Vampirates-Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper

Spring is here and I have jumped into a bit of warm weather reading, pirate style... arghhh! Although this is not my normal cup of tea, I really enjoyed this adventurous read! Somper's writing style is very similar to Rick Riordan... so fans of the Lightning Thief will probably enjoy these great books as well. Two twin orphans, Connor and Grace  head out to sea in order to avoid an undesirable fate. A severe storm splits them apart and Connor ends up on a vast pirate ship while Grace gets caught up in what appears to be the old vampirate ship her father sang about in an old shanty. Will the two twins ever meet up again? Will they survive the fate of the seas or be doomed to live alone?  

The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad

I am slowly moving through Lauren Conrad's first book in her next series The Fame Game. It is similar to L.A Candy with Madison's perspective at the forefront.
So far... I am being introduced to the new characters and getting an inside perspective(fictional look or realistic view from a pro?) at what it is like to be a reality star. Once again, Conrad adds insight to the world of reality TV where things are not always what they seem to be. In this series, readers are introduced to an aspiring naive songwriter and artist; a young Hollywood starlet who is actually down to earth;and Madison's scheming sister who always has a few surprises up her sleeve. Will Madison still be able to own the spotlight, or will her two co-stars overshadow her presence? Read Lauren's new series to find out!

P.S I also added a pic of Lauren with this month's post, since yes... I am a fan! Love the pink tint LC :)

The Girls by Koss

Happy New Year fellow readers! Here's to 2013!
This month, at the Library, we created an anti-bully display for young readers featuring books and booklists to stomp out bullying. In doing so, I came across a great title "The Girls" by Koss. It takes an in-depth look on the social pressure of bullying and how it can unravel. Although, bullying is not a new trend... social pressures of family and belonging are different in today's day and age. This book puts a great spin on things and explains the cycle in a realistic fashion.

Each chapter features a different girl's point of view from Candace the leader of the group to Maya the girl who has been treated like an outcast. I hope this book helps teens realize what part of the cycle they play... even if they are simply an outsider.

Break My Heart a Thousand Times and Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes

Hello fellow readers-

This month I am working on two books. Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters and "Sweet Treats and Secret Crushes" by Greenwald. More to come as I finish up reading.

My September Update

Ahhh! Back to school...is here. I truly miss the sound of middle school feet and energetic voices. With that said, I have been diving into a few reads at once that are geared towards Middle School gals.

 I try not to double dip, but sometimes it happens.

The fun fiction I am working on is pictured within this post, and perhaps you will be able to finish off these books before me!

 Prada and Prejudice is about a not so cool chick that goes back in time with a pair of Prada shoes she picks up on a trip to Rome. Coffeehouse Angel is an easy read about a young girl struggling to help her grandma save their family owned coffeeshop. With the help of a guardian angel, Katrina hopes to save the day and keep her friendships in tact. Keep your eyes open for updates as I finish off these books.

Both great reads for older middle school gals!

The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenny Glatzer

I came across this book in both my search for books that are Lifetime Movies, and a box of donations at work. I have not had the chance to watch the televised version of this story, but the book drew me in simply with its title and idea.
Gaby Rodriguez is a high school teen in the state of Washington who can easily become a statistic. Her family has a history and lineage of teen moms. Her own mother had her first child at the young age of fifteen. All her life, Gaby has been told that she too would become a young parent despite her scholarly reputation and the high goals she has already set for herself. She decides to test out the waters by putting herself in the shoes of what it feels like to truly be a teen mom. Will the rumors around campus spread quickly and become unbearable? What friends and family members will truly stick by her? Even though she is a honor student, will a pregnancy tarnish her reputation and her future? What exactly causes a teen father to bail on his girlfriend when she is pregnant other than the normal fear and anxiety patterns?As a senior project, she creates a fake "belly" and pretends that she is pregnant. She learns firsthand the severity of all this pressure. This book is the story of her journey.

I thought this book was a great eye opener to any woman, especially teens who can relate to this issue; either by becoming a teen mom themselves, have friends that are; or are pressured by the realities of sex. Gaby takes us on a journey of what it is like emotionally, spiritually, and has researched a bit of the physical side of pregnancy as well. Although some of the book comes across as "preachy" it is a powerful story that is sure to leave an impact on teen readers.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Corrinne is a true to life New Yorker who enjoys spending time shopping at Barney's and attending social events with her best friend Waverly. Any GossipGirl fan will surely enjoy the beginning of the book and Corrinne's obsession with New York. All that changes when her father is hit hard by the recession and she needs to become a recessionista quickly by moving to the town of Broken Spoke with her grandparents.
At first, I thought this read would be a run of the mill Prada to Nada story, but I was mistaken. Corrinne manages to create a new life in Broken Spoke, Texas while still remaining the spunky girl from New York that we met at the beginning of the book. With the help of friends like Kitsy and Bubby, Corrinne finds new ways of coping and "going with the flow." Her new love interest Rider keeps things interesting and helps Corinne forget about moping around at home watching GossipGirl reruns and gets her out into the Texas social world of rodeos and football games. She manages to keep it together even when her New York life ( and her NY bestie Waverly) comes to town to challenge her true self.
A great summer read that helps you make the best of things even when the chips are down.

Liars and Fools by Robin Stevenson

The cover art for this book drew me in and at first I thought it was a beach read; I was surpisingly mistaken. This book entails love, loss, and growing up.
Fiona loses her mother suddenly after a fatal accident during a sailing trip. The details of her loss are not all there, and the young teen struggles to put the pieces together. Her mom was always one to sail alone and didn't believe in having a GPS on the beloved sailboat, " Eliza J." Much to her dismay, Fiona's father decides to sell the boat and also begins dating a new woman who happens to be a psychic. Fiona doesn't believe in this and sets out to prove she is a phony by testing her clairvoyant powers through a school science experiment. This book is touching, yet funny and will teach you a few things about sailing. Even if you do not believe in the power of the psychics, you will enjoy the touching story of how a young girl begins to heal after a tragic loss while also letting go of her personal past. 

My July update of books

Hello fellow readers!

I have been trying to catch up on my reading, but working extra hours this summer seems to take over a lot of my time. Recently I did a search for books that are Lifetime Movies, and have also been peeking around teenreads.com... You may want to do the same. Enjoy!

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Now that I have read this book, I am dying to watch the movie. It has been released on DVD for some time now, but I haven't had the chance to get my paws on it. Anyhow, here's the review.

Rachel has always played second fiddle to Darcy, her childhood friend who always gets everything that she wants. Rachel introduces her to Dex, her hot college friend from Duke who is smart and handsome. A true college hottie! Darcy and Dex eventually get engaged and Rachel is the maid of honor. One night twists everything around when Rachel and Dex "hook-up" and discover that they have always had feelings for one another. Will Rachel continue the affair, or was it just a one time thing?Is Rachel tired of playing the good girl, or will she take a chance and risk the chance of losing a best friend.  Without giving too much away... this is story of betrayal, love, friendship, and best friend rivalry at its finest! It is a must read!
** Please note, to my fellow teens... this is a book intended for adults, but may be a great read for older high school gals and definitely college teens.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia, a talented cellist has her life turned upside down when she is involved in a near fatal accident. Readers get to be a part of her view as she tries to survive a horrific coma. Her boyfriend Adam, visits her daily and Mia gives the audience a sense of her feelings and thoughts as she tries to decide whether to stay or go. This book will have you on edge and in near tears.