The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau

Sixteen-year-old Zeeta and her flighty English-teaching mom, Layla, have traveled the world together, settling in a different country every year, making a whole new set of friends and adopting new customs. This year, they’ve chosen to live in Aix-en-Provence, France, an enchanting city full of fountains, creamy yellow light, and a fascinating group of scarlet-clad street performers.
Zeeta soon begins to receive mysterious notes and gifts from someone she calls her fantôme, or ghost, admirer. But she is expecting her boyfriend, Wendell—the love of her life, as her friends call him—to arrive in Aix for a summer program very soon. Zeeta brushes off her curiosity about her fantôme, and her simmering attraction to one of the street performers, Jean-Claude, until Wendell arrives and she begins to fear that her feelings for him have truly changed. Perhaps—like Layla—she’s simply not made for long-term romance. As Zeeta tries to draw away from Wendell, however, circumstances seem to force them together. Zeeta’s friendship with a local antiques dealer and his reclusive artist friend leads to a dangerous adventure. When Zeeta and Wendell join forces to find a secret underground spring whose water is rumored to bring immortality, they are forced to reconsider their own desires, and their beliefs about true love. Yet as soon as Zeeta decides that her mind has cleared, she’s confronted with the biggest shock of her life: the incredible true identity of her fantôme.Vibrant, warmhearted, and evocative,The Ruby Notebook is a remarkable novel about learning to accept love in all of its wondrous and imperfect forms.

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

Zeeta and her world-traveling mom are back with a whole new adventure. After saying goodbye to her friends in the tropical mountains of Ecuador and her new boyfriend, the trio head to the mystical city of Aix-en-Provence in France, famous for its ancient-old fountains that litter the cobble-stone streets. 

Once again Resua has created whimsical characters (both familiar and new), a thrilling plot with adventure and mystery, and a setting that is just as exciting. Teens who have fallen in love with The Indigo Notebook will be sure to get swept away once more in Zeeta’s narrative as she rekindles her romance with Wendell and sets out on yet another journey with a group of charmingly lovable characters. 

The best thing about this book is, in my personal opinion, the setting–France! Reading Resau’s books are like stepping over into a far-away land and experiencing every little detail of it through a carefully crafted story. I absolutely loved reading the first book and The Ruby Notebook is just as good, if not better. Overall, wonderfully written sequel. (*Complete with a glossary of French words!)

Recommendation: Teens 12+ will be sure to enjoy both novels–highly recommend! (Reading the The Indigo Notebook first is probably best, but its possible to get without it.)

Content: Some sensuality (PG)

Buy or Borrow? If you read The Indigo Notebook and enjoyed it I wouldn't pass up purchasing this one.

Cover Talk: I preferred The Indigo Notebook's cover, something similar would have been just fine–the picture seems like it's a little blurry.

➥Read My Post With Laura Resau & Exploring Ecuador

➥Enter my giveaway and win THE INDIGO NOTEBOOK!

|Pages: 365|Release Date: Sept. 2010|Publisher: Delacorte|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, teen romance, friendship, mystery|

|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover Rating: 3/5|Overall: 5/5

Review copyrighted© by Books and Literature for Teens. Special thanks to Laura & Emily at Delacorte.

And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman + GIVEAWAY

➜WARNING! This review is of the sequel to And Then Everything Unraveled and may contain spoilers!

Jennifer Sturman's YA debut, And Then Everything Unraveled, really surprised me. It appeared to be a simple, summery beach read but there was more to the book than that. It had depth, an exciting story, and a mystery that was very intricate. By the end of the book, I was eager to find out what happened to Delia and her mother. When I was able to review And Then I Found Out the Truth, I had high expectations that it would all end with a big bang or an exciting ending. I did get a unexpected ending, but the rest of the book was slow, especially when dealing with the mystery. I guess Sturman didn't have much mystery plot left so a lot of things unrelated to Delia's mystery dilemma were added. It was fine for awhile but I was ready move to back onto the focal point of the story. The last couple chapters were rushed and though everything turned out peachy, I just thought And Then I Found Out the Truth didn't live up to the previous book.

Delia and Quinn's relationship definitely steps up a notch and was prominent throughout the novel. I think they made a cute couple even though Quinn seemed a little too perfect at times. Delia's a good heroine but I did get a little irritated at her for thinking Quinn would break-up with her. The humor was also lacking if you compare it to the first book. Delia's aunt Charlie was the most fun character and she seemed distant in Unraveled since her sense of humor and life was everywhere in the first book. I still didn't like the idea of the physic being involved in the case against the oil company–it made everything come together all too conveniently. Overall, even though I didn't enjoy it as much as would have hoped (nor did it live up to its big sister book), if you read the first novel, you have to read this one to find out what becomes of Delia, Quinn, the oil company's dangerous minions, snooty and suspicious Thad, Detective Rafe, Auntie Charlie, and of course, the Flying Monkeys.

Recommendation: Again, you gotta read it to find out what happens to everyone! Ages 12+

This Book is For: Teens who enjoy a little mystery and romance.

This Book is Not For: Teens who are hard-core mystery novel fans–you might get bored

Content: Some mild sensuality. Appropriate for ages 12-13 and up. (PG)

The Last Straw: A teaser from the book:

"You are checking in, yes?" the guy asked as I caught up with him in the entryway.

He wasn't much older than me, with friendly brown eyes. A brass nameplate above his breast pocket identified him as Manuel.

|Pages: 262|Published: July 2010|Publisher: Point|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, mystery, teen romance|

|Content: Age appropriate (PG)|Age Group: 12+|

|Enjoyed It: 3/5|Content: 4/5|Cover: 4/5|

{Jennifer Sturman YA Mystery Giveaway}

Up for grabs is a hardcover copy of And Then I Found Out the Truth, the new paperback edition of And Then Everything Unraveled, and finally a magic 8 ball keychain. If you haven't read either of Jennifer Sturman's YA books, this is the perfect chance to get both! Good luck and happy reading :)

Special thanks to Point, Jennifer, & Toorja for letting BLT host this contest.

Contest Information:

• Fill out the form below
• Open to US residents only
• Deadline is Monday, July 19th, 12 AM EST

This review is copyrighted ©2010 by Books and Literature for Teens.




Other Reviews: Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris + GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

When Rebecca Brown goes to New Orleans to stay with her voodoo-obsessed aunt, she finds the beautiful city haunted by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Rebecca is also startled to discover a haunting of a different kind: near a graveyard one night, amid the Spanish moss and beneath the moonlight, she meets a ghost girl named Lisette, who has been dead for 150 years. Lisette helps Rebecca unearth an ancient mystery in her aunt’s house, along with some troubling historical truths. Meanwhile, Rebecca must juggle adjusting to her snooty new prep school, developing a serious crush on a handsome boy, and dealing with an elite group of popular girls who may be linked to the ghostly mystery themselves. - from book jacket

******

Ruined is a great book. I can’t remember the last I actually loved, no wait....LOVED this book!! Why did I enjoy it so much? First all it takes place in New Orleans. I’ve “heard” of New Orleans for as long as I can remember. To me it’s a place of mystery, history, and dark secrets. New Orleans is the capitol of authentic vood-doo (besides Haiti), grave-yards, and parties. What could be more forbidden and dark? Remember The Ghost of Blackwood Hall (Nancy Drew)? Spooky.

New Orleans been “ruined” several times in the past and since Madri-Gra is held there every year, some say it’s the evilest city in the Americas since the days of Port Royal.* [Arrr, ahoy there mateys!]

Second of all, this book is a “ghost story”. I mean, who could resist, right?

The characters of Ruined are just as mysterious and exciting as the story itself. Rebecca is a great character and reminded me of myself. Okay so, maybe I wouldn’t go snooping around in the cemetery at night, but hey, I love adventure.

The “old-line” or elite families of New Orleans is another mysterious addition to the book. I don’t doubt at all that there is a really are clicks like these in New Orleans or even the “krewes” who participate in the Madi-Gra parades. On top of the all neat characters and ghosts of New Orleans, there’s a curse. Feel the excitement yet?

The only thing I am unhappy with about Ruined is that it ended way too fast! I wanted to know what happened to Rebecca after-oops, can’t say. You get the picture though.

Overall, Ruined is a breathtaking story of a wronged murder in the dark, magical city of New Orleans. I highly recommend to any teen looking for adventure with a dash of romance and, of course, ghosts. Just one question. When Morris’s next book out?!

* Port Royal was a city located on Jamaica. It was a popular hang-out with pirates and served as a major trading and slave port for the British Empire. In 1692, shortly after Henry Morgan’s reign as governor, Port Royal was destroyed by a huge hurricane/storm and was never re-built.

Paula Morris is orginally from New Zealand and has lived in various different cities around the world, including New Orleans. She teaches creative writing at Tulane University in New Orleans. Paula has written several YA novels and short stories; Queen of Beauty was her first novel.

|Pages: 315|Year Published: Aug. 2009|Publisher: Point|

|Genre: Ghost story, suspense, mystery, teen romance|

|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Content: None|

|Enjoyed It: 5/5|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 5/5| (NEW!)

|Overall Rating|

Special thanks to Dina at Point with Big Honcho Media!

Contest for Ruined

Not sure about Ruined ? Don't take my word for it, read it yourself! Here's your chance to win a copy of Ruined!

The What - 5 copies of Ruined

The Who - US residents ONLY

The When - Ends October 12th, 12pm EST.

The How - Since Ruined takes place in the famous city of New Orleans, to enter, leave a comment telling me about what your hometown is "famous" for.

Extra Entries - +2) if you start following

+1) post about this contest elsewhere (leave link for proof)

+2) add me to your blogroll

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki

What if the monsters from your favorite horror books were real? Eddie Fennicks has always been a loner, content to lose himself in a mystery novel by his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead. That’s why moving to the small town of Gatesweed becomes a dream come true when Eddie discovers that Olmstead lived there before mysteriously disappearing thirteen years ago. Even better, Eddie finds a handwritten, never-before-seen Nathaniel Olmstead book printed in code and befriends Harris, who’s as much an Olmsteady as he is. But then the frightening creatures of Olmstead’s books begin to show up in real life, and Eddie’s dream turns into a nightmare. Eddie, Harris, and their new friend, Maggie, must break Olmstead’s code, banish all gremlins and monster lake-dogs from the town of Gatesweed, and solve the mystery of the missing author, all before Eddie’s mom finishes writing her own tale of terror and brings to life the scariest creature of all. - book jacket

.........

From angry trolls, a missing author, and a curse as old as time, The Stone Child is a magical read filled with terrifying creatures and amazingly scary fun.

I really enjoyed reading The Stone Child because, though it was scary enough to make your skin crawl, it has a good vs. evil plot and a creative “book within a book” style. This book is perfect for anyone who, like myself, enjoys horror stories that give you a good adrenaline rush, but doesn’t keep you up at night.

The Stone Child keeps you on your toes with brave, but curious characters; secret codes and myths about ancient times; and an eerie eye-view of the haunts of Gatesweed. It was a lot of fun to read, and even though the red-eyed dogs really gave me the creeps, they were by far my favorite “monster”.

With it’s magical, detailed narrative and stunning ending, I think readers will never forget The Stone Child. (I know I’ll never forget that troll!) Poblocki has such a neat imagination, I am really looking forward to reading more of his books!

All in all, from the very first sentence to the last paragraph, The Stone Child will capture your attention with frightful adventure and a world of monsters than will only go away if you can discover the key to the stone child. Just make sure you stay away from the lake....trust me.

Dan Poblocki has always loved telling frightening stories and scaring his friends. So much in fact, that his mother began receiving phone calls from angry parents. He decided to write the stories instead. Dan and his magical imagination live in Brooklyn, NY. This is his first novel.

For more info on The Stone Child, go it's Shelfari page, where I have updated it with the first sentence, a short summery, and a list of characters.

See my book trailer for The Stone Child!

Pages: 274 Year Published: August 2009 Publisher: Random House

Genre: Thriller, suspense, mystery, horror Age Group: YA, ages 12+

Content: Monsters and horror Enjoyed It: 4/5 Rating: 4/5

Special thank-you to Casey at Random House for sending me this book!

And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman

Delia Truesdale has no idea her life's about to change forever. She's too busy enjoying the California summer. Her internet mother, T.K. Truesdale, is out of town and that means Delia can spend all of her time at the beach surfing. That is, until everything unravels. Her mother suddenly goes missing, and everyone thinks she's dead-except Delia, who knows T.K.'s way too organized to simply disappear. But Delia's still sent to New York to live with her two aunts-a downtown bohemian and an uptown ice queen. And in case that's not bad enough, she also has to deal with a snooty new school and trying not to fall for the wrong guy. Oh, and finding her mother. As she delves deeper in the triangle of conspiracies and lies surrounding T.K.'s disappearance, Delia begins to suspect that the wrong guy may be the right guy....and that some secrets-especially the dangerous ones-were never meant to be unraveled. - from the book cover

......

And Then Everything Unraveled is a great little read, perfect for summer vacations. At first I excepted it to be a light romance/mystery mix, but this book defiantly went a bit deeper than that. In fact, I was rather thrilled to read something new, something that was based on a much bigger scale, and not just a simple disappearance. In anticipation, you watch as Delia uncovers clues, love, and danger all at once; there is never a boring moment!

Delia was a courageous spunky protagonist and I really enjoyed her aunt Charley's humor. There was a colorful array of characters and a variety of settings which made the book even more fun to read. The only part (which was still a small part) I didn't care for was when the physic told Delia some things about her mother's disappearance. I thought it took away a lot from the mystery and cut some corners. Despite that one little flaw, did I enjoyed the added scenes about Quinn and his family; I think it gave the mystery an even greater appeal to it-especially when it came with a few stunning surprises. Overall, And Then Everything Unraveled was a great read-couldn't put it down–it left me dying for a sequel!

And Then Everything Unraveled is was released July 1st, 2009.

Jennifer Sturman is a graduate of Harvard College and has written several adult mystery novels including: The Pact, The Jinx, The Key, and The Hunt. She now lives in New York City a few blocks from Delia's aunt Charley.

Pages: 244 Year Published: July 2009 Publisher: Point

Age Group: YA, ages 12+ Content: None

Enjoyed It: 4/5 Rating: (based on content)

Special thank you goes to Jennifer, Aimee, and Point publishing for sending me this book!

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

After a "accident" happens while exploring the old dredge (a huge mining machine), Ryan McCray is left with a broken leg and a encounter he'll never forget. While Ryan is recovering, he starts recounting his story in his journal, whereas Sarah takes things into her own hands and starts getting to the bottom of this chilling mystery one video at a time. Two teens, one ghost, and a town full secret society members. Something is wrong with Skeleton Creek, but can the twosome find the answer before they burn the dredge to ground and all it's secrets with it?

*****

Master of creepiness or an artists with panicky words? That is the question. When I first started reading this book I noticed that how the author got you scared was with simple words and phrases like "fear", "too terrible to write down", "dredge", "watching", or even "window". I hate windows at night. And wouldn't you know it, that is how the "ghost" is introduced... peeping through a window (see book cover). Is it just me or do I feel a chill? Hmm, oh well. The first two videos are creepy and I would highly recommend a buddy being there with you. Good news though, the rest of the videos are fine. No creepy things popping up, mainly stuff about the mystery. The mystery parts were actually quite interesting and I'm anticipating the next book, but I'm a little nervous about the videos. I can't say that I was so scared out of my pants that I couldn't continue, but it was enough to creep me out. I don't particularly like ghost stories unless I have a good hunch (and it turns out to be true) that the so-called ghost is a real person just scaring people. (I think I watched too many Scooby-Doos.) I thought combining text and video was a really neat idea and, although I prefer to read rather than watch, I think this new idea is a great way to get kids to read. I really don't agree with this book being labeled 9-12 because if someone younger than twelves picks up this book, chances are they'll have a hard time going to sleep. I would recommend to anyone age 12+, but definitely not anyone younger.

If you like ghost mysteries, grab this book and let the story of Skeleton Creek suck you in. Hey, this would even be a great thing to read during a sleep-over. But if you're faint of heart or don't like to be scared, then you know you shouldn't read this book.

No goosebumps? Great. Well here's your chance to experience Ryan and Sarah's adventure yourself because I'm giving away a signed copy of Skeleton Creek. I'm 90% sure that I'm going to give away some other books along with Skeleton Creek, so it might be a few more weeks till this book is actually up for grabs. Please stay tuned!

Ready for the next chilling adventure? Don't hold your breath 'cause Book 2, Ghost in the Machine will be here October 1st, 2009.

Pages: 144 Year Published: Feb. 2009 Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Age Group: YA, ages 12+ Content: Spookiness Buy or Borrow? Both

Enjoyed It: 3/5 Rating:

Special thanks to Mr. Patrick Carman for sending me his book!

The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival by Dene Low

Full title: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone (Book One)

What if your uncle (and guardian) started eating bugs? What if, on your coming out party, two important guest-and later, your dearest friend-were kidnapped? What if your heart's true love still treated you like a little sister? And finally, what if your pesky, insane relatives got wind of this scandal and came knocking at your door?

Preposterous you say! But it's exactly what happens to Petronella Arbuthnot. Now it is up to her, Uncle Augusts, the handsome Lord James Sinclair, several old biddy aunts, and some bumbling investigators from Scotland Yard to rescue the threesome, and possibly save England. Grab your intelligence, a copy of Insectile Creatures (in case Uncle Augusts gets hungary), and some relatives for boot! This quirky Victorian story is bound to tickle you pink and leave you waiting for the next preposterous adventure!

*****

Entomological= [Entomology] the study of insects

Complete with zaniness and historical events, The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival (whoa, even the name is preposterous) was quite an entertaining book. Not to mention it was nice to read something different for a change! It wasn't an extreme page flipper, but it had just enough of fun and mystery to keep you occupied. It reminded me a lot of a Charles Dickens novel, but minus the sad or dark approach because this book was always light and humorous. The language was easy to understand-despite it staying true to the 20th century grammar or the "large" words throughout the novel. "Large" words? Hey, don't be scared off that easily, it was just part of Petronella's character! I found Petronella to be a very good heroine since she stayed completely one top of the kidnapping case and wasn't afraid to "tally-ho" into danger (or rather relatives with pointy umbrellas). What of Petronella's bug-eating uncle? Now, that was the best addition to the story-never a dull moment with him on the scene!

I truly think Low has a knack for the preposterous: funky wordplay and the outrageous characters. All in all, this book was fun and I would highly recommend. Mind you though, stay away from the Tou-eh-mah-mah beetles or you'll wind up like Uncle Augustus....

Want more adventure? Stay tuned because these beloved characters are coming back in the future installment: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Countdown for the Countess, Book Two. Please note that the title may or may not be changed.

About the Author

Dene Low has a BA in literature, a MA in creative writing, and a Ph.D in composition (wow!). Over the years Low has had several stories published internationally in magazines, but finally decided to give writing a novel a whirl. Glad she did too. The E. Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone is her first ever published book! She lives in Utah.

Pages: 196 Genre: Historical/mystery Age Group: Ages 11 to teen*

Content: None Buy or Borrow? Both Enjoyed It: 5/5

Rating:

*Orginally meant for ages 9-12, but I think that a nine year old or even a ten year old might not enjoy this book because of the semi-Victorian language.

Special thanks to Houghton Mifflin and Flamingnet for sending me this book.

Premiere Saturday: The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding

It is 1790 on Drury Lane in the city of London. Miss Cat Royal is an orphan that was left at the Drury Lane Theater when she was a baby. Ever since then, she has been living at the theater earning her keep by doing small jobs. One day she over hears the theater owner talking about a secret diamond that has arrived in the theater. She is determined to help keep the secret safe, and not let anything happen to the diamond; then suddenly word gets out that the diamond has been hidden in the theater. Even though Cat hasn't seen the diamond, she knows that she must keep it out of harms way. In the process of her great adventure she makes new friends and foes on Drury Lane.

Review & Book Trailer by 

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The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap

History, a mystery, and a little music.

The Musician’s Daughter is a mysterious and musical story of a girl’s desperate search for truth and justice. The characters were very true to their era (even if they’re were a little too vague sometimes)-it was the fad back then to be extremely polite and obedient, even if it meant life or death; being vague and secretive, and no emo showing whatsoever. The book had  a sense of adventure and mystery and Theresa was a very good heroine.

Around the first couple chapters of the book, I became confused and annoyed because of the simple details, that’s when I realized I had to use my imagination. After that, it was a breeze. The glamorous city of Vienna came to life, and the hardships of the 18th century became more realistic. My brain buzzed with excitement when Theresa dodged scheming politicians, visited the Gypsy (Romanian) camps for clues, and unveiled the nasty little secrets of her uncle.The Musician’s Daughter is written in first person (which I tend to like more) and is a wonderful example of justice and the love of music. Books are so much better when they have a meaning. The plot was wonderfully crafted-which kept those pages turning- and the ending was perfect.

I think The Musician's Daughter will appease to both historical fiction lovers, and non-history lovers alike. (My sister is not a history fan and she enjoyed it) 

Might I also add that the cover is just curious?

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

Upon learning that this book took place in Vienna (the music capitol of the world) I immediately thought of the violin or on a more detailed note, the Stradivarius. The Stradivarius is a type of violin made by Antonio Stradivarius in Italy during the 1680s-1700. They are very valuable, rare (only about 700 hundred were supposedly made and very few are actually known to this day), and cannot be re-created. Be sure to check the attic for any old violin, who knowns, your grandpa may have owned a Stradivarius and never even known it.

                                       

Pages: 336   Year Published: 2008   Fiction: Historical  

Time Period: Vienna, 1779    Level: YA, ages 13+     

This Books is For: Girls    Should I Waist My Eyes On This? Yes    

Buy or Borrow: Both  [NEW]