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"This will be a novel that I will insist my students read and a novel that I continue to rave about online, in school, and with friends and family." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing."

This is a book I'd been debating over purchasing since it came out. Every time I'd go into a bookstore I would see it and it would call to me in stereotypical fashion: "Reagan, buy me! Buy me!" Then I would think to myself, "Self, you came in here with a direct purpose to purchase to buy "X" book. If you walk out of here with "Before I Fall" you are a complete failure." Failure at what? I'm not really sure... it was my self conscious speaking to me and it has a tendency to be crazy.

So anyway, you can imagine how utterly surprised and excited I was first to MEET Lauren Oliver and then to find out that along with signing copies of "Delirium" Lauren was also signing copies of "Before I Fall." If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I have more than once claimed that my "pride and joy" of BEA was getting a signed copy of "Before I Fall." This is also the only novel I had signed directly to me and not to my students.

Here's the kicker: I hadn't even read the novel yet.

Have my feeling changed at all towards this book?

Absolutely. Before I was just able to rave about how great Lauren is and how much I love the premise, now I can tell absolutely everyone I know how much I love this book — and I have. I started out with Twitter:

Tweets via @Miss Remmers:

I'm in the mall reading Before I Fall and I may burst into tears at any moment

"You're worse than the hot lunch." This is the most amazing book! @oliverbooks

@mindfulmusings oh my goodness it's amazing! I can't put it down but I so have to use the restroom!

Before I Fall is one of the most amazing books ever. I will definitely be purchasing more copies for my classroom. Review soon @OliverBooks

Then I of course called Travis, Dan, my mom, my dad, and I even called my best friend and left a message since she's out of the country on her honeymoon! And now I'll tell all of you.

This book, if you can't already tell, was amazing. When Lauren was talking about her book at TAC she mentioned that it was hard to write a character she didn't like. Lauren succeeded in this endeavor. I hated Sam, not at first but towards the middle when I realized how mean she really was. In the end she won me over (obviously), but it was so refreshing to meet a protagonist that I did not like.

Each of the characters had their own story and voice — another amazing aspect of the novel. Each character was different and I liked and disliked them each for their own purpose and reason. Kent, however, was by far my most favorite character of the week (and that's saying a lot as that week I read "Dead Until Dark," "Sea," and "Hush Hush.") And quite possibly of the entire summer! My heart ached and broke for Kent throughout this novel. I was rooting for him the entire time. The descriptions of all of the characters were fantastic, but it was Kent (in my opinion) whose description was so fantastically pure and lovable. In the end, it was Kent that made this story (for me).

The plot, along with characterization, was another amazing part of this novel. The premise of this story was so strong and real — my ninth graders are going to devour this book. I loved the theme of love, friendship, suicide, and death. The theme of suicide is something very near and dear to my heart, as an RA for three years I dealt with at least eleven severely depressed young college students who either attempted suicide or who were talking about suicide (thankfully, they all have began counseling and are moving in the right direction). But that doesn't mean everyone at that college is safe, or at any college. It takes a powerful novel, much like "Thirteen Reasons Why," to bring up the tender issue of suicide so emotionally correct.

This will be a novel that I purchase a couple more copies for my classroom (this beloved copy will stay at home on my beloved bookshelf). A novel that I will insist my students read and a novel that I continue to rave about online, in school, and with friends and family.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Overall: 99/100 A (almost +)

To the FTC, with love: Received from BEA10

As the first Author Interview of the New Year, I'd like to welcome Barbara Fifield, author of "Lucifer Rising."

Tell us a little bit about you. Who is Barbara Fifield?

I am an Army Brat and lived in Germany and Japan as a child. I’ve been writing since I was 11 and won the best short story contest in sixth grade. I had to read my story in front of a class of 45 students (this was the 50’s during the Baby Boom). They loved my story so much they had me read it three times, even though there were other students who had to read theirs. I’ve been writing ever since and majored in journalism in college. I continued to write stories, poems, and plays. One of my poems about dancing was selected by a music company to be made into a song, but I never followed up on it. When I was 18, I wrote my first novel, "The Early Autumn," a teen love story. It was too long and needed editing. A publisher told me to throw it away and write another book. I wrote another one in my 30’s, called "Only Time Will Tell," a novel loosely based on my first marriage which was crumbling at the time. I kept parts of it which I plan to use in my next novel and tossed the rest away, after sending it out to only one literary agent and getting rejected. At this time, I had also returned to college to finish up my journalism degree which had been delayed due to the births of my two children. After writing on newspapers for several years and not making much money, I went back to school and received a Master’s Degree in Social Work as there were a lot of jobs in that field during the 1980’s. I wrote another novel called "Letting Go," where the main character, Marjorie, works as a social worker with abused women, then meets her second husband. That is the next book I plan to publish, maybe in a couple of years, after several more rewrites. My first novel, "Photographs and Memories," published last spring, is about how the character Angela coped with moving to Florida and the death of her second husband.

Describe the publication process you went through after writing "Lucifer Rising."

"Lucifer Rising" is my second novel and was published the end of June, 2009. It’s a fantasy romance about a female reporter, Elsa, who falls in love with a cult leader who happens to be a reincarnation of the angel, Lucifer. After many break ups, she finally leaves him, hopefully for good, although she questions her decision at the end. I base a lot of my characters on people I’ve known, and using my imagination, I concoct fictional personalities. The events that happen in the novel, such as Elsa finding her lover with another woman are made up but could have happened in real life to the characters, based on the personalities of the individuals they depict. The novel was published by Outskirts Press in only six months after it was submitted.

What was the easiest thing about writing "Lucifer Rising?" The hardest?

"Lucifer Rising" just flowed from me, with little rewriting, while I was waiting for my first novel, "Photographs and Memories," to be published. I’ve never found an easier book to write. The hardest thing about writing "Lucifer Rising" was expressing feelings of pain and rejection through Elsa, the main character. Although she realizes her lover, Tyrell, is evil, she still cares about him and keeps trying to make it work.

Describe "Lucifer Rising" in three words.

In three words, "Lucifer Rising" could be described as “Cultist captivates women.”

Do you have any habits when you write? If so, what are they.

