My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door

by Huntley Fitzpatrick

 A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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SUCH a cute book! Adorable. I loved Samantha and Jase. I especially loved Jase's siblings and whole entire family - oh George, be still my heart! This author did a stellar job at giving us a glimpse of the chaos and love that can abound in big families. This was a sweet story of a romance between two neighbors and two teenagers discovering who they want to be in life. Heartbreaking at times and achingly tender in others. A book I will probably reread at some point. (Did I mention how much I loved Jase's family?)

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: none; Profanity: sadly yes, fairly bad, from only ONE character. Lame. Sex: yes

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Sleepless

by Cyn Balog

Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?

(summary from goodreads.com)

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Okay, not fabulous. The whole concept of Sandmen is a little creepy, but otherwise this was at times a cute story to read. I liked Eron and Julia, though I wanted to smack Griffin most of the time. An interesting premise.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: heavy; Profanity: possibly a bit, I don't remember; Sex: kissing but references to more

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Fairy Tale

by Cyn Balog

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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This was a cute story - not one I'll probably reread, but nice to read once. I didn't love the ending, it was sad and happy and sad again all at the same time. I can't talk about what specifically bothered me without huge and grand spoilers, but despite that it was a sweet fluffy story with a great main character.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: minor; Profanity: some damns; Sex: kissing, a bit heavier in dreams

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

The Power of Six 

by Pittacus Lore, James Frey, Jobie Hughes

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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A great second book in a (hopefully) series of three. This time we have two narrators - John (from the first book) and a newcomer Marina. I loved Marina! So much better than I liked John, who still bugged me in this book. John! You are still a selfish teenage boy who should focus on saving the world instead of which girl he is attracted to. Seriously! There was also (again) a bit too much action, in which I actually had to pay attention to because vital things were happening, and the love triangles were annoying at best. But again, I loved Six, Sam, Bernie Kosar, and especially Marina. Marina! You are awesome! She's so determined to fight and make the best of the bad deck of cards she's been given. We get a few mysteries solved, a few more are presented. We also find out more about Six and some of the other "numbers". Hopefully the next book will wrap up this story in a lovely nice bow and give us a way out of the mess in which this book left us.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: heavy; Profanity: possibly a bit, I don't remember; Sex: kissing

 

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four 

by Pittacus Lore

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.


They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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Fascinating concept and world and delivery and a fun series to read. I find it sometimes more difficult to express why I liked something rather than why I didn't, so let's get this straight - I liked it. Enough to keep reading the series and look forward to finally getting my hands on the 3rd book (please tell me the 3rd book is the last? Which I guess is proof enough that I liked but didn't adore this book. Books I adore can go on and on and on.) I loved Bernie Kosar and Six and Sam and Henri and even Sarah. John, however, kind of bugged the crap out of me. Only sometimes! In fact, I really liked him up until he makes a horribly selfish decision that causes all sorts of horrible ramifications. Frustrating! John! Get your act together! Seriously! Sometimes you can be incredibly short sighted, which isn't all that great when you are supposed to be saving the world. I'll cut him some slack because he is a teenager. Maybe.

There was also more action in this book than I prefer. So much action! Fighting those bad guys! Which means it would probably be a great book for teenage boys. My brain kind of shuts down during action sequences in books, very similar to how it shuts down when sports is on T.V. It really doesn't interest me all that much, so I start skimming while my brain computes "blah blah blah fighting ... blah blah blah shooting ... blah blah blah more fighting" until it's done. No worries, there is plenty of plot without the action, but there is still plenty (plenty!) of action. You are hereby warned.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: heavy; Profanity: yes, a bit; Sex: making out

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns

by Beth Revis

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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This book follows where Across the Universe leaves off and is the 2nd in the series. I really like the first one - I thought it was a fresh entry in the sci-fi world. This book was just as enjoyable, with some great mind blowing plot discoveries (that I hadn't even guessed! Which is awesome!) and lovely suspense as we tried to figure out all of the mysteries on the ship. I like seeing how torn Elder is - sometimes cocky, sometimes humbly confused - I felt so bad for how his world was spiraling out of control. Rather than irritate me, the dual narrators helped to give a bigger picture to what was happening and gave us two voices to listen to rather than one. There was a little bit of relationship trouble, of course (kind of required for 2nd books, I guess) which is always a little annoying, but in general this was another fun read and I look forward to the next one! Oh WHAT will happen!

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence: moderate; Profanity: some nonsense words that are the obvious counterpart; Sex: just kissing between main characters, but oblique references to sex and rape

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Living Dead Girl

by Elizabeth Scott 

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared. Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.

Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was.


When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends -- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.

This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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My darling brother, devoted reader of this blog, called me up a few weeks ago and asked which Elizabeth Scott book he should read. I told him I hadn't read any of the ones he mentioned and he was flabbergasted, dumbfounded, and disappointed. I guess at some point on this blog I said "I have recently discovered Elizabeth Scott and look forward to devouring everything she has written" and of course he remembered and I had LET HIM DOWN! Alas. Of course I had, and still have, the intention of reading more of Elizabeth Scott, but my to-read list is extensive and I simply hadn't gotten around to it yet. So next time I went to the library I picked up whatever Elizabeth Scott books my library had (all two of them) and here we go!

So. This book. First off, do you know how many books are called "Living Dead Girl" on goodreads? Seven! Doesn't that seem like a large number? That is a lot of books with the same title, and hopefully they all aren't as depressing as this book. Ugh. This book was hard to read, and I admittedly skimmed and skipped to the end because it was so draining. The subject matter is terrible and horrible and nightmarish and I'm honestly not interested in reading about it. Yes, I know horrible things happen to people, and sometimes it's important to read about it so that you can empathize and work toward a better world, but I have a difficult time using that rationalization with fiction books. I might force myself to read something that really happened to people (they lived it, the least I can do is read it) but I don't need to read about horrible things that happened to someone imaginary. I can't advise anyone to read this book - it's about a dark and perverse world that just happens to be the one we live in. And the ending totally sucked.

 

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, so everything is within YA strictures. Violence, Profanity, Sex: YES, all of the above. A girl is abused in every way for years.