Interview with MATCHED author Ally Condie and Winner Announced!

Today is the day!!  Happy release day to MATCHED, one of our favorite books of the year, and our featured book in this month's Reading Clean Spotlight!  We are very excited to share this Q & A we did with Ally about her book! 

-Describe Matched in five words.

*Star-crossed lovers, secrets, and poetry! (I think star-crossed is one word, right?)

No, I'm sorry, you have to do it again....lol!  :P

-The setting in Matched is such an amazing world!! Was it hard for you to create this world, or did the idea come to you naturally?

*The world was really fun to build, actually. I started with the idea of the Match Banquet and then basically built the world around it, thinking What kind of society would have to exist in order for this scenario (the Banquet) to take place?

I don't think I'd want to live in Cassia's world, but I have to say I would love to go to that Match Banquet!  

-My favorite character in Matched was definitely Ky (although Kit and Abigaile liked Xander), did you have a favorite character?

*I'm so glad you liked Ky! I like both Ky and Xander, and I think this is because I gave them both different attributes of my husband. So they feel very equal to me. I guess that's not really a fair answer since I picked both of them. ;)

Yes, they were both VERY likable!!  I really don't know how Cassia could choose between them!

-What has been the greatest moment so far in this journey?

*Oooh, tough question. There have been a lot of really great moments. But the one that stands out to me happened before I even had an agent. I had sent MATCHED to my teenage sister, Hope, to read. She's very honest and an avid reader. When she called me up to tell me how she felt about it, she said, "I have a new favorite book." After I hung up the phone, I cried a little. It meant a lot to me that she enjoyed the book so much and I knew she wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it! And that moment gave me the confidence to start querying.

-Do you have any quirky/strange "must haves" when you're writing? What are they?

*I drink a LOT of water while I'm writing, and I have to wear one of my two special hoodies. They are magical and keep me the perfect temperature (my "office" is in the corner of the basement and it gets cold even in summer).

-What do you wish I had asked you? What's your answer?

*I wish you had asked me if I would like free tickets to the London Olympics in 2012 and I would have said, yes, please! (I'm dying to go--I love the Olympics and I studied abroad in London--but I don't think it's going to happen.) ;)

Hmmm....I think you may have cheated on that question :)  Oh, and don't tell Kit that you studied abroad in London, she won't stop begging me to do the same if she finds out!  Thanks, Ally SO much for the interview!  And for the awesomeness that is MATCHED!!  Happy Book Birthday!


Thanks again for featuring Matched and for being so wonderful and supportive. I'm so excited that it's a Clean Read. :)

And now for the winner of the ARC of Matched!!

#42 Mindy J

I will email you!!  Congrats!!  If you didn't win, go grab a copy from your local bookstore, or order it now!!  I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Check out my review of the MOVIE, here!!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harper; 1 edition (August 3, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061969559
ISBN-13: 978-0061969553

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.


But they know.


They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.


I am Number Four.


I am next.

I don't have a whole lot to say about this book.  I like sci-fi, and was looking forward to reading this.  The story sounded really interesting, and I know that it's going to be made into a movie soon, so I thought I'd check it out.

I did like the book, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I thought it read kind of young, and the fact that number four (John) was only 15 and is so in love with someone is a little strange.  John and Sarah, his new girlfriend, act like an old married couple.  There just wasn't really any excitement to their relationship.  It was sweet, but just kind of boring.

The storyline was interesting.  I liked seeing the development of John's legacies (powers) and trying to guess what they were going to be.  While I was reading, I kept thinking that, with all the detailed descriptions of the fighting scenes, this book seemed to be written to be made into a movie.  I actually got pretty bored reading so much about the fighting.  I just didn't need all the details.  But, like I said, it will come in handy when translated to film.

I think that I liked all the ideas, and the characters, and the foreshadowing and everything, I just didn't feel like the author pulled it off quite right.  It was like the story was too predictable, the characters were a little too flat (I mean did Sarah have ANY flaws at all??), and the foreshadowing was too obvious. I guess I just like to have to use my brain a little more...and I really like to be surprised! There was one character that I really loved, and who completely stole the show.....Bernie Kosar,  John's eccentric and peculiar puppy.  I hope he makes it to the movie!! 

I liked it

• Sexual Content: Mild
• Profanity: Heavy
• Violence: Heavy
• Other Notables:  Underage Drinking

  For more details go to I Am Number Four on Parental Book Reviews.

Here's the movie trailer!

Book Review: The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Temptation Bites!

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 28, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1606840584

ISBN-13: 978-1606840580 

The story

The non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain's first novel.  Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi.  She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother.  When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do.  She must become a Hound of Heaven.  Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero.  But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble.  Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung.  Readers, ravenous for more Grace and Daniel, will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint.

True Loves First Kill 

My review for The Dark Divine                      

Follow Bree Despain's blog here

Follow Bree on Twitter here

Many thanks to EgmontUSA for sending me this ARC!

My thoughts...

Many months ago I picked up my daughter from our local library and she checked out a book for me, The Dark Divine. When she handed me the book my first impression was that I thought the cover looked really sexy sleek. I was already wanting to read it, just from the cover. (good sign) It's like wine... I'm a sucker for a good label/cover. If you have read my review (link above) you can see I really liked  the The Dark Divine. I have been dying to read the sequel The Lost Saint ever since. I actually yelped when I saw the words EgmontUSA on the package label this week. In no time, I was in my reading spot, drink in hand, cozy-comfy sweats on and ready to dive in to the second sexy sleek cover. 

"Dive In" is an understatement. I loved this book so much! I was actually in mid-read of another book when I received The Lost Saint. I was dying, because the previous book I was reading was so boring, it was torture. (lips sealed) So when I started The Lost Saint and the first page was fast paced and had tons of energy, I sighed. Thank you Bree , I was saying in my head, Your gonna come through for me once again!

When I started this book, after the exciting first pages, I was really feeling for Grace, her family is in so much turmoil with her brother Jude missing and she is trying to figure out where she fits in, now that she's been bitten. It if wasn't for Daniel, she would feel so lonely, so lost. She is so in love with Daniel and he is so intoxicated with Grace that it's hard not to eat chocolate while reading this book. Grace and Daniel has so much chemistry together, of course. That perfect chemistry just makes one more reason why you will not be able to stop reading. I'm not sure I can handle anymore crushes though, Daniel is definitely at the top of my list.

Of course there are some sad moments, but hey, multiple layers in a book are a good thing. Right? It was a exciting turn of events, just when you think you've got Grace completely figured out and she has so much already to deal with (family, long lost brother Jude, Daniel, who she is...) she meets a gorgeous hunk-of-a-man Talbot. Again, thank you Bree for this exciting gift, you are so in tuned with what your fans are needing. Talbot mixes things up quite a bit.  She starts training with him to become a Hound of Heaven and the wolf  in Grace starts to surface, which is an emotional roller coaster ride, to say the least. I going to have to stop gushing about this book, the only thing left are spoilers. Just read it, thats all I can say!


I was hooked to the storyline from the very first page, it was action packed, sexy, nail-biting and romantic. Everything that makes a great read, The Lost Saint Nailed It! 

The Lost Saint comes out December 28 2010... pre-order your copy now!

*To the parents: For full content info GO to Parental Book Reviews about the language, sexual and violent content in this book.

   

Second Hand Saturday! A-Book-A-Week Giveaway 29!

THERE ARE NEW SECOND HAND SATURDAY BLOGGERS! CHECK THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR MORE INFORMATION!

(If you've been here before, scroll down for this week's challenge in red)

Welcome to Second Hand Saturday!! In an attempt to clear our bookshelves, and pass on great used books to our stalkers followers, Amy, Kit, Abigaile, Austin and I have decided to hold weekly giveaways of some of the books on our bookshelves! Every Saturday, we will post the books available, and the following Saturday, we will announce the winner and our next challenge. The winner will get to choose a book from the list and we will ship it to that lucky person! Each week we will have a different challenge to complete (see below). YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER TO ENTER!  Open Internationally.  Ends at 10:00 pm EST the following Friday!

If you are a blogger, and would like to do your own Second Hand Saturday giveaway, link up with Mr. Linky at the end of this post!  (You don't have to participate every week, just link up whenever you'd like to join in!)

To see the book on Amazon, click the book name. To see our review (if we've done one) click on review. Good luck!!

We've moved our Middle Grade Books to Reading Tween. (yeah, that means two chances to win)
 Check out their SHS post!

YA books + (ARC=Advanced Reading Copy)

-THE ETERNAL ONES ARC by Kirsten Miller
-GRACE ARC by Elizabeth Scott (signed to us) (review)
-IMMORTAL BELOVED ARC by Cate Tiernan
-ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES by Claudia Gabel (review)

-THE DUFF ARC by Kody Keplinger
-SCARS by Cheryl Rainfeld (hardcover signed to Andye) (review)
-Dark Song ARC by Gail Giles

-Ascendant ARC by Diana Peterfreund (signed to Andye)

-I am J ARC by Cris Beam

-Girl, 15, Charming But Insane by Sue Limb

-Signed copy Photo Snap Shot by Joanna Cambell Slan (Book 3)

-Signed copy Cut, Crop and Die by Joanna Cambell Slan (Book 2)

-Signed Copy  Paper, Scissors, Death  by Joanna Cambell Slan (Book 1)

-*AUDIOBOOK Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Devid Levithan and John Green

-Amigas Fifteen Candles ARC by Veronica Chambers (inspired by Jennifer Lopez)

-The Oracle of Dating by Allison Van Diepen (review)

-Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants hardback by Ann Brashares

-The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (Traveling Pants 2) hardback by Ann Brashares

- Girls in Pants (Traveling Pants 3) hardback by Ann Brashares
-Forever in Blue (Traveling Pants 4) by Ann Brashares

-Glass by Ellen Hopkins hardback (review of Crank)

-The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Stuggle by L.J.Smith

-The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce

-Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar

-You Know You Love Me (Gossip Girl 2) by Cecily Von Ziegesar

-All I Want is Everything (Gossip Girl 3) by Cecily Von Ziegesar

-Because I'm Worth It (Gossip Girl 4) by Cecily Von Ziegesar

-The Gossip Girl Prequel (hardback) by Cecily Von Ziegesar

-Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (review)

-Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (PBR review)

-The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein (PBR review)

-The Lost Girls by Laurie Fox

-Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes (18 and over)

-What if....Everyone Knew Your Name (A Choose Your Destiny Novel) by Liz Ruckdeschel and Sara James

-The Riddle by Alison Croggon

-The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

-The Shack by William P. Young

-Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul:  The Real Deal by Jack Canfield Mark Victor Hansen and Deborah Reber

-Excessively Diverted (The Sequel to Pride & Prejudice) by Juliette Shapiro

-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

-Crunch Time by Mariah Fredericks

-Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

-Pride and Predjudice (Paperback) by Jane Austen

-Lord of the Flies (paperback) by William Golding

-Life, The Universe and Everything: Hitchhickers Trilogy

book 3 (hardback) by Douglas Adams

-So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish: Hitchhickers Trilogy

book 4 (hardback) by Douglas Adams

To enter this week's giveaway, you must be a follower of this blog, and

This week's Reading Clean Spotlight is on MATCHED by Ally Condie!  Go and check out Andye's review OR Kit and Abigaile's vlog review and leave a comment there to be entered in this week's Second Hand Saturday.  You DO NOT need to leave a comment here!

Extra entries: LEAVE ALL EXTRA ENTRIES IN THIS FORM, NOT IN THE COMMENTS! ONLY TELL US YOUR ANSWER TO THE ABOVE QUESTION IN THE COMMENTS!

Easy Links:

Reading Teen on Twitter

Amy's Twitter

Kit's Twitter

Reading Teen on Facebook

Thank You so much for following. We could not would not do this without our followers. Come back next Saturday to see the winner and enter in for another book giveaway!

THIS WEEK'S WINNER IS: 

ANDREW

Email me at ReadingTeen1 at gmail.com with your book choice!!  Please put "winner" in the subject line.  You have a week to claim your prize!

ATTENTION!! If you win and you'd like a series of books that are listed and are willing to pay the shipping, we will ship them all to you! (It's too expensive for us to do it ourselves!) 

Congratulations! 
Amy, Andye, Kit, Abigaile and Austin

If you're a blogger and are hosting a Second Hand Saturday giveaway on your blog, LINK UP here!!  PLEASE only add a link here if you doing your own Second Hand Saturday!