Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books; 4/4 60/20 edition (1 Jun 2007)

Pages: 230

ISBN: 978-0-330-48250-9

Grade: A*

From Amazon
‘You’re not Mia Thermopolis any more, honey,’ Dad said. ‘You’re Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo. Princess of Genovia.’

A PRINCESS?? ME??? Yeah. Right.

One minute Mia’s a totally normal Manhattan 14-year-old. Next minute she’s heir to the throne of Genovia, being trailed by a trigger-happy bodyguard, taking princess lessons with her bonkers old grandmere, and having a makeover with someone called Paolo. Well, her dad can lecture her till he’s royal-blue in the face, but no way is Mia going to turn herself into a style-queen. And they think she’s moving to Genovia? Er, hello?

Review
I’ve seen both of the Princess Diaries films (I’m the proud owner of the boxset) and absolutley loved them, I’ve also seen loads of positive reviews for the books and I have to say book one in this Princess series didn’t let me down.

I mean Mia Thermopolis totally rocks and I wish I was more like Lilly (never going to happen), in fact all the characters are awesome, every one totally deserves their place and has something to do within the story. Admitedly one was a bit of a jerk (OMG did I really just say / write that), yes I’m looking at you Josh Ritcher – but even he deserves his place. Even the body guards were fun characters to read about.

I love diary formats, I don’t know why but they seem to have a habbit of drawing me in and never letting go and because each of the sections is quite small there’s nothing to stop you reading – just one more section, and then another … and another! Though I did catch myself trying to work through the algebra on some of the pages – eek!

I loved seeing the way she saw her mum’s relationship with her teacher (that would make me cringe) and how she dealt with it, by the end like in the film she’s a transformed character but she still has her Mia’ness in tact.

And in true Mia style…

You should read the Princess Diaries Book 1 because:

1. It totally rocks
2. It shows how good friendship can be
3. It’s very hard to put down
4. IT TOTALLY ROCKS (I know I’ve already said this)

I’ve gone from never reading a Meg Cabot book (shame on me) to a fan, bring on The Princess Diaires Book 2 is all I can say!

Author: Alan Garner

Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books (reissue) (2nd September 2010)

Pages: 214

ISBN: 978-0-00-712787-0

Grade: B

From Amazon
Enthralling sequel to The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

It is the Eve of Gomrath – the night of the year when the Old Magic is aroused. Had Colin and Susan known this, they would never have lighted a fire on the Beacon, thereby releasing the uncontrollable ferocity of the Wild Hunt. Soon they are inextricably caught up in the struggle between their friend, the Wizard Cadellin, and the evil Morrigan.

The strength of their courage will determine whether or not they survive the awaiting ordeal…

Review
Firstly apologies for the image, Amazon don’t have the correct cover listed so I’m relying on a photo I took of it – eek!

The Moon of Gomrath was (as I said in my review of The Lost Stone Of Brisingamen) a lot better than the original book, their seemed to be more action and I felt much more engaged by the story. In a way it’s almost like most of the things I didn’t like about the first story had been corrected for this one – yay!

This book had the adventure and the magic (more below) that I had been waiting for in the first one. This new exciting story went along with epic views and scenary which I remembered from the original and I felt I cared more for the characters and what happened to them – big improvement.

I love magic and wizards in stories so to see this one with lots of it made me happy – it wasn’t small itty bitty magic either, it was magic with oomph! Magic that if it wasn’t so terrifying I might actually pay to watch – the words made visualising it very easy and seeing the danger that Susan and Collin were in seem all the more real.

I don’t think that picking this book up anyone could get confused by not reading the original as although it is a sequel, it’s only one that really uses the same characters and as the narrators says near the beginning is a different tale – phew!

I would recommend this book for younger readers as it’s a good solid adventure story with magic spread throughout although it might be not quite enough for older readers.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me a copy to review.

Torment is the second book in the Fallen series which was kicked off by first book – Fallen by Lauren Kate. I’ve heard some really good things about this series but I’m still a little bit anxious of angel books after the only one I’ve read slightly dissapointed me.

This being said it’s a very teasing trailer which uses more than just pictures with words (like some do) – it actually uses real moving images and and very subtle but building music in the background. It might just be enough to tempt me to read it – would need to read Fallen first though.

Torment is released in the UK by Doubleday Children’s Books on the 30th September 2010.

Original Picture: JohnnyEnglish

You can find out more about In My Mailbox on The Story Siren (where the In My Mailbox meme started inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie).

2 books this week (though I’m not quite sure where one of the came from – or more precisely how it arrived, you’ll see what I mean – I hope!).

Summaries are from Amazon.

Won – Buffy The Vampire Slayer Bind Up 1
OMG! You have no idea how happy I was when I found out I’d won this bind up – I was (and still am) a huge fan of the Buffy The Vampire Series, (even though I was very late coming to it). To give you an example, when I bought each boxset I rewatched all of the seasons leading up to it again – it’s no wonder the episode ‘The Harvest’ – (S1, Ep2) doesn’t play properly at the end! I’ve read some of the Buffy novels which were released alongside the series and really enjoyed them so I can’t wait to read this! CAN’T WAIT!

So a big thank you to Lauren at I Was A Teenage Book Geek for holding the contest

In every generation, there is a Chosen One. A slayer destined to protect the human race. She alone must fight the demons of hell. She alone must risk her life to stop the spread of evil.

In Portal through Time, Slayers over the centuries are in danger, and Buffy must protect them in order to save her own life and legacy. (Good Reads)

For Review (I Think): Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia
This is the one that I’m stumped on, I think it’s come for review but I’m not absolutley certain (eek!). Anyhoo it came from Puffin / Penguin – thank you! If you want it back let me know :p

It does sound good but I haven’t read the first one in the series so I hope it doesn’t rely too much on it.

One night in the rain, Ethan Wate opened his eyes and fell in love with Lena Duchannes. His life would never be the same. Lena is a Caster and her family is locked in a supernatural civil war: full of darkness and demons. On her sixteenth birthday Lena made a terrifying choice, which now haunts her day and night. And as her seventeenth birthday approaches Lena and Ethan face even greater danger. A Caster and a Mortal can never truly be together. Every kiss is a curse. Ethan’s next heartbeat could be his last. It is their curse now . . .

What did you get this week? Happy Reading

Each Friday Book Reviews This Week takes a look at reviews published in the Young Adult book blogosphere to help us all find great new (or rediscover older) young adult books and while were at it celebrate the work of all the young adult book bloggers out there

Here’s a selection from this week (ordered alphabetically by title).

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner – reviewed by Kristi, The Story Siren

Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – reviewed by Adele at Pernickity Snark

Betrayals by Lili St Crow – reviewed by Becky, The Bookette

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James – reviewed by Lucie, The Book Girl

Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey – reviewed by Mostly Reading YA

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford – reviewed by Carla at The Crooked Shelf

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card – reviewed by Escape In A Book

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins – reviewed by Jenny at Wondrous Reads

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma – reviewed by Mostly Reading YA

Glass House (Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine – reviewed by Escape In A Book

Hay Wired by Alex Keller – reviewed by Ria at The Beaucoup Review

Immortal Remains by Rook Hastings – reviewed by Lauren at I Was A Teenage Book Geek

Jinxed by Sara Lawrence – reviewed by Iffath at LoveReadingX

Keeping Secrets by Sue Barrow – reviewed by Luisa at Chicklish

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater – reviewed by Lyndsey at Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh – reviewed by Dwayne at Girls Without A Bookshelf

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White – reviewed by E.J. Stevens at From The Shadows

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White – reviewed by Carla at The Crooked Shelf

Private by Kate Brian – reviewed by Jenny at Wondrous Reads

My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey – reviewed by Mostly Reading YA

Rebel by R J Anderson – reviewed by Lyndsey at Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett – reviewed by Caroline at Portrait Of A Woman

Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett – reviewed by Sophie at So Many Books, So Little Time

Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett – reviewed by Dwayne at Girls Without A Bookshelf

Skate School: Stars on Ice by Kay Woodward – reviewed by Luisa at Chicklish

So Much To Tell You by John Marsden – reviewed by Lauren at I Was A Teenage Book Geek

The Abduction Of Julia by Karen Hawkins – reviewed by Dwayne at Girls Without A Bookshelf

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley – reviewed by Jenny at Wondrous Reads

The Duff by Kody Keplinger – reviewed by Adele at Pernickity Snark

The Legacy by Gemma Malley – reviewed by Rhiana Reads

The Maze Runner by James Dashner – reviewed by Becky, The Bookette

The Night of the Solstice by L.J. Smith – reviewed by Kate at Chicklish

The Resistance by Gemma Malley – reviewed by Rhiana Reads

Torment by Lauren Kate – reviewed by Asamum Booktopia

Untamed (House of Night #4) by PC and Kristin Cast – reviewed by Lyndsey at Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

Unraveled by Gena Showalter – reviewed by Kristi, The Story Siren

White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick – reviewed by Karen at Teenage Fiction For All Ages

Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis – reviewed by Caroline at Portrait Of A Woman

Author: Alan Garner

Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books (reissue) (2nd September 2010)

Pages: 283

ISBN: 978-0-00-735521-1

Grade: C

From Amazon
A tale of Alderley

When Colin and Susan are pursued by eerie creatures across Alderley Edge, they are saved by the Wizard. He takes them into the caves of Fundindelve, where he watches over the enchanted sleep of one hundred and forty knights.

But the heart of the magic that binds them – Firefrost, also known as the Weirdstone of Brisingamen – has been lost. The Wizard has been searching for the stone for more than 100 years, but the forces of evil are closing in, determined to possess and destroy its special power.

Colin and Susan realise at last that they are the key to the Weirdstone’s return. But how can two children defeat the Morrigan and her deadly brood?

Review
I’m not really sure where to start with this review, I mean from the description from Amazon it sounded interesting and the mention of the word Wizard made me think – yay! And after seeing many good reviews for the book on Amazon (mostly five star) I thought I would enjoy it. But it left me slightly dissapointed.

For a start the story reminded me of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (one of the only books (I only tried to read the first one) I wasn’t able to finish) – the map at the start only reinforced my comparisons, and maybe this is why I couldn’t get into the book as much as I hoped I would.

That being said I could appreciate the vivid scenes that the words painted, many of which I can still recall. From underground tunnels to large expanses of land – at least from this point it was promising. I just felt that there was a lot of running (nothing wrong with running) but not a lot else. Now don’t get me wrong in Susan and Collins shoes running is EXACTLY what I would be doing but at least for me without much in the way of fighting back it just wasn’t enough!

The final scenes did show some promise though – I really wish the action at the end started earlier when we finally saw some magic in action (since a small bit at the start) and shows some hope for the sequel, The Moon of Gomrath – which I’ve already started and it’s a LOT better!

I think perhaps younger readers will enjoy this book more than I did.

Thanks to Harper Collins for providing me a copy to review.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Two posts today (it’s almost a new record) plus one review scheduled for tomorrow – could it be I’m getting organised? Nah! lol

This weeks Waiting on Wednesday is one that I saw mentioned in a number of people’s waiting on wednesday last week and it looked so good, so now – I’m waiting for it too. The summary this time comes from Good Reads:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Across The Universe by Beth Revis is published by Razorbill on the 11th January 2010.

I am once again really late with the latest news, but anyhoo I digress.

This years Queen Of Teen is Cathy Cassidy, congratulations Cathy!

According to the Queen Of Teen website Cathy taught Art at Coventry secondary school for a few years and worked for as an Agony Aunt for Shout magazine. Her books include Indigo Blue, Sundae Girl and Lucky Star and have sold over 700,000 in just the UK!

You can find out more about Queen Of Teen on the official Queen Of Teen website.

Author: Joss Stirling

Publisher: Oxford University Press (7th October 2010)

Pages: 308

ISBN: 978-0-19-273213-2

Grade: A

From Amazon
When Sky catches a glimpse of Zed for the first time, lounging against his motorbike at school, she is drawn to him just like every other girl in Wickenridge. But Zed sees something special in her that the other girls don’t have. Zed tells her they are both Savants – people with special powers like telepathy and the ability to see into the future. Not only that, she is a Savant too, and his soulfinder – meant to be together. When a soulfinder speaks telepathically to her partner, it’s like all the lights coming on in a building. You lit me up like Vegas. But for Sky it’s just not that easy – she’s a mystery to herself, haunted by nightmares from her past before she was adopted, and riddled with doubt and insecurity. Just when Sky is slowly coming round to the idea of being with Zed she is kidnapped by a family of criminal Savants. In a chilling twist, Sky and Zed’s relationship is put to the ultimate test and the fate of those she loves lie in Sky’s hands. Will Sky have the strength to embrace her power and be brave enough to control her own destiny, or will the dark demons of her past prevent her from realising her true potential?

Review
Finding Sky is something really unique – it’s not about vampires, werewolves or even fallen angels and although from the outset it’s setup appears much in the same stream of these kind of stories it’s not (as I’m sure you can tell from the above synopsis). Sure it has a romantic story which involves Sky (who I admire greatly) and Zed – my initial reaction to Zed was eek!, a Savant (a person with special powers – lets leave it at that) but once Sky finds out more about herself the dynamic kind of changes.

It becomes instead a story of Sky finding herself, finding out who she really is and becoming a stronger person as a result.

Talking of characters I was kind of siding with Sky’s friends and parents when they were trying to keep Sky away from Zed as I was unsure of him and his actions (I noted down once and I quote “who the hell does he think he is?”). I did warm to him though the more time he spent with Sky and the more we found out about what it means to be a Savant. That and I really enjoed Zed and Sky’s telepathic conversations

I was a little uneasy on the soulfinder part of the story which basically said that each Savant has their soulfinder (think soulmate and your kind of on track) who completes them. This implies to me that each Savant can only be happy with one particular Savant and there’s no way of knowing who they are before you’ve met them removing free will and condeming surely a number of them to a pretty crappy life!

Tingly, romantic, funny in places, warming, adventurous are just a few words I could use to describe Finding Sky and topped off with a music teacher which reminds me of the head of music at my old school – *trying* to get me (and others) included in the school choir (heaven forbid). Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Liz and Oxford University Press for providing me a copy for review.

I’ve only seen this weeks trailer today (possibly because it was only uploaded to YouTube today) but it looks really good. I’ve heard a lot about L.A Weatherly’s Angel and all of it positive so I’m really quite looking forward to it.

Back to the trailer, I love the music and how it builds, now is it just me or do those stone angels immediatley make you think of the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who – episode Blink! (Doctor Who must be embedded in me).

So without further ado here’s the trailer for Angel (and no, not Buffy The Vampire Slayer Angel!).

You can read more about Angel on the dedicated website, Angel Fever at www.angelfever.com. Angel will be published by Usborne Publishing on the 1st October 2010.