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Graffiti Moon By Cath Crowley Goodreads link Will be out on Valentines Day, 2012 Review copy from ATWT From Goodreads: Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for.  Really  fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes. What a sweet surprise this book is! I don't normally care for contempt stories, or romance, but I LOVED this book. I read it in one shot today. Lucy and Ed live in Melbourne (Australia) and the en...

Anna Dressed in Blood By Kendare Blake Out: now Review copy from my library Goodreads listing MUST READ I have to admit, I was sold on this book months ago because I loved the cover that much. I did not care what the book was about. So, I went into this one not knowing what to expect and I was surprised. I LOVED this book. We have a ghost hunter, who happens to be a hot teenage boy and a ragtag group of friends who want to help him banish the most famous local ghost-Anna. Anna, however, is not like most ghosts. Blake writes really scary scenes and they do not come off as hokey, just the opposite. Some of the things that happen in this book are really frightening, and I cannot recommend it for the squeamish. This is so refreshing to see in YA-real horror. I also loved that Blake was not afraid to allow her characters to make fun of themselves. Repeated Ghostbuster and Buffy references abound, and the comments were funny and relieved some of the tension of the world she ha...

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!!! I hope you have a couple of restful days off and a heaping plate of good reads!!!!

Ashes by Ilsa J Bick out now Goodreads link review copy from library MUST READ I have been reading reviews of this book for months and still was not prepared for how epic this book is. I can only think to compare it to Stephen King's The Stand . It is that good.  I started this one night and even though it is kind of chunky in size, I plowed through it in one day. The action started right away, and it never lets up. At the same time, action scene after action scene does not get old. Everything seems to happen for a good reason. Also, I have never experienced a book boy crush before, but Tom is my kind of guy. Despite the fact that there are teens in the story, survival is way more important than who is kissing who. That brought this to a whole level of mature for me. Kudos!!!!  I cannot wait for the sequel. I am not sure what the plan is for this, I just want more, more, more. NOW.  Alex is a great hero! I love that she brings a bunch of skills to the tabl...

It's Monday, what are you reading is hosted by Book Journey. Check it out. I did not have a very good reading week last week. I finished Anna Dressed in Blood. I finished Ashes. Yeah. That's about it. Sigh. So this week it hit me that I am still 9 books short of my goal for the year. This may not sound like a big deal, but I am notorious for not reading very much in December-it just does not happen. So, I need to pick up the pace for the rest of November. This week's goal: read (links go to Goodreads) Scarlet: Unforsaken and something else. I have not yet decided which one yet. Wish me luck. What are you reading?

Is this the best challenge in the world, or what!?! I am so excited, as I already know of a gagillion second novels I want to read in 2012. What I do not have is a ready made list sooooo..... I am setting a goal of 25. I will add this challenge to my challenge pages. Here are some titles I KNOW of off the top of my head. 1. Insurgent 2. Fever 3. A Million Suns 4. Girl of Nightmares 5. Whatever the second Miss Peregrine's will be called 6.Outpost (Enclave 2) 7. Dearly Beloved (Lia Habel) 8. A Beautiful Evil 9. Revived 10. ? As you can read, I need some time to finalize this list, but I am so excited!!!

As a promise to myself to read more middle grade books, as they ARE my number one reference clients, I have upped the amount of books I usually read. So far, so good. I am trying to read a wide spread of genres, but so far I have mostly read fiction. Really, really good fiction.... Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder Published: 9/27/11 Reviewed copy from my library (at my request for purchase-whoot!) From Goodreads : A magical breadbox that delivers whatever you wish for—as long as it fits inside? It's too good to be true! Twelve-year-old Rebecca is struggling with her parents' separation, as well as a sudden move to her Gran's house in another state. For a while, the magic bread box, discovered in the attic, makes life away from home a little easier. Then suddenly it starts to make things much, much more difficult, and Rebecca is forced to decide not just where, but who she really wants to be. Laurel Snyder's most thought-provoking book yet You know wh...

What up, everyone! It's Monday! What are you  reading? I think that is one of my favorite questions in the world. I love knowing what everyone is reading..... Last week I challenged myself to read: The  Iron Witch one ebook one library book and I did pretty good! Finished: The Iron Witch, see review Finished: Bigger Than a Breadbox Read a huge chunk of Fateful Put a large dent in Anna Dressed In Blood (ebook) So this week is clean up week: finish these two and maybe start Ashes . Now for a recap of some cool things that are happening: there are several blogger holiday swaps! They are so much fun. I have buttons on my sidebar for anyone who is interested. Warning: these sign ups are only for a really short time. The Story Siren has opened up sign ups to the 2012 Debut Author Challenge. I really organize my year's reading with this list. I print out the spreadsheet, yes I am THAT kind of a dork. But, if I could express how many wonderful authors I hav...

I pretty much killed this challenge last year, so I upped the stakes to 25 reads. Thank you Bookish Ardor for being the host with the most (dystope?) Check out the challenge here . I think the best part of this challenge is that I should be able to complete it just by reading the sequels to 2011 faves. Insurgent, Enclave 2, Blood Red Road the second? Bring it on...... I made a page for challenges so I don't have to hunt through my own posts. Genius!

The winner of my second-ever giveaway for a SIGNED copy of Perfect by Ellen Hopkins is:                                                             Iluvreadingtoomuch I have emailed the winner and am putting the final touches on my next giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered, and to random.org for existing to pick winners! Have a great Veteran's Day!

The Story Siren is accepting  signups for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge. I far exceeded what I expected to do in 2011, so I am shooting for 25 reads this time around. I think this challenge is fun because I get to find out about books I would never have heard of/or read otherwise. Prize-wise, I don't know. I don't think I have noticed if anyone has actually won anything... So go forth and join up, if you love YA.

The Iron Witch By Karen Mahoney From Goodreads :  Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma. Published: Feb. 2011 I picked this one up at BEA, and I think it was an example of cover love. Honestly, I KNOW I don't enjoy fairy stories, so I probably should not have even have been remotely interested, but alas.  Sucked in by the cover, I did carry this home, and there it sat for months. Poor book. The good news is that there are NO fairies in it! So, here's my take. I liked Donna very much. I lik...

I am seriously in love with Pinterest.  Not only do I spend hours each day drooling over craft and DIY projects, I can pick up ideas for something yummy to eat. This is the place to find great craft ideas for library programs and for possible holiday presents to make. When I dig around, I find things that make me laugh. Or that makes me think.... That said, there is one thing about Pinterest that scares me! Folks who pin picture after picture of famous people.....really? Why? Why do we need a hundred shots of the tall guy from The Office? Do they think the star is going to see that and think "Wow, she really is my number one fan, I must find her and marry her...." I also fear people who have figured out how to use paint chips for EVERYTHING. I think of the poor soul who has to restock them, and I want to cry. Who needs that many? Well, how about this person? That said, if you are already stalking around Pinterest, or if you decide to check it out you can fin...

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted over at BookJourney . She is in Honduras, and I am not sure if we are linking up or not.  Book Journey- I hope you have a great time!!! In the meantime, my plan of reading one library book, one ebook, and one book I own did not go too badly. I did get a tour book in that I had to read first. The end result was: I finished The Name of the Star (library book) I finished Hallowed (tour book) and I am almost through Iron Witch  (I picked that up at BEA and own it) This week I am on vacation. Before we get all excited let me point out that I will be working on school work like crazy trying to finish up for the quarter, and it is my last quarter! Yes! I plan to finish Iron Witch, try again with one of the many, many ebooks I own, and I have a major selection of library books to choose from. I am thinking this one: or, this one: Tell me: What are you reading? 

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) By Cynthia Hand Published: Jan. 17, 2012 Copy: AWBTours Goodreads (to go to the listing click here ):  For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing...

The Name of the Star By Maureen Johnson Goodreads  Review copy: From my library From Goodreads:  The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. I loved this book. At the same time, I could see why many readers would NOT love this book. There are some things that could turn readers away. The first thing is Maureen Johnson. She has this truly distinctive voice that comes out in her characters so strongly, it is as if she is sitting across the table from you and telling you this story. This voice, however is so strong it can overpower her characters. Rory is very similar to Scarlet from Suite Scarlet, because they are both Maureen Johnson. That said, Johnson's voice is smart, ...

Did you enter to win Perfect ? Banished  By Sophie Littlefield Published: October 12, 2010 Review copy: from the library I don't know why, but my library JUST got a copy of this. Why did it take so long, I don't know. I do know that I could not put the darn thing down and am now impatiently awaiting the purchase of Unforsaken (the second book in the series). From Goodreads:  There isn’t much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri—or Trashtown, as the rich kids call the run-down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. Hailey figures she’ll never belong—not with the popular kids at school, not with the rejects, not even with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who deals drugs out of their basement. Hailey never knew her dead mother, and she has no idea who her father was, but at least she has her four-year-old foster brother, Chub. Once she turns eighteen, Hailey plans to take Chub far from Gypsum and start a new life where no one can find them. I will n...