Just Listen

Author: Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking

Favorite Character: Annabel-I don't know what it was about her, but I don't think I'd mind being her friend.

Summary: Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least that's who she plays in the commercial for Kopf's Department Store: top student, popular cheerleader, dazzling prom queen surrounded by friends. In real life, though, Annabel is the girls who has nothing: no best friend since her friendship with mean-but-exciting Sophie ended with malicious rumors flying, no peace at home while her older sister's eating disorder preoccupies the family, and no ability to tell anyone what's on her mind.

And then she meets Owen Armstrong--intense, obsessed with music, and determined to always tell the truth, no matter what the consequences.

Can a girl who hates confrontation find a way to connect with a guy who thrives on it? And can Annabel find the courage to tell what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

Once again, the incomparable Sarah Dessen has written a novel that will captivate her many readers.

Review: This was actually a surprisingly good book. I immediately fell in love with the music angle even though I had never heard of any of those bands. Music makes everything cooler. The storyline was pretty typical for this kind of conflict, but the music made it somewhat more unique.

Annabel is kind of too bland. Her personality seems too unselfish for a human and then she has random moments of really good self-esteem. I don't know what it was about her that just didn't agree with me. I didn't hate her, but I didn't like her.

Owen pretty much rocked. He really is an interesting person and he can be quite unpredictable. His sister, on the other hand, is super annoying.

Sophie is a blind meanie-head who deserves the freaking cheater of a boyfriend and also the humiliation that she's had to go through because of her terrible choices.

I love the story and I love this book. Just Listen is really a good summer book to read out on your lawn chair. If you have time, I suggest that you pick this up.

Rating: 4/5

You Might Also Like:

1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

2. Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Hot Shot

This is another Taiwanese drama featuring:

Alan Luo!!! (who doesn't love him?) (also fav character)

Jerry Yan!!! (wow, he looks great in this one unlike Meteor Garden)

and (my personal fave) Wu Chun! (O.O I'd have watched it just for him...)

Summary: Da Ying's grandmother's passing took quite a toll on him, but one awesome thing will come out of it.

As a child, he had been strictly forbidden from even mentioning basketball with unreasonable will., but his grandmother's death was the right time for him to embark on his basketball career. Even if he has to start out as a player for the "Five Losers" team which, needless to say, sucks.

Other things like love, flimsy friendships, brotherhood, and his beautiful coach's health will put Da Ying's hilariously sweet character to the test. Is he cut out for the basketball leagues?

Number of Episodes: 16

Review: Yup, what can I say? I love Show. He is super funny even when he cries! The storyline was very typical of Taiwanese Dramas, but that's why I love them. I wish the ending had been better though. Very disappointing. Other than that, this drama made watching basketball exciting, which I normally despise. That's got to count for something!

Rating: 4/5

I couldn't find the english subbed version on YouTube, but if you want to watch it just go to mysoju.com and search it up! :D

Chao Xi Huan Ni

Artist: Fahrenheit

Info: Another Asian song. This was one of the first that I listened to and the title in English is I Really Like You. Isn't that super cute!! :D

From left to right and top to bottom: Jiro, Calvin, Wu Chun, and Aaron! They always make me smile...

Jiro was in Hana Kimi Taiwan Version along with Wu Chun and he's really funny. Wu Chun is just totally cool. Calvin, I don't know much about. Aaron is also really sweet.

It's even English Subbed!

Ghostgirl: Homecoming

Author: Tonya Hurley

Publisher: Hachette Group

Release Day: July 1st!

Summary: Charlotte made it to the other side. YEY! Not really. It's kinda lonely over there with all her friends off to meet their long dead relatives. It's hard for them to find time for Charlotte, but Maddy has time. Lots of it. But is Maddy really such a great friend? When Scarlet comes looking for Charlotte in the hopes of helping her sister, Maddy seems to be purposelly screwing things up.

Review: The first one was cute. This one actually made it onto a better level of quality. I really enjoyed it and it was much more real and better executed.

The imagery was wonderfully placed. Not too much, but just right. I saw the landscape of Heaven and descriptions like that are vital for a fun story. The author really grew in her writing. Congrats, Tonya Hurley! I think I'm more apt to recommend this one since I find that it does have quality and it's pretty cute! Really light and fast read.

Again, I have to comment on how pretty the cover is! Love it. :)

Millenium Snow

Author: Bisco Hatori

Publisher: Shojo Beat Manga

Favorite Character: Yamimaru-He is super cute! If you don't like him, then don't talk to me. JUST KIDDING! :D

Summary: A girl wanting more life crosses paths with a sour vampire who hates his longevity. How can she make him see his imortality as enviable?

Review: Yeah I know it's another Hot Vampire goes for Poor Girl story, but this one gets original. How is it possible you ask? Well it's positively hilarious in the coldness of the jokes. I actually enjoyed the realness of the vampire dude. The girl was a little flat to me, but not too shabby. This is actually a nice enough manga to pick up if you want something quick and ironic. Check it out guys!

Rating: 4/5

You Might Also Like:

1. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

2. Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino

Hello!!!!

Yup. Ive only been gone about seven days and already that seems like an eternity. Ive noted all your comments and when I dont have to pay for my internet use then Ill be sure to comment back! (insert smiley face here). THis post probably looks a lil weird because i cant figure out how to use half the symbols on the keyboard! I had to ask google about the @ sign. (insert sad face here). Hope all your guys summer is going good! And hope to be back reviewing soon. I have summer homework so I will be reading and right when i get back ill have reviews up. <

Thank You!!

Last Day of School Tomorrow!

Yup, tomorrow is the last day I have to go into my chemistry or P.E. class for the rest of my Highschool term. And also I'm leaving tomorrow. If you missed my earlier post then go here. Thanks for being such great peeps and talk to you in September!!

Ghostgirl

Author: Tonya Hurley

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Favorite Character: Scarlet-She was described more at length and had a really human personality plus she likes music like me!

Summary: Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is. Even worse; she's dead. And all because of a guy and a gummy bear.

In this satirical yet heartfelt novel, Tonya Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at times and the lengths we'll go to be seen.

Review: This story wasn't really sad. It was more ironic and some of it was way phsychotic, but real at the same time. Charlotte's death makes her feel even more invisible when craves the attention of her classmates. The way she dies just seems too cruel to her, so she won't let go.

Her resolve to cling on to life when she's already gone isn't the smartest choice. Her selfishness causes problems for people who actually care for her. These being her Dead classmates. Even though I didn't like Charlotte all that much, her beyond-help-self is pretty well-developed. She's not an unknown which I think is important in a story especially if written in third person. I could connect to her and I could also connect to Goth-Princess Scarlet Kensington. Yeah, she's my favorite character! The story kept pretty much to highschool drama level and used funny as in uh...okay language to keep the flow up. I liked this one! And don't even get me started on the cover. I'm totally AmAZeD by it!

I also forgot to mention that at the beginning of each chapter there are a little life lesson blurbs. My favorite part was those since they really got me thinking. The sequel is coming out soon!

Rating: 4/5

other books in the series:
2. Ghostgirl: Homecoming (comes out June 1 !!)

Once Dead, Twice Shy

It's my lil sister reviewing once more. I got this book from a contest at The Shady Glade! Thanks!

Author: Kim Harrison

Publisher: Harper Teen

Favorite Character: Grace-hilarious!!!!

Summary: Madison's prom was killer-literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper-yeah, that kind of reaper-intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But Madison realizes she has to take control of her own fate once and for all, before it takes control of her. Well, if she believed in that stuff.

Review: I think that this book was cool!. Why, you ask ? Well there was suspense. This book was also funny! One person's nick name was Barney! lol:] oh talking about names I will list some names. There was Ron; head person there was... oh yes, Grace she is sooo funny!, and Madison she was funny too, Barnabas AKA barney, then the loveable Josh (he's a nice guy,.) Here come the evil villains., Nakita thought to be an angel from hell yah I know=] and her masster sir kairos yah not thee most beautiful name everXD also the seraph he's the angel of... um something hm lets see any one else thats important oh yes the mom well not really i mean she sent madison with her dad so the dad is more important ok so the dad is nice and you dont really hear about him ok ah Amy shes evil she's human but she's evil or mean in other words then Len he's mean to Parker he just hangs around but hes not popular. well thats every one (that is important) . XD wow thats long

READ or DIE!!!!!! XD tee hee

Rating: 5/5

Her choice of colors hurt my eyes. Uh, I think I need to help my sister work on her reviews, but I agree with her rating. Am looking forward to a sequel. Here's mine with an intsy more substance. (Don't tell her...)

Kim Harrison did a great job at creating a world inhabited by immortal creatures who pose as something as harmless as a crow. I loved the main character because she was different from other people, but wasn't like unnatural. Her feelings and emotions weren't stereotyped, but good-natured. The other characters were well developed and the description of fear was very well-done.

The entire story's backdrop is about fate vs. choice. It doesn't really tell you whether one is good and the other bad although the ones that work for each have difficulty understanding that. I really thought out the message of the book. My conclusion is that fate leads you to a choice. It's really an interesting plot with something to think about.

I'm Going On Vacation!

That would be good, except that it's just to Mexico. We're visiting relatives. After the first month it stops being fun. Yeah. I'm spending ALL summer over there where internet is practically unheard of. But wait, I did schedule some posts. There will be at least one per week although most probably aren't going to be actual book reviews. I'm really dissapointed about this since I was planning on reading all summer, but that's not gonna work. Anyway, if you have questions then please e-mail me before Wednesday for a reply cuz I'm leaving the day after. You can still e-mail me after that, but take note that I may only check my e-mail like once a month at a cyber. Sorry!

Anyway, have a great summer!!!