Review: Glory Be - Augusta Scattergood

Where I got it: Finished copy from publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Really like the colors.)
Genre: Middle grade

Publication Date: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Page Count: 208 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Glory lives in Mississippi in 1964. There are fountains for the white people and fountains for the coloreds. Pools and schools are segregated and the white folks seem to like it that way. When some people decide to close the local pool though, Glory is flown for a loop. What do they think they can close the pool for. It's summer and almost Glory's birthday and she doesn't want that pool to be closed. They stated that is was for repairs, but slowly Glory realizes that it might have more to do with her new friend from the North and the people they have come to help.

This was a really interesting story. I liked that Glory started off a bit naive, it lent a different feel to the whole subject. Glory doesn't really know a lot about the racism that is part of her every day life. She just sort of blindly follows the rules. Living in Mississippi there doesn't seem to be too many people that are willing to start a ruckus. This story was about quite a few different things. While black people are working to getting the vote and freedom Glory and her sister are growing apart a bit. Glory's older sister is now a teenager and doesn't want to hang out with her little sister. Glory's best friend Frankie is being bullied by his brother and father. This causes him to be nearly unbearable to Glory. He's super racist because that's how his family feels. This is another great discussion book that took a really good look at civil rights in a southern town. The librarian in this is fantastic, a true librarian, the good kind of librarian. She was outspoken and welcomed everyone. If you like historical fiction especially the civil rights time period, check this one out. It is about more than just history though, so it's a good fit for most anyone.

First Line:
"What was taking Frankie so long?"

Favorite Line:
"What's really broken and needs fixing most of all are the backward people running this town and the others who won't do a thing about it."

Review: Pie - Sarah Weeks

Where I got it: Finished copy from publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Cute and relevant cover, definitely for middle grade.)
Genre: Middle Grade

Publication Date: October 1, 2011

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Page Count: 183 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Aunt Polly loved to make pies and give them away. Then one day she went away, to the next life. Alice is devastated, she loved her Aunt Polly. Now though, strange things are happening. In her aunt's will she left her secret pie crust recipe to Lardo, her cat and the cat to Alice. Then when Alice brings Lardo home, somebody catnaps him. Nobody believes her that he was catnapped, they thing he just snuck away. Alice knows in her bones that it has to be the truth though. Now, with the help of her friend Charlie she has to find out who took Lardo, who ransacked her Aunt's old pie shop and why.

This was a really fast and fun read. I can see why this was picked for the Mother/Daughter Book Club. I can see a great discussion happening with this novel. It was a fun story about pie, family and a cranky old cat. I loved that each chapter started with a pie recipe and there were little handwritten notes at the bottom of each saying who's favorite it was and their birth dates. It was a nice added touch to this novel, and boy did it make me hungry for pie. Alice was an interesting character, very much her own person which was encouraged by her aunt. The relationship between Alice and her mother is strained, which is understandable considering her mother is terrible. She just was a selfish and rude person. I really didn't like her as a character and I can see why Alice preferred her Aunt Polly. This is definitely a great light mystery that you should check out if you get a chance.

First Line:
"'Thank you very much.'"

Favorite Line:
"...as she sang, Alice's heart unclenched, and something warm flowed into the spaces inside her that had been aching and empty since Aunt Polly had passed."

Review: Of Poseidon - Anna Banks

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 3.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Really like the colors.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Page Count: 324 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Emma fell for Galen right away...well, fell into him. Emma tripped over her own feet and found herself plastered against his muscled torso. Galen felt something when this happened, a spark, a tingle. That day wasn't a great day in Florida for Emma though, she lost her best friend that day. Emma went back to school and found herself in class with Galen. Thoughts of him brought back thoughts of that beach in Florida, something Emma wants to forget. Unfortunately for her though, Galen is here to stay. There's something about Emma that she doesn't know yet. Galen suspects she is Syrena, and he intends to bring her home.

This concept was really interesting, a bit different take on the mermaid legend. I loved Emma and Galen's banter in this novel...so much! I loved the conversations between all of the characters, it just flowed really nicely and had me laughing out loud at times. Galen was a bit crazy possessive of Emma, but that is a lovely trait of the Syrena, anger. Parts of this book were a bit confusing. There was a bit of the characters being left out of a conversation they were in the room for, which is mildly annoying. There was also some confusion about Emma acknowledging that she is not all human. At one point Galen's sister declares "I knew it!" and Emma starts sputtering about how she tried, but couldn't help her friend. Then a few seconds later it's like she's forgotten that she just said those things. It was a bit frustrating, Emma somehow not believing the completely obvious. Regardless, the banter really kept me going, and the mystery of where Emma came from. That ending though! I was not expecting it to go that way. I had close suspicions, but...wow. I can't wait to see what happens at the beginning of the next book.

First Line:
"I smack into him as if shoved from behind."

Favorite Line:
"The final bell rings and students leak from every crevice of the redbrick building."

Review: Fated - Alyson Noël

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 4.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 5 stars (Very pretty and flows nicely!)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Page Count: 306 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Daire has been seeing things. Things other people don't see. She tried to tell her mother, but she didn't believe Daire. Daire knows these things must be real, but as the images and episodes get more intense she starts to doubt herself. After a particularly horrific incident, Daire is sent to live with her grandmother in New Mexico—a grandmother she has never met. Her grandmother knows exactly what has been happening to her, she's being called upon as a Soul Seeker. Her grandmother is one and every first born on that side has had the power, though some chose not to believe or use it. Then Daire runs into Dace, a boy she has seen often in her dreams. He belongs to a family of Coyotes though, enemies to Soul Seekers. She isn't sure how to control her feelings toward him, or what feelings she should even have. Her grandmother is trying to teach her all there is to learn, but time is running out. Daire needs to call upon the untapped potential and fix things now...or it may be too late.

Really didn't expect to enjoy this book so much, but Alyson Noël blended amazing elements into a fantastic story. Not only did this have that supernatural feel that Noël is known for but it added in some Navajo tales too. One thing that was a bit unbelievable was how not annoying Daire was. She seemed snotty, but we never really saw her act that way too much. It was nice, that I didn't have to get sick of her character right off the bat, but it seemed a bit odd that she was so easily swayed into unknown beliefs. Regardless, this was a very interesting start to what I'm sure will be an excellent series. I'm glad the books come out every six months instead of every year! I loved all the folklore woven in through the story. The characters were a bit stereotypical, but still awesome. Dace <3 I'm very interested to see where the rest of the series takes us, and what other hurtles Daire will have to overcome.

First Line:
"First came the crows."

Favorite Line:
"Nudging Jennika out of the way, he lifts a stethoscope from his neck, secures it in place, and tries to lower muy sheet so he can get down to business and eavesdrop on the inside of my chest."


This is also out in audiobook for those listeners out there. You can click here for an audio sample.

Stuff I got this week

This week I bought three books. Two because they just came out in paperback and one because...

Party by Tom Leveen

EEP! I was so excited to see this, so clearly I needed to buy it immediately! Now on to the links. As always, title links bring you to Goodreads and author links send you to their blogs.

Party - Tom Leveen 

(my review)

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente

(my review)

The Near Witch - Victoria Schwab

(my review)

That's what I got this week. What did you all get?

Review: Beneath a Meth Moon - Jacqueline Woodson

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 3 stars  

Cover Rating: 3 stars (Interesting, a bit reminiscent of the Crank novels fittingly enough.)
Genre: Young adult

Publication Date: February 2, 2012

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Page Count: 182 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

After a Hurricane Katrina destroyed her own home and her father decided they needed to stop living with their aunt, Laurel ends up in a new town. Here she meets T-Boom, who introduces her to meth. She instantly loves how it feels, how it takes all her thoughts and pain away. Soon enough it's all Laurel wants. She abandons her family and takes to the streets. She's barley fifteen, but this is how her life has ended up. She doesn't want help, she doesn't want to face her problems or her family—she just wants moon. Then a mysterious stranger named Moses shows up. He paints portraits on the sides of buildings of the children people have lost to meth. With his help and her family, Laurel might start to clean herself up.

