It's Almost Time! Need a Teaser? Teaser Trailer #6

Tonight at midnight (EST), Reading Teen will be presenting the new, full-length BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS trailer!  Do you need a teaser?  Check out these short teaser-trailers!  Come back at midnight!

It's Almost Time! Need a Teaser? Teaser Trailer #5

Tonight at midnight (EST), Reading Teen will be presenting the new, full-length BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS trailer!  Do you need a teaser?  Check out these short teaser-trailers!  Come back at midnight!

It's Almost Time! Need a Teaser? Teaser Trailer #4

Tonight at midnight (EST), Reading Teen will be presenting the new, full-length BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS trailer!  Do you need a teaser?  Check out these short teaser-trailers!  Come back at midnight!

It's Almost Time! Need a Teaser? Teaser Trailer #3

Tonight at midnight (EST), Reading Teen will be presenting the new, full-length BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS trailer!  Do you need a teaser?  Check out these short teaser-trailers!  Come back at midnight!

It's Almost Time! Need a Teaser? Teaser Trailer #2

Tonight at midnight (EST), Reading Teen will be presenting the new, full-length BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS trailer!  Do you need a teaser?  Check out these short teaser-trailers!  Come back at midnight!

It's Almost Time! Need a Teaser? Teaser Trailer #1

Tonight at midnight (EST), Reading Teen will be presenting the new, full-length BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS trailer!  Do you need a teaser?  Check out these short teaser-trailers!  Come back at midnight!

I'm Getting Ready For Beautiful Darkness Release Day... Come SEE!

So Beautiful Darkness is coming to a bookstore near you October 12, 2010. I have been very excited to spotlight this book this month along with Beautiful Creatures.

A LOT has happened this month, not only has the sweetest authors ever, Kami and Margaret sent us swag and signed posters, but, also as you may have heard we won the Caster Girls contest for the premiere of the Beautiful Darkness trailer. It will only be premiered on Reading Teen.

Our SecondHand Saturday question this week ask you to comment on either Beautiful Creatures review or Beautiful Darkness depending on how much you've read, here are some of your comments...


From Beautiful Creatures:

Jessica said...


Now I definitely have to add this book to my TBR list. It sounds amazing! Thanks for the great review. You've got me sold.

Enbrethiliel said...
+JMJ+

I'm glad that the Second Hand Saturday challenge asks us to revisit this review. I've recently read Fallen by Lauren Kate and Beautiful Creatures seems so much like it. Not that that's a turn-off for me . . .

One of my current fascinations is what I call the "neo-Gothic" novel. I'd really like to read Beautiful Creatures to check out how its authors make the same conventions work and what twists they put into it.

So thanks again, Reading Teen team! =)

Jeremy West said...


Awesome review! I absolutely loved BC and I loved BD even more!!

*One of my favorites...

jen7waters said...


I keep stumbling across this book (series), and for some crazy reason I still haven't add it to my wishlist. This is it. I'm adding it. Right. Now.
Loved your review. I'm a sucker for non-cheesy yet intoxicating love stories and people with strange powers.
*runs to her wishlist*


From Beautiful Darkness:

yllektra (force-oblique) said...


OMG wow!!!

It sounds like this love is stuff of legends!!
Ethan sounds like the perfect male in any story! <333
I can't wait to get my hands on this book! XD

Jenilee Antonio said...


Great review! I just finished reading Beautiful Creatures and I liked it. I'm looking forward to read Beautiful Darkness! :)



I'm loving all your comments for SecondHand Saturday, be sure and click the link above to enter a chance to win a free book from our shelf.
And don't forget about the CASTER CONTEST we only have a couple of weeks left. I've been wanting to keep all the swag to myself, personally. But, I guess you've all earned a shot at the amazing prize packs... Good Luck!
Make sure you check back on release day... not only will we post our three winners but also we have other surprises in store.

And The Award Goes To.....

YAY!!  Of course Harry Potter wins best all time fave!!  If you haven't read these books yet....don't even talk to me!  I don't want to hear your excuses!  Go NOW!!!

Have you seen this cover?  I've never seen it before!

  

Congrats to Lauren Kate who won best new writer for FALLEN! This was one of Amy's favorite reads ever! TORMENT just released yesterday and Amy was very excited to show off her new shirt!  Check it out!





Best teen series: Vampire Academy: SPIRIT BOUND by Richelle Mead 


I haven't read this series yet, but I've heard it's fantastic!  The sixth book in the series THE LAST SACRIFICE is due to release Dec. 7.

Best lip lock: Bella & Edward from BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer 


Yeah....I'm going to have to disagree with that one!  If you're going to pick one of the Twilight books for best kiss, how can you NOT pick that kiss between Bella and Jacob?  I mean, I was an Edward girl (before the movies), but that kiss with Jacob......yeah!



Best hottie: Jace Waylaynd from Mortal Instruments: CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare


Yes, I think I would have to agree with this one.  I just adore Jace!  He makes me smile!  He's just the perfect mix between bad-boy and love of my life.....wait, what?  I mean good guy!  Yes, that's what I meant!!  Seriously, really....
Congrats to Cassie for making such a swoon-worthy guy!  He may have a little compitition with her newest hottie, though, be sure to check out Will from CLOCKWORK ANGEL, you just might want to trade up!! 


Best book-to-flick: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling


Um....of course I love this pick!  I think this may have been the best adaptation of all the Harry Potter books to film, although what they did with Harry and Ginny's relationship borders on criminal!  I have a feeling that once The Deathly Hallows movies come out, I'll be picking a new favorite, though!  Have you seen the trailer???  If not, it's at the top of this blog!  I think I watch it every time I look at my blog!  Harry Potter = love!!


Best hero: Percy Jackson from THE LAST OLYMPIAN by Rick Riordan


Ok, I'm going to admit something.....I didn't care for the Percy Jackson books.....there, I said it.  I couldn't make it through the first one.  BUT!!!  All of my kids (ages 7-14 at the time) LOVED them.  LOVED!  And I'm pretty sure that's his target!  




Best villain: Alice Milthorpe from PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS by Michelle Zink


I'm really happy about this one!!  This was a really fantastic book and I just haven't heard that much about it in the blogging world, so I'm glad to see that it is being read by people and that Alice has given other people out there the chills too!  Alice is freaking creepy!!!  When I reviewed this book, I went through and wrote down my feelings chapter by chapter, and one thing that keept showing up in my thoughts was freaky Alice!!  Check out my review here.  I'm going to be reading the sequel GUARDIAN OF THE GATE for our Halloween reads in Oct


Best Canadian read: Darkest Power: THE RECKONING by Kelley Armstrong


I've had this book sitting on my shelf for awhile now, but I haven't had the chance to read it.  I keep seeing it everywhere, now, though, so I'm definitely putting at the top of my list!  Congrats, Kelley!


Best Read: The Hunger Games: CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins


Ok, so the BOOK-THAT-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED totally killed this series for me, but I have to admit THE HUNGER GAMES, and CATCHING FIRE were amazing.  Until YOU-KNOW-WHAT came along, this would have ranked #2 in my favorite series ever.  So....if you haven't read them yet, and you want to be really depressed....read at your own risk.  Haha!  :)

Sadly BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl didn't win, but we're going to give it our own award!  So, it wins best Freaking Awesome book.  Yes...that's a category if we say it is!  


If you haven't entered our contest for BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS & lots of SWAG yet, there's still time!!  


To check out more about these awards, be sure to go to Teen Read Awards, presented by Indigo!  Thanks for voting!  Are you happy with the results?

Latte Daze By: Erynn Mangum, Review By: Kit

Latte Daze By: Erynn Mangum 

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600067123
• ISBN-13: 978-1600067129
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches

What this book's about:

     Latte Daze is a completely adorable, laugh-so-hard-I-almost-peed-my-pants funny, and ultimately entertaining chick-lit about Maya Davis and her crazy life.  Juggling her new boyfriend, new coworker, and trying to find a new house because she just found out her roommate/best friend is getting married to her ex-boyfriend makes life a little insane.  But at least there are endless jokes about Jack (boyfriend/ex-coworker) going to work at the zoo to lighten the mood.  On top of all that Maya just found out her sister-in-law (who, she discovered is not as unlikable as Maya first thought) is pregnant. Without coffee her life just might explode.

My Review:

     This is the second book in the Cool Beans series, I read Cool Beans a while ago and loved it! You can see my review here.  And when I heard that Latte Daze was out I desperately wanted to read it, but I decided against it because I knew after I read it I would just be dying for the third (sort of like I am for the third Minder). I held out. When I saw that Double Shot was finally out I was SO excited, I emailed NavPress and requested review copies for both books, they said they would be happy to send them to me.  And I checked the mail without fail EVERY day (even accidentally on Sunday) until it got here.  I open it up, and it's Latte Daze, with a note inside saying Double Shot was back ordered. Figures.  Once I had Latte Daze in my hands I only held out for about another half an hour. Now what? I'm dying for Double Shot.

My Favorite Quote:

"You've got a really goofy look on your face right now"

"What?"

"Sort of all squishy looking.  Like a lovesick sponge."

Erynn Mangum's website!

And a big thanks to NavPress for the review copies!

~Kit

(The 'rentals need to know: this book is squeaky clean, with only one minor topic, to see more click here!)

Today is Release Day for Torment by Lauren Kate!

I'm so excited that Torment was released today. YAY!!!! Congratulation Lauren Kate!

Read my review for Torment

A sketch I saw at the library! Pretty!

Today at Borders Books

I could not resist the tshirt at Borders

The back of the tshirt

Read my review and GO buy

Torment

now! Again Congratulation Lauren Kate and Delacorte Press.

~ Amy

ARC Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Graphia; Original edition (October 18, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547341245
ISBN-13: 978-0547341248

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

"Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world."

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

     Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons?

     A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens. 

My Review

You know what I really hate? Not finishing a book because I didn't like it. I feel like a failure. And I feel like its not fair to the author. I also hate giving reviews on saying how much I hated the book that I only semi-finished. But I hated this book so much, that I don't really care. I've been dreading writing this for awhile now, but I just need to get this over with. Sooo, here it goes... 

Hunger is only 174 pages long, and I didn't even finish it! Ugh, talk about a fail. It wasn't very well written at all! I was just so confused, Jackie Morse Kessler didn't make anything flow at all! I was so lost that I had to make sure many times that it wasn't the second book in the series. And I didn't like any of the characters. Lisa's dad was completely oblivious about everything, I mean, he didn't even realize how anorexic she was. But the character that annoyed me the most was the main character, Lisabeth. Its never a good sign when the main character makes you want to throw the book across the room and yell at it. (This almost happened actually...) The whole freaking time she is talking about how she wants a Hostess Cupcake or a french fry, etc. But she cant, because then she will get fat. And no joke, something like this goes through her mind when she is offered food: Brown rice, one hundred thirty-five calories. Steamed broccoli, two cups, fifty calories. One bite of chicken, thirty-six calories. Two hours on the exercise bike. I just rolled my eyes after every time she did that. When I think about, I mean really think about it, I cant come up with one thing I liked about this book. Harsh, yes I know. But I'm critiquing, am I not? I'm telling you what I thought of this book. And what I am trying to tell you is, this book was a huge disappointment. 

But, I might just be overly picky on what I read. So if you have already read this book, and liked it, please comment and tell me what you liked about it! (:

P.S. I don't mean to be insensitive to anybody after this review. Maybe if you are going through a problem like Lisabeth is, you might be able to relate to her in some way. I however didn't see a point in reading about Lisa's disorder. 

*A word to the parents, I didn't finish this book. But from what I read, there is some minor cursing, some kissing. And it deals with bulimia/anorexia. 

YAY!!! WE WON!!! The Premier of the Beautiful Darkness Trailer by The Caster Girls

We  freakin' won the contest to premier the Beautiful Darkness trailer here on our blog... OK. when I count to three everyone jump up and down and scream with me me... 1mississippi 2mississippi 3mississippi *SCREAM!!!!!! YAY!!!!

Just imagine us up on the stage with a golden statue of some sort:  "WE at ReadingTeen, feel so honored with this award that we say from the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much. Thank you CasterGirls, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Thank You!!!" 

  

CasterGirls.com

THE READING TEEN TEAM

Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: EgmontUSA (July 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606840835
• ISBN-13: 978-1606840832
• Author's Website:  http://www.anastasiahopcus.com/

After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA -- a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach -- the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after -- seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.


I've actually been sitting on this review for awhile.  I don't really know why I've had a hard time writing it.  I think it's because there wasn't anything that I really loved or hated about Shadow Hills.  It was a pretty good book.  I thought the storyline was interesting, especially since the "paranormal" powers were able to be explained scientifically.  It was definitely an original, and interesting take on the paranormal.  I wish the story had stuck to the scientific (gene mutation) theory, and not gone into the whole goddess aspect.  I think that just seemed forced and out of place.  I'm sure that this will come into play in future books in the series, but in this one, it just kind of seemed to come out of no where, and then Phe just went from not understanding any of it, to being able to use extraordinary powers without any training or studying or explanation.  It really wasn't that big of a deal, I didn't hate it, I just think it would have been more unique and interesting to have a "paranormal" that ended up not really being paranormal at all, but based in science.


At the beginning of the book I had a hard time understanding why Phe was so attracted to Zach.  I thought the attraction was a little fast, but later in the story I enjoyed their relationship and even fell for Zach myself.  He was a sweetie and I loved the way he always looked out for Phe.  And I also really liked Phe's character.  She was really witty, and constantly coming up with quick, snarky comebacks, which I love in a girl.


I wasn't crazy about the setting of the boarding school.  I guess I'm just getting tired of boarding school settings.  It seems like every other book I read is set at a boarding school, which basically makes the book feel like it's about college kids, and not high school kids.  Especially when they are basically able to do whatever they want, with no real supervision.  It's just not very believable.  But, again, not really a huge deal, just something that is at the back of my mind when reading.  


I think the thing with this book is that it suffered a little from Series Syndrome and the middle just didn't have that much going on, and I got a little bored, and when I get bored reading I start nit-picking everything.  I thought the beginning of the book was really interesting and entertaining.  I thought the end was pretty exciting and suspenseful.  And I love the overall premise of the book.  It was just that the middle seemed to drag on, making what could have been one really good book into what may end up being just an ok series for me.  

4 out of 6

You may like to know:  There's a moderate amount of sexual content/dialog, and quite a bit of cussing in this book.  There's also a moderate amount of violence.  For more information, go to Shadow Hills on Parental Book Reviews.

Another great book trailer by Vania!

Winner Winner....Another Chicken Dinner?

We have winners to announce!!  First the winner of SCARS is.....

# 22 Jessica Sneeringer

If you didn't win and you're super sad....you're in luck!  I'm adding my copy to this week's Second Hand Saturday, so you can enter to win it there!!  If you'd like to read my review, click here.

And now....for the moment you've all been waiting for!  Our winner of the Back-To-School Giveaway!  

#356 Kim Skelton

who picked

Wait....did I say winner?  What I meant was WINNERS because 583 entries surely entitles you to two winners!!  So, the second winner is......

#215 Angela Z

who picked

Congrats everyone!  

Now the question is....what do we do with all these extra books?  Any thoughts?

Love ya'll!

Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. Machale

Morpheus Road by D.J MacHale

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Aladdin; 1 edition (April 20, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416965165

ISBN-13: 978-1416965169

Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

The Story


Grade 6–10  High school sophomore Marshall Seaver is being haunted by a figure out of his imagination in this fast-paced fantasy thriller. The skeletal character he obsessively draws, the Gravedigger, has come to life and is threatening him. He's also seeing other frightening images that don't make sense. Marshall was supposed to spend his summer vacation with his best friend, but Coop is forced to go to his family's lake house instead. Then he disappears, and Marshall is the only person who believes that his friend is in trouble and hasn't just run off again. Coop's snobbish older sister is unwillingly drawn into helping him figure out what's going on after she experiences some of the same impossible visions that he has. Marshall's narration gives the plot credibility. Readers experience what he is feeling as the suspense builds and events spiral out of his control to the twisty ending. In this first book in the trilogy, major plot threads remain unresolved but, hopefully, they will be explained in the rest of the series.

My Review


I'd forgotten what a genius D.J. Machale is. After finishing the Pendragon series, (which I loved) I just kinda forgot about it. But this book... this book was incredible. Extremely well written. Awesomely cool story. Action. Adventure. Creepiness. Lots of creepiness. This story was un-like anything I have ever read before which is (believe me) a lot.

If you liked Pendragon then you will love this. In it, there a little snippets of the Pendragon world. For example, the main characters live in Stony Brook. And they get fries at the Garden Poultry. And eat them at the pocket park around the corner. If you have read Pendragon then you'll absolutely know what I'm talking about.

Morpheus Road is a little slow at the beginning. When I say the beginning I mean the beginning of the first chapter. This book is so epically good that it's scary. And it's actually scary. From start to finish you will be completely captivated. D.J. Machale has shown his brilliance yet again.

-Austin

"Hey to all you people who read for fun. U R COOL."