Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

As we all know, I loved Shatter Me. In fact it was one of my favorite reads in 2011. This made my expectations for Unravel Me go up the rooftop.

 The number one thing I loved the most in Unravel Me was how every character stood out, turning them all into main characters. I felt like they were all essential to the storyline and I don’t usually feel that way. Like, in novels where they are love triangle, I get to only think and care about the 3 involved. However in this book I cared about each one of them, liked them and memorized their names. I have the worst memory but I still could recall Castle, Kenji , the Twins, etc.

The one thing I didn’t like is that I didn’t feel anything towards James this time around. I am leaning more towards Warner, even though I shouldn’t be. James was just boring in this installment. Really. So I had no choice but to look forward to Warner's part every time I turned a page. From book 1, I have been leaning towards Warner but Juliette was disagreeing with me. And she is finally listening to me in this book. I had to yell on top of my lungs for her to hear me. I mean Warner is a bad guys, but lets not forget that no one was born with pure evilness in their bloods. Warner just needs a chance. And I really like how the author made the relationship among the 3 so complicated even more. I was just going " no oh nooo. That cant be happening. I didn’t see that. What why?"

You talk to yourself a lot, reading this book.    

I also felt like the writing style had changed too. Not sure if that is a bad or good thing. Just thought I should mention it.

Finally, I want to say that I'm super excited for book 3.  

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Release Date: February 28^th 2012

Publisher: Harper Teen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 375 pages

Source: Borrowed

 I just finished Pandemonium and I am in shock. This installment was way and I mean way better than Delirium. Pandemonium had the fun, entertaining, breath-taking aspect to it and I loved it. There were some parts that dragged and stretched forever but it had always ended up perfectly.

I don’t remember if it was in Delirium too but in Pandemonium, the book was divided into 2 parts, the now and then. What happened to Lena in the wild (then) and back to Zombieland (Now). It helped with the pacing of the book and increased the questions in my head.

Lena found a new life but at the same time, she had hard time forgetting about Alex. And I don’t want to spoil it but THE ENDING was huge. And got me teary for some stupid reason and it shocked me. So 5 stars for this overwhelming ending. I kept flipping the last page hoping to stumble upon another page but no I have to wait months upon month to get my questions answered. 

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 17th 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 403 pages

Source: Borrowed

I had hard time falling in love with this book. You know why? Because I already fell in love with Tucker in the first book. So it was hard for me to see Tucker fading into the background, while Christian taking on the lead. I knew this was going to happen. I mean, Christian is…fine. Whatever. And I understand the dilemma that Clara is facing right now. I mean Tucker or Christian. I vote for Tucker because…well, if you had read book 1 you would know.

Anyways, this book is sad. So sad. Because Clara loses the most valuable person in her life. And even though she knows about it for few months, it still hits with a rock when it actually happens.

I still have to come clean and say that it wasn’t as good as the first book. But it was still gripping and a page turner. 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Release Date: November 15^th 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 338 pages

Source: Gift

Series: 1

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting asThe Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Shatter me shattered my brain, by making me think that no one can top this exquisite writing. The writing by far was the best aspect in this book. The similes, comparisons, description, and all those others things that we learn in English class were all in this book. I mean, I always find it really hard to imagine the setting of the book but I swear in Shatter Me I was never lost. I know how everything looked like, every little detail.

Shatter Me was my favorite book I read in 2011 because the author invested so much in the detailing everything. In making me know how Juliette felt and feeling it myself. I tasted what Juliette tasted. I felt her pain and happiness. I heard what she heard. I saw what she saw. The description in this book was so vivid; it might surround you for a while.  Adam Kent was just awesome. I loved him with all my heart. And I always like it or feel attached when there is history between the two people falling in love( I just don’t want instant love at all, if you know what I mean.)

I don’t know what else I could say. This book left me speechless at times. I didn’t want to end it. and why does releasing the next book has to be so far away? Not fair.

Totally recommend this book.     

Book Trailer: Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

 Tell me what you think in the comment section.

Have you read the book yet? Are you planning to?

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Release Date: January 3^rd 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 299 pages

Source: ARC

Series: Stand alone

Joy Delamere is suffocating... 

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. 

Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far. 

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late. 

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

Just when I thought contemporary books couldn’t get any edgier, I read Don’t Breathe A Word which changed my view. And I'm not exaggerating but it also made me aware of an issue that I didn’t know existed in USA.

The issue is homeless teenagers and the many problems they face before they became homeless and after. Holly does a great job in making me feel sorry for the unfortunate teenagers who are given no choice but to live on the streets.

This book has many messages that I think is useful to teenagers. It is one of those books that can ensure its readers, who are having problems stronger than them in their lives, that tomorrow will be better. That you need to strengthen yourself because you deserve that.

I really loved Joy. She was awesome and adaptable when it came to the life she decided on. She's been through a lot thanks to Asher who I hate like crazy. I hate you Asher and you cant do anything about it. you're so full of nothingness. Ok, now that its off my chest, I can talk about Creed.

Creed is this protector whom I viewed as a superhero in this book. I want a whole book written from Creed's perspective. I just want to read him talk. That's all. He was a great character symbolizing so many wonderful things in our world.

Anyways, this book was enjoyable and an eye opener on a topic that doesn’t get much attention in our world. Homeless teenagers.   

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: September 6^th 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 294 pages

Source: Library

Series: 2

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. 

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? 

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

This book came in with a huge disappointment. Firelight was one of my favourites in 2010 but Vanish is definitely my least in 2011. I just felt the plot was rushed through and Jacinda's actions weren’t rational.

However in this book, the love triangle had left me wondering: which team am I on? In Firelight, I was team Will all the way. But I felt myself leaning towards Cassian in this instalment. I shouldn’t be like that. Once I pick a team, I should never go back to the opposite team. I am with Jacinda that it is a tough choice.

I was expecting more depth into the draki's world. More history aspect to it. It wasn’t there.

Anyways, I will be anticipating the 3^rd instalment because I know it will be good as the first.   

Dear Bully

Release Date: September 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Any

Pages: 352 pages

Source: Library

Series: None

You are not alone

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

At first, it seemed like a hard read. Short non-fiction stories of people who used to get bullied in school, reminded me of memories I have been successfully blocking all those years. This book taught me that I wasn’t the only bullied. In fact, I bet everyone was bullied at least once in their lives, right? But my story is nothing compared to what these short stories in the Dear Bully included.

If I were being bullied and read this book, it would have given me lights towards the coming days that will contain nothing but days full of smiles. Dear Bully made me realize that if amazing people like the authors who contributed to this book were bullied, then bulling has a good side to it? Maybe? Most of the authors included in their story that the bully helped them in some indirect way to become writers. That could happen.

None of the stories were smiliar. Each one of them was unique. I didn’t know there are 70 ways to bullying

Also, this book contains resource on how to deal with bullying. Pretty amazing huh?

Really great book. If every kid had to read this, will bullying exists? 

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Release Date: May 31^st 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 514 pages

Source: Library

Series: Book 1

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

This book was great. Fantastic. Unique plot and characters. But I didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me. At first it sounded so interesting. It kept me on going and flipping through the pages quickly. But later I was bored. Really. I felt the book was too wordy. Full of details. And yes usually when a book is full of details is considered to be great and placed in my favourite bookshelf. But this book was too wordy to the point I had to skip parts of it. I guess I didn’t care much about the characters .Or maybe I'm not into Greek Mythology. I don’t know.

The love story between Helen and Lucas was fine. But I wanted more. I was waiting till the last page to get more but there was nothing.

Basically, I had high hopes for this book but it let me down. Sadly. And not because of writing or anything. No, the writing was excellent. I guess I'm not into that sort of lengthy book. 

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Release Date: May 10^th 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Page: 341pages

Source: Library

Series: Book 1

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

When I first heard that this book would be set in paris, I got super excited. I mean, I love reading about France and knowing more their culture, language, etc.

To be honest with you,  I didn’t like the book much, it was good but not to the point where I was awed by it. but please do not take this review as a negative review. The book just didn’t captivate me into its world.

Now I will give it to you, it has a unique concept. I never read anything like that but the problems were in the characters. They were pretty much flat characters. I liked Amy at first because she does nothing in her life but read and read and read. But then she became irritating all the time. Vincent was boring and dull to me. He was mysterious, hot but the way he loved Amy all of sudden wasn’t realistic to me. I like things to come slow. Not OMG, I think I love you. It's just me!

The storyline was twilight themed. There were no vampires in this book but I felt like I was reading one of the twilight books all the time.  I don’t know why, really (Insert a sad face!).

What I liked about this book was the world that Amy had created. It was original as I mentioned and people will like it, but it wasn’t for me.

Tata for now

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: Feburary 15^th 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Page: 368 pages

Source: Library

Series: Book 2

 Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life. 

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Book 1 in the series was one of the best books I've read in 2010. So I had high expectations for Desires of the Dead. The book didnt fail me. It was awesome, epic, thrilling, enticing… just like book 1. I felt my hands sweating from the amount of the breathless scenes that I had to witness reading this book. It was so hard to stop reading. I just wished us, human beings, didn’t have to sleep to survive.

One of the things I liked about Desires of the Dead is the fact that I get to see more of Jay and Violet. You know I thought Ms.Derting would do the usual-Jay and Violet would break up or maybe make them less interested in each other- but, no, their relationship grew in this book and it was wonderful and very romantic.

The ending was a little scary but gripping. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I just left wondering and sorry for Violet for her curse which is her gift too.

I was happy when I knew that there was going to be another book in the series and I got even more excited when I saw its cover-The last Echo.

Tata for now 

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 4^th  2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Page: 435 pages

Source: Library

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Could debut books of 2011 get any better? I doubt that!

Unearthly starts with so many questions, wonders and a great intro to a whole new mysterious world. We are introduced to Clara who finds out that she is an angel who has a purpose in life. She moves out to get closer to her purpose who turns out to be "saving Christian" from fire. But things don’t go the way it's planned.

This book had a gripping, addictive storyline. Maybe the book was glued to my hands, so that would explain why I found it hard to put the book down? Maybe? The writing is unique and beautiful. The "clean romance" is just attractive and incomparable. So like, when Tucker falls in love with Clara from first sight, isn’t that great? Well, I don’t see that often in books I read. For most of the time, I wanted to be Clara because she had so much fun this summer and talked to bears(the summer in the book).

BUT, I didn’t like the ending that much. It wasn’t on the same level as the rest of the book. Or maybe I didn’t want the book to end.

Finally, I want to say this book was UNEARTHLY.

Tata for now 

Book Review: Origins (Stefan's Diaries #1)

Heyhihello

Origins (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #1) by L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec.

Release Date: November 2^nd 2010

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Purchased

The description of the book:

Set during the Civil War, against a backdrop of grand estates, unimaginable riches, and deadly secrets, three teenagers in Mystic Falls, Virginia enter a torrid love triangle that will span eternity.

Brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore are inseparable until they meet Katherine, a stunning, mysterious woman who turns their world upside down. Siblings turned rivals, the Salvatores compete for Katherine's affection, only to discover that her sumptuous silk dresses and glittering gems hide a terrible secret: Katherine is a vampire. And she is intent on turning them into vampires so they can live together-forever.

 I love the vampire diaries...the show, I mean. I've been watching the show since its beginning. When I knew that HarperTeen will be having a dairy for Stefan before he was a vampire, I knew I had to read it. However, if you do watch the show, you kind of know of Stefan's life before his death-after life.

Basically, for many parts of the book, it was just a repeat of the many flashbacks that took place during the show's storyline. But I did enjoy reading it anyways.

The biggest surprise of the book was Demon and his behavior and attitude. They are nothing like Demon we know off from the show.

Also, in this book we get to see how Stefan and Demon loved Katherine and how the brothers competed against each other to gain Katherine's heart. If you enjoy reading Love triangles, this book is for you.  

But of course, there is no Elena in that book. Well, because she didn’t existed back then.

Overall, I think if you are a fan of the vampire diaries (show or books) you need to get Stefan's diaries now.

Tata for now

Book Review: Delirium

Heyhihello

I shall review a book titled Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Release Date: February 1^st 2011 

Publisher: HarperTeen   

Source: Won from online giveaway 

Series: Book 1 

The description of the book:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

I heard a lot about how good Lauren Oliver is. But when I read "Delirium", I knew for sure Lauren wasn’t just good. She was awesome. Her style of writing is the type I like. She helps you capture the full image easily. Her characters are so unique and beautiful.

Basically, Delirium is a dystopian novel where love is forbidden. The minute you turn 18, you are cured from it. But before Lena was cured, she fell in love with Alex. So what is Lena suppose to do? How could you avoid love? And no, it's not just love between Lena and Alex, it also includes any kind of love. For example, after you are cured, you stop loving your parents, siblings and friends.

Lauren Oliver did a great job in making me think of how the world would go or stop without love. Lauren made me realize how love is essential to survive life.

Back to the Lauren's writing, it was so flawless and I just felt like I needed more. I didn’t want to stop reading at all. The characters are complete with every detail that you could think of.

The loveship (I know its not a word) between Alex and Lena was beautiful and romantic. It was real love that you don’t get to read about much in books these days.  

Now the worse thing about this book is that it finishes with a cliffhanger. I am just dying to know what happens next. I guess I have to wait and see.

Overall, I think Lauren's writing is very addictive and the minute you start reading one of her books, you start wanting more.

Tata for now  

Book Review: All You Get is Me

Heyhihello

Today I shall review a book titled "All You Get is Me" by Yvonne Prinz.

Here is the description of the book:

A summer of love, loss, and justice. 

Things were complicated enough for Roar, even before her father decided to yank her out of the city and go organic. Suddenly, she’s a farm girl, albeit a reluctant one, selling figs at the farmers’ market and developing her photographs in a ramshackle shed. Caught between a troublemaking sidekick named Storm, a brooding, easy-on-the-eyes L.A. boy, and a father on a human rights crusade that challenges the fabric of the farm community, Roar is going to have to tackle it all—even with dirt under her fingernails and her hair pulled back with a rubber band meant for asparagus.

My review:

This is the type of books I prefer. It's about Roar who moves from city to become a farmer. She experiences first love and a new life. But that’s not why this book was a favorite. This book was a favorite because it contained a message about a current "political" situation. And if you follow me on to twitter, you know how I love politics.

"All You Get is Me" was trying to put a spotlight on illegal immigration, specifically from Mexico. "All You Get is Me" pictured their lives in US and how they are treated. I had no prior knowledge about that situation but this book gave an access of the needed knowledge to understand the illegal immigration to US situation.   

Also, "All You Get is Me" focuses on how Americans are divided into two when it comes to their attitude toward the illegal immigrants. Some of them think that they don’t deserve their basic rights and others support the illegal immigrants' rights. Which side are you on?

I always complain about how sometimes YA authors think that the only thing teens and young adult want to read about is love stories. But Yvonne Prinz finally listened to my complains and created a book that made me think.

I don’t need to mention that Roar, the main character, was loveable and different from most of the main characters in other books. She is a photographer. Awesome.

Tata for now.