Read For Your Future: April 2013

April 30, 2013

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Our Pick this week is:

Bubble World By Carol Snow

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers

Release Date: 30 July 2013

Freesia's life is perfect. She lives on the beautiful tropical island of Agalinas, surrounded by idyllic weather, fancy dress shops, and peacocks who sing her favorite song to wake her up in the morning. She has so many outfits she could wear a different one every day for a year and not run out.

Lately, things on the island may have been a bit flippy: sudden blackouts, students disappearing, even Freesia's reflection looking slightly . . . off. But in Freesia's experience, it's better not to think about things like that too much.

Unfortunately for her, these signs are more than random blips in the universe. Freesia's perfect bubble is about to pop.

Teaser Tuesday 4/30/2013

Teaser Tuesday: WHEN IT HAPPENS by Susane Colasanti | hilarywgraham

Grab your current read and let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us several "teaser" sentences from that page, including the page number.

Please give us the title and author so that those readers who find the "teaser" enticing can read the book also.

Remember....Don't give any spoilers!!!

"She carefully examined the area around the food. A thin wire dangled beside it, ending in a deadly loop. Sara followed the wire upward, her night vision allowing her to see that the wire was tied onto what looked like a heavy cinder block, balanced precariously at the edge of a table. The slightest nudge on the wire and the brick would fall. A normal cat would have gone straight for the food and ended up in a noose. She shook her head. That creep!" p.165

The Emerald Ring by Dorine White has been a fun read. I will be posting the review shortly so I won't give any more of my opinion:) The teaser, however, should speak for itself!

April 27, 2013

Stacking The Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is a fun weekly post that RFYF participates in, courtesy of Tynga's Reviews, where we share the books, physical and otherwise, that have been procured for this site for review and subsequent donation to the kids at Franklin High School. We welcome you to join us in sharing the books that you won/bought/borrowed/downloaded over the past week! You may include books in any format, of course.

Tynga'sGuidelines:

Create your own Stacking The Shelves post. You may use the graphic supplied on Tynga's page or create your own.

You may set your post in any format that you wish. A book list, covers, pictures, vlogs, the sky is the limit.

I post Stacking The Shelves on Saturday or Sunday, but please feel free to post yours any day that fits your schedule!

Visit Tynga's Reviews on Saturday and add your link so that others can visit you!!

Books Received:

Targets of Revenge, by Jeffrey S. Stephens
The Gatekeeper's Sons, by Eva Pohler
The Gatekeeper's Challenge, by Eva Pohler
I'm With Stupid, by Elaine Szewczyk
How I Lost You, by Janet Gurtler
Scapemaker, by Steve V. Cypert
Wonder Light: Unicorns of The Mist, by R.R. Russell
Chasers, by James Phelan
Survivor, by James Phelan
Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, by Prudence Shen and Faith Erin Hicks
Parallel, by Lauren Miller
Blue Plate Special, by Michelle D. Kwasney
How I stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend, by Gary Ghislain
Criminal, by Terra Elan McVoy
Being Friends with Boys, by Terra Elan McVoy
After the Kiss, by Terra Elan McVoy
Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do, by Marianne Richmond
One Bright Ring, by Gretchen Geser
Isabella, Star of the Story, by Jennifer Fosberry
Spinning Out, by David Stahler Jr.
The Space Between Trees, by Katie Williams
The Forever Girl, by Rebecca Hamilton
Four In The Morning, by Christi Goddard
Away, by Megan Linski
Code Of Silence, by Tim Shoemaker
Back Before Dark, by Tim Shoemaker
Captives, by Jill Williamson
Merlin's Blade, by Robert Treskillard
The Hidden Deep, by Christa J. Kinde
Season of Change, by Lisa Williams Kline
Winter's Tide, by Lisa Williams Kline
Finnikin of the Rock, by Melina Marchetta
Froi of the Exiles, by Melina Marchetta
Quintana of Charyn, by Melina Marchetta
The Year of The Great Seventh, by Teresa Orts
Secret of The Crystal Dragon, by Paula Blais Gorgas
Out Of This Place, by Emma Cameron
Prisoners In The Palace, by Michaela MacColl

Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)

So what did YOU get???

April 25, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday 4/24/2013

Published by Viking Juvenile

Release Date: 11 July 2013

Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:

She is 16.

And a size 17.

Her perfect mother is a size 6.

Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.

So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.

Welcome to the world of informercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann’s ever seen—-and some surprises about her NOT-so-perfect mother.

And there’s one more thing. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own skin-—no matter how you add it up!

I read a book recently that touched on the subject of obesity and insecurities regarding self-image. I gave it a low review because the author didn't approach this delicate subject in the manner in which I would have liked to have seen. However, THIS story looks funny and real and, hopefully, offers people a more positive outlook on their own bodily dislikes. Life is too short to stress about the small things--I want to LAUGH and SING!! Can't wait to read 45 pounds and pass it on to my daughter as an example of a positive approach to life.

April 19, 2013

Review: Sipping From The Nile by Jean Naggar

Summary-

Review-

Childhood is a magical time. Jean Naggar spent hers in Cairo and England in an enchanted world, protected by her large and loving family, unaware that the harsh reality of the Suez Canal crisis of 1956 would infiltrate life within her garden walls to change the lives of the Jews of Egypt forever. SIPPING FROM THE NILE brings to vibrant life the many rich facets of an opulent multicultural society in a post-colonial world. It is an unforgettable story of love and loss, a lyrical evocation of a time and place engulfed in the turbulence of politics, war and religion, illuminated with lush descriptions of food, clothes, customs, houses, landscapes, and the unique individuals that peopled a vast extended family. Expelled from their homes and their lives, Sephardic Jews from Arab lands have inserted a different immigrant experience into the American legend

I fell in love with Naggar because she disliked being pushed to excel in school, got nervous stomach aches when traveling, and loved her family dearly. The memoir started with childhood memories discussed fondly by Naggar. Then she talked about the perilous period of time when she and her family were virtually prisoners in Egypt. Lastly, she remembers meeting her husband, moving to America and losing her father. During these final chapters of growing up and leaving her family, the sadness radiates from the pages in waves. She finally tells the reader that 'sipping from the Nile' was an old custom where glasses of water were brought to the door before one went on a trip. Each person would take at least a sip before they walked out, ensuring that they would eventually come back home. Sadly, Naggar never went back home. This book deserves five stars. It was truly a wonderful recap of an amazing life.

Publisher-Stony Creek Press

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by~Cindi

Thank you to the publisher for donating this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!

Summary-

When rejection comes back to bite you...

Jordan's life sucks. Her boyfriend, Michael, dumped her, slept his way through half the student body, and then killed himself. But now, somehow, he appears at her window every night, begging her to let him in.
Jordan can't understand why he wants her, but she feels her resistance wearing down. After all, her life -- once a broken record of boring parties, meaningless hookups, and friends she couldn't relate to -- now consists of her drinking alone in her room as she waits for the sun to go down.
Michael needs to be invited in before he can enter. All Jordan has to do is say the words...

Review-

My fifteen-year-old daughter LOVES to read the books that I get for review so I decided to let HER be the reviewer this time. We are going to do a MOM and ME interview/review for Uninvited by Amanda Marrone. [Please note that I'm going to record her answers EXACTLY how she gives them. Hope you can read Teenagese ;) ]

Did you like the book? How many stars would you give it? ʺYeah, 3.ʺ

Why only 3 stars? ʺOk, I felt like the whole book was building up to this 'thing', you know, the climax. And it happened in the very last....second to last chapter. You're supposed to have the climax in between the middle and the end because it provides for falling action.ʺ

What was the premise of the story? ʺUmmm, this chick named Jordan, uh, who's dead boyfriend visits her every night. Ummm, he's a vampire and he's trying to get her to let him in.ʺ Why? ʺThat's like what it's about. He says he loves her. But in the end you figure out...ʺ (oops!! can't repeat what she said--it would give the WHOLE BOOK away and I don't like spoilers). ʺIt was kind of stupid. I wanted to punch the dude in the face.ʺ
What were some good aspects of the book? ʺSuspenseful. Realistic in a sense other than vampires. She still struggled with teen aged-stuff other than the dude at the window. It was realistic.ʺ
What didn't you like? ʺHer mom and dad had gotten divorced so she was dealing with that so she smoked pot and slept around. I was like, Uhhh, what are you DOING??ʺ
Was the writing good? ʺUmm, yeah, yeah. She wasn't one of those chicks who has three word sentences like 'She ran'.ʺ
My daughter is emo but very against drugs, alcohol, and negative teen aged-decisions. She's pretty level-headed and she's in advanced English. She agreed that this book was well-written but she didn't like the bad choices that the protagonist, who has the same name as my daughter, made. Therefore, she gives it a three star rating.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with my daughter and I!! If you have any questions or comments for Jordan, put them in the comment section below and I'll have her answer them.

Publisher- Simon Pulse

Reviewer Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewed by~Cindi

Summary-

She could save the world—or destroy it.Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Review-

This book was kept me interested with a love story, as well as action. It is an apocalyptic story where some people have special powers, a story of good vs evil. The characters must decide which side they are on. My favorite part was when Jack came back for Evie, she realized that he came to rescue her not to stop her. It makes me want to read the next one.

Publisher-Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Reviewer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Destiny Beaudoin (Student at Franklin High School)

Thank you to the Publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange of a honest review!

Summary-

During a robbery, Jace Sullivan’s wife, Cari, was murdered. If that wasn’t bad enough, she was seven months pregnant when it happened. Though medics were able to save the child, the unfavorable circumstances behind the premature delivery has left baby Colton with severe health issues.
Now, while trying to pick up the pieces of his own shattered life, Jace must watch helplessly as his son desperately fights to keep his fragile life. Meanwhile, his teenage daughter, Jorry, seems to be carelessly throwing hers away.

Review-

This books was good, but the grammar and punctuation could use some improvement. It was a really good lesson of life. A great story about a father and daughter as well as a nice love story.
I would recommend this book to other readers.

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by~Destiny Beaudoin (Student at Franklin High School)

Thank you to the author for donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!

Summary-

They weren't panic attacks. Of that, seventeen year old Kate is certain, no matter what the shrink told her parents. But it's even harder to accept the explanation offered by her terminally ill grandmother - that Kate has inherited designer DNA from the time-traveling historians of CHRONOS, who were stranded in the past by a saboteur. Kate knows that her grandmother's story could easily be the brain tumor talking, but that doesn't explain the odd medallion or the two young men - one of them hauntingly familiar -- who simply vanish before her eyes on the subway. It doesn't explain Trey, the handsome stranger who now occupies Kate's assigned seat in trig class. And it definitely doesn't explain why Kate is now in an alternate timeline, where leaders of a previously unknown cult hold great power and are planning a rather drastic form of environmental defense.

In this new reality, Kate's grandmother was murdered at age twenty-two on a research trip to the past, which means that Kate's mother was never born, her father doesn't know her and, for all intents and purposes, she doesn't exist. The only thing keeping her from disappearing entirely is the strange blue medallion around her neck, and the only thing keeping her sane is her burgeoning relationship with Trey. To restore the time line, Kate must travel back to 1893 and keep herself and her grandmother clear of H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who is stalking young women at the Chicago World's Fair. But that choice comes at a price - she'll remember the past few months with Trey, but when he looks at her, he'll see a total stranger.

Review-

Time's Twisted Arrow is Book One in the Chronos Files, a series that I really hope Rysa Walker continues to add to. Adventure, intrigue, romance, and time travel are the basic concepts of this book but the main emphasis is on relationships, past, present, and future. Kate, the protagonist, falls in love with a young man but is haunted by the dark eyes of a mysterious dream man. She also must examine her relationships with her mother, father, grandmother, and aunt in order to understand who to trust. Knowing who to trust may seem like a ridiculous concept but when time is shifting and changing constantly, a friend could turn into an enemy. At times, it was a tad difficult for me to understand the time paradox but, otherwise, I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire book. Rysa Walker has created a very plausible idea of how time travel may work in the future and what possible consequences may happen. She also did very thorough research on the Chicago World's Fair where a portion of the book takes place. I honestly never realized how exciting the World's Fair had been and how people flocked by the thousands to see items that we literally see every day, like light bulbs and Ferris wheels. I HAVE to give this book five stars because it was such a fun, exciting, romantic, scary, interesting read that I would recommend it to all of my friends!

Published by-Gypsy Moon Books

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi