Review: The Education of Hailey Kendrick

The Education of Hailey KendrickAuthor: Eileen Cook
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date:
Pages: 272
Source: Simon Pulse It
Date Read: 1/29/11

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them. 

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Yani's Analysis:
I forgot how much I like Eileen Cook's work. I have only read What would Emma Do, and I read it such a while back that I forgot how much her words got to me. Her stories are relevant/current and laugh-out-loud funny. I have so many highlighted quotes from this book, I don't know if I can share them all without telling you the whole story! I also really like how she incorporates a theme/message into the story, without spelling it out to the readers. In this book it was about appreciation and going after the things you want in life. Hailey Kendrick certainly got an education, but it wasn't your typical high school class. Hailey learned about life, and as much as you can try, you never really have full control over it.

I loved the characters in this story as well, they are so well constructed. They are neither good nor bad, they have a little bit of both. For example, Hailey is one of these girls that has everything, but doesn't realize it. Despite not having appreciation for the things she does have in life, I would never classify her as snobby or judgmental. Her boyfriend Tristan is agreeable, which isn't necessarily the worst thing a boyfriend could be, but Hailey needed someone more assertive. Without giving away too much more, I liked that despite everything Hailey did, Tristan was a good guy. Sometimes authors make old boyfriends horrible, so you have no choice but to emphasize with the main character even if her actions are wrong.

Overall this book was a very enjoyable read and makes me want to go pick up Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, or reread What Would Emma Do. I highly recommend you do the same.

Ratings: 

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

• What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook
• Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (though not as intense)

Memorable Quotes:

"You say that like he's the best thing since sliced bread," I said with a laugh....
"He is the best thing since sliced bread. I bet when sliced bread talks about something cool, it uses him as the example."

and....

"Unfortunately, real life isn't a choose-your-own-adventure book where you can go back and start over if you don't like how things turned out" Hailey

one last one...

"All I'm saying is that people act like they are stuck, when the truth is that they have a choice.... If you want to be happy, then you have to make it happen." Drew

I have so many more, but I don't want to give anything away, so go read it!

Review: Delirium

Book: Delirium (Book 1 of Trilogy)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2011

Pages: 305

Source: Netgalley

Date Read: 1/24/11

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love

Yani's Analysis:

Lena Holway is not your typical lead character. She is quiet, subdued, and obedient (not a rule-breaker like her best friend Hana). You would think that the story would be about the rebel, the one trying to fight the system, but instead there is little Lena who gets nervous attending co-ed parties. That is the point I guess, the amazing power of love. It didn't necessarily change her, but made her stronger, willful, and confident. Whereas Hana cowered in fear at the thought of life without the government's control.

I really enjoyed this book. I know many people will be comparing it to Matched, which is a great book in its own right. I think the story of love and human passion is greater in Delirium. With Matched, everyone sat back and watched while the government told them what to do. While in the world of delirium, you just felt bad for the people who lost the excitement and passion in life and became robots, devoid of love and humanity. 

I loved the way Oliver added verses and scripture from faux law book and religious text in the beginning of every chapter, it really shows the reader the type of world these characters are living in and the logic of their fear of love. When they took love out of the world, I don’t think they ever realized that there is more than one type of love. There is love for your family, friends, your pet, even compassion for others and their hardship. It turns the world insensitive and cold.

“Hate isn’t the most dangerous thing, He’d said. Indifference is.”

I think this book has a powerful message, and it doesn’t hurt that it has a beautiful love story as well. I am anxiously waiting for the second book as the ending of this one left my breathless.

Ratings: 

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 3/5

Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

• Matched by Ally Condie
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
  

Memorable Quotes:

"I wish I could close my eyes and be blown into dust and nothingness, feel all my thoughts disperse like dandelion fluff drifting off on the wind. But his hands keep pulling me back: into the alley, and Portland, and a world that has suddenly stopped making sense."

In My Mailbox #3

In My Mailbox {aka IMMB} is hosted by The Story Siren.

From NetGalley:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

This Girl is Different by JJ Johnson

 

Book Tour:

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Bought: 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Review: Forgive My Fins

Book: Forgive My Fins (Fins #1)
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Release Date: 6/1/2010
Pages: 309
Source: Library
Date Read: 1/22/11

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Yani's Analysis:

I didn't realize this book would be so fun. I borrowed it from my library just because I couldn't find anything else. Then I read some reviews, and everyone seemed to enjoy this book. I was expecting some deep, romantic love, paranormal novel - and as much as I love those, there is only so many you can read - instead, this book was cute, funny, and smart. It reminded me of the Simon Romantic Comedies books. For those of you who don't know they are a series of standalone books, written by different authors, that stay along the lines of a teen chick-lit novel.

I liked that Lily was a completely normal girl, besides the mermaid part, with a huge crush on the wrong boy. While her "annoying" neighbor is obviously the one for her! I loved Quince, even his name is odd and cute, but who doesn't love a guy who will do anything for the girl he loves.

Predictable: Yes, but still a great beach read that will just make you smile.

Ratings: 

Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Characters: 4/5

Similar Titles:

• Check out Simon Romantic Comedies Blog for similar style books!
• anything Rachel Hawthorne
  

Memorable Quotes:

For Aunt Rachel, I am the living heritage of her sister. For me, my aunt is the scrapbook of my mom’s life.

 and...

“Oh Lily,” he says shaking his head. “I know about love. I know about wanting and dreaming and wishing with every piece of your soul. I know enough to recognize the difference between the parts and the real and the parts that are only fantasies.”

Follow Friday #3

Our hosts : Parajunkee's and Crazy for Books Blog

This week my featured blog to follow is The Book Couture. I really enjoy the ambiance of the site. Very cute, neat layout. Love it.

So check it out and let me know what you think.

This week’s Hop question is: What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?
I was really anticipating Delirium, because I am hooked on dystopian novels that are about love and i loved Lauren Oliver's last book. I got Delirium last week and it definitely lived up to my hype. Now, I guess I am looking forward to the last book of the Mercy Falls series. I really enjoyed the first two, hopefully the last one goes above and beyond.

And, Follow Friday is asking: What is/was your favorite subject in school?
Oviously, I enjoyed literature because of my love to read, but my favorite subject was algebra. I loved getting equations and solving them. I love logical thinking. I tend to hypothesize and put everything into neat little equations.

 

This week there are so many new posts, thanks to our new reviewer Jude! Jude is trying to start her own blog, but in the meantime she will be posting here. She is from Mexico and learned to read English just to be able to get her hand on her favorite books, talk about dedication!

• Review: Thirteen Reasons Why
• Review: Shadowland
• Review: Blue Moon
• Review: Tangled
• Review: If I stay
• Review: The Summer I turned Pretty
• Review: Evermore
• Review: One Night That Changes Everything
• Review: Linger
• Review: Hush, Hush
• Review: Fallen
• Review: Clockwork Angel
• Teaser Tuesday #2
• Time Troubles
• In My Mailbox #2
• Review: Plan B
• Giveaway: Delirium
• Follow Friday #2

Review: Linger

Book: Linger (Mercy Falls, Book 2)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages:368

Date Read: January 17, 2011

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole

Yani's Analysis:
Again, I can't say how much I love the writing style of this book. In fact after I finished it, I started reading another book and all I could think was, I wish the narrator viewpoints would switch. I was concerned with the addition of two additional narrator, Isabel and Cole. One being a character I never really related to in the first book and the other being a new addition to the story. I thought it would clutter the book and confuse the reader, but the opposite occurred. In real life if you where ever in someones mind, listening to their thought, you would only see the world there way. The way the want to see it. The addition of the different viewpoints gave a clear picture of what life was like for these teens in Mercy Falls.

I grew to like Isabel and Cole, and the more the story progressed they where no longer a secondary story line to me. I thought Cole was going to bring drama to the story by creating a love triangle with Sam and Grace, but Stiefvater surprised me, and Cole has become a complex and deep character like Sam. I hunger for more background on the two chacaters, and this book gave me that. It wasn't an action filled as the first, but the story line was still suspenseful. And even though I knew what was happening the ending was heartbreaking all the same.

For a sequel, this novel did not let me down. It used the things I loved about the first book (rotating viewpoints, a great love story) and added new elements (new characters, parental drama) without making the story suffer. If there really is a Mercy Falls out there, I would move in a second- though I don't know how I would handle the cold. I can't wait until the third book, Forever, is released. Until then I will have to find romance, suspense, fabulous story lines, and great characters elsewhere.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:

‘Aren’t you afraid?” Isabel asked, suddenly, and I opened my eyes. I hadn’t realized I’d shut them. Her gaze was intense.

“Of what?” [replied Cole]

“Of losing yourself?”

I told her the truth: “That’s what I am hoping for.”

and....

“One of these days, I am going to get used to the idea that it’s morning and I’m going to be a guy for the rest of the day. For all the rest of all the days. But until then, I’m stumbling around.” Sam

Teaser Tuesday #2

Imagine my delight yesterday, when Netgalley informed me that Delirium was available for me to read! Finally, after month of waiting, Delirium was in my hands (technically in my iPad) and I was able to read it. People, it does not dissappoint. And to tease you all a little bit, here is a snippet....

For the first time in my life I actually feel sorry for Carol. I'm only seventeen years old, and  already know something she doesn't know: I know that life isn't life if you just float on through. I know the whole point -  the only point - is to find the things that matter, and hold on to them, and fight for them, and refuse to let them go.

Delirium will be released on February 1, 2011.

