Book: Manifest

I have wanted to read this book since it first came out in 2010. I feel in love with the cover and when i saw it at the library I just had to give it a try.
The book was very pretty good. I think the best way to put it is that younger YA readers will like it better even though its got a dark storyline ( for more info on that see bottom of post). As I am 16 and reading it I do not think that I liked it as much I would have if I was younger.
There was not to much about this book that I have not read before in books. It made me think of the The Gifted Books a little. I think that fans of those books will also like this one.
I also think that a lot of us will see eye to eye Krystal.She is going through a rough time and though she has some paranormal problems she also is going through a lot of the same things we are. Trying to find her place in the world and feeling powerless to do anything to change the problems in her life.
Over all a pretty good book. I think that if I get the chance I will give the next one a try.


( YA-12 and Up. Note that the story is about a guy who is killed and there is some internet stalking and underage porn in the book but not by the main characters. Its a good book to read and then talk  about internet safety and so on. I do think that some 12 year olds can handle this book over all but it might be a good idea to talk to them about while and even after they are done reading it)

Stars:  * * * 3.0

Book: Data Runner

I am going to keep is review short and to the point.
I have to say that at first I was pretty doubtful about this book. But some how it really got me putted in to it. No most of the ideas are nothing new but its got that pull. Its a lot like an action movie you have seen the same thing 50 times but you still love the story and want to see it all over again just a little different. Thats pretty much this book. This book follows a lot of poplar ideas in si-fi right now. Like the problems have to do with climate change. Which I like I just wish that it would have either played a bigger part of the book or that the author would have come up with some new ideas and twists on it. This book was also not as thrilling as I had hoped it would be.
Still I think that this book does have some very good points that make it worth reading. This is not a book for most people. I think that boys and "geeks" will like it more than anyone else. Its
on the lighter side but it still has a story that ywill keep you reading.

(YA - 14 and up)
Stars: * * * 3.0

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book

Book: The Selection ( #1)

I have wanted to read this book since it came out. But I first of all never found the time until now and was worried that it would not be as good as everyone said it would be. it all seemed to good to be true. But it was wonderful. It had everything I could have wanted from it. The pacing of the book was right on not to fast and not to slow. We learned about the lifestyle and world that this is set in at a good pace. Learning only what we needed to when we needed to. It felt like we were really in America's head. It was natural. America was the kinda girl that YA should be full of. She was strong but she had her soft caring side. She thought things through or acted normal. I also loved how the book did not get caught up in things that were not needed. Like lots of fights between the girls to keep people reading. When I read the reviews for this I became very fearful that this book would be like City of Bones  or Clockwork Angel and that it would be full of nasty twists and tricks. But it was not the book did not try to trick you in to wanting to read more in a lot of ways it made me think of Entwined ( which I loved).
I also really liked the love story in this ( team Maxon).I found it refreshing. It felt very really.The whole book really was what I think good YA books should be. It was the right mix of everything. I would highly recommend this book. And can not wait to read the next one which I hope will hold up to this one.

( YA -13 and up)
Stars: * * * 3.8 
( why only 3.8 because I would have liked this to be one stand alone book rather than another series)

Fun Links! List of Girls in the book!

Book: Pieces Of My Heart

This book sounded right up my alley. I am a huge fan of books about people trying to live their dreams. and books about fame. As you can guess from a hand full of my reviews.
I have to say that I really liked the start of this book. It did not hit me as something special but just another fun read. And i liked. I might not have been a big fan of Mari. At times she was really cool and it felt like we were getting close to her as a reader. But at other times it felt like I was not getting a clear look at her. Like she was slipping away. Which is not something I think I have ever found in an YA book. But this book did have lots of good points as well. I liked how Mari did feel like a lot other teens trying to live their dreams. She had a lot of tough choices to make and I think that the story did a really good job of showing that. And one thing I have to say I like about it was how she handle her self with Blend.She knew what she was and was not willing to do. I think it was really great to see that in a YA book. I feel that a lot of times the girls fall so fast and are willing to do anything for a guy. After a while I get very tired of reading that.
Another thing that I liked about this was how it was different from a lot of the other fame books ( as I like to call them) it did not really go or do just what you thought it would. And that was really nice.
Over all not the worlds best book but it was fun and if you want to read it I say go for it. Its one that older fans The Daughters and Secrets Of My Hollywood Life will like.

( YA - 14 and up )
Stars: * * * 3.2 

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book

Book: Ignite

I was really interested by the idea of this book. I have never read an Angels or demon book other than the TMI books ( if those count). And I thought this one looked really good. And that it would be a really refreshing read since Im so new to it.
But I think I picked the wrong book to start with.I tried really hard to like it.But it just did not do anything for me. The book did have some good points and I did not totally hate it I just think that people who like me have not read or are not really in to the whole angels and demons thing are really going to like it.  I had a hard time with how dark the book was. It was very heavy and at times it seemed to drag on. I think that it was a little to violent. and that is something that I have a hard time with in books and in most things.

I did kind like the new take on the whole end of the world. We are seeing that as a theme lately and this book did have an interesting take on it. I also did like some of the thoughts on angels and demons,Heaven and hell. it was interesting and it worked.I did like the writing and I felt that in a nice way the characters felt almost normal.Which I think the book needed and it really help keep you reading.
I think that fans of these kinds of books will like it and that if you have an interest in it its worth looking in to.I know that lots of people will like this book. Over all not my cup of tea but that does not mean its a bad book.

( YA - 15 and up)
Stars: * * 2.9


I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book.

Book: The Island

I was really excited to read this book the cover was cool and the story sounded great. I had hopes that it would be good.
But by page 3 I was already way let down. It felt like the story was trying so hard to be edgy. And there did not seem to be anything new or fresh to it.It was just another YA dystopa. I know it says it on the cover. But I was hoping for something more. Something really one of a kind about it.Now the book was good. I mean its a novella you so there is not a lot of time to really build up a world and characters. Its just that the first 20 pages could have used some cleaning up.And I feel that in a Novella that is a little bit more of big deal than it would be in a say five hundred page book.This book did keep me reading and wondering and it was nice to read something quick and to the point.But it did not thrill me.I feel this is a book that I did not find my self going back to and thinking about what happened. I just was like " so thats it".
I was interested to see how the Star wars thing was mixed in here and over all I have to say at times it was a little bit of pain but at others it worked really well i felt.Over all for me it was just another part of the story.  Would I read another book about these characters? Yes, I would like to see were the writer would take it if she wrote more.Would I read another book by this author? Yes, I think she is a pretty good writer just that this might not be her best work and I would like to give her other books a chance.

( YA - 13 and up)
Stars: * * * 3.2

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book. 

Book:Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance

 This book is okay. But nothing more. Jenna and Jonah did not seem to real. They  fell a little flat for me. In a book like this they are very thing. Yes there were good parts and parts of the book that I liked but I felt that they changed so fast at the end of the book it was hard to believe.But as a fun light book it was nice to read. Some fans of Secrets Of My Hollywood Life and  The Daughters I think will like this. Not all fans of just a small group.This book unlike My Hollywood and Daughters did not tell you any big secret. The only thing was it showed you what it was like to fake dating in hollywood.And in a lot of ways it did not feel very real. The other two books gave you a feeling like you were in hollywood seeing something that the rest of the work does not. In the case of the Daughters it made you see fame a different way.But here are somethings other things I liked and did not like about the book. I did not like how the they ran off to his house so much. I liked the play thing. Did not love or really like the love story.  it was okay but not great. I would have liked to seen more from them. There was a lot that could have been done with the book to make it better. Over all okay not great. But its a fun read that I'm sure tweens and young teens will love. 

(YA-12 and up)

Stars: * * * 2.9

Book: Twigs

When I read that the book was about a girl who was called twigs because of how small she was I feel in love with the idea. I my self am short ( not twigs short but small) and I get so tried of everyone else always being tall. This idea that only tall people are pretty and in YA that the beautiful girl is always said to be " tall,lean and pretty first thing in the morning".

As I started to read this book I quickly took a liking to it. I know a lot of people like Twigs. People who for some reason or another are never aloud to be human. People that are told to just take everything life throughs at them. And it sucks. I always hope that after people read books like this they walk up and see how they might be miss treating people in their own lives.
Twigs was easy to relate to. I think that we have all had a time in our lives when it felt like everything was falling apart ( maybe not in the way twigs was but still).
One thing that did get on me though was the writing. There was a really choppiness to it. Like the way we kept hearing about what twigs wanted to do but she never did it. I would get a little mixed up at times about what was really happening. And I felt at times like the other people in the book were very flat. No one went very far. They just were kinda there. Helen wanted a baby hated her husband and liked pink there was nothing special we found out about her or anyone else. I would have liked to get to know the other people in the story. Twigs was so special in a lot of ways and it would have added to the richness of the book to learn more about people in twigs life. But over all I found the book to be a nice read. Not really a fun light one but I did really like Twigs and if you have an interest in reading it I would give it a try.
( YA - 15 and up lots of uses of the F-word and two of the C-word)
Stars: * * * 3.4

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book. 

Movie:Star Trek:In To Darkness

As some of you may know I'm a huge fan of the new star trek movies. I have seen the first one by J.J. way to many times and still love it. Plus Im a big fan of Sherlock so I was over the moon about the casting. And might I say that this movie blows it out of the park! its awesome. I would have liked more of Zoe but thats just me.

J.J. is a great. though it seems like the flares get stronger and stronger with every movie he makes. I can not tell you how many times I saw it in the movie. Not that I mind it I my self am  big fan of the look but I have had to yell that my aunt and uncle that there is nothing wrong with their TV it is the film way to many times during the first movie. Which I'm sure is likely to happen again with this one. 

But that aside I have to say I loved Ben. He just was awesome. He is the next huge actor if you ask me. I think that after seeing this and sherlock and tinker taylor I could watch him in just about anything and be happy. Plus the clothes they had him wearing in the film was just awesome. it made him look tall and skinny and kinda creepy. Now at this point you are thinking I have a crush on him which I do not. He is not my type I am just a very big fan of someone that talented. actors like him aren't found everyday. And so far he seems to be a pretty level headed guy. Who we can only hope knows how lucky he is and does not lose it. Because that would really suck when it comes time to rewatch the movie in years to come. 

and of course Star Trek fans are going to be in love with him for years to come. 

PG-13 

Star: * * * 4.2

Movie:Hello Herman

As you all know I am a big fan of the small indie films. I love to watch movies by really filmmakers none of the hollywood bs in it. And the story of this really cough my eye. It seems everyday we hear more and more about school shootings. And I can't help but think of my self and my friends and family. What if they are next? So a film that talks about that and gives us a different look in to that is something that I want to see. Even more so when there is nothing Hollywood about it. The first thing I want to point out is that the film was made two years ago. A lot has happened since then. People are talking about it more.
As for the film its self it was good. The down fall of the film was Michelle Danner.Not only as the director but also as an actor I felt. First of all 30 minutes of the film need to be recut. They just lack a flow there is nothing holding the story together and the timing is all off. I get that they wanted to do something hip and kind of like Christopher Nolan a little bit but it missed its mark. Next some of the casting was off. The news man was terrible. Almost unwatchable. same with blonde lady that wanted Herman to died on TV. Which was sad because the rest of the cast was really good. Even Herman who I was unsure of at first. In all the areas where it seemed like Michelle Danner was not doing the work the film seemed to work. But I felt that though the film tries not to tell you what made Herman do this She as the filmmaker should have put a little more of what she felt caused it than she did. When She talked about the film in an interview she said the film shows us how we are letting our children fall through the cracks. And I wish that would have been in the film. I wish that the film did not flip-flop with what made Herman who he is. That falls on the screenwriter and Michelle Danner. Also Someone should have done something to the Lax. I mean really? With a film that is this hard and really deals with something as hard as this I wish that they would have kept the name something simple and not full of a bad joke.
But other than that I feel that the film is really worth watching. It makes us think about our lives and I feel that it helps us see things a little differently. Because it is no way right what Herman did but it is in no way right for us to sit back and let these things happen. We do need to do something unless we want this to keep happening. And the film shows us that we all are made of good and evil and we have to make the choice about which we are going to be. And that the things we do even the things we do not think about change people.
This film stayed with me for along time after the last credit rolled. And I think it will do the same for you. Its a film that is far from wonderful but to me the good out weighs the bad big time.



( R - The story is about a high school shooting. There is lots of talk about shooting,showing of bloody video games,  use of the F word and so on.)
Stars:  * * * 3.4



You can watch the movie now by hitting the link below( a link to films site)  or rent it
 on  VOD, I-tunes.

Watch Now

Book: Beautiful Creatures

(I read this book back in the fall but do to trouble with the blog have been unable to post it till now. I now post it as it was written).
I have heard so many good things about this book for so long and was very happy to finally read it. I had a feeling it would be a lame romance like twilight but darker. almost needless to say I was shocked to find that it was written from Ethan's point of view. something that I my self liked greatly. I love to get it from a guys point of view. And they did a very good job of making it seem like it was a guy telling the story. I found that I really liked Ethan and the way he handles different things in the book. It is nice to read about a strong guy who is also ... human. I liked how he was not some special witch or vampire. Just a normal guy like us. Who can't wait to leave his small town. well until Lena comes a long. And I have to say that I really liked Lena. She was in my eyes a good mix of strong,hero but with a soft side. I mean she is almost 16 I don't care who you are but if you were going through what she is you would want someone to lean on.The ideas in the book might not have been so new but the way that the story is told it has a very fresh new feel to it. Also liked the mix of witches and I guess kinda a witch doctor feel that the book had going for it.
There are many things in here that make me think of twilight but I have to say that I liked this one better in a lot of ways because it reminded me of Beastly. I really have to say that really liked many point in the book. It had a good mix of story,Humor and romance.
And I think the nice thing about it that even though it is romance if the movie is a big hit guys could always read it too.I found this to be a very enjoyable read and can not wait to see the movie and read the rest of the books.

( YA - 14 and Up )
Stars: * * *  3.5

Book:Wish ( Faerieground #1)

First off I would like to say that yes this is younger than YA. But I like to do younger reviews here and there.
I would like to say that the art in this book is beautiful and I have to say the best part of the book. It is was beautiful and creative.it was a very cool mix of different kinds of art and I think that readers will love it. The whole art of books and the way it is done makes me think of books like Hugo and Wonderstruck.I feel that many fans of those books will love this.I had read in some reviews that people found this book better than Wonderstuck or Hugo and I have to disagree. This book was very good but I think that those are beautiful masterpieces.BUt I really liked this one. It had a very real feeling behind it. I have to say that I love how its told from both girls point of views. It adds a nice almost poem like feel to the book.I liked a lot of things about this book and feel that younger readers would like it as well. It would be a great book for young readers who do not like to read yet and like darker fairy stories. There is something really cool here with the friendship and the way that the story is told. I think that it is one that girls will fall in love with. I find it so nice to read a story for young girls that tells them how much they can hurt a friend when they kiss or flirt with their friends crush. Its handled very nicely in this book.
But to tell the truth I was rather let down by the end. I was hoping for something ... different. I felt like the book had such a good start that I would have liked a good ending as well. And one that did not just lead in the next book.I wish that there might have been a little twist. Something that I did not see coming.
Still I feel like young readers will really like it. I know I would have when I was younger. It would make a wonderful gift.

( Kids - 8 and up)

Stars: * * 2.9



I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book. 

Book:Spies and Prejudice

As you can guess from the title this is not the work like that of Jane Austin's.Really it reminds me more of Alley Carter's books to be honest.and as you all know I love my Alley Carter books.To me this had a lot of that same spirt to it. Its fun, light, a little unbelievable and a nice to start the summer off with. A good book to read when you need a little break from all the heavy stuff out there. And I have to say who does not like a book about a girl who is payed to spy on people. And i really like the humor in this. Mary Chris Moss. It might take a minute to get it. But its very funny. The book is very funny.
So Berry might be a little hard to get used to I found my self really liking her the more I read. And though the book has a little bit of a rough start its gets much better and really comes in to its own the more you read. I found my self getting really in to it. It made me think of some of the crime shows on TV like castle or NCIS a little bit. And as a big fan of those kind of shows reading a book that felt similar was fun.
Something that I found very interesting is that this along with a lot of other books movies and TV shows seem to be on this story kick about the main character solving their parents death. And I was kinda shocked by it in this book. I really did like the book and the story but for me that whole storyline  is getting pretty old pretty quick. And one tiny silly thing (that I just have to point out is) the  problem with is the whole homeschooling thing. Unless you live under a rock most homeschool kids do just fine when they go to school. Being homeschooled does not mean that you are a friendless idiot like so many people believe.I understand it in this book but really writers you ned wise up.
And then somewhere after that the book went a little over the top making it a little hard to believe. Its more of a humor book than a spy book to be honest. But I liked it. A lot. Its a fun read. If you are looking for a real your not going to find it here. This is just a nice fun read. And in a lot of ways that is really refreshing. THis book did not try to be something it was not.
And Some times with reading all of these books its nice just to read something light and fun and get a good kick out of it. which is what this was. And taking it for what it was it was good and I think that people who are a fan of spy humor will really like this.And fine as refreshing as I did.

( YA - 13 and up)
Stars: ** * 3.4






I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book.