Review: Margaret and the Moth Tree

What a wonderful surprise this book was.  Thank you to YABC for sending it my way.

Here is a snippet from my 5 star review over at YABC.

"And you're my Margaret." -Pip

I'm going to admit that the initial reason I wanted to read MARGARET AND THE MOTH TREE was because my own daughter is named Margaret. I started this book just a few hours ago and could not put it down. It was so well-written. There is a classic feel to the writing that makes the story sink right into your soul. I actually underlined several lines in this book because it was just so right.

To read the rest of my review, click here

Review: The List

                                                             From Amazon:
An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.


This book made my heart hurt. THE LIST, very simply, shows the good, bad, and ugly of what being labeled can do to a person.  The story follows the eight girls that were selected to be on The List, and you may be thinking 8 POV's, too much for me.  I assure you that it isn't.  Each girl's perspective is so intricately woven into the story that the transitions are seamless.

So why did this make my heart hurt? These poor girls on this list, that's why.  The moment this list goes public their lives change.  One girl now believes she is on top of the world and it throws another girl back into her tailspin of fighting an eating disorder.  Another girl believes that even if it is short-lived, she finally has friends.  There is an inner struggle with all the girls as they try to figure out their place in the complex world of high school.  Friendships and relationships are tested all over the place and some things the girls thought were real turn out to be just a result of the list and go away as quickly as they came.

I couldn't stop reading this book last night because I was so worried for these girls I had to know what happened to them.  This book is a highly emotional book about how being labeled can affect a person.  High School is a tricky place to navigate through anyway, and while something like The List may be the extreme, people being labeled happens all over the place.  The List makes you realize that no matter what you are labeled: "pretty" or "ugly" or "smart" or "athletic" there are feelings, and consequences that everyone deals with on a daily basis.  If you don't read this book and think about your own high school and your own high school experiences, I'll be surprised.

Review: Hourglass

In honor of TIMEPIECE being released in just a couple of weeks, I thought I would post my review to HOURGLASS.  If you loved Hourglass, you will LOVE Timepiece A.LOT.

I loved Hourglass! This book captivated me from the very first page. Before reading Hourglass, reading about time travel never seemed very interesting to me. Myra McEntire makes this story jump off the page and you instantly fall in love with her characters and the world she has created. Emerson, Michael, and Kaleb are quite the trio. I still can't decide; Michael, Kaleb, Michael, Kaleb...Kaleb...Michael. It's a tough decision, read it and you'll see why! 

I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel. I'm hoping there are more scenes with Emerson's best friend, Lily. She is a great friend to Emerson and has her own special story as well. I'm also hoping for a lot more Kaleb and Michael. :)


If you've always thought (much like me) that a book on time travel couldn't be that much fun to read, PLEASE pick this one up. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Princess for Hire: The Royal Treatment (Review)

Once again, thanks  to YABC I was fortunate enough to get a copy of Lindsey Leavitt's second book in her Princess for Hire series THE ROYAL TREATMENT.  I'll be picking up the first book in the series so I will be ready for the release of the third book in June.

See my review over at Kids Books Central.

YABC and Sweet Valley Twins

When I was younger, I read all the time.  In fact, when I went shopping with my mom, I was almost always guaranteed a trip to the book store which almost always meant me coming home with 1 or 2 new books of my favorite series Sweet Valley Twins.  I devoured those books like they were food.  I wanted Jessica and Elizabeth to be my friends.  I remember once when I was home sick from school I wrote my own version of the SVT story starring myself.  My girls got to pick out a new pet and they were very excited about it.  I changed the names to include myself and my best friend at the time, and I'm sure it went something like this.

Claire:  Guess what, Amanda?  Mom and Dad said we could get a new pet.  Maybe we should go to the pet store and look around and decide what we want.


Amanda:  I can't do that today.  I have a special club meeting after school.  Besides, I want a dog.


Claire:  A dog? Why would you want a dog?  I'm sure it will jump on our beds and eat our homework.  What if it runs away?  I think we should get a hamster.


Amanda:  No way.  Who has a pet hamster?


And so on...you get the idea.  I know you are shocked that this piece of literature never made its way onto bookshelves, aren't you?    And now you know why I'm a reader and not a writer.


Anyway, enough about my non-existent writing career.  My point is that when I was younger there wasn't a place (other than my book reports I had to turn in and how much fun were those???) that I could really share my love for books and reading.  Now, with the wonders of the internet I have YABC.  My good friend MG Buehrlen is the fantastic leader and asked me to be a part of the Team Reviewers!  Now, when I read an awesome YA or Children's book I have a place to write about it and tell YOU how much I loved it.  One great thing about YABC is that everyone can join and write reviews.  BONUS--when you write those reviews you get a chance to WIN BOOKS!  Isn't the internet magical?

I know when I click on someone's review at YABC  I will find an honest and fair review.  Even if the book wasn't for that particular reader they still find a way to share their thoughts in a constructive way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you love YA and Kids books and you want a place to share your love and gushiness over those book head on over and sign up and start writing reviews.  There are some pretty rad peeps over there besides me and MG.  Make friends with Jill and Jen too because they are beyond awesome.

This community is awesome and I'm so fortunate that I get to be a part of it.

Just for you here is one more awesome SVH cover for you enjoyment.

Now, who will start buying me Sweet Valley books? I feel like I must read them all again.

Book Review: The Selection

I was so excited to receive a copy of THE SELECTION to read and review for YABC.  Click here for a link to my review.

Review: In Honor

As I was looking through a list of upcoming YA releases, I stumbled upon In Honor by Jessi Kirby.  I was nothing short of thrilled when I was able to receive a copy to review from the magic that is YABC.  Thank you!!!!

Right away this book pulls you in. The first scene is Honor sitting at the funeral of her brother, Finn, who had been killed while serving in Iraq.  I could hear the stillness in the air, except for the gun shots of the salute and the playing of Taps.  If you've ever been to a military funeral, you know how powerful that moment is.  

Finn has been Honor's source of everything since her parents died many years before.  When he enlisted in the Marines instead of heading off to college, Honor was distraught.  And when the soldier arrived at the door to her Aunt's house to tell her what happened to her brother, she wasn't sure how she would go on.

After the funeral, Honor opens a handwritten letter from her brother, that arrived three days after he was killed.   Something in the letter makes honor decide that she has to fulfill her brother's wishes, so instead of heading off to her college orientation, she heads to California.  *cue Rusty*

To read my official YABC review, click here.

Have You Read This?

Anna and the French Kiss has been out for a while but I don't want you to forget about it.  Have you read it?  If not, I really encourage you to.  I loved this so much--beginning to end, I could not put it down. Check out my review at YABC.

Picture Book: Virginia Wolf

Thanks to YABC I was able to read and review Virginia Wolf.  It is one of my favorite picture books of the year.  The illustrations are simply to die for.  Read my review here.