I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Gallagher Girls #1

Genres: Young Adult Fiction

Publisher: Scholastic

Released: April 1, 2006

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

For Fans Of: Model Spy, Secrets of My Hollywood Life, and Being Nikki.

My Review: This book was a really fun and exciting, quick read. And defiantly interesting!

The Gallagher Academy is amazing, and the characters in this book are very loveable and easy to relate too.

You wouldn’t want to be on the bad side of one of these girls! They’re able do things that normal girls can’t do, besides talk to boys. ;)

Who wouldn’t want a super hottie for a Covert Opps teacher!

Cammie’s best friends are wonderfully loyal, and very supportive. (Watch for the scene with the garbage!)

All in all I really enjoyed this book! Can’t wait to review the rest of these amazing books for you!

Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls Book #1

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance.

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Released: August 1, 2009

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

For Fans Of: Lament, The Dark Divine, Nightshade, Raised by Wolves, Beautiful Creatures and Paranormalcy.

My Review: OMG! So glad that Hopeless Wanderer recommended this to me. I was team Jacob when Twilight was huge because Werewolves are so much better than Vampires. This is everything werewolf. That is why it is so freaking good! Reasons why:

1. Wolves are awesome. Especially when you have a wolf protecting you from its hungry pack.

2. What’s better than finding out that your protector wolf is actually a really cute guy?

3. I loved how each chapter was from either Sam or Grace’s point of view. I honestly love books when the author does this. I feel that it makes the story more whole.

4. Maggie Stiefvater is such an excellent author. I’m drawn right into her books and she doesn’t leave me disappointed.

5. Her version of Werewolves was new and refreshing. Even heartbreaking.

6. One of my favorite all time books!

Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games Book #3

Genres: Young Adult, Adventure, Dystopian, Action, Romance.

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Released: August 24, 2010

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

For Fans Of: Divergent, Blood Red Road, Crossed, and Masque of the Red Death.

My Review: As the last in the trilogy I felt like this one didn’t go out with a bang. More of a flop. My main reason why I didn’t love, love this book was the ending. I won’t say what the ending is, but I was so mad. I slammed the book and chucked it across the room muttering “stupid book”. Other reasons I didn’t care for this book was the fact that it was so different that the other two. No arena, no games.

However I did like that they came across District 13, Katniss and her group of the surviving game members all band together to help save Panem. It’s more a story of the actual war than the war in the games.

All in all a very good read I gobbled up in a sitting, but of course I wish it would have ended better-at least the way I wanted it to end.

Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games Book #2

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Adventure, Action, Romance.

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Released: September 1, 2009

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

For Fans Of: Masque of the Red Death, Blood Red Road, The Last Princess, Divergent, and Ashes.

My Review: Once again I was blown away by this fantastic book. I read the first one and this one in a sitting. Suzanne Collins has a way of sucking you in and not letting you go. Catching Fire is my favorite out of the series. We revisit the arena for the games meeting new contestants, a brand new playing field and a plan for revolt.

The reason I liked this book out of the others was the new setting of the games. I like the new characters that are introduced. They add depth and dynamic to the story. And rather than fighting for survival, the contestants are fighting to find their way out of the arena and save Katniss and the revolt. I mean you just have to read it to find out why I like it so much. Words just can’t describe.

The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games Book #1

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Adventure, Action.

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Released: October 31, 2008

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com In the ruins of a place once known as North America lays the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

For Fans Of: Article 5, The Last Princess, The Partials, The Host, Under the Never Sky, Matched, and The Blood Red Road.

My Review: Why did I like this book? Because it blew my mind! Holy freaking cow! Again with my reasons for liking this:

1. The Hunger Games was my first dystopian novel I had read. Everything about the world after a devastating war was so intriguing. I liked the world with new technology but yet the living style of the United States was almost becoming primitive.

2. Katnis is kick ass awesome!! I seriously love girls who can hold their own.

3. The book introduces the Hunger Games which is like the equivalent to the Gladiators. As cruel as this is, I found it fascinating. Just the whole set up of the games was very interesting. I like reading about survival and coming out alive.

I absolutely loved this book. My friend at work wouldn’t shut up about it so I read it to keep her quiet. So glad she got me hooked!

However if you are sensitive to violence and death, be cautious; this book has a lot of it.

The Year of Secret Assignments

Author: Jaclyn Moriarty

Series: Ashbury/Brookfield Book # 2

Genres: Young Adult, Humor, Contemporary

Publisher: Scholastic

Released: 1 April 2005

Summary courtesy bn.com Three Aussie girls become pen pals with three guys at another school in this delightful, high-spirited read. Told entirely through letters, diary entries, emails, and other writing, Moriarty's novel introduces us to Emily, Lydia, and Cassie -- all students at Ashbury High -- who begin writing to their Brookfield High counterparts through the schools' organized pen pal project. Readers learn quickly that each girl has her own writing style and that at two of the Brookfield boys (Seb and Charlie) seem to be smitten with Lydia and Emily. The only trouble is Cassie's pen pal, Matthew, a shady character who first sends her short, threatening letters and then becomes strangely sweet toward her. Nobody can figure out why Cassie keeps writing to him, but after she has a crushing meet-up with Matthew, Cassie discovers -- with the help of her friends and the Brookfield guys -- that he hasn't been honest about his identity. All could be ended there, but when Charlie helps take revenge and Brookfield High gets mysteriously vandalized, the group comes together to deliver justice and save the endangered pen pal project.

For Fans Of: Six Impossible Things, Saving Francesca, The Sweet Terrible Glorious Year I Truly Completely Lost It, and Girl at Sea

My Review:  Feeling Sorry for Celia was one of my favorite books growing up.  However, I haven’t read it in a while and I just read this one last week, so I feel better equipped to write about The Year of Secret Assignments.  Maybe one day when I dig Celia out of my box of books (don’t be misled, there are, in actuality, many boxes full of my books) than I will write a review on it, but for now: Secret Assignments gets the honor instead.

The Year of Secret Assignments is, in a word: amazing.  I’ve read books before in which everything is told through letters, e-mails, diary entries and at times they feel a little contrived, like say when the main character is feverishly writing in her diary whilst on a date or taking a cab or something (utter nonsense).  The Year of Secret Assignments is NOT that, it leaves you to make up what happens in between letters.  Moriarty has a wonderful sense of humor that shines in her books.  They are, by far some of the funniest pieces of literature I have ever read for young adults.  Although the characters sometimes seem very stock-ish (and almost interchangeable with one another) the plot line moves forward quickly and all of the characters get their turn in the spotlight.  It is such a fun, quick read. And it’s Australian, if you’re into that sort of thing.