Author Interview: Bree Despain + Giveaway

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Bree Despain today. Bree is the author of The Dark Divine and its upcoming sequel, The Lost Saint.

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Can you tell us a little bit about The Dark Divine?

THE DARK DIVINE is a modern exploration of the Prodigal Son with a paranormal twist. The story is about a girl named Grace whose family never talks about the night her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood, and his best friend Daniel disappeared—that is until Daniel returns 3 years later and enrolls in Grace and Daniel’s school. Torn between her loyalty to her brother and her attraction Daniel, Grace must discover the truth behind the boys’ dark secret, and find the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate price to do it—her soul.


You recently released the title of TDD2. How did this title come about, and how many novels do you see for this series?

We tossed around several titles for TDD2, but THE LOST SAINT is the one that kept popping into my mind. For some reason I put off suggesting it, but when I finally pitched it to Editor Greg (aka Jimmy Olsen) he came back and said that he and the rest of the Egmont crew are all "enamored" with it. Which makes me so happy because I think it's the perfect title.

For now, there’s only a contract for 2 books, but a 3rd is definitely a possibility. In fact, TLS ends in a way (for now at least) that will make most people want a third book.


The Dark Divine has a lot of biblical references. Did you have to do much research for your novel? If so, what is your research process like?

I didn’t have to do a lot of research for the biblical aspects of the book because they were all stories that I was well familiar with—however, Grace’s family is a different religion than I am, so I did read books about her religion and also biblical accounts of the stories I used from the translation of the bible that she would be familiar with. I even did research on what someone of her religious background would typically make for food a funeral.


What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Are there daily writing goals you set?

I used to write for a couple of hours in the afternoon while my kids napped, but now that they are older and I am much busier, I’ve hired a mother’s helper for about 10-12 hours a week. I also write while my youngest is in preschool. Sometimes I write a bookstore with friends, occasionally a library, but really, my favorite (and most productive) productive place to write is in bed. I’ve tried word goals or page count goals for the day, but I find what works best for me is to envision a certain place I want to be in the story by the time I stop. This helps me move forward in the story, rather than just writing 2000 words but get pretty much nowhere in the plotline.


What's the best thing about being an author?

I would definitely say it’s all the awesome people I get to meet, from readers, bloggers, other authors, and industry professionals. There are so many wonderful people I would have never met in a million years if it weren’t for my author career.


Now for some fun questions:


What book are you currently reading?

THE RISE OF RENEGADE X by Chelsea Campbell


What are some of your favorite books?

PANTS ON FIRE by Meg Cabot, SWEETHEARTS by Sara Zarr, THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins, The Amelia Peabody Series by Elizabeth Peters, THE WAY HE LIVED by Emily Wing Smith, and SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson.


What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Question: You know it’s you last day to live, what would your last meal be?

Answer: Basically, I would make my last meal about 12 hours long and start off with an authentic margarita pizza from Naples, then have a filet mignon, then Alaskan King Crab and grilled salmon, some yummy roasted veggies in there, garlic mashed potatoes, and then top it all off with a Ghirardelli triple chocolate brownie, a flourless chocolate cake, and some Ben & Jerry’s chocolate therapy ice cream.

I haven’t been able to eat dairy, wheat, of eggs for the last year and half, so most of these foods are things I have been craving for a very long time. But hey, if I’m going to die anyway, might as well eat all the things that are going to make me incredibly ill.



Thanks so much Bree for stopping by.


Please go to Reading Rocks, http://readingrocks4me.blogspot.com/ tomorrow to see the next stop on The Dark Divine Blog Tour.


Future Blog Tour Dates/Sites:

• April 2 - The Book Vixen
• April 3 - Hooked on Books
• April 5 - The Book Shopaholic

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Now for a small giveaway. I have 3 bottles of the lovely Dark Divine Nail Polish. This is an amazing color that perfectly suits this novel.

Contest Information:

• Must be at least 13 years of age to win.
• I am not responsible for lost or damaged prizes.
• Prizes open to US residents only.
• Contest ends Wednesday, April 7th.

-- Contest Closed --

Twilight: The Battle of Opinions + Giveaway

Today, we are here as part of Triple Threat Week to discuss both sides of the on going battle of opinions regarding the Twilight series. Whether you love or hate the series, a simple thing remains... you have an opinion.

For me, the Twilight series was best as a book. While my passion for the novels declined with each new book's release, the fact remains that I was once a Twilight fan-girl... not an uber obsessive one, but one nonetheless.

However, everything changed for me once the movies began coming out. Robert Pattinson went from this unknown in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to this super, mega star heart-throb. (Still not sure exactly what his appeal is, but that is for another discussion.) Kristen Stewart patented the lip-bitting thing. And the series set some of the trends that we still see in young adult literature today.

But now the time as come to settle the battle once and for all. Whether you are a lover or a hater, we want to hear your opinion.

Prizes:

One lucky winner will win a copy of an ARC of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George.

One lucky winner will win a 2010 Edward Cullen / Robert Pattinson Calendar.


How To Enter:

Simply leave a comment with your opinion and include whether you are a Lover or a Hater.

• Contest ends Sunday, April 4, 2010
• Must be at least 13 years of age to win.
• Winners will be chosen at random. 
• Prizes open to US residents only. 

