Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews our featured title, Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld!

"Opening the covers of Leviathan opened a whole new world to me. It didn't take more than a few chapters before I felt like I was in a new universe filled with spectacular animals and monstrous machines.

"First there's Alek, an illegitimate prince who is taken out of his room to be set on a journey he never expected. Along the way, Alek learns many new skills that will prepare him for the dangerous days that have begun. Then there's Deryn, a girl who dares to follow her dream of working on an airship, even if it means disguising herself as a boy to do so. Deryn takes to the skies and proves herself to be more of a man than the rest of the crew.

"When both Alek and Deryn are thrown into situations they never expected, they never back down from their new roles. And when these two individuals from opposite sides of an impending battle eventually meet and work together, there's no stopping them. Leviathan not only brings an exciting new world right to your fingertips, but inspires you to be the best you can be, no matter what you're facing." -Vanessa

Thanks, Vanessa!

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Need by Carrie Jones

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Need by Carrie Jones:

"Zara just moved from South Carolina to Maine. Dealing with not only the new cold temperatures, but also the loss of her beloved stepfather, Zara does her best to fit into her new town. While making friends doesn't turn out to be so hard, Zara never expected the trouble that ends up on her doorstep; trouble that's been waiting for her her whole life. Not one to back down at what may be just a rumor, Zara faces every challenge head on, often putting herself in danger in hopes of saving her new town.

"You'll be flipping pages fast, just to see what happens next, and maybe wishing for some of Zara's bravery to have for you very own. With a cast of spunky characters, scary creatures, and the unforgettably sweet boy that all girls dream about, Need comes with the full package." -Vanessa

Thanks, Vanessa! Read two Cover Stories from Carrie Jones (Need and Captivate), plus Story Secrets from Captivate. And see Carrie's Shoutout to readergirlz, too!

Cover Stories: Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

Lisa Schroeder's Far From You comes out in paperback this week, and it's got a new cover. I asked her for the back story:

"I'm not a very visual person, so I really don't think about cover images when I'm writing the book. I also think it's important to be open to whatever the art department comes up with. I would never want to have my mind set on something specific and then be disappointed because it's so different from what I envisioned it to be.

"My publisher hasn't ever really asked for my input, and I'm okay with that. I've had many people tell me all my covers have been fantastic, and I agree. They know what they're doing, and I trust them to know what is going to represent the book well and sell it!

"The first time I saw the new cover for the paperback version of FAR FROM YOU, I thought it was probably one of the most beautiful covers I'd ever seen. But I also freaked out a little bit because it's more of a symbolic cover than a literal one. If you look at the cover, you'll see it's a young girl lying in the snow, and she has angel wings. If people think they are going to be reading a book about a girl who turns into an angel, they will be wrong. There are angel references in it, and I love the tag line - do you believe in angels. But I do worry a little bit about what people might think if they read it expecting something it's not...

Read the rest of Lisa's Cover Story, and see the original hardcover design, at melissacwalker.com.

And don't forget to revisit Vanessa's review of Far From You for the Rgz Street Team!

rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr:

"Sara Zarr did a great job handling the touchy subject of religion in Once Was Lost. We meet Samara Taylor, a pastor's daughter going through the ups and downs of life under a microscope. We see right away how hard it is for Samara to find her own faith in God when always forced to put on the happy show for the church's parishioners. Now with her mom in rehab, her dad constantly busy, and a girl from church gone missing, Sam's faith is more confused than ever before.

"Dealing with a missing person in a small town puts stress on everyone involved. With Sam's pastoral dad drawn into the mix to comfort the family, Sam ends up getting a lot of alone time. We see lots of inner conflict and self-exploration, but not in a boring way. Sam's thoughts are both revealing and confused at once. She's not afraid to say 'I don't know what I want' when she gets to those moments of unrest without explanation. We don't leave Sam there, though. We see her become true to herself, re-establish some relationships, and finally come to terms with God in her own way.

"As a church-goer myself, I will admit that I was antsy at the beginning of the story. 'Is this going to be one of those anti-God things?' I asked myself, unsure of how I would feel at the end of it. I was pleased though. Zarr brings Sam to a peaceful point with God that doesn't seem forced in any way. Readers will understand that God is available if they look, while not feeling pressured by a sparkly altar scene.

"With my background, I think this book is the perfect exploration of some of teens' big worries about religion. Sam voices the very questions on God that every teen asks. Do her answers come? Not really. At the end Sam finds peace in faith, but without any blazing lights or theological discussions. And that is how faith is, stepping out of the box and realizing that some things are not meant to be completely understood. Sara Zarr plays neutral, but hits with 100% accuracy. Job well done." -Vanessa

PS-Read the Cover Story for Once Was Lost.

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan:

"Wow. That's all that needs to be said! But for all of you reading this, I will try to put words to how this book made me feel. Carrie Ryan's first book is nothing less than an amazing success as far as I am concerned!

"Living in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, Mary tries to help her mother make it through the sad days after her father's turning. Constantly striving to protect themselves against the Unconsecrated is a formidable task the city lives with every day. Their gates are rattled by the fists of those who have returned from the dead, always attempting to take more victims every chance they get.

"The story opens on the morning that Mary’s mother finally succumbs to the Returned on the other side of the fence. Now alone, Mary is left to wade through guilt and fear as her mother slowly dies and then returns again, to be sent to live Unconsecrated on the other side of the fence. With no man willing to speak for her at the upcoming marriage ceremonies, Mary is sent to the all-knowing Sisterhood, living in their mysterious silences.

