Love in the Time of Global Warming Review

Love in the Time of Global Warming
by Francesca Lia Block
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian/Add you Genre here ;)  This book can't be categorized that easily!
Format: ARC from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Midnight Minute: Pen is a modern day Odysseus, dodging giants and sorceresses, finding love and home after the world she knows is torn apart. 
Expected Publication: 08.27.13 (wow, sorry it's such a long way off!)
From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Penelope (Pen) has lost everything—her home, her parents, and her ten-year-old brother. Like a female Odysseus in search of home, she navigates a dark world full of strange creatures, gathers companions and loses them, finds love and loses it, and faces her mortal enemy.

In her signature style, Francesca Lia Block has created a world that is beautiful in its destruction and as frightening as it is lovely. At the helm is Pen, a strong heroine who holds hope and love in her hands and refuses to be defeated.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ This is my first book from Francesca Lia Block, but the writing was so wonderful that it doesn't really matter that her books aren't my usual type.  In fact, that's what I liked about this book.
~ I love mythology.  A LOT. And I love re-tellings and re-imaginings.  But I have read a lot of bad books based on mythology, so far 2013 has brought several mythology based books my way that have been awesome.  
~ The world as we know it is torn apart by earthquakes and floods brought on by Giants. 
~ Pen's journey is similar, but not identical, to Odysseus's troubled journeys.  A lot of the obstacles she's faces are of a familiar kind, but Block puts a very modern spin on everything. 
~ I don't know if I would classify this book as YA.  It certainly can be read by young adults, and most of the main characters fit in that age group, but I think this could easily be on the shelves of adult fiction too. This book, like Pen and her friends, can't be put neatly in a box.
~ Pen is a fascinating character.  This is a short book, ya'll, but it doesn't ever feel shallow.  Pen is dealing with her sexuality and her crush on her close friend, Moira, and Block manages to convey this is very subtle way.  Block has the ability and talent to say more with a paragraph than most authors can say with a chapter.  In away it reminds me of Maeve Binchy, although she and Block are very different writers.
~ This is the most epic feeling book I've ever read that's under 300 pages- it's not even 250 pages long.  It's a fast paced read, reading like a very modern fairy tale.
~ One thing that really struck me about this book was the love of art and music.  It's everywhere, even amongst the destruction of the world. It's part of what made this a beautiful read- amid eyeball plucking and questionable meat. 
~ FINALLY- a butterfly on the cover that really makes sense.  There are butterflies throughout the story guiding Pen's journey (she actually puts quite a bit of faith in the little buggers).  The orange butterfly is the Rabbit to Pen's Alice.
~ Giants, drugged out teens, the real sirens of Beverly Hills, sorceresses and evil scientists, Pen encounters them all.  
~ Although the Odyssey is a big inspiration for this tale, the way that Pen collects friends is not unlike Dorothy picking up the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion.  I loved how each member of this little ragtag group ultimately made sense in the larger picture. 
~ I loved the visions Pen has of her friend's as children.  Again it tells you more about the characters in fewer words. 
~ Hex's tattoos prove very telling. 
~ This book does have some smexy times in it.  Not an in-your-face HBO kind of sex, but it isn't the fade-to-black kind of sex featured in most YA either.
~ Block does not make a big deal out of it, but all of the main characters are gay, bi-sexual or transgender.  It's a welcome change to the funny, gay best friend that's featured in a lot of books- and I'd like to point out the token gay friend is almost always male.  Usually a book has to specifically be a LGBT book to feature main characters that aren't strictly heterosexual.  
~ I just really liked this story, and it's really stayed with me.  I actually might be liking it more and more as time goes by, which happens sometimes when you have a chance to reflect on a story. I originally gave it four stars on Goodreads, but I'm thinking it's closer to a four and a half, which means I'll bump it up to 5 on there. 
~ I really liked the characters.  Pen is a wonderfully strong young woman, Hex is charming and sexy, Ez and Ash are adorable. I just really liked this book, and the writing is wonderful!

Timeless Characters:

Penelope (Pen)- our female Odysseus, artistic and brave, and world class big sister.
Venice- Pen's unique little brother.
Moria and Noey- Pen's besties before the Earth Shaker.
Argos- Pen's dog.
Hex- a sexy boy Pen meets at The Lotus Hotel.
Kronen- the scientist that made the giants.
Beatrix Lay- former soap opera star and current sorceress.
Ez- a young cake eating artist and chef.
Frekk- a Giant.
Ash- a young male model with a beautiful voice.
Tara- a Tibetian goddess. 
Merk- a helpful man. 
 

