Top Ten Tuesday: 2012

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten is a Freebie! So since I missed out on the first Tuesday of the year because I was on an airplane, here are my

Top Ten Books I Am Excited to Read in 2012!

1. Insurgent - I read Divergent in a day last summer and I can't wait to learn more about the other factions, what lies beyond that fence and how Tris will handle all the happened at the end of Divergent! And of course, some more Four won't hurt :) Hurry up May 1st, 2012!

2.  Pandemonium - I read the first few chapters in a "sneak peek" and now I am dying to read the rest. Every time someone mentions reading an ARC copy of it, I have to fight off my green-eyed jealous book demon that wants me to steal it... at least February 28th isn't too far away...

3. Unwholly - I loved Unwind oh so much, it gave me chills in all the right ways. I had no idea a sequel was in the way and I definitely did a  little dance when I found out. I have no idea what to expect because I can't find anything about it other than the title, but the title is awesome enough! Sadly, September is sooo far away!

4. The Mark of Athena - Ugh, another September wait. I don't know who is more excited about this, me or the kids in my class! We all love Percy! (and Leo is my new favorite character!)

5. Out of Sight, Out of Time - The last in the Gallagher Girl series is sure to answer all my lingering questions. This has been a fantastic series for girls. Action, intrigue, friendship, romance and all on the PG level! I love handing these out to girls at my school, I am sure by March 13th I will have a slew of them lined up to borrow it!

6. Clockwork Princess - By far the longest on my waiting list, not out till November, I am plagued by so many questions! Who/what is Tessa? What will happen to the institute?  What's with Magnus? Will or Jem? So long to wait but plenty of time to reread!

7. Bitterblue - I am very excited to see how this book ties Graceling and Fire together. Cashore has created some inspiring, courageous women and an exciting world! I can't wait to return there on May 1st!

8. Froi of the Exiles - Melina Marchetta has a gift of creating characters that are completely human, even in an epic fantasy world. They make mistakes, act selfishly and fall down. They also change and grow and draw you to them tightly. Already out in Australia (I wish Japan was closer!) but I'll be waiting for mine in March.

9. Grave Mercy - I have never read anything by this author but I am a sucker for kick-butt heroines! I mean an assassin hand-maiden to death? This could go either way so I am keeping my fingers crossed till April. 

10. Throne of Glass - What was it I said about being a sucker for kick-butt girls? Well, if Grave Mercy lets me down, hopefully Throne won't. It sounds like a mix of Poison Study and Graceling, which would be fantastic :)

Review: Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty Boy Summer
by Sarah Ockler


Rating: 3.5 peaches


According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Twenty Boy Summer explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.


I am finding this a very hard book to settle my feelings on, which is actually a good thing. I  After the first 5 chapters, I was sure I was going to dislike it. It seemed so repetitive and I found myself tired of Anna and Matt's relationship, as short as it was, because of the repetitiveness. I almost felt as I was being forced to have an emotional attachment to Anna and Matt so that I would feel Matt's death more strongly. The memories were beautiful and a great description of first love that my heart would have ached anyways, but instead of feeling the ache of loss, it felt more like a toothache from being over-sweetened. Then, Frankie and Annie get to the beach and watch Frankie and her mother spiraling out of control in different directions was mesmerizing. Their reactions and behaviors seemed extremely real to me, including the passivity of Frankie's father. Now, I believe I am going to the love the book. 


However enter hot surfer guys, the "20 boy challenge" and the albatross. To start, I believed Anna's relationship with Sam and enjoyed it's slow simmer but I was concerned about all the focus on virginity (the albatross) and losing it. Honestly, I still feel torn over how it was covered and I think it will affect different readers differently, based on personal experiences and beliefs. This book has been banned and challenged because of this subject. I, for one, am not one for banning books but instead, using them to encourage discussion and dispel ignorance. Things won't go away if we ignore them. Personally, I believe Ockler is a very talented author to elicit so many different reactions and to encourage so much discussion over this subject! I think this book is an excellent place to have a discussion on virginity with young women. Anna's feelings after "abandoning her albatross" as she calls it would be interesting (and probably awkward) to discuss but I always believe it is better to be honest than live in ignorance! 


At the end of the day, this book is about love in all its forms, first loves, lost loves, new loves, summer loves, book love and most of all the ways love changes as it grows. 

Review: Princess of the Midnight Ball

Princess of the Midnight Ball

Jessica Day George

My Rating: 3 peaches

A tale of 12 princesses doomed to dance until dawn...

Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above. 

Around 2 year ago, one of my students gave me the first big in the Dragon Slippers trilogy and I adored it. I have been looking to read George's Princess series ever since and I finally got the opportunity this past week. A reworking of the Grimm's fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", Princess of the Midnight Ball adds depth and history to the tale. 

Most of the story comes from Galen's point of view. A soldier returning from war, Galen grew up on the battlefield and is practical, polite and knits! Alternating with Galen's view is Rose, the eldest of the princesses and the princess we learn the most about. Rose is also practical and polite. She feels responsible and almost mothers the younger princesses since her own mother's death. It is the relationship between the sisters that is the most fun. I wish there was more interaction between all the sisters, but with 12 I can see how that would be difficult! Anyways, together Galena and Rose make the perfect, if slightly bland, fairy tale couple. A little more depth to both Galen and Rose's would have helped me care for them a bit more. All of their feelings and reactions seem to be surface level. There is very little action, a good deal of backstory and some fantastic descriptions. Most of the action occurs in the final chapters, which felt a bit rushed. And in true fairy tale style, it all ended happily ever after. 


So overall, this is a pleasant escape into a fairy tale world. There is no dark, nitty gritty stuff. Magic is present but more in the "everyday" sense, less in the wondrous sense. This makes Princess a perfect book for middle grade and the "younger" young adults. Absolutely nothing boundary pushing that would be cause for concern with younger readers. I will definitely recommend this book to many female readers in my elementary school (along with the Dragon Slippers trilogy) and I know I will read the sequel when I get a chance, but it won't be on the top of my list. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Rec's

The Broke and The Bookish have a fantastic blog and one of their weekly features is "Top Ten Tuesday." This Tuesday's theme is:

Top Ten Book I'd Recommend to Someone Who Doesn't Read X

I'm choosing to fill in the X with children's chapter books. As a third grade teacher, I read so many chapter books to my class during read alouds. I don't test my children on these books, I just read to help them learn to enjoy books just for the pure pleasure they can brings.

Ashley's Top Ten Children's Books You Should Read (no matter how old you are!)

#1- Bunnicula by James Howe

Vampires and a bunnies, a classic mix! The story is told from the family dog's, Harold's,  point of view and it is presented as if Harold wrote this story and delivered it to his editor. I love Harold and I, of course adore Bunnicule but it is neurotic, conspiracy driven Chester that gives me the most laughs. The rest of the series is just as great but I read this one to my class every year and they also rush to the library to pick up the sequels.

#2- Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things 

by Lenore Look

Alvin Ho has to be my favorite find of the past two years. Alvin is afraid of everything from wasabi to school. He is completely unable to speak when he is at school but at home he swears in Shakespearean. His  dad is "da dad" and Alvin is learning the rules of how to be a gentleman.  If you read one book from this list, make it this one...

#3. 39 Clues #1- The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

A great adventure series with puzzles to solve, history to learn (the first book taught me that Ben Franklin wrote an essay on farts, who knew?) and adventures in far off countries to be had. Plus, it gives children a great example of a sibling relationship. Dan and Amy have their fights, but they stick by each other through it all!

#4. Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

A classic book for a reason, the story is creative and encourages imagination and visualization.  My class always wants to try and get our class hamster to ride on toy motorcycles after we read this. Sadly, our hamster has yet to make the proper noises to get the motorcycle to go!

#5. Matilda by Roald Dahl

It's hard to pick one Roald Dahl book but Matilda's love for books is hard to overlook. Plus, I have yet to meet a villain that scares me as much as the Trunchbull! Also, this is a great book to read and the compare with its movie.

#6- Sideways Stories from Wayside School  by Louis Sachar

Each chapter is story about a different character, students and teachers, at Wayside School. Each story is fantastic, except for the 19th story because there is no 19th story and there is no Miss Zarves....

#7- Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I'll be honest, this was a difficult read aloud because there are a lot of difficult but beautiful concepts and words in this story, like chiaroscuro but stick it out and you will be amazed at how much a small mouse (even without a motorcycle) can teach you. (PS. This book, soooo much better than the movie)

#8- How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Be honest, you know you've seen this movie and it was amazing! This book is amazing too but other than names and vikings and dragons coexisting, it is nothing like the movie. Toothless is whiny, selfish and absolutely adorable. Hiccup is learning to be a hero "the hard way" and often, the hilarious way!

#9. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Beautiful story, detailed pictures and mind-blowing connections. I am excited to see this movie but I don't think it will have anything on the book. I also am looking forward to getting my hands on the companion novel, Wonderstruck.

#10- Holes by Loius Sachar

We do this book as a read-in every year. We start reading at 6pm and usually finish around 5am the next morning. We watch the movie and go outside and dig holes. It's the connections across time and the growth we see in Stanley that make this book irresistible!  Also, a fantastic book for boys looking to get into reading. 

Review: Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy
 Richelle Mead


Rating: 3.5 peaches

Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . 
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever... (goodreads description)


Honestly, I did not go into this book with very high expectations. When I go to the bookstore, I feel like I am drowning in young adult paranormal books. I have read some real stinkers over the past year (which will go unnamed for the moment) so I don't get my hopes up. That being said, this book actually held some surprises for me and kept my interest throughout. It was a fun, easy read but there was enough kick in it to keep it from being trite. 


What set this book apart was the relationship between Rose and Lissa. It wasn't just in the background or pulled out when convenient, it was the focus. In a high school setting, there is a fair share of back-stabbing, gossip and power plays but through it all, Rose and Lissa listen to and support each other. Do they fight and disagree? Of course because no friendship is perfect, if it was, there would be no room for growth. I liked the hints of Lissa's inner darkness and Rose's inner strength and responsibility. In all, they were good foils for one another and their friendship was believable. 


NO LOVE TRIANGLE!! At least not yet, I am hopeful that this series will stay away but I guess I will see. Lots of love "interests" but i'm feeling iffy on the whole Dmitri/teacher/mentor romance. Maybe that's just because I am a teacher and I wouldn't want any of my high schoolers in that kind of relationship. 


Anywho, I enjoyed it and I'll give book 2 a try but I'm still keeping my expectations low.

Faves of TwentyEleven: The Covers

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Top 10 Covers (in no particular order)

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

I love the colors and the gracefulness of the mist and cloak.

Vin's implied motion up and away from the creeptastic 

Steel Inquisitor in the bottom corner is perfect.

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

Why should I read this book? It's all there on
the cover! Loving Mel's black eye, bruises and
bring it on look. She's ready to kick butt.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Honestly, this is not my usual kinda cover.

There's just so much pink but there is something about

the wild hair, pink eye makeup and the bird when

 put together with the story, just fits.

Heroes 'Til Curfew by Susan Bischoff

I think I am drawn to covers that show
action and I just adore the leap on this cover .
Throw in the awesome yellow background and it's love.
Bonus~ Also loving the cover for the
short story Impulse Control cover

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

It's gotta be the eyes...

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Simple cover  but it just screams epic
fantasy! Also, digging the way the red sets off
the blue background and makes the sword just pop.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

The steampunky gadgets and super detailed key, 

caught my interest. Actual story, eh, not so much...

Eona by Alison Goodman

Take a kick butt female with swords and fierce look, 

add a fantastic dragon and I am all in!

The Wizard Heir by Cinda W. Chima

Shiny... plus on the actual cover, the scepter is

raised so now you've got visual and textile. 

Plus, the series rocks...

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I love the Victorian feel with the hint of steampunk.

Plus, that umbrella! And that dress! Just great!

Faves of TwentyEleven: The Random

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Day Four: The Random

1. Fave First Sentence ~oops, I did this in the last one post... It was from Hollowland "This is how the world ends- not with a bang or a whimper but with zombies breaking down the back door."


2. Fave Book Title ~ It's gotta be "Princess Prettypants" by Meg Cabot in the anthology Zombies vs. Unicorns. That title alone had me rolling on the floor before I even started the story... 

3. Fave Reading Experience ~ Divergent ~ the last book I read this summer, curled up on my blanket on the beach before it was back to work, is there a way I can make that my job??

4. Book With The Best Food ~ Tantalize ~except for those chilled baby squirrels for dessert, I'd definitely be eating from the "Prey" menu...

5. Book With The Most Sensual Weather ~ Iron King ~ brrrr, this book makes me glad I live on a tropical island!

6. Most Embarrassing Book Cover ~ Living Dead in Dallas... um, she's flying on a coffin, check the link to see...

7. Can’t Believe I Waited This Long To Read It ~ Ender's Shadow ~ I loved Ender's Game and everyone said I just had to read this companion but I thought, how could it possibly compare? Well, it does and then some, I think I actually liked Shadow more than Game...

8. Book I'd Give My Mum To Read ~ Waterfall ~ Romance- check, exotic location- check, attractive Italian man- triple check. In short, everything my mom would love and more.

9. Book I'd Give My Brother To Read ~ Mistborn ~ good vs. evil- check, kick-butt magics- check, totally amazing magical species- triple check. In short, everything my brother would love and more.

10. Book I'd Like To Give My Past-Self To Read ~ White Cat ~ sarcastic male mc- check, stubborn and independent female- check, magical mafia hitmen- triple check. In short, everything 15 year old me and current me love and more :)

11. Book That Lived Up To The Hype ~ Clockwork Angel ~ Don't hate me, I heard amazing things about the Mortal Instruments trilogy but I only felt "eh" by the end. So I went in a little cautious for Infernal Devices but I think Clockwork Angel definitely lived up to and maybe even surpassed the hype! BTW, Clockwork Prince, even better. Cassandra Clare's dialogue gets better and better.

12. Book I Stayed Up The Latest To Finish ~ Heroe's Til Curfew ~ Speaking of curfew, I stayed up way past my normal bedtime (which will remain secret) to finish this. That gravity changing fight would be awesome in a movie, Dylan and Joss's romance is steamy, and the super powers kick some major bum! I can't wait for the third!

13. Book I Was *Dying* To Get My Hands ~ Hollowmen ~ After Hollowland, I needed to get my hands on this ASAP, I mean you can't mess around with zombies, but the publishing date kept changing!

14. Fattest Brick Of A Book I Read ~ The Well of Ascension ~ 796 pages, building up steam to try his new series, The Way of Kings, which clocks in around 1,000 pages.

15. Killer Cliffhanger Award ~ Maze Runner ~ This book was just one big cliffhanger, I could never find a place to stop! But the ending, wow. Just when I thought I could rest, the "end" turned into one last huge cliff! Had to buy Scorch Trials pretty much instantly...

Review: On The Jellicoe Road

On the Jellicoe Road                                              by Melina Marchetta


Rating: 5 peaches


" 'What do you want from me?'  he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him.  More. "

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.  (goodreads description)


For my first ever review of a book, I picked my favorite author of 2011, Melina Marchetta. This is probably the most highlighting I have ever done in a book, so I'm going to let Marchetta's own words from On The Jellicoe Road drive my review...


"What's the difference between a trip and a journey? and my father said, 'Narnie, my love, when we get there, you'll understand."   
On The Jellicoe Road is definitely a journey of a book; a journey that you want to take and a journey you will never forget. At first, I couldn't believe this was a Melina Marchetta book. It felt so disconnected in the beginning, jumping around out of sequence and perspectives led to confusion. However, as the story built, histories became intertwined and characters were involved more deeply than it appeared. 


"I fall in love with these kids over and over again and my heart aches for their tragedies and marvels at their friendships. And it's like we've been talking for five minutes instead of five hours."
Taylor faces honest loss and heart ache in this book, but as she learns more about her shared past with many other Jellicoe Road orphans, she also gains exactly what she wanted- "more". It is the characters, their relationships, their reactions, their choices that drive this story.


"If I could bottle up the look on his face, I'd keep it by my bedside for the rest of my life."
This story was like trying to complete a puzzle without seeing the picture. Pieces start to fit together and smaller pictures become clear until, at the end you are blown away by what has been revealed. I am extremely jealous of all the people who will get to read this story for a first time because I will never be able to read this story again in the same way, with fresh eyes and a blank slate. So when you go to read this story, read it slowly and enjoy every revelation as it comes! Lucky you :)


Last quote, I swear "When it's time for Ben to play his solo- his eyes closed, his mind anywhere but here, his fingers so taut and precise that it almost looks painful- my eyes well with tears. Because you know from the look on Ben's face that he's somewhere you want to be."  Trust me, this book is somewhere you want to be.

Faves of TwentyEleven: The Scenes

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Day Three: The Scenes

1. Best First Line
~ Hollowland ~

"This is the way the world ends- not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."

I just had to read the rest of this book after this line.

2. Best Climax
~ Ship Breaker ~

Nailer's climatic battle aboard a sinking ship, during a terrifying storm against his murderous father put my brain into thrill overload!

3. Best Ending~ Saving Francesca ~

Melina Marchetta is a master of endings. She knows not everything needs to be wrapped up in a nice box with a pretty bow but somehow, as the reader, I feel content and at peace. I know the characters I have grown to love still have a way to go but after spending so much time with them, I know they will continue to grow and learn and love. Getting to meet up with Francesca, Will, Tom and Tara again in the Piper's Son was an unexpected but very welcome gift!

4. Best Plot Twist/Revelation (no spoilers!) 

~The Maze Runner~

I thought the book was finished and then I got to the "letter" at the end. I had to go out and get the next book immediately.

5. Scariest/Most Disturbing Scene and 6. Steamiest Scene 

~ Heroes 'Til Curfew ~

Joss and Dylan are teenagers with super powers trying to protect each other and their friends while hiding their gifts from the government. Quite a few steamy scenes happen between Joss and Dylan but the steamiest scene happens after a fight when Dylan returns to Joss's house to get cleaned up. Joss's parent's don't approve of Dylan, but luckily his super power happens to be invisibility. Read it and enjoy! However, it's not all kisses and hugs for these two. One of the hardest scenes to read happens between Joss and Dylan's former friend, and now nemesis, Marco. Violence and pain are a balanced counter point to Joss and Dylan's growing relationship.

7. Best Swoon-Worthy Moment
~ Clockwork Prince ~ 

A certain proposal swept me off my feet! Swooning definitely occured.

8. Biggest Nail-Biting Moment
~ Delirium ~

Alex and Lena's motorcycle flight from her home at the end of the book! Will they make it? What is Alex's plan? I couldn't breath until I was done!

9. Most Hilarious Scene
~ Soulless ~

There are too many scenes in Soulless that made me laugh. The banter between Alexia and Lord Maccon is witty, sarcastic and occasionally naughty. My sense of humor approved :)

10. Most Heart-Breaking/Tear-Jerker Moment
~ White Cat ~

I never expected this book to actually affect me emotionally but, without any spoiling, the end of the book and Cassel's feeling of betrayal after his success, when he finally thought he got what he most wanted, broke my heart into tiny pieces.

BONUS: Favorite Meet Cute

Crown Duel

I have weakness for characters that meet in unfavorable situations and begin their relationship off as enemies or fighting. When Meliara is captured to be turned over to the King, she has her first run in (of many) with the mysterious Marquis. Their gradual growth from enemies, to friends, to more is believable and adorable!

Faves of TwentyEleven: The Characters

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Day Two: The Characters

1. Favorite Female MC - Mary "Jacky" Faber from the Bloody Jack Novels. Fearless, all I can say.

2. Favorite Male MC - Finnikin from Finnikin of the Rock

3. Best Couple <3 - Tris and Four from Divergent- It's nice to actually see a couple fall in love, no insta-love here...

4. Who I So Want To Be Best Friends With - Janco and Ari from Poison Study. I would never be able to best them in a fight because I would always be laughing too hard!

5. Who I Fell Completely in Love With- Cassel from White Cat. Ok, so I know touch would be a problem in our relationship but for Cassel, I'd make it work...

6. Worst (Best & Baddest) Villian - Steel Inquisitors from the Mistborn trilogy. They have steel spikes through their eyes, 'nough said.

7. Best Character Twist - Teresa from Maze Runner trilogy. Oh Teresa, I wanted to love you just because of Maze Runner, then I felt I was supposed to hate you in The Scorch Trials and then I just felt indifferent to you in The Death Cure. Sniff, I wanted you to be so much more.

8. Best Kick-ARSE Female - Vin from the Mistborn trilogy. Now here is a female who doesn't hold back! Vin is as comfortable dancing in a ball gown and heels as she is kicking inquisitor butt in her mistborn cloak.

9. Best Kick-ARSE Male- Minho from the Maze Runner trilogy. Now Minho never let me down. He took charge and kicked butt through the maze.

10. Broke Your Heart The Most- Thomas Mackee of The Piper's Son. So many of Marchetta's characters broke my heart but none as relentlessly as Tom. Sadly, I would let him continue to break it if I could just read more of him.

11. Favorite Pet/Animal Character Award - Manchee from The Knife of Never Letting Go. "Todd, I have to poo Todd!" I am so glad my pets can't talk but Manchee I love you so!

12. Best YA Parents Award - I am going to have to go with Josephine's mother and her father, once he joins their life, in Looking For Alibrandi. I had to go with a Marchetta family because even though they may not be ideal or perfect, they are real. The way she interacts with her mother, fights and all connected with me. I loved how her relationship with her father was so uncertain but they were open and honest with each other, a great start!

13. Favorite Sibling Relationship - Gabi and Lia from Waterfall because I always wanted a sister, especially one that can kick some butt!

14. Favorite Best Friends/Friendship Award- The girls of Saving Francesca because real friends accept who you are even when you don't know who you are yet yourself.

15. Best/Worst Character Names- Best- Lena "Magdalena" Holoway and Cassel  

Worst: Isaboe and Nailer

Bonus: Best Love Triangle - I find myself annoyed by the majority of love triangles lately, they can feel so forced and unnecessary. So instead, I'll go with most believable, even though it broke my heart. Jem, Will and Tessa in Clockwork Prince. Tessa is a strong, well-developed heroine and I can see why both Jem and Will would love her and why she would love them each in return. I still don't have to like it though...