DISTANT WAVES
A Novel of the Titanic
Author: Suzanne Weyn
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545085845
ISBN-13: 978-0545085847

SUMMARY:

Science, spiritualism, history, and romance intertwine in Suzanne Weyn’s newest novel. Four sisters and their mother make their way from a spiritualist town in New York to London, becoming acquainted with journalist W. T. Stead, scientist Nikola Tesla, and industrialist John Jacob Astor. When they all find themselves on the Titanic, one of Tesla’s inventions dooms them…and one could save them. 

MY THOUGHTS:

I will be honest in saying that the cover and the hint of The Titanic is what captured my interest in this book.  Before I had even read the summary, the cover sucked me into the deep story of supernatural tales weaved into the historical tale of the Titanic. 


Even with warnings of sinking of the famous ship Titanic, the sisters and mother still risk their life on sailing the seas in the hopes that someone will be watching over them.  With famous names that you read about in the history books, you will find yourself enjoying the story.  I for one loved the character of Jane and enjoyed Thad as well. For the first part of the book, the story revolves around the characters home life and spiritual readings. This is where we meet Thad and fall for him as well.  The second half of the book is about them setting sail on the Titanic and their voyage.  You can tell the author did some research for this book but at times going a little overboard on the knowledge.  This was not really a big issue for me though because I love anything and everything that involves the Titanic history.  


If you are a fan of the Titanic history but like your psychic and paranormal themed books as well, then this book would be a great read to quench your thirst of both worlds.  I loved the weaving of fiction and fact into one tale. A new author for me to keep an eye on!


MY RATING:

TEN THINGS WE DID
(and probably shouldn’t have)
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061701246
ISBN-13: 978-0061701245

SUMMARY:

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn’t have. 

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Throwing a Crazy Party” (#8), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them. 

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn’t-have-done at a time.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was really looking forward to reading this book.  I wanted the teen angst and all the drama when you involve boys, girls, high school and no parents!  I had seen this book all over the blogging community, so I was excited for the chance to review it.  As soon as it arrived, I dove into it!

April’s Dad and Stepmother announce that they are moving to Cleveland.  April has no desire to leave her school, her friends, or her boyfriend Noah.  When April and Vi come up with a plan to convince their parents to let April live with Vi and her Mom, they put the plan in motion.  When April’s Dad agrees to her moving in with Vi for the last half of the school year, April is worried about lying to her Father, but she is also excited to be on her own!  Vi’s Mother is on tour for her acting job, without April’s Dad knowing, so April and Vi are basically left unsupervised with no adults.  What started out as a fun and crazy plan, ends up not going the way they had planned. Things go awry and have consequences, all things that began with one thing leading into another that never would have happened with supervision.

I am on the fence with my feelings on this book.  While I loved the plot, the characters and the teen angst, I wasn’t a fan of the constant flashbacks and flash forwards the chapters did.  On one page you will be reading present story, then you turn the page and it is 10 minutes earlier.  Then after that flashback, we flash forward to present and back again all within a matter of pages.  It got to be a little confusing at times and not to mention a little annoying.  I would have enjoyed this so much more if there would have been less time warping and more present day action. 

The book wasn’t a bad book, but I think with a little more tweaking of the timelines, it could be so much better.  With just a few of the scenes worked differently and adjusted through out the book, it could be a real hit in the teen genre. 

MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

TYGER TYGER
Goblin Wars #1
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Source: Contest Win

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (November 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547330081
ISBN-13: 978-0547330082

SUMMARY:

Teagan Wylltson’s best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures–goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty–are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn’t worried. Her life isn’t in danger. In fact, it’s perfect. She’s on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She’s focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn’s a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he’s crazy or he’s been haunting Abby’s dreams, because he’s talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby’s right. The goblins are coming.

MY THOUGHTS:

There was so much hype surrounding this book when it released.  I was wary of reading it because after all of the amazing things I had heard, I did not want to be disappointed in it.  When I started reading the book though, I quickly fell in love with the characters and the way the author created this world of goblins and other supernatural creatures.


While I was not a big fan of book as a whole,  there were parts of the book that I did enjoy.  I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the character of Teagan.  She felt real and I loved her friendship with Abby. Plus, what is better than a sexy guy like Finn and his amazing accent.  He was the bad boy that every girl bats their eyelashes at.  I loved the family too!  They were written wonderfully and complimented each other nicely.  Each one had their own personality and I fell in love with Teagan’s younger brother, Aiden.


After Finn arrives to live with the family though, it seemed like the book got off track.  I liked the history and the idea the author had, but when she put it into words to finish the book it felt out of sync.  I can’t quite put my finger on where it actually started to fall apart, but it just seemed to lose my interest and that spark that it had at the beginning.  


If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, and you like reading about it in the young adult setting, then give Tyger Tyger a chance.  You still might like it and you might actually enjoy it better than I did.


MY RATING: