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Review: Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese(Blog Tour)


Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
Publication Date: April 26th, 2011
Published By: St. Martin's Griffin
Paperback, 320 Pages
Source: ARC received from published, Teen Book Scene Blog Tour


Summary:

"Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's "divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.

His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Ade knows he needs to straighten-out. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo has just transferred to Mantlo and, as Ade has seen her in a vision two years previously, they're going to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only things are a bit more complicated. Vauxhall has an addiction of her own, and, after a a vision in which he sees Vauxhall's close friend, Jimmy, drown while he looks on seemingly too wasted to move, Ade realizes that he must break the one rule he's been told he can't.

The pair must overcome their addictions and embrace their love for each other in order to do the impossible: change the future."


Review: *** 1/2 = 3.5 Stars

The idea behind Future Imperfect is quite creative and interesting. Ade Patience is a teen in high school that can see the future by giving himself concussions. How far in the future can differ, sometime weeks, and other times decades. The after effect of seeing the future leaves Ade with a Buzz, his type of high.

The beginning focuses on Ade's ability, and what he has done to himself in the past to look into his future, as well as the love of his life, a girl he has seen in his visions. The story is fast paced and I'm glad for Ade's constant thought processes and repeated concussion attempts. It keeps the story moving at a swift pace and also kept me interested.

I will admit that some aspects of the story are kinda crazy. What Ade does himself in some situations is just messed up(diving off a skate ramp head first??). But then I think, what about some users out there that do absolutely rediculous stuff to get more of the drug they need a fix on? It's the same thing, and while it works, its still out there.

Vauxhall, Ade's true love, has an addiction of her own. His friend(not really friend) Jimi, is just messed up, and his best friend Paige is just kind of there. She's mostly seen throughout the novel telling Ade he's selfish. I was there was more to their relationship. Other than that he doesn't really have any relationships throughout the novel, besides the one with his mother, and shes a total church nut who thinks Ade's visions have significant religious meaning.

A lot of connections come together at the end, and there was a lot more meat to the story in the second half.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I wanted more from it. It was worth the read though for the concept alone.


**Special thanks to Teen Book Scene for hosting the Future Imperfect Blog Tour.




Sherry<3

When I'm Not Writing w/ Janet Gurtler(I'm Not Her Blog Tour)


Joining us today is Janet Gurtler, author of the upcoming release I'm Not Her(Sourcebooks Fire, May 1st, 2011). As part of the blog tour for her books' release, she's here to tell us what she does when she isn't writing!

Please welcome Janet!

******


 What do you do when you're not writing?



Gosh am I ever not writing? If not at the actual laptop usually I’m plotting or making notes in my head even when I don’t even realize it. But of course I do have a life outside of writing too.

I am Mom to a super cool ten year old boy who swims with a swim team in a town close to the city where I live. He swims every day except Sunday so I spend a lot of time at the pool. I use that time to either work out at the gym in the recreation centre where he swims, or I um. Write.

Right now I am not working at a job outside of writing, but that may change. I have worked in sales years. (more than I care to remember lol). Up until January I was working for a cool toy company as a sales rep/merchandiser. I’ve also been a liquor representative and worked for major consumer goods companies like Kraft. And yes, all those jobs did involve free samples.

Oh. I’ve done some Mystery Shopping lately, for a company one of my old bosses runs. Jobs come up once in a while and it’s pretty easy and mostly fun to do, but I usually end up spending more money than I make when I’m doing it.

Things that I love- Bargains! I am way more excited at finding bargains than I should be. I have been known to buy things I don’t need because they are such a great deal. I kind of have a closet that proves it. For example, my son has about 359 t-shirts. And I have a bin full of party favors I’ll probably never use.

I actually really like to exercise and it makes me feel so much more sane. When I’m not exercising I get kind of grouchy. I’m not super fit or super athletic. A few years ago I did a couple of sprint triathlons, the short easy kind. But I came to terms with the fact that I really am not that fond of running. I’m not very good at swimming and I don’t own a road bike. So now I do weights and use the treadmill or elliptical machine and it’s all good.

I have a nutty but loveable husband who is crazy about building and fixing things, so somehow I became co-pilot to a cabin he is building in the mountains. It’s a lot of work and takes up a lot of our time (and money) I was never really a fix it kind of gal, but it’s his passion, and he tries to support mine, so I try to play nice. It may even be finished sometime this century.

I love music, loud and dancey. I love puppies and books of course and have a sweet tooth and when I get upset I eat my emotions. I have no self-control around cake mostly due to my love of icing.

**********************


Thanks so much for sharing with us Janet!

Special thanks to Teen Book Scene for hosting this blog tour! Check out their webpage to see where the next stop on this tour is!

Tens List: Amy Plum(Die for Me Blog Tour)


I'm so happy to have Amy Plum on the blog today, sharing with us her OCD List of Favorite Films! Amy is the author of the upcoming Die for Me(Revenants #1), which is being released on May 10th from HarperTeen. I was lucky enough to read this early and I can't wait to share my review with you! It's wonderful! :)

Please welcome Amy!


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Amy's OCD List of Favorite Films


I love films SO MUCH that it is impossible to choose only ten. So I'm going to cheat. The uppermost echelon of my film pantheon can be grouped under the following categories:

ALMOST EVERYTHING WITH OR BY, listing only my top 2 of each

Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday);

Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine, Being John Malkovich);

Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums)

The Coen Brothers (Raising Arizona, Fargo)

Pedro Almodovar (Women on the Verge, Tie Me Up Tie Me Down)

Monty Python (Holy Grail, Life of Brian)

Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen)

Cedric Klapisch (When the Cat's Away, Not For or Against)

Rob Reiner (Princess Bride, Spinal Tap)

Luc Besson (Nikita, The Big Blue)

Once you subtract these movies out of the pot, I would then have to list my favorite French movies, which are:

10 FAVORITE FRENCH MOVIES (besides those listed above): A Very Long Engagement, The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain, Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children (all four by Jean-Pierre Jeunet), The Young Girls of Rochefort, Jean de Florette, Manon des Sources, Babette's Feast, Belle du Jour, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Which leaves:

Blade Runner, Matrix 1, Donnie Darko, Love Actually, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Pretty Woman, The Moderns, Juno, A Room with a View, Bridget Jones's Diary, Napoleon Dynamite, Dr. Strangelove, Pretty in Pink, The Winslow Boy

(What? That's more than 10? It's the best I can do!)
 
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Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us Amy!
 
Special thanks to Teen Book Scene for hosting this blog tour!
 
 
 
Sherry<3

Review: Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe(Blog Tour)


Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe
Publication Date: May 1st, 2011
Published By: Balzer&Bray(HarperCollins Imprint)
Hardcover, 304 Pages
Source: ARC, Teen Book Scene Blog Tour


Summary:

"Today has to be perfect.
Magic.
I look at the clock.
10:14 am.
Ten fourteen. One plus one is two plus four is six plus ten is sixteen minus one is fifteen minus two is thirteen. OK.

I turn from the clock and walk into the hallway. "Ready.”

Saturday will be the third state soccer championship in a row for Jake Martin. Three. A good number. Prime. With Jake on the field, Carson City High can’t lose, because Jake has the magic: a self-created protection generated by his obsession with prime numbers. It’s the magic that has every top soccer university recruiting Jake, the magic that keeps his family safe, and the magic that suppresses his anxiety attacks. But the magic is Jake’s prison, because getting it means his compulsions take over nearly every aspect of his life.

Jake’s convinced the magic will be permanent after Saturday, the perfect day, when every prime has converged. Once the game is over, he won’t have to rely on his sister, Kasey, to concoct excuses for his odd rituals. His dad will stop treating him like he is some freak. Maybe he’ll even make a friend other than Luc.

But what if it doesn’t work?

What if the numbers never go away?


Acclaimed author Heidi Ayarbe has created an honest and riveting portrait of a teen struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder in this courageous and breathtaking novel."




My Review: *** 1/2 = 3.5 Stars

I'll start off this review by telling you all that this has got to be one of the most unique books I have ever read. Reading about a topic that you have no familiarity with is quite a different experience but possibly more enjoyable than books that repeat the same ideas over and over again. I don't suffer with OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and I don't know anyone that does. I have also never read anything about it, so I have nothing really to compare this to. I imagine that what the author has written is pretty close to how this disorder actually is for some people.

Jake Martin is a star soccer player that also suffers with OCD. In his mind, he is constantly using math on different sets of numbers(i.e the time) in hopes of getting a prime number. Times when primes aren't found, find Jake getting anxious and sick. Everything in his life is related to these numbers (at least that is how he feels). His continous winning on the soccer field, and especially, his family's safety.

While the book was good, parts of it were definitely confusing and at times, seemed irrational, but to people with OCD, it's not irrational at all. That's how everyday life is for them. It's actually quite amazing to get a glimpse into a persons life who suffers from it. That said, it was kind of distracting to constantly read about the numbers. I know that's what the book is about, but I felt like everytime I had to stop and read about adding this and subtracting this and so on that when it got back to the story I had to think back to where I was before everything went all mathematical.

I did enjoy how the story went into the family dynamics. We get to see the relationships with his parents (his mom is also Obsessive Compulsive) and his younger sister. There is also a really strong relationship throughout the book with Jake's best friend Luc.

Overall, this is something I recommend to anyone. People who have never had any experience with OCD, it will be eye-opening(it was for me), of for those of you who do, it might be interesting to escape into somebody elses OCD. There is some adult language so if you have a problem with the F work.. be warned it is used throughout the book.

To learn more about Heidi, check out her webpage.

Special thanks to Teen Book Scene for hosting this blog tour!



Sherry<3

Winner of The Goddess Test!!


I have FINALLY selected the winner of a brand new copy of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter.

There were a total of 232 entrants (the most that have ever entered a giveaway on my blog!) and 1242 total entries. Yea, it was crazy adding it up. There was no way I could verify all the entires so we totes went the honor route this go around.

After randomizing the numbers, and selected a random number from there (kinda like a drew out of a hat), the lucky winner is....

(drum roll please)

........
.......
.....
..
.
.

A Rick (email starting danceislove)


Congrats A!

I am sending you an email now!


To those of you who didn't win this time, I will be hosting another contest soon!



Sherry<3

There's still time! Inkpop Weekly Writing Challenge featuring Die for Me

The latest weekly writing challenge, which started April 14th, still has another three days to go. The 6th event in the Dark Days of Supernatural Writing Challenges features Die for Me by Amy Plum.



Here's the summary for the writing challenge:

"Die for Me is unlike any other paranormal you have ever read. Instead of a cold and rainy atmosphere, imagine being shipped off to Paris after a tragic accident leaves you orphaned. While there you meet a dark and mysterious guy who, instead of living forever, dies repeatedly. That is just beginning of Die for Me.

So now that you know there are paranormals unlike any you have ever imagined lets reimagine what immortality might do to you. Write a short story, poem or essay that imagines a life that never ends. What does this world look like? Are you happy, sad or weirdly immune to the world around you? Did you give up the hope of death to save someone you love or to be with that person forever? Tell us about it in the Die for Me writing challenge."


For those of you who are unfamiliar with the weekly challenges over at HarperCollins Inkpop site, writers can submit a short story, poem or essay following the given guidelines, two people who submit entries and two people who comment on the entries, will win the featured book, Die for Me by Amy Plum, as well as three other books from the HarperTeen Catalog.

For more info on how to enter, go check out the main post over on Inkpop!



Good luck to those of you that enter!!


Sherry<3

Review: Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler


Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
Publication Date: March 8th, 2011
Published by: Flux
Paperback, 312 Pages
Source: Purchased

Summary:

"Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?"


Review: *** 1/2 = 3.5 Stars

I've heard much praise for this book, and as a fan of all things contemporary, I knew I had to check it out for myself. As a whole, I enjoyed the book. The idea of a one time star athlete, losing out on her dreams and passions due to an injury, is very interesting to read about. I imagine it happens to people all the time, but it's not something I've read about in a YA book, so I really appreciated how well Holly was able to transfer that into something I would actually pick up.

There is one major factor that took away from this book for me, and that is the cheating that occurs. The main character and her family head out on vacation for three weeks during the summer, where Chelsea, a one time basketball star who broke her hip, gets a personal instructor for the summer. Can you guess what happens from there? I won't deny that the relationship between Chelsea and her instructor, Clint, wasn't combusting with chemistry. It's obvious that the two of them are supposed to be together, even if for just three short weeks. My problem comes in when Chelsea, who has been with her boyfriend Gabe for two years, doesn't even care that she has a boyfriend back home and begins a sexual relationship with Clint. I've seen where some people have justified the cheating in this book saying things like oh they weren't right for each other and so on and such, but come on, even if you don't know yet that you aren't right for each other, you still shouldn't hook up with someone else all while planning to go back to your actual boyfriend. I think if anyone is considering doing something with someone other than their partner, than obviously there are issues in your relationship and you probably shouldn't be with your significant other in the first place. In my opinion, break up with someone if you want to fool around. Relationships are serious things, and should be taken seriously. As someone who has been cheated on before, I would much rather get dumped than have someone go behind my back.

Okay, my apologies for the rant. I get a little heated when it comes to that topic. Moving on.

As the book was focused on Chelsea and Clint, the chapters went back and forth between the two. This is something I really enjoy reading when done right, and Holly definitely has. We are able to see both different characters, but are also able to see the relationship between the two. It was very well written. I also enjoyed the side characters even though we don't get to know any of them too much.

One thing that I really loved was the healing that Chelsea and Clint both experience. It was great to see them change in 300 pages. While the book takes place over three weeks, which is a relatively short time frams, their growth isn't rushed. We get to see them come out of their shells and experience things they never thought possible again.
Definitely a good contemp read. As far as who I recommend this book too, definitely older teens because of some mature content (sex scenes).


Feel free to share your opinion on the book in the comment section!



Sherry<3

Author Interview: K. Ryer Breese (Future Imperfect)

Today, as part of the Teen Book Scene Blog Tour for Future Imperfect, I have the honor of hosting author K. Ryer Breese for an interview!


Please welcome K!

~~~

Flipping Pages for All Ages: Where did you get the idea/how did you come up with the idea of a teenager who can see the future, but who also has an addiction to that ability?
K. Ryer Breese: Hi Sherry. It was a few years ago. The book started life in '08 as a completely different manuscript. It centered on a young woman, mid-20s, who could see the future due to a certain genetic defect. It wasn't addictive but destructive. She needed medication to "treat" her divination and wound up addicted to the drugs. I took that basic idea and tweaked it. I've always thought that if a person truly had a supernatural ability -- something that breaks or bends the laws of physics -- it would likely be either very painful or very pleasurable. I can't imagine a bland ability.

FPfAA: How is having a book published different from having poetry and other fiction published in magazines?
KRB: Pretty different. This is my first YA novel but I've published several general fiction titles under another name. Switching from short fiction -- and even earlier, poetry -- involved a very steep learning curve. Writing for magazines, or websites, the canvas is not only more contained but the audience is typically more niche. It evolves and changes very quickly and you need to be on your toes. Novels are these glacial things that take quite a long time to move from your fingertips to the bookshelf. That being said, there is a wonderful thrill in seeing your book in a bookstore. And, now, on an e-reader. Addictive, really.

FPfAA: Did you know you wanted to write for young adults or did it just happen that way?
KRB: A little bit of both. I didn't read YA as a teen but jumped into adult novels at a fairly early age, around 10. But I always kind of wanted to find a YA novel that captured some of the same stuff that I found in the adult novels. When I started writing, I decided it'd be fun to attempt to write a novel that would have appealed to the teen me. Something edgy. Something complicated. Something that felt a bit dangerous. When "Future Imperfect" started coming together, I envisioned it as a "Fight Club" for teens.

FPfAA: Your website tells us your favorite authors, bands/groups and directors. What are your favorite book, song, and movie?
KRB: Hard one. I hate to be that guy, but I'm going to have to say I can't pick just one. So, cheating, I'll say this: My favorite book as of right now is Karen Russell's "Swamplandia." My favorite song as of last night is Freur's "Kiss Me." And most powerful movie I've seen in the past ten years is "The White Ribbon."

FPfAA: Do you have any other projects in the works?
KRB: Definitely. I'm hard at work on the sequel to "Future Imperfect" titled "Past Continuous." It'll likely be out next winter. I also write screenplays and have several currently "in the works."

~~~~~~

Thanks so much for letting us get to know you a little better K!


For more info about K. Ryer Breese, check out his webpage.

Future Imperfect will be released by St. Martins Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books on April 26th!



Sherry<3

Author Interview: Josephine Angelini (Starcrossed)


I'm pleased to welcome Josephine Angelini to Flipping Pages for All Ages. I recently read her debut, Starcrossed(will be released by HarperTeen on May 31st), and fell in love with it. She was kind enough to answer some questions for us!

If you missed my review of Starcrossed, you can check it out here.

Please welcome Josephine!! :)

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Flipping Pages for All Ages: Starcrossed is based on Greek mythology, who is your favorite Greek God and why?
Josephine Angelini: I’ve always had a soft spot for Dionysus. He was the only Olympian that was born human, and he won his god-hood through a series of horrific events. He’s like Batman—he wasn’t born on Krypton or bitten by a radioactive spider, he just put in that extra effort, making wine and whatnot, to become “super”. Plus he loved plays and parties. Guy sounds like a blast.

FPfAA: The Delos family is made up of some pretty good looking guys, do you have a favorite? (I personally adore Hector!)
JA: My favorite is Lucas, of course!

But I do worry about girls that gravitate toward Hector, like you said you did. This is the boy your mother warned you about, you know. Don’t walk—run! He’s not a bad guy… but he will always pick his family over you and, sooner or later, he will totally break your heart!

FPfAA: You have finished book 2 in this series, Dreamless, and a third book will be released as well. Do you have any other books, not part of this series, in the works?
JA: I have another YA trilogy I want to write someday, hopefully right after this one. I actually came up with the idea before Starcrossed, but it was more complicated, and a bit darker with dystopian elements. My husband (rightly) suggested I start with something simpler for my first book. Not that Starcrossed is simple. Basically, what I did was start with a simple idea and complicated it from there… but the intent was to at least start simple.

FPfAA: You're stuck on an island, you have these following items with you, what are they?
JA: CD: In Rainbows by Radiohead or The Verve years of Billie Holiday
Book: Collected Shakespeare. Can’t go wrong with good ole Will.
Nail Polish: I’m more of a lip-gloss girl. Korres lip butter in Jasmine.
Shoes: On an island? Whatever didn’t get me bit by sharks.
Hot Male Celebrity: Whoever’s the funniest and smartest. After the “new car smell” wears off a guy he better be good at conversation and he’d better make me laugh. I don’t care how buff he is—knuckleheads are not allowed! After a few months I’d be trying to feed him to that shark.

FPfAA: They're making a biography about you, which actress would you prefer played the lead role?
JA: Angelina Jolie. It makes no sense whatsoever. We don’t look anything alike and she’s about a million times both cooler and hotter than me (just go with the paradox), but I don’t care. I’ve always wanted to be a sexy action heroine, like Lara Croft.

FPfAA: This or that:
JA: Pepsi or Coke: Coffee
Chocolate or Vanilla: Licorice (both red and black)
Movies or Television: Books
Night in or Night Out: Out for dinner, back home early.
Paperback or Hardcover: Kindle
Winter or Summer: Fall or Spring

FPfAA: You're all time favorite:
JA: I only have an answer for one of these questions. I’m not really a “favorites” kind of person. I spend a lot of time on the fence about things, if you hadn’t already noticed from my previous answers! But Meryl has never let me down. Love that woman!

Book-
Author-
Animal-
Actress-Meryl Streep.
Actor-
Vacation Spot-

FPfAA: What is the one question you get asked all the time, and hate answering?
JA: I have to say it’s the “most embarrassing moment” question, which you, thankfully, didn’t ask. Who the heck would ever answer that one truthfully? I’m serious! Would you ever spill your guts like that and tell the whole world the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you? It doesn’t even make any sense.


FPfAA: And what is the one question that never comes up, but that you wish someone would ask?
JA: No one ever asks me about zombies. I’m just dying to tell someone what I really think about zombies.


FPfAA: You're kind of bored with your name and decide to pick something new, what is it?
JA: Angelina Jolie. Or Meryl Streep. Or the love-child of their names, Angeryl Joreep.

~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for stopping by Josephine!


To learn more about Josephine Angelini, you can check out her webpage here
or
go follow her on twitter.
 
Make sure to stop by later this week, I will be giving away a Pre-Order of Starcrossed! :)




Sherry<3