Mackenzie, Lost and Found by Deborah Kerbal

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Setting: 9/10
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 8/10
Overall: 90/100 or A
Fifteen year old, Mackenzie Hill is still mourning the lost of her mother. Mackenzie is lost in her grief. To make matters worse, her father has decided to leave the only place she ever knew and the memories of her mother, to go to Israel. Her father gave her the deal of having three months in Israel and then she could always go home if she wanted to.
Mackenzie falls in love with the culture. She becomes friends with Marla, an American girl. Mackenzie also finds Nasir, a Muslim... that she finds herself falling for The three months past, Mackenzie decides to stay without a though. She also finds out that someone is selling artifacts at the Souk. Will Mackenzie be able to find the seller, while being able to keep Nasir?
Mackenzie was an amazing character and I liked learning about her. The setting of Jerusalem, was well done. I have had family there and they commented on the craziness, invisible divide between religions, and the culture. I love the whole star-crossed lovers feeling between Nasir and Mackenzie. I wished for a better ending, but the ending was still really good. I also liked how religion wasn't so overpowering, like I though it might be.
Overall, Mackenzie, Lost and Found is a fantastic book and I recommend it. Kerbel creates such a real setting and plot. Her writing style was flowing and makes you want more. I can't wait for more books from her in the future.
Take Care, Sarah.

Booking through Thursday(3)

So I did this ages ago and I am going to start doing Book Through Thursday again.

What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers? Or, What book do you think should NEVER be made into a movie?

I would love to see 20 Boy Summer, The Luxe, and Looking for Alaska as a movie. They are all great book. Alea, also mention Going Too Far and I totally agree with her.

As for what book shouldn't... Breaking Dawn... I am sorry, it would not go well in my opinion.

Take Care, Sarah.

The Season by Sarah Maclean

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Setting: 10/10
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 10/10
Overall: 94/100 or A
Alexandra Stafford is seventeen in the 19th Century. She is just about to start her first Season. Alex doesn't really want to attend the Balls and other event in all there ritzy and glorious decoration. Neither do her brothers, Will, Nick, and Kit that are being forced to attend with their younger sister by their mother, Duchess of Worthington. Alex doesn't believe that she can find a husband that will allow her to have her own freedom and be intelligent.
Alex starts having feelings for the newly titled as the Earl of Blackmoor... also known as her childhood friend and neighbor, Gavin. As, Alex and her two best friends, Ella and Vivi uncover a mystery surrounding the Earl of Blackmoor and the former one. They believe something else is going on.
I loved this book. It was amazing and it was hard to put down. The setting was really well done. Maclean creates strong female characters with Alex, Ella, Vivi. They each had various personality. I liked Alex's three brothers and Gavin as well. Gavin will make you wish that you were in the book. The humor in this book was also there and it made me laugh... a lot. The mystery wasn't overdone or too little, but perfect. It had a lot of suspense that will have you turning pages, even though that the ending is kind of predictable. I can not say how much I recommend this book. Just go read it as soon as possible. I know that you will love it. I also can't wait for Sarah Maclean's next book, since this was such a wonderful debut.
Peace out, Sarah.

Blog Awards..

So, I got this award from Melissa at A Mom With Too Little Time. Thanks so much, Melissa.

Five things that I am addicted to is:

1. Books... no duh

2. Doctor Who... Love that show. It is so amazing. I wish I had a Tardis and could go againist Daleks.... Though I probably wouldn't be as good.

3. House... Just started watching it and love it. I love how, I can understand most of the medical jargon.

4. Chatting online, I love talking to some of you on YA Swap, Chatzy, or MSN.

5. Youtube... I just love it.

I'll nominate people after the next award.
I got this one from the amazing Shalonda and the awesome Khyrinthia.
"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

I am giving to just a few you of the amazing bloggers out there. I would give this out to 20 people, but that might be over the top.

1. Korianne aka Korianne Speaks: Korianne is really random and nice, when we aren't on War on Twitter and even when we are. She totally understand what little insanity that I have.
2. Hope aka Hope's Bookshelf: Hope is really sweet and awesome. She is really great, I am glad that she is Friday for Seven Book Babes.
3.Erin aka Miss Erin: I am so sad that I didn't get see you, when you came in Febuary. Erin is really nice and creative.
4.Vanessa aka What Vanessa Reads: I miss her blogging not recently. I am so glad Vanessa agreed to be our Sunday. I am so excited for her video... it will be awesome. She is really helpful and friendly
5.Chelsea aka The Page Flipper: Chelsea is always trying to get people together. With her book club and author chats, which are always fun and interesting. She is just really rad.
6.Megan aka The (Po)sey Sessions: Megan is really understanding and a great person to talk to. I also love her sense of humor.
7.Zoe aka Zoe's Book Reviews: Zoe is really sweet. She is always great to talk to. I am glad that she is Saturday.
8.Alea aka Pop Culture Junkie: Alea is always so nice and friendly. She is also so thoughtful.

Torched by April Henry

Rating:
Characters: 14/20
Setting: 9/10
Plot: 15/20
Originality: 16/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 7/10
Overall: 78/100 or B+
Ellie's parents have always been eccentric hippies. They start having MED or Mother Earth Defenders, hanging out in their front room. They all seem to be very devoted and there is a cute boy named Coyote.
It turns out that the cops have been watching her house and her parents are growing marijuana. Her parents aren't as young as they were. Ellie's father doesn't have the best heart and might not be able to handle jail.Ellie has a chosen to work for the FBI and go undercover to spy on the MEDics. She is now closer to Coyote, but it comes with a cost. The MEDics' cause can dangerous. Especially when protecting the Earth might cause a lost of lives.
Torched is a fairly great book. The characters are fairly awesome. The plot is really exciting. It was really action packed. I felt that there were a few things that I didn't like, Ellie and Coyote's relationship seemed over developed. The message was amazing though, that sometimes too much of a good thing can turn out to be overall bad.
Peace out, Sarah.

In my Mailbox (Week 5)

This is a In My Mailbox, started by The Story Siren Check it out here.
In the Mail:
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Oakler
According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.
I am so happy to get this. I have already read it and Wow is all I can say for now. I love the Sea glass on the Boardwalk very cute.
Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita
When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, she's not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other "pookie." Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn't realize is that it's not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s'mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn't ruin Sam's summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might. At least she has playful Cole, who's always teasing her, but is oh-so-comfortable to hang out with, and the singular gang of girls that become fast friends with Sam-they call themselves the Sleepaway Girls.
This book looks really cute and I can't wait to read it. The cover is so cute. I also really like Secrets of my Hollywood Life Series and I am excited to read this.

Hottie by Johnathan Bernstien
Alison Cole’s got it all: She’s gorgeous, dating a steamy surfer boy, and has just been crowned Beverly Hills High Freshman Class President. Then during a special “symmetry” surgery, a lightning bolt zaps her, and Alison instantly transforms into Hottie—that is, a totally sizzling superhero with the power to shoot fire from her fingers!
Shunned as a Pyro-Freak, Alison must adopt dorky David Eels as her crime-fi ghting sidekick. Worse, she’s falling for the one guy who wants to “extinguish” her forever, Junior Class President of Cuteness— and wannabe fi refi ghter—T. Hull. But she doesn’t realize that a supervillain’s lurking. Has Hottie met her match?
This sounds like a pretty cute book. I am not a fan of the cover, but what can you do... the words count more anyways.

Swoon by Nina Malkin
Sin is Coming...Prepare to Swoon!
Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him—but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent—and irresistible—adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

This book sound amazing. I can't wait to read it. The cover is so pretty.
I also got Project Paris from Zoe and Impluse by Ellen Hopkins from S&S for Readergirlz Street Team. I got Bloom and Going Too Far back from Ashley and Kristi.

The Bought:
Same Diffence by Siobhan Vivian
Emily is ready for a change. She's been in the same town with the same friends for a long time...and none of them really understand her art. But when she goes to Philadelphia for a summer art institute, she suddenly finds like-minded people. One in particular, Fiona, intrigues and challenges her. But there are some things Emily is going to have to find out for herself -- like what the balance is between life and art, and which is more important when push comes to shove.
I love A Little Friendly Advice, that came out last year. So, I had to buy this one. I also heard how amazing it was. I also really loved the cover.


Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. She is dating super hot football god Rob, and he actually likes her and asked her to prom! Enter Samantha—cheerleading goddess and miss popularity— who starts making a move for Rob. With prom in a few days, Mia needs to act fast. So she turns to her best friend, Candice, and decides to do a love spell on Rob. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus onto her whole class, making herself their leader! At first she is flattered that everyone is treating her like a queen. But then zombie hunter hottie Chase explains they are actually fattening her up, because in a few days, Mia will be the first course in their new diet. She’s sure she and Chase can figure something out, but she suggests that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy.
Amanda is really sweet and has an awesome blog. I also heard that it was really good. I am excited to read this.


The Season by Sarah Maclean
Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.
When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!
This book sounds amazing and all the reviews so far, say that it is. I love Historical fiction and pretty covers.
I am so excited to read them all.
Take Care, Sarah

Top Teen Books...

Stolen from Chelsea aka The Page Flipper.
Instructions:
Put an “X” next to the books you’ve read
Put a “+” next to the books you LOVE
Put a “#” next to the books you plan on reading
Tally your “X”s at the bottom
Share with your friends!
(I didn't do the books I love thing because that would've been all of them...haha)

1. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams X
2. Kit’s Wilderness / David Almond

3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie
X
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson X
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson X

6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews X
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher X
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer (editor)

9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway X
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block
1
1. Tangerine / Edward Bloor

12. Forever / Judy Blume X

13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell X
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
#
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray X
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot 
X
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus #
19. Ender’s Game / Orson Scott Card X
20. Postcards from No Man’s Land / Aidan Chambers

21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky X
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie
#
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn X

24. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan X
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer
X
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins X
27. The Midwife’s Apprentice / Karen Cushman
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen X
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow
#
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly
X
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer
#
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn
X
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman
X
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
X
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
X
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going
#
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding X

39. Looking for Alaska / John Green X
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes
X
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse 
X
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen X
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton
X
44. Crank / Ellen Hopkins X
45. The First Part Last / Angela Johnson
#
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause
X
47. Arrow’s Flight / Mercedes Lackey

48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
X
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee X

50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan #

51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart X
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry X

53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry X
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar
X
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch
X
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler X
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey

58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
X
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick
X
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta
X
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr X
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock X
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers
#
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers
#
66. Step From Heaven / An Na
#
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor

68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix #

69. Sabriel / Garth Nix
X
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel

71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini
X
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen X
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer 
X
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman
X
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison X
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan #
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez

78. How I Live Now / Meg Rosoff
X
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling X
80. Holes / Louis Sachar 
X
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger X
82. Push / Sapphire

83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi 

84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman
X
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah

86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli X
87. Chanda’s Secrets / Allan Stratton
#
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot

89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas

90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien
X
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman

92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar X

93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld X
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
#
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick

96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger
X
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang#
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin 
X
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak
#
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak X
Read: 65
To-Read: 16
Woot! Over halfway there. I tend to always do good at these things.
Peace out, Sarah.

Vlog Project...

Hey Everyone!
A few book bloggers are starting a youtube channel. We are all excited and I hope you check it out.
The Description is:
We are book bloggers, YA Book Bloggers to be exact. Our love of books is what has brought our friendship together from all over the US. One day, we though it would be fun to do a Five Awesome Girl Channel mixed in with books and our lives. We hope you enjoy our antactics, rants, and pure randomness.
The Schedule looks like this:
Monday- Sarah from http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/
Tuesday- Sharon from http://sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com/
Wednesday- James from http://Myspace.com/bookchicclub
Thursday- Shalonda from http://shalondasblog.blogspot.com/
Friday- Hope from http://princess2293.blogspot.com/
Saturday- Zoe from http://booksaregolden.blogspot.com/
Sunday- Vanessa from http://whatvanessareads.wordpress.com/

The vlog channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/Sevenbookbabes and we are starting on Monday. But you can subscribe now, thanks to a short video from Sharon.
Best Wishes, Sarah.

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Setting: 8/10
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 9/10
Overall: 89/100 or A-
The Dust of 100 Dogs tells the story of Emer Morrissey and Saffron Adams, which are really two of the same people. Emer was born in the Seventeenth century and saw her parents get killed. She then lived with her uncle till she was old enough to get sold. She escaped that to go to the Caribbean, she becomes a pirate and starts stealing Spanish galleons. When she decides to return to her normal life with her with her beloved Seanie. She is cursed to live the lives of one hundred dogs. A few cnturies later Saffron Adams is born. She knows where the treasure is. She just has to wait and find a way to get to Jamaica, when she is 18.
This is one of those books that it is impossible to describe or label it, yet amazing it is. I loved the setting. It felt that I was in Ireland, the Caribbean, and America. I really loved the characters and the many dimensions that they had. I like that is both contemporary and historical, without a touch of Sci-fi. The characters were amazing. To be born with such knowledge would be both a blessing and a curse in it's self. Saffron's family is interesting. I also felt for Seanie and Emer and was rooting for them the whole way.
I also love the writing. The dog facts were really cute and made the read more interesting. King is also gifted to give both Saffron and Emer such a lovely voice. Check this book out. It is amazing and I don't think it will disappoint.
The Book Trailer is:here.
Take Care, Sarah.

A Short Interuption for a contest.

I have heard about Willow and it's Greatness for the past few months. Lauren brought a ton of bloggers together to celebrate the release. I hope you all enter, since so many great Prizes. The Contest starts on March 1st and ends on April 30th.

To enter: One must buy the book (ARCs do not count of course) and send proof (receipt, picture of book, etc.) to me at: Lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

All the Great Prizes:
Khy is giving away Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?
http://www.freneticreader.blogspot.com/

Kelsey is giving away B&N ten dollar gift card in a cute felt penguin “bag” and some bookmarks.
http://justblindedbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Carrie will give Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
http://carriesyabookshelf.blogspot.com/

Kelsey is giving an ARC version of Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
http://readingkeepsyousane.blogspot.com/

Alea is giving away Sherlock Holmes Volume 1.
http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/

Kristi is giving a 10 dollar Amazon gift card.
http://www.thestorysiren.com/

Harmony is making a soundtrack with songs she feels fit the book.
http://harmonybookreviews.wordpress.com/

Lenore is giving 10 dollars to Amazon
http://www.presentinglenore.blogspot.com/

Gabbi is giving Chloe Doe by Suzanne Phillips
http://fivestarreading.blogspot.com/

Lauren will give the winner a book of their choice (has to be paperback!)
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/

Chelsea is giving a $10 card to Amazon
http://www.thepageflipper.blogspot.com/

My Favorite Author is giving Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson
http://www.myfavoriteauthor.blogspot.com/

Vanessa is giving Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
http://whatvanessareads.wordpress.com/

Shalonda is giving away Sherlock Holmes Volume 2.
http://www.shalondasblog.blogspot.com/

Carol is giving an ARC of Because I Am Furniture.
http://www.bookluver-carol.blogspot.com/


Tirzah is giving Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
http://www.thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/

Lauren is giving a 15 dollar gift card to B&N
http://www.laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Laura is giving a 10 dollar Borders gift card and the book Flygirls.
http://laurasreviewbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Sarah is giving The Adoration of Jenna Fox
http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/

Alyssa is giving Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston.
http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/

I really hope you all enter this.
Take Care, Sarah