Month: January 2014

Item: Uninvited
Rating: 4
Author: Jana

Coco Goes to Rome by Vanessa Del Fabbro | Children’s Book Review

Posted January 30, 2014 by Jana in Children's Book Review, Inner Child / 2 Comments

Coco Goes to Rome written by Vanessa Del Fabbro and illustrated by Hedwige Jacobs
Series: Adventures of Coco #2
Published by Five Daughters Publishing on October 1, 2013
Pages: 30
Source: From the illustrator
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Coco, the stylish dachshund from New York, arrives in Rome, Italy, to an enthusiastic welcome from hundreds of fans who have mistaken her for the international singing sensation, Lady BowWow. Coco is swept up (literally–in a helicopter!) into an exciting life of luxury and adoration, but when a tiny lost kitten asks for help Coco has to make a choice. A story of how a little Miss Nobody can actually be the biggest star of all.

I was delighted to receive this book from the illustrator, Hedwige! We all know how much I love Rome, and I absolutely adore books that take place there, especially children’s books. I was certainly not disappointed in the travels of sweet little Coco, and had so much fun exploring Rome with her. I mean, come on. We get to dine on pasta with her everyday! She is a girl after my own heart. When she is mistaken for a superstar, she is swept away by a dashing Italian greyhound, Mario, for an amazing adventure.

Coco happens upon a crying kitten who is lost. Coco kind of knows how that feels, and wants to help. But at the same time, she is enjoying all the attention. What will she do? Drink in the fame, or help a friend in need?

Coco Goes to Rome is written in a fun, sing song rhyming style that I can easily see children memorizing quickly. I loved the whimsical illustrations of the familiar sights of Rome. If you look closely, you can find some little kitties hidden within them. We also get to learn the names of some of the most famous pieces of architecture. In the very back of the book is a glossary with further explanation on some elements in the book. I really love and appreciate the message of the story, which would be fun to discuss with a little one: if you’re sweet and nice to those around you, you’re more of a star than the most famous celebrity. It’s all about doing what’s right.

Overall, I really enjoyed Coco’s visit to Rome and am adding Coco’s first adventure, Coco on Safari, to my to-read list. I’d recommend this book to any child who enjoys learning about the world around them, and to any parent who has a little diva on their hands!

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan | Book Review

Posted January 27, 2014 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 5 Comments

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Series: Uninvited #1
Published by HarperTEEN on January 28, 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

I loved Sophie Jordan’s Firelight trilogy, so I was very excited to learn of her new project! The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report? Count me in! As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. I found this story to be terrifyingly plausible. Uninvited is set in the not so distant future where people are tested to see if they have a specific gene that, in the government’s eyes, guarantees that that person will someday kill a someone. Once that person has been diagnosed with this gene, their life is essentially over. They are immediately treated as though they have already murdered someone. It’s so scary to think that science could someday overrule a person’s moral framework. Isn’t that so scary? And so real?

2. Another scary aspect of this story is that a lot of the crime happened because these people are marked as killers. If you go around a put a sign on someone that says, “Hey! This person is going to kill someone someday, and it could be you!” don’t you think those people might end up being targets themselves? I mean, there’s a huge possibility that a person who would not have otherwise killed someone, might just kill that “killer” to prevent them from possibly killing. PLUS, these “killers” are going to live up to their label because they are being punished as someone who already has. I mean, why not kill that person you hate if your life is views as being worthless anyway? What more can the government do? What kind of twisted logic is this? In an effort to lower the crime rate, I seriously feel like the government in this book raised it instead.

3. So, we have all of these “killers”. One of them is sweet, innocent Davy who had her entire life ahead of her until that life-changing phone call made her lose her family, her boyfriend, her friends, EVERYTHING in a matter of seconds. And there’s nothing she can do about it. She will never EVER prove anyone wrong. Boy, did I feel for her. I was just like Davy in high school. I was viewed as being the person who had a bright future and was liked by everyone. I just kept thinking about what I would have done if I were in Davy’s shoes. I don’t even have words. Scared, terrified, heartbroken, hopeless, defeated. None of those words equal the pain of what something like this could do to a person. I connected with Davy so much, and felt for her SO much that it hurt me. She handled it so well. I was proud.

4. Because of Davy’s past, she was given the opportunity to be trained instead of sent to a detention camp. The government thought that they could train her to not give in to her killer instincts. She ended up going with two other carriers from school, both of which she liked. There’s Gil, who was very sweet and caring and then there’s Sean, the guy with the bad boy exterior who is so much more than what you see on the surface.

5. Speaking of Sean, I LOVED him. I was having a hard time with this book until I got to know Sean better. I loved how broken and worn down he was when I first met him, and then how Davy gave him a reason to act like a human. He immediately felt very protective of her and shielded her from a pervy teacher and a bully. He always seemed to be there when she needed him. She was his reason to live, and I loved seeing his dormant, feeling side awaken when he had a reason to wake it up.

6. I mentioned before that I had a hard time getting into this book before, and that’s because it is so depressing. I felt awful for the characters and the abuse they went through. Some of them deserved it, but not Davy, Gil, and Sean. They were just confused teenagers trying to figure out how to survive under their knew title of “HTS Carrier”. I swear that none of them would hurt a fly, but that doesn’t matter. AHHH. The feels.

7. There’s still so much we don’t know, and I closed the book feeling hopeful but also a little anxious! I’m just so concerned!

Uninvited is a book that resonates so deeply because of all the feelings is brings out in its readers. This horrific world in which these characters live is even more horrific because it seems so real. I just could not stop thinking about how devastating it would be to find out that people trusted a scientific theory more than they trusted me, their loved one. I love that Sophie Jordan made me think and feel so many things. I can’t wait to see what happens to these characters! PLEASE bring on the second book!

DISCUSS: So, what are your thoughts? I feel like this review was much more philosophical than most of my reviews are. What do you think of the idea presented in this book–that human beings are not able to make moral decisions that go against their DNA? Are you as scared of this idea as I am?

The Selection by Kiera Cass | Book Review

Posted January 24, 2014 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 15 Comments

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Also in this series: The Prince
Published by HarperTEEN on April 24, 2012
Genres: Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction
Pages: 327
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

If you’ve paid attention to reviews of The Selection in the blog world, you know the kind of love hate relationship people have with this book. They love it, or they hate it. I haven’t really seen a middle ground. I’m not sure why, but I’m intrigued. I’m always intrigued by books who get received this way, but I’m also leery of them at the same time. It took me a long time to finally get to this book, but I really enjoyed it! As always my main points are bolded. :)

1. I’m just going to throw it out there and say that I LOVE The Bachelor. It is one of my favorite TV shows, and Mondays are much less dread-worthy when a season of The Bachelor/Bachelorette is running. I was immediately in love with the idea of this book for that reason. The girls apply, they get selected to be a part of this crazy dating game, there’s girl drama, there’s a handsome prince. I mean, come ON.

2. America applies to be selected because she promises her love, Aspen, that she will. She is of higher class than he is, so marrying him means literally marrying down. And Aspen does not have the heart to let America do that when she could easily avoid it. So he makes her apply, because then he knows she did everything she could and he does not have to feel bad for holding her back. And of course, she is selected. She goes into this game for the money, and the money alone. She flat-out TELLS the prince this. They agree to be secret friends. I love that this happens. I have so much respect for America for being upfront and honest with Prince Maxon. I love that he likes her enough to be her friend. In the midst of an out of this world game in a dystopian society, a sense of normalcy rises from these two. It’s realistic. And I love that America chooses to hold on to Aspen. But that prince is cute… and sweet… and oh, crap. Is she falling for him? That is the question. And surprises happen.

3. The relationships tear me in both directions. I like Maxon and I like Aspen. I like who America is with both of them. Maxon is understanding and caring. And he has no clue about girls, which makes him so endearing. I love watching him try. And Aspen is honorable and so concerned and unselfish. I don’t know how to feel! I love it when a book does this to me.

4. This totally read like a first book, which was a bit disappointing. What I mean is that the stage was set, but not a lot happened. It’s like the first episode of The Bachelor when we’re introduced to the girls, we decide who we hate and love, and nothing really happens because there’s so many people involved. Relationships are not really happening yet. I feel like nobody is really attached to anyone, and there’s not much dating or deciding on Maxon’s part. The other girls are just background scenery. Meh. That’s ok, though, because there are more books. I just would have loved a little more meat to this first one.

5. The society of this world is really interesting. I like the caste system and all the political stuff behind the game… and the rules… the attacks against the kingdom… and the culture. I hope to learn more about this world in the next book.

All in all, this was a great read! I’m excited to continue the series, and I am hoping for more drama and confusion from the characters. If you like dystopian novels, definitely give this one a shot!

15 Reasons Why I Love the Under the Never Sky Series | UTNS Farewell Tour

Posted January 23, 2014 by Jana in Blog Tour / 2 Comments

So… Into the Still Blue releases in five days!! I have already read and reviewed and loved this book (read my review!), but am SO excited that the world will finally learn how things end for our beloved characters. I’m also really sad to say goodbye to them. When Fahima wrote and asked me to be a part of her farewell party, I was super excited to jump on board. My job is to tell you why this series is so awesome. Jeez… what a tough job… I’m going to keep things vague so that new readers can read without having anything spoiled!

1. The ending is superb. Don’t worry about investing your time and emotions into a series that slowly fizzles and dies. This one delivers. It took me a month to be able to write my feelings, and I still think I did not do a good enough job.

2. The second book, Through the Ever Night, does not suffer from the sophomore slump. So there really is no torturous reading time. At all.

3. The sky in this series is a dynamic character all on its own. And it looks like it was pulled straight from Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

4. The importance of family is a constant theme. Any loved one becomes family, and everyone protects everyone. It’s such a sweet idea. I particularly love the friendship between Roar and Perry. It just melted me. Perry in particular is extremely devoted to the people he cares about, and I would love to have someone like him in my life.

5. You really come to care for these characters. Not only are they family, but they make YOU feel like you’re part of their family, too.

6. Veronica Rossi is an amazing author. Her descriptions of this world are absolutely mesmerizing, and she is so talented. I’d love to jump into her imagination and live there.

7. We see actual growth from all our beloved characters across the entire series. Perry learns to achieve balance in his life, and learns to deal with extreme emotions. Aria has to learn to value herself and that it’s ok to love these people even though they are supposed to be her enemies. Roar goes through SO much soul searching. Cinder discovers how special he is. I loved watching them all transform and figure themselves out.

8. I love the survival instinct that is so strong and inspiring.These people value their lives, and they go to great lengths to survive. We can all relate to that, I think. In times of conflict, these characters are level-headed enough to band together with their enemies for the greater good. I loved watching boundaries dissolve when the fight for live became so severe.

9. Each book is crammed full of all the things! You’re never bored, you’re never wasting your time catching up on the previous books, and you just KNOW that every thing that happens is pivotal and epic.

10. The love between Perry and Aria is swoony, yet realistic at the same time. It’s not all sunshine and roses. The storms allow us to see how much they truly care for one another. And the sweet moments are a million times better because we know they had to work for them.

11. I love all the little enriching details. The Realms, which are basically alternate realities. The pods that the Dwellers live in. The notion that the outside world is scary and disease-ridden, when it’s actually filled with beautiful sights and people. The back stories of our favorite characters, and how they got to where they did. I just loved immersing myself in everything!

12. The action! OH MY. I don’t even know how to elaborate on this.

13. No matter which book you read, the ending will stop your heart and leave you flailing for the next book. Luckily, if you start now you won’t have to suffer and wait!

14. There is SO much emotion. I think I felt everything I could possibly feel as I read the series. I felt love, heartache, hope, anger, frustration, worry, happy, fear. I cried, laughed, swooned.

15. As terrifying as this world is, Veronica made me want to live there so I could be with these characters and experience what they do.

Basically, I am so sad that everything is over, and I am so sad to say goodbye to Aria, Perry, Roar, Cinder, and everyone else. At the same time, though, I’m so excited for you to read it and revel in the amazingness of it all! I’m also excited for what Veronica Rossi has in store for us next!

Make sure you check out the rest of the tour!

Jan 20 – Cuddlebuggery Book Blog – Live Chat with Veronica Rossi
Jan 21 – I Read, Ergo I Write – UTNS Characters Are Here to Party!
Jan 22 – The Cover Contessa – Discussion on Aria and Roar’s Relationship
Jan 23 – That Artsy Reader Girl – Top 15 Reasons Why I Love the UTNS Series
Jan 24 – The Story Siren – A Goodbye Letter
Jan 25 – Hello, Chelly – Top Ten Aria and Perry Moments
Jan 27 – Blkosiner’s Book Blog – Into the Still Blue Book Review

And make sure you pre-order Into the Still Blue or run out and grab your copy on January 28th!