Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

Title: Miles From Ordinary
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Release Date: March 15, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 208
Source: ARC received from publisher

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Summary:

"Imagine Anna Quindlen or Sue Miller turning her attention to writing a young adult novel, and you have an idea what [Williams] has done for early teen readers…" —Audrey Couloumbis, author of the Newbery Honor Book Getting Close to Baby

Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control....

“No one can get inside the head and heart of a 13-year-old girl better than Carol Lynch Williams, and I mean no one," said James S. Jacobs, Professor of Children's Literature at Brigham Young University, of her breakout novel, The Chosen One. Now this award-winning YA author brings us an equally gripping story of a girl who loves her mother, but must face the truth of what life with that mother means for both of them. 

My Thoughts:
I truly think it was the cover that first attracted me to Miles From Ordinary. There's just something about it makes it difficult for me to tear my eyes away... from the tendrils of hair slightly falling into Lacey's face to the way her mouth is slightly agape. It left me to ponder what the girl was facing and even after reading the short plot summary, I was still incredibly intrigued to learn more about the girl behind the face so to speak!

It was supposed to be a summer day full of promise. Lacey's mother had seemed to somewhat to put her aside her ghosts to be coherent enough to begin her day working at the grocery store, earning money the pair of them so very much needed. As for Lacey herself, she was ready for the chance to spend a few hours away from her mother volunteering at the local public library where her Aunt Linda used to work. But soon, what started out as a day full of so much hope begins to spiral out of control...

The novel is a quick, short read yet it still felt like it was the right length. Within a short span of time, we learn so much about Lacey, her mother and the aunt who's no longer a dominant part of their lives anymore. The pacing is easy to follow along and Carol Lynch Williams does a wonderful subtle job switching to flashback scenes of moments in their past. It's during these times that we learn the full extent of just how long Lacey's mother has been sick and how compared to the past, it really does seem that her mother is finally beginning to show some signs of improving. When I found myself drawing closer and closer to the end, I grew nervous because I still had no idea what I could expect!

Lacey shows more strength and perseverance than I could ever expect from a thirteen year-old girl. She's the sole caregiver of her mentally ill mother, taking care of her constantly day and night. Although it stings for her to not have a friend she can confide in since she spends so much time watching her, she loves her mom with every bone in her body and would do anything for her. So even though she knows something is obviously wrong, she's afraid to actually on it and get help... preferring to pretend that everything is alright. She feels both guilty and excited about her new volunteering job at the library because it may finally give her a few hours of peace and time for herself to simply act as a normal teenager. 

Miles From Ordinary may be a short contemporary read but within its pages is a story that will instantly reach out to your heart. Carol Lynch Williams has beautifully written a novel full of tension and the struggles of a young girl doing everything she possibly can to look after her mother... leaving off on a climatic ending that I'm sure will leave some gasping. I know I sure did!

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me this copy!

Waiting on Wednesday (39) - Abandon by Meg Cabot

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Summary (from author's website):

She knows what it's like to die. Now Death wants her back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.

That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.

Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.

What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.

And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her:

The Underworld.

I am so excited for the release of Meg Cabot's latest novel Abandon, the first in a new trilogy that seems like a dark re-imagining of the Greek myth centering around Persephone. Doesn't it sound absolutely fantastic? It looks like we have a twisted love story in store for us...  I mean, how does one fall for a guy trying sweep a girl into the underworld? I'll guess we'll have to wait and see!

And for your viewing pleasure, I've also included the book trailer as well! Enjoy!  

Book Trailer! - My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

I recently stumbled across the book trailer for Janette Rallison's My Unfair Godmother, the sequel to My Fair Godmother, on her website!

Release Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Summary:

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother. 

I'm really looking forward to the release of My Unfair Godmother! It's been awhile since I read the first book, but I can still remember how cute and fun the novel was as it's definitely one of those books that instantly puts a smile on your face! I definitely can't wait to see the spins on fairy tales that Janette Rallison will incorporate in this one!

Also, you'll definitely want to check out this post by Janette Rallison on her blog because everyday until April 12, she'll be giving away a book!! (I know I said the release date is March 29 as that's what the Canadian bookseller sites have said but I'm guessing the American release date is April 12 then since that's the day Goodreads has listed...) Enjoy!

