The Name of the Star

By Maureen Johnson

Summary:  
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

My Thoughts: 
I loved this book, and I absolutely did not want to put it down. 
The premise was intriguing from the start, and it lived up to my pre-reading hopes. 
Now to give you all fair warning, when you tell someone that the book you are reading has 'Jack the Ripper' in it, you are going to get more than a few funny looks. 
Now would be an appropriate(or not... depending how easily fiction can sway you) time of year to read this book, what with going back to school paralleling Rory's transition to London boarding school.

Beastly

By Alex Flinn

Summary:
I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.


My Thoughts: 
 Beastly is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, that has rather recently been made into a movie.
The story is told from the perspective of the Beast, which is interesting. It's cute book, but it doesn't hold any surprises(at least not to anyone who has seen the Disney animated version). It is a quick read with a good message. 

 

Book Music

This is a beautiful song that was inspired by John Green's, The Fault In Our Stars.

This songs doesn't contain plot spoilers, but there are quotes from the book that are used.

I love the use of the books in making the music!

Everwild

by Neal Shusterman

Summary:
Everlost, the limbo land of dead children, is at war. Nick the “Chocolate Ogre” wants to help the children of Everlost reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Mary Hightower, self-proclaimed queen of lost children and dangerous fanatic, is determined to keep Everlost’s children trapped within its limbo for all eternity. Traveling in the memory of the Hindenburg, Mary is spreading her propaganda and attracting Afterlights to her cause at a frightening speed.

Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking the living, until she discovers the shocking truth about skinjackers.


My Thoughts:
I love this series so far.
The parallel world that Shusterman has created is detailed and fantastical.
I love how the reader gets to discover the world of Everlost at the same time the kids living in there do too. The characters are intriguing, entertaining, and understandable.

The Fault In Our Stars

By John Green


 Summary:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.


My Thoughts:
 
This book was, everything. All at once. It was funny, smart, heartbreaking, quirky and relatable. It made me see so many emotions that I didn't think a piece of fiction ever would be able to do.
I laughed, I cried, and I loved every moment of it.
I think this might actually be my favourite John Green book yet.
There are just so many wonderful thing about this beautiful piece of liturature.
Augustus and Hazel are amazing. They are intelligent, funny, and real.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

In My Book Bag

Here are the title's that I have out from the library, or are waiting for me on the holdshelf:



Beauty Queens

By Libba Bray

I've heard lots of great things about this book.

And now that I've read A Great and Terrible Beauty, I want to see what I think of Libba Bray's other work.

Plus the cover is super intriguing.

The Reformed Vampire Suppot Group

By Catherine Jinks

One of my friends recommended this book to me.

And it looks like a fun read

I'm already a few chapters in, but I'm not convinced yet.

We'll see.

Maybe it'll change my mind yet.

Everwild

By Neal Shusterman

I've recently read the first book the this series and love it! (Review to come)

The plot could go in many different directions, and I want to know what happens to the charaters.

And I want to learn more about the world of Everlost, and what 'skinjacking' is really all about.

A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great And Terrible Beauty
 By Libba Bray


Summary:
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. GemmaKartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

My Thoughts:
I can not count the number of times I have been told to "read this book"! I have so many reading buddies who LOVE Libba Bray, and as per usual, I wait until the new and cool become tried and true before taking the dive.
Everyone who suggested this book, was right. They were all so right.
This is a fabulous Historical/Fantasy/Wonderful book.
I kind of felt like it was like every other 'magic is real', 'we found a new world' kind of book. But in all fairness. This one probably came before any of the other 'I am actually magic' books I've read over the past couple years.
I'm totally looking forward to reading the next two books of the series.