On the Fence Review

Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing a sweet contemporary romance novel called The Distance Between Us by Kasie West, so I was really excited this year to find her next book On the Fence in my mailbox to review this year. It was every bit as good as The Distance Between Us, in fact, I would maybe even go so far as to say I enjoyed it more. Check out my review below.

On the Fence by Kasie West
Gr 8 Up--West crafts a beautiful story that will hook lovers of contemporary teen romance. Ever since her mom died, Charlie, a 16-year-old tomboy who loves all things sports, spends most of her time playing pick-up games with her three brothers and next-door neighbor Braden. But when Charlie's dad makes her get a job to pay off a speeding ticket, she lands a job at a clothing store where she must model make-up and be more feminine than she's ever cared to be. Soon she's in over her head with lies--lying to her dad, her boss, and a cute boy who's never seen the tomboy side of her. The only thing that saves her are her late night fence chats with Braden, who she is slowly beginning to fall in love with but can't risk losing. This tale is eloquently written and goes deeper than most teen romances dare to go. For fans of Susane Colasanti and Stephanie Perkins.--"Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, Hartford Public Library, CT" Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC

Those Pesky Summaries

So you've finished off the latest revision of your manuscript, and have decided it's time to try sending it out. "That's great," you might think. And the excitement might even last for a few hours. But then, when it's time to proof your query letter and make sure that summary is absolutely perfect, the excitement starts to wear off. There's so much pressure put on the summary you write for your book. (Although much of it may be self-inflicted.) I still don't know if the summary is perfect, but I think I'm getting close to something, so I've decided to post it and see what some of you may have to say about it. Feel free to leave any suggestions/comments in the comments box at the bottom. I'd love to hear from you!

Summary of Desiderium:

At any given time there is exactly one Desiderium walking the Earth. And no matter what anyone might think they saw, that person absolutely cannot be seventeen-year-old Rhiley Winters. No way. The Desiderium, after all, has the power to make her strongest desires a reality—literally. The last one wished for a baby with every fiber of her being, and minutes later a screaming infant appeared out of thin air. And that’s nothing like what just happened to Rhiley in history class. Not even close.

But let’s just say Rhiley was the Desiderium (hypothetically speaking, of course). She would be the reason no one on this planet is allowed to feel desire. Plus there’s the tiny detail of finding herself at the top of every government’s most wanted list. After all, there’s no telling what kind of havoc she could wreak on society with her newfound ability. And if they do execute her (which would be highly unnecessary because she’s definitely not the Desiderium), as soon as she dies the ability would be passed on to someone else, and Rhiley would be nothing but a black mark in history books for generations to come.

So, really, the fact that she just wished for more time and time is now literally frozen around her doesn’t mean anything. And the fact that the hot new student witnessed everything doesn’t matter. Because there has to be another explanation. Her life depends on it.

Lost Girl Found Review

Here's my latest review for SLJ. It was a starred review, and a really good book, so check it out if you get the chance.

School Library Journal (04/01/2014):
Gr 8 Up--This poignant and gripping story follows Poni, a young girl growing up in a Sudanese village. The emotional tale depicts the challenges of Poni's everyday life before the war. Against all odds, she must find a way to stay in school, deflect any young boy's attention, and fight for her life to survive malaria. But then the war comes, and everything changes. After her entire village is wiped out following an airstrike and her family is presumed dead, she must flee Sudan with a group of refugees to the safety of a refugee camp far away. Many die along the way, but Poni survives the long journey. Once she gets there, she discovers the horrors going on at the refugee camp and must escape. After she's free, a nun in Nairobi offers her shelter, the continuing education the teen has been longing for, and, ultimately, help getting to America, the land of opportunity. This book does an excellent job of evoking strong emotions from readers through its graphic depictions of life in war-torn Africa. Many are familiar with the Lost Boys of Sudan, but these authors set out to tell the stories of the Lost Girls of Sudan, and have succeeded with flying colors. This short, quickly paced narrative will stay with readers for the rest of their lives.--"Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, Hartford Public Library, CT" Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

World After by Susan Ee

I reviewed Angelfall by Susan Ee when it came out back in 2012 and I loved it. I'm always a bit wary of books that started off as self-published e-books (i.e. Fifty Shades of Gray), but finally caved in and read Angelfall after one of my co-workers browbeat me into it. And I'm glad I did. It was an amazingly well written angel post-apocalyptic tale with all the necessary elements of a good YA book. So I had to read World After the second it came out last November, but am just now finally getting around to blogging about it.

World After Summary:
In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

World After Review:
At first when I read the description I immediately thought, wait, this sounds exactly like the first book. But the description is misleading. It couldn't be any more different from the first book if it tried. But in a good way. The author has done an exceptional job of creating romantic tension between Penryn and Raffe, without creating a full-blown romance between the two. Yet. The angel laws prevent Raffe from being with Penryn, so they keep a nice safe distance, but there's still that tension that makes you wonder if they will or won't at the end of the series.

Another reason why I love this series is that the plot is so original. It's nothing like any other book I've ever read. Yes, it has angels, which are a dime a dozen in YA literature right now, but it's done so differently than any other angel series. It has lots of action and violence, and quite a few other-worldly creatures that Penryn discovers something very interesting about. I don't want to spoil it, but if you haven't read this series, you really need to. The first book is fast throughout the entire book. The second book is a little slow to start, but once it gets going you're just about guaranteed to be hooked.

What I Thought Was True Review

My March review for SLJ was just published this week about a book called What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Here it is:

Gr 10 Up--Seventeen-year-old Gwen Castle has lived in Seashell, Connecticut her whole life, waiting hand and foot on the rich clientele who come to the island every year for a picturesque summer. And she's tired of it. The summer means getting to spend time on the beach, but it also means working long shifts at her dad's restaurant, being the third wheel to her best friend Vivien and her cousin Nico who are madly in love, and taking care of her younger brother with special needs. Suddenly, Gwen is given the opportunity to work as a caregiver for a rich elderly woman, and everything starts to change. She's forced to spend more time with the well-off and charming Cass, with whom she had a one-night stand last year. Gwen knows she should hate him after everything that happened, but the more she gets to know him, the more sparks fly. The teen begins to question what she thought was true-about Cass, about her family and friends, and about herself. This novel tells a beautiful story of first love and although some of the background information is slow to be revealed, Gwen's character has the kind of depth and voice that will enchant teens. Those with regrets of their own will find hope in this coming-of-age romance that will appeal to fans of Deb Caletti and Sara Zarr.--"Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, Hartford Public Library, CT" Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Shadow Throne Review

I've recently discovered NetGalley.com, which allows librarians and booksellers access to Advanced Reader Copies of books. And I'm glad I did. When I had the chance to get my hands on an advanced copy of The Shadow Throne by Jennifer Nielsen, I jumped at the chance. I loved the first two books in the series The False Prince and The Runaway King, and was eager to see how the trilogy finished. If you've read the first two books in the series, this book is a must. And if you haven't, then you need to :)

Shadow Throne Summary:
One war.
Too many battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?

War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?


Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion with The Shadow Throne.

Shadow Throne Review:
I reviewed The False Prince when it first came out, and I loved it. Nielsen's writing is so smart, witty, and fun that I was hooked. And her writing in The Shadow Throne is no different. King Jaron is up to his usual mischievous antics, and has a way of getting himself into sticky situations when he's trying to save his kingdom. And at times I was again left wondering how he would ever get out of them. But he always finds a way.

One of the greatest things about the first book in the series was that Nielsen and her protagonist were able to keep such a huge secret from the reader, and did an excellent job shocking readers with the big reveal. And I loved that she found a way to do that in this book too. It's not as big of a reveal, but there are two shocking twists near the end of the book that help make this book so much better. One of them was expected (or at least hoped for), and the other was a total shock. It was awesome.

And I can't emphasize enough how smart her writing is. King Jaron is very witty, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Recommend this series to anyone (boys or girls) who enjoy a good story filled with action, wit, and twisty plots.

Into the Still Blue Review

I would have to say that Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky trilogy is one of my favorite teen series. I couldn't wait to read the final installment: Into the Still Blue, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. In fact, I'm really sad it's over. But I can't wait to see what Rossi works on next.

Into the Still Blue Summary:

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Into the Still Blue Review:

If you've read the first two books in the series, you probably have a pretty good idea of why I feel in love with Aria and Perry. They strike a perfect balance between being likable and strong characters, but being flawed at the same time. And their romance has been rocky throughout the series, but remained pretty steadfast in this book. In fact, one of the things I liked most about this book was that Aria and Perry knew they had a huge obstacle to overcome in their relationship, and instead of ignoring it as is the case in many YA novels, they communicate about it and make a conscious effort to fix it. So Kudos to Rossi for that.

Another thing that I really enjoyed about this series is the plot. Yes, it's a dystopian, which the market is flooded with, but it's an original storyline, with a very unique and well-described world. Half of the population (the Dwellers) live in Pods, while the other half (the Outsiders) have to rough it on the outside, where there are cannibals roaming around, and the ever-increasing threat of the Aether storms. The Aether storms in and of themselves are a really unique element Rossi designed that helps make the story even more intriguing. One problem I have with the series, although minor, is that cannibals are a fairly big threat roaming around the Outside in the first book, but aren't mentioned at all in the second or third books. But Aria and Perry have more than enough to deal with, so it's definitely something I'm willing to look past. 

Overall, this book was an excellent ending to this amazing series!

A Corner of White Review

As a librarian, I read SLJ reviews every month, and based on the reviews I decide which books to purchase for the library. Then I usually decide which books to read next based on books that are in the library collection. But when I read the review for A Corner of White, I was dying to read it. The summary I'm including below isn't the one I read in SLJ, but it definitely does it justice.

A Corner of White Summary:
She knew this. That philematology is the science of kissing. That Samuel Langhorne Clemens is better known as Mark Twain. That, originally, gold comes from the stars.

Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie's Tea Shop. Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter. Elliot begins to write to Madeleine, the Girl-in-the-World – a most dangerous thing to do for suspected cracks must be reported and closed. But Elliot's father has disappeared and Madeleine's mother is sick. Can a stranger from another world help to unravel the mysteries in your own? Can Madeleine and Elliot find the missing pieces of themselves before it is too late?

A mesmerizing story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

A Corner of White Review:
First of all, right off the bat, I loved the cover. It's full of so many bright colors, which I'm instantly drawn to. And it touches on some of the major themes of the book. Colors are a critical part in both of the main characters' lives. For Madeline, who lives in the real world, she loves dressing in lots of bright colors, and living a bright and vibrant life. For Elliot, his mythical kingdom is plagued by Colour attacks, which I thought was a really unique and intriguing concept.

One of the main reasons why I love this book is that it has so much depth to it. Both of the characters are very unique, and are exceptionally well developed. And I really liked that one of the characters were based in reality, while the other lives in a mythical land with fantastical elements. The story was a little slow in the middle, but overall was really beautifully written. And the last fifty pages were exceptionally done. There was a major plot twist that I definitely did not see coming. And I'm eager to see where the series goes.

If you're looking for an original storyline with excellent imagery and character development, give this one a try.

Nearly Gone Review (Official)

Gr 9 Up--In this suspenseful and thrilling murder mystery, high school junior Nearly Boswell is struggling to get by in a Washington, DC trailer park with her single mother, who works the night shift at a local strip club. Any chance she has of escaping her miserable life is dependent on a highly competitive scholarship for which she and her best friend are vying against each other. Everything is going according to plan until Nearly spots an eerie personal ad in the local newspaper-an ad that ends up being a clue in the attempted murder of one of her classmates. She soon finds another clue in the following week's paper leading to another murder. And then another. The police won't take her seriously, and when the hints start pointing in her direction, Nearly becomes their number one suspect. The only person she can trust is bad boy Reece, whom she suspects is working with the police to keep a close eye on her. The clock is ticking, and Nearly must hurry to solve the homicides, and prove her own innocence, before it is too late. There is a hint of the paranormal in this murder mystery, as Nearly has an unusual gift that allows her to "taste" the emotions of others when she touches their skin. Eloquently written and packed full of suspense, debut author Cosimano strikes gold with this page-turning thriller that will have teens chomping at the bit to get to the end. Give this to fans of Kimberly Derting's "The Body Finder" (HarperCollins, 2010) or anyone else who is looking for a captivating murder mystery.--"Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, Hartford Public Library, CT" Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Flame

I reviewed Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan about a year ago when it came out, and I just finished reading Flame, which is the third book in the Sky Chasers series. I felt a little iffy about the first book, Glow, but after reading Spark I was hooked. Flame was a little slow to start off, but I loved it every bit as much as the second book. I can't wait to see where Amy Kathleen Ryan decides to take her writing career next. 

Flame Summary:
In the thrilling conclusion to the Sky Chasers series Waverly, Kieran, and Seth struggle to survive on-board the New Horizon—and take down their enemies before it's too late.

Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn't go as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Kieran has been pulled under Anne Mather’s wing, but is she really trying to make peace, or just using Kieran to build her own power? Meanwhile, Waverly is taken in by a mysterious old man who wants to help her bring Anne Mather down—but the more Waverly cooperates with him, the more dangerous her position is, and the more at odds with Kieran she becomes.
Seth's situation is even worse. After setting out from the Empyrean on his own, with only a vague strategy to guide him, he is a fugitive aboard the New Horizon. He's doing what he can to challenge the power of Anne Mather, but he's badly hurt, and getting sicker.

Will Seth ever see Waverly again? Will his health hold out long enough to help her topple their enemies? And will Waverly find a way to unite with her friends before they all fall? Nothing is sure and every moment is a risk in this explosive finale of the Sky Chasers series.

Flame Review:
Since I was already invested in the characters, it was easy for me to get sucked into the story from the beginning. Since it had been almost a year and a half since reading the previous book, I had forgotten some of the finer points of what had happened, but Ryan did a good job of reminding the reader without spending too much time re-hashing it. 

To be honest, my only complaint is that the book is a little slow at times. But other than that, this book is filled with action and romance, and all of the elements of a good YA novel. I definitely wouldn't recommend reading it without reading the other books in the series, but as a whole, I would highly recommend the series. 

There were a few points in the book where I wasn't sure how the characters were going to make it out of their sticky situations, and I thought Ryan did this in a really great way. She also did an excellent job with character development, not only with the main characters, but also with the villains, who readers will love to hate.

I usually hate it when YA dystopian series wrap everything up at the end just a little too nicely, but this wasn't one of those. In fact, I loved the way it ended. The book's last chapter tells the reader about the character's lives eight years into the future, which is something I love to see in YA series. You spend so much time being invested in the characters and the story that it's always exciting to see what happens to the characters when they grow up. 

Enjoy!