Writing habits: I write for hours on end, rewriting as I go, then rewriting what I wrote earlier the next day. Sometimes it takes me weeks to finish one chapter. When my head starts spinning from all of the rewrites, I often go out to take a walk. That clears my mind.

What is something surprising or shocking about you that most people don't know?

Many events and characters I write about I’ve experienced which may surprise many readers.

Where do you hang out offline?

I am involved in many clubs off-line. I am the newsletter editor for a local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). I also attend Toastmaster’s which is training me how to speak to audiences about my novels.

Where do you hang out online?

Visit my website at http://fifieldauthor.com/

If after reading the review and readers want to purchase the novel, where should they go?

Those who wish to purchase "Lucifer Rising" may find it on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.co,m or Outskirtspress.com’s bookstore.

Thank you, Barbara, for stopping by and answering a few questions. My review of "Lucifer Rising" will be posted soon.

"When reading this novel I was enjoying a good read. When I wasn't reading it, all I could think about was the next time I could!" — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her."

This was one of those books I had to have. I didn't know much about the premise, but the cover alone was enough to make me yearn for this book. After much inner-battling (as a broke college student), I purchased my own copy of Hex Hall. It wasn't until the fourth of July, however, that I finally had a chance to sit down and read this novel. We were at a lake and it was too windy to do any of the fun water sports so I, naturally, went out on the dock with a book! My book of choice (obviously) was "Hex Hall."

This will be an odd review because, while I loved this book, I can't really put a finger on what exactly I loved about it. The premise, while much like "Harry Potter," was predictable with a twist at the end. This predictability didn't bother me and I found myself actually looking for the similarities between the two novels. I also appreciated that the author recognized the similarities in a line (I don't have my book with me or I'd quote it) about "Hogwarts." The twist on the last page made my reading skin shiver with anticipation for the next novel.

The characters were likable and real. I loved the idea of vampire student at school as an outcast; with the recent fame of Twilight and Sookie, it's refreshing to have a different, less popular, view of vampires in a literary sense. I fell in love with Sophie's character — the girl's got spunk!

The plot and setting of the novel was fantastic — it's what kept me reading! The plot was fast paced, keeping this book fun and a page turner.

While reading this book I encountered something that I never have before; when reading this novel I was content, when I put the novel down (for food, for fun, for spending time with actual people) my mind kept wandering back to Sophie and her predicament. While this sounds odd and contradictory, I loved this book more when I wasn't reading it than when I was! (That sounds awful doesn't it! I mean it like this... ) When reading this novel I was enjoying a good read. When I wasn't reading it, all I could think about was the next time I could! Hawkins has somehow found a way to write an unforgettable novel, in my opinion. I am very excited for book two!

Originality: 6/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10 (The reason I HAD to have this book!)
Overall: 93/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Bought

"Be prepared when picking up this addicting novel: it is the most honest and utterly raw novel I have ever read." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on... but are some questions better left unanswered?"

Why I read this: After adoring "Cracked Up to Be " and "Some Girls Are " and interviewing Courtney Summers, I knew I had to read "Fall for Anything."

Plot: The plot of this novel, like all Summers' novels, is fast moving and completely addicting. I couldn't put this book down. I found myself crying throughout the novel at it's realness (yes, I cried during 6th period). Even though you know the outcome, he's dead (right?), you will it to not be true — to have an alternate ending (much like "Before I Fall "). I kept willing the book to go faster in order to find the next nonsensical clue.

Characters: I think all of the characters in this novel, even the father, are extremely strong and real. Eddie and her mother's pain are honest and excruciatingly sad. I couldn't help but become curious about Culler Evans and found myself in love with his image — that sympathy card was so... perfect and honest. I adored Milo, Eddie's best friend, and couldn't help but want to date him myself (shh, don't tell Dan). But not everyone is who they seem in "Fall for Anything."

Cover: This cover is amazing! It's so dark and completely captures the tone/mood of the story.

Random Thoughts: The ending of this book was so honest and almost anticlimactic — it was perfect.

Final Thoughts: This book did not disappoint — it was absolutely perfect. I was surprised at the ending, almost foolishly so. After reading this book my school librarian and the student who begged me to email Courtney about an interview wrestled over the book to see who got to read it first (no student was harmed prior to reading this novel) and the librarian won (after promising to have it to the student in 24 hours). This teacher didn't like it because it was so heartbreakingly honest; the student adored it because of it's honesty. Be prepared when picking up this addicting novel: it is the most honest and utterly raw novel, fiction or non, I have ever read. With a topic like this, I would expect nothing less from Courtney Summers.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 98/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Received from the Author

"Fall for Anything" will be released on December 21st, 2010

“It isn't okay to write "smutty" for "smutty's" sake, it is okay to write a little bit racy and still deliver a good story, a story with characters that students can relate to — Shaun Hutchinson did this with 'The Deathday Letter." — Miss Remmers
The clock is ticking... Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...
Why I read this: The cover really appealed to me. I don't think I even read the (awesome) synopsis until I actually sat down to read it months after receiving it.
Plot: The plot of this novel is definitely one of a kind. The easiest way to describe it is simply saying that the story is set in an alternate reality, one much like our own except 24 hours before you die you receive a mysterious Deathday letter. This it the situation Ollie is faced with — what does he do with the last 24 hours of his life. Even before the first page I was sucked into this novel as a result of the brief prologue (although I don't think prologue is the best word). I found this book to be a complete page turner — a book I read in one sitting.
Characters: The characters of this novel, especially Ollie, are so honest and real. The tone of this novel, because of the strong characters, was fantastic — very much like the tone of "The Duff. " Together, the tone and the characters, made this novel. Ollie thinks, acts, and speaks like a teenager; in the beginning I thought that no one really acted/thought like that... but after consulting the fiance, it turns out that most teenage boys' brains are occupied by two things: sex and girls. Beware: I have never heard of or read so many inappropriate jokes in my life — but this is precisely why my struggling male readers will love this novel: it was written for them.
Cover: Absolutely ADORE!
Random Thoughts: I loved Ollie's Grandma! For such a small character she was developed extremely well.
Final Thoughts: While filled with sex jokes and inappropriate insinuations, this book will be PERFECT for my male students. It's racy enough to be "rebellious" but has a great enough story and, dare I say, moral to be appropriate for school. My girls loved "The Duff" because it was real and honest and my boys will love "The Deathday Letter" for the same reasons. Both of these novels are could be "border-line" school appropriate, but this is due to the honesty and relatablity of the novels. I'm lucky to have such a great school librarian and administration who would put these books on the shelves even if I didn't ask. The question is this: would you rather have loads of books on the shelves that students don't read because they can't relate to the characters and the characters don't sound like them or are you willing to take a risk on a novel that, depending on the school or community, is "questionable" but that the students will devour and still receive a good story? It isn't okay to write "smutty" for "smutty's" sake, it is okay to write a little bit racy and still deliver a good story, a story with characters that students can relate to — Shaun Hutchinson did this with "The Deathday Letter."
*Before reading "The Duff" and "The Deathday Letter" both books were already on our school library's shelves.
Originality: 10/10 Ending: 10/10 Characters: 8/10 Plot: 9/10 My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10 Theme: 9/10 Imagery: 9/10 Setting: 5/5 Voice: 5/5 (AMAZING sense of voice) Style: 5/5 Tone: 5/5 (Tone was absolutely fantastic!) Cover: 10/10 Overall: 94/100 A
To the FTC, with love: Gift

"I recommend this novel to any reader with the patience to wait for a fantastic story with a great twist on a "nowadays" common supernatural creature." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret... and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul."

Why I read this: The cover is stunning and the author was amazing! She even signed this book to "The BVHS 9th Graders!"

Plot: In the beginning the plot was very slow, so much so that I just couldn't get into it. Weeks went by without me even opening the book. Finally, today, I decided I just had to finish. I had heard wonderful things about this book and I HAD to know what it was about. From the synopsis above I knew there was something supernatural about one of the characters, but it took until about page 200 for this supernatural aspect to really grab me; after that I couldn't put this book down.

Despain's different take on this supernatural creature was very captivating (once it got to the supernatural aspect). I have never read such a take on this creature before — it was extremely refreshing and unique.

Characters/Tone: I had to group characters and tone together this time because it seemed they were so connected. The characters of this novel, specifically the Divines, really got under my skin. Immediately after discovering that Divine was the last name of the family, the father's profession as a pastor, and the protagonist's name Grace, I detected a seriously pious tone. The tone of the novel and the actions/habits of this family seemed to be so "holier-than-thou" that it really turned me off from the novel. I felt almost suffocated with all the reminders of religion, holiness, and the "perfect" family.

Towards, once again, page 200 I did recognize the connection between the tone and characters to the plot but by then I had struggled through it so much that the extreme amount of piety had become only a sliver under my skin rather than a gaping wound in my flesh.

That said, I did really love the Heaven, Hell, Angel triangle and I see why this sort of tone and characters were necessary.

Cover: This cover is absolutely GORGEOUS! It's what really drove me to pick up this novel — before I had even read the premise!

Random Thoughts: The end of this novel was fantastically fast-paced and captivating, I couldn't put it down; I just wish the first 180 pages were also like this. I have put this book on my classroom shelves and I have no doubt many girls will pick it up due to the stunning cover, but I'm not sure I can expect them to wait that long for it to pick up speed.

Final Thoughts: I'm glad I continued reading because it was worth it in the end. The reviews I've read have all been stellar and I wanted to know why; I get it now, but I'm still disappointed. Maybe it is the tone or the piety that still irks me, I'm not sure. But, like I said, I am happy I'm finished and I recommend this novel to any reader with the patience to wait for a fantastic story with a great twist on a "nowadays" common supernatural creature. I am very excited for "The Lost Saint"'s release on December 28th.

Originality: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 7/10
Theme: 8/10
Imagery: 9/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 0/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 83/100 B

To the FTC, with love: Received at BEA 2010

"Because of the strong plot and characters I was immediately enveloped into Fitzpatrick's reality of Hush Hush, especially in regards to Patch." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen — and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life."

Hush Hush has been on my "I really want to read this novel — super bad!" list since it came out. I constantly found myself debating purchasing this book every time I went into a bookstore. Finally last week I broke down when I found it on sale at Target.

This book was worth the wait.

I haven't read such a suspenseful or mysterious book in a long time (if ever). I found myself addicted to turning the pages of this novel in order to, like the protagonist Nora, find out what was going on and who was behind it all.

The plot was absolutely fantastically drive and fast paced. When I wasn't reading I was constantly curious as to what was happening with Nora and Patch. The characters were as strong as the plot throughout the novel. Because of the strong plot and characters I was immediately enveloped into Fitzpatrick's reality of Hush Hush, especially in regards to Patch.

I will mention that my only complaint in regards to character was Nora, at times she seemed so vulnerable and weak I became frustrated with her lack of strength. The mother's lack of presence also bother me — I mean who just leaves their kid for a long period of time, their teenage kid, and doesn't expect anything bad to happen?

There were also a few points in the novel that kept being repeated so I assumed they played a part in the plot of the novel — but they didn't. NO SPOILERS. For instance, Nora's father was murdered. I assumed that Nora's present predicament was a possible reason for this murder — but I'm not quite sure because it was never further explained. Now if Nora's father's murder is the reason she's afraid of everything — I get that. But it was repeated so much I figured it had to be for a direct purpose. There also numerous references to Nora being super smart, getting into the perfect colleges, and getting As in everything. I understand the idea behind characterization, but I felt like this was sort of forced down my throat and I hoped it would be related to the story. Maybe these things will be addressed in the second novel: Crescendo.

Overall, this was a fantastic read that I think my freshmen will adore. I am very much looking forward to the second novel.

Oh, does anyone have anyone know where the title came from or any theories or thoughts?

Picture — I began reading Hush Hush in the most beautiful park in St. Louis.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10 (The cover was what drove me to read this book!)
Overall: 98/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Bought

Check out a Guest Review of Hush Hush.

From Amazon.com...

"Paul Baumer enlisted with his classmates in the German army of World War I. Youthful, enthusiastic, they become soldiers. But despite what they have learned, they break into pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches. And as horrible war plods on year after year, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principles of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other--if only he can come out of the war alive."

This was the first novel I ever had to teach. It's also a novel I hadn't read. I won't lie, there were some days I was a day ahead (or even behind!) the students. This came to kick me in the butt when an over-achieving student came to school having read ahead and said, "Miss Remmers, I can't believe that happened in Chapter 5!" I'll tell you what, I couldn't read my spark notes fast enough!

Quite frankly (and don't misinterpret this as I'm "Pro-Book burning") but I can see why the Nazis burned this book. It is very anti-war because it is so honest. It's also a very dull read. I felt bad for my students because I certainly did not enjoy the novel and I'm an English teacher! It was very hard to get into and I found that it was extremely difficult to relate to Paul and his friends. I really struggled through this book and, while I understand that in school you can't always teach what you love, I think that I could have picked a better anti-war novel. I don't have any ideas as of yet... but I think I could find one. I knew that my students weren't reading it, and (no matter how horrible this is) I really couldn't blame them!

As for the ending, it was unexpected, abrupt, and dull. I don't expect a war novel to be overly exciting or even happy (I mean, how could it be!), but by the end of this novel I didn't even care what happened to the small group of protagonists as I just wanted it to be over! While I'm glad I had this experience and entire unit of lesson plan and activities — I hope never to teach this novel again.

Funny Thought: We watched the movie before we took the test. We watched the movie starring David W. Harper, Jim-Boy from The Waltons, and no one recognized him!!

Originality: 8/10
Ending: 5/10
Characters: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 5/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 7/10
Overall: 79/100 C

To the FTC, with love: School Book

I'd like to welcome Carla Buckley, author of "The Things That Keep Us Here, " as my guest. Everybody say, "Hello Carla."

Tell us a bit about you — who is Carla Buckley?
I’m a wife, mother of three, and coddler of two small dogs. Growing up, I was passionate about both art and writing, studied both in college, worked as an artist and a writer afterward, but it wasn’t until I decided to stay home following the birth of my first child that I narrowed my focus to writing.

How long did it take you to write "The Things That Keep Us Here?"
Six months to produce a draft I could share with my literary agent, another six months working on the feedback she gave me, then a final six months revising it with my editor.

Explain the process you went through after you had finished writing the novel.
Usually, after I’ve finished a manuscript and sent it off to my agent to be shopped to publishers, I immediately begin writing the next book. This time, however, I held off. The Things That Keep Us Here was a different kind of book to me, one that represented a huge leap forward in my writing, and I wanted to see how it fared before I re-committed myself to the writing process. The Things That Keep Us Here was turned down three times--because publishers didn’t want to touch the topic of bird flu--before it found a home at Bantam Dell, with an editor I’m privileged to call mine.

Do you have any writing habits or anything you HAD to do before sitting down to write the novel?
Years ago, a screenplay writer taught me how to plot according to a three-act structure, and that’s what I follow before I begin writing: I set up the three acts, each with their turning points, and pretty much lay out the entire novel in my head before I start.

There is a lot of scientific information that, as a non-scientist, sounds completely plausible in your novel; where did you get this information or are you a closet-scientist?
I am a confirmed non-scientist! In school, science terrified me, with all its intricacies and seeming irrelevance, and I avoided it wherever I could. It’s ironic, perhaps, that I married an environmental scientist, which allowed me to see science from a different perspective, and understand its own serene beauty. When I undertook to write The Things That Keep Us Here, I did a great deal of research: I read everything I could on avian influenza, and interviewed scientists from The Ohio State University who actually do the work that my character, Peter, does. It’s these scientists, whom I acknowledge in my book, who made the science leap from the page for me.

What is your favorite thing about your novel?
This is such a great question. I’d have to say it’s the turning point in the middle, where my character Ann, surrounded by death and fear and confusion, confronts who she really is at heart, and makes an impossible choice. For me, this is what my novel is really about: who are we deep inside, when we can’t rely on someone else to save or protect us, and how do we live with the choice we make? I’ve heard from many readers on this part of the book, which delights me.

If you had to describe "The Things That Keep Us Here" in three words — what words would you choose?
Frightening, poignant, and real

Where did the title come from?
My original title was Flu Season, which my publisher felt wasn’t a perfect match. Over the course of six or so months, I tried out other options: Six Hours, Flight Risk. My book was sold to the UK and Germany as Out of Thin Air. None were quite right. Finally, facing a catalog deadline, the senior people at Random House got together and brainstormed, and my editor called me the next morning with the final title, The Things That Keep Us Here. I’m deeply honored that my publishing house was so invested in finding the perfect title for me.

What are you currently working on?
My next book also focuses on a global threat, as shown from the perspective of the non-scientist. In it, a woman, long estranged from her hometown and her family, returns to find her sister dead and others sick from the same disease. Although I don't want to reveal the source of the illness, I will say it's based on a truly frightening phenomenon that few people are aware of, but scientists are looking into, and I predict it will start making headlines shortly.

What are you currently reading?
I’m halfway through two novels, both debuts. The Murderer’s Daughters, by Randy Susan Meyers, which is a heart-rending story about two young girls who witness their father’s murder of their mother, and how their lives are forever shaped. Meyers does a fantastic job of moving the action forward, and it’s hard to believe this is her first novel. And The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so driven by voice as this one is, and I’m loving every page.

Where can you be found offline?
The very few hours that I’m not writing, I’m walking my dogs, working out at my local rec center, and ferrying my children around to their various activities. Sometimes, I make dinner! My sister is my writing partner (and the best writer I know), and we regularly get together for a many-hour lunch at a local sandwich shop to pound out various issues in both our works in progress.

Where can you be found online?
My website is my online home: www.google.com. There, readers can contact me, or reach me through Facebook, Twitter, goodreads, and LibraryThing.

Any last comments?
Thanks for hosting me here, Miss Remmers. It’s always a delight to meet another reader as passionate about books as I am!

Not only do Carla and I share a passion for reading — we also have similar roots. Her husband is from Northern Minnesota and it turns out that she frequently visits my own home town of Cass Lake, MN for summer vacations!

If you haven't read, "The Things That Keep Us Here, " you are definitely missing out. This is one of the best adult fiction books I've read. Highly recommend it.

Carla, thank you so much for stopping by!

Cheri Lasota is here today to share with us who she thinks would be perfect to play the characters in her book Artemis Rising.

Movie Casting for Artemis Rising

Who would I cast for my characters if Artemis Rising were made into a movie?

Nelly Furtado as Eva Maré
I always make electronic photo collages for my characters. It's just a part of my process. I had picked singer Nelly Furtado as my main character, because she had the blue eyes and olive skin I needed. When I learned that her family originates from the Azores Islands and she is full-blooded Azorean, just like my main character, I was thrilled! She has a beautiful face and stunning blue eyes. When I lived among the Azoreans for a time, one of the things that surprised me most was just how amazing their skin was. Smooth and glowing and naturally tan. Nelly's skin is like that, and she was a great model for my character.

Tyler Nordby as Tristan Vazante
Along with my Director Bill Thoma and several other of my filmmaker friends, I made a book trailer for Artemis Rising that looks very much like a movie trailer. We hired on local actors, so my two leading male characters are the two featured in my book trailer. I spent a lot of time poring through images and talking with actors. I wanted to get as close to the image I'd had in my mind through the years that I spent writing the novel. Tyler Nordby just had that sweet face and the kind eyes I was looking for. Tristan's blue eyes are a central element of my novel, so it was important that I choose an actor who had the right eye color. Tyler's personality was very similar to Tristan's, so that made it quite easy for me to see him in the role. Tyler
is an up and coming actor, who played a high schooler in Twilight and starred in a short film called Deviation.

Montetré as Diogo Cheia
Montetré is a theater actor, film actor and director. He probably wears more hats than that, but I'm losing count! He's intense, naturally talented, and riveting to watch. And I was privileged to have him in my book trailer as the driven and obsessed Diogo Cheia.

Elisha Cuthbert as Isabel Infante

Isabel is a selfish but attractive girl. Eva even calls her the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen. Elisha Cuthbert, while beautiful, can have that kind of haughty look to her when she's showing emotion. She'd probably nail this character in a film version of Artemis Rising.
Joaquim De Almeida as Conde Estrela

The first time I saw this actor, he was the villain in Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford. He had a mesmerizing voice and unusual but compelling eyes. He makes a good fit for Conde Fernando Estrela, Eva and Tristan's adoptive father. Conde Estrela is known in the story as a mysterious and melancholy man. Joaquim's facial expressions definitely play into that tone. The actor is also from Lisbon, Portugal.

Penelope Cruz as Maria Maré
Penelope Cruz has a sort of playful mouth and nose, but her eyes can be very serious. This combination fits Maria, Eva's mother, completely. She would have had a lighthearted personality if life and hard circumstances hadn't stolen her joy. She is a woman of many secrets.
Anthony Hopkins as Padre Salvador

Anthony is one of my favorite actors and Padre Salvador is one of my favorite characters, so he seems like the perfect fit for this character. One of the first films I saw him in was Legends of the Fall. Interestingly, my novel would not exist without this film. I first heard the name Tristan and learned about the Legend of Tristan and Isolde from this film. That led me to research it further and the rest is history. Anthony has a commanding presence and piercing eyes, and I imagine Conde Estrela to be blessed with both of those traits, despite his ill health.

Author Bio: Cheri Lasota’s first novel, Artemis Rising, is a YA historical fantasy based on mythology and set in the exotic Azores Islands. Currently, Cheri is writing and researching her second novel, a YA set on the Oregon Coast. Over the course of her sixteen-year career, she has edited fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, and short stories for publication. Cheri also has twenty-four years of experience writing poetry and fiction.
Learn more about the novel or contact Cheri at http://www.cherilasota.com
. The book is available in all digital formats and can be purchased at SpireHouseBooks.com, iTunes, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and KoboBooks.com.

Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota Publisher: Spirehouse Books (September 13, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Format: ebook On the voy­age home to the Azores Islands, Eva accepts the pagan name of Arethusa but learns too late that her life will mir­ror the Greek nymph’s tragic end. Her mother reveals that her des­tiny lies with Diogo, the shipowner’s volatile son. But Eva has a vision of another…

When the ship founders in a storm off the coast, Tristan, a local boy, saves her life and steals her heart. Destined to be with Diogo yet aching for Tristan’s for­bid­den love, Eva must some­how choose between them, or fate will choose for her.

This is an engross­ing novel in which sev­eral strands of myth com­bine to cre­ate a com­plex yet beau­ti­fully simple romance. It is at its high­est level an explo­ration of fun­da­men­tal philo­soph­i­cal questions—the debate between fate and choice, the nature of love and desire, the tena­cious and often dangerous hold of belief on the human psyche. At bot­tom, and the rea­son why you will love it, this is a bil­dungsro­man about a girl find­ing her way to adult­hood and a story about two lovers both sep­a­rated and entwined by their beliefs.

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"It was fast paced and unpredictable; I sped through this novel while at the same time willing myself to slow down." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly."

Why I read this: I was offered to participate in an ARC Book Tour, something I'm generally not too crazy about. But after looking at the cover and reading the description, I figured I'd give it a go.

Plot: The plot was what made this book for me. It was absolutely fantastic. It was fast paced and unpredictable; I sped through this novel while at the same time willing myself to slow down. "Intrinsical" is unlike any other book I've read; there were times that the plot was almost too full of depth and I found myself having to back track — but this only added to the plot and was never a waste of time. I did struggle a little bit with the idea of "Wakers"; it could have been explained more thoroughly. The plot of this novel definitely had me thinking and considering all the possibilities.

Characters: I did have a hard time liking the characters; there wasn't any one thing that bothered me or one thing that I would have changed — I just didn't like them. I had a hard time relating to them. I found the language that they used to be slightly unbelievable; for instance, being so completely upset at your best friend with one sentence and completely forgiving and lovable the next sentence. It just seemed a little too "fictional" for my taste there.

Cover: At first glance the cover is interesting, but it isn't until after you've read the novel that you realize the significance.

Final Thoughts: This is definitely a "love" for me, despite is charactorial flaws (I made that word up, but I can't find a "real" word that fits better so I'm leaving it). This a fantastic novel that somehow "slipped" through the mainstream bibliophilic world, but rightfully deserves it's spot in Barnes and Noble (I didn't see it at my local store). "Intrinsical" is one of those amazing book finds that you don't expect. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for something unique and different than any other book.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 7/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Overall: 95/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Part of an ARC Book Tour

"'To Kill a Mockingbird' is full of colorful characters and a timeless plot — it's no wonder that it has lasted 50 years!" — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel—a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice—but the weight of history will only tolerate so much. "

Why I read this: I had to teach it so I guessed I had better read it.

Plot: The plot of this timeless classic, I'll admit, starts slow. Like my students, I struggled with "TKM" in the beginning as well; I attempted to read it several times over the summer after returning from BEA. Finally, I inter-library loaned the audio and finally I was able to get into it. I hate to say it, as an English Major and a teacher, but I don't know if I would have ever gotten through this novel without the audio. Finally, around chapter 10, I started to get into the chapter stories even though I didn't know how there were connected at the time. At the end of the book, I actually picked up the novel to read it because I could read faster than I could listen.

Characters: By the end of this novel I felt completely connected to the characters, especially Atticus. I loved Atticus, like so many others, and everything he stood up for. He is the best fictional parent I have ever read. Many times throughout the novel I found myself thinking of the respect that Scout and Jem had for him as a parent and as a person — how the whole community respected him. I understand now why we have three "Atticuses" in the elementary school this year.

Cover: The cover of this novel, at least the old school version, is outdated (obviously) and I think could deter any reader from picking it up.

Final Thoughts: I can definitely see why this book is a classic and I am so glad I didn't let it's title, language, and reputation as a "classic" deter me from reading it. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is full of colorful characters and a timeless plot — it's no wonder that it has lasted 50 years!

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 7/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 4/5
Tone: 4/5
Cover: 5/10
Overall: 85/100 B

To the FTC, with love: Received at BEA 2010 and through the Library/School

"I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this book." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"How far would you go to protect your family?

Ann Brooks never thought she’d have to answer that question. Then she found her limits tested by a crisis no one could prevent. Now, as her neighborhood descends into panic, she must make tough choices to protect everyone she loves from a threat she cannot even see. In this chillingly urgent novel, Carla Buckley confronts us with the terrifying decisions we are forced to make when ordinary life changes overnight.

A year ago, Ann and Peter Brooks were just another unhappily married couple trying–and failing–to keep their relationship together while they raised two young daughters. Now the world around them is about to be shaken as Peter, a university researcher, comes to a startling realization: A virulent pandemic has made the terrible leap across the ocean to America’s heartland.

And it is killing fifty out of every hundred people it touches.

As their town goes into lockdown, Peter is forced to return home–with his beautiful graduate assistant. But the Brookses’ safe suburban world is no longer the refuge it once was. Food grows scarce, and neighbor turns against neighbor in grocery stores and at gas pumps. And then a winter storm strikes, and the community is left huddling in the dark.

Trapped inside the house she once called home, Ann Brooks must make life-or-death decisions in an environment where opening a door to a neighbor could threaten all the things she holds dear.

Carla Buckley’s poignant debut raises important questions to which there are no easy answers, in an emotionally riveting tale of one family facing unimaginable stress."

"The Things That Keep Us Here" is a surprisingly riveting novel; I couldn't put it down. Not only that, but this book genuinely had me thinking and analyzing my own life. While it could be read for purely enjoyment, it can also be read in depth and be analyzed.

Even while reading this book I was talking about it to my family, friends, and residents, anyone who would listen really. I would ask them, "How far would you go for the ones you love? Would you steal? Would you lie? Would you become savage?" Like Peter and Ann in the novel, I'd like to think that even when my children were starving I'd be able to resist such temptations, but I'm not sure I could.

This book is so good because it's so realistic; whether it be bird flu, swine flu, or whatever comes next — this could happen. After reading this book, I think we're lucky it hasn't happened yet!

The characters were great and believable and the plot kept reading (I loved getting to the end of a chapter because there was always something that kept the story moving). The language and tone of the novel was wonderful, even the scientific parts. When science was involved, I would have argued that Buckley herself was a budding scientist! It sounded believable and arguable — which only added to the realism of the novel. For the life of me I can't think of a single thing I don't like about this book — which doesn't happen a lot.

Highly recommended, I will be keeping this book. I'll put it onto my classroom shelves, but it's definitely suited for the upper grades or reading levels. I don't see any reason why an advanced reader wouldn't like this novel as much as I did.

Thank you so much to "Pump Up Your Book Promotions " for sending me a review copy.

From Amazon.com...

"WHAT DO YOU DO IF THE GUY OF YOUR DREAMS IS SOMEBODY ELSE’S BOYFRIEND?
Taryn has found the perfect guy. Epp is tall, athletic, handsome, and best of all, she is sure he likes her, too. There’s only one problem: He’s dating someone else. But when Taryn becomes friends with Epp’s beautiful girlfriend, Isabelle, her life begins to change. New friends, movie dates, and a first kiss—life couldn’t get any better, could it? Except that Epp is still Isabelle’s boyfriend. Girls will relate to Taryn’s sincerity and humor as she tries to balance family, friendship, and, of course, romance."

I have mixed feelings about this book.

Taryn is a believable character, but I wouldn't say I necessarily liked her or was able to relate to her. She's a very pliable character and extremely easy to manipulate.

(SLIGHT spoiler) Her relationship with Epp is extremely manipulated by Hickey in that throughout the whole novel certain feelings (on Epp's part) are continually implied and obvious, the end of the novel was disappointing because I felt purposefully misled and lied too.

I found every part of the novel mentioning the dog, Camille, to be overdone; she was continually mentioned and there really wasn't a purpose for it. Now, had the relationship between Taryn and her mother been more of a focal point — I could see the dog's importance. But this relationship, while hinted on, wasn't really developed or focused on until the last couple chapters. As a result, the dog being continually mentioned was almost awkward and completely unnecessary.

Lila's character, while annoying, was believable. I also like Isabelle. My best friend is often regarded as a snot by her female peers because of her confidence, beauty, and intelligence. It's always interesting what jealousy and insecurity can do to the female race. I was also able to relate to Pete — he was a believable adolescent character. Epp, on the other hand, was poorly developed and vague (in my opinion). Readers only know him by the false misleading information provided by Taryn's observations. For no reason at all, he's a completely different person at the end of the novel than he was at the beginning. As for Taryn's mom, I felt for her — really. But I felt the Hickey may have had too many themes going on. If divorce was meant to be a bigger theme of the novel, there should have been more time devoted to it, rather than tacking it on at the end.

To the book's credit, the last three chapters had my heart racing, but it came up short. I feel like Hickey was afraid to have Taryn deal with the consequences of her actions. I don't feel like Taryn, as a character, grew as a result of her experiences. Character growth in novels is extremely important, otherwise what is the point?

The book was okay; it didn't bring me in until the end and then it had an anticlimactic ending. A light read, I think this book would be better suited to younger female readers who could relate to the immaturity of the characters and who aren't necessarily looking for character growth.

I will not be purchasing this book for my classroom and, if I had to, I would only recommend this novel to seventh or eighth graders.

From Amazon.com...

"A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel—a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice—but the weight of history will only tolerate so much. "

Why I read this: I had to teach it so I guessed I had better read it.

Plot: The plot of this timeless classic, I'll admit, starts slow. My students struggled with "TKM" in the beginning; I attempted to read it several times over the summer after returning from BEA. Finally, I inter-library loaned the audio and finally I was able to get into it. Because of this, my English 9 classes listened to the entire first half of the book in class. While maybe not ideal, I think they were more able to relate to it and "get into" the novel.

Finally, towards the end of the novel, the plot picked up and my students didn't struggle as much. About this point I had a hard time getting my students to actually STOP reading so that the rest of the class could catch up and everyone would be on the same page.

Characters: Next time I teach "TKM," I will make a bookmark for my students with all the character information — many of them seemed to struggle with the characters and keeping them straight. I think my students liked Scout and Jem, but I think Atticus' character completely went over their heads because he wasn't the narrator or (seemingly) the protagonist. I don't think any of them realized the gravity of his decisions and actions.

Cover: The cover on the book that our school distributes could use some updating, I think the cover alone gives kids the wrong impression of this book.

Final Thoughts: Surprisingly, my two of my five classes hated "TKM." No matter what I did they refused to even have a classroom discussion about the novel. Even when I brought outside information in, they just refused to realize how timeless this novel is (there had been a robbery in Sioux Falls the week we finished "TKM." Three suspects tied a man up in his house and taped his mouth shut but did not blindfold him. When describing the suspects all the news broadcasters said were "three black men." The discussion was based on the fact that identifying the suspects as "black" and "men" gave the area really no important descriptions, such as height, weight, build, facial hair, tattoos, etc. As a result, any "black man" in the area was now (metaphorically) a mockingbird). I was extremely proud of the possibilities of this discussion, but in the end it failed horribly with these two classes). These two classes refused to even respect the fact that it was a "classic" and in it's 50th year of publication — talk about aggrivating!

However, the other three classes (towards the end of the novel) loved it. We not only had the aforementioned discussion, but many other discussions that they had come up with on their own. They were the students I had to slow down in order to finish the book as a class! I loved these classes and how surprised they were that a classic could be, oh I don't know, good reading! It was a fun experience to have such great classes who were willing to "hang in there" and enjoy a scholarly activity.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 7/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 4/5
Tone: 4/5
Cover: 5/10
Overall: 85/100 B

To the FTC, with love: Received at BEA 2010 and through the Library/School

Synopsis:
"A dancer driven to succeed.

A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.

The summer they share.

And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reye's life. About to graduate from Miami's Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall ho has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps. The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad's affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soldedad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer."

Carmen Part Three:
With all of the recent posts going up about reviewing books that you less than loved, I'm a bit nervous about posting this review. "When The Stars Go Blue" was an okay novel; I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. I almost put it down about page 200, but I felt like I had already invested all this time into it and it had to get better.

But it didn't. The plot was slow going until about the last 75 pages. The characters that started out with such promise, like Jonathan at the beginning of the novel, lost their uniqueness and their character consistently throughout the novel. At times it felt like the characters were much older than 18 years old; the way they conversed and acted around each other, to me, was much more equivalent to mature adults in their mid to late twenties than students just out of high school.

The writing, I will say, was fantastic. Ferrer writes in such a way that I kept expecting something spectacular to happen, the problem was that I just kept waiting. I also loved the Spanish language and culture that was brought into the novel — it added the depth that I needed. I could tell through Ferrer's writing that extensive knowledge went into the novel both in regards to dance, band, and all things music. I admire this knowledge and at times, while reading "When the Stars Go Blue," I found myself wishing I hadn't quit band or dance when I was younger.

The last 75 pages of the novel were fast-paced, suspenseful, and a bit confusing. I definitely had to read a few passages multiple times to make sure that what I thought happened had actually happened. Despite not liking "When the Stars Go Blue," I would definitely give this author another shot in the future. The end of the book proves to me that she can weave an exciting tale, I just hope that next time she doesn't wait so long.

Originality: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 6/10
Cover: 9/10
Overall: 43/60 C

To the FTC, with love: Received for Review

Visit Caridad online: Website | Twitter |
Buy the Book: Barnes and Noble | Nook | Amazon | Kindle

"The mystery of the plot really kept my interest; there were times when I thought I had it all figured out (after the first initial twist) and then with the last eight chapters there was another twist! And then another! The end of the book was absolutely perfect — I laughed and I cried." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"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 read this: The cover really drew my attention in and then after reading the synopsis I knew I would love this novel.

Plot: It took me a while to warm up to the plot; in the beginning it was slow and I could really connect with the setting or characters. The plot also left a lot out, which adds to the mysteriousness, but frustrated me because 1/4 of the way into the book I figured I should have some idea of what was going on. With patience in check, by half way through the novel the plot thickened and deepened to a point where I couldn't put this novel down. I found myself rethinking reincarnation and wondering "what if" and thinking "how romantic." The mystery of the plot really kept my interest as well, there were times when I thought I had it all figured out (after the first initial twist) and then with the last eight chapters there was another twist! And then another! The end of the book was absolutely perfect — I laughed and I cried.

Characters: I did struggle with some of the characters and the amount of religion emphasized in this small community. Coming from a small Midwestern community, I understand how religion can play an important part of a community but I thought it was caked on pretty heavy throughout (especially) the beginning of this novel. I also struggled with Haven's back and forth mentality in regards to Iain. Speaking of Iain... loved him! I absolutely adored him... even when I really disliked him I enjoyed his character. A great character (in my opinion) is one who you can love and hate at the same time because of the depth of the character... this was Iain Morrow for me. Also, I just gotta say Adam definitely caught me unawares.

Cover: A very simple cover — but definitely cover love.

Random Thoughts: I'll admit it, I definitely googled the Ouroboros Society. I just can't get over how romantic it all is! To continue searching for "the one" for lifetimes. I would LOVE to see this novel as a movie.

Final Thoughts: This book was fantastic; I could not put it down and could not push it from my thoughts. I had about 100 pages left when school got out and read until I was able to leave (3:45) and then took it home with me. Dan was reading "Mockingjay" and when he began to shut his book so that we could "talk about our days" I begged him to continue reading. Together we sat side by side on our recliner and read. He saw me laugh, cry, and shout out in amazement over this book. He saw my despair when the novel was ending and I knew it wasn't going to end the way I wanted it to. He witnessed the small bit of hope that remained as I began reading the final chapter. And he held my hand when I shut the book and let out the sigh that goes along with the end of any great read. It's become a very fond memory that I think says a lot about our relationship and I'm so happy to say that it is a memory that involves this book.

Read it.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 94/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Library Loan

"It seems with each progressing Sookie novel I never know what to expect and am surprised every time — and so far, I haven't been disappointed." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a naked man on the side of the road, turns out he doesn't remember who he is. But it's Eric the vampire, who's now a kindler, gentler vampire. He's also scared because whoever took his memory now wants his life."

My Reviews of: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, and Club Dead

This is by far my favorite Sookie novel. It wasn't nearly as repetitious and (don't all gasp at once) Bill hardly had made an appearance. Yes, you heard that right!

This novel was fantastic because it was so different from the others. This Sookie was stronger, not necessarily because she was weak before but because without Bill constantly in the picture she was able to be stronger. (Although she still constantly reminded me of her word of the day calendar — one of these days I'm going to keep track of how many times this infamous calendar is mentioned in one book.)

As I've been saying — I'm in literary love with Eric. Now that I've seen a different side to him (no spoilers here) — I'm utterly and irrevocably in love with him! But I have to say, Sookie sure has a lot of potential suitors: Eric, Alcide, Sam, Bill, and now Calvin! If I had to rate them (mild tangent coming) it would have to go as such:

1. Eric (From "Dead to the World")
2. Eric
3. Alcide
4. Sam
5. Calvin
6. Bill

Okay, back to the review.

I liked how the other Supernatural creatures had a larger part to play in this novel and that they had to work together. It seems with each progressing Sookie novel I never know what to expect and am surprised every time — and so far, I haven't been disappointed.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 2/10
Overall: 89/100 B+

To the FTC, with love: Bought

"This novel was absolutely surprisingly fantastic: a book I couldn't put down, a world I didn't want to leave behind, and characters that I'll never forget." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Challenges: eBook Challenge, +75 Challenge, NetGalley Challenge

"The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there."

I found myself in several different instances, in class and at the rink, taking a huge intake of breathe in a surprised fashion (does that make sense?) — loud enough so that students and hockey parents were like "What are you reading?!" At one point in class, I had to shut the Nook and say, "Goodness that was SO romantic!" There were only a few minutes left of class so I explained to the students what I was reading and I hinted at the "romance."

Speaking of romance, was anyone else rooting for Samm? Just wondering...

I know this review is a bit "everywhere" but really — just take my advice and pick up this novel! There really wasn't a single thing that bugged/irked me about it. Despite the "heavy" overtones, Marcus brought some great humor to the story that I really enjoyed; a lot of times I feel like humor in YA is so over dramatized that I get frustrated — not so with this book! In addition to the funny, there were some great surprises and twists that I never EVER saw coming — I didn't even really have an inkling that a surprise was coming (which is probably why I can't help but gasp out loud)! I was even able to somewhat understand or at least deduce what all the medical lingo meant!

This novel was absolutely surprisingly fantastic: a book I couldn't put down, a world I didn't want to leave behind, and characters that I'll never forget. There were moments that were tear-jerking sad, laugh out loud funny, and (as I mentioned) exclaim out loud surprising! How's that for adjectives!

Favorite Memorable Quotes: page numbers are in reference to the NetGalley ebook.
"The first human to communicate with another species in eleven years and he tells me to shut up" (158).
"Well thanks for not shooting anyone, I guess. My contribution was to somehow refrain from peeing myself. You can thank me later" (251).

-Connect with the Author: Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
-BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook

To the FTC, with love: eGalley from NetGalley

"The characters in Courtney Summers' new novel are individuals and real. The plot is intriguing and fast paced. I couldn't put this book down." — Miss Remmers

I won this book from GoodReads! Thank You!

From Amazon.com...

"Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be. "

"Some Girls Are" is such an honest read, much like "Cracked Up To Be. " At first, I had a hard time reading it because of it's honesty and how real it was. I felt for Regina, Liz, and Michael. At times, I had to shut the novel for a minute in order to remind myself that it is fiction. The characters are individuals and real. The plot is intriguing and fast paced. I couldn't put this book down. The themes of the novel are all directed towards young adults: friendship, bullies, sex, alcohol, drugs. These themes add to the realism of the novel.

If I had to pick something I didn't like I would have to say the ending. The climax was coming and then all of a sudden nothing happened, all was good, and the book ended. I mean really, the climax, resolution, and conclusion (plot line) happened in about seven pages.

I'd also mention that "Some Girls Are" is very similar to "Cracked Up to Be" in regards to characterization. Both protagonists were 'popular'; Regina was 'froze out' of the popular crowd and Parker tries to isolate herself from the crowd. Both books have an underlying theme of rape. While these coincidents didn't detract from either novel, I still loved both, and the plots were different, at times I found myself forgetting what book I was reading and what had or had not happened.

I highly recommend "Some Girls Are" to struggling recreational readers. I will definitely be keeping this copy for my own classroom.

"Some Girls Are" will be released tomorrow, January 5th, 2010. This is a book to own!