A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Title: A Match Made in High School
Author: Kristin Walker
Release Date: February 4th, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 278
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she marries her "husband": jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes

Honestly, why couldn't my high school be as fun as this? I would have loved to have participated in such an event, because the fun these kids had left me laughing until my sides hurt. I wish high school had been as fun as this, or else I would never have been in such a hurry to leave.

When Fiona and the entire senior class have to participate in a marriage ed program that pairs off the boys and girls, and forces them to live a pseudo-marriage life some interesting things start to take place. Pranks are everywhere and hurtful truths and lies are revealed. And the most unexpected people turn out to be some of the best.

At first I was sympathetic with Fiona, but as the novel started to develop I realized just how annoyed I was with her and her friend Marcie. I just wanted to hit them. I mean, I understand they are young but their behavior made me feel like I'm reading a book about middle schoolers instead of high school. The only thing that reminded me they were in high school was the idea of graduation. I don't think any of them talked about college or what they wanted to do later on. And just the way they acted, it was like, your really in high school? Really?

But I did like the character development. I liked how Walker showed a different side to Todd and Amanda near the end. And, of course, the cute guys always have a darker side to them, so I liked how Walker presented that.

Walker did a good job in showing how self-centered Fiona is, but she also should some growth, which I'm happy about.

Granted, I personally can't talk about the 'good ol' days when I was a kid' because honestly, I'm barely out of high school myself, so I can still remember the crazy feelings and just how...unstable life can feel. The madness was expressed well throughout the book.

I could not stop laughing and, when I should have been studying, I was finish reading this book in one sitting and I wish it hadn't ended. Walker is one of my new favorite authors now. She is hilarious and I can't wait to read more of her work!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Release Date: October 13th, 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Suicide has always been a delicate subject for me. For a long time throughout my early teenage years and well into high school I was Hannah. I knew what she felt, I knew what it was like to be standing by yourself, I knew what it was like to be bullied, and I could feel everything that Hannah felt.

It sucks sometimes to have these feelings like there's no more hope, there's no more happiness, there's no way to get away from this pain. And it sucks worse when it leads a person to commit a permanent act like suicide.

As Clay goes through the night of listening to Hannah, as he walks in her footsteps for one night, a new world opens up for him. And the question always remains Why? But sometimes there aren't any clear answers. Sometimes there just isn't a reason and as much as people hate that fact, it is what it is.

The character's in this world felt alive and for some of them it was like a new imprint was made on them as one by one they discovered there names on the list. Sometimes people just don't want to know the pain that the caused a person; ignorance is bliss, correct? But Hannah somehow got into their minds and hearts and through the working of Asher's tale that can grip anyone's heart forced them to confront their faults.

Asher wove a tale together that will be both memorable and haunting. This book has made me see the world through different eyes and I think anyone, especially those who feel like Hannah's path is the one for them, should read this book. I don't think anyone is selfish for choosing this road, but I do think that they need to honestly consider the aftermath of their act before turning to it.

This is a book for anyone and everyone to read.

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Title: Last Sacrifice
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 594
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Others in the Series: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, & Spirit Bound
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 3 Stars

It all comes down to now.

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice.

The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust...

But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all?

Each other.

I have to say, I'm surprised how the series went from my high pedestal and seemed to crash and burn with the last two books. I am greatly disappointed with the way the series ended.

Okay, the queen's murder seem to come out of almost nowhere, and even the person who killed her to just made no sense whatsoever, but if people really look I guess they could argue that it actually does, still I feel that it was just a little random.

I was disappointed in a lot of areas. I felt bad for Adrian, and I felt like Rose didn't full understand him, and even if they weren't "meant to be together" I wish that she hadn't jumped into bed with Dimitri when she did. It was pretty low of her. And I do agree with Adrian that she brought a lot of people down with her reckless behavior and that she was too self-centered. I sometimes wonder if she ever stopped to think what some people were giving up for her and why she doesn't stop to think.

What really scared me was the end with Lissa. I would not put it pass her to take Jill and lock her up in a dungeon and bring her out when her purpose was needed, like Council stuff. Though sending her to a human boarding school is just as low.

I'm not even sure I want to read BLOODLINES the last two books ended so sour for me with VAMPIRE ACADEMY.

The character's held on to their personality and I'm really glad that Dimitri and Rose rekindled their love. Really glad things worked out for Lissa in the whole election thing, but in a way it feels like these are bittersweet victories. For me, I'm looking at the mess that was left behind, even if Rose doesn't.

Adventures, romantic, and funny the idea behind the last book was good and original, but I just felt like it was out of place. I just no longer connected with Rose anymore, though most of the time you can still feel like your a part of the story. I'm really torn, actually, but I guess this is how it is.

A fun ride while it lasted, I wouldn't go through it again. Just my personal opinion.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Title: Spirit Bound
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 489
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Others in the Series: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, & Blood Promise
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 4 Stars

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

I should start with the reason why this book got a lower score than the other books. Basically, I was upset with Rose's behavior towards Dimitri. I honestly thought that it wouldn't be possible what they did, and when they did I was just shocked, but I guess you should expect it since there's still one more book. Anyways, I understand her love for him and wanting him to run into her arms, but she has to remember everything they went through. It might not have mattered to her, but it mattered to him since he was the one who was doing it. I'd be surprised if he had run into her arms the first time. This was more real, but I hated the way Rose reacted to everything. He obviously needed space, and this might shock her, but it's not all about her. She's given a lot, but the way she acted made me think about how selfish she could be and I didn't like that at all.

Really, I wish this book and the last one were written again but from Dimitri's point of view, because what he went through was huge. And there's the matter of forgiveness. Did Rose truly forgive him or did she really want to believe she forgave him? Dimitri saw something there, which is why he pushed himself away from her, and I don't think she realized that.  I do believe Dimitri loves her, but this is a big thing.

But I did like this almost as much as the others. The drama in the Moroi world is heating up, and the ending had me going "WTF".

I really don't know what else to say that I haven't said about the other books. It's just great. The character's get better and better. I was so happy with Lissa for the first time that she didn't let Rose go off by herself, and I honestly couldn't believe what Rose, Lissa, and Eddie did in order to get Robert, but I wasn't surprised how it ended. Of course they would run off.

What did shock me, besides Dimitri and the ending, was what Rose did with Adrian. Okay, so you try to move on, understood, but you don't really love the guy and are trying hard. The nonsex scene had me wondering where Rose's head was. I mean, who are you trying to fool here?

I'm just being mean to Rose right now, but she had it coming with her behavior.

So glad Richelle decided to keep Sydney around, even if it was like one scene. And Lissa's dad? Wow. I guess both brother and father are a disappointment to her. I feel bad for her because of that. Though this isn't right out said until the last book, still, you can already imagine what is going on here.

Overall it was as good, though I want to slap Rose on more than one occasion, but that's my personal opinion.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Title: Blood Promise
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 503
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Others in the Series: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, & Shadow Kiss
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

I fall in love with the series each time I open a new page. I was not expecting to fall in love with the book series so quick.

This was different than the other novels because now you have Rose on her own, searching for Dimitri who now an evil vampire, and I have to find new respect for her. In this age you would imagine having strong female characters in every day books, but that's not always the case. Yet, Rose is a strong female character, one that you can grow to respect. Sure, chasing after a guy may seem like a weak thing, but the hardest thing, I think, that happens is that Rose had to leave all behind for a while in order to fulfill a promise.

For a good portion of the novel I was afraid what Rose would do when she did find Dimitri, and my fears deepened when I thought that she was going to be awakened. Somehow I don't know how Rose can keep her sanity in the madness that is her life.

I fell in love with Dimitri's family and I wish that they had been introduced under different circumstances. And as for Abe? I was not expecting that. And I actually liked Sydney a lot. She was so stiff and uncomfortable, someone could almost laugh with her around. I'm glad Richelle brought her in, because Sydney makes for a good friend, despite how she much she hates Rose.

And for the first time in the series my heart actually went to Lissa. I agreed with Mia that Lissa should have gone, instead of feeling sorry for herself and thinking that Rose was abandoning her, and yet I couldn't get myself to be upset with her because of everything that started to happen with Avery, Jill, and Christian. I wish someone had noticed sooner, but then again Lissa has always been a little damaged.

And I'm afraid on how things are going to go later on between Rose and Adrian. I can already feel things go downhill.

Haunting, dark, nerve-wrecking, anticipation ride that you do not want to get off.

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Title: Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: November 13, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Others in the Series: Vampire Academy, & Frostbite
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all...might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line--and choose between the two people she loves most.

I am falling in love with the Vampire Academy series, and I am reading them at the speed of light.

Rose is the most selfless person I have ever met in my life, really. I don't know if I could do the things she does, she cares about Lissa too much, she cares about Mason and everything that happens, and she just cares. I am really annoyed with Lissa though, she is the most selfish person I have ever met. I feel like she thinks that the whole world revolves around her sometimes, and what bothers me the most is that Rose can basically read Lissa like a book, and yet Lissa can't read Rose back, which just tells me something about how she feels about Rose.

The entire plot-line was great, and the books are getting bigger so more is happening. The ending stunned me. I knew it was coming, but I wasn't sure which book and how it was going to happen, and when it did my jaw dropped.

Again, I'm going to be harsh on Lissa. I understand how she loves Rose and how they were close and whatever, but there really doesn't seem to be a limit to her selfish behavior. But I did like the way Rose stood up for herself.

What can I say that I haven't already said about the other books? I am just falling deeper and deeper in love. The books are getting sexier, funnier, heartbreaking, wonderful, and surprises at every turn. I'm apart of the small population that hasn't read the book series completely and if you are also in this community I say get to it. I am literally going through the books a day at a time, sometimes two, but you will devour them.

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 10, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Others in the Series: Vampire Academy
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble.  Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian.  (So not cool).

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians--including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother.  The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks.  This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety.  When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them.  Only this time, Rose--and her heart--are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

I picked this up soon after finishing the first book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. One thing I like about Richelle Mead is that her character's are original and stay true to some of their traits throughout the entire novel.

The plot line for this book, I consider, original because I have yet to read a book about what you do when you stick a bunch of vampires together into a ski lodge when danger is all around them.

I was frustrated with Lissa a lot. I can understand that she's stressed at times, but this girl is never happy. She's always gloomy and upset and crying, and I just got tired of it really soon. Nothing makes this girl happy, and I felt so bad for Rose because she kept thinking about her friend and others, and I just wished that Lissa would have had more consideration for Rose as well. She's not the only one going through drama.

I did like how Lissa had a solution for the big discussion that was going in the book. It shows that one day she could become a very good Queen, once she gets over herself and starts thinking about others.

I also felt bad for Mason and for a moment even Mia. I couldn't imagine going to what they went through.

Richelle is awesome at description and really letting you feel what Rose, and sometimes Lissa, feel. Rose had done a lot of maturing and considering everything she went through, I would not be able to keep my head together the way she did. I would even go as far as telling Lissa to stop having sex with her boyfriend if I'm going to get stuck in her head while she's in the middle of it. Seriously, there's a lot more self-control.

Though she slips up, which just makes it more real, I believe. No one changes over night, and considering there's four more books left I'm sure there's more to Rose and the way her character develops.

Funny, mysterious, nail-baiting, adventure that if you have not yet read this book, pick it up!

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 16, 2007
Publisher: Penguin Group / Razorbill
Pages: 332
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

I bought the book when it first came out and never got the chance to actually sit down and read it. I bought the other books in the series all the way until the end and it wasn't until I heard about the spin-off series that I actually decided that maybe I should actually read it, and I loved it!

It was fun to read. Rose was hilarious and I could relate a lot to Lissa, because like her I tend to let my emotions override me. And the chemistry between the two girl's was amazing. They have the kind of friendship that anyone would wish to have. While Lissa was very timid and unsure, Rose was reckless and took a chance, while Lissa had to hold control, Rose let go of all responsibility. And I think that Richelle did an amazing job when it came time for the roles to be reversed. The girl's really play off each other amazingly.

I may be the only person left in the universe who hasn't read the series, but in case you are behind like me, they I have to say that this is the book to read.

I loved how, despite being a fantasy novel, it ended very realistically between Rose and Dimitri, which will make reading book two more enjoyable!

It was written incredibly well. Richelle didn't go super fast in the novel but she also didn't go slow, making the pace of the book go well. The events played out well, and for the first book things ended with enough loose ends to be tied up, but still there is something left there for the reader to keep asking question and having to look forward to the other series.

Now I know why this book was very high acclaimed.

Funny, enjoyable, adventures, romantic, and mysterious it was a great start to the series!

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: January 11th, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 398
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author

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.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

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.

This is one of the best reads I've had my hands on. First, there's the cover. At first I didn't notice the two people, but once I did I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And then you have the ship design on the back if you got the hardcover with the covering that comes off. I like when publishers add that to the story because it makes it more 3D and a lot easier for me to picture.

Second, it isn't like the other science fiction works I've read. At first when I saw that it was in space I was thinking about aliens and such, and I already went through my alien phase with Ender's Game. But the idea behind the story was increasingly original, I loved it! The idea of being in space for a certain amount of time and the freezing of the body's and the system that was set up.

Right away I knew there was something going on (especially when Elder started saying how Hitler was a great ruler, that really set off alarms and then the Season) and my suspicion only increased with the odd behavior of everyone.

When it comes to romance novels I always want to know what the guy is thinking and so I liked how Beth started interchanging the narrations between Elder and Amy.


I cried, I laughed, and I just had a good time reading it. It was really a good story. She constructed the story in a way that when the ending came you literally did not see it coming! I love the surprises and the twist of stories and this one really had me going in a whirlwind. The final pages I read with my mouth wide open.


Beth did an especially fantastic job in description and really capturing the torment that Amy was going through and how she felt about everything from the first page to the last page. Elder, I felt so bad for him. He grew up confused and believing things. There plenty of times I just wanted to jump into the pages and hit him.


Why it received a four was because I was left confused in so many places that I don't even know if Beth will cover come the second book. Don't get me wrong, she did a wonderful job tying up a lot of the major plot-driven events, but for the most part I felt like she could have dived into other areas. Though, I am looking forward to the second book.


Original, mysterious, twisted, romantic, and heart racing it was a ride that I would go on again.