Review: Taste Test for Love

 

Liza Yang and her mother have a complicated relationship. Her mother's always trying to set her up with horrible boys. Boys that Liza would never consider dating. She dates boys on the sly - boys her mother would never pick out. She's not interested in dating Asian boys or her mother's traditional values. More than anything she wants to got to culinary school and bake. 

Liza often works in her mother's bakery. But her parents don't want that life for her. They want more for their children. Liza's older sister is perfect in her parents' eyes. Liza wishes she could be more appreciated instead for being molded into someone she's not.

It's the 5th annual baking contest at her parents' bakery. Liza isn't allowed to compete, but she and her parents have come to a comprise. She can be one of the judges for the contest. Little does she know, her mother's plan for the contest. And she's not pleased. The only way to get her mother off her back is to start dating an approved boy. But is she willing to do that?

My Thoughts: The tagline was Jane Austen meets Great British Baking Show. Which sold me on the book. And it was exactly that - and I loved it. I loved Liza. I loved the moments in the bakery and trying out new recipes. This book did make me want to bake. I loved her moments with her sister - who is a model. I especially loved their time together in New York City. I enjoyed her banter with James. I really loved the baking competition and how that turned out. I loved the friendships in this book. What a fantastic debut novel. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Cover Thoughts: Perfection

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public libraries

On Your Radar: Her Royal Highness (24)

Title: Her Royal Highness

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Penguin Teen

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Why it Should be on your Radar:

* Royal

* Boarding School

* Scotland

* Lesbian Romance

* Roommates

* Seeing Favorite Characters Again

* Banter

* Friendship

* Breaking the Rules

** Reviewed this book for Fresh Fiction

Review: Royals

* First in a new series *

Daisy's sister is getting married - to a Prince! Suddenly her world is turned upside down by the press hounding her. After one incident, her family decides to travel to Scotland to manage the damage. Daisy's not thrilled with giving up her summer, but she doesn't have much of a choice.

Across the pond, she meets the royal entourage, including her soon to be brother-in-law. Prince Sebastian thinks he's all that, plus a bag of chips. But Daisy isn't interested in him or sharing his spotlight. Too bad the press doesn't understand; they try making the younger siblings a match.

With press looking at her, Daisy needs a crash course in royal etiquette. Miles, a friend of Prince Sebastian, gets stuck with the job. Neither him nor Daisy enjoy each other's company, but for the moment, they are stuck with each other. The order comes from the Queen herself!

My Thoughts: Oh, I LOVED this book. I loved Daisy trying to muddle through all the rules and regulations. I loved her banter with everyone - her sass and her snark were amazing. I loved her parents - her talking when nervous mother and her former rock star father. They added even more humor to the story.

I loved how Daisy didn't take to the tradition but she did try for her sister.  

Sometimes like this:

When you're supposed to be more like:

Basically, this book is fantastic and I loved every moment of it. Except I want the second book like yesterday! It's the perfect summer read and perfect for those anxious for the upcoming royal wedding. Grab it - you won't be disappointed. 

Cover Thoughts: CUTE
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public and high school libraries!

Blog Tour: Royals

BOOK DESCRIPTION 

Meet Daisy Winters. She's an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who's nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince's roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown--and the intriguing Miles--might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins brings her signature humor, love of Americana, and flair for romance to this page-turning Princess Diaries turned-upside-down story.

I'm reading this right now and it's SUPER GOOD!

AUTHOR BIO

Rachel Hawkins is the author of Ruby and Olivia, Journey's End, the Rebel Belle series, and the New York Times bestselling Hex Hall series. Born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, Rachel taught high school English before becoming a full-time writer

You're invited to a royal wedding. How fabulous! 

Check out that invitation!

First off, you won't need a gift, because you'll send in a donation to the feminist charity of their choice.

Next you'll need a card, but you better make it yourself. So it will stand out more, something like this:

Then you'll need an outfit:

Of course a dress.