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The Triple Threat Giveaway

Celebrating Twilight, Supernatural, and Vampire Diaries

Join us for the fun, games, and giveaways 

 

Events

Supernatural Radio Show New Episode Rundown

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/terry-kate/2010/03/27/supernatural-new-episode-rundown

Scare Me Up Some Supernatural

Read what Authors have to say about one of our favorite TV shows.
http://romanceinthebackseat.com/paranormal/blog/2010/03/scare-me-up-some-supernatural.html

Sexy Sunday Contest and Giveaway

Team Edward - Hottest picture of Edward Cullen - Judged by author Veronica Blake
http://ritbs.blogspot.com

Sunday - Watch New Moon with Us

Terry Kate and the masterminds behind Teens Read and Write share their take on New Moon.  Get your DVD cued up and when we say play you will be joining us and hundreds others as we go through the movie together.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/terry-kate/2010/03/29/twilight--new-moon-with-live-commentary

Monday - Vampire Diaries Discussion at Novel Reaction

Discuss the books that made the show - see where the series is going.  If you are watching the show are you reading the books?
http://novelreaction.com/

Tuesday - What Readers have to Say on The Neverending Shelf

Twilight Lovers and Haters share your thoughts -
Twilight Lovers what is the worst part of the Saga
Twilight Haters, what is the best part of the Twilight Saga
http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/ 

Wednesday - Twisted Fates Cafe

http://twistedfates.livejournal.com/

Thursday - Battle of the Sexies on Backseat Nightmares

Sam vs Dean
Stefen vs Damon
Edward vs Jacob
On what side of the divide do you fall?
http://romanceinthebackseat.com/paranormal/blog/

Team Jacob on Book Faery

Hear who's team Tori is on.
http://book-faery.blogspot.com/

Sunday - Sexy Sunday Contest and Giveaway

Team Jacob - Hottest picture of Jacob Black
http://ritbs.blogspot.com

Author Safari Winner (5)

Last week we explored the habitat of Sheila A. Nielson. Thank you to all those who explored with us.


Now, last week we gave two clues:


Clue #1: A Princess cannot leave home without me.


Clue #2: An item that can be found at a beauty pageant.



The Prize:

Sheila has graciously donated a signed ARC of Forbidden Sea and a handmade mermaid necklace.



The Image:


The tiara.












And the Winner is:


Lydia P.



Congrats! You will be contacted shortly.


And we look forward to seeing you on our next Author Safari.

Book Trailer: The Owl Keeper

Check out this book trailer for Christine Brodien-Jones upcoming novel, The Owl Keeper:

Book Review: The Owl Keeper

Author: Christine Brodien-Jones
Releases: April 13th 2010 by Delacorte BFYR
Copy Provided by: Author for Other Shelf Tours
# of Pages: 320
Summary: (from Goodreads)

Maxwell Unger has always loved the night. He used to do brave things like go tramping through the forest with his gran after dark. He loved the stories she told him about the world before the Destruction—about nature, and books, and the silver owls. His favorite story, though, was about the Owl Keeper.

According to Max’s gran, in times of darkness the Owl Keeper would appear to unite owls and sages against the powers of the dark. Gran is gone now, and so are her stories of how the world used to be. Max is no longer brave. The forest is dangerous, the books Gran had saved have been destroyed, and the silver owls are extinct. At least that’s what the High Echelon says. But Max knows better.

Maxwell Unger has a secret. And when a mysterious girl comes to town, he might just have to start being brave again.

The time of the Owl Keeper, Gran would say, is coming soon.

The Owl Keeper is a non-stop, action packed ball of awesomeness. Based on the novel's summary, I figured I was in for a tale just about a boy and owls. Thought there also might be a little fantasy sprinkled in to keep things going. Wrong. Christine Brodien-Jones carefully mixes in hints of dystopian, mystery, adventure, and fantasy to create hands down the best novel aimed at younger teens that I have read since the Harry Potter series.

To say the least, Christine Brodien-Jones and The Owl Keeper blew my socks off. Brodien-Jones' keeps her writing is simplistic and the action flowing. For me, that worked out really well. The novel did not require me to puzzle over certain situations or wonder what did the author want me to get out of this passage. This means that I was allowed to enjoy the novel just for what it was.

The action in this novel is top notched. I was glued to the book as action sequence after action sequence occurred. I was amazed that Brodien-Jones could use so much action and not make it seem repetitive or too over the top. The whole novel just flowed together so nicely as the reader uncovers all the little secrets in Max's world. And the world that Max inhabits is very intriguing. Brodien-Jones has created a very dystopian feeling world that has a nice science fiction and fantasy feel to it. The world is quite different from our world, but not so much so that the author needed to go into long, drawn out explanations about how and why things are they way they are. The author does this in a nice short paragraph and focuses mainly on plot and character development.

The characters of Max and Rose are a wonderful combination for the world that Brodien-Jones has created. True, I did like Rose a little more over Max. But this is because Rose is the kind of character that one cannot ignore. She is spunky, full of life, and very impulsive. As the novel moved along, I did find myself liking Max more and more as he grew into his own skin. His character is all about growth, and by the end of novel, he is a completely changed character... just the way it should be. In addition to Max and Rose, owls, and specifically Max's owl, play into a large portion of this novel. One must admire Brodien-Jones' attention to detail. She has captured every detail from the owl's habits down to its personality. The owls added lots of depth and definition to Max's world, and made the novel a lot more fun to read.

For me, Brodien-Jones has hit the ball out of the park with this novel. From the amazing depth of her characters to the non-stop action, this novel was a blast. The novel's ending does set the reader up for a sequel, or possibly even this being the first novel in a series, so I am really hopeful that I will get to see more of Max, Rose, and the owls. While girls will throughly enjoy this novel, I think this may be a wonderful novel to give to a young male teen who has been struggling to find a novel to read. The action and adventure in this novel will be sure to captivate and inspire anyone's imagination.

Author Interview: Christine Brodien-Jones

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Christine Brodien Jones today. Christine is the author of the upcoming middle-grade novel, The Owl Keeper.

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Describe your book in five words or less.

Mystery, fear, friendship, magic, hope.


As a debut author, what has your road to publications been like?

You could say I’m a debut author in this century, but I also published a book last century! In 1992 Macmillan/Bradbury Press published my middle-grade fantasy THE DREAMKEEPERS. I’d written the book on my Mac Classic—considered cutting-edge back then—and sent it out without an agent. In those days the Internet was still evolving. I remember that Macmillan still had typewriters in its offices!

The following year Macmillan went under financially and my editor moved on. I continued writing novels and sending them out, but life was hectic with two teen-age sons and my teaching job left little time to write.

The turning point came in 2006 when Peter, my husband, encouraged me to quit working and write full-time. It was a risky leap. While searching for an agent, I discovered that Stephen Fraser (who’d shown interest in one of my manuscripts while a senior editor at HarperCollins) was now an agent at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. I sent him THE OWL KEEPER and he called to say how much he loved the book. Steve found a home for it with Krista Marino, a senior editor at Random House/Delacorte Press. I’m so fortunate to have them both, because they’ve backed THE OWL KEEPER every step of the way.


What kind of research, if any, did you do for The Owl Keeper? Do you have a special process for researching that you like to follow?

I researched owls – their habits, physical characteristics, hunting skills, behavior, etc. I didn’t try to be too specific, however, because Max’s silver owl is unique and in a category all her own. One thing I found fascinating about owls was the way they make ‘pellets’ out of undigested bones, plants, feathers and other materials, and I used this in the book.

While writing about Max, the hero of THE OWL KEEPER, I was influenced by a New York Times article about children with a rare genetic disorder, xeroderma pigmentosum, or X.P., that makes them unable to tolerate ultraviolet light. I also saw Alejandro Amenábar’s film “The Others,” which features a brother and sister who are fatally allergic to sunlight. I couldn’t stop thinking about what life would be like for a child who can only go outdoors at night. I decided to give Max an allergy to the sun, which means he’s confined indoors during the day and can only leave his house after sundown.


The cover is gorgeous! What was your reaction to seeing it for the first time?

Amazement. I thought the owl was stunning, exactly the way I’d imagined her. The owl’s silvery sheen, the moonlight, the branches, the spooky houses – it all captured perfectly the magical feeling of the book. The cover’s artist was Fernando Juarez, who lives in Madrid. He’s done some quirky, extremely imaginative work.

I might add that there are also interior illustrations which are eerie and beautiful, done by British artist Maggie Kneen. Like the cover, they’re mesmerizing…


What is next for you with your writing? Have any special projects that you are working on?

I’m currently working on an adventure-fantasy novel set in Morocco, in the Sahara Desert, which Random House/Delacorte Press is also publishing. A feisty young girl named Zagora is the heroine.



Thanks Christine for stopping by! It was a blast getting to learn more about Max and The Owl Keeper.

The Owl Keeper releases on April 13th 2010 by Delacorte BFYR.

National Library Week

In case you have not heard, National Library Week is about two weeks away: April 11-17.

Here at The Neverending Shelf, I am planning to celebrate this great week with lots of fun interviews, guest posts, and even with me hosting my first Blog Talk Radio show.


If you are a librarian or just a library lover, and would be interested in writing a guest post about your local library or letting me interview you, please contact me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com

Manga Review: Shutterbox, Vol. 2

Authors: Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons
Released: October 2005 by Tokyopop
# of Pages: 184
Summary: (taken from book cover)

Megan awakens from a dream to find that she's back in Merridiah University and now attending the afterlife school as a full-time, living exchange student.

But she'd better be careful... there are certain rules here that must never be broken. When Megan starts her first-quarter classes to become a living muse, she soon discovers that Dane is out to get her expelled-- and in the afterlife, expulsion carries a frightfully high price.

Shutterbox, Vol. 2 was everything I was hoping that it would be. The plot begins to pick up, the secondary characters are more fleshed out... this is exactly what a second volume should be. Megan has returned to Earth briefly before beginning at M.U.S.E. Things are getting a little hectic for her: she realizes that things in her "real" life are not has they appear, and even things with her best friend, Dagny, are a little complicated.

In this volume, the reader really gets to know the characters from Merridiah, and some of the juicy back story is unveiled. In a way, the back story really surprised me. I was not expecting some of the elements to unfold the way that they did. This was a very welcome surprise since manga volumes can sometimes be come a little predictable. In addition to the the twists, the characters in this volume were hilarious. This was a fabulous addition to the series, and I cannot wait to start the next volume.

Design It Up! (15)

Design It Up! is a feature which helps you learn handy little tricks to tweak up your blog. Today, we will be discussing how to number your comments. This can be a really tricky tweak, so be sure to take it nice and slow.

Unfortunately, this is one that I have also yet to have mastered. And since I really have no need for it here at The Neverending Shelf, I have not played with it too much. So instead of giving you a long, drawn out tutorial about how you can do this, I will just giving you links that I think may help you.

• The best explanation of how to do this probably comes from The Computery. Here readers will find detailed information on how to add in numbering as well as some great information about known issues with the code and some fixes that may help.

• Katydid and Kid has a very nice tutorial. However, she notes that those using the newer version of Blogger may have some difficulties.

• Quite Random shows readers a really quick and simple approach to numbering comments. Unfortunately, there are not many feedback comments, so I am not sure at how well it works.

Hope this will help some of you in your quest to number those comments.

____________________________________


Have any HTML questions that you would like featured in Design It Up? Shoot me an email at neverendingshelf@gmail.com. 

Winner: 16 x 20 Rolled Canvas Prints

There were a total of 22 entries in the Rolled Canvas contest. And the winner is:

#10: CallMeKayla

Congrats! You should be receiving information regarding your prize shortly.  Thank you to all that entered.

YA Tournament

Nerds Heart YA is doing their 2nd Annual YA Tournament. And I have been elected to be a judge in the competition! This should fun a really fun event which will showcase YA titles that have been under represented in the YA blogosphere.

In order to make this event the best that it can be... we need your help. Nerds Heart YA is currently accepting book nominations until Wednesday, March 31st. A nominated book should meet the following criteria:


1. Title can have no more than 15 reviews published throughout the book blogosphere

2. Title must be either authored by or include a character within the following category:

• Person(s) of Color (POC)
• GLBT
• Disability/Mental Illness
• Religious Lifestyle
• Lower Socioeconomic Status

3. All titles must have been published between January 1 – December 31, 2009


For more information about the YA Tournament or to nominate a book, please visit Nerds Heart YA.

