Book Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Publisher: Egmont USA

Publish Date: July 13, 2010

Hardcover, 400 pages

My Review:
I enjoyed this book so much.  It has my favorite young adult setting - a private school.  It has a gothic feel about it, the school and town have secrets, there is a graveyard and just a mystery to the place.  It has a strong female lead character who still acts female.  It has a hot guy (actually several).  It has devious bad guys.  Add to all of that a fast-paced plot and to me you have an excellent book.

Phe is a great character - she is trying to figure out why her sister wanted to go to Devenish Prep before she died.  She also wants to know why she and her sister were having the same dreams.  Now that her sister is dead and her parents are deep in their mourning, Phe heads off to Devenish Prep to track down the answers.  I love that the cliques aren't the main thing in this book - cliques are obvious but not in a Gossip Girl/The Clique kind of way.  This story is more about the mystery and Phe finding out who she is than about the social interactions.

The mystery is great - every time I thought I had something figured out, a curve ball was thrown my way and that kept me guessing through the book.  I liked finding out little by little about the town, the school and it's inhabitants.  It had a kind of Blue Bloods feel to it while remaining completely different.

If you love young adult novels with a paranormal twist you will like this - but be prepared, this isn't your average light young adult novel - this is a little darker and more serious.  It's a clean book, I don't remember anything being outstanding as something I wouldn't want my 9-year-old to read (though he is too young for this book).

So check it out - if you like the more serious YA books then this is one for you.  I am looking forward to the series continuing and will snap up the next book as soon as it comes out (at least I am assuming it will be a series, while the ending tied everything up nicely it still appears there is more to come.)

My Rating:  4.5/5.0

About the Book:
His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

About the Author:
Anastasia Hopcus wrote her first book in the 2nd grade.  It was titled Frederick the Friendly French Ferret and was seven pages long. During high school she wrote numerous short stories and started (but never finished) three screenplays, all as an alternative to doing actual schoolwork. At the very wise age of twelve her career ambition was to drive a Mack truck, but when that didn't pan out, she tried acting, bartending, and being a receptionist in a dojo before finally returning to writing. Anastasia loves horror movies, Joss Whedon, obsessing over music, and British accents.  She lives in Austin, Texas, and Shadow Hills is her debut novel. You can visit Anastasia at her website www.anastasiahopcus.com.

FTC Information: I received this book from 1-ARC-Tours for 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.

 

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young (Young Adult)

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
Publisher: Razorbill
Publish Date: February 4, 2010
Paperback, 272 pages


My rating: 4.0/5.0

My Review:

The Naughty List is really what young adult fiction is all about, just simple fun with some meaning but not too deep or too shallow - it's just right and leaves you feeling good when you finish it. After reading a lot of books full of meaning and dealing with heavy subjects, it was very refreshing to read The Naughty List.

Centering around cheerleader friends who make up the Smitten Kittens, not only are they cheerleaders, but they are also girls undercover who find out whether your boyfriend is cheating on you are not. Sweet girl cheerleaders by day and stealthy girls by night, these aren't your average everyday cheerleaders. Tessa is a particularly strong female character but she still has insecurities. Through the book her relationship with Aiden seems on the up and up but with a few seeds of doubt planted will Tessa still trust Aiden. And where does she draw the line about whether finding out about cheaters really helps the girls or hurts more.

The Naughty List is a fun quick read with characters that develop before your eyes. The first in a series, I look forward to learning more about some of the other Smitten Kittens and seeing more of Tessa and finding out what happens in her life.

About the Book:

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility!

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

Other Reviews of The Naughty List:

Frenetic Reader
Just Your Typical Book Blog
yaReads.com
The Undercover Book Lover (not really)

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book through 1-ARC-Tours.  I do not make any money on reviews, and my reviews are my own thoughts. I will write how I feel whether it is good or bad.  I also do not make money from my Amazon.com links - I live in NC and we cannot profit as an Amazon Associate.

Review: Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
My rating: 10.0/10.0

I received this book for review through 1-ARC-Tours.

A wonderful, fanciful read and not just for young adults.  Sheer pleasure for an afternoon reading.

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Publish Date: March 16, 2010
Hardcover, 256 Pages
Ages: 9-12 (and older I say)

My Review:

First let me say I really wish I had had books like this around when I was a young adult.  In Princess For Hire, Lindsey Leavitt does a wonderful job mixing reality with the fantasy.  How many teenage girls have trouble with their friends?  How many just want to fit in and get the one guy they crush on?  I know I did as a teenager and this is exactly where Desi is at.  Her best friend got mad at her and took all her friends away and she wants the guy her ex-best friend has.  Sounds pretty normal to me.

Then she finds out from her agent, Meredith, that she has magical powers and she is sought after as a stand-in for royalty when they just want to escape.  All Desi needs is the magical rouge compact and she looks just like the royalty.  It's a dream job for Desi, but for the fact that she is just supposed to stand-in for royalty not stand up for them.  As royalty Desi finds courage that she doesn't have in her real life and of course hysterical hijinks will follow.  I laughed and cried through this book.  So much rings true for teenage girls even with royalty. 

Desi grows as a character along with Meredith's character and I enjoyed seeing how that came about.  Desi's adventures kept me interested through the whole book and I am looking forward to more of her adventures in future books.

Rating Breakdown:

Characterization:    2.0/2.0
Plot:                      2.0/2.0
Writing:                 2.0/2.0
Attention-holding:   1.0/1.0
Ending:                  1.0/1.0
Believable:             1.0/1.0
Genre:                    1.0/1.0    
Rating:                10.0/10.0
 
About the Book:

When an immaculately dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and asks you if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you

a) run

b) faint

c) say Yes!

For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C--that is, once she can stop pinching herself.  As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula "Royal Rouge," she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don't know? Or when a princess's conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off--and you know she would want you to change his mind? 

In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl's dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

About the Author:

Lindsey Leavitt grew up in Las Vegas and now lives in Alabama with her husband and two small daughters. Although she has been a substitute teacher and a homecoming princess, she has never been a substitute princess. Yet. She's still scanning the job pages. Until then, Lindsey is hard at work on the next book in the Princess for Hire series. Visit her on the web at www.lindseyleavitt.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Review: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe (1-ARC Tours)

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe


My rating: 4.5/5.0
I received this through 1-ARC-Tours. It's an entertaining and enjoyable young adult book with a paranormal element.




My Review:

Cass sees ghosts, it started with her sister right after she died and then there were others. After her best friend turned against her she used what the ghosts overheard to right the wrongs that middle school and high school students perpetuate against each other. Because of that she is on the outside of everything that goes on in high school. Everyone is scared of her and what she knows. Not to mention her home life is going down the tubes too, with a mom that is never around and a dead sister who always is.

Then Tim steps into the picture. Tim is the super popular Vice President of the student council. Tim's mother passed away recently and that has caused all of the kids at the school to be super nice to him. When he befriends Cass, she looks for the ways that he is trying to get to her. She doesn't believe anyone at school could want to be her friend and even though he does want something from her he continues to stick around her and confuse Cass even more.

I really enjoyed this book, the interplay between Tim and Cass was great. The ghosts were pretty funny at times and sad at times too. It's a great young adult book that is a quick read, but has some thought provoking moments too. I will gladly pick up the next book Ms. Crewe writes and I am thrilled I got a chance to read and review this one.

ARC Arrival: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

I received this through 1-ARC-Tours and I can't wait to read it.

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

Book Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (1 ARC Tours)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater





rating: 4.5/5.0






From Amazon.com:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

My Review:

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I signed up to read it with 1-ARC-Tours because I had heard wonderful things about it. I have read plenty of vampire paranormals but never really liked the werewolf angle, but decided to give it a shot due to the wonderful reviews. I am so glad I did. There is so much more to this book than the paranormal angle. It covers the female teen experience with friends and boys well, the first love aspect is sweet and touching and the history given behind Sam keeps you turning pages.

I especially enjoyed how this was told from both Sam and Grace’s point of view. It was nice to see both sides and how they felt about each other and about the things that were going on in the town and in the woods. I also liked the aspect of Grace’s parents, as unfortunate as Grace was to have them as her parents (they were self-absorbed), I think this is true of a lot of parents of this current generation. Not all (as I have children) but a lot. I think this speaks to the fact that we should pay attention to our children. You feel for Grace because of her family situation, but you never feel she is pathetic. She comes across as a fairly strong heroine who knows what she wants even though she has the typical teenage problems.

A wonderful storyline and back story of the wolves, plus great characters. I wanted this book to keep going when it ended. I want to know more about the characters. Shiver is a lovely young adult novel that will touch your heart.

Binding: Hardcover
On-sale Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 400

Review: After by Amy Efaw (1-ARC-Tour)

After by Amy Efaw





rating: 4.0/5.0






From Goodreads:

An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there’s only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

As soon as I received this in the mail, I opened it up and started reading it. After starting it I just had to keep on reading it. I read it on a Sunday - Sunday is the day I spend at my parent's house with my kids and usually it means little time to concentrate and read, but this book sucked me in so well that I read most of it during the day on Sunday.

I loved that in reading the book you slowly learned about Devon and her life, really at the same time that Devon was learning things. This was a great look inside a juvenile detention center and the wide-variety of girls who are in there. Devon is not what you would expect at all to end up in jail, but she does. Nothing is clear cut in this book - you are muddling through just as Devon is and that is what makes the book outstanding. Nothing is prettied up for the book - it's raw and real, but not in a completely unpleasant way if that makes any sense. It does put you out of your comfort zone, but in a good way.

It's an eye-opening book of a real epidemic that is out there, and Ms. Efaw handles it beautifully. It makes you think, it makes you feel and most of all it held my attention and made me read.

And isn't the cover just amazing . . .

I received this through 1 ARC Tours.

Binding: Hardcover
On-sale Date: August 11, 2009
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 352