The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 20/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 20/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 97/100 or A
Source: Bought

Gabry lives a quiet life. Her life is safe as possible in a world that is full of the living dead. The town is between the Forest of Hands and Teeth and the ocean. She is content with living on her side of the barrier. She is happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City, as she stays safe in her lighthouse. There are threats that the Barrier can't hold back. Gabry's mother's secrets are slowly appearing from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. There is also a cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. There is a stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. Everything is quickly changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Gabry is the Mary's daughter. She wasn't as fearless as Mary, but I liked that she actually had fears. I also loved that she was very loyal and caring. She really loved her family and friends. The two love interest are Elias and Catcher. Catcher was really awesome. I liked that he wanted the best for Gabry, even if it didn't involve him. I really loved Elias. He really cared about Graby and was so sweet. I didn't like Mary in Forest of Hands and Teeth, but I thought that she was a great mother and was likable. The plot of The Dead-Tossed Waves was slow building, but about halfway through the book was impossible to put down. It has all of the adventure and the thrills that were in the first book. There were a lot of twist in this book, that I didn't expect and that made it seem fun. Ryan created a lot of originality in this book, like the cult that worshiped the Mudo. I also love that Vista was a part of the Protectorate, which was a really unique part of the book. It was cool that there was a society that was surviving against the zombies. Carrie Ryan is a fantastic writer. She is great at pacing the book and also a lot of zombie action. Overall, I found this book to be a amazing sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that likes zombies and dystopian novels.

Interview with Heidi R. Kling

I was lucky enough to get an interview with Heidi R. Kling. Her book Sea, comes out on June 10th. I have read Sea and it is a stunning book that is one of a kind. Here is a summary of Sea:

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.
She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers. And Sea’s real adventure begins.

Also here is a bit about Heidi:

Heidi R. Kling earned her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and her BA in Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz. In addition to authoring novels, she writes and directs theatre for kids and teens and spends way too much time online as creator/co-moderator for the 2010 YA debut group: “The 10′ers.” She runs on coconut cupcakes, half-caf. coffee drinks, and aha! moments. A native California girl, Heidi lives with her husband and two children in Palo Alto, California just over the coastal mountains from the sea.

Anyways, I hope that you enjoy the rest of the interview and pick up Sea in June.

1. Where did you get the idea for Sea?

SEA was inspired by my husband's volunteer efforts at an Indonesian orphanage after the tsunami. The detailed story of his amazing trip and the journey toward what is now the novel SEA is on my website here:http://heidirkling.com/books/

2. Sienna is haunted by what happen to her mother. Did anything in your life inspire you to write about that?

Fortunately, no. But I have had tragedy in my life that I've had to work through--just nothing like Sienna's.

3. Other then writing and reading, what do you like to do?

Spending time with my family--especially my kids. We love going to the beach and telling stories and playing and laughing. We have a lot of fun. I like Twitter and traveling and watching my favorite shows on TV. Writing retreats, movies, yoga, hanging out with friends, going out to dinner with my husband on that rare opportunity. Just enjoying life, really.

4. What are your five favorite things about being a part of The Tenners?
Debut groups are important because you are going through an experience that not many people can relate too. Publishing a novel is for one, this huge dream come true for most people and it's also a ton-of-lot of work.And it moves at a snail's pace. So to have a community that understands that is truly important. I love cheering my friend's on. Promoting their books. Right now my Mystery Book Contest highlights a bunch of The Tenners and other 2010 debut novels and people on Twitter are changing their avatar to their favorite one. So far I've seen Dead-Tossed Waves, Hex Hall, and several more. It's a neat opportunity to spread the word. YA is a tight knit, very cool and kind community and I love to give back whenever I can.

5. What are some of your favorite young adult books?

Contemporary faves are FLASH BURNOUT by L.K. Madigan, 20 BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler, THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer Hubbard, Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK, John Green's LOOKING FOR ALASKA, Recently I read and loved Jandy Nelson's THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE. Generally,I like thoughtful, well-written books with a hopeful message. As far as fantasy goes, I just read HEX HALL (which was so fun!), and SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater is a fave.

6. Is there anything that you would like to add?

For more info check out my website at: http://heidirkling.com and look for my Mystery Book Contest on my blog SEA HEIDI WRITE, where I'm giving away a book a week (some signed!) until my June 10 release of SEA:http://seaheidi.livejournal.com/175715.html

Waiting on Wednesday (53)

Title: Not That Kind of Girl
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Publisher: Push
Date: September 1, 2010
Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.
But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.
Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.
I want to read this book so much. I love Siobhan Vivian other books so much. This book sounds amazing! I also love the cover.

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

Rating:

Characters: 19/20

Plot: 20/20

Originality: 17/20

Writing: 18/20

Recommendation: 19/20

Overall: 93/100 or A

Source: Publisher

Josie was deserted by her father before she was born. She fears the abandonment and heartbreak that her mother experienced. Her mother fuels Josie's fear with the lack of relationships in her life. Her best friend Liv tries to have her make connection with her family and the very cute, Matt Riggs. Then the grandparents on Josie's father's side of the family move back into the area. Josie quickly forges a friendship with her grandfather, which gives her insight into the family that she has never known. An unexpected tragedy brings the truth about Josie's family to light and provides a great opportunity to forge actual relationships with her family.

Josie reminded me a lot of my sister. My older sister didn't know her father growing up and has a similar personality with Josie. So, I quickly became attracted to her and wanted a positive outcome for her. I loved that Josie was still a teen while dealing with family stuff, like she started dating Matt. I also loved Josie and her mom's relationship, because it reminded me a lot of Gilmore Girls. I rarely see positive relationships between parents and their children in Young Adult fiction. I love when good parents are actually present in YA, because they are usually absent or negative parents. I also liked that Kate had her own personality, like her fears about dating and her uncertainty. Josie's best friend Liv made the story more lively. She was a funny character that made me laugh with her personality and fashion choices. I also liked that she wasn't just some supportive character, but had her own issues in the book. I also enjoyed Josie's grandfather, Big Nick. He was very sweet and spirited. Josie's love interest Matt was also cute and lovable. The plot was quite predictable, but it didn't bother me. The characters had captured my attention so much that I didn't mind that it was predictable. The plot also had some originality that I enjoyed. I also enjoyed Friend's writing as I did in her other books. This book had me thinking about it for a long time after it. It also reminded me a lot of Looking For Alibrandi and Gilmore Girls, which I love both very much. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed Friend's previous books or is searching for a wonderfully written character driven book, For Keeps is perfect for you.

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroder

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Source: Bought
Brooklyn can't sleep anymore. She has nightmares about her friend Gabe that died of an overdose. Her boyfriend Lucca died a year ago. She no idea what Gabe wants and why isn't Lucca in her dream. Nico is always running. He is trying to escape the pain that he has from missing his brother Lucca. Then he starts receiving messages from his dead brother. He needs to help Brooklyn. As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.
I found Brooklyn to be a likable character. Her grief was easy to relate to. Nico was really sweet. I enjoyed the chemistry between both of them. I preferred Nico's voice to Brooklyn. The plot was really well written. I love how Schroeder writes verse and they are such great books. This book is a companion to I Heart You and You Haunt Me. I think that if you liked Lisa Schroeder's other books, you will enjoy Chasing Brooklyn. it is also a quick and sweet read.

In My Mailbox(Week of April 4th)

In my Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie!
For Review:
Maybe (short for Maybelline, her mother’s favorite mascara brand) wears oversize men’s T-shirts, uses lots of black eye makeup, and rejects everything girly—which is probably a reaction to her mother’s charm school and impending seventh marriage. This latest husband-to-be is the worst yet, and when he attempts to rape Maybe (in a scene that is realistic but not explicit), she and her friend Ted decide to join their buddy Hollywood when he moves to California for film school. Maybe’s stated goal is finding her biological father, but as she runs out of money and hope, that goal changes to finding herself. Despite the heavy topics, this is a breezy read populated with friendly characters and sunny serendipity: Maybe is welcomed into the home of an ex-stepdad, Ted, finds work as an assistant to a movie star, and Hollywood aces his first film. When your starving protagonist spends her only five dollars on eyeliner, the intended audience is obvious; for those readers, Maybe’s ugly duckling–type transformation will be predictable but pleasing.
I got this for the May book on Readergirlz. I have heard that it is cute and will try to read it soon.

Undead Much by Stacey Jay

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 16/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 86/100 or B
Source: Publisher
Even Zombie Settlers with Super Hot Boyfriends get the Blues...
A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.
Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…
Oh yeah, right:
1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.
2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.
3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.
4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.
I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted.

When you think of zombies, you think of gore and sadness at least that it what I thought until I read You Are So Undead To Me. It was effortlessly funny and cute. It made me laugh and at times it had me gripping the book and wondering what is next. So, I was really excited to read Undead Much? and find that they were similar. I love Megan. She wants to be a normal teen, but she has an extraordinary power that she has no control over. I also love Ethan in this book. He is so sweet and cute. I wanted Megan and Ethan to be together. Then there is a new character Cliff. He is a zombie that can't be settled. He also has feelings for Megan. I am interested to see if anything develops out of that, because Jay left quite a cliffhanger on that front. Undead Much has as much action and mystery as the last book. There are these weird zombies that are here for some reason and it turns out to interconnected with the last book. I really enjoyed the originality in this book. It is sassy, funny, and just fantastic. The only problem that I had, was the the dialogue seemed unrealistic at times and the plot dragged out for a while. Despite these problems, Jay created an amazing book that made me laugh a lot. If you like the first book, you will enjoy this. It has humor, romance, and a touch of mystery.

The Author Hunt for April 2010

Heather Davis(The Clearing):
Friday, April 16th at 6:30PM: Queen Anne Avenue Books 1811 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, Washington

Kimberly Derting(The Body Finder):
Saturday, April 2nd at 2PM: Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Beaverton, OR 97005

Gayle Forman(If I Stay):
Monday, April 5th at 7PM: Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Beaverton, OR 97005
Tuesday, April 6th at 7PM: Third Place Books 17171 Bothell Way NE Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

For other states, visit these blogs(I'll add the links when it is posted on thier blog):
The Neverending Shelf - Southeast region
The Story Siren - Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan
The Book Cellar - Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois
YA Bliss - Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma and Kansas
Frentic Reader - California

If you are in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho in 2010 or you are aware of events that I may have missed, please contact me at Sarahbear119@hotmail.com with the event details so that the event may be featured

Books Read In March 2010

24. The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
25. Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton
26. Carpe Carpus by Rachel Caine
27. In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
28. Escaping the Tiger by Laura Manivong
29. Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
30. The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart
31. Epitaph Road by David Patneuade
32. Shade by Jeri Ready-Smith
33. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
34. Still Sucks to be Me: More All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton Smith, Teen Vampire by Kimberly Pauley
35. The Best and Hardest Thing by Pat Brisson
36. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroder
37. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan


Reviews posted from these books: 7 of these books so far, a few are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 2 books
Books for Review: 9 books
Books borrowed: 2 books
My Favorite: Sea or Rampant. Both were amazingly original and I loved them.
My Least Favorite: The Best and Hardest Thing... I just didn't like it and it was unrealistic.
Challenge Update:
100+ Reading Challenge: 37 read. 63 books left
Debut Authors '10: 11 read 39 books left
Dystopian Challenge: 5 read

Melissa Marr Tour

Melissa Marr has an amazing series and since Radiant Shadow is coming out soon, she is going on tour. I am sort of jealous that she isn't coming to Washington, but hopefully some of you will be a ble to go to one. Anyways, here are the dates:
DENVER, CO April 22, 2010: Tattered Cover Book Store; 7:00 pm
LEXINGTON, KY April 23, 2010: Joseph-Beth Booksellers; 7:00 pm
ST. LOUIS, MO April 24, 2010: St. Louis County Library; 7:00 pm
BOSTON, MA April 26, 2010: Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, MA; 7:00 pm
COLUMBUS, OH April 28 May 2, 2010: Romantic Times Convention
CLEVELAND, OH May 12, 2010: Joseph-Beth Booksellers; 7:00 pm
PHILADELPHIA, PA May 14, 2010: Chester County Book Store, West Chester, PA; 7:00 pm
RICHMOND, VA May 15, 2010: The Fountain Bookstore; 2:00 pm
I also have one copy of Radiant Shadow for giveaway. The contest is open to The US and Canada only. The contest ends on April 15th. Fill out the form below to enter and Good Luck!