Graceling

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight- she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

Whens she fist meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills,

Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace-or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...( Yet again, Dum, Dum, Duuuuuuum!)

Now, to understand what this book is about, you have to get the setting and the things that make it stand out. The setting is in an alternate dimension, or just an alternate reality. The people in this book are only human, with a few exceptions( Alright, I'll stop with the bad puns!) Their are 7 kingdoms, ruled by 7 kings, which with two exceptions are arguing with each other constantly. Now, the Graced are a special group of people with a wide variety of powers. There are mundane ones like amazing cooking, underwater breathing, and 360 torso rotation. And then there are the exotic ones, like psycosensory, psychopersuasion, and killing, as mentioned above. The Graced are distinguished by diffrent colored eyes, and once idnetified as Graced, are brought to the kingdoms king, who judges the Grace useful or worthless. The useful are forced to work for the king, while the worthless are sent back to their homes. Now, to the Bat-Review!

First of all, this book is about a girl who is forced to kill who meets a boy she first regards as a friend, then distrust due to a kept secret, then ultimately loves. Now, before everyone out their yells " Hunger Games rip!!!!!!", you might be intrested to know that this book came out a full two months before the Hunger Games. And that being said, I found this book amazing. And before you start laughing at a boy who says that he likes a romance book, let me tell you this. In this book, the relationship is more developed than The Hunger Games, but so is the plot. In the Hunger Games, it's " Go out their and kill everyone to survive." In this, their is a clearly defined antagonist for the first half, before shiftng seamlessly to another one in the next. And let me tell you, the second antagonist is EVIL! Someone is one hundred percent evil when they(Spoiler!!!!) maim harmless cute forest creatures for fun, claims that he found them injured, nurses them back to help, and does it all over again. He also has no regard for human life and must always have his way. That's why it's so sweet when he gets his reward.(Spoiler ends!!!!) Like I said, really good debut novel for miss Kristin Cashore, first in a series to. My one complaint is that Cashore ends the book with many loose ends, and doesn't plan to use these characters in the next book, with 1 exception(spoiler!!!!! It's the younger antagonist dude. Well, that's my opinion.) Message end

Author:Michael9t4/MM

Rating: 5 out of 5

Stay by Deb Caletti

Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he's willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

Let me just say what was on my mind while reading this book. I thought Christian was crazy from the start. I didn't think Clara was smart personally. When Christian starts getting attached to Clara she should have told her dad and the police from the beginning not wait until it got really bad where she had to move away. I get the whole 'I'm in love with the guy thing' but when it gets to the point where the relationship gets abusive I say tell the police. I kept yelling at Clara in the book 'go to your dad or to the police'. The only problem for me is the ending i thought it would be more exicting. I got so absorbed into the book I stayed up until 4:00 am reading. Stay is one of Caletti's best pieces. This book just soaks you in.  Reading this book just makes you have anticipation to see what's going to happen next. I recommened this book to anyone out there who's a fan of Sarah Dessen novels.

Reviewed by Alaina

overall raiting 4.5/5

Catching Fire

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competion that is the Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves the victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boy( and girl) for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That New Unwanted Status puts them in the bulls-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...(dramatic dum, dum, duuuuum)

So, the first thing you shoud know about this review is that this is not the person who has been posting here before. I am, in fact, that persons cousin, who shares an equal taste in books. Secondly, my cousin is going to kill me for doing this first. We're both huge Hunger Games fans. Thirdly, expect me to have a sense of humor and to be slightly harsher review wise. I call things like I see it.

So, plot wise on the metaphoric drawing board, Catching Fire is smoking( that's a joke.) Not only is the strong female lead Katniss targeted for death by the Capitol, but she(Spoiler Alert!!!!!!!!) Also has to compete against 24 other victors in the 75th quarter quell, including, once again, Peeta(Spoiler ends here.) However, in execution, Catching Fire lightly burns.( bad joke) The action in the arena, the idea that Katniss might be dead in seconds, is downplayed here.(Spoiler Again!!!) Not only is the arena smaller and more contained, but Katniss is in an alliance with many of the other victors, resulting in less shock or high action moments. Also, The romantic element between Peeta and Katniss are downplayed. However, Catching Fire does deliver plenty of shock moments, like the first, making it somewhat okay. But only somewhat.

Reviewer: Michael9t4/MM

Rating: 4/5

Between The Lines by Tammara Webber

When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always—film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels—opposite the very hot Reid Alexander—isn’t going to advance that aspiration.Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.

Not going to lie I found no intrest at all in this book when I read the description of this book. But, I love books and I think every book gets a chance. My reaction after I finished this book, one word, WOW! Not what I expected. It was amazing. Mind-Blowing. I fell in love with Graham's character and winning personality. He's so down to earth and mind calming. I also loved Emma she's so down to earth like Graham and she didn't get caught in all the fame of the first movie. She didn't freak out with all the cameras following her. Reid, now he's kind-of self assorbed and he thinks stuff revolves around him. I'm really excited for the sequel to this book Where You Are (expected publication date Oct. 29, 2011). I Can't wait to read it. p.s. this book was really good for as Webber's first novel. Told in both Reis and Emma's point of view.

Reviewer: Alaina

Overall raiting 4.5/5

He's so not Worth It by Kieran Scott

Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!
Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by withholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?
If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!
Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!
Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.
Have a great summer!

I read the first book She's So Not Worth It in the He's so/ She's so triology and I really liked it so I decided to continue reading the series. I got to give a wow to this book it was great it continues with Ally and Jake's point of views and it also continued along right after the first book. I didn't like this book as much as the first one because Ally tends to cuss and drink more in this book. Looking at the first book you would be like wow this is not Ally at all but I sort of get why Ally's acting like that because of the whole soon to be stepfather and Jake situations. I think in this book Jake doesn't handle situations very well with taking off heat with another girl who so happens to be his best friend's recent ex-girlfriend. Besides all that I thought the book was pretty good. The book ended with a cliff hanger and i'm really eager to read the final book in the triology. The thing I really like about this book is that it has both sides and point of views which makes it way more intresting!

Reviewed by Alaina

overall score 5/5

10 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.

The main character April acts like a very immature senior in high school as well as her friend Vi who's a year older than her and in college. April to me is more like a 15 year old rather than a senior. The whole situation with Noah was clear as glass you could tell he just wasn't ready for a commit in a relationship in the first place. I found Mylnowski's novel to be a little fast paced. The plot didn't have enough descriptions that's why I found it hard to read this novel without wondering how that began with. This novel is made for reading when your bored or when you have spare time. I don't really recommend this for anyone. I rather tell truth's then lies and this is the truth on how I feel about this book.

Reviewed by Alaina

3/5

Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?
At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:
As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.
As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.
When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

        Before I Review The Book
 I'm not usually a fan of short books but when I saw it in the bookstore I knew I'd have to read it because I'm a sucker for YA romance. Which is unfortuanate for me because there's so many of them in the bookstore I end up spending a lot more than I intend to when the cashier rings up the price. (Bad for my pocket but way worth it!)

Elsie's life is busy. She takes care of her little siblings, worry what her mom would think of about how she's dressed, and watches out for the girl who's got it out for her at school. How unfortunate that her mom is the principal of the school now on top of her grades she has to worry about how she acts around school. Truth be told I didn't find this book the most facinating thing at the time. The book is very fast paced and forward. Derek in the book to me just went from meeting Elsie to all of a sudden I like her a lot. That gap from meeting her to liking her more than a friend kind-of thing came out of nowhere becuse all of a sudden I'm reading "Hi I'm Elsie" sort-of thing to "Oh! I think he really likes you" thing. That's one of my only really big complaints out of the whole book besides that I found the book to be a very easy, fast paced book that's meant to be read when your bored. What I'm really trying to say is that I have no intention of reading the book again any time soon.

Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

     It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

Dessesn's novel Along For the Ride was amazing in my personal opinion. The plot was different from anything I've ever read. The characters lives in this book revolves around BMX bike riding. Like how many times do you find a plot in a book for YA girls to read involving BMX. It's not also just that, the book was great itself too. Auden was great I really liked her character even thought she might not willingly try stuff at times but she ends up doing it anyways. I think at the end of the book she ends up finding alot of courage to do and try new things. I also loved Eli's personality he's so sweet and nice even though he's the strong silent type. I encourage others to read this book if not you already haven't read it yet. I have to say I plan on reading more of Dessen's novels.

Average raiting

4.5/5.00