Review: Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

Review:

Sarah Mlynowski has made my favorite authors list with just one book! Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) was a delightfully fresh and entertaining summer read. I went to her launch party and knew from the minute she began reading from the book that I was going to love it- and it’s true. I adored this book! With likable characters, realistic (and unrealistic) situations, and a highly original and fun premise Ten Things was a winner!

April was a character I liked from the start. She was an ordinary teenager that found herself in a tough situation. She was going to have to move over the winter break of her junior year. Leaving behind her boyfriend, best friends, and the home she’s always known. Luckily, she cooks up a plan with her good friend Vi. Vi’s mother is on the road starring in Traveling Mary Poppins and Vi (a senior) is living all alone. Of course April’s father would never let her live alone with Vi. Vi pretends to be her mother on the phone and soon April is packing her bags ready to move in with Vi for the rest of the school year. April’s father and stepmother move to another state, comfortable with the fact that April will be staying with Vi and her mother for the rest of the year. From there, hilarity, adventure, and, of course, ten things they did and probably shouldn’t have, ensues.

I loved how each chapter started with one of the ten things they did (and probably shouldn’t have). Everything that happened to Vi and April was crazy- from harboring a fugitive to buying a hot tub. They had some wild experiences and learned a lot about what it meant to live on your own. Each of the girls had some difficult experiences, but, all in all, they had an exciting and fun time living together.

Each of the characters was interesting and developed. From April’s father to next-door-Lucy. From Hudson to Donut. I loved all of them and seeing what role they played in April and Vi’s life. Vi was of course a great character. She was very different from April, but their friendship just worked. They were a good team and although they had to make some difficult decisions, Vi and April handled things well and, luckily, they had some great friends on their side from the get-go.

The plot moved at a rapid pace and there was never a slow moment. While some things were a little ridiculous or far-fetched, it only made the story that much better. I was frequently laughing out loud or grimacing or even near tears at times. Some mature issues were dealt with in Ten Things and I think Mlynowski handled them very well. Sex, drinking, and STDs were all mentioned in this novel.

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) has been on my radar for a long time and I’m so glad I finally had the chance to read it. Sarah Mlynowski has a winner on her hands and I can’t wait to share this with all my friends.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

June 7, 2011/HarperTeen/368 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Purchased

Other books by this author: Gimme a Call

Zoology 101 Camp!

I am off to Zoology 101 Camp in Florida for 6 days and 5 nights, so I won't be able to answer any e-mails until I get back!

Camp dates: July 30- August 4

I look forward to recounting my adventures when I return and responding to any messages!

Books for Trade

Here are the books I have for trade! Please e-mail me if you're interested in any of them. I've included a short wishlist below, but feel free to offer other things!

Hardcovers:

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze
Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton -- claimed
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray -- claimed
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
Stay by Deb Caletti
The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little

ARCs:

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab -- claimed
Legend by Marie Lu -- claimed
After Obsession by Carrie Jones -- claimed
Icefall by Matthew Kirby
Love Story by Jennifer Echoes
Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch -- claimed
Tomorrow Girls: Run for Cover by Eva Gray

Wishlist:

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Fateful by Claudia Gray
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Email address: kelseythebookscout (at) gmail (dot) com

Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

Review:

Ally Carter- you are a genius! I adore each and everyone of her books and Uncommon Criminals is no exception. Packed full of intrigue, adventure, twists, and mystery this was one fantastic and addicting read. While I wasn't sure how this could live up to the amazingness of Heist Society, it truly did. The characters, the plot, the romance... all of these aspects of Uncommon Criminals kept me glued to the pages and laughing and gasping at random intervals.

The story line of Uncommon Criminals was entirely fresh and exciting. Kat is asked by an elderly woman to steal the Cleopatra Emerald that was stolen from her parents many years ago. Kat is all for stealing things to return them to their rightful owners so she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, there are a few problems. For starters, the Emerald hasn't been seen in years and it is supposedly cursed. But Kat isn't backing down and soon she and her crew are involved in the heist of a lifetime. New characters, impressive tricks, and crazy destinations are all a part of this exciting new novel by Ally Carter.

The idea of the Cleopatra Emerald and it's history was incredibly interesting and it made for a great sub-plot. Kat and her friends were forced to make some difficult decisions and were faced with some hard choices. Nothing was ever as it seemed and there were so many twists and turns in the plot that I never knew how things would end up.

I love all of the characters in this series. Kat, Hale, Gabrielle, Simon, Hamish, Angus... they are such an inspiring and creative group of teenagers. They work well together and can pull off just about anything. Kat and Hale, of course, are my two favorites and watching their relationship develop in Uncommon Criminals was one of my favorite parts of the book.

The different settings also added an extra element to the story. Kat and her friends were able to travel to some exotic destinations and see some very interesting sights.

Overall, Uncommon Criminals was a captivating and edge-of-your-seat read that I devoured. It threw me for a loop several times and I never knew what was going to happen next. Kat and Hale are two of my favorite YA characters and I loved all of the plot twists and unexpected occurrences. I'm hoping she writes a third book and I can only imagine what Kat and the rest of the gang will experience next! If you enjoyed Heist Society, in my opinion, this one was even better! I highly recommend picking Uncommon Criminals up today!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

June 21, 2011/Disney*Hyperion/298 Pages/Young Adult/Book Two

Source: Publisher (Hardcover)

Other books in the series: Heist Society

Waiting on Wednesday (43)

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming

romantic comedy

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that’s just fine by her. She’s got her friends— the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She’s got her art— and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it’s hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they’re dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

Release date: February 16, 2012 (Speak)

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss? Yes, please! Melissa's debut, Falling in Love With English Boys, has been on my TBR for awhile now and this one sounds just as good! Plus the cover is so cute and different. Can't wait to read this!

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Review: Want To Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Want To Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

Review:

I have never read anything by Sarah Darer Littman before so I wasn't sure what to expect from this. But wow! I was completely blown away. This was a riveting, frightening, and intense look at one girl's life that is affected by an online predator.

Abby is about to start high school and she feels all alone. Like her family doesn't have time for her and that she and her best friend are growing apart. When Abby meets Luke in a chat room she suddenly feels... loved. Luke crawled into her life and worked his way into her heart so sneakily and almost unbelievably fast. It was scary how much Luke's "presence" in Abby's life changed her. Her grades were dropping, she was withdrawing from those close to her, and she was doing things she never imagined herself doing. Their talks soon stray from innocent banter and become more serious. Unfortunately Abby is completely under Luke's spell and she doesn't realize that she is walking right into a trap.

The novel alternates in various perspectives so you can see how Abby's ultimate decision affects those around her.

I used to think how crazy young girls had to be to fall for online predators, but Littman presented Abby's story in a believable light and made me feel for her. I still think she should have realized what she was doing was wrong earlier on. This was a powerful novel though and I am glad I had the chance to read it.

There are a lot of serious topics explored in this book and Littman definitely didn't shy away from going where she needed to go.

Want To Go Private? was an intense and fast paced read that will open readers eyes to the extreme dangers that comes with sharing personal information online. I am anxious to read some of Littman's previous novels because they also deal with serious issues and I'm sure they will be just as impressive. I definitely recommend picking this up!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

August 1, 2011/Scholastic Press/336 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books by this author: Purge, Confessions of a Closet Catholic, and Life, After

Review: Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

It is the first century B.C. Cleopatra, the third of the pharaoh's six children, is the one that her father has chosen to be the next queen of Egypt. But when King Ptolemy is forced into exile, Cleopatra is left alone to fend for herself in a palace rife with intrigue and murder. Smart, courageous, ambitious and sensuously beautiful, she possesses the charm to cause two of history's most famous leaders to fall in love with her. But as her cruel sisters plot to steal the throne, Cleopatra realizes there is only one person on whom she can rely--herself.

Review:

Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres and when you add Carolyn Meyer and Cleopatra to the mix you are sure to have a winner. I have enjoyed quite a few of Meyer’s books and this one was no exception. With stunning imagery, fantastic descriptions, and a wonderful mixture of real and fictional characters; Cleopatra Confesses was an overall riveting and thought-provoking look at the life of one of histories most well known females.

Cleopatra is a mysterious women and it was fascinating reading about her life through the years. This book spans many years- from Cleopatra’s childhood to her teenage years to her adult life. Many details are included and this was an incredibly captivating novel. It certainly inspired me to read more about Cleopatra. Especially concerning her family and later life. Not much is known about Cleopatra, but I feel Carolyn Meyer deftly weaved together her story and presented it in an interesting and unique way.

At the beginning of the book there was a family tree and a list of characters (letting us know who was fictional and who was real) and this helped put a lot into perspective. Each of the characters introduced in this book had some impact on Cleopatra’s life and all were well developed. There was so much I didn’t know about Cleopatra and Egypt that I learned from reading this and Meyer’s attention to detail made Cleopatra Confesses that much better. Plus, this was written in first person and allowed readers even more insight into Cleopatra’s thoughts. It is obvious that Carolyn Meyer did a lot of research and it paid off completely.

One of my favorite things about historical fiction is how I become completely immersed in the time period, setting, and characters. I definitely fell into Cleopatra’s story and I felt for her because her life was never easy; especially growing up. She had so few people she could trust and her own sisters were horrid. I did like her friend, Charmion, because Cleopatra needed a confidant and friend during the harsh times she faced. As I mentioned before, there were a mix of fictional and real characters in this book and two that really existed- Julius Ceaser and Mark Antony- were also introduced in Cleopatra Confesses.

This was the one aspect of the book that dropped this down to four stars. The book had me so captivated with Cleopatra’s story that I just gobbled up every detail, but the ending just felt a little… rushed. Everything was leading up to her adult life and I wish more pages were devoted to her relationships with Ceaser and Antony and her own period of ruling Egypt. I took a lot away from this book and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I just wish there were a few more chapters expanding on her loves and ruling.

Cleopatra is a very interesting historical figure, and although not much is known about her, Carolyn Meyer wrote a fascinating and insightful novel that brought her to life. Although I wished the ending wasn’t cut-off so fast, I enjoyed this book and it cemented Carolyn Meyer on my life of favorite historical fiction authors.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

June 7, 2011/Simon & Schuster/288 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books by this author: The Bad Queen

In My Mailbox (88)

I got a variety of awesome books this week! I also finally purchased some titles I've been wanting to read for awhile.

Books for Review:

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

How To Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron + towel

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough

Books Purchased:

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Eon by Alison Goodman

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

IMM Is Hosted By: The Story Siren

Review: family by Micol Ostow

family by Micol Ostow

i have always been broken.
i could have. died.
and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.
Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

Review:

Before reading family I hadn't been too familiar with the history of Charles Manson and his cult. I had a vague idea of what it was about, but by reading this it opened my eyes to the horrifying truth of what happened in 1969. This was a fictionalized version of the Manson Family murders, but it still had some basic similarities. family was written in verse, which I think worked purely because this novel relied so much on emotions and random thoughts. The characters were never fully developed and we didn't get to see everything that was going on. family was still an incredibly intense and gritty novel, and Micol Ostow didn't hold back in saying what needed to be said.

The main character, Mel, has lived a hard and painful life. She escapes to San Francisco, only to meet up with Henry. Mel immediately falls for Henry's words and empty promises. He guarantees she will be loved and welcomed into his "family", and become a part of them right away. But Henry's family is not what Mel could have expected. It is actually a cult, filled with brainwashed people who share everything and all live under Henry's order and guidance. This group of people are all broken in some way, and they have joined Henry to repair themselves and find people who will love and help them. But joining with Henry does have its consequences and Mel will be faced with some difficult choices.

Since this was written in episodic verse, we never really got to know the characters that well. While a fair amount were introduced by name, the reader only really gets to know Mel and Henry. While Mel was our main character, I could never relate to her or understand her actions. Couldn't she see that joining Henry's group would only lead to trouble? And that there were other people in the world who would help and respect her if she only looked harder? Mel was very easily swayed by Henry and she soon fell victim to his words and promises. At times I just wanted to shake her shoulders and make her see that she was only digging herself into a hole that would be impossible to escape from. Henry was a frightening figure and it was scary how quickly he built up this cult and had them all in the palm of his hand.

family was a fast paced read, not only because it was written in verse, but because I just had to know how everything turned out. The ending was a huge twist, but I felt it was a bit rushed. This was an incredibly important part of the book and it was over very fast. I definitely would have liked to see things wrapped up a bit better.