"The action doesn't end there, though; this book has it all. From Mary's tumultuous dealings with love forcing her to choose between two brothers, to the day that she is assured that life exists beyond the city's fences, Mary comes alive. Written in heartfelt first person, her brave voice resonates hope to the reader. When the Unconsecrated attack, she retaliates, never backing down from protecting the people she loves. When the Sisterhood gives no answers, she finds them on her own, determined to believe that life continues beyond the Forest.

"With no boring moments, The Forest of Hands and Teeth will have you grabbing scythes and spears of your own as the story comes to life, keeping you awake late into the night." -Vanessa

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti:

Quinn knows a lot about love. She lives with her mom, aunt, and grandma -- all tried and true love gurus who have withstood many storms caused by love gone wrong. Magnetically stuck to their fridge is the comprehensive master list of things to watch out for -- signals that identify a guy who will only bring hurt.

Formally educated and ready to stay away from love for good, Quinn decides to rectify some bad love tales on her own. Beginning a quest to right her father's womanly wrongs against more women than just her mother, Quinn and her sisters set out to find the truth behind the man they all call Dad. What made the supreme bad boy get the girl every time? Each woman has a different story containing more hints for Quinn to watch out for as she learns the worst about her dad while still trying to weed out the best.

A story about not just family, but love, too, The Secret Life of Prince Charming shows that even a girl so down on love can still find a Prince Charming of her own.

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Vacations From Hell

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Vacations From Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Mlynowski:

"Not every vacation is just a walk in the park. We find that out firsthand with these tales of terror by five exceptional authors of today. Starting out with Sarah Mlynowski's "Crusin" -- a story of two girls on a cruise that is more than anyone bargained for -- this book dives in with a captivating opening. Convinced she is ready for big things this vacation season, Kristin asks her friend Liz to help her meet the perfect guy. Upon finding him, Kristin throws caution to the waves...

Meanwhile in "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend" Claudia Gray introduces us to Cecily Harper, a young witch heading off for her annual family vacation with her mom's coven from college. Unfortunately, Cecily has to deal with her life-long enemy who has brought a surprisingly attractive boyfriend along this year. It's up to Cecily to decide what she's willing to risk for someone else's boyfriend...

In Maureen Johnson's "The Law of Suspects," sisters Charlotte and Mary Louise head to France to meet their mother's cousins. Unfortunately the cousins are nowhere to be found, leaving Mary Louise and Charlotte to fend for themselves in a quiet house in the middle of nowhere...

And these are only three of the five stories included in this terrifically terrifying anthology. With this book in hand, being bored on vacation is no longer an option this year. Let the summer begin!

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita:

Sleepaway Girls begins realistically with a hopeful teenager getting ready for her first summer as Counselor-in-Training at a sleepaway camp in the mountains. Describing Sam's nervousness over a summer without her best friend, Jen Calonita perfectly captures the dreams we all have about what summer lays before us.

The transition from Sam's hopes to the ups and downs of the actual camp was flawless with the best friends she made and the mean girls she dealt with at the same time. Sam felt alive to me, I could easily slip myself into her shoes and feel like I was the one living through her experiences. Just as summer camp has always been close to my heart, I loved everything about reading this book. Honestly, I'd love a sequel to find out what happens next summer at the Pines.

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow:

Written entirely in blog posts and status updates, GoldenGirl is definitely a modern story. Describing the lives of girls who would normally be upper class boarding school snobs, the blog aspect made the characters easy to understand in a way I've never experienced before with the 'mean girl' character. Being inside Spencer's head gave me a chance to learn what she was really going through and why she acted the way she did.

Neatly enough, the story doesn't end when the last page is turned, and no that's not just because book two is coming out soon - Bradford Prep continues online. The very blogs mentioned between the covers actually exist on the internet with additional information from the characters. Most of the girls even have Twitter and Facebook accounts too! Not only is the story fun to read, but it's interactive to boot.

Take a look at bradfordprep.com for a peek, then read the book for yourself.

[Adding the book trailer for fun!]:

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Far From You by Lisa Schroeder:

At first I was worried that Alice's tale would be just another teen angst story, but written in captivating verse, Lisa Schroeder's words caught my attention right away. Alice, a normal girl with normal problems, felt amazingly real to me. Dealing with her father starting a new marriage after her mother's death, we saw Alice in her happy moments and sad moments. I was impressed that we even saw her traveling through the very same daydreams I have as she deals with her friend's surprising betrayal.

Any reader will be able to relate to Alice's universal feelings--of loneliness, and eventually hope, as well as a big capacity for bravery--once Alice's harrowing adventure through a blizzard takes shape. At the end of the book I couldn't help but wish for the opportunity to brush up next to some of the dangerous situations Alice had experienced, just so I could say I've done it! I highly recommend Far From You to anyone looking for a quick and exciting read.

rgz Street Team

In case you missed our January newsletter, you might be asking, "What is the rgz Street Team?" So, let me tell you!

Postergirl Miss Erin is leading a group of teens for rgz: Traci, Alex, Stephanie (Silence), Sarah, and Vanessa. These are amazing young women who read enthusiastically and participate in our group forum. They each will be bringing YA book reviews to our blogs.

Watch these rgz as they REVIEW, RALLY, and RAVE!

Thanks to each one, Miss Erin for leading, and diva Melissa who will be posting their reviews.