Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?
This book had everything I love: well-developed, interesting characters, a cute, but not overpowering romance, and most importantly, a suspenseful, mysterious plot. I was also pleased to note that this debut novel swiftly avoided YA book stereotypes and stood easily on its own. I was pleased to discover that readers will be able to learn more about Alexis, as Bad Girls Don’t Die is to be a series. So, pick up this book if you are in need of a good ghost story, it will definitely deliver!

In My Mailbox (8)

Here's what I got in the last two weeks:

Bookmooch:

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape-Peter Hedges
Gilbert Grape hates his life. At 24, he's still living at home in the boring small town of Endora, Iowa, working a part time job as a clerk in a failing family owned grocery store. His long suffering older sister is always on his case, his young sister likes to pretend he doesn't exist, and his mother hasn't left the house in years. And then there's Arnie, Gilbert's retarded 17 year old brother, whom he loves and yet resents. But things are changing in Endora. As Arnie's milestone 18th birthday approaches, and with it all of the Grapes and a mysterious, unassuming girl who has Gilbert as confused as ever, he might just begin to see his family in a whole new light.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood-Rebecca Wells
The Ya-Yas are the wild circle of girls who swirl around the narrator Siddalee's mama, Vivi, whose vivid voice is "part Scarlett, part Katharine Hepburn, part Tallulah." The Ya-Yas broke the no-booze rule at the cotillion, skinny-dipped their way to jail in the town water tower, disrupted the Shirley Temple look-alike contest, and bonded for life because, as one says, "It's so much fun being a bad girl!" Siddalee must repair her busted relationship with Vivi by reading a half-century's worth of letters and clippings contained in the Ya-Ya Sisterhood's packet of "Divine Secrets." It's a contrived premise, but the secrets are really fun to learn.


Bought:

Bad Girls Don’t Die-Katie Alender
There’s something wrong with anti-social Alexis’ younger sister, Kasey. Not only is she a doll-crazed 13 year old, but sometimes her blue eyes go green, she uses odd, old-fashioned language, and even loses track of chunks of time. Is it just in Alexis’ head, or is her sister possessed?

Crash into Me-Albert Borris
Four suicidal teenagers go on a “celebrity suicide road trip”, visiting the graves of famous people who have killed themselves, with the intention of ending their lives in Death Valley, California.

Killer-Sara Shepard
Rosewood’s four prettiest girls keep a million deadly secrets…and they’ll do anything to make sure they stay buried.

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Break by Hannah Moskowitz

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah's only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders.

When Jonah's self-destructive spiral accelerates and he hits rock bottom, will he find true strength or surrender to his breaking point?

Hmmm, this sounds like a really depressing, yet interesting book on a touchy subject. I'd like to hear more about it. Break will be released on August 25th.

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow (and 100th post!)

Once again, sorry for the lack of posts and the missing IMM post yesterday; I was out of town and didn't have internet access. Since I only got 2 books last week, I'll just add them onto this week's IMM.

I am proud to say that this is my 100th post! My blog's anniversary is actually coming up soon and I have already decided that my goal for next year is to double the amount of posts. 100 in a year is really not enough. hopefully I'll be able to accomplish that goal.

Now here's my review:

Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember, traveling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes in an icy, broken down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive. And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over…

This book was a total supernatural nail biter! It had a little bit of everything: werewolves, zombies, vampires (called suckers), and many others, plus a total b.a. heroine, Dru. Even though Dru was a good protagonist, the book would not have been the same without the character Graves, Dru’s werwulf-bitten friend. His sarcastic and witty personality kept some lightness in an otherwise dark and depressing storyline. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Betrayals and discovering more about the interesting supernatural world that Lili St. Crow has created.

Waiting on Wednesday (Thursday) (15)

Sorry this is a day late, I guess I just spazzed and forgot! Well, better late then never!

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

This looks so freaking good!!! I love weird dystopian sort of books like this. I will definitely pick this book right up when it is released October 6th!

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene. When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn. Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

First off, let me say that this book has gotten me out of my non-reading funk. The past few books I’ve read were really basic and predictable, but Suite Scarlett was an extremely unique and character-driven novel. This book had so many things going for it: a fascinating New York hotel setting, complex sibling interactions, a cute but not overwhelming romance, quirky characters, and witty dialogue. I loved the entire Martin family, especially Scarlett and her hilarious aspiring actor brother, Spencer. I am greatly looking forward to spending more time with these characters in the next book in the series, Scarlett Fever, set to be released in February of 2010. So check into the Hopewell now-I know you’ll enjoy your stay!

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

Emma Healy has never fit in with the rest of her family. She's grown used to being the only ordinary one among her rather extraordinary parents and siblings. But when she finds a birth certificate for a twin brother she never knew she had, along with a death certificate dated just two days later, she feels like a part of her has been justified in never feeling quite whole. Suddenly it seems important to visit his grave, to set off in search of her missing half. When her next-door neighbor Peter Finnegan -- who has a quiet affinity for maps and a desperate wish to escape their small town -- ends up coming along for the ride, Emma thinks they can't possibly have anything in common. But as they head from upstate New York toward North Carolina, driving a beat-up and technically stolen car and picking up a stray dog along the way, they find themselves learning more and more about each other. Neither is exactly sure what they're looking for, but with each passing mile, each new day of this journey, they seem to be getting much closer to finding it.

You Are Here was a compelling, adventurous read filled with interesting characters that spear-headed an otherwise basic storyline. If it weren’t for Peter and Emma’s unique personalities and the interactions between them, the road trip storyline would have fallen flat. Thanks to that, I was intrigued to keep reading and experience the development of Emma and Peter. Jennifer E. Smith also filled her book with interesting facts, most often brought to light by the map-loving protagonist Peter. All in all, You Are Here is a nice summer read that leaves you with the desire to hop in a car and hit the road.