Sunday, August 21, 2011

Book 80 - Delirium


My eightieth book this year was Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Lena lives in a world where love is illegal. Every person, on their eighteenth birthday, gets an operation done that prevents love and, because they can't love, it also prevents hate and any other strong emotion. Anyone that resists is either forced or killed. Lena can't wait to have her operation and be matched with a boy who she will spend the rest of her life with. But when her best friend Hana convinces her to go to an illegal party, where the "uncureds" listen to outlawed music and talk to the opposite gender, Lena discovers a whole new world. And this new world includes Alex, a mysterious boy who Lena suddenly feels like getting to know better. Lena knows that she's coming down with the "deleria", but she can't bring herself to care. But, with her operation fast approaching, she and Alex have to find a way to escape to the Wilds, a place with no rules and, most importantly, love.
Grade: B+
SC: 6
V: 8
C: 3

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Book 79 - Fairest


The seventy-ninth book I read was Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. In this rewrite of Snow White, Aza lives in the town of Ayortha, which is a town mentioned in Levine's other novel, Ella Enchanted. This is considered a companion novel to Ella Enchanted because it mentions several characters and places from that book. Aza is considered ugly because of her skin complexion and her...size. All of her life, she's had to cope with the fact that she's completely different from everyone else in her family and town. But, when a Dame asks Aza to step in for her companion who has fallen ill, Aza is transported to the magical world of the wealthy in the king's castle for his wedding to the beautiful Ivi. Some people in the kingdom immediately distrust Ivi, but Aza finds herself drawn to the new queen, even more so after she becomes the lady-in-waiting. While she doesn't understand many of the customs of this new country, she seems willing to try. That is, until the king is suddenly injured and Ivi is suddenly put in charge of the kingdom. Soon, Ivi has turned most of the country against her because of the things she does trying to be a "strong queen". When she blackmails Aza into helping her, Aza becomes sure that Ivi is much more devious than she appears. But who would believe a lady who isn't even a true lady over a queen?
Grade: A
SC: 3
V: 5
C: 1

Monday, August 15, 2011

Book 78 - Forgotten


My seventy-eighth book was Forgotten by Cat Patrick. London Lane seems like a regular girl. But she's not. Every night, at exactly 4:33 AM, her brain resets itself and she doesn't remember anything that went on the day before. All she can "remember" are events from her past. With the help of her mother, best friend, and carefully written notes about what went on the day before, London is able to make it through life basically unscathed. But, when a mysterious (and gorgeous) boy named Luke Henry shows up and seems to "get her". But, the problem is, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. Even after they start dating, she still can't find him. As her memories get increasingly darker, she has to try to figure out what happened before the memory most on her mind (a funeral of an unknown person) comes true. Several big shocks in this book, most of which the readers don't see coming.
Grade: A
SC: 3
V: 5
C: 3

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Book 77 - Dreamland


My seventy-seventh book was Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. This book is about Caitlyn, who's sister, Cass, just ran away from home. Cass was always the perfect child, always outdoing Caitlyn, seemingly without even trying. So, it was shocking that she ran away, and so unexpectedly, especially because she was going to Yale in just a few weeks. As Caitlyn tries to make sense of her sister's absence, and the absence it creates in her family's life, she meets Rogerson. He's handsome, cool, and mysterious from the very beginning. As Caitlyn finds herself falling for Rogerson, she sees that his home life is not as perfect as it first appeared to be. And that his hard home life might be taking a toll on his relationship with Caitlyn. Rogerson becomes more and more possessive and Caitlyn doesn't know how much more she can take before she just fades away forever. This book is extremely different from every other Sarah Dessen book I've ever read. But it was still good. Just not as enjoyable, because of the subject matter.
Grade: A-
SC: 5
V: 7
C: 6

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Book 76 - Before I Fall


My seventy-sixth book was Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. This book is about Sam Kingston, a very popular girl and the best friend of Lindsay Edgecomb, the most popular girl in school. Sam and Lindsay, along with their other friends Elody and Ally, rule the school until the night of Kent's party. Kent used to be Sam's best friend, until she became too cool after starting to hang out with Lindsay. After the party, as the girls are driving home, they swerve off the road, hitting a tree. Sam is sure they're all dead but she wakes up the next morning, in bed and completely fine. As she starts the same day, over and over, she finally figures out she has to make things right. As she tries to do that, she knows her time is coming to a close. But, just as she knows her life is ending, she starts to fall in love with Kent. And, now more than ever, she has to make things right, if only to be worthy of him.
Grade: A
SC: 6
V: 5
C: 5

Monday, August 8, 2011

Book 75 - Lock and Key


My seventy-fifth book was Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. This book is about Ruby, a girl who lives with her alcoholic mother. The book starts a couple of months after she was abandoned by her mother. After living on her own for a while, her landlords finally noticed and called social services. Since then, she has moved in with her sister, Cora, and her wealthy brother-in-law, Jamie. She also meets the neighbor's teenage son, Nate, who is very friendly, despite the fact that Ruby is anything but to him. Ruby feels that she shouldn't get attached to anyone here, because she's going to be leaving soon. She, like her mother, feels that its better to leave someone than be left by someone. Ruby knows the sting of being left, first by Cora, then by her mother. But as she learns how her mother lied to her, she starts to see Cora in a different light. And not only Cora, but other people around her, like Jamie and even Roscoe, Jamie's annoying dog. But the person that seems to "get" her the most is Nate, perhaps because he's hiding some secrets of his own.
Grade: A++
SC: 4
V: 6
C: 3

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Book 74 - Someone Like You


My seventy-fourth book was Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen.* This book is about Halley (like the Comet). Her best friend, Scarlett, has always been the cool one, always the strong one who has to take care of everything. But, when Scarlett's boyfriend Michael dies, Halley suddenly becomes the strong one, taking care of everything Scarlett needs. And when they find out that Scarlett's pregnant, Halley is the one that has to save her from her mother, who insists she have an abortion. But Scarlett decides to keep the baby instead. As they go through the pregnancy, figuring out everything together, Halley gets her first real boyfriend in Macon Faulkner, a bad boy who was Michael's best friend. At first, Halley knows that Macon loves her. But, as he starts disappearing more and more, she isn't so sure. What she is sure of is that Scarlett is going to need more help than ever. But is Halley strong enough to help?
Grade: A++
SC: 6
V: 5
C: 3

*I am officially in love with Sarah Dessen books.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Book 73 - Anna and the French Kiss


My seventy-third book was Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Anna's father sent her to Paris for the school year. She doesn't want to leave her mom and brother or her friends. And she definitely doesn't want to leave her new maybe-boyfriend Toph. But she's sent to the School of America in Paris. There she meets Meredith, Rashmi, Josh, and the very beautiful Etienne St. Clair. There's just one problem: St. Clair already has a girlfriend. As Anna navigates her first year in another country, it becomes harder and harder to stay away from St. Clair. Anna knows nothing can happen between them as long as he has a girlfriend. She knows that he likes her too. So, why won't he just break up with his girlfriend? A lot happens in this book, because it takes place over an entire year. I really enjoyed it.
Grade: A+
SC: 7
V: 2
C: 6