Currently Reading.....Paranormalcy

The Mockingbirds

Summary from Goodbooks:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.
      .

I had read some mixed reviews about this book, but I'm glad I decided to give it a shot. The story follows Alex Parker and begins the morning after her date-rape. While some found it worrisome that the students are the ones that are judge and jury, I found it refreshing. Teenagers often play judge and jury with their peers, just look at cliques. Students judge each other based on perceptions, both real and imagined. I liked this book, because the founding of the Mockingbirds is based on one of all my all time favorite books - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I feel the author, a victim of date-rape herself, handled the touchy subject matter quite well. The resolution of Alex's story felt real to me, and I was pleased with the outcome. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book looks really interesting!

So, I can't wait to read this book! I just love a female characters that fight back against the system.

I can't wait to read this book!

This book just looks ridiculously good. Thoughts?

Fallen and Torment

Fallen angels, star crossed lovers, battles between good and evil.....what's not to love?

I started reading Fallen last weekend. I had purchased it during the summer and promptly placed it in my TBR pile. There it set for several months. When I finally picked it up, I had to ask myself why I had let it sit there so long. Maybe it was because I wasn't so sure about the topic of fallen angels, maybe I was worried it would be a little too Twilight-ish (sorry Twilight lovers, I tried several times to read it, but Bella's character just killed it for me.....sorry), anyway, whatever the reason I quickly found out that it didn't really apply to this novel.

The first few chapters moved a little slowly, but going in knowing that this was the first in a series I expected that. As I progressed through the book, I found myself not wanting to put it down at all...not even to sleep. I loved that the setting was not too far from where I live. I loved the fact that there was a little mystery to both Cam and Daniel. After falling in love with a strong-willed character like Katniss in The Hunger Games trilogy, Luce took a little getting used to. However, I did find myself pulling for Luce in the end. When I finished reading Fallen, I immediately started Torment, thanks to my cousin, and read it in only 2 days. With all series, in each book you learn more and more about the backstory. Torment didn't disappoint. We learn a little more about Daniel, Cam, and Luce. We are also introduced to new characters - Miles (who I don't entirely trust - I just can't put my finger on it) and Shelby. There are more characters, but these two are the most important to Luce.

I already have Passion, so I'm ready to get into third, and next to last, book in the series. I hope the mystery continues to unravel and the story continues to progress at a good pace. I hate getting into a series and my enthusiasm dies out because the quality goes downhill.

I give both of these books 4/5 stars. If you like YA Paranormal type books, check these out.

Keep Reading,
Kimmie :-) 

I'mmmm back....LOL

Wow, when I started this blog right before summer break, I thought that I would be on it weekly. Boy, was I ever wrong. I got bogged down in the new Common Core Curriculum and worked on it most of the summer. I didn't read as much as I thought I was going to either. I did read a few books, but not as many as I originally thought I would. The good news is this, since I spent so much time working this summer, I have freed up some time for myself now. I will be going back and reviewing the three books that I really want to share, as well as reviewing new books. I really want to get this blog moving along and start meeting other book lovers.

See ya soon!
Kimmie

School is out! Bring on the books!

Wow, I have been away for far too long. I have read about 3 or 4 books that I need to post reviews for. Currently I'm reading a book for school -  George Washington's Socks. I need to read this for an upcoming unit tweaking workshop next week....3 days of work...but I get paid. Also, I really want to get a handle on the new teaching standards for next year.

Books that I will add reviews for by next week are:

1) The Catastrophic History of You and Me
2. Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Happy Reading! :)