Just Listen



The Author: Sarah Dessen 

Published: July 5th 2007

Pages: 371

 

Synopsis: I'm Annabel. I'm the girl who has it all. Model looks, intelligence, a great social life. I'm one of the lucky ones. Aren't I? My 'best friend' Sophie is spreading rumours about me. My family is slowly falling apart. It's turning into a long, lonely summer, full of secrets and silence. But I've met this guy who won't let me hide away. He's one of those intense types, obsessed with music and totally unafraid of confrontation. He's determined to make me listen. Will I ever find the courage to tell him what really happened the night Sophie and I stopped being friends?

 

What i thought of the cover: Pinks, Oranges, purples and whites can a cover get any more girly. The answer being yes with the different style of graphics ranging from flowers to hand bags to underwear and every little image is somehow in it’s own way related to the story.
I give the cover a 4 out of 5

What i thought of the story: For the longest of times I’ve always heard about Sarah Dessens books and how good they are so when I saw one in my favourite book charity shop in St Andrews I though might as well give it a try to see what I think. So just plunging in to Just Listen I had no idea what to expect other than it’s a about a teenager having a fall out with a best friend, having family trouble to cope with and a guy though I can honestly say I never expected to what extent either of these three topics had involved. What I really liked about the story most of all was that there was more than just one message through the story, Don’t be afraid to speak up, be proud of who you are and also it’s not always about you, so really one message being put out to the reader through each sister. Another thing I really liked was that the whole point of the story was to show readers that you don’t know what someone else’s life is like even though it may seem perfect to you. I can’t wait to check out more of Sarah Dessens books which hopefully are just as good if not better.

Over all I give this story a 4.5 out of 5 stars

Now I will listen to music like I’m enlightened

  The Daughter Of Smoke And Bone

The Author:  Laini Taylor 

Published: September 29th 2011

Pages: 418

 

Synopsis: Errand requiring immediate attention. Come. The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things. When Brimstone called, she always came. In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole. Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

 

What i thought of the cover: If it wasn’t for the shiny metallic cover that caught my eye then I probably wouldn’t of spotted this book and picked it up. It’s a nice simple feather design with a mixture of blues, Purples and silvers that give it a very nice colour coordinated feel and it’s as if you can almost see the feathers in reality. The titles also interesting as it’s not all the one font giving it that little spark of individuality. The back of the cover is also impressive with the silhouette city scape giving it that mysterious kind of aura and also giving the reader an idea as to what it‘s like to be in the characters world. 

 

I give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

What i thought of the story: When I first started reading this book my first thought was that it was too boring and that I would end up not enjoying the story whatever it was at all. However just because something starts off boring doesn’t mean it will stay that way throughout the book and I have to say that in this case it defiantly get’s more interesting from the slow start at the beginning. So I’ve never really read any books with chimeras, especially with them being a major part of the story only the fullmetal alchemist manga really if that counts so finding out about them and what type of world they live in gave a good insight as to what the author imagines in this world of mythical bests could be like if they exist in a world of there own. Also having Karou (main character) somewhat involved in that world and making her life in the human world as a art student made it all tie together rather nicely leaving the reader guessing till the end what the connection is. There’s also the angels which gives an interesting twist with seeing them for the most part as the bad guys rather than the heavenly good beings we all think angels to be. I’ll admit I love stories where romances start with two people totally despising one another and in this case as well it’s almost a little Romeo and Juliet thing going on.
Overall I give the story a 4 out of 5 stars

It truly is better to hope than to wish

 

 

Wither

 

The Author: Lauren DeStefano

Published: March 22end 2011

Pages:358

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery has only four years left to live when she is kidnapped by the Gatherers and forced into a polygamous marriage. Now she has one purpose: to escape, find her twin brother, and go home – before her time runs out forever.

What i thought of the cover: What a gorgeous cover this is :] I Love how the colours are coordinated and i love the metallic pink colour of the text. I just adore how there’s the circle around the trapped bird in a cage and another around Rhines hand where the wedding ring is to show that's she trapped. I also like the models hair and makeup though i don't like the skirt of the dress unlike the rest of it. Apart from that one thing i absolutely just love the cover so...

I give this cover 4.5 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: For a while now I’ve been wanting to read this book having heard quite a lot of good reviews to this already very popular story. I’m glad to say I’m also one of the people who would sing this book’s praises as I just could not put it don’t for the need to know what was going to happen next and how. To be in Rhines situation is one I just couldn’t and wouldn’t want to imagine myself in just the thought of being kidnapped gives me the creeps. I also love the villain Vaughn for he just plays his part almost too well with that terrifying sense of you don’t know what and where he could strike at any given moment. There’s also the fact that Rhine pities her husband who’s supposed to be the bad guy too and the forbidden love interest with Gabriel the servant which I got excited every time there was a moment between these two Instant fan girl of course. The other two wives were interesting characters in their own right as well and they give that book a wider prospective of what it’s like to live in a world that has become like this. I defiantly can’t wait to get my hands on the next book and so…

I give this story 5 out of 5 stars

I just can’t stop thinking of bubble baths now sigh

 In The Window Room

The Author: Steven J. Carroll

Published: August 19th 2011

Pages: 111

Synopsis: There are many... very secret, mysterious places in our world. Yet some of which, that hold no other foreseeable worth except that they are hidden, and those, by my judgement, should remain as such. However, there are certain other places, which if one can find them, that are both mysterious and immeasurably valuable. And it is of this latter kind that our story is concerned. More specifically, the room that Delany Calbefur found, hidden away in the undiscovered corner of an old house, one Fall while she attended the Mayfield School for Girls, and the story of her adventures there is a tale that well deserves retelling. And so, within the pages of this book, I shall try my best at it. -Steven J. Carroll

What i thought of the cover: It’s quite a nice simple cover that has a kind of old fashion appeal to it. The drawing is a great illustration which ties in very nicely to the story though I’m sad to say the only illustration. The overall impression given is that of an old story book which is actually quite the theme in the story as it is narrated as if being told to a child back in the times.

I give this cover a 4 our of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: First impressions are always important and so the first thing that caught my attention was the fact that the way it was written reminded me much of the way Winnie the Pooh was told which I thought was a good aspect throughout the book. I always love books which have a good mystery so I was quite excited to read this and who doesn’t love adventures. This book though quite short and not really as in depth as I would of liked I would say it does make to be a good children’s book and is told and even ended like something of a myth.  Del was an interesting character that’s had it pretty tough and i feel sorry for her though it’s interesting to see a friendship form with her enemy Mattie whom ends up being the very person she can rely on most. The character in which makes the adventure all possible for Del and Mattie is Merris who is some sort of made up rodent creature which I’m still not exactly sure what he looks like but perhaps something between a gopher and a beaver maybe. The window room is magical but other than that it’s mostly adventures, daring rescues and evil kings. While I loved how things turned out I found the ending to be surprisingly quite sad and I have to wonder what Del did next after her decision to do what she does. 

Over all i give the story also a 4 out of 5 stars 
     
Well since the wardrobe didn’t work perhaps this is worth a try

Tempest

The Author: Julie Cross

Published: January 5th 2012

Pages: 413

Synopsis: Jackson Meyer is hiding a secret. He can time-travel. But he doesn't know how he does it, how to control it or what it means. When Jackson, and his girlfriend Holly, find themselves in fatal danger, Jackson panics and catapaults himself two years into his past, further than he's ever managed before, and this time he can't find a way back to the future. All the rules of time-travel he's experienced so far have been broken and Jackson has no choice but to pretend to be his younger self whilst he figures out a solution. Jackson is tearing himself apart with guilt and frustration, wondering if Holly survived. He's also become the target of an unknown enemy force and it seems even his dad is lying to him. Jackson is racing against time to save the girl he loves, but to do that he must first discover the truth about his family and himself. And stay alive.

What i thought of the cover: Surprisingly I’m not a huge fan of this cover. The people look like they’ve just been copy and pasted and while Jackson looks like he’s falling out of the sky Holly in my opinion doesn’t. Also I don’t like the colour of the title simply for the fact it clashes with the greens blues whites theme.



I give the cover 3 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: Here’s another story that’s told from the point of a view of a male and boy dose he go through a lot throughout the book. So Jason has this secret which only he and his best friend know and that’s that he can somewhat time travel which of course is eventually leads to adventure and mischief. I love how we learn about Jackson past by actually going to his past and what really spices it up is that he goes as his teenage self and can do what he wants as long as he doesn’t run into himself of that time. The conflict on who Jackson should trust throughout the book is interesting as he’s learning things about his life and others lives he never knew before both in his present and his and others pasts. I’ll admit I was a little teary when Jackson went to visit his sister in the hospital. It s quite an action packed book but there wasn’t as much romance as I first thought there would be however there is still all the other elements of the book which more than make up for it so…

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars

As my brother would say “let's do the timewarp again !!!”

Barking At Winston

The Author: Barry Stone

Published: September 22end 2011

Pages: 202

Synopsis: When Bruce, an abandoned puppy, is adopted by a lively family, he encounters more affection than ever before. With humour and charm, he describes his life with his loving but troubled owners, and offers a sometimes hilarious insight into the world from a dog's point of view. But when the family is threatened, Bruce lends a paw, and uses his canine second sight to guide the family through some difficult times.

What i thought of the cover: I’ll just say before I start that I couldn’t find the exact picture of the cover I had but the only difference was instead of the long red writing above the authors name it just simply says “How a rescue dog saved his family…” which I much prefer. My photo loving senses are tingling especially since it’s a cute doggy on the front ^^. I like how it’s just a nice simple design when it come to the title.

Over all I give the cover a 4 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: I Love stories to do with animals so you can imagine my delight when my parents got me a signed copy of a book about a dog. It was certainly interesting being set in 1976 and I really felt quite emotional at poor Brucie waiting on deaths row at the kennel. I was happy when he was adopted by a family though and I loved how he was acting, thinking and talking how a dog might. Throughout the course of the book Brucie keeps mentioning Her Hoityness who I think he both admires and pity’s but I just love how she’s the one Brucie can confine in even though she not there with him. When it comes to the family I just love the way the siblings act like siblings - Half fighting half joking around, oh yes I can relate. The one member I particularly liked though was Craig and discovering what he’s been going through and how he’s more like his father than he’ll ever know. If there’s one thing I can’t stand though it’s cars and that’s a bit of a strong theme in this book which sadly I found boring at those points in the book. I’m also a little confused about the ending as to what happens to Brucie though I did like it. However I do feel there could have been more to the story.

Overall I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars

Did anyone else get dragged to car auctions and DIY stores when the were young ?

The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight

The Author: Jennifer E.Smith

Published: January 5th 2012

Pages: 215

Synopsis: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? Imagine if she hadn't fogotten the book. Or if there hadn't been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn't fumbled the coins for the toll. What if she'd run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else - the weather over the atlantic or a fault with the plane? Hadley isn't sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it's the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver...Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

What i thought of the cover: Yet another cover where I adore the photography, especially how it makes it seem as if time has stopped for Hadley and Oliver while everyone else is rushing about getting on with their life. I also adore the title as if it’s been drawn by Hadley herself who is the character we follow the view of in the story.

I give it a 5 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: I love how the story is told from Hadley’s point of view for it defiantly leaves a sense of mystery when trying to find out who this boy Oliver is she meets at the airport. Both of them have to deal with something that’s quite emotional to the both of them and I liked seeing how they were able to cope with what’s going on in their lives and how the two of them support each other when possible and try to piece things together even in the grimmest of moments. I don’t know about anybody else but I love it when people try to compare the American language to the British language, at times it can just be so stereotypical and others so true that I can’t help but smile in both cases. I’ll admit I smiled when I read the author went to a university in Fife half thinking yeah, it’s freezing in St Andrews most the time but a good place to get an ice cream and take a walk along the beach.
Overall I give it a 4.5 stars out of 5

St Andrews = Ice Cream + Fav Second Hand Book Shop + Beach + Massive Graveyard + Castle = Good times <3

Beautiful Darkness

The Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Published: October 12th 2010

Pages: 503

Synopsis: Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.Sometimes life-ending.Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

What i thought of the cover: The cover dose a great job continuing on with the same theme as the first books cover. This time how ever the writing s blue with random shiny parts on the letters and the silver metallic background show the staircases in one of the caster tunnels still giving it a sense of mystery.

Overall I give this cover a 4.5 out of 5

What i thought of the story: In book two of the caster series things defiantly get more interesting. Not only do we get to see how the plot is continued from the last book but we also get to meet some interesting new characters as well. I found the beginning a little slow but once it began to pickup I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. We discover more secrets and truths which shocked me to a extent as a lot were not what I was expecting. A thing I really didn’t like was what happened to Ridley and Link, I just don’t agree about what happened to the both of them but that’s just what I think. I love the new character Liv especially that English charm she has <3. The story defiantly left an interesting cliff hanger and it should be interesting to see what happens in the third book.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars

Why is it every time Ridley shows up I crave candy.

The Lying Game

The Author: Sara Shepard

Published: March 31st 2011

Pages: 307

Synopsis: Sutton Mercer had a life anyone would kill for -- and someone did. But thanks to a view from the afterlife and Emma Paxton, her long-lost twin sister, Sutton has a chance to solve her own murder. Emma slips into Sutton's old life to piece together her disappearance. But can Emma keep up the charade long enough to discover what really happened to Sutton!or will she become the next victim? Let the lying games begin.

What i thought of the cover: First of all I like how the cover it’s just a nice simple design and I love both the twins being upside down opposites from each other. However I’m not too fond of parts where the writing and the swirls overlap the photographs on both sides.

Over all give the cover a 3 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: It turns out even though I already own this book I hadn’t yet read it. However when I watched the first episode that aired here in the UK I couldn’t wait to read the book to find out more. Though I found it completely different from the drama why wasn’t surprised I loved the story just as much if not better. Just when you think you have an idea as to who the killer could be another complication happens leaving you still guessing kind of like cluedo. Another thing I loved about this book was how Emma was thrust into her sisters life and how she has to cope and a lot of the time improvise when handling different situations both normal and deeper than Emma could have imagined. I can’t wait to read the second book and see how the plot develops from where it left off and if it’s as addictive and crazy as the first one it should be great.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars

Where’s Nancy Drew when you need her

Clockwork Angel

The Author: Cassandra Clare

Published: August 31st 2010

Pages: 476

Synopsis: Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still. When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

What i thought of the cover: I was so happy first of all to get this in hardback since here in Scotland it’s almost impossible to get popular YA in hardcover. Compared to the paperback copies of the first three in the mortal instruments series I have, this cover is shines beautifully. Again I love the photography and photo manipulation (QUIZ TIME: What is Big Ben? Those who get it right get a space cookie) especially with the landmarks I easily recognize. The clockwork angels cute though the light coming from its wings is a bit too much, besides I thought it was rainy most the time. 

Overall I give this cover a 4.5 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: Oh My Gosh, words can not describe how much I loved this book but I can say that it only took me two days to read (I had school so no staying up past midnight). What happens to Tessa in the beginning is just the perfect way to start the story off and I particularly like what happened with her first encounter with Will. I found Jessamine to be an especially interesting character with the way she thinks and how she acts as some women would back in the 19^th centaury. Throughout the book there is some hilarious stuff that happens as well as some rather unexpected turns which quite surprised me but made way for an interesting development in the next book .

Overall I give it a 5 out of 5 stars

The clockwork people are among us.

Looking For Alaska

The Author: John Green

Published: April 1st 2011
Pages:263

Synopsis:  "In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla and on that thin-mooned night I could see little more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes -- fierce emeralds. And not just beautiful, but hot too."

BEFORE. Miles Halter's whole life has been one big non-event until he starts at anything-but-boring Culver Creek Boarding School and meets Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up and utterly fascinating she pulls Miles into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. But when tragedy strikes, and Miles comes face-to-face with death he discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally. AFTER: Nothing will ever be the same. Poignant, funny, heartbreaking and compelling, this novel will stay with you forever.

What i thought of the cover: Out of the several different coves that are available I do prefer this one because I love the way the heart is in the water and how it symbolises deep emotion, also cause I think it looks pretty too of course. Of course I’m a geek for photography and even at times photo manipulation, so this simple cover I adore.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars

What i thought of the story: Being somewhat put off by Will Grayson Will Grayson, which I didn’t like very much, I wasn’t really in a hurry to pick up any books by the two authors, however Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns were two of the books I wanted to read long before Will Grayson Will Grayson was ever out so when I saw Looking for Alaska in The Works I picked it up thinking why not since this was a different story. I’m very glad I did for this story was fantastic though it is defiantly an older teen read for there are some parts which are a bit … not what younger people should be reading. The question of the meaning of life and what happens after death is one that people have been trying to answer for many many years and this book dose get you thinking about all the possibilities to answer the questions, being there so many different answers though there really isn’t a true answer out there and sometimes that can really hit people at home like Miles in the story. John Green done a great job of portraying Miles emotions going from one thing to the next like how a lot of us can be at times. He’s defiantly done well with the humour though I loved the pranks they pulled off the best (Which he actually based off what he and his friends done for their senior prank http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lht_JH2xi6w) Genius or what.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars

Now since I’m a senior and only have a year and a bit of school left, what should our ultimate school prank be, providing I can get the whole year involved and not get arrested in the process. This could be harder than I thought.

P.S The worst anyone has really ever done for the S6 last day school prankathon is put golden syrup on the school banisters, TP the teachers cars and protest for gay peoples rights (all in the same day and that was when I was in S4).