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Blogging about all things books! I review every book I read and tell you how it is. Topics include book reviews, book lists,book recommendations, reading challenges, reading group guides, and how books play a part in my daily life.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'young adult'
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
So Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is one of those books where perhaps not reviewing it in a timely manner ultimately creates the final judgment: it’s a pretty forgettable book. I hate to say that because I remember thinking that the book wasn...
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis has one of the strangest main characters I’ve ever read. Mazzy is just so quirky. No doubt about it. To tell you the truth, it’s been months since I read this book (yes – shoot me, I’m...
Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
I had no idea what Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman was about when I put it on hold at the library. It was chosen for my Children’s Literature Book Club (we were reading all Beehive Award nominees) and being the dutiful member that I ...
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
I picked up a copy of Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines when I was at Book Expo America in New York City earlier in the summer. I must admit that I was intrigued with the book but I was afraid it was a copycat of The Hunger Games, so I didn’...
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr (Including Video from Launch Party)
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr is Sara’s best book yet. 15-year-old Sam has always been defined as the pastor’s daughter. But not all is well behind closed doors. Citing the pressures of being a pastor’s wife, Sam’s mother is ...
Hush by Jacqueline Woodson
Reading Hush by Jacqueline Woodson further confirms to me that she is one of my favorite authors. I think that some authors are storytellers but not good writers. Others may be good writers but not good storytellers. And it’s a beautiful ...
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick is the type of book that I can not recall reading anything similar to it’s subject matter: that of a 18- year-old soldier in Iraq. I’m sure they are out there but I’m not sure where they are. ...
I Hadn’t Mean to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson
This is what I love about this whole blogging about books thing. I was introduced to Jacqueline Woodson when I decided that I wanted to read all the Newbery winners. The first Woodson book that I read was Feathers, and while I admit that it’...
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Again Not Really a Review – But Rather Me Geeking Out On Release Day!) & Where You Can Win a Copy with Much Swag
Today is the day!! Catching Fire is in a bookstore near you! How exciting! I feel like there should be confetti and much fanfare. I was fortunate enough to read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins nearly three months ago and it is the book that ...
Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
I can’t help myself. Since discovering free-verse novels, I am completely in love with the genre. Despite the fact that the subject matter of Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas is one that literally makes you sick to your stomach, it&...
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a story of what’s and why’s. Why me? And what could I have done differently? Clay comes home from school one day to find a package on his porch. Yay for packages! How exciting. It doesn’...
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson continues to do no wrong and Miracle’s Boys further confirms that I need to continue to read through her entire back list. Miracle’s Boys is a beautiful exploration of what happens when parents die, leaving their childr...
Feathered by Laura Kasischke
Feathered by Laura Kasischke is the story of two high school seniors, Michelle and Anne, who with their parents blessing and trust are about to head off to amazing Cancun, Mexico for a spring break like no other. They’re not dumb though. Th...
I Know It’s Over by C.K Kelly Martin
I Know It’s Over by C.K Kelly Martin is an unusual book in the sense that it’s written by a woman and is about teen pregnancy, but is told from the point of view of the guy, not the girl. One doesn’t often hear the guy’s sid...
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (a preview of sorts)
Do you know how many people will not be able to resist making a pun of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and say that the book is catching fire? Well, include me in that bunch because it’s true. I’m not writing up a full review because...
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams: A Review, a Reading, and a Signed ARC Giveaway!
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams is a book that I have been wanting to get my greedy hands on as soon as I saw the first review for it. Why? Well, I’ll tell you why. One. It’s YA. I love YA. Need I say more? Two. It̵...
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of those breakout novels that if you haven’t heard of it yet then you are missing out. It’s seriously worthy of all the buzz that it’s getting. I borrowed The Hunger Games from Steph at...
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki, Illustrated by Steve Rolston
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston is this years Young Adult Graphic Novel Cybils winner. I’ll readily admit that I’m not well read in the graphic novel genre but I thought this book was really cute. I don’t thin...
Chiggers by Hope Larson
Chiggers by Hope Larson is a graphic novel geared for the young adult crowd and in all actuality, I don’t have much to say about it, so this will be a pretty short review. Chiggers is about a group of girls who go to summer camp. It’s t...
Fade by Lisa McMann
Fade by Lisa McMann is the sequel to the popular bestseller Wake which I reviewed this past December. Recently, Lisa McMann was also gracious enough to give readers of the Maw Books Blog an author interview and talk about both Wake and Fade. In Fad...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
Finally! I was so disheartened when I was number 250 something on hold at the library for The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney. At that rate it would be months before my turn. That goes to show you how popular The Diary of a ...
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
Need a fun, lighthearted feel good book to curl up with? Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott is that book. Something, Maybe is nothing like the only other book I’ve read by Scott: Living Dead Girl. Which I think is a mark of a truly talente...
The 13th Reality: The Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner
The 13th Reality: The Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner is the sequel to The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters. I’ve talked about James a bunch here on my blog when I reviewed The Journal of Curious Letters and interviewed ...
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Everything that Laurie Halse Anderson touches turns to gold. Her newest novel, Wintergirls is no exception. Picking up this book and simply thumbing through it, I immediately knew that it was different. From the three page spread that says noth...
