Young Adult Books

Welcome to Second Hand Saturday! In an attempt to clear our bookshelves, and pass on great used books to our stalkers followers, we have decided to hold weekly giveaways of some of the books on our bookshelves! Every Saturday, we will post the books available, and the following Saturday, we will announce the winner and our next challenge. The winner will get to choose a book

Darling, Angela. Lauren's Beach Crush. (Crush #1)7 May 2013, Simon and Schuster Books Lauren has had a crush on Charlie Anderson for several years and has a plan to get him to like her THIS summer at the family beach house. When she finds out her mother has invited Chrissy to join them, she thinks her plans are ruined. Chrissy turns out to be cool, and has a BF in California, Justin. Lauren and Chrissy end up talking to Charlie and his friends, especially Frank. Lauren thinks Chrissy and Frank would be perfect together and tries to fix them up. Things don't go well with Charlie, the girls fight a bit, and there's massive confusion at the end about who "like likes" whom, but it all works out, and the characters get to spend some quality time on the beach at sunset savoring the moment. Coming out from now until December: Maddie's Camp Crush, Lindsay''s Surprise Crush, Noelle's Christmas Crush,Rachel's Valentine Crush.From Picky Reader (who will soon be a jaded high school sophomore), after she gave a dramatic reading of the last chapter on the way home from clarinet: "It sounded like it would make a fantastic Taylor Swift song." Strengths: The girls will ADORE these. Lauren is going into seventh grade, and is all about finding True Love Forever and gaining a BFF. She has embarrassing plans, takes magazine quizzes.. true middle grade romance.Weaknesses: Does anyone on the East coast like, totally overuse "like" and "totally"? Do girls doodle "Lauren and Charlie" and "Lauren Anderson" on their notebooks? 'Cause I totally have to slap them if they do. This was painful to read, but I remember having elaborate plans to "get a boy to like me". Just feel like maybe I shouldn't be encouraging this kind of thinking. These have an odd, 1980s feel to them.

The End Games T. Michael Martin Balzar and Bray 2013 Michael is deep in The Game. Travelling through a desolated America he has only the voice of The Game Master to see him and his five-year-old brother through a country that is only barely recognisable to the final Safe Zone. On this most perilous of journeys, they are continually running from the hellish Bellows, undead creatures who echo the cries of those they pursue. As Michael tries desperately to keep Patrick going, it becomes clear that there is both more and less to The Game than is first apparent and that this new and scary landscape is populated by monsters that are less obviously monstrous than the Bellows. Ultimately, Game or not, Michael has only himself to rely on as he navigates his way to a Safe Zone that may or may not exist. Michael, while not always easy to like, has an authentic teenage voice. In fact, he’s incredibly well written. Straddling, as he does, the immaturity inherent with his age and the very adult responsibilities he has voluntarily shouldered, he is a fascinating mix of motivation and confusion. His inner monologue is tinged with desperation as he tries to figure out how to survive and also filled with memories of a geeky, nervous, unhappy school life and a home life that has kept him running despite the horrors of the outside world. These memories create in him a lack of confidence but Michael is, in actuality, very capable and focussed. He’s a real survivor and his slow realisation of this is both excruciatingly slow and satisfyingly believable. His relationship with Patrick is extremely well drawn, his understanding of his brother at times almost heart-breaking as is the fact that he embraces the role of parent so willingly and with a real maturity. Conversely his interactions with Holly highlight the fact that he is, still, a teenage boy who fumbles his way around girls and comes out with utterly ridiculous attempts at flirtation. It’s a clever and delightful paradox and engenders the heart of The End Games with a realness that is occasionally lacking from the rest of the book. Holly herself is an interesting enough character. While at first she practically shrieks Manic Pixie Dream Girl, she later evolves into something quite different and is as flawed and believable as Michael. Patrick is also well realised as a child who is clearly somewhere on the autistic spectrum trying to understand a no longer understandable world. The Game, for Patrick, provides an absolutely necessary structure to the madness he’s encountering and the fact that The Game cannot last forever provides a sense of dread for readers in that it is unclear what will happen to Patrick should his structured world disappear. As the only real adult in the story, Jopek is a strange mix of Tallahassee from Zombieland and Colonel Kurtz from Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now. Yet this lack of originality doesn't make him any less of an imposing, intimidating figure, if a rather predictable one. The story of The End Games is almost less important that the way in which it is structured. The idea of The Game is extremely clever and Michael’s point of view verges on being a stream of consciousness rather than standard he said she said. This gives the story an immediacy that zombie stories often lack. And make no mistake, this is a zombie story yet it is a relatively original one with some pleasing Science in the mix. Particularly interesting is the idea of a mutating virus – one of those ideas which is so perfect that you wonder why no one thought of it before. However, the story occasionally lacks coherency with aspects of it verging on the surreal rather than the believable. In particularly, the hot air balloon and especially it’s appearance towards the end of the story made little sense – something that will perhaps have been resolved in the final copy, this review being based on an e-galley. Finally, th

So Book Expo America is next week and I AM GOING. So basically if you are too, you should hit me up on twitter or comment because we definitely need to meet up :) I am attending the book blogger con on Wednesday, then BEA for the rest of the week. Those of you going, I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU :) Related posts: Book Expo America and Book Blogger Con! What happened at BEA? (Sun-Tues) Book Bloggers That Rock

Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family. Storm: The Elemental Series is her first novel. Find out more about Brigid and the Elemental series on her website. Apples or Bananas? Both! Twilight or Mortal [...]

A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes Hardcover, 48 pages Published: May 7th, 2013 by Sourcebooks Jackerwocky Source: Publisher A lonely, invisible bird mistakenly believes that adorning himself with flashy feathers and flowers will make him beautiful and win him new friends. Except his plan quickly backfires when his magnificent plumage attracts the attention of everyone, even the fox! In his rush to safety the little bird loses every last bit of his new decorations, making him invisible once again. Except now in place of his loneliness is the knowledge that putting others first is the key to friendship and high self-esteem. This book is adorable! It's very simple with more scarce illustrations, but they are beautiful and fit the story incredibly well. The story is very cute and is about an invisible bird who just wants to be seen and noticed but finds a way to accept himself as he is. The description of the book pretty much explains everything that happens so I won't recap that for you, but I thought the story brought a good message about being happy with yourself and thinking of others will bring you new friends. It was fun to read, I found it very enjoyable to read but my kids (4 & 8) also enjoyed it. My 8 year old called it a 'baby book' but I happened to notice she stayed right there and paid attention the whole time. After finishing it I asked them what they thought about what the bird did, if maybe accepting yourself as you are is better after all, and it led to some great discussions. In my opinion this is a book that needs to be on every child's bookshelf. I highly recommend it! Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. Thanks for subscribing!

The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos Publisher: Starscape Release Date: May 21, 2013 Pages: 256 Source: Publisher Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository Rating: 4 stars The Planet Thieves is the first thrilling installment of a new middle-grade series by Dan Krokos. Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded theSS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter. But routine goes out the airlock when they’re attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years. With the captain and crew dead, injured, or taken prisoner, Mason and the cadets are all that’s left to warn the ESC. And soon they find out exactly why the Tremist chose this ship to attack: the Egypt is carrying a weapon that could change the war forever. Now Mason will have to lead the cadets in a daring assault to take back the ship, rescue the survivors, and recover the weapon. Before there isn’t a war left to fight. The Planet Thieves is a strong middle grade debut from author Dan Krokos. With it’s intriguing premise and unique way it entwines a typical school story with that of saving the world, The Planet Thieves was a treat. I really enjoyed the characters, particularly the female characters. Both Merrin and Susan were both just really well rounded characters and I loved how loyal they were to their cause. The rivalry between Tom and Mason really added to both of their character as well. While I did really enjoy all the specifics of the premise, I never completely fell in love with the story line. There were some parts I just wanted to be pushed a little further. Dan Krokos‘s world building is completely solid – the way he incorporated magic and the different galaxies was really neat. There are super cool sketches throughout the book which really add to the story. They helped to solidify what these different elements and beings Dan Krokos introduces in the story. While this one was not as strong as Dan Krokos‘s YA series, I still thought it was a solid start. I loved the high stakes throughout the book and the fact that he doesn’t offer security to anyone really. Related posts: False Memory by Dan Krokos Book Review Video Teaser Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos Starling by Lesley Livingston Book Review

