XVI by Julia Karr

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Source: Publisher
Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.
I found the premise of XVI to be very interesting and unique. Nina was such an amazing character. I don't think that I could handle losing my mom with the grace that Nina had. Dee was a really sweet little girl. Pop and Dee helped bring comedy to the story, when it was needed. The relationship between Sal and Nina wasn't as developed as I would like, but I still enjoyed Nina's other friends. The plot of XVI was full of suspense and mystery that kept me wanting more. I think that the dystopian aspect of the book was clever and original in a few ways, like the tattoos and how the government ran. Karr created a fantastic book, full of great writing. I would recommend this book to fans of 1984 and Uglies.

Waiting on Wednesday (87)

Title: Red Glove
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Date: April 5th, 2011
The cons get twistier and the stakes get higher in Red Glove, the sequel to White Cat.
OMG, I want this book so much. Darn ending of White Cat was evil...

Trailer Tuesday (26)

I have had Revoultion for a while and have heard amazing things about it. This trailer makes me want to read it more.

White Cat by Holly Black

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 94/100 or A
Source: Publisher
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.
Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.
I was so excited for this book. I love Holly Black. She is such an amazing writer and brings something unique to each story. Cassel is a conman, and while some might not like that. I found him to be a likable character and I liked his point of view. I enjoyed his family, which was full of so many unique people that I loved and yet hated. I really liked the mob aspect that was behind curse working, which is well amazing. I love anything to do with mobsters. I quickly became invested in the fabulous plot that Black spun. Every twist and turn in the Black Cat, kept me guessing on what would happen next. The world of White Cat is a unique and flawlessly developed book. Black didn't disappoint me and I am anxiously waiting for Red Glove. I recommend this book to fans of Holly Black, because it won't let you down.

In My Mailbox (Week of January 16th)

Witches of East End by Melissa De La Cruz, from my amazing indie store, Liberty Bay Books
Desires of the Dead Posters from Kimberly Derting
For Review:
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore
Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy
The Watchers by Inara Scott
Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade
Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin

Violence 101 by Denis Wright

Rating:
Characters: 15/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 14/20
Recommendation: 15/20
Overall: 77/100 or C
Source: Publisher

My name is Hamish Graham and this is the journal I have to write. Doesn't worry me because I'm a good writer and I'd rather write than talk any day, although I like talking to Terry. The people who run this place don't know what to make of me. Just like the last place I was in . . .
. . . I think we should have these special schools for bad kids in hard core places like Waiouru and Central Otago where you do school subjects from 8am to 1pm and then in the afternoon you do things like compulsory mountain climbing and river crossings wearing huge packs. The kids who refuse to do it would get fed bread and water until they changed their minds. I would divide them into various teams and have mock wars. Military history would be a compulsory subject. I would also make the study of violence compulsory.
Hamish Graham is intelligent, disciplined, resourceful and fearless, and scorns all weakness. His heroes include Charles Upham, Alexander the Great and Te Rauparaha - all men of action. But he is also a fourteen-year-old with an anger problem and a disturbing past, and these have landed him in a series of boys' homes for violent and troubled young offenders.
The gripping series of events following his arrival at New Horizons culminates in a desperate rescue mission on a mountain that has already claimed the lives of two young soldiers.
This book was interesting, but where your stomach hurts from thinking about it and your mind is confused on if this is really happening. I don't understand how someone can be so violent and angry, while at the same time be really intelligent and logical. I don't believe that people are necessarily evil, but Hamish wasn't a good person most of the time. Most of his decision made me furious, but his analyzing of it, makes it strangely entertaining. Hamish is unable to relate to, which didn't make this book work well. I think that a lot of the other boys in the home would have been interesting.

The plot didn't engage me and it did at the same time, but it was like watching a psychological thriller that it sucked me in. This book was unlike anything that I have ever read before, but I don't think that this book should have been in the young adult section. A lot of it was focused on adults, trying to figure out what to Hamish, which while intriguing, was more educational then entertaining. Wright's writing was splendid, but it just didn't help the story. I would recommend this to people that are looking for an educational book and not necessarily entertaining.

Fragment Friday (5)

Fragment Friday is a meme hosted by James at Book Chic where you read an excerpt from either your current read or one of your favorite books and post it on your blog to share with others! It's a fun way to learn about new books or to hear a sample from a book you're dying to read.

Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 89/100 or B
Source: Publisher
Sixteen-year-old Catherine Vernon has been stranded in London for the summer—no friends, no ex-boyfriend Adam the Scum (good riddance!), and absolutely nothing to do but blog about her misery to her friends back home. Desperate for something—anything—to do in London while her (s)mother’s off researching boring historical things, Cat starts reading the 1815 diary of Katherine Percival her mom gives her—and finds the similarities between their lives to be oddly close. But where Katherine has the whirls of the society, the parties and the gossip over who is engaged to who, Cat’s only got some really excellent English chocolate. Then she meets William Percival—the uber-hot descendant of Katherine—and things start looking up...
I love anything that has to do with England, so I was so excited to hear about this book. I mean English boys are always full of win. The main character Cat was easy to relate to, except the whole not wanting to go to England craziness at the beginning, but I really enjoyed her sassy and witty narrative. Her love affair with chocolate was awesome and I have actually been buying the chocolate that she mentions in the book. I also liked that she met people from buying the chocolate at the new stand and that they had things in common. Will was amazing. I mean he is British and he was a really sweet and caring character. The relationship between Will and Cat was well developed and kept me interested. The flashbacks provided by Katherine's diary were really through and historically accurate. I also liked the experience of reading it as Cat was. Katherine was intelligent and overall awesome and I also cheered for a boy for Katherine too.

The plot captured my attention from the beginning and I just loved how cute it was. It was a really original story, because it brought two unique worlds together so simply. Jensen is a gifted writer and I am excited to see more from her in the future. I recommend this book to people that want a fun and cute read.

Waiting on Wednesday (86)

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Harperteen
Date: May 31, 2011
How do you defy destiny?
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.
This book sounds really epic and the cover is also so gorgeous.

Trailer Tuesday (25)

I am so excited for Desires of the Dead to come out. I loved The Body Finder!