Archive for February, 2010

Keep Your Head Down. Don’t Get Noticed. Or Else.

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.

So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it’s all that dangerous–the only neck at risk is my own.

Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.

I should have just said no…

Synopsis from Maria Snyder’s web site, release date April 1, 2010, Harlequin Teen

Inside Out is Maria Snyder’s first foray into true science fiction and I think many people will find it a success. The world of Inside Out is filled with mystery and complete otherness. The people of this world live in what they call “Inside,” a huge metal cube where they exist. On the lower levels, the people called “scrubs” maintain the systems of living, air, waste, water, etc. and in the upper levels, the “uppers” live in what the scrubs believe to be relative luxury. The scrubs are given very few rights, and live in crowded quarters, working long hours. The uppers have families and maintain more of what we would know to be careers. The scrubs have no choice in their every day living, while they uppers have more freedoms and privileges.

In Inside Out, Trella, a scrub known as “Queen of the Pipes,” gets by day-to-day, living out her life as a loner. She has few friends, and most of the scrubs regard her with resentment because of her skills. She’s content with her existence in Inside, until the day her friend Cogon brings her to hear a prophet called Broken Man. Broken Man tells Trella and Cogon there is a way to reach Outside, through something called Gateway, which is a sort of portal to Outside that most Insiders believe will be found someday. Trella isn’t a believer in Gateway, but Cogon is, and his belief convinces her to take on a task that will lead to an even greater, yet exceedingly dangerous, journey. The path she takes could lead to redemption for the scrubs, or utter destruction of all she’s ever known.

Inside Out is an interesting, complex sci-fi story with a world similar, but unique from, many other future worlds. Trella is a complex character that you’ll simultaneously love, but occasionally be annoyed by. For me, I find that a great skill in an author–it’s easy to make characters that you’ll love or hate, but not always so easy to make characters that are realistic, with the qualities of a real human being (despite being in a completely “other” world). Inside Out will make you laugh and make you feel. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Digital ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, an elite group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend–the vampire Balthazar–all her secrets threaten to come out.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas have orchestrated Balthazar’s escape and are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they run, Bianca can’t escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything–but can it survive what’s to come?

Synposis from claudiagray.com, release date March 9, 2010

Hourglass is the best yet in Claudia Gray’s Evernight series. In Stargazer, we left Bianca and Lucas with Black Cross, under lockdown, and on the alert for an attack by Mrs. Bethany and her growing clan of vampires. In Hourglass, Bianca and Lucas are still stuck with Black Cross, with time slowing running out as they hope to plan their escape. As time moves forward, Bianca’s situation becomes more desperate as her need for blood grows stronger and others grow suspicious about her past. After escaping from Black Cross, Bianca and Lucas go into hiding, looking forward to finally having their “happy-ever-after”–but it couldn’t be that easy, right? A host of old friends and enemies return, and complications make their situation even more dire as the two star-crossed lovers fight for their lives and fight to remain together.

Hourglass is intensely fast-paced and extremely suspenseful. Bianca and Lucas continue to grow as characters, and Lucas shows a great deal of depth and emotion in this novel. I couldn’t put this down once I picked it up! The whole book makes you feel as if you are racing towards an awesome, yet terrifying conclusion. But yet, there is one more novel in this series (Afterlife), and I am not looking forward to waiting for that!

Hourglass is a much more adult novel, darker than the previous two in the series. Fans of the series will love the things we continue to discover about all of our favorite characters, yet they’ll be shocked by the betrayals, unexpected discoveries, and the quick conclusion.

ARC received from the author–thank you!

For More: Check out Claudia Gray’s web site!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This Wednesday I am waiting on Inside Out by Maria Snyder. I’m a big fan of her Study series (Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study) and have started her Glass series (Storm Glass, Sea Glass). I’m very excited about Inside Out, and was actually lucky enough to have a galley to read on NetGalley, so I’ll be reviewing that title soon in the weeks to come!

Inside Out
Release date: April 2010

Summary (from Maria Snyder’s Website):

Keep Your Head Down. Don’t Get Noticed. Or Else.

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.

So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it’s all that dangerous–the only neck at risk is my own.

Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.

I should have just said no…

This week, I have quite a few books to read and review!

• Hourglass by Claudia Gray (ARC received from the author for review)
• A Life Revealed by Suzi Katz (review copy received from the author for review)
• My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent (ARC ebook received from netGalley for review)
• Tagged by Mara Purnhagen (ARC ebook received from netGalley for review)
• The Oracle of Dating by Alison van Diepen (ARC ebook received from netGalley for review)
• Gone by Lisa McMann (bought from Amazon.com)
• Heist Society by Ally Carter (bought from Amazon.com)
• Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (bought from Amazon.com)
• Captivate by Carrie Jones (bought from Amazon.com)

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren.

YALSA recently wrote about the Common Sense ratings (for books) that Barnes and Noble have been exhibiting on their website. Here’s a view from the Barnes and Noble web site of the Common Sense rating for Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (referenced in the article):

Readers, what do you think? As YALSA questions, could this be a slippery slope to further censorship? Should books be rated as movies are rated? “The thing is, who does get to own common sense and determine what’s right for a particular teen or a particular family?”

Good question! In my YA services class this week, we are discussing collection development, and as a part of that censorship. From a librarian’s point of view, my responsibility is to build up my collection as best will serve the teens at my library–I’m not the person to decide what they can and cannot read. I should choose age-appropriate titles, but who decides exactly what is age appropriate? The line is very fine, and this issue very sensitive with many parents and communities.

I’m going to keep an eye on the comments of the YALSA post. As someone new to the field, I don’t know the answer, but I think it worthwhile for librarians, parents, and even teens to consider these questions and, especially for librarians, keep these things in mind when considering collection development, as well as a teenager’s right to read and have access to materials that will help them grow.

I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on a few ARCs, plus I’ve bought some of the latest YA lit out–here’s what will be upcoming in reviews over the next few weeks:

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This Wednesday I am excited to give a shout out to one of my favorite authors, Mary Hoffman. I am eagerly anticipating her next book in the Stravaganza series, City of Ships, which will be released in the US in June (March 1st in the UK). I’ve also read on Hoffman’s website that a 6th book in the series, City of Swords, is in the works! Have you read the Stravaganza books yet? They are an exciting series that take place in an alternate world, where everything is several hundred years in the past, and slightly different (every country is named differently, etc.). The Stravagante are travelers across worlds, from ours to theirs and back again. (Post updated at 1:15pm, thanks to author Mary Hoffman for letting me know Amazon had the wrong synopsis!)

City of Ships
Release date: June 22nd (US – according to Amazon.com), March 1st (UK)

Summary (from Bloomsbury):

The much anticipated fifth title in the bestselling Stravaganza Sequence

The 2009 Cybils (Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards) have been announced!

A few of my favorites!

• Middle-Grade Fiction: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. I haven’t read this book yet, but am looking forward to it. Anderson is one of my favorite authors, plus, I will be seeing her speak at the Virginia Hamilton Conference in April!
• Fantasy and Science Fiction (YA): Fire by Kristin Cashore. Love, love, love this book! Can’t wait for the 3rd book in this series, Bitterblue.

I couldn’t wait until I had 50 followers for a contest – let’s do one now! I am giving away a signed copy of Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, in honor of the movie release this month. I was lucky enough to get this copy quite some time ago. However, the book is in excellent condition, and signed by author Rick Riordan.

Please fill out the form below to enter the contest. This contest is open to US residents only (sorry!) and closes on March 1st at midnight EST. I will contact the winner by email. You do not need to be a follower to enter, but I hope you do consider following and reading my blog. This will be a one entry per person contest, as it’s my first and I want to get it right! Spread the word and check back here for the winner!

PS, I’m going to see the movie tonight so look for my review later tonight or tomorrow!

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Steph of Hey! Teenager of the Year is giving away an ARC of Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Haven’t read either of those authors before? Please do! I’m a huge fan of John Green and definitely a nerdfighter. I’ve also read Levithan’s work and absolutely love it. If you love realistic fiction with humor and heart, you’ll love both of these authors. Check out her contest and enter to win! I know I will! Crossing my fingers and toes!