Favourite contemporary YA novels

Awhile back, I was asked if I wanted to write a guest post about my favourite contemporary YA for a friend's blog to fill in for her while she was on holiday. It was a lovely idea, and I wanted to do it, but life sort of got in the way for a little while. What made it all the more difficult is that only recently I'd written a similar guest post for The Book Memoirs.

I decided that I still wanted to write the list and that I'd post it here instead. It turns out that I'm a really big fan of contemporary fiction. Yes, I like fantasy and paranormal YA as much as the next person. And I like to dabble in sci-fi and historical as well. I've probably read more than my fair share of dystopian YA to last a lifetime, but where my heart truly lies, is with stories really based in reality. Stories such as these:


Nobody's Girl by Sarra Manning - I adore books in which there is travelling of any sort, but especially, ESPECIALLY, if that travelling occurs in Paris. I've never been to Paris, and I desperately want to go, especially after reading Nobody's Girl. I also adore Sarra Manning's writing. All of the books by her that I've picked up have been utterly great, but I think Nobody's Girl is my favourite of hers from her YA books. When I bought Nobody's Girl, it was just before N went on a business trip. I don't like it when N leaves - after all these years together, I find it quite difficult to sleep alone. So I ended up staying up all night with Nobody's Girl to keep me company.

And it's utterly lovely. I fell for Bea straight away. She's thinks she's very boring and ordinary and my heart strings were pulled instantly after a group of horrid girls plays a mean trick on her whilst on holiday. So instead, she leaves them behind and goes off on a journey to find her French father she's never known. She teams up with some American backpackers including the gorgeous Toph and goes on this epic adventure. Romance, travel, Paris, and figuring out who you are, this book is a delight to read. I really, really love it.


Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - Here's another book with romance and set in Paris. Very different from Nobody's Girl, but still bloody brilliant! Everyone had said such lovely things about Anna for absolutely ages before it came out and I was DYING to get my hands on a copy earlier in the year. Luckily I won this book in a giveaway on another blog and dove into it straight away. Reading Anna and the French Kiss was my inspiration for starting my (now) annual event, Love Month in February.

This book is very near perfection in my eyes. I absolutely love the setting (Paris! Why are there not more YA books set in Paris, eh?!) and the characters and especially, especially the build-up of romance between our two main characters. Anna and Etienne are so utterably adorable together. Things between them are sweet and filled with tension as well as being funny and serious. I was on such a high of emotions reading this book. I'm now DESPERATE to read the companion novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door.


Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols - Oh, Jennifer Echols! How I adore you. And it all started with Going Too Far. This book was one of the first YA books that I bought and it was one of the first to really get me hooked into contemporary YA. I didn't know very much about it, but Amazon kept recommending it and I remember buying it together with one of Elizabeth Scott's books as well as one by Susane Colasanti, and all three authors would now make it on my list of favourite ever YA authors. So it was really quite a lucky purchase so long ago.

I think what really grabbed me about Going Too Far is the writing style and the believeability of all the characters. I could really see myself in Meg - in her actions and the things she thinks and says. It all felt very real to me. There's so much emotion in this book and I was so swept away with her relationship with John After. If in ten years' time I made a list of my favourite male characters in any book, I'm absolutely positive that John After would make my list. He is very worthy of swoon! And the relationship between Meg and John is just brilliant. Sadly, in my enthusiasm for spreading the love for this book, I gave my copy away. But I shall definitely be buying my own again in the very near future because this book just screams out to be read again and again.


The Boyfriend List and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart - I'm sort of cheating by counting both books by E. Lockhart here, but that's OK. I'm making the rules! And I adore E. Lockhart. Not only for her fun and funny series about Ruby Oliver but also because of her intelligent and thought-provoking book about Frankie Landau-Banks.

I admit, I had a copy of The Boyfriend List for ages and I never got around to reading it because the cover that my copy had looked a bit like it was aimed at a much younger audience than I'd normally read. Well, doesn't it? But don't let the cute frog put you off like it did me, this book is WONDERFUL! Ruby Oliver has to be one of my favourite female characters in a book ever. She's funny and sarcastic and confused. I seriously adore her and I would love to be her friend and get caught up in the drama that surrounds her. She has terrible luck with guys and some serious issues going on with her friends. With the help of her shrink, she's able to come to terms with what she wants and needs from her life, both for herself, in her friends and also in the boys in her life.

My favourite bits from this series of books (besides Roo herself, who is ace) are the popular culture footnotes which make me laugh like a loon. There's four (I believe?) books in the Ruby Oliver series, but I haven't yet read the last book. When I do finish, I shall cry at the thought of no longer have Roo in my life. Sadness.

And on a completely different note, we have The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, also by E. Lockhart, but very different to the Ruby Oliver books. Frankie Landau-Banks is another excellent female character though, one who recognises the gender imbalances in her world, from her parents' double-standards, to the outdated rules and guidelines at her elite boarding school, including the secret all-male society that her boyfriend is part of. So what does she do? In her own bad-ass way, she totally changes everything. And I cheered and felt inspired by her the entire way through this book. Rock on, Frankie!


The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - Which brings me to the last book on my list, The Sky Is Everywhere. What an absolute beautiful book this is. Both the physical book as well as the story. I haven't read a book as emotional as this one in a very long time.

What I loved so much about the book is this combination of this celebration of love and life in times of absolute grief. Lennie's sister dies suddenly and she has no idea what to do and how to cope with this massive hole in her family and in her life. Lennie has always been in her sister's shadow, content to be a band geek with her nose stuck in a book. But all of a sudden, Lennie has to take the reins of her own life and make her own choices and decisions, especially when it comes to the two boys who are circling around.

What I loved so much about this book, aside from the beautiful writing and the characters, is the quirkiness of it. Lennie writes all these emotional poems and then lets them free into the wild. Her lunch bag could contain a book (to feed the soul) rather than to feed her stomach. Lennie's family is absolutely CRAZY and I lapped every detail of them. And besides all that, we have Joe Fontaine who is utterly and completely wonderful. I have a huge crush on Joe Fontaine, seriously! Such a beautiful book.

These are my favourite contemporary YA novels. Would any of these make your list? What are your favourites?

REVIEW: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

I had high hopes for Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. I really wanted to be swept away by this one. I've had a few people recommending this one, talking about the swoonworthiness of the main character, and while I did find aspects of his character made me slightly melty (every time his lip ring was mentioned, for instance!), on the whole, I didn't feel like I knew enough about anyone to feel fully engaged by the story or the characters.

And this book is big! The sheer size of it did put me off reading it straight away, but I picked it up hoping that I'd be incredibly consumed by a story and it just didn't happen. I just wanted more from it.

Isobel is a popular cheerleader and is happy with her popular boyfriend and group of cheerleader friends. But when Isobel is paired up with Varen, this mysterious Goth loner, to do an English project, things begin to change in her life. Her friends begin turning on her, all because she has to spend time with Varen on this project.

I didn't fully understand or believe some of the extreme lengths that Brad and Isobel's 'friends' go to in this attack of Isobel and Varen, but either way, I can see the point of it. Isobel becomes very isolated from everyone she knows which just brings her closer and closer to Varen. I just wish something ELSE had happened for this almighty switch in allegiance of Isobel's friends OR that we'd seen some of this inner-bitchiness before it happened so that when these things did occur it didn't feel extreme or out of place.

Varen as a character could have been really interesting. He's very much this Goth boy (with a lip ring!) and he's very into Edgar Allan Poe and he carries this book around with him of his writing. Not a lot is known about him as the story starts and Isobel, as she tries to connect with him over this project becomes more and more curious about him. I'm not going to go too much into the plot, because I think I'll end up sounding more negative about this book than I really am. I did have problems with it - the friends issue at the start, I thought there needed to be more build-up in Isobel and Varen's relationship and I found the ending to be a little bit confusing.

But it isn't a bad book by any means. It's a massive book and none of my issues with it kept me from reading and going through its page fairly quickly too. I loved all of the mention of Edgar Allan Poe and some of the creepier parts were quite creepy having just had an excerpt from one of Poe's writings. I just wanted more. More feeling or build-up or something for me to feel emotionally connected to the story. Perhaps that will happen if I read the sequel? I'm not sure.

Ballet

I love ballet. It's so beautiful and graceful and something about it just makes me happy. It has since I was a very little girl. I tell the story all the time, I wanted to join ballet when I was little. But my dad, being a single father, had absolutely no clue whatsoever, and instead he enrolled me (along with my older brother) into a boxing club instead. It was short-lived, soon after, David and I both joined the swimming team.

But my heart yearned for ballet all the same. But all these years later, instead of learning ballet I just watch it. On stage, in films ... I've read very few books involving ballet though, which is a little strange. Is there not many YA books involving ballet?

I was in a bit of a slump the other week, I was feeling down about a few different things and I really needed a pick me up. None of the books I was reading was doing it for me, so I went with two of my favourite comfort watches: Save the Last Dance and Center Stage.



Save the Last Dance - You know what? I'm such a sucker for teen films. I think it's probably just the teen experience that I love so much, and it should really be no surprise after all the teen books I read. This film is slightly cheesy, but I just love all of the dancing. And the love interest has a great smile. And while it's not explicit, I also just really love that they actually have sex. Usually it's just some chaste kissing but not in Save the Last Dance! That aside, the reason this film is a comfort watch, is because I love the ballet. The main character gives up her dreams of being a prima ballerina after her mother dies and she goes to live with her clueless father. There she takes up hiphop and merges ballet and hiphop in order to impress the judges at her Julliard audition. It's fun to watch.



Center Stage - Oh I know, this film is utterly cheesy. I realise that when I watch it, but honestly? I just can't take my eyes away from it. It's all the ballet! I think there could be so much more character development in it... and so much more could be improved. But it's the dancing that I like to watch. Especially the end sequence, with the Michael Jackson song! Oh my god, I love it. Let me find a clip of it from YouTube. Worth watching, I tell you. With the motorcycle and the fun costume changes. If that doesn't put a huge smile on your face, I don't know what will. *happy sigh*




I think I know where my love of ballet began. I can't be certain, but I think reading Maggie Adams, Dancer by Karen Strickler Dean is the book that hooked me. It was about a girl who was struggling to become the best dancer she can be, without the support of her parents. I found this book in a second hand bookstore, I believe, on one of my family's long road trips. I loved every single word of it and it really stayed with me, this story. I still have a battered copy of this book. I even read it recently and it passed the test of time for me. What makes me sad is that I think Karen Strickler Dean wrote other books about Maggie and her journey, and I haven't read them! I didn't even know they were available.

In Maggie Adams, Dancer, Maggie has this great love of The Nutcracker. She's absolutely determined to dance in that ballet. To be honest, I'm not very familiar with ballet - I don't know any famous ballerinas, I don't know very much about different ballets, or classical music. But still, I remember when I was pregnant with my Eldest, and we weren't sure if he would be a boy or a girl... I remember having a very strong opinion about putting 'Clara' on the shortlist for girl's names, mostly because Clara is a character from The Nutcracker!


As I said, I'm not really very aware of other YA books about ballet. Apart from Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe, which I'm very much looking forward to. I saw it on someone's else's blog, possibly on Waiting For Wednesday, and I've been excited about it.

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.



Here's the book trailer:



So, that's me. I love ballet. Do you? Can you think of any YA books about ballet? Or films?

REVIEW: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

I wasn't quite sure what to make of After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel when it first arrived. I'd read the first book in the Need series by Carrie Jones earlier in the year and while I liked the story, it didn't blow me away and I haven't yet gotten around to reading the sequels to that series.

For me, After Obsession is much along the same lines. It was a very quick read, and I did enjoy the story. It was quite creepy in parts and I especially loved that one of the main characters is mixed-race, as that's not something I see very often in YA literature, and when I finished the book I did have a feeling of contentment. Perhaps it isn't fair, but I was hoping for more of an emotional reaction.

After Obsession is told in alternating chapters from two main perspectives. Aimee is a teenage girl, who still seems to be recovering from the death of her mother years earlier. Her mother had been labelled as mentally ill and Aimee tries her best to fit in and behave normally so that she doesn't stick out as her mother did. She has a normal boyfriend and best friend - but she isn't quite normal herself. Aimee can sense things others cannot and she's afraid of what that might mean.

Whereas Alan is a bit more accepting of his unusual abilities. He prides himself on his spirit guide and the Native American roots that he gets from a father he's never known. Alan and his mother move away from their home in Oklahoma after Alan's uncle goes missing and is fear drowned.

It's really Courtney, Aimee's best friend and Alan's cousin, who is in trouble in this story. She cannot face the fact that her father is gone forever, and in a desperate attempt to get him back, has brought demonic activity to this sleepy little town. Soon, strange things are happening and people everywhere are acting strangely, more aggressively. With growing attraction between Aimee and Alan, they must ban together to figure out what's causing all of the unrest in town and fight this demon once and for all.

I found both Aimee and Alan to be quite interesting characters, and I'm always pleased in a dual-narrative such as this, that both points of view are distinguishable. And as I said earlier, I found certain aspects of the story to be really quite creepy. There's a bit of atmosphere to everything going on, and I don't think I'd want to go near the water for awhile. The creep factor seems quite subtle though, not really in your face at all, which I appreciated. It's the same for the romantic build-up.

The only thing I had an issue with is that this River Man who seems to be the presense behind all of the evil is described as both a ghost and a demon. The two words seemed interchangeable, but are they really? I have no idea. I probably would have liked to see more from the secondary characters and a better in-depth description of demonic possession, which is mentioned but only briefly.


Overall though, I flew through the book quite easily and it was a pretty good read.

Guest review: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reviewed by Kulsuma from Sunshine and Stardust

Before I read Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, I was unsure of whether it would catch my interest as I thought it would be a grim, depressing book filled with nothing but battles. However, I was soon proved wrong. Once I started to read the book, I found it extremely captivating and I immediately began to feel Isabel’s every emotion and understand everything about her.

After their owner dies, Isabel believes she and her sister Ruth will be free, as promised in her owner’s will. However, Isabel is horrified to learn that she and Ruth will be sold. Her and Ruth’s cruel new owners, the Locktons, live in New York and it is there that Isabel is brought to the forefront of the American War of Independence.

The story is told well from Isabel’s perspective. Isabel is in a world where she has very little power over her own destiny. She tries to exert some control over her life by making deals with people, but she is consistently let down. She has no power to protect herself but she must also try and protect her ‘simple-minded’, epileptic sister, Ruth, who she loves very much. Even though Isabel faced immense pressure and suffered things that would have made many other people give up, she managed to persevere and dared to hope. Her need to protect Ruth spurred her on throughout the book and made her rebel.

Isabel’s life was fraught with bad luck. She had several chances of having a better life than she had with the odious Locktons; however, she was stopped at every turn. Chains was gruelling at times as Isabel was a slave; a non-person. I was with her as she had to go through unendurable physical and emotional torment. It was agony to watch Isabel fighting with herself to remain passive when both she and I as a reader wanted her to do something definite and aggressive towards her oppressors.

Chains was well-paced and in proportion, however, I thought that the ending could have been improved as I was expecting another chapter to round off this part of her story. As Chains was from Isabel’s point of view, the book contained colloquialisms. This was great as it was more realistic and it felt like I was hearing her thoughts as they occurred to her. Sad as it is to say, I felt that it would have been more likely that Isabel would have met a greater number of cruel individuals and fewer kind-hearted people such as Lady Seymour.

Isabel’s story was made more real for me by the presence of the other storylines such as the American War of Independence that was historically accurate. It was very worthwhile reading Chains as it gave some insight into the life of a slave during a momentous time.

I recommend Chains to people who are interested in historical fiction, slavery and the American War of Independence. If you like Chains, you may also be interested in reading a non-fiction book, the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave Written By Himself which was also very interesting. This was the first in a trilogy and I am eager to read the next book, Forged.

Thank you so much for that fascinating review, Kulsuma!

In My Mailbox 37

Welcome to another edition of In My Mailbox. IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren in which bloggers get the chance to share with their readers the books that have recently come into their possession. I really love this meme and I look forward to seeing all my favourite blogger's books each week. Thank you to Kristi for hosting something is such fun!

Here are the books that I acquired this week...



The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson - Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.

Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

Do you guys read Bart's Bookshelf? You really should. Fab blog and there's this thing called Bad Bloggers in which points are awarded to other bloggers whose reviews persuade you to buy a certain book. I 'won' the last round of Bad Bloggers, and as 'punishment' was sent this lovely book! Thank you so much Darren, you are utterly lovely and very generous. Have wanted to read this book for AGES.

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Darkness Falls by Mia James - April Dunne is having a rough time. There are vampires in her school. Not Goths, or Emos in fancy dress. Dangerous, blood-sucking semi-immortals. They run the school. They pretend to be students at it. And they're using their influence to recruit smart, rich students - aka 'bleeders' - to their own cause. What is that cause? April isn't sure. But she knows they killed a rock star for it, and innocents who got too close to the truth. One of them almost killed her. But that's nothing to what's coming next. Gabriel, her kinda-boyfriend, is dying and unless April can find a cure then not only is she going to be boyfriendless, she's also going to lose one of her major allies in the school. And she really needs allies. Because it turns out April has an ability of her own, one that could prove lethal to the 'Suckers' who've taken over the school. If any of them figure out what she is, then losing her boyfriend will be the least of her problems ...

The lovely Nina from Orion/Indigo sent me this book. It's very pretty in person. By Midnight was the first book I finished reading in 2011, so I'm glad that I haven't had to wait TOO long to read the sequel. I'm looking forward to it.

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One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt - Two years ago, when Eliza Sellman was in ninth grade, her dad found out he was being transfered and the family was going to move. Having always been shy and not so confident about her body, Eliza took that opportunity to start a list in her private notebook of all the things she planned on doing when she moved but had always been afraid to—like wearing a miniskirt and asking guys to dance; singing karaoke in front of strangers; posting a photo of herself on her Facebook wall in a bikini...you get the idea. New town, new Eliza, right? Well, she'll never know because the transfer fell through and they didn't move. But Eliza kept adding her goals and secret fears to the list in the notebook. Now it's two years later, and in that time Eliza has had and lost her first boyfriend. But this was more than your average breakup...turns out the sweet and cute Cooper was only dating her as a hazing stunt by a secret society. Eliza got her revenge by posting some pretty nasty (and only sort-of true) stuff about Cooper online. That posting has had major consequences and now Cooper and his buddies have stolen her private notebook and won't give it back until she performs all the things on her list in one night. It's torture...until Eliza steals something from the boys she knows they'll want to trade her notebook for. What starts out as a night of humiliation turns into a night of revelations as Eliza learns what Cooper was really thinking when they dated, the real reason he's stolen her notebook, and how freeing—and life-changing—it can be to do the things you fear the most.

Recently I read another book by Lauren Barnholdt, Two-Way Street, and really enjoyed it. Since then, I've been on the look out for other books by the same author. This book was snapped up using a book-swapping website and it looks like it could be quite a fun read.

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Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan - What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

Glow is the most riveting series debut since The Hunger Games, and promises to thrill and challenge readers of all ages.


I love the glittery final cover for this one. I love the idea of reading more YA science-fiction and I certainly won't be waiting long to dive into this book!

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Blood Promise by Richelle Mead - How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?


This is the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series. At the moment, whilst excited to carry on with the series, I'm also feeling a little bereft with the outcome of book three. I don't know how I'll cope...

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Sweetly by Jackson Pearce - As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch-like monster in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

When their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out as teens, they stumble upon a sleepy Southern town and are invited to stay with Sophia Kelly at her sweet shop. Sophia molds candied magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel finally start to forget their haunted past - until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel, who gives Gretchen a reason to fear Sophia: girls have been vanishing at Sophia's annual chocolate festival, taken by the insatiable 'witch' of Gretchen's nightmares. Can Gretchen save herself, the girls of Live Oak, andSophia?

Of one thing, Gretchen is certain: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.


Hurrah, I'm so excited about this book! It wasn't long ago that I was reading and really enjoying Sisters Red so I have very high expectations for Sweetly!

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Mist by Kathryn James - A chilling fairy-tale thriller for 10+ girls.

Midnight: a mist-haunted wood with a bad reputation. A sweet sixteen party, and 13 year old Nell is trying to keep her sister, spoilt birthday-girl Gwen, out of trouble. No chance. Trouble finds Gwen and drags her through the mist. Only Nell guesses who’s behind the kidnap - the boy she hoped was her friend, the cute but mysterious Evan River.

All those fairy stories Nell’s grandmother told her about girls being stolen by fairy folk are true. The Elven are beautiful as starlight, fierce as wolves, and cold as ice. And they want their world back. The fight has been raging for centuries. Nell’s grandmother should know, she’s a Watcher, the ones responsible for imprisoning the Elven in isolated iron-bound camps in Siberia. Only Evan, his fanatical older brother Fen, and a handful of Elven children are still free.

Fen, hellbent on revenge, keeps Gwen in their wolf-guarded stronghold deep in the mist. The price for her safe return? The release of all the Elven – but the Watchers will never agree. Only Nell can save Gwen.

Time is twisted through the mist: if Nell stops longer than a night and day, a hundred years will hit her as soon as she returns and she’ll be old and withered before she’s even lived. The clock is ticking.

Here's one that looks quite cool. I really like the cover and the term 'fairy-tale thriller' - really sounds good to me. Can't wait.

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This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel - Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

This was a very unexpected and exciting book that arrived this week. I've been hearing good things about it. It's a gorgeous looking hardback. The subtitle being: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. I think it might be really cool to read a prequel to a really famous book, especially one aimed at a YA audience like this one. I'm intrigued.

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So that's it for me this week, which books did you acquire recently? And have you read any of these books? Where should I start?

Nayuleska from Nayu's Reading Corner (Awesome Women)

Please allow me to introduce to you today, a really awesome woman and blogger: Nayuleska from Nayu's Reading Corner. I've followed her blog for such a long time, and I really think she's great. And after reading her brilliant answers below, I can't help but be in awe of her many interests and role models!

If you'd like to know more about Nayuleska, please do follow her blog: Nayu's Reading Corner, or follow her on Twitter. Over to you, Nayuleska...

Can you tell me a little something about yourself?

Hi everyone! I'm Nayuleska, founder and administrator of the book review blog Nayu's Reading Corner. NRC's full of books of most genres - I love them all too much to settle down to just one or two.

When I'm not working part time at a local university, I can be found reading (naturally), video gaming (Final Fantasy rules!), watching anime (great practice for Japanese - I try to watch without subs now), knitting & cross stitching (usually while watching DVDs), watching Winx (which has to have its own section because its so much fun!).

I'm also busy working on my wips, preparing for my launch into Query Land hopefully later on this summer. I write Young Adult and Children's books, focusing on fantasy and science fiction. I frequently have 'intense discussions' with my Muse, and enjoy all aspects of the writing process. I'm a huge fan of anime, which is helping maintain my Japanese learning which is on hold due to health reasons.

Did you have a role model growing up?

I had more than one! *looks away* ...Disney Princesses (who I still love), characters in books, Rinoa from Final Fantasy 8, Aeris & Tifa from Final Fantasy 7, Padme/Amidala in Star Wars.

Who do you look up to now?

There isn't anyone specific who I look up to now, but from the past I look up at Khadija, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be on him): she was an astute business woman, who had her own caravans and was valued as a trader. I also look up to Aisha, the Prophet Muhammed's (pbuh) wife after Khadija died, who always tried her best, even if sometimes things went a bit wrong. Her inner strength and Khadija's intelligence are qualities I try to incorporate in life.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

This is funny because I was thinking about this the other day! Let's see....a diplomat, an ambassador, a translator, an interpretor, an architect, a writer (see, that's one I'm still working on!), a member of the armed forces (ideally special forces) - but due to health reasons that one never came true, which is probably why I have such a fascination with them in books and dvds).

Tell me something about the women in your life who have been an influence on you?

I like this question. All the women who've had an effect on me are hardworking, caring, helpful to others. They keep persevering, especially in hard times. They have an inner strength and love of life that is really inspiring. Some are also very good cooks - I never say no to a cookie or a cupcake! (Favourite combos of flavour include white chocolate and raspberry, butterscotch, and classic vanilla).

Who is your favourite fictional character? And why?

See I always have trouble picking just one! I'll be good and pick one of my favourites. Her name is Yoko Tsuno, she's got her own graphic novel series. I don't know if they are in English, but they are in French. I've got the first book about her early life, and a few of the graphic novels. It took me a while for my French to become good enough that I could understand about her character when she was little.

I love how resourceful she is, how she doesn't really panic when problems arise. I love the weapons she gets to use (its been a while but I'm pretty sure she has a few), the different people she gets to meet and save. She was everything I wanted in a character, with much prettier costumes than Lara Croft.

What were you like as a teenager and how did you cope with all the changes that occurred?

Life as a teenager was interesting for my family. I think I struggled a bit more with all the changes, because at the same time I had a few changes in my health too. I know I had a low self-esteem, I was always trying to fit in at school, which wasn't easy when I used a laptop instead of a pen, had to have assistance in getting to class and that sort of thing. The only way I coped was by reading. By being someone else (back then I only read books with females as the protagonist), I was able to be normal (not that a heroine is ever normal!), I had somewhere to go where no-one cared what I did/couldn't do. It was then that I discovered my love of fantasy, when I read one of Mercedes Lackey's books, Arrows of the Queen (or whichever is the 2nd in that trilogy). Talia remains one of my favourite characters.

If you had any advice for yourself as a teenager, what would you say?

Ignore other people. Don't be forced to change. I loved pretty dresses and Disney. Due to teasing at school and the whole peer pressure thing, I gave up the gorgeous clothes all for the sake of fitting in. I was never all that happy - and now I'm happy in liking girly things, and being a huge Disney Princess fan (& Winx fan...and anime fan). Becoming an adult has been very liberating.

Of the issues and concerns that women are faced with today, what's the area you most like reading/writing about?

Hopefully I can say this without it sounding too weird, but I love reading and writing about girls/women who are abused. This could be domestic violence, or bullying. I have special interest in human trafficking for the sake of prostitution. It is one of the disgusting, degrading and immoral acts on earth.

I first learnt about this when I was 13/14. I was reading Anne McCaffrey's Acorna series (which I'm now re-reading the first few books, and reading the rest for the first time). Learning about the sweat shops and how Acorna freed the girls from the brothels really spoke to my heart. I had no idea what went on in the world (I was pretty sheltered as a child). I was disgusted by what men felt they needed to do. I wanted to save all the girls in the world, get them out of that situation.

Now - well, I hope that I can be published and alert others about the plight of thousands of girls. I have a small plug to Transitions Global, a charity who do the amazing thing of rescuing girls (America/Cambodia/India) from the brothels, give them therapy & education, help them gain self-esteem, bring the very bad people to justice. If I get published I hope to be able to help Transitions Global with their work.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Did I already mention that I love anime (& Winx Club!)? Heehee. I love all things sweet, I love to drink milkshakes (I make my own using real chocolate, or hot chocolate powder, or coffee (put in coffee granules, add splash of hot water to dissolve, then add 1 tsp of honey and fill with milk). Vanilla tends to be my favourite flavour for most things, although I often choose others.

Recently I saw cross stitch PC programs, and it has me wanting to create Final Fantasy themed pictures/keyrings. I have two birds, one Bengalese Finch, one Zebra finch. They look so cute in their nest - I'm known as The Egg Snatcher, because there isn't room for another bird in their cage so all eggs either go swim-swim down the loo (my mother did that when I was away once, and the text made me laugh) or get chucked in the bin. I traumatise them if I drop them on the cage floor - and I feel so guilty because they know when the eggs aren't there!

I'd like to thank Clover for having me appear in this feature - she's awesome! I love the whole blogging/writing online community - Twitter helps me keep in touch with everyone.


Thank you SO MUCH, Nayuleska! That was absolutely fascinating. I loved reading about your strange mix of influences from the Disney princesses to anime to fantasy novels. I think you're brilliant.

Books that make me want to travel... to NYC

When Keris Stainton announced on Chicklish that they'd be hosting a NYC reading challenge I really jumped at the idea! Because so many of my favourite YA books are set in New York City I figured I'd sail through the challenge easily. But since signing up for it I don't think I've read a single book :( So today I thought I might talk a little bit about some of my favourite books and then perhaps I could get a few recommendations?

I have to admit, I've only been to NYC once and I don't have particularly fond memories of it. I think if circumstances had been different, I'd really have loved it. But N and I went when I was still in my morning sickness phase in the early days of my pregnancy with Eldest. I was constantly feeling nauseous, and New York City really has some foul smells to it. One of the strongest memory I have of the place is the huge vents in the streets that emitted these putrid fumes.

But at the same time, I also think of how surprisingly polite everyone is to help out a couple of tourists standing on a street corner pouring over a map. The nice Italian lady who owned the cutest little boutique that we wandered into and who managed to drag out of me the entire romantic story of mine and N's relationship and seemed genuinely thrilled when I told her (the first person outside of our immediate family!) that we were expecting our first child. I remember getting scolded at FAO Schwarz for climbing onto a display platform to take a photo (embarassing!) and seeing the Blue Man Group. I do have lots of other great memories of the New York, so when I read about the city in my YA books, I do get a massive yearning to return and do all those things that I didn't get a chance to do the first time around.


The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot - I absolutely adore Meg Cabot, it's no secret. But that love began with the brilliant series and voice about Mia Thermopolis, teenage girl who finds out she's really royalty in The Princess Diaries. I came late to the series, and only really began reading the books after the first 6 or 7 had been published. But that worked out well for me at the start, as I could plough right through them without having that agonising wait between books. But then of course, once caught up, there was all the waiting. What has been wonderful about Meg Cabot is that she's produced so many wonderful YA books to delight and entertain me.

And Mia will always be my favourite. I love how much of New York City Meg Cabot has put into these books. You can really tell how much she loves the city and how well she knows it by some of the details and descriptions of certain places. It might just be time for a re-read of this entire series!


Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson - Another author who I absolutely adore and admire is Maureen Johnson, who is just so unbelievably funny that I just can't get over it. And every book of hers that I've read is sheer brilliance as well. While I'm still in the process of reading her backlist, one of my favourites from her in Suite Scarlett.

I absolutely love this old-timey hotel that Scarlett's family owns. I love the idea of staying in such a place. I love that it's right in the heart of New York City and the idea of living there makes me go all dreamy. Throw in the strangest bunch of characters I've ever met, a whole lot of drama and a hot Southern boy and you've got a charming tale of family and friendship and first love. I adored it.


Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton - Ooh, how much did I love Jessie Hearts NYC? I even love the gorgeous shiny cover of the book. And inside, the story and the characters are just as adorable.

I love how much enthusiasm and passion there is for New York City in this book. Jessie and her best friend Emma, are in the city for the summer and spend a lot of their time sightseeing and taking movie tours (which I'd so love to do) and trying to cram as much as NYC moments as they can. And I think my favourite aspect of the story is how often Jessie and Finn nearly meet and then don't. It's such a big place, how on earth are two people destined for each other supposed to meet? *happy sigh* But they do, and it's utterly sweet when they do. This entire book just books a huge, silly grin on my face. It makes me happy. And also yearn for New York.


Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - I watched the film before I read the book, but even if I hadn't, reading these pages would still have made me imagine clearly this fun-filled evening roaming about the streets of NYC listening to bands and getting to know these great characters!

I love the perfect combination of New York City and music and romance. I'm hoping to read the other books written by both Rachel Cohn and David Levithan soon (Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares) and I really hope that they both live up to the high expectations that I have after loving Nick and Norah.


What's your favourite books set in New York City? Any recommendations for me?

REVIEW: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway

I've been looking forward to reading The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway for a seriously long time. Awhile back I read and absolutely LOVED Audrey, Wait - it was fun and funny and it immediately made me excited to read any future books by Robin Benway. Luckily I had some leftover birthday money to spend and this is the first book I knew I had to buy.

And just with Audrey, Wait! The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June is very fun and funny. But more than that, aside from the love interests and the fun special powers the girls attain which really makes this book one that makes me happy, the aspect of the novel that I loved the most and really put a big smile on my face is the banter and the great relationships that these three sisters have with each other. I've never had a sister, but reading about April, May and June? Really makes me want one. In fact, I'd like to be an honourary sister - I was born in July, I could totally rock being the fourth sister in this story.

April, May and June are three ordinary teenage girls growing through a difficult transition. Their parents have divorced just a few short months ago and after one of the sisters goes off on a bender and gets in a bit of trouble, the girls' mother decides to move the family to another city and make a fresh start. So not only do the girls have a different family dynamic, they also have a new house and school and they have to make new friends and adjust in this new environment. That can be really hard, but what makes things even more challenging is that a drive to school one day reveals that these girls each have their own superpowers! (How awesome is that?!)

April, as the oldest, is really responsible and conscientious of rules and school and being healthy and making sure her two little sisters behave and are responsible as well. She learns that she can see glimpses of the future.

May is the rebellious middle sister. She has a bit of an attitude and a huge sarcastic streak. She has no friends and she seems to be the sister that has found her parent's divorce the hardest to deal with. She has the ability to disappear.

June, the youngest, is by far the most social of the three sisters. She wants to be noticed and to be liked by others but finds that her sisters ignore her for the most part. She is able to read minds.

I really love these three girls, they each have their own fun personalities and little quirks that made it easy to recognise their voices as this book is told in alternating chapters from each of the three girls' perspectives. And as I said, the part I loved the most is how April, May and June interact with each other. I read this book and I swear I giggled at every single page because these three have just the best conversations and arguments ever. I love the idea of families like these where everyone knows each other really well and can bring up embarassing and funny things at the perfect opportunities for humiliation and point-proving and the like.

It was hilarious to witness both this crazy family and also the way in which this crazy family handles their extraordinary secrets, how they manage to fit in at school, deal with the aftermath of a divorce and realise just how fantastic these three sisters are. This one really put the smile on my face and I can highly recommend it.

REVIEW: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Before I read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, I'd only read (and loved) one of other her books (Shiver!). But even having so little experience, I knew right from the start that The Scorpio Races had a very different feel to any of Maggie's other books. And while I can see that some might find the changes in style and tone to be too big to navigate, I found The Scorpio Races to be hugely atmospheric and character-drawn and emotional. I love the descriptive way in which Maggie writes and how she has infused this book with so emotion and passion for what's writing about. I really loved The Scorpio Races and I hope others do as well!

What I think I loved the most about The Scorpio Races is the atmosphere of this magical little island, Thisby. It has a very isolated and rugged feel to it, a wildness that seems to also live inside the two main characters, Puck Connolly and Sean Kendrick. It's an island where mythical horses come in from the sea once a year in order to feed. These horses are both feared and respected as are the brave riders who attempt to tame the horses long enough to ride them in the annual Scorpio Races.

Many dangers are faced when dealing with these horses - people die or are seriously hurt, people can be carried off back into the sea never to be seen again and both Puck's parents died in this way as did Sean's father. These horses really can't be tamed or trusted as they are both wild and dangerous. But if anyone were able to wield any kind of control over the water horses, it would be the Scorpio Races reigning champion, Sean Kendrick. Sean seems to understand the water-horses, seems to know how they think and feel and is able to use that knowledge in order to become a respected rider and water-horse handler. He rides in the Races for many reasons, but mostly in order to win the one thing he truly wants in life.

Puck Connolly on the other hand, though having lived on Thisby her entire life, has had little or no experience with the water-horses. Her reasons for entering the race are very different but no less important to her. She's the first female rider in the races and goes up against many challenges and difficulties. But she's brave and determined and I absolutely adored her.

There's so much to love about this book, especially this island filled with both beauty and death. But also these characters and their relationships with each other are an absolute joy to witness. Puck Connolly and Sean Kendrick in particular. There's just something so wonderful about the two of them, the way in which they are with each other and the way they are able to understand the other so well despite how few words Sean actually speaks is great. The tension and attraction between them made my heart race but at the same time it ached as both Puck and Sean are competing for the same thing.

But beyond Puck and Sean, I also love the relationships that each has with their horses. Sean with the massive red water-horse Corr and Puck with her normal, loyal island horse, Dove. You can really tell how much Maggie Stiefvater must love horses and understands the bonds between horse and rider so well in order to write what she's written.

For me, The Scorpio Races was a brilliant read - it felt very different an unusual, with an atmospheric setting and wonderful characters who I began to really love. I really enjoyed coming across a very original and magical story such as this one and I really recommend it. Thank you to Luisa from Chicklish for kindly sending me this book for review!

REVIEW: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

I can't say that I'd heard anything about Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez before I read it. I ended up with an American ARC of it by total whim, but ended up pretty curious about the book when I'd heard that Simon and Schuster picked it up here in the UK. (And I prefer the UK cover to that of the US cover art!)

I really like books that involve music. I think it's because I have absolutely no musical talent whatsoever and I admire those who do have the skill. And Virtuosity is the story of a teenage girl, Carmen, who is under a lot of pressure. She's already a brilliant violinist, having won a Grammy, has gone on international tours playing her music, and her albums sell well. But she's entered this really prestigious competition, the Guarneri, and it really has her on edge. Carmen is worried that another competitor, Jeremy King has a shot .. in fact, it might even be that Jeremy King is better than Carmen.

And while there is a bit of a forbidden romance between Carmen and Jeremy that starts up, I don't feel as though the romance in Virtuosity is the main pulling point. For me, it's more about Carmen searching to find out what she really wants and how to make herself happy. The feelings that she has for Jeremy only help her to realise how wrong her life is at the moment. Carmen may be successful and hugely talented, but Carmen also feels stifled and anxious about how her life has spiralled out of her control. You can see that with her addiction to anti-anxiety pills and Carmen finds it difficult to live up to her mother's strict rules and high expectations of her.

I really enjoyed Virtuosity. It showed a really gritty and dark side to success, and we're able to see into the vulnerability of Carmen as she deals with uncertainty, doubt and anxiety and how she tries to pull herself together while still being under huge amounts of pressure. It was an interesting story, I just wish that I felt a little more emotionally connected in terms of Carmen's relationships with the other characters as well as her connection with music.

Kirsty from The Overflowing Library (Awesome Women)

Today I have the great pleasure of interviewing one of my favourite book bloggers, Kirsty from The Overflowing Library. Kirsty writes wonderful reviews of YA books as well as having a fun feature, Bookcase Showcase. If you don't already read Kirsty's site, you really should!

Can you tell me a little something about yourself?

I'm Kirsty, the blogger behind The Overflowing Library. I live in Norfolk with my husband and two insane cats. By day I am a History Teacher teaching at a local high school (which I mostly love apart from the odd bad day). The kids generally think I am a bit insane as I have a random collection of things dotted about my room (including dismembered limbs and plague rats) and I get very excited about old stuff.




On my blog, which very few people I know in real life know about, I review YA titles. I'm not all that fussy about genre, but I do love historical fiction and dystopian novels.

Did you have a role model growing up?

Not as such. I clashed with my mum a lot when I was younger (probably because I was, and still am if I'd admit it, a bit of a Daddy's girl) but she did teach me a good set a values when it came to work ethic and sense with money. My parents never had a lot of cash when we were growing up so they both worked really hard for everything we had. My mum used to work seven days a week and at times doing two different jobs to ensure she had a enough money for the things we needed and she would prioritise what she bought as we would never use a credit card to buy something she couldn't afford. She now feels guilty because she worked so much but because she worked around us, doing evening shifts and weekends we never really noticed or felt like we missed out. Seeing this as a child meant that from the age of 13, I have always had some kind of job to earn my own money and even now, I would never use a loan or credit card to buy something I couldn't later afford.

Who do you look up to now?

Career wise I work with an awesome teacher, another Kirsty actually, who is a few steps ahead of me career wise and someone I work closely with on a day to day basis. She is an awesome teacher and has a fantastic work ethic. I certainly go to her for advice and inspire to be more like her in my work. This is quite an odd post for me to do. I have spent years priding myself in spending very little time in female company and often made great efforts growing up to be one of the lads. It's only in the past few years since I've started working in a school where 75% of the workforce is female and started blogging that I've spent any real time with other women.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I never really had a good idea of what I wanted to be. At one point I wanted to be a sailor girl (no I don't really know what one of that is either). When I was small I had the notion I would be an author, mainly because I loved reading from a young age. I quickly learnt the ability to read does not mean you can write as well! I ended up studying history by mistake. I hated it when I was in the younger years of high school but in Year 9 I had an awesome History Teacher who inspired me so much I carried on studying it right up to degree level. She is this brilliantly crazy little Scots lady who no one is school would dare cross. Her enthusiasm for her subject is second to none. Teaching is another thing I fell into as I wanted to do something with my degree and I didn't want to work in a museum and teaching was the only thing I could come up with.

Tell me something about the women in your life who have been an influence on you?

Only now as I'm typing this have I realised they all are quite similiar in that they all are women who have a fantastic work ethic. I've never been influenced by really girly women. I'm not one for following high fashion or worrying about clothes size I am in.

Who is your favourite fictional character? And why?

It probably has to be Sally Lockhart. Why? She is an unmarried mother living in Victorian England who, despite being a scandal in polite society, stands on her own two feet alongside all the boys. She is also a crackshot with a pistol!!! I also have a soft spot for Hermione Granger, I love that she makes it cool to be clever.

What were you like as a teenager and how did you cope with all the changes that occurred?

The years I spent as a teenger at high school were miserable. I was clever so I was picked on for wanting to do well. It meant I really drew in on myself. It didn't help that I wasn't allowed out to roam the streets with the other girls in my year late at night drinking (although I am eternally grateful for this now) which meant I got excluded further. The few female friends I did have weren't good ones to me and often treated me horribly and I let them. I didn't really deal well with everything that went on and it meant I went through a really tomboy stage spending all of my free time at home in the company of adults or with the kids who lived near me who were all a lot younger than me.

It wasn't until I left school and started sixth form college with other people who were clever that I came out of my shell and started to have a lot more of a social life and a good circle of friends who were my age whom I spend a lot of time with. It was about this time I met my husband who, as well as being my lovely husband, is also my best friend. One of his best traits is that he brings out the best in me. He makes me more confident in what I do as he has always believed in me and generally makes me a calmer happier person (cheesy slushy stuff over).

If you had any advice for yourself as a teenager, what would you say?

In ten years time none of the stuff you are dealing with will matter. Oh and that nasty girl in your year who makes your life hell? She gets really really fat, marries a man twice her age who spends the majority of his time going in and out of prison! (sorry that was a little bitchy - I guess I'm still a little bit bitter)

Of the issues and concerns that women are faced with today, what's the area you most like reading about?

I'm not sure I really read books like that on the whole. I did like Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series which dealt with issues about self image.


Thank you Kirsty for such a wonderful interview and I love all the photos you shared with us! Brilliant.

If you'd like to know more about Kirsty, do visit The Overflowing Library. And if you'd like to know more about my Awesome Women feature or would like to take part yourself, all the information can be found here.