Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: February 1, 2011

Author Web Page:

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.

“All You NEED is LOVE “cites the famous quote written by two big music icons and, in this literary presentation, Lauren Oliver shows us how could be a world where the only thing you don’t need is love.  This is the second literary proposal by Oliver and while Before I Fall positioned her as one of the favorite 2010 debutants; Delirium shows why Lauren Oliver is one of the most unique and brilliant voices from her generation.  Delirium is narrated in a dystopian world  where love has been classified as a disease which makes human beings commit rebellion acts like: war, crimes and hate; it’s because of this the government tried to find a way to “cure” human beings from feeling such complexes “emotions”.  The story is narrated by Lena, a model citizen that has been raised under an aunt’s tutoring who taught her the rules perfectly.  Lena counts the days in which she could finally be cured once and for all and will not be at risk from such disease. Lena wasn’t counting on two events; the first one being the love seed her mother seeded on her and the second one: Alex.  Words come up short when expressing how much I enjoyed the story,  We as human beings have grown in a world where the most beautiful art expressions have been created as cause and effect from love or trying to explain it.  Living the Lena and Alex’s journey as a reader in a world where everything is backwards filled my heart with vulnerability towards them and, on the other hand, invited me to think over. Oliver creates a world molded gracefully not only by her words, but the narrator captivates the reader into looking to this world and question if it’s really the right direction while inviting you in her journey.  Regarding romance, it’s everything I like from a romance and I’m rooting for this two.  Alex is a great love interest and his way of looking towards the world makes him tender, and it’s heartbreaking but beautiful seeing the way Lena and him explore what they are feeling in a world where such feeling is prohibited.  Delirium, the story of a girl who will be saved without love … but love will set her free, really happy, and will show her what really matters in life and cannot live without it.

A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 30, 2010

Author Web Page:

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow between perfection and passion.

After the Hunger Games, Publishing Houses have been looking for the new dystopian world to fill the void Mockingjay left.   Matched is the one Penguin found.   There’s been so many comparisons, news about the story’s copyrights among others and, however, Matched fell short for me.   Matched narrates the story of Cassia, a girl who grew in a “world” where mankind’s history has been altered and the truth of it is portrayed in glimpses in a society that lives or survives based on “correct ” probabilities.   In Cassia’s life everything runs according to the life every citizen is planned to life until the day her perfect match is selected and ever since her life is haunted by two faces.   I must say the society presented by: Condie is interesting, but even so the “what if” term the dystopian base themselves always makes it appealing for the reader even though it does not feel as something new, special or original.   I kept reading and even though Collie’s writing technique is clean and good, I kept thinking about the missing elements.    There is no action, the story is slow and aside from the world itself there was no deepness in the story.   The different types of relationships are fine, but certainly insipid.   Surprisingly, the only one that caught my attention for its deepness was Cassia’s with her grandfather.   As a reader, he was more relevant in making me see what was wrong with the world the narrator was living at.   Cassia’s family core, regardless there’s a message on why the act like they do, reaches a point that after the circumstances becomes weak and there’s when I start screaming for Katniss to appear. Romance is more intellectual than physical, which is fine because of the circumstances it cannot be otherwise.   Again, as a reader, I felt there’s something missing in the relationship to make it magical, to make ship battles born and the eternal debate if one or the another is “the one” invade the forums.   I reached a point I didn’t cared.   Cassia failed to let me see as a narrator what made Ky so special before her eyes, but I don’t think there’s an explosion of feeling just because he could write cute cursive.   The worst part is that this led me to believe that the mentioned government was right of why Cassia developed “feelings“ for Ky when they are supposed to be the bad guys.   The war that apparently exists in this world was mentioned between lines without letting the reader see or feel the important role this will play since it will and here is where I ask: where did the comparisons came from?    When I finished reading the only comparison I had was a quilt made out of different pieces of fabric,I felt  the same way about Matched, it  was made out of different other stories and forged into a new one.   That’s what I try to say, there’s nothing wrong with the way it’s written or narrated, the problem is  the absence of that flame which makes stories unique.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Group
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 19, 2010

Author Web Page:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she’ll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.  But when she violates her masters’ laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known.  By following her heart, she might lose everything  including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Magic, Shapeshifters, Romance and action are some of the elements Nightshade gather in this first presentation that promises to be an addictive series.  Nightshade tells the story of Calla, a GUARDIAN (werewolf) who is next to accomplish destiny and a life she has never questioned until the day she saves a human boy’s life in her territory.  This will mark the beginning of a countless number of laws Calla will break by protecting Shay.  I really enjoyed reading the story and regardless its 464 pages, narration flows graciously.  Our narrator Calla is a girl that even though she lives in a male chauvinism society and her life has been planned ever since she was born, she has courage and temper towards life that makes you love her as a character.  Secondary and tertiary characters have active roles in the series, something that gives a dynamic touch to this interesting story since at the same time the main story happens there’s another one developing.  The story has two love interests: Shay and Ren, both completely different with two common characteristics: their love for Calla and their courage.  I liked both for different reasons. Shay has a temper; he won’t get intimidated when EVERYTHING should lead him to fear and his desire for knowledge, which is his outstanding characteristic.  Even though there’s several things about Renald’s past I didn’t liked since he’s given a certain liberty and advantage Cala has not enjoyed yet, I liked seeing his attempt to build over nothing and try to be a modern alpha in a social structure were laws are archaic.  I believe some  aspects have not been fully developed, and I explain:

*Disclaimer: There could be some spoilers.

World Building: In the beginning the story, all elements exist without a consistent explanation.  It’s not until mid story that certain statements start to make sense. Also, werewolf conversions at a fascinating world seemed a little sloppy.

Character Voices: Their voices and attitudes at some point reflected more like an adult romance story presented with juvenile characters, which made every other line a bit funny.

In my humble opinion, this two aspects do not take anything from the story nor it’s a writing problem, but more like an edit execution problem.  I think the story shines at the end because of the twist Cremer gives to the mythical character’s legend by giving them a story.  The biggest compliment I can give Cremer in this first delivery is about how fascinating the world she created is. Nightshade is a story full of adventure and romance where a guardian will face the most difficult task; deciding between honoring her pack or the love that will allow her to know a truth which will not only free her, but also the people she loves.

A group of pictures that somehow shows my journey reading a book, event or pictures related to the featured title. 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.

*Earthly Pleasures: photo diaries showing reading chronology on X title.

Eye Candy Meaning

I think the meaning of the cover is more symbolic. What I’m not sure if it’s about Spider or Deni.  My personal opinion as a reader is that it’s about Spider because he was always the one who called Sienna Sea.

Favorite Quote

“Sea,  give me a break.  It’s always been you.”

Page: 302

The Hundred Page Theory

It was not love at first sight but it was definitely LOVE … it took me like 120 pages to get immersed in the story the way I wanted since I saw the cover and read the synopsis.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Egmont USA
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: July 12, 2010

Author Web Page:

His love captivated her …  his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.   After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach and somehow she’s connected to it all.   But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town … might cost her her life.

Gathering elements like Science, Fantasy, Mystery and Romance together, Shadow Hills is without a doubt a PAGE TURNER.  This first delivery by Hopcus narrated the story of Persephone “Phe” after her sister’s terrible death and her life’s changes because of some dreams she can’t figure out. Putting together info with secret entries from her sister’s journal, Persephone decides to switch schools to Shadow Hills, Massachusetts, a place described in the very last entry of the journal.  Once in Shadow Hills, Persephone tries to reveal the mystery behind her sister’s death no matter what, the meaning of her dreams and which puzzle piece the place plays. This will take her to open doors towards knowledge in a place where mystery and singularity of its inhabitants will leave her with more questions than answers while getting close to a costly truth.  I really liked Persephone as narrator. She is a strong, decided character which is featured to the reader in a simple way, which makes it easy to identify with.  Secondary and tertiary characters are well defined in their respective roles and allow the narrative to flow properly.  Romance in the story is interesting with both; character aspect and the chemistry between him and Persephone.  It’s really interesting and the elements Hopcus uses to develop the relationship are good for the reader. Fans of this type of reading will not be let down, on the contrary, they will count the days to read the sequel.  I must mention that the most fascinating aspect is that something is happening ALL the time and when the pieces come together it’s just wonderful to see the way the author combined all the elements. This is the major compliment I can give Hopcus for the presentation of this first novel. Shadow Hills; where the secrets of a town, a love tempted in so many ways and the singularity of a young girl collide in a novel full of emotions to which you won’t be able to stop reading until the last page.

I received some swag material that the lovely Anastasia Hopcus sent me.  I will give them between those who comment on the review.

A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

A group of three books cover images that I like the most from the titles to be released in the current month. Usually I already pre-ordered the titles or own them. I named the section like I did because I like thinking about these covers like they are something that its meant to look.

*Eye Candy: visual images that are pleasant to see.

Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life.  She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt ContestTM reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your FiveTM web project.  In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music, and reading.  Lots and lots of reading.  She hopes her debut YA novel,The Cinderella Society (April 13, 2010 – Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.

Author Web Page:

The Cinderella Society  / 2010  / Egmont USA  /

What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits,

but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider.  So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it’s like something out of a fairy tale.  Swept up by the Cindys’ magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she’s finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch-enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there’s more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside.  She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.

Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her.  Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn’t want to be seen with her in public?  And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

1. What inspired you to be a writer?

I’d been writing adult fiction for several years but never seemed to find my fit there. A friend suggested that my voice would be a great fit for YA, but I hadn’t read YA since I was a teen! So I went to my local library. The teen librarian suggested three books: The Princess Diaries, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and How My Private, Personal Journal Become a Bestseller. I took them home, devoured them, and knew that this was what I wanted to write. The rest is history!

2. Where was TCS  idea born?

The Cinderella Society actually came from a magazine article about high school sororities.  I’d never heard of that before and, once I started thinking about the kind of society I would create if I could, I realized I would want it to be an organization devoted to fighting the everyday battle of good vs. evil. The idea snowballed from there and The Cinderella Society was born.

3.  How many sequels are already planned for this story?

Right now, I’m working on the sequel to The Cinderella Society, titled Cindy on a Mission.  It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters as the Wickeds launch an offensive that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in Spring 2011.  After that, we’ll have to see!

4. What’s your position on teachers on using extracurricular books as a tool to impart certain lessons?

I think it’s fabulous.  My teachers growing up pretty much stuck to the classics.  I never felt fully engaged in reading them because, to the teenaged version of me, they weren’t as accessible as I needed them to be.  So I love hearing that teachers are using current books in the classroom, or in book clubs, to engage students in a more contemporary way.

5. If you could see yourself in the Erised Mirror, what will it show you?

Ooo!  I’m a big Harry Potter fan, so this is a very fun question.  Hmm … probably me laughing with my family, surrounded by books that I’m proud to have written.  What could be better than that?

Acknowledgment:

I want to thank Kay Cassidy  for visiting Windowpane Memoirs.  Also I want to thank her because she was the first debut author who gives me an opportunity to read her work long before it was publishing.  It’s been a pleasure.