Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher)

Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, was a brilliantly written book, the idea was so creative! This book was about a girl named Hannah. She has already committed suicide already when the book begins. Clay, the main character (and whose perspective the story is in) finds a set of tapes on his doorstep. 7 tapes. 13 sides. 13 reasons why Hannah killed herself. And not just ANYONE gets these tapes. Only people that are on them get the grand honor of listening to a dead girl talk to them, and explain why they made her kill herself. Superfun! :P Anyway, Clay is confused as hell. Although he was barely friends with Hannah, he had had a big crush on her, and when I say big, I mean HUGE! Not obsessive and stalkerish, but a sweet and innocent crush. he had no clue why HE, the innocent bystander, was part of the 13 stories to why she killed herself. SUSPENSEFULL! Am I right or what?!

The book, instead of being divided in chapters, is divided into tapes. For example, instead of chapter 3, it would say 'Cassette Tape 2, Side A'. Creative, right? AND to make it even funner (not being sarcastic btw, i am a dork and I really think this is cool :P) whenever Clay pauses the cassette tape, it had a little | |> Pause sign. But its real. Not a bad attempt like mine. XD There is also play |> and stop, which I can't do on here. XD Yeh, but Jay Asher is an amazing author, and he has a fantabulous blog! Find it here! It has pictures of the covers from all around the world! They are amazing! Become a follower! Anyway, I definitely recommend this book! It may sound depressing, but I laughed out loud. It IS sad, I'll admit it, but its a great book. A must read! :D

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Writing: 5

Cover: 5

A 5 star book! *****

~Lily Benan!

Ink Exchange (Melissa Marr)

Ink Exchange, by Melissa Marr, was a wonderful sequel to Wicked Lovely! Unlike it's prequel, which is mainly about the Summer and Winter courts, Ink Exchange is about the Dark Court. Irial, the Dark King, has an ink exchange with Aislinn's mortal friend Leslie. She gets a tattoo that ties her to the king of the Dark Court. He uses her to feed on the emotions of other mortals, which makes his court stronger. Thats all I can really tell you about the story though.

Oh and I love Seth!!!!! He is by far my favorite character! He cares so much about Aislinn, and I often feel bad fore him. Seth 4ever!

One thing I really loved about this book was how Melissa describes all the emotions. The wisps of them, the faint traces, I love it all.

I can't wait to start reading Fragile Eternity!!!!!!!

Overall Rating: 5

Plot: 5

Writing: 5

Characters: 5

Cover: 5

Wicked Lovely (Melissa Marr)

Wicked Lovely, by Melissa, is definitely on my Top Ten Best Books list! (btw sorry I forgot to do a sneak peak! whoops)

Wicked Lovely is about faeries, invisible creatures to the human eye. But not to Aislinn (aka Ash).

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

These are the rules Ash has lived by her entire life. has the Sight, inherited from her mother and her grandmother. She sees the faeries, as well as the awful things they do; trip, shove, pull, hit, bit, kick, kill, and torture.

One thing I didn't like was the fact that it took me about 80 pages to get interested. For a while I was just really confused, but once I caught on I understood and it was REALLY good!

Ash meets countless faeries, and becomes entangled with their world, their friends, and their fate. She must make very difficult decisions, many of them involving Seth, her closest friend (as well as my favorite characters),and Keenan, her biggest annoyance. Hearts are broken, rules are forgotten, and true love is felt as summer and winter clash in this enticing novel. Look for a sneak peek (hopefully) and a review of her next book, Ink Exchange!

Writing: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Cover: 4

~Lily Benan

Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover (Ally Carter)

Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover, by Ally Carter, is the third book of the Gallagher Girl series, and for now, the last. (I don't know if Ally is going to write a fourth book... I hope she does).

This book is more centered around Macey McHenry, daughter of U.S. vice-president candidate Senator McHenry. When Cammie visits her at the end of summer vacation, they are attacked, Cammie, Macey, and Preston Winters, the presidential candidate's son. On the roof of their hotel, Macey and Cammie, being the Gallagher Girls that they are, fought off the attackers (aka got lucky), but ended up with some injuries (broken arm, concussion). When Macey comes back to school, a member of the Secret Service comes with her. To class, to lunch, EVERYWHERE! She won't let her leave school grounds, even for a run!

While Macey is continuously taken out of school to attend rallies and parties for the campaign, Bex, Liz, and Cammie decide to follow and investigate. Many questions are asked, not all of them Cammie wants to know the answers to. Spies lie, thats what they do, but all Cammie wants is to find out whats going on!In this thrilling spy story, anything is possible.

Ally Carter really knows how to write to get your attention. Since these books are summaries of Cammie's spy-work (written from Cammie's point of view), Ally made sure to write how a girl in her junior year would probably talk and think.

The only problem I had with this book is that the majority of the many questions asked throughout the story remain unanswered. But, I'm almost sure she'll be writing a fourth, because there are many things left to uncover in Cammie Morgan's junior year at Gallagher Academy. I can't wait to read it (if IT exists, but thats classified :-) I definitely suggest this book!

Writing: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Cover: 4

ily,

~Lily

Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy (Ally Carter)

Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy, by Ally Carter, is the phenomenal sequel to I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You. Its the second semester in Cammie's sophomore year at Gallagher Academy. Many things happen this year that Cammie never expected.

This book has a much better plot line than the first, you have more unanswered questions (they are answered at the end). One of my favorite characters was Zach. Although he can be a bit cocky at times... (a bit? Try a ton!) he is really sincere and funny.

I'm starting the 3rd book, Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover, tomorrow. Sorry this review was short but, like all sequels, its hard to do a summary with out giving any thing away.

Writing: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Cover: 4

Five Stars!!!

~Lily

P.S. Sorry, no sneak peak for this book or the next one.

The Sweet Far Thing (Libba Bray)

The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray, was just as enthralling and amazing as the first two (A Great and Terrible Beauty as well as Rebel Angels). It was a long book (819 pages) but I loved every minute of it. Once again I can't give you a very good summary if you haven't read the first two because I don't want to give anything away. But I'll say somethings about it...

Some authors have a really good series, but then when they get to the last book, they end it, well, not the best way. Libba Bray did NOT do this!! She had a phenomenal ending to the great trilogy.

I loved the constant controversy of Felicity and Gemma, and their disagreements are hilarious, and if you haven't read the book and just flipped to a random page, you'd think they were mad! ;-) A few characters I really enjoyed were; Wendy, Kartik, and Fowlson (especially Fowlson in the climax). Parts of it were like a mystery, and the History of Secret Societies, by Wilhelmina Wyatt are found to have some possible clues.

Mrs. Nightwing, the current headmistress at Spence Academy, becomes a lot kinder to Gemma, and I loved her during The Sweet Far Thing.

Other than the climax, my favorite scene is when Gemma finds the Tree of All Souls. Libba Bray is such a talented writer, she describes it all so well! I wish I could say more, but then I would reveal the secrets that make this novel so great. Life and death, truth and lies, or good and evil, all of it is mixed together in Libba Bray's third book, A Sweet Far Thing. One of the best book series I've ever read!

Writing: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Cover: 5

Rebel Angels (Libba Bray)

Rebel Angels, by Libba Bray, was an amazing sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty!

Gemma, Ann, and Felicity must find the Temple before Circe does, and it proves a great struggle!

Although I usually give summaries of the books, and I would with Rebel Angels, but it would give too much away! So I'll just tell you about some of my favorite characters and scenes.

I loved many of the characters, most especially Simon. He's so... I can't even think of a fitting word. But he is so witty, and the things he says are so funny. (like the sneak peak). I also love the sirens. Not the evil part of them, but they're so interesting. Azreal is awesome, I loved reading with him in the scene. I love Hester Asa Moore so much, she is so helpful and listens to the girls!

Nell Hawkins, though often disturbing, is very... cool. Even though she is mentally ill, she serves very useful to Gemma.

One part of the book I really like is when Gemma finds the Temple and goes through the waterfall. Its so descriptive and amazing to picture in your head.

I wish Simon was in the book more though, but I still loved it! I'm sorry I couldn't write more, but I want you all to read it and be surprised! I'll start reading The Sweet Far Thing (the third one) straight-away!

Story: 5

Characters: 5

Plot: 5

Cover: 5

~Lily

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Libba Bray)

A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray, is about four girls that share a spectacular secret.

The book is set in Victorian times, in London. The main character, Gemma attends a boarding school named Spence Academy, after her mothers tragic death from... cholera. (but it was really a murder-don't worry, I didn't give anything away; that's in the first chapter.) The school's aim to turn rambunctious teens into proper ladies to be married off... the sooner the better. Charm, grace, and beauty, thats their motto. 

Gemma is roomed with Ann, a quiet girl who is going to Spence to be made into a governess; she has no money and no family. They are the outcasts, the unwanted, the lower class. The 'ruler of the older girls', Felicity, and her amazingly beautiful accomplice in crime, Pippa, REALLY hate Gemma and Ann. But when Gemma finds out a secret about Felicity that she could easily use against her, they immediately become 'friends'. When the new found foursome find a diary of a former student named Mary Dowd, they began to meet at midnight in a cave to read from it.  

Now I must inform you, Gemma is no ordinary girl. She has visions, she can see things that somewhere in the future come true. She is different.

Mary Dowd, they soon figure out, has powers, too. Along with Sarah Rees-Toome. They, with the help of some unknown group of sorceresses called the Order, can travel to a realm between worlds. Its a place where anything can happen. If you close your eyes and want a butterfly, there's a butterfly. This realm is between our world, and where the dead go for afterlife. The four girls, Gemma, Felicity, Ann, and Pippa, travel to this world through a door of light, created by them all, but mostly Gemma. She is the one with the real power, the one thats taking them to this realm. But when an old family foe is searching for Gemma, she must fight her off, and save the power of the realms and restore the Order. 

As the lies and secrets unravel into truths, Gemma is shocked to find out some awful things. Murders, power-crazed school-girls, and more.

A Great and Terrible Beauty was a '"curl-up-under-the-covers-" book. I enjoyed reading it at EVERY moment. Libba Bray is such a talented author; she conveys ideas so that you are always surprised... but in a good way. A very good way. 

The only thing I did not enjoy about this book was Ann. I really liked her character, which is why I wish she stood up for herself more, fought for what she believed in. She needs more confidence, Libba. 

Other than that I loved the characters! I loved how Felicity was strong and brave. Pippa was a bit conceited, but it made it funny to read. Gemma was so clever, and I really connected to her. She is scared of many things, and very confused. Another character I really loved was Mrs. Hester Moore. She is so creative, especially compared to the other teachers at Spence Academy.

All in all, this is one of my favorite books ever written. If you haven't already, you need to read this!!!

And... I just found out they are making a movie to be released in 2010!

Story: 5

Characters: 5

Plot: 5

Cover: 5

Kiss of Life (Dan Waters)

 Kiss of Life, by Dan Waters, was an amazing sequel to Generation Dead! As we watch Tommy, Karen, Tak, Phoebe, Colette, Adam, and Pete, along with new characters Dom, DeCayce, and Duke weave into the story, you will dread putting the book down.

Phoebe and Adam become a 'thing', as she helps him become more... alive. I love how the chapters from his point of view are written how he would actually think, and how the become more normal as he becomes more functional. 

Tommy begins his trip across America (which he is doing in real life, coming to MY town...yay!) , and sends riveting emails of his stories of traveling the country. Phoebe gets angry at him, and I enjoyed watching their conversations over the internet. 

We meet more characters, like Duke, and you see the true feelings of others. Tragedies strike, deaths (or re-deaths) occur, and more people are turning against zombies.

A must read; I loved this book! I definitely suggest reading it, if you haven't already. Find Tommy Williams at myso-calledundeath.blogspot.com and Dan Waters at watersdan.blogspot.com     Enjoy!

Story: 5

Characters: 5

Plot: 5

Cover: 4

~Lily

P.S. Sorry it took me so long to review it, I finished it a while ago, but haven't had time to write lately. 

The School for Dangerous Girls (Eliot Schreffer)

The School for Dangerous Girls, by Eliot Schreffer, is about girls who go to a school called Hidden Oak, a school meant to make 'dangerous girls' presentable to society.

Angela Cardenas is a teenage girl who has, as a last resort, been sent to Hidden Oak School for Girls, after supposedly murdering her grandfather. When she arrives, the administrators strip her of her clothes, of her make-up, of her... pretty much everything. The put her into a 'school'. But its more like a prison; they beat the students, lock them in freezers, and they THINK they're helping them.

Angela and her fellow prisoners go through a month at the school before actual classes begin. They have 'games' that turn the girls against each other, forming some alliances, but mostly enemies. There is no way to talk their parents into letting them leave, because the teachers convince them that they are mentally weak and cannot be trusted. 

When the 'orientation month' has ended, the girls are separated into gold threads and purple threads. The gold threads are the girls who the teachers think can be helped, and put back into society. But the purple threads have been given up on, and no one knows where they are kept, or if they're even alive.

Angela is determined to expose the school for what it really is, but she's having difficulty, while EVERYTHING is being monitored. Angela devises many plans, most of them don't work. Will she find a way to get her and her friends out of Hidden Oak?

This non-stop thriller made me never want to put the book down. BUT, and thats a big butt ;) once I almost stopped reading. I just felt that she failed so many times, and it was so harsh, but I am glad I kept reading!

Writing: 5

Characters: 5

Plot: 5

Cover Picture: 4

~Lily

Generation Dead (by Daniel Waters)

Generation Dead, by Daniel Waters, is a phenomenal book that's sweeping the nation. Some, but not all American teens have begun rising from their graves (but they usually rise sooner than they get there). They are trying to live in a society that doesn't except them. Like living students, some zombies (or the politically correct terms "living impaired" or "differently biotic") are smarter than others. Most of the undead move and speak at a very slow rate, but some, such as Karen DeSonne and Tommy Williams speak and move as quickly as the living. Some of the living (breathers) think zombies deserve to be treated as normal citizens, while most others believe they are a sign of the apocalypse, and need to be 'killed'. 

Phoebe Kendall, a gothic teen, falls for the 'head of the zombies' at Oakvale High, Tommy Williams. As Phoebe and Tommy become closer and closer, Phoebe's other best friend Adam, star of the football team, who is in love with her, becomes jealous. It is obvious to everyone, except Phoebe, that Adams loves her. What will Adam do?

As each character changes, for the better, or for worse, you see how they really are, as they deal with America's bioism. Some stand strong, while others cave under the pressure. See what happens with Phoebe, Adam, Tommy, Margi, Colette, and This book is to die for, excuse the pun.

A must read book. Get it before it's gone! Check out Dan Water's blog:

watersdan.blogspot.com

~Lily

Writing: 5

Characters: 5

Plot: 5

Cover Picture: 5