Wrap Up on My '09 Challenges

Well, the year is almost over. This year I participated in three challenges. Those challenges included 100+ Reading Challenge and the A-Z Challenge (both author and book title).

Sadly, I wasn't able to complete any of my challenges!

I didn't keep the best records though, which I'm sure effected things a lot.

Although I got very close on all of my challenges.

For my 100+, I got 90 books read. At least, that I knew of.. Haha.

As for my A-Z, I only had a few letters left to fill in.

Next year I plan to prepare more for the challenges I choose to try.

If you would like to view my completed list, their just on the left sidebar towards the bottom.

Hopefully within the next few days, I'll post what challenges I'm going to try in 2010! (:

-Lexi

In My Mailbox (11/16 to 11/28)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and Alea from Pop Culture Junkie. If you want more details, click here. In My Mailbox explores all the books that I get in a week, whether it's in the mail, borrowed from a friend, borrowed from the library, or bought from a bookstore.

Recived:

Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand (Hardback/ The Chicken House/ December 2009)

It's the 22nd century and, because of climate change, much of England is underwater. Poor Lilly is out fishing with her trusty sea-cat when greedy raiders pillage the town--and kidnap the prime minister's daughter. Her village blamed, Lilly decides to find the girl. Off she sails, in secret. And with a ransom: a mysterious talking jewel. "If I save his daughter," Lilly reasons, "the prime minister's sure to reward me." Little does Lilly know that it will take more than grit to outwit the tricky, treacherous piratical tribes!

Hourglass by Claudia Gray (Paperback/ HarperTeen/ March 2010)

Bestselling author Claudia Gray’s Evernight series continues. In Hourglass, Bianca and Lucas have found a way to be together. But it means lying to the people who care about them the most.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, the elite group of vampire hunters led by Lucas’s stepfather. When Bianca’s close friend—the vampire Balthazar—is captured by Black Cross, Bianca knows she has to do whatever it takes to save him. But at what cost?

Hourglass, the third book in this gripping vampire series by the author of the New York Times bestseller Stargazer, has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s books runaway successes.

Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel (Paperback/ Dundurn Press/ October 2009)

Tabby Freeman and Lora Froggett go to the same school, but they live in totally opposite worlds. Tabby is rich, pretty, and the most popular girl in her class. But behind closed doors, her 'perfect' life is rapidly coming apart at the seams.

On the other side, Lora is smart, timid, and the constant target of bullies. While struggling to survive the piranha-infested halls of her school, she becomes increasingly nervous that somebody might discover the unbearable truth about what's been happening to her family.

Despite their differences, Tabby and Lora have something in common - they're both harbouring dark secrets and a lot of pain. Although they've never been friends, a series of strange events causes their lives to crash together in ways neither could have ever imagined. And when the dust finally settles and all their secrets are forced out into the light, will the girls be saved or destroyed?

Love and Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Hardback/ HarperTeen/ November 2009)

After a not-quite-peachy year apart, three Georgia peaches come home to Darlington Orchard

When Murphy chose New York City, she left her first love behind. Now, a summer in Bridgewater means trading subway trains for pickup trucks and facing the boy she turned her back on.

Leeda expects her trip home to be over faster than her new Manhattan boyfriend can hail a cab—until a surprising inheritance saddles her with a huge responsibility.

Birdie's heart led her all the way to Mexico, and heartbreak brings her back to the orchard. But when the Darlington family decides to leave peach trees for palm trees, Birdie gets a crash course in letting go—and learning when to hold on.

Together for another juicy summer, carefree Murphy, perfect Leeda, and big-hearted Birdie return to the place that allowed them to bloom. Brimming with all the charm, humor, and heart of Peaches and The Secrets of Peaches, this satisfying conclusion to the series reunites three unlikely best friends for a final sweet farewell.

Numbers by Rachel Ward (Paperback/ The Chicken House/ Febuary 2010)

Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!

Snow Queen by Emma Harrison (Paperback/ HarperTeen/ November 2009)

Chamberlain Ski Resort and Spa

Welcome to the 10th Annual Snow Queen competition!

I can't believe I got roped into this.

Snow Princesses must attend all pageant rehearsals, with appropriate outfits.

Well, no matter what it takes, I'm going to wipe that smirk off Layla Chamberlain's face.

Our rehearsal space can be booked to practice your talent.

Um, does "looking dumb in a dress" count as a talent?

See Grayson Chamberlain, the assistant director, with any questions.

If you insist! First question: How can someone so sweet (and hot!) be a Chamberlain?

Good luck! One of you will soon be our new Snow Queen!

Oh joy.

Unless Grayson comes with the tiara . . .

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood (Paperback/ Berkley Trade/ March 2007)

Being sent to your room is one thing. But being sent to another country?

Morgan's boyfriend dumped her on the last day of school-it seemed the only thing to do was to hack off her hair and dye the stubble orange. Unfortunately, Morgan's parents freaked and decided a change of scenery would do her good. So they're sending her off on a bike tour of Ireland.

But Morgan gets more than she bargained for on the Emerald Isle-including a strange journey into some crazy, once upon a time corner of the past. There, she meets fairies, weefolk, and a hunky warrior-dude named Fergus, and figures out that she's got some growing to do-and she doesn't just mean her hair.

How I Found The Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood (Paperback/ Berkley Trade/ May 2008)

Maryrose Wood follows up her hilarious hit Why I Let My Hair Grow Out with another irreverent, teen angst-filled, girl-power romp.

On a bike tour of Ireland last summer, Morgan Rawlinson fell for Colin, the hunky guide, and entered a portal that turned her into the goddess Morganne. Now she’s back to her painfully normal life and her relationship with Colin has fizzled to the occasional e-mail…until he writes saying he’s coming to Connecticut—just in time for the prom.

But when he arrives, he’s exhausted. It seems that when Morgan crossed the portal as Morganne, a spell was cast on Colin. In his dreams he’s being forced to dance ’til dawn with the faeries, who want to boogie with him for eternity. Somehow she has to break the spell on her date, help plan the prom, and find the perfect dress. Oh, what a night…

Prom and Party Etiquette by Cindy Post Senning, Peggy Post and Steven Salerno (Paperback/ HarperCollins/ January 2010)





No Summary for this book yet.







Bought:

Shadowland (The Immortals Series) by Alyson Noel (Hardback/ St. Martin's Griffin/ November 2009)

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

Borrowed:

Burned by Ellen Hopkins (Paperback/ McElderry/ October 2007)

Once again the author of Crank (S & S, 2004) has masterfully used verse to re-create the yearnings and emotions of a teenage girl trapped in tragic circumstances. Poems in varied formats captivate readers as they describe a teen's immobilizing fear of her abusive father, disgust with a church hierarchy that looks the other way, hope that new relationships can counteract despair, joy in the awakening of romance, and sorrow when demons ultimately prevail. Pattyn Von Stratten is the eldest of eight sisters in a stern Mormon household where women are relegated to servitude and silence. She has a glimpse of normal teenage life when Derek takes an interest in her, but her father stalks them in the desert and frightens him away. Unable to stifle her rage, Pattyn acts out as never before and is suspended from school. Sent to live with an aunt on a remote Nevada ranch, she meets Ethan and discovers forever love. Woven into the story of a teen's struggle to find her destiny is the story of her aunt's barrenness following government mismanagement of atomic testing and protests over nuclear waste disposal. Readers will become immersed in Pattyn's innermost thoughts as long-held secrets are revealed, her father's beatings take a toll on her mother and sister, and Pattyn surrenders to Ethan's love with predictable and disturbing consequences. Writing for mature teens, Hopkins creates compelling characters in horrific situations.

Purge by Sarah Darer Littman (Hardback/ Scholastic Press/ April 2009)

Janie Ryman hates throwing up. So why does she binge eat and then stick her fingers down her throat several times a day? That's what the doctors and psychiatrists at Golden Slopes hope to help her discover. But first Janie must survive everyday conflicts between the Barfers and the Starvers, attempts by the head psychiatrist to fish painful memories out of her emotional waters, and shifting friendships and alliances among the kids in the ward.


Liar by Justine Larbalestier (Hardback/ Bloomsbury/ September 2009)

Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.

-Lexi (:

FTC: All links and excerpts are from Amazon.com. I am NOT getting paid to link to them.

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Pub Date: February 2010

Summary: During one of her skating competitions, Eagan’s slight mistake cost her, her life.

Eagan looks back on all she’s done and all she wishes she could change.

Like reconciling her relationship with her mom.

She watches memories from heaven.

Her heart is still beating in the world.

Amelia, a fourteen-year-old girl receives Eagan’s heart.

At first she feels guilty.

One family has to suffer so she can live.

Soon, Amelia slowly starts to change.

She dreams of figure skating. She starts to prefer grape flavored candy. She develops and attitude towards her mother.

Amelia knows that she needs to know about her donor’s life.

Once she starts digging, she can’t stop.

Her need leads her to her Eagan’s grieving family.

Amelia learns more about herself and Eagan, while also bringing closure to many others.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Review: In a Heartbeat was a lot more than I expected it to be. The characters were very complex, but were able to see inside both Amelia’s head and Eagan’s. As the book grew closer to the end, one could see that the two girls were getting closer to knowing more about themselves and each other. This novel was an easy read, only 195 pages, but making it a little longer might have added a little more. At some parts, I really wanted it to go more in depth and tell more of a story, which was kind of a drawback for me. This was the first novel I have read by Loretta Ellsworth, so I didn’t really know what I expected from her, but I think over all she met my expectations. A few times while reading In a Heartbeat, I wanted to actually jump into the book and be there for everyone involved, but I knew I couldn’t. To me, that feeling can make a book better then more. I’m glad I had the chance to read this book and if you have the time and the chance, read In a Heartbeat.

-Lexi (:

FTC: I received this novel from it's publishing company with the understanding that I would provide an honest review. I am not getting paid in any way for writing and posting this review.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Pub Date: August 2009

Summary: Can I ever feel okay about myself?

Five teenagers: three girls, three guys.

Four straight, one gay.

Poor vs. Rich

People who care, no one at all.

All of them live differently but ultimately they’re all looking for the same thing.

Safety. Freedom. Love. Family.

When three little words, I love you, are said for all the wrong reasons, everyone can get hurt.

Five separate stories come into one.

The difference between love and sex often get blurred.

Sometimes though, the experiences help one un-blur those difference.

Growing up. Falling down. Picking yourself back up. Making decisions. Taking a leap of faith.

Those are all factors into how we live our lives, how we find out how we are, and ultimately how we all become truly happy.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: There hasn’t been a book yet by Ellen Hopkins that I haven’t loved! Tricks was no exception. The way Ellen writes really just amazes me. She can tell a story in so little words. Her characters always have so many sides but she depicts them all so clearly. Whenever one picks up a novel by Ellen Hopkins, they can expect to be surprised by the content and the topics. Ellen isn’t afraid to tackle something new and controversy and she has yet to repeat a topic. Tricks was mainly about prostitution and how easily people can get sex and love confused. I’ve always been able to relate to novels by Ellen, but this one definitely hit home more than any other one has. Don’t be surprised if you walk away from this book balling, because I did. But it doesn’t change that fact that this book really just quite amazing. I recommend this book to everyone!

-Lexi (:

FTC: I did not received the novel from any publishing company or author. It is my own personally copy that I bought, but still I am not getting paid in any way to do this review.

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

Pub Date: January 2010

Summary: If you weren’t with someone to being with, shouldn’t be easier to get over them?

Julia and Colt were with each other for a year.

Just not in the normal sense, no one knew about them.

Julia lived on Black Mountain.

She was rich.

Colt on the other hand, didn’t come from Black Mountain.

People would have never understood what kept Julia and Colt together, but it didn’t matter to them.

When Julia suddenly dies right before her senior year, Colt is the only one left who knows their secret.

He now has to live his life like he didn’t even know Julia existed.

It’s easier said than done for Colt; he’s being haunted by memories of Julia.

Once Julia’s journal is given to Colt, he looks for answers to all of his questions.

He searches every entry, every sentence.

Did Julia really love him?

Was he somehow to blame for the terrible accident?

Not only are these questions answered, Colt finds out more then he bargained for when all of this started.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: I LOVED THE SECRET YEAR! I literally screamed when I received this book in the mail. I was so excited to read it. Everything I heard about this book just made it seem so amazing, and trust me, it was! It’s only 192 pages long, but those pages definitely pack a punch. I read this whole book in one sitting. Nothing could make me stop reading. I was sucked into Julia and Colt’s romance right when they shared their first kiss. The plot of this book has a lot of different elements in it, like Romeo and Juliet, but Jennifer Hubbard really adds her own spin to everything. Her writing style is impeccable. I usually can’t get into books that are told from a male’s point of view, but this one book that I completely adored. I really don’t think The Secret Year would have been the same if it was written from Julia’s point of view. Getting inside Colt’s head was breathtaking, he just had so many thoughts and his feelings towards Julia and his friends were just so genuine. The Secret Year is now one of my favorite books of all time. By just reading this book you really experience something new and different. I love a book that you can learn from and take something away from it when you read it. I could actually just go on and on about the Secret Year, but I don’t want to give anything away. Everyone should really take the time to read this novel because you will never think of love and passion in the same way again.

-Lexi (:

FTC: I received this book from Viking Publishing Company with the understanding that I would provide an honest review with no benefits for myself, just the opportunity to read this novel.

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoris

Pub Date: September 2009

Summary: I lost more than my innocence.

Life’s full of “awkward turtle” moments.

Note to all boys: I quit.

God has him. I miss him.

Always helping others. Never helping myself.

Fake Smile. Hidden Tears. Real Laughter.

Skinny girl in a fat body.

You chose pot, I chose poetry.

Freshman: first love. Sophomore: first heartbreak

I won’t need photographs to remember.

Broken. Loved anyway. I’m so thankful.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: Open to any random page in I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets and you will find something you can relate you. This book was just 600, six word memoirs, from 600 authors but it was very touching. I found so many things that I could relate to, it was almost unreal. Sometimes we don’t always remember that there are a lot of people out there who are going through the same things we are. This novel can help many people remember that very thing. Everything suffers from something someone else does. I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets was surprisingly a lot better than I expected it to be. It was something one could read within 30 minutes and not be able to forget. It’s very touching. I really think more people should take the time to read this novel. I really don’t think they will regret it.

-Lexi (:

FTC: I received this novel from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide and honest review. I am not getting paid in any way for this review.

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison

Pub Date: March 2009

Summary: Leesis Hunt has rules.

No making out. Feet must stay on floor. No sex. No falling for a non-Mormon.

Poetry becomes Leesis way of releasing her feelings.

All she wants to do it get out of her little town and go to college at BYU.

Then, Michael Walden enters the picture.

Michael survived the storm that caused his parents’ death and changed the world for him, forever.

Leesis knows that she and Michael couldn’t be more different.

That doesn’t stop her from being drawn to him.

Jealousy. Rules. Memories.

They all try to tear them apart, Leesis won’t let it.

Michael is drowning on the inside.

It’s Leesis job to save him, even though she has no idea how.

When the time comes though, who will be there to save Leesis?

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Review: From the very first chapter, I fell in love with Taken by Storm. It surpassed every expectation I had! Every character was beautifully written, they all fit together amazingly. This was definitely a new kind of romance novel in a way, but it was different in a good way. The plot was very unique, just like each character had a very unique background. One couldn’t want anything other than for Leesis and Michael to be together. The way they felt about each other was tell-tailing from the very beginning. It was almost is if they suffered from love at first sight. Really all Leesis wanted to do was to get to know Michael better and help him through. Going into it, she never really expected to end up with him because he was a non-Mormon but she knew she couldn’t hide her feeling from him forever. Their relationship started under hard circumstances but they both made it work. Taken by Storm was a beautifully written novel. I’m happy to say that I read this novel! One lucky person will be able to win a signed copy of this book, so keep a look out for the contest.

-Lexi (:

FTC: I received this book for the author with the understanding that I would provide and honest review. I am not getting paid for this review.

In My Mailbox (10/26 to 11/14)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and Alea from Pop Culture Junkie. If you want more details, click here. In My Mailbox explores all the books that I get in a week, whether it's in the mail, borrowed from a friend, borrowed from the library, or bought from a bookstore.

Recieved:

The Exile of Gigi Lane by Adrienne Maria Vrettos (Paperback/ HarperTeen/ April 2010)






I couldn't find a summary for this book, sorry guys!






Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton (Paperback/ Simon Pulse/ December 2009)

Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

Envy: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen (Paperback/ HarperTeen/ January 2009)

Jealous whispers.

Old rivalries.

New betrayals.

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune—and her fame—are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

Splendor: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen (Hardback/ HarperTeen/ October 2009)

New beginnings.

Shocking revelations.

Unexpected endings.

A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.

Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.

In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap (Paperback/ Bloomsbery/ March 2010)

“Will I never see you again either?” I asked, feeling as though I was about to jump off a high mountain peak and hope to land without hurting myself. That’s how impossible everything seemed at that moment, no matter what I did.

“Perhaps we will meet again,” Sasha said, softening his voice. “But you must see that it does not matter. You have so much ahead of you. It’s your choice now. Choose the future! Choose life!”

For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia’s last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family’s future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?

Inspired by the mysteries that have long surrounded the last days of the Romanov family, Susanne Dunlap’s new novel is a haunting vision of the life—and love story—of Russia’s last princess.

Girls Acting Catty by Leslie Margolis (Paperback/ Bloomsbury/ November 2009)

What's harder to deal with than a group of boys who act like dogs? How about a clique of catty mean girls? Annabelle has just figured out how to survive in junior high school. She's made great friends, her teachers are nice, and she's got lots of tricks up her sleeve for taming those pesky boys. But now she and her friends must confront a whole new brand of headache-- the mean girl clique. At first Taylor and her friends were out to get Annabelle's bff Rachel, but soon the whole group is involved. Their friendship is getting tenser by the minute -- unless Annabelle can save the day again?

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva (Hardback/ HarperTeen/ September 2009)

To Do List:

Ace SATs

Ace finals

Ace AP physics project

Avoid murdering lab partner

Submit Yale application

Resolve possibly evil twin situation
Due date: December 15th
Countdown: 11 days

By the time Kate Larson accidentally fell asleep at three a.m., she'd already done more work in one night than the average high school senior does in a week. Getting into Yale has been her dream for years—and being generally overworked and totally under-rested is the price of admission. But when she opens her eyes the next day, she comes face-to-face with, well, her face—which is attached to her body, which is standing across the room. Wait, what?

Meet Kate's computer-generated twin. Kate doesn't know why she's here or how to put her back where she belongs, but she's real. And she's the last thing Kate has time to deal with right now. Unless . . .

Could having a double be the answer to Kate's prayers? After all, two Kates can do more work than one. Or will keeping her twin a secret turn her dream future into a living nightmare?

What I Wore To Save The World by Maryrose Wood (Paperback/ Berkley Trade/ December 2009)

Senior year's coming up fast and Morgan still has no clue about college, or a career-the whole rest of-her-life thing is basically a blank. Maybe it's because she spent her junior year obsessing about Colin, the hot Irish guy she fell for last summer (that was right around the same time she discovered she's a half- goddess from the days of Irish lore... you had to be there). She even saved Colin from a nasty enchantment, but he doesn't know that. Colin doesn't believe in magic, not even a little.

But then a mysterious message reunites her with Colin, who turns out to be caught up in the biggest faery-made disaster ever. We're talking the end of reality-not just reality TV. To save the world, she's going to have to tell Colin the truth about her half-goddess mojo. But if he doesn't believe in magic, how will he ever believe in her?

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters (Paperback/ Hyperion Book CH/ January 2010)

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for "completers"- www.through-the-light.com.

While she's on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. And it's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life.isn't it?

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

Rock 'N' Roll Soldier: A Memoir by Dean Ellis Kohler with Susan VanHecke (Hardback/ HarperTeen/ September 2009)

"During a time when none of us knew for sure if we would live or die, I came to know the true power of music."

