Ashes, Ashes by Jo Teggiari

Publisher: Scholastic Press 
Date: 2011   
ISBN:  0545255635
Kind: Hardback, 344 pages  
Source: For review

 Rating:  B-  

I'm never one for "The End is near!" Books, but I really did like this one.
 
Lucy is living by herself in a park after smallpox, floods, and droughts have wiped out most of humanity. She runs into a guy named Aiden who tries to convince her to join him and this band of survivors. The group is terriorized by sweepers, who go around gathering people and are never seen again. They want Lucy and they'll stop at nothing to get her.
 
   I like how Teggiari doesn't focus so much on the epidemic and end of the world as he does the story, it makes the whole book seem less political. Teggiari also did a great job at keeping the story up and going. There was never a part where I didn't want to keep reading.
 
I didn't see Lucy as her own person though, it was more like I was the one playing out these things which I guess is a big seller for the whole romance thing. If you take out the romance of the whole thing it'd be a pretty bad book. At times it seemed as if Lucy and Aiden's relationship was the only important thing. I guess if you're into the whole Romance thing you'd really like that but I'm always in it for a story before I am romance. Teggiari set up the usual love triangle with Del but I never really understood her and Aiden's relationships before Lucy came along. As far as the ending I woln't give anything away but I will say it was pretty predictable.

The book did have a lot of good things though. I love the drama, and how the characters reacted, and the bond Lucy formed with the survivors, and the whole world Tiggiari set this up in. This would be great for Junior High to Lower High school. I don't really see Upperclassmen or college grade people reading this.Again I'll say it was really enjoyable and I didn't want to put it down.

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Waiting on Wednesday (5): Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

        Hey guys! Just stopping by with a quick WOW. This week it's Becca Fitzpatrick's silence. It's the third book in the Hush Hush series that was a New York times best seller! I loved loved loved Hush Hush and I can't wait for silence on October 4th :)

 Get more info/pre-order: Goodreads ||| Amazon |||  Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble The author on the web: Blog ||| Website ||| Twitter |||  

Reasons To Be Happy Review

Publisher: Sourcebooks, incorporated
Date: October 1, 2011  
Standalone or series: standalone
 ISBN:1402260202
Format: Print, 224 pages  
Cover thoughts: Love the cover, it really makes me want to smile.

 Rating:  B +   
First line: Reasons to Be Happy: 1. Swimming with dolphins 2. Outrunning forest fire 3. A hot air balloon ride

“Reasons to by Happy:

1. cat purr vibrating through your skin
2. jumping on a trampoline in the rain
3. raw cookie dough
4. getting yourself all freaked out after a scary movie
5. dancing like an idiot when no one is watching

What happened to the girl who wrote those things? I miss that girl. She use to be bold and fun. Now she’s a big chicken loser.

How could so much change so fast?

Let’s see, you could be the plain jane daughter of two gorgeous famous people; move to a new school’ have no real friends; your mom could get sick’ and oh yeah, you could have the most embarrassing secrete in the world. Yup, that about does it.

So the real question is how do I get that girl back?”

Reasons to be happy is an interesting story that just makes me want to smile while I read it. This is one of those books that makes me look at my life differently. 

Hannah, the main character, is telling you a story of her struggle with bulimia after her mother’s death of cancer. Through the book you start to gain a sort of friendship with Hannah and her family. I love that Hannah doesn’t seem like a hollywood starlet like you’d think, it’s like she’s an actual person. She seems to give you all the little details of her struggle with self image problems that I know I’ve felt before myself. 

I also love how the story seems to take a turn when Hannah takes an adventure with her aunt. She learns the true meaning of beauty and the importance of real friends. 

Over all the book was really inspirational while fun to read. I think it’s a wonderful read for anyone, especially those struggling with self image. I would recommend this book for the junior high and upper elementary age because it’s a relatable story that could help a lot of girls as they move up into high school. 

Be sure to check out Katrina Kittle’s Reasons to be Happy the first of October.

 Get more info/pre-order: Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble The author on the web: Blog ||| Website ||| Twitter ||| 

Meet Hannah-Beth and Nicole

Today you get to meet the two awesome girls I found for the blog. Or, they found me. I'm glad to have them on board. They have TONS of ideas, excitement and are so nice. I asked them some questions so you could get to know them a little. I hope you give them a huge welcome!! 

 On a Mexican Restaurant Menu, I'd be a Chimichanga, because everything's better fried.

Three things you should know about me:
1) I'm left handed.
2) I'm a wimp for kitten videos.
3) I'm a Mac

When I grow up I most definitely, absolutely positively want to be a writer.

My perfect day involves the never ending cup of coffee, never dying laptop battery, and somewhere around two thousand words.

The best Christmas present I've ever got was my Kindle :P

My favorite Holiday is Thanksgiving :)

Top 5 books!

5) City Of Bones because Jace is the hottest thing since Texas Summer.
4) Howl's Moving Castle because the movie was for once just as good.
3) Will Grayson, Will Grayson because I'm a hard core Nerdfghter.
2) The Help because my family is from Mississippi.
1) The Book Thief because there's so much about that story that needs to be told.

If I could have lunch with any author would be Mark Twain because he seems to know a lot more than just literature. If I could have lunch with any book character it would be Eli from Eli the good, because he's got a friendship with Edie that I love!

I want to be here at Frenzy because I love books, and I want to share my favorites with others.  I'm really looking forward to getting to know Frenzy of Noise readers, and sharing awesome books :P

When I'm not here, you can find me at my writing blog or tumblr or on Twitter.

I really can't wait to jump into reviews, and I can't wait to get great books into your hands! Peace and Tacos!

My name is Nicole Weisz, I was rasied in South Dakota.

If you could be any item on a mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?
I would be a virgin-daquiri (I'm not cool enough, or old enough to drink)!

Three things we should know about you.
1. I am a very open person. I don't hate on people!
2. I watch horror movies all the time, otherwise I can't focus on the movie. They don't scare me!
3. I love hanging out with my grandparents (might sound strange, but they have amazing stories).

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Be a nurse, I like people!

What's your perfect day look like?
First I would wake up at 9 am, head over to the bookstore, get as many books as I wanted (Who wouldn't want that?), then at about noon head over to my favorite chinese restaurant. After, I'd take the doggies for a walk, then come home and watch some much needed ABC Family or True Blood, then pick up my current read. It would be a relaxing day!

Britney!

Best Christmas present as a child? 
 My dog Britney! She is about 11 years old now, a Shih-tzu Lhaso apso,  I got her when I was six! (first picture) 

Favorite holiday?
Christmas. I get to see my family and I love the lights!

Your top 5 favorite books and why? 
(In no particular order)
1. Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison. They make me laugh!
2. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I like the strong female characters, and the guys!
3. Anything Meg Cabot...her books got me into reading, and they are funny!
4. Anything Simone Elkeles...her books are romantic!
5. Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare: different, funny, romantic! 

If you could have lunch with any author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
 Ummm, hmmm, uhhh, Meg Cabot! She is really funny, I would love to talk to her! 

If you could have lunch with any book character, who would it be and why?
Georgia Nicolson. She is crazy, and hilarious! 

Tell us why you want to be here at FoN? What are you looking forward to most?
I think meeting people and reading and reviewing books!

Anything else you want us to know about you?
I have two other dogs Coacoa and Jojo, both purebread shih-tzus (Black one is Coacoa and white one is Jojo.)

You can find Nicole on twitter (sometimes) and lurking on her other blog (sometimes).

Everyone leave them a GREAT welcome!