Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Oh. My. Gods.

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

ISBN: 9780525479420

Publisher: Dutton Children's Books

Summary:

"If Phoebe Castro can keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season, her dream of attending USC with her best friends is only a track scholarship away. She's made all her plans, so it's a complete shock when her mom announces she's marrying a mysterious stranger and moving them halfway around the world - to Greece.

Phoebe's stuck on a secret island in the Aegean, attending the super-exclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students - they are descendants of the Greek gods, superpowers included. That's right, Greek gods are no myth! If Phoeve thought high school was hard, she knows this is going to be mortal misery.

Securing that scholarship seems like Phoebe's only ticket out of Greece, but training and maintaining her grades will be grueling, even without a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy - what a god! - who might be her Achilles' heel. One thing is for sure - summoning the will to win and finding her place among the gods could be Phoebe's toughest course yet."

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Review:

This was such a fun book! When I saw it was a spoof on Greek mythology, I wasn't really sure what to think. But it was really done wonderfully. The story is very funny and clever - it pulled me right in from page one.

It's definitely a girly story, but it's such an interesting concept that almost anyone could get into it. There is, of course, the typical high school drama... but with a twist. I really loved studying mythology in school and this brought all of those stories back.

I'd recommend this book to almost anyone - but especially girls... from middle school, up. IT's definitely one to try. I'm excited to see that the second book came out recently. I'll definitely be looking for that title soon :).

Other blog reviews:

Liyanaland!

The Reading Zone

The Book Reader

Harmony Book Reviews

Mrs. V's Reviews

Push by Sapphire

Title: Push
Author: Sapphire
ISBN:9780679766759
Publisher: Random House, Inc

Summary:
"Precious Jones, an illiterate sixteen-year-old, has up until now been invisible: Invisible to the father who rapes her and the mother who batters her and to the authorities who dismiss her as just one more of Harlem's casualties. But when Precious, pregnant with a second child by her father, meets a determined and highly radical teacher, we follow her on a journey of education and enlightenment as Precious learns not only how to write about her life, but how to make it her own for the first time."
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Review:

This book was a lot more intense than I thought it was going to be. I had heard that it was a depressing story, but I figured I could handle it... because I'm just that kinda YA Librarian :). And handling it wasn't the problem - it was more the sinking in of the story. Once you realized what was going on, it's almost so far away from my reality that it was almost fantasy. I do understand that it's not, but it was hard for me to digest.

I must say that this book is absolutely only for the most mature teens and older. I do get that most teens these days live this book as reality (especially in the area I work), but it's a much heavier book than most can deal with.

Other blog reviews:
Apooo Bookclub
The Black Urban Times
Global Grind
The Beautiful Struggle

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld
ISBN: 9781416971733
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:
"Leviathan begins in 1914, with Europe on the brink of war. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife have just been assassinated, and political intrigue and panic have engulfed the region.

This sounds familiar, but the fault lines in this conflict are not exactly as you remember them from history class.

In this world, the powers align themselves in two opposing philosophies: Either you're a CLANKER, who puts faith in machinery, in intricately tuned gears and cranks that operate logically and according to man-made design, or you're a DARWINIST, who takes Charles Darwin's revolutionary findings a step further and begins evolving living creatures into tools to advance society.

So the question is, do you oil your war machines, or do you feed them?"
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Review:

I was a little worried about how complicated this story seemed. When you read the summary and all, it kinda feels like you're going to be learning a whole new language to get through this book. But those worries flew out the window once I got through the first few chapters.

I've always enjoyed Westerfeld's books - and this one was no exception. You may not fully understand everything that's being said, but a little ways in you'll notice that it doesn't matter completely. The story carries you along and the language gets stuck in your head - kinda the way the language of Uglies does.

This book doesn't come out until October of this year (another reason I love my job... ARCs!!!), but I totally recommend you look for it when it does. And it is another start to a series - so I'm really excited for when the next one comes around (whenever that may be!). I'm pretty sure guys are going to love this one - because it's really technical and science-heavy. Of course, not just for guys, but it's got that edge to it :).

I also loved the illustrations throughout the book - it just added to the experience, and honestly helped me get an idea of what things looked like. I have a good imagination, but it's kinda stretched a little thin on this one. But it's a great book! Go read it!

Other blog reviews:
Reading Rants
An interview with Scott Westerfeld at My Favorite Author
And Westerfeld's own Blog

I didn't find many reviews out yet - I think the ARCs are just making their way out there. But I'm sure there will be more soon! It's just that good of a book :).

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Author: Ken Kesey
ISBN: 9780141181226
Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary:
"Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the seminal novel of the 1960s that has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time.

Here is the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially the tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the struggle through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the awesome powers that keep them all imprisoned."
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Review:

I was a little bummed that this book took me a week to read... but that seems to be the way it is when it comes to classics for me. Alas. I enjoyed this book a bit more than I expected. I've been told about it for years, but I finally got around to reading it.

The point of view and the subject makes for quite an interesting story. I was pretty well intrigued by what was going to happen. There was a little bit of the "edge-of-your-seat" stuff, but nothing too suspenseful. I did wonder through most of the story about whether any of the inmates in the asylum were actually in need of psychiatric help.

But the road to recovery for the men on the ward is very complex and wonderful. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who would like to get into reading more classics. This one is a great story and keeps you interested.

I was only able to find a few other blog reviews that weren't movie related. I haven't seen the movie, but apparently it's the big thing when you talk about this story. Here are those few reviews...

Other blog reviews:
Educating Petunia
Madzos
Audrey's Blog

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Awakening (Darkest Powers Series #2) Author: Kelley Armstrong
ISBN: 9780061662768
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Summary:
"If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl - someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment - not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends - a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch - and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying."
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Review:

This book was just as good as I was hoping it would be! I loved the first book - The Summoning - and would recommend it to pretty much anyone. It's a great fantasy/realistic fiction book that easily toes the line.

The story almost immediately picked up from the first book and kept the whirlwind going throughout. You definitely get a lot more information about other characters in this story and it's a very interesting look at who's on what side.

In short... I'd recommend this series to almost anyone - but I already said that. I guess that's all I've got! Perhaps I should write my reviews as son as I finish the book. But I really did love it!

Other blog reviews:
Book Chic Club
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review
Karin's Book Nook
Darque Reviews
The Story Siren