Time Troubles

Unfortunately, as you grow up, you have less and less time to spend on the things you love. That is the case for my very close friend Jordyn. She has decided she has to focus on school and although she will try to help me out every once in a while, I am now on my own. Thanlfully, she has left me the email and blog address, so for you followers nothing has changed. But from now on its me, just me, working on this blog. So if ANYONE is interested in guest reviews or even becoming a full time partner, please email me. I really would like to continue posting as much as I have been able to in the past. =)

P.S. for those of you who don't know (which is probably everyone) JisforJinx comes from the Meg Cabot book Jinx, as we are both obssessed with Meg Cabot books when we where younger. So we created this blog at first as a tribute to her writing, but then changed it to our love for all YA books.

In My Mailbox #2

In My Mailbox {aka IMMB} is hosted by The Story Siren.

From NetGalley:

Populazzi by Elise Allen
 

Save the Date by Jenny B Jones

 

Plan B by Charnan Simon

Bought:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkin

 

So excited about this one, everyone keeps telling me good things. But its at the bottom of my list, because I have to finish the other ones.

Head Games ( A PrettyTough Novel) by Keri Mikulski

Review: Plan B

Book: Plan B (Surviving Southside)

Author: Charnan Simon

Publisher:

Release Date: March 2011

Pages: 104

Date Read: January 22, 2011

Is this happily ever after? Lucy has her life planned out: she'll graduate and then join her boyfriend, Luke, at college in Austin. She'll become a Spanish teacher and of course they'll get married. So there's no reason to wait, right? They try to be careful. But then Lucy gets pregnant. Now, none of Lucy's options are part of her picture-perfect plan. Together, she and Luke will have to make the most difficult decision of their lives.

Yani's Analysis:

I am on the fence about this book. Yes it was short, alot of people complained about that on their goodreads review, but that is not my issue. I think books can tell a beautiful story in less than 200 pages, but it is very rare. My problem with this book was how realistic it was.

I liked Lucy, and even Luke. As characters, they portrayed lovesick teenagers very well. Simon made me remember that time of "first love." What I didn't completely believe was Luke's fast turn-around from reluctant dad to Mr Dependable. I wish she would have spent more time on the effects and the consequences of unprotected sex. I would have liked some more conversations between Lucy and Luke about how they felt, although I do think she did a good job expressing 'summarized emotions,' I would like to go deeper. I mean, the whole book has been spoiled by the summary, it was a predictable plot. And I love a good open-ended ending, but not when the story was just beginning.

Overall, I think Simon did a good job expressing the consequences of unprotected sex, even with someone you love, and she did it without sounding preachy. I just wish there was more to the story. I think this is a good read for all teens though, because it shows anyone can make such a mistake. And it is one that lives you with forever, no matter what you may choose to do after.

Ratings:

Plot: 2/5

Writing Style: 3/5
Uniqueness: 2/5

Characters: 3/5

Memorable Quotes:

Giveaway: Delirium

This is my first giveaway and I am very excited about this book. I pre-ordered a copy of Delirium, obviously haven't gotten it yet, but then I decided I would rather have a kindle copy. Instead of returning the hardcover, I will be giving it away on February 1, 2011!

More about Delirium, just in case you have been living under a rock:

"Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love"

SO if you are interested in receiving this book, here are the rules:

1. you must be a follower (+1)
   PS: make sure you still sign up in the bottom link otherwise you won't be entered!
2. leave a comment for an extra entry (+1)
3. Tweet it (+2)
4. Blog it (+2)
   please include links to my page if either of above is done
5. deadline is January 30, 2011 by midnight
6. International Giveaway!!!!!!
   

Sign up here!

FYI: I will be using random.org to pick the winners. I will email and announce the winners on my site =)

Follow Friday #2

Apparently, I have been doing this blog hop/ follow Friday thing all wrong. Yikes, thank god its only the second week so I can correct my mistakes. Along with a featured blog to follow, I will now be posting answer to the blog hop/follow Friday questions AND a 'week in review' type section of my posts for the week.

So let's start this off by meeting our hosts : Parajunkee's and Crazy for Books Blog

This week my featured blog to follow is one I have been following for a while, G-Reads. I love her writing style and the topics of her posts. She will be busy with school for the next couple of months, like me, but she will still be posting and responding to emails =)

So check out her blog and let me know what you think.

Blog Hop: No Blog Hop this week

Follow Friday: Who Do You Root For? 

I love football. LOVE. I started off with college football, representing my team and I just couldn't get enough. Now I am starting to get into the NFL. I don't really have a favorite team just yet, but I like to watch the games and go for the underdog.

• 2011 Debut Author Challenge
• Waiting on Wednesday #1
• Cravings
• Teaser Tuesday #1
• iChallenge
• Cover Love #1
• In My Mailbox #1

2011 Debut Author Challenge

So far, all the challenges I have signed up for have been for the pleasure of reading and completing a task. But this challenge comes with prize packs! Sign me up!

The 2011 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by Story Siren and the link to the sign up page can be found {here}.  I have been seeing this challenge around other people's blog and finally decided to have a look. I never realized how many of the books on my TBR pile are coming from debut authors. Its exciting to see the so many new authors with fresh perspectives coming out with books this year. I can't wait to get my challenge on =)

Here is the list of books I have read and review for the challenge:

1. Head Games (A PrettyTough Novel) Review Here
2. Memento Nora  Review Here
3. Across the Universe Review Here
4. Unearthly Review Here
5. Here Lies Bridget Review Here
6. Ten Miles Past Normal Review Here
7. Wither Review Here
8. Angelfire  Review Here 
9. Between Shades of Gray Review Here 
10. Divergent Review Here
11. Lipstick Laws Review Here
12. Die for Me  Review Here

To Read:

• Choker
• Bumped
• The Water Wars
• This Girl is Different
• Populazzi
• Bad Taste in Boys 
• Starcrossed
• Dead Rules
• Hereafter

Waiting on Wednesday #1

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

Keep up with the tradition this week, I'm sending some more love Ms. Stiefvater's way.

From her website:
The conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy. In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Yes people that is ALL I could find on the much anticipated third novel of the Mercy Falls series.

Expected publication: July 12th 2011 by Scholastic Press

Cravings

You know how when you were young and you had a favorite food, if you could, you would eat it everyday. Mine was chicken nuggets. I would ask for it everyday. Some days my parents gave in, but usually I ate a well-rounded yet still fattening Cuban meal. And then you grow up, and move away to college, where no one can tell you no. So you do just that, you eat your favorite food everyday.

That lasts about a week before your are completely over it, so much so that you don't want to see that meal again for weeks, even months.

Well that is how I had been feeling lately about paranormal romance novels. I was so over it. I thought it would never "taste" as good as the first couple of novels I devoured. And then Shiver came along, and suddenly I got my appetite back. Maggie Stiefvater renewed my love and craving for good YA paranormal romances.

I just finished Linger and I was not disappointed, in fact, this is one of those rare sequels that is better than the first. Her novels don't just fit into one category, there are real issues involved like in contemporary novels and mystical mysteries that keep you turning the page. Tomorrow, I will try to write my complete review, but I just had to say:

Thanks Maggie, for making me giddy for wolves again =)

Teaser Tuesday #1

I am currently finishing up Linger and starting up another book, but for today I though I would tease you with the same three sentences that had me knowing Linger was going to be even better than Shiver. For all of you that don't know what Shiver and Linger are, they are books in a series by Maggie Stiefvater. Check them out { here }

This is a love story. I never knew there were so many kinds of love or that love could make people do different things.

I never knew there were so many different ways to say goodbye.

iChallenge

Another day, another challenge.... iChallenge, is hosted by Book <3 Soulmates. I think this one should be fairly easy to complete and I will tack it along to my other super awesome challenges.

Challenge Rules & Info:

• Challenge STARTS January 1, 2011 and ENDS December 31, 2011

• Sign up by clicking the link above.

• Read at least 10 Vampy, Witchy, Fae-ish, or Were-ish books this year.

• The books can be print, ebooks, and audio books

• Reread books ARE allowed, BUT, the review must be rewritten. You cannot use old reviews.

• Challenges are open to non-bloggers. A review must be written and posted on a literary site, such as GoodReads, Amazon, etc.

• Grab a button to show your Challenge spirit!

• Lastly, have fun reading!

My Books:

1. Shiver
2. Linger
3. Forgive My Fins ( Mermish ?)
4. Hex Hall

Cover Love #1

While I was going through my blog subscriptions, I stumbled upon this cover. It really spoke to me, even though it is not one of those heavily marketed covers. It's a gritty picture and that what is so awesome about it. I hadn't heard of this book before, but now I will definitely be adding it to me TBR pile.

In a world where the most stressful thing seems to be winning a soccer game or what to wear in the morning, you take some really basic things for granted.

Like the love of your parents.

Or hanging with your friends.

Or the beating of your heart.

When you’re 16 years old, it never occurs to you that you might die. Emmi Miller’s got a fabulous life. She has tons of friends, does great in school and is an all-star soccer player who played in Europe last summer. It even looks like Sam Hunter, a totally cute baseball player, might be interested in her. And then she gets a virus. No biggy, right? Until the virus goes to her heart and weakens it so much that, without a transplant, Emmi will die.

Will Emmi get a heart in time? Is Sam too good to be true? What about her new friend Abe, who has also had a transplant and guides her through these scary times — is he just being supportive or is there more going on between them? And will Emmi realize it before it’s too late?