Review Archives: By Book

A
Alison Dare: Graphic Novels by J. Torres & J. Bone
Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap
Ancient Ocean Blues, The by Jack Mitchell

And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman

Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Anything But Ordinary by Valerie Hobbs
At Face Value by Emily Franklin

Audrey Wait by Robin Benway
B
Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown

Boy Who Dared, The by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Breathless by Jessica Warman

Brother's Story, The by Katherine Sturtevant

C
Cathy's Book & Cathy's Ring by Sean Stewart & Jordan Weisman
Cathy's Ring by Sean Stewart & Jordan Weisman
Circle of Friends: Heather by L. Diane Wolfe

Countess Below Stairs, A by Eva Ibbotson

D

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Dancing Through Fire (Portraits) by Kathryn Lasky
Dark Life (Bk. 1) by Kat Falls
Dead & the Gone, The by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

E
Eli the Good by Silas House

Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival, The by Dene Low

Escape by Sea by L.S. Lawrence

Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell

F
Faithful by Janet Fox

Fever Season by Eric Zweig
Flash Burnout by K.L. Madigan
Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson
Forgiven (Faithful #2) by Janet Fox

G

Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott

H
Hannah: Daughters of the Sea by Kathryn Lasky

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Hidden Voices by Pat Lowery Collins

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

How the Hangman Lost His Heart by K.M. Grant

I
I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan
Indigo Notebook, The by Laura Resau

In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg

J

K
Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Stories of Paranormal Love by Various Authors

L
Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Lonely Hearts Club, The Elizabeth Eulberg

Love Rules by Dani Daley MacKall

Luxe, The by Anna Godbergson

M
Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill

Medina Hill by Trilby Kent
Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Musician's Daughter,The by Susanne Dunlap

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

My Vicksburg by Ann Rinaldi

N
No Moon by Irene N. Watts

Notes From a Spinning Planet-Ireland (Book 1) by Melody Carlson

O
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

P

Panama by Shelby Hiatt

Parliament of Blood, The by Justin Richards
Pearl Among Princes, A by Coleen Paratore
Pirates! by Celia Rees

Possibilities of Sainthood, The by Donna Freitas
Prairie Winter by Bonnie Geisert

Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger

Q
Queen's Daughter, The by Susanne Coventry

R

Rat Life by Tedd Arnold
Ruby Notebook, The by Laura Resau

Ruined by Paula Morris

S
Sconces and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland
Secret Life of Prince Charming, The by Deb Caletti

Shadowed Summer by Sandra Mitchell

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

Sideshow by various authors

Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie
Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

Stone Child, The by Dan Poblocki

Straits, The by Jeremy Craig
Summer of Silk Moths, A by Margaret Willey

Sweet Disorder, A by Jacqueline Kolosov

T

The Real, Real by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Thousand Shades of Blue, A by Robin Stevenson
Thousand Years of Pirates, A by William Gilkerson
Trouble With Half a Moon, The by Danette Vigilante
Turning, The: What Curiosity Kills (Book 1) by Helen Ellis

Two Girls of Gettsyburg by Lisa Klein

U

Uninvited, The by Tim Wynne-Jones

V

W
Water Wars, The by Cameron Stracher
Way He Lived, The by Emily Wing Smith
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton

White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages

X

Y

You've Got Blackmail by Rachel Wright

Z

The Dead And The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle. With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

...........................................

The second book in the Last Survivors Trilogy, The Dead & The Gone follow the lives of the Morales family in New York City. It wasn't as good as the first book–in my opinion–but maybe I just wanted to find out what happened to Miranda and her family rather than take a look at a whole new cast of characters. This book was definitely more graphic and sad than Life as We Knew It. The agony and fear of being left alone in terrible circumstances tears at your mind the entire book; as characters disappear and drop like flies, you begin to realize all over again the reality of what people do to survive–nomatter how gruesome. I think what's so intriguing and special about this series is that it's almost real.

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

In this final installation in the Last Survivor's Trilogy, Miranda and the rest of the Evans family begin to undergo some major changes yet again. When Miranda's father and step-mother arrive on the scene with their baby and a few strangers, the Evans family must learn to survive in a whole new set of circumstances, especially when reality finally seeps in that the world will never be the same again. One of the strangers is Alex Morales and as he and Miranda slowly share their stories, Miranda must make a decision that will change the course of her life forever.

...........................................

Like the rest of the "moon trilogy", This World We Live In was a nail-biter. What sets this book apart from the rest of the trilogy however is the emotional honesty we see from all of the characters. There comes a time in this novel where everybody finally realizes that things aren't going to go back to "normal" and that they must make choices that will permanently adjust their way of life. In the previous novels, we witnessed a shocking lunar event; the terrifying story of Alex and his family; and now, as Miranda and Alex's stories are intertwined, we begin to see how the past events have changed them. Miranda is no longer innocent towards her tragic environment and Alex has become extremely reserved and protective because of his devastating past experiences.

Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Edition: Hardcover, 248 pages

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt

Release Date: September 2011

Genre: Contemporary fiction, thriller, family drama

Other Books By Author: Life as We Knew It, The Dead And Gone, This World We Live In
Overall Rating: 3/5

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Synopsis from Goodreads

Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother.

Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? As Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear her family apart.

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Review
After having read Pfeffer's The Last Survivors series (i.e. Life as We Knew It), I was looking forward to her new book. Blood Wounds sounds like a contemporary story of a dysfunctional family but it's much more of a almost sinister thriller. Having gruesomely murdered his young family, Willa's father threatens not only Willa and her mother's safety but the pasted-together lives of Willa's stepfamily. Expected to push the terrible event and move on, Willa is unable to without first knowing what her mother fled from all those years ago. Battling torment herself, Willa's trip back to her roots allows Willa to see her life and family in a new perspective.
I didn't expect this book to be so much of a edgy thriller...and a murder like that? Gory. At first I didn't think I'd like Blood Wounds and although it was not a light, "happy" story, in the end, it was a very emotional story of forgiveness and putting the wrongs to rights. Willa is, like I mentioned earlier, a tormented girl. She has grown up not knowing her father or that he was very psychologicaly unstable. Her mother tries to save Willa from the same fate by covering up the past and making sure Willa feels loved by her stepfamily. Things seem happy at Willa's house but as you read on, you come to realize things are never as they seem. 


Pfeffer does an excellent job of bringing to light what it means to make amends with a truly dark circumstance. Because of the somewhat depressing plot, Blood Wounds is not for every reader. I can see readers being put-off by the lack of content or development of the characters or even the "dark" themes of the story. However, I believe the message, perhaps, was suppose to be much more powerful than the content. With this said, I would recommend to intrigued readers ages 14+.

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Content Awareness

Ages 14 & up for references to a very gruesome murder. Willa goes over the pretty graphic details of what her father did and how each member was killed. Also, Willa cuts herself around the beginning of the book.

BLT's Best of 2011

Goodbye 2011, hello there 2012! This means BLT will be celebrating its 3rd year anniversary in February :D I'm so excited...I can't believe three years have gone by so fast. 2011 was a busy year for me. Last semester of high school (yippy!) and a sort-of-kind-of first taste of college. I daresay I've been extremely busy this past fall and I apologize for no updates or reviews for a good couple of months. Alas, this spring will probably be just as busy but I still read a bit in my spare time. *Will try hard for blogging*

Because 2011 was quite a whirl-wind, I didn't read nearly as many books as I did in 2010. However, I do have some awesome favorites that YOU need to read this new year! Enjoy:

The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holt

Following the life of the son of a fur-trapper, Amos knows he has his father's gift at an early age. Determined to make of the best of his abilities, young Amos sets of into the wild American West, touching the lives he in comes in counter with. Every Holt novel I read, I love and this book is no exception. Amos's story is a wonderful look not only in a historical perspective, but a lovely example of family, love, and survival on the Oregon Trail. Not to mention the art of...dowsing?! Highly recommend if you are a Kimberly Willis Holt fan!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious death. Strange photos. A peculiar quest to find the answer. Setting it apart from any other paranormal/fantasy novel, Miss Peregrine's is filled with authentic vintage photographs that tie into the story–and that of course is the reason why you should read it! A eerily fantastic novel for teens or adults. Stay tuned for the sequel in 2012!

Jane by April Linder
A brooding, modern-day twist on the classic story of Jane Erye, Jane finds herself in dire need of a job. Utterly alone and with no money for college tuition, Jane applies for a nanny position; and by chance is hired look after the young daughter of a famous rock-star. Not knowing what to expect Jane, is determined to make the best of her situation...despite Nico Rathburn not being the type of celebrity Jane assumed he would be. True to the manner of the original story, Jane, is a great novel for fans of Bronte and contemporary romance.

Forgiven (Faithful #2) by Janet Fox
A little romance, a little turn-of-the century San Francisco, and a whole lot of danger. A stunning sequel to Faithful, this time it is Kula's turn in the spotlight. The daring daughter of an outlaw, Kula knows how to handle herself...but is she prepared for the dark secrets that lurk in Chinatown's streets? Haven't read Faithful yet? Not worries, you can still pickup Forgiven!

Across the Universe (Bk. 1) by Beth Revis
Locked in a bed of ice that will not be unfrozen until nearly 200 years have passed, Amy is suddenly awakened...only to find it is too early. Faced with an almost alien way of life aboard the spaceship, Amy meets Elder, the soon-to-be ruler of Godspeed who has become wary of his teacher's dictatorship. Together they must unlock the secrets and deceit that have taken over while Amy was sleeping. The clock is ticking...
(Book #2 is out this month!)

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow
An unforgettable story about one girl's quest to defy perfection, resist bitterness, and follow her heart. Chow's raw emotional tale will be an inspiration to teens everywhere. This was one of the first "best books" I  read in 2011. Highly recommend!

The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry
Although probably more of a personal fav, this historical fiction is brimming with royal life in the 16th century. History buffs will be lured into Conventry's fictional account of the daughter of the infamous Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II.

The Accidental Genius of Weasel High by Rick Detorie
In this hilarious take on 9th grade, Larkin is the ultimate "wimpy teen" and he's got points to prove it. Told in text and illustrations, any high schooler will fall head over heels for Larkin's comical take on high school, friends, and first love.




--> Runner's Ups, Read These Too!


The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor
In The Shadow of the Lamp by Susan Dunlap
On the Volcano by James Nolan
After the Kiss by Terra Lynn McVoy
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohen & David Levithan
Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer


Awesome Middle Grade Fiction
Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor
Stones for my Father by Trilby Kent
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

In My Mailbox (15)

A few books this week, other than that, it's been slow. I don't mind though, I've got plenty to read!

Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal (won from Class of 2K9 contest)

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (from library)

The Season by Sarah McLean (bought)

Indian Summer by Tracy Richardson (couldn't find a picture)

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When Miranda first hears the warnings that a meteor is headed on a collision path with the moon, they just sound like an excuse for extra homework assignments. But her disbelief turns to fear in a split second as the entire world witnesses a lunar impact that knocks the moon closer in orbit, catastrophically altering the earth's climate. Everything else in Miranda's life fades away as supermarkets run out of food, gas goes up to more than ten dollars a gallon, and school is closed indefinitely. But what Miranda and her family don't realize is that the worst is yet to come.

I haven't   read much science fiction so when I picked up Life as We Knew It, I held my breath. Maybe it was because I have never been the type of person who likes apocalyptic/alien movies or maybe it was because I just never really read sci-fi before? Oh, sure I've watched Star Wars, Star Trek (09), and even a TV series called Jericho (which the media took off the air), but I guess I decided to give sci-fi a second chance, this time in literature instead of on the big screen.

Life as We Knew It was amazing. Not only because it takes the reader along for a ride of disaster, adventure, and drama, but it also gives the reader a glimpse of what might happen if something similar took place. To me, this book was more than just "entertainment", it was an epic story of family and survival. As Miranda writes down her thoughts and the devastating events, you realize how much you take for granted: running water, heat, washer and dryer, electric/gas stove, shower, even food.
The book is told in diary entries , which gives it a more personal or "eyewitness" feel. If you grew up reading Dear America books like I did, then you will be really comfortable with this style. I would have liked the scene where the moon is pushed closer to earth to have been a little more dramatic because, gosh that would have been a great scene to write about, but I was quite happy with the rest of the novel.
I can't tell you much more about Miranda's first winter of the Last Survivors Triology, but I can tell you that Life as We Knew It is a classic science fiction novel you won't want to pass up. I am looking forward to reading its sequel The Dead and the Gone, and the final installation, This World We Live In which will be released this April. I highly recommend picking up a copy at your library/bookstore today!

|Pages: 337|Year Published: 2006|Publisher: Harcourt|
|Genre: Science Fiction|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|
|Content: A few kisses, mild language, & dramatic elements|
|Buy or Borrow?| Both (NEW!)|Series?| Yes, Book 1|
|Enjoyed It: 5/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall|

In My Mailbox (19)

I was only able to pop by the library last week to pick up the sequel to Life as We Knew It, then I got the 3rd addition to the trilogy in the mail on Wednesday! The moon graphics just keep getting better! I also received a book from a contest I entered over at Word for Teens...... one word: pirates. What did you get in the mail? Have a great week :)

 

The Dead & the Gone

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

(released April 2010)

Benjamin Manry and the Cruse of Blood Bones by Owen Palmiotti