Embassy Row!

Hello fellow bookworms!

Today Ally Carter has released fantastic news! She is now starting to write a new trilogy. The first book in the trilogy will be called Embassy Row. It is about Grace, the granddaughter of the most powerful ambassador in the world. At age 16 she returns to Embassy Row to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process of uncovering her mothers death she uncovers more than what she bargained for.

Ally has been wanted to write this series since 2007 and the planned released year is 2015. I know that is a long time away, but hey she still has to actually right it.

I am very excited for this book! Ally does a wonderful job taking what could be an everyday teen and turn them into someone that we all love. I can't wait until I get the chance to meet Grace and read all about her!

Here is a link to her blog post about it: Embassy Row

Kylie

Book News

So there has been a lot of book news happening lately that I haven't posted.

First thing:

Augustus and Hazel have been cast! Hazel will be played by Shailene Woodley and Augustus will be played by Ansel Elgort. I have seen a lot of hate on these two as the cast but John Green says that they are perfect. I have decided that I will like them both until I see the movie and then if I didn't like them I can decide then.

I really love this fanart because it helps me picture Shailene was Hazel.   I think that both do a pretty good job looks wise as how I pictured Hazel and Gus. What do you guys think? Second thing: We have a title for the third book in the Divergent series as well as a title for the sixth book in the Gallagher Girls series. And both covers as well! Like? I love the cover for Allegiant, but I am disappointed that the she did not chose a name that ended in -ent like the rest of the books. But I still like the title. As for Gallagher Girls can you say L-O-V-E? I loved the gown and the color scheme and the title is so perfect! I think it is a my second favorite title in the series with Out of Sight, Out of Time being number one. That is all the book news that I can think of for today! If you guys have anything else let me know! Also any book recommendations? Please give me so recommendations I need books to read!

Review: Code by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Code by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Goodreads Description: The Virals are put to the ultimate test when they find a geocache containing an ornate puzzle box. Shelton decodes the cipher inside, only to find more tantalizing clues left by "The Gamemaster." A second, greater geocache is within reach—if the Virals are up to the challenge.

But the hunt takes a dark turn when Tory locates the other box—a fake bomb, along with a sinister proposal from The Gamemaster. Now, the real game has begun: another bomb is out there—a real one—and the clock is ticking.

My Review: I just finished Code this week after a long time waiting for it and I have to say that is was a lot better than I was expecting it. When I first heard that this book was coming out last year it didn't sound as good as the other two in the series. To me it seemed like the Virals were being put into a game, kind of like what happened the characters in the Maze Runner. It was nothing like that. It was a lot like the others in the series, and yet also not. One thing that was different was Tory relationship with Whitney and Ben. In the beginning of the series Tory hated, Hated, Whitney, but in this book you start to see a relationship between the two develop. Tory begins to see that Whitney is not all that bad and by treated her how she does she is preventing Kit and Whitney from having the type of relationship they want. And Tory relationship with Ben was so much different than in the other two books. While they never got together you can start to see that that really is a possibility, which made me ecstatic. I also really enjoyed Hi and Shelton in this book. It felt to me like they were apart of it more and not just side characters, plus they reminded me a lot of Shawn and Gus in Psych.
       I didn't really like the fact that this was written with Brendan. I felt like I could tell when he was writing and when she was writing. I enjoyed reading it so much more when she was writing because she knew how to write it better than he did. Brendan used a lot more slang and I believe that the only parts that had cussing where when he was writing. Brendan didn't do a very good job in writing the characters. He made them go from one emotion to another in a drop of a hat. This and the cover were the only factor that made me dislike this book a little. 

Title: I absolutely loved the title. It fit really well with the book, yet didn't give anything away. Perfect.

Cover: I was really disappointed in this cover. I like the old covers better that had the silhouette like thing of the characters on the cover. 

Overall Rating: A-

Review: Time Bomb by Nigel Hinton

Time Bomb by Nigel Hinton

Good Reads Description: The summer of 1949 changes everything for Andy and his three best friends. That is the summer they find an unexploded bomb buried in the hill where they ride their bikes. Faced with the choice of whether or not to reveal their discovery, the boys take a blood oath that will change their lives forever. Set against a crisply realized backdrop of post-war Britain, this explosive story of boyhood camaraderie follows the four friends as they confront the issues that have set their country, their community, and their lives ablaze.


