Earth Hour!

So for those of you who don't know, tonight is Earth Hour! Earth Hour is a worldwide event where individuals and communities turn off their lights for one hour. It starts at 8:30 pm (local time) and all you have to do is turn off your lights and any other electrical appliances that you want. It's really cool because a ton of big landmarks also turn out their lights, such as the Empire State Building, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and many many other places. It's the biggest voluntary event ever in history, and in it's 4th year, I'm sure it will be huge.

Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel

Summary:

It's been a year since her older sister's murder, and Echo is still far from being completely okay. Since Zoe's untimely demise, Echo has been trying her hardest to be the strong one, while her mother takes too many antidepressents and her father works too much. But at the start of her freshmen year of high school, Echo receives an unlikely gift from Zoe's old boyfriend: her diary. Echo is hesitant to read it, but can't put it down after she gets caught up in Zoe's secret life. Will Echo be able to learn to separate her and Zoe's lives, all while saving Zoe's memory?

Review:
I thought that Saving Zoe was an extraordinary novel. It was sad and tragic, but remained full of hope until the very end.

My favorite parts were reading Zoe's diary along with Echo, because she was very enigmatic and mysterious. She also got into quite a bit of trouble, like partying, drinking, hooking up with guys, but it just made her a better character, in my eyes. Zoe did the things most people wish they could do and get away with it. Even from journal entries, you could tell that Zoe had a zest for life unlike anyone else, which makes her murder even worse. Unfortunately, Zoe's reckless behavior is also what led to her death, but I'll let you guys figure that one out. What's also sad is that Echo learns more about her sister from the diary than she did living with her for thirteen years. But Echo comes to understand Zoe better than ever, and I loved how Saving Zoe showed that the bonds of sisterhood could actually be strengthened after death. I do wish there was more about Zoe and Echo and their relationship before Zoe's death, because that's something I think was lacking.

It might seem that Zoe stole the show in this novel, but Echo was also a well-written and developed character on her own. From the beginning, you can tell that Echo looks up to her older sister, and when she starts to read her diary, Echo even begins to act like Zoe. But soon Echo realizes that she doesn't need to actually be her sister in order to remember her and love her and preserve her memory. I loved seeing Echo accept her sister's death and come to terms with the mistakes she made.

All in all, I though that Saving Zoe is very well-written and poignant, and will appeal to fans of books about sisters, life, death, and everything in between.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

FTC: reviewed for Flamingnet Student Review program.

2007/St. Martin's Griffin/240 pages.

Waiting on Wednesday - 30

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for bloggers and readers to get excited about upcoming books.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know? (from GoodReads)

I absolutely love Sarah Dessen and all her novels, so I know this will be great. I'm in need a good contemporary book. What Happened to Goodbye will be released on May 10, 2011.

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

Summary:

Ever since Mrs. Amberson, the former-aspiring-actress-turned-agent, entered Scarlett Martin's life, nothing has been the same.

She's still in charge of the Empire Suite in her family's hotel, but she's now also Mrs. Amberson's assistant, running around town for her star client, Chelsea - a Broadway star Scarlett's age with a knack for making her feel insignificant.

Scarlett's also trying to juggle sophomore year classes, her lab partner who is being just a little TOO nice, and getting over the boy who broke her heart.
In the midst of all this, her parents drop a bombshell that threatens to change her New York life forever... (from GoodReads)

Review:

When I read Suite Scarlett about a year and a half ago, I fell in love with Scarlett, her crazy brother, and their somewhat dilapidated but still homey hotel. The Scarlett trilogy features a whole cast of interesting characters that is not limited to all of Scarlett's family, her friends, and Mrs. Amberson, the highly sophisticated older woman that comes to live at Hopewell and whom Scarlett starts working for. Scarlett Fever begins right where Suite Scarlett leaves off, so the reader doesn't miss anything.

What I love about Scarlett Fever is the humor. Scarlett always seems to get herself into questionable situations, mostly brought on by her older brother Spencer, who is an actor/comedian who prides himself on his skill of physical humor. It also doesn't help that Scarlett lives and helps out around an old hotel called Hopewell, which her family runs. There is always something going on at a hotel, it seems. But even though Scarlett is adept at finding trouble, she is a really likable character. She seems like a genuinely nice person who isn't afraid to trade insults with the best of them. I love sarcasm and wit, which thankfully Scarlett Fever is full of.

The plot of Scarlett Fever is really fast-paced and honestly there is never a dull moment. It's one thing after another - either something for Mrs. Amberson, or Scarlett sees her old sort-of boyfriend, or she's helping Spencer with his auditions, or there's craziness with her family. Speaking of family, have I mentioned how much I love them all? Even Scarlett's annoying little sister Marlene has a special place in my heart. Scarlett is really close with her brother and it makes me kind of jealous that I'm not as close with my siblings. Oh well.

I really did love this book and its predecessor - and I truly believe Scarlett Fever is contemporary at its finest. If you're looking for something cute and funny, this is your book.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

FTC: borrowed from a friend.

2010/Scholastic Point/332 pages.

The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor

Summary:

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah!

When Regina Bloomsbury’s band, the Caverns, breaks up, she thinks it’s all over. And then she makes a wish—

“I wish I could be as famous as the Beatles.”

The Beatles are her music idols. The next day, she gets up to find that the Caverns are not just as famous as the Beatles, they have replaced them in history! Regina is living like a rock star, and loving it. There are talk shows, music videos, and live concerts with thousands of screaming fans. And Regina is the star of it all.

But fame is getting the better of Regina, and she has a decision to make. Does she want to replace the Beatles forever?

Here is a rocking novel about the good and the bad of Hollywood, fame, and rock ’n roll. (from GoodReads)

Review:

I was originally attracted to The Girl Who Became a Beatle because I love the Beatles and wanted to see how the author would go about this concept. A band replacing the Beatles in history? It seems almost blasphemous but I knew that it would still be a fun read.

While I enjoyed The Girl Who Became a Beatle, I also didn't love it. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed all the Beatles facts. I liked the theme of "be careful what you wish for" because even though it's overdone I think it's an important lesson that many people have to learn. I liked watching Regina grow and change because she was truly a dynamic character.

But I felt a little removed from the story because the reader is never allowed to completely connect with Regina. Also, some of the events and dialogue are a little cheesy, which I expected. While The Girl Who Became a Beatle is no literary masterpiece, it will be an enjoyable read for those who like the Beatles.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

FTC: received book from Henry Holt's InGroup.

2011/Feiwel and Friends/281 pages.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Summary:
What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left. (from GoodReads)

Review:

I literally just finished Wither about five minutes ago and it was AWESOME! I knew I had to review it right away because it was just so good I couldn't wait. If Wither is not already on your TBR list, I insist that you add it soon because you will not be disappointed.

I (obviously) love dsytopian literature and I was very intrigued by the bleak and harsh world of Wither. It was less dystopian based on government control and more on a genetic experiment gone bad. The scientists in the future have modified the human genome to eradicate all illnesses and diseases. Unfortunately, all children born after the first successful generation are perfectly healthy - until early adulthood. Without fail, women at the age of twenty and men at twenty-five suddenly get sick and die. No one knows why and no one can stop it.

In order to keep the human population intact, young girls are often kidnapped and sold to wealthy men who need wives to produce children. This is what happens to Rhine at the opening of Wither. She is chosen, along with her sister wives Cecily and Jenna, to marry twenty-one year old Linden Ashby and that's how the story begins.

What I really loved about Wither was the wide array of characters, both good and bad. Though our storyteller, Rhine, wasn't perfect, she was fully developed in that all her actions made sense. I could definitely sympathize with her plight - she truly missed her old life and would do anything to return to it. There are the leading men, Linden and Gabriel, who are both interesting and really care about Rhine, and it's almost an unexpected love triangle. I liked that the Linden, Rhine's husband, was actually a good guy. I think Lauren DeStefano could have easily made him be a real enemy and it wouldn't have had the same effect. As for an actual real enemy - that would be Vaughn, Linden's father. As a scientist of the first generation, he's old but healthy and is almost maniacal in his attempts to find a cure for the disease. I wish the reader could have seen more of him, but perhaps his viciousness is better in small doses.

I loved the plot and even though most of the novel takes place inside the huge mansion, there's never a dull moment. Wither really takes dytopias to a new level and is definitely one of my favorites in the genre. It was quick read and now I'm itching to read the sequel. I honestly cannot praise this book enough and you should really see for yourself the sheer awesomeness of this debut!

Release Date: March 22, 2011

Rating: 10 out of 10!

FTC: read on Pulse It.

2011/Simon & Schuster/356 pages.

Waiting on Wednesday - 29

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for bloggers and readers to get excited about upcoming novels.

What We Keep is Not Always What Will Stay by Amanda Cockrell

Fifteen-year-old Angie never used to think much about God—until things started getting weird. Like the statue of St. Felix, her secret confidante, suddenly coming off his pedestal and talking to her. And Angie's mother, who's busting up her third marriage for no apparent reason. Then there's Jesse Francis, sent home from Afghanistan at age nineteen with his leg blown off. Now he's expected to finish high school and fit right back in. Is God even paying attention to any of this?

Against the advice of an increasingly vocal St. Felix (who knows a thing or two about war), Angie falls for Jesse—who's a lot deeper than most high school guys. But Jesse is battling some major demons. As his rages start to become more frequent and unpredictable, Angie finds herself losing control of the situation. And she's starting to wonder: can one person ever make things right for someone else? (From GoodReads)

I was first attracted to this book by its amazing title but after reading the synopsis I think it sounds very interesting. What We Keep is Not Always What Will Stay will be released on June 8, 2011.