126 -- family

Day 129 -- Book 126
family -- Micol Ostow

16 year old Mel ran away from home and her sexually abusive "uncle." She has little money and no where to stay until Henry arrives.

Henry becomes her everything. He's her father. He's everyone's father. Henry introduces Mel to the family. The family is a group of people who believe Henry as their leader. He's their messiah who is sent to teach the world his beliefs.

family is based on the Manson Family and the murders they committed in 1969.

125 -- Excalibur: The Legend of King Arthur

Day 128 -- Book 125
Excalibur: The Legend of King Arthur -- Tony Lee

Arthur Pendragon was not raised by his parents. His father, the king was killed and Arthur was sent to live with Ector and his son Cei.

When Ulric holds a tournament, Arthur pulls a sword from a stone and is sucked into the world of Merlin the wizard. He is taught to fight so he can defeat U, the man who killed his father.

Arthur continues on the path the building the round table with his queen Guinevere, but she loves Lancelot.

124 -- Carmen

Day 126 -- Book 124
Carmen -- Walter Dean Myers

Carmen is a modern, urban version of the classic. It is written as a play.

New York, Spanish Harlem. Jose is police officer questioning his lot in life. In walks Carmen, the sexy local girl, making him feel like he's found the answer to all his problems.

Jose gets into an altercation with another man over Carmen. He pulls a gun on him and flees the scene. He's also offered money for helping with a deal.

Jose can't seem to get over a letter that his mother wrote wanting him to find some nice girl and settle down. Carmen does not fit the nice girl image that his mother has.

Enter Escamillo, a singer/rapper/producer/businessman with the hots for Carmen and offers her another life.

If Jose can't have Carmen, then no one can.

123 -- Entwined

Day 126 -- Book 123
Entwined -- Heather Dixon

Azalea is the heir to the throne of Eathesbury.  She is also the eldest daughter of twelve girls. Her mother died giving birth to the last daughter Lily.

After her mother's death, the palace is in a period of mourning. This means that the girls are not allowed to dance, which is their passion.

They find a secret passage to a silver forest where they spend their evenings with The Keeper. Eventually, they discover that The Keeper is really out to get them.

Their father, the king, advertises for a young man to come and solve the mystery of where the girls go dancing each evening. He's really in search of a suitable man for Azalea.

122 -- We'll Always Have Summer

Day 126 -- Book 122
We'll Always Have Summer -- Jenny Han

Isabel "Belly" is now a freshman in college. She and Jeremiah have been dating for awhile now.

One evening at his fraternity house's party, Iz finds out something about Jeremiah's past. They get into a heated discussion and she refuses to speak to him.

Once she gives in, he proposes marriage. When their families are together for a dedication ceremony in honor of Susannah, Jeremiah's mother, they announce their engagement. Their families refuse to allow the marriage to happen.

Belly packs up and moves to the beach house for the remainder of the summer to plan the wedding without her family. Conrad is there. They skirt around each other until the night before the wedding when he finally confesses that he's always loved her. Is it too little too late for Belly?

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

 "Waiting on" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about. (Created by Jill at Breaking the Spine)

Long, Long Sleep -- Anna Sheehan
From Goodreads

"Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for 62 years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically-induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose - hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire - is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes - or be left without any future at all."

Release date: August 9, 2011

(It's TAKS week in Texas, I was drawn to this title because we could all use a LONG, LONG SLEEP!)

121 -- Perfect You

Day 125 -- Book 121
Perfect You -- Elizabeth Scott

Kate believes that vitamins ruined her life. Her father quit his job to sell Perfect You vitamins from a cart in the mall. Kate was forced to work at the mall on evenings and weekends. Her 23 year old brother, who still lived at home, got out of working by playing video games with their dad.

This caused problems between her parents. They had to sell the house.Grandma moved in with them. Eventually, dad moved out.

Of course there's Will, the obnoxious guy at school who always finds a way to push Kate's buttons. Especially when they are making out in the storage room at the mall.

120 -- Death Cloud

Day 125 -- Book 120
Death Cloud -- Andrew Lane

Deepdene School for Boys let out for the summer. Fourteen year old Sherlock waited for his father to show up. Instead, his brother Mycroft arrived to take him to their Uncle Sherrinford and Aunt Anna Holmes' house for the summer.

Mycroft returns to London, but not before securing a tutor by the name of Amyus Crowe for Sherlock. While on an investigation for mushrooms, Sherlock comes across a dead body covered in boils. This is the second death to occur in the town. After each death, a cloud leaves that area. It is later, that Sherlock discovers that they are bees.

Amyus, Sherlock, his friend Matty, and Amyus daughter Virginia leave for London in search of the band that is releasing the bees. Once they find them, they realize that there's more to their plotting then just a few men. They are after the entire British Army.

119 -- Chime

Day 124 -- Book 119
Chime -- Franny Billingsley

"I've confessed to everything and I'd like to be hanged. Now, if you please."

Briony,a self proclaimed witch, hates herself. Her stepmother is dead. Briony takes personal responsibility for her twin sister Rose's mental state.

They live on the Swampsea with their father, the clergyman. One day, Mr. Clayborne and his son Eldric arrive with the notion of draining the swamp. The Boggy Mun of the swamp doesn't want to be drained and is out for revenge on anyone who attempts it.  

New Site -- Noveltee(n)

Visit Noveltee(n)
 Four teenage authors chasing publication and loving books. For more about each of us, see our individual page tabs. Taryn posts on Mondays, Constance on Tuesdays, Kate on Thursdays, and Mad on Fridays. On Wednesdays, we will have guest posts or interviews.

My Mailbox -- Week of April 17

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was post inspired by Alea and hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Check out her post to see what others received in their mailboxes this week!

Resurrection Men -- T.K. Welsh

Streams of Babel -- Carol Plum-Ucci

   

118 -- Hate List

Day 123 -- Book 118
Hate List -- Jennifer Brown

Valerie made a list. The Hate List. She didn't really hate everyone on the list. Yes, she was bullied and teased. She had no idea what would become of the people on that list.

Nick, Valerie's boyfriend, walked into the school Commons on May 2 and opened fire. He shot several students and a teacher. Valerie had no idea that Nick was going to do this. She jumped in his way to stop him. He shot her in the leg before turning the gun on himself.

Valerie is left to deal with the aftermath. Some see her as a hero, others see her as the person who pulled the trigger. Valerie just wants to make it through her senior   year unnoticed. There are too many people who won't let her.

Giveaways @ Total Bookaholic

Slight by Jennifer Sommersby

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

117-- Resurrection Men

Day 120 -- Book 117
Resurrection Men -- T.K. Welsh

London, England 1830s

Victor watched his parents die at the hands of the soldiers. instead of killing him, they sell him as a cabin boy on a ship sailing west. Victor is injured while working on the ship. Because of this, he can no longer work and is thrown overboard.

He washes ashore in England and is taken in by an elderly gentleman until he can no longer take care of Victor. He then sells Victor to Mr. Tipple and Mr. Biggs.

They take Victor to London where he works for Master Hartley in exchange for room and board in his attic. Master Hartley sends kids out to work the streets of London begging for money. Victor also helps Mr. Tipple and Mr. Biggs rob graves for corpses. Known as the Resurrection Men for digging up the dead and selling their bodies to doctors for medical research.

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

 "Waiting on" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about. (Created by Jill at Breaking the Spine)

From Goodreads

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences.

Release Date: June 21, 2011

116 -- Eli the Good

Day 119 -- Book 116
Eli the Good -- Silas House

It's the summer of 1976, a summer of discovery for Eli and his family. His father fought in Vietnam. His mother is distant. Josie, his sister has decided to rebel against everything. Aunt Nell, who protested Vietnam, has moved in too.

Eli spends his time with his friend Edie. She's also going through some changes with her parents divorce. 

By eavesdropping and rummaging through letters, Eli discovers more about his family then he expected. Josie is his half-sister; they share a mother. His father killed a man in Vietnam and has never really gotten over it. Nell has come home because she has cancer.

Eli just wants everyone to be happy. Nell dubs him Eli the Good. He has good intentions and looks out for his family.

115 -- The Chaos

Day 118 -- Book 115
The Chaos -- Rachel Ward

Adam, the son of Jem (from Num8ers), has his mother's "gift."  He can look at people and know the day they are going to die. Unfortunately, he knows how they die and can feel it within him.

Adam keeps a journal of the people he sees. Lately, there are a lot of people around the date 01012027. He knows that something is going happen in London on that date.

Sarah and Adam have a connection. She keeps seeing him in her dream. There's fire everywhere and he's there to take her baby. She doesn't see the numbers, but she knows that something devastating is going to happen...soon.

114 -- TTYL

Day 117 -- Book 114
TTYL -- Lauren Myracle

Angela (SnowAngel), Maddie (mad maddie) and Zoe (zoegirl) are all friends starting out 10th grade together. As with most teenagers, they spend their evenings IMing and solving the world's problems. For high schoolers, their problems are many.

The girls cope with high school drama, boys, drinking, dating, and the relationship they have with each other.

113 -- The 10 p.m. Question

Day 117 -- Book 113
The 10 p.m. Question -- Kate De Goldi

Frankie is a perfectly normal twelve year old, who just happens to be a hypochondriac. He worries about everything. Most of his family and friends are worry free. His Ma is the one who listens to all his 10 p.m. questions.

Frankie is perfectly fine living in this world until the new girl shows up and has questions of her own.

My Mailbox -- Week of April 10

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was post inspired by Alea and hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Check out her post to see what others received in their mailboxes this week!

     

Red Glove -- Holly Black
The Gathering -- Kelley Armstrong

112 -- Like Mandarin

Day 116 -- Book 112
Like Mandarin -- Kirsten Hubbard

Mandarin is only known for two things: being beautiful and being a slut.

Grace wants to be just like Mandarin. Well, maybe not the slut part. Grace wants to be carefree and shameless. She starts from watching Mandarin from a distance until she asked by one of their teachers to help Mandarin with her school work.

Together, they plan to leave Washokey, Wyoming behind.

Grace discovers that Mandarin isn't really who she is, and why she acts the way she does.

111 -- Because of Mr. Terupt

Day 115 -- Book 111
Because of Mr. Terupt -- Rob Buyra

Peter, Danielle, Jessica, Anna, Luke and Jeffrey are just a few of the students in Mr. Terupt's fifth grade class. It's his first year teaching. Most of this kids figure that makes him an easy target. He won't know all the ins and outs yet.

Mr. Terupt teaches the students some memorable lessons that year. Dollar math and estimating the number of blades of grass on the football field are just a few learned inside the classroom. Outside of the classroom, students are taught tolerance, patience, and forgiveness.

110 -- Lewis & Clark

Day 114 -- Book 110
Lewis & Clark -- Nick Bertozzi

This is an illustrated version (graphic novel) of the travels of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Congress approved their expedition, and President Thomas Jefferson funded it,  in search of a water way to the west after the United States made the Louisiana Purchase. 


They left from St. Louis, Missouri in 1804. Their crew included many experts on various subjects: medicine, botany, geology, and navigation. 


They had problems from the beginning, but in 1806, they reached the Pacific Ocean.

109 -- Exposed

Day 113 -- Book 109
Exposed -- Kimberly Marcus

Seniors Liz and Kate have been friends forever, but things are changing. They are changing. Liz thinks that Kate needs to continue her passion of dancing. This leads to an argument during their monthly sleepover. Liz storms upstairs to sleep. When she gets up in the morning, Kate is no longer there.
At school, Kate refuses to speak to Liz.

Eventually, the truth comes out. Kate accuses Liz's brother, Mike, of rape.

Liz's life starts spinning. Her family defends Mike. Things between Liz and her boyfriend, Brian, are strained. The kids at school sense that she's the sister of a rapist. Liz is losing her identity. Liz and Kate both know that their friendship will never be the same.

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

"Waiting on" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about. (Created by Jill at Breaking the Spine)

 From Goodreads-
"The story of Lacey Anne Byers, a small town girl who is excited to star in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, until a childhood friend reappears and makes her question her faith."


Coming July 19, 2011

108 -- City of Fallen Angels

Day 112 -- Book 108
City of Fallen Angels -- Cassandra Clare

It's two months after the events in Idris and Shadowhunters are in New York are being killed. The dead were all once members of Valentine's circle.

Jace and Clary are hot and heavy, but he's hiding something from her. Together, they are keeping the secret of Jace's death in Idris.

Simon is being pursued by Camille, a vampire, to join her group. He's also living with Jordan Kyle, a werewolf with a connection to Simon.

Jace begins acting weird, like he's not  in control of his actions toward Clary. He is afraid that he'll hurt her, not only emotionally, but physically.

They are visited by someone from their past...someone they thought was dead. He has a tie to Jace that will effect his future.

My Mailbox -- Week of April 3

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was post inspired by Alea and hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Check out her post to see what others received in their mailboxes this week! 

Where She Went -- Gayle Forman

City of Fallen Angels -- Cassandra Clare

Entwined -- Heather Dixon

  

Because of Mr. Terupt -- Rob Buyea
Exposed -- Kimberly Marcus
Like Mandarin -- Kirsten Hubbard

 

Ten Miles Past Normal -- Frances O'Roark Dowell
Stay -- Deb Caletti
Chime -- Frances Billingsley

107 -- Where She Went

Day 108 -- Book 107
Where She Went -- Gayle Forman

Last time we saw Mia, she was waking up from a horrendous accident that claimed the lives of her parents and her brother.  Adam was there by her side.

It is now three years later. Adam lives in LA and  is star of the band Shooting Star. Mia is in New York and studied at Julliard. They have not seen each other since she left for school.

Adam finds himself wandering the streets of New York, killing time until his flight leaves for London. He is drawn to a concert hall, only to find out that Mia is there playing. They send the rest of the night together as a farewell to New York. Is this one last night also a final farewell to each other and the relationship they had?

106 -- Ten Miles Past Normal

Day 106 -- Book 106
Ten Miles Past Normal --
                            Frances O'Roark Dowell

Janie just wants to be "normal," whatever that means for a high school student. She lives on a farm that she suggested her parents buy when she was younger. It was a cool idea at the time. Now, not so much.

To achieve her idea of "normal" she learns how to play bass and joins a band, becoming a wild child. Janie is arrested. There's also this boy named Monster. Does all that really qualify as being a "normal" teen?

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

"Waiting on" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about. (Created by Jill at Breaking the Spine)

My Life Undecided --  Jessica Brody


From Goodreads


Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I’m gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

I LOVED The Karma Club!   This book will be released on June 7, 2011

Giveaway: Invincible Summer

Visit Confessions of a Bookaholic for more details.

Giveaway : Kat Incorrigible

Check out Fantastic Book Review for more details.

105 -- Stay

Day 105 -- Book 105
Stay -- Deb Caletti

Clara met Christian at a basketball game. Thus began their intense relationship. They were inseparable. Even when they weren't together, Christian would check up on Clara. He was obsessed. He also didn't understand the words, "we're over."

Flash forward a few months, Clara and her father left the city for the beach. There, she meets Finn. She feels safe. Until Christians number starts showing up on her phone. Has he found out where she is?

104 -- The Girl Who Became a Beatle

Day 104 -- Book 104
The Girl Who Became a Beatle -- Greg Taylor

Regina is one of the four members of the Caverns. When they can't get any gigs, two of the members quit. Regina doesn't take this well. She makes a wish that she could be more famous then the Beatles.

The next morning, when Regina wakes up, MTV reporters and paparazzi are outside her house waiting to talk to her. All of her Beatles memorabilia was missing and replaced by Caverns items. Their first album is a replica of the Beatles first album.

Regina is quickly swooped up in being famous. The band heads to Los Angeles to attend the Grammys. Regina discovers that she and Julian, another band member dated, but have now broken up. She's now dating Bradley, the hot guy from television. She also figures out how others really feel about the diva she's become.

Regina must decide if she's going to stay in the world she's in now, being famous, or go back to her humdrum life.

103 -- The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie

Day 103 -- Book 103
The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie --
                                           Tanya Lee Stone

This book pays tribute to the icon. Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler. The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie not only discusses the history, but also shares personal stories. These stories take both sides of Barbie, those who enjoyed her and those who didn't.

There are pictures throughout of Barbie's transformation.  

102 -- Bloody Times

Day 103 -- Book 102
Bloody Times -- James L Swanson

Sequel to Chasing Lincoln's Killer.

Bloody Times compares the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. They both lost loves and children to death before becoming presidents.

After Lee surrendered to Grant, the lives of the Lincolns and Davis' spin out of control. 

Lincoln was assassinated at Ford Theater. He died the next day. His body traveled by train from Washington, DC to Springfield, Illinois with many stops along the way.

Davis flees Richmond while it was being invaded by Grant and the Union troops, not realizing that Lincoln was dead. There were those who believed that Davis was involved in Lincoln's death. Davis was eventually arrested, but never tried for treason. He spent the rest of his life talking about the Confederates.
 

101 -- The Eternal Smile

Day 103 -- Book 101
The Eternal Smile -- Gene Luen Yang

The Eternal Smile is a graphic novel that contains three stories.

Duncan's Kingdom - A young man sets off on a quest only to realize that things don't turn out the way he thinks they should.

Gran'Pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile - A frog sees a smile up in the sky that never leaves. He builds a church and convinces others to worship the smile.

Urgent Request - Janet has been contacted, by email, by a Nigerian prince who needs her help and asks for money. She's drawn to him through his correspondence.

100 -- The Cruisers

Day 103 -- Book 100
The Cruisers -- Walter Dean Myers

Zander and his friends are known as the Cruisers at the gifted and talented school they attend in Harlem. That is also the name of their unauthorized school newspaper. Instead of kicking them out of school like he wants, the assistant principal gives the Cruisers an extra assignment. While the eighth grade class is studying the Civil War, they have been divided into the Union and Confederate. The Cruisers must make peace between the two sides.

They also all have issues at home. Zander lives with his mother. His father and stepmother live in Seattle and wants Zande to move in with them.

There is a sequel. Checkmate will be released on August 1, 2011.

My Mailbox -- Week of March 27

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was post inspired by Alea and hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Check out her post to see what others received in their mailboxes this week!

     
Bloody Times -- James L. Swanson
Liar, Liar -- Gary Paulsen
Strings Attached -- Judy Blundell

 
Dream -- Jeanine Ne Ly

Dress -- Jeanine Ne Ly 

Date -- Jeanine Ne Ly

 

The Cruisers -- Walter Dean Myers

Midnight Palace (ARC) -- Carlos Ruiz Zafon