Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Crank

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 537
Format: Paperback
Category: Young Adult
Rating: Pick it!

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless.
Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.
Synopsis courtesy of Good Reads.

This novel was incredible. I have literally been trying to convince my sister (who I need to say is not much of a reader, yes I am ashamed ha ha) to read Crank. We follow the story of Kristina, who gets stuck in a world with the "monster", a.k.a. Crystal Meth. As we all know, this drug is highly addictive and so begins the struggle Kristina, or I should say Bree has with it.

I couldn't help but feel sad for Kristina the entire time I was reading. Although I know she had the right mind to say no and to refuse this addiction, I still felt that she was totally hopeless in her situation. The book has some sexual content and extremely heavy drug use, so do keep that in mind when deciding whether you are old enough or even emotionally stable enough to handle the contents of it. It can definitely be disturbing at some points but that's just Ellen Hopkins for you.

One thing I should mention is that all of Ellen's novels are written in verse format. It is nothing like poetry, so don't feel put off at the thought of it. It makes reading her books super easy and quick! I honestly think I read Crank in about a day and a half, which is really quick for me. This book is one I find myself recommending over and over again to anyone who asks what good book I've read recently. And although its been about a year since I've read it, it always pops in my mind. So make sure you go out to your local bookstore or library and pick it up. You really don't know what you're missing. So on that note, I would say Crank by Ellen Hopkins has been officially marked!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 358
Format: Hardcover
Category: Young Adult
Rating: Pick it!

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.
Synopsis courtesy of Good Reads.

I was worried about reading a dystopian book. I've only read one other dystopian and I hadn't really made up my mind about whether I'm a fan of the genre or not, but Wither really helped to bring me closer to a decision. I am definitely a fan of the genre now! This is a really new and refreshing story line. In this dystopian era, men can only live up to twenty-five and women up to twenty. We find ourselves following Rhine, a sixteen year old orphan twin being taken from her home in Manhattan to become one of three wives to Linden Ashby. We soon learn the camaraderie between the sister wives' and you definitely feel for them right away.

As the sister wives' become acquainted, we meet Housemaster Vaughn, Linden's father and a first generation human. You see this virus only affects new generations, so Housemaster Vaughn is perfectly healthy and has not been affected. He is a doctor of sorts and is committed to finding an antidote to the virus, especially for his son. At first he seems like the "grandfather type" who cares for everyone as his own, but we find out that is not the case at all.

Now I'm not here to spoil the story for you, that would be tragic. So I'll stick to telling you how I feel about the book. I really liked Wither! I think Lauren did a great job of making the story really unique and not like anything else you have ever read. This book really brought out a few emotions as well. I mostly felt sympathy while reading. Yet I never felt like the book was heavy either.  The polygamist marriage aspect was described well in my eyes. Lauren showed how the sister wives' were really more sisters then wives. They watched out for one another as the three of them became family. Anyways, this was a great book and I've already gone on Amazon to pre-order Fever: Book Two which will be released February 2012 and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. So on that note, I would say Wither by Lauren DeStefano has been officially marked!

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch

 Girls in Trucks

Author: Katie Crouch
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Pages: 241
Format: Trade Paperback
Category: Adult Fiction
Rating: Skip it!

Sarah Walters is a less-than-perfect debutante. She tries hard to follow the time-honored customs of the Charleston Camellia Society, as her mother and grandmother did, standing up straight in cotillion class and attending lectures about all the things that Camellias don't do. (Like ride with boys in pickup trucks.)
But Sarah can't quite ignore the barbarism just beneath all that propriety, and as soon as she can she decamps South Carolina for a life in New York City. There, she and her fellow displaced Southern friends try to make sense of city sophistication, to understand how much of their training applies to real life, and how much to the strange and rarefied world they've left behind.
When life's complications become overwhelming, Sarah returns home to confront with matured eyes the motto "Once a Camellia, always a Camellia"- and to see how much fuller life can be, for good and for ill, among those who know you best.
Girls in Trucks introduces an irresistable, sweet, and wise voice that heralds the arrival of an exciting new talent. Synopsis courtesy of Good Reads.

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this novel. When I picked up Girls in Trucks, I thought to myself, "what a gorgeous cover". I totally did something completely cliche and judged a book by its cover. I know, I know, we're not supposed to do things like that but I'm only human and everyone does it, they just say they don't! haha I'm pretty sad to say that the story just did not cut it for me. I was confused with new characters being introduced, and then never seen again, and the ending was rather unexpected. I didn't really think it was the best way to go. I did, however, think the premise of the novel sounded great and refreshing but I did not feel like Katie did a good job in terms of execution. I think she did well with details and painted really great scenes but the story was a bit slow and boring. Even though I'm not a fan of this book and "rated" it a skip it, I would still recommend buying the book for the cover alone! It looks great on my shelf and it's always the first book that pops into my mind when someone asks what my favourite covers are. So kids, the moral of the story is to stop being superficial and judge a book by its content, even if the cover is terrible. And that note, I would say that Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch has been officially marked!

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper

Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Pages: 448
Format: Trade Paperback
Category: Adult Fiction
Rating: Pick it!

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
 
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.
Synopsis courtesy of Good Reads.

Where to begin with this. I can remember the exact day in 2007 when my sister's friend Melissa told me about this book. Like me, she's an avid reader and we usually like the same type of novels so I trusted her recommendation right away. She handed the book to me and told me "you will not expect what happens at the end, so be prepared".

Right from the beginning, we meet Anna. She immediately sets the tone for her character. You can tell that Anna is a witty thirteen year old with a little attitude but I love her. This is no surprise to anyone who knows about the book or has at least seen the movie trailer, but the main premise of My Sister's Keeper  is about Anna suing her parents for medical emancipation. That means Anna would have full legal rights to make medical decisions for herself without her parents consent. In the summary, you're told that Anna was a "designer baby", created to be the perfect match for her sister Kate, and the book touches upon whether that is something morally right or not.

This story, for me, is hard to put into words. Of course, it's not just about Anna and Kate, we also see many chapters narrated by other characters; Sara (Mom), Brian (Dad), Jessie (brother), Campbell (Anna's Lawyer, apparently he once tried to sue God... and won) and finally Julia (court-appointed Ad Litem). Since there are so many voices in the story, I found myself getting confused or forgetting what happened the last time I had read the book, but rest assured, I picked it up pretty quickly. I thought it was rather creative giving all the characters a voice, it makes them all seem more real to me. I didn't just see them as characters, but as people in the story with feelings and separate lives.

While getting closer to the end, I felt like I had a pretty good idea of what the ending was going to look like. But I was very very wrong. Melissa was right, I did not expect what happened nor could I have thought of the complete turnaround in the book.

As soon as I finished reading the last word on the last page, I wiped every tear off my blotchy face, went up to my sister (she was making Sunday lunch) and hugged her. Reading My Sister's Keeper truly made me grateful for everything my sister has done for me, and I couldn't imagine a better sister to have. If you are looking for a light read, that is all fun and smiles.. DO NOT read this book. I felt like I cried for hours while reading. It is filled with heaviness but in a good way if that's at all possible. Although this is not my first Jodi Picoult read, this is definitely my absolute all time favourite. Please, please, please pick up Jodi's book the next time you pass it in the bookstore, I promise you haven't read a story like this and you will love it, just keep a box of tissues on hand. And on that note, I would say that My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult has been officially marked!

In My Mailbox #1

In my Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at http://www.thestorysiren.com/ . Definitely head over to her website and check out her awesome reviews! In the meantime, I thought I would share what I received in the mail with all of you. This week has been a pretty good week. Four of the books I bought at my local Chapters Indigo and one I won in a contest! So on with the fun stuff!

Life as we Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer

I've heard pretty good things about this book. I'm into those the-world-is-ending kind of stories even though they scare me to death.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

A book about time travel. How can you go wrong!

Hooked by Catherin Greenman

You don't see many teen pregnancy stories in the young adults genre so this should be interesting!

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

This is book two in the Chaos Walking Series. I have yet to read The Knife of Never Letting Go but I have OCD about not having the next book in case I love the first!

 Bunheads by Sophie Flack

This is the first book I have ever won from a contest! I want to thank Leah over at http://www.bookdivas.com/ for sending this over my way! And go check out the Divas, they have really good contests and book related everything!

 That's all for IMM this week guys, but don't forget to check out the new Reviews tab to see what books I have reviewed and will be reviewing in the near future! But for now, get out and read something!



Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Bitten (Women of the Otherworld: Book One)

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Pages: 448
Format: Trade Paperback
Category: Adult Fiction
Rating: Pick it!


An erotically charged, addictive thriller from the future queen of suspense.

Living in Toronto for a year, Elena is leading the normal life she has always dreamed of, including a stable job as a journalist and a nice apartment shared with her boyfriend. As the lone female werewolf in existence, only her secret midnight prowls and her occasional inhuman cravings set her apart. Just one year ago, life was very different. Adopted by the Pack when bitten, Elena had spent years struggling with her resentment at having her life stolen away. Torn between two worlds, and overwhelmed by the new passions coursing through her body, her only option for control was to deny her awakening needs and escape.

But now the Pack has called Elena home to help them fight an alliance of renegade werewolves who are bent on exposing and annihilating the Pack. And although Elena is obliged to rejoin her "family," she vows not to be swept up in Pack life again, no matter how natural it might feel. She has made her choice. Trouble is, she's increasingly uncertain if it's the right one.

An erotically charged thriller, Bitten will awaken the voracious appetite of every reader, as the age-old battle between man and beast, between human and inhuman forces, comes to a head in one small town and within one woman's body.
synopsis courtesy of: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6372501-bitten

I cannot even begin to describe this book. Bitten had been sitting on my bookshelf for over 2 years before I picked it up and gave it a shot. I was immediately disappointed with myself for waiting that long! My friend Sandra had recommended the book to me over and over and I had brushed it off thinking it was another paranormal novel. Boy was I wrong! I will forever be indebted to her for mentioning this series to me way back when.

To start off, I was ecstatic to find out that the story not only takes place in a Canadian city, but MY Canadian city! I love the fact that I can picture Elena (our main girl/werewolf) walking the streets of Toronto. As the synopsis says, Elena is called in to take part in her "family responsibilities" but she's pretty against it from the get go. Without giving too much away, a lot of the resentment involves an incredibly good-looking guy named Clay, who I will guarantee you will fall madly in love with! A word of warning though, there are some heavy sex scenes in this series so this is definitely a mature read. I think Kelley doesn't take the provocative scenes too far and does a great way of incorporating them into the story. She really matches the scenes to the characters and that's just one of the reasons I love her writing style. The story is in fact a paranormal read, but definitely not the corny, flashy paranormals that you find nowadays. So if you're into werewolves (come on people who isn't these days!) and some strong but amazing romance, Bitten is the novel you need to pick up today. This is the book that started off a great series and you will be dying to get your hands on the next installment, I guarantee it! So on that note, I would say Bitten by Kelley Armstrong has been officially marked!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Category: Young Adult

Rating: Pick it!  

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

Synopsis courtesy of Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6936382-anna-and-the-french-kiss

I absolutely LOVED this book from the first page to the last. I don't read too much young adult contemporary fiction, but after reading this great novel, I won't be so quick to pass it up. The story mainly takes place in Paris *sigh* with Anna as our main girl. Anna falls for Etienne, a.k.a. St.Clair who is as dreamy as can be. Giddy and adorable dialogue follows, so for those of you who can't stomach "cutesy talk" this isn't the novel for you. However, I haven't come across a single person who has read this book and told me they didn't like. I've come to realize that that's just not possible! All in all, this book was amazing. The story flowed great and was light and upbeat for the most part. Can't wait to read Stephanie's next adventure! And on that note, I would say Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins has been officially marked!

Welcome to Book-Marked!

For years, I've been silently reviewing books to myself. So I decided I would starting doing this for fun! Why not, right? There is something I'd like to clarify quickly though. I'm not much of a writer or even a computer-whiz to make this blog great, so my reviews will be quick and to the point. I'm also NOT a fan of bashing books or authors but if I'm not a fan of a book, I'll let you guys know in a "professional" manner. Authors have feelings too people! haha So on that note, I want to welcome everyone to my review blog and I can't wait to start a great community with fellow readers, but for now get out and read something!