Review: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Glow
by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Release Date: July 17, 2012
by St. Martin's Press

Goodreads / Amazon

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back…

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. As members of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. But there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage… and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.


Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.
Pulse-pounding and addictive, Glow is the first novel in Amy Kathleen Ryan's riveting Sky Chasers series.

*A copy was provided by St. Martin's Press for review purposes*

Before I start this review, I have to confess something: I’m not religious. I had no idea that this book was, in fact, religious, but I’m sorry that the fact that it is affected my rating. It’s nothing against the actual book, I just don’t believe in that kind of stuff, so I didn’t like it.

Seriously, before the end of this book, I was going to rate this story 4 or 4.5 stars. From page one, it was action-packed, fast-paced and thrilling. The writing was amazing and Ryan did a great job of explaining the setting. It was a really interesting book and I didn’t want to put it down. Ryan did switch the point of view a few times, going between Kieren and Waverly. It really annoyed me because it was really exciting on Waverly’s side, but boring on Kieren’s.
About half-way through the book there were a few sermons, and the red flags started going up. But I would have been totally fine with those little events if it weren’t for the ending, when Kieren is trying to motivate the boys (I know that doesn’t make any sense, but if you’ve read the book you’ll understand. And, if you haven’t, then it’s not a spoiler) and he uses God, saying this was what God had planned for them and he was doing God’s will, and basically turned into a preacher. So that pretty much ended my love-fest with the book, and from then after I didn’t really like it.

Out of all the characters in this book, only three are really note-worthy, and, of those three, there is only one that I like…Waverly. She was really strong, smart, and kick-butt. I loved that she kept fighting and didn’t give up. She was the only likable character in the whole cast.
Then comes Kieren. I can’t honestly say that I liked him. I know this might seem kind of harsh, but he’s a slime-ball. He’s like a snake, sneaky and not very nice. He was weak, annoying, and couldn’t do anything for himself.
The third cast member, Seth, I didn’t like either. Okay, that’s a lie…in the beginning I liked him, but by the end I hated him with a fiery passion. He was mean, a brute, and just a down-right jerk.

Like I said, I was ready to rate this book pretty near 5 stars, but because of bad characters and annoying sermons, I had to bump my rating down. I really hope that the next book is every bit as thrilling, just not as religious.

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The Kailmeyra Series Blog Tour Stop

Hello lovelies!  Today I have yet another blog tour stop, this one hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours!  Today I have an awesome interview and excerpt!

The Light of Asteria

by Elizabeth Issacs

Amazon / Goodreads

If Nora Johnson hadn't been on campus that day she would have never known her true destiny. Helping her friends move into the dorm that she wanted to call home, Nora accidentally collides with mysterious stranger, Gavin Frey. His very first touch sends flames through her heart. The world seems different-something within her has changed.
Nora tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald. Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength.
Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions. Negativity has allowed all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive?
A gripping tale of unbounded love and ancient power, The Light of Asteria will take you on an epic adventure filled with war, treachery, and demons, as well as unimaginable delights.

The Secret of the Keepers

by Elizabeth Isaacs

Amazon / Goodreads

The Kailmeyra Chronicles: Book Two--

Life for Nora couldn't be better; she has married the man of her dreams and loves living in the pristine land of Kailmeyra.

That is, until the darkness threatens her perfect world.

Now war is upon the land. She and Gavin must strengthen their clan and prepare to fight. But the enemy has an ally—one that not only wields power, but holds knowledge of the ancients' secrets. Secrets that could destroy creation itself.

As the darkness grows, doubt seeps in ... protectiveness hinders progress ... and the unthinkable comes to pass.

Bewildered and alone, Nora shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire race to war. As she struggles with decisions that seem impossible to make, she is haunted by one choice.

BOOK EXCERPT

“And who might this be?” Malachi motioned to Rune’s small frame, still hovering by the horses.

“My apologies. Everyone, I’d like for you to meet the last of the Urisk clan, Rune.”  

As I introduced them one by one, their calm reaction let me know that Gavin had been filling Elias in as we traveled home. Rune fidgeted with his tartan bundle, obviously uncomfortable being the center of attention.

“I’m still not understandin’, Lass. Why are they choosin’ to stay weak?”

Elias took a threatening step forward, but Malachi raised his hand in a silent command.

“They do not want to dishonor their mate.”

“Why would ya be thinkin’ love’ll be dishonored with strength? I’m findin’ yer ideas of the Maker a bit strange.” He shook his head in disbelief. “The Urisk know love’s needin’ all the strength it can be gettin’ to express.” His eyes danced as I blushed. “The princess’ power comes from intent. T’aint no essence there, and yer daft if ye think she’s sharin’ somethin’ she ought not be sharin’.”

“They’re not strong enough.” Malachi murmured. Elias bristled, his lips thinned to a line as his eyes became faceted sapphires.

“He means no offense,” I said. “He’s been alone for far too long and his social skills have suffered.”

“That’s where you’d be wrong, princess.” Rune chuckled. “I never had ‘em.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1.  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’m a creative spirit, and so I love expression in any form. Because of that, I’ve always been a writer, I just never thought I’d be a published one. It wasn’t until I wrote The Light of Asteria as a gift for my daughter that sharing my words with the world became a possibility.  

2.  How long does it take you to write a book?

I try to write three to six hours a day, but creativity can’t be rushed. Often characters will detour from the planned plot, turning my world upside down. The first two in the series took about 4 to 6 months to write the first draft, but Ancients is taking a bit longer because of the complexity of the subplots.

3.  Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I love to free write in the dark. I know it sounds strange, but taking five or ten minutes to write down every thought that traipses through my head helps clears the cobwebs away. I write in complete silence. Music distracts me, but sometimes I’ll put on classical and free write until the end of a song.   

4.  Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

My characters are already in my head. I’m sure psychiatrists would say they are deeply rooted in my emotional psyche or some such, but I believe that stories are given to us—and it’s up to us to find the words that do them justice.

5.  How do you decide what you want to write about?

The ideas come from someplace deep within, and so I don’t question it. But as the story unfolds, I discover new facets, lessons, even symbolisms I hadn’t planned. The Secret of the Keepers was extremely difficult to write because I tried to change what was given. I warred with the characters, not wanting to write what the story demanded. It was Elias’ character that actually convinced me to have the courage to go where the story wanted to go. Once I started writing I knew he was right.

6.  What books have most influenced your life?

That’s a very broad question. Books have always influenced me, even as a child. If I had to choose, these would definitely be in the top 100.The Bible, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Heart of a Woman, The Thomas Covenant series, The Hobbit, The Giver, The Proud Breed, The Harry Potter series, Pride and Prejudice, The Left Behind Series, Charlotte’s Web, and all things Dr. Seuss.

7.  What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

The first book I read all by myself was Dr. Seuss’ Hop on Pop. I was four at the time, and I think that’s when my rereading addiction started :-). Everyone who crossed the threshold had to listen to my rendition of Dr. Seuss, whether they wanted to or not. 

8.  What are you reading right now?

I’ve been on a huge Lisa Kleypas historical romance kick, but that’s starting to wind down. I just finished Veronica Roth’s Divergent and Insurgent.  Next up is The Help. I’ve wanted to read it for ages!

9.  What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I have two jobs, one as an elementary school teacher, the other as a children’s music coordinator at a local church. That keeps me pretty busy, but when I’m not writing I am reading. A good friend and author of The Willows: Haven, Hope Collier, just lives down the interstate, and so at least once a week you’ll find us scouring books stores or going to author signings whenever we can.

10.  What do you think makes a good story?

A good story must have three elements: multi-faceted characters, a rocking plot, and great writing. Everyone has different tastes, but I love stories that are sensory driven, complex, and action-packed. 

11.  Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

My two favorite authors are Dr. Seuss and Maya Angelou. I know, weird combo, but I’ve never claimed to be normal.

Theodor Geisel was my first love. I read every book he wrote before I was eight. More importantly, I understood the deeper implications of his work at an early age. Dr. Seuss was the first person in my life that inspired me to find different ways to phrase ideas, to love the way words are strung together. He taught me to have fun with words, to play with them, to find joy in reading them over and over. 

Where Dr. Seuss taught that words could affect through humor and rhyme, Maya Angelou educated me in their power … that words can change who we are, who we want to be. Her voice is so deeply embedded in her writing that they literally go from the page straight to my heart. She has a way of turning ordinary words into extraordinary thoughts.

12.  What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

I’m a chronic rereader, and so if I don’t reread a book I didn’t like it. The first book I reread well over twenty times was DeBlasis’ “The Proud Breed”. I was all of fifteen at the time, and picked it up at a yard sale. I loved the historical romance aspect and the way she chronicled the life of her protg, Tessa. I haven’t read it in years, but it was the first time the pages actually came loose from the spine. 

Counting Backwards Blog Tour Stop

Hello lovelies!  Today I am delighted to be participating in this fabulous tour featuring Laura Lascarso's debut novel, Counting Backwards.  Today I have a review and fabulous interview!

Counting Backwards

 by Laura Lascarso
Release Date: August 14, 2012
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers


Goodreads / Amazon

Three weeks ago I tried to run away from home. Now all I want is to go back.

When troubled Taylor Truwell is caught with a stolen car and lands in court for resisting arrest, her father convinces the judge of an alternative to punishment: treatment in a juvenile psychiatric correctional facility. Sunny Meadows is anything but the easy way out, and Taylor has to fight hard just to hold on to her sanity as she battles her parents, her therapist, and vicious fellow patients. But even as Taylor struggles to hold on to her stubborn former self, she finds herself relenting as she lets in two unlikely friends-Margo, a former child star and arsonist, and AJ, a mysterious boy who doesn’t speak. In this striking debut, Laura Lascarso weaves together a powerful story of anger and self-destruction, hope and love.

* A copy was provided by Laura Lascarso for review purposes*

I’ve been on a contemporary run these past few weeks, and this is yet another one to add to the list. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book is sad, sad, sad. But it was still a good idea, and I loved how Lascarso wrote it very well. The story line was great, and the staging for the escape was really good too. I loved that Lascarso didn’t make it too easy and the events just came together perfectly. I always love happy endings, and this one was certainly happy, but also kind of sad. I really want to find out what happens to A.J.!

I’m going to mention Margo because I just really liked her. She’s feisty, funny, kick-butt, and defiant, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her.
The romance in this book was written perfectly. I liked how Lascarso kept it clean (no adult content) and made it sweet and soft. A.J. was perfect; he was cute, funny, sweet, and totally swoon-worthy.
And I also liked Taylor. Yes, she messed up, but seriously, it wasn’t really that bad, and it was her parents’ fault anyway. She was cool, nice, strong-minded, and kick-butt, and I really enjoyed reading about her road to recovery.

I can safely say I’ve never read a book like this before, with the same idea and all, and I really liked it. I also really want Lascarso to write a second book because I need to know if A.J. and Taylor can keep in touch and get back together. *hint, hint* aimed at Lascarso ;P

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Here are two truths and a lie:

My sign is Aquarius

I once lived on a sailboat.

In high school I dated a vampire, but we decided we were better as friends.

2. What do you like most about being a writer?

Writing! It’s the best—creating the world and characters, listening to them joke around, argue and challenge each other. Seeing them rise to the occasion, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing miserably. I have so many voices in my head and so many stories to tell.

3. Who are your biggest influences?

I love Dr. Suess and the way he used humor and word play to deal with mature content. My favorite book of his is the Sneetches with the Lorax being a close second.