Dean Kohler is about to make it big—he's finally scored a national record deal! But his dreams are abruptly put on hold by the arrival of his draft notice. Now he's in Qui Nhon, Vietnam, serving as a military policeman. He keeps telling himself he's a musician, not a killer, and that he's lucky he's not fighting on the front lines. When Captain orders him to form a rock band, it's up to Dean to find instruments and players, pronto. Ingenuity and perseverance pay off and soon the band is traveling through treacherous jungle terrain to perform for troops in desperate need of an escape—even if it's only for three sets. And for Dean—who lives with death, violence, and the fear that anyone could be a potential spy (even his Vietnamese girlfriend)—the band becomes the one thing that gets him through the day. During one of the most controversial wars in recent American history, this incredible true story is about music and camaraderie in the midst of chaos.

Borrowed:

Hold Still by Nina LaCour (Hardback/ Dutton Juvenile/ October 2009)

An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.

dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

Suicide Notes by Michael Thoman Ford (Hardback/ HarperTeen/ October 2008)

Jeff, the irreverent, sarcastic, and utterly terrified 15-year-old narrator, wakes up on New Year's Day in a psych ward with bandages around his wrists. He copes with his therapy by using extreme denial and avoidance, attempting to one-up his therapist, Dr. Katzrupus, or Cat Poop, with flippant, deflective wordplay and outrageous stories of faux Sugar Plum Fairy fantasies. Jeff spends the rest of his time with the other teens, including suicidal Sadie the sociopath and the gay teen in jock's clothing, Rankin. While Sadie encourages Jeff's resentment toward the program, it is Rankin's actions that force Jeff to come to terms with his suicide attempt and his own sexuality. This is a story of warped self-perception, of the lies that people tell themselves so they never have to face the truth. Ford is most successful in his withholding of Jeff's secret, a disclosure not made until the last third of the book. While the book could be named Gay Boy, Interrupted due to many similarities to Susanna Kaysen's characters and depictions of the mental-health community, Jeff's wit and self-discovery are refreshing, poignant, and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. Readers will relate to Jeff as a teen bumbling through horrible embarrassment and the shame that follows, and they will be inspired by his eventual integrity and grace.

Glass by Ellen Hopkins (Hardback/ McElderry/ Reprint: April 2009)

Kristina Snow was a 17-year-old with high grades and a loving family. In Crank (S & S, 2004), one summer in California with a meth-addicted boyfriend destroys her life. Addicted, she's raped, and goes back home to Reno pregnant. Glass picks up a year later. She lives with her mother and works at a 7–11. Depressed about her post-baby figure, she goes back on speed to lose weight. Her mother kicks her out and gains custody of the baby. She continues to spiral to the last page, which sets readers up for a third novel. Glass is even more terrifying than Crank in its utter hopelessness; meth's power is permanent and Kristina is an addict whether she uses or not. Though her recount of events in the first book is dry and self-indulgent, the pace snowballs as soon as she takes her first toke of rock meth, and one desperate, horrifying measure or decision follows another. Like Crank, this title is written in verse, but certainly not poetry. Hopkins's writing is smooth and incisive, but her fondness for seemingly random forms is distracting and adds little to the power of the narrative. Minor characters are flat, and Kristina's overblown self-pity elicits little empathy. The author tries but fails to present meth itself as a character; her descriptions of "the monster" are precious and overwritten. Kristina's story is terrible, and even when she's high, the narrative voice and mood are sobering. Teens, including reluctant readers, may appreciate the spare style and realism of Kristina's unhappy second chapter.

-Lexi (:

FTC: All links and excerpts are from Amazon.com. I am NOT getting paid to link to them.

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Pub Date: August 2009

Summary: It’s been months, and Viola still isn’t over her boyfriend.

Ever since Lawrence ended their relationship, Viola hasn’t been able to focus on anything.

All she wants is to belong again and to have someone love her.

When Viola accidentally summons a genie into her world, she finds herself able to make three wishes.

Jinn, the young genie, only wants to return home.

Viola, on the other hand, wants to make sure she makes the right three wishes.

She wants the wishes to finally make her happy.

But, as Jinn and Viola spend more time together, they find themselves growing closer.

Soon, Jinn realizes that he’s falling for a human girl; he’s falling fast for Viola.

For Viola, it takes more time for her to realize her true feelings for Jinn.

After her first wish, she knows that she’s falling in love with Jinn.

With only two more wishes left, Viola spends all of her time, not wishing.

The sooner she makes those final wishes, the sooner Jinn will leave.

And the sooner Viola will be forced to forget about him.

Rating: 3 Stars

Review: For me, As You Wish was just an average book with a bigger than life plot. I really expected more from this novel and from Jackson Pearce. I’m not saying this book wasn’t good; it definitely had its moments. The friendship and relationship that developed between Viola and Jinn was really cute and you could tell that they cared for each other. Since As You Wish is written from alternating points of view, I think it could have flowed better or just been told by one person. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable and light-hearted novel. If you don't think you'll be interested in As You Wish, you should still give it a try!

-Lexi (:

In My Mailbox (10/19 to 10/24)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and Alea from Pop Culture Junkie. If you want more details, click here. In My Mailbox explores all the books that I get in a week, whether it's in the mail, borrowed from a friend, borrowed from the library, or bought from a bookstore.

Recieved:

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman (Paperback/ Putnam Juvenile/ January 2010)

Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there’s no escaping high school drama.

Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex–best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn’t understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.

Torn between doing what’s right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick (Paperback/ Scholastic Press/ February 2010)

Jeffrey isn't a little boy with cancer anymore. He's a teen who's in remission, but life still feels fragile. The aftereffects of treatment have left Jeffrey with an inability to be a great student or to walk without limping. His parents still worry about him. His older brother, Steven, lost it and took off to Africa to be in a drumming circle and "find himself." Jeffrey has a little soul searching to do, too, which begins with his escalating anger at Steven, an old friend who is keeping something secret, and a girl who is way out of his league but who thinks he's cute.

Dawn by Kevin Brooks (Paperback/ The Chicken House/ December 2009)

Dawn's dad is a recovering substance abuser, a one-time child molester, and...a born-again Christian. Religion: That's his latest addiction.

But as far as Dawn is concerned, the Man Upstairs has robbed her of the father she once loved--drugs, drinks, and all.

Which is why Dawn's gone shopping for Bibles. For research. To know her enemy. Because, to get her old dad back, she's going to have to do away with this God guy.

She'd just better pray that the fallout from her father's past life of crime doesn't catch up to her first.

Candle Man by Glenn Dakin (Hardback/ EgmontUSA /September 2009)

Murder, mystery, and adventure aren’t your typical birthday presents . . .

But for Theo, anything that breaks up his ordinary routine is the perfect gift.

A mysterious “illness” and Theo’s guardians force him into a life indoors, where gloves must be worn and daily medical treatments are the norm. When Theo discovers a suspicious package on his birthday, one person from the past will unlock the secret behind Theo’s “illness” and change his life forever.

Molded into an exhilarating steampunk adventure that gives birth to the next great fantasy hero, Theo Wickland, Candle Man: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance is the first book in a trilogy by debut author Glenn Dakin.

Invisible Lines by Mary Amato (Paperback/ EgmontUSA /November 2009)

An upbeat teen with a talent for drawing and soccer who hails from the wrong side of the tracks learns to bloom where he's planted. When seventh grader Trevor moves to the trashy Hedley Gardens project with his single-parent mom and younger siblings, he decides "it's going to be my year." Entering a new school in a rich neighborhood, Trevor is accidently placed in an advanced science class. Encouraged by the eccentric teacher to discover the world of mushrooms, Trevor applies humor and evasive tactics to fit in. He draws original designs on his classmates' shoes, and he tries out for an elite soccer team knowing he can't pay the fees. However, Trevor's plans for success derail after the star soccer player sabotages him. Narrating in the present tense, Trevor instantly engages readers with a resilient and infectious can-do attitude that eventually enables him to turn the tables on his rival. Amato's mushroom metaphor aptly fits her young hero, who emerges from unpromising surroundings by following his mom's advice "to rise above it."

Bought:

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (Hardcover/ Margaret K. McElderry/ August 2009)

"When all choice is taken from you, life becomes a game of survival."

Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching...for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words "I love you" are said for all the wrong reasons.

Five moving stories remain separate at first, then interweave to tell a larger, powerful story -- a story about making choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down, and growing up. A story about kids figuring out what sex and love are all about, at all costs, while asking themselves, "Can I ever feel okay about myself?"

A brilliant achievement from New York Times best-selling author Ellen Hopkins -- who has been called "the bestselling living poet in the country" by mediabistro.com -- Tricks is a book that turns you on and repels you at the same time. Just like so much of life.

Borrowed:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Hardcover/ Scholastic Press/ September 2008)

If there really are only seven original plots in the world, it's odd that boy meets girl is always mentioned, and society goes bad and attacks the good guy never is. Yet we have Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, The House of the Scorpion—and now, following a long tradition of Brave New Worlds, The Hunger Games. Collins hasn't tied her future to a specific date, or weighted it down with too much finger wagging. Rather less 1984 and rather more Death Race 2000, hers is a gripping story set in a postapocalyptic world where a replacement for the United States demands a tribute from each of its territories: two children to be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death.Katniss, from what was once Appalachia, offers to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, but after this ultimate sacrifice, she is entirely focused on survival at any cost. It is her teammate, Peeta, who recognizes the importance of holding on to one's humanity in such inhuman circumstances. It's a credit to Collins's skill at characterization that Katniss, like a new Theseus, is cold, calculating and still likable. She has the attributes to be a winner, where Peeta has the grace to be a good loser.It's no accident that these games are presented as pop culture. Every generation projects its fear: runaway science, communism, overpopulation, nuclear wars and, now, reality TV. The State of Panem—which needs to keep its tributaries subdued and its citizens complacent—may have created the Games, but mindless television is the real danger, the means by which society pacifies its citizens and punishes those who fail to conform. Will its connection to reality TV, ubiquitous today, date the book? It might, but for now, it makes this the right book at the right time. What happens if we choose entertainment over humanity? In Collins's world, we'll be obsessed with grooming, we'll talk funny, and all our sentences will end with the same rise as questions. When Katniss is sent to stylists to be made more telegenic before she competes, she stands naked in front of them, strangely unembarrassed. They're so unlike people that I'm no more self-conscious than if a trio of oddly colored birds were pecking around my feet, she thinks. In order not to hate these creatures who are sending her to her death, she imagines them as pets. It isn't just the contestants who risk the loss of their humanity. It is all who watch.Katniss struggles to win not only the Games but the inherent contest for audience approval. Because this is the first book in a series, not everything is resolved, and what is left unanswered is the central question. Has she sacrificed too much? We know what she has given up to survive, but not whether the price was too high. Readers will wait eagerly to learn more.

Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Hardback/ St. Martin's Press/ March 2009)

What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil and all he wanted was you?

At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey's friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren't Neferet's secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn't want to hear and truths she can't face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa's Prohibition-era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with something that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well--they've even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home--but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex-, Eric, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet's sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult (Paperback/ Washington Square Press/ August 2008)

It is August in Comtosook, Vt., yet suddenly the temperature fluctuates wildly, rose petals mysteriously fall like snow, patches of land are completely frozen and roiling garter snakes cover the ground. Suspense and the supernatural are artfully interwoven in this 10th novel by Picoult (Perfect Match, etc.), in which a man desperately seeks to join his fiancee in death, and a 1930s eugenics project comes back to haunt a small town in Vermont. Ever since his beloved Aimee was killed in a car accident, Ross Wakeman has deliberately put himself at risk, hoping to die. When nothing works, and a job with a paranormal investigator brings him no closer to Aimee, he moves in with his sister, Shelby, in Comtosook. As chance would have it, strange phenomena are plaguing the town, and Ross is drawn into an investigation of a piece of land that local Abenaki Indians claim is an old burial ground. In the process, he meets lovely Lia Beaumont, who has some mysterious connection to sinister goings-on 70 years before in Comtosook. Many more characters are essential to the elaborate, engrossing plot, including Spencer Pike, once a eugenics expert and now a tormented old man in a nursing home; Meredith Oliver, a genetic diagnostician with an uncanny resemblance to Lia Beaumont; and Ross's eight-year-old nephew, Ethan, who suffers from a condition that makes him allergic to sunlight. Picoult's ability to bring them all vividly to life is remarkable. Firmly rooting her otherworldly tale in everyday reality, she produces a spellbinding suspense novel offering insight into the human spirit and the depths of true love.

-Lexi (:

FTC: All links and excerpts* are from Amazon.com. I am NOT getting paid to link to them.
*Excerpt for Invisible Lines was taken from Barnes and Noble, I am also not getting paid to link to them.

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

Pub Date: May 2009

Summary: Love and friendship is all about the ups and downs.

Rhiannon.

Devastated when her boyfriend breaks up with her, all she wants is to have him back.

Nicole.

Loves seems to come easy for her. Even with her ex still in the picture, pinning for her, she’s developing a new crush.

James.

He just happens to be in love with Rhiannon, but she also happens to be his best friend.

Rhiannon just can’t seem to see that her friendship with James could be so much more.

Now throw in the school’s mean girl.

She seems to be out to ruin everyone’s lives and reputation.

But James, Nicole, and Rhiannon have taken this for too long.

They won’t let her slide by this time.

While trying to defeat the mean girl, can these three friends really get everything they want?

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: I really enjoyed reading Take Me There. It was the first book I’ve read by Susane Colasanti and she’s actually a really good author. I really like her writing style. All of the characters were really well written and she also did a really good job switching between the three point of views. In the past, I’ve noticed that some authors don’t really keep the same flow, but I liked how Take Me There flowed. You were pulled in from the very beginning and you never really lost interest in the plot or the characters. The events that occurred were real high school events too, even though some of them were not as common as others. A few times I felt a tad uncomfortable when reading from Nicole’s point of view when she’s talking about some of her feelings but I really think that made Nicole who she is. I could have given this book 5 Stars but lately I’ve been very lenient on my reviews so I’m trying to crack down. But, this book is still a VERY good read. I think a lot of people would love this book like I did if they read it. So, go read it if you haven’t already!

-Lexi (:

FTC: I purchased this novel from Borders. I did not receive it from any publishing company and/or author.

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Pub Date: June 2007

Summary: Every breakup has two sides, two stories to tell.

Jordan and Courtney are so in love.

Even though they’re the most unlikely couple out there.

But for them, everything just slid right into place.

They clicked instantly.

Jordan and Courtney even planned to go to the same college and drive cross-country together for orientation.

Then Courtney gets dumped for some girl Jordan on the internet.

They trip still has to happen.

Courtney is heartbroken but she thinks she can make it through a few days.

She just pretends not to care the whole time.

But Jordan? He cares, a lot.

He has his own secrets he’s not telling Courtney.

It has everything to do with why they broke up and why they can’t get back together.

But, it’s also the reason Jordan and Courtney are destined to be with each other.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Review: I really enjoyed Two-Way Street. I thought the plot that Lauren came up with was really cute. It’s probably been done before but she definitely added her own spin to it. Two-Way Street is told from both the point of view of Courtney and Jordan. For me, that’s a very key part to why this book is as good as it is. I loved being able to get inside Jordan’s head and know what he’s thinking. Even though you find out early on the real reason Jordan breaks up with Courtney, it doesn’t seem to ruin any of the story line. It makes one want to find out what’s going to happen in the end even more. The beginning of Two-Way Street can be kind of hard to get into, but once it gets going it really is hard to put down. I’m really glad I decided to pick up a copy of this book, it was really good. It added a new spin on the normal young adult romance.

-Lexi (:

FTC: I purchased this novel at Borders. I did not receive it through any publishing company and/or author.

In My Mailbox (10/12 to 10/17)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and Alea from Pop Culture Junkie. If you want more details, click here. In My Mailbox explores all the books that I get in a week, whether it's in the mail, borrowed from a friend, borrowed from the library, or bought from a bookstore.

Not a very exciting week, but oh well. (:

Recived:

The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech (Hardcover/ HarperCollins/ September 2009)

Peoples are strange!

The things they are doing and saying—sometimes they make no sense. Did their brains fall out of their heads? And why so much saying, so much talking all the time day and night, all those words spilling out of those mouths? Why so much? Why don't they be quiet?

In the ancient stone tower of the Casa Rosa, in a tiny village high in the Swiss Alps, life for one angel has been the same, well, for as long as she (or he?) can remember. Until Zola arrives, a determined American girl who wears three skirts all at once. For neighbors who have been longtime enemies, children who have been lost, and villagers who have been sleepily living their lives: hold on. Zola and the angel are about to collide. Figs start flying, dogs start arfing, and the whole village begins to wake up. Zola is a girl with a mission. And our angel has been without one—till now.

This hilarious and endearing novel by Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech reminds us that magic is found in the most ordinary acts of kindness.


The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard (Paperback/ Viking Juvenile/ January 2010)

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

Bought:

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz (Hardback/ Hyperion Book/ October 2009)

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

-Lexi(:

FTC: All links and excerpts are from Amazon.com. I am NOT getting paid to link to them.

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

Pub Date: October 2009

Summary: What happens when you believe in miracles then everything changes?

Samara Taylor used to believe in a lot of things, miracles being one of them.

A pastor’s family is always supposed to be perfect and love God.

Sam knows all too well though, that her family isn’t close to that.

Her father’s a pastor but that doesn’t make her family perfect or God loving in any way.

Sam’s mother is currently in rehab after there’s an incident with a DUI.

Her father on the other hand, is interested in everything but his family.

His congregation knows nothing about Sam’s family.

But when there’s a local tragedy, it seems to overlap with the personal one going in within Sam.

A young girl is kidnapped and no one knows how to save her.

Someone has to stop the community from falling apart during a time where everyone needs each other.

Sam’s been worn down, she doesn’t know how to keep believe in miracles and God.

Her last thread of faith is being to unravel right in front of her eyes.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: Sara Zarr is really an amazing author. I fall in love with her all over again once I read another book written by her. As soon as I found out she was writing Once Was Lost, I couldn't wait to read it. Story of a Girl was the first book I ever read by Sara and it really made me believe that an author gets how teenagers can be. Once Was Lost was such a powerful book that dealt with a lot of different issues. I personally believe that some authors don't tackle some hard issues going on in our society, but I think that Sara Zarr does. In everyone of her books she reminds us not to forget to believe and Once Was Lost definitely made that a bigger point that other books. It was so hard for me to up down this books because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Sam and her family so bad. All you wanted to do was help Sam through everything, she was a very well written characters. As was all of the other characters that played a part in this novel, but Sam was probably my favorite. I'm really happy that I had the chance to read this book. Everyone should really read this book, it's really amazing. I can't wait for Sara Zarr's next book!

-Lexi (:

FTC: I received this book from Little, Brown and Company.

Cirque du Freak/ The Vampire Assistant Movie Giveaway

It's been awhile since I've had a giveaway, huh?
This one should be a fun one. (:

Do you love to be scared? Then don't miss the terrifying adventure that begins when Darren and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the CIRQUE DU FREAK, a wonderfully bizarre and creepy freak show. Brace yourself for thrills and chills as the boys witness a parade of grotesque creatures and face their deepest fears by entering the darkest world of the vampire. In the blood-curdling tradition of Anne Rice and Stephen King, CIRQUE DU FREAK will have you shrieking for the next horror show!

The Vampire's Assistant movie, will be released October 23, 2009. It's based on the Cirque du Freak novels by Darren Shan. I haven't ever read the books, but after watching the movie trailer, I think I just might.

Here's the Movie Synopsis:

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

There will to Two (2) very luck winners for this contest.
They will receive:

Cirque du Freak book Set
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Locker Mirror



Visit the Official Website:
http://vampiresassistant.net/

Join the Vampire's Assistant Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/TheVampiresAssistant

CIRQUE DU FREAK has been rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned - Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13) for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language.

This Giveaway will end on October 21st, so it's running for 2 weeks.

You must leave a comment below with your email address to be entered.

If you don't feel comfortable leaving your email address in a comment, you can email it to me. am.ernsberger@hotmail.com

Shipping Guidelines:
The Vampire’s Assistant giveaway is open to legal US residents who are at least 13 years of age as of October 1st. Prizing is only available to United States mailing address only. (International readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

+4 Being a follower/subscriber of my blog
+2 Becoming one
+2 For each time you link to this contest from sidebar, facebook, myspace, twitter. ( Though with twitter please add @alexislovesyouu to your link, so I can track them easier, thanks!)
+5 For making a post on your blog about this contest
+5 For voting for your favorite Cirque du Freak t-shirt