Asenath's bookshelf: all en-US Sat, 29 Jun 2024 14:25:57 -0700 60 Asenath's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Digital Fortress 5162373
Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.

From the underground hallways of power to the skyscrapers of Tokyo to the towering cathedrals of Spain, a desperate race unfolds. It is a battle for survival--a crucial bid to destroy a creation of inconceivable genius...an impregnable code-writing formula that threatens to obliterate the post-cold war balance of power. Forever.]]> 525 Dan Brown 0312944926 Asenath 0 to-read 3.67 1998 Digital Fortress
author: Dan Brown
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1998
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4)]]> 8130423 In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.]]> 361 Rick Riordan Asenath 5 4.44 2008 The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4)
author: Rick Riordan
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2009/05/19
date added: 2023/10/16
shelves: ya-lit, books-reluctant-boys-will-read, traditional-literature, fantasy
review:
Delightful book, fun read, and again I was impressed with Riordan's ability to bring in deeper themes (while not shoving anything down my throat.)
]]> <![CDATA[The Body Knows... How to Stay Young: Healthy-Aging Secrets from a Medical Intuitive]]> 6654016 Caroline Sutherland says yes; and when you look at this vital, energetic woman who's in her mid-60s, you can tell she has a few secrets that are worth sharing. This is a book that certainly comes along at the right With much of the population moving into retirement age, and billions of dollars being spent annually on vitamins and anti-aging therapies, men and women are eagerly seeking healthy approaches during their later years. Men and women are often wary about what might befall them as the numbers tick away. Fortunately, Caroline has answers for the chronic degenerative breakdown that leads to mobility issues, decrease in hearing and vision, osteoporosis, and arthritis--not to mention memory loss. With her expert wisdom and sparkling sense of humor, Caroline covers the four components of a vibrant-aging program, showing in the process that the body has a phenomenal capacity to repair. Ěý This book is perfect for you if you want to live a long and vivacious life and fulfill your destiny!]]> 312 Caroline Sutherland Asenath 0 to-read 3.55 The Body Knows... How to Stay Young: Healthy-Aging Secrets from a Medical Intuitive
author: Caroline Sutherland
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.55
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/07/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Ghost Boys 34647324
Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father’s actions.

Once again Jewell Parker Rhodes deftly weaves historical and socio-political layers into a gripping and poignant story about how children and families face the complexities of today’s world, and how one boy grows to understand American blackness in the aftermath of his own death.]]> 214 Jewell Parker Rhodes Asenath 4 realistic-fiction, ya-lit 4.32 2018 Ghost Boys
author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2020/06/04
date added: 2020/06/23
shelves: realistic-fiction, ya-lit
review:
About a 12 year old boy who was shot
]]> Long Way Down 22552026 A piece. A biscuit.
A burner. A heater.
A chopper. A gat.
A hammer
A tool
for RULE

Or, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he? As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator? Just as Will’s trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck’s cigarette. Will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES.

And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.]]> 306 Jason Reynolds 1481438255 Asenath 0 Super interesting concept. 4.25 2017 Long Way Down
author: Jason Reynolds
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2020/06/16
date added: 2020/06/23
shelves:
review:
Super interesting concept.
]]> Educated 35133922
Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara's older brothers became violent.

Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she'd traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes and the will to change it.]]> 352 Tara Westover 0399590501 Asenath 0 4.46 2018 Educated
author: Tara Westover
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at: 2019/11/23
date added: 2020/06/23
shelves:
review:

]]> March: Book One (March, #1) 17346698
Book One spans John Lewis' youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a stunning climax on the steps of City Hall.

Many years ago, John Lewis and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1950s comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. Now, his own comics bring those days to life for a new audience, testifying to a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations.

(Back flap)]]> 128 John Lewis 1603093001 Asenath 0 graphic-novel 4.34 2013 March: Book One (March, #1)
author: John Lewis
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2020/06/14
date added: 2020/06/23
shelves: graphic-novel
review:
An interesting way to discuss a historical event I knew little about.
]]> All American Boys 25657130 Rashad is absent again today.

That’s the sidewalk graffiti that started it all�

Well, no, actually, a lady tripping over Rashad at the store, making him drop a bag of chips, was what started it all. Because it didn’t matter what Rashad said next—that it was an accident, that he wasn’t stealing—the cop just kept pounding him. Over and over, pummeling him into the pavement. So then Rashad, an ROTC kid with mad art skills, was absent again…and again…stuck in a hospital room. Why? Because it looked like he was stealing. And he was a black kid in baggy clothes. So he must have been stealing.

And that’s how it started.

And that’s what Quinn, a white kid, saw. He saw his best friend’s older brother beating the daylights out of a classmate. At first Quinn doesn’t tell a soul…He’s not even sure he understands it. And does it matter? The whole thing was caught on camera, anyway. But when the school—and nation—start to divide on what happens, blame spreads like wildfire fed by ugly words like “racism� and “police brutality.� Quinn realizes he’s got to understand it, because, bystander or not, he’s a part of history. He just has to figure out what side of history that will be.

Rashad and Quinn—one black, one white, both American—face the unspeakable truth that racism and prejudice didn’t die after the civil rights movement. There’s a future at stake, a future where no one else will have to be absent because of police brutality. They just have to risk everything to change the world.

Cuz that’s how it can end.]]> 316 Jason Reynolds 1481463330 Asenath 0 realistic-fiction 4.29 2015 All American Boys
author: Jason Reynolds
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2020/06/23
date added: 2020/06/23
shelves: realistic-fiction
review:
Well, this is exactly what's happening now.
]]> Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1) 28954189 Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art� of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

An alternate cover edition of ISBN: 9781442472426]]> 435 Neal Shusterman Asenath 5 4.32 2016 Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1)
author: Neal Shusterman
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2018/02/12
date added: 2018/02/23
shelves: in-my-classroom-library, science-fiction
review:
Neal Shusterman is a master world builder. The first half of the book you think you know what the story is about but then BOOM, plot twist and you realize there's so much more to the story.
]]> Salt to the Sea 25614492
Sepetys (writer of 'Between Shades of Gray') crafts four fictionalized but historically accurate voices to convey the real-life tragedy. Joana, a Lithuanian with nursing experience; Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis with stolen treasure; and Emilia, a Polish girl close to the end of her pregnancy, converge on their escape journeys as Russian troops advance; each will eventually meet Albert, a Nazi peon with delusions of grandeur, assigned to the Gustloff decks.]]> 391 Ruta Sepetys Asenath 5 4.35 2016 Salt to the Sea
author: Ruta Sepetys
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2018/02/22
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, #2)]]> 33555224
Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order� scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish� so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?]]> 504 Neal Shusterman 1442472456 Asenath 5 science-fiction
This book is fantastic. It is a natural continuation of the Scythe story and will leave you pondering various aspects of humanity for days. Some of the scenes in this book will be ones that I never forget.

I'm mostly upset that the 3rd book doesn't come out until 2019, because I can't wait to see what twists and turns Shusterman has in store for us.]]> 4.38 2018 Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, #2)
author: Neal Shusterman
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/02/22
date added: 2018/02/22
shelves: science-fiction
review:
AUGH. WHY?!?!?!? WHY?!?!?!?!

This book is fantastic. It is a natural continuation of the Scythe story and will leave you pondering various aspects of humanity for days. Some of the scenes in this book will be ones that I never forget.

I'm mostly upset that the 3rd book doesn't come out until 2019, because I can't wait to see what twists and turns Shusterman has in store for us.
]]> <![CDATA[Deep Blue Eyes: And Other Lies]]> 321941 261 Janette Rallison 1573451916 Asenath 5 ya-lit, realistic-fiction 3.96 1996 Deep Blue Eyes: And Other Lies
author: Janette Rallison
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1996
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2017/10/20
shelves: ya-lit, realistic-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Unincorporated Man (Unincorporated Man, #1)]]> 4025200

The Unincorporated Man is a provocative social/political/economic novel that takes place in the future, after civilization has fallen into complete economic collapse. This reborn civilization is one in which every individual is incorporated at birth, and spends many years trying to attain control over his or her own life by getting a majority of his or her own shares. Life extension has made life very long indeed.

Now the incredible has happened: a billionaire businessman from our time, frozen in secret in the early twenty-first century, is discovered and resurrected, given health and a vigorous younger body. Justin Cord is the only unincorporated man in the world, a true stranger in this strange land. Justin survived because he is tough and smart. He cannot accept only part ownership of himself, even if that places him in conflict with a civilization that extends outside the solar system to the Oort Cloud. ĚýPeople will be arguing about this novel and this world for decades.

]]> 479 Dani Kollin 0765318997 Asenath 0 to-read 3.79 2009 The Unincorporated Man (Unincorporated Man, #1)
author: Dani Kollin
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> In 27 Days (In 27 Days, #1) 17164933
Hadley soon discovers Archer’s reasons for being alone, and Archer realizes that having someone to confide in isn’t as bad as he’d always thought. But when a series of dangerous accidents starts pushing them apart, Hadley must decide whether she is ready to risk everything—including her life—to keep Archer safe.

From award-winning Wattpad author Alison Gervais (HonorInTheRain) comes In 27 Days, a story of redemption, first love, and the strength it takes to change the future.]]> 129 Alison Gervais Asenath 0 to-read 4.28 2012 In 27 Days (In 27 Days, #1)
author: Alison Gervais
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/09/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Tone Deaf 25898555
Ali Collins was a child prodigy destined to become one of the greatest musicians of the twenty-first century—until she was diagnosed with a life-changing brain tumor. Now, at seventeen, Ali lives in a soundless world where she gets by with American Sign Language and lip-reading. She’s a constant disappointment to her father, a retired cop fighting his own demons, and the bruises are getting harder to hide.

When Ali accidentally wins a backstage tour with the chart-topping band Tone Deaf, she’s swept back into the world of music. Jace Beckett, the nineteen-year-old lead singer of the band, has a reputation. He’s a jerk and a player, and Ali wants nothing to do with him. But there’s more to Jace than the tabloids let on. When Jace notices Ali’s bruises and offers to help her escape to New York, Ali can’t turn down the chance at freedom and a fresh start. Soon she’s traveling cross-country, hidden away in Jace’s RV as the band finishes their nationwide tour. With the help of Jace, Ali sets out to reboot her life and rediscover the music she once loved.]]> 288 Olivia Rivers 163450707X Asenath 0 to-read 3.76 2016 Tone Deaf
author: Olivia Rivers
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/09/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> And We Stay 17797364 240 Jenny Hubbard 0385740573 Asenath 0 to-read 3.44 2014 And We Stay
author: Jenny Hubbard
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/09/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Impossible Knife of Memory]]> 18079527
Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.]]> 391 Laurie Halse Anderson 0670012092 Asenath 4 ya-lit, realistic-fiction 3.92 2014 The Impossible Knife of Memory
author: Laurie Halse Anderson
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2016/07/15
date added: 2016/09/15
shelves: ya-lit, realistic-fiction
review:
Laurie Halse Anderson is a talented writer, and I'll probably read everything she writes. This one didn't resonate with me like her other books, but it still provided an insightful look into a life I know little about.
]]> At the Water's Edge 23209927
To Maddie’s horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his father’s favor is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster and when he finds it he will restore his father’s name and return to his father’s good graces (and pocketbook). Joined by their friend Hank, a wealthy socialite, the three make their way to Scotland in the midst of war.

Each day the two men go off to hunt the monster, while another monster, Hitler, is devastating Europe. And Maddie, now alone in a foreign country, must begin to figure out who she is and what she wants.

The novel tells of Maddie’s social awakening: to the harsh realities of life, to the beauties of nature, to a connection with forces larger than herself, to female friendship, and finally, to love.]]> 348 Sara Gruen 0385523238 Asenath 3 Usually I stay in my YA reading bubble, so I don't have a lot to compare this book to. I thought most of the writing was lovely--Gruen does a great job with description. She also incorporated a lot of research into the story, which felt authentic. I like how her characters shifted and developed throughout the story.

One of the only things that really bugged me was the romance.[spoilers removed]

Also, this book had 2 short somewhat descriptive sex scenes. They're easy enough to skip over, but just FYI.]]> 3.63 2015 At the Water's Edge
author: Sara Gruen
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/09/14
date added: 2016/09/15
shelves:
review:
3.5
Usually I stay in my YA reading bubble, so I don't have a lot to compare this book to. I thought most of the writing was lovely--Gruen does a great job with description. She also incorporated a lot of research into the story, which felt authentic. I like how her characters shifted and developed throughout the story.

One of the only things that really bugged me was the romance.[spoilers removed]

Also, this book had 2 short somewhat descriptive sex scenes. They're easy enough to skip over, but just FYI.
]]> <![CDATA[Blood Rose Rebellion (Blood Rose Rebellion, #1)]]> 31020402
Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.

Her life might well be over.

In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.

As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romanies, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever.]]> 416 Rosalyn Eves 1101935995 Asenath 0 to-read 3.32 2017 Blood Rose Rebellion (Blood Rose Rebellion, #1)
author: Rosalyn Eves
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.32
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/09/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Divergent (Divergent, #1) 8306857 In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

]]> 487 Veronica Roth 0062024027 Asenath 3 wishlist 4.28 2011 Divergent (Divergent, #1)
author: Veronica Roth
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2011/09/25
date added: 2016/05/27
shelves: wishlist
review:

]]> Another Day (Every Day, #2) 18459855
Until the morning everything changes. Justin seems to see her, to want to be with her for the first time, and they share a perfect day—a perfect day Justin doesn’t remember the next morning. Confused, depressed, and desperate for another day as great as that one, Rhiannon starts questioning everything. Then, one day, a stranger tells her that the Justin she spent that day with, the one who made her feel like a real person…wasn’t Justin at all.

In this enthralling companion to his New York Times bestseller Every Day, David Levithan tells Rhiannon’s side of the story as she seeks to discover the truth about love and how it can change you.]]> 327 David Levithan 0385756208 Asenath 0 to-read 3.59 2015 Another Day (Every Day, #2)
author: David Levithan
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> After You (Me Before You, #2) 25041504
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.]]> 353 Jojo Moyes Asenath 2 So. Much. DRAMA. 3.68 2015 After You (Me Before You, #2)
author: Jojo Moyes
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2016/04/10
date added: 2016/04/12
shelves:
review:
So. Much. DRAMA.
]]> <![CDATA[Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)]]> 15507958 Discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in Me Before You, After You, and Still Me.

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation and perfect for fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?]]> 369 Jojo Moyes Asenath 3 What I liked:
The writing. The characters were believable and realistic. The descriptions were fantastic. I found myself thinking in a British accent, which was fun.
It got me thinking. This is a story I will remember. I didn't know much about quadriplegics before reading this book, and it offered an interesting and seemingly realistic look into that lifestyle.

What I didn't like:
Maybe I'm heartless, but I didn't connect with it as much as I wanted. While I thought Lou was a believable character, I didn't identify with her as much.
]]> 4.24 2012 Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)
author: Jojo Moyes
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2016/04/01
date added: 2016/04/12
shelves:
review:
My sister-in-law had not read a book in 15 years, but she read this one and loved it. She gave me her copy to read, and I read it over the span of two weeks.
What I liked:
The writing. The characters were believable and realistic. The descriptions were fantastic. I found myself thinking in a British accent, which was fun.
It got me thinking. This is a story I will remember. I didn't know much about quadriplegics before reading this book, and it offered an interesting and seemingly realistic look into that lifestyle.

What I didn't like:
Maybe I'm heartless, but I didn't connect with it as much as I wanted. While I thought Lou was a believable character, I didn't identify with her as much.

]]> My Life After Now 15752348
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.]]> 304 Jessica Verdi 1402277857 Asenath 0 to-read 3.88 2013 My Life After Now
author: Jessica Verdi
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)]]> 15863832 288 Susan Ee 1611094259 Asenath 0 to-read 4.04 2011 Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)
author: Susan Ee
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)]]> 27774758 Alternative Cover Edition #1

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Ěý
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
Ěý
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
Ěý
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
Ěý
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

From the Hardcover edition.]]> 446 Sabaa Tahir Asenath 0 to-read 4.23 2015 An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)
author: Sabaa Tahir
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)]]> 15839976 "I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. "That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them."

"I live for you," I say sadly.

Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.]]> 382 Pierce Brown 0345539788 Asenath 0 to-read 4.26 2014 Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)
author: Pierce Brown
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold, #1)]]> 25064648 Inkheart and Shadow and Bone

Finalist for the Kirkus Prize and nominated for the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ Choice Award!

Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.]]> 442 Traci Chee 0399176772 Asenath 0 to-read 3.81 2016 The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold, #1)
author: Traci Chee
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Girl Who Fell 22864430
His obsession.
Her fall.

Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and � terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.

If she waits any longer, it may be too late.]]> 320 S.M. Parker Asenath 0 to-read 3.64 2016 The Girl Who Fell
author: S.M. Parker
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Tell Me Three Things 25893582
It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to liveĚýwith her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?]]> 328 Julie Buxbaum 0553535641 Asenath 0 to-read 4.00 2016 Tell Me Three Things
author: Julie Buxbaum
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Wrong Side of Magic 25688984
Hudson Brown stopped believing in magic long ago. That is, until the day he is whisked away to the magical land of Logos by a curious compass given to him by his off-beat neighbor, Charlotte.

Hudson discovers that Logos is a land ruled by words, thoughts, and memories. A fairy might ferry you across the river for the price of one memory. But be sure to look out for snarky unicorns, as they will see through those who are not pure of heart.

Not understanding the many rules of Logos, Hudson is quickly saddled with a troll curse. Charlotte, who, along with her father, was banished from Logos, can help get rid of the curse--but only if he agrees to find the lost Princess of Logos in return.]]> 336 Janette Rallison 1250074282 Asenath 5 to-read 4.07 2016 The Wrong Side of Magic
author: Janette Rallison
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Go Set a Watchman 24817626 To Kill a Mockingbird. Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch�"Scout"—returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past—a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience. Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor and effortless precision—a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic.]]> 278 Harper Lee 0062409859 Asenath 0 to-read 3.28 2015 Go Set a Watchman
author: Harper Lee
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> This Is Where It Ends 24529123 The #1 New York Times Bestseller
 A Buzzfeed Best Book of the Decade
A Paste Magazine Best Book of the Decade

 Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun�

10:00 a.m.: The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.: The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03: The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05: Someone starts shooting.

In 54 minutes, four students must confront their greatest hopes, and darkest fears, as they come face-to-face with the boy with the gun.

Includes special bonus content: a letter from the author, discussion questions, two bonus chapters, a conversation with the author, and a playlist!

Praise for This Is Where It Ends:
A Buzzfeed Best Book of the Decade
A Paste Magazine Best Book of the Decade
A BookRiot Best Book of the Decade
A Professional Book Nerds Best Book of the Decade

"Marieke Nijkamp's brutal, powerful fictional account of a school shooting is important in its timeliness." —Bustle.com

"A gritty, emotional, and suspenseful read and although fictionalized, it reflects on a problematic and harrowing issue across the nation." —Buzzfeed

"A compelling, brutal story of an unfortunately all-too familiar situation: a school shooting. Nijkamp portrays the events thoughtfully, recounting fifty-four intense minutes of bravery, love, and loss." —BookRiot

]]> 288 Marieke Nijkamp 149262246X Asenath 0 to-read 3.67 2016 This Is Where It Ends
author: Marieke Nijkamp
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Literature Circles 8115271 272 Harvey Daniels Asenath 0 to-read 4.23 1994 Literature Circles
author: Harvey Daniels
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles]]> 639042 Literature Circles introduced tens of thousands of teachers to the power of student-led book discussions. Nancy Steineke's Reading and Writing Together showed how a teacher can nurture friendship and collaboration among young readers. Now, Daniels and Steineke team up to focus on one crucial element of the Literature Circle model; the short, teacher-directed lessons that begin, guide and follow-up every successful book club meeting.

Mini-lessons are the secret to book clubs that click. Each of these forty-five short, focused, and practical lessons includes Nancy and Harvey's actual classroom language and is formatted to help busy teachers with point-by-point answers to the questions they most frequently ask.

How can I:
steer my students toward deeper comprehension? get kids interested in each others' ideas? make sure kids choose just-right books? help students schedule their reading and meeting time? deal with kids who don't do the reading? get kids to pay more attention to literary style and structure? help special education and ELL students to participate actively in book clubs? get kids to expand their repertoire of reading strategies? make sure groups are on-task when I'm not looking over their shoulder? introduce writing tools (including role sheets) that support student discussion?. help shy or dominating members get the right amount of "airtime?" give grades for book clubs without ruining the fun? use scientific research to justify the classroom time I spend on literature circles? Each mini-lesson spells out everything from the time and materials needed to word-by-word instructions for students. The authors even warn "what could go wrong," helping teachers to avoid predictable management problems. With abundant student examples, reproducible forms, photographs of kids in action, and recommended reading lists, Mini-lessons for Literature Circles helps you deepen student book discussions, create lifelong readers, and build a respectful classroom community.]]> 304 Harvey Daniels 0325007020 Asenath 0 to-read 4.13 2004 Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles
author: Harvey Daniels
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4)]]> 17378527
All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.]]> 439 Maggie Stiefvater 0545424984 Asenath 0 to-read 4.26 2016 The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4)
author: Maggie Stiefvater
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> One Hundred Years of Solitude 320 417 Gabriel García Márquez Asenath 3 in-my-classroom-library 4.10 1967 One Hundred Years of Solitude
author: Gabriel García Márquez
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1967
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2015/07/21
shelves: in-my-classroom-library
review:
I loved the magical realism of the book. Was not really a fan of the incest/descriptions of love.
]]> <![CDATA[Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes]]> 596259 Standing for Something is an inspiring blueprint for what we all can do--as individuals, as a nation, and as a world community--to rediscover the values and virtues that have historically made us strong and that will lead us to a brighter future.]]> 256 Gordon B. Hinckley 0609807250 Asenath 0 A thought provoking read. 4.60 2000 Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes
author: Gordon B. Hinckley
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2000
rating: 0
read at: 2015/07/17
date added: 2015/07/21
shelves:
review:
A thought provoking read.
]]> Sing Me to Sleep 6586512
Beth has always been "The Beast", that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she's selected to be her choir's soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth's choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek's untethered passion, for music, and for Beth, leaves her breathless. Because in Derek's eyes? She's not The Beast, she's The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek's been hiding a dark secret from her that could shatter everything.]]> 301 Angela Morrison 1595142754 Asenath 3 3.96 2010 Sing Me to Sleep
author: Angela Morrison
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2015/06/29
date added: 2015/07/21
shelves: in-my-classroom-library, ya-lit
review:
This book was fine, but it took too long to get to the heart of the story.
]]> Life of Pi 170453
The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea.]]> 326 Yann Martel 0156027321 Asenath 0 3.88 2001 Life of Pi
author: Yann Martel
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/06/06
shelves:
review:
I started listening to this in the car, and I think that I am mature enough (or patient enough) to try reading this book again.
]]> Bossypants 9476337
She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)

]]> 277 Tina Fey 0316056863 Asenath 4 non-fiction
Sometimes the language/content is adult, so be warned about that (although, compared to other biographies I've read, this one is tame.)]]> 3.90 2011 Bossypants
author: Tina Fey
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2011/07/09
date added: 2015/06/02
shelves: non-fiction
review:
I listened to the audio book, and I LOVED that Ms. Fey herself read it. She is amazing. I enjoyed listening to this book because it gave me some insight into the world of TV comedy. I didn't agree with everything she said in here, but it's her book about her life and viewpoints, so whatever.

Sometimes the language/content is adult, so be warned about that (although, compared to other biographies I've read, this one is tame.)
]]> <![CDATA[The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives]]> 2272880
By showing us the true nature of chance and revealing the psychological illusions that cause us to misjudge the world around us, Mlodinow gives us the tools we need to make more informed decisions. From the classroom to the courtroom and from financial markets to supermarkets, Mlodinow's intriguing and illuminating look at how randomness, chance, and probability affect our daily lives will intrigue, awe, and inspire.]]> 252 Leonard Mlodinow 0375424040 Asenath 0 to-read 3.93 2008 The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives
author: Leonard Mlodinow
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/05/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them]]> 39934 New York Times bestseller, acclaimed author Francine Prose invites you to sit by her side and take a guided tour of the tools and the tricks of the masters to discover why their work has endured. Written with passion, humor, and wisdom, Reading Like a Writer will inspire readers to return to literature with a fresh eye and an eager heart - to take pleasure in the long and magnificent sentences of Philip Roth and the breathtaking paragraphs of Isaac Babel; she is deeply moved by the brilliant characterization in George Eliot's Middlemarch. She looks to John Le Carré for a lesson in how to advance plot through dialogue and to Flannery O'Connor for the cunning use of the telling detail. And, most important, Prose cautions readers to slow down and pay attention to words, the raw material out of which all literature is crafted.]]> 302 Francine Prose 0060777052 Asenath 0 to-read 3.76 2006 Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them
author: Francine Prose
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/05/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Testing (The Testing, #1) 13326831
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation's chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honoured to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father's advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies—trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every gruelling (and deadly) day of the Testing.

To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.]]> 325 Joelle Charbonneau 0547959109 Asenath 3 science-fiction 4.04 2013 The Testing (The Testing, #1)
author: Joelle Charbonneau
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2015/04/21
date added: 2015/05/05
shelves: science-fiction
review:
A student of mine recommended this book because he absolutely loved it. I thought it was OK. It's rather generic, and I felt like most of this book was just setting up for the rest of the story (at least I hope that's what it was doing.) The writing didn't stand out as stellar; I feel like the author ended up summarizing a lot of the action instead of letting the reader witness it.
]]> Three Little Words 1924322
Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative,humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed - and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice.]]> 320 Ashley Rhodes-Courter 1416948066 Asenath 4 non-fiction
Overall a very powerful book, but I don't know if it's one I could read again.]]> 4.17 2008 Three Little Words
author: Ashley Rhodes-Courter
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2015/05/02
date added: 2015/05/05
shelves: non-fiction
review:
This is a fantastic read, but not an easy one. The writing is great and the story moves along at a good pace. The author is not whiney or preachy. What made this book so difficult for me was the content: it was heartbreaking. It opened my eyes to some of the flaws of the foster care system, and pulled at my emotions. I cried during the first chapter (in front of all my students during reading time), and still tear up thinking about it.

Overall a very powerful book, but I don't know if it's one I could read again.
]]> Dad Is Fat 16141924 Jim Gaffigan never imagined he would have his own kids.

Though he grew up in a large Irish-Catholic family, Jim was satisfied with the nomadic, nocturnal life of a standup comedian, and was content to be "that weird uncle who lives in an apartment by himself in New York that everyone in the family speculates about." But all that changed when he married and found out his wife, Jeannie "is someone who gets pregnant looking at babies."

Five kids later, the comedian whose riffs on everything from Hot Pockets to Jesus have scored millions of hits on YouTube, started to tweet about the mistakes and victories of his life as a dad. Those tweets struck such a chord that he soon passed the million followers mark. But it turns out 140 characters are not enough to express all the joys and horrors of life with five kids, so hes' now sharing it all in Dad Is Fat.

From new parents to empty nesters to Jim's twenty-something fans, everyone will recognize their own families in these hilarious takes on everything from cousins ("celebrities for little kids") to growing up in a big family ("I always assumed my father had six children so he could have a sufficient lawn crew") to changing diapers in the middle of the night ("like The Hurt Locker but much more dangerous") to bedtime (aka "Negotiating with Terrorists").

Dad is Fat is sharply observed, explosively funny, and a cry for help from a man who has realized he and his wife are outnumbered in their own home.]]> 288 Jim Gaffigan 0385349068 Asenath 4 non-fiction 3.77 2013 Dad Is Fat
author: Jim Gaffigan
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2014/12/12
date added: 2015/03/04
shelves: non-fiction
review:
Any parent will be able to relate to the stories in this book. Classic Gaffigan humor.
]]> <![CDATA[The Power of Forgetting: Six Essential Skills to Clear Out Brain Clutter and Become the Sharpest, Smartest You]]> 18112086
Is it possible that the answer to becoming a more efficient and effective thinker is learning how to forget? Yes! Mike Byster will show you how mastering this extraordinary technique—forgetting unnecessary information, sifting through brain clutter, and focusing on only important nuggets of data—will change the quality of your work and life balance forever.

Using the six tools inĚý The Power of Forgetting, Ěýyou’ll learn how to be a more agile thinker and productive individual. You will overcome the staggering volume of daily distractions that lead toĚýtoĚýbrain fog, an inability to concentrate, lack of creativity, stress, anxiety, nervousness, angst, worry, dread, and even depression.ĚýBy training your brain with Byster’s exclusive quizzes and games, you’ll develop the critical skills to become more successful in all that you do, each and every day.]]> 352 Mike Byster 0307985873 Asenath 0 to-read 2.99 2014 The Power of Forgetting: Six Essential Skills to Clear Out Brain Clutter and Become the Sharpest, Smartest You
author: Mike Byster
name: Asenath
average rating: 2.99
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/03/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers]]> 3253215
An artist's journal is packed with sketches and captions; some rough, some polished. The margins sometimes spill over with hurriedly scrawled shopping lists and phone numbers. The cover may be travel-worn and the pages warped from watercolors. Open the book, and raw creativity seeps from each color and line. The intimacy and freedom on its pages are almost like being inside the artist's You get a direct window into risks, lessons, mistakes, and dreams.

The private worlds of these visual journals are exactly what you'll find inside An Illustrated Life . This book offers a sneak peak into the wildly creative imaginations of 50 top illustrators, designers and artists. Included are sketchbook pages from R. Crumb, Chris Ware, James Jean, James Kochalka, and many others. In addition, author Danny Gregory has interviewed each artist and shares their thoughts on living the artistic life through journaling.

Watch artists—through words and images—record the world they see and craft the world as they want it to be. The pages of An Illustrated Life are sometimes startling, sometimes endearing, but always inspiring. Whether you're an illustrator, designer, or simply someone searching for inspiration, these pages will open a whole new world to you.]]> 266 Danny Gregory 1600610862 Asenath 0 to-read 3.72 2008 An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers
author: Danny Gregory
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/03/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a True Story]]> 21822422
Josh Sundquist only ever had one girlfriend.
For twenty-three hours.
In eighth grade.

Why was Josh still single? To find out, he tracked down the girls he had tried to date and asked them straight up: What went wrong?

The results of Josh's semiscientific, wholly hilarious investigation are captured here. From a disastrous Putt-Putt date involving a backward prosthetic foot, to his introduction to CFD (Close Fast Dancing), to a misguided "grand gesture" at a Miss America pageant, this story is about looking for love--or at least a girlfriend--in all the wrong places.]]> 326 Josh Sundquist 031625102X Asenath 5 3.77 2014 We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a True Story
author: Josh Sundquist
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2015/02/26
date added: 2015/03/04
shelves:
review:
I adored this book. I told all my classes and friends about it because it was just that entertaining and amusing.
]]> <![CDATA[Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative]]> 13099738 160 Austin Kleon 0761169253 Asenath 5 3.95 2012 Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
author: Austin Kleon
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2015/02/17
date added: 2015/03/04
shelves:
review:
Full of lots of good ideas and advice to help everyone reach their creative potential.
]]> <![CDATA[Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms, #1)]]> 24846331
However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.]]> 400 Erin Summerill 0544868129 Asenath 0 to-read 3.52 2016 Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms, #1)
author: Erin Summerill
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[10 Things Every Writer Needs to Know]]> 14964583 541 Jeff Anderson 1571109285 Asenath 0 currently-reading 4.47 2011 10 Things Every Writer Needs to Know
author: Jeff Anderson
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/01/24
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> UnDivided (Unwind, #4) 17950614
Proactive Citizenry, the company that created Cam from the parts of unwound teens, has a plan: to mass produce rewound teens like Cam for military purposes. And below the surface of that horror lies another shocking level of intrigue: Proactive Citizenry has been suppressing technology that could make unwinding completely unnecessary. As Conner, Risa, and Lev uncover these startling secrets, enraged teens begin to march on Washington to demand justice and a better future.

But more trouble is brewing. Starkey’s group of storked teens is growing more powerful and militant with each new recruit. And if they have their way, they’ll burn the harvest camps to the ground and put every adult in them before a firing squad—which could destroy any chance America has for a peaceful future.]]> 372 Neal Shusterman Asenath 0 4.46 2014 UnDivided (Unwind, #4)
author: Neal Shusterman
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/12/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Scene Book: A Primer for the Fiction Writer]]> 1182612 A treasure-trove of scene-writing wisdom from award-winning author and teacher Sandra Scofield To write a good scene, you have to know the following:
� Every scene has an EVENT
� Every scene has a FUNCTION in the narrative
� Every scene has a STRUCTURE: a beginning, middle, and end
� Every scene has a PULSE

The Scene Book is a fundamental guide to crafting more effective scenes in fiction. In clear, simple language, Sandra Scofield shows both the beginner and the seasoned writer how to build better scenes, the underpinning of any good narrative.

]]> 247 Sandra Scofield 0143038265 Asenath 4 non-fiction, teaching-books 3.88 2007 The Scene Book: A Primer for the Fiction Writer
author: Sandra Scofield
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2014/06/29
date added: 2014/08/16
shelves: non-fiction, teaching-books
review:
Many great examples and exercises for improving your writing. Tons of great ideas and gems that will not only improve my writing, but help me teach my students better.
]]> Precious 8554667
Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780307474841.]]> 180 Sapphire Asenath 0 3.81 1996 Precious
author: Sapphire
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at: 2010/08/17
date added: 2014/07/14
shelves:
review:
This book is intense. Really, really intense. It is extremely graphic and disturbing (the main character is sexually abused by both her parents). I almost stopped reading it because I couldn't handle it, but I ended up just skipping over parts.
]]> <![CDATA[On Teaching and Writing Fiction]]> 296890 144 Wallace Stegner 0142001473 Asenath 2 non-fiction, teaching-books 4.13 2002 On Teaching and Writing Fiction
author: Wallace Stegner
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2002
rating: 2
read at: 2014/06/30
date added: 2014/06/30
shelves: non-fiction, teaching-books
review:
This book focuses on the philosophy of teaching fiction. Some interesting nuggets, but I found myself skimming most of it, especially since a lot of his advice/insight about publishing is no longer relevant.
]]> Fiction Writer's Brainstormer 1186429 292 James V. Smith Jr. 0898799430 Asenath 4 non-fiction, teaching-books 3.27 2000 Fiction Writer's Brainstormer
author: James V. Smith Jr.
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2014/06/29
date added: 2014/06/29
shelves: non-fiction, teaching-books
review:
So many ideas, prompts and puzzles to get a person thinking. I'll definitely be using a lot of these activities with my creative writing classes.
]]> Attachments 8909152 "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you..."

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now—reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers—not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained—and captivated—by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?]]> 323 Rainbow Rowell Asenath 0 to-read 3.86 2011 Attachments
author: Rainbow Rowell
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> You Can't Make This Stuff Up 13237747
Whether you're writing a rags-to-riches tell-all memoir or literary journalism, telling true stories well is hard work. In You Can't Make This Stuff Up , Lee Gutkind, the go-to expert for all things creative nonfiction, offers his unvarnished wisdom to help you craft the best writing possible.

Frank, to-the-point, and always entertaining, Gutkind describes and illustrates every aspect of the genre. Invaluable tools and exercises illuminate key steps, from defining a concept and establishing a writing process to the final product. Offering new ways of understanding the genre, this practical guidebook will help you thoroughly expand and stylize your work.]]> 288 Lee Gutkind 0738215546 Asenath 4 non-fiction 3.97 2012 You Can't Make This Stuff Up
author: Lee Gutkind
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2014/06/09
date added: 2014/06/11
shelves: non-fiction
review:
Great read. The first part is very informative about the history and development of the genre. The second part is more of a workbook, complete with examples and exercises. I learned quite a bit, and also found some great stories and excerpts to share with my classes.
]]> <![CDATA[Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #3)]]> 13618440 What power can bruise the sky?

Two worlds are poised on the brink of a vicious war. By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera's rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her.

When the brutal angel emperor brings his army to the human world, Karou and Akiva are finally reunited—not in love, but in a tentative alliance against their common enemy. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves.

But with even bigger threats on the horizon, are Karou and Akiva strong enough to stand among the gods and monsters?

The New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion as—from the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond—humans, chimaera, and seraphim strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.]]> 613 Laini Taylor 0316134074 Asenath 4 fantasy 4.12 2014 Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #3)
author: Laini Taylor
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2014/05/31
date added: 2014/06/11
shelves: fantasy
review:
Fantastic writing and a mostly satisfying ending. I was hoping things would be a bit more epic, but it all made sense.
]]> Jane, the Fox & Me 17214302 Hélène weighs 216; she smells like BO. Her loving mother is too tired to be any help. Fortunately, Hélène has one consolation, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Hélène identifies strongly with Jane’s tribulations, and when she is lost in the pages of this wonderful book, she is able to ignore her tormentors. But when Hélène is humiliated on a class trip in front of her entire grade, she needs more than a fictional character to allow her to see herself as a person deserving of laughter and friendship.

Leaving the outcasts� tent one night, Hélène encounters a fox, a beautiful creature with whom she shares a moment of connection. But when Suzanne Lipsky frightens the fox away, insisting that it must be rabid, Hélène’s despair becomes even more pronounced: now she believes that only a diseased and dangerous creature would ever voluntarily approach her. But then a new girl joins the outcasts� circle, Géraldine, who does not even appear to notice that she is in danger of becoming an outcast herself. And before long Hélène realizes that the less time she spends worrying about what the other girls say is wrong with her, the more able she is to believe that there is nothing wrong at all.

This emotionally honest and visually stunning graphic novel reveals the casual brutality of which children are capable, but also assures readers that redemption can be found through connecting with another, whether the other is a friend, a fictional character or even, amazingly, a fox.]]> 104 Fanny Britt 1554983606 Asenath 0 to-read 3.97 2012 Jane, the Fox & Me
author: Fanny Britt
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1)]]> 6738968 Everything is different

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma - so she's been told - and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She's been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won't anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?]]> 278 Mary E. Pearson 0312594410 Asenath 4 Unwind.


Bridge to: Frankenstein]]> 3.64 2008 The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1)
author: Mary E. Pearson
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2011/10/20
date added: 2014/06/09
shelves: science-fiction, wishlist, ya-lit, in-my-classroom-library
review:
A thought provoking, introspective story that left me wanting more. I think this would be a great book to read and discuss alongside Unwind.


Bridge to: Frankenstein
]]> <![CDATA[The Diviners (The Diviners, #1)]]> 7728889 578 Libba Bray Asenath 0 to-read 3.93 2012 The Diviners (The Diviners, #1)
author: Libba Bray
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life]]> 17465707 230 Dani Shapiro 0802121403 Asenath 0 to-read 4.19 2013 Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life
author: Dani Shapiro
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Books That Teach Kids to Write]]> 11862638
Teachers can always benefit from new techniques that allow them to teach writing in a more engaging and enjoyable manner, and a resource that identifies a plethora of excellent children's books that help students become successful writers would also be helpful. Books That Teach Kids to Write introduces busy educators to the finest in children's literature in all genres, appropriate for readers in grades K through 12; and provides effective ideas for using those books to stimulate and improve student writing.

This book discusses language use and other critical components of good writing, showcasing the children's books and specific activities that can help both primary and secondary school students. Included reproducibles for the writing exercises make lesson planning simple, while the sheer number of titles discussed and the extensive bibliographies provided minimize the time teachers must spend researching books to use with their students. An appendix includes more writing instruction resources, such as children's books, websites, and professional texts.]]> 200 Marianne Saccardi 1598844512 Asenath 0 to-read 3.83 2011 Books That Teach Kids to Write
author: Marianne Saccardi
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3)]]> 9627755 Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.]]> 339 Stephanie Perkins 0525425632 Asenath 0 to-read 3.99 2014 Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3)
author: Stephanie Perkins
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Elementals 13538834
The ElementalsĚýis on one level a contemporary story about a young woman, Ariel Silverman, facing the challenges of her first years away at college in Berkeley, California, while her mother battles cancer at home in Los Angeles. But the book takes on deeper, stranger meanings when we contend with Ariel's obsession with the disappearance of her best friend, Jeni, who vanished without a trace a few years before. Her emptiness of spirit seems finally to find some healing with three mysterious, beautiful and seductive young people living in a strange old house in the Berkeley hills. But at what price?]]> 265 Francesca Lia Block 1250005493 Asenath 0 to-read 3.37 2012 The Elementals
author: Francesca Lia Block
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crafting Novels & Short Stories: The Complete Guide to Writing Great Fiction (Creative Writing Essentials)]]> 12864400 Learn How to Create Stories That Captivate Agents, Editors, and Readers Alike!

Inside you'll find the tools you need to build strong characters, keep your plots moving, master the art of dialogue, choose the right point of view, and more.

This comprehensive book on the art of novel and short story writing is packed with advice and instruction from best-selling authors and writing experts like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Hallie Ephron, N.M. Kelby, Heather Sellers, and Donald Maass, plus a foreword by James Scott Bell. You'll learn invaluable skills for mastering every area of the craft:




Define and refine your characters.
Make your plot and conflict high-energy and intense.
Hone your story's point of view.
Create a rich setting and backstory.
Craft dialogue that rings true.
Select the right words and descriptions throughout your story.
Revise your story to perfection.
Throughout you'll find supplemental sections that cover special topics like getting started, beating writer's block, researching your work, and getting published. They'll help you integrate your skills into a balanced, productive, and fulfilling career.

Whether you're writing flash fiction, a short story, a novel, or an epic trilogy, you'll come away with the tools you need for strong and effective storytelling.]]> 368 The Writer's Digest 1599635712 Asenath 0 to-read 3.86 2011 Crafting Novels & Short Stories: The Complete Guide to Writing Great Fiction (Creative Writing Essentials)
author: The Writer's Digest
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Writing from the Senses: 59 Exercises to Ignite Creativity and Revitalize Your Writing]]> 17262680 Break through writer's block using your five senses!
The sensory details that infuse our everyday experience—the smell of a favorite dish cooking, the texture of a well-worn coat, hearing a song that reminds you of a person or a time in your life—can be used to add richness and spark to what we write. Whether you are a professional writer (or want to be one) or someone who enjoys just writing for your own personal fulfillment, Writing from the Senses will show you how to tap into an endless source of engaging material, using your senses as prompts. The exercises will stimulate you to develop stories, imagery, and details that will allow readers to see, taste, hear, smell, and feel that they're in the scene.

Writing from the Senses
•Provides 60 prompts and creative writing exercises organized by sense;
•Presents engaging narratives, personal essays, and instruction to entertain and inform readers and illustrate the effectiveness of each exercise;
•Helps writers recognize the sensory prompts that surround them daily and use them to trigger their individual stories; and
•Shows how freewrites from the prompts in this book can result in publishable pieces.]]> 256 Laura Deutsch 1611800447 Asenath 0 to-read 3.88 2013 Writing from the Senses: 59 Exercises to Ignite Creativity and Revitalize Your Writing
author: Laura Deutsch
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2)]]> 12812550 Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?]]> 517 Laini Taylor 0316133973 Asenath 5 fantasy 4.13 2012 Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2)
author: Laini Taylor
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2014/05/18
date added: 2014/06/04
shelves: fantasy
review:
Usually second books in series are not stellar, but this one was fantastic. It made the story much more epic and didn't focus so much on the romance. Love love love!
]]> <![CDATA[Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)]]> 13528340
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?]]> 418 Laini Taylor 031613399X Asenath 4
The writing really was just lovely. Taylor does a great job at creating specific images/scenes for the reader to "see." I'll probably finish out the series.]]> 4.11 2011 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)
author: Laini Taylor
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2014/04/30
date added: 2014/05/01
shelves:
review:
Beautiful writing and rich, full dimensional characters. I quite enjoyed the first 200 pages, and things got a little cheesy for me. However, I think the story is appropriate for the genre, and I think (and know) that many teenage girls will like it. There is some more mature content in the book, but nothing is too explicit.

The writing really was just lovely. Taylor does a great job at creating specific images/scenes for the reader to "see." I'll probably finish out the series.
]]> Reading in the Wild 17196305 The Book Whisperer, Reading in the Wild explores whether or not we are truly instilling lifelong reading habits in our students and provides practical strategies for teaching "wild" reading. Based on survey responses from over 900 adult readers and classroom feedback, Reading in the Wild offers solid advice and strategies on how to develop, encourage and assess key lifelong reading habits, including dedicating time for reading, planning for future reading, and defining oneself as a reader.Includes advice for supporting the love of reading by explicitly teaching lifelong reading habits. Contains accessible strategies, ideas, tips, lesson plans and management tools along with lists of recommended books co-published with Editorial Projects in Education, publisher of "Education Week" and "Teacher Magazine"

Packed with ideas for helping students choose their own reading material, respond to text, and build capacity for lifelong reading.]]> 273 Donalyn Miller 047090030X Asenath 3 non-fiction, teaching-books 4.48 2013 Reading in the Wild
author: Donalyn Miller
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2014/04/30
date added: 2014/05/01
shelves: non-fiction, teaching-books
review:
Love the concept--of course everyone should be lifelong readers! I also appreciated that she included all of her handouts/trackers in the appendix. I'm excited to see how I can adapt these ideas for my students.
]]> <![CDATA[Don't Touch That Toad and Other Strange Things Adults Tell You]]> 8559294 96 Catherine Rondina 1554534542 Asenath 0 to-read 3.81 2010 Don't Touch That Toad and Other Strange Things Adults Tell You
author: Catherine Rondina
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/04/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)]]> 1 652 J.K. Rowling Asenath 3 ya-lit, fantasy 4.57 2005 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2014/04/28
shelves: ya-lit, fantasy
review:

]]> Red Scarf Girl 413432 Red Scarf Girl is the incredible true story of one girl's courage and determination during one of the most terrifying eras of the twentieth century.

It's 1966, and twelve-year-old Ji-li Jiang has everything a girl could want: brains, popularity, and a bright future in Communist China. But it's also the year that China's leader, Mao Ze-dong, launches the Cultural Revolution—and Ji-li's world begins to fall apart. Over the next few years, people who were once her friends and neighbors turn on her and her family, forcing them to live in constant terror of arrest. And when Ji-li's father is finally imprisoned, she faces the most difficult dilemma of her life.]]> 285 Ji-li Jiang 0439063000 Asenath 4 3.77 1997 Red Scarf Girl
author: Ji-li Jiang
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.77
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 2014/03/13
date added: 2014/04/25
shelves: in-my-classroom-library, non-fiction
review:
Wow. I had very little background knowledge about how communist China came to be, so almost everything in this book was new to me. It was very powerfully told and made me think a lot. I read some of the passages out loud to my classes, and they all found it very interesting too.
]]> <![CDATA[Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us]]> 6452796 The New York Times bestseller that gives readers a paradigm-shattering new way to think about motivation

Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink (author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others). In this provocative and persuasive new book, he asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.

Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action in a unique book that will change how we think and transform how we live.]]> 242 Daniel H. Pink 1594488843 Asenath 0 to-read 3.94 2009 Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
author: Daniel H. Pink
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/04/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Lindsey Lost 13505639 The Bourne Identity meets I Am the Cheese in this taut thriller

Even though Micah’s a star pitcher, his older sister Lindsey is the real deal—a runner so good, she has a shot at the Olympics. The two of them urge each other on, and are each other’s best support. Then the unthinkable happens: Lindsey is murdered, and Micah may have been the last person to see her. But he can’t remember what happened, no matter what their parents tell him, no matter what the police say. Did he witness his sister’s murder—or commit it? Can he recall the truth before his life is sentenced to end, too?]]> 224 Suzanne Marie Phillips 0670784605 Asenath 3
The writing was very well done-it had good pacing and made me want to keep reading. I won't spoil the ending for you, but I thought it was realistic (and I was only slightly disappointed because I wanted something bigger.)]]> 3.69 2012 Lindsey Lost
author: Suzanne Marie Phillips
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2014/03/01
date added: 2014/04/25
shelves: mystery, in-my-classroom-library
review:
This book drew me in with a fascinating story question: did the main character kill his sister? He doesn't think so...but a lot of evidence is pointing against him, and he can't remember what happened.

