Before anything, The Teen Readers would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! It has always been our favorite holiday of the year. Despite the tragedy caused by Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan De Oro here in the Philippines, we can't help but be touched to see the victims smiling and trying to lift up their spirits in celebration for Christmas. Who are we to be ungrateful and feel all down and gloomy when we can't even imagine the extent of their loss? So we, The Teen Readers decided to put up a donation button to extend what little help we could give to the victims. We also put it on our upper left sidebar and it will stay there until January 1st. All donations will be given to Sagip Kapamilya. Thank you so much to everyone and have a Blessed holiday!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Essay Contest for Aspiring Writers of YA/Middle Grade Fiction
Win a literary agent or acclaimed author's feedback on your unpublished manuscript for young adult or middle grade readers. This rare opportunity is being offered to the six winners of an essay contest recently announced by the literacy charity Book Wish Foundation. See http://bookwish.org/contest for full details.
You could win a manuscript critique from:
All that separates you from this prize is a 500-word essay about a short story in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For. Essays are due Feb. 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012. If you win, you will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript for critique (which means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished, or started, your manuscript). You can even enter multiple times, with essays about more than one of the contest stories, for a chance to win up to six critiques.
If you dream of being a published author, this is an opportunity you should not miss. To enter, follow the instructions at http://bookwish.org/contest.
You could win a manuscript critique from:
- Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot
- Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau
- Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust
- Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe
- Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors
- Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue
All that separates you from this prize is a 500-word essay about a short story in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For. Essays are due Feb. 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012. If you win, you will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript for critique (which means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished, or started, your manuscript). You can even enter multiple times, with essays about more than one of the contest stories, for a chance to win up to six critiques.
If you dream of being a published author, this is an opportunity you should not miss. To enter, follow the instructions at http://bookwish.org/contest.
Merry Christmas guys! It would be most appreciated if you also spread the word about this one, and for those aspiring writers who will join this awesome contest, May the odds be ever in your favor. Good luck!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Hardcover: 384 pages
Release date: February 7th, 2012
Goodreads Summary: Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.
As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.
They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.
This is probably one of the most unique dystopian stories I’ve ever read. Seriously, just look at the cover! The beauty of it speaks for how awesome the book is. I’ve already told a million times that I’m a big sucker for dystopias and Under the Never Sky has pretty much fed my craving for the genre. It has a very original storyline that separates itself from other post-apocalyptic books and I am sure the readers of dystopian genre will eat this up.
The plot is consistent and the relationship between the two main characters was slowly built. That didn’t bother me at all. I think it was really good that I got to know them better individually because of the alternating point of views of Aria and Perry. Aria was a Dweller who’s a part of a pseudo world called Reverie. It is a place where no one feels pain and people could be anything they want with the use of technology. They called the world outside of it the Death Shop and the Outsiders or Savages were the people who live there and Perry was one of them. Despite their initial distaste towards each other, the turn of events lead them to come and find out why Aria was thrown out of the Pod and Perry’s nephew got abducted by the Dwellers.
The characters were very likeable and Ross did a great job developing them. I became fond of Perry’s best friend Roar, and Cinder who has a secret of his own. They have diverse personalities and I’m glad they were with Aria and Perry on their journey. Speaking of those two, I enjoyed seeing Aria and Perry’s relationship turn from resentment to something positive and then blossom into love. Their interactions shot excitement through my body and their chemistry was so strong it made my toes curl a couple of times. That alone drove me to stay awake late at night to finish it.
The only one thing I didn’t quite like about it was the lack of explanation. I mean I still don’t know what Aether is and if I remember right, there was no mention of how the world became that way. And if the Dwellers secluded themselves because they are dying Outside, how come the Outsiders survive? Nevertheless, those flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying this book. I think Ross’ vivid descriptions and her way of executing the plot somehow make up for the imperfections.
Under the Never Sky was a fantastic first book in what I predict is going to be a remarkable series. If you love Dystopians and want a unique story from the genre, I highly recommend this book. It’s one of my most anticipated debut novels of 2012 and I must say it did not disappoint. I can’t wait for its release on February so I could buy a physical copy and read it again.
*Disclaimer: I received this book from HarperCollins via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Waiting On Wednesday: This Is So Not Happening, Getting Over Garrett Delaney and Masque of Red Death
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This Is So Not Happening (He's So/She's So #3) by Kieran Scott
Hardcover: 256 pages
Release date: May 1st, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books
Goodreads Summary: After their long summer apart, Ally and Jake were hoping for a drama free senior year. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like things will work out that way...again.
It turns out that Chloe is pregnant and says that Jake is the father. Hammond is pissed at his best friend, but mostly can't believe that Ally would stay with Jake. But Ally is tired of being apart from Jake and is willing to make it work. But that is easier said than done when Jake starts blowing Ally off to go to doctor's appointments with Chloe and Ally joins the school play and meets a new cute guy. But as graduation approaches, things get more complicated as new secrets come out and Ally realizes maybe Jake isn't the guy she thought he was. After everything they've been through can Ally and Jake get out of Orchard Hill with their relationship in tact?
I've read the first two books in this series and I must say Kieran Scott likes torturing her readers! Both books have ended with a cliffhanger and the one in He's So Not Worth It is frustrating. I can't believe I have to wait for 5 more months!
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
Hardcover: 336 pages
Release date: January 24th, 2012
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Goodreads summary: Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up
her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.
Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's
feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock
- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A
heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp
guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.
her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.
Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's
feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock
- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A
heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp
guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.
This sounds exactly like my kind of book. I've been on a roll with contemporary stories lately and I kind of sympathize with Sadie.
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Hardcover: 320 pages
Release date: April 24th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Goodreads Summary: Everything is in ruins.
A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.
So what does Araby Worth have to live for?
Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.
But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.
And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.
I'm not sure if this is steampunk or dystopia. Either way, I love both genres and methinks the cover is pretty! Besides, I have a thing for Wills in YA books.
What are you anxiously waiting on this week? Just leave a comment of the link to your WoW post!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Book Review: Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Paperback: 518 pages
Release date: October 18th, 2011
For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.
It's been a month since I finished reading this book.
Beautiful Chaos continues the story of the Mortal Ethan Wate and his love, the Caster Lena Duchannes. After surviving the happenings in the tunnels and claiming herself as both Light and Dark, Lena and the rest of Gatlin experiences near-apocalyptic events and must find a way to stop this while figuring out the Eighteenth Moon.
The series at it's finest! As of now, this is my favorite one in the series. The book isn't that slow anymore, and the story line's just keep getting better and better. The authors did an amazing job on giving more background on supporting characters like Liv and John Breed. There's heartbreaking moments and more action within the book. The cliffhanger was a real shocker for me. It left me wanting, desiring, mad, crazy, insane for more! I couldn't get over with the end. I really hope that the fourth and last book would be more amazing and better than this one.
The characters seemed more attached to me than it ever were. Link's even more cooler with his new Incubus powers. Ridley more evil and seductive in this book. All the Casters have their powers dangerously uncontrolled. The characters bump into a lot more mishap and a lot more chaos. The book also gets an in-depth story on the background of the Caster world, and of course, Lena's history. It's just so wonderful to be back on Gatlin, and feel so much magical? I thought so too. It seems to me that the readers of this book will crave for the fourth one, now that they've read the ending. For me, it just punched a hole into my stomach, leaving me crying and mad.
I couldn't wait for the last book. The authors did an excellent, or may I say, perfect job on creating such a turn of events. I would really recommend this series, not just this book, to all YA fans.
Completely smitten!!
Patrick
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