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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
After
Author: Kristin Harmel
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publisher Date: February 9th 2010
Pages: 240
Overview:
Lacey's world shatters when her dad is killed in a car accident. And secretly? She feels like it’s her fault. If she hadn’t taken her own sweet time getting ready that morning . . . well, it never would have happened. Her mom wouldn’t be a basket case. Her brother Logan wouldn’t drink. And her little brother would still have two parents.
But life goes on even if you don’t want it to. And when Lacey gets the chance to make a difference in the lives of some people at school, she jumps at it. Making lemonade out of lemons is her specialty. Except she didn’t count on meeting a guy like Sam. Or that sometimes? Lemonade can be a pretty bitter drink to swallow.
My Review:
I saw the cover of this book online and immediately was drawn to it. I clicked on the overview of the book and knew I had to get this book to read.
After a few days sitting in my house, I began to read this book. I could not put this book down. Lacey has her normal routine starting out in the beginning of the book and then the tragic event strikes. I felt Lacey was a great realistic character.
Of course Lacey ends up helping out another student who lost her mother to cancer which gets her mind thinking on things. She somehow creates a group for those who have lost a parent. I thought that was kind of nice to do since others would know how it felt to be treated. Some do not know how it is like until they lose a parent. Everyone deals with the loss differently but the group made it more normal for everyone.
During this process, Lacey also sprouts a romance with a the new guy, Sam. Sam has something major to tell her but then something else pops up and makes Lacey wonder. That secret got my attention!! Great suspense there.
Lacey's family also deals with her father's death differently. Her mother seems to be stuck in the process of grieving and not living. Towards the end of the book, her mother eventually reverts to back to her old self and lives for her family. Her brother Logan ends up drinking and then gets himself in a bad situation regarding to this matter. A big wake up call! Her other brother Tanner is always quiet. The family seems apart but in a way they are grieving in their own ways. Slowly the family gets back together. I liked how the family deals with grief a different way but should be done in more of a healthy manner.
On a personal note, the book did hit close to home, since my dad was killed in a car accident by a truck driver. At the end of the book where Lacey felt like it as her fault, I had those moments too. Life goes on. It's a great book for those who have lost a parent.
Cover Rating: A
Story Rating: A
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Seeing Cinderella
Author: Jenny Lundquist
Pages: 240
Publisher: Aladdin Mix
Publisher Date: March 20, 2012
Overview:
Sixth grade is not going well for Calliope Meadow Anderson. Callie’s hair is frizzy, her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, and to top things off, she has to get glasses. And her new specs aren’t even cute, trendy glasses—more like hideously large and geeky. But Callie soon discovers that her glasses have a special, magical perk: When she wears them, she can read people’s thoughts. Crazy glasses aside, Callie has more drama to face when she’s cast as the lead in the school play—and instead opts to be an understudy, giving the role of Cinderella to Ellen. Can Callie’s magic glasses help her see her way to leading lady, or is she destined to stay in the background forever?
My Review:
I love the cover of this book! The story was even more amazing. It's an adorable and quick read!
Callie learns to figure things out when she gets those glasses! Seeing people's true thoughts is not all that's cracked up to be. She has to learn how to deal with the power behind the glasses and that everyone is not who they say they are. Callie has lots of things to deal with: her parents, a new friend in the works who's from another country, a boy she has a crush on and an old friend who may not be that nice and feeling like an outcast or dork. Junior high can be a tough time.
As Callie continues to wear glasses, she has her ups and downs with it. She eventually learns to live without the glasses. She goes on a path of gaining some confidence. Callie is a real character! It's just a great story with a great values in it.
Cover Rating: B
Story Rating: A
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Mermaid Mirror
Author: L.K. Madigan
Pages: 308
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publisher Date: October 4th 2010
Overview:
Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching. As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf. But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport. Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic.
My Review:
At the beginning I thought the book was a tad slow but it did pick up as I could not put it down. The story took me into a new world of adventure.
The book shows Lena's relationship with her family, friends and every day life. I liked reading about Lean's day to day activities but when they start to change a bit. Curiosity kicked in! What was going on? What was going to happen next? Why did Lena want to surf? Why did she go to the one place that was dangerous?
As I kept reading page by page, I learned a secret spilled out of the matters of her mother and father. That was a pretty good secret to be kept as Lena finds out about it. There was magic in these matters I think regarding in how Lena finds out. I love how her father tells her the story as it was sweet.
It was pretty amazing to learn that Lena's mother was still alive. Shock hits Lena and she learns of her unusual heritage. Her unique heritage was quite a new world for me indulge in. As Lena learns of a new world, she also remembers her old one. Which world will Lena stay in? Read the book to find out.
I love the cover on this book. It has the ocean and just filled with great colors. I love the color blue. It did catch my eye at the bookstore when I bought it.
Cover Rating: A
Story Rating: B
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Are U 4 Real?
Author:Sara Kadefars
Pages: 320
Publisher:Dial
Publishing Date: May 14, 2009
Overview:
Kyla is exactly the kind of girl Alex could never talk to in real life. She's a gorgeous, outspoken L.A. girl who parties to forget about her absent father and depressed mother. He's a shy ballet dancer from outside San Francisco who's never been kissed. Luckily, when these sixteen-year-olds meet for the first time it's not in real life - it's in a chat room, where they can share their feelings of isolation and frustration away from the conformity-obsessed high school scene. Alex and Kyla quickly forge a friendship that's far from virtual - maybe they're even falling in love. But what happens when the soul mate you've never met moves from online to in person?
My Review:
It took me a while to read this book, honestly. It was just interesting. It started off with giving you an idea how Kyla and Alex were living. It seemed that their families did not understand them. Eventually these two meet online in a chat room one night as they were both bored and wanted someone just to talk to. Alex makes the first move in talking to Kyla online. After a while the two begin to send emails back and forth realizing how how want to live their lives the way they want to not to their parents dreams. So Kyla learns to confront her mother on things as Alex does the same. This book gives off the vibe of pressure, teen - angst and living life as best as you can to your knowledge.
Both characters eventually meet up which seems to be quick and fast pace and yet they aren't sure of each other. As they also meet up again they seem to realize that they both do like each other, Will they know that? Read the book to find out. The ending is cute.
I do like the fact that Alex is a ballet dancer. That is pretty cool to read about. The world of dancing and it's pressures there is something nice to see.
The book has email and instant message format as well as regular written format in the book which is pretty cool. It makes the book a quicker read I think. As for the chat room, yes there are still chat rooms out there to this day. In this day and age there's tons of electronic ways to communicate ex: Twitter, Facebook, Chat, myspace and so on.
Cover is awesome with it's colors and simplicity.
Story Rating: C
Cover Rating: B
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In a Heartbeat
Author: Loretta Ellsworth
Pages: 224
Publisher:Walker & Company
Publisher Date: Feb 15, 2011
Overview:This book explores the ties of family and the weight of regret when a mistake costs Eagan her life during a figure-skating competition. Left in the afterlife, reflecting on what she could have done differently, Eagan's still-beating heart is given to Amelia who has been waiting patiently for a transplant. When their thought, feelings, and dreams begin to mysteriously overlap, Amelia knows she must search for Eagan's family and find a way to give them all the closure they need move on.
My Review:
The story is about two girls and one heart. Eagan is a bold character who is an upcoming figure skater. Amelia is a shy and quiet gal who needs a heart transplant. So how do these two girls connect?
They connect by Eagan's heart!
The story was unique and heart warming. The author told both sides of the story and effects from Eagan and Amelia. I liked how you could understand was going on and how the girls were feeling scared and confused. It is quite an adventure for the two girls to go through. Eagan learns about herself and family as she then learns to let go which I love. Amelia understands her family as well and learns to open up and not be so shy. Amelia also picks up on Eagan's habits a bit too which I found fascinating. Both Eagan and Amelia's families also connect together and become good friends. Everyone gets closure.
It is a lovely story and the chapters go back and forth between Eagan and Amelia which I love. While reading this book made me realize I'm grateful for the relationship I have with my family. Family is important. The book also gives you a sense that life can be short at times. I recommend you read it.
Story Rating: A
Cover Rating: B
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Ruined
Author: Paula Morris
Pages: 304
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Overview:
Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her Aunt Claudia, who reads Tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city.
My Review:
The story takes place with Rebecca, who comes from New York ending up in New Orleans to live with her Aunt while her father goes travels for work. Rebecca gets thrown into a new setting and has to adjust as best as she can be. She learns of how society functions down in New Orleans. At first she doesn't seem to be interested in it and has a hard time making friends but eventually that changes as she meets Lisette helps her by being her friend and tells her a story.
I found myself more fascinated in the story as it progressed. The history captured my attention mostly. The story made me wonder what was going to happen next. Rebecca found herself in an adventure and mystery. As for the ghost aspect of this book, it was rich with history. There were many ghosts mentioned but mainly focuses on one ghost which I will not give away. You need to read the book to find that out. It surprised me who it was!
There is some romance between Anton and Rebecca but the book mostly focuses on the history and ghost aspect. The romance was sweet as usual. The whole book made me feel like I was on an adventure with Rebecca. Great book for those who want something filled with adventure, mystery, history, a bit of romance and a ghost character! I recommend it for all ages.
The cover is stunning! I totally love the cover how it goes a gothic and ghostly feel to it.
Story Rating: B
Cover Rating: A
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