August ARC reading

I've got to tell you that I'm in Love with this idea. I have so many great books on the shelves that I've been wanting to read - but things get in the way. With our library system in flux with the holds system, this is a perfect time to concentrate on the books that I have here with me.

So I'm going to attempt 10-15 ARCs sitting on my shelves.

Here are some on my list:

PS: There's a contest that goes along with this challenge for more ARCs. But I'm here to clean up my shelves and read some great books.

Review: Boy Nobody

* Comes out June 11th *

Body Nobody has an easy way of blending into crowds. he can become your new best friend in just a moment. He'll change your life forever and than disappear without a trace. It's his job and he's really good at it.

His new assignment is to infiltrate a famous private school on the Upper West Side and become friend's Sam, the Mayor's daughter. His next target is the Mayor of New York City. The Program sets him up with an apartment and cover story. He has five days to complete the mission.

On first first day, he gains the attention of Sam. He's not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. When he attends a party at her house, he has the opportunity to make his move. Instead, he hesitates. The Mayor brings up memories of his own father. He's not sure he wants to complete this mission for the Program. But if he's not Boy Nobody, than who is he?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this action packed book. I love books about assassins/spies. I liked the interaction between Sam and Ben. I like that she made him work for a chance at friendship and she wasn't afraid to say her real thoughts. The action made me not want to put the book down. I liked Body Nobody and how he could blend into a crowd and disappear. He could also be anyone. He could reinvent himself anytime - with a price of course. I felt bad for him. While he feels nothing, he seems lonely.

Cover Thoughts: LOVE it!
Source: Little Brown
Fun Fact: It looks like it's the first in a series, according to GoodReads.

Rumor: The rumor swirling at the Little Brown event was movie rights have been purchased by Will Smith's company in hopes that his son will star in this movie --- as a read I can see that happening and real liking the idea. I hope it turns out to be more than just a rumor!

Review: Unremembered

*** This book will be out March 5th ***

In the Pacific Ocean, Freedom Airlines Flight 121 crashes. The world is stunned to find an unharmed 16 year girl among the wreck. She has NO memories -not of boarding the plane, not of her name, and not of her life before the crash.

She's being held in a medical facility undergoing tests while the media waits for more news. Her tale is the hottest news story around the world. She's famous.

No one comes to claim her and because she's under age, she needs a foster family - a temporary home until a more permanent solution can be reached. One family takes her in and she spends a little time getting used to the world.

Then she spies a familiar face and all these questions pop into her head. How far is she willing to go to discover the truth of her identity?

My Thoughts: I adored Jessica Brody's previous novels: Karma Club, My Life Undecided, and 52 Reasons to Hate My Father. She's one of  my must read authors. So I confess, I didn't really look too deeply into her new book because I already knew that I was going to read it. I was unprepared for the genre switch.

It's no surprise that I loved this book, even though it through my for a loop.

At first it reminded me of LOST: the airplane crash and figuring out how to survive without knowledge. UNREMEMBERED is the story of Seraphina attempting to uncover her past while trying to understand her future. She's acclimating to pop culture and having a family watching over her. The more she digs into her past, the more layers we also uncover with her. Science and technology play an important role, changing the boundaries of the world. Science and technology are also responsible for the danger that Seraphina finds herself in. Plus, a romance is at the heart of the story. While there are several plot points, they come together naturally. They also unravel like onions, revealing more questions than answers at times. 

It's the first book of a trilogy and I can't wait to read more!

Cover Thoughts: I Love it - the blurriness of the girl's face matches her thoughts perfectly.
Source: ARC

BEA 2010

BEA was quite an adventure - and that was just the bus ride, which I won't bore with you the details, but it was horrific.

I saw amazing people. The ones not included in the video are Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Kristi from the Story Siren, Jessica Miller from I Read to Relax, awesome CT YA librarians, and Laura M who I meant at ALA Midwinter in Boston.

Here's some photos taken with my cellphone and not the best:

Jonathon Stroud:

Lauren Kate:

Ridley Pearson:

The Amazing Harlequin desk

Where I saw Maria V. Snyder!

I missed some great authors and events due to the bus issues.

I missed other authors that I meant to see, but never found.

I also missed some booths that I really wanted to see.

However, I got amazing goodies books like these: