Molly is ready for more nonstop, undead action in this follow-up to Dead City, which Kirkus Reviews described as “a fast-paced read for those who like their zombies with just a little fright.” When Molly Bigelow discovered that zombies shared New York with humans, she didn’t think life could get more shocking. Then she learned that her mother was once one of the greatest zombie killers ever—and she discovered that her dead mother is not technically dead at all (although she isn’t alive, either).
Molly’s efforts to keep these secrets and to help her Omega team track down the identity of the original thirteen zombies will take her from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade to New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Her loyalties to friends and family will be put to the test. And her life will be changed in ways she never could have imagined.
Ava's Thoughts:
*CAUTION! SPOILER ALERTS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST BOOK. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!*
After Molly's rooftop battle with Marek Blackwell (and after killing him) Molly's Omega team is suspended because of some things she did. Also, meeting her undead mother who came to her rescue, then mysteriously leaving. While their team is suspended, they hear about an alarming fatal event. Unfortunately, they have to avoid all Omega activity.
Before their hearing, they are told by a former Omega to say they were asked to work on the Baker's Dozen, a mysterious case all about the Unlucky 13. This puts them back in business.
But this mission takes many twists and turns. Is Marek still alive? What is the Blue Moon? And more importantly, are people who they say they are?
This book is full of mystery, suspense, action and adventure. After the first Dead City book, this is must-read! Be sure to pick up this book!
More reviews to come from Ava: The Wolf Princess, Rot and Ruin, How I survived Middle School; Bullies, Broccoli and Snake Hill, I Funny, The Secret War and In My Enemy's House. Please get back to me soon to tell me if you like them!
Catch a Falling Star by: Kim Culbertson Now available!!! Publisher: Point (Scholastic) Source: ARC from publisher Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads: A deliciously charming novel about finding true love . . . and yourself.
Nothing ever happens in Little, CA. Which is just the way Carter Moon likes it. But when Hollywood arrives to film a movie starring former child star turned PR mess Adam Jakes, everything changes. Carter's town becomes a giant glittery set and, much to her annoyance, everyone is starry-eyed for Adam. Carter seems to be the only girl not falling all over herself to get a glimpse of him. Which apparently makes her perfect for the secret offer of a lifetime: playing the role of Adam's girlfriend while he's in town, to improve his public image, in exchange for a hefty paycheck. Her family really needs the money and so Carters agrees. But it turns out Adam isn't at all who she thought he was. As they grow closer, their relationship walks a blurry line between what's real and what's fake, and Carter must open her eyes to the scariest of unexplored worlds - her future. Can Carter figure out what she wants out of life AND get the guy? Or are there no Hollywood endings in real life? My Thoughts: Fun, light-hearted read that's perfect to take for a day at the beach! Catch a Falling Star was a quick read with a blossoming romance, and great first-person narration from our heroine, Carter Moon. The title is actually a great pun, because Carter's greatest passion is her love of astronomy (after her passion for Adam of course :)) This was a "Cinderella-like" tale of sorts, but Carter was definitely a feistier heroine, she has a mind of her own. She was a realistic leading character, while she doesn't want to admit it, she's a bit taken with the Hollywood heartthrob, Adam, and truth be told, Adam's just as stubborn in showcasing his own feelings for our heroine- but this allowed for some great squabbles between our two leads. As I stated before, the romance was very light-hearted and sweet between these two, definitely nothing in-appropriate or worrisome. As well, there isn't an insta-love to be found with these two, there's definitely a build-up and you'll feel the connection between these two and the ending will have you either smiling and saying "aww" or rolling your eyes (while smiling despite yourself). Of course, this is much more than a teen romance novel, Carter is also dealing with some difficult familial issues, specifically with her older brother, John. If I'm being completely honest, I think the up-and-down sibling relationship between these two was my favourite part of the book, it really helped to add drama to the plot. This is a contemporary read with very little action, so much of the story is character driven, and Culbertson does a great job of writing in her supporting characters (specifically Carter's besties, Chloe and Alien Drake- inside joke) these two bring comedic relief throughout the story and help keep Chloe grounded when everything else around seems to be falling apart. Although I will state this- I feel as though there were some unresolved feelings between Drake and Carter, but this could just be the romantic in me looking for deeper meaning haha. Overall, I would recommend this read to those who are looking for a quick read and light-hearted romance kick! Happy Reading!!! Purchase your own copy:Amazon | Chapters
First off I want to, once again, apologize for my blogger absence this past year. It has definitely taken me a little longer to get back into the swing of things then I had originally anticipated and I have a ton of reviews to catch up on, but I'm so excited for Summer!
There are are going to be some changes coming to the blog, as you've already seen, I have a new blogger who will be adding her tremendous reviews technique to the blog. Her reviews are not to be missed, and it's hard to believe she's a middle-grader when you read her words. Please join me in welcoming Ava to the blog- WELCOME AVA- Ava will be reviewing middle-grade, action, adventure books. Look forward to many more reviews to come from this very talented reviewer :).
I'm also going to be putting a spin on my reviews, by starting a new meme- Pool Side Reads- because I love reading my books outside by the pool, and I'd love to actually get a tan this Summer! haha
Speaking of Summer..... IT'S TIME FOR THE BI-ANNUAL BOX OF ARCS GIVEAWAY- SUMMER 2014 EDITION
What's up for grabs you ask, well have a look below:
As always, the winner will have the opportunity to pick at least 20 titles from the pile pictured above - I will be adding more ARC titles to choose from as I continue to go through my books
Want to enter? Well go on and fill out the Rafflecopter below!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ENTER!!!
Looking forward to sharing my Summer Reads with you all!
Please check the terms and conditions at the bottom of the Rafflecopter!!!
Dead City by James Ponti Now Available!!! Publisher: Aladdin Add Dead City to your To-Read list here. Ava's Thoughts:
Dead City is a book about a girl named Molly Bigelow. She lives with her sister and father, and hangs out at the morgue around lots of dead bodies. Her mom worked there, so it has become a habit as well as a nice reminder after her mother died of cancer. What Molly doesn't know is that her mother has secretly been training her to be a zombie hunter in New York...part of a group called the Omegas.
This book takes you into the beginning of Molly's zombie hunting career, as well as many new discoveries. Because face it, when your mother is one of the most-known and best Omegas that ever lived, it's hard not to follow in her footsteps.
This book was very funny! It is great for people who want a zombie book that is not scary but rather funny. I rate this book a 9 /10 because it was funny and exciting but sometimes I needed to read over the details. This book was amazing! Ciao, Ava
Holy Shananigans! I have not been keeping up to date with my blog as I had originally planned, but I'm fortunate enough to have some time to catch up on my reading, so with that said, I have a lot of reviews coming this month I PROMISE and with that ANOTHER BOX OF ARCS giveaway so please stay tuned for my first review and news of the upcoming giveaway, at the end of this week :). I can't wait to dive back in to the book blogging community!
Hey Everyone! This is kind of a special post today! I have been given a final assignment for my Literary Arts class- create a multimodal platform of my PERSONAL LITERACY JOURNEY. I had a lot of fun delving into the literary milestones that have made me who I am today- a lover of books!
In fact, here are a couple snap shots, of my own personal library (please excuse the mess)
Reading and writing are true passions of mine, if I go one day without reading for at least a half hour, I'm truly lost. Literacy is ingrained in me and I couldn't imagine my life without books! (And I really don't want to!)
Here is my Personal Literacy History, I hope you enjoy it!
Cover taken from Goodreads.com
1990/91- My Journey Begins!
I remember my Kindergarten Teacher, Mrs. Butler, playing her audio book version CHICKA, CHICKA, BOOM, BOOM by Bill Martin, as a means of teaching my peers and I the alphabet. I adored this book then, and still do to this day! And hope to incorporate this wonderful classic into my Teaching Pedagogy one day, should I ever be lucky enough to teach full-day Kindergarten.
Below is a hilariously fun Youtube video of the updated e-version of Martin's Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom that's sure to engage young learners!
1993/4 - The Moral of the Story
Cove taken from Goodreads.com
I remember my Elementary School Librarian, Mrs. Wallace-Edwards, having my Grade 2 class sit at the library carpet area while she read us a book entitled, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I had never heard of the book before this and was intrigued by what kind of relationship a boy could have with an apple tree. After the Read Aloud was done, I remembered the moral of this story truly sticking with me (this was a first for me), the idea that love is unconditional- to give is truly to receive. I sincerely remember my 8-year-old self giving pause, to reflect on this moral, and I have carried this value with me throughout my young and adult life. I will always keep a copy of this title in my personal library and hope to one day share it, not just with my students, but my own children as well. It's a wonderful piece of literature that can be cross-curriculared with many subjects, including Social Studies and Science- there are many themes that can be gleaned from this classic.
1994/5 - Grade 3 (aka The Worst School Year of My Academic Life)
I'm going to be quite honest- I cried almost everyday in Grade 3 (this is not a lie, my friends still tease to me to this day about it). I cried of embarrassment- I would receive my spelling test from the previous day, and almost always, would receive a 2/16 (give or take a point). These test scores were devastating to my young 9-year-old self. I felt defeated and stupid most of the time, and as a result, suffered from very low self-esteem. Mrs. Powell, my Grade 3 Teacher (whom to this day, I still adore), gave my parents two options- I either take Summer school or repeat the Third Grade. Luckily my parents chose to send me to Summer school and this is where I learned how valuable studying can truly be. From then on, I'm proud to say, I aced all my spelling tests.
I used to look back on this year of my life and cringe (truth be told I still can't believe how often I cried) but I'm so thankful for this experience, because I think it has made me that much stronger a person and it will only help make me a more empathetic Educator- I will never assume a student is "difficult" or "incapable" of achievement and I hope to always promote and instil self-confidence in my young learners.
1995/6 - My First Story
My Grade 4 class had been given an assignment to write a short story, and I must apologize because for the life of me I can't remember what the title of that was or even its content, but I do remember my Teacher, Mrs. Flannigan, pulling my mother aside one day to show her my work and stating "I think she would be a great write when she's older" (please be informed that I may be paraphrasing this statement, as it was over a decade ago when I first heard it). This is my earliest memory of truly believing I could have a future in literature.
Photo taken from: http://torontoist.com/2008/02/absolutely/
1999/00 - My First Harlequin
I signed up for a Focus Group when I was 13-years-old, and was informed I would receive two books in the mail. Well, imagine my surprise when I began reading my first romance novel! Although, I may have been a bit immature/naive for it, at the time, I really fell in love with the genre and all the overdone cliches that came along with it.
2003/4 - My Introduction to the Literary Greats - Atwood & Austen
Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Photo taken from Goodreads.com
I had a terrific English Teacher in high school, Ms. Anklesaria. And when I was given a project; to write and compare two narratives, Ms. Anklesaria suggested two classics to me- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. This was my first experience at delving further than the surface and recognizing/analyzing the subtext in literature. I really enjoyed looking at the deeper meaning behind the author's voice and characters' narration and hope to one day have the opportunity to discuss and delve further into the meaning behind texts my students are passionate about.
2005-09 - I'm an English Major
This was a milestone for me. Stepping into my first Lecture Hall, I felt like a true academic. But my euphoria ended as soon as I received my first D on a paper/essay. It was here that I learned that "essay format" isn't black and white (aka five paragraphs), as I had originally believed in high school. My confidence was shook up and I did have my doubts, but like my Grade 3-self, I just had to apply myself that much more, and I succeeding in doing so by graduating, from York University, with an Honours, B.A. in English Literature.
2008 - That Little-Known Book Entitled, Twilight
Cover taken from Goodreads.com
I didn't have the chance to read a lot for pleasure, while attending York University, but I was on the hunt for a good romance, when a Chapters employee suggested I read this not-so-known book, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I liked that it was a bigger read (500+ pages) so I bought it, and from that day on I have had an intense passion for Young Adult literature. In fact, my passion was so great, that I decided to direct my path towards the Publishing Industry.
2010 - Centennial College Book and Magazine Publishing Program
I attended Centennial College, where I met and made a lot of dear friends, and learned a great deal
about the Publishing Industry (specifically the Marketing and Editorial branches). I was also fortunate enough to make a lot of valuable contacts during this Program. During my stay with this program, I also had the amazing opportunity of having an article I wrote published in the 2011 Spring issue of On the Danforth magazine- this was my first published piece of work!
2010-Present - Booking It With Hayley G
I started my book review blog to share my love and passion for Young Adult and Romance books, with other book bloggers/lovers. I never knew or dreamed it would turn into the modest success it has become. Through my blog I have obtained so many wonderful contacts from fabulous Publishers, including; Harlequin Inc, Harper Collins Canada, Scholastic Canada, Simon and Schuster Canada, Raincoast Books, Penguin/Razorbill Canada and Random House Canada. I'm so grateful to these wonderful publishers, and my amazing readers, for helping me express and share my passion for books on a multimodal platform.
I do hope to start a new meme on the blog in the late Spring as a resource for Teachers- giving lesson plans around certain books in accordance with the Ontario Curriculum- this is a future goal of mine.
2011 - The Internships
Photo taken from http://bit.ly/1ebBssu
After I graduated from Centennial College's post-grad program, I had
the amazing opportunity to intern at Scholastic Canada in their Book Clubs department. During this internship, I was able to edit teen manuscripts for their content appropriateness, and I learned a great deal about not only Young Adult literature, but Children's Literature as well.
Logo taken from http://bit.ly/1qhiWY2
I immediately started interning at Harlequin Inc. when my contract with Scholastic ended, and I gained a lot of valuable experience working in the TEEN department. However, I couldn't get this thought out of my head- wouldn't it be great to be a Children's Librarian? But I wasn't sure if it was something I should do, after all, I had only just graduated from a post grad program...
2010-13 - Chapters' "Teen Guru"
Image taken from chapters.indigo.ca
I started working at Chapters/Indigo when I first started my Publishing program at Centennial College.
This was truly a dream job for me because I was placed in the IndigoKids/Teen department. I literally got to discuss children's books all day! It was fabulous and I was nicknamed the "Teen Guru" by my fellow co-workers and bosses. Any customer who had a question about a teen or middle grade book was directed to me, and I was always happy (and excited) to help. I got to help and recommend titles to Elementary Teachers/Librarians, who would come in requesting popular new titles (especially for young male readers). As much as I loved and enjoyed this job, I knew I was missing an important step in my career, and I knew it was now or never, I had to take the chance and apply for Teacher's College!
Present - Teacher's College
Currently, I'm attending the Teacher's College Program at Brock University. I have learned so much in this program, and am so grateful for the wonderful experiences I've been able to integrate into my Teaching pedagogy, and my hope is to one day become an Elementary School Librarian!
Future - ???
What's the next step in my Literacy Journey? The truth is, I'm not exactly sure. There's so much I want to do and it feels like there's so little time to do them all. But here are a couple goals I'd love to achieve in the next year:
1) Take the AQ (Additional Qualification) course in Library Sciences offered at Brock University- I want to continue to further my knowledge and experiences with Children's Literacy and know this course would be a great fit.
2) Work for a High Education publication - I would love to incorporate my knowledge of Education (Ontario curriculum) with my passion for Publishing, by developing lesson plans based around certain books and text books.
This is my Personal Literacy Journey so far, it's been a spectacular ride- I've experienced many wonderful things and have learned a lot. What the future holds, I can't really say, but I know with absolutely NO DOUBT that my future will be surrounded books and me sharing my passion for Children's Literature in some sort of capacity.
I hope you have enjoyed this post, I'd love to know your Personal Literacy History. Leave me any comments or stories you may have of your Journey.
