Review: 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

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

Play Dead by Ryan Brown - ARC Review

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

ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH by GREG LOGSTED

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!