IMM: In My Mailbox (39)

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In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren
 
Here is what showed up in my mailbox this week!
CLICK ON PHOTO’S FOR LARGER IMAGE
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FOR REVIEW:
 
 
 Warrior Betrayed by Addison Fox (ARC)
The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase (ARC)
Everlasting by Alyson Noel
Want To Go Private by Sarah Darer Littman (ARC)
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey (ARC)
Tomorrow Girls: Run For Cover

Thanks to Penguin, Sourcebooks, St. Martin’s Griffin, Scholastic, Walker Books
 
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So that is what I got this week.
What did everyone else get?

 

Venomous by Christopher Krovatin

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VENEMOUS
Author: Christopher Krovatin
Source: Library Loan

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum;
                  1 edition (September 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781416924876
ISBN-13: 978-1416924876

SUMMARY:

Locke Vinetti is a high school junior, disenchanted and more than a little hostile. In fact, for years he’s had a lousy social life because of a problem he has with his anger–a force he calls “the venom.” Ever since he was eight years old and bit off a piece of a classmate’s nose, he’s been something of a loner. But all that is about to change when he goes out with his one friend, Randall, to meet some of Randall’s crew hanging out at Riverside Park. Because in addition to meeting his kindred spirit, Casey–who has his own problems with his own kind of venom–Locke meets the spikey blue fairy-haircut Goth girl of his dreams. And if their relationship is going to work, he knows he has to rid himself of the venom once and for all. Interspersed with comic book adventures of the fantasy anti-hero alter-ego Locke has invented for himself, VENOMOUS is a fast-paced, funny, and ferocious read about one teenage boy’s struggle with his inner demons.

MY THOUGHTS:

First of all let me say one thing about this book–this is definitely a book for the older teens!  I almost couldn’t believe that this book would even be considered a young adult book.  It touches on subjects that could possibly be in a young adult book, but the whole context and style of writing would lead you to believe that it is better suited for the adult genre.  There is a huge amount of cursing within the pages, subjects involving extreme violence, gay relationships, mood disorders, and overall anger.  All of this I could have handled fine, but the way it was written was not what I was expecting.


It starts out okay and actually holds your interest for the first chapter or so.  Then the story seems to fall apart and starts to get really out there. It also has a little comic book within the story as well including comic illustrations between each chapter.  Honestly, I was not a fan of the comic book sections of the book.  To me they gave no real substance to the book.  It was more like filler pages just to make you feel like the book was longer.  I never really bought the whole “Venom” classification that Locke used. Everyone has a dark side and anger issues, we just all have deal with it in different ways.  We learn to control our moments of anger, but Locke calls it Venom and that was suppose to give him justification for biting someone’s nose off.  I don’t think so.


I can see this book being better suited for older male teens than for the women.  It has the appeal that the male’s would like better especially with the comic book feel inside of it.  However, I would not recommend this book for the younger teens.  It may be too dark for the younger ones to handle.


MY RATING:

 
I did not like this book at all! 1 STAR

 

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal

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SWEET VALLEY CONFIDENTIAL
Ten Years Later
Author: Francine Pascal
Source: Library Loan

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (March 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312667574
ISBN-13: 978-0312667573

SUMMARY:


Now with this striking new adult novel from author and creator Francine Pascal, millions of devoted fans can finally return to the idyllic Sweet Valley, home of the phenomenally successful book series and franchise. Iconic and beloved identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are back and all grown up, dealing with the complicated adult world of love, careers, betrayal, and sisterhood. 



MY THOUGHTS:


I remember back when I was in high school, the Sweet Valley High series was the series of choice for teen girls.  I was addicted to them and whoever had the most books in the series was the ultimate fan in our town.  Everyone knew who Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield were even if they were just characters in a book.  At that time in my  life, Sweet Valley High was my drug of choice.  I couldn’t get enough of them!  I had to see what scheme Jessica was going to come up with next and what drama would unfold on the pages between the covers.  Then as I got older, I got involved with other things and lost the addiction to the series.


When this book came out, I was thrilled to be able to recapture that feeling I had whenever a new book in the series came out!  I finally got my hands on a copy and dived into the drama and angst that this author likes to create for her characters.  So many things have changed in the lives of the Wakefield twins.  I couldn’t believe that Todd was not with Elizabeth anymore! Jessica and Elizabeth are not speaking to each other as well.  Instant conflict within the first few chapters. The author provides flashbacks to fill in the gaps that we have missed, but it still didn’t feel right to me.  For some reason I just couldn’t picture the character developments that the author gave to us.  After reading so much of the series earlier in life, I had in my mind a perfect picture of what the out come should have been.  Then with this book, the author throws my fantasy away and creates another one. 


While it was nice to reminisce with the Wakefield series and friends,  this book was just okay for me.  It wasn’t what I was expecting and at parts it seemed to drag on.  While it had a nice ending that was sweet and romantic, as a long time reader of the series, it wasn’t the one I was wanting.


MY RATING:

 
  If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it! 2 STARS

Time for Kids Big Book of How

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TIME FOR KIDS BIG BOOK OF HOW
Author: Editors of TIME For Kids
Source: Goodman Media
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Time For Kids (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 160320184X
ISBN-13: 978-1603201841

SUMMARY:


TIME For Kids The Big Book of How presents kids 8-12 years old with answers to the kinds of intriguing questions that appeal to their sense of curiosity. Colorful graphics, spectacular photos and clear, engaging diagrams will help answer such questions as: How does a chameleon change colors?; How can a person survive in the jungle?; How do you build a teepee?; How do diamonds form?; How do light sticks work?; How are 3-D movies made?; How do astronauts train for a space mission?; How do we get cavities?; How does solar energy work? 

Divided by subject area-from animals, the human body and technology to sports, food and green issues-kids will discover the background behind the questions through the book’s photos, diagrams and art as well as its clear text. Of course, TIME For Kids goes beyond just answering the question, and engages kids with hands-on activities at the end of each chapter that bring life to a topic or idea they just read about. For example: If in the technology chapter kids learn how an airplane flies, the “How to” spread might include step-by-step instructions about how to fold a paper airplane or create a rotating helicopter. TIME For Kids The Big Book of How is a must-have book to satisfy the most curious of kids.


MY THOUGHTS:

I know that this is a book out of the norm for this blog, but every once in awhile a book comes along for review that I just have to read!  With a curious six year old in the house, my ears are constantly being flooded with questions on who, what, when, where, how and why.  When I simply don’t know, it frustrates my child to no end.  So when reading this book, I marked a bunch of the pages for those questions that I know are on the horizon.

One of the best things about this book is the rich in color photographs and special attention to detail that is present on each page.  For instance, my child wanted to make a paper airplane.  Now it has been years since I have made a paper airplane and I couldn’t even remember how.  I looked in the index and sure enough it had it listed.  I turned to the correct page and it gave me step by step instructions to make one.  I must say, it helped tremendously and my airplane actually flew through the air!  Score one for Mom and TIME For Kids!

Then with all of the news coverage of the recent NASA launch, my child had to keep asking how that rocket made it in the air.  I grabbed my copy of this book and looked it up again.  Sure enough, there was a page on how to launch a rocket!  We looked at the explanations and diagrams and figured out how and why a rocket launches.  Now, we didn’t try this out because I didn’t have the time that day, but I see a future Science Fair Project!

This book was amazing and my child can’t stop looking through it.  If you are a regular reader of TIME books, or if you are just wanting a great way to explain those curious questions your child likes to ask, then you need to get this book.  Everything is discussed with a child’s understanding in mind and explained easily for them to understand.  Now if you will excuse me, we are going to go and test out the theory on what makes Popcorn Pop and enjoy our treats!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS


Tuesday Teaser: Venomous by Christopher Krovatin

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
MY BOOK:

Venomous by Christopher Krovatin
Locke Vinetti is a high school junior, disenchanted and more than a little hostile. In fact, for years he’s had a lousy social life because of a problem he has with his anger–a force he calls “the venom.” Ever since he was eight years old and bit off a piece of a classmate’s nose, he’s been something of a loner. But all that is about to change when he goes out with his one friend, Randall, to meet some of Randall’s crew hanging out at Riverside Park. Because in addition to meeting his kindred spirit, Casey–who has his own problems with his own kind of venom–Locke meets the spikey blue fairy-haircut Goth girl of his dreams. And if their relationship is going to work, he knows he has to rid himself of the venom once and for all. Interspersed with comic book adventures of the fantasy anti-hero alter-ego Locke has invented for himself, VENOMOUS is a fast-paced, funny, and ferocious read about one teenage boy’s struggle with his inner demons.
MY TEASER:

–I wasn’t the guy to piss off. Just like his little outburst took me off guard, he’s never met anyone else who’s felt the venom before, he’s only experienced it first hand.
page 57