The Smarty Owl

Blog Hop and Follow Friday!

2010-09-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hello blog hoppers!

Welcome to The Smarty Owl.

Newbies: be sure to check out our reviews!

Old Followers: thanks for coming back :)

Again. Lack of posts. We hate it as much as you guys do. This week, our schedules have been brimming with heaps and piles of boring homework, sluggish days, and power-walking back and forth in our ocean of a high school, in a race to beat the bell. As you might have noticed, I even hadn't had time to write this post any sooner (it's 9:10) and I stole the same layout from last week in an effort to micro-optimize my time (I really should be doing my homework.) Anyway, I hope you have a great week! I am expecting my long overdue Sleepless review to come out sometime this week so stay with me here :)

and sorry for the boring colors. really annoying technical difficulties with colors right now >:(

Follow Me Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books

I'm totally loving Crazy for Books questions by the way. Very creative.:

Post a link to a favorite post or book review that you have written in the past three months.

Answer:

---My favorite review of Okapi's would have to be her Poison Study review. It is the best one she has written. She masterfully interlaced supporting evidence with strong, confident opinions and weaved them together in beautiful prose. That specific review had been a finalist in a book review competition, and I believe she deserved that honor through and through.

See her awesomesauce review of Poison Study by Maria V. Synder HERE

---The piece I'm most proud of producing is my Firelight review. It just so happens that it was my latest review, which just confirms that I'm improving a little more each day.

See my review of Firelight by Sophie Jordan HERE

Blog Hop and Follow Friday!

2010-09-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hello blog hoppers!

Welcome to The Smarty Owl.

Newbies: be sure to check out our reviews!

Old Followers: thanks for coming back :)

And also to our loyal followers, we are oh-so-sorry for the lack of posts this week :( High school is hectic! We still need to fix up a scheduling system, but no worries, we'll deliver :)

Follow Me Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books

And without further ado, this weeks blog hop question:

Do you judge a book by its cover?

Answer: Despite the constant hearings of "don't judge a book by its cover" I must admit that I honestly do. It is not right, and it doesn't do the book justice, but while browsing shelves, I really can't help but snigger at the books with bad covers. Covers honestly make an impact on whether you pick up the book at the store. A novel with an alluring, interesting, unforgettable cover will linger in your mind forever until you finally have to submit and buy it. Unattractive covers however, make you lose interest even if the synopsis is intelligent. Those covers always give you the feeling that the book might just be as bad as the cover. Of course, with everything in nature, there are exceptions. The Harry Potter covers are a bit childish and not very curious, yet the content and words hidden beneath it proves to be infinitely better. The Twilight covers are elegant with just enough mystery in them to pull you in. Although once you get to the meat of the novel, you realize the cover was giving you false hope. This is just my personal opinion.

I love covers that have actual connections to the novels, yet still make you long to uncover the unknown by reading it. And that is also how we judge our covers here on The Smarty Owl. After every review, there is a paragraph displaying our thoughts on the cover. We rate them out of 5, 5 being the best. We also provide an explanation for our rating so be sure to check it out in the future!

Example: Our cover examination for The Book Thief

"Cover: 3.5/5 - I personally enjoyed the cover. First of all I thought it was well designed artistically and second, this cover would have hooked me at the bookstore (if my mother hadn't bought my copy for me). Like the actual book, the cover has quite a bit of symbolism in it too. In our perspective (Okapi and I pondered about the symbolism in the cover for a bit), the dominoes represent the people, both Jewish and German, who are getting knocked down by the hand, who we think is a representation of Hitler using words to hurt people. Thus causing a whole chain reaction leading to death, violence, and hurt to many. Though such a strong message is portrayed in such a simple picture, we believe that the picture could relate to the book a bit more, and therefore our rating of a 3.5 out of 5."

10 Reasons I Loved and Hated Mockingjay (SPOILER FREE) [with side commentary by Rica Eat World]

2010-08-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

Though this review is spoiler free, PLEASE DO NOT READ IT if you haven't read the previous two books: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Note: Commentary by Rica will be in THIS COLOR

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian

Target Audience: Teens and adults. (very violent)
Pages: Hardcover - 400 pages

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost. - summary from Goodreads

Two years ago, The Hunger Games astonished readers with its gripping action, screwed up society, and mesmerizing characters. (5 hoots)

Catching Fire once again dazzled readers with a plot riddled with horror and beauty. (4.5 hoots)

Readers, marinated with the suspense that the last pages of Catching Fire drizzled, waited for Mockingjay, the most hyped and extolled book of the year...

5 reasons I loved Mockingjay

"Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!"

1. The plot unfolds very differently from what one might expect, but Collins manages to execute it beautifully. Mockingjay is destined to be controversial since it's a completely different type of book than the previous two; it has more discussable aspects for people to base opinions on. This book makes readers realize that the trilogy is far greater than the much debated love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale, and even greater than the first Hunger Games itself. Mockingjay is about the ethics of war, government, the personal battles of the characters, and the future of Panem. Katniss compares the war to an astronomical Hunger Games, where the players are everybody, including President Snow. The sudden plot spins will flabbergast readers, and the book ends with the flourish of a controversial, brilliantly shocking conclusion. Collins employs the most merciless, brutal ending possible, obliterating any of the book's entertainment value. At first, I disliked the epilogue since it seemed incomplete and wishy-washy, but in retrospect, it ends the book impeccably, with a simple, beautiful last line that tones the series with finality and wrenches at my heart. Though the ending is morbid, I'm glad that Collins didn't end this book with a sugary, Disney movie ending. Readers finishing Mockingjay will feel heavy, stunned, and fragmented.

--Like Okapi, the plot's dives and curves left me both stunned and breathless. I literally found myself gasping out loud late into the night, an accomplishment for Collins considering that with most intense moments in intense books, I just make a mental gasp, too lazy and not shocked enough to use my breath. And also, I loved the violence. :)

“'Oh, no. It costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people? It costs everything you are.’”

2. The intense action...and deaths. Toward the end of the novel, tearing this book from my eyes would have been physically impossible. Once again, Collins is creative with the menaces that threaten to hurt Katniss and company. Mockingjay is violent, possibly even more so than the previous two novels, with battle scenes mirroring Iraq and other war zones, places where violence kills a plethora of innocent people. The severity is gripping, horrific, yet passionate so I cannot look away. Collins makes the war more emotional by elaborating on some of the characters' personalities. Thus, a few deaths slam harder onto readers' hearts, splattering the book with vivid shades of emotion and loss.

--In reality, whether we like it or not, people do indeed die. And that's the way it should be in books. Not just the characters left on the sidelines. Death is stealthy and by the way of nature, it carries off souls that we hold dear to us. Collins plays this beautifully in Mockingjay, and though the deaths of certain characters does tug on my heartstrings, it completes the book in a way that makes it all the more realistic and enjoyable.

"Because something is significantly wrong with a creature that sacrifices its children's lives to settle its differences. You can spin it any way you like... But in the end, who does it benefit? No one. The truth is, it benefits no one to live in a world where these things happen."

3. The ethics. While the previous two books brush upon ethics, Mockingjay elaborates on the morals embedded in the story. The Hunger Games deals with the rights and wrongs of sacrificing children to control a society, and this book continues to face this dilemma. During the novel, Katniss's moral compass swerves a tad off balance, and she will never be able to truly redeem herself from the innocent she killed, making her a questionable heroine. However, ultimately, she manages to regain her morals at the end in a glorious, tense moment. She rebels against cruel demagogues and those who attempt to secure a seat of power using unethical tactics. Mockingjay ventures beyond the cruelty of the Capitol; Collins's passionate prose dives into the corruptness of human nature. Readers will have nightmares about the horrific world inside Mockingjay long after they turn the last page.

“We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.”

4. Growing characters. Collins nurtures the characters from the previous two books, and their personalties acquire a new dimension. The reader will glance at the burning anger in the deep chute of Gale's soul; Finnick adds a whole other aspect to his profile; Prim transforms into a strong young heroine; and the rest of the ensemble evolves. Katniss's personality develops fragile, tortured areas that never made appearances in the prior books, and she makes it clear that she'll never be healed. The backstories of Finnick and Haymitch underscore the brutality of the Capitol, shocking me enough to put the book aside for a moment. President Snow remains a manipulative, heinous villain, and his permanent, literally bloody mouth is nefarious touch.

“We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.”

5. The unforgettableness. Whether due to the gory violence, vital messages, breathtaking plot line, or compelling characters, I will never forget Mockingjay. This downright gripping story is passionately moving, a dismal but beautiful end for a fantastic series. The more I think about Mockingjay, the more I relish it, finding it an apt way to conclude the trilogy. Due to the brutality, this book is hard to read, and I doubt I'll reread it for a long time, unless to clarify some parts. Though the trilogy is over, the haunting echo of Mockingjay's ending will forever resound in the minds of readers across the world.

--The ending was just how I wanted it to be! No spoilers though, I promise :)

Bonus Reason:

6. The food. Whenever Collins describes what Katniss eats, my mouth salivates and cravings wrack my body. In fact, during the eight hour period I read Mockingjay, the only time I abandoned the station of my couch was to snag some oatmeal, which I normally abhor, but Collins causes me to pine for it. My mouth longed to taste the creamy blue frosting when Collins describes a cake Peeta bakes. Her frequent mention of edibles makes me want to lick the food straight off the page. Her technique of mesmerizing the readers with food reminds me of J.K. Rowling, whose feast paragraphs pop the food off the page.

--Remember the lamb stew from the first Hunger Games? I would like to assure you that they make an appearance in Mockingjay as well. Dried plums included. :P

5 reasons I disliked Mockingjay

1. Katniss's emotions. Most of Katniss's emotions consist of being “empty” or “numb”. In fact, I cannot recall her feeling anything else, which gets really annoying; after a while, her monotone feelings make me want to scream at her in frustration. When loved ones die or she achieves something close to peace, Katniss never wavers from feeling “numb” inside. I kept waiting for other emotions to show, yet all she relinquishes is a torrent of whininess and self-pity. Katniss is expected to be broken after two Hunger Games, but she is so unstable that it's hard to relate to her. She never pulls herself together, and the book becomes a serenade of broken notes.

--The reason why, unlike the other two, I will not re-read Mockingjay countless times, is that this book doesn't really make me happy at all. While I love the action, this book was lost in an abyss of everlasting gloom. Tension reigned. Being locked into Katniss' mind, I was forced to listen to the torrent of depressing thoughts that plague her, causing me, as a reader immersed in her world, to be depressed as well.

2. Katniss the pawn. Many reviews grumble that a pawn of war, controlled by upper forces, replaces Katniss's independent warrior girl image. I have mixed feelings about this. First of all, I'm glad that Katniss's invincibility aura seen in the prior novels melts away, because now she is more realistic against the gruesome backdrop of a warring country. However, I am not a fan of Katniss being so easily manipulated, because she never decides on her own, unlike the liberated girl seen in The Hunger Games. Manipulating Katniss grows dull after a few pages, and I miss her dynamic sequences of independent action. In Mockingjay, her acts of defiance include skipping classes and hiding in the closet, callow "rebelliousness" that can only be found in high school. Also, she never becomes a true Mockingjay, a symbol for the rebellion in Panem, because superiors always control her, except for a single scene near the end of the book when Katniss actually thinks for herself.

3. Strange pacing. Unlike the previous two breath stealers of the trilogy, Mockingjay arrives on a glacially slow note. After barreling through the beginning, questing for the action, I found myself entrenched in the slow middle that consists of cameras and creating propaganda, not the expected action. If Mockingjay was not part of The Hunger Games I would have been bored out of my mind. Fortunately, toward the end, the speed accelerates, throwing the reader into the same level of excitement seen in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Panting, Mockingjay rushes off stage a little too fast, leaving the reader broken and hanging.

--The beginning was sluggish as Collins sets up the scene. I know this is inevitable, but I felt that Mockingjay would've been a bigger hit if Collins has kicked it off with a bang. The intro largely consists of Katniss' thoughts as she staggers through the remains of District 12. Paragraph after paragraph went by with no dialog whatsoever, up until page 15 when someone FINALLY released me from the droning lines by saying something. As much as the very beginning bored me, I was still intrigued, longing to quench my thirst for some action.

4. Keeping track of new characters. Collins rapidly introduces character after character, barely leaving me time to remember their names before their tragic demises. She completely glosses over their personalities, only talks about their names, and in the end, I do not care if they live or die. Remembering the soldiers' names is an arduous task; Collins clumsily announces their presences. The leader of District 13 takes on a blurry identity, and the book would be more wholesome if readers know what makes her tick.

5. The bleakness. While I see why Collins wants to strip this book of hope and happiness, comic relief is basically nonexistent in this story. The darkest of the trilogy, Mockingjay is devoid of Peeta's humorous remarks, and the only dialogue close to lightness is Haymitch's half hearted jokes. Even J.K. Rowling manages to squeeze in some jocular comments amidst the lethal battles of Deathly Hallows, resulting her series to conclude in victorious, grand swoop, despite all the death. The book is violant enough to squeeze away any smidgeon of entertainment readers found in the previous two novels. Mockingjay somberly marches out, depressing and grave.

--See my response of #1: Katniss's emotions.

An observation...

Once scene in the book seems directly pirated from the pages of Twilight. Did the conversation between Peeta and Gale while Katniss is half asleep remind anyone of a certain Edward/Jacob conversation that took place in a tent? I'm starting to dislike the whole scenario where the I-think-she's-asleep heroine accidentally overhears a heart to heart between her top two contenders.

--I too saw the stark similarities and yet, though I found the exchange in Eclipse sappy and cheesy, I must admit that I didn't mind this snippet in Mockingjay. After countless pages of non-stop action, it was a fresh change to read about this soft moment between our two heroes. To hear their thoughts on the topic after being deprived of scenes concerning this issue for so long, was refreshing and gave the book another angle.

In conclusion...

This book is ineffable, the good outweighing the bad. While not my favorite in the trilogy, it lived up to the hype and ended Katniss's journey in a stunning and different manner, which definitely outweighs a boring and predictable closure. This book is bound to receive more varied opinions than the previous two, due to its controversial plot twists and conclusion. Despite the imperfection, Mockingjay is destined to brand the trilogy as a classic.

--Agreed.

Cover: 4/5 - Overall, this cover is mediocre, and my least favorite of the trio due to the washed out colors. However, this ambiguous cover is imbued with symbolism. Unlike the previous two covers, the Mockingjay breaks free from the constraints of a pin, and it glides through the air, wings outstretched. The realistically drawn bird in center stage symbolizes that the rebellion is real and in the spotlight, or it could represent Katniss during the time she's needed the most. The background, a hopeful sky blue, represents freedom and promise for the citizens of Panem.

Rating:

4.5 hoots

Books before this:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire

Source: Bought from Amazon :)

Mockingjay Discussion Thread! (with spoilers!)

2010-08-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

Rica and I have just finished Mockingjay, the final book to The Hunger Games trilogy. This book is the type that needs to be discussed! If you want to discuss this book, spoilers included, please comment!

We'd love to know what everybody thinks! Rants, praise, and tirades are welcome! :)
To see what we thought of this book, CLICK HERE!

Warning: THE COMMENTS SECTION WILL HAVE SPOILERS

Updates from Rica Eat World :)

2010-08-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Hope you're all having an apeagesauce week so far. I just wanted to share some new discoveries found by Okapi, myself, and my good friend Angelatarantula over at The Book Buzzer. So here we go..

1. So while shopping in the city, we came across a cutesy (but ridiculously expensive) clothing shop. While browsing, we gawked at this:

Is that not the kewlest ceiling decoration you have ever seen!? We loved how the lights were protruding from the stack of books. Very creative.

Okay moving on.

2. The next day, after seeing that mind-blowing show piece above, Angela's dad was kind enough to teach us the game of bridge. The three of us had been wanting to learn about tricks, trumps, bidding and all the fun stuff. Inspired by The Cardturner by Louis Sachar, a great 4.5 Hoot novel about a kid who plays bridge, we were eager to follow Alton, the main character's, footsteps in learning the complex, strategic game. It turned out to be VERY fun and I totally recommend you guys learning how to play. The basics are quite, well, basic, and you'll probably be able to pick up on it soon enough. Okapi and I partnered up against Angela and her dad. While we were able to win two rounds, we managed to loose to the opposing team overall. 0 against -250. Curse their "double" bid.

3. Angela found this uber cool site called Save the Words. According to the site...

"Each year, hundreds of words are dropped from the English language.

Old words, wise words, hard-working words. Words that once led meaningful lives, but now lie unused, unloved, unwanted.

Today, 90% of everything we write is communicated by only 7,000 words.

You can change all that. Help save the words!"

So once you get to the site, you see a plethora of fascinating, mostly unknown words. All you do is click on it and "adopt it." Adopting the word means...

"I hereby promise to use this word, in conversation and correspondence, as frequently as possible to the best of my ability."

That way, that one word won't forever be forgotten. Let's engulf the world with cool words once again! :) This week, I adopted the words: pamphagous, fopottee, and tortiloquy. (These words are so uncommon, that my computer put the red squiggly under them, marking them as typos when they are indeed REAL words.)

Check out the site HERE

So that's it for updates. What did you do this week? We totally want to know! :)

50 Followers Giveaway at The Book Buzzer

2010-08-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Book Buzzer is hosting an amazing giveaway in celebration of fifty followers! Just look at the plethora of books she's giving away:

Or..... An ARC of Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson!

Forge comes out October 16, 2010

This contest ends on October 2!

ENTER HERE!

Blogger Hop and Follow Friday :)

2010-08-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

(Crazy for Books hosts Book Blogger Hop, while Parajunkee's View hosts Follow Friday)

Welcome to The Smarty Owl!
If you've never visited us before, be sure to look around and check out our reviews!
If you're an old follower, welcome back!
This week's Book Blogger Hop question is...

Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

Yes, The Smarty Owl does indeed use ratings! In the spirit of the owl theme, we rate our books using a scale of one to five "hoots": the better the book, the higher the hoots. We use ratings for a plethora of reasons. They are convient to those who just want the rating without reading the entire review, and also help us compare the book to others, keeping the quality of our reads in perspective. Also, if I ask my coblogger, Rica, how good a book like The Dark Divine is, she can just quicky say "3.5 hoots", and I'll automatically have an idea of its amazingness, opposed to her telling me a lengthy blateration.

For more information on our rating system, CLICK HERE!

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2010-08-26T03:15:00.000-07:00

Title: Poison Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Target Audience: Older teens and adults. This novel falls smack dab on the blurry border between young adult and adult fiction; while some bookstores house this under YA section, many place it with the adult fantasy books using a different cover.
Pages: Paperback - 416 pages

Choose: A quick death and hell or slow poison and hell.

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust – and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear. - summary from Goodreads.com

After spending months questing for the perfect fantasy read, I finally encountered Poison Study, and my first impression from the engrossing premise was that this would be a fantastic read. Fortunately, my assumption was right, and Synder's novel transcended my expectations by miles, refurbishing my love of reading. Snyder successfully amalgamates magic, mystery, romance, and action, forming a irresistible, utterly mesmerizing novel that forever ensnared me in its spellbinding net.

The compelling, addicting plot is like eating a giant, moist wedge of red velvet cake after a box of bland Saltines. On the first page, I was hurled straight into the dungeon, where a doomed girl named Yelena awaits her hanging. Instead of being executed as planned, the head of security offers Yelena a better – though possibly worse – choice: to be the poison taster for the Commander of Ixia. Though saved from execution, Yelena is still at risk. Everyday is a struggle for survival, haunted by a cruel past. This looming sense of constant danger drives the story onward, never permitting a dull moment:

I rose, my head spinning. “Is it lethal?”

“A big enough dose will kill you in two days. The symptoms don’t arrive until the second day, but by then it’s too late.”

“Did I have a lethal dose?” I held my breath.

“Of course. Anything less and you wouldn’t have tasted the poison.” - page 19

This tense instant of danger occurs when Valek, chief of security, poisons Yelena with the lethal Butterfly’s Dust in order to prevent her from running away. A plethora of these scary moments exists, propelling the book to a fast gait. Snyder, a grandmaster of foreshadowing, splashes seemingly insignificant hints and clues amidst the pages, resulting in a complex story, so I kept stumbling into surprises – some obvious, some not – that made me gasp. Interlaced with more darker themes than most young adult novels, Poison Study deals with violence, murder, and sexual abuse. However, these heavy themes are necessary for the story, and sorrowfully, are concepts that some teenagers face today.

This book has a vivid setting, a place where any reader can immerse themselves in. The militarized world of Ixia, a refreshing change from the typical monarchy that fantasy books often have, fills Poison Study with flavor and vibe. Lead by the domineering Commander, Ixia has eliminated the previous corrupt King and transformed the land into a militarist area sliced into Districts. Snyder, an amazing world builder, brings this world to life, buttressing it with rich history of tainted kings who ruled unethically, before the Commander seized control and brought about different ways. The Commander, while wise, rules Ixia with a harsh hand. Though his Code of Behavior, the inflexible, strict set of laws, prevents crime, poverty, and lack of order, it is also very controlling. Citizens who don't don their uniforms are chained to the town square naked, no excuses. Anybody who kills another person, even if by accident or in self defense, is hanged. The new form of government frowns upon the arts and requires paperwork for almost everything. The Commander's rigid rules show an insight to his fascinating personality, especially since he harbors a major secret, a secret that makes him selfish but all the more intriguing.

Snyder paints her characters deep, layered profiles. Though older than most YA heroines at nineteen, Yelena is an interesting protagonist and an intelligent, strong young woman, tarnished by a brutal, disturbing personal history; memories of Reyad, the man she killed, haunt and harass her throughout the novel. Readers can easily slide into Yelena's shoes, and I liked relatability of her choices and mistakes. Never making me want to bellow at her in frustration, she is resourceful and clever, a girl with inspiring independence; when men try to kill her, instead of running away squealing for help, she learns self defense to beat them up. Valek, the Commander's chief of security, is untrustworthy, ruthless, and crafty, making him another prominent figure of Poison Study's cast. Alas, my liking for him slightly declined toward the end, when he began to shy away from his devious character. Ari and Janco, two humorous, goodhearted soldiers, add comic relief in contrast to the story's foreboding tide. I love how even though Yelena secures a strong friendship with the castle's talented head cook, Rand, she still thinks of him in shades of gray; young adult books often tend to have their protagonists befriend somebody and then portray him or her in either black or white, bad or good. Rand is the complicated type of character that more novels need, a person complex enough that he could easily have been snatched from the real world.

The refreshing romance, subtle and powerful, snuck up on me opposed to dancing in front of my face and giggling, like many sappy relationships in young adult books do. The relationship maintained its engrossing, cogent qualities, definitely branding it as one of the most interesting romances in young adult fiction. Unfortunately, some icky qualities weighed down the good attributes, and a dollap of cringe-worthy cheesiness crept in at the end.

Poison Study reminds me of the reason I love books. My favorite novels project me into their worlds, where I can live as a different person, completely immersed in another land. These escapist books include The Hunger Games, the Harry Potter series, and Graceling, with Poison Study joining the elite list. Though I read this book while vacationing in stunning Yosemite, encompassed by the looming cliffs of rock and shimmering waterfalls, I lived a parallel life in the Commander's castle. When bears lumbered outside the tent, ten feet away, I still could not tear my eyes away from the page. I completely agree with Publisher's Weekly when they reviewed Poison Study, saying, “...this is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they've read it.” This consummate fantasy is a must read for all book lovers, and like me, most readers will immediately stampede to the store to purchase the two sequels upon reaching the last page.

Cover: 3/5 – The green vines that snake across the cover are gorgeous, though otherwise, nothing about this cover strikes me.

Rating:

5 hoots

Books like this:
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore

If you know of any other fantasies like Poison Study and the ones above, please let me know in the comments! I would love to read it.

Source: Bought from bookstore. I think you should buy it too. :)

Firelight ARC Contest WINNER!

2010-08-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow bloggers and readers!
Thanks so much for the awesome support! Without our dear followers, we would never have gotten where we are today. Right now, we're almost at 400 followers!! Anyways, we're now presenting the winner of our contest for an ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan...
(Mrs. DeRaps!)
Congratulations Mrs. DeRaps! We hope you enjoy your shiny ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan! We've already emailed you, so check your mail! You have 48 hours to respond and claim your prize, or else we'll be forced to pick a new winner. :)
For those of you who didn't win, no worries, a new contest looms on the horizon! Also, be sure look for Firelight on shelves September 7th!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan - Okapi's Review

2010-08-20T01:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Target Audience: Teens
Pages: ARC - 323 pages
Release Date: September 7, 2010

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret. - Summary from Goodreads

As a fan of dragons, the premise sounded promising - a hiatus from vampires, werewolves and angels while still lingering in the paranormal zone. Curled up in my bed for a couple hours, I read this novel in one sitting, my attention constantly tethered to the rapt and engaging plot. But alas, my eyes uncovered a paltry, watery novel that washed through my mind and caused me to forget about it soon after.

I love the concept of draki, the descendants of dragons, morphing into human, and their customs are interesting. However, I wish the author included more draki lore and history, along with their feud with the dragon hunters. For example, Jacinda mentions an "evasive flight maneuvers class", which sounds interesting, and I would like to learn more about. Jacinda barely spends any time with the dragon pride, and the reader merely experiences them through her memories. Reading this book would be a much more enthralling affair if we actually encountered the pride alongside her, gaining background information about drakis and enriching myself, thus making the rest of the novel more enjoyable.

The majority of the characters are lifeless and perilously flat. Will, who I've now nicknamed as "the Wallflower", fails to be mysterious and sexy as the author intends. He only snags my attention when Jacinda begins pining and whining over him, and though many other reviews claim their love to be intriguing and captivating, all I see is another paranormal romance that bores me. Their love is unbelievably instantaneous and predictable, lacking any depth. When Jacinda's inner draki flares to life around Will, it is the definition of cheesy, especially since the author reveals no explanation of Jacinda's fascination of this bland child. Many other reviews state their relationship to rival the romance in Twilight, but while I'm not a fan of that book, at least the author explains Bella and Edward's love. The romance in Firelight flounders to grapple my regard.

Jacinda's remarkably selfish twin sister Tamra and mother are extremely irksome and undeveloped. Her mother forfeited her draki spirit and eschews draki culture seemingly without any reason, and her sister complains about the most frivolous things. They aggravate me using their barely there personalities and do nothing more than set up meek obstacles of conflict for Jacinda to jump over. The character redeeming the rest is Jacinda, since she is surprisingly developed compared to the others; during the novel, my liking for her escalates as she demonstrated selfless, unpretentious qualities. She actually tolerates her irritating family members. I notice some other reviews chastising Jacinda for being selfish, endlessly complaining about the situation that her mother puts her in. However, I would probably react similarly if somebody hacks away part of my soul, just as Jacinda's mother attempts to rip away her draki. Jordan successfully captures Jacinda's raw anguish and the torture of allowing her draki to die, which is the equivalent of losing part of one's soul. She describes Jacinda's quest to maintain her identity using simple, emotional phrases.

"I once saw a show about an amputee who lost his leg and still feels it. He actually wakes up at night to scratch his leg as if it's still there, attached to him. They call it a phantom limb.

I would be like that. A phantom draki, tormented with the memory of what I once was."- page 37

The author's writing is very bland and repetitive, and after a while, I began to tire of Jacinda's distressed musings and cravings for Will. Jordan tends to echo Jacinda's thoughts in an annoying manner, and all her sentences are short and choppy, structured too simply. Though constructed using prose that lacks description, this book still consistently maintains its hooking attribute.

The ending is so annoying abrupt and unsatisfying that I couldn't help but roll my eyes once I was finished, asking myself if somebody had pruned off the real end of the manuscript. Don't get me wrong, I always bask in the afterglow of anticipation after reading a superb cliffhanger, but Firelight left off without any conclusion or thoughts to hold onto whatsoever. When I read a cliffhanger, I run off a cliff, though there are always questions and unsolved mysteries that keep me dangling on the edge. Firelight, however, has nothing sparking further curiosity, so I gallop over the edge and plummet to the ground.

Overall, this typical paranormal romance ensnared my attention for most of its three hundred pages, causing me to dub it as 'mildly addicting' and file it away at the very back of my mind. I'm sure, like many other paranormal romances, it'll acquire a teen fandom when it releases in September, 2010. I'll probably skim the sequel just to see what's in store for Jacinda and company, but I hold very little hope that this series can possibly redeem itself after this slight disaster.

Cover: 2/5 - I'm usually partial to people on covers, and this one's no exception. I dislike how up-close the girl is, and the artificial shade of her hair. However, the golden scales add a mysterious touch.

Rating:

2.5 hoots

Books like this:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

To view Rica's review of Firelight, CLICK HERE

Firelight by Sophie Jordan - Rica's Review

2010-08-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

Title: Firelight

Author: Sophie Jordan

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Target Audience: Teen Girls

Number of Pages: ARC - 323 pages

Release Date: September 7, 2010

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret. -Summary from Goodreads

My expectations for this novel were pretty similar to my thoughts of other paranormal romances: as if by fate, a boy and a girl meet, fair amounts of swooning, they fall in love, paranormal aspects prevent their relationship from flourishing, they conquer it together, everything works out, and then thats the end. Knowing this, I still grasped at the faint hope that this book would bring something new and more satisfying. I was relieved from the surge of vampires and werewolves and I hoped reading about dragons would be a refreshing change and just perhaps obliterate my bias on paranormal romances.

My hopes were shot down to a blunder. Personally, this book was the quintessence of ordinary, sprinkled with a few more aspects to frown upon. The story starts with Jacinda in her draki dragon form, cornered by a brutally handsome hunter boy.The two were alone, and the cave was alive with sparks when their touches met. Jacinda knew she could never forget the boy who betrayed his dragon hunting family to spare her life. When Jacinda left her dragon pack, known as a pride, she and her family relocated to a small town in the desert. Jacinda and her twin sister Tamra enrolled into high school. On their first day, as unrealistic as it may be, Jacinda saw the boy hunter who spared her life, Will. I knew this meeting was inevitable, but the pure odds of this happening were so far off, that frustration still managed to tug at me.

Will and Jacinda's relationship was utterly flat and could only be a fictional romance. Their love affair was almost instantaneous. It was as if their relationship had been in fast-forward while I was still at play, unable to be swept into their rhythm. Admittedly, I am usually a sucker for male lead heroes in books, but Will's character was so unrelatable to real-life heroes, that it was hard for me to feel a connection to him. Jacinda was probably the best character out of the lot. She was pretty well developed with a strong, brave, and slightly rebellious personality. She turned out pretty like-able. It was depressing to watch her struggle with her family and surroundings, but it was nice to see her inner draki come to life when in the presence of Will.

Apart from Jacinda, I couldn't care for the other roles any less. Tamra and Jacinda's mother particularly pushed my buttons. The pair were unbelievably selfish. Tamra was born without the ability to manifest, or in other words, morph into draki form. Like Filch for example, born into a wizarding family with no wizarding powers; a squib in the world of Harry Potter. Anyway, due to this stroke of unluckiness, Tamra had never fit in well in the pride, and was always quietly jealous of Jacinda who was the prized jewel in the pack. Unlike Tamra, Jacinda's mother was able to manifest, but she too didn't feel like she fit in with the other dragons. While Jacinda and her draki are one, Jacinda's mom didn't feel such a bond with her draki. A piece of soul, trapped in a reluctant body. So, Tamra and their mom, put their own wishes ahead of Jacinda's, and moved to a desert in hopes Jacinda's draki would wither and die. Throughout the whole novel, the duo consistently ignore Jacinda's pleads and complaints, and instead feeds her with phrases like, "it's for your own good" and so on. Their obtuse minds made them annoying to read about.

It followed the basic plot line I mapped out in the first paragraph, up until the ending. The ending was abrupt, rushed, and as unsatisfactory as getting only a pair of socks for Christmas. I'll put it this way. This book was like a struggling hike up a steep mountain. The trek up the side was more or less uninteresting and at times I did think about giving up, yet my eyes were set on the climax, the most exciting and rewarding part of the journey. Then without warning, it's as if I was kicked down the mountain in an accelerated tumble. The climax was basically the ending of the book. The ending was a huge cliffhanger, one that posed a lot of unanswered questions, one that was conducted poorly. Actually, after reading the ending, I seriously thought that the ARC I read was unfinished somehow. I couldn't believe it was the ending. It was so sudden that I thought a chunk of the ending must've fallen out or something. Normally, cliffhangers make me extremely eager to read the sequel, but in this case, the ending was so shockingly annoying, that all curiosity was sucked out of me.

I really had hopes for this book. Draki were new to me, alluring even. I wanted to know so much more about them. Jordan lacked information about them, the bits that I craved most. The one aspect that was new to YA bookshelves, the author didn't describe as much. Instead, this book was stuffed with a cheesy relationship that failed to touch my heart. I don't doubt that other teen girls will be thrilled with this Twilight-esque novel, this one just didn't impress me. There have been mixed reviews on this novel, and I believe that it does some-what deserve to be checked out. I would probably read the sequel, just for the sake of it and in hope that it would improve.

Cover: 2/5- I'm not the biggest fan of the cover. The close-up girl doesn't appeal to me. Personally, I think it gives it a bit of a more tacky look. Though I like the fire-y gold colors, this cover isn't special from other ones on the shelves.

Rating:

2 Hoots

To view Okapi's review of Firelight, CLICK HERE

Blog Hop and Follow Friday!

2010-08-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

You know the drill :)

(Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Crazy for Books, while Follow Friday is hosted at Parajunkee's View)

This weeks Blogger Hop question:

How many blogs do you follow?

Answer: Currently, I'm following Google Connect Following 242 fantastic blogs and I'm sure to be following more in the future. If you wish for either me or Okapi to take a look at your blog, just leave a message in the C-Box or comments!

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

2010-08-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Title: Fat Cat

Author: Robin Brande

Target Audience: Teen girls over twelve

Pages: Hardcover - 336 pages

Cat is smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves. - summary from Goodreads

After seeing the five gleaming golden stars that Fat Cat has on Amazon, I knew this book was a must read. Yet upon finishing Fat Cat, mixed feelings for this novel raced through my mind. This book is like a chunk of granite, embedded with both pretty and ugly flakes of other rock. Overall, its good qualities marginally dominate the poor ones, making this novel a sweet, light read that managed to alter my own lifestyle.

I was not sure what to make of Cat's personality; There were times when I wanted to scream at her in frustration and times when her decisions confused me. Cat is overweight, siphoning immense quantities of soda and other junk food into her body. When a school project inspires her to change her lifestyle and become healthy, I was surprised by her sudden enthusiasm to undertake it. Before, Cat seemed content with her weight, and her abrupt desire to change seemed strange, especially since this project would be very hard on her body. Though her underlying reasons do appear later in the novel, the author could have let them flash a little bit in the beginning to let the reader know Cat's motivations.

Later, when Cat refuses to talk to boys, frustration welled up inside of me, because the author presents no reason for her stubborn rudeness towards males. During the majority of the novel, Cat is a complete meanie toward Matt, and the fact how she seems to have no vindication irritates me. When she does reveal the reason much later in the book, it's too late for me to forgive her, even if it justifies her cruel actions. The author tries to make the reason for Cat's hatred a mystery, but she ultimately fails by unnecessarily dragging out the feud until the very end, which achieves nothing other than irking me. Cat fostering such a strong grudge makes me dislike her, especially since the incident that triggered the enmity happened many, many years ago. Matt, on the other hand, is consistently sweet and caring, and Cat's aggressiveness causes me to pity him.

Besides for Cat, The other characters are three dimensional, well drawn, and brimming with personality. From talented Amanda to jerky Greg, sweet and confused Matt to slimy Nick, the author magically writes an ensemble of characters to life. I found myself either liking or vehemently disliking each character, and feeling immensely protective over Cat's little brother, who is bullied at school.

This book has wholesome morals of intelligence over appearance and being healthy. In fact, Fat Cat inspired me to eat healthy foods, and soon, I found myself avoiding sugary sodas and processed munchies. I read this book a few hours after consuming about ten of my friend's Twixes (at least they were mini), and guiltily thought back to these unhealthy packages of caramel and chocolate while I watched Cat successfully avoid such items. Now, I'm able to always order water at restaurants opposed to sodas, politely decline desert when I'm merely greedy opposed to actually hungry, and limit the amount of candy I consume. Despite Cat's other flaws, she is a good role model, who helped me realize that eating healthy is vital to living a happy and energetic life. She also brought to light my relationship with junky foods.

"The fact is that candy bars taste great. As do chips and pizza and ice cream and everything else that makes up a modern diet.

It wasn't just the caffeine and artificial sweeteners that were hard to come off. I swear I had just as bad withdrawals from giving up everything else. Sugar feels very, very good. Some days it seems like it's the only thing that can make you happy.

It's just that sometimes having a few carrots doesn't quite do it for me the way the bag of Doritos or a dozen Oreos used to. I think part of it is psychological - eating real food seems so serious, whereas junk food felt fun.

But it's not fun how it looks on your afterward. I guess that's the point I need to focus on. And the fact that I definitely do have a lot more energy now than I ever used to.

But no wonder all does other scientists have had a hard time convincing us to stop eating all the goodies. Nothing says love like a cookie." - page 89

I really enjoyed reading the addicting, cheery novel of Fat Cat, and will probably reread it sometime in the future. This is the type of book I wish I could read again for the first time, since I found much joy while voyaging amidst its pages. While an overweight's person's revelations and emotional journey may sound dull, Cat is an interesting narrator who managed to keep my attention for the whole book. Fat Cat reminded me of the reason I love reading: I learned so many interesting tidbits without trudging through non fiction text. The author integrates scientific facts and theories throughout the story. Whenever the author inserted an Einestein quote, thrills surged through me, and I appreciated Cat's love of science.

Toward the end of this book, the focus completely shifts to Cat's personal life, and I wished to see more of a conclusion on her project. While I see that the author wants to make a point of how the book is about the effects the project opposed the project itself, I became annoyed, since Cat never says what grade she earns, and if her teacher, who plays a critical roll in the shaping of her project, is satisfied by her efforts, or if she snags the much desired college recommendation letter. I would have rated this book much higher on the hoot scale if the project had more closure.

Cover: 3.5/5 – The bulging book is cute, and I love the rich, velvety purple of the cover. Not many books are purple these days. Other than that, this mediocre cover captures nothing special.

Rating:

3.5 hoots

Books like this:
Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Source: Free from Random Buzzers. Thanks so much! If you haven't already, make sure to check out their website at www.randombuzzers.com for free books, activities, chat forums, and a great book loving community!

Other reviews:
The Book Buzzer

Blog Hop and Follow Friday!

2010-08-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

It's Friday!

(Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Crazy for Books, while Follow Friday is hosted at Parajunkee's View)

This weeks blogger hop question is...

How many books do you have on your 'to be read' shelf?

Answer: Shelf? More like a bookcases in my case. There are SO many books out there that I'm just dying to read. Countless actually. I used to keep adding books to my good reads, but later it just became a hassle to keep having to search for books and add them to my list. It would've honestly gone on forever. So, I trying my best to rely on my little brain to remember all the fantastic titles I'm determined to read eventually.

What about you?

Remember to enter our Firelight by Sophie Jordan giveaway!
(ENTER HERE!)

:)

2010-08-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hello! Rica Eat World found this bookish meme over at Ellie's blog. And of course we just HAD to do it!

So for this meme...

The aim is to fill this in using only the titles of books you have read so far this year. Or, if that's too tricky, pick from the whole of last year's reads

Describe yourself: The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

How do you feel: Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Describe where you currently live: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Party by Tom Leveen

Your favorite form of transportation: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Your best friends are: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

You and your friends are: Beautiful Creatures by Margeret Stohl and Cami Garcia & The Clique by Lisi Harrison

What’s the weather like: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

You fear: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

What is the best advice you have to give: It's Not Easy Being Mean by Lisi Harrison

Thought for the day: The Long Wait For Tomorrow by Joaquin Dorfman

How I would like to die: Death by Black Hole by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

My soul’s present condition: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Wake Series by Lisa McMann - Mini Reviews

2010-08-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

Series: Wake Trilogy
Author: Lisa McMann
Genre: Paranormal

Target Audience: Teen Girls (For mature readers - books contain adult themes and coarse language)

Number of Pages: Hardcover- each around 240-270 pages

Book 1 - Wake

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Wake is an exhilarating, quick read . Though the beginning is kind of slow, the suspense soon gains momentum. Told in minimalistic, short sequences, Wake is a short novel that took me less than a seating to finish. At first, I really disliked Wake because the choppy writing style irritated me. However, as the book progressed, the style became one of my favorite aspects. McMann is one of the first authors I have seen that uses jerky prose; full of fragments, it's clean and concise. Though it takes some time getting used to, Her abrupt writing gives Wake a surreal, almost dreamlike tone.

The main character Janie is overall, very likable. She's flawed and human, though her values could be developed a little more, and the relationship with her mother a little more stressed upon. The dreams in Wake are not very realistic, even for dreams. Dreams are usually nonsensical, musings of one's subconscious, but the dreams in Wake always have a certain logic to them. The random aspect of dreams is completely shrouded by frank scenes that completely reveal the dreamer's character.

This otherwise swell story is mediocrely executed, since at the times, the pacing of the plot is off. After a slow beginning, Wake quickly gains momentum, then drives over the speed limit to form a slightly shabby ending. McMann introduces the main conflict too late, and the climax failed to excite me, since the plot lacked mounting suspense.

Despite the plot pacing problems, McMann wrote an addicting novel that promises outstanding sequels. I was torn between awarding it four hoots and three and a half hoots.

Rating:

3.5 hoots

Book 2 - Fade

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck. Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open--but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability. And it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a Dream Catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd even feared...

Dark and raw, Fade is a lot more suspenseful, intense, and scary than Wake. Fans of the previous book may be disturbed by sequel. The horrific nightmares in Fade will linger with readers long after they turn the last page, especially since these menaces exist in the real world. The police department assigns Janie and Cabel a mission: to uncover the twisted, sick sexual predators who are hunting at the local high school. Infused with creepiness and perverted teachers, this book sheds the dreamlike, teen angsty qualities of Wake and morphs into a dark thriller.

Fade is more plot driven than character driven, and sometimes I missed the character interaction I saw in Wake. The character of Shay, a girl who claims to still like Cabel, has been completely obliterated, and I was looking forward to seeing her; Carrie, Janie's alleged best friend, is absent throughout the majority of this novel. However, Janie and Cable's relationship continues to unfold, and readers will get a deeper look into Janie's personality.

Like it's predecessor, Fade's fragmented writing cleanly captures action and emotions without the stuffy details. McMann's writing continues to improve, and she's well on her way to developing a potentially beautiful style. Fade contains mounting suspense, and near the climax, I perched upon the edge of my seat, nearly hyperventilating as I rooted and feared for Janie. When Janie's dreamcatcher fate was finally revealed, my jaw dropped in horror, and I found myself yearning for the next book.

Rating:
4 hoots

Book 3 - Gone

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

After the success of its predecessors, including the unbearable suspense in Fade, I expected a thrilling novel that brilliantly concludes the Wake series, something that could maybe top 4 hoots. Alas, Gone is a giant letdown that fills me with disappointment.

The entire book involves Janie debating her life, and her thoughts get repetitive very quickly. I'm not a fan of her fights with Cabel, since his absences began to increase, and their interesting relationship is part of what makes the series compelling. Without Cabel, the novel's barely sufficient plot failed to seize my attention, and I barely endured a trudge through Janie's endless monologues about the sinking ship of her life. Her sparse interaction with other characters left me bored and wanting more. One good thing about all her thinking is that Janie develops as a person, becoming a lot more likable at the end.

The strong morals, messages, and Janie's decisions hold immense meaning, though they are not effective, since I found myself not caring about the book anymore after I discovered the lack of plot. This book involves Janie sorting out her life and lacks the action and suspense I found in Fade. While this is not a bad thing, Gone is an overload of musings, and it could have been seamlessly incorporated into Wake and Fade, turning the trilogy into only two books and making the series a much more engrossing experience.

Rating:

2 hoots

Covers: 3/5 - My favorite is the cover for Wake; it's simple, haunting, and relevant to the story. The covers for Fade and Gone are average and not my favorites. Overall, I enjoy the theme of a dark background and a lighted up object, since it captures the overall, mysterious essence of the story. The placement of the title is very bold, and I love how it looks as though it's evaporating in Fade and Gone.

Blog Hop and Follow Friday!

2010-08-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hello chups!

It's Friday again, and you know what that means! Time for some blog hopping and following fun!

(Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Crazy for Books, while Follow Friday is hosted at Parajunkee's View)

This week's Book Blogger Hop question is...

Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?

Answer: No, I don't listen to music when I read! It makes it harder to focus on the book get get immersed in the story! When I do listen to tunes while reading on the rare occasion, the music always changes the mood of the book, usually in a not nice way! For example, if a majestic, touching heart to heart conversation is unfolding on the pages, and the stereo's playing heavy rock, then the whole aura of the book gets ruined! Do you guys listen to music when you read? What type of music?

Remember to enter our Firelight by Sophie Jordan giveaway!
(ENTER HERE!)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Eternal Ones

2010-08-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, spotlighting upcoming releases that we're excited for!

Title: The Eternal Ones

Author: Kirsten Miller

Publisher: Razorbill Penguin

Genre: Romance

Release Date: August 10, 2010

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Why I Want This:
The gorgeous cover of a snake eating its own tail looks visually appealing, the premise sounds promising, and overall, this novel sounds like a hearty read. After hearing a ton of positive reviews lauding this book, I really want to read it! The Eternal Ones appears to be a refreshing break from werewolves, vampires, and angels, while still managing to focus on a paranormal romance.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

2010-08-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

Title: The Dark Divine

Author: Bree Despain

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Target Audience: Teen Girls

Number of Pages: Hardcover- 372 pages

Grace Divine-daughter of the local pastor-always knew something terrible had happened the night Daniel Kalbi disapeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood. Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother. As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul. - Summary from Goodreads

I had wanted to read this book purely out of the fact that everyone was obsessing over it. I had known it was a paranormal romance novel, but any further knowledge was cut short there. I had never really bothered to read the synopsis and so for this first time, I had to dive in without any faint idea on what I'm about to get myself into. But no worries. The plot was so indefinitely obvious, that I assumed the big "mysterious" truth about Daniel from page 65, and to further clarify, reaching 65 is a matter of minutes. The font is obnoxiously bolded and therefore, each page only consists of a handful of words.

Grace Divine, narrator of the story, is flavored more on the blander side. She's just one of those typical girls abundant in those typical paranormal romance novels. I couldn't help but roll my eyes on a few occasions as I lived through her point of view and read her thoughts. As in all romance books, Grace would sigh at Daniel's sinewy bicepes or marvel at his scuplted abs. This was expected, and I am thankful that Despain didn't go overboard on the swooning like Meyer did in the Twilight novels, which every few paragraphs a sentence like "Edward smelled good" just had to snake their way in. What really got me to utter a sarcastic "wow",was the goody-two-shoes-ness of Grace. I realize that she is the pastor's daughter and therefore must be a model citizen, but her immeasurable integrity was basically a slap in the face. I honestly doubt pastor's kids in the real world are this angelic, and so, I'd say that her character was borderline unrealistic.

The overly simplistic and undescriptive writing was hard to miss, as if a blinking sign blaring the words"slightly amateur" hung over head. The voice was ordinary and unmemorable. Not once did any of her sentences strike me and make me feel envious for not being able to construct a sentence quite like that. In addition, historical facts were skewed to fit Despain's fantasy, leaving me more than unsatisfied with the explanations for Daniel's "issues". The novel is also brimming with religious, "do the right thing" types of messages, which although add an element to the book, I find unecessary. Though nothing great, her flow of words wasn't completely unbearable. The writing is never really the most important part of a novel, and even though it might not be anything congratulatory, if aided with a solid plot and wonderous characters, the reader could still carry on forth.

This book was like a narcotic; simple and addictive. Despite its flaws, I could not put it down. Why? Because of Daniel Kalbi. He is soley the reason why I'm giving this book a 3.5 instead of a 2. Daniel is like the glue that binds the whole book together. Daniel was thrust into the beginning of this novel as a "bad boy" being, but throughout story, readers grow to like him and see that he's not really a bad boy at all. He is merely a boy who was rejected too many times and is desperate to be loved and wanted. His past of being abused by his father had scarred and marred him forcing him to be closed off from the world. And ever since a fateful, tragic, night with Jude, Daniel had fled and left everything behind, including Grace. Now that he's returned, Grace often has flashbacks involving him, and it is semi-sweet to experience them. Though they are saddening, it is truly rewarding to watch Daniel grow as a man and face up to his curse. It was refreshing to read about a character like Daniel, one that is actually likeable and not so overprotective of his lover that it crosses the line and just steps into annoying. Through their past memories, it seems as if Grace and Daniel were destined to be with each other.

Overall, Despain failed with her bland, unrealistic narrator, predictable plot, and juvenille writing, but achieved greatness in her story of Daniel as a problem-proned teen. The side story of his past is intriguing, captivating, and beautiful. It's what makes the book. Personally, I think the book would have been more successful if Daniel just remained a mortal with Grace and the two fight their way through the paranormal together without all the religious aspects. I believe the story would be more unique than the other paranormal romances on the shelves these days. This novel is not for those who long to pick up a Twilight-ish book, but for those who want to read about a strong, individual character's journey through troubled times. And even though I ranted about all of its flaw's, I'm still eager to read book two, The Lost Saint.

Cover: 3.5/5 - I really like the cover. It's mysterious (a lot more mysterious than the book itself) and alluring. The colors contrast fabulously from the snowy, marble white, the dark ominous black, and the eye-catching, vibrant violet. However, the pair of legs don't really have anything to do with the book. Though they might be pretty, I don't even know why they're there. It makes sense that the sash is violet (as you will see when you read the book), but the legs don't correspond with anything in the story. Also, I'll be sure to pick up that color nail polish next time I visit the local drugstore. And as for the cover of The Lost Saint, I really wish the publishers stuck with the brilliant violet theme as opposed for the leg theme.

Rating:

3.5 Hoots

Source: Won from a contest on Squeaky Books. Thanks a ton!

Themed Teaser Tuesday x2 (The Waggling Eyebrows Edition)

2010-08-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B at I Should Be Reading. We've decided that themed teaser tuesdays are quite awesomesauce and therefore, you shall expect every week's teaser to be themed :) And this weeks topic is...

Waggling Eyebrows!!

(*waggles eyebrows*)

Waggling eyebrows certainly made their appearance in Okapi's book, The Iron King by Julie Kagawa.

"Robbie gave me that smile that always makes me nervous, a grin that stretched his entire face so that his eyes narrowed to green slits. 'I've got a bottle of champagne I managed to swipe from the wine cabinet,' he said in a low voice, waggling his eyebrows. 'How 'bout I come by your place tomorow. We can celebrate your birthday in style.'" - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, page 24

And waggling eyebrows played their part in Rica Eat World's book, The Dark Divine by Bree Despain.

"She glanced at the teacher's desk then whispered, 'Pete is so into you. Lynn said that Misty told her that Brett Johnson said that Pete thinks you're hot and he wants to ask you out.' 'Really?' 'Really.' She waggled her eyebrows. 'You are so lucky.'" - The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, page 22

We're dying to know your teasers! *waggles eyebrows*

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

2010-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Title: Tender Morsels
Author: Margo Lanagan
Genre: Fantasy
Target Audience: Mature teens and up (very disturbing scenes)
Number of Pages: Paperback - 464 pages

Tender Morsels is a dark and vivid story, set in two worlds and worrying at the border between them. Liga lives modestly in her own personal heaven, a world given to her in exchange for her earthly life. Her two daughters grow up in this soft place, protected from the violence that once harmed their mother. But the real world cannot be denied forever—magicked men and wild bears break down the borders of Liga’s refuge. Now, having known Heaven, how will these three women survive in a world where beauty and brutality lie side by side?

Tender Morsels is a lurid yet beautiful tale. Written using the framework of Rose Red and Snow White, a classic fairytale that I recommend reading prior to Tender Morsels, this dark retelling will spellbind readers who are mature enough to handle the ghastliness. The highly unusual yet extraordinary prose captures the darkness and brutality of the story:

"She pressed her nose and mouth into the crook of her elbow, but she had already gulped smoke. It sank through to her deepest insides, and there it clasped its thin black hands, all knuckles and nerves, and wrung them, and wrung them." - page 6

The author's words summon vivid imagery into my mind; I especially love the metaphor of smoke to hands. Those who adore poetry are sure to love this book's language and sentence structure. Due to the lyrical writing, the prologue is quite confusing, so I had to reread it a few times to completely understand it. (If you go back and reread it after you finish the book, it makes a lot more sense.) However, once that's out of the way, the first few pages depict grim scenes; they document Liga's hellish early life of miscarriages and sexual abuse from her own father, and I'm still horrified and disturbed. The author does a good job of skirting around the actual rape scenes and tends to describe the traumatic effects opposed to the action. Since Lanagan siphons sadness into readers using powerful language, some parts of this novel just made me want to weep:

"She had been all prepared to love it, but there was not very much to love. She had never seen a baby so thin and wizened. Its face was just creases, thick with down. It had the finest, darkest, sourest lips, disapproving anciently, godlikely, distantly. It had the look of a lamb born badly, of a baby bird fallen from the nest—that doomed look, holy and lifeless, swollen-eyed, retreated too far into itself to be awakened." - page 15

The characters are deep, realistic, and flawed, and all have their motivations. Urdda, the fiery younger sister, never hesitates in asking for the truth and basks in the spirit of adventure. Branza is more gentle, like her mother Liga, but just as realistic. The character of Bullock bothers me due to his blandness, and after a few weeks I am struggling to remember him. Liga, the abused mother of Urdda and Branza, is a scarred soul who still maintains a saucy vibe. Readers will respect and become fond of Liga, though not pity her.

Unlike many light hearted YA novels, Tender Morsels is a heavy, savage tale with prose that forces readers to proceed at a slow gait. Not for the weak of heart, this book requires a mature reader to handle the disturbing bits. I love how symbolism infuses this book; there are layers upon layers of it, some which I will only catch during a reread. Luscious with explorations of gender, innocence, and the contrast between brutality and beauty, this book requires a lot of thought and simulates many deep questions. At times, the identity of the narrator is confusing to the point of being incomprehensible. With the frequent changes from third to first person without warning, I was very lost, especially in the beginning. However, now I realize that Lanagan wrote it this way for a reason; even the difference between narrating the book between third person and first person has symbolism. According to an interview, Margo Lanagan purposely uses first person for the females and third person for the males, because she "wanted to make a subtle point about how the men are comfortable imagining themselves as the heroes of their own story, whereas the women always feel themselves to be part of a bigger story that is more significant than their own lives". This idea interweaves throughout the novel, and is only one form of symbolism that Lanagan includes.

Instead going out with a bang, this book ends with barely the faintest of blubbers. Though I won't unleash any spoilers, the ending is abrupt, and everybody ends up in the wrong places. Also, Branza still yearns for life in heaven, and many of her questions still lie unanswered, all because she does not want to press her mom for the answers. This goes against the message of what the book seems to say, which is sheltering the innocent from the harsh truth is a bad idea. However, the shaky ending does not detract from the novel as a whole. After I finished reading the book, I just sat there for a moment, slowly surfacing out of the rich, vivid world of t. This book is savory and hearty, like a bowl of soup, and will keep one's belly full of provoking thoughts and questions for the next few days, satisfying the appetites of even the most ravenous readers.

Cover

Hardcover: 2.5/5 - Though it captures the dark tone of the book, I'm not really a fan of this cover. It's creepy and relates to the plot, but it's just not for me. The placement of the title looks like it's beheading the bear.

Paperback: 4/5 - I really adore this cover! It maintains mystery by depicting a lurking bear and an ominous forest, though achieves an almost playful tone with the two girls, and even still manages to look sinister.

Which cover do you guys like better?

Rating:

4.5 hoots

Books like this:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Source: Random Buzzers Friday ARC giveaway. - Thanks!

Happy Birthday Harry and JK Rowling!!

2010-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today is a very momentous occasion.

It's July 31st, Harry Potter's 30th birthday!!

I know, he's lot older than he is in the movies. But he was born in 1980, and the movies take place a few years ago :) Happy birthday Harry! Hope you get a better cake than what you got when you were eleven!

It's also a momentous occasion for JK Rowling, who gave Harry the same birthday as her own!

and...

Happy birthday to Daniel Radcliffe, the actor of movie-Harry, who turned 21 on July 23!

Waiting On Wednesday: Desires of the Dead

2010-07-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

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

Title: Desires of the Dead

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Suspense

Release Date: March 15, 2011

Goodreads Summary:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.
When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

Why I Want This:

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that this book will be as good as The Body Finder, if not better. The Body Finder (Click HERE to see a review) was one of those compulsively readable books, those that won't allow you to do anything productive until you reach the end of its tracks. Though it was not one of the best books I've ever read and I personally think that Violet and the plot of The Body Finder had a blander taste, I enjoyed it enough that I am eagerly anticipating the sequel. I do hope that Desires of the Dead will deliver a more shocking plot and provide even more reasons for me to love Jay Heaton :) I long to continue on with the story of Violet and Jay and I am quite curious to see what Violet's morbid "gift" will take me this time.

--> And by the way, though I find the cover very pretty, I still don't know what that thing is. Is it an echo? I had the same question about The Body Finder as well. Help?

What book are you waiting for? Please comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts! :) Have a good Wednesday!

Word of the Day?

2010-07-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

So everyday, I get a text message from dictionary.com introducing me to a new word. I have learned many awesomesauce words thanks to them. Anyway, today at 12:46 pm I snatched my phone off the counter at the sound of vibrations. And there before me was the word...

BEHEMOTH

behemoth \ bih-HEE-muhth \ ,noun;

1. Any creature or thing of monstrous size or power

illustration by Keith Thompson from the book Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Well, as you may now, Behemoth is the sequel to Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (click HERE to see a review). And indeed there are creatures of monstrous size and power in that book. This little coincidence basically made my day as depressing as that is, and I just thought I'd share. Okay bye :)

Themed Teaser Tuesday x2 (The Kitchen Edition)

2010-07-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B at I Should Be Reading. Continuing on with our themed teasers, this week's topic is kitchens!

Okapi is currently reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson...

"I lean close to the wall and peek into the kitchen. Her back is to me. She spends most of her time in the kitchen preparing elaborate dishes." The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson, page 18

Rica Eat World is currently reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson...

"He gave her a wan smile, but said nothing. He motioned her to follow him into the kitchen. He plopped down on a chair by the kitchen table without turning on a light. the only illumination came from the street light beyond the window." - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by STEIG Larsson, page 114

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

2010-07-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Title: The Cardturner

Author: Louis Sachar

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: All Ages

Number of Pages: Hardcover- 336 Pages

The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him for his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner-whatever that means. Alton's uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich. But Alton's parents aren't the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp's good graces. They're competition with his longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him. Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of this own life. Through Alton's wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality-and inspires readers to think and think again. -Summary from inside jacket flap

Armed with successful projects like Holes and Small Steps, Louis Sacher really had to work hard to bring something new to the table and please readers with high expectations for The Cardturner. He exceeded my expectations by a long run. While Louis Sacher had a history of crafting great stories with funny, unique, and mesmerizing voice, I must confess I initially thought The Cardturner would just be a 3.5 Hoot novel. In my mind, the synopsis provided assigned the adjectives "simple" and "most-likely-uninteresting" to the book, and so it didn't particularly spark my interest. Hearing of a boy who just turned cards for his rich, blind, uncle in hopes of receiving a load of money in inheritance, seemed like a book with not much prospects. But seeing that the author was Louis Sachar, I at least owed him so much of giving the book a go. Impressively, this novel had really proved itself as I journeyed amidst its pages and I am ashamed for even questioning it.

You would think that a book about the card game bridge would be incredibly boring and slow. Well, it is quite the contrary so erase the very thought immediately. Sachar truly has a gift for storytelling, for the story is quite captivating for readers even if they don't know the first thing about bridge and he made the game itself intriguing. He expresses the point that it is not just any other ordinary card game, it is one that requires strategic thinking, efficient communication with your partner, and the right mind set. The story is told through the perspective of Alton Richards, and so as Alton learns the many rules of bridge, you as a reader learns them too. Sachar interlaces a story of manipulation, secrets, fulfilling deeds, and friendship with simple, technical bridge descriptions. The bridge jabber is easy enough to understand and Alton even gives you the option to skip the "bridge manual" parts by providing a basic summary box at the end of the chapter for those who couldn't care less about the game. Personally, I find it quite interesting and Sachar words the explanations nicely so that I am able to follow along with ease. Actually after I read the book, I really wanted to put his directions to the test and attempt to play it myself.

Sachar is proclaimed for his wonderful yet wry sense of humor and in The Cardturner, he doesn't disappoint. The chapters are short and keep you turning the pages. And like I said before, Louis Sachar is indeed a fine storyteller. I don't even know how to explain it any way else. All the characters are fairly well developed. The cast is lovable including the good-hearted yet smart-mouthed Alton, his old uncle Trapp, and the shy and sweet Toni Castaneda. Even the more irksome characters, like Alton's mom, were fun to disfavor. Narrated by the main character, Alton Richards, readers are able to see life through his eyes, listen to his every thought, and become attached to him from the very start. Throughout the novel, I "watched" as Alton grew from just that boy who got dumped, to a caring man who carries out the unfulfilled wishes of his uncle. I loved every minute of it and it was a ride I wouldn't soon forget. I recommend it to everyone and once you flip over the last page, I'm sure you'll relish the savoriness of The Cardturner just as I did.

Cover: 3.5/5 - I find the layout and color scheme of the cover quite admireable. The blue and orange contrast and compliment each other nicely and I love the spade for the "a" in The Cardturner. The cover is simple and eye catching, however, I am not sure what the boy on the cover (I'm assuming is main character, Alton) in front of the train station with a book over his face, has to do with anything. I assure you, not once did the book describe anyone lying on their back in a train station. Though I like the picture, I think it could've been a picture that relates more to the book itself.

Rating:

4.5 Hoots

Source: Won it for free! Thank heavens for Random Buzzers :)

WARNING: The paragraph below doesn't really tell you anything about the book or my thoughts on it. Only a little bit towards the end. The following is just an anecdote that I thought I would share. If you don't feel like reading about my life, just skip the paragraph.

The opportunity to read this presented itself in the most unusual of ways. It was just a typical weekday and Okapi and her dad, Wahoon, had just dropped me off at my apt. There was a man lugging a drawer chest through the front door, so I went past him, grateful that I didn't have to go through the hassle of digging through my duffel bag to find my keys to unlock the front door. I strolled up the stairs and stood outside the door of my apt. I noticed two packages from Random Buzzers laying at the foot of the door. I surrendered my hand into my bag, my fingers searching for the key. I came out empty. My mother had not returned home yet from work and she wasn't due until a few hours later. I was going to be locked out for a while. And so, I propped myself against the wall and stripped open the packages. Two books were set before me, including The Cardturner. Basically, this book saved my afternoon by swapping what would have been two hours of pure boredom, with two hours of living in the fascinating world of Alton Richards.

Themed Teaser Tuesday x2 (The Pie Edition)

2010-07-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hello folks! Greetings and welcome to The Smarty Owl!

Since there are two of us, we decided to have our quotes match up to a special theme each week! While reading our books, we both discovered a common theme- Pies! So here is our pie-riffic Teaser Tuesday (hosted by MizB at Should be Reading)

Okapi is currently reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

"I'm already yummy, " muttered Isabel. She handed two pans to Grace, and Grace deftly unfolded the pie pastry - magic - into the bottom of each. She began to show Isabel how to crimp te edges. The entire process seemed very well-worn; I got the idea that Grace could've done the whole thing a lot faster without me and Isabel in her way." - Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, page 263

Rica Eat World is reading Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

"Later in the day he bought three sticks of malt candy and a small piping-hot cherry pie. The hot food felt good after hours of standing in the snow. He licked the sticky syrup from his fingers regretfully, wishing for more, then sat on the edge of a porch and nibbled a piece of candy." - Eragon by Christopher Paolini, page 26

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

2010-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

Title: When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead
Genre: Realistic fiction/science fiction
Target Audience: Middle-grade (but everybody will love this)
Number of Pages: Hardcover - 208 pages

Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.
By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late. - Summary from Goodreads

When You Reach Me is the quintessence of an adorable read.

My reading habits tend to stray away from middle-grade fiction after my elementary school ship sailed, yet I couldn't resist the muted pastel cover, now embellished with a gleaming Newbury Medal, and lauding reviews. After walloping this delicious gem of a novel in one sitting, I felt the sudden urge to read it again. And again. This fairly short book is separated into many chapters, each one charmingly titled "Things that...", the last word connecting to the chapter's content. It tells of comradeship, families, and growing up in the seventies, the plot lured on by the momentum of looming mystery. The author merges science fiction with normal seventies life in a subtle and elegant way, managing to give the book an original spin while still preserving the realistic fiction side.

Miranda narrates her explorations of sixth grade life in the late seventies, which is punctuated by obscure notes from an anonymous sender. The author executes this mystery beautifully. An amazing protagonist and overall good role model, Miranda is endearing, humorous, and flawed. This book swells with realistic tween turmoil, but caring about the drama is inevitable due to Miranda's honest, relatable voice, giving a unique scope to what I normally call cliche plot lines: broken friendships, boy drama, and tense mother-daughter relations. Towards the end, a light film of science fiction layers over the realistic, furnishing the book with a refreshing quirk. This book concludes quickly in a brilliant fashion; everything clicks together perfectly.

The author's lucid, quiet writing gracefully crafts Miranda's story, including small details that together construct a wonderful whole. The reader will learn of the freedom children had, roaming around the city by themselves. Told not necessarily in chronological order, the reader will assemble the pieces of storyline that Stead drops. While not at all sermonizing, this book shows Miranda's consequences for doing acts of right and wrong, and overall displays the astounding action of redemption.

This delightful coming of age novel prompts me to read Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time, Miranda's favorite book that plays a key role in the plot. Though not my absolute favorite, When You Reach Me is one best examples of middle-grade fiction I've read in a long time, and it rightfully deserves its Newbury Award. It's a high priority on my re-read list!

Cover: 4.5/5 - At first glance, the cover seemed like an average city block, and I didn't pay attention to the haphazard placement of objects. The cover obtained more meaning as I read through the book, and I kept flipping back and having epiphanies as I realized what each object stood for.

Rating:

4.5 hoots

Source: Bought from bookstore.

Firelight ARC Contest!

2010-07-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: This contest is now *CLOSED*, but no worries. There will be other opportunities to enter different contests in the future :) So keep checking back!
Love, Rica et Okapi

You guys are the best followers ever. In just a little over two months, we have managed to get over 200 followers! We thank you SO much for all the support! You guys are so important to us that we decided you must be rewarded :) We present you our second giveaway!

An ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan!

This book has NOT hit the shelves yet and is due September 7th

One lucky winner will get the chance to read it before it even comes out!

- So here are the rules... -

You must be 13 or over to enter
Since we're honoring our followers, you must be one!
One winning entrant will get an ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan. Winner will be picked using random.org or hat!

Contest limited to the United States (sorry, but our piggybanks are slightly emaciated.)
Contest ends August 15th at midnight EST.

To enter, please fill out the form below. Be sure to fill in all the required spaces accordingly!

Good Luck!

\\-CONTEST NOW CLOSED-//

Blogger HOP and Follow Friday

2010-07-15T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! Welcome to Book Blogger Hop (hosted at Crazy For Books) and Follow Friday (hosted at Parajunkee's View) here at The Smarty Owl!

Remember, once we reach 200 followers, we're giving away an ARC of Firelight!

Anyhoo, here's a recap of what's been cookin' at The Smarty Owl this past week...

Rica Eat World reviewed the most disturbing book of all time, Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Okapi reviewed once of the most imaginative books of all time, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

We interviewed the fantastic Emma Michaels, author of her debut novel The Thirteenth Chime

We told the world about The Choir Boats, a novel by Daniel A. Rabuzzi that you can read online for free today!

Anyhoo, on to the Blogger Hop question of the week! This week's question is:
RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

If Okapi could read any book right this moment, it would be Leviathan's sequel - Behemoth! She cannot wait to continue to be immersed in Leviathan's riveting world of Darwinists, Clankers, fabricated flying whale ships, and scary metal contraptions.
If Rica Eat World could read any book right this moment, she'd pick the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy - Mockingjay!

Looking for something new to read? - Read a free book!

2010-07-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely readers :) It's summer, and with summer always comes those days where you have nothing much to do, and so you turn to your most loyal of friends- books. Author Daniel A. Rabuzzi has introduced us to his debut fantasy novel, The Choir Boats and we thought we'd share so you could take a look at it too and perhaps add it to your summer reading lists.

Here's a summary from Goodreads:

London, 1812 | Yount, Year of the Owl

What would you give to make good on the sins of your past? For merchant Barnabas McDoon, the answer is: everything.

When emissaries from a world called Yount offer Barnabas a chance to redeem himself, he accepts their price—to voyage to Yount with the key that only he can use to unlock the door to their prison. But bleak forces seek to stop him: Yount's jailer, a once-human wizard who craves his own salvation, kidnaps Barnabas's nephew. A fallen angel—a monstrous owl with eyes of fire—will unleash Hell if Yount is freed. And, meanwhile, Barnabas's niece, Sally, and a mysterious pauper named Maggie seek with dream-songs to wake the sleeping goddess who may be the only hope for Yount and Earth alike.

Interested?

And we just adore the cover :)

Here's the deal- during the month of July, Wowio.com is giving out the e-book version of The Choir Boats for free for download! So anyone could read it! Just make sure your device is PDF compatible and you and read it anywhere, just like a real book. You can download it HERE and no worries, it's safe; no viruses attached or anything. We both downloaded it ourselves. It is only available for free through the month of July, so hurry!

The book looks quite promising and we are currently reading the e-book. Keep checking back for a review on it! And if you've read it already, or when you finish, post your comments here! We'd love to know what you think :) Enjoy!

Interview with Emma Michaels! (Author of The Thirteenth Chime)

2010-07-14T01:20:00.000-07:00

Once again, today is a very momentous occasion:

The Smarty Owl is honored to host its very first author interview with Emma Michaels, author of her debut novel The Thirteenth Chime. This book sounds absolutely fantastic, with it's fascinating premise and unusual, gorgeous cover art! Here, we're asking her thirteen questions about her book and being an author!

Description (from Goodreads):

No one knew of its existence until it was removed from the attic upstairs.
In a beautiful house that overlooks the sea, an antique clock has the power to change the course of their lives.
The power the clock resonates will not only force Destiny and ex-boyfriend David on a journey into the depths of one man's mind long dead, but into the mind of a man filled with hatred and bent on revenge.
With the only clues to the nature of the clock having disappeared into the sea, Destiny and David must retrace the steps the man had taken into the darkness, before they fall prey to the trap he had set in motion over half a century ago.

Hatred never dies.

Interview with Emma Michaels:

1. If you were to roam the world as an animal, what species would you be?

A) An owl. I love owls and they just have so many special qualities about them. Either that or if no one hunted wolves then a wolf but other wise I would be too scared to be one.

2. What advice would you give to your ten-year-old self?

A) I would have told myself to remember that anything is possible and that the sky is the limit. To never stop dreaming and to never give up, because as long as you are willing to see it, the world is filled with endless wonder and possibilities. I was going through a hard time and I really think that hearing that would have helped bt I am still happy for the past I have because it was the road that brought me here.

3. If you were a fictitious character from a book, who would you be?

A) Zedd from Terry Goodkind's "The Sword of Truth" series... well, If I were a man... and old. *laughs* He is always thinking with his stomach and acting straneg but his heart is so good in so many ways and he has his own unique way of loving those around him.

4. Have dreams ever influenced your book?

A) Yes they have. In fact, Many ideas I have come from my dreams, or I get inspiration from the world around me and I work it out in my dreams.

5. If you had to be locked inside a book for five years, which book would it be?

A) A nice, happy children's story. A violence free one. I would choose anything by Tamora Pierce but I would probably die before my five years were up.

6. Favorite Adjective? _________ Favorite Verb? __________

A) Adjective - old-fashioned (I just love teasing my fiance that he can be this way) and Verb - 'to eat' (because I just love to eat chocolate and I really enjoy it when my fiance bakes something with chocolate so that I get to get it) Then again, I am sure that my choices for both would change with my mood since those are the two things I am thinking. Mainly, the food part. *laughs*

7. If your book were a type of food, what would it be?

A) Dark Chocolate. The only downside is I might be tempted to eat it!

8. If your book were made into a musical, what songs would it feature?

A) Misery by Maroon 5. Of course, that isn't fair to Destiny, but still... :) I am sure if you read it you will understand *winks, hint, read read*

9. Fill in the blank! It took me _______ months to write The Thirteenth Chime.

A) The initial research took me almost two years of work. However, the actual writing process only took me one month to write the story in it's original draft form.

10. How would you describe your writing style?

A) In the reviews and the feedback I have gotten from bloggers and reviewers alike, we can't think of anyone with a similar writing style. I guess this is just one the fans will have to decide!

11. Your favorite place to write is _________.

A) My desk - because it is mine and I have it set up as my 'special place'. It is important to have a personal space set aside to write, especially if you are having to write emotionally charged scenes. That way you always have your own little corner of the world where you can feel free to let the emotions fill you and be translated into words.

12. Which of your characters do you relate to the most?

A) Probably Stephanie - she is the link that helps to heal the rift between David and Destiny and in many ways, she is the spirit to his head and her heart.

13. What is something most people don't know about you?

A) I absolutely adore Chinese food. My favorite place to go with my fiance is to go to a Chinese buffet close to us with AMAZING Hot and Sour soup.

Thank you so much for your time and to everyone reading! Your support means so much to me and I hope you all will love The Thirteenth Chime!!!

Thank you so much for your time! It was an honor hosting you on The Smarty Owl. Readers, look out for The Thirteenth Chime in stores on Friday, August 13th! We certainly can't wait!

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

2010-07-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Title: Leviathan

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Steampunk

Target Audience: All ages, all genders

Number of Pages: Hardcover US edition – 434 pages (with illustrations!)

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunitions. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksander Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way... taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever. - Summary from inside flap of book

Before Leviathan, steampunk was obscure to me, nothing more than an undefined sub-genre lurking in the background. Now, this fantastical novel, featuring two heroic protagonists and a living whale airship, has awakened me to the wonders of steampunk fiction, a science fiction/speculative book set in the past, usually in the nineteenth century. Scott Westerfeld exceeded all my expectations by crafting a world interlaced with history and futuristic science, teaching me about the confusions of World War I while sparking ideas about the possibilities of creating artificial life. The alternate history timeline, brimming advances in evolutionary science, one of my favorite things in the world, will rouse the imaginations of readers of all ages.

My most beloved books drip with setting, the plot taking place in vivid or unusual locations. The majority of Leviathan's plot unfolds in a highly unique setting, aboard the Darwinists' massive, hydrogen fueled whale airship, from which the book gets its namesake. It's obvious from the meticulous, facinating descriptions of the airship that Scott Westerfeld knows and loves what he's writing about. The tidbits of military terminology will engross both adults and children alike. While not aboard the Leviathan whale airship, the settings are still rich and stunning; journeying through the frigid, desolate Alps, or soaring through the vast skies of early nineteenth century London. The intricate illustrations, though sometimes slightly childish, assist my imagination in picturing the impossible. Without them, it would be hard for me to visualize correctly a giant soaring, breathing whale airship, complete with balconies and verandas. I might struggle to picture the giant walkers that Alek and his loyal crew men journeyed in. With at least one per chapter, the illustrations appear with frequency and give me flashes of nostalgia, as they remind me of those classic old adventure books that I used to read in my younger days.

Told through the alternating two viewpoints of Deryn and Alek, this book's plot drives on with a fast pace, since action is constantly happening to at least one of the narrators. When they meet in the middle of the book, the plot starts to flow even more smoothly, the two perspectives melding into an even more interesting tale. Imagination, not emotion, has always been Scott Westerfeld's aptitude, so I wasn't surprised to find that the character's emotions do not run very deep. However, the characters are still complex. Both the protagonists have their flaws, though end up being likable. Known to the crew as Dylan, Deryn Sharp, a daring airman with an even more daring secret, is cocky and very real. Aleksander Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire, can be slightly illogical and arrogant at times, exposing himself and his crew of men to danger on numerous occasions, though eventually develops into a likable person. The two build an endearing relationship, setting aside their differences to become trusting friends. Their endless bickering is entertaining, reminding me of Ron and Hermione's relationship in Harry Potter.

Like every good book, readers can learn important things from Leviathan. The stark contrast between the Austro-Hungarian Clankers, who build huge, steam-powered machines for weaponry, and the British Darwinists, who evolve animals for battle purposes, shows a perfect example of two very different cultures, each who finds the other to be very strange. At first, Alek, heir to a Clanker driven empire, recoils at the sight of living Darwinist beasties, finding them to be very disgusting and scary. When Deryn takes him into the Leviathan airship for the first time, Alek exclaims, “This is... disgusting! We're inside an animal!” Deryn laughs and retorts, “Aye, but the skins of your zeppelins are made of cattle gut. That's like being inside an animal, isn't it? And so's wearing a leather jacket!...[B]eing inside a dead animal is much more awful, if you think about it. You Clankers really are an odd bunch.” On the other hand, Deryn, a Darwinist, shudders at the thought of manmade, heartless Clanker machines. However, they both come to realize that each group has a lot to learn the other's fortes. In order to achieve their goal, Deryn and Alek must cooperate and use a combination of Darwinist and Clanker technology. This shows that combining the strengths of different cultural groups is a vital idea for a successful modern world, where diversity has never been more important than before.

Overall, Leviathan is an astoundingly hearty and refreshing read that will fuel the daydreams of readers of all ages. With the crisp writing, engaging plot, likable characters, and pure imagination, readers will immerse themselves in this book. It ends satisfyingly, while maintaining enough mystery so that readers will be excited for the sequel Behemoth, releasing in October, 2010. It's one of the books I'm the most excited for this year; I can't wait to dive back into Deryn and Alek's world of Clanker contraptions and Darwinist beasts. Leviathan definitely makes me want to read more steampunk novels!

Trailer (featuring the book's illustrations):

Cover: 4/5 - This cover is intense man. The mechanical gears truly capture the essence of steampunk and are very eye catching. However, it's not as pleasing to the eye as some book covers. I wish a few Darwinist beasties were on it, such as the Leviathan whale itself.

Rating:

5 hoots!

Source: Local library

Question: Are there any other good steampunk novels out there? Please share in the comments! :)

Teaser Tuesday x2

2010-07-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B at I Should Be Reading.

Once we hit 200 followers, we're giving away an ARC of Firelight, so please spread the word!

And now, presenting our teasers...

Okapi is currently reading Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce!

"When we were little, Scarlett and I were utterly convinced that we'd originally been one person in our mother's belly; we believed that somehow, half of us wanted to be born, and half wanted to stay. So our heart had to be torn in two so that Scarlett could be born first, and then I finally braved the outside world a few years later." - Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, page 46

Rica Eat World is currently reading The Cardturner by Louis Sacher!

"Hah!" he scoffed, but I noticed a hint of a smile. "You may find this hard to believe, Alton," he said, "but bridge is tiring. I get worn out after just one session. That probably sounds strange to you. From your point of view, all I do is sit on my keester for three hours."

"No, I know," I said. "It's like I told my friend Cliff. Bridge is more like a sport than a game. A mental sport."

-The Cardturner by Louis Sacher, page 52

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

2010-07-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

Title: Living Dead Girl

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Older Teens-Adults. NOT recommended for the younger crowd.

Number of Pages: Hardcover- 170 pages

"Once upon a time I was a little girl who disappeared.

Once upon a time my name was not Alice.

Once upon a time I didn't know how lucky I was."

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over. Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her. This is lice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

- Summary from Goodreads

It was Alice's story. It was one I have never heard. And yes, it is one that I will never ever forget...Hauntingly captivating, this book continuously left me shivering, even when beams of light slipped through the blinds masking my window. I only read this book during the daytime.

Elizabeth Scott writes in the perspective of “Alice”, an emaciated 15-year-old whose life took an unthinkable turn for the worse at age ten. Her monstrous captor, a middle-aged man by the name of Ray, forcibly changes her, physically and emotionally, to meet his needs. Everyday since the day she was abducted, Alice lives in worry that she would have to “make up” for her mistakes to Ray. Everyday, Alice gets a little taller and Ray punishes her for growing up and not being his little girl anymore. Everyday, she is starved to keep her weight under a hundred pounds; just the way Ray likes it. Worst of all, suicide is not an option, for it would result in the murder of her parents. Alice is bound to a life of abuse and she can do nothing about it. She is a living dead girl.

As I read on, hatred for Ray bubbles inside me, until I feel like tearing up the pages to bits, hoping that would somehow prevent him from hurting Alice even more than he already has. I believe what makes the book so chilling, is that fact that there are twisted people like Ray out there in the real world, and that the events taken place in the book are entirely possible. It pains me to think that many girls have probably suffered the same torment as Alice has.

This book was a new experience to me. At many points, I had to just slap the book shut, close my eyes, regain myself, then finally open the book again and continue reading. I have the tendency to always picture the scenes as I read them, and because of that, I had to just hide the text under the book cover for a moment and try to put the images aside. It felt too disturbing to continue, but then I was so engrossed in Alice’s character, that I just had to read on to learn about her fate and make sure she was okay.

Apart from the intriguing characters and scenarios, what really moved the plot forward was her writing. Dark and humorless, her writing is what made this book so gripping. Her chapters are short. In fact, the whole book is pretty short. But that makes it all the more powerful. Her words are not sugarcoated, and so fewer words make a bigger impact. Adding unnecessary words would strip away the haunting feel of the book. Elizabeth’s writing is very descriptive (sometimes too descriptive) forcing readers to paint pictures in their minds and in this case, I’m not sure if that is a good thing.

It’s hard for me to say whether I really enjoyed this novel or not. While the writing is superb and compelling, the disturbance is quite overwhelming. This is not a book that I would re-read over and over, but that does not change the fact that it is good. It contains all the aspects of a great novel: elegantly crafted characters, intriguing plot, and powerful voice. And yet I’m not sure if I really enjoyed the experience. I recommend this book, for it was and unique ride. I give this a rating of 3.5 hoots, but this is one of those books that you have to judge for yourself.

Cover: 4/5 – The innocent orange bow gives the book a sweet feel, but against the hard black back, it looks as though there is something sinister lurking behind the seemingly ordinary front. The cover is artsy and simple, but looking deeper, it gives the reader a little knowledge on what to expect. Just judging the cover, it would spark an interest in me at the bookstore.

Rating:

3.5 Hoots

Source: My lovely local library that I rely on oh-so-much.

50 Followers/Blogoversary/Rica's Birthday Bonanza Giveaway WINNERS WINNERS WINNERS WINNERS!!

2010-07-10T19:17:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! Thank you so much for entering our contest! We really appreciate all our followers; without your support, we wouldn't be where we are now. It's been two months since we started blogging, and so far it's been a blast!

June 7th 2010 was a very momentous occasion. Not only did we reach 50 Followers that day, it was also the day of our one month blogoversary and Rica Eat World's birthday! Thus, we HAD to celebrate and what better way to celebrate than with a book giveaway bonanza! And now, a month later, it is time to select our winners...

And the winners are...

Christa

and

Calligg

CONGRATULATIONS! We sent both of you emails! We'll give you 48 hours to respond with the book you want from the list and your mailing addresses. If you don't respond, we're picking a new winner...so please respond! If you didn't win, don't worry!

More contest opportunities lurk on the horizon. :)

(we promise)

Book Blogger HOP and Follow Me Friday (and why we love JK Rowling)

2010-07-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

it's Friday again...

Welcome to The Smarty Owl!

Be sure to enter our YA giveaway HERE

It is the last day to enter so hurry up and enter! Contest closes tonight at 11:59 pm EST

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books, and if you'd like to add your own HOP post to the Mr. Linky @ Crazy for Books, click HERE!

Just like last week, Crazy for Books has put another question up for us bloggers to answer. This weeks question is:

Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

Both Rica and I are overly obsessed with J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and one of the only people that I would do almost anything to merely say hello to. She created the most beautifully crafted realm of magic, source of comfort, outlet of entertainment ...all from her own head. Ever since first grade, the HP books have been an exciting refuge from my boring real life. Ms. Rowling wrote about a wonderful, elaborate wizarding world. I almost cried after my eleventh birthday passed, when I received no letter from Hogwarts, and even though I knew that fantasy was impossible, the empty letterbox was a cruel confirmation: Never would I experience the magic that Harry and his friends experienced. Now, however, I realize that statement is not at all true. I've experienced the magic alright, during the hours I've spent rereading the books, right along side Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and during the many fantasies about Hogwarts that continue to plague me at night. J.K. Rowling is beyond a fantastic author; she is a dream maker, for constructing a place children and adults alike can dream about, for creating an imaginary place so real to the point where it's not imaginary anymore.

Follow Me Friday

Now, on to Follow Me Friday hosted at Parajunkee's!
This is our first time doing this...this meme is newly discovered to us!

Have a happy Friday and a swell Saturday and a super Sunday!

Waiting On Wednesday: The Scorch Trials

2010-07-07T01:00:00.001-07:00

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

Title: The Scorch Trials

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: Random House

Genre: YA Dystopian

Release Date: October 12, 2010

Why I Want This:

Stunningly, I could not find anything remotely close to a summary on this book ANYWHERE, which makes me just want to read this even more. While I am a bit frustrated from searching everywhere to learn more about this novel and coming out empty, the mystery is quite alluring. Anyway, after reading The Maze Runner (click HERE for a review on it) and after processing the shocking and unpredictable ending Dashner fed us, I'm sure any other Maze Runner fan out there would agree with me when I say I am DYING to read The Scorch Trials. The Maze Runner was an exhilarating experience with fast-paced action and suspenseful themes and because of that, I am extremely eager to read about the fates of our beloved heroes, Thomas, Theresa, Newt, Mino and the rest. According to The Gladers, readers are expected to see a lot more about the real world outside of the maze. The Scorch Trials picks up 4 hours after The Maze Runnerended, so I bet the intense sequences will begin right as we read the first page. Also, the cover looks quite promising.

I hate it when upon reading a great book, you are forced to wait long, agonizing months for the sequel. But once you finally get that book in your hands and flip open the cover, that rush of excitement that courses through you makes it worth the wait. Let's hope The Scorch Trials is worth the wait too.

Oh and also, check out this amazing trailer for The Maze Runner:

Teaser Tuesday x2

2010-07-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading.

And now, presenting our teasers...

Okapi is currently reading Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld...and so far, it's amazing with accompanying illustrations by the lovely Keith Thomas.

"The Leviathan's body was made from the life threads of a whale, but a hundred other species were tangled into its design, countless creatures fitting together like the gears of a stopwatch. Flocks of fabricated birds swarmed around it - scouts, fighters, and preadators to gather food. According to her aerology manual, the big hydrogen breathers were modeled on the tiny South American islands where Darwin had made his famous discoveries. The Leviathan wasn't one beastie, but a vast web of life in ever shifting balance." Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, page 71

Rica is currently wading the waters of The Forest of Hands by Carrie Ryan, though she hasn't yet begun to swim amidst its depths.

"At night she prays to God that he has found some sort of enclave similar to our village. That somewhere in teh dense Forest he has found safty. But no one else has any hope. The Sisters tell us that ours is the only village left in the world." The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, page 2

11.19.2010

2010-07-04T18:28:00.000-07:00

who's excited?

In Our Mailbox!

2010-07-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July Everyone! To celebrate, we're doing a special Independence Day IMM. In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren! The backings used were from Leelou Blogs- Thanks! They are lovely! :)

Thanks to Melanie's Musings for my copy of Beastly and the Forgive My Fins bookmark!!

Have a great 4th and enjoy the summer heat!

Book Blogger HOP!

2010-07-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Smarty Owl!

Remember to enter our YA Giveaway HERE.

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books, and if you'd like to sign your own book blog up, click HERE!

According to Crazy for Books, the Book Blogger HOP is going to have a new crazy twist to it each week. This week, we were asked to give readers our names and why we started blogging:

My name is Rica. Sonia and I started blogging because well, we just felt like it. We are people who love to read, write, and enrich ourselves and prior to the creation of the blog, we were not very productive. We thought that practicing our writing with reviews and reading more is certainly a better way to use our time as opposed to just sitting around and watching Gossip Girl all day :) Anyway, this all started one day when we were just sitting at our houses, bored as usual. We were chatting on Skype then all of a sudden, she goes, "Hey I have a great idea!"... and The Smarty Owl has progressed a lot since then. We really enjoy sharing our thoughts with you and we hope you enjoy them too!

In Our Mailbox!

2010-06-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hello! It's Sunday again and we all know what that means: IMM started by The Story Siren! Unfortunately, I was unable to snag any new books this week :( But Okapi on the other hand was able to obtain some good picks:

Okapi's Mailbox-

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Numbers by Rachel Ward

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

The Long Wait for Tomorow by Joaquin Dorfman

What did you get this week?

Book Blogger HOP!

2010-06-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Smarty Owl!

Remember to enter our YA Giveaway HERE.

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books, and if you'd like to sign your own book blog up, click HERE!