Regarding 2011 Challenges

When I first heard about this challenge I was really excited I must say, but I have to admit that I am no longer as interested in the Young Adult genre as I was when I first heard about the challenge. In that case I am no longer going to continue with the DAC challenge because I don't want to force myself to read something that I am not currently interested in reading only because I don't want to give whatever book I am reading a bad review based on the mood I was in while reading the book. I did get to read FOUR of the twelve books I promised to read and there WILL be reviews for those four. I did have most of those twelve books on my lists already bought and in my bookcase in which case I might read them sometime in the future and there will obviously be reviews. Just because I am pausing the YA reading it does not mean that I no longer like them in any way because I do, those books were the first type of books I read and I still want to continue reading them, in which case I should mention that I am really excited for a couple of YA books that are coming out soon so please know that there will still be YA reviews. I still have plenty of YA reviews that I have to do so this blog will still be mainly YA based for a while.

As for the Stephen King Challenge, I will continue that challenge along with the goodreads challenge.

Delirium (Delirium, #1) by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium (Delirium, #1)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date Published: February 1^st 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

My Rating: 

 

Goodreads

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My Review

NO LOVE. WOW. I seriously loved the idea of this book! Even though I felt there was something missing for me to rate this book a five star, just the theme is so incredibly fascinating that it makes up for most of it. Throughout the whole book I couldn’t stop thinking “What if love really is a disease!?” Oliver is such a talented author. I really liked the characters most of all Alex, have to love that guy! I did not like the main character, Lena at the beginning of the story, let’s just say she was really close minded, but no one can blame her, when you are raised thinking one way about life it isn’t easy changing your ways.

I will be honest though, I did expect this story to be very different.

If you already read this book you are going to hate me but I actually liked the ending! It was different!






Check out my review for Lauren Oliver's  Before I Fall

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore

Title: I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

Author: Pittacus Lore

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date Published: August 3^rd 2010

Genre: YA, Sci-fi

My Rating: 

 

Goodreads

In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I Am Number Four is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.

I AM NEXT.

My Review

A very Mysterious book that I enjoyed reading.

I read this book because the movie was going to come out. And to get this out of the way, yes the book was better but the movie was still pretty good!

This was a pretty easy book to get into. I am not going to say this was the best book ever because it wasn’t but it was good enough that I do recommend it and there are a lot of books out there that you will read and in the middle of the story get bored of it or what not but this story was not like that at all, it was well written and it catches your attention. It was suspenseful and full of surprises!

I do believe he should have been older, I don’t know why him being only 15 years old bothers me a little. That is really my only complain.

By the way I love number six! And if you didn’t already know, this is a series and book two is coming out in August, which I am really excited about!

Lauren Oliver's New Book

Don't know if you know this yet but Lauren Oliver has a middle-grade book coming out in October. Oliver is having a contest where you can win an Advance Readers Copies of  LIESL & PO! 
For more information click HERE ! So go sign up!

Review: The Lying Game (The Lying Game #1) by Sara Shepard

Title: The Lying Game (The Lying Game #1)

Author: Sara Shepard

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date Published: December 7^th 2011

Genre: YA, Mystery/Thriller

My Rating:

Goodreads

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

My Review

I seriously fell in love with Sara Shepard after reading the first three books in the Pretty Little Liars series. The Lying Game is just as good or might even be better. The Lying Game is full of suspense and mystery. It was very addicting. The idea of the story was so intriguing and Shepard really made it work.

Sutton is the twin that got the good life while Emma is stuck in foster care. Now they are seventeen years old and they are getting the chance to meet each other for the first time, or so they think. When Emma gets to the location where they had planned to meet, Sutton is a no show. After that everything becomes a scary movie for Emma. Now that Sutton is dead, someone is determined on making Emma pretend to be her sister. The story is told from Sutton’s point of view, which is a very interesting twist.

If you liked Pretty Little Liars you will surely love this new series, The Lying Game.

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Title: Before I Fall

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date Published: March 2^nd 2010

Genre: Young Adult Fiction
My Rating: 

Goodreads

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My Review

    Samantha Kingston lives a great life; she is popular, has great friends and even has the “perfect” boyfriend. This story is based on Samantha’s last day alive… except in a way it’s not. Samantha re-lives the same day of her death seven times. You may decide to believe it is something like deja vu or chances; to make things right perhaps?

    At the beginning I didn’t like Sam and I don’t think anyone will which I believe it is how it was meant to be. She is just your typical bully I think it’s the easiest way to put it. It makes the readers wonder if she is going to change for the good with so many chances to re-live or if she was never worth it.

    Samantha’s extra days consists of her family, who she is no longer as close with as she used to be, friends, who seem to be her best friends and have her back, her old friend who might be the only real friend and a boyfriend who might not be so perfect after all.

    A day repeated seven times? How can that possibly not get boring? Well it doesn’t. Oliver manages to repeat the same day several times without it actually repeating. Each day it’s something totally different and you think you know what is coming but don’t get too ahead of yourself.

    I really recommend this book to teens because I feel there is many things you can learn from it and I know there is many people like Samantha out there and it might just help them identify themselves as well. In Overall, Before I Fall is a great story that will make you think about your own life and appreciate it.






Check out my review for Lauren Oliver's Delirium

Review: Story of A Girl by Sara Zarr

Title: Story of a Girl
Author: Sara Zarr
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Date Published: January 10, 2007
Genre: Young Adult
My Rating: 

Goodreads

When she is caught in the backseat of a car with her older brother's best friend - Deanna Lambert's teenage life is changed forever. Struggling to overcome the lasting repercussions and the stifling role of "school slut," she longs to escape a life defined by her past.

My Review

A good realistic story about a girl whose life changed after getting caught messing around with an older boy who she wasn’t even sure she liked. School was obviously never the same. Deanna’s father never looked at her the same way. Her mother never really defended her the way a mother should. This story demonstrates the cause and effect of an event. To many people, this story would seem like an exaggeration but in my opinion, it is something that needed to be exhibited because there aren’t many books that I’ve read expressing these types of situations and how they can happen to anyone. I just really enjoyed how believable it was. I feel like I really connected with Deanna and I felt sorry for her and the things she had to go through. Knowing that Deanna was in reality a nice and normal girl made things even harder to go through. I don’t believe this book was the best thing out there but it was good enough that it made me a fan. I recommend this book because like many others it has it’s life lessons. It is a good read and it is not a waste of time, I can guarantee you that much.