Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks

Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel And Friends
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256


Summary: In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

My Thoughts: Since it’s been awhile since I read the first book I had to try to remember what happened. I knew there was a cliffhanger, but thats about it.

Once I dove into Of Triton I was right back there with Emma and her confusing life. She just found out that her mom is a Poseidon Princess. Except now her mom wants to run because too many people know about her. Emma doesn’t want to leave Galen but what choice does she have? She’s her mother!

Emma and her mom are on the run for about 50 pages with Galen and his family tracking them. They need to convince them of some things, and it isn’t going to be easy.

I feel like if I say anything, it will give so much of the plot away so I’ll just say a little bit. Emma is just a half breed and Galen isn’t supposed to with her. Emmas mom goes through a lot of surprises and its funny yet heartbreaking yet crazy.

Galen and Rayna coming into some powers, how awesome is that? They won’t be so ordinary anymore, like they were anyway, right?

I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t as good as the first but it was still awesome. I still have so many questions though. And I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

Overall: Enjoyed it alot. As much as I enjoyed Of Poseidon and was anxiously awaiting this one, I wasn’t as drawn to it as much. It’s still a good read and I’m excited to get the third one! Hopefully there is one!

Cover: Like it! Like how they are standing there, and I like the blue background for the water.

What I'd Give It:

The Rules by Stacey Kade

The Rules by Stacey Kade

Release Date: April 23, 2013

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 416

Summary: 1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

My Thoughts: I liked this one a lot, but there were some parts that I had trouble really getting into it.

We are introduced to Ariane who isn’t exactly human. She spent the first few years of her life in a room being studied. Not much fun for a kid. She could move things with her mind and do other things, and the people who kept her wanted her to do bigger things with her gifts. Until one day she breaks out with the help of one of the guys inside. He becomes her “father” and takes care of her.

Until she is a teenager and things start to go haywire. She has a best friend named Jenna and she will do anything to protect the ones she cares about. Jenna is being picked on by a girl Ariane despises so she tries to stick up for Jenna but in the process she unleashes some strange things, like the lights flickering.

And then there is Zane. Sweet sweet Zane. Zane sees something in Ariane nobody else does. She mysterious but not like any of other girls so Zane wants to learn more about her.

I think Zane and Ariane were sweet together. I liked the way they interacted. They never judged one another. They had chemistry.

Ariane has always been in the shadows, hiding. She can’t let the people who kept her before find her. She has to live a somewhat boring life and not stand out.

This one was kind of crazy, but in a good way. I enjoyed it quite a bit. There were a few times things got too detailed about what was going on with the experiments and I wasn't too fascinated with it but overall I really liked the story.

And the ending, now I want the next book in the series. I must find out what happens next.

Overall: Liked it alot. I also read one of Kade’s other books and enjoyed it so I was hoping I’d also like this one and I did!

Cover: Its cute! Love how we can see both a girl and guy. Cute and appealing cover.

What I’d Give It:

Sky On Fire (Monument 14 #2) by Emmy Laybourne

Sky On Fire (Monument 14 #2) by Emmy Laybourne
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel And Friends
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 224

Summary: The world hasn't ended...yet.

In this sequel to MONUMENT 14, the group of survivors, originally trapped together in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their recently repaired school bus for the Denver airport where they hope to reunite with their parents, be evacuated to safety, and save their dying friend.

But the world outside is dark and filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters, and not all the kids were willing to get on the bus. Left behind in a sanctuary that has already been disturbed once, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. But when the issues are life and death, love and hate, who can you really trust?

My Thoughts: It took me a few minutes to get into this one. Partly because I couldn’t really remember all the characters. There were a bunch and I’ve read like a million books since than. Not really a million but quite a few!

We are back with Dean and his brother and the other kids in Monument 14.  Some of the kids are still in the store while some are on their way to Denver to get help.

Man, this one was just as crazy as the first. We know how dangerous it is to go outside, the air is horrible and depending on their blood types crazy things can and do happen.

This one goes back and forth between the kids on the bus and the kids still in the store. We learn so much more about each character and we see them interact together.  Things aren’t pretty.

I still love all the characters and I think the plot is still interesting. We see how much more they struggle in this one, and that ending. Man, another ending that makes me want to read the next book.

This one was also really short. They are books I just fly right through.

Now what? I get stuck waiting again for the next one!!!

Overall: Really enjoyed it! The ending had a lot of moments that almost brought tears to my eyes. Happy moments, sad moments, crazy moments. If you read Monument 14, don’t forget to pick this one up to continue!

Cover: It’s alright. It’s so dark!

What I’d Give It:

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288  

Summary: Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send."

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look.

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn't always tell the whole story.

My Thoughts: I was so excited to read this one! I love Brown’s books and am always excited to see her release more!

We are introduced to Ashleigh who is in high school. She likes to run, has a great mom and dad, and has an amazing boyfriend named Kaleb. She has a best friend, and a group of friends that make everything fun. Her life is pretty good.

One day at a party, a pool party, she decides she wants to send Kaleb a picture so he won’t forget her. He’s going off to college real soon. Yes, it is that kind of picture. So she gets over her nerves, and snaps away and sends it via text message.  Full frontal, naked.

Of course he’s thrilled about it. Until he actually goes off to college and realizes he’s just not into the way things are anymore and wants a change. In the process he really hurts her, things are said, and he ends up forwarding the picture on. Many many people see it.

Ashleigh is in a lot of trouble. Not just with her friends and the general public, but with her parents and the police as well. Everyone is mean to her. Everyone harasses her. Her parents are upset with her. Her parents jobs are on the line. Her whole life goes from great to horrible in a matter of seconds really.

She gets sentenced to community service and we see what she has to go through. We get to experience what that is like. She also meets a few new people there, one of which is Mack. Mack was such a wonderful character and I loved learning more about him and his past. For me, he was the bright light in this dark tunnel.

I loved the interactions between Ashleigh and Mack. I loved this book so hard! It was such a serious topic and crazy but it was explained perfectly. This is real life, it could actually happened and has many times.

Brown always takes these serious subjects and expands on them and really makes you take a deeper look and really think about it.

I have to say this is probably my favorite book up to date by Brown. But all of her books are awesome.

Overall: AMAZING! Loved it! Even though at times it was hard for Ashleigh, I enjoyed reading her story and what she had to overcome.  Great story.

Cover: I really like it too. It would draw me in at the bookstore. Enough to pick it up and take it home with me to read. 

What I'd Give It:

Rules Of Summer by Joanna Philbin

Rules Of Summer by Joanna Philbin

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Poppy

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 352

Summary:THE RULES OF SUMMER is about two 17 year-old girls living in the same beachfront mansion in East Hampton for the summer, one “upstairs” (the daughter of a very blue-blooded family) and one “downstairs” (the niece of the family’s housekeeper.) Isabel is the privileged daughter who’s used to having guys fall at her feet. Rory is the no-nonsense girl from a small New Jersey town who’s always been the friend, never the girlfriend.  Besides becoming each other’s unlikely allies, both Rory and Isabel have a summer romance that will change their lives.

My Thoughts: I’m one of these people who don’t like it when the perspectives switch back and forth, especially without really telling us. And this book did that, a lot. It did bug me a little bit.

We are introduced to Isabel who is the rich families daughter. She is used to getting what she wants when she wants it. Guys fall at her feet, she never really has to second guess anything.

The other girl in this novel, my favorite, is Rory. Rory comes from another town where she lives with her mother who is like a child. Rory takes care of her more than she should.

Rory goes to spend the summer helping her aunt and waiting on this family. Shes supposed to do errands and just do whatever needs done. Rory thought this could be an opportunity to get away from her mother and see something new.

Rory and Isabel form a complicated and great friendship. It starts out rocky at first but it got interesting to say the least. Both girls also meet guys. Isabel likes a older guy who is a surfer, while Rory likes Isabel's brother Conner.

I really really liked Conner. He is what made the story for me. I just wish we had got to see him more and got to interact more.

This is the story of self discovery, and seeing how the other half lives.  I loved Rory as a character and I did like the plot.

Overall: I enjoyed reading it. I thought there would be more rivalry or more scandal but there wasn't too much. Don’t get me wrong, there was some but nothing I found too thrilling or surprising.  I enjoyed it but not a favorite I guess.

Cover: Its alright, but it doesn’t really stand out, you know? 

What I'd Give It: