Saturday, May 10, 2008

Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty

Jessica Darling is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to sloppy firsts. This time, the hyperobservant, angst-ridden teenager is going through the social and emotional ordeal of her senior year at Pineville High. Not only does the mysterious and oh-so-compelling Marcus Flutie continue to distract Jessica, but her best friend, Hope, still lives in another state, and she can’t seem to escape the clutches of the Clueless Crew. To top it off, Jessica’s parents won’t get off her butt about choosing a college and her sister Bethany’s pregnancy is causing a big stir in the Darling household.

Jessica Darling is my new best friend! She is funny and wise and prudent. She is your dream best friend. When reading this book you will feel like you are having a girls night out with Jess and she is spilling everything that goes on in her "drear and tedious" life. Whereas, when Jessica is telling her tale to us loyal readers, her life is the most intriguing as ever.

I, personally, can and won't ever get enough of Miss Darling. Marcus either.

Don't you just love the affiliation between Marcus and Jessica? I sure do, thats for sure.

Megan McCafferty knows what she is doing without a doubt. I can only imagine what she was like in her teen years. McCarfferty can add zaniness and sincereness to these novels. One moment you'll have to be taking a 5 minute break just to stop laughing and the next you'll have to take a break because you couldn't believe what had just happened. Megan McCafferty will have twists and turns in these novels that you wont expect but will love and dislike (but love more) in set month. Look out!

I suggest reading the Jessica Darling series, or else you will miss out one a great view of your teen years. This stuff is just so real. you can't miss it.

Read On!

Kelsey

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs

The filming for sure-to-be-blockbuster movie Pretty Young Assassins has wrapped, and teen movie star Kaitlin Burke returns to life on the set of primetime drama Family Affair. After ten seasons of filming the hit favorite TV show, Kaitlin would have thought that she could see any curveballs coming, but with a plotting new actress on set, all bets are off. The new diva, Alexis, makes even Kaitlin's long-time nemesis Skye seem like a puppy in comparison. Can Kaitlin keep her sane boyfriend, her insane job, and her composure in the face of this new star power?

Oh, I have been waiting to read this book. I own all the books in the series. I love this series and I love this book. I don't think it's my favorite though. Kaitlin doesn't seem to get any older in the book, which is a bit boring reading the same over and over.

I like how Jen Calonita added a new character to this book. Alexis is a fun character. You knew where she was coming from throughout the entire novel, but once it was reveiled you were still a bit shocked. The sweet and evil split personality is so original. You know you never get tired of reading that type.

Unlike some other Hollywood novels this gives you more of an insight to what it's like to be a teen starlet and yet theres romance with a non-celeb. There's family too. So, that's why I like this novel, otherwise it's not really my type of cake. You know what I mean? Oh, and the ending has a huge unexpected twist at the end that will sure to shake up the next book.

The next book in the Secrets Series, Paparazzi Princess, should be out this time next year and the fifth one is in the works, so keep on the look-out for them.

Read On!

Kelsey

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Dream Team Contest!


Em at Em's Bookshelf is having a contest you CANNOT miss out on!

Do you want to win 3 great books? 2 of whom recently came out?

Then I'd suggest going HERE right now!, I know I am!

Contest ends May 9th!

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Another Meme?

So, I have been tagged, yet again, by Liv from Liv's Book Reviews.

Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.

This one sounds a lot more fun then the last one.

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT YET READ THE LAST 2 HARRY POTTER BOOKS!




So the book closest to me is Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. I'm not reading it at the moment but my book is upstairs and this one was in the room next to me, so here is goes:

He cleared his throat. "I am here, as I'm sure you know, because of Albus Dumbledore's will." Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another.

Hmm, I remember that part, it's making want to read this book again. Oh, crap, that's not good, I have too many books lined up now as it is...

So, I tag:

Leanna at Leanna's Dreamland
Rachel at Muffins. And. Books.
Kristen at The Fox Reads
Tasha at And Another Book Read
and. . . The Book Brat!

Hope you didn't get tagged already!


Lessons From A Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

Laine has always felt awkward and shy, painfully removed from her more easy-going classmates. That's why, when beautiful, popular Leah Greene selected her as a friend in fifth grade, Laine was simultaneously flattered and confused: "Any time I start to wonder why on earth Leah Greene wants to be my best friend, I tell myself not to think about it… I feel so deliriously happy, I think my lips will crack from smiling so hard…. I'm not no one anymore."

But soon Leah's friendship evolves into secret sessions in Laine's walk-in closet, sessions where Leah forces Laine to play house, kissing and touching her all over while they pretend to be husband and wife, to “practice for when we get older." After these incidents, Leah taunts Laine, accusing her of enjoying the intimate contact too much, of being abnormal, sick and perverted. As for Laine, she's more confused then ever --- it's true that Leah's kisses are exciting, but they also feel dirty and wrong. Why does Leah do these things to Laine? Does it have something to do with the uncomfortable relationship Leah has with her father's friend Sam?

As the girls grow older, Leah becomes simultaneously more vicious and distant. Laine, desperately desiring normal relationships, is unsure how to create and support regular friendships, especially when she's always second-guessing her new friends' motivations and desires. But when Leah, who has quickly spiraled into self-destructive patterns of behavior, dies in a terrible car crash while the girls are in high school, Laine is forced to revisit and re-examine all of her relationships, past and present, to find out where things went wrong…and whether she is to blame.


This book was pretty disgusting. Knowles didn't have much details into the part but the details she had left me feeling disgusted for Leah and Laine. I read why Jo Knowles wrote this book, which was because she read something about kid to kid abuse, and I believed, after reading the novel, that it must happen. I was sad and grossed out about this.

Laine goes through the book from the past. The book starts out with the prologue of what you already knew from the inside flap and then in the first chapter Laine tells us how it grew from that. The last few chapters and the prologue were the only present times. It was interesting and a good idea to write the book like that.

Leah was a sad manipulative person who I would never want to meet in real life. Laine is the type of person who you could probably easily be friends with. She was real and a very sensitive person.

I didn't like reading about plot but the writing was superb. You will feel nauseas after reading this. You will also feel very sorry for Laine and have little sympathy for Leah. Most likely you will come to love Laine's character and wish you could help her.

Read On!

Kelsey