Book Review: Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: Revelations
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Blue Bloods (Book #3)
Pages: 264
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2008

"Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called not question: is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.
When an ancient place of power is threatened in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high, the battle is bloody, and through it all, Schuyler is torn between duty and passion, love and freedom."

My Rating: 4/5

Although this book was enjoyable it was fairly predictable. I liked watching as the vampires grew older and acquired more "powers", it was fascinating that they were able to do so many things (very creative La Cruz). In the end though I was able to guess easily who the "criminal" was. I believe I started guessing correctly half way through which made the ending fairly boring. I will continue to read these books as I am addicted, but I hope the next one is not as predictable.
THANK YOU MELISSA DE LA CRUZ FOR IMAGINING SUCH UNIQUE ABILITIES!

Hope you enjoyed,
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz

As I mentioned in the book review above this was a good book, but not as good as the others. I found that I was able to guess who the Silver Blood was throughout most of the book. I had my suspects from book 2, but the cover gives it all away. Who has read hair and acts oddly? Bliss! Whoever made the cover just pissed me off. I still love how this book is set in New York, but I found that the setting wasn't as highlighted in this book and that was disappointing. I did enjoy exploring Charles Force's house though.

Characters:
Schuyler: We've seen so many changes in Schuyler since the first book. I found it hard to believe that she was hooking up with Jack, but I was cheering her on. Who doesn't want the boy that they aren't supposed to have? I love the idea of them together. I wasn't impressed when she tells Oliver she loves him. I doubt that highly actually. It wasn't even a big emotional break through, it was more of a hey, I love you. I was baffled.

Bliss: As I mentioned above, I knew that Bliss was the Silver Blood through most of this book and this is due to the cover. I loved the way she narrates the story though. I was mad when she didn't realize herself that she was the one causing everyone harm, not Dylan. Is she really Gabrielle's daughter though? That's the question that I can't get out of my head.

Mimi: The same as ever. Selfish and lustful. Mimi has what she does because of the kind of angel she was. I really think that she'll end up turning to the dark side... especially if she loses Jack. She doesn't deserve him anyways, he just doesn't seem to fit with her.

Jack: I really love this character, although I think that he might be playing Schuyler. If there isn't a way to break the bond why would he lie to her? I don't think that him and Mimi should go through with the bonding but I don't see how he can't without undergoing a trial.

Oliver: I feel sorry for Oliver. He's been used and abused by Schuyler so many times. She had to know that he loved her and that making him her familiar would only make it worse. I was even mores surprised when she confessed her love. If I was Oliver I wouldn't believe a word she said.

Dylan: I knew that Dylan was innocent. He doesn't mean to hurt anybody, and he seems like such a sweetheart. I only hope his memory will recover.

Lawrence: I was so sad when Lawrence died. He was such an interesting character, and now that he won't return to the cycle things are just extremely depressing.

Jordan: I'm confused as to what the watcher is, but I"m assuming she's one who is watching Bliss, making sure that she isn't going to live to fulfill evil deeds. Jordan didn't do such a good job though, and she was captured.

Charles: I could hardly believe that Charles was reduced to basically nothing, especially when the Blue Bloods need an Archangel the most.

Kingsley: Seriously thought he was the guilty one. What the heck!?!?!


Moments to Remember:
♥Pg. 75
"Outside of this place, they could be nothing to each other. He would not even allow himself to look at her. He could not afford it. So she wanted him to enjoy himself, to look at her as much as he liked.
'Get over here,' he growled."

♥Pg. 205
"Brazilians wore skimpy bikinis, no matter their shape or size; it was liberating and somewhat appalling at the same time. The American in Bliss believed grandmothers should not wear thongs."

♥Pg. 264
"Love. It's so close to hate, it's almost indistinguishable.
But this is how t was for the two of them.
Love and hate.
Life and death.
Joy and anguish."

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Title: Dreamland

Author: Sarah Dessen

Pages: 205

Publisher: Penguin Group

Year Published: 2000

“Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He’s magnetic. He’s compelling. He’s dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else- her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem than being without him?”

My Rating: 10/10

This is an incredible book. I loved that Sarah Dessen makes the reader feel as though they are the main character. I feel like this book touches on so many teen issues and although twelve years have past since it’s been published they are all relevant. Really in the past decade or so things haven’t changed that much. I have not read a lot about some of these issues and I hope to find a book from the opposite point of view in Caitlin’s relationship. Curiosity makes me wonder what that book would be written like. I hope to read more Sarah Dessen books, but I hope I probably won’t read more back to back.

THANK YOU SARAH DESSEN FOR WALKING THROUGH SO MANY TEEN RELATIONSHIPS!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

I loved this book! It had so many unexpected elements that made reading it entertaining. I wasn’t bored even when something wasn’t popping out of no where. I think that so many teens can relate with Caitlin’s story. At least one element of it.

Drugs are a big thing in this book which isn’t suprising to me really. I live in a small town with a drug problem, so I understand how drugs can be everywhere. I think it’s important that Caitlin actually experiences pot. I do wish that she hadn’t used it so easily but really she does mostly in the book without much of a consequence.

Peer pressure is another thing that I noticed in this book. Rina practically forces Caitlin to join cheerleading. This doesn’t surprise me in the least as this is normal in teenage society. If one friend is doing something the other friend usually joins to fit in.

Caitlin is a very over shadowed child who doesn’t get the attention she deserves. Many younger siblings have the same thing where the older child is a shining star so why even bother to live up to expectations when it doesn’t get them noticed.

Abuse is a huge deal in this novel and I think it’s important that teens learn about this. I was shocked when this first happened in the book, but fascinated to see how it would play out. Would it be a one time thing, or would it happen over and over? Soon it became apparent that this was to become a norm in this relationship. I was practically yelling for someone to see that Caitlin was being hurt so horribly.

Characters:

Caitlin: A superb main character who really helps us walk through so many teen issues (mentioned above). I could hardly believe that a girl would simply let a boy hit her, but she did really love Rogerson so it wasn’t something so out of the blue. I was so happy when they broke up even though it hurt her, being with him would have hurt her more.

Rogerson: I really liked this character in the beginning thinking that he was the misunderstood bad boy, but after he started hitting Caitlin, I lost all respect for him. The fact that it wasn’t just a one time thing, that he said I love you after and that he used it to get sex as well were awful. It really opened my eyes though.

Rina: I think that Rina isn’t really the best friend I hoped that Caitlin would have. I would hope that I would notice if one of my friends was being abused in any way.

Caitlin’s Mom: I don’t think that her mom really even tried to treat her daughter’s fairly. It is obvious throughout the book that Cass is who was her favorite and still is even though she isn’t even in the same state anymore. I’m happy that she finally realized what was going on with Caitlin, because if she hadn’t who would have?

Caitlin’s Dad: I was hoping that her dad would just say she couldn’t go with Rogerson one night and so Caitlin would just start to pull away from Rogerson but he didn’t. If I was her dad I would have kicked Rogerson’s butt.

Boo & Stewart: I wish that my parents had a couple of friends like this. Hippies (I find) are hilarious.

Cass: I wish she hadn’t have left because I feel like this is what changed everything for Caitlin.

Corinna: One of my favorite characters. I thought that her and David had it made, but we don’t really know what happens in their relationship and though it’s obvious they were in love it just didn’t work.

Moments to Remember:

♥Pg. 92

“I’d watch his expression change as he got closer, hearing the strains of one of my baby-baby-oh-please-baby songs.

‘Oh, my God,’ he said to me once as he flopped into the driver’s  seat, pulling the door shut behind him. ‘What is this shit?’”

♥Pg. 115

“‘Which two planets are almost identical in size?’

‘Duh,’ he said, smoothing my hair back, ‘Venus and Earth.’

‘Rogerson,’ I asked him sweetly as we sat watching a video in the pool house, ‘where would I find the pelagic zone?’

‘In the open sea,’ he said. ‘Now shut up and eat your Junior Mints.’”

♥Pg. 124

“Corinna was still crying, even as Dave kissed her forehead and smiled. Taking one of her hands and twirling her around the small, paint-peeling kitchen. ‘Stop,’ she said, half-laughing as he dipped her over the garbage can. ‘David, honestly.’”

Hope you enjoyed,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: The Night I Disappeared by Julie Reece Deaver

Title: The Night I Disappeared
Author: Julie Reece Deaver
Pages: 242
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Year Published: 2002

"Held hostage by an inner world..."
"Something scary is happening to seventeen-year-old Jamie Tessman. Ever since she and her mother arrived in Chicago, she's been plagued by freaky mind-slips and vivid daydreams about her sort-of-boyfriend, Webb. When Jamie's inner world start taking her hostage and keeping her imprisoned for longer period of time, she becomes terrified that she is slowly losing her mind.
Jamie's mom doesn't seem to notice anything is wrong. No one does- until Jamie meets Morgan, a new friend who's had her own 'brush with nuttiness.' When Jamie disappears into her inner world one night and can't find her way out, Morgan sees to it that Jamie finally gets help. Morgan's aunt, a psychiatrist, breaks though Jamie's paralyzing fear and helps her unravel a tangle of long-forgotten, horrifying secrets in her past..."

My Rating: 9/10

I really liked this novel because of its theme. This book is mainly about mental illness and how to deal with it. I guess most of us just consider people with something like schizophrenia as crazy, but really is is an illness just like diabetes. There is nothing to be ashamed of, because most of us will eventually deal with a mental illness (ex. depression, bi-polar, anorexia, schizophrenia, etc.) whether it be us ourselves or our loved ones. I really think that our society needs to learn to deal with people who have these illnesses, Our generation needs to learn that all of these things are ok, and need to be taken in stride with every day life. As you can probably tell this book changed my view on things immensely.
THANK YOU JULIE REECE DEAVER FOR PUTTING ME IN A 'CRAZY' PERSON'S SHOES!

Thanks for read,
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Night I Disappeared by Julie Reece Deaver

I really loved this book, and I found that I could hardly put it down. The way that Julie Reece Deaver wrote from the 'crazy' person's point of view was a lot more insightful than other books I've read involving mental illness. In this book it's like we got to see inside Jamie's head and see what she's feeling about what's happening to her. There is a ton of description I liked used when Jamie goes off into her inner world that makes it more real for the reader, and without it the book wouldn't touch me like it did. I enjoyed how after Jamie got out of the hospital she seemed to take in more of the city. The trials were another interesting idea that really tied the story together. The way that Jamie travels back and forth so frequently and without warning makes me feel like I'm traveling with her, figuring out what's going on with her.

Characters:
Jamie: I felt horrible for her at the beginning of the book when those girls where making fun of her in the bathroom. That's just horrible. She really has had a rough life and when she finds out Webb's not real I don't blame her for grieving, that was her confidant, her only true friend. To have that suddenly gone would be heartbreaking for all of us I'm sure. I could tell that there was something not quite right with her, but I though thta tmaybe it was that she had been molested by her babysitter's boyfriend. I never thought that she was kidnapped and ended up killing someone in self defense. It made the blood on the shirt make a ton more sense. I hope that this character gets better and proves to everyone that this can't hold her back .

Morgan: Morgan is an awesome friend because she doesn't treat Jamie like she's crazy or a freak. She just goes along for the ride and is there to drag Jamie out of her dark space after she's realeased from the hospital. If Morgan hadn't been there to get her out of the house I have no doubt that Jamie would have just imagined another friend.

Webb: Even though he's not real, I think it's important to let him be a character after all he plays a big part in Jamie's life. I can understand why she imagines him as her protector because who doesn't want someone to be there for them, and when her mom wasn't she deserved someone else and so she made him up.

Jamie's Mom: I love that she just leaves her daughter who is having mental problems alone and expects her to deal (sarcasm) . I would probably have had issues to if my mom was never around to talk to me. Jamie's mom doesn't come home for dinner most of the time, and sometimes she doesn't see her for days on end. I hope that she doesn't start to treat Jamie like a freak.

Dr. Hacker (Morgan's Aunt): I really liked her because not only was she nice and not weird, but incredibly funny. She's not afraid to joke or tease and I have the feeling that she could make anyone feel better after a certain matter of time.
Ellis: Why would you ever do such a thing to an innocent 9 year old kid? And then tell her she can't tell? I hope she goes to jail.


Moments to Remember:
♥Pg. 9
" 'You told me not to worry. You told me you'd look after me, remember?'
'I remember. I just didn't know at the time it would end up being my life's work.' "

♥Pg. 132
" 'Which skirt are you getting?'
'The black one. I figure it'll make me look thinner.'
'You know, guys never worry about stuff like that--'
'About how they look in skirts? No, probably not.' "

I hope you enjoyed this spoiler
Love,
Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: Masquerade
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Blue Bloods (Book #2)
Pages: 304
Publisher: Hyperion Paperbacks
Year Published: 2007

"Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help- her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparation are feverishly under way for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman- a true Blue Blood affair.
But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will forever change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
Rich with glamour, attitude, and vampire lore, this second installment in the Blue Bloods saga with leave readers thirsting for more."

My Rating: 9/10

I was surprised to find this book even better than the last one! I really can't get over the fact that  Melissa De La Cruz has changed my view on vampires forever. I really love the idea of reincarnation in this book, because it just adds another paranormal effect. When my friends ask what the series is about I have started to explain it as Gossip Girl with paranormal activity. This seems to be an effective method. I would definitely suggest these books to anyone whose a curious mind, but it must be open as well. If you close your mind to the myths in this book it is nothing. I loved how the characters in this book started to feel like friends and how I got to explore New York from a far. I can hardly wait to read the third book :)
THANK YOU MELISSA DE LA CRUZ FOR SHOWING A "ROMANCE" AND A PARANORMAL THEME CAN COMBINE!

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz

I am loving this series so far. I felt in this second book I was a lot closer to the characters. The way they acted made sense and I could understand things from their point of view. I loved that I got to explore New York, a city I am definitely gonna see one day! I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see much of Venice, but if the author has never been there it is better that we didn't spend the whole time with Oliver and Schuyler. I loved the way that the Four Hundred Ball was described although I wish we would have heard more about the dancing.  The only reason that this book isn't a 10 is because I could tell who the Silver Blood. That's something that drives me insane, but the ending surprise made up for it!

Characters:
Schuyler: Our main character appears more grown up in this book. Traveling to Venice was something that I didn't think she'd do on her own at the end of the first book, but really it shows how grown up she is. I liked seeing how she got to learn her powers and more of her family history. I hope that her and Jack get together, but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen. Was it obvious to anyone else that Oliver was in love with Schuyler? DUH! I mean even I'm not that blind. Poor Oliver is in the friend zone though. I feel bad about that. I loved how at the end she did the right thing for Mimi even if there was the chance of her becoming a monster.

Oliver: We don't get to witness much from his view, but it's obvious that he's in love with Schuyler he goes above and beyond the call of duty by becoming her familiar. Something I wish he hadn't done though. This means his feelings will grow and chances are Schuyler wont feel the same at all. Poor boy.

Mimi: I know it's bad, but I like a good villain and Mimi definitely fits that bill. She's jealous, spoiled and popular. I could hardly believe when she became friends with Kingsley and began doing dark magic (something i didn't know that vampires did... vampires/witches?) I thought perhaps she had been the one to destroy the library, but I knew she wasn't that powerful. Even she isn't the true criminal in the books.

Jack: So I kinda love this guy :) I know it's wrong because he's playing with Schuyler's emotions but he's the kind of guy I go for. I don't like that he puts up with Mimi's bull. She doesn't deserve someone so loyal and loving. I didn't expect him to even think the L word about Schuyler though, that surprised me. I wonder how they'll all fair in one household.

Kingsley: This guy has Silver Blood written all over him. He is convincing people to do Dark Magic, not looking for suspects. I wonder if Charles Force is actually that stupid or if he is in on it? Suspicious! And what is Kingsley's relation to Bliss, is there one or was it just made up for the "investigation"?

Bliss: I was shocked at the end of this story when she finds out that she's at least Schuyler's  half sister! Wow talk about keeping a reader interested. I love Bliss, although she's kind of going crazy, I can relate to her. She doesn't really like Mimi but she sticks with her so she doesn't get left out. I hope that by finding this out Bliss will start to hang out with Schuyler more. I love the fact that Dylan is alive!


Moments to Remember:
♥Pg. 134
"It was just too weird to always look at Oliver and think he'd taste delicious. He was her best friend, not a snack."

♥Pg. 231
"But that morning, she had found an envelope stuffed into her locker. It was from the Mercer Hotel, and held a plastic door key for their suite. 'Se you there tonight,' Oliver had written. 'Chomp! Chomp!' "

 I can hardly wait to read what happens next, but I want to take a small break from these books so I can review books for those who haven't read this far yet.

Hope you enjoyed,
Love,
Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Chosen by Ted Dekker

Title: Chosen
Author: Ted Dekker
Series: The Lost Books (Book #1)
Pages: 260
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Year Published: 2007

"Think with your heart and prepare to die... for you have been chose."
"Thomas Hunter, supreeme commander of the Forest Guard, has seen a great evil decimate much of his beautiful world .
Witha  dwindling army and an epic threat, Thoams is forced to supplement his fighters  with new recruits aged 16 and 17. From thousands, four will be chosen to lead a special mission.
Unknown to Thomas, the chosen four are redirected to a different endgame. They must find the seven lost Books of History before the Dark One. For these seven books have immense power over the past, present and future, controlling not only the destiny of their world... but that of ours as well."

My Rating: 8/10

I have heard a lot of good things about Ted Dekker, the author of this book. For the most part I wasn't let down. Dekker has created a new world which is well thought through and imagined. I can only imagine how much work he put into it. From the setting to the characters and creatures that inhabit these places, Dekker's is fun and easy to follow. I didn't enjoy how long it took before I understood the story, but maybe if I had read some other books that relate to this story it might have clicked. If I have time this upcoming summer, I plan on continuing to read these amazing books.
THANK YOU TED DEKKER FOR GOOD AND EVIL IN A SURPSING FORM.

Smile :D

Love,
Sidny ♥♫♪

Spoiler: Chosen by Ted Dekker

I didn't mind this book, but I don't think that I'll read the second one. I loved the aspect of good vs. evil, but with the Horde being crusty and disgusting it made it more interesting, and gross but mainly interesting. The bats were an interesting touch, I'm guessing that they are in the other circle books that Ted Dekker has written otherwise... they wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. Excellent use of symbolism. The village is a different setting than I expected, I guess to be honest I thought it would be more like in the Hunger Games, not that I want to compare the two. THe game to choose the leaders seems kind of stupid considering when fighting each other they should be going a little easy, because they might be fighting beside these others.

Characters:
Johnis: He's kind of a chicken in comparison to the others. He doesn't really want to be on this mission, he'd much rather stay at home and hear about the battles from there, but he is a tremendous in the real battle which shocked me. No kidding that he wasn't going to die. There are multiple books after this!

Darsal: A confident woman makes me smile. She doesn't act so confident though after Billos is taken, which was shocking to me. I thought that he drew strength from her but perhaps it is the other way around.

Silvie: I'm shocked that she's attracted to Johnis, but she's smart so she must have her reason. She seems like someone I would be friends with.

Billos: I was so mad when I read that he didn't want to go back for Johnis, that's just plain rude! But in the end he turns out to want what is right. I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the books he is the reason that Johnis dies.

Thomas: A veryy interesting leader isn't he? He thinks with his heart, which is the way I should start thinking. He is a different leader, because of the way he treats his men. He doesn't seem to walk around acting like he's better than them but rather treats them like he's equal, and grateful to be their leader.

Teeleh: Oh my goodness. I imagined this guys as frightening as possible, and that's pretty freaking scary. I loved the way that Ted Dekker described him being an old bat, who wants his beauty back.

Gabil: What a hilarious bat? I love him :)

Horde: They are just plan old scary. A disease that takes over and deludes you into thinking that trees are bad... hmmm does half the earth have this disease :P


Moments to Remember:
♥ Pg. 108
" 'I don't care whether or not you're enjoying this. The question is whether or not you've lost the few peanuts contained in that container above your shoulders.' "

♥Pg. 124
" 'You'll want a kind woman with spirit,' his father had often advised him. 'Beauty is in a woman's words as much as in her skin.' "

♥Pg. 152
"Darsal blinked. 'You're a ghost?'
'Do I look like a ghost to you?' Gabil demanded.
'No. Well, you are as white as a ghost.'
'But ghosts don't know karate.' "

♥Pg. 249
"Four stallions were in the center of the group, and on these horses sat Johnis, Billos, Darsal and Silvie. But he saw something else now. Two long poles were strapped to their saddles, making a stretcher.
Only this stretcher didn't carry the wounded. It carried four large catalina cacti."

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Book Review: Tilt by Alan Cumyn

Title: Tilt

Author: Alan Cumyn

Pages: 269

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Year Published: 2011

“A funny, sexy novel about a teenaged boy’s obsessions as he lives through an impossibly absurd time of life.”

“Finally they found Feldon semi-snoring in the kitchen cupboard… His chin leaned against the edge of a pot and Stan tried to extricate him gently, but he was not moving.

‘Do you think he can just stay in there?’ Janine asked. They were both on their knees looking in the cupboard. Her mouth was so close to his that he had to pull back to miss it.

Her hand was on his thigh. For balance.

‘Can’t be very comfortable,’ he said. If she pushed slightly she could knock him flat on his back.

‘I’d love to see your room,’ she whispered.”

My Rating: 8/10

This book is really unusual. It doesn’t have a set purpose other than to show how one boy’s life is, but that is purpose enough. I enjoyed this book because it was light and fun to read. I loved the way that the main character related so many things to his passion, basketball. I think all of us do this with something we are passionate about. In my case, books.

At times, the novel is difficult to follow. The author uses a different thought process for the main character that at time makes scenarios difficult to follow. It’s hard to decipher what is a dream to Stan and what is reality. For the most part, this book is enjoyable.

THANK YOU ALAN CUMYN FOR LETTING ME INTO THE MALE MIND!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Tilt by Alan Cumyn

This book is kind of weird. It’s not something I’d usually read and so I had trouble rating it. This book mainly follows Stan’ journey to finding out who he is. We see that he is, like most 16 year old boys, interested in sex. His family situation is insane and ever since his dad left he has trouble coping with who he is.

CHARACTERS:

Stan: I love the fact that he’s not a hidden male character. He thinks about sex, and that’s normal. Alan Cumyn doesn’t try and hide that, he just puts it out in the open. I love that he is so passionate about basketball, but I’m sad that he doesn’t follow his dream. He is crazy passionate about his family, although he doesn’t know how to deal with his mom, he is an amazing brother. I don’t like him and Janine together, but that’s a personal thing.

Lily: I have this idea that she’s not actually imaginative, that she’s schizophrenic. And how would we know? There must be a fine line between gifted and crazy. I kinda think she’s crossed that line. She’s a cute little girl though and I can’t help but wonder how old she is.

Stan’s Mom: She is a weird woman. She seems to blame her children for Ron’s leaving which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Stan says repeatedly that they fought, and so I don’t think that they were really in love, not a true love. I think she can do better than Gary though. 

Ron (Stan’s Dad): What a jerk? He blames everyone else for everything when in reality it is usually his fault. He runs out on both of his women and he doesn’t deserve to have such wonderful children or two women at all. Hate him!

Gary: I thought he was a sleaze at first, leading on Stan’s mom, but he turns out to be a decent guy.

Feldon: So cute, I feel sorry that this kid gets taken from his mother, he doesn’t deserve it.

Janine: I don’t understand her character. She’s bisexual, and sneaks around on Stan at the dance, still she has sex with him. I wonder if that was just an experiment or if it was because she actually likes him. I don’t agree with what they did, but it seems like the normal high school thing now. She’s such a big thing to Stan, but really I don’t think that if it were reality that they’d last at all. They just don’t make sense together.

Moments to Remember:

♥Pg. 111

 “ ‘What was his name?’ Stan felt like he was learning more about his mother in just a few minutes on this freezing back porch than in his whole life so far.

‘I think it was Pete.’

‘You think?’”

♥Pg. 149

“ ‘Contractors rip you off,’ Joe said. ‘No offense to your father, Stan. But if it’s at all possible to do the work yourself…’

Gillian snorted. ‘Two words, dear. The bathroom. And three more. Lest we forget.’”

Hope you enjoyed,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: Blue Bloods

Author: Melissa De La Cruz

Series: Blue Bloods (Book #1)

Pages: 302

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Year Published: 2006

“Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.

 Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan’s most exclusive social circle. It’s members are the powerful, the wealthy, and – as Schuyler soon discovers- the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they’ve been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?”

My Rating: 9/10

I was starting to avoid vampire books at all cost, because I was tired of the same old story over and over. This book was a surprising change! It’s not quite like anything I’ve read before. I enjoyed the fact the narrative was from a vampire perspective, instead of a human one. The author also did a tremendous job with the point of view; the reader can easily pick many characters minds (in the best way possible).  The only part that I didn’t enjoy was that it took a bit before the story got rolling. That said, when it was rolling I could hardly put it down.

THANK YOU MELISSA DE LA CRUZ FOR A THRILLING MODERN VAMPIRE TALE!

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

This book is truly tremendous! Just when I was losing faith in vampire fiction I picked up this book to be pleasantly surprised. I love the idea of the Committee. It just made the mystery far more interesting. The fact that they know which are Blue Bloods and are able to explain what’s happening to them is amazing. I loved this aspect.

 This book isn’t only about vampires though, it also includes the mysterious theory of reincarnation. The collaboration of the two interested me and pulled me through this book. A great page turner.

CHARACTERS:

Schuyler: I suppose she is the real main character and an interesting one at that. Half human, half vampire in a different way. Not like most of the others I’ve read about. I love the fact that she’s not a plastic. She wears what she likes, not what’s popular. I really liked her and Jack together, but I can also see her and Oliver together later on in this series.

Mimi: A popular snot. Can you guess how much I like her? I don’t like the fact that she doesn’t follow any of the Committee’s rules. She doesn’t take care of her familiars. It’s also disgusting that she is interested in her twin brother. It’s just not right! EWW

Bliss: I love that she adds a little bit of country to the big apple. She is a fun character to see in this story. The fact that she’s friends with Mimi ticked me off at the beginning but then she was with Dylan J so I was impressed for a tiny bit.

Jack: I love Jack. He seems like the perfect boy, but really he can’t end up with Mimi because that’s just wrong. They’re freaking twins! He belongs with Schuyler damn it!

Oliver: This guy looks like he’s in the friend zone, but maybe he’ll find someone other than Schuyler. I know for a fact that best friends are really hard to date, so I really don’t think they’ll end up together… at least not well.

Dylan: All I know is that he must be a Silver Blood. I don’t think that he’s actually dead though. He has to be alive, at least I hope he is in the second book.

Cordelia: What an interesting lady? She isn’t truly Schuyler’s grandmother, but I was so sad to see her die. It was like leaving poor Schuyler all alone in the world. I love that she knew so many secrets though, she was almost a messenger. I hope we get to “meet” her husband in the next book.

Allegra (Schuyler’s mom): I was happy to find out what put her in a coma, now if only she’d come out and tell her story!

Charles Force: This man is just plain old suspicious. I don’t like the looks of him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in with the Silver Bloods. He just seems like a scumbag.

 Moment to Remember:

♥Pg. 151

“Schuyler shook her head. No. She wasn’t going to fall for this. They might all be drinking laced Kool-Aid in there, but she had a good head on her shoulders.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Shelter by Harlan Coben

Title: Shleter

Author: Harlan Coben

Series: Mickey Bolitar (Book 1)

Pages: 304

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Year Published: 2011

“Mickey Bolitar’s year can’t get much worse. After witnessing his father’s death and sending his mom to rehab, he’s forced to live with his estranged Uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey’s train wreck of a life is improving- until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley’s trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn’t who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey’s father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury- and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.”

My Rating: 9/10

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Harlan Coben and I loved it! This book is not only written with suspense but also it made me feel as though I was experiencing everything with Mickey as he went through it. This book is made for people who love twists and turns that don’t want a nice calm novel. I really enjoyed the sense of humor that is used in this book and how Harlan seemed to get down to a high school level of writing. I could picture my high school as he wrote it. The janitor closet, the office and of course the cafeteria are all locked in my mind. I can’t wait to read the next book in this gripping series.

THANK YOU HARLAN COBEN FOR PROVING YOU CAN’T KNOW SOMEONE JUST BY APPEARANCE!           

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Shelter by Harlan Coben

This book was one of the best I’ve read. The fact that it was a mystery and a thriller kept me reading until late hours of the night… especially last night. I loved that way that Harlan Coben combined humor and mystery into one stunning piece of writing. The fact that this book is branched on from another series scared me at first, when most authors do that they forget that you don’t know what’s going on if you haven’t read the first series, which sucks! But Harlan Coben didn’t make me feel lost at all.

Characters:

Mickey: An excellent main character who has already gone through so much in his young life, but this only makes for a better story. There are twists and turns that happen to Mickey that you don’t see coming. I did see that his mom would have to go back to rehab, that she was lying. People don’t just become instantly better after addictions, it doesn’t work that way. I love that Mickey fought so hard to find Ashley and the way he teamed up with unlikely people.

Ema: I felt for this girl. It’s not easy looking different or being different… especially in a small town where you went to the same middle school and usually the same elementary school as everyone in your high school class. Really it’s horrible because people already think they know you. I do think that maybe Ema lives on the street as we never see her house.

Spoon: What a hilarious guy? This character kept the story light for me with his random facts and his swooning. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to stick up to Chief Tayler.

Rachel: Who would think a pretty, popular girl would join this daring rescue? I sure didn’t.

The Bat Lady: I loved the twist at the end of this book, although we don’t see the Bat Lady often we do get to see that she plays a huge part in this mystery.

Ashley: It’s really to bad that her and Mickey wouldn’t work out but it’s better that she be safe.

Favorite Lines/Moments:

♥Pg. 10

“I approached tentatively. When I got close enough, I gave a half wave and said, ‘Hi.’

I always open with super-smooth lines like this.”

♥Pg. 116

“Grandma sprinted toward Myron and me, arms wide open, hugging us as though we were innocent men just released from serving an unjust prison term, which is to say, like a grandmother should.”

♥Pg. 122

“I don’t want to exaggerate, but the SnowCap Melter was the greatest thing anyone has ever eaten in the history of the world.”

♥Pg. 137

“’The future ex-Mrs. Spoon,’ Spoon said. Then, thinking about it, ‘Or would she be Fork? I must work on that.’”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Update

Unfortunately there has been a change to the Currently Reading section on the part of this blog. Instead of reading the City of Lost Souls as I intended, I am now planning to read Shelter (the book below it). This is because I haven't read the rest of the Mortal Instruments series for over a year and I can not clearly remember what happens. I still plan on reading the City of Lost Souls, but I just want to have the chance to read the other four books first so I can rate this book properly. Thanks for your understanding.
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

Pages: 213

Publisher: MTV Books

Year Published: 1999

“It is the story of what it’s like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie’s letter are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates, family dramas, and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where all you need is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.”

My Rating: 10/10

I haven’t really read anything this amazing in a while. All the books I’ve read lastly have been good or great, but this book is EXTRARDINARY! I love the way that the book is written, how we don’t know who Charlie is writing these letters to so for all you know it could be you. I felt like I got to really get to know somebody, to become their friend, their confidant. Charlie is an amazing character that only a great author could truly develop. I do wonder where all the ideas came from, but I guess that could just be the modern world, the world of not being sure of anything. I think this book reminded me a lot of first year of high school, I was apprehensive and so nervous that I hardly got any sleep the night before, but when you get into it, it’s not as bad as you imagined it would be, not even close. I am so happy that I decided to read this book, and I can only hope that the upcoming movie lives up to this incredible piece of literature.

THANK YOU STEPHEN CHBOSKY FOR A CHARACTER THAT BECOMES A BEST FRIEND!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I really loved this book as you will probably be able to tell from the book review above. Everything about this book draws me in. The setting, the event and the characters create a world that isn’t at all hard to imagine and the feeling of home. I got lost in this book as soon as I started reading simply because of the form. The way that Charlie writes letters grabs a readers attention and makes them listen, I simply couldn’t pull away. I think it’s weird that the year this story takes place is 3 years before I was born, but really that isn’t so long ago, not so hard to imagine. This book has many different topics that include abuse, drinking, drugs, sexuality etc. Things that all teenagers need to figure out.

Characters:

Charlie: Slowly we get to know this odd freshman boy. I thought it odd at first that Charlie writes letters to someone we don’t really know, but I realize now that is to make the person reading feel like the person these letters were meant for. Charlie grows in the book and sees things that many people don’t choose to see. As if maybe we see them but we just turn away. But Charlie sees, and he records. I can understand his love for Sam, they are cute I couldn’t believe what Aunt Helen had done, to be honest I thought it was gonna be Bill, the teacher.

Patrick: I was surprised to find out Patrick was gay, but really it’s important that different kinds of people are included in this story. Without Patrick we wouldn’t understand anything and he is an amazing character. I felt horrible the way him and Brad ended but I guess sometimes it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at al….? Right?

Sam: Sam is a sweetheart, who seems to have gone through a lot. She does so many nice things for Charlie and she kind of takes him under her wing. I think that they would end up together someday, but really who am I to say? I can’t believe Craig would cheat on this amazing story.

Sister: I couldn’t believe that she would let a boy hit her the way she did, but the pregnancy I saw coming.

I could say so much more but it would take over the whole page. Please just read the book.

Moments to Remember:

♥Pg. 9

“I have finished To Kill a Mockingbird. It is now my favorite book of all time, but then again, I always think that until I read another book.”

♥Pg. 26

“‘I hate you.’

My sister said it different than she said it to my dad. She meant it with me. She really did.

‘I love you,’ was all I could say in return.”

♥Pg. 64

“… but I really think that everyone should have watercolors, magnetic poetry, and a harmonica.”

♥Pg. 201

“’You know I blamed Craig for not letting me do things? You know how stupid I feel about that now? Maybe he didn’t really encourage me to do things, but he didn’t prevent me from doing them either. But after a while, I didn’t do things because I didn’t want him to think different about me. Bu the thing is, I wasn’t being honest. So, why would I care whether or not he loved me when he didn’t really even know me?”

♥Pg. 213

“So if this does end up to be my last letter, please believe that things are good with me, and even when they’re not, they will be soon enough.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny XOXO

Book Review: The Kiln by Jennifer Armstrong & Nancy Butcher

Title: The Kiln
Authors: Jennifer Armstrong & Nancy Butcher
Series: Fire-us
Pages: 244
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Year Published: 2003

"Five years ago, a deadly plague killed off most of the world's population- at least all the Grown-ups. Only a small group of children survived. So they formed a family and managed on their own. Then they came across some adults who had survived- the Keepers. But no adults were beter than these adults.
In this riveting conclusion to the Fire-us trilogy, the family is once again on its own- with a mission. They must find out why their world was destroyed and who did it. They must head straight into danger- to Pisgah, the heart of the Keepers' power."

My Rating: 8/10

I really enjoyed the ending to this series. The second book built it up so much that I think maybe the authors had trouble keeping up with the momentum. I imagined this book to be a lot different than it was but I still found the plot interesting, how all the books finally tied together into one main idea and theme. The older characters became more developed, and so I felt as a reader I was truly getting to know them. The reason this book didn't make a ten was because of the fact that I saw most of the twists and turns coming although the very end caught me by suprise. I love the ideas that the authors use!
THANK YOU JENNIFER ARMSTRONG & NANCY BUTCHER FOR AN AMZING "WHAT-IF" SERIES!

Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Kiln by Jennifer Armstrong & Nancy Butcher

I really loved how this series ended. It was perfect because of they ways that the authors both made the ending seem natural, not just choked off. In this book we get to see a different setting yet again, two of them really, and we start to notice different things about the characters. This setting is set on Pisgah, an island used for presidential vacations. I loved, in an odd way, getting to see the origins of the keeper.

Characters:
Hunter: I think this character develops a crush on Mommy, but all that fades away when she gets her "curse". He is an amazing character filled with compassion. I think it's horrible that a boy at such a young age has to figure out a way to help so many others survive. I'm so happy that he was smart enough to remember the bunker.

Teacher: I think that Teacher is younger than I assumed she was. She hasn't yet hit puberty and she doesn't seem to process things the way the older kids do. She's an odd duck, but has the idea of opening Fire-us in the bunker, I don't think she would have lived if she had though. I still am curious about the book, was it really a gift or just a desperate girl finding meaning in anything?

Mommy: This poor girl is going through so much never mind when she has such a normal body thing happen. Thank god she was at the woods when it hit. She also had such a HUGE responsibility within the house. Taking care of kids isn't easy especially so many at such a young age. I think she truly is those kids mothers or at least the only one's they'll ever know.

Angerman: I knew that he was the president's son after he called the mannequin Dadguy instead of Badguy. I think the reason he went crazy was from the enormous weight of knowing what his father had done. I knew that he wouldn't return to his father though somewhere in the book I had my doubts, who leaves their father. I did think in the end that he would be the one to kill Supreme Leader.

Cory: Cory was an amazingly strong character, more than I thought she would be considering she came from a cult. But when I found out that she was going to kill the president, that was her leader for so many years. And I cried when she went through with it the way she did. It was horribly sad to see her die.

Supreme Leader: I knew that he was also the president or at least I had guessed about it. I could hardly believe all the evil things he had done though. The fact that he started this cult, hired someone to create Fire-us and then planned to relive parts of the bible made no sense to me. I cried when I realized that he married all the girls and forced them to have babies, only then to take the babies and "test" them to see if they were the new savior. It makes a person wonder what would happen if a lunatic become a leader, what would happen.

Nana: I couldn't believe that Nana would hand over the children, I figured at that moment she was heartless, but it turns out she was just a scared and desperate women. Good thing she was there when Mommy hit puberty, otherwise who knows what they would have thought.


Moment to Remember:
♥ Pg. 57
" 'If they can read my mind, all they'll find out is I'm hungry,' Mommy whispered, smiling." 


Thank you so much for reading,
Love,
Sidny XOXO
 

Book Review: Revenge of the Wannabes by Lisi Harrison

 Title: Revenge of the Wannabes

Author: Lisi Harrison

Series: The Clique

Pages: 194

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Year Published: 2005

 

“Pres Thanksgiving. Weeks before Christmas. Alicia and Olivia are on their way to Manhattan so the Teen People editors can do a story on them about winning the Octavian Country Day uniform design contest. When Massie finally processes that the girls who hijacked her victory are also modeling for Teen People, she is livid. It should have been her. 'Ehmagod, what will everyone think when they find out it wasn't me who was asked to model? I will be SO over.' Massie decides it's time to get revenge. This snake can not lay idle in the weeds for one more second. Kristen and Dylan throw out terrible 'revenge' suggestions and Massie vetoes them all. She will think of something! But first she has to go home and exfoliate. The social minefields of Westchester County's most privileged middle school girls drive the page-turning action of this addictive series, set in New York City's most elite suburban county. The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.” –www.goodreads.com

 

My Rating: 8/10

 

I want to say this now that this is the last Clique book I’ll be reviewing. Not that I don’t like them anymore, just that it’s only fair for readers not to have to read 6 books to understand one book review/spoiler. Don’t worry, still my guilty pleasure. I really liked this book because the author let us see into yet another characters life. We can see how Alicia thinks. I didn’t like that many parts were left out of this book. Some details were skimmed over, which makes a reader (or me) feel like I have to guess what’s going on. All and all this series is an amazing guilty pleasure. One that makes me laugh at how back in middle school these were the “BIG” problems. It’s hilarious.

 

THANK YOU LISI HARRISON FOR MAKING KIDS REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE EVERYONE’S POINT OF VIEW!

 

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♪♫

Spoiler: Revenge of the Wannabes by Lisi Harrison.

I really enjoy these books. It’s sad but they’re better than most tv shows on at the moment and they capture my interest! I loved how in this book we get to see things from Alicia’s perspective. We find out what’s going on with her and Olivia, learning her feelings and moods along the way. There is no way that Claire is going to move though, that’s just stupid L

CHARACTERS:

Alicia: As I said above, we see a lot more of Alicia in this book. I really like her. She’s not to full of herself and although she’ll do just about anything to get what she wants she’s still a generally good person. I’m upset that she went back to the group in the end, but she learned that being a leader is harder than it looks.

Massie: Massie appears generally shocked when Alicia strays away from the pack. I thought this would be noticed a lot earlier. I also don’t like how she got rid of Alicia, but I have to admit, it was creative. She has a lot of guts, but deep down I think the stress of being “Alpha” is getting to her. I’m happy she found her own crush so she doesn’t have to steal anyone else’s.

Claire: I don’t feel as sorry for Claire anymore, especially when she dumped Cam for Massie! Real friends support your decisions and help you anyway you can, they don’t tell you to dump people that you truly like. I hope that she realizes that being part of the Clique isn’t worth life or death.

Dylan: I feel sorry for Dylan because she has such weight issues, I’m pretty sure she’s below the average weight though. I feel horrible when skinny girls feel the need to be even skinnier. Be who you are!!!!

Kirsten: I love Kirsten and I’m so happy she told everyone that she didn’t have the same money as they did. That’s a big deal when you are able to tell your friends that stuff! Go girl!

Olivia: What a ditz!? I can’t believe that she is quite that stupid, but I guess I’ve met people like that in real life.

Cam: What a sweetie, thank god he got back with Claire.

 

 

Moments to Remember:

Pg. 70

“ ‘Get your hands off my present, you big molester.’ Dylan said, pinching Massie’s hand.”

Pg. 147

“ ‘Thanks to that workshop on surrendering control, I have learned to apologize.’

‘What if you didn’t do anything wrong?’

‘Honey,’ Kendra said, ‘it’s never my fault, but I still say I’m sorry.’

‘Why?’

‘Because if I waited around for him to say it, I’d be a very hostile woman,’ Kendra said. ‘Besides, it takes strength to apologize. It’s a power move.’”

Pg. 164

“You’re showing just as much leg as I am,’ Derrington said.

‘Yeah, but I’m wearing tights,’ Massie said, though she was somewhat impressed by the grain of truth in his argument.

‘Well, then, honey, next time you’re at the mall, you just must pick up a pair for me,’ Derrington said in a flamboyant voice.”

Pg. 168

“Cam had left a CD on her chair called The Clair Doesn’t Have a Boyfriend in Florida Mix.”

Pg. 167

“‘Puh-lease, Claire,’ Alicia said, pushing up the sleeves of her navy velvet blazer. ‘Do you really buy that?’

‘I believe her,’ said an older woman with a neat gray bob and thick glasses. ‘Now settle the rest of this on Ricki Lake and let me pee.’”

 

Thanks so much for reading,

Love,

Sidny XOXO

Book Review: The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti

Title: The Queen of Everything
Author: Deb Caletti
Pages: 372
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Year Published: 2002

"People ask me all the time what having Vince MacKenzie for a father was like. What they mean is, was he always crazy?"
"High school junior Jordan MacKenzie's life was pretty typical: fractured family, new boyfriend, dead-end job. She'd been living with her father (the predictable optometrist) since her mother (the hippie holdover) had been to embarrassing to be around. Jordan felt that she finally had as normal a life as she could. Then came Gayle D'Angelo.
Jordan knew her father was dating Gayle and that Gayle was married. Jordan knew it was wrong and that her father was becoming someone she didn't recognize anymore, but what could she do about it? And how could she--how could anyone-- have possibly guessed that this illicit love affair would implode in such a violent and disturbing way?"

My Rating: 9/10

This is a weird book, but when I say weird I mean it in a good way. This book tells an unusual tale of the kids of people who are having an affair. Most books tell the story of someone going crazy, but this tells the story of a daughter watching her father unravel before her very eyes. I loved the way that Deb Caletti tells the story with a great amount of foreshadowing that amps up the excitement. I felt a little distant from the main character, but very interested in her situation which kept me reading as often as I could.
THANK YOU DEB CALETTI FOR AN UNUSUAL POINT OF VIEW ON AN ALL TO FAMILIAR SUBJECT!

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny ♪♫

Spoiler: The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti

As I said in the book review, this book is pretty strange, but a good kind of strange. The way that the author describes everything makes the story seem intensely real. The setting, Parish Island seems perfect because of the small town feel. It makes the plot of the story that more crazy, because everybody knows everybody. Deb Caletti's writing style caught my attention. The way it seems like the Jordan is writing her own story and acting like we already know what's going to happen interests me. It was a perfect way to grab a readers attention.

CHARACTERS:Jordan: I didn't always connect with Jordan. The fact that she acted the way she did to impress everyone else isn't something I enjoyed. She didn't have to go out with Kale, but I suppose that was her way of rebeling against her father, that or calling for attention. I can understand how she would feel like her father's craziness is her fault. She probably feels like she didn't stop him so it must be her fault, but there's nothing she could have done in the first place.

Vince (Jordan's Father): In the beginning we see that Vince is a normal guy, sort of boring but generally what people consider normal. We see a huge change in his behaviour after he starts seeing Gayle. He doesn't care about anything but her. I'm not sure if he actually loves her or if he just lusts after her. He did many crazy things for her, which I wish he hadn't but that's the point of the story. How to feel to be a murderer's daughter.

Gayle: I hate Gayle. The fact that after Vince kills Wes she says that he should never have done it. She seems to think that she is innocent, that she did nothing to convince Vince. I wouldn't doubt it if she told him to kill her husband so she could get all the money. She's an evil mastermind if you ask me. Not one to be trusted.

Big Mama: We hear alot about Big Mama in this book, but we don't actually "meet" her until close to the end. I felt like Big Mama was more of a mother to Jordan than her real mother at times. She seems to be able to connect with this woman, and trust her.

Kale: I really dislike Kale. First, he's completely stupid. Second, he's a cheating jerk. Thrid, he thinks he's unresistable. Urggggh. This is the kind of guy that makes women believe that all men are the same.

Melissa: Jordan's best friend who really doesn't know anything about Gayle. Why she wouldn't tell her best friend makes little to no sense to me.

Jackson: I love Jackson. He's such a freak that it makes me smile. He isn't afraid to be himself, even if himself is a little weird.


Moments to Remember:
Pg. 26
"I think the rabits and the old guys are a good match, both of them frisky without anyplace to put it."

Pg. 59
" 'Now, this is a meal you'll be telling your grandchildren about.' He eased a smaller slab onto Grandma's plate. 'This could kill you, you old bird, so go slow.' "

Pg. 149
" 'You know, he's really average height for a short person,' she said.
Sometimes I just didn't understand why I liked that girl."

Pg. 159
"He had something in every pocket, that Kale. He could have been a magician."

Pg. 360
"I wondered if Grandpa Eugene was looking down at us with his halo. Except that Grandpa wouldn't have a halo. He'd refuse it. Maybe he'd compromise with some glowing baseball cap."

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny XOXO

Book Review: The Keepers of the Flame by Jennifer Armstrong & Nancy Butcher

Title: The Keepers of the Flame

Authors: Jennifer Armstrong & Nancy Butcher

Series: Fire-us (Book 2)

Pages: 280

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Year Published: 2002

 

“Five years after a deadly plague killed all the Grown-ups, the world’s population has nearly vanished. But a group of children have survived and forged a new family, a new life, and together traveled up the coast of Florida looking for answers.

To their shock, they’ve found a group of adults, the only Grown-ups they’ve seen for years, living in an abandoned shopping mall. It’s a world the travelers had almost forgotten- cupcakes, clean clothes, adults to depend on.

But something is terribly wrong. The family must find the truth before it’s too late.”

My Rating: 9/10

I really enjoyed this book. I’m so happy that I decided to continue the series. In The Keepers of Flame the reader gets to know more about the way the plague has affected the survivors and the setting. The authors get far more descriptive in this book and let us see the personal sides of the characters. The events are not as predictable and I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing what happened to them when it happened, not guessing what is happening. The element of surprise is a good thing on my list.

THANK YOU JENNIFER ARMSTRONG AND NANCY BUTCHER FOR A HEART POUNDING BOOK!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♪♫