Waiting On Wednesday: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Hosted by Breaking the Spine, Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme to spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Knopf, 272 Pages
US Release Date: February 14, 2012

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

-------Amazon.com Description

I know a lot of bloggers have already reviewed this, and it is being released fairly soon - but still! I'm eagerly waiting for it! Ever since I saw the first review, I knew this novel would be something I could really love. Street art is a fascinating subculture that I had a strange introduction to through one of my history students when I was teaching at a local high school, and ever since then it's ballooned into this almost-obsessive interest I want to know everything about!  Plus, I watched Exit Through The Gift Shop recently, by and featuring Banksy (perhaps the most famous street artist) and it is a captivating documentary about the search for graffiti artist - similar to the book!

Add in that it's a YA book filled with the inevitable drama and romance and angst, and it just sounds perfect.

Review: Stand Tall by Joan Bauer

Speak, 182 pages
Released August 26, 2002
MG/Ages 10+

Tree is twelve years old and too tall: six feet, three and a half inches and growing. He's never really been able to fit in at school or on the basketball team, and since his parents' divorce he isn't even comfortable in his own home. Tree copes by helping people like his grandpa, a Vietnam vet who's just had part of a leg amputated, and Sophie, a new girl at school who is being teased by the popular kids. In helping his grandpa learn to walk again, and in listening to Sophie's advice that he be himself, Tree begins to heal, to stand tall. But when a flood threatens his town and his home, Tree's newfound confidence is put to the test.

----------Amazon.com Summary

Notable Quote

"Sometimes you've got to shout the truth and wake people up."

3 stars / 5

Despite the rating, I did actually like this book and found nothing to complain about. It's a simple story of a boy, named Sam but nicknamed Tree due to his tall size (6'3" in 7th grade!), coping with his parents' divorce through helping his Vietnam vet grandfather and befriending a new girl at school.  In every way, it's how a Tall Boy learns to Stand Out.

It's a sweet story, and though I have not experienced anything Tree does (I was 5'2" in seventh grade and my parents are, thankfully, still together), it feels very real. Joan Bauer does fabulous with a male protagonist, nailing the tone and dialogue (or lack thereof, as the case of a 12-year-old awkward boy always is).  I was made to feel for Tree and root for him.  I was sad at how his family seems to be crumbling, happy when he had breakthroughs, hopeful when he has friends and family that love him.

But still...I'm very "meh" about the book itself.  Perhaps I just didn't connect to it because I'm not like Tree at all, but nothing excited me.  It was predictable in a safe way, had a very clear rise and fall and resolution, and was generally just another story for me.  I would recommend Middle Graders read this, as it may speak to them and offer a character to connect with.

Still...quick, good read; but passable.  Library read, if you get around to it.

Happy The Fault In Our Stars Release Day!

Happy Release Day, John Green and Nerdfighters alike!

Because I am poor (unemployed), I didn't pre-order the book since I wasn't sure I'd have enough money in my account.  BUT, I did put it on hold at the library and it is currently in transit, ready for me to be picked up sometime this week :)  So hopefully no spoilers pop up online (or I can avoid them) and I will be able to join in all the inevitable gushing and praise by next week!

I intended to review most of his novels as the last day of celebrating John Green Week, but I realized that 1) I love them all, 2) how many times can I really call him brilliant/amazing/flawless/masterful/other-synonyms, and 3) I seriously have little to say about them all other than everyone needs to read his work.

So instead, I'm going to tell you why I love him, and leave you with my favourite quotes from his 4 main books!

I was actually quite late in the John Green world, partially because his novels were released in my college years and I wasn't reading for pleasure for awhile and mostly because I wasn't reading YA.  My friends don't read YA, so I'm not exposed to much of it.  However, when a trusted blog friend listed John Green's Paper Towns as one of her all time favourites, I thought I'd give it a shot.

Best. Decision. Ever.

I'm not even going to get into the argument of "grown ups" reading Young Adult novels, but let me tell you that I was 22 when I first read John Green and still find everything he's ever written to be a life lesson and applicable to me.  I'm just shy of 25 right now (eep!) and can't imagine life without John Green's writing.  I find such truth in his words, something that's real and hits all those fears and vulnerabilities we're afraid to have.  But more than that, he explores them and makes it feel as though we're not the only one's having these problems and thoughts.  He tackles the big problems, the small problems, the personal problems, the relationship problems: everything.

“When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out.”- Paper Towns

Paper Towns was the perfect book for me to start with, because at the time I was struggling with my perception of home and the people around me and living in Orange County and Suburban San Diego.  If ever to live in a Paper Town with Paper People who have Paper Thoughts, Orange County is a safe bet there.

After that, I devoured all the books I could find.  Looking For Alaska.  An Abundance of Katherines.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson (a treat, since I love David Levithan too!).  Let It Snow (another treat, love Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, too).  Not a single one has let me down.

“Thomas Edison's last words were 'It's very beautiful over there'. I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful.”- Looking For Alaska

Paper Towns remains my favourite, though that may be just because it was my gateway into this fascinating and wonderful community.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson is the close-by-a-sliver second.  And it's not like I could ever defend why I love them more than the others - I just do.  I love them all, and those two just happen to have an iota of more love.

“That's who you really like. The people you can think out loud in front of.” - An Abundance of Katherines

There's really no point here. I, along with most other readers, people, and nerdfighters alike, admire John Green and what his novels do to us. They bring us together as a community, offer us advice and an outlet for our lives.  He's perhaps one of the most acclaimed authors today - and deserves every single bit of it.

“Maybe there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or somewhere you're afraid to go. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt because it matters.” - Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Happy Release Day!

(and no spoilers if you can help it, please!)

Review: The Scorpio Races (ebook) by Maggie Stiefvater

Scholastic Press, 409 Pages
Released October 18, 2011

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

--------------------Goodreads.com Summary

Notable Quote

"She is my mare and my best friend, and I keep waiting for something bad to happen to her, because I love her too much."

Rating: 5 / 5

I'm going to admit, I was reluctant to read this. It had been recommended to me, and kept seeing it on lists and blogs and getting rave reviews and when I was given the e-version (averse as I may be to those...) I thought ok, let's give it a shot.  Even though I'd read descriptions, I was still unsure. Horses? Races? Magic and myths and the call of the sea? None of that could at all be described as my cup of tea.

Well, I will drink this all for the REST OF MY LIFE.

I was absolutely captivated by this book, almost from the very beginning. The plight of Puck Connolly with her tragic story was enough to make me feel compelled to hope for her, and the quiet strength of Sean Kendrick popped from the pages. Immediately, I had to know Sean - and it seemed like I never would!

When I first started reading, I was a bit like...ok, this is about these Scorpio Races, why is it so far away in the novel? And I feel dumb admitting that, but finally I realized that it wasn't about this Scorpio Race, but about the Scorpio Races, and it's about them the entire time.  What it means to this beautiful little island of Thisby and the culture, way of life, everything.  It's so much more than just a "horse race" - it's about life, and beauty, and love and caring and home and all the pains and struggles and rewards loving someone means.

Everything about this book is absolutely amazing. The descriptions, the treatments, the plot and settings...Maggie Stiefvater creates a brilliant world and manages to explain the myth in a way that brings it to life and makes me really believe in the magic of the water and the calling of the sea.  I was terrified of the water horses and so in love with them at the same time.  I hated Mutt Malvern with a passion reserved for only the worst people in my life.  I was holding my breath the entire time reading this, a lump in my throat, tears threatening to spill, and hope bursting from my heart.  I sent out this tweet towards the end, and it's so true: I felt so raw and emotional!

So, here's the thing.  This entire book is a love story to me. Not the romance and relationship kind, but a story about love. What it means to love things, items, property, things-treated-as-property, people, family, memories.  It's about happiness and what must be done to attain it, and what must be let go.  The sacrifices and terror we'll put ourselves through for the outcome, how sometimes not being able to bear something can show us exactly what we can.  It is a love story in it's purest definition, and I love that it seems like the main romance was such a small (but still entirely important) part to it all.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Even if it doesn't sound your cup of tea, trust me when I say it will be by the end (and probably earlier).


PS. I'm a huge nerd and freaked out when I saw Maggie Stiefvater had tweeted me back, too.  Love!
PPS. Because I read it on my iPad, I can show you my ridiculous notes. Normally I wouldn't want to bare my crazy to the world, but still, I think it's funny. Plus, now you can see the quotes I appreciated!

Click for bigger size!

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Poppy, 236 Pages

Released January 2, 2012

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A. 

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

-----------------Goodreads.com Summary

Notable Quote (or passage, apparently)

"Those are cumulus clouds[...]they're the best ones."

"How come?"

"Because they look the way clouds are supposed to look, the way you draw them when you're a kid. Which is nice, you know? I mean, the sun never looks the way you drew it."

"Like a wheel with spokes?"

"Exactly[...]it's nice, isn't it? When something matches up like that?" He bobs his head with a satisfied smile. "Cumulus clouds. Best clouds ever."

I'm not sure I can properly describe how much I love and adore this book. How it's a near perfect Young Adult Romance novel.  How it's managed to make me smile brightly and laugh loudly and have my heart broken while reading in public, how all I want to do is find Hadley and Oliver and squeeze them tight.  Both main characters are spun and created beautifully, to the point where I feel like I know them as real people. How raw and real each one is, how they battle with the obvious and the painful and the hopeful.

Their stories are real, and even though I am in no situation like theirs, I feel as though I've experienced it all with them.  I cried with Hadley and held my breath when Oliver took her hand for the first time and felt as though I'd lost someone when they get separated at Heathrow.  I wanted to holler at Hadley's dad and dislike his bride on principal alone. My heart was yanked this way and that way and spread so thin and felt so full that I find Jennifer Smith positively, fabulously evil for doing this to me.

I can't tell you how highly I recommend this. Most book bloggers I follow who received ARCs last year were naming this as their favourite books of 2011, and I COMPLETELY see why.  Even though this is the first book I read of 2012, I have a hunch this will be my favourite of 2012, too (way to ruin the rest of my reading year, Ms. Smith!).

Oh, and, the title?  Breathtaking.  As soon as you find out why it's called that, it feels like one more little beautiful puzzle piece has fit perfectly in with the rest.

(and yes, I, too, want an Oliver.)

A resounding, highly deserved, no-holds-barred 10 THOUSAND stars of 5.

PS. Pop on over to Anna's site for her interview with the author!  After reading it, I think my adoration for Jennifer E. Smith has just runneth my cup over.

TGIF! Reading Resolutions

Found this meme (hosted by Ginger at GReads!) through Justin (who is doing THREE awesome giveaways! [How generous is this guy, doing 3?!] January New Releases Giveaway, 400-Follower Giveaway and his New Years Giveaway), and it's perfect since I was going to make a post about this today anyway :)

Reading Resolutions

What are some of your Reading Goals for the new year?

>Track My Reading. I've been on GoodReads for awhile, but haven't been great at keeping up with it. I was starting to get into a rhythm last year, then started working 50+ hours/week, and everything fell by the wayside. I like having a record of what I've read, in a general timeline of when I've read, and I hope to be better about that this year.

>Read 100 books. In accordance with my lack of tracking, I think I missed adding a few of the books I read last year to my Goodreads profile - but I still have 70 on record. That's 70 books (possibly more), without really trying or forcing a number, done unknowingly while having a 50+ hour/week job for 10 of those months. While still maintaining blogs, some writing schedules, and lots of hanging out with family&friends time!  100 feels like a monumental, unattainable goal, but I figure: what's the point of a goal if it doesn't feel near-impossible?  If I can do 70 without a blink of an eye, I sure as hell hope I can do 100 with a bit of pushing.

>Give vampires another chance.  This one sounds weird, I know. I do read Cassandra Clare books (Simon is adorable!), but that doesn't count in this. Twilight ruined vampires for me. I really liked Twilight, and then the rest of the series just...bombed. HARD. I couldn't stand it or the idea that vampires sparkled in sunlight (that is all kinds of wrong), and nothing else, not even Taylor Lautner's body (which I have seen in real life) could save it. I have not read a vampire-centric novel since. I tried The Vampire Diaries since so many people were into the TV show, but I found Elena so weak and whiny and self-centered I don't even know if I made it 100 pages in. I've been reluctant to try any others, but I've been getting prodded for awhile to try the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I can't help but feel like I'm missing out on an important chunk of YA literature. So this year, I will give it another shot.  (If you have any others to recommend, please let me know!)

>Open up Discussion on Books. I've lamented for years how I don't have anyone to discuss books with. I read obsessively, always, and I haven't quite found anyone I know in real life who 1) reads as much as I do, 2) reads as voraciously as I do, and/or 3) reads the same books I do.  And then I found one book blog, and it just...ballooned from there. I realized that it's not my friends that are the problem for not discussing with me - it's ME. I'm the one who's closed off from a world of others who read with the same enthusiasm I do, much more than me! And so, this year, I hope to really connect with other readers (in real life, through blogging, twitter, meet ups, anything) and start talking about books.  Which is actually why this blog began :)

>Blog. Though this isn't directly a reading resolution, I'll count it anyway since it pertains to this Book Blog. I started this to track what I've read and how I felt while reading, recording some notable quotes, and, most importantly, to reach out to others and talk about something so near and dear to my heart: books. Words. Stories and characters and that heart-wrenching feeling when you finish one and you realize it is not your life, no matter how much you wish it were (or weren't, as the case may be).  To agree with people on how great books were, or argue why I loved something, or be told someone hated a book I loved, or any of the vice-versas that could apply.  Books are so personal to me, and I love the idea of opening it up into a public forum.

What are your resolutions? Have any suggestions? Leave your link in my comments and I'll check it out!