You Are SO Not Invited To My Batmitvah by Fiona Rosenbloom

You Are SO Not Invited To My Batmitvah by Fiona Rosenbloom

Pages: 208
Pub Date: August 29, 2005
Author Website/Blog: N/A
Synopsis: Stacy Friedman is getting ready for one of the biggest events of her young life--her bat mitzvah! All she wants is the perfect BCBG dress to wear, her friends by her side, and her biggest crush ever, Andy Goldfarb, to dance with her (and maybe give Stacy her first French kiss .). But of course, things never work out quite the way you'd like them to.. Her stressed-out mother forces her to buy a hideous beaded sequined dress that she wouldn't be caught dead in. Her mitzvahs are not going at all well. And then the worst thing in the entire world happens--Stacy catches her best friend, Lydia, making out with Andy! And thus she utters the words that will wreak complete havoc on her social life ...You are so not invited to my bat mitzvah!


This book was just perfect. It reminded me of everything MY Batmitvah wasnt. I absolutely loved that. My Batmitvah was a small affair and no one really cared. Meanwhile with this oh its a Batmitvah so its like a stinkin wedding! And also only a few of my friends had one. In this book there was every single person she knew having one, EVEN  if they werent jewish! In real life, sadly its not cool to have a Batmitvah. But in this book there were people throwing faux batmitvahs. Ridiculous! Right? This book also showed that you shouldnt freak about right or wrong with a batmtivah. Just enjoy it!

Bad Ari

IVE BEEN NEGLECTING HEIDI! (SORRY HEIDI!)


I probably should have told you guys about htis MONTHS ago! Now I feel bad (okay not months. more like WEEKS)


http://seaheidi.livejournal.com/180407.html


SEA! (pun)





And more shiny! *points* WATCH IT!


Please? THANK YOU!

HELP!!

UPDATE: I contacted Lindsey Leavitt and she offered to send me some bookmarks!!

Does anyone have a few PRINCESS FOR HIRE BOOKMARKS! Like 3 or 4?! If you do could you please EMAIL ME AT teensactuallyread @ gmail . com

Also it would be appreciated if you had any book stickers or book marks or posters or totebags. Any book goodies you dont want!  If you have any of those please email me at teensactuallyread @ gmail . com

Hopefully you guys will find out next week why I ask this of you. But seriously I NEED these things. Mostly the Princess For Hire bookmarks. My friends came over and took them all. I didnt want them to, so please. Ill make it worth your while. Ill trade with you for PRINCESS FOR HIRE BOOKMARKS! I need +3 . Ill send you two bookmarks for every PRINCESS FOR HIRE BOOKMARK or one sticker for every bookmark. And then if you want to donate something ill send you one sticker for every donation. THANK YOU! Please I really need these things.

Desperately thankful,

Ari

Break for Ari

So Im taking a mental health week. Sorry I NEED it. Ever since Ive gotten out of school all I have done is read books and review them. Saturday you will be DROWNING in reviews I have waiting. But until then, Im taking advanted of the sun and the pool. Ill still answer emails and read books. But reviews, well just wait a bit. In the past two weeks I really made up for the school year. So cut me some slack okay :) This is just for a few days. You know Ill be back with my annoying reviews!

Thanks! (I need SOME of my summer vacation for me!)

Ari

An Off Year by Claire Zulkey

An Off Year by Claire Zulkey

Pages: 304
Pub Date: September 3, 2009
Author Website/Blog: www.zulkey.com
Synopsis:Cecily has always done everything as she was supposed to: taken the right classes, gotten the right grades, applied to the right colleges. But after a lifetime of following the rules, she surprises everyone by arriving for her freshman year of college . . . and turning around. There are infinite possibilities for Cecilys unexpected gap year. She could volunteer, or travel around the worldbut, for now, Cecily is content to do absolutely nothing. What follows is a year of snarkily observed self-doubt and selfdiscovery during which Cecily must ask herself, for the first time, what does she really want to do with her life?

I can honestly say this book has taken any thoughts of skipping a year out of my mind. Its like... I dont want to spend my year off in a therapist office and watching as my friends move on with their lives, but I stay stuck where I am. Im sorry but that would just make me feel pathetic. Everyone else is rediscovering themselves and I would be stuck in the dust wondering what they were doing. Not to mention they would all basically desert me. Basically it would just plain right suck. I cant see why anyone would want to just sit at home for a whole year. And watch life pass you by. Heck in the book she even went without a haircut since she was supposed to leave for school! That has to tell you something. This book was good, funny, but god its made me realize, "NO OFF YEAR"

Likely Story by David Van Etten

Likely Story by David Van Etten
Pages: 240
Pub Date: May 13, 2008
Author Website/Blog: N/A
Synopsis: Mallory is a teenage girl living in L.A. and her mother is the oftnominated, never-winning star of a daytime soap; she is, in fact, the ultimate drama queen. After yet another blow-out about her mother's awful plotlines and overacting, Mallory starts blogging about how she wishes soap operas were more like real kids' lives instead of the ridiculous storylines the shows usually feature. When her mother's agent reads the blog, Mallory ends up in her own whirlwind drama, both at school and on the lot, as she works to protect the integrity of her original idea, cope with her mother's jealousy, and get her best friend a lead role on the show. Factor in her boyfriend with the girlfriend, the cute but bad brother to said-best-friend, and the super-cute male lead on her show, and Mallory's got plenty of her own melodrama to cope with.


I think I have a obsession with books that tell the truth about the world of celebrities. Once again a story that shows us that all that glitters is not gold. And what we see as fabulous fame is just a new stick up your.... I wont finish that. But its true. More and more of the books I read like this really peel back what we see as the fabulous prefect life of fame and show us what is really there. Pain, misery, stress. No one wants that. Yet people throw themselves at it. This book was another one who did a great job of showing us this. I cant wait to read the sequel All That Glitters.

After by Kristin Harmel

After by Kristin Harmel
Pages: 240
Pub Date: February 9, 2010
Author Website/Blog: www.kristinharmel.com
Synopsis: Lacey's world shatters when her dad is killed in a car accident. And secretly? She feels like it's her fault. If she hadn't taken her own sweet time getting ready that morning . . . well, it never would have happened. Her mom wouldn't be a basket case. Her brother Logan wouldn't drink. And her little brother would still have two parents. But life goes on even if you don't want it to. And when Lacey gets the chance to make a difference in the lives of some people at school, she jumps at it. Making lemonade out of lemons is her specialty. Except she didn't count on meeting a guy like Sam. Or that sometimes? Lemonade can be a pretty bitter drink to swallow.

After is a heart breaking story. Once again a story where you want to laugh and say you are untouchable. This wont happen to you. But once again. You are easily wrong. It only takes a few minutes to shatter a picture perfect world. I read this book and I sat there thinking to myself wondering, "what if this was me." God I was just crying. This book really touches your heart. It pokes you and tells you, "try to understand how these people feel." And you do, you really do. This story is just perfect. Its a love story, but also a drama. This story has two love stories in one. Her love for her father, the man she never got a chance to say goodbye to before he was out of her life forever, and another, a new boy, who may or may not be lying to her. I absolutely loved this story. I hope you give it a chance.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society by Ally Carter
Pages: 304
Pub Date: February 9, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://www.allycarter.com/diary
Synopsis:When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.


Heist Society was just wow. I had heard some amazing things on it and around December I already had plans to buy it. This book was just amazing. I love the Ghallager Girl books so I wasnt expecting a plain boring story. But this was beyond my expectations. I was just beyond impressed. Ally Carter really outdid herself writing this book. She really put her heart and sole into Heist Society. I was thoroughly impressed. This story had great characters to fall in love with and a great villain to enjoy hating. It was the perfect adventure novel. Most people would think that she wouldnt be able to make a good book about something other than spies. She did. she really showed all of us that her comfort zone isnt good enough for her, and shes willing to go outside of it.

The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

Pages: 256
Pub Date: September 26, 2006
Author Website/Blog: http://www.theboyfriendlist.com/
Synopsis:Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it's unusual, but give her a break -- she's had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:
lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list),lost her best friend (Kim),lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket),did something suspicious with a boy (#10),did something advanced with a boy (#15),had an argument with a boy (#14),drank her first beer (someone handed it to her),got caught by her mom (ag!),had a panic attack (scary),lost a lacrosse game (she's the goalie),failed a math test (she'll make it up), hurt Meghan's feelings (even though they aren't really friends),became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch) and had graffiti written about her in the girls' bathroom (who knows what was in the boys'!?!).But don't worry -- Ruby lives to tell the tale. And make more lists.

The Boyfriend List is the first novel in the Ruby Oliver series. This was hilarious. You just had to laugh, and cry as Ruby suffered through her worst year in highschool. She had practically everything. And then she ruined it. Time put into a reptuation taht was ruined with one single kiss. Oh and her best friend took her boyfriend. Just lovely. Right? The Boyfriend List is the type of book where you just sit there and laugh thinking, "This wont ever happen to me!" But hey you never know! This could easily be you next week. The girl with no friends, no boyfriend, labeled as a slut, oh and seeing a shrink because of panic attacks. No one wants to be in that situation. But lets face it, all teenagers put themselves there. Great book, great message. Completely loved it.

Things That Are by Andrew Clements

Things That Are by Andrew Clements
Pages: 176
Pub Date: September 18, 2008
Author Website/Blog; N/A
Synopsis: Alicia's total blindness is a harsh fact. But she still sees what's going on. She sees how her parents want her to be independent, but can't quite let go. She sees Bobby edging closer, sees their relationship approaching new territory. And she sees William, at first just another invisible form, a voice. Except William is invisible to everyone, not just Alicia. And his demands are a threat to her, to Bobby, to both their families. Perhaps even a threat to global security. That's what the FBI thinks. But is he? And is Alicia's instinct to trust this man wrong-dangerously, disastrously wrong?

In all honesty he should have left it with Things Not Seen. In my opinion that was the only book in this series that I enjoyed. These past two books were annoying. Things Hoped For, because it was all about a girl that will be mentioned only in passing in this book. This one annoyed me because it was pointless. No one cares about another invisible person. We already know the secret to invisibility and how to reverse. So why are two more books necessary? This book was just annoying. It wasnt amazing or anything. It just sat there, blankly telling a story that would have been a lot more exciting from Bobbys point of view. Im glad this series is over and I regret movie on to the sequels.

Read Our Review of Things Hoped For
Read Our Review Of Things Not Seen

Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook
Pages: 272
Pub Date: January 5, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://www.eileencook.com/blog/
Synopsis: Popularity is the best revenge.In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls--and now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain, the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn't dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's ever been important to Lauren--starting with her boyfriend.Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.


I loved this book. It was just perfect. I can really relate to being back stabbed by someone close to me, and then they use it to their advantage. I just wish I had the guts to do what this book did. Really. It captured the thought of revenge that all teenagers dream about. But it also did one extra. It showed us how it easy it is to be the better person. This was a great story. It teaches a great lesson-maybe revenge isnt all its cracked up to be- and that being the better person will be the best thing to do in the end. It also shows that no matter how much you hate someone you cant help but pity them just a little bit. And that you used to still have the same relationship with them. Great book.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Pages: 320
Pub Date: June 1, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://www.aimeefriedmanbooks.com/whats_new/
Synopsis: When Miranda Merchant, sixteen and levelheaded, escapes her lonely, hot summer in New York City, little does she know what awaits her. She steps off the ferry onto an island rife with legend, lore, and a past her logical mind can't make any sense of. She isn't expecting to feel a connection to this unusual place, so filled with languorous charm and strange history. And when she meets Leo, a mysterious local boy, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship, reality..... and love.

I really fell in love with this book. I only picked it up because I have this obsession with mermaids. Im so glad I did. This was just...wow. Granted I was a little ticked off that the mermaid thing was never verified but still.... Great book. Great romance. I fell in love with the characters and the mystery behind the story. I think most people do. This was one of those stories that you cant help but love. It had a little bit of everything for everyone. It was almost like a medley of a bunch of different stories. If you need a book to read I really recommend you hunt down this one, this is one of the best stories youll read.

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Pages: 336
Pub Date: December 22, 2009
Author Website/Blog: http://www.emmaandnicola.com/
Synopsis: When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All seh has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique  she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera."... At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.


Lets face it, we all have dreams of becoming famous. I mean everyone makes it seem so glamorous. But is it? The Real Real opens up the world of being a celebrity to the average person, and we learn that being a celebrity isnt all its cracked up to be. We all value our privacy, but it seems people will give that up at a chance to see their name and picture plastered on a magazine cover. We already hate rumors that go through high school about us. Imagine it even worse, instead of being passed through the mouths of a few hundred kids its passed through the mouths of a few hundred million people. You are constantly judged. You cant even make your own life decisions any more. The Real Real shows all of this to us. It really opens our eyes and make us think to ourselves, "Do I really want fame?"

Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer

Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer
Pages: 272
Pub Date: February 9, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://robinpalmer.blogspot.com/
Synopsis: Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents and her younger brother just love. (Too bad she doesn't love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn't even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie's living on the edge. But is the drama all it's cracked up to be?


Little Miss Red was supposed to be a modern un-magical retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I mean it had a wolfish stranger that she meets that takes advantage of her, it has the red head assesory it had the trip to grandmas house, and it had the villian who caused Grandma harm! So the basic plot sticks to the story but not much else does. Really it was just a cute story about a girl who wants something more exciting than her boring boyfriend who has currently put the "pause" on their relationship. It was still a great book. I enjoyed it more then I would have if it followed the yellow brick road for the plot to LIttle Red Riding Hood. Its a great summer read, so see if you can find it!

Does My Head Look Big In This by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Does My Head Look Big In This by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Pages: 368
Pub Date: August 1, 2008
Author Website/Blog: http://www.randaabdelfattah.com/
Synopsis: As soon as sixteen-year-old Amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab full-time, everyone has a reaction. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else. Can she handle the taunts of "towel head" and the prejudice of her classmates, and manage her growing friendship with the cutest boy in school?


This book was a great look into a whole other culture that most of us prejudge. It shows us how they feel and how they react to how we treat them. It also shows their opinions on things like 9/11. It was a great book. I was raised in a house hold that taught me that anyone from an arabic country is evil, but thats in part that my dad was in the isreali military. However this book gave me a whole new perspective. It showed my that my dad wasnt completely right. Some of them are normal people. They dont deserve any of the treatment we have been giving them. This gave me a whole new look at the problems they face just because of their beliefs. It was a great book.

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Pages: 256
Pub Date: September 22, 2009
Author Website/Blog: http://www.pambachorz.com/blog/
Synopsis: In the model community of Candor, Florida, every teen wants to be like Oscar Banks. The son of the town's founder, Oscar earns straight As, is student-body president, and is in demand for every club and cause.
But Oscar has a secret. He knows that parents bring their teens to Candor to make them respectful, compliant-perfect-through subliminal Messages that carefully correct and control their behavior. And Oscar' s built a business sabotaging his father's scheme with Messages of his own, getting his clients out before they're turned. After all, who would ever suspect the perfect Oscar Banks? Then he meets Nia, the girl he can't stand to see changed. Saving Nia means losing her forever. Keeping her in Candor, Oscar risks exposure . . . and more.


Candor was an interesting story. When I first read the synopsis I was wary. I was unsure that it was going to be a good book. But some friends read it and told me it was amazing. So I sighed, and checked it out. It was actually a really good book. It had a great story. But the ending was sad. He risked everything for a girl. And he ended up no better than a small child. Its actually pathetic how brainwashing does that to someone. It just shows you how cruel people can be. Especially people who believe in a form of perfection. Perfection is dangerous. Something more people are starting to realize. This book agrees with those people. It will help open your eyes showing you, perfection can cause problems, and no one wants that.

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Pages: 303
Pub Date: April 1, 2007
Author Website/Blog: http://www.simoneelkeles.net/index1.html
Synopsis: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk and crashed into Maggie Armstrong. One year later, both teenagers have become outsiders in their small community. Pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak," Caleb and Maggie end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

Leaving Paradise was a book that several people told me I Just HAD to read. I saw it at the library and grabbed it. I already loved Simone Elkeles because of her novel Perfect Chemistry. I loved this book also. It was just perfect. The perfect secret, the perfect plot, the perfect reason to hate someone. This was just a brilliant story. I fell in love with the characters. The whole story just came together perfectly, what with Caleb just out of jail and Maggie desperately reaching to move on with her life. SHe struggles as she works with him, she is supposed to hate him. She is supposed to wish that he was dead. So she would still be perfect. So she would be able to impress her dad who walked out on her. She didnt care that she used to love Caleb. She was supposed to hate him. But of course that doesnt last long. And nasty secrets come out.

Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel

Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel

Pages: 176
Pub Date: May 12, 2009
Author Website/Blog: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/lurlene/index.html
Synopsis: Travis Morrison is a high school athlete on the rise. He is an excellent diver, and his whole high school team is counting on him to help them win the state championship next year. Travis is looking forward to the competition too; in the meantime, though, he plans on enjoying summer. He loves being in the water and often wonders if he is part fish. On the first day of summer vacation, he goes out to the lake with his girlfriend Darla, his best friend Cooper, and his kid sister Emily. It is a beautiful day, and the water is perfect. Travis decides to do a diving stunt because he cannot stand being near water and not diving. His friends and sister do not think it is a good idea, but Travis is fearless. When he takes the dive, something goes very wrong. In an instant, Travis's life changes forever.


This was a heart breaking story of a all star diver who discovers he has cancer. One day out on the lake with his girlfriend, his sister, and his best friend he goes for dive. And the fatal crack happens. He assumes its only a broken leg. Until hes checked into the hospital and dozens of tests are run. They amputate his leg and he begins to hate his life. He fights with the world as he discovers that he doesnt want to live like this. He wants to be how things used to be. He doesnt want to be having poison sent into his body and being cut up like a frog on a dissection table. This story is told through four different point of views. This story is a guessing game. Who helped Travis die?

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

*PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS POST*

Heavenly Trailer!

*tada!*

The ABC's Of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

The ABC's Of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

Pages: 224
Pub Date: January 13, 2009
Author Website/Blog: http://yawriters.blogspot.com/
Synopsis: Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she's a high school junior, everything she's worked for is finally coming together. She's paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she's a shoo-in for the varsity team. But that's not what happens. This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but twoand one of those two was Parker. Now, she's stuck with the freshmen, her friends are cutting her loose, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. But Parker is determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. All she needs now is the right kind of coach.

This book is all about how you dont always get what you want. And how sometimes even the most thought out plan to get it may, or may not work out. It also shows that something else may get you there or hold you back. It was a great book dealing with real teenage drama. Lets face it, all teens want to get the perfect highschool experience. And this book shows that. It shows how one teen is sceaming to get that perfect high school experience. One that has been taken from her due to two new soccer players. She creates a plan that involves her brothers friend, aka the hottest guy that every girl wants. While working on this plan she practices with her neighbor, and falls in love with him. This was a cute story and I really enjoyed it.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Pages: 272
Pub Date: May 15, 2008
Author Website/Blog: http://halseanderson.livejournal.com/
Synopsis: High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy-- and Tyler's secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in school, in his family, and in the world.

A lot of people told me Twisted was disturbing. In all honesty I found it pretty mild. I mean if you were to compare it to a book such as Meg Tilly's Gemma then yes its extremely mild. People found it disturbing do to things like suicide. I dont see why. In todays society, its sad but true that suicide rings constantly. I find it refreshing that someone is telling the truth about suicide for once. Normally when books deal with a subject like suicide they dont tell us WHY! Most of them are told from the point of view of a friend who lost the person who killed themselves. And then there are a series of events like a letter explaining why, and trying to get their friend to move on with their life and etc. Im sorry but in my experiences with suicide its never like that. Sometimes if its not witnessed its treated like murder. There is hardly a letter. Twisted gave us a look into the truth of the world of suicide. It shows us why and how someone can be set off to the point of trying to kill themselves.

Review Of Wintergirls
Review of Speak
Review of Chains

Things Hoped For by Andrew Clements

Things Hoped For by Andrew Clements
Pages: 176
Pub Date: April 17, 2008
Author Website Blog: http://www.andrewclements.com/
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Gwen is preparing to audition for New York Citys top music schools when her grandfather mysteriously disappears, leaving Gwen only a phone message telling her not to worry. But theres nothing more stressful than practicing for her auditions, not knowing where her grandfather is, and being forced to lie about his whereabouts when her insistent great-uncle demands an audience with him. Then Gwen meets Robert, also in town for music auditions, and the two pair up to brave the city without supervision. As auditions approach and her great-uncle becomes more aggressive, Gwen and Robert make a startling discovery. Suddenly Gwens hopes are turned upside down, and she and Robert are united in ways neither of them could have foretold. . . .

Things Hoped For is the sequel to Things Not Seen. Honestly I felt that this book had to much involving music and the death of her grandfather. These stories are supposed to be about invisibility. This has maybe 20 pages in it that have the invisible man and another 20 that discuss it. Not a amazing sequel if you ask me. I mean the ending was good. But the beginning was really slow. I really enjoyed the first book. This one was eh. Didnt really enjoy it. It could have been a lot better. Im a violinist but I found it annoying she was so serious about her music. This book needs a good tweaking. The idea was great but the rest of it was eh.

Review of Things Not Seen

The Girls by Tucker Shaw

The Girls by Tucker Shaw

Pages: 208
Pub Date: April 1, 2009
Author Website/Blog: N/A
Synopsis: This modern retelling of the classic play "The Women" by Clare Booth Luce is a quick-witted, stylish comedy about friendship, love, and most important, gossip. An elite Aspen prep school sets the stage for jealousy and intrigue as the lives of many girls intertwine and tangle into a wickedly fun mess.


I doubted The Girls when I saw that it was a book written by a guy, about being stuck in the world and life of a girl. But he actually did really well. His goal in the story was to capture the idea of the play "The Women" I have never seen it but based on the fact that not a single man appears (physically) in The Women and not a single boy (physically) appears in The Girls I would have to say he achieved his goal. I loved the story, even if a lot of the girls were not my favorite characters. I loved every bit of this story. I also enjoyed the recipes at the end. Great book.

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Pages: 272
Pub Date: April 16, 2009
Author Website/Blog: http://blog.cherylreneeherbsman.com/
Synopsis: Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels and working at the library. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she's convinced he's the one-her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama's strict rules, and he stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he's called away to help his family- and seems uncertain about returning-Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own., both literally and figuratively.


This was a story of true love, and how it overcomes everything. Breathing was just gorgeous. I absolutely loved it. I couldnt help but fall in love with Jackson and Savannah. This story showed how even if you have delusions about something its really you. It also showed that a little push is what everyone needs in life. Through out the story Savannah is struggling with her asthma. Then she meets Jackson. After a scare at a picnic when her mother meets him she slowly stops having attacks. She believes its because of Jackson. When he leaves she is heartbroken and she ends up in the hospital two more times because of her asthma. She soon plots to have Jackson move back so she can breathe again. But he cant. She struggles with her own issues and the issues she has with everyone around. A story that can truly relate to everyone else. No matter what you love story is, this story lets you keep that small glint of hope.

Boys, Girls, And Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

Boys, Girls, And Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

Pages: 288
Pub Date: January 12, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://rosalindwiseman.com/discussion/rosalinds-blog/
Synopsis: Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there's no escaping high school drama. Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie's big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn't understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank. Torn between doing what's right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.


Finally a book that shows what teenagers are really like. Sorry guys but a lot of authors had it different from us when they were teens. I was glad this one at least captured the evil reality of teens. We all have issues in Highschool/Middle School. This book captured that. I love books that capture reality. I could already point out things that have happened to me in this book from page one. Gotta love that! Life does go on, as this book shows. But we are teens so we think, "OH MY GOD THE WORLD IS GOING TO END! Because Shauna shoved her boobs up another girls face!" See? But its not. I loved that this book went so quickly and although the one thing they didnt get rigth was how long teens are hung up on something. Sorry Rosalind but teens hold a grudge for a weeee bit longer than you think.

After by Amy Efaw

After by Amy Efaw

Pages: 350
Pub Date: August 11, 2009
Author Website/Blog: http://amy-efaw.livejournal.com/
Synopsis:An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made- Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there's only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

This was simply a beautiful book. It really dug into the story showing us glimpses of how Devon got stuck in the juvenile corrections system. I loved the story. It was so sad. It was almost as if you couldnt help but love the story of a baby left in the trash. By a girl who was supposed to be perfect. The story showed how she herself never thought she was pregnant, and why she did what she did. But as time goes on it also shows how she realizes that, maybe she really did try to murder an innocent being. She tried to murder her own baby. She struggles with the truth as it creeps back to her. After by Amy Efaw is a book that you will never forget.

Facts about Summer :)

Facts about Summer.....

I go with my friends to laugh at Eclipse and Twilight fans as we wear fangs and glitter :)
We go to Beastly to DROOL and to tick off a list of things that the movie did WRONG!
I read far to many books.
And I watch movies that contain scenes like this.....




and this...