A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull: Review

A World Without Heroes
By: Brandon Mull

Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
Published: March 15, 2011; Aladdin Books
Source: ARC from Publisher

Author Website | Author Twitter

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Synopsis (from Goodreads): Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

My Review:

First of all, if you haven't read my post about the launch party for this book, check it out. It was awesomely wild. (link)

My brother read Fablehaven and loved them. I read the first one and felt really lukewarm about it.  But, I love fantasy, and after reading the synopsis of this book, felt like it would probably be a better fit for me than the Fablehaven series was. And I was correct.

The message in this book was clear: heroes can come from anywhere.  In Lyrian, heroes are mocked, laughed and, and treated like they are crazy.  Those that would try to oppose the Emperor are bought out and sent to a place where they are treated like royalty and don't have to worry about hard things like honor, glory, or doing what's right.  Jason and Rachel end up in Lyrian and in a situation where the only way to go home is to stand up to the emperor.

The creativity in this book is astounding. At first I found it a little jarring. Near the beginning of the book, Jason accesses the secret portal to Lyrian through a hippo's gullet. I have to admit, that was really strange for me. I kept thinking, "How did he [Brandon Mull] come up with this stuff?" But, for a book that is written for younger readers, that's exactly what you want to do, and that's why the Fablehaven books are so successful.  Once I got a little further into the book, the hippos and people falling off cliffs incidents were fewer, and I felt a little more comfortable, and intrigued.

I definitely feel like there is a great story here.  Even though the creatures that Mull has created for this world are imaginative, they are not unreasonably weird.  Rachel got on my nerves a little bit at times with her constant need to assert herself and make sure that she was equal in EVERYTHING. Thankfully she toned down a bit by the end of the book.

This is a book that I know boys 9-13 will love. Give your reluctant readers a copy of this book. They will eat it up.

My Rating:

Guest Posting at Reading Vacation

One of my favorite bloggers, Melina from Reading Vacation, posted a guest post that I did for her today.  It's all about my favorite fairy tale retellings and why you should read them. Because goodness knows I love a fairytale retelling.

(link)

Brandon Mull Launch Party

I've been to many launch parties since I started blogging. None of them were like the one for A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES by Brandon Mull (the first book in the BEYONDERS series). I had heard that Brandon Mull's launches were a part-TAY, but I was really blown away by the enormity of the event. It was such a blast.  I met up with Suey from It's All About Books and also saw Natasha from Maw Books.  I think I'll definitely make it a priority to go to the launch parties for Brandon Mull's upcoming books, because this one was WILD!

If you missed the launch party on Tuesday, Brandon Mull is doing more signings in the next couple days, including one today at the Provo Library.

March 18
Provo County Library
550 North University Avenue
Provo, UT 84601
7:00PM

March 19
Costco #487
11100 South Auto Mall Drive
Sandy, UT 84070
11:00AM

Costco #733
198 North 1200 East
Lehi, UT 84043
2:00PM

Costco #484
648 East 800 South
Orem, UT 84097
5:00PM

Or, if you want to see a portion of the awesomeness that was the party on Tuesday, I did record some video and pieced it together.  Suey from It's All About Books also did a nice video as well.  She got some stuff I missed and vice versa.

Six Bookish Websites That You Should Know About

PaperBack Swap

If you are short on funds and don't mind used books, PaperBack Swap is a great resource. I really like to utilize the wishlist feature and use my credits for hardcover books that I've already read and would like to own a copy.  Another thing to check out with PaperBack Swap is the forums. I particularly like the ARC and Wishlisted Multiples threads.  If you are vigilant and check back often, you can snag some really great books. Also, the ability to print postage right from the website is very helpful for busy people like me.

Random Buzzers

With a little bit of effort, Random Buzzers can be a great source of free books.  I participate in a lot of the easier activities, and post every once in awhile on the forums.  I haven't actually cashed in on my Buzz Bucks yet. I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity.  But, I do participate in the ARC Friday giveaways.

Edelweiss

This website is probably more useful to bloggers than readers, but it still has some great resources. Before I discovered how to use Edelweiss, I spent hours searching publisher catalogs online looking for the newest and greatest in YA books.  Edelweiss is an online book catalog. While it's primary use is for booksellers and librarians, bloggers will find it's easy searches and detailed information to be invaluable when searching for review books. Some coming features will include a way to request galleys directly from the site.  If you want a tutorial on how to use Edelweiss, you should get in touch with them. The 30 minutes that I spent in training with them was well worth the effort.

Swagbucks

I love amazon gift cards. By using the swagbucks toolbar (or the actual website if you hate toolbars as much as I do), you have a chance to win points. These points can then be redeemed for prizes. A $5 Amazon egift card is only 450 points. I will usually do about 5 quick searches during the day and within a few weeks have enough for a $5 gift card.  By using my husband's Amazon Prime account, I can usually get a book for free. And there's nothing I love more than free.

Goodreads

I am quite certain that most of you have at least heard of Goodreads. I have used both LibraryThing and Goodreads, and I keep coming back to Goodreads. I like the way that the shelves are set up, and I like seeing the reviews of my friends all in one place.  I really don't use the groups or events feature very often.  However, Goodreads has made it easier for me to track my reading and to organize what I'm going to read next. They also have a giveaway program that I really like.  If you are on Goodreads, definitely add me as a friend.

Offermatic

This is another site that is similar to swagbucks, except requires less effort. You add your credit/debit cards to Offermatic, and they give you discounts and deals related to your recent transactions. Genius, no? And it's totally secure, and your info remains anonymous. I cashed in on the Amazon deal, which is $10 off a $20 purchase. There is no coupon code to use or print, and the discount is applied automatically to your card.

What book-related websites do you love?

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt: Review

Sean Griswold's Head
By: Lindsey Leavitt

Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Published: March 2011; Bloomsbury USA
Source: ARC from publisher

author website | author blog | author twitter

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Summary (from Goodreads): According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object—an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas—it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

My Review:

Oh gosh I loved this book. I try really hard when I read a book I love not to gush all over it, but somewhere deep down inside my tender little heart, this book struck a chord.  I feel like in many ways, Lindsey Leavitt perfectly captured my high school experience.  Oftentimes when I'm reading a YA book in which a good portion of the book takes place in a high school setting, I think, "Umm... Who in the world had a high school experience like that? I didn't!"

I didn't have anything nearly as traumatic happen during my high school years as Payton did with her dad; however, I had my fair share of drama.  There were times my relationship with my parents was strained. I felt guilty that it was strained, I wanted it to be the perfect relationship that I saw with my friends, but it just wasn't.  Over and over again in this book I found little bits of truth in what Peyton was going through.

Jac was a great best friend character. Was she over the top? Yes, at times. But, she was Peyton's cheerleader and pushed her to places that she wasn't comfortable.  But, Peyton needed it.

Another thing that rung true for me in this book that I don't often see in fiction is that while all Peyton's family issues are going on, her grades slip. As you would expect for a teenage girl going through an intense time of grief and change. And yet, it is so rarely mentioned in fiction. The high school experience of test-taking, homework and academics is so consuming when you are involved in it, and I certainly don't expect that a novel should burden itself with mentioning the hum-drum of every aspect of daily life, but in a story like this one, it was absolutely important.

And then there is Sean.  I think part of the reason that this book endeared itself so much to me is because of Sean. He reminds me so much of my husband.  I met my husband in high school, although we didn't know each other well. When I met him again as an adult I remember saying to someone that I remembered him, he was quiet, nice, and a little dorky. But I really didn't KNOW him.  The progression of Sean and Peyton's relationship is so natural it's like pure gold.  And I loved every minute of it.  And, like my husband, Sean is so kind, caring and while not perfect, he is perfect for Peyton.

I really hope you all will get a copy of this book.  I loved it, and I can't wait to read more from Lindsey.

My Rating:

  

I also have a copy of Sean Griswold's Head to give away courtesy of Bloomsbury USA! This giveaway is open to US addresses only, and will close on Friday, March 18 at 12 pm EST. Fill out the form below to enter, or by clicking here:

Upcoming Author Events

We've got some great events happening in the Salt Lake area in the next few weeks and months. I wanted to highlight a couple of them.

On Tuesday, March 15, Brandon Mull will be having a launch party for the first book in his newest series: Beyonders. If you click the picture, you can see more information about the event.

Simon and Schuster has a lot of information about the book, including a trailer and an excerpt available on their website. (link)

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The Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference will be held on June 13-17 in Sandy.  This year's conference will feature panels and classes by Holly Black, Emily Wing Smith, and A.E. Cannon among others.  It looks like a fantastic conference for those interested in writing.  You can also click the picture for a bigger version of the flier. Or you can visit the website at www.WIFYR.com

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As always, I have a page on my website that shows the events in the Salt Lake area. If you notice that I've missed any, please send me an email and let me know so that I can get it up.

Ask HTMiLy (7): Social Networking Icons

With over 500 million active users on Facebook, 26 million Twitter users, chances are that you have an account. On my right-hand sidebar I've got a little button for each one of the social networking sites that I use, plus a handy RSS feed icon.  Each one of those buttons links to my profile page.

Want one for your blog? Luckily, it's very simple.

1. Create an HTML gadget.
2. To make a simple button, just use this code:

<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1178469" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i177/namelocee/gr1_48.png" alt="Goodreads" border="0" /></a>

 Change this web address to your goodreads/facebook/twitter/rss feed page
Change this web address to the link where your button is saved 

The code above turns into this:



If you want to make your button centered in the sidebar, put<center> at the front of the code and </center> at the end of the code.

You'll notice that I have four buttons, and they are all in a square. To do that, I used a table. (I'm sure there are other ways to do this, but this was the one that worked flawlessly for me)

<center><table>
<tr> <td>GOODREADS CODE</td>      <td>RSS FEED CODE</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>FACEBOOK PAGE CODE</td>     <td>TWITTER CODE</td> </tr></table></center>

The <tr> signals a row, and <td> signals a cell. So, at the beginning of the row you have a <tr> then a <td> for the cell. At the end of the first code's cell, add a </td>. For the next cell start a <td> then add a </td> and </tr> to signal the end of the row.  Repeat for the second row. Add a <table at the beginning and a </table> at the end, and it should all line up perfectly.

Helpful HTML tip: When you are using code, always remember that each section of code has two parts, a beginning and an end. The beginning starts with a word or symbol inside <>. The end uses a backslash in front of the word or symbol </>. If you forget the beginning or end of the code, it won't work.

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper: Review

Fallen Grace
by: Mary Hooper

Format: Hardcover, 309 pages
Published: February 1, 2011; Bloomsbury USA
Source: ARC from publisher
Challenge: YA Historical Fiction

Author Website | Author Facebook

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Synopsis (from Goodreads): Grace Parkes has just had to do a terrible thing. Having given birth to an illegitimate child, she has travelled to the famed Brookwood Cemetery to place her small infant's body in a rich lady's coffin. Following the advice of a kindly midwife, this is the only way that Grace can think of to give something at least to the little baby who died at birth, and to avoid the ignominy of a pauper's grave. Distraught and weeping, Grace meets two people at the cemetery: Mrs Emmeline Unwin and Mr James Solent. These two characters will have a profound affect upon Grace's life. But Grace doesn't know that yet. For now, she has to suppress her grief and get on with the business of living: scraping together enough pennies selling watercress for rent and food; looking after her older sister, who is incapable of caring for herself; thwarting the manipulative and conscience-free Unwin family, who are as capable of running a lucrative funeral business as they are of defrauding a young woman of her fortune.

A stunning evocation of life in Victorian London, with vivid and accurate depictions, ranging from the deprivation that the truly poor suffered to the unthinking luxuries enjoyed by the rich: all bound up with a pacy and thrilling plot, as Grace races to unravel the fraud about to be perpetrated against her and her sister

My Review:  There is something about Victorian London that really perks up my bookish senses.  With Fallen Grace, you get all the loveliness of Dickens without the awfully boring long-winded descriptions.

Grace is a girl after my own heart. She has just lost a baby, and is caring for her older, but mentally handicapped sister in a very cruel city, and yet she is not a whiner. She gets up and does what she has to in order for her survival.

One of my favorite things about novels written by Dickens is that every character plays a role in the story, no matter how minor.  And Mary Hooper invokes this spirit nicely.  I was interested in every plot twist and turn and definitely on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it would all turn out in the end.

The Unwins are fantastic villains in that they are very real.  They exploit people at their most sensitive and broken moments and squeeze every last drop out of them.  Which is why when they see an opportunity in Grace and her older sister, Lily, they seize on it, and so fully use them that I honestly thought that there was no way out.

I hope you'll pick up a copy of this book. It's got all the elements of a great story: orphans, London, fog, Dickens, and dastardly funeral directors.  It's an impressive historical fiction that will appeal to adults, but is still accessible to younger readers.

My Rating:



If you missed it, also check out my interview with Mary Hooper. (link)

Blogger Confidential: Bloggers as Aspiring Authors

Have you ever been faced with an issue while reading or blogging and thought: I wonder what other bloggers think about this?  No matter what genre or audience you blog for, we all face the same problems.  Are you a publisher or author wondering what goes on in a blogger's (and by extension a reader's) head?

Blogger confidential is a series of 12 questions asked to 11 bloggers about the nitty gritty details of blogging. Everything from what prompts a blogger to pick up a book, to what happens when a book doesn't live up to its hype.  This series was inspired by Wastepaper Prose's Author Insight series.

If you feel inspired by any of these questions, leave your answer in the comments, or create your own post!

This week's question:

There are bloggers who are aspiring authors. Do you feel like a blogger can also be actively pursuing a novel, or could it possibly burn bridges in the future by writing negative reviews?

