Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: December 27, 2011

Author Web Page:

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.   By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “vacation” has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you’ve lost it?   Love and Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.

There is something really beautiful about how verse novels are written; how with a few words a story is unfolded. Love and Leftovers is part of the beauty of this literature division. Love and Leftovers narrates the story of Mercie and how her word crumbles when she moves with her mom to New Hampshire. She left behind her friends, called The Leftovers, including her sweet boyfriend, and her lovely father.  I was really impressed on how Tregay captures the voice of Mercie’s characters; as a reader she feels like a real teenager finding the way of how to deal with multiple personal situations.  Through the story my heart goes with her because it was too much too soon; moving, dealing with your mom’s health and her dad’s personal life. Then add that your system’s support, your friends and the person you love, are not close to give you the love and time needed to breathe. I totally understand where she came from, even if I didn’t liked some of her decisions .  Love and Leftovers, a story of a girl not only coming on age and finding who she is, but also finding the way she wants to love and be loved.  

This story could be used as an extracurricular material to introduce youngsters to a new type of form on contemporary literature.  Some of her phrases could be used as an example if the educator wants to use Poem as assessment. Also there are some topics that could be used for open essays.

A few impressions on a previously read book. I named the section like I did because as a passionate reader I like to use representation titles or words that I see in my favorite books.

*Glimpse: brief review on X title.

Favorite Quote

” I can’t.  I want this to be forever.”

Page: 417

What I Liked

I think it was really cool that the story was taking place in “Hell”.   My favorite aspect of this sequel, other than it has more action, were all the subplots.  I like how Bethany’s siblings were looking how to save her from hell and all the things playing a part in this plot.  I really liked how Molly shows she is a really good friend.  Also her dilemma with Gabriel is the part that really stood out in this sequel.  I think I’m ready for a Gabriel spinoff.   I LOVED the end scene of Bethany and Xavier, it was very lovely and tender.  I can’t wait for the third book in The Halo Series.

What I Didn’t Like

I didn’t enjoy the “Hell” concept in general.  I think the vision was too “girly” even for me.   Also I wanted more of Xavier in the story.

A few impressions on a previously read book. I named the section like I did because as a passionate reader I like to use representation titles or words that I see in my favorite books.

*Glimpse: brief review on X title.

Favorite Quote

“He said he told you, ‘I’m Yours’.”

Page: 278

What I Liked

The concept is pretty cool and I always felt fascinated about the balance between good and evil; I think Die For Me has a very strong World Building in this aspect.  I really like that the events of the story took place in France.

What I Didn’t Like

The relashionship between Kate and Vincent.  There is no chemistry and no development.  Also I felt that the story in general was following a structure of what is hype since “The Twilight Phenomenon”.

A few impressions on a previously read book. I named the section like I did because as a passionate reader I like to use representation titles or words that I see in my favorite books.

*Glimpse: brief review on X title.

Favorite Quote

“I know you’re busy, but did you think you have time to kiss me?”

Page: 222

What I Liked

Everything!!! I LOVED this book!!!  I read it in 2 hours.  It was fun, real and the romance was sweet.  The best credit I can give Flack is how real I felt Hannah’s voice as character. It was like reading the beautiful diary of a friend.  The details of the Manhattan Ballet was exquisite and in shows that the author used her knowledge in this matter.  Another aspect I certainly really liked was the romance because it was very real.  Jacob was the perfect love interest; sexy, funny and smart.  My favorite part was the Epilogue’s message; “ Sometimes chasing a new dream doesn’t mean the end of a beautiful part of your life”.

What I Didn’t Like

N/A

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 15, 2011

Book Trailer:

Page: 118

“Why are you touching me?

I whisper, broken, dying in his arms.

Because I can. He almost cracks a smile …”

Book Type: Softcover
Publisher: Octane Press
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Author Web Page:

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says.

On The Veil the reader will have the opportunity to meet the Anarrosi World, a beautiful and enigmatic parallel universe full o power and secrets.  On her seventeenth birthday, the veil for Addison Russell was lifted, and then she starts seeing things than are not part of the human world. This is when she gets a first glimpse to The Anarrosi World.  A world that has little parts of everything she is, but will not accept her because of the secrets that surrounded her family and a battle that started long before she was born.   The Veil was definitely a page turner for me. I loved the elements of fantasy that Putman incorporated in the story and how she crafted her world.  I felt lost and captivated through Addison’s journeys. One of the things I really enjoyed from the story was that secondary characters have a story to tell also.  Nate, for example, had a very touching story. It’s nice to see other characters finding their way.  In this aspect the major credit I can give to Putman Oakes is that the fantasy is rich, but the real situations are mirrored beautiful. The romance between Addison and Lucas, her OWN Anarrosi Knight in shining armor, is so sweet; just how I like love stories.  I feel it’s more a love story than a romance aspect of the book  because it’s very elegantly crafted and Addison and Lucas have the opportunity to really know each other; no third parties (love triangles), no immortality or anything trending in YA, just two teenagers who are falling in love in the middle of extraordinary circumstances. The Veil the story of a girl finding her way into the word she didn’t know she was part of and the boy who will do everything to protect her.

The Veil could be used as extracurricular material in topics like:  Finding Yourself and Defining Moments in Life.  Readers could find a Book Club Discussion Guide in Cory Putman Oakes Official Webpage.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon&Shuster
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Author Web Page:

 

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

With a cover that will trigger the WOW factor on the reader, The Unbecoming of Mara Dayer will make the reader get lost between its pages until reading the very last sentence.The story begins with Mara waking up in the hospital after a terrible accident that took her boyfriend and best friend’s life. Without having a clue on how the events ocurred that fatal night, Mara tries to move on with her life, but she’s not aware on how she will be tormented and that only she has the key opening the doors to knowing what really happened that night. The Unbecoming of Mara Dayer has a complex but iviting and intriguing plot line. While the idea centers on the events ocurred, their repercussions will let us know who she really is and IT is what makes her different. The biggest credit I can give Hodkins is that without a doubt, she has a gift to tell a story and transport you towards it. Another aspect that called for my attention was the romance because it’s sexy, dark and it’s not until the end that the reader will get the idea on how it develops. The end will leave you with the expectation for more, wanting to solve the mystery of who is Mara Dyer. With a distinguished plot, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is the book you cannot miss this fall.

A few impressions on a previously read book. I named the section like I did because as a passionate reader I like to use representation titles or words that I see in my favorite books.

*Glimpse: brief review on X title.

Favorite Quote

” A story is not always a lie.   Some stories are truer than truth.”

Page: 127

What I Liked

First the cover it’s a totally Eye Candy then the idea of the re-telling story of Tristan and Insolde because is one of my favorites.  I like the elements of magic taking place in the world we know.

What I Didn’t Like

I believe there was so much potential but the main character was not my favorite. This made it harder for me to connect with the story.   I also think the character development was poorly done and the continuity was slow, never taking the step to the place the story should be.  Maybe if the story was narrated by Tristan it would have worked better for me.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon&Shuster
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 6, 2011

Author Web Page:

Abbey knows that Caspian is her destiny. Theirs is a bond that transcends even death. But as Abbey finally learns the full truth about the dark fate that links her to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, she suddenly has some very hard choices to make. Caspian may be the love of her life, but is that love worth dying for?

A dark beautiful love story is the way to describe this last book in the Hallow Series.  Since The Hollow I was captivated by Verday’s dark beautiful world. The way words floated on the pages when Abby described how her perfumes were made or the Sleepy Hollow legend had an important role in the story and the romance between Caspian found me immersed in the story and where the characters were heading to. The Hidden is everything a reader could want for a serie’s culmination; Verday delivered the right end for her series. The Hidden begins where The Hunted ended, Abbey sees herself knowing her destiny and upon the mystery where Caspian is in the middle of changes as a shade that concerns both. I LOVED this book and it’s my favorite between the three. I love knowing more about The Revenants and their role in the story. Abbie and Caspian’s romance was simply perfect. I think the story’s most beautiful element was destiny and how it always manages to be accomplished.  The biggest compliment I can give Verday is the line she took her main characters, where decisions between correct and incorrect held their destiny. At the end Abby made me feel proud of her as a character and I confirm she was that girl in The Hollow who assured she love her best friend like a sister. The Hidden a beautiful love story in many ways with a touching bittersweet ending.

I will giveaway a copy of The Hidden between the people who comment on the review.