The writing was very well done-it had good pacing and made me want to keep reading. I won't spoil the ending for you, but I thought it was realistic (and I was only slightly disappointed because I wanted something bigger.)
]]> <![CDATA[UnSouled (Unwind Dystology, #3)]]> 17334446
Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard, the last safe haven for AWOL unwinds. But for the first time, they’re not just running away—they’re running towards answers, in the form of a woman Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her and learn why the shadowy figures behind unwinding are so afraid of her, they may discover the key to ending the unwinding process forever.

Cam, the rewound boy, is plotting to take down the organization that created him. He knows that if he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human.

With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, the group’s paths will converge explosively—and everyone will be changed.]]> 404 Neal Shusterman Asenath 4 science-fiction 4.14 2013 UnSouled (Unwind Dystology, #3)
author: Neal Shusterman
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2014/01/03
date added: 2014/04/25
shelves: science-fiction
review:
While not a lot actually *happened* in this book, Shusterman was able to keep me captivated throughout the entire novel. I love how in depth the characters are, and how intricate the world is. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
]]> Marvel Adventures Thor 8496730 96 Paul Tobin 1616843349 Asenath 0 2.50 2009 Marvel Adventures Thor
author: Paul Tobin
name: Asenath
average rating: 2.50
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/04/09
shelves: to-read, graphic-novel, in-my-classroom-library
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels, #1)]]> 2464291 208 Neil Babra 1411498739 Asenath 3 graphic-novel 3.96 Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels, #1)
author: Neil Babra
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2011/06/27
date added: 2014/03/06
shelves: graphic-novel
review:
I don't know if teens would read this unless it was presented as an alternative to reading Shakespeare. The pictures are helpful in understanding, and the language has been changed to make it slightly more modern. Because of that, though, the language is not as beautiful anymore.
]]> <![CDATA[The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success]]> 9420697 162 Darren Hardy Asenath 0 to-read 4.20 2010 The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success
author: Darren Hardy
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/01/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Insignia (Insignia, #1) 11115434 Insignia, the first entry in S. J. Kincaid's fast-paced sci-fi adventure trilogy perfect for fans of Ender's Game.

The planet's natural resources are almost gone, and war is being fought to control the assets of the solar system. The enemy is winning. The salvation may be Tom Raines. Tom doesn't seem like a hero. He's a short fourteen-year-old with bad skin. But he has the virtual-reality gaming skills that make him a phenom behind the controls of the battle drones.

As a new member of the Intrasolar Forces, Tom's life completely changes. Suddenly, he's someone important. He has new opportunities, friends, and a shot at having a girlfriend. But there's a price to pay. . . .]]> 446 S.J. Kincaid 0062092995 Asenath 0 to-read 4.15 2012 Insignia (Insignia, #1)
author: S.J. Kincaid
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences]]> 7655554
Jesse is in history class when a formidable, efficient race of aliens quietly takes over the earth in less time than it takes him to brush his teeth. Most humans simply fall asleep and never wake up. In moments, everyone Jesse knows and loves is gone, and he finds that he is now a slave to an inept alien leader. On the bright side, Jesse discovers he’s developing telepathic powers, and he’s not the only one. Soon he’s forging new friendships and feeling unexpectedly hopeful. When a mysterious girl appears in his dreams, talking about escaping, Jesse begins to think the aliens may not be invincible after all. But if Jesse and his friends succeed, is there anywhere left to go? Brian Yansky offers a funny, grim novel packed with everything boys and sci-fi fans aliens, humor, action, and a healthy dose of triumph.]]> 240 Brian Yansky 076364384X Asenath 4
The plot was rather basic, but enjoyable. I liked how Yansky was able to compare the alien colonization to the colonization of the America's without being preachy.

I wished that the author had gone deeper into the characterization. The main character, Jesse, is the only person in his school or city who is saved-why? What makes him special? Sure, he was young and wasn't diseased, but what makes him a cut above the rest? Why is he able to pick up on things quickly and do things that others can't?

I really liked Caitlin's character, and would have liked to know more about her. I think it's funny that in a lot of dystopia books it's the healer/ "out there" types who know how to survive the best in the real world.

It's definitely left open for a sequel (but not so much that the story is unresolved), and I hope there will be one, but only if Yansky delves deeper into the characters.

I think this would be a good book for reluctant boy readers--I'll try it out and see what response I get.]]> 3.32 2010 Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences
author: Brian Yansky
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.32
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2011/06/06
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves: books-reluctant-boys-will-read, wishlist
review:
I was surprised by this book--I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. This book is very fast paced; not suspenseful, but the author doesn't spend a lot of time on description. The novel starts with the action: Earth is invaded, and taken over, by aliens. Boom. Done. Moving on.

The plot was rather basic, but enjoyable. I liked how Yansky was able to compare the alien colonization to the colonization of the America's without being preachy.

I wished that the author had gone deeper into the characterization. The main character, Jesse, is the only person in his school or city who is saved-why? What makes him special? Sure, he was young and wasn't diseased, but what makes him a cut above the rest? Why is he able to pick up on things quickly and do things that others can't?

I really liked Caitlin's character, and would have liked to know more about her. I think it's funny that in a lot of dystopia books it's the healer/ "out there" types who know how to survive the best in the real world.

It's definitely left open for a sequel (but not so much that the story is unresolved), and I hope there will be one, but only if Yansky delves deeper into the characters.

I think this would be a good book for reluctant boy readers--I'll try it out and see what response I get.
]]> <![CDATA[Downburst (The Windstorm Series, #1)]]> 13412408 276 Katie Robison 0985046511 Asenath 0 to-read 4.29 2012 Downburst (The Windstorm Series, #1)
author: Katie Robison
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/12/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened]]> 17571564
Pictures
Words
Stories about things that happened to me
Stories about things that happened to other people because of me
Eight billion dollars*
Stories about dogs
The secret to eternal happiness*

*These are lies. Perhaps I have underestimated my sneakiness!]]> 371 Allie Brosh 1451666179 Asenath 5 non-fiction
Lots of language, but if you've read her blog, you know that already.]]> 4.16 2013 Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
author: Allie Brosh
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2013/12/21
date added: 2013/12/21
shelves: non-fiction
review:
This book had me laughing out loud many, many times. I really enjoyed some of the new stories (not the ones at the end as much though.)

Lots of language, but if you've read her blog, you know that already.
]]> <![CDATA[The Obsidian Blade (The Klaatu Diskos, #1)]]> 12475931
The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished â€� only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear. Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing â€� one right on top of the roof â€� hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he’s launched on a time-twisting journeyĚýâ€� from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker’s actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.]]> 320 Pete Hautman 0763654035 Asenath 2
I tried to keep an open mind while reading this (after not liking Godless that much), but I think this author and I are just not meant for each other. I don't care for his views on God, and as much as I tried not to let that effect how I experienced the story, by the end of this book it couldn't be helped.

So, some people might really like this book. It has a lot of great sci-fi elements and is accessible to a younger crowd. ]]> 3.38 2012 The Obsidian Blade (The Klaatu Diskos, #1)
author: Pete Hautman
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2012
rating: 2
read at: 2013/12/05
date added: 2013/12/18
shelves:
review:
An interesting concept, and for someone with limited background in science fiction, it felt fresh and original.

I tried to keep an open mind while reading this (after not liking Godless that much), but I think this author and I are just not meant for each other. I don't care for his views on God, and as much as I tried not to let that effect how I experienced the story, by the end of this book it couldn't be helped.

So, some people might really like this book. It has a lot of great sci-fi elements and is accessible to a younger crowd.
]]> Naked 4138 Naked, Sedaris turns the mania for memoir on its proverbial ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, his family, and his unique worldview—a sensibility at once take-no-prisoners sharp and deeply charitable. A tart-tongued mother does dead-on imitations of her young son's nervous tics, to the great amusement of his teachers; a stint of Kerouackian wandering is undertaken (of course!) with a quadriplegic companion; a family gathers for a wedding in the face of imminent death. Through it all is Sedaris's unmistakable voice, without doubt one of the freshest in American writing.]]> 304 David Sedaris Asenath 0 non-fiction 4.10 1997 Naked
author: David Sedaris
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at: 2013/12/11
date added: 2013/12/18
shelves: non-fiction
review:
A typically quirky set of essays from Sedaris. He's had quite an interesting life, and I marvel at what he remembers. Something about his voice rubs me the wrong way sometimes though. I can't put my finger exactly on what it is, but sometimes I'll finish an essay and feel the opposite of uplifted.
]]> Manicpixiedreamgirl 15705311 off stage.

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Darcy's dream of being a writer is starting to feel very real now that he's sold his first short story to a literary journal. He should be celebrating its publication with his two best friends who've always had his back, but on this night, a steady stream of texts from his girlfriend Sidney keep intruding. So do the memories of his dream girl, Becky, who's been on his mind a little too much since the first day of high school. Before the night is over, Ty might just find the nerve to stop all the obsessing and finally take action.ĚýĚý]]> 256 Tom Leveen 0375870059 Asenath 3 realistic-fiction
My real disappointment was with Becky, the dream girl. I get that she had issues, but I wanted there to be more to her. (Although, maybe that was part of the point-even the reader built her up to be something more than she was?)

Overall I loved the concept, but wanted more.





]]> 3.35 2013 Manicpixiedreamgirl
author: Tom Leveen
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2013/11/30
date added: 2013/12/18
shelves: realistic-fiction
review:
I had high hopes for this book, in part because of funny videos I had seen online about Manic Pixie (Dream) Girls. Overall, I thought this book was interesting-especially the way it was written. Leveen is able to tell an expansive story effectively by using flashbacks and still manages to keep up the tension. Ultimately though, I wanted more. I wanted the manicpixiedreamgirl to be more Manic Pixie, if that makes sense.

My real disappointment was with Becky, the dream girl. I get that she had issues, but I wanted there to be more to her. (Although, maybe that was part of the point-even the reader built her up to be something more than she was?)

Overall I loved the concept, but wanted more.






]]> The Chaos of Stars 12578305 277 Kiersten White 0062135929 Asenath 3 3.56 2013 The Chaos of Stars
author: Kiersten White
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2013/12/18
date added: 2013/12/18
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain]]> 9827912 290 David Eagleman 0307377334 Asenath 4 non-fiction 4.10 2011 Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain
author: David Eagleman
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2013/09/14
date added: 2013/12/17
shelves: non-fiction
review:
I am very impressed with myself that I finished this book in just two days (something quite rare for me and non-fiction!). It started off a little slow and was full of stories that I'd seen used in other books. However, it picked up and got more interesting. The author obviously has an agenda in Chapter 6, where he talks about prison reform, which made me wonder if the rest of the book is also peppered with bias. Overall though, I quite enjoyed this pop-psychology read.
]]> Enchantress of Crumbledown 1445248 229 Donald R. Marshall 0875793525 Asenath 5 4.01 1990 Enchantress of Crumbledown
author: Donald R. Marshall
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1990
rating: 5
read at: 2000/01/01
date added: 2013/12/16
shelves:
review:
This was my first "favorite book ever"
]]> Eleanor & Park 15745753 "So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I'm not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we're 16."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
"I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I'm not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.]]> 328 Rainbow Rowell 1250012570 Asenath 0 to-read 3.92 2012 Eleanor & Park
author: Rainbow Rowell
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/12/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Unremembered (Unremembered, #1)]]> 9791892 The only thing worse than forgetting her past . . . is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage - alive - is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.
Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.]]> 320 Jessica Brody 0374379912 Asenath 3 science-fiction, ya-lit
If you haven't read a lot of sci-fi, you might really enjoy this book. ]]> 3.70 2013 Unremembered (Unremembered, #1)
author: Jessica Brody
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2013/11/29
date added: 2013/12/05
shelves: science-fiction, ya-lit
review:
The book started out in an interesting way-a girl waking up in the middle of a plane crash with no memories of what happened to her-but from there the whole story just lost steam for me. I didn't feel like there was anything particularly new or fresh in the story, and the ending felt too rushed. I also thought Violet/Sera didn't have much of a character.

If you haven't read a lot of sci-fi, you might really enjoy this book.
]]> How I Live Now 161426 "Every war has turning points and every person too."

Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she's never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.

As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it's a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy's uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.

A riveting and astonishing story.]]> 194 Meg Rosoff 0553376055 Asenath 3 real though, so if you're in the mood for that, go ahead and give this book a whirl.]]> 3.59 2004 How I Live Now
author: Meg Rosoff
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 2013/11/25
date added: 2013/12/05
shelves: ya-lit, in-my-classroom-library
review:
It took me awhile to get in to this book because of the way it's written (no traditional dialogue, etc). I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this book. There's some kind of weird things [spoilers removed] and we never find out a lot of details about the world. It all felt very real though, so if you're in the mood for that, go ahead and give this book a whirl.
]]> Gamer Girl 2850535 248 Mari Mancusi 0525479953 Asenath 3 realistic-fiction, ya-lit 3.76 2008 Gamer Girl
author: Mari Mancusi
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2013/12/03
date added: 2013/12/05
shelves: realistic-fiction, ya-lit
review:
Pretty typical (and therefore predictable) plot and story line. It's a cute romance.
]]> Beowulf 346518 This exhilarating graphic novel edition of an ancient classic honors the spirit of the original as it attracts modern readers.

The epic tale of the great warrior Beowulf has thrilled readers through the ages—and now it is reinvented for a new generation with Gareth Hinds’s masterful illustrations. Grendel’s black blood runs thick as Beowulf defeats the monster and his hideous mother, while somber hues overcast the hero’s final, fatal battle against a raging dragon. Speeches filled with courage and sadness, lightning-paced contests of muscle and will, and funeral boats burning on the fjords are all rendered in glorious and gruesome detail. Told for more than a thousand years, Beowulf’s heroic saga finds a true home in this graphic novel edition.]]> 120 Gareth Hinds 0763630233 Asenath 3 graphic-novel 3.40 2007 Beowulf
author: Gareth Hinds
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 2012/09/02
date added: 2013/12/03
shelves: graphic-novel
review:
They could have done a better job with the text (like actually telling more of the story in regular English, instead of the boring blocks of text) but the art is quite well done. This is definitely a violent book--those who get queasy probably shouldn't read this one.
]]> Stay 8527904 Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is and what he's willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city and Christian behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

]]> 313 Deb Caletti 144240373X Asenath 4 realistic-fiction, ya-lit
I felt like the topic was fresh and handled well, and the way the story was structured kept me guessing and wanting to keep reading to find out what happened.

The writing: wonderfully executed. It's definitely more introspective and character driven, but it worked for me. The climax was beautifully crafted, and the ending was satisfying while still being realistic.

Disclaimer: There is a fair amount of cussing (the f-word is used a number of times) and there is implied sexuality (nothing explicit though.)]]> 3.88 2011 Stay
author: Deb Caletti
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2013/11/24
date added: 2013/11/26
shelves: realistic-fiction, ya-lit
review:
I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I really wasn't expecting to.

I felt like the topic was fresh and handled well, and the way the story was structured kept me guessing and wanting to keep reading to find out what happened.

The writing: wonderfully executed. It's definitely more introspective and character driven, but it worked for me. The climax was beautifully crafted, and the ending was satisfying while still being realistic.

Disclaimer: There is a fair amount of cussing (the f-word is used a number of times) and there is implied sexuality (nothing explicit though.)
]]> Celebrating Writers 18249491 100 Ruth Ayres 1571109501 Asenath 0 to-read 4.62 2013 Celebrating Writers
author: Ruth Ayres
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True]]> 16248148 Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl's summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.

When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?

Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?]]> 295 Sarah Strohmeyer 0062187457 Asenath 0 to-read 3.70 2013 How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True
author: Sarah Strohmeyer
name: Asenath
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Champion (Legend, #3) 14290364 He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.

With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.]]> 369 Marie Lu 0399256776 Asenath 0 to-read 4.32 2013 Champion (Legend, #3)
author: Marie Lu
name: Asenath
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/11/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>