Angel by James Patterson

Title: Angel (Maximum Ride #7)
Author: James Patterson
ISBN: 9780316036207
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Page #: 291
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"How do you save everything and everyone you love...
Max Ride and her best friends have always had one another's backs. No. Matter. What. Living on the edge as fugitives, they never had a choice. But now they're up against a mysterious and deadly force that's racing across the globe - and just when they need one another the most, Fang is gone. He's creating his hown gang that will replace everyone - including Max.

When you can't be together...
Max is heartbroken over losing fang, her soul mate. Her closest friend. But with Dylan ready and willing to fight by her side, she can no longer deny that his incredible intensity draws her in.

But you can't stay apart?
max, Dylan, and the rest of their friends must soon join with Fang and his new gang for an explosive showdown in Paris. It's unlike anything you've ever imagined... or read."
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First Lines:

"I know he'll come for me. He has to come for me. Fang wouldn't let me die here.
I'd been in the cage for days. I couldn't remember eating. I couldn't remember sleeping."
Page 3
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Review:

Here are the other titles in this series that I've blogged about - the rest were pre-blog:
Max (#5)
Fang (#6)

I'm definitely a fan of this series. This book was a bit different than the others because the group of friends has split up. But because of this, you end up with a whole lot of new characters with different abilities and outlooks on the world. which, for the most part, was a really good thing. It's nice to get some more characters.

The whole "saving the world" shtick comes to a head during this book. You finally get a picture of how things are going to end. I won't spoil it for you, but it's pretty epic. Especially when you imagine something happening on a huge scale - massive brainwashing. It's just intense to think about.

As always, you are left with several questions in the end. You lose a few characters on the way that are fairly important, so you know the next book is going to catch those people up. And to figure out how they are involved in the whole end of the world thing. I'm a little nervous for the fate of a few important people. :)

This whole series has been such an easy read. They take no time at all, but they are packed with action, drama, and family. Such a great story in all. I think each book standing alone needs more to it, but when you have the whole series, you've got a wonderful story.

As I've said in the past, this whole series is great for middle grade boys - and everyone else, really. I think anyone could love this story, but it seems great for those "reluctant readers." Even though the main character is a girl, I know that boys love these books. I'm always happy to suggest these books to readers - because I already know they will love them.

At the end of this book, it says there is only one more book in the series. I really look forward to see what they end up doing for the ending. I feel like it has to be epic! Otherwise they built up to nothin. :) But I'm sure it will be awesome like the rest of the books. Can't wait!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Reading Vacation
TeenReads.com
My Overstuffed Bookshelf
Had a hard time finding reviews on this one, but I know more people have read it. Feel free to tag your review in the comments. :)

Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly

Title: Flirt Club
Author: Cathleen Daly
ISBN:9781596435728
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Page #: 281
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"Having trouble meeting boys? Feel just a little bit too awkward? Isabelle and Annie (aka Cisco and the Bean), two self-professed theater geeks, sure do. So when all else fails, they start flirt club, an after-school support group for the similarly afflicted.

This uber-confabuloso (in the words of the Bean) book is told entirely through their notes passed in school, diary entries, and the occasional e-mail."
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First Lines:

"Dear Cisco,
Well, it turns out 8th-grade math is just as breathtaking and exciting as 7th-grade math. (NOT!) My math teacher, Mrs. Heinick, is a rover, so I have to write you in spurts and spasms... She likes to stroll down the aisles real slow - she's like a silent hovercraft or some scary sci-fi phenomenon... like a big floating eyeball with teeth."
Page 1
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Review:

This book was hi-larious. There is something so real and honest and quirky about the voices of middle school girls, isn't there?

The story is of two girls who constantly write letters back and forth throughout their school days. They are the ultimate definition of BFFs. Nothing to tear them apart. And they decide it's time that they learned how to talk to boys and not be total spazzes. They are completely into drama and love making up words and such. They are seriously funny and lovable. And they are excellent at creating nicknames - a skill I wish to develop.

One of the things I loved about this story was the emphasis on written letters. So many books have texts, emails, blog entries... this one is notes written during class. Now, this will absolutely date me, but my years of middle and high school were all about passing notes all day long. We didn't have all that tech stuff :). Okay, it was there, I just didn't have it. ANYWHO! This book took me back to my high school years. We used to write notes like it was our job.

I also loved the amount of theater love throughout the story. Anyone who did theater in high school knows that most of the actual drama took place off the stage. This book does a great job giving the theater geeks a voice. What book about middle school girls would be complete without a look at cliques? It's a very funny and realistic look into school drama, that's for sure.

There were some parts of this book where I found myself literally LOLing. I think it's because it reminds me of my high school years so much (minus the obsession with learning how to flirt). Friend group lines blurring, best friend teasing, the awesome nickname giving.... just an all around fun book.

I just have to mention this because it bothered me a little bit. The cover is super-duper cute. Really. I envy that chick and her cuteness. But here's the thing... there are no specifically blond characters. Black haired? Yes. Blond? No. So... who's this supposed to be?! I kinda decided that she was one of the non-physically described girls. Still... annoying.

This book really is perfect for the middle school girl. It's written in their voice and about their drama. I think the author does a great job keeping her audience in mind. There's enough juice there for some serious boy stuff... but also enough silly friendship stuff to keep your spirits high. It's a worthwhile read, for sure.

Anyway, this author is a YA/MG debut this year and I've officially fallen in love with her first book. I'll be looking out for more excitement from her! It looks like Ms. Daly has created a brand spankin new blog! So, go give her some love and more followers :).
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Other Blog Reviews:

The Book Pixie (Author interview)
Moirae (The Fates) Book Reviews
Publishers Weekly
Middle Grade Reads
Clearly, not nearly enough people have read and reviewed this book. It's hilariously awesome, people. Give it a go!

Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde

Title: Cloaked in Red

Author: Vivian Vande Velde

ISBN: 9780761457930

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Page #: 127

Source: From my public library

Summary:

"So you think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the girl with the unfortunate name and the inability to tell the difference between her grandmother and a member of a different species? Well, then, try your hand at answering these questions:

* Which character (not including LIttle Red herself) ist he most fashion challenged?

* Who (not including the wolf) is the scariest?

* Who is the strangest? (Notice we're not 'not including' anyone, because they're all a little off.)

* Who (no fair saying 'the author') has stuffing for brains?

Vivian Vande Velde has taken eight new looks at one of the world's most beloved (and mixed-up) stories. You may never look at fairy tales in quite the same way again."

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First Lines:

"Once upon a time, after fashion was discovered but before people had makeovers on TV, there was a young girl named Meg."

Page 16 (From The Red Cloak)

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Review:

This book was a lot different from what I was expecting. I didn't realize it was going to be several short stories that took the Little Red Riding Hood story and altered it. Though, what a cute idea?! There are so many different ways this story can be told - and tons of perspectives. I loved how the author explored every one of them.

From the "first lines" section up there, you can see that the author took a really humorous view of the Red Riding Hood story. And, to be honest, she's right about how it doesn't always make sense. Especially when you consider all of the weird things that happen in the original versions. But the author took those stories and gave them a facelift for the better. Not to mention the great first lines of each story - I'd write them all here, but I don't wanna give them all away :).

There are a few of the stories in this book that pull in a couple of other fairy tales or myths. My favorite was the one about the nearsighted old man who gathers wood in the forest. Very fun. And I also loved the one about the cloak being given the gift of being smart. The ending on that one made me smile.

I really think that anyone who loves retold fairy tales will get a kick out of this book. The author does a fantastic job deconstructing the story and putting it back together in weird and awesome ways. I'll definitely be recommending it to many of my teens - it seems that retold stories are seriously in vogue right now. This is also a really quick read with all of the stories broken up.

Check out the author's website to see all of the amazing books she's written. I'm in awe :).

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Other Blog Reviews:

Teen Book Review Blog
Small Review
Books4Hearts
Becky's Book Reviews
Amber's Teen Reads (negative)
Teens Know Best

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Here's what I'm waiting on this week:



The Goddess Test
by Aimee Carter
To be released: April 19, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:
"It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess."

Doesn't this book look amazing? I love the cover and the premise sounds wonderful. The author is a debut this year and I can't wait to get my hand on her first installment of her series!

Torment by Lauren Kate

Title: Torment (Fallen #2)
Author: Lauren Kate
ISBN: 978038573914
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Page #: 452
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on a rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous.

What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?"
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First Lines:

"Daniel stared out at the bay. His eyes were as gray as the thick fog enveloping the Sausalito shoreline, as the choppy water lapping the pebble beach beneath his feet. There was no violet to his eyes now at all; he could feel it. She was too far away."
Page 1
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Review:

Before I start my review of Torment, here is my review for Fallen.

After re-reading that post, I realize that some of the things I had to say about the first one can be repeated for this book. Unfortunately, the thing to be repeated is that there are parts of this book that are very slow. Again, not boring, just took a little while to really get to the meat of the story.

This story starts out with the two enemies (Daniel and Cam) from the last book creating a truce in order to keep Luce safe. From what and why, you don't find out until really far into the story. Because Luce has no idea what's going on, you the reader will have no idea what's going on either. You start to pull the pieces together, but it doesn't come to a full picture until the very end.

Though, while Luce is trying to figure things out, there are a lot of fun, new characters introduced. I think one of my favorites is Miles. I'd like a Team Miles shirt, please. And Shelby (Luce's roommate) is a great snarky friend who doesn't sugarcoat anything. She adds a nice texture to the story. A lot of the characters from the last book make an appearance as well - I just had to figure out who everyone was :).

I had a hard time jumping into this book. I suppose it's because I couldn't easily remember the ending of Fallen. I remembered the premise and all, but not the specifics. And some of those specifics are important. But she does some explaining throughout that helps a bit.

I really think people who are into the whole paranormal romance stuff will (or already have) easily get into this series. It's very much worth your while. This second book felt a little slow and I spent a lot of time being angry with the character Daniel - I just wanted to shake some sense into him. But otherwise it's a really good book. I will definitely get excited to read the third book, Passion, later this year.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Literary Explorations
For What It's Worth
Novel Novice
Stiletto Storytime
A Bookworm's Haven
Chicklish
I was a Teenage Book Geek
There's a lot of reviews out there for this book because it's been out for a while. Lots of great things to read :).