Badass Bookie

OVER THE EDGE Mysteries in Our National Parks #7 By Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson. 160 pages. National Geographic Society. $4.99 (Ages 9 and up) ISBN 9781426301773 Rating: 5 Stars       This book tells you about a family who goes to the Grand Canyon to solve the mystery of the condors, but have to take a boy called Morgan with them.       The brother and the father in the family want to take Morgan with them but the mother and sister don't. A few days later the mother finds out that Morgan wrote some bad stuff about the sister. What happens when somebody pushes the mother over the Grand Canyon and everyone thinks Morgan did it? Is Morgan innocent or is he not?       My favourite character is Morgan because he becomes good at the end. My favourite part is when the mother falls over the edge and everyone accuses Morgan of pushing her because that's the most exciting bit. I think ages eig...

The Ultimate Sacrifice. Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy. I just finished Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer today. I recently read and reviewed Nightshade and  Wolfsbane in preparation. I didn't care much for Nightshade , but Wolfsbane was more enjoyable. So I was hoping Bloodrose would step it up. It turned out to be my least ...

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher has sat on my shelf almost since about the time it came out in hardback. I had heard such amazing things, so I couldn't resist. But I only now got around to reading it. I was inspired to read it since the author was going to be coming to my state for a signing. I hate going to signings when I haven't read anything by the author. I like being able to say "I loved your...

You're an alpha, a leader. That's what we need. It's what we've always needed. When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. Then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save her pack - and the boy - she left behind.Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? Will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials love can endure. Despite the fact that I didn't love Nightshade , I picked up Andrea Cremer's sequel Wolfsbane I liked it a lot more than the first book. A lot of the things that annoyed me in Nightshade weren't an issue here. Calla and Shay left their old lives behind and joined in with their old enemy's team - the Searchers - at the end of book one. And book two picked up right where they left off. Warning: Slight spoilers ahead. We...

THE BAREFOOT BOOK OF BALLET STORIES (with CD) By Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay 80 pages. Barefoot Books. $23.99 (Ages 8 and up) ISBN 9781846862625 Rating: ? Stars Its about stories that have dancing in it. That's why it's called ballet stories. I like the book because I like dancing and singing because it's fun. And I like princes dress and princess too and they're beautiful. and the princess is kind too. the parts that I don't like are: Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters are so mean. Aurora's sixth fairy is so mean too.and It's scary. I like the part when the princesses dance and sing. I like to read princess books.And it's fun to see dress's.it's a fun book. Cinderella is kind princess.Aurora is a nice princess. Copelia is a lie.but i like the book. because I like princess. the part that I don't like is:mean people.like Cinderella's stepmother. copela's dad. and I hate it. it's like y...

From Brian Selznick, the creator of the Caldecott Medal winner THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, comes another breathtaking tour de force. Playing with the form he created in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and...

THE WORST THINGS IN LIFE ARE ALSO FREE Dear Dumb Diary Series: #10 By Jim Benton 160 pages. Scholastic. $5.99 (Ages 9 and up) ISBN 9780545116145 Rating: ? Stars I like this book because it is funny. The funny part is melt 1000 Popsicle and re - freeze them into a massive Popsicle. And birds sing for free but they poo for free to. And Isabella cut all of her hair. And Isabella is her 3rd friend. This book is about she's fining money for going to the amusement park. But it's is long time for getting 100 dollars. But Emmily said "it is not hard to mack 100 dollar". So she mack car wash for $4.50. Emmily is her best friend. I do not like this book because. I do not like the part when Isabella cut her hair. And punch James mom. james is me. And Riky pup a lot. The mean part is when Angeline drank the lemonade. and James set on baby's so it's easy to babysit. Angeline is her 1st friend.and Isabella yells at baby's to. fun stuff for James is. merry-go-round...

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice? I have a confession to make. I received arcs of both Nightshade and Wolfsbane , and I didn't start the series until after Bloodrose released. Andrea Cremer's books interested me after hearing friends say how much they loved them and telling me that I'd love them, too. But I also heard there were cliffhangers, so I put them off to read them all together. I have to admit that I wasn't a huge fan of Nightshade. I really wanted to like ...

TALINA IN THE TOWER By Michelle Louric 320 pages. Orion. £9.99. (Ages 12 and up). ISBN 9781444003383 Rating: 5 Stars       This book tells you of the adventures Talina had when her parents were taken away by the Ravageurs.       When neither of Talina’s parents came home that night she is taken to her guardian’s tower. Talina, deep in the belief that her parents are not dead, tries to escape and find them. Talina is then turned into a cat and nearly drowned by her guardian. What happens when the Ravageurs decide to burn Venice? Will Talina be able to stop them or not?       My favourite character is Talina because she’s the only one who tries to stop the Ravageurs. My favourite part is when Talina pours Dandelion and Daisy and Liquid Lullaby into the Ravageurs' food. I think ages eight through twelve should read this book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars. You could tell I ...

The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other. When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explain...

The Diary Of Willow Krimble First Entry Dear Diary, Wow, this feels so weird. I’ve never written that before, which is really odd, since Grandma Trisha gave me this Diary two years ago. She knows how much I love to write. I’ve written a few short stories and a ton of poems, but I’ve never written in a diary before. With the strange events that have been happening to me lately, I just feel like I need to express certain things that I can’t share with anyone else, including my best friend, Razzel. ​So, where to begin, Diary? Since I’m new at this, I’d feel a lot better if I gave you little bit of background info on myself – even though you are just a leather-bound notebook – no offense. ​ My name is Willow Krimble. I’m 13-years-old, I have freckles, bushy, almond-colored hair, and I have to wear a retainer for the next six months, even though I finally got my braces off. Sounds like your typical tween, right? Oh, I promise you, it gets more interesting, Diary. I wouldn’t exactly call my ...

Be careful what you listen to... During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true. Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human. Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing...

I’m pretty sure I never really grew up.  Not really.  Sure I got married and had a kid, and got divorced and pay taxes and pay bills.  I do all the adult things I’m supposed to. But deep down inside I still feel 16.  Which is probably why writing YA feels so normal to me. I’ve written a lot of books for adults but it wasn’t until I started writing YA that it felt truly right.  Static was the first YA I’d written.  And it was an easy book to write.  And a joy to write.  Some of it was like jotting down old memories. Vivid memories that I could still see, and hear and feel. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Salem’s experiences were mine. Although I had attended many gigs when I was a teen, and I did travel around following different bands, I have in no way had any contact with an incubus and have ever been turning into anything unnatural.  *looks in mirrors checks eyes*.  Nope, still good. It was the same when I wrote Demon Whisperer.  It was easy.  Well, not easy easy, all writing...

Ch-ch-changes…as David Bowie’s iconic song streams through my head, I think about all the changes I’ve made in the past year.  There has been quite a few.  Some small, and some major.  Some personal like my continual battle with Pepsi addiction, but most are related to my writing career. As probably a lot of you know, there has been tons of turmoil in the publishing industry, and unfortunately since I haven’t found huge success in the paranormal field, that turmoil has affected me, as well as tons of other authors I know and love.  As with all strife, its how you handle it that makes the difference. And I’ve never been one to let anything get me down.  I’ve been dropped by publishers even before this industry shakeup.  Kensington dropped me after my disastrous showing in sales of my adult post-apocolyptic book Inferno, the sequel to Hell Kat.  And I kept going.   After my third book came out from Harlequin Nocturne, I did some soul searching, and realized I really didn’t belong in the ...

A TALE DARK AND GRIMM By Adam Gidwitz 272 pages. Andersen. £5.99. (Ages 9 and up). ISBN 9781849393706 Rating: 5 Stars THE GRIMM LEGACY By Polly Shulman 336 pages. Putnam Juvenile. $16.99. (Ages 10 and up). ISBN 9780399250965 Rating: 5 Stars        A Tale Dark and Grimm tells you the true story about Hansel and Gretel. It is about a king who marries a beautiful princess. His faithful servant, Johannes, turns to stone for saving them. However, that’s not the whole story because then they have children and they cut off their heads so that Johannes will come back to life. Although that’s not where the story ends. The children then come back to life and run away to find new parents. Hansel and Gretel are then pushed around to different parents but never is one good enough.       My favourite character is Gretel because she kills a dragon. My favourite part is when Gretel goes to a murderer’s house. I think ages eight through ...

I love to read YA books.  They are usually all I read now.  I find that I am always surprised when I pick up a new book.  I don’t already have expectations like I would when I pick up a paranormal romance or urban fantasy these days.  Yes, I have been disappointed by some YA books, but for the most part I enjoy every one I read.  And it’s not just books, I love teen movies ever since I was a teen. Some of my favourite movies are teen oriented.  I think basically I am still 16 living in a 40 year old form.   Here are some of my favourites: BOOKS: Hunger Games (trilogy) – Suzanne Collins Gone (series ) – Michael Grant Devouring (trilogy) – Simon Holt Matched – Ally Condie Divergent – Veronica Roth Unwind – Neal Shusterman Before I Fall – Lauren Oliver Delirium – Lauren Oliver Forest of Hands and Teeth – (series) – Carrie Ryan   MOVIES: Easy A Superbad Jennifer’s Body The Faculty The Craft Juno Breakfast Club Valley Girl   Tell me about your favourite YA books and movies.

This year was a big year. I grew a bit more serious about reviewing books on my blog. I've been networking with authors and publishers. And I'm really excited about the results. I also recently started a Tumblr . I read many incredible books this year. It's impossible to pick one favorite. But a few that stood out... I loved everything I read by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Holly Black, Kim Harrison, Cassandra Clare, Rachel Vincent, and Maggie Stiefvater. But that wasn't much of a surprise. I've been a fan of theirs for years. Melissa released her first adult novel this year with Graveminder . I might even like it more than her faeries. Speaking of faeries, Maggie's The Scorpio Races was amazing. Another book that might've topped my old favorite of hers. I started a couple of new series this year. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready had been on my shelf since it came out. I finally picked it up, and I loved it. Shift and Shine will definitely be high up on my 2...