"I think some bloggers can definitely write. They understand the market really well and from their critiquing understand what works in a narrative. I think there are issues in the professional relationship arena that could arise. But honesty should be appreciated. If their reviewing reflects a critical eye then why wouldn't a publisher want to sign them if their book is good?" Adele from Persnickety Snark

"I'm one of those bloggers! Sure, there's always the risk of running, in the future, into someone whose book you gave a critical review to. But you can't go into blogging thinking that, otherwise you won't be able to learn. One of the most commonly given advice to aspiring writers is that they read whatever they can get their hands on, even stuff they end up not enjoying. There's merit in figuring out what didn't work for you in those books as well. And if I ever meet an author whose work I reviewed critically, well... there's always the duck-and-run." Steph from Steph Su Reads

"I definitely think you could do both, if you can find the time that is. There are so many books to be reviewed that the occasional negative review won't hurt if done properly. There's no need to be rude in a review, even for a book you couldn't stand. If you offer constructive criticism and are honest in your reviews it's hard to believe you would be burning bridges. Besides, the amount of positive connections you make will far out-weigh the negative." Danielle from There's a Book

"I think there are good ways to write negative reviews. I don't see how the
two can't be separated. I have read some bits from some of the books and a
lot are really good fiction." Pam from Bookalicious

"That's an excellent question. It's possible that writing negative reviews might burn bridges. I know a lot of writers will only write about what they like and I think that's a fair way to do things." Amy from My Friend Amy

"Absolutely. As long as they do it in a respectful and professional way. I think a lot of time bloggers do not consider what they say and how it can affect how others see them. Like I said earlier, I write negative reviews. It does not happen that often, but it does happen. I feel like as long as you are honest with your feelings, but respectful to the author / publisher then there should be no problem. However, I do not work in the publishing world, so I am not completely sure on their take on this." Kate from The Neverending Shelf

"I guess a blogger who's an aspiring author could burn bridges by writing a negative review if they were a jerk about it, but the book industry, while being a small pond, is a big enough pond that this probably isn't an issue." Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Reading?

"Why not? There are some authors whose blogs I read religiously, but whose books are not particularly for me. And vice versa. Then there are some who are screamingly good at both and who awe me with their mad ability to write so prolifically and with such wit and skill. I don’t think anyone should stay away from writing or blogging because they’re afraid. Perceptive readers are able to sort out the differences between the two and will return over and over again to those they love." Angie from Angieville

"I think if I was an aspiring author, I would never write a negative review again. Thankfully I am not. It's hard enough as a blogger, knowing I may come face-to-face with an author, or just knowing that he/she might read my review and be hurt by it." Andye from Reading Teen

"I know there are a lot of authors out there who will not write negative reviews at all because they recognize the "friend factor." I'm not pursuing a novel, so I don't know. My gut tells me though that it's possible." Natasha from Maw Books

"I’m not one of those aspiring authors, but I feel like there is the potential for a negative impact. If your blog is relatively small, it probably won’t impact you. If you write negative reviews that are supported by valid points, it probably won’t impact you. If you write reviews that attack the author or publisher, you might have a problem." Sara from The Hiding Spot

Delirium by Lauren Oliver: Review

Delirium
By: Lauren Oliver

Format: Hardcover, 441 Pages
Published: February 1, 2011; HarperTeen
Source: ARC from Publisher
Challenges: Dystopia Challenge

author blog | author twitter | author website

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Synopsis (from Goodreads): Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My Review: As a lover of all things dystopian, I was very eagerly anticipating a chance to read this book. In many ways, the book met my expectations, but in others I was left feeling a little bewildered.

One thing that a dystopian must do well for me is establish a sense of fear or urgency pretty much at all times. There isn't a lot of time to rest for our heroes, and they have to be constantly aware of their surroundings and who to trust.  Delirium definitely came through on those points.  However, I thought that classifying love as a disease to be a little strange. The society obviously encouraged affection and didn't encourage hatred. I think what they actually were trying to prevent was passion.  Passionate love can sometimes turn to passionate hatred, and we all know how that ends up.  In many ways the book reminded me of the movie Equilibrium. (Bonus: it has Christian Bale in it. However, there is a particularly tense scene where puppies are killed. Just so you know).  Basically, the entire population has to take a pill to prevent them from feeling emotion. This eradicates crimes of passion. There is also an underground rebellion much like the  one in Delirium that the government would just like to ignore and pretend it doesn't exist.

Lena's character was a little too reactive for my tastes. For most of the book, I felt like the plot was moving along almost in spite of her, and at times she was definitely struggling to keep up. And because I didn't love Leta, I had a hard time understanding why Alex decided that he did. Speaking of characters, I really would have liked to know a little more about her best friend Hana, and her niece Grace. Both of these characters were so well-developed at the beginning of the story that it was really disappointing when they took a backseat once the romance between Alex and Lena started to take off.

The writing definitely carried this book for me. Had the writing not been as good as it was, I probably would not have liked it nearly as well as I did. In fact, while I was in the moment reading the book, I had almost no complaints. It wasn't until I sat down and really thought about the story that I thought about a few inconsistencies.  I'll definitely pick up more books by Lauren Oliver in the future, because I certainly was taken with her style.

My Rating: