location: home

mood:  sleepy

watching: Scarecrow and Mrs. King Season 1 ( mom has me hooked now!)

music: none

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Release Date:  March 19,2009

Publisher: Penguin

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 288

Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Intrest: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

“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.

Many years ago I was watching a movie on lifetime ( yes, I am a lifetime movie addict!) called Speak with a very young Kristen Stewart. For some reason that movie haunted me, but in an incredible way! I quickly picked up the book and devoured it just as quickly and ferociously as I did the movie. I was completely mesmerized by Laurie Halse Anderson's writtng and have been ever since then!

Wintergirls has been on my TBR list for quite some time and I am so glad I finally made the time to read it. In a writing style all Laurie's she totally captivates you with the story and takes you into the struggles of teen girls with eating disorders.

Growing up I knew so many young girls with this horrible self image problem. In a society so hung up on image, I think this is an issue that has only gotten worse with time! Unfortunately with very serious and deadly consequences.

I loved how Laurie tackled this very serious issue, in a way that no one else can! She really gets inside the heads of any young girl with a body image issue in such a way that is bone chilling! With so many girls and women suffering from these problems, I am so glad someone wrote a very honest and gritty look into eating disorders, and their deadly consequences! A definate must read!

Yet another amazing book by Laurie Halse Anderson! In my book she can do no wrong. This is a definately must read, especially if you know anyone who is battling with an eating disorder. You won't regret picking this book up!

November Giveaway

Hey Everyone!

I hope November has been an incredible month for everyone. It's about to get even better! Thanks to the awesome folks at Simon and Schuster for providing a finished copy of Kimberly Derting's amazing new book The Pledge. Trust me when I say, this is one book you don't want to miss!

I honestly didn't think I was going to have a giveaway this month, so a big thank you to the Simon and Schuster team for making this giveaway possible! I'm so excited about this one, because its such an awesome book!

Please enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win a copy of The Pledge. There will only be one winner, so make sure you take advantage of the extra ways to enter and goodluck!

How To Rock Braces and Glasses

location: home

mood: SHOPPING!!!

watching: Keeping Up Appearances

music: none

How To Rock Braces and Glasses

Release Date:  October 24, 2011

Publisher: Poppy

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 336

Format: ARC
Source: ARC
Intrest: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

Super-stylish and uber-harsh, Kacey Simon is the social dictator of Marquette Middle School. She's BFFs with the prettiest girls, and she even hosts her own TV segment dispensing advice and the cold, hard truth to her classmates -- whether they want to hear it or not.

But then an eye-infection and a visit to the dentist leave her with coke-bottle glasses, a mouth full of metal, and... a littthp. Dismissed by her popular friends, she falls so far down the social ladder she can barely see the top, even with her magnifying specs.

With nowhere else to turn, Kacey has to hang with her nerdy neighbor and a boy who walks to beat of his own drum -- or rather, to the beat of the drummer in his band. Zander wants Kacey to be their lead singer, but she's determined to reclaim her throne. Will she climb back to the top? Or will she discover that hitting rock bottom kind of... rocks?

As usual I picked this book based off of the adorable cover and was excited to read something by an author that was new to me, Meg Haston. This book proved to be just as cute as the cover, and I found myself liking it so much more than I thought I would!

This is the story of Kacey Simon, the teen queen of her school! Kacey is pretty, popular, super talented, and the go to girl for advice on anything from wardrobe, boyfriends, to what to eat for lunch. Kacey prides herself on giving her honest opinion, but it often comes off more harsh than helpful. Surrounded by the most popular girls in school as her bff's,  with the lead in the school play tucked securely under her belt, and the cutest boy in school, Kacey is on top of the world. Then tragedy strikes! An innocent accident leaves Kasey with hideous braces and her very own pair of geek glasses. Is Kacey popular enough to withstand this social suicide? Or is this Mean Girl in for a taste of her own medacine?

At first I really hated Kacey's character. I mean, does she honestly think she's being helpful and not hurtful? If I ever talked like that my mother would wash my mouth out with soap! But for some reason, everyone just seems to take what Kacey says in stride. Is it because they are scared of her or desperately trying to impress her? Maybe its a little of both!

Needless to say I definately couldn't help but chuckle when Kacey gets a taste of her very own medacine, from none other than her bff Molly! You'd think after the humiliation she suffers (come on was the YouTube video not embarassing enough?) she would have a new outlook on life! Instead Kacey with a little help starts plotting her claim to fame. This Mean Girl is desperate and will do just about anything to get back on top! 

How To Rock Braces and Glasses reminds me of those all too familiar highschool days! Full of crushes, late nights, best friends, sleep overs and Mean Girls! 

Meg did a great job writting a realistic tale of highschool drama, with a dash of humor and a slice of humble pie! I can't wait to read more by this incredible author!

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by Kristi the storysiren. This is where us bloggers get a chance 
to show you what we got this wk! Bookish related of course!

Borrowed From the LIbrary
Crossed by Ally Condie
Sheltered by Harlan Coben
The Help by Katherine Stockett
Past Perfect by Leila Sales


Random Acts of Kindness
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma 
-Thank you to Loretta at Between the Pages
The Pledge Swagpack by Kimberly Derting
- Thank you to AMY ( I am sooo sorry I kept calling you Amber! This is what comes of filming after midnight! =/ You know I <3 you!!! ) at Book Loving Me
Kindle Fire
- Thank you Pops! I LOVE it!!! I squeed when it came in the mail! :)

WonMoon Coin by Richard Due and Carolyn Arcabascio

Bought
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ( autographed! Eeek!)
Jenny Pox by JL Bryan  (it's FREE on Kindle so get a copy!!)
I Am Become Death by Roco Ryg ( its also free on Kindle!!!)
Unveiled by Trisha Wolfe ( I've been DYING for this bk but its Kindle only. The cover is gorgeous and I can't wait to start reading it!

This is literally the look on my face when I got my Pledge swag pack in the mail! lol

Thanks Amy!!! You made my day Chica! <3

Thank you Loretta! I'll let you know what I think about it! :)

Gotta take some time out to fix the hair! haha You know you do it too so hush!

Squeee!!! A signed copy of The Night Circus! *cheers and throws confetti*

So a LOT of people have been telling me they LOVE the still shots on my IMMs. So let me know in the comments which you like better. Still shots versus vlog, or both? You can decide how my IMMs will be done! So don't forget to vote and let me know and whichever gets the  most votes wins!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my IMM this wk. Leave me a link in the comments to your IMM, I'd love to see it. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and happy reading!

2012 TBR Pile Challenge

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! 

This is my very first time participating in the TBR Pile Challenge and I am VERY excited about it! Here is my list of books I am going to dust off and read during 2012. My goal is to read 2 bks off of my TBR pile each month. So this is just a short list of some books from my TBR list I really want to squeze in.

1.) Extraordianry by Nancy Werlin

2.) Wither by Lauren DeStefano
3.) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

4.) Pretty Little Liars bk 1 by Sarah Shephard

Leave me a comment and let me know if you will be participating in the TBR Pile Challenge this year and a link to your list of books you will be reading if you have one! Even if you aren't participating let me know what books you really want to try to read from your TBR pile this next year.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

Ok so the 2012 Debut Author Challenge start up is right around the corner! I waited too late to sign up last year, and I really miseed it! I had participated in past years, but this is the first year I will be blogging AND participating!

If your intrested in signing up or learning more about it, click on the button above and head on over to The Story Siren's blog to check it out and sign up!

Here is my list of books to read for the 2012 challenge. These are the ones I am DYING to read. I may read more or less, it just depends!

1.) Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
2.) Everneath by Brodi Ashton
3.) Fracture by Megan Miranda
4.) Cinder by Marissa Meyer
5.) Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
6.) Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
7.) The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
8.) A Breath of Eyre by Eva Marie Mont
9.) Of Posiedon by Anna Banks
10.) The Selection by Keira Cass
11.) Harbinger by Sarah Wilson Etienne
12.) The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

Let me know if your participating in DAC 2012 and leave me a link to your start up post. I'd love to see what your going to be reading!

The Pledge

location: home

mood:  sleepy

watching: Felicity season 3 ( I love 90's flash backs!)

music: none

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Release Date:  November 15, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 336

Format: ebook
Source: ARC
Intrest: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom….

The Pledge is the story of 17 year old Charlie, who is hiding an incredible secret from the world. With the help of her parents, Charlie hides the fact that she can understand any language spoken, even those outside of her class. If her secret gets out, she could loose her very own life! The Royal Queen will do anything to silence Charlie once and for all. Even if that means hurting the people Charlie loves the most! In a desperate attempt to protect her family and keep them safe from harm, Charlie dives into the underground world with the handsome and mysterious guy Max she met at a club. Is Max really who she thinks, and can she truly trust him? Are there more secrets her parents have kept hidden from her in order to protect her?

I have always wanted to read Kimberly Derting's series, The Body Finder, but haven't been able to just yet. I was excited about reading this new series of hers, The Pledge!

The story progresses at a quick but steady pace, growing more frantic towards the end. I found myself reading as fast as I possibly could at the end, so I could get to the next page to see what happens next! This book has mystery, suspense, action, romance a missing princess, and so much more!

This was a unique and thrilling dystopian, and an incredible start of a brand new series! It does have a cliff hanger at the end, but don't worry! Not the kind where you want to throw the book across the room and scream in frustration! But the kind that leaves you eager to find out what happens next! I personally look forward to doing just that!