Tuesday, January 27, 2015

#scandal

Book Review
Young Adult



Author(s): Sarah Ockler
Genre(s): Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit, Fiction, Mystery
Format: Hardcover
Published: June 17, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 416
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17415348-scandal
Summary

Lucy's learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart's all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don't feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole's date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she's been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time


Friday, January 23, 2015

Dead Girls Don't Lie

Book ReviewYoung Adult


Author(s): Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Genre(s): Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Death, Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Published: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 352
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17286807-dead-girls-don-t-lie

Summary

Rachel died at two a.m . . . Three hours after Skyler kissed me for the first time. Forty-five minutes after she sent me her last text.

Jaycee and Rachel were best friends. But that was before. . .before that terrible night at the old house. Before Rachel shut Jaycee out. Before Jaycee chose Skyler over Rachel. Then Rachel is found dead. The police blame a growing gang problem in their small town, but Jaycee is sure it has to do with that night at the old house. Rachel's text is the first clue-- starting Jaycee on a search that leads to a shocking secret. Rachel's death was no random crime, and Jaycee must figure out who to trust before she can expose the truth. 

In the follow-up to her powerful debut, Jennifer Shaw Wolf keeps readers on their toes in another dark, romantic story of murder and secrets. 

My Review

This.
Book.
Is.
Fantastic!

It is one of those books where you get so mad because the characters are doing stupid things that'll get them killed and you just wanna get in the book and give theem a good slap to knock some senses into them!

Rachel told Jaycee to trust Eduardo. Even though he's Mexican (irrelevant, really.) and even though he used to be part of the gang that tagged Rachel's house.

He's clean now.

Before the murder, when Rachel almost forced Jaycee to go to the old house even though Jaycee said no (Rachel should've listened to Jaycee) and then Rachel found Manny dead--gosh!

Then later on, you realize that Manny was Rachel's old boyfriend.

Then at the funeral, (this is probably confusing--sorry!) Skyler actually comes to the funeral! Later on in the book, you'll think it's ironic--but for now, you're probably just confused. Afterwards, Skyler asks Jaycee if they would like to hang out, and she says yes. And they do. And then when Jaycee meets Eduardo, she's kind of wary. Eduardo isn't exactly nice. But she has to trust Eduardo. As they try to unravel the mystery, Jaycee's phone gets taken away. The police take it in as evidence. They find some things on her phone that get her in trouble with her over-protective Dad, but oh well. Then Skyler gets her this really, really expensive phone. Jaycee takes it (stupidly) and Skyler tells her to not give the number to anybody else. Weird, right? Jaycee thinks it's just like when she and Rachel used to pass notes to each other. Completely stupid!

Eduardo and Jaycee fight a bit, and they don't talk. During that time period, Jaycee confides in Skyler and almost tells him everything! Idiotically. Then, when Eduardo and Jaycee talk again, Eduardo has more information.

Oh--I almost forgot. Skyler's brother, I think it's Ethan? Yeah, Ethan. Ethan keeps barging in to her bedroom, and he keeps trying to make a move on her, event though her boyfriend is his own brother. Weird.

Well--back to Eduardo and Jaycee. So, Jaycee finds out that Eduardo is living in the old house. And then she figures out he has a gun, to protect himself, and Jaycee thinks thats weird. Then the sheriff of the town, who happens to be Ethan and Skyler's older brother, asks her what she's doing with Eduardo, and she tells him about how he has a gun and how he 's living in the old house. Then the sheriff (I forgot his name) tells her that Eduardo's dangerous, and not to hang out with him, and she TRUSTS HIM!

That really got me annoyed. Don't trust me! Trust nobody! Just like Rachel said!

Then Jaycee gets out of his car and walks home, and she realizes that her house is being tagged. Eduardo grabs her and hides her before she gets killed, and they realize that there's a connection.

When Jaycee was going through her dad's files, she realized that (he's a lawyer) there was a case about a boy in school that was accusing the football team in hazing. Which was true. Jaycee found a photo of Ethan, and he's grinning, and the number 18 was carved on to his chest, and there was blood dripping down his jersey, with the words making the cut. The people that had tagged her house also had a number tagged onto their chests. Their football number.

When they finally leave, Eduardo tells her not to go to Skyler (Skyler had convinced her to meet are at the dark room in their house. Skyler takes photos.) but she ignored him. He says, whatever. Fine. Get yourself killed. And he runs off.

Jaycee runs to meet Skyler in the dark room, and it turns out that it was actually Ethan that sent the text. Ethan tells Jaycee not to trust Skyler because he's dangerous. And that Skyler killed Manny on purpose when they were fighting. And that he probably killed Rachel.

Jaycee believes Ethan about Skyler killing Manny, but not about Rachel. She thinks it was a drive-by. She goes to meet Skyler at the old house (stupid, I know) and confronts him about Manny. Skyler tries to convince Jaycee that it was defense, and that he didn't kill Rachel.

But then Skyler tells Jaycee that he liked Rachel. He had a huge crush on her and he took pictures of her. And Jaycee realizes that Ethan was telling the truth. Skyler killed Manny. Then Skyler admits that he killed Manny because he didn't think Manny deserved Rachel. Jaycee realizes that he also killed Rachel, and Skyler also says he realized that he never could be with Rachel, so he killed her too.

Skyler lights a match and pours gas on the ground, then drops the match. Jaycee tries to get out of their, but Skyler tackles Jaycee and pins her to the ground, saying that they need to die together because he loves her.

Then Eduardo bursts in with Ethan. Ethan wacks Skyler on the  head (or something like that) and Eduardo carries Jaycee out.

To make a long story short, Jaycee and Eduardo become good friends, and Jaycee apologizes to her dad and realizes that he was right all along.

And that's that! It was such a good book!

You should really get it.

Au revoir!

-Alexa ♥

Thursday, January 15, 2015

This One Summer

Book Review
Young Adult
Graphic Novel


Author(s): Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki
Genre(s): Sequential Art (graphic novels), Young Ault, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Coming of Age
Format: Paperback
Published: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: First Second
Pages: 320
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465634-this-one-summer

Summary

AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER.

Rose and her parents have been going to Awago Beach since she was a little girl. It's her summer getaway, her refuge. Her friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had, completing her summer family.

But this summer is different.

Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and Rose and Windy have gotten tangled up in a tragedy-in-the-making in the small town of Awago Beach. It's a summer of secrets and heartache, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.


My Review

I have this thing for coming of age books (I don't know why) and I've never read a coming of age graphic novel, and this. Was. Fantastic! 

It was perfect, really.

I don't want to write any spoilers, so this'll be very short.

But you guys need to read it. Seriously. Like, read it. 

This might even be the next monthly read for A Sky Full of Books!

I recommend this 10000000%. 

Mariko Tamaki is now on my favorite authors list! :D

Au revoir!

-Alexa ♥

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

How to Lead a Life of Crime

Book Review
Young Adult

Author(s): Kirsten Miller
Genre(s): Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary, Thriller, Romance, Fiction, Crime
Format: Hardcover
Published: Febuary 31, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 434
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15715844-how-to-lead-a-life-of-crime

Summary

A meth dealer. A prostitute. A serial killer. 

Anywhere else, they'd be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they're called prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young criminals  for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to graduate. The rest disappear.

Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick's old flame. They've been told only one of them will make it out of Mandel Academy. Will they find a way to save each other--or will the school destroy them both?


My Review

This.
Book.
Was.
Awesome!!

It's a perfect combination of thriller with a sprinkle of romance, mystery, and crime!

When I first started I was thinking, "Wow, this Flick guy is pretty cocky!" And I was pretty impressed too. In the beginning, I thought Flick was a poor kid whose (**ALERT! THIS IS GOING TO BE A SPOILER!**) mother was trying to save him and his brother, Jude, from his alcoholic father who rearranged their faces. Turns out his father is a multi-millionaire, and Flick and his family live in this huge mansion, so I like how Kirsten Miller got you to think one thing, and then surprised you with another piece of info that totally made you re-think everything you just read!

And then when Flick meets Lucian Mandel, I thought the building Flick robbed was going to be the building where Mandel starts Mandel Academy, and it turns out I was wrong too.



And once Flick gets into Mandel Academy, I was blown away. Totally blown away. The book was so good, like, I was just, UGH! I can't explain!

I knew Gwendolyn was up to no good when she was throwing herself at Flick.

And Flick was being so hilarious!

And then when Joi came, and was the boss, that was smart thinking.

And Mandel was a psychopath.

And then when Gwendolyn turned ugly, and crazy and shuddered like an old woman.

And then when she tried to take her chip out and ended up bleeding to death because she was an idiot.

When Flick talked to his dad, I thoguht he was being a bit too harsh, because I knew his father wasn't going to beat him. He was thinking rationally. I felt sorry for him.

Then when his dad killed himself by stepping in front of a fire truck, after he tells Joi that Flick's mother is alive!

This book is the best book I've read in a LOOOONNNNGGGG time.



I recommend it 1000000000000%.

I have a new appreciation for Kirsten Miller, and I hope hope hope hope hope hope hope hope HOPE that there's a second book!

Au revoir!

-Alexa ♥

Friday, January 9, 2015

Pretty Little Liars





Pretty Little Liars! Yep.

I decided to read the series. Maybe I'll figure out more if I do.



I'll write a review about it once I finish reading!

Au revoir,
-Alexa ♥

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye



Book Review
Young adult
Author(s): Lois Lowry!
Genre(s): Young adult
Format: Paperback 
Published: This edition: January 15th, 1990
Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library
Pages: 192
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12934.Find_a_Stranger_Say_Goodbye?from_search=true

Summary
Natalie Armstrong has all a girl could want: beauty and intelligence, a loving family and a great boyfriend. But something is missing; the answer to a most important question: "Who is my mother?" To find that answer seventeen-year-old Natalie begins a journey that she hopes will lead to the identity of her biological mother. And what if Natalie finds her? What will happen when they meet face-to-face?


My Response
This book was fabulous. I seriously loved it. Lois Lowry never fails to surprise me! I'm not a huge, huge fan of Lois Lowry, but I should be, because so far, her books have been great. I don't know whether I'll read any more of her books, but I do know that if I do, I'll enjoy them.

Really. I recommend this book. 100%. 

Manga, Anime, Comics...

I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm going to start including Manga into my posts. I'll start posting the books I read, and the books that we talked about, and the over all review we had from that certain book.

Just a heads up!

Don't forget to follow on bloglovin' :)

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Welcome!

Hey guys and gals!

Welcome to my new blog, A Sky Full of Books. This is a blog for my goodreads group A Sky Full of Books: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/153506-a-sky-full-of-books!

I just want to welcome people to it. And if you haven't joined GoodReads, do it! It's worth it. And you can friend me, and I'll definitely friend back.

See you soon!
-Alexa ♥