Bewitchingly Refreshing

Title and author: The Promise by Apryl Baker

Date: September 16, 2011

Publisher: Black Matrix Publishing LLC

ISBN: 9780615535562

Source: Publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Cassie Jayne Bishop grew up in the sleepy town of New Salem, NC, the only non-believer in the tradition and power of the town Coven. When a stranger comes to New Salem, everything she thought was normal about her life unravels around her. Ethan makes her question everything, even her sister's death in a car crash years ago. As Cassie discovers the full truth about her heritage, and the clues start to pile up, she becomes determined to find out if the Coven was actually involved in her sister's death. What she uncovers terrifies her.

Her fate lies at the very heart of the secret the Coven protects. It's the reason she was born. Now, betrayed on every side, can she find a way to survive or will she be the catalyst that triggers a centuries-old act of vengeance.

My thoughts:

First, let me say that I consider myself a connoisseur of witchy reads. I love a good witchy tale, and I love mysteries. Baker delivers both in her debut novel. The Promise is a nice mixture of Witches of Eastwick meets Nancy Drew meets The Craft.

The plot of the novel is nicely developed. At first I was afraid that it would lag in places, but once Baker thrusts the reader into Cassie’s spell, the pages will not stop turning. The reader will take the ride with Cassie as she falls in love, and as she learns the truth behind her sister’s death. Baker balances the romantic element of the plot nicely with the mystery surrounding Cassie, the founding of New Salem, and the curse that threatens to wreck it all.

Character development in the novel is spot on. It is evident that this will be a series heavy on solving witchy mysteries, but at the same time this series will be about family, friendship, self-discovery, and love. While Baker does not fully develop her characters in this novel, it is not a necessity for its purpose. Cassie’s character is the most defined because she is the center of the novel; however, readers are introduced to other characters such as Kay, Jeff, and Ethan. They serve minor, yet important, roles that are not fully defined just yet. This development is going to be a slow build, but readers will not feel cheated. They will be satisfied with just enough development to move the story along.

The marriage of everything witchy in this novel was quite interesting. Instead of sticking with the stereotypical ideals of witches, Baker takes it a step further. These witches are not practitioners of Wicca – they are witches. She defines the difference for readers in the novel, and I found this refreshing. As a matter of fact, this novel reminded me a bit of Shirley Damsgaard’s Ophelia and Abby Mysteries.

I am looking forward to seeing where Baker takes her characters and their involvement with the Coven. I am especially interested in seeing how the citizens of New Salem rebuild their lives and their Coven – especially with something dark on the horizon.

The Virus Is Coming!

Title and author: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Date: January 24, 2012

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423146162

Source: NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series. 

My thoughts:

Crewe takes readers on a rollercoaster ride that feels so real that the reader might need to hold on to his/her stomach as it takes a sudden leap into the air and holds for roughly two hundred pages. The strength in this novel comes from the plot – this is not a character-driven novel. It is a virus-driven novel. It will be the virus that keeps readers glued to their seats, flipping page after page waiting to see if they themselves suffer from similar symptoms. (Not that I did this at all while reading.)

Readers are given the story from Kaleyn’s point-of-view, a high school junior whose father could be the key to saving everyone on the island. Through the pages, readers will discover just how much this virus is costing not only the islanders but also Kaleyn herself. Sacrifices must be made – but who will be willing to make them?

Crewe weaves a tale of how quickly a society can breakdown in times of distress, especially in the case of illness. She brings out the best in characters as well as the worst. The worst will leave an impression on the readers long after the pages are through, making readers question, “What would happen in our own society and how could we survive such a tragedy?”

Crewe spends those first hundred pages preparing readers for what is to come. This is not a story that can be hastily started – it needs to build, just as the virus builds and destroys the island. In this, the author is masterful. In this, the author might be in danger of losing her target audience. 

In my twelve years in the classroom with high school juniors, one thing is certain about their reading: grab them fast or you will lose them. Since the author needs to build the suspense in readers, I feel that this is more of an adult read than a teen read.

I am not saying teens will not enjoy this novel – I think they will absolutely love it - but because the plot needs time to build, teens might be hesitant to wait. But then again, I could be wrong. These teens might devour every single page without blinking a single time.

Either way, I enjoyed Crewe's novel and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA dystopia. 

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

The next two weeks is going to find me with a small mailbox because the number one gift I receive for Christmas is either books or gift cards to B&N; therefore, I try not to buy as many books so the hubby will have something to put under the tree for me.

This week's mailbox includes two reads I'm excited to dive into during the holiday break - only 9 more days of school, but who's counting.


Purchased from B&N:

WinterTown by Stephen Emond: This has been in a lot of mailboxes recently, and I've read a lot of positive reviews.

Legend by Marie Lu: I love a great dystopian tale, and from reviews, this seems like it will NOT disappoint!

  

That's what is my in mailbox for this week - what's in yours? Have you read either of these two, or do you have suggestions for other reads?

Happy Reading! 

Have YOU seen my love of reading?

I have been a part of the blogging world for a little over a year now, and I have to say that I love it. Here's why:

• I share what I'm reading/hearing/reviewing with a wider audience
• I see what others are reading/hearing/reviewing
• I discover new reads that I might otherwise have overlooked
• I find ideas to share with my students 

Recently I have found my blog taking on a voice of silence because I've just not had time to read or just not felt like reading. This is a problem for me because I usually spend any downtime I have reading. So I decided to reflect on what I think has happened.

Recently I have been contacted by authors and publishers to review books. What a great opportunity, right? I do want to be a librarian, which means I need to learn to work with authors and publishers, so I look over books and their requests and decide whether or not I will take on that responsibility. 

Here's the thing - when I purchase a book to read and write a review, I am doing it because I want to share with others what I thought about that book (and why they should read it too, even if I didn't particularly enjoy it). When I am asked by an author/publisher to read and review a book, I feel immense pressure. I don't know why - I can't explain it. I don't feel pressure to give a positive review, that's not what I do. I read and then share my thoughts/feelings on a novel. 

I guess the difference is when I buy a book or ask NetGalley to allow me to "borrow" a book, I know I can take the time to savor every single page. I know that I am reading that book for myself and for my students. I always try to tie whatever we are studying into contemporary YA.

It has gotten to the point where I find myself procrastinating when it comes to reading, and I do not like it. For this reason, I am thinking of suspending all review requests so that I can reinvigorate my inner-reader. 

This all could be because I am still a relative "newbie" at blogging as well as receiving requests. I want to be able to balance it so that I read what I love while still keeping a positive relationship with authors and publishers.

So fellow bloggers, my question to you is this: does this happen to you? Do you feel an over-whelming since of responsibility when you agree to review someone's book, and how do you deal with it?

I am mostly looking for advice - some of which I know will be, "Of course that makes sense, why didn't I think of that?" But it's always easier when you're on the outside looking in. And to be honest, there is no guidebook on how to be an effective blogger. 

Happy reading to all!

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

It's been a while since I've done an IMM post, but I have been busy doing everything but reading and book shopping. I know, I know...what else is there? But I've had to step away to take care of business, but I am back and ready to share with you a few of my recent finds.

Purchased from B&N and Amazon: 

I am quite excited about the following novels. I've read great things about them, and I'm looking forward to tackling them during my Christmas break. 

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact by A.J. Hartley

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough  

Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan

ARC Swap with Sarah at YA Love Blog: 

I love the idea of swapping books with fellow bloggers. This was my first time, and I will definitely work with Sarah again.

Glow  by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Received for Review:

I've decided to step out of my comfort zone a bit and review books I would not usually read. One of the authors, Larry, is from the same city I live, so I thought I would give a local author a chance. Stay tuned to see how it turns out...

The New Phenomenon by Chris Raabe

Darwin's Children (1 and 2) by Natasha Larry

That's what is in my mailbox, what's in yours? Have you read any of the above novels or have suggestions for me?

Happy Reading!

 

Okay readers - it's the final round in the Goodreads Choice Awards. Go and cast your vote! 

The list of categories include:

• Favorite book of 2011
• Fiction
• Mystery & Thriller
• Historical Fiction
• Fantasy
• Paranormal Fantasy
• Science Fiction
• Horror
• Romance
• Humor
• Nonfiction
• History & Biography
• Memoir & Autobiography
• Food & Cooking
• Travel & Outdoors
• YA Fiction
• YA Fantasy & Science Fiction
• Middle Grades & Children's
• Picture Books
• Graphic Novels & Comics
• Poetry
•  Goodreads Author

See, there is a category for everything you read! So go and let your voice be heard. 

There's more than Silence between Patch & Nora

I am a huge fan of Becca Fitzpatrick and her characters Patch and Nora. When I started the YA teacher book club at my school, Hush, Hush was the first book I wanted to introduce to my colleagues. I anxiously await each of her novels. There is something about her writing style that really speaks to me as a reader.

I'm even on a mission to make sure Fitzpatrick visits the Decatur Book Festival next year because I am dying to hear her speak and have her sign my book. Check out the picture to the left. I'm planning to do a post on this, so keep your eyes open for more.

In the mean time, let's discuss her latest novel, Silence. 

Summary (from the book jacket):

Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks--with no one knowing where she was or who she was with--she tries to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge her mom's creepy new boyfriend. 

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows. 

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing. 

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

My thoughts:

In the latest installment,  Nora must come to grips with her past, present, and future with only the help of those around her. She cannot remember the last five months of her life, which means she is missing a big piece of herself...Patch. But destiny is what it is, and the two will not be kept apart for long. Fitzpatrick masterfully intersects these two in the only way that would satisfy fans of the series - Patch saving Nora.

From the moment Nora awakens in a graveyard until the novel's conclusion, I was engrossed. The writing in this novel provides an intriguing, well-paced plot that left me feeling satisfied. Readers will be pleasantly surprised with where we are taken in this novel. While I predicted where she would take me, I was still satisfied with the "reveal." 

There is war on the horizon between Nephilim and the fallen angels, and the leader of The Black Hand needs Nora. There are two questions that will be answered in this installment: who is The Black Hand, and why does he need Nora?

As a reader, the toughest part of this novel was  experiencing the lies and misinformation Nora's mom and best friend give her; while they are trying to protect her, they seem to not realize that the one they are keeping her from, Patch, might be the only one who can save her from The Black Hand, and from herself.

The chemistry between Patch and Nora is still there, and this is a result of Fitzpatrick's gift of storytelling. Even though these two are not "together" in this novel, when the two of them are on the page together, there is heat. Yes, you read that correctly - heat. And that heat cannot be ignored by either one of them, as much as they want to.  

If you are a lover of paranormal romance and you have not yet experienced Becca Fitzpatrick's series, you must make sure to add it to your mound of reads. It is worth every single page.

Patch and Nora FOREVER!

MIA?

Hello fellow readers! My last post was right before Halloween, so you might be wondering where I've been (or not).

See that arm...that COULD be mine!

Well, I have been drowning. That's right - drowning in papers. And not even in books but in papers of my students. I've also been working on my teacher of the year paperwork, which is due this Tuesday and still is not done yet.

Oh yes, instead of getting a parade as TOY, I get to write several essays about why I am awesome, why my teaching is awesome, why others should think I am awesome. I think I prefer the parade, but alas 'tis not meant to be. How ever did I survive teaching AND Grad school? 

I have been reading Silence by Beccca Fitzpatrick, but by the time I finish working on paperwork and scoring essays, my brain is so exhausted that I reward myself with just a single chapter (it's all I can take at this point). So, I am looking forward to the Thanksgiving break next week when I can at least enjoy a few of the great books I've put my hands on recently.

So in the midst of keeping up with my grading and essay writing, I've also been plotting. I am on a mission to bring Becca Fitzpatrick to the Decatur Book Festival next year. And if she cannot make DBF, maybe the Southern Book Festival. Either way, I'm on a mission to hear her speak next year! 

What have all of you been reading? What steals your time away from books? I would love to hear from all of you.

Happy reading!

Cathy effectively demonstrates what my living room currently looks like...and the beads of sweat? 
Yep, that's me!