Forgiven by Janet Fox

Edition: Paperback, 288 pages

Publisher: Speak

Release Date: June 2011

Genre: Historical fiction, 1900s, American West, romance, mystery

Other Books By Author: Faithful
Overall Rating: 5/5

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Synopsis from Goodreads
Kula Baker never expected to find herself on the streets of San Francisco, alone but for a letter of introduction. Though she has come to the city to save her father from a cruel fate, Kula soon finds herself swept up in a world of art and elegance - a world she hardly dared dream of back in Montana, where she was no more than the daughter of an outlaw. And then there is the handsome David Wong, whose smiling eyes and soft-spoken manner have an uncanny way of breaking through Kula's carefully crafted reserve. Yet when disaster strikes and the wreckage threatens all she holds dear, Kula realizes that only by unlocking her heart can she begin to carve a new future for herself.

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Review
After falling in love with Fox's first novel, Faithful, I anxiously awaited the sequel. Forgiven picks up the story with Kula Baker, the brooding and wild child from Faithful with whom Maggie becomes intertwined with. With Maggie's story finished, Kula steps into the spotlight as she races time, Chinatown, and a terrible fire to save her father. Fox's stories are in the style of a classic Western "romance" but with a YA twist. I really enjoyed how Fox showcased another well known place for a setting yet in a time period we don't know much about. Being headstrong and independent, Kula greets her adventure quite differently than Maggie. Instead of the romantic, wild wilderness of Yellowstone Park, Kula is thrown into a complicated plot of politics on the gruff streets of Chinatown. There, she discovers a stunning but dangerous secret about her family's past.


I loved the whole plot of Forgiven–it was full of surprises. It had romance, mystery, and an intense retelling of the San Francisco fire that destroyed most of the city. It also had quite a lot about Chinatown's dark history and how crooked businessmen controlled the town. I thought Faithful was very dramatic but Forgiven has a touch of tragedy. I loved the characters and how each one had a special purpose in the development of Kula's story. I simply cannot wait until Fox can give us another lovely adventure! Highly recommend. (Ages 12+)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

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When Jacob witnesses his grandfather’s death and a terrifying face at the scene of the crime, he starts to question the whimsical but perhaps authenticity behind his grandfather’s fantastical stories of his childhood home and the curious photographs of his fellow orphan refugees. Daring to find the truth, Jacob travels to a small island off the coast of Wales where he discovers a group of very peculiar children and a way of life he never would have imagined.

Although some of the points or concepts in the book may not be entirely “new”(the fantasy part of it), the best part about this book is the beautiful but haunting authentic photographs that go with the story–I love this idea and it will really set it apart from anything else. Normally I don’t read too many books with this sort of gothic-fantasy plot but I made an exception because of the writing and well, the photos. Riggs is a wonderful writer and is very keen on visual feel–could definitely see this as being a good screen write.

Part fantasy, part paranormal, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children that combines stunning illustrations and photographs to create a strangely enchanting novel that is utterly irresistible and eerily unforgettable.

Recommendation: Readers of paranormal fiction or fantasy and those who just want a new literary experience will enjoy this book. Highly recommend. Ages 12+

Content: Violent and graphic scary images (PG)

|Pages: 352|Release Date: June 2011|Publisher: Quirk Books|

|Genre: Fantasy, paranormal fiction, family|

|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover Rating: 5/5|Overall: 5/5|

This review is copyrighted by Books and Literature for Teens.

Special thanks to Quirk Books.

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for.
Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget. 

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Dystopian novels are becoming more and more popular in teen and children’s fiction–so now it’s time to get picky. I haven’t read a lot books from the genre (yet) but I already can say The Water Wars is a good dystopian novel to start with. Fast-paced, suspenseful and nicely developed, The Water Wars is the tale of a group of teens who are at odds with a waterless world and a controlling monopoly who possess a carefully guarded secret...and a terrifying plan.

Though the idea of a drought-ridden planet is not entirely “new”, I felt as if Stracher composed it as a fresh idea by slowly introducing the environment, characters and their way of life. I also liked how he introduced our main character’s voice, which reminded me a lot of Guy Montag in Fahrenheit 451; Vera constantly struggled (and often denied) the fact that perhaps the powerful authorities who promised to keep the people of the broken up territories safe, had entirely different agenda. Throughout the book there is a very strong sense of political views (much like Fahrenheit 451 or 1985, etc.) which plays a major role in the entire plot. I can see how some readers will be in a sense “turned-off” by this or will enjoy it all the better–as for myself, I think it made the book all the more worthwhile. What good is a dystopian novel if there’s isn’t some kind of friction with naturalistic changes and/or humanity?

The semi-objective first person narrative made the story even more intriguing–the details were epic, Vera’s world made me thirstier with every page. Stracher managed to keep me guessing through most the book and kept the turn of events rolling quite nicely. Towards the end it got a little predictable but it was a great finish. I would definitely read more by Stracher and perhaps more books from the dystopian genre too.

Recommendation: Teens and tweens who enjoy dystopian or who want to try something new–ages 12+

Content: Some sensuality (PG)

Buy or Borrow? Hard to say really, as much as liked reading The Water Wars, dystopian is not for everybody...perhaps try before you buy?

Cover Talk: The cover is awesome! Loved the way it came out. When I first saw it on Sourcebook's Teen Fire site I knew I had to vote on it for the final cover.

|Pages: 240|Release Date: January 2011|Publisher: Scourcebooks Fire|

|Genre: Dystopian, adventure, suspense/thriller|

|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 5/5|Overall: 4/5|

Review is copyright© by Books and Literature for Teens.

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki

Timothy July has a secret. And it’s giving him nightmares. Abigail Tremens has a problem. Her nightmares are haunting her…while she is awake. When they team up for a school project, they don’t realize that Abigail’s past and Timothy’s present are making them the target of a terrible curse. A curse that turns their worst fears to reality. But their fears are just the beginning. The curse stems from a strange artifact that gains strength by devouring a human soul. And it needs to feed again. Dan Poblocki (author of The Stone Child) has written another bone-chilling page-turner to give you goose bumps. It’s the kind of book best read on a bright afternoon…which may keep your own nightmares at bay.

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From the author of The Stone Child comes another suspenseful and eerie story of how fear can control and haunt our minds. The Nightmarys is Poblocki's best book yet... perhaps a bit more scarier even. From the very first to the final page, The Nightmarys is sure to entice readers and leave them anxious for more.
Poblocki starts out with an unsuspecting and chilling event that sets the entire dilemma into play. I like that it "cuts to the chase" if you will and the whole story is very eventful–there's never a dull moment. I also love how mystery or horror books always play a big part in Poblocki's novels. In the Stone Child, the protagonist must locate the whereabouts of a missing horror writer and in The Nightmarys, the story unfolds as Timothy and Abigail follow clues in book as well. Nathaniel Olmstead, the missing writer from The Stone Child, is also mentioned in The Nightmarys so be sure to keep an eye out for this important reference. 
The story takes place in a small seaside town in Massachusetts that has some terrifying, dark secrets. Told in three parts, The Nightmarys is a great thriller for young adults or, for the young at heart. Poblocki has great potential and I think either one of his books deserve much more recognition.

I'm not a die-hard horror or even mystery novel fan but I have to admit I really enjoy reading Poblocki's books even though they do creep me out a bit. Even if–while you're reading The Nightmarys–objects seem to move out of the corner of your eye or you keep thinking the Nightmarys are going to appear at the foot of your bed, rest assure, Poblocki's characters always triumph over evil. With this said, and a fair warning included, if you're looking for an exciting book with a chilling edge, The Nightmarys is for you! I absolutely can not wait for another scary adventure...

➔The Nightmarys is now out in bookstores near you!

Recommendation: Looking for something that goes bump in the night? Recommended for ages 12+


This Book is For: Those who like "scary" stories 
This Book is Not For: Those who, well, don't like the paranormal


Content: Scary images and gore (PG)


The Last Straw: Passage from a random page [147]:
Small, shiny black eyes stared out from a pale, hairless, and doughy face. Terrified Stuart grabbed a glass of water off the nightstand and flung it into the corner of the room. It shattered above the figure's head, but the thing did not move, or even respond. It only continued to watch him.


|Pages: 325|Publisher: Random House|Published: August 2010|
|Genre: Suspense, Paranormal, Horror|Price: Hard. $15.99|
|Age Group: Ages 12+|Content: PG|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content: 3/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 4/5|

Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme

In order to be accepted by the “in crowd” at her new high school, Jessie accepts a dare to spend one night in a local cemetery collecting rubbings from ten gravestones. Once inside the gate of the dark and frightening burial ground, Jessie meets Paul, a handsome boy who works as a caretaker at the cemetery. Paul explains to Jessie about Tombstone Tea: a fund-raising performance in which actors impersonate the people buried in the cemetery. The actors are supposedly rehearsing on this particular evening, but Jessi quickly discovers that they aren’t actors at all but the ghosts of men and women buried in the cemetery. When one woman decides to adopt Jessie to replace her lost daughter, our heroine fears she may never escape the cemetery. - book jacket

*****

I’m not quite sure I liked Tombstone Tea very much. It is suspenseful and mysterious, but I couldn’t help but feel creeped out about Paul and Jessie being able to talk to dead people or that they liked cemeteries. What was even weirder was that one of the ghosts is just insane.

I understand that Dahme is trying to incorporate history into her book, but you don’t have to talk to “ghosts” to learn about or respect history and you sure don’t have to go to cemeteries!

Tombstone Tea takes on two different dialogues: Jessie’s (present day) and Paul’s (early 20th century). Jessie’s side of the story was okay with me, but Paul’s was confusing and eerie. I mean, he use to do seances and worked as a grave digger. What a life right? Then there is this one ghost who is just downright evil and that really turned me off. I like ghost stories, but this one just went too deap into the world of the "supernatural", spirits, and death.

Although Tombstone Tea is written extremely smoothly and has well developed characters, I'm not sure every teen would enjoy such a dark story. I mean is it really enjoyable to read about stuff like that?

Dahme is a good writer however, and I want to read her historical fiction novel, The Plague; but I still think that Dahme could do better with history and not supernatural stories.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Tombstone Tea (unless you absolutely love strange graveyard stories). There are plenty of other "creepy" books out there that are much more fun to read.

|Pages: 223|Year Published: Sept. 2009|Publisher: Running Press|

|Genre: Ghost stories, paranormal fiction, suspense|

|Age Group: YA, ages 13+|Content: supernatural themes|

|Enjoyed It: 2/5|Content Rating: 3/5|Cover: 4/5|

|Overall|

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

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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!

The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones

Mimi Shapiro is running away from New York. From the NYU professor who went too far, from life. Mimi drives up to Canada where she plans to stay in her father's old cabin. The snye is a beautiful place, almost fairy-like, that is until she discovers someone else-someone uninvited-is already living there. Jay Page, a young musician, has been staying at the cabin for some time-and someone has been leaving little "surprises" around the house: a dead bird, a snake skin, and sounds embedded in his latest compositions.

If Mimi isn't the intruder, who is?

When Cramer Lee first saw Mimi pull up in that shiny red Mini Cooper, he just had to meet her. There is something about Mimi he just can't forget. He must meet her, even if it means pulling some elaborate tricks.

In this suspenseful story of drama and mystery, three characters must find the link that binds them together-before things get entirely out of hand. Everyone was uninvited.....but not for long.

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This is really an amazing book. The plot was crafted from merely three characters, a lonely cabin, and an artist who had many hidden secrets. The book was pretty long, but once I got to the third or fourth chapter, I was hooked. The Uninvited is fast-paced and a nail-biting page turner; and the complexity of Mimi, Jay, and Cramer was outrageous yet extremely enjoyable till the very last page. I really connected with the characters and I was sad the book had to end.

My first impression of The Uninvited was that it was a scary thriller like book, but I was wrong. It goes somewhere in the category of suspense and family drama, which made a great combination. The ending of this great novel was surprising but prefect. Told by a master story teller, The Uninvited is a story you won't want to miss.

Pages: 353 Year Published: May 2009 Genre: Suspense/Drama/Realistic

Age Group: YA, age 14+ Buy or Borrow? Both, but definitely good enough to buy

Content: Language, mild sexual references, mild violence/graphicness

Enjoyed It: 5/5 Rating:

Special thanks fo Mr. Wynne-Jones for sending me his book!

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Where y'at, Iris?

There is nothing to do in Odine, Louisiana, except maybe hang out at the cemetery, listen to ghosts, and cast pretend spells. The summer Iris and and her friend, Collette, turn fourteen, that's just what they do. It's all fun and games until Iris truly sees and hears a "ghost" at the cemetery. After an incident with a Ouija board (witchboard), the ghost reveals himself as Elijah, the boy who mysteriously disappeared several years before Iris was born. With the help of Ben-Colette's latest crush- and Collete, Iris must find out what really happened that night in 1989 and why her dad is so hesitant in shedding some light on the subject. It seems all of Odine wants to forget "The Incident with the Landry Boy", all that is, except Iris and of course Elijah's restless ghost.

*****

Shadowed Summer was a short read and after 3 hours and a severe adrenaline rush, I can only say that this book not only made your skin crawl but was written quite well for a first time thriller writer.

The combination of a ghost story, friendship, and growing up made the story even more unforgettable. The characters were very well developed and there was more background than just the ghost haunts. The end really caught me off guard, I literally yelled, "What!" so loud it scared my poor cat. I even found myself re-reading the end just in case I missed something. (Personally I think the whole reason for Elijah's ghost to go haunting was a bit weird, but that's a physiological thriller for you).

Whew. I'm glad I'm done reading and writing the review for it. (Can you hear my heart beating?) Now I'm off to prepare the final resting place of Shadowed Summer-where else do you hide the boogie monsters?-in the closet. Yeah, it was that spooky.

Mitchell does in fact have a knack for storytelling, but I don't think I could handle another ghost story. I would not recommend this book to you if you get scared easily or, better yet-to take care of the recommendation-read if you dare.

Pages: 180 Year Published: 2009 Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Age Group: YA (ages 14+) Content: Horror

Enjoyed It: 4/5 Rating: