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: Sarah Reviews The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante

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 The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante:

From the publisher: Julia just graduated as her high school valedictorian, has a full ride to college in the fall and a coveted summer internship clerking for a federal judge. But when her older sister, Sophie, shows up at the graduation determined to reveal some long buried secrets, Julia's carefully constructed plans come to a halt. Instead of the summer she had painstakingly laid out, Julia follows Sophie back to Vermont, where Sophie is opening a bakery—and struggling with some secrets of her own. What follows is a summer of revelations—some heartwarming, some heartbreaking, and all slowly pointing Julia toward a new understanding of both herself and of the sister she never really knew.

"I could relate to Julia really well. I have always been the overachieving sister who tends to be less dramatic and always wondering about who exactly my sisters are and also if what I am doing is right. Sophie was also amazing and I loved her strength. I could feel their emotions and fears about what was happening. The plot of this book was really entertaining and exciting. I liked that their were a ton of secrets within the book that kept me engrossed. I found this contemporary book to be very enjoyable..." --Sarah

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

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.

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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: Sarah reviews Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

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 Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl:

"Ethan Wate, who has been counting down the day until he can escape the small town of Gatlin, is haunted by a dream of a beautiful girl he has never met. Then Lena Duchannes moves into the oldest and most infamous plantation with her reclusive Uncle Macon. Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and is determined to uncover the connection between them.

"Lena is unlike anyone in Gatlin. She is struggling to conceal her powers and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. Even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and the graveyard of the south and the past, a secret cannot be hidden for much longer.

"Ethan and Lena were both amazing characters. Ethan was sweet, swoon-worthy, and protective of Lena. Lena was strong willed and caring. Ethan and Lena were amazing together. Uncle Macon and Amma were both interesting characters. I really enjoyed Ethan's great aunts Mercy, Prudence, and Grace -- also know as "The Sisters." They were hilarious. The plot was fast-paced and gripping. I could not put this book down. There were a few plot holes, but I think that they will be solved more in the next book. Also the pacing was off a few times, but it was still a great plot. Garcia and Stohl are an amazing writing duo. Beautiful Creatures is filled with gorgeous details and a charming setting. I highly recommend it; it will bring you into a world that you will never want to leave." --Sarah

Thanks, Sarah! Check out the Cover Story for this book, and Liz's Host report from a Kami & Margaret reading!

Rgz Street Team: Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron

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 Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron:

"Struts & Frets tells the coming of age story of Sammy Bojar. He is a member of a high school rock and roll garage band. Music is in his blood, and his grandfather was a jazz musician. So maybe his band could be huge one of these days, if the fighting stops and does not self-destruct first. The upcoming Battle of the Bands would justify all the band's compromises and it would also reassure Sammy that his dream could become a reality. Practices are hard to schedule when Sammy’s grandfather is sick and getting worse, his mother is too busy to help either of them, and his best friend may want to be his girlfriend. When everything in Sammy’s life seems to be headed for major catastrophe, will his music be enough to keep him together?

"Sammy is an interesting character and I really like him. Jen5 is also amazing. She is such a kick-ass girl. Sammy and Jen5 are so cute with one another, but I felt that their relationship was a bit rushed. The plot is interesting and entertaining. It is a really original book. I love the fact that there are many layers to this book. Skovron is an amazing writer and I can tell that he loves music. I recommend that you check out this book if you love music." --Sarah

rgz HOST: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl!

Hey, readergirlz!

What a great Sunday! I just got home from Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, where I and rgz Postergirl Jackie Parker got to hear Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl talk about and read from Beautiful Creatures!

Highlights:

Kami and Margaret are long-time friends who came up with the idea for Beautiful Creatures over Mexican food and refill after refill of Diet Coke.

They proceeded to actually write the book based on a dare from Margaret's daughter.

Margaret's daughter and her lucky friends passed the book among themselves as first readers, and helped shape the plot by asking questions Margaret and Kami hadn't thought of.

Both ladies write everything in the book, back and forth, going over and over each others' work. They even lose track of who wrote exactly what.

The movie rights have sold, a script is in the works, and a big-time director is attached.

There will be a sequel! Kami and Margaret will announce more soon, but for now, all they're saying is it'll come out this fall. Watch this blog for more info!

Also, stop by Caster Girls, the official fan site for Beautiful Creatures, to get in on the Beautiful Creatures Unlock the Curse Contest, in which you can win the locket from the book--handmade by the authors! The contest involves answering questions about six books: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Tithe by Holly Black, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, and Rampant by Diana Petrefreund. Being a readergirl comes in handy sometimes! Don't worry if you haven't read all six books because you can work in teams (see link for all the details).

I'm sad to say that my camera was being moody, so I got mostly blurry shots (I'm sure you're relieved to see that my traditional Liz with Author pic, below, came out fine), but I wish they'd all turned out well because Jackie and I also ran into Street Team Sarah and soon-to-debut author of The Body Finder Kimberly Derting!

Okay, gotta get back to reading Beautiful Creatures now! It's so much fun!

See you soon!

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein

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 Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein:

"Albia grew up with no knowledge of her mother or father. She didn't know that her father was the powerful Macbeth. Instead, she knows the dark lures of Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she has been raised by three strange sisters. Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate, which entangles Albia's life as well.

"She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth's rival for the throne. Albia learns that she has second sight and she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees or whether she should try to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents for all their wrongs, or must she destroy them in order to save Scotland?

"I love a retelling of another book. Particularly Shakespeare's books, because it is interesting to be in someone else's shoes. Lady Macbeth's Daughter kept with the storyline well and was very entertaining. Albia is a very kick-ass girl for before the Renaissance. I loved her personality and how she was such a free spirit. I also loved how the relationship with Albia and Fleance developed. It was very cute. I also liked how Macbeth was developed. It was awesome that it was from another character's view, rather then just Albia's. The plot made it such a quick and interesting read. I also think that this was an original retelling of Macbeth. The writing was also well detailed. I would check this book out, if you are looking for a strong independent female character." --Sarah

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Break by Hannah Moskowitz

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 Break by teen author Hannah Moskowitz:

"Jonah is on a mission. His mission is to break every bone in his body.

"Everyone knows that every bone grows stronger than they are before. Jonah wants to be stronger. His brother Jesse has severe allergies and goes to the Emergency Room at least once a month. He also has a baby brother that can't stop crying.

"I found this book to be amazing. I can't imagine what it would be like with the idea of breaking all of my bones. Moskowitz creates real characters with their own strengths and weaknesses. The relationships with the other characters were shown amazingly well. I felt like I knew Jonah, Jesse, and Naomi. The plot of Break never slows down. It is a fast-paced and original book that is full of emotions. Moskowitz is a great writer and I can't wait for more from her in the future. I recommend that you check out this book--it is amazing and completely fantastic." --Sarah

Rgz Shoutout: Street Team Sarah!

Rgz Street Team member Sarah, caught on video with a shoutout! Isn't she the cutest?

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews The Espressologist by Kristina Spring

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 The Espressologist by Kristina Springer (a great one for Valentine's Day, no?):

"The Espressologist is one of those cute books that you can't put down. Jane Turner has a theory that you can tell a lot about a person by what kind of coffee they drink. She keeps a notebook which she calls Espressology. It is not a totally crazy idea, so she starts hooking up friends based by their coffee order.

"Like she set up her best friend, Emma (medium hot chocolate) with Cam (toffee nut latte). Soon, her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane's espressology. He decides that it needs be an in-store holiday promotion, promising Customers they will have their perfect match for the cost of a their favorite cup of coffee. Things are going so great, but why is Jane so nervous? Maybe it has something to do with a certain match that she made... but she is the one that set them up. So, she should be happy about it, right?

"I found this book to be so cute. Jane's notebook was hilarious and made me laugh so hard. I could relate to Jane's personality. She was sweet and tried to do the best actions for everyone, but sometimes she needed to listen to her heart. The other characters could have been developed a lot more and the subplots could have had more detail. The plot was original. I have never seen a book with a similar plot like this. It did seem that it was a bit rushed, especially with the relationship between Cam and Jane and a few other plot points. Though, I was so excited for the match ups of couples, because they were perfect for each other. This is a cute and fun book, that I wish had quite a bit more length." --Sarah

rgz Seattle HOST: Carrie Jones and Alyx Harvey!

Hello, again, readergirlz!

So, my posted schedule had me going to see Heather Brewer last night, and I wish I could've been in two places at once. I missed Heather because a friend of mine from the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults was in town: Carrie Jones! Carrie's a wonderful writer with a super-fun blog (link on her site), another blog called Through the Tollbooth that she and I keep up with seven other Vermont Grads (it's about the craft of writing, how to get down and dirty with words), and can I please just mention that her books NEED and CAPTIVATE are both currently on the New York Times bestseller list? So, basically, Carrie is made of awesome.

She's touring the west coast with Alyx Harvey (at left, Alyx is Little Miss blurry and Carrie is Little Miss Naughty), who is making a big splash with her debut novel, HEARTS AT STAKE, the first in THE DRAKE CHRONICLES (lots of info on her site), a new vampire series that also works as a spin on the Snow White story. Trusted booksellers and librarians have assured me that it's fun and amazing and that even if you're a bit burned out on vampires, you should give it a try. I hope to bite in (couldn't resist) this weekend.

It was SO MUCH FUN to hear these two chat about their books and their lives. They told oodles of interesting stories. Some highlights: Alyx lives in a haunted house but the ghosts are friendly, Carrie wrote an awesome haiku in second grade, both of their books feature blue-skinned non-human characters, Carrie's writing space is small and rickety and Alyx's features photos of Johnny Depp, Mr. Darcy, and all the other important men, both writers love and raise dogs, and both have more exciting projects that you'll hear lots about in the near future (Victorian ghost book for Alyx! Co-written book set in spooky Maine town for Carrie!)

One of the most fun parts of the event was the group of authors and obsessive-in-a-good-way book lovers (rgz street team member Sarah, in particular) who came out. On the left, that's Sarah with rgz Diva Holly Cupala and Seattle-area author Suzanne Selfors. Holly and Carrie share the same literary agent. What a lucky agent! Other awesome people were spotted, too! The bookseller Kari said she wished there'd been a red carpet. :) I wish all of you readergirlz could've been there. Keep an eye out for this tour! Check here to see if they're coming near you!

Liz with Two Authors for your enjoyment:

See you soon!

Rgz Street Team: Sarah reviews Beautiful by Amy Reed

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 Beautiful by Amy Reed:

"Cassie moves from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. She decides that she need to leave her good girl persona behind. She chooses some dangerous friends and is immersed into the world of drugs, sex, and secrets. Cassie loves the thrill of her new life, but she's also terrified of what could happen. She loses her virginity to an older boy. Cassie also embraces the numbness of drugs. Now she is being called beautiful. Cassie doesn't notice the down spiral that her life is going on and how much danger she is really in.

"Cassie is an interesting character. She wants to fit in like most teens do, but she chooses the wrong crowd and has to live with consequences. I am going to admit that I didn't like the ending of what happens to Cassie, because it shows teens that they have the ability to give up, instead of working yourself out of the mess of your own creation. Beautiful was a fast-paced book that had a lot of emotion. Also, the plot was well done and interesting. The only flaw that I saw was how she just stopped talking to her friends that lived in Bainbridge Island--it is a 45 minute ferry ride. I have had friends move to Seattle and they still come back and hang out. I also have visited them. I live farther away than that. I found that to not be realistic. It was a fairly original book, about what can happen when you get into drugs so young. It was as sad as the true stories are.

"Reed is an amazing writer and I am excited for more books from her. She created great characters and the setting to let the story unfold. I recommend that you check out this book if you liked Crank or the movie Thirteen." --Sarah

Rgz Street Team: Sarah reviews Fat Cat by Robin Brande

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 Fat Cat by Robin Brande:

"Cat is sassy, smart, funny, and, well, fat. Then she gets an assignment for a science project. She gets a picture of hominids and decides to eat and live just like them. Going without junk food, cars, and electronics can be a bummer, but Cat starts to really live. Cat is starting to get healthy and boys are starting to notice. She has no experience with boys, and she is too busy hating Matt McKinney to really notice anything. Can she get over being Fat Cat and become just Cat?

"I love Cat. I could relate to her so much. I have had weight problems for my whole life. She also got over how she looked and realized that other things were important. Jordan and Amanda were cute together. They were sweet and wonderful friends. The plot was so strong. It was interesting and I read it in about a day. This book was really original and the book was not just about weight loss, but loving yourself. Brande is an amazing writer and I can not wait for more books from her. Fat Cat is the kind of book that is a must read. It has such a strong message that anyone can all relate to." --Sarah

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin

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 Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin:

"Parker Prescott is a quiet, book-ish, and aloof girl. She is so quiet and aloof that she is called The Ice Princess by all of her classmates. But the real reason might be Marion Hennessey’s blog. Marion hates Parker, because of a story that involves siblings, stalking and a restraining order.

"Parker's family is also in trouble. Her dad lost his job and is still unemployed. Her mom works long hours to pay for everything. Her older sister Paige is having trouble with her marriage to the former high-school quarterback who visits their house to steal ketchup because he doesn't like grocery stores. Also, little brother Preston is an ADHD genius. The house is up for sale, too. It isn't like Parker's life could be any crazier.

"Wait, except her ex-boyfriend has some kind of hold on her and it gets them in a situation that involves handcuffs, office chairs, and a rather compromising position. Everything goes downhill from there. Parker Prescott’s world is changing and she no longer knows who she is. Does anyone?

"The characters in this book were really well developed. I could relate to Parker feeling unsure with who she is and what she wants. Paige and Preston were also well developed. Her ex-boyfriend was interesting. I also loved that the plot had more than one story going on. There were parts of the plot that revealed something about everyone in the book. This book was original and one of a kind. Griffin is an amazing writer and I can't wait for more from her. I recommend that you check this book, if you are looking for something that is a bit edgy." --Sarah

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen

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 Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen:

"Sara Black is a new eleventh grader at Anton High. Anton High School is the most elite public school in the nation. In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants. And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another It girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing. With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.

"I don't usually like books about rich girls. I think that I could relate to it because Sara felt out of place and wasn't rich. She is paranoid about others finding out about her. I think that everyone has felt this way. Sara was a realistic character and had interesting aspects about her. Her choices were not always the smartest, but that is how most teens are. Cohen also developed the mean girl well. I wish that there had been more of a romantic plot. I wasn't sure if their romance was going to last or was even that real. Cohen is a great writer. Little Black Lies is a dramatic and cute book. " --Sarah