The Shelf Report (4)

The Shelf Report explores the really cool stuff that comes weekly in my mailbox. As well as what I have read and plan on reading for the week. It also includes any cool events that are going on around The Neverending Shelf and the blogosphere. The Shelf Report is inspired by Kristi's In My Mailbox and Sheila's It's Monday, What are you Reading?






So I am trying something new this week with the vlog. Not sure if I 100% love it, but I thought it might be fun to play around with. If you watch the vlog, I would love to know what you think about the changes.


Read Last Week:

• Shutterbox, Volume 1 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• Shutterbox, Volume 2 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons   
• Shutterbox, Volume 3 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• Shutterbox, Volume 4 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• Arata: The Legend, Vol. 1 by Yuu Watase 
• The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy  
• Sanctuary (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #1) by Melissa Marr   
• Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner 
• Firespell (Dark Elite, #1) by Chloe Neill 
• Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey   
• and Falling, Fly by Skyler White  
• A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker  
• WTF by Peter Lerangis 
• Black Bird, Volume 2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji 
• Black Bird, Volume 3 by Kanoko Sakurakoji  
• Metamo Kiss Volume 1 by Sora Omote 
• Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones 
• Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

This was all for the Red vs. Blue Read-A-Thon.


Reading This Week:

Whatever gets into my hands. This week I am super busy organizing and planning activities for the Clear Away the Clutter Read-A-Thon, so I am not sure how much reading I will be done this week.


Posts of Mentioned:

Reviews:

• Shutterbox, Volume 1 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy  
• Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
• Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
• Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey 
• Arata: The Legend, Vol. 1 by Yuu Watase
• Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Giveaways:

• Author Safari with Sheila A. Nielson 
• Snubbr.com Giveaway

Fun Stuff Around the Blogosphere: 

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl have released the cover of their upcoming sequel, Beautiful Darkness. The novel will be available October 26, 2010.

Kiersten White has posted the cover of her upcoming novel, Paranormalcy. Kiersten's novel releases September 21, 2010.

Becca Fitzpatrick has released the synopsis of the sequel to Hush, Hush, Crescendo. In addition, Becca will be unveiling Crescendo's cover on April 10th. Knowing how amazing Hush, Hush's cover was, I am sure that Crescendo's will be just as amazing... if not better.

Manga Review: Shutterbox, Vol. 1

Authors: Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons
Released: October 2004 by Tokyopop
# of Pages: 160
Summary: (from Goodreads)

When Megan Amano dreams, she journeys to a place called Merridiah University, one of the afterlife's premier educational institutes. There she studies as an exchange student, learning the skills necessary to become a living muse. Traditionally, only spirits attend the University, where they are educated before being reborn into the world of the living. However, Megan is still alive. She attends college in Santa Monica, California by day and Merridiah University at night. One day, she finds mysterious pictures from the dream world in her digital camera. They reveal a mystery so deep that Megan is compelled to question her very existence and set forth on a quest to find the answers.

There are 5 senses inside humans, humans are inside the 9 dimensions, the 9 dimensions are inside the universe, and the universe is inside the infinite multiverse.... and so on. This is the world of Merridiah. A world within worlds that only the dead can visit... except for Megan. She is a Shutterbox exchange student, the only living girl inside Merridiah. Her purpose? To learn how to become a muse, a living one. Unlike the rest of her peers, Megan will be about to use her powers on Earth to physically help others... to inspire them and their works.

The world that Shutterbox presents is vast and unique. And its characters are very quirky to say the least. There is the moody and mischievous Dane, the playful A.J. and a ton of other fun supporting characters that will entertain you to no end. The drawing in this volume are exquisite. Megan is almost like a living doll with her clothes being very reminiscent of Victorian period dresses.

The novel is a quick and engaging read that will capture your attention with its details and beautiful drawings. Shutterbox is sure to please those looking for adventure in another world and those who enjoy school settings with a paranormal twist.

Recommend Me (10)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago.

To play along, grab a favorite read and tell us about it. You can include your thoughts about the novel, its summary, your favorite memory related to the novel... the possibilities are limitless. If you are up for a challenge, you can also include:

* Your review of the novel
* Links to others' reviews of the novel
* Recommending to a general group of readers or if you want to be extra daring, to specific reader friends

_____________________________________

Recommendation for the week, goes to:

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Nimira is a music-hall girl used to singing for pennies. So when wealthy young sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to perform with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life. But when she arrives at the Parry's estate, it is not the glittering world she expected. Instead, unsettling rumors begin to swirl about a madwoman roaming the halls at night, and Nimira suspects that Parry is keeping secrets, even while he proclaims to be falling in love with her.

And then there is the automaton itself, a mechanical man so realistically crafted it hardly seems possible that he isn't alive... or is he? As Nimira begins to rehearse with him, she senses something stirring beneath his handsome features. Is he haunted, as the servants claim, or is there something more to it?

Magic Under Glass is well... magical. The novel is filled with an amazing premise, superb characters, and a mystery that you will just be dying to solve. There are probably not enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this novel... so, if you want more information, read my review.


________________________________

Now that you know what I recommend, I would love to see your recommendation. Leave a link to your Recommend Me post in Mr. Linky, or feel free to comment with your recommendation.

For Example:

Your Name: Kate (The Neverending Shelf) or Kate (Skin Hunger)
Your URL: http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2010/01/recommend-me.html

Book Review: The Cinderella Society

Author: Kay Cassidy
Releases: April 13th 2010 by Egmont USA
Copy Provided by: Publisher
# of Pages: 320
Summary: (from Goodreads)

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

The Cinderella Society is made of 100% girl power. Page after page of this uplifting novel are filled to the brim with upbeat and powerful messages of friendship, acceptance, and strength. Jess is your typical high school student. She does not exactly fit in with her surroundings or peers, and lacks the general confidence that many of the popular girls have. Everything changes for Jess one day when she finds out that she has been accepted into The Cinderella Society, a secret society whose mission it is to battle the opposing society of the Wickeds.

While the novel has amazing messages, I did find myself struggling to finish the novel due to its slow pace. It was one of those novels that while reading I really enjoyed it, but once I put it down, it was hard to go back to. The novel is more about girl power, secret societies, and transformations then it was about action. I think that was what bothered me most... the lack of action.

The Cinderella Society is a fun battle of good vs. evil with a twist. Throughout the novel, I was really amazed at Cassidy's ability to continuously focus on girl power and similar themes without it seeming preachy or boring. And it was fun to watch Jess transform into a strong, confident person who believed in herself. The novel does leave some unanswered questions, but there is a sequel supposedly in the works which should address some, if not all, of them.

Book Review: Brightly Woven

Author: Alexandra Bracken
Released: March 23rd 2010 by EgmontUSA
Copy Provided by: Publisher
# of Pages: 368
Summary: (from Goodreads)

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Brightly Woven is a magical and enchanting read. One that starts the adventure from page one and does not stop until the end... and even then, there is the possibility of more. This novel is epic is so many ways... from Bracken's attention to the smallest of details to memorable characters that you just will not forget.

Brightly Woven is a fantasy, adventure novel with tons of extra elements sprinkled in. You have suspense, romance, mystery, intrigue... the list goes on and on. But what makes this novel stand out is the characters. Sydelle is a spunky, headstrong girl who is fiercely loyal. North is... well, North. A powerful wizard whose past haunts him, and a man who tries to do the right thing. When you put those two characters together... you have sparks. The warm, happy feeling sparks. The kind that make you cheer for them, and want everything to work out. They are an outstanding duo which made me laugh with their antics and shed a tear or two when things did not go as they could have.

Bracken is on fire with this novel. The writing, the plot, the twists... it all goes so perfectly together. I honestly cannot remember the last time that I so throughly enjoyed a fantasy novel. Readers who enjoy novels by Diana Wynne Jones will devour this novel in a matter of hours. This is an amazing, quick paced, high action novel that will leave you completely satisfied and begging for more. While it is unclear if there will be sequel, the ending does leave the reader hoping for one. If you have not had a chance to read this baby yet, run... do not walk... to your local bookstore and pick up a copy. You will not regret it.

Snubbr.com Giveaway

Snubbr.com is the new way to be introduced to some amazing reads. It is like your own personal shopping buddy.

All you have to do is ask an expert at Snubbr a question like, "What is the best young adult novel available?" and bam... you will get some great advice.



How to Enter:

Visit the list of manga at Snubbr.com. Once you have a selection, please fill out the form below with your choice and information.


Rules:

• Open to US only
• Must be at least 13 years of age to enter. Please note: 

Please note: Some of these titles may be better suited for older teens and adults. Please read the summaries of these titles and select the one that will be best suited for you. I will not be held responsible for the content in these titles.

• Contest ends Wednesday, April 6, 2010
• To enter, please fill out the form below

-- Contest Closed --

Cover Discovery: Beautiful Darkness

Looks like this may be the week of cover unveilings...


Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl have released the cover of their upcoming sequel, Beautiful Darkness. The novel will be available October 26, 2010. While there is not summary available at this time, I am sure it will be a very satisfying novel.

While I am not 100% in love with the cover, I must admit that I do love the color contrasts and all that blue... great color.


What do you think of the cover?

Author Safari (5)

Come take a journey into the undiscovered territory of the Author. Authors are an interesting species... they provide readers with hours of entertainment... yet they remain mainly aloof from the public eye. Based on years of research, Kristen and I discovered that the secret to learning more about these aloof creatures is to observe them in their natural environment. Therefore, dear readers, we will be hosting an Author Safari twice a month to lead readers into this unexplored territory. So grab your equipment and let's head off for an adventure.


Rules of the Safari:

• Adventurers must leave all hands and feet inside the vehicle, and may only travel on the below mentioned paths.
• 2 clues will be given regarding the item that we are searching for: one on The Neverending Shelf and one on Bookworming in the 21st Century. Items will be in image form unless otherwise noted.
• In order to be entered for this week's prize, readers must venture out to the hosts' and author's sites listed. Once the adventurer believes that they have found the item in question, they must fill out the included form listed on either host's Safari posting. Please enter only once on either mine or Kristen's form. Duplicate entries will be deleted.

Author of the week:



Sheila A. Nielson

Profile: Sheila is the debut author of Forbidden Sea which releases August 2010. In her spare time, Sheila loves to draw and make amazing necklaces.




Journey into this author's natural habitat by visiting:
 
http://windwaithemermaid.blogspot.com/




Clue #1:
A Princess cannot leave home without me.

For Clue #2, please visit Bookworming in the 21st Century


Prize:
Sheila has graciously donated a signed ARC of Forbidden Sea and a handmade mermaid necklace.





To enter:
Please fill out the form below. Contest is open to residents of US and Canada only until Monday, March 29th @midnight CST.



Happy Hunting!

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Red vs. Blue Read-A-Thon Wrapup

So Team Blue... this is what I have been up to:

Friday:

Shutterbox, Volume 1 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons

Shutterbox, Volume 2 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons
  
Shutterbox, Volume 3 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons

Shutterbox, Volume 4 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons

Arata: The Legend, Vol. 1 by Yuu Watase

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy (read 162 of 320 pages)


Friday Page Count: 990


Saturday:

Sanctuary (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #1) by Melissa Marr 

Finished The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Firespell (Dark Elite, #1) by Chloe Neill

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey 


Saturday Page Count: 1108


Sunday:

and Falling, Fly by Skyler White

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

WTF by Peter Lerangis


Sunday Page Count: 1101

Monday:

Black Bird, Volume 2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji

Black Bird, Volume 3 by Kanoko Sakurakoji

Metamo Kiss Volume 1 by Sora Omote

Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey




Monday Page Count: 1111



Total Page Count: 4310


___________________________________________


You know what this means.... Team Blue WON!!! Thank you guys so much for your support. Now the thing you have been waiting for... the winner of the mystery box.

With 55 amazing... outstanding supporters... the winner is:

Cleverly Inked

I will be sending you an email soon.

Thank you to all my amazing supporters. I am flabbergasted to see all the support I got. Thank you all so much! 

And a HUGE thank you goes to Kristen of Bookworming in the 21st Century for being a great friend and for providing me with some awesome competition. This was a blast!

Cover Discovery: Paranormalcy

Amazing news everyone! Kiersten White has posted the cover of her upcoming novel, Paranormalcy:

I have been dying to see what this cover would look like. It is fierce and uber pretty. I WANTS!!


Special Note: Kiersten says that this is not the final cover since there are always tweaks and such.

Book Review: Of All the Stupid Things

Author: Alexandra Diaz
Released: December 22nd 2009 by EgmontUSA
Copy Provided by: Publisher
# of Pages: 272
Summary: (from Goodreads)

It really was a stupid thing that Brent Staple did – doing it (so the rumour goes) with Chris Sanchez, one of the guy cheerleaders. Who’d have thought that Brent, the school’s hottest jock, could be gay? But the doubt about Brent doesn’t just hurt Tara – it’s the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for the marathon, but also running from her father and her fear of ever being abandoned again. Beautiful Whitney Blaire’s got everything and nothing, because her parents have never had time for her. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she never stops missing. The girls couldn’t be more different, but doesn’t that just prove the strength of their friendship?

Then new-girl Riley arrives in school, wafting her long black hair and a scent of lilacs. Suddenly, Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl - and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay – or does she just love Riley? And can the map of her deepest friendships ever be redrawn in a post-Riley world?

Of All the Stupid Things is an exceptional look into how the smallest of rumors can have a large effect. Told through the perspectives of Tara, Whitney Blaire, and Pinkie, the reader gets to the heart of the rumor and discovers the truth of what friendships, and even love, means to each of them. At first glance, the three perspectives can seem a little much; however, I really enjoyed seeing every side of the story. It gave me a deeper look into the whole picture. If the novel had only been from the one perspective, then I do not believe that the novel could have been as powerful.

Of All the Stupid Things is a novel that will make you think... not only about rumors and friendship drama, but also about what love is. In our society, it is too easy to get caught up in the labels game. Are you straight... gay? I loved that Diaz took on this challenge and showed readers that you do not necessarily have to have a label when it comes to love. The novel shows that, in the end, what really matters is the person.

This is a powerful novel. I loved that Diaz focused on showing people the power of acceptance.. the power of understanding. This is a wonderful and intriguing read that will leave readers with fresh look at the world.



Readers should be aware: This novel contains scenes of kissing and sexual situations, both of the same and different sex. In addition, there is some minor usage of curse words.

Book Review: Jekel Loves Hyde

Author: Beth Fantaskey
Releases: May 3rd 2010 by Harcourt Children's Books
Copy Provided by: Publisher
Summary: (from Goodreads)

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.

Jekel Loves Hyde is a surprisingly dark and moody novel. Gone is the stereotypical pretty girl main character. Instead the reader has Jill: your average looking, science loving kinda girl. I have to say that I applaud Fantaskey for taking this leap. It was refreshing to read about a main character who is well... so average. And what makes me applaud Fantaskey even more is that she stays average. There are no makeovers... no sudden transformations. Just a normal girl who has a romance with an attractive male.

The plot went far beyond my expectations. Fantaskey has taken a classic that many readers will be familiar with, and flipped it on its head. I have to say that this novel was a complete page turner... filled with many twists that will shock and amaze. This is one book that I did not want to put down.

While the characters are unique in their own ways, there are some aspects to them that almost disappointed me. For the most part, Tristen and Jill lacked the chemistry between them that I was looking for. They do work well together and I loved their heated interactions, but I just had a hard time being swept up in their romance. It had the possibility, but did not live up to its full potential. Additionally, I missed Fantaskey's humor. If you have read her previous novel, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, then you know the humor which I am referring to. While I think that the humor is missing largely due to the mood of the novel, I still missed it nonetheless.

While I throughly enjoyed the novel, I must comment on the ending. It is possibly the only real big miss of the novel. Honestly, I was pretty let down to see that Fantaskey did not give me the big action scene that I had been craving. Everything is hinted at, but nothing is shown. Instead, the reader is left almost hanging with a nice epilogue to mesh all the ending threads. Personally, I would have preferred things differently, but it does work to a certain extent. Jekel Loves Hyde is a very satisfying read. Fantaskey tells a wonderful story and look forward to her future work.


Readers should be aware: The novel contains a fair amount of curse words in specific areas of the novel. As well as scenes of kissing and sexual nature. While there are no sex scenes, it is discussed at length a few times throughout the novel. The novel also contain a good amount of violence.

Manga Review: Arata: The Legend, Vol. 1

Author: Yuu Watase
Released: March 9th 2010 by VIZ Media LLC
# of Pages: 208
Summary: (from Goodreads)

An action-packed shonen fantasy from the acclaimed author of Fushigi Yûgi! In a mythical world where humans and gods co-exist, Arata has the unfortunate honor of being the successor to the matriarchal Hime Clan. This means he has to pretend to be a girl or face death if his true gender is discovered! On the day of his inauguration, an assassination plot forces him to flee—and he somehow winds up in modern-day Japan! Meanwhile, a boy named Arata Hinohara gets sucked into the first Arata’s world and finds himself dealing with people after his life!

Arata was very different than what I was expecting... in a good way. If you have ever read anything by Yuu Watase, such as Fushigi Yugi, then you know that her writing involves adventure, action, and romance with the first two come behind the romance aspect. This made lead some readers to believe that her novels are geared toward the female reader. This is not the case with Arata. This novel is high in action and adventure with a microscopic hint of romance. While I can that the novel is not targeted mainly at males, I can say that males may enjoy this series more than her previous work. However, this is based on the first volume, so my opinion may change.

But what will not change is the Watase sparkle. Every manga I have ever read of Watase's has this sparkle that I find so rarely in other novels. So what is the sparkle? It is a novel filled with memorable characters that you will think of long after you have read the last page, amazing premises that keep you on the edge of your seat, and outstanding drawings that can take your breath away. For me, there is nothing like a work by Watase. They are a joy to read, and I have yet to find one that I have not devoured.

I am happy to report that Arata follows in this great tradition. This is an action packed novel that involves world travel, action, intrigue, and quite a few twists. Arata will pull you in and not let go till the last page. There is a lot here for both male and female readers to enjoy. And I will be waiting excitedly to see what happens next.

Book Review: Inside Out

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Releases: April 1st 2010 by Harlequin
Copy Provided by: Around the World Tours
# of Pages: 313
Summary: (from Goodreads)

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck I risk is my own. Until I accidently start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I should have just said no...

Going into reading Inside Out, I was a little worried since I had tried to read her other series, Study, without much success. Thankfully, my fears were quickly pushed aside as I began reading.

Inside Out begins slowly as Snyder introduces Trella's world. This is a world full of life and issues that many of us have not encountered before, so I really enjoyed that Snyder took her time to ease the reader into this new world. Snyder's attention to detail also is shown in her characterization of Trella. She is not a happy-go-lucky type of person. Instead, she is complex: a ruff exterior to hide the soft inside. She is spunky, headstrong, and vulnerable at the right moments... the perfect character for a dystopian novel. Like Trella, the secondary characters are outstanding. They add tons of depth to Trella's character as well as make the novel more fun. Riley, Trella's love interest, was totally a swoon-worthy kind of guy, who definitely helped to soften Trella's hard edges... that and his adorable stuff animals. Seriously, if I could buy these little guys I would.

The premise of the novel has the distinct dystopian feel about it with slight hints of science fiction. In Trella's world, there are basically two types of people: the Uppers and the Scrubs. While the novel does not go into too much detail about the Uppers, the Scrubs' lives are throughly detailed. The reader understands everything from day to day life to how things are recycled. For Trella, her life is the pipes. She knows them backwards and forwards, and did not earn her nickname, Queen of the Pipes, for nothing. Everything changes for her one day when she becomes tangled up in a revolution... one that she wanted no part of.

Like the pipes that Trella calls home, Inside Out is full of twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Synder does a magnificent job of unveiling every little plot detail slowly and with the greatest care. There will definitely be some twists that you will not have seen coming. Especially, the finally twist. That was one that I never saw coming in a million years. While the novel feels complete, there are definitely some questions that need answers. Thankfully, Outside In will be released in 2011. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment. And I am crossing my fingers for some more of the adorableness that is Riley and his stuffed animals.


Readers should be aware: This novel contains minor usage of curse words. As well as minimal kissing and talk of sexual acts, which pertains to inner workings Terella's world. The novel also contains a far amount of violence.

The Shelf Report (3)

The Shelf Report explores the really cool stuff that comes weekly in my mailbox. As well as what I have read and plan on reading for the week. It also includes any cool events that are going on around The Neverending Shelf and the blogosphere. The Shelf Report is inspired by Kristi's In My Mailbox and Sheila's It's Monday, What are you Reading?





For Review:

• Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
• The Light (Morpheus Road, #1) by D.J. MacHale  
• Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens
• Troubadour by Mary Hoffman (For 1 ARC Tours)
• Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones 
• The Tighty Whitey Spider: And More Wacky Animal Poems I Totally Made Up by Kenn Nesbitt, Ethan Long (Illustrator)

Books Purchased:

• Little Queen Volume 1 by Yeon-Joo Kim
• Shutterbox, Volume 3 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• Shutterbox, Volume 1 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons
• Sanctuary (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #1) by Melissa Marr
• Little Queen Volume 2 by Yeon-Joo Kim  
• Shutterbox, Volume 4 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• Metamo Kiss Volume 2 by Sora Omote 
• Shutterbox, Volume 2 by Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons 
• Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper 
• Incarceron (Incarceron, #1) by Catherine Fisher
• Possessed by Kate Cann
• Wings: A Fairy Tale by E.D. Baker 
• Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
• The Wizard Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #2) by Cinda Williams Chima
• Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely, #3) by Melissa Marr 
• The Warrior Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
• The Pearl of the Soul of the World (Darkangel Trilogy, #3) by Meredith Ann Pierce
• Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
• A Gathering of Gargoyles (Darkangel Trilogy, #2) by Meredith Ann Pierce  
• The Darkangel (Darkangel Trilogy, #1) by Meredith Ann Pierce

Read Last Week:

Did not finish anything. Was getting rested / ready for Red vs. Blue Read-A-Thon


Reading This Week(end):

• Arson by Estevan Vega (Finishing) 
• The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy (Finishing)
• WTF by Peter Lerangis
• Firespell (Dark Elite, #1) by Chloe Neill  
• Sanctuary (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #1) by Melissa Marr
• Arata: The Legend, Vol. 1 by Yuu Watase
• Black Bird, Volume 2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji 
• Cherry Juice Volume 1 by Haruka Fukushima 
• Metamo Kiss Volume 1 by Sora Omote
• Wondrous Strange (Wondrous Strange, #1) by Lesley Livingston 
  
• Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner 
• Hearts At Stake (The Drake Chronicles #1) by Alyxandra Harvey   
• Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
• A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker 
• Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones
• Blood Ninja by Nick Lake 
• Deadly Little Secret (Touch, #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz 

People Mentioned:

Kristen of Bookworming in the 21st Century
Jeni (aka Gigi) of Cats on the Shelf


Sites Mentioned:

Bookcloseouts.com


Posts of Mentioned:

Review:

• Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
• The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki
• Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol. 2 by QuinRose, Hoshino Soumei
• Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Want your review featured on The Neverending Shelf? I am now taking guest reviews.

Talked about the future of Affiliates on The Neverending Shelf

Design It Up: How to jazz up your reviews with block quotes


Fun Stuff Around the Blogosphere:

Reggie of Undercover Book Lover showcased the cover of Andrea Cremer's upcoming novel, Nightshade.

I have to say that it is amazing! This is definitely one novel that I cannot wait to get my hands on. It is hands down one of the most beautiful covers of 2010. Can't wait!



Maggie Stiefvater announced that you can pre-order SIGNED copies of Linger. These beauties can be shipped to anywhere in the US and Canada.

On Our Minds @ Scholastic shared an amazing video that the folks at DK publishing made. It is a really eye opening message and should be watched the whole way through.

Sheila A. Nielson, author of the upcoming Forbidden Sea, announced that  Forbidden Sea is about to go international. According to Sheila, Scholastic UK has picked up the book and it will be published in the UK in August 2010.

Bree Despain announced the dates of her blog tour for The Dark Divine. And she will be stopping by The Neverending Shelf on March 31st.

Guest Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

Guest Reviewer:  Anna of Potter, Percy, And I

Author: Jay Asher
Released: October 18th 2007 by Razorbill
# of Pages: 288
Summary: (from Goodreads)

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

When my friend told me about this book, I was pretty hesitant to read it because it is about suicide. When she got me to read it, I was finished with it in only about two days. I think that it wasn't really about suicide, neccesarily. It was more about a boy who knew a girl who committed suicide. And him hearing her story. It left me thinking. It was a good type of thought, though. After each story, you have to think, "Okay. What does that have to do with her becoming depressed and committing suicide?" The answer to that is not obvious in most stories. Some you really have to think about, the rest you had to keep reading.

Hannah was fascinating. She really... thought everything through. She seemed to be very... vulnerable. Especially after Justin. She seemed to just break down after what happened with him. She was a smart girl, but she just felt so unloved. It messed with her head.

Clay was one of my all-time favorite characters. He was amazingly wrtten and very interesting in how he would react to each thing Hannah said. He was not a wishy-washy character. He was really... I don't want to say emotional, but he almost was. He was... calm, but inside, he was freaking out.

Skye was awesome. She probably was not the one you would guess would be helping Clay emotionally, but she did. She was not really a big character until the very last paragraph of the book. In all, One of my favorites. I loved it.


Check here for more information about Anna and her review.

_________________________________

Would you like your review featured on The Neverending Shelf? If so, please submit your review.

Recommend Me (9)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago.

To play along, grab a favorite read and tell us about it. You can include your thoughts about the novel, its summary, your favorite memory related to the novel... the possibilities are limitless. If you are up for a challenge, you can also include:

* Your review of the novel
* Links to others' reviews of the novel
* Recommending to a general group of readers or if you want to be extra daring, to specific reader friends

_____________________________________

Recommendation for the week, goes to:

The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry


In the "ideal" world into which Jonas was born, everybody has sensibly agreed that well-matched married couples will raise exactly two offspring, one boy and one girl. These children's adolescent sexual impulses will be stifled with specially prescribed drugs; at age 12 they will receive an appropriate career assignment, sensibly chosen by the community's Elders.
This is a world in which the old live in group homes and are "released"--to great celebration--at the proper time; the few infants who do not develop according to schedule are also "released," but with no fanfare.

Lowry's development of this civilization is so deft that her readers, like the community's citizens, will be easily seduced by the chimera of this ordered, pain-free society. Until the time that Jonas begins training for his job assignment--the rigorous and prestigious position of Receiver of Memory--he, too, is a complacent model citizen. But as his near-mystical training progresses, and he is weighed down and enriched with society's collective memories of a world as stimulating as it was flawed, Jonas grows increasingly aware of the hypocrisy that rules his world.

With a storyline that hints at Christian allegory and an eerie futuristic setting, this intriguing novel calls to mind John Christopher's Tripods trilogy and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl. Lowry is once again in top form--raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.

I was first introduced to The Giver in high school. To be honest, at the time, I went into this book basically by force since I had zero interest in reading a novel with a creepy looking old man on the cover. And to be even more honest, I did not read this novel in high school.. and barely paid attention to the class discussions. So what you may be wondering now is... why then is this book being recommended?

After years after I was forced to pay attention to this book, I was introduced to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. This series opened my eyes to a whole new genre of books... dystopian. After that series, I basically went on a dystopian craze, and tried to get my hands on every young adult dystopian novel that I could. I was a reader obsessed. Unfortunately, the dystopian genre a few years ago was nothing like it is today. And due to those rather slim pickings, I was forced to reevaluate my feelings on The Giver. On the one hand, I was still really put off by the cover. On the other, I had a feeling this novel could be pure dystopian bliss. So with the positives barely out weighing the negatives... I decided to give this a novel a real chance.


The Giver, in the end, was exactly what I was looking for at the time. It was definitely some dystopian awesomeness. Lowry's writing and characters blended together flawlessly in order to create a world like I had never seen before. A world where below the surface, nothing is what it seems to be. The Giver, for me, was one of those novels that I had to choose to read rather than be ask to. And once I chose to, it was amazing!


___________________________________

Now that you know what I recommend, I would love to see your recommendation. Leave a link to your Recommend Me post in Mr. Linky, or feel free to comment with your recommendation.

For Example:

Your Name: Kate (The Neverending Shelf) or Kate (Skin Hunger)
Your URL: http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2010/01/recommend-me.html