In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is a meme by The Story Siren here.

Week: Sunday, August 1 - Sunday, August 8 2010.
Click on each title to go to the Barnes and Noble's web!!!

PAPERBACK/ARCs:


Simon and Schuster:
What Would Emma Do by Eileen Cook
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

Penguin Group:
Virals by Katy Reichs (ARC) ((VERY excited to read this one!! XD I think this one will be one to compete with Maximum Ride :D))
Dust City by Robert Paul Weston (ARC)

Self Published:
Equilibrium (Book #2 of the Portal Series) by Imogen Rose


HARDCOVERS:

Simon and Schuster:
Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

Harper Teen:
Tangled by Carolyn Mackler


SWAG:

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman: A signed hardcover copy of Life, After; 2 bookplates; 1 Life, After notebook. (Note: This is a very good book!!! Read my review HERE)
Tensions of the Opposites by Kristina McBride: Signed post cards and signed bookmarks.
Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook: Post cards.
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade: Signed post cards and bookmarks.
Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe: Bookmarks.

Scholar Berry's suggestion for the week:

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman

This book is about a victim of AMIA bombing in Argentina on 7/18/1994. A girl named Dani faces the crisis as her family was forced to move to America.
Dani's boyfriend had moved to Florida. Dani is going to be in New York. Dani needs Roberto...
In America, Dani founds out that the hallways are mean. The girls are mean.
But Dani has her personal GPS to get around the big school building.
Dani discovers that no matter 7/18 or 9/11, going through losses still needs the same cure;
Someone who understands.

Read my full review on Life, After here.

Ghostgirl: Lovesick by Tonya Hurley

"We all fall down. They call it falling for someone for a reason. ...Either way, you will carry the reminder of it forever. Whether it leaves a tiny scar or a permanent injury, only the future can tell."

My Rating: 9/10

Publisher: Little, Brown Company
Publication: July 2010
ISBN: 0316070262
Page Count: 311 Pages
Age Range: Young Adult

Tonya Hurley had successfully (again) written a philosophical love story that all we non Dead-Ed kids that we can relate with! Read my review of Ghostgirl here and Ghostgirl: Homecoming here!

In Ghostgirl: Lovesick, Charlotte Usher finally gets a boyfriend in her Dead world; Electric Eric (who died when the lightning struck his guitar's amplifier).

Then Mr. Markov decided that they all have to go back to the living world, to do their job again. Only this time, Charlotte wasn't assigned to help Scarlet, her best friend.

In fact, Charlotte was assigned to be with Damen--the guy who Charlotte was dead for--and be his guardian angel.

So off they go--Eric helplessly watching Charlotte with slight jealousy while Charlotte envies Scarlet who is guarded by Eric.

But love blinds everyone--it makes you want to change your self just to be better (even though sometimes it's for worse).

Ghostgirl: Lovesick tells the story that love, in life or death, is always difficult either way.

What I love about this book: In between the chapters there's quotes and Tonya Hurley's original thoughts on love that shadows the coming chapters and it's really beautiful. Ghostgirl: Lovesick is also funny and sweet; always a good read for everyone who's in or out of love. ;)

What I dislike about the book: At the end, it's always "The end?", it kinda...confuses me, makes me guess if there'll be another book or not....

Tonya Hurley's Official Ghostgirl website

Deep Down Popular, The Red Pyramid and Invisible I Giveaways!!!

:D More giveaways from me!!!

Okay, so since I met Rick Riordan, Disney Hyperion gave me an extra copy of The Red Pyramid. It isn't signed, but it's HARDCOVER! Good enough, no???

Read my review of The Red Pyramid here.

I have been a huge fan of The Amanda Project ever since I read it, and I would like to share it! Read my review of Invisible I here.

Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone is funny and also meaningful. Read the review here.

All of these giveaways ends at August 1st, 2010 and they are all US ONLY!!!

The Red Pyramid Giveaway FORM
Deep Down Popular FORM
Invisible I FORM

Updates!!! :D

Weekly planner of what I'll be posting besides my book reviews:

Sundays: I've been putting up the list of books I received in the In My Mailbox page. From now on I'm going to update them as posts, too. In My Mailbox is a meme from The Story Siren (read about it here.) I will be sharing what books I got in my mailbox (sent by publishers/authors, bought or received) during the week. (Of course when I'm studying abroad the number of books will go down..unless I saved enough for an eReader by then...)

Mondays: Book Suggestion Box is an idea that was inspired by Cynthia from Bookworm. (Bookworm is a blog that's interesting--Cynthia's got an intriguing story chapters posted! Check it out!) A couple of days ago Cynthia emailed me (and making my day) by telling me she enjoys reading my reviews, and she suggested me to read The Host (which right now I'm reading in my computer) by Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight phenomenon.

In Book Suggestion Box (BSB) I will post an entry titled with BSB and share what I highly recommend for people to read, and from there people could comment on what they think I should read. :D Sharing is caring~

Tuesdays: More reviews..

Wednesdays: More reviews...

Thursdays: More reviews...

Fridays: More reviews...

Saturdays: Wishlist. Like BSB, this is a meme I just thought of, and I'll be posting up 1-5 new titles that interests me.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

"...And me, holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands."

My Rating: 10/10

I've always wanted to read this--not because of I seem to be getting into the "forbidden love" kind of stories, but simply because of the cover and the simple title "shiver."

I read it today, and I finished. In the beginning, it was..well, introduction. Prologue. Whatever you call it. But you read more and more of the pages, and it's becoming a story you know. The deeper you're in the story, the more you're touched by it.

It's pure love, not lust, no made-up drama. I understand that this is still fiction, but just like other fairy tales, this is one of the tales that would make the reader crave for the knight in shining armor; Sam Roth.

Sam is a werewolf, and for 6 years he has been watching over Grace. Wanting to be with her, wanting to be close. But also afraid that Grace will be scared of her.

Sam never knew that Grace felt the same. How she looks forward to winter, because only in winter her yellow-eyed wolf comes close to her view.

Then this year they meet. Finally. Neither Sam or Grace wants to let go, although they know that it won't last. They plunge themselves into their love, and they're far too deep in love with each other.

The only question is how to hold on to such fragile moments when any minute, it would all be taken away...

What I LOVE MOST about the book: The characters!! How romantic Sam was and how Grace is so unpredictable sometimes. How this book was written so beautifully and..and how it was just so full of pure love. It's rare to have a book that's filled with so many emotions that it would evoke this tender feeling to linger inside of your chest.

What I dislike about the book: Nothing! This is definitely my favorite book of all-time, now!

Thank you, Scholastic and Maggie Stiefvater (for sending the book for me, along with Linger, which I'll read right after I post this review..)

Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver Webpage.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

"I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me."

My Rating: 10/10

Just like The Hunger Games, Catching Fire also gets a perfect ten! It's an amazing book! Read it!

Katniss survived her Hunger Games. So did Peeta. Now she is back at home, where so much had happened.

Gale took a bit of rebellion, and the Peace Keepers wounded him. Katniss, now living in a rich mansion along with her family, tends to his wounds.

Then comes the annual Hunger Games. This time, the Capitol decided to do the unusual; they want to bring every girl and male tribute from each Districts that had won the title of Hunger Games. Old, or young. Haymitch does not count. It is Katniss and Peeta, the champions of District 12.

I think if I spill more than this...it'll be such a spoiler to the book!

What I like about the book: The new settings and Collins' imagination of the second Hunger Games! (the actual game Katniss played in order to survive). The characters grows more and more complicated, but if we read the first book we should be able to follow Katniss' line of thoughts easily.

What I dislike about the book: THE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END. Period.

I seriously can't wait until Mockingjay comes out! Everyone who HASN'T read this book is missing out so much! If it's slow in the first chapter of The Hunger Games, keep reading! It'll be one of the best books you've ever read!

Suzanne Collins' official website

P.S: Thanks, Scholastic (again) for giving me a chance to read the book! :) I finished it in 3 hours right after The Hunger Games! I couldn't stop reading it!

Numbers by Rachel Ward

"While I existed, the number existed. I was the number and the number was me."

My Rating: 7/10

The story is definitely unique and fresh (which was why I bought it...) but the interaction between Jem and Spider could definitely be improved...Good book! :)

You'd think that Jem is just the ordinary wallflower, the kind that skips the class and avoid social structures. The kind that would grow up just like her failure mother, a junkie who never cared about her own daughter.

It's true Jem doesn't understand most people, but the real reason why she avoids people (specifically eye contact) is because that she sees a set of numbers. At first when she keeps blurting out the numbers in front of her mother, she of course didn't have a clue what was it all about.

Then her mother died.


The date was the numbers she sees in people's eyes. Jem avoids friends and relationships. Why not? People already think she's trashed anyway.

Then there's Spider, who always gets in Jem's face because Spider's crazy like that. Slowly and unconsciously, their friendship grew (to love eventually, too) and Jem had seen Spider's numbers. It was less than 2 months.

Throughout the book Jem finds herself in trouble to decide if she would like to stay and befriend Spider or just back off; she is very capricious. She changes her mind quickly and she dislike to show weakness.

What I like about the book:
The story and the idea (obviously). The characters are realistic and the way Rachel Ward conveys Jem's frustration is extraordinary.

What I don't really like:
Sometimes Jem's thoughts can really get too frustrating and tedious.

Rachel Ward's website.

Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

"Our baboon was going completely sky goddess--which is to say, nuts."

My Rating: 10/10

Riordan's fun narrating and free characters is definitely shown in The Red Pyramid!

When this book came out I was psyched (because I've read the whole Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and loved it). But the one crazy thing that even still made me smile after 42 days on which the event occurred was that I MET RICK RIORDAN!!! (got his autograph with my name on it too! :D :D XD XD)

Woo-hoo!

Okay, now I shall get back to the review. LOL.

Like his previous books, Rick Riordan chose to base this whole book off mythology, this time Egyptian.

Now, I knew a lot about Greek mythology already before I read Percy Jackson but compared to Egyptian mythology, I might as well think it's a whole new language. So when I got this book in my hands, I was, well, again; psyched.

Sadie and Carter Kane are brother and sister. They lived separately; Carter always pack his bags and go from one museum to another, accompanying his father Julius Kane while Sadie live the normal teenager life in London.

Then one day Julius Kane blew up...well..a Rosetta Stone. A figure of all 5 gods combined appeared and took Julius and disappeared. Soon Sadie and Carter are dragged into life-threatening, full-of-dangers roller coaster ride.

Fun??? Sadie loves it; after all, she's the one who gets to "Ha-di!" everything. (Ha-di = a zap of Egyptian magic; "to destroy")

With Carter's endless knowledge of the Egyptian mythology, Sadie's Ha-di and their Shabti Doughboy, one mission is out; Stop Set.


Kane Chronicles Website

:D

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

"People had ignored me when I was Nerd Boy, but that changed after I got arrested."

My Rating: 10/10

Definitely different and fresh--it answers most of the crazy thoughts most teenagers has!!!

Tyler Miller was just the ordinary teenager. He even faded into the background more than most people. Then he sprayed a bunch of thoughts that's been stuck in his mind for a while on the school. Graffiti.

So of course he has to pay for it. Hence; community service. He lost his car + meeting a probation officer. No jail, though. No jail. So wasn't that sort of good?

If back then he was a wimp or one of the Norms, because of the landscaping company he did his service on, he's the Champ now. He's ripped and he attracted the Queen of his high school, Bethany Milbury. (Tyler's secret crush)

Bethany, though, unfortunately, is his father's boss daughter. Who is, to say, the sister of Tyler's nemesis, Chip Milbury.

Yoda, his best friend, is hot for his sister; Hannah.

With only Hannah and Yoda at his side, can he get Bethany by his side without crushing Chip?

How about just simply not getting grounded for hitting your, er, boss' son for being provoked?

A turn at Tyler's life completely swerved him out of the safe lane. But there's no turning back, cause the harm was done.

Another problem is that his dad never really listen. Typical. What about locking himself up with his computer--workaholic? Typical. Not trusting his own son at all? Sorta typical. All combined? Lord of Darkness. Ha.


Twisted is simple and full of emotions. Laurie Halse Anderson had also written Speak, Catalyst and Prom.

Twisted review from Barnes and Nobles:

"High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it—he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy...and his secret crush. This sets off a string of events that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world."

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

"Vitamins had ruined my life."

My Rating: 8/10

Kate Brown's only best friend, Anna turned pretty over the summer. Before, they were both unpopular and knew how to have fun with just the two of them. That was before.
After the summer that Anna escaped her unpopularity, Kate became the single wallflower who's pretty much clueless.

What's worse is that Kate's father who had a decent job to be able to support the family, had just quit the job. He just came to his office one day and everything on his desk cracked, except a bottle of Perfect You vitamins. Hence started the man's career to sell vitamins.

Seriously.

There's Will (who's not helping either) who always flirts with Kate. Kate's sure that she's just his latest conquest, though. The guy flirts with everyone and although Kate acts like she doesn't care, she actually fantasizes kissing Will.

Ha. So much for acting uninterested...

Best friend gone, helping vitamins-maniac dad and boy problem. Hmm...


Elizabeth Scott's description:

"Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, who Kate pretends she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. And when Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him even though she knows she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures the only way things will ever stop hurting is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen--but only if she lets them."

Elizabeth Scott's website and her book listings.

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

"Ally Ryan was born with a silver spoon, but now she's living with a plastic spork."

My Rating: 10/10

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott is definitely one of the best elite High School novel there is around!!!

Ally Ryan was rich; she was a Crestie. She lived in one of those huge mansion up on the hill and went to Sunday Dinners (a Crestie-only-event).
But one day her father made an investment and asked his friend (which means Ally's friends' fathers) to chip in as well. He didn't realize that it was a scam until everyone goes bankrupt.

The stupid thing was that Ally's parents quickly left, just like that; without apologizing to his fellow bankrupt so-called "friends". Ally was confused while one of her Crestie friend, Hammond, confused her even more on the same chaotic night.

That all happened in Ally Ryan's freshman year. Now she's back during her junior year--but she still hasn't contacted her friends. At all.

Will her friends forgive her?

LOL. Fat chance; they called her 'Norm', aka Normal, regardless of the past moments they shared with her.

So Ally has to cope with her mom--cause her dad disappeared and nobody knew where the hell he went. Two, the mystery of where her dad is. Three, her friends. Four? The charming, hot jock of Orchard Hill High; Jake Graydon.

Jake Graydon is the new Crestie and guess what? He lives in Ally's old mansion. What's more is that he's sleeping in her old room. He became her knight in shining armor, came to her rescue in every need. Almost. Only Jake Graydon--just like everyone else--wasn't perfect.

I would normally NOT read this kind of book, not set my eyes in the cover or even anything like this (although sometimes I got bored with science fiction and craves high school romance). But I have to say that I'm glad that I read it!!! It's a funny, cute and heart-wrecking story.

The worst thing though, my mouth agape for 10 minutes at the last page. Then I knew there HAS to be a second book. LMAO.

Barnes and Nobles She's So Dead to us description:

"When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?

Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends — friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.

But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.

Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?"

++++

Some of you probably has read the author's style and loved it--but no one's particularly familiar with the name. Well, Kieran Scott wrote under the pen name "Kate Brian". Familiar? Yes, she's the author of the best-selling series; Private and Privilege.

Under the name Kate Brian, she has also written more books than her ordinary style's series; check her website down below.
Other books by Kate Brian/Kieran Scott

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

"Patch is the bad boy Edward wishes he was."

My Rating: 10/10

This book is one of the best books I've ever read!!! XD

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick to is what I believe to be the growing sensation. It might pass Twilight. LOL, yeah, I said it.

I first found this book in the middle of browsing the usual bookstore; Barnes and Nobles. I read the summary and I was hooked right off the bat, but it wasn't like I could just go to the bookstore right away, so I tried to kill some of the excitement to read the book by..you know, googling more about it (even though it makes me want it more lol) and somewhere on a review--now I can't find it--I read about someone going to Borders and had Hush Hush caught their eyes. Underneath the shelves was a slip of paper, saying, "Patch is the bad boy Edward wishes he was."

I've read Twilight long before, so I automatically cracked up. So I texted my friend and asked her to go to the store and buy me one and I'll pay her back the next day.

I finished it in 4 hours. That was my record. (No, I didn't specifically count, I just know that I got home at 5:30 and by the time I looked up to the watch, it was 9: 20 something..)

Many people would call this book a rip-off from Twilight, but in my opinion Twilight itself is already a rip-off from Romeo and Juliet. Just with vampires and humans instead of the Montague and the Capulet.

So anyway, this book is about a girl named Nora. She's a sophomore in high school and in the beginning of the book she was in Biology class with her best friend, Vee. On the board, written, "Welcome to Human Reproduction (sex)," and underneath it Barbie and Ken naked with their vital parts covered.

LOL. Then the teacher changed their seats and made Nora stuck with Patch. Patch is dark and tall and lean and handsome. He flirts with her in his own way--and telling you more than this or the reviews itself would make it...well...spoiling it..


Simon and Schuster Hush Hush description:

"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys ather school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

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

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

Overall? This book is worth reading. In fact, it is one of the best book I've read.

Purpose of this blog...

Well, I really like reading books, so it's wrong to say that this is the first time that I had an idea to make a blog just for book reviews. But all of my friends aren't as interested in books as me, so..well...I'm hoping to just express my opinions of the books, then!!!

So. Yes. This blog will be filled with book reviews! The genre of books will range from fantasy to romance to sci fi and mystery and et cetera. I will even re-read some the books I'm reviewing, so that I can give the same exact opinions that I had when I first read it.

And about the name...

Uh. Scholar means someone that learns from a teacher...and I'm a high school student, so I'm a scholar. I like the world scholar because of..well..to be honest, just the way it sounds...lol.

Berries are my favorite fruit! I was thinking "Scholar girl"...that doesn't fit. Then I was, well...just eating cherries. So...there ya go; Scholar Berry!!!!


XD Peace out
-Scholar Berry