rgz Street Team: Myth of the Perfect Girl

Hey rgz! We LOVE when our readers and staff graduate and move on to college. Olivia was on our rgz Street Team awhile back and now is attending Stanford. She just popped in with this amazing recommend, The Myth of the Perfect Girl by Ana Homayoun. Definitely check it out on the release, December 31. It's perfect for our readers, yes?

Thanks, Olivia! Best to you. :~)



The Myth of the Perfect Girl
by Ana Homayoun
Perigee Trade, 2012

Rgz Street Team: Olivia reviews The Amanda Project: UNRAVELED

In the fourth and last book of the Amanda Project series, Unraveled, the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Endeavor High School student Amanda Valentino are finally solved. When the series began, Amanda’s classmates Hal, Callie, and Nia were only concerned with finding their missing friend--however, as they dug deeper into the mystery they discovered that the truth was more complex than it may have appeared, and involved many more people than just Amanda.

                  

Unraveled was written by Cathleen Davitt Bell, and narrated by Zoe Costas, a character introduced in the third Amanda Project book, Shattered. Zoe had been another one of Amanda’s friends in Orion—though she had also known Amanda before, as they had been childhood friends in Pinkerton, where they both previously lived. Zoe calls herself the “secret guide,” and has been shadowing Callie, Hal, and Nia on their escapades during the first three books, only revealing herself to them in the third.

Zoe seems to have the power to basically turn herself invisible, and is also very gifted in picking up on the thoughts and emotions of others. In Shattered, the other three guides began to recognize their powers as well—Callie is very strong, Hal is able to see the future, and Nia can sense things about the past—and these powers become very important in Unraveled as they work to discover the truth and avoid being captured by the evil forces working against them.

From the very first page of Unraveled, the guides investigate and begin to solve the large and small mysteries that have surfaced since Amanda’s disappearance. Some of these mysteries, such as Vice Principal Thornhill’s mysterious computer database and the secret behind the Orion Pharmaceutical College, are uncovered early on, and these major developments give the guides a better understanding of Amanda’s predicament. This comes in handy when they follow a set of clues she has left for them on a school trip to Washington, D.C., and are pursued by the same people who are pursuing Amanda. As the guides navigate their way through national landmarks while completing a required scavenger hunt, they discover more about the mysterious past of Amanda and many other people in their town—and come across several very unexpected characters.

Unraveled is unique when compared to the rest of the Amanda Project series, as the guides can be slightly more open about their investigation, and are almost constantly in danger while being pursued on their school trip. Several characters also make startling reappearances, reveal surprising truths about their identity, or are discovered to have played a much larger role in the mystery than previously assumed. Perhaps most notably, the massive secret behind the whole mystery comes to light, and readers are finally given answers to many of their questions. As mentioned before, there is also a more supernatural focus, as the special powers of the guides and Amanda herself become extremely important to the story.

Overall, Unraveled was a very satisfying end to the Amanda Project series, and provides a conclusion worthy of the complex mystery developed in previous books. The book is engaging, fast-paced, and also educational, as the guides learn about topics including genetic structures and events in U.S. history while following Amanda’s clues. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the previous books in the series, as it provides a strong sense of closure and resolution to Amanda’s mystery, and was my favorite book in the series so far.  I would suggest that any new readers start with book one, Invisible I, as they would likely be at least somewhat confused jumping into the story near the end. 

Rgz Street Team: Olivia reviews The President's Daughter series by Ellen Emerson White

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, Olivia reviews The President's Daughter series by Ellen Emerson White, which has been a readergirlz featured series!

"Though the relationship between a famous mother and her teenage daughter seems to be a common theme in many young adult fiction novels, the President’s Daughter series by Ellen Emerson White provides a refreshing take on this situation.

"The four novels in the series focus on Meg Powers, who is a 16-year-old high school student in Massachusetts at the beginning of the first book. Meg’s relatively normal life is completely transformed after her senator mother successfully campaigns to become the next president of the United States, and Meg and her family move into the White House to begin their new life. 

"But though some teenagers might embrace the fame that comes from being the president’s daughter, Meg resists the attention and has difficulty with the acclimation. And while Meg seems to admire her mother’s grace, she secretly takes issue with some of her mother’s decisions and desires a stronger connection with her.

"While the first two books of the series (The President’s Daughter and White House Autumn) are engaging, a more intense and gripping storyline develops in the third book (Long Live the Queen), when Meg is kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists. Meg’s relationship with her mother takes a riveting turn as Meg has to come to terms with the fact that her mother did not stray from her policy ('can not, have not, and will not negotiate with terrorists') even when her own daughter was kidnapped. The repercussions of this unexpected attack continue through the most recent and longest book, Long May She Reign, which follows Meg as a student at Williams College attempting to recover. Interestingly enough, the first few books in the series were published in the 1980s, while the last was published after an 18 year break in 2007.

"Though the plot lines themselves are enthralling, the series is taken to a new level by the impressive characterizations and the author’s ability to bring Meg’s situations to life, especially in some of the more dramatic moments of the serires. The character of Meg, witty and somewhat cynical, is a spirited heroine that pulls the reader in to her story. Meg’s supporting cast, including her younger brothers, friend Beth, and father, are also well-developed and help to add humor and background to Meg’s path in the novels.

"Perhaps most impressively, Emerson White was able to create a relatable story out of Meg’s unique situation. Though Meg could easily act spoiled, pompous, or distant from normal teenage issues as the daughter of the president, she is grounded and many of her experiences in high school are typical for a teenage girl. Her less common experiences, such as her kidnapping, remain believable as Meg responds to these situations in a way that most readers would likely envision themselves responding, and though she is the president’s daughter the author makes it very clear that she is a real girl with real feelings and reactions.

"The novels are also refreshingly unpredictable: the reader is unsure of how each novel will end, and is compelled to keep reading to find out. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction, and the last two books especially to those interested in psychology and post traumatic stress disorder."

Rgz Street Team: Olivia Reviews The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

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, Olivia reviews The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. 

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows the story of a 15-year-old boy named Christopher. While it is not explicitly stated in the book, Christopher seems to have some form of autism. But though Christopher has difficultly with things like noisy and crowded places, certain colors and normal interactions with other people, he has a gift with mathematics and an amazing memory.

"Christopher is thrust into adventure when he finds the body of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, dead with a garden fork sticking out of it. Speaking from the future, he declares that this murder was fodder for his very own “murder mystery novel,” in which he planned to solve the “puzzle” and find the murderer. However, the tables are turned when the police arrive and make him one of the primary suspects, as he is found with the dead dog in his arms.

"Interweaving his story with his own thoughts about diverse topics such the Milky Way, the different uses of prime numbers (which he concludes are “like life”), and metaphors that connect to Greek words, Christopher pulls the reader through his interrogation at the police station, where he is eventually released, and back to his home. Throughout the rest of the novel, the reader learns more about Christopher’s past and follows Christopher as he solves the mysteries of his present: not only the murder of Wellington but also the story of his mother, who died two years before.

"While the story is primarily set in Christopher’s neighborhood and at the places that he frequents on a typical day, the reader never tires of the setting because much of the book is composed of flashbacks from Christopher’s past, and he takes an eye-opening trip across London during the second half of the novel.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is an extremely unique, enjoyable, and emotionally affecting novel with a refreshingly different narrator that gives the book a vibrant spirit. Though Christopher has his ups and downs, the reader stays hooked—desperate to find out what Christopher will say or do next, what unusual fact or anecdote they will be amused by (such as the origin of the word orangutan) or simply interested in the story’s plot.

"Because Christopher has a very blunt and straightforward tone, the reader considers a new point of view while reflecting on the actions of the novel. And while Christopher is somewhat distant from other people and may seem hard to relate to, Haddon inserts diagrams, maps, pictures, schedules and even mathematical equations into the book to help the reader feel as if they have been drawn into Christopher’s world and are experiencing what he is experiencing as well as thinking how he is thinking. The supporting characters are also surprisingly imperfect and dynamic, making them seem more realistic than the one-dimensional characters that populate many other novels.

"Unlike many of the other young adult and adult novels I have read, this novel seems to have no specific targeted readership: in one book Haddon has managed to combine a murder mystery, a “coming of age” story and an abundance of entertaining facts about an impressive variety of subjects. While I believe almost any reader of any age would enjoy this novel, I would particularly recommend it to those who enjoyed somewhat quirky works such as J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.”

Rgz Street Team: Olivia reviews The Amanda Project Revealed by Peter Silsbee

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, Olivia reviews The Amanda Project Revealed, by Peter Silsbee (which has an amazing interactive website you can get involved with to help write future Amanda books!):

"In Revealed, the second book in the Amanda Project series, high school students Hal, Callie, and Nia continue to try to solve the mystery of their missing friend, Amanda Valentino, who has disappeared. Amanda herself is a mystery and seems to be leaving them clues, encouraging them to follow her path and try to find her. While the first book in the series, Invisible I, was from Callie’s perspective and was written by Melissa Kantor, the second book is from Hal’s perspective and was written by Peter Silsbee.

"Revealed resumes the adventures of Hal, Callie, and Nia shortly after they launched the Amanda Project website at the end of the first book, Invisible I. At the beginning of Revealed, Hal has been called to the principal’s office to talk to the police: Vice Principal Thornhill, who has always had a mysterious link with Amanda’s disappearance, has been attacked after his office was broken into. While Callie creates a distraction, Hal breaks into Thornhill’s office and finds a hidden list of names, some that he recognizes (including his own family), on Thornhill’s computer. This is just one of the many mysteries that pop up during Revealed.

"After being released by the police, Hal meets Nia and Callie at Play it Again, Sam, the vintage clothing store that Amanda often frequented. The cryptic store owner, Louise, had called them to the store and has a message for them that she can’t directly reveal. Instead, she leads them to the back of the store, in which they find Amanda’s wardrobe and a wooden box that Louise lets them take home. The trio is certain that the box contains valuable pieces to solve the puzzle of Amanda’s disappearance, but they struggle with opening the box and it is then stolen by another student in the school.

"While the book could be said to focus on Hal, Callie, and Nia trying to recover the box, it follows the pattern of the previous Amanda Project book in that many other mysteries and discoveries are made but are not necessarily solved within the book. Because it is part of an eight-book series, Revealed is not the typical mystery that is solved by the end of the book. While it is not confusing, it is certainly complicated, which many readers might embrace. The fact that it is an eight-book mystery also allows the author to focus not solely on the mystery, but also develop more fully the relationship between the characters, as much of Revealed is about the dynamics between Hal, Callie, and Nia, which makes the story more interesting.

"The writing in Revealed is not extraordinarily beautiful or epic, which fits with the concept that the book is narrated by a teenage boy and makes the book easier to read and more relatable to the average teenager. The purpose of the story is not the writing but the plot, and those at HarperCollins have done an admirable job of making the plot central both through the actual story and through the Amanda Project website. On the website, readers create a character that is somehow part of Amanda’s life in the fictional world, and can post ideas and start debates about Amanda and her disappearance. Every Friday, a new part of the mystery is unraveled or a new mystery is generated when a story is posted on the website that website members can then discuss.

"The website is closely linked to the book series, and the website is often referred to throughout the books as a place where Hal, Callie, and Nia go to look for new discoveries or clues. Members of the website can also post art work or writing for others to read and comment on. The Amanda Project as a whole is a very unique and progressive way of involving readers in the story and creating interest and activity surrounding the series long after the publication of one of the books.

"While Revealed is an extremely interesting book, any potential reader might first want to look at the first book in the series, Invisible I, so that they can be more fully informed about the series before jumping into the mystery in Revealed. I would recommend this book to all young adult readers but especially anyone who enjoys interactive communities on the internet and would like to become a part of the Amanda Project website." --Olivia

rgz Newsflash: Wedding Bells

Running around Facebook, I discovered one of our first readergirlz ever has just married! ALEX! Best wishes from your fans and friends here as we remember the days when you were still in high school, and we regularly chatted. Thanks for your work on the rgz Street Team!

Happy marriage to you! May your home be filled with books, books, books! xox

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

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, Sarah reviews OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy:

"OyMG was such a funny book. Every single page made me crack up and laugh so much. The characters were so realistic and well developed that I couldn't help loving the story. Ellie was full of energy and spirit. I loved the determination that she had to get what she wanted. Devon was so sweet and I adore him. I loved the attraction between Devon and Ellie. Zeydeh made me laugh a lot and I loved the strength and optimism that he had.

"The plot of this book is more complex then just a Jewish girl going to a Christian camp. It has a lot of depth about religion and choosing between what is right and what isn't..."
--Sarah

See Sarah's full review of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

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, Sarah reviews Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott:

"I love Elizabeth Scott. Her books are always fantastic and surprise me in some way. Between Here and Forever was definitely amazing.

"Abby feels that she can't measure up to her sister, but I think that everyone feels that way about someone that they won't ever be as pretty or smart enough. She would do anything in order to wake up her sister and I adored her dedication to her sister. It was similar to what I would do for my sisters.

"She thinks that no one can see past Tess, but the whole time she was wrong. Tess had secrets that were uncovered and I found it sad that the person that Abby knew was not the person that she was..." --Sarah

See Sarah's full review of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

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, Sarah reviews Moonglass by Jessi Kirby:

"I love the beach and beach reads seem to capture the sun on your skin, the sand between your toes, and the scent of the ocean. Moonglass had all of these feelings and more. The setting of Crystal Cove was a perfect setting. Anna was an awesome girl. She was very down to Earth and innocent.

"Unlike the protagonists in most young adult novels, she was still haunted by her mother's death and still hung out with her dad a lot, which meant that her parents were a huge part of the story. Tyler was so sweet and I adored him. He was unpredictable, which kept me guessing..." --Sarah

See Sarah's full review of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Olivia Reviews The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

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, Olivia reviews The Lying Game, by Sara Shepard (which will soon be a show on ABC Family, too!):

"In The Lying Game, the author of the Pretty Little Liars series, Sara Shepard, presents the classic long-lost identical twin premise—but with an interesting twist.

"The story is told through the perspective of Sutton Mercer, a 17-year-old girl who exists as a spirit and believes that she has been murdered but doesn’t remember many of the details of her life or her death.

"Sutton watches as Emma, a 17-year-old girl who has been in foster care all her life and looks exactly like her, discovers Sutton’s Facebook page. Emma’s foster brother had shown her a video of Sutton on the internet, and Emma noticed their likeness and immediately believes that Sutton is her long-lost sister. Emma sends Sutton a message, and Sutton responds quickly, inviting Emma to come visit her in Arizona—even though the real Sutton is no longer alive.

"The story unfolds as Emma goes to Arizona to visit Sutton. Expecting an emotional reunion with her sister, she is shocked to discover that Sutton’s family and friends believe that she is Sutton, and she is easily able to take Sutton’s place as Sutton herself is missing. At first, Emma expects Sutton to return, but eventually she realizes that something might have actually happened to Sutton—especially after she starts finding notes and getting text messages telling her that Sutton is dead—and that she will be next if she doesn’t “keep playing along” and pretend to be Sutton.

"While Sutton appears to have lived a charmed life of wealth and luxury, surrounded by beautiful and popular friends, as Emma gets deeper and deeper into Sutton’s life she discovers that everything was not as it seemed. Sutton was obviously the 'queen bee,' the leader of her clique of friends, and adored by many. However, she made a lot of enemies along the way, too—especially because of her infamous contest with her friends called 'the lying game.'

"As Emma puts together more and more pieces of the puzzle that is Sutton’s life, Sutton begins to regain memories as well, though she is still generally unclear about who her murderer might be. Emma and Sutton are both simultaneously solving Sutton’s murder, and the reader is able to attempt to solve the mystery as well, and is presented with many different suspects and pieces of evidence that could incriminate them throughout the book.

"While the book did not have a conclusive ending (much like many of the Pretty Little Liars books), the reader isn’t left with a complete cliffhanger and the next book in the series, Never Have I Ever, will be published in August 2011.

"Like Shepard’s other novels, The Lying Game is fast-paced and exciting. While Shepard does give the basic information necessary to understand the story, she doesn’t reveal some of the incidences or characters that are brought up throughout the book, as Sutton herself does not remember these parts of her life. Some of these smaller mysteries are resolved through Emma’s investigations, but others are left unsolved, presumably for later books in the series.

"Also, while it would have been easy for The Lying Game to fall into many of the predictable teen-novel stereotypes (such as 'long-lost-siblings' or 'mean girl clique'), the novel is actually very refreshing and original, partially because of the mystery and suspense aspect of it.

"I would recommend The Lying Game to anyone who enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars series, or anyone who wants something more than a surface-level young adult novel. While I won’t claim that I was especially enlightened or enriched after reading it, it was a real 'page-turner' and kept me entertained." --Olivia

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

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, Sarah reviews I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore:

"I didn't hate or love these main character. John was a likable character, but I never connected to him. Sarah was a sweet character, but I didn't feel that I really know her at all, other then the fact that she loved him. Their romance was cute, but I didn't really see anything between them. Sam was a great sidekick and I loved how nerdy he was. I wish that there had been my character development. The plot was very slow to begin with, but the climax was rather awesome..." --Sarah

See Sarah's full review of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Delirum by Lauren Oliver

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, Sarah reviews Delirum by Lauren Oliver:

"Delirium reminded me of several dystopian books that I loved, such as The Hunger Games, Uglies, and Matched. The fact that love is looked at as a disease makes it seem even more daunting and important, because people hate it and it is forbidden. I can't imagine not being able to show that I care for my family, friends, and many other people in my life. I can't imagine someone wanting to get rid of the most amazing emotion possible. The premise of this story was just so amazing.

"Lena was a pretty sweet character that was trying to follow society, that is until she meets Alex. I really liked Alex, he was sweet, strong, and motivated..." --Sarah

See Sarah's full review of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

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, Sarah reviews Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken:

"I loved [the main character] Sydelle. She was such a strong character and full of so much life. Her strong voice made the story more enjoyable as does her hope. I also loved North. He was so strong and sweet at times, other times he was a complete jerk and I was never sure of his motives. The relationship between them developed really quickly and seemed unrealistic at times, but if you were traveling with someone like they were, you might do that too.

-----

If you're participating in the Needle and ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy New Blogger Puzzle Contest, here's line 3:

Q S A M G L M W M T O M Q V M F,

This contest is open to everyone. If this is the first you're hearing of it, go take a look.

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[And now back to Sarah's post:]

"The plot of Brightly Woven was epic. It captured my imagination really quickly and I just loved it. The world was developed into something that I have never seen before and was so detailed. Unlike a lot of fantasy, I understood what was going on and never felt lost. Bracken's debut leaved me wanting more from her. Brightly Woven was exquisitely written and will easily captivate you. I highly suggest that you read this book, it was exciting and a page turner." --Sarah

See Sarah's full rating of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Positively by Courtney Sheinmel

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, Sarah reviews last week's featured title, Positively by Courtney Sheinmel:

"When I got sick the first thing that they tested me for was HIV, and I was so afraid that I got it somehow. I didn't have it, but my disease is caused by the immune system. Even though our diseases are very different, I could totally relate to [Positively's main character] Emmy. I know that if I have 100% lung function by the time I am 40 or if my liver doesn't stop from the pills, I am lucky, and Emmy is faced with that too in other ways. There are days that I want to just throw my pills out or not get shots anymore, but I know that decision is a choice between life and death. When I first got sick, I went to a camp for teens with Primary Immunodeficiency and it was similar to what Emmy experienced at Camp Positive. Some of the friends from that time are dead, but they are far from forgotten. The part about the balloons really got to me, because that it what we do every year on my sister's birthday.

"The plot is real, because you are constantly reminded how hard life can be for some people. This book is really original, because it leaves you with so much hope. Shienmel is a fantastic writer. I loved that this is based by her experience from with working The Elizabeth Glaser AIDS Foundation and is really accurate and realistic. I highly suggest that you read this book, it is a story of a girl with so much strength." --Sarah

See Sarah's full rating of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Falling in Love With English Boys by Melissa Jensen

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, Sarah reviews Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen:

"I love anything that has to do with England, so I was so excited to hear about this book. I mean, English boys are always full of win.

"The main character Cat was easy to relate to, except the whole not wanting to go to England craziness at the beginning, but I really enjoyed her sassy and witty narrative. Her love affair with chocolate was awesome and I have actually been buying the chocolate that she mentions in the book. I also liked that she met people from buying the chocolate at the newsstand and that they had things in common.

"Will was amazing. I mean he is British and he was a really sweet and caring character. The relationship between Will and Cat was well developed and kept me interested. The flashbacks provided by Katherine's diary were really through and historically accurate. I also liked the experience of reading it as Cat was. Katherine was intelligent and overall awesome and I also cheered for a boy for Katherine too.

"The plot captured my attention from the beginning and I just loved how cute it was. It was a really original story, because it brought two unique worlds together so simply. Jensen is a gifted writer and I am excited to see more from her in the future. I recommend this book to people that want a fun and cute read." --Sarah

See Sarah's full rating of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.

Rgz Street Team: Olivia reviews The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway

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, Olivia reviews The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, by Robin Benway:

"The relatively normal life of the Stephenson sisters has started to spiral out of control. Their parents decide to separate. They have to move to a new city without their dad and attend a new school. And as if that wasn’t difficult enough, each sister has begun to develop a super power that had lain dormant since their childhood.

"April, the studious oldest sister, feels responsible for holding her family together, and is often wracked by anxiety. April finds even more to worry about when she develops the power to see into the future- through confusing visions accompanied by flashing red lights. She is especially concerned about what she sees in these visions, not just for the future of her sisters, but also because of a surprising development in her own love life: especially since her new friend Julian is present in some of her less-than-comforting insights into the future.

"May, the rebellious middle sister, is especially resistant to their new life and longs to live with her dad instead of her mom and sisters. She often feels ignored both by her family and peers, and soon develops the ability to actually disappear to the point where she is invisible to all those around her. While this might seem like a blessing in disguise for May, she must learn to control her power, as her disappearances are involuntary and occur at very inconvenient times. May also struggles with her failing grade in European History and her Stanford-obsessed tutor, Henry, with whom she does not get along well at all.

"June, the vain youngest sister, is definitely the most carefree of the sisters. However, she does have her own problems to deal with as a freshman in high school who is trying to finally become popular by winning the affections of one of the most popular girls in school, Mariah. Much to the horror of April, June decides to use her power, mind-reading, in order to manipulate Mariah and others to please them. April’s concern for June heightens when she experiences a frightening vision that makes her fear for June’s safety.

"Though The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June was narrated by a different sister in every chapter, each central character is so clearly defined that the reader hardly ever confuses the three. Benway does an admirable sister of assigning each sister a tone and narration style, and keeps these consistent throughout the story.

"While the story is primarily focused on the sisters and their struggles together, each also has an entertaining individual subplot. While April and her new friendship with Julian, and May and her tutoring with Henry are both engaging storylines, June and her journey to popularity is the most compelling. In the end, these subplots result in personal growth for each of the sisters as well as important lessons learned--but without a 'preachy' feeling.

"In fact, one of the most remarkable aspects of the book is that the author, Robin Benway, is able to become so in-tune with the emotions of teenage girls. The thoughts and feelings of each sister seem believable and relatable, as if they were penned by a teenage girl herself, instead of by an adult who might not be so connected to the thoughts and values of the youth.

"Overall, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June is a very entertaining and humorous read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Benway’s other novel, or to anyone who enjoys the perfect mix between lightheartedness and complexity that Benway manages to achieve in this novel."

Rgz Street Team: Priya Reviews Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

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, Priya reviews Dangerous Neighbors by one of our esteemed authors in residence, Beth Kephart!

"Katherine and Anna are two peas in a pod, two sisters that are so close together than only death can really tear them apart. After Anna's tragic death, Katherine is so filled with sorrow, anger, and guilt that her desire to live fades away; it takes a series of surprises and near-disasters for Katherine to find her way. As we ride through Katherine's memories and current life, the story of her and Anna is slowly unraveled, until the thing that we've all been dying (pardon the pun) to know about is finally revealed.

Dangerous Neighbors is a quietly powerful and poignant novel that kept me enthralled the whole time. It's a lot shorter than I expected it to be - only 166 pages - but I feel that its brevity only enriched the story. Once again, the main thing that stands out in this novel - and all of Beth Kephart's novels - is the writing. All of the words were so deliberately picked, the descriptions were like poetry, and awkward phrases were nonexistent. Kephart can put things into words that the rest of us cannot, and in such a beautiful and touching way as well..."

Read the rest of this review on Priya's blog. (And read the story behind that gorgeous cover here!)

Rgz Street Team: Priya Reviews The Dragons of Noor by Janet Lee Carey

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, Priya reviews The Dragons of Noor by one of the original readergirlz founders, Janet Lee Carey!

"The old and ancient trees of Noor are dying, and the worlds of Noor and Oth are slowly tearing apart. Magic has started to disappear from Noor, and a mysterious and fierce wind has been picking up young children and carrying them away. Miles, his sister Hanna, and his friend Taunier, determined to find out what's going on and save Noor and Oth, travel to the forests of Jarrosh. There, they find the exiled dragons, who aid them in their quest to preserve the trees and 'break beyond the boundaries of self to discover the ancient magic joining all to all.'

"The Dragons of Noor was one of the best books I've read this year. What I love about Janet Lee Carey's writing, and this series in particular, are the imaginative and fantastical worlds that the reader is introduced to. In this book, we get to see more of Noor and Oth as well as explore the ancient history between the two. The scenes are so magically and culturally rich, with original creatures and foreign words, songs, and customs..."

Read the rest of this review on Priya's blog.

Rgz Street Team: Olivia reviews Pretty Little Liars #6: Killer, by Sara Shepard

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, Olivia reviews Killer, the sixth book in the Pretty Little Liars series, by Sara Shepard *Spoiler alert: secrets of other books in the series are revealed in this review!*:

"In the sixth installment of the Pretty Little Liars series: Killer, relationships are strained and nothing is as it seems in picturesque Rosewood, Pennsylvania. The nightmare continues for high school juniors Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily, after their best friend Alison DiLaurentis was found murdered in her own backyard years after she went missing at the end of the seventh grade. Spencer's sister's boyfriend, Ian, is arrested for the murder after evidence is found that links him to a clandestine meeting in the woods with Ali the night that she died. At first, Rosewood considers the tragic case closed. But after Ian mysteriously disappears before his trial after somehow escaping his house arrest and telling Spencer that he's innocent, the girls don't know what to think- especially after finding his dead body in the woods, which later disappears before the police can find it at the end of the fifth novel, Wicked.

"But the secrets behind Ali's death aren't the only things haunting them. 'New A,' the mystery person who seems to know all their secrets, is still sending the girls threatening text messages: even though they thought they were done with A when Hanna's former best friend and the 'original A,' Mona Vanderwaal, is killed at the end of book four, Unbelievable, when she falls off a cliff into Floating Man's Quarry. This new A, however, might actually be helping the girls piece together the puzzle- seeing as she keeps sending them cryptic clues and pictures that relate to Ali and her murder.

"Meanwhile, Aria has decided to move in with her father and his now-pregnant girlfriend, Meredith. Even when they transition to a house frighteningly close to the woods where Ali died, Aria decides that it's better than staying with her mother, Ella and having to deal with Ella's new boyfriend, Xavier, who seems to be interested in her. After running into Ali's older brother Jason, she starts spending more time with him- though judging by her messages, A believes this is a perilous mistake.

"Spencer is busy making her own mistakes after she believes she is adopted and agrees to meet with her possible birth mother, Olivia. After immediately connecting with her young, stylish, look-alike in New York City, Spencer is all too ready to move into the city to be with her- ignoring A's advice to stay away from Olivia or else.

"Hanna is still locked in a power struggle to be Rosewood's queen bee with her stepsister, Kate, who moved to Rosewood in Wicked to be closer to Hanna's dad. Newly single and bitter that Kate has won over her father's heart, Hanna fights Kate for the affections of a not-so-unsuspecting Rosewood Day boy- with surprising results.

"Emily is also having some boy trouble with her new boyfriend, Issac. She's been nothing but nice to his mother, who is sending hardly subtle messages telling Emily to stay away from her son. At first, she dismisses her fears as ridiculous, but when she finds a picture of her and Issac in which Emily's head is cut out, she has to decide between letting Issac go or telling him the truth.

"Killer is focused on the girls' futile attempts to resume their normal lives while getting sucked deeper into the mystery of Ali's death and coming closer and closer to finding the real killer. With the captivating plot twists and cliffhanger that have now become typical for the series, Killer is a good read for any young adult mystery lovers--or anyone who wants a variation from the typical private school clique story with a little more weight."

Rgz Street Team: Olivia reviews Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

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, Olivia reviews Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins *Spoiler warning: if you haven't read the series, skip this post!*:

"Catching Fire continues following the adventures of Katniss and Peeta after their dual District 12 victory in the games.

"In the previous book, The Hunger Games, Peeta’s name was called in a lottery to participate in the yearly hunger games. Katniss’s sister Prim was called as well, but Katniss elected to replace her. In the games, two citizens (called 'tributes') are summoned from each district to fight to the death in an arena full of cameras with the entire nation of Panem watching. The battle lasts days, sometimes weeks, for 23 out of the 24 tributes to be killed.

"While there is usually only one victor, both Katniss and Peeta escaped from the arena alive after convincing the people of Panem that they were in love to receive valuable gifts to use in the arena. When they were the only two tributes left, they both decided to commit suicide and die together. Before they could follow through, the government 'Gamemakers' stopped the games and declared them both winners.

"The second book starts as Katniss, Peeta and their families are living in luxury compared to their poverty before the games, as the Capitol (as the government is called) supplies the victor of the games with better housing and materials. Katniss has a strained relationship with Gale, her best friend before the games who is now jealous and upset about the false love between Katniss and Peeta.

"Before Katniss has a chance to resolve this, she and Peeta embark on their 'Victory Tour' around all twelve districts where they will give speeches and be received with celebrations. However, before leaving she is informed by Panem’s leader, President Snow, that her act of rebellion in the games (the suicide threat) has now started a wave of rebellion around Panem in which she is seen as a symbol. Katniss receives a frightening threat- if she is unable to convince all of Panem that she acted out of love for Peeta, not a desire to rebel, then her friends and family will be killed.

"Though Katniss and Peeta both make an effort to intensify their fake relationship to the crowds on the tour, it is announced when they return home that victors from the previous hunger games will be drawn to participate again. With this, Katniss and Peeta are thrust into the mayhem and terror of the games yet again.

"While Catching Fire is perhaps not as fast-paced or thrilling as its predecessor, it delves much more deeply into the fascinating government structure of Panem and explores the possibility of a governmental collapse. Catching Fire also tours much more of Panem as a whole- Katniss and Peeta visit every district as well as the Capitol, as opposed to the previous book being set in only the Capitol and District 12.

"The set-up of the hunger games arena is also more appealing in the sequel. A fascinating and mysterious area, its structure actually becomes a major part of the storyline. As in the previous book, the tributes from other districts are all very interesting and well-developed characters that add intrigue to the novel.

"Another positive aspect of Catching Fire was that because the basic set-up of Panem, the districts, and the hunger games were explained in the previous book, the sequel was able to focus more on the thoughts and emotions of the characters, Katniss especially.

"Catching Fire is a thrilling novel best for readers in middle school or older, particularly adventure-genre lovers or anyone who enjoys reading about dystopian governments and societies, similar to Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Among the Hidden Shadow Children series."