The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Title: The Mockingbirds
Author: Daisy Whitney

Release Date: 2nd December 2010 (US). No date as yet for Australia

My Rating: 3/5

Blurb:
Some schools have honour codes. Others have handbooks. Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honourable way, the Themis Way. So when Alex is date-raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds, a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone, especially yourself, you fight for it.

My Review:
The Mockingbirds is the story of Alex, a high school junior at an exclusive boarding school, who wakes one morning to find she has been dated raped after having a few too many drinks. Not wanting to go to the police, and knowing full well that her school won't do anything, she is faced with the decision of what to do next. Concluding that she will just get on with her life, another option presents itself in the form of The Mockingbirds, an underground student-run justice system, born due to the absurdity of a school that sees everything through rose coloured glasses.

Once Alex enlists the help of The Mockingbirds, not only is she dealing with her own issues and the fact that she is going to have to tell more people about what happened and relive the event each time she tells it, but she also has to wait to find out if The Mockingbirds will even take her case, as sexual assault isn't something that has been brought to them before. Alex will be setting a precedent and with that comes more pressure, especially as more girls with similar stories, come out of the woodwork.

While the book does focus on the lead up to what outcome will prevail, the majority of the story talks about how Alex's ordeal has changed the person she is, and who she will become. It discusses how the assault has altered her everyday life, from having to sit in class with the boy, to taking the long way around campus just to make sure there is no chance she will run into him. She stops eating due to the fact she now avoids the school dining hall to avoid seeing him and his friends. Things that she once excelled at now take a back seat in her mind and favourite memories and pieces of music are tainted with the memory of what happened. If she dates again, how will the future boyfriend perceive her? Will they see her as easy? As damaged goods?

Guilt and blame are things that get tossed around quite a bit. Alex goes though her own confusions as she slowly remembers events from the night, what she did, what Carter did and her thoughts as to whether it was her own fault she was raped or if the blame lies with Carter, the smug water polo player prancing around campus. She also goes though various phases of guilt in regards to taking action against Carter. Her very loyal and sometimes persistent friends blame themselves for letting her drink too much, and of course they blame Carter most of all. Carter thinks he did nothing wrong. The question is, what do The Mockingbirds think?

I love that all the different angles are explored, with Alex experiencing all of them. We don't just have the view that it was all Carter's fault. I like that she second guesses herself, that she has doubts, because even if these doubts are unfounded, it's human nature.

Having such a fantastic support network amongst her friends, The Mockingbirds, and later a teacher, prove to be essential in Alex's courage to speak up and also move on with her life. While she judges and doubts herself, her friends never do. Having someone around to talk to about what she is going through who won't judge her, proves a major contribution to her independence, strength and ability to stand up for herself. As well as this, having friends who will let her carry on with life as normal, and not let it define her, are just as important.

While debut author Daisy Whitney has stated that the book is entirely fictional, the story itself was inspired by her own experience being date-raped in college.

As a side note, I love all the To Kill A Mockingbird and Harper Lee references used throughout the book. Hopefully they might inspire those who have not read the classic to pick it up.

This is an ultimately uplifting novel about standing up for yourself, triumphing over injustice, the issue of consent, the importance of friendship and finding your inner strength even when you don't think you have any.

For fans of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

I'm Back!

Hello Everyone!

I am finally home after three months of travelling, and with me I brought a whole pile of books!
I now need to have a holiday after all my travelling so stay tuned for plenty of reviews that are on the way. Is reading not the best way to spend my time right now?!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Authors: David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

Release Dates: 26th October (US), 1st December (Australia) 2010

My Rating: 5/5

Blurb:

I've left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please.

Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favourite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash the right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
My Review:
Words can not express how much I love this book. But I will try.

Having previously read and loved Levithan and Cohn's other collaborative works, I was highly excited for the release of Dash & Lily, so much so that if you have been following this blog, you will have read about my anticipation.

Dash & Lily was everything I hoped it would be, right from the first page. I couldn't help smiling as I read each page and I grew more and more excited about how much I was loving the book as I progressed. It's always a worry that a book won't live up to my expectations, especially for this book considering how much I loved Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.

Dash and Lily are two teenagers who have been left alone in Manhattan for the Christmas holidays. While Dash is ecstatic about this, Lily can't think of anything worse. Both are regular visitors of The Strand Bookshop (one of the coolest places for book-lovers I might add and I can vouch for it as I have been there), although they have never met, and this is where this magical holiday adventure begins. What follows are a bunch of random dares spread through some of the best known places in Manhattan (and some of the craziest at that time of year, much to Dash's annoyance!). These dares are passed back and forth to each other via a red moleskin notebook with the help of their friends and family. Anyone who has a love for New York, Christmas, quirky characters, literature, or if you simply love to watch two people who are perfect for each other find each other, then this book is definitely for you!

Levithan and Cohn collaborate so well together, in this case, Levithan writing the character of Dash and Cohn writing Lily's part, with each chapter alternating between the two. They write so well about the awkwardness of being a teenager and being just that little bit different to everyone else. You will immediately fall in love with Dash and Lily. From the very first page I was laughing. Both characters have personality's that have been so well thought out and brought to life that you know you would want to be friends with them if they existed.

This is a book of pure awesomeness with witty banter, teenage insecurities and a potential relationship that is just too cute for words. I have so much love for this book right now. Please go and buy it right now.

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Title: The Eternal Ones
Author: Kirsten Miller

Release Date: 30th August 2010

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
Have you ever fallen in love at first sight? Do you long for a place you've never been? Do you often experience the sensation of deja vu?

Ever since Haven Moore can remember, she's experienced visions of a previous life as a girl named Constance, whose love for her soulmate Ethan ended in tragedy.

And then the sight of the world's hottest movie star, Iain Morrow, brings Haven to her knees. She knows she has met him before. Is Iain her beloved Ethan?

Unable to deny her past any longer, seventeen-year-old Haven flees to New York to find him - and an epic love affair begins. But it is both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Can Haven unlock the deadly secrets hidden in her past lives - and loves - before all is lost and Ethan disappears again...forever?

My Review:
The Eternal Ones was one of those books that generated a lot of hype, and for this reason I did not read any reviews of it so I could avoid being influenced by others. I still haven't read any now that I have finished the book so I have no idea if people are loving or hating it.

That said, I loved it. After reading the blurb and drawing assumptions from the title, I was under the impression it was going to be another vampire story (because they all seem to be) which is why it has taken me so long to get to it, but I was so pleasantly surprised when I started it and realised that is not the case at all. The Eternal Ones is based on the concept of reincarnation or past lives if you prefer. This is not something that gets explored a lot in YA fiction so I was very intrigued.

I thought the novel was very well written with a love story and a couple of murder mysteries, spanning across time with many different points of view. Because we as the reader, and Haven, didn't know who was lying and who was telling the truth, the suspense was at an all time high, you just never knew what was going to happen next. I really liked this aspect because I am usually able to guess what is going to happen in a story, so it was a nice change!

The characters were really interesting but it felt like there were lots of characters when really there weren't. This is because of all the past lives and the characters revisiting their memories of those. The supporting 'cast' of those without past lives was made up of strong characters who provided a stable point in contrast to the 'busy-ness' of all the past lives. Haven has grown up in a small southern town and she has never fit in, especially with her visions causing her to pass-out randomly. The scene and towns people have been created perfectly, I felt like I was Haven, living in this small town, dealing with all the small-mindedness that surrounded her and her best friend Beau.

One thing I would like to point out is that the majority of the novel is set in Manhattan, and I found this very surreal because I am currently in New York on holiday and a lot, if not all the places and neighbourhoods that are mentioned, are places that I have walked past. I could picture very clearly, for instance, when Gramercy Park was being talked about because, only the day before I started reading this, I went to Gramercy Park and wandered around the streets there. It was very, very surreal and I wonder if this is how it is for people who live in cities that stories are often set. I suppose it is the same for T.V. shows. I live in Perth, Australia which very rarely gets featured in anything (ironically enough the previous book I read was actually set in Perth!) and for me to actually be able to fully visualise a location, and not have to rely as heavily on the author describing it, was very exciting.

The Eternal Ones finishes with a twist, but not a cliffhanger and so I was a little surprised, but happy, to hear that there is going to be a sequel. I don't feel it needs one so it will be interesting to see what Miller does with it. No news yet as to when but as soon as I know, I will put it up on my Coming Soon page.

Just A Quickie...

I just thought I would make a very quick post about my visit to the Strand bookshop and my quest for a signed copy of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. As we know, I wasn't able to make it to the launch and signing, nor am I able to make it to any of the other events with David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. What I did manage to do was discover the treasure trove of YA books at the Strand bookshop in NYC. Here I managed to pick up a copy (signed the night before) of Dash & Lily plus another book of Levithan's, Love Is The High Law that he also signed last night.

Look at all the books! This is less than a quarter of the YA books in the store.

I then spent quite a while trying to decide which books I would buy off my two-page list I brought with me from home (I think most of you know I am travelling around the US at the moment). The books in America are so cheap. A hardcover book only costs about $8.50. At home this would cost closer to $30! In the end I decided on only six titles for now, but I plan to buy more at my next US city stop. I will probably just end up sending a box home.

So today I bought...

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison
Born To Rock by Gordon Korman
The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson
Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
Love Is A Higher Law by David Levithan

Plus some really cute Strand merchandise...

For anyone interested in visiting this awesome bookstore in NYC, you can find it at Broadway and 12th Street in Manhattan.

Book reviews to come!

Exciting News For A Fellow Blogger

Some of you may remember the post I did a while back introducing you to writer and fellow blogger Kate Evangelista. You may recall that Kate has been searching for an agent. I'm very excited for Kate, because, yes, she has found herself one! Yay!

Congratulations Kate! I look forward to having your books on my shelf :)

To visit Kate's blog and to read all about her exciting news, click here.

To view my original post click here.

Wavelength by A.J. Betts

Title: Wavelength
Author: AJ Betts

Release Date: 2nd August 2010

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
Oliver’s world has shrunk. It’s all about Year 12 finals. It’s about that magic 80% average he needs to get into uni, get his dream job and get cashed up. If only he can find a quiet place to study – away from the chaos and mess of living with two small kids and his Mum’s booming muffin business.

A study break in a small coastal town seems just the ticket. But Sunny Haven Recreation and Leisure Centre is like some weird parallel universe. He arrives cashless, bookless, phoneless and fuming in the back of his Dad’s clapped out Cortina only to find his new study space is home to an array of elderly citizens.

They’ve each got their own opinions on Oliver’s life plans and he “doesn’t wanna hear it!” But gradually, with their help, Oliver’s universe expands.

My Review:
I was really interested in reading this book because it is set in Perth (where I live) and Busselton (where I have holidayed). In other words, I am familiar with the scenery which is rare as not alot of books are set in Perth so a big shout out to local author AJ Betts! I briefly met Betts once when she came into the book store I was working in. This was before Wavelength had been released which is a pity because now that I have read it, I would have loved to have had the opportunity to tell her how much I enjoyed it!

The topic of Wavelength is something we can all identify with, our final exams, our TEE. For those of you not familiar with the Australian school system, the mark we get on this determines if we can get into the university course we want. Oliver's frustration is all too easy to identify with and I can remember back to when myself and my friends took our TEE exams and the stress we felt we were under to get great scores. If I remember correctly from our little chat, Betts is a high school teacher so she would be very familiar with Oliver's position, having witnessed it many times over. I also think that showing Oliver's home life reaches out to other teens because he is constantly having to take on other responsibilities due to his mum's job. This helps show that teenager's can have other things in life to worry about besides school. Being a teenager can sometimes be a very lonely time, and, one of the fantastic things about alot of young adult fiction, is that it helps teens understand they are not alone.

For those of you who have read the book, I personally can relate most to the character of Emma. While our circumstances were different, we both ended up going down the same path. I really admire the overall message in the book (well it's what came through the strongest to me anyway) and that's DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE. SOMETHING YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR. I could go on and on about this but it will probably get a little too personal and bore you all to tears so I shall stay on track shall I?

The character development was great and the teasing and banter between Oliver and Emma was really well done. I thought it was important to have Emma's character and her gradual feelings towards the exams revealed because, while Oliver does represent a large portion of year 12 students, not everyone views the exams as the be-all, end-all (because they're not) and I think this is a very important point to keep in mind. That said, this is not an anti-TEE review/book, more a reminder to do what makes you happy.

As a side note, I loved the scene where Oliver is learning how to make coffee for the first time. Very well written!

Sometimes I felt the language was a little off, that some of the words used would not be used by a 17-year-old boy, but ultimately this was a very enjoyable story that I would recommend and that I hope goes into high school libraries.

A Major Case of Bad Luck

I would like to share with you what I see as complete and utter bad luck that I have stumbled over. As most of you know, I am currently traveling around the US and at the moment I am in New York. One of the things I wanted to do while here was go to a book signing of an author I like. There was no one in particular but I knew there would have to be at least one that I would want to attend, especially since it is extremely rare for me to find one in Perth (where I live).

As it happens I was looking through this weeks Time Out magazine and came across the launch of David Levithan and Rachel Cohn's new book next Thursday. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I started hyper-ventilating until I discovered that it is on the same day that I have booked to go to Niagara Falls (and i had only just booked the flights the previous night!). Desperately I tried to find out how much it would cost me to change my return flight to an earlier time. This proved too expensive, especially since I would have to change my friends flight also. If it was just me I would have said, "screw the money" and booked another flight, but I can't expect her to throw her money away as I would.

My next step was to find out if there were going to be any other signings in Manhattan or Brooklyn before I leave. Unfortunately, there are quite a few, but none that I can make it to due to other events that I can't cancel. I am so so so so so gutted. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, one of Levithan and Cohn's collaborations, is one of my all time favourite books and I have recently read Levithan's collaboration with John Green, Will Grayson Will Grayson, and it was so brilliant. My next step is to find out if the book shop will get a copy signed for me as we do that in Australia, but I'm not holding my breath.

For those of you who are interested in attending, you can find their tour schedule on Rachel Cohn's website.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Release Date: 26th October 2010

“I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Title: Waiting For You
Author: Susane Colasanti

Release Date: 11th August 2010

My Rating: 2/5

Blurb:
At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start, and hopefully her first real boyfriend. Could it be popular dreamy Derek? Or geeky Nash, who just might have a crush on her? Then there's the underground, anonymous DJ, whose podcasts are the hottest thing at school and who seems to totally understand Marisa. But she doesn't know who he is...or does she?

My Review:
I have mixed opinions about this book. My initial thoughts were that I didn't like the style of writing. There is a lot of teen-speak such as the number of times 'like' is said and how all the verbs are annoyingly repetitive.

For example:
"What?" Stirling goes.
"I'm just saying,"Andrea goes.
Sterling's like, "Could it be any hotter?"

It's as bad as saying he said or she said after every sentence. Keep in mind these are not all in the same paragraph, although they are from the same page, but they are a small example of the language I found irritating. I'm not sure if this is because I'm Australian or because I am no longer a teen but either way it was annoying. The story itself was predictable. I was able to pick the ending within the first few pages.

What I did like was that our main character Marisa suffers from anxiety and depression. I don't think these are subjects that get discussed a lot in YA literature, especially anxiety. Marisa has her highs and lows and we as the reader get to experience these with her. We also see how she pulls herself out of her slumps and how those around her effect her moods.

Other issues Marisa has to deal with include her parents' surprise separation, her best friends' online boyfriend who may be a creepy old man, an old friendship rekindled and a new relationship with her crush. Marisa's journey comes full circle when she learns to live in the now and stop waiting.

A recurring theme is the age-old don't judge someone before you get to know them. You never know what may be happening in their life or why they act the way they do. This is universal and such an important message.

By the end, I felt the language had changed a bit, or maybe I just wasn't noticing it anymore, but it was easier for me to read without getting annoyed. The story finished just how I predicted it would but somehow that was ok with me because Marisa grew as a person and there were lots of important messages that got addressed. This is very much a teen read and I do not think it will be enjoyed by those who have finished high school.

Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

Title: Six Impossible Things
Author: Fiona Wood

Release Date: 1st August 2010

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
Fourteen-year old nerd-boy Dan Cereill is not quite coping with a reversal of family fortune, moving house, new school hell, a mother with a failing wedding cake business, a just-out gay dad, and an impossible crush on the girl next door. His life is a mess, but for now, he's narrowed it down to just six impossible things...

My Review:
I have had a really hard time trying to review this book. I loved it and I was pretty sure I would as I had read so many fantastic reviews of it. But my mind is in holiday mode and words are not working for me right now so here is the jist of what I think...

Six things I loved about it:

*It was very funny with plenty of irony and sarcasm
*All the characters were developed fantastically and there was someone for everyone to identify with
* Dan's situation is common in real-life but not common in the YA literary world so it felt like a breath of fresh air and something teens would be able to relate to
*The story is age-appropriate. Dan is fourteen, and the events and milestones are that of a fourteen-year-old
*Dan Cereill is an anagram of Cinderella
*The book is full of cliches but it JUST DOESN'T MATTER

The ending is predictable but in a good way and I would definitely read this again, maybe not straight away, but definitely again.