I’m also a big fan of the late, great Kurt Vonnegut. I like how sparse his writing is, yet he can still evoke so much emotion. His voice is very clever with the right dose of world-weary cynicism.

But I have so many influences in the YA world as well—Laurie Halse Anderson, Walter Dean Meyers, MT Anderson, Sara Zarr, John Green, AS King, Suzanne Collins… You know, all those players.

4. Do you have a special place you like to write?

I have a desk at home where I write and also a coffee shop in town for when I need to be alone in a crowd. I’m here right now, drinking a peppermint mocha and eating a Dynamite Tuna sushi roll—yum!

5. When and how did you get the idea for Counting Backwards?

I was listening to the radio when Tracy Chapman’s song Fast Car came on, one that I’ve always loved. For me, the song is about a girl who dreams of something more, but is limited by her life circumstances, which are largely out of her control. I think it’s a really relevant theme to teenagers, so I began ruminating about a girl who wants more than anything to escape—her family, her home, even at times, herself. From that, Taylor Truwell was born. The setting of Sunny Meadows came second, as a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the polar opposite of freedom.

6. What are some of the things you like to do in your spare time?

Read books, listen to music, watch movies, go to the beach, drink coffee. I enjoy taking road trips and mindless highway driving. And hanging with my family and friends—that’s the best.

7. What is your favorite candy?

I’m not much for fruit candy unless it’s Twizzlers, but I will consume pretty much anything chocolate. Although I know it’s not technically a candy, I’m a big fan of Nutella, because of the spreadability factor.

8. Favorite color?

Purple. No, aquamarine. No, purple.

9. Favorite movie?

Ack, a tough one. My taste is pretty eclectic when it comes to movies, but here are a few—Edward Scissorhands, Great Expectations, Fools Rush In, Stand by Me, Mean Girls, Malice, Kill Bill 1&2, Out of Sight, Gattaca, Truman Show, Bridesmaids, The Grinch, High School Musical 3…

10. Are you currently working on another book?

My agent is currently shopping around a completed manuscript about love and obsession. Hopefully an editor will pounce.

Book Trailer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Lascarso

Find Laura at:

Goodreads | Website

COUNTING BACKWARDS is Laura Lascarso’s debut novel to be released by Atheneum (Simon & Schuster) in August 2012. She lives in in North Florida with her darling husband, two children, three chickens and a dog named Lucy.

FOLLOW THE TOUR!



In My Mailbox: (#28)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.

FOR REVIEW:

Vixen, by Jillian Larkin

Ingenue, by Jillian Larkin

Diva, by Jillian Larkin

(from Delacorte Press)

Between the Sea and Sky, by Jaclyn Dolamore (from Bloomsbury)

Lies Beneath, by Anne Greenwood Brown (from Delacorte Press)

League of Strays, by L.B. Schulman (from Amulet)

Last Summer, by Rebecca A. Rogers (from Rebbeca Rogers)

Counting Backwards, by Laura Lascarso (from Laura Lascarso)

Both are for blog tours!!





HELP FUND FUTURE GIVEAWAYS BY USING THE AFFILATED LINKS BELOW!



Dark Genesis Blog Tour Stop

Hello lovelies!  Today I am participating in the Dark Genesis Blog Tour!  I have an awesome excerpt and author interview for you so I hope you'll stick around!!!

This fantastic tour is being hosted by Enchanted Book Promotions.  It's an amazing site and I hope you all stop by and join! :)

Dark Genesis
by A.D. Koboah
Series: The Darkling Trilogy #1
Release Date: March 21, 2012

Amazon / Goodreads

Life for a female slave is one of hardship and unspeakable sorrow, something Luna knows only too well. But not even she could have foreseen the terror that would befall her one sultry Mississippi evening in the summer of 1807.

On her way back from a visit to see the African woman, a witch who has the herbs Luna needs to rid her of her abusive master’s child, she attracts the attention of a deadly being that lusts for blood. Forcibly removed from everything she knows by this tormented otherworldly creature, she is sure she will be dead by sunrise.

Dark Genesis is a love story set against the savage world of slavery in which a young woman who has been dehumanised by its horrors finds the courage to love, and in doing so, reclaims her humanity.

EXCERPT

My name is Luna and my tale begins on a dry summer evening in 1807.

I was walking quickly along a dusty country road, my shoes stirring up a small cloud of dust that turned the hem of my faded violet dress a muddy brown. The trail of dust I left in my wake soon settled. But the pressing need that had me make this two-hour journey in beaten shoes and a broken spirit, in the midst of a particularly merciless Mississippi summer, would not be settled as easily. Wiping the sweat from my brow and waving away the flying insects that droned lazily near my face, I wished for some respite from the relentless heat but found none. Although the sun hung low in the topaz blue sky, it felt as if I were walking through warm soup and it was likely to stay like this long after the sun went down.

I would have found some relief from the pitiless sun if I had chosen to walk through the woods that rose up on either side of the road like a green and brown wall. But green woody spaces such as those have been a deep source of fear for me since I was a child and I imagined that they would continue to be so long past what I guessed was my twenty-second or twenty-third year on this earth. So I clutched my lantern and small cloth bundle and walked on in the heat, listening to the birdcalls punctuate the otherwise still air.

I was lucky to be able to make this journey during the summer months as the previous two trips had been made in the dead of winter when night gathered up the day long before I could finish serving the family’s supper and slip away, leaving the other house slaves to do my share of work and conceal my absence. That small mercy meant that I didn’t have to walk alone in the dark, afraid to light my lamp in case the solitary glow brought unwanted attention my way, or have to dive into the trees every time the sound of a horse’s hooves disturbed the sweet melody of the crickets. It also meant that when I turned the corner and saw the woodland give way to cotton fields, marking the beginning of the Marshall plantation, there was still roughly two hours of daylight left, which meant I would be able to finish my business and be back before dark, hopefully before I was missed by my hawk-eyed mistress.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
 Hi, Emily. Thank you for featuring my debut novel Dark Genesis on your site.
I was born in London but spent the first few years of my life in Ghana, West Africa, before returning to London which is where I have lived ever since. Although I’ve always written in my spare time, I worked for a Facilities Management company until 2005 when I decided to write full-time.

2. Why did you become a writer?

I’ve pretty much always had my nose stuck in a book since I can remember and it is a great way to escape the world. Writing your own novel takes that escapism to another level, as instead of disappearing into someone else’s world, you can create your own and draw other people into that creation.

3. Who were your biggest influences?

Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Toni Morrison. I pretty much grew up on Stephen King and Dean Koontz but I didn’t ever think I would be able to write a paranormal novel. I think that everyone can write about normal human experiences but taking something completely unbelievable (like the notion of a vampire) and making it seem real enough for someone to invest their time in that story isn’t an easy thing to do. But those three writers have had such a big influence on me so it isn’t surprising that I would eventually write a novel which encompasses some of the things I like about their books: the supernatural, strong characters and slavery.


4. What's your favorite season?

Although I don’t really like the cold, my favourite season is autumn. I just love watching the landscape change from mainly greens to golds and bronzes.

5. Favorite color?

Lilac as it’s such a peaceful spiritual colour.

6. Favorite food?

Turtles chocolates. You can’t get them in the UK but a friend brought back a box on her last visit to the US and I’ve been addicted ever since.

7. When and how did you get the idea for Dark Genesis?

I started writing Dark Genesis towards the end of 2009. I was thinking a lot about dehumanisation, why people dehumanise others and the ways in which they do it. I was also wondering whether it’s actually possible for people to find their way back from being dehumanised. Everyone seems to be fascinated with the whole vampire thing and I thought it would be an interesting way to show what dehumanisation does to people.

8. Are there any other books in the works? If so, what can we expect?

Yes, a contemporary urban novel called Peace which will be out in September. I actually wrote Peace before Dark Genesis but first novels are always very difficult and it has taken a lot of revisions to get it to this stage. It is set in London and is about a young woman who is addicted to heroin. I’ve written bits of the sequel to Dark Genesis, but for some reason, I’m really nervous about sitting down and focusing on it properly. But I’ve already written two books so the third one can’t be that hard to write – I hope :-)

~~~~~~~

Review: Betrayed by Ednah Walters

Betrayed
by Ednah Walters
Release Date: June 5, 2012
by Spencer Hill Press

Amazon / Goodreads

Lil isn't just an average teenager. She's one of the Nephilim--the descendants of humans and angels--which gives her some serious psi skills and a mission for redemption. Just when Lil thinks she's found a balance between her normal life with human friends and her training to become a Guardian, she's warned that someone close to her will betray her. When the boy she loves starts acting strangely and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability, Lil begins to realize that someone is manipulating the people she loves... and won't stop until she's been lured to the dark side.

*A copy was provided by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*

There are a ton of angel books out there, and they all seem the same. It’s really rare that you read an original angel book, and it’s been a really long time for me. This book was a huge breath of fresh air. It had a totally different spin on the angel story, with a great idea and perfect writing to top it off. I loved how Walters went right into the action on page one, and kept it up the entire book. The plot was really complex and very thrilling, and I couldn’t put it down. There was really good staging and story line, but there were a few plot holes, but, since they were just small mistakes, it wasn’t a huge big deal. I loved the ending and that it was thrilling and exciting.

The love story in this book is simply amazing. I love that Bran is kind of the forbidden boy with a dark past, and that Lil is totally kick-butt and can take care of herself. They really complement each other and it was so sweet to read about them because they really loved each other. They made for a very entertaining cast.

This book was vastly different from all the many other angel books in the young adult genre, and, since it’s the first in the series, I can’t wait to see what happens to Lil and Bran (especially Bran).



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The Stone Girl Blog Tour Stop

Hello lovelies!  Well, after a very long blogging hiatus, I am finally back!! *throws confetti*  And do I ever have a great post for you today!  I will be reviewing The Stone Girl, by Alyssa Sheinmel, so I hope you all will stick around and read my post!!! :)

The Stone Girl
by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Release Date: August 28, 2012
by Random House Children's Books


Amazon / Goodreads

She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn’t hurt, because she’s not real anymore.

Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.

Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone.

*A copy was provided by Random House Children's Books for review purposes*

I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this.  It is definitely different from what I usually read and, in a strange way, it’s extremely disturbing.  I can’t even imagine what it would be like to live like that.

I loved how Sheinmel got right into the story from page one.  I’ve never read a book that was written from the third person, and I didn’t really like it in the beginning, but once I got used to it I really enjoyed it.  The story line was really good too, and I loved how all the events lead up to a -if not exciting- happy ending.  This book was so sad, I felt like crying several times.  Some people actually have to live through the events featured in this book, and I find it hard to even read about it.

I don’t understand the whole “I think I’m fat so I’m going to starve myself” thing, mostly because I don’t worry about that kind of stuff.  I’m not fat, I’m an athlete (I play soccer), and I’m muscular.  But some girls do worry about that stuff, and I don’t really have any way of saying my opinion without offending someone.  But I’m going to try: I think Sethie was stupid to worry about that kind of stuff.  You have to be confident in yourself and not worry about what you look like.  But I don’t think she’s stupid just because she starved herself.  I think she’s stupid for staying with Shaw, for cutting herself, for doing drugs.  I’m glad that she finally saw the light, but I just wanted to scream at her several times.
I don’t really like any characters in this book except two, but I definitely don’t like Shaw.  I think he’s a dirtbag.  He used Sethie for sex, was mean to her, and treated her like she was nothing.  I have no idea why Sethie even stayed with him.

I, however, like Ben and Janey.  Ben was so nice, totally better than Shaw.  He was really sweet and cute and just the perfect guy.  And I also really liked Janey.  I think she was really cool –minus all the drugs and smoking – but she was pretty cool non-the-less.

This book is definitely older YA, so if you have issues reading about disturbing stuff (drugs, sex, starving, cutting) I would suggest waiting on this book until you’re a bit older.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. Why did you decide to become a writer?

I’m going to give the cheesiest possible answer to this question – I didn’t ever really decide to become a writer.  I just always loved telling stories.  Even when I was little, I kept a notebook with my stories in it.  I never knew whether I would publish anything or write professionally, but for as long as I can remember, I think I always knew I would be writing stories.

2. Who were your biggest influences?Both of my parents put a big emphasis on reading from the time I was big enough to hold a book, so I guess I would have to credit them as my biggest influences, since they turned me into a reader – and more than anything, the books I read influence me as a writer. 

I still remember the first time I read a chapter book by myself; I was at my grandmother’s house, sitting on the couch with my father, and the book was The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo by Judy Blume.  The first books I remember loving where The Baby-Sitter’s Club series by Ann M. Martin; they were the books that taught me just how much fun reading could be.  I actually wrote my college admissions essay about them!  After I graduated from reading the BSC, the floodgates opened.  I read anything and everything I could get my hands on – and I still do.

3. Do you have a special place you like to write?

I know it’s pretty boring, but I usually just write at my desk.  Sometime the computer ends up on the bed with me, though.

4. Where and how did you get the idea for The Stone Girl?I couldn’t tell you when I came up with the idea for any of my other books, but I know exactly when I came up with The Stone Girl.  I was in a car, when my then-fiancé (now my husband) and I were driving from the San Francisco airport to the hotel in Napa where we were planning our wedding.  Out of nowhere, I pictured a girl, crouched still as a stone by a toilet.  Suddenly, I knew everything about her: I knew her name, I knew she had a bad boyfriend and a complicated best friend; I knew exactly how she felt about her body and about food.  I even knew the name of the book right away, something that usually eludes me until a book is at least half-written.  It took me a while to get the book down on paper – or on the computer screen, really – but I knew I was going to tell Sethie’s story one way or another.

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?I have a very specific answer to this one: an Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

6. Favorite movie?I can’t narrow it down to just one, but here are a few: Manhattan, The Princess Bride, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Field of Dreams.

7. Favorite season?

Fall.  I still feel like I’m going back to school every time September rolls around. 

8. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?

There is another book in the works – I’m actually working on a few projects simultaneously at the moment.  But I don’t like to talk about them!  I know it’s irrational, but I think that talking about something while I’m working on it jinxes it.

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Isn't she awesome!?  And, I have to say, The Princess Bride is an amazing movie.  I've watched it so many times that I can recite it word for word :P

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE STOPS:

August 1—AlyssaSheinmel.com ~ Introduction

August 3—Literary Rambles ~ Guest post & giveaway

August 6—YA Romantics ~ Review

August 7—The Book Addict’s Guide ~ Interview

August 8—Book Club Chic ~ Review

August 9—A Tale of Two Bookies ~ Guest post

August 12—The Teen Book Guru ~ Interview

August 13—The Teen Book Guru ~ Review

August 14—Itching for Books ~ Guest post

August 15—Random Acts of Reading ~ Guest post

August 16—The Children’s Book Review ~ Guest post & giveaway

August 17—Isabel Bandeira ~ Mini-interview & guest post

August 20—YA Romantics ~ Interview

August 21—Taking It One Book at a Time ~ Interview

August 22—Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers ~ Review & giveaway

August 23—Confessions of a Bookaholic ~ Guest post & giveaway

August 24—The Compulsive Reader ~ Guest post & giveaway

August 27—Almost Grown Up ~ Interview

August 27—A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy  ~ Interview

August 28— A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy ~ Review

August 29—Letter Blocks ~ Interview

September 1—Distraction No. 99 ~ Guest post

September 2—Literary Escapism ~ Guest post (for School’s In)

September 3—Dear Teen Me ~ Guest post