Insight by Terron JamesPublished Date: June 2013Publisher: Jolly Fish PressGenre: YA SciFiThe Story: James has masterfully crafted the mystical land of Appernysia, a world brimming with rich history and magic that readers of all types will find delight in discovering. Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium. Seventeen-year-old Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day. He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen. Although this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and wrong.Amazon / B&N / GoodReadsMy Reivew: I enjoyed reading this book. Insight takes us into a world of swords, horses, and magic. Lon has some choices to make, and those choices take him far from his family, and his beloved. Through the connection that Mellai has with him (being twins and all) she is able to "keep tabs" and know at least that he's alright.I like the format in which this is written. We're not just getting it from one person's POV. We're able to "see" what's going on with the different characters. As you're reading, you can tell that Terron James put a lot of research into his book! About the Author: Born in the wrong age, TERRON JAMES continually fantasizes of shining steel, majestic stone architecture, thundering cavalry rushes, and opportunities to prove his honor. James is an English teacher and a member and recent president of the Tooele Chapter of the League of Utah Writers. He currently lives in Tooele, Utah, with his wife and four kids.Facebook / Twitter / Website***Interview***What is one book everyone should read?Duh! INSIGHT! *snicker*Besides my book, though, a must read is The Diary of Anne Frank. Sadly, I wasn't a very academically ambitious student growing up, so I didn't pay much attention to this book in grade school. Also, I never would have considered Anne's diary to be a book that interested an adult. I had always assumed teenagers would enjoy it more than us old farts. Boy, was I wrong! I just finished reading The Diary of Anne Frank with my 7th and 8th grade students. Now the Franks, Van Daans, and Mr. Dussel are all stuck in the forefront of my mind. My friends can tell you that I've become quite passionate about WWII over the past few years, partly to help build my own world of Appernysia, but mostly because it captivates me. I love individual stories, like those surrounding Quentin Aanenson (a fighter pilot). I'm glad to add Anne's story to that collection. I wept many times over the past two months as I taught about the heroic and tragic experiences of her life.What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?The Hardy Boys! I loved the tension and "Scooby Doo" moments where all the pieces finally fit together. I read so many of those books. I've even contemplated dipping back into them again, but I'm terrified that I'll ruin one of my fondest childhood memories. Movies and books are rarely ever as good as we remember them to be from our youth.Can you see yourself in any of your characters?I'm complex man, so I would say a little bit of me exists in all of my characters, but I didn't write anyone based off of me. The closest thing would be the sassy sibling relationship between Lon and Mellai, with an deep underlying bond of love for each other. That would fit me and my sister, Melanee.If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?Whew, this is a hard one to answer. My childhood was full of physical, social, and emotional trials, the most difficult of which was the death of my older brother when I was in 9th g

Title: Safekeeping Author: Karen Hesse Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publish Date: September 18, 2012 Genre: YA, Dystopian Pages: 304 Source: Publisher Radley just wants to get home to her parents in Vermont. While she was volunteering abroad, the American People's Party took power; the new president was assassinated; and the government cracked down on citizens. Travel restrictions are worse than ever, and when her plane finally lands in New Hampshire, Radley’s parents aren’t there. Exhausted; her phone dead; her credit cards worthless: Radley starts walking. Radley's life is in upheaval, to say the very least. She returns home from volunteering overseas because she's concerned for her parents' safety in the new American regime, but when she does, her family is nowhere to be found. Everything has changed while Radley was gone and, following the collapse of the American government, Radley is forced to navigate life alone. But where should she go? She has nothing. She has no one, and her only option is to just keep walking until she finds shelter. I didn't hear much about Safekeeping before I received it for review, and frankly, I thought it was going to be a contemporary novel based on the cover alone. However, I was pleasantly surprised upon reading the synopsis to hear that this was actually a dystopian novel. Author, Karen Hesse, has taken a new approach toward the time-tested dystopian genre. Rather than simply giving us a world ravaged by death, famine and disease, she's given us a very realistic take on what could possibly happen should our government fold in the future. Weaving a textured novel with stark contrasts and brutal simplicity, Safekeeping give us so much more than a sheltered, protected take on a broken future world. For a while now, I've been a bit burned out on the dystopian genre in general. I felt that something that was once so promising was becoming littered with cliche love stories, unrealistic takes on future worlds and, frankly, watered down versions of what the genre was meant to be. I didn't expect much from Safekeeping because of that and partially because many, many reviews state that that is exactly what the novel did. I have to say, however, that the book pleasantly surprised me in the best possible way. Radley, as a main character, was believable. Rather than being fueled by angst and unrequited love, she was fueled by the desire to reunite with her family and regain a sense of stability. She wanders, lost and alone, until she finds Celia and her dog, Jerry Lee. The two travel together through this barren wasteland of a once-prosperous nation to find peace, safety and comfort together. I can see where a lot of the dystopian critiques come in. People are used to vivid images of blood and violence. Readers have come to expect a looming and faceless entity forcing people into ravaged submission. Safekeeping, however, wanders into a realm of silent tension. It's more thoughtful than horrible, and the lurking tension from the underbelly of the broken America simmers lightly below the surface, fueling the story along. Honestly, the devil is in the shadows of this novel, and while it might not ultimately display the dystopian nature on the surface, it's definitely there. Personally, I found Safekeeping to be a refreshing take on the genre. It was so different though, that I can understand where the meaning and purpose might have been lost. Despite feeling a bit hurried and, at times, overly introspective, I think there is a definite beauty to this book. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to YA audiences, especially those who enjoy fresh dystopian reads. I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

How do literary awards factor in your reading? I pay attention to new of the awards but only one captures my attention continuously and factors in my reading: The Booker Prize. I read before that Book has a diverse panel of judges that changes every year. The line-up that picked Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger for the 2008 Booker is entirely different from the one that selected Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty in 2004. Nevertheless, the criteria used to select those judges has been consistent, and while even the most breathless prize-watchers seldom stop to consider such details, it’s these criteria that determine the character of each prize. Pulitzer Prize is the most influential of the American prizes. It is awarded by the Pulitzer Board, which is mostly composed of newspaper editors and journalism professors. However, the board selects its winner from a list of three candidates chosen for it by a panel of three jurors. The National Book Awards, by contrast, are chosen by panels of five judges in each category (fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people’s literature), who have “written and published works in that category.” Nobel Prize to me has been an enigma: partly because of its very insular panel, and partly I’ve been keeping records of winners and short-lists in my journal. Over the years I have seen a prominent trend: My reading identifies with the Booker Prize shortlists more likely than any other awards. Of the 20 short-listed books between 2009 and 2012, I read 7 and own another 9. As for Pulitzer, (surprisingly) I read all 3 winners from 2009 to 2011, and no award was given in the fiction category in 2012. Last year’s omission stirred up a storm among the literary circle. The Pulitzer judges did reveal that three books had been named finalists, but declined to award one the prize. A committee of readers, which changes annually, recommends a small slate of titles to a panel of judges, who choose the winner. I am neither a writer nor a critic. But I feel that civilian perspective should be respected. It is no wonder that I’m familiar with a high percentage of the Book nominations. I credit Booker for routinely bringing in non-writers as judges—not as the only judges, but as an essential part of the mix. A literary culture in which the only people who read novels are other novelists is neither healthy nor, ultimately, sustainable. There is a need for conversation between novelists, critics and readers. Any literary prize that wants to be valued by a wide variety of readers must, like the Booker, be willing to return the favor.