Is it just me?

I feel so out of touch with newly released books except of course mockingjay but I didnt know that the sequel to leaving paradise had come out. I try to stay up to date but this completely slipped by. Now i must go buy it. Did it slip by anyone else too?

Review: Rush by Jonathan Friesen

Title: Rush
Author: Jonathan Friesen
Pages: 296
Pub. Date: June 2010
Synopsis (from B&N): Equal parts romance and heart-pounding action, this novel will leave you absolutely breathless. Join teen Jake King, an adrenaline junkie turned hotshot firefighter, as he struggles with the one risk he cannot take: losing his best friend and secret love, the beautiful Salome Lee. But to Jake, firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn't stop soon, they could all get burned

Opinion/Review: I have to be completely honest and say that when I picked this book up it was because I liked the author’s previous book (jerk California). The whole fire idea was a little iffy for me but I’m glad that I bought this book. The main character Jake is misunderstood by everyone except his best friend Salome. They don’t understand the need for the brain clearing adrenaline. He has to do his crazy stunts to feel like everybody does but one stunt leads to a series of life changes that could be disastrous for Jake, Salome and the town of Brockton, California. Let me start out by saying that this fictional town revolves around the firefighters who come during the wildfire season. Even Jake’s brother is part of these crews until his friend becomes an immortal (a secret firefighter club). The whole town turns on the king family, investigations are digging into mysterious deaths and Jake is a blind idiot. I definitely recommend this book but have to give it a 4 out of 5 just because it took Jake too long to see what was right under his nose.

Something like Fate

Yes something like Fate comes out may 4, 2010 and on friday I will post my review of Something Like Fate so that you can see what I thought and go buy the book on Tuesday May 4, 2010.

Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?
From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.
What if the boy who is your destiny is the one person you can't have?

LA book festival

As I said this past weekend I went to the Los Angeles festival of books. I have to say that it was overwhelming, so many YA authors that I have and hadn't heard of were there speaking on panels and signing books. Apparently this was the first year they had a YA stage and for certain events it was packed full. Unfortunately I missed the meg Cabot panel but I got to see the Blood, Fangs, and Temptation: Everything Vampire panel with some great vampire authors like Richelle Mead, Heather Brewster and others. They talked about their books and how they created the worlds their characters live in. They also answered a very interesting question. I'm paraphrasing but they talked about how all the YA vampire authors actually support and encourage each other and how other's success has pushed their books into the limelight an example being twilight. I was also able to see john green and David Levithan talk about their book Will Grayson Will Grayson. I especially liked how John Green talked about how he wanted to explore all types and forms of love there is not just the romanticized version we are taught by society and everybody else. And here is a link to some photos i had posted.

Los Angeles festival of books

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Title: Going Bovine
Author: Libba Bray
Publisher: Random House
Pages:496
Synopsis(from b&n):Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

Opinion/review: This is one of the weirdest books i have ever read and i am not just saying that. Weird in a somewhat good way though. Cameron is just like all of us trying to survive high school when he finds out that he has mad cow disease. throughout the entire book Cameron goes on a journey to find a cure for his disease. There is parallel between Don Quixote and Cameron. This book is like a roller coaster of emotions(mostly laugh out loud funny). Balder the yard gnome is a great character, if you are thinking how does a gnome fit into a story you will definitely have to give this book a try. Some people may not make it to the end and that's OK but props to Ms. Bray for creating this great convoluted story that just makes sense.3/5

Elizabeth scott contest entry