Waiting on Wednesday–Reality Boy by A.S. King

June 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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A.S. King is one of my all-time favorite authors; I’ve enjoyed every one of her books that I’ve read.  She was at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor last month talking about Ask the Passengers, and she also read us the prologue of Reality Boy.  She had us laughing so much that I snorted in the middle of her reading. Talk about embarrassing!  But that also goes to show how much I enjoyed the beginning of her book.  I’m positive the rest is just as great.

Reality BoyTitle & Author: Reality Boy by A.S. King

Release Date: October 22nd, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary (From Goodreads): Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.

In this fearless portrayal of a boy on the edge, highly acclaimed Printz Honor author A.S. King explores the desperate reality of a former child “star” who finally breaks free of his anger by creating possibilities he never knew he deserved.

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My Summer 2013 TBR List

June 18, 2013 by 12 Comments

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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

I haven’t written a Top Ten Tuesday post since April!  I’m glad it’s finally summer so I can make more time to blog and read.  Today’s Top Ten Tuesday post is all about the summer reads at the top of our list.  There are more books that I want to read this summer than I can possibly list, so I’m going to break this down into a few different categories and include more than ten books.

Backlist Titles (Released in 2012 or earlier):

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles (Goodreads)–I’ve had this on to-read lists like this before, but I still haven’t read it.  There’s really no excuse, especially since it’s so popular in my classroom.

The Gray Wolf Throne & The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima (Goodreads)–I’m cheating and making two books count as one since I need to finish this series.

Fingerprints of You by Kristen-Paige Madonia (Goodreads)–I haven’t read many reviews for this one, but I remember seeing it at Barnes & Noble last summer, being drawn to the cover, and reading the first chapter in the store.  I knew I was going to like it, but I didn’t buy it (so stupid).  After that I didn’t see it at the store again.  One way or another I was chatting with Kelly @ Stacked about this title and she offered to give me her copy :)   I’m confident that my students and I will like this debut.

Jumping Off SwingsThe Gray Wolf ThroneThe Crimson CrownFingerprints of You

Recent Releases (Released in 2013):

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (Goodreads): Before the release of The 5th Wave, I posted the book trailers made to advertise it.  My students were hooked; I had to create a waiting list.  I ordered a copy and when it arrived I read the first couple chapters.  I’m hooked as well.

Over You by Amy Reed (Goodreads): I have a couple of Amy Reed’s books in my classroom, but I’ve never had the chance to read them since they’re always checked out.  I’ve read the first forty pages of Over You, and even though I’m still getting used to the writing style for it, I really like the story.  I’m looking forward to finishing this over the summer.

Rules of Summer by Joanna Philbin (Goodreads): It’s summertime, so I should read a summery book, right? :)

The 5th WaveStyle: "Porcelain vivid"Rules of Summer

Upcoming Releases (2013 ARCs):

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles (Goodreads): Jillian @ Heise Reads and Recommends is a wonderful friend.  She’s even more wonderful for sending me her ARC to read :)

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller (Goodreads): If you know how much I LOVE Trish’s debut, Something Like Normal, then you can understand why I’m excited to read her sophomore release.

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads): Did I mention how wonderful Jillian is? ;)   I’ve been wanting to read this since that crazy last page of The Raven Boys.  I love it when friends share!

Wild CardsWhere the Stars Still ShineThe Dream Thieves

NetGalley Titles:

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan (Goodreads): This August release has so many aspects to it that make it intriguing. It’s LGBT, it has Iranian characters, and so much more. I hope it’s as good as it sounds!

Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles (Goodreads): Jo Knowles makes my list twice and it’s because she’s a great author!  It’s told from a guy’s point of view, it deals with teen pregnancy, and I’ve already heard awesome things about it. This releases in September.

New Money by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (Goodreads): I loved Lorraine’s debut, Other Words for Love, so I jumped at the opportunity to read her New Adult release, New Money.

If You Could Be MineLiving with Jackie ChanNew Money

Filed Under: So Many Lists..., Top Ten Tuesday, Upcoming Releases Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Waiting on Wednesday–Imperfect Spiral by Debbie Levy

June 12, 2013 by 4 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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My summer is officially starting very soon, and I’m VERY excited for summer reading.  My students and I love reading contemporary realistic fiction, especially titles like this one.  I can’t wait to buy a copy when it releases next month.

Imperfect SpiralTitle & Author: Imperfect Spiral by Debbie Levy

Release Date: July 16th, 2013

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Summary (From Goodreads):

Danielle Snyder’s summer job as a babysitter takes a tragic turn when Humphrey, the five-year-old boy she’s watching, runs in front of oncoming traffic to chase down his football. Immediately Danielle is caught up in the machinery of tragedy: police investigations, neighborhood squabbling, and, when the driver of the car that struck Humphrey turns out to be an undocumented alien, outsiders use the accident to further a politically charged immigration debate. Wanting only to mourn Humphrey, the sweet kid she had a surprisingly strong friendship with, Danielle tries to avoid the world around her. Through a new relationship with Justin, a boy she meets at the park, she begins to work through her grief, but as details of the accident emerge, much is not as it seems. It’s time for Danielle to face reality, but when the truth brings so much pain, can she find a way to do right by Humphrey’s memory and forgive herself for his death?

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Waiting on Wednesday–Relativity by Cristin Bishara

June 5, 2013 by 7 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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RelativityTitle & Author: Relativity by Cristin Bishara

Release Date: September 10th, 2013

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Summary (From Goodreads):

If Ruby Wright could have her way, her dad would never have met and married her stepmother Willow, her best friend George would be more than a friend, and her mom would still be alive. Ruby knows wishes can’t come true; some things just can’t be undone. Then she discovers a tree in the middle of an Ohio cornfield with a wormhole to nine alternative realities.

Suddenly, Ruby can access completely different realities, each containing variations of her life—if things had gone differently at key moments. The windshield wiper missing her mother’s throat…her big brother surviving his ill-fated birth…her father never having met Willow. Her ideal world—one with everything and everyone she wants most—could be within reach. But is there such a thing as a perfect world? What is Ruby willing to give up to find out?

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Waiting on Wednesday–Love Disguised by Lisa Klein

May 29, 2013 by 2 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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Like many English teachers, I’m a sucker for anything related to Shakespeare, so I’m very interested in reading Love Disguised by Lisa Klein.  The summary makes this sound like a really entertaining book that I’ll hopefully be able to “sell” to my students while we’re reading some Shakespeare :)

Love DisguisedTitle & Author: Love Disguised by Lisa Klein

Release Date: July 30th, 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Summary (From Goodreads):

Will Shakespeare is about to meet the girl who will change his life forever. After a mixed-up courtship with the Hathaway sisters ends badly, Will jumps at the chance to go to London, where he can pursue his dream of becoming an actor. There, Will meets the unusually tall (and strong) Meg who has earned the nickname “Long Meg” for her height. She’s also fleeing her own past as an orphan turned thief. Disguised as “Mack,” Meg was once a member of a band of boy thieves who betrayed her. When Will is robbed by those same villains, Meg disguises herself as “Mack” again–telling Will that Mack is her twin brother–in order to help Will recover his money. As Mack, she finds true friendship with Will. But is there more? And who is Meg really fooling with her disguise?

What ensues is a tale involving love triangles, mistaken identities, and the pursuit of hapless villains, as Shakespeare becomes a key player in a lively drama that could have sprung from his own pen.

Filed Under: Upcoming Releases, Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: , ,

Book Trailer Thursday (110)–Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

It’s getting late (I’m writing this on Wednesday evening), and I REALLY want to get in bed and read, so I’m going to make this a quick and to the point post :)   Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff (releases June 11th) sounds really cool so I’m excited to see a book trailer for it.  I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I haven’t read any of his books yet!  Hopefully Boy Nobody is a good one to start with.

Boy NobodySummary (From Goodreads):

They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn’t stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend’s family to die-of “natural causes.” Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.

But when he’s assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program’s mission.

In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.

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Waiting on Wednesday–The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

May 8, 2013 by 4 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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I love a good YA contemporary novel, and I love Lauren Myracle, so The Infinite Moment of Us sounds like a definite win.  Bonus–The cover is gorgeous!

The Infinite Moment of UsTitle & Author: The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

Release Date: August 20th, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Summary (From Goodreads):

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now . . . not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .
Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.

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Book Trailer Thursday (108)–The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

May 2, 2013 by 1 Comment

I’ve been reading good reviews for Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave and these mini trailers make me want to read it even more.  I kind of like that publishers are putting together multiple book trailers to advertise a single book.  Do  you think there will be a 4th book trailer made before the May 7th book release?

The 5th WaveSummary (From Goodreads):

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

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Waiting on Wednesday–The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

May 1, 2013 by 5 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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I was looking through my TBR list on Goodreads when I came across The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider.  Apparently I labeled it as having received it at NCTE this past November, but I checked my shelves and I don’t have a copy.  Actually, I DO have a copy, but I have an ARC with a different cover and title!  It was originally titled Severed Heads, Broken Hearts.  If you know anything about the cover/title change, I’d love to hear about it!  I love finding a book that sounds like a great contemp with guy-appeal.

The Beginning of EverythingTitle & Author: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Release Date: August 27th, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegen (HarperCollins)

Summary (From Goodreads): Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

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Waiting on Wednesday–The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

April 17, 2013 by 5 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

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First, I’m sorry I’ve been so repetitive in my posts lately.  I simply haven’t had the energy to write reviews since spring break ended, but I’m really trying to get over that because I have some GREAT books to review.  I’ve been dragging in general these last two weeks.  I do love posting about cool upcoming books, however, so I guess it works itself out.

Second, is it weird that I’ve only read books by Amanda Grace even though that’s the pseudonym for Mandy Hubbard?  It’s not that I’m not interested in the Mandy Hubbard authored books, but I’ve actually bought But I Love Him and In Too Deep.  Just like her other books authored under her pseudonym, I’m looking forward to reading The Truth About You & Me.

P.S. How cute is the name Bennett!  It’s been on my “if I ever have a boy” names list since my mom took care of a cute little boy named Bennett :)

The Truth About You & MeTitle & Author: The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

Release Date: September 8th, 2013

Publisher: Flux

Summary (From Goodreads):

Smart girls aren’t supposed to do stupid things.

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she’s so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennet. He’s cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she’s endured—and missed out on—in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she’s falling in love.

There’s only one problem. Bennet is Madelyn’s college professor, and he thinks she’s eighteen—because she hasn’t told him the truth.

The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennet—both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.

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