My Review: I picked this book up at a sidewalk sale last summer for 50 cents. It has taken my a while to read this book after I got it because I started reading it right after I got it and I didn't get a good feel from it, so I stopped reading it and I kind of forgot about it. I found it again last weekend and I figured that I should read it. As I got further got into it, it got better, but still not the best.I loved how they incorporated the time period into this novel. It was well used, all the way to the slang that the kids used in the book. I saw many problems in this book. There are many plot holes and a lot of plot lines that were never resolved in the end. One of the biggest issues in the books was completely forgotten about. This issue was a major problem in Andy's life throughout the whole book but by the last 40ish pages it was never mentioned again. While this book had a lot of history in it, there were many things that were forgotten about and never resolved.

Title: The title is really catchy. It was the title that made me buy the book. It does take a while to figure out how the title relates to the book, but it suits the book well. 

Cover: While the cover above is not the cover of my book, I do like this one. It is simple but easily portrays the key parts in the book.


Overall Rating: C-


Kylie

Read what you want, not what everyone wants you to read

Lately I have been reading a lot of books that I started to read when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. These books are some of the many books that started my love for reading. When I first began reading these books they were appropriate for my age, but now, as I am 16, these books are at a much lower reading level than I should be reading.

Even though these books are not at the reading level that I should be reading, I am reading them because they remind me of my when I was little. They remind me of my old house, of the room I shared with my little sister that glowed pink and orange. They remind me of a time that I wish I could go back and relive just so I could be back there again.

When I checked these books out at the library the librarians look at me funny because I am checking out a book that is supposed to be read by a 8-11 year old, not a 16 year old. While reading these books in public I get many funny stares and many people believe that I am stupid because I am reading books for another age level.

I would like you guys to know something. It doesn't matter what you are reading, as long as you love what you are reading. Does it really matter if I am reading a book that is meant for a 8 year old? No, it doesn't because that is what I want to read. Any one should be able to read any book they want. No one should be able to tell you that you can't read because it is what YOU want to read. 

If anyone ever tells you that you shouldn't be reading what you are reading, tell them that you thank them for their opinion, but you are going to keep reading what you are reading.

I hope this meant something to you guys, and you took something important away from this.

Kylie

The Fault in Our Stars Inspired Easter Egg

When I was dying eggs for easter I had a idea to dye an egg inspired by my favorite books. They only egg that really turned out was The Fault in Our Stars inspired one. I am really proud of this egg. I decided to do The Fault in Our Stars because I am doing an author project on John Green for my English 3H class and I throughly enjoy all of his books. I would recommend his books to everyone, but a warning to those that there is a some sexual content in each book as well a foul language.

Any good books out there I should read and maybe review? Check out my Book List of 2013 to see what I have read!

Kylie

Book Art

So a few weeks ago I finished an art project inspired by my love to read.

It says: We all need Books and Fairy Dust once in a while. 

The back is pages of books that I copied and antiqued. The pages come from my favorite parts many books, including Harry Potter, Sammy Keyes, Umbrella Summer, Marley and Me, The Mother Daughter Book Club and The Help. I then painted the words over it and cover the words Fairy Dust in silver and gold sparkles so it looked like fairy dust. 

I am really proud of this. I hung it below my bookshelves, which is across my bed. So every morning when I wake up I see this and it inspires me. 

What do you think? Any other ideas for book inspires art pieces?

~Kylie~

The Fault in Our Stars Movie

Did anyone hear the news that the wonderfully written book, The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green is now in the process of becoming a movie. This book about a teenage girl named Hazel is in recovery from Stage IV thyroid cancer. Hazel always has to be hooked up to a oxygen tank which limits what she can do. Enter Augustus Waters. Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and surprisingly to Hazel, interested in her. Being with Augustus is exactly what Hazel needs to get a re-look at life. 

I absolutely adore this book and I encourage everyone to read it. I am very hopeful about this movie. I hope that it is well executed and follows the books as well as it can. In discussion about the book, one of the writers said that John Green read the script and loved it so that is a good sign. The actors that are chosen to portray that characters I feel are a key thing to make this movie a success because the ones that are portraying Hazel and Augustus need to be able to portray to teenagers that are suffering from cancer. I am hoping that Mae Whitman, John Green's vision for Hazel, is the actress chosen for Hazel as she will be perfect. 

The director for this movie has been chosen this week. The director shall be Josh Boone. This will be Boone's first book adaption film. Hopefully Boone is a good choice for director. 

I do hope that you all follow my recommendation and read the book. 

~Kylie~

Harry Potter

Hello fellow book nerds!

I have a confession to make. Last November I began reading the Harry Potter series for the first time. *Gasp*. Yes I know, this may come as a disappointment to some of you. I have a good reason. (Actually it isn't a very good reason, I just let myself believe that). Here is my reason:

So my older sister is the biggest Harry Potter nerd I know, and I know a lot. Ever since I learned to read my sister has always wanted me to read the series. I didn't want to because I usually don't like the books she reads and I figured why read it if I am not going to like it. But then around three years ago I started thinking that I wanted to read the series. I seen most the movies because she is always watching them and I love those. But then it came to the point where every week she would ask me to read the series, and I would say no just to bug her. It bugged her so much that I hadn't read them. I finally decided to read them when I had to do a Classic vs. Pulp project for English 3H. When I began reading them, I kept trying to tell her I was reading them but she kept saying "I am busy, go away." I ended up reading the books in secret. Hiding it behind my back when she came home so she wouldn't see me reading it, running up the stairs as fast as I could to hide the book. But she found out when I was in the middle of the third book.

So there. That is my lame reason. I am now on the sixth book and I love them. They are definitely one of my favorite series. So here is the lesson I learned from this: "Never let anyone stop you from reading a book."

~Kylie~

P.S. I took the sorting quiz on Pottermore and say hello to a new Gryffindor!

Book List 2013

Hey guys,

So I put up a new tab for my book list for this year. I have my book list from 2012 on my other blog should I add it here?

Kylie

Review: Sammy Keyes and the Showdown in Sin City

Sammy Keyes and the Showdown in Sin City by Wendelin van Draanen

Cover 1

Barnes and Noble Overview:  

In this pivotal book in the Sammy Keyes series, Sammy tackles the persistent mysteries of her own life.

Mysteries like: Who is her father? And why has her mother kept it such a secret? How long can she manage to hide out in Grams' seniors-only building before someone catches on? Is her mother really planning to marry her boyfriend's father? (Ew.) And why, why is Heather Acosta so nasty?

Cover 2

During one crazy weekend in Las Vegas, with the help of an entire army of Elvis impersonators, Sammy finally gets some answers. But of course knowledge comes at a price—and solving the mysteries of her own life will cost Sammy more than she ever meant to pay. . . . 

My Review: 
I loved this book. I am a big fan of this series and this on is my favorite one in the series so far. Usually each Sammy Keyes book has two main parts, a problem that Sammy is facing in her life and a mystery that she is trying to solve. I feel that this book combined the two together and Sammy had to figure out this mystery of who her dad was and what her mom was doing in Las Vegas with her enemy and her boyfriend's dad. What made me love this book so much was finding out more about why Heather is how she is. My view of Candy (Heather and Casey's mom). I used to hate Candy, but after this book I understand why she was like she was. Each of Wendelin's characters in this book changed in this book. I loved who her father turned out to be and a can't wait to see what he adds to the rest of the series.

Cover: I like both of the covers. My favorite one is for once is Cover 2. My favorite covers of the other books has been the cartoon ones, but for some reason I like the collage one more for Sin City. It maybe the the three Elvis on it, or the coloring used. Something about it makes me love it.

Overall: A+

And so it begins...

Today I begin a new blog. A blog about books and all the joys they contain. This blog will contain book reviews, discussions about books, and anything and everything else that has to do with books. The journey begins here.