Midnight Moment:

If I had to pick just one scene that really got to me, it would be when Pen and her friends go to the museum and a Giant tries to make Pen his bride. 

Stop The Clock:

A beautiful blend of mythology, fairytale and our modern world.  It's unique, well-written and a real page turner! 


Francesca Lia Block— Website |Francesca Lia Block

Love in the Time of Global Warming gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Notes From Ghost Town Review

Notes From Ghost Town
by Kate Ellison
Genre: YA Mystery
Format: ARC received for review from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest opinion. 
Expected Publication: 02.12.13
Midnight Minute: Girl kisses boy, girl goes colorblind, boy dies, girl's schizophrenic mother is accused of the murder, boy haunts girl, and girl deals with potential mental illness while getting her inner private detective on.
From Goodreads:

They say first love never dies...

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ I wanted to love this book but I ended up just liking it.  
~ I love this title, even though Ghost Town is a nickname Olivia and her friends give to a condo development, I still dig it.  It sounds like a place I'd want to at least visit. 
~ There is a lot going on in this book.  Like a lot. Lots of elements that I find really  interesting- murder, schizophrenia, colorblindness, ghosts, mystery, quirky homeless beach ladies, vicious pianists, hot rich boys and tense family relationships.  But it wasn't as cohesive as I wanted it to be. 
~ The first 70 pages or so I thought Olivia was in college, since in the beginning she is leaving Miami to go to art school in Michigan, but she's in high school.   I actually think this would have worked as a New Adult novel, so her being older would have been cool. 
~ While I never really connected with Olivia, I liked a lot of the supporting characters like Stern, Wynn and Austin.  
~ I did however, completely understand how Olivia felt about her dad's fiance.  
~ A week before Olivia's best friend Stern is killed, they finally kiss.  But it leaves her colorblind- she actually has cerebral achromatopsia, which only allows her to see shades of grey which led to some of my favorite little details in the book like:
~ In order to function, Olivia memorizes the depths of certain known colors- like the particular shade of grey on a stop sign to help her identify the color red.  And I love how she gets Wynn to help her sort her closet into colors so that she's not dressing like a crazy person.
~ One thing I've learned from books- if you think you're going crazy, you probably aren't, but it wouldn't hurt to actually go see a professional!
~ There is no physical reason for Olivia's colorblindness, which is fine, but I don't feel like it's ever really explained.  This could be me though.  The timing of the colorblindness confuses me.  
~ I really enjoyed the mystery even though I suspected almost immediately who the real culprit was, I liked how Olivia tried to find the answers for herself and her belief in her mom. 
~ There were a few loose strings at the end of the book (like did Olivia's car ever get fixed?) but it is an ARC, so I don't know that they'll stay loose.  All the major issues are resolved (if not explained). 
~ Olivia makes a reference to Dirty Dancing, which is awesome, but then says how old the movie is, which makes me realize how old I am.  But I still have to give her points for the mention.  ~ The friendships between Olivia and Raina, and Olivia and Austin, felt very realistic.  There is a lot of love and history between Olivia and Raina, but they also get on each other's nerves as only really good friends can.  
~ It might seem that Olivia is a little harsh towards Heather, but that was one area that I completely felt for her.  I'm always amazed when families go through divorces and re-marriages and there aren't lots of resentment and tension.  Your dad meeting his new girlfriend at a meeting for family members of those suffering from mental illness?  Yeah, not cool. 
~ I realize that it sounds like I didn't like the book, but I did.  I think my expectations were just too big going into the reading.  I'm not sure I'm digging the YA trend in mixing up mental illness with seeing ghosts, but I will say that the author never makes fun of schizophrenia and goes out of her way to showcase the positive in Olivia's mom.  At least YA no longer avoids any real mention of mental illness.
~ I really need to read Kate Ellison's The Butterfly Clues.  I promise I will. 

Timeless Characters:

Olivia Tithe- talented artist, colorblind, ghost seeing amateur detective. 
Lucas Stern- the ghost, talented pianist all around good guy. He made for an interesting ghost, would have loved to see more of him.
Austin Morse- hot preppy guy that at first Olivia can't stand.
Ted- Austin's step-dad and business partner to Olivia's father.
Raina- Olivia's non-ghost bestie.
Dave - Olivia's dad. He kind of drove me nuts at times.
Miriam- Olivia's mom, brilliant, talented, it's easy to see why Olivia wants to get her mom out of jail.
Wynn- 5 year old future step-sister. Adorbs.
Heather- future step-mother.
Marietta- pianist with her eyes on Julliard. 
Medusa- homeless beach lady who seems to know more than she should.
 

Midnight Moment:

There were two midnight moments, the first is when Olivia realizes that Austin's hanging out with her for a particular reason.  I totally understood his argument, but it was easy to feel for Olivia and how she felt at that moment.  

The other midnight moment was when Olivia speaks to Debra and finds out what became of Greg Foster, her mom's original lawyer.  It was one of those "and the plot thickens" kind of moments.  I truly love those moments.

Stop The Clock:

While I think there's maybe too many unique elements stuffed into a murder mystery, I still enjoyed the book.  I'm interested in reading more books by the author so even though this particular book wasn't a home run, I'm down for a few more innings. (That was all proper baseball lingo, right?)


Kate Ellison — Website |Kate Ellison

Notes From Ghost Town gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Bonus: I like the new cover, even if it looks like the cover model is making out with herself.  Here's a picture of the ARC cover: 

This cover is almost perfect (except for the hair color).  I'm always interested to see different versions of covers, so I wanted to post this.

Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) Review

Sever (The Chemical Garden #3)
by Lauren DeStefano
Genre: YA Dystopian
Format: ARC from Around the World ARC Tours, in exchange for my honest review.
Expected Publication: 02.13.13
Midnight Minute: Rhine is reunited with Linden and sister-wife Cecily, more intent than ever to find her brother Rowan.
From Goodreads:

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ Okay, I love green, but the cover needs a little darkening.  I have to agree that it looks a bit too much like a green screen.  That said, everything on the cover fits nicely with the book, and I like when the cover actually depicts stuff found inside the pages.  Because this is the ARC, it might not be the absolute final cover.  I found this one on Goodreads too, and it's much better:

~ In the beginning Rhine is in the hospital, recovering from all that Vaughn put her through in the last book.  The poor girl deserves a spa day!
~ Cecily, of all the characters, has grown the most through the series, she is by far the most interesting character.  Despite her very young age, she's a great mom and wife, and to Rhine, a great friend.
~ Love Vaughn's mad scientist brother, Reed! Lots of 'r' names in this series though.
~ I forgot how much Rose looked like Rhine... and I kept expecting that to be more than a coincidence, but in the end it was just that.  Or is it? 
~ I've always preferred Linden over Gabriel, but only because Gabriel doesn't do much for me.  Linden is a good man, but he's weak.  For that matter, Gabriel is too weak for Rhine.  I'm glad that the love triangle isn't a major focus of this series, because I wasn't really feeling it. 
~ Rhine stays true to herself throughout the series, determined to reunite with her brother Rowan.  Personally, if I only had a few years to live left, I'd have lived it up at the mansion.  I'd be squeezing out mini-Lindens and sipping cocktails by that amazing pool while my sister-wives braid my hair and cute servant boys feed me chocolates.
~ Several sad things happen, and even though one thing in particular was personally upsetting to me, I thought it fit the characters. 
~ Perhaps I forgot from the other two books, but the term "the chemical garden" and Rhine and Rowan's parents work is explained. 
~ Madame is back!! At first I was like, "NO!", but she adds a lot to the plot.  A lot. There's a few gaspy gasp moments when we find out things that I never even knew to guess at.  Well done, DeStefano, well done!  
~ We FINALLY get to meet Rowan, and he's not the complete douche I've come to believe that he is.  That said, he's still a little douchey.  He acts like he's older by years than Rhine instead of being her twin.  I wish Rhine would have just smacked him a bit and told him what all had happened to her over the past year, but she, for some reason, loses a few IQ points around her bro.
~ Gabriel is missing from the majority of this book, which was fine by me since I maintain that Rhine has better chemistry with almost every other man she encounters (Linden, Vaughn, Reed, her own brother).  Sorry, Team Gabriel-ers, I just never felt the spark.
~ The last third of this book felt a bit rushed, and some of the plot didn't make a lot of sense to me- like the fact that to quell the uprising some brainiac President in the past created super-humans.  Because super long lives and exceptional immune systems will show them to protest against the government!  Also, something happened that I was very unhappy with.  I'm not going to spoil it for everyone, but it was similar to my biggest complaint with the ending of Mockingjay.  However, it's a mark of good writing that I cared as much as I did. Although I didn't like what happened, I appreciate what it did to the overall story.  I guess. *grumbles*
~ Also, although I suspected a plot twist that comes up, it just seems implausible.  Completely implausible, even for dystopian.
~ Vaughn is such and interesting character- part sociopath, part genius, part concerned dad. He's complex, which makes him a good villain. 
~ The ending is a real ending and even if everything didn't go my way, I was satisfied with it.  Again, it felt like everything just fell into place very quickly once Rhine met up with Rowan, but I'd rather have a quick wrap up then trying to stretch this out over another 3 books.  
~ I have to give some points on the names of each of the books, as all three were very fitting, and Sever is suitable in many ways. 
~ Even with some of the plot issues I have problems with, DeStefano has created a interesting dystopian world- I never confused it with any other dystopian book or series I've read (and people, I've read a lot).  I like her writing style and I'm down with whatever she comes out with in the future.
 