All in all, family was an impressive novel, but at times I felt disconnected from the story and the characters. I definitely recommend giving this a read and it inspired me to do more research on the Manson Family. I liked how this was written in verse, and while the ending was a bit abrupt, the story was well orchestrated and I'm looking forward to reading more by Micol Ostow.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

April 26, 2011/Egmont USA/384 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Inconvenient Blog Tour: Interview with Flux Editor Brian Farrey

Questions and Answers with Brian Farrey (Flux Editor)

1. What drew you to INCONVENIENT?


The voice. It was so honest and unadorned. By "unadorned," I guess I mean pure. It made an instant connection with me. I think it's because I believed in Alyssa.


2. What was the easiest AND hardest part of editing INC?


I'm going to chicken out and say I can't think of any hard parts. The hardest part of any editing, for me, is being clear in my own thoughts. I fear being vague or unclear. I'd hate for the writer to misinterpret my thoughts and rewrite based on that. The easiest part... This is going to sound strange but the easiest part was identifying what wasn't working. Sometimes, it's not that easy. You read and read and think, "SOMETHING'S not right but I can't put my finger on it...." With INCONVENIENT, the writing was so strong and smooth that it was easy to identify when something wasn't working and why. Thankfully, those occasions were pretty rare.



3. What advice do you have for writers about to embark on the editing journey?


The first, most important rule when embarking on the editing journey is to remember that no one hates you. No one is out to make your book bad. No one is out to hurt your feelings. The suggestions you get are meant to make what your editor already thinks is a great book even better. 


4. What do you like best AND least about your job?

Truthfully, the best thing about my job is the writers I get to work with. They're some of the savviest people out there and it's a joy to collaborate with them on their book. The thing I like least is all the putzy stuff that takes me away from that. I'd much rather edit a 100,000 word manuscript than a touch a 16 page contract.

5. Tips for writers and editors to work best together

Listen to one another. Ask questions, get clarifications. Be flexible. Always allow time to think. The editor's suggestion that you think is poppycock ten seconds after reading it might be brilliant after you let it marinate in your brain a couple days.


Margie Discusses Her Editing Process

1. What drew you to Flux?

Brian really got Alyssa and what I was trying to do with Inconvenient. His enthusiasm for the story and the characters and the direction he wanted to take the novel, really spoke to me. (I mean, how could you NOT want to work with someone who tell you how much he loves your book and your writing?).

2. What was the easiest/hardest part of editing INC?

The easiest part was that I agreed with EVERY revision point Brian made. There were some things I knew weren't working, and I wanted to make better, but didn't know HOW. And he had problems with the same things I did, so that was good. The hardest part was the extent of revisions. I had to cut 20K words, and if you revise you know you can't just cut. You have to add too. So that was a daunting process.

3. What advice do you have for writers embarking on the editing journey?

Go into it trusting that your editor knows what s/he is doing. I hear so many writers say, “This is in really good shape. So if an editor/agent tells me to change a lot, they're not for me.” Nothing is perfect. Even after extensive revisions, there's always more you can do. And, if an editor wants to buy your novel, that means they love it, they believe in it, and they also know how to make it the best version of itself.

4. What tips do you have for writers and editors to work best together?

I said to trust your editor, and that's definitely true. BUT, if you really have a problem with a suggestion, talk it out. See where the other person is coming from. You don't want to hate the end product. Ask lots of questions if something is confusing. I felt bad doing that, but in the end, no one wants you to revise the book in a direction neither you nor the editor was envisioning. Better to ask a billion times (ok maybe not a billion, maybe a hundred) and get it right, than not ask and waste your and your editor's time.

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Thank you so much to Brian and Margie for stopping by! I am anxious to read Inconvenient! For more information on Margie be sure to visit her website and to learn about more Flux titles stop by their website.