A Cornucopia of Dystopia! Author Interview with... Katie Kacvinsky!

I'm incredibly honoured to have Katie Kacvinsky on the blog today as part of "A Cornucopia of Dystopia!" hosted by Danya (A Tapestry of Words) and Casey (The Bookish Type). Katie Kacvinsky's debut novel, Awaken, is set for release in early May and it's a novel you'll surely won't want to miss! 

1) What was your initial reaction when you first gazed your eyes on the cover of Awaken?

I was completely surprised; my editor told me they were planning to have a boy and girl on the cover. But, I absolutely love this cover. It symbolizes the characters, messages and themes of my book perfectly. Carol Chu rocks my world (the artist who designed it).

2) Who was your favourite character to write in the novel?

I enjoyed writing all of my characters, but Justin was my favorite. I like intense personalities; his was a challenge to write.

3) How are you feeling knowing your debut novel will soon hit shelves in May? Nervous? Excited?

My stomach is tied in knots, but I’m trying to focus on being excited. I have been trying to get published for years now—this is a dream come true and an honor. I don’t have any expectations, I just want to enjoy the experience. And hopefully sell a few copies.

4) In Awaken, all US students must attend Digital School. If you were a student enrolled in DS, what subject would most interest you?

That’s a tough question because I’m interested in so many subjects. I had to take time off of college for a few years because I couldn’t narrow down one thing to major in. I wanted to be a geologist, writer, director, historian, scientist. I ended up getting a journalism degree because it meshed writing with all the things I was passionate about: current events, people, science, sports…

5) Do you find the use of social networking sites important in connecting with readers?

I think social networking sites are great for a lot of people, especially to share music, movie and book recommendations. Personally, I get most of my book info from friends and family. My sister is a librarian and has impeccable taste, so I always ask her for book suggestions. I’m lucky to have a wide range of friends that are book lovers and introduce me to everything from graphic novels to soldier memoirs. I love walking into bookstores and asking the workers what their favorite books are. I’ve discovered some incredible novels that way (like Destroy all Cars and Skipped Parts). I just prefer doing all of this in person. I’m not online much. 

6) In Awaken, Maddie tends to hide behind her online profiles. What are some facts about yourself that we wouldn't be able to tell about you on your own online profile?

A few random things about me: 

• I moved nine times in two years. 
• I’m currently obsessed with the TV show How I Met Your Mother.
• I have a tattoo around my wrist that reads “She flies with her own wings.”

7) Without a doubt, there is definitely a growing trend in number of dystopian novels hitting the shelves. What is it about the genre that you think fascinates and interests so many readers?

I think dystopian fiction comes in waves and it’s a reflection of what’s going on in our own culture. We are undergoing so many changes right now politically and economically. We’re still going through turmoil in the Middle East and trying to rise out of a recession. There is a lot of uncertainty these days. I think dystopian is hot because when you read a book about a chaotic world, it makes your own more bearable.

8) What do you have in store for your readers next?

I have a book coming out next year called First Comes Love. It’s young adult but it’s more general fiction. It’s a love story that flips narratives between the two main characters. It’s kind of a teen angst coming-of-age story. Meanwhile, I am working on a sequel to Awaken and I hope it gets picked up. Maddie and Justin’s story isn’t over. “It’s going to be legend…wait for it…dary.”

****

Thanks so much to Katie Kacvinsky for taking some time out of her day to answer my questions!

Want to learn more about Awaken? You can read my thoughts on the novel by checking out my review.

And don't forget, "A Cornucopia of Dystopia!" is still ongoing! You can find the full schedule of the events here for reviews and giveaways of some of the hottest upcoming dystopian novels as well as read more author interviews!

A Cornucopia of Dystopia! Review + Giveaway: Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Title: Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Release Date: May 11, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Pages: 320
Source: ARC received for review from Casey (The Bookish Type) and Danya (A Tapestry of Words) as part of "A Cornucopia of Dystopia!"

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.  

My Thoughts:
Katie Kacvinsky makes a wonderful entrance to the YA writing scene with her debut novel Awaken. Although the novel is dystopian, the events and principles it covers really don't seem so far-fetched as one might expect. And maybe that's the most scary aspect of this aspect, knowing our own futures are leading towards a more virtual life as we grow more and more dependent on technology... but at what consequences? It was these sorts of questions that left me fascinated to learn more about Awaken as I flipped the pages...

It's the year 2060 and much of America is completely digital with people rarely venturing outside anymore when they can simply accomplish anything they want online from the comforts of their own home. For Maddie, her life is strictly controlled by her influential father, a man who founded Digital School, the school system used nationwide to educate youths. Maddie seems satisfied with this constant virtual life, but when she meets Justin, a boy who convinces her to meet him in the real world, she begins to question everything she's ever known. Rebelling thoughts she had pushed to the back of her mind when she was younger begin to resurface and soon, Maddie's not sure if a completely digital life is so right anymore...

Besides having a great premise, my only qualms with the novel related to the characters themselves as they fell a little bit flat. Both Maddie and Justin don't come across as very strong characters initially but after awhile, I was glad to finally see some signs of growth in them. I wasn't very impressed with how Maddie practically fell in love with Justin and his good looks as soon as she met him, but what I did like was how she slowly grew confidence in herself to act on things she believed in and to pull away from her father's influence. I know I've only mentioned Maddie's father up to this point, but honestly, the only thing I really have to say about her mother is that her personality is completely different compared to the father and that she should grow a spine instead of remaining on the sidelines.

But anyways, let's move onto Justin... shall we? Even though Maddie was soon falling for him, when he made his appearance in the novel, I couldn't shake this wariness I had. He's a little older than Maddie and he tries to keep rather distant, but there was always this feeling like he had another agenda in mind. I won't say anything else on the subject now except that it took awhile for me to finally come to his side and when I did, a part of me fell for him too.  

In the ever increasing online life we are all beginning to lead, Katie Kacvinsky's novel delivers a message... or really a warning if you will of our increasingly online society and how it is shaping us. Just like Maddie, you'll be left questioning yourself, and weighing the pros and cons of such an active online persona. Add on top a novel that has themes regarding coming into your own as a teenager and first love... and I think Awaken is a novel that many will enjoy. 

And for those who are still a bit iffy about the dystopian genre, think of Awaken as more of a futuristic YA fiction novel than anything else. For while the society in the novel definitely has its faults... when you think about, is it really so far off than the way ours seems to be heading towards?

****

Tomorrow, I'll be posting my author interview with Katie Kacvinsky so be on the lookout for it!

So now it's time for the giveaway! As part of "A Cornucopia of Dystopia!" I will be giving away the ARC of Awaken currently in my possession to one lucky person! This giveaway will be INTERNATIONAL and while you don't have to be a follower to enter, the gesture would be appreciated. Your last day to enter the contest is APRIL 18, 2011, which is the final day of the event. I'll choose a winner using a random number generator and email them for their mailing address, after which point, they'll have 48 hours give or take to respond back. 

And yes, you'll get an extra entry just for commenting on this post! Good luck!  

-GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED-
-> Winner has been announced! <-

In My Mailbox (27)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• ARC of Flip by Martyn Bedford
• Flip by Martyn Bedford
• Shadows in the Twilight by Henning Mankell
• What Comes After by Steve Watkins

Random House Canada totally made my week because I wasn't expecting anything in the mail! Thanks so much for sending these copies! (Does the cover of Flip remind you of the movie poster for The Social Network? Or is that just me?)

In other news, I'm still waiting for the copy of The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker I ordered last weekend because it is still nowhere to be found in stores. *sad face* I hope it arrives soon!

What about you? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

Title: Afterlife (Evernight #4)
Author: Claudia Gray
Release Date: March 8, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 368
Source: ARC received for review 

Overall: 4 Stars 

Summary:
** Warning: This summary contains spoilers especially if you haven't read the third novel in the series, Hourglass. **

Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . . 

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?

My Thoughts:
First and foremost, I must point out this review will contain spoilers from the previous novels, especially if you have not read the third novel Hourglass yet. As for Afterlife itself though, it will be spoiler-free like my usual reviews!

I was a bit hesitant to actually begin reading Afterlife because once I started, it would only mean saying goodbye to a cast of characters that I've been following for several years now. But like most things in life, good things must come to an end and so it is with Lucas and Bianca's chapter in the Evernight series. The questions you've always had lingering in your mind during the series are all answered in a novel that still manages to take you by surprise when you least expect it!

Picking up immediately after the awful cliff-hanger ending in Hourglass, we return to find that Lucas has risen as a vampire... the very creature he would despise to ever be while Bianca slowly comes to realize some of the extents of her new powers as a wraith. However, Lucas is struggling to control the hunger he feels for human blood and is terrified he will kill someone for it- even if it were a friend. In need of help controlling the constant hunger, Balthazar convinces them that Lucas' only chance to make it through is to seek the sanctuary of Evernight Academy. But returning to Evernight is more dangerous than ever for Bianca, especially when Mrs. Bethany has set traps in place around the school in her fight against the wraiths... 

I thought Bianca really stepped up in this one. She was beginning to drive me nuts in Hourglass but in this novel, I totally understood her actions so much more. Always quick to defend those she loves, Bianca would do anything to help others and more so when it comes to Lucas. For me, it was really in this novel that I finally came to see her rise from a naive, schoolgirl to a young women who sees the bigger picture. She's frightened of what being a wraith truly entails, yet you would never tell this from the strength she finds within herself to help those she cares about.

It was a bit heartbreaking to see Lucas struggling so much in Afterlife as he attempted to come to terms with being a vampire, the very beings he was brought up to hate and hunt as a Black Cross hunter. Between Bianca and himself, he's always seemed be the stronger, more stable one... so it was interesting to see these roles sort of switched in the novel. Nevertheless, if you couldn't have thought these two could become closer, well they did! It's these obstacles that they try to overcome together that really showcases the passion between them... and at last, I think I finally understood that the two were for real. 

I've always been hung up on the fact that Balthazar should have been with someone. You might have said I was Team Balthazar on those few dates he shared with Bianca in the past, but I guess I finally realized with some sadness in Afterlife that he was never really in the race. It had always only been Lucas for Bianca.  

Afterlife finishes the love story of Lucas and Bianca in the most bittersweet of endings. It's not completely given to you wrapped with a red ribbon and it actually left me sort of conflicted... yet there's still happiness to be found. But that's all I say in that regard. Claudia Gray has done a wonderful job wrapping up their story but I'm glad she's not saying goodbye quite yet to Balthazar as she's writing a novel centered on him set for release in 2012. I want him to find his own happy ending!

Thanks so much to HarperTeen for sending me this review copy! 

Lisa McMann Signing in Toronto and Giveaway!

Yesterday night, I had the very cool opportunity to meet Lisa McMann on her last tour stop for the release of Cryer's Cross at Indigo Yorkdale in Toronto!

I was actually a bit worried that she might not be able to make it to the event because a snowstorm decided to hit Southern Ontario, dumping snow on us when just a few days ago I had already begun to start wearing a spring jacket. Needless to say, I switched back to my winter coat and boots... And because of the bad weather and driving conditions, a few bloggers I had been hoping to finally meet couldn't make it to the event which really saddened me, so I'm really hoping we get another chance to meet someday! 

Anyways, I'm so glad Lisa McMann made it to Toronto! What a nice welcome to Canada and our cold winter weather, eh?

So the event began a little bit after 7:00 pm and right away, Lisa had everyone smiling with her entrance as she made her way to the front. After a short introduction which included talking about Cryer's Cross and handing out some cool green bracelets that take on the form of a soccer player when you're not wearing them, she quickly jumped into reading a couple chapters of The Unwanteds, the first novel in her upcoming dystopian fantasy series aimed at MG and older which is currently set for release August 30, 2011. Let me just say that the writing is completely different from her Wake series and Cryer's Cross, in a fashion that is more like storytelling. (If that makes any sense to you at all...)

After she finished reading (and leaving off on a note that totally had us wanting more!), she answered a few audience questions. One of these questions was regarding the inspiration behind Cryer's Cross, of which Lisa answered in a short heartwarming story how her daughter, who has OCD just like Kendall in the novel, played a role in inspiring her to write the novel.

Once the questions were finished, it was time for the book signing! I was kind of nervous to actually go up and say, "Hi!" and all, but Lisa McMann is so nice and friendly! It's pretty much impossible to not be at ease in her presence! 

That couldn't possibly be me meeting Lisa McMann? O.o Thanks so much to Lisa for coming to Toronto to meet some of your Canadian readers! It was such an awesome evening!

And for some extra things, you can read my gushing review of Cryer's Cross, watch the book trailer, or check out my author interview with Lisa when Cryer's Cross was released in February.

So I did mention there would be a giveaway, right? I have one signed copy of CRYER'S CROSS to give away to a lucky FOLLOWER! This giveaway will be INTERNATIONAL but I'm giving my fellow Canadian followers a couple extra entries because this was the only tour stop in Canada and well, the weather totally sucked so I'm sure it must have stopped some of you from attending. The giveaway will end on APRIL 15, 2011 after which point I will choose a winner using a random number generator. I will send an email to the winner for their mailing address and they'll have 48 hours give or take to respond back. Good luck!

- GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED -
-> Winner has been announced! <-

Waiting on Wednesday (38) - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Summary (from Chapters/Indigo): 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

The hype is really beginning to build around the release of Divergent, the debut novel by Veronica Roth and the first in a brand new dystopian trilogy! There has been tons of early praise high recommending the novel and it was even recently announced that the film rights had been sold to Summit Entertainment!

I am most certainly starting to fall for the hype too and I'm increasingly getting more and more excited for this novel! Seriously, in the past couple weeks in calculus class, my professor keeps saying something about series and sequences converging and diverging and all I'm thinking as he says the word is, "I WANT TO READ DIVERGENT!" And then I hurriedly copy the note he writes on the board because I've totally just zoned out and have no idea what he's talking about.

Anyways, it sounds like Divergent has the potential to be really amazing! Are you looking forward to reading the novel as well? 

Dark Mirror Giveaway WINNER!

St. Martin's Press very kindly offered to give away a copy of M.J. Putney's debut YA novel Dark Mirror during the Dark Mirror blog tour and author Q&A I was fortunate to help participate in... so I'm going to announce the winner now!

Random.org has spoken and the winner is... *drumroll*

Marcie @ To Read or Not To Read

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and congratulations to Marcie for being the lucky winner!

If you missed it before, you can read my review of M.J. Putney's Dark Mirror here.

A Cornucopia of Dystopia Has Officially Begun!

A Cornucopia of Dystopia- an event to celebrate the uprising of the dystopian genre- officially began today! The awesome event, hosted by Danya at A Tapestry of Words and Casey at The Bookish Type, will carry on from March 21 all the way until April 18 in a jam-packed schedule of reviews, author interviews and giveaways! I'm so happy that I'll be helping to participate in the event!

These are the blogs which will be participating in the event as well as the giveaway schedule to look forward to: 

A Tapestry of Words

The Book Worms 

The Bookish Type

Books Are A Girl's Best Friend

Books in the Spotlight

Books, Sweets and Other Treats

Brandiheather's Reviews

Down the Rabbit Hole 

Good Choice Reading 

I Swim For Oceans 

Literary Explorations

Loud Words and Sounds

Midnight Bloom Reads

Musings of a YA Reader

Reading Teen

Supernatural Snark

365 Days of Reading

 

 

March

21 – Loud Words & Sounds – Awaken cover redesign contest

22 – I Swim For Oceans – Awaken

23 – Musings of a YA Reader – Memento Nora

24 – Down the Rabbit Hole – XVI cover redesign contest

27 – Midnight Bloom Reads – Awaken

29 – Supernatural Snark – Memento Nora

April

1 – The Book Worms – Memento Nora
5 – A Tapestry of Words – Awaken
7 – A Tapestry of Words – Enclave

12 – Books in the Spotlight – Memento Nora + international giveaway

14 – 365 Days of Reading – Dark Parties; The Bookish Type - Enclave
16 – The Bookish Type – Bumped

17 – Literary Explorations – signed Delirium

 

You can also see the full schedule (*subject to change*) which includes where to find reviews and author interviews on a particular day by viewing my previous post here.

 

Sounds like fun, right? I'm pretty excited!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither (Chemical Garden #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: March 22, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 368
Source: ARC received from publisher 

Overall: 5 Stars 

Summary:

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

My Thoughts:
Lauren DeStefano's debut novel Wither is a stunner, one which utterly fascinated me from the very first page. Everything from the idea of men living only to the age of twenty-five while women lived until they're twenty because of the failures of medicine... to the idea of polygamous marriages in the hopes of re-populating the quickly withering away population is in itself so horrifying, yet just so compelling and enthralling to read!

I read the novel in one sitting, eagerly flipping the pages and lost in Rhine's story as she faced what could only be her worst nightmare, captured by the Gatherers and sold into a polygamous marriage with two other teenage girls, Cecily and Jenna, who would become her sister wives. While her new husband, Linden, doesn't turn out to be quite the villain we would all suspect him to be and her new home has more luxuries than she could have dreamed... it is still not the life she has chosen. Rhine would do anything to return home to be with her twin brother, Rowen, but as time passes and she becomes more accustomed to her new life, the chance of ever escaping seems to be dwindling... especially when the feared Housemaster Vaughn, Linden's father, suspects she's up to something...

Each character in the novel is very much unique, bringing their own back-stories to the novel in such an important way as the roles of the characters and the way their personalities evolved throughout were so central to this novel. Much of the events in Wither occur within the mansion that belongs to Linden and his father, so much of this novel is essentially character driven rather than filled with tons of action-packed moments. While it does mean that the pacing may be considered slow to some... it was world-building to me. You're brought up to pace with the events that have shaped the future in such drastic, awful ways that I was grateful to not be suddenly flooded with information.

Your heart will instantly reach out Rhine and her desperate plight. She's trapped in her new situation but instead of simply giving up like most girls certainly would, she just puts her game face on. She was strong and intelligent, realizing there would be no point in acting out as it would get her nowhere; her only chance of freedom would be to pretend grow closer to Linden to earn more privileges. I only considered the short time span it took her to become attached to Gabriel, a servant in the household, as her only slight weakness as it seemed rather quick after a few interactions. But then again, he was just as helpless as her to do anything, so it's not really hard to see how they could connect so well.

As for Rhine's sister wives, both of whom she becomes close companions with during the novel, they provided nice contrasting views of the marriage they've been forced into. The younger Cecily was naive and eager to be a good wife to Linden, whereas the older Jenna was hardened from everything she'd experienced but she's also resigned to her fate.

I could probably continue to gush about the amazingness that is Wither... from the perfection of its gorgeous cover to the beautiful, dark story that Lauren DeStefano seems to weave so effortlessly. But you know what? I think I'll take a step back now and let you discover all the wonders of this haunting tale for yourself. Wither will be officially in stores tomorrow and is most certainly not a dystopian novel to be missed! I'm already eagerly anticipating the second novel in The Chemical Garden trilogy!

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me this review copy!

In My Mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Bought:

• The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald
• Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
• The Dark and Hollow Places (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #3) by Carrie Ryan
• Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

So if you read my IMM last week, you'll know I was a bit upset when I couldn't buy Demonglass but Chapters Indigo got them in this week so I was one happy camper once again. Another awesome surprise was finding The Anti-Prom in stores because I could have sworn it was coming out next month but it turns out it already hit shelves earlier in March! I also had to buy The Dark and Hollow Places when I saw it! Doesn't that cover just creep you out? I'm hoping Carrie Ryan's characters finally find some happiness... Chapters Indigo was having a sale for 20% off all Kids and Teen novels for March Break so combined with my iRewards card, I got 30% off the books. Sweet, right?

But you want to know what the cherry on top was? I bought a finished hardcover copy of Cryer's Cross for only $10 at Costco! (You can read my review of the ARC here.) Awesome deal and just in time for the Lisa McMann signing at Indigo Yorkdale this Wednesday! (*cough* I might have bought an extra copy to giveaway as well. *cough*)

And it was a cool surprise to find an extra Once Every Never chapter sampler in the mail from Lesley Livingston for helping take part in the cover reveal! And the wonderful Kiki Hamilton sent me some signed bookmarks for her debut novel The Faerie Ring which is out this Fall 2011. (If you commented in the past on the post I just linked, take a look at the comments section. *wink wink, nudge nudge*)  A huge thank you to both Lesley and Kiki is definitely in order!!

What about you? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading! 

Mark Your Calendars! YA Events Occurring in Canada Soon!

To my fellow Canadians, get ready to mark your calendars with some exciting YA events coming our way in the near future! You can find the details and locations for the events below also on the Chapters Indigo Store Events page...

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

 
Lisa McMann, author of the bestselling Wake trilogy, will be in Toronto at Indigo Yorkdale from 7:00 - 10:00 pm signing copies of her latest novel Cryer's Cross! I'm so excited to be attending this event!! I loved her Wake trilogy and Cryer's Cross was no exception.... you'll especially know this if you've read my gushing review of the dark, creepy novel!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Canadian author Kelley Armstrong, author of The Darkest Powers trilogy, will be in Toronto at Indigo Yorkdale from 2:00 - 5:00 pm for the book launch of her latest release The Gathering! The Gathering will be available early for this event and I can't wait to attend this one too!

While we're still chatting about Kelley Armstrong, please note this as well... April 3 is NOT the only date you can meet her for a signing if you can't make it that day! The Chapters Indigo website only has one of these dates I'm about to list, so if you want further information, take a look at Kelley's Appearances page on her website.

• Saturday, April 23 - Coles Argyle Mall in London, Ontario at 1:30 pm
• Saturday, April 30 - Smith Books Elgin Mall in St. Thomas, Ontario at 2:30 pm
• Saturday, May 7 - Stoney Creek Indigo in Stoney Creek, Ontario at 3:00 pm

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Award-winning Canadian author Eric Walters will be at Indigo Crossiron Mills in Rocky View, Alberta at 4:30 pm to sign copies of his recently released novel Shaken.

Monday, April 18, 2011



Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, two amazing YA authors who really need no introduction, will be at Chapters Metrotown in Burnaby, British Columbia at 7:00 pm for a special event including a talk, Q&A, and book signing for their latest releases City of Fallen Angels and Red Glove respectively. West Coast friends, if you have a chance to go... do it! I was fortunate to meet them both when they came to Toronto for a signing back in November last year and it's definitely a night you won't forget. If you're going, you'll definitely want to get there early! 

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I hope this little round-up has been helpful to some of you! Are any of you planning to attend

some of these events? I already know that I'll be meeting up with the ladies from A & C Book Junkies for the first time at the Lisa McMann event this Wednesday!

Once Every Never Sampler Giveaway WINNERS!

You might recall that I had the cool opportunity to help reveal the awesome cover for Lesley Livingston's upcoming novel Once Every Never along with some of my fellow Canadian bloggers and that five signed chapter samplers would be given away... well, I'm finally announcing the winners of the giveaway! 

The lovely, signed chapter samplers arrived in the mail earlier this week... so let's see who will be the five lucky winners receiving them!

Random.org has spoken and the five winners are... *drumroll*

1) Maidenveil @ Musings of a Reader Happy

2) Danya @ A Tapestry of Words

3) Natasha A.

4) Madiha F.

5) Erica @ The Book Cellar

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and congratulations to the winners! I'll be sending an email to the five of you for your mailing addresses, so please keep an eye on your inboxes!

Book Trailer! - Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones

I stumbled across the book trailer for Blink & Caution, the latest release from Canadian author Tim Wynne-Jones on Bookurious today and thought I'd share it with everyone!

Release Date: March 8, 2011
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary: 

Two street kids get tangled in a plot over their heads - and risk an unexpected connection - in this heart-pounding thriller by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Boy, did Blink get off on the wrong floor. All he wanted was to steal some breakfast for his empty belly, but instead he stumbled upon a fake kidnapping and a cell phone dropped by an "abducted" CEO, giving Blink a link to his perfect blonde daughter. Now Blink is on the run, but it’s OK as long as he’s smart enough to stay in the game and keep Captain Panic locked in his hold. Enter a girl named Caution. As in "Caution: Toxic." As in "Caution: Watch Your Step." She’s also on the run, from a skeezy drug-dealer boyfriend and from a nightmare in her past that won’t let her go. When she spies Blink at the train station, Caution can see he’s an easy mark. But there’s something about this naïve, skinny street punk, whom she only wanted to rob, that tugs at her heart, a heart she thought deserved not to feel. Charged with suspense and intrigue, this taut novel trails two deeply compelling characters as they forge a blackmail scheme that is foolhardy at best, disastrous at worst - along with a fated, tender partnership that will offer them each a rare chance for redemption.  

This is definitely not your typical plot description for a YA novel! The book trailer definitely gets your heart racing with the way the music builds up...

I'm Guest-Blogging Today For Canuck Week!

The title really says all because today I'm guest blogging over at Book Junkies during their Canuck Week!

I'm sharing one of the series I read when I was younger which helped me become the complete bookworm I am now!

Would you like a clue about the series I'm gushing about? It might involve a wizard who attends a magical school and has to defeat an evil Dark Lord...

You can read my guest post here! =)

Waiting on Wednesday (37) - City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Summary (from author's website): 

Who will fall in love, and who will find their relationship torn apart?  

Who will betray everything they ever believed in? 

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. 

In the heart-pounding fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, the stakes are higher than ever. 

I am so crazy excited for the highly-anticipated release of City of Fallen Angels!! There are only a few series that will turn me into a complete fan-girl and The Mortal Instruments series is one of them! Cassandra Clare is one of my favourite authors and I just know she'll deliver another novel that everyone will instantly love. I can't wait to immerse myself once again in the Shadowhunter world as we join Clary, Jace, Simon, Magnus and the rest of the gang in what is sure to be another bumpy, angst-ridden adventure we won't soon forget.

If you haven't yet done so, you can give into temptation and read the full first chapter of City of Fallen Angels on Cassandra Clare's website. Or you can watch the first of three book trailers to be revealed for City of Fallen Angels here which gives a recap of the events in the first three novels.

Wither Blog Tour and Book Trailer: Interview with... Lauren DeStefano!

Today, I'm honoured to be the first stop on Lauren DeStefano's Canadian blog tour! Lauren's debut novel, Wither, the first in the dystopian Chemical Garden trilogy will be in stores next week on March 22... and trust me, you'll definitely be wanting to get your hands on a copy as soon as you can! Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada, I was able to ask the author a few questions...

Summary:  

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. 

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home. 

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

1) If you suddenly found yourself in Rhine's dark world, how would you react? 

To me, the darkness of Rhine's world--or of any world--is not as terrifying as losing my freedom. Rhine grew up in a dreary, dangerous and polluted city, but it was the only home she knew, and it belonged to her. I'd feel the same way, and I wouldn't want to be placed somewhere more appealing at the cost of my freedom.

2) If you had a playlist for Wither, what songs would be found on it? 

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel could play in the background during just about any scene and be relevant to the situation. In my head, at least.

3) What is the main message you hope to impart on readers once they've finished the first novel in the Chemical Garden trilogy? 

I would never presume to tell my readers what to take away from my stories.

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Thanks so much to Lauren DeStefano for taking some time out her busy schedule for the Q&A! The book hasn't even officially hit stores yet but I'm already highly anticipating the second novel... and also wondering how the Simon & Schuster folks can possibly top the absolutely gorgeous cover of Wither!

And while I still have your attention, why not check out the Wither book trailer which just premiered on the official Chemical Garden website today?

In My Mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• ARC of Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams 

I actually received two copies of Miles From Ordinary so I'll probably be giving one away in the future. Thank you St. Martin's Press for the review copies! 

Won:

• ARC of Original Sin (Personal Demons #2) by Lisa Desrochers 

I was so happy to find out I was one of the winners of an ARC of Original Sin from a Twitter contest through Tor.com Urban Fantasy (@tordotUF). Thanks so much!! 

Bought:

• Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 

I've been looking forward to reading Playing Hurt for ages so I was really happy to finally get my hands on a copy! I was going to buy Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins as well but after seeing none on the shelf, I searched on a kiosk at Chapters/Indigo and learned there were no copies to be found anywhere in any of the Ontario stores that popped up! Isn't that just so sad? I'm hoping the stores gets them in soon! Water for Elephants was a random buy while I was at Wal-Mart. I know there's the movie coming out, so I figured, "Why not check out the book?" I hope it's good!

What about you? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!