Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin

Title: Girl Wonder
Author: Alexa Martin
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Source: Thanks NetGalley and Publisher!

Summary: As if transferring senior year weren't hard enough, Charlotte Locke has been bumped to lower level classes at her new school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future is starting to seem like an oncoming train for which she has no ticket.


Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to something else: popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, brilliant, and rich. As her new side kick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team—and closer to Neal, Amanda's equally brilliant friend and the most perfect boy Charlotte has ever seen.

But just when senior year is looking up, Charlotte’s life starts to crumble. The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more Neal wants to hide their relationship. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive, and she's keeping a secret Charlotte doesn't want to know.

Talented newcomer Alexa Martin delivers a poignant story of first love, jealousy and friendship, where the ups and downs of senior year have never been so complicated. What else can Charlotte do but throw her hands up and ride?

Review: Girl Wonder absolutely blew me away. I have a feeling this read will stay with me for a long time.

Before I read this, I had seen absolutely no reviews around the blogosphere, I probably just missed them.

I'm so glad that I did, though! I'm not much into contemporary that deals with really big issues because I can't usually relate to the characters. But in this I did. Big time. Even though Charlotte and I have never shared the same experiences it was like we did. If that makes any sense. I felt so connected to her through the entire book and I could not stop reading.

That was another great thing about the book, it was so hard to put down! Girl Wonder is a very character driven novel and I couldn't really see it either way.

It does deal with some raw and real issues. And I really appreciated this. Those issues weren't sugar-coated or disgusting. It was just there. But don't worry, there are some funny, entertaining moments.

The ending was super sweet. If I had to pick a favorite part, in an amazing book, it would be that. I felt was...complete

Girl Wonder is a contemporary that you won't want to miss. Dealing with real problems, some amazing characters with special moments Girl Wonder has carved a special place in my heart!

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Happy Waiting on Wednesday!
Hosted by Breaking the Spine!

This week's is:

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
March 6, 2012

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free.


Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.

Full of danger, forbidden romance, and exquisite writing, Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium races forward at a breathtaking pace and is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes action of The Hunger Games and the bittersweet love story of Romeo & Juliet.

I loved Delirium and Before I Fall. But I'm a little scared for this one! I just hope it lives up to the beautifulness (Is that a word?!) of Delirium and has a happy ending. Even though this isn't the end...I need a happy ending! Anyway, that cover is gorgeous!

Once Upon A Read-a-thon: Update and Challenge

Here is my first update and mini-challenge!


 Update:I've read The Near Witch, and loved it! 

And I'm about 3/4 through Queen of the Dead!

I'm doing...okay!

Challenge!

This is the challenge from YA Bliss!

Picking 3 GOOD love triangles, as you you don't know who it'll be!

1. I agree with YA Bliss. Jeremiah vs. Conrad from the Summer series by Jenny Han
2. Ren vs. Shay from the Nighshade series by Andrea Cremer
3. Mark vs. Kai from Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Going to go do some reading!

Strings Attached by Judy Blundell

Title: Strings Attached
Author: Judy Blundell
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Source: Bought

Summary: When Kit Corrigan arrives in New York City, she doesn't have much. She's fled from her family in Providence, Rhode Island, and she's broken off her tempestuous relationship with a boy named Billy, who's enlisted in the army.

The city doesn't exactly welcome her with open arms. She gets a bit part as a chorus girl in a Broadway show, but she knows that's not going to last very long. She needs help--and then it comes, from an unexpected source.

Nate Benedict is Billy's father. He's also a lawyer involved in the mob. He makes Kit a deal--he'll give her an apartment and introduce her to a new crowd. All she has to do is keep him informed about Billy . . . and maybe do him a favor every now and then.

Review: What drew me to Strings Attached was the promise of a little drama, romance, a mystery and the mob. I mean who could resit? (Ok maybe a lot of people, but not me!) But I was a little disappointed when I actually read the book.

One of my favorite things, though, was the historical aspect. I felt like I had been transported to the 50's with Kit and the Mob. Strings Attached was chock full of historical tidbits and historical awesomeness. The world was vivid and descriptive. And it almost made me afraid to live in the 50's, especially in New York. They seemed like dangerous times, alright. The atmosphere of Strings Attached was perfect.

Kit was a likable character. I didn't connect to her on every level but I understand her and her actions. I could feel her need and her desire to do things. Billy, Kit's estranged boyfriend, was not a favorite character of mine. He seemed hurtful and not at all what someone like Kit needed. To me there really wasn't a romance and if there could have been it fell flat for me. His father was just as awful. I did, however, enjoy Kit's family, her interactions with her apartment neighbors, especially this one, and fellow show girls.

While there was an aspect of mystery I just feel like Kit put together memories from her head and then figured it out. There were multiple flashbacks, making it somewhat confusing and you had to pay attention to the dates. There was no "searching for clues" and such. I don't know why, but I just thought there would be that!

Strings Attached had great historical aspect, likable characters, and the Mob from the 50's. It fell on a few fronts for me but that didn't stop it from making it an enjoyable, historical read.

Rating:

Once Upon A Read-a-thon!

The Once Upon A Read-a-thon is hosted by Reading Angel, Pure Imagination, Candance's Book Blog! To enter go on one of their blogs and do so. You must do at least one update and one mini challenge to be entered in any giveaways.

And here is my list: With pictures, of course!

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin

Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy

That's all for me, and I hope I finish at least 3 of them!

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Title: Tempest Rising
Author: Tracy Deebs
Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Date: May 10, 2010
Source: Bought

Summary: Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.


Review: Tempest Rising is a hard book for me to put my feelings into words. Sometimes I loved it and was so engrossed, others I was bored. This is my sad attempt to let you know how I felt.

The main problem for me was the beginning. It started out a little slow but it slowly, and thankfully, picked up speed immersing me in the underwater fantasy world of Tempest.

Tempest had a really authentic voice, if not a little whiny. But I was able to picture her troubles and ordeals easily. Tempest was also a very lucky girl, if you don't count scary things in the ocean trying to kill you, she had two very amazing boys vying for her attention and ultimately her love. I was having a hard time choosing between them and was very glad that Tempest made the choice for me!

Tempest Rising is over flowing with unique mythology. Although on some things I found myself wanting more explanation, but with a standalone you can expect that. The underwater world that was created was scary and gruesome, if not extremely cool! I'm pretty sure there aren't many mermaid books out there in YA and this is an awesome addition to the genre.

With awesome surfing scenes, two hot love interests, and a awesome underwater world Tempest Rising is fantastic read!

Rating:

Update #5

Hi!
How is everyone doing!? Sorry I forgot to do this last week!! There will be another update in the next days because of the Read-a-thon I'm participating in!

What I've read: (Since the last update)

• The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
• The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
• Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
• I was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison
• Trapped by Michael Northrup
• What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (LOVED this!)
• The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
• The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
• Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart
• The Disreputable History by Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• Wildefire by Karsten Knight
• Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Currently Reading

I'm not going to include what I'm going to read because I'm also posting my list to read for the Read-a-thon! See sidebar for info!