In My Mailbox (22)

A pretty slow week, but they're some of the books I've been eager to read.

From the library:

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri- very interested in this one, though I've never read the original Faust story.

Immortal by Gillian Shields- still debating on reading this one. It's gotten some bad reviews, and I'm pretty tired of sub-par paranormal books that ressemble one another. Got it from the library anyway...

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters- Got this one without knowing much about it. It's LGBT though, so that's great.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier- Liar sounds really good and twisted!

And that's it for me this week. Nothing bought or received, but I did get some goods ones from the library. Oh libraries, what would I do without you?

IMM hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

- Alex

In My Mailbox (21)

Bought:

Paper Towns by John Green (Collecting all of John Green of course. Love him.)
Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers (Finally bought after wanting to own for ages. :D)

Borrowed:
Riding the Universe by Gaby Triana (It's about motorcycles... which is different. I know nothing about them, but the novel sounds good despite that.)

Received:
All from Steph Su. Thank you so much! :D

Ash by Malinda Lo (It looks really good and has been getting a lot of praise. Plus I love fairy tale retellings.)
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (Read a while ago and adored.)
The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander (This sounds SO adorable. And it reminds me just the slightest bit of Dairy Queen, which I love so...)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Read a while ago, but it's so good, you want to own it.)
Fire by Kristin Cashore (Between Lauren and me, this is our third copy, so we'll be giving this one to a friend most likely. Spreading the Cashore love! :D)

And that's what I got this week. :) Pretty good I'd say, with lots of goods books I've been wanting to read/own. How did you all fare?

IMM hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, but idea thought up by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

- Alex

In My Mailbox (20)

IMM by The Story Siren and Pop Culture Junkie.

Borrowed:

Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
Shipped off to boarding school in South Bend, Indiana, city girl and aspiring filmmaker Viola Chesterton feels out of place with her three new roommates. Missing her life back home, Viola is tempted to hide behind her video camera all year. But first impressions are often wrong, and soon Viola realizes she’s in for the most incredible year of her life—if only she can put the camera down and let the world in.

I've heard some mixed reviews for this one, but since it sounds like a book I would like, I'm interested in it!

Positively by Courtney Sheinmel

Emerson Price cannot remember a time when life was ordinary. She was four-years-old when she and her mom were diagnosed as HIV-positive – infected with the virus that causes AIDS, and eight when her parents divorced. Now she is thirteen and her mother is dead. Emmy moves in with her father and stepmother, but she feels completely alone. Even though everyone has always accepted her, no one – not her father, or stepmother, or even her best friend – understands what it’s like to have to take medicine every single day, to be so afraid of getting sick, and to miss her mom more than she ever thought she would.

When Emmy’s dad and stepmother send her to Camp Positive, a camp for HIV-positive girls, Emmy is certain she is going to hate it. But soon she realizes that she is not so alone after all – and that sometimes letting other people in can make all the difference in the world.

Such an interesting and tough topic, one I've never read about at all.

Received:

Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen

Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope.

As the new eleventh grader at Anton High–the most elite public school in the country–she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity.

In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants.

And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing.

With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.

Received from the publisher. :) I love private school books!

So yeah, not a huge week in books for me. I'm excited for the three I did get this week though. And I'm hoping to buy some books tomorrow too... :D But those will be on next week's IMM.

What did you all get this week?

- Alex

In My Mailbox (19)

Some more library books. No actual picture this time because my camera batteries are dead and I don't feel like puttign in new ones. IMM hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

The Borrowed:

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

I've heard (in which I mean read) many goods things about As You Wish. So I'm excited to read it. The model's expression on the cover's a little strange though...

The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones

Fans of urban fantasy should prepare for a new kind of vampire–one that feeds off of tears instead of blood. Descended from an ancient line of creatures that gain their energy from human tears, Cassandra Gray depends on human sorrow to live. Only Cass has grown tired of living this life and wants to live like a human, especially now that she's met someone worth fighting for.

Heard some pretty mixed reviews about this one, so I'm debating on reading it. It has a really interesting premise though.

Dull Boy by Sarah Cross
What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you’re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you’re a former jock turned freak, you can’t afford to let the secret slip.
But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they’re more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.

Okay, not going to lie. I'm a HUGE superhero fan. My dad read Marvel comics to my brother and me as a kid. I've loved all the superhero movies that are being churned out. Superheroes are awesome.

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.

Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

Sounds good to me! As long as Jesse doesn't get too wrapped up in all that drama and media- then it just gets annoying.

The Hollow by Jessica Verday
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.
Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

This is a big book. But then I opened it up and noticed that all the text is double lined! Or maybe 1.5. But still! Huge! I find it kind of annoying- I'm lugging around needless paper, nevermind all those trees used. To anyone who's read the book, does the spacing get in the way of reading enjoyably? It just seems like too many pages to turn to me.

How To Steal a Car by Pete Hautman
Some girls act out by drinking or doing drugs. Some girls act out by sleeping with guys. Some girls act out by starving themselves or cutting themselves. Some girls act out by being a bitch to other girls.

Not Kelleigh. Kelleigh steals cars.

In How to Steal a Car, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman takes teen readers on a thrilling, scary ride through one suburban girl's turbulent life - one car theft at a time.

Car stealing is certainly original, and not an aspect I've ever read a book focused on.

The Received:

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for 'disturbed teens'. At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems...? Chloe realizes that if she doesn't uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse...? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?

Won from Read Now Sleep Later. Been interested in reading this series for a while now, so thank you!

So what did you all get this week?

- Alex

In My Mailbox (18)

IMM created by Alea, and memefied by Kristi.

Why yes, this is on my bed. XD My oh so messy sheets... ignore that.

Unclaimed Heart by Kim Wilkins
Purge by Sarah Littman
My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter (quite interested- it got some pretty rave reviews)
Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard (Sounds cute. Just finished reading Pride and Prejudice, though I'm not seeing much of a connection between the two, besides the time period.)
And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman (Think it sounds really good. And the cover looks much nicer in person.)
Angels on Sunset Boulevard by Melissa de la Cruz
Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund (Been wanting to read this badly. So yay!)
Slept Away by Julie Kraut
Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt (Also been wanting to read this one for awhile.)
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (Evermore was okay, but nothing amazing; I'm willing to give the series another chance.)

All from the library. I'm saving up my money. For what, who knows... University probably. Oh, and Lauren got Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?, the final Georgia Nicholson book. She's super excited about it.

- Alex

In My Mailbox (17)

Again! The previous week's got deleted on account of my frazzled nerves. Oops. Oh well. This week, I got tons of good books! :D Very excited. Because there's so many, you don't get pictures. Sorry! I did link to Goodreads at least.

Library:
After by Amy Efaw. (very interested in)
Jumping off swings by Jo Knowles.
Crash into me by Albert Borris.
Last Christmas : the Private prequel by Kate Brian. (addicted to the whole Private series)
Beautiful disaster : a Privilege novel by Kate Brian.
Privilege by Kate Brian.
A sweet disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov.
Secrets of truth and beauty by Megan Frazer.
Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz. (Seems good but... scary)
Cold hands, warm heart by Jill Wolfson.
Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody.
Giving up the V by Serena Robar.
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund. (very excited to read. Killer unicorns!)
Blood promise by Richelle Mead. (already read and adored)
Funny how things change by Melissa Wyatt.
Radiant darkness by Emily Whitman. (Love greek mythologies!)
Doing it by Melvin Burgess.

Received:
signed copy Boy Toy by Barry Lyga (won in a contest held by Miss Remmers. Thanks!)
signed ARC of Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon (won in a contest held at Reading In Color. Also thanks!)
Death by Denim by Linda Gerber (won in a contest at Darby Speaks. So of course, thanks!)

None bought. Quite the restraint. But with all those library books, I really don't need to be buying any books. So that's my week in books, folks. How about all of you?

IMM brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren, who in turn was influenced by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

- Alex

In My Mailbox (16)

This was a week in contests! Somehow the mailmen brought 5 packages all in one day. This furthers my belief that mailmen like to hold out on you. Or they're all secret book lovers and take the packages of books to read themselves...

Received:

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She''s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora''s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can''t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I've only read good reviews about Hush Hush! Very excited to read this. (After Lauren since I just lent it to her...) Won from Boy With Books!

Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro
Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She''s a junior now- older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father''s too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic''s problems.

Received from author. After reading The ABCs of Kissing Boys, we're quite excited.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf - is a haunting presence she can?t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human -- until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It?s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Won from Kate at The Neverending Shelf! Thanks Kate! Heard lots of good things about Shiver.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Mirandas disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroidknocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter,Miranda, her two brothers, and theirmotherretreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.In her journal, Miranda records the events of each desperate day, while she and herfamily struggle to hold on to their most priceless resource--hope. Includes a teaser to the companion novel, The Dead and the Gone.

Same as above. Very interested in this one.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Scarlett Martin is the third of four children in a family that has a most unusual collective profession. The Martins live in and manage a not-quite-posh-anymore hotel in New York City that dates from the 1920s. When Scarlett turns fifteen, she is given charge of one of the hotel's twenty-seven rooms: the Empire Suite. Into this room moves Mrs. Amberson, an aging C-list starlet who has returned to New York to write her memoirs. Soon, Scarlett is taking dictation, running around town with Mrs. Amberson, and getting caught up in her Auntie-Mame-meets- Bianca-Jagger adventures. In the midst of all this, Scarlett falls in love, or so she thinks, and it takes Mrs. Amberson to help her see the light.

Won from Books Make Great Lovers. Thanks so much!

The Bought (and the borrowed):

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before?and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

I actually got 2 copies of this book. One I ordered from Chapters and another my mom picked up at the library on Express the day before. I lent out my bought copy soon after and kept the library copy to read yesterday! Finished it, and so expect a review soon. This is a re-read because I also bought Catching Fire at the same time. :D

So that's what's in my mailbox. What about all of you?

And of course, IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, who was influenced by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie!

- Alex

In My Mailbox (15)

The Received:

Fire by Kristin Cashore
Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells.

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

Won in a contest! It has the UK cover! GORGEOUS. A huge thank you to Suzanne McLeod for Fire.

The Bought (/Received? Would it count for me as received from Lauren?):

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

(spoilers for The Hunger Games)
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

So I didn't actually buy this, Lauren did. But... I'm including it anyway. :D Lauren's already read and reviewed Catching Fire. I'm waiting for her to come back and give it to me.

The Borrowed:

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
When her adoptive mother dies, Katherine Bab takes the chance she has been waiting for her whole life: she moves from her country village to London, to uncover the secret of who she really is. Before long, Kat has become a favorite of Queen Elizabeth herself, and rumors are swirling - could fiery-haired Kat be the secret daughter of the Virgin Queen? Kat's got plenty of other things to figure out, as well . . . such as how to choose between her childhood love and two handsome men at court vying for her affection.
This smart, sensual novel drips with intrigue, period detail, and drama and will resonate with anyone who has ever longed to find his or her place in the world.

I don't usually read historical fiction, but I think this one sounds really good.

Fake Boyfriend by Kate Brian
He's absolutely perfect. If only he were real.

Lane and Vivi have had it with Isabelle Hunter's boyfriend, Shawn Littig (a.k.a. Sluttig). He is the only person who can turn their smart, confident best friend into a complete mess. When Shawn Sluttig cheats on and dumps Izzy just months before the prom she's been planning since the ninth grade, Lane and Vivi decide to take action.

With a few quick keystrokes, they create a MySpace page for "Brandon," the perfect guy to get Izzy out of her revolving-door relationship with Shawn. Too bad he's totally fake. Vivi's younger brother, Marshall, who they hire to be the "man" behind the profile, is way too into being Izzy's fake boyfriend. So they turn to cute, prep-school Jonathan to be the face of Brandon. But when Vivi falls for Jonathan, and Sluttig tries to wedge his way back into Izzy's prom picture, the whole plan starts to go south faster than you can say "fake boyfriend."

I think this one sounds really weird but fun. Plus, I love Kate Brian's Private novels!

Oh My Gods by Tera Lynn Childs
A modern girl's comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.

When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uber exclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes -supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.

After reading a few wonderful reviews for this book, I decided to give it a chance and get it from my library. Hope it's good!

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Not too many books this week, but these are books I'm REALLY excited for. This week is quality and not quantity I guess? What did you all get this week?

In My Mailbox was created by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie and memefied by Kristi at The Story Siren!

- Alex

In My Mailbox (14) + Update

In My Mailbox:

Zilch.

:'( It's kind of depressing. Not even from the library. I suppose I should see the silver lining and think of all the books I need to read in my pile already, which is true. But still...

Oh wait! Did get an e-book to review! :D

The Siren by Kiera Cass
"You must never do anything that might expose our secret. This means that, in general, you cannot form close bonds with humans. You can speak to us, and you can always commune with the Ocean, but you are deadly to humans. You are, essentially, a weapon. A very beautiful weapon. I won't lie to you, it can be a lonely existence, but once you are done, you get to live. All you have to give, for now, is obedience and time..."

The same speech has been given hundreds of times to hundreds of beautiful girls who enter the sisterhood of sirens. Kahlen has lived by these rules for years now, patiently waiting for the life she can call her own. But when Akinli, a human, enters her world, she can't bring herself to live by the rules anymore. Suddenly the life she's been waiting for doesn't seem nearly as important as the one she's living now.

I actually don't have much experience reading e-books, so that should be interesting. I'll have to not wear contacts because I've tried wearing contacts and staring at a computer screen for a long time and the two do not mix.

---------------------------------------------

Also, you may have noticed that we've been doing some tweaking to the review system, here at A Flight of Minds. We're keeping our shelves because we love our shelves dearly and even just added half shelves. We have added First Impressions, Final Impressions, and Favourite Character though. And we're hoping to add Favourite Quote also in the near future.

If you have any suggestions in adding to our review system, we'd love to know! Or if you guys think the First/Final Impressions things is terrible, we'd also love to hear from you. (Although if you can do it kindly, that'd also be appreciated. We have delicate egos.)

- Alex

In My Mailbox (13)

Pretty good week for me. Yay for libraries!

The Bought:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

Umm. So, I've never actually read this book, but have been wanting to for AGES. I requested it from my library a while back, still haven't gotten it (now thinking maybe I actually never did request it...?), so when I ended up going to an Indigo I never go to because it's far away, I convinced my mom to buy it for me. :-)

The Borrowed:

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it's her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what's more: Noel is writing her notes, Jackson is giving her frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies. Rumors are flying, and Ruby's already-sucky reputation is heading downhill. Not only that, she's also: running a bake sale, learning the secrets of heavymetal therapy, encountering some seriously smelly feet, defending the rights of pygmy goats, and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances. In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and to find true love--if such a thing exists.

Yayy! I haven't read about Ruby Oliver in a longlong time. It's been... 4 years? Maybe 3? :/ Lauren just finished this one though and loved it. I'll get around to reading it eventually. Hopefully.

Just One Wish by Jannette Rallison
Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it’s all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.

But Annika’s plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curveball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly fi nds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?

Janette Rallison’s proven talent for laugh-out-loud humor, teen romance, and deep-hearted storytelling shines in a novel that will have readers laughing and crying at the same time.

I actually keep getting this one and "As You Wish" confused. The titles are so similar and I find that the covers resemble one another also. :/ The plot seems a lot different though. I just get confused.

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. But that’s not what happens.

This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. Now, she’s stuck with the freshmen, her friends are cutting her loose, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. But Parker is determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. All she needs now is the right kind of coach. A kissing coach.

I'm not too sure how soccer and kissing is related, but sure, it sounds like a fun book.

You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay
Fifteen-year-old Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she’s part-time shrink to a bunch of dead people with a whole lot of issues.

All Megan wants is to be normal—and go to homecoming, of course. Unfortunately, it’s a little difficult when your dates keep getting interrupted by a bunch of slobbering Undead.

Things are about to get even more complicated for Megan. Someone in school is using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into flesh-eating Zombies, and it’s looking like homecoming will turn out to be a very different kind of party—the bloody kind.

Megan must stop the Zombie apocalypse descending on Carol, Arkansas. Her life—and more importantly, homecoming—depends on it.

Sounds like a cute zombie book- unique, for sure.

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help – but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.

A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
Ruby's turning sixteen . . . but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends - loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her - about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture . . . and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.

I recently figured out that "Siobhan" is actually not pronounced See-Obe-Han but Shivan. O_O

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.

His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered.

Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."

Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.

What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.

I'm quite interested in reading this one! Although I don't really like the cover. It's both spooky and old looking, which turns me off. Maybe it's the colours too?

Surface Tension by Brent Runyon
Lucas at 13 is excited about everything—swimming, fishing, skipping rocks, and searching for lucky stones—there’s so much to do in two weeks at the lake.

Lucas at 14 is a little more jaded. And more interested in looking at the hot girl next door than in looking for rocks.

Lucas at 15 is a little more angry. The friend he brings along makes him see his summer haven with new—and less appreciative—eyes.

Lucas at 16 is in love—until he gets a break-up post card from his girlfriend, and then he wants to die.

Brent Runyon has crafted a remarkable portrait of a boy at four distinct points in his life and literally shows us his coming-of-age. It’s a story about what is ever-changing and what is timeless, and how we are shaped by both the people and places we love.

I really like this idea and think it's very interesting, the life of a boy over 4 summers. :)

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
It’s Dade’s last summer at home. He has a crappy job at Food World, a “boyfriend” who won’t publicly acknowledge his existence (maybe because Pablo also has a girlfriend), and parents on the verge of a divorce. College is Dade’s shining beacon of possibility, a horizon to keep him from floating away.

Then he meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid. Falling in real love finally lets Dade come out of the closet—and, ironically, ignites a ruthless passion in Pablo. But just when true happiness has set in, tragedy shatters the dreamy curtain of summer, and Dade will use every ounce of strength he’s gained to break from his past and start fresh with the future.

I think this one sounds really interesting, don't you think?

And that's it for me this week! What about all you?

As usual, this meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren who was influenced by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. :)

- Alex

In My Mailbox (12)

Library:

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Get this, I'm supposed to be starting a journal about "my journey." Please. I can see it now: Dear Diary, As I'm set adrift on this crazy sea called "life" . . . I don't think so.

It's been seventy-five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her.

And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone now, and she doesn't want to talk about it. They wouldn't get it, anyway. They wouldn't understand what it feels like to have your best friend ripped away from you.

They wouldn't understand what it feels like to know it's your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks it would help to start a diary. Instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia.

But as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought it was-and the present deserves a chance too.

Very excited to read this! Lauren just finished it, loved it, and reviewed it here.

Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein
Alison Cole's got it all: She's gorgeous, dating a steamy surfer boy, and has just been crowned Beverly Hills High Freshman Class President. Then during a special "symmetry" surgery, a lightning bolt zaps her, and Alison instantly transforms into Hottie--that is, a totally sizzling superhero with the power to shoot fire from her fingers!

Shunned as a Pyro-Freak, Alison must adopt dorky David Eels as her crime-fi ghting sidekick. Worse, she's falling for the one guy who wants to "extinguish" her forever, Junior Class President of Cuteness-- and wannabe firefighter--T. Hull. But she doesn't realize that a supervillain's lurking... .

Has Hottie met her match?

Sounds like a cute super hero novel!

Chasing Boys by Karen Tayleur
An insightful coming-of-age novel for girls with no interest in being "Pretty in Pink."

El Marini just isn't fitting into the new life she's been forced to create without her dad. Her mom and sister have accepted his absence and moved on, but El is convinced things will get back to normal if she just keeps her feelings of loss to herself and waits it out.

Life at her new public school would have been unbearable if weren't for Eric Callahan. As her crush grows to epic proportions, she'll do anything to be more like the popular girls he notices, even buying the first pink top she's ever owned. But then she meets Dylan, a quiet artistic-type who is both unnerving and annoying as he shines a light on El's misguided attempts to attract Eric. El's need for acceptance will hit home with teens as she finally sees that chasing boys has distracted her from making peace with the past and finding herself.

Lauren also got this from the library, finished it. Apparently, the names are Ariel and Eric. XD

Contests:

Wintergirls Audio by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Dead girl walking," the boys say in the halls.
"Tell us your secret," the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend's restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

Won from Kay at You 2.0! I've already read it and reviewed it here, ages ago. It was my second review ever on this blog! But this one's an audio, and I've never actually listened to a book before. I've started and so far I'm liking it. It helps that I know the story a little too. :)

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginninga]

When Emily Carsonas parents die in a plane crash, sheas left with nothing but her motheras last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: aEmily, please forgive me.a

Now itas fall and Emily moves to New York Citya where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, "Lipstick Apology" is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.

Also won from Kay at You 2.0. It sounds really good! Thanks so much for both Kay!

The Comeback by Marlene Perez
Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie?s starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend. Sophie has been quickly dispatched to social Siberia, but not for long?she?ll do anything it takes to make a triumphant comeback. From the author of the witty, romantic novel Love in the Corner Pocket comes a story about high school royalty and what it takes to stay on the throne.

Won from Jess at Lost in a Book. The Comeback looks really fun!

Second Skin by Jessica Wallman
Beauty is only skin deep. Popularity goes much deeper. . . .

Appearances can be deceiving. Sam Klein's found that out firsthand. All she wanted was to be popular. But sometimes what we want is the absolute worst thing for us.

Sam discovers that Kylie, It-girl of Woodlawn High, owes her popular status not to her expensive clothes, highlighted hair, and spot on the cheerleading squad but to a magical second skin. Nobody can actually see it-but they can feel it. And if you're wearing the skin, you feel incredible. Invincible. Popularity is yours.

So Sam stole the skin from Kylie. Now she's the most popular girl at school, while Kylie's social life takes a serious hit. Sam can barely recognize herself. Her old geek clique is history-but are her new friends really people she can count on? The skin is clinging tighter to her each day . . . can Sam get it off before it's too late?

Also won from Jess in Lost in a Book! I think it sounds really interesting. Looking forward to reading Second Skin. Thanks so much!

It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
Funny and touching-this is a heartfelt breakup story.

Zoe loves Henry.

Henry dumps Zoe.

Zoe wants Henry back-at any cost.

Zoe's two best friends come up with a plan to help Zoe get what she thinks she wants. The plan: make Henry jealous.

But the plan takes a surprising turn. . . .

Spanning thirty-one days in the cycle of a breakup, Kerry Cohen Hoffmann's humorous and poignant novel depicts a girl whose single-minded focus on her ex-boyfriend has pulled her far from the person she most needs to win back-herself.

Won from Shalonda at Shalonda's Blog. I've read some mixed reviews about the book, so it'll be interesting to read and see what I think.

Gorgeous by Rachel Vail

She's looking good . . . but Allison Avery can't believe it. Growing up with beautiful, blond sisters, Allison has always been the dark-haired, "interesting-looking" Avery. So when the devil shows up and offers to make her gorgeous, Allison jumps at the chance to finally get noticed. But there's one tiny catch, and it's not her soul: The devil wants her cell phone.

Though her deal with the devil seems like a good idea at the time, Allison soon realizes that being gorgeous isn't as easy as it looks. Are her new friends and boyfriend for real, or do they just like her pretty face? Allison can't trust anyone anymore, and her possessed phone and her family's financial crisis aren't making things any easier. Plus, when she finds out that she might be America's next teen model, all hell breaks loose. Allison may be losing control, but how far is she willing to go to stay gorgeous forever?

Following the critically acclaimed Lucky, Rachel Vail continues her poignant sisterhood trilogy with the rebellious middle Avery sister, Allison. Fiery, sarcastic, and just plain fun, gorgeous captures the heartbreak and hilarity in one girl's attempt to have it all.

I might have to go hunt down the first in this trilogy, Lucky! Also won from Shalonda at Shalonda's Blog. Thanks so much Shalonda!

Lauren and I each got a Hollow T-shirt and Sleepy Hollows tales book from Lee Verday! Thanks Lee! If I can, I'll post a picture later. :]


And that was my week in books! How did you all fair? As usual, In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren who was influenced by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

- Alex