Teaser Tuesday #71

This week's Teaser Tuesday is from Nerve by Jeanne Ryan. I haven't heard a lot about this one, and am a bit surprised. About half way through and it is pretty fantastic. The premise is: A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly.

(page 111)

"My very own pimp. The potential customers, or so they think, stare at me, smacking their lips, but shaking their heads."
Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should be Reading. Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Stuff I Got This Week

For review: 

thanks to Penguin and HarperCollins

Stranded - Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts

A family vacation becomes...a test of survival!
It was supposed to be a vacation—and a chance to het to know each other better. But when a massive storm sets in without warning, four kids are shipwrecked alone on a rocky jungle island in the middle of the South Pacific. No adults. No instructions. Nobody to rely on but themselves. Can they make it home alive? 
 A week ago, the biggest challenge Vanessa, Buzz, Carter, and Jane had was learning to live as a new blended family. Now the four siblings must find a way to work together if they're going to make it off the island. But first they've got to learn to survive on another. 

A Tangle of Knots - Lisa Graff

Told from multiple viewpoints, A Tangle of Knots is a magnificent puzzle. In a slightly magical world where everyone has a Talent, eleven-year-old Cady is an orphan with a phenomenal Talent for cake baking. But little does she know that fate has set her on a journey from the moment she was born. And her destiny leads her to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium, an old recipe, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever. However, these encounters hold the key to Cady's mysterious past and how she became an orphan. If she's lucky, fate may reunite her with her long-lost father. 

Moranthology - Caitlin Moran

MORANTHOLOGY The very best of Caitlin Moran – in the first ever collection of her writing ‘In HOW TO BE A WOMAN, I was limited to a single topic: women. Their hair, their shoes and their crushes on Aslan from The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (which I KNOW to be universal). ‘However! In my new book MORANTHOLOGY – as the title suggests – I am set free to tackle THE REST OF THE WORLD: Ghostbusters, Twitter, caffeine, panic attacks, Michael Jackson’s memorial service, being a middle-class marijuana addict, Doctor Who, binge-drinking, Downton Abbey, pandas, my own tragically early death, and my repeated failure to get anyone to adopt the nickname I have chosen for myself: ‘Puffin’. ‘I go to a sex-club with Lady Gaga, cry on Paul McCartney’s guitar, get drunk with Kylie, appear on Richard & Judy as a gnome, climb into the TARDIS, sniff Sherlock Holmes’s pillows at 221b Baker Street, write Amy Winehouse’s obituary, turn up late to Downing Street for Gordon Brown, and am rudely snubbed at a garden party by David Cameron –although that’s probably because I called him ‘A C3PO made of ham’. Fair enough. ‘And, in my spare time – between hangovers - I rant about the welfare state, library closures and poverty; like a shit Dickens or Orwell, but with tits.’ 

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm - Philip Pullman

Two hundred years ago, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children’s and Household Tales. Now, at a veritable fairy-tale moment—witness the popular television shows Grimm and Once Upon a Time and this year’s two movie adaptations of “Snow White”—Philip Pullman, one of the most popular authors of our time, makes us fall in love all over again with the immortal tales of the Brothers Grimm. 
 From much-loved stories like “Cinderella” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Rapunzel” and “Hansel and Gretel” to lesser-known treasures like “Briar-Rose,” “Thousandfurs,” and “The Girl with No Hands,” Pullman retells his fifty favorites, paying homage to the tales that inspired his unique creative vision—and that continue to cast their spell on the Western imagination.

Movie Review: The Moth Diaries

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 2.5 stars 
Cover Rating: 4 stars (This cover is great and I really like how Ernessa looks even if it's really strange. Her mouth is just so tiny, then she talks and I don't see how she hid all those teeth in that tiny tiny mouth.)
Rating: Rated R (sex/nudity/drug-use/language)
DVD Release Date: August 28, 2012
Run Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Buy it: Amazon

For a summary of this movie, check out my review of the book version here.

So, the actresses in this movie were quite good. The script on the other hand...not so much. For me this movie just moved to quickly and this caused every character to be one-dimensional. I was glad to see Becca writing in her journal, but there wasn't enough to really get to know her. Ernessa was even weirder in the movie. There was not a single natural situation with her. Everything she did and said was out of left field. There was some of that craziness in the book, but it flowed a bit better. In the movie Ernessa pretty much just said strange things which may or may not have been Becca hallucinating. They did show a few things in the movie that made the book make since a little more, but they didn't really fit into the movie, as there was no background. I'd be really interested to see what other people though of this movie. I'd also like to see what people thought having read the book first, and not having read it first. I really wished this movie was better than it was. This book was a strange and difficult choice to adapt, and the movie shows how hard it really was.

Review: The Moth Diaries - Rachel Klein

Where I got it: Inter-library Loan
Rating: 3 stars  
Cover Rating: 3.5 stars (It's okay, but not fantastic.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 30, 2002
Publisher: Counterpoint
Page Count: 250 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

When Ernessa comes to the boarding school, Lucy and her become very close. Becca doesn't like this new development at all. This was supposed to be a year all about Lucy and Becca. Ernessa is also...strange. She doesn't eat and she always says odd things. No one but Becca seems to notice that she's off, at first. A couple of the other girls start to notice that there is something not quite right with Ernessa, but things don't end well for those who notice. As her allies leave, she is left watching Lucy change. No one will believe her about Ernessa, so she'll just have to solve the problem herself.

I remembered liking this a lot more when I first read it. Maybe I'm just more well read now and so found things more irritating this time around. The hardest thing for me, was that this book just seemed confusing. Realistic, but confusing. Becca's thoughts jumped around way too much to be able to pay attention to what is happening. She also draws conclusions very early on, with little evidence to support the claims. There is certainly something odd about Ernessa, but even after finishing this novel, I am unsure that Becca's deductions were correct.

I do enjoy novels written in diary-form, but I think it didn't quite work for this story. Becca wrote about a lot of useless things, that took away from the main story a little. It made her into a more rounded character, but they changed the tone of the novel. Her daily observances of life just seemed misplaced alongside her depression and detective work.

Another thing that was sort of strange was the relationship between Becca and Mr. Davies. What is going on there. It seemed a bit disjointed and weird. One situation they had between them was the most awkward thing I've read. Really most of their interactions were awkward. I feel like it could have been a bit more decisive one way or another.

Ernessa was such a weird character. I wish that we got to learn more truths about her. She has a lot of conflicting situations surrounding her. I did love that you never really knew for sure what was going on with her or if it was maybe just Becca's jealousy giving her delusions about the whole thing. As much as that was enjoyable, I still wished there was some sort of definitive answer.

This was an interesting, mysterious, gothic tale and as long as you don't mind books that don't have official answers, then you should check this one out. It's a fascinating read to say the least.

First Line:
"When Dr. Karl Wolff first suggested publishing the journal that I kept during my junior year in boarding school, I thought I hadn't head him correctly."

Favorite Line:
"'I used to say 'Books, my food.' But now all my food has been poisoned.'"

Waiting on Wednesday #55

This week I'm waiting on The Dead and the Buried by Kim Harrington. I loved Clarity and the Sleuth or Dare series, so I'm eagerly anticipating this one. I love thrillers with a creepy air to them. 

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller. 

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't. 

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Where I got it: ARC from publisher
Rating: 4.5 stars  
Cover Rating: 5 stars (I'm glad they used the same photo set for this cover too. Lovely.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 530 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
Sequel to: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Mara isn't sure what's going on. She thought he was dead...they told her he was dead. She's certain it was him in that police station though. It was Jude, not a hallucination. There is no way to convince any one else that it's true though. There is one person who doesn't need convincing though. Noah is trying to get to the bottom of things. Where could Jude have been this whole time and what does he want? Noah and Mara are on somewhat rocky ground since all has been revealed, but neither of them are giving up yet. Unfortunately things are going to get a lot worse before they will get the answers they need.

This book was super steamy. If you thought that the connection between Noah and Mara was intense in the first book, wait until you read this one. Also, JUDE!!! What a cliffhanger from the first novel. I was so glad I was able to dive right into this one and find out what is going on. Unfortunately, it's not all completely clear yet. I'm so excited for the last book so that I can see how the story ends up with Mara writing that letter in the beginning.

So many things have happend in these first two novels and all of it just keeps building up. Now Mara is starting to have really strange dreams. I really enjoyed having this introduced, it is an aspect that is keeping me on my toes. As soon as I think I'm starting to figure out and understand what is going on, everything changes. I can't even imagine how crazy it must be for Mara.

This novel really amps up compared to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. This one is totally more intense and driven. I doubt you'll even be able to put this one down. Things just keep happening and half-explanations are made, but nothing finite yet. I seriously can not wait to read the conclusion to this series. It will either be TOTALLY AMAZING or terrible. I'm guessing the first though, since this book is even better than the first one.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer does not end on a cliff hanger, which is nice, but it ends with a billion unresolved questions. I still don't even believe Kells, there is no way that what she says is true. It CAN'T be true. The Retribution of Mara Dyer is the perfect title for the last novel. Evolution ended on a sort of badass note, so it's going to be awesome.

First Line:
"You will love him to ruins."

Favorite Lines:
"I knew one hundred little things about Noah Shaw but when he kissed me I couldn't remember my own name. I was starved for him, for this."

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Where I got it: My collection
Rating: 4 stars  
Cover Rating: 5 stars (Beautiful.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 452 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

When Mara Dyer wakes up in the hospital she has trouble remembering how she got there. Slowly details are filled in though. She was with her friends and boyfriend in an abandoned asylum when it collapsed. She's the only one who survived. Mara has a hard time dealing with this and is suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) so her family decide it's time for a fresh start and they move to Florida. Things in Florida are okay. Mara makes a friend, Jaime so school isn't so terrible...then there is that cute boy, Noah. English accent, disheveled clothes and tousled hair make him hard to resist. The only problem Mara has, are her hallucinations. She's trying to play it cool so her family doesn't have to worry, but Mara is having a hard time telling between what's real and what's not. When a few people start dropping dead, Mara knows that something has to be going on. She can't figure everything out on her own though.

So while I was not like OH MY GOD THIS BOOK! I do see what people reacted that way. This was a pretty awesome start to a trilogy. Mara is a very fascinating narrator, since her brain isn't completely 100%. She has hallucinations and delusions and it makes it interesting trying to figure out what is really going on.

I wish there was more Jaime in this book. I think it just adds in Mara's  dysfunctionality though that she doesn't have a good solid friend. Jaime seemed interesting though and I really wish him and Mara hung out more.

Then there is Noah. He is a dream. I sort of picture him as Nicholas Hoult, especially as Tony in Skins. The cocky air to him as well as being English and cute. Regardless though, he was a very interesting character and he counteracted Mara perfectly.

I am deadly excited to see what happens next with Mara. This story is very ensnaring and the whole concept is just...wow. The only flaw in this novel are more of a preference flaw; the whole girl in new town dates mysterious and attractive boy who only wants her like he's never wanted anyone before. Some people find this unrealistic, I find it perfect for a novel. That's how love in a novel should often be. It's a much nicer reality than the truth. ;)

Michelle Hodkin's writing is amazing. She creates sentences that lure you in and chapters that keep you turning pages. You think you can put the book down, only to realize that you have to read one more chapter to be satisfied.

If you haven't read this novel yet, it's probably time you do. I really enjoyed it and will be biting my nails until all the secrets have been uncovered.

First Line:
"The ornate script on the board twisted in the candlelight, making the letters and numbers dance in my head."

Favorite Lines:
"'I mean asscrown. The crown on the top of the asshat that covers the asshole of assclown. The very zenith in the hierarchy of asses,' I said, as though reading from a dictionary of modern profanity."

"Lightning flashed in distant purple clouds that spread over the sky like a dark quilt."

"'Because I am European, therefore more cultured than you,'..."

Stuff I Got This Week

For Review: 

Thanks Penguin and William Morrow

Stardust - Neil Gaiman

Hopelessly crossed in love, a boy of half-fairy parentage leaves his mundane Victorian-English village on a quest for a fallen star in the magical realm. The star proves to be an attractive woman with a hot temper, who plunges with our hero into adventures featuring witches, the lion and the unicorn, plotting elf-lords, ships that sail the sky, magical transformations, curses whose effects rebound, binding conditions with hidden loopholes and all the rest.

Slated - Teri Terry

Kyla’s memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever. She’s been Slated. The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

Bought:

I Felt Awesome - Moxie

Crafting with Cat Hair - Kaori Tsutaya 

(This was too funny to pass up.)

Fury - Elizabeth Miles

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

Stuff I Got This Week

For Review: thanks HarperCollins

The Spindlers - Lauren Oliver

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different. When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul. She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him. To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

So I haven't been doing much blog stuff, because I'm working on buying a house...which is exhausting. As soon as that's all settled, things will be better than ever :) Thanks for stopping by!

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

Mara Dyer Giveaway

Giveaway:

• Fill out This Form to enter
• Winner receives a finished hardback of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and an ARC of The Evolution of Mara Dyer
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Giveaway is international
• Ends October 17th 

Review: The Curiosities - Maggie Siefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 4 stars  
Cover Rating: 5 stars (Awesome.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 1, 2012
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Page Count: 296 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

There are three authors involved in the Merry Sisters of Fate site. A site where three authors challenged themselves and each other to write a small piece of fiction each week. This is but a small look into the process and the end results.

This was a really interesting book. I would definitely recommend it to aspiring authors. There are not only some of these ladies lovely tales, but lots of notes and scribbles that talk about the writing process. That's what really makes this book unique is that added touch beyond just the stories.

These stories are also fantastic though. I have only read Brenna's books before, but I found that I loved every single story and now am thinking I really need to pick up something by the other two. Each story fits the title, they are curious tales. A step out of the ordinary.

I am going to have to buy this book to keep around and go back to. The stories and notes and doodles were just really fab. If you have a chance to check this out...do.

First Line:
"Sat, May 3, 2008
From: Maggie Stiefvater
Time: 2:36 PM
To: Brenna Yovanoff, Tess Gratton
Hey guys, what so you guys think of doing a group blog where we each try and do a piece of flash fiction or a mini scene totally unrelated to anything we're doing?"

Favorite Line:
"My heart is spinning fast , and I am feverish with a burning need to destroy."

You can check out their website, Merry Sisters of Fate, here. There are tons of other great (sometimes creepy) stories there too.

Review:The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls - Claire Legrand

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 4 stars  
Cover Rating: 4.5 stars (It's quite lovely! I do appreciate the muted colors, makes it a bit more sinister.)
Genre: Middle Grade
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page Count: 344 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

One day Victoria's friend Lawrence goes missing. This does not fit in with her perfect plans to make him a bit less...rough around the edges. She also is sort of concerned for his well-being. His parents tell Victoria that he's visiting his sick grandmother, but something about this excuse seems a bit off. Maybe it's Lawrence's parents that seem off. Victoria decides it's up to her to investigate what has happened to Lawrence and the other kids who seem to be disappearing. Victoria has a sinking feeling that it all might have to do with the Cavendish Home. She's not sure what goes on there, so she'll have to investigate and what she finds will surprise her.

This was such a fun story. Plenty of mystery and intrigue and general creepiness. I loved the little bugs that were scattered throughout the story and the few illustrations made this story even more of a delight. Victoria was the kind of girl who needed everything to be perfect. She started hanging around Lawrence for the very reason of making him perfect. He was always quite disheveled with his head in music. Somehow though, Victoria managed to tolerate Lawrence and it seems she even grew fond of him.

Much of this book we are only with Victoria. Lawrence disappears quite early on, so we are tangled up in Victoria's rumination. She seems quite smart and able at this point. She's like a regular Nancy Drew, sleuthing around town. It helps that the grown-ups aren't their usual selves. There are a lot of great characters in this novel, some we only meet briefly but all of them play their parts and play them well.

The Cavendish Home is incredible. Every part of it left me feeling a bit creeped out. I really enjoyed it though, and could picture it vividly in my mind. I don't want to talk too much about it and spoil anything but it was a delight.

If you enjoyed Coraline of The Mysterious Benedict Society, this will be right up your alley. This is a smart, sinister read that will leave you guessing until all has been uncovered.

First Line:
"When Victoria Wright was twelve years old, she had precisely one friend."

Favorite Line:
"The air stank of onion, and something worse, a heavy tang of rot."

This is a Middle Grade Monday Post feel free to link your middle grade reviews/news below :) 

(doesn't have to be posted on a Monday)

Stuff I Got This Week

For Review: Thanks HarperCollins

The Burning House:What Would You Take? - Foster Huntington

Your house is burning. You have to get out fast. Suddenly you are forced to prioritize, editing down a lifetime of possessions to a mere handful. Now you must decide: Of all the things you own, what is most important to you? The practical? Your laptop, your smartphone, what you need to keep working and stay in touch? The valuable? Your money, your jewelry, the limited edition signed poster in the living room? The sentimental? The watch your late grandfather gave you, the diary you kept as a teenager? What you choose to bring with you speaks volumes about who you are and what you believe in--your interests, your background, your view of life. With contributions from all over the world, "The Burning House" is an eye-opening pictorial meditation on materialism; an in-depth, intensely personal interview contained in a single question; a revealing window into the human heart.

Bought:

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi (my review)

"You can't touch me," I whisper. I'm lying, is what I don't tell him. He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him. But things happen when people touch me. Strange things. Bad things. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans on her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

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

Review: Tiger Lily - Jodi Lynn Anderson

Where I got it: ARC from AmazonVine
Rating: 4.5 stars  
Cover Rating: 4 stars (It's pretty, a bit weird but pretty.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 292 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Before Wendy taught the lost boys manners, there was another girl in their midst. Tiger Lily stumbled upon Peter and the lost boys one day, and her life was never the same. Back in her village things weren't going as planned, so the boys gave her a place where she could pretend for awhile. Peter was completely different from all the people she already knew. Unfortunately hanging out with the lost boys may get Tiger Lily into trouble with her tribe. She is destined to be wed to Giant. This is not the life TIger Lily wants and she longs for Peter every moment she's away, even if she doesn't realize it. Meanwhile, Hook and his crew are searching for the Lost Boys and they may do anything to get rid of Peter.

So I picked this up, because I love a good re-telling. When I tried to think of Tiger Lily though I realized that I don't think I've ever watched the Peter Pan with her in it. I think I've just seen Hook a bunch of times. I read the book, but it was so long ago that the details of Tiger Lily are fuzzy. Regardless, I knew a little about her and looked up a bit more online. I did recognize the other characters though so that was great.

This was such and in-depth re-telling that I will not be able to recommend it enough. It takes Peter Pan and changes it into a whole new beautiful story. The characters are examined closer and the backstory of Neverland is detailed.

This novel is narrated by Tinker Bell, which gave an interesting viewpoint of events unfolding. It also gave great insight into the different characters as she observed them. She was not an unbiased narrator, but she was loyal. She even gave us a bit of her own story which just made things even better.

There were some nice consistencies between the original and this novel. Tink still doesn't speak, Tiger Lily is a girl of few words, there are even crocodiles and Englanders. This novel just elaborates and changes things nicely. There's a lot of meat and emotion in this novel. Tiger Lily becomes this wonderful fleshed out character with so much emotion in her still face. I also loved Pine Sap.

There are some terrible things that happen in this novel. There's death and rape and other fairly terrible things. It's a more honest sort of fairy tale.

If you loved the original tale or love fairy tales, you should definitely pick this one up. It was a fantastic story, even if you have never heard of Peter Pan. I will probably be re-reading this one again soon.

First Line:
"She stand on the cliffs, near the old crumbling stone house."

Favorite Lines:
"She wondered if there was anyway she could fly away too."

"And then she stepped up onto a fallen tree, edging to where it hung over the abyss."

Review: ZOM-B - Darren Shan

Where I got it: ARC from publisher for review
Rating: 4.5 stars  
Cover Rating: 5 stars (Totally awesome.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 173 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

When B's father first sees the news reports about zombies in Ireland, he laughs it off. Even if there were zombies, he doesn't care much about the Irish...or blacks, or Indians or anyone not up to his British standards. This bigotry infest B to. At first B makes like it's just an act, just pretending to have this hatred. When B acts out in school though, it seems to be more than just pretend hatred. B's friends also hear about the zombie attacks, they are a bit less skeptical. They are more concerned about B's racism. B's best friend is black and it doesn't make sense for B to hate others based on their skin. When the zombies come though, B will have to decided what really matters in life. Does being a person not native to England make you less important? Can B make it out alive and save some people too?

This is going to have to be a fairly short review. There's is such an amazing twist in this book and since this book is so short, I don't feel like I can talk too much about it without spoiling it in some way. B was an interesting character. It's weird to be in the mind of a maybe racist person. B's father is part of the Klan, so it's interesting to see how that affects B. B's father is also abusive towards B and his wife. B's almost too scared not to be a racist. It made me cringe a little all the hatred that is in this book and radiating from B.

Past the bigotry though, you get the gore. There was definitely a great amount of gore for a good zombie story. The only problem is how long it takes to get to the zombies. B's encounter with zombies takes up a small portion of this small book. It seemed a little rushed once they showed up. It was really amazing still though, but don't read this if you have a weak stomach.

Unfortunately, since this is an ARC I did not get to see the illustrations, but I have a copy coming soon so I'll get to check them out. I hope they fit well with the story.

The last 30 pages or so totally make this book shoot up to 4.5 stars. It was a good 3-3.5 star book before, but the last couple chapters just pulled everything together and punched me in the gut. The book sort of ends with a cliff hanger. I think the ending would work find as a stand alone novel. I crave more, but I feel satisfied with how it ends.

Definitely check this book out if you like a good zombie read. I can't wait for more of this series!

First Line:
"THEN...It was the darkest, most wretched hour of the night when the dead came back to life and spread like a plague of monstrous locusts through the village of Pallaskenry."

Favorite Lines:
"It's no different in the dream. Except in a way it is. Because I know something worse than a crash is coming. I sense it in the air. The roar of a plane engine is always menacing, but this sounds worse. It sounds hungry."

Top Ten Tuesday

This week's topic is 

Top Ten Backlist Books That You Shouldn't Forget to Read:

Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott

Such a powerful novel. Seriously, check it out. It's a short novel, but every page manages to pack in so much emotion it will break your heart.

Madapple - Christina Meldrum (my review)
A very bizarre novel that will leave you thinking about it for a long time. Aslaug was one of the most fascinating characters I've read. She was so sheltered and so inclined to believe her mother's tales even when everyone around her thought she was crazy. It was just really interesting.

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
If you haven't read this one yet, put down whatever you are reading and read this one. I doubt you will read a better book in your life. This novel is narrated by death and takes place during WWII. The Book Thief is full of unforgettable characters. Liesel gives this great component to the story. Just read it!

Teach Me - R.A. Nelson
An interesting story about student-teacher relationships. This one had the horror and thrill of a forbidden relationship. R.A. Nelson is also just a fabulous writer. The story is beautifully told and sheds light on a taboo situation.

Write Naked - Peter Gould
Maybe it's just because I'm a New Englander who loves using a typewriter to tell stories, but I adored this novel. It was a fantastic idea and I loved Victor.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging - Louise Rennison (my review)

I really don't know how you haven't read this one yet if you follow my blog. I only talk about it and recommend it constantly.

Cut - Patricia McCormick

I'm quite certain my high school life would have been different had I not found this novel. Callie was troubled and as a lost teen I found her story compelling. This is a story to show teens they are not alone.

Godless - Pete Hautman

Love this story about a boy who is looking to find a religion that fits him and in doing so ends up creating his own. This was a fun but at times serious novel about finding yourself.

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

I simply loved this book. I had actually listened to it many times before actually reading a physical copy. It's just a fantastic story about love, loss and war.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini

With this being semi-recently turned into a movie, many have probably picked it up. If you haven't though, it's probably time you did. Craig was just a great character and his journey was unique and totally relate-able for older teens.

The Broke and the Bookish is a group of college aged and twenty somethings that have an unhealthy obsession with reading and would spend every last penny on books even if it meant skipping a few meals. We are the people who lurk in the library, buy handbags based on how many books can be stashed in them, and who refer to characters in books as if they are personal friends.

We sought after other bookish college students to share in our love for reading and were brought together by the College Students group on Goodreads that was created in September 2008. Our desire to share great books with each other in and our tendency to be opinionated and passionate about all things book related naturally led to the birth of The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010.

Review: The Magnificent 12: The Key - Michael Grant

Where I got it: ARC won from publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars  
Cover Rating: 3 stars (It's okay. I like the creep factor that I didn't see right away.)
Genre: Middle Grade
Publication Date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 277 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
Sequel to: The Call and The Trap

Mack is still trying to assemble the Magnificent 12 when he finds himself captured by a thousand-year-old bad guy in a hidden castle. Needless to say, things are not going to well for Mack. Luckily though, he's not alone and a few Vargran words might help him and the other Magnifica escape and join up with a few more with the Enlightened Puissance. First though, they must find the other half of the key. The key will help them defeat the pale queen...unless they can't get all of the Magnifica recruited. Danger awaits them and they will have to learn to all work together in order to defeat the villains and get to the Pale Queen in order to save the world.

From the very first sentence in this installment, you are swept into a dangerous situation. Mack is on the cusp between life and imminent death. Just because he's the hero, doesn't mean he's immortal. We find the Magnifica in Scotland this time, working to get the second half of the key that will help them stop the Pale Queen. We also see a lot of Mack's golem in this book. He's stuck at home and Risky goes to visit him. Risky isn't a very nice person, so this isn't necessarily a very nice visit. Risky stops by to lay down some evil groundwork so that she may use the golem for her own devices. Mack has a lot on his plate though and can't be bothered to figure out what's going on with his golem. He's too busy trying not to get himself or any of the Magnifica (and Stefan) killed. This proves to be trickier than they originally thought though, because lots of people don't want to see them succeed and all their enemies come to find them.

Again this book was quite humorous. I loved all the footnotes. I'm a huge fan of books that use footnotes in both serious or comical ways. There was a bit of technology name-dropping in this novel. Twitter, iPhone, YouTube, Google+ etc... which seemed a bit unnecessary. Seems like it could have been mostly avoided by saying cell phone, social networks and maybe just using YouTube. I don't know, I just feel like it dates the book a bit. Every now and then I come across a book that uses MySpace and I just giggle at the outdatedness(Cause nobody uses MySpace anymore. Not even Rachel.).

This was a great installment in the series though. We get to see more of the golem's life which is interesting. There's also more villains and past villains that all come out to see what havoc they can wreak. I'm a little confused on where a couple of the evil-doers got to at the end of the book. They were coming to fight and then... disappeared it seems. There seemed to be no more mention of them. If you're reading this series, make sure you pick this one up. It's just as good as the last ones and will make you crave more of the Magnificent 12.

First Line:
"'Let me out of here, you crazy old man!' Mack cried."

Favorite Line:
"If you think about it, talking to a sea serpent whose very existence is in doubt is not an easy proposition."

This is a Middle Grade Monday Post feel free to link your middle grade reviews/news below :) 

(doesn't have to be posted on a Monday)