The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
HarperCollins, 2011
288 pages
9780061976797
Note: This was an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley.com. The release date is April 26, 2011.

This is the sequel to Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes. If you have not read it yet (and why is that?), I suggest you stop reading this instant. Spoilers may be found below.

Ginny has been stressing about her college entrance essay question, "Describe a life experience that changed you..." How can she possibly sum up what happened over the summer? Just as she has decided to procrastinate the essay just a little bit longer, she receives a mysterious email quoting a letter. Could it really be the thirteenth letter that was stolen, along with her bag, in Greece? Her instructions are to go back to England and help the sender find the three sections of Aunt Peg's last piece. She takes the opportunity to hop on a plane and jet back to England,to see Keith and hear her aunt's last words to her. What she finds is another European adventure, blackmail, and a little bit of romance.

Judging by the cover...: Much more appealing than the last cover, but not at all how I pictured Ginny.

Favorite Elements:

• World Travel - Never ever have I envied those who live in London so much. Paris would be a wonderful place, and Amsterdam is nothing to scoff at, but London is where my heart is. I'd move there in a heartbeat (provided I had a way to make a living, of course). I'm already preparing by watching as much BBC as possible.
• Best British Mate - Ellis is spectacular, considering everything. I'd love to have a best girl friend to pal around London with. Imagine the shopping frenzies we could have!
• Awesome Aunt AND Uncle - Aunt Peg continues to be one of the best aunts in history (apart from mine), even when suffering from the hallucinations. Keith is probably the coolest adult in y.a. lit, allowing Ginny to crash at his place and gallivant around Europe. Not to mention he works at Harrod's.

Overall (out of 5): 4
I'm so glad that I didn't have to wait so long to find out what happened to the last envelope. I can't imagine the torture if I had read the first book in 2005! Johnson fulfills our need to know effortlessly; you'd never know that there are six years in between books. The story picks up just six months after Ginny returns from her first whirlwind tour of Europe. She has the same concerns that every high school senior has: college applications, boyfriends, and appearance. Last summer's trip, though, has matured her in realistic ways, and it's interesting to see how she handles her new trip. Oliver is deliciously underhanded, and it's so much fun to hate him, even though his delightful posh accent is very tempting.

Recommendation: If the cliffhanger ending of 13 LBE left you craving more, have no fear! You only have to wait two more months to get your answers. If you haven't begun your European adventure with Ginny as your tour guide, then you have plenty of time to get going!

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011
228 pages
9780547445281
Note: This was a galley copy from NetGalley.com. The release date is April 4, 2011.

Missy's life is complicated. Her parents won't give her the time of day, her sister is her arch nemesis, her perfect boyfriend broke up with her after finding out her dirty little secret, and she just killed her cat, her only friend in the world. How does Missy deal with it all? She cuts. Deep and often. One night, when a party ends disastrously, Missy takes the razor blade too far. Death arrives and offers her a deal; become a Rider of the Apocalypse, War, and continue living, or let her family find her dead on the floor, thinking she committed suicide. Missy chooses to ride, joining Death, Famine, and Pestilence, and finds out what it's really like to be at war with herself.

Judging by the cover...: This book is dark. Extremely dark. And the cover suits the mood. It's eerie, chilling, and a little bit disturbing.

Favorite Elements:

• Death - His appearance this time is as a blonde, well-known Seattle rocker who committed suicide at the height of his career. Apparently an eternity spent as the harvester of souls gives one a dark sense of humor, and his coping mechanism is playing the guitar like a rock star.
• The Black Plague - Want to know what really caused it? Pestilence's identity crisis may have played a part in it.

Overall (out of 5): 4.25
This is the second book in Kessler's Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. I admit that I have not read the first, but I do not think that it hampered my understanding of the story. Hunger (book one) tackles eating disorders and Rage takes an in-depth look at self-mutilation. Kessler's grasp of the disorder is extremely knowledgeable, and any reader who is not familiar with the condition will have a realistic grasp of the information. Kessler does not sugar coat the information and she never takes a didactic tone; Missy's actions, from what I've heard from sufferers and survivors of self-mutilation, are all too common in those who can't cope anymore with their feelings. Even though I've received a free copy, I will be purchasing a finished version, and I have already requested Hunger from the library.

Recommendation: Please read this book. Encourage teens to read the book. Encourage parents to read this book. If only one person reads Rage and is able to recognize Missy's symptoms in another teen, it's all worth it. Note: A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to To Write Love on Her Arms, a charity dedicated to raising awareness about and preventing self-mutilation and suicide.

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
Harlequin, 2011
224 pages
9780373210282
Note: The copy I read was a galley copy from NetGalley.com, viewed on my Nook.

Bridget feels her life is out of control. Her father won't pay her any attention, her step-mother is way too emotional, she can't quite get over her gorgeous ex-boyfriend, her friends are all morons, and she just might be expelled from school. When she decides to take matters into her own hands by crashing her car, she assumes that will be the end of it. But she finds that she is now on trial for her actions (crimes) committed against her friends, family members, and faculty at the posh private school she attends. This mean queen bee must find a way to make it up to everyone before her spirit leaves her body forever.

Judging by the cover...: Creeeeeepy. And so fitting. Although people are bound to think that you're reading another preppy rich girl novel (and they won't be too far off).

Favorite Elements:

• The Afterlife - I love speculating what's waiting for us when we die, and Harbison's theory is provocative. Is there a judge and jury of your peers waiting to evaluate your actions in life? What happens if they decide you're guilty? Chilling!
• Mr. Ezhno - A teacher who really loves his job and cares about his students! He tries hard, and even though he doesn't connect with the kids right away, he keeps trying. Here's to all of the teachers out there!
• Liam - Hoooo boy! Where was he when I was in high school? What a fantastic guy! Any girl who doesn't want to do her best for him obviously doesn't deserve him. Smart, sensitive, loves his mom, and a football player. Honey, you just don't throw a guy like that away!

Overall (out of 5): 4
The book begins with her pushing the pedal to the metal, envisioning her funeral, and sending her car down an embankment and to her doom. And to think that I actually felt sorry for her in those first few pages. What a fool! It's not often I want to punch the main character in the face multiple times throughout the story. Bridget is a girl you absolutely love to hate. Maybe too much. And I'm sure everyone knew someone like her in high school. Rich girl, family connections, popular, beautiful, and a grade A witch with a capital B. Harbison really knows how to manipulate a reader's emotions. I felt like I was there, watching Bridget commit these foul acts against those who, against their better judgment, loved her. The plot was brilliant, and I had an extremely hard time putting it down.

Recommendation: Definitely a piece of prime chick lit. However, even though the cover might scream out things you wish it wouldn't, don't think this is your average I'm-rich-and-my-life-sucks book. You'll find that there are even better things about it than wanting to do bodily harm to Bridget. Like Liam. And Michelle. And Mr. Ezhno. And Meredith. And countless others that make this book fantastic. And who knows, maybe you'll even get to like Bridget.

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

What Valentine's Day would be complete without a review of a love story?

Prisoners in the Palace: How Victoria Became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel by Michaela MacColl.
Chronicle Books, 2010
352 pages
9780811873000

Liza is a newly-made orphan and her parents have left her nothing. What was supposed to be a banner year with her introduction to London society has quickly amounted to nothing. In order to make a living, she accepts a position as a maid for the Princess Victoria, the future Queen of England. Though it's humiliating to be a servant, Liza quickly realizes that she can use the position to her advantage. The princess is purposely being kept a prisoner in her own palace and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and the comptroller are scheming to keep her there and put themselves in power. Liza and the Princess must find a way to defeat the plans and prove Victoria would make a worthy Queen.

Judging by the cover...: The picture above doesn't do it justice. No one would make fun of you for reading this in public. Feminine yet intellectual (not to mention shiny!).

Favorite Elements:

• A Princess - It's every girl's dream to be a princess (well, maybe not every girl, but most I know), and while Victoria's life isn't ideal, she gets to dance all night at balls and wears gorgeous dresses. Not to mention she's on first name terms with the King and Queen of England (her uncle and aunt).
• Below Stairs - I love reading about England's privileged society, but I find what goes on in the servants' areas much more fascinating. These are the people who keep the household running, rain or shine, and don't get nearly enough credit.
• Inside Boy Jones - A scoundrel who speaks a quaint thieves' language? Yes! I won't give away where he lives, but it's certainly giving me ideas.

Overall (out of 5): 4.5
I don't usually pick up historical fiction concerning anything before 1900, but I'm glad I listened to the reviews. This book contains enough intrigue and romance to last me a long time! Although Liza was a fictional character, her point of view felt very authentic, and the author never underestimated the reader's intelligence by explaining customs and practices of the times. Princess Victoria, her mother, and John Conroy were real people and the drama behind Victoria's ascent to the crown is only slightly exaggerated. MacColl included the historical background for the book at the end, and I appreciated it mostly because it's almost impossible for me to keep track of who is married/related to who, and the author does a good job of spelling it out.

Recommendation: The romance, typical of the times, is subtle but exciting, so if you're hesitant about that aspect, please don't be. If you're a fan of historical fiction and Great Britain, I would suggest you check this out.

Valentine's Day Special

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! In honor of this occasion, I've decided to take stock of my love affair with books and list the three books I can't live without.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. My senior year of high school a friend of mine suggested I read this for a project, thinking that I'd like it. The first sentence of her description sealed it. "It's about this guy who is wrongly accused of a crime, thrown in jail, and switches places with dead guy who's going to be thrown into a river in order to escape." She didn't even get to the parts about love, betrayal, and sweet, delicious revenge. I've been in love with this book ever since. Side note: I pretended to be the character Valentine for the project's presentation and got an A. Thanks, Danielle!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Santa purchased the series for me one Christmas, and my mom exclaimed, "Oooh! Chronicles of Narnia! You'll love that series!" I had my doubts, but a child such as myself with an overactive imagination couldn't help but revel in Lucy's discovery. I was thrilled when they announced the movies, and I have not been disappointed, except by the all too frequent appearances of the White Witch. Seriously, that woman is NOT in every book, only two. A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: If you choose to read these, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read them in the order Lewis wrote them. You are not doing yourself any favors if you pick them up in the order his family decided on after he died (they put them in chronological order; not cool). No matter what anyone tells you, LWW is the first in the series, not The Magician's Nephew. Thankfully the movies are in the correct order, so far.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I borrowed this from a friend when I was in 5th grade. I was already a mystery buff and had burned through all of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys I could find. TWG was the first intellectually stimulating mystery I read. Though it's a short book (it weighs in at 192 pages), it packs quite a bit of punch. Every time I read it I find a detail that I never noticed before and one more plot twist finally makes sense. A few months ago I discovered this website. Raskin donated her drafts of the book to the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Not only are they an in-depth look into the writing process, but it's amazing to see how the characters evolved over the many drafts. Fascinating.

And there you have it, folks, my timeless book affairs. What are some of your favorites?

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Amulet Books, 2011

376 pages

Note: This was an advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley. The release date is set for May 1, 2011

Cat's childhood best friend, Patrick, has been the victim of a vicious hate crime. Cat's made a vow to find out who did this to him, even if it means stirring up trouble in their religious and rural North Carolina town. The person responsible for the crime does not want to get caught, and will go to any length to keep Cat quiet. It's a story about hating those who are different, the rampant drug use among residents of rural areas, and standing up for what is right.

Favorite Elements:

• Small Town Mystery - Solving a mystery in a big city isn't easy, but it can be even worse in tight, close-knit communities such as Black Creek. It's hard to find the answers you need and not alienate the people you've grown up with, the people who know everything about you, and the people who can make the rest of your life in that town a living nightmare. But that doesn't stop Cat.

Overall (out of 5):5

This is a moving story about one girl trying to find out the truth about her childhood friend. It's also about Patrick's struggle to fit in and be accepted for what he is, a task that is hard for a gay young man in the rural South. It would have been easy for Patrick to fake being straight until he left town, or to retaliate every time his "friends" gave him a hard time for being himself, but his perseverance can teach us all a lesson on being true to ourselves. Myracle's writing is outstanding. The dialog is extremely realistic (I could even imagine them speaking with the North Carolina accent) and it's not hard to envision yourself standing beside Cat, weaseling information out of the reluctant townspeople. I would be extremely surprised if this book does not win several awards come January 2012.

Recommendation:This is a powerful story that needs to be told in today's society. Read it for yourself and share the message with as many people as you can. It's unacceptable that the world still allows for this type of hatred to exist in the world, and everyone needs to do their part to make sure teens like Patrick feel welcome.