Timeless Characters:

Rhine- our heroine, still determined, stubborn and smart.

Linden- Rhine's hubby, nice but weak, he's having a tough time learning his pop's true colors.

Cecily- the last sister-wife standing, she continues to be kind of kick ass. 

Vaughn- Linden's dad, he's not unlike Darth Vadar with a medical degree.

Reed- Vaughn's crazy brother, he's sarcastic and eccentric.  I like that in a person.

Rowan- Rhine's twin, he's lost the script a bit since losing his sister. 

Madame- she kidnapped and imprisoned Rhine in the last book, and she captures her again in this one.  

Gabriel- he really isn't heavily featured in this book, but if your a fan of his, he does make an appearance. 

Rose- yeah, she's Linden's dead wife, but she continues to haunt the present.

Bowen- Cecily and Linden's adorable little boy. 

Midnight Moment:

The airplane scene.  Both of them.  But I kind of suspected the one with Vaughn.  The other one shocked the heck out of me.

Stop The Clock:

I really liked Wither (still one of the most gorgeous covers ever!), but both Fever and Sever failed to really hook me like the first book did.  I'm glad to have read the series though, and I can't wait until the book comes out and I can discuss it with all of you!!


Lauren DeStefan0 — Website |Lauren DeStefano

Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

 Book Challenges:
A to Z Challenge
Series Catch Up Challenge
Book Bingo Challenge

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: 

Panic Review

Panic
by Sharon M. Draper
Genre: YA
Format: ARC received from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest opinion
Midnight Minute: A young dancer is kidnapped and she and her friends struggle with the immediate aftermath.
From Goodreads:

This gripping and chillingly realistic novel from New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper shows that all it takes is one bad decision for everything to change.

Diamond knows not to get into a car with a stranger.

But what if the stranger is well-dressed and handsome? On his way to meet his wife and daughter? And casting a movie that very night—a movie in need of a star dancer? What then?

Then Diamond might make the wrong decision.

It’s a nightmare come true: Diamond Landers has been kidnapped. She was at the mall with a friend, alone for only a few brief minutes—and now she’s being held captive, forced to endure horrors beyond what she ever could have dreamed, while her family and friends experience their own torments and wait desperately for any bit of news.

From New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper, this is a riveting exploration of power: how quickly we can lose it—and how we can take it back.

Midnight Thoughts:

~Okay, I was a bit confused in the beginning- I thought the entire book would be about Diamond, but the book actually has pov of 4 characters.  Although I wasn't sure I liked this set up when I first began the book, I think it worked.  It also keeps the book from being too horrific, which could have happened if told only from Diamond's point of view.  The other chapters are from the pov of Justin, Layla and Mercedes.
~This is a book about dancers! I really had no clue before I started reading.  It was like a Fame meets Law and Order: SVU episode.  I love dancing, even though I have all the grace of a baby elephant on ice.  
~It also took me awhile to adjust to the teen speak throughout the novel... either it lessened or I adjusted- I suspect the latter because even though I'm 35, I can still party with the youngens.  Or not, because I just used the term youngens. 
~I have to say, it was nice to read a book that wasn't about a bunch of white, rich kids.  Not that any of these kids are living of Ramen noodles and dumpster diving, but several of the dancer's parents struggle to pay the fees to their dance academy.  It's nice to see a bit of realism when it comes to families and finances. 
~Because the dance school that main character Diamond attends is putting on a performance of Peter Pan, every chapter opens up with a quote from the book Peter Pan, which I loved and thought worked really well with the story and what the characters were going through.  Who knew?
~Although I did not bond instantly with the characters (except Diamond and her phone charger forgetfulness), it didn't take long before I was able to empathize.  Leila's storyline in particular felt very important in our current society and it is from her trials and tribulations that I think most teens will identify with and learn from. 
~Diamond willingly goes off with her kidnapper (this happens early on, so I don't feel it's a spoiler), and his ruse was fairly clever.  I wouldn't have fallen for it, because I know that the vast majority of actors used in the Harry Potter film were British (I think there were only 2 exceptions), so I would have called "Thane English" instantly on that bullshiz.  Truth!  However, no middle age hottie is ever going to attempt to kidnap me by telling me that I'm perfect for the movie version of Peter Pan, unless they're casting a human as the crocodile...
~Layla and her relationship with Donny was all too real, and I really hope this helps some young women recognize that it's not a healthy romance.  In contrast, Steve and Mercedes was exactly the kind of relationship teens should have- fun, cute and non-threatening. 
~Mercedes, who is at the mall with Diamond when she goes missing, kind of fills in for the reader.  It's easy to identify with her, the guilt she feels over separating from her friend, comforting Diamond's family, and counseling her friend Layla- although she is far less judgmental towards Layla than I would have been.  Mercedes (despite having the ridiculous last name of Ford) is the most grounded of all the characters.  
~Speaking of ridiculous names- there is a character that is discussed, not really seen- who is named Magnificent Significant Jones...  Um, no, just no, future parents of America.  Listen to Nancy Reagan and me, Just Say No!
~For the music lovers out there, this book is full of songs, and they play a very important role to the story.  I think this will particularly appeal to the YA set, who have playlists for every mood and every situation.  
~A lot of horrible things happen to the characters in this book.  They survive mostly because of the friendships they have forged at the dance school.  The bond between all these very different characters is a beautiful thing.
~I like butterflies, and I get the whole connection to the original kidnapping book The Collector, but I'm really over this butterfly on the cover thing.  And seriously, the butterflies are almost always blue, what up with that?

Timeless Characters:

Diamond Landers- our main dancing queen- yes, she makes a dumb decision, but her bravery is dang impressive. 
Justin Braddock- he starts out the book and catches a lot of grief for being a male dancer, he's also way more evolved than most high school boys. 
Layla Ridgewood- she's kind of the "It" girl, but she's got problems under that pretty facade.
Mercedes Ford- fun loving and cheerful, she is a welcoming lightness to the story.
Thane English- liar, liar, pants on fire.
Zizi Chang- I think she was meant to be an adorable character, but she is to this book what Jar Jar Binks was to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.  Thankfully, Draper did not give her her own chapters. 
Shasta Landers, and Ma and Pa Landers- the parents get some face time, but little Shasta is adorable, and I loved her interaction with Mercedes. 
Donavan "Donny" Beaudry- Layla's boyfriend and former friend of Justin.  Donny Spoiler (highlight if you want to be spoiled or have already read the book): He wins my Chris Brown Douche award- no offense to Chris Brown fans, but I have zero tolerance for men who abuse women.  Zero. 

Midnight Moment:

There is a moment early on that absolutely sent shivers down my spine: Diamond is drugged and hears Thane English tell someone "She's ready.".  I have a high tolerance for scary things, but a very low tolerance for any kind of violence that feels all too real.

Stop The Clock:

Panic was not what I was expecting.  In the end, I really liked it.  I'm glad it wasn't extremely graphic, because Draper could have easily gone to an even darker place than she does.  This book didn't need that to be a page turner and to keep me invested in the characters.  Panic is a fast read (I read it in a day) and I will definitely be looking out for Draper's future and past works.


Sharon M. Draper — Website |Sharon Draper

Panic gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Pretty Girl-13 Review

Pretty Girl-13
by Liz Coley
Genre: YA
Format: ARC received from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review
Expected Publication: 03.19.13
Midnight Minute: A 13 year girl is kidnapped, 3 years later she returns home with no memory of the time that has passed.
From Goodreads:

 Pretty girl
13 when she
went missing

lost

to her family
to her friends
to the world

found
but still missing
her self

In Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery, sixteen-year-old Angie Chapman must piece together the story of her kidnapping and abuse. Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing—and ultimately empowering—page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ I don't know what I expected, but this book was much different from what I thought it'd be about- in a good way.
~ The back of the book compares it to the Elizabeth Smart case, and it does show some parallel, but because I'm old and can remember old people stuff it reminded me of the book When Rabbit Howls, or maybe even All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark- books that might interest readers who want to further explore DID.
~ Pretty Girl-13 features amnesia, which for some reason is pretty prevalent in YA fiction these days, but Coley's approach to explaining the reason behind the memory loss was something I haven't seen in YA before. 
~ The main character, Angie, is thirteen when she's taken, and sixteen when she returns home, but for her no time has passed.  Coley does a great job exploring Angie's emotions with trying to cope with feeling the same in a stranger's body.
~ All is not completely well with her family either- despite how happy they are that she's home, Angie is having trouble connecting with them and the fact that despite what they say, their lives had moved on without her.  It totally reminded me of the third season of Alias, because I am a nerd.
~ Angie starts therapy, and that's probably my favorite aspect of the book, how she deals with information of her missing years and all the many revelations that brings. 
~ There is one part of her therapy that includes a trial therapy that while completely unrealistic was nevertheless fascinating.  I think there is a huge controversial discussion to be had about this procedure.  Huge!
~ Angie has a lot going on, and makes some truly horrible choices after she gets back, but even though I was cringing over her actions, I understood them. 

~ Here's a quote from the ARC that I loved but can't guarantee will be in the finished book- "What a patchwork quilt she was- bits and pieces sewn together by disaster."

~ Upon Angie's return, her mother is intent of her daughter returning to school and re-joining her friends, but if I'd been in Angie's shoes I would have demanded home schooling.  Truth!
~ The friendship that Angie rekindles with Kate and new friends Ali and Abraim was another aspect I really enjoyed.  I also really loved Abraim, even though he's not the normal swoon worthy bad boy of YA books.  He's kind of a nerd.  He's the type of guy women should date bur rarely do.
~ Okay, time to talk about what I didn't love- I found it completely unrealistic that Angie's return was kept a secret for as long as it was.  There is no way in this day and age.  No way.
~ Towards the end certain story lines wrapped up just a little too neatly, and one ended in a way that makes me want to scream.  The part about what happens to Bill was beyond infuriating to me, but... realistic.  A lot of families deal with this particular issue in the same way, which is disheartening.
~ I want to discuss this book! I wish I could say more, but I think this is a better read if you don't know a lot going into it.  So hit me up if you've read this book, or stumble across this review after the book is released!
~ Oh, I was crying at the ending.  Heart torn apart.  Good job, Coley, good job.

Timeless Characters:

Angie- our main character, starring in her own hellish version of the movie Big.
Angie's parents- I liked that Coley showed them as flawed, and also what they went through after their daughter's disappearance.
The Kidnapper- we don't know a lot about him, but what is revealed is pretty disturbing.
Lizzie, Greg and Kate- friends of pre-kidnapped Angie, naturally Kate is the best (seriously, it's the name!)
Ali and Abraim- new friends, nerdtastic!
Yuncle Bill- Angie's young uncle
Angie's Therapist- has a name, but I failed to write it down before sending the book on... but she's very key to the story line, I promise.  Dr. Evans maybe?
Dr. Hirsch- his name I wrote down- he's leading the clinical trial.  
 

Midnight Moment:

It's hard to pick one moment, since there are a lot of twists and turns, but I think when I figured out the initial trauma that caused Angie to be able to cope with her kidnapping as well as she did was the first one.  I know that's all vague and mysterious (much like myself!) but I just don't want to ruin it.

Stop The Clock:

This book is, in parts, brutal and uncomfortable. Coley does not hide from the controversial themes, but finds a way to talk about them without glorifying them. Still, be prepared that the book does take an unflinching look at sexual abuse. I rather like how honest Coley is, and how Angie is allowed to be confused over how she feels about it. In fact, this book might be a good way to open a dialogue with young readers about sexual abuse.



Liz Coley — Website | Liz Coley

Pretty Girl-13 gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

Hooked Review

Hooked
by Liz Fichera
Genre: YA Romance
Format: ARC, to be published: 01.31.13, received for honest review from Around The World ARC Tours.
Midnight Minute: A girl golfer fights prejudice and finds romance.
From Goodreads:

Get hooked on a girl named Fred...

HE said: Fred Oday is a girl? Why is a girl taking my best friends spot on the boy's varsity golf team?

SHE said: Can I seriously do this? Can I join the boys' team? Everyone will hate me - especially Ryan Berenger.

HE said: Coach expects me to partner with Fred on the green? That is crazy bad. Fred's got to go - especially now that I can't get her out of my head. So not happening.

SHE said: Ryan can be nice, when he's not being a jerk. Like the time he carried my golf bag. But the girl from the rez and the spoiled rich boy from the suburbs? So not happening.

But there's no denying that things are happening as the girl with the killer swing takes on the boy with the killer smile...

***

Advance Praise from Kirkus Reviews:

"Not just a Romeo and Juliet story, the book examines the conflicts of white versus Indian and rich versus poor, giving it far more heft than the average romance. Bravo." (Kirkus STARRED Review)

Midnight Thoughts:

~This book reminded me a lot of the old school YA romance series of my youth (oh so long ago!).  Does anyone else remember the Couples or Wildfire books? 
~I like that Fred had a boy's name, because I think it's cute when girl's have male names, although Fred is not my first choice and while we find out her full name is Fredricka, I can't remember reading why her parents named her that.  Because with that kind of name, there should be a reason behind it... like a wealth relative you're trying to flatter to get into the will, or a much beloved deceased grandmother...
~Despite the fact that Fred and Ryan come from such different backgrounds they had family drama in common- Fred was dealing with her alcoholic mom, and Ryan dealing with his father's infidelity.  Both of their parent's marriages were less than ideal, which gave them some common ground.
~I found the romance to be refreshing- no one is suddenly learning that they're half demon/half angel, Fred and Ryan aren't talking marriage or forever, and their love neither saves or destroys the world. 
~The book is told by alternating between Fred and Ryan's pov, which I liked.  Ryan was a bit harder to like in the beginning, but he really grows up during the novel and Fred is falling all over herself to capture Ryan's heart.
 ~My favorite part of the book was that Fred was from the Indian Reservation, and in the beginning of the book there were several footnotes whenever any Native American term was used, but they were very few and far between as the book went on; I would have loved more.
~That said, I felt that the Native American aspect to the story felt underdone and a bit of a mixed bag.  I am by no means an expert on the culture, but I don't really feel like I learned anything more from the book which I was expecting to.
~In the beginning of the novel, Ryan's friend Seth does little things to get "revenge" on Fred for taking his spot on the golf team, but his increasing attacks on her boggled my mind as Fred continued not to report him to authorities. SPOILER (highlight to read)Ladies, if a male tries to run you down with his truck, it's time to call 911!
~There's already a sequel in works featuring Ryan's little sister, who even though she's a sophomore, felt very young in this novel.  But I think that's mainly because she was barely featured.  The same thing with Fred's older brother, the two siblings just weren't fully fleshed out.
~There is a lot of golf in this book, which I thought would be mind numbing because I am not a golf fan, but actually I found it interesting.  It was never too much or too detailed, but I do feel I learned more about golf than I knew prior to reading Hooked. 
~Seth ends up having some crazy motivation, which I would have liked to explore more.  He reminded me a lot of the friend in the movie A Walk to Remember (the one that had that big belt buckle) only a lot more sinister.

Timeless Characters:

Fredricka "Fred" Oday- female golf phenom
Ryan Berenger- golden boy love interest, who's not so shiny in the beginning
Coach Lannon- the golf coach who recruits Fred and changes her world
Seth- Ryan's friend, pretty much declares war on Fred
Gwyneth Riordan- Ryan's default girlfriend, and current "It girl"
 Sam- Fred's friend from the Rez, a solid dude
Riley- Ryan's little sister, who I thought was much younger than she turned out to be

Midnight Moment:

Hmm, because I liked this book, but didn't love it, I'm having trouble coming up with the Midnight Moment, but the scene where Seth tricks Fred into thinking she's meeting up with Ryan really took the action to a different level.  Up to then Seth is just your average jerk and not a burgeoning psychopath.

Stop The Clock:

If you're looking for a sweet YA romance that's on the realistic side and doesn't feature lots of bow-chickie-bow-wow action, then this one is for you!  Fred and Ryan are typical teens, and contrary to popular belief, not every teen has lots of sex or magical abilities. ;)

Hooked gets a Midnight Book Rating of: