BookSmuggler's reading history

Cover imageShadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3)

by Richelle Mead
Finished on November 15th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 5 out of 5

This series is great. It takes vampires from a totally different perspective and has a great niche in this overpopulated genre. In a literary sense, nothing of merit, but in terms of popularity for a teen audience, it should be huge.

Cover imageGirl, Hero

by Carrie Jones
Finished on November 13th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 3 out of 5

In the end, I realized I liked this book. I liked the characters and what they eventually revealed about themselves, and also that they ended up surprising me. I find it hard to find a teen connection here though - I'm not sure they will in any way relate to John Wayne and Lily's feelings about him - I see what the author was doing, but I think it should have almost been rethought in a way. Plus, some of Lily's choices and feelings will seem a bit illogical. Plus, the advertised "musical" plot is nowhere near as integral as it is made out to be - it could have easily been cut and the story would have been the same.

Cover imageTestimony: A Novel

by Anita Shreve
Finished on November 10th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 4 out of 5

Dark and heavy, but an interesting read and well done. Some of the characters' voices were a bit jarring but all interwove to pull together a strong story presenting interesting viewpoints.

Cover imagePaper Towns

by John Green
Finished on November 9th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 5 out of 5

I loved this book mostly because how the characters came so amazingly to life. They seemed like fully formed people who I could go hang out with, and also a lot like my own friends from high school. I don't usually say this about books, but it also had an excellent message, which sometimes you got hit over the head with, but still rung true and felt real to the characters' experiences.

Cover imageThe Day I Killed James

by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Finished on November 9th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 4 out of 5

A story about a girl who finally realizes that she can't punish herself for what happens around her, through a long journey of mourning and self-discovery. I liked it a lot.

Cover imageLikely Story (Book 1) (Likely Story)

by David Van Etten
Finished on November 9th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 3 out of 5

Fun, easygoing story about a teen creating her own soap opera while her own life is actually a bit of a soap opera itself. The beginning of a soap opera - tame enough to be recommended to 7th grade and older. Engaging enough for me to want to read the next one.

Cover imageNobody's Prize

by Esther Friesner
Finished on November 6th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 5 out of 5

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of Helen of Troy before she became Helen of Troy - and cleverly interweaves her into myths she had no business being in. Well done and a great adventure book for girls.

Cover imageCycler

by Lauren McLaughlin
Finished on November 1st 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 4 out of 5

Interesting book - so well-written and a very very cool concept. The actual story didn't go as much in a straight line as maybe I would have wanted, but still so interesting.

Cover imageRepossessed

by A. M. Jenkins
Finished on October 26th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 4 out of 5

I liked this book because it was just so different than anything else I've read recently - and it was done really well. I wasn't always pleased with the way the story was going, or how it ended either, but I really appreciate the the idea itself and the way it was executed. Great book for teen boys.

Cover imageHow to Ditch Your Fairy

by Justine Larbalestier
Finished on October 25th 2008
Rated by BookSmuggler: 4 out of 5

Fun, good book for tweens - main protagonist is 14-year-old Charlie who lives in a world where everyone has a "fairy" who gives a person more luck in one particular area of their life. Her best friend has a clothes-shopping fairy and Fiorenze has an "all the boys like you fairy". Charlie's fairy? A "find the perfect parking spot fairy" and Charlie doesn't even have a car yet! She's over her fairy - and is ready for a new one. Tweens will like it - the one thing that threw me off is that Charlie mentions finding a "used condom" during public service. I'm not sure that was so necessary.