Waiting on Wednesday (2)

This is my second time to write about what books I am waiting on to release this year. I actually haven't been that into looking at the books that are coming out, but after looking at some of the other blogs, I think it's kinda fun!!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. I love reading her blog and think you guys should go check it out!!

This week's book is:

Hunger

By: Jackie Morse Kessler

Release Date: October 18, 2010

Synopsis (from Amazon.com): Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons?

A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.
 
Why I can't wait:
 
I love a good fantasy novel and also one that has a great message, and this one does both. This book talks about anorexia, something a lot of girls are dealing with in todays society. I think that this book pushes the limits and really shows the message that anorexia sucks. After reading the book Wintergirls last year, I have been interested in reading more books about social issues like this. (One reason why I am reading Cut right now)
 
What are you looking forward to reading?

Book #8- House of Night Series

Betrayed (House of Night Series Book #2)
By: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Synopsis (from Barnesandnoble.com): Betrayed, the second installment in the bestselling House of Night series, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking.

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite group. Best of all, Zoey’s made some new friends and she finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. And despite the best efforts of her mother and step-loser John to humiliate her publically during parent visitation, she’s earned the respect of her professors and High Priestess, Neferet.
Then the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night, straining human-vamp tensions in Tulsa to a breaking point. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she finds herself drawn into an intoxicating forbidden flirtation that threatens to distract her from the growing crisis. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Too late, Zoey begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves, and she must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

So, What do I think?

Overall: The Cast women have done it again! I LOVED this book. I actually couldn't put the book down the last 10 or so chapters. I think my hubby thought I was sneaking off to another lover at night, but he would just walk in and find my nose in this book. Zoey is such a relatable character and I know exactly how she feels being torn between her feelings for more than one guy and also the feeling of being part woman and part little girl. Overall, I think this second book was better than the first. I wasn't going to read the second one, but I heard it was pretty good, so I got it from paperbackswap.com. I'm glad I did.

Characters: Of course, Zoey and her group of friends remind me of my friends when I was in high school. I was kinda the leader of our little band nerd group and I even had a gay guy friend! LOL. Sometimes, I forgot that this was a made up story, the characters were just so relatable! Loren (hot poet vamprye) made me feel warm and gooey inside. That was what he was supposed to do, and the Cast women made sure he did just that!! Some of the chracters surprise you at the end, but it is aimed to keep you on your toes.

Drama: The Cast women did not let me down when it came to drama. Aphrodite brings her own drama into the story where you almost feel bad for her, something weird is going on with missing high school students, Zoey has three guys to choose from, she also has a Full Moon ritual to do, and more behind the scenes things happen that eventually come to the surface. I was never bored in this book. I was always entertained.

Googie's Grade: 4.5 out of 5 stars!!

If you like this book, you might also like:

A Bit of Me

A Bit of Me(Me) is hosted by Danielle at There's a Book. It's a chance to get to know a bit more about the people behind the blogs. Anyone can join in!

This weeks question is: What is your favorite word and why?

This question was actually submitted by another one of the bloggers I read, Today's Adventure!! Way to go girl!! I love words too!!

My favorite word is.....Pandemonium!!!

Pandemonium: 1. A very noisy place 2. Wild uproar or noise.

Why is this my favorite word you ask?? Well, I am a sixth grade ESL (English second language) teacher and sometimes I have to act out words so they understand what they mean. This is my favorite word to act out. I have a book I like to read outloud just because it has this word in it. I go all crazy and run around the room and scream and throw things. I also pretend like I just shot the winning basket at a basketball game and have them go crazy!! It is such a fun word!!

What is your favorite word??

Follow Friday

Follw my book blog Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkies View. You should go check out her blog and link up yours so others can find you!

If you have found me and don't know what my blog is about I will give you a quick overview!!

I am a mother, wife, teacher, and a student receiving my Masters in Library Science. I enjoy reading YA literature, mostly fantasy, but I am up for anything! My next set of classes will begin in July, so I will be posting mostly about what I am learning and my assignments.

Welcome!!

TBR books are growing!!

While picking up around my house today I came across 15 to be read books and I am afraid that I will uncover more as I go from room to room.

What this tells me is that I need to get off the computer and start reading!! LOL

In My Mailbox (2)

This is my second "In My Mailbox" and I am excited about the books that I got this past week. In My Mailbox is hosted my The Story Siren.

This week I received five books. Three I got from paperbackswap.com and two of them I got from a local used bookstore. I have like $30 in credit at the store and it is run by two of the sweetest retired Librarians, so I like to give them some business to keep them open.

Paperbackswap:

Cry Wolf by: Patricia Briggs

Cut by: Patricia McCormick

Tithe by: Holly Black

Used Bookstore:

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by: Kimberly Willis Holt

Diary of a Teenage Girl Becoming Me by: Melody Carlson

I am really looking forward to Tithe and Cry Wolf. I think I am going to read Cry Wolf next!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. This is the day of the week that I will be posting about up and coming books that I can't wait to come out.

This week's book is:

Wired (Book 3 in Skinned Trilogy)

By: Robin Wasserman

Synopsis (from Amazon.com): One year ago, Lia Kahn died.

A few days later, she woke up.

She had a new body: Mechanical, unfeeling, inhuman. She had a new family: Mechs like her, who didn't judge her for what she could no longer be. She had a new life, one that would last forever.

At least, it was supposed to.

But now everything Lia thought she knew has turned out to be a lie; everyone she thought she loved has been stolen away. And someone is trying to get rid of the mechs, once and for all. Lia will risk everything to save herself and the people she can't live without. But not before facing one final truth: She can't save everyone.

Why I can't Wait:

The first two books had me wanting more and more. I love a futuristic fantasy novel (look at my other reviews) and this trilogy aims to please. You get so involved in the chracter's lives that you feel like you are there with them every step of their crazy adventure. It really makes you think about what the future is going to be l ike and if we are really prepared for it. LOVE IT and can't wait for it to come out!!

What are you looking forward to reading?

Book #6- Fantasy (again)

Watersmeet
By: Ellen Jensen Abbott

Synopsis (from Amazin.com): Long ago, Vran led his people to a new land, driving off the hated “monsters” (dwarves, centaurs, fauns) who had lived there for generations. Abisina has been outcast in Vranille for her “dwarf dirty” coloring since birth. Her mother’s status as the healer keeps her safe until Charach, an evil, charismatic leader, comes to cleanse Vranille of the unworthy. Abisina’s only hope is to find her father in distant Watersmeet, but to get there, she will have to travel with one of the “vile half-men,” Haret, a dwarf. During their dangerous journey, Abisina and Haret learn to trust each other, and they find a home in Watersmeet, where all creatures live together under the leadership of Abisina’s father. This new sense of place is threatened when the Vranians move to destroy all nonhumans. Abbott’s debut fantasy centers on Abisina, who learns in small, realistic ways to let go of her deeply rooted prejudices to see the worth in all creatures, including herself. While the sudden, peaceful resolution strains credibility, this is otherwise a hopeful, nuanced story.

So, What do I think?

Overall: What a fantastic fantasy!! I couldn't put the story down. The characters, the setting, and the storyline kept me wanting more. Absinia is a girl who is seen as an "outcast" in her village. When her life is threatened by evil, she leaves in search of her father in a place called Watersmeet. Abbott did a fantastic job pulling all of her characters together. Even in the end when there were several characters, I still felt that each one of them could have their own stories. I can't say enough about how much I loved this story.

Characters: Absinia is a fantastic fantasy character. She is different than the others in her village. Dark hair, dark skin, and bright green eyes. She is smart on her own, yet needs the help of others because she is still a youth growing up. Her dwarf friend Haret is a perfect match to Absinia. He has a soft side that he doesn't like to show, but his strong will is what pulls them through the hard times. I could talk about all of the characters at the end of the story, but it would take me hours to write about. Each character was unique and interesting.

Setting: Abbott does a wonderful job describing the setting in this story. Each scene was described in a way that I felt like I was there with the characters. From the tallest trees to the dwarves burried houses, the story took you to several locations and each one was described perfectly. When Absinia finally gets to Watersmeet, the way the location is described makes you feel like you have lived there your whole life.

Googie's Grade: 5 out of 5 stars!

If you like this book, you might also like:

In My Mailbox

I have noticed in the book blogs I read that they do something called "In my Mailbox" hosted by The Story Siren, so I thought I would join too!!

I actually got three books this week In My Mailbox. All of them came from paperbackswap.com. I great site if you want to join!

Two fo the books are YA and one is on weightloss. I have a weightloss blog on blogspot. You should come check it out!

Anyways, the books I got are:

The Wizard, the Witch & Two Girls from Jersey by: Lisa Papademetriou
Sign of the Crescent by: Debbie Federici
The ten hidden barriers in weight loss and exercise by: Lynette Menefee and Daniel Somberg

Sorr I don't have pictures because my camera is sorta lost right now. I will make sure I have it for next time!

Also, check out The Book Scout to enter her drawing!!

Book #5- Futuristic Fantasy

The Barcode Tattoo
By: Suzanne Weyn

Synopsis (from Amazon.com): The bar code tattoo. Everybody's getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity. But what if you say no? What if you don't want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things happen to her family. There's no option but to run . . . for her life.Indivuality vs. conformity.. Identity vs. access. Freedom vs. control.The bar code tattoo.

So, what do I think?

Overall: How can you not love a book about Big Brother and the government controlling our lives? I LOVED it!! I actually couldn't put it down. I love the idea of having everyone having a barcode tattoo and some of the younger generation refusing to get one. The rebellion seemed real and the book was very well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes futeristic things, but things that you can actually see happening in the future too.

Characters: Kayla was a very realistic character and I could see a lot of my own characteristics in her. Her friend at the beginning is kida annoying and I;m glad she isn't around fro very long. Her story does need to be told to keep the story going though. Her love interest is the perfect character because she is brought into this whole new world and that is when the story gets really good.

Googie's Grade: 5 out of 5 stars!

If you like this book, you might also like: