Girl at Sea

Author: Maureen Johnson

Series: Stand Alone

Genres: Realistic, Travel, Contemporary, Young Adult

Publisher: Harper Teen

Released: 17 May 2007

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Sometimes you have to get lost . . . The Girl: Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan. The Mission: Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.  The Crew: Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant. What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway? As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more cryptic than the sea—her own heart. . . . to find what you're looking for

For Fans Of: Anna and the French Kiss, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Along for the Ride

My Review:  Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson was by my definition an incredibly fun summer read.  The way that Clio’s dysfunctional family reacts to things to circumstances that they are put into, is incredibly hilarious.  Also, the wonderful picture that Johnson paints of Clio’s past makes things so much fun.

What I really love about Johnson’s writing style is that she can take something so simple and turn it into something magnetic.  Even more than that Johnson has her finger on the pulse of “teen speak” she reminds me a lot of John Green and John Hughes in that everything her characters say sound real in a way that you wish you thought that quickly on your feet.

Johnson also has a way of making you root for every character.  Her characters are multi-dimensional and all have their own motivations.  The pain that Clio goes through in the novel romantically almost breaks your heart and takes you right back to that initial high school heartbreak.

I also loved Clio’s strength.  Not only with her friends but also with her family.  She does a lot of things that are, at time, erratic, but are what girls, I think, would like to have the guts to do (I’m talking the jellyfish scene).  Honestly, how can you go wrong when a book is taking place in the summer on a yacht in the Mediterranean with a crew that is looking for buried treasure?  The Name of the Star is still my favorite of Maureen Johnson’s books, but Girl at Sea is definitely one that you can find some fun in.

Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Series: Paranormalcy Book #1

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Adventure, Romance.

Publisher: Harper Teen

Released: September 1, 2010

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

For Fans Of: City of Glass, Lament, Nightshade, Firelight and Demonglass

My Review: This was a very quick, fun read. It’s semiserious where the plot goes but Evie is freaking hilarious! I really liked the idea of a secret Paranormal Agency. It reminded me a whole lot of Men in Black the movie. And Evie’s paranormal gift is really neat. I feel bad for her that she has to be stuck living inside the agency and pretty much work for them because they’re scared of what she is.

I really liked this book because of the many different mythical creatures. I love anything fantasy in the real world.

It’s a quick, witty, enjoyable read.

Spells

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Series: Wings # 2

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Faeire, Young Adult

Publisher: Harper Teen

Released: 4 May 2010

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

For Fans Of: Entice, Radiant Shadows, Shadowspell, and Wings.

My Review: This books is Amazing (capital A) and Exciting! Not to mention the love triangle between Laurel, David, and Tam is picking up! In this book, we get to take a look into more of what makes the world of Avalon tick, and if I do say so myself Pike did an splendid job of describing the faerie world. I would sure love to be able to stay there for a week or two! The faeries sure do know how to party and if you find yourself face to face with a Winter faerie please give them the respect they need ;D

WE also learn more abou the social classes that are in Avalon, giving more depth to Laurel and Tamani's relationship.

Also in this Amazing, Exciting, and Fabulous book comes a new character in the story that can sure kick butt. She ends up being really helpful, but keeps you on your toes, is she good or bad? Who knows?! :D

I cannot wait for the next book to see how the lovely story of Laurel and the world of Avalon continues!

Wings

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Series: Wings #1

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, and Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Released: May 5, 2009

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

For Fans Of: Fairy Tale, Captive, and Lament

My Review: There is so much about this book that I absolutely love! Aprilynne Pike's version of faeries is incredible and these aren't your typical 3 in., tiny winged faeries, these faerie are human like plants. How cool is that!

Pike has lovely descriptions of the so called "wings" which are in fact flowers. Who wouldn't want a flower growing from their backs! :D Pike creates this magical world, that is so easy to follow, and the story plot flows nicely. I love the social classes she creates in the faerie world called Avolon. Its so different, and new that I could not put it down! Drove my mom CRAZY! ;D

I adore the characters so much! Laurel acts like a typical teen, looks like a typical teen, but is in fact a faerie. Her crush on the cute, curly haired, David is so fun to read and I love Tamani!

Oh and don't worry about not having enough action in this book! This book has a very exciting and intense fight scene at the end against trolls, and Laurel learns a cool ability that I sure wish I had. Wings is one of my favorites books, and I will absolutely recommend this to anyone whose looking for an exciting cool twists on faeries.

Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Series: Delirium # 1

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: HarperTeen

Released: 1 February 2011

Summary: courtesy goodreads.com Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

For Fans of: Under the Never Sky, Shatter Me, and Inside Out

My Review: Delirium was one of those books that sort of stuck with me.  I’m not sure why, I like to think it is because Delirium is one of my first experiences with dystopia, but really, who knows?  Lena and Alex really tugged at my heart strings from the beginning, they were both such wonderfully complex and yet simple characters and you really feel like they were made for each other.  The only thing that I did have a hard time with was how vaguely things were described.  Though, in honesty this could have very well been because for the first half of the book I kept thinking Portland, Oregon, not Portland, Maine (being from the West coast, I tend to think that way) and all I could think was, “wow, this version of Portland is really different from the current version of Portland.”  It wasn’t until about the half-way point I realized they were actually in Portland, Maine so that was slightly confusing.

The ending was also kind of irking.  Let’s just say it’s a cliff hanger (Pandemonium ends in a cliff hanger too, just so you know) I felt that the pacing of this book of lovely, it felt like a final summer of love for me, easily moving forward towards the inevitable, but they’re teenagers so really they’re living in the moment more than adults would, and you can feel that in Delirium, the hope of first love, and the demise and knowledge that it will someday end, that is: until the end.  The end kind of slaps you in the face out of no where and keeps your heart racing to the point where you can’t help but think, “did I get a faulty copy, because I swear it doesn’t end there!”