinces.  

Despite that, I still enjoyed it. Crossed once again has that same language that was in Matched. You can see so clearly the reserved mannerisms and behavior. The standout is the new character Indie whose bluntness and quick observations adds some brisk pace to the storyline. She is perhaps the closest thing to “normal” as compared to Cassia and Ky. There is an increased sense of urgency as the Rebellion becomes more amplified. The ending was surprising and hats off to Condie for leaving us with that cliffhanger! 

~ Bel

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

* * * *

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.


Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.


If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.




Aria and a group of “friends” illegally enter a damaged area of their Pod - a domed city where people live protected from the dangers of the outside. After a deadly accident where only Aria and one other person survive, Aria is evicted from Reverie for her alleged crime. She is dropped off in the middle of “the Death Shop” with no hope of survival. By chance she is picked up by Peregrine, an Outsider that is responsible for her survival both in the Pod and out. By necessity they join together on a dangerous cross-country journey to find their lost loved ones and while on their quest they slowly begin to rethink the preconceived ideas they have about each other and their respective lives.

“They called the world beyond the walls of the Pod ‘the Death Shop’. A million ways to die out there. Aria never thought she’d get close.”

The minute I read the first paragraph of this book (see above quote) I knew that I would be flying through it. My curiosity was immediately piqued. It was imperative that I find out about “the Death Shop”. What was it? Why was it so dangerous? It didn’t take long to learn the answers to those questions. And once I learned them I was bombarded with a slough of new questions. This book keeps you guessing while at the same time satisfying the reader with the answers they want. I don’t believe many authors can accomplish that but Veronica Rossi manages it with flying colors.

I loved everything about this book. The futuristic world of those who lived in the pods. The rough, simple, and barbaric world of those that lived on the outside. I loved all of the characters. The main and the secondary, the good and the evil. Each of them had a purpose and was essential to the story. To put it simply - I was in fantasy/sci-fi/dystopia heaven while reading this book.

I want to say so much more about this book but I am afraid of ruining the experience for any future readers. All I can say is go read this. The ending left me with goose bumps and wanting more.


Nat