How To Say Goodbye In Robot

Book: How To Say Goodbye In Robot by Natalie Standiford

Rating: 4 Stars

Release date: October 1, 2009 from Scholastic Press

From: Publisher

Summary:

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?

*****

You know, I don’t really know why I didn’t like this book. I really wanted to like it and in the beginning I thought I would but I just couldn’t. It wasn’t the story, because that was pretty interesting actually. I think it had to be the writing. It just wasn’t something that I liked or could really get past.

The story of Bea and Jonah (Robot Girl and Ghost Boy) was a really captivating story. I thought I would be hooked and that I would love the story. It seemed funny when I started it and as it grew more serious, it grew more interesting. The reason I didn’t stay interested was that the writing wasn’t something I really liked and I kept noticing that it didn’t seem to flow together very well. It was all kind of choppy and short. There were three word sentences and not just a couple. So many things could have been cut out or even taken from three short sentences into one longer one. It’s always been something I didn’t like and I think it really kept me from enjoying this one.

Okay and I won’t tell you what happens in the end but I will mention that I hated it. I just thought the ending was terrible. I will say that I wasn’t expecting it but I wish it had been different. I don’t even know if that would work with the book but I wanted a different ending. =P

Overall, I think you can tell how I felt about this one. I won’t be reading it again and I wouldn’t actually recommend it. Of course, I also won’t say, don’t read it. It’s fully your choice but this one just wasn’t for me. Still, I won’t give up on the author. Maybe I will like her other books. =]

I Am A Genius Of Unspeakable Evil And I Want To Be Your Class President

Book: I Am A Genius Of Unspeakable Evil and I Want To Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb

Rating: 4 Stars

Release date: October 15, 2009 from Razorbill

From: Publisher

Summary:

Family Guy meets Election in this hilarious young adult debut!

Twelve-year-old Oliver Watson’s got the IQ of a grilled cheese sandwich. Or so everyone in Omaha thinks. In reality, Oliver’s a mad evil genius on his way to world domination, and he’s used his great brain to make himself the third-richest person on earth! Then Oliver’s father—and archnemesis—makes a crack about the upcoming middle school election, and Oliver takes it as a personal challenge. He’ll run, and he’ll win! Turns out, though, that overthrowing foreign dictators is actually way easier than getting kids to like you. . . Can this evil genius win the class presidency and keep his true identity a secret, all in time to impress his dad?

*****

I was pleasantly surprised with I Am A Genius. I didn’t really have high hopes for it when I started it and I am kind of ashamed of myself for that. I should never judge a book by it’s cover but I do and I did with this one. Let me tell you this, don’t. =]

Oliver Watson is not your typical seventh grader. He looks and acts like one, maybe even worse than a normal seventh grader, but underneath it all he is an evil genius. And a funny one at that. He pretends to be dumb so that people underestimate him so that he can get away with more and have nobody be suspicious. His mom is proud of him no matter how dumb he seems, but not his dad. Oliver and his dad have never gotten along and Oliver sets out to make his dad’s life a living nightmare. And how better to do that than to run for class president, and win? He knows that will just ruin his dad’s memories from high school and that couldn’t make Oliver happier.

Oliver was a seventh grade mastermind. He knew he could rig the election so that he would win but he had to at least look like he tried and he was pretty clever and cunning in the process. It was really weird being inside the mind of this evil genius who plans to take over the world and start by winning a class election. He was really pretty mean to the people around him but he was so funny I couldn’t help but like him. And there were times when I felt sorry for him but it quickly went away.

Overall, I Am A Genius was a really quick and funny book. It definitely didn’t take me long to get into it and once I was in, I didn’t want to stop reading it. And this is definitely one of those books that I think guys will love so check it out!

Waiting On Wednesday: Shadow Hills

Book: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Release date: July 13, 2010 from Egmont USA

Summary:

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

My reasons for wanting this one very badly:

1-Anastasia is a really awesome person. I follow her on Twitter and E-Nation and she is super cool. If you haven't already, check out her site. =]

2-That synopsis is super intriguing and the one review I have read for the book just raved about it.

3-Once again, gorgeous cover that I just can't help but love.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesday: Pastworld

* Grab your current read.
* Let the book fall to a random page.
* Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* Share the title of the book that you're getting your teaser from... That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
* Please avoid spoilers!

From page 82 of Pastworld by Ian Beck:

His father looked up hurriedly, nervously, and then as if trying to distract Caleb away from the subject. 'The Fantom,' he said, 'will no doubt prove to be an actor like all the others working for the Corporation. It's all a bit cheap really, isn't it.'

I really don't know how I feel about this one yet. The story is good but the writing isn't really and it's starting to take away from the story. It's a really unique storyline but everything else about the book just isn't keeping me interested. I guess I will just have to keep reading to see if it gets better.

What are you reading this Tuesday?

Give Up The Ghost

Book: Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe

Rating: 4 Stars

Release date: September 15, 2009 from Henry Holt and Co.

From: Author

Summary:

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance….

*****

Give Up The Ghost was a surprisingly cute book. I definitely didn’t think it would be that way when I first started it but it had it’s moments and some pretty cool characters. All in all I liked it but I just don’t think it will be one of my favorites.

Cass McKenna was an outcast at her school and my only problem with her was that she kind of made herself an outcast. When her best friend ditched her and the whole school started making fun of her, she gave up. That was in middle school and the book starts out when she is in high school. Even since then she hasn’t even tried to make friends with living people. Instead she hangs out with ghosts that help her find out the dirty secrets of all the members of her school. Obviously that doesn’t help with her popularity.

I guess throughout the book she kind of came out of her shell but it really took until the end. Also, the end seemed kind of abrupt and I would have liked to know more about what happens to the ghosts when they disappear for good. Cass never really figured out why or how that happened. I felt that there definitely could have been a sequel and I really hope there is.

Overall, I did like Give Up The Ghost and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, quick read. It didn’t take long for me to get into the story and after that I couldn’t put it down. This is one of those books that you should see if your local bookstore has because it is totally worth it!

Need Contest!

Summary:

Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

With suspense, romance, and paranormal themes, this exciting breakout novel has all the elements to keep teens rapidly turning the pages.

Since I am going to be gone for such a long time I thought I should hold a contest for you guys. I was lucky enough to get copies of Need by Carrie Jones to giveaway and that is what I am going to do.

Details:

-Three readers will win hardcover copies of Need by Carrie Jones!

Requirements:

-You must be a follower to enter. If you aren't already a follower just click the little button and you will be eligible.

-You must leave a valid email in your comment. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your email here then just email it to me with your entries. =]

-Please leave all your entries in one comment.

-This contest is US and CA only.

Extra entries:

+1 become a follower

+2 link to the contest somewhere (up to 3)

+3 already a follower

That's all. The contest will be open till November 30 and I will pick a winner the next day.

Happy reading!