Alright, why does she call meth "moon"? It never mentions an origin and she's the only one who calls it that. That bugged me a bit, and I feel like I am missing something. This was an interesting story about a girl so taken by grief, that she'll do anything to try to forget. Fans of Crank might enjoy this one except it is not written in verse. Besides his name, I really appreciated Moses. I felt the name was a little too much (biblically). This was a quick and enlightening read. I liked that Laurel had such an intense tragedy which was why she was so eager to accept this drug. It made a lot of sense. I also liked that it showed her enjoying life on meth, even the times when she was low. Then, alternately it was good that Jacqueline Woodson showed that Laurel wasn't really happy, she was just coasting by—trying to ride the high forever. By the end of the novel though, I still didn't have a whole grip on who Laurel was. Maybe it was because she was high most of the novel. She was bland. This was a good book though and one you should check out.

First Line:
"It's almost winter again and the cold moves through this town like water washing over us."

Favorite Line:
"I celebrated my fifteenth birthday sitting in the rain begging for money."

Review: Life is but a Dream - Brian James

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 4 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (The girl's eyes are completely gripping.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Page Count: 234 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Sabrina sees the world differently...very differently. Her parents check her into the Wellness Center to make her better. Here she meets Alec, who poses the question: what is better? Alec doesn't want to be turned into a mindless drone, and helps Sabrina try to avoid a similar fate. Sabrina doesn't want to lose the magic in her world, her ability to create and see things as beautiful. Sabrina is drawn to Alec completely and we see her progress and her creativity come to her, but things may not be as easy as they both thought.

So, for the first third of this book I pictured Sabrina as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but then she changed. At 1st she was really out there and crazy, but then she started to relax with the treatment. Her progress was easily seen and I liked the glimpses into her life before the treatment center. I wish we knew more about Alec though. I'm not sure that I quite believe his explanation of how he wound up there...maybe it was the truth though. He was a great person anyways, he stayed by Sabrina's side and helped make her feel loved and whole. It was really interesting being inside her head. She saw things completely differently. Sometimes it was beautiful, sometimes terrifying but always interesting. I can't imagine being inside her head for much longer than the book though. I can see how her lines blur together sometimes. One thing that was a bit odd, was her obsession with heaven. She didn't seem particularly religious, but always saw and talked about heaven. It was a bit odd. It could've just been a word to describe her indescribable place though. This was a strange look into a mental patient, who may actually be crazy. Pick this one up and give it a try if you see it.

First Line:
"Something is wrong with the sky."

Favorite Lines:
"I can still smell him on my palms. I can still taste him in my mouth."

Review: To Catch a Mermaid - Suzanne Selfors

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 3 stars  

Cover Rating: 2 stars (Not a very well-done cover.)
Genre: Middle Grade

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Page Count: 246 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Boom Broom's mother was sucked up by a freak twister. Since then he's practically been on his own. His father stays in the attic, afraid the twister will come back and take them away. His sister, Mertyle, can't seem to make it past the front porch, and fakes sick every day. That leaves Boom with the cook that his father hired, a Viking named Halvor. After a particularly bad day Boom stumbles upon something extraordinary, something that will change his life forever.

This was an interesting story. A fun mermaid story is always a joy. This was one ugly merbaby though. I don't know if I would have kept it. It was pretty hideous and a bit creepy. Not that I would have eaten it, but maybe just thrown it back in the water. This story did not end the way I had expected. With all the magic swirling around, I thought I knew for certain how everything would turn out. I'm glad that it surprised me. Halvor was a fun character, I liked that he brought some strange Viking folklore with him. This was a fun story about family and love and magic. I couldn't stand their neighbors, the Mumps. They were just a terrible family and got everything they deserved. This story was strange but fun. Something younger kids will probably love.

First Line:
"Boom Broom awoke to find his little sister, Mertyle, looking for spots."

Favorite Line:
"Lives were so short-live in those dark days, and heartache so common, that the Vikings wrote the most beautiful love poems to ever come from the human heart."

Review: Gilt - Katherine Longshore

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 4.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 3 stars (meh.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 15, 2012

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Page Count: 406 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

You think you know the story of King Henry VIII and his 5th wife? This novel explores Queen Catherine Howard's other relationships— who she was before she was Queen. This story follows Katherine Tylney, closest confidant to the Queen. She always walked in the shadow of Cat, but stood next to her through thick and thin even, unfortunately, in the face of death.

I've just started watching the Tudors, so was quite excited to read this before I got to his 5th wife in the show. I was not at all disappointed. I really like reading historical fiction from different perspectives. This was of Cat Howard's friend from before she was Queen. I appreciated the research (or obsession) that was involved with writing this story. Katherine Tylney was a real person and so it was wonderful seeing things fictionalized from her eyes. It did pass a bit slowly, mostly because I already knew how things turned out, a small problem with stories that are based on history.  This was a very well done story about how things may have been in the court of Queen Catherine Howard and you should definitely check it out if you can. If you have any interest in King Henry VIII or historical fiction, I can not recommend this one enough.

First Line:
"'You're not going to steal anything.'"

Favorite Line:
"Nothing but bile and self-loathing spilled from my mouth."

Stuff I got this week

For Review: Thanks to Big Honcho Media and Scholastic

Pie - Sarah Weeks

When Alice's Aunt Polly passes away, she takes with her the secret to her world-famous pie-crust recipe. Or does she? In her will, Polly leaves the recipe to her extraordinarily surly cat Lardo . . . and then leaves Lardo in the care of Alice. Suddenly Alice is thrust into the center of a piestorm, with everyone in town trying to be the next pie-contest winner...including Alice's mother and some of Alice's friends. The whole community is going pie-crazy...and it's up to Alice to discover the ingredients that really matter. Like family. And friendship. And enjoying what you do. 

Glory Be - Augusta Scattergood

A Mississippi town in 1964 gets riled when tempers flare at the segregated public pool. As much as Gloriana June Hemphill, or Glory as everyone knows her, wants to turn twelve, there are times when Glory wishes she could turn back the clock a year. Jesslyn, her sister and former confidante, no longer has the time of day for her now that she’ll be entering high school. Then there’s her best friend, Frankie. Things have always been so easy with Frankie, and now suddenly they aren’t. Maybe it’s the new girl from the North that’s got everyone out of sorts. Or maybe it’s the debate about whether or not the town should keep the segregated public pool open. 

The Boy on Cinnamon Street - Phoebe Stone

A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her. 7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back? 

Behind the Gates - Eva Gray

In 2020, America has been changed by hurricanes, earthquakes, and revolution. The world is at war. For four 13-year-old girls, the war means being sent away for their own safety. But Louisa, Maddie, Rosie, and Evelyn are about to find out that nothing is safe--and they only have each other to rely on now. 

Whatever After: Fairest of Them All - Sarah Mlynowski

Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . . Once upon a time my brother and I were normal kids. The next minute? The mirror in our basement slurped us up and magically transported us inside Snow White's fairy tale. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. But hey -- we're heroes! We stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn't die, she won't get to meet her prince. And then she won't get her happy ending. Oops. Now it's up to us to: Avoid getting poisoned- Sneak into a castle- Fix Snow White's story. And then, fingers crossed, find our way home. 

The False Prince - Jennifer A. Nielsen

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well. As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.


So that's what I got this week. What did you all get?

Let's Talk: Blog Goals

Let's Talk is a weekly feature at i swim for oceans.


Question: What are your top book blogging goals?


This is a tricky topic for me. I'm not much of a goal setter. I do a lot, spur of the moment. Which I guess is a good place to start.

1. Organize the blog better.
Not necessarily the appearance, but I bought a whiteboard calendar so that I can plan out my month and such. I also plugged in some book releases and other ideas into iCal. I really need to start paying better attention to what I've mapped out for the month and have more stuff on my blog besides reviews...I need a good feature of my own.


2. Make a great feature.
I want something people are excited to do. Like Let's Talk. I love this feature, it offers a lot of insight into the bloggers that participate and the topics are fun and thoughtful. I've tried a few features, but gave up because I just didn't love them.


3. Transition to Wordpress.
I'm feeling the pressure of this one. Every few weeks when I nervously download a backup of my blog, I consider the move. It does just seem so scary! Blogger is so easy and I'm already here. This is only a sort-of goal I guess. I haven't officially made a decision really.


4. Keep up the good work.
I'm proud of how far I've come in the blogging world in the past few years. I never thought I would have followers or great conversations with authors and other book lovers I've never met in real life. It's been a real fun journey. I started using so many outlets I never thought I would. I've read some amazing books and have gotten to gush about them and share my love with the world. THE WHOLE WORLD! It's crazy and awesome. :)


Do you all have any big blogging goals? 

Review: Struck - Jennifer Bosworth

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 3 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Fitting but not very eye-catching.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Page Count: 373 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Mia has been struck by lightning more times than you could imagine. It's in her blood and she can feel when a storm is coming. Her family had to flee from their home town because of an accident involving Mia, a storm and some bystanders. So now they are in Los Angeles. An earthquake has devastated their new city though and the displaced are wandering the streets. Mia's mother is still recovering, mentally, from being trapped for a few days during the earthquake. There are some strange groups popping up now though. They are amassing followers for two different sides of the fight. There are the Prophet's people who are doing God's will and then the Seekers who are trying to stop the Prophet's insanity. There is another side though, that Mia desperately wants to choose, but it may be out of her hands, especially since she doesn't know who she can trust.

I dislike that the description claims Mia is a lightning addict. She does not seem addicted to it at all, she is simply a lightning rod. It would have been an interesting element to see Mia more drawn to the storms then she seemed to be. This book was a pretty slow read. It seems like a story about lightning would be fast-paced and exciting, but this seemed to just meander around. I did love all the story elements though. Good versus evil, twists and turns, secret identities...all good stuff. I loved Jeremy too, he was a very interesting character and I liked how things turned out with him. THE PROPHET! Oh man, he is all kinds of crazy-power-hungry. His whole personality is creepy, I would never want to meet him in real life. Spewing about the power of God and forming a cult following, those things just creep me out. About two thirds of the way through the book, the action starts to pick up, mounting to a climax...that fizzles. What a lackluster finale seriously.

» Click to show Spoiler « 

I mean really?!?!? Mia just sort of blacks out. THAT is the big conclusion. The storm rages, Mia is struck and then...

I was just pretty disappointed from the finish, I just expected more I guess. I'm quite curious to see how the next book is tackled. There wasn't any real cliffhanger here, so I'll be curious to see what the next story is about. Like I said, the meat of the story was good, but the execution could use some work. It might just not be my style, but I will definitely read more by Jennifer Bosworth.

First Line:
"When you've been struck by lightning as many times as I have, you start to expect the worst pretty much all the time."

Favorite Line:
"Jeremy had awakened her with a kiss and a nightmare."

Paperback release day for The Near Witch & a free story!

It's May 15th!

Not only does The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab come out in paperback TODAY, but, to celebrate its release, "The Ash-Born Boy" is finally up over at Disney*Hyperion's website!

So, what is "The Ash-Born Boy"? It's a free story Victoria wrote as a thank-you to her fans, and she wrote it to answer ONE question: "Who was Cole before he came to Near?"

Now, if you've already read The Near Witch, "The Ash-Born Boy" is guaranteed to change the way you see Cole. And if you haven't read The Near Witch yet, don't worry, "The Ash-Born Boy" won't spoil anything!  So basically, either way, you should go read Cole's story ;)

And if you want to wait and read The Near Witch first, don't worry! Cole's story will stay up on Disney*Hyperion's website, and if it ever comes down, Victoria will carve out a space for it on her own site. It will always be available somewhere, and it will always be free.

And! Cole's story isn't the only goodie to go along with the paperback release. In the back of the paperback itself, you'll find the first chapter of Victoria's new book, The Archived, which doesn't come out until January! So what are you waiting for? Help Victoria celebrate today by taking a look at "The Ash-Born Boy," and don't forget to buy/order/pick up your own paperback copy of The Near Witch!

I loved this little story! See me thoughts here. I loved The Near Witch too(my review) and if for some crazy reason you have not read it yet DO IT!

Mini Review: The Ash-born Boy - Victoria Schwab

Companion story to The Near Witch

Before Cole got to Near, he was a different person. He had a different life that while not his favorite, was a good life. There was something different about him though. A magic that he had a hard time keeping under control. He had to control it otherwise there would be consequences.

Loved this peek into Cole's previous life. A life far more grand then you might've imagined. It really helped develop Cole into an even better character. Now I am super excited to re-read this story as soon as more copy comes in! This story also offers so insight into the world surrounding Near. Gives you a better feel for the world as a whole. I really want more in this area. How about a back story for The Sisters? ;) Seriously though make sure you read this if you loved The Near Witch.

Stuff I got this week

For Review: thanks Little, Brown and Co.

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece - Annabel Pilcher

Ten-year-old Jamie hasn't cried since it happened. He knows he should have - Jasmine cried, Mum cried, Dad still cries. Roger didn't, but then he is just a cat and didn't know Rose that well, really. Everyone kept saying it would get better with time, but that's just one of those lies that grown-ups tell in awkward situations. Five years on, it's worse than ever: Dad drinks, Mum's gone and Jamie's left with questions that he must answer for himself. This is his story, an unflinchingly real yet heart-warming account of a young boy's struggle to make sense of the loss that tore his family apart.

Perfect Escape - Jennifer Brown

Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation. Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past. 

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell - Chris Colfer (yeah, from Glee)

Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairytales. The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

So that's what I got this week. What did you all get?

Let's Talk: Book Covers

Let's Talk is a weekly feature at i swim for oceans.

Question: What books can you think of that have covers better than the content and vice-versa?

I'll start with books that had fantastic covers, but whose insides were disappointing.

Topping this list would have to be Luminous by Dawn Metcalf. (my review)
An amazing and gorgeous cover. Very well done and completely eye-catching. Then you read the story. I'm not the only person who was throughly lost and confused and disappointed by the tale held inside this gorgeous cover.

Next up we have Mister Death's Blue-eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn. (my review) This cover is so perfect. There is nothing I don't love about this, even the title wraps in so nicely. But the story was just sort of meh. I love love love love love this cover though. Definitely need a print for it to go in my collection.

Last one for covers I love to books I didn't love, is one that I actually do have a print of the cover for. This cover is so gorgeous. Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison. (my review) I mean look at that cover!!! Not only did the cover lend to the idea that this book would be amazing, but the fact that it was a re-telling of the GREATEST love story of all time made the stakes high. Unfortunately the story did not live up to the cover expectations.

Now for the one book I could thing of that had a blah cover, but was so so amazing! It was tricky to come up with one, because I do judge books by their covers and don't often read any with unappealing covers. But this one came highly recommended. Ender's Game by Orson Scott card. (my review) This cover is just so blah, even the new cover isn't good. Regardless of the cover though, this book was completely amazing. I was totally blown away by Ender's story and just found this book to be a surprisingly fantastic read. Seriously, if you haven't read it pick it up soon.

Review: The Drowned Cities - Paolo Bacigalupi

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 3 stars  

Cover Rating: 2 stars (Don't really care for it. It fits the story, but just isn't very appealing to me.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 1st, 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Page Count: 439 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
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Companion prequel to Ship Breaker

Before Nailer and his crew. In a different part of the country, war was raging. Many different groups were fighting over something no one could really remember. The Peacekeepers had abandoned their mission and left everyone to fend for themselves. Mahlia was one of the ones left behind. A doctor took her and Mouse in. Mouse was all that was left of his farmer family. Then things get turned upside down. There's a half-man in the swamp outside their village and UPF soldiers inside their village ransacking it. Mahlia is forced to make a decision to stay and accept the outcome of life, or run and fight for her freedom. She wants the doctor and Mouse to come with her too, but they might not have what it takes, they might not have enough Drowned Cities in their blood.

I didn't love this one as much as Ship Breaker. Maybe it was Mahlia; for some reason I just didn't care for her. My favorite characters were Mouse and Tool. I really liked Tool in Ship Breaker, and he's just as amazing in this one. He's just very wise and like a rock. He's just this solid level-headed character to guide the others. Mouse was a great addition to this story. I found myself very attached to him as he evolved throughout the story. This book had a very different feel from Ship Breaker. The Drowned Cities revolved around war and survival. Mahlia talks about Sun Tzu a lot, when speaking about strategy. Most of the people we see throughout the novel are children, young kids. There are hardly any adults left, since the wars have killed so many people. It was never to clear what everyone was even fighting about, the war had been going on too long. That's how I feel war often is though. No one really knows why they are fighting, they just know who they are fighting against. I liked the journey and the back and forth third person narrative in this novel. It was good to see all sides of what was going on. The end was quite a shock to me. I did not expect any of that to happen as it did. I definitely think this is worth the read if you enjoyed Ship Breaker.

First Line:
"Chains clanked in the darkness of the holding cells."

Favorite Line:
"He didn't think he was going anywhere but straight to hell when he died, so he wasn't eager for the afterlife the way the Army of God boys were."