Teen Channel Reviews

Review: 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

2010-06-22T15:05:00.001-06:00

13 to Life by Shannon Delany
St. Martin's Press
June 22nd, 2010
Young Adult & Paranormal
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-60914-6
Available formats: Ebook, Paperback - Pages: 320

Purchase links: Goodreads, Amazon, Author website
Check out my giveaway of 13 to Life here!

Book provided by publisher for this review.

Book Description:

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

My thoughts…

Jessie likes to keep to herself yet that doesn’t keep her from daydreaming about her crush, Derek. Ever since the night she’s lost her mother to careless accident, Jessie keeps her days busy taking care of her family and friends. No, Jessie doesn’t care much for changes… But fortunately for her life never asked for her what she wants.

Then like magic a new family moves to Junction and Jessie meets the new guy Pietr Rusakova. Jessie is forced to be the tour guide for Pietr. For some reason there is just something about Pietr that drives her crazy. The sparks are there every time Jessie and Pietr meet face to face. Who could blame a girl when she tries to win over the new hottie of Junction High?

Jessie does just about everything she can to dissuade Pietr from falling for her. Even so far to get Pietr to go for her friend Sarah who’s seems to be crushing on him.

Things get weirder and stranger occurrences just keep on happening around Jessie and Pietr. What are the real secrets surrounding Pietr and his family. There is also the secret of Jessie and her family. I think the key to discovering Jessie’s could possibly be her mother. Unfortunately for Jessie and us her mother is not alive to tell no one.

I love this! I truly love 13 to Life. Definitely a smash hit and the must read book of this summer 2010! Who could not love the angst and drama going on between the Jessie, Pietr and Sarah love triangle. One other potential couple… Max and Amy… I actually LOL when Max was showing Pietr just how to let a girl know a guy is interested in her. What happens next is one of the best OMG moments ever. Way to go, Amy, lol! If you read only one book this summer than let it be 13 to Life by Shannon Delany. You will not be disappointed..

I give 13 to Life a rating of 5 out of 5 Pink Kittens!

Review by

Veronica

Review: Pixie Dust by Henry Melton

2010-06-22T11:35:00.000-06:00

Pixie Dust by Henry Melton
Publisher: Wire Rim Books
April 1, 2010
ISBN-10: 0980225388
ISBN-13: 978-0980225389
Available Formats: Ebook, Paperback
Purchase Links: Goodreads, Amazon, Author website
For Readers 14+

Book provided by author for this review.

Book Description:

Jenny Quinn’s life was on course for her advanced physics degree until a lab experiment in vacuum decay turned her life upside down. With career hopes destroyed and her professor dead in an unexplained fall, she is forced to cope with a strange change in her own body. With nothing but her own resources, a childhood infatuation with old comic books may be her only guide to help solve the twin mysteries of cutting edge physics and the murder of her professor, before one or the other puzzle gets her killed.

My thoughts...

After a strange yet slow building beginning… Pixie Dust picks up quickly with the non-stop action. Jenny's life changes and not for the good when her professor inexplicably dies after a mysterious fall. She finds herself in a world of trouble. Jenny learns how hard it is to find someone she can trust. Jenny turns to her an old obsession... Comic book and clues to help her solve the mystery of her professor’s death.

Henry Melton is one creative and wildly entertaining author. Never knew how and why authors can drag out the storyline in the beginning… now I do… That is how they get readers sucked in, forcing them to keep on reading the very end.

I admit ... I was wondering why Henry was giving us such a slow start. Then it literally hit me… That was Henry's plan all along to tease me with this and keep me from letting this book go. Boy, am I ever glad I did not give up reading Pixie Dust.

The action, the suspense, and the romance between Shawn and Jenny are just what every reader can wish for in a book.

Thanks to Henry for sending me another of his awesome novels and once again giving me another chance to review them.

I hope this will be a good enough review for my blog readers to check out Pixie Dust and many of Henry Melton’s wonderful selection of books.

I give Pixie Dust a rating 4 out 5 Pink Kittens!

Book reviewed by:

Veronica

13 to Life by Shannon Delany Book Giveaway!!

2010-06-17T15:16:00.002-06:00

Hey all. Its been a while. Sorry for being away. But I am back with a new giveaway!

I have (1) Copy of 13 to Life by Shannon Delany to giveaway.

To enter all you have to do is be a blog minion. +4

Tweet the following message: +5

I just enter to win 13 to Life by Shannon Delany at #TeenChannelReviews http://bit.ly/9mkJjW

Blog, Facebook or any other social networks for +4

Become a facebook fan for +5 here

Add all points including this for +1

The giveaway is open to all including those living outside of the U.S and this will end July 10th 2010.

New Trailer:

2010-06-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

The Official Trailer for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

Episode Review: Pretty Little Liars

2010-06-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

I am newbie when it comes to the Pretty Little Liars series and have never heard of this series until I first saw the promo to television series…

This is my first television review. I hope that you will all enjoy this.

Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk

Pretty Little Liars premiered tonight on
ABC Family Channel.
June 8th 2010

Theme song: Secrets by The Pierces

Meet The Ladies of Rosewood

Don’t Trust Me is playing out the background while it was a dark and stormy night. Four friends are sitting around and hear a noise. They get up and head over to see who it is…

Cue Alison. Girls screamed as Ally jumps out in front of them.

“Friends keep secrets… that are what keeps up close.” says Alison.

The next shot is one of the friends wake up. “Where are Ali and Spencer?”

Spencer walks into the guest house and tells us the friends Ali’s gone and she’s looked everywhere for Ally. Spencer thinks she heard a scream.

One year later. . . . .

Seems like that girls are not the only one that have been keeping secrets… Ali has still been missing and Aria returns with her family and move back into town.

Aria hooks up with a stranger who shockingly turns out to be her new English teacher. *GASP* And what is even more shocking is that Aria after she discovers who her new teacher is, immediately after, Aria receives a text from “Ali”

I am impressed with the awesome job with the storyline and fresh new talent these girls have. The performances rock and love the mystery that surrounds the girls.

Definitely look forward to unraveling the mystery of behind Ali’s disappearance and murder. The foursome girls all have secrets that they would rather not the world know about it and major props to the writer for giving us the chance by letting us know bit by bit about the characters secrets. Pretty Little Liars is definitely not people of all ages.

With that said can I say that I loved that kiss between Ezra and Aria.

Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hanna all have done things that would shock many.

Questions I thought of…
Who the hell was Ali?

Why was she the way she was?
Whose life did she push too far for Ali to lose her life like this?
What else has Hanna’s mother done to protect her?
Who’s Jenna?
And finally if Ali is really dead… Then who is behind the notes and text messages.

What an awesome way to end the premiere with this quote:

I’m still here, bitches and I know everything.

I rate tonight episode a 4 out of 5 Pinkys

Songs played in tonight’s episode:
Artist: 3OH!3
Song: "Don't Trust Me"

Artist: Colbie Caillat
Song: "I Won’t"

Artist: Ben's Brother
Song: "Beauty Queen"

Artist: The Fray
Song: "Happiness"

Artist: Mozella
Song: "More Of You"

Artist: Michael Rossback
Song: "When Love Goes Well"

Artist: Overnight Lows
Song: "I Got Up"

Artist: Orelia
Song: "Suggestions"

Teen Channel Reviews welcomes Shannon Delany's Start Your Day with Serial Tour!!

2010-06-04T05:52:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Shannon Delany's Start Your Day with Serial Tour!

Shannon's debut novel (and first in her YA paranormal series) 13 to Life started as a winning cell phone novel written in serial segments. During the tour you can read bits of the book in order. Miss a day? Hop to Shannon's blog http://13toLife.us/blog and check the link to the blog tour calendar in her sidebar.

There will also be a contest that will close at the end of the tour. Winners get a bunch of stuff.

When did you first decide on becoming an author?

I’ve always wanted to pursue writing (and art) but only recently began being somewhat serious by picking up freelancing jobs. As much as I wanted it, I didn’t decide on it at some specific point—I think it was a desire for self expression that just grew.

Was it hard choosing a genre when you first began your writing career?

The genre sort of chose me. I’m currently most comfortable writing with a YA voice and (as for the paranormal) weird stuff tends to happen around me.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Mercedes Lackey, Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, Maria V. Snyder, Ann Aguirre, Jim Butcher, Anne McCaffrey and Jeri Smith-Ready.

Can you tell us a bit on how 13 to Life and how you came up with it?

13 to Life is a story of teenage love, loss and—oh, yeah—werewolves. It’s not meant to be this heavy paranormal story when our narrator, Jessie, first starts to realize what’s going on around her. It walks readers into the world Jessie’s seeing open up as she sees it open. It’s very much a story of teens, family and real world trouble that deepens into trouble of a paranormal sort as the story progresses. It all developed very organically (written “by the seat of my pants” as some authors say). Two thoughts simply bumped together in my head and I gave that seed room to germinate.

How did you find out that your book was going to get published?

My agent, Stan Soper, told me that one of the editors who was interested in the book wanted to talk to me on the phone. That was probably when it first hit me that the book was very close to getting contracted. I mean, we’d been talking to a few people, but that made it suddenly real.
Who was the first person you told that your book was going to be published?

Wow. I don’t remember. It was probably a girl who was my best friend at the time (because my husband would have been at work). But I might have called him to interrupt anyhow. Huh. I just don’t remember who got the call first.

Are you working on anything right now and if your are... Can you tell us a bit about?

I’m getting ready to finish the first real draft of book 3 in the 13 to Life series. I’ve had a rough draft sitting around for months now but needed time to get back to it. As soon as that’s done it’ll be time for something completely different.

Would you ever, if given the chance... would you ever work with and write a novel with one of your fellow authors?

Maybe, but it would have to be a very unique situation. I get a bit control freaky about things. ;-)

and if you would... who would you like to work with?

Ann Aguirre. I think we’d work well together. Ann and I both fast-drafted novels together (where you write a rough draft in 2 weeks) and when I’m really freaked about something in publishing she’s one of the first people I contact. She’s simply wonderful (and if I was being stupid, I think she’d tell me).

What do you consider some of the harder parts of being a published author?

Finding time to write while trying to promote a book’s release. It’s like there’s never enough time in the day!

What are some of great things about being a published author?

Almost everything’s great about getting published (but I’m repeatedly told I’m one of the lucky few—there are some horror stories out there)!

What do you do on your free time? Do you have any free time?

Ha! Barely! Free time is time I veg out and just let my mind wander and my eyes and ears observe. It’s time I spend refilling my creative well.

What is one thing that always manages to relax you?

Being alone in a quiet house with a few spare moments to let my mind wander to fantastic places I’m writing or will be writing soon.

For information on the previous section, visit Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm! http://fayeflamereviews.blogspot.com/

13 to Life: Chapter 3, part C (used with the author’s permission)

He had dumped that prima donna Jenny… Everyone knew there was nothing to her but bleach, makeup and some well-structured bras. Maybe Derek realized he wanted a more complete package — someone with a brain. But in the back of my head a voice kept whispering, Does it matter why he’s interested? Be happy he's actually interested!

________________________________________________

Shannon's hosting several contests during the Start Your Day with Serial Tour. The big contest will award one lucky winner with a royal amber pendant, pietersite jeweled bookmark, stuffed wolf, 13 to Life mousepad, pen, tote, signed poster, personalized copy of 13 to Life and both of the 13 to Life pins. All you need to do is comment at 13 of the blogs hosting Shannon during her 30 day tour. Everyone who does so will be entered into a random drawing. Winner may be international.

Shannon Delany info and links:

My main site: http://shannondelany.com/
My main blog: http://13toLife.us/blog
The 13 to Life Series Website: http://13tolifeseries.com/
Link to massive list of where you can buy 13 to Life online: http://tinyurl.com/BuyLinks

Serial Tour participants, the first excerpt Shannon's sharing with everyone on this blog tour can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/13toLifePro12 (scroll down a smidge). Each day throughout the month of June Shannon is at another blog or site sharing another serial bit of her story. If you follow along and comment as you go, not only are you entered for great prizes, but also you'll get to read the:

Prologue, Chapter 1, 2 and most of 3 of 13 to Life for free! Watch http://Twitter.com/Shannon_Delany to know where to hop to next!

Remember to follow the tour each day throughout June to read the next section of 13 to Life free and online!

Wanna just commit and buy? Awesome! Here's a list of places you can go and place your order! Right now (early June) Book Depository appears to have the best deal--if you wanna wait until August for the book! So check out your choices carefully and I hope you love the book!

Winners Annoucement -- Did you win??

2010-04-18T20:12:00.016-06:00

So very sorry for the delay. Anyway, here are the list of winners posted below!

The winner of the choose your book (The Iron King or The Body Finder) is...

Kirthi

For The Body Finder Gift Pack giveaway.

The Three winners of the signed poster and book marks are:

mBlogger, Brodie and Kate

The Grand Prize winner is....

Anya..

Congratulations to the winners...

Please send me a email at

theteenchannelreviews at gmail dot com

with your addresses and on the subject line the book or prize you've won.

Thanks to you all for making this awesome!

I will be adding a new giveaway this weekend. So please get your top three choices.. You never know, you just might win them.

Book Review: Extreme Makeover by Henry Melton

2010-04-04T15:04:00.000-06:00

Extreme Makeover by Henry Melton

Wire Rim Books

July 2008

YA Science Fiction

Ebook & Paperback, 336 pages

ISBN: 0980225329

ISBN13: 9780980225327

Purchasing Links & Info: Author site, Goodreads, Amazon

Book provided by author for this book review

Book Description:

High school senior Deena Brooke struggled to make sense of the impossible changes to her body, grateful for the interest Luther Jennings had in her puzzling insights and quirky urges, until she discovered that he was hiding a deadly secret of his own. What could she do about this unseen influence that was changing her into something else, and was Luther helping her or dragging her into his criminal scam?

Henry Melton, who brought you the award-winning Emperor Dad, crafts a tale of invasive nanobots with an alien agenda in the the dark towering redwood forests of far northern California.

My Thoughts

On what was suppose to be ordinary school field trip; Deena Brooke has an accident that changes her life forever. It doesn't help Deena having to deal with her overprotective mother. Yet despite the changes and a smothering mother, she befriends the mysterious new guy Luther Jennings. Deena has no clue the she isn't the only one good at keeping secrets.

