Night School (Night School #1) Review

Night School (Night School #1)
by C.J. Daughtery
Genre: YA
Format: ARC received through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest opinion.  I do not get to keep a copy of the books.
Midnight Minute: Allie's parents send her to the mysterious Cimmeria Academy after Allie gets arrested... again.  But it's not the curriculum that's proving hard for Allie, it's staying alive.
Expected Publication: 05.21.13
From Goodreads:

Allie's world is falling apart...

She hates her school. Her brother has run away. And she's just been arrested.

Again.

Now her parents are sending her away to a boarding school where she doesn't know a soul.

But instead of hating her new school, Allie finds she's happy there. She's making friends. And then there's Sylvain, a suave French student who openly flirts with her. And Carter, the brooding loner who seems to have her back.

Soon, though, Allie discovers Cimmeria Academy is no ordinary school. Nothing there is as it seems. And her new friends are hiding dangerous secrets.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ This book was not what I thought it was going to be about, and I'm so thankful for that!  I was honestly a little worried it would be another House of Night or Vampire Academy type series, however Daugherty keeps things nice and mysterious. 
~ Since her brother disappeared,  Allie has been acting out, and after another arrest her parents ship her off to Cimmeria Academy. 
~ I really wish that I wasn't about to turn 36, or that there was a boarding school for adults, because ya'll, I would totally sign up to go! Cimmeria Academy is no Hogwarts, but it's somewhere, hidden, in England!
~ Bad sign: when the boarding school you're attending is in a secret location and there's no cell phones, iPods or laptops allowed.  That's right, Cimmeria Academy students should learn to be grateful just for electricity.  Actually, I kind of like this idea, because with today's instant media culture, no doubt there'd be tweets and youtube videos of all that mysterious "Night School" society.
~ The vast majority of the kids at the boarding school are legacy students, so Allie garners a lot of attention, speculation and her fair share of distrust for not being legacy.  
~ The Night School is, as explained to Allie, a secret group of "advanced" students.  Hmmkay...
~ Allie has to do detention in the cemetery that's on the school grounds.  That does not sound as horrifying to me as it might to some of my more "normal" readers. ;) 
~ There's two boys, the broody Carter and the charming Sylvain.  Guess which one is the main boy!
~ Carter is a scholarship student, as his now deceased parents worked for the school before they died.  Which adds to Carter's dark broodiness.  
~ Mysterious growling?  Human-sounding footsteps? How are we not thinking werewolf, Allie?!  Seriously, were-wolf.  The description you just gave of what chased you and Jo?  Text book definition of an effing werewolf!!
~ As the mystery deepens, I become aware of the fact that this book is not going to go down the normal YA Paranormal path.  Oh, no, readers, Daugtherty is going all Dan Brown on your butts!
~ Jo teaches Allie how to play chess in the common room, which makes Jo Allie's Ron.  So does that make Gabe her Hermione?  lol
~ Allie visits the school chapel, which has poetry in many languages decorating the walls.  Love that!! Sounds amazing. 
~ Uh, oh, Jo is acting weird.  Or not.  Really, Allie, we barely know this girl.
~ Yeah, that's the second time I spoke to the character like she could hear me.  This book made me do that several times, and I see no reason not to share that tidbit with you.  At times it was like, "No, Allie!  Don't go by yourself in the dark, deadly woods/attic/basement/etc!"  Sadly, she did not always listen to me. 
~ Even though I got the feeling immediately that Carter was endgame, there were several cute moments with Sylvain and Allie.  Until...
~  SPOILER (highlight to read): The author has Sylvain do something so completely awful that despite her best efforts is IRREDEEMABLE.  This really made me upset, because I liked his character, and while I expected him to be revealed to be a jerk, what he actually did should have had him down at the police station recovering from the beat down the cops gave him with their little sticks.   You can't come back from that.  Well, I guess you can, because I used to watch soap operas and two of my favorite male leads (Jack on Days, Todd on OLTL and GH) were magically cured rapists, but I don't think YA is the place for this. No, there's no rape, but Sylvain still does something very unforgivable.
~ There's so much tension between Sylvain and Carter throughout the book, which normally has my eyes rolling, but not so much in this book.  I got why she was attractive to both boys, and not everyone in school was trying to get in her pleated skirt (actually, I can't remember if she wore a pleated skirt as part of her school uniform, but you get my drift, right?).
~ There should be more kissing whilst pressed against walls in this world.  I promise there would be less wars and violence.  Possibly more babies and chapped lips, though...
~ I flip-flopped teams several times until the spoiler thing happened, and I still wish that hadn't happened.  Sigh. 
~ Skinny dipping is "wholesome" fun!  lol And I envision the CW is already in line to make this into a tv show. 
~ Oh, Allie.  I have panic attacks when I'm naked all the time. ;)
~ The dance does NOT GO AS PLANNED.  
~ So, the Night School was slowly revealed, and trust me peeps, it was not what I thought it was.  I felt a bit like Vizzini in The Princess Bride shouting, "Inconceivable!" and Daugherty was all like, "Midnight Book Girl, I do not think the Night School is what you think it is!" Well played, author, well played. 
~  I have lots more notes, but I can't share anymore with you without majorly spoiling the book.  Trust me though, this is like the Da Vinci Code for the YA set to a certain degree, maybe a bit more gothic, a bit less complicated.

Timeless Characters:

Allie- our heroine, reeling from her brother's disappearance and acting out, finds herself at a mysterious boarding school stuck between two hotties. 
Carter- Bachelor #1, step right up!  Broody, hot mess boy.  Only he's not that broody or hot mess-ish.  Secretive. 
Sylvain- French hottie, charming.  Carter is not his biggest fan, and the two boys are pages away of having a dance off for Allie's hand.  
Isabelle- the headmistress of Cimmeria Academy.
Christopher- Allie's missing brother.
Jo- Allie's first real friend at boarding school.
Gabe- Jo's boyfriend, possible a Night School member.
Katie- red-headed wenchy girl, hates Allie, wants Sylvain. 
Jules- prefect, friend to Katie.
Mr. Zelazny- history teacher (but he's pretty much the Mr. Filch of the story).
Lucas- Jo's ex, part of Allie's new friends.
Rachel- gossipy new friend
Lisa, Ruth, Phil- more friends.  Don't get attached. o.0
Eloise- the school librarian.
Mr. Ellison- I think he's the groundskeeper.  He oversees the cemetery detention. 
Clare- Carter's ex. 
Lucinda- mystery woman.
Nathaniel- mysterious mothereffer. 
Mark and Harry- Allie's London friends.  I've recorded their names, but you don't need to.  They are but a blip on the radar, my dears.  OR are they?  (see, Daugherty, I can mess with readers too! ;)
 

Midnight Moment:

I realized that some shiz would go down at the dance.  One expects that.  I did not expect the shiz storm that was unleashed.  Some of it bothered me (Sylvain) and some of it shocked me a bit because I didn't realize this book was going to be that... intense? 

Stop The Clock:

Is this a perfect book?  Nope.  There's a few bumps in the road to a full on Midnight Read, including some truly difficult suspensions of belief, characters acting outside of their established personalities, convenient information supplied by characters who previously had been barely mentioned the first 200 pages or so, BUT, there's promise here.  I really liked that the book surprised me.  I really liked that Allie didn't hold onto her whole "teenage rebel" thing that I figured would only continue at boarding school.  I'm very intrigued with where this book is going, and even though some mystery has been answered, there's lots more to be revealed!  I am in this one for the long haul.  


Goodreads also shows this as a possible cover:

But the ARC I was sent had the cover I include with the synopsis.  I probably prefer the top one, just because I think it invokes the mystery of the novel a bit more.  What do ya'll think?  

C.J. Daugherty — Website |C.J Daugherty 
So, book 2 is already out in the U.K.?  Um, need it!  Plus that cover is Ah-mazing. 

Night School (Night School #1) gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Dare You To Review

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)
by Katie McGarry
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: ARC received through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review.  I do not get to keep a copy of the book.
Midnight Minute: Beth is torn from her friends and her mother, and now she has to deal with good guy Ryan, who dares her to risk opening up. 
Expected Publication: 05.28.13
From Goodreads:
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

Midnight Thoughts:

~I got Pushing the Limits at BEA last year, and I enjoyed it.  My friend Kim said I would love this one even more.   And she was right. 
~ Part of the reason I loved this book so much was Ryan.  He's a good, decent boy who is dealing with many of his own issues.  His relationship with his parents and his brother are very realistic.  Usually the love interests in YA books are bad boys with a heart of gold that's polished to a shine by the girl next door they break all the rules to love.  But Ryan is already shiny, and he actually needs Beth to help scruff him up a bit. 
~ The book flips from Ryan to Beth's pov throughout the novel.  I love this because you get to really see both sides of the things that go down between Beth and Ryan, and get to know both of them. 
~ I thought I'd have a hard time accepting that Beth and Isiah weren't the end game they appeared to be in Pushing the Limits, but Ryan is just too hard to resist. 
~ Beth's relationship with her mom is heartbreaking.  She's in such denial, and she's put so much pressure on herself.  I want to go all The Crow on Beth's mom when he's all like "Mother is the name of God in the lips and hearts of little children" as he's forcing the junkie mom to clean up her act for the sake of her little girl.  
~ It appears that Beth's mom is also a fan of Carrie Underwood, since she goes all medieval on her douchebag boyfriend's El Camino.  And of course, Beth ends up taking the blame.  Which is some major bs, but if it takes her to Ryan I'll keep my mouth shut. 
~ Uncle Scott comes to Beth's rescue, although she doesn't quite see it that way, and proceeds to blackmail her into moving in with him and his new wife (a very pearl-clutching type of woman, who unclenches slightly as time goes by).  I strongly believe in blackmailing to get what you want.  ;)
~ Beth returns with Uncle Scott to the town she was born in, and her old friend Lacy is there, still holding onto the torch of friendship.  Beth is all pricklyish and angry to full appreciate Lacy, especially since Lacy dates one of Ryan's friends.
~ So even though his interest in Beth begins with a dare, I actually really enjoyed the dares the boys challenge each other to.  Especially the car moving one.  I almost always take Truth, since the one time I took a dare as a kid I had to french kiss a tree... before I even knew what french kissing was, so basically I licked bark. 
~ Inside Beth's mom's apartment is a room that no one opens.  For some reason it completely reminded me of briefcase in Pulp Fiction. 
~ I liked Ryan's story line with his brother.  I haven't seen the issue pop up in this way befor but I thought it was handled realistically and that both brothers were to blame for the rift. 
~ I'm sorry, but I am just not buying that Beth's blonde roots really look great as they grow out (Beth dyes her hair black because she's a ball on angst inside).  But since that's my biggest issue witht he book, I'll go ahead and let it go. 
~ Ryan takes a dare to take Beth on a date- and we've now entered the murky waters of teen rom-coms, but I trusted to McGarry not to go all cliche on us, and she didn't. 
~ It's kind of sad that the only thing Beth knows of what a good, loving relationship looks like is what she's witnessed between Echo and Noah.  We do get see the two of them in this book too. 
~ Ya'll are going to melt when you get to the rainwater part of the book.  Seriously, puddles of swooning girls and women on the floor over it. 
~ The lead up to the end was tense and bittersweet and I loved every second of it. 

Timeless Characters:

Beth- are f-bombing heroine with a dark, twisty past.
Ryan- actually made baseball sexy to me, nice, hot guy.
Isiah- Beth's best friend, with the occasional benefits. 
Lacy- Beth's best friend from childhood.
Chris- Ryan's dare buddy, Lacy's boydfriend.
Logan- another of Ryan's friends. 
Noah and Echo- still in love and happy.
Mark- Ryan's older brother.
Gwen- Ryan's ex, bullied Beth and Lacy when they were kids.  Not much has appeared to change with her. 
Scott- Beth's uncle, retired baseball player.
Allison- Scott's uptight wife.
Trent- Beth's mom's evil bastard boyfriend.
Officer Monroe- think Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street.
Mrs. Rowe- Ryan's nice, if pushy, English teacher.
 

Midnight Moment:

So many!  The barn, the bird that's trapped there which was so parallel to Beth, the pond, the rainwater... I could go on.  But I won't. I need a nap.

Stop The Clock:

I can definitely recommend this, whether you've read Pushing the Limits or Not.  It's mostly sweet, but it's got some heat thrown in!


Katie McGarry — Website |Katie McGarry

Dare You To gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Furious Review

Furious
by Jill Wolfson
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format: ARC received from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Midnight Minute: Wronged high school girls become modern day Furies!
Expected Publication: 04.16.13
From Goodreads:

Three high school girls become the avenging Furies of Greek legend.

We were only three angry girls, to begin with. Alix, the hot-tempered surfer chick; Stephanie, the tree-hugging activist; and me, Meg, the quiet foster kid, the one who never quite fit in. We hardly knew each other, but each of us nurtured a burning anger: at the jerks in our class, at our disappointing parents, at the whole flawed, unjust world.

We were only three angry girls, simmering uselessly in our ocean-side California town, until one day a mysterious, beautiful classmate named Ambrosia taught us what else we could be: Powerful. Deadly. Furious.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ I love Greek mythology, but I've read more than my fair share of awful YA versions of Greek mythology re-tellings.  Recently Brodi Ashton renewed my faith in the genre, and Jill Wolfson continues the trend.  Call me butter, because I'm on a roll! 
~ I was really excited that Meg is a foster kid, because I don't think there's enough positive roles for foster kids... but this book continued the Awful Foster Parent(s) stereotype.  Not saying there aren't lots of awful foster parents out there, but it'd be nice to see some good ones.  Or even some boring ones. Of course, bad foster parents is one of the reasons Meg is so full of fury, so I'm going to have to be okay with that.
~ Meg has a crush on Brendon, in part because of his cute eye crinkles.  You know who does the best eye crinkles in the world?

This guy.

~ Somehow Meg finds the balls to ask Brendon out, and is humiliated for the effort.  But wait.  More humiliation is in store for our mc!
~ Meg is mixed race, and really- hallelujah!  Because it's nice to have someone who isn't Caucasian being featured. 
~ And then there's Meg's bff- Raymond, who despite filling in the role of gay bestie sidekick- is not a walking stereotype either!  And his mom is amazeballs!  Raymond is kind of the Voice of Reason, and I loved him. 
~ Okay, honestly, not all foster parents are cheap and cruel.  Remember Daddy Warbucks? He was a peach!  
~ Alix is a tough surfer girl, but she's got some depth.  Even Stephanie, who is a bit of a Eco-warrior stereotype- has an interesting background.  
~ For some reason I kept picturing Ambrosia as the mean popular girl from Sabrina the Teenage Witch.  Probably because she was described as atypically pretty for such a popular girl, and that's one of my few frames of reference.  I possibly watch entirely too much tv and movies...
~ A billion extra points if you figure out what's up with  Ms. Pallas (I did- instantly!  BAM!).
~ The majority of the book is told from Meg's POV, but occasionally Ambrosia breaks in with a little entry into her The Book of Furious, and I really enjoyed her input.   
~ Even though I found Stephanie to be a bit of an Al Gore on Steroids and Red Bull, I really liked her hippy style.  Someday, when I am older, it'll be all long skirts with bells and coral necklaces.  Watch this space. 
~ I've always believed that hate is one of the easiest emotions to have, especially in teens.  Love, loyalty, indifference?  Now those are hard!  Of course hate is very hard to maintain, at least for me.  Unless it's against people who insist on riding their bikes incorrectly on busy roads and/or twisty, forested back roads.  I hate those mofos, always!
~ I really want to hear the music the Furies make... okay, maybe that's tempting fate, so nevermind!
~ Here's why I dig Meg:  When she's thinking of all the descriptive words she'd like attached to her name, she comes up with words like Poised, Self-Assured, Positive, Confident, etc.  Most teen girls would want words like Pretty, Popular, Skinny as a Model.  You go, Meg!
~ Words I'd like attached to my name: Filthy Rich, Maureen Johnson's Bestie, Inventor and Owner of the World's Largest Underground Library, and Awesome. 
~ Raymond becomes the Furies managers, but he is no Charlie to Angels, because Ambrosia is not about to let him run the show. 
~ What happens to someone who's whole life becomes about revenge?  Ask Emily Thorne or the Count of Monte Cristo.  
~ Nitwidiots- Raymond's word, but I'm stealing it. Because I am surrounded by nitwidiots... oh, wait, that's just my reflection. 
~ Giving into anger only makes you angrier... Which is why I probably shouldn't be following the Jodi Arias trial, I could turn into a Fury at any moment. 
~ Come on, Ambrosia, admit it, it's really not that hard to find really pissed off teenage girls, don't even act like it is. 
~ Ms. Pallas says that justice becomes revenge, which morphs into soul-rotting revenge.  Truth, or What She Said.  Revenge sounds great, in theory, but in real life you damage yourself by ruining other people.  Little revenges are okay though. 
~ I loved how Wolfson linked Ambrosia's past to the present day, but sincerely, Ambrosia could use a little therapy and some Xanax. 
~ Meg and Brendon were so adorable and awkward with one another, loved it!  
~ Guys, you need to read this book.  I really liked it and I haven't read any other YA books that have done justice to Furies like this one has done.  Bring it on, Jill Wolfson, I will read all your books!

Timeless Characters:

Ambrosia- narrates the prologue.  So not your average teenage girl.
Meg- our mc, is a "late-bloomer", which is a good enough reason to be furious with the world. 
Brendon- the crinkly eyed, surfing object of Meg's affection, also a member of the Plagues.
Raymond- Meg's best friend, he's young, super-smart and gay.  He is AWESOME.
Dawn and DeeDee- the unfortunately nicknamed Double D twins. 
Lottie Leach- Meg's current foster parent, lavishes what love she is capable of on He-Cat, her butt-ugly kitty.
Stephanie- dread-locked lover of mother earth, just don't litter or she'll go all Fury on you ass. 
Alix- tough as nails surfer girl who has a soft spot for her brother. 
Kai "Pox" Small- one of Brendon's friends and a member of The Plagues, a bunch of jerky surfer boys.  There is bad blood between him and Alix. 
Ms. Pallas- Meg's civics teacher with some hidden secrets.
The rest of the Plagues: Gnat and Bubonic. 
Simon- Alix's older brother and co-president of the Raymond is Awesome club (I'm the other co-president, just so we're clear). 

Midnight Moment:

The moment when Alix sees her dad, and the Furies go to work on him... much more intense than I was expecting! 

Stop The Clock:

I can definitely recommend this book, but most especially if you like Greek mythology or need something a little different.  I really loved that the book wasn't about hooking up with your soul mate in high school, but rather Meg really coming into her own.


Jill Wolfson — Website | Jill Wolfson

Furious gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

The Elite (The Selection #2) Review

The Elite (The Selection #2)
by Kiera Cass
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Romance
Format: I received an a copy through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Expected Publication: 04.23.13
Midnight Minute: America was one of the last girls standing in the competition for Prince Maxon's heart, but fewer girls means shiz is getting real.  And the rebels are closing in.
From Goodreads:

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ I felt like the cut from 35 girls to just 6 was awfully severe, especially since this is only the 2nd book in the series- but then the fist culling on The Bachelor always troubled me too.  I may be a tad too sentimental about stupid crap.  But really, true affection takes time to build up, Maxon!
~ I don't watch The Bachelor anymore because it got hella fake, but I was hooked for several seasons (the first one I watched was Charlie O'Connells season.  I was really rooting for him and baby nurse Sarah).  But all of the crap that I began to hate about the tv show (the incredible fakeness of it and pretty much all reality tv anymore) isn't in The Selection series.  I get all the pretty, petty girls in elaborate dresses vying for a hottie's attention.  Plus it's got political intrigue!
~ Is there anyone out there who is Team Aspen?  Because I didn't like at all in the last book, and in The Elite my feelings are more ambivilant. Sometimes he seems cool, but then he's putting America in a extremely dangerous position anytime he talks to her, so that's very uncool.  I kind of want him to just hook up with someone else or imprint on a toddler (just kidding! Because that's gross!).
~ When the Prince asks you to keep something secret, you protect it like Frodo protected the one Ring.  Hell, if Prince William or Prince Harry told me a secret, I'd keep it.  And I'm not even English.  In fact, I'm sure some of my more militant Irish ancestors would be mighty displeased with me, but I'd still keep my mouth shut. 
~ America, meet everyone's favorite toy, the yo-yo.  Ya'll have a lot in common this book.  One minute America is all about Maxon, then Aspen, then Maxon, then Aspen, then Roberto, then Maxon... just joking.  There's no Roberto.  Just making sure you're paying attention!
~ I don't know if I love all the awful names in this series, or I love how awful they are.  Seriously, Officer Woodwork?  And don't get me started on all the jokes I can make out of America's name.  
~ I really liked Elise in this novel, although she steps up her game as a rival for Maxon's affection.  I'm also in total agreement with her over the caning vs. death debate.  I'll take caning any day of the week over death.  Unless it was every day, and then eventually I'm sure the death choice would start looking good. 
~ I really love America's relationship with her dad- he truly loves her and believes in her.  Her mom remains a bit of Mrs. Bennet though.
~ Now that we're into the second book it becomes clear that being the Princess will be a difficult and, at times, unpleasant job.  But that maybe Mer just might be what Illea needs. 
~ Maxon's parents are the polar opposites of Mer's- his mom's is wonderful and his dad is a tool.  Too bad he's King.
~ America drove me nuts this book, and seriously Aspen is kind of stupid for putting up with her.  And she's completely hypocritical too... but I still love the chemistry between her and Maxon, so I'm willing to overlook her yoyo tendencies for now.  Although, her hypocrisy might not make her Princess material, but she's got a good shot at a political career.
~ This series is a giant soap opera, and I love it.
~ The rebels continue to be all mysterious and murderous. I'm a little afraid that I'm going to be disappointed with their storyline, but honestly I'm just here for the competition. 
~ The Palace security continues to be the worst. 
~ Much drama in this book, and the plot moves steadily on.  I really loved the task America and the other girls are given in this book, even more would have been nice though.  
~ I heart this series.  It's not perfect, it's a little shallow, Mer drives me nuts, but I'm hooked. 

Timeless Characters:

America Singer- her name says it all I guess.  She's a talented musician and she's torn between two political parties boys. 
Prince Maxon- my favorite point in the love triangle.  He actually calls America on some of her shiz, which just makes her (and me) love him more. Sigh.
Aspen- He doesn't ski, so I'm not sure what's up with his name, but he's there for America whenever she deigns to call on him.
Anne, Mary and Lucy- America's maids.  Still really like them.  They remind me of the mice in Cinderella.
Officer Woodwork- one of the palace guards.
Queen Amberly- I really just picture her as Julie Andrews.  I love Julie Andrews.
King Clarkson- It's beginning to dawn on me that he's not particularly thrilled to pass the torch of leadership onto his son...
Adele- the Queen's sister.  She doesn't have a huge role, but I liked her so she goes on the list.
Gavril Fadaye- reporter for the Illea Capital.
Mr. Singer- America's dad is perfection.  She also has a cute little sister, I forgot to write her name down, but she's an adorable moppet. 
Marlee- Mer's friendly competition, she's got secrets of her own.
The rest of the Elite:
Kriss- the airhead
Elise- the brain (and now the competition)
Natalie- the four (sorry I didn't write anything else down about her)
Celeste- the mean one
 

Midnight Moment:

There's a few of them, and no surprise, they all contain Maxon!
First, I love that Maxon takes America to a super secret hidden room, and that it contains books and computers. 
The biggest Midnight Moment came when Maxon takes his shirt off for America- but not for the reason ya'll are thinking.  Get your minds out of the gutters!

Stop The Clock:

If you liked the first book, then The Elite is a must read.  Yes it was frustrating, but it's the second book so you know the love triangle is only going to heat up and stakes are just going to get higher.  That's the job of Book 2.  I gave it a five star on Goodreads simple because you can't do half-stars and I devoured this book.  It probably would have been a five, but I wanted to smack/shake America through out most of this book.


Kiera Cass — Website |Kiera Cass

The Elite (The Selection #2) gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Also, there's a novella coming out on March 5th: 
The Prince: A Selection Novella
By Kiera Cass
From Goodreads:
 

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...

Before Aspen broke America's heart...

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

Don't miss this thrilling 128-page original novella set in the world of the New York Times bestselling novel The Selection. Also features a teaser to The Elite, Kiera Cass's hotly anticipated sequel to The Selection.

Finally my love story with the Prince can be told!

The Rules (Projeck Paper Doll #1) Review

The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1)
by Stacey Kade
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Format: Arc received from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Midnight Minute: Hiding in plain sight from a corporation that wants her for unspeakable deeds, half alien Ariane is constantly on the alert and dealing with bitchy high school girls. 
Expected Publication: 04.23.13
From Goodreads:

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

Midnight Thoughts:

~ I've read and loved the first two Ghost and Goth books, but I'm almost afraid to read the last one, since then the series will be over, but I was super excited when I heard about this series, even if I missed the whole alien aspect of the plot.  I really thought it was going to be a YA version of Joss Whedon's canceled tv show Dollhouse.  
~ I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi, and even a less fan of aliens, but I trusted Kade to write a story I'd like.  She did not disappoint!
~ The Rules has a duel narrative, flipping between Ariane (how is this pronounced? Because it'd be weird if it's pronounced like Aryan) and Zane.  I really enjoyed this style because I really think it helps move things along and it's a good way to really get to know the main characters.
~ There's no love triangle!  Not that I mind a good triangle, but I'm kind of tired of useless ones- A's got enough to deal with right now.  That said, this is only book 1, and who knows what can happen in book 2!
~ So, Ariane is living in the place of her "dad"s real daughter, who died.  I thought at first that this was one of those books- clones born to take over the original's life, but thankfully it was just an identity that was easy to slip into when Ariane gets out of the facility that made her. 
~ Sadness: for the first five or six years of her life, she thought her name was Wannahseven (not sure I spelled that right), because that's her number: 107.  Jesus, even the mice and chimpanzees get real names.  
~ So, Ariane is a half-human, half-alien hybrid that this shady corporation has cobbled together.  I don't know if she just assumes that her alien half comes from the aliens that reportedly crashed at Roswell, or if that's really where her poor alien ancestor came from. 
~ Even though Ariane has got some cool alien powers, she has enough kyrptonite weaknesses- include very fragile bones, that keep her from being some Mary Sue super alien.  
~ Because she was raised in a facility, most of her knowledge of the "outside world" came from tv and cartoons.  You can only imagine what a crazy, warped world view she had before getting out of the facility- afraid at that any time an Acme safe could come raining down on her head, or expecting animals to talk.  Actually... I wish life were a bit more like cartoons.  It'd be awesome to wear the same outfit every day.  Only my luck I'd end up stuck in a huge mock turtle neck sweater and a skort like Velma from Scooby Doo. ~ So Ariane and her dad are living in the same town as the evil facility, GTX, that she escaped from, because that's the dad's plan for outsmarting the company.  But then GTX "donates" a security system, complete with video cameras, to the school and pretty much Ariane's playing Frogger, but for reals. 
~ Also, the small town setting within powerful reach of the GTX means that the relationships between people are tricky and complex.  The meanest girl in school, Rachel, is one of Zane's besties? Also the granddaughter of the head GTX honcho.  And now she's locking horns with Ariane. 
~ Ariane keeps her head down and only has one friend, but she's got a virtual online life, which I thought was going to figure in more with the story.  I do love the fact that Ariane chooses to date Clark Kent, a computer generated character, instead of finding a hook up in Dreamlife, the site she plays on. 
~ GTX made Ariane do some awful things, leading her to put a self-imposed block on her powers.  Which sucks, because she needs them now.  
~ I have to give props to Stacey Kade for explaining why Mark Tucker too Ariane out of the facility in a non-creeper way. 
~ GTX totally reminds me of The Shop in Fire-Starter by Stephen King.   Although, I suspect Charlie McGee could kick Ariane's butt... at least for now.  Perhaps book 2 will change my mind. ;)
~ Kade is good at writing complex characters- even the evil teen queen Rachel has some depth to her. 
~ In order to take down smug Rachel, er, I mean, help her moronic, Plastics worshiping friend Jenna, Ariane has to break all of her careful stay-under-the-radar rules.  It seems reckless, because it is, but we break rules all the time.  We still gloves from the hospital, we run red lights (this pertains particularly to Virginia drivers), we talk loudly in libraries.  Humans are rule breakers by nature, even if it puts our lives in danger.  This is apparently true for human/alien hybrids too. 
~ The ending guarantees I'll be there for the rest of the series.  Well played, Kade.

Timeless Characters:

Ariane Tucker- 1/2 alien, 1/2, 100% awesome.
Zane Bradshaw- Kade creates some of the best guys in YA, and Zane does not disappoint. 
Mark Tucker- works security for GTX, despite having stolen their unique creation.  Which is the definition of balls of steel.
Jenna- Ariane's only friend, desperate to be in Rachel's circle.
Rachel Jacobs- she reigns supreme in the halls of Ashe High, she ain't no hollaback girl.
Arthur Jacobs- Rachel's beloved grandpappy and head of GTX.
Cami and Cassi- twins, happy juice drinkers in worship of Rachel.
Trey- completely worships Rachel, who treats him like a baby, unless it's a day ending in a y, in which case she treats him like a baby with a stinky diaper.  
Sheriff Bradshaw- actually, maybe he's the police chief?  I forgot to write his title down, but he's Zane's snobdouche dad.  Hates Mark Tucker, wants to be all up GTX's butt because he's, well, a snobdouche.  Zane will never be good enough in Poppa Bradshaw's eyes. 

Midnight Moment:

I really loved Ariane and Tucker's relationship, but my favorite moment was Ariane's misunderstanding of the French Kisses that the French Club's booth at the town fair.  It was hilarious to have her get all mad at Tucker only to have him explain what the booth was giving away.

Stop The Clock:

Maybe science-fiction isn't your thing.  That's cool.  But this book is also a thriller, with some contemporary romance thrown in with a whopping side of humor.  So, if that's your thing, then you need to read this book.  In fact, just put Stacey Kade on your list.  You know what list I'm talking about.  The list of authors you go out of your way to read.  She's that good, ya'll.


Stacey Kade — Website |Stacey Kade

The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1) gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

The Madman's Daughter Review

The Madman's Daughter
by Megan Shepherd
Genre: YA (Book 1 in a series)
Format: ARC from Around the World Arc Tours, publication date 01.29.13
Midnight Minute: A YA re-imagining of the classic Dr. Moreau's Island.
From Goodreads:

 In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ The story begins at King's College, and in particular features the medical program.  I've read several fiction and non-fiction books that deal with the early beginnings of modern medicine, and for some reason I find it both barbaric and fascinating. 
~ At 10, Juliet's father is labeled a madman and disappears, leaving she and her mother at the mercy of late 1800's English society... so her mom becomes Fantine, and Juliet becomes an older Cosette.  Sadly, there is no singing, and definitely no castle on a cloud. I may have Les Miz on the brain...
~ Juliet is smart and capable, despite her circumstances she hasn't been beaten down by life.  
~ Consumption!  Someone dies of consumption, it's all very sad and tragic.  Of course, in those times it was also very realistic. 
~ I love that on the back of the book (of the ARC) it says that the trilogy was acquired in a "heated auction".  You go, Balzer & Bray!  I bet it was a lot like Storage Wars, and I am eagerly awaiting TLC's newest hit show featuring publishing houses doling out the big bucks for the next Big Novel. 
~ Obviously at some point Juliet must board a ship and go to her daddy's island and the captain is all "women are bad luck!" and I just roll my eyes.  I've never understood this particular superstition because winds die down, rocks break the hull, storms suddenly manifest and tear up ships.  None of these things have to do with vajayjays. 
~ Dr. Moreau is one crazy bastard, and trust me, this is not a spoiler.  The man practically bathes in Bat Shiz Bubble Bath.  
~ The book is a bit on the slow side, but I found it compelling enough to get me through the slow times.  I haven't read Dr. Moreau's Island, but I'm familiar enough with the story to know what was coming.  Even though this book is directed at YA, it will appeal to an older audience. 
~ Yes, there is a bit of a love triangle, although the focus is on Juliet's relationship with her crazy papa. I liked this triangle because to me it made sense.  One girl, the only girl on the island who's of age, and two young men. Of course there's going to be feelings and hormones. 
~ Despite kind of knowing the story, The Madman's Daughter still managed to surprise me a little at the end, and I'm wondering where the trilogy is going, since the first book deals with what happens in the original story.
~ How gorgeous is this cover?  Seriously, I'm in love!  I will definitely be purchasing this book just for the cover!
~ Juliet has an illness, which I assume is diabetes, that she's able to control thanks to her crazy genius, and it just impresses me how much medicine has changed our lives.  
~ I know I've said that Dr. Moreau is a crazy bastard, but he's also a rat bastard.  For reals. 
~ When things go bad, Juliet's dad is able to detach completely from his work, and it echoes the coldness with which he was able to leave his family. So add cold bastard to crazy and rat, okay?
~ Alice kind of won my heart, and of all the islanders, she was easily my favorite. 

Timeless Characters:

Juliet Moreau- grows up with a loving mother and a genius father, but hers is a story or riches to rags.  Has a very scientific mind. 

Lucy Radcliffe- Juliet's bff, suitably silly and flirty.  Although she's a good friend, she's in sharp contrast to Juliet.  I have a feeling we'll see her again.

Adam Radcliffe- Lucy's cousin, and illustrates just how vast the difference from J's past and her present. 

Montgomery- originally a servant to Dr. Moreau and Juliet's childhood friend, he is now a young man with his own skills.  And he's a hottie. 

Balthasar- disfigured servant of Moreau and Montgomery, he is one of the few islanders who can pass in human society... mostly.

Dr. Moreau- I think we've established that he is Juliet's crazy, cold, rat bastard of a father.  Brilliant as he is insane.  

Edward Prince- castaway, and as much as an outsider on Dr. M's island as Juliet is. But like Montgomery, he's got his secrets.

Alice- islander, beautiful young woman with a harelip that makes her shy, seems to care a great deal for Montgomery. 

Jaguar- one of the more "wild" islanders that Juliet encounters. 

Caesar- let's agree that this is not a good name to give to any humanoids, ever.  He's the "minister" of the island.  

There's lots more islanders, but if you're familiar with Shakespeare, than you already know their names.

Midnight Moment:

There's two Midnight moments for me, the first occurs early on, when Juliet goes to the college after hours and comes upon the rogue medical students.  The second moment is when Juliet' spies on her father once she's on the island and fully learns what he's been up to.  Also, Edward's past is fairly mind boggling.

Stop The Clock:

If you have any interest in the story of The Island of Dr. Moreau, or if you like a little historical fiction with your YA (and a fair amount of gothic-ness thrown in), then The Madman's Daughter is for you.   It's a little slow moving, but the pay off is worth it.  Beware, the book is fairly gruesome!



Megan Shepherd— Website |Megan Shepherd

The Madman's Daughter gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

The Program Review

The Program
by Suzanne Young
Genre: YA
Format: ARC- received in exchange for my honest opinion from Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: 4.30.13 (sorry we have to wait so long!)
Midnight Minute: In a world where teens routinely have their memories taken from them, is it possible to stay true to yourself?
From Goodreads:

 In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ The Program imagines a world where the solution to teen suicide (which has reached epidemic heights) is solved by a procedure that wipes out memories and creates happy, docile teens.  Think lobotomy (which is reserved for the particularly tough to "cure" teens).
~In the beginning of the book it's explained that the high school's third floor windows don't open in order to prevent suicidal teens from hurling themselves out of them.  For some reason that reminded me of the afterschool movie I watched as a kid- some girl high on angel dust or LSD (are they the same thing?) thinks she can fly and goes out the window.  Or maybe she thought she had bugs on her?  But it worked- I have never done the angel dust or LSD.
~This book is similar to the movie Disturbing Behavior, which in turn has it's roots in The Stepford Wives.  There's no robots here, but I found the concept of literally losing everything that makes you who you are truly frightening. 
~The book might not be the most realistic, but I could see something like The Program coming along if suicide was ever so easily spread like it is in the book.  With "heliocopter" parents already being way involved in every aspect of their child's life, wouldn't it be worth it to them to protect their children, even if it meant changing them?
~the book takes place in Oregon.  I'm trying to be more aware of where books are set.  So there, I've done your work for you if you're looking for books to read for some 2013 state challenge.
~In order to try to cut down on teen depression, atheletics has been cut.  I get that it's a way to stop kids from feeling bad about not making the team, but what about the fact that exercise makes you feel good naturally?  
~two movies, both staring Christian Slater, deal with teen suicide.  Heathers is a dark comedy where popular kids are seemingly killing themselves and it creates a whole culture of love-ins and hit songs like "Suicide- Don't Do It".  Slater's movie Pump Up the Volume contains the best reasoning to teens against committing suicide, ever.  For obvious reasons, this book reminded me of those movies.  
~Sloane's relationship with her parents is strained in the wake of her brother's suicide, and the gap between them only grows because the threat of being sent away to The Program is lurking behind every interaction.
~Because The Program steals so many of your memories, it's entirely possible to return not knowing if you're nice, if you're a good person, if you've been kissed or if you're a virgin.  I found that to be terrifying, that you could not know the most basic information about yourself. 
~My favorite part of the book is the flashbacks to James and Sloane's romance.  I love the whole "guy dates best friend's little sister", I could have read an entire book based on the early days of James and Sloane.  I can eat whole bowlfuls of that happy, romantic shiz. 
~A side effect of the drugs used in The Program?  Loss of appetite.  I personally am willing to let some memories go in order to lose weight.  That time I slipped in the laundry room in front of a bunch of people?  Erased! The time in middle school when I thought it was a good idea to use a band-aid to cover up a blemish?  Erased!  Bring it on, Program!
~ The President of The Program is Arthur Pritchard- I wonder if it's anything to do with the fictional author and poem grafting tool mentioned in Dead Poet's Society, J. Evans Pritchard?  The scene where Robin Williams (Oh Captain, Oh Captain!) has the students rip out that drivel is classic.  
~This review is making me realize that I possible spent too much time in the 90's watching movies...
~I had a few problems with The Program, especially with how magically turning 18 kept you safe, but that most parents ignored the fact that their kids were less than a semester away from safety.
~Also, all the adults seemingly embrace The Program, but no one knows the long term effects.  
~The book isn't realistic, but here's another movie reference for you- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  The second and third part of this book definitely reminded me of it. 
~I love that the book explores the question of whether we would be drawn to the same people we'd gravitated to before if our memories were wiped.

Timeless Characters:

Sloane- our main character, she's tough and resilient, and I loved her. 
James- Sloane's boyfriend, he tries so hard to hold on to S and their friends, taking on a lot of responsibility.  He's a hottie. 
Lacey- Sloane's friend who has just gone through The Program.
Miller- Lacey's boyfriend, unable to give up on her. 
Realm- first name, Michael.  He's a bit of an anti-hero, but I adored him.
Roger- creepy Program handler.  He's got his eye on Sloane.
Kevin- friend to Realm and knows nu-Lacey. 
Brady- Sloane's brother who committed suicide.
 

Midnight Moment:

For me, the midnight moment came when Sloane made a deal with Roger in order to get something she wanted.  It made my skin crawl.

Stop The Clock:

I really liked this book.  I was very into the plot, and it surprised me by not going where I thought it was initially.  I will definitely be buying my own copy of The Program in 2013 when it comes out- and I'm hoping the author will be at BEA next May!

Suzanne Young — Website |Suzanne Young

The Program gets a Midnight Book Rating of: