two way street by Lauren Barnholdt

There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other. ***************************************************************************************************************************** I remember reading Lauren Barnholdt all the way back in middle school when I read her book, the secret identity of Devon Delaney. That book was filled with enough drama and lies to get me really into reading, so I thank her for that. While wandering the library shelves, I (thank fully) stumbled across this book. Two way street is about the very complEX (haha, get it? Ok...no? ) relationship of Courtney Mcsweeny and Jordan. Because they were both going to Boston Uni, while dating, they decided that they will drive together.... to Boston from Florida... But then they break up, due to something Jordan saw when he went home early from a party, involving Courtney's dad and Jordan's mom... Talk about drama. Even though they are broken up, they still go, and the trip is filled with enough tension but not too much, and some revelations and heart felt talks to make it awesome and sweet. The flashbacks were a nice touch but left stuff un answered and there were some holes in the book...for example, when the hell was Courtney's ID stolen? But overall, it was pretty good. Cons:The flashbacks left some stuff unanswered The holes Confusion at times Pros:I thought that Courtney and Jordan's relationship, although complex, was very cute in the end Uhmmm, it's a road trip book. I love those kinds of books Jocelyn and B.Js relationship was very funny Stars: 4 1/2

The chosen one by Carol Lynch Williams

Firstly, the cover jumped out at me first. The braid was so pretty, yet haunting. In this book we follow 13 year old Kyra. Kyra is a polygamist and is isolated from the outside world. Kyra has 20 brothers and sisters and her father has three wives. In the book, these wifes are called Sister wifes. Kyra visits the Library on Wheels which is forbidden because books were banned. She secretly reads them in a tree, or in her family van. Kyra secretly visits her crush, Joshua. They both hope to choose each other instead of Kyra having a man appointed to her. However, everything changes when the prophet visits her family saying that he had a vision from god of Kyra and Hyram, her 60 year old uncle. She is to be wed to him even though he is family, 60 years old, and already has 7 sister wives. Her father tries to talk the prophet out of it but each attempt fails. Kyra tries to run by fails the first time with patrick, the man who drives the Books on wheels truck. She tells Patrick her story, and he offers to help her. She obliges, but the plan is foiled by the god squad. She is surprized when she is just returned to her family, because the last girl who tried to run was killed. She attemps again later on with a spare key in the truck that Patrick told her about. The god squad is hot on her trail, and then the phone that Patrick told her about makes a sound (Chirrup) like he told her it would. She calls the police and the god squad is arrested. Kyra is then put in a foster home. Her foster mother ran away from another colt and brought her child with her. (her child is now around Kyra’s age) She told Kyra that she missed her family too (Not her sister wives) and it was hard even with her child, so she told Kyra it might even be harder for her. Kyra misses all of her siblings, mainly Laura and her baby sister. The ending is nice. Kyra is going to someday look for Joshua (Who had to leave along with a few others) a tree is scraping across the window (I forgot the name, but its the name of the tree that Kyra reads in). I give this story

Some parts make you laugh, cry, and boil in side due to pure anger. such as (How can that happen! She is a girl!) I really hope that this doesn’t happen in the US, other wise i will go to the nearest one and rescue all the girls from this happening.

the book of broken hearts by sarah Ockler

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one. Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas? Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong? Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking **************************************************************************************************************************** Where can I start with this book? Well, simply put. I LOVED every word. Jude's father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, so she wants to restore his old bike, Valencia, in the hopes that he will remember some things and be able to go on a trip with Jude. The mechanic who can fix the bike for cheap is Emilio Vargas, a boy who she is forbidden to date by her sisters due to all the heart break caused by them. When Johnny Vargas broke her sister Araceli's heart before her wedding, her sisters created a book with blood and candles and oaths stating that no Hernandez was to date a Vargas, and filled also with other broken hearts. I cried when Jude put El demonio in the book, because it states how her father's disease is breaking her heart. It was sad to see Jude's father progress but even though, I still hearted it. I liked how Jude learned to not take stuff and to stand up to her sister's telling her what to do and what is best. She learns to follow her own heart, even if that might not be the best thing. Jude and Emilio's romance was very cute and not cheesy at all. In fact, I loved it so much that they are probably my favorite literary couples. I also respected Jude's decision to not get tested to see if she was going to be like her father when she is his age, because she doesn't want to dread it for the rest of her life. I also loved the story's behind all of her sister's name and Jude's name too. It was, as the title states, a heart breaking story, but it was also filled with love and hope.

The YA Sisterhood: GRAND FINALE!!!!! Dimitri (4) vs. Will (2)

The YA Sisterhood: GRAND FINALE!!!!! Dimitri (4) vs. Will (2)

Sever by Lauren Destefano

Source of book: Library Date published: Feb 12 2013 Publisher: Simon and Schuster books for young readers Rating: five out of five running shoes

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them. Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain. In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered. ************************************************************************************************************************************************ The conclusion to the chemical garden trilogy was as happy as it was sad. After recovering in the hospital, Rhine goes to Lindens uncle Reed's house. I really enjoyed this character, and I thought Destefano did a good job showing how much polar opposites Reed and Vaughn were compared to each other. Rhine continues the search for her brother, Rowan, before something happens to him because of his reckless behavior, and later for her search for Gabriel. Cecily did alot of growing up in this book, and I was happy to finally really witness her character fully develop. You also learn more about Rhine and Rowans parents which I thought was interesting and well put. I also liked how in the end, you are left to decide whether Rhine's parents and Vaughn were justified in their actions. That was still a tough decision for me because of the cruel nature of the experiments done by Vaughn...and Rhine's parents...and even though some were crueler than others, you are left to wonder if the ends justified the means. You also learn more about Madame, who is another character who will also puzzle you in the end in whether she is cruel or just sad about her daughter. Destefano did a marvelous job in intertwining all of the characters to each other and in creating a world that is unique and original, one that can never be created no matter how hard someone tries. I finished this book very quickly because I was desperate to find out what happened but not desperate to end. I would have ended quicker but I kept stalling because I didn't want to say goodbye. The ending was very well said and not over done. I liked how no one had babies (any more than they had) or got married....so it is up to you to decide what really happens. Rhine is ultimately a character I will never forget, from her name, to her eyes, to her incredible strength (on the inside) that she has inside herself. It was truly a fantastic book, and an even better series, one that I was glad to read. Destefano is an artist with her words and from within her mind she creates a world so beautiful and heart-wrenching, that the praise I give it will not ever do justice. And did you know that Linden Ashby is not just a character in these novels, but the name of an actor, more notably he plays Allison Argent's Father on Teen Wolf on MTV?

She's so dead to us by Kieran Scott

Source of book: library Pages: 278 pages Publisher: Simon and schuster books for young readers Stars: 3 1/2 out of 5 Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rearview mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends. Friends that liked having trust funds and new cars and friends that didn’t like constant reminders they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing. Now two years later, Ally’s mother has landed a job back in the site of their downfall. Despite Ally’s new low key, happy life, it’ll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Chloe Appleby and Hammond Ross. But then there’s Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake’s friends have a problem with his new crush since it would mean he could make Ally Ryan happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy it’s her. Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past but some things just can’t be forgotten. Aren’t there more important things than money? ********************************************************************************************************************************************* This book is told in the POV of Ally and Jake. I thought this book was pretty good, it had a gossipgirl vibe to it, and was a great beach read. However, I got annoyed of how naive Ally was at times, and she should have been more aggressive rather than passive. Jake annoyed me, but he was bearable. The book is mostly about how everyone hates Ally because her father did something with their money and screwed them all up. It didn't really go into detail about what happened, and I really hope that it is explained more in He is so not worth it, the next book in the trilogy. My favorite characters were Annie because I felt she was funny and interesting. However, it got annoying when Ally tries to become friends with the people who hate her. I was mad a Chloe too because apparently if they were best friends before, why wouldn't you try to make up? And the reason why she was made at Ally was stupid. She got upset because Ally kissed her boyfriend all the way back in the ninth grade... and the Idiot twins got on my nerves. Ok, Kieran Scott, I get that because they are branded the idiot twins that they are in fact, idiots, but she didn't have to make them so annoyingly stupid that it got on my nerves. The ending got me mad too, but I dont want to spoil it. The way she is so forgiving is aggravating too, and it aggravated me a little too much. Hopefully she grows a pair in the next book, or I will be royally pissed. Im out, Maggie.

Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder

source of book: Purchased Stars: Four and a half out of five Pages: 256 Publisher: Razorbill Hazel Stone wants nothing more than to be a part of the hottest clique in school, the Pretty Little Devils. When PLD queen bee Sylvia invites Hazel to one of the group's famous soirees, Hazel is thrilled--but popularity comes with a price. ***************************************************************************************************************************************************** I read Nancy Holder before and I have to say.. I wasn't impressed. Her book that I read was written in poor taste and was a major major cliche, however---Pretty Little Devils was a murder mystery that had me guessing until the end! Even when you thought it was over, it wasn't! It held its grip on me until the very end and I finished it in only a day. It was told in the point of view of Hazel, the girl who want to become a PLD and eventually does. She quickly learns the ways of their group--purple scrunchies and babysitting jobs and their ever-so-famous pranks while watching the children. They pool together their babysitting jobs, and when ever they are sitting, someone pranks them good, followed by drinking the parents stash of alcohol. The group seems fairly innocent, until they start to get strange messages and phone calls and even emails, all threatening and creepy. It starts out with the killer killing--butchering animals, then he or she moves on to people. The PLD think that sticking together will keep them from being harmed from the psycho, but it turns out they can trust no one and no one is safe, not even the pretty little devils themselves. So? Do you think you'll guess who the killer is? I have to say that I was very impressed with this book and Ms. Holder did a very good job keeping you guessing and intrigued until the last printed word upon the page. I think this would have been a great movie, and it did become one... But not under the name Pretty Little Devils.. Its called legacy, and is based on it, I suppose but it is nothing like it, From what I've seen from the trailer. Its rated R.. Which a movie about this book shouldn't be and it takes place in college and the names are entirely different... If you've seen that movie, don't blame the book! And don't watch the movie over the book, nothing beats a good beach read during the hot summer months. Au Revoir, M.J