Extreme Makeover is a heck of a lot more than just the changes Deena Brooke is going through. This tale has all the makings of movie on the big screen. There's little aliens, mobsters, car chases and no one is really who they pretend to be.

The mini romantic moments between Luther and Deena are just perfect. They make each other want to lose control when they get together on their road trip. It’s true what they; guys love to make good girls go bad.

Luther has kept himself two steps ahead of the dangerous men out to get him. He didn’t count on befriending loner Deena Brooke. He doesn’t want to make any connection with anyone but it may just be too late for that as he fights and defends the girl who soon becomes more than he ever wanted. She is nothing like any girl he has ever met before.

There is just nothing that will make Deena turn away from Luther. She knows that whatever fate has in store for them will be worth it.

The secondary characters mix well with the leading female/male characters. Just like the tiny little aliens in Extreme Makeover. These aliens make their presence known; whether the host wants to hear them or not.

Extreme Makeover started off slow but this just a ploy of seduction created by the author. And won’t let you let go until you become hooked.

I want; I really want to write more. I just cannot. Extreme Makeover is just something you have to read for yourself so you can see how wonderful this tale is.

Extreme is a love story with characters that are tired of hiding out and realize what they stand to lose if they don’t make a stand.

I rate Extreme Makeover 4 PinKs.

Book review by

Veronica
© Teen Channel Reviews 2010

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Giveaway - Now Closed

2010-03-16T11:14:00.007-06:00

Hey all! Its The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Release Day!

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 that 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 the 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.

Now you may be wondering why I am doing another post on Kimberly's novel. Well I just recently became a part of Kimberly Derting's street team. And I have some wonderful goodies to share with a few of you.

You'll be enter in a drawing to win one of three signed The Body Finder posters by Kimberly Derting and some TBF bookmarks.

And one of you win a grand prize package consisting of a signed The Body Finder poster, a book bag with the BF logo, an extra copy of the Body Finder for you to keep or giveaway to friend or family

Also included a copy of @KimberlyRPauley 'Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, teen vampire (maybe)'

And also a copy of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins @LadyHawkins and TBF bookmarks.

For every person who buys and sends me proof of purchase email of The Body Finder to

theteenchannelreviews at gmail dot com (black out sensitive material) +50

+5 Tweet message

I just entered to win The Body Finder Gift Pack giveaway at #TeenChannelReviews @KimberlyDerting http://bit.ly/8XaUPf

+5 Share this giveaway promo on your blog, facebook, etc.. (leave link on the comment section below)

+4 For each twitter follower @theteenchannel @KimberlyDerting @LadyHawkins

+10 Picture of you and your copy of The Body Finder

+7 Old Blog Follower

+3 New Blog Follower

+25 For each person who gets Kimberly Derting, Kimberly R Pauley and/or Rachel Hawkins To leave a comment on this post.
And +1 for adding up your points.
Thanks and Good Luck! Everyone is welcome to enter! (international too!) Contest ending on April 4th.

Taylor Swift & Zombie Parody

2010-03-15T11:23:00.000-06:00

#JAPM Paranormal Promo:

This song is now available on itunes! http://tinyurl.com/justazombie
Please comment, rate, favorite and subscribe for more home-made song parodies. http://www.vprincess.com/ http://www.twitter.com/vprincess

This song is now available on itunes!

http://tinyurl.com/justazombie

Please comment, rate, favorite and subscribe for more home-made song parodies. http://www.vprincess.com

http://www.twitter.com/vprincess

Check out my album available on itunes! http://bit.ly/girlitunes

Special thanks to Ryan for starring in this as Paul. Hes coming close to becoming the #1 most subscribed person of all time, so please subscribe to his channel:

http://www.youtube.com/nigahiga

Original spoof music by the amazing Steve Goldstein

http://www.myspace.com/frontlightfailure

Twilight Thursdays - World Premiere Eclipse Trailer

2010-03-11T08:05:00.000-06:00

Here you go, Twilighters! The World Premiere

Trailer

ECLIPSE

New Spotlight - The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

2010-03-10T10:06:00.000-06:00

Romance; Juvenile Fiction - Girls & Women
· Delacorte Books for Young Readers
· Hardcover · March 9, 2010 · $17.99
· 978-0-385-73684-8 (0-385-73684-3)
Also available as an unabridged audio CD, unabridged audiobook download, eBook and a hardcover library binding.

About this Book From Goodreads

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Eclipse Teaser - 10 Seconds of Awesomeness!

2010-03-10T09:08:00.000-06:00

Watch a :10 preview of the new trailer for

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.

The full trailer will be available tomorrow (3/11)

In THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge.

In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Edward and Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf.

With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.

Two Authors Spotlight of the Month & International Giveaway (Now Closed)

2010-03-01T13:52:00.005-06:00

Hey all! Can't believe how fast February flew past us. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Enough chit chat! I know you all don't want to read about me. I am going to chose two book choices for you to pick this month. The winner will chose pick the book of their choice.

First up:

The Iron King By Julie Kagawa

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY— ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Read an excerpt of the Iron King here.

Next Choice is The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the 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.

To enter and international entries are allowed as well.

----- UPDATED ----

Post your tweet link you post in the comment section when you tweet either one of these message.

+5
I just entered to win The Iron King By Julie Kagawa at #teenchannelreviews http://bit.ly/9tMBmF @Jkagawa

+5
I just entered to win The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting at #teenchannelreviews http://bit.ly/9tMBmF @kimberlyderting

+3 Be a blog follower

+2 Post a suggestion for next month's giveaway.

Don't forget to post your tweet links in the comment section and of course you can tweet as much and everyday if you like.

Winner of Gone by Lisa McMann Announced

2010-03-01T13:07:00.000-06:00

I just to thank everyone who entered. Got lot more entries this time! An astounding 354 entries.

The winner was picked from random.org generator -- entry #183

Winner is donnas!!

donnas if you can please send me reply below with your email and I will get in touch with you shortly.

Thank you all who enter.. I will be posting my new monthly giveaway in shortly. Hope you will continue to enter and visit my blog!

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey (ARC Review)

2010-03-01T08:43:00.004-06:00

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
Little, Brown and Company
April 2010
ISBN 978-0-316-04430-1
Received ARC copy for review by the publisher
Be aware this review might contain book spoilers

Description from author's website:

In less than a day I had been harassed, enchanted, shouted at, cried on, and clawed. I’d been cold, scared, dirty, exhausted, hungry, and miserable. And up until now, I’d been mildly impressed with my ability to cope.

At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline. Then everything changes: In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting.

Debut author Karen Healey introduces a savvy and spirited heroine with a strong, fresh voice. Full of deliciously creepy details, this unique, incredible adventure is a deftly crafted story of Māori mythology, romance, betrayal, and war.

My Thoughts...

Ellie Spenser is just like any other teenager. She hangs out with her best friend Kevin while secretly crushing on the mysterious bad boy at her boarding school. Her biggest worries are getting her assignments done on time to be turned.

As fast as hat drop to ground, everything changes around Ellie and not necessary in a good way. An unusual foggy woods close by the school hides something ancient and quite dangerous.

The mysterious bad boy, Mark seems to be everywhere Ellie is. She can’t help but become even more obsessed about Mark. Then there is Reka who is so strange and does whatever it takes to lure Kevin away from those closest to him. Ellie sense something is definitely right with Reka as she tries to get Kevin away from her.

Just when Ellie doesn’t things cannot get any worse, it gets even more dangerous. Ellie knows that there is a connection between Mark and Reka but she gets no help from Mark when she confronts him.

Ellie does her research and discovers just who Mark and Reka really are. An epic battle is heading there way and Ellie must find the courage within if she expects to survive.

A wonderful and crafty novel that is full of mystery and action with the epic love story mixed in. I have to hand it to Karen Healey, she throw my world upside with her Guardian of the Dead novel.

Ellie is strong and determined young woman who sets out to save the world from what’s coming while trying to find some time to spend with her new love Mark who is completely not what he seems. Ellie soon realizes she will have to go to hell and back in order to save the day.

I really want to say more, seriously!!! Yet I know if I do I would only let out the secrets of Guardian of the Dead and ruin it for lots of potential readers.

I give Guardian of the Dead a 4 PK's rating.

Book reviewed by:

Veronica
Teen Channel Reviews

Thursday Spotlight - Hourglass by Claudia Gray

2010-02-18T14:45:00.000-06:00

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters.

Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands.

But when Black Cross captures her friend...the vampire Balthazar...hiding is no longer an option.

Sneak Peaks | Prologue | Chapter 1 |

To find out more about The Evernight series and Claudia Gray here:

www.harperteen.com/claudiagray

Hourglass Claudia Gray Book Trailer

Sunday's Spotlight -- Spells by Aprilynne Pike

2010-02-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

Spells
By Aprilynne Pike
Price: $16.99
On Sale: 5/4/2010
Hardcover | E-Book
ISBN: 9780061668067
ISBN10: 0061668060

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Saturday's Spotlight -- The Vampire Diaries:The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith

2010-02-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

The Vampire Diaries: The Return
Shadow Souls
Price: $17.99
On Sale: 3/16/2010
Hardcover | E-Book
608 Pages
ISBN: 9780061720819
ISBN10: 006172081X;

On the run . . .

Elena Gilbert's love, the vampire Stefan Salvatore, has been captured and imprisoned by demonic spirits who are wreaking havoc in Fell's Church. While her friends Bonnie and Meredith explore the evil that has taken over their town, Elena goes in search of Stefan.

In order to find him, she entrusts her life to Stefan's brother, Damon Salvatore, the handsome but deadly vampire who wants Elena, body and soul. Along with her childhood friend Matt, they set out for the slums of the Dark Dimension, where Stefan is being held captive. It is rumored to be a world where vampires and demons roam free, but humans must live enslaved to their supernatural masters. . . .

Elena will stop at nothing to free Stefan. Yet with each passing day the tension between Elena and Damon grows, and she is faced with a terrible decision: Which brother does she really want?

Back in Fell's Church, Bonnie and Meredith have made some dire discoveries. They hastily try to follow Elena and warn her—only to be caught up in Elena's most dangerous adventure yet.

Friday's Spotlight --- Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2010-02-12T16:36:00.000-06:00

Atheneum,
August 2010

Hardcover, 576 pages
ISBN-10: 1442402008
ISBN-13: 9781442402003
Ages: 14 and up
Grades: 9 and up

At once an homage to one of America's greatest writers and a page-turning psychological mystery that is equal parts horror, humor, and romance, NEVERMORE is the story of Varen -- a Poe-fan and goth -- and Isobel -- a cheerleader and unlikely heroine.

When a Lit. project pairs the two together, Isobel finds herself steadily swept into Varen's world, one that he has created in his notebook and in his mind, one where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

Isobel slowly learns that dreams can be much more powerful than she'd ever expected, and that pain and despair come in all sorts of shades.

As labels of "goth" and "cheerleader" fade away, she sees more in Varen than a tall, pale outcast, and a consuming romance is braced against the ever-clearer horror that the most terrifying realities are those within our own minds.

Play Dead by Ryan Brown - ARC Review

2010-02-12T15:48:00.001-06:00

Play Dead by Ryan Brown
Pocket Books
May 2010
Hardcover & Ebook
352 pages
ISBN-10: 1439171300
ISBN-13: 9781439171301
Paranormal Suspense

Description

Today’s #1 New York Times bestselling thriller writers agree: Ryan Brown’s compulsively readable first novel is unbeatable—a darkly humorous, rich and pungent zombie shocker that melds our national obsession with football and the newest wave of fascination with the undead.

For the first time in Killington High School history, the Jackrabbits football team is one win away from the district championship where it will face its most vicious rival, the Elmwood Heights Badgers. On the way to the game, the Jackrabbits’s bus plunges into a river, killing every player except for bad-boy quarterback Cole Logan who is certain the crash was no accident—given that Cole himself was severely injured in a brutal attack by three ski-masked men earlier that day. Bent on payback, Cole turns to a mysterious fan skilled in black magic to resurrect his teammates. But unless the undead Jackrabbits defeat their murderous rival on the field, the team is destined for hell. In a desperate race against time, with only his coach’s clever daughter, Savannah Hickman, to assist him, Cole must lead his zombie team to victory

. . . in a final showdown where the stakes aren’t just life or death—but damnation or salvation. Boundlessly imaginative and thrillingly satisfying, Play Dead gives small-town Texas an electrifying jolt of the supernatural, and is unquestioningly The Zombie Novel of the Year!

The Comeback Story of the Season . . .

**MY THOUGHTS **

I had this review done last October but just now posting my review now. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Play Dead and hope you will love it as much as I do.

Its very fresh, original and wildly entertaining. Ryan Brown has nothing to be worried about. Play Dead is going to win over plenty of readers and become instant bestseller.

Its football season and the two towns rivalary will hit a all time low when one town's high school football players set out to put their competitors out of commission before the big game.

Too bad for them, that particular team didn't count an unlikely football fan/supernatural prescence to set things straight.. even if for a little while.

This is something like The Craft meets Varsity Blues meets Supernatural. This is book that got me hooked on Team Zombie! Nothing but love and respect for authors who can create such an amazing take on zombies.

Like the book's ending, I was sad to see it end. And however much I loved reading this I can only think just how great Mr. Brown's next novel will. I have nothing but praise for this debut author, Ryan Brown.

And most certainly, I definitely will recommend this title and can't wait to see what else Mr. Brown come up next.

I give Play Dead a 5 PK rating!

Teen Guru

Cover and Title Unveiled for Book 3 of The Hunger Games

2010-02-11T10:33:00.000-06:00

Found this at mediabistro.com: GalleyCat

Today Scholastic unveiled the cover and title of the third book in the popular The Hunger Games series. The book is scheduled to launch August 24th.

The next book in Suzanne Collins's beloved series will be called Mockingjay. The dark young adult series focuses on a future where a boy and girl must battle to the death in a perverted version of reality television.

Scholastic VP Editorial Director David Levithan had this tongue-in-cheek statement for fans dying to know about the next book: "I am not, under any circumstances, allowed to divulge the contents of the third Hunger Games book. Nada. Nothing. Not a peep. I can, however, share with you [a few] things that will not be appearing in the new book: Panem is not shaken up when District 9 is nominated for a best picture Oscar ... despite internet rumors to the contrary, it is not revealed that Cinna has been secretly designing outfits for a Capitol operative known as 'Lady GaGa.'"

New Book Cover - Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

2010-02-02T12:11:00.000-06:00

PACK LIFE IS ABOUT ORDER, BUT BRYN IS ABOUT TO PUSH ALL THE LIMITS, WITH HAIR-RAISING RESULTS.

At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. Alone in the world, she was rescued and taken in by Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been raised as a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule (mostly). Little fazes her.

But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage. Terrifying memories of the attack on her mom and dad come flooding back. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, all allegiances to the pack no longer matter. It's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

An exciting new paranormal adventure, with a heroine who rivals Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Raised By Wolves will leave you howling for more.

To learn more click here.

Author Spotlight of the month - Lisa McMann & International Giveaway Now Closed

2010-02-01T12:38:00.003-06:00

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

To enter to win the final book in this amazing series, all you have to do is tweet the following message for +5 entries

I just entered to win GONE by Lisa McMann at #teenchannelreviews http://bit.ly/cIl9aY

Leave a link with your tweet. You can enter as many times as you want.. just remember to leave link in the comments below.

+3 bonus entries if you follow my blog.
And +2 bonus entries if you mention March YA book suggestions for next month's giveaway.

Thanks and good luck!

Teen Guru

Bad Blood Winner Announced

2010-01-25T10:30:00.001-06:00

I had 137 Entries and winner was chosen by Random.org -- Number chosen was #31

Beleth from Spain.

Congratulations Beleth! You've got 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks to all who entered. . . Another contest will be up soon.

Teen Guru

Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis - Book Cover

2010-01-22T13:51:00.000-06:00

Check out Melissa Francis new book cover, Love Sucks!

The sequel to her bestselling hit, Bite Me!

ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH by GREG LOGSTED

2010-01-22T10:58:00.001-06:00

ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH by GREG LOGSTED
Pub. Date: June 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 256pp
Age Range: 12 and up
Sneak Peak Online
Buy Now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Borders

BLURB:

Thirteen-year-old Cody Saron has never lived in one place longer than a few weeks, and has never attended a regular school. Growing up on the run with his father, an undercover agent for the CIA, Cody has traveled the entire globe; he speaks five
languages, and he has two black belts. What Cody isn't prepared for is...junior high.
When the danger surrounding Cody's dad heats up, Cody is sent to stay with the aunt he's never known, Jenny, in her small Connecticut suburb. Cody has no idea how to fit in with other kids, how to handle his first crush, or how to make it through a day of classes.
As Cody struggles to adapt to the one thing he's never experienced — a normal life — he starts to fear that his father's world has followed him and no one he loves is safe. Greg Logsted weaves together action, humor, and heart, building to a surprising revelation about what Cody has always believed to be true.

Review:

Cody Saron was content to live with his father even with the danger that surrounded them day in and out. What he didn’t count was that moment that changed his life forever. After a real close up brush with death, Cody’s father sends him to live with his Aunt Jenny. He faced danger before even Cody was not prepared for what was waiting for in Connecticut. Working alongside his dad for the C.I.A. didn’t teach him how

to deal with face the biggest challenge of his life...Junior High.

Cody deals with Junior High like he does everything else... head on. He learns that there is nothing is what is seems as Cody struggles to fit in. This quirky story is light and fun with the sarcastic quips Cody throws his fellow classmates and teachers.

Cody finally gives up and decides that nothing can change the way people feel about him. He meets Andy, an injured soldier who gives Cody pointers to fit in and help with his fighting skills. As they bond, Andy and Cody discover there is spy, surveying them.

Cody knows that danger has found him. He knows that his life isn’t the only one that’s in danger. I love this book. ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH held my attention to very end. It kept me reading through the night with its perfect amount of exciting action scenes and just right amount of angst and drama that had my adrenaline going until I finished the book.

I enjoyed this sarcastic 13 going to 30 year old kid. He isn’t your normal thirteen year old and felt his pain as he struggled to overcome the challenges he’s faced for such a young age. It’s been ages since I attended junior high but I feel for this younger generation for what they have to go through every day at school. In my personal opinion, I would love to see this on the big screen!

I definitely would recommend ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH to my fellow friends and family.

I rate ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH
5 Pink Kittens!

Author Spotlight of the Month - UPDATE--- Mari Mancusi & International Giveaway

2010-01-16T15:45:00.000-06:00

Bad Blood

Berkley Trade
January 2010
ISBN 9780425232644

Order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Borders

Sunny McDonald is in the ultimate forbidden relationship. Her boyfriend Magnus is a vampire, and the leader of the Blood Coven.

Their differences have never been an issue, until now...

When the Blood Coven decides that Magnus needs a mate to be his co-ruler, Sunny's humanity puts her out of the running. The Coven's chosen candidate is Jane Johnson, a magna cum laude graduate of Oxford University who just happens to look like a vampiric celebutante.

Sunny is suspicious of a Rhodes Scholar who can't answer the most basic poly-sci questions, but Magnus brushes it off as petty jealousy. Still, when the Blood Coven goes to Las Vegas for a vampire convention—where Magnus and Jane's bonding ceremony will be the main event—Sunny and her sister Rayne secretly tag along. And Sunny's not going home before she learns the truth about Jane. Because not everything stays in Vegas—especially bad blood...

___________________________________________________________
Everyone is allowed to enter no matter where you live in the world but No P.O. Boxes please.

+3 for tweeting message with hastag and post link:

I just entered to win a copy of Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi over at #TeenChannelReviews

+5 For being a blog follower.

You can tweet up to five time daily.

UPDATE ALERT --

If I get 50 blog followers before January 25th I will have two winners!

Contest ends January 25th 2010.

Wednesday Spotlight Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

2010-01-13T06:53:00.002-06:00

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials
by Rosalind Wiseman
Penguin
ISBN13: 9780399247965

ISBN: 0399247963
BINC: 9939361
Age: 12 and up

Buy now from
Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Borders

Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle School was brutal. Mean girls were all around her. But High School’s going to be Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day who does she run into? None other than Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now he’s back, looking a lot cuter and hanging out with a questionable crew. But Charlie doesn’t understand just how questionable until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.

All Charlie wanted to do was have a drama-free freshman year, but now she must decide whether to turn in her very best friend, who just told her he loves her, or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.

Tuesday Spotlight Undead Much? by Stacey Jay

2010-01-12T07:25:00.001-06:00

UNDEAD MUCH?
Razorbill Books
January 21, 2010

Sneak Peak || ONE

Order now from Amazon

Even Zombie Settlers with Super Hot Boyfriends get the Blues...

A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:

1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.

2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.

3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.

4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted.

DJ Earworm - United State of Pop 2007-2009 - Mashup of Top 25 Billboard Hits

2010-01-11T12:04:00.000-06:00

2007 Video

2008 Video

2009 Video

Monday Spotlight Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

2010-01-11T07:25:00.001-06:00

Incarceron
by Catherine Fisher
Penguin Teen
January 26th 2010
Sneak Peak ONE

A thrilling, high-concept fantasy for fans of Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer.

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.

Sunday Spotlight Heist Society by Ally Carter

2010-01-10T15:21:00.000-06:00

Heist Society by Ally Carter
Disney Hyperion
February 9, 2010
ISBN: 1423116399
ISBN-13: 9781423116394
Ages 11 and up

Order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Borders

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind.

Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected. Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster’s art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list.

Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Mailbox Report #1

2010-01-09T18:26:00.000-06:00

Here's what I got in the mail today:

Dead Guy Spy by David Lubar
Book 2 of the Nathan Abercrombie, The Accidental Zombie Series
January 2010

Sneak peaks here
Order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Borders

Nathan Abercrombie is getting used to his rotten life as a half-dead zombie. The good thing is he doesn’t feel any pain. The bad thing is his body can’t heal, so he has to be really careful not to break anything. But that’s hard to do when his wrestling-obsessed gym teacher, Mr. Lomux, matches him up with Rodney the bully, who’s looking for any excuse to break his bones. Then one day, Nathan is approached by the secret organization B.U.M.—aka the Bureau of Useful Misadventures—which offers him a cure in exchange for his help. Nathan jumps at the chance to become the world’s first zombie spy, but soon discovers that B.U.M. isn’t quite what it seems. Can Nathan trust them?

Review coming soon

Saturday Spotlight (( Frewin Jones ))

2010-01-09T16:39:00.006-06:00

The Enchanted Quest
By Frewin Jones
Book 5 of the Faerie Path
Price: $16.99
On Sale: 1/26/2010
Formats: Hardcover E-Book

Sneak Peaks: One Two

Order now: Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Borders

Book Description

Far from the Realm of Faerie, a quest to save immortality . . .

A deadly plague is sweeping through Faerie, and no one is immune to its bite. Now, with the guidance of the Dream Weaver, Tania, Rathina, and a mortal ally, Connor, must head off to find the Divine Harper—the only one who can help Tania renew the Faerie Covenant of Immortality. Their quest will soon take them outside the borders of Faerie, to hostile and unwelcoming lands beyond.

On their travels, Tania and her companions encounter danger at every turn as they battle pirates, contend with mysterious and mystical beings, and try to outwit those under the sinister grip of the Dark Arts. But when Tania's beloved Edric appears, it looks as if they have help at last. Or do they? As tensions and dangers rise, Tania is forced to question everything and everyone around her in order to decide if she is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her loved ones.

About The Teen Channel

2010-01-09T16:21:00.005-06:00

Welcome to the Teen Channel Reviews. I'm Teen Guru and I just recently became a fan of teen fiction genre. I review other genres but I needed a new place just for young adult fiction spotlight and reviews.

Authors and Publishers:

You can send me a email for your review requests. I also love to do interviews, host giveaways and author guest blog and book spotlight promos.

Just email me at: theteenchannelreviews AT gmail DOT com