My husband I recently finished the third book in the Maze Runner Series, The Death Cure, by James Dashner!  We listened to the whole series on audiobook and absolutely loved them!

Thomas knows that Wicked can’t be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they’ve collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It’s up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn’t know is that something’s happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can’t believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

Like I mentioned above, I loved this series.  We seriously gobbled all three books up pretty quickly.  Dashner’s writing literally pulls you into the story and the setting so feel everything the characters are experiencing right along with them.  The characters in these books are some of my favorite in all of YA/MG fiction. Thomas, Min Ho, Brenda and Newt are so memorable that I felt lonely after we finally finished the series.  Newt, will forever be one of my favorite minor characters ever.

I do have to say that The Death Cure was not my favorite of the trilogy.  At times the plot felt a little loose and flappy like the characters were doing all this traveling around without a real purpose.  It kind of seemed to me like Dashner packed a little too much into this third book, but the story was still entertaining and it doesn’t diminish my love for these books!

I really liked the suspense scenes where Thomas and his group are walking through the city.  With Dashner you never know what is behind each corner so you’re tense the whole way through (in a good way!).  Like the first two books I still didn’t know who to trust which kept me on my toes!

The Death Cure has an ending that is surprisingly hopeful mixed with a dash of “YES! I knew it!” and I can’t wait to get my hands on the prequel novel The Kill Order which releases on August 14, 2012! It’s going to be really awesome to hear the “before the maze” story finally! I seriously hope Mark Deakins narrates that one too, because his narration on all three on the books in this series is just plain awesome.

So, i you’re looking for an awesome thrilling series, maybe even a Hunger Games read-alike, you should check out this series!  There is some violence but it’s nothing too gruesome, so I’d say these books can be read by middle grade readers and up.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson is the first Florida Sunshine State book (of fifteen) that I’ve finished so far this summer. I haven’t ready any of James Patterson’s adult fiction, but am familiar with his Maximum Ride series’s, so I was excited to dig into The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Also, I listened to the audiobook as part of the 2012 YA Audiobook Challenge!

The greatest superpower of all isn’t to be part spider, part man, or to cast magic spells–the greatest power is the power to create. Daniel X has that power. Daniel’s secret abilities – like being able to manipulate objects and animals with his mind or to recreate himself in any shape he chooses – have helped him survive. But Daniel doesn’t have a normal life. He is the protector of the earth, the Alien Hunter, with a mission beyond anyone’s imagining.
From the day that his parents were brutally murdered before his very eyes, Daniel has used his unique gifts to hunt down their assassin. Finally, with the help of The List, bequeathed to him in his parents’ dying breath, he is closing in on the killer. Now, on his own, he vows to take on his father’s mission – and to take vengeance in the process.

So, I know for a fact my boys at school are going to love this book. It’s like a teenage Men in Black as Daniel is pretty much an alien hunter. This is a fun, quick read that will appeal to my reluctant readers because the chapters are super short. In fact they were so short and choppy that I had to check my iPod multiple times to ensure that the tracks weren’t out-of-order (sometimes the tracks aren’t titled correctly so they skip around in iTunes.).

Every single chapter is jam-packed full of action as Daniel X follows the trail of the aliens across the country. Now, like I said this is a fast paced sci-fi thriller that is a fun read. However, because it’s so action packed Patterson doesn’t leave enough room for actual substance. I didn’t really feel for Daniel’s plight (his pain from being orphaned at the hands of alien super power, The Prayer). I mean I knew he was attempting to avenge his parent’s murder, but there wasn’t much depth to Daniel’s character.

Despite any shortcoming The Dangerous Days of Daniel X had I still feel strongly that my students are really, really going to enjoy this sci-fi thriller! Patterson’s goal was to write a book for teen readers and I think he succeeded! So, if you’re a middle grade reader in the mood for a fast adventure read, check out this book!

Today I’m reviewing dystopian romance, The Selection by Kiera Cass.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secrett love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I’ve wanted to read The Selection ever since I first saw the cover. Covers that have girls in pretty gowns is pretty much “a go” for me! This gown is stunning. I want it so bad!

I received the audiobook from the generous folks at Harper Audio (Harper Collins) – thank you! The Selection is Kiera Cass’ debut novel and it was a fun listen, though not without its flaws. I found the story pretty slow at first, but once America gets to the palace things start to pick up. After a few chapters of wondering if I’d get into this story, I suddenly found myself really wondering what would happen next and was anxious to get back to it! (This is why I listen to audiobooks while running people-it makes me want to run more just so I can listen!)

Cass is pretty creative in turning the premise of a The Bachelor type competition and weaving it into a dystopian setting. The Bachelor and Bachelorette TV shows have always intrigued me so I liked this as the means for which the monarchy chooses their next queen. This reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale – they are different takes on this whole royal contest idea. I also love the fact that society is split up into different castes based on the type of work you do.

I also liked that we got an insider’s view of the whole story behind the pageantry. America is both likable yet frustrating at times. I like her down to earth nature and the fact that despite this humbleness she does get caught up in the contest and her new life in the palace, just as any girl would! She also finds her competitive streak although she originally hates the competition. She frustrates me a little because she contradicts herself a lot throughout the story. At times Cass’ dialog can be a little trite and some of the things America says don’t seem to fit her personality.

I listened to The Selection as part of the 2012 YA Audiobook Challenge and although I did think the story was entertaining I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator. Her voice was pretty monotone and she didn’t change-up any voices for the different characters. Now, although I didn’t like the narrator, I still enjoyed the book as a whole, despite the flaws. I also think my students would absolutely love this book so I’ll definitely be adding it to our library catalog. The story ends pretty abruptly and I actually had to check my iPod to see if I missed some tracks, but I didn’t. Although I wasn’t satisfied with the ending, the story was still fun and I’ll definitely be looking for the sequels (its supposed to be a trilogy)! Sometimes it’s okay to just enjoy a book for the story and ignore any faults it may have. The Selection has such a fun story you can just sit back and enjoy!

Girls from middle grades to high school and up, who are always up for a book with some romance, will enjoy The Selection and seeing how America fares in the contest to be queen. Also, get excited (!) because it sounds like the CW is making a pilot for the The Selection series. To read more about this check out Kiera Cass’ website.

Today, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on Veronica Roth’s Insurgent, the sequel to the awesome Divergent (you can read my review here).  I read Divergent this past fall and have been anxiously awaiting the sequel ever since (like pretty much everyone else!).  It was one of my most anticipated books of 2012 for sure!

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Let me say, that sequels can, unfortunately, sometimes be disappointing.  However, its rare that I’m completely turned off by the series because of a lack luster sequel.  If I love the story and characters enough I’ll usually stick around until the end of the series.  Long story short, I was hoping for the best and was not disappointed.

One of the things I loved about Divergent was that the story was so fast paced and exciting the whole way through I didn’t want to put it down. It was the same thing with Insurgent- it’s so action packed with…action!! From the get-go, the story is moving and it doesn’t slow down at all.  Actually, Roth does almost no re-capping of the story, and this book runs from the start so quickly that I thought I had missed something.  If you need a refresher on the main plot points in the first book before jumping into the second, check out Roth’s recap here.

Speaking of traveling to the other faction headquarters, I really loved how Roth expands Tris’ world and lets us see more and learn more about each faction.  I enjoyed the descriptions of each faction headquarters because you could really see the values of each group displayed in their day-to-day life and culture.  For example I love the way in which the Amity faction embraces nature and its’ beauty, and how that is emphasized in their use of natural wood in their architecture, whereas the academic Erudite’s headquarters is known for its sterile design.  I think getting to learn more about the different factions, was one of my favorite parts about Insurgent.

What about Tris?  Well, I actually felt mild annoyance toward her at times, although I love her dearly as one of my favorite YA heroines.  Maybe that was intended, but I couldn’t help but be frustrated by her sometimes irrational behavior and that fact that she wouldn’t share her thoughts and feelings with Four.  In Tris’ defense the immense guilt she feels for actions she took at the end of the first book, so this does explain her irrational behavior and her hesitance to talk to Four.  Throughout the entirety of the story, Tris is struggling to accept the consequences of her actions and to move beyond the guilt and pain.    Because of Tris’ actions and behavior, though,  there is some tension between Tris and Four, especially towards the end (which I won’t spoil, don’t worry!).

I listened to the Insurgent audiobook, thanks to the wonderful people at Harper Audio (Harper Collins THANK YOU!) and I really, really enjoyed it.  The narrator, Emma Galvin who also read Divergent, did a fabulous job again.  She is consistent with voices from start to finish, which is super important to me!  This audiobook counts toward my 2012 YA Audiobook Challenge.  I think that makes number thirteen.  Which actually means I’ll be aiming for the challenge’s  Head Bang’n level in which I have to listen  to 36+ audiobooks, and review at least 24 of them.  I got this.

Overall, dystopian fans and those who loved the first book will find Insurgent a riveting sequel.  Like Divergent, Insurgent is intended for the older teen readers.  Also, there is some violence, so if you’re squeamish, this series might not be your cup of tea.  But you should really give it a try because I think you’ll be impressed with Roth’s creativity and this series’ (and it’s heroine’s) awesomeness!

Today’s review is for The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. This is the second book in the series and I think I may have liked it better than the first. You can read my review of the The Maze Runner here.

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to. In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal. The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

James Dashner is amazing at giving his readers just enough detail to get you on the edge of your seat, but knows when too much would be too much. This book is so much creepier than the first. The danger is palpable and the action is constant.

The Scorch Trials picked up right where The Maze Runner left off with Thomas and the others learning that WICKED has more in store for them than originally thought. This is what is so creepy to me about this book is that there is so many mind tricks going on, that you are left without any sense of trust. Dashner had me going back and forth thinking I knew what was going on so many times, but in an exciting, not annoying way! Seriously though, there were so many twists and turns you have no idea who to trust.

My husband and I listened to the audiobook of The Scorch Trials together. We both love the story and characters so much and we’re so glad the narration, done by Mark Deakins is really good too. His voices and accents for all the characters, and there are many, are consistent throughout the whole book. That’s super important for me, for the accents to be consistent.

If you’re into post-apocalyptic thrillers, or you’ve already read and enjoyed The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials comes highly recommended by me!

This one is an audiobook and I listened to it as part of the 2012 YA Audiobook Challenge  Death Cloud by Andrew Lane.  Death Cloud, is actually the first book in the Young Sherlock Holmes series detailing where and how the famous British detective got his start.  Also, I received this review copy of the audiobook from the super nice people at MacMillan Audio- thank you!

The year is 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. His life is that of a perfectly ordinary army officer’s son: boarding school, good manners, a classical education – the backbone of the British Empire. But all that is about to change. With his father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously ‘unwell’, Sherlock is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire. So begins a summer that leads Sherlock to uncover his first murder, a kidnap, corruption and a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent . . .

Okay. So I have to be completely honest here; I haven’t read any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,  but I have always been intrigued by the character and I do own a copy of them all.  So, I’m not a complete classic fiction failure right?!

Can we also talk about the idea of looking at classic fictional characters as teenagers?! How fun is that?!   Let’s get working on a teenage Elizabeth Bennett or a young Hercule Poirot!  I would seriously read them! This is why I was drawn to Death Cloud when I first saw it- come on a teenage Sherlock Holmes?  YES!

Lane creates a cool collected, level-headed, although sometimes incredibly stubborn teenage boy who has all the reasoning skills, without the knowledge (enter is new American tutor).  What I found really interesting about Lane’s portrayal of Sherlock is that he is kind of a social outcast in school.  He knows the other students and sits among them in classes, but doesn’t really have any friends. In fact, Sherlock has never really had any friends growing up, and because of it he is a bit socially awkward at times.   This is incredibly interesting as one would think that those who grow up privileged in an area where you are the wealthiest family, one might not be allowed to know the other children.  But there also seems to be the fact that Sherlock’s precociousness seems to put him on a different plane than the other boys in his school.

My boys at school are usually not into historical fiction (although some of my girls are) so I’ve been debating whether or not to add Death Cloud to my Media Center catalog or not.   My students just don’t have much interest in historical fiction (arrgghh the truth hurts my historical fiction loving heart!)  That being said  this story is pretty action packed, especially once Sherlock and the mystery get underway, so I think I’m going to give it a try and talk it up to some of my boys who enjoy the Alex Rider books, because there are definitely similarities between the two.

Overall, I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator, Daniel Weyman, who apparently mostly does theater work. His voices and accents were consistent the whole way through, although his American accent was slightly humorous to me because it was such a stereotypical southern accent.  I guess that’s how we sound to everyone else! haha

I really enjoyed this book and if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan or a fan of historical fiction you’ll probably have fun with it too!  It is intended for readers 12 and up, so I’d say that anyone who likes a good mystery would appreciate Death Cloud.

Today’s review is for Fire by Kristin Cashore and I read Fire as a part of the 2012 Young Adult Audiobook Challenge.

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books.

Fire is the second book in the Graceling Realms series and is the companion novel to Cashore’s first book, Graceling. Cashore amazes me.  When I first got Graceling (over a year ago) from the public library I thought “I don’t think I’m going to like this”, but once I started it I was entranced!  Fire was the exact same way.  Cashore weaves an incredible story and creates such a beautiful world filled with heart wrenching characters.

Fire, the main character, is a monster and thus possesses unmatched beauty and the ability to control the minds of those who are near.  Fire is an incredibly human character. She is so strong and courageous and willing to do what is necessary to save her beloved Dells.  However, in contrast, Fire is also deeply guilt ridden and full of self loathing.  She is ashamed of her unnatural beauty and powers and believes that she is something that must be controlled and contained.  She is haunted by the legacy of her father and strives to separate herself from his memory.   All of this leads to a very confused and conflicted young woman who is vulnerable at heart.   I thought I loved Katsa, from Graceling, but I think that Fire has out-shown her in my mind!

The other character that really stands out to me is Immiker, who the reader meets in the book’s prologue  is so incredibly creepy and evil!   This character’s intensity and scariness was only amplified by the narrator, Xanthe Elbrick, who’s voice for Immiker was so fighting that I actually wished for limited exposure to this character (it’s a major compliment; because her voice for him totally freaked me out!!)

I will say that Fire, like Graceling, is definitely a purely Young Adult novel.  I say this because of some sexual content, which although not overly descriptive or frequent, is still, in my opinion, more appropriate for high schoolers rather than middle schoolers. However, readers high school and over will be mesmerized by Cashore’s writing and will leave the book loving Fire, as much as the people of the Dells do.

I’ve been listening to Kristin Cashore’s Fire, the companion novel to Graceling, for the past week now. I am increasingly impressed with Cashore’s skill as a writer and her ability to completely suck me into the world she has created! I’ll be reviewing this one as soon as possible.

Lets talk about the fourth installment in one of my favorite series which I listened to as a part of the 2012 Young Adult Audiobook Challenge.

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.

Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide.  When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

 In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth.as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.

I’m a major Gallagher Girls fan, as I’m pretty sure I mentioned in reviews of the earlier books.  The whole idea of growing up in a boarding school is interesting, but a boarding school for spies in training?!  Awesome!  Ally Carter’s books are those that I recommend to my students at school all the time; and I’ve been doing a good job because they’re all currently checked out! (Score 1 for the Librarian!)

First of all, let me just say that the first two books were on the lighter more fun side of the spectrum, while the third book added a bit more serious and intensity into Cammie’s life.  The fourth book, Only the Good Spy Young, picks up right where Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover, left off and builds right on top with even more intensity.  So, yes Cammie comes to realize just how dangerous the Circle of Caven really is, but Carter manages to combine the same lighthearted tones as the first two books, with a much more serious plot line.

It makes sense, as the girls get older they’ll be faced with tougher challenges.  That’s one of my favorite things about Only the Good Spy Young – more for real spying!  You’ve got Cammie and her friends following secret passage ways, and cracking codes while also breaking into to places that were built for keeping people out.  Because of all this spying, there is tons of action from the first chapter to the very last.  I was hooked right away and sat in my car to listen “just a little longer” on multiple occasions!  These girls are awesome and I wish I could join them on their covert ops!

Another reason I enjoyed this installment in the series, is because the reader gets more.  More spying (as mentioned above), but also MORE ZACH!  Finally! And we get more Zach and Cammie interaction!  I’ve always thought Zach was a super intriguing and mysterious character. I love how he always shows up when Cammie least expects it, but also when she needs him most. Plus, the way he calls her “Gallagher Girl” is so adorable.  Le sigh…

Did I have questions about Blackthorn? About Joe Solomon? About Cammie’s father?  About Zach?  YES! Pretty much since the first book!  Were a lot of my questions answered in Only the Good Spy Young? YES!

I enjoy this series so much that I had to run out earlier this week, before I had finished Only the Good Spy Young, to buy the newly released fifth book in the Gallagher Girls series, Out of Sight, Out of Time!  For now it’s sitting on my shelf, but it won’t be for long!  I can’t wait to find out if Cammie actually does what she says she’ll do at the end of book four (no spoilers!!)

As said before (in other posts) I recommend the entire Gallagher Girls series to anyone looking for a fun and action packed series to pick up, especially middle school aged readers and up. I also recommend listening to this series on audiobook.  They’re all narrated by Renee Raudman who does as fabulous job!

High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It’s an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle’s hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.

But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he’s there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena’s sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom–an impossible union it’s up to Jena to stop.

When Cezar’s grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can’t imagine–tests of trust, strength, and true love.

Like I mentioned before, I love fairy tales.  I’m always a sucker for them. All the time.  This one had been sitting on my “To Read” shelf for a few years and I’m so glad I finally got to it because although it took a little for me to get into, once I was hooked, I was hooked!  Completely enthralled!

In Wildwood Dancing, Juliet Marillier masterfully weaves together multiple fairy tales giving this story its own unique appeal.  I can’t tell you which fairy tales Marillier uses without giving away major plot lines and twists, but I will say that the main one is The Twelve Dancing Princesses which has been one of my all time favorite fairy tales since I was a child.  In fact, the main reason I love this fairy tale so much is due to an animated show that used to be on Nickelodeon in the 90s when I was a kid.  Does anyone remember this series?  It was called Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics and this particular episode was The Word Out Dancing Shoes.

I used to love when that episode came on!  Well, Wildwood Dancing reminded me  a lot of this episode!

One of the main things I really enjoyed about this story is the setting.  Marillier places her characters in Transylvania, a region in Romania, circa 1500 – right smack dab in the middle of the medieval era!  I love how Marillier pulled in the rich Transylvanian folklore to make her story stronger.  Wildwood Dancing combines historical fiction, folkloric fantasy, romance and drama all into one big bowl and mixes it all together to create fairy tale awesomeness.  Seriously.

Although this is a take on The Twelve Dancing Princesses, this story only has five. Jena, the main character, is a smart and opinionated  young woman who is used to being the practical one. She is, although not the oldest sister, the mother-like figure to them all; she keeps an eye on her sisters when they travel to the magical Wildwood on full moon nights.  Her main flaw, which Jena comes to realize, is her constant attempt to control everything, especially change.  Jena is both the traditional princess who follows rules and a more modern girl with some spunk.

I will say that the beginning of the story was slightly slow and difficult to get into, but once the story picks up you’re in for good.  I listened to the audiobook, as part of the 2012 YA Audiobook Challenge.  It is narrated by Kim Mai Guest and was enthralled.  I’m quickly realizing that Kim Mai Guest is my favorite audiobook narrator out there.  I’ve happened to listen to three or four books narrated by her and am constantly amazed at her range and ability to speak with difficult accents so well.  She’s kind of my audiobook idol.

Wildwood Dancing comes highly recommended to those who love fairy tales and fantasy, but I definitely suggest the audiobook because Mai Guest is a master at accents and this is her narration best!

A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth’s fate hinges on one girl…

Cinder, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the center of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.

I adore fairy tales. Always have. I also love fairy tales re-told. I love a well done retelling of a favorite classic, and they’re even better when there is a little twist thrown in. Cinder is Marissa Meyer’s debut novel and she has created a science fiction Cinderella and done it very well. What a bold and cool idea! Actually, parts of it reminded me of one of my favorite sci-fi shows of all time, Firefly. It was mainly the use of the Chinese language and the science fiction backdrop, but also the mix of the super sterile futuristic settings (like the research hospital) and the dirty, crowded medieval town-ish setting (like the market where Cinder’s booth is located). Additionally Cinder reminded me a little of Kaylee, from Firefly, who is a tomboyish mechanic but is also sweet and feminine like Cinder.

Cinder is a fun character. I like that she is both smart and strong but also deeply insecure and vulnerable. She knows who she is and works with what she has, but also is sharply aware of how the rest of the world views her. Cinder feels the pain of people treating her like she’s nothing, but doesn’t let it consume or inhibit her. Sometimes I thought she was a little whiny, in the way she buts heads with her evil stepmother, but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the story. It could have been the narrator’s interpretation of Cinder that I just wasn’t fond of. Overall, however the narrator, Rebecca Soler, did a great job and I actually liked her better in this story than others I’ve heard her narrate.

The story is set in a futuristic, and slightly dystopian, China. The city of New Beijing is exactly what I would think a crowded plague ridden city would be like – crowded, dirty, and bustling. But, on the other hand, New Beijing is also a bastion of technological innovation and scientific research. Knowing that China is a major world power today adds to the believability of this setting. Also, an Asian retelling of Cinderella makes the story more exotic than your average everyday European backdrop.

Romance. Yes it is a huge factor in every fairy tale. To be honest though, I wasn’t that impressed with Prince Kai. Maybe, there will be more of him to appreciate and get to know in the following books, but for now I think his character was a little bit lacking. Oh well.

I’ll also add that I loved the plot twist. Although I did suspect it earlier on, my guessing didn’t ruin the story for me. Actually I was so excited that I yelled, “I knew it! I knew it!” while driving (and listening).

Speaking of listening, I received the audiobook version of the Cinder from Macmillan Audio, which was so nice of them! Thank you to MacMillan! So, this book counts toward both the 2012 Debut Author Challenge and the 2012 Young Adult Audiobook Challenge. YAY!

Cinder is a read that will be enjoyed by older middle grade readers and up who are looking for a new and interesting take on a classic fairy tale.

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is “grounded for life” by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack’s way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

This is my first time reading anything by Jack Gantos, although he has written tons of other things that I was unaware were his books; like the Joey Pigza series.  I received this audiobook from MacMillan Audio (Thank You!!)  and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to author Jack Gantos narrate his fictionalized memoirs.

The picture Gantos paints of Norvelt , a small farming town established by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s, is fabulously sketched.   It seems that small towns always have their fair share of quirky town “characters”, but sometimes the characters’ quirkiness doesn’t always come across the right way.  Well, Gantos doesn’t fail to flesh-out these characters in a way that makes the reader believe that they’re real people.  Real people who you know and love by the end of the story.  My favorite character is the charmingly stubborn and bossy Miss Volker, who hires Jack to help her write obituaries for the local newspaper when her arthritis is too bad.  Miss Volker is charming and crazy  and the warm wax scene where we meet her is absolutely hilarious and I was cracking up in my car while driving home from work.  I love how just as Miss Volker needs Jack to help her with daily tasks, Jack needs her to help him grow up and blossom a bit.

Also, I love the young boy, Jack.  He is your average twelve-year-old boy, wanting to be seen as grown up but still making irresponsible choices and just being a kid.  Jack’s character actually reminds me a lot of Ralphie from the film, A Christmas Story (you know the one with the leg lamp!).  In  A Christmas Story Ralphie is pretty much the king of daydreaming -  it’s very similar to the bookish Jack who has both a lot of smarts and a wildly overactive imagination.

All of the supporting characters are so interesting, humorous and well written.  I feel like I grew up in Norvelt right along the young Jack Gantos and his friends.  The tomboyish Bunny, Jack’s friend and daughter of a funeral home director, is such a good complement to Jack’s more hesitant ways.  And the way in which Jack is often caught between his mother, a life time Norvelter, and father, World War II vet, (and their very different philosophies on life) is both sad and sweet at the same time.

Gantos also weaves small snippets of history through Jack’s reading and love of all things historical or Ms. Volker’s obituaries.  He uses these snippets to help young Jack realize the importance of history. How it’s not just to read it and know it but to use one’s knowledge of the past to prevent one from making the same mistakes again. This history provides and important backdrop to Jack’s journey of maturity.

Once you read Dead End in Norvelt you understand why it is an award winner.  Gantos is clearly an incredibly talent writer specializing in melding the odd with the humorous with regular daily life.  I recommend Dead End in Norvelt to all readers middle grades and up.  Be prepared to laugh!

Thanks to the wonderful MacMillan Audio for sending me this audiobook copy of Jack Gantos’ award winning novel, Dead End in Norvelt! I literally just finished this middle grades book and loved it! You’ll see a review posted soon!

In Stiefvater’s Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Stiefvater is a lovely storyteller. She creates stories that are both magical and reality woven together.

Forever, the third book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, is told from four perspectives (plus one time there is a fifth); Cole, Sam, Isabel, and Grace. I listened to the audiobook and was glad that there was a different narrator for each character. This helped me stay focused with each character, so I didn’t get confused as to who was telling the story. I also really liked hearing the story from the perspective of the characters who shift into wolves. The confusion experienced by the characters when they shift into a wolf is so intense and I never quite “got it” when Sam talked about it before, but hearing it happen made it more visceral.

Lets talk about the wolves and how they change. Rather than being supernatural, Stiefvater makes the shift from human to wolf and back again scientific. What I really appreciate is the way Stiefvater does not attempt to over explain the science behind the wolves (she tells us how it is without focusing on the details of it). This is such a smart move because I roll my eyes when something “supernatural” is over explained! I don’t have to roll my eyes, because Stiefvater tells me just enough for it to work.

I may have said this in my review of Linger, but I love Isabel and Cole. Their characters are conflicted and pained (dark and twisty?!) so they’re incredibly interesting! Plus their relationship is full of energy and frustrated passion. Their sharp wit and cynicism is like an explosion every time they’re in a scene together. I do enjoy this relationship better than Sam and Grace’s. The reader knows Sam and Grace are always going to be together, but Isabel and Cole? They keep you wondering.

Speaking of Cole, I like seeing his growth as a character. The way Cole started as a self loathing narcissist and is slowly transforming into a more caring and loving man. He’s not perfect, but he’s showing positive growth. Plus I love the scene where he is running with the wolves (no spoilers!!)

I also think its hilarious how okay with nakedness the characters are. By the end of Forever, I was thinking, “okay. Grace is naked again and no one mentions if that’s awkward or not for them. I know it is necessity because they’re naked when they transform from wolf to human and they don’t want to ruin their clothes when they shift and I’m not complaining! There are just some scenes where I laughed because its just Sam and Cole preparing for Sam to shift, so Sam strips down so as not to ruin his clothes. Cole, who usually has a humorous comment acted like it was normal (which I guess it is for them!) I’m just picturing the two of them standing on the front porch together and it makes me giggle.

As much as I love the multiple narrator technique, there were times where hearing the same event from different points of view made me want to scream “just tell me what happens!”. I would get annoyed during an exciting scene same about the same thing from Sam, Grace and Cole or Isabel; it would stretch the even out, but this is only a minor issue.

Overall, I was pleased with the last installment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I recommend Forever, to fans of the first two titles in the series and older middle school readers (and higher). Enjoy!

Oh! And the cover is stunning; one of my absolutes favorites ever. And I’ll also share a beautiful stop motion trailer by for the book created by Maggie Stiefvater herself!

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Audio (July 12, 2011)

Format: Audiobook

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Narrator(s): Jenna Lamia, Pierce Cravens, Dan Bittner, Emma Galvin, Maggie Stiefvater

Series: Third in a trilogy

YA/MG: YA

Buy the Book: Forever – Audio (Wolves of Mercy Falls)

I stayed up late to finish Forever by Maggie Stiefvater despite the fact that I have to wake up for work at 7 a.m.! All in all I was pleased with the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I’ll post a review as soon as possible.

When Cammie “The Chameleon” Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she’s in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she’s there to watch Macey’s father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world’s best school (for spies), “exciting” and “deadly” are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers’ plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can’t shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn’t feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion’s corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey’s private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth.

I know I’ve said this before, but I adore the Gallagher Girls. Seriously, I LOVE this series!

I wish I was friends with Cammie and her friends. I love their interactions and the way they’re so loyal to each other. If I was friends with them that would also mean I was a student at the Gallagher Academy too, which would be awesome….okay so anyway.

One thing I appreciate about this series is that it’s so lighthearted and easy to enjoy. I read this series when I need a break from some of the darker or edgier Young Adult fiction. But, despite the lightness these books carry maturity that is at times refreshing from the younger middle grades fiction I read.

Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover, the third book in this series, definitely takes Cammie’s story a little deeper and darker that the first two books, but not in an overly intense way. Right away, the girls are faced with what turns out to be real danger, instead of a simple school exam. I know that some readers weren’t a fan of the more serious tone in this novel, but I appreciate the chance to see the characters, especially Cammie, show their more mature and thoughtful side. It’s real to life, because at some point everyone as to mature and deal with real problems – Cammie’s are just full of more secret agent intrigue than normal!

This book is packed with quite a few action scenes as Cammie and her friends strive to protect their friend Macy. Carter always keeps me guessing whats going on until the very end and this one is no different, I kept wavering between different guesses at what I thought was going on and who was actually involved. Carter had me stumped the whole time!

Regarding the narrator, Renee Raudman, I think she does an excellent job. Her voices are all easy to differentiate between the others and she infuses the characters with the right amount of humor and sensitivity. Sometimes her voice for Liz, can be a little over exaggerated, but I think it adds to the lightheartedness of the series.

I need to get my hands on Only the Good Spy Young, the fourth Gallagher Girls novel, before the fifth title, Out of Sight, Out of Time, is released in March! I highly, highly recommend this series to readers middle grades and older.

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Brilliance Audio; Unabridged edition (June 9, 2009)

Format: Audiobook

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Narrator(s): Renée Raudman

Series: Third in a series

YA/MG: YA/MG

Buy the Book: Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls Series)

Before we announce the winner lets review the prize!  Yes!  It’s very exciting!  The winner of this giveaway will receive an audiobook copy of Julie Cross’ debut Young Adult Fiction novel, Tempest!

So, let me just say that my free wordpress.com account does not allow cool giveaway widgets like rafflecopter, so being the librarian that I am, I ran this giveaway the old fashion way.

I assigned numbers to every participant who completed the giveaway entry form on the giveaway post, and wrote those numbers on little pieces of paper (plus additional entries for those who completed the extra entry options). Those  slips were then placed into a bowl (a pretty Fiesta Ware bowl, mind you!).

Miles, the Giveaway Inspector Pup, assured me that the raffle was fair.

So, I picked a number out of the bowl (because remember this a very technological giveaway!).

The chosen number was number 8, which was one of the numbers assigned to…..

Julie Gurley

Congratulations to Julie Gurley who just won herself a copy of  Tempest on audiobook!

All I need from you is to email me  your mailing address at  tinalina(at)gmail(dot)com within the next 48 hours and I will ship your winnings to you right away!

Thanks to everyone who entered!  This giveaway was a success and it’s because of you!

Also, a huge thank you to MacMillan Audio for donating this audiobook for giveaway!  For more information on Julie Cross and Tempest check out her website!

Also, don’t forget you can still enter the Tempest Audiobook Giveaway until Sunday night!

I really enjoyed the Tempest audiobook and actually received it directly from the publisher so a HUGE thank you goes out to Macmillan Audio!  Since I’ve finished listening to it, I decided it was time to share the wealth and let someone else have the chance to enjoy this time travel love story (especially since its so close to Valentine’s Day!).

In case you haven’t heard of Tempest (and didn’t see my review), here is a summary of the book.

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.  Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.  But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Hopefully that whet your appetite!

Okay! So, how do you enter this giveaway? Well, there is just one step to enter. All entries must be completed by Sunday February 19, 2012 (midnight Eastern Standard Time).

Fill out the form below. Only name and email address are required – the other options just give you extra entries!

This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. I will announce the winner on Monday February 20, 2012 on a special winner post. That person will have 48 hours to email me their mailing address or I will select another winner.

I’m really excited and hope you are too!

On Audiobook

Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (MG/YA)

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (listening with my husband so this may take longer to finish) (YA)

Print

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George (MG)

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace (ARC) (YA)

Ebooks

May B.: A Novel by Caroline Starr Rose (MG)

I have no idea when I’ll actually finish these, but there they are!  What are you currently reading?  Any suggestions for my “Too Read” stack?

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

I have to say, this was a very entertaining read, even if it wasn’t one of my favorite books ever. I really did enjoy it.  I was attracted to the idea of a book about time travel.  Its kind of like a breath of fresh air among everything else in the book store right now (not that I’m complaining about whats out there, it was just nice to see something about time travel).  Now, the whole time travel thing could have been really confusing and Cross could have over explained the details and technicalities of Jackson’s time jumps, but she didn’t.  I feel like I know just enough to be satisfied.

Speaking of Jackson, the main character, I think he’s pretty cool.  Jackson is the privileged guy who on the outside has never wanted a single thing; money, girls, etc…  Except there is something he’s lacking a strong relationship with his dad and his little sister who died of cancer a few years prior.  Jackson is a mix or normal nice guy and snooty rich kid, and he knows how to play the parts to get want he wants or needs. Throughout Tempest Jackson definitely matures and grows into someone who isn’t just fooling around in life. He starts to realize that he didn’t know what he had until it was gone.

My only complaint was Holly.  I felt like she was kind of flat and bland.  Maybe she gets more interesting in the rest of the books?  Although I didn’t care too much for Holly, I was concerned about the other characters, especially Jackson’s dad and his friend, Adam.  I am still a bit confused in exactly what the Enemies of Time are and what they want to do, but I think I’m supposed to be since Tempest is listed as Tempest #1, meaning that we’ll find out more in the future.

The narration okay, but not the best I’ve heard.  There were a few times where the attempt at a Scottish accent (for a specific character) faltered.  Dr. Melvin’s voice was slightly annoying, but it definitely didn’t ruin the story for me or anything.

The ending (no spoilers I promise!) impressed me as Jackson was forced to make a choice.  I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next book in what is supposed to be a series.  Plus the whole idea of time travel makes me want to sing/dance The Time Warp song. 

Tempest is definitely a novel for high schoolers and up as there is some mild sexual situations and a lot of cursing throughout.  Science Fiction fans will be entertained with the time travel!

Also, keep your eyes posted I’ll be holding a giveaway for the audiobook later this month! Listen to a clip from the audiobook here!

Author: Julie Cross

Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (January 17, 2012)

Format: Audiobook

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Narrator(s): Matthew Brown

Series: First in a series

YA/MG: YA

Buy the Book: Tempest [Hardcover]

My goal for today was to finish the audiobook of Julie Cross’ debut novel, Tempest.
Did I do it?
Yup! And a review will be posted tomorrow!

A month into 2012 and I just now came across this challenge hosted by A Book and a Latte!  This one is right up my alley because I love audiobooks!  They help motivate me to run, and they keep me from being bored while cleaning up around the house.  This should be super easy for me to complete since I listen them all the time.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

I have heard amazing things about this book for years now, but have stayed away because I was afraid of reading a book about on this particular subject matter, teen suicide.  I mean, I don’t like books that make me cry so obviously I was apprehensive. But I’m so glad I read it and no I actually didn’t cry.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is incredibly haunting, intense and heartbreaking.  I listened to the audiobook and was hooked the second Clay pressed “play” on the first tape.  This was the book that made me forget about all the other titles I was reading at the time; I put them all on hold for this novel. I pressed play, over and over again. I loved how they had a female narrator or Hannah’s tapes and a male for Clay. The narrators couldn’t have been better.    Seriously, I listened to this audiobook in a weekend, it was that engrossing.

So, yes this is the story of a teenage girl telling a list of specific people why she chose to kill herself.  At first I was worried that it would be Hannah blaming other people, which bothered me because it is ultimately one person’s choice (a very bad choice) and I was worried about the message this would send.  But I soon realized that no, Hannah is not putting the blame on others, and neither is the author saying this is the case.  What Hannah’s tapes are pointing at is the undeniable fact that our actions and words do affect people, immensely, whether we like it or not.  On one tape, Hannah herself says,

“I guess that’s the point of it all. No one knows for certain how much of impact they have on the lives of other people. Often we have no clue.”

Sadly this is so heartbreakingly true.

Clay, the main character is very believable (another male narrator I actually enjoyed! I’m on a roll here!).  I loved the way Clay interacted with Hannah’s tapes; at times Hannah would say something that Clay didn’t agree with or objected to in some way and you’d get Clay’s thoughts on the matter.  I didn’t read the printed version, so maybe this would have come across differently, but in the audiobook it was very moving to hear Clay’s thoughts as he was listening to Hannah’s last words. Clay is a genuinely nice guy not without his own flaws.  He is at times a bystander because of his own fears or insecurities. We don’t know how the other characters responded to Hannah’s story; did they think about their actions more? Were they kinder to people?  We have no idea.  However, we do know Clay’s choice, and it is (without spoiling anything) one that leads to hope.

The lessons learned are potent, but so much of Thirteen Reasons Why is very disturbing, not because of the instances of teen drinking, or sexual activity (although there is a lot of this stuff), but because of the way it highlights our own shortcomings and weakness.  How many times have we averted our eyes, or ignored the pain we’ve seen others suffer (sometimes at our own words/hands)?  So, although I believe in this book’s power to deeply affect readers of all ages, I would recommend it to high school aged readers and up based on the truth and intensity of Hannah’s story.

Definitely an important read.

Author: Jay Asher

Publisher: Listening Library; Unabridged edition (October 23, 2007)

Format: audiobook

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Narrator(s): Debra Wiseman, Joel Johnstone

Series: Standalone

YA/MG: YA

Buy the Book: Thirteen Reasons Why

This sequel picks up right where the first book, Incarceron, left off.  Catherine Fisher has created such a unique and imaginative world within this series, it’s an awesome mix of dystopia, science fiction, steampunk and fantasy.  I love that I can’t categorize this series into one nicely wrapped genre.  It’s a mix of awesomeness all rolled into one.

As in Incarceron, Sapphique is a story told from inside the prison and outside the prison. I loved seeing things from Attia’s eyes because you don’t really get to know her too much in the first story. In Sapphique there is more character development, for example the readers gets to discover that Attia is a strong and smart character who can hold her own when she needs to.  Also, Sapphique shows us hints of Keiro’s kinder and more vulnerable side, which was definitely surprising and nice to see.

This one has a bit  more adventure and intrigue than its predecessor, which I really like.  Claudia is still my favorite character as she is constantly plotting and scheming and playing the game like she knows she must.  My only complaint about Sapphique is that it didn’t seem to answer all of my questions.  It did answer some, but I feel like I was left with more than when I started.  Also, I feel like the ending (no spoilers!) was kind of thrown together and not completely explained.  I actually had to skip back in my audiobook because I thought, “What just happened?”  I really wish there would be a third book, because I feel like I need more closure with the characters, but alas Fisher claims that there will be only the two.  Apparently, Taylor Lautner has been cast in the role of Finn in the upcoming movie adaptation, so if I can’t have a third book at least I can have a movie.

The narrator, Kim Mai Guest, does an excellent job.  I’m familiar with some of her other work as she narrated the audio version of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  She is really good at making each voice sound unique so you’re not confused and trying to figure out who is speaking (unfortunately I’ve experienced that before), which is what a good narrator should be capable of.

If you read Incarceron and wanted more, then you should read Sapphique.  I’d say that middle grade readers and up, who are searching for a intriguing fantasy/steampunk/scifi/dystopian novel, will enjoy this series!

Author: Catherine Fisher

Publisher: Listening Library; Unabridged edition (December 28, 2010)

Format: Audiobook

Length: 11 hrs, 57 mins

Narrator(s): Kim Mai Guest

Series: Second in a series

YA/MG: Middle Grades and Young Adult

Buy the Book:  Sapphique (Incarceron)