Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Winners

It's time for another all-inclusive winners post.  I'm playing catch-up after a busy week at work so you get all the winners at once.  Winners have been notified by email and have 48 hours to contact me before I draw a new winner.  Thank you to all who entered and stopped by the blog and congratulations to the winners!

Terminal Care

Terminal Care by Christopher Stookey:  Sharon54220

The Good Daughters: A Novel

The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard: Colleen T


David Baldacci Audiobooks(True Blue and Absolute Power): Andrea I
Historical Romance Books:
Brenda (bchild5)
Paranormal Romance Books:
Jennifer (meandi09)
General Fiction Books:
Stephanie (bookworm1858)
Young Adult Books: 
Riv Re (rivkarno1)

Book Review: Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck


Three Quarters Dead 
Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck
Publisher: Dial
Publish Date: October 28, 2010
Hardcover, 208 pages
Young Adult, Paranormal (Ghost story)




My Review:
Why I read this: The cover looked interesting and the story sounded interesting.

How is the novel driven:  Action and character, but the character centers around Kerry and her acceptance into the cool school clique and the events that follow after that.

My thoughts: Three Quarters Dead is an interesting take on the ghost story and on teen cliques.  Most of the story is about Kerry and how she joins in with the cool girls seemingly by accident one day.  But as she learns, things aren't always as they seem.

The rest of the story is about how far she will go to be a part of the clique and like most girls she will do almost anything.  I found the story to be highly entertaining for about three-quarters of the story and then when the things really start to happen I found it to be a little too rushed and I kind of thought that a lot of it came out of no where.  I think if I read it again knowing what I do now, I would understand more.  Kind of like The Sixth Sense, if you know the ending you can see the clues through the book.  But when reading it through the first time, it's a little shocking and a little jarring.

It is an entertaining story so don't let my thoughts dissuade you.  It's a perfect Halloween book and I like the way it almost pokes fun at the popular clique and how Kerry eventually learns her lesson.

In summary - fun book, interesting ghost story take, just a little too short and hurried are really my only complaints.  Give it a try and see what you think.

My Rating: 3.5/5.0

Some other reviews:
Freda's Voice
The Literate Mother
Paula Kramer Chicago YA Fiction Examiner


About the Book:
Kerry is chosen by the coolest clique in school and so she thinks life has finally begun. But then it seems all over when her three friends are killed in a shocking car accident. Or are they? Only weeks after the accident, Kerry receives a text from one of the girls: We're all 3 here at my aunt's in the city. Take the 3:50 train. B there.

Exhilarating, terrifying suspense is crossed with a thought-provoking examination of peer pressure in Richard Peck's return to his contemporary teen- and ghost-story roots. This is a master author's gift to the Gossip Girl/Twilight generation: his own smart, stylish, and fun take on the paranormal.

About the Author:
Richard Peck lives in New York City. His extensive list of honors includes the Newbery Medal, the Edgar Award, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the National Humanities Medal. He has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award.

Author Page at Random House Publisher


FTC Information: I received this book through Book It Forward Tours.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: You by Charles Benoit


You 
You by Charles Benoit
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: August 24, 2010
Hardcover, 240 pages
Young Adult





My Review:
Why I read this: I requested this one from the publisher because the blurb sounded very intriguing.

How is the novel driven:  Character, this is about Kyle.  There are events, but it is really about Kyle and who he is and what drives the ending to happen.

My thoughts: What an interesting concept in a novel.  I think Mr. Benoit has really made an interesting novel from a male perspective which I feel is an area that is grossly overlooked.  Not only is it from a male point-of-view, I feel it can be read by male and female alike and understood and appreciated.

It starts with an event and then it back tracks to how Kyle got to that point in his life.  It’s an amazing look at a teenager’s life and how little decisions can end up affecting their life and making bigger ones without really meaning to, or did they mean to?
When reading the book really flies.  I pretty much read it in one sitting.  It does  not have chapters, but there are breaks where you can stop if you are stop at the end of a chapter type of reader.  But I dare you to actually want to stop.  I know I didn’t and I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy this in it’s entirety on a Saturday afternoon.

Kyle is a fascinating character.  He never really makes excuses for his behavior or decisions, just states them as facts and what if he hadn’t done a certain thing, would things have changed.

The ending is absolutely stunning and like another blogger I read, I’m not exactly sure how I feel about it.  I will still be thinking about this one for weeks – it’s just that kind of book and that type of ending.

I enjoyed Mr. Benoit’s writing and will read any further forays  of his in young adult writing and I’m interested in his adult writing too.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:
This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?
There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?

You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn't make that lead to his own destruction.

In his stunning young-adult debut, Charles Benoit mixes riveting tension with an insightful—and unsettling—portrait of an ordinary teen in a tale that is taut, powerful, and shattering.

About the Author:
Charles Benoit is a former high school teacher and the Edgar Award–nominated author of three adult mystery novels. This is his first book for young-adult readers. He lives in Rochester, New York.

His Website
Blog


FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.