The Program by Suzanne Young

Source: Publisher
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.
Suzanne Young knows how to create a believable world with characters that you can't help, but loving and wanting more. I can see the dependence on prescription drugs, mandatory treatment, and the rush to premature conclusion from parents in the future. Actually many of these things are beginning to set into motion. I really like Sloane. She was smart, brave, and strong. I liked that she was able to take risk and I have felt a lot of the sadness and silence that she expressed.  I understood her and related to her. I really liked James too. He cared about her, but also had his own flaws. I really enjoyed their relationship and kept on want more about them. 
The Program was the perfect blend of action and romance. It was a book that ignited me with so many emotions and filled me with so many thoughts.  I had to continue reading this book and I wanted more when it is over. The Program was a original take on a very serious issue in society that comments on some of the issues within the treatment of people dealing with depression or other mental illness. Young's writing is fabulous. The story is engaging and I just wanted and needed more. I am definitely excited for the sequel and can't wait to see what Young writes next. I recommend this to fans of Dystopian Novels or people that want strong characters, thrilling and epic plots, and just amazingly beautiful and emotional writing that impacts you with every word. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Names (4)

Top Ten Rewind:Top Ten Characters (and Literary Figures) I'd Name My Kids After

I kind of stole the same topic, because I saw Rachel doing it. So I joined in. 

I really like names, so sorry that there is more than 10. Whoops.

1. Luna Lovegood 

From Harry Potter by JK Rowling

I just love this character and I think it would be a fun name.

2. Hazel Grace or Augustus

From The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I adore these names so much. Okay, it is just amazing.

3. Liesel

From The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I love this character so much and the name is just pretty.

4. Darcy

From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I love him so much and it is a name that can be used for either gender.

5. Jace

From The Mortal Insturtment Series by Cassandra Clare

I think that naming my child Jonathon Christopher and calling him Jace is normal... I just love the character and the name. 

6. Marcus 

from Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCaffery.

I love Marcus and his faults and I love the name.

7. Elliot North 

from For the Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund. 

I adored this book so much. Part of the reason is Elliot is such a strong and amazing character.

8. Finnikin 

from Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.

I just love this name so much and I never heard of it before this book.

9. Kartik or Gemma

from The Gemma Doyle Trilogy

I know that this is technically two names, but they are from the same book. I also love these characters and the books.

10. Étienne 

from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. 

I adore this character and I feel that it would give my child a mystique and make them cool. Hopefully.

Also special mentions to Astrid from Rampant by Diana Peterfreund and Ophelia from Hamlet by William Shakespeare that almost made the cut.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Source: ALA
TWO MISFITS. ONE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE. 
It's 1986 and two star-crossed teens are smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love--and just how hard it pulled you under.

 A cross between the iconic '80s movie Sixteen Candles and the classic coming-of-age novel Looking for Alaska, Eleanor & Park is a brilliantly written young adult novel.
There are books that I absolutely fall in love with and it hurts when it finished. That is how I felt about this book, I wanted more. 
I loved Eleanor. She is funny, intelligent, and down to earth. I also liked how Rowell didn't make it super pretty or thing. Instead, she has "flaws" and that is one of the reason that Park likes her. Park was amazing too. He was sweet, thoughtful, and just amazing. Rowell reminded me of how it felt to be a teen and in love. I enjoyed the development of the relationship and that it was slowly built as time passed. I liked the other characters in this book and just wanted more.  I found the plot to be very cute and fun, but at the same time, it dealt with serious issues in a matter that I liked. I found the book intense due to this.  I also loved the setting of the 1980's and how they talked about bands and comic books. I found this to be a very original book and I hope to find one like this in the future. It made me feel so many emotions and I couldn't help liking it. Rowell's writing is amazing and clever. I can't wait to read more from her in the future. It was raw and the story stayed with me after it was over. I need more.  Like seriously, you need to read this book as soon as possible if you like contemporary romance. I recommend this book to fans of John Green,  Jennifer E. Smith,  Stephanie Perkins, and Courtney Summers. 

Weight and Self-Esteem

Weight has always been an issue from me. Even before I got sick, I was always insecure about showing any skin. I knew that people were looking at me and judging how I looked. When I first got sick, I lost 60 lbs and everyone was telling me that I looked amazing. I weighted under what I should. I was actually happy about this, but looking back, I looked sick. What I mostly lost was muscle from not eating and also the removal of damaged tissue and my bones stuck out.

Shortly afterward, I began to gain weight from a sedentary lifestyle and large doses of predisnone. My weight went up by a lot, like I am ashamed to admit how bad it got, more than double of my original pre-illness weight. I hated how I looked so much that I wouldn't let people take full body pictures of me. I never told anyone how psychologically messed up I was.  I stopped getting ready, because I didn't see a possibility of beautiful. It wasn't until I started walking in April of 2010 that this changed and almost three years later, I am still working on a healthy self-esteem.

Anyways, the reason for this is before my absence, I was keeping you updated to how much weight I have lost. I am now at 90 total, which is amazing. Instead of numbers, I am focusing on small goals in both my diet and exercise. I am also keeping a list that I update daily on one positive affirmation about myself that I can't repeat until next month. 

Some books that I think dealt with weight issues that I really enjoyed are Fat Cat by Robin Brande, Looks by Madeleine George, Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zandoff, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen. Most recently, Park & Eleanor by Rainbow Rowell There are many more, but I can't think of them at this moment. Anyways, it is a work in progress and I am trying to become more happy about who I am.  If you have any suggestions on books that deal with weight or self esteem, leave them below. 

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Source: Publisher
The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.
When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.
Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.
Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.
Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?
From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.
I really liked Sera. I liked that she  wanted to figure out who she was and would do anything to figure out who she is. She is very strong and I just adored her. Her foster brother Cody was so sweet and I just loved how much he cared and wanted to help her. Zen was a intriguing character and I want to know more about him. I found the relationship between Sera and Zen to be awesome and rather sweet. I liked that he came back every single time and wanted to protect her. The plot of this book starts slowly, but the pace quickly speeds up. I found the idea to be very complex and interesting. I found the plot and science behind to be unique. I adore Brody's writing. I found the transition from contemporary to sci-fi/mystery to be believable.  I recommend Unremembered to readers that wanted likable characters, an exciting and enjoyable plot, and a unique and interesting concept. I am really excited for the next book and can't wait to find out  what happens next. 

Why I Rarely Do Not Finish a Book

I have a hard time giving up on a book. Like I can totally hate it and the book can be boring me like crazy, but I have to finish this book. I am an optimist and sadly I feel that even the worst book ever will at least have a quote or something that will make all of the time that I spent is worth it. For some books, I am angry at myself for not being able to quit a book. The only time that I have been able to do it was for Cybils and that was still extremely difficult to quit at 50 pages.
I think that part of the reason is that my mom is the same way. One time, we were talking about a book that she was reading and I hated it. My mom ended up hating the book, but she still finished it. I guess it might just be the need to know if I am right or not. I think that another reason is I am always guessing if the book is predictable or not and I really like when I am right. I can also not quit series, there are only one or two that I have started that I plan to never finish.
A lot of the time that I am reading isn't at home, it is in between classes, at the doctors, at the gym and on the bus. If I decide to give up on this book, I won't have anything to read until I get home, which could be hours later and in that time, I could just read the book. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone else has this issue or if you are able to quit easily.

Books Read in February

10. Don't Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankin
11. Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
12. The Elite by Kiera Cass
13. Icons by Margaret Stohl
14. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
15. Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
16. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
17. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
18. Sever by Lauren DeStefano
19. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
20. Of Triton by Anna Banks
21. Also Know As by Robin Benway
22. The Invention of Solitude by Paul Auster
23. Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
24. Eleanor & Park by  Rainbow Rowell

Reviews posted from these books: 1 of these books so far, some are planned to be posted later. 
Books for School: 2
Books for Review: 12
My Favorite: I adored Also Known As, Invisibility, and Eleanor & Park.
My Least Favorite: The In
Debut Authors '13: 3 read  22 books left 
2013 Feminist Reading Challenge: 8 of 10
Books I hope to read next month: I would love to read The Program and Siege and Storm.

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Source: Publisher
Joy delamere is suffocating.
From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.
To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love--a world she won't easily let go.
Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala's power-ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.
I live on the very streets that this book takes place in. I have walked by many of the places that she walked by. I have also worked with the homeless in this area. So this book definitely hit close to home, but I loved it.  Joy has dealt with a lot and she makes a decision to change. She is smart, but not enough for the streets. Creed was a caring and sweet character that I loved. His love for music was amazing and I just loved how strong of a character he was. I liked that everyone had their own story and there was so much depth to it. Santos and May intrigued me and I found the family, that they all created in spite all that has happened, to be amazing. It was a very intense read, because it dealt with many issues. I love how Cupala dealt with it in a clever and smart way that didn't make it overbearingly depressing. Instead, I felt that this book was hopeful. The plot is packed full of action and interesting. I could not put this book down and I wanted more. This book is very original and I loved all of the details that this book had. Cupala is a great writer and I can't wait to see more from her in the future.  I would recommend this book to anyone that wants an intense and gripping read. If you like Cupala's previous book Tell Me a Secret, you must read this book and I would also recommend this book to fans of Jennifer Brown and Amanda Grace. Don't Breathe A Word has full of complex characters, a gripping plot, and amazing writing and if you enjoy those is a book, you should definitely read it.

Also Known As by Robin Benway

Source: Review
Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.
Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.
I adored Robin Benway's books. Audrey, Wait! and The Extraordinary Secrets of April, June, and July were funny and clever books that I adored.
Maggie was a funny and clever. I liked that she was confident about herself. She was just a great character and I loved the relationship that she had with her parents and their family friend Angelo. It was great to see in Young Adult and I hope to see it more. I also adored her friend Roux. She was very spontaneous and unpredictable. Jesse may seem like just another bad ass, but he had a past and I found it very intriguing. I found the plot to be very fast paced and intriguing. I read this whole book in one sitting. I didn't want to put it down, because I had to know what would happen next. I did not want to leave this story unfinished.  I liked the world that Benway built and I wanted to know more about it. The way that Benway wrote about a teenage spy was original and I can't wait to see what is next. Benway's writing is just amazing and I can't wait to read more. Her books are just so funny and clever. I recommend this to the fans of Ally Carter. Seriously, it has a smart and funny character, an exciting and interesting plot, and really sharp and amazing writing. 

Being Burnt Out and General Update

So, last year, I didn't blog that much and I truly apologize about that. I am addressing that now, because I am going to try to blog more consistently. I haven't ever been quiet about being chronically sick. Pretty much with that and University, I didn't find the balance that I had previously. There was also the fact that I was burnt out. I posted daily or more from June 2009 to June 2011. I loved reading and everything, it is just that I didn't want to have to read a book, because I got it for review. I wanted to read the book that sounded good to me and that I wanted to read. Anyways, that is just an explanation of why I was gone and I wondered if anyone else has felt this way.
I just wanted to update on my life. I am in Sophomore at Seattle University. I am taking Intro to Philosophy, Writing the Personal Narrative, and History of the Ancient World. Next quarter, I am taking Astronomy of the Solar System, Philosophy of the Human Person, and A Reading Series in Brit Lit during the Victorian Ages. I am really excited for those classes and I am really enjoying the ones that I am taking.
I am also running again and enjoying it. It helps manage my illness, so I am really focusing on it.
Overall, I am really happy. So, I was wondering how everyone else was and what you have been up to.