Then shoes

And a purse (make sure it's big enough to hold a book - just in case)

 

You can't forget your lovely hat. You don't want it to be over the top; we all know how that works out. Just a nice hat that matches your outfit.

With your outfit complete, you can enjoy the royal wedding, just make sure to pack a tissue or two!

Anthony Horowitz Book Tour

On Tuesday, I left work early to go to an author event - Anthony Horowitz. I've been reading his books for years and I was SO happy to meet him.

If you're not familiar with him, he's the author of the Alex Rider series. Which I adore. I'm a huge fan.

Here he is chatting.

Alex Rider first came out in 2000, now 17 years later the 11th book came out. But he swore he would stop at 10. So for the last five years, there hasn't been any new Alex Rider stories.

Then his publishers asked him to polish up some short stories for publication. And he fall back into the rhythm of Alex Rider's life. We left Alex in a dark place, hoping that he would get better as time passed. He started writing new stories about Alex and this one wouldn't let go. Thus we have book 11 (which is amazing - read my review here) and book 12 will be out next year (or so). 

He had a boring childhood, but he used to play spies with his sister in their neighborhood. They would sneak about the garden and spy on their neighbors.

Anthony Horowitz hated school, but he loved the library. It was the one place he felt happy. He read action adventure stories. He loved James Bond - first the films and then the books. He hated how old Roger Moore was in the last films, he wanted someone much younger and cooler. A light bulb went on, and Alex Rider was born.

He had written kids books about roughly 10 years with mild success. His wife advised him to give up writing, but he wanted to write one more: Alex Rider. 

The first book sold double of his previous books and then the series took off. And millions of readers enjoy Alex's adventures. 

There's a new TV series in the works, starting with book 2 coming from British TV. I'm quite looking forward to that. 

Besides Alex Rider, he's done quite a lot with British television. 

It was a really fun night and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to meet him!

 

Blog Tour: Never Say Die

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Alex Rider is back in action! His new mission? Rescue an entire bus filled with children belonging to wealthy families. At stake are not only the lives of each child, but the very future of the terrorist organization known as SCORPIA. Thrilling action and pulse-pounding heroics make the pages fly.

The world's greatest teen spy is back in action in a thrilling new mission: destroy once and for all the terrorist organization SCORPIA. Following the events of Scorpia Rising, Alex relocates to San Francisco as he slowly recovers from the tragic death of his best friend and caregiver, Jack Starbright, at the hands of terrorists working for SCORPIA. With Jack gone, Alex feels lost and alone, but then, out of the blue, he receives a cryptic email--just three words long, but enough to make Alex believe that Jack may be alive. Armed with this shred of hope, Alex boards a flight bound for Egypt and embarks on a dubious quest to track Jack down. Yet SCORPIA knows Alex's weakness. And the question of whether Jack is alive soon takes a backseat to a chilling new terrorist plot--one that will determine the lives of many. From Egypt to France to Wales, from luxury yachts to abandoned coal mines, Alex traverses a minefield of dangers and cryptic clues as he fights to discover the truth. The #1 New York Times bestselling series, perfect for fans of James Bond and Jason Bourne, is back with a vengeance!  

My Thoughts:

I Love Alex Rider and I'm so glad he's back. I wasn't crazy about the ending of the last book, so I'm grateful for more books about him. I loved this one. I enjoyed watching him struggle to fit into a new life, knowing that he doesn't belong. There are just some people not meant to have a normal average life and Alex is one of them.

Interesting but creepy villains add to the novel as their evil plan fools MI6. Their plan was ingenious and diabolical. I really liked their identical nature. It's easy to hate villains because of their evilness, but you have to admire their ruthlessness 

I love the settings, from the West Coast, to Egypt, to England, and to Wales. I love the differences between the places. And as someone of Welsh descent, I love the part in Wales. 

I love how the anonymous email spurs him into action. The action and danger never let up, creating plot twists and turns kept me turning the pages quickly. I also wanted to discover if Jack was alive.

I hope this new book adds more fans to the Alex Rider series and I'm happy that at least one more book is coming next summer! 

AUTHOR BIO

Anthony Horowitz (anthonyhorowitz.com) is a world-renowned screenwriter for film and television, having received multiple awards. And he is, of course, the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Alex Rider novels, which have spawned a major motion picture and a line of graphic novels. Anthony was also commissioned by the Conan Doyle Estate to write two Sherlock Holmes novels, the critically-acclaimed The House of Silk and Moriarty. Most recently he was commissioned by the Ian Fleming Estate to write the James Bond novel Trigger Mortis, incorporating never-before-published material from 007's creator. Anthony lives with his wife in London, England; they are parents to two grown boys. He will be touring the US for the publication of NEVER SAY DIE.

Anthony Horowitz is coming to CT in two week, I'm excited to finally meet him!

Read A Dessen: The Truth About Forever

I adore Sarah Dessen's books so I'm happy to be part of the #ReadADessen blog tour from Penguin. Tons of blogs will be talking about her books, leading up to her newest book which I can't wait to read: Once and For All coming out June 6th.  It's So far away, but there's still time to re-read her backlist if you seriously can not wait any longer! 

If you're stuck on where to start, I wrote up this blog post last year. Take a look.

About the Book:

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm's length. But Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged, now that he's met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

About the Author:
Sarah Dessen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens, which have received numerous awards and rave reviews. Her books have been published in over thirty countries and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association for outstanding contribution to young adult literature for her novels: Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, This Lullaby, The Truth about Forever, Just Listen, Along for the Ride, and What Happened to Goodbye. Her newest novel, Once and for All, will be released in June 2017. An NC native, she currently lives in Chapel Hill with her family.

It's always hard to pick a favorite book by an author you love. But as soon as I read The Truth About Forever, I knew it was a different kind of love. So I happily re-read it to remember all the reasons I fell in love with it the first time.

Of course, it didn't disappoint me. 

10 Reasons I adore this book:
The Truth Game
The Chaos in the Kitchen
Macy learning not to be perfect
Wes
Wes's sculptures
 Gotcha Game
Kristy's outlook on life
Monica's word count
Healing from Grief
The horrible library girls

There are so many reasons to love this book. The words just washed over me as I read it. I felt a connection to the chaos and finding yourself free in your choices.

It's the type of book I want to hug after reading it.
I tried thinking of a sentence or two to pull out from it to share as my favorite quote, but there are simply too many.

So Read it for yourself and let me know what you think of it.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Giveaway of Sarah Dessen's paperback books:

Enter for a chance to win one (1) set of Sarah Dessen’s books in paperback (ARV: $132.00).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on April 17, 2017 and 12:00 AM on May 29, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 1, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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Glittering Court Release Day Blitz

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands…

I really Enjoyed this book, check out my review here. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

RICHELLE MEAD is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series and its spin-off series, Bloodlines. Originally from Michigan, she now lives in Seattle, Washington.

ENTER TO WIN A COPY:

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of ten (10) copies of The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead (ARV: $10.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on March 28, 2017 and 12:00 AM on April 5, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about April 7, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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Review: Meant to Be

Julia's excited to be spending her spring vacation week in London - until she realizes that her friends aren't going and even worse she's partnered with her nemesis for the trip. Jason's just so...goofy, annoying, and smug. Julia can't believe she's stuck with him.

The first night, he takes her to a party. She lets loose for the first time. She becomes someone braver, someone interesting, someone who's not a know it all.

Afterwards, the two strike up a bargain. Jason will help Julia text flirt with a boy she met at the party and in turn Julia will write up their assignments.

Julia's vision of this trip changed the minute she was partnered with Jason, but he brings her places she never knew about. Could she be seeing him a whole new light?

My Thoughts: I took this book with me on vacation and devoured it. I felt like Julia was a modern day nonmagical Hermoine Granger. She's always reader, knows everything, and maybe needs to have a little more fun. I like how she tries to break out of her shell during the party - and how the spirals out of control. I love traveling around London with the tour group and with Jason and Julia on their own. I loved the banter between Julia and Jason. I loved getting to know Jason better - between the singing and the graffiti park moments. I liked how Julia had a grand idea of romance after hearing the stories about her parents falling in love. A really fun novel, perfect for a library collection.

Cover Thoughts: Cute - I really liked reading this piece about the evolution of the cover
Source: Gifted from my #otspsecretsister

Review: Inside of Out

The day before their junior year, Daisy's best friend Hannah comes out. Daisy's determined to become the best ally ever. Except the group isn't that welcoming and Hannah doesn't seem all that interested in the group.

But Daisy forces her way in, making a point that sax sex couples should be allowed at homecoming. She's so gung-ho about it that she volunteers to speak at the school board meeting.

After she speaks, a college reporter writes about her. After his article hits, Daisy becomes something of a celebrity. But his article hints that Daisy is gay.

Daisy has a history of not following through on her big plans, but she's sticking to this one. Hannah's not thrilled at the attention nor is her secret girlfriend, Daisy's enemy. But with the spotlight on Daisy and the cause, she's reluctant to share the truth.

My Thoughts: I had a lot of mixed feelings about the book, but I really did enjoy reading it. Many of the choices Daisy made were terrible, but they did come from good intentions and she had the backing of the group. But some of the choices she made had real consequences. I liked her. I liked her banter with Adam. I liked her relationship with her mother. I enjoyed her father. I liked how father came out if his shell a little as Daisy started growing her own backbone. I wasn't a fan of Hannah. I love how things turned out between Daisy and Natalie. I really liked the other members of the LGBTQIAP+  group. I think this book is great for book discussion groups because there's SO much to talk about.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Recommended for YA collections.

Giveaway: I am the Reader

ABOUT THE READER

Book 1 in Sea of Ink and Gold series

By Traci Chee

Release: September 13, 2016

A stunning debut set in a world where reading is unheard-of, perfect for fans of Inkheart and Shadow and Bone.

Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.

With overlapping stories of swashbuckling pirates and merciless assassins, The Reader is a brilliantly told adventure from an extraordinary new talent.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Traci Chee is an author of speculative fiction for teens. An all-around word geek, she loves book arts and art books, poetry and paper crafts, though she also dabbles at piano playing, egg painting, and hosting potluck game nights for family and friends. She studied literature and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz and earned a master of arts degree from San Francisco State University. Traci grew up in a small town with more cows than people, and now feels most at home in the mountains, scaling switchbacks and happening upon hidden highland lakes. She lives in California with her fast-fast dog. The Reader is her YA debut.

LEARN MORE

Visit PenguinTeen.com

Read an excerpt of the first two chapters here!

Follow @TraciChee on Twitter

#TheReader

Celebrate books! The Reader explores a world without reading. What would it mean to you to live in a world without books?

This would be the worst for me. I read every day. Sometimes it's only 10-15 minutes before bed if it's a busy day, but usually I read for an hour or so daily. Which allows me to read over 300 books a year. The books I read this year have changed a little bit, since I'm now a Children's Librarian too (in addition to a YA Librarian). So I've been reading more and more picture books to know my collection, especially the new books.

One of my earliest memories revolves around reading. My older sister taught me the alphabet and eventually how to read. Reading has always been a part of my life. I tore through books in during our silent reading time in school. I lived across the street from the public library. As I got older, I would bring stacks of books home, as many as I could carry.

Then when I was in high school, I applied for a job at the library. And the rest is history.

If I don't read, I get cranky - kind of like hangry. Reader is my escape from the world. I'm not sure where I would be without books, but I'm sure that I never want to find out! Plus I'd be out of a job... 

“I AM THE READER” GIVEAWAY PRIZING

One (1) winner from your site receives:

·         a copy of The Reader

·         a branded “I Am The Reader” tote bag

Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by Penguin Random House.

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Review: Crossing the Line

 * First in a new series *

Jocelyn has been North Korean property since they kidnapped her. They raised her, forcing her to do all kinds of deeds after addicting to her to drugs. Jocelyn can't go too long without her fix.  But now they're sending her home - undercover.

They have plans for her, but she plans to double cross them. It takes a month for her to get the drugs out of her system. Then she meets with the head of the agency. She convinces him of her mission.

Now she's playing a double agent - except for the wrong team. If North Korea finds out, she'll be killed. But the North Koreans are up to something and Jocelyn vows to uncover the truth and finally shut them down. But they've always been one step ahead of her...

My Thoughts: I Loved this book. It was so hard to put down! I loved the double crossings, learning more about Jocelyn's life in North Korea, and her new life as an American and trying to fit in. I liked the training moments where she kicked serious butt. I liked her banter with Scorpion and with his friends. I loved how she tried to get things done without taking credit or letting anyone really know the whole truth. It made the stakes much higher. That ending was amazing and I'm really really looking forward to the next book!

Cover Thoughts: Wicked
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for YA collections

Next Book Cover:

Review: Glittering Court

Elizabeth Witmore, Countess of Rothford, simply isn't interested in the marriage her grandmother deems necessary. So she steals her maid's identity and joins The Glittering Court - a marriage service for the New World.

First the servants must be trained properly in the arts of becoming a wife. As a former countess, Elizabeth (now Adelaide) understands all of these rules. However, in hiding her true self, she must make the others believe that she doesn't know everything they're teaching her.

When she realizes that the man who brought her to the court is in trouble, she vows to help him. But in helping him she risks her own future. Is he worth the risk?

My Thoughts: The Selection meets British aristocracy and the Gold Rush. I really enjoyed this book - I liked Elizabeth/Adelaide. She had opinions and feelings and she wasn't afraid to voice them. I liked her two best friends: Mira and Tamsin. I enjoyed her moments with Cedric - their banter, their friendship, and finally when that turned into something more. I like how the place and setting tied in with Britain and also the Old West. I found those parts fascinating and enjoyed how they were blended together. 

Cover Thoughts: Full of sparkle
Source: My Library
Library recommendation: Recommended purchase. Great book to give readers of historical fiction and/or fans of the Selection.  

Final Thoughts: I'm very interested to see where the next book leads.

So you want to read Sarah Dessen?

Today I'm over the at YALSA Hub blog talking about the different ways to start reading Sarah Dessen's amazing books.

Review: The Boy Most Likely To

* Companion to The Boy Next Door *

Alice has everything under control - except maybe her own life. When her family needs her, Alice does everything she can to help them. But will that include giving up her future too?

She thought she would stay home and take the apartment over the garage, but her brother just told Tim he could move in. Tim has his own parental troubles. His life is out of control and he needs to start thinking about his future. And then his past comes back at him.

As Alice spends more time with Tim, she begins to fall for him. He's not the kind of guy she imagined falling for, but she did. Can the two of them make a relationship work or was it doomed from the start?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this companion novel.

I loved seeing more of the Garrett family. I love Alice's brothers and sisters. They added humor to the story.

I liked seeing Alice be able to let go for a little while -especially during her interactions with Tim. She took so much responsibility upon herself that she needed a break. 

I felt bad for Tim - dealing with his family. Yes he made some bad choices, but that didn't mean they should throw him out. I liked how he stepped up and took responsibility for his actions. 

Of course I liked seeing more of Sam and Jase too.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: If you haven't read this one yet, what are you waiting for?

Review: An Ember in the Ashes

Soldiers come into Laia's home, looking for her brother. He has a book of drawings that he's determined to keep hidden. When he tells Laia to run, she does, knowing that she's leaving him behind. Her grandparents died and her brother's taken into custody.

Ashamed of her inability to act that night she offers up her services in exchange for her brother's freedom. She goes undercover in the Commandant's household.

It's the most dangerous thing Laia has ever done and it could be the death of her if she doesn't play her cards right. She runs into Elias, who's going through a series of tests to crown the next leader.

No one knows that Elias has been questioning his loyalty lately. He isn't ready to give up everything, but he's getting closer.

Their paths cross and they can either help each other or their friendship could be the end of both of them.

My Thoughts: I really really enjoyed this book and I'm so happy there's a sequel in the works. 

Ok, yes, the book was violent - with several references to women/girls being raped, the commander has a history of violence, and there's that whole battle scene that's just heartbreaking. And it's not gratuitous - its in their world. 

I loved the strong women - women who risked everything for a cause, women who ruled their world, and women who defied the odds to make themselves stand out. 

I loved the lies, the secrets, and the relationships between everyone. It made the book all the more intriguing. 

I liked learning about the Scholars and the rebels. I liked learning about the soldiers and their life. 

I liked the choices the characters had to chose between duty, family, loyalty, and their own interests. 

All in all, I devoured this book and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Cover Thoughts: Pretty Good
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: Wonderful fantasy debut that will rock your world. Grab it now!

Review: Sophomore Year is Greek to Me

Zona and her father are close - each relying on each other. But Zona's dad changes the rules when he decides to go to Greece to write a book.

Zona has NO desire to leave school or her friends or the paper for six months. She has even less desire to meet the family who cut off contact with her mother.

After several conversation, it's clear that her dad isn't budging.  Resigned, Zona packs up and leaves New York behind for Greece - and maybe a a chance to uncover her heritage.

My Thoughts: I now want to go to Greece to explore and soak up the culture!

Some my favorite moments:
The bathroom scene with the ducks
Zona meeting her Greek family for the first time
Exploring Greece and taking chances
Her relationship with her father
The newspaper notes written between father and daughter
Her BFFs from New York (I wouldn't mind a book about either of them)
I like how she handled her concern about her friend's anorexia - she didn't sweep it under the rug and she didn't take the easy way out. It took guts. 
Experiencing new things (even if they're scary)
I love how Zona uncovered the meaning of family 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Set for review

Final Thoughts: I hope there's a junior and senior book planned because Meredith Zeitlin rocks. Sophomore Year is Greek to Me is the perfect summer book with exploring a new country, testing your ideals, and trying new things. Zona's ambitious, smart, and someone I'd like to meet.

Review: Wrong Side of Right

Kate's been sleep walking through her life since her mom died. One day she comes home from school to find the press camped out on her aunt and uncle's lawn - waiting for her.

Kate walks in the house and meets the man running for President - and her father.

She travels to meet her new family for the weekend and ends up staying to help out with the campaign. It's more work that she imagines, but soon she's found her rhythm - until it all goes terribly wrong. 

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - it reminded me of the movie What a Girl Wants. It was sweet and entertaining, but it also made me think about what's important in life, friendships, family, and where I stand on my own political issues.

• Kate dealing with the death of her mother and what it means to her
• Kate meeting her new family
• Kate trying to help out the campaign
• Learning more about politics 
• Learning more about the people involved in politics 
• Thinking more about the big picture issues 
• Of course the makeover scene
• Family time vs perfect family in front of the cameras - there were communication issues, as there are in any family. I can't imagine how hard it would be to separate the two.
• The moments where she could be herself
• The moments with Andy - I liked the game they played and how it all turned out.
• Kate discovering who she is and what she stands for

Cover Thoughts: I like it, but it doesn't really show what the book's about
Source: Library

Final Thoughts: I couldn't put this book down.