10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge Chat with Elizabeth Eulberg!

Hi there, lovely 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challengers!

It's now August (eight months into the challenge!), and time once again for a 10 in '10 chat. This month, our featured author is Elizabeth Eulberg! We'll be chatting with Elizabeth tonight (Thursday, August 26th) at 8:00 EST in our official 10 in '10 chat room, located HERE.

Elizabeth is the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, which was the very first book I read for the challenge. It's super fun and full of girl power, as you can surely tell by the description below.

Love is all you need…or is it?

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She’s had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It’s a personal choice…and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny’s not the only girl who’s tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys…or the way their guys don’t really care about them.

Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club (named after Sgt. Pepper’s band), and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non-dating ways – which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can’t help but like…

Elizabeth also has a new book coming out this January, entitled Prom and Prejudice. The title alone has me hooked!

Now that you know a little more about Elizabeth, I hope you all can attend tonight's chat. It's sure to be a lot of fun.

See you tonight!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

**This review contains mild spoilers. Do not read until you have finished the ENTIRE trilogy.**

Release: August 24, 2010

Others in the Series: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire

Source: Purchased

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

Sigh.

Sometimes a book just can't stand up to the hype. Mockingjay is one of those books.

After a year of waiting for it's release, Mockingjay proved to be a disappointment, a shell of the previous series. Going into it, I was already concerned that the absence of the Hunger Games would be a major issue. There was no possible way to bring them back, as done in Catching Fire. For the first time, the series would have to stand without them. Only, in place of the life-or-death strategies and suspense that made the series so popular, Collins put in loads of  dull military tactics and a heavily science fiction feel.

In turning away from the Games, the story went towards George Orwell's 1984. For anyone who's read it, you can draw connections left and right. I'd been expecting this though, so it wasn't too much of a disappointment at the time. Collins threw in tons of the plot twists that made everyone love The Hunger Games, and for a while, I was hooked, riveted to my seat. The issue was, after awhile there's only so many twists you can throw in before it becomes confusing and jumbled. This, combined with the weak plot, is what began to spark my disappointment.

Furthermore, the rebellion was not as action-packed as one would've expected. Instead, it was a lot of manipulating Katniss and making strategies. In other words, fairly dull.

By the end, I was sure there was no way for Collins to end the series that would make me happy. Other than an Orwellian ending, that is. I genuinely disliked every single (living) character by the end. (I actually liked most of the dead ones.) They were not the characters I'd watched develop over the course of the previous two novels. They were dry husks. And then came the ending. I can't help but feel that Collins sold out at the last minute. It was the final blow that sent my already weakened opinion of the book crumbling.

Slow start, intriguing middle, but then an utter flop at the end. I'm not quite sure what to think of it all still. However, Collins did succeed in one place. She incited passion in her readers, whether it be love, hate, joy or disappointment. It just so happens that for me, it's passionate disappointment.

3 stars

Show Your Love for Mockingjay

We are just three days out from one of the biggest literary events of the year: Mockingjay.

Whether on blogs, in the bookstore, or around Twitter or Facebook, you've probably seen a lot of talk about Mockingjay. For those of you who haven't read it (Why haven't you?!?!), it may all seem a bit odd. So let me just explain it for a moment. Mockingjay is the third (and final) book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. And, if you hadn't already gotten a sense of it, it's kind of a big deal.

The great thing about The Hunger Games is that everyone can read it. Seriously, anyone can read and love it! Girls and boys, teens and adults, students and teachers -- I've yet to give the book to someone who hasn't enjoyed it. In essence, it's sweeping the nation.

If you're still not sold, you can find my review of The Hunger Games here, as well as my review for the second book, Catching Fire, here. Just beware spoilers.

Now to the point of this post. As the release of Mockingjay grows ever nearer, you may be wondering, "How can I show my love?" Well, here are some ways you can give a little love to this epic trilogy:

Scholastic has set up an official page on Facebook devoted to The Hunger Games. Once you "like" the page, you'll get updates from them with special little treats, like interviews with Suzanne Collins, polls, and more.

This particular style is exclusively online.

Hot Topic has created a line of spiffy The Hunger Games-inspired t-shirts. Proclaiming messages like "Down with the Capitol" and "Girl on Fire," these shirts are sure to be a crowd pleaser for fans of the series. They are a great way to show your support of the series and let other readers know about Mockingjay. You can find all the shirts here. (Can you guess what I'll be wearing on Tuesday?)

P.S. Borders is also selling their own The Hunger Games shirt.

Like the shirts, this next item is another cool way to celebrate the release of Mockingjay. What better way to celebrate than with The Hunger Games board game? Entitled "Training Days," this game allows fans to play as tributes in the days leading up to The Hunger Games. I've yet to see the game in person, but have heard of reported sightings in my area. Needless to say, I'd like to get my hands on this game and see what it's all about. Here's the description from Amazon.com:

Coinciding with the release of the third book in the Hunger Games saga this fall, Training Days allows 2-6 players to follow in the footsteps of their favorite Tributes as they compete in the days leading up to the arena. Includes 18 Tribute Cards representing the female and male Tributes from 9 districts, a deck of 45 Challenge cards featuring: 24 Events, 8 Special Events, 10 Alliances, and 3 End of Day cards. Plus, Effort Tokens for each District, Approval Rating Score Board, and 6-sided dice.

I'm not sure about you, but it sounds pretty awesome to awesome to me!

Finally, there's the infamous Mockingjay pin. This symbol has appeared on all The Hunger Games' covers and plays an important role in the story, as a symbol of Katniss' rebellion. These pins, while not the greatest quality, were released last year when Catching Fire came out. You can find various versions of the pin online, but Borders carried a specific one, which I'm fairly sure you'll still be able to find in stores.

Now that you have some ideas, how are you planning to celebrate the release of Mockingjay?

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a weekly feature that spotlights the dazzling covers of upcoming YA novels. All of the featured covers are from my ever-growing wishlist of books. I hope you enjoy their covers as much as I do!

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Release: December 15, 2010

Synopsis:

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart. She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

Cover: I read an ARC of this wonderful book over the summer, after acquiring a copy at the Teen Author Carnival in NYC. The ARC cover was pretty enough, and up until a few days ago I'd been under the impression that it was the final cover. So, you can imagine my surprise when I saw that it was not in fact the cover and that they'd just revealed the new one. And while I liked the old one, I must say this one will appeal better to teens.

The ARC cover was a bit drab -- muted colors, sparse, simple-but-pretty design. I definitely think that the rich greens and fun paper dolls will catch teens attention better, which is a good thing because this book absolutely deserves to be read. Seriously, it is awesome. I also think that the paper dolls do a nice job of representing the story. The patched together doll in the center, along with the line beneath it, play right to the heart of this novel. My only concern is that it may be a tad too bright and colorful, making it look more middle grade than YA. Though that could just be me. Overall, I'd have to say I like this cover. It's not one of my favorites, but it will definitely catch your eye in stores.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Release: September 7, 2010

Source: BookExpo America

A hidden truth.

Mortal enemies.

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Fallen angels, fairies, zombies, unicorns, vampires, werewolves – the world of paranormal and fantasy literature has touched upon a plethora of supernatural creatures in recent years. Even so, there is still one creature that has been all but ignored in YA: Dragons.

That is, until now.

 In Firelight, Sophie Jordan tells the tale of a teenage dragon (or draki to be more specific).

When I first heard about the novel, I immediately wanted to read it. With dragons being virtually untapped in YA, there was so much potential for the novel. Romance, action, adventure – it could have it all. However, shortly after beginning the novel my interest began to wane.

I had a great deal of curiosity about the draki, their pride, and the abilities they possessed. Unfortunately, Jacinda and her family flee from the pride fairly early on in the novel, leaving behind the world that fascinated me. (Please note that when I first heard about this book, prior to BEA, the complete summary -- including the bit about Jacinda's family moving to the human world -- was not yet released.) While still interesting, it was not the story I had been expecting. Rather than being centered on the draki, the focus was on Jacinda learning to survive in the human world and making sense of her feelings for Will. This was not boring per se, just not what I had been expecting.

Overall, my biggest issue with Firelight was Jacinda. Her attraction to Will was something she was constantly battling with. She’d make up her mind with an air of finality, only to waffle a few pages later. While understandable in the beginning, after a while I just wanted her to make a decision and stick to it. This tendency to be indecisive popped up throughout the novel in other non-Will- related situations. From her family to her future, she just couldn’t seem to make a firm decision. Between this and her whining, she quickly got on my nerves.

I would not say Firelight was a disappointment, simply not what I’d been hoping for when I began reading. Judging by where this novel left off, though, it seems that the next novel in the series may be more on target with my previous assumptions. I guess we’ll have to see wait and see.

3 Stars

Karma Bites by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Release: August 16, 2010

Source: Author Request

Life seems to have it in for Franny Flanders.

Her best friends aren’t speaking, her parents just divorced, and her hippie grandmother has moved in. The only karma Franny’s got is bad karma.

Then Franny gets her hands on a box of magic recipes that could fix all of her problems. It could even change the world! Finally, life is looking up.

But Franny is about to learn that magic and karma aren’t to be played with. When you mess with the universe, it can bite back in unexpected ways.

Ouch!

When I was approached by author Stacy Kramer to review Karma Bites, the thing that first caught my attention was the comparison to Lizzy McGuire and Wizards of Waverly Place. As a fan of both shows, it sounded promising.

Honestly, if I had to describe this book in one word, it’d be fun. Franny has a big heart and genuinely wants to help, but the scheme’s she devises usually just end up blowing up in her face. It was the way that her high-jinks panned out that made Karma Bites such a sweet read. Yet even though the plot was more or less comedic, it’s still apparent while reading that there are deeper layers to the story. Franny’s grandmother, for example, has a great wealth of knowledge and, though sometimes fortune cookie-ish, is always there to throw in a wise proverb or remark. The blend of magic with karma (and other beliefs), all rolled into a hilarious junior high school setting made Karma Bites a cute, funny read with a great message at the center.

At times Franny’s school was a touch cliché, especially with the social order, but upon completing the book, I acknowledge that it was more or less necessary. The overdramatized cliques of the school lend themselves perfectly to Franny’s unfortunate friend situation.

Though slanted for middle grade, Karma Bites will definitely appeal to young adult readers. Throughout the entirety of the novel I had to remind myself over and over again that Franny was in fact only twelve. Yes, she is impulsive and prone to preteen delusions, but she gives off a definite teen vibe. From her thoughts to the problems she faces, she’s far beyond her twelve years. Similarly, those surrounding her also gave off a mature vibe. I mean, they’re reading Beowulf in seventh grade. Beowulf!

Despite my opinion that the book had a more YA feel, I would not change the aging of the characters whatsoever. Franny may have felt older than her supposed age, but it never became a bother. Kramer and Thomas wrote her character wonderfully. They balanced her maturity with the carefree daydreaming of a tween. Because of this, I know I could easily hand the book off to my eleven-year-old sister and be secure in the knowledge that she’d enjoy it just as much as I did. There’s a little something for everyone, ensuring that Karma Bites will appeal to a large audience, from preteens to adults.

3.25 stars!  

Chick Lit Teens is now on Facebook!

Last week I (finally) set up a Chick Lit Teens page on Facebook. This is something I've been meaning to do ever since I closed down the official Chick Lit Teens Facebook account due to a lack of activity. It is my hope that with this new page, readers can get more updates on all the YA goodness. I may even be hosting some exclusive Facebook giveaways on there.

That said, if you're a fan of the blog and on Facebook, you can "like" the page here. I promise not to inundate your News Feed with trivial updates. Instead, I will be sharing new blog posts, reviews, contests, and more every few days. All of which I hope you'll be interested in. It's going to be a great way to stay up-to-date with the blog!

Also, don't forget you can find Chick Lit Teens on Twitter as well!

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a weekly feature that highlights the dazzling covers of upcoming YA titles on my ever-growing wishlist.

This week, I am very excited to share with you the AMAZING cover of one of my most anticipated reads of 2011 (why yes, I have planned that far) from one of my favorite authors. Drum roll, please...

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard!

Release: August 2011

Synopsis: 

Eighteen year old Lexi Wentworth is cursed. For as long as she can remember, she’s spent every night swimming. If she doesn’t, she’ll regret it—simply walking will be agony, as if she’s stepping on shattered glass. Her body craves the water, demands the water, until she can’t say no.

But it's not the swimming that troubles Lexi. It’s the singing that goes with it.When she turned sixteen, her siren song killed the only boy she's ever loved. Now, she avoids the popular shores of the Pacific in favor of a long forgotten lake up in the mountains, where she can swim and sing in peace, far from the population of her oceanside home.

Until, that is, Troy Mills discovers her lake. He’s new to Lincoln City High, and he doesn’t know about Lexi’s reputation as an ice queen—a reputation she’s carefully cultivated to keep everyone around her safe. He pushes her, talks to her, forces her to dream of what life could be like if she weren’t a siren.

Lexi can’t stop herself from warming to him, from falling for him. Soon, he’s demanding answers, following her to the lake, unknowingly risking his life. How can she keep him safe when the one thing she wants most--to hold him close-- will endanger his life?

Cover: Eeek! I have been looking forward to this book ever since I first heard about it on Mandy's blog (this was before it's sale). There are so many things to love (a) it's by Mandy, who is one of the first authors I ever talked with after starting my blog, (b) it's about a mermaid and now, (c) it has a freaking awesome cover!

As soon as I saw this cover I fell in love. The colors are absolutely stunning. The storm clouds gathering at the top of it give the cover a moody, intense feel and the bright pop of blue from the water, fading into the clouds, is gorgeous. The colors contrast fabulously, making the whole cover eye-catching. And if that were not enough, the positioning of the models only adds to the mysterious turmoil exuding from this cover. I particularly like the look of wonder in the girls eyes, as if she can't quite believe the guy is there. It's a great depiction of the story. Finally, the faint hint of scales blooming just beneath the hem of the girl's dress is brilliant. This is one of those covers that grabs you the minute you see it; one of my favorites for sure.

What's Your St@tus Giveaway WINNER

It's time to announce the winner of the What's Your St@tus? giveaway! The lucky reader who wins will receive a Top 8 prizepack -- including Top 8 and What's Your St@tus? by Katie Finn. And that lucky reader is....

ChickLitGirl!

To enter, she had to tweet about what her prom dress looked like. Here's what she said:

"I wore a floor length, red dress, to Prom, with rhinestones scattered about the neckline. It was sleeveless and beautiful!"

The dress sounds absolutely lovely! Congratulations, ChickLitGirl!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Release: March 16, 2010

Source: Purchased

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

The Body Finder was like a hybrid of chick lit, murder mystery, paranormal, and thriller. Never before have I read a book that can send chills up my spine with one page and melt my heart with the next.

Initially, I thought that The Body Finder was going to be a paranormal read. A girl who can see imprints of murder – it screams paranormal thriller. To my surprise, however, it ended up being equal parts romance and mystery. Derting did not heap on the paranormal. If anything, Violet’s world was perfectly normal. Her stumbling upon dead things was just an annoying part of her life. The absence of a heavy paranormal atmosphere greatly improved my opinion of the book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a great murder mystery, and I was so glad to see Derting play up the mystery and play down the paranormal aspects (though they were still present and important to the story).

It is scary how perfectly Derting writes from the view of the predator. She gets into his mind so well that it literally chilled me. The memory of those short interludes stuck in my head for days after I finished reading. Every teenage girl should read this book, if only to remind them how important it is to stay safe and be alert of their surroundings.

Then, on the other end of the spectrum, there’s Jay. His and Violet’s romance provided a lighter undercurrent to the otherwise frightening plot. The dynamic of their friends-turned-something-more relationship was wonderfully written and intriguing to read. Had the mystery not been gripping enough, their romance would’ve kept me reading late into the night. Their romance was positively swoon-worthy.

With its unique blend of romance and thrilling mystery, The Body Finder will appeal to all readers. It’ll have you glued to your seat for hours, eager to find out what happens with Violet and Jay and the killer that stalks the town. This is an absolute must-read!

5 stars!