Blog Tour: Character Interview with Jillian from Hereafter

I am pleased to welcome Jillian from Hereafter onto my blog today as part of the blog tour promoting Tara Hudson's debut! Read on to find out more about this sweet (and sarcastic) character!

1. What has it been like growing up with your older brother, Joshua? Do you ever wish you were an only child?

Like, every other minute. Can you imagine growing up with a guy like that, who acts all calm and collected? Like nothing bothers him? He's so full of it. Besides, I hate how my friends drool over him. Gross.

2. Jillian is a very pretty, and unique, name. Why did your parents decide to name you that? If you could change your name, what would you like it to be?

I think it's a family name. Some great-great-great grandmother, or something. Notice a trend in my family? Jeremiah, Joshua, Jillian? Blah, blah, blah. If I had my way, I'd have some awesome pop-star name, like Britney or Katy.

3. If you could meet the ghost of any person, who would it be and why?

Nobody! Seriously, I have one too many dead people in my life, if you get my drift.

4. What are three things most people don't know about you?

I can cook almost as well as my dad - in fact, I think my blueberry muffins are way better than his. I'm also a total neat freak. I hate how Joshua just throws his stuff all over his room, like he's living in a laundry basket or something. Plus, I have even better grades than Joshua. But if you tell anyone, I swear I'll never talk to you again.

5. Joshua always makes fun of your choice in music, but what are some of your favorite songs?

Joshua only does that because he likes all that whiney college-rock. I dare you not to rock out to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," or Kesha's "Your Love is My Drug."

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Thanks so much Jillian (and Tara) for answering my questions! You can find out more about Tara on her website and also be sure to check out my review of Hereafter.

Blog Tour: Micol Ostow Interview and Giveaway

Micol Ostow, author of the newly released family, is stopping by today to talk about Charles Manson, writing in verse, and what's next for her!

1. Family is quite different from your other published novels. What drew you to write this story? Did you do a lot of research on the Manson Family before writing?

I've always been interested in Charles Manson because his story is so unbelievable, so actually, when it came time to write the novel, I'd already read "Helter Skelter" and a few other books about the Manson family. My interest in it meant that I'd done the research almost inadvertently. Once I'd shown my agent some pages and I knew that we were moving ahead with the book, I went back to re-watch the original "Helter Skelter" movie and some interviews with Manson,but I was already very familiar with the case. Finally, a pragmatic use for my morbid fascination!

2. If you could give Melinda one piece of advice, what would it be?

Cults are bad! Don't join cults. (That one's too easy.)

3. Was writing in verse more difficult than writing in prose? Did you read any verse novels to prepare yourself for writing Family?

I did read a few books by Ellen Hopkins and Samantha Schutz, but I'd been fans of both of theirs for some time so I wasn't coming at the genre blind. Though I haven't written in verse before, it felt very much like the natural progression of Mel's voice as her psyche breaks down, so though it wasn't easy, per se, it was organic.

4. What are two places in the world you would love to travel to?

I was just saying to some friends how I'd love to see Spain. Somehow I missed it during my college backpacking days. I'd also love to see Brazil.

5. What's next for you writing wise?

I've just begun working on my next book for Egmont, a ghost story and my first attempt at writing something genuinely scary. We'll see! Look for it in spring '13.

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Thanks so much, Micol! I read family a week or so ago and my review will be up soon. It was a very intense and emotional read! You can also check out the rest of the blog tour stops here.

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Blog Tour: Lauren Baratz-Logsted Discusses the Inspiration Behind The Education of Bet

Influences Behind The Education of Bet

Ocassionally, I'll hear another writer say they never read their own reviews. I'm not sure if I believe that. One thing I am sure of is that I have no such restraint. I want to know what people are saying about my books, the good and the bad. Sometimes by reading a wide range of reviews, you can see a consensus - hopefully that consensus isn't that your book sucks! - that can help the writer. No, the book in question can't be changed - that book is already published and therefore a done deal - but sometimes you can learn things that can help with your future writing.

For people who don't know, The Education of Bet is a YA novel set in Victorian England about a 16-year-old girl who decides to impersonate a boy in order to get a proper education. As I started reading reviews of the book, I noticed some reviewers citing Yentl and Mulan as antecedents. This really interested me because I'd been thinking of neither when I wrote my book. I've never seen Yentl, although I know from the video packaging that Barbra Streisand's character in it impersonates a boy so she can get a yeshiva education. As for Mulan, given that I saw a lot of Disney "princess" movies with my daughter when she was younger, I probably saw this one at some point, but all I can tell you about it with certainty is that in this one the "princess" is not a blonde.

So what were the antecedents for The Education of Bet? The answer to that would be the classic novel of British boarding school life, Tom Brown's Schooldays, by Thomas Hughes; and possibly She's the Man, the film that is really Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in contemporary clothing.

Finally, what was I hoping to achieve? I've always been a big fan of the Thomas Hughes book so I wanted to write a story like that but featuring a teenage girl with a more contemporary sensibility: even though Bet is the orphan daughter of the maid, she desperately wants what is only available to the wealthy and predominantly males - an exceptional education. We take so much for granted these days, sometimes it's difficult to remember that even though there would have been educational opportunities for wealthy girls Bet's age back then, nothing would be available for someone in her circumstances...unless she found a way - like cross-dressing! - to acquire it for herself. Oh, and what's the other thing I hoped to achieve with this book? I hope it makes the reader feel entertained. There's not a book in existence that is perfect and I know that there will always be readers who are displeased with X or Y, but the truth is, with each book, I do try to entertain the reader. I hope, at least occasionally, that I succeed.

Thanks for having me!

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Thank you so much for writing up this fantastic post, Lauren! And congrats on the paperback release of The Education of Bet (my review)

In My Mailbox (81)

This is going to be a long post because I wanted to include all the books and swag I got at BEA this year. I was only able to go one day (Wednesday) but I still got a ton of great reads! I have no idea where to start! What did everyone else get in their mailbox this week?

For Review:

Before Versailles by Karleen Koen

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Lark by Tracey Porter

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

BEA:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Going Underground by Susan Vaught

Crossed by Ally Condie

Legend by Marie Lu

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Shelter by Harlan Coben

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

iBoy by Kevin Brooks

You Are My Only by Beth Kephart

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Between by Jessica Warman

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Various Swag!

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Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Review:

I had yet to read anything by Megan McCafferty, but I had heard nothing but praise for her Jessica Darling series, so was eager for an excuse to read something by her as soon as possible. Luckily, that chance came with Bumped. With her official YA debut, McCafferty both surprised and enraptured me, and left me eager to read the next installment in the series.

The novel alternates between the perspectives of Melody and Harmony, twins separated at birth, and reunited when Harmony tracks her sister down and appears on her doorstep. Harmony was raised incredibly religious and is determined to take her modernized, ready-to-preg twin back home with her to Goodside. But Melody has other plans. Watching the twins get to know and understand each other was a fantastic aspect of the story. While they at first seemed so different, Melody and Harmony actually had a lot more in common than first met the eye.

At first I was a bit bothered by Harmony's constant preaching about God and her community; but I soon grew used to it and it made Harmony's character that much more complex. I originally thought Harmony was an open book, but the more I read the more I saw that there was much more to her than met the eye. She was caught up in her own tangled past and soon her present life becomes even more confusing when she is mistaken for Melody. Her life will be forever changed when flawless Jondoe swoops her off her feet, ready to "bump" who he actually thinks is Melody. I liked Melody, even though she thought her life was perfect and set in stone, she had a lot to learn and mysteries to untangle.

This may seem like a crazy and jumbled story, and it is. But it is presented in such a wonderful and articulate way that I couldn't help but love it. I enjoyed watching the twins begin to better understand each other and the world they lived in and to see that what they always believed may not be the truth.

Bumped's plot was incredibly different from anything I've read before and presented teen pregnancy in a whole new light. McCafferty put her own spin on things and made the story very realistic- it is plausible that something like this could happen in the future. The plot twists were very unique and kept me on my toes throughout. The short, personal chapters kept me eagerly flipping pages and I was finished with the book quite fast.

Overall, I enjoyed Bumped, even if the beginning and some of the lingo was a tad confusing. I'm eager to see where McCafferty takes the characters in the sequel!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

April 26, 2011/Balzer + Bray/336 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Netgalley

Other books by this author: The Jessica Darling series

Review: Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

Review:

Elizabeth Scott long ago landed on my favorite author's list and Between Here and Forever only sealed the deal. Beautifully written, heartbreaking, and full of hope; this is one novel that will stay with me for a long time.

Abby has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful and charismatic older sister, Tess. For years things have always been Tess, Tess, Tess and Abby has always felt inferior to her. But suddenly Tess's light is blown out when she gets in a terrible accident and ends up in a coma. Abby's life is changed forever. Now Abby is dealing with everyone asking her about Tess, visiting her sister, and, most importantly, learning that she really didn't know her older sister at all.

As in many of Elizabeth Scott's books, Abby was a likable and relatable protagonist. Her emotions and struggles were obvious and my heart went out to her when things got tough. I was constantly hoping she would realize that she was her own person; beautiful in her own way. Even though the novel begins with Tess in a coma, readers get to see some flashbacks and learn a lot about the mysterious older girl. There were a variety of secondary characters, all of which played some role in the book, and no matter how minor that role was, each made an impact. Claire and Eli especially. Eli was a haunting and lovable character. While at first you don't really understand him, as the book progresses, his true personality comes to light and he was a fabulous guy. He helped Abby a lot, both with Tess and with herself.

Many secrets are revealed over the course of Between Here and Forever, particularly towards the end. Many of the characters are harboring secrets and Abby is astounded to find she may not have known the people around her as well as she originally thought.

Elizabeth Scott has a great writing style and combined with the unique premise of the story and fantastic characters, Between Here and Forever has landed on my favorites list. Characters from her earlier release, Bloom, make a reappearance so be sure to keep your eyes open for that. It made this book that much for impactful for me.

Overall, I highly recommend picking up this book. It's poignant and dark, with lighter undertones seeping through that makes it perfect to read as the weather turns warmer. Between Here and Forever will make you think and, even more, will reiterate the message that no one person can make you feel less than you are and that each and every person is beautiful in their own way. Elizabeth Scott has done it again and I'm sure she has many more masterpieces to come!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

May 24, 2011/Simon Pulse/256 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (Galley Grab)

Other books by this author: The Unwritten Rule, Grace

In My Mailbox (80)

I can't wait to read all these books! They look fantastic. I am off to BEA on Wednesday, so will post about any books I get there next Sunday!

For Review:

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Ordinary Beauty by Lauren Weiss

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

Won:

(Thanks Melina!)

Ashes Ashes by Jo Treggiari

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Review: Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.
Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.
Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Review:

Queen of the Dead was a fun and entertaining sequel to The Ghost and the Goth and it left me eager to read the third book as soon as possible! The story picks up soon after the prequel left off, and the action starts right away. In addition to lots of exciting new adventures and plot twists Alona and Will are back and better than ever. Stacey Kade has a knack for capturing both of them wonderfully and writing the dual perspectives flawlessly.

Will and Alona's relationship takes a bit of a backseat in Queen of the Dead, as the story focuses more on them as individuals as they are both dealing with a lot. Alona has just discovered her father and step-mom are expecting a baby and her own mother is clearing out her room and throwing out all her possessions. This was a big blow to Alona because she never expected her parents to move on so quickly and, on top of all that, she has to deal with other local spirits wanting help from Alona to get Will to help them move on. Unfortunately Will is a little distracted. He has finally met another ghostkeeper and she seems to be the key to discovering the truth about his abilities and his father. All of this combined makes for an entertaining and fun sequel and a lot of my questions from The Ghost and the Goth were answered.

I am so glad Will got his chance to really shine in this addition to the series and was able to learn so much more about himself, his past, and what he could do. Of course he still was there for Alona, though, and was just as sweet and caring as ever. Will did have to make some difficult decisions though, some of which left Alona pretty mad. I liked many of the new characters that were introduced and was glad to see some of my old favorites returning.

All in all, Queen of the Dead did not, in any way, fall into the sequel slump. It was just as witty and fun as the previous installment in the series and I can't wait to read more about Will and Alona in the third, and final, book in the trilogy.

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars

June 7, 2011/Disney*Hyperion/288 Pages/Young Adult/Book Two

Source: Publisher and Author (ARC)

Other books in the series: The Ghost and the Goth

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Review:

Hereafter was a romantic and alluring debut novel that will surely captivate teen paranormal fans. I liked how the main female character was the ghost and the boy was human- it was a fresh twist and made things that much more entertaining. Tara Hudson has a beautiful and lyrical way of writing and I know I would read anything she wrote just because of that. Luckily, Hereafter succeeded in more ways than one, and after the slow beginning I really got into Amelia’s story.

Amelia was a unique main character not only because she was a ghost, but because she had so much mystery surrounding her. She knew nothing about herself other than her first name and age that she died. No inkling of her family or who killed her/how she died remained. I felt for her because it must be so horrible to feel so lost and not understand or remember anything about your life. Also, she has had no human contact for years and keeps waking up from terrifying nightmares where she relives the day she drowned. Drowning is definitely on my list of top five worst ways to die and I hated having to see Amelia relive her pain day after day. Soon though, her life (if you can call it that!) is changed forever when she attempts to rescue a teenage boy from drowning in the same river she herself perished. Amelia soon discovers that Joshua actually sees her and that they can communicate as well.

Even though their relationship moved a tad fast, I did enjoy watching Joshua and Amelia get to know and understand each other. Joshua definitely had more to him than met the eye and his family history was something different. Joshua was a sweet and extremely likable guy and he went against all the usual stereotypes. His feelings for Amelia were clear and he would do so much to protect her, even though she was a ghost. I also liked how much he cared for his sister and making sure she was okay. Jillian was a nice secondary character and I felt for her when things got tough near the end.

There were so many supernatural elements to the story and Amelia and Joshua were soon caught up in a web of intrigue and mystery. I liked how I wasn’t always entirely sure what was going to happen next and Tara Hudson definitely surprised me several times.

The last few chapters were extremely intense and I was on the edge of my seat. After making it through the slow beginning I was soon caught up in Hereafter and its original premise. I am anxious for the sequel now, since the ending left me wanting to know more! If you’re a fan of paranormal YA, then I definitely recommend checking this out.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

June 7, 2011/HarperCollins/416 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Teens Read Too (ARC) and Netgalley (E-Galley)

*Reviewed for Teens Read Too

In My Mailbox (79)

This is two weeks of books since I wasn't able to get a post up last Sunday. I got so many awesome titles that I'm excited to read. I've already finished Shut Out and it was FANTASTIC and I'm reading Nightspell now. Can't wait to start the rest of them!

For Review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Rivals by Daisy Whitney

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Nightspell by Leah Cypess

Everfound by Neal Shusterman

Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont

Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer

Gifted:

(Thanks Miranda!)

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart

The Boy Book by E. Lockhart

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart

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