BOOKTUBE-A-THON 2014 REFLECTION

I had fun participating in this year's BookTube-A-Thon. It was my first year and I look forward to many more experiences. In the this video I share my thoughts on it and explain why I didn't read to my heart's content.

DELIRIUM PILOT REVIEW

I have received so many questions about my thoughts on the pilot, so I decided to make a video and we can discuss!

BOOK HAUL #1 MAY/JUNE

Top 10 Most Influential Books Tag

ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell

I really enjoyed this book. It was a realistic love story between high schoolers in the 80s, and Rainbow Rowell was not afraid to break bad news and keep the ending predictable or fair to the reader, in a good way. She thought of the story and the characters in it before she thought, "Will the readers be pleased with this?" I respect the ending enough to say this was an amazing YA contemporary.

I loved seeing Eleanor and Park's relationship grow as they slowly got to know each other. The music and book exchange was beautiful, along with the character development for a few of the characters; it was all very touching.

What struck me was the ending, which can lead to a sequel, because of it's open ending. Although, I don't always like when the reader gets to decide the end, this one wasn't too bad. I was interested in this story before I got to the second chapter and until the end. This is a book I won't forget. [x]

THE UNBECOMING of MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

I knew this book was going to be really good, but I ended up enjoying it even more than I thought I would. Within the first few chapters I enjoyed the characters and felt sympathy for Mara. I also loved that this book is told from Mara's POV because she is going through PTSD and that is mixed with meeting new friends at a new school. She is being challenged throughout the first book in the series while she is trying to get better -- as normal as she can in order to live her life like other teenagers. Michelle Hodkin did a wonderful job writing as Mara. There were times when Mara lost track of time or thought something was a dream; I, as a reader, was held in suspense because if Mara didn't know, neither did I. 
I also really loved Noah Shaw and the relationship he has with Mara. I won't go far into that because I don't want to spoil anything, but I love them together. There are many more likable characters in this book; I could go on, but to put it simply, her friendships with her siblings and people she meets at school were seen as an important role in Mara's life as she goes through some major internal obstacles with PTSD and dealing with death. [x]

DOLLHOUSE by Anya Allyn + 4 of My Favorite Sci-Fi Reads

REVIEW:

Dollhouse is a new YA novel full of mystery and thrills, with drama on the side, by Anya Allyn. I had a blast reading this book because I haven’t read a scary book in a while and this is a great read for summer, especially if you want something to keep you on the edge of your seat. I could picture this as a scary movie, or since it will be a series, maybe a TV show? I will most definitely have to check out the next books whenever they are released.

Q: Tell us about four of your favorite Dark Romances or Sci-Fi (books, movies, TV, etc) and why they are your favorite.

1. Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver - This is the first book in a trilogy about the U.S. protecting their country from the disease of love, teaching children that the cure for love is the right way to live. Lena Haloway is burdened with the choice: Running away from the cure or taking it. I love this book because I love my dystopian stories every once in a while. Lauren Oliver’s writing is amazing and there are some of my favorite quotes in this series.

2. The Giver by Lois Lowry- In a perfect world, children are raised to take on a role in their controlled community. Jonas, 12, is given the assignment to learn the truth from The Giver himself. This story will always be with me. It’s the first dystopian book I have read and one of the first school assignment books I enjoyed reading.

3. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare - Tessa Gray is introduced to the Shadow world while she is trying to find her brother. She befriends Shadowhunters at the London Institute in 1878, and they are the only ones who can stop the Pandemonium Club from taking over the British Empire. I absolutely love this trilogy! The characters are my favorites, there’s humor, drama, and creepiness. I think that’s everything I need to know if I’ll love a book. 

4. The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler - This book takes place in the 90s, focusing on two teens, Emma and Josh. Emma gets a new computer and Windows 95 from her parents. She soon discovers Facebookon her computer and plenty of drama ensues when Emma and Josh realize they are signed into their own profiles … in the ever-changing future. This was a fun read, especially since I got a kick out of how they used AOL and watched new episodes of Seinfeld. The story is told by two different POVs, which I always think is interesting, especially since I got to hear Jay Asher and Lauren Oliver discuss writing in different POVs, as teenagers.