Top Ten Week: Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

 

It's the second day of Top Ten Week hosted by Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Lisa from A Life Bound by Books.  Covers are the first to compete to catch a reader's attention and there are so many YA books with stunning and remarkable covers released this year.  I myself admit that I pick some of the books I read because I think the cover is interesting. 

Anyway, here's my pick for Top 10 Book Covers of 2011.

    

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

    

Die for Me by Amy Plum

     

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

     

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

     

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

     

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

     

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

     

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

     

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

     

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

 There you have it. As you can notice, I love anything Red/Gray/Purple and covers with girls wearing pretty dresses. What are your favorite book covers this year? Tell me in the comments or leave a link to your top ten list!

 

Top Ten Week: Top 10 Books I’ve Read in 2011

Hi everyone! This is the first day of Top Ten Week hosted by Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Lisa from A Life Bound by Books.  The topic for today is Top Ten Books Read in 2011. Personally, I'm having a hard time narrowing down my favorite reads to ten. I've read so many great books this year and some even made it to my all-time-favorite list. Another dilemma is listing them in order. So here it is folks, my top ten fave reads of 2011 in no particular order. 

   

On The Jellicoe Road by Melina Marcheta

"My father took one hundred and thirty two minutes to die. 

I counted. "

If those first lines didn't get you to read it, I seriously don't know what will. Here's my Goodreads "review" for OtJR: 'Ever got the feeling when the book is just so incredible you can't put the words you're meant to write for a review? ON THE JELLICOE ROAD is... WOW. I get goosebumps just by thinking of this book. It's been weeks since I finished this and I'm still basking in its awesomeness. If I could give 10 stars to justify my love for this one, I would. It's the first novel by Ms. Marchetta that I read but I could say that I'm a HUGE fan of her already. The first part was confusing but everything went smoothly eventually. I'm planning on rereading this before the school year starts. Seriously, I respect everyone's opinions, but If you didn't like this book, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?' - Even until now, It pretty much summarizes how I feel about this book. Thank goodness for my curiosity with the cover.

   

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

For one year I waited and waited for Clockwork Prince to be released. When I finally got my copy (I went to the book store before attending my classes on December 6th!), I spaced out the whole day in school and started reading it when I got home. I just.. I couldn't even.. it rendered me speechless. It was how I thought it would be and MORE. After reading Clockwork Prince, I realized I loved the Infernal Devices more than The Mortal Instruments series. That is saying a lot since TMI is one of my all-time faves. In my opinion it's the best Cassandra Clare book to date. I just can't wait to read the conclusion to the series!!

    

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Everyone I know who has read this book rave and gush about it... and I AM DEFINITELY NOT AN EXCEPTION. Yes, the capslock was necessary. It has everything I want in a contemporary story: romance, humor, Paris, and a gorgeous, swoon-worthy British guy. It was like Stephanie practically took me to Paris with Anna. I loved every single character and fell in love with Etienne St. Clair. I seldom reread books especially when I just read it the first time, but this, I read it thrice in a week. I'm pretty sure the only reason Lola and the Boy Next Door didn't make it to this list is because I haven't read it.   

   

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book was at the top of my most anticipated debut novel of 2011 list.  For the nth time, I'm a big Dystopian junkie. Besides that, everything about this book is amazing and so well thought-out. It was so intense and thrilling and action-packed I didn't want it to end. The heroine kicks butt and is very intelligent, just as I like them, and the male lead is amazing. He's tough and intelligent, mysterious, and hot. It's beautifully written and I didn't mind the long read. This is just one of the countless confessions of love for this book and  I swear after you finished reading it(if you haven't), you'll see what the fuss is all about.

    

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Sky Is Everywhere had me the moment I saw the cover and read the summary on Goodreads. And once I started reading it, I didn't care about anything else in the world. It was heartbreaking, poignant, funny, and very romantic. I was pulled into Lennie's world from the very first page and I can go on and on about how much I love this book the whole day. I really suggest against reading it in public. One moment you're laughing and then blush ridiculously and cry the next. Here's a short teaser:
“Oh, God,’ he whispers, reaching his hand behind my neck and bringing my lips to his. ‘Let’s let the whole fucking world explode this time.’ 
And we do.” 

   

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

This is probably cheating but I can't list just one book in the trilogy. They're all too important and valuable to me. Anyway, Patrick Ness created a Dystopian series that will stay in my head forever. Since the The Hunger Games trilogy ended, I've been in search for similar books and I came across this one.  It turned out to be the perfect series I'd been looking for. It blew my mind, especially the last book.  I became emotionally attached to Todd and Voila and I cried a couple of times while reading. Authors get brief mentions in reviews, but that's not the case with Chaos Walking. I'm not surprised to see many reviews giving Patrick Ness a whole paragraph about his writing style and everything. Just brilliance at its finest.

     

Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

I'm shaking my head at my old self. How did I ever think indie books can't be awesome?? Reason to Breathe is the kind of book that will rip your heart out, put it back together, and rip it out again. There were times I wish it's a physical book just so I can throw it from so much frustration. Now that sounds negative. NO. I just have to warn you that it's not for the faint of heart and it HAS A SEQUEL. That last part was the most important. The last sentence brought out goosebumps and I'm dying to read the next book.

    

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

I waited for a whole year to read this to wait for a paperback copy and now I will have to wait for another for the next. It's this ridiculous thing I always follow: If I bought the first book in paperback, then the rest of the series must be bought in the same format. Okay I know you don't really care, but it seems like I'm in lack of words to describe this book. To put it simply, The Exiled Queen is one of the best fantasy books that ever existed in my opinion. It has everything I could possibly want: magic, war, adventure, lots of surprise, and most importantly, romance. AND, Han Alister is pure awesomeness. 

   

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

I am so glad I read If I Stay just months ago before Where She Went releases. And I thought If I Stay was really good, but WOW, Where She Went surpassed it by a long shot. Reasons why I loved it:

1. The story is told from Adam's perspective.

2. The writing and story is simply stunning.

3. It's set in New York.

4. It has music.

6. ADAM

7. ADAM

8. ADAM

     

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I know, Another Patrick Ness, but just by thinking what this book did to me, I can't not add this on my list. It's a middle grade book but I think everyone. I mean EVERYONE, regardless of your preferred  genre, ought to have and read this. It taught me a great deal of things, made me cry like I never had in a book before and broke my heart in a healing kind of way. The illustrations were full of raw emotions and I couldn't have picked more perfect masterpieces to capture the story. To see some of them,  visit Jim Kay's website. 

   

It was so hard to list just ten and I read 134 books this year, so here are some more awesome books I loved just as I do the ten above.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pies and After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick 

Significance Series by Shelley Crane 

Shatter Me by Tehereh Mafi

Half Blood by Jennifer Armentrout 

Die For Me by Amy Plum 

    

How about you? What are your favorite books this year?

    

Merry Christmas! and a Way to Help the Victims of Typhoon Sendong

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!

Here are some of the Typhoon Sendong aftermath photos courtesy of Yahoo! News Philippines

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:

• 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!

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Hardcover: 384 pages

Release date: February 7th, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: NetGalley

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes & Noble

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.