"Along for the Ride" Delivers

"Along for the Ride"
by Sarach Dessen

6

Since she was little, Auden has always done exactly as her mom expected. This continued after her parents divorce until the summer before her freshman year of college when she decides to spend it with her dad and step mom. Even though Auden has never been one to spend time outside, she can't deny that the prospect of a summer at the beach is way more appealing than watching her mother throw dinner parties for the mostly male crowds that attend.

Even though Auden's original plans involved getting ahead of her college reading and relaxing by the beach, she ends up helping her stressed out stepmother deal with life as a new mom. Auden begins up working in a boutique on the boardwalk with a group of girls that she struggles to relate to. Auden feels out of place in her new environment until she meets the mysterious Eli who also suffers from insomnia. Eli helps Auden to participate in all the activities she missed out on while living an academically focused childhood. These little activities turn into a full-blown quest that they share together with two individual goals in mind.

I haven't read all of Sarah Dessen's books, but I've enjoyed all the ones that I’ve read so far. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I was not disappointed one bit while reading "Along for the Ride". I really loved how the characters in the book were flushed out (especially Eli) and some of them really surprised me. Even Auden surprised me at the end of the book when I thought I had completely figured her out. It is nice to see Dessen continue to make strong female characters that manage to find their way through all the craziness surrounding them. I think Dessen does a beautiful job of making sure that her characters aren’t stereotypes and finds ways for them to stay true to themselves. I also loved the family dynamics in “Along for the Ride”. Even though Dessen focuses on this topic in many of her books, she always finds a way to make each one unique by featuring a different family structure. There were just so many great elements to this book that I’m finding myself wanting to just go on forever! Although, if I do that then I’ll give everything away and there will be no point in you reading it! I’ll try to wrap up my gushing so that you can get to reading the book instead of this review!

Dessen has a great skill for creating memorable characters that suck you into their world. I could not put the book down and was up all night getting deeper into the story Auden’s summer. I think out of the Dessen books I have read, it was one of my favorites (“This Lullaby”’ still wins… barely…). If you are a fan of Sarah Dessen, or are just looking for a great read this summer, then be sure to pick up “Along for the Ride”. Incase you didn’t know, it is being released today (June 16)! FINALLY!

"Marked" is Magical

"House of Night: Marked'
by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

5

The day starts off like every other until Zoey is marked to become a vampyre. Even though vampyres are a part of the society Zoey lives in, they are still feared and most people consider them freaks. She must leave her home and is taken to The House of Night, a school for fledglings like her, where she goes through the transformation into a vampyre. Leaving her past life is no big deal for Zoey because of the problems with her stepfather, but she is terrified about what it means to become a vampyre. Zoey is hoping to fit into her new home; however, due to the uniqueness of her mark, Zoey is already realizing that she is different from the others. She starts experiencing things that she shouldn't experience until farther along in her transformation and Zoey begins to worry that there is something deeply wrong with her. As if she didn't have enough to worry about, the Dark Daughters are interested in recruiting her into their elite club because of her mark. Zoey soon learns that the leader of The Dark Daughters is abusing her sacred powers given to her by the Goddess. Zoey knows what she has to do, but does her unique mark give her the strength to do what is necessary?

Overall I loved this book. I found it be really unique on many levels. I loved how people are marked to become vampyres and how they are given gifts by the Goddess. P.C. Cast and her daughter took the idea of being a vampyre and turned it into a spiritual experience that I have not seen in other books. Another thing that I loved was that even though the supernatural elements in the book were vivid and realistic, I still felt like this world could actually exist because there was the same focus to detail when describing the everyday elements in the book. The characters in the book are well developed and I finished the book wanting to read more! My only complaint about the book was that it took me a while to get into the story; however, once I got into it I couldn't stop reading. I am definitely looking forward to reading more in the series and will be requesting them from the library this week!

I also discovered the there is a really cool website for the series, so if you want to check that out then go here. There are video clips, a really cool yearbook, and lot of information about the series.

Teaser Tuesdays: "Catching Fire"

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

by Suzanne Collins
Excerpt from page 24:

"I don't know... I don't..." My revulsion at this conversation, at discussing my feelings for two of the people I care most about with President Snow, chokes me off.

"Speak, Miss Everdeen. Him I can easily kill off if we don't come to a happy resolution," he says.

I know that this teaser is longer than two sentences, but it just cut it off too much without the last one! I did finish "Catching Fire" and it was AMAZING! I am going to be reviewing it this week, but I'm a little behind on my reviews.

Teaser Tuesdays was started by MizB on her blog. On Teaser Tuesdays participants are asked to grab the book they are currently reading and open it to a random page. Then fist two "teaser" sentences on that page between lines 7 and 12. The key is to entice readers to pick up the book without giving away any spoilers.

On my chair

This is where I post the books that I borrow from the library, buy, or I receive via mail in the last week.

"Catching Fire"
by Suzane Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

I am SO lucky my friend let me borrow her ARC for "Catching Fire"! She is amazing for allowing! I am only slightly jealous that she received the copy that came into work; however, I'm glad she got it because she introduced me to the series and it is one of my favorites.

"My Most Excellent Year"
by Steve Kluger

Best friends and unofficial brothers since they were six, ninth-graders T.C. and Augie have got the world figured out. But that all changes when both friends fall in love for the first time. Enter Alé. She's pretty, sassy, and on her way to Harvard. T.C. falls hard, but Alé is playing hard to get. Meanwhile, Augie realizes that he's got a crush on a boy. It's not so clear to him, but to his family and friends, it's totally obvious! Told in alternating perspectives, this is the hilarious and touching story of their most excellent year, where these three friends discover love, themselves, and how a little magic and Mary Poppins can go a long way.

I am also really excited about this book because I've heard a lot of fantastic things. I was lucky enough to get the last signed copy at work, so hopefully it will live up to my expectations.

"The Truth About Forever"
by Sarah Dessen

Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She’s stuck with a dull-asdishwater job at the library. And she’ll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father’s recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother’s open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it….

This meme (In My Mailbox) is brought to you by Kristi's (The Story Siren)
Synopses taken from Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com).

Wish Has Come True: "Along for the Ride" ARC!!!

I am so excited because my friend is letting me borrow her copy of "Along for the Ride"! I have been dying to read it for months! Now I just have to finish "Marked" so I can get started. I guess it may seem a little silly to be getting excited about reading a book that is coming out in two weeks... but I DON'T CARE! Hopefully I'll have a bunch of reviews posted soon. I have a feeling I'll be flying through the next few books I have on my shelves. Happy reading everyone!