Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits
(School Spirits #1)
by Rachel Hawkins
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Publication Date: May 14th 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 297
ISBN: 9781423148494
Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal
Source: Library

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Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance! (Goodreads)

School Spirits is a spin-off novel from Rachel Hawkins’ Hex Hall series. I adored the Hex Hall series, and I was super excited to finally start School Spirits. I’ve had the book on my to-read list for quite some time, but I never had a chance to check it out. Then I discovered that my library had the audiobook for it, and I decided to give it a listen. I enjoyed it so much!

The characters in the story are great.  Izzy is related to Sophie from the Hex Hall series, and she was such a great character. She was determined and headstrong, and also very mature for her age. It was fun seeing her first real experience at high school, after being homeschooled all her life. Seeing the world that we saw in Hex Hall through Izzy’s eyes was definitely interesting, and I enjoyed the different point of view.

The secondary characters are awesome as well. I really love Izzy’s mom, and also the new friends that she meets at her new school. They were all very interesting. But the most interesting is Torin, the warlock who was stuck in the mirror. I absolutely fascinated with Torin, and I’m dying to know more of his story!

There was not as much magic and monsters in this book as there were in the Hex Hall series, but there was enough to keep me entertained. They storyline mainly revolved around one particular witch, which was awesome, as they are some of my most favorite paranormals to read about.

Overall; I really enjoyed this spinoff novel! I am super curious to see if there’s going to be a sequel, as the end of the book was left to where there definitely could be one. I’d love to read it if there is!

Review & Blog Tour: The Truth Commission by Susan Juby

The Truth Commission
by Susan Juby
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Publication Date: April 14th 2015
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780451468772
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Publisher

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Open secrets are the heart of gossip -- the obvious things that no one is brave or tactless enough to ask. Except for Normandy Pale and her friends. They are juniors at a high school for artistsl, and have no fear. They are the Truth Commission. Then, one of their truth targets says to Normandy: “If you want to know about the truth, you might want to look a little closer to home.”  This dryly funny, knife-sharp novel, written as "narrative nonfiction" by Normandy herself, features footnotes, illustrations and a combination mystery/love story that will capture readers from the frst page. (Goodreads)

When The Truth Commission first crossed my path, I was definitely intrigued. The synopsis for the book sounded really refreshing and unique, and I was really curious to check the book out.

The story is about a girl named Normandy, and her two best friends Dusk and Neil. Together, these three friends form a group called The Truth Commission. Why? Because they believe it is their destiny to bring some much-needed truth into a world that is full of lies. But does the truth come at a price??

The main characters in the novel were all very interesting and likable. Normandy was definitely the most relatable character in the story for me. While she wanted to go along with her friends to find out the truth, it didn’t always make her feel great to actually know the truth. Dusk and Neil were the exact opposite; they didn’t mind knowing the truth at all. I loved how they were all such really great friends; you could tell that they really cared about each other. There are some other really cool secondary characters in the book as well that I enjoyed reading about.

The writing style for the book was very intriguing. I can’t say that I’ve read any other books that have been written as narrative nonfiction, so that was definitely different for me. But it didn’t take me long to catch on to the writing style, and I really felt like so much more information was included this way. I ended up reading the story just like I would any other novel.

My only complaint about the book is about Normandy’s family. I so wish she had a better home life, but it almost seemed as though her parents didn’t really care about her and were not supportive of her at times, and would let the sister get away with whatever she wanted, just for the sake of her artistic talents. I especially disliked her sister; I absolutely could not stand her at all. This family just didn’t seem right to me.

Overall; I found The Truth Commission to be an interesting read. I enjoyed the writing style for the book, and the main characters were a lot of fun. While I did have a few issues with the book, I still found it to be an entertaining read.

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Interview with Susan Juby:

Q. What inspired you to write The Truth Commission? How did you decide to write the book as narrative nonfiction?

A. I teach a course in narrative nonfiction and I’ve written a memoir. I thought it would be fun to create a novel written as though it was a piece of narrative nonfiction. In a sense, all first person narratives pretend they are creative nonfiction! The other thing that happened is that I was working on an adult crime novel and when I was about 200 pages into it I realized that I was using the story of someone close to me. I hadn’t even considered where the story was coming from. It was totally inappropriate and so I wondered what it would be like to live in the same family as someone who used all your stories no matter how you felt about it.

Q. Have you written other books in this style, or do you plan to in the future?

A.  I’ve written a memoir, which is a type of narrative nonfiction. I don’t think I’ll write any more novels structured this way, much as I loved the experience of writing this one.

Q. Will there be a sequel or companion novel for The Truth Commission?

A.  Right now I’m at work on a novel set at, or at least near, Green Pastures Academy of Art and Applied Design. An art school like that would be fertile ground for many types of stories!

Q. Was there any particular inspiration for your main character, Normandy?

A. No one person inspired Normandy. Like all of my characters she has to deal with things I have trouble with. I don’t like conflict or confrontation and neither does she. But I make her face the truths she’s been avoiding far more quickly than I’ve had to do. I think we all have things in our lives, qualities, people, situations, that don’t serve us. It’s hard to admit that!

Q. Are there any similarities between you and Normandy?

A. She loves odd people and strange hobbies. So do I. That said, I wish I was as gifted as Normandy in the needle arts!

Q. What influenced you to become a writer?

A. I love books. Always have. I wrote my first novel when I was in second grade. It’s as simple as that.

Q. What is the most challenging part of writing?

A. Not giving up when I get stuck. There are lots of ways to get stuck. Sometimes I don’t know what’s going to happen next, or my characters get boring, or my arm hurts or I worry that a story is not good. Novelists have to keep writing until things improve. It can be hard but experience helps.

Q. Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to?

A. Look for a new novel in fall 2016!

Q. What book(s) are you currently reading??

A. I’m reading a book called The Culture of Fashion by Christopher Breward. It’s for research.

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About The Author:

Susan Juby is the bestselling author of the internationally popular Alice MacLeod books, which were made into a television series, and the critically acclaimed novels Getting the Girl and Another Kind of Cowboy. Her work has won the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, been selected as a Children’s Book Sense Pick, a Kirkus Editor’s Choice, and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and been shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, an Edgar Award, an Arthur Ellis Award, and the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award. Susan lives in Nanaimo, B.C., Canada, the setting for many of her books—including this one. Visit her online at www.susanjuby.com, follow her on Twitter @thejuby, or check out her hilarious video series, “The Writer’s Life,” on YouTube.

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PRAISE FOR THE TRUTH COMMISSION:

«”Juby’s bright dialogue and vivid, appealing characters draw readers along.”–The Horn Book, starred review

« "A surprising, witty, and compulsive read.” – SLJ, starred review

« “This is a sharp-edged portrait…with some thought-provoking ideas about what is real.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review


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Review: All The Rage by Courtney Summers

All The Rage
by Courtney Summers
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Publication Date: April 14th 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 321
ISBN: 9781250021915
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Source: Netgalley

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The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive? (Goodreads)

I was really looking forward to reading All The Rage by Courtney Summers. I read This Is Not A Test last year, and really enjoyed how unique the storyline was. I couldn’t wait to see what Summers’ had come up with in her newest book.

To be honest, All the Rage was a really hard book to read. The storyline for the book involves rape and abuse, and it completely blew me away. Actually, it made me angry. SO SUPER ANGRY. I was so angry for everything that this poor girl went through, not only at the hands of her rapist, but also by all those around her who made her life completely miserable. The world in which she lived was cruel, probably one of the cruelest stories that I’ve read about so far. And it was so very realistic as well; it makes me sick to know that stuff that happened in the book happens in real life all the time, and nothing is ever done about it. That makes me so incredibly angry, and so very sad.

I felt so insanely sad for Romy throughout the whole book, but I do have to admit, she handled everything that she went through so much better than I imagine most people would have. She was so strong and determined just to do what she had to do to get by. I kept waiting and waiting for her to talk to someone about what she was going through, her mom, someone, anyone. It’s so not healthy to hold things inside. While she had absolutely no friends or teachers to support her at school, she did have people that cared about her at home and at her work, and I was wishing that she would confide in someone. But she was surviving the best she could, and you can’t blame her for that.

I am really happy to say that Romy’s mom was a great mother. While her father wasn’t exactly in the picture, her mother was there, and she was very well written. As a mom to two teenage girls, this is something I always appreciate when I read books. I do, however, wish that the mom would have pushed a little more with Romy, to get her to talk, to find out exactly what was going on at the school. Sometimes giving space is a good thing, and sometimes it can cause you to completely miss what’s going on in life.

There are SO many people in this book that I wanted to rage at. I have read books where people were against the main character, but never a book like this. Never one where it seemed that almost everyone was against one person. They didn’t care, and you could read it plain as day.

The storyline for the book deals with so many sensitive topics, and it does it in a way that will make you hurt. But I am SO glad to see books like this coming out. The story was so realistic, and again, it makes me so sad to know that something like really happens.

Overall; while All The Rage was a really hard book to read, I’m glad I read it. It’s definitely an eye opener, and it will make people stop and think. I really hope that the young adults that read this book will take away a strong message; that they are not alone, that there are people out there to help, that they don’t have to suffer in silence. Read this book, and take away from it a message of hope.

Waiting on Wednesday #195 - Soundless by Richelle Mead

Soundless
by Richelle Mead
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Publication Date: November 10th 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 9781595147639



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From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever... (Goodreads)

  I'll admit,
I'm pretty freaking intrigued about this book!!
It's Richelle Mead, y'all... And Chinese folklore..
This is definitely going to be awesome.
I'm so super excited to check it out!!

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

Review: Sisters of Blood and Spirit by Kady Cross

Sisters of Blood and Spirit
by Kady Cross
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Publication Date: March 31st 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780373211487
Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal | Ghosts
Source: Netgalley

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Wren Noble is dead—she was born that way. Vibrant, unlike other dead things, she craves those rare moments when her twin sister allows her to step inside her body and experience the world of the living.

Lark Noble is alive but often feels she belongs in the muted Shadow Lands—the realm of the dead. Known as the crazy girl who talks to her dead sister, she doesn't exactly fit in with the living, though a recent suicide attempt and time in a psych ward have proved to her she's not ready to join her sister in the afterlife.

Now the guy who saved Lark's life needs her to repay the favor. He and his friends have been marked for death by the malevolent spirit of a vicious and long-dead serial killer, and the twins—who should know better than to mess with the dead—may be their only hope of staying alive. (Goodreads)

I absolutely could not wait to get my hands on Sisters of Blood and Spirit. I absolutely loved Kady Cross ever since I read the Steampunk Chronicles series, so I was curious to see what she would come up with in this ghost story.  I definitely was not disappointed.

Lark Noble is the girl that everyone thinks is crazy. Why? Because she can talk to the dead, mostly with her sister Wren, who was stillborn at birth, but who still hangs around to experience as much of the living world at Lark’s side as she possibly can. Lark tries to keep her head down and keep to herself so that she gives people no reason to think she is crazy. But all that changes when a group of kids need her help, especially when they convince her that she’s the only one that can help them.

Lark was a really awesome main character, but she’s one that grows on you over time. She’s been through so much in her short lifetime, and has learned the hard way how to be strong. I love how much she loves her sister, and wants to do the right thing by helping her new friends, even when she’s terrified of what could happen. She’s so determined, and I love that about her.

Wren was an awesome sister to Lark, and her being a ghost just makes her even more awesome. I love that even though she’s a ghost, she’s still just a part of the gang. The other kids go out of their way to include her, even though they can’t all see her. There are a lot of secondary characters in the book that you will really love, as well as a few you’re not going to love so much. But they are all well written.

There is a bit of romance in the book as well, and it was sweet and it definitely doesn’t overpower the book at all. I’m super curious to see where it’s going to go in the next book, and which characters are going to get together with whom.

I’ve recently become a pretty big fan of ghost stories, and I love the ones that keep me on my toes. That is exactly what happened with this book. Some parts were intense, and really kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen. There were also a few cringe-worthy moments in the book as well. I loved it. The end of the book came together very nicely, and left with me enough questions that I’m anxious to get my hands on the next book to get answers. I can’t wait to get the next book to see what comes next for Lark and her gang.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading this book. I love a good ghost story, and that’s definitely what I got with Sisters of Blood and Spirit. I am really excited for the next book in the series, as I have SO many questions that I need answers to, and I’m curious to see where the romance goes in the book. Check it out!

Review: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things
by Ann Aguirre
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Publication Date: April 7th 2015
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 328
ISBN: 9781250047502
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Source: ARC

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Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again… (Goodreads)

I was definitely intrigued when I received a copy of The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre. I had read Aguirre’s Mortal Danger last year, which was a really interesting read, so I was pretty excited to see what she could do with a contemporary novel. Contemporaries are my favorite at the moment, and it’s always exciting to see what an author is going to come up with, and I was definitely not disappointed by the book. I really wish I would have picked it up sooner!

Sage Czinski is the Queen of Bright and Shiny Things. Every day she leaves a kind word on a post it note on the locker of someone who needs a little morale boost. Why, you ask? Because if she’s nice to people, but doesn’t get too close, then no one will find out about her past. The past that was a horrible experience and still gives her nightmares. And Sage has built a new life and reputation by doing this, even though no one really understands, that is until Shane Cavendish walks into her life and turns everything upside down.

One of the things I love most when reading a book is when I find myself really connecting with the main character. I found Sage to be very relatable. I love that she was so eco-conscious, and wanted to do good things for the earth. (I do my best to do this as well!) And I absolutely love that she leaves notes on the lockers of people who need a kind word. In high school, this could really mean so much to someone. If there were more people like Sage in real life, I imagine life could be easier for so many people. I really loved this character.

The romance in the book between Sage and Shane was super sweet. It was not a case of insta-love, but instead was a relationship that grew over time and built into something really special. And I loved seeing it this way, because Sage and Shane were so perfect for each other; they had really great chemistry together, and had such similar pasts. They were a really cute couple.

This book was a super cute read, but while it had it’s cute moments, it touches on some pretty serious issues as well, such as bullying and abuse. Having these issues in the book didn’t weigh the book down at all, however. The issues made me sad and super angry at times, but they didn’t really overpower the story to the point where it would become depressing. And the book wrapped up very nicely with a happy ending and only left me with a few lingering questions.

Overall; if you’re a fan of contemporary novels, you’ll really enjoy reading The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things. I really enjoyed the book, and I’m looking forward to reading more contemporaries from Ms. Aguirre in the future!

Waiting on Wednesday #194 - The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

The Boy Most Likely To
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
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Publication Date: August 18th 2015
Publisher: Dial Books
ISBN: 9780803741423



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A surprising, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door—great for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han 

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To find the liquor cabinet blindfolded, need a liver transplant, and drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To . . . well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim’s wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn’t all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted . . . but maybe should have.

And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim’s and Alice’s distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this novel is for readers of The Spectacular Now, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and Paper Towns. (Goodreads)

Confession: I own two Huntley Fitzpatrick books already that I've not yet read.
I've heard they are great books, so I don't know what's stopping me,
other than my insane TBR pile. Haha!

This companion novel to My Life Next Door sounds pretty awesome,
and I can't wait to add it to my growing collection!!

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

Review: The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

The Longest Ride
by Nicholas Sparks
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Publication Date:
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: February 24th 2015
ISBN: 9781455584727
Genre: Adult Fiction | Romance | Chick Lit
Source: Library

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Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart. (Goodreads)

I did not intend to write a review for this book, but one paragraph turned into five, and I had a full review on my hands. So I figured, why not post it???

I am not a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. I find his books to be either hit or miss for me. There have been a few that I have really enjoyed, and a few that I have not enjoyed so much, much like the last book that I read of his. However, I found The Longest Ride to be a very enjoyable read, and I will have to admit, it’s definitely one of the more liked books for me.

There are two completely different, yet somewhat alike, stories in the novel. One story is about Ira and Ruth, the other is about Luke and Sophia. While the lives of these couples are so completely different, while you read the book, you start to realize how similar they really are. And in the end, they intertwine in the most wonderful of ways.

While I enjoyed Luke and Sophie’s story, which takes place in the present day and was super romantic, I also enjoyed Ira and Ruth’s story, with is told through the past, on their journey from when they first meet and fall in love, to up to the time when they are old and gray. I appreciated their story so much more, because I felt I really got to know so much more about them. That being said, Luke and Sophia’s story was just as great, and had more of a romantic quality to it.

To be honest, I was really, really worried about how this book was going to end. The last book I read by Sparks’ had a bit of a disappointing ending for me, one that caught me off guard and I didn’t enjoy it at all. So I worried about the end of The Longest Ride. Thankfully, it’s a good ending, and while I would have loved just one more chapter from Ira, I love how everything came together in the end.

Overall; for me, this is one of Spark’s better books. I enjoyed it. I’m not sure I would have even picked up the book if it weren’t for all the hype about the movie, which I’m definitely curious to see, mostly because Scott Eastwood is playing Luke. *Yum*. But I am glad that I did read the book, it’s made me even more excited for the movie.

     

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne Blog Tour & Giveaway - Tennessee Stop

Hey Guys!!

Today I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour for The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne! I read the book this past week and it's pretty awesome, so if you don't already have it on your to-read list, you're definitely going to want to add it now!

Keep reading for more information on the book, book recommendations from the author, and enter for a chance to win a signed copy of the book and some sweet swag!!

I'm super excited to be the TENNESSEE stop for the tour, representing my home state!!

Also check out the rest of the stops on the tour!!

3/17 - Candace's Book Blog – WA	4/3 - The Reader Bee – TN
3/19 - The Reading Nook Reviews – Sacramento, CA	4/6 – Into The Hall of Books - NC
3/23 - The Reading Date – LA, CA	4/8 - Ticket to Anywhere – MA
3/25 - Mostly YA Book Obsessed – AZ	4/10 - Lost in Literature – CT
3/27 - Gone With the Words – Houston, TX	4/13 - Effortlessly Reading – NYC
3/30 – YA Bibliophile - WI	4/15 - No BS Book Reviews – Annapolis, MD
4/1 - Coming at YA – SC	4/17 - Book Revels – DC

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About the Book:

The Wrong Side of Right
by Jenn Marie Throne
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Publication Date: March 17th 2015
Publisher: Dial Books
Pages: 390
ISBN: 9780803740570
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Publisher

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Available for Purchase:
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________________________


Fans of Sarah Dessen and Huntley Fitzpatrick will enjoy this smart debut young adult novel, equal parts My Life Next Door and The Princess Diaries—plus a dash of Aaron Sorkin.

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be. (Goodreads)

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About the Author:

Jenn Marie Thorne writes YA fiction from her home in beautiful Gulfport, Florida, alongside her dashing husband, her two daring toddlers, and her trusty hound Molly. An NYU-Tisch grad with a BFA in Drama, Jenn still enjoys making a fool of herself on at least a weekly basis. Other hobbies include writing about herself in the third-person, studying classical voice, learning languages, and traveling the world with her family.

Her debut novel, THE WRONG SIDE OF RIGHT, is coming March 17, 2015 from Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin).

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Guest Post:

YA Recs for 6 Fabulous First Daughters

Life on the campaign trail can be grueling. Sometimes it’s nice to escape the glare of the public eye and lose yourself in someone else’s story. In THE WRONG SIDE OF RIGHT, Kate reads THE FOUNTAINHEAD between appearances—a loaner from the campaign’s speechwriter, a fervent Libertarian and fan of author Ayn Rand. Although she enjoys it, I think history-buff Kate might prefer a classic with a more progressive slant, like NORTH AND SOUTH by Elizabeth Gaskell. Here are more book recommendations for some real-life political daughters, both present-day and historical.



Malia Obama – ‘Just One Day,’ Gayle Forman By all accounts, this sixteen-year-old First Daughter is bright and well-mannered with a structured but down-to-earth life at the White House. The Obama girls have had the opportunity to travel the world, including a visit last year to China. But I wonder if Malia might enjoy this story of a type-A girl whose lack of a security detail gives her the chance to fall recklessly in love on the last day of her three-week European tour.



Meghan McCain – ‘Shine’, Lauren Myracle Okay, so Meghan McCain isn’t technically a First Daughter, but she’s still political royalty, a household name known best for her honesty—the way she both speaks up for the Republican values she holds dear and speaks out against the policies she disagrees with. An outspoken advocate for gay marriage, McCain would root loudly for SHINE’s protagonist Cat, who stands up to her conservative community after her best friend falls victim to a hate crime.



Chelsea Clinton – ‘The List’, Siobhan Vivian One of the youngest victims of the dawn of the tabloid age, Chelsea Clinton grew up having her physical appearance documented, picked apart, publicly derided and eventually applauded. A brainy teen (now a PhD), Chelsea might especially appreciate this examination of how society’s objectifying lens impacts girls today at every point on the “beauty” spectrum.



Margaret Truman – ‘Code Name Verity’, Elizabeth Wein Both a First Daughter and a 1940s career woman, Margaret Truman gained notoriety as a singer, a radio newsreader and a prolific biographer and mystery novelist. With its World War II setting and its mix of female empowerment and page-turning mystery, CODE NAME VERITY seems like the perfect book to pass Margaret’s way.



Alice Roosevelt – ‘The Luxe’, Anna Godberson “I’m a hedonist,” Alice Roosevelt famously described herself, and judging by her juicy biography, nobody would disagree. A turn of the century socialite who brought glamour and scandal to the White House, Alice would relate only too well to the ladies of THE LUXE, set amid the glittering and salacious party scene of Manhattan, 1899.



Helen Taft – ‘Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future’, A.S. King A devoted daughter and White House debutante, Helen Taft was one smart cookie. A noted professor of history, she first became Dean of Bryn Mawr College at the remarkable age of 26, and was also an active suffragette. A forward-thinker like Helen would no doubt love A.S. King’s latest, about a girl with the literal ability to look into the future and effect change for women’s rights.

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Waiting on Wednesday #193 - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows
(The Dregs #1)
by Leigh Bardugo
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: September 29th 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
ISBN: 9781627792127



Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-new book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. 

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone... 

A convict with a thirst for revenge. 

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager. 

A runaway with a privileged past. 

A spy known as the Wraith. 

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

 A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. (Goodreads)

Game of Thrones meets Oceans Eleven??
Count me in!
Ok, technically it's the Ocean's Eleven part that drew me in,
because I'm still too chicken to watch GOT. HAHA!
But, GAH, these characters already sound AMAZING,
and we haven't even met them yet!!
Also, the cover is freaking gorgeous.
I can't wait to have this book in my hands.
It's going to be awesome!!

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