Other Review

Other by Karen Kincy

Publisher: Flux

Release date: July 1, 2010

Source: Publisher

Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

Review:

Other was a fantastic and enthralling debut that had me glued to the pages from the start. I loved Gwen, she was a strong character and wasn't afraid to show her true emotions. The other characters; Zack, Tavian, Chloe- they all were well developed and likable. Everyone had their place in this story and seemed completely realistic and believable. The plot was fast paced and there was never a slow moment. I loved the idea of "Others" living among regular people and that there are so many different kinds. Werewolves and vampires are only the beginning.

The main character, Gwen, is half-human/half-pooka. She can shape shift into any animal at all. I love the scenes when she transforms into an animal, they are so magical and awesome, and at times her "Otherness" saves her life. Throughout the novel Gwen is dealing with a lot, not many people know she's an Other, and there are quite a few people (like her boyfriend Zack) that would turn on her if they found out. This was just one of many sub plots in the book. The main plot was the murders. Someone was slowly and brutally murdering Others and no one knew why. The police are portrayed really negatively because they are careless about trying to find the killer, since Others are not their priority. I love how Gwen and her friend Tavian take it into their own hands to solve the mystery. There is a lot of suspense and mystery throughout the book, and the killer isn't revealed until the end. Other drew a lot of emotions out of me and I was surprised to see how much time had passed when I had sat down to read for just a few minutes.

Other will draw you in right from the start and you will be cheering on Gwen as she fights for both her life and "Others" like her. Some creepy and disturbing things occur in this novel and at times I had to stop reading because I was getting so freaked out! Karen Kincy is a terrific writer and I loved every minute of Other.

There is romance where you least expect it and Karen Kincy did a terrific job of developing their relationship. With an engaging and exciting plot, romance, and terrific characters, Other is a debut I'd recommend to just about anyone. It ended in a way where a sequel isn't necessary, but I'm still very excited to read Bloodborn!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Review: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.

Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.
But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.
So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.
But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.

Review:

Historical fiction is one of my absolute favorite genres. I love the names, the clothes, the facts, the settings.. everything is so interesting and different. The Education of Bet not only introduced readers to these things in Victorian England, but also let them really feel what it was like to be a girl in this time.

Bet was an inspiring and strong willed character. She knew what she wanted- an education- and would do anything to get it. Many students today take education for granted and wish they didn't even have to go. Bet made me feel that much more grateful that, in today's society, girls have the opportunity to get an education. Not only was Bet brave, she was also a sweet and caring person. Her love for her Uncle and friends shown from the pages and she just wanted the best for everyone. The other characters; Will, James, Uncle, Little... they all seemed so believable and real.

The plot was fantastic and so original. In the spirit of Mulan, The Education of Bet proved just how far some girls will go to have the opportunities men did. Bet lived with her Uncle and "brother in spirit" Will, and when Will expressed interest in joining the military, Bet cooked up her scheme to switch places with him. Disguising herself as Will, Bet enrolled in a new school and told her Uncle she was off to work for a new family. The majority of the novel took place with Bet disguised as a boy and I loved every minute of it. Her trials and triumphs were funny and, at times, difficult, and I really felt for her. There are a lot of twists in the plot and a few surprises along the way that keep the reader engaged and entertained.

Even though Bet is disguised as a male for the majority of the novel, she still manages to find romance by the end. The guy she falls for is sweet, brave, and a likable character. He is so protective of Bet and I love the ending!

Overall, The Education of Bet was a romantic, exciting, and well written novel that left me eager to read more of Lauren Baratz-Logsted's work. This was a short read, but is filled with a great story.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

July 12, 2010/Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/192 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books by this author: The Twin's Daughter, Crazy Beautiful

Introducing 2011: Jeff Sampson

Jeff's debut novel, VESPER, will be published by Balzer + Bray in January 2011!

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1. In what ways does Vesper relate to the original Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde story?

Vesper wasn't actually based on or inspired by Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but after writing the book I realized that main character Emily Webb's experiences during the first half of the book--before you really know what, exactly, is up with her weird transformations--were sort of similar. Case in point: by day she's quiet, shy, and geeky, but by night she becomes fearless, reckless, and more than a little dangerous. So because of the superficial similarities, Jekyll and Hyde is an easy way for me to sum up the initial premise of the book without rambling for too long, since everyone knows the premise of that particular tale. But that storyline in Vesper is really a prelude to something much bigger...

2. As a male, what were the pros and cons of writing from a female perspective?

I actually don't find it too difficult jumping between gender voices, mostly because I view each character I write as a person first and a gender second. I've heard people use rules of thumb like "girls are more open with emotions and guys keep emotions closed up!", but I always think, "Well what if I want to write about a girl who hides her emotions?" I'm not a big fan of following stereotypes and rules when it comes to characters.

When I write a character I always take the bits and pieces of myself that I think fit the character--this makes it easier for me to enter her head--and then work in observations of other people I've known in my life. As I write, I get to know her even more as the pages unfold, as I never quite know where my brain will lead me. A part of Emily Webb's story is learning to embrace all the weirdness that comes post-puberty, so that also helped to keep the voice female.

Not that I always got the voice 100% right. But that's where excellent editors--male and female alike--come in, to tell me when something sounds too overtly masculine. Because, well, I am a guy and I don't know what a cami is, so they had to write that in for me. This is just one of the many reasons why I love working with editors--they make me look better!

3. What was the inspiration for Vesper?

I grew up watching shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Alias, and so I always wanted to write my own take on "girl gets powers, kicks ass, and grows as a complex character to boot." I never quite had the right idea until several years back. I was at a conference with an editor named Nina Hess. I'd been tossing out ideas to her for awhile, as we wanted to do a book series together, but none quite stuck. So I asked her what her publisher might be interested in. She gave me a particular one-word topic, which I can't say as it will spoil the book. I told her I'd run with that, but only if I could do it in a way that... Well, I can't say that without giving the book away, either, though that way naturally included a heroine that could (sometimes) kick ass and take names.

Basically, this one-word topic gave me the opportunity to pour my own personality and my love of genre books, TV, movies, and comics all into one cool little series. Because of that, I went home after that conference and the story just flowed. Before I knew it I had a huge document full of plans for multiple books, all following a specific geek character: Emily Webb. The book didn't end up being published with Nina's company (though not for a lack of trying), but luck led me toward the Balzer + Bray imprint of HarperCollins, where they are all totally excited to publish the sci-fi/paranormal craziness I created for this book.

4. Is there a specific message/lesson you want readers of Vesper to take away with them?

Well the main thing I want readers to take away upon finishing is, "Wow, I can't wait to read what comes next!" Because Vesper is the first of three books in a sequence that we are currently calling Deviants. Book one is very close to Emily throughout, but the subsequent books pull the story back further and further to reveal a bigger picture--which means the ultimate themes won't reveal themselves until the very end.

For this first book specifically, I wasn't necessarily going in with a concrete moral or lesson. My first goal is always to entertain, as not many people want a novel--especially a genre novel--to be preachy. That said, Emily begins the book as very shy and reserved, someone afraid to leave her shell. The Jekyll/Hyde change--as well as an unknown person who is murdering teenagers in her small town--forces her to step out of line and shed her inhibitions. How Emily grows to reconcile her situation and these different sides of herself was the main story I wanted to tell--for this book. Ultimately there will be multiple throughline stories with their own arcs and conclusions, but of course I can't give too much away just yet.

5. In what ways do you, or people you know, relate to Emily?

I touched on it a tiny bit above, but Emily Webb more than any other character I've written is a big part of me. But that may not be saying much as part of my process is taking some specific personality trait of myself and creating a new character out of it, using that one trait as a way to always see where the character is coming from. (For instance, Emily's friend Megan, who is a very different character than Emily and has very different goals, is also a specific part of me.)

Beyond the sides of myself that I put into Emily, I based her on a few specific people I know. The easiest one to pinpoint is my sister, who had similar quirks as a teenager that Emily has now--though, just to be confusing, I also used part of my sister's current day personality to create Emily's step-sister, Dawn! At the end of the day, Emily and the other characters are all amalgams of myself, people I know, people I've observed, and other characters I may have absorbed over the years, all packaged into one brand new character ... though I have to admit, it's no coincidence Emily Webb happens to love all the geeky stuff that I do, too!

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Thanks so much, Jeff!

Click here to visit Jeff's website.

Giveaway: What's Your St@tus? by Katie Finn

I'm excited to be hosting a contest for Katie Finn's newest release, What's Your St@tus? The sequel to Top 8.

What You Can Win:

(1) Copy of What's Your St@tus?

(1) $20 giftcard to Urban Outfitters

About What's Your St@tus?:

Sixteen-year-old Madison still loves logging on to Friendverse to see what her BFFs and her cute new boyfriend Nate are up to. But the latest social networking craze is Status Q, which is all about rapid-fire status updates. When one of Mad’s friends has to pull off a high-pressure heist, the gang relies on Status Q to send code messages to each other…all in the middle of a school dance! Will up-to-the-minute social networking save the day…or lead to good old-fashioned disaster?

About Katie Finn:

Katie Finn is the author of Top 8 and What’s Your St@tus?. She lives and writes in Los Angeles. Friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter @katiefinnwrites and visit her online at www.katiefinn.com.

Rules:

Update your status on Twitter with your favorite summer read! (Remember to include @xthebookscoutx & @katiefinnwrites, as well as the link to this contest [http://bit.ly/9pie9Z]!)

US Only

Ends August 12

Fill out THIS FORM to enter!

Related Links:

http://www.katiefinn.com/Katie_Finn/Books.html

http://www.thisispoint.com/books/whatsyourstatus.asp

Blog Tour: Elizabeth Rudnick Interview & Giveaway!

1. Did you ever consider writing Tweet Heart in novel format?

Did I consider? No, not really. But were there times I really wished I’d gone with standard prose? Oh my gosh yes! In all seriousness though, there was never a chance for this book to be anything but what it is. I mean, the title pretty much had me boxed in from Day One and I think, in order to get the message I wanted to send across, I needed the technological element. So while it would have made my life so much easier to be able to tell a story the old-fashioned way, I am glad I was challenged to do it this way.

2. If you could befriend Claire with any other YA character, who would it be and why?

Claire is very very picky. And very very shy. :) It would be hard to see her easily opening up to anyone new as she has been at Watkins Prep since like forever and is scared of change. But if she were to emerge from her little bubble, there are two characters I could see her being friends with--Hermione Granger from Harry Potter and Gail from the book, Can I Get There by Candlelight by Jean Slaughter Doty. These are two VERY different girls but I think they both have traits that would appeal to Claire. Hermione, like Lottie, is confident and bold...yet, as we all know, she is also sensitive and a secret romantic. I can imagine her and Claire bonding over Ron and JD, talking about how boys can be such dimwits and fools. And it would be Hermione who really pushed Claire along, in much the same way that Lottie does. But at the same time, I think Hermione would also let Claire shine in her own way a bit more which I think would be good for her.

Gail is a totally different type of character and she and Claire would initially bond over horses. (The book Can I Get There by Candlelight is a childhood favorite of mine about a young girl who, when she and her horse (Candlelight, Candy for short), go through a gate, find themselves transported back in time. It is an amazing tale of friendship and a light fantasy and still, nearly 20 years after reading it for the first time, I get chills when I open to the first page!). Gail is slightly younger than Claire so I see this as more of a sisterly relationship, something I think Claire, as an only child, would really latch onto. But while Gail might be younger, I think, by looking up to Claire, she would teach Claire to trust herself. At least, in my crazy head that is how it would happen. Knowing my luck, they’d hate each other! :)

3. What was your favorite scene to write in Tweet Heart?

Oh thank god!! That is an easy one!! Without a doubt, my favorite scene was the last one in the book. For two reasons. One, it meant that I was finally done writing. (Well, I should rephrase. I THOUGHT it meant I was done writing but of course I didn’t realize that the first draft I handed in would have to be revised--five times! But the funny thing is, that is the one scene that never changed through all the drafts.) And two, I got to live vicariously through my characters. I don’t want to go into too much detail and spoil the ending so I’ll leave it at that and give my second favorite scene as a consolation answer. And that would probably be when Claire is telling Will about the date she went on with JD and how awkward it was. Everything about that made me laugh as I was writing it. Laugh, and cringe a bit too, as I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Will having to listen to her talk about the date and realize that he had set her up with his “enemy”. But it was such a definining moment in their relationship and I think a defining moment especially for Claire that it just flowed. It was one of those instances where I really love the tweeting aspect as the whole exchange has such a punchy, quick-fire feel to it. Wish I could have had similar conversations myself back in the day!!

4. Is there a specific person that inspired you to start writing?

There are a lot of people who definitely influenced me. Lots of writers whose work I greatly respect and helped me escape into the book. But if I were to pinpoint a specific person who made me not only want to write but realize that writing is a gift and a process, I would say that was my junior year English teacher, Anne Shaunessy. The funny thing is, I originally had tried to switch out of her class for the simple reason that older kids had warned me she was tough. And she was. But she was tough with reason. She didn’t want you to write just to put letters on paper, she wanted you to realize that language is deliberate. That there is beauty in the simplest of sentences and that you, as a writer, are tasked with a huge responsibility--to make your words speak. Sometimes they need to be loud, sometimes soft, but they need to say something. So she would have me write papers, stories, heck, I’m sure if we’d been texting then she’d have even made tackled texts, over and over and over again. While I would moan and groan while doing it, those papers are the ones I still have to this day because I learned to analyze and edit and feel the written word. And it was that sense of accomplishment and that instilled love of writing that I know pushed me down the path I’m now on.

5. What is one book you wished you’d written?

I have been thinking long and hard about this one and there are just so many that I wish I had written. I would have loved to write Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont. Or Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, or the Dragons of Pern series--every single book--by Anne McCaffrey. Or the amazing Vietnam war novel, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Or even Lonesome Dove by McMurty. Or oh my god, Gone with the Wind. Or Twilight. Yes, I wish I had written Twilight (but I think that is more because then I would be fabulously wealthy and could maybe date Robert Pattinson). And I can’t forget Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence which I hated when I first read but now find insanely beautiful and amazing. But I guess, if I had to say there was one book above all others that I wished I’d written, it would be Horton Hears a Who. And the reason is sort of cheesy. It is my mother’s favorite book and she will take any opportunity to recite the entire thing from beginning to end. And still, even after three decades of this, it still makes her smile and still makes me laugh. So if I could write a book that brings people together like that, over the simplist of stories really, well, I’d be darn happy.

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Thank you SO much, Liz!

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GIVEAWAY!

I have an EPIC Tweet Heart prizepack to giveaway to one lucky, INTERNATIONAL, winner!

Prize includes:

(1) Signed, finished copy of Tweet Heart

(1) Tweet Heart water bottle

(1) Tweet Heart bookmark

Awesome, right?

Fill out THIS FORM to enter!

Rules:

International!

Ends August 20.

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Visit Liz's great website: http://elizabethrudnick.com/

Follow Liz's blog tour and have the chance to win even more prizes!

Next stop: La Femme Readers

Blog Tour: Tweet Heart Review

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

Publisher: Disney*Hyperion

Release date: June 22, 2010

Source: Publisher/Author

Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.

Review:

Tweet Heart was an endearing, fun debut that I finished in just a couple of hours. While many people might be thinking- a book written in tweets? Hmmm.... But, Liz Rudnick proved that a book written in blogs, tweets, and emails can be done- and done well!

There were a lot of emotions packed into those tweets and Liz managed to weave a great plot and awesome character development through them. Lottie, Claire, Bennett, and Will were all terrific main characters. Readers could relate to and understand them and you just couldn't help but love them and want the best for them. Claire was a sweet girl that had been lusting after popular guy JD since before she can remember and when he starts tweeting her things really start to change for Claire and her friends. Lottie always has lots of guys after her, but she's a fabulous friend for Claire and just wants the best for her. Will and Bennett are both great friends to the girls and I love watching all of their relationships grow and change.

I don't want to give anything away, but there are a lot of plot twists in Tweet Heart that really keep the story moving. I couldn't put it down because I just had to find out what happened next! I loved reading the tweets because the characters were funny, sweet, and always knew the right thing to say. The emails and blog posts were terrific too and added a lot to the story. Bennett was really able to express himself through his blog, "Big Mouth B", and clueless Claire ran an advice column where she gave advice to others. The reader really gets to know each character and their feelings on different people.

The writing style was definitely unique, but it just worked for Tweet Heart. A sweet and romantic read, Tweet Heart will appeal to a variety of readers and I definitely recommend picking it up even if you're wary of the writing format, you may be surprised by how much you like it!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Interview:Tricia Rayburn

1. In what ways do you relate to Vanessa?

Like Vanessa, who’s afraid of many things, I have a few fears myself. I’m not a huge fan of heights, flying, or the dark, and I recently developed a fear of all creatures of the deep, which actually helped inspire the idea for Siren.

2. Do you have a favorite scene in Siren?

I love the scene in which Vanessa and Simon find a certain seductress with a certain boy in the middle of the woods, because it serves as an important catalyst in their relationship. And I also love when they’re looking for Simon’s missing brother in Camp Heroine, an abandoned, former top-secret WWII military base, and make a terrifying discovery.

3. If you could befriend Vanessa with any YA character, who would it be and why?

Katniss from The Hunger Games is pretty hard-core, and though Vanessa’s tougher than she realizes, I think she could learn a thing or two from such an accomplished fighter!

4. What is the best book you have read recently?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The characters, the voice, the story, the dialogue—all worked together to keep me turning pages as quickly as possible!

5. If you could travel to any place in the world, where would it be and why?

Greece! I’d love to see the Parthenon in person.

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Thanks so much, Tricia!

Click here to visit Tricia's website.

Giveaway: Salvaged by Stefne Miller!

I have a copy of Salvaged by Stefne Miller to giveaway to one lucky winner!

Rules:

US Only

Ends August 9

Fill out THIS FORM to be entered!

My Double Life Review

My Double Life by Janette Rallison

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release date: May 13, 2010

Source: Publisher/Author

Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!

Review:

My Double Life was a fantastic new release by one of my favorite authors. Alexia was a strong and likable main character that just wanted to do what was right. Growing up with her mother and grandmother, Alexia had never known the thrills of fame and fortune, so when celebrity Kari Kingsley's manager comes knocking, Alexia is especially excited at the chance to make extra money for college. Life in Hollywood is quite different than the quiet life Alexia lived before, and I could understand how overwhelming it was to her. The more things Kari had Alexia do for her, the more Alexia began to wonder- is this worth it? I loved watching Alexia's character develop and change. She had a lot of unique experiences in L.A. and learned a lot about both herself and her family.

Alexia wasn't the only great character. Her mother and grandmother were very sweet and only wanted what was best for Alexia. They had a great relationship, but Alexia wanted the freedom that L.A. offered. Kari, while at first seeming like a bossy, spoiled brat, proved to be a caring person. Her life was busy and she was dealing with a lot of personal problems as well. Grant, on the other hand, was the perfect person. Not only was he a popular rock star, but he was also a down to earth, caring guy. Unfortunately he thinks Alexia is Kari. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot that follow, so you'll have to read My Double Life to find out what happens :)

As for the plot, it was extremely original and engaging. I had a hard time putting the book down- I just had to know what happened to Kari, Alexia, and Grant. My Double Life showed the ups and downs of stardom and proved that first impressions aren't always the right ones. There are a lot of surprising things that occur and the reader will have a fun and emotional time experiencing everything Alexia is.

Overall My Double Life was a heartfelt and fun read, with more serious undertones and a sweet romance. With great characters and a strong message, this is sure to be a hit with many readers. I can't wait to read any future books by Janette Rallison!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars